Irony's Tale

The first chariot we had produced at the farm was a basic thing, designed to be pulled by a single pegasus. This one, on the other hoof, is designed to be pulled by two, and has room for our entire group plus some. Some finagling in DC has gotten the FAA and Homeland Security to play ball with us. This isn’t some simply wood and metal construction like what we had back in Equestria. Pony magic and human ingenuity combined over the original designs. The one we are riding is the first one of this new design. Instead of steel or aluminum, lightweight composites comprise the structure, giving it more strength and rigidity than anything that could be built with metal. FAA mandated electronics, for navigation, collision avoidance, and such, all powered by a standing flow created by a unicorn when the system was installed, essentially a magical battery. On the dash is a ruggedized computerized setup, the screen is currently showing our GPS location as well as our heading and speed. The pegasi pulling us today are not speedsters, at least not in the class of Rainbow Dash, or Lightning Dust. But we are high enough and fast enough that a flight plan had to be filed. The dash shows the waypoints, and the helmets on the pegasi’s heads are allowing them to communicate with the air traffic controllers as well as gives them heads up displays for navigation, connected wirelessly to the systems on board the chariot itself. We’d been informed we had to adjust our course due to a federal no-fly zone in our path. We also have to avoid local airports since we aren’t up at the usual height for airliners. I look down for a moment, I’m not the biggest fan of heights, but this isn’t horrible. We currently have two pegasi flying in formation with our chariot, Lightning Dust, and Cloud Kicker.

Though I’ve driven across this state a couple of times now, I’ve done it while pretty much ignoring the speed limit thanks to help from a certain unicorn that is nestled up against me during this trip. Though her horn is silent right now. I asked her why she wasn’t masking us, and only got a giggle from her. Humans don’t typically look up, and those that do will usually discount what they see with us being about two miles over them, not all that much detail to be had from that distance. Though since we’ve started selling our chariots to different pony settlements, they’ve been captured on camera phones a couple of times. Though the online comments usually say the pictures are faked, or fanciful creations of vivid minds. That gets me to laugh, we are totally real, and most of humanity is remaining blissfully unaware. I glance at Dust, she’s not pushing hard even though we are flying at nearly three hundred miles per hour, she’s not showing any strain. Though that pegasus can pull off over a thousand miles per hour that I know she’s done. How fast can she go if she’s really trying?

I shake my head and sit down on one of the comfortable bench seats, Moon moves over and keeps close to me, she’s got her armor packed up next to mine in the cargo area of the chariot. Though I don’t really anticipate much use for it. Most humans have given up captive ponies rather easily once they find out there are more of them. And the ponies are grateful for being saved by us. So, we’ve increased our population in Montana quite a bit, not just those we’ve saved, but humans are turning pony all over the place, and a few discrete bits of information are widely available, including an 800 number set up by the US military which allows the humans to get in contact with ponies. Moon has also informed me that Princess Luna has been patrolling the dream nightly, looking for the inevitable disturbed sleep of somehuman becoming somepony. Moon patrols just as hard, as well as continuing her studies with the lunar alicorn.

Our mission today, Mindy has been unable to provide all that much information, so we are mobilizing on a hunch. Though the bouncy party pony has finally snapped from her funk after the loss of Soarin, it took a night out with plenty of alcohol to punch through and bring her back from the doldrums. Though at times, I know she had a flash thought of him, her poof of a mane flattens a bit, and she looks introspective before perking back up. That kinda scares me, the ones most in danger are the ones who cover up their feelings the most. A change in air pressure and slowing of the pegasi grab my attention. I stand up, then rear up to put my forehooves on the dash.

Tacoma, Washington, though we are heading towards the downtown area. The pegasi pulling are observant, and we land on the street. The chariot is pulled into a parking space and we all dismount. Being mid-day on a weekend, most people are home, not around the down town area, and it’s too early for the bars to get busy, so the streets are fairly deserted. The pullers unstrap themselves and stow their gear as we pull our gear. I look at my armor and Moon’s armor in the plastic container, and close the lid. Quite a few trips for all of our groups have been easy. Ponies happy to see other ponies, not knowing that they weren’t the only ones changing. And humans who are confused by the ponies coming in, but for the most part, happy to see the ponies in their midst find other ponies. Most rescues aren’t rescues, but simply finding and bringing back to our little settlement in Montana.

