Generation Stealth

Chapters

Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six

Chapter One

“Basic Training is a real pain in the ass.” I moaned out while walking down the carved out dirt path leading down the many rows of tents, this camp was relatively small due to the lack of trainees coming to fight. Rainbow Dash smirked at me shoving me in the shoulder a bit to mock me.

“Wow, you’re a real pain in the ass, stop being such a bitch Cloud Shade.” I rolled my eyes at her; she could be really mean when she wanted to be. But she was hardly rude to me; we’ve been best friends ever since Foalhood. We were almost inseparable.

“Yeah, yeah that’s enough out of you asshole. Where is the mess tent anyway? I’m starving over here.” Rainbow Dash pointed her hoof out to a elongated tent, it stood out from the rest mostly because of its tall stature, I smiled rubbing my hooves together.

“Right then! Let’s go eat!” I ran down into the tent with Rainbow right behind me. We laughed while we ate, this was our only free social time in basic training, we talked during morning calisthenics but that wasn’t exactly easy, we were too busy gasping for breath to say much. The only time we were ever allowed to talk besides that was when we were in our bunks.

“Hey Rainbow, you still awake?” I asked from the top bunk, I had my forelegs folded behind my head as I spoke.

“Yeah, what do you want Shade?” She asked with a tired tone in her voice. It’s been nearly a year since we left for Basic Training, we were going to get out of here tomorrow, I couldn’t be more excited.

“You think they’ll pair us up in a squad?” I asked curiously over the top bunk, I could hear her small sigh, I always had a habit of occasionally annoying the crap out of her.

“Probably, I mean we were by far two of the best trainees, why not keep the best together?” I nodded, there were three other Ponies who were also rather skilled in basic training. I sort of had to struggle to remember their names. Sky Dive, Stealth Hawk, and Aero Flame. I shrugged my shoulders a bit.

“Yeah, you’re probably right; I just can’t wait to get the hell out of here. I can finally start a much simpler military career.” I said with a lazy grin spread across my face.

“Whatever, you’re just too lazy to do morning calisthenics.” I laughed, we always loved to joke around with each other, what best friends don’t? The times in basic training were some of the best times of my life. Now those times are about to end.

“Come on Sky Blazers!” I yelled out to the three soldiers in my air squadron, it’s been eight years since basic training. I am now in command of the 160 Stealth Air Squadron. This was a combat situation, there is a new enemy on the Horizon. A mysterious rebellious group known as “The PAC” abbreviated means “Ponies Against Celestia” This is an air war, we’re some of the best pilots in Equestria.

“Sir, yes sir!” They all shouted in unison, Rainbow Dash I considered more like a second in command than a soldier. She trotted up next to me with her helmet strapped to her head. We were ready to go to our first battle.

“Alright men! Our orders are to intercept the enemy supply transports and take them down! Regroup at Skypoint Bravo, from there we’ll initiate the attack!” They all saluted before rushing around to their fighters to begin the mission. I turned to Rainbow a sly grin on my face.

“You ready for this Rainbow?” I asked with a cocked eyebrow, I knew she was but I always loved to screw with her, it always pisses her off when I belittle her.

“Of course I am you dumbass now hurry up we got to get to Skypoint Bravo.” I nodded trotting over to my Stealth Assault Fighter. Me and Rainbow flew in unison through the dense clouds.

I got on the intercom to begin communications with the squadron.

“Alright, every pony report in.” I said just to test our frequencies on this channel.

“Sky Dive reporting in sir!”

“Aero Flame reporting in sir!”

“Stealth Hawk reporting in sir!”

“Rainbow Dash reporting in.” She didn’t say it with a lot of enthusiasm, I sighed shrugging my shoulders. I couldn’t wait to begin combat, we always thought of it as a game, except in this game when you die you don’t get to try again. So our motto is, don’t lose.

“Sir, not to disrespect you but why are they sending in a Stealth Squad to intercept a supply transport?” Aero Flame asked with a bored tone in his voice. I sighed rubbing my forehead tiredly Aero Flame always did have a knack for annoying me.

“Wow Aero, do you ever stop bitching?” I asked with a serious tone in my voice. I hated when he asked stupid questions, like questioning the mission.

“That depends sir; do you ever stop busting my balls?” I heard the laughter of the entire squad through the intercom. I couldn’t help but laugh to, we were almost there. Just a few more minutes and the dog fight would begin.

“Alright men, take to the clouds, move in nice and quietly I’m right behind you.” I said through the intercom, a few seconds later the planes ahead of me began to slowly ascend into the darkened clouds. They were masked perfectly, no enemy plane would be able to detect them. I soon ascended behind them taking my spot in the clouds as well.

Soon we were right on top of the enemy supply transports. There were only about three planes in total, but they carried about five fighters between them as an escort, this wouldn’t be an easy fight.

“Alright men, are we going to go down now!?” I shouted at them while we moved silently through the Clouds. I got the response I expected from them of course.

“Sir no sir!” They all yelled in unison.

“You bet we aren’t! We aren’t regular ponies we are Lions!” I shouted at them, in an organized pack we flew down into the fray, they didn’t even see us at first, we had the upper hand in this battle. We intercepted them dead on beginning a volley of turret fire. I began to maneuver around missile firing. I fired off rounds in short controlled bursts into the enemy fighters.

“Aero Flame take the left flank.” I waved my hoof in signal to the left side through the cockpit. He nodded in response moving off into the clouds. He soon came out behind them opening fire. He fired missiles into the crowd of enemy planes. He scored flaming streaks across the poor fighters sending them combusting onto the ground below.

“Nice shot Flame, now get the hell out of there you’re in hot.” I barrel rolled out of the way of an enemy missile. I looked up as two planes came up on both of my sides.

“Look out Shade you got two on your tail!” Rainbow shouted at me, I rolled my eyes. My heart rate was starting to increase, I had to get out of their sight before they open fire.

