Defiance: the reveloution

Defiance, the revloution

A fic by Abyssal

Chapter 1: The prisoner

It was a normal day at the military camp in south-east Ponyville, the sky was grey, the weather was rainy and the air was still.

"Thats the last barrel of apples" said Applejack as she sat down by the fire. "Eeyup" muttered Big Mac who was blankly staring into The raging flames. "Damn! We're going to have to risk more lives to get a couple barrels of apples out in No Mares Land to feed us for another five days" complained Applejack in a rant of rage. "Eeyup" muttered Big Mac not entirely paying attention.

"HEY!!! open up the gate the soldiers caught a prisoner" yelled the gate guard to a group of ponies below, About half a dozen ponies rushed to open the heavy iron gate as a mangled Pegasus surrounded by guards clad in Kevlar body armor dragged his limp body through the gate. His hooves were tightly bound by heavy para cord, reins bound his snout preventing any kind of communication, blood at the edges of the hemp indicated that he put up a fair fight before being subdued by the guard.

"Fucking Pegasai! get up" yelled the squad sergeant as he shocked the Pegasus with his tazer, rendering him unconscious.

"GREAT!!! Now were going to have to carry him to the tourture chamber" argued another soldier with a gash under his left cheek. "Then carry him we will" ordered the sergeant as the soldiers lifted him on their backs and carried him off to the torture chamber.

"Who the hell was he?" Applejack asked confused about the sudden event. "well he was a Pegasus prisoner" Big mac replied. "i know that but what was his name?, his cutie mark, it was a wrench I wonder if he could be any use to us?" questioned Applejack. Big Mac turned towards AJ "If he is a Pegasus he's most likely from Cloudsdale, Damn that place is a shit hole it used to be so pristine and beautiful but now it's the slums, anypony will do anything for a couple bits" explained Big Mac zoning out on the flames licking the air

~~

Chapter 2: Information

When the Pegasus finally came to he immediately noticed the musty oder of urine and mold he then noticed he was strapped to the wall by blood crusted cast iron shackles bolted to the moldy stone wall. In a desperate attempt to escape he tried to flap his mangled wings but felt a sudden surge of excruciating pain pulse through his torso a he looked over to see his wings were heavily nailed to a bloody wooden board strapped to the green stained stone behind him.

"w-where am I?" he asked frantically looking around the dark room.

"Your in the prison of the E.P.U.P.A. (earth pony united peoples army) south-eastern military camp" said the torturer with pride, he wore a balaclava with a small snout hole, smoked a cigar and his cutie mark was covered by an X of black duct tape "now, WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU DOING OVER HERE IN EARTH PONY TERRITORY, PEGASUS!?!" the torturer yelled right up in the pegasus' face "TELL ME NOW!!!".

"maldito caballos de la tierra, se revuelcan en su inmundicia, que son los gusanos de su propia corrupción" the pegasus chuckled under his breath.

"IN ENGLISH!!!" the torturer scolded as he pried the Pegasus' heavily wounded wing apart from his blood stained navy blue coat. "Whats this?" he said examining writing tattooed under his wing "blood type, birth date, rank, you were in the navy" he continued "well back to the pain" he said as he placed the cigar back in his mouth, took a few puffs, then pressed and grinded it into the Pegasus' wing.

The hot ash singed through his coat burning the sensitive skin of his under wing

"AHHHH!!! fine, fine I'll tell you" he panted with a hacking cough "then tell" ordered the torturer "M-my name is El-taco, I came into your territory on a mission" he panted as he twisted at the heavy iron shackles. "What was your mission?" asked the guard pacing around El-Taco. "An assassination, yea I'm an mercenary or hire" panted El-taco in regret for providing the enemy with info.

the torturer lowered his cigar "Who were you going to assassinate?" he questioned with hope for valuable information.

