In The End We All Have To Fight

Chapters

To get out alive
Hope you can shoot
Caution: Speed bumps
We must stand together
A bottle of ibuprofen, please
prologue

To get out alive

‘Survival instinct, it is something that we all have, even we don’t know it. We will do almost anything to survive even kill. Just to survive to see another day.’

Fire, it is warm and loving. But, it has a dark side. It burns, it harms and scolds. The swarms of ponies, that tried to get out of the cities. The ponies running for their lives. The ponies trying to escape the horrors of being captured by the enemy. The enemy dropped bombs in the city, destroying buildings and killing anybody inside. It was a day that I will never forget or forgive. It was just a normal day when it happened. I came home after a busy day of work as a dishwasher at a fancy restaurant and decided to switch to the news to see what the latest news of Baltimare. I switched it one but, instead of the news channel was a emergency broadcast with a Unicorn head. Then, a message came on the bottom of the screen. Please, don’t panic. Please, stay calm. If possible please, stay in your homes until help arrives in your area. If any pony tries to enter your home, please don’t harm them. Just wait until the authorities arrive to assist you and your family. It repeated it message. What the hell is going on? I thought to myself as the message repeated several times before I heard the sounds of explosions and ponies screaming. I went to my window to see what is going on. There were ponies running what looks like for their lives. Some ponies were going house to house telling them something and pointing at the sky. I looked up to parachutes with tiny figures underneath them. I looked higher to see the planes dropping the parachutes and some were dropping bombs on the city.

“Shit.” I said to myself as I watch ponies running, this wasn’t good. I heard my TV switch to the News and the newsmare appeared, her green mane was frizzled and her blue eyes were tired and filled with sorrow.

“Please, don’t panic but, the Zebra nation is now invading the entire eastern seaboard of Equestria. Do not panic and do not make contact with any of the Zebras as they are extremely dangerous and well armed with military grade firearms. If you are contacted by the Zebras please do not resist and comply with them.” The newsmare paused for a moment and turned to her left like she was trying to hear something. Then, gunfire. “They… they’re attacking the news station. Dear, Celestia…” she paused. She rested her head on her hoof and stared at the desk as the gunshots got closer. I couldn’t get my eyes off the screen. She looked back at the camera, the sounds of gunfire is getting closer. “They are going to kill us all. To my husband and children in the city of Baltimare, I love you and I always will.” She was crying now as she said that. “May Celestia have mercy on my soul.” The sounds of screaming can now be heard by the camera, Then, the door was busted in and Zebras in military uniforms and body armor covered in blood walked toward the newsmare. The Zebras were wearing balaclavas and had a red star on their chests. The Zebra that seemed to be the commander of the team pulled out a pistol and placed the barrel on the center of her forehead. The mare’s lip quivered “Why…” She never got the answer as the Zebra pulled the trigger, splattering her brains across the desk. It almost made me throw up.

“Have some fun boys and kill the them when your down. You’ve earned it. But, collect any intelligence for any Equestrian troop movements, placements and resources.” then, the sounds of gunshots began to yell out along with the terrified screams of the ponies that are being slaughtered and raped. The Zebra looked at the camera and pointed the pistol. “Show’s over.” then, the TV went back to the emergency station and repeated it’s message.

This confirms my fear and I’m balls deep in shit now. “FUCK!” I yelled as gunfire rained down through the streets as Zebras were slaughtering the ponies without mercy or remorse. Some bullets going through my home, nearly hitting me. If I didn’t duck I would have had air where my head would have been. I began to panic as I tried to find cover from the fire. I ran to my kitchen behind the fridge a bullet grazed me in the leg, it pain shot up my leg with a burning sensation. I began to limp as I got to the fridge. When I got there pressing my back against the fridge moving it a little , gunfire ripped through my house, tearing up everything that got in the way of the bullets. A bullet managed to pierce all the way through the fridge and hit me in the side. The pain surged though my body, it burned like a forest fire. Then, I began to feel cold as the blood began to flow out freely. I looked around for something to help stop the flow of blood. I noticed the dish towel on the counter, nice and folded. I took it with my magic and pressed it against my side. The gunfire stopped and my ears perked up as I heard the sound of the Zebras taking down my door. I heard silence for a moment. Then, I could hear one of them going through my house looking for any trace of me. I heard a Zebra just outside the door to my kitchen get on the radio.

“Bravo 1, this is Bravo 2, I have blood.”

“Copy, Bravo 2. Follow it and kill the source. We can’t let that many ponies leave the city’s borders. Take prisoners, when you get your count of ten dead. Copy?”

“I copy and will follow. I’m at nine. Bravo 2, out.” My eyes widened when the Zebra, said that. I could hear the hoof steps of the Zebra as he came closer to the door. I was starting to panic when I noticed that I moved the fridge when I was pressing against it earlier. I saw a thin grate, that looked like it could be taken out with a some force. I looked at the door and saw that it was slowly beginning to move open. I could see the gun barrel sticking out, and it had a bayonet covered in…blood. I flared my horn trying to get the grate open, but it was a little tougher to get loose then, I thought. The door was halfway open. I couldn’t get the grate open in time. I was looking up and down the kitchen for something to defend myself with. My eyes fell upon a pan that was hanging on a hook over the counter. The Zebra would almost see me and my magic floating the pan. I pressed my side where the blood was starting to seep though the dish towel and started to pool on the hard wood floor. I took a deep breath as I flared my horn. I concentrated my magic through the pain around the pan, taking it off the hook. Luckily, the Zebra didn’t noticed this as I floated it behind the door as quietly as a possible. I was never all that good at levitating like my sister or brother. Finally, the door opened all the way and it was a buck in full body armor and was wearing a balaclava. I could tell that he was smiling under his mask when he saw me with the towel being pressed against my side. “Well, well. What do we have here?” he said with a cocky tone

“F…fuck you.” I was barely able say anything as the chill from the lack of blood constricted my lungs.

“Aw, you are trying to sound like a Stallion that’s nice. Well, I can see that you are in pain. Just so I can cross my one nice thing in my life; I‘m going to take you out of your misery. Any last words?” he said leveling the rifle to my head.

I stared in the eye. “Yes, I do.” I said just barely able to suppress the glow of my horn as I levitated the frying pan.

“And what would those be? It would be nice to know them before you bleed out.” he said fire control selector to a different position.

I levitated the frying pan behind the Zebra’s head getting it into swinging position. I looked at him dead in the eye. “Fuck off, asshole!” I yelled as I smashed the frying pan into the Zebra’s head; resulting in a sickening crack.

I sat there for a moment catching my breath, I was about to work on the grate again when the Zebra’s radio went off. “Bravo 2, this is Bravo 1. We have secured the entire block. What is your status on the pony? Report.” I froze when the Zebra said those word. Fuck. I thought as he continued. “Report or we’re coming in.

My eyes widened and I began to move faster as a mixture of fear and adrenaline went through me as I heard hoof steps start going though my house. I took the rifle of the Zebra from his battle saddle and slammed the butt stock against grate. After about five or six hit’s the grate gave in and fell into a drainage pipe. It turns out that the noise from the grate falling into a drainage pipe can attracted the attention of other Zebras. I heard them cocking their weapons as I looked at the unconscious Zebra’s pack. It had a white cross symbol on it. I was about to take it and the rifle but, before I could get anything they started firing into the kitchen. When I got a hold of the med pack with my magic, several bullets grazed me in the upper left leg and my face. That’ll scar. I thought as I tried to crawl in the drainage pipe. When I got in and began to slide down with the sound of my kitchen door fallen from its hinges, I realized a little too late as I drug in the still uncurious Zebra; he fell right passed me into the darkness of the pipe. Giant ass pipe. I thought. I cringed when the sound of a sickening crack along with some metal hitting concrete echoed to my ears. I began to slid down when I heard the voices of the Zebras “Where is that son of a bitch! And where in the hell is Bravo 2?!”

I don’t know if it was the sound of my hoofs grinding against wet pipe or the sound of there friend hitting pipe and concrete, I don’t know but, I heard them yell about it. But, I was distant as continued to slid down the pipe to the bottom. “He went down the pipe!” one of them yelled.

“Shit!” I yelled as I was sliding down as fast as possible without going into freefall. I hit a corner pipe with another grate with a grunt as pain shot up my side. “Fuck, that hurts.” I groaned as I looked down at the fallen grate pressing my side with my magic. Well, that explains the metal hitting concrete. I thought. I looked down and to see how far the fall was. It appeared to be about nine or ten feet. Fuck me. I thought as I jumped down again. I hit the floor hard making me fall on my side from the pain that burned through my body. The dish towel was just soaked to the point that it didn’t really matter if I had it or not. I landed in a pool of cold blood, which I discovered it was the dead Zebra’s blood when I looked up. “Fuuuuuck me. Today is not my day.” I got up blood dripping from my side and still aching from the constant dull pain. It still burns like a bitch but, I’m becoming numb to it. I froze when I realized that. I was losing to much blood and becoming numb. I’m surprised that I haven’t gone into shock. I thought myself as I got to the dead Zebra, I heard something fall in the pipe. When it hit the count it sounded like a dull thunk. I looked to see what appeared to be a metal apple, rolling toward me. I raised an eyebrow at this. “What the hell?” I looked at it for a moment.

My mind thought about this for a brief moment then, it clicked “Shit!” I yelled. Before I knew I threw the Zebra with a strength that I didn’t know that I had left. The body covered the grenade just as it exploded sending gore and blood across the my face and wall. “Gross.” I said wiping away the blood and gore from my face. I looked down at the Zebra to see that his lower half was blown clean off leaving the upper body armor intact but, just barely. When I flared my horn, I noticed that I could only hear ringing and my thoughts. I staggered toward the Zebra to see if I can recover anything. I turned his upper half over with my magic to see that his kit was still intact. I breathed a sigh of relief and immediately regretted as more pain shot up from my side.

His kit was covered in blood but, I really didn’t give a shit as I took it off and placed it next to me against the wall of a corridor. I froze when I saw the kit laying against the wall like I set it. Can I really do this? I thought as I looked at the dead Zebra. I looked at his eyes, which one was missing. I felt the bile building up in my throat but, I pushed back down. I looked at the stupid smile on his face. You know fuck it. He tried to kill me. So, he deserved to die like the way he did. I thought as took his rifle. Plus, he won’t be needing this now. I thought taking his pistol, that had fallen from his holster on his leg for a quick draw. I looked at the kit and med kit that was all I could salvage. I opened the med pack and found some stuff that survived the blast.

A bottle of morphine in pill form, some pads of gauze, a bottle of anti-bacterial gel, several rolls of bandages, a roll of magical bandages, a stitching kit and a bottle of pink liquid in a glass bottle with a inscription on it. It said: Experimental healing potion. Use if necessary. I decided that I would save it for later. I was surprised that the morphine and the healing potion survived the blast. I decided to use some of the regular bandages and some gauze. I slathered gel on two things of gauze then, placed them on the two wounds made by the bullet that struck me. I then, wrapped the bandages around the entire diameter of my body several time to secure the gauze. I could still feel the blood soaking in the gauze but, it held. I sighed, sitting against the wall with the rifle between my legs and pointing forward. I looked at the vest kit that I got off the Zebra. It might fit. I thought as I put it on. It was cold from the blood and gore. I cringed on the inside thinking about it.

But, I didn’t have the strength to do it on the outside. It fit nicely but, I only had about four magazines and the one in the rifle which it felt lighter then the others; so, about half the weight. I used the rifle as a crutch a little to get to my hoofs. I looked at my watch. It was eight forty-two. Damn, time sure flies by when you are fighting for your life. I thought with a chuckle. The pain still shot up my side but, it wasn’t as bad as before. But, it still hurt. I looked up and down the corridor trying to find out which way I should go. I decided to follow my gut and went to the right side of the corridor. As I walked the thoughts of today’s event went through my head. “Wow, it is just amazing that one moment that I was eating with my brother, then the next I’m fighting for my life during an attack by the Zebra nation. I chuckled at the dark humor as I turned right at a cross section leading with the pistol in my magic.

I continued down the dark corridor to a metal door that had seen some use. I opened the door and it slid down into a slot in the frame. The moment it fell a mare with a green coat had a pistol in my face. It was the same kind I had. Then, everything went into a haze. I remembered saying “Help me.” Before I blacked out.

********

About an hour according to my watch. I woke up on a bed that had been used before for many different reasons from the stains and smell coming from it. I looked up to the mare with a pistol aimed at my head. She was a clover green coat with a navy blue mane. She stared at me with annoyance mixed with curiosity in her eyes. I sat up with the pistol following me. “I see that you’re awake. Now, before you say anything, I want to ask some questions; Like why do you have blood on the bayonet on your rifle?” she asked calmly sitting on her bed.

I was confused for a second until I realized that I was still alive. “What?” I asked still confused on where I am.

“I said why do you have blood on the bayonet on your rifle? Don’t make me ask again.” She said cocked the hammer on the pistol. Her voice sounded a little irritated.

I froze for a moment then, I felt warm for some reason. I looked down to see that I was bandaged better then, I did. I looked at her and it seemed that she was starting to lose her patience. “It was already there when I killed the Zebra.”

She raised an eyebrow. “You killed a Zebra?” I nodded in response. “What’s your name?”

I gulped. “M…My name is J…Jack rabbit.” I said stuttering very hard. “N…Nice to met you.” I said moving a little winched from the sharp pain that shot up my side.

She noticed that and started to look at my hoof that was pressing my left side. “You’ve been shot, several times.” She said with a concerning motherly voice but, that changed quick as she made a correction. Her eyes starting to ease but, her body language I was still tense. “Come over here and sit in the chair” She said with a mid-way of the motherly voice and hardened soldier; while waving the pistol. I complied to the demand and sat down in a chair next to the bed. She came closer to me still with the pistol at my temple. She sat down on the bed. “ Stay still.” She said as she started to remove some of the bandages to show my wounds. I had no choice but to let her do what she is going to do. When she saw the wounds that I received. “So, you mean to tell me that you killed a Zebra, by accident?” She said taking off the rest of the bandages making me winch. I nodded my head. “It looks like you were telling the truth from the away your wounds look. It seems that you have pieces of what looks like the outer shell of a fridge, plus you‘re covered in somepony else’s blood and a little brain.” the bile began to build in my throat but, I fought it down but, twisted away if I lost the battle. She looked up at me when I made to twist away from her. “Don’t be a baby at least is not your’s. But, You are covered in tiny bits of shrapnel, a clean bullet wound and several grazed cuts. You know from how dry your blood is that you’ve been bleeding for about an hour before you collapsed in from of me.” She paused a moment before looking at the kit that I took from the Zebras then, back at me. “I want to ask you a question, Rabbit.”

I looked at her in the eyes, making the pistol point to the right side of my forehead. Her eyes were brown walnut. “What is that?”

She stared right into my eyes, hers were filled with fear mixed with anger but, tired. “What the fuck are doing down here? And why did you kill the Zebra?” she said pressing the pistol hard into my forehead.

I gulped. “I…I had to or I was going to die. I had to slid down the drainage pipe behind my fridge in order to survive the bullets that the Zebras were shooting through my house. I only survived because I got out. I was panicking, and I just took a frying pan and smacked the Zebra in the back of the head when he was about to execute me . When he was supposed to report in, his team came in and started tearing up my house. I didn’t even mean to kill him. When I began to slide down, my magic was around his rifle. But, his sling was still around his body. When I was going down, his body followed me. I guess his buddies saw this and began to fire on me. When I got to the bottom, I was questioning should it steal from this Zebra. Then, I heard something fall and hit the ground with a dull thunk. When I realized that it was a grenade, I pushed the Zebra onto the grenade, which I think is where I killed him. As for why I’m here, I don’t know. I just wondered into here just trying to find a place to rest for a bit before I could see if I can find my siblings.”

She looked like she was in deep thought and with her magic de-cocked the pistol. “Alright, I believe you. But, that doesn’t mean I trust you. No pony I know can kill a highly trained black ops Zebra with just pure luck and a frying pan. Plus, I heard the grenade go off.” She said putting the pistol in her vest holster. She looked back at me before laying on the bed. “You can sleep same bed that you did earlier. But, if you come near me in anyway other then to wake me, if we are being attacked. I. Will. Shoot. You. Dead.” She said rolling away from me. I looked at the bed that she was talking about, it was kind of dirty but, I really don’t give a shit right now. I laid down and took a deep breath. I tried to sleep but, it never came. Everything from the last few hours rushed through my head like a raging river. I closed my eyes but, nothing. I sighed. And laid there for a few moments in silence. “The name is Velvet. And you’re not the only one that has to kill to survive today.” I sat there for a few moments and closed my eyes. Thinking about what she said. Then, about an hour later according to my watch I had fallen asleep but, I woke up to sounds of sobbing. I just barely turned my head and I saw that Velvet was crying with a picture in her hoofs. I couldn’t tell what it was but, I could see a green blob along with two other ponies. One was bigger then, the green and it was a whitish color but, what got me was the smallest one that was on top of the bigger one. It was a bluish color but, before I couldn’t see anymore as she put it in her vest and laid her head back down on the pillow

I sighed and closed my eyes then, laid on my back with my front hoofs on my chest. “What a fucking day.” I said closing my eyes, waiting for sleep to come.

“Tell me about it.” Velvet said in response with a sigh.

______________________________

Chapter end.

“Alright, you’ve just escaped the execution squads during the main invasion. When you killed one of their members, you slid down a pipe to the underground metro maintenance. Then, the Zebras threw down a hoof grenade after you. And when it exploded it She asked you what you doing in there. When you told her that you escaped the Zebras and they thought that you were dead. Then, she told you that you can sleep there. What’s going to happen next? What was that photo you saw? Tell us everything.” the pony in a sharp olive suit said to the pony wearing full body armor with a smoking cigarette in his mouth.

“Calm the fuck down and have your de-caf. I’ll tell you everything but, that takes time.” the buck said named Jack rabbit levitating the cigarette and flicking the ash in a ashtray.
____________________________

Author's Note

Well… this is just a trial run because I feel like this is somewhat a Red Dawn or Home Front Crossover. But, I hope that everyone that read this likes it and put some helpful comments or something like that please.

Hope you can shoot

‘Running. If you need to run to survive, then run. Keep running until your legs fall out from under you then… you crawl.’

The sounds of my watch woke me up like it does every morning. My eyes opened to see that Velvet pacing back and forth waiting for something. I sat up and yawned. “Morning.” I said doing that thing with your mouth in the morning.