“I know Dash I know!” I shouted at her, I rolled to the right, to avoid their turret fire. I was a sitting duck in this position. I had to think fast! I was about to be knocked down into the water.

“Alright, Rainbow get my back I’m pulling up.” I said before pulling back on the thruster as hard as I could, I lifted the nose of the plane upwards into a sort of loop. I passed the enemy planes over head almost in slow motion. They looked up at me confused before I finished the loop landing right behind them.

I shot two missiles, one for each of them. They never even had a chance to react, before they knew what hit them they both went down in giant balls of fire. There were now only two enemy fighters left. They were trying to pull into a retreat, I moved into intercept cutting off their escape. I saw Rainbow come up from behind them dropping bombs on top of them.

I saw the fireworks as flaming metal shattered from the enemy fighters on impact. They went down as well ending the enemy resistance.

“Alright, Aero, Hawk, take out the supply transports, our work here is done.” I breathed out a sigh of relief. This was his first combat situation; he and Rainbow survived the fray. They pulled out rolling into a sort of dive, friendly reinforcements arrived and were starting to secure the transports.

“Rainbow, lets head out, I’m buying our drinks tonight” I said with a grin on my face. We had just won the first battle of what was sure to be a very long war.

Rainbow and I were on leave for two weeks, we decided to spend that time together in Ponyville, and we spent most of our time in either Clouds Dale or in a club.

Vinyl Scratch was tearing up the Turn Table as usual, me and Rainbow were sitting at the bar ordering drink after drink. Apparently if you come in dressed in uniform you get free drinks. We were sitting there really enjoying ourselves until this asshole shows up.

“Rainbow.” The strange pony said trotting up to her, he looked at her with a stern look on his face. I didn’t really care; it was her personal business and hers alone.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were on leave?” The strange pony said while looking down at her, he sounded pretty angry. I sipped my drink looking casual, I looked at him with a cocked eyebrow, Rainbow simply look annoyed.

“Soarin, I told you we’re done, I don’t need to tell you what I do or don’t do.” She shrugged ordering another drink; I looked at the Wonder Bolt who now looked incredibly angry.

“You think that now you’re in the military you’re somehow better?” He grabbed her by the shoulder hoisting her off the chair. She squirmed out of his grip floating in the air. I sighed rising up to my hooves; I didn’t want to deal with this bullshit right now.

“Leave her alone, please.” I said trying to sound calm. He looked at me beginning to laugh. He obviously thought I was weak because he was a lot bigger than me.

“Who the hell is this clown?” He said shoving my head. I sighed rubbing my forehead tiredly, that’s it, this douche is going down. Before he could react I bent my hind leg into his stomach. He let out a gasp falling onto the floor.

“Here’s a drink on me.” I said pouring my drink over his head. I laughed a bit walking out of the club slowly, Rainbow ran out behind me trying to keep up.

“You know Dash, you should try to keep your Ex’s in control. That whole scene just makes me look like a giant ass.” I said shaking my head; I’m normally not the violent type. But Rainbow Dash is my friend; I don’t let ponies push her around.

“Thank you regardless, but you didn’t really need to hurt him. Believe it or not Shade I can handle myself.” I laughed trotting down the alley way.

"You sure didn’t prove it.” I said rolling my eyes; we decided to put the scene behind us. We only have a week left of leave. We want to spend that time having fun not arguing with each other, Rainbow is my best friend, though I silently hope we can be more than friends one day I have to be content with the cards I have currently been dealt.

I only hope things work out for the best, for both of us.

Chapter Two

Me and Rainbow sat around Lazily In the recreation center. There had been no recent battles between the military and The PAC, my simple military life was starting to bore me. Me and Rainbow were playing nonstop no score Ping Pong in our boredom.

“When are we going to be recalled?” I asked with a questioning tone, though I didn’t dare to take my eye off the ball. We were on a seven minute streak so far. Who the hell would give that up now?

“No idea, hear that a large force is starting to amass in the South East though, think they might call us in for that dogfight.” I sighed catching the ball in my hoof after she hit it back to me.

“Hey, what the hell Shade it’s been eight minutes!” I rubbed my head tiredly collapsing on a wooden chair.

“I’m so freaking bored!” I groaned out leaning my head back against the wooden chair. Rainbow looked at me with a grin.

“Come on, I got an idea.” She said dragging me out of the Rec Center by the foreleg. I didn’t know what she had in mind. But when she dragged me out into the air field I started to get an idea. We moved our way through the maze of Bombers, Fighters, and Stealth Assault Fighters. I groaned as she dropped me next to my Stealth Jet.

“Are you serious? We could get court marshaled for this Rainbow.” She shrugged at me while plopping herself in the Pilot seat of her own Jet.

“Well, if you want to be a little baby and not come along that’s your choice.” I looked at her stunned for a few seconds. Dude, she just went there. Without further thought I jumped into my Stealth Jet. I pressed forward on the Thrusters moving the flaps at a lowered angle. I was in the air before she even knew what hit her.

“That’s more like it!” She exclaimed following me close behind. The sun was setting; to be honest the sunset is a lot more beautiful from the sky. The clouds seem to mix with sun’s rays painting the cockpit with the beautiful orange light.

“Wow, this is amazing.” I muttered to myself. Apparently the Intercom was still active because I got a response from Rainbow Dash.

Yeah, it is beautiful isn’t it?” I simply piloted around lazy circles around Rainbow Dash almost in a mocking sense, which was before something strange began to show on my radar scanner.

“What the hell, Rainbow take into the storm clouds on your far right, I’m reading eight…..fifteen enemy signatures on long range scanners.” I began to maneuver above the clouds cautiously; this must be some sort of counter offensive by them.

“Dash, don’t do anything stupid. I’m moving into stealth position.” I nodded at her giving the green light. We sat in the clouds silently making sure our thermal readings were as low as possible. The last thing we needed as a two against fifteen dog fight.

