War of Equestria: Prevail
Decision of the future
Previous ChapterNext ChapterSpike took a step back in fear still aiming his gun at her. "A merpony? How did you end up under command of King Sombra?"
She laughed at the question as he scepter started to glow an luminescent pink. "Am I going to have to answer your questions all day or do I have to to force you to fight?"
As she began to spin the scepter in front of her, tiny crystals began to form spinning as fast as physics would allow. She stopped her scepter as the tip pointed directly up, the crystals split apart bit by bit until they were barely visible then they twisted into that of needles so sharp, you could see the small gleam of light shine off them. Spike jumped and began backing up as she pointed the scepter at him. The crystals shot at him like tiny little rockets almost catching off guard. He sidestepped behind a wall and held his head to side as the wall slowly chipped away and dust filled the air. How am I going to get to her, I can't get past these crystals. Maybe I can knock her off balance. Spike took his gun and began taking blind shots around the corner. Spike immediately pulled his right arm back around the corner as a sharp pain ensnared his arm. He gasped as he witnessed four sharp crystals stuck in his arm. A small dot of blood trickled down his arm as he pulled the crystals out and dropped them to the ground. He rubbed the blood out off and looked around the corner. She had completely disappeared or so she thought. Spike sighed as he looked up at her pointing the scepter at him. He took off as the crystals rained down behind him, closing in on his position. He bashed through a door leaping inside barely escaping the sharp onslaught. Spike flipped a switch on his gun and held his gun out the window. Myrrina sat high above the house preparing another onslaught of crystals when something caught her attention. There was a green ball of fire speeding towards in which she simply laughed and dodged. It stopped just at her height and seconds later, exploded, making her jump back a little. She looked down towards the ground to see more of them coming her way. She quickly dodged left and right as the fireballs rushed by her. She thought she had dodged them all until suddenly they stopped all around her. Green lines formed between them and their intensity began rise, glowing brighter and brighter. "What is the meaning of this?!"
The balls exploded together sending Myrrina speeding through the roof of the house and into the ground. Spike only inches away held the barrel of his gun directly at Myrrina and smirked. "It's over."
Myrrina chuckled hysterically. "What part of I was sent to kill don't you understand?"
Spike quickly fired his gun which hit nothing but floor as Myrrina slowly faded away and reappeared a few feet away. She stuck the crystal of the scepter into the ground as it shook softly. She pulled it out of the ground to reveal the tip's transformation into a sword. Spike courageously held his guns up to fight until pain rendered his right arm useless. "What's going on with my arm?"
Myrrina grinned as Spike held his arm in shock. "Ah yes, the poison is finally taking effect."
"Poison?"
"Yes my dear, it renders whatever it hits completely useless. A perfect way to accept death isn't it."
She rushed him with the scepter making him jump out of the way. She swung it back around almost cutting Spike from the stomach up. He back flipped out of the way, jumped onto a wall, and kicked off towards her firing pot shots. She leaned left and right as Spike neared her, finally he grabbed hold of her scepter with his one arm usable arm, flipped over her, and threw her to a wall. As she hit the wall, without warning Spike fired more exploding fireballs sending her flying out of the house in a cloud of smoke. She growled and levitated up into the sky holding her scepter as if it were a javelin. It morphed into a long flat blade as she closed one eye to aim. She calmly made small adjustments and tossed it as hard as she could. It impacted through the roof and pierced the ground in front of Spike. A small drop of sweat trickled his head as he let out a sigh of relief. Suddenly a force pushed him to the wall as the blade, on it's own, levitated up, morphed into a long blade less pillar and pinned Spike to the wall. He gasped for air struggling to escape but with no success. Can't breathe.....Gotta get loose...I need to..Losing..consciousness. His body dropped as if it were lifeless. Myrrina giggled at the sight and held her hoof to the sky. "Simply wonderful! But just to make sure."
