Of Radiance and Sacrifice

by Vinyl Redux

Rating: mature
Tags: Dark, Alternate Universe, Adventure
Length: 21850

Equestria is divided. The thoughts of an uncertain future plague the land. Staring into the face of adversity, Princess Luna steps up to the plate to restore hope to the once great nation.

Equestria is in turmoil. Three years have passed since the devastating Invasion on the City of Canterlot. The Changelings had shown no remorse. Despite overcoming the ferocity of the enemy, the invasion has shown just how vulnerable Equestria had become.

Princess Celestia, adamant to prove Equestria's might, brought together what forces remain of the Royal Guard and set out to mount an offensive against the Changeling Army. Seeking aid from otherworldly yet familiar beings, the Equestrians were able develop weaponry unlike any spear or magical spell seen before. Equestria had entered the age of an Industrial Revolution and soon followed by the fall of the Changelings, Celestia showing no mercy. The benevolent caliber she held, all but forgotten, dwindling over the years and with it the citizens trust in their Princess.

Throughout it all, throughout that dark period, the Princess of the Night stood by and watched as her morals were crushed for better or for worse, as her sister turned from a fair leader to a tyrant, as her world was fractured. She found herself questioning her sisters authority, her rule and now her loyalty. Realizing action is necessary and that her sister must be stopped, Luna sets out with one thought, one goal; to restore Equestria to its former glory, no matter the cost.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2017-02-18 21:37:43 UTC

Prologue

Of Radiance and Sacrifice

Present Day

City of Canterlot

     The cries of outrage could be heard from even this deep in the castle. Ponies questioning what’s right and what’s wrong. It was the same situation about two weeks ago and has now become routine.  The week starts, there’s another petty theft, another rally from the people, another public execution by the order of Princess Celestia; Equestria’s current and - as far as Celestia was concerned - only leader.

     Princess Luna looked out at Canterlot below through her balcony window. The once bustling city now a place of disharmony and uncertainty. A constant reminder that even the greatest of us can and eventually will fall.

What has happened to us?

     It was a question that Luna asked herself frequently after the Campaign against the Changelings. That dreaded campaign. If there was anything achieved, it had divided Equestria more than ever before. But a more pressing question sat in the back of Luna’s mind; what happened to Celestia? When did she become so….relentless? So cold? To execute somepony for petty theft was beyond extreme and here her sister was doing it. She needed to find out why. Turning away from the city view, Luna made her way for the door that led out of her bed chambers.

      It was late in the afternoon and the sun's rays were shining through the glass panes that overlooked the valley Canterlot sat on. The halls said glass panes sat in were devoid of life save for Luna. She walked on, paying no mind to the stoic guards that were stationed there. Had they not saluted when she walked passed, Luna wouldn’t have even known they existed.

     The closer she moved to the north wing of the castle, the more apparent the protests outside became. She picked up her pace as to not listen to the ramblings of those outside longer than she had to. The door leading into Celestia’s study was within sight. The guards opened the golden double doors and stepped aside without word. A moment later, when Luna had stepped inside, the doors were shut and with it the noise vanished from existence.

     Looking up, Luna saw her sister sitting at her desk down the opposite end of the room. She was levitating a quill, writing what seemed to be a letter of some sort. She sat there like a statue, the only movements made were quick blinks and the slow rising and falling of her chest. She looks as if she’s been-

     “Luna? Is there something you need?” Celestia’s voice piercing through Luna’s train of thought. Putting the quill down, she raised her head and gave her sister a questioning look. If Luna didn’t know any better, she’d say Tia was showing a hind of annoyance at her.

     Luna approached her sister who starred on. Nervously, she began “Yes sister, there is. I require answers. Answers for these public executions you are putting on in the city. It is causing quite the display, even beating reports in the paper such as DJ PON3 or Las Pegasus. I come seeking the truth as to why you are committing such dire acts.”

     Celestia continued to give Luna a lifeless expression as if she should have known the answer. When no reply came for a good ten seconds, Luna persisted “Why Tia? I require an answer.”

     “Because I have to.” The reply Celestia gave was swift and unexpected.

      Luna was somewhat shocked at her sister's blunt answer. “Because you have to? Sister, that means nothing and doesn’t help to clarify why you-”

     “I gave you an answer. Now please take leave sister.” Celestia cut Luna off and returned to her work. It was as if she was paranoid.

      “Excuse me, Tia? But your trifling response was hardly an answer and I won’t ‘take leave’ until I receive a literal one!” Luna wasn’t about to walk away.

     Puting the quill down again, Celestia rubbed her temples with her hooves, looked right into her sister's eyes and spoke four words “Because it is necessary.”

     “That isn’t an-”

     “DAMN IT LUNA!” Celestia was fed up of Luna’s insistency. “The things I do, I do to make sure Equestria doesn’t completely fall apart.” Using her magic she slid her desk aside and approached Luna “That was your problem from the beginning. You could never just accept things as they were. You just asked questions and never got shit done! That's why everypony preferred me over you. That's why you did nothing during the attacks and why you are just as useless now as you were then!”

     Through the insults Luna stood, a single tear running down her cheek from the barrage of insults her sister just threw at her. In an instant, hatred filled her mind towards her older sister. “Well how about you open up and fill other ponies in on why instead of being a complete bitch about it. You say that i'm useless? What were you doing when that city was under siege? NOTHING! I was out there fighting alongside my guards, saving ponies whilst you… you were in the castle enjoying cake!”

     “Enjoying cake? I’ll have you know that-” Celestia was cut off

     “NO! I will not be shunned!” Luna yelled. “Not anymore. You always do this to me. Why can’t you just-”

     Luna was silenced when Celestia brought a hoof and drove it across her cheek, knocking her to the floor.

     “ENOUGH!” A long, golden war axe had appeared next to Celestia. Her eyes glowing as bright as the sun. “I WILL NOT ENDURE YOUR INSOLENCE ANY LONGER YOU…. you…” She froze, looking at her sister's prone position on the floor. The fire in Celestia’s eyes began to dissipate, as did the axe but not before she realised just what she’d done.

     She rushed to her fallen sister. “Luna! I'm terribly sorry. I didn’t mean to…” Celestia trotted to pick her up off the ground before Luna swatted her foreleg away with a hoof.

     “Don’t touch me!” Picking herself up, Luna stared into Celestia’s eyes. Hers were wet from tears but her face still had fury etched across her features. Not saying a word, she turned to walk away.

     Celestia watched as her sister gained distance and left. Just before she reached the door however, she called out to her, voice full concern “Where are you going?”

     Using her magic, Luna opened the study doors and without looking back, without stopping,  responded with “Somewhere that I can make a difference” her voice dripping with venom. And with that the doors were slammed shut behind her, leaving Celestia alone in her study, the bang making Tia jump.

     Unsure of how to continue her work, Celestia walked over to the window next to the overturned desk. It overlooked the back courtyard. And in it? A large gathering of ponies waiting for her to show. She stood at the window for quite some time in deep thought.

What does she mean ‘somewhere i can make a difference?’

     Celestia was so deep in thought that she didn’t realise that one of her guards had walked into the room and was calling her.

     “Your Majesty?”

    She attempted to regain some form of composure. “Hm? Oh. State your business” she commanded.

     “The execution is about to take place, Your Majesty. You requested that I notify you when the time came.” The Guard spoke without fail.

     Walking towards the door, Celestia motioned for the guard to take lead. “All the preparations have been taken care of?”

     “Of course, Your Majesty.” Bowing, the guard turned to lead Celestia.

     “Excellent.” The two walked walked the halls in silence. The thought of the execution bringing up thoughts of Luna.

     She shook her head. No no. She will be back. She always is Celestia reassured herself. They were fast approaching the Back Hall doors. Here we go Celestia thought. Taking a deep breath, she opened the doors.

     The back courtyard contained a massive gathering of noble looking ponies around the sides of the land, seats raised and available so everypony could see the event. There were distinct seats available for both Celestia and Luna however the latter’s would remain empty. In the middle of the expanse sat a ragged looking unicorn. His horn had been chiseled off and he’d been beaten badly. He wore a torn cloth and had chains on his fore hooves. Next to him was the executioner though he had no weapon but a whistle. Just as Celestia had arranged.

     When everypony had taken their seats, a posh looking pony began to read off a large scroll out aloud. The crowd fell silent “Courier Loop! You stand accused of the crime of theft and treason. Have you any evidence to counter this charge?”

     Not a word was said.

     “In the absence of any compelling evidence to the contrary, I am bound to pronounce guilty. You are hereby sentenced to death!” The crowd roared in amusement. The unicorn had raised his head and was looking straight towards Celestia. His eyes were narrowed and seemed to say ‘One day, you’ll face your own trial by fire’.

     The posh pony walked away as the executioner stood up. The crowd once again went silent in eager anticipation. Raising the whistle to his mouth, the executioner blew it. A loud, high pitched sound rang throughout the courtyard.

     In an instant a massive shadow was cast over the crowd for a split second. Some time later and a large figure landed on the ground opposite the prisoner, kicking up quite the amount of dust. When the dirt had settled, it gave way to a big, red, fire breathing dragon. It shot its fire into the open air and then lined it with the helpless unicorn. Fear was in his eyes as he faced his impending doom.

     The last thing Celestia heard were the screams of a pony being burned alive. When she opened her eyes, all that was left was a pile of ash left from the prisoner's body. She stared at the pile, wandering if what she’d ordered was right.

.

.

.

No. It had to be done… It was necessary...

Chapter One: The Invasion

Of Radiance and Sacrifice

3 Years Ago

City of Canterlot

     The city streets were desolate. Not a pony to be seen save for the bodies of guards and civilians lying on the ground, blood pooling around their prone bodies. The sounds of terrified screams and the clanging of metal on metal echoed throughout the valley. Smokestacks could be seen from any part of Canterlot.

     Luna stood outside the castle gate alongside her Night Guard and members of the Wonderbolts, looking on in incredulity. It was a sight none of them had ever seen before. So many bodies… was the only thought Luna had. The Changelings hadn’t even shown mercy to the innocent. Celestia wouldn't take this lightly, not when the innocent were harmed and in such brutal ways.

     When the invasion began, word got out that Celestia had been badly injured by Queen Chrysalis. Her Day Guard were the only ponies protecting those inside. It remained unknown as to how Chrysalis was able to get within Canterlot undetected and remain so for this long. Despite the constant urge to retreat within the castle and help those inside, Luna held her ground. She had to wait for Frost.

     Frost; Pegasus, strategist, Luna’s personal guard and her closest friend. He left a while back and was flying over the City, surveying the area from above for Luna and her group before they made any moves. But that was twenty minutes ago.

     Luna stepped forward, eyeing the street ahead “Enough waiting. Thou must get ready to move on-”

     “There. He’s coming back” The voice that interrupted her belonged to none other than the leader of the Wonderbolts herself, Spitfire and she had a hoof pointed to the sky. Around her forelegs were a contraption that allowed a blade to pop in and out. “You really need to exercise some patience Luna.”

     “Right” Luna replied nonchalantly. The pegasus in the sky began to dive towards the assembled ponies. Pulling up last second, he slowed his pace and landed on all fours, two meters ahead of them. Dust was sprayed across his form. When said dust had settled, a pony wearing a cloak emerged.

     As the figure was walking towards Luna, a gust of wind blew the cloak atop his head back to reveal a light-grey stallion with a black and red mane and tail. He also had red irises. Lots of red. He wore a vest that covered his chest and shoulders, albeit torn, and had a bow and quiver slung across his back. The most striking part of his appearance was four pieces of metal that protruded from the tips of his hooves. Of course, the enhancements had been Luna and her research team's idea.

     Spitfire was the first to voice her opinion “What kept ya?”

     “It's good to see you too Spitfire.” Came Frost. He looked like he’d died and came back to life “There were a group of civilians trying to make their way out of the city. They were under attack, I helped.”

     It was simple but there was something else he was withdrawing from telling them. In the years Luna had known Frost, she knew how to read him like a book. And his facial expression gave it away. She decided not to press further however. “So what isth thou plan?” Luna asked.

     “This far in the city? Only a few stragglers, nothing we can’t handle. Along the main road leading to the commercial district however, there's a gathering of guards and civies holding the line to the castle. Their odds of succession are two to five” Frost expressing urgency in those last three words. “If we start traveling towards the area of conflict now, we can flank around the hostiles and hit em from behind. Sound good?”

     Luna just gave a nod of approval. At that, Frost began dishing out orders. “Spitfire, I want you and the Wonderbolts in the air overlooking us. You four -” He pointed to a huddle of guards “- are to watch our sides and rear. Understood?” They saluted at the request. “Good. Let’s move out!”

     That’s what Luna liked about him; he was reliable, no matter the situation. When she didn’t have a plan, he’d have one ready.

     The squad of ponies were moving swiftly to their target location, moving through any building or alley they could. Any resistance they came across was met with extreme prejudice and crushed in an instant. Spitfire would callout if there was a changeling and she’d dive bomb it. Frost would spot a stray and one arrow later, it was still. It amazed Luna just how efficient he was with those fingers. Combined with his bow making for a deadly mix.

