Captain Equestria: The First Avenger

by Lady Umbra

Rating: everyone
Tags: Bow Hothoof, Adventure, Shining Armor, Crossover, Tragedy, Anthro, Cheerilee, Discord, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe, Captain America
Length: 4905

The world is in the throes of war. Dusk Shine wants to do his part and join Equestria's armed forces, but the military rejects him because of his small stature. Finally, He gets his chance when he is accepted into an experimental Program

It is 1941 and the world is in the throes of war. Dusk Shine wants to do his part and join Equestria's armed forces, but the military rejects him because of his small stature. Finally, Dusk gets his chance when he is accepted into an experimental program that turns him into a from a meek weakling from Canterlot into a super-soldier called Captain Equestria. Joining forces with Shining Armor and Cadance, Captain Equestria leads the fight against the Nazi-backed HYDRA organization.

Published 2021-06-05 16:00:01 UTC
Last updated 2021-09-06 21:30:04 UTC

Prologue

Author's Note

Okay before we begin just know that while the characters are antho they can't use the abilities in the show.
Unicorns have forgotten how to use magic
Pegasi are too heavy to fly
Changeling's don't shapeshift
Dragon's don't fly or breath fire

It will help with the storyline of the movie Xover's

Prologue

A snowstorm whips across a frozen wasteland as a series of headlights move through the rapid snow. As the headlights come to a stop in front of a man wearing thick orange clothes with a burning lantern staff in his hands, it reveals a high-tech humvee that grinds through the arctic snow. Two figures come out of the vehicle wearing thick winter coats, One an orange dragon with blue eyes and the other a hippogriff with violet-colored eyes. The whipping snow is hard to see through and makes it difficult to speak to anyone.

The two figures could barely see as the orange-coated man greeted them, offering his hand.

The man shouted over the wind. “You the guys from Washington?”

“Yeah, I’m Smolder; this is my associate Silverstream'' Smolder said, taking the man's hand. “Get many other visitors out here?” Smolder joked

“How long have you been on-site?” Silverstream asked

“Since this morning.” the man answered as they moved across the snow, “A Russian oil team called it in about eighteen hours ago.”

“How come nobody spotted it before?” Smolder asked, causing the man to chuckle.

“Look around ya,” the man said, gesturing around him. “Ice melts. Storms blow in. Landscape changes all the time.” He soon gets a worried look on his face. “Any chance you mind if I ask what this thing is, exactly?”

“Would you believe us if we said it was a weather balloon?” Smolder asked with a slight grin.

“No.” Smolder and Silverstream stare. The team leader shrugs and walks on. “Listen, for the record, I’m not sure we have the equipment for a job like this.”

“Is the sonar up and running yet?” The dragoness asked.

“It is. We’re getting deep ice preliminaries now.” The earth pony said to the women. “Very deep, though.” This caused Smolder to snicker slightly.

Silverstream nudged Smolder with her arm before speaking to the man. “So? How long before we can start craning it out?”

He stops the hippogriff, a bit incredulous.

“I don’t think you two quite understand….” The earth pony points at something off in the distance. “You guys are going to need one hell of a crane.”

Smolder and Silverstream followed the man's finger before their eyes went wide and their jaws dropped; they were utterly and totally awestruck. Ahead of them was a massive wingtip jutting from the ice, towering above them like a skyscraper. A skull and tentacle logo is just visible through the ice

“Silverstream report back and tell the colonel we’re going to need the bigger drill,” Smolder said as the hippogriff went to the car.

Within an hour, numerous trucks and vehicles arrived and began drilling into the massive aircraft. The laser drill burns through the hull of the aircraft, cutting a hole. The metal circle drops into the interior, letting in a shaft of light.

Smolder and Silverstream hooked themselves to harnesses and ventured into the plane with the aid of the ropes.

They creep through the frozen, devastated plane as the shattered control screens reflect their flashlights.

“GEFAHR. EXPLOSIVSTOFFE.” Smolder said in german. “Danger. Explosive materials.”

“Since when could you speak German?” Silverstream asked.

“Me and a few friends visited Germany in my childhood,” Smolder answered her friend. “I learned German from a relative living there.” Smolder then picks up a radio and begins to speak to the base.

“This has got to be World War II,” Smolder reported looking around. “But the Luftwaffe didn’t have anything nearly this advanced….Or this big.”