El-Taco closed his eyes in shame "Look in my saddle bag" he said pointing his snout at a black leather saddle bag. The torturer walked over to the pile of equipment in the corner a couple bits, .45 caliber pistol, a survival knife, a bottle of Cloudsdale tequila and a wanted poster for princess M iAmorea Cadenzia's head. "JESUS!!! ten-thousand bits that's fine sum" said the Torturer with a chuckle "yea everypony in Cloudsdale wants her dead, they say that she started this war with her thirst for power" El-taco explained

Later that night El-taco was awoken from his light slumber by the clank of the locks opening on the heavy iron door of the dungeon. The door squeaked open on its rusted hinges As the sergeant walked through, he closed the door with an ear splitting squeak, he then walked over to El-taco.

"You'll know pain beyond your darkest dreams" he chuckled with a shit eating smirk

~~

Chapter 3: The Breakout

Later that night Applejack heard the excruciating screams of pain agony coming from the dungeon. "What the hell is he doing to him" Applejack questioned to herself with a hint of fear as the incomprehensible screams of Spanish (with a bit of English) kept pouring out of the stone keep. "EL INFIERNO SANTA EL DOLOR!!!" El-taco howled in agony. "holy shit he sounds like he's going through hell" Applejack thought to herself.

Early that morning about thirty-five minutes after the horror stopped curiosity got the better of Applejack. "I gotta' find out what happend to him" she thought to herself as she grabbed her lock picks off an old ghetto shelf made of a piece of rotted ply wood stacked on two rocks.

When Applejack got to the old desiccated dungeon she took out her lockpicks and started to unlock the rusted iron door. "okay so slightly twist then stroke the pins and listen for the clicks then twist AHH HA!! got it" she celebrated in her head as she opened the metal door with a slow screech.

as she entered the room she immediately smelled cigar smoke as she turned around she saw him, he was covered in sweat and blood from head to hoof, he was cuffed to a pipe on the roof revealing a tattoo on his front left fore leg, it was a snake wrapped around his leg, skewered by a long sword, the veins on his front hooves bulged out from low blood flow, his rear hooves were suspended in a metal tub filled with water, blood and urine.

"are... you here... to finish me off" El-Taco coughed under his breath suspecting his final minutes had come. "what the hell did he do to you and what's your name?" Applejack questioned in shock of the sight of El-taco's deep jagged gashes, abrasions and slices .

he paused to catch his breath "He-he... electricity... t-tourture" panted El-taco barely lifting his head to point at a car battery and alligator clips by the base of the metal tub, then he passed out from blood loss and exhaustion before he could anwser the rest of the question.

AJ recoiled at the stench of burnt fur "I'm gonna' come back tonight to break you out and get you to the hideout you might be of some use to the plan" Applejack thought to herself.

That night Applejack silently trotted over to Big Mac's tent to get him to help with the breakout of El-Taco "hey Mac get up" applejack whispered as she shook his tent made up of a large blue tarp

"huh? Um eeyup" Big Mac agreed as he crawled out of the tent half awake and started to crack his neck.

"why did you have to wake me up" complained Big Mac a he stretched out the last few pops. AJ handed him a flashlight "we're breaking the Pegasus out" explained Applejack as she leading him towards the dungeon. Big mac"s eyes widened "your crazy he's a prisoner and why would you do that" argued Big Mac as they approached the stone brick building.

"I heard somthin" she explained "in between all that screamin' i tried to translate some of that spanish, i think he said something about being a mercenary" she continued "know he'll be of some use to the plan". then Applejack peeked around around to check if the coast was clear then took out her lock picks started to unlock the door.

When they got to the torture chamber Applejack pulled out her lock picks and picked the door. It screeched open on its hinges. "I hope hes still alive" she whispered as They turned to see El-taco still cuffed to the pipe on the roof. Big mac too was shocked to see him still barely clinging to life "JESUS!!! what the hell did they do to him?!?" Big Mac said in shock.

"That's the same thing i said when I saw him" she said pressing her hoof against El-Taco's neck to check for a pulse. "thank Celestia he's still alive but its very weak he might not last much longer now we got to get him out of here, you carry him on your back and I'll get his gear" Applejack explained in a haste.

AJ unlocked the cuffs with a key she found by the dark dank cells, El-Taco then flopped down onto Big mac's back "UMPH!!!" Big Mac strained carry the pegasus" as they moved out of the chamber and along the camp walls as not to get spotted by any spotlights.