     As they got closer to their objective, the cries for help and struggle against the changelings became more apparent. They were in a courtyard that led to the street behind the enemy when Frost brought his hoof up to signal everyone to stop and the Wonderbolts to fly back down. “Alright. They are right around this corner. When I give the word, we move fast and we strike hard. It’ll take them a few seconds to figure out what’s going so remember, hit em hard.”

     He turned to Luna “You going in or are you sitting this one out?”

     Luna was shocked, almost insulted at the question.  “As if thy would sit by and watch thou enter battle! We stand and fight alongside thou, not merely watch from the sidelines!”

     “I can admire that” Spitfire smiled as she glanced towards Luna. The thought of fighting along side her princess instead of said princess watching from a safe location comforted her a little. Turning to her fellow Wonderbolts, she asked “Any naysayers?” No arguments were made. “No? Good. We’ll be in the air, Bolts. See any hostiles up there, you know what to do.”

    Frost eyed Luna “I suppose that it would be fitting for you to lead the charge then. You up for it?”

     Luna just smirked in response. Unsheathing her sword with magic. She reared up on her hind legs, thrusting her sword upwards and yelled “TO BATTLE!” Everypony around her, unicorn/pegasi guards and Wonderbolts alike suddenly roared into the open air. All of them joined Luna is thrusting their swords and spears into the air. The shouts were carried throughout the whole of Canterlot.

     The screams of what sounded like a million ponies were heard amidst the battle, both ponies and changelings stopping to listen. Nothing. In an instant, those very shouts could be heard in full force from behind the changelings. A swarm of guards charging the changeling position and taking lead was none other than Princess Luna herself, brandishing a silver and blue sword.

     It was quite the sight. It looked as is the changelings had shit themselves.

Looks like we might be saved after al-

     “Vinyl Scratch?” A little filly interrupted Vinyl’s thought. Sadness was etched on her face. Her eyes were beginning to water “Are we going to die?”

     Vinyl recoiled at the question “What? No. We’re going to live through this.”

     “How do you know?”

     Vinyl leaned down, ruffled the filly’s mane and levitated her onto her back. “You see that, kid?” She gestured to the group of ponies charging the enemy “That down there is Princess Luna and her noble warriors. They’ll save us.”

     “Promise?” the filly had puppy dog eyes.

     “I promise”

     The filly wrapped her hooves tightly around Vinyl’s neck. Turning away from the battle, she walked back to where her saddle bags were located. They were filled with all types of DJ equipment. “To think I was supposed to perform tonight at the wedding. Looks like that won’t be happening” she said to herself softly. Looking at her back, she found the filly fast asleep.

     Once more, Vinyl levitated the filly off her back and placed her on one of the many chairs strewn across the floor. Finding a blanket, Vinyl wrapped it around the sleeping bundle and walked back to the balcony to watch the fight.

     The massive force that charged the changelings were running as fast as they could, some taking to the air and flying alongside the group. They were so close now, readying their weapons forward to make first contact.

     Just before reaching them, everypony in the front of the pack leapt into the air. Time seemed to slow down as Luna looked around and saw everypony lined up, in mid air and ready to fight. Time slowly began to resume and when it did, the entire street was turned into a massacre. Luna swung her sword left and right, taking on seven changelings at once. Spitfire bobbed and weaved, taking down anyone within reach. Frost was like a ghost, unloading arrow after arrow from the shadows.

     Ponies were falling but in turn more changelings were slaughtered. None were to be spared. Not after what they’d done to those poor souls at the wedding.   Changeling forelegs, wings and heads were severed in the frenzied counter attack. “KILL THEM ALL!” Rage had filled Luna and she wanted nothing more than for those who opposed her to be cleansed from the lands.

     The battle lasted for a good forty minutes before every changeling had been put down. When the dust and sand had settled, only seventeen ponies had survived. Their blades broken, their minds shattered, the bodies of the dead surrounding them. One of the bodies stirred, that of a unicorn guard.

     “On your hooves guard. We know not if they are all vanquished.” Luna ordered

     “Yes prince-”

     An arrow struck the side of his head with a resounding *crack* as his skull was indented. He fell to the ground. Looking to where the arrow came from, Luna saw Frost’s silhouette in the shadows. “Why did you-”

     “Look at him again” Frost gestured to the body.

     Instead of a guard, it was that of a changeling. “Oh…” was all Luna could let out. The changelings blood was beginning to pool.

     At that moment, a massive group of ponies were stepping out of a nearby building, the guards raising their bloody swords at them. There was fear in the eyes of both the guards and civilians. When the silence reached breaking point, a white unicorn with an electric blue mane stepped forward with a filly on her back. “Were not changelings ok?” It was Vinyl Scratch.

     Spitfire stepped forward to, drawing her blades. “Prove it” was all she responded with.

     “How can we prove it?”

     “Blood” Frost’s voice rang out across the crowd, walking next to Vinyl.

     “Frost? What… what happened to you?” It had been an entire year since she’d seen those eyes and mane. She eyed him curiously.

     The light-grey pegasus grabbed Vinyl’s foreleg with his fingers and ran a blade across it with his other fingers. Vinyl winced in pain as the dagger pierced her skin. Crimson leaked onto the blade.

     “They’re good”

     A sigh of relief from everypony later and Luna was filled in on the situation that took place before her squadron arrived.

     “Interesting. But to more pressing matters. Thou said there was what looked to be another wave of changelings gathering at the northern border?” Luna inquired

     “Yep. Dunno what they’re up to but I don’t want to stick around to find out.” Vinyl expressed her concerns to Luna who listened intently.

     Luna stood up from her position “Hear me ponies. We are to-”

     An explosion sounded from down the road they all stood on, silence followed. Everypony looked down the road only to see a massive group of changelings advancing on their position and quite quickly. Turning to face the crowd she spoke urgently “Ponies! Make haste for the castle!” Luna trotted the way all the other ponies were running. Upon turning around, she found both Spitfire and Frost standing there.

They’re going to stay and fight? No! They’ll be crushed!

     “What are you two doing!? We need to move now!” Luna yelled at them

     “They won’t make it back to the castle if we don’t try to hold them back. I know it and you know it.” Frost spoke calmly which irritated Luna. But she knew he was right “Go. Now.”

     Luna nodded, albeit reluctantly, turned and left the premises

     Spitfire turned to Frost “So. This is it huh?”

     Frost not once took his eyes off the hoard that approached, yet he looked calm and ready. “You know what? I think it might just be. At least you won’t have to fork over those twenty-five bits you owe me.” The corner of his lip arced upwards

     “And ain’t it a bitch.” Spitfire turned to face her death. “Ready?”

     “Ready”

     The changelings had reached Spitfire and Frost. Luna turned around only to see that they were immediately engulfed in a sea of black carapace. Luna felt dead inside, she’d left them both to die.

     At that moment, a bright light was being emitted from behind her. She turned around. It was coming from the castle.

What the?...

     The bright light receded back into the castle a moment later as if nothing had happened at all.

Strange. It looked li-

     A massive shock-wave came from the castle, echoing throughout the valley. It shook buildings and broke windows. It even blew Luna back a few steps. She was struggling to keep her hoofing upright but the intense waves of wind were proving her otherwise.

     Whilst being blown back, she tripped on a piece of debris and was send flying. She slammed into the side of a rock hard building, knocking her out cold and came to a rest on top an overturned lamp post.

     When Luna came to, she rubbed her head with a hoof, wincing when she touched a bruise. Getting up, she looked around finding a desolate street. “What in Celestia was that?” she asked herself

     In the distance, Luna spotted Vinyl, her guards and everypony else emerging from what she assumed to be a coffee shop. “They’re safe. Good.” Luna saw that there wasn't a changeling in sight. Not even the bodies of those who were dead.

     In the distance, she saw two bodies, one being yellow and the other being light-grey, laying on the ground, covered in rubble.

    Luna's eyes went wide “No!” She rushed to her fallen friends. “No no no no no.”

     She reached their bodies. Their breathing was very shallow. Spitfire had a piece of rebar that impaled her wing and several cuts and bruises across her body. Frost had the same, cuts and bruises, but his wing and both hind legs were crushed by the debris. Looking back at where she last saw Vinyl and the others, she yelled “Help! Anypony please!”

She turned back to her friends prone positions, levitating rubble off them.

It’s going to be alright. Everything will be fine… please…

Chapter Two: New City, New Opportunities

Of Radiance and Sacrifice

Present Day

Outskirts of Manehattan

     “We will be arriving at Manehattan Station shortly.” The conductor's voice echoed throughout the train carriage, startling Luna. Opening her eyes, she was greeted with the sight of green, grassy hills and open plains. But in the background stood the beautiful metropolis of Manehattan in all it’s glory, surrounded by sea. The afternoon sun lighting up the city in a golden aura. Despite the majestic feel, the city wasn’t untouched by the aftermath of war. Crime rates spiked after the end of Celestia’s Campaign.

     Using her hoof as a place to rest her head, Luna continued to look out at the magnificent view. Ponies milled around the carts, looking for their luggage. However, Luna’s presence remained unbeknownst to the citizens around her. After all, the only thing they saw was a small, midnight blue, unicorn mare. Not the alicorn she was known for being.

     Luna slept through half of the train ride to Manehattan and it was mostly uneventful… mostly. Her mind was plagued with the memories of the invasion: the day Equestria changed forever. She never did find out what happened to Frost or Spitfire.

     They were both taken to the Canterlot Castle infirmary to which Spitfire was treated for her wounds and a few weeks spent getting her wing working again. After that, she was gone. Months later news arose that she had been stripped of her rank as Captain of The Wonderbolts for no apparent reason. Outraged, she left and was never heard from again.

     Now Frost, he was in a coma for 2 months straight and the doctors said that even if they tried to save him, they couldn’t. His condition was critical but Luna was willing to do anything to keep him alive, instructing the greatest minds of her research team to do whatever necessary to keep him from going under. Whatever they did worked but their congratulations were cut short when a few days after the ‘operation’, Frost had upped and vanished from the face of Equestria.

To think that was three years ago. I remember it clear as day… Day… Tia.

     Luna thought back to the previous day. How she and Celestia had argued. How she hurled abuse toward Luna. How she… punched her. She’d never expected that to come out of Tia. When Celestia had hit her, Luna made her way back to her personal chambers. Filling two saddlebags with enough bits, food and commodities needed to last at the very least a month away from the castle. At that, she took leave, disguising herself as a simple unicorn and took the next train straight to Manehattan. Now here she was.

     Banishing any thought of Celestia from her mind, Luna mused about the city she was about to enter. There was a distinct difference between Canterlot and Manehattan that Luna loved, more ponies appreciated the night over the day. Ponies were up and about during any time here. There were many clubs the city could offer, most of which were filled to the brim. There was of course the light pollution but she could forgive that because all you have to do is travel outside the city and you get to see the beautiful, starry, night sky Luna called her own. There was even the Lunar Observatory! She’d have to visit there later.

     Looking back into the carriage, Luna noticed the conductor from before passing by “Excuse me, conductor?”

     The pony had stopped, turned to Luna and put on a kind smile “How may I be of service to you, miss?” He seemed very jovial.

     “How long would you say until we reach the station?” Luna inquired

     “I’d wager about another five minutes ma’am.”

     “Alright. Thank you.” Luna replied, smiling back at the conductor.

     He tipped his hat towards her and continued down to the other carriage. Leaning back into her chair, Luna enjoyed the rest of the train ride as much as possible.

     As soons as the train doors were opened, Luna stepped out of the carriage breathing in the Manehattan air. Everytime she stepped off a train in this very station, it filled her with joy. Whether it was on official, or in this case unofficial, terms. Tightening her saddlebags around her waist, she walked through the crowd.

Right. I require a place to stay. A hotel shall suffice Luna thought to herself

     Walking out of the station, Luna hailed an old fashioned taxi carriage. There were new age ones available that didn’t require manual labor, ‘auto motives’ as some ponies put it, but Luna preferred the ways of old. The only reason said auto motives existed was solely because of the industrial revolution that took place during the war. Alongside that, new weapons were in mass production, replacing the sword and spear. They were referred to as ‘firearms’.

How this leap in technology came to? I’ll never know…

     Snapping out of her train of thought, Luna realized that she’d been standing in front of the taxi for an absurd amount of time, the driver staring intently at her. “You ok there, miss?” he called out.

     “Huh? Oh, I was just thinking. Sorry about the wait sir” Luna apologised, blushing a little in embarrassment. She climbed aboard.

     “Not a problem” The driver giving a reassuring smile. “So, where ya headed?”

     “Times Square” was the response Luna gave

     “As you wish”

     And with that, they were off.

     Luna stood outside Manehattan’s Manefair Hotel. Having spent a few hours to get something to eat and explore, she needed to find a place to stay. Walking inside, the ground floor was magnificent. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling and ponies milled about the place. Spotting the receptionist, who looked rather bored, Luna walked over to the front desk.

     “Hello. I’d like to make a reservation.”

     The receptionist perked up at Luna’s voice. Her name-tag read Square Mile “Hello. Is there anything in particular that you are looking for?”

     “Nah. A simple room will do.” It was at this point that Luna felt like a normal pony not a princess. She liked it. Spending too much time as a public figure took a toll on ponies so it was nice change of pace.