More flat blades appeared around her as her eyes began to glow like a thousand tiny yellow stars. Spike sat lifeless behind the pillar as Myrinna prepared her attack. Spike's radio began spewing static until Gilda's voice chimed in. "Spike...Spike! Are you ok? I can see the explosions from over there, is everything alright?"
Myrinna's voice echoed into the receiver as she launched the final attack. "Time to die dear Spike!"
Gilda gasped at the comment and suddenly her attitude changed. "Spike if you're hearing the this, don't die. We need you, the line is being broken bit by bit and civilians are in the line of fire. We need you just as much as any other soldier.....I need you more than any other soldier....Don't..die....Dweeb!"
Myrrina launched the blades one by one until the first one crashed through the roof. Suddenly Spike's eyes shot open glowing a ghostly green. "I will not die!"
Spike unnaturally grew the strength of ten colts that moment as he removed the pillar from his gut, his injuries seemingly disappeared as he kicked the pillar through the roof. Myrrina dodged the incoming pillar only to see the Dragon's eyes glaring at her with the intent to kill. He jumped as the blade pierced the ground in front of him then using it's flat build as a trampoline. He then began jumping from blade to blade as they drove through the air getting him closer and closer. Myrrina started to get nervous, firing the paralyzing crystals more and more as he neared her. He simply flipped over them and landed on another blade. She noticed what he was doing and anxiously stopped firing the blades. This did not stop his advance however as he took one good stance and rocketed off the last blade with impossible speed. She took one last effort to summon forth a ball of pink energy with lightning swirling around it. "You will come no closer boy!"
She fired it and watched as it engulfed Spike only to see him come out the other side with pink lightning swirling around him. He finally reached her, glaring into her eyes like a wild beast. Myrrina shook in fear as he continued to stare. "You..you wouldn't h..hit a lady now would you?"
He rammed a fist into her gut, making her gasp for air then put the barrel of his gun to her face. Myrrina screamed in pain as the Spike pulled the trigger engulfing her in a green energy. "Next time...don't take so long finish off your enemy."
Spike closed his eyes and dropped to the ground like a rock. The dust cloud dissipated soon after as he sat up. "Ugh..what happened?"
Spike stood up as rain slowly began to fall and looked himself over. "I could've sworn I got hurt a couple of times. Man if only I could remember what just happened....Gilda and the others! I have to get back."
He rushed out the maze like buildings back onto the streets only to find no one there. It was unusually quiet for a war. Spike turned towards the the evacuation point and ran south. The city was like a ghost town as he walked about the deserted buildings and checkpoints. Where is everyone? He removed his radio from his side and flipped it on. "Gilda are you there? Gilda?"
".......We're here dweeb, we were able to hold them off...barely. Where are you?"
"Still near the central checkpoint. Where did you guys move to?"
"Head to the southern evacuation points, there should be a tall building with star on top of it."
"On my way." Spike climbed over fallen rubble and debris as he approached the southern checkpoints. Just seeing all this destruction is kinda scary. I mean it's terrifying to see such a busy and prestige place reduced to such a ghost town. I can't wait for this war to be over. Spike finally spotted the building with star on top. As he neared the southern blockade, he was greeted by Jasmine who began to question him as if he were just in jail. "What happened to you? Who did you see back there that made you take so long? What was his or her name?"
"Jasmine please, these can wait. Let's just go see Gilda."
"Awww fine."
They entered the building to find their nostrils assaulted by the smell of pastries. Spike held his stomach as it growled. "Great now i'm hungry."
He and Jasmine made their way into a back room where Gilda sat with General Derpy and a map of the city. Gilda motioned them to come to the table as Derpy made her way around the table and sat down. Without warning, the chair collapsed and Derpy fell to the floor. Spike was about to say something until Derpy held a hood out and shushed him. "Not..a..word. Just give me your report Corporal Spike."
Spike saluted and began. "Yes mam, my mission as backup at the central checkpoint was changed upon Seargent Gilda's request to intercept a rouge enemy soldier. Upon interception, it was revealed to be a high ranking royal elite of King Sombra's army. Her name was Myrrina I believe."
