The Northern Guard

by Striker1959

Chapters

Once More...
...Unto the Breach
Broken Arrow
Rising Tide
Vanhoover by Night
Ghosts
Back in Business
Know the Music
Time to Dance
Shoulder to Lean On
Know Your Enemy

Once More...

Vanhoover Harbor, Cosmo’s Loft

Cloud Runner groaned as he stretched his arms out. He felt exhausted and drained, and for a moment, he couldn’t remember where he was. Then he remembered the previous night, Palmer’s silver body bouncing up and down on his-

“Morning.” Sighed the mare in question. She was still laying on his chest, face down with no clothes on. “Look, about last night…”

Cloud leaned down and embraced Palmer’s lips before parting. “You said it yourself. You had a shitty day and wanted to forget about it.”

Palmer rolled off Cloud, trying to get out of bed but instead getting tangled up in the sheets. “You mind?”

Cloud chuckled, grabbing his clothes off the floor and getting dressed before pulling Palmer free of the sheets. “Go get yourself cleaned up. I’ll go see if Cosmo has any coffee lying around.” Leaving Palmer to get dressed, Cloud walked back out to the loft’s main room, taking in the sparse interior décor before he saw the open kitchen.

“Find any of that coffee yet?” asked Palmer as walked out of the bedroom, wearing her ensemble from the previous evening.

Cloud started digging through the cabinets, pulling out the can of pre-ground coffee and a filter for the machine. “Prench Vanilla?” he muttered. Cloud went to work setting up the coffee pot, Palmer watching him the whole time.

“If it’s easier, I’ll take it black.”

Cloud nodded, pulling down two mugs while he pulled out some cream and sugar for himself while he grabbed the now-full pot and pouring the black liquid into the mugs, sliding one to Palmer. “You feeling better yet?”

Palmer shrugged, taking a sip from her mug. “I’m coping.”

“Guess that’s the best I’ll get.” Cloud put down his cup, having downed it in a single gulp. “Now… What does last night make us?”

Palmer sighed, putting her cup down on the counter. “What do you want it to be?”

Cloud shrugged. “I can live with a ‘friends-with-benefits’ type deal.”

“Then I can work with that.”

CLAP CLAP CLAP

Palmer and Cloud turned to face the noise, finding that Cosmo had returned, a fire burning in the fireplace behind him. “Already took care of the sheets, by the way.”

“What makes you think something was wrong with the sheets?” asked Cloud.

Cosmo rolled his eyes. “You two left stains.” Cosmo went red in the face, and he instead elected to get another cup of coffee. “Anyway, I’ve set up the other room for you Palmer and took the time to get you a decent wardrobe. Cloud, your stuff should be here later this morning.”

“So, I’m stuck here then?” asked Palmer.

“More like you’re being moved in. Celestia wants you two to stick with me for now.” Cosmo walked into the parlor, moving some books on the shelf and pulling a hidden lever.

The fridge slid forward behind Cloud, revealing a dark room beyond the doorframe. Cosmo waved the two to follow before flipping the lights on by the doorway.

Palmer let out a low whistle at the room full of weapons and armor, some in disassembled states on various work benches. “What sort of pay check are you pulling in?”

Cosmo shrugged. “The kind that gets you stolen armor and weapons. I’ve got most of this stuff post-Badlands as a payment for a job in Caledonia.”

“So you’re a gun for hire then?”

Cosmo nodded. “Part merc, part vigilante with a bit of ‘government contracting’ on the side.”

Cloud walked around, looking at the stands holding Cosmo’s suits of armor before he came across a blue and yellow set of riot gear. “Just going out on a limb, but I doubt this is yours…”

“And you’d be right.” Said Cosmo. “That’s the Tempest-Two, Steeljack’s personal armor. I helped him make it out of salvaged pieces of Enclave power armor. Arm-mounted twin cannons fed by microfusion breeders, vacuum sealed with a dedicated life support system and pulse jets off of the same suits of armor that were salvaged for the suit’s construction to increase user mobility. It’s all a complete waste if you ask me.”

“Mind explaining how an Iron Man suit is a waste of time?” asked Palmer. Cosmo and Cloud looked at the mare with confused looks plasted across their faces. “Iron Man, old movie from the 21st century? Custom made armor, shoots lasers out of his arms and flies?”

“You realize that I’ll end up labeling you a nerd, right Palmer?” asked Cosmo.

Palmer shrugged. “You can’t beat a classic.”

“You said the armor had pulse jets… Can it fly?” asked Cloud.

Cosmo shook his head. “I wish. We could never get it to sustain an actual flight due to power constraints.”

Cloud ran his fingers along the chest plate near the power cell. “Mind if I take a crack at it?”

“Why the hell not?” said Cosmo. “I doubt Steeljack is planning on coming back for it anytime soon.”

“What makes you say that?”

“He only ever used that armor once, roughly two years ago during the Enclave attack on Las Pegasus.”

Cloud turned back to Cosmo. “Wait that was an Enclave attack?”

Cosmo nodded. “Their first public one. Although it tends to cause panic when you reveal that five hundred deaths were caused by a group of terrorists and their alien allies, so that’s where the gas explosion became our cover story.”

“Can’t say it’s the first time I’ve seen that tactic.” Noted Palmer. “ONI pulled some similar stunts right after the first few battles of the war with the Covenant.”

“Except it’s a bit easier with this story, only because we don’t have a genocidal organization of aliens trying to wipe out our very existence.” Added Cosmo. “Anyway, go ahead and -” A burst of magic fire interrupted the stallion, dropping a sealed letter onto the ground. “Well, let’s see what we got…” Cosmo furrowed his brow as he read the letter. “Palmer, grab the black and gold armor on the back wall and suit up. We got a job to do.”

“And what would that be?”

Cosmo turned back to Palmer, that same determined look plastered across his face. “We got a hit on a group of Changelings hiding out in the coves north of the city. Canterlot wants the closest team to investigate.”

“Anything else I need to know?” asked Palmer.

“I really want that paycheck.”

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Equestrian Coast, North of Vanhoover

Palmer and Cosmo were walking up the edge of the beach, trying to stick to the rocks as they kept up their journey north.

“This stuff really wasn’t meant for comfort, was it?” asked Palmer as she tried shifting her shoulder guard around.

“What do you want from a model of armor that hasn’t been used in over a millennia?” asked Cosmo. “Especially considering that set is over a thousand years old…”

Palmer tugged the Helmet off her head, turning it over as the two kept walking. “There’s no way it’s that old.”

“It is.”

“But this stuff looks brand new!” insisted the mare.

Cosmo chuckled. “That’s the result of a preservation enchantment. The armor can’t scratch, dent or degrade as long as the enchantment is still in effect.”

“No shit…” mumbled Palmer as she put the helmet back on.

“Yes shit.” Noted Cosmo. “And if your next question is along the lines of that suit making a certain part of your anatomy look larger, trust me when I say it doesn’t.”

Palmer stopped for a moment, mulling over Cosmo’s words before she was hit with the meaning of his words. “I wasn’t going to ask you that!”

“You’re thinking about it now, aren’t you?”

Palmer sighed. “Alright, changing gears for a minute, what are we doing out here?”

“Simple recon. We locate external Changeling positions, access to any caves in the cliffs, don’t be seen or heard, yada yada.” Explained Cosmo.

“Then would now be a bad time to mention someone’s following us?”

“Ya, now would be a… Wait, what?”

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Vanhoover Harbor, Cosmo’s Loft

Cloud didn’t stop thinking as he sat drumming his pencil on the counter, spending his time going over some old plans to Steeljack’s armor. “So, the powercell fits under the outer layer of the chestplate…” He sighed as he sat back. “Wait a minute…” Cloud grabbed one of the letter seals that Cosmo had on the counter, scribbling out a quick letter before sending it off.

He sat for a short while, eventually opting to dig through the fridge. As he came away with a fresh apple, a loud pop resonated from the other side of the room, followed by a soft thud. “Cloud, do you know what you’re asking me to do?” asked a female voice.

Cloud turned to the voice and shrugged. “What else am I supposed to do Catherine?”

“Not ask me to rip the fusion core out of your armor and then hand delivering it.” Groaned the doctor. “Anyway, you were saying something about some suit of armor you want to plug this into?”

Cloud nodded, waving Halsey on into the armory. “Steeljack and Cosmo cobbled together a suit of power armor a few years back with some Enclave equipment. Built in weapons, sealed… Did I forget to mention that it has pulse jets?”

“Pulse jets…” Halsey mumbled. “It’s just powered by a normal fusion reactor, right?”

Cloud nodded. “Just underpowered for the weight they’d have to move.” He pulled the chestplate free and removed the powercell. “Granted I didn’t bother doing the math but unless I missed something, more power translates into more thrust.”

Halsey rolled her eyes, grabbing a rotary drill and started cutting out the mount for the old powercell. “While I’m not a fan of blunt-force engineering, you’re not wrong. Do you know how all of this is wired together?”

“I’ve got the blueprints out in the kitchen.”

As Cloud went to retrieve the designs Halsey finished her impromptu surgery, pulling free the excess material and pulling the wiring harness out of the cavity. “Let’s see if I remember… Black is neutral, red is positive…” The doctor touched the wires to the terminals on the reactor, and was rewarded with a whine from the armor.

“I might have left the main breaker on.” Said Cloud as he walked back in.

Halsey hit the switch, touching the wires to the terminals again. She was met with silence instead. “I’ll need a torch to fuse these.”

Cloud tossed a torch over to Halsey from the toolbox near the drafting table on the far side of the room. “So according to these specs, the most that the armor’s systems can take at a time is about a megawatt per hour. Should be more than enough… Wait, how long does that reactor last?”

Halsey turned from her work. “Under minimal load, near indefinitely. However, under extended periods of use… Maybe ten years before half of the generating capacity is expended?”

Cloud let a low whistle slip out. “Guess I won’t need to worry about a recharge then.”

“I doubt it.” Said Halsey as she fastened the power cell to the interior of the chest plate before flipping the main breaker, lighting the armor once more. “So if this is powered armor, how do you control it?”

“That pipbuck that’s built into the right arm acts as the interface.” Noted Cloud. “Of course, that’s assuming I read the plans right.”

“Then try it on.” Suggested the Doctor. “Worst case scenario, you fly right through the roof and promptly crash into the harbor.”

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Equestrian Coast, North of Vanhoover, Twenty Minutes Later

“You know how much I hate it when someone else is right!” yelled Cosmo as he tore through the underbrush.

“I wouldn’t know, I just roll with it.” Replied Palmer as she closed on Cosmo’s heel.

“Well then smartass, how do you think we should deal with our friends back there?”

Palmer stopped, turning to face the group of Changelings that were chasing the pair. “Simple-” She paused long enough to slug the closest Changeling in the jaw, sending him sprawling into the underbrush off to the side. “-We kick their asses.”

“Fine by me.” Cosmo pulled out his revolver, dispatching the two other Changelings. “Doesn’t it seem odd that there were Changelings that far out from the cove?”

Palmer nodded, kicking the two dead Changelings before dragging the lone survivor out of the brush. “Maybe this guy would know why?”

“I’m not saying a damn thing.” Groaned the Changeling.

Cosmo shook his head. “Please, it was a trap to begin with.” Another shot rang out, immediately followed by the spray of green blood. “Why else would they have followed us?”

“Oh, I don’t know, maybe it was the two armed people decked out in combat gear? Or were the guns a complete giveaway?” asked Palmer as she waved her rifle around. “Face it, we blew it. By now the Changelings probably have the perimeter locked down, and there’ll be no way we can get a good look at their camp.”

“Really, and who made you the damn boss?”

“Maybe it’s the twenty years of fighting genocidal aliens?”

“Palmer, you’re an ass.” Groaned Cosmo. “But you’re not wrong. Let’s get the-” Cosmo’s ears perked up, having caught a low whine in the distance. “You hear that?”

Palmer looked around, the whine slowly growing louder. “And if I do?”

Cosmo turned around, revolver ready. “Then I’ll follow your lead.”

“Alright, lets-” Palmer looked out towards the beach, noticing a light glow off the coast, slowly growing brighter and larger. “Shit, hit the deck!” Palmer tackled Cosmo, forcing his head into the dirt as a bright blue blur blasted through the brush and tumbled to a stop a few yards inland.

“HA! IT WORKS!” yelled a new voice.

“What the fuck… Was that Cloud?”

Palmer scrambled to her feet before hauling Cosmo to his. “Unless he learned how to fly.”

Cosmo paused, before turning his attention to the crushed foliage. “Or he got that armor working.” He tore off along the path of destruction before tripping over their mystery blur as he reached the end of the impact zone.

Palmer was close behind, and stifled a giggle when she saw Cosmo tangled in some vines hanging from one of the trees before her attention was drawn by the blue armored pony who was rising to his feet. “Good to know I don’t need to teach you how to make an entrance Cloud.”

Cloud chuckled as he pulled off his helmet. “What can I say? Crash landings are the perfect way to make an entrance.”

Cosmo finally managed to untangle himself from the vines before smacking the back of Cloud’s head. “And a perfect way to draw attention. What the hell are you doing out here anyway?”

Cloud shrugged. “Test flight."

“Already figured that one out junior. Anything else to add?”

“Halsey was betting that I crash in the harbor. Oh, and that letter might have been a really good forgery."

“Stalemate?”

“Who else?” asked Cloud.

“Fuck!” yelled Cosmo.

“Look, just calm down.” Droned Palmer. “Let’s assume that this is a well-conceived trap. We’ve got firepower, so let’s just spring it and call it a day.”

Cosmo sighed. "And why do you want to purposely spring a trap?"

Palmer swung her rifle off her back, checking it over for a moment. "Well, this Stalemate guy was the one who owns that club. And what do you know, I'm not exactly on good terms with the bastard at the moment."

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Palmer, Cloud and Cosmo were crouched on one of the cliffs overlooking the cove. Beneath them was a small group of armed changelings, positioned around the entrance to a cave in the side of the opposite cliff.

“Either of you see a problem here?” asked Cosmo.

Cloud shrugged. “Can’t say I do. Just a few guards, cave in the side of the cliff…”

“There’s a machine gun nest about a hundred feet below us, signs of recent digging down on the beach might suggests mines of some sort, and two of those guards are carrying cut down sniper rifles.” Muttered Palmer.

“Glad to see you’re paying attention Palmer. So, our goal here is simple. We drop down and take that nest, turn it on the guards and then spray where the Changelings were digging to clear any explosives. Sound good?”

“Good enough.” Said Palmer as she checked the magazine in the back of her rifle. “I’ll take the gun, you two keep me covered.” Palmer walked over to the side of the cliff before she dropped off the edge. A thud was heard below, followed by two gunshots.

Cloud poked his head over the cliff, watching as Palmer shoved the dead gunner out of the nest before she started spraying the beach, kicking up sand as she swung the gun back and forth. “If those are mines, why haven’t they gone off?”

“Damn good question.” Said Cosmo as he began taking pock shots at the guards down in the open. “You’re the one with the armor, go down there and find out. Palmer and I will keep you covered.”

Cloud nodded as the pulse jets on his armor came to life, lifting him off the ground. “Alright, just try not to hit me.” Cloud rocketed off over the cliff, flying down towards the beach before he forced himself into a hover over one of the spots Palmer first shot at. As he touched down, he stopped to look around. “Definitely not a mine…” muttered Cloud. As some bullets whizzed by his helmet, he knelt down and brushed away the sand. Beneath the layer was a white cloth, but Cloud was disoriented when a bullet bounced off his helmet, cracking the visor. He pulled it off and chucked it to the side, returning his attention to the cloth.

“Cloud, what the hell are you doing?” yelled Palmer from the nest.

Cloud disregarded the mare, digging through the sand until he found the edge of the cloth. He wasn’t prepared for the sight beneath the fabric as he pulled it back; the rotting remains of an blackened equine form.

Cosmo teleported down next to Cloud. “What the hell did you-” Cosmo looked down, removing his own helmet. “By Celestia’s beard…”

Cloud by this point had fell to his knees and was violently vomiting up the contents of his stomach while Palmer watched the spectacle from her perch on the cliff.

Author's Note

For those just joining in, this picks up from chapter sixteen of Broken Mirror (link below);
Broken Mirror Chapter Sixteen

...Unto the Breach

Equestrian Coast, North of Vanhoover

Palmer looked out over the beach below her. The Changelings were lying dead near their cave, blood oozing from their bullet wounds. She turned her attention back to the machine gun; an old M247 mounted on a tripod. “Great, more ONI bullshit.” She pulled the gun off the tripod, checking the box magazine holding the belt below. It was half full after her barrage.

“Palmer, get down here!” yelled Cosmo from the beach.

The soldier vaulted over the edge of the machine gun nest, sliding down the cliff face on her thigh to the beach below. She hit the ground, rolling forward as her feet made contact with the sand and ran over to Cosmo. “Did I miss something?”

“Ya, you did.” Said Cosmo as he pointed to the rotting corpse. “This isn’t a minefield.”

“Fuck, it’s a graveyard.” Groaned Palmer. “Why the hell did Cloud dig it up?”

“Because I told him to. A minefield isn’t that good unless it blows up, so I wanted to know where the fireworks were.”

“Pretty obvious they weren’t here.” Groaned Cloud as he wiped remains of vomit from the edge of his mouth.

“That begs another question.” Noted Cosmo. “Cloud, how did you know that the letter was a fake and that we were walking into a trap?”

Cloud pulled himself to his feet and stared at Cosmo. “The seal. It was plain wax.”

“Plain wax…” Cosmo pulled his helmet off. “But that was dragonfire that it came in.”

“Doesn’t matter.” Retorted Cloud. “The real royal seal has gold leaf laced into it. That was just a plain wax seal.” Cloud stopped to look around the beach, a frown growing on his face. “We need to get the hell out of here.”

“What makes you think we’re leaving just yet?” asked Cosmo. “We keep this beach locked down until the Guard gets here to retrieve these bodies.”

“Who cares? We walked into a damn trap! What’s to say we don’t get-”

SMACK

“Snap out of it Cloud.” Ordered Cosmo. “We don’t have time for the ‘woe is me’ routine. There’s a reason that we’re standing on top of a bunch of dead bodies, and I want to know why.”

“But we walked into a trap! Doesn’t that mean anything?” insisted Cosmo.

As Palmer watched the two stallions banter, she decided to examine the changeling body on her own accord. “Can you two can it? One of us is trying to work over here.” She brushed some of the sand of the changeling’s face before pushing its eyelid open to reveal the solid white eyes. “This isn’t right… Cosmo, take a look at this.”

Cosmo walked over, standing over Palmer with a bemused expression. “It’s a dead body Palmer, nothing really special about it.”

“Then I take it that bone white eyes are normal?”

“Bone white?” Cosmo shoved Palmer out of the way, examining the changeling. “Awe shit… Those aren’t eyes.” Cosmo dug his hands down into the socket of the dead changeling, pulling out a large white marble. “It’s a fake. I’ll guarantee you that everything else has been gutted and filled in with junk.”

“So we’re dealing with a bunch of useless sacks of flesh?” Asked Palmer.

“Looks like it.”

Cloud tapped Cosmo on the shoulder. “Then maybe we should leave. Preferably right now.”

“And why would we want to do that?” Asked Cosmo.

“So the ponies at the top of the cliff don’t have time to mow us down?”

“Other ponies?” Cosmo stood and scanned the top of the cliff, spotting two groups readying two machine guns. “Shit!”

“Alright, quit screwing around.” Ordered Palmer. “Get to the cave!”

“No need to tell me twice!” Cloud broke into a run before the pulse jets on his greaves kicked in, sending him rocketing into the cave.

Palmer and Cosmo took off after the stallion, jumping over puffs of sand created by pistol rounds being fired from the cliff before they ducked into the mouth of the cave. “Well, that was fun.” Chided Palmer.

“How the hell was that fun?” asked Cloud. “Really, help me understand!”

“She was being sarcastic.” Noted Cosmo. “Anyway, Palmer. I need some ideas on dealing with those machine gunners.”

“Do we have any smoke grenades?”

“No.”

“Then I got nothing.”

Suddenly, the ground shook and knocked loose rocks off the ceiling of the cave. “What the fuck was that?” Asked Cosmo.