     Square Mile was writing things down in a book “Ok miss…”

     “Midnight” Luna gave Square Mile her fake alias.

     She wrote the name down into the logbook in front of her. “Alright miss Midnight, a lovely name, your room is forty three.” She levitated a key over to Luna. “Just head through that hall - ”  she pointed to the left “ - and take the lift up to the fourth floor.”

     Luna smiled and thanked the receptionist, making her way for the ‘lift’.

Another technological contraption Luna mused

     On short lift ride later and she stared at the door to her room. Upon immediate entry, she made way for the bed, exhaustion taking over. Luna unclasped her saddlebags and flopped onto the bed, undoing the spell she’d cast on herself to change her appearance.

     Sitting up on the bed, she thought of what she could do during her stay in Manehattan.

Bah. I’ll figure it out tomorrow.

     With that, Luna laid back down on her bed and entered the realm of dreams.

Chapter Three: Not All That it Seems

Of Radiance and Sacrifice

Present Day

Canterlot Falls

     Princess Celestia stood at the edge of the cliff beside the falls. The sound of rushing water filled her mind as she lowered the sun. She finished her duties and continued to focus her ears. It was calming, peaceful even. She looked out towards the east expecting the moon to rise. Alas, it didn’t.

     “Damn it Luna…”

     This was the second night in a row that Luna hadn’t raised the moon, leaving Celestia to do her sister's job. She knew how much Luna hated it when she raised it for her but if it isn’t raised by the time the suns down, she did it.

     Lighting her horn, Celestia raised the moon. It began to appear over the horizon, slowly inching upwards. Once out in full, she released it and let it sit in the sky among the billions of stars out tonight.

     Turning away from the cliffside, Celestia made her way towards the path back to the castle. Awaiting her were two day guards, standing at attention.

     Walking up to the first guard, she asked “Have you received any word about my sister's whereabouts?”

     The guard saluted “No, Your Majesty.”

     Celestia sighed. “Alright. Let us make way to the castle.”

     Saluting in unison, the two guards took lead, Celestia following close behind.

      Luna woke up from her sleep. It was a pleasant enough one. No dreams, just a blank mind. The sound of music was playing off in the distance, a reminder of the nightlife this city was known for.

Typical Manehattan Luna thought, smiling a little.

     She sat up, looking over at her clock. It read 12:47am. A newspaper article was located on the bedside table. Lighting up her horn, she levitated it towards herself and read the front page. ‘Two more alleged gang members found dead in Manehattan.’ There was a part at the bottom that said something about crime rates but Luna paid no mind to it.

At least somepony is making a difference

     Putting the paper down and getting out of her bed, she walked towards her balcony. Upon stepping outside, Luna was hit with the midnight breeze and a sudden spike in the music’s volume. She inhaled the manehattan air and exhaled, visible smoke coming from her muzzle. Her balcony overlooked a park of some sort, lamp lights in the distance lighting up the scene.

     She could hear the cheers from a crowd alongside the music. Perhaps a concert? She questioned.

     Staring into the dark, Luna’s mind wandered. Here she was in the second biggest city in Equestria and she had no idea why. She just upped and left from Canterlot in such a hurry with no plan at all.

     Turning away from the railing, Luna made way for the door.

     “Perhaps a walk throughout the night shall help.”

     She walked to her saddlebags and emptied its contents on the bed, picking up a few things she had taken from Canterlot. What caught her eye was a silver necklace with a ruby crescent moon in the middle. It was a gift she received at her first Grand Galloping Gala appearance. Putting it around her neck, she walked for the door.

     Luna pushed the hotel doors open and stepped outside. The air was just as cool as before. The receptionist from before gave her an odd look when she walked by. At first Luna thought she forgot to cast her spell and change her appearance but after double checking in a window, she concluded that all was well.

Is it what i'm wearing?

     Luna had a grey, fluffy winter jacket, boots and scarf. She thought it contrasted well with her light-blue mane and midnight-blue coat. The necklace was tucked into the jacket, away from sight.

     Not sure of where to go, Luna just walked whatever way was straight. She noticed there weren't many ponies about the streets in the area. And the ones she came across looked paranoid, looking left and right every two seconds as if something was going to happen.

     As Luna was walking past an alley, she was grabbed and pulled in. She was shoved against a brick wall with two silhouettes walking towards her. Fear began to set in, one had a knife in his mouth by the hilt and the other was levitating a half smashed bottle. She hadn’t fought another being since the invasion so her skills at hoof to hoof were at a low.

     “Hoof over any bits ya got and you’ll see another day!” the one with the bottle demanded.

     Luna stood there unsure of what to do. She had no bits to give. But if she didn’t… Looking around for options and finding none, she decided to try and tell the truth.

     “I… I'm sorry but I havn’t any bits on me…” she made a show of emptying her pockets.

     The one with a knife looked pissed. “Thees thying!” he hissed around the blade. In an instant, he lunged forward whilst Luna wasn’t ready. However just before he reached her, a figure flew out of the darkness and kicked him to the side. The pony wore a ragged cloak and took a defensive stance in front of Luna, facing the other mugger.

     The two stared each other off for a good ten seconds. All of a sudden, the cracked bottle was sent hurling towards Luna’s savior. The cloaked pony jumped up and in mid air, kicked the bottle against the wall to the left. Upon landing, the shadow trotted up to the now weaponless unicorn, dodging a few punches thrown. They then jumped over him, onto his back and slammed his head into the pavement.

     Getting up from the ass kicking the pony just dished out, they called out “Come, quickly!” It was a stallion no doubt, his voice sounding somewhat young but groggy. There was an opening behind a dumpster that Luna had failed to see. The pony kicked the gate open and ran through to the other end, Luna hot on his tail.

     Luna heard a voice call out from behind. “After them!”

     They were in another alley and at the end was a solid wall. “Keep going!” the mysterious pony yelled. Two wings appeared at his side and he took flight, flying up the wall. Turning around, he looked at Luna. “Come on!”

     “I can’t!” Luna called out

     “You’re a princess! You have wings, use em!” he yelled down at her

     “I… I d-” Luna was cut off.

     Lowering himself and extending a hoof, he screamed “Jump!”

     Jumping to reach the pony’s hoof, she caught it. Lifting her up onto the wall, the two muggers were below and exhausted. “Get... down... here!” he gasped between breaths. Luna and the mystery pony stood atop the wall. He reached into his cloak and pulled out a grey, circular object. He threw it down at the robbers. Nothing happened. Suddenly, a crack rang throughout the alley. Luna looked back down the wall only to find a lot of smoke. The two walked away from the scene, with coughing all that could be heard from below.

     Luna and the pony walked in silence, fog being emitted from both their muzzles. It looked somewhat creepy coming from the cloak since Luna couldn’t see the pony’s face, just the nose and mouth on his muzzle poking out.

     Luna felt exhausted and wanted to ask where they were going. As if he knew exactly what she was thinking, he said “We’re here.” It was an abandoned tower in the middle of the city.

Pray tell why they haven't demolished the building yet Luna mused

     They walked for another minute and a half, climbing up a stairwell before entering a dark room. The only source of light was the moonlight coming through the cracks in the wall and the broken windows. That soon changed when a golden light shone from the middle of the room, coming from a fire the pony lit.

     He sat down, Luna taking a position next to him albeit keeping a distance. The fire warmed her up nicely. Silence was all that could be heard for a few minutes, the pony poking a stick at the fire to keep it alive.

     Deciding to attempt at a conversation, Luna started “So… you gonna mug me now or something?” She fake chuckled. No response came. She sighed and thought of something to say. One thing came to mind.

     “Thanks for saving my flank and all. I don’t have anything of value to give you but if there's anything I can do, then…”

     Silence. Well, so much for an attempt at- a voice cut her off.

     “You know, I try to save as many ponies as possible and sparing those that aren’t a massive threat. Now you, you're quite special, for you happen to be a princess. To be specific, the Princess of the Night… Luna.” His voice echoed throughout the room. There was a sly smile plastered on his muzzle.

     “How do you know that?” Luna inquired. She was still in her standard unicorn form so there was no way this pony could have known that.

     “I think i’d remember the pony I gave that necklace to” he pointed to said ruby necklace that hung freely around Luna’s neck. “When was it? Your first Grand Galloping Gala?”

     The realization began to sink in. She cast the reverse spell on herself, turning back into her signature self but retaining her jacket, scarf, boots and necklace. Her ears drooped against her head. “F… Frost?” Luna questioned

     He began to reach for the hood of his cloak, pulling it back. First came the light-grey fur, then strands of black and red mane and finally those deep, red irises. It was him. Frost. The fire casting a golden hue across his features. He had a calm look etched on his face. One of a pony that’s at peace.

     “So how ha-” he was tackled to the ground by none other than Luna. She hugged him tight, not letting go. He began to feel what he assumed to be warm tears on his back. Then came a sound he thought he'd never hear coming from Luna, he heard sobs. Luna clung to Frost as she broke down, Frost hugging her back.

     “I’ve missed you too Luna.”

Chapter Four: Mare of the People

Of Radiance and Sacrifice

Present Day

Center of Manehattan

     The fire crackled throughout the empty building. Two ponies huddled around it, basking in its warmth, enjoying the moment they were spending together. It wasn’t everyday that you’d come across somepony you hadn't seen in three years.

     Luna and Frost shared tales of their ventures over the years. Luna spoke of her ongoing issues towards Celestia and how she wanted to do something about them but couldn’t find any viable solution. Frost spoke of how he’d ‘lost his way’ after the invasion and traveled here to Manehattan to find a purpose but ultimately didn't find one.

     Exchanges went back and forth about their pasts, eventually going even further. The two reminisced in the times they spent together. Their first meeting atop Canterlot Mountain. Their first battle, The Battle of Burj. Fighting along side Saddle Arabia’s delegates Amira and Haakim. Even just days that were spent doing routine work within Canterlot Castle. Every moment was one they remembered clear as day.

     Frost chuckled “Yup. Those were the days. I still remember the face Haakim had when we told him we went against Celestia’s orders to recede from the city. As if we’d just leave them to die.”

     Luna nodded in agreement “Yeah” She gave a sigh of content resting her head against Frost’s, enjoying the warmth of the fire and her long lost friend. They lay there in silence, watching as the fire danced in the darkness. Faint music could still be heard in the distance when it faded and gave way to a voice speaking through what sounded like a microphone.

     “This is MC W1SH signing out!”

     Though somewhat muffled from the distance, cheers and screams erupted upon the name being said out aloud.

     Frost turned his head towards Luna. Her eyes were closed and her head still against his neck. Her breathing was light, chest rising and falling with each breath. And he was about ninety percent sure she was asleep. Upon taking in her form he’d realized that she was about the same height as him.

Probably some height reduction spell or something… he thought to himself. She looks so cute when she's fallen asleep.

     Attempting to wake Luna up in a peaceful manner, he wrapped a foreleg around her, leaned in next to her ear and whispered “Luna? Time to lower the moon. Cmon.” Frost gave her a little shake, her eyes began to flutter open slowly at the action.

     “Huh? Already?” She really didn’t want to leave her current position, nuzzling her head against Frost’s neck.

     “Yes. Or we’ll miss the show.” He stood up and held a hoof out for Luna who just groaned.

     “If you insist” She took Frost’s hoof and got on all fours. “What kind of show?” she inquired as they made way for the stairwell.

     “One that I know you’ll like, Princess.” He brought a hoof up and gently prodded Luna on her nose to which she responded with a light punch to Frost’s shoulder.

     “Ouch” he rubbed the spot

     “Wimp”

     “You know you liked it”

     At those words, Luna gave Frost a ‘yeah shut up’ look.

     They ascended the stairs and eventually reached the floor Frost had wanted, walking through yet another empty, broken room. Without the warmth of the fire, Luna began to feel the cold of a midnight Manehattan night and started to shiver lightly. Frost took notice and slowly wrapped a wing around his companion.

     “There ya go. Don’t want my favorite princess catching a cold on me now would I?”

     A deep crimson began to develop on Luna’s cheeks, both from her friends gesture and his words. She tried to form a sentence but just couldn’t make one, eventually settling with “Th.. Thank you Frost…” Luna loved it when he treated her like a normal mare instead of a princess. It gave her a sense of normalcy.

     As they continued their walk through the lifeless building, Frost hit Luna with a question “So… How do you plan on dealing with your sister?”

     The question was so sudden

     “Pardon?”

     “I mean like, what are you gonna do? Quite a few ponies are starting to hate Celestia because of her ridiculous rules and regulations, some even calling for her to be dethroned. So I say do exactly that. Take her place.”

     “You ask me to try and overthrow my own sister? Again?”

     “Well it's that or Equestria continues on its downward spiral. Like look at Manehattan. Before all the shit Celestia put in place, all was fine and dandy. But once she stepped forward, crime spiked, gangs and mafia families were formed. If not for ponies like me, this place would be a whole lot worse.”

     “True… But still.”

     “But nothing. You have a chance to restore at the very least some form of order throughout the land. To do what your sister did not.”

     “We shall see Frost… We shall see.”