I saw Rainbow Dash coming from the clouds behind the enemy fighters. What was she doing!? This was a suicide run! I had to stop her. I began to maneuver onto an intercept course but it was too late. They spotted her and were beginning to perform a wide berth.

“Rainbow look out!” I yelled at her through the intercom. I looked in horror as the enemy fighters began to open fire on her. I saw bullets scrape her sides beginning to tear her apart. I moved into the fray firing my entire missile Silo out into the clustered formation of enemy fighters. This took their attention off of Rainbow and onto me. I pushed forward all the way on the thrusters maneuvering upwards into the clouds. They followed behind me but they obviously couldn’t keep a lock on.

I moved through the white clouds coming out on top of the cloud cluster. They had obviously lost me in the storm clouds. They couldn’t stay in there long before running the risk of being fried. Without second thought I nose dived back down to Rainbows position while I still had the chance.

“Rainbow? Rainbow are you there!? Respond! Rainbow respond!” I yelled but I got no response from her, she must have been wounded. I pulled up right next to her plane, well as close as I could get without colliding with her. I slid open my cock pit hatch slowly climbing onto the tip onto the widened expanse of the fighter.

I had to take a jump over to her, her fighter was starting to descend. I didn’t have a lot of time to think. Without another thought I leapt off of my stealth fighter over to hers. I landed barely onto her right wing. I felt my body slipping; there wasn’t a lot of friction on the plane’s wing. Then again they were made to have as little friction as possible. I saw the bullet hole in her cock pit window. I peered inside to see her unconscious in the chair. A bullet hole marked her right shoulder.

I punched the bullet hole as hard as I could with my hoof. It shattered the cockpit through that weak point in its hull. I hurriedly unstrapped her from her seat. The angle of the plane was growing steeper by the second; it wouldn’t be too long until I fell off of the plane. I grabbed the combat medical kit along with her parachute.

I hurriedly scooped her up into my forelegs throwing the parachute over my back. I slowly began to climb onto the wing looking back at my plane. It was maintaining altitude, that wasn’t the problem. The enemy fighters were coming back to finish us off.

Without second thought I let my body fall backwards with Rainbow Dash in my forelegs. I could feel the flames licking my hind legs as both of our planes went down in balls of fire.

I began to fall gaining more air resistance the faster I went. Rainbow Dash groaned weakly which gave me a comforting feeling. At least she was still alive. I unclipped the release strap on the parachute. Soon the wide cloth opened above us allowing it to catch the air. We began to slow down in our descent. We began to fall into the western mountains. This was a good position to land in due to the un leveled landscape hiding us better.

We landed softly onto the snowy mountains below us. I carried Rainbow Dash into a sort of cave like formation. I gently leaned her against the cave wall while pulling out the combat medical kit. I began work on her injured shoulder. The bullet penetrated all the way through her shoulder. It wasn’t a good sign for her. I wrapped it as densely as I could in patterned bandage. After disinfecting it I collapsed right next to her.

“Where the hell did things go wrong? What the hell did I do wrong?” I asked to myself, apparently I asked it out loud because I got a response from the now conscious Rainbow Dash.

“You…didn’t do anything wrong, it was my fault.” I looked at her shocked. Her face was pale, her eyes were baggy. And her mane was matted into her face with sweat. I wrapped a comforting foreleg around her to try to keep her warm. She didn’t resist moving in closer.

“I shouldn’t have let us come up here in the first place, now we’re both running the risk of becoming prisoners of war.” I rubbed my forehead tiredly. I can’t believe I let her drag me out here, I can’t believe I actually jumped onto her god damn plane. Well I do believe that, I love Rainbow Dash, I would do anything in my power to protect her. I would even go as far to compromise the mission for her.

“Besides, If I had stopped you, you wouldn’t be hurt like this. It’s really all my fault. I’m supposed to protect my squad.” I said looking down onto the snowy floor. I should have stopped her. I looked at her to apologize but I was cut off. She wrapped her forelegs around my neck hugging me tightly. I returned the hug for what seemed like hours. I didn’t know how long it would take for us to be recovered, but I was enjoying the time we had alone.

“Thank you so much Shade, you saved my life.” I looked down at the snowy floor. I didn’t feel so good about myself. As a matter of fact I felt like complete crap. I sighed letting go of her as she pulled away.

“I don’t think…I could have survived if you died Rainbow…you’re my best friend.” I said looking at her. She smiled at me, her color was returning slightly, which was only a sign of improvement. We both sat there in the darkness for the entire night. In the morning when I believed the coast was clear I pulled the flare gun from the medical kit.

“Now is a good of a time as any.” I said standing up to my hooves. I walked forward into the bright sunlight that was now spread over the landscape. I lifted the flare gun up weakly into the air firing it into the bright sky. The smoke seemed to glow as light shined through it.

I trotted back over to Rainbow Dash who was now asleep against the wall. I sat down next to her once more looking out into the sunshine. I waited there for about an hour before I began to hear the sound of a Helicopter propeller in the distance. I didn’t want to wake Rainbow, she was incredibly weak as it was. I grabbed her lightly into my forelegs walking out on my hind legs. I saw the helicopter lower down to our level. I jumped on board the helicopter lightly setting her down on the far end chair. I collapsed down next to her as the helicopter gained altitude.

The helicopter began to move back towards the Shipyard, I knew we were in some trouble. But when I told them about the enemy force we faced they couldn’t be all mad. I leaned back against the chair closing my eyes slowly. Me and Rainbow Dash were growing closer every day. But with war on the horizon I’m not sure Rainbow Dash wants to risk a relationship. I eventually fell asleep on the helicopter. The only thing that this whole experience had shown me was that in this war I had a lot to lose.

Chapter Three

I sat alone in the darkness which enveloped me. I felt like I was suffocating, I sat there almost in tears. I kept chanting, my mouth was out of control.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to….I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” I sat there against the darkness. I looked around as dark forms began to appear.