“Thank Celestia you’re up. Lets get the fuck out of here!” She said hurdling my armor and rifle at me. I caught both of them in my magic before they made a crater in me. I undid the straps of the body armor and slipped it over my body and re-strapped it. I put the rifle next to me on the bed, the bayonet was gone. Looked down at my kit and it was no where to be found. I shrugged it off. I noticed that my bandages were wrapped around my body a little better then, I remember when I placed the strap where it was supposed to be. The dry blood was wiped off my dark blue fur. I looked at her as she looked at the ceiling as a little dirt came down.

“What’s going on?” I asked still dreary from the abrupt awaking but, what I got as an answer was the ground above us shook violently. Some more dirt fell from the ceiling onto the floor.

“That’s what going on, you moron!” She said pointing at the ceiling with her hoof, staring me in the eye. “The Zebras are starting to bomb the hell out of the city. And some of the bombs have already collapsed some of tunnels!” She yelled apple bucking open the door to what appears to be metro tunnel that has collapsed, the sounds of planes and gunfire flooded my hearing along with the blinding light of the morning. “We’ll through here and find some better cover.” She said running out leading with her rifle. “Lock and load, lets hit the road!” I did exactly that. I placed a magazine in the rifle and pulled back the charging handle. I released it with a satisfying clank. She looked at me and nodded ran out the door and I followed into the fray. Then, panic. I ran with my life as Zebras on the surface looked down at me and fired at me with their weapons. The bullets hitting all around me, a few grazing me in the back and legs. Warm blood was oozing downing my body as I ran. I saw some pillars, which I saw that Velvet was firing from with her rifle taking one down. One less Zebra shooting at me. But, as she continued to fire the Zebras moved back away from the fire.

I slid behind the pillars just as the Zebras were firing again but, this time at Velvet all at once; Forcing her to stay behind her cover as the bullets ate away at it. I took a deep breath before I began to fire my rifle at the Zebra wildly just hoping they would back off for a bit while she got a chance to recover for a moment. The firing forced them back for a second I continued to fire until I heard a click. “FUCK!” I yelled as I drew in my rifle and took out the empty. I kept the empty one and put it back in my pouch. I took out a fresh one and cocked the mag in with a clank. I drew back the charging handle and loaded the round. But, instead of firing I peaked around the corner and saw that Zebras were repealing down into the tunnel getting nearer to us. I turned to Velvet to see that she saw this too. “We need to get the fuck out of here!” I yelled firing my rifle wildly knocking one down the fifteen foot drop.

“I know but, there aren’t any exits this way. Also, the bombers are making another run! DUCK!” was all I heard as the sounds of explosions came in waves one right after the other. I ducked right behind the pillar just as two bombs exploded one on the surface and the second one in the tunnel itself killing a couple of the Zebras. The blast from the bomb inside the tunnel flew right past me. I could see the flames lick around the sides of the pillar. If I didn’t duck when I did, well… I hope they like barbeque. I looked at the Zebras that weren’t obliterated by the blast. Why are they killing their own soldiers? I don’t get it. I thought as the sounds of the planes started to fade. When the bombing run stopped the sounds of gunfire coming at us stopped. I looked around the pillar once again to see that the ropes snapped when the bombs fell. “Alright, that should be over for a few minutes before they send reinforcements, lets collect what we need and get the hell out of here and fast before more decide to bring some more chips and dip.” Velvet said going up to the dead Zebras. When I got to the Zebras I realized that the resulting concussions from the bombs killed the rest of the Zebras on the ground dead. Except for one. He was really burnt, how he survived the bomb I’ll will never now but, he will stay in my mind.

“Hey, I think that one of them is alive.” the moment I said that Velvet’s head shot up from what she was getting. She came to me and the alive Zebra that was now trying crawl away for dear life. He turned around on his back and looked at me as Velvet drew her pistol and without batting an eye she shot him in between the eyes, splattering his brains across the cement. I felt sick when I saw the blood and brains across the ground. This time I wasn’t able to hold the bile. I turned around away from Velvet and now dead Zebra, then vomited; mixing my bile with blood and gore on the concrete.

Velvet saw this and patted me on the back as I vomited what was left in my stomach and then some. It hurt but, I had worse. Hell, I‘ve been shot. I thought as I wiped my mouth. “Don’t worry you’ll get used to it soon. Don’t worry, they would have killed you without a thought. Now, lets get out of here before more of them show up.” I nodded as I took out his ammo for my rifle and pistol until I had filled all the pouches and pockets. I paused before I levitated his dogtags out. I tore them off and placed them in a pocket in the body armor. I sighed then, went though another Zebra that appeared to be a medic and I took his pack. I could hear the bottles and medical supplies as I picked it up with my magic. I still can’t believe just twenty-four ago I was home getting ready for work and played a game of CoD online before I left. Ironic, I think as I was killing other ponies on a game. It feels totally different, then on the game. After I took what I need, I looked up to see that Velvet was already walking down the tunnel with her rifle at the ready.

I was breathing very hard by the time I reached her. The weight of the med pack was really heavy. “So, where are we going?” I asked, catching my breath.

She thought about that for a second before she replied. “Well…I’m going to meet up with a group of fighter of what’s left of the National guard that are fighting the Zebra army until the rest of the military gets here. You on the other hoof. I don’t know nor care.”

I stopped when I heard this, while she continued to walk away. I thought about it for a moment. “Can I come with you?”

She chuckled at this. “No. I have enough trouble, just keeping me alive. I don’t need a soft pony wet behind the ears to baby-sit.” she said with enthusiasm with a mix of scolding

I was a little frustrated with this as I replied. “Eh? Why, not!? With two we can watch each other’s back. We can patch each other up when we are shot, like you did with me when I was out.” I yelled. She turned around in shock as I said that. “Yes, I know. My bandaging skills are not that good and I can tell if somepony did it for me or I did. I covered you when you were being pinned down by the Zebras back there!” I said jumping in front of her, making her stop. “So, tell me why do you want me gone?” I said.

She stared at me with a little fear in her eyes. But, not the kind of fear brought by guns or violence but, the kind that is brought by memories. The kind that brings back a flash back. Then, she snapped out it and shook her head. “Alright, you can come with me but, after we meet the resistance. You and me are done. Got that?” She said sticking her head high.

I smiled at this. “Alright, so where ar…” I was interrupted by the rumbling in my stomach. I blushed with a sheepish grin. “So…breakfast?” I said with a chuckle. She faced hoofed.

“Alright, but don’t b…” She was interrupted by her stomach rumbling. She sighed. “Alright, breakfast.” she said trying to keep a professional face but, she blushed from embarrassment. After about ten more minutes of walking down the tunnels enough that I had to glow my horn to make light. It was a dim green light that showed only about three meters away. We found a spot that wasn’t wet and hidden.

I took out the one of Three MREs that I got from the Zebras. It was oat pasta with red sauce, with a side of dried apples in a little packet. I poured a some water in the main packet and it started to steam. “Amazing what magic can do.” I said as my meal was getting ready with a little of a peppy mood as I haven’t eaten since lunch yesterday.

Velvet looked at me with a raised eyebrow then, shrugged and looked down at her MRE. She began to eat, and after taking a few bits. She looked back up. “Is there anypony in the city that you’re worrying about?” She said breaking the silence.

I froze at the question and the memories of my sister and brother came to mind. After I swallowed the food I had in my mouth. “My brother and sister.” I said flatly looking her straight in the eye. She froze in mid-bit as I was speaking. “I’m going to find them. And if I find that anypony. Zebra and pony alike are trying to stop me from finding me. I will destroy them.” I said flatly returning to my food.

She looked at me with a little concern. We sat there in silence until we finished our meals and threw the wrappers away. We continued to walk in silence down the metro tunnel for about an hour and an half minutes until we came to a station. We hugged the walls as we heard voice when we got closer to the station. I drew my pistol as I took point. I peaked around the wall trying to see through the darkness. But, as my eyes adjusted from the light from my horn to the almost pitch black darkness, I could see that this was a major metro station as it had elevated walkways and platforms over the tracks. There were four sets of tracks and two of which were occupied but, the trains were pretty much unusable. The tunnels behind them were somewhat collapsed just part of the support arc of the tunnels. I began to look on the boarding area, I wish I hadn’t but, I had to. The floor was covered in blood and gore, along with pieces of body parts. Bodies slung over the railing and edges of the boarding area all of them dead, each were killed without mercy. Some of them still had the look when they died, pure terror. I saw a couple Zebras on the floor too but, they were just like any other pony here.

Each pony had a hole in their heads, execution style even though most of them were already shot several times. I saw that a few of the mares had fresher wounds, lacerations to their rears and they had tear stains around their eyes. I sadly concluded that they were rape then, killed. It made me sick to my stomach, I nearly threw up again but, I fought it down. I sighed to the fact of the dead bodies, it didn’t matter if you were a pony or Zebras as long as you lived here, then you died. I looked for a way onto the boarding area. I noticed a set of stairs leading up to it and that when I noticed the light from the entrance along with several voices came from the entrance point of the boarding area. The sounds of laughter, playing cards and bottles told me that they were celebrating. That pissed me off a lot but, I decided to keep calm as I turned to Velvet and she nodded. I switched to my rifle as I climbed the stairs to the boarding area. I hugged the wall to the entrance to see that there were three mares tied up together and gagged on top of the overhanging platform.

I could faintly hear their sobbing and it pulled on my heart. Fuck, why do I have to have consensus? I thought as I looked at Velvet. “Velvet, there are three mares tied up on the overhanging platform. We should free them before we go farther. ” She sighed a little but, nodded in agreement. I peaked behind the wall to see the Zebras were still playing their card game. I took a deep breath as I slowly back away trying to step on any thing, which was kind of hard as the entire floor was covered in bodies. I just took one step at a time, over a body or pool of blood. Careful not to make a noise as I reached the stairs leading up the platform, which is kind of hard with hoofs on a tile floor. Thankfully, The Zebras didn’t hear me and didn’t see me thanks to the darkness but, I could see them. There were four of them each that standard Zebra soldier from my accounts. Blood soaked gear, wicked smiled and a laugh that makes you cringe. I turned around as I slowly as Velvet got to the stairs was a little more trouble but, didn’t make a noise and stayed out of sight.

When Velvet and me got to the stair we say the three mares still sobbing, all of them bloody and beaten to an inch of their lives. When they saw us they started to panic as we got closer. I started to panic as I tried to calm them down. But, before I could say anything Velvet to my side and started to untie and ungag the mares. “Keep quiet do you want us to get caught and killed?” she hissed as I sat there next to her when I heard a snort behind us. I took out my pistol to see a sleeping guard behind us. Velvet looked at me then, the guard, “Take care of him.” She whispered as she began to untie the second mare. I looked on my vest and saw that there wasn’t a knife in the sheath. ’Fuck!’ I thought as I looked for one. I saw my chance for a knife on the guard himself. It had a retention sheath making the knife hard to get out without waking the guard. I flared my horn a little, slowly opening the retention part of the sheath at the hilt. The knife began to slowly slid out of the sheath little by little.

Thank Celestia that he is a heavy sleeper. I thought as I wiggled it out a little more. But, I stopped when his watch started to beep and he started to wake from the noise. Velvet‘s head whipped around to the watch as it started to get louder. I took a deep breath and with my hoof I pressed the button and it stop the beeping, the Zebra slowly fell back to sleep. I then finally pulled the knife all the way and had it in my aura. Velvet just released the last mare, with a relieving sigh. I looked at the Zebra as he slept and hesitated. ’Should I kill him? Why should I kill him? We’ve already got the mares and freed them. Can I take another being’s life while his sleeping? Well, he is defenseless?’ I thought with the knife in my aura shaking. Velvet saw this and shoved me aside and took the knife in her own aura. “If you don’t have the balls to do it then, let me do it. We don’t have time for this.” She hissed as she plunged the knife into the Zebra’s neck. Blood began to spew out in a uncontrollable way. The Zebra was dead in a matter of seconds. Again the bile began to build up but, not as much as it used to. I swallowed it down with some force. I took a breath when I did swallow it. I looked back at the mares that seemed traumatized by the act of Velvet plunging the knife into a sleeping Zebra.

They seemed so terrified that they didn‘t move. I sighed and looked at them. “Don’t worry about him. He would have killed us the moment that he saw us. Then, they would’ve rape you.” I said giving a moment for that to set in. “The tunnel that we came in isn’t collapsed all the way. Go down there until you find a giant hole in the ceiling of the tunnel and to your right will be a metro employee lounge. It is somewhat reinforced. It has supplies and a radio.” I paused for a moment if I forgot something. I turned to the rifle and pistol on the now dead guard. I flared my horn enough just to grab the weapons. I gave one of the mare a pistol and a second the rifle. They looked at me with a concerned look. “Take these. If you find a Zebra that is attacking you. Just aim down the sights and pull the trigger. Only fire if you need to. Got it?” They nodded as the two mare bit into the weapons and began to sneak down the stairs. One mare stayed with us as she looked at me. “Go, before the bullets start flying.” I said with concern.

She shook her head. “No. Not, until I give you give this.” She said going into a trash can right next to her and taking out a cloth wrapped object. “It was my father’s. He gave it to me when I moved here to Baltimare. He said that it saved his life during the Changeling War. Since you saved mine. I want you to have it. It may save yours.” She said smile a closed eye smile. She opened her eyes and looked at me again. “But, I want it back. So, when you feel like giving me that back; I’ll give you something in return but, you just have to wait to find out. Also, if you wondering. My name is Simmering River” She said giving me a wink. My face started to burn like a forest fire. Even, in this place I was being hit on? Today is going to be interesting. I thought as she snuck down stair and to the tunnel with her waiting friends.

Velvet came me a smirk and I started feel the fire again. “Alright, that was the mares, lover colt. Happy, now? Cus, we’ve got some Zebra ass to kick.” Velvet said she as checked her magazine. I nodded but, I hesitated as I looked down at the cloth covered object in my aura. I unwrapped it to reveal a revolver with a blued steel frame. It has been used a lot before with all of the teeth marks and scratch marks on it.
On the side of the barrel it said: .44 Magnum. I swung out the barrel and there were four fired shells and two still not fired. I check my magazine in my rifle and clicked it back in.

“Alright, lets do this because I’m really starting to hate subways.” I said as we came down the stairs running.

One of the Zebras got up and stretched. “I’m going to check on Xai and see how he’s doing.”

“He’s doing just fine. He is taking a nice long nap now.” Velvet said aiming her rifle at the Zebra that was about to check on his friend. “ Miss us?” Velvet said as the Zebra standing up tried to reach for this rifle. “No, I don’t think so.” She said as she fired once and shot him in the head. The Zebras sat there in shock as one of their teammates’ blood is pooling on the ground. Velvet’s voice went demonic for a moment as she said. “Now, you’ve got hell to pay for what you did to all of these innocent ponies. Now you die.” When she was finished she mowed them down. Their blood was like a new coat of paint on the walls. Damn, it was bloody. I looked at Velvet as she mowed them down. She was crying as she did it but, wiped them away when she reloaded. She still had the sob voice when she spoke “Alright, that should have their hair in a mess. Lets run and kill any Zebra that we find. Have no mercy, remember they stand between us and the surface. There we move should move west toward the National guard depot.” Velvet and me perked our ears as hoofs came down weighted down hoofs came running to our ears. Shit. “Hope, you can shoot.” Velvet said flipping the metal table that the Zebras were playing on, spilling chips and cards across the floor. I got behind a pillar scared out of my mind as the sounds of hoofs steps got closer. ‘Can I do this? Can I take a life even after all the shit they’ve done to me. I’m not a fighter, but I want to live. FUCK! Why can’t I do this?! You are a fucking excuse as a stallion, Jack Rabbit! A fucking excuse’ I thought as Velvet reloaded and threw me a taped magazine from one of the Zebra‘s rifles. Two magazines were taped together upside down. “That will help and make sure to use your ammo wisely. Don’t fire wildly or it could get us both killed. Now, get ready for a fight!” She said looking over the table and firing her rifle into a group of Zebras. A few of them went down and the other looked for cover. They, fired on us with no mercy. The bullets pounded on the pillar and table that Velvet and me were taking cover in.

I looked around the pillar and I fired. The bullets of my rifle went straight into a Zebra. Then, time went to a crawl. I could see the blood splatters out of his and I could see him gasp in mid-air, when he felt the pain. Then, everything sped up and he fell to the ground. I nearly dropped my rifle but, I couldn’t I just continued to fire in bursts, to save ammo. I knocked down three more but, they just kept coming. I turned and placed my back against the pillar. I took out the magazine and twisted it a 180 degrees and reloaded. “Velvet, these guys just keep coming!”

“I know but, we need to get to the surface or this place with collapse on top of us!” She yelled firing her pistol as a Zebra got too close.

“WHAT!” I yelled as I pulled back the charging handle and chambered a round. “What do you mean that this place is going to collapse!”

“You didn’t see the damage from earlier! They were bombing the hell out of this place and the supports can’t handle this kind of abuse. This place will collapse on us in a matter of minutes!” She yelled as she fired her rifle again, downing two other Zebras. I looked at the pillar that I was taking cover behind. The cracks were slithering down the concrete like a snake through the jungle and fast.

“FUCK!” I yelled as parts of the pillar began to crumble. I jumped out to avoid being crushed by a part of the pillar as it fell. A bullet hit me in the chest but, the armor protected me just barely as I could feel the burning mushroom of the bullet. I realized that I was out in the open. ‘Fuck it.’ I thought as I charged them, as I fired. Bullets whizzed all over me but, for some reason I wasn’t scared as I downed three of the last Zebras behind some of the pillars. Then, silence for a moment. I was breathing heavily as I could feel the pain of the bullets that grazed me and the few that hit my body armor. It hurt but, it was a dull, sore pain, like a bruise or several.

Velvet looked up to see that I was standing after my charge. She came to me with anger in her eyes and voice. “What the fuck is wrong with you?! Why in the hell did you charge them, like a fucking Timber wolf on fucking Dash?! You could’ve been killed and I don’t want that on my shoulders!” She was about to say more but, then the sounds of concrete hitting concrete came from the stations. Velvet and me turned around to see that the ceiling was collapsing in the stations and then, the cracks began to run down the ceiling over us. “RUN!” was all she said before the ceiling started to collapse over us.

