Fallout Equestria: The Tale of the Soldier

Chapters

Chapter 1: The First Days
Chapter 2: Ponyville Burning
Chapter 3: The Hunt Begins
Chapter 4: What Do You Mean, 'Not Here'?
Chapter 5: Welcome to Tenpony Tower
Chapter 6: Assimilation
Chapter 7: Interrupted
Chapter 8: Happy Birthday Littlepip!
Prologue
Epilogue

Chapter 1: The First Days

Chapter 1: The First Night

"You know, it’s simple really, three strikes, and you go up in smoke, what’s not to get?”

“I guess I should start by telling you about me and the Commandos, my army of mercenaries. Our predecessors were fighters in the Great War, I myself am directly descended from Dark Light, Commander of the Royal Guard and Leader of the Elite Guard, also known as the Commandos. She was second only to the Ministry Mares and Princess Luna. She lead her Commandos on missions that required more stealth than the Steel Rangers and required more small-unit tactics than the regular army and the elite pegasus fighters could do, and yet those groups have since overshadowed the Commandos. They were used behind zebra lines to disrupt supply lines and cause chaos wherever they could. When I founded my own Commando army, I based it off my ancestor’s army."

"Now, onto myself, I won’t be telling you a whole lot other than that the scar I have, I gained from a raid on New Appleloosa from fighting Calamity, that I acquired my Pipbuck through ‘special means’, and that my favorite weapons are an energy rifle that I named Silent Death, and a large knife that according to the engraving on it, is called Head Hunter. Now, onto the story, which I shall start about the moment Littlepip took her first step outside Stable 2.”

*** *** *** ***

“Well, well, well, look at what we have here!” I said, facing the captured raider that was currently being held down by two of my mercenaries, “A member of the Ponyville Raiders, who have missed their third payment of rent!” (My mercenaries technically owned Ponyville, but we often lent it out to whomever moved in as we prefered to stay in the Everfree Forest. Don’t ask why.) The fear in the raider’s eyes was clear, they knew what a third strike meant.

Here’s the breakdown of my payment system, that goes for being hired for certain jobs or tenants living on Commando land, each strike is a missed payment. Strike 1: The payment is forcibly taken, Strike 2: The payment is made up in lives and supplies, Strike 3: Total annihilation. I used fear just as much as any other way to get what was deserved and promised.

“Please, don’t!” The raider started to plead, but only got a stomp on the snout in reply.

“I don’t have time for your type, by this time tomorrow, your comrades will be dead and Ponyville will be a smoking ruin.” I said calmly, stepping back from the raider, who now had blood gushing from his mouth and nose, “I think I’ll start with you as you tried to run.” The raider’s eyes grew even more in fear, his iris shrinking to the size of a pea. The two mercenaries holding him down suddenly picked him up and backed him up hard into a tree, the raider releasing a gurgled scream. I sighed as I slightly approached him, “Pitiful.” I said as I drew out my knife, Head Hunter, from its sheath on the backside of my Pipbuck, levitating it out in front of me.

The raider tried once more to scream, before Head Hunter sliced into his throat and his head fell to the forest floor, forever silent. As the blood began to pool out from the neck, I pointed to the two that were holding up the raider, “You and you, take care of the body and blood, can’t have any manticores attacking us in our sleep later tonight.” the two nodded and got to work.

I turned away from the body and went into the small squad camp that I lived and directed Alpha squad and the rest of the Commandos from, ready to let the squad know that we were heading out in the morning to attack Ponyville and kill those payment dodging, son-of-a-bitch raiders. I always was happy to know I was about to go into a fight, the thrill, the adrenaline, the whizzing bullets and explosions just put a smile on my face.

*** *** *** ***

I was starting to go through the final patrols of the small camp when I heard a very distant shot. Little did I know it at that time, but that was the shot Sawed Off the slaver fired at a Sprite-Bot, while escorting Littlepip and Monterey Jack to wherever they were heading. It was almost as if fate was trying to tell me of the pony I would soon be following was nearby, but at the time, I had no clue what it was, so naturally, I went to investigate with my most trusted soldier and my number 2, Bloody 2.

As we approached the small little scouting outpost that overlooked the bridge to Ponyville, the sounds of a gunfight suddenly erupted, tearing apart the quiet of the night. Bloody 2 and I looked at each other before galloping the last little bit to the over-watch to see the Ponyville raiders fighting with some ponies. I picked up a pair of binoculars that were on a table in the outpost and looked at the firefight. I looked towards the three that had apparently stayed behind for some reason when I saw that two had chains around their legs, ones front chains a little higher because of a very certain object around her leg.

“Slavers. Looks like they got themselves a stabler as well.” I said to Bloody 2, still looking through the binoculars. I watched as the one with the Pipbuck used her magic to slip out two objects that I couldn’t make out, but from the way she worked on the chains, I could only guess they were lock-picking tools. The one guarding them, that from the looks of it had a shovel for some reason in his mouth suddenly turned towards the mare. Then moments later, his head exploded onto the mare, who I couldn’t help but feel sorry for. She looked brand new to the Wastes (Could tell by her not torn up clothes and her clean coat) and now she just got some pony’s head splattered all over her. But that reminded me of the firefight going on, so I redirected my attention to the bridge.

“See anything else out of the ordinary?” Bloody 2 asked.

“Nope. Though I do think the slavers are getting their asses handed to them.” I said as I watched one get torn to shreds by a combat shotgun, “Be ready to shoot Bloody, can’t have raiders due to die tomorrow to take any prisoners.” I told her out of the corner of my mouth.

“Got it.” and I heard shifting around and the clicking of a stand as she got a sniper ready. The raiders soon killed the last slaver and approached the two captured ponies.

“Fire on my mark.” a raider suddenly kicked the mare, sending her crashing to the ground, and then slammed her hooves once more into her side.. “Get ready...” one of the raiders slammed the stallion with a sledgehammer. “Get the one with with the hammer...” the mare suddenly got up, as the raider that kicked her had left her and was holding the shotgun over the stallion’s hoof, “Wait, let’s see where this goes.” I told Bloody 2, as the mare charged and delivered a back kick into the shotgun of the raider. Soon, the fight turned against the raiders as the stallion choked the hammer raider and the mare easily took down the other with the shovel.

“Soldier...?” Bloody 2 started.

“They no longer need us, come on, let’s rest up for tomorrow.” I replied. She nodded as she disassembled the sniper and I placed the binoculars back, little did we know that that mare we would soon end up following all the way the Manehatten.

