Metal Gear Rising: Marevengeance

Chapter 3: Knuckle Busters

(Private Training Room)

“Are we done yet?” asked Applejack as she took a seat on the floor. “Because right now I’m tired of going over this sword fighting stuff.”

“I understand your frustration, but your stubbornness is going to get you killed unless you adapt.” The Princess told her. Applejack thought for a minute that the princess was somehow joking around or just over her head. However, she was still the element of honesty. Meaning she could tell if anypony was lying to her or not. Luna wasn’t lying at all. In fact, the lunar princess’s words were so strong, it stung like the attack left behind by Jetstream Sam.

“What do you think I been doing for the past five days in this room?! I am trying to learn to use a stupid sword, but it’s not sticking in to my head like is does with you!”

“Well… We may need to change things then… Tell me… What’s your reason for risking your life to save Equestria over and over again?” Luna asked her. “Because if you don’t have one, you won’t be able to protect your family if that Jetstream Sam attacks your Orchard.”

“Watch it Princess.” Applejack said, glaring at the lunar princess. “You’re treading on a line you don’t want to cross.”

“Yet, that is your reason for fighting isn’t it?” The princess retorted, returning to the original question. “You fight for your family… Don’t you?”

“Of course I do. What do you think I been doing for the past few years?”

“Take that reason and apply it to this. Learn how to fight with a blade so you may use it to protect your friends and family.” Luna said. “All of us have a reason to fight. Some ponies do it because of pride or anger. But you. I see that you have a purpose. Your purpose is to do everything you can for your little sister… Your older brother… Your Grandmother… All of your family. So let that be what guides you. Do it not just for your sake. But for theirs.”

“I get it Princess Luna, but no pony can learn to use a sword in a day or two like most ponies can.”

“Two minutes…”

“What?”

“It’s only been two minutes back outside, yet you’ve been practicing for five days. Plus… We aren’t taking two days to teach you. Due to your… personality, only twenty minutes would be required.” The Princess explained. “Yet… That means something different in the length of time in here… Wanna take a guess?”

“Magic is being complex to some degree?”

“No. Just some simple math. Two times Ten is Twenty. So… what is five times ten?”

“Twenty-five.”

“Double that.” Luna deadpanned.

“Fifty, but what does math have to do with this?”

Luna grinned a little. “You just said the amount of days your training in here.” Upon Applejack realizing what she meant, she just stared back at the princess in shock.

“How the hay did I know that?”

“Twenty minutes outside is fifty days in here. You use simple arithmetic when it comes to counting bits for when you sell your family’s apple products, so the same process can be applied. If you find a way for something to be familiar with you, it’ll be easier than expected.” Luna replied. “And we still have another forty five days to go. Which reminds me, your break is over… and I have a exercise that might work for you.”

“Oh come the buck on!”

“Now now… it isn’t that hard.” Luna said, taking what was a bright red apple and tossing it up and down in her hand. “I’m going to be tossing some apples towards you. What you need to do is use your sword to cut the apples.”

“Again with the sword thing? Why can’t ya’ll just make me a pair of knuckle like weapons or something?”

“Because if you try punching metal, you’ll crack every bone in your body. That blade of yours can cut through metal, flash and bone if it’s wield properly. Now, would you think that Applebloom would want you to still be in one piece or you struggling to protect her?”

“Treading on that line again.” Applejack said as she folded her arms in annoyance.

“And I will keep treading that line if it’s the only way you learn.” Luna retorted. “Look, I don’t mean to be what most ponies call a “hardass”, but I really need you to take this seriously. If you don’t, there will be a tombstone with your name on it.”

Applejack said nothing but simply threw her sword past Luna’s head. “What did I tell you about trading on that line Luna?”

“And what did I tell you!? YOU THINK THE SAME THING DIDN’T HAPPEN TO ME!!!” She roared, almost demonically. “MY TEACHER KEPT ON REFERENCING THE ABOMINATION THAT YOU FREED ME FROM UNTIL I LEARNED TO ACCEPT WHO I WAS AND WHAT I AM NOW. YOU THINK YOU KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE SACRIFICES!? A PART OF ME DIED WHEN I TURNED INTO THAT MONSTER!! A PART OF ME THAT COULD NEVER BE HEALED. SO START TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY!!!” Soon though, Luna calmed down, looking back at the farm mare. “Now… If you think you can survive out there… try hitting me.”

