Five Tales

The Liberation War, Year 1.

6 months After Battle of Canterlot, (A.B.C.)

Operation Crescent. Day 77.

The early days of life in the shadows within Cabal-occupied Manehatten were constantly fraught with danger. The line blurred between fighting a war and fighting to survive. The Saboteurs were empowered in their mission to free the city, while also being bogged down in their own doubt. Those days were dreary, uncertain, and absolutely terrifying.

How this day was so much different.

Rarity never thought she would ever see the Keep, and all of its inhabitants, so upbeat. Every pony was hard at work with a smile. Many were talking about what they would do when the city would be re-taken. Some spoke of continuing to fight, while others expressed their longing want to see their families, though they all agreed a simple rest from everything would be first on the list. The refugees beamed with thanks, overjoyed to know their former captors would no longer be able to reach them. None of them could be blamed for what would normally be an intense amount of assumptions. After all, the key component to the completion of Operation Crescent was in their possession.

With the achievement of the Palace night mission, the harbor wall schematics were safely in Saboteur hands. And with that, the proper placement of the explosive batteries could commence. Soon, the wall would be destroyed, allowing the landing force dispatched by the Haven Alliance, consisting of troops from the Equestrian Home Army and Umbran Army, to enter the harbor and take the city from within.

There was still much that had to be done, but Rarity was confident. With assurances from Octavia and Night Wing, all would be in place.

Rarity took a moment to gaze out of the windows of the twenty second floor. The primary command center of the Keep was bustling with Saboteur officers attending to the operations. A mix of urgency and patience settled among the ponies, feeling victorious while also keeping in mind the possibility of the unexpected. From across the city-scape view, a tiny yet brightly flashing light permeated the layers of mist settling on the waters beyond the wall. It was the signal that the Saboteurs had identified this morning. The Alliance landing force was waiting on the fringes of the bay, ready for when the harbor wall would crumble.

The air shifted beside Rarity as Corbeau stood beside her. He looked out at the early morning sky, the sun failing to show itself past the mass of wild clouds.

“Tea?” He offered, holding out a mug.

Rarity shook her head. The mere thought of the word made her stomach churn.

“You sure? It might be the last one. A bunch of the Saboteurs are already planning on dumping all of the tea into the harbor once we retake the city. There won’t be any left after this.”

Rarity couldn’t help but grin at the thought. Doctor Novelle must had passed on her sentiments.

Corbeau grinned in turn. “Glad to know you can still smile. How are you feeling?”

“A little better. But let’s not dwell on that right now. How are things proceeding?”

“Our Saboteurs down at the harbor are on schedule. There’ve been little to no interference from the Cabal guards that are usually there.” Corbeau stated.

“That’s wonderful news,” Rarity breathed, “But our work isn’t over yet. We will still have a fight on our hands once the Alliance landing force arrives. A fight that will span an entire city…”

Corbeau noticed the sudden drop Rarity’s tone, turning to her with a worried frown.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing, I’m… I’m only worried about the battle to come. We’ve all come so close to the goal of liberating this city. I don’t want to see any of us… die… only inches away from the end we’ve been working so hard towards for so many months.”

Rarity felt Corbeau’s hand touch her shoulder, sending a comforting warmth through her. She looked into his eyes, thinking how romantic a moment like this would have been, had Corbeau not already been pledged to another. She quickly snapped herself to reality as he spoke.

“…Consider that we may actually be able to take the city back without any fighting. The Elite are cowards, and the Cabal aren’t fanatics. Once they see the Alliance has breached their wall, they wouldn’t throw their lives away meaninglessly. If you ask me, we’ve already won.”

His words might have been presumptuous, but they succeeded in lessening Rarity’s worries. With the amount of reinforcements to come from the harbor, surely the Cabal would opt to surrender. They knew when they could be defeated…

At the same time, however, it couldn’t be that simple. Primus Asmund was the one wildcard Rarity could never figure out. From his chilling words at the Caneighgie Palace, he came off as knowing much more than he should have. And with his cunning mind and his ruthlessness, Rarity wasn’t sure what to expect from him when the harbor wall would fall.

“… Perhaps we might get a little luck for once. Did Octavia send her reports with you?”

“No. She wanted to go over some details about the wall with you personally. She’s down on the fourteenth floor’s command center. I’ll happily escort your ladyship down, if I may.” Corbeau informed, his arm bent outward towards Rarity, bowing with a gentlecolt’s poise.

Rarity couldn’t help but giggle, resting her arm in Corbeau’s with her own lady-like stance. “Of course you may. I only wish I had my strolling umbrella.”

The pair turned in the direction of the main elevator, only making it halfway from the windows before stopping.

The room’s attention slowly fixed on the elevator doors as smoke began seeping from the cracks. The gas was light and hazy, very different from the smoke produced by an uncontrolled fire.

The elevator’s signal lights were steadily moving upward, before stopping with a ding under the number twenty two.