“You think I know?” Snipped Palmer.

“I was being rhetorical!”

Cloud rolled his eyes and approached the mouth of the cave before he poked his head out to look around. “The ponies with the machine guns are gone.” He said before he turned his attention down to the beach, and an approaching tidal wave. “And I see why they left!”

Cosmo and Palmer walked out of the cave, catching sight of the approaching wall of water. “Now its time to leave!” yelled Cosmo as he led the charge for the cliff face towards the rear of the cove.

“How the hell are we supposed to climb that?!?” yelled Palmer.

“We don’t need to climb.” Replied Cosmo as he stopped at the foot of the cliff. “Cloud, care to give us a lift?”

“Wait, why…” Cloud face palmed. “Right, got out here somehow.” The young stallion wrapped his arms around Palmer and Cosmo before he powered up the pulse jets up on his boots and rocketed up the rocky face.

Palmer looked over her shoulder, the wave had finally crashed onto the beach, sending a massive amount of seawater barreling towards the trio. “Cloud, pick up the pace!”

Cloud looked over his own shoulders, eyes going wide. “Oh shit!”

As the three passed the top of the cliff the water slammed into their backs, sending them flying over the field at the top of the cove. Cloud sucked in a chestful of seawater as he tried to gasp, coughing it up when he came to a stop face up in a newly formed pond.

“Everyone alright?” groaned Cosmo.

“I’ve been through worse.” Replied Palmer as she scrambled to her feet. “Where the hell did that wave come from?”

“Probably whatever shook the ground back in the cave.” Added Cosmo as he fished a small black box out of his jacket. “Hopefully this works…”

zzzttt…

“Guard post Vanhoover, this is Ranger. Requesting status report.”

zzzttt…

“Guard post Vanhoover, respond.” Cosmo sighed. “As if our day couldn’t get any better.”

“You’re thinking that Vanhoover got hit?” Asked Palmer.

Cosmo nodded. “Either that or my radio is busted.”

zzzttt… “Vanhoover Guard Outpost to all Equestrian forces. Broken arrow, repeat broken arrow. Vanhoover has fallen. This message repeats.”

Cosmo turned off his radio for a moment, looking at both Palmer and Cloud as a pale orange comet began to pass overhead. “We need to get back to Vanhoover.”

“We need to do more than get back to Vanhoover.” Added Palmer. “We need a whole god damn army!”

“We’ll have to do for now then.” Snipped Cosmo.

“Hey, I think we’ve got a bigger problem.” Said Cloud as he pointed at the orange comet, now growing larger as it neared them.

“For once I would just love it if I didn’t have a daily dose of bullshit…” Muttered Cosmo as the comet flew overhead, before it crashed off in the forest. “I get a feeling somepony is going to want us to go check that out.”

FWOOSH

After the dragonfire went out, Cosmo reached out and grabbed the scroll it delivered. “See, what I tell ya?” Cosmo quickly broke the royal seal, unfurling the piece of paper as his expression became that of disbelief. “Fuck…” He looked off towards the comet that had crashed, noting the plume of light grey smoke now rising over the treetops. “Palmer, could a Spartan survive a crash landing from orbit?”

Palmer cocked an eyebrow. “Why?”

______________________________________________________________________________

Half an Hour Later, Northern Forests

“Thanks Dart, we’ll be back in a few.” Cosmo shut off his radio and put it back in his pocket.

“Let’s run through this one more time-” insisted Cloud

“Why?” asked Cosmo as he hacked away at a hedge of laurel.

Cloud pushed Cosmo away before blasting a hole in the hedge with his suit’s cannons. “Maybe it’s because it’s a little hard to believe that we had a giant superweapon hovering over our heads?”

“Better for you not to believe it then.” Said Cosmo. “You’re messed up enough right now as it is.”

“How the hell am I messed up?” Questioned Cloud as the trio walked deeper into the forest, his right eye twitching.

“You’ve got that body on the brain.” Replied the unicorn. “Look, you wanted to try to be a hero. Heroes deal with death. So, logically, you’re still trying to process that scene as you haven’t seen something like that previously.”

“And Canterlot doesn’t count?”

“Kid, you were wounded and hiding in a restaurant the whole time, then survived falling off the side of the mountain. That’s a bit of a different flavor then having to deal with a dead body.”

“While I haven’t heard it put that way before, he’s right Cloud.” Added Palmer. “From my own experience, facing your own mortality is far different than seeing the mortality of those around you.”

“That explain how you’re so balanced?” Snipped Cloud.

Palmer looked down at her feet before locking her gaze with Cloud’s. “I just know how to keep everything compartmentalized.”

“And knowing how to do that will come with time.” Pointed out Cosmo. “Changing gears for a moment, how are we supposed to tell if Dusk is still alive?”

“Unless something changed, there’s a manual release on the back of his helmet. We pop that and we should be able to tell if he's breathing.” Noted Palmer.

“That’s assuming nothing melted during entry?”

Palmer shook her head. “There have been a few instances of Mjolnir armor surviving an atmospheric reentry mostly unscathed, but that was with some sort of extra protection like an m-spec pack or-”

“Or a giant chunk of metal?” asked Cloud.

“That was one way it was…”

“I think we found the source of our fireball.” Cosmo walked up to the chunk of scorched metal impaled into the ground, standing tall like an obelisk. “Dusk can’t be that much farther. Spread out and find him.”

“No need.” Palmer pointed to a smoldering crater.

As the trio gathered around the crater, Cosmo used a blast of magic to blow away the cloud of smoke. On the ground was a scorched pony face down in the crater, clad in broken armor. “Palmer?”

Palmer stepped down into the crater, pulling the small release lever on the back of Dusk’s helmet before pulling it off. “Dusk, you alright?”

The battered unicorn rolled over with a groan and stared up at the sky. “I’m not dead?”

“Nope.” Palmer grabbed Dusk’s outstretched hand and hauled him to his feet.

Dusk looked over the soaked mare, before turning his attention to the equally soaked stallions of the group. “Is Vanhoover still in one piece?”

“Define one piece?” Asked Cosmo.

“Not a smoldering crater?”

Cosmo shrugged. “Probably not a crater, but fucked up. The local guard already declared broken arrow.”

“Probably hit by a tidal wave.” Noted Dusk. “I’ll take it that’s what happened to you three?”

“No, we decided to have a damn water balloon fight.” Groaned Cloud.

Dusk sighed. “How bad is it?”

“I’ve got no idea.” Said Cosmo. “We were busy walking into a trap.”

“Why the hell were you walking into a trap?”

“The local goons probably set us up, and springing the trap should’ve given us a bit more then dead changelings with no internal organs.”

“Really?” questioned Dusk.

“Just ask Cloud. Shit scared him for life.” Noted Cosmo.

“Shut hell up Cosmo!” yelled Cloud.

“Look, none of that matters right now.” Said Dusk. “If anything, I want to know what the hell is going on.” He pulled out some sort of communicator before flipping a switch before it started shooting out a beam of light.

“Dusk, I take it that you enjoyed your flight?” Asked the princess as the hologram came into focus. She was flanked by Flash Sentry, Steeljack and Sonar.

“Flight? That wasn’t a fucking flight. That was me falling to my doom!”

“But you’re alive, none the less. Now, I believe you have information to share.”

Dusk sighed. “West Wind is still kicking.”

“I thought that General Shower iced him.” Noted Flash.

“And he obviously has brains and cybernetics to spare. Someone grabbed him after we bugged out, that much is clear. What ‘they’ did to him remains to be seen.”

Steeljack was off to the side, studying Cloud. “He didn’t happen to go down with the platform, did he?”

Dusk shook his head. “He and his men fell back to some sort of portal in a different part of the station. I don’t know where they ended up.”

“Do we know where the station’s wreckage landed?” asked Sonar. “Might be worth a look.”

“The Redoubtable is already on it.” Said Flash. “It landed in the northern tundra, roughly twenty miles west of the Crystal Empire.”

“Steeljack take who you can and get to that platform, see if you can pick up West Wind’s trail. I’ll go to Vanhoover and help coordinate disaster response.”

“Dart and Halsey are already back at my loft.” Added Cosmo. “They should have a command post up and running by the time we get there.”

“Alright, I’ll take care of it.” Said Steeljack. “Flash, kill the feed.”

“Did Steeljack look a bit off?” Asked Cloud.

“Cloud, you’re wearing his gear.” Said Cosmo. “Why wouldn’t he be staring you down?”

“I never said he was staring me down.”

Cosmo chuckled. “Trust me, he was.”

______________________________________________________________________________

Vanhoover Harbor, Cosmo’s Loft

Dart flopped back on Cosmo’s couch. “Doc, have you had any luck getting in touch with any of the locals?”

“If you mean any that aren’t dead, I can’t say so.” Replied Halsey as she fiddled with a spare base radio she found in the armory.

“Then give me some options!”

POP!

Dusk blew past Dart and made for the loft’s window. “And here I am without my wetsuit.”

Dart got up from the couch and walked up behind Dusk, still distracted by the flooded city below.

SMACK!

“You’re an asshole, you know that!” Yelled Dart before she turned Dusk around and pinned him against the window.

“Well I’m sorry I’d rather no one hear the noises of what could have been my death.” Retorted Dusk.

Dart rolled her eyes before she jumped up and wrapped her legs around Dusk’s midsection before she pressed her forehead against his own. “I’m just glad you’re alright.”

“Eh hem!” Interrupted Cosmo. “Hate to interrupt, but we’ve got a city that’s drowning outside.”

Dusk let Dart drop to the ground before he walked over to Cosmo. “Armory still in the same place?” Cosmo nodded and Dusk pushed past him, dropping pieces of his broken armor as he went. By the time he reached the door, he was already discarding the top of his armor’s undersuit.

“You need something specific?” called Cosmo.

“Already found it!” yelled Dusk. A few minutes later, he walked out wearing a set of black and brown barding, reinforced with strategically placed plating and shoulder pads. Dusk quickly holstered the plasma pistol he grabbed, and turned over a spare grappling gun in his hands. “Where the hell did you come up with this?”

Cosmo grabbed the grappling gun from Dusk, attaching it to his bandolier. “You don’t need to know, at least not now.”

“Alright…” Dusk sighed in defeat. “Do we have anything on the city’s status?”

“Still trying to get the radio working.” Replied Halsey.

“Then we head for the Guard Station.” Added Dart. “It’s either that or wait on a radio that has no guarantee of actually working.”

“And how exactly do you propose getting there?” Asked Dusk.

“Excuse me?” Cosmo took the spare grappling gun off his waist, lazily waving it around for all to see.

______________________________________________________________________________

Rooftops over Vanhoover

Cloud rolled across the rooftop as he cut out the pulse jets on his armor before scrambling to his feet. Behind him, both Cosmo and Dusk hauled Palmer and Dart up onto the roof. “Do we even know what we’re doing?”

“We’re trying to avoid swimming across town, last I checked.” Quipped Cosmo as he took to his knee at the edge of the roof. “Although I get a feeling that we’ll have to go for a dip anyway.”

The group had arrived at the edge of Vanhoover’s City Centre Park, now nothing but an island in the flooded pocket of apocalyptia, lit by small fires and embers.

“Anyone else wondering what’s going on down there?” Asked Dusk.

Cosmo pulled out his radio and clicked it on. “Vanhoover Guard Post, this is Ranger. Please respond, over?”

zzzttt… “Ranger, this is Lieutenant Dooley, we’re pinned down by some outstanding members of the community in Centre Park. Any chance you can reach us?”

“Consider us inbound Lieutenant.” Cosmo stood up and grabbed onto Palmer. “Hang on!” Cosmo leapt off the edge of the building, before teleporting across the gap between the rooftop and the dry area of the park.

Dusk and Dart popped into place behind the pair. “Any reason for the dramatic flair?” Cloud blasted in overhead, skidding to a stop as he hit the ground. “Never mind.” Groaned Dusk.

Off in the park were sounds of gunfire and yelling. Cosmo pulled a revolver out of his jacket before loading it with blue tipped bullets. “What are those?” Asked Palmer.

“Baton rounds.” Replied Cosmo as he slid the loading door shut on the back of his revolver. “Not my favorite, but there’s no need for anyone else to die in this city. Not today… Not when hundreds, probably thousands, are dying all around us.”

“You’re a ray of sunshine, you know that Cosmo?” Asked Dusk as he started walking off into the park. “Now does anyone else want to join me?”

______________________________________________________________________________

City Centre Park

“Shit!” Yelled Dooley as a small bullet bounced off his chestplate. The Lieutenant leveled a magnum before unloading a clip at the group of attacking gangsters. “Where’s our support?”

“Incoming!” yelled one of the guards, shortly before a grenade landed behind their makeshift barricades.

“Scatter!” yelled Dooley as he dove out of the way.

BANG!

Dooley pushed himself up, looking over his shoulder at a small yellow bubble filled with smoke. “Your support is here Lieutenant.” Came a voice from above the officer.

“Glad you made it Cosmo.” Said Dooley as he rose to his feet.

“Shit, the Ranger brought a friend!” Yelled the leading gangster as he turned to face the new arrival.

“Who, me?” yelled Dusk from the opposite side of the clearing. “Or maybe you’re talking about my wonderful assistant?” Dart teleported off to the left of the small mob, cracking her knuckles. “Hell, maybe it’s the new recruits?” Cloud dropped down to the right of the mob, Palmer flanking him.

Cosmo leveled his revolver at the leader and cocked back the firing handle. “Look, just put your weapons down. If you do, we’ll forget everything you’ve done up until now.”

“And we don’t feel like it?”

Cosmo shook his head and shot the ground in front of the leader. “Do I need to explain?”

Some of the gangsters rolled their eyes in boredom. “No, but the boss wouldn’t be very happy if we didn’t finish our job.” In the leader’s hand was a large grey pistol. “So we’ll be seein’ the lot of you in hell.”

Broken Arrow

Vanhoover, City Centre Park

Cosmo looked around the clearing, giving brief nods to Dart, Dusk and Palmer. “Don’t say I didn’t give you any other options.” Cosmo took aim at the nearest gangster, checking the hammer on his revolver quickly before returning his finger to the trigger.

BANG!

The gangster fell back clutching the new welt left by the baton round that Cosmo had been packing. “Let em’ have it!” Cosmo tore off like a madstallion at the group of gangsters. While he was running, he tried aiming his revolver at the nearest target, but couldn’t keep the sights lined up. ‘Eh, fuck it.’

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Only one of Cosmo’s rounds hit his quarry, knocking the stallion back on his ass. Cosmo ran up to the wounded colt and smashed his face with his boot. Seven colts left.

Dusk made the next move, grabbing one unfortunate pony and tossing him into a tree. As the colt tried to recover, Dusk grabbed his head and smashed it back into the trunk. As the colt slid down the tree, the number of gangsters dwindled down to five.

Dart teleported behind the gang leader, kicking out the back of his knee before she flipped over him and grabbed one of his lackeys. The poor stallion never had a chance before Dart dislocated his shoulder and threw him to the ground. “Come on, this is too easy!”

Palmer sidestepped under the arm of one of the armed colts before grabbing him and pulling him over her shoulder, twisting the arm on the way down. “It’s never too easy.”

Dart stepped back, backhanding one of the three colts left standing. “Why can’t it be too easy?” She punted the stunned colt in the groin, pushing him away as he fell to the ground.

Palmer looked over at Dusk, now opposite of one of the two remaining gansters. She nodded, and started running at the stallion while Dusk tossed him up with his magic. By the time the stallion was halfway to the ground Palmer was on top of him, and slammed him into the ground with interlocked fists. “Because there’s always one left that tries to get away.”

Dart cocked an eyebrow, before spotting the escaping gang leader. “Shit!”

“I’ve got him!” yelled Cloud, kicking up a chunk of grass as he rocketed after the escaping leader.

“Anyone want to place bets on what happens next?” Asked Cosmo. “I’m betting he throws him into a tree. Anyone else?”

Dusk pursed his lips in thought. “Nah, not worth it.”

“Heads up!” The gang leader sailed through the air, slamming face first into a stone bench that was overlooking the flooded parts of the park, flipping over it and landing unconscious in a nearby bush.

Cosmo walked over to the unconscious leader, prodding him with his boot. “Well he’s not dead… I guess that’s a plus.”

“You guess?”

“Yah, why not?” Asked the ranger.

Dusk rolled his eyes. “Now that this pile of shit has been dealt with, what now?”

“Didn’t he mention a boss?” Palmer pushed past the pair and started digging through the unconscious stallion’s jacket. “Matches, extra bullets… Hello, what do we have here?” The mare pulled out an ivory-handled pocket knife. “Anyone think this means anything?”

Cosmo snatched the knife from Palmer. “Looks like these guys work for Stalemate.” He said as he handed the knife back to Palmer. “Every one of his officers I’ve run into has one of these knives.”

“So he’s calling hits to expand his control over the city.” Interjected Dusk. “It’s not like now isn’t a perfect time.”

“Then allow me to stop you right there.” Dooley had snuck up behind the group. “We got a tip to a group of armed thugs hiding out in Centre Park before the tidal wave hit. The rest of the contingent was ordered to investigate some sort of weapon stash in Edipon Heights.”

“Edipon Heights…” Cosmo mumbled. “That’s the bluffs south of the city… When did that order come down? Who sent it?”

“Canterlot sent it-”

“Canterlot? Are you sure?” Prodded the stallion. As Dooley nodded, he turned to Dart. “Didn’t you try to get Halsey out of the city?”

Dart nodded. “I did, but all of the trains were sold out. Some boarding school got invited to tour the old castle out in the Everfree by Princess Luna.”

“When did they leave?”

“I don’t know… I think the last train left about twenty minutes before we headed back to the loft to regroup. We were just walking in the door when the MAC round hit out in the bay. Why?”

“Canterlot tried to pull a silent evacuation.” Added Dusk. “That’s what you’re getting at, isn’t it Cosmo?”

Cosmo nodded. “When did you call it in?”

Dusk clicked his tounge. “About an hour and a half before I got to the station. After I left I did send a message to Canterlot about the situation-”

“And the Princesses reacted as they saw fit.” Finished Cosmo. “Still doesn’t save everypony, but it’s a start.”

______________________________________________________________________________

Half an Hour Later, City Centre Park

As the water began to recede from some of the streets of Vanhoover hundreds of the citizens managed to reach the safety of the park, drying off and trying to locate their loved ones. For many it was a simple task; by now there were rescue centers established along the outskirts of the city, with open communication between all thanks to air-dropped radios.

Cosmo was up to his head in ponies begging him for information when one pulled him free of the group and shoved Dooley in his place. “What the hell was that?” He asked.

“Are you really just going to stand here?” demanded the mare. “There’s a bunch of ponies over in Marcie’s that are stranded!”

“If you didn’t notice, my hands have been a bit full.” Retorted Cosmo.

Dusk noticed this and approached the arguing pair. “Alright, what’s the problem?”

“There’s were a bunch of ponies over at Marcie’s when the wave hit.” Replied Cosmo. “I was trying to tell this young lady here-”

“I’m forty five!”

Cosmo sighed. “I’ve been trying to tell this older-than-she-actually-looks mare that I’ve had my hands full.”

“Then consider the problem solved.” Dusk looked at the mare, a caring smile crossing his face. “Whether it kills us or not, we’ll get there.”

Cosmo groaned as the mare walked off to join the group of refugees. “Whether it kills us or not? Are you kidding me?”

“What? Unless I missed something there is a good chance of us drowning.”

“We can’t do shit we’re dead!” Insisted Cosmo. “So what’s the brilliant idea to get us to Marcie’s?”

Dusk tapped his chin for a moment and scanned the ‘beach’ for a possible solution. “Rowboat.”

Cosmo looked down at the waterline and caught sight of an older wooded rowboat with a small motor strapped onto the back. “You do realize that won’t move a building full of ponies.”

Dusk pulled a flare gun off his belt. “Who said it has to?”

______________________________________________________________________________

Marcie’s Department Store, Downtown Vanhoover
Half an Hour Later

Dusk and Cosmo hopped out of the boat and into Marcie’s front door. “Want to head up from here?” Asked Cosmo.