End of chapter 1

Chapter 2: Ponyville Burning

Chapter 2: Ponyville Burning

“Live by the flame, die by the flame.”

The sun shone through the ever-present overcast of the Wasteland, providing a sickly looking light, but light none the less. The twenty-strong Alpha squad stood alongside me at the edge of the Everfree, as we looked out to Ponyville, our target.

“Same as always?” Bloody 2 asked, walking up next to me.

“Aye, go in, kill whomever is left from that fighting we heard earlier, burn the what’s left of the town, leave a message that nopony will forget if they see it.” I replied. Bloody 2 nodded and brought out her rifle from her holster, soon followed by me and all the others. Each one of us was equipped with an AER-17, the last weapon the original Commandos used before the Last Day. It stood for Assault Energy Rifle Model 17, and is a whole other league from the magical energy weapons we are all used to. They fire a bolt of blue energy that, upon impact, would fry the nearby nerves, essentially killing that area, but on the outside, it did not leave a single mark. The chemical required to fire the weapon is highly stable, easy to make with the right equipment, and with my Silent Death, can even be made an endless clip.

“Alright everypony, you know the drill, sweep the town, kill any raiders, bring the rest to me for reckoning. Any questions?” I asked the squad. They remained silent, “Alright then, move out!” the twenty ponies moved out from the edge of the Everfree and moved silently towards Ponyville, weapons at ready.

Now, one thing you should know about me; I tend to hold a grudge, and when somepony does something that invokes my rage, or take something away from me, you can be damned sure that I am going to come after you, so you can probably imagine how I felt when I found out somepony had already killed the raiders in Ponyville, only leaving some bottlecaps and supplies that would probably redundant to whomever did it.

“Um, are you okay Julion?” Bloody 2 asked me. She used my real name whenever we were alone, she was probably the only pony in the whole damned Wasteland to know my real name.

“No! Do I look fine to you! I was looking forward to a fight to find it had been robbed from me!” I snarled, feeling mad at just about everything as I looked about the decimated and bloody library I stood in.

“Julion, don’t you think your over-reacting a bit?” she asked worriedly.

“NO!” I yelled, eyes flashing red for a second, “Every life has a price, and I will make whomever did this pay that price! Then kill them!”

“Well, if your bent on revenge, why not burn the place as planned, then listen to DJ-Pon3’s radio station. This event had to been noticed by him.” Bloody 2 said soothingly, trying to calm me down.

“Fine Topal, and if this turns out to be the work of him...” I grinned in anticipation.

“Now, don’t get too ahead of yourself, remember last night?”

“HA! Either one of those two could have hardly taken on every raider in Ponyville and come out on top! You make me laugh sometimes Topal, oohh captive of slavers one night to clearer of raider dens the next, how...heroic! Now, get the torches, let’s burn this shit-hole before I lose this sudden good mood.” Bloody 2 nodded and went off to tell the others, as I simply took one last stroll through the age and battle wrecked town.

*** *** *** ***

The inferno that was Ponyville put a smile on my face as I looked at it, sure I didn’t get to kill anything today, but Head Hunter still tasted blood. An example of such was about 100 meters in front of me, a sign that said Do not cross the Soldier and was adorned with the head of a raider. Identical signs surrounded Ponyville, far enough away to not be burned, and close enough that anypony entering the town would get a clear message.

The Alpha squad behind me slowly turned around and headed back into the forest, but me, I stayed and watched. I watched the smoke rise into the air before being quickly dispersed by the wind. The land was painted a in a strange sickly color as the sun set and its light combined with the flame that was Ponyville, but still, a rare true smile found its way onto my face. (Okay, okay, so I am a bit of a pyromaniac so what?). Tomorrow, tomorrow I will find whomever stole those kills from me, and they will feel the bite of Head Hunter, I thought, before finally, getting up, turned around, and headed into the forest.

Chapter 3: The Hunt Begins

Chapter 3: The Hunt Begins

“Revenge, we all want it. But just how far are you willing to go to get it?”

“You really are serious about this aren’t you?” Bloody 2 asked me as I walked towards the edge of the camp.

“Eeyup.” I replied, “No matter what DJ-Pon3 says, there is no way a stabler brand new to the Wastleland could clear out a raider camp all on her own, and I know about Calamity’s policy. How much he hates raiders.”

“Soldier, don’t you think that you are letting your hate for him blind you from the truth?” She asked.

“Of course not! Okay maybe...Okay yes, I am just using this as an excuse to go find and kill him.” I replied.

“That’s what I thought. Now, you cannot go face him alone, remember last time?” She said.

The scar on my face throbbed, “Yes, of course. Kind of hard to forget the feel of your own blade cutting into your skin.”

“Now, stay here, and I’ll go get Snipes and Heavy, that way we will outnumber him when we do find him.” Bloody 2 said, before turning to head back into the camp.

I sat down and sighed, “I swear that mare thinks she’s my mother!” I muttered.

*** *** *** ***

And so it was, Bloody 2, Snipes, Heavy Stomp, and I set out across the Wastelands for a singular pony. Hell, I even told the other Commandos to leave the Everfree forest to leave and make a base at the best possible point they could. As I later found out, that was for the best, once Red Eye started torching the damned place, we were probably one of the reasons he did.

First, let me talk to you about Snipes and Heavy Stomp; Snipes was, as her name suggests, a sniper. The best damned shot I have ever seen, she can take the wings off a bloatfly from a kilometer away. She took up arms with the Commandos after we raided a slaver train, which I often did on my own without pay. I found her in the back of one of the wagons, beatened, bruised, and raped. I will admit, it was probably one of the few times I have ever felt truly sorry for somepony, so I took her under my wing. Turns out that she had been captured when her old rock farm was attacked, and that she usually watched the field workers, soon she evolved into our best sniper.

Now, onto Heavy Stomp. I honestly don’t know much about his time before he joined with the Commandos. All I do know is that he used to be a Steel Ranger, but he got tired of it and ran, did mercenary work of his own for a bit, then found his way to the Commandos. He tends to not talk, preferring action to words, which is one of the reasons I like him. Oh and Snipes is a unicorn and Heavy is an earth pony, that about covers it, now onwards.

