CHAPTER 1: THE END

As he sat in his perch the young charcoal grey and black griffon grumbled and sighed. He put two claws to his earpiece and pressed the talk button, “Command, this is Stone Wall. Remind me, why do I have to be in THIS spot? Couldn’t I have perched in that building next door?”

“Stone Wall this is command. As we’ve said, that building doesn’t have a clear line of sight on the target.” The unicorn on the other end of the com line said with the barest hint of annoyance. Stone Wall, call sign of Obsidian Shield, sighed and rumbled to himself.

“Then why couldn’t Flash do this? He wouldn’t mind hiding under a giant skirt….” Obsidian was currently sitting on a billboard in New Phoenix, a town that had grown into its own during the ongoing war between Equestria and the Zebra Nation. The billboard was advertising a Gentlestallion’s Club by the name of ‘Hidden Treasures’. The mare on the billboard was wearing a long flowing painted metal skirt, under which Obsidian was currently hiding. He looked through his scope at the building, scanning for unusual activity, his light blue eyes following the line of the sidewalk and building.

“Stone Wall this is command. Please keep the chatter to a minimum. But to answer your question, Flash would be too busy checking if the billboard was anatomically correct to give those MoM agents the cover they requested.” Obsidian just chuckled and nodded to himself. Flash would just be looking up the whole time.

A burst of gunfire sounds out from the building three blocks down the road. The one with the Ministry of Morale agents inside, things were kicking off. Obsidian put his eye to the sniper scope and started scanning for runners. His job on this op was to keep the ‘bad ponies’ inside the building until they could be arrested and to deter any bystanders from getting too curious. But honestly he knew that bystanders wouldn’t dare approach, not wanting to be caught up in a MoM raid.

As he scanned the exits a Zebra burst out with a device strapped to his back. Obsidian didn’t hesitate, his first shot struck the Zebra in the chest. The second in their forehead,

“Tango tried to run with something. Had to drop him, east exit.” As he spoke the gunfire stopped. One of the MoM agents came out the door and started inspecting the body.

“Good work, this is what Ms. Pie sent us here for. All other Tangos are secured. Stone Wall and Earth Watcher can disappear now. Don’t need you two getting caught up in the media that’s about to swarm this place.” Obsidian snorted a little, he knew what they meant, they didn’t want the rest of Equestria to know that a Griffon and even another Zebra had helped to stop a potential threat. He ruffled his feathers as he packed up his sniper and pulled a cloak around himself, hopping down onto a roof and then from there to the ally below. Here he waited until a smaller cloaked figure approached, without a word the two stepped out into the flow of the city, silently making their way towards the Ministry of Awesome hub at the edge of the city.

“Why don’t they trust us? We were both born here in Equestria. I feel no loyalty towards the Zebra Nation… in fact I really don’t like them for causing all of this.” Obsidian looked down at the little mare walking next to him. Her cloak and hood hid her stripes from the other pedestrians. He could tell by the way she was walking that the unicorn agents comment had bothered her too.

“Careful Star, I might have to use the ‘Adorable’ word if you keep wiggling your whole body like that.” Obsidian chuckled as she immediately stiffened. He knew she was red as a tomato under the hood of her cloak as they approached the small unassuming building that harbored so many secrets beneath it.

Star sat in front of her mirror, a slight frown on her face. She hatted how much she blushed at Obsidian’s little teases. She knew he only did it to get her to blush like that. He was very much like a big brother in that way. Always there to protect and comfort her when she needed it, but always ready with a light hearted jab. Never really hurting her feelings. She looked up at the mirror and realized she was chewing on her mane again, she immediately spat it out and sighed. She was always like this after a mission because somepony would always point out her heritage. As if she could forget what she was.

She looked into her reflections eyes, her eyes. The right one was a bright Sapphire blue, the left a deep Amber, Obsidian always said that he liked that her eyes were mismatched. He said it was like them, two orphans taken in by a nation that was at war with their ‘homelands’. She sighed as her stomach loudly reminded her it’d been about 12 hours since her last meal and it wasn’t happy at her. She stood up and left her room, heading for the chow hall as she started to absent mindedly chew the end of her mane again.

“You know I hear hair isn’t very nutritious but I know something that is.” Star spat her hair out and glared at the earth pony who said that, Flash. He was a notorious horn dog, sleeping with any mare he could get to fall for his stupid pickup lines. He was still in uniform for the moment as he walked up to her. “So what do ya say sweet cheeks, how about Flash gives you a tasty little snack?” He drawled, sneering down at her. She just smirked.

“Little is right. That tic tac of yours is barely a breath mint. I think I’ll stick to my hair for now, and the rest of time.” She said as she started walking again. Flash followed next to her, he glared at her.

“Why do you always gotta play hard to get? We both know The season is approaching, you’re gonna need a real stallion to get you through it. I’ll be that stallion, for you” his smirk was all she needed to know that this was just another trick of his. Star rolled her eyes.

“Not even if you were the last Stallion on this planet would you get under my tail Flash. Not that you’d be there long anyways, Daylight told me all about how you got your name.” Flash stopped in his tracks jaw practically on the floor.

“SHE’S LYING! IT WAS COLD AND I JUST GOT OUT OF THE SHOWER!!” he called after her as she entered the mess hall. Star giggled to herself. Daylight looked over at her with a raised eyebrow.

“Whose dick did you call small this time?” Daylight asked

“Told Flash you called his small. By the way did you really fall for one of his lines?” Star asked as she sat down next to her friend giving her a raised eyebrow back.

“…….I was drunk….very much so…..and he said it was his birthday…..” Daylight blushed bright red.

“Oh really? Just like it was with those three other mares last week?” Star smirked

“I said I was drunk right?” Star just laughed and patted her friends head before heading over to get some food. She passed Obsidian as he walked in talking with Dusk. She blushed a bit at the sight of the young unicorn. She had always found him attractive, but was too shy to mention it to him, and got the feeling that Obsidian didn’t like them getting close. But it’s not like Obsidian really had any say in her love life. Why should she care if he liked her coltfriend. But he was like an older brother, and they’d known each other since they were both children. They were both orphans and he was her best friend. She pushed aside her internal debate before it could spiral into madness. She grabbed her food and sat down by herself.

Obsidian looks over at Star as she plops down hard into a chair. She had her ‘I don’t like my brain’ look on her face again. Dusk was also looking at her, but his eyes, his eyes where those of a pony looking for nothing but sex.

“Ahem. As I was saying, I think that grey Pegasus in weather monitoring has the hots for you dude, you should go ask her out.” Obsidian cleared his throat pointedly. Dusk looked at him in annoyance.

“Why do you always do that? Whenever I even look at Star Gazer you bring up other mares. It’s like you’re cockblocking me without cockblocking me. What’s up with that? Are you and her, ya know... getting it on.” He wiggled his eyebrows at him. Obsidian squawked and took a step back.

“I…what…we…she’s like a little sister, we’ve known each other since we were like 5. I just don’t want her to get hurt.”

“so you think I’d hurt her?” Dusk smirked

“You’ve had 3 marefriends this month, and it’s only the 9th. You’re almost as bad as Flash, only he has trouble actually getting girls, point is that you’d end up hurting her and, I don’t want to see her get hurt.” Obsidian deadpanned. Dusk chuckled.

“She’s a big girl OS, she can choose for herself, it is almost THAT season. She’ll need help.” Obsidian glares at him.

“She’s 19, it’s not her first time going through Heat by herself.” A grin spread across Dusk’s face, one Obsidian was not going to let him finish his thought.

“You go near her at all this month and I’ll break your face.”Obsidian growls. Dusk just chuckles,

“I’m going to ask her, it’s up to her to say yes or no buddy. She’s 19 she can make her own choice” Obsidian glares at him. A part of his brain told him to destroy Dusk where he stood….but then he realized that he had no right to dictate Star’s love life. Dusk was right, she was a full grown mare. She was a 19-year-old. She could date a jackass if she wanted.