“I don’t see why not.” Dusk pushed the inner doors open, allowing water to flow into the store. Cosmo clambered through, and he and Dusk managed to push the door shut and lock it. Inside, the water was only up to their ankles.

Cosmo fished a flashlight out of his coat, shining it around the store.

“Is there anything you don’t keep in that thing?”

Cosmo shrugged, stopping the light. “Far side of the store. You see that?”

Dusk looked where Cosmo was pointing the light and sloshed his way across the store floor. “We’ve got one!”

Cosmo rushed to close the gap between him and his companion. As he neared, Cosmo started hearing muffled sobs.

“Look, I need to get you out of here.”

“Not without mommy and daddy!” came a female voice.

Cosmo rounded a soaked rack of shorts, finding Dusk trying to rip a golden earth pony mare away from two dead bodies. Both were earth ponies; the male was brown furred with black hair, while the female had pale yellow fur with brown hair.

“We don’t have time to argue!”

Cosmo tapped Dusk’s shoulder and pulled him away, taking a knee in the water next to the filly. “What’s your name?”

“Archer…”

“Alright Archer, I need you to come with me. If you stay here, you could get very badly hurt.”

The filly backed away from her dead family. “But-”

“No buts.” Cosmo scooped up the filly and stood up. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

The filly started kicking and hitting Cosmo as he started walking away, smacking his helmet a few times.

NO!!!!!

Dusk looked down at the bodies, grabbing a gold chain off the dead mare. Attacked to it was a locket.

MOMMY, DADDY!!!! DON’T LEAVE THEM!

Dusk flipped open the locket, finding a picture of the two ponies doting over the wailing filly. Wiping away a tear and rising to his feet, Dusk looked around at a desolate desert.

“Dusk, we’ve got to go!”

Dusk turned around, watching a white Pegasus trying to rip a younger version of himself, bleeding profusely from a wound in his chest, away from a dead crimson unicorn.

“We can’t leave them!” insisted the unicorn.

“I don’t have time to argue.” The Pegasus grabbed the colt and threw him over his shoulder. “Comet, we’re leaving!”

The grey pony rushed past Dusk, firing off two arrows from his bow. “Already working on in! Meteor, we’ve got to move!”

Dusk turned around as a phantom sword passed through his chest. Behind him the spitting image of his grandfather was in the midst of a melee with two changelings. “Just get moving, I’ll catch up!” The stallion dove under one swing, parrying it with an uppercut from his own blade. He tried to swing at the other, but stopped short. Dusk didn’t flinch as the spray of blood passed through his face and landed in the sand behind him.

GRANDPA, NO!

Dusk blinked away some tears, finding the sands of the desert replaced by the soaked hellhole of the store. As he looked back down at the locket, Dusk sighed in defeat. “I know how you feel Archer…” Dusk stuffed the locked into one of the pouches on his belt and walked off towards the shorted-out escalator.

______________________________________________________________________________

The roof of Marcie’s was quiet for a moment, interrupted by the door to the stairwell being blown off its hinges. “Alright, everypony file out in a calm and orderly-” Dusk was pushed out of the way by the crowd of ponies lining the stairwell behind him, cracking his head on an air conditioner. “-fashion…”

“Are you alright mister?” asked a young filly.

“Just hurt my pride.” Replied Dusk. Brushing off his pants once he got to his feet, the stallion pulled out an orange gun and loaded a cartridge into the rear.

“What’s that?”

“Our ticket off this rock.” Dusk pointed the gun skyward, shooting off an orange flare hundreds of feet into the air. The roof was silent for a few minutes before it was interrupted by the roar of a Pelican from overhead, followed by the thud of it touching down.

“Alright, everypony pile in!” yelled the guards, waving in the survivors from the lower levels of Marcie’s.

Dusk stood back and watched as the Pelican was loaded up and flew off. “Guess I’m walking.” He turned and started to walk back to the stairs, but hit a dark colored wall. “The hell?” Dusk stared up at a blue pair of eyes, and looked down to see where his hands were and backpedaled. “Princess Luna!”

The princess cocked an eyebrow. “Let’s forget that you just groped me, alright?”

“I don’t even know what we’re talking about anyway.”

The princess nodded. “Good to know. Regardless, we have something of a situation that requires your attention.”

Dusk deadpanned and held his arms out. “What could be more important than all this?”

“Try a loss of contact with the team sent to investigate the crashed MAC platform in the tundra.”

“Loss of contact… What are we waiting for?” Asked Dusk.

“We were waiting for you show up.” Replied Cosmo.

Dusk whipped around the dimly lit cabin of the Pelican. “You teleported us, didn’t you?”

Luna shrugged. “Not my fault you’re dense as a brick.”

“You were saying that you lost contact with somepony?” Asked Cloud.

The Princess nodded. “As of an hour ago, we’ve lost contact with the Redoubtable, Blaze Squadron and the marines that we sent to the tundra.”

“So you need to know if anypony is still alive up there.”

“That’s the primary concern. Assuming that the lack of contact is a simple equipment malfunction, do what you can to assist the crew in securing the crash site.”

“So the MAC platform is in one piece?” Asked Palmer.

“More or less. Before contact was lost, Redoubtable had marines securing a perimeter around the crater. Blaze Squadron was to have been deployed once the all clear was given.”

“Then we’re assuming that Steeljack never got that far.” Added Dart. “So we drop in on the perimeter of the landing zone, then sweep and clear?”

The Pelican shuddered as it hit the ground. “Not quite.” Luna teleported away at her final statement.

“Isn’t that reassuring?” Groaned Dusk as he walked off the Pelican. “We get dumped in the middle of a fucking glacier!”

Dart and Cosmo followed close behind. “Which way do we go?”

“Probably towards the frigate.” Suggested Palmer. Off in the distance behind the group was the Redoubtable. “Maybe a five click hike?”

“In equish please Ms. Palmer.” Snipped Dart.

“She means we’re looking at about an hour of walking ahead of us.” Retorted Cosmo.

For the first half an hour of the hike, the only noise accompanying the group was the occasional gust of wind and whipped-up snow. “What happened to the filly Cosmo?”

“What filly?” Asked Dart.

“Archer should be fine. Captain Sentry is taking her back to Canterlot for now.” Replied the Ranger.

“She tell you if she had any other family?”

Cosmo shook his head. “She cried herself to sleep before I could ask.”

Palmer was at the front of the group, scanning the tundra before she stopped short. Cloud stumbled into her, only to get brushed off. “We’re being watched.”

“Do you realize how-” Palmer elbowed Cloud’s gut, staggering the stallion back at the sheer force of the strike. Behind them came the click of a revolver’s striker. “So we are being watched?”

Dusk at Dart pulled their pistols off their belts standing with their backs to Palmer and Cloud. “Then what are we missing here?” Asked Dart.

Cosmo backed into the group and closed their circle. “Cloud, spin up the pulse jets on your legs.”

“And why would I do that?”

“Because I don’t have a bag of flour I can toss up in the air.”

Cloud smirked beneath his helmet, powering up the pulse jets just enough to start blowing around a cloud of snow. As it started to blow around the tundra, it fluttered around a now-shimmering figure in front of Palmer. “Found our pony.”

Cosmo ducked down as Palmer was blasted square in the chest and tossed over his head. “Shit!” The ranger rolled off to the side and fired off three rounds at the shimmering figure. His bullets impacted as the cloak dropped. “Really? An alicorn?” Cosmo was hit in the side of his helmet with a green bolt of magic from the creature. “Can this day get any worse!?”

Dusk crashed to the ground behind Cosmo, and Dart bounced off the frozen ground like a stone thrown across a pond. “We could all die.” Groaned Dusk.

Cloud backpedaled away from the alicorn and fired off two quick shots from his gauntlets. “Could the lot of you get off your asses?” The stallion turned and tucked under a wide swing from the alicorn, firing off a shot into its back.

The alicorn turned and backhanded Cloud before kicking him to the ground and teleporting away. “Anyone want to guess where she went?” Asked Cosmo as he hauled himself to his feet. “I’ll give everyone three guesses.”

“Well what’s big, grey and a massive target?” Sniped Dusk. By the time that the group had struggled back to their feet, gunshots and explosions were heard off towards the Redoubtable. “Any questions on where we’re going now?”

Dart dusted the snow off her coat and charged up her pistol. “Then what are we waiting for?” The mare started charging her horn, and released a sudden burst of magic and light. Once everything had cleared, there was nothing left but empty tundra accompanied by the echoes of rifle fire.

Rising Tide

Northern Tundra, MAC Platform Crash Site
Cloud Runner

I was staring out over the crater that the MAC platform had left in the landscape, frowning under my helmet. Earlier Cosmo had said he didn’t think I’m stable. With a moment to pause, I can’t help but think he might be onto something. Within a week I went from the dutiful son to judge, jury and executioner. Hell, I was going to school to be a teacher damnit!

“Cloud, you alright?” Asked Cosmo.

“I’m fine.” I said, the helmet on the armor making my voice sound scratchy and giving it an electronic quality.

“You sure? You’ve been a bit quiet.”

“Cosmo, we were wandering around a pile of scrap and got jumped by some trigger happy mercs.”

Cosmo sighed. I’ll bet he was rolling his eyes under his helmet. “Don, where’s our ride?”

I watched as the Pelican skidded to a halt on the icy ground behind us. “Right there.” Answered the human as he climbed up the extended ramp.

I grabbed the seat at the back of the cabin next to the door, leaned my head back and nodded off. I don’t know how long I slept, but Cosmo was knocking me on the helmet when I finally woke up. “What?”

“We’re back.” Cosmo walked down off the Pelican and onto the roof of his building. Groaning, I got out of my seat and followed Palmer over to the stairs down to the loft.

Halsey was standing at the counter when we walked in, finishing a mug of coffee. “I take it everything went well?”

I watched Cosmo toss his helmet on the counter and grab a beer out of the fridge. “Do you really want to know?” Cosmo popped the tin cap of the bottle and took a quick swig.

“It must have been interesting enough if Captain Sentry dropped off a package for you.” She replied, picking up a manila envelope off the counter and handing it to Cosmo.

Cosmo put down his beer and pulled the papers out, laying them out on the counter and studying them. “No known relatives, eh?” he muttered. He flipped through to the last page and frowned. “Yah, not happening.” He tossed the papers back on the counter and abandoned his beer.

“What’s not happening?” I asked, following Cosmo into the armory.

“Remember that kid I brought back?” He asked. I nodded, remembering the exhausted filly that he had wrapped around his kneck. “Well it looks like she doesn’t have any known living relatives. And Captain Sentry, in his infinite wisdom, is having her put in an orphanage.”

“You don’t think it’s a good idea?”

“I had to rip that girl away from her dead parents.” He said. “But that's beyond the point. I really don't like this country's foster care system. So I’m gonna go get her.” He tossed his jacket and body armor on the stand before grabbing a freshly washed polo out of a dresser he kept next to the armor.

“So where are you going to keep this kid?” Asked Palmer, having walked in on the tail end of our conversation. “You don’t an infinite amount of space.”

“You’re right. It just so happens I own the whole building.” He rebutted, grabbing a black sport coat. “I’ll probably be back some time tomorrow. Call me if you need anything.”

With a pop, Cosmo teleported away, leaving me and Palmer alone in the armory. “So what now?”

Palmer pulled her chest plate off and hung it on its rack. “I’m calling it a day.”

______________________________________________________________________________

Canterlot Castle, the Following Morning
Cosmo

Did I ever mention how much I hate coming to Canterlot? Way too many snobs per square mile, not enough common sense. Granted that number had shrunk after half the city fell off the mountain, but what the hell would I know?

“Cosmo, what brings you out here?”

Damn, Flash already found me. Can’t get away with ignoring him now, “Where’s the girl?”

“Still sleeping.” Answered Flash. “You want to see her before she heads out?”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “And let her end up in foster care? How about no.” I brushed past him towards the throne room.

“And what the hell are you going to do?” Asked Flash.

I tried to ignore him. Don’t get me wrong, Flash isn’t a bad pony. But ever since I first met him… Let’s just say that all the blood and gore he’s dealt with stripped him of his innocence… And it made him into a huge prick. I brushed past another pair of guards and walked up to the throne room door before said prick got in my way.

“You mind telling me what you’re planning?”

“How about you wait and see.” I brushed past him again and into the throne room. Celestia was on the throne, listening to a spiel from some red unicorn. Sounded like something about some human. It almost sounded important… Almost. “Celestia!”

The two turned to look at me. The unicorn furrowed his brow. “We’re a bit busy here.”

“Then get in line.” I growled. “Celestia, I need a favor.”

I heard the princess sigh up on her throne. “I take it that no won’t be a sufficient answer?”

I ignored her. “The filly that Captain Sentry brought back. I want her released into my custody.” Celestia seemed to stare me down once I finished. “Well? Does it sound like I’m giving you an option?”

“Sounds like you plan on taking young Archer even if I said no.”

“Damn straight!” I stared up at the Princess and glowered at her. “Well?”

Celestia sighed again. “Captain Sentry, take Cosmo to see Archer and square away the paperwork.” Huh... Got that one hook, line and sinker. There's absolutely no way that this could come back to bite me in the ass later... Damn it, I think I just jinxed myself.

“Yes ma’am.” As Flash led me out of the throne room, I kept thinking back to when I found Archer. I doubt she’d recognize me without my gear on… As Flash stopped before a door a few minutes later and swung it open, I finally had my game plan together.

It was a small guest bedroom. Archer was curled up at the head of the bed, ignoring that I came into the room. “Hey there. You must be Archer.” She still ignored me as I sat down on the bed next to her. “How are you feeling?”

“What does it matter to you?” She whispered.

“Because I’ve lost my parents too.”

Archer finally turned to face me. I could tell from the stains on her cheeks that she had been crying. “Really?”

I nodded. “I was five when my parents died. We were visiting Dodge City at the time. We got stopped by a group of Griffins who started demanding their money…” Is it just me, or am I starting to have trouble seeing? Wiping my eyes confirmed it; I was starting to cry. Just got to keep a lid on it for a little while longer. “My father was a proud stallion and told them no… I really don’t remember much else, everything just moved too fast. By the time I realized what was going on, I was watching my parents lying in a puddle of their own blood.” Alright, can’t keep this up much longer. “So…” I choked up for a minute. “I do know how you feel. And I’m not about to sit on the sidelines when I can try to help you.”

Maybe it’s just me, but feeling Archer wrap her arms around my chest felt somewhat rewarding. “So what do you plan on doing?”

“The stallion that took you out of Marcy’s was a friend of mine. He said you could use a place to stay…”

“So you’ll be taking me with you?” I nodded, Archer tearing up the whole time. “Thank you.”

I think we just sat there for half an hour before we walked out of the bedroom. Archer had a small bag, here clothes from yesterday packed inside. As I walked past Flash, he handed me the signed and notarized paperwork approving my guardianship over Archer. Hell, he even had a Warthog ready at the palace gate, keys in the ignition and everything.

“Feel free to hold onto that.” Said Flash as he followed me out the door.

“Thanks.”

As I helped Archer climb into the passenger’s seat, Flash pulled me aside. “Dooley and his team recovered her parent’s bodies this morning. We’re doing autopsies to confirm the cause of death now. Once they’re done, we’ll set up a private burial outside Vanhoover for them.” He whispered.

I nodded and walked around the Warthog, hopping into the driver’s seat. “Then I guess we’ll be in touch.” I threw the vehicle and drive and idled down the driveway towards the main road off the mountain.

______________________________________________________________________________

Vanhoover, Cosmo’s Loft, Six Hours Later
Cloud Runner

Alright, it’s official; I’m bored! Earlier Palmer had insisted I help her repaint that armor that Cosmo loaned her. Guess she didn’t like the black and gold… Had to go with her silver and red. That took about two hours, but Palmer kicked me out of the armory once she was done so she could pull apart some rifles in peace. And don’t even get me started on Halsey! I was actually glad when a knock came at the door. “Finally, something to do!” I groaned. As I approached the door, I saw it shaking back and forth. “What the hell?”

I had to duck pretty damn quick as the door was blown inward off its hinges. I didn’t have much of a chance to do anything before somepony introduced his boot to my face and knocked me back. “Well, looks like the Ranger has some new pets…”

I looked up at a cream-furred stallion standing over me with a pistol at his side. “Who the hell are you?”

“Stalemate?!?!” I looked to the doorframe. Cosmo was standing there, shielding a filly from the stallion.

“Just getting home now, aren’t we Ranger?”

I went to get up before the stallion planted his foot into my chest and kept me on the ground. “You have something of mine.” As the pressure on my chest grew, I reached into my back pocket and grabbed a wrench I had slipped there. “I want it back.”

“Archer, stay behind me.” Growled Cosmo. He spread his stance and raised his fists. “You’re not taking Palmer.”

“I’ll second that.” I said. I whipped the wrench at Stalemate’s head, knocking him off his balance long enough for me to push his boot off me and scramble to my feet. I spread my own feet and held my fists up. “The way I see it you have two options. Either turn around and leave in one piece, or you leave on a stretcher.”

“I’d recommend taking your pick.” Came Palmer’s voice from behind me. I watched Cosmo’s brow furrow. In my peripheral vision, I caught the silver glint of the new paint on Palmer’s armor. She had the helmet trimmed down, and a blue visor covering the open sections of the helmet. “What’ll it be?”

Stalemate chuckled like the arrogant bastard he was quickly proving himself to be. “I’ll take the third option.” Stalemate’s hands started to glow before he stepped towards Palmer and delivered a punch right into her chestplate, sending her flying across the loft sparking the whole way with arcs of red magic. Cosmo leaped onto his back only to be pulled over and hit across the jaw.

______________________________________________________________________________

Vanhoover, Cosmo’s Loft
Cosmo

Damn, that hurt! I massaged my jaw for a brief moment before I dove under a swing of Stalemate’s right arm. Peering past him, I saw Halsey had slipped by through the kitchen and was moving away down the hall with Archer. “That the best you got?” My horn started to glow bright blue. Stalemate motioned for me to come at him and I unleashed a bolt of magic straight at his face. In all honesty, I wasn’t expecting the bastard to grab that bolt and throw it back at me.

As I slid across the loft and landed in a heap next to Palmer, Cloud ran to our defense, placing himself between the two of us and Stalemate. “You’ve still got me to deal with.” That fight didn’t last long as Stalemate smacked both sides of Cloud’s head and tossing him into the kitchen. I could hear him grunt as he hit the fridge and fell to the ground.

“Really, is this the best you could do?” Joked Stalemate. “One of my science projects and some kid? I thought that the Ranger himself would be far better prepared.”

I struggled to get to my feet, leaning against the wall to support my weight. Since when did some earth pony have magic fists? Better yet, where can I get some? “That’s one hell of an improvement Stalemate.” I groaned. Palmer was getting to her feet behind me, brushing off her armor. “I can do better.” Running forward, I ducked past Stalemate before swinging my boot into the side of his knee and delivering a punch to the back of his neck.

He started to spin around when Palmer ran forward, swing wide as she past and catching the right side of his face. He started to turn with the hit, giving me the opportunity to grab him and throw him over my shoulder into the wall that I had used as my stand. “You good?” Asked Palmer.

“I’ll live.” I charged at Stalemate, hitting the wall when he popped out of existence and slammed my head into the wall when he reappeared behind me. Damnit, since when could an earth pony teleport? I heard Palmer groan following a resounding thud of skin on metal. Turning to face Stalemate, I was blasted back into the wall with the same red magic he had used on Palmer.

“Well this was a wash.” Said Stalemate as he wiped his knuckles clean of blood. “But you’ve been sufficiently bloodied, that much is certain. Good luck holding back the tide.”

I watched Stalemate flash out of the room, leaving Palmer sliding down the wall next to the armory, while Cloud limped into the parlor. “What the hell just happened?” Asked Cloud.

“Take a wild guess.” I groaned as I struggled to my feet. Looking to the door, I saw Halsey leading Archer into the apartment. “You two OK?”

“A bit shaken, but we’re fine.”

Archer walked up to me and buried her head in my chest for a moment before looking up at me. “What did he mean about the tide?”

“I don’t know.” I said. “But something tells me I have to go to work.” I struggled over into the armory and made it to my armor stand. Next to it were some stimpacks, and I quickly injected one. Almost immediately I felt like a weight had lifted off my shoulders. I managed to pull on my body armor before Archer walked up to me with my helmet.