     As they walked on, the sounds of a crowd became louder and louder. Eventually they reached the edge of the floor which overlooked what appeared to be a park with quite the amount of ponies in it. Lots of ponies. All gathering in front of a stage of sorts and waiting as idle music played slowly.

     They both sat next to each other, on the edge of the ground waiting.

     “Whats going on?” Luna questioned

     “It’ll start right… about… now!”

     A low bass line began to growl from the speakers, eliciting a roar from the assembled ponies. Fog appeared from out of nowhere and obscured the stage from any ponies eyes, lights of all colors making quite the display. Amidst all the fog, a silhouette could be seen approaching the stage and the setup upon it. Whoever they were, they were taking their sweet time. An instrument which sounded like a flute began to play alongside the low bass line. Despite it being an odd mix, it sounded amazing. Eventually they had made their way to the setup in front of the crowd, their identity still masked from the cloud of fog.

     The music began to pick up a bit and as it did, the pony behind the table raised both their hooves. Slamming them down on the board, kicking up the music a notch. Lights going off left and right. The flute and baseline played alongside chopped, feminine vocals and yet continued to build up.

     Then it stopped. And with it the lights went dark, plunging the whole park into a black abyss.

     A machine with individual buttons lit up next to the pony who began pressing each one. As they did, lights behind them flashed on and off in unison with the button presses. The notes being played started to get faster. And faster. And faster, building up even more.

     Just before the bass dropped, the fog was blown away revealing the pony that stood on the stage. Her electric blue mane was unmistakable. Her glasses were known Equestria wide. She was DJ PON-3.

     The crowd erupted, screams of amazement and shouts of joy rang throughout the park. Luna didn’t even have the time to process what had just happened because the bass dropped immediately after, blowing the crowd and even Luna away.

     The music continued to blast from the speakers as Luna smiled at the show below. She absolutely adored the DJ and her music. Eventually the song came to an end.

     “WHATS UP MANEHATTAN!” the DJ screamed out at the crowd. “Sorry to keep you all waiting. I hope MC W1SH was able to satisfy whilst you waited for the main course.” Reaching under her setup she pulled a record and placed it on the spinner. “Enough talk. LET'S DO THIS!”

     The sound of a scratch was used to transition the background music into a fresh song. The crowd immediately cheered again as the new song built up.

     Back in the tower, Luna was fangirling, nearly up and dancing to the new song. Frost just sat back and watched both the show below and Luna’s ‘moves’. Upon noticing his amused stare, Luna sat back down in a royal posture, blushing profoundly.

     “Ahem… It’s uh.. Quite nice…” Luna tried to salvage some integrity.

     “Have you forgotten who you are with right now?” Frost asked. “Bah. Whatever.  There is a reason as to why I've brought you here, other than to have a good time, Luna.

     The song continued to play. “Oh? And just what might that be?” she inquired

     “If we are to overthrow Celestia, which I know you’re considering, then you’ll need a team to do it. And Miss Vinyl Scratch down there would make quite an asset in such a campaign.”

     Confusion etched across Luna's mind “Frost, I don’t mean to sound like you are delusional but she is a DJ. How would she be of use in such ways?”

     “What if I told you that, even though money is quite the issue for all ponies including Vinyl, she’s doing this concert for free. To lift the spirits of those affected by the war and such. She’s… lets say… a mare of the people. After all, our goal would be to restore rights to the people.”

     “I see your points as they are quite valid but I still don’t see what role she would play in all this.”

     “She’d be like a community manager. Connecting with the people. Arranging social events. Things that’ll get the ponies on our side and not see you as another Celestia type. She can help us Luna. Just arrange a little meet with her, see if she's interested. Do it tonight, tomorrow, whenever. As long as you speak to her.”

     Frost got up from his position and stood next to the edge of the building, spreading his wings “Leaving so soon?” Luna questioned, already knowing the answer.

“Yeah. Unfortunately I've got some ponies I must have a few words with myself, so i’ll see you around.”

     “Can’t you stay a little longer?” Luna whined. She tried to keep a sad look on but she ended up smiling at her attempt. “Just until the end of the song?” she pouted

     “I'm afraid not.” Frost said solemnly

     “Well, if you must.” She stepped forward and gave Frost a hug. After holding the embrace for a good amount of time, she stepped back reluctantly. “Stay safe…” she whispered. Frost got up on his hind legs, gave a small salute to Luna, vaulted some railing on the edge of the building and disappeared into the night.

     Luna turned her attention back to the light show below, letting it fill her with wonder and amazement.

     Luna stood backstage of the set, waiting for Vinyl to finish her performance for the night. Of course, Luna had to get through security and at this time of the night it was tight. To make things easy, she revealed herself as the Princess of the Night and was granted immediate access to backstage. Originally, Luna had hoped to catch MC W1SH but turns out he’d already left so now she sat and waited.

     Sometime later, Vinyl wrapped things up after performing her encore of her encore and made her way backstage. What she didn’t expect to see was Princess Luna sitting there, waiting for her.

     “An incredible performance Miss Scratch. As always, you never disappoint.” Luna complemented Vinyl.

     “Princess Luna? I… uh… thanks?” Vinyl was dumbstruck. She needed a drink after her tiresome gig so she made way for a little mini fridge in the corner of the room “Want one?” she asked levitating two cans of soda out.

     “Please”

     Shutting the fridge with her hind leg, she made way for the seats in the middle of the room, opening both cans and setting Luna’s down on the table in between the chairs. Luna levitated the can up to her muzzle and took a sip of the fizzy drink as Vinyl took her seat.

     “So what brings you to Manehattan? Other than the music of course.” Vinyl was always charismatic when speaking to anypony.

     “Personal matters”

     “Oh…”

     Silence filled the air. Attempting to change the subject, Vinyl raised her glasses and spoke “Haven’t seen ya is three years Princess, how you holdin up?”

     “I’ve been better. And please, just Luna is fine. And what of you Vinyl?”

     “Don’t know what to tell you, Luna - ” She gave a lopsided smile “ - I guess the same could be said about me as well. But i'm getting by.”

     Again silence.

     Deciding to cut to the chase, Luna broke the silence. “I’ll be forward with you Vinyl. I’ve recently spoken to a mutual acquaintance of ours and I have a proposition for you.”

     “I'm all ears Luna.”

     “No. Not here” They got up, both grinning

     Lowering her glasses, Vinyl gestured to the door “Then away we go”

     "Into the night."

Chapter Five: Just Business

Of Radiance and Sacrifice

Present Day

Manehattan Port

     It was an hour before dawn, the port showing no signs of life save for the boats. Freighters moving in and out, cranes shifting metal crates, cargo containers being pelted with a light, early morning rain. The whole scene looked grey and gloomy.

     Amidst the sea of containers was a warehouse. And a vehicle seemed to be moving towards it. It stopped in front of the structure and out stepped a pony wearing a trenchcoat and a dusty stetson. Grabbing a metal case from her seat, she shut the door and leaned into the car.

     “Keep er runnin. Just in case things get a tad messy.” she ordered the driver. Her accent sounded western.

     She made way for the warehouse door, the rain peppering her coat. Opening the door, she stepped inside and shut it behind her, the sound of the rain hitting the ground becoming muffled. The place was relatively dark only being lit by a few light bulbs hanging above. The pony walked towards the middle of the room where a lone table stood and placed the briefcase she carried upon it.

     Not a moment later, two ponies emerged from the shadows in front of her, one slightly taller than the other.

     “Miss Applejack, we meet again” the shorter one called out in a jovial voice. They stepped into the light. The tall one had yellow fur and a brown mane whilst the other had black fur and a blue mane. Both were unicorns.

     Applejack gave a simple nod “Ain't it true, Glassy. Let’s be quick ya hear. Never know who’s listenin.”

     “Of course, of course” The duo moved up to Applejack and the tall one placed their own case on the table “To business. The key to the container that houses your cider - ” he unlocked his case and turned it towards Applejack “ - for fifty-thousand bits.” It was filled to the brim with gold bits.

     Applejack unlocked her case and spun it around. “Tha key to shippin container EQSU 6346 as promised.” They both closed their cases and locked eyes. Applejack held a straight face with no emotion whilst the buyer, Glassy, smiled.

     The click of a revolver being cocked echoed throughout the warehouse. “Right. We will be taking the key and your money. Oh and your life” he almost sounded giddy. Glassy picked up both briefcases with his levitation whilst his silent associate had the weapon trained at Applejacks head, ready to fire.

     As the trigger was pulled, Applejack ducked and flipped the table on its side. She took cover behind it as two rounds were fired, penetrating the weak use of cover leaving her with one bullet grazing her shoulder. Picking up the table, she charged at the gunman ramming it into him. The force caused him to stagger and throw his firearm into the air.

     Applejack leaped and grabbed the revolver by the mouthpiece, landing on all fours. She aimed for her target before he could get up. One round entered through his eye socket. Screams of pain filled the room as blood poured from where his eye used to be. Bits of both flesh and blood falling to the floor. Another two rounds were fired, one to the chest and another to the head, silencing the shrieks. Applejack then turned the weapon towards Glassy who didn’t move an inch. She bit on the mouthpiece to fire… Nothing… She’d run dry.

     Glassy turned and ran but before he could reach the exit, Applejack pulled her own silver plated revolver out of her trench coat and fired. A round pierced his hind leg leaving a gaping hole in it. He stumbled to the ground, crying out in pain as blood began to pool around his leg. Applejack slowly walked towards her prey, eyeing him.

     “Ya just couldn’t take tha goods and be gone could ya?”

     Glassy began to whimper.

     “Shhh. Quiet now” Applejack ran the tip of the revolver over his lips then put it back in her coat. Using her hooves, she gently lifted Glassy’s head towards hers. Then, with as much force as possible, she slammed it into the ground. A resounding crack rang out alongside more cries of pain. She got up and violently used her hooves to beat his face in, continuously punching it into submission, blood spurting over her face as she did it.

     By the time Applejack was done, Glassy’s face was nothing but paste. She took a step back and sat down, breathing heavily.

     Silence. It filled the building. Nothing but the rain hitting the roof.

     “Well done”

     Applejack’s ears perked up. She spun around, pulled her gun out and pointed it towards the sound of the voice. A cloaked pony with cloth covering their muzzle sat atop a wooden crate eyeing her curiously. Despite the gun being pointed at him, he showed no signs of fear.

     “Red Death” she called out

     “The one and only.” He pulled the mask down “But please, Frost will suffice.”

     Applejack still had her gun drawn which made Frost sigh.

     “Look AJ, if I wanted to kill you, i’d have done it whilst you sat there looking at that poor sods face.”

     She tucked it back into her coat. “That’s fair. So… did ah steal your contract or somethin? Or are you just here to watch ponies die?”

     Frost chuckled at that “Perhaps the former… Or both. Who knows.”

     The thought unsettled her “Well?” Applejack was getting impatient

     “Well… way I hear it, the Apple family ain’t doing all that well. After the war, you turned to cider to make coin. But then the prohibition came along and fucked up the game, ushering you into a life of crime.”

     “Psht. As if ah had a choice. Ah have to provide for mah family. And it didn’t help that tha laws that were supposed to ‘protect’ the innocent now work against em. Fuckin Celestia. Tell me, why are ya really here?”

     “Because I believe that together we can work towards a mutual goal, that in this dark time we can do what this ‘government’ has failed to do. Celestia need to go and we need only strike”

     “Why?”

     “Because it’s right. Because it’s necessary…”

     Applejack took in Frost’s words. From what she could gather, he was looking to destabilize Celestia’s empire. There was just one question…

     “Who are ya running with?” Applejack inquired

     “Princess Luna” Frost responded

     Two thoughts entered AJ’s mind. The first being that Luna wants to take over her sister. The second?

     “Another royal looking to recruit me?”

     “What? Celestia wanted you too?”

     “Yeah. But I happily declined. She looked pissed though.”

     After a brief moment, Applejack spoke again “Look, i'm in. If it means gettin back at Celestia for all tha shit she’s pulling then ahm all for it. That and ah might have some information about tha kind of operation she’s got runnin there.”

     Frost got up “Well then. Shall we vacate the premises?”

     “Lets” Applejack grabbed both the briefcases.

     As they walked towards the door, Frost pulled out a paper and pen. Holding the pen in his mouth and the paper with his metal fingers, he scribbled out a message on it.

     “What’s that for?” Applejack asked

     “An old friend. You know where that abandoned tower in the middle of the city is?” AJ gave a nod “Meet me at the base of the tower at dawn, two days from now.” At that, he took flight.

     “Righto.” Applejack walked toward the vehicle parked outside. Opening the door, she sat down inside.

     The driver looked into his rearview mirror “Where to, ma’am?” he asked

     “Times Square”

     The car sped off towards the city center

     The skies above the Crystal Mountains were pretty clear. A northerly wind blowing clouds towards Baltimare. Snow flakes slowly falling down the mountain with the sun's rays making each flake glisten.

     A group of pegasi pulling a metal cart appeared, flying just below the clouds. One was pulling and there two flanking the container on each side. They were armed with battle saddles and looked paranoid, watching every cloud they passed as if they could be attacked at any moment.