The wide doors slung open, letting forth a lurching cloud of smoke. A coughing figure staggered out.

“L-lady Rarity…” Mr. Haybale choked, dropping to his knees, “We h-h-have… v-visitors…”

Mr. Haybale fell flat on the floor, a sharp crossbow bolt jutting out from his back.

The smoke spread as several larger, antlered figures stepped out from the elevator.

The orange sigil of the Cabal painted on their helmets.

“The Keep has been compromised!! All floors, this is not a drill! Cabal forces have breached past the Veil floors! All units to defensive stations! I repeat, Keep is compromised!!”

The building speakers boomed urgently, but their sound could not come above the eruption of metal crossbows and crackling electricity.

Corbeau tackled Rarity to the side as bolts shot across the room, finding marks in several Saboteurs taken by surprise. As quick as lighting, the Cabal caribou rushed into the command center. Their assault was met with an equally quick defense, the officers and other Saboteurs already letting loose their own hail of fire dart pistol bursts. A clash and flurry of folding blades and shock batons ensued, engulfing the command center in combat. Tables with documents and city maps were thrown down for makeshift cover, while windows were broken to allow the impeding smoke to dissipate.

Rarity and Corbeau scrounged themselves from the floor, hastily running through the other rooms on the floor and towards the service stairwells. They needed to arm themselves, and quickly descended towards the armory on the twentieth floor, passing by Saboteurs on their way up to help contest the command center.

The armory’s many rooms were filled to the brim with ponies, all rushing to gather their folding blades, pistols, crossbows, and whatever weapons they needed. Rarity was quickly passed a sword and a pistol as Corbeau fetched his own set, finding his gauntlet by a workbench and quickly fastening it to his forearm. The Saboteurs surrounding them donned their padded long coats, which provided some protection against the shock based weapons of the caribou.

As she grabbed spare ammunition for her pistol, Rarity glanced at Corbeau behind her.

“I should’ve seen this coming… I should’ve known Asmund would have found a way…”

“If the Cabal brought Haybale up with them, then they must have walked in through the ground floor,” Corbeau interrupted, keeping his mind in the moment, “If he wanted to betray us, he could have told the Cabal where the armory was, or to use the service stairwells. He knew the best chance at giving us time was to take the Cabal up the main elevator. We need to get to the secondary command center on the fourteenth floor and find Octavia.”

Rarity knew Corbeau was right. Especially regarding the Cabal’s straightforward attack. Haybale gave his life to allow them to find even a few seconds of extra time to mount a defense.

Compelled by Haybale’s sacrifice, Rarity completed her loadout and addressed the armory ponies within earshot. They looked to their leader with courage.

“Alliance Saboteurs! Spread out and protect our refugees! Repel the attackers! I need four of you with me!”

Rarity, joined by Corbeau and four other Saboteurs made their way to the secondary elevator, stepping inside the car and pressing the number fourteen. The elevator began its smooth descent, silence pervading within the car as though the urgency of the situation suddenly disappeared.

The elevator car suddenly jerked, freezing still as a muffled tremor rocked the connecting wires. Only a second later it resumed, though at an alarming speed.

Corbeau immediately mashed the emergency breaks button, forcing the elevator to come to a screeching halt on the fifteenth floor. The elevator doors jammed from the violent stop.

With the aid of one of the accompanying Saboteur stallions, Corbeau latched onto one side of the doors, pulling with all his might as the other stallion did the same for the opposite door. They successfully pried the doors open, witnessing several ponies evacuating from the med ward facilities. Saboteurs and refugee volunteers gave escort to med ward staff and patients as they hurried by, making their way to the safety of the service stairwell and the floor below. Some hastily carried medical supplies while others lifted heavy stretchers with patients lying upon them.

Rarity stepped out, noticing one of the stretchered ponies was Meadow, still frail and confused, though safe with her caretakers. She breathed a sigh of relief as she moved with her group to the source of the evacuation.

A wounded Saboteur passed them by, garnering Rarity’s attention.

“What happened? Where’s Doctor Novelle?”

“Cabal surprised us by coming down from the upper floors. They’re taking prisoners. Doctor Novelle ordered us to get every pony down to the fourteenth where it’s safe. She’s back in the lobby.”

Taking in the pony’s words and moving with haste, Rarity and her squad arrived in the med ward lobby, an open room which cut down the middle of the floor’s layout.

The lobby was ablaze with a powerful yellow light. A huge, magical barrier stood dissecting the lobby, held up by Doctor Novelle. Her arms were outstretched, palms fitted to the shield as her horn sparkled with intensity.

“Doctor Novelle!” Rarity exclaimed, catching the doctor’s attention. She could only glance at her briefly, the magical strain taking its toll on her strength.

“T-The ward’s cleared out!! You have to… M-make sure they’re all safe!”