As we trotted along, I would constantly look over my shoulder, watching the Everfree Forest slowly roll away into the distance. The fires of Ponyville had since ceased and now there was no smoke to speak of coming from the old town, I looked back to my front and sighed, “Let’s get this over with.” three ponies stood still on the road, which I knew what it meant, some raiders hoping to get some helpless ponies bottlecaps. As we approached the makeshift checkpoint, one of the raiders held a hoof out. “Hold up, that will be 200 bits. Pay up, or leave, or if you refuse to leave; die.” the raider said, who was probably the most educated of this raider group, who likely had friends hiding nearby.

“Fine.” I said, getting into my saddlebag. I brought out a large sack and spilled it in front of the raider, “200 bottlecaps.”

The raider stepped up to it, not expecting such an easy give-up, especially from ones as well armed as we were, “Uh fine. Go.”

As we went through, I noticed the friends that I knew were hiding among the grass along the sides of the road. “Soldier, why did you...” Snipes started to whisper to me, with which I simply shook off, leaving the others confused as we went down the road, but it would soon become clear to them.

*KA-BLOOOM!*

The explosion rocked us, making three heads instantly snap to me, seeing a sly smile on my face, I shrugged innocently, “I might have accidently grabbed the Bottlecap bombs instead.” I said with a smirk, looking back to see wisps of smoke rising up from where the raider checkpoint used to be.

*** *** *** ***

“So what do you want us to do?” I asked the head of the caravan that had seen us and stopped us hoping to hire us on some job.

“We wan..no, we NEED you to go out to a place a good 20 or so miles...” The stallion started, but I held up a hoof.

“We use kilometers sir.”

“Oh yes of course. It’s a good 30 or so kilometers from here, packed to the brim with raiders. We can’t go on without riskin’ a major raid.” he restated.

“I’m sorry sir, but we’re on a mission right now and we can’t afford any distractions.” I replied calmly to him.

“Can you afford an extra 1000 caps?” the stallion suggested. Damn, if there’s one thing being a mercenary for so long has taught me, never ever pass up a well-paying job, because who knows when the next will roll along?

I bit my lip, I wanted to find and kill Calamity, but, a thousand caps, just for doing a little more killing, “I guess our current client can wait a little bit.” I said in the end.

“Oh thank you!” The stallion said, instantly relieved, “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You have no idea how much this means to us! OR to anypony else that goes down this road!”

“Our pleasure.” I said, eyes a little wide, taking a few steps back from the clingy, thankful stallion, “I guess we should get going then, you know, to clear out the raider fort.”

“Oh yes of course! We’ll be here!”

“Yes, of course you will, now goodbye.” I said, before finally making my way out, quickly followed by the others.

“Wow, a thousand caps just to kill some raiders? That is amazing!” Snipes exclaimed.

“Yes, but 30 or so kilo’s is about a half-day’s trot, and then we will have to clear out the raider’s, them come back. So we will probably be off-task for more than a day, and we still have quite a ways to go to New Appleloosa.” I said, as we walked past the caravan.

“Don’t worry so much Soldier, Calamity will be there, no doubt about that.” Bloody 2 said trying to comfort me.

“Yea yea, I just want to get this done and overwith, now keep an eye out. If that place is as chock full of raiders as that caravan leader said, we will probably run into some on our way there.” I replied to that, after which we fell into silence, watching the area around us.

*** *** *** ***

“FFFFFUUUUU-!” I cried out, right as the grenade landed right in front of us, and blew up right in up in our faces, cutting my curse short with a BOOM! Luckily, it landed just far enough away to not instantly kill us, but the shockwave was still powerful enough to send us flying back. I landed painfully on my back, pain shooting through my body as I felt shrapnel in many, many places. I looked over, unable to move from where I landed from the pain as I saw the armored form of Heavy Stomp, still standing, firing at the charging raiders.

All I heard was the dulled out sounds of explosions and gunfire, and some extremely distant and dulled voice yelling at me. I eventually saw Bloody 2 run over to me, wounded and bleeding herself, and she started injecting something in me. I felt the pain slowly slip away as she delivered the painkiller and my mind started to clear and my hearing return. “Come on, don’t die on me now!” I could start hearing Bloody yelling at me, but I couldn’t respond, I still couldn’t do anything. Just lay there as Heavy Stomp fended off the raiders alongside Snipes, who got the least hit of the three unarmored of us, and Bloodu 2 tended to my wounds.

I finally found I was able to move my mouth and, I guess I was delirious at the time from the blood loss, decided to say, “Beautiful weather we’re having today.”

“Yes, good. Tell me about how it’s beautiful.” Bloody 2 said after being taken aback a bit. In hindsight, this makes perfect sense, because in the state I was in, talking meant good.

“It’s, it’s...it’s...” I faded out.

Chapter 4: What Do You Mean, 'Not Here'?

Chapter 5: What Do You Mean, 'Not Here'?

“Missed opportunities, life is full of them. It’s what you make of them that makes a difference.”

I woke to find myself in a dark room. Well, I didn’t really ‘wake’ as in I was suddenly up and ready to go, I mean a slow re-entrance into the world, that likely took awhile to occur. I guess you can say the moment I ‘woke’ was when I regained my sight and ability to interact with the world, but I wasn’t about to be doing somersaults into the sunset to fight some raider or other freck of the Wastelands any time soon, or that how I at least felt.

“Oh good, you’re finally awake.” remarked an unfamiliar voice, “You got hit with a pretty good amount of shrapnel, damned well near bled out before your friends brought you to me.”

I looked to the owner of the voice, vision still blurry, “Who are you?” I asked, “Where am I?”

“That doesn’t matter right now, what matters is that you are alive and well.” the voice said, my hearing still a little too dull to tell if it belonged to a mare or stallion. As it turns out, my vision would beat my hearing to the punch.

I realized I actually wasn’t in a dark room, that was just from my eyes being closed for so long, the walls were grey with medical boxes and old propaganda posters everywhere. As it even later turns out, I was in the same bed that Littlepip had been in after Calamity shot her, yet another of those coincidences that happened in my hunt for Calamity.

“When do you think I will be able to leave?” I asked the pony, that I found was a grey stallion.

“Soon, you’ll feel pain, but you can walk. Healing potions are a miracle.” the stallion said, “Now, I’ll leave you to the attendance of Candi.” and with that, he walked out, leaving me alone, but not for long.

“Oh it’s so good to see you’re...awake!” said the white mare with a mane reminiscent of cotton candy. I knew she was about to say alive but that was understandable.

I put on a forced grin and said, “Yea, that’s what I get for not wearing my armor out there.” I said, “Would you mind telling me where I am, and how long I’ve been out?”

“Of course! You’re in New Appleloosa, and you were brought in by your friends I would say 3 or 4 days ago.” she replied happily, “Why?”

