Author's Note

Warning: This chapter features detailed violence and gore. Proceed with caution.

Did you know? This chapter was the original reason why this book had to be rated M. The violent scene that is depicted was why I couldn't originally make it rated T. The more you know...

Anyway, as always, feedback is appreciated. Thank you!

-Harpy

Entry 3 - Operation: Discovery |3| (NSFW)

Rank & Full Name: Private Swift Wildshadow
Letter’s Date: x9/0x/x0x3
Address: North Polar Drive, Bldg. 013, District 004, Canterlot, Equestria
Contents: Letter

“Hey, Mom. Hey, Dad.

I know it has been a while since I last sent a letter. These past few months have been…challenging, to say the least. A lot has been on my mind. So, first, I should tell you about the mission to ‘Serpent’s Creek.’”

========================================<>=========================================

“Urgent letter for Private Swift Wildshadow,” the mail-pony said outside the closed door.

“COMING!!” I shouted as I burst out of my room. I had heard him through the open window and, from an instruction I was told today, was to accept this mail without hesitation. So, after galloping down the staircase, I skidded to a stop at the front door and flung it open.

The stallion was about to depart when I greeted him. He turned back around and handed me the envelope. “Message from High Command,” he stated.

“Thank you, sir,” I said, saluting the pony. As the pegasus flew away, I quietly closed the door and trotted to the kitchen table. As I sat down at the table, my anxiety grew at what was inside. I opened it and pulled out the letter, which was sealed with the Canterlot Royal Army insignia.

Oooo, I excitedly thought to myself. Is this what I think it is?

As I removed the seal, the letter unfolded, and I skimmed through the letter as fast as my eyes could read. Then, I jumped out of my chair and raced back to my room.

“YEEAAAAH!!” I screamed, a humongous amount of joy exiting my mouth. After entering my room, I located my needed gear and quickly dressed. The Royal Army uniform would see its first days of wear upon my frame. The pants were a bit harder to get into, but once my tail got through the hole in the back, I snapped the buckle into place and got into the jacket.

A perfect fit, I thought with a smile. As I walked over to look in the mirror, I took in the gracious dark navy blue uniform and stuck out my chest with pride. Damn, I said, admiring the stallion in the mirror. Don’t I look good?

I grabbed the helmet and put it on. Then, with the biggest grin, I trotted happily downstairs, grabbing my keys and I.D. card. Ecstasy poured out as I bounced up and down in the living room. Eventually, I took some deep breaths to ease myself before moving to the door.

“This is it, Swift,” I said aloud to myself. “Your first taste of combat. Don’t buck this up.”

I opened the front door and turned back to lock it. Afterward, I stepped down the small staircase in front of the building and started my walk to the Command Center in Canterlot.

Meanwhile, the letter stayed on the table, still open for any creature to see its contents.

========================================<>=========================================

`“Swift Wildshadow,

Your impeccable performance of your duty thus far has earned you tremendous praise from your contemporaries. We have evaluated your growth and have been meticulously taking notes. As a result, we have determined you worthy of a new opportunity.

You have been selected for a top-secret mission. One that will test your knowledge of hoof-to-hoof combat, your abilities to defend yourself from the inevitable threats our world offers, your judgment and quick-thinking decisions, and your perseverance through adversity.

Please report to the Command Center today at 2055. You and six other members of our Royal Army will be debriefed for this mission.

Your parents have been notified. Signed,

The Canterlot High Command.”`

========================================<>=========================================

“I got the news a few days after mailing the second letter to you two. The High Command called six other earth ponies and me to discuss plans for a top-secret mission. At first, I was the only one excited: my first taste of being in the Royal Army. We arrived and walked in together for the meeting, and they gave the following orders.”

========================================<>=========================================

“Gentlecolts, good evening. We apologize since this is outside your normal working hours, but we decided it would have been more convenient for us to do so,” First Sergeant Molter said.

“YES, SIR!!” we said, saluting the High Command members.

“At ease, soldiers,” Commander Jockly said, his tone calming. The six earth ponies and I relaxed, gathering around the large table that showed the map of Equestria across its surface. Most of it appeared as a blank canvas, with the nearby regions and the south registered.

“Whoa,” one of the guards said. “That’s a large map.”

“It’s not complete, but we will be focusi-”

slam!

All of the High Command snapped to attention, as did we.

“Legionnaire Commander Tempered Steel! Princess Celestia! Princess Luna!” they stated. Their confidence died in their eyes as the expressions of anger and disappointment donned the Legionnaire’s features.

sigh “Are these the stallions you could find acceptable for the mission, Sergeant Molter?” Tempered Steel flatly stated with a hint of bitterness in his delivery. A simple, albeit nervous, nod was what answered his question.

“Great,” he said, shaking his head. Pacing behind us, it appeared as if he were silently judging us. I did my best to remain at attention as he passed by.

“Seven earth ponies, each divided into our seven divisions. And you didn’t choose our most skilled veterans but went along with six stallions who have been fighting in our ranks for no more than two years, and….” the Commander stopped, standing next to me. He peered at me, my gaze refusing to meet his.

“...a rookie Royal Guard,” he finished saying slowly.

“He IS a rookie, but he has sh-”

“A rookie colt, who is nothing more than a GUARD in Canterlot’s Castle,” he growled.

The High Command refused to comment further, prompting the princesses to speak.

“He IS a rookie, Commander Steel,” Celestia interrupted the stalemate. “But do not let his noviceness be the only thing you see. He is an exceptionally high-class private with the bravery and toughness to be a soldier.”

“Hmmph, really?” the Commander said sarcastically, now staring at me. “What is his name then?”

Luna spoke up. “Private Swift Wildshadow, Commander.”

“A Wiiilldshadoowww,” he said quietly, under his breath. “Then answer this, Princesses. How come I’ve never heard of that name before?..wait,” he said, raising his hoof. “I know the answer. I have heard it before…his father. The ONLY time I will ever remember that name.”

I stared straight ahead, ignoring my emotions and refusing to respond to his taunting. He’s trying to rile you up. Keep your cool, Swift, my brain told me.