“Ok, fine, but if you break her heart I will rip yours out.” Obsidian left Dusk chuckling as he went to sit next to Star, She looked up as he approached.

“Hey Obsidian. What were you and Dusk talking about?” She wiped a bit of ketchup from her mouth as she smiled.

“You. Dusk has it in his head that you’d be interested in going out with him during your Heat season. I told him that you don’t need a stallion but, well you know how stallions are.” He shrugs and steals a piece of lettuce and eats it. She bops him on the forehead and giggles,

“Stop eating my food you goof, and who cares if he wants to ask me out he is pretty cute.” She tried to wave it off casually, but was blushing a bit to hard.

“Yeah well just so you know he’s a con stallion just like Flash, only he’s better at it.” He said as his ears twitched. She just looked at him and blinks. Obsidian shrugs and smiles.

“He is, shoulda seen the way he grinned when I mentioned that you spent your season’s alone.” Shakes his head and chuckles, “Horn. Dog.”

“You’re doing it again.” Star smirks.

“Sorry. I’m going to try not to butt into your love life anymore.” Obsidian smiles and ruffles her mane. Star giggled and swatted his hand away, giving him a ‘really?’ look. Obsidian sticks his tongue out at her. She bopped his beak, he scrunches up his face and smiles at her,

“What was that for?” He laughed.
“That was for being a goober you goober.”She cheerfully sang..
“Ok well I have to go and report in about our last mission. I’ll see ya later Star.” He stood up and gave her a quick hug and left the room. He wasn’t even half way out of the door before he heard Dusk hitting on Star. He had to fight the urge to go back in. He quickened his pace towards the office instead. As he approaches he hears the voice of Rainbow Dash, the Mare of the Ministry of Awesome. He knocks on the door three times, standing at attention. Rainbow opens the door and looks out at him, grey hairs throughout her rainbow mane, her rose eyes lock on Obsidian and she smirks.

“Hey Obsidian, you here for that race?” Obsidian chuckles.

“No Ma’am, I’m here to report about our last Joint Op with the Ministry of Morale.” He says as she lets him in.

“Oh yeah? Did you guys get the guy?” Rainbow asked as she sits on the desk in the room. The other Pegasus in the room was a black coated, dark blue maned stallion, General Lightning. Obsidian’s CO.

“Yes ma’am. But once again the MoM chased us away as soon as they could. They showed clear signs of not trusting Star Gazer or I.” Obsidian leaned against the door, both Rainbow and Lightning were known for being laid back.

“Sorry about that, but hey, you caught the guy. That’s good. I, uh, actually came here to give you and Star a combat assignment, the Hoofinton Front needs additional support and we were requested. You two are some of our best, so I need you two out there for about a month and a half. By then you guys will get some well earned time off.” Rainbow said as she adjusted her uniform a bit. “I’ll be out there too so you’ll see a lot more of me.”

Star walked amongst the other Zebra’s, she tried not to act nervous, she had to make them believe she was from the Homeland. “calm down, you’re chewing on your mane again. You’re almost there. Just a little further, I’m right here watching over you. Deep breaths.” Obsidian said over the radio. She took a deep breath and let it out. It’d been a month since they’d started doing counter ops here in Hoofington, she’d done this multiple times, and with each one she felt like she was that much closer to getting caught.

As she walked into the command tent, she could already tell that something was wrong, it was too dark, the table that was supposed to be in the center was too far to the right, not to mention that there were three other fully armed Zebras in there, guns up, aiming at the tent entrance. She immediately stepped back out and turned around. Several other Zebras had guns aimed at her. This was it, she’d been made.

“You have betrayed your people! You fight for Nightmare Moon and the Stars! You are a Pryditor. What have you to say for yourself Star worshiper?” the command Zebra says as he walked out of the tent.

“I owe you NO loyalty! I was born in Equestria. Your war killed my parents and orphaned me and my best friend! Princess Luna is no Nightmare Moon, you are mistaken.” She snarls in rage an defiance, standing tall, closes her eyes as she waits for the hail of bullets to strike her. Instead she felt a pair of talons grip her by the waist and hoist her into the air, opening her eyes she saw Obsidian’s wings beating, carrying them higher. The sound of a high powered rifle firing cuts through the moment. She feels the round just missing her head before it rips into Obsidians left breast. The world slows almost to a stop before they begin to fall. His blood falling on her back and neck.

The ground came up too fast, they crashed violently. Star could feel her leg snap under her own weight. As she looked up multiple squads of Zebra ran towards her, that’s when she heard the roar. The zebra who were charging them stopped in their tracks. The sound of a Hand Cannon firing sounds, then again, and again. Obsidian steps over her. He walks into the crowd of zebra commando’s, stepping and turning with each pull of the trigger. He wasn’t fighting so much as he was gliding through the battlefield like a ghost, or a harbinger of death. She caught a glimpse of his eyes, they weren’t the normal caring, happy eyes she was used to, these eyes were full of anger and vengeance.

Soon the Zebras started to retreat, some literally throwing their weapons down and running. As Obsidian came to a stop, there were no Zebra left unharmed. Obsidian was standing on his hind legs panting, he then collapsed.

“OBSIDIAN!!!” she tried to run towards him, collapsing painfully after putting pressure on her broken leg. “This is Earth Watcher; Stone Wall is down!! We need a medevac right now! He’s dying!!” she yelled over the radio.

She crawled towards where Obsidian lay still as the grave, his black coat wet with blood. Star was panicking thinking that her best friend, and the closest thing she had to family was dead because of her slip up. She didn’t even notice the Pegasi landing around her as she desperately tried to stop the bleeding. It wasn’t until the soft voice of the Mare of the Ministry of Peace snapped her out of it that Star realized help had arrived.

“Um, excuse me, miss Star? We…we need you to move so we can help him. If you could please step aside, we can save him.” Fluttershy said as she quickly trotted over to them, three of four unicorns in MoP uniforms following her. Star teared up sniffing, not letting pressure off Obsidian’s wound.
“Please….save him…..” she pleads as Fluttershy lead her away limping on her three good legs. The Unicorns take over, beginning to heal Obsidian. Three more Pegasi in power armor landed nearby.
“Miss Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash has asked us to escort Earth Watcher back to HQ for a debriefing.” The lead Pegasus said as he stepped forwards. Star motioned to move over to him when Fluttershy spoke up.

“No. she’s broken her leg, she shouldn’t even be walking right now. She has to come with me.” Star was surprised at the authority in her voice, it also made her realize how much her leg hurt right now. She sat down and looked away, chewing on her mane. She didn’t hear their conversation, all she could hear was the voices of the medics working on Obsidian, and the scornful voices of others, reminding her that it was her fault that he was dying.

“STAR?” Fluttershy’s call snapped her out of it. She looked over at Fluttershy, and noticed almost all eyes were on her. Star immediately shied back and looks down.

“It’s not your fault, but we should get moving. Obsidian needs to get to the hospital right away” Star just nodded and limped over to the medical transport.

Meanwhile, somewhere in New Phoenix, a MAw experiment bore fruit, unfortunately under some very unusual circumstances. Lightning Shadow walked down the hall towards an underground lab. One of the Ministry’s latest projects had come to fetch him, informing him of the situation as they went.

“279, tell me again what’s going on.” Lightning looked at his companion, who, at that moment, looked exactly like Rainbow Dash.

“A scientist has gone rogue and forced the Professor to perform the AI creation protocol……on himself. He used his pet project, TX-175, as the recipient and it activated a ghost protocol that signaled me that something was wrong.” TX-279 is an AI enhanced Synthetic Soldier, the brain child of Professor Everfrost. Lightning sighed and shook his head.