“I thought you said a friend told you about me?” She asked, starting to tear up.

“Did you think I was talking about me?” I joked. “Captain Sentry told me where you were headed. Suffice to say, I don’t have a high regard for the foster care system in this country.”

She looked down at my helmet, tracing her small fingers over the air intake on the front of the faceplate. “Then why lie?”

I sighed. Damn kids and their flawless logic… “Part of me isn’t comfortable with the type of pony I am… If it means anything, I wasn’t expecting to come home to a mosh pit.”

Archer reached up and pulled my helmet down on my head. “Just promise that you’ll come back.”

I smiled under the mask as I pulled on my long coat. “Consider it a pinkie promise.”

Palmer stood in my way at the armory door. Off to the side stood Cloud, helmet to the Tempest armor under his arm. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“You heard Stalemate, didn’t you?” I said. “We need to find out what he meant by holding back the-”

“Maybe he means the mob coming down the street?” Asked Halsey. We joined her at the window and spotted the large group advancing down the way towards the building.

I hit the zoom on my helmet and examined the crowd. “They’re unarmed…”

“That supposed to make us feel better?” Asked Cloud.

I frowned and studied the group, catching sight of a blue unicorn staying off to the side. “I’ll be back.” I charged up my horn and teleported from the loft down in front of the group. “Anything I can do to help you folks?”

“We’re here to help!” Yelled somepony from the back of the crowd.

“Why my friend means to say is that we want to help. You helped save our asses back in Centre Park, but even you can’t be everywhere Ranger.” Wait, they aren't here to kill me? Can I get off this roller coaster yet?

I jarred my thumb to the building behind me. “Front door is open. Go on in and make yourselves at home, I’ve got plenty of beds to spare.” I stayed in my place while the small crowd walked to the building and clicked on my radio. “Cloud, they’re on our side. Make sure they get set up in the bedrooms downstairs.”

“What bedrooms?”

“I own the building, remember?” I shook my head and approached the blue mare who stayed to the side and watched. “Miss, are you alright?”

“You don’t remember me, do you?”

I had to think back… Wait, Las Pegasus! “Trixie, right?”

She nodded. “It’s been while.”

I nodded. I haven’t seen Trixie since I brought her to the hospital after she was caught in the crossfire during the attack in Las Pegasus roughly two years ago. “So what brings you up north?”

Trixie fidgeted for a moment. “I was hoping to find you Cosmo.” Wait, how the hell does she know my name? “Twilight told me your name, if that’s what you’re wondering.”

I groaned. “There’s no such thing as secrets these days…” I saw Trixie shudder a bit in the cold night breeze. Maybe it’s the chivalry, but I wrapped my jacket around her shoulders. “You still didn’t say why you came.”

“Did you miss the trashed city?” She asked, sarcasm dripping from her voice. “I want to help.”

“You do realize I can’t just-”

ROARRR!!!

“What the hell?” I turned out to face the bay and felt the blood draining from my face as waves started splashing up onto the shore. Standing above us was a pale white dragon snorting fire. “You know what Trixie? Of course you can help.”

“Do you really want me to start now?” She asked.

I shrugged. “We’ve all got to start somewhere Trixie.” I checked the revolver I grabbed, loading in the hand loaded match rounds I kept in my ammo pouch. “Now are you ready for your first lesson?”

I saw a shield shimmer to live in front of us. “Maybe?”

I nodded and cocked back the revolver’s hammer. “Then let’s get stared with lesson one. Staying alive.”

Vanhoover by Night

Vanhoover Docks
Cosmo

I steeled myself as I stared up at the dragon. It was in the middle of rearing its head back when I tackled Trixie to the side and clear of the fireball it spit down at where we had been standing. “Ideas, NOW.” I ordered.

Trixie hauled herself to her feet and started pulling me with her. “Does staying alive count?” She asked as she threw up a shield, deflecting another fireball.

“That’s what I’d call a goal.” I leaned out around the shield, firing off the full cylinder of my revolver. Too bad I’m just pissing that monster off by bouncing lead off its scales. “How do we kill that thing?”

Lucky for me, Trixie’s glare doesn’t burn through flesh and bone. “You want to kill it?” Yup, that is the stupidest question I’ve heard all day.

“No, not at all.” I droned sarcastically. “I want to discuss philosophy with him and maybe invite our new friend to tea.” I dragged Trixie back and dove down an alley behind us. We moved far enough down and found a dumpster to hide behind.

We ducked down in time for the dragon to try and fit down the alley. I heard it grunt and stomp off into the distance after a few minutes. Trixie poked her head out and waved me back down the alley. “I think he was too big to fit.”

I peered around the corner of the alley into the street, watching as the dragon continued to trudge off down the street. “Now back to my previous question… How do we kill it?” Trixie’s silence was deafening as I felt her glare burn into the back of my skull once more. “What?”

“Hasn’t there been enough killing?”

Face, meet hand. “Trixie, that thing is more apt to turn you into a pile of ash then listen when we ask it nicely to leave.”

Off to the side I heard a loud thud and the clunking of armored greaves. “You alright Cosmo?”

“I’ll be fine.” I said. Grabbing Trixie, I turned her to face Cloud. “Trixie, Cloud. Cloud, Trixie. Now that we know everyone, and it’s obvious that someone is insistent on ruling out killing the monster, do we have any ideas on stopping our new neighbor?”

Cloud tapped his foot before he snapped his fingers. Wait, how’d he do that in power armor? “Could we put it to sleep?”

“I don’t know a sleep spell that’s powerful enough.” I retorted.

“What about an ice spell?” Asked Trixie. “Dragons would hibernate if it gets too cold… Maybe that could work?”

“But how long would it take?” I looked down at Trixie and crossed my arms. “And what’s to say it won’t thaw itself out while we’re trying to put it on ice?”

“So we need to keep a muzzle on the thing...” Added Cloud. “Could some steel cable work?”

Maybe Cloud’s onto something. “There’s was a crane near one of the cold storage warehouses by the docks… Head down and see if it’s still there.” I watched Cloud nod and rocket off towards the docks. “Trixie, you and I are going to try and slow that thing down.”

“Really?” Trixie questioned sarcastically. “Here I thought we were going out for dinner.”

I rolled my eyes and started walking down the street. “Maybe if we live through tonight I can make that happen.”

“Then what’s the sticking point?”

I shrugged. “You saying yes?”

Trixie was quiet for a few minutes as we neared the sounds of an angry dragon spewing fiery death about the harbor district. “Let’s make a deal.” Trixie said. “We both keep each other alive tonight, and you and I get something to eat after everything calms down.”

“So just do my job? Easy enough.” I chuckled at the thought that dinner was an excuse for surviving a fight with a fire breathing walking tank of death… Alright, enough pessimism!

As the dragon came into view we both stopped and watched as it hurled balls of blue fire into the train station. “You ready?” Asked Trixie.

I pulled my grappler off my belt and aimed it towards one of the adjacent apartment buildings. “Just try to keep up.” As the line hooked onto the building and rocketed me forward, I released the line as I hit the edge of the building before kicking off and falling towards the dragon. I managed to grapple onto its back before it turned to face me and pulled out my magnum, firing another six shots into the back of its neck. Even at point blank they bounced off its scales. Damn it…

“Heads up!” yelled Cloud as he rocketed past the dragon, firing blasts from his gauntlets as he passed. Trailing behind him was the steel cable I was hoping he would find.

“Cloud, the cable!” I yelled as I ran up the dragon’s back and jumped off its head. He passed me in time for me to grab the cable and swing down around the monster’s jaw while he used the line as an anchor to swing around and finish wrapping the cable.

As we stood on the bridge of the dragon’s nose, Cloud used the jets in his greaves to quickly weld the line together. “There’s our muzzle.”

The two of us dropped down off the dragon as it started to shake its head in an effort to open its maw. Judging from the smoke coming from its nostrils, and the now red-hot cable, I’d say we thoroughly pissed it off. “Alright, that’s one way to do it.”

“Then let’s put him on ice already!” Yelled Trixie as she started blasting away at the dragon, ice starting to form on its legs. I shrugged and joined her in the assault.

“How do we even know if it’s a he? Or a she for that matter?” Asked Cloud.

“How the hell should I know?” I asked. “It breathes fire, tried to kill us and has no sense of hygiene.”

“You just described every wild dragon in existence…” groaned Trixie. “You do know that, right?”

I heard the cables begin to groan and put more power into the spell. “Let’s pick this up. I don’t know how long that-”

SNAP!

“Oh come on!” I yelled as the dragon freed its maw. As it turned towards us with smoke pouring from its mouth I caught the glow of fire coming from deep in its gut. I did the only sensible thing and killed my spell, using my magic to toss Trixie out of the way as a fireball was hurled towards me. Something tells me I’m going to feel this one in the morning.

______________________________________________________________________________

Vanhoover Docks
Cloud Runner

“Cosmo!” I yelled. As the fire cleared I saw him falling to his knees under an umbrella of sparks coming from his horn. His body armor was smoldering after the blast. Turning to face the dragon I kicked on the jets on my greaves and blasted up above it. With my free moment I managed to set the microfusion breeders in my gauntlets to overcharge and dove down towards the dragon with weapons firing.

Trixie had run over to Cosmo and was dragging him away from his resting place and behind a jersey barrier that had been moved when the waves hit. I didn’t have much of a chance when the dragon smacked me to the ground with its claws before blasting me with another one of its fireballs.

______________________________________________________________________________

Vanhoover Docks
Cosmo

“Fuck…” I groaned as I felt myself propped up against some sort of wall. I opened my eyes to a red tint on my vision and a warm sensation on my face. I tugged my helmet off and stared at the faceplate. Too bad it wasn’t fireproof.

Trixie held me back against the wall and wiped my mane away from my eyes. “Just relax.”

I heard a crash behind us and managed to peer up over the barrier. Cloud was getting his ass handed to him by the dragon. “That armor won’t last long if that dragon keeps up his barbeque.” I looked down at my smoldering body armor and tore free the roasted forearm portions. “Well we tried your way.” I said.

“And how well did your bullets work?” Questioned Trixie.

I shrugged and checked my radio. Lucky me, it’s still in one piece. “This is Ranger calling any friendly guard units in the harbor district. I’m pinned near the train station. Can anypony assist?”

“Ranger, this is Spartan Thorne. Fireteam Majestic is two minutes from the city limits. What’s your situation?”

“Thorne, I’ve got a walking fire pit trashing my partner and our gear isn’t cutting it.”

“Copy that. We’re diverting to your position. Thorne out.”

“Trixie, keep your head down.” I said as I jumped over the barrier. “Hey ugly, down here!” The dragon turned its attention at me and blasted another fireball towards me. This time I had my shield ready and shook off the heat and force of the blast as I kept walking forward. “You know… I don’t know why you’re here, whether it be to invade or destroy. But at the end of the day that doesn’t matter-” I teleported to the right as another fireball came crashing down. “Because this is where your story ends!” I dug down deep to gather up my remaining reserves of magic and fired a blast right into the dragon’s open maw.

Cloud caught me as I started falling to my knees and kept shooting at the dragon with his free arm. “Tempest to Majestic, forget hitting the ground. Just strafe that fucker!”

“Tempest?” I asked.

“You’re one to talk.” Cloud caught a glimpse of the Pelican coming in over the bay. “Majestic, you get that?”

“You bet we did. Get your heads down”

I looked up at Cloud as he started to drag me back. “We’re not gonna make it.”

“We’ll make it!” He assured.

My doubts only increased as I saw the volley of missiles erupt from the launchers on the Pelican. “Get down!” I yelled, using what little strength I had left to throw up a shield.

______________________________________________________________________________

Cosmo’s Loft, Three Hours Later
Cosmo

Beeping. Damnit I hate that noise. “Shut that damn thing off!” I groaned. The beeps from the heart monitor that was hooked to my chest were like drum beats on the inside of my skull. I felt someone prop me up in bed and hold a steaming cup to my lips, forcing me to take a sip of what was easily one of the foulest concoctions I’ve ever tasted.

“Feeling better?” I heard Trixie ask.

“What was…” I stopped myself as I felt my headache melt away. “That was disgusting, but yes I am feeling a bit better.”

Trixie nodded. “Good. That tea I gave you should help deal with the symptoms of magical burnout.”

I turned to face Trixie and finally opened my eyes. She was caught in the glow of a neon sign that was hanging on the building outside the window. “Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it.”

I felt someone else plop their hands down on the other side of my bed. “You kept your promise.” Piped Archer.

I chuckled and laid my head back on the pillows. “I do try to keep them.” I turned back to Trixie and smiled. “So, dinner?”

“So you weren’t kidding then…” She muttered. “And here I thought you were joking.”

I threw my arms up in defense. “As long as you don’t bring any of that shitty tea, we’ll be all set.”

“You think I drink that garbage for pleasure?” Trixie chuckled. “I’ll be back.”

I stared at Trixie’s backside as she walked out of the room, her tail swishing in a way that I couldn’t help but be drawn to. “Cosmo, you OK?” Asked Archer.

“I’m fine kiddo.” I said. “You want to go somewhere tomorrow?”

“Where?”

I shrugged. “Anywhere but here?”

“Sure thing.” Archer finally left the room, leaving me in silence for long enough for me to start to doze off.

“Nice kid.” Said Trixie as she walked back in the room, two steaming hot plates in her arms.

. “I’ve got a soft spot for orphans.” Trixie put a plate down in my lap and the smell of fresh alfredo hit my nostrils. “Now that smells good.” I grabbed the fork that Trixie laid out on the plate and scooped a bite into my mouth. Damn, just as good as it smells. “When did you learn to cook like this?”

Trixie shrugged. “Sometimes you just got to put your best foot forward.”

We both ate in silence, Trixie putting the plates on the window sill behind her once we had finished. As I looked up at her I saw a strand of hair fall down across her face. I couldn’t help but smile and brushed it out of the way. “Thank you. For everything you did today, even though it was way outside your comfort zone.”

Trixie leaned over the side of the bed. “My pleasure.”

I felt my heart catch in my chest as I looked at Trixie, and on impulse I leaned forward and stole a kiss. I pulled back and smacked myself. “Shit, Trixie I don’t know-” I heard the door close, the lock clicking and saw a beam of blue light flash across the room. I just sat back as Trixie tossed her shirt to the side (she did leave her sports bra on) and crawled into the bed, straddling my waist. “Uh… I surrender?”

“Sure you do.” Trixie leaned down into me and wrapped her arms around the back of my head, pulling me into a long and drawn out tongue-wrestling match. We both pulled apart panting. Trixie stat up, tossing her sports bra to some unknown corner of the room. “Well, what are you waiting for?”

“Sleep is overrated anyway.” I muttered as I pulled Trixie back down and pulled the sheets over us.

Ghosts

Cosmo’s Loft, The Following Morning
Cosmo

Regret is a powerful feeling… Over the years I’ve forgotten how strong it could feel, until this morning when I looked down at the mare sleeping on my chest. It’s official, I done fucked up this time!

Trixie stirred and looked up at me. “Morning.”

I couldn’t help but offer a weak smile. “You sleep well?”

“Well you do make a good pillow…” She joked. Trixie rolled off me and sat on the side of the bed. “You have a shower?”

“Door on the back wall.” I replied. I watched her grab her clothes and slink on in. After about a minute of the water running I got out of bed and walked in behind her.

I managed to sneak into the shower behind her. I was quick to wrap my arms around her and rest my head on her shoulder. “Bit early, don’t you think?” Asked Trixie.

I just sighed and turned Trixie around. “Look, I’m sorry about last night. I acted emotions that I-” She shut me up when she pulled me down to her level and pecked me.

“Alright, spill. What’s on your mind?”

“Do you know how long it’s been since I really clicked with someone?” I asked.

“I’ll take it I’m the first one in a long time?”

“Almost ten years.” I retorted. “…Trixie, how much do you know about me?” She couldn’t seem to find the right words. “Well I know where I’m taking you and Archer today.” I shut the water off and hopped out of the shower. “Meet me in the kitchen in ten minutes. I think it’s time for a field trip.”

______________________________________________________________________________

Cosmo’s Loft
Cosmo

“So where are we going?” Asked Trixie as she walked in the kitchen.

“Ya, where are we going? Is it somewhere fun?” Archer was right on Trixie’s heels.

“Well I want to make a stop somewhere first. I figure that you two deserve to know a bit more about me as it stands, so we make our first stop and then we’re off to the races.” I walked out into the hallway and had to brush past some of the new ‘residents’ that I’d let in.

“Cosmo, where are you going?” Asked Palmer. She looked tired as she followed me out the door.

“Going on a field trip.” I retorted, stepping into the elevator with Archer and Trixie. “While I’m gone I want you to start whipping these recruits into shape. Got it?” Palmer didn’t have a chance to argue as the door slid shut.

“So what’s the deal with her?” Asked Trixie.

“Yah, those soldiers seem to know her.” Added Archer.

The door slid open into my garage and I walked off the elevator. “That’s because she’s a human… Technically.” I hopped into the warthog while Trixie and Archer clambered in the passenger side. “She was kidnapped a few days back and drew a short straw.”

Archer sat back in the middle of the bench seat. “What do you mean by that?”

I threw the Warthog in drive, taking us up the ramp to the street. “Some bad ponies decided to try a science project of theirs out on her. All I know is that it had something to do with Changeling magic.”

“Changelings, huh?” Muttered Trixie. “Is anyone looking into it?”

“Supposedly Princess Celestia is on it.” I replied. It was silent in the cab as we trundled onto the coast road south out of Vanhoover. I put my foot to the floor and felt the Warthog rear back as we accelerated.

“Give me a few days to do some research and I might just have some answers.”

I kept my eyes on the road as we got farther outside the city. The coast road really isn’t much to look at; it’s a two lane asphalt road running all the way down the coast to Las Pegasus. But that’s not why I’m driving us out here. I saw a tree off to the opposite side of the road and pulled off, parking next to it. “We’re here.”

I hopped out of the Warthog and walked over to a stone planted into the ground at the base of the tree. “Cosmo, what’s that?”

“That’s a grave marker.” I said. “Trixie, what do you know about the Enclave?”

She paused and leaned against the trunk, staring me down. “They came through some sort of portal, assuming that Twilight was being straight with me.”

“She was.” I assured. “I’m from the same world that the Enclave have been coming from Trixie.”

“What kind of place is it?” Asked Archer.

“Well… It’s a world of sinners with a few saints and all the shades of grey in between.” I glanced at Archer and felt my face soften into a frown. “Dusk found one of the mirrors long before the Enclave started their open war. He sent two of his teammates, Comet and Strike, back to the wasteland on a recruitment mission.”

“That’s where they found you?” Asked Trixie.

I nodded. “And my marefriend Sky.” I said as I pointed at the stone. “We were headed back to the portal in The Hoof that Comet and Strike had first come through when we got jumped by a recon team with Vertibuck support. We were dodging them for two days when Comet and Strike were captured.”

“But you got away.” Added Archer.

“We did… But not without a cost. We just outside the building with the portal when Sky took a sniper round right in her back. I managed to drag her through the portal and it dropped us right by this tree.” I knelt down and brushed the dirt off the stone. The letters I had carved into it were starting to wear after nearly a decade of exposure to the elements. “Sky died in my arms right here. An hour later Dusk and Steeljack managed to find me…”

Trixie came around behind me and wrapped me in a tight hug. Archer joined in almost immediately. “How close were you two?”

I turned to look at Trixie and caught her softened glance. “Everything you and I did yesterday? Sky did stuff like that with me on a regular basis…” I looked back down at the stone and wiped it off one last time. “She’s the last pony I really felt that I clicked with.”

We all just stood there for a few minutes before hopping back into the Warthog and continuing on down the coast road. “So where are we going now?” Asked Archer.

I shrugged. “I don’t know… I guess we’re just going wherever the road takes us.”

______________________________________________________________________________

Vanhoover Harbor, Cosmo’s Loft
Palmer

Recruits. They’re a necessary evil to the expansion of any organization, military or civilian. Oh how I loathe being the sap stuck training them. Five of the six standing in front of me aren’t leaving me with a good impression. The other one, a red unicorn, just seems a bit apart from this group. “Now then, who can tell me why we’re here?”

