A Twinkle of Hope

A Twinkle of Hope - Chapter 20

Rainbow Dash could not believe it. There stood her five dearest friends in the world, alive, and despite an emaciate look, relatively healthy. True they were injured. But alive. Tears welled up as the Element of Loyalty took on the combined weight of five full grown mares throwing themselves at the pegasus for a hug. Rainbow felt her ribs slightly constrict from Applejacks forcefully embrace. Such a strong pony.

"I'm so glad you guys are safe." For the time being, they all forgot about the battle raging outside.

"We...we thought you were dead...they said you were...shot down." Twilight would never admit it to her friends, but she held her doubts that Rainbow survived. The others ardently believed she had.

"You kiddin'? Takes more than a bullet to stop me!"

"Just as brash as ever, huh Dash?" Applejack missed that reckless pegasus.

"Oh I'm soooo happy to see you, Dashie! We should throw a party, oooooh with streamers and balloons and cake!" Pinkie Pie's hair had inflated, returning to its puffing norm.

"Oh and I do so love your uniform. Very 'dashing'. Hahaha!" The cyan captain rolled her eyes. Leave it to Rarity to think about fashion at a time like this.

Fluttershy was mostly silent, meekly uttering, "Thank you...Rainbow Dash."

Cloudrunner felt a lost joy in his heart, seeing the ponies so happy. But it immediately broke when he turned to the fallen princess wheezing on the floor. He tapped Rainbow's shoulder. "Captain, this is touching and all, but we don't have time right now. Let's get outta here."

"Yes sir!" She saluted after her friends released rainbow-mane.

"And too who do ah owe my thanks?" Applejack noticed the gruff warpony.

"General Cloudrunner, miss...Applejack? Big fan of your wares."

"Ah'm flattered. Is there any way we can repay you?"

"A nice tall glass of cider, ma'am. And gettin' out of this horrible place."

"Ooooh but your eye, it's...not there...hmmmmm. I might have an eye patch around..." Pinkie Pie started looking around for any one of her "hiding places"

"No time. Come on!"

Rainbow Dash's face grew resolute. "Right, everypony, l...owwwwwwww oww ow ow." She accidently stepped with her back leg.

Rarity saw the rest bandage. "Are you alright, darling! You're bleeding!"

"Yeah...yeah I took a bullet earlier. I'll be fine."

"Wait! What about the Princess!" Twilight was not about to leave her teacher in this dark, miserable dungeon.

Cloudrunner was way ahead of her, and limped over to his beloved alicorn. Applejack took note of his disabled state. "Hold on sugarcube. You ain't in any condition to be carryin' the Princess."

"You look like a strong farmfilly, but I'm not going to let any of you do any physical exertion. You all must be starving!" He pushed his head underneath the white alicorn, lifting her onto his back. He cursed in his head that his actions likely hurt her. "We'll be home soon."

Rainbow Dash lead the way out, with her friends following close. Applejack still didn't feel right about letting a disabled stallion do something she could. This feeling was exasperated when he cringed trying to run, overcoming his limp. Nevertheless, she let him do his thing.

Ten minutes later, the group saw the light of the moon, as well as a thousand bullets. Cloudrunner yelled to Rainbow Dash. "Captain! Call over my truck. It'll take them back to the command post!"

"On it!" She whistled to the vehicle. "Hey! Get over here! We have cargo!'

The five former cellmates huddled together, deathly afraid of the battle around them. As soon as the truck came by, each of them jumped into the bed, except for Applejack. She helped Cloudrunner place the Princess oh so delicately in. The truck drove off, as the fillies inside waved goodbye to Rainbow Dash.

"Go with 'em, Dash!"

"But, General, I have to perform my duty!"

"You've done enough! You've rescued your friends. Go to them. Besides that knee isn't helping"

"What about you?"

"I'm gonna make sure the Premier doesn't see the sunrise! You are relieved of duty! That's an order!"

"What!! But my soldiers! They need me! Why are you suddenly not letting me fight!" Rainbow Dash was astonished. Cloudrunner had always encouraged her loyalty.

"Because...I don't wanna lose you, ok! Don't you see? Your friends just thought you were dead! Don't make them go through that again. This war has already taken so many young ponies. I finally found...a daughter. I don't want to bury her. Now go!" The charcoal pegasus was shaking, admitting his fears to his unofficial child. Even though he only knew her for a month, that time had created a mutual feeling of familial affection.

"General...dad? I don't want to lose you either. But I must put those feelings aside. For Equestria."

"...You're right. How could I be so selfish...go to your squadron. They're waiting."

"No sooner said than done, 'pops' " Dash smiled and flew away. Cloudrunner had never felt so proud.