As Smolder gave her report, Silverstream caught sight of something beneath the ice within the plane.

“Smolder, you should check this out,” Silverstream said, drawing her friend's attention.

“Hold that, Base,” Smolder said, moving towards Silverstream.

The hippogriff sweeps her hand across the ice floor, showing Smolder the frozen item.

“Any idea what this is?” Silverstream asked.

The lieutenant stares in both awe and shock at what she was seeing.

Without hesitation, Smolder got on her radio and contacted the base. “Base, get me a line to the colonel.”

“Now? But it’s three a.m.”

“I don’t care what time it is!” Smolder said, returning her gaze to the ice, “This one’s waited long enough.” Smolder got off the radio and knelt next to Silverstream.

“We finally found you…” she knocks away the last of the snow covering the ice, revealing...A red and blue shield with a purple six-pointed star. “...Captain”

NORWAY, MAY 1942.

Two humanoid felines race across the cobblestone roads as gunfire and explosions cover the surrounding area.

“Go Pan, and tell the Keeper! Hurry!”

Pan runs as his comrade sets off a molotov and checks his rifle. The molotov covers the cobblestone streets in flames. The feline aims his rifle at the flames waiting for one of his attackers when he begins to hear a clanking sound.

The ominous clanking rises until a colossal tank, dubbed the Landkreuzer, emerges from the flames. The feline pales at the sight of the Hydra logo, turning tail the cat-man runs, but mounted machine guns cut him down before moving on and over his deceased body.

Pan races toward the front door of a lonely stone tower, Bursting through the doors, Pan swiftly closes them and slams down a vast timber crossbeam, locking the door.

“They’re coming!”

The old tower keeper rushes downstairs. “It matters not,” the Keeper said, reaching the ground floor. “They’ll never find it.”

The two men turn as an ominous clanking rises outside. Without warning, the Landkreuzer punches through the wall. Bricks and timber rain down onto Pan and knock the Keeper off his feet; as the Landkreuzer pulls back and the dust settles, the keeper struggles to his feet to find his younger friend. Only to find Pan dead amidst the rubble, blood dripped from his head as the Keeper shut his eyes.

Without a moment of hesitation, Hydra troops pour in, surrounding the Keeper as a pegasus wearing a uniform that belonged to a lieutenant.

“Three of you keep your guns on him; the rest of you get that coffin open,” ordered the lieutenant.

As the soldiers began to remove the lid to the coffin as a modified car pulled up, its hood ornament was a skull with eight tentacles; the symbol of the Hydra group. The doors open, and a set of gleaming jackboots step onto the cobblestone streets; a soldier wearing that same symbol on his uniform approached and saluted.

“Report,” the unicorn ordered, looking at the broken tower.

“Lieutenant Blue has the Keeper inside and is in the process of relieving the relic from him,” the soldier said, slightly sweating in the presence of his superior.

The man walks past the soldier and into the building.

The Keeper tried to run only to be stopped when the Hydra Soldiers threw him down in front of the stone sarcophagus in an ornate crypt. The soldiers tried but failed to open the tomb; however, with all their numbers, they were unable to move the massive coffin lid a single inch.

“Quickly, before he…” the lieutenant stops at the sounds of footsteps.

The soldiers snapped to attention as a Hydra officer walked over the rubble, a unicorn with red fur and ruby red eyes; his mane and tail were pitch black with strips of red, making his hair look like a candy cane.

“Crimson Rain, sir,” the lieutenant said, saluting the officer. “We…” he began only to stop when Crimson held up a hand.

“You know it has taken me a long time to find this place,” Crimson said, moving in front of the Keeper. “You should be commended.”

He stands before the tower keeper. “Pick him up,” ordered Crimson.

“Now give me what I want, and you will find me and my men out of your hair,” Crimson said to the Keeper.

“I give you nothing.” the Keeper spat out.

A Hydra soldier moves to strike the old cat man, but Crimson waves him off.

“Come now; you are a man of great vision,” Crimson said, fixing the Keeper's coat before moving around the Keeper like a vulture does with its prey. “In that, we are much alike.”

“I am nothing like you!” shouted the Keeper.

“Oh, no, no. I don’t suggest that.”

Crimson sees the coffin lid his men were struggling with. “But what others see as superstition, you and I know to be science. The oldest science.”

“What you seek is just a legend.” argued the Keeper.

“Then why do you try so hard to hide it?” Crimson asked with a grin.

