Abandon Villa Ruins,
Sky

GAASP!

I felt my chest expand as I finally woke up under the rubble and sucked in a cloud of dust. “Cosmo?!” I yelled. “Sombra?!” All I heard was the crackling of flames somewhere above me. “No no no… Not again.” I whispered as I tried to move around under the rubble. “Not again!” I moaned, barely able to get the beams pinning me to the floor to move. I felt a tear stream down my cheek as I started to think. Goddess, I’m going to die here, aren’t I?

“Sky!” I heard Sombra yell as some of the weight above me was lifted. “Quick, give me a hand!”

“Alright, on three.” I heard a mare say as more pressure started dissolving. “One. Two… Three!”

“Gragh!!!” I groaned as I pushed upwards. Finally I felt the last of the weight holding me disappear and someone dragged me out from under the rubble by my collar. “Alright, getting buried alive once is more than enough.” I muttered. I finally paid attention to the purple mare standing over me. “Radiant Hope... Fancy seeing you here.” I said as she helped haul me to my feet.

“What did you say about getting buried alive again?” She asked.

“Well someone had to save your coltfriend.”

Radiant rolled her eyes. “Whatever. You alright?”

I nodded, trying to shake off the lingering feeling of being trapped. “I’ll live.”

Sombra strode over, his hand on my shoulder. “You sure?”

Who am I kidding? I grabbed onto Sombra and burred my muzzle into his shoulder. “I thought I was going to die down there.” I whimpered.

Sombra patted me on the back and just let me cry. “It’s OK Sky, you’re fine.”

“She doesn’t look fine.” I heard Radiant mutter. “Right, sorry.” Sombra must have heard her and stared Radiant down.

“Where’s Cosmo and the others?” I asked.

“Not here, that’s for sure.” Radiant said. “You know if they even got out?”

I let go of Sombra and shook my head. “No clue.”

“Then we’ll just have to-”

Fwoom!

Fwoom!

Fwoom!

“What was that?” I asked, looking around the ruins.

“Oh shit!” Sombra yelled. “Rockets!”

I looked towards the town and saw the yellow contrails of the projectiles rise into the air. “Awe fuck.”

“Then what the hell are we doing here?” Radiant asked. “Run!”

Point taken. Now is the time to run, but Sombra obviously doesn’t agree. “Stay behind me!” He yelled as a pale grey shield bubble enveloped the three of us.

It almost felt like everything was slowing down as I saw the rockets arc down towards where we were standing. From the spin of the projectiles to Radiant Hope screaming how much of an idiot Sombra was… I could really take in what was happening. The first two rockets went wide but the third slammed right into the shield. I didn’t hear it, but damn did I feel it when it shattered the shield and threw the three of us back in a cloud of smoke and hot air. “Everyone still alive?” I called, wiping the crust from my eyes.

“I’m still breathing.” Sombra said as he grabbed my shoulder and hauled me to my feet. “What about you Radiant?”

“Still here!”

“We still need to leave.” I pointed out.

“But why so soon?” That scratchy voice was a new one, that’s for sure.

“De Witt!” Sombra yelled. “Come out where we can see you!”

“But of course.” That same voice whispered in my ear. Almost immediately I felt two burning hot sensations run along the base of my wings before my knees gave out and I fell to the ground.

“Sky!” Sombra yelled before I saw him go tumbling across the ground, immediately followed by an unconscious Radiant.

“You poor child.” I felt the heat from my back disappear, followed by a numbing pain. “Once more it seems I need to remind Celestia what happens when she interferes with my affairs.” I felt someone pick me up and I found myself staring at half a face, the other half made of metal. “Yes… You’ll do just fine.”

***

City of Emona, Half-Hour after Leaving Forward OP
Cosmo

So what is Emona like? Picture for a moment the city of Detrot in it’s heyday. Very much a vibrant city, right? Now imagine it if the people living in that city ran off, it got bombed to hell with no sense of order to be found.