"They sure raised you right." With that he cocked is gun and made his way up the stairs, into the castle, ready to face off against that raving ideologue who murdered thousands. Before entering the fortress, he picked up his radio. "General Cloudrunner to Staff Sergeant Steno. We've got six ponies comin' in to the camp. Make sure you feed 'em. Over"

Steno's voice came through the speaker. "Aye sir!"

"Cloudrunner to Luna, the extraction was successful. All six were alive, albeit in need of a medical checkup. The way is clear for the third heavy bomb. I'm gonna go find the Premier, over."

Princess Luna was alerted from her battle frenzy above, fighting yet another wave of enemy pegasi. "General! Will you be able to get out in time before the bomb hits?"

"Not sure, but I'll try to be quick. Cloudrunner out." He entered the castle, blocking the reception of his radio.

"That damned fool. Captain Starblazer, execute third heavy bombing run. Captain Dash, provide escort. We're  wrapping this up now." Luna heard the two confirmations and returned to the fray. "Cloudrunner, if you get your stupid ass killed, I won't be able to thank you." Luna contemplated flying down to see her sister, whom she hadn't seen in 6 months, as well as the five other elements of harmony. But tears and happy reunions weren't needed right now. She decided to remain in the air, and only rest when the battle had concluded.

Twilight Sparkle leaned over the edge of the truck bed, fearing for her friend. Rainbow Dash had gone back, even though she was clearly injured. She belonged back at the camp with the rest.

During the time she was lost in her thoughts, the vehicle arrived at the camp. Everypony got off, including some scruffy-looking older ones. A unicorn ran over to them. "Hello! I am Staff Sergeant Steno. Is there anything I can get for you?"

Applejack was the first to respond. "Ah believe, ma'am, that our Princess should get some medical attention. Come to think of it ah'm a bit hungry. Do you have any food?"

"The General radioed me about that and I've had the cooks prepare some more meals. Over there, girls. Eat up."

"Oh thank you thank you!" Rarity hardly thought it was lady-like, but her stomach had been grumbling for hours.

"Excuse me, Sergeant" Twilight Sparkle began, "But I was wondering if anypony we knew was here. Do you have anypony here by the name of Shining Armor. He was Captain of the Royal Guard?" Steno followed her as a few large ponies carried the Princess to the medical tent.

"Why yes, actually. Colonel Armor is leading the ground assault as we speak. He radioed a few minutes ago about taking out all anti-air guns."

"Really!!" Twilight's face sparkled with joy. Her BBBFF was here! "But...is he safe?"

"He'll be just fine, miss." Just as Steno finished, Celestia was placed on a bed among groaning and crying ponies, all beat up, burned, and maimed. Another unicorn in a white coat rushed over to the Princess.

"Princess Celestia, I'm Dr. Mend. Nurse, set her boned. I'll see what my magic can do." A short burst of magical energy later, the doctor spoke again. "That'll have to do for now. Nurse, get her some food. Hopefully the heightened healing talents of the alicorn will help us out here." He then noticed Twilight, and her nub of a horn. "Miss! Are you alright? Can I do anything for you?"

"Well can you fix my horn? And my friend's too?"

"We have pain killers if you are experiencing discomfort, but unfortunately all you can do for a broken horn is wait for it to grow back."

"In that case, I'm fine. Thank you though." Before she left she leaned down to Celestia. "Get well soon."

"Thank...you...Twilight..." Celestia smiled ever so slightly.

Twilight kissed her dear mentor on the forehead gently, minding her horn. She trotted off to join her friends. The lavender unicorn trusted Rainbow Dash knew what she was doing. Still, there was a voice of doubt that that would be the last time the cyan pegasus would grace them with her presence.

And that charcoal stallion. He knew him from what the Princess had told, and though she just met him, what an unfortunate event it would be should the General not come back either. And she didn’t even wanna think about her brother. But in her powerless state, the worried unicorn would merely have to wait, and hope for the best.

Rainbow Dash met up with her squadron, eager to return to fighting. While she was gone, under Spitfire's command they had scored no less than 20 direct hits on enemy pegasi, almost wiping out what little air support the Republic had. The Air Captain convened with her Lieutenant. "Spitfire! How'd you do while I was away?"

The yellow pegasus lifted up her goggles. "Not too bad. I think we've bled them dry of airponies. What now, Cap'n?"

"Now, we escort Starblazer's ponies. The third heavy bomb is ready for deployment." Spitfire nodded in approval, placing her goggles back onto her eyes. Rainbow took out her radio. "Squadrons 1 and 2, report to command post, over."

The fighter ponies began towards the ammo dump where Starblazer was. Spitfire flew beside Rainbow Dash. "I suppose we'll have to hit the castle with it, huh?"

"Yep."

