The Northern Guard

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.”