“So we can learn self defense skills?”

“And how we learn those skills?” I asked. “Anyone?”

“Hands-on training always worked for me.” Added the unicorn.

Cocky bastard, that one… “Well then, show the class how it’s done.” I watched as the others in the room turned to face this guy. Damnit, what’s with that stupid grin?

“Alright… No offence gents, but prepare to be emasculated.” The stallion disappeared in a flash of light before dropping down from the rafters onto his first victim… Yah, that’s the right word. Victim. Because most people don’t get kicked in the back of the head in a training session.

“Oh shi-” And there’s two with an uppercut to the jaw. Jesus, I don’t even think I’m that brutal in training…

“Alright, who’s left?” The stallion turned to face the last of the trainees, both of whom just stood and stared at him slackjawed. “Well, you asked for it.” As he stepped forward, his horn lit up before being followed by a blast of green light which slammed the last of the trainees into the far wall. “That was too easy!” He walked over to me and pulled an envelope out of his back pocket. “Commander Palmer, right?”

“That would be me.”

The stallion nodded and handed me the envelope. “Name’s Sonar. Princess Celestia asked that I bring this out to Cosmo personally.”

“And where he isn’t here I’m the next best thing?”

Sonar just chuckled. “You said it, not me. Anyway, you might want to look at that.”

I opened the envelope and pulled out the papers. On top was a photo dated from yesterday showing a Pegasus wearing the same getup that Cosmo has been using. “Where was this?”

“That was taken out in Hoofington last night. That isn’t what even what has me interested. Anything on that look familiar?”

I looked over the photo before walking out of the training room. “I know I’ve seen that before.”

“Care to enlighten me?” Asked Sonar.

I brushed past Halsey as I walked into the loft and made a beeline for the armory. “Where…” I caught sight of a duster hanging up on the far wall. Sonar levitated it over and held the sleeve out. “Northern Guard?” I looked back down to the picture, and sure enough it was the same logo. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“Cosmo wasn’t the only recruit Comet and Strike managed to drum up.” Answered Sonar. “Blueblood confirmed that the second recruit died of injuries sustained during a firefight before coming through the mirror roughly a decade ago.”

“And Cosmo can fill in the blanks…”

I felt someone tap me on the shoulder real quick, but I still too focused on the photo to pay whoever it was any mind. “Maybe I can help.” That gravely sounding voice was new, that’s for sure. As Sonar and I turned around we hear the armory door slam shut before realizing that the mare in the picture now had us cornered.

“I’d say this was too easy, but that would make it sound like I believe that.” Sonar walked up to the mare and stared into the eyepieces on her helmet. “Who are you?”

She was quick to pull off her helmet and straighten out her mane. “My name is Sky. Now… Where’s Cosmo?”

______________________________________________________________________________

Vanhoover Harbor, Cosmo’s Loft
Cosmo

“Alright, final thoughts on the shakes?” I asked before finishing off my chocolate milkshake.

“Eh… I’ve had better.” Muttered Trixie.

Archer shrugged. “What’s the standard for a good milkshake again?”

“So we’re undecided then.” I said as we walked off the elevator. I noticed Palmer standing in the kitchen through the open door of the loft with the Stallion I had interrupted yesterday. “Looks like we’ve got some company.” I strode in, tossing my empty cup in the trash by the door. “Can I help-” I caught sight of a mare leaning up against the counter around the corner of the wall. Pegasus with a brown duster, auburn mane, cream fur, blue eyes, and a Northern Guard logo on her left sleeve. Huh… So this is how Dusk felt. “Sky?”

I watched the mare pop a cap off of a beer that was placed on the counter. “Sup’ Cosmo.” She downed the bottle quickly and put it back down. “Long time, no see.”

“Didn’t you say she was dead?”

“I did Trixie… I did.”

Sky just laughed. “In your position I’d have developed the same line of thinking. But hey, Tetrodotoxine B is a bitch.”

I glanced over at Trixie and Archer before returning my glare to Sky. “Mind elaborating?”

“That sniper round was made of the solid version of the drug. Tetrodotoxine slows the heart rate down to about a beat a minute, just enough to keep oxygen supplied to the brain and vital organs.”

“And down to the point where a pulse isn’t detectable without medical equipment.” Added Palmer. “The stuff is basically a high-powered tranquilizer.”

I sighed crossed my arms. “Then prove it. We called ourselves something, what was it?”

“The Northern Guard.” Sky walked over to the fridge and grabbed another beer. “But let’s expand on that, shall we?”

“Be my guest.”

Sky nodded before downing the second bottle. “When me and you were growing up we kept hearing stories about how the north half of the country was a total shit show. Stalliongrad was really the only bastion of civilization that could defend itself, at least from what the traders who came into New Pegasus kept saying.”

“You two grew up together?” Asked Trixie. I held my hand up to get her to keep quiet.

“Yah, we did. Our parents were both part of the Desert Rangers, which is where we both got our armor. Now all of the stories those traders kept coming back with about torched villages and entire towns being captured by slavers… That always bugged you. When we both hit sixteen, you came to me and said you were going to head north because you thought it was high time for someone to stand up for those little guys that weren’t lucky enough to be living inside the walls at Stalliongrad.” Sky kept twirling the empty bottle over in her hands. “The Northern Guard wasn’t a nickname, it was an ideal that you managed to convince me was right. We defended those who needed it for the sake of trying to make that hellhole of a world a better place.”

“It really is you…” I muttered.

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

For what seemed like another moment of exasperation, I sighed. “You do realize that what we had before is gone, right?”

“Oh I know. I had to come to terms with that really quick… Although it probably took you a bit longer.”

I nodded in agreement. “That doesn’t mean I still don’t consider you a friend though.”

“Fine by me.” Sky pulled an envelope out of her jacket and put it down on the island in the center of the kitchen. “Now to why I’m here. Your buddy Stalemate, assuming you could stretch it and call him one… Stalemate isn’t even his real name.”

“Do you want to just cut to the chase, or do would you rather I take a shot in the dark?”

“Fine, I’ll spoil it. His real name is Phalanx, who up until about fifteen years ago-”

“Served in the First Home Battalion as second in command to Commander Meteor Shower.”

Sky looked at the unicorn and furrowed her brow. “You know him Sonar?”

“Know him? He and Dad were in basic together. Phalanx was family as far we were concerned, but he died at Midlothian Ridge.”

“At risk of sounding like an ass-” Injected Palmer “You ponies have a weird way of coming back from the, quote on quote, dead.”

Can’t argue with that logic. “Trixie, why don’t you and Archer go for walk? I’m going to need a few minutes with alone my guests.” As Trixie and Archer walked out I turned my attention back to Sky. “If you knew I was trying to find dirt on Stalemate, why wait until now?”

Sky shook her head. “Because you’re nearly impossible to find, for one. I only managed to track you down when I broke into the guard station in Hoofington and hacked their computers.”

“So you’re the one who shorted out the security cameras!”

“Oh shut up, what was I supposed to do? Leave traces that I was looking for one of the country’s top mercenaries?”

“Does it matter?” I asked. “I’ve been giving the Princess all of my evidence on Stalemate for years yet she never issued a warrant for the bastard’s arrest. Now we have solid evidence that he was using a fake identity, therefore getting a warrant shouldn’t be that difficult!”

Sonar shrugged. “I’ll see what I can do then.”

Sonar teleported away, leaving us to our thoughts and the last of the beers in my fridge. “So what now?” Asked Palmer.

“We sit back and punt.” I replied as I walked into the armory. I looked over my burnt armor, running my fingers over the jagged shoulder pads. The chest section had survived relatively unscathed, and a tug on the shoulder pads tore them away from the intact sections with little effort.

Sky walked up next to me, my damaged helmet in her outstretched hand. “You want this?”

I shook my head before placing my helmet on the shelf above the armor stand. “I’m not going to need it.” I tossed my shirt to the side, pulling the armor on with some effort before grabbing the slacks and changing into them. I looked myself over in the mirror and shook my head. “Still needs something…”

A blue jacket landed on my shoulder, along with a chest-slung holster. “Try that.”

I smiled at my new combination of gear. “This works.” I looked over at Sky, who had now hung up her coat and retained the body armor underneath. “Thanks.”

“So… What now?” Sky didn’t have a chance to add more to her thought when Sonar teleported into the armory, scroll in hand.

“That my warrant?”

Sonar nodded. “The Princess has promised whatever resources you feel necessary to take Phalanx into custody.”

I nodded, unfurling the scroll and reading it over. “Sonar, you might want to start writing some of this down…”

Back in Business

Somewhere Over Vanhoover, Two Days Later
Cosmo

I checked over my service rifle one last time before the red warning light flashed to life in the Pelican’s troop bay. “Alright, one minute to ground!” Yelled Palmer.

Sky pulled her helmet on next to me before rising from her seat. “You ready?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.” I got out of my own seat, opting to leave my repaired helmet on the shelf above my seat. The door to the troop bay opened to howling wind as we sped over the bay into Vanhoover, and I sighted the two other Pelicans that were behind us. “Alright, comm check.”

“DeMarco here, Fireteam Majestic is ready to go.”

“Sentry here. Guards are all set back here.”

I grabbed the handle hanging from the ceiling and looked around the cabin. “Alright, we all know the drill. Majestic and Captain Sentry’s men will secure the perimeter, Northern Guard takes Stalemate.”

“You still didn’t say where the new name came from…” Said Flash

“Is it really that important?” I questioned.

“Look, just stow it.” Chided Palmer. “Cloud, Sky, you’re good to drop.”

“On it!” Cloud ran out the back of the compartment and dove into the open air. Sky followed him out and rolled away from the ramp.

“Canterlot, this is Ranger. We’re good to go down here.”

“Understood Ranger, secure the Valdur at your discretion.”

“Copy that. Ranger out.” I felt the Pelican drop slightly as the city came into view, some barrel fires giving a pale glow to the otherwise dark city.

“You OK?” Asked Palmer.

I pointed out at the city. “That isn’t the Vanhoover I know.”

“I know it isn’t.” She pulled her own helmet on and tossed the fast rope out the back door. “But you can’t win every battle.”

“I know…” I grabbed the rope and clipped my belt hook to it. “See you on the other side.” The light turned green and I sprinted out of the compartment, using the rope to swing around so I was dropping straight down towards the pavement below.

Sky dropped down from the sky and skidded to a stop next to me. “Glad you made it.”

Ahead of us was the front door to the Valdur. “Alright, on me.” I teleported across the lot and slammed into the door with my shoulder. The glass let go and I kept on walking, cocking back my revolver as we continued the march forward.

“So how mad was Trixie when you told her she wasn’t coming?” Asked Sky.

I shuddered at the memory. Lucky for me she doesn’t have good aim when she’s pissed. “I still have my head, don’t I?”

“That bad, huh?”

“Yup.” We came up on the door to the main part of the club, some soft music could be heard through the oak. “Alright, we good?”

“I’m good.”

“Palmer, you and Cloud ready?”

“Roof is secure, we’re ready.”

“Alright. In three… Two… One…” I reared back and bashed the door open. The room was empty save a few guards sitting at the bar. I shot the pitcher that was on the counter and sprayed the guards with the amber liquid. “Hands up!”

Palmer and Cloud dropped through the ceiling in a shower of glass from the skylight, landing behind the bar with guns up. “I’d listen if I were you.”

The guards made the smart move and held their hands above their heads. Lucky for me, Sky brought the wire ties and made quick work of binding their hands. “Where’s your boss?” I asked.

“Hey!” We all turned to the club’s balcony and saw Stalemate standing there looking rather impatient. “Someone want to tell me what the hell is going on here?”

I glanced over at Sky and smirked. “What the hell’s going on?” I chuckled and looked up at Stalemate. “Something I’ve waited a long time to do. Lieutenant Phalanx, you’re under arrest by order of the Crown.”

Stalemate looked down at us before leaping over the railing to the ground. “It’s been a long time since I’ve gone by that… Tell me, what gave it away?”

“You’re buddies in Nuremburg weren’t so keen to keep your secrets once I pressed them.” Replied Sky. “Couple that with the rumors that were circulating in the border regions for years about a second survivor from Midlothian and it all fit together rather quickly.”

“And here I thought it was too easy to find good help.” Groaned Stalemate. “But it’s little consequence.”

I leveled my rifle and heard Palmer cock back her own. “That sounded like a threat Stalemate.”

“And if it was?”

I heard Palmer groan behind me. “Because you don’t have any cards left!” She yelled. “You’re finished Stalemate, so stand down.” As we focused on our query, the few guards that Stalemate had at his disposal ran out the back door in the hopes of saving their hides.

“You heard the lady.” I said. “So are you going to stand down, or will I have to put you down?” For a brief moment Stalemate seemed to relax, but that was shattered when he pulled a pistol out of his back pocket. “Weapons free!” I yelled.

But we didn’t get the chance. Stalemate managed to clip my shoulder guard before charging Sky and sticking the pistol into her gun. “Sorry love, but it’s not personal.”

BANG BANG BANG BANG

Sky keeled over her bleeding gut and fell to her knees as blood started to stream down her torso. “5.56 rounds, hollow point.” Said Stalemate as he kicked out the back of my knee and blasted the bar, pinning Palmer and Cloud beneath it. “Body armor won’t help you at this range.” He swapped out the clip and knelt down, putting the gun to Sky’s helmet. “Any last words?”

“Yah…” I heard Sky mutter. “You might want to move.”

Oh, that’s the look I was hoping to see; confusion. “What are you talking about?”

“Just a blast from the past.” Said Sky. She reared back and kicked Stalemate away from her.

“Phalanx!” Sonar dropped in through the broken skylight, his horn glowing a bright yellow. “Stand down.”

But he just stood there and blinked. “Oh… So you are alive Sonar. How’s your father been?”

“Better than you, that’s for sure you old ghost.”

Stalemate clutched at his chest, a mock frown plastered across his muzzle. “Oh Sonar, that hurt.” Finally he aimed put his pistol back to work, leveling it towards Sonar’s head. “Who the fuck am I kidding? It’s time for you to die!”

click, click

Sonar just tapped his foot. “How’s that working out for you Phalanx?”

Stalemate just tossed the pistol over his shoulder. “I’ll manage.”

I finally managed to get back to my feet, as Sky got up and pulled out a package from under her body armor and dropped it on the ground. “Fake blood?”

“You know it”

I just nodded and walked up next to Sonar, tossing my rifle on a table. “Just follow my lead.”

“Your lead?” Questioned Sonar. “Just try to keep up.” Sonar stepped forward and blasted the ground in front of Stalemate, leaving it red-hot. As he stepped back, Sonar charged in, sidestepping the glowing section of the floor and swinging his right arm wide. Stalemate ducked under the swing and tried to grab Sonar’s arm, but didn’t get close enough.

Sonar took the opportunity to turn around and wail Stalemate right in the jaw, making him stumble back. I took the opportunity to make my move and ran forward to tackle the fallen guard. As I smashed into his unprotected back and rammed him into one of the few remaining tables, I felt something jab my shoulder, followed by a feeling of wet cloth sticking to my arm.

Stalemate managed to teleport out of my grasp and shoved me into the table. Whatever he hit me with went deeper into my shoulder as I hit the table. My arm started to feel a bit numb as I straightened myself out. I glanced down at my shoulder, finally taking notice of the broken knife blade that was lodged there. “That’s gonna leave a mark.” Grasping the shard and tugging on it made it slide free of its resting place, allowing some feeling to return to my extremity.

I saw Sonar go flying into the wall opposite the bar, Stalemate standing over the ruins of the heart of his enterprise with a red glow coming from his hands. “Any last words Sonar?”

Sonar managed to get back to his feet, spitting out a mouthful of blood. “Pushover.”

“I’m the pushover?” He asked. “You’re the one who couldn’t stay dead. You’re the one who felt he needed to come back to prove some vague point about justice.” While Stalemate kept talking, I managed to creep up behind him. “And you Ranger-” I froze like a deer in headlights as Stalemate turned around with fire in his eyes. “You couldn’t just leave good enough alone, could you?”

“Sure I’ll just stop doing my job so you can go back to drug running.” I chided. “Now you have one last chance. Stand down.” I pulled my revolver out from under my jacket and cocked it back.

“So that’s how this will end?” Stalemates hands started to glow blood red as he spoke. “No matter. None of you will be walking out of here alive.” Time started to slow down as he fired twin bolts towards me, with no time to throw up a shield or dive clear I just shut my eyes.

Any reason I’m not dead yet? I opened my eyes to a dull blue shield, definitely not mine. Wait, shields should be translucent… That’s hair. “Trixie?”

“Now do you see why I should’ve tagged along?” I looked her up and down and realized she had grabbed my extra set of body armor. “You could stop eying me up for now.”

I managed to shake off the thoughts rushing through my head in that brief moment before placing myself between Trixie and Stalemate. “Now where were we?” Off to the side Cloud had kicked the rubble of the bar off of him and Palmer. Just standing there the two of them seemed pissed. Here’s hoping I don’t hear what’s going through their heads…

Stalemate just chuckled and pulled a vial out of his shirt pocket. “Catch!” He pulled the cap off and chucked the vial at Palmer. As it shattered on her armor and started running down the seams she clutched at her chest and fell forward. I didn’t get far before I saw Trixie go skidding across the floor on her back, while Sonar took the brunt of yet another assault from Stalemate and crashed into the far wall.

I ducked under a red bolt and slid to a stop next to Palmer. I noticed a faint glow under her helmet as she scrambled to get it off. Tugging on it didn’t do any good. “Cloud!” He didn’t say a word before he ripped the helmet clear of Palmer’s head. Her grey fur seemed to shimmer and flash between grey and an off white. “What the hell?”

“It’s a reversal potion.” Yelled Stalemate. “That’s what you were hoping to eventually find, right? A way to turn your friend back to normal?”

“You’re an ass!” Yelled Palmer as she fell to her knees.

“Cosmo, where’s Sky?” Asked Cloud in a low mumble.

“I don’t know…”

“I’m waiting Ranger.” Said Stalemate, almost sounding impatient. “You did come to arrest me, but you’re not doing that good of a job.”

I turned around and caught a sliver glint from the shattered skylight. Sky was hanging there waiting for me to give her the OK. “I’m entitled to have someone pinch-hit.”

With that Sky dropped down onto Stalemate’s back. He tried bucking her off to no avail; Sky had already lined him up with the concrete stairs that marked the entrance to the club and flipped back towards it. In a matter of seconds she smashed Stalemate into the stairs and leapt off into a crouch. “And the game goes to the Northern Guard.” She pulled a set of handcuffs out of one of her leg pouches. She wrenched Stalemate’s hands around his back and slapped them on tight.

“Oh really?” Muttered Stalemate. I only watched as Sky grabbed the back of his head and smashed it into the stairs before abandoning the unconscious stallion.

“Cosmo, Palmer needs a doctor.” Insisted Cloud. He wasn’t lying; she now looked halfway between human and equine, the ongoing struggle leaving her looking exhausted.

“The Redoubtable is holding off the coast.” I said. “Get her there, we’ll clean up here and be right behind you.” I didn’t need to tell the kid anything else as he scooped Palmer up and rocketed into the grey sky above.

“Well that was fun.” Groaned Sonar. He looked like hell with a cracked horn and blood running down his face from the corners of his mouth.

“Don’t you know it?” I walked over to Stalemate and hauled him up under one arm while Sky grabbed the other and helped me haul him outside. Flash and his colts brushed past us as we walked out to a Pelican that was ready for the flight to Canterlot. I nodded to Sky and we tossed Stalemate into the troop bay. “Not a bad night.”

Trixie and Sonar followed us on board as the Pelican began to rise from the ground and head out towards the bay. “So we’re calling it then?” Asked Trixie.

“For now anyway.” I said. “Let’s just make sure that Palmer is alright before we chalk tonight up in the win box.”

“Does that really even matter?” Asked Sky. She was standing at the end of the compartment, looking out on the rapidly receding city.

“Of course it does. Palmer is one of us, and I’ll mark a night successful if we all go home alive.”

“Please, she’ll be fine.” Chided Sky. “Stalemate said it was a reversal potion, so she’ll live. But that’s not what I’m talking about.”

