I hated the battlefield. Vehemently. It was worse than Tartarus, a place I had the chance to visit on a rather unfortunately assigned guard patrol.

Many would disagree with me, but many hadn’t experienced this kind of war firsthoof. It was important to distinguish the primary difference between them.

In Tartarus, only the bad guys were punished, those that deserved the pain and horror a place like that could bring. On the battlefield, everyone was punished. There was no rhyme or reason to it, just that horrible things would happen to you, and, in most cases, you would never see it coming.

Just within my view, pain, gore and blood dominated the area.

To my left, a Storm Guard beheaded a unicorn with a swing of its ax. To my right, an earth pony crushed the skull of an allied pegasus who had accidentally fallen into their path. Down the field, a pony so soaked in gore so as to be unidentifiable, screamed incoherently as they smashed a rock into an already dead Storm Guard’s face repeatedly.

A constant rhythmic thing that hammered in the sense of horrified dread that permeated my mind.

My ears were assailed by the screams of enemies and allies alike. It was in concert with the cawing of crows flying overhead, filthy scavengers waiting to take what they wanted in the aftermath. A death knell in recognition of the inevitable end to come.

But the war was mere background noise to where my attention was focused.

North. Across the wasteland and over the bodies of ponies I once called friends. A fortress of stone so tall that it blotted out the sun.

It seemed to convey that our greatest watcher, Princess Celestia, could not even bear to witness such a sight. Such vulgar, graphic death could do nothing but bring tears to her eyes.

Worthless poetry amidst pointless slaughter. Well, nearly pointless slaughter. The Storm King needed to die.

An inevitability soon to be fulfilled.

I galloped across the plains, my wings tucked tight to my side, my eyes focused ahead. He would be there, the inevitability coming for the Storm King’s head. I would not be needed for that fight, its outcome had been decided when the box had been sent what felt like a lifetime ago.

No, I needed to be there for after.

I needed to be there for him, because no one else would be.

As I ran faster than I ever had before all I could think about was how I hoped I would not be too late.

Flash Sentry paused a moment to inspect his appearance in a dingy storefront window close by. He looked slick in his jacket with sunglasses perched just below his maneline and shield shaped studs embedded in his right ear. He looked like a frat pony who slept around with anyone that had a working sex organ, which was exactly what he was going for.

Of course, the extra effort was also to draw attention away from his messy wings that hadn’t gotten an in depth preening in an amount of time measured as “too long” and the bags under his eyes, which would hopefully be hidden under dark lighting.

Attractiveness was the name of the game, and he felt confident that he had achieved it. It would hopefully be enough later that evening when he attempted to get closer to his target.

But a nagging thought of failure still clung to his mind regardless.

Shaking his head to clear the errant thoughts, he trotted away from the window, and continued down the dimly lit streets of Saddle Row, a neon bathed red light district crowded with strip clubs, brothels, and bars. It was Canterlot’s premier nightlife destination and the best place for somepony to get their rocks off as fast as possible.

Several ponies gave him lustful looks as he strode confidently forward using his bulk to cut through the crowds — a benefit to being a good full head taller and twice as big as non-earth ponies.

Feeling cheeky, he gave the onlookers a small show by walking with his tail hiked up and his flanks swaying in an exaggerated manner. Each sway of his hips gave the onlookers a peek at what lay underneath. I was more than enough to fuel any fantasies they might have if they ended up alone that night and with a need to fuilfill their sexual desires.

It all served to give him a small boost to his confidence, a minor salve against the nagging thoughts of doubt that clouded his mind.

Just down the street, he spied the Glitz; a high end club for the wealthy and those with less than savoury connections. It was the place Flash’s target frequented most and the best chance of finding him that night.

He stepped into a side alley, and hid behind a nearby dumpster. Once he was certain that no one was watching him, he withdrew a small blue gel-like pill from his jacket pocket. He admired the shield imprinted on its surface affectionately before flicking his wing with a snap, and popping it into his mouth.