“Fantastic news, gentlecolts,” Commander Tempered Steel declared, walking away to the opposite side of the table. “You are being sent alongside seven divisions, each consisting of seven unicorns and two pegasi, to a location NORTH of Peryton’s Peak. You will be dispatched from the WEST, which is closest to the territory currently occupied by our allies. Those being the dragons and wyverns,” he stated with a dead tone.

The stallion next to me silently gulped. That’s not a good sign, I silently told my brain.

“This mission is code-named ‘Operation Discovery’......number three,” the Commander said, that last statement with a bit of frustration. I peeked for a split second to notice the Legionnaire staring at the two Alicorns in the room, prompting Celestia to step forward.

“Yes, well, as you may or may not know,” Princess Celestia started with, “the region i-”

“The region is full of jungle life, and that's why we tried to approach it from the town of Trotsylvania,” the Commander said, cutting off the Princess of the Sun. “Yes, I remember the first two attempts into this area and its inhabitants well. Twice we went in, and twice we were SWIFTLY defeated and sent running for the lake.” The Commander’s voice had changed to that of annoyance.

“That is all in the past, Commander,” the Lunar Princess stated. “We are to try a new appr-”

“Approach from the west,” he said, refocusing on us. “Stampede Stream is as far as we can send you from Horseshoe Bay by boat. From there, you will trek the remaining journey on hoof until you are outside the large forest.”

Princess Celestia then stepped forward next to the Legionnaire Commander. “The goal of this mission is to not engage in any form of combat, but t-”

“To map out and catalog the region’s geographical landmarks,” Tempered Steel, once again, cut off the Solar Princess, which earned a kind slap to the back of his head with her wing.

He continued, unfazed. “From there, you will absolutely need to retreat since the maliciously rude inhabitants don’t take too kindly to intruders.”

Wow, I mused. What an ass. He doesn’t give a buck about cutting off anypo-

“You are going to need every ounce of knowledge of combat that you have, PRIVATE!!” he barked, stomping over to me. His gaze met mine. “Every bit of training you have done! Any form of experience you have gained through combat! AND any knowledge you have retained from your work in the field of which. YOU!! HAVE!! NONE!!”

“SIR, YES, SIR!!” I shouted back, saluting firmly. The Legionnaire, instead, growled.

“You have so much to learn. You aren’t even ready for this heavy dose of reality you are about to receive,” Commander Steel muttered, relocating back to the group across the table.

“This mission will be difficult, and you are not to take this challenge lightly,” Princess Celestia said, unfurling her wings. “Twice we have failed, and we will not fail a third time!”

The six earth ponies and I saluted as the rest of the High Command saluted back. Then the Legionnaire Commander said one more thing before we were dismissed.

“You will depart with the rest of your squadrons at 0400 two days from now. From there, the seven divisions will be without aid until they reach the Eastern Lair. That is all, gentlecolts,” he stated before saluting.

The Princesses both saluted us with their wings before Celestia spoke up.

“Good luck, and may Faust be with you for this mission. Dismissed.”

========================================<>=========================================

“We were to leave within two days of the mission, with seven squadrons requested. Each group consisted of seven unicorns, two pegasi, and one earth pony. I was in the third group, code-named ‘Sea.’ But, in the hours leading up to our departure from Canterlot, they pulled four of seven groups from the operation for some inexplicable reason. So, only three groups would be going out to explore the unknown area.”

========================================<>=========================================

“Why would he do that, though?” I asked.

“I can’t tell you, Swift, I am not a part of whatever you are describing,” the guard pony across from me said dryly.

I still couldn’t understand why High Command would go ahead and remove four of the seven groups from the expedition. We were going into hostile territory, and instead of having strength in numbers, they ultimately decided less is better.

“Think about it, McDuffin,” I said, getting his attention. “This mission is for reconnaissance purposes. Going into an area to map out the terrain and document any significant land points we deem necessary.” I then slammed my right hoof on the table. “Why then, for Celestia’s sake, would they pull four of the seven groups?”

“Listen,” Private McDuffin readjusted himself in his chair and put his hooves on the table. “I hear ya. But again, is a mess hall the only place we could have talked about this?”

“Bro, why do you gotta be like this?” I asked him nonchalantly. “You and I have known each other for a while now, an-”

“It’s been two and a half mon-”

“Whatever, that’s not the point,” I spat back. “This doesn’t make sense!”

“It's not supposed to make sense, Swifty,” McDuffin said, reclining back and raising his brow. “Maybe that’s the reason. Or maybe they want to send fewer military operants so you wouldn’t be found quicker. It IS a reconnaissance mission, correct?”

“Yeah, but what does that have to do wi-”

“It's like a top-secret mission if I am not wrong. Somewhere along the lines of espionage,” the unicorn said, now grabbing my attention. “So, technically speaking, it is better to have less. That way, the group can keep their secrecy.”

“Hadn’t thought of it like that,” I said, resigning from the argument and slumping back into my chair.

“Hey, Swift. Listen,” he said reassuringly. “As long as you don’t place yourselves out in the open for all to see, the most important thing is that you come back home, safe and sound. You have a family that cares for your well-being, friends who have gotten to know you, and most importantly, all of us.” He picked his hoof up and pointed out all the other guards in the hall.

I looked at everypony else in the large mess hall, most of which were conversing and laughing up a storm at the number of things being said all around. He’s right, you know, my brain told me.

I slowly nodded my head. “I know that, and I get it. It’s just, ah-I don-”

“Stop,” McDuffin said, raising his hoof to stop my rambling. “Let’s finish our food and get back to work. Day’s halfway done,right?” He raised his glass with a smile.

This prompted me to smile back. Raising my glass in return, I proclaimed, “Couldn’t agree more, bro. Cheers!”

clink!

I downed about a third of my cup and sighed with contempt. As I sat there, I stared into the cup and thought about the journey to come. Who knows, my inner voice said. Maybe it’ll be fun. Look on the bright side; your first taste of combat, wandering out into the unknown world of Equestria. You have all the experience to gain, kid. I proceeded to smile.

What could go wrong?

========================================<>=========================================

“The train ride to Baltimare was tedious. Since Canterlot explicitly reserved the train for the Royal Army’s use, all passenger trains needed to stop for our trip. In my mind, this had to anger some creatures who relied on the passenger trains to get from point A to point B daily. Our debriefing was led by Sergeant Clackstonn, who headed the first group and the entire mission.”