Welcome to shitshow formally known as Emona. That kept running through my mind as warm shell casings from the Griffon machine gun nest above me kept raining down on my head. “Focus on the lead element!”

Another thing, these guys are military types to a fault.

The gun suddenly stopped firing and I heard the feed chamber swing open as the gunner went to add another belt. “Lead element this fucko!” I yelled as I pulled the pin off a small grenade and tossed it up through the window.

BOOF!

“Alright ladies, move it out!” I heard Don call out from across the plaza in front of city hall. “Northern Guard, you’re on your own from here.”

“Got it!” Palmer yelled as she led the team across the plaza. “What’s the plan Cosmo?”

I pointed at the veranda that made up the front entrance to city hall. “I want you, Felix and Phalanx to head to the second level entrance. Trixie and Cloud are with me on the first floor.”

“We’re on it!” Palmer retorted as she led her wingponies up the curved staircase.

“Cloud, you’re on the door.” I said, pointing the armored colt at the heavy wood main door. I waved for Trixie to stay behind me as I ducked behind the corner of the doorframe. “Alright, we good?”

Cloud nodded, making me think part of him might be smirking under that helmet. “We’re better than good.” I saw him fix a small green block to the doorknob and step to the opposite side of the door.

BANG!

“We’re fucking phenomenal.” I heard Cloud say through the cloud of smoke and burning wood, followed by a series of heavy footsteps crushing shards of wood and metal. “Anyone home fuckers?” He yelled.

I tapped Trixie’s shoulder as we both walked into the building. If there was any furniture in here, it’s long gone by now. “Looks like they cleaned the place out.” I muttered.

“Crime lords don’t need visitors.” Cloud pointed out. “Call me crazy but I think it would be bad for business.”

“And so is shitty architecture.” Palmer said, walking down… Huh, guess that door didn’t go anywhere, assuming the two flights of stairs on either side of the entryway are a good clue.

“Alright, we stick together then.” I said. “No splitting up, everyone-” I stopped when I noticed Phalanx staring at something behind me. “What?”

“How good of you to join us Ranger.” Wait, us? I turned around and there stood the source of many of today’s problems. “It seems that you and your friend here got separated.” He said, motioning to a bound Sky kneeling at his feet.

I heard guns cock all around me before I had a chance to even get my revolver out of its holseter. “Let her go De Witt.” Phalanx said.

“Poor Stalemate.” De Witt said, shaking his head. “I thought I taught you that you need to give a lesson to those out to harm our interests.”

“Lesson?” Phalanx muttered. “You call murder a lesson!?” He yelled.

“There won’t be any killing, not yet anyway.” The old griffon said as his eyes started to glow. “I want to know a bit more about my new friend here.”

“What are you-” All the sudden my head started pounding and I felt myself fall to my knees. One after another I heard a series of thuds. As my own consciousness started to waver.

“Why we’re going to take a trip down memory lane.” De Witt said as he grabbed my chin. “And I think your friends here have earned the right to come along.”

***

Dodge City, Equestrian Wasteland, Many Years Ago

“So what are we here for again?” I asked as I looked up at Dad.”

Dad chuckled. “Your mother and I decided you were old enough where we can take you somewhere other than that dusty old plantation.”

“Dodge City just seemed like a good change in pace.” Mom added from behind me.

I looked around the old war-ravaged town and caught some weird looking pony off to the side waving his arms around. “Hey Mom, who’s that?” I said, looking away from the pony for a moment.

“Who?” She asked. “I don’t see anyone.”

I looked back at the old building and noticed the pony was gone. “That was weird…” I muttered.

“That’s the Wasteland for you kiddo.” Dad said. “Weird is just normal out here.”

“Isn’t that just because of the bombs?”

“That it is Cosmo.” Mom said as she patted my head. “That it is.”

“Star, you notice something odd?” Dad asked.