I’m in New Appleloosa, but if I’m here, why didn’t Calamity shoot me and the others on sight? I thought, “Um, would you mind telling me what all’s happened recently?”

“Hm, let’s see here, about 5 days ago, a small little unicorn named Littlepip came in here, she had been shot up by Calamity, then very quickly after that she went out, got a cure for chimeras from Stable 24, cleared old Appleloosa of slavers and rescued a bunch of slaves. Calamity went with her I believe, and I’ve even heard the DJ talking about her in Shattered Hoof...hey where you going?”

I booked it out of there faster than anypony who had just gotten up from nearly dieing has any right to go. Quickly finding my way to the tavern, where I figured correctly the others would be. “Oh hey!” Bloody 2 called after seeing me barge in, “Look who’s back from the dead!”

“No time for talk, we are LEAVING!” I said hurriedly.

“Geez, slow it down. Take a seat!” Snipes jokingly said to me.

“NO! We are going now!” the entire bar was now watching the altercation, but even with the current situation, we were being very careful with names, because if any of the ponies who were here 4 years ago and remembered what happened would most definitely freak out on hearing “The Soldier” or “Bloody 2”

“Okay, okay, fine, have it your way.” Bloody 2 said, dropping several bottlecaps on the bar for their drinks and made their way to me, from there, we made our way to Shattered Hoof.

*** *** *** ***

The place looked deserted, not even a body showed that there had been any kind of inhabitation here other than the other obvious signs, such as purposely placed ruined railroad cars. Junction R-7, the place Littlepip had been left with in thanks for her commitment in the most recent Battle of Shattered Hoof, but I did not know that. Well, other than the battle part, thanks to DJ-Pon3, who seemed more than a little willing to spare time on the air to sing praises about this ‘Stable Dweller’.

“Come on out!” I called to the empty place, “I know you are hiding in there somewhere! Your turret is down by the way, so don’t expect that to help you!” Nothing.

“Soldier...” Snipes started.

“Sush.” I interrupted her, “Now, I am going to give you about ten seconds before I have my good friend her start blowing things up, if you come on out and give us the information we need, there will be no harm, if not...” two rockets popped out of Heavy Stomp’s armor, “Take a guess!” Nothing.

“Your choice, 10...9...8...7...6.” I began counting down, “5...4...3...2...” and right as I got to one, and singular pony came out from one of the improvised buildings.

“Wait! We will tell you, just don’t blow us up!” the pony pleaded.

I smiled smugly at Snipes before turning to the pony, “What can you tell us about one Calamity, he is reportedly in the company of a Stable Dweller?”

“They, they went to Manehatten, to see DJ Pon3, that’s all we know, I promise!” the pony said shakingly.

“Thank you for your cooperation.” I said menacingly before motioning to the others to follow me out of town.

⇐=========Present Day=========>

“Hey! Don’t look at me that way!” I told the crowd that had gathered before me to her my story, “Okay, so I once held this town ransom for information to hunt down Calamity, so what. The past is the past, now may I go on with the story?”

“Um, can we get a little break, this is a bit much to take in one dose.” I heard a pony say.

“Ug, fine. I shall rest for an hour and then we can begin again. When I start again, I’m going to be starting in Tenpony Tower and be getting to my encounter with Calamity so you better be here.” I said, getting up from the shaded spot I had sat to tell the story from.

Chapter 5: Welcome to Tenpony Tower

Chapter 5: Welcome to Tenpony Tower

“How does it feel, to be so close to your goal, but yet so far away?”

I sat in the Junction Town bar, waiting for the hour to be up, and recollecting my memories over shots of whiskey. As rich as I was, I was still miserable, I missed the days of the Wastelands in all honesty, the constant danger, the battles, the adrenaline, it makes my body shake with excitement just thinking about it. I quickly down another shot, looked at the time, payed the bartender, and headed out towards the tree I had been sitting at an hour ago.

Sitting down, I looked up to see the crowd gathering again, this time even larger than before, as if all of Junction Town wanted to hear my story. “Well I guess we should get started.” I said, “Let’s start with my arrival to Tenpony just a mere, what was it, 5-7 days after Littlepip. I don’t remember, all I know is that they were about to leave. Now then, let’s get started...”

<=======Ten Years Ago=======>

The arrival station was the only way in or out of Tenpony Tower from the ground, and it was also the most heavily guarded. I stood talking to the guard at the gate who was sitting behind glass that was no doubt armored. “Please, we just want a place to rest for the night, and Tenpony Tower is the safest place in the Manehatten Ruins.”

The guard looked at the four of us, “Uh huh, like the leader of the Commandos and three of his hooligans can’t keep themselves safe. Find somewhere else.”

“Please, we are running desperately low on supplies, and ammo.” I lied.

“Then deal with that yourselves. I ain’t about to let some mercenaries into Tenpony, no way, no how.” The guard replied.

I sighed, “I feared you would say that.” Then in the blink of an eye, my eyes turned into a blood red that trapped the guard in my gaze, breaking his mind open, and basically giving me free reign of his mind, but I wasn’t interested in information, only getting inside. According to a merchant we ran into on the way into the ruins at some half destroyed shack, Calamity had gone with ‘Littlepip the Stable Dweller’ and some beautiful mare named Velvet Remedy to go see DJ-Pon3, with some Steel Ranger, so that really helped narrow our search.

“On second thought, I best let you in. What harm are you four going to do without being able to use your weapons.” The guard said dutifully as I implanted the thought in his mind.

“Thank you.” I said with a nod as the guard let us through, not letting him go until we were at the next checkpoint were some unicorn passed her horn over us to take our ammo.

“So now what?” Snipes asked as we went into Tenpony itself.

“You three go find a place to sleep and gather up some supplies for the return trip. I’m going to find information on Calamity, don’t worry, I ain’t going to be facing him alone, I’ll bring you guys along when I track him down.” I replied.

“Oh course.” Snipes said.

“We’ll meet each other at the market in 2 hours time to update ourselves, got it?” I told them. They all nodded and spread out, and I began my search for information on Calamity.

*** *** *** ***

I stood before the double doors to DJ-Pon3’s area, ready to do whatever was nessacary to track down Calamity. I was so close to my goal I could smell it. All the information I gathered had led me here, mainly having to do with Littlepip, (There was that name again!) a ‘toaster repair pony’ who had gone to see DJ-Pon3. And I figured as Calamity was traveling with her, following that information would lead me to Calamity.

