Fly to the Stars and Back (Redone)

Lightning snores quietly as Blitz stared at her while she slept and stroked her mane out of her face. “Always lovely.” He said quietly.

“And you know it.” Lightning says.

Blitz smiled as he put his hoof on her cheek. “You okay?”

“Yeah, though, how far on the list were you when I fell asleep?” Lightning asks.

“About a tenth of the way through,” Blitz says.

Lightning sighs. “Guess you have to tell me later. Now, what do we do now?” She asks, getting up slightly.

“Get ready as the battle has already started,” Blitz says, getting up.

Lightning nods and gets out of bed. “Guess I’ll see after the battle.” She said, heading for her armor.

“Yeah, make sure you help the Major very well, love,” Blitz says, getting up and joining her.

Lightning giggles. “Don’t worry. I will.”

“Thanks, love. I will be handling the tribe our unit is facing, and those that you picked yesterday will be handling the one the colonel is fighting today.” Blitz says.

Lightning nods. “Okay, we better get going, or we might miss our timing on this. Are you ready?” She said, getting ready to put the helmet on.

“Yes, I am. You go see those you chose last night and get them ready. I will go on ahead.” Blitz says, disappearing and pausing only to smack Lightning’s flank before leaving the tent.

Lightning yelps and glares to the exit before putting her helmet on and heading out as well as Silver looks over the battlefield as most of the army groups start to place themselves according to the plan. “Are they in place?” He asks Wind as they walk through the lines and head to the front.

Wind nods as she looks around. “Yes, haphazard and all, but holding when confronted.”

Silver sighs as he looks to the morning sun and sees the dogs actually at arms, holding a strong line. “They have to be getting tired of standing.” He remarks before getting his weapons and looks up at the clouds approaching. “Our favorite rangers in position?”

Wind sighs. “Yes, they are ready for covering fire when we get enough of a range.”

Silver smiled. “Well, let’s make it so. Soldiers, get ready!” He said before walking to the runners getting ready. As he said this, it started to snow.

Blitz looks down to the land behind him as he spots the griffon army and the dogs getting ready, though the dogs are a little sluggish in their movements. “Expect and pay.” He said before turning around and climbing again. ‘Though it didn’t hurt, I gave my ghost orders to hit and run all three tribes every night for the last three nights.’ Blitz thinks before knocking on a door in the cliff.

“Yes?” A dog asks, opening the door only to be kicked as Blitz threw himself into the bunker.

Blitz sighs as he walks through and keeps knocking on doors and lets the others handle pulling them out and killing them before trying to make it look like the whole place was still operational. “How big is this…oh.” He said stopping at a map on the wall. “Wow, they like connections.” He said knocking on a nearby door and when it was opened by a dog, did he throw a knife into its throat.

“Now lets…hello, they got a security camera down that hallway.” Blitz says smirking as he presses a few buttons on his communicator and out of it comes a fly size and shape drone which flies over to it and slices into its systems. “Now lets see if I can’t determine the location of where they are broadcasting to.” Blitz says. “Let’s see.” He said before his communicator crackles. “Blitz, are you seeing what I’m seeing?” Lightning asks.

“Not unless you are seeing cameras. I’m already inside a bunker.” Blitz says.

“Cameras? Equestria isn’t even that advance. You got anything from it?” Lightning asks.

“They are not anything you would find in a business on planets like Palven, but advanced enough to where I am hacking into it.” Blitz says.

Lightning chuckles. “And what are you getting now?” She asks before he hears a metal clanging and some choking noise.

Blitz smiled. “You okay?”

He seems to know she was smiling. “Oh, just being pressed against the wall by a ghost member. No, he’s not doing anything. Just waiting for a dog to pass.” She whispered.

“Gotcha, oh and now I have the entire thing under my control and recording all sources.” Blitz says pausing for thirty seconds before speaking again. “And now looping the recorded footage to the one watching.” Blitz says before looking around on all of the cameras. “Oh love, wave to the camera.” Blitz says seeing her and the ranger on one of the cameras.

Lightning blushes and waves while the ranger tries not to look in that direction. “Sorry sir.” He hears him. “I’m one of the few wearing the appropriate color. Unlike her armor, no offense.” He said to her.

“None taken.” Lightning said, smiling.

“The others have left and the only one left around the corner has his back turned. Take him out and hide the body quickly.” Blitz says.

Lightning taps the ranger’s shoulder and he nods before moving along the old hallways and window sill and Lightning follows on the other end before he pounces and slices the dog’s neck quickly before opening a nearby storage room and puts the dog in there and messes around. “Jealous?” Lightning asks while looking at another camera.

“No, now keep moving. Five coming your way from the direction you just came from.” Blitz says.

Lightning looks ahead. “Okay, just don’t get insulted when he handles me better.” She said to him as the ranger covers up the dog and closes the door before heading up with Lightning again as the dogs finally come around.

“Say that when you beat me to get the target first.” Blitz says bring out both blaster pistols and kicks open the door before unloading, killing all on the observation deck, including the warchief. “By the way, I just killed mine and it looks like I can give orders to the dogs for a bit without them noticing.” Blitz says smirking.

“Oh, can’t wait to hear what you got to say.” Lightning said as she stood on one of the five bodies.

“Ok, sealing this shut first.” Blitz says setting his blaster pistol to be used to light a soldering torch and starts sealing that steel door closed.

Lightning taps her hoof a bit. “I’m waiting.” She said as the ranger looked around the corner.

“Seven coming from the front, sixteen coming the opposite way and further off.” Blitz says before walking over to the end of the observation deck and starts sending orders purposely leading to the dogs getting killed or losing ground.

“Can’t believe they made it a bit easy for us.” Lightning said as she and the ranger reach the mess hall and sees the few dogs there gathering their things and heading out, but sluggishly.

“Not really, they would have already alerted you about it if not for me taking over the cameras and they are exhausted as I have had our ghosts do hit and run attacks every night for the last three nights.” Blitz says.

“Then I guess I should reward you later.” She grabs some food before she nods and the ranger knocks on the kitchen door and a dog comes out before he is hit by some food and the ranger slits his throat before he could recover.

“Save that for…heads up, your warchief target just walked in the crude cafeteria.” Blitz said, directing the first line of rifle wielding dogs into range of the griffon artillery and open for the heavy infantry to charge.

Lightning and the ranger quickly close the freezer before she picks up a pan and sends it across the kitchen and makes the warchief go to before jumping onto his back and quickly slices his neck and keeps going until she cuts the throat completely. “Silence.” She said while a few pots and pans crash onto the floor.

“His guards outside the door are suspicious now.” Blitz says as he continues to give horrible orders to the dogs, giving his unit openings to exploit.

Both Lightning and the ranger move quietly up to the door and let them enter and after a bit of walking inside they both jump on them and stab their head and slice their throat. “Finally, anything else?” Lightning asks as they move the bodies into the kitchen.

“None yet.” Blitz says.

Lightning sighs and she and the ranger head out into the hall and look to the map nearby. “You find anything in the other areas?”

“I can see the third team, but I can’t contact them.” Blitz says.

Lightning nods. “Where are they?”

“Lets just say they are about to go ninja assault on the last warchief.” Blitz says.

Lightning looks at the camera nearby. “Really, is it over now?”

Blitz smirks. “They’re done.” He said seeing the dogs falling down.

“So the dogs catch on to you sending the orders to get them killed yet?” Lightning asks.

“Maybe as there is some unusual actions by the dogs in my bunker and now I’m looking at one that is glancing at the cameras.” Blitz says.

Lightning tilts her head. “So they took it out now, right?”