“....That’s it, I’m done.”

“If you think that, then try and strike me.” Luna told her. “The door only opens when you beat me. So… you can try now if you think that you got what it takes.”

“I am sick and tired of all this. All I ever wanted was to have a normal day without anything weird happening to me. Is that so much to ask?” Applejack said as her visor covered her eyes, along with her outfit color changing from red to blue. “I can handle being sent out to take care of some evil being with the help of my friends, but being used as a weapon?” Applejack vanished from Luna’s sight of vision as she appeared behind her. “That’s something I don’t take kind to.”

Applejack tried to lung forth in a full head on attack, only for Luna to grab her wrist and twist her arm around her back to where it almost sounded like the bones shattered. The same went for her other arm as well as Luna held Applejack down.

“I never asked for you to be a weapon. No one did. But there are times where your friends won’t be enough to help people in need. You aren’t a weapon in my eyes, Applejack… You are a guardian. One that would use the gifts provided to protect friend and family alike. There are some things that even Twilight can’t defeat on her own.” Luna admitted. “Remember when she faced Lord Tirek? No matter how many times she tried to defeat him alone, he could still stand? Now… what would’ve happened if you didn’t unlock the tree of harmony’s power in time?”

“.......”

“That is what I mean. Not all things can be fought alone. I have faith in you Applejack that you can achieve things that Twilight herself can’t obtain. It just depends if you give it a chance or not. To fully allow yourself to do so… For what’s important.”

“Look I am tired of training for the past five in the stupid room. All I want is to take a break from all this fighting and training. Because right now if I have to hear or think about using a sword or something along those lines, then I might go insane. And not the normal kind of insane, I’m talking about the kind where my mind will shut down….literally.”

“I had given you breaks. Yet, you have used the time to argue and complain… But, if you insist, then there may be something we can do.” Luna told her, letting her go and relocating AJ’s shoulder back in place before sitting on the floor. “All you need to do is sit down, close your eyes, and focus.”

“Really? That’s all?”

“Yes. The point of this is to clear your mind of anything that could be affecting your concentration. So, If you sit down and let your body relax, it will allow you to recompose yourself.” Luna told her, doing so herself and she seated her in a posture known as the lotus position. “Normally, I would do something like this for an hour. However, since it’s your training, you decide how long this will last.”

“I get the feeling I’m gonna be stuck here for a while huh?”

“Think less of the amount of time you have and focus on what to do with the time given.” Luna instructed. “If you don’t think about it, then it doesn’t become a big deal.”

“Yeah because that’s real easy-.”

“You don’t seem to be thinking about time when you are applebucking or being with your friends. Right now, we won’t be continuing until you feel ready to continue. We’re going at your pace from here on out.”

“Ugh, fine...” Applejack said as she took a lotus sitting position. It started out slowly, but soon, the earth pony was actually beginning to feel relaxed. She did not have to stress herself over the grueling training that she would have to endure. In a way, she was at peace. That is until her left arm start to ring like a cellphone. “Well that moment is ruined.”

“Can’t that be silenced? Besides, who would be calling you right now anyways?” Luna asked, puzzled.

“I just got this body a few hours ago, do you think I would actually know how this body works by now? Oh wait, I didn’t get the chance to seeing how you brought me with me getting to know.”

“My apologies. My question was not to stress you out. It was only to inquire.”

“No I’m sorry.” The farm pony sighed to herself. “I get moody when locked in a room for too long.”

“Would you like to step outside then?” Luna asked. “Maybe it can help you out. We can pick up on this another time if you wish. Possibly once you’re a little more… adjusted?”

“Yeah give about a month, because right now I get the feeling Twilight is going to have a training plan for me when I get back home.” Applejack said as she press the communicator on her arm. “Hello, this is Applejack-.”

“Oh thank Celestia you picked up, Applejack.” The voice at the other end of the call replied. “Don’t ask me how I got your number, I was going through Twilight’s gadgets and just pressed some buttons before this happened.”

“What’s the problem? And why do I hear the sound of ponies screaming and running like school mares?”

“You may want to get out here and see for yourself. Some weird person who called himself Senator… something bashed through the front door, hurt Rainbow, Celestia and a few others and unleashed a mechanical monster on the town-. Hang on a sec… APPLE BLOOM!!! GET OUT OF THERE-!!” The call was soon cut off and what remained was static. However, the mare did see a glimpse of the monster before the transmission was cut.