I stood in front of that door for quite awhile, it’s not often one gets to see DJ Pon3, or the one who was one of the reasons that you almost died. I found myself debating with myself if it was right to kill Calamity, after all he’s done for this ‘Littlepip’ character, but in the end my need for revenge won out and I knocked on the door.

I heard the scurrying of hooves running towards the door, and when the door opened, a grey mare was revealed, who though at first looked excited, but instantly became saddened to see it was me. “Expecting somepony?” I asked, Yes, joking makes the mind hacking easier, as it makes the mind unprepared. I thought.

“Well, yea, but it doesn’t matter. I’m Homage, DJ-Pon3’s assistant, how may I help you?” she asked.

“I want information, and a lot of it.” I said, eyes turning red one last time, easily breaking into her unprepared mind, and set to work. I forced her to step aside to let me in as I quietly looked through her recent memories, her face totally blank. “Hm, you have feelings for this Littlepip? This ‘toaster repairpony’?” I asked rhetorically as I came across those memories, which were quickly pushed aside as they did not help me, other than to not mess with Littlepip or Homage might just convince D....

“Wait, your DJ-Pon3!? HAH! Who woulda thought!” I exclaimed, “Hm, Calamity, Calamity...Ah, here we are.” I muttered mostly to myself as I went through all her information on Calamity before releasing her, right after wiping her memories of this incident, “Thank you for your assistance.” I chided to her unconscious body as I walked out of the room.

*** *** *** ***

Being the idiot I was, instead of finding Bloody 2, Snipes, and Heavy Stomp as back-up, I decided I could take on possibly 4 ponies at once, one a Steel Ranger, with nothing but Head Hunter. I stood outside the door to the room described in the memories of Homage, preparing myself.

This is it, I will finally kill Calamity today, after four long years, today he will die. I thought to myself, pulling out Head Hunter. I looked up and down the hallway to make sure nopony was around then I burst through the door, Head Hunter at ready.

*** *** *** ***

“Ah, Ah finally have time all to mahself.” Calamity said to himself, sinking into a couch. All his other companions were off doing errands, Littlepip and Velvet getting one last trip to the spa and Homage in before they left, and SteelHooves was doing.... whatever SteelHooves did when everypony else wasn’t around him. “Hm, should Ah clean mahself up before we leave?” he asked himself as he lay on the couch. That’s when a familiar pony burst through the door, waving a very dangerous knife/dagger/sword thing at him, “FUCK!” he yelled, flipping over the couch, trying to put something inbetween him and the mad pony.

*** *** *** ***

I jumped over the flipped over couch Calamity had been laying on when I burst in, tackling Calamity to the ground. “I’m going to kill you, you son of a bitch!” I yelled at him, bringing Head Hunter up for the kill when I heard a gasp from the entrance to the room and looked over to see Littlepip standing there, “I guess I’ll need to take care of you first.” I growled, bringing the butt of Head Hunter down on Calamity’s head, rendering him unconscious. Littlepip barely had enough time to scream before the trance hit her, then, a wild flashback hit me as I broke into Littlepip’s mind, a very particular memory.

<======= Stable 2, Many Years Ago=======>

“Stop what you’re doing right this instant young filly!” the Overmare’s voice boomed to a filly Littlepip, who stepped quietly away from a safe, dropping her screwdriver and bobby pin. “I have half a mind to hand you over to the Loyalty Inspectors, in fact, I think I will!”

“No, you won’t, and you know that.” a smaller voice said from the shadows, and a colt Julion stepped from the shadows.

“What makes you think you can tell me what to do, therapist.” the Overmare said extremely angerily and annoyed.

“Because of these.” the colt Julion said, pointing to his eyes, which were now red, which even then was a very powerful trance inducer. The Overmare’s face fell blank as the little Littlepip watched silently from her spot. “You know that doing anything to this little filly is wrong, doing the wrong thing is bad.” the colt Julion said in the same tone he used in his practice therapy sessions.

The Overmare nodded slowly, “Yes, of course, what was I thinking.” she said slowly and monotonously. Littlepip took a step back from this obviously powerful little colt, making double sure not to make eye contact.

“Good, now turn around and forget this ever happened.” Julion said to the Overmare, who dutifully turned around and left the room. Julion walked up to Littlepip, eyes returning to their usual color, “Sorry you had to see that, but I can’t bear to see anything bad happen to somepony as young as you, and in your...current position.” he said with a nod to Littlepip’s blank flank.

“You know, me and you, we aren’t so different. I didn’t have my cutie mark when I was your age, shoot, I didn’t even get mine till a few months ago.” Julion said, putting a comforting hoof on Littlepip’s shoulder, “Just remember, I won’t always be there for you, and there won’t always be somepony there as well. So take these words and live by them, no matter what you are told, no matter what happens to you, remember that you are what makes you. You choose for yourself, you decide how your life turns out. So what’s your name?”

“I’m, littl...” she started.

“What was that?”

“I said I’m Littlepip.” she said, obviously expecting some kind of insult.

Julion nodded, “Littlepip, that’s a good name. Well, I’ve got to go. So remember what I told you and stay out of trouble and you’ll be just fine.” Julion then got up and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Littlepip alone in the room. Just a few days later, that very colt would be on the outside of Stable 2’s door.

<=======Tenpony Tower=======>

I snapped out of the flashback, wozzy and dizzy, I took one look at Littlepip, and bolted, leaving two unconscious ponies alone in a room for who knows how long, as it turned out, not very long.

End of Chapter 5

Chapter 6: Assimilation

Chapter 6: Assimilation

“Trust, it’s hard to earn, and easy to lose.”

I woke from my slumber in the room we had rented out for the night, even though I desperately wanted to get out of there, there was no point in wasting in being able to sleep in an actual bed. I got up, rubbing my eyes, and looked around the dark room. Something seems off, I thought.

I looked around the room and realized what was wrong, the others were gone. My head swung back in forth in desperation, hoping that I had merely overlooked them. Nope, they were nowhere to be found. “Shit, shit, shit, shit!” I muttered under my breath, gathering up my supplies quickly. “This is not good!” I said to myself as I holstered Silent Death and Head Hunter, from the state of the room, they had obviously left for good, probably too tired to realize I wasn’t with them.

I opened the door, ready to dash out, hopefully I would be able to catch up with them, but instead I found myself face to face with two Tenpony guards. “SHIT!” I yelled, slamming the door on their faces. In a flash, I quickly came up with a plan, activating the S.A.T.S. in my Pipbuck for the first time in a long time. Time seemed to slow as I opened the door, the two guards still shocked at the door being slammed in their faces, then two quick punches to both of their faces left them drooling on the floor.