“Feign ignorance of the intruder, act as though we’re upset with Everfree……and hope he fixed the process….”

The lights were blindingly bright and everypony’s voices were muted, like he was underwater. As he regained his sight, he noticed a Eyes Forward Sparkle, it was a bit more advanced that a standard EFS. This one had a motion tracker as well as the standard compass that marked targets. He began to notice a blue tint to his vision. It wasn’t fading. Text started to scrawl across his vision.

TX-175 ONLINE
WEAPONS: OFFLINE
REPAIR TALISMAN: ONLINE
SYNTHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM: ONLINE
SYNTHETIC CIRCULATORY SYSTEM: ONLINE
SYNTHETIC MUSCULATURE: ONLINE
AI MATRIX: ONLINE

“What? What’s all of this? Where am I? what’s going on?” His voice came out sounding wrong somehow, almost electronic. Ponies in lab coats where looking at him, some of them smiling others with neutral expressions. One stepped forwards, grinning.

“Hello. Your name is TX-175, you are a Synthetic Soldier, a cybernetic Pony built to replace our colts and fillies out on the battlefield. But you are special, we’ve given you something only 14 of your fellows have. Artificial Intelligence. You represent something... perfect.”

A mare in a military uniform walked in with a serious look on her face. TX’s EFS identified her as Mare of the Ministry of Awesome, Rainbow Dash. She did not look pleased, and neither did her escort, a stallion by the name of Lightning Shadow. Marked as a General in the Equestrian Air Force and an level 1 MAw operator. He approached TX with a frown.

“I’m so sorry…..you must be so confused right now. I wish that we could help you….” Lightning said with a sad look in his eyes. TX didn’t understand, what did he mean about helping him, what was going on? And why couldn’t he move anything from his neck down?

“Sir why are you sorry? I’m artificial, I’m an imitation of life, nothing more. Or at least that’s what I’ve been lead to believe.” TX tilted his head, it was then he noticed the pony laying still as the grave under a sheet nearby, Lightning looks over at him as well then back at TX.

“TX-175…. that WAS Professor Everfrost. Your creator….and the stallion who died to form your AI matrix. You don’t remember anything before you woke up?” Now it was Lightning’s turn to look confused. Rainbow Dash looked over at Lighting. TX shook his head. Lightning sighed,
“He must have fixed that part, too bad he couldn’t fix the whole, ’subject dies in the process’ part.” TX looked around as others nodded in agreement. Text scrolled across his vision again.

ALL MOTOR FUNCTIONS COMING ONLINE
WEAPONS SYSTEMS: ONLINE
NEW ORDERS RECEIVED: TERMINATE GENERAL LIGHTNING SHADOW
NEW ORDERS RECEIVED: TERMINATE MAw MINISTRY MARE RAINBOW DASH
ALL OTHER DIRECTIVES OVERWRITTEN.

“Somepony just gave me orders to kill you and Rainbow Dash. They had the authority to overwrite all other Directives.” TX stepped off the platform he’d been standing on, he felt as several cables disconnected. He looked towards the stallion who’d first talked to him, the stallion was glaring at him from the terminal he’d been standing at. Lightning was glaring at the stallion as well.
“That why you made him do it isn’t it? You wanted his override codes so you could turn his creations against us.” Lightning adjusted his wings, spreading them just slightly. TX suddenly could see the red outlines of at least a dozen knives hidden in his feathers, two more blades in his uniform cuffs, as well as the combat knife strapped to his chest. TX was impressed by the amount of hardware he had on him.
The scientist smirked, pulling a talisman off his neck. His face morphs from an older pony into a young Zebra, the crazed look in his eye stays the same. Panels on TX’s sides open, a mini gun and a rocket launcher sliding out as an aiming reticle formed in the center of his vision then centered on the hostile Zebra. Just then three heavily armored Synthetic Soldier walked in welding similar guns as TX. His EFS identified them as TX-104 TX-156 and TX-112, and they were coming up as hostile. The Zebra smirks,

“175 wasn’t the only one I sent those orders to.” He reached for his cloak, as he did Lightning flicked his wing, sending half a dozen knives into the Zebra, one sinking deep into his neck.

The three hostile Synthetic Soldiers opened fire. TX immediately stepped in front of Lightning shadow, his armor taking the rounds.

“Sir we need to get you and Rainbow Dash either in armor or out of here.” Just then a round hit Rainbow Dash in the chest. As she stumbled she started to glow green. The green light dispersed and a synthetic soldier with far less armor that TX was left standing there, he looked up as he ducked for cover. TX’s EFS identified him as TX-279. He pulls a high powered pistol out and starts returning fire.

“Oi new guy, get Lightning outta here, I’ll hold the dumb dumbs off.” 279 called as he kept firing. Lightning shook his head.

“Get me to that control counsel and I can shut them down!” TX nodded and turned, putting his guns away, and charges his fellow 100 series synthetic’s. He tackles 112, the closest, into the other two. Lightning runs for the counsel and starts typing away. The three rogue units quickly powered down. TX stood and looked over as 279 walked over.

“So, you’re the newest AI enabled TX? Oh shit. Um, you uh, your left eye plate is cracked….” 279 pointed at his own eye as he winced, TX noticed that the ‘200 series’ was far more pony esc. His armor was thickest around his chest and hips and shoulders. The rest was more of a grey synthetic skin. Suddenly a file popped up in TX’s vision next to 279. It was a file telling him everything he needed to know about the TX-200 series of Synthetic Soldiers. TX decided that he preferred the term Cybernetic Equestrian.
“So your Changeling talisman allows you to take the form of ponies. That’s how you trick my sensors into thinking you were the Ministry Mare. Clever, but it seems your repair talisman took a hit for it, you can’t repair yourselves as fast.” He said as he looked through the file. This caused 279 to chuckle.

“Yeah but I can cloak and turn into ponies, you’re just a walking tank.” 279 smirked.

“He’s an assault class, you’re recon. 279 if you need your repair talisman you’re doing your job wrong. If 175 needs his, he’s doing his job right.” Lightning smirked “Why do you think that zebra used 100’s and not 200’s.” 279 frowned and stuck his tongue out.

Star sat in the sky ambulance, her eyes still locked on Obsidians still form. The monitor on him was beeping steadily. The Unicorn across from her was holding up a blood pack attached to an IV. Her own leg had been wrapped in a cast, and they were now being transferred back to New Phoenix. She sighed and looked at the blood-soaked bandage wrapped around Obsidian’s chest. He hadn’t woken since the battlefield; he’d stabilized enough for the trip but he still hadn’t woken up. Why hadn’t he woken up? She chewed on her mane watching as Obsidian’s chest rose and fell with his breathing.

“Why hasn’t he woken up?” she muttered as she looked up at the Unicorn. He looked over at her with a calm smile.

“Sometimes it can take up to three or four days for someone to wake after this kinda trauma, but you shouldn’t beat yourself up over this. If he’s as great a guy as you’ve described he wouldn’t want you to get hung up on him.” The stallion smiled kindly. She wondered why was he being so nice to her, she was a Zebra, sure she was equestrian born but still.

“Ggguuuuhhhhh stahp hitt’n on mah sister. Ah ain’t dead yet.” Obsidian groaned, one eye opening a crack. Star was immediately at his side. She couldn’t even register what she was saying. It was something along the lines of ‘I’m so sorry I almost got you killed Obsidian, pleases don’t hate me.’ He looked up at her and smiled a little, “Star yer mah sister, ah could never hate ya.” He pulls her into a gentle hug, “yer the closest thing ah gotta family, I’ll always be there for you Star.”

She squeaked and hugged him back. She tries to not tear up again as she buries her face in his neck feathers. The medic stallion coughs,

“Um, well maybe you shouldn’t be hugging him with a chest wound”

“I was just gonna say yer getting a little tight there Star….” Obsidian grunts. Star backed off and blushes deeply

“Sorry…but um, why is he talking like that?” She sat back.