Blitz sighs. “Yep, they took it out so you better get going and get things done here.” He said getting up as he heard banging on his door. “Because I’m going to be busy here so no help for a bit. One moment, I just have to do this one thing.” Blitz says setting up a bobbytrap on the door.

Blitz walks off and looks to the rusted, dusted and busted windows and goes to it before breaking some windows and puts some charges down on the electronics in the room before heading out and climbs up before sitting on the ledge. He sighs as he waits before an explosion comes out from the room and a lot of smoke came out from the window. “Ah, explosions.” He said before jumping back in and sees the whole room destroyed and walks to the busted open door. “Hi boys.” He said the destroyed bodies on the ground as he heads out again.

“Cross, what happened?!” Lightning yells.

“They walked right into a trap and the explosion should have gotten everyone’s attention.” Blitz says.

Lightning sighs in relief. “You know, you are still crazy.” She said hurrying through the halls which look like it was abandoned for fifty years.

Blitz looks around as well before he stops. “Weird, I’m getting deja v…oh no, I am not saying that, it only brings me trouble.” Blitz says.

Lightning looks out the window to see Silver and his army muscling through the dogs and sending off some of them scared while others were pressed into an attack. “What do you mean, what does this place remind you of?”

Blitz shakes his head. “Nope, you are not making me talk. Nope, nope, nuh uh, nope.”

Lightning shakes her head before her and the ranger keeps walking until the ranger rounds a corner and suddenly rushes back to her and pulls her into a supply closet and closes the door behind them. “Got a large group with a lot of rifle boxes there.” He said before he realizes how close this is. “I’m starting to hate this situation.”

“Surge, heads up, a lot of dogs heading your way. They might be looking to arm themselves. There are too many to take on, right now, set fire to the gunpowder and run for it.” Blitz says.

Lightning nods and looks to the ranger before taking out an incendiary grenade. “Hey ranger.”

The ranger glares a bit. “Seeka. Seeka is my name.”

Lightning nods. “Seeka, how do you feel about females?”

Seeka just raises an eyebrow. “What are you, OW!” He yelled as the door opened and he hops out, holding his talons between his legs. “Damn she can kick!” He yells before realizing that there were dogs right in front of him. “Oh, hi guys.” He said before an explosion threw some dogs through the windows and Seeka took out the other two with a quick swipe and kicked one through the window. He huffs and turns to Lightning who appears around the corner. “Next time, warn me before killing my chance at life.”

“Why? Someone already stole your chance at manhood?” Lightning jokes.

“Tch.” Seeka clicks his tongue. “Why did you have to use me like that?” He said sitting down now and trying to keep still.

“So the guy went from suicidal to whiny little bitch.” Blitz says hearing all of that.

Seeka frowned as Lightning was about to answer before watching Seeka huff and look away ahead of them. “No, he just came up with a distraction since there was too much. I couldn’t get close to plant something, even far away without him. He’s fine, though a dog used a dirty trick.” She said, making Seeka look back at her in a bit of shock.

“I will talk to you in a bit.” Blitz says opening a door and sees a griffon he hadn’t seen in months tied to a chair.

The griffon moans before looking up. “Come for another run?” He said before chucking painfully and then coughs out blood. “Bastard.”

“Haven’t seen you since the walk to our first posting of the war.” Blitz says.

The griffon smirks as he looks up. “Ah Cross. How far you came. Past the camps, past the front line, past the second. Made it to third, but that’s where it ended. And I got to tell ya, this is a good place to hold someone.”

“You can tell me all about it when we get you back to our forces. Lieutenant Colonel Claw should be breaking through now.” Blitz says cutting the bindings.

The griffon still holds a laugh. “Oh Cross, if only you knew what is ahead. The things I have seen on that line will possibly make you shiver.” He said trying to get up and use the wall as support.

“Lean on me and I know the Overlord’s forces are up next.” Blitz says.

The griffon groans as he starts to lean on Blitz before they start walking back. “I thought I heard something go boom.” He remarked as they passed the blown up room.

“Yeah, that was the observation deck the warchief was on before I mowed him down with the others in there with him and the explosion was from a trap I set up after I started sending orders to the dogs from there. They actually thought the orders were from their warchief.” Blitz says.

The griffon shakes his head and smiles. “You know I’m as good as dead if I go back, right?” He said, looking to the doors and their inscriptions.

“No, I have heard the dogs talking about someone sabotaging them and they had recently captured him and you are the only one here.” Blitz says.

The griffon stops him by tugging on him and stopping in front of a door. “Do you know the history of this place?”

“No, this place was only built recently.” Blitz says.

The griffon chuckles. “Only what you see.” He said before kicking the door and it opens to just a line of file cabinets with one table at the end with a map of the whole place. “This was an old bunker back in the day. The one you see was just expanded. Files for this place are here. It’s yours if you want it.”

“Later, you need a doctor.” Blitz says.

The griffon smirks. “I sincerely doubt a dead griffon on paper is going to get attention.” He said before continuing to walk with him.

“Well I can think of one griffon who would care. Gilda.” Blitz says.

The griffon stops and looks at him. “You know her?”

“You could say that, now come on.” Blitz says getting him to walk again.

The griffon looks through the window and sees the battle going on. “Huh, that’s interesting.”

“The dogs are starting to be pushed back.” Blitz says blasting any dog he sees in the hallway with his free hoof.

The griffon nods. “Let’s stop here.” He said as they enter a large courtyard with half of it in the building. “This is the big middle for the second line.”

“Surge, lock in on my coordinates and get here immediately, we got an officer who has been tortured.” Blitz says.

“Acknowledged.” Lightning said before almost cutting off. “No, move that talon.” She said before he heard it cut off.

The griffon just sits down on a bench. “Boy, I’m wiped.” Blitz just stands guard. The griffon looks at him. “So how far have you and the boy came along?”

“The kid is well on his way to being a competent commander.” Blitz says.

The griffon nods. “Good, at least he has that going for him.”

“Also a knight captain he knew from the academy worked her way into his bed.” Blitz adds.

The griffon chuckles. “He was always a great catch.”

“You can tell him when you see him.” Blitz says before a wall near them is blown open, making a path to the outside.

The griffon covers himself as some rubbles and pebbles land on them. “What the heck?”

“And that’s my number two now.” Blitz says as Lightning walks in.

Lightning groans as she steps in with the Seeka. “So who’s the captain we got?”

“Major actually.” Blitz says gesturing to the griffon on the bench.

The griffon gives a wave. “Yo.”

“Time to get out of here.” Blitz says.

Lightning nods. “Yes, but weren’t our orders to hold the line until they got here?”

“No, our orders were to mess with the chain of command at a critical time.” Blitz says.

Lightning sighs and looks at him. “So, we climb down?”

“There’s the stairs.” The griffon suggested.

“And dogs are starting to fall back to them.” Blitz points out.

Lightning raises an eyebrow. “Alright then, but how for now? At least trying to find our own group. Considering the first line is still there.”

“Why do you think I left my tent in the middle of the night last night?” Blitz says pressing a button on the communicator.

They all wait till the whole place shakes and they see a lot of smoke billowing up from the first line outside the window. “Did you…?” Lightning asks, almost with a smirk.

“Here comes the fire.” Blitz says as explosions were heard.

Lightning looks through the window and sees some of the smoke clearing and that the front line of the dogs were decimated, but almost half of the next part were gone and the other was injured or jarred from the explosion. “Wow, nice job.” She said as the griffons charge and kill or capture the rest.

“The path should be clear enough now. Lets go Seeka, help the major. Surge, you are with me covering them.” Blitz says.

Seeka nods before going up the major and helping him out to the army below while Blitz and Lightning decide to go through the windows and starts surveying the land. “Okay, what are we looking for?” She asks as Seeka and the major appear in a small catwalk jutting from the side of the mountain.