“Night night.” I muttered as I jumped over them and began to run my way out of Tenpony Tower, guards starting to chase me whenever they saw me zoom by.

*** *** *** ***

Tenpony Tower began to roll away as I galloped away from the place, somehow I managed to get a lucky break and dashed through the checkpoint right in the middle of a guard shift so I was able to slip through. I continued to gallop even though I knew I was safe from the guards in the hope that I could catch up with Bloody 2 and the rest, but being the idiot I am, I completely forgot about the comm unit that Bloody 2 had for just these types of circumstances.

I turned one more corner, all the galloping was starting to catch up to me, but little did I know that there was a certain blue wagon sitting there, and slammed into it at full speed, the last thing I saw was the word Bandit before hitting the skywagon and knocking myself out.

*** *** *** ***

“So do you know anything about this guy who attacked you guys?” Velvet Remedy asked Littlepip, as Calamity was busy installing the generator into the Sky Bandit.

“Well, when I came in, suspicious of how the door was hanging open, I see some stallion on top of Calamity, welding a huge knife, and was obviously about to kill him when he noticed me. Next thing I know, I’m taken on some flashback to my past that I viewed from a 3rd-pony point of view.”

“And this flashback was?” Velvet asked, rolling a hoof showing a go-on kind of thing.

“Well, it was back when I was just a filly, back in the Stable. It was this one time that I was caught by the Overmare picking a lock to some safe. She got really mad, then some colt came out that looked like the crazy unicorn that tried to kill Calamity, he spoke with the Overmare, his eyes turned red, and proceeded to make the Overmare leave and forget all about what I had just done.” Littlepip continued.

“Wait, so you’re saying is that the same pony who tried to kill our Calamity, saved you back in the stable?” Velvet asked, clearly confused.

“Apparently, after getting the Overmare to leave me alone, he dropped a few words of wisdom and advice by me, actually treated me nicely, then left.” Littlepip said, her mind suddenly thinking about the possible friendship the two could have had if she had ever seen him again, “I think he said his name was Julion.” she said after thinking a little bit.

“So wait just a dog gone minute!” Calamity’s voice was suddenly heard, “Y’all mean to say that tha Soldier’s, the leader of the Commandos, real name is Julion?!” laughing could be heard from inside the Sky Bandit, “Hah! Who woulda thought! Y’all do realize we’re probably the only ponies outside that damn army that knows ‘is name?!”

Velvet and Littlepip looked at each other worriedly, then back towards the skywagon as more laughter came from it. That’s when they heard a loud SMACK coming from the other side of the wagon.

“Now what the hell was that?!” Calamity asked, suddenly reappearing.

“I have no clue.” Littlepip replied, floating up Little Macintosh. They peeked around the corner to see an unconscious Julion laying in front of the wagon.

“Dang dumbass must’ve run smack into the wagon.” Calamity observed, “Well, we best tie ‘em up before he wakes.” The other two nodded just as Steel Hooves appeared on the other side of the wagon.

“Wait happened here?” he asked.

*** *** *** ***

I slowly came back to consciousness, mind groggy, but not for long after seeing that I was surrounded by four ponies, and that I was hogtied. “AH!” I yelled out in surprise, then fell off the bench I had been put on with a painful thump. As I then dealt with having a good look at my captors hooves. “Lovely day I’m having.” I remarked sarcastically.

“And it’s only gonna get worse.” a familiar voice said.

My eyes narrowed, “Calamity.” My neck still hurt too much to look up to get a good look at the four around me, but at least I know had names, “And I’ll take it that you two are Littlepip and Velvet Remedy?” I said, painfully nodding my head at two sets of hooves.

“That would be correct.” a lovely, but strangely sinister voice replied.

“And of the big guy?”

“I’m Steel Hooves.” the armored pony replied.

I chuckled a bit, “Ya know Steel Hooves, one of my mercenaries, goes by the name Heavy Stomp, told me ‘bout you, well at least your rank and what you mostly do.” No reply to that. “So what are you gonna do to me, the suspense is killing me.” I said, before chuckling at my own pun.

“We don’t know yet.” said a voice that I guessed was Littlepip.

“Hm, makes since. And I’m also gonna guess that you told them about the little flashback, Littlepip?” I asked, finally being able to lift my head without too much pain.

“How did you-” Littlepip started.

“Mind-hacking, well, sure it didn’t work so well in your case. Must had a bad case of guilty subconscious. Anyways, we both saw the same thing, yes, that colt was me. And that is why I keep my past a secret, what mercenary army would want a ‘stabler’ at their helm? None.” I replied, “Now can you please loosen these bindings? If I wanted to run, I would have the moment I looked up, because if you notice, my eyes are purple, not red. That means I’m safe.”

“Maybe in a little while, but for now, you’re going to ride along with us just like that.” Littlepip said.

Hm, they must have discussed at least that part while I was out. I thought as Calamity left the inside of the wagon. I suddenly felt a magic field wrap around me and sat me back up on the bench, I looked over to see Littlepip nodding towards me, showing that she had done that. Hm, maybe doing good does pay off, even for the little things.

Chapter 7: Interrupted

Chapter 7: Interrupted

"This ain't the time or place for talking.”

“So, we are going to see this ‘Watcher’ guy face to face?” I asked from the bench I was on the the Sky Bandit.

“That would be correct.” Littlepip confirmed. We had been in the sky about a day now, and we had come to the deal that I could be untied, if I hoofed over my weapons to SteelHooves, easier said than done to say the least.

I looked at the group in the Sky Bandit, there was Littlepip, SteelHooves, Velvet Remedy, Velvet’s balefire phoenix Pyrelight (There was some concern about the name among us, but we dared not voice them), and then Calamity outside pulling us. Right now, all of us but Velvet was awake, keeping an eye for anything, but so far, nothing had attacked us. Off in the distance, a huge mountain that was our destination towered over even the cloud bank.

As I stared off, I could hear a quiet conversation going on between Littlepip and SteelHooves, but I could tell it was private so I didn’t barge in, no need to ruin the extremely thin amount of ‘trust’ they had for me. The occasional word would drift over giving me a general idea of what they were talking about.

Apparently, it was something about the memory orb Velvet would disappear into constantly, I’ve already seen her do it twice, and how it was not a good memory at all. But one phrase did catch my attention, “Fluttershy killed us all.”