Do you think he'll live?" Applejack asked as they were sneaked past the gate. "only time will tell... only time will tell" said Big Mac as they slipped into the forest.

~~

Chapter 4: The Plan

Three days later El-taco started to wake up from his torture induced slumber. "shit, shit he's waking up put the restraining spell on him" panicked a muffled voice. "okay one sec and... there it's on when he gets up this magic should keep him cuffed" another voice explained in relief as El-Taco drifted off once again.

A couple minutes later the Pegasus awoke, he noticed that he was lying on a blood stained hard wood table in the middle of a small green tent. "eh, donde estoy yo, por qué sigo esposadas?!?" El-taco questioned in panic.

a small lavender unicorn greeted him "w-who are you?" she questioned with a bit of anxiety. El-Taco rubbed his eyes as his vision swam back into focus "I won't talk till I get some alcohol in me and why should I tell you" El-taco explained. The unicorn trotted to the flaps in the tent and peeked out "your in luck, when Applejack and Big Mac brought you in for some odd reason they brought your gear too and a bottle of Cloudsdale tequila, damn that stuff burns your throat but here it is" the mare told El-taco as she used her magic to float the bottle of hard liquor into his lap and unscrewed the cap. "im still cuffed" said he pointing out the obvious. "hmmm... fine I'll unbind you" the mare said with hesitation as El-taco grabbed the bottle by the neck and started to drink.

After the long drink El-taco wiped the spill off his chin. "ah... Tastes like melted gold, so what did you want?" he asked stretching his wings but recoiling back in pain. "what's your name and why did Applejack bring you in?" the mare asked.

El-Taco stroked his bandaged wing "my name is El-taco and who the hell is this Applejack?" he asked. "I'm Applejack" said an orange pony trotting through the flaps of the tent and up to Twilight. "why did you break me out of that hell-hole?" El-Taco asked as he got up off the table but lost balance from the sudden rush of blood to his head.

"because ain't you a mercenary or something?" Applejack asked El-taco hoping she got I right. "ya but why the hell would you need a mercenary?" El-taco asked puzzled. "just... your icy cold stare of no remorse and no fear, it might just come into use with the plan" Applejack explained swiftly.

El-Taco hobbled out of the tent "what sort of plan" he asked "and how are you living in harmony with the enemy!?!?" El-taco asked shocked by sight of the three tribes livening together without a care. the unicorn moved up beside him "the plan is that we try to gather as much ponies, pegasai and unicorns we can get then try to escape Equestria before its destroyed by the fighting" she explained

El-Taco just observed the hundreds of tents that cluttered the gigantic clearing in the forest "ok then, and what's you name, unicorn?" El-taco asked the mare. "my name is Twilight, Twilight Sparkle" she explained.

That night at dusk El-taco sat down by the small fire in the middle of the camp across from Twilight he looked over at Twi "When I was just waking up I heard two voices one of them was yours but who was the other?" El-taco asked. "That was Rainbow dash" Twilight explained. El-Taco looked confused "Rainbow dash?... go get her for me" ordered El-taco. "umm okay?" said twilight as she ran off into the rows of tents.

after a bit she returned with a light blue pegasus at her side, she locked eyes with El-taco who had a shocked expression plastered on his face

"Rainbow dash? I thought I killed you back up in Cloudsdale" El-taco said in shock as he backed away only to be stopped by a tree. "you two know each other" asked Twilight confused. Rainbow Dash turned towards Twi "Ya a couple years back around the start of the war up in Cloudsdale in my mansion, I was just minding my own bees wax when this prick bursts through the door and pops a few rounds into my chest!!!" she yelled with rage and hate for El-taco.

"you are both pegasai so why did you try to kill her?" Twilight asked, confused. "I'm a mercenary for hire if somepony gives me the money and a contract I kill the target no matter what there allegiance" El-Taco explained inching his way around Rainbow dash and back to his seat by the fire. "and how did you live through that?" El-taco asked Rainbow dash.

