As the helicopters flew over the Manhattan skyline, Twilight's mind was buzzing.

"More First Wave agents?" She thought."I mean, Anubis told us there were loyal First Wave Agents out there, but I didn't know there were this many! And how did they know about Lightning and the LMB?"

Meanwhile, Nick looked over at Anubis and Kestrel, who were talking through their radios. Nick sighed and tapped Twilight on the shoulder.

"Agent?" He asked, and Twilight flinched.

"Yeah?" She replied, after recovering.

"We're almost at the Post Office." Nick said. "Lau says she needs up at the Security wing as soon as we arrive."

"Got it." Twilight replied.

"Heads up!" Kestrel said, as the Helicopters landed in the post Office courtyard.

"More First Wave Agents?" Lau asked, and Kestrel nodded. "Good to have you all back. Get yourselves checked out by our medical staff, then meet us in the security wing."

As the First Wave agents, apart from Kestrel, walked into the Post Office, Twilight and the Second Wave Agents followed them. As they approached the security wing, they were greeted by Benitez.

"Good to have you all back safe and sound." he said. "We've got bad news. The LMB are moving towards safehouses in Western Manhattan. We don't have enough guys to stop them, but we'll stall them for as long as we can."

"With all due respect, sir," Kestrel said. "That's not what they're after."

"Why's that?" Benitez said.

"Since the death of Colonel Bliss, lots of LMB have gone rogue, and with that, a lot of their presence in eastern Manhattan. They need more manpower to keep up their forces. Keener stole a lot of technical data from LMB's Research and Development department when he backstabbed them. That's how he built the portal that brought all of the ponies here. The reason Lightning Dust and Flash Sentry are working for Keener is that they're the last links he has to Equestria, since the JTF took the portal from the Pride. In order to regain the link, they needed the portal out of JTF possession. In order to do that, they needed something from the other side."

Kestrel took out a small piece of glass that was all too familiar to Twilight.

"That's...a piece of the Mirror Portal!" Twilight said. "I think I know how they got it."

"Yep. Flash chipped off a piece big enough to use as a focal point between our reality and yours. The only thing he needed was human tech powerful enough to contain a reality rift. The things he needed were LMB know-how and First Wave Shade Tech." Kestrel said. "When they attempted a trial run, the rift brought Twilight here, and dumped her on the street instead of into the hands of Keener and the LMB. The LMB marked it as a failure, while Keener saw an opportunity. He stole the tech needed to make a second portal, destroyed the first, and used his own Shade Tech to make a new one, which he gave to Flash, and is now sitting at the depository. The reason the LMB attacked was to reclaim it."

"And since you intervened and saved us, the LMB and Keener have marked you as traitors, I presume?" Twilight asked.

Kestrel nodded.

"The tech needed can only be accessed through a Shade Tech Algorithm and Military grade hardware. The only places to get that were First Wave Agents and The LMB. The only portal in existence is sitting at a sealed room in the Depository. Flash had the only way to access it, though."

"Not exactly." Nick said. "When Dimitri was shooting the door, My Shade Tech picked up an ECHO. I downloaded the data, and I know where it is and how to access it."

"Good job." Benitez said. "What else you got, Kestrel?"

"Plenty more. The reason the LMB are moving into Eastern Manhattan is to locate the portal, since they think it was moved to a safehouse at an unknown eastern Manhattan location. They think they'll find a portal to an alternate dimension. In reality, they're just red herrings we set up in order to develop the portal secretly. The real portal, like Nick said, is in the Depository Safe room. The LMB will eventually find out they're on a wild goose chase, and they'll return to the Depository, they one known location they have. And the bomb that Flash threatened to detonate wasn't Green Poison. Keener didn't trust Flash's ambitions, so he gave him a placebo gas of similar composition, but is completely harmless. The reason Lightning Dust was sent in was to eliminate the last Pride members, and make sure they couldn't reveal what they had learned." Kestrel said.

"So, they tied up loose ends." Lau said. "What about Agent Twilight?"

"That's another problem." Kestrel said. "Lightning issued an order to all LMB troops under her command, which is capture her. Lightning went rogue on Keener's watch, which is something he doesn't like happening. If we don't get to her fast enough, she'll be...well...given recompense for her actions. She'll be killed, and with that, the last hope that Twilight has of getting home, alongside cutting off all of Keener's links to this whole thing." Kestrel finished.

"Is there any way you can contact her?" Logan asked.

"No. It's been too long since I've met her, so the connection has died. Meaning my telepathy is useless. Plus, she's LMB, we are JTF and Division. What's the likelihood that she'll even care or listen to us?" Twilight said.

"Very true." Anubis said.

Then, ISAC spoke.

"WARNING-INTERCEPTING PHONE CALL. ORIGIN UNKNOWN."

"Patch it through." Kestrel said. Twilight then heard a voice speaking through ISAC.

"Hello, Princess. It's me, Lightning Dust. If you're feeling brave enough, come meet me outside so we can talk. No arms, no sanctioned backup. We can discuss things as pony to pony, then leave and forget the other even existed. I'm warning you though. Anything funny happens, things won't end nicely."

The phone call ended, and Twilight growled.

"Whatcha going to do?" Harper said.

"I'm going out. Anubis?"

"Yes?"

"Set yourself up on the rooftop with your rifle. Miss Lau? have you had the time to reactivate his status?"

"No. Why do you ask?" Lau said.

"Then he's not a full agent. And by extension…" Nick said.

"Not sanctioned backup." Benitez said.

"One shot is all I need." Anubis said, walking out. Twilight stowed her weapons in the stash and walked outside. True to Lightning's word, there she was, clad in LMB combat gear, carrying an M4. Twilight walked outside and frowned.

"You got guts, Princess." Lightning said.

"I might. Rainbow's inside, if you want to reconnect with her." Twilight said.

"Why should I reconnect with the mare that ruined my life?" Lightning said.

"Fair point. Where's Keener?"

"Never met him. Phone calls over a closed network only."

"Why the LMB?"

"We both wanted payback in more ways than one. They hate the JTF, I hate Equestria. I decided to ask if they would support me, and they said yes. I have a small army at my command."

"I have the portal, you know." Twilight said.

"Ah, yes, the portal. I knew Kestrel couldn't be trusted. So, what now?" Lightning asked. "You're unarmed, and you can't possibly kill me with that knife. You don't have the guts to do it."

"I might not have the guts...but...." Twilight said. Lightning's eyebrows shot up and she attempted to draw her rifle. There was a faint gunshot, and Lightning collapsed, dead, from a bullet to the head.

"Can't say anything about him, though." Twilight said with a grimace as she walked back inside.

"Got what we needed." Twilight told the agents.

"Good work. Let's bury these LMB and be done with it." Anubis said, walking up.

"Get to work, then. ISAC pinpointed their stronghold. Get moving, agents!" Lau said. As the agents restocked and headed out, Anubis and Kestrel nodded and followed.

Author's Note

Update!