<=======Present Day=======>

I was about to continue with the meeting of Watcher when I heard a small voice in the crowd say, "Um, excuse me, Mister Soldier, Trupa, sir..." a young, shy colt said from the crowd.

I leaned forward to the colt, “Yes? What is it?” I asked annoyed.

“Um, I’ve...I know...” he tried to speak over some pretty major stuttering.

“What is it?” I asked, eager to get past this interruption.

The colt leaned to the stallion next to him, who I guessed was his father and whispered into his father’s ear. The stallion cleared his throat and said, “My son just finished reading the book of the Light Bringer, and he said that he didn’t really want to hear the whole story over again, he said that he can get a pretty good idea now from you now.” this was followed by a general murmur of agreement from the rest of the crowd.

I sighed, “Alright fine, I guess I will type a book on this some time in the future.” I walked through a small path in the crowd, “But I guess you ponies don’t want to hear what all I have to say, so I won’t torture you, but I will give a general summary.” I continued as I reached the end of the crowd, turning around.

“Let’s see here, after meeting Watcher, we went through all the adventures you all have read about together, and then some. Oh, interesting fact about what I did during the Friendship City attack, while Littlepip, Calamity, and Ditzy were taking down the Enclave attacking from their ships, I was on the ground, protecting as many civilians as I could.” I told them, “Then at the final battle with the Enclave, I lead the Commandos as a whole for the first time. And before that battle was when I asked Littlepip, Calamity, and Velvet Remedy to leave me out of any account that they made until I did so myself.”

With that, I turned away from the crowd and walked home, leaving them to imagine what had happened with me in the Light Bringer’s party.

*** *** ***

I sat in my small, modest house in Junction Town, which had become pretty much the unofficial headquarters of the Commandos, or as they were often times called now due to their defensive role, the Elite Guards.

I floated Head Hunter out in front of me, thinking back to the time I once killed a hell hound with it. It was after the first meeting with the Goddess, and we had gone to the nearest town (Whose name I no longer remember) for supplies and such. Sadly, said town was overrun with hell hounds.

This was the first time I realized Head Hunter’s full capabilities, a hell hound had gotten a little too close for me to use Silent Death, I had desperately held up Head Hunter in a feeble attempt to block those accursed claws. There was a loud clang, and when I looked up, Head Hunter had actually stopped the claws, more than that, it cut clean through them! Then, taking advantage of the hound’s shock, I swung Head Hunter at the hell hound’s head, and it literally grew! Into a whole sword! It cut clean through the hell hound’s head, and ever since, I have been all the more awe-inspired by this family heirloom.

I sat Head Hunter down and went over to my terminal, which after quickly unlocking it, I searched through the messages, most of which were reports, and then went to my entries. Scrolling down, I reached one so locked tight, not even a hacker as skilled as Littlepip would be able to break it. After going through the long and tedious process of unlocking it, these words popped up on the screen Cheating the Single Pegasus Project.

I smiled and reviewed all my notes in it, “Don’t worry ‘Pip, when your birthday rolls around, I’m gonna give you the best birthday present that one could ever give to a friend.”

Author's note

Can you guys guess what Julion has planned for Littlepip and Celestia? I'll give you a hint, the name of the entry Julion last looked at.

Chapter 8: Happy Birthday Littlepip!

Chapter 8: Happy Birthday Littlepip!

“True friendship is the willingness to go to the ends of the world and then some for your friends.”

The great one-eyed purple dragon known as Spike towered in front of me. With me was all I had learned that I would need in the ten years since the Day of Sunshine and Rainbows. It was a pretty strange collection, everything from a Pipbuck to electrical equipment to an alicorn that offered to have its mind wiped.

“Are you ready?” Spike asked me.

I swallowed, well aware of just how much this was going to hurt, “Yes.” I said tediously. As a just in case, I had had a cloud-walking spell cast on me for this occasion.

“You promise to bring them back?” Spike asked.

“Of course my big purple friend.” I said with a smile, “This is for everyone out there.” I took a deep breath, “Send me.”

Spike took a huge breath, and green flame washed over me, my last thought hoping that I wouldn’t be burned to death.

*** *** *** ***

“GAH!” I yelled the moment I reformed, “MOTHER FUCKER, SON OF A BITCH THAT HURT!” I lay on the ground, pretty well writhing in pain while the blanked alicorn just stood there, mind too empty to even comprehend the pain. As I slowly got up wincing, I muttered, “You lucky son of a bitch.” to the alicorn.

“Well those word some fine choice of words.” I heard a voice remark, looking up I saw a white alicorn inside a computer terminal, or more correctly, a bunch of them.

“Only speaking the truth.” I replied, “Where’s Littlepip?”

“In the weather pod, why do you ask? And what’s with the alicorn?” Celestia asked.

“I need to speak with her and you will find out about the alicorn soon enough.” I told Celestia, “What matters right now is that I speak with Littlepip.”

“Here to wish her happy birthday?” Celestia inquired, “It’s strange that Homage hasn’t come by yet.”

“That’s because I told her not to. Now would you please get Littlepip out here?” I asked impatiently.

“Alright alright, one second.” Celestia replied defensively before disappearing from the monitors.

After a few minutes of waiting, my old friend came walking into the room (Didn’t know it’s name, and I do not care). “Yes Julion?” she asked sheepishly.

“I have some good news ‘Pip!” I said brightly to her, “After ten long, long, long years of looking for a solution, I have finally found a way to get you guys out of here!”

“Wait wha-?” Littlepip started, “Even Celestia?”

“I said guys as in plural correct?” I asked sarcastically, “Yes, both of you have your own way to get out of here and into the world. Littlepip, yours was quick simple. All it takes is some rewiring, some soldering, and some connecting and your peachy.” I said, levitating out the Pipbuck.

“But Celestia’s problem was quite a bit more...intricate. I don’t even want to remember the countless hours I spent studying the Crusader Maneframes looking for a solution, but I finally found it. I found that, not only can the conscious mind be downloaded onto the Maneframes, they can also be uploaded into a body, as a just in case.” I continued, “And that is why I brought an alicorn with a completely blanked out mind.”

Both Littlepip’s and Celestia’s pixelated face looked shocked, it seemed almost too good to be true. “Are you sure this will work?” Littlepip asked.

“Of course! Sure somepony will have to stop by every once in a blue moon to make sure everything’s in working order, but it will work!” I said, now getting thoroughly excited. Soon, not only would I be giving Littlepip the best birthday present one could ever give another friend, but also I would be known as the stallion that brought back the Goddess Celestia and the Light Bringer!