Dash glared at El-Taco with a snobby look "lets just say lady luck was on my side that day and "guardian angel" carried me off to the hospital" she explained in a tone that almost sounded like she was teasing him for failing a contract "you drunken bastard El-taco next time try to actually kill the target" Rainbow dash said in a mocking tone as she parted the fur on her abdomen revealing a cluster of tiny scars where the bullets entered.

"well its late I'm going to bed" Twilight said trying to break up the argument. "I'll drink to that" said a drunk El-taco as he took a swig from the bottle.

~~

Chapter 5: The Elements Reunited

It had been two weeks since El-Taco had been rescued and things weren't going any better. A recent arrival of about thirty refugees and the births couple foals had left the camp without any proper food.

El taco burst out oft he command tent "Ahhh god damn it were out of tequila" he complained throwing the empty glass bottle behind him. Dash looked upon him with disgust "Were out because you drank it all" she yelled back annoyed by the constant drunken state he was almost always in.

"Too hell with this im going to scout out the forest" El-Taco told Twilight as he flared out his navy blue wings in rage. "Well be careful out there, we lost a scouting party out by Ponyville a couple days ago" Twilight said as she handed El-Taco an assault rifle and a box of ammo. "I will keep an eve out for any signs of this scout" El-Taco said as he flew up above the forest canopy out of sight.

"He knows that earth pony soldiers patrol the area twenty-four-seven right" Rainbow dash asked Twilight as trotted up beside her. "Well its his funeral" Twilight said with concern for El-Taco.

Meanwhile, El-Taco had landed in the thick pine forest for he was getting fairly close to Ponyville and didn't want to be spotted by any snipers.

He was approaching the abandoned trenches on the eastern side of the town when heard the sound of gunshots and the sound of lead whizzing past his head. as he dived behind a pine tree he saw three shadows move against the foliage. "Maldito unicornios me voy a volar los sesos a la mierda!" he yelled out as as he chambered a round, sprung from cover and fired a few shots in the general direction of the shadows then slipped back to safety behind the tree.

About five minutes had past since he had been fired upon by the unknown enemy. "Holy shit what the hell was that" he thought to him self as he pulled out his .45 and loaded it. Then with .45 in hoof he dropped into the trench.

He noticed a dugout bunker with its door askew and decided to investigate. as he clicked his flashlight to the max and began to investigate a masked Pegasus dropped down behind him and was about to stab him in the back when he spun around, doges a few slashes, swiftly disarmed it then took it to the ground.

"WHO ARE YOU?, UNMASK YOURSELF NOW!!!" he yelled as the small yellow Pegasus pulled of the balaclava revealing a long pink mane. "A mare?!" El-Taco thought to himself as he shone his flashlight in her eyes causing her to recoil deeper into the corner "TALK NOW OR I'LL BLOW YOUR FUCKING BRAINS OUT!!!" he ordered the mare as she curled up and started to pour tears of fear. "I... T-they made me do it" she stuttered correcting herself as two other ponies burst through the door and shot at El-Taco as he vaulted over a pile of crates then took cover behind them.

El-Taco checked his ammo "so you want to taste some lead eh pandeho?" he yelled out as he rolled from cover but then realized that the three were gone. As he was checking the shadows he felt the hot gun metal press against the back of his neck "drop the guns" ordered a white unicorn in a sweet foreign accent "and get on your hind legs you have some explaining to do".

After a long time explaining who he was and what he was doing the three explained that they were the scouting party who went missing. "so your the one who patched me up eh?" El-Taco asked. "Yes i was, those wounds were deep and you bled a lot, we had to give you two transfusions to keep your pressure stable unfortunately the only match was Fluttershy and we didn't have time to go looking for anyone else" the white unicorn explained "poor thing, shes deathly afraid of needles, I had to hold her down while Apple Jack drew blood" she continued "my hooves were stained with your blood for days, i was trained to work with fabric not skin" she said as she looked at her two pristine white hooves. "so where are you from" asked the perky pink earth pony. "I'm from a camp to the west of here run by a purple unicorn named twilight" he explained.