Dust walks easily next to me, with Moon Shadow on the other side. The address is a large building, one that we saw coming in. It doesn’t look all that unusual, just the typical glass and steel construction that has dominated around the world for the last fifty years or so. It’s a weekend day, so likely everything is closed. Dust has the idea to start from the top, so Cloud Kicker and her streak straight up. Moon Shadow stays with me, so does Blossomforth. Moon gestures and we trot into the main lobby. Though I have to fight the urge to laugh at the looks on the human guard’s faces as a pegasus, unicorn, and an earth pony all come into their lobby.

“Good afternoon.” I say, looking directly at the older of the two.

I can see him internally screaming what the fuck, but he keeps fairly professional. “The building is closed today. If you want to visit, gotta come back eight AM Monday.”

“Yeah, well, that’s going to be a problem. We have information that ponies are being held here against their will, and we are going to get them.” I can see Moon’s horn has lit. “With your assistance, or without.”

“I’m sorry, ma’am.” Is all he can say before he’s lifted from his seat, suspended in Moon’s magic.

“She wasn’t asking.” Moon lets enough menace into her voice that we can see the human’s adam’s apple bob in a a gulp. She settles him down in his seat after a few moments.

“Do you want to join us? Or shall we make a mess?” Blossomforth says softly, her wings spread to the side in a threat display.

The two humans look at each other before both getting up from their chairs. “Follow us.” The older man says.

The younger walks next to me, looking at me sideways. “I haven’t heard anything about anyone being held here.”

We get to the elevator and the older guard presses the call button. I look at the younger guard. “Then there won’t be a problem. We have issues with humans holding ponies against their will.”

I’m definitely the largest of the three ponies here, and he seems to be a bit intimidated by my size. I chuckle inwardly as we enter the elevator.

***

Three floors searched, and only regular offices have been found. The guards have informed us that there is no clean rooms, no medical spaces of any kind in this building. Neither of them have any idea where a pony would be kept. To keep moving quickly, I push through the doorway to the stairs to the fifth floor and trot up, the others are with me, though the humans seem to be flagging a bit at the rapid pace we are setting. Once again, just anonymous cubicles of a typical office setup. Blossomforth takes to the air and quickly flies over the cubicles as Moon and I check out the actual offices on the periphery. Though not even half way through our search, galloping hooves catch my attention. Cloud Kicker is running towards us, screaming her head off. Blossomforth moves to catch her, and she holds the faintly purple pegasus for a few moments as she gets her breath. I glance around.

“Where’s Dust.”

Cloud Kicker whickers a bit, “She’s been taken. We both got hit with tasers, I came to outside the office space.”

My eyes widen as my heart becomes a leaden lump in my chest, Dust…taken? No. “Show me where.” I growl.

The blonde pegasus streaks off towards the elevator, bypassing it and slamming through the door to the stairs, Blossomforth on her tail. Moon and I take to a gallop to keep up, we follow the pegasi as we climb, up ten floors in a matter of minutes. Though I’m a bit winded when we finally get before two very thick glass doors. Cloud whirls around and bucks the doors as hard as she can, the thick glass doesn’t even notice.

My vision red, I shift and reach out to pick up one of the guards. “Who’s space is this?” I scream into his face.

The other guard supplies the answer. “The Spectrum Group.”

I fling the guard away, perhaps my bigger size and strength would help? I turn and plant my forehooves to get ready for a massive buck before I see Moon. She grimaces as she lights her horn. It’s only seconds before the hinges are overhwhelmed and the doors crash to the floor. Cloud streaks off into the space as the rest of us follow. She makes a beeline directly for one of the offices. “Here, this is where they got us.” Moon leaps forward, pushing aside the pegasus as she gets into the office, her horn lit. I glance around, then shift back onto two legs before kneeling. A feather is lying on the floor, not one of Dust’s big primaries, but one of the down feathers. I pick up the turquoise feather then look back at Cloud Kicker. “They probably got her out of the building.” She nods and streaks off. I rise to follow, but my hand is caught by Moon’s magic. She smiles at me as she surges her magic, and we are down on the street. Only a few moments and we’ve noticed the two box trucks that were sitting at the loading dock are gone.

Moon looks around. “We need more help.”

I nod, pulling out my phone. I tap on the screen and hold the device to my ear. A couple of rings. “This is Mindy.”

“Dust has been taken, we need backup.” I say simply.