“My family! My son, my daughter! My wife, my mother and father!” I sat there as the dark forms began to wallow and cry. Tears flowed freely down my face. I sat there taking all of the abuse, all of the emotional torment I was being dealt. I finally looked up and began to scream.

“I said I’m sorry!” The scream echoed throughout the blackness which aroused me from slumber. I awoke gasping for breath, I felt as if I had just been through hell. I looked at my now sweaty hooves in horror. This dream has been plaguing me ever since the first battles over the enemy supply transport. I sighed looking to the side to see Sky Dive looking at me with a questioning look on his face.

“Hey Sky Dive, what are you doing here?” I asked with a questioning tone in my voice. He didn’t answer he just jumped straight to the point.

“What happened with Rainbow Dash?” He asked, he always had a sharp voice; you just sort of had to admire it.

“She’s wounded, we went out to take a short fly, we were ambushed by around fifteen PAC fighters, you didn’t know this already?” I looked at him from the side, he seemed distracted. As If he wasn’t focusing on the matter at hand.

“No nobody told me, then again I don’t seem to hear anything anymore.” I looked at him with a bored look on my face.

“Man, do you always have to sound so depressed? You need to lighten up a little Sky Dive.” He looked at me with a cocked eyebrow.

“Depressed? What do you mean I sound completely normal.” I sighed leaning back a little bit. I wanted to go and check on Rainbow Dash not sit here and bicker about his voice.

“Listen, first off add a little more hop to your voice, it’s so monotonous you’re nearly putting me to sleep. Second, smile a little bit, you always look so damn gloomy it’s getting on my nerves. With that I’m off to check on Rainbow.”

I didn’t give him a chance to respond, rather I rose up to my hooves and raced down to the Ponyville Medical center. I arrived at the front desk where the Intern gave me a questioning look.

"Name and condition sir…” She said with the same monotonous voice as Sky Dive.

“Man, what is up with every pony today? Anyway, I’m here to see Rainbow Dash.” She sighed scooting back in her chair to a back computer. She began to type in a name while scanning through a list of rooms in the hospital.

“Room 408, take a visitors pass, you have an hour of visiting time.” I took the pass from her trotting down the hall way along the maze of rooms.

I knocked on her door lightly with my hoof before trotting in. She lay there with her forelegs folded behind her head. She looked incredibly bored by the looks of it, all she was doing was staring at the ceiling after all.

“Hey there Dashie, I see you’re doing well.” She cocked an eyebrow at me with a thoughtful frown on her face.

“Oh, bite me Shade.” She shook her head looking back up at the ceiling in her thoughtful manner. I sighed walking next to her bed. I looked around slowly taking in the scenery.

“Wow, this place is dead, what the hell do you do for fun around here?” She sighed turning to face me again. She looked like she was going to jump out of the window if she didn’t get out soon.

“You don’t do anything for fun…This place is killing me!” She slammed her pillow over her face in mental torment.

“Well, maybe if you didn’t rush in like that you wouldn’t have gotten shot.” I said shrugging my shoulders. It was sort of my fault; I should have kept us from leaving there in the first place. But I had news to share with her, she needed to hear it.

“Look, I have a mission I’m taking the rest of the squad on. Sorry to say you can’t come due to your condition. We’re infiltrating a small suspected PAC controlled facility. We have to cleanse the facility and take out the enemy air. We have ground support to clear the base on the inside.” I kept on talking, the more I explained though the wider her eyes became, almost as if she had fear in her eyes. Now I wonder what the hell could scare Rainbow Dash.

“Are you serious!? You’re not bringing me along! I’m fine really!” I sighed rubbing the back of my head. Rainbow was always hard headed. She really couldn’t make anything easy for me, everything had to be an argument first.

“Rainbow, you’re still wounded first of all, second I’ll be fine. I don’t need you to hold my hand Rainbow.” I leaned back against the wall tiredly.

“Well…..fine, just don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” I began to laugh against my exhaustion.

“Trust me Rainbow if I did something you would do I’d be dead.” She smacked my shoulder in a sort of play punch. I laughed now uncontrollably. I sighed leaning back against the wall again. That dream was still occupying my mind. But I was talking to Rainbow Dash I had to stay focused.

“Rainbow, I’ll talk to you later. Trust me when I tell you that this is for the best. I’m not going to have you getting hurt again, not on my watch.” I began to trot towards the door way to her room when she began to speak.

“Hey….stay alive out there Shade.” I looked back at her with a surprised look on my face. Was she expressing worry for me? This was already starting to seem off.

“Uhm, okay?” I said rubbing the back of my head curiously. That was interesting. Never thought Rainbow had feelings much less expressed them.

I walked out of the hospital into the bright daylight provided by Celestia’s sun. The weather team obviously didn’t schedule a shower today. The sky was perfectly clear; I looked back towards the hospital in silence. I guess I really couldn’t die now. Rainbow Dash was sort of the boss, well I was technically the boss. But she sure did order me around like one.

I walked back towards the air strip. I had to assemble the squad and give them the briefing. This could be the deciding battle in the war, though I strongly doubted it, this victory could be the push we need to tip the odds into our favor. It was going to be a long day tomorrow that much was clear. I can only imagine what Rainbow Dash is feeling right now. Flying was her passion, her excitement, and I was the one depriving her of it.

“Oh, I got a really bad feeling about this.” I muttered to myself walking through the silent roads of Ponyville. For some reason the streets seemed especially quiet today, like some eerie foreboding. I somehow knew this mission would end horribly for someone.

I arrived at the Air Center in silence, the squad obviously got the memo and decided to wait for me. It was going to be a long briefing that much was sure. The odds were heavily against us for this battle. We had to rely on the ground forces for this battle.