“Any dogs that try to jump them. Show me how much your sniping abilities have improved.” Blitz says.

Lightning nods and takes out the rifle on her back before making a few changes and makes it longer. “Alright, let’s see what we got.” She said looking through the scope and following the two griffons. She looks on ahead before seeing a few dogs at the end of a hallway and quickly fires and takes them out. “Group one down.” She said as the griffons reached the next level down and walked past the dead dogs.

Blitz smiles as he watches her work. Lightning breathes carefully as she keeps looking through. “Boy, there are a lot of dogs.” She said firing off a few more shots before looking around and then ended up on one. “Wait, OW!” She yelled as a bullet hit near her hoof and made her drop the rifle. “Crap!”

Blitz pulls out his blaster pistol and shoots the one who shot at her through the head. “No one takes a shot at my girl and lives to brag about it.” Blitz says.

Lightning smiled before she sees her rifle drop onto another catwalk below and the griffons stop right in front of it before they look up. “I’m done. They don’t have time to bring it to me.” She said as Seeka picks up the rifle and continues to walk before pushing themselves both into a room and closes the door behind them as dogs enter the far end of the hallway and take random shots to keep them down. “Blitz, you got another blaster that isn’t a pistol?” She asks, checking her hoof and just sees a few scratch marks on the armor.

“No, I only carry these pistols, why?” Blitz asks.

Lightning looks at him. “Cause I think it’s time to get up close and personal.” She said messing with something on her belt and takes out a hook spear attached to a cable and smashes it against the wall behind them. “You ready for a little run?” She asks looking back at him with a smirk.

“Oh so you’re modifying your armor now.” Blitz says smirking.

Lightning smiled. “Yeah, needed it just in case. So, want to go for a ride?” She asks, making sure the line is secure.

“Conceding defeat here?” Blitz jokes.

Lightning frowns and looks at him. “Blitz.” She said tiredly.

“Just kidding love.” Blitz says walking over and wrapping a hoof around her.

Lightning shakes her head before they both jump and a whirring noise came from the reel on her belt as they head down and they look over to the dogs still firing before the door the griffons went into was burst open and Seeka comes out holding the rifle and aims it before steadying himself and actually moves a leg onto the barrel where what looks like a footrest was on the far end of the barrel and braces himself the wall and pillar before firing a lot and filled the dogs with holes. “Wow, now that’s a modification.” Lightning remarked as they reached the level the griffons were on.

“You missed a spot.” Blitz says before shooting the dog as he tried to crawl away. “Make their deaths quick and painless.” Blitz says.

“That is the sign of a professional.” Lightning finishes.

Seeka looks back at them as they land on the catwalk they were on and Lightning shakes herself before the roll of cable rewinds itself and soon finishes with a clank. “I believe this is yours, sorry for destroying the integrity of it.” Seeka said, giving the rifle back to Lightning.

“Nothing that washing it won’t fix.” Lightning jokes.

Seeka raises an eyebrow. “Even the footrest?”

Lightning smirks. “Well, you gave me something to use in case I fall asleep now.” She said looking at it and the barrel.

Seeka shakes his head before heading back into the room and grabs the major and they start walking again. “Come on guys. At least we get out first before doing anything else.” He said as they walked past them.

“Speaking of which, here comes some of our unit now.” Blitz points out.

They all look over and see some griffons coming up and hurrying past them as some stayed behind. “Sir.” One of them said as he looked at Blitz.

“Continue.” Blitz orders.

The griffon nods before he and the others start going back the way Seeka and the Major came from. “Come on.” Seeka said as they continued to walk down the catwalk lines and soon they reached where Silver and Wind were waiting and watching the whole thing. “So, who have you saved now?” Silver asks, seeing the major.

“Your academy buddy. Turns out, he is the one that was sabotaging things, whom the dogs have been taking about.” Blitz says.

Silver smiled. “Thanks major, but let’s go get you healed up.” He said as Seeka took him away to the infirmary. Silver then turns back to Blitz. “Now what else have you found in the second line?”

“The bunkers are being secured as we speak, but I think that the Overlord’s personal army is bigger than we think.” Blitz says.

Silver sighs. “Thought so. We better use the second line to our advantage here. At least leave us something.” He said, looking at the mountain.

Wind looks carefully to the bunkers all along the mountain. “Huh, who knew they would hold up well, mostly.”

“So how are the other two units fairing?” Blitz asks.

Silver sighs. “They are holding up and right now, since we are getting the second line ours, we are sending help to them to end it quickly.”

“It’s in your talons commander.” Blitz says.

Silver nods and walks off to the bunkers, leaving Wind with Lightning and Blitz. “So, how did your end go?” Wind asks after a while.

“As well as it could, though we lost one of our guys and two more are badly injured.” Blitz says.

Wind sighs. “Well, at least we got that place with minimal loss. What do you want to do while we set up for the final push?”

“I will be preparing with Surge in my tent.” Blitz says.

Wind nods. “Okay, I’ll see what I can do with setting up the line.” She said before walking away.

LIghtning looks to Blitz. “And what are your plans now?”

“Get your gear and follow me, we have a few things to do.” Blitz says.

Lightning smiled. “Sure, just let me see how this rifle handles now and I’ll meet you at…?” She asks.

Blitz nods and heads for the tent. “Sure, just meet me at the tent. I got something for you later.”

“You got it.” Lightning says smiling under her helmet.

Blitz chuckles as soon as she was far enough away. “Though, it is not the way you like.” He said to himself, entering the tent.

Twilight pushes her hooves together as she sat down and Arcane nuzzled her side. “Okay, okay. Just calm down…um, list, yes, list.” She said trying to fumble with a scroll before she drops it. “Oops.”

Twilight goes to grab the list, but Arcane climbs up her wing before she could. She looks over and sees him getting it for her and picking it up with his mouth. “Mmmm.” He mumbled.

“Oh you are mommy’s little helper, aren’t you?” Twilight asks, smiling as she leans in.

Arcane laughs and drops it on her lap and speaks once. Twilight and looks over the list. “Maybe I should have changed a few things.” She said seeing a few things in a line.

Arcane starts climbing up her wing again. Twilight giggles and lets him until he ends up on her head. “Aw, you want to help mommy, don’t you?” She asks tickling him.

Arcane just laughs and tumbles off her, only to be caught by Twilight’s magic as she hears fireworks outside. She looks over before getting up with Arcane in her hooves and looks down to the town square and sees a familiar sight. “Oh boy.” She said as she saw Trixie’s stage and herself performing again. Arcane just laughs and reaches for it. Twilight looked down and smiled. “Want to go see?” Arcane laughs as he keeps reaching. “Alright, let’s go.” She said heading out with him on her back and a few changelings following.

Twilight walks up to the show and watches with Arcane on her head. Twilight also catches Octavia, Azure, Applejack, and Blazer in the crowd as well. “Hey guys, how’s she doing now?” Twilight asks, walking up to them.

“Doin great. She is just putting on a show to the best of her abilities and not just showin off or putting others down.” Applejack says.

“So how is Blazer reacting to staying at the farm?” Twilight asks.

Applejack smiled as he looked at him who was carrying a cloth wrapping with straps. “Pretty well. Though he is a heavy sleeper. Still want to practice with those knives of his.”

“But you are keeping him busy with chores?” Twilight asks.

Applejack grins. “Of course, he can’t stay on the farm if he can’t do them.” She said as Blazer stiffened a little. “Kidding, I would never throw him out.” She whispered to Twilight.

“That and Blitzy would lecture you for who knows how long.” Twilight whispers back before they share a giggle.