“Then what are you trying to say?” Sonar sputtered.

Sky swung down into the back seat and smiled. “The Northern Guard is back in business.”

Know the Music

HMS Redoubtable, Two Hours Later
Cosmo

Since we had gotten back and remanded Stalemate into the custody of the Marines, I had been slumped in a chair outside of Palmer’s room in the infirmary. The doctors wouldn’t allow anyone in as they worked, eventually leaving and locking the room behind them. Without windows I had no idea what was going on in that room, and the doctors sure as hell weren’t planning on talking to anyone if they didn’t have to. “Want me to pick it?” Sky asked. I only nodded and Sky went to work while I stood watch. “How do you think she’s doing?”

“No idea.” I muttered.

Once the door slid open I got my answer; Palmer was lying in bed, still unconscious. Her shallow breaths were punctuated by the soft beep of the heart monitor off to her side. The shoulder on her shirt had been cut away, and bandages were plastered down her shoulder to her elbow. “Let’s see…” Sky strode forward and peeled back the upper bandage. Under it, Palmer’s skin was burnt and raw.

“That looks painful.” I gently pushed Sky out of the way before replacing the bandages. “No reason to make Palmer feel worse.” With nothing else to see, the two of us walked back out into the hall.

Sky quickly slid the door shut and locked it once more. “What now?”

“Got a knife on you?” I asked. Sky handed me a small switchblade which I pocketed. “We’re going to go visit Stalemate.”

“That’s why you want the knife?”

I nodded. “Might be able to get answers that I can’t.”

Sky jumped in my path with wide eyes. “Torture? Goddess… Why the hell would you think of that?”

Furrowing my brow and continuing forward, Sky tried to keep pace as we made for the ship’s brig. “Time leads to changes.” I retorted. “Besides, Stalemate wouldn’t be the first pony I dragged information out of.”

“You’ve done this before!?!”

I nodded. “Usually stick to beatings, but I doubt that’ll work with Stalemate.” I saw Sky shudder out of the corner of my eye, probably out of disgust. Not that I blame her; I’ve done some pretty nasty shit over the years. “What?”

“What happened to the friend who was all about fighting the good fight?”

“His methods changed.” I muttered. The door in front of us read ‘brig’ in dull white letters, painted on the bulkhead. When the door slid open, I heard a rather audible whimpering. “What the hell?” Rounding the corner, I saw that the cell was wide open. Curled up in the corner was Stalemate, but the Princess kneeling down next to him bandaging a wound on the back of his neck is what confused me more.

“I don’t think I could’ve said it better.”

I couldn’t help but agree with Sky. That’s when I noticed a black cross-shaped crystal on the ground, coated in a sheen of blood. “Princess Celestia?”

“Hm?” She kept tending to Stalemate’s wound while she glanced over at me. “Oh, Cosmo. I take it that you and Phalanx have met?”

I entered the cell, kneeling down to pick up the cross. The two prongs looked like they had been a full circle at one point, but since when does crystal bend? “What is this?” I asked, waving the cross around.

“That’s a solid piece of unholy hell.” I heard Stalemate whine.

The Princess simply patted his shoulder and helped him to his feet. “That’s the result of Gryphon alchemy and dark magic. Think of it as a receiver used to send information directly to the brain, but in the manner that it was used on Phalanx here…”

“Torture.” He stated adamantly. “Absolute torture.”

“I’ve managed to repair some of the damage it’s done, put the pieces of Phalanx’s psyche back together, but there will still be psychological aftereffects for some time.” Assured the Princess. “That leaves that cross. To my knowledge there’s only been one Gryphon that managed to master the production of them.”

“Wait, back the fuck up!” I yelled. “You’re telling me that the god-damn cancer that was eating at Vanhoover was under someone else’s control?”

“De Witt. That’s his name.” said Stalemate. “He captured me at Midlothian Ridge. I…”

“Stop, just stop.” I stepped forward and pinned Stalemate against the wall, my free hand on the knife in my pocket. “You honestly expect me to take you at your word?”

“I expect you to take me at mine.” The Princess stepped forward, pushing the two of us apart. “De Witt is a master manipulator, he always has been. And now we have the opportunity to finally put a stop to his operations.”

“And I know of someone else who can help.”

“Really now?” I asked.

Stalemate nodded. “Kid’s name is Felix. He been spying on our main operations in Trottingham for years, knows the lay of the land as it sits.”

“Then why didn’t you deal with this kid?” I asked. “He obviously knows too much.”

“Because De Witt didn’t think some fox with an accent could do him any harm, regardless of what he knows.”

Sounds like this De Witt has something of an ego… I can work with it. “So what do you propose then?”

“You’re taking him with you Cosmo.” The Princess stated.

“What?” Almost sounded like the Princess wants me to take Stalemate with me…

“Yes.” Damnit! “Although I get the feeling that you aren’t too happy with that?”

“No, I’m just thrilled!” I yelled, throwing some sarcasm around. “You’re only asking me to take in one of the ponies that’s been out to kill me for years.”

“Then allow me to make it worth your while.” Assured the Princess. “In the hangar, you’ll find an aircraft loaded with new equipment, medical supplies and ammunition. Consider it yours.”

Alright, new gear and ammo, plus transport? “And if Stalemate stabs me in the back?”

“Then you have purvey to deal with him as you see fit.”

“Alright…” What? She just gave me the OK to shoot Stalemate if he thinks about trying to kill me. “I’ll do it.”

______________________________________________________________________________

HMS Redoubtable Hangar, The Following Morning
Cosmo

“Are you all there?” Palmer asked me yet again. Ever since I told her that ‘Phalanx’ was coming with us, she got pissed (rightfully so of course).

“She’s got a point.” Damnit Cloud, stay out of it! “Why are you willing to trust this colt?”

We finally reached our objective; the ‘aircraft’ the Princess had left for me the night before. Looks more like an oversized Falcon... Trixie was standing on the rear ramp along with Sky. Celestia and Phalanx were already farther into compartment talking quietly. “So we’re really taking him?” She asked.

“Yes, damnit we are!” I yelled. “Let me be clear; I don’t trust our new friend here.” I noticed that Phalanx was paying attention. “But believing what I’m being told is entirely separate from trust, which needs to be earned. If he stabs us in the back, someone will find his corpse out in the bay. We clear?” Nods from the group confirmed that they got the gist of it. Without another word, I strode into the rear compartment and approached Phalanx. He was busy putting on a set of Royal Guard armor, turning the helmet over in his hands.

“I never thought I’d be wearing this stuff again… You know that?” I did notice a gash in the shoulder pad, wiping off the majority of the seal of the Guard and leaving bare metal. The Princess didn’t say a word, instead teleporting away to parts unknown. “Do you really think I’m worth the time?”

I led Phalanx up to the cockpit and had him sit down in the copilot’s seat. “You want an honest answer?” I asked as I hit the power switch for the engines.

“I’d rather get the truth, if that makes sense.”

“Then no, I don’t think so.” I stated. “If it was up to me, you’d have been shot by now. All the lives you screwed up, not to mention the bodies you left, warrant at least that. But if the Princess seems to think you can be redeemed, then there’s nothing I can do.”

“And you’ve made it very clear where you stand…” He muttered.

“Exactly.” As the engines spun up, I hit the rudder pedals before throwing the motor on the front landing wheels into forward and spinning the craft around so I could bring it to the center of the hangar. The all-glass nose made checking the alignment of the craft far easier. “Redoubtable control, Ranger is ready to depart.”

“Control here, you’re clear to depart. Safe travels Ranger.”

“Copy that.” I throttled the engines up, and noticed the display on the controls indicate the pods housing the engines had tilted forward, giving us forward momentum. I felt the drop from my seat as we began losing altitude. So I added more throttle, and caught the glimpse of spinning propellers off to my left. “What the hell?” I had to check the controls, and damn they were telling me what I was seeing. “So they tilt forward… That’s nifty.” And if I’m reading these right, we’re already running at over two hundred miles an hour. I’ll take it.

“So what are you thinking?” Phalanx asked.

“I’m thinking I want to meet this friend of yours.” I said. “Tell me what you know.”

I saw Phalanx nod out of the corner of my eye. “He’s an expert hacker, good with a bobby pin, and he’s quiet.”

“How quiet are we talking?”

“You can’t hear the kid typing away at a keyboard while walking over bubblewrap. That kind of quiet.”

Sounds like this kid’s got skill… “Alright, you know where we can find him?”

“One of two places.” Phalanx said. “Either on the beach on the south side of the city, or at the Boardwalk Pub. Conveniently next to said beach.”

“Never found out where he lived?” I asked. Phalanx shook his head and I sighed. “We’ll need to change then.”

“Got something against body armor?”

“It’s a beach you genius.” I groaned. “Do you really think that two armed ponies will be able to track down probably the only fox in Trottingham without causing a massive scene?”

It’s almost like I could feel it when Phalanx clutched the bridge of his muzzle. “I’ve been out of the game a while, alright?”

“Ha!” I couldn’t help but laugh. “Since when have you been out of ‘the game’?” I asked.

“You always knew if I did something, didn’t you?” Alright, good point. “I’m not used to avoiding undue attention.”

“You’re missing a key point of contention here.” Sky must have slipped into the cockpit when the two of us were talking. “What here screams attention?”

I had to look around the cockpit before it dawned on me. “Alright, I’ll admit. This thing doesn’t do much for staying under the radar… Come to think of it, what the hell are we calling this thing?”

“What? It’s just a Vertibuck.”

“No, a name.” I insisted.

“What about Guardian?”

“Already taken.” I said, thinking back to the wreck out in the desert.

“Overlord?” I heard Phalanx suggest. Wait, who said he could have input anyway?

“Too imperial.” I retorted.

I felt a tapping on my shoulder and glanced over. Trixie had finally joined the conversation. “How about Sentinel?” Crap, she’s already turning on the puppy-dog eyes. Look away damnit, look away!

“I like it.” Damnit! Can I just keep my mouth shut?

“You sure?” Asked Sky. “Sounds like you’d rather score some brownie points Cos… If you know what I mean?” She said, waggling her eyebrows.

“Cos?” Trixie asked. “That an old nickname?”

Sky only chuckled and turned for the door. “It’s less of a mouthful in bed.” Too bad I don’t have a stealthbuck… I’d love one right about now.

"Now would everyone bar Phalanx get the hell out!" I yelled. "Now I've got one last question."

"Alright. Fire away."

"How'd you change Palmer?" I asked.

I noticed Phalanx shrug. "No clue. The changelings working the project were directly under De Witt's supervision."

"So you've got no idea how everything worked?" Phalanx only shook his head and I groaned. Now I looked like an idiot, and din't know anything new about the Changelings. And here I forgot the aspirin.

______________________________________________________________________________

Trottingham, Boardwalk Pub, One Hour Later
Cosmo

Walking around this beach, I get the impression that this Felix kid is a bit…

CRASH!

I stood still as a stallion landed on the pavement, having wiped out a table full of glass as he sailed across the deck at the Pub. “And stay out you wanker!” Came the voice of a rather thick-accented stallion from farther into the building.

Phalanx chuckled and led me into the pub. “Welcome to Trottingham.” He muttered as he pushed the door open.

I looked around, spotting the only fox in the place. “Sorry about the mess Sun!” The orange stallion at the bar shook his head and went back to taking orders from the patrons.

“That’s our colt?” I asked. Phalanx nodded and I approached him. “You Felix?”

“What’s it to ya?” He asked. “You don’t look like one of the pretty faces that are usually out looking for…” He stopped once he took a good look at Phalanx and pushed up his sunglasses. “Hope you gents aren’t here for trouble.”

I noticed Phalanx shimmy around in his boots and stepped between the two. “No, we’re looking for your help.” I insisted. “There a place more private that we can talk?” Felix didn’t say a word, instead leading us to the storeroom behind the bar.

“What do you want Stalemate? And better yet, who’s your friend?”

“For one, my name is Phalanx.” He said, tossing the Gryphon crystal to Felix. I get a feeling this’ll be loud, so that soundproofing spell is about to get a workout… “And you know what that is Felix.”

He turned it over before tossing it back to Phalanx. “Then where’d it-” Phalanx cut him off, turning around and ripping the bandages off the back of his neck. I could already see some of the veins around the stitching having turned darker where his fur had been cut away, probably due to an infection in the surrounding tissue. Felix looked down at the hand he held the chunk of crystal, and realized that some of the dried blood that still coated it had rubbed off. “Bloody hell… That looks like Sepsis.”

Wait, blood infection? I took a good look at the wound and couldn’t help but agree. “Phalanx, you OK?”

“I’ll live. Just localized tissue damage from the implant.” He assured. “Trust me, its way better than when I had the implant in.” He jabbed the area with his thumb to prove the point, not even flinching as the cut got a bit wet from blood.

“Pushing down my desire to vomit, why come to me?” Felix asked.

“You’re the key to finding De Witt.” Insisted Phalanx. He replaced the bandage and turned back to the fox. “Felix, you found information that I wasn’t privy to, and I was one of the high-level members of his organization. How do you think I managed to kill that arms deal with the Minotaur King?”

Felix stopped and seemed to think over the comment. “I exposed the information… And you found what I left lying around.”

“And that fight it caused between me and De Witt caused a six month halt to arms trading into the whole country.”

“So that’s why I got all that time off…” I muttered, thinking back to that abnormally quiet period about five years ago.

“Alright, so you want me to help take De Witt in?”

“Was it really that obvious?” Phalanx chided.

“Look, I’ll help.” Assured Felix. “But I want something from you two first.”

“Alright, name the price.”

Felix smirked. “There’s a warehouse in the northern dockyard that’s being used as a drug lab. I want your help to shut it down.”

______________________________________________________________________________

Trottingham Harbor, Abandon Warehouse, Half an Hour Later
Cosmo

“That doesn’t look like a drug lab…” I muttered. Drug labs, in my experience, are far more discrete. This one had openly armed guards patrolling the perimeter. “You sure your info was spot on?” I asked.

“Positive.” Insisted Felix.

“De Witt was never one for a visible presence without good reason.” Phalanx retorted. “Now might be a good time to call the cavalry.”

I can’t help but agree. “Ranger calling Canterlot. Requesting any available support to converge on the Trottingham Dockyard. How copy?”

…zzzttt “Canterlot here. What’s the situation?”

“Unknown armed hostile have secured a warehouse in the Dockyard. I don’t have the stallion-power to take it.”

“Ranger, this is Sierra double-oh six. We’re on exercise about five miles south of your position. We talking a COIN op?”

“COIN?” I muttered. “Sure, let’s go with that.”

“Copy that. Give us a few to get over to your grid square. Double-oh six out” zzzttt…

“So we waiting?” Felix asked.

I nodded. “I’d rather have a bit of backup before we move.” I watched as crates were carted out of the warehouse and onto a ship at the dockside. There were already three others flying the flag of Carniola sailing around the breakwater at the harbor mouth, the leader turning to head west. “Anyone want to place bets on where they’re buddies are headed?” I asked.

“No clue…” Felix shook his head. “This is fucking big…” He muttered.

“You’re not kidding.” Phalanx added. “See that Gryphon by the loading ramp? “That’s Collin. If he’s here… Shit, De Witt can’t be far from him.”

“What makes you say that?” I asked

“That’s his bodyguard.”

And it’s the job of a bodyguard to know where the pony he’s protecting is… Lady Luck must like me today. I pulled on my helmet and clicked on the camera on the side, zooming in and grabbing a quick picture. “Double-oh six, Ranger here. Got a VIP we need to make sure doesn’t go far. Sending the picture now.”

“Received Ranger. We’re almost there, be ready to move.”

“You heard him, cavalry is coming in hot.” I said. “Sentinel, you catch any of that?”

“Already on the way.” Assured Cloud. “What’s the plan boss?”

“Secure that freighter’s cargo.” I ordered. “That’s more important.”

“Understood.”

I heard the chopping sound of the propellers and finally saw my new ship slow to a hover over the transport. “Alright, time to go to work!” I leapt out the window and felt the crunch of gravel beneath my boots as I hit the ground. I heard the first shot ring out, only for it to make a right turn straight into the ground when it hit a light blue shield. This might get oddly familiar…

“Miss me?” Trixie asked.

“Who? You?” I chided as I leaned around the shield.

BANG BANG

I ducked back behind the shield as more bullets flew towards me. “I’d say so.”

“Oi! Quit the flirting!” Yelled Felix from the window above us.

“Business then. Cloud and Sky taking the freighter?” I asked. Trixie only nodded as the two of us ducked into the old warehouse.

“They should be.” We were interrupted by the roar of jets as a Pelican kicked up dust to such an extent that all that could be seen were the tall outlines of three humans. “Who are they?”

Tall humans in rather complicated-looking armor? Yup, Spartans. The leader of the trio ran into the building and ducked up against the wall. “Grey Team reporting.”

The other two filed in just as the dust began to settle. “My goal is that warehouse. You three just grab that VIP. Got it?”

“Aye sir.” I didn’t have to say anything else, the Spartans filled in the blanks as far as the orders went. “Grey Team, move it out!”

As the Spartans filed out of the building shutting the door behind them. The chorus of gunshots that echoed between the buildings showed how quickly they got down to business. “Alright everyone, you know the music.” I said as I kicked the door open. “Time to dance!”

Time to Dance

Trottingham Harbor
Cosmo

You know how much I hate bullets? Well it depends… If I’m shooting them I have absolutely no problem. It’s when I’ve got a wall of lead smacking up against the shield in front of me that I have a problem with them. “How you holdin’ up Trix?”

“How do you think?” She snipped.

“I’ll take that as fine.” I mumbled. Slowly we moved forward until we were about a foot from one of the Gryphon mercenaries shooting at us. I teleported behind him in a flash before I wrapped my right arm around his neck and wrenching him off the ground before tossing him into a pile of boxes. His friend didn’t get much farther as I kicked him in the side of the knee before backhanding him with the butt of my pistol. Suffice to say he didn’t prove much trouble after that.

It was the third one of the group that I didn’t expect to run into. As his fists smacked into the back of my head and sent me to my knees, a blue bolt of magic hit him square in the chest and sent him to join his first partner in the pile of boxes. “Is now a bad time to ask you something?”

Trixie helped me get to my feet while hurling off another bolt of magic; this one smacking a stallion yard hand square in the face. “You’ll probably ask me anyway, so go ahead.”

“Is this going to be our version of normal?”

I dragged her behind a steel container as I heard the click of a receiver sliding into position. “And this being…” I motioned towards the puffs of stone being kicked up by rounds smacking into the ground. “Do I really need to simplify it?” Trixie shook her head. “Do you think it’ll be a problem?”

“Maybe-” Trixie stopped when she felt a hand grab her shoulder and kicked backwards in time to catch another yardhand square in the crotch. “-I do.”

“You could always just stay at the loft.” I suggested.

“No, not that!” Trixie yelled. I motioned for her to duck as I reached over and bashed a not-so-sneaky gryphon right on the beak. “This… Bantering. Damnit Cosmo we’re in the middle of a war zone!”

“Oh…” I threw up a shield bubble as two more henchmen tried to charge the two of us. “Well usually I don’t have a partner to work with…”

“Really?” Trixie asked. By this point there was a small mob surrounding the edge of my shield bubble. “So do you usually keep on talking while you’re in the middle of a brawl?”

“As a matter of fact, I do. It tends to keep bastards like those distracted while I come up with a genius solution.” That solution came in the form of two Spartans dropping down from the rafters and knocking the henchmen to the floor in what looked like one fluid motion. “Like that!”

“I would’ve done it anyway.” Called the female of the Spartan pair.

“But my point stands.” I insisted. I waved for Trixie to follow as we walked across the warehouse to the office. That flimsy old door didn’t stand a chance once I bucked it off its hinges. “Knock knock! Anyone home?”

The office, of course, was empty. Bar the documents strewn on the table in the middle of the room. I looked over a few of them, realizing they were some sort of shipping manifests. But they had delivery schedules down to the minute. What shipping company has a schedule this tight? “Anyone recognize these hull numbers?” One of the Spartans asked. That’s when it hit me, one of those ships was still docked outside.

Not that we were able to do anything about it once Phalanx came crashing through the wall in a beat-up looking heap. “Fuck!” He yelled as he scrambled to his feet.