========================================<>=========================================

“Alright, fillies. Listen up!”

The entirety of our cabin looked up, ears perked.

“This is Sergeant Clackstonn, the leader of ‘Operation: Discovery |3|.’ He will give you all a brief deliberation, so please, give him your undivided attention. Thank you!” The General saluted the Sergeant before taking his seat.

“Thank you, General. Now,” the burly Sergeant stated, a menacing tone accompanying his demeanor. “This squadron is code-named ‘Sea.’ You are the third division of this mission. I have already informed MY Squadron ‘Arc’ and Squadron ‘Bee,’ so you will receive the same orders under Squadron ‘Sea.’...I don’t know why they didn’t go with a word starting with the letter ‘C,’ but that is not my doing,” the unicorn said, shaking his head in disappointment.

Some of our group chuckled to themselves, knowing the wordplay of ‘Sea’ and the letter ‘C.’

“Laugh it up because that’s your division’s name,” the Sergeant said, a cold stare at the stallions laughing. They immediately stopped before the Sergeant continued. “As for the mission, we will get off at Baltimare Station and trot over to our ship currently docked in Horseshoe Bay. Then, we will board in succession, division by division. From there, you will be taken to the rocks of Stampede Stream, whe…re to desc…to th…reline and trek t…….”

My mind was dozing off as I started to stare out the window. Being in the back row of the train car gave me a chance to nap here and there. I was used to standing at attention in the castle all day, saluting for dignitaries or ambassadors and occasionally opening doors for ponies and other creatures. But this, I thought, shaking my head. This is boring. The journey was tedious, but vigilance and intuition would be crucial to our success once the action part got started.

As I thought back to our ceremony before my work officially started, a peaceful smile donned my features. That day saw the rest of us that had passed the nine-week training camp, and all our exams, be sworn in as Privates. We swore an oath to protect the land of Equestria with our lives and to swear our loyalty to the rulers of Canterlot, particularly Princess Celestia.

When we did our final salute and were welcomed into the Royal Army & Guard, I felt a sense of relief and pride. Finally, I thought. I can live out my dream. One that my father started all those years ago. I’ll make you prou-

“A word of caution to ALL of you,” the Sergeant’s words rang out and reached my ears. I immediately shook myself out of my thoughts and stared back at the older unicorn.

“If you are attacked and lose communication with the rest of the group, run to the west,” the Sergeant said, a somber tone engulfing his words. “The Eastern Lair will be located west of the jungle’s border. Use your compasses as a guide and run. Run as if your lives depended on it!”

The Sergeant’s words mystified me, and I decidedly gave him my undivided attention.

“The dragons that occupy the Eastern Lair also control the area bordering the territory we are infiltrating. But, more importantly,” he hesitated before continuing, “they are our ALLIES. This means we can seek refuge inside their borders until we can safely return to Canterlot if something goes awry.”

The train started to screech as the brakes were being applied. I looked out the window and saw a lone ship docked in the bay. We’re…here already? my mind inquired. I gulped and looked back up at the Sergeant, who started to salute us.

“Good luck, everypony,” he declared, “and may Faust be with us all.”

========================================<>=========================================

“As we got off the train, I noticed a large ship sitting in port at Horseshoe Bay. Before I boarded the wooden vessel, the Sergeant of our mission pulled me aside specifically and asked me to do him one favor. I looked back at him in anticipation of encouraging words, but his tone turned to sorrow.”

========================================<>=========================================

“Private Swift Wildshadow,” he stated quietly. “I understand this is your first taste of action and combat, but don’t get too excited. We aren’t going to fight a war.”

I nodded firmly, but he stopped me, placing a hoof on my shoulder.

“Listen,” the older pony said, attempting to find the right words. “Aa-uuhh-S-Son. I am going to be as transparent as I can with you. You are here mainly to scout and report. You don’t have magic, nor do you have wings. I don’t expect you to go out and be a hero because, frankly, you are not the best in this division or this entire expedition. If you were, you would be in my group.”

My eyes stared back, but I didn’t say anything. I know you’re correct, Sergeant, but I have the poten-

“That being said,” he said, widening his eyes slightly. “I know you have one thing going for you. That’s intuition. So use it to your best judgment. Make calls for yourself if we find ourselves in hot water.”

I nodded firmly and saluted with determination filling my veins.

“Stick to your roots, grasp everything you learned during training, and you might survive.”

He then saluted me before pushing me towards the plank that connected the ship’s entrance to the dock. But not before he whispered one more thing into my ear. One statement that made its home in my mind and plagued every thought I had that entire day.

“Lastly, do us all one favor, Private Swift. Don’t. Get. Caught.”

========================================<>=========================================

“My mind contemplated the words as fast as possible, and I entered the boat. Over the rest of the afternoon, we were transported to the rocks of Stampede Stream and unloaded onto the river’s shore. Our expedition stayed together, stopping here and there to ensure we stayed relaxed and well-rested.

Initially, I didn't realize it, but being the only earth pony with the group meant I would carry most of the necessary supplies. The unicorns tried to help but focused on navigating us through the area first. The pegasi flew above, underneath the upper treeline, to scout the terrain before us, ensuring we weren’t leading ourselves into a trap.”

========================================<>=========================================

“Rest up, colts,” the Sergeant said. “We got a long morning ahead of us tomorrow.”

I plopped down on the ground away from the group and exhaled. The journey had been taxing, to say the least, but the weight of all the supplies I had to carry for my squadron was excruciatingly painful. Now that I had been given a second to relax and collect my breath, I took out the journal I had been given and started to scribble in it.

Drawing and documenting the jungle's western perimeter was done so we could add to the region's map. From what I could tell, it had already been registered, but a few geographical landmarks needed to be accounted for.

A group of boulders, each the size of a tent, bunched up near the river. A row of bushes protecting the inner forestry. Charred up tree bark from the fallen trees.

And speaking of trees, fourteen trees on the outer edge of the forest, all facing us in a nice row. They all were slathered with ‘red X’s' and what looked like scratch marks underneath them.

Duullyyyy nootteedd, I thought to myself as I sketched the drawing out. Then, shutting the book, I placed it into my sleeping bag and trotted to my squadron. The group had set up a mini campfire and were barely chatting.