Crimson Rain strides to the coffin before placing a hand on it. With a single push, he heaves the heavy lid aside. Inside the coffin lay a desiccated corpse; in his hands was a crystal cube.

“The Tesseract..” Crimson said, lifting the cube and turning to the Keeper. “....was the jewel of Bright Mac’s treasure room.”

Crimson turns the cube over in his hand before dropping it onto the floor. The cube hit that ground and shattered on contact.

“It is not something one buries,” Crimson says, walking over the shards and towards the Keeper. “But…” Crimson says into the Keeper’s eyes. “..It is close, and I will find it.”

“I cannot help you.” the Keeper insisted.

“No,” Crimson said, moving away a bit. “But maybe you can help them.” Crimson Rain motioned toward the Landkreuzer’s cannon barrel pointing right at the town.

“I’m sure you have friends out there,” Crimson said, circling the Keeper. “Grandchildren, perhaps. See, I’ve no need for them to die, so tell me what I want to know, and not a single shot will be fired on anypony else.”

Terrified, the tower keeper lets his eyes flick to a wall on the far end of the room. Crimson Rain walks past the old cat man and steps in front of the wall with a carving of a tree.

“Ah...Yggdrasil, tree of the world.” Crimson said with a small smile. “Also referred to as the Guardian of Wisdom….” Crimson said, scanning over the tree before falling to its roots and lastly. A Serpent. “...and Fate.”

The Hydra officer pushes the snake’s eye, causing a hidden compartment to push itself out. The compartment revealed a wooden box carved like the snake on the wall. Seeing Crimson with the box, The old keeper sags in defeat.

Crimson Rain opens the box allowing the red light within to illuminate his face. He gazes at the item, enraptured by its powerful glow. The old man just stares in awe at the object.

“And elsewhere, the Fuhrer digs for the trinkets in the desert,” Crimson says as he looks over at the old Keeper. “You’ve never seen this before, Have you?”.

“It is not for the eyes of ordinary men,” The Keeper responded, causing Crimson to smirk.

“You are exactly correct.” Crimson shuts the box causing the light to disappear. He glances over at the cannon, almost distractedly. “Commence firing,” Crimson ordered.

Outside, a soldier calls out the order as rifles, and the Landkruezer opens fire on the town. Enraged, the Keeper lunges at Crimson but is held back by the soldiers within the tower.

“You are a fool.” The Keeper shouted, trying to break free from the soldier's grip. “None of us can control that power. You will burn.”

“Believe me.” Crimson draws his Luger with dazzling speed and shoots the Keeper in his heart. “I already have.”

Crimson begins to rub his jaws as the Keeper drops to the ground, the old man’s blood having spattered Crimson’s Hydra pin. His tentacled death’s head is now a red skull.

Dusk Shine's Enlistment

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Welcome to the Military

HYDRA HQ

Fast wind blew spreading snow across the mountains, In the side of one of the mountains a series of windows showed a single unicorn looking out of it before turning into the room

“Are you ready, Dr. Horse?” Crimson Rain asked the earth pony working on a series of machines

“Patience my friend” Dr. Horse as he worked on the calibration system. “My machine requires the most delicate calibration.” the doctor peered through a magnifier. “So please forgive me if I seem overcautious with the power chamber”

Crimson Rain picks up one of the doctor’s blueprints double checking the device. “Are you certain the conductors will withstand the energy surge long enough for the transference?” Crimson Rain asked approaching the machine

“I cannot say for certain,” Dr. Horse said, moving away from the machine. “With this an artifact of this caliber I am certain of nothing.”

“As a matter of fact, If I may be so bold to say Crimson,” The Doctor eyes more conduits snaking from the battery to a crude cannon and a series of wooden targets. “I fear this may not work at all.”

Crimson glances at the carved box from Norway, which sat on his desk. “Have no fear Doctor.” The unicorn said with a grin. “I have complete faith in you”

However Crimson’s grin faded. “But should it fail then we have lost valuable time,
Doctor.” Crimson said, putting his arm around the doctor’s shoulders. “And then I’d have to put a bullet in your the head”

“That’s comforting Crimson” Dr. Horse said with sarcasm in his voice

“But if it does work…” Crimson said, pulling a small book from his coat before showing the doctor the contents.

