Secrets

Chapter 16: Heart of Steel

800 years Before Present Time.

"Good to go!" Sharp exclaimed over the rustling of armor. Wildfire jogged to the fresh corpses, the feeling of sand an odd one. We're going to have a field day getting all this sand out of our armor... As he hit solid ground, he spotted a dead grenadier, still fully loaded. Ambling over to him, Wildfire grabbed onto the fragmentation grenades that were loosely secured to a leather belt.

"Mine now." He stated as if anyone could hear him. He returned to their base of operations, an oasis slash beach slash beached cargo ship slash ruined city. He looked over to what his men were doing. Sharp had brought in a railgun from the ship. Star had found an old handheld Gatling gun that actually worked. Blizzard had brought out ammunition for their battle-worn rifles. And Hope was deploying razor wire at both ends of the sand barrier. It was rather astounding that the forces of both the ocean and the oasis had thinned out the sand between them until it was roughly twenty feet wide. Wildfire spotted something shiny in the water, so he levitated it to himself. As it approached he found out it was a heavy-calibre grenade launcher. He even found an extra round with it.

"I'm going to blow big holes with you..." Wildfire grinned as he changed the magazine. Fresh roars were heard clearly from the jungle. "Here they come!" He bellowed out as his men and women spread out around the broken hull of the ship. Sunken to ground level by the sand, the lip of the frontal hull was the only thing remaining, and it provided excellent cover. Wildfire hovered around the center, ready to assist either side. Star and Hope had gone to the left side and were hiding behind some barrels. Blizzard and Sharp were waiting eagerly for the enemies on the right.

"Grenadier!" Star shout out as he opened fire, Hope trying to assist with her triple-barrelled machine gun. Wildfire crouched behind the left side of the wall, motioning for Star and Hope to do the same. Star hobbled over to his right, while Hope positioned herself a bit farther off to the left. Wildfire looked from the cover and opened fire with a powerful semi-automatic Mark Three. A predecessor to the more compact Mark Four, it fired high-velocity forty-millimetre shells at over two hundred rounds per minute. Wildfire spotted a flame trooper approaching, but still eons out of effective range. He fired a few rounds into the exposed tank on the goblin's back and was rewarded with pretty fireworks. He crouched back down as Star took his turn to fire unto the unfortunate Orcs. The duo alternated this pattern, creating a highly effective killing ground.

"Dry." He informed his colleague as he dragged another heavy drum to his weapon. He switched it out with the empty cartridge and pulled the bolt. Unfortunately the MKIII was also unreliable, which meant that the bolt jammed halfway. "Goddamn, not now." Wildfire grumbled as he struggled with his equipment. He heard a slowly augmenting whine as Star's Gatling got hotter and hotter. After a certain while Star simply threw the weapon into the water, earning a vengeful hiss from said liquid.

"Damn that was getting hot."

Wildfire stole a glance at the others. A small explosion blew in front of Blizzard, turning his look into one of worry before he heard her beautiful laughter. After hitting the receiver of the weapon a few times, the bolt gave way and completed the cycle.

"I win again."

"Yeah yeah. Shoot the mother fucking orcs!"

"Right." Wildfire peaked over the wall, "Flailer!"

"Affirmative!" Came from Sharp as he started to hobble over with his rail gun. Switching places with Star, Sharp took a look. "Can't get a clear shot. If you keep him occupied I can redeploy by those barrels."

Wildfire nodded, "Hey Hope! Give the man some cover fire!"

"Got it!" She shouted back over the massive amounts of gunfire. She leaned over her cover and started firing upon the flailer. Wildfire did the same, but from the flailer's right. This crossfire meant that the heavy creature had to stay still by the container, trying to block both Wildfire and Hope. The two kept firing in bursts, as to not overheat their weapons. Wildfire's brow furrowed in concentration. He had seven rounds left in his magazine.

"Reloading!" Hope cried out.