Collin was close behind, tossing Felix into the wall next to the broken window. “Terribly sorry about the scene Sir. I’ll just take my associate and get out of your hair.”

I looked over at Phalanx and studied him. He had a few gashes across his face along with dents on the shoulder plate on his side facing me. You know what? Fuck it. I stepped between the two and pulled my revolver out. “Ya…” click “Not happening.”

“And who are you to say so?”

I felt that cocky grin creep across my face and just let it grow. “I’m the Ranger, and you’re under arrest.”

“Ha!” Collin obviously wasn’t too amused as he pulled out a long knife from a sheath on the back of his belt. “I’d like to see you try.”

“I’ll do more than that.”

______________________________________________________________________________

Unidentified Cargo Ship, Trottingham Harbor
Cloud

Since I had dropped onto the freighter with Sky, we hadn’t seen a thing. From the looks of it, there wasn’t a soul aboard. “Wanna place bets on where everyone is?” I asked.

“Not feelin’ it.” Sky waved me to follow her into the crew area as she crept forward. “Any reason you ditched the armor?”

“Bit too bulky for sneaking around a ship.” I retorted. As we moved deeper into the crew quarters, I started hearing some dull violin music from one of the side room. “You hear that?”

Sky nodded and went for the door. Pulling it open let us hear the music better and revealed the dim candlelight that illuminated the room. In the middle of the candles was a black crystal. “Looks like someone was worshipping a gem.”

I brushed past Sky and picked up the gem. “More like a horn.” I tossed it to her and let her examine it. “Who would make a unicorn’s horn out of crystal like that?”

“No clue.” She tossed the horn back to me. “Might be off a statue, who knows?” She started going through some of the lockers. I slid the crystal into one of my vest pockets and started pulling books off the shelves lining the room. “Uh… We might want to leave.”

“Why?” I turned around and finally realized the shit we were in; the lockers were filled with explosives. “Huh… That explains why we didn’t find anyone.”

“And we’ve got a minute to get out of this coffin.”

“Then it’s time to run!” We didn’t waste much time as we tore back out through the crew quarters and out into the hold full of stacked crates. The first explosion echoed through the hull as we rushed up the stairs to the top deck, lighting up the cargo hold in a brief orange flash of fire before it was obscured by black smoke.

“Shit, keep moving!” I heard Sky cough out as we burst onto the top deck. She didn’t waste any time before she grabbed the collar of my shirt and dragged me to the side of the ship and hauled me over the side with her.

But instead of hitting the dock, we landed in the water. I couldn’t see for shit, but I felt the shockwave from the final explosion in the cargo ship’s hold as Sky used her wings to propel us away from the slowly sinking hulk. We surfaced on a small beach a few hundred feet away from the dock, both of us coughing up the salty tasting water as we crawled up the shingle terrain. “That was fun.” I groaned.

“Enough to do a repeat?” Sky joked as she rolled over onto her back.

I couldn’t help but laugh as I rolled myself over, feeling my elbow hit the side of her chest. “Oh, sure” I groaned sarcastically. “Let’s just try to get ourselves killed again.”

“Ha!” I felt Sky pat my shoulder as she hauled the two of us into a sitting position. The two of us just stared at the cargo ship as it continued to burn and settle on the bottom of the harbor. “Hey, do you still have that horn?” I patted the pocket on my vest, confirming that it was still there. “So… Did you ever think you’d end up in this line of work?”

“You mean getting into gun fights, running from death-inducing explosions and taking down crime lords?” Sky nodded. “Nope. In all honesty, I was going to school to be a history teacher.”

“A teacher? Really?” Sky chuckled. “This is one hell of a career change, isn’t it?”

“Surviving a fall off the side of a mountain does lead to temporary changes in perspective.” I sighed, leaning up against Sky’s shoulder. “I do plan on going back to finish.”

“At least you have a choice.” She said. “So how do you do it?”

“Stay sane after going from student to soldier inside of a month?”

“…Sure, let’s go with that.”

“Not a damn clue…” I grabbed her shoulder and hauled the two of us to our feet. “Cosmo still probably needs our help.”

“Probably.” I saw Sky fidget a bit before she gave me a quick peck on the cheek. “How about you and I get some drinks after we’re done here?”

“I’d like that.”

______________________________________________________________________________

Trottingham Harbor
Cosmo

“Ooof!” I grunted as I smacked against the cinderblock wall of the warehouse, by breath rushing out of my lungs from the impact. I opened my eyes just in time to realize it would be a good time to hit the deck, dropping to my knees as Collin took a chunk of the wall out with his fist. Damn, how the hell hasn’t he split a knuckle yet?

“Will you just stay still?” Collin groaned as he reared his boot back.

I caught the boot mid-swing, rolling forward with it still in my grasp and sending the gryphon sprawling out on the ground. “But where’s the fun in that?” I looked around the warehouse floor to try and find my revolver but didn’t see it before Collin had scrambled back to his feet. I rocketed forward and smashed into the gryphon’s midsection and kept charging forward until we came to an abrupt stop against the side of a small shipping container with a loud clang.

“Get the fuck off me!” Collin yelled as he reared back and planted his boot on my thigh, sending me stumbling back to give him room to maneuver. “Alright, time to die.” I watched him pull a familiar revolver out from his belt. Huh, so that’s where it went.

But the only sound the pistol made was the quiet click of the trigger before a bolt of red magic flew past the side of my head and hit Collin square in the throat. “Miss me?” Phalanx yelled as he marched ahead, ducking under a wide swing from the dazed gryphon. “Come on Collin, you can do better than that!”

If you can’t beat em’, join em’. I ran forward as Collin took another swing and grabbed the outstretched arm and bashed his elbow inward with a resounding crack. I heard my revolver clatter on the ground at my feet, and with a quick sweep of the foot I sent it sliding across the warehouse. “Now what have we learned?”

“Fuck you!” Collin tried to take another swing at me, but Phalanx delivered the same result from when I grabbed him, leaving the gryphon effectively disarmed.

“Can we at least leave him intact?” Felix asked as he stepped between us and the gryphon. “OK? Great.” The two of us just watched as Felix grabbed Collin by the throat with his left hand and pushed him up the wall and off the ground. “The ships, where are they going?” Collin was silent at the line of questioning, so Felix struck the side of his beak. “How many bones you want to get broken before you start talking, huh?”

“Fuck off.” Collin grunted.

“Wrong answer you twat.” Collin sailed over our heads when Felix tossed him to the ground behind us. He walked forward and stuck his boot on the struggling hybrid’s throat, pushing down ever so slightly in an attempt to scare him. “It takes thirty pounds of pressure to collapse a trachea. Tell me, do you value breathing?”

Collin didn’t say a word as Felix put more pressure on his throat, instead tapping quickly against his leg. Felix relaxed a bit as the Gryphon slumped against the ground. “Weapons.”

“Not specific enough.” Felix insisted, returning the pressure to Collin’s throat. The back and forward of the pressure on Collin’s throat continued for another five minutes, the gryphon kept coughing as he tried to breath. Collin finally had enough and passed out from the lack of air. “Damn it…” Felix withdrew his boot and watched Collin’s chest rise and fall in a ragged manner. “Well, it’s a start.”

“What was your first clue?” I asked. “Alright, where the hell did our backup go?”

“Here sir.” One of the Spartans called out from the door on the loading dock. “You seemed to have everything all set, so we started looking for records.”

“Felix, stay with our friend.” I walked over to the Spartan, who was busy examining what looked like freight manifests. “What sort of records?”

“Inventory, correspondence, things of that nature.” He assured me. “According to this, about half a dozen containers of miscellaneous materials came through here from Carniola over the last few weeks.”

“Miscellaneous materials?” I asked.

“That’s what it says here.” He said as he strode over to the only remaining shipping container and pulled it open. “What the hell?” I peered around the edge of the container and realized what he meant. Some weird looking rifles, cases of ammo, vials of some sort of liquid, stimpacks, biofoam. The Spartan tapped the side of his helmet and was quiet for a moment. “Alright, we got Pelicans inbound with some heavy lift gear. We’ll take this stuff back to Canterlot and start going through it to determine where this stuff came from.”

“Take that sack of trash with you while you’re at it.” The Spartan nodded wordlessly and I walked into the container, pocketing one of the vials. The rifles all had leather straps arranged as slings, which made it easy to hang it on my shoulder. Finally, I grabbed one of the cases of ammo and walked out. “Take Collin with you while you’re at it.” I said. “Alright, let’s get the hell out of here!” I yelled.

Cloud and Sky were both waiting outside for us by the open ramp of the Sentinel. “Hope we didn’t miss the party.”

“Wasn’t much of a party anyway.” I retorted as I swing down into the rear jumpseat. “Enjoy your swim?” I asked.

“For the most part.” Sky assured me. “Cargo ship was a wash. If there’s anything on that thing, it’s ash by now.”

I nodded as I finally noticed the smell of burning oil on the breeze. “It’s no major loss. We got an idea on what’s on the other ships, and we bagged a lackey.”

“A lackey that’ll be hard-pressed to give you anything.” Phalanx added as he flopped down in the seat on my right.

“It’s a start.” I said as I pulled a full canteen out from under my seat and handed it to Phalanx. “Good job today.”

“You said it yourself, it’s a start.”

Felix and Trixie were the last two aboard before the deck shuddered as we took off. “I take it you’re still in?” I asked.

“Why bother asking?”

“The drug lab was a bust for one.” I said.

Felix just shrugged. “So? Turned out to be a bigger fish in that frying pan.”

“Good to hear.” I said. “Felix, welcome to the Northern Guard.”

Shoulder to Lean On

Vanhoover, Cosmo’s Loft, Two Hours Later
Cloud

“We’re back!” Cosmo yelled as he swung the door open.

I really didn’t pay any attention to Archer running up to him or Phalanx as he passed the loft’s door and went down to the room that Cosmo had set up for him. I just slipped on by into the room that I had been calling home for the time being and flopped down on the bed as the day finally caught up with me. After a minute or two I heard the door click shut and felt someone sit down on the mattress next to me. Not that I really care right now.

I shifted around and noticed that a bottle of beer had been placed in front of me. “I guess I can’t take a rain check on the drinks?”

“Nope.” Sky said. “Come on, sit your ass up.”

I turned over and sat up with a groan as Sky handed me the extra beer she had brought. That’s when I noticed that she had ditcher her body armor for a low-cut tank top. “Alright, what are you playing at?”

Sky took a swig from her bottle first before she seemed to relax a bit. “Cloud… How the hell do you do it?”

“Didn’t we already go over this?”

“We did, and I’m revisiting it.” Sky insisted. “You nearly died, got surgically altered and have been forced to deal with a war that shouldn’t have even been your problem.”

“I never said anything about the augmentations.”

“I read your file.”

Wait, what? “I have a file?”

“Why wouldn’t you?” Sky asked. Alright, I see the point.

“And you must have a desire to know.”

“I do…” She muttered.

“Alright… Let’s start from the beginning.”

______________________________________________________________________________

Hoofington, Equestrian Wasteland, Seven Years Ago
Sky

“You sure this is the place?” I asked.

The radio on Cosmo’s pipbuck was clicking rapidly, almost sounding like a continuous tone. “I’d assume so.” It was an old diner. Through the shattered windows we saw two stallions sitting at the counter sipping away on bottles of Sparkle Cola. “Comet, Strike.”

“So you two decided to come along after all.” Strike said. “Good, good…”

“Here.” Comet slid us both fresh bottles of soda and motioned for us to sit down. “Did anyone follow you?”

“Not that I know of.” Cosmo replied. “So where did you find this mirror again?”

“Old warehouse about a mile and a half northeast of here.” Strike said. “Scouting runs we made seem to make it look like a straight shot there.”

“We’ll need to be quick.” Comet said as he swung out his bow. “I don’t want anyone following us through while the portal is still active.”

“Right, because your world has no way to defend against a pistol.” I droned. “You still expect me to buy that line of bullshit?”

“No I don’t.” Strike said as he rose from his seat. “But they say seeing is believing. Let’s get moving.”

For the most part, the walk down the battered streets into the old industrial park where this warehouse was situated. There was the occasional chirp of some sort of birds flying around the ruined apartment buildings, stones tumbling to the ground as those same avian creatures knocked them from their perches in the ruins. “It’s too quiet.” Cosmo said as he pulled out his revolver.

“And piles of bones are supposed to be noisy?” Comet chuckled. “Dude, we already swept the accessible buildings. There’s nothing to worry about!”

I heard the smack as Cosmo wailed the back of Comet’s head with his open hand. “Never say there’s nothing to worry about you moron!”

“It tends to backfire.” I added just before a bullet smacked into the wall next to us and sprayed the four of us with chunks of brick. “See what I mean?” Two more rounds hit in rapid succession before we all ducked into the building.

“See that?” Cosmo said as he pointed to the sizable bullet hole in the wall. “Whoever’s out there is packing a fifty.”

“So if we step outside our heads go on a one way trip?” Strike asked.

“Yup.” Another round tore through the brick wall, leaving a fourth sizable hole in the wall. “And that shooter will zero in on us eventually if we stay here.”

“Do we even know where he is?” I asked.

Cosmo grabbed a chunk of an old mirror, angling it out the door frame and scanning the old buildings across the street before the mirror exploded in a silvery cloud. “Triple decker across the street at ten o’clock. Second floor, far right window.”

“You two have a plan then?” Comet asked.

I nodded as I reached into my jacket and pulled out a tube tipped with a lantern-shaped warhead. “Panzerfaust?”

Cosmo nodded. “Panzerfaust.” He holstered his pistol and reached around the back of his jacket, producing his 9mm submachine gun. He pulled the stock out and cocked back the receiver as he switched the safety to full auto. “Probably about two hundred feet to the window.”

I adjusted the sights on the top of the launch tube accordingly. “Alright, on your go.”

“In three… Two…. Go!” Cosmo rolled out into the street and started spraying bullets towards triple decker. I was quick to shoulder the launcher before I made a quick tug on the pin.

Beyond the stream of smoke and the explosion deep within the building, there really wasn’t much else to it. “Wait for it…” After a few more seconds, the triple decker collapsed into a pile of old wood and iron. “There we go!” I yelled as I tossed the now useless tube off to the side.

“Too bad those aren’t more common.” Cosmo observed. “Comet, Strike, we leaving or not?”

The duo didn’t say anything as they started walking down the street. The two of us stayed right behind them. I pulled out my own 9mm and started scanning the buildings on my side of the road as we kept walking. “Can we make this any quicker?” I muttered.

“We’re working on-” Comet didn’t get a chance to finish his sentence before he was struck square in the chest with something and was knocked to the ground as a result. Right in the middle of his chest was a small hole over his lungs.

“Contact!” Cosmo yelled as he pushed Strike behind the outer wall of the warehouse.

Strike forced Cosmo off him and ran back out into the street and dragged Comet over to us. “Comet, you hear me buddy?”

“Anyone catch that license plate?” He groaned.

“Nope, hit and run buddy.” Strike said as he dragged Comet and propped him up against the wall. “What the hell was that?”

“Sniper, probably shooting small caliber. You’ll start feeling the bruise tomorrow morning.”

“Bit accurate for a dead-center hit, don’t you think?” I asked.

“Round could’ve been dropping, who knows. We still don’t know where that shot came from.”

“Doesn’t matter.” Strike said. “My goal was to get you two to the portal. Once we get you through and to Dusk, we’ll have to focus on asset denial.”

“We’ve got enough explosives with us to destroy the portal.” Comet added.

“You heard em’ Sky. Let’s get moving.”

______________________________________________________________________________

Vanhoover, Cosmo’s Loft, Present Day
Cloud

Sky sighed before leaning forward and held her head. “Someone shot me right after we broke cover, and I passed out soon after that. When I woke up…” Sky wiped a stray tear off her cheek as she tried to keep her mask up. “I woke up wrapped in my jacket and covered in dirt. I realized once I dug myself out that I’d been buried.”

“Cosmo thought you were dead.”

“He did.” Sky mumbled. “The bullet wasn’t really a bullet… More like a flying syringe loaded with a drug called tetrodoxine. It slowed my heartbeat down so much…”

“And until recently you haven’t been able to find him.”

“Right.” Sky said. “It wasn’t until about three months ago that I finally found evidence that he was still alive, references to some vigilante running around in a black helmet and a beat up old trench coat… Then I saw him.”

“You saw him?”

Sky nodded. “A few days ago when he was leaving Marcie’s. I was a few floors up in the bank across the street trying to get ponies up to the roof when I heard the filly he was carrying out screaming for her parents. After that it was just a matter of finding where he was living.”

I leaned into Sky, wrapping my arm around her. “Doesn’t sound like it was all that easy.”

She shook her head and tried to get up, but I held her back. “What?”

“I didn’t say you had to leave.” I assured.

“Look… I’m-”

I put my free finger to Sky’s muzzle and silenced her. “You just spilled your heart out for what must have been the first time in years. You sure you’re OK?”

“No, I’m not.” She spat. “I’ve said too much as it is.” She tried to move again, but I held her down before wrapping her in a hug. For a minute she was tense before I started feeling my shoulder get wet as she slumped against me.

“Like I said, I didn’t say you have to leave.”

______________________________________________________________________________

Canterlot Castle Garden, the Following Morning
Cosmo

I looked down at the small memorial that had been erected in the palace garden. Two metal plates on a clean-cut slab of granite flanking a small torch in the middle. The names Crossbow and Slingshot were engraved on the plates. “Gone but not forgotten…” I muttered as I ran my fingers over the inscription in the granite. “You OK Archer?” I asked as I heard a sniffle from off to my right.

“I’m alright.” I pulled the filly over and wrapped my arms around her. “Promise me that you won’t leave me.”

“Wouldn’t dream the world of it.” I said as I pulled her tighter.

“Why don’t we go get something to eat?” I heard Trixie suggest.

“The Palace kitchen then.” I said. “I can have the chefs whip us up some pancakes.”

It wasn’t long before we reached the kitchen. A brief discussion with one of the chefs and a few minutes later, my nostrils were greeted to the smell of pancake batter cooking as it hit the pan on the stove. “Smells good.” Trixie noted.

I didn’t pay any attention, instead remaining focused on Archer. Ever since we took her to visit the memorial she had been quiet. Too quiet for my tastes. Shortly thereafter the chef gave us each a plate full of pancakes. “Go on kiddo, eat up.” I grabbed my own fork and dug in.

Archer poked the pancakes with her fork before she started nibbling at the food. I don’t know how long we were actually in the kitchen eating, but it was long enough for the kitchen staff to show up for work and start cooking the day’s meals. “Cosmo?”

“Yes?” I asked.

“Can you promise me something?”

I shrugged. “Sure, what is it?”

“Whatever happens… Promise me that you’ll come back.”

“Archer…” Damn, forgot that kids could be introspective. “I promise I’ll come back.”

______________________________________________________________________________

Somewhere South of Vanhoover
Sky

I never like coming back to this grave. Hell, there’s really no point to pay respects to myself. But something about coming out here is calming. The waves crashing on the bottom of the cliff, the breeze coming from the sea… It’s just peaceful.

Well, it is normally. Today I just can’t seem to slow down my thoughts, running through what I told Cloud last night. I slumped down the tree and shut my eyes to think. That’s when I thought back to the rain and cold from that night oh so long ago. Clawing my way out of the dirt as I started to choke on the useless air in my lungs. Then there was that hand…

“Good to see you again Sky.” I dark grey stallion sat down next to me and leaned against the tree. “How long has it been now?”

“Two years Sombra, two years.” I said. “You find all of Princess Amore’s pieces yet?”

The stallion shook his head. “I’m taking some time off from the search. Hope is trying to piece together what we have so we know what else we need to find.”

“That’s good.”

“Indeed. But what are you doing out here?”

Great, that’s the last question I wanted to hear… “Sombra… I found Cosmo.” The old king didn’t say anything, opting to remain silent. “But he’s different. He’s become cold, distant and even angry. And the look in his eyes when he sees me…”

“He’s wary.” Sombra finished. “And it’s obvious you understand why.”

“Doesn’t make it any easier.” I retorted. “For the longest time I wondered what would happen if I found Cosmo… Now I’m questioning whether searching him out was a smart move.”