"Damn. That's nearly two miles. It'll take at least half an hour to move than monster."

"Good. The more time we can buy, the better."

"Why's that?"

"Cloudrunner's in the castle."

"That old stallion's gonna get himself killed on of these days." She turned her head to Rainbow and smiled. "But not today. They have tried to kill him since day one. His blood has graced the tips of many bayonets and the sides of bullets that grazed him. You know I heard some ponies think he's invincible. And the thing that scares the hell outta them the most is that he keeps coming back, like he's not afraid of death or something. And come to think of it," she paused, eyeing Dash's bandaged knee. "You're not so different."

Rainbow laughed, surprised that she allowed herself back into battle even though she currently did not have a second patella. "Yeah well...hey! We're here! Alright everypony. Remember: no breathing room for the bombers!"

The five pegasus lifted the massive steel weapon into the air, while the escorts clung tightly, bordering on unnecessarily. Very slowly the run began, intent on blowing the castle to oblivion.

The halls of Canterlot Castle had change dramatically. Gone were the stain glass windows depicting the country's history; the Two Princesses, the Banishment of Nightmare Moon, the Elements of Harmony and their many exploits. In their places were concrete walls with great banners of the Republic's flag hanging over.

Cloudrunner progressed through the double doors into what was once the throne room, now empty. A group of four guards marched into the room on patrol. Immediately after the spotted Cloudrunner, they pointed their rifles at him. Unfortunately for them, the General was quicker, and all four fell down dead.

He continued up the central tower, where Celestia had observed the first battle. Through another door Cloudrunner entered what was a command room. Radios and battle maps littered the tables in front of the window. Standing in front of the window looking at the war raging below was not the Premier as the General had hoped, but instead a large, red earth-pony.

"General Powderkeg, is that you?"

The pony turned around. "Yes of course it's me! I've been up here the whole time! And it's 'Marshal'!" He jumped back when he realized whom he was talking to. "Cl...Cl...Cloudrunner! No...you're supposed to be dead!"

"You damn sure tried."

The Marshal began to calm down, getting a hold on the situation. "No matter. Guards!"

Two armed guards aimed their guns at Cloudrunner. The Marshal smiled a smug smile. "Drop it, half-breed."

The General's face turned to anger, but subsided to a less severe expression. He dropped his weapon. "I can't believe you, Powderkeg. You traitor. How could you betray Equestria?"

"I saw that the war was lost. I survived because I knew where to cut my losses. Now I'm one of the Premier's most trusted officers."

"Are you proud of yourself? Are you proud of all the ponies you let be killed, raped, beaten. Are you proud of what happened to Ponyville?"

"Well, no. True I've done things I'd rather forget about, but at least I'm alive. Unlike you in a few minutes."

"You coward. You care more about your own life than Equestria, or justice, or common decency! That fucking ideologue has wrapped you all around his hoof, and ruled you with fear. There's still redemption for you, though. Please, come back." Powderkeg was the General's friend once, until he defected to the Republic when defeats became common.

"Haha! and be executed for treason? No thank you. I'd rather remain the Premier's marshal."

"Do you even hear yourself? 'The Premier's marshal'? Not the Repubic's marshal? It seems you are lost. Well rest assured, Powderkeg, no matter what happens tonight, whether you surrender or not, you will not survived."

"Oh? How do you figured th..." Just then, Cloudrunner pulled out a pistol form his coat and shot the two guards before they even knew what happened. He turned the gun towards the Marshal and fired a third time. The red earth-pony fell over, gasping and losing blood fast.

Cloudrunner limped over to him. "Powderkeg, you son of a bitch. Your desk job has made you soft. You were my friend. I shot you in your aorta, judging by the rate of blood loss. You've got about thirty seconds."

The dying Marshal looked up at the charcoal pegasus. "I never meant to become this monster."

"You did nothing to stop it." He picked up his rifle and proceeded to a table, eyeing a map of the castle complex. A location was marked that caught his attention; a room marked "Emergency Bunker". Memorizing the location, Cloudrunner left the room, looking back at Powderkeg, now very close to death. His vision had faded, and his breaths were depressed. He died just after the General exited.

The determine pegasus made his way down another hall leading into the bowels of the castle. He looked at his watch. 10 minutes had passed. Time was running out. Five minutes later he came to the heavy steel door of the bunker. The General kept a small charge pack on him at all time; a plastic explosive, very inert unless detonated. He had it for such an occasion. It was very small, made smaller when he cut it in half. He placed both pieces on the each of the door hinges and lit a makeshift fuse. After that he ran against his hip pain behind a corner in the hall.

Not long after, the door blew off. Cloudrunner cocked his gun and took a deep breath. That Premier was not leaving. The General walked forward, ready to bring down the tyrant once and for all.