The Long Road

by Striker1959

Rating: mature
Tags: Dark, Alternate Universe, Other, Changelings, Original Character, Trixie, Tragedy, Crossover, Anthro, Gore, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 49165

War. It changes the ponies that fight it, but it remains the same...

Rate Mature for Adult Topics, Themes, and Language. Reader discretion is advised.

War. It changes the ponies that fight it, but it remains the same. It brings death, destruction, chaos and sorrow to wherever it goes. From the ruins of Canterlot it's spread outward like a shockwave. Vanhoover was nearly washed out to sea, and now we come to find out there's a genocidal dictator running the show out in Carniola...

This war nearly ended me. Well I'm done being the victim, and I'm most certainly done feeling sorry for myself. My name is Cloud Runner, and I'm going to save my world.

Want to know more about the Mirrorverse and it's characters? Click here for the Codex.

Published 2016-03-24 17:40:01 UTC
Last updated 2017-01-25 21:07:13 UTC

Prologue

City of Emona, Carniola
One Year after the Sacking of Canterlot
Cloud Runner

One year. That’s how long it’s been since I nearly died in Canterlot. In that same timeframe I’ve been augmented by humans for the sake of my own survival, nearly got roasted by a dragon, helped take down a crimelord and blew past a small army to liberate an entire nation.

And how the hell have I found time to get my mane cut?

I felt someone tap my shoulder twice before a pair of arms draped themselves around my shoulders. “Cloud, something on your mind?”

“Nothin’ Sky… Just remembering what this place looked like last time we were here.” I said, my memories flashing back to the two of us storming through the plaza as the griffon that had caused the two of us so much grief tried to escape.

Emphasis on tried.

“Definitely nicer these days.” She said.

“At least the craters are gone.” I observed, catching the glint off of her green eyes in the streetlights. Those eyes are a gateway right into Sky’s soul. The very soul that I fell for. And to think I barely knew her a year ago.

She nodded. “And the machine guns. The place looks really good without them.”

“Ya…” I muttered as we approached the new park that had been built where the city hall once stood. There was already a sizable crowd that had formed towards the center of the park around the reason that the two of us were here.

A bronze statue. Someone decided apparently that one of myself, Sky and Cosmo was well warranted after we liberated the island. From what we were told they’re calling it ‘The Trinity’. Something about how it was the three of us who took down the dictator that kept them all under their thumbs. Granted they only had the picture of us in our gear that they based the statue off of, but still… It’s a good gesture.

“Glad you two decided to show.” Cosmo said as he walked up behind us with a familiar blue mare in tow.

“You think my ego would let me?” I said with a chuckle.

Cosmo just shook his head as a small grin grew across his face. “No, but my fiancé here wouldn’t let us skip this little dedication.”

“Fiancé?” Sky asked.

Trixie nodded, holding out the hand that she was wearing that silver ring topped with a pale blue diamond. “He just asked me two days ago.”

“Took you long enough.” I said as a smile grew across my face. “Congratulations Cosmo.”

“Yah, thanks.” He said. “So what-”

“Excuse me?” Some Griffon with a notepad had approached us while we were distracted with Cosmo’s news. “Are you the Ranger?”

“Uh…” And now we get to see Cosmo caught flatfooted. If this guy wasn’t so blunt it might be entertaining.

“He is.” I answered. “I’m Tempest, and the beautiful mare on my right here is my partner in crime Typhoon.”

“Cloud, what the hell!” Cosmo hissed.

“Dude, relax. Would you rather someone recognize you before we got into the crowd or when we’re surrounded?” Cosmo just kept his mouth shut. “I take it you’re a reporter?”

“I am.” The Griffon said. “My name is Calvin, I’m with the Emona Register. I know it’s a bit out of left field but could I get an interview?”

I glanced over at Sky just in time to catch her nod. “Well me and my partner are game.”

“Fine.” Cosmo groaned. “But not here.”

Calvin nodded and pointed over to a small café just off the plaza. “I happen to know the owner so we should be able to get some privacy.”

He certainly wasn’t lying about the privacy. The moment we walked through those doors the owner came out and closed up shop. “So… What do you want to know?” I asked as we shuffled into a booth nestled by the corner of the storefront.

“Well the first thing I want to do is thank the three of you. You see I was one of the political prisoners you rescued in Odessa.” Calvin explained.

“Which is why you recognized us…” Cosmo muttered.

“Exactly.” He said. “So I guess my first actual question would be what brought you to Carniola?”

“Well the honest answer is that it was a total accident.” Cosmo said. “I’m just going to assume you already know about the flood, so we’ll skip that. In the immediate aftermath one of the big bads in Vanhoover’s criminal underground started making some moves against the guard. The problem was that the stallion, he was going by Stalemate at the time, didn’t officially exists.”

“So was it an alias?”

“It was.” Cosmo replied. “Now I’d tangled with him for the better part of the decade but I couldn’t convince anyone, the guard or even the Princess, would arrest him unless we knew who he really was. Hell, about six years ago I had the bastard in cuffs with the guard, and the Captain at the time made me let him go.”

Calvin jotted some notes down on his notepad before looking back up to Cosmo. “He made you let him go?”

Cosmo nodded. “Now I can’t confirm whether I was involved in his decision or not, but the Captain put in for early retirement within twenty-four hours.”

“Ouch…” Calvin muttered. “Now did you ever figure out what his real name was?”

“He did after I showed up.” Sky added. “Cosmo and I both are native to the Wasteland and he thought I had died shortly after we arrived here about a decade ago. I didn’t know where to find him until Vanhoover got hit. At the time I was in Nuremburg interrogating some of Stalemate’s officers and managed to get his real name out of them.”

“Sky ended up bringing me the info, but at the time I wasn’t entirely trusting of her.” Cosmo explained. “You need to know that I at least thought that she died in my arms. So for Sky to show up after all that time…”

“It was hard to believe, wasn’t it?”

“Absolutely.” Cosmo muttered. “For the longest time she was the most important pony in my life, and when she died I was all alone until I met my fiancé. And shortly after meeting her Sky shows up in my apartment and starts going through my booze.”

Calvin chuckled. “That’s… One way to make an entrance.”

“No one said it wasn’t memorable.” Sky insisted. “Sure we got our asses kicked taking Phalanx down…”

“But taking him in showed the real threat.” I finished.

“De Witt?” Calvin asked.

I nodded. “At first we didn’t trust what Phalanx had told us… Then I ran into one of De Witt’s agents imbedded with the Royal Guard while we were in Canterlot trying to get information.”

“I take it you have a bit a problem with that individual?”

“Caliper was responsible for breaking up my family.” I stopped and took a swig of some cider that had been put down in front of me. “He kidnapped my sister…” I stopped and downed another portion of the mug, hoping to use the time to collect my thoughts.

Calvin nodded before taking a sip of his own drink. “I take it that there’s more to that story?”

Maybe I’m cynical but I’m hard-pressed to find ponies that just care for the sake of caring. As I studied Calvin’s face I kept running into that same question. Might as well go for it. “There most certainly is… Call me crazy, but I think you might want to start planning a book.”

Author's Note

And here's the kickoff for Class 1.5!

Right now I've got three chapters in the queue for release, and one more that's in progress. They'll go out as soon as I'm happy with them.

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

United We Fall

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

Gifts

HMS Paris Infirmary, Morning after Emona Incident
Cloud Runner

How long have I been sitting here? Twenty minutes? Maybe an hour?

Hell if I know. Since Cosmo had left the nurse didn't waste time getting the line jabbed into my arm. She had hung the blood pouch on a stand she had brought in just for me. I didn't pay much attention to the bag as it slowly shifted and expanded as it filled. I was instead focused on Sky. She hadn't woken up since she arrived back on Paris, probably for the best considering the circumstances.

It's just... It doesn't feel right to see Sky all bandaged up and bruised. I know I don't really know much about her, but I feel bad for her.

Call me crazy but I'm betting that the nightmare has something to do with it.

"How has she been?" I looked up and saw a defeated Sombra looking down at me.

I just shrugged. "She hasn't said a word, let alone woken up."

"This is my fault..." He muttered as he leaned against the wall. "If I'd been paying attention-"

"Just stop." I groaned. "I already heard, De Witt got the drop on you three after you crawled out of the rubble. Honestly I wouldn't have done better."

"Well of course you wouldn't." Sombra said, stopping himself when the group of surgeons walked into the room with Redheart. "I guess it's game time?"

Redheart nodded as she unhooked the blood pouch and pulled the line out of my arm. "That's about the size of it."

"Redheart?" I asked. "What happens once everything is done?"

"Take her to Canterlot for recovery." She said. "We're just not equipped to handle her here once we're done."

"Just take care of her." Sombra whispered as the bed was rolled out of the room. "For my sake."

Call me crazy, but I get the feeling that this is going to be a long day.

***

Carniola Beachhead
Cosmo

Just walking around some of the old, beat up vehicles that this 'Second Division' brought with them doesn't really fill me with much confidence. Some of the crews referred to some of them as 'Valentine', whatever the hell that's supposed to mean. One of them, maybe the command tank, is absolutely pristine. But the other four have gouges in the armor, and I've been watching one of the crews struggle for twenty minutes to do... Something with the track. And supposedly this isn't everything.

I feel safer already.

“Something wrong Cosmo?” Dusk asked.

I shrugged. “If the rest of the stuff we're bringing is this good, I'm feeling sooo confident that we'll win this war.”

Dusk nudged me and sighed. “Cosmo, have some faith. We're still waiting on the Cruiser to get dropped, and it turns out that one of my favorite egghead has a few toys she's sending us too.”

“Egghead?” I asked.

“Sparkle.” Dusk said. “Apparently she had been working on a bunch of designs so we had our own military equipment. Something about not wanting to rely too much on the humans.”

Behind us I heard a thud of metal landing on sand, followed by clanking of tracks as three... “What the hell are those?”

“Well there's no official designation, but Sparkle was calling them Baby Tigers.” Dusk retorted. “I don't care what De Witt throws at us, those things have almost four inches of armor on the front. Nothing's getting through that!”

“So it's a tank.” I said.

Dusk nodded. “It is.”

I nodded before smacking Dusk upside the head. “How much good do you think those will do?”

“What?” He asked. “They're meant for infantry support and towing field guns around. The Valentines and Cruiser are the heavy hitters.”

Almost immediately a line of small tracked buggies scurried off the barge that had brought in the first group. “Then what the hell are those?”

“Universal Carriers.” Dusk said with a shrug. “That's what we're getting around in.”

I just listened to the hum of the engines that they made as these things trundled on past. “Why do they sound like Warthogs?”

“Because the Princess somehow got about twenty sets of spare motors and transmissions meant for them when the Redoubtable was recovered... At least that's what she told me. She also mentioned something about cutting the blocks down, whatever the hell that means.”

“I see.” I muttered as the Cruiser finally trundled past. “So she's been playing mad scientist.” Like that'll end well...

“Alright, cut the chatter!” Dart yelled. “Command Tent, now!”

Dusk rolled his eyes. “We're comin'.” I followed as Dusk walked off to the Command Tent, assuming you could call it that.

It was closer in size to something you'd see at a circus, but instead of bleachers and animals we've got computers and communications equipment covering half the space, while the other half is reserved as a briefing area with some benches. “We miss anything?” I asked as I sat down with Trixie.

“He hasn't even started yet.” She said.

And the General waited as a large group of Rangers and some other soldiers, wearing 'Second Division' badges on their jackets. After about five minutes everything settled down and the lights went dark, replaced by the glow of a projector. “It's come to my attention that some of you here don't know what the hell you're doing!” He yelled. “We are fighting a war against an unusual enemy. Rangers, you excel in the unusual. So can someone tell me what the hell went wrong in Emona?”

One of the Rangers waved his arm a bit. “Captain Baxter ordered us to take the city and ignore the Griffon positions on the high ground until we had effective support.”

“What's your name son?”

“Sandstorm, sir.”

The General nodded. “I remember you from Dodge City, you did good work there Corporal. If anything I've said nothing but glowing things about you in my reports. So why the hell didn't you question what was obviously a tactically indefensible maneuver?”

“I wouldn't say it was entirely sir.” Sandstorm said. “The enemy was using the city to defend a number of artillery sites that were firing on our beachhead. They needed to be eliminated.”

“Which is fine.” The General assured. “But why try to hold the city once the batteries were down?”

Sandstorm shrugged. “Captain sent in teams to recover any of the launchers and ammunition that were still intact. We needed to hold until we cleared it all out.”

“And what did you walk away with?”

“Six working launchers and a few hundred rockets.”

Meteor nodded. “So you traded territory and a chance to eliminate the enemy commander for material? Are you all there Corporal?”

“Sir, we didn’t have a choice. We were following Captain Baxter’s orders.”

“And the good Captain is a naval officer.” He chided. “You’re a Ranger, so act like one and follow your gut. You’re allowed to make those calls.”

“Yes sir.” Sandstorm mumbled.

“Now we need to understand our enemy.” The projector’s bluish light was replaced with an old image of De Witt. “De Witt is a former Field Marshall in the Griffon Imperial Army, and he’s easily the most unorthodox that has ever served with them. He was known to regularly discard conventional tactics for his own, which resembled a blend of small unit maneuvers and guerrilla warfare.” The picture then changed to a battlefield, and I felt Trixie shift as she tried to avoid looking. “Exhibit A, Midlothian Ridge. Eighteen ponies died on that rock, seventy-five percent within the first hour of the engagement. And we held the high ground the entire time.”

“So it’s David verses Goliath then?” One of the human rangers asked.

“Yes and no.” Said the General. “From what we know De Witt has become highly paranoid over the last few years and is more concerned with his own continued existence. As such he’s put an extensive focus on defensive emplacements around this command position towards the center of the island.” The image changed, becoming an aerial view of a decent sized fortress made of… Is that junk? “His fortress and defenses are all made of materials salvaged from the local rail system. Weapons and supplies all come in from outside and are delivered by rail from a small dock that was built just outside of his supply base at Odessa, which itself presents another potential flaw. Odessa is in a prime location to defend from sea or land attack, but not from an aerial insertion.”

“So what, we’re starving him out then?” I asked.

“No, not in the slightest.” The image changed once more, this time to the supply depot. “Commander, care to explain?”

I saw Dart’s shadow move out from the side of the room as a red dot appeared on the projection. “Most of De Witt’s heavy weapons, artillery and ammunition are stored in Odessa.” Dart said, using her pointer to mark off the supply depot. “We take control of that ordinance and turn it against De Witt. It's simple as that.”

“So we’re shooting the bastard with his own guns?” Felix asked. “If that’s the case sign me up love!”

Dart nodded. “That’s part of the plan. The other half is to deny access to De Witt’s fortifications by hostile reinforcements, while simultaneously clearing a landing zone for Marine elements from Spirit of Fire to deploy and move on the fortress.”

“And while they’re doing that-” Said the General “-The First Home Battalion, the Griffon’s Eighth Marine Detachment and Second Division will press in from the southwest, south and southeast respectively to encircle De Witt’s fortress. Once we secure the lines, Blaze Squad is going in with the Northern Guard and all available Spartan assets.”

“You really want Spartans going after De Witt?” I asked. “He got in our heads, who knows what else he can do?”

“Cosmo we have plenty of time to work out a solution.” Said Dart. “For right now we need to focus on isolating De Witt’s position.”

At the flip of a switch the projector died and the lights came back on. “I’ll see if the Princess has anything in her arsenal to deal with De Witt’s magic, but otherwise… You’ve got one week to get ready.”

***

Canterlot Castle
Cloud Runner

Sky’s surgery didn’t take long. From what the doctors said everything was still there, but it just needed to be put back together. All said it took them an hour to reattach her wings and clean her up before whisking her off to Canterlot to recover. Cosmo would’ve killed me if I didn’t go. Breakfast has come and past, and she still hasn’t woken up.

Long story short, I’m bored. So here we are in this small bedroom in the palace while I tried to take a nap on the couch.

Key word here is tried.

“Checkmate.” Sombra said as one of Radiant Hope’s chess pieces fell over with a soft clatter.

“Why are we doing this again?” Hope asked.

“Gives us something to do.”

“And keeps ponies awake.” I groaned, sitting up on the couch and looking down at the coffee table. “You’re really good at doing just that.”

“Well you don’t necessarily need the sleep.” Hope spat.

I glared at the unicorn. “If you like I could shut that muzzle of yours for you.” I saw Sombra raise an eyebrow at me out of the corner of my eye. I got up and walked over to Sky’s bedside, brushing a strand of her mane out of her face so I could get a good look at her.

“You’re worried, aren’t you?” Sombra asked as he took a place on the other side of the bed.

I nodded. “And you?”

“Scared shitless.” He said. “Bar Radiant, Sky’s the only other friend I’ve got.”

I looked over at the mare who had taken my spot on the couch. “Friend…” I muttered. “Right.”

“She means well.” Sombra said, glancing back over at Hope. “For the most part anyway.”

“Then where’s that leave Sky?” I asked.

“Her and I are rather alike.” Sombra must’ve noticed the look on my face and his expression soften. “The two of us are in a world that neither of us recognize with barely anything to our names and no one around to talk to.”

I nodded. “Something to do with the evil king days?”

“Something like that.”

“Doesn’t hurt to be hard to get rid of.” Sky rolled over and sat up in bed. “Where the hell am I, and why do I feel like shit?”

“Canterlot.” Said Sombra. “Sky you've been through quite a bit. It was for the best to take you here once the surgeons were all done.”

“Surgeons?” It must have dawned on Sky what happened and she started frantically reaching around her back, grabbing her wings. “I can’t even feel them.”

“You wings?” I asked.

“No no no…” She mumbled as tears started streaming down her cheeks. “I can’t feel them!” Sky reached over and wrapped herself around me, wailing the whole time.

I glanced over at Sombra before I wrapped my own arms around Sky. “It’s going to be okay.” I whispered. “I promise, it’ll all be okay.”

“No it won’t.” Sky forced herself out of my grasp and ran for the door, slamming it behind her with a bang.

“What the hell was that?” I asked.

Sombra was shaking his head out of the corner of my eye. “I was afraid of this.”

“Afraid of what?”

“Sky hasn’t been stable since we met her.” Hope added. “And De Witt just busted open the floodgates, didn't he?”

"I'd say so." Sombra muttered.

I sighed and made for the door. “Yup, definitely one of those days.” I muttered to myself as I walked out into the hallway. “Now where did you-” I stopped myself when I saw a stallion in hospital garb standing at the end of the hall. “General Meteor Shower?” I wondered aloud.

“Cloud?” Sombra asked. “You alright?”

“I’m fine.”

Sombra clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth just before he patted my shoulder. “Cloud, there’s no one there. Besides, Meteor Shower is in Carniola.”

The General nodded at me and walked off down the hall, motioning for me to follow. “Just follow my lead.” I strode off after the ‘General’, assuming I could even call… It? Is that what I should call this? It?

Eh, who gives a fuck.

After about five minutes of rounding corners and tearing after this mystery stallion around we came to a foyer where he was waiting. “What’s your game?” I asked. It just walked over to a door at the top of a staircase and walked down. “Hey, wait!”

“Cloud, don’t-”

SMACK!

Well that’s something. “That wasn’t there a minute ago.” I muttered as I stepped back from the rather solid granite wall.

“Cloud dear, are you alright?” Oh, it was Mom trying to get my attention.

“I don’t know… Hey did you see a mare in scrubs running around?”

Mom nodded. “I think she came this way.” She looked up at me with eyebrows raised. “You didn’t go piss of your marefriend now did you?”

“We aren’t dating.” I groaned. “We just work together.”

“Right…” Mom droned as she leaned against the wall.

Wait, one of those bricks moved. “Mom, move.” I said pushing her out of the way and feeling the around on the wall. “This shouldn’t be…” I finally picked a brick and pushed. It didn’t take much to make it slide inward, making a soft grinding noise as it slid along its hidden track.

GRRRGGGH

That wall I walked into? Really nicely disguised door. That much became clear as it slid down into the floor. “Well what do you know?”

“Cloud, what the hell is this?” Sombra asked, having finally caught up.

I shrugged. “Secret door, Sky ran this way. Take a wild guess.”

“You make it sound like this is normal.” Mom pointed out.

I reached around to the back of my belt and pulled out the pistol I had held onto. “Normal is relative.” I got maybe ten feet down the stairs before I stopped. “Sombra?”

“Ya?”

“I could use some lights.” Soon the passageway lit up in a pale grey light as Sombra joined me. “Thanks.” I kept walking down the stairs, running my fingers along the wall in some places. Eventually the well-cut blocks of granite gave way to rough bedrock as the passageway leveled out. “How long do you think this was here?”

“No clue.” The king answered. “Odds are good that the Princess built the castle on top of whatever’s down here.”

“What makes you say that?” Mom asked.

“No tool marks.” Sombra retorted. “Not a large jump to assume that this part of the castle is really just a cave.”

“One that someone didn’t want found.” I said as we rounded the corner into a larger chamber. Sombra’s light seemed to glimmer across some crystals in the walls, but beyond that there really wasn’t much that any of us could see. “Like whatever the hell this place is supposed to be.”

“It just looks like a cave.” Mom pointed out.

“What was your name again?”

“Daisy.”

“Alright Daisy, I’m Sombra. Anyway-”

“Sombra?” Mom asked. “Like the king?”

“Former king.” He pointed out.

Mom pushed past him and grabbed both my shoulders. “Why the hell are you hanging out with a dictator?”

“He ain’t all that bad?” I suggested. “Sombra, we’re you going to say something?”

“Ah, yes.” He muttered. “Daisy, trust me when I say that in my line of work there’s no such thing as ‘just a cave’.”

“Ya…” I muttered as I caught a glimpse of the General’s imposter once more. “Like him?”

“Exactly.”

“Wait, you can see him?” I asked.

Sombra nodded. “At least now I can. Good to know you’re not crazy.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence.” That’s when I noticed the General stepping back before dissolving into a cloud of smoke, leaving Sky standing there staring down at the pool. “What the hell?”

“Oh shit.” I looked over at Sombra and saw why he was concerned; both his and my mother’s horns was sparking uncontrollably. “There’s a lot of magic floating around in here. We need to leave!”

“Then get moving, I’ll grab Sky!” I yelled, rushing towards her as she leapt into the pool.

“Cloud, don’t!” Sombra screamed. But there wasn’t anything he could do to stop me before I dove right in.

***

I wiped some crust from my eyes and looked around my bedroom. Assuming my mental gymnastics are right, I jumped into magical pool of whatever, then get dumped in my room back at Cosmo's place. Nothing at all weird about that. Well might as well stop and... “Alright, definitely not in Canterlot anymore.” I muttered. In the bed below me was... Well, me. Curled up with... Is that Sky?

“Surpised?” I whipped around and saw the General standing behind me.

“What's this supposed to be?” I questioned. “Better yet, who are you?”

The General shook his head. “I am Meteor Shower, at least an echo left behind when he made use of the Nexus.”

“The Nexus?” I asked. “That what this place is?”

“At least that's what Princess Celestia calls it.” The General sat down on the couch and had me sit with him. “By now you know that there is more than one universe. On a cosmic level, the universe radiates a massive amount of energy, so much so that it isn't restricted to just this universe. It bleeds over into adjacent realities, like water soaking through a roll of paper towels.”

“Alright... Go on.”

“Well, in the cosmic scale of things that energy doesn't do much to the adjacent reality. There just isn't enough there to cause any changes. But that isn't the case where these realities intersect. The energy coalesces until it produces something, a byproduct of the reaction created where they collide. In our case it was the pool in that cave. In one other one it was a sentient mirror.”

I nodded. “Alright... What's it do then?”

“Oh you know, healing properties mostly. But for someone who knows how to shape the energy that it emits, like the Princess, you can create the means to go from one world to another.”

“The mirror on that space station we went to. Did the princess create that?” I asked.

“Not at all.” The General said. “Think of that as a cosmic example of really good luck. Like tossing a basketball over your shoulder from across the court and landing the shot.”

“Assuming that I know what you're talking about, those mirrors were an accident?” The General's expression was all the answer I need. “Alright, but what is this supposed to be?” I asked, pointing at the bed.

“One of the other abilities that the magic here possesses is showing possible future outcomes. There are plenty of shades of gray in between both extremes of the spectrum, but I'm going to show you both of the ends.”

“So then this is the happy ending?”

“It’s the greatest possible outcome.” The General said. “But I'll be honest, I'm glossing over a bunch of important points.”

“Mmmmhhh… Morning.” ‘Sky’ moaned, her voice almost sounding like an echo.

“Mornin’ babe.” The copy of me groaned as he sat up in bed. “Sleep well?”

“You know it.” I started feeling a bit hot under my collar as I watched the two of them before the whole image froze.

“For the record this is just one extreme. You could get something close if you really tried.” Said the General.

“But why Sky?” I asked. “I barely know her.”

“But you already have a connection. Hell, the both of you think roughly the same, have dealt with similar losses…”

“I get it.” I groaned.

“Glad you do.” That’s when the image changed to a trashed version of the loft. “But you need to see the other end of the spectrum.”

“Sky, don’t do it!” I heard my double yell. I whipped around and saw a battered version of me standing off with Sky, a gun to her head by her own hand.

“But what’s the point?” She asked. “I’ve got no friends left, I’ve got no family. No one’s going to miss me... Goodbye Cloud.”

BANG!

I just watched as the mirror Sky fell to the ground missing a chunk of her head, half of it plastered across the face of the mirror version of me. “No…” He whispered as he dove down and cradled Sky’s body. “Sky…”

“What happened?” I heard Cosmo yell as he ran into the room. “Oh no.”

“She blew her head out.” The mirror me said, abandoning the body and rising to face Cosmo. “She wasn’t all there. You knew that and you said you had her back. Now look at what’s left!”

“Cloud-”

“Don’t Cloud me!” He roared. “She’s dead because of you!” I just watched as my double pulled a pistol out of his belt and aimed it right at Cosmo’s head. “And I think you deserve to join her.”

“Cloud, stop-”

BANG!

The image froze just as the bullet slammed into Cosmo’s temple right below his horn. I had to wipe some tears from my eyes and choke back a sob. “How do I turn out like that?”

“The hatred you had for De Witt. You let it consume you.” He whispered. “When Sky found out how bad it was and saw what you did to De Witt and his bodyguards she shut herself off from most of the ponies around her, convincing herself that she was all alone.”

“She really thinks that highly of me?” I asked.