Mom looked up and down the and nodded. “Where is everyone?”

I heard Dad’s revolver click as he checked it for rounds. “Exactly what I’m starting to think. There’s usually a trader or two out here.”

“Mom, Dad, is this supposed to be a lesson in paying attention?” I asked.

“Cosmo, not now.” Mom chided. “What do you think And’?”

“We need to get off this street.” Dad muttered. “Into the pub, let’s go!”

Well it’s not like I have much of a choice when I’m getting dragged around by the collar of my barding. Once those saloon doors swung open the smell hit me. Rotting flesh, a sure sign that something, or someone, had died. “Goddess, what happened here?” Mom whispered.

Side note here, but mutilated bodies aren’t all that common. “Could this be from raiders Mom?”

“Very well could be.” I heard Dad say as he knelt down next to what was left of a body. “But this is brutal even by raider standards.”

“We should call for backup.” Mom suggested.

Dad shook his head. “No, we go back and get reinforcements. I don’t like just the three of us being out here alone.” But that’s when something came whistling through the broken window of the saloon and tore through Dad’s arm. “ARGH!!!” He screamed.

“Get down!” Mom yelled as she dragged the two of us to the floor as more of those rounds came through the window above us and smashed up what was left of the shelving behind the bar. “Andromeda?” She asked. “You alright?”

I looked over at Dad and realized how bad it was. He was bleeding all over the floor, tattered parts of his jacket the only thing supporting his detached arm. “Just peachy Const’.” He moaned.

“Shit.” Mom curse as she injected a stimpack just above Dad’s elbow. “What the hell was that?”

“Does it matter?” Dad asked. “Hit the beacon, we need the backup.”

Once that beacon started beeping all hell broke loose. Rounds started tearing through the walls of the saloon and tore into me. I didn’t feel them, but I saw the blood spatter and my parents getting chewed up. But something feels… Off.

“Snap out of it Cosmo!” Called a ghostly voice.

Wait a minute…

“Get him out of your head!”

That’s not how this ended.

I looked around and realized everything had… Reset itself and froze in place as Mom was dragging Dad and I below the window. But I was looking at me. A younger me. And I was standing over the carnage in my Desert Ranger armor. That’s when I saw the ghost standing on the other side of the saloon waving her arms.

Wait, her? That face is familiar…

“Wake up!”

The name flooded back to me like a tidal wave. “Trixie.”

***

“RAAGH!” I roared as my eyes snapped open. We were in what looked like an empty church, and I realized I was on my knees facing the altar. “What the hell was that?” I whispered.

“De Witt got in your head mate.” Felix groaned from next to me. “What part of that was true?”

“Up until we started getting chewed up by that autocannon.”

“And I thought my childhood was fucked up…” The fox muttered.

“You alright Trixie?” I asked as I turned to the mare in question.

“I’ll be alright.” She muttered. “Felix is right though, that was bad.”

I tried to shrug, but the chains holding me down kept me from doing so. “Where’s Phalanx and Sky?” I asked before looking up towards the altar. “Uh, nevermind.” I saw Phalanx first. He’d definitely had his ass handed to him, but Sky… She had two ropes tied behind her back. But that wasn’t the worst of it. She was naked and badly bruised. “What the hell…”

“I couldn’t pass the chance to enjoy some of the finer things in life before I threw away one of my new toys.” De Witt said as he walked out of the shadows behind the altar. “It’s a shame really, your friend is quite the looker.”

“Go fuck yourself!” Sky spat.

“You sick fuck!” I yelled. “You’re gonna pay for this!”

“I don’t pay for the lessons that I teach.” De Witt snipped. “It’s too bad that we couldn’t move your armored compatriots, but the four of you will have to do.”

I couldn’t say a word as I saw the ropes tighten and Sky was picked up until she was about a foot off the ground. “What the hell?” I heard Felix mutter.

