Tears of Harmony

"As our species ascends into the majestic cosmos once thought, in ignorance, to be controlled by our rulers, let us reflect upon the brilliance of Empress TWILIGHT SPARKLE, that we may better understand the splendor of Her knowledge, and how it has benefited us ALL through UNITY! The LESSER RACES will watch in awe and wonder as the first of our kind travel TO THE STARS to SPREAD THE INFLUENCE AND MAJESTY OF EMPRESS TWILIGHT AND THE GREATER EQUESTRIAN EMPIRE!"

Our campaign against Tim'mrak was supposed to be a simple one. Koss explained to me that Tim'mrak's headquarters and main base was a modest high-rise on the far-west side of The Dome, twenty stories tall. On the tenth story and the roof were four anti-aircraft cannons, and the building's perimeter was a ring of concrete topped by razor-wire. With Tim'mrak's forces at full strength a frontal assault on the tower would be suicidal, so Koss had advised me to try and weaken Tim'mrak's forces by taking the SoG along to attack a few other bases owned and operated by Tim'mrak. I couldn't help but feel the SoG would benefit from this more than me, but it was true enough that Tim'mrak would have to spare forces from his main tower to reinforce the other bases, which would soon be weakened by our assaults.

"I take it you'd like to get your ship back first" Koss said from beside me. We were far in the north of The Dome, amidst a sprawling industrial complex for the purpose of mining some manner of valuable mineral or fuel source. I didn't care for the details, but Koss had told me the complex was owned and operated by the Ironhand Reavers. Tim'mrak's gang.

"That's right" I told him. I found myself alone with him in a dugout on a cliff overlooking the complex, which had been built in what appeared to be a small quarry. There were about half-a-dozen of these pistoning spires, boring into the maroon earth of Draconequus. The complex looked as much a metropolis as the rest of The Dome, with numerous streets and alleys to snoop around in. It'd make a covert approach easy, but without first-hoof knowledge of the layout I'd be relying more on luck to stay hidden.

"This is one of Tim'mrak's most important assets. The mining borers harvest emerald ore for use in jewelry popular among more affluent Minotaurs and Griffons. On other worlds, of course, being that none of the characters you'd find in this lovely place would have an eye for jewelry. The vendors keep the source of these emeralds hidden from their customers, naturally, but there's a popular rumor among ponies on the garden worlds that Griffon jewelers send kickback to raider and mercenary groups here in the Serpent system" Koss explained.

"I'm willing to believe this rumor is true."

"Oh of course" Koss continued. "A great many of the enterprises that cater specifically to Griffons and Minotaurs secretly fund illegal activity, across the Serpent and Utopia systems, meant to target Equestrians and their interests. With Griffon and Minotaur governments being little more than puppet states to the Empire, these raiding and slaving bands are the only meaningful way the so-called 'lesser races' can strike back at the Equestrian Empire."

"What does any of this have to do with my ship?" I asked.

Koss gestured to a far end of the complex, where a few warehouses stood. "Sons of Gilda scouts have reported your ship to be stashed here, while Tim'mrak waits to decide what he wants to do with it. The Minotaur hardly ever leaves The Dome, so he wouldn't have much use for it. He'll likely sell it, once he's searched it top to bottom for any valuables."

"Like my soul gems."

Koss nodded. "Indeed. Though it's likely that Tim'mrak has already found them and taken them to a more secure location, such as his private tower. Taking your ship back and disrupting Tim'mrak's operation here will be a significant first blow. And, of course, you have a personal stake here, being that it is your ship, after all."

"Yes, it is. I don't suppose you have a map or any knowledge of the layout to this place?" I said. I wasn't sure if Koss could be trusted any more, so I wasn't going to take him with me if I didn't have to. Although, it might be a good idea to keep him on a short leash I thought, which was true enough. It wasn't likely that he'd back me up in a fight, but if I could keep a close eye on him it'd prevent him from sending out any secret messages to Tim'mrak or his goons.

"I'm afraid not, but I do have a plan. There are six mining pylons spread across the compound. I just so happen to have six cases of adhesive Comp-B bombs" Koss said, reaching into his backpack and producing such a case. It was about the size of a lunch box, adorned with a mechanical timer and radio receiver. "Inside each case is about four blocks of Comp-B, which would be sufficient to severely damage the pylons. We set a case on each pylon and set them to all go off at the same time. While this pandemonium is distracting the Minotaurs, we sneak into the warehouse and fly your ship out of here."

