And Ever We Fight On

The sudden bombardment shook the entire base. “Well, Shining certainly didn't waste any time,” Sunset quipped. “We need to get out of here before the entire place comes down.” The three of them left the room and hurried down the hall amidst the chaos.

“Maybe we should go back where we came?” Pinkie suggested. Suddenly the area in front of them exploded, bringing down rubble and debris that blocked off the way they came. “Or not…”

“There's got to be a way out of here!” Sunset yelled. The best choice was to follow everyone else. Luckily with the two sisters still disguised they were able to blend in.

“Man, how do they see, let alone breath in these helmets?” Pinkie said. Maud stayed quiet. “No Maud I don't need to know why they're built like this.”

Everything that came next happened so quickly. One moment they were running through the base; the next moment they were suddenly standing at the top of Neighagra Falls. “Oh...right I didn't think about suggesting teleportation,” Pinkie said as she and Maud took off their helmets. “Good thinking Sunset!”

“But that wasn't me,” Sunset said, looking around. “And I'm sure it wasn't any of our friends…”

“Oh, I'm terribly sorry…were you in the process of escaping?” A blue and black unicorn appeared behind them. “I'm afraid I couldn't let you do that, at least not before we have ourselves a little chat.”

“And who are you?” Sunset asked.

“I am Commander Vayentha of the Imperial Army,” Vayentha said.

“Don't you have a battle to be fighting?” Maud asked.

“I could ask your friend the same thing,” Vayentha said, smiling. “Sunset Shimmer was it? Don't act so surprised, word travels quick between the battlefield. Your tactics I must admit have left me impressed. It's a shame we couldn't have somepony like you on our side. Why side with inferior races? I, along with King Sombra, have always believed that unicorns were given the powers they have because they are superior to both pegasi and earth ponies.”

“That's rich, coming from a pony who uses slave labor to-” Pinkie sudden went quiet and stiff as her eyes widened in panic.

“Seriously, that voice is enough to give anypony a headache,” Vayentha said. “Well, in the end I knew it would come to this: a battle of wills between leaders. I've been looking forward to this for a long time…”

“I have just one question,” Sunset said. “Just what is Sombra’s ultimate goal and how did he recruit somepony like you?”

“Very well...I will explain the full story...consider it a final gift before your unfortunate deaths.

“A thousand years ago, King Sombra ruled the Crystal Empire with an iron hoof. But like all kings, he had his own inner circle, loyal to the death. He had military personnel, scientists, even aristocrats devoted to his cause. Before his disappearance, he admitted to us the possibility of him being defeated by Princess Celestia and Princess Luna and revealed his plan: he would take the entire Empire down with him in order to preserve his rule. And a thousand years later, here we stand…

“Whether or not you defeat me this day will have little difference on the war itself. Whether it will be in a few months or a few years, Canterlot will burn to the ground, Equestria along with it.”

“Sorry, but we're not going to let that happen,” Sunset declared, using her magic to free Pinkie.

Vayentha chuckled. “Well, you talk a good game anyway. Let's just see how much Celestia has taught you shall we?”

“Pinkie, Maud, you two head back. I'll handle her,” Sunset said.

“What!?” Pinkie yelled. “We're not leaving you behind!”

“The army needs you more right now, I'll be fine I promise.”

“Pinkie…” Maud said.

“...Alright but I'm holding you to it!” Pinkie and Maud then took off.

“How very admirable of you,” Vayentha commented. “But it's for the best, they would've only gotten in the way.”

“Are you done talking?” Sunset snapped.

“To the point I see...very well, I'm going to enjoy this…” Vayentha disappeared suddenly, causing Sunset to look around. “Over here…” she said to Sunset's left. “No, over here!”

Sunset closed her eyes. She knew the mare was trying to mess with her head, but she was no amateur. She put up her shield just in time as a beam of magic came from her ten o’clock.

“Impressive,” Vayentha said, reappearing. “I suppose even novices could-what!?” Sunset had already teleported to one of the taller trees and attacked, managing to hit the mare before she could defend herself.

“I don't think you're taking me seriously,” Sunset said, taunting her. “I'm one of, if not, the best of Celestia's students.”

“You'll regret those words. The kiddy gloves come off now!” Vayentha’s horn glowed and suddenly Sunset's body went stiff. She couldn't move a muscle. “That is only a taste of what dark magic can do. Put enough oomph into it, I could stop your heart from beating and make you drop dead. So I think you should be taking me serious-ow!” She had suddenly gotten hit in the head with a rock.

“Sheesh this mare likes to talk.” By the edge of the falls stood Dash and the other Wonderbolts. “Newsflash: you mess with her, you mess with us!”

“If you're so high and mighty you'd have no problem dealing with all of us at once right?” Spitfire goaded. “So what's it going to be!?”

The sudden distraction was enough for Sunset to regain control of her body and although she was ready to reprimand them for being here, especially Pinkie and Maud who seemed to have been the ones who called them, she could only smile and shake her head. She was also given an opportunity since the commander's back was to her. She braced herself as she launched a powerful beam of energy at her.

Vayentha's response was too slow, as she could only look back in surprise as the spell hit her, encasing her in a green square gem. “Unfortunately the commander won't be able to wiggle out of this spell,” Sunset said. “She's practically frozen in time.”

“So what do we do with her?” Dash asked.