“Alright then, let’s get this show on the road eh?” I said to the gloomy looking squad. I guess most of them knew the probability of us coming back from this mission. But Sky Blazers never show fear. We fight until the very end, no retreat, no surrender. I looked around them sensing the gloomy air about the room.

“Alright, I’m not exactly the pep talker. But the sooner we can finish this mission, and get on with this war. The sooner the war will be over right? If that’s the case then if I were you I would get off of my lazy ass and cheer up a little bit.” I looked at all of them still seeming unconvinced. I sighed walking into the briefing room. They didn’t hesitate in following behind me.

I know this mission is going to end horribly for someone, the question is who?

Chapter Four

I sighed cruising in a complete loop around the target area, the ground team was at work. They had to keep an eye out for enemy air support in the area. It sure was boring, all we did was tell joked through the intercom and screw around, but I felt something was coming, something terrible was coming. I looked down at a picture that was taped to the far side of the control console. I had a picture of Rainbow Dash with me, I needed to come back for her, I decided I was going to tell her how I really felt.

“Alright Aero, make another perimeter check, be thorough please, we need to keep the ground team safe.” Suddenly a loud boom echoes throughout the area, then another. Soon began a cascade of cracking and miniature booms, the ground team was being engaged. I began to bring my body to full alert, there was new intel of a bomb in that base, secondary objective was to secure it. If that bomb went off, then Manehattan would be in for one hell of a surprise.

“That’s our cue, get in there Sky Blazers, go, go, go!” I yelled at the three other pilots. They dived down in unison into the area. I stayed back scanning the area around for enemy air, it seemed clear so I dove down with them.

The foot units engaging our ground team had the advantage, they had the entire cover of the building while our ponies were out in the open scrambling for cover.

“You’re free to open fire, light them!” A flurry of turret fire sprayed through the roof of the building, we didn’t relent taking complex circles around the small area. I smiled diving into the firing zone, without further warning I leveled the top floor with turret fire. I heard the screams of the dying through the cracking of weapon fire.

“Alright move up and let loose the package.” I said waving my hoof back as a signal. The rest of the squad took a long pull up the length of the building until they were a good five meters above it. We all released our air bombs onto the roofing in unison. I didn’t see the explosion but I sure heard it. The crumbling of dry wall, the cracking of wood, the splash of fire. I smiled pulling back into the clouds.

“Ground Team, you’re clear to proceed, but be cautious surviving enemy units may still be in the area.” I saw the five dots move into the nearly destroyed building to secure the explosive device; once again I heard the cracking of weapon fire. This couldn’t have gone well. I heard the whirring of planes in the distance, it was either the squad regrouping, or enemy reinforcements. I let the radars range expand revealing twenty enemy units closing in fast.

“Crap, Stealth Hawk move into the clouds take a scout of the enemy units, I read twenty coming from the south!” I yelled at him, I saw him pull off from the squad barrel rolling into the far clouds. I felt adrenaline pumping through my body. The fight was on the horizon.

“Alright, move in silently, we don’t want to be spotted quiet yet, cut them down one by one.” I said while slowly moving off into the clouds, the enemy could do the same but our planes are designed to blend into the clouds and be almost invisible, when it comes to stealth, no other squad in Equestria compares to us. I moved in the darkness for about five minutes before maneuvering out for a split second, the adrenaline moving through my body seemed to slow the moment down giving me time to react, before a stray at the back of the formation knew it, he was down in flames from a short controlled turret burst.

Before the other fighters knew of my location I flung back up into the clouds out of sight. I heard the sharp sound of an explosion over the intercom; things were going well for us so far. We were steadily removing enemy units from their formation, still remaining unseen. I laughed at their vain attempts to spot us, the resistance was futile. That was until Aero Flame made a huge mistake.

He tried to take out another stray who obviously went out to recon the area, but he over shot it, he went speeding into the formation revealing our locations.

“Damn Aero why are you always such a screw up!?” I yelled at him through the intercom, I saw him being harassed with turret fire through the cock pit window. I had to save him somehow; he was a sitting duck out there in the open! I maneuvered through the clouds getting into the fight, he was going down over my dead body, no pony gets left behind! I began to release my missile silo into the scattered formation, I got lucky, my randomized vector knocked three of the enemy fighters from the sky.

“Wow, lucky shot I guess.” I muttered moving towards Aero Flames location. I had to save him somehow, I saw him luring three fighters on his tail through the clouds.

“Come on Aero, we’ve got to retreat! Every pony take to the clouds we got to get the hell out of here!” I yelled out at them, I saw Sky Dive and Stealth Hawk move out of the fray into the now dense storm clouds. I looked to my side to see one fighter I didn’t seem to notice. The moment went in slow motion, but I saw a missile fire from underneath the plane aimed directly at me.

“Damn!” I yelled but it was too late, there was nothing I could do, but as the missile approached I looked in horror to my side. Aero was diving right down into the missiles path.

“What….what are you doing?” I asked too shocked to process what was going on. I looked at his head turn towards me with a cocky grin spread across his face.

“Suicide!? You’re crazy Aero get the hell out of there!” I screamed but he wouldn’t listen to me, he simply took the missile dead on his left wing blowing it clean from the metal plating. I saw him began to spin in flight downwards.

“No! You dumbass!” I screamed out in my fury, I clenched the turret trigger as hard as I could, refusing to let go of it. I saw bullets spray all over the enemy plane’s glass cockpit; the plane went limp in the air, now uncontrolled. It simply dropped its angle diving straight down into the grassy field below.

“Call it the rebellious stage of my service sir.” He said his voice cutting through the static on his line. He was fighting for control of the now burning hunk of scrap metal. I looked at his plane with my eyes starting to glisten with tears.

“You…shouldn’t have done that…You shouldn’t have done that! Damn it all!” I screamed out as he lost control of the plane, the rest of the plane was engulfed by the flames. It looked like a meteorite falling down into the field below us, I didn’t even bother to send a search and rescue to the crash site, no pony could have survived that.