“FUCK!” I yelled as we ran. The pieces of debris were following us like a boulder in a ancient tunnel. The collapse was going from underground to surface. We ran through crowds of confused Zebras as the ceiling was following us. They were crushed as they tried to fire on us. Those stupid bastards, they should‘ve ran. We made our way through the bag check and the security office taking a few more bullets our way as we ran pass them. I heard Velvet grunt when we passed the office. I moved behind her just in case if she fell down. A few Zebras decide to fuck it and run besides to fire on us. ’At least some of them are smart’ I thought as I tiny bit of concrete hit me in the head. “Ow.” I said as I rubbed my head. Then, we got to the to the ticket booths and maintenance offices. Some of the Zebras had set traps before we got there for any pony that planed to ambush them. One was three grenades on a trip wire hanging over our heads. I nearly got my ass blown off but, good thing I was running for my life. And of course they have fucking motion sensor landmines. They exploded all around us and I could feel the warming feeling of blood on my flanks. Then, the last but, not least. They, had placed four semi auto shotguns in front of the entrance. I took a few of the buck shot pellets to my side and I moved about a foot to the right as we ran up the stair to the chain link entrance. Then, it stopped. The collapse stopped about five feet from where we dropped on the stairs leading up to the surface. But, the Zebras continued to run to the surface. “Damn. Now, that’s a way to get you morning run.” I said with a chuckle but, I stopped when the pain in my chest came to the realization that I was hit several times.

“How are doing on ammo?” Velvet said taking a drink of water from her canteen.

I looked down at my kit and replied “I’ve got four more mags and a maybe ten rounds in my rifle. You?”

“Pretty much the same.” She said looking down at me from a couple steps above me. Then, she saw the blood flowing down the stairs. “You are a bullet magnet you know that? But, good thing you took that med pack.” She said with that same motherly tone mixed with concern. She used her magic to take off my body armor which kind of made me feel naked for some reason. “Shit. How in the hell are you still alive?” She said as moved my fur from a few spots. “You took some bullets to the chest which as bruised you badly, you took some buckshot to the side from those shotguns, which several had gone through, plus in a matter of dumb luck it probably just grazed some internal organs. It didn’t hit anything too badly.“ I knew that she was lying. From the way my insides hurt I could tell that they hit something pretty bad. She continued to look at me. “ You took some shrapnel from the grenades and mines in your ass and legs. You are some piece of work you know that? But, you can take some punishment, I ought to give you that.” She said this time with chuckle but, she winched and she stopped.

I saw this and saw that blood was flowing freely through her green coat. “You’re shot.” I looked to see that she had been shot in the shoulder, probably during the run. How she was able to run after that during the collapse, I will never know but, I sat up which made her made but, I ignored it. “I need to help you.” I said starting to open the med pack.

“What?! Why!?” She said like a child who was about to be force to take their medicine

I sighed “Because, even my doctor can get hurt and she needs my help now.” She went silent as she realized that I was right. “Now, drink this. This is an experimental healing option. The Zebra that attacked me in my home, he had it on him after I killed him.”

She gulped as she took it in her magic and was about to put it to her lip. But, she hesitated and looked at it then, she looked at me. “Wait, can’t we split it? Because, you are pretty banged up, and that is a understatement.” she said stating the obvious. This time I went quiet as I realized that she was right when I looked at me without my body armor.

I sighed and looked down at my body then, back at her. “Ok, I’ve got a cup right here so we can split it.” I said flaring my horn taking a metal canteen cup from my pack. I placed it on the step as my head was starting to pound hard. “Just pour it in and I’ll be ready.” I said rubbing my head. She poured about half of the round bottle’s contents into the cup. I smiled and looked up at Velvet, raising the cup. “Well, over the lips, through the gums, watch out stomach, here it comes.” I said before I chugged it down. It tasted nasty like a cupcake made with rotten eggs but, not as bad as my school food in high school. When I looked down, Velvet had finished hers and I could almost immediately see that the flow of blood was stopping and the holes and cuts were closing and healing. “Damn.” Was all I could say as the bullet wounds on Velvet started to heal before my eyes.

“Right, damn. Your bruises are healing along with the wounds from the buckshot.” then, I heard something fall out of the ground. It was tiny bits of metal tumbling onto the ground. I saw a piece fall out of the wound it made. I got up and I couldn’t feel any of the pain. “How are you feeling?” I asked Velvet as she got up.

“Pretty, damn good. Right now.” she replied shaking her shoulder. “And my shoulder doesn’t hurt like a bitch any more. Since, it doesn‘t hurt now and we‘re not being shot at I can do this.” I was confused for a moment as she said that. Then, she slugged me in the leg. “That was for charging like a fucking idiot into a crowd of Zebras firing on you without considering your own safety, you dumb ass. But, this is for helping me.” She said hugging me, which made me blush like a wild fire again. When she released me from her grasp, she slugged me in the leg again. “And that was to make up for it. And don’t expect me to give out that many hugs. Now, lets get the fuck out of here. From what I could tell this was an outpost.” She said opening the gate with a smirk. I pulled on my armor and kit then, got up. I walked up to catch up to Velvet to the gate. She looked at me as we walked out.

The moment that we walked outside we heard the sounds of rifles being cocked and was blinded by headlights. “Drop your weapons or we shoot!” said a voice over a microphone. We dropped our rifles and pistols. I even had to put down the revolver that Simmering River gave me. I looked down where I were standing. We were behind a bunch of bodies that seemed to be shot down. Their weapons scattered around like sand at a beach. I was about to step on one right in front of me.

“Wait! We’re ponies! Don’t shoot!” Velvet said to the masked figures with no noticeable markings on their armor. Just black.

There was silence for a moment before one of them came to us and looked at both of us. The figure turned its head toward what appeared to be a Humvee with a mounted machinegun. “There telling the truth, sir! These are captured Zebra weapons and body armor.” He said pointing at our equipment. “They’re civs and from the way there armor looks they were the ponies responsible for the firefight that we heard!” He looked at us. “Don’t worry your safe. I can see that you two have a long walk.” He said with a chuckle.

I breath a sigh of relief as the figure on top of the Humvee was a pony as he took off his mask. There was a three long scars running along the side of his face from his ear to the base of his jaw . “So, I hear that you can fight.” He was about to say some more with something that sounded like it was chopping the air come over the air. “Fuck!” as the pony on top of the Humvee turned to his left.

“Choppers inbound. I repeat Iron team, Choppers are inbound to your position. Do not engage. Avoid contact at all possible. We need you to see if there are any survivors of the metro collapse. I repeat look for survivors.” The pony’s radio in front of us rang out.

The pony on the Humvee looked at us with concern. “We can talk about your fighting later. Get in the fucking Humvee right now or we will be mincemeat.” Velvet and me looked at each other and nodded.

Velvet grabbed her weapons and ran in one of the Humvees that had a BAG (Big Ass Gun) on top of it. I grabbed my pistols and without looking I took a rifle. It felt a littler heavier for some reason but, I didn’t really notice at that moment. When the door closed, they gunned it and we were off.

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Chapter end

“You have just really pissed off the Zebras now. Now, they are not holding back since you just destroyed a critical supply point in the city. But, since they don’t really know who did it, they are now going to find a way to track who ever did it and they will kill innocent ponies to do it. Now, since it is gone. The power of that area is now up for grabs. Also, who are the ponies that you’ve contacted after the collapse?” The pony in front of Jack Rabbit said taking a drink of water.

“Well, I’ll just continue now.” Jack Rabbit said a little smile. “This is where the fun began.”
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Author's Note

Well, there we go Chapter two of this story. I hope that everyone that reads this likes it and please put, some good comments down below. Now, for Chapter three: Caution, Speed bumps.

Caution: Speed bumps

‘When you know that you are going into a fight. Make sure you know what you have and how to use it. But, if you don’t. When in doubt… blow shit sky fucking high.’

The buildings of the ruined city of Baltimare rushed past us as we rode in the Humvees “Copper still inbound and looking.” The pony on the radio said.

The pony riding shotgun picked up the radio and responded “Roger, X-Ray. We copy. This is Iron team, over and out.” When he was finished he placed the radio back on its hook. He turned to us and took off his mask. He was a young buck about my age. He had a light brown coat with an darker brown mane with blue eyes. “Alright, introductions are in order. I’m Silverback and this is my brother Razorback.” the driver grunted at his name. “He doesn’t talk much. But, our gunner here.” he pointed to the gunner on the BAG “Her name is Dust kicker.” she looked down and smiled at me while waving. I waved back. “So, why don’t you tell us who you are and why you were down there when the tunnel collapsed. Did you have something to do with that?” He asked.

I hesitated for a moment then, I said pointing to myself “Well, I’m Jack Rabbit and this is Velvet.” Pointing to her with my hoof. “As with the tunnel, well you know that bombing run about three klicks from here?” I asked. He nodded in response. “Well, we just wandered into the metro station trying to find a way to find what’s left of the National guard or resistance fighters. We freed three mares that were tied up and sent them down the south tunnel before the station collapsed. We killed the guard that was guarding the mare. When we went to the boarding area entrance where about four Zebras were posted to keep guard but, they were playing poker.” Silverback looked at me with a raised eyebrow. “Yeah, I know. But, with the tunnel. We…I mean Velvet here mowed them down and they didn’t know what hit them. But, after mowing the lawn more Zebras came rushing in and we had a short firefight. During the fight I noticed that the pillar that I was hiding behind was starting to crack and crumble. Hell, during the fight a giant piece nearly crushed me. Which I was caught in the open when they were firing at Velvet. I decided ‘Fuck it.’ I charged them firing my rifle catching them by surprise. I killed them by pure luck as I just fired wildly. Then, we had a moment of silence. We heard the sounds of concrete hitting concrete. I decided to look up to see that the cracks were coming fast and the tunnels were starting to collapse on us. Velvet can fill you in on how the tunnel collapsed.” I said giving it to Velvet.

She cleared her throat. “During the bombing run they were pretty much hitting the metro tunnels non-stop and they are not made to handle this kind of abuse. It was a matter of time before it went down. As for the outpost that was stationed there, well it was kind of half and half. We killed some of the soldiers stationed there but, the collapsed is what got rid of it. So, in short dumb luck.” She said with a shrug.

Silver rubbed his chin as he thought about this. “Ok, but how was this your fault?”

“Well, for one I killed a member of their spec ops team just trying to escape with my skin. That kind of pissed them off as they threw a grenade at me. For the tunnels we killed an ambush squad during the bombing run. We save three mares from being raped more and killed. Velvet killed about three or four Zebras that were playing poker. Then, we had to fight off a few waves of them before the collapse started and the collapse is what kind of destroyed the outpost. So, like Velvet said half and half.” I said tilting my hoof back and forth.

He raised another eyebrow at my story then, looked at Velvet. “Ok, Velvet, right?” She nodded. He looked at me. “Jack Rabbit?” I nodded. He took a breath. “Alright, but I got one question for your story.”

I raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“How in the hell did you survive that without a single scratch?” that made me and Velvet laugh out loud. “What’s so funny you two?” he said sounding a little annoyed.

“It’s just that… He is a fucking bullet magnet.” Velvet said gesturing toward me. “Sometimes or it is when he is underground. I don’t know how he is still alive but, he is. But, for us being unscathed it is that we did get shot up. We just took an experimental Healing potion. Rabbit, show him the bottle.” I smiled as I levitated the bottle into his view.

“Well… I be damned. You were telling the truth. Now, we are going to take you to our FOB or Forward operations base. As I like to call it home away from home.” he said turning around sitting in his seat. “Hope, you lik…”

“Hey, sorry to interrupt your little chat but, we’ve birds inbound and closing.” Dust kicker said turning around and charging the machinegun.

“Shit!” Silver said getting on the radio. “Iron one, this is Iron three do you copy!?” he said.

“This is Iron one, we copy.” it sounded like the pony that was threatening to shoot us

“Sir, we’ve got enemy birds inbound and closing. Do we engage?” he said, sweat starting to go down his brow.

After several painstaking seconds then, we heard the reply “Yes, you are clear to engage but, only engage if necessary. We don’t want the whole Zebra army after us. Do you copy, Iron Three?”

Sliver sighed in relief. “Dust you heard him, if he starts firing or gets too close, blast him out of the fucking sky! Yes, we copy. Just get your ponies ready sir because I think that we are in for a fight.

She smiled under her mask. “Yes, sir with pleasure.” She said getting ready. It was silent until the sounds of air being chopped filled the Humvee. Sweat was starting to go down the side of my head as I sat there. Helpless to do any thing to stop what was going after us. I then, looked down at my rifle and sighed. I realized that I grabbed the wrong one. Guess that explains the sudden increase in the weight of the rifle. I pressed the button next to what looked like a trigger and out came what looked like a giant cartridge with a blue bullet.

Silver saw this and moved back pressing his back on the console . “Is that live?!”

I shrugged and looked at him. “I think if it was live it would’ve killed us by now. But, what the hell is this?” I pointed at the thing under the barrel of my gun as I placed the cartridge back in and closed it shut. Silver took a deep breath of relief.

He smiled when he saw what it was. “That, my friend is an Equestrian standard issue under barrel grenade launcher. And when it shoots.” he quickly spread his hoofs to make it look like a explosion. “Boom. I’d save that if I was you.” he said getting back in his seat.

“CONTACT!” Dust yelled shooting off the machine gun. I looked back to see that there were two enemy choppers. One fired off a missile and it wound up hitting the humvee right in front of us, sending it straight into the air about ten feet. Right out of the gate. I thought as I saw the Humvee flying. The ponies inside of it, were dead the moment it went off. Poor bastards. I thought the moment I saw it hit the ground with a thud. That moment it wasn’t easy cruising as Razor gunned it to the max. We were now running for our lives…again. The choppers’ cannons started to go off hitting the ground right behind us and in front of us trying to take out both of the humvees.

Silver looked at Razor. “DRIVE, DRIVE, DRIVE! DRIVE, DAMN IT!” he yelled

Razor looked back at silver through his mask. “I’M DRIVING AS FAST AS I CAN! NOW, GET THE FUCK OFF MY BACK AND SHOOT THE DAMN BASTARDS! DUST GET THEM OFF MY BACK!” he yelled back taking a hard right turn, which almost made Dust fall out of the humvee.

“Can do! Say hello to my little friend!” She yelled as she was firing her gun. With the combined effort of both of the humvees the first chopper was starting to puff out black smoke.

A few of the cannon rounds started to come to the cabin of the humvee one grazing my ear. “FUCK!” I yelled feeling my ear and feeling the familiar warmth of blood on my hoof. Razor made a hard left turn sending me over Velvet into the window.

She shoved me back into my seat and looked at me with worry in her eyes. She was scared, even more then when we were running from the collapse. I looked at Razor and he was so sweating so much he took off his mask. He was a dark red color with a black mane. He was wide eyed trying to shake the birds but, I knew it was only a matter of time. I looked back at the birds and just as one of them shot a missile. The missile found it way to in front of the head humvee. When the smoke cleared the head humvee was still driving but, barely. The cannon fire started again tearing up the street sigh. Baltimare national broadcast center 15 M. Shit. I thought as the sounds of the cannons started rolling through the air. Then, as we pasted the sign the second bird came below the first and fired on us sending more rounds threw the cabin. Then, time slowed to a crawl once again. I saw Dust kicker’s chest explode as three rounds from the cannon hit her directly. I could see the blood droplets through the air and her shocked expression. Time sped up as she fell into the cabin in two. Now, for the second time today I vomited all that was in my stomach. I opened one of the doors and threw all of the contents of my stomach out into the chaotic streets. Bullets from the side gunner started to hit the inside of the door and one grazed my scalp, I yelped as I closed the door.

Silver looked back at me with concern. “Get on that gun while I can see if I can get any air support!”

I nodded but, I didn’t move. I know if I go out there. I would be cut to pieces. I thought to myself as I looked at Velvet and she was thinking the same thought. She looked back as Silver then back at me and said. “If you go out there for too long you are going to be cut to pieces.” she pressed her hoofs against my cheeks softly. “If you go out there aim for the rotor system and hydraulics area that’s where the engine is. It is already smoking from damage from Dust kicker. Don’t make her death meaningless. Now, get on that fucking gun and send those striped bastards straight to hell!” Silver and Razor yelled in agreement.

I took a deep breath before I jumped up and got on the gun and placed my hoofs on the fire controls. The wind pressing against my back sending my mane to the sides of my face. I took a deep breath as I pressed on the trigger pedal and the gun began to fire with a thump, thump, thump. I mean holy shit it kicked, if it was on a shoulder mounted platform; I don’t want to think about it. I continue to fire the machinegun making my hoofs sore from the recoil. I aimed the gun at the rotor as the cannon fire started come on hard now. Aimed straight at me as I started to make the tine grey smoke darker and darker until I couldn’t see through it. Then, the bird began to sway side to side trying to stay in the air. One more burst from the machinegun made it crash into a building killing the crew. “Alright, that is one but, we’ve got one more.” I yelled. But, as I said that, a round from the second bird hit the gun tearing it from the humvee, sending it down the street like a useless piece of metal. “FUCK!” I yelled as another burst from the cannon hit the humvee just as I dropped back into cabin making me yelp. “There goes the gun!” I yelled above the fire of the cannon then, I looked down grenade launcher.

Velvet saw this and looked up at me. “No, you can’t. You will be torn to pieces! Last time your just out there for a few seconds. You only have one shot and you have to aim to do this; That takes time and skill to shoot a grenade launcher.” she said in that same motherly voice every time I’m shot or wounded.

I looked at her straight in the eye. “I have to do this or we all we be torn to pieces. The only reason that we haven’t been blown straight into the air is that they need a hell of a lot of hits or kill us all. But, I won‘t let that happen.” I hugged her, leaving her shocked before I climbed back through the gunner’s port. I levitated the gun the cocked the grenade launcher. The pilot of the chopper saw this then, began to fire but, it stopped as he finally ran out of ammo for the cannon then, he began to bob and weave letting the side gunner take shots at me but, he still has one more missile. Just before I could get a straight shot, Razor made a hard turn left behind the head humvee making me slam against the side of the gunner‘s port. He straightened out again and I once again got my aim. But, so the pilot. Both me and the pilot fired our ordnance at each other at the same time. Then, the feeling of time slowing down hit again and I could see the missile and grenade pass each other. I saw the expression of the pilot of the chopper. He was smiling when my grenade hit but, his missile missed us but not the lead humvee. I turned around just to see the lead humvee was in the air and engulfed in flames. It hit the ground with a crash and I knew why he was smiling.