“Ah, there he is,” the large unicorn stated for our division to hear. “Writing out your final goodbyes, Private Swift?”

“No, sir,” I said emphatically, shaking my head. “Just drawing what’s around us.”

“Well, you should, Private!” he barked back. “I may be a veteran leading young colts like you into an environment comparable to Tartarus, but your memory will not live on after tomorrow!”

I was taken aback by this, but thankfully, one pegasus in our group stood up.

“And how do you know this, General Artie?” he retorted, puffing his chest out. The General stared at him and marched over to the young pegasus. Once confident, he now shrunk in place.

“Because I have been here before! TWICE!!” the General shouted back. “I have witnessed atrocities nopony would want to live with! And YOU DON’T want to know what horrors you will face tomorrow morning!”

“No, General,” the Sergeant trotted up from behind the General. “They ask. Therefore, they are curious. Tell them about the first two operations, Brigadier General Artis Clay,” he said, smirking.

“Sergeant, it is best if you just call me ‘Artie,’” the veteran pony said. “Much easier to say in conversation, in my humble opinion.”

“Fair enough, Artie, but please. Enlighten them.” The Sergeant patted the General’s back and departed back to his division. The General huffed, muttering before gathering our squadron around the fire and telling us about the past two missions into ‘Serpent’s Creek.’

“Serpent’s Creek,” he started off with, accompanied by a raspy tone. “It’s a, tch, it’s a place no pony would be brave enough to venture into alone. The jungle hides many creatures within its dark interior that would rip you apart the second you let your guard down.” Many of us backed up slightly, giving him an excuse to continue.

“Oh, don’t get scared now,” he reassured. “A river flows through the entire region if you get tired and need to drink.” We all breathed a sigh of relief. “Unless you want your tongue bitten off first, HAHAHA!!”

We cringed at the thought while the older unicorn laughed his tail off. Then, one of the younger unicorns started to sniffle, which prompted us to stare at him in bewilderment. Eventually, the General simmered down and stomped his hoof into the ground, signaling the unicorn to stop his crying.

“I am only pulling your tail, young colt,” he said, staring at the unicorn. “Gosh, lighten up…Anyways,” he said, continuing his story. “I have been on both missions to Serpent’s Creek. Both times we departed from Trotsylvania. It’s down the river if you sail more to the east.”

We all drew in closer, which caused him to slowly start frowning.

“The eastern front has already been well documented, but we haven’t been able to document the western front all that well. So that’s what this mission is for; to do what those previous missions couldn’t do,” the General said, slamming his right hoof down onto the ground. “Document land on the one side we could never get to. But that’s why we must do it on the THIRD attempt!”

“Wh-What happened to those first two operations, General Artie?” one of the other unicorns asked. He was immediately given a death glare by the General.

“Both missions went in through the eastern front and were unable to even get close to this area bordering the land occupied by those dragons,” he said, bitterness flaring off those words. I expected him to get even more upset, but he remained calm and spoke quietly. “Both times, we were forced to retreat to the lake and board our boats. So that's twice we went in, and twice we fled.”

All of us sat back, fear starting to settle in. But that is when General Artie told us one final warning that has played like a broken record in my mind since that day.

“Be warned, young stallions,” he quietly said. “If we are ambushed, you must flee as fast as possible to the west. The creatures in that jungle know the land all too well, which is what we lack. So do your best to flee if and when we are attacked. Because you never know….” he paused before finishing his sentence.

“It is the difference between survival or extinction.”

========================================<>=========================================

“As nightfall fell upon us, I did my best to sleep, hoping for rest. But the thought of what could be out there kept me up. Why are there so few of us? Who are the native creatures of this region? What is so important about the jungle? Why is it important that I don’t get caught?

As the thoughts festered in my head, I was getting sleepy. Whatever was out there would have to wait for us tomorrow morning. And if it was dangerous, they would meet Private Swift Wildshadow at his best.”

========================================<>=========================================

The following day, I woke up in my cot to one of the unicorns shaking my bag. “Get up, Swift,” the unicorn whispered. “Operation: Discovery |3| has already been set in motion.”

“Hu-Huu-Whaaat?” I half-heartedly asked, only to be silenced.

“Ssshh,” he shushed me before continuing. “Get up. Let’s go.”

I groaned under my breath as I sat up. Then, wrestling myself out of my sleeping bag, I rolled it up when the General came over.

“What are you doing, Private?” he angrily whispered. “Leave it. We won’t be needing it anymore after today.”

sigh “Yes, sir,” I quietly responded, nodding my sleepy head. Guess somecreature else can use it as materials for themselves then, I thought to myself.

I trotted over to the group, following General Artie. However, something caught my eye as we were moving on the perimeter. I noticed the fourteen trees from before that I had notated as geographical landmarks and those ‘red X’s.’ Last night, I placed my sleeping bag about two dozen yards from the right-most tree.

Hmmm, I hummed to myself. One two three four, my brain started counting…seven eight nine, it was chugging right along, taking its time in making the mental notes…thirteen fourteen…

“Fifteen, sixteen, seventeen?” I asked rhetorically. H-Ho-How?! I questioned internally. I am sure there were fourteen yesterday. Did I miss these?

I made my way over to the newly marked trees and inspected them. Oh, sweet Celestia, I exasperatedly thought while studying them. These…these are new.

The X’s were freshly painted, with the liquid dripping down the tree's bark. I placed my hoof on one of them, and, not-so-surprisingly, it attached itself to the bottom of my hoof. It’s wet, I pondered slowly. It had to be painted recently. But that could have only happened whe-

“Get over here, Private Swift!” the General angrily grabbed me from my bubble. I yelped in surprise before he shushed me. “What the hay do you think you are doing? We are not to step hoof into that jungle until five minutes from now!”

“B-b-b-but G-General Artie,” I stammered. “The tr-tr-trees-s….”

“What about the trees, Private?!” he snapped back. I fished out my journal from last night and flipped it open to the drawings I had made.

“There were only fourteen trees marked with those 'red X’s' last night before we started sleeping. But now,” I hesitantly said. “There’s seventeen of them….”

The General stared back at me as if I were crazy, which I also thoughtfully asked my mind. Am I going crazy out in this region already?

The General examined the drawing I had sketched, then looked up at the marked trees. Sure enough, his counting had revealed seventeen trees donning red X’s.