“As far as she’s concerned you two are nearly one in the same.” I kept my mouth shut and motioned for the General to continue. The two of you are dealing with circumstances out of your element, you've both been victims of great loss and yet you've both remained standing. Regardless of what you feel about her, you and Sky fit together like pieces of a puzzle.”

“So we can balance each other?” I wondered aloud. “What do I do?”

“Just stick with her. Sky needs a shoulder to lean on as much as you will.” Wait, what does he mean by will? “And when I say you will, it’s because I’m sending you on your way with a present.” That’s when the General stepped in front of me and flicked my forehead. Right away I started falling backwards before everything went white.

Then the white turned to black and I realized something a bit important.

I might need to breathe.

“GAAGH!” I felt air fill my lungs for the first time in what felt like an eternity as I broke through the surface of the pool with Sky in my arms.

“Cloud!” Sombra ran forward and managed to catch me before I fell forward. “Holy shit, what happened?”

“I don’t know.” I groaned, wavering around on my feet as my head started feeling light. “But I think I need to lie down.” Sombra grabbed Sky from me as I collapsed to the side. The last thing I saw was a light blue feather with a golden tip flutter onto the ground in front of me before everything faded out.

***

I don’t know if I’d call that a nap. If anything it felt more like I was daydreaming. Memories of Cloudsdale flooded back to me, Dad lecturing me about his side of the family, before the old nightmare came back in full force, only broken by the arrival of a masked guard as he busted into De Witt’s mansion and took the Griffon on in hand to hand combat as I slowly passed out.

That’s the gift that the General was talking about, wasn’t it? My memories.

I rolled off the bed and rose to my feet, stretching out the tension that had built up in my shoulders. “Damn, I don’t think I slept that well in a long time.” I muttered. That’s when I saw a mirror out of the corner of my eye. It wasn’t really the mirror that caught my attention, but my bare torso and the two feathered appendages just barely visible out of the corner of my eye. “Alright, this has to be a dream.” I looked myself over in the mirror and managed to spread my wings out, running my hand across the outermost spar. I felt the tingling sensation as I ran my fingers over some of the joints. “It’s not a dream… It’s not a dream!”

I heard the door crash against the wall as someone kicked it in. “Cloud, are you alright?”

“Oh I’m better than alright!” A quick flap of my wings and I launched myself across the room, skidding to a stop right in front of my mother. “I got my wings back!”

“I know, I was there.” She assured me. “But listen, you need to-”

“Go see Sky and make sure she’s OK. I know.” I said, patting Mom’s shoulder.

Mom sighed. “Take a right out the door. First door on the right.”

“Thanks.” I rushed past her and slid around the corner, nearly taking out Sombra and Radiant as I smacked up against the door. “Sky it’s me. Open the door!” I yelled.

“Good luck with that.” Sombra muttered. “She kicked us out when she woke up.”

Almost immediately the door creaked open just enough for someone to step through. “Sombra?” Said Sky from behind the door. “Once he’s in, soundproof the room.” I didn’t get a chance to argue as Sky grabbed my collar and hauled me through the open door.

The door glowed right as Sky shut it and turned the deadbolt. “Alright, I just wanted to make sure you were OK… But I take it you want to talk.”

Sky nodded and led me over to the couch, patting the spot next to her. The two of us sat there for a good while before Sky finally sighed. “What did you see in the Nexus?”

“What did I see?”

“Just be honest with me.”

I nodded. “Well, I saw us and two different ways the future could go. One where we were dating, or something. The other-”

“Was one where I blew my brains out and you killed Cosmo?” Sky asked. I nodded once more, stopping when I saw Sky’s eyes glaze over. “You know that means, right?”

“I need to get my act together.” I said.

“And I really need to get head straight.” She muttered. “You know what? Maybe we are alike.”

“We have probably have more than getting tortured by the same psychopath in common.”

“Ya, and we’ve known each other for just under a week.” Sky just chuckled. “And there’s a chance that the two of us could settle down… What do you think?”

“Well your confidence could use a bit of work, but nothing I haven’t dealt with myself.” I finally looked over at Sky and smirked. “Besides, you shouldn’t have a confidence issue. Look at yourself, you’re drop-dead gorgeous!”

“Ha! Me, gorgeous?” Sky’s head was bobbing up and down that that shiteating grin plastered across her muzzle before it slowly dissolved and she turned stare up at me. “Are you serious?”

“Uh…” Why am I picturing an alien fish thing yelling ‘It’s a trap?’ as I’m thinking of what to say? “Ya.” Smooth move Cloud, smooth move. Why don’t I just stick with the simple and stupid sounding answer from now on?

“Well… Good to know.” Sky just wrapped her arms around me and scooted right up against my side. “Tomorrow is going to be a long day.”

“What makes you say that?” I asked.

“You’re forgetting already?” Sky asked. “The General said we’re like two pieces of a puzzle.”

“You sure that the 'General', assuming we can call him that, wasn't just bored and trying to play matchmaker?”

“Who cares? We've got more important things to worry about and I’m sure as hell not going to fly your ass around.” She pointed out. “Tomorrow is the first of what could be a great partnership." Sky said, wrapping her free arm around my shoulders as her face seemed to light up. "I'm going to teach you how to fly again."

Author's Note

And that's it for the final edits on the first three chapters of The Long Road. Anyone notice how Sky's mood changed towards the end of the chapter? Don't expect her to stay on that high she's riding... And to people who've read Broken Mirror you might recognize the Nexus. Meteor Shower's exposure to it in Chapter 19 wasn't long, so 'Gifts' give me a good medium to explore the Nexus and it's abilities a bit more.

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

Answers

Canterlot Castle Dining Room, Following Morning
Cloud Runner

Of all the things I could’ve done over the last week, I had to ditch my coffee. Coffee, the lifeblood of my sleepless nights before midterms, and I just up and left it.

Yup, really smart... But my parents obviously have had something else on their minds as they just stared at me from across the table. “Alright, spill. What’s wrong?” I asked.

“Your wings.” Dad said. “They’re back.”

“I know, we established that yesterday.” I retorted. “That’s not all, is it?”

“You’re taking it rather… Well.” Mom pointed out.

“What, I’m supposed to groan and moan over it?” I sat back in my chair and finished off my mug of that dark ether before I put it down on the table. “I got my wings back, and I got my memories back. What’s there to complain about?”

“I still got to teach you how to use them again.” Sky pointed out as she grabbed the open chair on my right.

“Another thing, are you sure that you two aren’t dating?” Mom asked.

I nodded. “Pretty sure. I mean that’s subject to change.”

Sky shrugged. “What he said.”

And I can see Mom’s head spinning at that last comment. Score one for the new dynamic duo! I just nudged Sky. “I think we broke her.”

“You probably did.” Dad noted. “I’ll tell you what Ms. Sky. You’re something else.”

“I do try.”

“Anyway, I’d assume that you two are planning on going back out to that island?”

I nodded. “Someone’s got to do it Dad.”

“And I’m not disagreeing.” He pointed out. “Just take each other out there. I don’t want to lose another child.”

“Don’t you worry. I’ll keep him in line.” Sky assured. “Alright Cloud, let’s get rollin’.”

Dad waved at us before we got two far from the table. “For the record, you two do seem like a good fit.”

“We’ll just see where it goes Dad.” Sky didn’t say a word as we walked off down the hall, keeping pace with me during the short walk to the courtyard.

“Your parents seem nice.” She said, breaking the silence.

“They are… I might be a bit biased though.”

Sky grabbed my shoulder and abruptly brought the two of us to a halt. “You think he might be on to something?” She whispered.

“Maybe.” I said. “But that’s something that’ll-” I felt my heart skip a beat when I felt a pair of arms wrap around my neck before a warm pair of lips mashed up against my muzzle. Awe fuck it, go for broke damnit!

I leaned into the kiss before Sky broke away panting. “You feel that?”

“Like someone knocked the wind out of me?”

“And like your heart just skipped a beat?”

I nodded. “Maybe we should worry about dealing with this later?”

“Agreed.” Sky kept walking and eventually led me to the current edge of the city. “Now I’ll be honest, I’m more of the hands-on type of teacher.”

“And what do you mean by hands on?” I asked as I looked down over the edge of the cliff.

“Simple. You can’t stop to look before you leap.” With a snap of her wings Sky dove off the side of the cliff, hollering as she skimmed the face of the mountain.

“No one said I was a genius...” I dove off the cliff after Sky, partly unfolding my wings just enough to maneuver away from the rocks. Sky managed to maintain a decent lead on me even as I picked up speed through each passing second of the dive. “Will you slow down?!?” I screamed over the wind.

“Sure, why not?” Sky yelled back.

She immediately struck her wings out to full span and tilting back just enough where they acted as an airbrake, and I managed to shoot past. “Damnit!” I spread my own wings out and tried to pull up, except that I didn't gain much movement.

Stopping for a moment, there's this thing called compression. Basically stated, any pegasus that goes into a dive has a certain speed that he or she can't exceed before it becomes difficult to maneuver as you approach the speed of sound.

...Something tells me that this might hurt. With the ground slowly getting nearer and my own realization that I'm likely to become a Cloudcake, I wrenched my back enough where I finally felt my orientation start to level out before smacking into the ground, just as a faintly visible cone of air grew sharp directly ahead of me. “Well that's new.” A quick flap of my wings and I felt some acceleration forward, that cone growing far more defined and sharp... But why do I feel like I'm going slow? You know what, time to stop this ride.

I managed to slow down enough where the cone disappeared and everything seemed to speed back up before managing a simple hover just over the Canterlot River at the mouth of the valley. Damn, how fast was I going?

It was maybe another five minutes before Sky finally caught up, shit-eating grin and all. “Cloud, that was amazing!”

“I wasn't going that fast.” At least I don't think... “This is where I get told I'm wrong, isn't it?”

Sky nodded. “Cloud, you passed mach two!” She yelled, wrapping me in a half-hug, half-hover type deal. “And you maintained it. You just made history!”

“Mach two?” I mumbled. “That can't be right. Nothing seemed to speed up until I dumped it out.”

“Well it happened, and you got the attention of the entire castle.” Sky retorted.

She wasn't lying about getting everyone's attention. The moment we landed back in the garden a small mob ran outside and started pelting me with questions. I didn't even have time to listen to half of them before some Solar Guards grabbed me and led me into the throne room. “Uh... Am I in trouble?” I asked no one in particular as those heavy wood doors slammed shut behind me and Sky.

“Far from it.” Princess Celestia said as she walked down from her throne, flanked by some rainbow-maned mare. “Only one pegasus has ever moved that fast before, and he was dead before I was born.”

“Do I even want to wager a guess?” I asked.

“If you're guessing on Commander Hurricane, then you'd be correct.”

“Ah, so the greatest player in the history of Equestria.” I droned.

“I wouldn't be so quick to knock the good Commander.” The Princess said, holding out a blue and yellow feather that looked rather familiar. “One of these fell off your wing yesterday.”

“And?”

“Very few pegasi have a feather pattern like this.”

I shrugged. “Doesn't mean jack. It's a feather.”

“A feather off the new record-holder for fastest flyer in Equestria.” She chided. “A feather from one of the few known direct descendants of Commander Hurricane himself.”

“Direct descendant my ass. Mine are straight-” I shut my mouth as I spread my wings out, finally seeing the golden glint on the tips of the outermost feathers. “Huh... Will you look at that?”

“Oh we're well aware, we can see the proof for ourselves.”

“But how did you do it?” The mare off to the side asked. “I have trouble maintaining my speed after a sonic rainboom, but look at you. You haven't even broken a sweat!”

“Cloud, this is Rainbow Dash, one of the Elements of Harmony.” The Princess stepped off to the side and motioned for Dash to take over.

I just shrugged. “I guess I'm just that good.”

“If you're that good why didn't Spitfire recruit you?” She questioned.

“Let's just say that up until recently I haven't been that big of a flier.” I retorted.

“And you went two times the speed of sound?”

“He did.” Sky said. “I did happen to be there.”

“And if you're such an expert why did it feel like everything was slowing down?” I asked.

“What?”

“You heard me.” I said. “Before I slowed down it felt like everything was moving... Well, slower than it logically should have.”

“Please, no one can focus like that.” Dash insisted.

“So… You think it’s a focus thing?”

“I’d imagine it is.” Said Dash.

“If I may.” The Princess interjected. “I’d imagine that you’re simply taking in the world around you so rapidly that everything seems to slow down.”

“Like a high speed camera…” I muttered. “It’s a logical explanation.”

“But no pegasi in history ever experienced traits like what you’re describing.” Sky pointed out.

I just looked around at everyone in the room and realized that Sky’s one comment had stumped everyone. “What about my augmentations?” I asked.

“What augmentations?” Dash asked.

“That's classified Rainbow.” The Princess said.

“What she said." I added. "Now where's Halsey?"

“Halsey is on the Paris…” The Princess mumbled. “I think we might have some experts we can ask.”

“Who?”

The Princess motioned to the guards to go do… Something. “Just relax, the guards will be escorting the two of them up shortly.” She just walked back up to the throne and sat down, drumming her fingers on the armrest as a scowl grew across her face. She stayed like that for almost half an hour while the rest of us stood around waiting before three loud knocks were heard against the throne room door. “Enter!”

The doors slowly creaked open as a trio of guards escorted two bound human females into the throne room. One of them had a sizable bandage on the side of her head, while the other wore the undersuit from a set of power armor.

“Admiral Osman. You look well.” The Princess noted, maintaining that scowl. “Before we continue, I’d like to inform you that your friend West Wind has unfortunately passed.”

“Oh cut the shit!” The bandaged woman yelled. “What do you want?”

“Well two of my friends here have some questions. You cooperate, your stay here becomes far more comfortable. The same goes for your compatriots.” The Princess almost looked like she was starting to smile at that last part.

“And what does he want to know?” Osman asked before she muttered something under her breath.

“The Spartan augmentations.” I said, watching her eyebrows perk up at the very mention of the procedure. “The four of us are going to go have some coffee and chat about them.”

“You want me to just hand out classified information?”

I nodded as I walked up to her. “You will.” I finally was face to face with Osman. If the eyes are a window to the soul, then her’s look like they were broken. “Because I want to know what they’re doing to me.”

***

I was lucky enough that the Princess loaned an office for this little interview. Sky was off to the side preparing some drinks while I read over the files on the two people in front of me. Lucky for me the Princess got the files that weren’t coated in black ink. Just skimming over the important facts, anyone with a brain could tell these two went through Halsey’s original program. I wonder if I’ll get a crack at her files?

“So are just going to sit there or are you going to ask us something?” Osman questioned.

“Oh I’m planning on it…” Sky finally joined us, bringing some cider along for the ride. “Apple cider?” I asked as I picked up one of the mugs. “Come on, it’s harmless.”

“Any reason you’re being so nice?” Osman asked as she picked up one of the mugs.

“I don’t have a problem with you.” I said. “First question… When I was flying earlier everything seemed to slow down-”

“Spartan time.” Naomi muttered as she put down her mug. “At least that’s what Kelly called it. Spartans have superior reaction time and processing abilities. You’re going through every detail so fast it only appears that the world around you is slowing down while you’re going at the same pace... Except in reality you’re moving far faster than those around you.”

“Sounds like the high speed camera analogy works…” Sky whispered to me.

“If anything the majority, if not all, of your senses were heightened by the augmentations.” Osman added.

“Sounds like fun…” I muttered. “Are there any other changes that the augmentations can cause?”

“Let’s see...” Osman mumbled. “There are some potential psychological changes, but they’re rare.”

“What do you mean by psychological changes?” Sky asked.

“Increased aggression primarily.” Naomi said. “It might have been an issue with the Spartan Two, maybe even the Spartan Three program. But you need to remember that everyone who was part of those programs had some sort of psychological issues. For most of us Twos we ripped from our families at a young age.”

“And the Threes lost their families to the Covenant.” Osman added. “The Fours are the first real voluntary recruits out of all three modern Spartan programs. For the most part they all have lives outside of the armor so any issues became far more noticeable.”

I slowly nodded before starting right into the Admiral’s eyes. “Be honest with me. Could a prior traumatic experience feed into the increased aggression?”

“It’s possible.” She admitted. “But I just don’t know for sure. For the last few years we’ve had psychologists looking into it, but there’s nothing concrete yet.”

I felt some hairs stick up on the back of my neck, almost like when you get hit by a random cool breeze, but I refused to flitch at their rise. “Now you said something about enhanced senses?”

“Yes…”

I nodded. “So you think whoever just snuck into the room is going to get anywhere?”

“Huh?” Osman said with a look of confusion growing across her face.

“You don’t-” I stopped when I felt a thin line of cold metal press lightly against my throat. “-know anything about this?” Out of the corner of my eye I saw Sky was in a similar predicament.

Three other armored humans swept the room with their rifles. “Clear”. One of them growled though his helmet. “You alright Oz?”

“I’m fine Mal.” She groaned. “Now what the hell is going on?”

“BB signaled.” He said. “He’s got a prowler waiting further down the valley.”

“You do realize you need to get out of the castle first?” I pointed out.

“We might have a solution.” He said. “You’re up Dev.”

“What the hell?” Sky grunted as she was hauled to her feet.

“Alright, we got our ticket out. Let’s move!”

I felt the knife disappear from my throat followed by a cacophony of near-silent footsteps as the group of six made for the door. I managed to get to my feet in time to see this ‘Dev’ character standing in the door with Sky staring at me. “You’ll get her back once we leave. You have my word.”

“Your word mean jack.” I growled. “Now let her go.”

“Sorry.” She whispered. “But I can’t do that.” The last thing I saw before the soldier shut the door was Sky squirming against the blade at her throat, a look of pure panic in her eyes.

***

Castle Throne Room, Five Minutes Later

I bucked the door open to the throne room, successfully knocking the two guards on the other side onto their asses as I barged in. “We got a problem!” I yelled.

“Osman escaped.” The Princess groaned from her seat. “Cloud, I’m sorry. I should’ve seen this coming.”

“It would be nice if Osman did too.” I retorted. “I got the impression that she didn’t know what the hell was happening when I started to bring up her people sneaking into the room.”

“They snuck in?” Captain Sentry asked from his spot at the foot of the throne. “How do you know that?”

“There was a bit of a draft that stirred up when they opened the door.” I said. “Heightened senses, good thing to have. Now how are we getting Sky back?”

“I don’t know.” The Captain sighed. “We don’t even know what they’re up to.”

“One of them said that someone they call BB had a prowler waiting for them farther down the valley.” I said. “They’re trying to leave.”

“Shit…”

“Captain, scramble all available Wonderbolts. It’ll take time to get down the valley, so I want that prowler found and secured before Osman’s people can reach it.” The Princess ordered.

“Thanks for the information Cloud.” The Captain said as he walked over to me. “We’ll find Kilo Five and bring Sky back.”

“Uh, what?”

“We’re going to rescue her?” The Captain tried to point out.

“How about no.” Both the Princess and Captain exchanged glances of concern. “I’ll rescue her. I just need the gear and I need to know where Osman and her friends went.”

“So you, a colt with no military training, wants to go after highly trained special operators?” The Captain asked. “Are you nuts?”

“Partially, yes.” I retorted. “Now can you get me some gear or not?”

The Princess looked over at the Captain and waved to the two guards at the door. “Bring him to Twilight’s lab. She’ll have what Cloud needs.”

“Yes ma’am.” I turned and followed the pair down the hall into one of the older wings of the palace. Hell, there wasn’t much to see during the brief walk, most of the decorations having been covered with white linins to protect them from dust. Finally one of the guards stopped at a old and worn wooden door and swung it open. “She’s in here.”

“Who’s in here?” The Princess called out as I entered the lab (assuming you could even call it that).

“Well… You?” I pointed out. “Princess Celestia said I should see you. She said you had some equipment I might be able to use.”

“Equipment?” She muttered. “Oh, like armor?”

“I’d assume so.”

I watched as the mare strolled over to a large white sheet and pulled it away to reveal two sleek pairs of black armor. “I’ve had these since Commander Tremble raided an Enclave airship a few years back. I did make some changes to the heads-up display since I got my hands on them but not much else.”

I ran my fingers over the cool plastic-like material that made up one of the shoulder pads. “It’ll do.” I muttered. “I do have one question though.”

“And what’s that?” Twilight asked.

“Does it come in blue?”

***

While my choice in cosmetic appearance for this ‘borrowed’ set of armor might seem a bit selfish, I’ve got good reason to ask for blue.

For example, not getting shot at with flak guns. That’s a plus. And did I mention that this stuff is silent? The type of silence that makes you think you’re being watched?

I don't care if this is some government secret, I’m keeping it!

I managed to land with nary a sound in some brush just off an old trail, just in time for a small group to march into the adjacent clearing as they continued their southward march.

“Can we just stop?” Osman snipped.

“I like that idea.” Sky said as one of the soldiers dragged her along. “Maybe you could let me go at the same time?”

Osman shook her head. “For right now you stick with us. And another thing, who told you guys to bust out?”

“Uh…” The three soldiers exchanged looks, most likely having awkward expressions plastered across their faces under their helmets. “We were let out. Some Guard came in and said that the old lady sent him.”

“Old lady…” As Osman mulled it over a look of horror grew across her face. “Oh god, it’s Parangosky.”

“Who’s Parangosky?” Sky asked.

“She was the last Chief of Naval Intelligence... And she was my mentor.”

Sky nodded. “So, you think you let her down by helping with the Enclave's bad attempt at a genocide?”

“It's not like that!” Osman yelled. “Trust me when I say there's a lot more at work here than-” Osman was cut off suddenly as a group of pegasi clad in electric blue flight suits landed around the clearing. “Awe shit.”

“Admiral Osman.” The fire-haired leader said as she stepped inside the perimeter that her peons had established. “You're coming back to Canterlot with us.”

“You heard her!” Yelled a pegasi guard captain as he smacked to the ground. “Now surrender!”

Now I'm no legal expert, but I know other ponies' facial expressions. And judging by the one on Osman's face she's scared, maybe even mortified.

“I'm gonna regret this.” I muttered as I walked out of the bushes. “Captain, how about you calm the hell down.?”

“And who the hell are you?” He asked.

“Tempest.” I said almost on instinct. “This is a Northern Guard operation and you're interfering.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“They're taking us to their ship.” Sky said as she took a place next to me. “They have intelligence on board that will aid us with the Carniola campaign.”

“Bullshit!” One of the younger Wonderbolts yelled.

“And?” I asked. “We need to check it out. If it's a wash, oh well. These guys go back in their cage.”

“Really?” The Captain asked as he stared me right in the eyes with that piercing gaze that someone like him had years to perfect.

“Really.” I said as I stepped forward, a soft crackling sound in my wake that I didn't recognize.

But I did recognize the look of concern that broke through his gaze. “Return to Canterlot.” He ordered. “You know that this isn't over.”

“Well aware.” I retorted as the Captain and his cronies flew away. “Sky?” I muttered.

“Ya?”

“What the hell did we just do?”

“Helped protect fugitive accused war criminals because we're both interested in who broke them out and what these guys have to do with war with the Enclave?”

“That about sums it up. Good acting by the way.”

"Thanks."

I whipped around to face the shocked group of humans and smirked under my helmet. “Alright, you six and anyone else in this canyon probably smelled the shit we fed that Captain from a mile away. So in the interest of not rotting in prison can we get the hell outta here?”

“Fine by me... Dev, lead the-” Osman looked over at the three troopers who were now standing at the base of a dimly lit ramp that led up into a shimmering cloud. “That works.”

“CLOUD RUNNER!!!” Screamed Captain Sentry as he rocketed down the valley towards us.

I shoved Osman and Sky towards the ship before turning to face the oncoming orange and purple blur. “I'll keep him busy.”

“Doing what?” Sky asked as she was half-dragged up the ramp by Naomi.

“Who can go mach two and doesn't give a fuck?” I asked before jarring my thumbs at myself. “This colt!”

Mere moments later I noticed one of the great things about this armor; the built-in booster. I don't know how it works, but I don't have to do a damn thing. I remembered that as I slammed into Captain Sentry in mid-air almost immediately after I was airborne and went tumbling towards the trees along the banks of the Canterlot River below. It kicked on with a flick of my wrist, and as I bent backwards I felt gravity pull against me as I finally was rocketing straight up out of the canyon.

“Can we just talk this out?” I yelled as a blur slammed into me from above and drove me down into the ground.

“What's there to talk about?” Captain Sentry spat as he hovered just above me. “You just helped war criminals escape.”

“War criminals that could give me information!” I yelled back as I got back to my feet. “Did you notice that they were willing to talk to me? Better yet did you figure out which Guards were paid off to let Osman’s friends out?”

“No one paid off my staff!” He yelled as he dove in and cocked the side of my helmeted face.

As the Captain’s second fist past in front of my face it appeared that he had slowed down.

This is going to be fun.

I grabbed the Captain’s arm with my left hand and swung up into his elbow with my closed right fist. I felt his arm shudder as the joint failed. Shifting my grip to his upper arm I heaved him over my shoulder and planted Sentry face first into the dusty ground. “Well Caliper shows how bad of a character judge you are.” I stepped back as the wounded Captain took a swing at me with his good arm. I grabbed it when he tried to land another blow and twisted it backwards with a resounding crack. “Now here’s what’s going to happen.” I said as I hauled the bruised Captain up by the collar of his armor. “You’re going to go back to Canterlot and tell the Princess that I’ve got Osman under control. We clear?”

“Clear.” He grunted.

“Good.” I dropped the Captain and walked over to the ramp. “Let’s get the hell out of here.” I said to Osman.

“I think I-”

“Owe me more answers to complicated and sensitive questions?” I interjected. “In that case put the coffee on.”

Author's Note

With Cloud now having a rough idea of what he's dealing with as far as the augmentations go, it's just a matter of learning to use the benefits that come with them to the best of his ability. Serin Osman, in my mind, can serve as a good teacher. Assuming that anyone has read Broken Mirror Part One, you'd know that the head of ONI and her associates were imprisoned for aiding the Enclave. She finally realized the massive mistake in supporting the Enclave. But what else fed into that? Like Osman said, it's far more complicated than that. The next chapter, 'Failure', will help fill in those blanks.

And Cloud's brutality in dealing with Captain Sentry? That's the anger issues boiling over once again.

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

Revelations

ex-ONI Sloop, Somewhere over Equestria
Cloud Runner

“BLEGH!” I sputtered as I spit out my coffee. “How the hell do you call this coffee?” I asked.

“By calling it coffee.” Osman rebutted before she took another sip from her mug. “You have a problem taking it black?”

“Yes!” I yelled. “Where’s the sugar, the cream? Hell, where’s there any vanilla!”