“I’ll let you make what you will of this last lesson.” De Witt said as he walked back into the shadows. “Until next time Ranger.”

Everything around me became inconsequential when I heard two loud thuds and saw Sky’s wings get pulled outwards followed by a bloodcurdling scream as that same precious fluid started streaming down and around her legs. I heard something snap and saw the ropes grow tighter. I blocked out the screaming, Trixie’s yelling and Felix cursing De Witt.

SHICCCK!

That one sound was the only thing that I paid attention to as Sky’s eyes rolled back and she fell to the ground in a bloody heap, her wings swinging by the ropes that they had been tied to them.

“Sky!” I screamed as I pulled against my restraints before I felt the tension disappear as I lurched forward. I ended up landing on my face but I didn’t care as I scrambled forward, tripping over my hands and knees as I tried to get to the altar. I collapsed on the stage just feet away from Sky. “No, no no…” I muttered. “Please, no.” With one last heave I was at her side. “Please be alright…” I muttered as I turned her onto her side and checked for a pulse, a shallow breath, anything to say she was still alive.

Then I saw the sharp inhale as something hissed. I looked up and saw Cloud, cracked visor and all, as he sprayed a can of biofoam into Sky’s wound. “We need that ride now Palmer!” He yelled.

“Tell that to Grey Team!” She yelled back from across the room. “You catch that Jai? You’re out of time!” I doubt the gunfire outside agreed with Palmer. “You fucking heard me! You got less than two minutes. Make it count!”

“Cosmo, we've gotta move.” Cloud said as he scooped Sky up. “Palmer, you good?”

“What do you think?” She retorted as she slid onto the platform and slung Phalanx's unconscious body over her shoulder. "Less than two minutes counts for us too!"

“Would someone like to tell me what the hell is going on?” I asked, watching as Palmer moved across the stage and grabbed Sky's wings.

“Locals launched a counterattack. As of right now we're all behind enemy lines.” She spat. “Alright, let's get the hell out of here!”

What the hell am I supposed to do? Stand here? I grabbed Trixie and half dragged her as I followed Palmer outside and into the plaza we had cleared out... How long have we been here again? I pushed that question aside for later as two Pelicans swept in and skidded to a halt on the cobblestone. But I stopped and watched as Cloud handed Sky off to a pair of medics, Palmer handing her wings to the assistant. The gunfire, smoke, explosions. None of it mattered, because as that ramp rose off the ground and I got one last good look at Sky's face the realization of how badly I failed hit me. Not only had I left my friend to die, but I led everyone else into a situation that we were ill-prepared to handle.

“This is my fault.” I whispered as I watched the medical transport take off.

“You can feel sorry for yourself later.” Said one of the Spartans as he took a place next to me. “You did everything you could.”

“You don't know me.” I snapped. “How would you know?”

Right, Spartans are a wee bit taller in that armor of theirs. I remembered that as this one looked down at me. “Because I know what it looks like when someone hits the end of their rope.”

“And I fit that bill.” I retorted.

The soldier didn't even have to nod. “I've seen a lot of good people die in my time. I've seen selfishness, honor, kindness, caring and anger. Trust me when I say that those lessons have made me a good judge of character.”

“Hey, both of you stow it!” Palmer yelled from the back of the Pelican. “We need to leave!”

“Alright Grey Team, let’s pack it up!” The Spartan yelled.

Again, wasn’t really paying attention as I walked up the ramp behind the Spartans and flopped down in the jumpseat by the rear door. Now we're back to square one.

***

HMS Paris, Two Hours Later

I really don’t want to be sitting around right now. Really, I don’t. But I’ve been staring at the door to the infirmary since I showed up and I can’t get my eyes off it. I guess I really just want some good news to come out that door.

“Waiting isn’t going to do anything for you son.”

I turned to face the voice and saw an older stallion looking over at me. “General?”