I eyed the explosive charge as Koss slid it back into his backpack, an eyebrow cocked. "'We', huh?"

Koss smiled wryly. "I understand you no longer have any faith in me, but I am the only one that knows how to properly handle these things" he said, gesturing to his backpack. "I know how to manually time them to be in sync, and I know the radio codes to each, for remote activation and timing. I could tell you the codes, of course, but, you know....I won't."

You're a fucking piece of shit I mused, but jerked my head towards the mining complex. "Let's go."

Our descent had been without incident, and we made our way through the narrow alleys to the nearest mining pylon. it was surrounded by a simple chain-link fence, which wouldn't be hard to defeat. The piston was rather quiet, pushing down into the earth and drawing out several hundred pounds of soil and rock, which was then dumped into a sorter and conveyor that traveled, underground, to a nearby foundry. The piston would then repeat the process, and all of the soil and rock mined would be carefully checked for any emeralds.

"Allow me" Koss said, soaring up and over the fence and adhering a bomb to a hidden alcove of the spire that the piston was mounted to. He rejoined me and we moved on, heading for the next piston. "Once we've attached all six bombs we'll have to make our way to the warehouses and search them for your ship. The last pylon is a couple hundred feet from the warehouses, so it won't be much of a trek. However, there is a large runway or tarmac of sorts outside the warehouses, and it's rather barren, so crossing it will be a risk. There's also the matter of the warehouses themselves; there's three, but searching them will be little more than peeking inside and seeing if your ship is there" Koss explained.

I hummed an acknowledgment but otherwise didn't comment. So long as no alarms were raised we'd be alright, and I figured we'd just set the bombs off before crossing the tarmac to search the warehouses. I was confident that this would be a simple matter.

Thirty minutes later we'd attached bombs to three of the six pylons, and had killed only one patrolling Minotaur along the way. We slipped into a small trailer, what was apparently meant to be some kind of break room, and Koss closed the curtains on the windows.

"Just a few more to go, and then we can get out of here. After we've gotten your ship back we can begin thinking about how we're going to storm Tim'mrak's tower and get your soul gems back" Koss commented.

"Who said we have to storm it? We could just sneak in and steal the gems" I replied.

Koss shook his head. "We've already determined that Tim'mrak will be made aware of your return the moment he learns your ship was stolen from him. He will do what he can to reinforce his tower against any kind of infiltration, but with the damage we'll be inflicting on his other assets he'll have no choice but to spare some of his soldiers to reinforce them. It's how we'll make the assault easier, but there'll be no way to sneak in to the tower ahead of time, unless you know something I do not."

I didn't, but I had to wonder if what he was saying was true. As much as I would've liked to kill Tim'mrak the soul gems were the true objective. Still, there was no reason one of us couldn't infiltrate the tower and set it up for a direct assault. "It's something we can worry about later, but a direct assault won't be easy with the AA cannons on his tower. If I could sneak in and disable them, it'd make your attack much easier."

"Mmm, you make a fair point. For now, let's focus on rigging these pylons and getting your ship out of here" Koss said. We took a moment to peek outside the trailer before getting on our way, heading for the pylons. At each I covered Koss while he hid the bomb in an alcove or panel, and made sure there'd be no surprises along the way. We made it to the last pylon and noticed it was being guarded by a few Minotaurs, though they didn't seem particularly alert. I nodded for Koss to target one while I would take the other, and I leaned out from behind the building that the pylon was near. Koss checked the silencer he'd affixed to his rifle before the mission and took aim, and the two of us fired in unison, dropping both Minotaurs at once.

"Get that last bomb set and then let's get to the warehouse" I said. Koss nodded and got to work, and I looked out towards the warehouses. As Koss had explained there was a tarmac outside the warehouses, just a few hundred feet from the last pylon, devoid of any kind of cover or concealment. There were no watchtowers or anything similar, thankfully, but it'd still be a couple hundred yards of open ground to cover.

"All set" Koss said once he was finished. Let's detonate them to make the distraction, then get out of here." I nodded and we made our way away from the pylon towards the tarmac. A storage shed was the last building before the open stretch of the tarmac, and we crouched near it as Koss pulled out his radio detonator to transmit the codes. He punched in the codes, a light on the device flashed green, and--

Nothing happened.