“So the walking tank takes his coffee like a-”

“Mister Geffen, might I suggest refraining from finishing that thought out loud?” Came a voice from the computer on the wall. “I know you didn’t see what our guest here is capable of but I did take the liberty of recording it.”

“I’ll take your word for it BB.” The soldier said as he turned his attention back to his mug.

“So what kind of name is BB?” I asked.

“The artificial intelligence kind.” The voice retorted. “It’s more of a nickname. Black Box at your service.”

“That’s…" I nodded as the realization of a smart computer program hit me. "That’s impressive.”

“Coming from a member of a society that believes in magical phenomenon and only recently discovered life from outside your atmosphere, I’ll take it as one of the highest complements.” The AI said.

“Was he being sarcastic?” Sky asked.

“That’s just who he is.” Osman replied. “Although in hindsight I could argue he’s mellowed out over the years.”

“In other words my associate here is trying to say I’m old in a nonchalant manner.” The AI added.

“Just keep telling yourself that Black Box.” Said an older woman who was hobbling into the room on a cane. “Now then Serin, please tell me that you’re attempt at salvaging your mess at least solved the Enclave problem.”

“Huh?”

The lady rolled her eyes. “Black Box has sent me everything you’ve recorded on your interactions with General West Wind and his subordinates, as well as the intrusion records that you believe he made into ONI systems. He also sent me all your files on something you called ‘Warlock’.”

“And what’s Warlock?” I asked as I dug around a cupboard for some coffee trimmings.

“We’ll get to that.” Osman said as she slid onto a free stool. “To understand Warlock, you need to understand why we got involved with your war.”

“Well please do- Oh, vanilla!” I exclaimed as I pulled the bottle “Finally some worthwhile coffee stuff!”

“Vanilla? Really?” Sky asked. “That’s you’re poison?”

I nodded. “With sugar and a bit of cream.” I pulled a small blue box filled with similarly colored blue packages labeled sweetener. “Eh… I guess I’m going heavy on the vanilla.”

“Are you done?” Asked Osman as I stirred the vanilla and sweetener into a fresh cup full of that black elixir.

I took a quick sip of the mug and nodded. “At least for now.”

“So can I continue?”

“Please do.” I insisted before blowing some of the steam away from the surface of the liquid.

“About six years ago I met General West Wind when we first discovered your world. What started as a simple trade mission changed once we discovered what West Wind was doing in your country… And that he was doing some of it using UNSC equipment.” Osman answered with a sigh. “I took up an advisory role to try and figure out where he got the gear, but he kept getting more. Then one at a time ships started going missing and he somehow knew about them, even though he didn’t have the access to the relevant data. Then about a week ago the Enclave launched two major attacks using UNSC assets and personnel that have been declared lost for years. The Johannesburg, Empire and Say My Name were destroyed without a clue about where they or their crews came from or where they had been. And any forces that attacked Dodge City have since disappeared without a trace.”

“So you think the Enclave had something to do with your missing ships?”

“It’s the only thing we’ve got to go on.” Osman retorted. “West Wind would ask me about the ships every time one disappeared. And then those same ones show up to support an Enclave offensive?”

“I'd mark that off as weird.” Sky muttered.

“Glad someone else thinks so.” I heard one of the soldiers add.

Osman put her empty cup down on the counter and sat back against it as she mulled over what I’d assume to be her words. “I developed the Warlock protocol as a failsafe to counter West Wind’s advances. Once it became clear that the Paris and the survivors from her squadron had taken refuge here, only to come to the aid of the locals after one person managed to convince them that they were this world’s best home to blunt the Enclave’s advance, I realized that we found our Warlock candidate.”

The answer slammed into me like a pile of bricks. “Dusk.” I said. “He was your answer to Warlock.”

“More like he is Warlock.” Osman retorted. “About three years ago he boarded West Wind’s airship during the early hours of the war with the hope of destroying it before it could reach a major city… I was on the comms with Naomi at the time when he hijacked the call. He got that far and I realized that we just had a hero dropped right in our laps. So while it wasn’t savory, I had him taken to an ONI facility where Catherine Halsey augmented him along the lines of other Spartan candidates.”

“But why?” Asked Sky.

“They were tools.” Naomi said as she finally joined the conversation from the sidelines. “He was angry, but turning him into a big gun would create one of the biggest threats to the Enclave and give us the best opportunity to eliminate them.”

“In short the idea was to point him at the Enclave and let him go off.” Osman added. “While he was in stasis most of the time in our custody, that changed when I put him in charge of the Spartan contingent on the Infinity. It was my expectation that Captain Lasky’s trusting nature would lead him to help turn back the Enclave and eliminate West Wind as a threat.”

“And you underestimated Halsey.” The old woman chided. “Letting her sneak a datachip out… That was a childish mistake if I’ve ever seen one.”

“What datachip?” I asked.

“One that was a copy of Dusk’s files, as well as data that had been corrupted by an Enclave agent we discovered after Dusk had departed, hoping to cover their tracks. From what I did hear most of the corruption was found and already has been ruled out, but the damage had been done. So I took my team in to try to eliminate the Encalve from within, as the General still trusted us. We were able to sneak into a shipyard they had built in the arctic regions of your world before Dusk and his father arrived, captured the facility and apprehended us.”

“Shortly after was the attack on Vanhoover. Considering you were there and we were in cells, you can probably fill in the blanks from then up until we met.” Said Naomi.

“You do realize that’s a bit hard to believe, right?” Sky pointed out.

“I get it.” Osman said in an effort to reassure Sky. “And you have no reason to believe anything I’ve said. But over my life I’ve seen dozens of worlds burn at the Covenant’s feet in my lifetime. Billions of my species have died and I saw that was where your world was heading… I just couldn’t sit by and let that happen. Your people were the first aliens we met that weren’t part of the Covenant, and the few we met while on recon missions in Manehattan and Fillydelphia just… God, they were just great. I’ve never even met people of my own species that were so kind that it just radiated from their very being.”

“So it was either help you, or let you burn.” The female soldier said. “And trust me when I say we’ve all smelled enough burning flesh where it doesn’t bother us anymore, but it wasn’t right to sit by while our weapons of war helped lay waste to your world. Somehow one of us made a mess, and it’s our duty to try and help clean it up.”

“Do you really expect us to buy all that?” Sky asked.

I ignored her, instead studying Osman like I did when we first met. Like before the person behind those eyes came across as broken and defeated. But now there’s something else there…

A glimmer of hope.

“I believe you.”

“What?” Sky spat.

“I said I believe her.” I retorted. “Sky, do you know how to look someone in the eye and get a feeling for they’re telling you? Well I think Osman is telling the truth, and my gut is telling me to give her a chance to try and help where she can.”

“Uh… You need our help?” Osman asked.

I turned back to her and nodded. “Absolutely we do, assuming that you’re game.”

Osman and her partners exchanged glances for a moment before she looked over at the old lady, who by now I’m assuming is Parangonsky. She seemed to look relieved when she gave a curt nod of approval. “Alright, what do we need to do?”

I chuckled, and the silent glare that Sky was obviously giving me helped spur it along. “Tell me something Osman. What do you know about regime change?”

***

Vanhoover, Cosmo’s Loft, Half an Hour Later
Cloud Runner

It didn’t take much effort to drop into Cosmo’s loft through the skylight, seeing he doesn’t leave it locked.

“So why are we here again?” Osman asked as she got up and dusted herself off.

“Two things, guns and to call Cosmo.” I said, hauling the door to the armory back along its rail. “We need to know what’s going on in Carniola and he’s the best pony to ask.” I strolled in past my namesake Tempest armor that I had left here on my last visit and slid into the seat in front of a console before powering it up.

“How do you know he'll even be listening?” Sky asked.

“I don't.” I flipped one last switch and a buzzing noise floated out of the speakers on the terminal, just below a light that read 'live'. “Ranger, this is Tempest. You there?”

zzztttt... “Tempest, this is Alpha One. How did you get this frequency?”

“I turned the radio on?” I said with a shrug.

“Turned it on... Wait, are you at the Vanhoover loft?”

“Where else would we be?” Sky droned.

“Give me a minute. We'll be right there.” zzzttt....

“Uh, right there?” Sky muttered.

POP!

“Told you we'd be right there!” I heard a stallion shout out in the kitchen.

“Dusk?” Osman mumbled.

I got out of the chair and made for the armory door, stopping just in time to avoid smacking into the night-sky colored stallion and my sister. “Who else would it be Ozzy?” He said, bypassing me and grabbing Osman's shoulders. “Good to see ya!”

As Dusk bear-hugged the human that was responsible for his kidnapping, who was at this point already in the air, I couldn't help but shake a nagging feeling making itself heard in the back of my head. “Dusk, are you alright?” I asked.

“Totally fine.” He said, putting Osman down and letting her go free. “Now get this, but ONI didn't-”

“Know anything about where the Enclave was getting those soldiers and ships?” I finished. That statement seemed to take the wind out of Dusk's sails as he drooped a smidge. “Serin already told us.”

“Us? Who's-” Dusk finally saw Sky and cocked an eyebrow. “Aren't you supposed to be dead?”

“That's what they tell me.” She retorted. “In case your friend is wondering, my name is Sky.”

“I know, and we're still working on the jackets.” He said with a smirk. “Trust me when I say you're not the only pony in recent memory to come back from the grave.”

“Oh trust me, I know.” Sky chided. “Now what's the situation in Carniola?”

Dusk rolled his eyes. “Ah, that chestnut… Cosmo still have his map table?”

“Map table?” I asked as Dusk brushed past me and opened a compartment in the wall.

With a jerk of a lever in the compartment part of the floor slid away and a large circular table rose up to fill it. “When Cosmo bought this place about five years ago I built this thing after I saw the map that Princess Twilight has in her palace. Cosmo already had a bunch of gear, but with this… Oh boy, we could replace Canterlot!”

“Why would you want to do that?” Sky asked.

“It’s a fallback.” Dart answered as she plugged something into the side of the table. “If something ever happens to Canterlot like what we saw in the Wasteland you need some sort of effective command and control center.”

“And this building with its massive armory and equipment stores fits the bill.” Dusk finished as the table lit up in a pale blue glow and the southern tip of Carniola grew out of the mist. “Now then, this is the most recent scan of the southern half of the island. At the moment we hold five miles of beachfront.”

“And it’s the low ground.” Osman pointed out.

“We’re well aware.” Dusk assured. “But here’s the kicker, De Witt is ignoring us.” He pointed out positions on a hill about ten miles inland from the beach where a small fortress had been constructed, with a rail line leading to a harbor a few miles north of that. “After he kicked our ponies out of Emona, he pulled his men back to positions parallel with that fortress and isolated us from the northern half of Carniola, using the terrain to create natural chokepoints that will bottle up our ground advances.”

“But why so far north?” Osman asked.

“Well there’s two reasons.” Dart said as an image of a naval ship grew from the mist above the table. “For one, the Griffon Empire has a fleet of sixteen ships a few miles offshore. His positions are just out of range of their guns. They’ve been landing soldiers for the last three days and have a sizable defensive system in place along the beach. As of this morning they’ve got one thousand soldiers of the Eighth Marine Detachment on the ground, bolstering the two thousand Equestrian forces already on the ground, split between the First Home Battalion, Equestrian Marines, the Ranger Corps and the hundred some odd survivors of the Second Division.”

“And for the moment all we’ve done is bring in equipment by ship.” Dusk added. “He doesn’t know that we have the Paris and Redoubtable in position to assault the island, and he doesn’t know about the ten thousand soldiers standing by on the Spirit.” Dusk highlighted the harbor that the fortress was connected to. “This here is Odessa. It’s De Witt’s primary supply base and the main point of access to the fortress. Blaze Squad will be taking the depot while the Northern Guard establishes a landing zone for the Spirit’s troops. From there we encircle the fortress, and available Spartans will link up with us and the Northern Guard while we push in to apprehend De Witt.”

“Am I the only one who thinks that’s a bad idea?” I asked.

“You mean sending in the Spartans?”

“Well… Ya.”

Dusk nodded. “Cosmo isn’t too keen on bringing them in.”

“He’s worried about what De Witt might do, isn’t he?”

Once more Dusk nodded. “Look I don’t know everything and I don’t need to, but he’s spooked. And… In all honesty I’ve never seen him scared.”

“Other than when he's faced down alicorns...” Sky muttered.

“Alright, whatever. My point is that he’s been acting funny since I got we got back.” Dusk retorted. “Now I’m assuming that you two plan on going back?”

“Yup.” I replied. Damn, how many ponies are going to ask me that anyway?

“Alright then.” Dusk muttered. “Go get some sleep Cloud. Me and you will train in the morning.”

I nodded and walked out of the armory and down the hall to the room I had previously used while I was here. The door creaked open as I pushed on it and I flopped down on the bed as the day’s events finally caught up with me. Then I started thinking about something rather important.

Time to get out of this armor.

With a groan I got off the bed and hit the release for the Enclave armor. As the armor along my wings retracted and the backs of the armor opened to allow me to exit, I hopped out and hit another realization. I was still wearing the undersuit from the armor that the humans had given me. Come to think of it I don’t remember when in the last few days I haven’t worn this.

Click

I turned around and saw Sky standing behind me, having ditched her jacket who knows where. “Hey.”

I nodded. “What’s up?”

She sighed. “Can we talk?”

“Sure.” I said, patting a spot on the bed for her to sit with me. The mattress sunk slightly as Sky took her spot at my side. “What’s wrong?”

“Remember what I said this morning?”

I thought back and remembered that kiss we shared back in the courtyard. “Well, it’s later… You want to talk?”

“Sure.” I said. “So… Where’d that whole heart-stopping thing come from?”

“You know those old wives’ tales… The ones where you know love when you find it?” I nodded. “Look at the two of us. You’ve taken enough on the chin over your life. Your wings, your sister… Me? I lost my best friend and the home I’ve always known because I tried to follow him.”

I nodded in agreement. “And since the two of us met we’ve started getting back what we’ve lost.”

“Ya…” Sky muttered as she scooted closer to me. “And I’ve got someone I feel that I can actually talk to.”

“Alright… So what do you want to talk about?”

“Well the first six months I was in this Equestria…” She paused and looked up at me. “Promise you won’t judge me until I’m done?” I silently nodded and the tension that Sky was keeping in her shoulders seemed to drop away. “After I dug myself out I wandered the countryside for the better part of a month before I found my way into Trottingham with nothing but my body armor and jacket.”

“You were off in a bad way.” I consoled. “Am I supposed to think worse of you?”

“It goes downhill from there.” She said. “For something close to two years I was an emotion-fueled wreck. I went after anything that could take my mind off my home and my best friend… So alcohol, drugs and mind-numbing sex were the order of the day. Hell, there was this hare that called himself-” She stopped herself as her cheeks started glowing cherry red. “Right… I think you get the idea.”

I just shrugged, not knowing what else to say. “So in short you owned the club scene. But you said you were running around in Trottingham for two years… What changed?”

“My nightmares.” Sky said. “I had the same one for those two years… Cosmo burying me while I screamed for him to stop. Then one night the week before I left Princess Luna intervened and cut the whole thing short. From what she told me afterwards all the pain killers and beers I’d been downing had made it damn-near impossible to actually get in my head and do something. After that tongue-lashing I locked myself in an abandon warehouse for the week.”

“And that was just to give you time to get everything you’d been taking out of your system?” I asked.

She nodded. “Not my brightest idea… When I locked the door I threw away the key. By the end of the week I was in worse shape than I was when I was popping pills. Dehydration, starvation… It wasn’t very fun. Sombra just so happened to find me before I was in real trouble, thanks to Princess Luna guiding him to where I was holed up. After that they brought me to Canterlot, got me patched up and got me some new gear. Up until I met him and Radiant I hadn’t seen anyone act out of compassion towards me in a long time. It wasn’t much of a jump for me to stick with the two of them. From there we scoured the face of the planet trying to find the chunks of Princess Amore that he scattered centuries ago. We were doing that until a few weeks ago when we were attacked by agents from De Witt’s organization in Nuremburg. Suffice to say they didn’t get all that far and I got proof that Cosmo was alive and here in Vanhoover, in addition to getting their boss’ name. By the time I got here Cosmo was already in the Tundra and the city was already flooded. Once he got back and I came for that little visit… Well, you know where things went from there.”

“I do.” I admitted. “But I’m glad you have enough faith in me to talk to me like this… I do have some questions though.”

Sky just smiled out of the corner of my eye. "Then fire away."

***

Twenty minutes later

"Alright, one last question." I said, satisfied with all but one sticking point from Sky's 'adventures' over the last few years.

“What’s that?”

“A hare?” I said with a cocked eyebrow. "Really?"

Sky started blushing again and held up her hands in defeat. “I was drunk and horny!”

I smiled as I wrapped my arm around her shoulders. “Just busting your chops Sky.” I looked down at her and we locked eyes. “That’s not a problem… Is it?”

She swung into my lap with eyes lidded. “Nope.” Sky had just wrapped her arms around me and was leaning in when the door swung open.

“Alright you two, get it back in your pants.” My sister said. “We got a problem.”

Sky and I just gazed at each other before we both admitted defeat and untangled ourselves. Out in the living room was a large screen. “Where the hell did that come from?”

“Brought it down from the sloop.” Osman said.

“It’s not the screen that you want to see though.” Dusk added, pointing out a series of pens outside what appeared to be a weapons depot. “This is the munitions depot in Odessa. Notice anything odd?”

I walked up to the screen and took a good look at the pens and realized that, yes, there was something seriously wrong. “They’re prison cells.”

“Exactly.” Dusk pulled up a map of the area. “And we’re not the only ones who know.”

“What do you mean?”

“Scouts in Carniola reported their presence back to the main camp.” Said Dart. “Cosmo is already halfway into that trap.”

“Trap?” I asked. “What trap?”

“This one.” The map highlighted a number of foxholes along the trails just outside of the town. “Mortars, machine guns, you name it. De Witt’s guards let the scouts leave, and judging by the movement in the town they know that Cosmo is headed their way.”

“Damn it…” Sky muttered. “He’s gonna get killed.”

I looked over at Sky before looking back to the map. “Not if I have anything to say about it. Osman, do you know if that sloop has weapons?”

“It’s got some pulse cannons. Nothing fancy, but they work. Why?”

“We’re going to need a ride.” I said as I walked into the armory. “Sky, you think anything in here will fit you?”

“What makes you think I’m going to need anything?” She asked as she walked into the room.

I didn’t look at her as I pulled out a shiny black chest piece from a case of matching armor. “Isn’t it obvious?” I retorted, tossing her the armor I was holding. “We’re going to war.”

Author's Note

And there's our fifth chapter. Really not much to say. We got more details on the universe, ONI's unwitting role in the Enclave's war that we saw break out in Broken Mirror, Part One, and Sky spilled a little bit on what she spent some of her time during her first few years in this Equestria. Next chapter we're going to see a bit more on those prisoners that were held in Odessa that were first mentioned in the prologue. We're approaching the endgame, and it'll be one that is integral to the events years down the road within this "mirrorverse" that I've created.

Also, completely unrelated. But the cover for Broken Mirror that Pia has been working on is almost done. Odds are once it's done I'll turn my attention briefly to establishing Part Two of Broken Mirror with a prologue.

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

Internal Conflict

Just South of Odessa
Cosmo

If weather makes the mood, then the driving rain we’d spent the last few hours trudging through thoroughly doused it.

“Alright, we’re five hundred feet from the pens.” Palmer whispered, waving for our group to duck down into a drainage ditch along the perimeter of the storage yard.

What little noise anyone made was dampened by the rain and the wind that came with it. “What’s the plan Cosmo?” Phalanx asked.

“Just sit back and watch for right now.” I muttered back. “I want to know who’s in those pens before we barge in.”

“So sitting here answers that?” Phalanx retorted.

“No…” I saw Palmer plug something onto her armor. “Palmer?”

“You did we’re here to get answers.” She said, immediately fading from view in the poor light. “I’ll be back.”

I just listened with a slack jaw as I saw brush crunch from something not readily there before the soft footfalls of our armored companion faded from earshot. “That’s different.” I heard Felix whisper.

“No kidding.” Phalanx said. “Now get your head down.” He ordered as the stallion unfurled a large piece of netting and tossed it over the four of us. It glowed briefly for a moment before that light faded. “Now as long as we keep quiet, no one will know we’re here.”

“Then what are we doing?” Felix asked.

I tapped the fox’s shoulder to grab his attention. “Isn’t it obvious?” I asked. “We wait.”

***

Ex-ONI Prowler
Cloud Runner

I felt the deck shudder as the Prowler finally touched ground. “I guess we’re here.” I whispered to Sky as we both walked to the ramp.

“Not quite.” Parangonsky injected with a sharp tone. “I needed to make a stop before we kept going.” The ramp lowered to reveal a small mob of soldiers at the foot with weapons pointed up at us. “Meteor, is this how you greet friends that call ahead?”

Immediately the soldiers lowered their weapons and parted at the General pushed through to the bottom of the ramp. “Black Box gave me thirty seconds Marge. Thirty seconds. And I’m not a young stallion anymore.”

“We all get too old to die young Meteor.” Parangonsky retorted. “You passed that threshold a long time ago.”

“Wait just a minute!” Dusk yelled. “Gramps, you know this lady?”

“Yup.” The General said. “She saved your parents and I after we broke out of the changeling hive in the southern desert.”

“And I’m looking for a favor.” She said. “General, I believe you have your own command center?”

The General nodded and waved us on into the adjacent tent. I looked around at the rows of computer banks that had been placed on planks across the sandy ground of the beach, humans and ponies alike pouring over the data streaming across their displays. “So what do you want Marge?”

“Your offensive.” She said to a look of confusion on the General’s face. “I want you to launch it.”

“What?” He said in disbelief. “I don’t even have all of my forces in position.”

“You’ve got more than enough.” She retorted. “Besides, I believe you’d want to ensure that your protégé survives his trip to Odessa.”

“What do mean survive?”

Dusk brushed past and plugged a chip into the side of the map table in the center of the ‘room’. “Machine guns. And lots of them, well-hidden and manned surrounding Odessa. Even if Cosmo gets in, he won’t be getting back out.”

“Shit…” The General just pushed his greying mane back and sighed.

“Gramps, we don’t have any other options.” Dusk pleaded. “Once Cosmo gets made the griffons are going to close off their rear lines. We won’t have a clear shot into their fortress.”

“What are your orders sir?” Asked one of the technicians.

“Give me outgoing to all theater units.” The General picked up a microphone from the edge of the table, waiting for the soon-given thumbs up from the same technician. “All commands, this is General Shower. Our timetable just moved up. Prepare for action.”

Immediately the reserved atmosphere of the tent electrified. For a full five minutes the tent was a flurry of activity before the General snapped his fingers. “We ready?” He asked. With no objections he grabbed the mic once more. “All commands, we are at condition red. Commence Operation Liberator.”

***

Odessa
Cosmo

“I repeat, commence Operation Liberator.” I heard Meteor Shower’s voice scratch out over the radio.

“Did he really just call it?” Phalanx groaned.

“Sounded like he did.” I retorted. By now the weather had cleared, and I tossed back the cover that we were hiding under. “Hear that Palmer? Time to move!” My radio stayed silent. “Palmer, you read?”

“Something tell me she doesn’t.” Felix muttered. “So what’s the plan boss?”

I quickly scanned the camp before pointing out a large brick building standing about a hundred feet from us. “We take out command and control. Now move!” I almost landed on my face as I slipped a bit on the wet grass lining the side of the ditch.

Phalanx grabbed me and hauled me up out of the trench. “I’ll get the door.”

“What door?” The cocky smile and flicks of static off of Phalanx’s arms as he dashed towards the wall.

CRASH!

“Probably that door.” Said Felix as the cloud of dust spread out from the new entrance that Phalanx had created.

Stepping over the bricks and chunks of wood, I took up a place next to Phalanx in the middle of an infirmary as he stared down a guard holding an old unicorn as a hostage with a gun to her head.

A unicorn with a fur shade slightly lighter than mine.

Still wearing the Desert Ranger jacket.

And the matching Desert Ranger helmet in a trophy case hanging on the far wall.

I reacted immediately, swinging my rifle off of my back and leveling it at the Griffon holding the old mare hostage. “I’ll say it once, let the mare go.”

“Or what?” The Griffon questioned. “You blow my brains out?”

I shrugged. “You said it, not me.”

The Griffon just jarred the barrel of the pistol against the mare’s head. “Then go ahead, I dare you. Sure, you might get me in a rush but not before I turn this bitches’ head into a canoe.”

I rolled my eyes and tossed the rifle over to Felix. “I’ll let you know how that goes.” I was behind the Griffon in a flash of magical light and kicked the back of his knee out before wrenching his gun-toting hand skyward.

BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG click click

As the last of the expended shell casings clattered onto the floor at my feet I pulled the Griffon over my head and slammed him through the glass front of the trophy case. As the unconscious guard slumped down I grabbed the helmet and turned it over in my hands before I found a small picture tucked into the seam. It brought back some memories of when I first saw it on my Mother’s bedside table when I was a child. “Gotta admit Mom, this isn’t how I saw seeing you again.”

“I’d say the same.” I felt my mother wrap her arms around my shoulders.

I handed her the helmet before turning around and looking her over. “What are you doing here?” I asked.

“Well, up until you introduced our friend there to pane glass, I was a slave.” She said. “Still don’t know why they need em’…”

“What do you mean?” Felix asked.

“Isn’t it obvious?” She pointed out. “Whatever the locals call this island, it’s the only place in the world that the bombs didn’t touch.”

Right, this just got awkward. “Mom… Damn it, how am I supposed to say it?” I wondered aloud.

“I don’t know. Just say it?” Phalanx suggested.

“Alright… Mom, we’re not in Kansas anymore.” My mother just blinked and developed a blank stare. “It’s a Human euphemism.” I defended as the sound of rapidly-moving turbines passed outside.

“You made your point Cosmo, but we’ve got to move!” Phalanx yelled before he leapt back out through the hole in the wall.

Felix tossed me my rifle before he and Trixie both followed. “Can you still fight?” I asked mom. She simply slid her helmet on and grabbed the rifle before she too ran outside. “Alright then.” I muttered. By the time I passed over the pile of rubble and got outside I realized our predicament, presented in the form of dozens of Griffon and Changeling guards.

“So… What now?” Felix asked.

I quickly checked my pistol to make sure it was loaded. “We hold the line.”

