I was in a bunk on the plane. It was small and spartan with only a bed, end table, and a closet. The bed lacked sheets and the closet lacked clothes.

I was looking at my helmet, having traded the hospital gown for my old military uniform. It was a mix of magic-laced armor, a kevlar undertone. And of course the uniform itself.

It was based on the old US uniform for the Army branch. With all the bells and whistles. It was modified in the years of the war. Made to go under a soldier's armor and allow for comfort. The armor itself was based on the Horses' Royal Guards.

Which, in itself, seemed based on ancient Greek and Roman armor.

The armor overall was made from thick, heavy metal with magical lines of energy running about on it in patterns. Supposedly generating a small force field where the armor didn't cover. The same lines were on my metal armbands and shin armor. Around my waist was a utility belt that held a medi-pack, spare ammunition, my sidearm, and my tanto. As well as a grenade on the back. And even a grappling hook in a small pouch!

The plane shook and rumbled again, reminding me of the danger outside.

I slipped on my helmet. As a visor came down and brought up a HUD. After checking I had everything in order, I left the bunk.

Outside alarms blared as someone swore from the cockpit. I looked around from the bunk area and ran down the hall and through the bridge, finding the cockpit.

In it were Alexander and a woman in a pilot's uniform. Both flying the plane as they dodged various spheres of lavender energy from behind.

"Hey, Sir is there any way I c-" There was a crash from outside as if something exploded as the plane shook.

"Verdammt noch mal diese Pferdebastarde!" The pilot swore in...was that German?

"You wanna help rookie? Make sure we don't die!" Alexander ordered. "Left wing just got hit! Head out there and fix it!"

"Me?! But I'm not an-"

"There's an Omni-Tool in the cabinet in the lounge. Grab that and head out!" Alexander ordered as more shots were fired.

I blinked and rushed out. Heading past the bunks into the lounge. Which was an odd mix of a kitchen and living room. Finding an ornate and antique cabinet and opening it.

Inside was some form of metal exoskeleton meant to go on my forearm and hand. It also had orange magic lines running along with its frame and a button on the wrist strap. I didn't have time to wonder how it worked before there was another rumble as I took off my armband.

I lopped my fingers through the grips, and strapped it to my wrist and just below my elbow with resounding clicks.

I tested out the mobility and watched as it flexed and bent in time with my arm. As well as matching my fingers even as I snapped them in various ways.

I pressed the button, and the magic lines glew bright and the rest of the tool folded out as solid light. It was like the armband of my armor, with it covering the entirety of my forearm in solid light. Over the back of my hand was a circular fabricator of sorts that lightly spun with a small hum.

My visor beeped and the Omni-Tool came up as listed in my inventory. the light of the hologram going from orange to azure.

A message appeared in my HUD's lower corner. I selected it and the following came up.

Thank you for using Shepard Technologies Omni-Tool! A multipurpose tool that fulfills ALL your needs! This is a unique Premium model designed for everything from domestic life to warfare! It has several modes. Each mode can be accessed at ANY TIME!

The Fusion Cannon-two focusing prongs will come out from the fabricator that comes with all Tools. From the prongs, a barrel will form. This is a small cannon that you can use to take out even the strongest of Unicorn Elites and iron Rangers! Holds a max of 10 shots! After you run out, it will simply disappear and recharge!

Insta gun-An instantaneous gun of light of your choice produced by your Omni-Tool. Holds a max of 20 shots before it disappears and recharges.

Light Blade-A blade of pure light able to cut through steel! Size changes to your whims!

Engineer-a mode meant for repairs and construction. It will help you craft tools and items from anything! As well as repair said items and even structures and vehicles!

Sentinel-an exoskeleton that covers your entire body with our holographic armor! However, it takes a while to charge and has limited use! Especially if you use our other features with it!

Warning: if-

The plane began to creak and groan, causing me to fall over as the warning began to scroll past my eyes until it landed on the "accept terms and conditions" bit.

I got up and shook my head as a final message popped up.

Thank you for accepting! Your purchase of the full Premium features has been transacted and received. This message will self delete!