A Mammoth thee with a snake hidden its roots, the unicorn flips the page showing a sketch of a glowing cube which held the power to lay waste to a horde of barbarians

“In a matter of minutes, we might control the power of the gods themselves.” Crimson said with a mad grin, one which the doctor shared with him

“It is a moment of terrible possibility.” Dr. Horse said as he turned the machine on. “Now..for the power source” The earth pony said turning to see Crimson approaching with the wooden box

Crimson opens the box and is immediately bathed in a blinding red light, As the doctor secures his tinted goggles. Crimson Rain pulls a cube out of the box with a wide smile.

“An incredible object of pure energy” Crimson said with glee as he places the glowing cube on the machines cradle

The Cube goes down into the machine before the glass starts to glow, covering the chamber the interior of the block was as yet apparent behind the gleam. Crimson goes after machine and starts to turn a dial causing a gauge marked ‘ENERGIE BATTERIE’ to glow red, bit by bit more of the machine turned red leading to the massive cannon

“Power rising to twenty percent...forty percent” Dr. Horse reported watching the power climb “Sixty percent, Crimson” however the battery remained cold and dark causing the doctor to slightly sweat in worry

“We are stable at seventy percent.” Dr. Horse informed turning to the unicorn. “We are well within safety parameters, best to stop now”

“With all do respect Doctor I did not come all this way for safety” Crimson said grinning madly as he turns the dial passing both eighty and ninety percent

“Crimson at those levels the power may be uncontrollable” Dr. Horse voiced his concern however Crimson cranks the dial all the way to one-hundred percent.

The machine began to rattle and arc electricity as otherworldly power bursts from the cube in a burning flash, a flash that floods the conduits before filling the entire battery with its red energy. The machine began to shake violently as the glowing battery rattled, just as the battery appeared to burst the red energy flashes in a swirling rush of lightning.

“Not good” Dr. Horse said grabbing Crimson before dragging him to the ground

The machine began to spark as it fired several beams of red energy, the beam utterly vaporizing the targets. The beams would have destroyed more than the targets had Dr. Horse not pulled a switch which promptly shut the cannon offline.

Crimson and Dr. Horse lift themself from the ground as they gape at the fading energy,

Crimson and Dr. Horse lift themself from the ground as they gape at the fading energy. The cube powers down however the battery still glows red and humming with life, within the swirling energy both ponies see otherworldly visions, the Doctor looked uneasy to where they saw the visions

“Crimson...Did you see…” The doctor uttered out looking to Crimson Rain

Crimson Rain just stares at the destruction around him with a wide smile across his face. “Thank you, Doctor.” Crimson said admiring the damage left by the weapon. “Your designs do
not disappoint”

The two looked around the room and found a lot of the walls were torn apart with wires hanging out, towards the door was a massive hole leading right into halls.

“Though I’d request they get proper reinforcement.” Crimson said as the doctor took a look at the gauge with an impressed smile on his face.

“Remarkable,” Dr. Horse said with a massive smile on his face. “The exchange is stable... The energy we’ve just collected could power a battleship. No Ten battleships.” the Doctor said lifting the energized container. “This will change the war.”

“I’m afraid you’re wrong Doctor,” Crimson said, his hands shaking with a pure smile on his face. “This will change the world for the rest of time.”

Ponies, Griffons, and even Dragons were lined up awaiting the company of their commander, Dusk was sandwiched between two hulking men which in turn made him look even smaller. However Dusk had a look of pure determination as he checked and double checked his uniform and helmet.

“Recruits, Attention!” A alicorn wearing a dark green suit called out walking in front of the recruits with a soldier following behind with a crate of clipboards.

The Alicorn had a light pink coat, Her eyes are a vibrant light purple and her hair was stripped in colors of pale yellow, bright pink, and purple.

“Gentlemen, my name is Agent Mi Amore Cadenza.” The agent said to the recruits. “Once we have time to get acquainted you may call me Cadence”

Majority of the men looked at the alicorn with a blush on their face from her sheer beauty.

“I will be supervising your induction today.” Cadence said as the soldier began to pass out the clipboards. “To begin with, I shall need you to complete this document.”

Dusk looks over the clipboard and finds that the documents were his ‘Last Will and Testament, the two guys next to him look at each other nervously as they saw the documents. However Dusk was not fazed as he worked on the document. An earth pony stallion scoffs and grumbles as he takes the paper

“What’s with the accent, Queeny?” the stallion joked with a chuckle. “I thought I was signing
up for the Equestrian Army.