"Twilight, Twilight sparkle?" the white unicorn asked. "yah why?" El-Taco asked "I'll tell you later just take us to the camp" she asked "sure it's this way" he told the mares as they galloped through the thick sea of trees.

When the four arrived at the camp Rainbow dash approached El-Taco. "here I found this try not to drink it all in one night" she said as she tossed him a bottle of Cloudsdale tequila the clear alcoholic spirit swished around in th bottle as he in screwed the cap and took a swig as the four moved through the tents to find Twilight.

El-Taco trotted up to a to a small hill overlooking the store tent "HEY TWI I GOT SOME MARES WHO SAY THEY KNOW YOU!!!" he yelled to twilight. "OKAY OKAY I'LL BE RIGHT THERE!!!" she yelled back.

When she finished she trotted up to El-Taco to see what he was talking about "Rarity, Pinky, Fluttershy is that you I thought you were captured?" she asked trotting up to the three. "so your names Rarity" El-Taco asked between swigs. "Yes it is and where's Dash and Applejack" Rarity asked Twilight "there over there I'll go get them" twilight said as she galloped off into the tents. When she got back Rainbow dash and Applejack "the elements are reunited" Applejack said with cheer as the six greeted each other. "Ele *hic* elements" El-Taco asked already drunk "ya the elements of harmony with the six representatives we now have a holy advantage over any misfortune" twilight explained. "Well you guys go *hic* celebrate while I *hic* have some quality Time with this fine bottle of booze" El-Taco garbled as the six trotted off.

~~

Chapter 6: Warheads

The war is at its peak" El-Taco Explained to twilight as he plunged his razor sharp kukri survival knife through the map and into the wooden table we have the pegasai to the north, the unicorns to the east and the earth ponies to the west".

"So this is where the valley is?" Twilight said as she tapped her hoof on the gunmetal knife. "Ya that's where we'll make our escape due south for a couple hundred miles till where out of this cluster fuck" El-Taco replied taking a swig of tequila the clear liquid tumbled around in the glass bottle as he slammed it down on the table sending droplets plummeting down on the map.

"We'll need to make a couple runs out to Ponyville to scavenge some weapons and ammo that could help us escape" said twi as she looked over all the enemy positions marked out by red flags "I'll put together a team of Pegasai to help out on the raid". "Good get them ready by dawn tomorrow morning. El-Taco said as he left the command tent.

The next morning around five A.M. El-Taco was awoken by Rainbow dash violently shaking his tent. El-Taco shuddered from the cold "Ughhh seriously what the frick its still dark out" he said as he took a long stretch. Dash seemed pretty hyped in spite of the early hour "The team is ready now get your drunk ass out of the sack and come to the munitions tent" she said as she darted off at what seemed to be the speed of sound.

When El-Taco arrived over to the munitions tent he saw four pegasai wearing balaclavas and fully armed "Get a balaclava on and get your guns" Rainbow dash ordered as she looked over the worn assault rifle that hung around her neck.

"Okay okay I'm ready" El-Taco said pulling down the balaclava muffling his voice a bit". "Okay so we'll fly to the west and as we approach Ponyville we'll land as not to get spotted, then we'll use stealth to infiltrate the town unseen, I'm guessing since we're all pegasai were light on our hooves am I right?" she asked standing out in front of the four

"Ya, sure, yes, yup" the four replied "that's what I though, now let's move NOW!" she ordered as the five prepared for takeoff.

the five trotted to the corner of the clearing "test test" said one member of the squad over the headset. "I Hear ya loud' n' clear" another squad member replied. "enough chit-chat ten seconds till take off" Rainbow dash called out over the headset "three... two... one... We're clear!!" she ordered as the five took flight due west.

A couple hours later over the forest the sun started to rise. "okay let's land now quietly" Rainbow dash ordered as the five quickly lowered to the ground below.

When they reached the town they found that they were cut off by a chain link fence. "Cloudchaser cut it quietly" she ordered as the spiky maned mare took out bolt cutters and snipped out a cleft just big enough to fit a moderately sized stallion.

