Equestria, Ponyville

Around Seven PM

Though the streetlights in Ponyville were still coming to life, many of the homes in the town were dark, their inhabitants already asleep. Crickets chirped in the tall grass, and nocturnal animals set out to find their evening meals.

However, there were still six ponies awake at this time. The Elements of Harmony were all bundled together in Twilight's new Castle, having a jovial sleepover.

"Well Twilight, you couldn't have picked a better night for this." Applejack beamed, pulling out her sleeping bag. "Everything's been perfect so far."

"Well, I did cross-reference five star charts, two lunar calendars, and the Celestial Graph in order to have tonight be perfect." Twilight replied. "It also helps that Princess Luna owed me a small favor."

"Why would Princess Luna owe you a favor?" Fluttershy asked. "That seems odd."

"Well, after what happened, I wouldn't call it odd." Twilight rolled her eyes in mirth at her pegasus friend. "Anyway, I've got the entire agenda set up, right here!"

As Twilight unfurled a scroll, Rainbow Dash sat in a bay window, unpacking her own sleeping bag. She turned to admire the stars for a moment, but then something caught her eye.

In the distance was the Castle of the Royal Sisters, on the edge of the Everfree. Though Rainbow's was certain her eyesight was tricking her, she could see a faint orange light in the castle itself.

"Eh, just seeing things." she said to herself. "It's not like there's gonna be a giant forest fire tonight."

"What's that about a forest fire?" Pinkie spoke up. The group turned to Rainbow, who shrugged.

"There's some kind of light in that castle in the Everfree." Rainbow said. "Am I the only one who's seeing it?"

"Well, I don't see anything..." Twilight said, looking towards the old castle. "Maybe we need a closer look?"

"Here, take this!" Pinkie smiled, pulling an extra-strength telescope out of her mane and opening the window. Though Twilight was completely astounded, she huffed and aimed the telescope towards the castle. There, visible though an archway, was a small, flickering flame.

"She's right." Twilight said, her eye still in the telescope's lens. "There's definitely a fire in the Sister's Castle."

"Well, should we go put it out?" Rarity asked. "I mean, I'm not one for unnecessary trips into the Everfree, but it that fire gets out of control...well, I'd rather not say what might happen."

"That's a good point." Fluttershy said. "Even Timberwolves and Manticores need a home to live in."

Twilight pulled the lens away from her eye and sighed.

"Well, okay." she said. "Let's get over there and find out what's going on. If push comes to shove, we'll get the weather crew to put it out."

"Alrighty then!" Pinkie said, posing in a dramatic manner. "Onto our next adventure!"

As the Earth Pony bounced out to lead the way, Twilight took a deep breath to relax herself.

"Okay, it's not like something in the Everfree started a fire." she said. "Nopony except Zecora lives there, and she would never do something like that. She cares for the Everfree more than anypony out there..."

====

About three hours earlier...

Earth, South America, Unknown Location
Federation Prison Complex

High-Security Wing

As the moon rose over the Amazon jungle, the searchlights of the Federation Prison threatened to drown the moon out. A massive facility made from concrete, barbed wire, and steel, the Complex was built to be inescapable. The prisoners there ranged in identity, but one in particular stood out.

An American soldier, a member of the feared unit known as the Ghosts. All the Federation staff knew was that Commander Rorke had captured him during the latest battle, and brought him here for interrogation.

The staff had heard rumors from the front about the Ghosts. Many of these rumors were easily passed off, but one in particular stuck out. It was three simple words, words that still frightened the Federation soldiers.

"Ghosts don't break".

===

In the interrogation room, Rorke himself watched a pair of Federation soldiers beat the Ghost without mercy, as he was tied to a chair bolted to the ground. The pipes they were using echoed off the walls of the room, and so did the barely contained screams from their captive.

"That's enough!" Rorke ordered. The two soldiers stepped back and readied their assault rifles as Rorke came forward.

"I will say, kid, you're tough." he laughed. "I think you set some kind of record on my end."

Rorke laughed and knelt before the Ghost, breathing deeply.

"I can't say I'm surprised." he continued. "I mean, Ghosts don't break? Everyone breaks in the end. I'm going to show you how sometime."

Rorke motioned with his hand, and the two soldiers opened the door.

"But that time will come." he laughed. "Get some sleep, kid. You'll need it."

The Ghost glared at Rorke with untold hatred in his eyes as the two soldiers departed. As the pain in his legs and chest began to fade, he began to breathe.

"Ghosts don't break." he growled. "One day, Rorke. Just you wait."

As the alarm signalling lockdown blared and the doors shut, the Ghost looked over his shoulder as the searchlight passed by his cell.

"Showtime." he murmured. As he began to work away at his restraints, he started with his left hand. Throughout his captivity, he had learned something that would now aid him. There was a small dent and a crack on the left side of his chair. If he could do this right, the rope would tear when it caught the dent.

As the Ghost pulled his bindings up as far as they could go and further, he smiled at the ensuing sound of torn rope. As he pulled his left hand free, he set to work freeing his right, then his ankles. As he stood up, he stretched his limbs and turned to the wall of his cell, then to the chair.

As he yanked the chair out of the ground, the bolts giving way, he mounted the chair against the wall and on one of the metal legs. With one swift motion, the rusted metal broke, giving way to a cracked edge, like a shiv. It wouldn't be much use in a gunfight, but it would allow him to kill a guard and take his weapon.