“Even if Celestia had her detained she won't talk,” Sunset said. “Unfortunately she's hardly any use to us alive.” Her horn glowed again and the gem suddenly shattered into diamond dust.

“...Damn Shimmer remind me to never piss you off,” Lightning commented.

“Well... she was a threat so I suppose we didn't have much choice,” Spitfire replied. “But let's not make a pattern of this okay?”

“We might not have a choice,” Sunset rebutted. “Apparently there are others to this inner circle of Sombra’s.”

“Great...more unicorn supremacists…” Dash said bitterly.

“Anyway...how goes the battle captain?” Sunset asked.

“The sudden attack left the enemy in disarray,” Spitfire reported. “It was a complete rout and any stragglers are retreating back north.”

“I guess it's up to Shining what we do next, but until then good work everypony and uh... thanks.”

“Hey we're all comrades here,” Dash grinned. “We look after our own, and unlike those freaks we don't care if you got wings, horns, or neither.”

“...You know I've been thinking,” Pinkie said, who seemed to be in thought. “If they're for unicorns and hate pegasi, does that mean they're for or against alicorns?”

The low groans amongst everyone else told Sunset that Pinkie had these moments of thought constantly.

“Glad to see you all made it back in one piece,” Shining said as they all met back at the camp. “We searched through what was left of the base but didn't find anything of importance.”

“It didn't seem like they had much in terms of artillery and such,” Spitfire stated.

“Sounds like for once we caught the enemy off guard,” Blaze said, grinning slightly at Fleetfoot.

“Well I doubt we'll be that lucky again,” Soarin stated. “Once we go north we'll officially be in enemy territory.”

“Still, this victory will I've us the morale we greatly need,” Shining replied. “As Captain of the Royal Guard you all have my thanks. I'm sure you'll all sleep well tonight after all this.”

“Captain, there's one small request I would like to make.” Sunset had finally spoken up.

“Oh?”

“With your permission, I'd like to add Flash Sentry to my...unit.” The looks she got were certainly understandable.

“Private Sentry?” Shining asked. “May I ask why?”

“I uh...think he would be a great addition...think of it as a way to repay for saving my flank before.”

“Oh I get it.” Dash had a sinister grin on her face. “He's pretty cute isn't he?” Both Spitfire and Soarin seemed to roll their eyes.

“No that has nothing to do with it!” Sunset snapped.

“If he is okay with it, I have no objections,” Shining said. “I only hope he lives up to your expectations.” He then looked around to everyone present. “Savor the moment tonight for by tomorrow we'll be moving out and heading north.”

There was much activity as the evening progressed but nothing too extreme. As the hours passed it got quieter until it seemed there were only a few still awake. Sunset unfortunately was one of those few.

She ended up bunking with Pinkie and Maud which wasn't so bad except that Pinkie was a bit of a snorer. Sunset soon gave up and went out to get some fresh air. She had only quietly slipped out of her tent when she heard-

“Can't sleep either huh?” Sunset looked over and saw Spitfire sitting next to a fire.

“Not really.” Sunset decided to sit next to her. “Are your bunkmates loud sleepers too?”

“Well...no but…” Spitfire looked to the side and once she followed her gaze, Sunset saw one of the tents nearby shaking slightly.

Sunset found herself blushing slightly. “Who's…?”

“That would be Fleetfoot and Blaze,” Spitfire said casually. “I wish they were as quiet as Dash and Soarin though.” They could then hear moaning coming from the tent.

“Wait...so you're not upset by this because…?”

“Look Sunset, in times like these you don't always know if you'll make it to tomorrow so...if Blaze and Fleet want to fuck til dawn I can't blame them.”

“Okay but you need your sleep too,” Sunset pointed out. The moans were getting louder.

“True...then I'll pull seniority if they don't quit within the hour...don't know how Dust sleeps through that…”

“Wait she-”

“Yeah. Fleetfoot, Dust and I share one tent and Dash and Misty share another. Guys have their own tents but I imagine Dash went to Soarin's so...yeah.”

“I don't think I met Misty,” Sunset said.

“You haven't, she just got back from assignment.” Suddenly the moans seemed to reach a climax, as did the ones they belonged to and it soon got quiet. “For fucks sake do they not hear themselves?”

“Well...uh...maybe you can sleep now since they're done?” Sunset suggested.

Spitfire snorted. “You obviously don't know many pegasi. Unicorns may have magic and earth ponies may have strength, but we got stamina.”

“So you're saying…”

“Don't be surprised if they start up again,” Spitfire finished her sentence. “Plus it'll reek of sex in there which I don't need...now that I think about it I wouldn't be surprised if Dust joined in on-”

“Okay!” Sunset said louder than she wanted. “I think I'm going back to my tent now.”

“Oh come on Shimmer I was just messing with you,” Spitfire grinned. “But seriously...you know that Sentry guy?”

“It's... complicated.”

“Well...if you say so…” Spitfire then got up and stretched. “Well... hopefully those two didn't make too much of a mess in there...I could always sneak into Dust's bed if need be. Anyway...see you in the morning Sunset.”

Sunset watched the Wonderbolt march back to her tent and was treated to a show of yelling and then an embarrassed Blaze zooming out of the tent. But even after that was all done there was a lingering question in her mind, nothing of importance but she was curious.

“Is Spitfire gay?”