“.....You know I’m starting to sense a pattern going on here.”

“We can talk about this later. Right now, the safety of the citizens comes first.” Luna replied, using her magic to open the door and cast off the spell. When the door opened, a loud shriek was heard from the other side. “Go quickly. I’ll try to get help from the royal guards.”

“On it.” As Applejack ran, Luna said something to herself seconds before teleporting away.

“May the odds be ever in your favor…”

(Ponyville)

“Geez, already a day and Ponyville is once again under attack. Why do every bad guy always....attack…ponyville….” Applejack asked only for her to see the mechanical monster in front of her. “HOLY CRABAPPLES!!” It was just as tall as Twilight’s castle. Perhaps even more. But at the time, the only other thing that she could see that was right in front of it was Spike. Having Applebloom run alongside her. She looked beaten up and was covered in dirt and a few bruises. Not what an angry Cyborg pony would want to see.

“Partner, you done gone made a terrible mistake messing with my sister.” Applejack said as she cracked her knuckles. “And nopony messes with a member of the apple family.” Applejack was about to charge at the monster as she unsheathed her sword, ready to cut the metal machine into pieces. Only to have it’s revved up tail come down on where her blade was. “Consarnit! Get out of my town you piece of scrap metal!”

“Applejack!” Spike yelled back. “Be careful! That thing’s tail can cut anything in half and can fire explosives. Just keep moving!”

“How do you know all this stuff-!”

“Because it was attacking the town! Just deal with it while I get Applebloom back to the orchard!”

“Working on it if you haven’t notice?! Just get Applebloom and hide someplace safe!” Spike’s only reply was a salute as he kept on running with Applebloom right next to him. Looking back at the mech, Applejack’s Visor soon went over her face as she prepared for the beast to attack her again. “Let’s see what you got partner!”

Right away, The mech attacked with it’s tail. Causing Applejack to move from side to side to avoid getting hit and to have a chance at counter attacking. It was then though that the monster appeared to open it’s mouth… and something began to generate a lot of energy. “Oh you have got to be kidding me.”

The energy blasted outward in the form of a solar beam towards Applejack. The only thing that Applejack could do at that moment was act on instinct and by that, it meant taking up a posture that Luna taught her. In doing so, not only was the earth pony able to deflect the beam, but she soon realized that by tilting the angle of her weapon, she can redirect the beam in a different direction. Doing so, the blast soon broke off the metal bearings on one of the upper limbs of the mechanical beast. On Applejack’s Visor, something different emerged.

Weak Point Identified.

“Wait, this thing has a weak point?”

Affirmative. The visor showed. Scans indicate that the power source of Metal Gear Ray is stored in it’s upper limbs and head. By destroying the cores where the limbs meet the body, it will significantly lose power at a rapid rate.

“Wish it could’ve told me before hand.”

I heard that. The Visor shined one last time. Not questioning what the last part meant, Applejack soon got to work. Using her newfound agility to climb up a nearby building as the “Metal Gear” tried to focus it’s targeting sights on her. However, she was too fast for the mech as Applejack lunged towards the exposed weak point. Cutting off the left upper wing of the mech with one clean strike.

“Okay, now to take care of the other part.” Applejack told herself as the Metal Gear targeted her again, locking onto her as it blasted her with it’s fiery beam. Once again, Applejack took the same approach as before, deflecting the Metal Gear’s attack to where it struck the wing joint. Followed up by another clean strike and another limb falling to the ground. “Guess Princess Luna’s lesson’s actually paid off.”

Enemy Structural Integrity: 50%. Energy Rate is below 30% and dropping. Her visor told her as she looked at it again. Final power source located. The visor then outlined the monster’s head as it looked back at Applejack. Now she knew what to do. Strike the head, destroy the source, mech destroyed along with the source.

“I’m really starting to regret going with Twilight to that swap meet.”

Best course of action. Throw target into air and strike when airborne. Your enhanced strength allows you to do so. Go for the tail. The visor showed again. If you strike the enemy while airborne, there will be less damage to the town and any civilians within the city.