***

Ex-ONI Prowler, somewhere over Odessa
Cloud Runner

For the better part of the twenty minute flight I found myself staring at the closed ramp of the Prowler, the soft hum of the vents the only real noise.

Finally the Prowler shuddered and the ramp was lit up in a red light. “Alright gang, here we go!” Dusk yelled out behind me to the quiet clicks of magazines sliding into rifles.

“Cloud, you ready?” I turned to see that Sky had pushed her way to the front, having decided to wear the armor I handed her back at Cosmo’s loft.

“We’re practically invading a hostile city.” I muttered. “I’m as good as I can get.”

“Here’s the plan.” Dusk called out. “Kilo Five is with me and Dart to clear a landing zone. The rest of you find Cosmo. We clear?”

The light turned green and the ramp slowly fell away. “We’re clear.” I said before rushing down the still-dropping ramp and catching the rushing air with my wings.

Right below was a mob of Griffons, Changelings and Ponies in the middle of a mass uncontrolled melee. I pulled my wings back and dove right in to the mob, landing on my feet with a crack of pavement from the weight of my impact. I felt two blows against my arm, which I returned when I spread out my wings and swung around, using them as makeshift clubs on the guard that had tried to rush me.

But it was the electric-blue glow at the tips that caught my attention as my wings slammed against the guard, who immediately dropped in a twitching pile of feathers. “Holy shit…” I whispered, whipping around and using the same tactic on a Changeling this time with the same result.

As the Changeling began to drop Sky landed on the twitching black sentry and planted him to the ground. “How the hell did you do that?” She asked, ducking past a spear that was tossed at the two of us.

As the spear sailed past I grabbed the very end and swung it back overhead and impaled the Griffon that had first thrown it at the two of us. “No clue.” I answered, catching a right hook from another Changeling before pulling the poor sod over my shoulder and smashing him head-first into the pavement that we stood on. “But it’s fucking cool!”

“Word to the wise kid, but don’t stop to admire yourself.” One of Dusk’s compatriots pointed out, having finally joined myself and Sky on solid ground.

“But what’s the problem?” My answer came quickly when a burley Griffon smashed against me and drove me into the side of a building. Rearing back I managed to get my attacker off me with a swift push from my boot. “Right… He’s the problem.”

BANG!

I had winced at the sound of the gunshot that rang out, watching the Griffon crumple to the ground with blood pouring out a hole in the side of his head. “Cloud? What the fuck is this?” Cosmo asked as he went about reloading his revolver.

“What?”

Cosmo just waved his empty pistol at me with a confused look plastered across his face. “Since when can you fly?”

Right, got my wings back. And he wasn’t there… Fuck.

How the hell do I explain regrown appendages in the middle of a warzone?

“Cosmo, we can talk later.” Sky said, coming to my defense in the nick of time.

Cosmo shook his head before ducking under a knife wielded by a beaten-looking Griffon. “Your right, we could.” He stepped back as the same Griffon kept slashing at him before nailing his beak with a backhand that sent him staggering back. “All things considered this isn’t the weirdest thing I’ve seen all day.”

“What the hell do you mean?” Sky asked as she caught a Changeling that tried rushing the two of us.

Cosmo stepped forward to grab out attacker, tossing him over his shoulder and into the ground. “Well Mom’s here.”

Sky seemed to stop at that. “Your mother?” Cosmo nodded, not bothering to say anything and instead opting to kick the grounded Changeling in the head. “Isn’t that a bit convenient?”

“Like I said, not the weirdest thing I’ve seen all day.” Within a matter of moments of Cosmo opening his mouth, the Griffon and Changeling guards gave up and took to the sky. “Although that one takes the cake.” We followed Cosmo back towards the center of the compound, where Palmer was discussing… Something with Phalanx. “Someone want to tell me what that was all about?”

“No clue.” Said Palmer. “There wasn’t any radio message calling for a retreat.”

On the fringe of the small crowd was an older mare, a helmet very similar to the one that Sky’s under her free arm. “Sky, is that her?” I whispered.

She nodded. “Yup, still carrying herself like a badass after all this time too.”

“What do you mean?”

“Back in Dodge City when we were kids, Constellation stayed behind so we could get Cosmo away from the raiders. By the time my parents got back there with reinforcements she was missing.”

“So… If your parents needed backup, how bad was it?”

Sky chuckled. “From what Dad told me they were facing down something like fifty or sixty raiders. By the time that they got back there they didn’t need the help. All said there were roughly forty bodies on the ground, with two live ones who stayed behind as a rear guard. That last stand made Constellation the new standard for Desert Ranger badassery.”

“So don’t mess with her?” Sky again nodded. “Then what now?”

“I introduce you!” Sky practically dragged me across the small lot as she approached the old mare, smile beaming across her face.

That smile must've been a dead giveaway. “I'd recognize that mane anywhere.” She said as her own smile grew. “You're Dust Storm's kid.”

“I am.” Sky said, retaining the smile the whole time.

“Then I owe you one.” Constellation just wrapped Sky in a tight hug. “My little boy might not still be here if it wasn't for you.” As soon as the mare let Sky go she walked over and patted me on the shoulder. “So I guess the Rangers got some new toys to play with?”

“Rangers?” I asked.

“You're Desert Rangers, aren't you?”

“No.” I stated. “We're the Northern Guard.”

“Northern Guard?” She muttered. “Well I've heard weirder names when it comes to mercs.”

I looked over at Sky and shrugged. “Since when are we mercs?”

“It's not her fault Cloud.” Cosmo said as he and Trixie joined us. “I tried to tell her that we aren't in the Wasteland, but I'm obviously not explaining it well enough.”

“Cosmo, you're telling me that you don't believe that we're in the one place that the Zebra's didn't bomb?” She asked. “Bar Storm Cloud this is a miracle!”

Cosmo cocked an eyebrow at that name. “Who's Storm Cloud?” We all stopped; it had become apparent by the pained look on Constellation's face that she said something that she didn't want to. “Mom?”

“Cosmo...”

“Who is he Mom?” Cosmo asked again.

Constellation sighed. “When De Witt first brought me here-”

“De Witt was involved?”

“Yes...” She muttered. “Cosmo... You're not an only child, at least not any more.”

Cosmo's face contorted from perplexed frown to a look of pure, unadulterated rage. “I'm gonna castrate that fucker!” He roared.

“Cosmo!”

“Don't Cosmo me!” Yelled the raging stallion. “Not only does this fucker have a mirror to hop through, but he took my mother and used her so he could have some bastard child!”

“Cosmo, please just calm down.” Constellation pleaded. “I've had just over a decade to come to terms with what De Witt really brought me here for, but it's not the end of the world. On the bright side Stormy hates the bastard.”

“Really?” Cosmo asked. “What's to say De Witt couldn't just use his magic on him?”

“De Witt doesn't have any access to magic.”

“Bullshit. How'd he get in my head? Hell, you could be a Changeling he sent to throw me off!” Cosmo leveled his pistol towards the old mare as his horn glowed. “Did he really think I was that stupid?”

Constellation only rolled her eyes before she sidestepped Cosmo's revolver, ripped it from his hands and emptied the loaded chamber. “Cosmo, use your head.”

“Cosmo's not home right now.” Phalanx said as he passed his glowing hand over Constellation's face. “But I know where you're going, and you're not a Changeling.”

“I'll be the judge of that.” Cosmo's horn flared briefly before the light it was giving off died. “Holy shit...”

“Like I said, use your head.” Constellation chided. “Now down to business. Stormy was in the infirmary with me until someone had to blow a hole in the wall.” She said as she glared at Phalanx. “He ran off after that, and I doubt he went too far. All we need to do is find him and make sure he's safe.”

“So let's split up.” Phalanx suggested. “We got enough of us here to find the kid quick.”

As I turned to walk away I caught a glimpse of a silhouette on the roof of the compound's office building and flipped on the spotlight built into my helmet, cutting through the rain that was still coming down in sheets. “I think I found him.” On the roof of the office building stood two Griffons. The older armored one was holding the gun to the head of a light blue-and-white plumed child no more than ten.

“Stormy, what the hell?”

“Sorry Mom!” The kid called down as he squirmed against the gun. “Long story short, I’m not the only one who thought that hiding in a broom closet was a good idea.”

“Cloud, go to your helmet radio.” Came Palmer's voice across the speakers sitting next to my ears.

Under my mask I rolled my eyes and flipped over to the helmet radio. “Palmer, you're standing right there. What's with the hush talk?”

“Well... Technically I'm not standing next to you at all. Just a basic VI controlled hologram.”

Huh... That's different. “So what are you doing?”

“Well I'm up here on the roof-”

“What?”

“You heard me, I'm on the roof. Now all I need you to do is catch the kid, I'll deal with the guard.”

“Catch the kid?” I didn't hear Palmer say anything else, but I sure saw what she was doing as she walked up behind the guard and stood there with her arms crossed.

“Batter up Cloud.” Palmer tapped the unsuspecting guard's shoulder, and he whipped around fast enough that he lost his grip on his hostage.

Ah, now I see what she meant. Out of instinct my wings flared out before the flap kicked up a puddle of mud as I rocketed forward. In what felt like a moment I had the kid in my arms, also realizing I had a rather big problem.

Specifically of the brick and mortar variety.

All I did was whip around and put my back to the wall, before I clenched my eyes shut and waited for the impact.

***

Cosmo

Now let's review how my day has gone, shall we?

I've had hot coffee spilled on my crotch, trudged through fifteen miles of mud and poison ivy to get to the outskirts of this blasted town, sat in the pouring rain for hours and got wet in places I didn't even know I've had, and found out my mother has been some Griffon's bastard-child-producing sex slave.

Oh, and I've got a face full of mud.

“Cosmo, you alright?” Sky asked.

“Goes without saying.” I muttered as I wiped the mud from my eyes and marched towards the armored Pegasus lying on the ground with another body on top of him shaking his shoulders.

“Come on, get up!” The kid pleaded.

Cloud finally stirred and sat up just in time for me to haul him up to his feet. “I don't have to do that again, do I?”

“You didn't have to in the first place.”

“Yes he did.” The kid piped up. “I don't have wings, see?” He said as he turned around and showed us his back. Under his plain t-shirt there wasn't even a sign of any appendages.

I just cupped my hands over my face, trying very hard not to scream. “Who did this?” I muttered.

“No one did.” I dropped my impromptu mask and looked at the kid wide-eyed. “I was born without wings, being half unicorn and all that. On the plus side I can do this!”

If I didn't believe the pale teal glow of Storm Cloud's finger tips, I certainly believed it when all the mud plastered on my face and chest dried, crumbled, and fell away. “You get that from your mother?”

Storm just shrugged. “Well ya.” As he stared up at me, his brow began to furrow. “You look familiar…” Once my mother took a spot next to me all the pieces fell together. “You're Cosmo!”

“Why's tha-”

OOFFF!

“Mom's told me all about you!” Storm gleefully yelled out.

“She has?” I asked with a glint of sarcasm as I glared at my mother.

“Yup!”

I slowly nodded. “So what she tell you?”

“Well duh, you’re here!”

“I always had a feeling you’d find me Cosmo.” Mom added.

“And now that you’re here we can go back to the old farm, fight some raiders, save some-”

“No.” I said. “The farm’s gone, and there’s no raiders running around anymore.” Hopefully I can get this into their heads… “There is no wasteland anyone on this world. No raiders, no ghouls, no radiation. Nothing!”

“Cosmo, what do you-”

“The Princesses are both alive!” Mom’s face scrunched up in confusion at that last outburst. “We’re in a parallel universe Mom. Now I don’t know how you got here, but I know how I did. A mirror, someone built one that acted as a doorway to different realities. Me and Sky walked right through one seven years ago.”

“What was that first part again?”

I barely shook my head and sighed. “The Princesses are both alive. As a matter of fact, I work for them.” I fished a small medallion out of my pocket and ran my finger over the royal seal that took up most of its surface. “Just watch.”

zzzttt

And three… Two…

POP!

Once the flash died out and my mother’s sight returned she did the only logical thing for a wastelander when confronted with gods that you’ve been told your whole life had died.

She fainted.

Stormy caught my mother’s unconscious form and managed to lower her gently to the ground. “So… They’re real?” He asked.

“We are.” Celestia said, being brushed aside by Luna as she rushed forward and knelt next to Stomy.

“I’ll be… You’re really a hybrid.” Luna muttered.

“Is that a problem?”

“Not at all young one.” Luna said as she ruffled Stormy’s hair. “Cosmo, I get the feeling that you two are related.”

I knelt down with the two and nodded. “You could say that.”

“Alright, then why call my Sister and I?”

I rolled my eyes and pointed at my unconscious mother. “Because I could use a hand.”

***

Odessa, One Hour Later
Cloud Runner

Tension. Not my favorite metaphysical atmosphere by any stretch. And here I am, sitting armorless in a busted-up office while two opposing forces had a stare-off.

On one side was Cosmo, confusion and anger radiating off him like waves on the beach.

On the other was his mother, with sadness telegraphing its presence through her glistening eyes.

And me? I was standing off to the side looking like an idiot as I watched the two. Real good use of time Cloud, real good…

“Are they still at it?” Sky whispered over my shoulder.

“Half an hour Sky.” I whispered back. “Half a fucking hour. How the hell can anyone do that?”

Sky lightly tugged on my arm and led me out into the hall. “No clue. But how long’s it been since these two have seen each other. Twelve, maybe thirteen years?” She said.

“How the hell would I know?”

“Right…” Sky muttered.

“I take it there’s something else bothering you?” I asked.

“Well, a few.” Sky stopped and leaned against the wall. “Constellation said that De Witt doesn’t have any access to magic.”

“And we very obviously saw that he does.” I retorted. “So how’d he do it?”

“That’s one question we need an answer to. The other would be how he got his hands on Constellation.”

I nodded in agreement. “You said she was one of the best Desert Rangers. So how’d De Witt manage to keep her under his heel this long?”

“Just because she’s good doesn’t mean she’s stupid.” Sky pointed out. “But that brings up another problem. How’d he trick her into thinking she was still somewhere in the Wasteland?”

“We’ve just got too many questions…” I groaned. “What do we do?”

Sky shrugged under my glare. “I don’t know. We can’t get time alone with Constellation, considering Cosmo’s in our way, and that kid isn’t going to know enough to fill in the blanks.”

“What about Phalanx?”

Sky shook her head. “It’s not that he isn’t trustworthy, but Phalanx wasn’t in his right mind while he was under De Witt’s influence. And need I remind you that he had no idea that De Witt got half his face blow off?”

Point received. So who else… “What about the General?”

“He only fought De Witt at Midlothian-”

“Ya, but he was missing and presumed dead up until three years ago.” I pointed out. “No one knows everything he did in that timeframe.”

“Hmm…” Sky started walking again with me on her heel. “You might be onto something.”

“Right, and we’ve got two pretty important reasons for him to come for a visit right in this building.” I added. “So all we need to do is figure out how to get him alone…”

***

“So what was your bright idea again?” Sky asked as the two of us crept around the back of the newly-erected command tent.

“Haven’t gotten that far yet.” I whispered before I cut a slit down the side of the tent and stepped inside. Lucky for me no one was inside, but there was a set of gold and purple armor set up on a stand, with a holster around the waist in place of a sash. “Well, that looks like the General’s armor.”

“Well of course it’s mine.” I whipped around and saw the old war veteran sitting in a simple chair reading some reports, wearing nothing but slacks and a t-shirt. “The Princesses wanted me up here after I halted the offensive in the south.”

“What?” Sky asked.

“You heard me.” He said. “I stopped the offensive. Every Griffon position we advanced on retreated towards the fortress without a shot being fired.”

Well the General must be smarter than I thought. “And now they’re all concentrated in one spot.”

“Exactly. If I pressed our advance it would all end in a bloodbath.” A kind smile spread across the old stallion’s face as his expression softened. “But that’s not why you’re here is it?”

“We need to know everything you’ve got on De Witt.” Sky spat. “We’ve seen him doing magic, yet we have reports that he doesn’t have those capabilities.”

“And what makes you think I know anything?” He asked. “I fought at Midlothian, and that’s-”

“Don’t finish that sentence!” I yelled. “You were presumed dead for almost a decade. Then three years ago you came back from whatever hole you were hiding in.”

“What’s your proof?” The General asked. “Some conspiracy theory you thought of off the cuff?”

I knelt down in front of the old stallion with a huff and got as close as I felt comfortable. “I’m not that stupid General.”

The two of us kept the glare up before the General finally chuckled. “You got balls kid. Last pony who stared me down like that got a knife in the throat.” I stepped back as he got up and pulled a folder out of the file cabinet next to him. “You’re right to be skeptical, but you’re right I did tangle with him at more than just Midlothian. Remember a certain black-armored guard?” He tossed a picture onto the table in front of me, an old family portrait from the looks of it.

Meteor Shower was standing in the middle with the Solar Princess herself, and Dusk when he was a baby, coddled lovingly by his parents on the sides.

And he was wearing a black set of guard armor.

“It was you.” I muttered.

“Kid, someone had to get you home.” He retorted. “But before we keep going, how do you remember anything? I wiped your memory clean.”

I simply shrugged. “You're the one who jumped in a pool of magical mumbo-fucking-jumbo and grew back half his horn. Oh, and the imprint you left behind says hi.” Well, no it doesn't, but fuck it.

“I left an imprint on the Nexus?”

“Well... Ya.” I said, finally finding myself at a bit of a loss for words. “And that copy seemed to think it was a good idea to put my head back in order.”

“Then I guess I'll find out what I saw in you then.” Two chairs identical to the General's popped into existence behind me. With no other options, I sat down along with Sky. “So tell me, what do the two of you know about De Witt?”

“He's psychotic.” Sky said as bluntly as she could.

“He most certainly is, but De Witt wasn't always that way.” Great, it's gonna be one of those stories. “Here's the deal. De Witt has always been dangerous, even going back to my time as a guard in the day court. Whenever there was a meeting of the War Department with the Generals at the time, he came up at one point or another.”

“So what were you doing in meetings with Generals?”

Meteor sat back in his chair and smiled. “Just one of the perks of being the personal bodyguard of the Princess. Besides, Tia was using it as a way to expose me to some of the flawed ideas that her command structure had at the time.”

“Tia?” Sky asked.

“The Princess and I tend to be far more... Informal than most officers.” He defended. “You see, my wife Sunny died giving birth to my son Sonar. After that our relationship went from teacher and student to something closer to equals, and she basically became the closest pony to a mother that Sonar ever had.”

“Alright, continue.”

The General nodded and sat back in his chair. “Shortly after Sonar turned ten I was put in charge of the Fifth Fusiliers and was sent to hold the border regions near Minotaur territory. That's where I first met De Witt. As part of an agreement we had at the time with the Griffons, we could request that an attaché be assigned to our units so we could tap into some of their military expertise.”

“So you requested an attaché and got De Witt?” Sky asked.

“Indeed.” He replied. “And trust me when I say it's a both an ego boost and unnerving when the 'Butcher of Griffany' is the one who shows up on the front. But in all honesty his council is what helped me devise our final assault that ended the conflict, and for all of his aggressive nature I respected him. Hell, to an extent I still do. After that the two of us corresponded for some time, even met up in the Griffon capital once a year to catch up up until about a year and a half before the massacre at Midlothian, when he wrote and said he was going to lead an expedition to the frozen north. After he left I didn't hear or see him again until Midlothian.”

“But what about his access to magic?” I asked.

“I was hoping you'd get to that...” The General's horn lit up, and a small wooden box levitated onto the table in front of us. “You see, De Witt didn't come back from the tundra empty-handed.” Reaching into the box, the General pulled out a silver amulet with a large green gem embedded into its heart. “He came back with this. It's an Alicorn Amulet, dating from before the unification of the three tribes by almost five hundred years. After I went underground I journeyed north to try and find the site where this thing was found.” He pulled a small series of photos out of the folder on the table and laid them out. “An abandoned city, one inhabited by ancient Alicorns, buried under the ice near the north pole. We found a temple close to the heart of the city along with six stands, all empty. But they were all shaped so that these amulets would fit in them just like a glove.”

“So that's what he used?”

“Indeed.” The General muttered. “But these days he has changelings doing all the hocus-pocus for him.”

“I'll be damned...” I muttered. “That explains how they got in Cosmo's head.”

“And he doesn't know?” The General asked.

“Nope.”

“Then we're gonna fix that.” He said as his horn flared and blinded us. When the light died we were standing in the infirmary next to Dusk and his mother.

And the General looked like a lovesick puppy the moment he laid eyes on Constellation.

“Uh... Something wrong?” Cosmo asked, staring at the General's confused expression.

“In a minute Cosmo.” He said, brushing him out of the way and approaching the older mare with all the swagger of someone half his age. “The name's Meteor Shower.”

Constellation glanced from Cosmo, to us and finally to the General. “Constellation. I'm Cosmo's mother.”

Those three words must have crashed into the General's skull because he glanced over at Cosmo before looking back at Constellation with a look of complete surprise replacing the swagger he was holding only seconds prior. “Well, uh... You've got one hell of a kid.”

“Thanks. Now are you gonna stop hitting on me, or do you have something to say?”

Meteor nodded and tumbled the amulet around his hands. “Cosmo, De Witt hasn’t had access to magic for years. He has Changelings doing the dirty work.”

That’s when Constellation snatched the amulet and waved it in the General’s face. “Where the hell did you get this?”

“Ripped it off of De Witt myself years ago at Midlothian.” He retorted.

“Huh… Cosmo, you know what this thing is?” Constellation asked.

“No. Should I?”

“This thing is what made it possible for your little brother to have been born.”

“What?” The General spat.

Constellation rolled her eyes in response. “De Witt wanted an heir with magical abilities, so he bought me from the raiders that took me captive. It took him almost four years and a miscarriage before I had Stormy, but after that he just didn’t bother with the two of us.”

“And at first she thought I was just a reminder of her own hell, yada yada.” The aforementioned child added as he strolled in. “Trust me, we’ve gone over and gotten over it.”

The General just stared at Stormy, blinked a bit, and then turned back to Constellation with a bemused expression. “Like I said, one hell of a kid.”

Author's Note

And there's Internal Conflict. Cosmo's problems won't end here, if anything they'll hold him back through the attack on De Witt's fortress in the next chapter, Midnight. Between him Sky and Cloud, there's enough fuckery afoot, but most of that will soon resolve itself as we're in the race to the finish!

Also, the cover art for Broken Mirror Part II is up, in case anyone is interested. Expect to see the prologue for Part II within the next few weeks.

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

Midnight

Odessa, Island of Carniola
Cosmo, Half an Hour Later

So the General brought us up to speed on De Witt… Damn it, I don’t know what to think. Should I be angry? Scared? Feel sorry for the bastard?

Can I just have something clean cut, just this once?

“Cosmo, you alright?” I looked up from my chair and saw Sky looking down at me. “You’ve been pretty quiet.”

“Wouldn’t you?” I asked. “It took me a long time to accept that I’d never see my mother again. Then not only do I find her, but she’s been used in some plan of De Witt’s to have an heir to little empire. Call me crazy, but that just doesn’t sound right.”

“Did anyone say it had to?” Sky retorted. “Cosmo, we’ve had our fair share of miracles. Is it really such a stretch that we don’t get another? And besides, you’re not an only child anymore. Didn’t you always say you’d love to have a little brother when we were growing up?”

“I did…” I muttered. “But not like this. Storm Cloud was born for a purpose, then got thrown away. He’s never known anything outside this island, and he doesn’t know what it is to be a free pony. Sky, the stuff we did is what I wanted to get out of a sibling. But I can’t get that out of a relationship with Storm, and I don’t even know what I do for him so an actual relationship between the two of us would be worth something.”

“Then take a risk.” Sky suggested. “Lets take him with us to the fortress. From the looks of things he’s fully capable of taking care of himself, and he hates De Witt’s guts just as much as I do.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I found a bunch of training dummies that looked distrubingly like De Witt. All fried to hell, and I doubt that your mother was able to sneak away from her guards to go practice.”

“So you think it was Storm?” I asked. “A ten year old colt? Really?”

“A ten year old who thought he was growing up in some far-flung corner of apocalyptia.” Sky pointed out. “Just give him a chance.”

After a few minutes of staring at the ground I sighed in defeat. “Alright… He’ll get a shot.” Almost immediately I felt a fluffy pair of arms wrap around my neck from behind. “And he was standing right there, wasn’t he?”

“Yup!” Piped Storm. “Now you wanna hear my plan?”

“You have a plan?” I asked. “For what?”

“To kill my father.” Stormy answered, looking entirely innocent as he said it.

And damn, was it creepy. “You want to pull a hit on him?” Sky asked.

“And you don’t?” Storm retorted. “De Witt’s paranoid and doesn’t think anyone can get to him in that little fortress of his.”

“So then all we need to do is get past a small army, find whatever bed he’s sleeping in and kill him?” I asked with a trace of sarcasm. “Well why didn’t I think of that?”

“Because you didn’t let me finish.”

“I’m sorry, but there’s more to this bad idea?”

“There is, you’re just the scalpel.” I swung around in my chair and found that I had yet another guest.

“General, please tell me your on my side.” I half-pleaded. To be honest, stabbing De Witt in his sleep does have me a bit interested.

To my dismay the old stallion shook his head. “Look we do have a plan. It’s risky, but it’s a plan none the less. Once Dusk and the rest of his squad gets back I’ll brief you all.” Without another word the General left the room, leaving me the sole member of my camp in the middle of a sea of what is most likely borderline insanity.

Slowly everyone else in the room filed out, leaving me alone with the only company of a dripping faucet.

***

Cloud Runner, One Hour Later

“So run this by me one more time.” I said to Sky as the two of us shared a quick meal.

“I suggested that we take Storm with us-”

I shook my head. “I got that part Sky. But sneaking into that fortress? Come on, that’s crazy.”

“As crazy as surviving the attack on Canterlot?”

“... Alright, you’ve got a point.” I admitted after a brief moment of thought. “But how would we even get into the fortress undetected?”

Sky just shrugged. “No clue.”

I sat in silence for a moment before I smirked over at my companion. “Want to go find out?”

She didn’t say a word as she hauled me along to the command tent and brushed past the two ‘door’ guards. “General?”

Just like the first time we barged in, he was sitting in his armchair going over reports, but with some royal vistors this time. “Miss Sky, please tell me it’s important, because I’m very busy at the moment.”

“Did you hear about some little idea about storming De Witt’s fortress and offing him in his sleep?”

Both the lunar and solar diarchs turned to her with bemused expressions before the General chuckled. “You mean Stormy’s idea? Yes, we’ve spoken.” Two stools levitated across the tent and plopped down between the two princesses. “Now come, join us.”