I dropped down into my sit with my rifle at my side with a smoking grenade launcher. When I fully sat down, I felt something wet and cold in my seat. I looked down to see that I was sitting in Dusk’s blood. I felt sick to my stomach, but I didn’t throw up; all did was just sit there in the cold blood. Not sure if it was mine or hers but, it has been exhausting day. I just want to sleep. I looked at my watch, that has some how managed to survive to this point. It was around 4:38 pm. I sighed and looked out into the ruined city as we crossed a small bridge. It was almost winter so, the sun usually set earlier then usual. I looked down at Dust Kicker to see that her eyes were still open. With my hoof I softly closed them. “At ease soldier, you’re time in hell is over and may you rest in piece.” I said getting the attention of Silver and Velvet, while Razor kept driving to a unknown destination.

Silverback sighed and turned around. “She was a good soldier. This was the way she wanted to go out. At least it was quick and painless. I think that was all she wanted, but you did good, Jack Rabbit. You deserve a rest, both of you.” he said looking at both me and Velvet. “For what you did, you did good. You could use some more training but, from what I can tell, experience is all you need. You do whatever it takes for you and those you care about to survive and fight again. For that I’m going to recommend you for the Luna’s rangers.

I sighed and looked at him. “Who are they?”

He smiled. “They do not exist…officially but, from what I’m allowed to tell you is that they go behind enemy lines, do sabotage, recon, hostage rescue, take downs, etc. Basically fucking shit up for the enemy and taking all that they can carry.”

“I’ve heard of these rangers. They did a great deal of work during the Changeling conflict eight years ago after the royal wedding of Shining Armor and Princess Cadence. I heard that they even took down an entire nest of changelings. My cousin was drafted into the army and when he came back he always were a patch on his jackets.” Velvet said interrupting but, taking a pause to think of the patch. “It was a sword with wings at the hilt spreading out to a ribbon that said: Silent, Hidden, Deadly. There was also a snake wrapped around the entire length of the blade. Its head was a the tip of the blade. I think so but, I can’t remember that much. That is just a rough guess.” That made Silverback silent and opened mouthed.

“I think that you hit the bulls eye on that one Velvet.” I said leaning toward her. She smirked.

I looked at Velvet then, at Silverback. “Alright, I’ll go but, only if you allow Velvet to go with me. She deserves this as much as me.” I nodded toward Velvet.

Silverback grinned. “Alright, she can come but, is there anything else that you need to know before we meet General Maple?”

He looked at Velvet and she shook her head. He then, looked at me. I paused for a moment to think of a question and then my siblings went through my head. “I’ve got one more question.”

He raised and eyebrow. “Shoot.”

I took a deep breath before I said “What happened to the University of Baltimare?”

He sighed, like his was thinking on what to say. “I’m sorry to say that the University…it was one of the first places that got hit for the most amount of kills.” I froze when those words met my ears.

“I…is…there a chan…chance that there is anypony alive?” I said looking at him with tears starting to build up in my eyes.

He smiled a shallow smile. “If you have family there then, yes there is a chance that they are alive but, the chances s…” Silver couldn’t finish his sentence as Razor interrupted him.

“Enough, chit chat. We’re here.” he said as we pulled into what appeared to be a reinforced radio broadcast station. Reminds me of a video game of some kind but, I can’t remember. All I can remember about the game that it had a lot of radiation and mutant animals. I shook my head to look at the structure that we were driving in. We drove into a underground garage that was guarded with razor wire, sandbags, and machineguns. When the guard ponies saw that only one of the Humvees returned they shook their heads in disbelief. Some saluted as we drove by.

When we entered the underground parking garage we saw nopony for about two floors. When we got on third floor some tents started to pop up then, I could see a med bay, a mess hall and several barracks with ponies in each. The ones that were outside the tents stared at us and all of the holes that filled the smoking Humvee. Razorback went to the spots dedicated to the Humvees. We parked next to five other humvees, which two looked like they have some small arms fire and the others look like they haven’t seen action yet. The one we had was the worst one with being blasted with a fucking cannon. To the left of us was a pile of parts around a frame that was black, I think that they used it for spare parts or something like that. We stopped right next to pile and got out. Razorback and me got out the driver’s side while Velvet and Silverback got the other side and we met behind the Humvee. It is amazing that it survived the onslaught of lead and cannon fire. I thought as I went around the Humvee. When we got behind the Humvee. We were about to discuss what we were going to do next but, Razorback and Silver both saluted in front of me. I raised and eyebrow until I turned around to see a pony in a general’s outfit with two soldiers behind him. He appeared to be about in mid-forties with a buzz cut and clean shave for a pony. “Lieutenant Silverback. Sergeant Razorback at ease. Where is the rest of your convoy?”

Silverback came up and stood up as straight as possible. “Lieutenant Silverback reporting. Our convoy sir…” Silver hesitated looking for a way to tell about the two birds.

“They were destroyed. Weren’t they?” He asked with some sadness I his voice.

“Yes, sir. We lost Iron one and Iron two during an ambushed by two enemy A32 Vulture gunships. They used C61 High Explosives rockets and 20mm miniature Vulcan cannons. They used the rockets to kill and destroy Iron one and Iron two. Sadly, to say also that Corporal Dust Kicker was KIA en-route to base. She was hit in the chest with several 20mm rounds. She is still in the Humvee, Sir.”

“Did they follow you?” He said with more concern in his voice.

I stepped up. “No, they didn’t we made sure of that. Sir.” I said stepping toward him.

“Who are you, civ?” the soldier to the general’s right said with a snarky tone. Like he thought he was over me. Oh hell no.

I stared him right in the eye then, I looked at the General. “I’m sorry for what about to say. It’s for him and not at you sir.” he nodded and I looked at the soldier, who looked like he was about to draw a gun. “I’m the civ that took down the two birds that were about to cut the rest of Iron team to bits. I came here to rest. But, most of all after killing Zebras just to survive. I heard about you, so I had to make it down here so I can meet you asshole.” I said with a wide open smile, sticking out my hoof.

“Why you little…” he was about to say some more but, the General put his leg in front of the soldier’s chest.

“Calm down you two.” The General said looking at both of us. He looked at the soldier. “Sgt. Marble I want you to go to my office to cool down. We’ll talk later.”

“Yes, sir.” Marble looked at me with rage. “This isn’t over civ.” he said as he walked off.

The general looked at me and smiled. “Don’t worry about him. He is just on the edge right now.”

I chuckled. “Aren’t we all.” I said.

“Yeah, you’re right. What’s your name son?” he said sticking out his hoof.

“Name’s Jack Rabbit. I didn‘t catch your‘s sir.” I said shaking his hoof.

He smiled. “My name is General Maple Leaf.” He shook my hoof and then, looked at Velvet Now, who is this lovely young mare?” he said.

She blushed. “I’m Velvet. It’s nice to meet you, sir.”

“The same here.” He said turning to Silverback. “I want your mission report by 0600 tomorrow, Lieutenant. Dismissed.”

“Yes, sir.” he said. Silverback saluted and took one back away and walked toward the barracks.

Gen. Maple looked at us and said “You two look like you could use a bed and a meal.

Velvet and me looked at each other and smiled. “Yes, we are very much, sir.” I said saluting.

He smiled. “That can wait for tomorrow. I want to see you in my office in the main building on the third floor at 0530. Both of you. Now, go eat and rest up. You have a big day tomorrow. Dismissed.” he said turning around and walking away.”

I smiled and looked at Velvet and she smiled too. “We made it.” Velvet said falling on the ground almost on the verge of tears. “Thank Celestia that we’ve made it.” .

I leaned down and patted her on the back. “Hey, lets get some grub and then, we can fall on something that isn’t as dirty as the floor.” I said with a chuckle, reaching my hoof out.

She looked up with a smile. “Sure, but I think that we need to discuss our agreement from earlier.” she said grabbing my hoof and I helped pull her up.

“Eh?” I said getting her to her hoofs.

She looked at me and began to move toward the mess hall across the medium size lot. “I want to make a change to our agreement from earlier today.” She stopped in front of the mess entrance.

“What?” I said opening the flap for her with my magic.

She went in first then, I entered. It was several folding tables and cut off section that served as the kitchen. “Thank you.” She said getting the tray of food. I got mine as we continued to a table. “But, this is what I want and I want to see if you agree.” She said as she sat down at an empty table.

“Ok, what’s the change?” I said sitting down.

“I want to extend it.” She said taking a bit of her food. “Ow, hot. But the reason is, when I first met you. I thought that your just a pussy that would chicken out and surrender at the first possible moment.” She said when I was taking a bit of food. “But, you didn’t. You fought along side me. You decided the save the mares when you looked around and saved their lives.” She said pointing at herself with her hoof. “I wouldn’t have seen them and I would’ve just have left them to die during the collapse.” she pointed at me while taking another bit of hot food. “Even when you didn’t want to kill another being, you still did and you didn’t change like some ponies do. When you charged those Zebras and I was mad at you. I was really clad on the inside. I was running low on ammo and you wound up killing the rest as they were ganging up against me. That table was about to give out from the constant hail of bullets.” I eat a piece of my food when she continued. “When the metro collapsed you were there with me the entire time. I would have ran away if you, fell. But, you looked like you were about catch me if I fell. Then, when the choppers came after us and they kill Dust. You got on the gun even, when you knew you would get hurt.” She paused as she thought about the event. “Hell, you took down one of those bastards then, with the only grenade you had you took down the last one that was about to fire on us.”

“Yeah, I took down the choppers but, not before they kill the others of Iron team.” I said looking at my water before taking a drink.

She sighed. “I know but, there was nothing we could do. Still even with the losses of the others you continued to fight. Then, I learned about your siblings.” She said looking up at me. I took a hard bite of food at the mention of my siblings. “That tells me that you have a goal. Something to lose. That means that you will fight for them with your life. I…I have family I’m fighting for.” She put her hoof against mine. “You’re not alone.” She said as I took a drink of water.

“That’s why I’m joining the rangers. To save them.” I said poking to leftovers of my food with the fork. I looked her straight in the eye. “Even, if it costs me my life. I will save them. I won’t give up and I won’t give in. I will train as hard as possible, and then some.” I said placing my silverware on my tray and levitated the tray in the air. “But, yes I agree. I know that we trust each other now and that we make a good team.” I said with a chuckle.

We went to the counter were there was dirty trays and we placed them there. “Alright, I think that our barrack is over here.” Velvet said pointing to the tent next to the Mess hall. We walked inside the barrack and it was crowded. We looked around to see if there was a free cot.

I looked to my left about halfway into the barrack. I saw an empty one and looked at Velvet. “Hey, Velvet. I found one, hope you don’t mind sharing.” I said with a chuckle.

She came up and looked at me with a raised eyebrow. “I really don’t give a shit right now. I’m just exhausted.” She said taking off her gear and placing it next to the cot. She laid down on the cot and began to sleep. I shrugged and took off my mine. I felt naked without it on. I only been wearing it for like maybe two days. I placed it on the other side of the cot. I looked down at my watch, it said 6:53 pm. I took a deep breath as I switch the alarm to five o’clock. I sighed as I laid with my back against Velvet’s back. I didn’t realize how exhausted I was until I fell asleep right there. Celestia, I’m so glad I get to rest now.

__________________________
Chapter end.

“Alright, you’ve just met what is left of the National guard and you’ve just been invited to join the ranks of their elite shock troops. You’re agreement with Velvet has been extended and now she trusts you more. You are starting to be known to some of the ponies due to your actions in helping the ponies in escaping the vultures. Velvet is now starting to be more open now but, there is something that she is hiding.” The pony in the suit said handing Rabbit a cup of water.

“Alright, just calm down. I would have waited on the movie but, I can tell that you want the audio book.” Rabbit said with a smirk. The pony in the suit glared at him. “Alright, I’ll continue.”
__________________________

Author's Note

Well, there we have it chapter three. I think that this story is starting to get good. It was a little rough but, it is getting better. For those that actually read this. I thank you for taking the time to do this. Now, for Chapter four: We must stand together.

We must stand together

My watch beeped a couple of time, waking me up from my sleep. I slowly opened my eyes to see that I was snuggled against Velvet and she was smiling. My eyes widened as I almost freaked out. I slowly got out of the bed. She was still asleep when I got out of the bed. I sighed out of relief. I went to put on my gear to see that it was gone. “Where in the hell is my shit?” I said to myself as I looked at my spot but, I looked against the tent’s wall to two new suits of body armor. And some new weapons. On top of the pile was a note. I levitated it up so I could read it. It read : Hey, this is for saving our asses back on the streets. Also, I made a deal with the General. He says you’re in but, after a few tests. If you are wondering where you’re old gear is. It is underneath your cot. The weapons by the way are the M4A1 fully automatic assault rifle with a reflex sight with magnifier and under-barrel grenade launcher . (They are pretty easy to use and bad ass if I ask myself.) It is chambered for the standard 5.56x45mm round and it is the same grenade launcher that you used for the bird. The pistol is a brand new FN FNX .45 Tactical with optional sounder suppresser. The new kit holds ten magazines of the M4 and five magazines of the FNX along with some medium body armor that stops most rounds like pistols and medium caliber rifle ammo; Like the 5.45x39mm rounds that were in your old kit. But, also there standard sniper rifle calibers like the 7.62x54Z. That is all. P.S. if you do find a sniper rifle. You keep it. It will make a great souvenir. - Lieutenant Silverback. I smiled as I placed down the note and began to put on the armor.

When I put on the last strap, Velvet began to wake up. I placed my rifle next to me and I smiled to her. “Wakey, wakey. We don’t want to be late for our meeting with the general.” I said shaking her shoulder. She opened her eyes and saw me in my new kit.

“You look nice for somepony that hasn’t showered for several days.” she said getting up, while rubbing her eyes. She yawned and stretched. “So, we’ve got new kit?” she asked looking down at the new gear.

I smiled. “Thanks and yes, it’s new gear. Curtsy of our friend Silver.” I said getting up and yawning. “Now, get ready our meeting with the general is in twenty-five minutes and I think his office is in the radio station.” I said, looking at my watch.

****

After a bit of waiting for Velvet, getting dressed and suited up. We walked to the stair case that was guarded by a pony in heavier body armor then, we were. He let us pass and told us that the general was waiting for us and we better hurry. We went up the dark stairs, that was only lit by dim lights that were barely on. We climbed up the stairs until we came up to a door that said: Station lobby.

We entered the lobby to see a pony at the recipient’s. She was pink with a lime green mane, she was tired like she hasn’t slept since the invasion. She looked up at us and put on a fake smile. “The general is waiting for you, in his office on the third floor.”

“Thank you, ma’am.” I said as I went up the stairs. Velvet was silent the entire time. After three more flights of stairs, we went into a corridor. We followed it until it ended at a door that said: Broadcast center. But, there was a piece of paper underneath it that said: General’s office. I looked at Velvet and she shrugged.

I opened the door to reveal an absolute chaos. Ponies were looking at screens and some listening to something that required headphones. Paper was scattered everywhere. Some ponies were falling down by slipping on the papers. Me and Velvet began our journey through that mess of paper, machine and pony. I chuckled at my own thought. “What’s funny?” Velvet said as we made our way through.

“Nothing, I just made a little joke inside my head.” I said waving her off. We came up to the general in his olive green suit with matching tie and buzz cut.

He was looking down on a map with a couple of other ponies in suits, surrounding him. “Alright, It appears that the Zebras are moving west. We have lost contact with several of our outposts and are suspected to be overran. If from the scattered reports from intel; it looks like that the Zebras are heading here and we are going to have an all out gunfight on our hoofs.” The general looked at a lime green pony to his right. “I want two tanks here and here.” he said pointing at two spots on the map. He then turned to a red pony to his left. “I want three coppers in the air and ready to fight ASAP.” He looked up to see me and Velvet. “That is all for now.” he looked at the officers. “You all know what you need to do. Dismissed.” He said. The officers saluting in response. He looked at me and Velvet. “Alright, you two I see that you are geared up and ready to go. I’ll cut to the chase. We are about to be attacked here at the We must defend this place with our best efforts. We must make sure the civilians, are safe from the Zebras or they will be slaughtered. Get the supplies you need to so we can defend this station. This is the last Equestrian radio station that is relying news from the front to the castle in Canterlot. We must stand together in this fight. After this, if we are still standing I’ve got another mission.” He looked at his desk and rubbed the back of his head. “You’re dismissed. Got get all of the gear that you need. But, use ammunition carefully. We don’t have that much especially the 40mm grenades. You can have three and that’s all. From today you will have to ration your water and food consumption.”

“Yes, sir.” Velvet and me said while saluting.

“Don’t salute you’re not soldiers. Well… officially. You’re citizen soldiers. Now, go the Zebras will be here to knock down our front door within the hour. Now, get a move on!” he yelled getting up from his seat. Velvet and me nodded and began to run down the stairs to the first floor and out the barricaded door. Right in front of me was sandbags, machineguns, Humvees and ponies armed with assault rifles. I took a deep breath.

I looked down at Velvet. “Ready to do this?” I asked getting behind a sandbag putting a magazine in my rifle and a grenade into the launcher.

“Yeah, lets kick some ass.” She said putting a mag into her rifle with a smile. I sat down on the cold concrete looking at the rising sun as it came over the horizon and sighed. I pulled out a cigarette and lit it. I took a drag and let out the smoke. Velvet saw this with a raised eyebrow. “I didn’t know that you smoked.”

I took another drag and flicked the ash off of it with my magic. “I used too. But, I always have a pack and lighter with me out of habit. I started smoking when my mother died of lung cancer; I quit about a year ago cold turkey but, still I carry it out of habit like I said. ” I said blowing out the smoke. Velvet was staring at me, like she was thinking on what to say. “Velvet.” I said looking into the sky.

“Yes?” She said sitting next to me.

“I’m going to ask you something.” I said taking a deep breath still looking at the dawn.

“Yeah, what is it?” she asked looking over the crowd of civilians that were going into the underground parking garage.

“What happened to your family?” I asked taking a long drag.

She froze and looked at me. “What?” she asked in a soft tone like she was on the verge of crying.

“What happened to your husband and foal?” I asked taking one more long drag. I dropped the cigarette and stomped it with my hoof.

She was silent for a moment before she spoke. “I…I don’t know how to explain it.”

I sighed and looked at her. “If you bottle it up inside of you, only hatred will come out. Not just for the Zebras but, those you care about.” I said placing a hoof on her shoulder. Tears began to roll down her cheeks like streams. She put her head on my shoulder and began to sob like…when a family member dies. I sighed. “I’m sorry. If you don’t want to talk about it then, you don’t have too.” I said placing another cig in my mouth.

She stopped for a moment and looked at me with wet eyes. “If you tell anybody, I’m doing this I’m going to kick your ass.”