"Myrrina? That's the mistress of the merponys. I assume her capabilities were up to the standards of a royal?"
"You assume right mam, almost ended me up on the KIA list but I took care of her nonetheless. She did however say she was one of the royal elite."
"That's a problem indeed, at ease Corporal."
"Pardon my curiosity but how do you know Mistress Myrrina?"
"From some of my more....unintelligent adventures...Anyway now that you're here, we just finished finalizing the plans for a counterattack."
Spike, Jasmine, and just entering the room, Wild Fire joined Derpy and Gilda at the table. Gilda drew a long red line across a small southern half of the square city. "This is our border..it's a bad thing. King Sombra's army holds almost the entire city and we own only one fourth of it. We need to push them back..hard."
Wild Fire removed her claws and placed them on the table. "What are our options?"
General Derpy instructed Gilda to draw a line around a small complex just a few miles north of the eastern side, western side, and central side of the border. "We have a small plan in place, pretty straight forward, three central points we need to push to and keep. Once we push up those three points and secure them with specially designed blockades, we split the forces at the central blockade, move them a bit apart from each other to the east and the west and garrison them a mile north. After we secure those points once again, we move the two central forces north a mile again as well the far east and west forces. If all goes according to plan we should be able to secure the perimeter of the city by tomorrow morning. Might even end up being the afternoon if the resistance is strong."
General Derpy made her way into a closet rummaging through a pile of military equipment. Suddenly a plume of smoke rushed out of the room as a loud crash filled everyone's eardrums. "I'm ok. Seargent Gilda, here."
She handed over a small circular device with a red crystal in the middle. Gilda examined it over seeing no real use for it. "Look like junk."
Derpy grunted at the comment and snatched it away from her. "You wouldn't be calling it junk if you knew what it did. Listen, all four of you are going to be in command of those three forces. Gilda you the central point, Spike you push to the western, and Jasmine, you and Wild Fire take the eastern."
Derpy pressed a button on the device and split it into four separate parts. "Spike, Jasmine, you are to place one of these at the south west and south east corners of the city before mission start. Once we have successfully pushed Sombra's army back to the northern perimeter, place them at the north east and north west corners. We're going to attempt to establish a force field around the city, long enough for evacuation to finish. Is your mission understood?"
All three responded with a, "Yes mam!"
They all split to meet their respected teams and place the devices. Spike walked through the desolate streets towards the west, watching as the civilians struggle to survive while awaiting evacuation. One filly in paticular came to Spike stopping him in his tracks. "Excuse me mister."
Spike knelt down to meet the young girl eye to eye. "Hello there, my name is Spike, what's yours?"
"Oh..my name is Filly Flye but people just call me Lily Lye."
"That's a very nice nickname."
"Thank you..um..I had a question."
"Ask away."
"Are we really going to be ok? I understand we are in dire straights."
"Whoa, small filly, big vocabulary. You're a very smart girl, aren't you?"
She nodded with excitement. "Oh yes, I hope to grow up and have a great big lab...but thanks to this war.."
Spike picked her up and hugged her as if she were his own. "If you want that lab then you are gonna get that lab, of course you have to study and work for it, but either way your dream shouldn't stay dream because of this war."
A young woman's voice appeared from a couple of feet away. "Filly Flye. Where are you dear?"
"Mommy mommy over here."
"Oh there you are, and who might this be?"
"This is Spike mommy, he's fighting Sombra on the front lines."
"Oh are you, then we appreciate all that you are doing to help us. My name is Iris Fleur, very honored to meet you Spike." Wow she's beautiful.
"And very...nice to meet you. What happened to your wing?"
"I kinda got smashed into a wall by someone who was taking the evacuation way too seriously."
"That'll happen. I can't help but notice and sorry to be rude but..um...you guys don't really.."