“Seriously?”

The General nodded. “Seriously.”

Wordlessly I took a seat next to Princess Celestia and glanced down at the maps spread across the small table between myself and the General. “So… What are we looking at?”

“Aerial photos and diagrams of De Witt’s fort.” Princess Luna said, cutting off the General before he could open his mouth. “We were trying to see if there’s a weak point that can be exploited for an infiltration group.”

I picked up one of the diagrams that the princess had motioned to and glanced over the red markings. Then I turned to the scribbles in the margin and frowned. “I’m pretty sure that blasting a hole in the wall defeats the purpose of getting in undetected.”

“Shock and awe is a meritable tactic.” The Lunar Diarch retorted.

“Ya, if you want to get us killed.” I snapped.

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me.” I pointedly stated. “Look, if we make a bunch of noise before we go in we’ll get slaughtered beause the soldiers on the perimeter will have time to raise the alarm. But if we make a bunch of noise after-”

“Anyone who’s in our way will head for the wall.” Sky finished.

“Exactly.” I replied. “If the alarm goes up while once we’re behind the wall, assuming something big is happening in front of it, no one will be paying attention to what’s happening inside the camp. All we need to do is stay hidden until the guards take up positions.”

The tent was silent for a few moments, mostly as Princess Luna took in what I had said. Finally she turned to face me with a perplexed look on her face. “You’re no soldier.” She muttered. “Yet here you are tearing apart the idea we came up with and replacing it with something that’s clearly… Better.”

“And that’s a problem?” I asked.

“Not at all.” Princess Luna assured. “But how do you intend to get into the fortress?”

I picked up one of the photos of the fortress and pointed out a steep cliff on the northwest side, overlooking a sizable lake. “We climb up and over in this corner here. I doubt there would be a large guard presence overlooking a cliff when there’s two armies on different sides of the fortress.”

“I see what you’re getting at.” The General said with a smile. “We use our forces in the south as a distraction, draw the attention to the southeast corner of their fortress.”

“And while everyone’s looking down at the army, a few of us can get over the wall and find De Witt.” I said with my own cocky grin. “We can cut off their leadership with minimal resistance. And with no one in charge, their defenses won’t be able to react to a full assault properly.”

The General and both Princesses exchanged glances before he turned his attention back to me. “There’s just one thing.” He said with a grin, one that looks decidedly unnerving.

...Awe shit.

***

Cliffs below the Fortress, five minutes to midnight
Cloud Runner

Stupid, how can I be so stupid to open myself up like this?

“Focus Cloud!” Came the staticky echo of Cosmo’s annoyed-sounding voice.

A quick review of the cliff I had ‘volunteered’ to climb allowed me to notice the loose rock that I was about to try to haul myself further along with. It doesn’t matter if I can fly… It’s still a long way down to the beach. “Cosmo, how’d you even see that from down there?” I asked.

“This isn’t my first rodeo Cloud.” Came the retort over my helmet’s speakers. “Now focus, you’re almost to the top.”

The uniform feel of the metal beam that lined the bottom of the parrapet was all the confirmation I needed. A quick glance upward only solidified what I already knew. “This is Tempest, Northern Guard is ready to go.”

Nothing came in over the radio as I crawled up to the edge of the parappet, just in time to see the muzzle flashes on the hill opposite of the fortress, followed by the soft thumming sounds of the artillery guns as they spoke up in the darkness.

“What the hell?” I froze when I head the voice of a guard and quickly looked over to the right, internally sighing when I realized that it wasn’t me that was his center of attention. It was the shells as they fell to the earth and slammed into the far walls of the makeshift compound.

But I can’t expect this guy to stare at the explosions forever, and he’s in arms reach. Immediately the gears in my head started turning, and a sensation of dread started to crash into me. I sighed before leaping up onto the ledge. I blocked out everything, diverting all my attention onto this one guard. Everything seemed to slow down as I closed the gap and wrapped my arms around his torso… He didn’t even have a moment to struggle as I threw him against the wall of the parappet, before grabbing him by the belt and tossing him over the side and into the darkness from where I came. As a series of grappling hooks latched themselves to the side with a resounding click, the reality of what I had done started to hit me.

I just killed someone without hesitation or a second thought. I didn’t think about the moral or emotional repercussions, I just did it.

...Bloody hell, what am I turning into?

***

Cosmo

I didn’t have much warning to swing out of the way of the falling body. Just a quick ‘Incoming!’ that Storm called out before he yanked my line to the right, which while it got me out of the way of the rather… Unusual ‘weather’, it did a great job of leaving me thrashing about as I tried to once more grab footing as I dangled by my grappler.

And yes, I’m still wondering if it was a good idea to mount the thing to a bracer on my arm. Especially as Storm hauled me up and onto the solid floor of the fortress wall. “Good thinking kid…” I muttered as Storm helped me dust myself off.

“Well of course it was!” He chirped.

I just rolled my eyes and walked over to Cloud, who was kneeling down over the edge of the cliff. “Something wrong?”

“I killed him…” He muttered.

“The guard?”

“No, the Prench maid!” Cloud snapped. “Cosmo, I threw that guard off the cliff without even blinking. Am I alright, or is there something wrong with me?”

I just shook my head and patted the young stallion’s shoulder. “No, you’re perfectly fine.”

“Really?”

The tone of Cloud’s voice gave away the simple fact that he didn’t believe me. “Really.” I said, trying to sound as calm as possible, given the circumstances of why we were standing above a fortress full of Griffon soldiers more than willing to try and kill the lot of us. “Look I’m the last pony to talk to about it considering I’m most certainly detached from some levels of morality, but there are times that watching someone I shot just drop feels like my gut is tying itself into knots… But it’s not the lack of the emotion that’s the problem. It’s how you learn to live with it.”

Cloud was silent for a moment before he got up and stepped away from the ledge. “You’re making it sound rather easy… You know that, right?”

I couldn’t help but shrug. “Like I said, I’m not the best pony to talk to.”

“Incoming!”

Instinctively I ducked, pulling Cloud down with me as a burst of rifle bullets sailed overhead. “Then what the hell are you good for?” He questioned.

I ignored the quip and got to my feet, staring across the walkway at a griffon as he struggled to clear a jam from his weapon. In a flash I closed the gap that seperated myself and the guard. His eyes went wide as I smacked him across the beak with my revolver. As the poor sod staggered back to the railing over the fortress proper, I loaded two plus rounds and put his chest square in my sights.

BANG BANG

Two red spots started to immediately grow as the guard steadied himself on the guardrail before collapsing into a growing red puddle beneath him. “We good?”

“We’re good.” Sky replied as she slowly made her way over to the railing. “Now where do we start?”

I wanted to shrug, really I did. But something slammed into my gut and knocked me to the ground. I managed to look around and noticed that I wasn’t the only one with the issue. “What the hell was that?” I half yelled so I could hear myself over the ringing in my ears.

“What?” Sky yelled.

“I said what the hell was that!”

“Artillery shell.” Cloud said as he hauled me to my feet. “Just give me a sec.” He tapped a few buttons on his gauntlet before moving his hand to the side of his helmet. “Tempest to all batteries, watch your fire. We almost had one of those shells for dinner!”

“Tempest, battery one here. What the hell are you talking about? We’re tracking all of our shells, none have hit anywhere near you.”

“You sure about that?”

“Positive.”

“Cosmo?”

“Cloud, care to tell me what we’re dealing with?”

“Cosmo!”

“What!?” I yelled as I turned to face Sky.

“Try that!” She yelled back, pointing at a guard down in the camp with a large… Rail… Thing. As it sat on his shoulder another Griffon loaded something into the back of the weapon.

“Well, you just gonna stand there?” I heard my mother ask, followed by the soft sounds of metal pieces sliding against one another.

I rolled my eyes and vaulted over the railing, dropping to a roll as I hit the damp grass and vaulting back to my feet from the ground. The two guards were understandably stunned at the sudden acrobatics. Leveling my pistol at the sap holding the launcher made him stop for the briefest of moments before he straightened himself out.

“Come on.” I goaded as I cocked back the hammer on my revolver. “Make a move.”

Suddenly the guards turned around to face the glowing green eyepieces of a familiar ranger helmet. “You heard him.”

The two guards quickly dropped the launcher and tried scurrying away from their new opponent.

But Cloud dropped to the ground from above them with a thud, pointing what looked like a nightstick at the pair in as menacing of a manner as he could, given his inexperience. “You two heard the lady.” He said, the voice modulator on his helmet giving a scratchy effect to his words. “So what’s it gonna be?” He must of rolled his eyes under his helmet, because Cloud’s wings flared out and managed to light up the corner of the fortress briefly in a pale blue light as a shower of sparks grew from his wingtips.

The two guards immediately dropped to their knees and put both their hands over their heads. “Just don’t kill us!” The leader begged.

“We’re mercs, not raiders.” I said as I stepped between Cloud and the Griffons. As they watched I fished two of my “special” bullets out of my jacket before loading them into the cylinder and indexing it to the first of the rounds. “But then again I’m in a shitty mood.”

BANG!

Once out of the way I turned my attention back to the loader, kneeling down to get to eye level. “So I’ll ask you. Where’s De Witt?”

“I don’t know!” The Griffion insisted.

“You expect me to believe that?” I asked, cocking the hammer back on my revolver. He seemed to swallow a bit of his pride and shook his head. I rolled my eyes and stuffed my barrel against his chest. “Then tell me the truth.”

“Alright, alright! He’s in the shack in the middle of the camp.”

“Well, thank you.” I said as a small grin slowly grew across my muzzle.

BANG!

As I got up off the ground and pushed the limp Griffon onto his back, I had a wierd sensation tingle up my spine. “Did you have to kill them Cosmo?”

Oh, it’s just Cloud. “Stun rounds my friend.” I retorted, fishing a third round out of my jacket and handing it to the armored pegasus. “Instant knockout, lasts about four hours.”

“Seems helpful…” He muttered.

“It is.” I curtly replied. “Now he said De Witt was in some shack?”

“Probably the metal hut in the camp center.” Cloud said as he pressed a few buttons on his wrists before a projection leapt forward and gave us a scale model of the facility. “Everything else is just tents and canopies made of junk.”

“So he’s scraping the bottom of the barrel. Who cares?” Storm said, finally adding something to the conversation.

But why make everything for your army out of junk? Sure I can see using what’s available, but I could’ve set some of these ‘bunkhouses’ up in about five minutes. “Or all this is just for appearances.” I said halfheartedly.

“What do you mean ‘just for appearances’?” My mother asked.

“Well…” Wait, maybe I’m onto something. “Maybe this is all just some sort of elaborate trick.”

“Wait, a trick?”

“Ya.” I insisted. “Think about it, up until we hopped the proverbial fence what did we see about this place? A few reports from some pegasi and some pictures that the Griffons grabbed in a flyover? This little hole in the wall just needs to look busy for the cameras.”

“Then what about Cloud’s map?” Storm asked.

“Actually this armor has a built-in three dimensional mapping program. All I did was turn it on.” Cloud explained.

“So if all this is just for appearances…” Mom must have started glaring at me, because those glowing eyepieces all the sudden dimmed slightly. “We need to get to that shack.”

“Goes without saying Mum.” Storm muttered as he flipped a rifle off his back. “Now who wants to go kill a monster?”

***

Cloud Runner

While he might not want to hear it, I can’t help but think that Cosmo is right. Other than the three guards we met when we walked in we haven’t seen anyone else. And this is supposed to be a fortress…

“Something wrong Cloud?” Sky asked as we walked through the makeshift village of makeshift shacks and tents.

“Just look around and listen. There’s nothing here!” Well nothing except the sounds of artillery shells landing on the other side of the walls, but that’s beyond my point.

“I hate to admit it, but he’s right.” Cosmo called out. “If there were Griffons in here we’d be getting shot at by now.”

“So we’re agreeing that it’s a trap?” I called back, glancing down at the weapons status display on my HUD briefly.

“I’d say so!” Cosmo yelled, just as a Pelican began to drown out his shouting as it swooped into the fortress proper from over the walls. As it swung into a hover just a few feet away from the shack we were headed for and disgorged three ponies from it’s belly I felt my heart sink as the reality of who was supposedly in that shack began to come into focus.

“Blaze Squad, this is Paris. Requesting status update.”

I slid to one side of the door, opposite my sister as she fixed a small pale green box to the doorknob. “Preparing to breach potential VIP location.” She said as she stepped back from the door and pulled out a small black remote.

“Copy that Blaze Leader. You’re clear to engage at your discretion.”

“Goes without saying…” She muttered.

“You ready?” Cosmo quietly asked as he made one last check of his rifle.

“As good as I’ll ever be.” I whispered back.

“Alright! In three, two, one-”

BANG!

The door bounced inward before striking the wall and swinging back, nearly closing before Dart reared back and kicked what was left clear off it’s hinges before she ducked back behind the wall. “Specter!”

The dark green stallion didn’t say a word, instead flipping on a light on the rifle he was carrying and ducking into the shack. After a few moments of silence he stepped back out and focused on Dart. “You need to see this.”

I just followed my sister into the shack out of reflex. While I was expecting some sort of bloodbath, that thought died a quick death as I saw what the stallion was talking about; a concrete stairwell, going down far enough where Specter’s just touched the concrete floor at the bottom. “Well… That’s something.” I said absentmindedly.

“No shit Sherlock.” Dart spat as she flicked her radio back on and put in an earpiece. “All batteries, this is Blaze Leader. Cease fire and prepare to pull out, the fortress is a bust.” In the corner of my HUD I saw a message pop up that read “hijack channel”. I simply hit the select button on my wrist and a window representing a new radio channel opened up.

“Paris to Dart, what the hell are you talking about?”

“The base is empty.” I said, drawing the surprise of my sister. “We found a grand total of three guards. One is dead, the other two are knocked out. And the ‘buildings’, assuming you want to call them that, are just for show.”

“Damnit… So the whole place was just a distraction?”

“I’d say so.”

“Paris, this is Ranger.” Said Cosmo over his own radio as he knelt down at the top of the staircase. “Look, the recon flights saw soldiers and I’m going to assume that this tunnel was their escape route. I’m going to take a team to follow it. Ranger out.”

“You’re taking a team?” I asked.

He nodded. “Let’s just take this outside.” Abandoning Dart, the two of us walked out to the rest of our companions crowded around the door. “Alright, listen up! I’m taking Sky and Cloud and we’re going to go follow that tunnel. Once we find where it ends, we’ll radio the location. Until then, the rest of you sit tight.”

“And who said you could do that?” Cosmo’s mother asked.

“I did, get over it.” He snapped. “Anyone else have a stupid question? No? Alright then, move it!”

I just followed Cosmo into the shack without a word, before my sister’s arm blocked me from continuing down the stairs. “Something wrong?”

Dart nodded and clipped a holstered pistol to my right thigh. “Just don’t want you to go without a fallback.”

“Worried I can’t handle myself?” I quipped.

“Hell no!” Dart insisted before she seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. Under my helmet, of course, I cocked an eyebrow. I finally noticed that her hair had gone from a shiny grey to a dark green with white tips. When did that happen? “Look, the last few days for me have been hell and I’ve seen a lot of good ponies die. I just don’t want you to whack a hornet’s nest without some bee spray. Know what I’m saying?”

“Ya… I think I do. I do have one question though.”

“Fire away then.”

“What happened to your hair?”

Dart just rolled her eyes and stepped out of the way. “Just get going Cloud.”

I nodded silently and started walking down the stairs. About halfway down I turned the lights on my helmet on and illuminated the long passageway in a dull green light. Cosmo was already standing there with Sky and swung his rifle onto his back. “So you ready Cloud?”

I just shrugged. “As much as I could hope to be.”

“Well, I’ll take it…” Cosmo muttered. “Now do you realize there’s a chance that some of us won’t be going home after this? If you want-”

“Does it matter?” I asked. “We’ve got a psycho to stop. As long as that happens… Well I’d die content.”

Cosmo nodded. “Cloud you’re something else.” He muttered. “Now come on. Lets go stop the monster.”

Author's Note

Finally! That was Midnight ladies and gentlemen, after much fuckery and loafing around. In theory I took care of the last of the editing, but I'm fried. In the case anyone catches something stupid, no matter how small, give me a heads up so I can at least fix it when I don't feel like I've been run over by an ATV (and yes I know what that feels like).

The next chapter Sacrifice will wrap up the arc that The Long Road has been covering. Sure it'll take some time to finish everything, but with how Broken Mirror Part II is coming along Cloud and Sky will both play important roles in the prologue and onward.

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

Sacrifice, Part I

Somewhere Underground, Exact Location Unknown
Cloud Runner

In the last hour I’ve learned one really important point to remember in the future...

“Still nothing Cloud?” Cosmo whispered behind me.

You get stuck leading the pack in dark, hastily built tunnels when you’ve got night-vision equipment. “Still nothing.” I whispered back. I just kept walking, all while Cosmo and Sky stayed near the walls so they could follow the two marker lights on my back through the darkness. “What are you thinking Cosmo?”

“I think of many things Cloud.” The stallion retorted, his voice only now rising above a whisper. “For one thing I was wondering when this tunnel would end.”

As he said that the dim shape of a ladder became visible to me, growing clearer as we approached. “Try right about now.” I said as I stepped onto the bottom rung and clambered up to the hatch at the top. I slowly undid the latch holding it down and gently pushed it up, allowing moonlight to start streaming into the tunnel. Eventually it wouldn’t rise anymore, instead swiveling off to the side before it stopped clear of the portal to the surface. Sticking my helmeted head above ground I made a quick survey of the empty shops lining a cobblestone street before clambering up and onto the surface. “Looks like we’re clear.” I called down into the tunnel.

Cosmo scurried up the ladder, sliding across the cobblestone once he reached solid ground before turning around and hauling Sky out of the hole. “Alright, ideas?”I didn’t say anything as I slid the hatch along its arc of travel and pressed it flush into the roadway.

“We should get out of the street.” Sky whispered.

“Right.” Cosmo said as he looked around at the empty shops. “Cloud, care to take a pick?”

Wordlessly I looked around the street before settling on a small shop with the door already ajar. “Follow me.” I whispered. I broke into a run and reached the door in a matter of second and quickly noticed why the door was left open; there was nothing left to justify closing it. The shop had been vandalized and burnt out, and looking up confirmed that the floor above had collapsed and pancaked any isles that might have lined the center area of the shop.

“Looks like no one’s home.” Cosmo muttered as he brushed past.

“I think I could’ve told you that.” I retorted as I followed Cosmo into the rubble, quietly latching the door shut behind us. “So what do we do now?”

“We wait.” Cosmo said as he slumped down against the far wall. “Maybe we get a bit of sleep, then we start moving once the sun starts to come up.”

“But where are we?” Sky asked

“Probably somewhere in Emona.” Cosmo retorted. “It is the only city on this island.”

“That supposed to make me feel any better?” I asked as I slid down next to Cosmo and Sky.

“At least it’s a solid answer.” Sky muttered, fishing a small water bottle out of her jacket. “We still need to find De Witt, and unless I missed something Emona isn’t all that small.”

I finally shrugged and pulled my helmet off. “And looking around in broad daylight is a good idea? Come on Cosmo, you’re telling me that we can’t have someone do a flyover?”

“And see what? It’s pitch black outside!” He retorted.

Come to think of it, it is rather dark outside… Hell, I can’t see anything out the windows. “Wait a minute… All the windows were broken, right?”

“Uh… Cloud, what are you getting at?” Sky asked.

“If there’s no windows, why can’t we see anything outside?” I questioned, sliding my helmet back on and switching the low-light system back on. “Still can’t see a thing… I think we got a big problem on our hands.”

“No shit…” Cosmo muttered as he slid his revolver clear of it’s holster. “Anyone got ideas?”

“I thought you were the smart one Cosmo.” I chided as I clicked the headlights on my helmet on.

“What makes you think that?”

“We’re still here, aren’t we?” Suddenly in the black that enclosed the broken windows my lights caught something green, shiny and eye-like.

And did I mention that it was staring at me?

“Cosmo?”

“Ya?”

I pulled out the nightstick that came with my armor and twirled it around a bit as two more sets of green orbs appeared in the light. “I think we got company.” The first changeling leapt through the broken glass and barreled past Sky as he charged at me.

Cosmo obviously had other plans, as he wheeled in and smacked the Changeling across the face with his revolver’s barrel. “No shit!” He yelled as a second Changeling tried blasting him, only to narrowly miss as Sky pulled him out of the way.

As Sky tried to pull Cosmo back I stepped in with the nightstick and clubbed the second changeling. “I think we need to leave!”

Cosmo seemed to agree but didn’t say anything; instead he opted to pull his knife out and stab a third Changeling who had just gotten through the front door. I followed Cosmo out into the middle of the street when I realized he had stopped and was looking around. I did the same and came to what must’ve been the same realization that Cosmo had come to; barely visible in the moonlight we saw them. The rooftops of the abandoned shops were lined with a mix of Changelings and Griffons.

“Fuck…” Cosmo muttered as he holstered his revolver and swung his rifle off his back. “We might need some help.”

“Already on it.” I said as I clicked on my radio. “This is Tempest-”

BZZZZTTTT!!!

“Fuck!” I yelled as the static assaulted my ears. As soon as the static started blasting the system shut down with a message on my helmet display popping up that read ‘out of range’. “Cosmo, we’re on our own.”

“What do you mean ‘we’re on our own’?”

“Exactly what it sounds like!” I yelled. “Something’s up with the radio, I can’t get through to anyone.”

“So we’re surrounded with no backup?” Sky wondered aloud. “Cosmo, remember that raider camp we busted that year after we went up north?”

“Raider camp… Ya, I remember.” He said as he backed up to Sky. “How’d we get out of that again?”

“There was a bunch of shooting.” Sky said as she pulled me over. “I just don’t think that we had this many raiders lining up to kill us.”

“You still didn’t say how you got away.” I pointed out.

“No, I did.” Sky retorted. As one of the Griffons hit the ground in front of me I felt a rifle rest on my shoulder, followed by a chuckle. “I said there was a bunch of shooting.”

BANG!

Lucky for me my helmet dampened the report from Sky’s rifle as it went off, but it didn’t shield me from watching as the round slammed into the Griffon’s neck and knocked the flailing sod onto his back. “Let em’ have it!” Sky yelled.

I didn’t wait for her to pull the rifle off my shoulder, instead flipping my nightstick around before I ran at the group of Changelings that were gathering in the street. As I crossed the thirty some odd feet between us I began to feel… Well… A bit weird as the buildings in the corner of my vision seemed to go by much slower.

...I get the feeling that the ‘Spartan Time’ bullshit might be rearing it’s head again.

***

Cosmo

I was still having some trouble accepting how quickly Cloud rushed the first Griffon. For a colt who until recently wasn’t very violent, he’s really taken to beatings and bludgeonings rather easily…

“Cosmo, look out!” Sky yelled.

I managed to turn around in time to catch a Changeling’s fist as he tried to slug me.

Wait, why is it grey?

That’s when I felt a set of arms wrap around my back and toss me across the street. As I tumbled to a stop in front of a shattered window I caught a glimpse of a second grey Changeling that just seemed to fade away as the original one that rushed me slowly made his way towards me… All while two more identical ones seemed to walk out from behind him. “You’re a weird one.” I muttered.

I managed to get to my feet in time to catch another punch, this time from one of the duplicates. “Well of course I am.” The first one jumped back and the second one took his place. I managed to duck under the swing and bash the inside of his elbow with the barrel of my pistol. I got back to my feet and realized that all three had given me a wide berth. They all had the same look in their eyes, and the same expression. “It’s because I am Legion.” All three said as they seemed to merge back into the original Changeling.

“Well fuck…” I managed to roll out of the way as the ‘Changeling’ blasted the building behind me with a bolt from his barely-glowing horn. “Sky, I could use a hand!”

“I’m a bit busy!” I heard Sky yell.

I managed to get behind a beaten-up newsstand on the sidewalk as two more bolts of magic sailed past my head. “Alright Cosmo, think… It’s a just a weird Changeling that can divide and-” Wait, my grappler! I managed to turn the range down as far as it would go and shot the line through a dented up garbage can that was lying against the wall.

“Really?” I heard a somewhat disappointed sounding voice ask. A pair of hands wrapped around the collar of my vest and I felt the sensation of falling backwards before the back of my head slammed into the sidewalk. “You need to do better than that.”

As I stared up at the Changeling I remembered that the grappler line was still stuck to the trash can. “I always do better.” A quick flash from my horn managed to blind the Changeling as I got to my feet and wrapped the cable around his torso. “Now can someone give me a hand!”

A thud followed by a pull on the other end of the grappler’s line managed to hold the Changeling in place as he seemed to shake and vibrate, likely trying to divide into his other two copies again. “Really? Are you even a Changeling anymore?” I glanced over at the dark green stallion and realized that he had been with us back at the fortress. What was his name again, Specter or something like that?

“It doesn’t matter what I am!” Roared the bound Changeling. “I am-”

THUNK

As the Changeling went limp I realized that the sound of metal meeting skull came from a nightstick that I’ve been seeing quite a bit of this evening. “Thanks for showing up Cloud.”

I heard him snort before he shook his head a bit. “Did you notice something about this street Cosmo?”

A quick look around the firelit street revealed at least ten bodies. Maybe one was dead, but the other Griffons and Changelings were out like lights. “Wow… That was fast.”

“Cosmo, buddy…” Cloud flared his wings out to a shower of blue-white sparks. “I am fast.”

“I’d say so…” I muttered. “Now what was your name again, Specter or something like that?”

“Yup.”

I nodded before focusing all my attention on the stallion opposite of me. “What are you doing here?”

He simply shrugged. “I followed you three through the tunnel.”

“Right… Does Dart know where you went?”

“Nope.” Specter quipped. “Dusk knows and that’s about it.” So the new guy is a loner... Just fucking great.

“Then why are you here?”

“To put another bad guy under my belt.” He retorted. “Now do you want some help or not?”

“We’d love the extra set of hands.” Sky said, cutting off the words before they could even leave my mouth. “But you follow our orders, got it?”

“Ok…” Specter muttered. “What’s the plan?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” I asked aloud. With Specter’s undivided attention I cracked a wry smile. “We’re going to storm the bastille.”