"These old things can be a pain, let me try again." Koss punched in the numbers once more and, once more, the light flashed green and nothing happened. Koss groaned and tilted his head back, and put the detonator back into his bag. "The fucking codes were probably changed, or maybe the receivers are desynced. Whatever, I'll have to go back and set them all manually. You get to the warehouses and find your ship, I'll find another way out of here."

Immediately I was suspicious. "The bombs were meant to distract the Minotaurs from any activity from the warehouses, am I supposed to just wait around?"

"I'll detonate the first bomb immediately, that'll cause enough of a commotion to draw their attention away. I assure you all the rest will go off before you fly out of here."

I didn't trust him, but I wasn't going to just sit around. I nodded and watched as he raced off back towards the pylon, and I turned to look at the warehouses. It wasn't more than three minutes before I heard the pylon explode behind me, and at once I shot off, beating my wings and soaring just a few feet off the ground as I made a beeline straight for the warehouses. There was no gunfire or shouting, though a few distant alarms went off. I landed in a gallop as I neared the first warehouse, threw the door open, and peered inside. The warehouse was filled to the brim with crates and shipping containers, but no spaceships. I saw some Minotaurs on catwalks racing for the stairs, and shut the door as I went for the backside of the warehouse.

As I rounded the corner I saw a Minotaur jogging torwards me, gun in hand. He barked at me to stop and raised his rifle, and a quick burst from my horn put him on the ground. I leaped over his body and headed for the second warehouse. The back door to this one was ringed by a chain-link, which I flew over. I pulled the door open, and in the dull white glow of the ceiling lights I saw my ship parked in the center of the building, the thrusters covered in a canvas cover. They would need to be removed before I could fly it out.

End it, Flurry Heart. You're so close. It's time.

"Worry is natural, dear. She's our daughter. Twilight promised me that she'll get the best training."

"There is no alternative but victory, Flurry. That is my Will."

I paused and sat on my haunches, struggling to control my breathing. If I weren't immortal, I'd have been concerned about how many years of my life my time in The Dome shaved off. I steeled myself and pressed on. There were no Minotaurs in the warehouse, a fact I found strange as I approached my ship. I flew up and tore the covers off the thrusters and inspected the rest of the vehicle, making sure there wasn't anything else on it I didn't want. I approached the airlock, put in the codes, and the door opened. I stepped in and immediately I was reminded of Sixfour.

"What would you like to know? Much about the world has not changed since our creation."

"I want to know everything. From culture, to literature, to cinema. I want to know about law enforcement, the economy, foreign and domestic politics, everything."

"To learn it all would take many years, Great One."

"Time is all I have, Sixfour. And please, call me Princess."

I bit my tongue, hard. STOP. No more, please. No more reminders, no more lapses. I knew it would not be that easy, but I needed to focus. The distractions had become too much, and they were getting worse. I will admit to having been afraid for my mental health.

If my own efforts to focus had failed, then the bullet that hit the viewport would've done it. The slug glanced off the thick glass, leaving it chipped and scratched, and I jumped. A few Minotaurs had come into the warehouse and noticed me standing on the bridge of my ship, and had opened fire. The main door to the warehouse was still closed, and there wasn't any way to open it from inside my ship. I don't fucking need this shit right now.

I opened the airlock and lit my shield, and took to the air. There were only about four Minotaurs, but they'd spread out across the catwalks and were filling the air with lead. I rocketed towards the nearest one and landed just beside him. He swung his massive fist and the back of it struck me in the head, sending me stumbling forward. I growled and obliterated him, the rage taking me. The same rage that had consumed me in the temple. The haze, the recklessness. I shot into the air and looked around, finding that the second Minotaur had dropped to the floor below and was in cover behind some crates.

"Congratulations on a successful first mission, Flurry Heart! It seems my faith was well-placed."

Stop.

"I couldn't help but notice how beautiful you are. I just wanted to-- Oh gosh, you're the Royal Hunter. I'm sorry, I didn't realize."

Please no more.

I landed by the second Minotaur and drove my horn into his body. He barked in surprise and fell to one knee, and I drew my horn out, the length of it once more dripping in blood. I sank it into his throat, and he gurgled and sputtered as he fell to the floor, the blood pumping out onto the cold concrete as I flew off to my next adversary. My next victim.

"How does it make you feel, Flurry?"

"it's so exhilarating, Twilight! It's like I can't be touched! My enemies all feel like they can't keep up, like they're in slow motion, it's so exciting! I'm so much faster than them, stronger than them, more powerful than them! I love it!"