“What’s your name, soldier?” Cadence the pony

“Diamond Crown, your majesty.” Diamond Mocked with a laugh

“Step forward,Crown.” Cadence ordered

As Diamond Crown steps up to the Alicorn, she taps her foot on the ground indicating where he should stand.

“Right leg forward, arms like so…” Cadence said placing her hands behind her back as Crown did the same

“We gonna rassle?” Crown joked before winking at the mare “‘Cause I got a few moves I know you’ll like.”

Cadence smirked as she came close, also putting one leg forward.

“Tell me Mr. Crown, Are you familiar with the art of Jiu Jitsu?” Cadence asked the earth pony stallion. “Wherein your opponent’s size and momentum are used against him?

“No...But I know a thing or two about momentum” Diamond Crown smirked

As fast as lightning the Alicorn punches Crown square in his nose, the stallion drops to the ground in a heap as his eyes begin to water and blood starts dripping from his nose.

Cadence composed herself before glaring at the stallion. “Well I don’t know Jiu Jitsu,” Cadence said casually. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t know how kick your pathetic flank

The men begin to snicker at the humiliation of the earth pony, Dusk looks especially pleased seeing him put in his place.

“Agent Cadenza!” A voice called out causing the men to leap to attention

“Colonel Night Light.” Cadence said with a nod as a older unicorn stallion approached with Doctor Sunset Glare behind him

Dusk immediately grew increasingly nervous hearing the name of the Colonel, his company commander was in fact Shining Armor’s father.

“I see you’re breaking in the candidates.” Night Light stood next to Cadence. “That’s good.” the Colonel glanced down to Diamond Crown. “Get your ass up and stand at attention until someone tells you what to do”

Crown scurries back to his feet before standing in line, all the while constantly inhaling through his nose to keep the blood from leaking out. Colonel Night Light stands before the men and begins to give them words of encouragement

“General Night Glider has said that “wars are fought with weapons and won by men.” Night Light said, looking over his men. “We’re going to win this war because we have the best men…” Night hesitates in his speech when his eyes land on a familiar unicorn. “...And because they are going to get better. Much. Much better.”

With his words finished the colonel walked right up to the doctor. “What the hell is Dusk doing here?” Night whispered to Sunset

“He asked for a chance,” Sunset whispered back with a smirk. “So I gave him one”

“You’re going to give me more grey hair than I already have doctor” Night Light said returning to face his men

“The Strategic Scientific Reserve isan Allied effort, made up of the best minds in the free world.” Night Light continued. “Our goal is to create the finest army in history. But every army starts with one man.”

“By the end of this week, we’re going to choose that man.” Cadence said to the recruits

“He’s going to be the first of a new breed of super soldiers.” Night Light said, placing his hands behind his beck. “And together they’re going to bring a quick end to this damn war”

“Dismissed, we begin tomorrow” Cadence called out as the men began to head to the barracks,

Dusk Shine wanted to stay behind to speak with the stallion who gave him a home after his mother passed, however Night Light passed him but not before speaking to the unicorn.

“Don’t expect to be treated any different just cause you’re my sons friend” Night Light said leaving with Sunset and Cadence

“Good Luck” Sunset said with a thumbs up

Dusk Shine enters the barracks with the other recruits, passing the recruits the unicorn saw Diamond Crown putting up a pin-up of a grey mare with a spoon in her mouth. Once settled at his bunk, Dusk unpacks a stack of well-worn military books. While the others were getting to know one another, Dusk was reading through the books before heading to bed.

That morning Dusk and the other recruits were going through an obstacle course, however Dusk was slowly falling behind. The recruits soon scramble up a cargo net, unfortunately Dusk’s foot gets tangled on the way up causing him to fall back. With his foot caught in the ropes Dusk was left hanging in the air, Diamond Crown climbs over Dusk by smashing the unicorn's face with his booted foot.

From an observation platform, Sunset Glare watched as Dusk grimaces but hauls himself up with a determined look on his face.

“He has Determination to push himself,” Sunset said with a growing smile. “And that detestable stallion...Let’s see how you push yourself young man”

Later that day Cadence glanced at her stopwatch before returning the gaze to the recruits who were crawling through mud with rifles in their hands beneath barbed wire, with a massive grin on his face Diamond kicked out a support causing the barbed wire to fall onto Dusk

“Shine, get that rifle out of the mud!” the Trainer shouted, stomping towards the unicorn.