“Might as well give it a shot.” She told herself, getting behind the mech as it tried to understand what was going on. The cyborg used both of her arms, holding her sword with her teeth as she lobbed the mech into the air and ran up the side of Twilight’s castle to push herself forward. Midair, she began to slice along the back end of the mech’s body at she reached the head. By the time she laid the final blow, something new appeared on her visor. It looked like a electric cord that was light blue. Without thinking much, she pulled it out of the Metal Gear as it exploded in the air with small pieces of ash and metal lightly sprinkling on the ground. For Applejack though, she saw what she found as a little disturbing and crushed it with her foot. However, her systems showed something else upon commiting the act.

System’s fully charged. 100%

“Phew! Well that takes care of that. Though I am surprised I was able to do all that.”

Have faith in yourself and you can do anything. She saw on the interface before her visor disappeared.

“....I get the feeling I’m gonna be hearing a lot out of you huh?”

I am an AI. A personal guide for you, Ms. Applejack. You can call me Sonya. I am here to assist and serve you whenever you need help. This time, Applejack heard the voice for it instead of seeing lines of text. But she wasn’t able to completely understand it once she saw Luna nearby with a few of the royal guards, tending to the injured.

“Is everypony okay?”

“For now they are.” Luna sighed. “Rainbow Dash was hurt along with my sister, but most ponies here had only sustained minor injuries. You should go back home now, Applejack. We have everything under control.” For a moment, one of the guards that was helping the medical staff looked up upon hearing her name being spoken and watched as the Earth Pony Mare left the scene. For that stallion though, he was personally shocked to see the child of an old friend.

(Sweet Apple Acres)

“Finally, home sweet home. Maybe I can finally take a break from all this weirdness that’s been going on?” She said to herself as she carefully walked into her home. Granny Smith was asleep, Big Mac was visiting Braeburn our in Appleloosa and she last saw Applebloom with Spike and the rest of her friends at her makeshift clubhouse. Walking upstairs, she was relieved to throw herself onto the bed after setting her sword down against the door to the nearby closet.

Well, what was her father’s closet. Since she was young, Applejack’s father had disappeared, presumed to be dead and her mother died while giving birth to Applebloom. Granny Smith never was able to get around to having to get rid of her father’s old things, so she left them where they were. In the closet. She thought that what was behind there was rugged old farmer’s clothes and other items. But something told her otherwise when she heard her sword slip off of the wall and hit something… metallic.

“What the hay? How come I never notice this before?” She asked. That was until she remembered that she had never opened up the closet before and just facehooved herself. Setting her blade on the floor, she used her strength to open the sliding doors of the closet that were stuck in place since they had never been opened in years.

What she found though… caught her by surprise. There was a suit of armor. One that would normally be issued out to the members of the royal guard. Not only that, but there was a pair of gauntlets, leggings and an old broadsword that was held down in the back of the closet. Looking down though, Applejack noticed a wooden box that was sealed closed. Clicking the release lever, the earth pony opened it up to find a collection of medals. Medals that would be given to soldiers in the line of duty. At the back though, there was a photograph of three ponies. One of them looked like Twilight’s brother, but that was not what caught her attention. What really caught her attention was what she saw accompanying the photograph. A note from somepony that she knew.

“Congratulations on your retirement, Captain Jonathan Apple. I am honored to be able to serve in your place. Good luck with raising a family in the country, my friend.”

-First Lieutenant Shining Armor

“How does Twilight’s brother know about my father?” Applejack asked herself. Soon though, she noticed something in the far back of the closet that caught her attention. It was a letter with an Apple Family seal on it. Curious, she began to open it. But what shocked her was that the letter was addressed to her.

Dear Applejack,

As I’m writing this, you might be too young to understand what I am trying to tell you, but I wanted to make sure that this was sent to you because it might be the last time I will be able to write to you in a long time. Before I go on though, you may be wondering some things. For example, why is there a seal from the Royal Army at the bottom of the letter? Well, in order to explain this, I need to tell you of something.

In my life, I was not always a farmer. For almost twenty years in my life, I had served to protect Equestria and to protect the princess in times of need. Through this, I was able to meet a lot of ponies. Most in which I know as my friends. However, it was through this that I also met your mother, Gala Apple, who at the time was a medic in the army. The two of us soon got to know each other and by the time I was almost done with my career in the army, we got married and decided to live our dreams of living outside a small urban town called Ponyville so we can raise a family.

