The Day The Sky Turned Red
Chapter 1: In Enemy Lines
Urgh...
Can't move...
I feel so weak...
...
"Hey, wake up!"
Huh?
"Are you still alive?"
I opened my eyes slowly to reveal a dense forest together with a purple-furred individual bandaging my neck. She placed a carbine at my bloodstained hooves.
"You're still alive and well." She checked the surroundings. "Hurry, we don't want those rebels to catch us again."
I stood up dazed and dizzy. Probably because of the gunshot wound on my neck, which had blood oozing out of it. Taking my KT75, I followed my partner.
We reached a pretty large clearing. The atmosphere was very eerie.
She inspected the area with her rifle. "No enemies around here."
An infrared sensor suddenly activated. However, she must have not noticed it. Before I could warn her, the cracking of twigs and the sound of something moving was heard.
As my partner screamed "Oh shit!", she got decapitated by a wrecking ball of spikes. Those were her last words. Blood covered the entire clearing. The poor unicorn's lifeless head rolled around for a few seconds before stopping in front of me. The wrecking ball paused.
Soon, the forest returned back to its calm, serene, quiet condition.
And I was alone.
While scavenging through her bag for useful items, I was greeted by a flurry of rustling leaves. Rebels were approaching the location of the scream.
You can do this, Rose! You're the best of your group, girl!
I hid beside two giant sequoia trees, reloaded my gun, and lied down on my stomach, pointing my weapon toward the clearing.
A rebel poked his head out of the cluster of trees surrounding the clearing. He investigated the dead body, then the booby trap, then proceeded to loot her.
I aimed at his head, and fired three shots. He fell over her.
No more sounds were heard for three minutes.
Thinking the scene is clear, I slowly crept out of my hiding spot and went over to the downed rebel. He was still breathing.
Since it was the general's command to always give mercy shots to critically wounded enemies unless useful, I took out my revolver and aimed at his chest.
"W-wait!"
The rebel opened his eyes, hyperventilating, blood being spurted out of the wound.
"D-don't kill me! Please!"
I put down my revolver. "But you're dying! There were three bullets that penetrated your brain! You have no chance to live! I'm doing this for your own good!"
"J-just don't!" he stuttered. "I prefer to die slowly!"
I thought over his desires for a moment, and then said okay.
"Oh, by the way..." His face slowly formed a smile.
"Bye bye."
He pushed a button hidden in his vest and exploded right in front of my face. Bits of flesh, clothing, and metal shrapnel attacked my body. The blast also burned it. The grenades in my partner's bag exploded as well. In a matter of milliseconds, hundreds of sharp grenade fragments pierced my body. I fell down on the ground, unable to move, but still alive. My entire body felt like it was on a bed of nails, slowly penetrating my skin until I would succumb to the excruciating pain.
But it never happened. The sun had set and the moons have risen, and I was still alive. All I could practically do was breathe. It's so sad how the wound on my neck had clotted, and the other hundred shrapnel wounds hardly made blood flow. The agonizing pain of the metal in my body and the pain from my broken bones would pulsate every now and then.
To hell with those suicide bombers! They always play dirty!
Around midnight, my ears picked up a sound coming from the east. It was the sound of trotting. Thinking it might be rebels, I pretended to be dead, opening my mouth and breathing only every now and then.
I was right. Armed rebels entered the site, and took a good look at the three bodies on the ground, after one accidentally tripped on me. Thankfully, I was able to endure the pain that gave me. I counted fifteen figures when I decided it was safe to open my eyes.
As they were exiting the clearing, they were greeted by a wave of bullets. They struggled to find the enemy in the dark, and the gunshots continued. Five of the fifteen died on the spot.
The remaining ten just started strafing in every direction. Since the night was so dark, they couldn't even see each other. Some accidentally shot their allies.
Suddenly, one soldier in black swooped down from above and backstabbed the entire remaining rebels with a knife. I recognize her. She's part of my team. Sergeant Major PULVERIZER. Also known as Colgate. However, we're called by code to keep our identities confidential. My code name is "THORN", 'cause roses are thorny. Ha ha...
When the group of rebels were confirmed to be dead, a group, which I recognized as my own team, emerged from the trees and checked me.
"She's still alive!"
"Bring her back to base, then!"
Two of them hoisted me up and my partner onto a makeshift stretcher, and placed the latter's head in a bag. The platoon then began the long journey home.
