As the group walked out of the metro station towards the plaza, Twilight ran over what she just heard in her head.

Flash Sentry...kidnapped my friends and Sunset? But that makes no sense! Why would he do something like that?

"Agent?"

Twilight turned to look over at Nick.

"We gotta go." He said, motioning to the landing Chinook helicopter. Twilight nodded and boarded. Her friends were initially reluctant to board, but with some encouragement from Twilight, they did. As they sat down, the helicopter rose into the air and took off towards the Post office.

"Twi?" Applejack spoke through the radio. "What exactly happened here?" She then motioned to the wall of the Dark Zone.

"Long story." Harper said. "Just know this. That big wall over there isn't for decoration."

"What is it for, then?" Pinkie asked.

"The land behind that wall is so contaminated, if you don't have a proper mask and filters, you'd drop dead in thirty seconds from exposure. That wall's there to keep things from going in and out. It's called the Dark Zone for a reason." Nick said.

"That sounds rather grim." Rarity said.

"Grim doesn't even begin to cover how bad it is behind that wall. Hell on earth might be more appropriate." Logan said.

The ponies flinched, except for Twilight.

"Twilight? Are you okay?" Fluttershy asked.

"I'm not okay, Fluttershy. I had to do things here I wish I never did in the first place."

"Like what?" Her friends asked.

"I had to kill. I have to kill, more like. When I arrived, they said the only way I could stay safe is to join The Division, which I did. I'm a level Four Agent, last time I checked. And yes, I do regret what I did."

"You had to kill?" Rainbow said, abhorred.

"That person didn't deserve to live. He was a Cleaner. He thought the only way to save New York was burn anyone and anything infected with the virus, or what they thought was infected. They're all killers, Rainbow. I simply got rid of someone who didn't deserve to live."

"But…" Rainbow said.

'Listen, Rainbow, was it?" Dimitri said.

"Yeah?"

"We've all killed. Hell, I've killed more people than I can count. To be perfectly honest, there are good people here, but most of them don't deserve to live in the first place. We kill because if we didn't, we wouldn't have a city left to save." Dimitri said.

"Post office in five!" yelled a pilot.

"Copy that." Nick said. "Listen up. We don't have enough supplies or kits to get you six into the Division, and let's be frank, seven extraterrestrials in the Division is too much. Word would get out."

The ponies nodded, seeing the point.

"I've already talked with Faye Lau and Captain Benitez, and they agreed to let you gals house up in the Post Office for the time being. But we need to lay down some ground work. One, you're not to tell ANYONE who you really are. Just say you're a student, and you'll be fine. Two, you'll need to help out any way you can. We're low on manpower at the moment, so any help is needed, not appreciated. Three? Since your current names will stand out, we've issued you IDs with human names in order to help you blend in. Use these names when in the presence of others. In private, or behind closed doors, you're good to use your own names. Four? Do what's asked of you. And if someone invokes "Directive 51" in ANY CASE WHATSOEVER you listen and do what's being asked. ALWAYS." Nick said. "It comes straight from the desk of the President of the United States. Five? Don't do anything to stand out. Standing out leads to attention. Attention leads to discoveries that shouldn't be discovered. Finally, Miss Pinkie?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm afraid we don't have enough supplies for the moment, so sorry, no parties. Even though it would be a great morale booster, we simply don't have the food or resources to throw one."

"Darn." she said.

"Don't be sad. I figured you must know how to cook, so I got you an assignment in the Kitchen, upstairs. See if you can find Pvt. Trevor Marks when we arrive. He's in charge of the food. He'll get you situated. Also, miss Fluttershy, the K9 unit dogs are combat trained, so don't try to pet them unless their handler is around. Horace is fine, though."

"Horace?" Sunset asked.

"The resident feline." Twilight said. "He's a teddy bear."

"That's nice." Fluttershy said.

"We're at the Post Office! Get ready!" A pilot yelled. As the Helo set down, Lau and Benitez were waiting for them outside.

"You're the guests?" Benitez asked.

"Yep." the all replied.

"I'm Roy Benitez. I lead the JTF here in Manhattan. That's Division Agent Faye Lau. Welcome to the Post Office."

"Thanks for having us." Sunset said.

'Wish it were under more formal conditions." Faye said. "We don't have much time, though. Inside."

As the squad walked inside, the ponies were initially nervous to go through the Filter, but when Twilight went through, they did so. As the ponies entered the post office, they gasped.

"It's like a small city in here." Rarity said.

"To be honest, It was a shithole when we first arrived. Now, it's an oasis in hell." Dimitri said. "Come, friends. Time for checkup."

"Checkup?" Rainbow asked.

'We need to get you all checked for the Green Poison. Don't worry, Doc Kandel's on it. She's gentle." Harper said. "It's standard precaution for civilians entering any JTF safe house."

"Alright." They replied.

"Good. Agent Twilight, take them over. Nick? Go see if the room next to yours is open. When you guys are done, wait in the medical wing. The JTF soldiers I've assigned to you should come and pick you up." Benitez said. "Get moving!"

As the squad headed upstairs, the ponies headed into the Medical Wing, where they were greeted by Kandel.

