Several Days Later...

Price held onto a safety bar as the van shook violently as they pulled up near the hotel. Across from him, Soap sat with a light machine gun leaning against his leg. In his hands was a helmet for the bomb defusal suits they had been issued. These, of course, would function as juggernaut suits.

"Well, I guess stealth's out of the question." Soap said as he placed the helmet on his head, patting it to make sure it was on well. The helmet restricted his vision slightly, but it was worth it if it would get him out of this in one piece. The sound of bullets hitting the van steadily grew louder, not that it would do any good. The van was bullet-proof, and there was no way anything was getting through it.

"It doesn't matter. Makarov's dead either way." Price said as he pulled back the bolt on his LMG, bringing the first bullet into the chamber.

"Captain, Makarov's forces are moving in on you now. They're just outside the van." Ramon said from the radio. Ramon was their new radio and intelligence operator, appointed to the 141 by the vote of Yuri and Soap. She was alright, but she was no Nikolai. Price had an angry scowl under his helmet, looking to the door as the van came to a halt.

"This is it! We're here!" Yuri shouted from the driver's seat. Price stood from his former position, his finger placed on the trigger of his weapon. The metallic banging of the bullets continued to ring in Price's ears as Soap came up next to him, his weapon grasped firmly in his hands.

"For Nikolai." Price said just before Soap burst down the door...

Prague

John rested his battle rifle on his shoulder, taking in the base around him. Alexi, Makarov's right hand man, was still set up here, even with his boss in the hotel Oasis. In his history, even after Price and Yuri's attack on this place, Alexi got away. After Makarov's death, Alexi would take over the Ultranationalists, and would lead the mission that would lead to the death of hundreds of Americans in an attack on New York. But John knew that would happen. This monster was going to die. He was on the same caliber of importance of history as Price, and that meant that if he was dead, MacTavish would still have one old friend from the old days left. Whether it would be Price or Yuri, he couldn't be sure. But he wasn't letting both of them die. The ponies had been hidden away in the Task Force's new HQ in Washington, although it was kept secret from civilians.

"What am I up against?" John asked as he watched a helicopter fly towards the main section of the compound. It didn't matter to him what they sent in at him. He had dealt with numerous things in the past, the ultranationalists wouldn't pose a problem.

"There's a lot of risk here John, you sure you know what you're doing?" Cortana asked.

"You know me well enough to answer that." John said as he placed the upper part of his weapon into his palm, slowly beginning to jog into battle. On top of one of the security look outs, a solider turned and saw him, although he seemed to be in shock of what he was seeing. John quickened his pace, gradually increasing into a sprint.

"I'm not worried about the ultranationalists, there's a massive energy reading inside the compound." Cortana said. John leaped up, activating his boots to give him an extra boost onto the wall. As he landed on top, he slammed the butt of his rifle into the skull of a panicking guard, knocking him out cold. Another guard quickly realized what was happening, and ran off to sound the alarm. John quickly disposed of him by placing three bullets into his head.

"I should be okay. I have you after all." He said as a group of soldiers on the other side began to look over towards his position. John quickly jumped off the wall, using his jetpack to slow his decent and touch down on the ground. The sound of his feet hitting the ground nearly completely coincided with the first gunshots.

Hotel Oasis

Price turned to his left, opening fire on a group of ultranationalists hiding behind an escalator. To his right, Soap laid fire down on an SUV that contained a minigun on the top, while Yuri focused on hostiles on the upper floor. Price made a mental note to never wear a juggernaut suit again. It was bloody hot in these things. An explosion turned his attention to his front, where hostiles wielding RPGs were hiding behind overturned carrying carts.

"Price, Makarov knows you're there, his security detail is extracting him to the rooftops." Ramon said as the heat from the blast of an RPG made Price feel as though he was being cooked. Raising his weapon, Price fired more rounds at the hostiles in front of him, not even giving them a chance to breathe. Small yellow lines rushed all around them as Makarov's men continued to hold their ground, but were constantly pushed back.

"Keep on him! He does not leaving here alive! Take control of the lifts to prevent his escape!" Price shouted into his radio as he turned his attention to Soap.

"Makarov's not on this floor, we need to move higher up!" He shouted to him. Behind them, Yuri took a hostile and flipped him over his shoulder, instantly proceeding to put a bullet in between his eyes.