However, recently though, things have changed. There have been reports in the background of unknown rifts emerging in the badlands and I have been asked to lend my knowledge… and my assistance one last time. Don’t think of this as goodbye though. I promise that one day, I will make sure to come home to my family. If anything does happen though, talk to Shining Armor. He’s a unicorn that lives in Canterlot and a very good friend to both me and your mother. Whatever you do, trust him. He’s saved my life just as much as I saved his.

Stay strong my little apple. Daddy loves you. Always remember… you are destined for greatness. All you have to do… is let it in.

Love,

Jonathan Apple.

“..........” Applejack just stared at the letter. She could not believe what she just found. Nothing in this made any sense to her at all. Was any of this true? If so… then why hide this from her? Her eyes soon looked at the two gauntlets that were next to the box. “I’ll ask Twilight to have her send a letter to her brother later.”

It was only then that once she stretched out a hand for the gauntlets that a couple of knocks were heard on the door downstairs. “Come in!” When she heard no response, Applejack sighed. setting her father’s gauntlets next to her sword as she walked on down to the door and proceeded to open it. However, what she did not expect though was for Twilight’s own brother to be standing outside.

“Guess I don’t need to ask Twilight to send a letter to get you.”

“Hello, Applejack. Sorry to bother you right now with what’s been going on, but can I come in?” Shining Armor asked. The husband of Princess Cadence and the Captain of the Guard was in Canterlot at the time that Luna requested for every available guard to try and help the hurt and wounded in the town. So, since he had nothing else planned, he decided to lend a hand. Now that everything was under control, the Unicorn was out here to see if he could talk to Applejack. He had lost contact with the Apple Family since he became captain of the guard many years ago. There were still a lot of things that he needed to be told.

“Sure, you can come in.”

“Thank you,” He said as he walked into the home. Careful not to knock anything over. “I wanted to talk to you about something Applejack… Something I should’ve told you sooner.”

“About how my father wasn’t always an apple farmer, or how you knew that he used to be an  engineer in technology along with him being in the royal guard?”

“More then that. I didn’t realize it until now though because of what you did earlier today. Your father had the exact same bravery… and he was my mentor.” Shining told her.

“......Explain, because right now I’m getting annoyed that this was being kept a secret from me.”

“He didn’t tell me much about his life before the military, but he did tell me that he was born a farmer. However, as he grew older, he didn’t have the money to pay for college education. So instead, he enlisted in the military as part of the royal guard. He was one of the most well known soldiers on the guard and also was the one who taught me everything when I was still a recruit. It was near the end of his term though that he met your mother and instead decided to return back home to live with his parents and start a family of his own… This was kept a secret from you for multiple reasons… but there was one main reason why.”

“And that would be?”

Shining sighed. “Applejack, do you know what the term MIA stands for?”

“Murdered in Action?”

“No. For those who’ve fallen in battle, they are labeled KIA. Or killed in action. MIA means missing in action. Your father has been gone since you were just a filly and was presumed to be dead. But… given the circumstances of when he disappeared and what’s going on now… there may be a chance that he’s still alive.”

“........ Normally this would be the part where I punch you in the face for not telling me this sooner, but I’ll let it slide for the moment...” She said, looking back at the Unicorn as they remained seated at the dining room table. Now, Applejack had only one thing to ask. “Where is my father?”

“That part though is unknown. When he was last seen, he was asked to be part of a recon team that was to investigate an unknown rift, or in non Twilight terms… a portal, that was open in the badlands. I wasn’t part of the mission, but what I heard was that minutes after the team entered, the rift closed on them and trapped them inside. Now though, these portals are opening again and other beings and machines we don’t know about are coming out of there. The only possibility being that the one they’re coming out of is the same one your father entered all those years ago.”

“So how do I get to where my father is? More importantly, which portal is the right one?”

“All the portals are from the same world, just different locations and places in that world. So unless we know a method of being able to identify him, we would be looking aimlessly.” Shining explained, before saying another thing to add onto that. “Second, We don’t know how long they stay open for. It could be open for a few minutes or a few hours, but currently, we know that a new one opens every two days. So unless we know a method to keep the rifts stable, it would be dangerous to let anypony inside… unless we had contact with something or someone on the other side that could help then-.”

“Actually I might know somepony that might be able to help with that.”