Beyond the doctor’s translucent barrier was a cloud of white smoke, clumping together more thickly in some places. A battle raged on the other side, clearly audible though impossible to see. From a gap in the smoke directly ahead, a lone Saboteur desperately fought against a towering Cabal soldier. The Saboteur was rapidly defeated, the Cabal caribou stunning the stallion, ripping away his folding blade and stabbing him with it.

The same Cabal soldier directed his attention to the shield, facing down Doctor Novelle. His eyes were covered by the blackened visor of his helmet, giving him a boost to his intimidating stance.

The imposing caribou reached for an object on his back; A small but heavy battering ram, thoroughly etched with glowing rune markings.

Grasping the ram, the Cabal caribou heaved it at the barrier, causing Novelle to cry out as a huge fracture appeared in her shield. The caribou swung once more, utterly shattering the wall of yellow light with a burst of energy, sending Doctor Novelle to the ground. The magic lingering in the air quickly dissolved into nothing.

Novelle looked up at Rarity as she struggled to lift herself.

“Go!!”

From within the spreading smoke, two metal claspers shot out from an unknown device, trailing behind them loose yet durable wires. They clamped themselves around Novelle’s neck and left wrist, delivering a painful electric current to the injured unicorn. The wired clamps reeled themselves, swiftly dragging the screaming doctor into the bowels of the smoke.

Rarity froze in place as the smoke gave way to more encroaching Cabal soldiers.

“Rarity, we need to move!!” Corbeau urged.

“Lady Rarity, go! We’ll hold them off!” One of the accompanying Saboteurs said, drawing her pistol as the other three Saboteurs bravely joined her, already engaging the caribou.

Corbeau ushered Rarity towards the service stairwell before she could protest their fearless decision, quickly shutting and locking the door behind him.

After descending the stairs, Rarity and Corbeau arrived at the fourteenth floor, welcomed in by several Saboteurs, who then quickly closed and blocked off the door behind them to prevent the caribou from pursuing.

The secondary command center of the Keep was a mess. Wounded Saboteurs laid about as room was made for the evacuated med ward patients. Refugees taking shelter helped where they could, but the floor was still strewn with chaos.

Corbeau made his way across the crowded room, only to stop and turn around once he noticed Rarity wasn’t following. She simply stood there, a look of defeat on her face.

“How… How could I let this happen? This is all my fault…”

Before Corbeau could try to urge her to push forward, another pony stepped in to comfort her.

“Rarity…” Coco Pommel said, gently holding Rarity’s arm, “Please… I don’t know a whole lot of what’s going to happen, but I know for a fact that if you don’t keep going, everything up to now will be for nothing. You’re strongest mare out of all of us. You can’t give up.”

Rarity stared at her friend, letting her words soak into her mind. She straightened herself, giving Coco Pommel a thankful hug.

“Stay safe, will you?” Rarity asked.

“We will.” She replied, pulling away and returning to the crowd as Rarity joined with Corbeau once again. They quickly found the mare they came for.

“Start moving some down to the thirteenth floor. The further we are from the caribou above us, the better.” Octavia ordered a group of Saboteurs. Rarity caught her attention as she neared.

“What’s the situation?” Rarity asked.

“Whatever you saw on your way down. That’s simplest way to describe it all.” Octavia said wearily. “I couldn’t tell you how much of the Keep has been taken. All I know is that we need to get to the harbor wall and ensure its destruction. It’s the only way to effectively drive off this attack.”

“Then we need the zip line launchers on the twenty sixth,” Corbeau suggested, “But they’re above the command center. The Cabal could have already taken that floor.”

Octavia shook her head. “Not likely. I sent Night Wing and all of her Sentinels up there the instant I got word of the attack. They’ll hold it, but we should be getting there as quickly as possible.”

“Then how shall we proceed?” Rarity asked.

Octavia beckoned them to follow her towards the tertiary elevator. She continued to speak as they walked.

“We cannot allow the Cabal to know about our refugees harbored on this floor. Which means in order for us to use the main elevator, we’ll need to call it down on the seventh floor.”

“Why so far down?”

“We’ve been establishing a perimeter… Well, if one could use the term ‘perimeter’ in a vertical battlefield. We need to keep floor’s eleven through fourteen secure, otherwise we will be out of options. I don’t want the Cabal anywhere near them, so we’re going to call the elevator from the seventh. Are you prepared for a fight?”

Rarity and Corbeau glanced at one another, before nodding. Octavia exhaled.

“Very well. Then let’s be off.”

The three entered the tertiary elevator, pressing the button labeled seven as the doors slid shut. The old elevator rumbled and churned, but thankfully it held as their descent commenced. The air in the car was absolutely silent. Rarity and Corbeau stood beside one another and behind Octavia as they kept their eyes locked on the door. Their minds focused on what would be waiting for them when they came to their stop.