"Look alike. Yea everyone says that now. I'm actually her aunt, Lily's parents were actually...killed at the start of the war."
Spike rubbed the back of his head in sadness. "I'm sorry I didn't know."
"It's quite alright, I didn't mean to make you sad."
Suddenly Spike's radio went off. "Spike get into position!"
"Oh man I almost forgot. Sorry but I have to go."
Iris stopped Spike almost immediately and handed him something. "Take this with you."
"What is it?"
"A necklace that I like to give to friends. Every pony said I was good luck when I was little so I started making these little charm necklaces since then."
Spike put it on and held it close to his heart. "Thank you Iris."
He turned and took off towards to the west with Lily and Iris waving goodbye. Quickly he placed the device and joined up with his team. All the soldiers went on salute as Spike approached. One particular mare approached back and saluted once they were face to face. "Corporal Spike, Private First class Amethyst Star reporting."
Spike's face slowly turned red as he acknowledged the fact the he was the highest ranking officer there. I never thought i'd get the chance to command my own troops, this is awesome. Being a corporal, this should've come sooner but some griffin thinks she deserves all the fame. "At ease, does everyone know the plan?"
They all nodded in agreement. "Then let's make up for lost time, get into position."
Their position consisted of a long wide street with buildings all the way down both sides. There was little cover crossing the street however so the fight would most likely take place in the buildings. There positions were set, sharpshooters on the buildings covering the street and soldiers in the houses covering the alleyways and flanks. Spike caught slight movement down the street and shushed his fellow soldiers. For a moment, there was nothing but silence, then the sound of Sniper shot pierced the air. Without warning, a firefight ensued, the sound of magic flying and explosions filled the air. The push for the central and eastern points however was relatively easy, almost no resistance whatsoever. Gilda watched as her soldiers secured the surrounding area and set up the barricade. She flipped on her radio and spoke in a concerned voice. "Jasmine we've secured the central point, what's your progress?"
"We've secured ours too, almost too easily."
Something's wrong..Spike's in trouble. "Spike come in."
"Spike here..hold up."
Gunshots and heavy breathing could be heard as she waited for Spike's return. "Dave get that right flank covered. Spike here."
Gilda stood on top of the barricade in shock. "Spike are you receiving heavy resistance?"
"Heavy? Are you kidding me, the entire army is over here."
"No! They figured it out. Spike do what you can, we'll try to support you however we can."
"Roger. Ahh crap!"
"Spike?! Spike?! One of you get the mortar cannon ready and get me General Derpy on the line."
General Derpy sat just outside the evacuation point directing people inside the giant blimps. A soldier ran up to her and saluted. "Seargent Gilda on line two."
Derpy nodded and tuned her radio. "Go ahead Gilda."
"Change of plans, they've completely assaulted the western point, permission to commence mortar fire."
"Hmm....Permission granted."
"Thank you mam."
Gilda tuned her radio back to Spike's channel. "Spike if you can hear me, mortars inbound. Commence firing sequence."
Spike jumped over a small wall as he issued the fall back orders. "Crap, can't believe they broke my radio. Wait..what's that?" A blue light traveled slowly through the sky towards their position until it got closer and closer finally demolishing a pack of mechanical hounds as it hit. "Wish they hadn't broke my radio. Friendly Mortars take cover!" Everyone retreated into the safety of the houses still firing out of windows of course. All seemed to be going well until the sound of a loud engine caught their attention. Spike and his troops watched as the enemy that were so hell bent on pushing through backed up and retreated. In the distance, camouflaged by the rain was a very bright light. "What is that?"
Amethyst removed the spyglass from another soldier's back and pointed it in the direction of the light. "....Move....Move now!"
She retreated quickly from the house scaring everyone into doing the same. Spike just stood there in confusion. "Wait what did you see?"
Suddenly half of the house exploded in a fiery explosion. Spike quickly dove out of the back of the house and regrouped with his team. Whatever it was lit up with light once again, the whistling of a projectile could be heard as it hit the building next to them. One soldier cowered in fear behind Amethyst. "What the hell is that thing?"
