Ilima City, Sinkhole
Starlight's POV

Following my friend out of the building, I look around in wonder and horror at the level of destruction the Locust brought to the human city.

"Woah... This is... horrible..." I said in as I looked around the crumbling building and streets.

"This is exactly what happened in Tollen, only without the river flowing into it afterwards," Clayton responded as we exited the building.

"Clay, wasn't Dalton stationed in Tollen?" His brother Ben asked.

That question made the big stop in his tracks before he looked over at his younger brother before giving him a nod.

"Oh, god... Dalton, no..." Ben said in despair. To which the older brother went over, and the two hugged. The rest of us heard the news and decided to give the two a moment to mourn.

"Damn..." Dom broke the silence. "That's rough."

"Yeah, and another name that'll go on the roster when this war ends," Fenix grunted. It was then Abby brought back to our current objective.

"Cole, do you know where our men at?"

"Yeah, their last message came from up that way." He said, pointing past a nearby cemetery to a big open cave. "Towards that tunnel."

"Then let's check it out." Marcus then took point with Dominic, Cole, and Abby following behind, leaving me with the brothers. I turn to the two others with me and having to hate myself for having to break their moment.

"Come on guys, I hate to do this, but this isn't the kind of place for that. More Locust could be nearby, and we should really keep moving." I said in a respectful tone.

"*Sighs...*Stars right Ben. This ain't the moment let's get going and kill some Grubs together and make them pay for what they did to our family!" Clayton said as he readied his Lancer.

"I've got your back, brother," Ben replied with his own before the three of us moved in behind Abby and the others as they walled in the Cemetery. A moment passed after we entered before the view of the tunnel was clear to us. Before suddenly, a lough sneer echoed all around us before a flying squid came down from above.

"Reaver!" Abby calls out as we all spread out and took cover behind individual gravestones before we all opened fire. Rising my Retro Lancer, I focused my shots the squids face. I felt my aim go slightly off with how big the recoil the Retro gave me compared to its younger brother. But my rounds still entered the big squid as it tried to aim the big cannon on its shoulder at us. I Quickly ducked down as several of its shots exploded against the stone slabs we hid behind. I soon hear it cry out in pain, peeking out from cover I watched as Abby and Cole flanked it from one side while Marcus and Dom flanked it's other and were firing at it in its sides in a cross pattern. I watched in awe at the teamwork they pulled off just before the Reaver gave off one more cry before falling over dead.

I gave load "Yes!" at what we just accomplished before more Locust Drones appeared ahead of them across a bridge leading into the tunnel.

"We ain't done yet Star keep firing," The older Carmine said he fired at the Locust Drones rushing towards them. I joined him and several others as more drones ran across the wooden bridge, only for them to get cut down before they made to the end. I then heard a crackling sound in the air, it was then I saw new kind of Locust I have yet to see before.

It stood taller than the others by a full head and wore different attire then the others. While others wore armor this one wear something like robes and to her opinion a silly headdress. It was also pointing a really unusual pistol at them."

"Kantus!" Clayton called out as he and his brother fired at the monster followed by everyone else. In just mere moments the 'Kantus" was now just a pile of meat with holes.

"Clear," Abby called out before we all moved across the wooden drawbridge. When I passed by the Kantus, I couldn't help but wince a little bit at the mess but any comments to myself as we entered the massive tunnel.

"Damn they dig some big-ass tunnels down here! " Cole said allowed as I couldn't help but agree with. A tunnel of this size seems to be a little overkill for moving around ground troops.

"It's the worm," Marcus replied back to Cole.

"Huh?" Myself, Abby and Cole replied at the same time. Thankfully Dom quickly explained.
'Some kind of massive worm is making all these tunnels. It's what sinking the cities, too."

"You've got to be kidding!" Cole exaggerated.

"I wish," Marcuse replied back.

"That's some crazy shit boy... But I guess the whole world's gone crazy, right?"

"I've heard and seen some crazy stuff before, but this will make it to the top five," Abby said allowed. As we followed, the worm made a tunnel to a one that looked more natural. Up Ahead I spotted what looked like a wall of iron bars overlapping each other in a square grid pattern.