Ding

The final ping of the lights echoed, landing on number seven. Octavia placed her hand to her back, grasping the fire dart pistol in the holster right above her waist. She pulled it out the moment the doors slid open, already letting loose a shot.

The Cabal solider in her sight fell to the floor instantly, letting go of the horrified mare in his grasp. The other caribou in the vicinity were alerted, launching themselves at the stoic Saboteur leader as the red collared mare scurried to safety.

Rarity and Corbeau skirted to the main elevator panel as Octavia unloaded two more bullets into two other Cabal. She drew her other pistol while ducking to avoid a shock baton, firing twice at her immediate attacker and once more at a faraway caribou attempting to use his crossbow, felling them both.

As Octavia tossed aside her empty pistols and weaved through the approaching enemies, Rarity found the main elevator to be operational, pressing the emergency floor call. The elevator was on its way, leaving Rarity and Corbeau to guard the doors. The pair began to pick off incoming caribou with their own pistols, carefully aiming their shots to conserve their limited ammunition. Despite this, most of the Cabal soldiers kept their sights on Octavia, with more emerging from the nearby stairwells.

Octavia handled three caribou at a time, dodging determined blows and using her enemies own strength against them. She disarmed one soldier of his shock baton and whirled it into the gut of another, quickly knocking them both down.

As she punched another caribou over the adjacent ledge, tumbling to the Veil floors below, Octavia spotted two more caribou setting up ranged positions from across the room. Along with their common crossbows, the caribou rangers were equipped with the same clamp-launchers used on Doctor Novelle.

Thrusting herself forward, Octavia dove into a somersault as the electrified clamps were launched at her. They whizzed by, one nearly gasping the tail end of her trench coat.

Octavia rolled further, stopping only to swiftly draw her folding blade and hurl it at another charging caribou. The sword unfolded as it flew across the air, digging its sharpened point into the caribou’s chest.

Dashing to the soldier, Octavia grabbed hold of the folding blade’s hilt and held the corpse up, shielding herself from a following volley of crossbow bolts. As the hail of fire ceased, Octavia pulled her folding blade out and tossed the dead caribou aside, making a bee-line for the rangers.

With one folding blade at her side, Octavia reached for her second blade, whisking it out as she leapt upon the defenseless caribou. She dispatched them with unfettered skill, reflecting that of a trained assassin.

What few Cabal soldiers who had not fallen to Octavia’s blades retreated, fleeing below the seventh floor to find reinforcements. The fighting had ceased for the moment, the room littered with bodies. Rarity and Corbeau were relatively ignored during the entire confrontation. The lull in combat was only interrupted by Octavia’s panting.

Another sound pierced the silence. A loud ding and sliding of elevator doors.

“Our ride’s here.” Corbeau enlightened, holding open the doors.

Rarity turned to her tired friend. “Octavia, quickly! Before more come!”

The panting Saboteur only stood there, her back to Rarity. Stains of blood were splattered along her blue trench coat, while her mane dripped with sweat and her muscles ached.

“…I have to stay. They might try to redirect the elevator.”

Rarity shook her head. “No. No, don’t you dare! I can’t have all of you give your lives for me like this!”

Octavia huffed, turning around to face Rarity as Corbeau stood behind her. She smiled.

“…You’re beyond generous, Rarity. You are the Element of Generosity, after all. But if you try to stop others from giving back to you… then you’re only being selfish.”

With a forceful shove, Octavia knocked Rarity backwards into Corbeau, throwing them both into the open elevator. Octavia slammed her fist into the up button as she turned to face down the Cabal force which had arrived, renewed with more numbers and determination.

Rarity could only catch a glance of Octavia’s bloodstained folding blades drawn to her side, before the elevator doors closed shut.

The elevator ride felt like an eternity.

Rarity thought of the words she spoke just that morning. How she hoped that the battle for Manehatten would not take any lives. It was less than an hour later, and now, she may very well have just witnessed the deaths of dozens of her Saboteurs. And perhaps dozens more taken prisoner by the Cabal, with the intent of forcing them back into the slavery they had fought so hard against. Dozens of friends who chose to throw themselves in harm’s way, all to give Rarity the time she needed. It was almost unbearable, and every passing second Rarity thought she might break down.

But after every passing second, she didn’t. She couldn’t. Otherwise, all would be lost.

The elevator windows brightened as they met the grey skies. The harbor was in plain sight, the wall still standing tall. It was anything but peaceful.

“The Cabal had planned this,” Corbeau uttered as he gazed through the glass, “There’s smoke coming from the harbor. They’re attacking both outposts there. They’re trying to stop us from destroying the wall…”

Planned indeed, but for how long was not known. For all Rarity knew, Primus Asmund could have planned this from the very beginning. To lure the Alliance closer and closer, and when they finally took the bait, he would strike.

Rarity clenched her fists. It didn’t matter now.

“… I will not let any sacrifice today be in vain.” She spoke, her voice resolute.