Shining raised an eyebrow, looking back at Applejack with a confused expression. “You do?”

“By accident or something like that. I got a hold of a pony named Raiden from the other side of the portal. Well him and another pony named Doktor.”

“Do you think there’s a chance we could talk to them? At your earliest convience of course, you must be tired after everything going on today.”

“Well, what do you expect when a princess of the night takes you to her private training room, after he or she got beaten up from a cyborg similar to me. Not to mention taking short breaks do not count as a break.”

“... Good point.” Shining Armor replied, taking something out of his pocket. It was an enchanted piece of paper that looked empty at first glance. “If you need me, just write a letter and the paper will take care of the rest. It’s enchanted to send to the person you're writing too just like Spike when sends letters to Princess Celestia. Just without the need for a dragon or for Twilight to be peeking in your mail.”

“I’ll call you in about a month or two. Something tells me that Twilight is gonna have me over to examine my new body… I get the feeling this won’t end well for me.”

“Have you tried blackmailing her with a restraining order?” Shining Armor asked. “Your mother once did that to your father as a joke.”

“She’s a princess remember, plus that wouldn’t stop her from trying.”

“Yes, but she isn’t above the law. Think of the amount of restraining orders that Blueblood gets. I know the number… 57.”

“That bad huh?”

“That’s just in Equestria. It’s twice that number outside the country.” Shining told her. “He is snobbish, stuck up, arrogant and overall, an asshole.”

“I’m surprised that nopony hasn’t killed him yet.”

“Trust me, the way he’s been doing things, politics is now like a house of cards because of him.” The Unicorn told her, using his magic to show an example. “Take one and the rest of the house falls with it. Despite his attitude, his position doesn’t come without responsibility. However, many can make a case that he has had… any responsibility.”

“Again I’m surprised he hasn’t gotten killed, or at least beaten up for the stuff he done.”

“I think Rarity chewing him out at the Gala was all he needed to have happen to him to convince himself to hire personal guards.”

“Right…”

That’s when Shining Armor decided to get up and push in the chair as he sighed. “Well, it was nice to talk to you Applejack, but I think I need to return to the castle. I kind of told them that I was taking a break and for them to expect me soon. Make sure Twilight doesn’t do anything drastic while I’m gone alright?”

“I’m sure Spike will keep her in check. Tell Cadence me and the girls said hi.”

“I sure will.” Shining Armor replied back as he walked out the door and closed it behind him. As he left, many things echoed through the young mares mind. Mostly about the fact that somehow, her father could still be alive. Right now though, she didn’t want to stress on the details.

She thought now would be the best time for her to get some much needed sleep.

(Elsewhere...)

“And that’s pretty much it for your mission Raiden.”

“So… To clarify… You’re asking me to go undercover and sneak into a hidden Desperado Research facility? One question though… Why did it have to be in the middle of the Grand Canyon?”

“Well it’s only place where Desperado didn’t have anyone there, or had some kind of piece of tech that would pick up on the conversation.”

“Yes, but the temperatures in this place would fry any Cyborg’s circuits.” Raiden replied back. “I’m just thankful that Wolf and I can stand up to these damned summer heatwaves.”

“Approaching drop off point.” The Cyborg canine named Wolf addressed his comrade as the two of them soon saw the landing spot where they were getting dropped off. They had to get into the facility on their own and with the possibility that Desperado might be tracking them, the two of them had to make the rest of the way on foot.

“Thanks Wolf. Kevin, radio’s need to be silenced right now. I’ll contact you once we’re inside.” He said, both of them landing on the ground as Boris, the one flying the helicopter, gave the two of them a signal that meant good bye… and good luck.

“Well great… Where to start…?” The Cyborg asked himself. “Wolf, can you pick up anything out of the ordinary in the area?”

“Scanning…” The cyborg replied. “Environmental Scans complete. Picking up sattelite frequencies a few miles northeast from here. I’ll scout on ahead and continue to investigate.” With that, Wolf lunged forward and disappeared into the desert as Raiden tried to catch up with him.

“I really hate it when he does that.” Raiden replied. Soon though, something entirely different came up on his interface. It was from the other Cyborg that he somehow managed to make contact with. One named Applejack if he remembered correctly. It sounded like the name of a cereal brand if you asked him, but there was something else that he saw that had him worried.