"So you're Twilight's guests?" she asked, and they nodded.

"Pleasure. Jessica Kandel. I head the medical staff here. Sit yourselves down. No need to get your personal info, I already received it from Agent Twilight. I'll get your IDs, then we can start."

As the ponies sat down, Sunset brought up Flash Sentry's betrayal.

"Yeah, it doesn't make sense. Last time they met, he was a Crystal Guard working for Twilight's brother. Why would he kidnap us?" Applejack asked.

"Dunno. I mean, shouldn't he be after Twilight? She's the princess." Rarity said.

"You're right. Maybe we were being used as bait or something." Rainbow replied.

"There's no need to toss around theories until we know the facts." Sunset said. "Let's just keep our heads down, and wait till we all get home to investigate further. Sound good?"

"Sounds good." Came the response. As Kandel walked over, she handed Rainbow, Fluttershy, Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie a plastic ID card, emblazoned with "JTF Liaison"

'Lily." Fluttershy said. "I like it."

"Erin." Rarity said. "Nice."

"Jackie." Applejack said. "Suits me."

"Raye." Rainbow Dash. "Fitting."

"Diane." Pinkie said. "Hey, that's my middle name!"

"We chose names for you based on your current ones. So, I hope they work." Kandel said.

"They do." Sunset said. "They said we would be working around here."

"Yeah, that's pretty much expected. The JTF handle most duties around here, but civilians try to help if they can. To be honest, most JTF soldiers consider civilians a nuisance." Twilight said, walking in. "Let's go get you guys settled in."

As the girls headed upstairs, Twilight sighed and told her friends about her first few days in Manhattan. Meeting Adam, the Cleaner ambush, becoming an Agent, and clearing out the Boardwalk. By the time Twilight finished, they had arrived at the room next to the squads'.

"Here you are." Twilight said. It was simple, with three beds and three sleeping bags, a table, two chairs, and a few boxes. As the girls set themselves to tidying up, Sunset pulled Twilight over.

"I'm really worried about Flash." she said.

"I am too. The JTF has marked him as a high-value target. If anyone in the JTF finds him, they have to kill him. I'd rather bring him in to question him, but Benitez said it would be a really big risk bringing a hostile leader into the Post Office. Too many things could go wrong." Twilight replied.

"Wasn't he a Crystal Guard?"

"He was. I will admit, I had feelings for pony Flash, but now they are long gone. I just want to find him." Twilight replied, and Sunset sighed.

"I sure hope you do." Sunset said. As they stood in silence, Nick watched from afar. He smiled and walked over.

"Agent!" he said, and Twilight jumped. "I got some new gear for you. New sidearm, protective clothing, and a new set of toys."

Twilight shouldered the bag, and while she did so, she found a Support Station and a Seeker Mine kit, along with a Navy MP5N and a P226 Sidearm.

"Thanks." Twilight said.

"Think nothing of it, Agent. From this whole thing, Lau's elevated your level to seven, so you're clear to access more high-end gear. Also, I don't think you've met Paul Rhodes. He heads the tech wing here. He asked me to fetch you."

"Alright." Twilight said. As the squad formed up and walked into the Tech wing, Twilight met a large, burly man, with a beard and a baseball cap.

"Paul Rhodes. Nice to meet you, Agent." he said.

"Pleasure." She replied. "What did you need me for?"

"This." he said. He then proceeded to pull up an audio file from the computer. Then, two voices spoke.

"You sure this "Flash" guy knows what he's doing?"

"Come on! He said he was military, and he, for the most part, is a good guy, in my opinion."

"Well, yeah, but there's something odd about him.I mean, I walked in on him once in the locker room, and there were fucking wings on his back. WINGS, dude. I got out of there as soon as I could, but I know what I saw."

"You shitting me?"

"No dude. I took a photo, too."

"...Damn. Should we tell people?"

"Nah. If they find out we've got some alien leading us, we'd go berserk. Remember, for the Pride."

"For the Pride, man. Let's just keep this between you and me."

"Agreed."

The file ended, and Twilight placed her hand to her chin in thought.

"So, what's this Pride? Does it have to do with the yellow-clad people we fought?"

"It does." Rhodes said. "They call themselves The Pride because they imagine themselves as lions, you know? King of the jungle?"

"Yeah. A group of lions is called a pride, so it makes sense, but how did Flash get here in the first place?" Twilight said. "The only way I know was through the Mirror Portal, and that's at my house, completely secure."

"Is there another one?" Rhodes asked.

"No, and it only opens once a month or so, and I've only been here a few weeks." Twilight replied. "He can't have used magic, because Flash is a pegasus. Only unicorns can use magic."

"Then we're back at square one." Nick said.

"Not exactly, Agent. I traced the file to a smartphone…" Rhodes said, pulling up a map. "Here."

"Broadway." Nick said.

"That a problem?"

"That area's overrun with Rikers. So, if we're gonna find the signal's source, we'll need backup." Nick said.

"Agreed. I'll get Benitez on the line." Paul replied. "Get moving!"

Author's Note

Update!

Been proofing and editing this one for a while.

Yeah, Flash leads a threat to Manhattan. And he's not going down without a fight.