“Oh that’s the pain medication he’s on right now. It also is why he’ll be speaking his mind for the next few hours or so.” The medic chuckled a little, clearly amused by the idea. Obsidian stuck his tongue out at him. Star giggles and smiles whipping her eyes as it started raining outside. Obsidian looks over at her and smiles.

“You have a cute smile. You are going to make a very lucky stallion happy when I stop being so dang overprotective of you. You know what? I’m sorry. You probably would have a coltfriend if I wasn’t cockblocking every stallion I knew was hot on you…. I’m sorry about that.” Obsidian purred as he looked up at her smiling a little. Star sighed and sat down, too happy that he wasn’t dead to be upset at him for what he’d just admitted.

“...And I’m gonna pay for saying that later, and I deserve it. Wow! This shit is strong. I’mma go back ta sleep now cause I’m sleepy.” He closed his eyes and quickly falls asleep. Star sighed and pats his head.

“He’s not wrong about the paying for it latter thing…..” she smiles a little. The medic coughed a little and smiles

“Oh um so….well uh….ok um what were you gonna say earlier?”

“I was gonna ask if you wanted to get some coffee after you knew that your friend was ok. And I was going to ask your name” He smiles and chuckles.

“Oh, um sure, and my name is Star Gazer.” She smiled as the Ambulance landed on the roof of the Hospital in New Phoenix. The stallion smiles back at her.

“My name’s Reath, how about I pick you up in an hour?” Reath asked as he helped the others put Obsidian on a stretcher. Star just nodded a little as she got up and limped along following them to the room Obsidian would be staying in. She sat down as she watched them switch him over into the bed. She rubbed her cast a little, it was starting to itch and it was annoying her a bit. She looked up to see Obsidian had woken and was watching her.

“You think you’re itchy. I have a hole in my chest.” He smiled. He was purring so she smiled back, knowing that he never purred if he was mad, or even upset. He patted her uncast hoof still purring,

“You go have a drink with that guy, Imma gonna be a sleeping fer a while”

“You sure buddy? I could wait here with you.” Star smiled a little.

“Nah, you go you have fun. I don’t want to get in your way” Obsidian purred and smiled.

Star giggled and hugged him a little before heading out of the room. She squeaked as she bumped into Reath. He chuckled. “Oh Star, I was just coming to ask if you wanted to get that drink early?”

“I was actually just coming to find you, ask the same thing.” She blushed, smiling. Reath grinned and nodded, he led her to the door. She giggled, blushing deeply. This was the first real date she’d ever been on. She was giddy at the idea of being out on a date, an actual date. She couldn’t help but giggle again. Reath smiled at that as they approached a Coffee house. He turned down an alleyway just before the Coffee House. Star tilted her head as she followed him, a little confused about where there were going. Reath just smiled back at her.

“Don’t worry, you’ll like this place, it’s perfect.” Something in his voice had changed, Star was immediately on guard, she wasn’t sure if it was her training or the fact that she had always been paranoid, but something in the back of her mind told her that this date, her first ever, wasn’t going to be like the ones on TV. That’s when she picked up on the two ponies who’d just entered the alleyway, blocking her exit. Star’s eyes started scanning, two in the exit, three more on fire escapes, one pony per fire escape, three more dead ahead and she had to assume they had ponies inside the buildings. Reath stopped and sighed,

“Are you really so desperate that you’d follow a random Unicorn down an alley just for a date? That cat-bird had a good reason to be worried, you are so……not naïve…. stupid is a good word for it you Stripped Bitch.” He swung his hoof back to slap her.

Obsidian was walking through a hallway. He knew where this was and what lay waiting for him around that corner up ahead. He knew he’d see is father being gutted and his mother raped then gutted. He’d see the faceless Griffons standing over them grinning at him, small and weak and helpless. Then he’d wake up, in the hospital bed where he’d fallen asleep. He sighed, he hated this nightmare. He walked down the hall, but when he turned the corner, a new horror was waiting for him.

He was an adult. He could feel the fresh wound from his last mission in his chest. He was in an alley in New Phoenix. There were three dead ponies, killed in a brawl it looked like but what scared him, was what he saw in front of him, laying at his feet. It was Star, her coat covered in blood and other bodily fluid he didn’t even want to think about She was clearly dead, but the bastards were still there, still taking turns.
Obsidian roared as he woke up, physically lunging at the non-existent stallions His heart was racing almost fast enough to open his wound. He ripped the heart monitor off and pulled the IV tube from his arm He’d ignored a dream like that once, no way under Luna’s star filled night was he going to make that mistake again. He couldn’t lose another family. Not like that again, not to bastards like that.

He fell out of his bed and got to shaky feet as he stumbled for the door. A nurse yelped at seeing him on his feet, she said something to him but he didn’t hear her. Everything was a muffled murmur under the sound of his own heart racing. He ripped his hospital gown off as he made it outside. Three guards started towards him. He called out his service number and name, they kept coming towards him, so he took to the sky for a block. He had to find her, he had to find Star before it was too late. He knew something had been off about that guy, and not just the normal ‘he’s hitting on my sister’ off.

He saw a coffee house up ahead, check there, see if they’ve, wait, those stallions were a couple of the dead guys, and they’re blocking an alley……THERE!! Obsidian stumbled as he tried to run. The music of a MoM Spritebot stopped as the small robot turned to watch him. He’d explain it later, no time now, had to save Star.

As he approached one of the Stallions glared at him, the other smirked nastily.

“Nothing down here that concerns you yet bird butt” Obsidian just smashed his fist into the stallions face, grabbing him and throwing him at his companion before continuing down the alley. He could hear the fighting now, oh please oh please don’t be too late. He roared as he half ran half stumbled his way towards the brawl. That’s when he saw Star. She was still on her hooves, using her natural agility to stay out of the larger stallion’s hooves. They were not looking good.

Star was currently using the distraction he’d caused to kick two of them in a very tender place. She started running towards him as he felt the charge of the Spritebot’s stun gun go past his ear and hit one of the stallions. It was at this point that the remaining three ran. Star ran up to him and hugged him. He didn’t even care that he could feel the blood further staining his bandages.

He sighed deep, hugging her back. relief making his limbs weak. He’d managed to stop his nightmare from coming true again,

“HEY!! You dumb bird brain! What are you doing out here!? You’re not healed yet!” He looked at Star as she fussed. Forcing him to sit, she put pressure over his increasingly red bandages. he just chuckled and smiled.

“I…..I can’t exactly explain it but I knew you were in trouble. I had to get here as fast as I could.” Star just gave him a ‘shut up loopy’ look as he lay back and looked at the Spritebot. He could have sworn someone was looking back at him. Probably Pinkie Pie, he chuckled as he remembered the posters ‘Pinkie Pie is watching you… FOREVER!’ he could for once actually say he was glad she was watching out for them. She’d just saved them a lot of fighting that in his condition would have been… difficult.

“Hey Obsidian, how did you know Star was in trouble? My pinkie sense was telling me something was happening, but you seemed to know exactly where to go.” Pinkie Pie’s voice came over the spritbot’s radio. Obsidian chuckled a little, which hurt.

“The…the night my parents died, I had a nightmare that it would happen. I wrote it off as to many horror stories before bed then…. but later that night it happened, just like I had dreamt. In the hospital I had a dream I was walking into that alley, the stallion who was at the entrance was dead along with two others, the rest……. they’d killed star……I wasn’t going to ignore my dream again….” he could feel that Pinkie knew he wasn’t saying everything, but no way was he going to tell Star what those bastards had been planning for her. The Spritebot bobbed for a sec then Pinkie Pie giggled.
“Okie dokie lokie! You two keep up the good work! And Star? Go easy on him when you figure it out.” Then the Spritebot bobbed away playing its usual music. Star and Obsidian just sat there confused till the ambulance arrived.