“Well try not to focus on that. What are you working on that you can divert your attention to?”

“We’re trying to find some gryphon at the moment. Old coot calls himself De Witt.”

Sombra remained quiet before he hauled the two of us to our feet. “You said his name was De Witt?”

“Damnit, you know who he is don’t you?” I asked.

“We’ve had our dealings.” Sombra said. “I think it’s high time that I meet your friends.”

Know Your Enemy

Vanhoover, Cosmo’s Loft
Cosmo

There really wasn’t much else to say after the morning trip to Canterlot. Archer and Trixie had both been quiet the whole ride back, and remained wordless on the trip up the elevator back to the loft. It’s almost like I said something wrong. We finally made it to the door with still no words out of either of them. Are they mad?

I didn’t have to open the door; Sky took care of that for me. “Inside, now.” She practically dragged me by the collar into the loft and shoved me down on the couch. I looked around and realized that Sky had been busy. The coffee table had a number of manila folders strewn about and a board with a number of pictures pinned to it had been rolled into the room.

“Everyone here?” Asked some onxy-coated stallion.

“Just waiting on Phalanx.” Sky said. “Anyway, Cosmo this is Sombra. I called him in to help us with De Witt.”

“I’m sorry, but Sombra?” I asked. “As in that nutcase who the Princess let run around looking for a bunch of crystals?”

The stallion rolled his eyes. “I prefer the term reformed, thank you very much.”

“Whatever. What the hell is this all about?”

“You friend De Witt.” Sombra stated. “I’ve had my dealings with him during my search for the pieces of Princess Amore, so that makes me one of the best you have at your disposal to bring him down.”

“Then elaborate!” Off to the side Phalanx had slipped in and was remaining silent.

Sombra nodded and walked over to the board, slapping a picture of a burnt out mansion. “This is the aftermath of an attack by Blaze Squad roughly a decade ago. From what files I read Dusk and one of his new recruits, Steeljack, went on what is classified in their files as an reconnaissance operation.” He then motioned to a picture of a group of mares in a hospital. “It was discovered that he had a number of Equestrian civilians in his employ, all of them against their will. By the end of the night the villa had been torched, a number of the guards were dead, the servants returned to Equestrian territory, and the more interesting fact. De Witt was reported dead by the recruit that was with Dusk from a bullet wound to the face.”

“That sounds familiar.” I mumbled.

“I'm not surprised you think that with the recent events surrounding General Wind.” Sombra said.

“You sure that report is accurate?” Phalanx asked. “I never heard anything about De Witt getting killed in a raid.”

“So we have no solid explanation as to why he’s still kicking.” I added. “There has to be some sort of club for this.”

“Club for what?” Trixie asked.

“The ‘Dead-But-Not-Really’ club.” I snipped. “First there was Meteor Shower, then Dusk, then his parents, followed by Sky and Phalanx. Unless I missed something, dead is supposed to be dead.”

“You’ll find no arguments from me.” Sombra assured. “But the fact remains that De Witt survived his encounter with the recon team.”

“Then where is he hiding now?” Trixie asked.

Sombra moved aside to reveal a map with some photographs pinned to it. “The island of Carniola. Conveniently the home port of his cargo ships.”

“I had Spirit of Fire send out a recon flight, and they have confirmed that the present course will take those ships right to Carniola.” Sombra passed me a folder that he had on the top of the TV stand next to him. “Aside from the food supply, De Witt is the reason that Carniola even has a functioning economy. While the businesses are all privately owned he’s the sole customer for many of them, ranging from gunsmiths to carpenters and contractors.”

“How the hell did do all this?” Phalanx asked. “De Witt was always in the country when I needed something. If I asked, he was with me within half an hour. And you’re telling me he’s holed up on an island more than a day away?”

We were all silent as the point that Phalanx made sunk in. Me? I was racking around my head for a possible explanation. “What about Changelings?” Cloud asked. “He had at least one working for him when we rescued Palmer. Maybe he had others going around disguised as him.”

“It’s a valid theory, but we’d need more information to either prove or debunk it.” Sombra retorted. “Now if you find a Changeling willing to confirm your idea, feel free to prove me wrong. But they’re a secretive species as a whole and I highly doubt that one will openly communicate with you regarding the activities of its kind.”

"So that idea's out. We'll just have to roll in and hope we don't get blindsided." I said.

"With who?" Palmer asked. "The recruits?"

“You honestly think I want to take a bunch of greenhorns with me?” I asked. "I can have a platoon of marines here in an hour."

“Need I point out the obvious?” Phalanx asked. “We go in with regulars and we’re opening the door to a war with Griffany. We'd still be invading their territory, whether they have control there or not.”

“That’s assuming we don’t get their permission first.” I retorted. “Sombra, you obviously have some sort of contacts. Think you can get me into a meeting with the Griffin Prime Minister?”

“I can’t guarantee anything, but I’ll see what I can do.”

I leaned over the coffee table and sifted through some of the pictures. A handful of them were ponies. “These ponies associates of De Witt?” Sombra nodded out of the corner of my eye. “Alright. Cloud, Phalanx and Sky, go to Canterlot and see if they can help identify some of these ponies. If we're lucky one'll talk if we squeeze him right.”

“What about you?” Cloud asked.

I shrugged. “Gotta make myself presentable.” And make sure my suit still fits. Damn, the things I do for work…

______________________________________________________________________________

Canterlot Castle, Three Hours Later
Cloud

Two hours. That’s how long we’ve been in Canterlot. In that time we’ve been told to go home, kicked out of the Guard office when we walked in, and the Princess has been in some sort of national security meeting. Long story short, we’ve gotten nowhere.

We were sitting outside in the garden examining the photos ourselves, but without more information to go on… “Fuck, this is hopeless.” Phalanx groaned. I’m inclined to agree with him. But as I stared at this one picture of a brown-coated stallion, I couldn’t help but think he looked familiar.

“So just another day in paradise.” Sky retorted. She finally noticed me staring at the picture I was holding. “Something up Cloud?”

I just bobbed the picture around in my grip before putting it down on the bench with the others. “I swear I’ve seen that one somewhere. Just can’t put my-”

“Surprise!” I heard someone yell as I was wrapped in a bear hug. Shit, I forgot all about my parents. “I was starting to think you forgot all about us.” My mother said.

“Just busy Mom.” I said. I glanced over at the picture before grabbing it. “Hey, does this guy look familiar?”

Mom just blanched when she saw the picture before she snatched it from my grip. “Sail! Sail, you need to see this!” She started yelling. She finally saw my father at the door to the garden and ran over to him, pointing hurriedly at the picture. He had a similar reaction.

“That doesn’t look good.” Phalanx muttered. “You said you think you recognize that pony?”

I nodded. “And if both of my parents recognize that stallion…” I elected to shut up as my parents walked over with worried looks plastered across their faces.

“Cloud… Where did you get this?” Dad asked.

“He’s a suspect we’re investigating for connections to organized crime.” Phalanx said. “Beyond that we can’t say much more.”

I just shrugged. “What he said.”

Mom and Dad exchanged looks before Mom knelt down in front of me. “Do you remember when Dart was taken?”

Wait, Dart’s kidnapping? Think Cloud, think. There were a bunch of stallions in masks, but one… Holy shit. “That’s him.” I muttered. “That’s the ringleader.”

“So this guy was working for that Gryphon… What was his name again, De Witt?” Dad asked.

“Wait, who’s your sister again?” Phalanx asked.

“Dart. Her name is Dart.” I said with a sigh. “Special Forces operator, certified badass? Damn… How’d I forget that Dusk and Steeljack were the ones who rescued her?”

“I really don’t think it matters.” Sky added. “We know who we’re looking for and he obviously has a link to De Witt. We find him, getting intel on De Witt becomes far easier.”

“I thought that Griffon piece of shit was dead.” Dad said.

“Trust me, he isn’t.” Phalanx assured. “Alright, we’ve been stonewalled long enough. Right?”

“Right.” I said.

“Then it’s high time that we get a private meeting with Captain Sentry.”

I can’t help but agree as I followed Phalanx into the palace and down the hall in a brief walk to the Guard office. I cut in front at the last minute and threw the door open, the silence broken by glass of a picture frame behind the door shattering at the impact. “Captain!” I yelled. “We need to talk.”

The Captain, understandably, didn’t come out of his office. Instead a disturbingly familiar face stepped out and walked over. “Something I can do for you folks?”

I looked back down at the picture in my hand and chuckled. “This has to be a fucking sign or something.” Off to the side I heard Sky click off the safety on her pistol. I tossed the picture of the guard down on the receptionist’s desk. “You’ve got a lot to answer for you fucker.”

“Shit…” The Guard muttered. In that brief moment I saw something akin to fear in his eyes before he rushed forward and grabbed me. I felt some pressure on my arm as he turned me around and used me as a shield. “Look, I don’t want any trouble.”

“Well you found some anyway.” Phalanx said.

I felt the Guard try to bend my lower arm as he put his weight into it. I think he’s trying to break it… Wait, that isn’t gonna work. Augmentations, who’d of thought they’d be of more value? “What the hell are you made of?” The guard muttered.

“Not a clue.” I retorted. “But payback’s a bitch.” I dropped to my knees and felt the Guard start to topple forward. With a roll and a wrench of his arm he flew across the office and smacked into the wall with a resounding crack.

“Holy shit, where’d you learn how to do that?” I heard my mother ask.

Again, no clue. Not that it matters because that bastard is already back on his feet. I rushed forward and it was almost like time started to slow down a bit. I saw the sweat on that Guard’s brow, his muscles on his right arm start to tense as he reared back to throw a punch and the look of unbridled rage in his eyes. As his arm began to swing I ducked around it before bashing his elbow up with a resounding snap and his screaming. But I blocked it out as I threw two quick punches to his chest and the following cracks of breaking ribs as I forced him back into the wall. “De Witt, where is he!” I screamed.

“I don’t know. Why the hell you asking me?” The Guard grunted.

I threw a punch and smacked the wall next to his head, shattering the drywall that lined the room. “WHERE IS HE?” Still nothing, so I threw another punch and blew a hole through the wall on the other side of his head. “WHERE IS HE!?!?”

“Cloud, calm the fuck down!” Phalanx yelled as he tried to rip me away from the Guard.

I shook him off and bashed the Guard’s forehead. “Last chance.” I muttered.

"I'd recommend talking. There's no telling how long we'll be able to keep our friend here in check." Sky said. Holy shit, she's playing the good cop.

“He never leaves Carniola.” The Guard sputtered. “For years he’s had Changelings disguised as him go out to hand down the orders.”

“What hive?” Phalanx asked.

“They don’t have a hive. They’re castoffs that couldn’t be fed.”

“Why use doubles?” I asked, forcing the stallion further up the wall.

“He got shot in the face years ago during some raid on his old compound. He’s been paralyzed from the waist down since then.”

“Thank you.” I grabbed the Guard’s muzzle and pulled him towards me before I forced his head back into the wall to knock him out. “I’ll go grab my gear.”

“What?” Sky asked.

“You heard me.” I retorted as I walked across the hall to the armory. “Now where is it…” I finally spotted the grey sheet on the far wall and strode over to pull it off. Under it was the armor that the humans had given me. The visor didn’t have a scratch, and the paint still had that glossy sheen.

“You have a plan to get to Carniola?” Phalanx asked.

I grabbed the undersuit and pulled it on before hitting the breaker to power up the armor rack. “I’ve got an idea.”

“And what about Cosmo? Don’t you think it would be wise to wait and see what the Griffons say?”

“Look, just trust me.” I felt the last of the armor latch into place. “We’re just gonna go have a quick talk with the Princess.” I spotted a rifle on the wall and grabbed it and five clips before packing the clips into their new homes, and latching the rifle to my back.

The walk to the throne room wasn’t a long one, not that I paid any attention. That didn’t change as I kicked the door open and blew right into the middle of that same meeting that the Princess was in when we first got here. Oh and I found Captain Sentry. “You know we’re busy.” Snorted an older looking human, decked out in an Equestrian Navy uniform.

“At ease Captain.” The Princess assured. “Don’t worry Cloud, we’ve been discussing De Witt and his holdout on Carniola all morning.”

Alright, now it;s “Come again?”

The Princess nodded and motioned for the table. “Have a look.”

I finally noticed that Phalanx had followed me when he walked up to the table and picked up a newspaper. “Carniola Falls…” He read. “Local insurgents take control of outlying Griffon territory.”

“We finally decided to offer Griffany our support.” The Princess added. “Captain Baxter is to take the Paris to Carniola to aid in the liberation of the island.”

“Of course we don’t have much to spare.” The Captain added. “We’re keeping Spirit of Fire out of this one, only because it doesn’t involve the UNSC. And after our losses at Dodge City and here in Canterlot…”

“Only one of the two Ranger companies is combat ready after that ass-kicking we took. We’ve got a platoon of Marines we’ve pulled from the reserves, and two combat-strength Special Forces squads. All said, we’ve got just under three hundred thirty ground troops.” Captain Sentry added. “Additionally our intelligence shows that De Witt has a battalion-size force at his disposal with three separate support companies maintaining and constructing their defenses.”

“Long story short, we’re at nearly a three to one disadvantage.” The Captain finished. “And we still don't have Paris at peak operating status after ONI's attack a few days ago. Those guns they have on the beach are liable to cut us to bits."

“So it’s a crapshoot.” Phalanx muttered. “What if told you lot that Cosmo is already on his way to meet with the Griffon prime minister?”

“It’ll mean that we need to be ready to roll once we get the green light.” Captain Sentry noted. “Captain Baxter, prepare the assault force.”

I stayed silent as the meeting broke up and the officers all left, bar Captain Sentry and the Princess. “Something on your mind Cloud?” She asked.

“Princess Celestia…” I mumbled. “I found the stallion who kidnapped my sister.”

She nodded. “I’ll see what we can do to find him Cloud.”

“He already found him.” Phalanx said, tossing the picture down on the table. “He was working for you.”

“Shit, that’s Caliper.” I heard the Captain swear.

“You’ll find him in your office Captain, a bit beaten but he’s still there.” Phalanx said. “That isn’t even the best part… You two have time for a story?”

______________________________________________________________________________

Stuttgart, Griffany
Cosmo

“I still don’t know how you got me in here this quickly.”

Sombra shrugged. “Prime Minister Galland owes me a favor.”

“For what exactly?” Trixie asked.

“I did say I’ve had dealings with De Witt before, didn’t I?”

That answers that… The door finally swung open and one of the guards led us into the office. I’ll admit, it’s kinda swanky in here. “Sombra!” I finally noticed the old Gryphon, the feathers upon his head starting to turn grey with age.

“Good to see you again Galland.” Sombra motioned to us. “Anyway, this is Cosmo and Trixie.”

The Gryphon nodded and motioned to a set of couches off to the side. “Can I get you or your friend something to drink?”

“Galland…” Sombra muttered.

“I take it that this isn’t a courtesy call then.” The Gryphon said with a sigh. “So what’s the situation then?”

“Does the name De Witt sound familiar?” I asked.

Galland looked surprised for a brief moment before he made for the door. “Come. The War Council is meeting right now regarding our friend.”

“That doesn’t sound good.” I muttered as the Prime Minister lead us across the hall to a meeting room.

“Gentlemen.” He said to the Generals around the table. “It appears we’re not the only ones having issues with De Witt.”

“Well they’ll have to wait their turn.” The older of the Generals barked. “We have enough of a headache in Carniola as it is. We don’t need Celestia’s dogs humping our legs.”

I just rolled my eyes. “Hate to break it to you General, but he’s been our problem longer.” I pulled a copy of Dusk’s old report out from my coat and tossed it on the table. “He enslaved our people, kidnapped one of our soldiers at Midlothian and tortured him, and is the primary source of weapons and drugs flowing into Vanhoover, with his agents acting as brokers. What’s he done to you?”

“He’s destroyed ships in our navy, killed almost a thousand of our sailors and has turned Carniola into his own personal fortress.” The General insisted. “It’s an internal matter.”

“Then lucky for you we’re not Celestia’s dogs.” Sombra added. “To my knowledge she doesn’t even know we’re here.”

“But she knows about the situation.” Galland said. “She’s already been questioning our ambassador. We gave her what information we have in an attempt to persuade her to allow us to handle the situation ourselves… We’re just not sure how long that’ll last.”

“Buddy, I’m a merc… Sort of.” Well, it’s not a lie. “I’ve got enough resources to arm a platoon of soldiers and keep them supplied for months. And if you doubt my experience I’m sure by now you’ve all seen the reports on the siege at Dodge City by the Enclave and their former allies from ONI.”

There were some brief glances between the Generals before the senior one finally looked at me. “You were in Dodge City?”

“Oversaw the operations of the Ranger Corps personally while serving as the second in command to General Meteor Shower.” I just can’t help but smirk. “What do you have for experience. A few border skirmishes?”

“We were all at Midlothian.” Galland muttered. “At the time all of us were serving under De Witt, so we all know first-hand as to the capabilities of General Shower.”

“I will be blunt. We’re of him, but that’s only because we’ve been on opposite sides of the field over the course of our careers.” The General said. “But if you were considered good enough to be hired specifically to serve as his understudy during that shitshow at Dodge City, you have the same respect I afford the good General.”

“And if my friend here is vouching for you, I'd be stupid to deny you a favor." Galland cocked his eyebrow at me and smirked. "So what is it you want from us."

“Let me take my team in.” I insisted. “We all want De Witt out of our hair, and I’m confident we can handle him.”

“Confidence is one thing.” The General added. “But we'll do what we can on our end to help ensure your success..”

“How quickly can the schnellbomber be ready?” Galland asked.

“They’re already on the tarmac at Holstein Air Base.” The General replied. “They can launch on your orders.”

“Uh… What’s a schnellbomber?” Trixie asked.

“It’s Griffon for fast bomber.” Sombra said. “At the moment it’s the only fixed-wing aircraft project meant for military use outside of Equestria.”

“And while they’re the quickest way to get you from here to Carniola the various models have ranged from decent to barely viable.” Galland added. “The Model 17 has proven capable of high speed, but can’t carry a viable load of ordinance over a reasonable range, the Model 111 is too slow to be considered a schnellbomber and the Model 88 is still in prototype form.”

“And that’s been with the aid of Equestrian engineers that are familiar with the human motors that we’ve hired.” The General groaned. “For right now what you see is what you get.”

Before the bitching and moaning could continue an aide walked in and interrupted. “Sirs, we have an Equestrian officer on our comms.”

Galland just rolled his eyes before pressing a button on the conference table. “This is Prime Minister Galland. Who am I speaking with?”

“Prime Minister, I’m Captain Baxter of the HMS Paris. From what we understand you’ve got a bit of an issue in Carniola. Something about losing control of the island?”

Galland clicked the button to mute the comms and looked over at Sombra. “How the hell does he know that?”

“Sir, with all due respect we haven’t done a good job of keeping this situation internal.” The General noted.

Galland rolled his eyes and unmuted the comms. “That would be correct Captain.”

“Then I’ll be blunt. We’ve got a hand in this game as well. As we speak our assault force is completing its final preparations, and from the looks of it you could use all the help you can get.”

“Any particular reason that you all want De Witt out of the picture?”

“I'm just here under orders. As for the Princess I can't say.”

“I see…” Galland sighed. “Give us a few hours to get our resources into position.”

“Understood Prime Minister. Paris out.”

Galland clicked off the radio and glanced over at me. “Well Cosmo, it’s looks like we have a deal.”

Author's Note

By now everyone should notice that I'm drawing my Griffany from some parallels with Germany. And those schnellbombers? German World War Two aircraft, specifically the He 111, Do 17 and the Ju 88, are the inspiration for them. And those same problems I described for the Model 17 and 111 are similar to issues faced by variants of the real models while in operational service (for example, the definitive version of the Do 17, the Z-model, never quite solved the issue of being underpowered that the previous versions had. Additionally, the Ju 88 was still being developed when the early versions of the Do 17 and He 111 first entered service with the Luftwaffe. Same deal with the Model 88.) Pictures for rough ideas of what I picture the earliest additions to the Griffon Air Force below;

He 111

Ju 88

Do 17

...I look like a huge nerd now, don't I?

Addendum 3/21/16: See this blog for info on why the story is marked as complete.