The next day the trainer had the recruits in full gear for a full ten mile hike, meanwhile Dusk was far behind as the group stopped at a flagpole. Night Light and Cadence sat in a car close to the flag.

“Alright ladies, see that flag” the trainer said pointing to the waving flag. “That means we’re at the halfway mark, First man to bring it to me gets a ride back to base with Agent Cadenza”

Immediately the recruits scramble to climb the pole only to lose grip and fall back to the ground, the trainer watches this with a wide smile on his face. Diamond Crown shoved all others out of the way before scaling the pole, only to make it halfway before falling back down.

“That flag hasn’t left that pole in the last seventeen years” the Trainer said before barking the men to fall back into line

Hearing a slight laugh the trainer gazed at the Smiling Dusk. “Something funny, Shine?”

“I thought this was going to be a challenge” Dusk stated as the trainer stepped towards him

“Meaning?” The trainer asked stopping in front of the meek unicorn

“I’m going to get you that flag” Dusk said making the trainer laugh

“If none of these men..” the trainer said motioning towards the fit men. “..Couldn’t get the flag, then how will you?”

Dusk said nothing as he approached the flagpole before reaching to the base of it, the unicorn pulled out a bolt before kicking the metal rod from the pole. The flagpole leaned forward before crashing to the ground, with a satisfied smile dusk tossed the bolt to the ground before removing the flag from the pole.

“Like this” Dusk said, handing the flag to the trainer before hopping in the car with Cadence and Night Light. “Not even a challenge”

“Shining always said you were a smartass” Night Light said with a smile that was mirrored by Cadence as he drove off to the base

Later that day Dusk and the other recruits were doing push-ups while Cadence paced around them.

“Faster ladies come on, My grandmother has more life than this,” Cadence said to the recruits. “God rest her soul” Cadence whispered

“I guess I just don’t understand your sense of humor, Doctor Glare,” Night Light said as he and Sunset walked towards the recruits. “You’re not thinking of picking Shine, are you?

“There is no debate about this, Colonel.” Sunset said, walking ahead of the colonel. “He is the clear choice.”

“Look when you invited a ninety-pound asthmatic bookworm onto my Army base, I let it slide because I assumed he’d be useful to you.” Night Light said catching up with the doctor. “Like an assistant or apprentice, I’d never thought you’d pick him.

They stopped near an open truck which had numerous crates inside as the recruits began to do jumping jacks. “He’s so thin that if you put a needle in that kid's arm, it’s gonna come out the other side.” They watch Dusk struggling to do his jumping jacks. “I mean I respect the hell out of the kid but look at him! He’s making me cry.”

“I am searching for qualities beyond the physical, Night Light” Sunset Glare said to the colonel.

“Do you know how long it took to set up this project?” Night Light asked the yellow and red haired doctor. “The groveling I had to do in front of Senator whats-his-name’s committee?”

“I’m well aware of your efforts.” Sunset said to the colonel

“Crown has passed every test we gave him.” Night Light said as he watched Diamond Crown powers through his jumping jacks. “He’s big, he’s fast, and he takes orders. In short, he’s a soldier.”

“He’s a bully.” Sunset corrected

Night Light stares at Sunset Glare for a long moment before he rubs his eyes, the colonel reaches into a crate from the nearby truck

“Doctor Glare, You don’t win wars with niceness,” Night Light said, pulling a grenade from the truck. “You win them..” the unicorn pulls the pin before the safety lever sprang off “...with guts.”

Night Light throws the explosive at the recruits. “GRENADE!”

It tumbles in the grass, stopping in front of the recruits. Dusk’s eyes go wide as the rest of the recruits scramble away. Diamond Crown let out a high pitched scream, the stallion runs and throws himself underneath a nearby jeep. Cadence goes for the grenade, but Dusk gets there first before throwing himself on it

“Everybody DOWN!” Dusk shouted and waited for the explosion...But nothing happens

After a moment, Dusk opens his eyes, confused. Over by the truck

At the truck, Night Light just glares before Dusk spots the crate in the truck which was labeled “M-56 TRAINING GRENADES - INERT.” Sunset smiles at the Colonel as Diamond Crown peaks out from under the jeep, shame plastered on his face

“Uh...is this a test?” Dusk asked, still splayed over the inert grenade.

“He’s still a toothpick” Night Light said to the doctor before walking off