Crap.

The Orc seemed to overhear Hope, and started to move towards her; before shrinking back as Wildfire fired two rounds that lodged in it's armor. It attempted once again to move laterally, this time facing Wildfire. He aimed low, trying to hit his feet. Two rounds hit before he connected. Yet the flailer brushed it off and didn't as much as flinch. Over the gunfire, Wildfire heard a whistle from Sharp. Taking it as a signal he rolled over to Hope, pulling out his sidearm. It was a revolver but could be mistaken for a hand cannon. He fired off a carefully aimed round at the flailer's shield. He had to move his head to the right to prevent himself from knocking himself out due to the recoil. The round impacted the shield. It was comparable to a Ferrari hitting a bus. A white line passed through the flailer, and a small explosion appeared. Wildfire yelped as an arm hit him on the head.

**********

"Wildfire?"

"Yes?"

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, yes. I'm just reminiscing old times."

"...Want to talk about it?"

"Ehh, maybe later."

"Can we get going now?"

"Yes. Let's make our way to the launch platform in the city."

"Are you sure they won't attack us?"

"If they do they have about as much chance as an ill-equipped earth pony trying to single-handedly kill you at Celestia's side. During a military demonstration. With me in the crowd."

**********

"Ohoho crap!" Blizzard cried out over the radio.

"Wha-shit." Wildfire deadpanned as his eyes connected with the threat. At the edge of the jungle stood a twelve meter tall monster, equipped with chainguns, railguns, and rocket pods. "Welp. We're fucked."

**********

"Wildfire, will we always have to be hiding from everyone?"

"Hmm? No. The villagers are still a bit sore, that's why."

"Okay."

**********

700 years Before Present Time.

I need to get away.

Those words repeated themselves through Wildfire's mind as he ran through the glassed city. He had been in the field when the nuclear bomb went off. And he could see now the effects of the bomb. Droves of civillians of all races were dead. Statues of ashes all that remained. Wildfire ran through one as the gunfire picked up behind him. He remarked grimly that all of the bodies had the same expression on them, one of sheer terror. There had been rumours of a weapon that could end the war on the Seeker's side. But no one actually believed that they would dare use weapons of mass destruction. Especially of this caliber. The town was eerily silent, even the gunshots sounded muted and quiet. Wildfire flew forwards as a mortar landed behind him. He hit the ground and lost his weapon, sliding on his face for a few feet. He flipped onto his back, taking a look at what was in front of him. He was confronted by the statue of a mother attempting to protect her child, yet both had perished in the slaughter. He couldn't view the scene longer, as an Orc ran through their bodies. A smile of victory on it's face, Wildfire simply lowered his head as he awaited his destiny. He flinched slightly as a loud crack broke the silence. Yet his death did not come. He opened an eye to see the Orc being executed by Sunset, who had just fired a second round into the Orc with a shotgun. She turned and gave a nod at Wildfire. Her facial expressions were dreadfully devoid of emotion, but her eyes said all. Horror. Anger. Disgust. Nostalgia. Fear. Wildfire suddenly had his rifle thrust back into his hands, looking up he saw Her again. She bore the same melancholic expression that had become the norm between them. She looked back up as she shot another Orc dead. Wildfire stood back up, only to have a knee buckle. She steadied him with her hand, her face now full of concern.

"I'm fine." He managed to croak out. She could tell he was lying, but did not press. The three took refuge in the destroyed remains of a building. Firing three hundred and sixty degrees as the orcs slowly closed in. It did not matter if they killed one Orc, for the body didn't touch the ground before three came in his place.

**********

Wildfire stood at the top of the launching platform. It was a tall tower designed to help flying creatures to reach the thermals easier. At this very moment, all the confidence he had felt left him.

"I'm not sure about this, I have bad wings."