Author's Note

Well... That was a short chapter wasn't it? Lately I've been up against a wall. Since Pia finished the cover for Broken Mirror and I published the prologue for Part II, I've noticed that I can't focus on The Long Road as easily... Much of my thinking power has been devoted to work, Broken Mirror, the codex, ~~porn~~ ~~smut~~ matters of a more adult nature, Halo, Fallout, and building a model railroad that has had the supplies sitting ready to go for years. I know, priorities, right? Anyway, to keep things moving the last chapter of The Long Road is going to be broken up into smaller parts so I can keep the story moving (and minimize the amount of thinking that goes into each chapter).

In the meantime, anyone got questions? Like what you're seeing so far? Hell, maybe have some gripes? There's a comment section and the Mirrorverse Codex. Read and comment away, because I want to hear from you fellow denizens of this corner of the internet. Sometime in the next few weeks there'll be an entry on that changeling who seems to think that Dr. Manhattan might have been onto something with that multiplying trick of his.

Finally, before I go, I'd like to leave this little signal boost for fellow writer volrathxp.

Anyway, until next time!
-Striker

Sacrifice, Part II

Carniola, Market District
Cloud Runner

Storm the bastille? I kept bouncing Cosmo’s suggestion around the inside of my skull as the reality of his words became apparent. “You want to rush De Witt’s position?”

“Pretty sure that’s what he said.” Specter added. “Although I think Cloud has a point-”

“All I did was ask a question.”

“It’s what you didn’t say.” He added, sounding rather snide while he was at it. “Do we even know where De Witt is hiding?”

Now that was a good question. And it brings up a point; we don’t know with much certainty where De Witt is. He was supposed to be hiding out in his fortress, yet he wasn’t there.

“Specter is right.” Sky said. “There’s no guarantee that De Witt is hiding out in the city hall. And for the sake of adding to that, what if De Witt has another trap laid out for us at the front door?”

“It’s a chance we’ll need to take.” Cosmo insisted.

“With the risks we’re staring at? No way.”

Cosmo must’ve heard those last two words because his fiery glare immediately came to bear with its full force. “Are you fucking with me?”

“No, I’m not.” I growled.

Before Cosmo or I could do anything that we might regret Sky stepped between the two of us. “You’re both right!” She yelled.

“How are we both right?” I questioned.

“Look, we’re going to need to storm the city hall eventually. But it's too risky without knowing who’s in there.” She explained. “So what can we do to cut back on the risk?”

The four of us didn’t say a word; Sky was right on both counts and I certainly couldn't argue with her logic.

“We’ll have to scout it.” Specter finally said.

“Then we need to get moving.” Sky pointed out. “Once the sun comes up it’s going to be a lot harder to get close. If I remember correctly there’s a row of townhouses across the plaza from the main entrance.”

“What makes you think that they’re empty?” Cosmo asked.

“I never suggested that they’re empty.” Sky retorted.

“I could clear one.” I offered.

Cosmo glanced at me and nodded. “Get moving. We’ll wait five minutes then follow.”

I nodded and started walking down the sidewalk before I felt a pair of arms wrap around my neck. “Be careful.” I heard Sky whisper followed by the obvious tap of her muzzle against the side of my helmet.

Maybe it’s because I’m turning a bit cynical after these last few days but it almost sounds like she doesn’t want me to go. It’s just too bad… Someone’s got to do it.

***

Making my way around Emona was rather easy. Bar the guards we ran into on arrival the city was entirely empty. A city of thousands abandoned to the tides of war… There’s something poetic about it, that’s certain. But that small fact is lost to me as I kept walking down the dark sidewalk. As the courtyard and the city hall came into view I noticed I was walking past an unshattered storefront. I glanced to the side and saw my silhouette reflecting in the glass, barely visible in the dim moonlight.

I studied the silhouette for a moment before I clicked on my helmet’s night vision filter. Only two weeks ago I was learning to become a teacher. Now I’m standing on foreign soil fighting a war that’s aimed at disposing a dictatorial madstallion… What a time to be alive, eh?

But the more I think about my present situation the more I think back to the restaurant in Canterlot… Just to think I’d get embroiled in a war because I decided that some dinner with my parents wouldn’t hurt.

And yet I’m strangely at peace, at least for the moment. With enough deep thought behind me I started walking down the street again. After a few minutes I came across a corner storefront that had a decent line of sight to City Hall. The door opened under a hard shove, breaking two screws that had been put through the door and into the doorframe. Whoever owned this shop must’ve wanted to keep the riffraff out… But the empty shelves lining the store begged to question the effectiveness of the effort.

As I took in the store I realized a simple fact; there was no door on the back of the store. There was a simple counter with open storage behind it. No back door, no stairs to the upper floors. Nothing.

I heard a set of footsteps come in the door behind me, and for a brief second I froze.

“This’ll do.” Cosmo muttered. “Good find Cloud.”

Two other sets of footsteps followed him in before the door clicked shut. As the realization that I was among friends hit me I felt that weight holding me in place instantly disappear. I turned watched as Specter set up a tube of some sort on the top of one of the shelves in the empty store. “What are you doing?”

“Setting up a periscope.” He said as he spun the last wingnut down and tightened it with a deft movement of his fingers. “I figure this is a safer bet than sticking my head out where some guard can see it.”

“Well let's stop and think about it.” I said. “We only ran into one group of guards when we got here. We haven’t seen a single resident of this supposedly populated area, and this shop is entirely empty. When I got here the door was held shut with screws, but with no other way in there’s no easy way to loot this joint.”

“And all the shelves are empty…” Sky replied. “Cloud’s got a point. Where is everyone? Hell, where is everything?”

Cosmo and Specter both took pause with Sky’s question. Then Cosmo did something unexpected; he stamped on the floor. “Specter, you hear that?”

“It’s not a solid floor…” He muttered. He got up and ran behind the counter, looking for something as he scurried between the empty shelves.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Sky demanded.

“If this was a solid floor it wouldn’t have that hollow quality.” Cosmo said as he went to join Specter. “It would sound like I’m stomping my foot on the sidewalk.”

“Found it!” Specter yelled.

“Found what?” I asked as Cosmo ran back to join Specter. With no answer I followed Cosmo to the back of the store in the hopes of finding what he was referencing.

As Sky and I stood and watched Cosmo and Specter pour over a section of the floor our answer came quickly when they swung the section of floor up and onto another section of the ground, leaving a gaping hole down into a dark basement. “If you don’t want your stuff to get stolen, you put it out of sight.” Cosmo said. “Anyone got a light?”

“Already on it.” Specter muttered as he fished a small flashlight out of his jacket. A flick of the switch on the side of it’s grey body illuminated the dark depths of the store. “I’m going in.” Without as much as a word to stop him Specter slid down the hole and hit the floor with a thud.

It seemed as if time was ticking by ever slower, with not even a word from down below. “Specter?” Cosmo called.

Then we heard something; a piece of metal clattering against the stone foundation. “Agh! Fuck!” Specter yelled.

“Specter, you OK?” Cosmo yelled. The colt didn’t respond. Instead we saw a beam of light roll across the ground below us. “Oh no…” Cosmo pulled out his pistol and jumped down to the floor, his horn providing the illumination. He muttered something unintelligible before we heard the distinctive click of the pistol’s hammer. “Show me your hands, now!”

I didn’t wait for Cosmo to start shooting before I jumped down into the pit. With a quick flick of my wrist the lights on the side of my helmet came on and shone across a group of at least a dozen Griffons. At the front of the group was four children, cowering under Cosmo’s glare and pointed gun. On the floor between us was an adult Griffon, kneeling over Specter with bloody rags.

I ran through the mental gymnastics before I stepped between Cosmo and the group. “Cosmo, they’re harmless.”

“That one there stabbed Specter!” He yelled.

I glanced over at the Griffon and realized what he was doing; he was trying to put pressure on a bloody stab-wound in his chest. But the look on his face wasn’t one of rage or anger; it was fear. “You’re all hiding down here because of the invasion, aren’t you?” I asked.

“That’s part of it.” The Griffon trying to stop Specter’s bleeding said. “The Governor’s forces are the other half.”

“Governor… You mean De Witt?”

“Exactly.” He replied. “Shelia, I need some more clean rags.” He said to a female sitting behind him.

The female handed him a bundle of towels and looked up at me. “The Equestrians aren’t the problem. The Governor’s soldiers are. They've taken everything from my family. Our livelihood, our home, everything.”

I looked over at Cosmo and saw he still had his gun up. “Put the gun away Cosmo.” I said as I grabbed a can of biofoam off of his belt.

“But Specter-”

“But nothing.” I said. I tossed Sky the can so I could pull my helmet off. Once it cleared my mane I handed it to Cosmo and took the biofoam back from Sky. “We’re dealing with griffons who are hiding from a war. You can’t tell me that you wouldn’t be scared shitless in their place, and maybe even do something stupid.”

Cosmo mulled over my words before he hit the safety on the revolver and put it back in it’s holster. “Damnit…” He muttered. The two of us both took a knee over Specter, and I began to understand the gravity of the situation. All around the rags Specter’s clothing was dyed a shade of red deep enough where it began to take a purple hue. “You guys don’t have a doctor, do you?”

“I was a medic in the Imperial Army.” The Griffon said. “Look, it isn’t good. I’m concerned that the stab wound might have clipped your friend’s aorta, just because of where I hit him. If that’s bleeding or even just bruised we’ve got a massive problem.”

“Well I could’ve told you that.” Specter grunted. “Probably wouldn’t sound all that educated, but it would be about the same.”

I flipped out the needle to the biofoam and wedged it in under the rags, stopping as I felt it wiggle around a bit too much to believe it was being restricted. “You know what this is?” I asked.

“Not a clue.”

“Biofoam, a human invention.” I said as I pulled the pin that locked the trigger in place. “Works wonders, stings like a bitch.”

“What do you mean-”

hiss…

“ARGH!!!”

Specter started writhing around and screaming as the medical foam filled the cavity in his chest. “Shit, hold him down!” The griffon yelled. Cosmo grabbed the colt’s legs and pinned them to the ground while Sky slid around us and braced herself against Specter’s shoulders. The ten seconds that it took to finish emptying the can of foam seemed to tick by rather slowly. When the hissing sound of the propellant finally died out a silence fell across the room. I looked to Sky then down to Specter and realized he was lying still. The Griffon put a pair of fingers to the side of his throat and let out a sigh of relief that he must’ve been holding since the biofoam started filling Specter’s wound. “He’s still got a pulse. It’s weak, but it’s still there.”

“That’s probably the best news I’ve heard since we walked in.” Cosmo muttered. “We’ve got to call Dusk.”

“And what’s that gonna do?” I asked.

“Specter is one of Dusk’s ponies.” Cosmo retorted. “He has the right to know what’s happening.”

***

Seven Hours Later…

I keep thinking back to Dusk’s words over the radio. ‘Stay put, I’m coming’ is all he said. But it’s how he said it that had me worried. He sounded like he was running to see a grandparent who was on their deathbed. But is that how he see’s the ponies under him, like cherished family?

Yet we’ve heard nothing from Dusk for hours, and for the better part of the last forty five minutes we’ve heard the faint pops of gunfire outside. Up through the trapdoor to the store above us we could see streams of daylight flicker through as dawn finally broke over Emona. We haven’t even been upstairs at all, Cosmo’s big concern being the potential for other guards milling around the city that we haven’t run into. If the pops of rifles are any indication then I’d suggest that Emona wasn’t as empty as it first seemed.

“Did we win yet?” Specter groaned as he tossed around in his makeshift bed.

“Not yet.” Cosmo replied. He was clearly nervous if the constant fingering of his pistol’s safety was anything to go by.

“Figures…” He groaned. “So how long is that foam supposed to last?”

“No clue.” I answered, thinking back to my own experience with the substance. “Maybe we should check?”

“Right.” The Griffon medic, a fellow by the name of Henric, said as he started undoing the masking tape that held the rags to his bare chest. Once the bandages were out of the way the first thing we noticed was a slight burning smell. It took us a few seconds to find the source; the biofoam had turned from its normal pale green to a sickly brown. “Is this stuff supposed to do that?”

I just shrugged. “I don’t think so.” Come to think of it I didn’t see what the degraded biofoam looked like when it was cleaned out of my chest wound…

CRSSH!

The shattering glass up stairs and a hard thud on the floor above us got us to collectively stop dead. You could’ve heard a pin drop in that moment.

Click

...Or you could hear Cosmo cocking his revolver.

“Cosmo!” Came Dusk’s familiar voice from upstairs. “You here?”

The breath that we had all collectively been holding evaporated once the reality of who was speaking hit. “We’re down here!” Cosmo yelled. He was already moving towards the trap door, getting there just shy of getting toppled by the other unicorn.

Dusk didn’t waste his time and was on his knees over Specter in the blink of an eye. “Why’s the biofoam brown?” He asked.

“I don’t know.” I replied. “I didn’t think it did that.”

“You’re right…” He said as he started poking at it.

tick tick tick tick tick

“What’s that noise?” Henric asked.

Dusk furrowed his brow as the ticking continued. Finally he moved his hand away from the biofoam and the ticking stopped. That’s when I noticed the… Well, thing, he was wearing on his arm. “That was my Pipbuck.” Dusk moved his arm over the biofoam and the ticking started as his ‘Pipbuck’ passed over the biofoam. “Radiation…”

“How the hell did that stuff get irradiated?” Cosmo asked.

Dusk stopped and his eyes went wide. “The bomb.”

“What bomb?” I questioned.

“From when we took on West Wind…” Specter groaned. “I disarmed a bomb that his soldiers left in the cave entrance. It must’ve been radioactive.”

“Cutting your hand inside the casing must’ve picked some of the material up.” Said Dusk. “Damn it…”

“And I doubt there’s an easy way to get him out of the city.” Sky observed. “What’s even going on up there anyway Dusk?”

“Oh, the usual…” He droned. “Urban warfare, fighting house to house for the sake of freedom, and a psycho running it all. You know, kid stuff.”

“Psycho… De Witt’s out there?” Cosmo asked.

“Saw him barking orders outside city hall with my own eyes.”

And there it was. The very reason we walked that tunnel that brought us into Emona. The source of so much agony, both that of the locals and my own. And he’s within striking distance.

And now… Now it’s high time to end this little war.

Author's Note

After a long wait, the next chapter in The Long Road is finally here! With it back on track and the ideas flowing on how to end it I'll be bouncing back and forth between Sacrifice Part III and the next chapter in Broken Mirror. We'll finally see a face-to-face confrontation with De Witt that isn't on his terms.

In the meantime, anyone got questions? Like what you're seeing so far? Hell, maybe have some gripes? There's a comment section and the Mirrorverse Codex. Read and comment away, because I want to hear from you fellow denizens of this corner of the internet. Until next time gang!
-Striker

Sacrifice, Part III

City of Emona
Cloud Runner

“Alright, up and out already!” Cosmo shouted as I hauled myself onto the floor above.

“I can only move so fast!” I yelled back as I grabbed Sky and hauled her up. “Do we even have a plan?”

“Probably not.” Sky muttered.

“Of course we do!” Cosmo yelled as he scrambled up onto the floor and got to his feet. “Don’t we Sky?”

“He’s got nothing.”

“What? Yes I do!”

Sky rolled her eyes. “He still does it.”

“Does what?” I asked.

“Flies by the seat of his pants.” She retorted. “So as usual Cosmo probably doesn’t have the slightest idea of what to do.”

“Well I’m sorry, who gave you the right to be critical?” Cosmo asked.

“Oh please, just look outside!” Sky demanded. “We’re in the heart of a warzone for crying out loud!”

I felt an urge to look outside and confirm Sky’s assertion, but the gunfire and far-off sounding explosions were proof enough for me. “She’s probably right.” I pointed out.

Cosmo deadpanned once he realized that the two of us weren’t in his corner. “Care to give me some ideas then?”

“Uh… I got nothing.” Sky replied.

“Then why are you doubting me?” Cosmo asked.

“Because I know you.”

“Quiet critic!”

At least my helmet is on, because I get a feeling I’d get smacked if Sky or Cosmo caught me rolling my eyes. “How about we just get to City Hall and go from there?”

“That works.” Cosmo replied.

I turned and made it to the door that led to the plaza. On the other side, with his back turned, was a Griffin sentry. He was otherwise occupied with firing his rifle at a mixed group of Humans and Royal Guards. “What should we do about this joker?” I asked.

Cosmo shrugged then pulled out his pistol. “I’ll take care of it.” But he didn’t have to. Outside came the sound of yelling, muffled to the point of gibberish by the door, and the sentry took off running towards the city hall.

“Wow…” Sky droned. “Great job Cosmo.”

“Oh, put a sock in it.” He spat.

I pushed the banter to the side swung the door open and walked outside. The shouting had stopped right as I opened the door, but judging by the Griffons running towards city hall I could safely wager that they were recalled to defend De Witt. But against what, the three of us and some soldiers? “I think they’re overreacting.”

The three of us just stood on the sidewalk staring at the mob of Griffon sentries trying to take up positions at the entrance to the City Hall. Then the door swung open, and a lanky hooded griffon stepped out into the early morning sunlight. Around his neck was a silver pendant with a green gem sitting at its heart. “Oh shit…” Cosmo muttered.

“Tell me Ranger-” De Witt’s voice boomed across the plaza “-Did you come here seeking some sort of vengeance, or did my first lesson not stick? Maybe a few more of your friends getting dismembered might drive my point home?”

“We didn’t get a syllabus or anything last time, so we didn’t know what to study.” Sky yelled.

“What are you doing?” Cosmo muttered.

“Taunting him.” Sky quietly retorted.

“Is that wise?”

“Hell if I know.”

“Are you two done yet?” De Witt called out as he flipped his hood back. The silver metal that plated the side of his head glittered in the sunlight as it finally became visible. In a flash De Witt disappeared, reappearing a few feet in front of us. “Well wait a minute… Didn’t I clip your wings?”

Sky flared hers our ever so slightly as a scowl crossed her face. “You didn’t do that good of a job.”

“Hmm… Curious.” He muttered as his glare turned to my helmeted face. “Cloud Runner, was it?”

I primed the lasers on my gauntlets and tensed my wings up to the sound of crackling electricity. “What’s it to ya?” I spat.

“I have to admit I’m quite impressed.” De Witt replied. “Most weaker minds would have crumbled by now. Yet I see two of my old lessons standing tall before me as if nothing ever happened… I obviously misjudged the two of you.”

“How so?” Sky questioned as she reached for the knife on her belt.

“Clearly the two of you are made of sterner stuff.” He answered. “Although the Ranger should get some credit. He obviously saw in you two what I’ve missed.”

“I’m sorry, but you’re saying this numbskull is a good judge of character?” Sky retorted.

“I may not be perfect my dear, but I can appreciate the strengths of my adversaries.” De Witt replied as the smell of ozone began to waft through my helmet’s air filters. “Your friend can do so as well. The Ranger isn’t one to surround himself with allies under normal circumstances.”

“I’d wouldn’t call an invasion normal.” Cosmo spat over the near-silent click of the hammer on his revolver.

“Cosmo, watch yourself.” I cautioned.

“Why?” He muttered.

“Because your friend is rather perceptive.” De Witt answered, and the gem in the heart of his Alicorn Amulet began to glow and spark. “But now it’s time for you three to die.”

“Shit, get down!” I yelled. I grabbed Cosmo and Sky and tackled them to the sidewalk. The ‘umpth’ of the impact was the signal I needed and my eyes clenched shut. There was crackling of magic all around us before silence set over the plaza.

“Are we dead?” Sky whispered.

“I don’t think so.” Cosmo whispered back. “Cloud, say something.”

“Uh…” I started thinking and finally an image popped into my head. “Waffles?”

“What!?” Cosmo hollered. “That’s what you’re coming up with? Waffles?”

“Yup. We’re all definitely alive.” I answered as I scrambled to my feet. But why? I could smell the air through the vents in my helmet, so logically De Witt threw a shit-ton of power at us. I turned to face the old Griffon and was met with a Guard wearing golden armor. And do I mean gold; this stuff looked as bright as the sun under the flickering light of a white shield spell that stood between us and De Witt. “Uh, who’s that?”

Cosmo got up and holstered his revolver. “That’s Meteor.”

“The General? I’m sorry but since when could he can do that?” I asked, the bewilderment that carried along with my words clear even to me.

The shield dropped to reveal De Witt’s devilish grin. “Well this is interesting.” He said. “I distinctly remember removing your horn from your head Meteor.”

“Then you did a piss poor job.” The General replied. “I see that your taste in jewelry hasn’t changed.”

“Why should it?”

“Because it’ll breed imitators.” His hands went to his pouch and out came a near identical amulet to the one that De Witt was wearing, with a deep red gem in the place of the green one in De Witt’s.

“Please Meteor, you know not to play with dark magic. Leave it to an expert like me.” De Witt chided.

“I could say the same for you.” He clipped the amulet to a chain already around his neck; the gem flashed and the General’s eyes began to emit a red haze. “Cosmo, you and your team need to keep those sentries off me.”

“What are you going to do General?” Cosmo asked while sounding a bit concerned.

The mist in the General’s eyes became a darker shade of red as his clenched fists began to glow. “Something good-” he charged forward and wailed De Witt with an uppercut from his left and jumped back “-Something bad-” with his magic the General grabbed a pile of dirt off the sidewalk and slung it right into De Witt’s eyes as the Griffion tried to stagger back to a stable footing “-and a bit of both!” The General reared back and landed a high kick right in the center of De Witt’s chest, sending the Griffon soaring backwards before he rolled to a stop on the cobblestone a good twenty feet away.

“Should we do something?” I asked as the General stalked off towards the downed Griffon.

As the General picked up De Witt and tossed him the rest of the way across the plaza I heard Cosmo clicking his tongue. “Maybe?” He said, making his statement sound more like a question.

“Try not to think about it-” Sky insisted. “-because we’ve got incoming!”

Sky wasn’t kidding. Three heavily armored sentries were rushing across the plaza towards the three of us. I noticed a blinking set of two green in the bottom left corner of my heads up display; emitters ready. I glanced down at my wrists and saw the pulsing orange light coming from a two points right on the back of my hands. Finally the realization that I had turned the weapons on hit home like a sack of bricks. “I got em’!” I lifted my left hand towards the closest of the sentries and flicked my wrist. The orange-red lance of light caught the Sentry in the middle of his chest, followed by a shower of the same color sparks flying out of his back before he crumpled to the ground. The other two stopped in their tracks and looked to their fallen comrade. The body had landed face down, revealing the smoldering and melted armor on his back for all to see.

“You’re just full of surprises Cloud…” Cosmo muttered as he pulled his pistol out once more.

BANG BANG

The other two Sentries dropped right to the ground with their fallen comrade. Not that I know where Cosmo hit them, but he got the job done. My attention was more focused on the far side of the courtyard. “The General wanted us to keep the sentries off his back, right?” I asked as I scanned the face of city hall.

“Sure was, unless I was hearing things.” Sky answered.

My glare finally caught the glint of something shiny and metallic in an open window. “Then let’s actually do our jobs.” I flared out my wings and swung them down hard, with the thrusters on the back of my armor doing the rest of the work once I was in the air and speeding towards the city hall. As I got closer the shape of a Griffon in the shadows started growing clearer, as did the sniper rifle he was aiming at the General. Everything began to move slower by the time I reached the window, but the sniper made no indication that he had notice my rapid approach. I could feel the wood of the window frame splinter against my armor. Glass tinkered off my armor and for a split second, the sniper knew I was there. I felt a thud as my shoulder smacked into his head, and everything immediately began moving at normal speed as I landed on my feet and skidded to a stop in the middle of an empty office.

I turned around and saw the sniper slouched over a chair. Judging from the shoulder-sized indent in his head he won’t be getting up again. But his rifle had landed on the ground in a nearly undamaged state. With red and green light flashing outside I scooped it up and took up a spot at the broken window. The General and De Witt were brawling in the middle of the plaza with all the fireworks one could expect from ponies using ancient magical artifacts. I clicked my radio on and wedged myself into the broken frame. “Cosmo, can you hear me?”

“I hear you Cloud.”

I made note of De Witt’s position; he was too close to the General to risk a shot. “See if you can get De Witt to back off the General.”

***

Emona City Hall Plaza
Cosmo

“You want me to do WHAT?” I yelled.

“Just get De Witt away from the General so I can make a clean shot.”

“So we’re supposed to walk out and get between two demigods? Ya, that’ll work.” Sky snorted.

“We’ve done crazier things before.” I reminded Sky.

“That doesn’t make it any easier!” She retorted.

“And it shouldn’t.” I replied as I started walking towards the brawling titans. By this point the General was on the defense as he constantly used shield spells to block De Witt’s hammer-like blows. As I got closer I could feel shockwaves ripple through the air around me, and the smell of ozone got stronger as I got closer to the magical epicenter of the brawl.

“Come on you pansy, you can do better than that!” The General goaded under De Witt’s barrage.

I saw De Witt twitch as a smirk grew across his face. “You’re right. I can.” His facial expression changed once again, this time to one of intense concentration. Electricity began to crackle across his hands faster and faster until he opened his now glowing eyes. Then he threw a punch that broke through the General’s shield spell as if it was wet paper. He had time to realize what had just happened before the fist smashed into his chest.

I could feel the shockwave from the blow and could only watch in horror as the General flew backwards across the plaza and crashed through the wall of one of the stores that lined the far side. “Fuck…”

De Witt turned to face me and smirked once more. “So I take it you wish to try your luck Ranger?”

I staggered my feet and put my fists up in a defensive manner. “I could ask you the same question.”

“But where’s the challenge in that?” De Witt asked.

“I don’t know, but we’ll find that out pretty quick.”

De Witt lunged forward and tried to stomp down on one of my feed. I slid out of the way as his boot left a small crater in the cobblestone. I saw his left arm begin to swing up and stepped back just in time to miss an uppercut that would’ve easily broken my jaw. “Stay still!” He shouted as he swing his hand out to smack me across the face, an arc which I ducked under to deliver my own hook to De Witt’s chin.

As my knuckles compressed under the force of my strike I realized something; De Witt’s head didn’t move.

At all.

In the split second it took me to come to this realization I felt De Witt grab my collar, followed by the sensation of tumbling as he tossed me up into the air. I saw the blue cloudless sky over the city before I felt a clenched set of fists come crashing down on my gut, sending me hurtling down to the cobblestone. I felt a tinge of pain run around my side as I came to my crashing stop on the cobblestone. “I must admit, I didn’t think that you were that ballsy my dear Ranger.”

“I have my moments.” I groaned.