I smiled. “I won’t expect nothing less.” I said hugging her.

We split apart and she smiled a little. “Thank you, but, I don’t think I’m ready to talk about it.” she said pulling me in for another hug.

I patted her on the back. “You can tell me when you’re ready. I will always be here for you.” I said pulling her into a tighter hug. I let go of her and she looked better. “Even when you were kind of a bitch a first.” I said with a chuckle.

She laughed out loud. She wipe away a tear. I couldn’t tell weather if it was a tear of laughter or sorrow. “Yeah, I kind of was.”

“CONTACT! I repeat we’ve got contact about a half klick out from the FOB!” said a pony on the radio. “I repeat we’ve got contact and it’s massive. We have multiple causalities and need back up! I repeat We have multiple causalities and we need back up! I repeat we nee-” the pony was interrupted by several close gunshots. Then, the sounds of moaning came through the radio then, one finally gunshot. I looked at the comspony. She looked scared as hell and then, got on her rifle.

I looked at Velvet. “We can do this. We’ve been through worse in the last three days then I could ever imagine. Now, as you say it. Let kick some ass.” I said chambering a round into my rifle and switching the rifle to full auto. The sounds of machinegun fire mixed with the sounds of humvees came around the corner. There were two humvees going at full speed as they barreled down the road to the Radio station. Just as they were within two hundred yards, a tank came around the corner and fired its gun. The heavy projectile tore through the frame of the Humvee and its engine. I think it had an explosive charge as the Humvee went airborne. The last humvee’s gun began to fire with all of its fury but, to no avail as the bullets just bounced off like hitting a hydra with a rock. All its doing is pissing it off. Behind the tank was a wave of Zebra infantry all in masks and carrying the assault rifles and machineguns. I could see that the tank now was loaded again. It fired and it hit the last humvee as it entered the main lot of the radio station, grinding to a halt as an burning piece of metal.

I looked to see that a pony on the balcony was carrying what looked like a rocket launcher. She fired the rocket, it flew through the air like a hot knife through butter and slammed into the tank, sending any Zebras inside or outside scrambling as the tank caught on fire. About a second later it exploded into a mushroom cloud of black smoke. I felt the concussion of the blast from my position in front of the door of the radio station. Then, firing. Everypony was firing on the Zebra onslaught. I put on the magnifier on the reflex sight. I could see individual Zebras as they ran firing their weapons. I fired a burst of three rounds hitting one of the Zebras in the leg, chest, and neck. He fell into a pool of blood that was already flowing into the street. Ponies around started to fall as the bullet started to hit closer and closer to their targets. “FUCK THIS!” I yelled as I armed the grenade launcher and shot into a group of five Zebras that were taking cover behind an old car. Blood was on everything as I fired then, it stopped. The bolt was back in the receiver. I pressed the mag release, dropping the empty one on the ground. I floated one up into the mag well and clicked the bolt release. It slammed forward chambering a round.

I aimed down the sights once again and fired into a group of Zebras that were charging blindly into my fire. As they started to get closer the bullets hitting the sandbags and concrete started to come closer. The rockets from the back of the onslaught started to make the supports of the balcony fall apart. “SOMEPONY GET ON THE .50! NAIL IS DOWN! I REPEAT NAIL IS DOWN! SOMEPONY GET ON THE .50!” Yelled a pony on the radio. I looked at the now empty machinegun, beneath it was I thought was Nail. He was a black unicorn with several holes in his chest. I looked at Velvet and saw that she was reloading. Three Zebras tried to charge her with bayonets but, I switched to my pistol and fired four shots in rapid succession. The gun recoiled with each shot and damn it recoiled. One of the shots hit the lead Zebra in the eye, two other shots hit the second one in the chest, and the last one was a shot in the dark as I hit him in the leg which made him trip on his bayonet; stabbing himself in the chest.

“VLEVET! COVER ME! I’M GOING TO THE GUN!” I yelled reloaded my rifle.

She looked at me with concern. “Don’t you will be ripped to pieces! Even your new armor can handle some of their machine gun rounds!” She yelled firing her gun on some Zebras that were about to kill a pony on the ground. The pony jumped behind a barrier and began to fire her light machinegun. I looked at Velvet again. “Please, don’t they will shoot you to moment that they see running for it!” Velvet said ducking down from a burst of machinegun fire, which I joined in. the bullets hit the sandbags and concrete. A few pierced the sandbags, one hitting my back body armor. I grunted as the dull pain set in. “You’ve been hit!” she yelled as I pressed my side.

“IT’S ONLY A BURISE!” I yelled as jumped up to fire my assault rifle. I a grenade being thrown my way. “FUCK THIS SHIT!” I yelled as I flared my horn to catch the grenade and throw it back into the crowd of Zebras that threw it. It exploded right above their head, killing about three forths of them. When the explosion happened, I jumped up and over the wall of sandbags. I galloped down the stair taking a few bullets to the chest; that my body armor took most of the hits. One grazed my cheek as I dove behind a barrier where the mare that Velvet saved just finishing reloading her machinegun. She just finished when I got next to her. “Cover me I’m going for the .50!” I yelled as I fired the rest of my magazine. I reloaded and looked at her. “Got it!” I yelled. She nodded and began to fire. ‘Luna help me.’ I thought at I ran towards the .50. The Zebras heads were down thanks to that mare. I got to buy her a drink later. But, even though that most of the Zebras were ducking behind cars, some were still shooting at me. I could feel the bullets just over my head and back. A few grazed me, sending blood down my flanks and legs. “COME ON YOU SON OF A BITCH!” I yelled as I dove behind the .50’s barrier. Bullets started to the concrete barrier where I was until I heard the machinegun fire from the mare. I slid to a stop in a pool of cold blood. I looked down to Nail. He had taken two shots two the head and one to the neck. I looked back at the Zebras they are still coming in waves. I jumped up and got on the .50. I realized at that moment it was the same kind of machinegun that I used in the Humvee.

I began to fire the monster gun and began to tear up the Zebras. The bullets tearing up all of their cover and any Zebras that were in their way. Then, I heard something that I only heard once and BOOM! I was sent somersaulting into the air into something hard and cold. When I fell on the ground, I was facing the sky. I felt something warm on the back of my head. I opened my eyes and my vision was blurred. I tried to breath but, I hurt when I did. My vision just cleared enough to see three choppers shoot their missiles, hitting the Zebras and with the choppers came a rumbling of what sounded like two tanks. I heard their guns go off and the projectiles hit the Zebras positions but, I couldn’t really tell from where I was at. But, from the sounds of the explosions they were aimed at the Zebras. I chuckled as I realized that plus, the sounds of roars of victory. “Rabbit!” I heard Velvet’s voice. I heard her run to my side. The moment I saw her, I smiled a true smile. A chopper was going overhead as she was on the verge of crying when I blacked out.

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Chapter end.

“You and the remnants of the National guard in Baltimare have just destroyed and captured two companies, consisting of about four hundred soldiers along with two tanks and three humvees that were destroyed. Along with one company being repealed but, at what cost. There are mass casualties and wounded. The ammo supply has been reduced dramatically due to the fight. You have been wounded by an RPG and blacked out. What happens next?” the pony in the suit said lighting a cigarette.
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Author's Note

Ok, note that the first three chapters were mostly edited as an over view. So, yeah. This chapter wasn't as good as the last three.

Well, this is getting interesting or at least I think so. Hell, I don’t even know what is going to happen next until I type it. If you think this is good or it needs to be improved, please just put some helpful comments or PM me. Now, for Chapter Five: A bottle of ibuprofen, please.

A bottle of ibuprofen, please

I woke up with a cold sweat like I was running a marathon. I sat up but, I winced when the pain on my shot up my body. When I looked down to see where I placed my hoof. It was bandaged real well. I sighed at the fact this is the like the fifth or sixth time I was injured in like four or five days. I was in a medical bed in a makeshift tent. I looked down at my right to see that Velvet fell asleep right next to me. I smiled and petted her mane. “Thanks for staying with me.” I whispered. I once again looked at my wounds. It appears that I took some shrapnel from the RPG hitting the barrier and grazing from the bullets. I sighed and moved a little to get comfortable and laying my head on the pillow again. “I really hope that my brother and sister are doing ok.” I said to myself with a sigh. Which made Velvet stir. I looked at her as she woke up. “Morning sunshine.” I said with a chuckle. Without saying a word she hugged the breath out of me, she hugged me so hard. “Need…Air…Please.” I said through the constriction of air I had.

She pulled away and wiped away a tear then, she slapped me with her hoof. I swear, I thought I heard my jaw pop. “You stupid son of bitch.” She said through the tears and then she hugged me again. “I thought you were going to die. When I saw you on the ground bleed from your head and other places. Oh Celestia.” She said burrowing herself into my coat.

I sighed. “I’m sorry. But, I had too. If I didn’t then the Zebras would have those rockets on our tanks and birds. I had too.” I said hugging her head.

“Well, it looks who’s up. The same asshole saved me twice.” said a voice to my left. I knew that voice.

I turned to see Silver coming to me with a toothy smile. “Hey, Silver how are you?” I asked.

“Well, I would have been shot and killed by a Zebra but, he was cut to pieces by the .50. And who was using it? You. Now I owe you two drinks.” He said slapping me on the back. I groaned when he did that. “Sorry, I forgot that you took an RPG. I’m surprised that you are even still alive after a hit like that. Hell, even the doctors are baffled, that you survived. You had mass internal bleeding from the concussion of the blast, some bullets in your ass, and busted open head. You’ve had so many injures they were about to give up on you but, Velvet pushed them to help you.” I looked at Velvet now, and now she isn’t hugging me.

I looked back at Silver. “So…let me guess Maple sent you?” I asked.

“Yup. You are to report to him when are able to move around and walking.” he said with a smile and looked at Velvet. “Both of you.” he said turning around and walking away. But, stopped before exiting the tent. “You saved a lot of lives, back there. Be proud of that. The ponies that you saved may save you when you need it. After all of this is over, we should meet up sometime and have a drink over a game of darts.” he said exiting the tent.

Me and Velvet looked at each other. “Well…we can’t keep him waiting.” I said getting out of the bed.

“Wait, you just woke up! You can’t walk yet! You’ve out for three days!” She said in that motherly voice.

I chuckled . “Hell, I was out for two weeks because I decided it was a good idea to scale a house just for the hell of it. When I woke and after getting my butt beat in by my mom; I jumped up and ran to my best friends house.” I said with a shrugged. I jumped onto the ground next to my bed and winced in the pain but, hid the grunt. “I’m alright. Now, after I get my kit. We’ll see the General.” I said putting on my suit? “What the hell?” I said looking at my kit. It was darker and looked like it went from hoof to neck. Covering my some of my mane and all of my tail. Its helmet looked like it had something inside of it. The body suit had protected knee pads and hoof covering boots with hard plates on the belly, back and sides. It was made for protection and mobility in mind. “Damn.” I muttered.

“They replaced your old new one with a tougher one. Since, nopony listens to me when I say that you are a bullet magnet.” Velvet said while I got a sheepish smile. “It is the same weight but, it has a couple of better features .” Velvet said levitating it up on the bed. “The armor is enchanted as when you are shot, the bullets are pushed out as the armor repairs itself and thus can take more damage. But, it will take time and if you are shot while it is repairing itself, then it will take longer for it to be fully repaired. Another feature is that you will have a gas mask in case of chemical attacks. It will deploy the moment it detects any hazardous chemicals in the air. So, you can keep smoking if you want.” She said stick you tongue out.

I stuck mine out. “Ehhh.”

She chuckled and took a deep breath “But, yeah. It will help you. But, don’t lose this. This is a prototype with only five being made. The others are in Canterlot still being tested and improved. Plus, it is every expensive. If you are say a lawyer making, 85,000 bits a year it would take you twelve years to replace it, without spending a single bit for yourself.” She said poking me in the chest making me almost pass out at the amount of bits. “So, yeah don’t lose it.” But, you don’t have to worry about that. Now, I’ll get my gear and go but, I still think that you should stay in bed for a while longer. I began to put on the body use and felt a magical energy go through me as if it was scanning me. Then, In my vision I saw something. It appeared to be a green grid pattern scanning everything I was looking at then, it was gone. I shook me head. ‘What the hell was that?’ I thought as I began to put on the body armor. It felt the same weight as the last one. I moved around my shoulders and legs to see the mobility. It felt good as I moved the straps into their places with a couple of clicks, tugs, and Velcro. I placed on the helmet and clicked it into place. For a combat helmet it felt pretty good.

I stopped right in front of the exit. “Remember, my siblings are still out there and I will find them. I don’t give a shit for those who get in my way. They are my only family. But, before I wind up going on a rampage looking for them. Let go see the Gen.” I said exiting to unveil the amount of ponies in cots, with nurses and doctors going from pony to pony. Checking on them. I sighed as my gear weighed me down. It was uncomfortable but, bearable. The only thing that wasn’t covered was my face, due to the weight it was kind of hard to breath, but I could tell that this was well made and won’t let me down. The guard at the door saw that it was me and opened the door. “Thank you. Sir.” I said going in.

“Thank you.” Velvet said to the guard as he closed the door when were in.

It was the same dark stairwell, before the battle. We walked up the stairwell up to the first floor recipients office. She looked up from her computer and smiled at us. “He is waiting for you.”

“Thank you.” We said going by.

We walked up the two flights of stairs to get up to the third to the room which the Gen is in. We walked down the corridor to the broadcast center. We walked in to the same chaos as before the battle. Papers, ponies and pots of coffee everywhere. I chuckled at it again. We went though the mess the Gen’s desk. He was surrounded by two ponies that appeared to be radio operators from the group we just passed. “What do you mean the Zebras have taken the entire east coast!”

“Sir, from the scattered reports, it appears that the Zebras have taken all major cities on the east coast but, with our military holding them off. It appears that is where they are staying for now. That is some good news.”

“But, we’ve more bad news.” A pony that appeared to be wearing a doctors coat stepped up. “We are starting to run low on medical supplies and with the amount of ponies flooding in for support we don’t have long until we run out.

Maple rubbed his eyes. “How long do we have until we run?”

“We have a months supply of supplies but, the amount of ponies continuing to come it that number as been reduced to two weeks. But…” The doctor paused for a moment thinking of what to say. Gen. Maple looked at the doctor with a questioning look. “This is a long shot but, the Baltimare City Hospital that has been captured by the Zebras, have had reports from runaways that the hospital is fully stocked for about eight months in combat scenarios. But, the long shot about it; is that it is heavily guarded and occupied by a two companies of Zebras of about two hundred each. That is why I highly recommend that you think about it before sending ponies there, Sir.”

Maple sighed. “Alright.” he looked up to me standing there in my new suit. “Alright, you all are dismiss and return to your posts.”

“Yes, sir.” They all said saluting except the doctor. They turned around and left the room through the way we came.

General Maple looked up at us and smiled “I see that you’re up and kicking again.” he said leaning back in his chair. “I’m surprised that you are even alive.”

“You’re not the first to say that, sir.” I said with a smile.

He chuckled. “I don’t know another single pony that was hit by an RPG explosion and lived to tell about it. Also, by the way, I like the suit. It matches you somehow. It gives off the survival look that seems to define you. First, surviving the execution squads, destroying a outpost, taking down two enemy birds, and repealing an entire attack force while taking an RPG blast to the face. I‘m really surprised to that you are alive.” He paused for a moment. “But, we need to talk about your next mission.” He cleared his throat and leaned by into the desk. “I think you were standing there to hear about the hospital?” we nodded. “Rabbit, Velvet I want you two to go the hospital with a team of six other ponies codenamed Snake team. I want your team to infiltrate the building and take as much medical supplies as you can. If you can, kill as many of the Zebras as possible. Starting with the top floor and make your way down to the first floor. If you can free any hostages, do it. Dismissed.” Velvet and me saluted at the general. He waved us off. “Don’t salute. Remember your not soldiers.” he paused for a moment when he said that and looked at me straight in the eye. Which kind of made me nervous for some odd reason. “That reminds me. You’re not a soldier and never was right?” I nodded. He paused for a moment. “From your age you were just one year shy of being drafted during the Changeling conflict meaning you got no tactical training whatsoever but, you’ve fighting like a professional soldier. I don’t get that. You took down a outpost, two helicopters, and an attack force. With just the help of a mare you barely know and captured enemy weapons. When you come back from your mission, I want you to tell me how in the hell do you fight like the way you do. Dismissed.”

We saluted again and he didn’t say a thing. We turned around and left the chaos of the room. When we were in the stairwell going down into the garage Velvet stopped me and made me look her in the eye. “He is right. How do you fight like the way you do. Is there something you are not telling me?”

I was in utter shock when I looked back at the actions of what I did. “I… Don’t know. I just do it. Like its second nature. I only used a gun when I was helping one of my oldest friends tend his cattle and to get rid of coyotes that were attacking his chickens. I swear.” I said pressing my back against the wall raising my covered hoofs. She looked me in the eyes to see if I was lying or not.

She sighed as she couldn’t tell. “I’m sorry but, the Maple’s question made me think. How can you fight? You told me that you were never a fighter or soldier. But, we can dwell on this later. We’ve got a mission to do. We need to gear up and mount up.” She said backing off away from me. I took a deep breath as she began to go down the stairs. We went down the last floor of the garage where the armory was. She opened the door and stepped into the lot but, was stopped by a pair of wings by two guards.

“Only authorized personal allowed in the armory. State your business.” The brown guard on the left said.

I cleared my throat. “We are here to obtain weapons and ammunition for a mission assigned by the general himself for Snake team.” That all I said before the guards looked at each other and then, at me.

“Access Granted.” The green mare said as both of the wings went down.

Velvet looked at me with a flat face. “Show off.” She said as she entered the armory.

When I walked in I was surprised at the extent of the weapons. Racks upon racks of weapons. From pistols to rifle. From grenades to RPGs. From the average metal helmet to the most advanced armor with regenerating Kevlar and hard plate. The ammo is a different story. On the racks was a piece of paper that said: Attention, soldiers. If you are out on regular patrol, only take half amount of ammo per kit. If on recon, supply runs, or spec ops take only four-fifths ammo per kit or eight magazines of rifle and four magazines of pistol. We are trying to conserve ammo as much as possible. Same with food and water. Down to two meals a day and half the rations of water. If you find any supplies please, turn them into the nearest officer.