Rainbow Dash kept low as she pulled out a map "now we need to head to the store room witch should be located in the old church in the center of town" she whispered, her voice slightly muffled by the black snout less balaclava.

As the five made there way through the town they encountered an earth pony guard "I'll take him El-Taco whispered as he tackled the guard to the ground then broke the guards neck with a grinding pop "heheheh" he snickered as he dragged the lifeless husk of the guard into the darkness behind a rusted green dumpster.

As the five approached the unguarded church they noticed a patrol coming their way, they dived behind buildings an into some ruins to remain out of sight.

When the guards passed the five slipped out from cover as the young pegasus stallion was about to gallop out across the dirt road to the church "there's a sniper in the tower don't go out there you will get shot to shit" El-taco said putting his hoof out blocking the stallions path

"I'm gonna do it, I can hoof it, I'm doing it" he said with courage as he galloped out into the street only to get shot in his side. "NO!!!" El-Taco yelled out "cover me while I drag him into the church" the remaining three suppressed the sniper as El-Taco dragged the heavily wounded stallion into the unguarded church. "okay get in here I'll cover you now" he called out across the street as he took it his .45 and suppressed the sniper as the three hoofed it as fast as their legs could take them.

When they arrived at the church El-Taco was already trying his best to patch up the bullet wound on the stallions upper torso. "what the hell is this" Thunderlane asked pointing at a heavy metal box with foreign writing on the side.

"Cloudshaser watch the street for any soldiers while I help Thunderlane open this crate" Rainbow dash ordered as she unlatched the steel crate and opened it up revealing a cone shaped hunk of metal "Uhhh El-Taco you need to see this" she said backing away from the unknown object in fear.

"one sec" he replied "GOD DAMN IT!!! don't you die on me" he yelled out removing the stallions balaclava as blood gushed from the open wound "c'mon C'MON!!!" he murmured to himself as he took out a syringe of syrette and plunged it into the stallions wing (because artery in the wing is the largest in a pegasus hence more blood flow) but it did nothing to the stallion who was now limp and cold "NO NO NO!! you bastard breathe god damn it" El-Taco yelled at the stallion as he pounded on his chest in a desperate attempt to revive the limp lifeless corpse. HE'S DEAD NOW COME LOOK AT THIS!!!" Rainbow dash yelled at El-Taco.

He got up from the corpse "Fine what is it" he asked. "this" she said pointing at the object. "HOLY SHIT THAT'S A FUCKING WARHEAD" he yelled out in panic "wait there's room for two more where's the other two".

"holy shit you right we need to reseal it an bring it back to the camp" Rainbow dash panicked as she examined the crate. "Well we need to move now we've stirred up a hornets nest there has to be at leased 50 soliders it there" Cloudchaser said as El-Taco lifted the corpse onto his shoulder and as Rainbow dash and Thunderlane lifted the steel crate with the warhead in it.

"now Cloudchaser, El-Taco you two cover us as we try to fly with this" Rainbow dash ordered as the four pegasai galloped out into the street and took off with haste as the solders bullets barely missed them as they flew off low and slow.

When the remaining four returned to the camp everypony looked at them in shock "What the hell happened out there" cried twilight as she galloped up to the four.

"We Lost a stallion" El-Taco said as he threw the corpse to the ground "the colt was only 19". "We also found this" Rainbow dash said as she unsealed the crate revealing the warhead.

"Oh my god is... is that a nuke?" Twi asked as she backed away "sure is and there's room four Two more see" Rainbow dash said as she pulled her balaclava off and tossed it off. "let's take this to R&D and see what they can do about this El-Taco help us lift this" Twi asked as the three lifted the heavy steel crate off.

~~

Chapter 7: The Escape

Later that day Twilight, Rainbow dash and El-Taco took the warhead to the Research and development tent to get it tested or any activity.

"so is it active or what?" Ranbow dash asked as she looked don at the green metal box. "it's very active" the scientist said examining the forgin writing on the side of the box "I'm going to open it up" he said as he pulled down a gas mask to protect himself from the radiation.