"Well, that doesn't look ominous," Clayton joked.

When we got close, we saw what looks round giant pod-like things. "Marcus, what are these things?" Dom asked his friend which papers to be on everyone's mind. Upon closer inspection on one of them appeared to be open and the remains of dead Gear leaning out of it. "That's not Baird, is it?!" He said in a panic to which Cole went up to the Gear body and checked it.

"Na, it's his jump mate. Rest in peace Tanner. Damn" Cole said respectfully before reaching down and removing Tanners COG tags.

"So what they're capturing people now?" Abby asked as she looked at the other.

"Seems that way," Dom replied.

As we moved on passing by more of the Locusts cages. As me and Cole walked by some of the cages, a voice reached out to us from one of them. "Hey is that Cole?! Cole! Get me out of here man! Can you hear me?!"

"Over here!" I called the other others over.

"I hear you Baird!" Cole replied back his friend as everyone approached the man's cage.

"Then get me the hell out of here!" The man in the cage demanded. Cole waved me over, and together, we took hold of one side and with a little strength, pulled the cage door open. A second later, A Gear wearing the same kind of armor she was wearing stumbled out. He lacked a helmet, so he showed off his spiked blond hair but also wore some kind of welding goggles that covered his forehead. "About time *Cough.* What the hell took you guys so long?"

"Your welcome." Marcus deadpan as he handed the former caged Gear a Lancer that was nearby. "What the hell are the Locust doing taking Prisoners?"

"They're locking people up in these things, taking them further into the Hollow," Baird answered as he pointed at a tunnel behind us at where they were taken. "They were going to possess me, man! Whatever that means..." Beard finished.

"Boy I'll give these bitches some process!" Said an angry Cole.

"Come on we need to check this out," Marcus said.

"Agreed, let's find where they're taking our people," Abby said to which Baird took notice of who else is with us.

"Abby! Holy Shit, your alive?!"

"Yeah, I'm getting that a lot lately."

Stepping in next to my friend, "It's probably going to keep happening till everyone you know knows you're back."

"Ha," Abby said with a small laugh. "Most likely. Anyway, let's move, and keep an eye out for any more prisoners " She directed the others as Marcus took point again while we followed.

"I didn't think the Locust took prisoners," Cole commented as he stuck to Baird's side as the two looked behind us as the rear guard.

"Guess they do now," Dom said solemnly. His face not betraying any emotion on how he felt of this development. From what Abby educated her back in Equestria, there haven't been any reports of Locust taking prisoners in the last decade. This made her wonder what change them to this? Something like this happening from the get-go doesn't happen with a reason. So that means there is an alternative motive up in the Locust command structure.

"I think we're not thinking about this the right way?" I said aloud. I said this as soon as we entered a new chamber with cages as what I said stopped everyone in our group before turning to me with raised eyebrows and confused faces.

"What?" Marcus question to what was on everyone's mind.

"Sorry... I'm thinking out loud here and probably said that wrong." I said in slight embarrassment.

"Its okay girl tells us what you think," Cole said, trying to encourage me. To which Baird scoffed at.

"Yeah, let's let the girl that looks like a hippy with the highlights from back Pendulum Wars explain this." He was then head slapped by Clayton as a means to shut up.

"Go ahead, Star. Floors yours." Abby said. Taking a quick moment to gather my thoughts, I spoke my mind.

"Ok, just bear with me with an open mind, alright... From what we know about the general knowledge we have about the Locust is that they kill any human they come across in the last decade and then move on. Am I wrong so far?" I asked those around me.

"Na, your right," Cole answered.

"Now they taking prisoners. After years of wholesale slaughter by the Locust to anyone, they've come across. One of two things come to mind on what has happened that can explain this new behavior they are exhibiting." I explained to them.

"Ok, I'll bite what do you think the Locust got going on," Baird asked. Allowing me to continue.