“G-G-General Ar-Artie?” I hesitantly asked, my brain churning out a ridiculous reason. “H-h-how many squadrons, in total, have been dispatched to S-Serpent’s Creek?”

The General took a deep breath before turning back to the group behind us. “Fourteen, Private. Fourteen squadrons.”

“They’re…they’re an omen,” I thought aloud, pacing beside the General. “The trees represent the total divisions sent to explore this area of Equestria. If the red X’s mean they were defeated, then that means….” I stopped in place, my jaw dropping as the pieces finally clicked into place.

“General, we can’t go in. You have to call off the mission.”

“What did you say to me, Private Swift?” the older unicorn hissed, turning his head around.

“We can’t go into that jungle, sir,” I retorted, the rest of the squadron gathering around us. “Those marked trees have sealed this group's fate. If we turn back and head for the bord-”

“The other two divisions have already departed! There is no turning back, Private!” General Artie yelled back, slamming his hoof into the ground.

“B-b-but, s-sir…”

“No buts, Private!” he snapped before placing a hoof on the bridge of his muzzle. “I have been a General for nearly nine years in this army, serving Canterlot for over thirteen years. I do not take orders from a Private. Rather, I consider them that you or the rest of the group come up with,” he stated clearly before turning to the rest of our squadron. “And if ANYPONY wants to turn back now, raise your hoof.”

No other pony raised their hoof, all of them turning their heads. My hoof hesitantly started to go up before the General’s magical grasp caught it and put it back down.

“You don’t even believe in your idiotic reasonings, Private. Once we return safely to Canterlot, High Command will hear about your traitorous mindset,” he growled.

“Sir, I am not trai-”

“Enough!” he snapped. “End of conversation, young colt!”

Silence rushed over us, my gaze going toward the ground in defeat. That’s when the faint beeping sound came to our ears.

“That’s the timeframe signal,” the General said before side-eyeing me. “Time to go. Let’s get a move on. NOW!!”

========================================<>=========================================

“The unicorn General huffed, brushing it off as pure coincidence, and said the other two groups had already left. If there were any problems, we would have received a parchment by now. I thought they might not have had a chance to send it, but I reluctantly sighed in defeat, my head drooping, knowing I couldn’t change the squadron's trajectory. Once we got the signal, squadron ‘Sea’ entered the jungle.”

========================================<>=========================================

“Buck,” I whispered to nopony in particular. “These darn thorns stick to your clothing if you aren’t careful.”

The expedition was taking its time moving throughout the eastern side of the forest. I was cataloging the numerous geographical landmarks I could find, sketching down the treelines, any gorges or valleys embedded within, and even what to avoid.

“Avoid these bushes as best as poss-WAH!”

I nearly walked over the edge of a small cliff and backed up from the massive gap in the jungle floor. Bountiful amounts of shrubbery and dead trees stared back at me.

“Hey, Swift,” a pegasus from above swooped in to caution me. “It’s not considered wise to jump in. You either jump over it or walk the path down and through it.”

“Why not just lift me over, Steevy?” I inquired with a puzzling look.

“I ain’t carrying your flank over that,” he said, pointing down. “You might drag me down with you, and I will let go of you if you’re too heavy.”

Wooow, so helpful, I thought to myself, rolling my eyes. Holding the journal in my mouth, I took about a dozen steps back before turning around. Facing the large gap, I galloped forward and leaped as far as possible. Thanks to the lack of equipment I had to carry, I landed safely on the other side and slowed to a halt.

“Good job, Private,” the General’s voice said sarcastically. “IF you intended to alert any creature to our location.”

“Mhmm mh mhph mmm,” I responded before removing the journal from my mouth. “I’ll remember that and put it in my wellness journal. Thank you, sir.”

“Don’t get sarcastic with me, Private,” the General said, decloaking himself. “We haven’t seen any signs of those bastards yet, so let’s keep it at that.” He paused before looking at my journal. “And stop drawing down every single detail. I am not stopping to wait on you anymore.”

“Where’s the rest of the group then?” I asked. “Shouldn’t you be monitoring them too?”

“Private Swift, why don’t you look up for once?” he retorted before trotting ahead.

Sweet Celestia, my mind thought. If I knew I would be paired with the worst leader, aside from the Legionnaire, I would have never agreed to this journey in the first place.

I looked into the treeline above and saw the two pegasi flying through the trees ahead. They flew above the ground forces, routinely switching between high-fly and mid-aerial trajectories. Their visual excellence, speed, and ability to cover as much ground as possible made it easier to communicate any potential hazards ahead to us.

I didn’t realize it until the General recast the spell and cloaked himself. The seven unicorns, including General Artie, concealed themselves heavily, placing thick layers of invisibility spells down amongst themselves to stay hidden. It worked like a charm, as they blended in with the environment.

As for myself, my uniform and naturally camouflaged fur kept me out of harm’s way so long as I stayed low to the ground and moved slowly. With that, it wasn’t a problem going from tree to tree, using them as obstacles and barriers to protect me from danger and giving me a chance to mark them and sketch them in the journal.

Navigating the heavily crowded vegetation and scraping any thorns that may have stuck to me, I got another chance to map out a significant geographical spot. There was a large tree nearby surrounded by much smaller trees. Underneath those smaller trees were these wood slabs with odd symbols written all over them.

I couldn’t decipher them at the time, but it seemed to me like a memorial. I made a note in my journal to have this research done if adequately documented. I noted one of the slabs, sketching the symbols to the best of my ability.

Cool, I thought after I completed my drawing. Now, to get back to the group.

We were about a half hour into the trip when I heard the noise of rushing water getting louder. I remembered the stream nearby, slightly running through the jungle but mostly staying towards the southern perimeter of the region. I also recollected the General’s anecdote of possibly getting your tongue bitten off if you tried to drink from it.

I shrugged the thought off and tried to put it out of my mind. Then, trotting past the river, my eyes wandered to the bank nearest us and saw…some odd object on the ground near the water.

Wha…What the hay is that? I thought, sneaking closer to the foreign object and staring at it.

The object came into view the closer I got, and that’s when I realized what it was—a box of some sort with a button on the lid of it. I immediately recognized it.

“A parchment box?” I questioned myself while grabbing it. “What’s this doing out he-”

zip!