"You got it Price! Moving up!" Soap shouted back as he threw a grenade at the top of the escalators. Price jogged as quickly as his suit would allow up the escalators as Makarov's men continued to pour out on them.

Prague

John fired his magnum with pinpoint accuracy, landing a headshot on an armed hostile from a distance. A nearby grenade explosion sent wooden shrapnel from a nearby crate flying across the area, with John blocking most of it with his wrist. Ducking behind a crane, he slipped his empty magazine out of his weapon, quickly replacing it with a fresh one. Coming out of cover, he fired three bursts that effectively eliminated three hostiles, with numerous more pouring out of the doorway leading into the cells, undoubtedly where an ambush would be prepared for him.

"Chief! To the left!" Cortana shouted. Turning that way, John saw an ultranationalist aiming a rocket launcher right at him. Before he could fire, John fired another burst that sent the soldier crashing to the ground, as more bullets slammed into his shields and armor. His inner suit warning indicated that his shields were dangerously low, and he took cover behind another group of crates. A stray bullet splintered his cover, sending more shrapnel onto his wrists, effectively eliminating what was left of his shields.

"And I thought the Covenant were stubborn." He said to no one in particular.

Hotel Oasis

Price covered his face with his arm, blocking out the light of the explosion that went off next to him. Focusing back on his front, four ultranationalists were backing away from the approaching men, firing as though they were mad men. Soap made quick work of them with his weapon, while civilians screamed and ran as fast as they could to escape the building.

"This floor is clear, still no sign of Makarov. Ramon, what's the status on the lifts?" Price asked as an elevator opened in front of them. A group of screaming civilians quickly made their way past the approaching 141 members.

"The lifts are ours Captain. I just sent one down to pick you guys up." She replied. Price stepped inside the elevator as Yuri made sure no more mercenaries were behind them, and Soap turned to face Price again.

"What's the status on Makarov?" He asked as Yuri stepped inside the elevator. Slamming the close button, Soap began reloading his weapon, while Yuri pointed his weapon out towards the exposed area of the lift.

"Makarov's making his way through the atrium. If you hurry you can still catch him." Ramon said into the radio as the lift began to move upwards. Looking out the window, Price could see two white helicopters going upward, probably to the roof.

"Ramon... The helicopters?" Price asked as one of them made their way higher and higher up, although the other one was remaining relatively close to the team's elevator. Soap looked out the side of the elevator, watching as the helicopter gradually made it's way up.

"It's headed for the roof. No doubt going after that piece of crap Makarov." He said as the second helicopter turned to completely face Price and the others. Suddenly, the vehicle began to fire on them, sending pieces of glass flying throughout the interior of the elevator.

"Shoot it down!" Price shouted as he raised his weapon and opened fire. Soap quickly followed suit, and Yuri not long after him. Nikolai would have noticed those helicopters... Price was already sick of Ramon.

Prague

John stabbed an ultranationalist with his knife, throwing him aside as he ducked behind a pillar in the holding cells. The sound of gunfire on concrete was unmistakable, and the sounds of the distressed prisoners also rang in John's ears. He slid an empty clip out of his magnum, wasting no time in replacing it with a fresh one. Peaking out from behind the pillar, he made mental notes of what currently faced him. Five hostiles, all crouching behind cover, all using automatics. Hiding behind his cover, he pulled back the tip of his magnum, bringing the first round into the firing chamber.

"John, something's going on, the energy signature gets stronger the closer you get to Alexi." Cortana said as John once again cam out of cover, this time firing two shots at the first hostile he saw. The shot hit it's mark, and the hostile dropped dead onto the floor. One of his comrades ran over to retrieve his body, still firing at John as he did. John reacted quickly and fired two more shots at him, causing the Russian to collapse to the floor. Moving back behind cover, John waited for a halt in firing while any of the remaining three started to reload.

"Track it. It could be important." John said as he once again popped out from behind the pillar, this time walking towards the hostiles slowly. Taking aim, John fired a single round through the head of another ultranationalist. The remaining two backed away fearfully, with the one closest to the exit running to the nearest door. John fired his remaining three rounds into the last remaining hostile, then slid the empty clip out of the weapon. After reloading it, he reached behind his back and brought his battle rifle back out and sprinting out. Now he had to reasons to get to Alexi. To save one of the two 141 members at risk, and to figure out what Alexi was carrying.