“Just got back a few hours ago.” Meteor Shower said. “Dusk and Dart are on their way out with what’s left of the Second Division, they we just gathering supplies when I left.”

I nodded. “So the Princess brought you up to speed?”

“De Witt’s still kicking.” The General snorted. “That’s all I needed to know.”

“What’s you deal then?” I asked.

“That fucker killed most of my men at Midlothian. Trust me, I got a dog in this fight too.”

“Then you’ll need to get in line.” I snapped.

Meteor chuckled. “I don’t think I need to remind you where that attitude just got you.”

“Shut the fuck up!”

“Hey!” Phalanx yelled as he walked out of the infirmary. “Play nice kids.” The General just stepped up to Phalanx and picked him up in a hug. “Holy shit, I’m in the air! What did I always tell you?!?!”

“You think I give a fuck?” Meteor said, giggling like he was a psycho. “My best friend isn’t dead!”

“I will be if you don’t stop crushing my chest!” Phalanx landed on his feet with a soft thud as the General let him go. “Damn Meteor, you were always the clingy type but that took the fucking cake.” He groaned.

“I’ll just leave you two alone.” I muttered as I walked into the infirmary. Nurses be damned, I’m not sitting out in the hall in the middle of a damned bro-fest!

Then I walked into one of the nurses, Redheart I think? I don’t fucking know. “Ah, Cosmo. I was just coming to find you.”

“Is it good news or bad news?” I asked as I followed her into one of the recovery room.

“Depends on your viewpoint.” The nurse said as she handed me the tablet with Sky’s chart. “We’ve got her wings on ice, which will do for a good while. But we can’t do any surgery, she’s lost too much blood. We do have the correct type of blood plasma but there isn’t enough to substitute for a transfusion in an operation as intensive as what your friend needs.”

I groaned. “Any viable donors aboard?”

“Not that I know of.”

“Fuck…” I muttered, staring down at Sky. She was passed out, maybe under a sedative, face down on the bed. “Then what can you do?”

“We can keep the wounds from healing…”

“But then you’re opening Sky up to an infection risk.” I said as the nurse nodded.

“What about me?” I finally noticed that Cloud had been sitting in a chair on the far side of the room listening to our whole conversation.

“Pegasi have a slightly different blood type Mr. Cloud.”

Cloud just shrugged. “Check my records.”

The nurse looked over at me and groaned before tapping away at the tablet. “Alright, here we are. And you’re… You’re a match?”

“Of course I’m a match!” Cloud yelled. “I did peak, so… I guess that’s cheating?”

“How much do you need nurse?” I asked.

She shrugged. “Maybe a pint and a half?”

Cloud sat down on the edge of the bed and rolled the sleeve of his undersuit back. “Then what are you waiting for?”

The nurse exchanged glances with the two of us before she sighed in defeat and tossed the tablet on the bed. “Let me go get what I’ll need.”

The nurse marched out of the room and the door slid shut with a metallic clink. “How long were we missing Cloud?” I asked.

“Maybe a day and a half. De Witt kept moving you guys whenever Palmer and I got close.” He let his sleeve fall back down and sighed. “I’m sorry Cosmo.”

“Don’t be.” I insisted. “I got cocky and thought De Witt would be easy to handle.” I looked down at Sky, letting the guilt ring through my head. “De Witt got in my head Cloud.”

“OK…”

“He tried fucking with my memories, started skewing when my parents died.”

Cloud just shook his head. “And that’s all he did?”

“All that I know of. He knows how my parents died, who knows what else he saw in here?” I said tapping away on the side of my head.

“He’s got you scared.”

“Damn right he does!” I yelled. “Look at what he did to Sky.” I said, pointing at her unconscious body. “I could’ve prevented all of that. But I couldn’t because I treated De Witt like any other Vanhoover lowlife.”

“Do you even know what to do?” Cloud asked.

I shook my head. “Do you think I’d still be here if I did?”

