Author's Note

I know it's been a while since the last upload. I've just had to deal with a lot of stressful events over the last 2 months. I still won't upload as much as I can since I'm not one to do fanfics for very long. I just want to continue this one specifically because of the notes I have for it just sitting on my PC. I hope all of you enjoy this chapter where siblings face off in a short, but rather intense duel. Or really, a beating since uh... it's only Quartz? Yeah, I'm gonna go now...

Chapter 12

Alpha Team met Quartz and his team at a loading dock on the ship, "Had a nice trip?" One of Alpha Team's members asked.

"Well, still getting used to this. It's all still new to me."

"Yeah, I understand. So is our plan underway?"

"Yeah, I find it best to sweep through quickly. The minute we kick this nest, we'll be in for the fight of our lives. Remember, we'll search the upper deck. Your team will search the lower deck, got it?"

"Yeah, team, let's go," Alpha Team was already off as Quartz went to check his weapon, "Check your weapons and ammo. Night vision goggles on," Quartz attempted to get his night vision goggles to work, but they weren't, "What's up with this thing? It's not working. I think I have some faulty goggles..."

"What? Let me...," Saber paused for a short second and sighed, "Quartz, did you grab the right goggles?"

"I'm sure I did. Marble told this was it."

Saber turned to one of the soldiers, and raised an eyebrow. The soldier only lifted his hands to show that he had done nothing. This caused Saber to sigh as she tucked his fake goggles away, "Look, you'll have to lag behind. I'll be the entry, you can watch our six, right?"

"U-Uh, yeah...," Kind of disappointed that he had just screwed big time caused Saber to smile at him.

"Hey, don't beat yourself over this. It's a rookie mistake. Let's get going."

Quartz nodded as he started to follow Saber. All the while the two soldiers only smirked at each before following them. Quartz stood behind the other three soldiers as he scanned behind them. Saber held up her hand while saying, "Hold on, let me check around the corner?" She slowly peaked her head around the corner and glanced around, "Hm, no signs of enemy movement. Let's go. We're clear."

They continued through until they approached another hallway, one with a closet at the end. A guard cut the corner as they approached it and was about to shoot, but was taken down before he could do so. She pushed him into the closet and came back out, "That was close. Come on, let's go."

"Wait, I sense a patrol unit around that corner," Quartz said as he remained facing their six, "We have to find another route because there's guard not far from this patrol unit. We can't risk taking them out."

"Wait, how do you know that? I don't see anything."

"I was trained to increase my other senses when one is rendered useless. I can feel their vibrations through the ship. I can sense which patrols are where on this ship. However, I'm only limited to people and not rooms."

"How is that possible?"

"I've been put through rigorous training since I was a child. I'm trained in all sorts of situations where my magic would be rendered useless. Hm, it's seems there's all vent in that closet in front of you. We can probably take that vent somewhere. It could be easy access. We'll have to do it fast though. It'll only be a matter of time before they find the body."

"Huh, impressive Quartz. Alright, let's do it," Saber quietly made it into the closet, and so did everyone else, "I guess it was a good idea to send you here. Haha, I told Alicia there was nothing to worry about."

"Saber, would you mind me asking why your name and the Queen's name are different from other mystic names?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, my family names and others in the mainland have names that are derived from colors, gems, or shades. However, the two of your names are more like names from the Earth Realm. Why is that?"

"Oh, well, I'm half Earthling and Mystic. So is the Queen. I guess our parents stuck with names that were part of the Earth Realm."

"Hm, makes sense."

"Actually, aren't the names for Mystics the same as if they were in Equestria?"

"Yeah, but I don't see the similarity between our realms."

"Actually, there are quite a few, but let's save the talk for later. I can sense a large amount of energy at the end of this ventilation shaft."

"Yeah, I feel it too, but I don't feel any guards near the area, so it may be blocked off. Easy for us. We should radio in Alpha Team to inform them."

"When we get out of the vents we will," They stopped at the end of the ventilation shaft as Saber started kicking at it, "Marble, hand me the blow torch," Marble took one out and handed it to her. Saber sated to cut her way through the exit.

Below them, Silver and the rest of her sisters were ready to ambush them. She signaled her sisters to get in position as she moved towards the back of the room.

Soon afterwards, they dropped down and got their weapons ready, "Switch your flashlights on. I don't think we'll need our night vision goggles," As instructed, they turned their flashlights on and glanced around, "Alpha Team, we may have found something big."

"So did we. We'll meet back on the main deck, Alpha Team out."

"It's so damn dark. How the hell are we gonna see anything?" One of the other soldiers asked.

