The Quest Through Time

(A/N: For the beginning part here, the song I’m using is “Grunt” from Mass Effect 2.

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Chapter 18

*Twilight and Rarity were making their way towards the airfield when they heard a familiar voice. “Twilight, Rarity!” They looked behind them and saw Snowblind and Dax were catching up to them.

“You’re both alright!” Twilight exclaimed.

“Yes, barely,” Dax said. “Where’s Arwen?”

“She… stayed behind to keep the guards busy,” Rarity said regrettably.

Snowblind nodded. “Don’t worry, she’ll be fine. Girl’s tough as nails.” They then noticed the guards pouring out of the base towards them. “But we gotta move now. We’ll snatch a transport and see if we can get Arwen out.” They kept going forward but there appeared to be soldiers coming from the airfield as well.

“I got this!” Dax said. He then took off his belt and rigged the grenades on there at the same time, throwing it as far as he could. The belt landed in front of the soldiers and exploded, taking out all of them. Luckily for them there was a transport still standing and Snowblind quickly hopped to it.

“I’ll get the ship warmed up and you three give me as much time as you can!” Snowblind jumped into the cockpit and started up the ship’s systems. It would’ve been an easy escape except for what came next.

There then came an explosion from the base and suddenly a large mech appeared. “You gotta be kidding me!” Dax said. “That thing’s still operating!?”

“What is that!?” Twilight asked.

“Mech, artificial intelligence. Armed and dangerous,” Dax said.

“We don’t have the firepower to take down that thing, so we have to move, now!” Snowblind said. The shuttle was their only means of escape, but somehow the mech was able to detect this as suddenly a missile flew past them and the shuttle in front of them blew up, cutting off their only means of escape. “Damn it,” Snowblind cursed. He then turned back on his radio earpiece. “Marcus, you still in the vicinity?”

“There you guys are, what the hell is going on?” Marcus asked. “I got Imperial radio chatter going crazy right now… something about a mech?”

“Yes, one that needs to be taken down immediately, can you provide support?”

“I’ll see what we can do,” Marcus said.

“I’m getting word of immediate evacuation,” Jazz chimed in. “Is there-” Suddenly a huge blast within the base erupted as the large comm. tower collapsed upon itself, taking out part of the base with it. “-Nevermind, we’ll follow the smoke,” she completed.

“Do hurry, since I imagine Imperial forces are on their way,” Snowblind said. Right now they were hunkering behind what was the shuttle. If there were any soldiers still left, they were staying out of the way until the mech was taken care of.

“That thing is headed right for us!” Rarity yelled.

“Hey Dax, if this thing is automatic,” Snowblind said. “Then that means it has an AI core.”

“Where? The thing sticking out of it’s head?” Dax asked.

“Yes, now shoot it!” Snowblind snapped.

Dax lined up his shot, took careful aim and fired. The “AI Core” completely shattered and the mech suddenly shut down. “…Is it dead?” Twilight asked.

“I think so, for now at least,” Snowblind said. “Marcus, Jazz, you’re clear for the moment.”

“Thanks, glad we don’t have to worry about being shot down for once,” Marcus chirped back.

“Hold on,” Dax said. “We are not leaving without Arwen and if I have to I’ll search that entire base for her.”

(A/N: For this next part the song I’m using is “To Hunt L’Cie” from Final Fantasy XIII.

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*“That won’t be necessary.” How they snuck up on them, Snowblind had no idea but there was Victus himself, escorted by a platoon of stormtroopers. “Destroying the comm. tower may have been a victory, but Imperial forces are already on their way. And I’m sure your friend would like to join you before you’re all arrested and… eventually executed.”

Two soldiers then drug and threw a torn up pegasus right at their feet. “Arwen!” Dax said. He glared at Victus. “You bastard…”

“I assure you she’s still alive,” Victus said pleasantly. “In fact she put up a pretty good fight, pity she was outmatched.” Snowblind held her close. She was unconscious but there was still a pulse and she was breathing lightly. “Now, if you all come willingly, I can at least grant you the small amount of time you have left in this world…”

Snowblind then noticed something out of the corner of his eye. There was a small red light blinking where the mech was now standing. He smiled slightly. “Sorry Victus, but I think you’re about to have bigger concerns on your plate at the moment.”

He couldn’t see Victus’ face under the helmet he wore, but he detected confusion as his horn started glowing and soon the whole area was covered in white light. He had unleashed what was similar to a flashbang grenade. While it did stun everyone, there was another purpose to it.

The flash had somehow woken up the mech, causing it’s systems to start up once again. The troopers were slow to react and then had to focus more on the giant hulk of destruction rather than their captives. Victus gave a small snort of displeasure and teleported himself away, leaving his troops behind.

“Cavalry is here!” Two missiles were suddenly fired, striking straight into the large mech, knocking it back and stunning it for a moment. The Outrider appeared and hovered down next to them. The loading ramp lowered and Marcus came out holding a high-powered rifle. “Come on I’ll cover you!” The troopers were already preoccupied as is, but Marcus shot at them nonetheless. Once they got inside, the ramp retracted and the ship took off.

Snowblind quickly took Arwen and laid her down in one of the seats in the back of the ship. “She needs medical attention right away,” Snowblind said.

“Don’t worry, we’ll get her home,” Marcus said. Suddenly the ship rocked dramatically. “And our Imperial friends are here, just in time.” He quickly made his way to the cockpit, where Twilight and Rarity now were. “How bad Jazz?”

“Two cruisers at 7 o’clock, closing fast,” Jazz said.

Marcus got into his seat. “Then it’s time for a test run. Unlike most ships I did some modifications and the engine drive has been completely revamped.”

“They’re closing in!” Rarity said.

“No problem, watch this!” Marcus said. He then pulled a lever. All of a sudden the ship’s engine sputtered and died.

“Watch what?” Twilight asked.

“…I think we might be trouble,” Marcus asked.

“I uh… forgot to mention that in the last flight the engine took a couple hits,” Jazz said. “I was working on it but didn’t have time to fix it all up before we took off.”

“Yep we’re in trouble,” Marcus said.

What then took place was something neither side could have predicted. The two cruisers were almost side by side but the cruiser on the left’s engines suddenly exploded, immobilizing the cruiser and causing the other to turn back around. “What was that?” Jazz asked.

“That came from our mechanical friend down there,” Marcus replied. “…Dear Celestia, a freaking rail gun! What in the world are those Imps up to?”

“Incoming call from Basil,” Jazz stated.

“Alright, bring him up,” Marcus said.

“Marcus, we just got word the communications relay has been taken out,” Basil said through the speakers. “I imagine everypony got out okay?”

“Arwen got wounded in the attack and we’re going to need a med team as soon as we get back,” Marcus said grimly.

“Arwen… I see,” Basil responded. “We’ll be ready to help her out as soon as you get back. And Marcus, I can’t say this enough: we’re really glad you came back.”

Marcus said nothing and ended the call. “Let’s just hope it’s all worth it.”