With the final ding of the twenty sixth floor sounding off, Rarity and Corbeau turned and picked up a hasty jog towards the zip line launchers.

Just as they had rounded a hallway corner and to the large open area housing the launchers, the commotion of battle reached their ears.

Weaving underneath the Cabal soldier’s swing of his shock baton, Night Wing spun around and stabbed the caribou with her katar, kicking him off the blade as he fell. Her noctral Sentinels dispatched a few other enemy soldiers before calling out the launchers to be secure again.

Night Wing noticed Rarity and Corbeau as they approached.

“Glad you made it. Was getting worried you weren’t coming.”

“How are the zip lines?” Rarity asked hastily.

“The Cabal managed to damage one, but the other three are still working. Now that you’re here, we can get to the harbor. Are you ready?” said Night Wing.

“Yes.” Rarity replied plainly, already making her way to one of the launchers.

With the noctral Sentinels aiding them, Rarity, Corbeau and Night Wing, along with four other Sentinels, suited up in their harnesses as the launchers were given permission to fire. Compressed air hurled the massive anchor-like hooks through the air, easily finding their marks across the skyline and onto the target building below.

As the lines were reeled in automatically and tightened, Rarity and her companions hooked themselves to the lines and immediately began their descent. They rapidly gained speed on the incline, zooming through the morning air. Rarity glanced back at the Sentinels who chose to remain behind to disable the launchers once they had been fired. She wished them safety as the returned her gaze to the lines.

Almost as quickly as they departed, the group slowed themselves using their specialized hooks, coming to a soft landing at the target roof. Once all feet were firmly on the ground, the lines were severed.

Ignoring the returning pain in her leg, Rarity checked over herself and her equipment, stopping only to gaze up at the Keep, now almost a backdrop piece. Smoke billowed out from shattered windows, making the tower stand out in the brisk morning setting.

Night Wing stepped forward. The harbor wall was now a massive sight only a short distance ahead.

“We’ve got a few more rooftops to cross before we get to the first outpost! Let’s move!”

The dash was on, as Rarity, Corbeau and the Sentinels leapt from roof to roof, gaining ever closer to the Saboteur base situated along the wall. It wasn’t long before they arrived on the first outpost’s rooftop, which was only a building’s length away from the waters of the harbor and the wall itself. The small clearing below was embroiled in a ranged battle, Saboteur groups defending themselves from the Cabal onslaught.

Night Wing leapt from the side of the roof with her katar drawn, extending her bat-like wings to guide her fall. She landed squarely on top of a Cabal soldier, dispatching him and moving to aid the other Saboteurs taking cover in the clearing.

Sliding down a nearby ladder as the other Sentinels leapt down to join their leader, Rarity and Corbeau made it to the bottom level. Debris and fires were scattered around, but for the most part, the Saboteurs there had succeeded in repelling the Cabal advance.

Crouched behind large piece of a support pillar fallen on its side, a Saboteur officer primed a detonator box. Several wires connected to the base of the box, extending out into parts unknown of the wall.

“Lady Rarity!” the officer cried out, “Both detonators are set! On your word!”

“Do it!”

After another Saboteur fired a blazing yellow flare into the sky above them to signal the other outpost, the officer grabbed hold of the push handle and thrust it into the box. Seconds passed before the closest battery charges detonated, rocking the floor beneath their feet and shaking the harbor wall. Dust and concrete rubble fell as the series of explosions slowly stopped.

The Saboteur officer looked around in confusion, ending his gaze on the second outpost on the other side of the harbor.

“Where are they? The other side should have detonated, we sent the signal!”

A moment of pause settled before being disrupted as Cabal soldiers returned and resumed their firing from afar. Several bolts fired from repeater belts struck the Saboteur officer, severely wounding him as everyone ducked into cover.

Night Wing scooched over to Rarity.

“What happened? Shouldn’t the wall be gone now?”

“There are two separate detonators. The Cabal likely took the other one before it could be activated. Stay here and protect the outpost, Night Wing. Corbeau and I will make sure this wall doesn’t stand any longer.”

“Good luck.” Night Wing nodded, moving away to give orders to her Sentinels.

“I can get us out of this fire and up on that ledge.” Corbeau stated, pointing up to a nearby roof only a few feet above them.

“Make it so, Corbeau!” Rarity said as she grabbed hold of him.

Corbeau aimed his gauntlet and fired a rope line at the roof ledge, the hook finding purchase. He activated his gauntlet once more, reeling in the line and taking off up the wall in a flash, with Rarity beside him. They pulled themselves over the roof’s ledge, taking in the new field of view.

The harbor wall towered over them, badly damaged and crumbling in portions, but still standing. A series of scaffolding-like walkways and bridges lined the flat wall, leading along the entirety of its length, though many were twisted and smashed from the explosions. Rarity spied at least one path that looked stable enough to make it to the other side of the harbor wall, where the second section of the outpost lied within a building attached to the wall across the harbor.