“Private Swift,” the General silently snapped at me. “What in Equestria are you doing moving away from the formation? Don’t tell me you ar-

“Sir, look,” I said, holding up the box in my left hoof. General Artie stared at it, his eyes squinting.

“What in the name of Faust is this doing out here?” the General said skeptically. He grabbed the box in his magical grip and pressed the button on top of it. The box slowly opened to reveal a scroll inside. The scroll was crumpled as if whoever placed it back inside did so frantically.

“Let’s see what we got here,” the General commented, sitting down as he unrolled the paper. He started scanning it when I realized his entire frame had frozen.

“What is it, General Artie?” I inquired.

“Ssh,” he softly responded, trying not to move his lips. He dared not to move his head, staring into the jungle on his left before his eyes darted to the river.

My eyes looked at the written message in his right hoof, and that’s when my blood also froze. The parchment had a faintly scribbled line on the top, followed by a sentence written in the same color as the trees from the western border.

“Sir, that’s blood,” I said quietly before realizing that I had just thought it was the sa-

“Kid,” General Artie whispered. “Be quiet, and don’t move a muscle.”

========================================<>=========================================

“If you are curious as to what it said, the following message went as such:”

“Abandon the are–”

“w̵̄̀̆̅̕͝ē̛̗͒̂ r͔̭̋̀Ė̼̦̝̩̀͛̍-s̶͂O̶̞̍̅͘͜ H̵͂̑̃͊U̷͑͒̒͠nG̴͊̈́̅͑̚r̴y̴̾͑͌̀̔̽ ”

========================================<>=========================================

The General looked up at the river and stood motionless.

“Private Swift,” he said quietly. “Slowly, and I mean slowly, crouch down and cover me as best as you can. Try not to make any extraneous movements.”

I didn’t nod, but painstakingly slowly, I bent my hindlegs and forelegs to get into a crouched position. Meanwhile, the older unicorn did not move and used my frame to hide behind me. From there, the General silently popped a parchment and quill from his magical inventory.

My eyes darted with my head still, and I peered down at General Artie, who brought out a scroll. With a turtle-like speed, he wrote a message in small hoofwriting. I barely realized what he was writing, but my mind raced with dreadful thoughts. However, when my brain registered the term ‘abandoned,’ I averted my gaze back to the right and looked across the river.

Two pairs of yellow eyes stared back from between the bushes, slanted upward.

I then turned my gaze back to the General, who placed the scroll inside the parchment’s box. He looked at me and mouthed one word.

“Run.”

I stared back with a confused look on my face. Run, now? I thought painfully. What’s the reason?

He placed his hoof down on the parchment box’s send button. As it pressed the button, the faint noise of hissing reached my ears, prompting them to shift slightly. My knees buckled as fear shook my body violently.

“Private,” General Artie whispered back. “Run. Now.”

Please, Faust, I silently thought to myself. Please don’t let it be what I think it i-

And at that moment, all fiery Tartarus broke loose.

========================================<>=========================================

’They are here. All sixteen serpents. Operation Discovery |3| has been abandoned.’

“He then slightly moved his head to the left and peered across the river before shoving me to his right. This next part is burned into my mind as a singular image. I cannot get rid of it. No matter how hard I may try, it will never go away.

My heart rate rapidly increased as four serpentine creatures appeared from the river’s side, with two rocketing toward our location. Then, just as Artie had sent the parchment on its way and cast his teleportation spell, two snakes reached him and opened their mouths wide.”

========================================<>=========================================

Two of the creatures had their fangs drawn at General Artie. The first serpent dove for the older unicorn’s stomach region, biting hard into the midsection.

“AAARRRGG-!!” General Artie’s shriek rang out for a split second before the second snake mercilessly cut him off. The boneless creature aimed for and locked in on the pony’s neck, snapping his unhinged mouth down. His fangs dug into the General’s throat, immediately cutting off the ear-piercing sound.

The two serpentines dragged the unicorn down to the ground, an open patch of grass in the thick jungle sparing a tiny amount of light onto it. There, the General’s body dropped with a thud! onto the ground and spazzed violently. Seconds later, the body of the General went limp.

Blood was pouring out from his stomach as the first snake let go, the red liquid oozing and dragging itself to the ground, staining the soil below. On the other hoof, the second one ripped himself from General Artie’s neck, tearing out his throat. The blood gushed like a hose with its nozzle off from the area, prompting me to nearly puke up last night’s supper.

I wanted to faint, but both serpents looked in my direction, hissing loudly. Then, the General’s voice rang out the singular word I had dreaded hearing.

”Run!” the word echoed loudly.

Run, you fool, my mind desperately pleaded.

RUN!!

Looking at my compass, I immediately started my dash westward. Taking a peek over my left shoulder for only a second, I was horrified to see two slim creatures lunge forward from the ground at my hind legs. Cannot get caught today, my mind declared.

My movement changed briefly as I swiftly moved to the left, leaping over a log and pivoting right in one fluid motion.

This move resulted in a satisfying bonk! behind me, followed by the sounds of loud groaning. I kept sprinting forward, thinking, I got them with that move. My ears picked up on the faint hissing, starting to grow again with each passing moment.

My mind was scrambling to devise a perfect survival route, and I knew that teleporting was out of the picture since I wasn’t a unicorn. Neither was flying since I wasn’t a pegasus either. Even climbing the trees would only lead to me being captured and killed eventually. I couldn’t do any of those things, but I did have an ace up my sleeve.

Something I was reminded of back at Horseshoe Bay.

’Your intuition, Private Swift. Use it.’ the memory played.

“I am not getting caught by some bucking serpents,” I growled. “NOT TODAY!!”

I galloped forward through the forest as my survival instincts kicked into overdrive.

========================================<>=========================================

“A couple of trees had toppled over, allowing me to climb them on an upward slant. I heard loud rustling and rattling noises as I sprinted down the other side, getting ever-so louder. I then noticed in my peripheral that a snake was lunging toward my left side. I quickly ducked, allowing the serpent to fly over me, then jumped to headbutt the creature’s stomach. It hurt, but the snake was struck and flew toward a tree. I heard the sound of wood snapping and louder hissing before continuing to flee.”