“Well, damn.” I said scratching the back of my head. “Well, lets gear up and met Snake team at the humvees.” I said taking a suppressed rifle that said on the side of the mag well was ACR and the entire gun was painted black with a reflex sight. I grabbed the eight mags of rifle and four of pistol and placed them in my vest. I got the same pistol that I had during the attack but, the suppresser was screwed on.

I looked Velvet and she picked up a suppressed SMG with a red dot and picked up a smaller pistol with the same suppresser. She looked at me and back at something on the rack. She held a revolver and tossed it to me. I just barely caught it with my magic. “I think this is yours.” She said turning around and up the stairs toward the top level. I followed her into the dark stair well. Even through the professional stare. I could tell that the buck had a smirk in his eyes. I sighed silently as we reached the top floor of the garage. We walked out to see that six other ponies were around two humvees, talking and getting their weapons ready. As we got closer to the humvees we could see each pony had a patch on their shoulders that depicted a Snake slithering around a sword with wings at the hilt on top it was a ribbon with writing said: silent, hidden, deadly.

They all went silent when they saw us walking toward them with the weapons and armor. One that was sitting the hood looked at us like he was pissed. He jumped down and began to walk to us. We met half way from the humvees and he stopped in front of us. He just stared at us. I stared back. “Can I help you, civ? You seemed to be lost and in possession in some gear that doesn’t belong to you. Now, why do…”

“How about no.” I said looking him straight in the eye. “We are your new teammates whither you like it or not.” I said poking him in the chest. “So, my name’s Rabbit.” I said sticking out my hoof.

He looked at Velvet when I finished with a smug look. “We?”

I felt annoyed and responded. “Yes, we as me and my friend Velvet here are apart of your team.” I said gesturing my hoof to Velvet. “What’s your name?”

He looked back at me. “Are you two dating or something?”

“What!? Hell no!!” Velvet and me said in unison then, we looked at each other. I looked away blushed then, I sent a glare at the kd

“Woh woh who; take it easy, kid. Just playing with you. But, the name‘s River pebble.” He said with a laugh while patting me on the back. “Welcome to Snake team.” he said pushing me toward the other ponies with Velvet in tow. When we got to the two humvees the other five ponies looked at us. “Ladies and Gentlecolts, I would be glad to introduce you to the new members of Snake team.” He patted me on the back. “This is Rabbit and this is Velvet.” he patted velvet on the back. We both waved. He pointed to a giant pony with a cherry red coat with a black mane on the side of his armor was a battle saddle with a fucking mini-gun with a hell of a lot suppressors on the barrels. “That’s Tiny mouse.” Tiny nodded at the mention of his name then, went back to cleaning his pistol.

I looked at River with a questioning look. “Yeah, I don’t know either.” he looked at a pair of twin Pegasi both with long rifles with suppressers on the ends of each one. One was fucking huge and the other was smaller and lighter. “The twins; Spring and Autumn are our snipers.” The twins looked up at us and smiled. The both were a shade of green, the darker one I think was autumn and the lighter one was Spring. “Also, what ever you do don’t piss them off with a rifle in their hoofs. They can shoot off a single feather off of Spitfire herself while doing her Wonderbolt maneuvers.” River said with a hearty laugh. River pointed at the unicorn on the turret of the second humvee. “That’s Soft Song; She is our medic.” She looked at us and nodded. She was a egg white with purple mane and green eyes. Kind of cute. I thought as River looked at another pony who appeared to be sleeping with a suppressed shotgun across their chest in the driver’s seat.

He looked at a unicorn completely covered in a armor suit; similar to the armor that I was wearing but, had the mask on so I couldn’t see the face other then, a gas mask that had red eyes. No hint of color or gender. River sighed “That’s Calamity; our demolition and explosive expert. When you need something to go boom then, ask him. He also has a temper so just watch out.” he stopped and turned around to us and smiled. “I hope that you do good; from what I hear you not that bad. Now, we leave in ten, if you need to do anything right now; I suggest that you do it now.” He paused looking from Velvet and me. “Besides fucking, we don’t have time for that; plus we don’t that smell in the humvees.” he said with a chuckle. I looked at Velvet as my face began to burn. She was looking down her mane covering her eyes and her normal green coat turn red from blushing.

“Oh my god.” She said with a soft whisper. “I’m going to get you back for that…” She began to mumble as she plotted revenge just barely audible.

I decided to kill the time and clean my weapons. I walked to the humvee that Calamity was sleeping in and I sat on the ground in front back seat. I took out my pistol and rifle. Without even thinking about it; I began to take apart the weapons with ease as if I was doing it for years. It took my only thirty seconds to completely field strip and rub down the bolt and chamber of the rifle. I then placed the upper receiver onto of the lower and pressed the two pins locking them into place and completing the gun. I ran the bolt a couple times and when I was satisfied I placed the magazine back into rifle and clicked the safety on. I smiled as I went to my pistol then, from the corner of my eye I could see that Tiny was looking at me with a questioning look in his eye. He then shrugged and went back to cleaning his pistol. When I went back to my pistol I found that I was using my magic to clean it without me realizing it. I loaded the 14 rounds of .45 into the pistol and racked the slid, cambering a round of woopass then, holstering it into the chest holster for an easy reach. I checked my mags and saw that I had the right amount for both weapons. I took out my knife and I realized that it was the same one that I used against the sleeping guard before the metro fell. I took out the small whetstone from a pouch and began to sharpen the dull knife.

About a minute later Velvet sat down next to me as I was about finished sharpening the knife. I looked at Velvet as she took out her canteen, tipping it up in the air so the water flowed into her mouth. When she was finished taking the drink with her magic she handed it to me. “Here, you might need some.” She said as I took it into my magic. I let the cool water flow into my throat with a satisfying ahh. I handed it back to Velvet.

I placed the whetstone and knife back into their respective places. I looked at my watch that was scratched to hell but, still working said that we had five more minutes left before go time. I sighed then, took out the pack of cigarettes and lighter. I took out one cig and flared the lighter. I offered one to Velvet but, she shook her head as she took another drink of water. I took a drag and let out the smoke through my nose. I could smell the smoke as it floated in the air. I sighed as I took another drag of the cig. It was then, that River walked where everyone saw him…While except for Calamity as he is still asleep.

River cleared his throat. “Alright, everypony we are going on a recovery mission. That means that we are going to retrieve as much medicine as ponyly possible. We need at least a months supply of meds for this mission to be a success. If you find any medicine put in your bags and continue to search for more. This is a stealth mission, so we are as quiet as possible.” he turned to Spring and Autumn. “Autumn, Spring. There is an apartment building across the highway that is located in front of the hospital.” He looked at Tiny, Velvet, Song, Me and Calamity. “Alright, the rest of you are going to be inserting into the hospital via the roof door with me. We’ll be using the apartment building to get on the roof. When we get inside watch out for any Zebras and Civs. It is rumored that the Zebras have hostages holed up in the basement and other parts of the hospital.” When I heard that I was speechless. He continued with the plan. “If you find any Zebra sentries or any guards then, dispatch them as quietly as possible. If we’re compromised then, get ready for an all out gun fight.” He looked Tiny. “Tiny, if we are compromised then, I give you permission to use the mini-gun.” Tiny nodded as River looked over all of us. “If we are separated then meet up at the elementary school three miles away from the hospital. There an chopper will be waiting for us if the Humvees are non-operational.” He sighs. “If any of us are caught…” He looked up at us from the ground as he paused. “If any of us are caught and captured then…Pray that all you get is a bullet.” He said with a dark tone. “If they don’t shoot you, then you are going to be captured, tortured, raped and they are going to try to pry out as mush information as possible from you; Don‘t let them and endure until they stop or…you die.” He took a deep breath. “I can’t guarantee that all of us are going to make. I know, I was part of glass team during the initial invasion. Most of my entire squad was wiped out as we tried to fight back. We just barely made it and when we made it here only two of us were left. Me and Calamity; trust me if you need back up he will fight for you and make sure that are out of their safe. He did on several occasions for me.” He chuckled. “Well, there I go again spilling out stories like an old buck.”

He fell silent for a moment before looking at Velvet and me. “If you two are good to go then, you are riding with Calamity and Soft Song.” when he said that I got up and then, I felt the heat of the cig as it crept to my lips. I spit it out as I stood up and smothered it. Velvet got up without saying a word and got in the back seat.

“Hey, lover colt why don’t you sit shotgun and we can chat.” A voice coming from behind me. It sounded muffled. I turned to see the it was Calamity at the wheel. “Come on, we don’t have all day and I want to kick some ass. So, get your ass into gear.” He said as I went around the humvee and took the passenger seat.

When I got in the humvee its engine roared into life. The humvee in front of us began to move out of the garage and Calamity hit the gas and we followed them. A voice that was a little deep came out of the radio. “This is Snake 1, do you copy Snake 2?”

I got on the radio instinctively . “This is Snake 2; We copy.”

“Good, we connected. Get ready for a little trip. About twenty-five miles away from the hospital we are going to hide the humvees and hoof it from there. Do you copy?’

“Yes, we copu. Over and out.” I said placing the radio back on the consol.

We sat there for a few moments in total silence as Song manned the bigger version of a mini-gun. I looked out the window as went over the bridge towards the hospital from living here for about eight years after moving to avoid the fighting from the Changeling conflict; I could tell that it was going to be an hour drive. I sighed as I saw a smoke stack coming from the direction of my home.

“Quit that moping, I hate it when ponies mope; It just gets on my nerves.” The muffled voice of Calamity said making a right turn behind River. “Besides we should talk for a while. With our friends back there looking out the window for Zebras.”

I looked at him and his red eyed mask. “Sure, what’s on your mind?”

“I want to know if those stories I keep hearing about you are true.” he said flatly.

“What stories? You mean the choppers and surviving the RPG?” I said with a confused look.

“Yeah, that’s what I mean. I heard my fair of heroic acts of ponies taking down tanks and other shit during my time in the Army. But, from what I hear is that no matter how much damage you take you keep getting up and asking for more.” he said flatly. “Because you getting shot at by an RPG and surviving; I call bullshit.”

I just shrugged. “I don’t know what to tell you. I just did. I don’t know how I survived but, I know one thing for sure.” I said with a grin.

“And what would that be?” He asked sarcastically.

“That I’m going to kicked their striped asses. Then, I’m going to find my little brother and sister.” I said with determination.

Calamity fell silent for a moment. “You have family still inside the city?” he asked with a little concern.

I sighed. “Yes, I do. It is what keeps me fight until the end. At first I was fighting just to survive when I was being shot at by the execution squads. When I got here, I realized that I made it and then, I realized that my siblings still have a chance that they are still alive and kicking.” I chuckled for a moment. “Well, after that I don’t know what to do. If I find them I will just probably leave the city or something. I don’t know.” I looked at Calamity. “What about you?” I asked

Calamity sighed. “I don’t know. My wife died two years ago from cancer. My kids I don’t know. I…I just don’t know. I haven’t seen them since my wife died. I know that two of them are in college and the other I don’t know. My oldest he was full of joy and high spirits but, when my wife died; his spirit died a little. That was the last time I ever saw of him. I hope that they are all doing alright and not in this hellhole. It‘s weird the same thing happened to my brother but, it was a few years farther back.” I just stared at him in shock. “I’m sorry…I just don’t know why I did that but, thanks to for listening a little.” He sighed a little. “Alright, if you tell anypony that I was being mopey, then I am going to kill you got that?” he said sounding really defensive.

I chuckled. “Alright, I’ll won’t tell anypony about this. But, about me doing all that shit during the attack; anypony would’ve done it.” I said looking at the noon sky.

Calamity laughed really hard almost wrecking into a building; he got back on the road then, looked at me. “Bullshit. Nopony, I mean nopony besides my teammates would have the balls to deliberately run into oncoming fire to get to a .50 cal just so that others didn’t have to. Then, take a fucking RPG like the way you did and then, wake up three days later; just to come back for more punishment.” He paused a moment and looked back on the road. We took a right turn then, he looked back at me. “You know… I like you; you kind of remind me of myself when I was younger.” he said chuckling. “So, where did you met that lovely mare back there?” he asked with a chuckle.

My face began to burn like a fire. “Well…She saved my sorry ass from bleeding out. I met her in maintenance tunnels of the metro system. I was stumbling around for a bit before I found her in a lounge for the employees. For the most part she had a gun to my head.” I said with a chuckled as we made another left turn.

“Hmm…Not the weirdest way that a couple met but, hell what do I know.” he said jokingly.

A voice came from behind us and began to speak with a little annoyance. “For one we are not a couple, two we’re just friends and three I’ll kick your ass if you say that again.” Velvet said with a huff as she sat back into her seat with red cheeks.

I chuckled. “Sure, thing sweet cheeks.” Calamity said chuckling.

“Why do I even try?” She said with another huff.

I shook my head with a smile. “Because, who else is going to drive you crazy?” I said looked up at the sky through the windshield. I don’t know why but, I began to tune out everything around me for a brief time as I saw a few clouds in the sky and smiled. It reminded me for a moment of time before all of this shit happened.

I was in a field just a year or two before the Changeling conflict. The field went over miles of prairie. There was a small river a little to the east but, you can still hear the water flowing; the air smelled of rain and storms. I loved that smell; it always calmed me in a way I didn’t know about. I was laying down starting to take a nap when a hoof poked me on the nose. I jolted awake and rolled away from reaction. I looked at the pony that poked me. It…was my mother. Her Olive green eyes greeted my along with the flash of her silvery coat mixed with a light brown mane. She was giggling at me as I shook the grass off. I sighed. “You really got to stop doing that.” I said taking another breath. “I was taking a nap.”

When she was about to speak; she used a sweet voice that was filled with love and care. Even when I was rarely in trouble she still used to same voice and it sounded wonderful. “I know but, we need to get inside. There is a huge storm coming from the west and I don’t want you to get sick. Plus, I think that there are a couple of siblings that want to play with you before the storm.” I was confused for a moment before I was tackled to the ground by a little colt and filly that were a couple of blank flanks. I was on the ground with the two siblings high hoofing each other in victory as they sat on top of me..

“Yeah, we won!” The colt said with a joy fill squeak.

“Yeah, we did it!” The filly said with the same joy filled voice then, came the sound of them high hoofing.

I chuckled. “Yeah, you won but, only if you can take me down when I know your there.” I said with a smile as I got on my hoofs with them on my back. They began to laugh as I began to run with them. I smiled and laughed when until a flash of lighting struck the sky. I stopped at the flash. I looked behind me to see my brother and sister were gone. I looked back at the sky. It was covered in grey clouds that made you dreadful. The field was a dead grey and I was alone. In the vast dead field. “Whisper! Brush! Mom! Where are you!?” I yelled looking around me until I saw something walk towards me. I squinted my eyes to see the figure.

From what I could see it was a Buck but, I couldn‘t tell who it was with most of his face covered by a black bandana. He was covered in dirt and grime, like he hasn’t bathed in weeks. He had worn out armor; it was burnt, torn, stained and had holes; similar to the one I was wearing. He had scars that covered him from his parts of his face to his hoofs though the holes. He had a bare M4 with a single red dot sight that had was almost on the verge of breaking. The M4 looked like it has been fired a lot as the flash hider looked a little burnt and the rifle itself looked like it had a lot of wear as the finish along the mag well and receivers had began to rub off some revealing the shiny aluminum underneath; there was some chips from the rails and butt stock. His eyes looked tired and like they have some much sorrow and despair. His mane was messy and looked like it was burnt in some places. He looked tired and ready to pass out. He stopped in front of me and took a deep breath. “Be ready for what’s about to happen.” he said with a dry voice that sounded like he need water. “Just remember you are just a pony and you couldn’t do anything to stop what is going to happen; it wasn’t your fault.” He said while looking at me with blank eyes and then, flaring his horn he lowered the bandana . I froze when I realized who it was. I couldn’t believe that it took until he was right in front of me to realize it but, it was me. “Just be ready.”

I was speechless at what I was seeing then, I felt a hoof on my shoulder. I turned to see my mother again. She looked tired and sick like her final days before she died; her mane and coat have lost a little of their color. She wore a smile as she stared at me with her tired olive eyes. “Be brave.” She said as put her hoof on my cheek taking a look at my face. With her hoof still on my cheek. “I couldn’t ask for better son. I was lucky to have a loving son that would put other ponies above themselves. I’m so proud of you, son. I’m proud of what you are doing.” She said as a sudden weight went over my body. I looked down to see that I was full grown and had my armor on. I looked back at my mother as she took her hoof off my cheek. “When you are at the hospital be sure and go into the psychology section of the third floor down from the roof. There is something that’s yours.” She took a breath and backed away. I felt the tears flowing from my eyes as they soaked my coat. “I’m so proud. I love you Jack Rabbit and I always will. Remember that. but, now you need to wake up now. Wake up.”

“Hey, wake up!” Calamity said as he shook me. I woke up and looked around. We were behind a building in a back ally.

I looked at Calamity in confusion. “What’s going on?”

From his voice I could tell that he was irritated. “You fell asleep on us for a bit then, about five minutes ago, you began to cry as if your mother died.” I just stared at me as I placed my hoof against my cheek. It came back wet. I was speechless for a moment.

I looked to my left to see that Velvet had an concerned look on her face; while still keeping vigilante. “We thought for a moment that you were having a mental breakdown and we were going to have abort the mission.”

I shook my head. “I’m sorry, I just had a dream. We will continue on.” I said as I flared my horn picking my rifle that was next to me as I got out the humvee. I cocked the charging handle, chambering a round. I looked at Calamity as we began to walk out of the alley. “So, how far are we from the hospital?” I asked in a hushed voice.

“About klick and half out. Or about a half a mile away if you want don‘t know a klick is. We should get to the apartment building in about twenty to twenty-five minutes if we don’t get hung up.” he said pumping his shotgun and running down the ruined sidewalk.

********

We went down the war torn streets as stealthily as possible, going though alleys and backstreets the only sounds were the winds blowing around useless paper and the scent of death. I can’t believe just a week ago and half ago these streets were filled with ponies going on with their daily lives and now most of them are dead. I thought as we turned down an alley getting closer to the sounds of vehicles and troops. River waved down for to keep low and stop. He turned to Spring and Autumn. “Alright, Spring and Autumn set up that building over there across the highway.” He said pointing to building across the street from us. They nodded and flew up to half way the building and began to make their way there. River handed me a pair of binoculars. “See what we are up against if we are compromised.

I levitated the binos to my eyes and I got a clear view of the hornets nest from hell. “They have five captured humvees, ten of their own, about sixty or seventy troops outside at least. There are two makeshift guard towers with heavy duty MGs on them.” I said looking over the small plaza. I turned my attention on the roof to see three Zebras with long rifles on their saddles. “I spotted three snipers on the rooftop with high caliber rifles.” I said lowering the binos.