Before he could accidentally swallow it, he rolled the pill underneath his tongue, hiding it away for future use.

His preparations complete, Flash exited the alley, crossed the street through and arrived at the entrance to the Glitz. He gave a nod to the bouncer who returned it with a grunt and trotted confidently into the club, cries of annoyance from the ponies lined up behind him following after.

Now, the Glitz didn’t quite live up to its flamboyant name. The interior had a much more subdued atmosphere with rows of booths lit by a singular dim chandelier overhead taking up most of the floorspace and soft jazz music giving a more high class vibe to the whole affair.

Wanting to waste no time, Flash trotted along the rows of booths, scanning for his quarry. His target was Steel Battalion, a large gray earth pony with a dark blue mane if his photo had been up to date.

He passed several servers who gave him a wide berth, and did manage to find a stallion matching the given description near the back nursing a tall glass of what Flash thought was whiskey. It was a rather uninspired choice for an ex-military type, but Flash wasn’t there to critique his taste in drinks.

Flash trotted up to the table and gave Steel a flirtatious grin. He forced back a shiver of discomfort as Steel raked his gaze over his body taking in every detail of his appearance.

Steel smiled, a grimy, sordid thing. “Hey, there. Lookin’ for anything in particular?”

The accent Steel spoke with was thick and misplaced too far south of where it should be. It was the type of voice that belonged with a cigar and some pretentious drink like whiskey, which, in hindsight, meant he actually had the correct choice of drink.

“Just playing the field and finding someone that peaks my interest,” Flash replied.

“Ah, so you’re looking for something special then?” Steel leaned back giving Flash a clear view of his half hard cock underneath the table. “I could give you the best night of your life.”

It took an immense amount of willpower for Flash not to laugh out loud at how outlandishly cheesy that line was. He decided to play along. “Yeah, I am. You seem like the type to be fun to play around with.”

Steel scoffed. “Please, I’m an experience.”

Covering up his snort of amusement with a pattering of flirtatious giggles, Flash turned away and hiked his tail up, granting Steel a full view of his package.

Flash looked back over his shoulder to see Steel biting his lip and leaning towards him across the table snorting in excitement. “Well, you coming?” he called back.

Without waiting to hear Steel’s response, Flash trotted further into the club. He smirked when he heard the heavy hoof falls of the massive stallion following after him.

A quick jaunt to the end of the booths, a hard right down a dim corridor, a short trot and a pull of a curtain revealed a hidden away seating area of plush red cushions lit by a single red light above. A designated place for “covert relations” as the staff liked to call it.

He was shoved roughly onto the cushions without warning. Flash meanuevered onto his back and smiled brightly as Steel trotted confidently into the alcove with a slimy grin spread across his face.

The stallion towered over him. A position that emphasized his bigger bulk compared to Flash. “Are you ready to get a taste of some grade A stalk?” He showed what Flash presumed was supposed to be a charming grin, but just came off as an ugly sneer.

In lieu of answering, Flash licked his lips, which caused Steel to snort excitedly and rush forward. He jammed his muzzle into Flash’s doing what might have been the worst kiss Flash had ever had the displeasure of experiencing. The only silver lining to be had was that the stallion was keeping his promise of being an experience. Albeit a bad one.

Mercifully, he stopped shortly after nearly biting Flash’s tongue and hefted his incredible bulk above him, front hooves braced against the red painted wall. His cock, nearly at full mast, slapped against Flash’s snout with a light, sticky smack.

“Get sucking,” Steel commanded.

Tossing a quick smile his way before beginning, Flash then sucked on the tip of Steel’s dick, working his tongue in circular motions. Precum quickly squirted in time with Steel’s horny moans.

In contrast, Flash still hadn’t even unsheathed. His goal wasn’t pleasure, but, even if it was, Steel was the type to be focused on his own release. Flash would be surprised if at any point Steel even bothered to look at his own dick once.

“Hey,” Steel said between heavy breaths, “take off the jacket. I want a clear look at your chest.”