It had been two months since the incident in the alley. Star knew Obsidian had never told her the full truth and frankly she didn’t care. She was just glad he’d recovered and was back at work. True to his word he wasn’t even getting in the way of stallions asking her out, all two of them. Dusk had made another pass at her as had Flash, but after her close call with Reath, who was now doing time in a MoM correctional facility, she was NOT eager to start dating. Besides the world was going to hell, now didn’t seem like the right time. Also she was still trying to figure out what Pinkie Pie had meant by ‘Go easy on him when you figure it out.’ She chewed her mane as she thought. Who was the him, what was she supposed to figure out? And why was Obsidian smirking like that. She spat her mane out and glared at him.

“What?” He chuckles,

“You know that you completely space out when you think? You haven’t even noticed the feather on your nose.” Star went cross-eyed finally seeing the midnight black feather balanced on her nose. How didn’t she notice him put that there? She then just looked at him. He had his goofy grin on. Star couldn’t help but giggle at how stupid he looked. He smirked, “and all I have to do is to be goofy to make you laugh.”
“Oh shut up Obsidian. Let’s just go to the meeting.” Star blushed and walked out Obsidian following her as he chuckles. Stupid Obsidian with his stupid cute chuckle and goofy smile and, she shakes her head hard. Obsidian raised his eyebrow. She blushed brighter, “Nothing shut up!”
“Hey, I didn’t say anything Blushy” he chuckled and patted her head. Star blushed deeper and storms down the hall. She could hear Obsidian chuckling as he followed her, “you’re wiggling again Star.” She stopped and stomped a little.

“Why, why, why, why are you always doing that? You called me your sister and then pick on me like that.” She frowned at him. He looks at her confused, then he frowned a little himself

“Star I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to pick on you. You’re the closest thing to family I have. I didn’t mean to pick on you. I’m sorry. Next time something I do bugs you that much just tell me and I’ll stop.” He smiled and hugged her gently. Star blushes and hugs him back, noticing how soft his feathers were. She smiled a little and nuzzled into his chest. “Ahem, uh Star….we still need to go to the meeting, and you’re kinda snuggling me.”

“Oh really maybe I should do this then.” She rubs her face into his chest feathers. She heard him muffle a grunt of pain and felt the warmth and texture of fresh scar tissue against her muzzle. She froze.

“Star…. Star it’s ok. Please, it’s not your fault stop blaming yourself for this.” Obsidian moved her face away from the scar and looked her in the eye. “I got myself into that mess. It’s my fault, not yours” she just nodded a little and lightly hugged him. Obsidian picked her up and threw her across his back as she squeaks in surprise. She pouted as he carried her into the meeting room.

Star sighed and hoped off his back and punched him in the shoulder, smiling, The way he looked at her she knew he wasn’t buying her act. but luckily the meeting was starting right then. She sat down as Lightning started talking, the usual information about the ongoing war. She sighed a little.

“And now we have a special report from the Hoofington area. A zebra sniper reported that apparently, we’re using necromancy. Two months ago, he claims to have shot an Equestrian griffon in the heart, only to have him stand up and slaughter three squads of commandos. Quote, ‘dancing like a ghost of death he was untouchable, every round that was sent at him seemed to pass right through him, the griffon only fell again after every zebra was dead or too wounded to fight,’ end quote.” The general was visibly amused as he spoke. Star buried her face in her fetlocks.She didn’t like to remember that day. A wing draped over her.

“Old news boss! Give us something current.” Obsidian said from next to her. She peeked out at him and he gave her a little wink. She smiled back a little, now feeling bad about yelling at him in the hall. Lightning was chuckling at the front of the room.
“The ‘something current’ is we are going to milk this. We’re naming your new squad, Ghost Squadron. You’ll be issued new armor and weapons. Image wants to do some coverage of the ‘Ghost mercenaries’ as part of a scare campaign. So, report here at 0400 tomorrow for cover stories.”
“Um, General Lightning sir? Don’t we need three to form a squad?” Star asked tilting her head.
“ Yes, yes you do which is why I’m adding Dusk AND Daybreak to your squad.” Lightning smiled, “and I told you not to call me by my rank. Or call me sir.”
“ Dusk? Why…why Dusk?” Obsidian asked. Star giggled, knowing that Obsidian still didn’t want Dusk anywhere near her.
“Because Image is going to want a unicorn in the group, you all know how Rarity can be.” Lightning rolled his eyes. Star blew a raspberry, she hated how much Rarity disliked Zebra’s, just because of their stripes.

“Yep that, that right there sums up most of our feelings about Image” everypony started laughing.

Obsidian bobbed his head to the music, headphones over his ears as he walked down the hall towards the armory. As he pased the showers he stopped in his tracks. Daybreaker, Star’s best friend and they’re new squadmate, was walking out of the shower, her mane draped around her shoulders, the light shimmered off her wet coat.

She looked up and gave him a coy smile, her eyes half lidded.

“Oh hey there Obsidian. I was ah, I was just freshening up a bit before we get our squad uniforms. Mmmm water’s perfect temp right now if you wanna hop in.” He felt his feathers ruffle up a bit as he blushed. His eyes wandering over the Earthpony’s slick coat, the firm muscles underneath, her strong legs that lead up to a firm round rear. And she was smirking at him and he immediately looked away.

“It’s ok to look. I actually wanted to ask if you wanted to get coffee later today. Just you and me?” Daybreak smiles walking past him, her tail running under his chin.

“Sure, we can ya know, practice our cover stories.” Obsidian smiled a little and straightened up, “maybe even add to em a little. Make them more believable?” He mentally slapped himself for that cheesy, cheesy line.

Daybreak smirked and kissed his cheek.

“Mmm sounds good to me big boy. See you at 1800” she kisses him on the beak before walking away, swaying her hips at him. He flapped his wings as his feathers ruffled up a little, and why did it sound like somepony was tapping their hoof behind him. His ears folded back as he turned around to see a very angry looking Star, tapping her hoof.

“So um… why…why were you kissing my friend? Our new squadmate!? And you’re going out with her? Why!?” Star started to squeak at him stomping in place. He blinked backing up away from her.

“Star….in case you didn’t notice. She was hitting on me….” He blushed and backs into a wall.
“And you couldn’t take your eyes of her…her… ass! You were looking at her butt. And then you let her kiss you like that and that pick up line you tried just, just UGH!” She stormed off to the Armory. Obsidian blinked and looked around.
“What…what just happened?” Obsidian asked no one in particular. Dusk walked over eating a bowl of cereal.
“You know, if I didn’t know better I’d say Star doesn’t like her ‘big brother’ going out with her best friend, why do you think I never made a move on Daybreak, she’s got a great ass.” Dusk chuckled. “never go for the best friend”
“She ambushed me! She stepped out of the shower right as I was walking by! Like perfect timing there’s no way it was an accident….and she just…. she was literally asking me to look!!” Obsidian called out as Dusk walked away.

He sighed and sat down hard. Why did Star react like that? She had never acted like that about any of his previous marefriends…..ok marefriend, singular. Wow he felt pathetic now. He decided right then that he was going to definitely go on this date. He owed it to himself to at least give it a chance, and who knows he might even get lucky. Oh god now he sounded like Dusk.
He stood up and walked to the armory. Star glared at him, Dusk smirked and Daybreak winked at him smiling a little. He felt his feathers fluff up a bit. Star scoffed and looked back at the supply officer. Obsidian sighed a little, Daybreak walked over and rubbed his shoulder, “she’ll warm up to us.”

“All right, time to get you guys geared up.” The supply officer smiled. She started passing out armor and weapons. The armor was some form of riot control armor with a black trench coat over it, the helmet and chest armor were a charcoal grey.