“Then go find a way.” Cloud said. “Sitting here and feeling sorry for yourself just isn’t going to cut it.”

“But Sky-”

Cloud snapped his finger at me. “Let me worry about her.”

He’s right. Sitting on my ass isn’t gonna get anything done. “Alright.” I made for the door, stopping to let the nurse.

“And Cosmo?” I turned around as I walked through the doorway, watching as the nurse started looking for a good vein in Cloud’s arm. “What are you planning on doing when you find De Witt?”

“He needs to be brought to trial.” I said.

He nodded as the nurse finally found a good vein and started gathering the needle and blood pouch. “Then put a bullet in him for me.”

“Do I even want to know what you two are talking about?” The nurse asked.

“No.” I said. “No you don’t.”

***

HMS Paris, Command Center

“But the stock damnit!” I heard Commander Tremble moan as I walked onto the bridge.

“What would you have me do?” Dusk asked. “Leave the whole gun in the rubble or rip out what I could grab?”

“Dusk, just apologize for breaking the damn gun.” Dart groaned.

“I wasn’t asking for an apology.” The Commander said.

“I wasn’t talking to you Don.” Dart said. “Now Dusk, you heard me!”

Alright, enough of the bullshit! I pulled out my revolver and a chalk round and slid it into the chamber. Just line up the sights on the light up there...

BANG!

“Holy shit!” Dusk yelled as he was sprayed with glass. “What the fuck was that?”

Good, now I got their attention. “Dusk, grow up. Don, it’s a fucking gun. I’m sure you’ll live. Dart… Damn it just get your fucking hormones under control!” I waited a minute before a smirk crossed my face. “Thank you! Now do have anything on where De Witt is hiding?”

Dusk rolled his eyes. “Sure, let me get right on that.”

“He isn’t kidding.” Tremble added.

“And I’ll believe it when I see it.” Dusk retorted. “Steeljack blew his damn face off. I don’t care what the trend is, no face equals dead.”

“Then trust me when I say you did a piss poor job.” Phalanx said as he took up the space on my right.

I just jarred my thumb at him. “Case in point right here.”

“Sonovabitch!” Dusk yelled as he slammed what was left of the shotgun on the ground.

“See what I mean?” I asked. “Bodies left on the ground have a tendency to get back up. At least as of late.”

“Dusk, trust me. De Witt is still out there.” Phalanx implored. “And believe me, he’s still dangerous.”

“So we need to find him.” Dusk finally admitted as he composed himself. “Anyone got ideas?”

“De Witt always went on about his disdain for the Princess and her subordinates.” Phalanx suggested. “Tell me, who do we on board who fits the bill?”

“Meteor Shower.” I answered. Phalanx smirked, and I think I know why. “You want to use him as bait.”

“That’s just fucking crazy.” Dusk spat.

“Is it?” Phalanx asked. “Two of the greatest military minds on the face of Equis on the same island at the same time, one with an itching desire for a rematch? It’s perfect.”

“What’s perfect?” We all turned to face the General, a perplexed look plastered across his face. “I got a feeling that I missed something.”

Phalanx nodded. “Meteor, I got a proposition for you.”

Author's Note

Alright, for the record Cosmo's parents full names are Andromeda and Constellation. So there's that. From here on we'll be shifting over to Cloud. Stay tuned for more. And we finally welcome back Blaze Squad into the fold. While Dusk and Co. won't be major players, there'll be some hints sprinkled here and there as to Broken Mirror Part Two (Meteor did say what was left of the Second Division, didn't he?)
In the mean time the next chapter needs a bit more work, so there'll be a few more blog posts regarding the players in this here chess match, as well as one explaining the Second Division's origins (It's either that or tell everyone to go read the old stuff. So far I'm trying to keep that at a minimum).

Anyone got questions? Like what you're seeing so far? Hell, maybe have some gripes? There's a comment section, and I want to hear from you fellow denizens of the interwebs. Until next time!
-Striker