Hotel Oasis

Price ducked behind the table for defense, making sure to keep his head down. The juggernaut armor had been shredded thanks to the helicopter attack, and Soap barely managed to make the jump onto the new lift. As if that hadn't been bad enough, Makarov was closer to the evac than Ramon had thought, at best they only had three minutes. To his right, Soap popped up and fired a few rounds from an AK he had picked up. Yuri on the other hand was hiding behind overturned luggage.

"Ramon try alerting us to enemy positions! We're taking fire from every direction and it's pinning us down!" He heard Soap shout. Peeking over the table, Price noticed several mercenaries moving towards the restaurant, flipping over luggage and tables as they began to set up there.

"They're digging in at the restaurant! Makarov must be there!" Price shouted as he opened fire on the hostiles. Two dropped as a result of his actions. To his right, Yuri leaped over the luggage and fired at the mercenaries, keeping them pinned.

"What are we waiting for? We almost have him!" He shouted as he continued to fire. Soap looked over to Price, a determined look defining his features.

"Come on old man! Let's show these yanks what happens when you mess with the 141!" He shouted as he too leaped over the debris. Yuri was now hiding behind another overturned table, though he was now readying a grenade. Price took a deep breath, and charged from his cover as well, taking out any mercenaries trying to get a shot at Soap. Makarov was almost in their hands.

Prague
J
ohn threw a grenade back at the group of ultranationalists in the court yard, and he could see Alexi running across the top of the fortress' walls. Jumping up, he activated his jetpack and launched himself up onto the wall himself, landing with a thud onto it. John looked up, and saw Alexi with three guards with him.

"What are you doing? Stop him! Alexi shouted as he took off running away from him, with his guards staying behind and firing at John. Quickly, he fired a burst at one of them, which nearly hit Alexi thanks to the bullets going through him. John made short work of the other two hostiles, and began sprinting as fast as he could after the ultranationalist leader.

"John, did you see what Alexi was holding in his hands?" Cortana asked.

"No." He said bluntly as another ultranationalist tried to attack him. John merely took the terrorist and slammed him against the gate to his side, and bashed his head in with his weapon. Looking back up, he could see Alexi running towards a room and making a sharp left turn into it. John wasted no time in giving chase.

"Whatever it was is the energy source, I don't know what it is, but it can't be good." Cortana said as John turned a corner. Alexi was now sprinting across a bridge, desperate to get to anywhere that would get him away from John. Taking a shot, John fired and managed to hit one of his legs, although he stumbled behind the door of the bridge before he could finish him off.

"Let's see what it is then."

Hotel Oasis

"THERE HE IS!" Price shouted as he witnessed Makarov running up a flight of stairs near the restaurant. He felt all of his anger rushed into his brain, pumping his body with adrenaline. They were going to take down Makarov. Rushing forward, he completely missed the sight of a little bird coming towards him, preparing to fire on him.

"PRICE!" Yuri shouted. Looking to the windows, Price could see the helicopter fire it's missiles, headed right in front of him. Feeling someone grab his arm, he was pulled away from the window, just as the explosion came into contact with the back of the wall. The ground shook as chairs, tables, and the 141 members flew across the room. John felt himself smack against the ground as the ground began to fail, falling into a downward slope. He could see Yuri rolling down, while Soap clawed at the floor, desperately searching for something to grab onto. Price cursed and kicked at the floor as he too began to slide, the helicopter now flying away from them.

The edge was approaching fast, and Price knew he had to act quickly. Forcing himself to focus, he blocked out the sound of the crumbling building behind him, and saw what could be a possible lifeline. A steel reinforcement pole. Reaching out, he grabbed onto it just as he's about to fall, and can see Yuri continuing to fall. But unlike with Price, there is nothing to save him.

"Yuri!" Price shouted as he now tumbled out of the building. Stretching out his hand, Price called out for him to grab hold, and Yuri was barely able to grab hold. The sudden weight put enormous strain onto Price's arm, causing him to groan in pain. Yuri was weighing him down, and he could feel his hand start to slip off of the rod.

"Hang on!" Price shouted as he regained his grip on the rod, managing to keep himself up. Looking right, he could see Soap also clinging to a steel rod, although his was much further from the edge, and it would take some time for him to get up.

"Price, you have to go!" Yuri shouted as he felt his grip being to loosen. Price looked down at Yuri, seeing him being to hold his arm with less force now. He knew exactly what he was doing.