"Ok, first being they might be a change in leadership," I said, catching some of the groups' attention. Mainly Marcus and Dom from the way of interested they were looking at me. "From what I've seen of the Locust and what I've been told. It's a caste system similar to that of a military, like a private all the way to a general. Someone higher up either died or got replaced with someone else and they put forward a new plan they have for us, and this is it. Capturing people instead of killing them and keeping them for some long-term purpose."

"And the other thing?" Ben asked.

"This was their plan from the beginning." Those words did not sound so good, judging by the looks on everyone's faces.

Before anyone could comment, a loud shriek vibrated off the walls. Turning to the direction of the sound. Large pale legs appeared connected with some metal section that would make better suet on a cargo ship out of Filly in the tunnel ahead of them. Just with creepy little legs on its side to make it look more like a tick, gross. Baird was quick to explain what we were seeing because I was looking scared, just looking at it. "That's them! The beast barges. That's how they're transporting everyone. I believe they are also torturing them in there too."

"Star we're going to have to put this chat on hold for now on Locust futures other then us killing them. Marcus, Baird take point! Were boarding that thing and rescuing anyone still alive on board, let's move!" Abby ordered.

The two Gears rushed forward with no complaint with the rest of us following behind with raised weapons. Around the next corner, the torture barge docked over to a nearby platform. We soon come across some Drones there and fired back at them, forcing them to duck behind some cages.

"Boomer!" Ben called.

I watched as everyone took cover behind some other empty cages and quickly joined them. Just in time too as the Boomer fired a Boom shot at our cover. Looking to my right, I saw Dom jerking his head to the up. With that, we both raised from our cover and filled the nearest Drone with holes before dropping back behind cover. Peeking over I watched as Cole rushed forward like he was a hoofball player into the last Drone before pushing his Lancer into its stomach and letting it loose. I then watch as Abby and Marcus shoot at the Boomer killing it with concentrated fire much to Cole's delight. "Haha. You know how the Cole does it baby! The bigger they are, the better the kill!"

"'The Cole,' ego much?" I whispered over to Dom. To which he gave an amused laugh.

With the defenders dead we quickly boarded the torcher bug. But not before Clayton scooped up the Boomshot from the fallen Boomer that he lost when we crashed. As soon as everyone was on board, the thing started to move. Making both the Carmines cuss out loudly. Then we heard a cranking sound coming from the rear of the ship. I then see a lift coming down from above to which a Boomer Locust with a different gun in its hand. Not knowing what to expect due to inexperience I quickly ducked behind some crates.

"Grinder!" Dom called out as everyone else had the same idea and took cover themselves. The thing then let loose a substantial stream of machine gun fire over us. With most of our cover being in the middle of the transport, it made it challenging to shoot back. Soon the firing stopped making everyone get up, bring forth a wave of lead at the big Locust. Turning it into a big hunks of meat in just a few seconds.

"Alrighty then. Let's head on up. Marcus, Dom your up first." Abby ordered.

Without a word. The two got on the lift and were risen up. Then and an empty lift was lowered back down to which Cole and Baird got on. When they were going up, I noticed Clayton pick up the heavy machinegun the 'Grinder' carried. Soon me and everyone else was up, and I saw the cells inside. At the sight of inside the first cell, I imminently started to gag and dry heave at the smell coming out of it. Inside every square inch of the graded floor was covered in blood. Not wanting to linger here any longer, I rushed up a nearby ramp to get away from that stench. Not realizing where I was going, I almost ran head-on into another Drone. My sudden appearance also must have surprised it too. Acting fast, I swung my Retro at it. The bayonet sliced into the creatures face, making the thing cry out in pain. Running back, I saw Abby, Dom, Marcus, and Cole rush up the ramps I went up and started shooting at the Drones bring them down.

"Don't go rushing ahead of your team Rooky! We don't need you dying on us just to add more blood that's under this goddamn thing." Marcus shouted at me. Making me wince at his commanding tone.

"Yes, Sargent," I replied. He grunted before moving on without giving me a second look. Abby then was right by my side.

"I told you before you weren't going to like what you were going to see in this world. Next time don't run off without anyone with you understand." Abby commanded to which I nodded in agreement. Abby did try to deter me from coming, and now by every minute I'm here the more I wish Twilight hadn't destroyed the time traveling spell I modified to go back in time. I would have slapped myself stupid for not listening to Abby then.