Use it wisely and well.

~OV

The message then dissolved into code before my eyes, gone to the ether as the plane shook again. I clenched my fist and ran off.

I found a maintenance hatch in the lower deck near the bridge. It had several consoles dotting the walls with radars and computers and the like.

I opened the hatch and pulled down a red ladder. Climbing up onto the roof of the plane.

The wind whipped around me in deafening volumes. I looked back and saw Sparkle's Airship following us. Its mortar cannons visible on the deck and letting out steady shots of giant lavender spheres. The plane buckled and turned to dodge them.

I activated my boots Grav-Anchors and looked for the damage. Noting that the ship was 284 feet long! And its wings it had a wingspan of, like, 168 feet! With rectangular thrusters towards the back of the ship, as well as dotting the wings, and turbine props alongside the engines.

I saw one of the wing's thrusters was damaged and on fire, smoke trailing behind us. I ran towards it, my Grav-Anchors keeping me on the roof even as clouds whizzed past us.

The Horses must've seen me, cause I soon heard the shouting of orders and the beating of wings as a squad of Pegasi took flight. Just as I made it to the wing, I heard gunfire.

I dodged to the side as a squad of Pegasi soldiers dressed in purple Guardsmen uniforms fired with their battle saddles. The machine guns giving steady pops as they dotted against the wing.

I watched as they turned for another go.

I was gonna take out my sidearm, but then recalled my Omni-Tool. It must've read my mind, as I soon felt a weight in my hand.

I aimed the newly formed sniper rifle of solid light and aimed at the Pegasi. A crosshair appearing in my HUD over my dominant eye.

I pulled the trigger, killing one with a headshot. Rolling out of the way as they fired again.

Unfortunately, that meant I let my feet, and my Grav-Anchors left the wing's metal embrace. I stumbled and rolled off the wing. My hand stumbling to find a grip. The Omni-Tool developing claws just as I was about to fall.

I looked down in terror at the ground below. Buildings and structures like ants as they passed beneath.

Swinging my weight, I brought my other hand up to grab the wing. Pulling myself up, I soon hear as the Pegasi went in for another series of shots.

I aimed a new light rifle and fired. The beam of energy shooting into the skull of one Pegasus, sending them plummeting down.

I couldn't see their faces behind the pilot's helmets, yet I felt how pissed they were.

I fired again, this time hitting one of their wings as they made the pass. The wounded Pegasus falling and tumbling onto the wing with me.

They got up, allowing me to get a closer look. They were wearing a skin-tight purple suit, with modified armor on and battle saddle on their backs, that reminded me of jet wings. The saddle had two high caliber guns. The primary weapon was some form of a minigun. Over their heads, they wore pilot's helmets modified for their head shape and ears. And some form of breathing apparatus. A purple visor over their eyes. On the flank was a Star of Sparkle, with a crystal castle inside it.

The Pegasus shook their head, and the "wings" of their battle saddle folded into little boxes on their side. They looked at me, and let out a neighing growl. A compartment on their foreleg armor folded into a magic-bladed combat knife. As they gestured at me in a "come at me bro" fashion.

I took out my own tanto and adopted a combative stance. Before rushing them.

They stabbed at my chest, I blocked with my armband, replying with a slash at their neck. The Pegasus dodged, suddenly jumping back. I heard the familiar wing beats and jumped out of the way just as the squad made another turn.

"That's gonna get annoying," I muttered. The Pegasus reminded me of it existing with a slash at my chest. My armor held, yet the magic left a deep gash in it.

I drew my sidearm and fired a flurry of shots at the Horse. They went low and dodged, before lunging at me with their knife.

Thinking fast, I stabbed up with my tanto! I felt the flesh give as the Horse gurgled. Gripping their neck with their hooves, my tanto causing a steady flow of blood to stain their suit as they wiggled and writhed.

"Heh..." I smirked, putting my pistol back in its holster. Approaching them and moved to remove my tanto.

Just as my hand gripped the handle, I heard guns whirring again. I jumped back, tanto in hand. Just as the Horse was drowning in their own blood as their body suddenly riddled with holes.