I tried to sit up but a boot planted itself on my throat and held me down. “And those moments are rather annoying.” De Witt replied. “But I won’t have that problem again.” He pulled a human-designed pistol off the back of his belt and slid a loaded magazine into its hilt. I tried to force his boot away from my neck so I could put some distance between myself and the evident danger I was staring at.

TINK!

Something hit De Witt’s pistol and knocked it out of his hand. When it clattered to the ground next to my head I could see the bullet that had lodged into the side of the barrel out of the corner of my eye. “Well that’s a problem.” De Witt muttered.

I felt De Witt’s boot let off my neck slightly as he turned about trying to find where the shot had come from. It was just enough for me to grab his leg and toss him off me. The Griffon stumbled back a few feet, steadying himself by the time I was back up. “You’re right. It is.”

TINK!

This time I saw the impact from the bullet. It hit square against the side of De Witt’s amulet and let loose a shower of sparks. De Witt seemed to panic and grabbed the sparking piece of jewelry. “No no no!” He muttered.

I felt my fur stick up on the back of my neck before someone grabbed my collar. “Time to go!” There was a flash of light that blinded me, and by the time it faded I realized that I was standing on a rooftop surrounded by Human and Equestrian soldiers. “Don, where’s our air support?”

I turned around in time to see Cloud Runner land on the roof next to the grizzled officer. “Paris will be on station inside a minute.”

“Did Baxter remember the high explosive rounds this time?” Meteor Shower asked from behind me.

“Paris, did you catch that?”

“Affirmative.” Came a voice over the radio as a long shadow grew over the courtyard, followed by a low humming from above us. I looked up, and after the events of today I couldn’t help but feel relief to see that the all too familiar shape of the Paris came a stop a few hundred feet above Emona.

“Don, am I on with the captain?” Meteor asked. The trooper tossed him a radio and nodded. “Captain, this is General Shower. I’m authorizing direct aerial bombardment, target will be marked.”

“Copy that General, we’re ready and waiting.”

“Light him up Don”

The human got up and unclipped a device that looked like a pistol from his belt. “Tremble to Paris, be advised that fire mission is danger-close.” Aside from the grip the similarities with a gun ended there; the back had a screen flanked by an eyepiece that looked more at home on the back of a rifle scope. He held held the trigger down with a click and a green beam shot out from the end of the device, down at the still flailing De Witt in the plaza. After a few seconds the device emitted a loud beep and the beam disappeared. “You can fire when ready.”

I looked up at the Paris and squinted. Along the underside of of the ship four turrets spun forward and angled straight at De Witt. “Isn’t this overkill?” I asked.

“Not even close.” Don retorted. “Now hold onto your teeth!”

While I didn’t hear anything as the first round left the barrel of the Paris’s cannon, I heard a whistling as it sailed past, followed by a deafening thud that left my ears ringing. By the time the second round landed I came to my senses and jammed my fingers into my ears. Instead of explosions I could hear the thuds of the high explosive rounds smacking into the ground one after another in a constant succession. I lost track of how many rounds sailed by the time I hit fifteen. But as soon as the barrage began it ended. There was plenty of dust that was kicked up, obscuring the plaza below us. I took my fingers out of my ears and noticed that the ringing had stopped. The only thing I could hear was the wind whistling through the streets below us and the hum of the Paris’ engines. “Did that do it?” I asked.

No one answered. Instead the small mob of us stood on the rooftop looking down into the dust-ridden plaza below. For a brief moment I felt the wind pick up and the dust began to blow away. As it cleared, it became more and more apparent that there was a Griffon standing in the destruction.

De Witt had stayed standing through the Paris’ bombardment.

Even with that in mind he was far from spotless. The old Griffon was bloodied, beaten and burnt. I could see sparks coming off what was left of his amulet from the perch we stood on. “What now?” I asked.

“I don’t know.” Meteor said as he shook his head in disbelief. “That bombardment was my trump card.” We didn’t have to wait long for a solution to present itself. In a flash of pale lavender light a bloodied unicorn teleported in. “Isn’t that Specter?”

“Damn right it is.” Comet noted. “Shouldn’t he still be out of commission?”

“Why, what happened?” The General asked.

“He took a knife to the gut.” I spat. Looking down at him it appeared that he was holding a small olive colored ball. I saw him flick something away from it and I realized what he was carrying. “He’s got a-”

BANG!

I didn’t flinch when the grenade went off. It knocked De Witt to the ground and sent Specter’s limp body tumbling back across the courtyard. I watched as the Griffon got up and noticed that the amulet wasn’t around his neck anymore. It was in pieces on the ground. “Quick, now’s our chance!” I yelled. I charged up and released a teleport spell that put me down right next to the beaten avian. “Miss me?” I sarcastically asked before slugging De Witt across the beak.

He tried to swing back but his fist was caught by Comet’s armored hand. “You’ve got to do better than that.” As De Witt tried to back away Comet whipped him around and wrenched his arm up into his back.

As troopers poured out of surrounding buildings I felt a bit relieved. With De Witt under control I could turn my attention to Specter. I found him sprawled out on his back about twenty feet away, missing his right arm that was holding the grenade. He was bleeding profusely, but was still breathing albeit at a labored pace. “Did we win?” He whispered.

I looked back to Cloud just in time to see the armored stallion slap a pair of handcuffs on the Griffon war criminal. “Ya. I think we did.”

“I hope it was worth it.” The young stallion muttered.

Two medics finally came rushing over and pushed me away from Specter. “I hope it was too.” I muttered in reply.

Author's Note

And that does it... The Battle of Emona is over! De Witt is in custody of the Equestrians, but don't expect things to be that simple in the final chapter, Worth. With all said and done it'll be an examination of the mental costs of a traumatic event. Keep in mind that both Sky and Comet haven't shown their scars outwardly, simply because the circumstances have kept them from dealing with their issues.

In the meantime, anyone got questions? Like what you're seeing so far? Hell, maybe have some gripes? There's a comment section and the Mirrorverse Codex. Read and comment away, because I want to hear from you fellow denizens of this corner of the internet. Until next time gang!
-Striker

Worth

Twenty four hours later aboard the H.M.S Paris
Cloud Runner

You would think that a decent night’s sleep would help after the events of yesterday. And it very well might have some benefit, assuming I could actually get some sleep. All I could do was replay one moment through my mind; slapping that pair of cold steel handcuffs onto De Witt. It was energizing… Invigorating even, and that high was likely what was keeping me awake. By all standards I should’ve crashed by now, yet I see nor feel an end to this state of mind. For hours I’ve been staring up at the ceiling above the bunk I was using. And honestly it’s getting rather old.

Ding

I sat up in bed once I realized that the noise was the room’s door chime. “Come in.”

The door slid open and Sky stepped in from the empty hallway. The door shut behind her and Sky seemed to let her posture slouch. “Can we talk?”

I swung into a sitting position and patted the open space on the bunk. Sky plopped down, looking even more downtrodden than when that door first shut. “You OK?”

“Not really.” She sighed.

“Alright…” I muttered. “You want to talk about it?”

Sky offered a curt nod. “I just don’t know where to start.” She whispered.

“Then just go with what feels-”

“My wings!” Sky blurted out. “I had the two most important parts of my body ripped away from me while some psycho tried to teach you guys some vague lesson about… Fuck if I know. Yet here I am with them intact and usable. How the hell am I supposed to feel? Because I’m pretty conflicted at the moment.” She turned and grabbed me by the shoulders “How the hell do you do it?”

“Do what?”

“Live with yourself!”

I sat there pondering Sky’s words and realized that she had a point. I got my own wings back within the last week. “Well… I don’t know. Sky, you got to remember that our dear General decided to alter my memories. Sure, I’ve got them back now… But everything else he did is still up in here.” I said, tapping the side of my head. “Even if I had time to really think about it in depth… Where I was without them for so long it’s just easier to cope with. It’s really more like a gift.”

Sky let me go and sat silent for a few moments. “I… How…” She finally sighed in defeat. “Maybe you’re right.”

“There’s some advice my Father told me when I was young, definitely after my ‘accident’.” I said, making fair use of air quotes at the same time. “Flying is a privilege. You can lose that privilege very quick if you do something stupid.”

“I don’t think I’ve heard a more apt piece of wisdom.”

“Ya, but my parents coddled me quite a bit after the General brought me home. Why do you think I went to college in Canterlot?” I stopped and mulled over the economics of it and came to a realization that I hadn’t previously considered. “I wonder if the General had something to do with that trust fund…”

“What are you going on about now?” Sky asked.

“My parents gave me access to a trust fund that they said has been in the family for decades.” I replied. “Now that I think about it I didn’t hear about it until I went to college… Might be something he left for me.”

“Does it matter?”

I shrugged. “Not really. It’s just something to think about.”

“Seems like there’s a lot of that going on…” Sky muttered.

“What else is there to think about?” I asked.

“Well what do I do now? Since I got here I’ve been tagging along with Sombra on his many expeditions to find what’s left of Princess Amore. He’s got what, two more pieces to find? I could either go do that, but then what? I’m not exactly a couch potato.”

“You might have a point…” I sat there pondering my own future and realized that the immediate prospects weren’t entirely that clear. “Something tells me I’m not getting my diploma anytime soon.”

“Why’s that?” Sky asked.

“Unless I’m mistaken half of Canterlot University is sitting at the bottom of the mountain.”

“That would be a problem.”

I don’t know how long we sat there, but the silence spoke volumes to our prospects. Neither myself or Sky had a clear plan for the future. We just helped end a war… What do you do after that? It’s clear that neither of us could settle back into our old habits, simply on the grounds that they’re either unavailable or hold unappealing long term prospects.

As if we were reading each other’s minds, both of us echoed each other's sudden determination. “We need to talk to Cosmo.”

Sky smirked as she got up off the side of the bunk. “I didn’t think a pegasus could read minds.”

“Please.” I chided. “I’m all original.”

Sky made for the door, and in the light that poured in from the hall I could see a full blown smile cross her muzzle. “We’ll see about that.”

***

Medical Ward, H.M.S. Paris
Cosmo

Every time I’ve been in a hospital was usually met with the din of nurses going about their work and the occasional doctor asking me questions about who I was there with or what I did to land myself in the emergency room. This time was different. Bar the beeping of the heart monitor the deck entire room was quiet. Considering there was a small mob of ponies milling about the deck I’d mark it up as a minor miracle. That miracle, however, clearly has a costly source. Laying in the only occupied bed in the ward was Specter, the young stallion that I’ve only barely known for a day. I felt it would be respectful to keep an eye on him, considering he was harmed under my watch. But to see Dusk and his own band of misfits here, along with a group of ponies that looked like they’d been through the ringer, showed that this young stallion is of some importance.

“How did you know him?”

I looked up at an older weathered stallion from my seat. “Who, Specter?”

“Ya.”

“He was with my team when he first got hurt.” I answered. “As far as I’m concerned that makes him my responsibility.”

The stallion pulled a chair next to me and plopped down. “It's been a long time since I heard someone use that justification.”

“Really?”

“Damn straight.” The stallion retorted. “I think I used that line of thinking last like what, twenty years ago now?”

“And I can’t say I’ve seen someone reflect on their own choices in a while either.” I offered.

“Name’s Jericho.” The stallion said, offering a hand.

I returned the gesture and shook the stallion’s hand. “I’m Cosmo.”

“Ah… You’re that stallion that Dusk recruited, aren’t you?”

“Yup. One of two ponies he managed to draft.” I answered. “And so far we’re both still kicking.”

“I never did get how Sky pulled it off.” Dusk said as he meandered over. “Better yet where’s she been hiding all these years?”

“I guess that bullet she got hit with was loaded with some drug that put her out for hours. As for where she’s been hiding… Well, as I understand it there’s been a bunch of nightclubs and running around ancient ruins with a supposedly reformed dictator from thousands of years ago.” I offered. “You know… Kid stuff.”

“Right… The whole Sombra thing.” Dusk droned. “I’ve never bothered paying much attention to him but I never heard about some gun-toting partner he had running with him.”

“And what did you hear?” I retorted. “Because all I knew is that Sombra was still kicking and searching for something. Beyond that I never heard anything else.”

“But you mean to tell me that the ponies in the know wouldn’t share that information with either of us? You mean to tell me that Celestia didn’t bother saying anything about a second pony running around dressed as a Desert Ranger? That right there just doesn’t jive with me.”

“And it doesn’t sit well with me either the more I think about it. But we can’t deal with a potential problem when we don’t know it exists.” I simply sat back in the chair and let my growing scowl relax. “But you know what? It doesn’t matter. Sky is my best friend, and when it counted she was there for me, Cloud, Trixie… She may not have been back in the game long but trust me when I say that I don’t think we would’ve been as successful down on that island without her.”

“Well that’s sweet.” I heard a feminine voice say behind me.

I turned around and offered a simple shrug to the mare and her witless wingpony. “What do you want me to say Sky? That you’re a complete jackass? Because that’s just as-”

“Just stop digging your grave Cosmo.” Sky replied with a chuckle.

Cloud grabbed a stool and slid it next to myself and Jericho. “So what have we missed?”

“Nothing much.” Dusk answered. “Specter hasn’t woken up at all, and the doctors are question whether he will. He lost a lot of blood just from the stab wound and deciding to make a kamikaze run at De Witt didn’t do him any favors. Couple that with the radiation -”

“Wait, what radiation?” I asked, questioning this new and unexpected tidbit of information.

Dusk and Jericho exchanged looks, almost like they didn’t know who should explain. “Lets just say there was an incident in the Northern Wastes and leave it at that.” Jericho finally admitted. “Forgive me for not wanting to talk about it, but it’s still a very raw topic.”

“At the end of the day we’ve been questioning how long Specter could handle the degradation that his radiation exposure was bringing on.” Dusk added. “I think he wasn’t all too enamored with his prospects down the road either.”

“Poor kid…” I muttered.

BEEP BEEP

Both mine and Dusk’s radios let off the same chime. I unhooked mine from my belt and clicked it on. “Cosmo here.”

“Cosmo, this is Captain Baxter. I need you and Dusk down in the brig now.”

Dusk and I both exchanged glances before we made for the door to the hall. “What do you think it is?” I asked.

“De Witt is down there…” Dusk droned as we made for the elevator. “Maybe they’re having trouble with an interrogation?”

Sky and Cloud caught up with the two of us as we stepped into the elevator to take us down further into the bowels of the Paris. “So you two don’t know what’s going on?” Cloud asked.

“If I knew I’d tell you.” I replied. We dropped down three decks before the elevator shuddered to a halt. The door opened to outside of the brig, under the guard of two human marines.

“What’s the problem gents?” Dusk asked.

The marines both stepped aside to let us into the brig. “Best that you see for yourself sir.”

Dusk shrugged and walked in without us. After a minute he came back out with a very different look on his face. It wasn’t one of confusion, but one of grave concern. “Cosmo, you need to see this.”

I waved Cloud and Sky off and followed Dusk inside. The grey of the painted bulkheads gave way to splotches of red all across the walls. We finally made it to the cell opposite of the door and I could see the source of Dusk’s concern; the decidedly headless and bloodied body of our prisoner was propped up in the back corner. “What the hell happened?”

“Would you believe me if I told you that his head exploded? Because that’s what happened.” Dusk answered.

“Believe you? De Witt’s missing his damn head. Even if I didn’t believe you I’m staring the proof right in the face!” I insisted. “Well… Or lack thereof but my point stands.”

“Baxter is pulling the surveillance-”

The decked out human officer swept into the room behind us and plopped a portable terminal down on the watch officer’s desk. “Got the footage right here.”

Both myself and Dusk joined the captain at the desk as he flicked on the monitor. The footage was only thirty seconds long; right away you saw De Witt fall to the floor before a massive explosion went off and tossed his body into the back corner of the cell, followed by marines rushing in. The tape ended shortly after the marines showed up. “That was it?” I asked.

The Captain nodded. “He sat in the same spot for twelve hours and didn’t move. No one came in this room, we already have three separate confirmations, one of which was the guard detail while the others were internal cameras and sensors. We’re assuming that his implants had some sort of explosive device built in, but we won’t know until we do a more detailed analysis.”

I glanced over at De Witt’s corpse before I returned my attention to the last frame of the surveillance camera footage. “Trust me Captain… There are some things better left buried.”

***

City of Emona, Carniola
Present Day
Cosmo

“After that there wasn’t much left for us to do here.” I said to Calvin, who had scribbling notes on the cardboard backing to his notepad by this point.

“Thats… That’s just incredible.” He murmured. “If I may Cosmo, what happened to your mother?”

“Mom? She came back to Vanhoover with me and has been living with me since we left the island. What was I supposed to do? Kick her out on the street?”

“Wow…” Calvin put his notepad down and sat back in his chair. “Something tells me this’ll be one hell of an article.”

“Well it better be.” Said Cloud. “We did just sit here for six hours going over what could essentially be a history book about the invasion.”

“History book…” Calvin scribbled that one last thought on the back of his notepad and underlined it before putting the pad back down. “I hope you don’t mind if I take the idea.”

“Go right ahead.” Cloud insisted. “I’m a bit rusty in the literature department anyway, so it would probably come out like shit if I wrote something.”

“It’s not like you have the time anyway.” Sky added.

“Hey, I have plenty of free time.” Cloud retorted.

“If you say so Cloud.”

“Well of course I say so! When’s the last time we did something big?”

“Can I ask another question?” Calvin asked as he grabbed a throw-away menu and flipped it over to the blank backside. “What happened to Specter?”

“He’s still hospitalized.” I replied. “He has been up and about but he’s still in shit shape.”

“Fair enough…” Calvin muttered as he scribbled that final tidbit of information down. “I think that this will do it.”

I grabbed the menu and pen, quickly scribbling down a phone number. “This is General Meteor Shower’s direct phone line. If you go ahead with this book, give him a ring and tell him I gave you the number.”

“Thank you.” Calvin said as a smile grew across his beak. “I’ll make sure to give the General a call.”

Then something vibrated in my pocket. “You do that.” I said as I got up. I fished out the small tablet from my jacket and saw that a new message had been received. I tapped the icon read four words; ‘Get back here - Mom’

As we walked out of the restaurant I made for the alleyway that ran along the side of the building. “What’s wrong Cosmo?” Sky asked.

“I don’t know.” I muttered as I led Cloud and Sky down the alley. I put the tablet back into my jacket and started charging up a teleportation spell. “But we’re leaving.”

POP!

In a flash of light and a brief sense of dizziness the three of us were standing in the hallway outside my Vanhoover home. “A warning would’ve been nice…” Cloud groaned as he tried to steady himself.

“You’ll live.” I retorted as I threw the door open and marched into the loft. “Mom, you here?” I didn’t get a response by the time I made it to the wide-open armory door.

“Wasn’t that shut earlier?” I heard Sky asked Cloud.

“It was.” I replied as I walked in. Normally there’s plenty of open floor space, but someone had brought in a large table and plopped it square in the middle of the room. At the head of the table was my mother Constellation, flanked by Phalanx, Trixie and Storm Chaser. “Where’d the table come from?” I asked

“I found it in the basement.” Mom replied. “It wasn’t too hard to get Phalanx to bring it up here.”

“Then why is it here?” I insisted.

“Because I need the help.”

I turned around to find that Sombra was hiding in the corner of the room behind me. “You could’ve called ahead.”

“You're right, I could’ve.” Sombra admitted as he took a seat at the foot of the table. “But I know you well enough at this point to know that you have an open door policy.”

“Fair enough.” I offered as I took a seat next to the former dark king. “So what’s on the agenda?”

“I take it you’re aware of my efforts to locate the final pieces of Princess Amore’s crystallized form?” I nodded and Sombra sat back in the chair. “Well I’m in the process of locating the final piece, and I’ll need assistance to recover it once I confirm it’s location.”

“That’s it?” I asked. “You just want our help finding a chunk of crystal?”

“If it was that simple I’d do it myself.” Sombra retorted. “Look, I can go into more details once I have them, but I need something solid to back me up. And I highly doubt that the Princess is willing to do much more for me at this point.”

“We always did it on our own before. What changed?” Sky asked.

“The need for advanced sensors and remotely operated drones.” Sombra answered. “Long story short that expended what little political capital I had with the Princesses.”

“So you need additional support.” I replied as I finally put the parts together. “And you want our help.”

“Not just you Cosmo. Your organization.” Sombra offered.

“How can you call me housing a bunch of homeless ponies and training them in self defense an organization?” I asked.

“Cosmo, there’s more to it and you know it.” Phalanx snapped. “We’ve been teaching the ponies downstairs basic investigative skills, martial arts, weapon maintenance and usage, computer principals… Look you get the idea.”

“And how do you get them to go along with a paramilitary organization? Huh? Answer that.” I retorted.

“They already signed up.” My mother answered as she pulled a sealed envelope out of her jacket. “And this makes everything they signed onto official.”

As the envelope skidded to a halt on the table in front of me I immediately recognized the royal seal. “Mom… What did you do?”

“I called in a favor.” She said as her smirk grew. “Go ahead, open it.”

“Fine.” I lifted the seal off the envelope and pulled out the letter it held. In large bolt type was a single word; Declaration. “Let's see… Effective immediately the crown recognizes that the group denoting itself as ‘The Northern Guard’ has interests in ensuring the sovereignty of Equestria and protecting its inhabitants. We hereby recognize the group as a legal entity that can move throughout the land without let or hindrance in pursuit of its goals.” I wiped the crust from my eyes and read the first part of the letter to myself again. “Son of a bitch… We just got a blank check.”

“Go on, there’s more isn’t there?” Sky chided. “I want to hear the rest of this.”

Sky was right, there was more. “To ensure that the Northern Guard is successful in its endeavors, we are gifting two percent of the current royal treasury to the organization as a means of investing in its continued service as well as deeding Pier Fifteen on the Vanhoover Waterfront to the group as tax exempt property that may be used at their discretion.” I put the letter down as a grin crossed my face. “Um… How big is the royal treasury?” I asked.

“Lets just say that your great grandfoals will have some left by the time they come around.” My mother added pointedly.

“And you did this?”

Mom offered a smirk. “More or less. And if it helps I’ve already called up some engineers to start drawing up plans for the pier.”

Of course Mom read the letter. That much should’ve been clear by the lack of tearing when I took the seal off the envelope. “And just how did you pull this off Mom?”

“Well, there may have been some blackmailing involved… And finding a lost pre-discordian text in the castle library when I got taken on a tour by General Meteor Shower last week. Not like it had been stuck behind a bookshelf for fifty years, but who am I to complain?” She said in as a nonchalant of a manner as she could. “I had Celestia begging me for ways to repay me, so I figured why not actually get paid for once.”

I could just imagine it. My mother standing with some wood-covered book with Celestia, or maybe just Princess Sparkle, begging her to not destroy the book. “I see you’re still good at getting what you want.”

“Of course I am.” Mom retorted. “Now what’s your next move kiddo?”

It should be obvious by now where I stand. I folded the letter back up and pushed it back into the envelope. “Sombra, you’ve got yourself a deal.”

Author's Note

Thats it, we did it! Well I did it... There wasn't a team or anything- I can finally close the book on the Northern Guard story arc. The cliffhanger ending is done on purpose, as I eventually want to pick up another adventure with this crew. At the very least I've got an interesting short story idea going for Constellation revolving around her tour of Canterlot Castle, I've got a cover logo in the works to add to the story, and I'm thinking of how to justify Cosmo's comment at the end of Broken Mirror Part I where he expressed that he thought Specter was dead... At the end of the day we'll see where all that goes. In the mean time I'll be turning my attention back to Broken Mirror to keep that moving along.

In the meantime, anyone got questions? Like what you're seeing so far? Hell, maybe have some gripes? There's a comment section and the Mirrorverse Codex. Read and comment away, because I want to hear from you fellow denizens of this corner of the internet. Until next time gang!
-Striker

Open Warfare

HMS Paris
Cosmo

For once I feel like I’m out of place. Well lit, orderly… After the hell I’ve been dealing with for the last week just standing in a place like this feels way off.

“Cosmo?” Trixie asked. “What’s wrong?”

I shrugged. “I’m not used to peace and quiet.”

“Well you’ll get used to it.” I heard the Captain say as he walked onto the bridge. “Alright, everyone listen up!”

Commander Tremble took the fore and pulled up a projection on the holotable in the center of the bridge. “This is Carniola, our new home for the next few days. Our goal is simple; we liberate the island by any means necessary.”

“At the moment the island is under the control of our friend here.” Baxter added as an old picture of De Witt was added to the display. “It’s an old file photo, but this is the bastard you have to thank for fucking up your weekends.”

“In short, we’re gonna mess up his.” Captain Sentry added as he approached the table. “I’ll be blunt, De Witt is not our target. Our goal is to take back Carniola alongside Griffon Marines. The Northern Guard will be handling our wannabe dictator.”

“Now, any questions?” Baxter asked.

“I got one.” Cloud said, walked out from behind me. “When do we leave?”

“Well aren’t you eager?” Tremble asked. “You’re young, you’ve got a life ahead of you. What’s with the death wish?”

Cloud chuckled. “You really think I’ll be the one dying down there?”

“Son, have you heard yourself?” Baxter asked. “You don’t even have a dog in this fight and you’re willing to run straight into a line of bullets. That armor of yours might be good, but that line of thinking of yours will get you killed.”

“Ha!” Cloud just slapped his knee before shaking his head, seemingly still amused. “Of course I got a stake here.”

I noticed Cloud’s face went from amused to angry in a matter of moments and he started to march towards Baxter. I ran forward and got in front of him. “Go take five.”

“Cosmo, come on.”

Now it’s my turn to get angry. “That wasn’t a suggestion.” The little voice in the back of my head let off a sigh of relief when he relented and walked off the bridge.

“Does anyone want to tell me what the hell that was?” I heard Baxter ask.

“I don’t know.” I said. “This is the first time I’ve ever seen Cloud act like that.”

“That’s not to say he hasn’t done something similar.” Sky added. “When we found De Witt’s agent in Canterlot he looked like he was about ready to beat him to death.”

“Don’t forget those holes he put in the wall.” Phalanx pointed out. “I know it wasn’t the thickest, but that was granite he broke.”

“He did what?” I asked.

“You heard me.” Phalanx retorted. “Didn’t even see a scratch on him afterwards.”

“Wouldn’t that be something to tell me?”

Sky rolled her eyes. “Cos this is the longest conversation we’ve had in days and you’ve been goddess knows where. How the hell am I supposed to tell you?”

I shook my head before looking over at Palmer. “What do you think?”

“Well I’d have to go back through the reports…” She said. “But there has been a marked increase in aggressive behavior in some Spartan candidates post-augmentation. There’s also been some issues with similar behavior based on different equipment. No real answer on that front just yet.”