"masks on guys unless you want to die from rad poisoning" he said as he tossed masks to the three others. He then opened up the crate with a hiss as it depressurized, filling with air. For a moment all they could hear was the sound of each other breathing "There's one but there's room for two more" he pointed out as he handled the warhead with extreme caution looking at more forgin writing surrounding the cone shaped weapon.

Twi took a closer look at the writing on the side of the metal cone "its in unicorn so it most likely belongs to them" she explained he voice muffled by the filter on the mask. "Unicorns? They must have already aimed one at Cloudsdale and one at ponyville and they were saving this one for us to level out the playing field" the scientist said as he resealed the heavy metal crate and pulled of his mask.

"I'm going to have to do more tests on it so I'm going to need you guys to leave". "inform me when you get the results" twilight told him as the three trotted out resume there daily routine.

The next day was sunny for once. Every thing was going normal until a young unicorn scout came galloping out from the fores as fast as his legs could take him. "THERE COMING, THE UNICORNS THERE ASSAULTING THE FOREST THEY'LL BE AT THE CAMP IN MINUTES!!!" he screamed out as he burst into the command tent panting with anxiety.

"wut in tarnation is goin on?" Applejack asked as she got up from a game of chess with Fluttershy. "the u-unicorn troops at advancing on the forest we need to move now" he rambled in panic as he sat down to catch his breath.

"everypony spread the word to only take the essentials like food and ammo" "and anypony able to fight stay here to cover our escape to the south through the valley between the mountains" Twi ordered to the seven. "we'll meet up in the valley now move" she ordered as the seven split off into various directions.

Once all the refugees had gathered by the south side the group set south as the others set up and prepared for the fight. "there's only thirty-four of us, we're untrained and about to be assaulted by solders, we're going to die" the stallion panicked a misted the silence.

"Shut it kid" Rainbow dash ordered "El-Taco take point with the anti-material rifle and take the first shot, when we hear that we'll open fire". "sure thing amègo he replied as he flew up into the tallest tree he could find. El-Taco propped the heavy rifle on a hearty branch "Hey Big Mac watch my back" El-Taco yelled down to the muscular earth pony "Eyupp" Big Mac replied.

About five minutes later they heard the sound of multiple solders moving against the foliage "take the shot" Rainbow dash mouthed to El-Taco as he zeroed in on a solder's head and then with an ear splitting crack shot a round right through his skull sending blood and gore spraying anypony around him.

Dash flared her wings in intimidation "OPEN FIRE!!!" Rainbow dash yelled out as every pony sprung from cover slaughtering the first few rows of soldiers as the rest scrambled for suitable cover.

"JUST KEEP ON SHOOTING" she ordered as stray bullets chewed up light cover exposing ponies to the mercy of well shot bullets. "WE WON'T LAST, WE NEED TO RETREAT NOW" yelled a resistance member as he galloped from cover to cover.

Rainbow Dash paused to clear a jam "JUST A BIT LONGER, BIG MAC, CARAMEL GET THE WARHEAD I HAVE A PLAN!!!" Rainbow dash ordered as the two galloped off to the R&D tent. They struggled to carry the metal crate even as bullets flew past their heads. "h... here it... is" Big mac panted as he dragged the crate behind the light cover of the tent.

Rainbow Dash paused yet again to check ammo "good NOW WE NEED TO HOLD OUT FOR JUST A BIT LONGER!!!" she yelled out as the snap of bullets leaving the gun filled the air.

Dash switched to a sidearm she picked off a downed solider "EVERYPONY RETREAT TO THE VALLEY" she yelled out as the remaining fifteen galloped into the forest heading south. "Ughhhh El-Taco Help me lift this" She asked as the two pegasai strained to lift the heavy crate.

When the fifteen reached the vally Twi was relieved to see that some made it out alive. "Twi I have a plan we attach thermite to the war head then when we get far enough we blow the vally in blocking the troops from following us... do we even have any thermite?" Rainbow dash asked as she sat down with the remaining members of the resistance.