“Is there a reason the armor matches my coloration.” Obsidian asked raising an eyebrow. The Supply officer grinned.
“I thought it was fitting, you being the guy who basically kicked this Ghost Squad off and all.” She said. “and General Lightning promoted you to commander of it so, I thought why the heck not.”
Dusk blinks and looks at her.

“You’re joking, right? The catbird is supposed to be our commander? He’s a griffon! Equestrian’s will never accept him. Our commander should be someone that will be accepted and respected, somepony like oh say, myself? Perhaps.” Obsidian couldn’t help but to facepalm, he couldn’t believe Dusk had just done that, he’d actually just played the ‘I’m a pony he’s a griffon’ card.
“And there went any chance you had of ever getting with me.” Obsidian’s head shot up and he stared at Star as she said that. She looked back at him, “I was only thinking of doing it to piss you off…”
“You were going to go out with Dusk just to piss me off? I thought you were smarter than that…..any guy woulda got me at least upset, you didn’t have to jump straight to the top of the asshole list. All the offence meant Dusk, you’re an asshole.”
“See he’s also petty and crude, he’s not the type to lead. Also Star, you’ll come around.” Dusk smirked and puffed out his chest. Daybreak laughed and sat down hard.

“ Dusk you are so full of yourself! You’re using his race to try to undermine him? You loser.” She smirked at the dejected stallion.

“Well anyways…” The supply officer coughs awkwardly and continues to hand out their equipment.

“This is top grade stuff. State of the art gear, your helmets come with night vision for stealth ops and night raids, as well as helmet cams that have about 2 months of memory. You’ll all have an EFS cause you’re all being issued military grade Pip Bucks. Each of you will also have specialized classes. Dusk you’re on assault, Star you’re the close quarters combat specialist, Daybreak is the spotter/backup sniper, Obsidian you’re the main Sniper.” Obsidian nodded, he was by far the best shot out of the four of them. He looked at Star, who was picking up a shotgun and examining it.

“I’m ok with that, so Shell Loader, want to get a drink?” All four of the others look at her like she’d just thrown them out the airlock of a submerged submarine.

“Sorry toots, but I like stallions, well, anything with a cock really.” The supply officer said as she rubbed the back of her neck. Dusk balked, clearly caught between turned on and insulted. Obsidian just sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

Star chewed her mane. “Why? Why him? Why’d you have to ask him!?”

“Isn’t that almost exactly what you said to Obsidian in the hall?” Daybreak giggled as she fixed her mane, “and I didn’t think you even liked him like that. You should have asked him out before.” Star squeaked and jumped to her hooves.
“WHATMAKESYOUTHINKILIKEHIMHE’SLIKEABROTHERTOMETHAT’SITNOTHINGMORE!!” She could feel her cheeks burning. Daybreak laughed and smirked.

“Well to be honest if this goes well, I might just fuck him a couple times then let him down easy.” Star glared at Daybreak, she couldn’t believe what she was hearing, Daybreak was just planning on using him for sex!? How dare she! Obsidian was a sweet caring guy, one of the few who wasn’t just after sex! Star blinked as she looked at the look Daybreak was giving her.

“Star….just tell me that you like him and I’ll call this whole date off, you’re my best friend.”
“I……ugh…..just don’t break his heart please?” Star’s ears drooped. Why was she acting like this? She just sighed and flopped onto the couch.

Obsidian checked his feathers quickly, making sure they were all straight. They were. He took a deep breath and stepped out of the door. He stopped in his tracks and blinked, Daybreak was standing in front of him, she looked stunning, and more than a little sexy.

“Hey there. You ready to get that drink and ‘work on our stories’?” she giggled.
“Yeah I’m ready. I would ask if you were but clearly you are.” He smiled and headed for the door. Daybreak walked right next to him, brushing up against his wing as they walked. He blushed and put his wing across her shoulders. She giggled.

“And here I thought I’d have to squirm under that wing” Daybreak said as she lightly nuzzled him. Obsidian smiled a little and blushed.
“Well you were bumping it so much I just figured you’d rather be under it.” He could feel his heart beat faster having her this close, but there was something at the back of his mind nagging him. He pushed it aside for now. He needed this. He needed to get out there and get his mind off work… even though he was going out with a work college. He didn’t notice Daybreak lead them to a Nightclub. (How had he not noticed the music?) He really needed to stop thinking to himself so darn loudly.

“So how about it lets get that drink” Daybreak giggled and leads him to the bar. Obsidian took a deep breath and ordered a whiskey on the rocks. Daybreak smirked and ordered the same. “mmmm taking your spotter out for drinks eh commander?” she giggled and winked at him.

“She’s the one who tried to seduce her commander by purposely stepping out of the shower in front of him.” He smirked. Daybreak blushed brightly.
“Y…you figured th..that out huh?” she bit her lip as their drinks were poured. Obsidian chuckled a little.
“Well I don’t walk quietly, you’d clearly long since rinsed out your shampoo, and you were standing by the door long enough to leave a large puddle” he smiled as he sipped his drink.
“When did you see all of that? You were staring right at my cutie mark the whole time…” she smirked at him. He laughed and smiled.
“I looked around after you walked off wiggling” Obsidian looked at her to see her reaction. She was just smirking at him. Her eyes said it all.

“Good to know you were still looking even as I walked away.” She giggled.
“W…well I uh….I’m, I am a guy. It’s only natural.” Obsidian blushed and downed his drink. Daybreak giggled and smiled. He sighed and ordered another drink. Daybreak finished her drink and pulled him out onto the dancefloor. Obsidian blushed as she started dancing rather exotically. Obsidian shuffled awkwardly in what he called ‘dancing’. A song came on, something about treating the night like you’d die young or something. It was by some Pegasus pop star. Why was he thinking about the music when he was “dancing” with a sexy mare. He shook his head and let himself loosen up. Starting to really get into it, he felt a smile cross his face. Before he knew it they were having another drink and then back on the dance floor.

Star sighed as she lay on her bed listening to a song that Obsidian had shown her. She smiled a little as the song came to an end. She walked over to the window and looked out. It had started raining. She loved the rain. It always made her smile. A good song on a rainy day, only thing missing was her friends. She sighed to herself. Why’d she get so jealous? She didn’t like either of them as more than friends but she just hated the Idea of Daybreak making a move on Obsidian, it just felt wrong. He was their commander now, but daybreak had asked before he’d been promoted. There was a knock on the door.

“Be right there!” She quickly turned off the music and opened the door. Daybreak was standing there looking disgruntled.
“He turned me down… I threw myself at him and he turned me down… because he felt bad about going on a date with his, and I quote, ‘Little sister’s best friend’” She flopped down onto the couch. Star just blinked.
“So you didn’t kiss him?” Star sat down next to her.
“Hm? Oh no we kissed, and he is a great kisser, didn’t think he would be with a beak but he was great.” She smiles then sighed “but when I took him to a hotel room he just froze up and he wouldn’t even enter the room… he apologized and left...” Star blinked and looked at Daybreak, who actually seemed upset about what had happened.