“Sky Blazers..move out, our mission here is a failure.” I said monotonously. I looked out to the small blazing plane crumpled on the ground with a new found strength, he didn’t die in vain, I wouldn’t let him die in vain. I looked ahead in our retreat forgetting one crucial detail, the ground team! Their mission must have failed, which only means. I looked back just in time to see the blast. The shock wave swept over us shortly.

I felt every muscle in my body jolt with the kinetic outburst of energy. My back propellers were completely annihilated by the blast. My head started to swim with confusion while my plane began to nose dive. I heard the screams of the squad through the intercom. This was it, this was our end.

I looked through the blinding whiteness to see a strange Cyan pony walking towards me. I held out my hoof to her weakly, I hoped she would save me somehow. But I felt the wind knocked from my chest on impact with the hard floor. Then everything went black.

I looked through the blackness to the ponies chanting the names of their loved ones once again. This time it was different however. This time I saw three new ponies chanting along with them. A faded color began to drain into them as I realized with a depressing thought that they were my squad, they were completely annihilated in the blast. I looked at them with my eyes wide in sorrow. My mind searched for the only words I could say, finally I just broke out the only words I thought of.

“I’m sorry….I’m so…so sorry.”

Chapter Five

MANEHATTAN 5 HOURS AFTER BLAST

I lay next to the flaming heap of scrap metal which is my plane. I looked up weakly from the ground, my legs were broken, I was coughing blood. I didn’t even know why I was still alive to be honest. I crawled forward slowly to the comm. Systems which were on the plane in case of emergencies. I scavenged the small pistol and the communications radio.

“This is..Cloud Shade…anyone there?” I said weakly through the radio. It took a while but I eventually got a response from command.

“Cloud Shade? The rest of your squad is cut off what the hell happened?” They said with what seemed like genuine concern in their voice.

“The nuclear device….it went off…they’re all dead..I’m all that’s left.” I said lightly coughing blood onto the destroyed road. I waited for a few minutes for a response, they seemed frozen in shock. This really wasn’t an option; failure meant a catastrophe for the military.

“Alright Shade, we’re sending a rescue bird out there to retrieve you. Drop a flare to mark your location but make sure you high tail it out of there, enemy forces will definitely move onto your position.

I dragged my body through the rubble slowly; I dropped the flare tossing it as far as I could away from the wreckage, all they needed to get was a general location anyway. I crawled into a nearby alley way to hide out until rescue came. I leaned back against the hard brick wall tiredly. I knew I was close to death. The blast radiation was starting to get to me. I began to vomit blood onto the side of the floor in deep heaves. I allowed myself to tear up a little bit. This was the worst case scenario; I would never see Rainbow Dash his parents or his brother ever again.

“Where the hell did things go wrong..?” I muttered to myself I looked to the side beginning to grow weak. I coughed blood before collapsing to the side in my fatigue. Time was going by extremely fast. I felt myself beginning to slip away but I fought against the feeling. I had to survive, I wouldn’t let the entire Sky Blazers die, and it was my duty to my squad to survive. Even though I’ve already failed them, hah, I act as if they’re still alive and I actually have any duties to them. Due to my negligence they all died a horrible death.

heard the sound of hoof steps coming down the alley, they were approaching rapidly by the sound of it. I grasped the pistol tighter aiming it down the alley way slowly. My vision began to fade along with my grip on the pistol. My eyes fluttered against my will before slowly closing. A haze swept over my vision but I do recall seeing one last thing. A cyan pony came rushing down the alley way at me, I’m not sure but I think tears stained her face, that’s weird. Who would be crying over me?

Rainbow Dash looked down at Cloud Shade with tears still flowing freely down her face. He was a bloody mess. His legs were heavily broken, blood stained his uniform, and in his unconsciousness he coughed blood all over himself to make matters worse. She had never seen a soldier in such shape. She looked out the window in the medical chopper to see the destroyed landscape as they passed by. Half of Manehattan was destroyed in the blast; the other half was scurrying into defensive position. This was the largest attack to ever be dealt on Celestia owned soil. It would cause a massive retaliation from the air force. She frowned lightly rubbing her hoof over Cloud Shade’s face. His mane was constantly falling into his eyes, She sighed looking back out the window.

Before she knew it she saw four ponies dressed in some sort of HAZMAT uniform trot into the passengers area. They started to pull out needles from a saddle bag strapped around ones back.

“What are you doing?” She asked a little bit confused by their actions,

“He’s suffering from radiation poisoning, it’s amazing he’s still alive as a matter of fact, not every pony can say they faced the shock wave of a nuclear explosion and survived.” She sighed rubbing his fore head again. She could feel tears welling up but she held them back. She still had her reputation to uphold at least. The entire squad was just annihilated simultaneously. No doubt Cloud Shade would think it was his fault and act out. Just thinking about how he was about her made her shiver.

The helicopter came to an abrupt stop at the air field platform. The Ponies carried him off down the exit ramp running him into the intensive care unit. She sighed walking into the waiting room. No doubt she would be there for a while but she didn’t care. This was Cloud Shade she was talking about. If need be she could wait.

I fluttered my eyes a bit before walking up from my comma. I looked around wearily; I was definitely in a hospital room. But the real question was how I even survived. I suddenly realized I couldn’t feel anything below my lower back. I was paralyzed from the waist down. I looked up slowly to see a doctor trotting in. He took some notes before looking at me seeing me awake.

“Oh…you’re up…earlier than expected! This is great! I’m sure you don’t know me I’m Dr Whooves your doctor, pleased to meet you Cloud Shade.” I just blinked at him with my eyes half closed. My throat felt incredibly dry, I couldn’t even form words without getting a horrible pain in my throat.

“Oh, that’s because you’ve been out of it for about three weeks. Here let me get you some water.” I looked at him shocked for a moment, despite the pain in my throat I yelled.