     “Keep your eyes on that scanner!” one called out

     “I am!” the one beside him said

     He was looking at a device strapped around his foreleg. Nothing “It’s clear” then he heard a blip. Multiple blips. Looking back down at the pad again he saw there were multiple red dots scattered around the outside of the screen. And they were closing in on the convoy’s position. “We have multiple reds closing in all around us!” he yelled to the others.

     “Shit! Get ready everypony!”

     The blips got closer and closer and… they all disappeared “What the…” One red reappeared on screen to his right. “To the ri-”

     He was cut off by a bullet ripping through his skull. His body became limp and spiraled down to the surface. A yellow streak flew past, nothing but a blur.

     “It’s her! Fly faster.” the pony on the left commanded

     Each pegasus picked up the pace, one landing on top of the container in a battle stance. “Come on!” she yelled out at the clouds. A second later she felt an impact in her chest, a searing pain causing her to fall on her haunches. “Fuck…” Her body flew off the top of the cart and fell just as her friend’s did.

     “Keep going. We can make the mountain!” A female pegasus exclaimed.

     The white tips of the Crystal Mountains came into view. And so did a yellow pegasus, flying directly toward the pony pulling the load. In a flash his wings had been shot off, blood spurting out of the stumps. He screamed in pain and fear as his body stung and he plummeted towards the ground. The yellow pony flew over the wingless pegasus and grinded atop the crate, grabbing the back before she fell off.

     On the back there were two doors that she opened quickly, swinging inside. There were shelves full of mechanical bits and pieces strewn everywhere. “Come on, where is it?” she mumbled under her breath, throwing parts aside. The two remaining guards had lined themselves with the back of the container and were now firing into it in hopes to kill the one inside. “Shit” Turning around she saw the part she’d come for, mentally hoof pumping as she grabbed it. Reaching into her pocket she pulled out a round object and placed it on top of all the junk.

     Extending the metal fingers within her hoof she punched in a code. Once it was done she spread her wings and leaped out of the cart, passing the two guards still diving towards the load. She turned around, pulled out an smg and with two bullets dispatched the remaining opposition. At the second pull of the trigger the cart exploded, showering the air with scrap and metal.

     Satisfied with the turnout of the op, the pegasus flew up into the cloud layer towards her home.

     In less than ten minutes she’d made it back to her cloud home. This high in the air, no pony would have found it. She stumbled towards her front door, pushing through it. Once it was closed she trudged towards her bathroom, throwing her score on the cloud couch as she passed it. At the sink she flipped the handle and let the water run, splashing some of it on her face. She sighed, raising her head to look at her reflection in the mirror.

     Her yellow coat and orange mane were slightly wet. She wore a white shirt with a sleeveless, grey vest on top “Look at you. Captain of the Wonderbolts to nothing more than a forgotten face. How’d you let it slip Spitfire…” Another sigh.

     Once she’d dried her face, Spitfire headed back for her lounge. Upon looking at the coffee table in the middle of the room she saw a piece of paper  “What’s this?” She picked it up with her fingers and read the note etched on it.

The game is live and with it a shot at redemption.

You know where to find me

-F

     “The game is live… Cheeky cunt” Spitfire chuckled to herself  “I’m in.”

     Walking over to her fireplace she lit the paper on fire and chucked it in, watching it burn.

     “A shot at redemption. We will see about that.”

     Princess Luna faced an empty horizon from an empty tower. She had just lowered the moon and awaited the sunrise. The sounds of a waking city came from below, cars and commuters filling the streets even this early, ready for the day ahead.

     The noise of door hinges squeaking came from behind her and out stepped Applejack and Frost.

     “Why. Mornin Princess” Applejack greeted

     “Good morning Honesty. Thy wasn’t expecting your presence” She turned her head towards Frost who just gave a slight nod. Luna reciprocated the gesture. All was still until a blur flew in through the window Luna stood at, landing next to her. It was Spitfire “Spitfire? Yet another unexpected appearance.” Luna felt somewhat bemused.

     “Oh. Hey Moon Butt” Spitfire dusted herself off and bowed towards Luna who just glared at her.

     “Right.” Luna drew attention back to her “Vinyl Scratch should be arriving momentar-”

     The door hinges squeaked again and opened to reveal the DJ “Aight Luna, i'm…” Vinyl paused. “Woah… Ok. Talk about a reunion. What’s with the whole get together?”

     “What do ya mean sugarcube?” Applejack questioned

     “What do I mean? Correct me if i’m wrong, Applejack… is it? But all of us were present at the Canterlot invasion. You were probs in the castle, I was with a bunch of ponies and Luna, Spitfire and Frost were… you know… fuckin shit up. So blam! Reunion.” Vinyl clapped her hooves together.

     Spitfire just looked at the DJ “Okay?”

     Vinyl looked from Spitfire to Frost and back again. “What’s with the glossy finger shit you two have?” she asked, pointing to their hooves

     “Ask Luna” Spitfire remarked

     Frost had taken off his cloak “Those are nothing compared to these” He gestured to his hind legs which were covered in a brownish cloth. He pulled said cloth up to reveal two legs made of metal from the knee below.

     Vinyl shuddered at the sight “Ok, ok. Enough. Why are we all here?”

     Spitfire raised a hoof into the air “I forward that question”

     They all turned their head towards Luna.

     “Well… We are all gathered here because each of us feel that my sister, Celestia, is abusing her power and her rule must end. Am I correct in assuming such?” Each pony gave a little nod “Then we must do so. End her rule.”

     “Wait, wait wait. You want to fight Celestia?” Vinyl exclaimed. “You said run events and parties not challenge that crazy bitch!” Luna looked over at Frost who just shrugged. “Eh. But hey. There's a first time for everything. I'm down, as long as everypony else is down.”

     Applejack tipped her hat. Frost gave a little nod in agreement. Everyone looked at Spitfire.

     “Psht. As if i’d pass on this opportunity. I’ve been waiting for this from the beginning” Spitfire grinned.

     Luna exhaled “Then it’s settled. Celestia shall fall”

     They all stood in a circle for a minute, looking like idiots.

     “Uh. What are we gonna do?” Vinyl asked, kicking her hoof into the ground.

     “I dunno” Spitfire scratched the back of her head. “It’s not like we even have an HQ.”

     “Or funds” Applejack added

     “No. Not yet at least.” Frost got up “Luna, don’t you have access to the royal treasury?”

     “Had. Tia restricted access once the war ended.” Luna sighed

     “Surely she must have another location holding the some of the bits?”

     “No she… Wait! The Vanhoover Bank. She has reserves there.”

     “How much we talking here?” Frost questioned

     “Five point three million”

      Almost everyponies jaw dropped “In reserves? Aight. Everypony follow me.” Frost commanded

      Spitfire spoke up “What you thinking Frost?”

     “How does a heist on the Bank of Arietis sound?”

Chapter Six: Arietis

Of Radiance and Sacrifice

Present Day

Vanhoover Rooftops

     “That’s his sixth pass in eight minutes”

     “Will he be a problem?”

     “No”

     Spitfire stood atop an apartment block directly across from the Bank of Arietis. She had been scoping out the joint for two hours straight, memorising the guard patrols and looking for any exploits that could be used. As of right now? More information was needed before the hit could be made.

     Spitfire lowered her binoculars and put on a pair of jet black shades. “We’re done here. I’ve seen enough.” Spreading her wings, she took flight, speaking into her foreleg strapped radio “Meet up at the waterfront”

     “Wilco” came the reply

     Nearing her destination, Spitfire slowed her descent and landed on the edge of a path overlooking the blue sea that surrounded Vanhoover. Placing her forelegs atop the protective railing, she took in the vista. It was quite a view. Boats sailing across the deep expanse, yachts moored on the boardwalks, the sound of ponies walking behind her. All the time spent as a Wonderbolt and she’d never taken the time to slow down and admire things such as this. Hell she’d never been to Vanhoover to perform a flight show either. All the things she’d been missing out on… As a Wonderbolt…

     That name… Despite the disdain that is brought to Spitfires mind, it still reminds her of some of the best memories she’d made. The shows, the friends, all the newbies she’d grill on their first day.

     “Now it’s all in the past” she mumbled to herself

     “And it should stay as just that. In the past.” Spitfire turned her head towards the voice. Frost. He took up a position next to her and looked out at the horizon. “Cling onto ‘what used to be’ for too long and it’ll eventually tear you up. Destroy you… But it’s never that easy, is it?”

     Spitfire gave Frost a questioning look causing him to audibly sigh. “You were thinking about them. The Wonderbolts.”

     “How… how did you know?”

     “Because I know it’s hard to let go of what you once were.” A pause. “And that it’s even harder to embrace what you’ve become” Frost extended his fingers and slowly flexed them. “But. The cards have been dealt, and now we must make do with what we’ve got.”

     Silence. Nothing but the sound of small waves crashing against the wall and hoofsteps from behind.

     Deciding to open up a little, Spitfire continued the conversation. “I always wanted to be an explorer”

     “An explorer? What do you mean?”

     “You know. Venturing into deep caves, running through temple ruins.”

     “Like… Daring Do?”

     “Yeah. Pretty much.” Spitfire turned to Frost “What about you?”

     “Me? Shit. Well, I always wanted to be a DJ.”

     “Lemme guess. DJ-PON3 style?”

     “Bingo.” Frost chuckled. He thought for a bit. “I wanted to live in Ponyville. Maybe do some collabs with her. Never could though.”

     “Yeah? Why’s that?”

     “Perhaps a story for another time. Cmon. The others are probably waiting for us.” Frost turned around and was about to take off before he looked over at Spitfire. She was still looking at the horizon. “You coming?”

     Reluctantly averting her gaze from the view, Spitfire joined Frost and took off.

     “So. What did you think of the bank?”  Frost asked

     “Well, Luna will be pleased to know that the job is doable. Provided that we have the right tools and equipment along with more information on the infrastructure and response time of the local PD.” Spitfire was a bit unsure.

     “Right. You sound a bit concerned”

      “Sorry if I sound a bit undetermined but I usually raid shipments being run by thugs not state of the art banks with rapid response units on standby.”

     “Point taken. There.” Frost pointed towards the building the crew had taken refuge in during their stay. A small motel on the edge of the city. They both dove down and landed on the second floor. Room 17. Frost opened the door and stepped aside allowing Spitfire to enter first. “After you.” He gave a little bow.

     Spitfire snorted “Smart ass.”

     When they were both inside, the door was closed.

     Vinyl poked her head out from behind the kitchen wall “Oh hey! You’re back. How’d the scouting run go for you’s?”

    Spitfire stared at the awkward way Vinyl had her neck out “Fair enough. Did you and AJ find any information on the bank?”

     “Yup.” The three of them walked to the middle of the room. On the wall were numerous bits of information and pictures. Blueprints, times, equipment. “Turns out, being the figurehead of a notorious mafia family has its perks” Vinyl looked over at Applejack who sat in a chair and gave her a wink. “She also brought some leftover bits from her recent sale… well, attempt at a sale.”

     Vinyl turned around and looked towards Luna next to the kitchen counter “You better not be doing anything without me, Luna!”

     Luna scoffed as she mixed flour and milk with a whisk “Would you rather have something to eat or no food at all? You keep getting sidetracked, Scratch. Besides, i've already written down the recipe for you.”

     “Yeah well, it never hurts to watch somepony else do it. Where did you learn to bake anyway?”

     Luna thought back “Frost taught me. Back when things in the castle were pretty… uneventful, I went for a little midnight snack. I was caught in the act by none other than black and red himself. One thing lead to another and… I became a novice baker, thanks to him.”

     Frost spoke up “You're a novice no more, Luna. You're probably better than me.” Trying to think of something funny to say, Frost said “Maybe we should rethink our whole plan. How about you bake cakes for Celestia! Then boom! Kick her out right there and then”

     Spitfire sighed at his attempt at a joke. Luna decided to make an effort and put on a regal accent “Impossible! Thy sister doth trust us with the royal cake!”

     Everypony shared a laugh at that. Even Applejack had a chuckle.

     Eventually, everyone calmed down enough to continue with their work. “That should be fine. Leave it in the fridge for a bit and it'll be ready in a day or two.” Luna levitated the bowl of mix into the fridge. After cleaning up the mess and grabbing a tray of sandwiches, both Luna and Vinyl joined everyone else in the centre of the room. Luna laid down on the bed, Vinyl took a position at the foot of the bed in between Frost and Spitfire, laying her head against the former's neck. And Applejack moved her chair next to the group and sat on it.

     In a matter of seconds, the sandwiches were gone.

     “So, ya got your information S. What's your take on tha task at hoof?” Applejack asked

     Spitfire studied the wall of knowledge intently. “What's the response time?”

     “5 minutes. Tops.”

     “That's not what I wanted to hear. But, we'll make it work. Somehow. What about the vault doors?”

     “The first door leading to the stairs down to the vault itself can be opened from outside, but it takes a lot more time than being opened from inside. The second door has a retinal scanner. Most likely assigned to the manager.”

     Spitfire scratched her mane in frustration “Fuck this new age shit. Things used to be much simpler back then. So we’ll need to be quick about it with a hint of subtlety.” She rubbed her chin with a hoof “I'm thinking we find the manager and get some guard uniforms, right. Luna poses as the manager and Frost and I go with her as guards. Luna scans in and boom. We're in.”