"That never stopped me." Luna returned as she past him. She spread her wings out- which looked rather small compared to her size-  and took off. Wildfire drew open his wings. He was always priding themselves with his flying skills. Maybe it was time he started to walk the walk. Wildfire took a full sprint until he reached the end of the platform. He leapt directly upwards, flapping his wings as he had learned millennia ago. He felt the warm rush of wind press the underside of his feathers. It felt so weird, but it felt so right. With growing confidence, he began moving forwards. Picking up speed until he caught up with the Princess. He smiled genuinely as the situation fell upon him. He was flying!

**********

698 years Before Present Time.

It was full blown winter for the Northern Hive. Also known as Thorax. Here food was scarce. And love was rarer still. But the changelings here were smaller and more energy efficient. They were also fewer in number, with an active population of twelve million, compared to the forty-two billion changelings in the Central Hive. But to consider them weak was like considering the Spartans of Thermopylae weak because of their numbers. One odd thing to mention about Thorax was it's lack of snow. The Hive generated a constant ultra-sonic whine which vibrated loose debris before it could build up. Even on mountains such as this, where the clouds couldn't reach, life was good.

"Not quite home yet, but it will have to do."

There, on the largest mountain in the Icy Peaks stood a large hooded figure. He would have preferred immediately heading for The Hive, but hearing that Chrysalis was currently doing buiseness in the metropolis was enough to detrack him. He jumped head first off the sheer cliff, hoping to land in the road below. He descended quickly, not bothering to slow down with his wings. On his HUD a yellow light flickered green, immediately the wearer of the suit flipped until his feet were pointing at the ground. The screen read 'Retro Landing in Progress'. Amongst the clutter of the screen, the suited creature read the most important parts of the warnings.

Energy 23%

Structural Integrity Critical

He hit the ground like an anvil would hit a block of ice. His knees curled to absorb the impact. He could have used thrusters, but to safely use such a thing needed over seventy-percent power. He checked the systems.

Radar Offline

Thrusters Offline

Navigation Offline

Hydraulics Online

Gyroscopic System Online

Ballistics Computer Offline

Weapons System Offline

Nanobots Offline

He would need to get the nanobots back online to fix his other systems. But for that he would need energy.

Energy Source Detected

Source Type: Ambient

Estimated Charge-up Time: 2 Hours

Activate Charge, *Y*/N?

Charging.

He was snapped back to reality as an arrow hit his armor. It shattered immediately upon impact. Looking up, he saw a figure he was simultaneously elated and shocked to see.

I can't believe it...

He simply could not believe it. It was Chrysalis, alright. If seeing Chrysalis donning ceremonial armor was a good thing to see at all. The sound of rustling feet echoed amongst the air, and orcs started to peel away from a cloaking device.

I can believe it.

Without a word, his overcoat dropped to the ground.

**********

"Wildfire?"

"Hmm?" His mind snapped from the cold North to the dusk sky.

"Could you please not be so quiet? I'm trying to have a conversation here."

"Oh, sorry, what were you saying?"

"I was asking if you had ever had any followers, preferably the religious kind."

"You mean a cult? Yeah I had one of those a while back. Just a group of misguided people decided they should start sacrificing animals in my name. Somehow I had become to be seen as a god, as apparently nothing could best me. I dispersed them rather quickly enough, acting all godlike to impress them."

"I don't know what I would do if someone started sacrifice in my name."

"Pff, they're just lucky they didn't start sacrificing virgins. That would have been messy. I mean, what am I supposed to do with dead corpses anyways? I don't go near them unless they have loot."

"Heh, luckily my followers are more tame than th- oh dear Faust never mind. Your cult is better."

"What?"

"I'd rather not tell." Luna was looking positively red around the cheeks.

"Tell meeeeee." Wildfire pressed on.

"What happens when you mix alcohol and fumes with ponies in heat?"

"Oh. Lucky."

"Excuse me?!"

"Excuse what? I said 'Yucky'."

"..."

"What?"

"I don't believe you."