“What about the inside?” Tiny asked as cracked his neck. He had a low voice, it reminds me of the buck from sweet apple acres when I went there for some of the cider.

I hummed to myself for a brief moment as I put the binos back on my eyes. I scanned the windows. The halls were crawling with Zebras and Zebra doctors as they sent Zebras into the ER. “Well, fuck. It appears that the lower halls are heavily populated like rabbits.” I chuckled. “Somepony should teach them about protection.” I said with a smile. Nopony said anything but, I swear I heard a cricket. I shrugged. “But, besides the snipers, from what I can see is that the upper floors are being used as storage. There is still blood covering a whole lot of the walls; Some seem fresh.”

Velvet’s voice came up as I glassed the hospital. “What about the apartment building next to it?”

I looked back at her. “I don’t know but, I will check.” I said as I began to scan to the apartments.
“Well, it appears to be in shambles and it looks like it might just fall it is hit with a few more bombs but, for now its good. I can’t see Zebras but, I’m sure there are some in there.” I said as lowered them and gave them back to River. “We can sneak in the side door of the building and work our way to the roof. Spring and Autumn can take out the snipers then, we can repeal down the three story drop. It is just brick walls facing the hospital until three stories up.” I said looking at the team with a chuckle. “I hope that you all love heights.”

Nopony said a word as we backtracked towards the road from earlier. We made our way though a block before we made sure that we wouldn’t be seen. Calamity looked up and down the street before signaling us to run in three. He waved his hoof three times and we all sprinted across the ruined highway. I jumped over a concrete barrier to get over to the other side. I looked behind me to see that Tiny can run, even with the heavy minigun he still was hauling ass. Note to self; do not piss him and run because he can catch you. I thought to myself as we got into the comfort and relative safety of the alley. When we got behind the building with Calamity looked around the corner; see if it was clear. He motioned forward and we followed him as we made our way. I kept my rifle close as we got closer to the objective. “I don’t like this.” I said as we got to the objective.

Calamity was pointing his shotgun at the lock but he looked at me. So did River and everpony else. “What do you mean, Rabbit?” River said peering around the corner next to the highway.

I unfolded the stock on my rifle with a click. “I mean this is too easy. The only Zebras that we have seen have the ones in the Plaza. No patrols, no tanks, no birds; Nothing.” I said getting closer to the door.

Everypony looked at each other with a questioning look until River cleared his throat getting our attention. “It doesn’t matter; we have a mission to do. Nothing more; Nothing less.” he turned to Calamity. “Bust the lock.” he said flatly.

Calamity nodded and the sound of a suppressed shotgun going off along with woods breaking and metal hitting metal. It was quieter then, it would’ve been but, still; it got the job done. We ran and cleared the room. There was nothing in the room besides dried blood and rubble. We quickly moved to the next room…nothing. The rest of the floor was like that until we got to the stairs. No signs of life beside the occasional rotting body and dried blood. River was on point as we got up the next floor and began to go up the stairwell. No signs from the Zebras even in the damn buildings except for there killings “I thought that this building was supposed to be occupied?” Velvet said coming up behind me as I got on the floor that we were supposed to repeal from. We cleared it and still nothing.

A sweet voice began to fill the room reminded me of my…mother. I mentally sighed as I followed the voice to Soft Song. “Guys, I really don’t like this. We haven’t seen anything in this building and Velvet is right; this building was supposed to occupied by the Zebras.” we all looked at River.

“That doesn’t mean that we don’t have a mission to do.” he looked at me. “Rabbit what’s the time?”

I looked at my watch to see that it was 5:39. “seventeen thirty-nine hundred hours.” I said putting my hoof down.

“Alright. We go at eighteen hundred hours and get the ropes ready, Calamity.” Calamity nodded taking two long rolls of climbing rope and began to make anchors on the walls with his magic. River looked at the rest of us. “Alright, before we go in. I’m going to signal Spring and Autumn to take out the snipers. Tiny you are going to go down first and cover us as we come down. From there Song, Velvet, Rabbit, Calamity and me are going down in that order. Got that?” we didn’t say anything but, nod.

The next twenty minutes went by slowly and quietly like the calm before a shit storm. All we did was sit back and wait for the go ahead. Calamity finished the rig in a couple of minutes and he tested the strength with a tug of magic. Everypony did a last minute check on gear, ammo and other supplies. It was nerve racking as the seconds went by. I realized that this was the first offensive mission I was doing during the battle. Can I do it? Can I actually kill in cold blood? All this time I’ve been fighting to survive but, now I was the one attacking. I thought as I was mental freaking out but, I felt a hoof on my shoulder. I looked over to see Velvet looking at me with concern. “I know that you are freaking out a little, I’ve been with you for about a week and I can already read you like a book. Remember, they are the ones that attacked us out of nowhere. Now…” She paused grinning at me. “It’s our turn to kick down their door and say hello.” she chuckled as she sat against the wall next to me. “This is going to be interesting.” She said checking her SMG’s magazine and reinserted it back into the gun.

My watch beeped; signaling that it’s six. I looked outside that sun was almost drowned by the night. I felt a little safer in the darkness as I can’t be seen. “It’s go time. Now lets hit the road.” the moment River said that three thumps come from the roof of the hospital. Tiny without a word came to the window and clipped the rope to his harness then, climbed out the window. He began to repeal down for a few moments until the rope went slack then, three tugs on the rope signaled that he was down. “Song and Velvet; you go next.” They nodded and clipped to the ropes and at once to repealed down about a few more moments longer then, Tiny the ropes went slack and three tugs. “Calamity and Rabbit you go next and I’ll follow.” River said patting me on the back. I looked up at him and his grin. “Don’t fall because that is a long way down.”

I decided to make the dumb mistake of looking down after he said and I gulped. “Gee, thanks.” I deadpanned.

“No problemo.” He chuckled as I clipped on and climbed out the window holding onto the rope for dear life. I took a deep breath and began to descent slowly until I hit concrete. I took a deep breath and I looked around to see Velvet giving me the ‘good job’ smile and nod. I unclipped and began to walk toward the group. I heard a thump behind me to see that River had landed and unclipped.

“Good job everypony. Now, we all know the plan. Collect meds, recon, and evade. Make no contact unless you have too, like with sentries. Everypony got that?” we nodded as we made our way to the door which Calamity was getting ready to shot off the door off its hinges. We stacked up against the sides of the door. With three suppressed shots the door fell and we ran in. we went down the stairwell with caution and speed. We got to the first corridor and the first thing that hit us was the smell. The walls still had fresh blood on the walls, there were bodies everywhere. I put the pit of my knee in front of my mouth. Damn, that stinks. I thought as we made our way down.

River stopped at the corner and we pressed against the wall. He waved at us after he peered around the corner. We went down the corridor with our weapons at the ready. There was a sign on the ceiling and it said: Cancer Center for the youth. When I saw that and I remembered the bodies it made me sick. They killed sick fillies and colts and now they are going to pay. I thought in anger as we made our way down to the stairs. We stopped just before the stairs. We were going to continue but, we started to hear hoof steps and voices. “I fucking hate when we have to patrol this stink hole. Why in the hell would anybody come in here?”

“I don’t know Zanthros but, Major General Xuanlong says that this places needs to patrolled just in case of infiltration.” I could hear the other one growl in annoyance. “Hey, don’t blame me; Take it up with her.”

“Fine, lets get this over with before I vomit from the smell.” The Zebra said as he continued walking toward the corner. I counted two Zebras but, River shook his hoof three times; meaning that there were three Zebras coming our way. The moment that they came around the corner they were met with three bullets, well… Two bullets and a load of buckshot. One from Calamity, Velvet and Me. They were dead before they hit the ground.

“Velvet can you teleport the bodies in the alley behind the apartment?” Calamity asked loaded his shotgun back to full capacity. Velvet nodded and she flared her horn and the bodies were gone. She took a deep breath as she hasn’t use that magic at once in a while. “You good?” She nodded and as we went down the stairs avoiding the blood. When we came down there was less blood but, it still stunk. When we got to the sign on the ceiling it said: Burn warden. Then next to it somebody painted: Damn it Karl. I just shook my head and sighed. We continued down the corridor in single file keeping watch for anything.

We navigated the corridors for any sign of Zebras. When we began to make our way to the last Stair well that we need to get to we heard the sounds of laughing, bottles, cards and a thrown punch or two. River turned around and looked at us. “Alright, there are two ways to the main stairwell is located. Velvet, Song and Me are going back and taking them from the side while Rabbit, Calamity and Tiny take them from the front. But…” He didn’t get the finish when five suppressed shots from Calamity.

“There you go, problem solved and lets get to our objective. The more time we spend here means the more likely we get caught and I don’t need my balls stuffed in my mouth, thank you very much.” he said in a hushed tone reloading his shotgun.

River sighed and followed Calamity down the stairwell with his rifle in front of him. We went down the stair with even more caution as the number of sounds began to come to our ears. I had my rifle ready for action and decided to flip it to full auto. We came around the corner to see two Zebras coming our away but, it seems to be more then two. “Hey, Autumn. Spring. How many Zebras are coming our way?” I asked through the coms as silently as possible.

I got a single answer and I did not like it. She said “Eight. Proceed with caution as they have heavy machineguns and assault rifles. They have also have heavy body armor with hard plates from this point.”

“Fuck.” I murmured as they got closer. But, as they were getting closer, they turned to their left and went down a corridor. I think that everypony sighed in relief for a moment before we moved on toward the corridor where the Zebras came from. As I went by the hallway from where they went down, I decided to look down it and saw nothing. “What the hell? Where did they go?” I said to myself as we went under a sign that said: Storage up ahead. I quietly preyed to Luna as we made our way to the storage. The walls on this floor were cleaner and it didn’t smell as bad but, it was still there. It is never going to go away. We made our way to another corridor that had another sign. It said: Psychology and medical research. I stopped when I read the sign and the dream with my mother in it. Velvet noticed this, stopping and following my gaze. We were at the back so they didn’t notice us stopping all except Calamity.

“What’s wrong, Rabbit?” Velvet said in the motherly tone she uses sometimes.

I looked at the corridor and the flash of the dream came to my vision. “What are you two doing?” Calamity said as I began to walk down the corridor following my vision. “What the hell is he doing?” Calamity said with a tone filled with confusion mixed with irritation.

“I don’t know but, it seems that he is looking for something.” Velvet said with a shrug. I heard her follow me as I continued down the corridor.

“Celestia damn it.” Calamity said under his breath but, I could hear it.

I walked down following the vision of my mother walking in front of me then, when I came to a door at the end of the corridor she went into the door. I blindly followed and opened the door. When it swung open it reveal a huge room filled with shelves upon shelves but, what was on them confused me. There was briefcases, on every shelf in the room. I raised an eyebrow then, one final flash of my mother looking at one in the middle of the shelves then, back at me. She was crying with a smile then, with a gust of non-existent wind she was blown way like dust. I walked up to the case that my mother was looking at on the middle shelve. I heard Calamity and Velvet come in the room with a gasp from Velvet. “What are these?” Velvet said going to a briefcase with a curious look on her face.

“I don’t know but, I have a feeling that you don’t want to be messing with that, Velvet.” Calamity said looking out the door.

I flipped open the latches and with a little clank and opened the case. The case revealed an orb that was olive green and black. It had a note inside. Flaring my horn again I picked up the note and unfolded it. It was a short note and it read: I’m sorry that I had to leave you like the way I did Jack. I’m so very sorry. When you were born you made me the proudest father… I almost dropped the note when I was it was from my father. I…I couldn’t believe it. It was from him. It was the first time in eight years that I’ve heard from him.

Gunshots from the hallway took me out of my shock. I turned around to see that Calamity was unscrewing his suppresser. “Well, it looks like it’s time to play.” He turned to us and sighed. “It looks like this mission is a failure but, we can’t leave this place to the Zebras.” he said taking off his left saddle bag and it hit the ground with a dull thud. He used his magic to bring out a small metallic switch. He flipped it and hooked it to a small box with a lever on it. “When I press this, this all of the magic enhanced C4 will go off then, this building will go down.”

I looked at him when I closed my bag. “What?! ” I yelled getting up and hoisting my bag onto my bag. “Why in the hell did you just arm magic enhanced plastic explosives?! What the fuck are you? A pyrotechnic psychopath that has a fucking fascination with blowing shit up?”

Gunshot came over the coms before he could make a witty remark. “Fuck! How did they find us!!!” a voice came over th coms that sounded like Spring along with more automatic gun fire than, something hard and heavy hitting soaked wood. “AUTUMN!!! You striped bastards I’m going to kill all of you!!!” More automatic gunfire erupted from my ear piece almost making me yank it out. When it stopped sobbing began to come through. “Au…A…Autumn…Why… WHY!? CELESTIA FUCKING DAMN IT!” she yelled then, came the noise of more gun fire. “They keep coming… They knew were to find us! TO THE REST OF SNAKE TEAM GET OUT!!! GET OUT NOW!!! SOMEPONY SET US UP!!! R…” Then, silence as a volley of gun fire filled it then, the sounds of blood caught breath. “R…Run.” Then, the radio went silent with a single shot.

We all looked at each other. “What does that mean?!” Velvet said confusion and panic beginning to build.

Calamity sighed before looking back at us. “It means that there is a big shit sandwich and we’re all going have to take a bite.” Calamity said putting more rounds into the shotgun. “We need to find the others and get the hell out of here. Rabbit, your on me and Velvet you bring up the rear.” he said looking out the door for any signs of enemy.

I looked at Velvet; she looked scared. She looked back at me then, took a deep breath. She looked me back in the eyes filled with determination. “Alright, lets find our friends and get the hell out of here.”

I nodded without saying a word getting behind Calamity. He looked at us and nodded. “Alright, we go through the back way towards the storage.” was all he said before we began to move. We went down the dark hallway. The sounds of voices became clearer and clearer as we neared the storage area. We all looked at each other as one of the voices was familiar.

We came to another corner and it only turned left. Calamity’s body stiffened at what he saw. He backed up a little and putting me up front. He pointed with his hoof to look. I lowered my body almost to the ground and peered around the corner. What I saw struck fear in my heart and made me sick to my stomach. I saw Tiny; his entire body was stripped of his armor and weapons then, it looked like he was beaten to death; his face was beaten in along with most of his teeth. His black mane was almost as red as his coat. Then, I saw that Song with tears in her eyes as she laid on the floor dead with her throat cut. Her expression was absolute terror and pain. Her blood was still pooling around her body. It made me sick as the familiar voice came again. “Hey, I told you that I got them. I’ve gotten you one of the best field medics that we have. Along with the two best snipers, and heavy gunner.” My gaze followed the voice to River. The bastard. I‘m going to kill him. I thought with anger starting to build.

Then, a feminine voice snapped me out of my thoughts. “But, you said that you would get us the ponies responsible for Outpost Charlie-46. You also said that you would give us the last of the Celestial rangers.” My gaze found where the feminine voice coming from and it was coming from dare I say a sexy Zebra mare. She was dressed in a Officer’s uniform that fits her just right, not too tight, not too loose. Just right. Her mane was kempt with no flaws. Her voice was filled with warmth but, it had venom behind it. She had a pistol on her leg in its holster, it was a revolver with a Zebra print finish. Her eyes were looking around after she finished speaking for the moment as if she was looking for something.

River seemed to be sweating a storm. “Well, they were with us but, they wondered off and I didn’t notice it. But, if you find one then, the other two should be close. I swear, they are probably coming here right now from the gunshots from earlier.” He said backing up a little.

In a flash, the Officer drew her pistol and had it in her mouth but, she could speak clearly as if it wasn’t there. “You better not be lying because, I don’t like liars.” She said with a sharp edge that could kill a dragon.

“I’m not. I’m not. When they get here will you do your part?” he said with a little desperation in his voice.

The mare chuckle. “Yes, when we kill those three ponies then, we will let you leave the city.” She said an icy grin beginning to form on her face behind the pistol. A few moments passed before the mare spoke again with some irritation in her voice. “Where are they, River? You said that they would be here.”

River backed up a little as the Zebras behind the mare. “Just wait, just wait. They’re going to be here.” The mare was starting to grow impatient as she began to look behind River. Her face produced a smile that struck fear in my heart.

“Thank you for your service, River. Now you may leave us.” She said shooting River in the head at point blank. “Come out, now and we will make your deaths painless.” she paused for a moment then, she continued. “Except for the blue one. I’m going to have some fun with him.” she said licking her lips; making me cringe.

I felt a tug on my shoulder, I turned around to see where it was coming from and it was Velvet. “We need to go now!” She yelled running with my in tow.

“Follow them and bring the Blue one to me!” The officer yelled along with the sounds of heavy hoofs hitting the tile floor.

We began to run like our asses were on fire and the only water was on the roof. We ran down the hallway; when we made it to the end Calamity stopped and began to fire his shotgun. The shots echoed through the hallway. We ran past him as the sounds of gunfire roared through the hallway. I stopped to see that Calamity was still firing. “CALAMITY COME ON!” I yelled as Velvet began to tug on my shoulder.

“GO NOW! I‘LL GIVE YOU TIME BUT, THAT‘S ALL I CAN PROMISE!” he yelled as he shot a Zebra in the face with the shotgun making a blood mist. He continued to pump shell after shell into the hallway until a click was heard. “shit!” he said turning it over and using it as a club bashing the next Zebra’s head in spraying blood in all directions .

I was still shocked as he stood there taking on fire. I would’ve stayed there unlees Velvet pulled my shoulder and pushed me up the stairs. “He can take care of himself but, we need to the fuck out of here!” She yelled as we began to run. The sounds of gun fire was starting to become less and less until we got to the roof. We looked around trying to find the ropes but, they were gone. “Where the fuck are the ropes!?!” Velvet yelled as she looked around. When that was happening, gunfire began to come through my ear piece.

“Come you striped bastards! There is plenty of me to go around!” I heard Calamity’s voice as he was firing an automatic weapons.

I looked around to see that the spotlights on the tower were pointing at us. “Hit the deck!” I yelled dropping on my stomach, the wind of the high caliber bullets went by my head. “Today is not my day!”

I looked a Velvet as she was flaring her horn. “Get ready!” But, as she said that the door busted open, to see five Zebras rushing us with their weapons blazing. I brought up my rifle and began to fire. The bullets began to hit the Zebras but, as that was happening Velvet was sent tumbling to the ground. I turned to see blood pooling around Velvet. I turned to the Zebras as they kept coming. I continued to fire at the Zebra horde as they kept running at us until I felt the bolt retract to the rear.