. . .
"Hey," one of the members asked me. "What happened to Lieutenant NINI?"
Twilight Sparkle.
I tilted my head sideways, since I could barely talk with the amount of blood in my throat.
"She got... decapitated. By one of the booby traps."
"Oh." The expression on her face mimicked one of guilt. "I'm so sorry THORN, I shouldn't have sent only you and her to that zone..."
"It's okay..." was all I had to say. I was too much distracted by all the bad feelings in my body.
A few silent minutes passed. We had exited the forest.
"There's a seemingly friendly Chinook!" one of us yelled. "Get on, now!"
As we were nearing the helicopter, from out of nowhere a rocket flew straight into it, causing it to explode in mid-air. The rotors flew off into the forest, and the fuselage crashed with a mighty ball of flames.
Three unidentifiable individuals surrounded our position. They were all donning a yellow and violet gloss suit. Our leader aimed his pistol at the one in the middle. "Who in the flying fuck are you?!"
"W-wait, I can explain!" She held up her hooves to show that she meant no harm. "We're not the bad guys!"
"Okay then, care to explain why you blew up our means of escape?"
She approached him. "Y-you see, without you knowing, the rebels had planted a time bomb on the Chinook you guys were about to board, and we didn't want to lose all of you, since you look like allies..."
"Wait, where did you get intel that a bomb was on the aircraft?"
"You see, we were ordered to board the copter as well, but luckily I scanned the aircraft with my magic before that, and found that there was a hidden bomb attached to the rear belly of the copter! So, I conjured a rocket and sent it flying towards the aircraft. Also, don't worry about losses, there were only two pilots on that plane."
After a moment of thinking, he put his pistol down. "Well... done. Looks like you saved us all, then. But, about the pilots, those are still casualties!"
She went back to her companions, the two individuals, and said "These are your two pilots, sir."
His eyes widened. "W-wow..."
"And don't worry about trying to get back home, you are already in the vicinity of our base!" She turned right and ran. Sure enough, a control tower and several buildings could be seen in the direction she was running.
Our leader's jaw dropped. "L-looks like we'll stay here for the n-night..." He then followed her, shaking his head every now and then. The members of the team followed.
The Day The Sky Turned Red
Chapter 2: Restoration Part 1
"So, who are you?" our team leader, whose codename is "STORM", asked the mysterious mare in the yellow-violet suit as she entered the gates of the base. "We never received intel about a military base here."
"Oh, then your radar systems must be outdated, then."
STORM frowned. "Wow..."
We approached the main headquarters. It simply looked majestic. Like something you would see at a sci-fi movie.
She went up the main entrance. A keypad activated. "Welcome to Victoria Air Base. Please state your full name."
"Lieutenant Sugar Belle" she says. "These guys here are our allies."
The stained glass door opens to reveal a massive hall with a very long front desk and hundreds of doors that seemingly lead to nowhere. Even when viewed from outside the building already looks huge, it's certainly dwarfed by the size of just this room.
"You two carrying the stretcher!" Sugar Belle pointed to a door bigger than the others on the far end of the hall. "The hospital's that way."
My two companions obey her orders.
The journey to the hospital was breathtaking. Along the way, I saw ponies wearing different colored suits and armor I had never seen before. The weapons they were holding actually looked like legit sci-fi weapons. I swear I saw one holding an E-11 when we passed by the shooting range. Or, it could be because I was starting to hallucinate due to my injuries.
The underground passage that led to the hospital was filled with pictures of former war heroes from what I could decipher. I could recognize a bunch of the portraits. There was Major General Alligena, who won the battle of Decipien Island using her ingenuity and strategy even when she was outnumbered 9:1. Akelian the Martyr was there as well, and he was known for his sacrifice to save Celestia's army when they were surrounded when the Salamians invaded Equestria.
I was immediately brought to the operating room as soon as we reached my hospital. My two companions bade goodbye as I was prepped for a major metal hunt that was going to take place in my half-dead body. The doctors then administered a powerful sedative. The world dimmed around me as I slowly fell into paralysis...
...and unconsciousness.
. . .
"This 1st lieutenant of yours has done a fine job serving your nation, sir."
"Why, she has always been like that for a long time now. She's different from our other fighters in our division, since she always boasts courage and determination in her years of fighting! She is never afraid to die! Ha! I swear the army's going to replace me with her as the commander of this division soon!"