========================================<>=========================================

“That oughta teach ya!” I yelled back at the boneless creature. The shrubbery it had landed in buckled and swallowed it whole, hiding the serpentine within its secluded space.

Buck, I thought to myself as I ducked and darted back and forth. I can’t see him anymore…Keep your eyes ahead, stupid!

I snapped my head forward, and then my eyes darted to the left. As I got closer and closer, there appeared to be a moshpit of bushes and dead trees in a ditch of sorts. The same ditch I had to leap over not too long ago.

Bingo, I hummed, confidence radiating. Let’s lose them a bit.

Taking a detour from the fast-approaching break in the plane before me, I swerved hard to the left and ducked down. Diving into the shrubs below, I grunted as the branches and thorns tore at my skin. The adrenaline could only hold down so much agony, but that wasn’t the objective now.

“Gotta survive, Swift,” I told myself softly as the cuts allowed blood to seep through.

Crawling out of the prickly vegetation, the hissing only got louder as the noise of rustling leaves made its way to my ears. Then, as I quickly got up and restarted my gallop again, I turned my head for a couple of seconds and nearly froze in fright.

Thirteen, count ‘em right now, THIRTEEN!! Pairs of yellow eyes were staring back at my location. Their eyes narrowed as the cavalcade of loud hisses and rattling grew louder and louder. They were getting closer.

Target locked, my thoughts told me, begging me to run. Get yourself the blazes out of there!

========================================<>=========================================

“All thirteen of them were narrowing in on me. That was the last time I would turn my head to peer behind me since keeping my eyes forward would only lead me to safety.”

========================================<>=========================================

Huff! Huff! Huff!

Damn, I thought to myself. I have to get back into combat shape. Being at attention throughout the castle for most of the day hasn’t cut it for me.

Huff! Huff!

I got to, no. I have to, NO! my mind was arguing back and forth with itself. I NEED to survive!

Pant! Huff!

“Where the buck is the jungle’s perimeter?” I asked myself out loud. “Gotta…huff, hurry!”

SsssSS!

“Oh, buck. Oh, BUCK NO!!” I said to myself, hoping they weren’t right on my flank. “Please, for Celestia’s sake, PLEEEEASE!!”

I could feel their slimy serpentine bodies start to get closer and closer behind me, waiting to devour me at the last moment. They’re toying with me, I thought exasperatedly. I ca…I can’t go on…I-I…

’Hey, Swift. Listen…the most important thing is that you come back home, safe and sound. You have a family that cares for your well-being, friends who have gotten to know you, and most importantly, all of us.’

Tears started to form in my eyes as the memories I had made from my first four months as a Royal Guard at the Canterlot Castle flooded back into my brain. No, my mind told me. No! Keep fighting! There has to be a way outt-

gasp!

“Jackpot,” I silently told myself, eyeing the clearing ahead. Finally, the neat row of trees became increasingly visible, and I knew exactly where I was.

SSSSssssSSSSS!

“Oh, BUCK YOU TOO!!” I screamed at the top of my lungs. Using my remaining energy and strength, I ran up a toppled tree near the forest's edge and leaped into the air. Spreading my legs out ahead of me, I stretched myself as best as I could and hoped for the be-

SSSsssHHAAAAA!!

The last thing I expected was the serpentine following close behind me to use the underside of the same toppled tree and sling himself up toward me. Thinking I was going to be bitten severely, I tensed up. But, instead, the serpentine flew right underneath me from behind and slammed into my flank, which did nothing more than propel me forward a dozen more yards.

“Oh for Celestia’s SAAAAKKE!!” I cried, eyeing the water below. The water had rippled profusely, revealing three serpents staring hungrily at me. I closed my eyes, took what felt like my final breath, and braced myself for impact.

Goodbye, I thought sadly. May my pony soul rest in pe-

ffFWWOOOOSssh!!

I didn’t see it at the time, but I felt it. A wave of fire engulfed the entire area in a sea of flames. My fur singed at the hot temperatures radiating around my still-flying frame. Chao-

========================================<>=========================================

“Ohohoho! Did somecreature say my name?” a familiar draconequus asked.

“Get BACK in that box, Discord! This is not your story!” I snapped back at him.

“Tch. What a party pooper you are,” he said before snapping his fingers and disappearing into the air.

========================================<>=========================================

As I was saying, the chaos started taking hold of the surrounding environment, and the dragons kept it up. Fanning the flames with their mighty wings, they chased those dreaded snakes back into the jungle where they resided and even had to battle and kill a few that remained undeterred.

Unfortunately, I blacked out when my body hit the river’s surface.

========================================<>=========================================

“It had been thirteen hours since I blacked out.

When I came to, I felt hot. My body was aching. Beads of sweat were rolling down my face, and the feeling was super uncomfortable. I slowly opened my eyes to observe my surroundings. Although fuzzy at first, it took a couple dozen seconds for my vision to return, and that’s when panic made itself a home in my head.”

========================================<>=========================================

“...W-wha-wh-wher-re amm I?” I asked, sitting up on whatever I was lying on.

As I looked around wherever I was, my vision came back, and it allowed me to survey my surroundings. Th-this c-c-can’t b-beee riiight, my brain thought slowly. Wh-what kind of p-p-place is thisss?

I looked down and saw I was lying on some flat rock. The rock was elevated upon a platform inside a cave.

A very warm cave.

A really hot cave.

The sweltering heat made the steam from the ground visible to my eyes. As my gaze shifted higher, I took in the walls of the cave, and it was jaw-dropping. They appeared to be of a red-orange hue, with massive spiky rock formations dangling from the ceiling.

“MmmmMm…Preettyyy,” I drunkenly said, my gaze faltering slightly.

That’s when those same eyes that had been sightseeing a bit widened. I quickly looked around at all the walls and noticed many scratch marks donning them. Scratch marks? I pondered with a puzzling look, switching to fear in a fraction of a second. B-but I saw those at th-

SSSSsssSS!!

pat-pat!

“Hey, glad you’re up!”

“AAAAAA-”

thud!

“Ooowwaah,” I groaned, grabbing at my right hind leg. The impact force had been more painful than I thought, as the pain took a few seconds to subside.

“Hey, wai-”

“AAAAHH!! Don’t come near me!” I screamed at whatever it was, covering my face.