Arcane just jumps down and goes to Blazer who chuckles and wraps an arm around him as he messes up Arcane’s mane. Twilight shakes her head and smiles before she sees Trixie finished her performance. “Thank you mares and stallions, fillies and colts. Also, thank yourself for letting yourself see the greatest show ever!” She yells and the crowd gives an applause and starts to disperse until Trixie sees what she didn’t want to see yet. “Oh boy.”

Twilight smiles as she walks up to Trixie. “Hey Trixie, how have you been?” Twilight asks.

Trixie huffs. “Well, after getting Trixie’s mouth fixed, Trixie was able to make a few more performances again. At least Trixie made bits on those. Though there are still some who hold resentment against Trixie here.” She said, looking to a few of them.

“I see. Want to come into my home and have some tea and snacks?” Twilight asks.

Trixie looks at her surprised. “Really, you would let Trixie come into your library?”

“Well the library isn’t really my home anymore. The crystal castle is, but yes, I would. I can even introduce you to my son, Arcane.” Twilight says happily.

Trixie leans closer. “Son?”

“Oh yes, I’m now married with a foal. Unfortunately, my husband isn’t around right now, he is currently in the griffon kingdom.” Twilight says.

Trixie looks closer to the group. “And…who’s your son?”

“Arcane.” Twilight calls causing him to come running.

Trixie just stared at the foal as he ran up to Twilight and nuzzles her leg. “How…wha…?”

“Yes, he is an alicorn. It is possible for a male alicorn to be born.” Twilight says picking him up and nuzzling his nose.

Trixie’s jaw slightly drops. “Um…wow…Trixie is surprised.”

“Also he really liked your show.” Twilight says as Arcane claps his hooves and cheers or as close to that as he could.

Trixie smiled a little. “Oh, good. Trixie guesses Trixie could go for some tea.” She said as she jumped off the stage and kicked it once before the whole stage got packed up on her caravan.

“Also, feel free to stay the night as there are plenty of free rooms.” Twilight offered.

Trixie blushes. “Um…Trixie doesn’t want to be a bother.”

“Oh you are no bother at all.” Twilight says.

Trixie still blushes as they all start to head back until Trixie notices the little griffon with a long cloth bag on his back. “Um…griffon?” She asks the others while pointing at him.

“My husband sent him. His parents didn’t make it during the war.” Twilight whispers to her.

Trixie nods and keeps watching the griffon. “And the cloth bag?” She whispered back.

Twilight smiled. “Private, his own keepsake. Though I will tell you this, he will receive training on it soon enough. Now let us go into the castle.” Trixie just stared at the big crystal castle. “Come on.” Twilight said as the others walked in and Trixie tried to follow, but couldn’t be unfazed by the many stares from the changelings as she stepped inside. Much to Twilight’s relief though, they were in disguise.

As they had tea, Twilight got Trixie to open up a bit and she was actually laughing as they had maretalk until Arcane started to try to climb onto Trixie.

Trixie eyes Arcane as he giggles and keeps climbing until he ends up on top of her head and cheers. “Um…does he usually do this?”

Twilight smiles. “Looks like. We are still understanding his quirks.”

Trixie tries to keep watch as he looks around on her head and jumps onto her back and starts playing with her mane. Trixie smiles as he plays with her mane, almost braiding it. “Wow, he’s…resourceful.”

Twilight smirks as she pours more tea. “Blame my husband for that.”

“So who is your husband? Have Trixie met him yet?” Trixie asks.

Twilight sighs. “No, not really. And he’s the prince now since he’s married to me. However, his name is Blitzkrieg, we just say Blitz as an easier way.”

“Trixie sees. So what is this little guy’s full name?” Trixie asks.

Twilight looks at her. “Listen, you’re alone with me and Arcane now and a couple of guards, but you don’t have to speak in third person, you know that right? I’m okay with it, but it can make it hard to speak sometimes.”

Trixie sighs. “Thank goodness. I usually do that to enhance the performance. Until they started to take their bits back. What a letdown.”

Twilight nods and drinks some more. “His name is Arcane Force.”

Trixie looks to her back and sees that Arcane seems to have accidentally braided her mane. “He’s…cute.” She said as Arcane giggles.

“Yeah, he is and I hope to have many more foals with my husband.” Twilight says.

Trixie looks a bit surprised. “Really, more?”

“Yeah, that is the plan after all. I just hope my husband comes home from the war safely.” Twilight says.

Trixie sighs. “Well, here’s to a safe return.” She said holding up a cup before drinking.

Twilight holds up her own. “Safe return.” She said before drinking.

Trixie goes silent for a few moments after putting the cup down before her eyes shoot open. “Wait, he’s fighting over there?” Trixie asks.

“Yeah, he is a knight of the griffon’s court.” Twilight says.

Trixie looks shocked as Arcane gets back on her head and looks curiously to her. “Kn…knight?”

“Yes, I recently got word he was recently promoted to knight major.” Twilight says.

Trixie tries to speak. “How…?”

“He is very good at what he does. Oh, here is a picture of him.” Twilight says bring out a picture of her and Blitz.

Trixie takes it and looks at it, seeing the stallion, she was a bit surprised. “So, this stallion is the one you married, right?”

“Yes, that is Blitz.” Twilight says.

Trixie gives the photo back. “Thought I recognize him. He actually appeared in one of my performances or at least walked past it.”

“Oh so you have seen him.” Twilight says before smiling at the picture.

Trixie nods. “Yes, though he didn’t stay and watch. He just gave a passing glance at my performance.”

“I actually taught him how to use his magic. All he could do beforehand was telekinesis and a blast of magic.” Twilight says.

Trixie looks at her. “Really, that’s all he knew? I thought he might experiment a bit more. Foals usually do that.” She said as Arcane braids another length of mane and it falls into her view. “Now that’s a good bind.” She said seeing the end and making Arcane cheer before he slides down her neck and starts braiding another length.

“He was raised by earth ponies and mostly used physical things. I only discovered that is all he could do when he asked about a low level spell he found from a book.” Twilight says.

Trixie nods. “So…he’s never been officially taught?” She asks carefully.

“No. You see, he was orphaned while still a foal and his adopted parents died while he was still a foal and then was kidnapped by slavers.” Twilight says.

Trixie gasp quietly. “Then…is he…you know…one of them?” She whispered to not let Arcane hear.

Twilight looks carefully at her. “No, he got out and was found by another family. They took him and trained him so as to not let it happen again. Now, I guess you can say, he’s a mercenary. After all, I doubt they would let slaves be knights on the griffon army.”

Trixie sighs in relief. “Ah, good. So what are you doing now?”

“Mostly raising Arcane there.” Twilight says.

Arcane laughs as he drops another braided mane length and cheers again. “He keeps going like this and he will run out of hair.” Trixie said looking it over. “How old is he now?”

“Not even a year old.” Twilight says.

Trixie hums as she grabs Arcane and puts him down on the table. “Still cute. Though, I now wonder, the others, how are they?”

“Rainbow and Pinkie are now pregnant, Applejack is working on her farm, Rarity is running her shop, and Fluttershy is looking after her animals.” Twilight says.

Trixie nods before looking at her. “Rainbow and Pinkie are pregnant?”

“Yeah and are expecting soon enough, though it is driving Rainbow crazy as she hasn’t been able to fly since the doctor told her not to for the foal.” Twilight says.

Trixie started to smile. “Heh, that’s funny. And Pinkie?”

“Not much has changed.” Twilight says.

Trixie raises an eyebrow. “Really, her?”

“Yeah, no changes.” Twilight says.

Trixie shakes her head. “Unbelievable. At least she isn’t out causing panic and making an angry mob.”

“It would be really easy for her to do.” Twilight says.

Trixie looks around. “She isn’t, is she?” She asks looking around for her.