"Revers!"

Dom's cry of the incoming flying squids drew me out of my thoughts and back into combat. As it was getting more intense by the second as a pair of then appeared flying behind the barge. We all ducked behind cover as the two launched a couple of rockets at us as they passed us by, impacting harmlessly against out cover before they disappeared out of sight. Abby was the first to speak again. "They're gone for now. I see a few of these torcher barges up ahead. Someone find something to move this and get us over to one of them."

"Found it," Dom called out as I see him pulling a lever located in the back. The effect was instant as a pig poker above them started prodding the big bug sending us forward in. Clayton pointed out from behind us.

"They're coming back!" As more Revers appeared.

"Someone get on that Troika! Cut them down!" Abby ordered as she everyone else fired at the incoming Revers. My shots kept missing their marks due to how fast those squids were and how unactual they turned and banked from side to side with ease. I wish I had my magic, My Retro not doing it for me against these guys. I thought before dropping down to reload, I find I was down to my last two magazines. But I won't be any help to anyone if I don't get more ammo soon.

It was then the Troika at in back came alive with the big loud mouth operating it. "Oh, it's game time baby! Swatting flies all day long!"

A random thought of Pinkie, Rainbow Dash, that one stallion Cheese something and this guy at a party came to mind. And an uncontrolled shiver went down my spine at that thought. No one should ever have to bear witness to such an event.

Meanwhile in a random dessert in Equestria.

A simple earth pony stallion wearing a brown sombrero and poncho with a rubber chicken riding on his back. When suddenly he received a vibration sense in his left back leg, followed by an itch over the third rib on the right side of his chest and a twitch over just a smug over his freckle past the hair over his eyebrow.

"Boneless..." The stallion known as Cheese Sandwich said to his rubber companion in a seriousness tone to which no one has ever heard from the stallion. "I-I feel a feel... the sense the trigger for the party to eclipse all parties. It calls for me." He looked out into the setting sun, a twinkle in his eye of determination. "It bids me to take my place among them."

Meanwhile in Ponyville

"Look, Twilight. I say this as a friend but wait for Starlight, or Abby contacts us first." Rainbow Dash said to Twilight. "They could be in the middle of a fight for all we know, and they don't need the distraction of you calling them every hour for questions."

"But Dash! I need to know that my student is ok! And with all the dangers Abby told us of all the dangers in her world, Starlight still went with her back to that dangers place." Twilight replied back. It had barely been a week since their departure, and already she was worried about her former enemy/student. She was still working up plans, and the handling of the Longshot Abby gave her along with the nonlethal methods that she came up for it to give to Royal guard units that weren't unicorns. But right now her friends Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie were trying (For the fifth time this week) to calm the princes down.

"Don't worry Twilight, I'm sure Abby and Starlight are beating up all those nasty Grubies and will be back so I can give them a big p-Par-t-y!!" Pinky said before shaking frantically. The other two backings away realizing it was one of the 'doozy's.' When the shaking stopped, no pony spoke as the fur on Pinkie darkened by two shades, her puffy curly hair sharpened into a messy spiked pattern, and a look of pure determination look onward into the sky.

"I have been called..." She said in an unusual deep stallion voice that would better suit Big Mack before turning to the other two ponies in the room. "I... must prepare to answer. "

Pinkie then walked out the Friendship Castle in a way that reminded the Princess and Wonder Bolt if she was some sort veteran of war. When she was gone, the two were stunned to silence, for neither of them had ever seen this happened to there friend. Twilight then walked over to a nearby wall and bang her head against it while repeating in her head of not questioning Pinkie.

Back on Sera

"Now everyone put fire on that Troika!" Marcus ordered as he and several of the others from Delta rose from their cover and fired at the single Drone that operating the gun on the other barge.

Peeking over my cover the barrage of gunfire hits the Drone in multiple places. With him down the barges soon collided with each other, allowing everyone to board the other barge. Abby then took control of the opportunity.