"Hold on, there's a switch here," Saber flipped a massive switch as light shined in the room to reveal large and small test tubes, blue prints, and chemical equations sprawled across multiple whiteboards, "What in the world?"

"It looks like plans for something...," Marble stated.

"On this, it says something about... being chosen. Do any of you know anything about Carnisians?" Saber asked as she read through the notes.

"Huh? I heard it from my father. Some rumor for some type of doomsday project."

"Hm, doomsday project sounds about right, but I don't think it's a rumor."

This shocked the others as they began to question here, "What do you mean? Is there something more to this?"

"I don't know, but from these notes, it seems as though someone codenamed, A.W will hold the answers. Hm, everyone," Saber tossed down a duffle bag and some cases and began filling them, "grab any evidence you can get your hands on. The Queen is would want to see this..."

Quartz then paused and prepared his weapon, "First, we have to deal with them," Quartz pointed his rifle towards the back of the room near the windows, "And they're not the only ones," He then quickly pulled out his plasma pistol and pointed it towards 3 separate corners of the room, "We're surrounded."

Saber quickly did the same and pointed her weapon towards each area Quartz was aiming at, "Show yourselves! Don't be cowards and hide away."

"Do as she says Silver, and the same goes for the rest of you."

"Huh?" Saber questioned, "How do you know?"

Silver slowly stood up from behind one of the large tables and the other sisters appeared from the shadows, "Hm, it seems you aren't as incompetent as I thought you were brother."

"Silver, Fluffy, Electric, and Blaze... why must you fight for a man like Platinum? Just join Lavender and come with us. A ruffian like Platinum should not even look at us."

"No, it's you who's following the wrong leader. Platinum is a benevolent man. Even if his type of warfare is unorthodox, I believe he can change Uskain's way of life."

"Hasn't he already though? All this needless war for something as trivial as a throne. It kind of makes me think of what would happen after our father stepped down...," Quartz fell silent as Blaze began to speak up.

"Why would you care about anyone other than yourself Quartz? That's all you've ever done. So why the change of heart?"

Quartz looked down and only glanced at Blaze. He didn't speak, he only shook his head.

"Can you not answer? Is she controlling your mind?"

"Shut it. You know why I was the way I was? Huh?" He fell silent once again as he pointed his rifle right in between her eyes, "I had no sense of direction. I had no motivation to accomplish everything. However, that all changed when I met Queen Alicia. She gave me a sense a direction. Something and someone to fight for. I have a reason now, and if you can't handle my decision, then I won't be afraid to put this plasma round right in your head."

"Already going against father's laws I see. That's just like you. Oh well, we aren't in the mainland anymore. So I can break a few rules too," Silver then pulled out a plasma cannon the size of a handgun and pointed it at Quartz, "This is a prototype. Able to deliver a bigger punch than your little toy there Quartz. One shot anywhere will kill you instantly. Think about it."

"Doesn't matter to me. The odds are still fair. 4 on 4..."

"I don't think so," After Silver said this, Marble and the other soldier pointed their weapons at Quartz and Saber, "It should've been obvious the minute you hopped off your little helicopter. Quite obvious."

"It was a setup. Something to lure UNLA's strongest soldier...," Quartz glanced at Saber and sighed, "You're right... I should've seen this coming."

Soon after, in Quartz's ear, he could hear Alpha Team's commander along with weapon shots in the distance, "It's a trap! I repeat it's a trap! Retreat to the evac point!"

"A little too late for that...," Quartz glanced at Saber and nodded with defeat, "Alright, you win...," Quartz dropped his weapons as did Saber, "We have no choice here...," Silver signaled Marble over to Quartz and he went behind him before hitting him with the butt of his weapon, knocking him out in the process. This sent a certain level of disgust in Fluffy and Electric.

"Quartz!" Saber was about to run to him, but was met with the barrel of the portable plasma cannon.

"It's best if you stay put. Blaze, tie her up. Let's head out to the outer deck. I do think we'll be seeing the Queen soon," Blaze nodded, but Electric and Fluffy only looked on with disdain.

Back at the capitol, Alicia was staring at the transport chopper before holding her hand up, "Repair!" With a bright yellow flash, the chopper was supposedly to be in working order, "It should be good enough, but it will be too late if we wait on fuel. What are we at Captain?"

"We're at nearly 3/4ths. It should be good to head there and back without hassle. We must hurry. If we're not fast enough..."

"I know," Alicia was about to step on the chopper, but Captain Whiskers stopped her.

"My Queen, where are you going?"

"I'm going with you."