Twilight waves her off. “Don’t worry, she won’t do that to a friend.”

Trixie blushes. “Really, a friend?”

Twilight nods. “Yes, Pinkie would never bring an angry mod to a friend. At least, without a reason.”

Trixie sighs. “At least I have that going for me. Not like…well…”

Twilight smiled. “It’s okay. That’s the past. Now then, more tea?”

Trixie nods and holds out her cup. “Sure.”

Blitz looks out the watchtower and sees some of the army that is waiting for them. “At least they are holding.”

Silver comes up behind him. “Hey, how’s it looking?”

Blitz sighs. “We got a line. Looks like you have to come up with a convoluted plan that’s even more convoluted than the last.”

Silver presses his beak together. “At least I can work with that, so, you find anything of interest here?”

Blitz shakes his head. “Not really, just rust and snow.”

Silver takes out something from his coat. “How about this?” He asks, showing what Blitz recognized as an old tape recorder.

“That is…hold on, we got movement from the Overlord’s army.” Blitz says.

Silver grabs a nearby telescope before looking through and seeing some of the lines moving forward. “Can you make anything out from your end?”

“Looks like they are coming out of their fortifications. Seems he wants a straight up fight.” Blitz says.

Silver groans. “Great, let’s hurry this up then. I want you and the rest of the ghost team to take out the sides one by one. Try not to make yourselves known, but do some damage. If you can place traps, then do it.” He said placing the tape recorder away.

“I was correct, they have more than we suspected.” Blitz says.

Silver eyes Blitz. “Numbers aren’t everything.”

“Considering they are probably close to the combined numbers of all three units combined and we have lost men from the earlier battle and they are fresh and our’s aren’t.” Blitz says.

Silver frowns. “I guess I’m on my own here, aren’t I? Well, let’s get to work, by the way, you are doing this. I need a thin out. If you can’t get to them, at least hurry and place down traps ahead for us and we will thin them out in another way. The bunkers here will provide some cover.” He said, eyeing the broken part of a roof of a viewport room.

“I suggest against that, we will never be able to fortify them all the way. I suggest pulling back and setting up at choke points to hold the line so we are not overwhelmed.” Blitz says.

Silver looks around and sees a few paths in the mountains and some on the bunkers themselves. “Alright, want to sound the signal or should I?” He asks as he looks through the telescope again.

“You’re the commanding officer here.” Blitz says.

Silver held back a chuckle before grabbing a nearby horn and then noticed a little crank on the wall nearby. “That isn’t an alarm system, is it?”

Blitz raises an eyebrow before looking at something ahead of them and sees something. “I recommend a musical instrument.” He said before grabbing something from his pouch and grabbing Silver by the collar and drags him away and sticks a bar of white paste on the ceiling. “I recommend that you don’t for now, they will get a wakeup call soon.” He said before they hear an explosion from where they stood.

Silver looks a bit surprised. “Wow, thanks for that.” He said after they stop for a bit. “Better get to the others. See what you can do with the other checkpoints. I’ll see to it that the soldiers are ready, the ghost team is yours.” He said before running off.

“Surge, get all members of the ghosts able to fight and meet me at point Dragma 5.” Blitz says into his communicator.

“Copy, on the way.” Lightning said as he hears all the nearby soldiers gathering their weapons.

“Tell them we have to hold that point at all costs because if we don’t, we will be overrun.” Blitz says.

Lightning was silent for a bit before he hears her yelling a bit. “They now know. Now we just have to worry about getting there in time. How fast can you get there?”

“I’m going to be held up by some dogs.” Blitz withdraws his claws and looks at the elite troops coming at him.

Lightning chuckles. “Since when are you held up?”

“Since what looks like a company is coming at me.” Blitz said as he swipes at one of the first dogs to reach him.

Lightning shakes her head. “Just get here or I will do it personally by the one thing on you that I know you like and need.” She said with a chuckle.

Blitz rolls his eyes as he stabs another one and then kicks him into his friends. “Okay, even I know you would like it, but take command till I get there.”

“You got it sir.” Lightning said a bit humorously before cutting off.

“Now where was I?” Blitz asks facing the dogs who took a slight step back before trying to set themselves forward again.

“He’s late.” Lightning says to herself as she and the members of ghost and the soldiers guarded the checkpoint from the funneled dogs.

“The next one who says I’m late again, will be dealt with, harshly.” A voice said behind her. ‘Some, in more ways than one.’ He sent it to her.

Lightning smirks as she turns around and throws something over her shoulder. “What took ya?” She asks as an explosion came from the pass.

“Elite company of dogs. Hence, why my armor is covered in blood.” Blitz says, sounding winded.

Lightning taps his shoulder. “Well, you’re with us now. Now you can relax a little and by that I mean, man a turret or what these guys can have as a turrent. Carefully, it’s weak already and low on ammo.”

“How are we doing?” Blitz asks.

“Twenty nine wounded, but luckily no casualties yet.” Lightning informs.

“I see.” Blitz says.

Lightning looks at him. “Got anything fun for us to do?”

“Surge, lay down a barrage and keep the dogs pinned down, we are reforming the line.” Blitz says.

Lightning nods and heads out around the area before stopping and trying to hold down the dogs. “Yes sir.” She said grabbing her rifle and firing it on full auto.

“Reform the lines while Surge pins down all soldiers, grab your rifles and form three ranks. Front ranks will fire then move to the rear to reload then the next rank will move up and fire as well then repeat the order.” Blitz orders.

All the soldiers start to grab their rifles and start to set themselves up as lines in front of the dog army and soon they aim and fire before ducking and moving behind the formation and starts reloading as the next line fires. Blitz looks ahead to the bend where the dogs were coming from and still sees them coming. “I really hate equal numbers.” Blitz says, withdrawing his blaster pistol and starts firing with them.

After four hour of fighting, the dogs started to thin out and only the few that are meaning or coming in are now hiding behind the rocks and walls. “Stay in formation and pin them down with cover fire!” Blitz yells. “Surge, how are we looking on ammo?” Blitz asks.

“At least enough for sixty shots for each and as for me, I just have enough energy packs for five more runs, guns not included.” She said moving about.

“I see, I think the Overlord is wising up to what is happening.” Blitz says as Lightning started to see signs of exhaustion from him.

Lightning stops firing for a bit. ‘Blitz, are you okay?’ She sends.

“I’m fine. I’m just wishing I could take a stim right now, but I swore I would never inject myself with anything ever again.” Blitz says.

‘Blitz…’ She tries to send, but stops after the word.

‘I’m fine love.’ Blitz sends. “Get back to shooting Surge!” He yells as he keeps firing.

“Roger.” Lightning says. ‘I underestimated how much energy Blitz used up already. The truth is, I’m not much bette… no.’ Lightning thinks finally seeing an injury in between the gaps in Blitz’s armor. ‘Blitz?’ She sends.

Blitz doesn’t reply as he keeps firing, but Lightning noticed he fires once with his right forehoof for every three from the left one.

Lightning sighs and blocks out everyone else and messages another number. “Minerva, give me a progress report. How are we looking from up there?” Blitz sends.

“Pretty good on most fronts, the ones having trouble is the one having the bunkers as their defensive position. However, the passes are holding them back.” Minerva said.

“I need a volunteer to make a run to Captain Gilded.” Blitz yells.

One of the soldiers runs up to him. “Sir, what do I tell him?”

“Tell him that the dogs are tunneling into the bunker and that they may start redirecting troops to those assaults.” Blitz says.

The soldier nods before running off and then flying off. Blitz turns back to the fight and fires at a head peeking out and kills him. “Ok, we are changing tactic, a third of each line report to me.” Blitz orders.