Though they had to be careful in making the journey, they were on the clock. If the Alliance landing force in the bay saw the first explosions, they might be fooled to think the wall was completely destroyed. If they couldn’t set off the second explosions soon, then the landing force could risk losing momentum.

“Ready for this?” Corbeau asked.

Rarity nodded.

“Absolutely.”

From atop a metal catwalk clinging to the wall’s edge, Rarity and Corbeau peer down at their objective.

The site of the second detonator was significantly less battle-scarred than the first. The Cabal had overrun the Saboteur defenders in a surprise attack, taking most of them alive and locking the area down. The detonator box was primed and ready, sitting within the center of the concrete clearing. It only needed to be pressed for the remainder of the charges to ignite.

Several Cabal soldiers surrounded the detonator, wary of tampering with it after witnessing the explosions from the opposite end of the wall.

A few Saboteur prisoners where brought out from a nearby area where they were being held, their arms bound behind them and their own selves looking worse for wear.

One of the Saboteurs, a mare, was thrown to her knees before the detonator box as the other two prisoners were kept within sight. They were forced down as well, crossbows pressed against their heads.

“Tell us how to disarm the detonator.”

“W-wait! I-I’ll tell you, just don’t hurt my friends!”

The Cabal attack had been vicious in design, like most caribou tactics were. But what differed in this case was the professionalism of the Cabal soldiers. They had shown their own restraint when it came to taking advantage of prisoners. The Cabal here knew their mission was the only thing that was important. None of them spent any time trying to rape any of the mare prisoners, instead putting all of their focus at their task at hand. In comparison to the average caribou fighter, the Cabal soldier was more than impressive.

Chancing a shot at the detonator was possible, but neither Rarity’s nor Corbeau’s aim was that skilled. And they risked damaging the components instead of setting of their explosion. More importantly, the prisoners could be at risk if they weren’t freed. A direct intervention was necessary.

As Corbeau carefully placed himself near one of the catwalk support wires, Rarity took a shiny part of her fire dart pistol and bounced some of the light coming from a lamp pole off of its surface.

The bound mare seemed to notice, though kept her eyes on her captors.

“The box is incredibly delicate. If you don’t have the right tools, it c-could ignite the charges early. If you gather the tools, I can walk you through it.”

The Cabal officers seemed to debate the mare’s option for a few seconds. It was all that was needed.

Rarity gave Corbeau a signal, prompting him to draw his folding blade and slice the support wire. The catwalk shifted downwards towards the clearing, snapping off its hinges and sliding down the incline of the wall. Sparks from the frame flew as Rarity and Corbeau clung to its railings.

Just as the Cabal noticed the improvised transport, the catwalk slammed onto the ground, launching Rarity and Corbeau into the clearing. The engagement quickly unfolded as Corbeau fired pistol shots at the crossbow-armed caribou. Rarity bore her folding blade to block and parry the leading Cabal, stunning him to allow Corbeau to finish him with a slash of his own blade.

Taking the window of opportunity, Corbeau dashed to the nearby area holding the majority of the Saboteur prisoners as Rarity freed the three near the detonator.

“Lady Rarity! Thank Luna you’re here! We were trying to move our box to a safer location before the Cabal attacked. If we activate it here, we could be buried by the rubble.” Explained the mare.

“Understood. I’ll take it from here. Get the others to a safe distance.”

Rarity handed her pistol and folding sword to the mare for her own protection. She looked back at her, wanting to protest her leader’s orders, but she saw the seriousness in Rarity’s eyes.

The mare nodded with a frown, gathering her companions and retreating with the other freed Saboteurs. Corbeau passed by them as he returned.

“Are we all set?”

“Yes… But you should leave, Corbeau. The detonator is too close to the wall. The fallout could kill us. I’ll activate the detonator.”

Corbeau seemed at a loss for words, but a smile soon graced his lips. He shook his head.

“I can’t just walk away, not after everything that’s happened. And there’s no way I could let you go out on your own.”

Corbeau stepped to the side and approached the detonator, looking back to Rarity. She already knew nothing that she could say would dissuade him from his choice, and joined him in pressing the switch.

Tremors immediately rattled the very ground as bright flashes of fire engulfed their side of the wall. The massive steel structures cracked and shattered, tumbling down into the harbor, throwing forth giant cascades of splashing water.

Even before the entire wall had collapsed, the bellowing horn of an approaching ship grew, almost shaking the very air as the armored bow of a ship burst through the falling remains, shoving aside the chunks of wall now turned to brittle. Other ships followed, coming to rest at the piers and docks connected to the city. Their specialized bay doors flung open, letting loose waves of Alliance troops into Manehatten’s streets.

Rarity’s mission had finally been completed.