     “Mind you that I can only mimic the body not precise details in the eyes.” Luna lowered her head. “Sorry.”

     Spitfire groaned “Alright. We get that far and blow the secondary door, grabbing as much as we can. By then, the cops would have surrounded the place and will be in the middle of opening the first door. So then we quickly place a charge on the wall beside the stairs and blow it. The hole will lead us to a sewer that can take us outside the bank. From there, we run because flight isn't an option. Snipers will probably be positioned on surrounding buildings. But…”

     “But what?” Luna questioned

     “But even if we move fast, it won't be enough. We’ll get swarmed as we're leaving. So…”

     “So what you're sayin is ya need a distraction.” Applejack finished for her.

     “More or less. Any ideas?”

     The group was silent, deep in thought.

     “Vinyl” Frost mumbled

     “What? Me?” Vinyl was confused

     “Our problem is that the PD is too fast, right?” Spitfire nodded. “So let's delay them.” Frost said plainly

     Vinyl raised her hoof “Uh, what do I have to do with this?”

   “It's simple. You host an event near the bank. All of Vanhoover knows. Things go well. Then shit breaks loose, one big brawl. The crowd cuts off the cops from getting to the bank and law enforcement will also have their hooves tied trying to restore order on their streets. We can even use the crowd as an exit strategy.”

     “That just might work. A few more things and we might have a whole functioning plan.” Spitfire looked from left to right, staring at each pony's face “How the fuck do we sneak bags into the bank. And how do we fit and carry 5.3 million bits?”

     Luna tapped her horn “Magic, my little pony.” Spitfire just mouthed ‘oh’. “You also forget one key element. Exfiltration.”

     Spitfire shook her head “Exfil? Oh yeah. AJ, would you be able to get your hooves on a train?”

     “I can try.”

     “Cool. So once we’re topside, we move through the crowd and make haste for the train station, where AJ will be waiting. From there, we take the train through the Frozen North so they can't follow us. We jump off at a certain point where we’ll have a set of wheels waiting for us, then we go back to Manehattan and swim in a pool of bits. Sound good?”

     Yeahs and yups of approval were heard through the room.

     “Aight. Vinyl, get to making an announcement about your performance in Vanhoover. Applejack, find us a train. Frost, get us a set of uniforms. I'll find information on the manager and source explosives. And Luna?” Spitfire eyed her up and down. “Keep making those sandwiches.”

     Spitfire clapped her hooves “Let's go!”

Meanwhile in Ponyville

     Princess Celestia and Twilight Sparkle sat around a table in the dining hall of Twilight’s castle.

     “And with those to the east sending materials our way, we can further the development of our new machines.” Twilight levitated a glass up to her muzzle, taking a few sips. Lowering the glass, she looked towards the door behind her “Shouldn't they have arrived by now?”

     “With their line of work, delays are to be expected, Twilight” Celestia said simply.

     As if on cue, the doors opened to reveal two ponies. One was an earth pony named Octavia. She was wearing a black dress and had a pearl necklace on.

     The other was a blue-grey coated pegasus named Velocity. She had a light grey mane with dark grey highlights. Her cutie mark was half a heart and the other half a feather. But unlike Octavia, she wasn't wearing a dress.

     “Apologies on our late arrival, princesses. But somepony thought they needed to dress the part.” Velocity turned her head towards Octavia

     “I beg your pardon! This is a very formal occasion. And so I must wear the proper attire.” Octavia countered

     “Whatever”

     They both moved to the table and took their seats. Celestia levitated a knife and cut the food on her plate. “How fares the meeting?” She asked

     “Could've gone better” Velocity remarked

     “Quiet you.” Octavia glared at Velocity “It was splendid. We have two ships headed for Vanhoover.”

     Celestia smiled “Lovely. Whenever possible, I want the both of you to head to Vanhoover when they arrive.”

     “As you wish, princess.” Octavia gave a little nod.

     “Duly noted.” Velocity saluted.

     Twilight finally spoke since the two arrived “Velocity? Take something small with you. Not a rifle this time, hm?”

     “Eh, no promises there.” She gave Twilight a smug look. “Oh, almost forgot. Soarin wanted me to tell you that he's having a bit of trouble at Wonderbolt HQ, so he won't be showing today.” Velocity stretched her wings.

     “Have you any clue as to why?”

     “Nope.”

     “Well, we wish him the best of luck then.”

     A bead of sweat trickled down Luna's neck. Of course, no pony knew it was her except for the two guards flanking her sides. She was the bank’s manager: unicorn, brown coat, grey suit.

     No one paid the group any notice as they moved through the second floor of the building. With no pony around, she whispered into the earpiece she had on “Are you positive this will work, S?”

     “Definitely” Spitfire reassured Luna  “She makes a check on the vault at 10am everyday. She usually acts…. jovial. Just try that. Also, the guard in front of the first door, his name is Carbon Gate.”

     “Right.”

“Jovial she says” Luna thought to herself

     They descended the stairs and walked passed ponies talking to tellers and others sitting around and passing time. Luna looked towards Frost as they walked. He had his eyes straight, a lifeless expression on his face. Just as they reached the door, Luna bumped Frost’s shoulder with her foreleg “Hey. No need to be so tense. Loosen up man.”

     She turned to face the guard in front of the door “Good morning Carbon” Luna greeted with a simple smile.

     “Morning, Miss Charity.” The guard, Carbon, looked over Frost and Spitfire. “Newbies eh?” He asked

     “Yes sir” Frost responded “My mothers really hoping that I do well in this line of work.” He sounded way younger than he actually was.

Carbon chuckled “Don't worry son. You’ll be fine.” He looked down at the watch strapped to his foreleg. “You're an hour earlier than I expected” Luna's heart froze “But, must be a very busy day. Just trying to get everything out of the way, huh?”

     “Yeah, you know how it is.” Luna replied

     “Right.” Carbon tapped a button on the radio on his shoulder “Hey. Miss Charity is making a check. Open er up.”

     “Copy” came the reply. Instantly, the door made clicking sounds and slowly opened. They stepped inside and instantly, the door closed behind them, locks clicking into place. They made their way down the set of stairs and at the bottom was the giant vault door and a guard booth to be left.

     The guard nodded towards Luna in a greeting “Charity.” Luna reciprocated the gesture “You know how it is. Step up to the scanner when ready.”

     Luna looked at Spitfire who nodded towards the scanner. Luna walked forward placing her eye in front of the machine on the wall.

     “Scanning” the machine quipped

     “Error. Unknown user”

     The guard looked at one of the screens in his booth “That can't be right.”

     Two silent shots rang out through the silent space. Said shots hit two cameras in the room, one by the vault, the other by the stairs. The shots were followed by a dull thud. Turning around, Luna saw Spitfire with a silenced pistol in her hoof and Frost standing next to the guards prone body.

     “You said nothing of this!” Luna exclaimed, pointing a hoof at the body.

     “Yeah? Neither did anypony else.” Spitfire chucked two plastic blocks at her. “Put those there and there” she pointed at certain spots on the door. “Frost. You got his radio?” He lifted the item up and showed it. “Good. V, how we doing up there. You ready?”

     Vinyl’s voice came through the earpiece “As ready as I'll ever be. My people are waiting for the signal.”

     “Aight. Everypony get back.” They took cover behind the guard booth “Detonating in three… two… one…”

     The explosion shook the entire building, the vault door blasting open. “Let's go!” Two duffel bags appeared, each strapped to Luna's sides. She entered the vault and stood before piles and piles of bits. She began levitating massive chunks into the magically enhanced bags. The enhancements made them infinitely bigger and so they had no weight to them.

     The radio in Frost’s hoof cracked to life “CB, what was that?” Nopony made a response “CB? The cameras are down. What's going on in there?” Again, nothing.  “That's it. We are sending ponies down.”

     Spitfire grabbed the radio “I wouldn't do that if I were you. That door opens, we start executing hostages.” She said coldly

     She held it near Frost who put on his fake, young voice “N..no! Please, please don't kill me!” He mouthed the words ‘hit me’ to Spitfire who obliged, striking him with a hoof. He fell to the ground, yelling in pain. Fake pain.

     “Shut it kid!” She yelled

     Carbon’s voice came through the radio “Ok, ok. Don't hurt them.”

     Spitfire chucked the radio on the ground and Frost smashed it to pieces with a hoof. They both stripped off their clothes and put on their usual outfits. Spitfire with her vest and shirt with a bandana. Frost with his cloak and face mask. They moved into the vault to help Luna.

     As they were shovelling bits into the bags, Vinyl’s voice was heard.“S, the response unit is in front of the bank but the crowd is blocking their path. They're on hoof and pushing through now.”

     Spitfire tossed another explosive charge, this time at Frost “Place it on the wall by the stairs.” He took off.

     Just as Spitfire and Luna finished with the bits, an explosion came from outside the vault. They stepped out, walking towards the new hole in the wall. Strapping one of the bags around herself and tossing the other towards Frost, Spitfire took off down the tunnel. “Move it!” The others followed suit. After they had trotted to a safe distance, an explosion was heard back where they came from, sealing the tunnel

     They ran through the seemingly endless tunnel till they came to a stop at a point where the tunnel intersected into another. “Aight. This is where we split up. We meet at the location. Got it?” Spitfire questioned. Each pony gave a nod. Luna turned and took off down the tunnel to the left, disappearing into the darkness. Spitfire was about to take the tunnel straight when wet hoofsteps could be heard from where they had came from. It was just one pony, walking down the middle of the tunnel.

     Frost took off the duffel bag, gave it to Spitfire who nodded in understanding and watched as she ran off into the distance. He turned to face his new opponent. They kept walking until they were in rays of sunlight shining through a sewer grate. The light showed a pegasus mare with a light-grey mane and dark-grey highlights. Her blue-grey coat and blue eyes shining in the darkness. Frost looked across her form and noticed she had a tan body armour vest on with a patch on her shoulder that depicted a sword with the sun behind it, embers materializing from the patch.

     “Do you have any idea who you are stealing from?” Velocity asked, her voice echoing off the tunnel walls

     “Yes. I do.” Frost stood up on his hind legs in a battle stance. “Very much so.”

     Velocity also got into a battle stance, albeit on four legs, not two. She charged him, her hooves hitting the water as she did. She jumped into the air, bringing her hind legs forward to kick him.

     The sound of splashing water and yells filled the tunnel as the two of them fought, swinging their hooves toward one another. Velocity was trying hard to take down Frost but he was just blocking every punch she threw. This went on for five minutes straight.

     Deciding he had bought enough time for Spitfire and Luna, he kicked Velocity in the chest, knocking her down.

     He sighed “ I hate to hurt nice mares like you. But, I gotta fly.” He spread his wings and took off down the right tunnel. Velocity got up and flew after him.

     The sound of sirens could be heard as Spitfire stepped out of the tunnel and into the Vanhoover train station. Getting off the tracks and stepping up to the platform, she kept her head low as she moved through the dense crowd waiting for a train. The crowd, however, wouldn't be getting a train. In wake of the robbery at the Bank of Arietis, the local law enforcement locked down any forms of transport entering and/or leaving the city. That meant there were guards and police watching every citizen and train in the station. Any unauthorised movements and they would be on it in an instant. Same goes for flying above the crowd.

     “A, where are you?” Spitfire spoke into her earpiece.

     “Platform 9” Applejack responded. “Watch out ya hear? Em guards are onto ya. Two of em followin close behind.”

     Spitfire turned her head slowly and saw her stalkers among the crowd. She pushed through the crowd quicker, slightly picking up her pace. “Start her up” the train was in sight. Just the engine and one carriage. “Get moving.” The train started to inch away from the platform. Reaching the platform beside the train, Spitfire broke out into a gallop, staying among the crowd so that the guards couldn't shoot her. She kept galloping but was running out of ground. As the edge came into view, she leaped towards the carriage, just making the jump. Opening the door, she ducked inside, hitting the ground as bullets flew through the cart windows.

     The train smashed through wooden posts at the exit when Applejack decided to ask a question “Where's F?”

     “There was some rando bitch in the tunnels. Definitely not a local.”

     “Ah see”

     The train left the station and was above ground, accelerating through the city, at high speeds and climbing. Applejack yelled “They got sky carriages!” Single bullets started to rain from above, snipers upon the carriages taking pot shots. Spitfire smashed one of the windows and leaned out, shooting at the enemy. The train steamed on, now crossing a massive bridge that led to the outskirts of Vanhoover, vehicles positioned at the end of the bridge. Vehicles that were easily smashed upon impact. It kept going, entering the mountainous area of Galloping Gorge. There were vehicles following alongside the train on the dirt roads but they couldn't keep up.

     The sky carriages also bugged off, unable to navigate the gorge safely. They had reached the home stretch, the Frozen North’s white mountains were in view and closing in fast.

     “We've done it!” Applejack yelled

     “Yeah!” Spitfire celebrated from inside the carriage. A thud came from the roof “yeah?” Another thud followed by a battlecry from a female. “What the?” She stepped outside and peeked into the roof. The first thing she saw was another mare's flanks. “Not bad” she thought. The second was Frost. She was about to grab her pistol when Frost shook his head.