As asked, Flash shucked off his clothes, leaving them in a crumpled heap nearby. Even in the dim lighting, bright red punctures shone brightly like neon lights along his neck, and healed over scars menacingly glowed along the front of his chest.

“The fuck is that shit?” Steel grunted, “You on somethin’?”

“Took some injections a few days back, but it's out of my system now.” Flash quirked an eyebrow alongside a mischievous grin. “Thought you just wanted to show me the best night of my life?”

“Doesn’t bother me, just wasn’t expecting you to be some hopped up loser.” Steel snorted. “Whatever, a blow job is a blow job. Get back to sucking.”

Continuing his work, Flash waited until Steel was once more distracted before he lifted his tongue and let the pill underneath rest between his teeth. He let off Steel’s cock with a pop then bit down on the pill releasing a white powder along his molars. Using his tongue, he spread the substance along his bottom row until thoroughly coated before getting back to the dick before him.

Slowly, and with the help of his wing lightly stroking the base of the shaft, Flash began to work Steel’s dick into his mouth. Inch after inch of cock flesh slid down his gullet until he was bobbing just past the medial ring.

He grazed his powdered covered teeth along the shaft as he went, causing it to coalesce into the stallion’s bare skin.

Soon, the powder began its work. Horny moans became laboured breaths as Steel’s body shook and his dick began to limp. Flash popped his mouth off and ran his tongue along his teeth, letting the rest of the powder dissolve in his saliva.

“F-fuck, why am I… ?” Flash’s mark slurred, “I’ve never been… so sleepy…”

“Hey, no worries, stud. Just let it happen.” Flash gave him a toothy grin that came off as more disconcerting than comforting. “You’ll be awake just in time to meet the Captain. He really wants to meet you.”

“What…?” Steel managed to say before his hooves slipped off the wall and he slumped over top of Flash.

Content at completing the first step of his plan, Flash pushed Steel off of him and stood up. He stretched out the stiffness in his joints before hefting Steel’s bulk easily onto his back, using his wings to keep the body in place.

He trotted out of the private area and through the club. Servers and bouncers alike kept away from him without a single glance his way. Patrons of the Glitz looked at him in confusion, and those in the know raised their glass towards him in a mock cheer with toothy grins.

Guilt should have at least kept the bounce out of his step as he trotted along, seeing as how he had just drugged a stallion and was dragging him off to places unknown, but Flash couldn’t really be bothered to care.

Why should he have to worry about the well being of a soon to be dead war criminal anyways?

The walk back home was long and that meant it left Flash with a lot of time to think, which as always tended to circle back around to whether or not he was alright. Or rather his body. Steel was easily double his own weight, yet Flash bounded along without any real exertion. He had swallowed a powder that had knocked out the aforementioned pony, but, he felt, at worst, a light tingling on his teeth.

It all should have bothered him, but he found all his focus was on getting back home to his Captain. A thought that caused his tail to wag behind him as he walked.

When the warehouse finally came into view, the smile that appeared threatened to split his face in two.

A slab of metal functioning as the front door was all that stood between Flash and his Captain, which was dealt with by a swift headbutt that broke the door off its hinges. Ignoring the twinge of pain from the impact, he continued his steady trot forward weaving through narrow passages between massive shipping containers, each crate individually twice his height.

He soon arrived at his destination; an open area between crates brightly lit by state of the art mage lights that bathed the area in a circle of white.

Several operating tables were spread throughout alongside tables filled with various tools and beakers. Most of the beakers contained a neon blue liquid that each bubbled as he walked past.

Looking past the ring of bright light, he took in the massive crate cast in shadow by the stark brightness of the lights. Two bright green reptilian eyes stared out piercingly from the dark. The beast attached to them let out a rumbling growl in greeting.

“Glad to see you too, Scales,” Flash answered, “we’ll get you fed soon, just after I get this guy prepped for the Captain.”