The moment was short lived as the ground beneath Rarity and Corbeau took on a slant, followed by an unsettling creaking of metal beams and twisting wires. The section of the wall they were connected to listed forward, falling all at once toward the open bay, away from the harbor. The two tried to find something the grab hold of, but were stopped as the wall jerked forward, smashing flat into the waters and sending Rarity and Corbeau flying against the stone.

The wall fractured into large segments upon impact, snapping like brittle cardboard. A huge piece of the wall remained somewhat anchored to the harbor grounds, acting as a tall and thin peninsula of stone.

Rarity groaned as she pushed herself up from the terrifying tumble, amazed that she was mostly unharmed. She gazed up at the nearby ledge created from the tumultuous blasts.

Corbeau was there, desperately clinging for his life at the very cusp of the ruined edge. His hands failed to save him, and he slipped out of sight.

“Corbeau!”

Rarity sprung to her feet, making it three steps before stopping in her tracks.

A heavy grip clasped around her arm, yanking her back and tossing her back. She hit the ground with a painful thud, landing several feet away. She tried to get to her feet once more, only to be knocked down with a powerful punch to her cheek, quickly followed by a kick to her stomach.

Rarity coughed violently as she reeled from the blows, only to feel the same hand seize her by the throat. Her assailant lifted her up off of her feet, easily holding her aloft as she wrapped her own hands around his wrist.

“An interesting end to the game we’ve played,” Asmund spoke, not a hint of frustration in his voice, “You’ve won.”

Rarity struggled to breathe, Asmund’s grip on her neck tightening. She gritted her teeth, a small trickle of blood seeping down the crease of her mouth. Her legs hung powerlessly from Asmund’s strength.

“I’m not too upset… I guessed that this would have happened eventually. In the end, the Alliance can have their city. So long as I made the cost of taking it… heavy, painful, and lasting. That is victory enough for me.”

Asmund stood tall, staining his tendons and fingers as he steadily closed his hand with the remainder of his strength, choking Rarity with unshackled viciousness.

Rarity could only stare at him as she felt her lungs shudder. His eyes were determined, but his expression never changed. He was confident even in defeat. He was truly happy with the outcome, knowing that he had not let Manehatten go without great cost to his enemies, and his final contribution would be the loss of the mare who opposed him for those long months. To him, it was all worth it.

KER-SHHLUNK

Rarity gasped for air as Asmund abruptly released her, falling to the ground and coughing.

A folding blade jutted from Asmund’s chest, a dogged Corbeau holding the hilt from behind him. He wrapped his arm around Asmund’s neck and pulled him back, thrusting the blade as far as it could go.

Only moments later, Asmund gave his last breath. Corbeau didn’t bother to pull out his blade, instead letting go of the hilt and letting Asmund’s corpse tumble over.

Corbeau took not a second of respite, kneeling beside Rarity as she recovered in her breathing.

Rarity didn’t need to say anything. She let Corbeau embrace her, and embraced him in kind as a group of Alliance troopers approached them from the harbor.

The Saboteur’s Keep, Haybale Hotel, was utterly trashed. The Veil floors were torn to bits, as though a hurricane had ravaged every floor. The lobby was the most chaotic, filled to the brim with ponies.

The Alliance forces came to the hotel to use it as a setup for an emergency medical station. Luckily advanced forces had arrived to clear out the Cabal before moving on to the remainder of the city.

Refugees and Saboteurs from the previous battle were given care on the flooded lobby floor, those wounded receiving fresh medical supplies. Rarity and Corbeau were extensively looked over by several medics as they made their way inside, even seeing attention from a Heartmender who accompanied the landing force. They were checked out, though mostly because they kept urging the ponies to attend to others.

Rarity saw many familiar faces, each one washing away the worst of her lingering worries. The first of which was that of a noctral’s bat-like appearance.

“Night Wing,” said Rarity, a small rasp in her voice. “Are… are you going back out there?”

Night Wing nodded, fixing her katar to her side as the Sentinels who could still fight stood behind her. “Still got an entire city to take. Though the fighting is moving fast, they’ll need all the help they can get.”

“I see. Before you go… Thank you.”

“Thank you.” She replied with a smile, setting off out the door.

Rarity could not find time to think to herself on how critical the actions of the Night Sentinels truly were, before another familiar pony appeared, though this one instantly hugged her.

“Rarity! Thank Celestia you made it back!” Coco Pommel exclaimed, visibly shaken from the entire ordeal. Her smile was warm, though she seemed to be exhausted beyond belief, “I’ve… I’ve never been more scared in my life. I haven’t been able to stand still. But I’m so glad it’s all over. We have you to thank.”

Rarity smiled weakly. “We are all to thank for the victory today. No matter how small, everyone played their part.”

The words felt comforting to Rarity, and she noticed the same feeling on Coco’s smile, but she soon felt only empty as she caught a glance at a row of blankets laid on the floor, off to the side of the lobby.