“Three weeks!? Are you bucking kidding me!?” I yelled out, he looked at me shocked for a few moments before his expression softened.

“I know you’re confused Cloud Shade, but believe it or not you’re a walking miracle.” I blinked heavily before slumping back in the chair. He couldn’t believe he was still alive. He suddenly realized his location. He must be in Ponyville if his doctor was Dr Whooves.

“Where’s Rainbow Dash?” I said without meaning to. He looked at me a bit confused for a second before he looked down at his clip board.

“She’s still in the waiting room, she never left besides to eat. I’ll get her in here if you want to see her.” He said before trotting out of the room slowly. I looked at the wall trying to remember recent events. Oh yes, that was right. His squad was all dead. I looked down at the bed in my mourning before I heard the sound of hoof steps coming down the hall. I looked up to see Rainbow Dash standing in the door way.

“Rainbow..I’m sorry.” I said looking at her; she only smiled trotting into the room slowly.

“It’s not your fault; no pony could have saved them. You did the best you could.” I sighed looking off with a far look in my eyes.

“Apparently my best wasn’t good enough, I failed.” I let it all go and began to cry. I just released all of my pent up emotions at once from my body. It felt as if a physical weight was thrown off of my body. I felt a foreleg wrap around my shoulders comfortingly. I looked to see Rainbow Dash with her deep eyes gazing into mine.

“I’m sorry…I’ve failed you.” I looked at her my eyes beginning to soften as well.

“It’s not your fault.” She said moving in slowly. Before I knew it her lips touched mine in a soft embrace. I looked at her shocked for a few moments before she pulled away.

“It’s not your fault, nothing is your fault.” I sighed looking down onto the covers slowly. I had gotten what I wanted, but what about what she wanted? All of her friends, all of my friends, were dead. This would not go by overlooked. I would end this war, I wouldn’t let them die in vain. There’s a difference between a life wasted and a life spent.

“I won’t let it be my fault, I’m going to change things.” I looked at her a new fire in my eyes replacing my original defeated look. Instead of a defeated depression in my eyes. There was a new determination in them. I wouldn’t let them die in vain.

“Thank you Rainbow Dash, you’ll stay with me?” I said a bit concerned, I knew I couldn’t do this alone.

“Yeah, let’s end this crap once and for all.” I gave her a reckless grin before pulling her into another kiss. It was time for us to settle this dispute, once and for all.

Chapter Six

Me and Rainbow sat perched on the high rise which overlooked the ship yards. This was a crucial mission, the deciding factor in the war. This mission could not fail, our position was desperate here.

“Alright Rainbow, you ready?” I asked looking over to her with a stern look. She only cocked her head at me with a fake confusion on her face.

“When have I ever not been ready?” She rolled her eyes jumping off from the high rise onto the rocky expanse below. She hit the ground rolling sliding a silenced pistol from her side. This was a ground mission, no plane could infiltrate the shipyard, but we were trained for these sorts of situations. My only regret is that the rest of the squad could not join us.

I sighed slipping off the sniper rifle from my back. I had to wait for her signal before we could infiltrate the shipyard, the mission was to rig a submarine with an explosive device that will detonate when it joins the marine assault fleet. I held my breath to lower my heart rate taking a small peek through the scope, seems clear enough.

“Rainbow, you’re clear keep moving, give the signal for me to move in when you’re ready.” I said in a sort of whisper. This was our final mission of the service, this one I was determined to complete. I heard a small pop in the air that seemed incredibly distant, followed by another one a few seconds later. I then got a transmission from Rainbow.

“You’re clear, move in.” I nodded rolling off of the high rise onto the rocky bottom. I rolled on my hind legs bringing up to a standing position. I raised the rifle making sure my flanks were clear before proceeding.

I silently maneuvered through some large boulders until I reached the entrance to the dock space. I nodded to her while we both silently moved in unison. I looked around the dark area not seeing any pony inside. The submarine we were supposed to rig sat docked right were we planned it to be.

“Rainbow, move into the sub give me the signal to move in when you see it’s clear.” She nodded moving into the submarine a silent shadow in the darkness. I moved up the ladder to my right to get on the last floor. I sat in waiting for the signal. I felt like this mission was going too smoothly as a matter of fact, I had a horrible foreboding about this one.

“Rainbow is everything okay in there?” I asked out of curiosity, I didn’t get a response from her. I waited for a few minutes before I started to get a tad bit worried.

“Rainbow, are you there? Respond.” I asked her again, once again I never got a response from her. I looked at the submarine raising my rifle cautiously.

“The submarine seems clear Shade, you’re clear to proceed.” I breathed a sigh of relief, I got on my hind legs to move into the submarine, I was a dark shape blending into the darkness around me. I frowned at the submarine when I got close. There was a loud banging on the inside of the submarine. I heard the signs of a struggle going on inside. I leaped back into the shadows to avoid detection when I heard the sound of hoof steps climbing out from the top hatch. I looked cautiously from my cover to see around five ponies in full uniform climb out. They dragged a limp bloody pony by the forelegs along with them. I looked in horror seeing the ponies Rainbow Mane. It was Rainbow Dash.

“For the love of Celestia….” I breathed silently, we were compromised, Rainbow could be dead at this very moment, but I wouldn’t even let myself think that.

“Come out! We know you’re there! You have five seconds to surrender or this pony dies!” I saw what looked like the ring leader of the squad raise a pistol to Rainbows head.” I looked at him my eyes dilating as he began to count down. I raised the scope of the rifle up to his head taking in controlled breaths.

“Two!” He yelled out into the darkness. I grew a reckless grin on my face before I squeezed the trigger.

“One.”” I said firing a silent round from the barrel. It struck the pony dead on in the shoulder forcing his body to twist at an odd angle in the air. He collapsed in a bloody heap before the other four remaining soldiers. They began to yell out commands scrambling about the dock yard. Rainbow was dropped onto the floor; she must still be alive if he was threatening to kill her. They ran off in a random direction trying to find me. The good thing about a silence rifle is that they leave no smoke trail. I moved over to Rainbow Dash lightly putting a hoof over her neck. I felt a steady pulse, she was still alive. I moved her into the Sub silently, I had to get her away from here.