Flash trotted up to an empty gurney. It was covered in faded red stains that hadn’t managed to come out from the last pressure wash. He tossed Steel onto the metal frame belly up, and strapped him in tightly with leather straps attached to the gurney.

Pulling on the straps confirmed that they were secure, after which he trotted to a nearby table covered in a white tablecloth.

Peeking underneath the cloth, Flash found a white furred unicorn. His blue mane was plastered over his eyes, and a trail of drool leaked from his mouth to the floor as one of his back legs kicked in time to his snoring.

He tilted his head to one side and smiled at the peaceful scene. Gently brushing away the pony’s bangs with a wing, Flash frowned as he noticed the telltale signs of distress that marred his expression. The shifting of his eyes under his eyelids, the dark bags, and the sweat that gathered on his forehead.

Ducking under the table while ensuring his head didn’t hit the underside, he brushed his lips across Shining’s mouth. He was answered with an appreciative mumble followed by reciprocation.

“Back so soon?” Shining asked, his eyes still closed, “should I be worried about how good at this you’re getting?”

“No, you should just be proud of how great I am.” Flash teasingly kissed Shining on the side of his muzzle who snorted at the statement. Flash frowned. “Are you having nightmares again?”

“Yeah, they’re…” Shining frowned as he trailed off before smiling as he opened his eyes. “It doesn’t really matter since you’re back.”

“Captain,” Flash chided, “I don’t like when you bottle things up.”

“It’s fine, Flash, really. Anyways, there’s more important things to deal with right now.”

“Processing the target?”

“No, getting the taste of that other stallion’s cock off your mouth.” Shining grinned lecherously. “We’ll need to disinfect it with my own.”

Before Flash could respond, Shining’s horn lit up in a magenta glow and he felt the caress of his magic along his dick. Flash moaned as Shining magically stroked along his shaft. They renewed their prior kissing, but with more heated fervour. Pleasure and contentment burst through his synapses.

“What the fuck is happening?”

Rolling his eyes, Shining gave a grunt of annoyance. “Guess he’s awake now. Was hoping the drugs would have kept him out of it until we were done.” He sighed. “Move back, Flash.”

Flash did as he was told. Shining shortly followed getting onto his hooves, just shy of Flash’s size, but more thickly built. A still strange observation to Flash who had once been the smaller of the two.

Scanning over his surroundings, Shining narrowed in on Steel. “What’s he doing on a stained gurney?” he asked.

“The bleach didn’t get out the colour from the last one even after I spent hours cleaning it this morning.” Flash hung his head, his ears pinned down. “Sorry, Captain.”

“No worries. Not like its destination is going to care either way.”

A growl resembling something close to agreement echoed out from the darkened crate.

Steel squealed at a high pitch. “The buck was that?!”

“Nothing you’ll need to worry about… yet,” Shining answered. “Flash, grab my tools. They should be on the rolling table just around the crates.”

“On it,” Flash said with a crisp salute.

He dashed around the side of a wall of containers and found the requested table loaded by all manner of saws, drills, and other medical equipment. He pushed the table back around the corner. In that time, Shining had donned a white lab coat with a six pointed pink star sewn into the front and Steel was shouting a string of obscenities as he struggled against his restraints.

“Thank you, Flash.” Shining glanced at the spot along Flash’s neck where the puncture wounds were underneath his clothes. “Did you take your injection for the week?”

Flash shuffled awkwardly in place. “No, sorry.”

“Then we’ll need to deal with that first.” Shining trotted to a large two door cabinet and propped open the doors with his magic. Inside were several neatly organized vials. He began sifting through the rows. “How’s your wings been lately?”

“They’ve been fine,” Flash said in a small voice.

“Flash,” Shining chided.

“I’ve been feeling stiff when I do tight turns.”

“Then you’ll need something for the joints.” Shining grabbed a vial of green liquid from the cabinet and loaded it into a syringe. “You need to remember to do these yourself sometimes.”

“I know, I just…” Flash trailed off.