It was a Metal Gear. The same type that he had faced before in South Africa.

“Raiden.” His attention was redirected to Wolf once he picked up on his signal and found the cyborg by a ragged peninsula. “Environmental scans indicate that this cliffside has a concealed door.”

“Well, that’s one place to start… Can you get it open?”

“Affirmative.” The wolf cyborg replied as the door opened. “It’s done.”

“Thanks. Kevin? You there? I found my entry point and working my way inside.”

“Just try not to make a lot of noise this time, we don’t want a repeat of last time.”

“I know, I know…” Raiden groaned as he carefully walked inside, entering a hall on his left while Wolf hid himself in the rafters. “Speaking of which, can you get Doc and Courtney on? There’s something you guys need to see.”

“Sure, but what’s the particular reason why?”

“It’s Applejack.” Raiden said as he took a left and hid in a janitor’s closet to hide from a pair of guards. “A Metal Gear showed up where she was. Same one that I had to destroy in South Africa due to World Marshal. Look at this.” With that, the Cyborg sent the images and data that were recorded from the mares Visor and sent to him. The response from the team was quite… surprising.

“How were they able to send a metal gear to where Applejack lives?”

“I don’t know, but hopefully, this place has the answers we need. From what we could gather, it was suppose to house Desperado’s Special Projects.” Courtney said from another com-line. “The sooner we can recover what information this place has, the quicker we can figure out what’s going on.”

Raiden nodded, waiting until the area is clear before proceeding. The next room though, wasn’t so easy. He had to carefully take out guards that were in a storage facility and not get spotted by a Gecko Spotter that was lurking around. When he made his way to the main console in the next room and retrieved the data, Wolf said something that caught the entire team’s attention.

“Raiden, from what I can gather, Desperado is trying to create a doorway to stabilizes Spacial Rifts that have been opening uncontrollably here.”

“Seriously? How crazy are these people to even try something like this?”

“Hang on Kevin,” Courtney replied. “It says here that the project was originally designed for quick transport of infantry and units across the planet… but when a few unknown lifeforms somehow emerged from the gate, Desperado captured them and used them in experiments to see if they could be cybernetically enhanced. Out of the six individuals that were originally captured… One survived…”

“Who’s the one that survived?”

“That’s the thing… He’s never been said to talk to them and was very stubborn. But that’s besides the point. Raiden, he’s in a holding cell two quarters down from your present location.” Courtney explained. “I’ll try to find out some more about our friend. For now, just make sure he’s still alive.”

“On it.” Raiden replied. “Wolf, I need a visual on how tight security is in the room they’re holding them in.”

“You have two guards who routinely switch shifts every hour. There’s a shift change happening right now.”

“Okay boy, I need you to do me a favor.” He said as he approached the door to the room. “Make a scene.” With the command, Wolf used his chainsaw like tail to cut off the steam pipe that was over the guards heads. While in the smoke, Raiden used his blade to slash the first two guards while taking the fuel cells from the next two guards as he cut them apart. When the smoke cleared, only Raiden remained.

Taking a security card from one of the fallen guards, he scanned the card as it blinked a green light. Acknowledging that the card was accepted. The doors soon opened and what Raiden found was both shocking and… disturbing.

The lifeform that he found was seen in a torn undershirt and trousers, with multiple scars that were visible across it’s body. The worst part being that his left arm looked to have taken the worst of the damage and was amputated. But that was not the thing that surprised him as it struggled to stand. What surprised him was that it had hooves instead of feet.

“Guys, I found the survivor… but you might be a little surprised by this…”

“Let me guys, is he a pony or something?”

“Yeah but that’s the strange part… He reminds me a lot of Applejack.” Raiden told them, turning his back only for a minute. It was then though that the Cyborg heard him struggling to stand and the chains that used to be on him rattling because of the shackles that were still attached.

“W-wh-who… are you? A-and… How do you k-know… a-about my d-daughter?” It asked in broken english, almost collapsing.

“Oh damn… the plot thickens…”

“Kevin, shut up.” Courtney snapped. “Wolf, help him out. You and Raiden need to get out of there before anyone else shows up. This guy needs serious medical attention and we already got what we need. Get to extraction.”

“Roger that.” Raiden replied, breaking the restraints off of the pony’s hooves and wrist as Wolf helped carry him. “Come on, let’s get you out of here.”