The writhing stopped. The blood increased. I went to loot its battle saddle and armor. Figuring the helmet would be a cool trophy. I pressed a button where the helmet met the neck and watched as the lower part of the helmet retracted. Allowing it to be taken off.

I did and saw that I had killed a mare. With purplish skin and messy, cloud-white hair.

Her badge said:

Capt. Flitter
Sparkle's Fist
Aerial Squadron: The Magic Flashes

"Heh, shoulda been a better fighter."

I tore off the badge. And kicked her body off the wing.

The Pegasi came in for another turn, as I lined up a new light rifle.

"Bang."

I fired another beam into the head of one of the soldiers.

"And then there were two," I quipped as they fired on me again. I turned and watched as they also turned. I lined up the rifle and fired two consecutive shots.

Bang! Bang!

The first one died quickly, a bullet pierced their temple as they quickly descended. The second one tried to dodge, only for me to shoot off their wing by accident. They swerved and crashed into one of the turbines. Said turbine quickly shredding its upper torso and sending bits of it flying about. Leaving only its lower half.

Satisfied I went over to the damaged engine, the light rifle dissolving as the Omni-Tool transformed into its engineer mode.

It scanned the engine, a schematic appearing in my HUD. Showing me where the damage was and how to fix it. The Tool developed, well, holographic tools of various kinds.

I first put out the fire, spraying some form of retardant on it. Before little holographic grabber arms appeared, along with a holographic toolbox filled with exactly what I need.

I repaired what I could. But the fuel coupling and a few breakers were destroyed. So I had to bridge a few gaps. It wasn't permanent. But it would hold us over till we got......wherever this thing is going.

I sighed in relief, my task finally done as I approached the patience hatch once more. Apparantly we were hit a few more times. I saw various singe marks all over the body of the ship as I walked. Yet nothing seemed broken.

I let out a hup and began to climb back down. Closing the hatch behind me.

I returned to the bridge, seeing more people than before. Several people on officer uniforms populated the consoles and were consistently talking with one another.

There were happy german noises from the cockpit.

"Whatever that Rookie did worked! Entering stealth mode now!" The pilot said with a laugh. The officers all pressed a sequence of buttons, and the ship increased suddenly in speed.

"Well done, Rookie," I heard the voice of Kronos behind me. I turned and saw him there, looming over me again.

"Thanks....sir..." I said nervously. "Where uh....where we going?"

The time manipulator shrugged. "Wherever the boss takes us."

Speaking of him. Alexander's voice came over the PA system.

"All Basterds. Meet in the briefing room in ten." He ordered.

"Well, you heard the boss! He's a-calling!" He chuckled as he began to walk away.

I quickly realized I didn't know where that room was, and followed.

We soon made our way to the briefing room. Other Basterds following us in.

The room was moderately large, with a table in the center and a large board dominating the back wall. Alexander was in front of the table, the board behind him.

"Is that everyone? Wheres Gem and Fritz?" Alexander asked.

"Here we are!" A pair of voices rang behind me. I turned and saw a woman with gorgeous red hair and emerald eyes. Dressed in, well, oddly normal clothes. A navy blue blazer and skirt with an emerald shirt. And a Cutie-Mark of a DNA double helix on a computer screen, made from ones and zeroes.

Next to her was a man in his late twenties. Dressed in a simple blue polo and dress pants. His dress shoes were the same blue as his eyes. He had windswept hair and stubble.

His Cutie-Mark was of a wrench made from electricity, with a computer screen background.

"Sorry, we're late." The woman, Gem, said apologetically. "The project we're working on ran into some issues."

"Yea." Nodded the man, Fritz. "The power output was less than optimal, and if we were to apply it in the field as is could be disastrous."

"Understandable." Alexander nodded, observing the squad. "Well, looks like everyone's here."

"Why'd you call us here, sir?" I asked after a minute of silence.

"Who's the kid?" A Dragon Trooper muttered.

"He...is the survivor of the Arcadia Fort Defense Legion," Alexander said, tapping the table, bringing up a hologram of Arcadia Fort.