The soldiers run over to him and take cover as Blitz turns to them. “Ok, while they keep them pinned, I want all of you to start making cover from anything you can find.” Blitz says trying to keep the tired soldiers morale high.

The soldiers nod before heading off to the nearby entrance to the bunkers and starts grabbing boxes and metal plates and place them around the firing spots of everyone still there.

Blitz was about to go help when he spotted something. “Men, double time it, there are new reinforcements coming and they are wearing unique armor.” Blitz says.

They soon see a darker color armor coming around the bend and just marching up to the line and actually knocks the helmets of the dogs to shake themselves out of it. “Surge, try to hit them and only them. I want a third pinning the regular dogs, everyone else, shoot the new ones.” Blitz calls out.

The soldiers starts moving to their positions and starts firing on the dogs they are on as the armored ones keep marching. “Um…sir? They are just bouncing off.” One said.

“I see. Anyone got any more grenades?” Blitz asks.

Everyone stops and grabs at their belts and takes out some grenades. “Hold until they are close enough and once you see a clump of them together, throw it after pulling it and wait two seconds. Remember, two seconds or you’re losing a talon.” Blitz said.

They all line up and keep firing at the armored dogs or the ones still taking cover before they reach a small point and start to squeeze through before a few griffons cook theirs and throw the grenade down and soon lands right by them. The grenades explode and only leave the legs of one dog and break the armor of another who was immediately pelted by bullets while it also created a bigger pass. “Oh boy.” Blitz said to himself as he looked to the entrance of the bunkers ahead. “Move back!” He calls as he moves backward and keeps firing.

“Surge, fry them.” Blitz orders.

Surge grabs a few grenades and throws them down before they beep a few times and then explode into a rain of fire into the dogs and even the ones still hiding. “Who wants cooked dogs?” She calls as she meets up with them.

“Don’t go celebrating just yet. They have forced us from our position and those won’t burn long.” Blitz says.

He was right as some of them shake off the fire and continue on. “Any other bright ideas?” Lightning asks.

“We got bigger problems than what you think.” Blitz says as more started to come and with them a huge dog in the middle who was obviously important.

Lightning takes a look closer. “That’s the lead chief?”

“I believe it is the overlord or at least another warchief.” Blitz says.

Lightning looks back at him. “So we take him out and the part of this war is a bit easier for us?”

“Surge, check what is surrounding him right now and do it quickly as they are marching on us.” Blitz says nonchalantly.

Lightning hits his side. “I know that, just tell me you got a plan in place or anything that might give us an edge.”

Blitz does his best to hold in a groan and cringe from that hit as he tries to think. Lightning watches him carefully. “Blitz, are you okay?” She whispered.

Blitz waves her off. “This is troubling. Maybe…no.”

Lightning looks back to the bunker. “How far can they go in the bunker before we fail?”

Blitz looks to the bunker as well. “Not much. We don’t have a lot of leeway.”

Lightning groans as she turns back to the walking group. “So what, we just keep hammering them until they fall?”

Blitz shakes his head. “No, there has to be a…that’s it.” He said now putting away his blaster and soon slides down and stops in front of the now stopped dogs. “I want to speak to your leader, one on one and challenge him to a fight to the death. Winner takes all.” He announced as some of the dogs looked amused.

They soon part to a surprisingly lighter armored dog with a bit lighter colors and and having more gold lines on his shoulders than the rest of the dogs. “So the resistance wants to challenge me?” The dog asks as he steps forward.

Blitz nods and ignores the twitch in his back and shakes his hindleg a bit so no one can see, but Lightning did. “Yes, but I do it alone. If I win, I gain control of your army and the ones who don’t listen, well…I’m sure you can guess.”

The dog laughs. “And your weapon of choice?” He asks, taking out a sword from his back as Lightning quickly rushes down.

Blitz reaches for his pistol. “Mine is…”

“Wait.” Lightning calls out as she reaches the bottom and pulls Blitz aside for a bit. “Don’t, I’ve been noticing.” She said whispering.

Blitz turns slightly to her. “It’s the only way as we have no other options with what we have other than an intergalactic army.” He whispered back.

Lightning looks at the dog before turning back to him. “Then I’ll do it.”

Blitz looks shocked. “No, this is a fight to the death.”

Lightning smiled. “And I intend to win.” She said before stepping away from him and walking forward. “I intend to take his place and my choice is this.” She said, taking out her long knife.

The dog laughs. “What’s wrong? You are afraid so you send your own second in command to do it for you?”

Blitz growls a bit. ‘Dang it Lightning. What are you doing?’

Lightning chuckles. “Come on, you want to be marked as the dog who killed an exhausted stallion or the dog who killed the most agile mare around using nothing, but your sword and me with my knife?”

The dog grins. “You make a most perfect offer. All right then, have at you.” He calls as most of the dogs back off and the griffons still keep their rifles aimed at most of the dogs weak spots as Blitz backs off to the bunker door to not let any dogs past him during the fight. ‘Be careful.’ He sends it to her.

‘I love you Blitz.’ Lightning sends back before she starts running around him in a square shape and the dog tries to follow him.

The dog laughs. “Good, I will certainly be promoted after this.” He said, trying to follow her.

Lightning chuckles. “If you live.” She said taking a quick swipe at his exposed jugular.

The dog growls as he pulls away at the last second and feels his neck cut a little. “Damn you!” He yells before slamming his sword down onto the ground of where he thought she would be and smashes the ground as Lightning jumps over it and takes a swipe at the hilt of the sword and hits the paw only a little.

Lightning chuckles as she lands on the rock jutting out from the wall. “Damn yourself bitch.”

The dog growls slowly. “No one calls me a female.” He said before heaving his sword with two paws now and readies a swipe at her. “Come on!” Lightning skillfully dodges him, showing off her pegasus agility.

Lightning chuckles some more as she jumps over him and lands on the other side of the wall. “You know, I expected more from a warchief.” She taunted as she twirls her knife around.

The dog growls a bit and swings it towards her in a downward motion and breaks the cliff she was on. “Whoops.” Lightning said in front of him and just messed with her knife. “Missed.” She said bored.

The dog frowns and smashes the sword at her and cracks the ground underneath her as she jumps up and out of the way a bit and swipes at the hilt again and cuts away some of the bindings and nicks the paw before jumping on the sword and then jumping away. “Missed again. Come on, we got better things to do. I had more fun shooting at you guys from behind cover than this.” She taunted again as she put the knife over her shoulder.

The dog roared as he threw his great sword at Lightning. Lightning, seeing this, dodges it and the sword lodges itself into the wall. “Yeah, you suck.” Lightning said as she landed on the sword and threw the knife at him and actually embedded it near his neck and into his armor. “I can do be…woah.” She said as she tried to balance herself as some rumbling came about and some loose rocks fell from the top of the cliffs.

“What’s that?” Blitz asks on a channel to Minerva.

“Um…Blitz, you might want to get out of there, now!” Minerva yells panicked as he hears the engine on the ship start. “This is a problem for everyone, including the griffons. Get out now!”

“Everyone move, the bunker is coming down.” Blitz says as he notices the heat starting to rise.

All the griffons and ponies immediately fly away and the ones inside start to come out before joining their friends and the ponies stuck on the ground start to run back to the first through the passes left behind and free of trouble as more rocks and bigger ones start to fall. Blitz and Lightning immediately get out, but not before Lightning jumps onto the front of the dog and hangs onto his collar. “I believe this is mine.” She said, grabbing the knife and swiping at the neck and cutting it open. “I was playing around by the way.” She said before flying off.