     The train had entered the chilly conditions of the Frozen North, both the wind and flakes of snow pelting them. Visible breath being drawn from their muzzles. The two stared at each other for what felt like forever. Then, she lunged at him. In an instant, Frost blocked the punch and countered by hitting her side, just above the wing joint, leaving her reeling towards the edge of the cart. He jumped towards her, drop kicking her off the back. He too went sailing off the edge but not before Spitfire caught his hoof “Gotcha.”

     She pulled him up onto the platform. “Come on. I don't want to freeze to death after all the shit we've done.” At that, they stepped inside.

     Velocity laid in the snow, watching as the train sped off. Getting up, she toggled the radio on her shoulder “Helios, this is Ember 2-1. Do you read?”

     “Roger that Ember 2-1, we read you. What is the status of the train?”

     “Still mobile…”

     “Copy, Ember 2-1. Are you able to pursue?”

     “Negative”

     Silence.

     “Copy. You are to RTB via Hightail at Vanhoover airfield, how copy?”

     “Solid copy.”

     “Helios will be reporting the mission status to Helios Actual.”

     “No… I'll report to her myself”

     Again, silence.

     “Affirmative, Ember 2-1. Helios out.”

     “Roger, Ember 2-1 out.”

     Velocity hit the button on her radio and walked down the track back to Vanhoover.

     “Fuck.”

     The train began slowing down. Applejack opened the door to the cabin “This is us.” Spitfire and Frost nodded in understanding, grabbed the bags full of bits and made way for the back door, jumping off to the side. The train started to speed up a little as Applejack jumped off the engine. Almost immediately after hitting the snow, she saw where the vehicle they had stashed was. Covered in a light layer of snow and leaves, it revved to life as Spitfire drove it out.

     “A while back, a friend of mine got his hooves on one of these. A 4x4 he called it. An experimental prototype vehicle for Celestia’s military. Capable when off-road.” Spitfire ran her hoof over the steering wheel. “Don't know how he got it, nor do I really care so don't ask.”

     To Applejack, the thing looked almost futuristic but to Frost, it was modern. They climbed into the seats as it took off, weaving through trees and smashing through snow mounds.

     Luna and Vinyl Scratch stood next to each other in the tower they would soon call home. It had been a few days since the heist took place and now they were waiting for their friends to return. As of now, they were exchanging some details about their past.

     “I'm not gonna lie. I actually liked him. You know, like liked him. But then another mare got to him first and they wanted to settle in Ponyville.” Vinyl slouched and sighed but perked back up instantly “What about you? Anypony you've ever fancied?”

     Luna was silent. “Well… there was this one stallion tha-”

     The door hinges squeaked. They both turned around and found Applejack, Frost and Spitfire walking through, AJ pointing her head to the next room, signalling for them to follow. Once they were all inside, the duffel bags were placed on the table.

     “Five point three million bits. All in those bags” Spitfire mused.

     AJ stepped forward “Our first priority should be setting ourselves up with some place we can run things from.” She scratched her chin in thought “This place should do.”

     Frost stepped up to the table and out of nowhere, pulled out a bottle of champagne with five glasses “Hope y'all don't mind but I feel like we should be celebrating.” He popped the cork and filled each glass. Everypony grabbed one and raised their glass with their hooves, fingers or through magic.

     “To us!” Frost exclaimed “Harbingers of the New Lunar Commonwealth.”

     Everyone clinked their glasses, cheered and took a sip.

     Things were beginning to be set in motion.

Chapter Seven: Mistakes Were Made

Of Radiance and Sacrifice

Present Day

Canterlot Airspace

     The ride back to Canterlot was one Velocity had began loathing as she had made her walk back to Vanhoover. Now, she sat in an aerial transport vehicle dubbed the ‘Hightail’ as it flew towards the Capital of Equestria. The four blades attached above spinning at an exponential rate, cutting through the rain. She tried to avert her thoughts from what might happen upon her return. She tried to listen to the sounds the machine made. She tried to take in the view from her position, watch as the rain fell. But that's just it. She tried and failed. And it didn't help that the pilot of the aircraft happened to be nosy, speaking almost every part of the ride.

     “Hey. We just entered Canterlot Airspace and from what I'm hearing, command’s pissed. You ever gonna tell me what you did?” The pilot quipped.

     Velocity was just about fed up with the pilots shit. Pulling her legs up from the edge she sat on, she made way for the cockpit. “Another word comes out of your mouth and I'll cut your vocal cords out and feed them to you. Got it?” The pilot didn't turn around, just giving a nod. She headed back and sat on the edge of the cabin, the wind causing her grey mane to whip about, rain pelting her face. So many questions, such little answers. “Those robbers clearly knew what they were doing” she thought. “They got in, stole every bit in the vault and got out without having to face any resistance.”

     She scratched her mane with a hoof “And that one guy? He destroyed me. Blocked every punch. Maybe I should've brought something smaller.” Velocity continued to look out at the dark clouds, enjoying the ‘shower’ she was getting.

     “Landing in thirty seconds” the Pilot yelled.

     Soon after, they were above a helipad on the edge of the Canterlot Castle courtyard. Touching down, the pilot said “Good luck” as Velocity hopped off the side. As she made way for the entrance hall, she looked around the massive yard. Soldiers wearing green camo clothing and the like filled the space, some in massive groups and some in groups of two just standing around. Vehicles hummed by, crates full of weaponry littered around. Some soldiers were up on the wall carrying bolt action or semi-auto firearms as they patrolled. She walked on, the sounds of hoofsteps, vehicles and rain filling her ears. Some soldiers saluted as she passed them. After all, the Embers were the most respected group among Celestia's ranks. And equally the most feared.

     Reaching the Entrance Hall door, Velocity stepped inside. Instantly, she was dry from head to hoof, all traces of water gone. In the time spend working for Celestia, she's learned to just accept how and why the princess does things. Even if it meant she'd most likely kill her once she spoke of her recent venture. She kept going, passing royal guards as she made her way to Celestia's personal chambers. When it came into view, the door was already open, as if waiting for her. Stepping through, the door shut behind her.

     There she was, Princess Celestia. Staring right at Velocity from a cushion she lay on. And she looked… happy? Stacks of books were littered across the room. Raindrops pelted the windows and balcony door. “Velocity my friend! Please, sit.” Something was up. Obliging to Celestia's offer, she sat on her haunches next to the princess. “So, how was your trip to Vanhoover?”

     “It was fine… mostly.” Velocity responded, averting her eyes from the princess's.

     “Do tell? What events transpired on that day?” Celestia beckoned.

     “I… we…” she sighed, lowering her head.

     Velocity felt a hoof under her chin, raising it. Celestia looked into her eyes. “Velocity, please. You need not fear anything. I just ask you speak the truth” she pleaded.

     Velocity’s heart rate slowed as she locked eyes with her princess. “O-ok.” She took a deep breath. “Octavia and I arrived at the docks early. We were just passing time when Command starts hailing us on Comms. Said Arietis was being held up and that we were to go help out the local enforcement. I told Tavi to stay back whilst I go check it out.” She paused, thinking for a second. “When I arrived, they said the tunnel the runners escaped with was blocked off so I went outside and found an alternate route. It didn't take long to catch up and before I knew it, I saw three ponies, two with bags full of the bits. One pony took off to a tunnel on the left, another carrying both bags went straight. And one stayed behind to fight.”

     “What did these ponies look like?” Celestia questioned.

     “I-I couldn't really see. It was quite dark down there.”

     “Very well. Do continue.”

     “Right. So I tried to fight that one pony… but he was just too good. Every punch I threw, he'd just block or dodge it. And when he threw his own punches, they hurt. Hurt more than any punch I've ever taken. He had metal sticks coming out of his hooves. I just couldn't compete against him.”

“Metal sticks… like fingers?” Celestia asked. Velocity gave a nod.

She rubbed her foreleg with a hoof. “After a while, he took off, with me chasing after him. We weaved through the city and eventually ended up on the train they used to escape where once again he kicked my flank. Quite literally. He kicked me off the train as they entered the Frozen North, making off with the goods. Had I tried flying in there… well, I wouldn't be here now.”

     “Ok” was all Celestia said. She got up and stretched her legs, Velocity just watched. “Everything is fine.” The grey mare’s heart froze. Celestia saw the fear in her eyes again. “Velocity, you've been by my side for many years now.” The alicorn placed a hoof on her friend’s shoulder. “I trust you and your capabilities. Whilst I am a bit agitated that you failed in retrieving the stolen bits, I'll let it slide.” She took a deep breath “Just one thing… ”

     “Yes Princ-” Velocity was cut off as Celestia levitated her up and slammed her into the hard, marble floor. She screamed as she felt her back  crack from the force. Levitating a quill, Celestia drove it through Velocity’s foreleg and into the ground, eliciting another loud scream of pain, blood running down her leg.

     “Do NOT fuck up again.” The look in Celestia's eyes as she said those words shook Velocity to her core. She nodded her head. “Good!” The quill was levitated out of her foreleg, slowly, causing her to moan in more pain. Once it was out, she held her leg and looked at Celestia. She looked just as she had when Velocity entered the room. “Do clean yourself up, Velocity. You are getting blood all over the floor” once again, sounding happy. Velocity limped towards the door as it was opened by Celestia with her magic and shut behind her.

     The two guards stationed at the door looked at Velocity and her injuries, mouths slightly agape. “Word of advice? Don't piss her off” she fake chuckled. She limped down the hall towards the castle infirmary, the guards looking on in shock. As she rounded the corner, she came muzzle to muzzle with Soarin.

     “Oh. Hey Velocity! How…” he looked down at her injuries “Shit. What happened to you?”

     “Celestia happened” she answered

     Soarin grabbed her foreleg and wrapped it around his neck to support her “Come on. Let's get you patched up.” They walked forward.

     “Thanks Soarin.” She grunted out. They walked in silence all the way up to the infirmary, pushing the double doors open and walking to a bed, doctors and nurses rushing about, some coming to treat Velocity.

“Alright. What happened here?” One of the doctors asked. “It's not everyday that Embers step into this room.”

     Soarin looked at the doctor “Uhh… Pri-”

     Velocity cut him off “Training accident”

     “Mmhmm. Right” the doctor scribbled some notes on a levitated clipboard. “We’ll have you fixed up in no time.”

     Soarin looked Velocity in the eyes as she laid on the bed “Look, I gotta go somewhere.” He placed a hoof on her hind leg “Get well soon. We need you out there. More than you realise.”

     “I'm just doing what I need to Soarin, nothing more.” She responded with.

     “I know. But you are the best we've got. Those oddities are up to something and we need you ready when they come knocking.” Soarin thought for a second. “I heard about Arietis. You don't think that they had anything to do with it, do you?”

     Velocity looked up. “No. They wouldn't have been able to pull it off. These ponies, they are on a whole new level. When I'm out of here, I'll be scrounging any information I can on them. They knew it was Celestia's money. Hell, they only went for her bits, all the other stacks were untouched.”

     “Looks like these ponies might be a bigger threat than the rebels currently are. We’ll see. I gotta go.” Soarin walked towards the door “Seeya Vel.”

     “Soarin?” He stopped. “If you find anything on those strange happenings, see me about it, yeah?”

     Soarin gave Velocity a nod and walked out he door.

     It had been about a few months since Luna's crew pulled off the heist. Since then, major upgrades had been made to the space they claimed for themselves thanks to Applejack’s smart investments. The ground floor looked like a professional tower lobby and all the floors above had been built. The speed at which all this had been done is thanks to unicorn magic. Unicorns. The supposed ‘master race’ of the three races. At least, that's what Vinyl claimed, to which Luna would argue that alicorns are the master race for obvious reasons. The pegasi and earth pony of the group, Spitfire, Applejack and Frost, just stayed quiet knowing they probably wouldn't be able to form decent arguments.

     They were on the second last floor from the top, hosting an event put together by Vinyl. Official looking ponies in dresses and suits milled around the massive, chandelier lit room. Some chatted amongst themselves, others admired the view of Manehattan from this high up. A buffet was in the corner of the room, tables and sofas strewn across the space. Vinyl and Luna were atop a stage on the side of the room with the former playing beats for the partygoers and the latter dressed in her royal regalia and watching the party unfold. Next to the exit doors were two ponies dressed in black suits and black shades. Both pegasi. One amber/gold coated and the other being grey. Spitfire and Frost noticed Luna looking their way and smiled, both giving her a nod to which the princess responded with a nod of her own. Applejack was also present at the party, mingling with her relatives of the Orange family.

     In the eyes of the ponies gathered in this very room, the party was something Vinyl and Luna threw together out of their goodwill. To be frank, that wasn't the case. It was more of a publicity stunt to get Luna to relate with the ponies of Manehattan. In less than a month, the New Lunar Commonwealth had established itself as a group looking to fix the city and its almost bottomless list of problems. At first, ponies thought it was some sort of joke. That was until it was unveiled that Princess Luna was leading the charge. Now, unemployment, homeless and crime rates had plummeted making Manehattan a safe, bustling, profitable city once more. Luna was heralded as a saviour.