Amethyst shook the soldier off and looked at Spike. "What now?"
Spike asked for a radio and flipped to Gilda's channel. "Code word..blazing scale, get me Gilda."
"Spike are you ok over there?"
"We have a serious problem."
"Other than the onslaught?"
"It's part of that problem. Gilda the mortar fire really thinned them out, we were about to counterattack but..then they retreated and...oh my god it's a freaking tank, no one said they'd have tanks."
Gilda gasped as she heard that magic word. "Tank?! Oh man..um..We have missiles but not on station, we used them all."
"Then how do we take this thing do..It's firing!"
Spike ducked as the shot passed him and hit the upper part of their house. "Crap we lost rime and pot."
Gilda spoke with concern once again. "General Derpy says to fall back completely, we're to protect the evacuation at all cost."
"Roger that. Fall back! Get that barricade up, maybe we can slow them down."
Everyone retreated back into the southern safe zone and set up the barricade. Made out of one the strongest metals known to pony kind, it would take a couple of shots to bring it down. Spike spoke nervously into the radio. "Gilda can't you guys flank this thing?"
"Not a chance, they brought tanks to the central and eastern points too."
Spike grunted as his chance to retake the city was lost. As he ran back to the evacuation point, he noticed Iris and Lily on the street. "Lily, Iris, this way!"
Lily and Iris galloped beside the retreating forces with worry on their face. Iris tapped Spike to get his attention. "What is happening?"
"Things went bad, real bad. We're getting you all out now."
Lily tugged on his leg. "Are we ever going to see our home again?"
"Of course you are, we're not giving up that easy. All that matters now is your evacuation." Two gigantic blimps pulled into the station returning from a drop. Civilians piled into the balloons like animals on a rampage. The two blimps pulled off and another was on approach. As it pulled into the dock, General Derpy ordered any remaining soldiers and civilians alike to board the blimp. Since they're weren't many of each left there was room. Spike directed Iris and Lily towards the blimp with more civilians behind them. Suddenly magic began flying through the air towards the blimp. General Derpy began pushing people on board as the shots got closer and closer. "Get on now! Lift off!" The blimp began to pull off the station while people were still boarding. Spike, Iris, and Lily were the last ones to board before the blimp completely left the station. All of the citizens still left were enraged as the soldiers closed in.Iris stood by the edge of the boarding ramp and began to walk inside until a rogue shot made the pilot take evasive actions. The blimp tilted and Iris slipped right off the side. "Iris!"
Spike took hold of her hand as she went over and attempted to pull her up. "Hold on Iris, Fly back up."
"I can't, my wing hurts to much."
Spike felt his grip slipping until and a griffin's claw reassured his grip and pulled her back over. Lily ran over to Iris and hugged with the strength of a god. "I was so worried mommy!"
Both of them thanked Spike and joined the rest of the civilians. Spike turned to thank the Griffin but there was on one there just air. Spike looked out of the small ramp opening, and noticed Gilda flying back towards the city. "Gilda!"
"Shut it dweeb! Tell General Derpy to send a transport back for more evacuation! I'm going to save them all."
"Gilda don't!"
Too late, Gilda was dead set on going back until a dark and eerie green explosion engulfed the entire city. Gilda rushed faster towards the city when two Pegasus held her back. "No! I can still save them! Let me go!" Gilda landed moments later on the ramp and proceeded into the blimp. Spike walked beside her trying to comfort. "Gilda it's okay, there wasn't...anything we could do."
Gilda looked at him with absolute rage and pinned him to a wall. "You didn't do anything to help me, don't you go saying there wasn't anything we could do."
Derpy appeared behind Gilda and tapped her on the shoulder. "Stand..down Gilda." Gilda glared into Spike's eyes for a moment more and finally dropped him. Spike coughed and wheezed as she walked away. Gilda I...
Next Chapter