Shining sighed wearily. “Still uncomfortable with needles?”

“They’re scary,” Flash mumbled.

With a comforting smile, Shining kissed Flash on the mouth, the syringe held within his magic. As Flash melted into his affections, Shining quickly pulled back Flash’s jacket and jabbed him with the needle. Flash let out a whimper as the liquid emptied into his neck.

As Shining withdrew both the needle and the kiss, the puncture wounds along Flash’s neck healed over and he felt his body feel more limber like he had just been given a deep tissue massage.

Regarding Flash coldly, Shining said in a flat tone, “don’t miss another injection. You need these to keep your body up to date.”

“What in Tartarus is wrong with you two?” Steel cried.

Without turning away, Shining used his magic to forcibly open Steel’s mouth, grab a set of pliers from the table, and, with zero hesitation, yanked one of his teeth out.

Steel screamed as blood spurted from the open wound in his gums and dribbled down his jaw. The sharp pain caused him to writhe in agony. Indifferent, Shining brought the tooth over to himself. He inspected it from various angles and released a small burst of magic.

“Decent,” Shining announced before he tossed the tooth into a nearby container. He refocused his attention on Flash with a stern look. “Are we understood?”

“Yes, Captain.” Flash shrunk in on himself. “I won’t miss another one.”

“Good.” Shining kissed Flash lightly on the cheek who smiled in response.

“What the buck. What the buck!” Steel shouted. “What are you going to do to me you fre—”

With a look of annoyance on his face, Shining used his magic to tie Steel’s mouth closed with a nearby length of rope.

“Why do they always devolve into screaming obscenities? Just once couldn’t they scream, I don’t know,” Shining waved a hoof, “drink recipes or something?”

“I think it’s fairly reasonable for a pony to swear when you pull out one of their teeth with a set of pliers.”

A roar of agreement came from the crate.

“Debatable,” Shining tersely answered, “can you hold down his left foreleg, Flash? We’ll start our work there.”

With a quick nod, Flash grabbed onto the aforementioned leg and held it in place with his hooves. As Steel attempted to wriggle his leg free, Flash pressed down causing snapping noises to echo in the room. Tears of pain gathered in the corners of Steel’s eyes and rolled down his cheek joining the light trickle of blood from his mouth.

“So, the Lunar Guard wanted us to grab you for several crimes. What are those I wonder?” Shining reached into a filing cabinet with his magic, pulling out a manilla folder emblazoned with Steel’s name. “Standard stuff. Murder, extortion, assault, nothing too out of the ordinary…” rage overtook Shining’s face, “oh, pony trafficking. How… interesting.”

Shining grabbed a long serrated knife with a hoof from his operating table. The bright lights glinted off the steel of the blade as cold indifference overtook his features. “I’ve met quite a few traffickers in my line of work. Nasty folks. Think that a price can be put on somepony’s life.” He trotted towards Steel as the stallion in question renewed his struggles against his restraints, muffled curses being spewed from his tied muzzle. “Truly, they are the worst kind of criminal. Hardly worth keeping alive.”

Flash glanced meaningfully at the pink six pointed star sewn into Shining’s lab coat before refocusing on keeping Steel’s foreleg pinned to the gurney.

Aligning the knife just below the knee with a malicious grin on his face, Shining said, “Now, I really want you to feel what’s about to happen, so I have a fun spell to help with that.” A quick burst of magic washed over Steel’s form encasing him in a light magenta glow. “Nothing too crazy, just something to keep you conscious. Let’s begin then.”

His preamble complete, Shining cut through Steel’s foreleg. Muffled screams resounded through his closed mouth as Shining sawed through sinew and muscle. Blood flowed in bursts as veins were cut. Dark red spurts coated the gurney, Shining, Flash, and everything in between.

A frustrated snort signified that Shining had reached the bone. “Flash, if you could?”

Understanding Shining’s meaning, Flash bent over to the exposed white bone while still holding Steel’s leg in place. He gripped it in his teeth and snapped it in half with a hard chomp, breaking it in twain.

