A Decade in the Shadows

Ten years. Ten years have gone by since Sombra returned, and with him, war. Ten years of the never ending fight. Ten years of darkness. Sombra has taken everything from us. Our homes, our lives, our freedom. But as long as I life and breath, he will not take Equestria.

My name is Captain Rainbow Dash of the Equestrian Air Force. I stand now in the ruins of the once great city of Manehatten. Around me lay the bodies of ponies who have suffered the wrath of Sombra. Ponies who I could not save.

But that is war. And war never changes. And with every life Sombra’s forces take, with every moment spent fighting, we come closer and closer to our own extinction.

“Come in, Captain Dash. This is Lieutenant Hedge. Do you read me?” asked somepony over the two-way radio.

“This is Captain Dash. I read you, Lieutenant.”

“We have a situation.”

“What kind of situation?”

“You’d better come see for yourself.”

“Copy that. Where is your location?”

“Central Operations Base, Canterlot.”

The Central Operations Base (or COB for short) is what used to be the Canterlot Castle. As might be expected, a lot of things have changed in just ten years. For example, I lost one of my wings in an explosion, and now I have this mechanical monstrosity attached to me. But I’m not complaining. Complaining gets you nowhere in war.

It was a long flight from Manehatten to Canterlot, but it was do able. How long has it been since I’ve been here? Two, three years? You lose track of time in a firefight.

I landed and approached the COB. At the doors waited two of the best soldiers I’d ever fought beside, Pinkamena and Maud Pie. They’ve saved my life so many times I’ve lost count.

Inside, the once castle was crowded with soldiers, some getting medical assistance, others training for the next fight. I made my way into the used-to-be throne room, where three ponies were gathered around a table. The first was Princess Celestia. The second was the main strategist for the Equestrian Military, Shining Armor. And the third was Lieutenant Spark Hedge, an old friend and ally of mine. Spark is a good soldier, a skilled medic, and the best mechanic I known. He’s the one who made me my mechanical wing.

“Okay, I’m here. What’s the situation?” I asked.

“Sombra’s forces have proceeded even further south than we anticipated,” said Princess Celestia, “We need you to go to the Smokey Mountains. There you’ll find one of our refugee camps.”

“Okay. Is there anything specifically I must do?”

“Yes. You are to keep your eyes on Sombra’s army. Make sure they don’t come anywhere near that camp,” answered Shining Armor.

“Alright, I’ll need some backup just in case.”

“I have invented something new that could help you if need be,” said Spark, “I call it the K7-Rapidfire. It fires 200 bullets a minute using eight barrels. Highly effectively at far range.”

“Thanks, but I think I’ll stick with the guns I have,” I said, referring to my T4-Sniper and X3-Saddlegun (standard issue), “Besides, that’s a heavy gun and it might slow me down when I fly.”

“Very well, I understand.”

“Captain Dash, I have arranged for both Lieutenant Hedge and Agent Pie to assist you on this mission,” said Celestia.

“If you don’t mind by me asking, which Agent Pie? There are two Agent Pie’s.”

“That would be Agent Pinkamena Pie. Now, you must prepare for your mission. You are dismissed.”

I saluted and exited the room, Spark following close behind.

It didn’t take long for me to get ready for the mission. I don’t keep that much with me.

I exitted the COB with Spark and Pinkamena. They were hanging back a bit and whispering to each other. Why? I didn’t know, but I had a bad feeling about it.

“Are you going to tell her?” asked Spark to Pinkamena.

“No, you?”

“Absolutely not. Rainbow doesn’t need personal drama interfering with her job.”

“Then why are you even bringing it up with me?” Pinkamena asked sternly, but quietly.

That was all I heard of their conversation. I didn’t listen to the rest of what they said. I was only interested in this mission. Though I did wonder what they meant by ‘personal drama’. Whatever it meant, now was not the time for that. Now was the time for war.

It was a long journey to the Smokey Mountains. Luckily, two us are Pegasi, and the only other Pegasus in this trio besides me is half Earth Pony. Very convenient, if you ask me.

Yes, you heard me right. Spark has a Earth Pony father and a Pegasus mother. But that’s nothing on Spark’s half-brother, Lightning Rod, whose father was a unicorn.

Anyway, we arrived at the Smokey Mountains just before sundown. Apparently, ten years ago, these two mountains were host to one of the biggest family feuds in Equestrian history. But when the war started, the two families agreed to call it a draw for the greater good. Very sensible.

The refugee camp sit in between the two mountains. With food being grown on one mountain, and the valley being defended on by the fort on the other, this camp is a sanctuary for those who have escaped Sombra’s wrath.

We traveled up one of the mountains to Fort McColt. There, we were greeted by the stallion in charge, Commander Flash Sentry. “Welcome, Captain Dash, Agent Pie, Lieutenant Hedge. Princess Celestia told us you’d be coming.”

“And I assume she briefed you on why we’re here?”

“Of course.”

“Good, them you know this is to be strictly professional.”

With that we went inside.

The inside of the fort was just as one would expect. There were soldiers everywhere. Some getting medical aid, others training. But for the most part, the soldiers were ready (or getting ready) for anything.

Commander Sentry escorted Rainbow and her team to the main control room.

"Hmm, why would Princess Celestia send us here? The camp already looks like it's pretty well protected already," commented Rainbow.

"I'm not exactly sure, but I'm not about to question why the princess does anything," answered Flash, "Maybe the princess thinks you can offer help that no pony else can. I really wouldn't know."

I turned my attention to a big screen on the wall, showing a map of Equestria with red, blue, and green dots scattered all over it. "The red dots are the places where Sombra's army has attacked, correct?" I asked.

"Correct, Captain Dash," said Flash, "The blue dots mark where our most important assets are. And the green dots mark all of our refugee camps."

"Ten years of war. Ten years of sacrifice. What are we to do if we don't win this war?" Pinkamena asked.

"If we lose this war, all we've done will be in vain," I answer, " That is why must win this war."

"But still, ten years of bloodshed. We are causing our own extinction."

"I've realized that, Agent Pie. I realized that so long ago."

"I lost a sister to Sombra. I saw him kill her with my own eyes."

"We understand, but it's better if you don't make this personal," said Spark.

At that moment, an alarm went off. Sombra's forces were approaching the camp.