"There! Everyone board and clear the deck. Then search this grubby tub! for survivors."

On the other barge, I spotted at least three more Drones shooting back from their cover.
"I count three!" I called out to the rest of my team as I let a few shots at them.

"Dom put a grenade on them!" Marcus ordered.

"On it!" He pulled out a frag grenade, reared back and tossed it over. It bounced off a steel beam before landing behind the enemies cover. The Locust could only cry out in a sharp panic before detonating turning two of them in bloody messes. The third Drone was quickly mowed down with bullets leaving the deck clear of hostiles.

"All clear," Clayton called out.

Moving in, we secured the room. Marcus went over and pulled down the lever to open the cells.
I watched as all the cells open at once letting everyone see inside them. One was occupied.

"Tai, is that you?" Marcius said in surprise.

Turning to the guy that the Sergeant addressed saw, I couldn't help but gasp in shock. The man that hobbled out the cell was big. Big as the Clayton and with tattoos on his face and shoulder. He was shirtless and dirty as dried blood and grime covered his body. He looked like he stepped out of the worse horrors imaginable. His mane was styled in a similar way I had seen the Zebra of the Everfree, Zecora. But it was his face that spoke volumes. To summarize it all the emotions I can see on Tai's face in one word, broken.

"Marcius, we got more Locust on the way!" Dom called out from his position on the ramp.

"Tai! Let's go!" Marcius said as he tossed his shotgun over to the man. To which Tai caught it and had a sad look and defeated look on his face.

A feeling sprung in me that did not sit well with as I looked at the scared man as Tai eyed the weapon he was given. Pushing that feeling aside I slowly walked up to the man, ignoring any orders that Abby or Marcus were giving the others and softly rested a hand on his shoulder making the man lift his head with and looked at me with wide glossy eyes. It was then I got a good look at Tai's back, which made me want to puke in horror. His whole back side looked like it was raked by dragon claws and there were a few places where Iron rings were pierced under his skin.

"What have they done to you?" I whispered in horror.

"Star?"

Looking behind me, I saw Abby right behind me as she looked between Tai and me. Looking at Tai, she saw rage build upon her friend's face and nodded in understanding. "Clayton!" Abby said, getting everyone's attention. "Stay back and provide support for Star here while she provides escort for Tai. The man isn't a hundred present and is going-"

*BANG*

The shot cut any further discussion as the body of a broken Gear falls to the floor.

"Tai! NO!" Marcuse cry's out as he watches his friend leaves for the next life.

I stood in silent shock at Tai's dead body from what I just witness. I've seen death but never had I'd witness someone take their own life, and in such a gruesome fashion.

"I told you their breaking people I could hear them screaming from the docks!" Baird said in a fit.

"Oh man," I heard Clayton said as he and everyone else now saw what they did to their fellow Gear.

"I can't believe that they did that to Tai... he... he services everything. Doesn't he?" The other Carmine spoke in disbelief.

"Let's just get the hell out of here..." Marcuse responded with little emotion behind his voice. I watched as he reached and retrieved a set of COG tags from the headless body before walking away.

I felt a hand grab me on my shoulder and saw that it was Abby. She had a rag and started wiping off something on my face and hair. Looking at it I saw that it was Tai's blood. Feeling a gut retching feeling, I dubbed over to the side and empty out whatever contents I had in me.

Author's Note

Sorry about the lack of updates to all you dedicated readers.

Hey fun fact that I didn't know about.

Calendar of Sera

Storm, 37 days
Gale, 36 days
Hail, 36 days
Frost, 31 days
Ice, 32 days
Thaw, 30 days
Rise, 37 days
Bloom, 37 Days
Bounty, 36 days
Harvest, 37 days
Heat, 36 days
Haze, 37 days
Brume, 35 days

(So around 457 days total to Eques 360 days)
Each month contains 10 day weeks

Seasons of Sera
Fall, (Brume, Storm, Gale)
Winter, (Hail, Frost, Ice)
Spring, (Thaw, Rise, Bloom)
Summer, (Bounty, Harvest, Heat, Haze)