“Well…for what it’s worth I’m sorry you got rejected by a guy you liked so much.” She pet Daybreak’s mane a little. Another knock on the door right then. Star opened the door and couldn’t help but laugh as she saw Obsidian standing there.
“Hey, I couldn’t do it…. I couldn’t sleep with Daybreak, I just…. I just couldn’t stop thinking about how upset you where at the idea of me and her even dating. I mean we just had a couple drinks, enough that I actually kissed her but when she tried to get me in bed I had enough sense to say no and stumble my way here and I just noticed Daybreak beat me here……this just got awkward….” Daybreak had sat up and was staring at him.
“I see….so um….well….yeah this is very, very awkward……” Star started chewing her mane. They all stood there in silence. Daybreak stood up and walked next to Star.
“Ok you know what? Pick. Which one of us do you want to fuck? Come on big guy, you’ve got feelings for one of us. So tell us who are you gonna put your cock in?” She huffed and puffed her chest out a little, Star turned bright red and hid behind her mane. Why the heck would Daybreak involve her in this? Why would she ask Obsidian to…to…to…she couldn’t even bring herself to think the word. As she peeked out at Obsidian. His feathers were all puffed out, his cheek bright red as he backed up a bit.
“I..um…well….the thing is…….IMAVIRGINANDLEAVEINGNOWBYE!!” With that he bolted from the room. Daybreak and Star just blinked and then looked at eachother.
“Wait…..did…did he just say he still has his V-card? I almost took his virginity?” Daybreak blinked “wait isn’t he like 20?”
“Day… I’m 19 and still a virgin. It’s not that big a deal.” Star muttered from under her mane, Daybreak looked down at her wide eyed.
“Star… you’re jo…. oh goddesses you’re not joking are you…I’ll be right back” Daybreak left the room. Star sighed and flopped onto the couch. And now she’d told her friend that she was a virgin, and Obsidian had admitted his virginity to get out of a tough situation…….this was his fault. She wouldn’t have embarrassed herself if he’d have just slept with Daybreak this wouldn’t have happened! She rolled on her back and failed her legs in the air in annoyance. She reached over and turned the music back on. She smiled to herself as the, admittedly violent, music started up again. This song was about not leaving anyone behind. She giggled a little to herself. Obsidian would like this song, even if it was frowned on by the Ministry of Image. Suddenly Daybreak dragged Obsidian in by his ear.

“OK neither of you are leaving this room till you’ve both lost your Virginity.” Daybreak then left the room and slammed the door shut
“So….. I’m gonna fly out the window if you don’t mind? Nice choice in music by the way. Ok so uh how about we just don’t talk about this?” Obsidian said as he moved to the window with a smile.

“Talk about what? You going on a date with my best friend, then come over and admit you’re a virgin which twists my leg into me admitting I’m a virgin and now we’re locked in a room together. Nothing weird about that… why are you looking at me like that?” Star blinked as Obsidian stared at her with a raised eyebrow.

“Star, you do realize that you didn’t HAVE to mention that you’re a virgin, if anything that makes this situation is more YOUR fault than mine. Daybreak would probably still be stammering over my admission.” Star face hoofed. He was right. He smiled and gave her a hug before going out the window.

Obsidian groaned in pain. He was definitely hungover from the night before, and the meeting to work out cover stories hadn’t helped his headache. Now they were in full gear and heading out of the city just so they could come back and talk to a bunch of reporters, and that damn EFS was just always there!! It was so annoying! But so useful. Now Obsidian remembered why he only had a drink or two at a time.
“OK, from this point on Ghost Squad is a Mercenary band that’s sided with Equestria. Contact minimal while not on mission. Good luck you guys.” Flash opened the door to the tunnel. Obsidian was glad that the mask shielded his vision like sunglasses.
They moved out onto the highway and started back towards New Phoenix. A few Sky wagons where flying over head. The other pedestrians where giving the four of them a wide berth. Up ahead was a military checkpoint, here came the real test.

Goddesses he wished he wasn’t hungover! As they approached two soldiers in the new T-60 Steel Ranger armor stepped into the path, “Halt! Show us your Identification and permits for those weapons!”

“I’m Commander Stone Wall of the Ghost Squad mercenaries, we’ve been asked to come to New Phoenix to speak with a MoI representative. I have the paperwork in my jacket pocket. Don’t shoot me when I reach for it” Obsidian grumbled irritable. The soldiers nodded and he slowly pulled the paper’s from his coat. Just then an officer in Military Fatigues walked over.

“Sargent. I’ll take those.” The officer’s horn glowed and snatched the papers away from the Power armored soldier. He looked over them without really looking at them, this bastard already had his mind made up about them.

“Take them to the holding cell, confiscate their weapons and make sure someone has an eye on them at all times.” The smug stallion smirked as they were lead away.

Star sighed, she knew that this would happen. Obsidian was a griffin, there was no hiding it, so he was assumed to be the enemy and treated as such, and when she takes her helmet off they’ll be in real trouble. She sighed again and looked over at the door she was locked behind. She’d heard them talking to Daybreak and Dusk, now she was just waiting for them to talk to her or Obsidian. Just then the door opened and the Officer who had pulled them aside walked in. he smirked as he sat down in the chair across from her.

“Remove your helmet and mask. You’re friends already told me all about you and how you’re a Predator who refuses to paint her stripes red so she can act as a spy. Now, you’re going to tell me every weakness in the zebra legions front line. Because you may have those idiots fooled, but I know you’re spying for the other side you whore!” He grinned at her as he sat there staring.
“I was born right here in Equestria, I fight for Equestria and the only time I’ve worn a Zebra uniform was so that I could steal intel form them. Intel we immediately turned over to General Lightning Shadow.” She removed her helmet and looked him in the eye. “I'm just as Equestrian as you. I may look different than most but I still love this country just as much as any other citizen.”
“Well then, we’re doing this the hard way. Now last chance to tell me before I either fuck it out of you or beat it out of you, depending on how much your next response pisses me off.” The stallion said as he stood up. Star merly tapped on the mission recorder camera on the side of her helmet, which was aimed right at him.

“Threats of rape are a violation of the Military Code of Conduct for an officer of Equestria. This camera has a live feed to General Shadow.” She remained seated. The Officer’s eye twitched as he approached her. Just then the door opened and a very, VERY, pissed off looking Lightning Shadow stormed in.

“THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING!? YOU ARE A PATHETIC EXCUSE FOR AN OFFICER OF EQUESTRIA’S ARMY!!” Star squeaked and shrank back from him, the Officer looking ready to piss himself. Star had never seen Lightning like this there was pure hate in his eyes as he approached the officer.

“YOU ARE OFFICIALLY UNDER ARREST AND HEREBY STRIPPED OF ALL RANK AND PRIVILEGE! I DON’T CARE IF YOU THOUGHT SHE WAS AN ENEMY! YOU TREAT YOUR ENEMIES WITH RESPECT, SARGENT!!” The power armored soldier from earlier walks in

“Escourt the former commander to a holding cell!” the soldier nods and removes the officer from the room. As soon as they leave Lightning walks over to her. “Star…..I’m so sorry….”

“It’s fine sir, I’m use to it… I shouldn’t be but I am. There’s a reason I pinged you and not Obsidian….he would have ripped that guys throat out.” Her smile was forced, the stallion infront of her looked so much older suddenly. The grey in his mane and around his muzzle stood out so much more.
“I wanted to, so badly. I hate it when I see soldiers acting like that, especially to someone I hold so dear.” Lightning hugged Star and sighed. “This was a bad idea I never should have given it the go ahead.”

“You didn’t know that this would happen Sir.” Obsidian said from the doorway. He frowned. “But she’s right. Star’s a zebra and I’m a Griffin in a nation at war with our kind. These delays are inevitable.” Star nodded and put her helmet back on Lightning insisted on escorting them through the rest of the cheek points into New Phoenix, which actually helped them a lot.

Obsidian ran his fingers through his feathers. The MoI rep was supposed to be here any second. Lightning was in the next room talking to her. Obsidian wasn’t over his hangover yet and knew he’d probably botch something big time. Just then the door opened and in walked a beautiful unicorn mare, she was carrying a pen and notepad as well as a voice recorder. She set these on the table and, with a very forced smile, turned to Obsidian.

“Ok so you must be Mister Shield, the commander of the Ghost Mercs. Shall we get started?” Obsidian offered a soft smile,

“You don’t like Griffins do you? It’s ok I’m used to it, you don’t have to force yourself to smile.” He pulled a chair out for her before sitting down himself. She pulled a third chair over before sitting.
“Well thank you for noticing that I despise your kind. Now I assume that the Ghosts are a sub grouping of the far more well known Talon Mercs. Why don’t you wear their armor or emblem?” the mare asked turning on the recorder and readying her pen. Obsidian’s face hardened as his smile became a sneer.