It was big and beautiful, running along the center of the Arcadian region, edge to edge of the peninsula.

Made to keep the horses out of the northward countries, It was made of steel and concrete. With numerous turrets, watchtowers in key places along with the various patrol decks, and soldiers guarding it at all times.

The fort itself was within the wall. It housing a small factory for tanks and guns, barracks, a training ground, even heating, and plumbing! There was also a prison for anyone who got to rowdy, and research labs.

Spots along the wall facing the Horses' land dotted with turrets. The top of the wall housed artillery guns and A-A guns, in case any of the Horses got curious.

Such Forts on borders between the Horses' land and our own were nicknamed Gate Cities. Seeing as they kept the bad guys out, and each fort could house a city.

Each Fort had a defense legion. Meant to keep it safe in case of an attack. You could also have your military training in a select few of these forts.

Arcadia itself was just behind the Arcadian Fort. As well as the rest of Greece. Given that most of the real fighting was in the region of Zebrica and Africa, Arcadia became a bit of a hotspot for medical care as well. Sometimes for both sides.

In the planes in front of the fort were several trenches and land defenses. Mines, tanks, traps. And that was the first few miles.

Then they would get to the trenches, which . Along points in the trenches were more watchtowers and guard towers.

They were supposed to be foolproof, unbeatable defenses. These were supposed to be the best on the planet. The best on both worlds!

Yet it was decimated under a second, with a thought.

The knowledge of my service caused unsure murmurs amongst the Basterds. After a while, a Basterd spoke up.

"Are you sure about this, boss?"

"I am, at least, I hope I am. Am I right, Loki?" Alexander chuckled.

"Yep, I can vouch for the Rookie. Saved him myself." A taller man said next to me. He had sickly green hair and emerald eyes. He dressed in a green fur cape, and charcoal black clothes resembling Norse royalty. On his neck was a Cutie-Mark of emerald flames.

"God help him...." A trooper muttered.

"He's a college kid! He's no younger than my eldest!" Another sighed.

"Fate is a cruel mistress indeed...." A Basterd mused.

At the final comment, I was confused but said nothing. The memories of my lost comrades still fresh in my mind.

"Al, does he know?" Loki asked, seeing my confusion.

"That's actually why I called this meeting." He replied.

"Know what?" I asked after a minute of silence.

Alexander and Loki shared a silent conversation, and in the end Loki sighed.

"You owe me for this..." Loki sighed, before turning to me. "Alright.....storytime. Back when the first people got their Cutie-Marks, the first Late Bloomer got her's. And her's, allowed her to see into the future, allegedly. She forsaw the war, but no one listened to her. But after Manhatten went under, they suddenly decided to listen to the chick that sees the future. Especially since she saw this coming."

Alexander brought up a picture of a young woman, about my age, with long ginger hair and emerald eyes. On her neck was a Cutie-Mark of a sun, with a lyre made from the flames. As well as pictures of the flooded Manhatten. buildings and streets were submerged.

Images of rescue helicopters and boats looking for and helping people. The survivors living in the skyscrapers and on the rooves of the tallest buildings.

The torch of Lady Liberty being the only mark she existed. The rest of it submerged neath the waves.

Newspaper headlines and articles came up, showing missing persons and deaths statistics. As well as newspapers and war propaganda from the beginning of the war.

"After that happened and the war broke out, she came up with a new prophecy." Loki continued. "That the war would end, when the Survivor of Arcadia took up arms, and killed the tyrants at large."

"Alledgedly." Alexander added. "We don know if she actually can see the future, or is just really good at guessing. Most of her prophecies are vague enough that they can happen."

"Yes, well, this prophecy gives a ton of people hope. And most of the people back on the homefront believe it." Loki sighed. "And you Rookie, you're the survivor."

"In short, for bettor or for worse, you're our Messiah." Alexander said. "For lack of a better word."

Author's Note

Please comment if you enjoyed it. Sorry for the longer time it took to make this. School and IRL issues are a common thing for me. I'll try to update more regularly.