"No, the heat they could be taking there could be more than you could handle," Before he could say more, Alicia swiped the handgun from his holster and pointed it at him.

"Those are my soldiers out there. I'm not going to sit idly by as this all unfolds. We're going to save them," She then glanced at the rescue team and Lavender, "together."

"She's right. I'm going too. My brother is in danger, and there's no way I'm not doing going to sit here. Especially with her," She turned and glared at Rarity before stepping in.

"Well, put these on," Captain gave the both of them vests to put on, "They won't fully stop a high caliber plasma bullet, so don't get too hasty."

"Don't worry, I'm not," They both boarded as they made their way to the ship. Accompanying the transport chopper was three Little Birds, an apache and a blackhawk to assist in the rescue mission. They haven't however prepared for the storm approaching.

Back on the boat, Saber and Quartz were sitting in a jail cell which was guarded by Electric and Fluffy, "So is this it for us? Are they gonna have us rot away on this boat?"

"Not likely. We'll probably be used as bait for the Queen."

"Welp, I'm not going to sit here and wait for it to happen."

"We have no choice to. I never expected this."

"I should have. I felt their presence, but shot it down. It was my fault that our recon mission was put in jeopardy. I'm sorry Saber. I guess I still am that incompetent little kid they know..."

"Nonsense. You've proven yourself to be an outstanding person both here and at the capitol. Alicia relies on you to be at her beckoning call. She uh... I'm not going to say. That's something only girls should know."

"Good, I don't wanna hear any girl talk. I got enough of that back home on the mainland."

"Quartz, if you had the chance to change something about Uskain, what would it be?"

"I don't know. I haven't been here long enough to know."

"Really? Do you think the place is perfect right now."

"Well, it's lot more lively and grand than back home. This place gives an old vibe that I feel doesn't exist anymore on the mainland. Mystics aren't suppose to have grand mansions or futuristic cars and such. If we want that, we'd go to Earth, but here it's all over now. I don't mind it, I just think it's taking over the Mystic Realm."

"Do you really believe that?"

"Of course, from what I've read from journals and diaries from past leaders, I only thought it changed over time. I only found out everything changed when my father took over. I guess his time living on Earth changed him. It would only make sense."

"Or maybe our mystic lives are evolving ever so slowly," Quartz shook his head and shrugged.

"I suppose..., but I like this place and its simplicity..."

"A lot do, but that all changed when this civil war began."

"War is a plague that can never go away. It just gets past down to each new leader no matter who they are..."

"Word..."

Not long after, they heard multiple helicopters and soon gunshots ringing throughout the ship. Soon over an intercom they heard, "UNLA soldiers are invading the ship. All units prepare to defend!" Fluffy and Electric both nodded as they ran off.

"Sweet, an opening," Quartz then quickly kicked the cell doors open before stepping out.

"Wait, how?"

"The minute we got in here, I was analyzing that door to see where to kick it open. Once we had our chance, I was going to kick it open," He then peaked out towards both hallways and nodded, "Alright, we should split up. I'm going for the evidence. You should find the rescue team."

"Wait, I'm not leaving you. There's no way I'm going to."

"Trust me on this. Just go! We don't have enough time!" Although reluctant, she nodded as she ran off. Quartz took a deep breath as he ran through the ship. He soon came face to face with soldier and he threw him into the wall, knocking him out. He then check the gun and nodded. He then sprinted down the hallway. After cut a corner, he saw a small squad and instantly went into cover. They began firing on him, and it was hard for him to take a shot.

He then slapped his face lightly before exhaling slightly, "Welp, I've done stupider things," He then sprinted out of cover and slid as he started firing. Some of the bullets took out all but one soldier. Quartz attempted to fire again, but the gun was now empty, "Shit!" He then rolled out of the way of the bullets that was being fired at him, but the hallway wasn't the biggest so he quickly hit the back of the wall.

In the face of luck, the gun jammed right before it got to him. Quartz quickly stood up and knocked him out with the butt of the rifle, "Whew, now lets get that bag."

Back on the surface, Alicia led out the soldiers in the CH-47 and signaled them to move, "Lavender, let's go. We need to find your brother."

"Right, but what about Saber?"

"She can handle herself, but I don't know about Quartz. He may do something stupid."

"Noted..."

They made their way to the lower deck and watched each others back, "Hallway clear. Let's keep it up. We don't have much time before that storm arrives."

"Right," Lavender then saw a soldier in the distance and yelled, "Alicia, duck!" Alicia did as ordered and she gunned down the soldier down the hall.

"Nice shot for a beginner."

"It doesn't seem that hard. Just point and shoot," The two smiled at each other as they continued through the boat.