“How many?” I asked.

Palmer shrugged. “Maybe half a percent if that, so I doubt that’s the source of Cloud’s problems.”

“What if he was aggressive to begin with?” Sky asked.

“Maybe that could make it worse... I just don’t know. There have been psychologists working on that question for years and there’s still nothing that they’ve found that says that certain behaviors can influence what they’re seeing after the augmentations.”

“Palmer, you’re telling me that no one has ever bothered doing a proper psychological exam on Spartan recruits?” I asked pointedly.

“Up until the current program it’s never been a major concern.” She said. “Previous generations were conscripts that were either taken from their homes or who had lost their entire family to Covenant attack. Spartan Fours are all volunteers.”

“Cos.” Sky said as she caught my attention. “With what little we do know… His history isn’t what I’d call squeaky clean.”

“I’m debating that.” I reassured. “But we can’t stop him coming even if we wanted to. Might I point out he’s practically a walking tank?”

“Then you’ll need to keep him on a short leash.” Baxter spat. “I don’t have time to deal with a wild card.”

“Understood Captain.” I said. “Time to go.” I said, walking off the bridge with Sky on my heel.

“Cosmo, what do we do about Cloud if we can’t keep him under control?” Sky asked.

I shrugged. “Point him towards De Witt’s mansion. He’ll either tire himself out or blast all the way through to the bastard.”

“Or he could get killed.”

“OK, you might be-” I stopped when I saw Halsey walk around the corner with Archer right behind her. “Hey Doc.”

“You’re a busy man Cosmo.” Halsey chided.

“All in a day’s work.”

Halsey rolled her eyes. “Well do you have some free time?”

I nodded. “We got what, three hours? What do you need?”

“It’s not really what I need, per say…”

Archer tapped my wrist. “You can’t be a hero on an empty stomach!” She said, wry smile plastered across her face.

You know what? She’s got a point. “Trixie, Sky, I think the mess has started calling to me.” Here’s hoping the humans make good salads.

***

HMS Paris, Hangar
Cloud

“NO! LET ME GO!”

I felt someone shove me, snapping me out of my funk. I opened my eyes to the blue glow of the helmet’s display. Staring me right in the face was Sombra. “You alright?” He asked.

I clicked the speakers on the helmet back on, having killed them when I sat down so I could doze off without anyone hearing me. “I’m fine, why?” I asked, managing to choke down the chills that were running down my spine from that old nightmare.

“You were fidgeting.” The old king pointed out.

“I was trying to take a nap.” I snipped as I sat up straight on the bench.

“And having a nightmare at the same time.” I felt my brow furrow as Sombra cocked an eyebrow. “Princess Luna isn’t the only one able to dreamwalk.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I said, feeling a bit relieved that the helmet hid my face.

Sombra rolled his eyes. “Boy, I wasn’t born yesterday.” He sat down on the bench next to me and hunched over. “Cloud, what the hell was that?”

“Just a nightmare.” I muttered. “Why the hell do you care anyway?”

Sombra shrugged out of the corner of my eye. “I’d say we’re both tortured souls. But why were you a Pegasus? In there I mean.”

“Hell if I know.” I said as I reached up and tugged off my helmet. “I’ve been having that same nightmare for years.”

“Years?”

I nodded. “Started having it when I was in the hospital after my sister was kidnapped. I’ve had it sporadically…”

“And there’s something else along with it.” Sombra stated.

“Yup.” I said, leaning back against the wall. “I’ve had that nightmare every night since Halsey was done with me.” Come to think of it Dusk said he’s teach me to fight... I might want to bring that up with him when he gets back.

Sombra nodded and leaned back against a post on the edge of the bench. “What happened to you anyway?”

“I was having dinner in Canterlot with my parents when the Enclave attack began. A group of soldiers busted into the restaurant and started barking orders to surrender…” I chuckled as I though back to the memory. “I tried to get the drop on their leader... But it didn’t work. He saw me coming and blasted me in the chest.” I said, knocking on my chest plate. “Lost a chunk of my lung to that.”

“And after that…” Sombra started.

I nodded. “The augmentations that Halsey did all helped me. At the time I was angry though, so Dusk didn’t have to convince me at all to get the neural lace implanted so I could use this armor.”

“So let me see if I follow here. You never killed anyone before, but the moment you got shot in the chest you were willing to turn your whole life on its head?”

“It seemed like a good idea at the time!” I insisted. “Granted… I’ll agree, I’m no killer. But the world around me seems like it’s falling apart and at the time I felt absolutely powerless.”

“And you acted on that feeling.” Sombra stated, myself nodding in agreement. “Call me crazy, but it sounds like you haven’t had much of a break as of late.”

“Nope.” I muttered. “I’ve been shot, cut open, found out my missing sister is alive and amnesic, fought a dragon-.”

“You fought a dragon?”

I nodded. “Cosmo took the brunt of it. Lucky for me that armor he had lying around is fireproof. I’ve also helped fight an Alicorn, take in a criminal mastermind… Oh, and got laid. So ya, no real breaks for me.”

Sombra nodded as he got up and looked down at me. “Take it from me Cloud. When all this is over, you need a vacation.” I watched as the old king walked off and thought back on those last few words. He is right though… I do need a vacation.

***

HMS Paris, Mess Hall
Cosmo

“-and you should’ve seen the look on my face.” Trixie said with a chuckle, finishing off her story about that time she inadvertently convinced some of ‘Ponyville’s Finest’ that she could take down an Ursa Minor.

“You’ve obviously mellowed out since then.” I pointed out.

Trixie nodded. “It took me a while and another lesson in self-humiliation, but I did.”

“The moral here Archer is don’t inflate your ego like dear Trixie here.” I said patting Trixie’s shoulder.

“Eh, sounds a bit boring to me.” Archer said with a shrug.

“Then be happy you’ve never seen an Ursa Minor.” Trixie pointed out. "It's an experience I wouldn't wish on anyone."

Archer just looked between Trixie and Halsey, hoping that one of them would reassure her. Halsey just shrugged. “Don’t look at me. I’ve never seen one.”

That’s when Archer looked at me with that quizzical look plastered across her face. “Cosmo?”

I mimicked Halsey’s shrug. “I’m pretty sure they’re extinct where I’m from.”

“Well could we go find one?”

I had to stop to really think about the question before Trixie jabbed me in the side. “When you’re a bit older.” Trixie jabbed me in the side again. “What?”

“Do you really want to take her into the Everfree?”

“I said when she was older!” I insisted. “Besides, I’m an expert at dealing with dangerous situations. We’ll do fine.”

“Right…” Trixie droned as she rolled her eyes.

“Sky, back me up here!” I looked over at the other mare at the table and noticed she was just smiling at the two of us. “Sky?”

“I’m just gonna sit here and admire the fact that you’re actually happy for a change.” She said. “It’s refreshing.”

“What are you talking about? I’m plenty happy.”

“I don’t know…” Archer added. “You’ve been pretty grumpy.”

I wanted to yell at Archer, but damn those eyes. Innocent in every sense of the word. “In my defense…” Damnit, I just can’t. “I really don’t have a defense.” I said, making sure to keep it short and to the point.

“And that’s why this is refreshing.” Sky added. “You’ve been a bit of a grouch since I showed up. Seriously, is that just how you operate these days?”

“Sky…” I groaned. “I’ve survived a siege, got my butt handed to me in a fight club that I broke up, nearly got roasted alive by a dragon, almost got blown up by the air support I called in to deal with the dragon, very well could've drowned in freak tsunami, helped fight an Alicorn to a stand still, took down a crime boss and now I’m involved with an invasion of a sovereign nation.”

“You need a vacation.” Halsey pointed out.

I nodded. “And I’ll gladly take one once we’re done in Carniola.”

“Archer, how about some ideas on what to do after we get back?” Trixie suggested.

The filly shrugged. “That can wait. I want to ask Cosmo a question.”

I nodded. “Fire away kiddo.”

“Did your parent’s really die in Dodge City?”

Shit, this again? “Obviously there’s a lot to tell you about, but that’s no lie. Granted it’s not the Dodge City that you might know.”

“We’re not really from around here.” Sky added.

“What she said.” I said. “Once we’re done… Once we’re done, we’ll sit down and go over everything. As far as I’m concerned you do deserve to know.”

“Just another reason for you to come back, right?”

I just looked at Archer and smiled. “I’d come back anyway kiddo.”

I didn’t have a chance to keep up the conversation when I felt someone tap my shoulder. “Can I borrow you for a few?” Sombra asked.

I sighed in defeat and followed the followed him away from the table, glancing back over my shoulder at Archer one last time before I walked out into the hall. “Alright, what’s so important that you’re interrupting what could be my last meal?”

“Has Cloud mentioned any nightmares to you at all?”

“Nightmares?” I mumbled. That’s a new one. “No, he never has.”

“Well I happened to walk in on one.” Sombra probably realized that I had no idea what he was talking about. “I can enter dreams too you know.”

“Ah.” That makes far more sense. “So what did you see that has you running to come find me?”

“Cloud is an earth pony, right?”

“Unless I missed the horn, wings, whatever… He is.”

Sombra nodded. “Well in this little nightmare of his, he was a Pegasus.”

“Alright, it’s just a nightmare.” I said. “What’s the worst it could mean?”

“Cosmo… He was having those wings ripped out of their sockets.” Sombra said, a frown plastering itself across his face. “And it was a Griffon that looked distinctly like De Witt that was doing the mutilating.”

“He saw a picture of De Witt on the bridge. What's the big deal?” I asked.

“That’s the kicker. He said he’s had that nightmare on and off since his sister was kidnapped.”

“And you think it’s the same nightmare?”

Sombra shook his head. “I have a theory, but I need to see his medical scans from after the attack on Canterlot.”

I nodded. “Alright, then you share?” Sombra nodded in agreement and we walked off down the hall to the infirmary. All I had to do was look at the nurse and she stepped away from her desk to let me use the computer. “What exactly are we looking for?” I asked.

“If Cloud was surgically altered there would have to be some sort of scan on his bone structure, musculature, et cetera.”

I typed in Cloud’s name on the search function and came up with a series of recent entries. “Let’s see… Psych eval, pre-op and post-op reports, alright here we are.” I said as I clicked on the recent exam file. The screen asked if I wanted a holographic display of the files, which I readily accepted. The first layer was Cloud’s muscles. “What are we looking for exactly?”

“Well first I need you to rotate the scan horizontally one hundred eighty degrees.”

“Alright, rotate…” That did the trick. I looked up and down and noticed two holes in Cloud’s muscle layer. “What the hell?”

“Hell indeed…” Sombra muttered. “Look at this section here.” He said, point out the area around the ‘holes’ in Cloud’s back. “Those muscles are barely even developed.”

“What makes you say that?”

“The layer right there is thinner.” The nurse said, having never left the room. “Generally speaking, muscles that are actually used are thicker and more built up to handle the activities they’re called on to perform.”

“There’s only one other thing I want to see. Pull up the skeletal scan, same orientation.”

I clicked it up and almost didn’t want to look up when I heard the nurse gasp. Almost. I looked up, focusing on the same spot where the voids were in Cloud’s muscles. I felt my eyes go wide and I looked over at Sombra. “What exactly am I looking at?”

“You’re looking at two joints that were forcibly broken and cut out in a haphazard manner.” Sombra said.

“Then would you like to share your theory now?” I asked.

Sombra nodded. “I don’t think our friend is having nightmares. I think he’s seeing repressed memories.”

I looked back at the spots on the scan. “Goddess.” I muttered. “De Witt got to him… When he was a child?”

“He’s a monster that doesn’t differentiate between young and old.” Sombra said quietly. “Now do you see why I’m so willing to help you?”

“Because you know De Witt’s a monster.” I don’t think I’ve ever said anything truer, and the proof has been in front of me the whole time. Cloud’s no earth pony, he obviously never was. “Do you think Cloud knows?”

“I severely doubt it.” The old king noted. “For some memory to assert itself as a nightmare like that… It must have buried. And someone would’ve had to bury it.”

“Could De Witt of done that?”

Sombra shook his head. “Not his MO. He wants to make his victims suffer, no forget about it.”

That does it then. I don’t care if this bastard is evil or not. De Witt will pay. That’s another promise I plan to keep.

***

Three Hours Later, Somewhere off the Coast of Carniola
Cosmo

“So who are we listening to again?” I called over the sounds of music blaring over the radio and air rushing around the open cabin of the Falcon that was bringing us to the island.

“Jimi Hendrix.” Palmer said over the radio from one of the flanking transports. “It’s called ‘All Along the Watchtower’. This is easily one of the most iconic songs from the twentieth century.”

"Never took you for a music junkie Palmer."I said, focusing on the music as we got closer to the island. “I like it.”

“This is Captain Baxter to all units. The word is given. Commence Operation North Star.”

“Alright gang, it’s showtime!” I called into the radio as I spotted one of the sandbars that was exposed by the tide down on the beach below. “You ready Trixie?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be.”

I nodded. “Just stay behind me.” The Falcon shuddered as it hit the beach. Already bullets were kicking up sand as I slid off the seat and hit the ground. The bullets didn’t stop coming, but the locals have some really shitty aim. “Palmer, take out those guns!” I yelled as I grabbed a rifle off the rack on the Falcon’s side.

“On it!” The Commander yelled as she charged up the beach towards the impromptu barricades.

“What do you need me to do?” Cloud asked as he jogged over and a bullet clipped his shields.

“That sniper that thinks you’re a target?” I asked as another shot glanced off the armor’s shields. “You might want to deal with him.”

Cloud nodded and ran off after Palmer, leaving a smaller group standing on the beach as bullets buzzed around. “Are we really standing out in the fucking open!?!?” Felix yelled as he jumped over rounds as they smacked into the sand.

“Just wait for it.” I said.

“Wait for what?” Phalanx asked.

A moment later the sounds of gunfire up the beach from us disappeared and the bullets stopped flying. “Machine gun nest is down.” Palmer called over the radio.

“That answer your question?” I asked. "This is Ranger to Force Recon. Landing Zone is clear, send the cavalry."

"Copy that Ranger. FR elements on final approach." Three Pelicans buzzed overhead and headed inward before one landed on the beach, disgorging it's cargo of Equestrian Rangers.

“Mostly.” Phalanx retorted as a group of rangers brushed by on their march towards town.

“Then we’ll answer the rest once we regroup.” I clicked on my radio and was met with a short blast of static from the receiver. “Copy that Palmer. Stay put, we’re coming to you.”

“Up the beach then.” The guard said, swinging a rifle into his hands from across his back.

“You’re the one who said it.” I quipped as I started off towards the hill overlooking the sand. Other than the gunfire and bombs, this place really isn’t that bad. It could definitely do without the criminal mastermind running things… But that won’t be a problem much longer.

“Something on your mind Cosmo?” Trixie asked.

I shrugged as I stepped over one of the logs marking the end of the sand. “It’s too bad that we’re turning this island on its head. It’s rather nice here.”

“You got no reason to feel bad.” Phalanx added. “De Witt takes anything he wants and corrupts it.”

“But the griffins here didn’t do a damn thing.” I retorted.

Phalanx shook his head with a frown growing across his face. “Then I shouldn’t have to yell you that war is messy.” We finally crested the hill and Phalanx pointed at the town off in the distance. “None of the children in that town deserve to see what war does to their world. They don’t play a role in De Witt’s madness, but he doesn’t care. To him it’s all about his big picture, regardless of who gets crushed under his heel along the way.”

“Sounds like fun.” I muttered.

“What sounds like fun?” Cloud asked as he and Palmer joined us.

“Nothing.” I said. “Alright, where do we start?”

Palmer typed something into the tacpad built into her armor and a hologram of the area grew out of the projector in her armor. “We check the villa first.” She said, a rather expansive estate about a half-mile away from us lighting up in red.

“And if he’s not there?” Cloud asked.

“It’ll be likely that De Witt has other safe houses here in Carniola.” Sombra said. “If we’re lucky we’ll be able to find something in the villa to point us towards them.”

“What are we waiting for? Let’s get moving.” As I started walking down the path on the other side of the hill I realized that the Villa was in a wide-open field. No walls, no fences, nothing. As we got closer I noticed the windows; many of them were filthy, some were boarded up while at least one was cracked. I focused on the villa, pushing the sounds of gunfire out of my head. I heard the nearly silent crunch of gravel under my feet, the soft movement of the breeze across my ears… But nothing else. “Shouldn’t there be someone here?” I asked as I walked up onto the stone patio. “And De Witt lives here, why does his house look like a shithole?”

“Can’t say.” Phalanx said. “I’ve only been here once. Looks like someone moved out and let the place go.”

“Maybe.” I retorted. “But wouldn’t-”

“Cosmo, look!” Cloud yelled as he jogged past me.

I noticed what he was pointing at and frowned. “Blood?” I joined the young stallion and knelt down next to the puddle. “And it’s fresh.”

“Someone’s likely been here.” I heard Sombra mutter.

“Head’s on a swivel then.” Sky replied, followed by the click of her rifle’s receiver as she chambered a round.

Palmer knelt down with us, pulling a probe out of one of her armor’s compartments and plugging it into her tacpad. “If we’re lucky we’ve got the DNA in this puddle on file.” I listened to the scraping that the probe made across the stone as it picked up some of the blood. Immediately Palmer’s instrument started beeping. “That was fast…” She pressed a button on her arm, I’m assuming to show her the file on her head’s up display. She didn’t say anything, instead looking over at Cloud.

“What?” He asked.

“Cloud…” Palmer said, sounding somewhere between confused and angry. “This is your blood.”

The stallion shook his helmeted head. “No way. Can’t be.” He jumped back to his feet and looked up at the house. “It can’t be…”

“Can’t be what?” Palmer asked, getting back to her feet herself.

“It’s got to be a mistake.” Cloud insisted.

“Cloud, is there something wrong?” I asked.

He nodded. “I think I’ve been here before.”

I glanced over at Sombra, who was looking rather concerned, before turning my attention back to Cloud. “How could you have been here before?”

“I’ve got one way to find out.” I didn’t have a chance to stop him before Cloud marched over to the back door and kicked it off its hinges.

“Sombra, what’s he doing?” I muttered.

“Remember his nightmare?” Sombra asked. “It didn’t end out here.”

Awe shit. I glanced at Palmer before I tore off into the house. “Cloud!” I yelled. “Where-” I didn’t have to look far. He was standing in a parlor just off the kitchen standing over another pool of blood. But that wasn’t what had his attention. It was something on the other side of the room. “Cloud?”

“No…” I heard him mutter as he walked over to the far wall. “This is just a bad dream.”

“Cloud!” Sombra yelled as he ran into the room.

“You’re a bit late to the party.” I chided.

“It wasn’t a dream, was it?” Cloud asked as he took something down off the wall and tossed it to the floor. “Well... was it?!” He yelled.

Sombra shook his head. “It never was a dream Cloud. It was a memory. Someone who knew what they were doing managed to hide it from you.”

I looked down at the plaque and almost instantly wanted to puke. Goddess, De Witt turned his wings into a fucking trophy.

BLEGH!!! “Ugh…” I heard Felix groan as he caught his bearings after emptying his gut. “That sick, twisted fuck!”

“I need some air.” Trixie said before running back outside.

I walked over to Cloud and grabbed his shoulder pauldron. “Cloud, listen to me and listen good.” Alright, I don’t know if he’s listening at all, but it’s the best I got. But I really don’t care. I’m more concerned about how hot I felt my face getting “We are going to find De Witt. I’m going to personally beat his brains out and then we’re going to bomb whatever’s left into ash.”

“No.” Cloud muttered. “You’re not doing anything.”

“What?” I asked, almost yelling.

“He’s mine.” Cloud said, almost growling.

Beep.

“Anyone hear that?” Palmer asked.

Beep.

“Wait…” Palmer pushed Cloud and I apart and marched over to the wall and bashing her fist into it. “What the fuck?” I noticed she had pulled out a small black box with a camera hanging off it by a red cable.

Beep.

“Aw shit.” Palmer said. “Palmer calling Paris, respond.”

“Palmer…” I said, forgetting that I was in the middle of an argument with Cloud.

“Cosmo, hit your radio.” The Spartan ordered.

I nodded and flicked it on

zzzzttttt

“What the fuck?” I asked.

“It’s a jammer.” Palmer said.

“And why would someone be jamming our radios?”

She turned it over in her hand before she stopped. “If you have the right equipment, you can home in on a jamming signal to find its source.”

“Meaning what?” Cloud asked.

Palmer’s head turned towards the few of us that were left in the room. “It’s a rangefinder.”

“Rangefinder…” Oh fuck. “It’s a trap!” I yelled. “Everyone-”

BOOF!

I felt pieces of glass glance across my face as one of the windows shattered inwards with the explosion from… Goddess knows what. All I know is that I was tumbling across the floor before I smacked into a broken bookshelf. “Everyone still here?” I yelled.

“Forget about it, just go!” Sombra yelled.

BOOF!

I felt the second blast kick against my chest as the ceiling over the fallen form of Sombra dropped. “Sombra, move!” I yelled.

CRRACK!

Sky ran over and tried to help him up but one of the beams in the ceiling swung down and smacked her into the wall.

BOOF!

I didn’t pay attention to the third blast, I was just too dazed. I didn’t realize where I was until someone splashed my face with water and I felt it quickly drying under some sort of heat. “What happened?” I muttered.

“Rocket artillery.” Palmer said from over me. “The locals used that beacon to find the range.”

“And the camera confirmed that we were there.” I finished as I sat up and looked at the burning house and remembered the ceiling falling to pieces. “Where’s Sky?” I asked.

“Cosmo…” Palmer said. “I’m sorry.”

“No.” I struggled to my feet and tried to approach the burning house before stopping at the heat wave. “Sky!” I yelled.

“Cosmo even if we could get to her and Sombra they have a whole building on top of them.” Palmer insisted. “And if someone see’s us up and walking then you can guarantee that we’ll have more bombs coming down on our heads.”

“No, we’re getting them out!”

Palmer got between me and the burning ruins and jabbed me in the chest with her armored finger. “We. Need. To. Go.” She said, driving every word home with jab after jab.

“Sky…” I muttered. Damnit, I can’t believe I’m doing this. “You’re right.” I said. “Fall back to the beach.” I got one last look at the house as one of the few remaining outer walls collapsed inward. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” I whispered, forgetting that there were others around me that could see the tears starting to stream down my face over the weight of the move; I was abandoning my best friend to die.

***

Carniola Landing Zone, Forward Command Post, One Hour Later
Cosmo

I didn’t move after we reached the command post, plopping down on an ammo crate up against one of the barricades and just about collapsing as the physical and emotional exhaustion of the last few days finally managed to smack into me like a wall of bricks.

“Cosmo?” I looked up and saw Captain Sentry staring down at me.

“What do you want?”

“There’s something you need to see.” I didn’t say anything as I followed Flash into the command tent. “This just came in from one of our RFR units.” He said, handing me a tablet. “Look familiar?”

As a matter of fact that Griffon does. “De Witt.” I muttered. “Where was this taken?”

“Emona. Just outside the city hall.” He said. “They weren’t able to get pictures, but RTR did confirm that De Witt has three nebelwerfer batteries set up in the adjacent park.”

“It’s his command post.” Palmer said as she walked up. “What’s the plan?”

“Echo Company can get your team in Cosmo.” Flash noted. “But you’re on your own once you hit the town hall, they’ll be too busy taking out those batteries.”

“That’s fine.” I muttered. “And the rescue team?”

“They’re working on getting to the villa but those rockets are keeping them pinned down.”

I nodded “So the sooner we get moving-”

“The sooner we can get Sky out of that rubble.”

“Alright.” I walked out of the tent and looked around the camp. Off to the side were the few of us who got out of the villa in one piece.

“So what are we doing?” Phalanx asked as I walked up.

“We’re talking first.” I pulled over a stool and plopped down in front of the group, looking everyone over one at a time. Felix looked the worst of us, having stitches running down his right arm. Trixie didn’t seem too bad off physically, but who knows what’s in her head. And then there’s Cloud… I can’t read him under that helmet. “Force recon spotted De Witt outside of city hall in Emona. They’ve also confirmed the presence of the rocket batteries that were thrown against us at the Villa.”

“But what about that blood?” Phalanx asked. “Why’s was Cloud’s blood on the ground?”

“I’ve been there before.” He mumbled. “When I was a child my sister was kidnapped. I don’t remember how I got there but I was taken there and given to De Witt for… Damn, I don’t know why, I thought that was just a bad nightmare.”

“You don’t remember having wings?” Felix asked.

Cloud shook his head. “Aside from that nightmare I don’t remember a thing about them.”

"That's rough." The fox muttered.

“Cloud, I’ll help you figure out why you can’t once we deal with De Witt.” I assured. “But we’re about to walk into hell, and I want to give you all a choice. Will you stay here, or will you see this through to the end with me?”

Phalanx glance around the group and sighed. “I guess I’ll say it then.” He said as he rose to his feet. “We’re all here for a reason. Whether it’s to get justice, out of loyalty to a friend…” He paused before looking over at me. “Or showing a little filly that there’s always a light in the dark. We’re here now and I think I speak for all of us when I say that we’ll go wherever you go Cosmo, whether it’s to those pearly gates or to the depths of hell.”

“As scared shitless as I am, couldn’t have said it better myself.” Felix added.

I nodded. “So you’re all with me then?”

"Cosmo, you are one hell of a bad influence." Cloud said. "Before I met you I wouldn't dare consider going off to fight someone else's war."

"But you have a reason to now." I replied.

"I do." He said, pulling the pistol off his leg and cocking back the hammer. "I want answers. You're my best bet to get some."

Trixie grabbed my shoulder and I felt myself drawn into her eyes. “I think you know where I stand.”

I looked around at the team… No. Not the team, my team. Ponies that have barely known me and are willing to follow me to a possible death. Ponies that in a short time have come to appreciate me for who I am, not the mask that I’ve put on for years. “Thank you.” I whispered. “All of you.” I got to my feet and felt my holster, confirming that my revolver was still there. “Now let’s go cut the head off this snake.”

Author's Note

And that's the first chapter down. While the prologue set it up as if the story is being recounted to a reporter, most of the story will be very Cloud-centric. This chapter introduced something about him (at least in The Long Road) that I'm exploring in Chapter Four and that's his anger issues. Chapters Two and Three will introduce some of Sky's insecurities and show a bit more regarding her instability. Sure the issue regarding Cloud's wings will be resolved early on in a physical sense, but the mental and emotional components will echo throughout the story.

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