After they all got out, Blitz was about to say something to Lightning when a roar was heard. They all look down as they see a wall of rock form cracks in the wall and soon they see the wall start to push outward as the dogs nearby start to back off and head back until the whole wall bursts open in a shower of rock and dust. Lightning and Blitz cover themselves as some rocks hit them before they look and see the dust to settle to see a large rock ball of spikes roll out with red cracks before it stops in the middle of the pass and soon another thing came out that Blitz could only describe as a walking monster that had spikes on its back and roars out as it spews fire from it’s mouth before climbing the wall and heading toward the dog front line in the middle of the whole place. Soon another one came out that looked like an octopus that had arms and legs and soon screeches out loud and all of its tentacles wave away from it before it actually jumps and starts to float away to the front line as well. Then more of the first fire spewing monsters start to come out as well and follow where the others went and they see the dogs were already fighting them with mostly close range attacks before they were either stomped or burned to a crisp. Both Lightning and Blitz look back to the hole again and sees some something moving so fast that it left a trail of energy in its wake before it stops at the entrance of the pass to the valley where the dogs were and flies up a bit and spreads it claws and flicks it’s tentacle legs a bit before heading back to the ground and flies around fast, taking quick swipes with it’s long sharp claws. They soon look back to the ball that was left behind and sees it start to move before what looks like arms come out and stamp on the ground before the ball soon moved and created legs and a head with bull horns near it’s jaw and roars out loud as it sends some embers into the air before it slowly climbed and lumbers slowly to the army.

“Blitz?” Lightning asks after a while.

“Blast it.” Blitz orders.

Lightning grabs his collar and holds his blaster in the holster. “Um Blitz, this is a lot of monsters and I don’t think swords and spears are going to win here. Only ours will probably win this fight, especially with that heavy ball one. We aren’t going to win without help. So call it in!” She yells, shaking him slightly.

“Surge, after this is over I want you to help me get Daring to forgive me.” Blitz says, bringing out a syringe.

Lightning grabs his hoof, stopping him for a bit. “Blitz, call it in, please. At least let’s hope of getting help with this before we go out there halfcocked.”

“I already ordered a strike.” Blitz says before injecting himself.

Lightning could only watch before Blitz starts to shake and then growls a bit before running off faster than usual and heads toward the group of monsters who were decimating the dog army and the griffons who were getting out of there. Lightning sighs and calls up Minerva. “Minerva, what do you get on this?”

Minerva comes on screen as she sees the Darkstar fly overhead. “Four types of infamous monsters. Our first one is called the Goliath.” She said as the information on it appeared on a second screen. “Mostly basic, like the monster movies you may have watched and has fire breathing as it’s biggest assets. Next up is the kraken. Expect this one is the land version and its speciality is lightning powers. Orbs of electricity that track you, lightning strikes, and being able to fly. Up next is the stealth type monster the Wraith. Able to make decoys and go invisible, able to supercharge itself and attack wildly as possible while possessing a high defense, make a charge explosion on where it is and abduct targets back to its location and do what it pleases. However, the last one, the rock ball is unknown for now. You’re on your own for that.” She explained. “I already called for some help just in case it gets out of hoof and targeting the kraken.” Lightning watched as Blitz withdrew his claws and let out a battle cry, challenging the goliath in front of him. Soon she sees the Darkstar come around and drops some missiles and hits the kraken who immediately screeches loudly at the ship as she flies off. “Get to work honey.” Minerva said.

Lightning shakes her head before flying off and taking out her rifle and starts firing at the goliath who wasn’t fighting Blitz as he gets onto the top of the head of the one he got and starts swiping away at it as it roared and tries to swipe at him. “Die!” Blitz yells before plunging his claw straight through the goliath’s skull.

The goliath roars before slowly quieting down and soon falls down and all of it’s glowing lines and cracks on it start to die down. Blitz takes out his claws and heads to another goliath and starts to climb onto it and starts swiping at it. Lightning in the meantime was firing at what she could and kept saying when the kraken was ready to be struck.

“Lightning, even injured as it is, you won’t be able to harm it with that level, increasing the power to your shots.” Minerva says.

Lightning frowns as she messes with her rifle and soon fires a powerful shot that made the kraken roared at her to which Minerva sends more missile at it and hits it as well, blowing off some of its tentacles off and makes it bleed heavily before it electrifies itself and cauterizes the wounds. “Again.” Lightning yells and fires again and tries to lead it her way.

Minerva comes around again as Blitz finishes with another before the wraith swipes him off the head and into another who then hits him and launches him into a rock. “Bastard!” Blitz yells as he gets up again and heads after the one who hit him last and jumps around on him as the Darkstar launches more missiles at the kraken and it screeches with lightning running about it and strikes coming down around it, taking out some dogs that were underneath or nearby and soon stops before falling to the ground gracefully and screeches weakly.

“Minerva, next one that can be hurt.” Lightning asks as she reloads the rifle.

The Darkstar flies straight toward the last few goliaths and hits them with two dropped bombs and hits the last two, not counting the one Blitz just stabbed, and soon the whole area and monsters were engulfed in flames. “They are weak now, go for it!” Minerva calls out.

Lightning quickly flies over and fires her rifle as she goes along and soon overcharges her next shot and hits the head of one and it drops to the ground before reloading and trying to hit the other as it roars at her.

Blitz groans as he gets off his head and looks around until a giant rock ball rolls his way and stops before unwrapping itself and then roaring at him and blowing some snow off of him. “Wow, that’s some bad breath.” He said before running onto it and trying to hit before he realized he was only making sparks and took out his blaster before turning it to full power and starts firing it at the crack on its head and trying to keep still as it tried to shake itself off of it.

Lightning flies out of the way as a fire breath came her way and tries to keep firing before the goliath roars and jumps at her and tries to reach for her as Lightning flies up before feeling her wing get clipped and soon feels herself start to fall and then lands hard on the ground. “Ow.” She said before grabbing her rifle and starts trying to run as she glides across the ground as the goliath now has its attention on her. “Great. At least I got this thing, but where’s that quick one?” She asks as she keeps firing at the goliath’s cracks in armor.

A dog was quickly scampering away as he looked back to the fight before some more dogs came to him and then a dark screech came from behind him and he was quickly swept up and then taken away before being dropped and soon killed. The wraith looks to the battle before seeing the little creatures run by and seems to not notice her. She screeches silently as her brethren fall from the flying one before it goes to the one attacking her last brethren. She shakes her head before just staying there as the one flying tries to get his attention and the one on him keeps striking his head. Soon he rolled up in a ball and the one on his head gets off as he rolled around and tries to hit them before he unrolled right in front of them and then throws it’s claw into the ground and grabs a rock and throws it at them as it splits into many pieces with molten magma before smashing its claws into the ground and sends a shockwave into the ground that made some magma come out as some rocks start jutting out behind them and then a wall of rock spears come out behind them and literally create a wall of rocks and he starts trying to hit them as the one that was on his head went on him again and this time heads for his back and starts dropping something along the way before jumping off and his back explodes and some of his skin fell off. The one flying around soon strikes at those points and aims especially at two points before it finally slows down and tries to reach for them one last time before it falls down.

Lightning tries to catch her breath as Blitz starts calling someone. “Need a cleanup crew. We got a lot of creatures that should not be here.” He said.

Lightning turns to him as he finally looks around. “Blitz, are you okay?”

Blitz chuckles before he stops and then falls to the ground. “Cross?!” Lightning yelled as she rushed over to him.

The wraith sees the one who was able to open her brethren’s armor fall to the ground and seems down and out as the other one tries to help it. She growls slightly before looking to the area behind them and sees a large amount of creatures running to them and the one flying grabs it’s weapon and tries firing at them, but they keep coming. She growls before charging herself and then launches a decoy that had the past ability and goes to the army approaching and attacks it as her invisible self moves to the front of the of the two left behind and after the decoy was gone, she appeared in front of them and then screeches as it spreads it claws out at the approaching army.