Steel arched his back as he continued his muffled screams. Pain coursed through him as tears streamed down his face in rivers.

Smiling in gratitude, Shining finished sawing off the rest of Steel’s limb. It broke with a squelchy snap, thudding onto the gurney. Taking care to ensure that it was fully detached, Shining grabbed it within his magic as Flash released his hold on Steel.

Both stallions inspected the limb as Steel slumped in the gurney, blood flowing freely from where his foreleg once was, his eyes unfocused as pain overcame his senses.

“Do you think it’s good enough, Captain?” Flash asked.

After some hemming and hawing, Shining said, “eh, probably. Honestly, Spike probably isn’t going to care either way.” He whistled. “Come on, buddy, time for dinner.”

A mighty claw covered in purple scales and bigger than Flash’s head slammed into the illuminated floor punctuated by a low growl. It was shortly followed by the head of a dragon covered in green spines.

“Oh, Scales, your neck is coming apart again,” Flash said in concern as he noticed a patch of skin was peeling off part of his neck revealing the rotted interior, “I’ll fix that while you enjoy your meal.”

A quick gallop brought him to the medical supplies cabinet and the sewing supplies he needed: a needle, some thread, and several neatly cut square patches of different coloured scales. He returned to find Shining gently rubbing the side of Spike’s head as Spike went about devouring Steel’s leg in long strips of skin, sinew and muscle with his teeth.

Sitting his rump down near the injury, he set to work sewing patches of scales over the gaping wound in his neck. The needle threaded through the rotted flesh easily, patching in the fresh scales. Once finished, Spike nudged Flash with his head affectionately.

“Hey, no worries, Scales,” Flash replied while rubbing the side of Spike’s head with a wing, “hopefully we can get you some new vocal cords if the Lunar Guard manages to track down that rogue dragon.”

Spike answered with a rumble of approval before returning to his meal.

A gentle touch drew Flash’s attention to Shining who had leaned in close to him. His expression betrayed a rare moment of vulnerability, eyes wide and watery. “The injections aren’t hurting?” he asked softly, “I know I make you take them, but I’m always worried… I’m sure you’re fine, but… I don’t—” a sob cut off the rest of his sentence.

Covering him with his wings, Flash drew Shining in close to his chest. “You didn’t answer me clearly earlier. Are you having nightmares again?” he felt a nod. “Which ones?”

“They’re all about her. The box. She—” Shining took a deep breath. “Sorry, I just got overwhelmed. You, Spike, and Luna are all I have left.” Flash felt him shake. “You aren’t going to leave?”

Flash kissed him tenderly on his forehead. “No, I’m not.”

Before Shining could reply, the moment was ruined by the unfortunate timing of the rope around Steel’s muzzle coming undone. “Let me go, you monsters!” he screamed, throat raspy from overuse.

“He’s really ruining the moment,” Shining growled angrily.

“Yes, but it’s our fault for not finishing the job,” Flash said with a bright smile, “come on, let’s get this guy cut up and sent off to… huh, I didn’t actually ask where we’re sending him this time.”

“Hospital. They need more organs for transplanting. We’re keeping the limbs for Spike.” Shining unentangled himself from Flash’s wings. “Let’s get back to it. I want this done tonight.”

“Righto, Captain.”

Both stallions made their way back, Shining grabbing the saw, Flash grabbing onto Steel’s right foreleg.

“No! No!” Steel cried out. “You won’t get away with this. The palace—”

“Funds this entire operation,” Shining interrupted, “you’ll die here and not a single pony will care.” He lined up his bloodied knife just below the knee once more. “You got a grip on his leg, Flash?”

“No, please! Stop! I’ll do anything, ANY—”

“Sure do, Captain,” Flash said cheerily.

Steel openly wept as he continued to beg.

“Then let’s begin the operation.” Shining cut into Steel’s limb.

His screams resounded through the warehouse.

Author's Note