Quartz soon arrived back in the lab to be met with Silver looking out the window as the UNLA soldiers moved through the boat slaughtering the resistance, "Look at them Quartz. They're slaughtering us, and yet you'll still fight for her. Don't your soldiers know of the word mercy."

"Haven't your soldiers heard of the word surrender?"

"Hmph, that's something you should do. You aren't armed are you? Oh, and your partner Saber isn't with you? Another foolish decision," Silver turned around and faced-off with Quartz. The two glared at each other as both waited for one to strike. Behind Quartz, Blaze was coming in with a roundhouse kick, but Quartz expected the attack, and tripped her.

Silver attempted to follow it up by stabbing him, but he dodged the knife by grabbing her wrist and flipping her over his shoulder, "Ambush huh? You really like that tactic don't you."

"Hmph," Silver jumped up and gripped a pipe before wrapping her legs around Quartz. Blaze followed this up with a kick to his abdomen. Afterwards, Silver performed a hurricanrana on Quartz, sending him flying into the ground. Blaze then jumped into the air and planted both her knees in Quartz's sternum.

Silver followed this up by attempting to stab him, but he was able to quickly dodge it and its following attacks. Quartz stood up and had his back against the wall, "What's wrong? Can't handle a couple of girls?" Quartz gripped his hand and smirked, "What are you smiling about?"

"Oh nothing," He then released from his hand a smoke grenade which instantly exploded it's large cloud of smoke.

"Ack, where'd you go?!" Quartz snuck his way around and grabbed the evidence bag from the table and ran off. As he did, he soon ran into Alicia and Lavender.

"Quartz!" The two instantly ran to him as he stopped to catch his breath, "I'm so glad we found you. Where's Saber?"

"She should already be with the rescue team. Let's get going. We don't have long before that storm arrives," They all nodded as they sprinted back to the upper deck.

Back in the lab, Silver slammed her fist on one of the tables as she sighed, "We shouldn't have lost him. We could've gotten him onto our side after we set his mind right."

"Maybe Fluffy and Electric will stop them."

"They better..."

Once they approached a hallway, they were met with Fluffy and Electric who were point plasma rifles in their direction, "Girls?" Lavender questioned, "Why are you still on his side. I know the both of dislike his way of fighting. Why won't you come with us? I know you don't like it there."

The two looked at each other and nodded, "Which is why," Fluffy started, they both quickly turned around and fired on two resistance soldiers, "We're joining you Queen Alicia. Your brother is a monster. I don't know what Silver sees in him."

Electric tackled both Quartz and Lavender in for a hug, "I wanted to follow after you Lavender, but Silver stopped me," She then sniffled a little, "I hope the two of you can forgive me."

Quartz was about to say something, but they heard voices in the distance, "Let's save it for later. We gotta go!" They all nodded as they ran back up to the main deck. Both Fluffy and Electric provided covering fire for them as they made their way to the CH-47.

Silver watched on in anger, "What are they doing?"

"They betrayed us..."

"No! They're going to escape!"

They arrived to meet Saber ready to pull them back into the CH-47. Fluffy. Electric, and other soldiers provided covering fire for them as they hopped into the helicopter. Soon, the Apache fired into the attacking resistance soldiers.

"Come on!" Quartz yelled as he waved them to board the chopper. Once everyone was on, he ran back inside. However, a soldier who was nearly dead fired three shots that pierced the back of Quartz, sending him to the ground.

"Quartz!" Fluffy, Electric, Lavender, and Alicia all fired on the guy giving him a fist full of lead.

Lavender rushed to his aid and checked on him, "Quartz...," She checked his back and saw that one bullet made it pass the protection, "One pierced his back. I can slow the effects of the plasma, but we have to get back to the capitol quickly if he's going to make it."

Alicia nodded as she went the pilot, "Step on it!" The pilot gave her a thumbs up as he sped his way away from the ship.

"I'm alright. I'm fine..."

"Nonsense, you're... no way..."

"What?"

Lavender looked on in awe as she saw that the wound on Quartz's back was healing itself, "You're healing yourself..."

"But I thought magic was disabled for us."

"But our healing isn't technically magic. It's in our families blood. That means we still have fast healing factors, but we still lack magic..."

"Good...," Alicia sighed in relief as she glanced at Quartz, "Hey Quartz, I'm glad your safe."

"I'm glad I'm slowly getting my sisters back," He smiled at his sistres, but frowned upon the other two, "A large battle is about to begin in the capitol. I can just feel it...," They all nodded in agreement as they awaited their arrival back home...