Lightning kept staring as the wraith stood in front of them and just faced the leftover dog army coming their way. The wraith screeches again before it seems to spread itself out and then glows blue and looks like electricity was running along its body and then charges at the dogs and then starts swiping at them fast and crazily. “Wow, it’s good.” She said as body parts were sent flying.

Lightning then turns back to Blitz as he was still knocked out and tries to see his status on her omnitool and sees him stable now. She breathes a sigh of relief before grabbing him and placing him on her back and runs off back to the griffons.

“Scans complete, a high dosage of poison number 7 in Blitz’s cartridges will render the Wraith unconscious.” Minerva’s voice said over the radio. Lightning puts Blitz down and checks his packs and finds the cartridges and takes out her rifle. “Be careful, one drop can kill an elephant.” Minerva says. Lightning nods as she makes a few changes to the rifle and puts the cartridge in and aims it at the wraith as it swipes at the last dog before turning to them and sees the flying one aiming at her. “Sorry.” She said before firing and hit the wraith as it looked at the cartridge embedded in her before she moaned and fell down. “Let’s try something different with this one.” Lightning said as she put her rifle away and grabbed Blitz again as the Darkstar landed nearby and she headed for it.

“I’ll try to send for a particular team to get her. I can tell she will be really valuable.” Minerva said as Lightning entered the ship and headed for the infantry.

Lightning nods as she places Blitz onto a bed and starts to get out of her armor and then gets Blitz out of his. “What did he take that made him like that?” She asks, starting to work on the armor after taking off his helmet.

Minerva comes in as she starts up the systems. “A stimulant. Increases strength and speed. The drawback is that you can be knocked out at the end of it because of the express energy.”

Lightning nods as she takes off his armor and starts to work on getting him attached to all the systems. “So he’s just asleep now, right?”

Minerva sighs. “Yes, just resting, and since we are in giant airship hologram disguise, he won’t get mad and yell at us later.” She said, the last part to the sleeping Blitz.

Lightning frowns. “Minerva, keep him here until he’s well-rested. Put this place into lockdown if you have to. I got to deal with the war we have been fighting for a while.” She said, heading back out, grabbing her rifle and heads to the armory and grabs another armor and more ammo before heading outside again and sees the wraith breathing softly as another ship came in and dropped some personnel as they wrap straps around it and they head back into the ship before it takes off with the wraith itself.

Lightning then takes off and flies toward the camp Silver had in the bunker and finds him watching the whole thing. “Care to tell me what’s happening and where’s Cross?” He asks, turning to her.

“He used up all he had left killing those monsters and collapsed.” Lightning answers.

Silver sighs. “How long would he be out?”

“I’m unsure. He had been pushed very hard and was injured before they even showed up. I think they were hibernating underground, and the dogs digging awoke them.” Lightning adds.

Silver nods his head to the one being flown away. “And that one?”

“I can’t kill it, don’t have the experience or the ammo to kill it. That is why I had to tranquilize it with a poison that could kill nearly anything with a drop.” Lightning says.

Silver raises an eyebrow. “Huh, and the dogs?”

“Seems to be holding. If they pressed now, they would overwhelm us and kill us.” Lightning says.

“Could the overlord have been injured or killed by one of those monsters then?” An older-looking griffon with a colonel rank insignia asks.

Lightning shakes her head. “Doubt it. He probably held back or ran off. But that’s still a mystery as I haven’t seen any lead dog that looks super important. But at this point, I would think he would attack with everything he’s got and hope to take out our exhausted and injured self.

“It is unusual.” A middle-age looking griffon with a captain insignia says, walking up.

Lightning tilts her head slightly. “Now these guys show up. Well, what should we do, Silver? What crazy plan have you got now?”

“None right now. Our troops are exhausted, and we are low on ammo.” Silver says.

“Hang on, what’s that?” Lightning says, seeing a dog approach under a flag of truce.

Silver looks through a telescope and sees the dog. “A white flag. It looks like the leader wants to talk. Have the ghost team up and running. We are fully stocked up on what we have. I don’t care if you have to take it from the back but do it. Don’t take from the frontline through. We may need it. Have the frontline also guard the entrances to what we got now and tell them to apprehend any dog, kill if you have no choice.” Silver said, grabbing his armor and weapons. “Let’s go, Surge.”

Lightning followed along with the two other officers. After a while of walking and passing the now cleared plains, they come across a large camp and sees the dogs looking at them with a steel gaze before they part and let them through and soon was joined by another dog who leads them to a bigger tent, and they find the dog they have been looking for sitting on a throne or what could be one, wearing just fancy clothes and no armor.

“General?” Silver asks questionably.

“My people call me overlord.” The dog says.

Silver nods. “Overload, why did you call a cease-fire when we could destroy each other right now?”

“Because there is no longer any benefit for us to continue this battle, let alone war.” The overlord says.

Silver tilts his head. “And you want to end this in a treaty, do you?”

“That or I can order my remaining forces to surge forward and destroy you even if you kill me. You still will lose.” The overlord says.

Silver sighs. “So just too illiterate, you are open to negotiations and will stop fighting for the time being and will stop fighting if we go through with the treaty?”

“Yes.” The overlord says simply.

Silver and others still stare at him. “Okay.” Silver said suddenly. “It’s a deal. However, we do this on grounds we don’t have either control over.”

“We will remain here and will wait for your diplomats to come.” The overlord says.

Silver growls quietly and sighs. “Fine. Just remember, there will be a lot of guards. Overlord.” He said before walking away with the others.

The overlord said nothing before looking at Lightning. “So who was that one who slew most of those monsters?”

Lightning stops and looks back at him. “That would be my commanding officer, Southern Cross.”

“I see. Pass on my thanks. He saved many of my soldiers.” The overlord says before leaving.

Lightning looks a little surprised at that before she turns back to the others and keeps walking. “So what now?” She asks after they got back to the bunker.

Silver tries to drink. “We have sent a letter to the capital. Though, now we play the waiting game and hope this will end. I, for one, want it to end.”

“A request, Lt. Colonel, in private.” Lightning says.

Silver nods. “Sure, come on.” He said, getting up and leading her away from the now cleaned mess hall and into an office. “What’s this about? What do you need?” He asks, sitting down.

“Since the war is all but over, can you give Knight Major Cross leave?” Lightning asks.

Silver chuckles. “At this point, he might need it. I’ll see to it that the paperwork is filled out.”

“Thank you.” Lightning says.

Silver shrugs. “Anything to help a friend, especially a brother in the war.”

“You can relax. He was sincere in what he said, but kept on guard for the radicals in both his and our armies.” Lightning warns.

Silver nods. “And that’s the only thing that really stops this from happening. Well, here’s to a successful treaty and end of the war.” He said before drinking.

“I would join you, but I must check up on Cross.” Lightning says, turning to leave.

“You and he are more than just comrades, aren’t you?” Silver asks.

Lightning stops and looks at him. “What do you think?” She asks before walking off and only hears his chuckles and ice clinking the glass.

After a while, she arrives back at the ship and sees Minerva standing outside the door of the infirmary. “He’s okay?”

“He is fine. I even fixed up that stab wound. Now help me get him to bed, and then you go take a shower. You stink really bad.” Minerva says.

Lightning rolls her eyes, and they both head inside and grab Blitz off the table and carry him to his room before setting him down on the bed and Lightning leaves Minerva to take care of Blitz. Lightning sighs as she enters her room and finally takes off her armor, and heads for the bathroom. “About time we got a break. This is long overdue.” She said to herself, stepping inside the shower.