“So how exactly does this work?” Celestia asked, skeptical.

“Let’s see, I hook up this Pipbuck that has a cycling weather schedule on it to the weather control mechanisms, I do a little bit of work on the download station then hook up the alicorn, and there we go! Sure the weather will not be as fine-tuned as when you controlled it Littlepip, but it will work.” I replied, “Now, may I get started?”

*** *** *** ***

“LITTLEPIP!” Homage yelled over the crowd before us as we reappeared in Junction Town. Homage rushed Littlepip, tackling her in a huge bear hug, she was followed by Calamity and Velvet, “So y’all actually did it.” Calamity said to me as he trotted past. I looked over my shoulder to Celestia, the alicorn’s body had completely changed to Celestia’s old form after the upload finished.

“Okay, so yes I planned this.” I said to her, “Now go say hello to them! You haven’t been seen in over two hundred years!” Celestia nodded and walked towards the crowd.

I looked back to see Littlepip, Homage, Calamity, and Velvet all talking together and couldn’t help but genuinely smile at the sight.

“So the once heartless, cold Julion “The Soldier” Trupa actually shows that his heart is a bit warmer than ice.” a heard a familiar voice remark.

“Snipes?” I asked turning around, to see my favorite Commandos standing there, “Snipes! Bloody 2! Heavy!” I exclaimed.

“Come on Julion, call us by our names, there’s no need for those silly nicknames anymore!” Bloody 2 said.

“Fine, Topal.” I sighed, “And I actually never learned you two’s real name.” I said to Snipes and Heavy Stomp.

“I’m Jhera Flowers.” Snipes said with a smile.

“Sargent is the name.” Heavy Stomp said.

“It’s good to finally know that.” I said to them, “Now come on, I have a little reporting to do.” I lifted my Pipbuck up to my face, then went through the options that would allow me to make a recording that would play after the next song on DJ-Pon3’s station. (Oh yes, forgot to mention that I became a part-time assistant to Homage after the Day of Sunshine and Rainbows, as a way to make up for what I did in Tenpony.)

“Hello ponies of New Equestria and all the other scattered settlements listening to this broadcast!” I said into my Pipbuck, “I am Julion The Soldier reporting to you from Junction Town, where I just returned with two important figures that were at one time watching us from the sky. That’s right, the Light Bringer and Goddess Celestia have returned to us! Don’t believe me? Here’s Littlepip the Light Bringer now!”

I walked quickly up to Littlepip, Homage quickly realized what I was doing and got everypony else to stand back a bit, I held out my Pipbuck for Littlepip to speak into, “So Littlepip, what do you think of your birthday present?”

Littlepip hesitated a little bit before saying, “I, well, it just leaves me speechless. It’s amazing.”

I nodded, and stepped back, to let her speak with the others again, “That was Littlepip from Junction Town, may we all wish her a happy birthday and good luck in the world! This is the Soldier, signing off from Junction Town.” I turned back to the group, time to wish her a happy birthday directly.

Prologue

Prologue

“You want the story of what I did while the Light Bringer was off on her adventures to save the Wastelands? You want the story of what I did while she was fighting the Goddess in Maripony or saving those ponies in the Manehatten ruins, or while she was behind Red Eye’s wall in Fillydelphia? Oh I’ll tell you what I did, but I doubt that you’ll believe me when I say I was there. I was there, from her first time to Manehatten on, that I was there through thick and thin, through Hellhounds and alicorns, I was there just like Calamity, just like Velvet Remedy, just like Steel Hooves.

‘How?’ you ask yourself, ‘could you have played such a role, but be left out?’ I’ll tell you. I asked for it to be so. I asked before that final battle, that unless I was killed, to leave me out of any account, to let me tell my side of the story when I wanted to, when I was ready. So, I was left out, just because of a request I made ten years ago, one that I still do not regret. You want to know how I came to meet Littlepip eh? I’ll tell you, but let me give a little foreshadow, we had met once before a long time before we found ourselves thrown together in a single group in Manehatten.

I’ll tell you what brought me to Littlepip in Manehatten; plain and simply, it was the desire for revenge. The desire of revenge against the one pony to best me in a fight, the one that gave me the scar I wear on my face today, the one whom I am good friends with now, Littlepip’s first companion; Calamity.”

Epilogue

Epilogue

“In the end, in some small way, every action we make has the potential to change the world.”

I am Julion Trupa, one time Commander of the feared and respected Commandos, who one will now find as the most elite units in the United Equestrian Army. I am descendant from the original founder of the Commandos, Commander of the Military Dark Light. As I lay here, on my death bed, I think back on my life, and through all of it, I’ve come to finally realize these things: My virtue, one that I spent soul searching for years, was Caring.

Caring, though not quite on the level of Kindness, is a very good virtue indeed. I think back and realize I have cared for many things and protected those things I cared about. Littlepip from back in Stable 2, I cared for her because I was once just like her. The Commandos, I cared for them because I created them. Myself, in my darkest moments, all I cared for was myself, I was the picture of corrupted Caring.

I cared for Topal, Marigold Flowers, and Sargent, they were my closest friends in the Commandos. I cared for Littlepip and her crew, who I spent many adventures together with, and slowly became their friends, even with Calamity. I have cared for many things, and didn’t even realize it.

But the second thing I have realized, was that in the end, it isn’t our virtues that are important, no, it is our actions. Our actions speak for themselves, every action we make can change the world, for better or worse. Action is what made Red-Eye Red-Eye and Littlepip Littlepip. Even though our virtues might influence that, our actions are what make us, us.

I have done many actions in my life that will be recorded as evil, vile, and cruel, but I will also be remembered for the good I have done. The same holds true for all of us. If we do nothing, in the end, we will be lost. But all it takes is one moment, one action, and we are remembered forever.

As I look back, I have come to the conclusion that I have lived an overall good life, through the ups and downs, the killings and the friendships. Make sure that you don’t end up in my situation when your time comes. Don’t be laying in your final moments thinking, Celestia, I wish I had done more, because by then, it’s too late. Live your life to the fullest, and remember, your actions have the potential to change the world.

This is Julion the Soldier, signing off, for the very last time.

Author's Note

Whelp, that's that. I want to thank you for reading my fanfic, and I hope that you liked it. Though it is short, I hope you found it attentive and ingrossing, and fulfilled everything you thought it would be.