Coco noticed her stare. “… Just in case you’re wondering… Meadow’s ok. She’s still slow, but she didn’t get hurt. I… Don’t know if you would want to see the others…”

Rarity placed a hand on Coco’s shoulder, before moving towards the rows.

The bodies of those killed in the attack were lined together, waiting to be placed in bags brought by some of the newly arrived medics. Among them were Mr. Haybale and Doctor Novelle, laid peacefully on their backs, along with dozens of their comrades who had fallen.

Rarity forlornly looked at every single one of them, wishing only the best for their souls. Though she suddenly realized a particular Keeper was not among them.

“Coco? Have you seen Octavia?”

“Yes. She was wounded very badly. This way.”

Coco Pommel led Rarity over to a cordoned off section of the lobby used as an extensive care unit by the medics. They only peeked in, instantly spying the injured Octavia lying upon a stretcher while being looked over by several medics. She had numerous bandages and other coverings upon her body, many in places where the medics had to remove her clothes to treat her wounds properly.

Octavia was barely awake, though she took notice of Rarity’s head peeking from behind one of the screens. While she couldn’t grin or move much of her head, Octavia held a thumb’s up, bringing a soft smile to Rarity, who responded in kind.

Coco and Rarity backed away from the screens, soon happened upon by Corbeau.

“Corbeau? Where had you gone off too?” Rarity asked.

“Sorry. I had just spoken with a few other officers. We should head to the rooftop. There’s something we might like to see up there.”

The sudden air of the rooftop was breezy and a little bit chilling, but it was a much needed refreshment.

Rarity and Corbeau entered out onto the roof, joined by Coco Pommel and a host of other ponies. A flagpole stood in the center of the rooftop, attended to by several Saboteurs. They hoisted a gold and white flag, bearing a sigil of the Sun.

All of their sights were directed out at the city that surrounded them.

From all corners of Manehatten, flags were raised on nearly every roof of every major building, all flying high and proudly as cheers began echoing. Triumphant horns from the landing ships blew out, carried on the wind as the morning Sun shone from the edges of the clouds, bathing the spectacle in its warm glow.

It was a sight to behold. The liberation of Manehatten.

Rarity sighed pleasantly, noticing a mare approached her. Her red coat and mane struck her as familiar.

“Lady Rarity. I don’t think you actually met me before. My name’s Ruby. I came in a few days ago thanks to Ms. Night Wing. I just wanted to say thank you for everything you’ve done. I’m hoping one day I can return the favor for you and all of your Saboteurs.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ruby.” Rarity responded, “It’s entirely your choice of course, but were you considering joining the Saboteurs?”

“Oh, no. I’m going to be a Guardian of the Sun. Like Liberty. She saved me nearly a year ago from the Crystal Empire. I want to repay not only her kindness, but yours as well.”

Rarity and Corbeau sat down upon a bench on the rooftop, enjoying their moment of rest. With Manehatten’s liberation came a strategic victory for the Haven Alliance. But more than that, it brought about a much needed rest for the 2nd Cell Saboteurs.

Corbeau let out a long sigh as he gazed longingly at the brightened cityscape. “What a sight to see…”

Rarity kept her eyes locked on her hands, holding them together on her lap. She turned to Corbeau after a few moments of pause.

“We’ll be getting a little bit of rest, but soon, we might be back in the fray once again. The Home Army won’t allow much leave while we’re still fighting the caribou. But there are some exceptions.”

Corbeau raised a playful eyebrow.

“Are you thinking of opting for a vacation? You deserve it, you know.”

Rarity chuckled, but shook her head.

“No, not for me. I can pull a few strings using this victory… to give you some time to go to Umbra, and see your wife.”

Corbeau fell silent, perking his ears up in shock. He wasn’t sure how to react. Rarity cut in again.

“I’d likely have to report you as needing a recovery time for a medical issue, which means lying on official documents. And if I give you the rest time that I have, it should give you enough days to travel to Umbra and spend a little time with Jasmine, before you had to return. It’s the very least I could do to repay you for all the times I had been hard on you.”

Corbeau looked down at his hands as Rarity awaited his response.

“Octavia was right… you’re beyond generous. But… I don’t want that right now.”

Corbeau’s reply gave Rarity a shock of her own. “Truly? But wouldn’t you want to see Jasmine again? To make sure she knows you’re safe?”

“Believe me, I couldn’t’ dream of doing anything else,” he replied, “But now that we’re in a freed city, I can start writing to her. I’m… I’m not so sure I’m ready to show myself to her again. I need to finish this. To finish this fight, so we can feel truly safe again. Plus, I wouldn’t want to surprise her, only to tell her I have to leave until Celestia knows when.”

Rarity could understand. And she did.

“Corbeau. I’m grateful to have you by my side. I can see why Jasmine chose you.”

“Is it because I can carry a mare wherever and whenever she pleases?” He chuckled.

Rarity grinned. “It’s because of your chivalry. And… maybe that too.”