     Such actions didn't go unnoticed by certain figureheads. Days prior to the unveiling of Luna's involvement, she’d received numerous letters from her sister, asking where she'd been all this time and if she was ok. Luna had only replied once saying “I am fixing your mistakes.” Manehattan was but one of many cities Luna was working to take back from the crime and disconnection. The entire east coast; Manehattan, Fillydelphia and Baltimare were all conquered and under Luna's control in two lone months. Amongst the letters she received were some from unknown sources ordering she stopped taking over territory owned by Celestia. Those ‘orders’ were simply ignored.

     “Hey, Luna?” The princess turned her head to the dj next to her.

     “Yes Vinyl?”

     “Where do we go from here?”

     “I know not what lies ahead, fair Vinyl.” Luna placed a hoof on her friend's shoulder “But know that whatever we face, we face together.”

     Vinyl smiled up at her princess and focused her attention to the turntable set, mixing it up a bit. Luna bobbed her head to the steady beat being played, enjoying the vibe she got from Vinyl’s music. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Spitfire and Frost moving towards the front of the stage. Turning her head there, she saw nothing out of the ordinary.

     A sudden pain coursed through her shoulder. Luna yelped in pain as frightened screams and gunshots that flew towards her filled the room, ponies dropping to the floor. Out of nowhere, Frost materialised from white… dust? Snow? In front of Luna. He stood on his hind legs and threw his forelegs upward, a white wall appearing in front of him. It looked to be made out of ice. Luna was in too much shock to try and understand how her friend was doing such unicornesque things. A moment later, he lowered his hooves and the wall disappeared into the ground.

     “Luna!” Frost helped her off the ground “Are you alright?”

     “I… I'm fine.” She looked toward the front of the stage. Spitfire stood there, a stallion in a suit knocked to the ground next to her. She looked to her right “Vinyl? Are you hurt?”

     The dj got up from behind her set, shaking her head slowly.

     Frost inspected her shoulder “Bullet went straight through.” He raised his hoof over the wound and the same snow like particles from before were seen. They fell on her wound. “That should stop the bleeding.” He walked over to where Spitfire and the gunman were, motioning his head to the exit. She pushed the pony to his hooves and the trio exited the room. The crowds of ponies around them started to clap their hooves against the ground.

      Luna turned to the crowd “My little ponies, I am terribly sorry about this… mishap. I assure you that there won't be any more interruptions of the sort. Shall we continue the party?” Nods and murmurs of agreement filled the room. Vinyl kicked her music back up and the room felt lively once more. Luna would get to the bottom of the incident in due time.

Sometime after the party…

     Luna, Vinyl, Spitfire and Applejack all stood together in a dark room, peering into another dark room from behind a two way mirror. In that room were two ponies; the assassin that attempted to kill Luna, and Frost who was dressed in his trademark vest and cloak, the hood down. They both sat in chairs, in front of one another.

     “I'll ask again… Who ordered the hit?” Frost stared at the pony, waiting for an answer. When no answer came, he raised his hoof. A white, transparent, dagger made of ice began to form above his hoof. He gripped it with his fingers. “Last chance.”

     The pony looked up, his mane covering one of his eyes. “You'll get nothing from me!” He yelled

     Frost twirled the dagger with his fingers and sighed “That's what they all say before they break.”

     “Fuck yo-” Frost drove the ice dagger into the pony’s hind leg, just above the knee making the pony scream in pain. He twisted the blade in his flesh. The captive fidgeted in his chair, trying to get fight the intense pain he felt.

     Frost sighed again “Wrong answer.” He paused. “I take no pleasure in doing this… I'd rather not.” He slowly drove the blade up the assassin’s leg, blood gushing out quite quickly, more screams of pain followed. “Would you perhaps reconsider your options?” No response. “No?” Frost got up on his hind legs, picked his chair up with his fingers and slammed it over the top of the pony, the chair shattering from the force. Another scream. Things got physical, Frost throwing punch after punch at the pony’s face, blood getting on his hooves, the chair, ground, anywhere. The four ponies in the other room just watched as their captive was beat into submission, some spurts of blood landing on the mirror.

     “Stop… please… I have a daughter…” the pony wheezed out weakly.

     Stoic as ever, Frost looked down at him replying coldly “You should have thought of them first before you entered this life.” One more punch was thrown. Frost walked to the left of the room and got another chair, setting it down in front of the pony and sitting on it. He put a hoof under his chin and lifted his head. “Just tell me what I want to know and you're free, simple as that.” He pulled out the dagger in his leg, letting go of the pony’s chin.

     Silence.

     The pony’s breathing was shallow. “It was Celestia…”

      Frost twirled the dagger again “I'm sorry. I didn't quite catch that.”

     The pony slowly raised his head and stared at Frost. “Princess Celestia.”

     Again, silence.

     Spitfire, Applejack and Vinyl all turned their heads toward Luna. Feelings of concern and disbelief running through them for their princess. There was motion back in the other room. Frost got up and in one quick motion, swung the dagger at the pony’s throat. The pony twitched and fell limp. Frost made way for the exit dropping the dagger. Before it hit the ground, it turned to dust and disappeared.

     “What do we do?” Spitfire asked in concern

     “Ah dunno what to tell ya sugarcube.” Applejack looked at Spitfire and placed a hoof on her shoulder.

     Luna fell to her haunches, unsure of what to think. The voices of everypony around her were muffled as she took in this new information “Sister wanted to kill us? Why…” Luna felt a tear run down her face. She also felt a hoof on her shoulder. A white one.

     Vinyl peered into Luna's eyes. “Whatever we face… we face together. Right?” Her expression was reassuring. Luna gave her a small nod and hugged her friend tightly.

     Applejack voiced her opinion “Ah just don't understand why Celestia would want to kill Luna.”

     At that moment, Frost walked around the corner. “She's afraid of her. Celestia thinks she's attempting a hostile takeover.”

     “That bitch tried to kill Luna. Fuck her. This just got personal.” Spitfire spat. “Let's challenge her. The whole of Equestria on the table.”

     “Upping the ante. Presuming we all know what we signed up for, we’re game. Anyone wanna cash out?” Frost looked around the room. “Luna?” The princess gave a nod. “Let's go.”

     They all made way for the elevator door.

     Spitfire piped up “We’re gonna need another place to set up at. Somewhere more secluded. Anypony with any ideas?”

     Luna thought for a second “I might know of a location you can check out.”

     “And that location is?” Spitfire deadpanned

     “It is a place by the name of Eranin Bay, directly north of here. Untouched by pony hooves for a long time.”

     The elevator doors opened. Once everypony was inside, Spitfire hit the button for the roof. The doors shut and began climbing, floor after floor.

     Spitfire looked at the group before her. “Luna, you are staying here. Double the guards.” She turned to the stallion of the group. “Frost, you are to stay with Luna. Never leave her side.”

     He gave a salute. “Just like old times, eh L?” Luna nodded in agreement.

     “AJ, Vinyl, you're with me. We're checking out this ‘Eranin Bay’.”

    They reached the roof, doors opening as they stepped out. The sound of a busy Manehattan afternoon filled their ears. The roof was like a garden. Trees, grass and flowers littered the ground. In the middle was a helipad with two spaces. One was empty whilst the other had an MH-6 Little Bird helicopter on it.

      As they walked toward the chopper, Frost spoke up “One small request if I may. There have been rumors of some kind of shady business going down in the centre of Equestria. Nopony is allowed near there. Some say it's military.”

     “We’ll check it out” Spitfire climbed into the cockpit of the aircraft, the others sitting on the sides. The blades above began spinning as Luna and Frost took a few steps back. The aircraft lifted into the air and flew west, leaving the city behind. The sun setting as they did.

     Luna turned to Frost, a question on her mind. The stallion took notice of the expression on her face.

     Frost sighed “Ask away, Luna.”

     “The ice wall, the dagger… how?” Luna didn't know how to ask such a question. How a pegasus could conjure magic as if they were a unicorn.

     “I cannot say.”

     Luna knew the look she saw on his face. He wasn't going to open up about it. They turned and made way for the elevator “Even after all these years, you are so full of mysteries.” Frost raised an eyebrow at her. “And that's what makes you interesting.”

     Frost snorted at that. They entered the elevator and began the descent.

     The Little Bird hovered in a still position. Nothing but a black dot in the night sky. Spitfire had flown the group somewhere near the Foal Mountains. Directly below was a valley in between the mountain ranges, and at the end of said valley was a wall. One massive wall. Along the top were work lights, guards and construction pony's.

     “I'm gonna take her up a bit” Spitfire yelled into the mic on her headset. The chopper elevated until they were able to see above the mountains. What they saw amazed them. The wall they saw in the valley was just a part of the bigger picture. The wall expanded both north and south, as far as the eye could see. “Sweet Luna. This is a big find.”

     “All of this done in just a few months…” Applejack mused.

     “How'd they mana-” Spitfire was cut off.

     “Unicorn master race.” Vinyl quipped ecstatically.

      “Ok Scratch. Don't be a dick. That's enough sightseeing for the night.”

     Spitfire rotated the chopper to face north-east and started flying in that direction. They flew for about an hour and a half, none of them uttering a single word. The sounds of the blades cutting the air and the machinery they sat in working to stay aloft filling the empty silence. A voice on the radio added to the sounds they heard.

      “Spitfire. This is Luna. Can you hear me?” Luna hailed.

      “Roger that, L. I hear you. What do you need?” Spitfire responded.

     “You are flying directly above a gorge, yes?”

      Spitfire averted her gaze downward. “Yup.”

      “Fly within it and don't stop nor leave no matter what.”

     Spitfire complied, flying low within the ravine. They took a corner and saw the end of the gorge, a waterfall within view. “Luna? We're at a dead end and a massive mountain in front of us.”

     “Do you see a waterfall?”

     “Yes I do but-”

     “Fly through it.”

     The mare took in the new information. “Fly… through it? What… Are you fucking insane?”

     “She wouldn't ask you to do such a thing if she wasn't sure.” It was Frost.

     “I… Fuck. Alright.” Spitfire glanced back at Vinyl and AJ. “You two better hold onto your flanks. Things might get bumpy and a little wet.” The two passengers looked at each other comically and held onto their seats. Spitfire gunned it for the waterfall, flying as fast as the machine could. They hit the wall of water, but instead of hitting rocks on the other side, they kept on flying. They were in a long dark tunnel. Dim light could be seen at the end of it. Spitfire turned on the crash lights and looked around the tunnel. They barely had enough space to manoeuvre. They flew until they shot out of the exit, revealing the location of interest. Eranin Bay. It was… well, a bay, surrounded by tall, snow covered mountains. A few snowflakes floated downwards as they whizzed past. The most standout part of the bay was a half built bridge in the middle of the water. The tower sat in the centre. Some suspension cables were attached to the suspender, some were dangling off the side.

     Spitfire took in the sight. As did AJ and Vinyl “Luna. What is this?”

     “That, my friend is an old road project that would've linked the east coast with the west. Unfortunately, they started in that bay and built half the bridge before the project was cancelled. It's been like what you now see since.” Luna explained.

     Vinyl activated the mic on her headset. “I've already got some rad ideas for a base. We are so using the remains.”

     “One step ahead of you, Vi.” Piped Spitfire. Applejack remained silent. They landed on what little road there was next to the tower, the engine shutting down. They walked around the broken ruins of the bridge, the moonlight lighting up the bay.

     Vinyl saw Applejack in deep thought. “What you thinking, Jack?”

     AJ rubbed her chin with a hoof. “The place looks stable enough. Repairs will be needed but with the bits we’re bringing in, that won't be a problem.” She drew circles and mumbled a few figures to herself. “Eyup. This'll do.”

     Luna's voice came through the radio strapped to Spitfire’s shoulder. “How does the bay look?”

     “We can make it work, princess.” AJ stepped forward.

     “Good. You know what to do.” The sound of a door opening was heard through the radio. “Excuse me, I must get going. Luna, out.”

     Luna put the radio down on her desk and turned toward the door. Frost had walked in with a silver tray balanced atop his outstretched wing. On the tray were two mugs and a pot of black coffee. He set the tray on a small round table to the left of Luna's main desk. Two chairs were also conveniently next to the table. Luna walked to the table and they both took a seat. Using her telekinesis, Luna poured coffee into the two cups, setting one out for Frost and levitating hers to her muzzle, taking a long sip.

     Luna gave a sigh of content “Ahh. Your brew?” She asked.

     Frost made a clicking sound with his mouth “Nothing but the best for my lady.” He spoke with a formal accent.

     “The best of the best.” Luna thought for a moment. “I swear we were building a place to call home just yesterday.”

     “Ain't it true. Think of this place as your Administration Hub. Eranin Bay will be a Forward Operating Base. We house our military there, waiting for when we choose to strike Celestia or vice versa.” Luna looked a little downed by those last words. Frost took notice. “Hey. She hired somepony to assassinate you. That's an act of war. She's no sister to you.”

     The words hit Luna like a brick. They were harsh but true, and Luna couldn't fault Frost over those traits. “You speak the truth, I see that. But I just don't know how to take this.”

     “I'm here for you, Luna. Every step of the way.” He reached across the table and placed a hoof on her foreleg. The princess gave a small nod. They continued to sip their coffee as the night dragged on almost endlessly.