“Damn-” I tired to yell but, several bullets hit my side and I think one penetrated. “Fuck.” I was barely able to say as I slammed a new mag home. I pressed the bolt release, chambering the round. Without realizing it; I began to run towards Velvet; who’s blood was starting to spread around her. The Zebras were still coming when I got to her. My magic was still firing my rifle on them as they came. With my magic I placed her on my back adding the pressure on my legs, starting to make my way to the edge. I looked back at the Zebras and more were coming then, I could kill them. Several bullets hit my rear right leg as I made my way to the edge of the roof. I’ve got to make it. I’ve got to. I thought as I made it to the edge. I won’t let them take us. I thought, turning my head firing my rifle back at them taking a few down.

When I was firing I saw a small light on my side. I looked a little more to see that Velvet’s horn was still glowing just barely. I stopped as the firing stopped to see the Zebras surrounded us in a half circle. I tired to fire but all my rifle did was click. Damn it. I thought as realized this and dropping the empty mag. I just slammed a new mag home and I was about to fire until I saw that they weren‘t firing. In the middle of the group came out the Officer. She looked…Impressed. When she was in clear view of us she began to clap with her hoofs. “Not bad. Not bad at all.” She said with an impressed expression in the moon light. I didn’t say anything but, glare at her as Velvet was doing what I think she was doing. “Hmm. You know…” She said, beginning to pace back and forth. “When I heard that River said that the ponies that destroyed our Outpost were just Civilians that escaped the Execution squads. I didn’t believe him, but I had too. You see, he was so desperate to get out of his place that he wouldn‘t lie. He was an old soldier, fought the Changelings at their full strength and still came out on top but, alas him and Calamity were the only surviving members of their group. The Celestial Rangers.” she paused for a moment thinking of what to say next. “Yeah, yes. They were a elite group of Rangers that did the same kind of missions that you tried here. But, to much greater success.” She said looking at me and began to come closer to me. I tried to step back but, my hoof hit a little of the edge and it sent a small chuckle of concrete twenty-five stories down. I looked down then, back up at her.

“Who are you?” was all I asked making her stop half way between us and the Zebras soldiers but, making her smile bigger.

She chuckled. “That would be Major General Xuanlong to most of my bucks. But, you can call me Silent Strom if you can’t pronounce that.” She paused as she noticed Velvet on my back. I glared at her that moment she chuckled at her. “Ah, it looks like you have a little marefriend. Ain’t that just precious. Too bad that she is going to die of blood loss but, there is a bright side.” She said shooting a seductive gaze at me.

I gulped a little at the gaze but, I held my glare. “What would that be?”

She started to look over my body, making me cringe on the inside. She looked back up. “That once she’s dead then, you will be all alone with me. Then, we’ll have some fun you and I.” She said with the same seductive gaze making me cringe. I flinched a little without realizing it then, she was on me. Before I could react she had her pistol against the temple of my head but, what shocked me was that it was in the air in a magic aura. Before I could speak she laughed. “You should see your face, right now. If you are wondering how I’m going this then, it is thanks to a device that was found in the hospital.” She said slowly pulling up her sleeve on her uniform revealing a large bracelet type device that almost covered her entire foreleg. “I don’t know what’s it called but, I do love it. Don’t you sweet cheeks? It can only do simple spells like levitation but, still. I think that it was for unicorns in rehab.” She cleared her throat and looked at me again. “Now, why don’t you just back away from the edge and I will make sure that your friend doesn’t die or get raped. That sounds like a fair deal. Do you think so?”

I just glared at her then, with a speed that I didn’t know I had. I flared my horn sticking the .44 magnum revolver to her temple. The sounds of the Zebras aiming their weapons at me filled my ears. Xuanlong waved a hoof; making the Zebras lower their weapons. “I won’t go down without a fight, bitch. If you threaten Velvet again…” I said cocking the hammer. “Then, I will blow your brains out across this Celestia forsaken roof.”

She smiled again and pressed the pistol against my head harder. She walked closer to me unwavering that I had the pistol to her head. She got a little too close for comfort as I could feel her hot breath, it smelled a little like mint. “I always like a Stallion that even with his back against the wall still continues to fight.” Before I could react she pressed her lips against mine invading my mouth with her tongue. My eyes went wide when I realized what she was doing and I immediately jumped back out of shock. I forgot for a moment that I was at an edge and I began to free fall. I looked at Xuanlong as she was smiling as I fell bringing my revolver with me. She said something but, I couldn’t hears as the wind of Velvet and me falling blocked a lot of my hearing. I bet it was something witty.

We began to fall as fast as gravity would let us. But, it felt like it was all going by slow. I could see my black mane waving through the air upwards and the windows of the hospital and apartments went by us some broken and some that were intact. I could feel something pressing on my back as we fell. I looked on my back to see that it was Velvet. I completely forgot about her when I was talking to Xuanlong. I muttered “Fuck” as I realized that we were half way down the building. That life flashing before your eyes crap is total bullshit as all I could think of was how in the hell am I going to survive this. All I saw was Velvet and her still glowing horn. I looked at her and she smiled.

Then, a sudden flash of light engulfed us then, the next moment we were submerged in water the sudden pressure launched the air out of my lungs nearly making me black out. Water took the air’s place in my lungs then, they were starting to burn. Before I knew it to we began to sink then, the weight on my back was lifted. I looked down to see Velvet sinking into the bottom of the deep river. Her eyes were half way closed and the water around her was starting to turn red as blood was coming out her wounds. I began to swim down toward her, my vision beginning to blur as I got deeper into the water; the pressure on my lungs started to increase as I was within a legs reach of her. The current was starting to move us downstream as I just managed to get to her front legs and I began to swim upwards as fast as my legs would let me. It wasn’t easy as my armor and her armor was weighting us down. But, we had no time to ditch it. The simmering of light was my guide as I got closer and closer. My lungs were really starting to burn from the lack of air. I was kicking my legs as hard as I could and still felt like I wasn’t going to make it. Then, the light jumped and I came out of the water like whale. The moon light assaulted my eyes and I was blinded for a moment then, it became clear. I began to cough erratically, I pulled up Velvet from under the water and placed her on my back then, with the last of my strength that I had, I swam as fast as that my legs would let me.

I swam and swam for what it felt like hours before I made it to the shoreline. I began to drag myself onto the beach, coughing up the water in my lungs. Then, I remembered that Velvet was on top of my back and with my magic I set her down on the ground. I looked at her then, shock went through me. She wasn’t breathing. Without caring if there are other Zebras near by I began to perform CPR on her. I flipped her on her back and began to pump on her chest hoping that she would breath. “Come on!” I yelled as I pumped into her chest couple more times. Then, she sat up coughing up water and taking short breaths. “Take Celestia!” I said hugging her. I could feel tears starting to form on my eyes but, I wipe them way as she laid back down looking around and taking deep breaths.

She looked at me and smiled. “Where… Are…We?” She said taking a breath between each word. She looked back at the sky.

I looked around and saw that we were at a river that was running through the middle of Baltimare. “At the Apple River shoreline.” I said falling down on the rocky sand covered beach.

We laid there in silence for a minute or two catching our breath. “We’re the only ones that made it aren’t we?” She said out of the blue. Her voice was void of emotion.

I sat up and looked at the setting moon thinking for a moment. “Yeah. River betrayed us. Song, Tiny, Autumn, Spring are dead but, Calamity I don’t know. He is a tough son of bitch so he should be fine.” I paused for a moment before feeling my neck with my hoof to see if my earpiece was still there. When I found it, I followed it to my radio and took out the plug then, we could hear Calamity’s voice. Velvet sat up holding her side then, looked at me. I looked back her then, we looked at the radio.

“Why don’t you go sit on my horn and spin bitch.” He said along with the sounds of spitting.

“Well, that wasn’t nice. Now, was it Lieutenant Calamity?” A familiar voice said flowing out of the speaker of the radio. “Now, tell me were is the detonator?” the voice said then it clicked. It was Xuanlong.

“Go suck a hairy dick.” Calamity said with a chuckle.

“Now, now. Let’s not go to petty insults.” She said then, a sound of electricity jumping through the air was heard. “I don’t want to bring out Mr. Zinger. But, it looks like you gave no choice.”

“AHHHHHHHHHH!” Calamity screamed as electricity jumped though his body. Then, he stop screaming. “Fucking bitch.” he said through his breath.

“Where is the detonator?” Xuanlong said. Her voice was starting to get irritated.

Then, the sound of electricity came again, hitting Calamity. “AHHHHHHHHH!” Then, when it was done, Calamity was starting to laugh out loud.

“What’s so funny, Calamity? Do you realize that you are beaten?” Xuanlong said with a dark chuckle.

“No, you fucking whore.” He said then, getting a what sound like a slap. “Ha, it looks like I found your little soft spot. You cock sucking motherfucking whore.” Then, the sound of a pistol cocking came through.

“You will tell me where the detonator is or I will blow your brains out.” She said her voice full of rage.

Calamity laughed out louder and harder then, the last time. “Alright, I will give you a little riddle. What’s blue and black and a bullet magnet, that has a soft spot for a green mare? Once, you figure it out then, you will find the detonator. But, it will be too late.” The moment he said that I threw open my bag with the orb inside.

Next to it was the Detonator that was wirelessly linked to the explosives in the hospital. The sounds of irritation and frustration came through the radio. “Fine me that Blue one!!” Then, the sounds of a metal door slamming shut. All that was left was the heavy breathing of Calamity as he sat wherever he was.

I grabbed the Detonator and looked at the radio. “Rabbit…if you can hear this, send me off with bang.” Calamity said with a soft yet dark chuckle.

I levitated it out into the open; staring at it for a moment, then I got on the radio. “Good bye friend, I’ll never forget you.” was all I said before I squeezed the trigger. His radio went silent then, a large explosion came from behind us that almost knocked me back into the water then, came a giant pillar of smoke shooting up in the setting moon light. I got up and shook the sand off of me. I looked at the detonator and placed it back inside my bag. I looked at Velvet and it looked like she was having a hard time getting up. I gave her a hoof and she smiled.

“Thanks.” She said taking my hoof and I placed her hoof across my neck; helping her walk. “Lets get out of here and someplace where we can treat our wounds.” She said adjusting herself.

I looked at the smoke stack then, about a mile west. “Lets see if we can get one of the humvees that we left.” I said helping Velvet walk. I looked at the rising sun and sighed. I didn’t say anything as we made our way up the hill then, onto the street. I looked at my rifle that was slapping me in the chest. I was surprised that I still had it. The magazine that I had in it earlier was gone so I placed a new into it. We could of really used that ammo. I thought as we made onto the street. After I was done I could hear a rumbling coming towards us. Me and Velvet realized that it was a tank. We hobbled toward a run down shop that had seen better days. I kicked in the door and had my rifle at the ready. When there was nothing in the room besides the fallen selves, products and rubble; I slammed the door closed and throwing a self in the way. There was almost no light besides the light coming through the shops little windows. I looked around for a spot to place Velvet.

She pointed to the area behind the cash register. I opened the little door and let her sit against the wall. She was sweating a lot after I sat her down. She is starting to go into shock! I thought as I took off my bag and tore out the trauma packs. “Stay with me, Velvet!” I softly said as I tore open the trauma pack and began to work on her. She had five bullets wounds up and down her flank and leg with blood coming out of the holes in her armor. With my magic I took off the pants revealing her wounded side. She was bruised along her body then, when it came to the weaker parts of the armor they went through. Blood was still flowing out. I opened a Quick Clot package and poured it onto three of the wounds when the powder ran out. I was patting it down making the blood stop in the wounds that placed it in. I looked at one of the wounds and it was all the way through. “Velvet, you there is still a bullet in your leg. I’m going to need to get it out.” I said taking out an IV, placing a tourniquet around her leg constricting to blood to her leg as I inserting the needle into her upper leg. “This is our only IV pack. It’s Saline and I’m going to inject a vile of Morphine, so you won’t feel as much pain.” I said letting the fluid drip into her, I then placed the IV hook on a nail that was in the wall. Her entire body was starting to relax as the morphine was taking effect. I sighed a sigh of relief as the muscles around the wounds were starting to relax, making my job a little easier. I took out a pair of tweezers and took a deep breath, then I stuck the tweezers in to the hole and I started to search it with the blood slowing but, still there until I found the bullet. I grabbed the edge of the mushroomed bullet and pulled it out. Once I got it out I tossed it to the side. I grabbed another thing of Quick Clot and I tore it open, I began to put the powdery substance on the last of the wounds.

I sighed in relief as the blood was stopping as I placed on the gauze and pressure bandages. Her leg and flank were covered in bandages. “Thank Celestia that they didn’t hit any bones otherwise we would be screwed.” I said with a chuckle. I checked her pulse with the tip of my hoof against her neck, I looked at her eyes and saw that she was sleeping. She was stable and was going to be alright. I looked outside the window and the sun was fully in the sky. I looked down at my watch, it said: 7:16 AM. I sat against the wall right next to the sleeping next to me. I put my back against the wall and was starting to relax a little. My eyes were starting to get heavy and my vision began to double. “Fuck it, I’m going to sleep.” I said to myself as I closed my eyes .

_________________________________

“Alright, General Maple is starting to get suspensions about your fighting abilities after you survived the RPG blast. When you met Snake team, you almost got into a fight with them over your equipment and other gear. But, on your way to the hospital you wind up falling a sleep and dreaming about your mother and siblings. Then, it turns out to be a vision as you see yourself along with your dying mother. She tells you to get the orb inside the hospital. You don’t know why but, you kept it with you. You also heard Spring and Autumn being killed over the radio. Then, you heard gunshots in the hospital so you decide to investigate. When you got to where the gunshots are you saw that Captain River Pebble has betrayed you and your team by turning you into the Zebras. It turns out that he made a deal with Major General Xuanlong, if he gave the Zebras the ponies of Snake team and the ponies responsible for the Metro outpost collapse. When Xuanlong saw you, she shot River in the head and that’s how she was going to let him go.” The pony in the suit taking a drink of apple cider. Then, looked at Jack Rabbit who was looking around the room.

The pony in the suit sighed. “But, after that. You, Velvet, and Calamity made a run for it then, before the first set of stairs he stopped and gave you some time. It was thanks to Velvet that you got to the roof, but when you were looking for a way down, Velvet gets wounded. Then, after a brief conversation, you wind up being kissed by one of the most powerful Zebras in the upper half of the seaboard. Then, you wind up falling off of the roof to be teleported by Velvet into the Apple river. You then, saved her life twice. Once, saving her from drowning then, a second time by taking out the bullet lodged in her leg. But, before you tended to Velvet. You heard over your radio a interrogation of Calamity by Xuanlong. When they finished he asked you to trigger the detonator. You did, taking out the hospital and yet another base of operations for the Zebra forces. Thus pissing them off again.”

Jack Rabbit nodded and yawned a little. “Yes, I did all of that, I did what I believe what was right. Should I continue with my story or should I let you summarize everything I say?” Jack rabbit said with a laugh getting a glare from The Pony in the suit. “Alright, alright. Don’t need too serious, you need to lighten up.” Jack Rabbit said before taking a deep breath. “Ok, now for the next part. Now, this is where it gets kind of creepy and confusing.”

Author's Note

There we fucking go. Holy shit that took way longer then, I expected. I mean I thought it would take me a day or two but, fuck it took me an entire week. There was one thing I want to say. FUCK YOU WRITER‘S BLOCK!!! Besides in my head the way that River would betray Snake team would been different but, I went with the flow. Hell, I didn’t think of the dream of Jack’s mother until I was writing it down. But, enough of that.

*Note: if you are interested in doing an Cover Art for this story please reading the passage below. If not just skip it.*

Also, note I’m looking for an artist that is willing to make a cover piece for this story. I just want it to be: Velvet leaning against a wall filled with holes; while she is reloaded her MP5 SMG. Jack is standing on his hindlegs and pressing his back against the concrete wall to be peering around the wall with a M4 bare rifle with a red dot sight; levitating it in the air. His face is filled with fear and concern. Jack is looking at a group of eight Zebra with AKs and RPGs as their weapons; They’re just dark figures with one standing on a destroyed tank looking around as the sun sets behind them. Both Velvet and Jack Rabbit are wearing the armor they gotten at the beginning of Chapter Five.(Just think of MP SWAT body armor. The knee pads and Kevlar suit with hard plats on the chest, back and sides. The boots are just black pads that act like combat boots for the hoofs) The armor is filled with holes around the legs showing the color of their coat. They are both missing their helmets and are covered in grime as they haven‘t bathed in a long time. The streets that is filled with rubble and burning military vehicles . The buildings around them are in disarray and on the verge of collapse. The Zebras are walking toward Velvet and Jack Rabbit in a random formation. In the far background is a city with a river and a bridge. The bridge is collapsed and pillars of smoke are all around the city. On the wall above Velvet and Jack rabbit, I would like the title In The End We All Have To Fight. It looks like it was spray painted then, the run down of the paint is mixed with a blood splatter. If anyone wants to do this then, thank you. I won’t be able to pay for it in money or anything like that. But, if you could accept this then, that would be awesome. If you are an artist that needs help writing then, maybe we could do a trade.

*End of passage for Cover art*

I know that was as long as hell but, I just wanted to get that out there. But, here we go for Chapter Six: Recollection

prologue

The sound of a tape recorder starting echoed through the room.

"Can I get a smoke? *Lighter flaring up* Thanks. So, I just speak into here?

“Yes. Just tell your story from the beginning and how your actions led you up to this point in the battle.”

"Alright." *Deep breath*

"My name is Jack Rabbit. I don’t have much to tell, so here we go. I’m a loner, usually, I have a brother and sister. I lived in my house alone in a tiny suburban area just on the outskirts of the main city of Baltimare. It has been a couple months, since the beginning of this damn war. I don’t know if it started for resources, power, wealth, or land but, there is one thing. I don’t give a shit. I’ve seen my fair share of death and misery. I was never a fighter when I was younger. I used to be the pony that was picked on for being a blank flank and small. When, I got my cutie mark, I was still picked on for what it was. It was a damn camp fire. I still don’t get what it means but, I’ll figure it out sometime later. The only family that I really care about is my brother and sister. My mom included but, she died of cancer five years ago, my brother and sister have moved but I still have a hard time about it. I just don't want to talk about it. So, why don't we start this so I can get out of here and do what i promised."