"Yuri don't you dare let go!" He shouted as he continued to feel Yuri's grip loosen.

"If you don't go now Makarov will escape!" Yuri shouted back, no longer holding onto Price. The only thing that kept him from plummeting was Price's grip, and that was beginning to slip. Price groaned as he tried to hold onto Yuri's arm, determined to get him out of there.

"Forget it! I'm not letting you fall!" He shouted back. Once again his grip on the steel rod loosened, and Price focused his strength into keeping hold of it. But by doing this, he had loosened his grip on Yuri, and was now only holding onto his wrist. Price growled as he looked from the ledge, where Makarov was getting up from the explosion. He must have been caught in the blast and lost his balance. Makarov breathed heavily and smiled at Price, making him even angrier.

"Price... It's the only way." Yuri said with a pang of pain in his voice.

"Price no! Don't let him go!" Price heard Soap shout from the side, stilling trying to climb up the steel rod he had attached himself to. Price closed his eyes and grit his teeth, feeling Yuri slip from his grasp. He couldn't hold on to him. Looking down, he could see that he was only holding Yuri by his fingers now, and the Russian was making no attempt to hide his fear.

"I'm sorry Price." Yuri said. With that, he slipped from his grasp, screaming as he began to plummet to the earth.

"YURI!" Price shouted as he reached out, trying to grab him again. But he was just too far out of reach. For a few seconds, all Price could do was watch Yuri fall, shocked by what had happened. But his shock quickly gave way to anger, as he pulled himself up back onto the ledge, and crawled up the ledge.

"Soap! Are you going to be alright?" He shouted. No reply.

"SOAP!" Price shouted.

"I'm fine! Don't let Yuri die in vain!" He shouted as Price pulled reached down to his thigh. His fingers locked tightly around the handle of his M1911, still fully loaded and ready. Price roared in anger and sprinted up the stairs, turning quickly as he made his way up. The stairs gave way to a rooftop, and at the very end was Makarov stepping into a helicopter. Turning, he could see Price, and shouted something in Russian. The pilot began to pull out his weapon, but Price shot first. The pilot dropped dead as Price continued to fire, now killing the co pilot as well, and turned to Makarov. But before he could shoot, Makarov had fired a shot at him. And it hit Price right next to his gut.

Prague

John held Alexi against a wall, both of them surrounded by the dead ultranationalists that had been assigned to protect him. In John's other hand was his magnum, pressed tightly against Alexi's skull. The terrorist had a strange necklace clutched firmly in his hand, which had a red crystal in it's center. John eyed him, and the man stared back at him fearfully.

"What's so special about the necklace?" He asked as he pressed the gun harder against his head. Alexi groaned slightly, and stared back at John with a hateful glare.

"I will tell you nothing!" He shouted. Just then, the gem in the center of the necklace began to glow, radiating a red light across both men. John momentarily looked at it, noticing that the glowing gem was in the shape of a lightning bolt. Guess he knew why Alexi was holding onto it.

"You don't have to." John said. With that, he pulled the trigger of his magnum, sending the contents of Alexi's head against the wall. With his main goal accomplished, John tossed him aside, now focusing on the necklace. The gem in it's center continued to shine brightly, as John gently picked it up. Now that he had a better look at it, he noticed that it looked animated.

"Isn't that this the.." He began to ask, Cortana finished his sentence for him.

"...Necklace the ponies described. Yes, it is. We found it."

Hotel Oasis

Price panted heavily as Makarov continued to crush his hand, keeping the pistol in his hands trained on his head.

"You just won't die... Will you..." Makarov said with shake of his head. Price glared at him angrily, the burning sensations in his gut, his leg, and his hand causing him unbelievable pain.
"Well... It's time you meet up with Nikolai. See you in hell."

...

"NOOO!" Soap shouted as he tackled Makarov away from Price, and slamming him against the glass roof. He had just seen one of his teammates, his allies, his friends die, and he was not going to let Makarov kill the other. Growling in anger, he launched his fist into Makarov's jaw, afterwards feeling a knee in his gut. Backing away, he held his midsection as he coughed slightly, recovering from Makarov's blow. Fortunately, he had dropped his weapon when Soap tackled him, meaning he was just as unarmed as he was.

"You were supposed to die in that bell tower..." Makarov said as he reached behind him.

"You should know by now that I'm impossible to kill..." Soap said back as Price began to call to him. Soap ignored this however, keeping his focus on Makarov.