I can only imagine her reaction, though she does say to keep the line open. I stand there in mute rage as the minutes creep by. Every minute passing is one more minute of Dust getting further and further away. Finally I can hear commotion on the line, Mindy fumbles with her phone. “Okay, Irony. I’ve got the backup team on its way. I’m on my way too. We will see you soon.”

As the phone goes dead, I shove it in my bag and fold back down onto four legs. I glance around as the clop of hooves announces our chariot being pulled towards us, Moon is inside, gesturing for us to get in. As we do, the chariot is off the ground and we start looking. Though after about an hour, we land on the top of a parking structure within shouting distance of the building. Moon shepherds me off the chariot and she joins me as the two pegasi shrug from their harnesses and take to the air. This way, they can split up, cover more ground. I grab a radio, keeping in contact with our flying members, helping to coordinate their efforts. This continues until a new voice sounds off on the radio, getting me to look up. Mindy is there with the backup crew. She doesn’t even wait for their chariot to land, she teleports and appears before me in an orange flash. I inform her of what Cloud has told us, and after her explosion, she brings out two computers and a phone. They glow orange as she starts working.

It’s not long before a direction is decided, South. Though as we are getting ready to go, Mindy’s mane flattens and here eyes shrink. “Irony.” She whispers, before she turns the computer around. A video window is open on it. I glance at it, some sort of video conference software. The camera is pointing at an empty chair, but as we watch, a man sits down before the camera.

“Well, greetings ponies. I want you to see something.” He presses a button and the screen cuts to something. My breath catches in my throat. Someone is holding a camera. Though I can’t tell if it’s live, or if it’s recorded. Either way, the camera moves into the truck and the light difference adjusts rather abruptly, showing us a turquois pegasus. Though with her heaving sobs, I don’t know what to think. Then I see the blood, her wings are a mass of blood, every feather has been ripped from her flesh. She’s holding her naked wings away from her body.

“She’s in agony.” Moon whispers.

The camera pans along Dust’s heaving body before stopping at her face. I don’t think she sees what’s going on, too focused on the pain. I can see the agony painted on her face, the tracks of tears, the snot from her nose, her eyes are puffed and inflamed. We stare in utter horror before the feed cuts back to the man. He starts to speak, but I don’t hear a word he’s saying. I’m busy memorizing every feature of his face, his blue eyes, his sandy blonde hair, some humans would likely view him as attractive, but all I see is pure evil. I move the computer from Mindy and lean down close. “I hope you believe in a God, little man. Because you need to start praying now. I will find you, and I will make you wish for death long before I’m done with you. Hand her over now, and kill yourself, and I won’t destroy everything you hold dear.”

I inhale to continue, but the man is laughing, holding his stomach then pounding on his desk with his mirth. He says something, but I’m too angry to listen. I shift and pick up the computer to glare into it. “Know my name. I am Irony Shieldbreaker, and I will destroy you and yours utterly, then I slam closed the computer. I snap the ruggedized laptop in half and drop the pieces to the ground. Mindy gives me a sour look and says something about how much the computer cost. Then I fall to my knees. “Oh Dust, what has he done to you?”

Mindy gathers up the pieces in her magic, “This wasn’t some cheapo home computer, Irony. Lots of specialized hardware inside, over five grand.”

I turn to her, even with my tears streaming down my face, she subsides at the look on my face. “Put it on my tab.” I growl before we load up on the chariot. We have some searching to do.

***

It takes nearly four days to find the abandoned truck. In the process of searching, we found the other truck, and had to deal with an ambush created by some mercenaries. No casualties on our side, but we were able to confiscate some of their weapons. We tried to keep the deaths on the human side to a minimum. I walk to the truck where Dust was brought south. We are a matter of miles from the Mexican border. Ponies are arrayed around the truck, though none of them seem all that keen to enter it. I stride up to it and grab the side handle to haul myself aboard. Then I stop, steeling myself. It looks like someone poured a bucket of red paint on the floor then drove over a washboard road. Pretty much the entire floor is coated in blood, and the feathers are all over. The smell, pony, blood, and human, is rank in my nostrils. This is a lot of blood, but I don’t think enough to kill the pegasus. Judging by Cloud Kicker and Blossomforth’s reaction, I don’t think there’s much chance of her death from this. But remembering the video, and looking at the aftermath here in this truck. I fight my stomach, as a pony and as a marine, I’ve seen death. I’ve seen the aftermath of some of the worst that humanity can produce. This is bad, but not to that extent.