"yes we do have thermite and that's a well thought out plan" Twi replied as she gave El-Taco four small cylnders of thermite and a roll of duct tape he then taped the cylnders to the top of the crate. "Here, use this when you want to blow it" he told Applejack as he handed her a clapper detonator "now let's go" El-Taco explained out as everypony got up and began to move south

When they finaly reached the free land everypony rejoiced, cheered and celebrated. "now let's blow that bastard" Applejack said as she squeezed the clapper with her hoof but nothing happened "no no no work WORK!!" she yelled at the clapper as she rapidly squeezed the clapper.

"were dead" Fluttershy said as she looked down at the detonator. "Damn the detonator must have shit out" Pinky pie said with sorrow as she pressed her hoof against her face.

"Wait Twi how many bricks of C4 do we have?" El-Taco asked approaching Twilight. "Ummmm three why?" she asked. "strap them to me" El-Taco ordered as he stood up on his hind legs, threw his hoofs behind his head and flared out his wings as everypony looked on in shock.

~~

Chapter 8: Sacrifice

"Y-you can't be serious" Rarity stuttered as her eyes filled with tears. "Oh yes I am serious" El-Taco replied holding his stance. "there has to be another way the soldiers won't follow us this far I know it" Twi told him trying to prevent him from going to his certain death.

"it's not the soldiers I'm worried about" El-taco replied as he reached for a brick of C4. "then what are you worried about" Twi asked. "Just some old friends now tape the C4 to my chest NOW!" he ordered as handed Twi a roll of duct tape. "n-no I can't do it I can't let you die" Twi stuttered as she threw down the plastic explosives and duct tape into the dust. "DO IT!!! DO IT NOW!!! THAT THERMITE ISN'T GOING TO DETONATE ITS SELF NOW IT'S ETHER I DIE OR YOU ALL DIE!!!" El-Taco ordered as he picked up the C4 and duct tape and handed them back to twilight.

"Ok it's done" Twi said regretting what she had just done. "And so it ends, here I want you to have something" El-Taco said as he ripped off a metal chain from around his neck "my dog tags I got them in the gryphon war". Twilight looked at the tags "B-but these say Yaakov?" Twi pointed out as she examined them further "Your Yaakov Beilisk, the one who assassinated Soarin' and Spitfire in just one night" she continued "your a legend in Canterlot, your wanted posters are all over Equestria".

"it's true my names not really El-Taco and to tell you the truth im not even Spanish" he said, wiping off the Spanish accent and replacing it with a sophisticated English one. "Ya i would of figured that a name that translates to The Taco would be fake" Twi said looking up into the sky, "B-but why?" she asked as she turned back, staring into Yaakovs pale-green eyes. "I... I... its a long story " He replied as he dumped the last of his equipment on the ground.

"I do not wish to remember my past, I did bad things" Yaakov said staring at the grassy earth beneath him as if he were recalling dark memories. Twilight stood there motionless "M-my brother, he told me all about you in his letters" she said "he told me who you were, what you did and how he supposedly killed you" Twi continued "he promised we would be safe if i moved the group to Canterlot but judging on the assault im pretty sure he was lying". Yaakov just stayed silent "Twi" he said "its been one hell of a time surviving by your side, i would have died out there if you hadn't allowed me to stay" .

Yaakov picked up a bottle of tequila off the pile of his equipment "oh ya I know you want to try some liquid fire so heres a bottle" he said as he tossed the semi-full bottle to Rainbow dash. Yaakov turned towards Apple jack "oh ya and AJ I forgot thanks for breaking me out of that hell-hole" he said as he armed the charge and prepaired to take off.

Within moments he went from the forest canopy to about one-hundred feet above ground then about five seconds after he flew out of sight they saw it, the blinding explosion, it plumed above the crumbling mountain in beautiful hues of orange, yellow and red.

Shortly after the dust settled the deafening shock wave rolled over the forest knocking over anything from small foals to birds nests out of the trees. Twilight was dumbfounded by the act of valor from Yaakov.

"he's gone just like that?" Fluttershy asked as she placed a birds nest back in a tree. "it seemes so, now no time to cry we need to move south" Twi ordered as she clipped Yaakov's dog tags around her neck "we finaly did it we escaped equestria"

~~

THE END