Sto-- Stop.

"This is the graduating class?"

"That's right. 140 brave mares and stallions, ready to uphold the integrity of the Empire. After today, they'll all officially be Royal Rangers. I thought it'd be nice if you could deliver their congratulation speech, to speak to them as the Royal Hunter, and show them the example they should all strive to reach."

Don't let me succumb to this.

I hit the ground in a full gallop and charged straight at the third Minotaur, who turned to shoot at me. Bullet after bullet struck my shield and shattered, and I was on him in seconds. I knocked him to the floor and killed my shield, and a quick burst of my horn turned his head to atoms. I smiled gleefully as his blood splattered me from head to hoof, and I took off for the last Minotaur.

"Holy guacamole, she's amazing, Twilight! When she gallops it's like her hooves don't even touch the ground, and her spells are beyond accurate. Some of the training bots can't even track her, that's how fast she is!"

"I'm sure she'll be happy to hear you say that, Spike."

It's not... Don't...

It's...

It's fun...

It's so much fun. I forgot how much fun it is!

"Ten years. That's how long you've been the Royal Hunter, Flurry Heart. A hundred missions, every one a success. An unmatched record, and unrivaled career. I'm proud of you."

"When's the next one? I'm bored. I want to get back out there."

"Soon. I have a rather important mission for you, but I haven't finished getting all the intel for it. For now, well... The training rooms are always open to you."

Oh, it's SO much fun! It's amazing!

I stumbled around, laughing and giggling as I went. I thought I was getting closer to the last Minotaur, but I wasn't sure if he even was still around. It didn't matter; watching him flee in terror would've been just as fun as killing him.

"430 successful missions across sixty years, Flurry Heart! Incredible! You haven't ever failed a single one! Spike has the details for your next one; you'll find him out in the courtyard."

"Thank you, Twilight."

So much fun. SO much fun. So, so much-- Ow, FUCK! FUCKING PIECE OF SHIT. My glee turned to rage, but I wasn't sure why. I could hardly see, but I was sure my eyes were fine. My right foreleg suddenly hurt, but I didn't know why. I lit my horn, but I don't remember what spell I even cast.

"Don't let the Hunter hear you say that, dude."

"Let me hear what?"

"Fuc-- Ma'am!"

"Don't salute me, you fucking whelp. What is it that I shouldn't hear? I'm dying to know."

What did I even do to those stallions? I don't remember. I didn't remember, and I couldn't remember why I couldn't remember. It was frustrating, but I don't even know why. If I couldn't remember, it probably wasn't important, right? Nothing was important. Except Harmony. Harmony was important. It was so important. It was all that mattered. It was all I cared about. Everything else was an obstacle, a challenge, a hurdle. If it didn't help me serve Harmony, it was in my way. If it didn't serve Harmony, it was an enemy. A threat. I'd never relent in the face of anything that tried to stop me. I'd never give up. I'll never give in.

"All the details are in this dossier. Here."

"The Harmony Brigade? Spike told me a little about them. Said they were traitors."

"The worst kind. They're enemies of the Empire and the Golden Age. No prisoners. I don't want to see you again until they're all dead."

Until they're all dead. That's the only way. I won't stop until they're all dead. All of my enemies, all of Harmony's enemies. I won't rest until they're all dead. I won't sleep until they're all dead. I won't relax until they're all dead. And... And no one will know peace until they're all dead. The galaxy won't be right until they're all dead. Nothing will be alright until they're all dead. This was my true calling. This was all that mattered. Until they're all dead, that was my new goal. I couldn't leave The Dome until all my enemies were dead. That's what Twilight taught me, how she trained me. Don't give up until they're all dead. The mission's not a success until they're all dead. Don't come back until they're all dead. I don't want to see you again until they're all dead. Yes, Twilight. I'll get it done. Thank you.

I don't remember killing the last Minotaur, but I do remember standing over his remains, smiling. I don't remember how his blood got onto my teeth, but I do remember the metallic taste. I don't remember when I got shot, but I do remember binding the hole in my right foreleg. I don't remember opening the warehouse's door, or getting into my ship, but I do remember laughing as I flew away. I laughed, I guffawed, I giggled, I cracked up. I rocked back and forth in the pilot's chair and repeatedly slapped my hoof against the leather, whooping and cheering as I flew back towards Koss's apartment.

It felt so good to laugh.