The Ghost then reached into the ground beneath the chair and pulled something free. It was a small access card that one Federation soldier had left behind during one of his sessions with Rorke. As the Ghost opened the door without triggering the alarm, he began to make his escape through the desolate cell block.

====

As the Ghost stalked through the hallways towards the office where his personal effects were stored, he ducked into a closet at the sight of a Federation soldier on patrol. Though he didn't have a firearm, the Ghost wasn't taking any chances.

The Ghost readied his shiv, waiting for the right moment. As the Guard passed, the Ghost buried the shiv in his neck, followed by the Guard's own knife. As the Ghost picked up the Ka-bar style blade, he sheathed it in his belt and opened the door. He sighed in relief at seeing his mask, armor, and radio still intact, lying on a table. As he properly equipped himself and put on his mask, he quickly snatched up his radio and exited the room after hiding the dead soldier in the shadowed corridor.

As he made his way to the armory, he dodged a second patrol and made his way inside. As he locked the door behind him, he sized up the impressive array of firearms now available to him.

As he retrieved an SA-805 assault rifle, and equipped it with a Red Dot and a Silencer, he grabbed a P226 for good measure, along with flashbangs and frag grenades. As he turned to leave, he also picked up a Federation-issue survival kit.

As the Ghost exited via the back door, he found himself in a sub-control room. Thankfully, it was empty. As he turned on and then disabled the perimeter turrets and opened the door to the vehicle bay, he turned into the dark corridor, once again merging with the shadows.

However, his intrusion had not gone unnoticed. As he turned the corner, a voice barked out in Spanish, ordering him to halt. The Ghost replied with a flashbang and took off, sprinting for the vehicle bay as the alarms began to blare.

====

Gunshots sparked and bounced around the Ghost's head as he made his way towards an MRAP. Slamming the keys into the ignition and gunning the engine, the car blasted outward towards the jungle beyond.
As the Ghost continued to drive frantically towards safety, he could see in the mirror three Federation humvees equipped with mounted guns. The Ghost spun his car to the left and drove towards the edge of a massive waterfall, placing himself on the precipice of death.

As he was surrounded, Rorke approached from the crowd.

"Well kid, I have to say that was some driving." Rorke laughed. "But playtime's over. Why don't you come on back and we can pick up where we left off."

There was no response. Rorke motioned a squad forward, and yelled again.

"If you're not out here in ten seconds, I'm dragging you back myself, kid. Don't make this hard on yourself!"

As Rorke began to count, the Federation troops closed in. The Ghost looked towards the waterfall, and closed his eyes before slamming his foot on the gas pedal. As the Federation troops opened fire, the MRAP dove off the cliff and towards the ferocious river below.

====

As the Ghost saw his life flash before his eyes, he spoke in a quiet tone, one of regret.

"Hesh, Dad...I'm so sorry."

There was a crash, the roar of water, and everything went black.

====

The Ghost opened his eyes to a vast expanse of white. As he sat down on the ground. he sniffed in sorrow.

"I'm dead, aren't I?" he murmured.

"Not yet, Logan. You're still alive."

Logan spun to his right to see his father Elias Walker appear out of nowhere and take his shoulder in a gesture of comfort.

"Dad?" Logan asked. "How are you here?"

"Welcome to the void, kid." Elias said. "You had what we know as a "near-death experience". You're alive, but you'll be leaving soon, heading back to the land of the living."

"What about you?" Logan asked.

"I made my peace, son. I'm gone for good." Elias said. "Logan, before you go, I want you to know something. You made me proud when you and David joined the Ghosts, and you always have since then. I don't blame you for my death, not one bit."

"It was Rorke." Logan said. "I'm going to kill him once and for all."

"Not yet. There'll be another time for vengeance." Elias said. "Logan, it's about time for you to head back. But promise me one thing first."

"Anything, dad." Logan said as he saw his vision start to fade.

"Live your life to the fullest, and keep your brothers safe for me." Elias said. "It's time to say goodbye, Logan. I'll tell Ajax and your mother that you said hello."

As Elias stood up and vanished into nothing, Logan closed his eyes as his vision once again turned to black.

====

As Logan's eyes snapped open, he stood upright in a flash. As he scanned his surroundings, he could see the stolen MRAP lying in a heap beside him. As Logan stood up and pried a door open, he retrieved his stolen gear. Thankfully, his survival kit had survived the crash. As he proceeded to take the satellite radio from the dashboard, along with the battery, he looked up at the sky.

The moon was rising in a horizon full of stars that shimmered like crystal as the sun faded, making Logan give a slight smile. As he took off his mask and began to wash his dirtied face, he sighed in relief at the water cooling his skin. As he stood up and filled the canteen in his survival kit, he looked up at the area above him.

The shape of a ruined building lay a short distance in front of him, and it clearly had not been inhabited in some time. Logan placed his mask back on and pried a branch off a tree. Taking the lighter from his kit, he made himself a rudimentary torch. As he began his walk to the building, the sky took on a shade of total darkness.

====

By the time Logan had reached the ancient castle, it was now completely dark. As he ascended a worn set of stairs and onto a windowed balcony, he set his torch down in a cask mounted on the wall. Setting his gear down, he pulled out a flare from the survival kit and ignited it.
As the flare's orange light began to illuminate the area, Logan took off his combat gear and stowed it in a nearby alcove. Placing his SA-805 to the side and loading his pistol, he leaned back into the wall and began to rest, his exhaustion lulling him to slumber.

Author's Note

Yep, redone and better than ever.

Next time-Logan meets the Elements, though many questions remain unanswered on both sides...