"Speaking of division, sir... Why do you call yourselves a "division" when you're only composed of fifty members?"
"Because the general said that we have the power of ten thousand! Coming from the general, that's a major complement! But to be honest, we're simply called a 'platoon'. Sounds kinda lame, I would say. But this group of fifty make up of the best of the best in Equestria's entire army!"
It was kind of difficult to open my eyes after I regained consciousness, but after trying so hard, I finally got to open them. STORM and the same mare in a yellow-purple suit was on my bedside.
"Look! Rose's awake!"
STORM looked at my half-open eyes with a worried expression on his face. "Your eyes are so red, my dear. Don't force yourself to awaken, let your body rest. I assure you, you'll get better as soon as possible if you just rest."
I humbly obeyed his order and closed my eyes again. My body was so numb. My heart was hardly beating at all. My lungs weren't filling up with air whenever I took a breath. I felt so dead. But, I was alive. After that horrific ordeal I went through yesterday. Hey, that's an achievement!
My brain decided to lull itself to a partial sleep after a while thinking of all what has happened the past few days. So many things to talk about...
Maybe next time.
There are other things on my mind right now.
All the events that transpired the past few days, it's just unforgettable. I wouldn't be able to accurately describe the details, since it all happened so fast. But, I totally believe my fellow fighters were beside me for support. Ahh, the platoon. The best damn fifty soldiers of Equestria all in one. We are said to be the most powerful serving soldiers in the entire world. If any hostile attacks us, they shall be annihilated immediately. It's reflected in our motto, Αντίποινα σε όλο της το μεγαλείο, which translates to "Retaliation In All Its Glory".
We're armed with the most outstanding rifle one's hooves can manufacture, the KT-75. What's better than a gun that can fire 50 caliber bullets at 450 rpm with superb accuracy and low recoil? Nothing! Those puny Orions the rebels have will not stand a chance against us!
Speaking of the rebels, they're the armies of the three nations that border us: Cavadex, Quaoar, and Pillsae. They're the pesky little fucks who think violence isn't a solution to all the problems Equestria is facing right now! Look at all the heists, murders, and even terrorist attacks in our country! The statistics are blowing through the roofs! It's only natural Her Majesty Celestia would start ruling as a dictator. She and the Army run the country.
I don't regret killing criminals in the most horrible ways possible. They deserve it! You know how murder destroys the victim's family? How about doing the same to the murderer? Or how treason hurts the pride and glory of the one who provides peace to the nation?
I remember a few weeks ago Miss Chrysalis apparently formed a rebellion against us with her useless changelings. Capturing her was like stealing candy from a baby! All we had to do was execute her in the most inhumane way possible!
By hanging, drawing, and quartering!
Okay, okay, so this is what happened. Around 7 o' clock, we kicked her out of her prison bed... and dragged her... out... s-
Zzz... zzz... zzz...
. . .
STORM and Sugar Belle were still beside her bed, chatting till midnight about the war. When the two realized it was very late, they decided to creep out of the room, being careful not to disturb the patient's sleep.
"You know, Sugar Belle... I worry about her sometimes..." said STORM as they were walking back to where they should belong at tha
"Why is that, STORM?"
"Her mind is like a depiction of hell. She loves violence so much it's creepy. Some of my friends say she even has a fetish for blood!"
"Oh, sweet Celestia..."
"Man, that sweet innocent face of hers during the first day of training was just plain pitiful. She looked like the kind of pony that would faint if even a sliver of violence was present. Looks like I was completely wrong..."
Sugar Belle listened attentively. She loved stories like this.
"Whenever she was sent into battle, occasionally she would disembowel dead enemies and shove the organs in their mouth. If the enemy's still alive, she would pull out his or her eyes and... and..."
"And?"
STORM shivered in fear, unable to speak a word. "Agh!"
"STORM!"
"Would you k-kindly take the picture inside the f-first pocket of my bag? That's what s-she does!" He then put down his bag on a table.
Sugar Belle unzipped the pocket, scavenged through some gear, and grabbed hold of a piece of folded paper. "This one?"
"Y-YES!"
She slowly unfolded it and held it against the light. Silence reigned for a few seconds.
Sugar Belle slowly put down the picture on the table. After uttering a tiny cry, she fainted.