"We'll see..." Makarov said back. Pulling his hand back, Soap saw a knife clutched firmly, while Price groaned to the side of him. Looking over to him, Soap could see Price gritting his teeth in agony as he desperately tried to close his hand back around his pistol, but his fingers refused to respond.

Makarov charged at Soap knife first, which Soap smacked away, instantly responding with a punch to the jaw. Makarov coughed as Soap landed another blow to his gut, and another to face. Makarov dropped his knife, but managed to catch Soap's next blow. He followed up by kneeing Soap in his gut, and then slamming his elbow down on his back. Soap collapsed to the ground, where Makarov stomped on his back. Soap exclaimed in pain, and looked up, seeing Makarov breathing heavily as blood trickled down his lip. Makarov rose his foot again, but Soap rolled out of the way, now only hitting the glass, causing it to crack.

Soap quickly attacked again, throwing his fist at Makarov's face, though he was able to catch it. Before Makarov could land a blow on Soap, he twisted his wrist, causing him to scream and release him. Panting heavily now, Soap could hear Price calling out to him. Turning that direction, he could see Price mouthing something. Before he could figure out what, he felt Makarov slam his fist into his eye, causing him to back away. The Russian sent two more punches into his opponent, then kicked him away.

Soap slid across the glass slightly before coming to a halt. Groaning, he did his best to stand, and could see Makarov walking back to get his gun. Looking over to Price, he could see him mouthing the words again, this time realizing what they meant.

"Get the gun." With that, Price slid the M1911 over to him, but it didn't have enough power to make it. Soap instantly rushed over to it, groaning as his body burned in pain from what he had just endured. Picking up the gun, he rose it up to Makarov, only to see that he had also picked up his weapon, pointing it at Soap.

Neither man moved, merely staring at each other. Makarov had a cut along his forehead, and his lower lips and chin were covered in blood. Soap himself was sporting a throbbing black eye, along with a cut along with two cuts along his jaw. Both men stood, waiting for the other to make a mistake.

"Drop your weapon." Makarov said. Soap glared at him angrily, shaking his head. He was not about to let Makarov get the upper hand. Makarov angrily glared at him, and moved his pistol to be aimed at Price. Soap stepped forward and grit his teeth.

"Do it, or Price dies." Makarov said. Soap looked from Price to Makarov, studying both. He didn't know what to do. He couldn't just leave himself wide open to Makarov, but he couldn't let him kill Price either. Looking to Price, he tried to figure out what to do. That's when Price motioned towards Makarov's leg. At first, Soap didn't know what he was trying to say, but Price moved his leg slightly, and motioned to it again. Soap gulped slightly as Price gave him a nod.

With reluctance, Soap began to put his hands up, the pistol now facing the sky. Makarov smiled and pointed his gun back at Soap, and was just about to fire when Price kicked him in the leg. The Russian groaned as he looked back down at Price. Soap took this distraction to shoot Makarov in his left chest, knocking him down to the ground.
Soap sprinted over to him, his breathing nearly out of control now. His heart was pounding out of his chest now, the adrenaline from everything that had happened wearing off. Staring down at Makarov, he glared angrily at him, seeing the blood slowly pour out of his chest. Makarov breathed hard and desperately, closing his eyes as he tried to cope with the pain he was experiencing.

" Good night you son of a gun." Soap said through gritted teeth. With that, he pulled the trigger, sending his final bullet into Makarov's head. Blood splattered against the glass, leaving Makarov laying in his own pool. Breathing heavily, Soap bent over and placed his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath.

"Nice shot son." He heard Price say from behind him. After recovering, Soap stood up, and stared mutely at the body before him. It was done. Makarov was dead. The man that was supposed to end his life was now sprawled across the roof in front of him. Ironic. He was supposed to die by Makarov's hand, but instead, Makarov was dead by HIS hand. Looking away, he slowly made his way over to Price, a small smile forming on his face as sirens began to ring in his ears.

"I could still teach you a thing or two old man." He said as he threw his arm out. Price chuckled and threw out his good arm, grasping it tightly. With a soft groan, Soap pulled him to his feet, placing his arm around his neck to support him.

"Guess first rounds are on me tonight." Price said as they slowly began to make their way over to the stairs. Soap chuckled.

"Bloody right they are."

Author's Note

Well, not too much ponies stuff there, sorry for that