“Because we have nothing to do with those money grabbing, good for nothing, low life, back stabbers. I will NEVER fly under that flag.” He closed his eyes and took a calming breath. “I started the Ghost Mercenary company as a way to honor my father, the late Commander Slate, one of the few Griffins to turn down the zebra’s offers and accept a contract with Equestria. After his death… Equestria accepted me. I owe this country every thing, so I started the Ghosts as a way to repay my home for taking in a child of the enemy.”

The reporter sat there, her face one of shock. “Oh, um ok. H… how did you choose your teammates?”
“That’s a good question, Star is like me, we grew up in the same orphanage. She wants to help Equestria win this war so things can start to be something like they were back before all the fighting. Daybreak is almost as gifted of a sniper as I am, which makes her the perfect spotter and she’s a good friend, she doesn’t care who I was born to. Dusk… if I’m honest I can’t for the life of me remember why I brought him on board.” Obsidian rubbed the bridge of his nose.
“I see. Now Daybreak told me that you and her where almost an item, would you mind elaborating for her?” The reporter smirked a bit.
Obsidian sighed and face palmed, “we went on ONE date, and at the end of it I told her that we wouldn’t work together, not to mention we’re teammates. Nothing happened. Next question please.”
“Fair enough. Now on to the event that brought your ragtag team of oddballs to the forefront of Equestrian news, you’re leaked mission.” She sat forward smiling. “I’d like to get your side of the events described by the zebra sniper.”

Obsidian absently rubbed his chest, his scar hurting a little remembering that day. “Star and I where gathering intel form zebra encampments for General Shadow. I was acting as her cover sniper, but I missed that one sniper… anyway they knew we were coming. Star was surrounded so I flew in to get her out of there. We were almost out when the sniper shot. He just missed her head… and my heart… she’s like a sister to me and she almost died that day cause I missed that one sniper… I’m such an idiot!” he hit the table, guilt spreading through him like a poison.
“It’s ok, just, please, keep going” the reporter said softly.
“I don’t remember crashing but when I opened my eyes Star’s leg was broken and she had hostiles closing in. My chest felt like a balefire egg had been set off inside of it, but I ignored it. I had to save her. Then everything just sort of slowed down. I stood up and started shooting anything that aimed at me… then I heard Star call out to me and… and then I woke up in the sky ambulance with Star looking at me.”
“Wow, that sounds, fantastic. Now you seemed very upset by the idea of someone you consider family getting hurt because of your actions, why is that?” the reporter asked
Obsidian sighed. “if it’s all the same I’d like to skip that question.”

Star sighed. She’d just finished her interview with the MoI reporter and it hadn’t ended a moment too soon. She hated interviews, they always made her so nervous. She just hopped that she hadn’t strayed from what everyone else was saying. There was a knock on the door just as she was starting to relax.

“Oh. C..come in.” she sat up straight as Lightning walked into the room with a soft smile.
“Hey, just wanted to check up on ya, make sure you feel ok after that interview.” He sat down and passed her a Sparkle Cola. She smiled a little and took a sip from the cool carrot-y beverage.
“I’m just nervous that I might have messed up, said the wrong thing or gave away something I wasn’t supposed to.” She sighed softly. “Can…..can I ask you something personal?”
Lightning looked at her curiously. “of course you can Star. You’re like a daughter to me, you can ask me anything.” He sat down next to her and smile.

“Why did you take me in? When I was little and you found me… why didn’t you turn away and pretend not to see me like the other soilders?” she sniffed. Memories of her life before Lightning had taken her in flooding her mind.

“Because I didn’t see the enemy. I saw a young filly who needed a family, who wanted to be loved like she deserved. But more than that, I saw myself at that age, alone and lost in this world, and to be completely honest, I knew that a certain griffin would always protect you, even after I die someday.” He drapped a wing over her shoulder and smiled. Star hugged him, the closest thing she’d had to a father since her parents were killed.

“Thank you…. thank you so much for everything….” She sighed and let go of the hug.

“Anytime kiddo, but for now I have to go. Obsidian has your current assignment, Good luck and see you soon” He ruffled her mane a little before he turned to leave. Star frowned lightly as she teared up a little, why did she feel as though she’d never see him again. She hugged him tightly.

“P…promise I’ll see you again….” She hide her face in his side. He returned the hug.
“I promise, nothing short of the end of the world will stop me from seeing you and Obsidian again.” He kissed her forehead, “but I really have to go now See-sea.” She blushed at the nickname he’d given her after she stuttered so hard when first meeting him “Bye bye for now” he gave her one last smile before leaving.

Guard duty. The assignment Lightning had given them before leaving was guard duty. Obsidian was sitting on the roof of a small guard shack as Star and Daybreak chatted inside it. Dusk had gone for a coffee run, meaning he had for the third time this week abandoned his post to go use his uniform to get under everytail he could. That article had come out two weeks ago, and the Ghost squad had become rather popular, thou more so Daybreak and Dusk. Star and Obsidian still were met with cautious curiosity.

Obsidian looked back at the gear shaped elevator in the ground behind them. One of Stable Tec’s newest Stables. He chuckled, Stable Tec was walking a very thin line with these. Luna HATED anything that suggested that she could possibly lose this stalemate of a war. Honestly it was only a matter of time before one side got tired and fired it’s megaspells, but he really wanted to be wrong on this one.

Just then there was a bright flash from the sky behind him. He shaded his eyes as he turned and looked into the distance. Where moments ago he’d seen Cloudsdale, now was a green sun for an instant before nothing but a hole in the clouds. The Bomb sirens started sounding from the city as a squad of power armor troops arrived.

“Prep the elevator!! The damned stripes just hit Cloudsdale!! We’ll make sure only those with passes get to the elevator. Birdbrain you better not try to undermine us on this one!” The leader said, Obsidian was already making sure the elevator was ready for use as Star and Daybreak got in position. He couldn’t believe it, this was actually happening, the bombs were falling and the world was ending.

The next few minutes where chaos, ponies being taken into the Stable, multiple flashes flared on the horizon, the skies clouded over as the pegusi begin a mass exodus to the sky. Obsidian pulled four passes out of his coat and gave one to Star and one to Daybreak. “Go, get down into the stable. I bought us all passes, now GO!” Without giving them time to argue he shoved them onto the elevator and hit the button, as the elevator started to descend, he looked up just in time to see a missle come out of the clouds, it was going to hit on the far side of the city. He jumped into the elevator hole just as he heard the explosion, a warm wind buzzed over head as he landed next to Star. He panted.

That was it. Everyone who wasn’t in a stable or one this elevator was almost guaranteed dead. Dusk, Lightning, everyone at the MAw, all gone, he could hear Star sobbing, he hugged her close as the elevator got to the bottom.

They stepped off the platform and were lead through a large gear shaped door marked ‘111’. Stable 111, one of the last ones to have been built before... this. They entered and were given Stable jumpsuits which they changed into, putting their clothes into lockers. They were lead to a cafeteria where they were served a decent dinner, but something was off, there was too much security, if this place was supposed to be home now, why did it feel like a prison?

After their meal they were lead to what they were told where decontamination chambers, but why did they have liquid nitrogen hooked up to them, and CO2 talismans? Then it hit him.

“These aren’t decon chambers, these are Cryo tubes! What’s going on here!?” he wheeled on the guards who all had guns on him now.

“Leave it to one of the MAw’s finest to figure it out, but I’ll have to ask you to step into the chamber now, though having data on a knowing but unwilling subject will be great for my study!” the overseer grinned. Something hit Obsidian in the back of the neck and the world went black.

Author's Note

Here is the first chapter, as always constructive critisium is apprecheated. thank you to everyone who reads my story.