I closed the top hatch silently behind me. The bomb we were going to plant was still strapped to her back. I lightly unstrapped it moving silently through the submarine. The fuel canisters is where I was going to plant the bomb, all of the fuel would provide an extra boost to the explosion.

I moved into the area silently strapped the bomb to a fuel canister. The color of the bomb blended in with the canister, I had a bit of trouble remote wiring the bomb to be activated by the detonator. After a good five minutes the bomb was ready for use. I moved away from it silently back into the sub room. Our mission was complete; I had to get us the hell out of…

Before I knew what happened I felt a strong metal pipe strike me on the head. I fell back onto the floor seeing stars in my vision. I looked up to see the ring leader with the bullet in his shoulder. He held a metal pipe in his hoof which was now stained with blood, probably mine. He smiled at me walking over to Rainbow Dash. He kicked her onto her back. He held the pipe high over his head getting ready to finish her off. There was literally nothing I could do about it.

I looked as he hit her over the arm with the pipe repeatedly, he always struck in different areas, I heard the weak cries from Rainbow after each strike. I watched with a helpless expression, but when heard her cries stop, I felt some sort of new strength rise up within me. I pulled my limp both onto my hooves with a loud yell.

“You bastard!” I yelled running at him as fast as I could in my daze, I lifted a hoof up above my head readying it to strike. He looked shocked before the hoof struck him dead in the face. I didn’t let up, I kept on hitting him over and over again as hard as I could. I began to remember Aero Flame, Stealth Hawk, and Sky Dive. How they died because of ponies like this bastard.

He fell to the floor unable to defend himself while I kept on stomping him onto the ground. Eventually I stopped seeing the rise and fall of his chest cease. I looked down at him my eyes a bit blurry, he was dead. I had just beaten the bastard to death, what else could I have done? He was going to kill Rainbow Dash.

I felt my body growing weak as I stumbled towards Rainbow Dash, I had to see if she was alive, and I had to know if I failed. I was so close yet so far when I collapsed, I felt all feeling drain from my body, my head was throbbing with pain, I felt the warm feeling of blood dripping over my ears. I slipped out of consciousness into the sweet blackness.

I looked around the same dream I always had. I saw the black ponies, my squad, and now Rainbow Dash chanting at me. They began to chant once more, but what was odd was what Rainbow Dash was saying.

“Cloud Shade, Cloud Shade.” I looked at her now beginning to feel rage boiling in my body.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, I’m sorry.” I kept saying but they kept on yelling at me. They were trying to break me down. I finally grew tired of all of the abuse.

“Stop…stop please..” I said quietly under my breath. But they didn’t even care they kept on going for what seemed like hours before I just exploded.

“I said stop!” I screamed out at them. The chanting stopped all in unison. They looked at me with shocked expressions, this was my chance to proceed.

“You are all dead! Do you hear me? You’re all dead. There is nothing that I can do. But say I am sorry, you all..all of you…..need to move on. It’s my fault you’ve all died, my fault. I accept that. But, I’m not going to sit here, apologizing forever. This is my life….my destiny…I have control over my own life! And now..” I said looking over at Rainbow Dash who was also shocked looking at me.

“I choose her, as long as I have her…I have the ability to move on!” I yelled at them. The black ponies all began to grin with satisfaction at me before they all spoke in unison.

“Correct! That is the right answer!” They all yelled in happiness. I ran at Rainbow Dash grabbing her by the foreleg. I pulled with all of my might pulling her along with me. I ran, dragging her along with me away from the darkness, I wouldn’t let them take her as well.

“Give her back..Give her back she’s all I have left!” I yelled out running with all of my strength. I saw a bright light appear before us, I ran at the bright light diving away from the darkness and into a new beginning.

I awoke with my eyes feeling incredibly heavy. I looked around seeing a rocky expanse below us. I looked to my side to see Rainbow Dash holding onto the detonator looking out to the sea. The submarine was starting to leave port. This was it, this was our task. I looked out weakly to the submarine sinking under water.

“Would you like to do the honors?” She said to me handing the detonator over. I grabbed it weakly holding onto it with a evil smirk on my face.

“Hell yeah I would…” I said holding onto the detonator. The ships began to move off as one when the submarine arrived. I smiled pulling on the remote detonator; I heard a loud click off in the distance before the flash came. I heard an incredibly loud boom from the water followed by the rise of smoke.

I began to laugh of relief; this was not a failed mission. It was completed, now we’re done with our service, perhaps we can finally live without fear of losing everything. I looked at Rainbow Dash with my still devilish grin on my face. Blood was dripping down from my mouth, my mane was caked with dried blood, and I was incredibly pale. But despite how defeated I looked, still, there was fire in my eyes.

“That’s it then?” I said with a slight chuckle in my tone. She smiled at me looking up at the clouds. She folded her forelegs behind her head looking in satisfaction to the flaming metal staining the water.

“Yep, that’s it. Mission accomplished, are you happy now?” She said looking at me with her eyebrows raised. I looked at the sunrise now appearing on the horizon.

“Yeah, now I think we should go back to Ponyville, I think I’m done with military life.” I looked at her my devilish smile now replaced with a sincere happiness. She wrapped her forelegs around my neck kissing me in the sun set.

Our personal war was over. The war was won, and we were together. But still, I feel as if we are not complete without the squad with us. This is why this account of my adventures should be considered as my resignation from the military.

Sky Blazer 001 Cloud Shade, signing off.

Thanks every pony for the support put into this story. The ending I had to think of quiet a bit, seeing as the planes were destroyed in the previous chapter they kind of have to move in on foot. Hope that's okay.