Eventually, the pegasi start gathering up the feathers, they quickly discard the down and smaller coverts, the non-flight feathers are discarded, but the longer flight feathers are gathered into a pile. I reach down and touch one. “What’s this?”

Cloud Kicker looks over at me through the tears running freely down her face. “They are hers. Pegasi keep the flight feathers when they lose them. They are little bits of her soul.”

I pick one up. It weighs almost nothing, but something about it speaks to me, deep inside. Like her magic is there. I bring out a few strands of my mane and tie the feather to it. “This stays with me until we find her. Always a reminder.” I growl. I walk towards the chariot. I don’t know what to do at this point, I crawl inside, relaxing onto all fours. I’ve been on two legs for way too long. A touch of the hoof has the top rising and I sit down as the first sobs wrack my body. She’s gone. I need to find her, but there’s no clues, no idea of where they took her.

I blink, wait a moment, I’m in the dream? I look down at my hands, they are human hands. “I pulled you here, love.” I look over, Moon Shadow is standing on nothingness, “Though you must have been remembering your past.

“Why?”

She cocks her head to the side, “You’ve gotten maybe two hours of sleep in the last four days. You are exhausted. You didn’t even react when I crawled up and held you. You need this rest, love. We aren’t in the world of dreams, just a little bit of my own creation.”

“Dust is gone.” I wail, my body shuddering.

Suddenly the dark gray unicorn is larger than me, or I’m smaller. She gathers me up and cradles me as I cry. The entire time making soothing sounds. It feels like forever, but is only probably several minutes, which mean nothing in the dream, but finally I regain my composure. I nuzzle her cheek. “Thank you, love.”

Moon Shadow pops things back to our proper sizes, I flip over and grab her, pulling her close and burying my face in her mane. She moans softly as she holds onto me tightly. “We need to find her. I doubt she’s sleeping at the moment. That much pain will prevent sleep for a surprisingly long time. But if and when she appears in the dreamscape, I’ll find her, find where she is, and we will go get her.” She murmurs into my ear.

We lie there, for what seems like hours, before Moon’s head pops up. “Irony. We need to wake up.”

I nod, and together, we step from the dream into our bodies. I slowly open an eye. The others are loading up, though the truck is burning merrily away. My last view of that is a plume of smoke as we take to the air.

***

Two weeks pass, constant searching by Mindy, assisted by some ponies that turned in Army CIS as well as other government agencies. We’ve been able to piece together some of what Spectrum Holdings has its tentacles into. I know I’m growling at everypony, to the point where many ponies actively avoid me. I’m in a terrible mood, and I hate it. Finally, I’ve had enough. I walk out to my workshop, the plastic containers with my weapons and armor are quickly located and I walk over to my car.

“Mindy authorize this little excursion?” I hear Moon’s voice.

I shake my head. “I’m going to follow through. I’m going to take his world apart, starting with the lab we saved those ponies from.” I look over and double take. It’s not just Moon there, but the remainder of our team, Blossomforth and Cloud Kicker are standing with Moon.

Moon smiles brightly and takes a step, only to be halted by my upraised hand. “No, there’s no need to put anypony else in danger.”

Moon’s eyes flash for a moment. “Do you think me defenseless, love?”

I know that tone, taking a step back and putting up both my hands. “No, that’s not it…”

Cloud Kicker takes a step forward. “I’m a member of one of the most honored families with a tradition of service to the Royal Guard, do you think I’m unable to help?”

My eyes snap to her. “Yes, I mean no…”

Moon’s eyes glow white. “Our time in Equestria, and here, has shown that ponies are strongest together. And you would take that away? So you can sooth your vengeance yourself? Is our rage any less than yours? Is our grief?”

My jaw works, though the blonde maned pegasus rears up and puts her hooves on my chest, pushing me back into the side of the car. “We are going to help you, you need our help, we are stronger together.”

I look between the three of them, and finally my ears droop. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

Moon Shadow stomps a hoof. “Dust is already hurt. We want to help, no matter the risk.”

My ears flick between folded back and flattened to the sides. I look at the ponies standing before me. Finally I nod, getting smiles all around. It’s only a matter of minutes before my beloved 442 is heading down the road at a breakneck speed, when we turn west onto highway 12, I floor it and Moon lights her horn. We are going to get information, we are going to find Lightning Dust.