“Wait, I’m tryi-”

“GET AWAAYYY!!” I screamed even louder, backing up rapidly from the creature. Despite my screaming, the creature flew up, landing a few feet from me as my back collided with the wall.

“Stop!” the feminine creature said…or at least I thought it was a female. But then, it started getting closer to me, so I did the first thing that came to mind.

smack!

“I SAID GET AWAY FROM MEEE!!” I said, smacking away the hand of the creature. I winced from the pain as I retracted my left hoof. Whatever I hit had rough hands and something sharp at the end of its digits. Almost like claws…

…claws?

Did I just say…claws?

“Hey! Help! He’s awake! Help me out here!” the creature’s voice rang out as it fled the cave, echoing back to my ears and playing endlessly. My body started trembling as I shuddered.

No, I thought, a gut-wrenching feeling coming to me. N-nooo. I-I don’t w-want to di-

“He’s over here! Quickly! He’s awake!”

My breathing started to get faster as a vast group of shadows formed on the wall to my right, getting ever so larger.

Uh oh, my mind said in terror.

NOT AGAIN!!

========================================<>=========================================

“Another few seconds later, a swarm of the same kind of creature rushed into the cave, landing a meter away from me. I was hyperventilating and unable to move, but that one reminder came to mind. If you are attacked, run for the Eastern Lair to the west. Use your compasses. The dragons that occupy the nearby territory are our allies and will help you seek refuge until we can safely return to Canterlot….”

========================================<>=========================================

“N-No,” I said softly, shaking my head. “Th-There’s n-n-no w-way….”

“Do not fret, little colt!” one of the dragons said, his voice booming and filled with pride. “You are safe now! Back in the Eastern Lair, home to us dragons and wyverns!” A chorus of agreement came from the group.

That can’t be right, I started thinking. First, we were ambushed, and it took me considerable time to escape on hoof. In the short time it took me to run back to the western side of the region from the east, how did they get to me so fast?

More importantly, how did they know when to strike?

I stared at them in disbelief. Only when I realized that the Eastern Lair was actually the volcano in the northwest area of the region did my breathing start to slow down. Then, closing my eyes, I did my best to relax, the tension beginning to bleed from my body.

I genuinely am safe, I thought internally. Safe from harm’s grip. Then that must mean…

“W-w-wh…” I stuttered. I was shaking again, but I needed to ask this question. There are only two answers, my mind said. Taking a deep breath, I pressed my luck.

“W-Where are th-the r-r-rest of them?” I asked hesitantly, doing my best to remain calm.

========================================<>=========================================

“The dragons all looked at each other with worried expressions. Finally, a dragoness stepped forward and drew me in for a hug. She held me there in her grasp and whispered something to me.”

========================================<>=========================================

“You’re the only pony that survived,” she softly spoke into my left ear.

N-n-noo, my mind exasperatedly told itself. Th-th-that’s-s…

My eyes started to water quickly, and the tears spiraled down my face as I gripped her shoulder tightly. My breathing started choking up as I sobbed into the dragoness's embrace. The wails of sadness echoed throughout the cave, which signaled most dragons to disembark. Some stayed behind as a precautionary aid to what was happening.

“Sssshhhh,” she whispered into my ear, patting me on the back with her left talon. “It’s okay, little one. That’s it. Let it all out. Ssshhhh….”

The flashes of the mission flooded back and bore into my mind. The squadron I was a part of. The entire expedition force had gone into that jungle of madness...

...and all of them disappeared without a trace…

...mutilated and decapitated…

...tortured and mentally destroyed!

THAT’S WHAT THEY DID TO THEM!! my thoughts yelled frustratingly.

I kept crying into the dragoness’s embrace, the emotions pouring out from what could've happened to what became of the operation. This is what those damn serpents wanted, I bitterly thought. They wanted me to narrowly escape, retaining the feeling of nearly being bitten and eaten alive. General Artie’s lifeless body, painted by the blood gushing out as his head was rippe-

“Don’t worry,” the dragoness said, consoling me. “You’re in a safe place now. Canterlot dispatched the message to Lord Ember, and some of our kind flew to the region immediately.”

She sighed before continuing. “Of course, we have struggled to fend off those devilish serpents in the past, but all that matters is that YOU are out of harm’s way now.”

My sobs slowly faded as I let myself melt in the warm hug I was getting from her. The sounds of the cave slowly faded as I focused on the now. It was nice and peaceful. I wish I could’ve thanked the mysterious dragoness for her actions. After all, they do speak louder than words.

Silence started to fill the area, save for the crackling of magma inside the cave’s walls. I felt as though my body was dozing off, begging for rest. The adventure I had just endured was no more. Rest was what I truly needed.

It would only grasp me until after the dragoness departed. Then, she slowly picked me up off the ground and placed me back onto the bed-like formation. I can’t remember who comforted me, but I wish I had gotten an answer sooner rather than later.

That’s when she whispered one more thing to me, and it’s something I’ll never forget.

“Princess Celestia is personally coming to take you back home. I wish I could do more for you now, but...rest yourself, young one…."

"You survived Serpent’s Creek….”

========================================<>=========================================

“Alive and well in Canterlot.

Your only son,

Private Swift Wildshadow”

========================================<>=========================================

Damn, I thought while shuddering. As I finished reading the letter, my fist clenched around the scroll, the tears starting to trickle from my eyes. Motherfucker survived the event to tell the tale and simultaneously lost all of his comrades.

As I placed the paper back into the envelope and tossed it into the box near me, I saw the fourth one poking out from the bunch. I could organize these to make this easier, I told myself as I wiped the tears from my cheeks.

After a couple of minutes of sorting, the envelopes had been neatly stacked and spread across the desk horizontally. It's easier this way, I admired as I grabbed the fourth envelope.

As I unfolded the envelope’s flap and pulled out the letter, another note floated onto the desk. Again, the writing looked unsettling but was in a much larger font this time. I placed the letter down and picked it up.

*O--rat--n Di-co-e-y |3|\C--re-t -tat-s: fa--ure\D--isi-n- se-t: 3--tal p-n--s: -4\Lo-- of --fe: 2-*

A tear fell from my chin and hit the paper sheet, staining the fourth letter's backside.

After some deep breaths, I unfolded the letter and looked at the legibly-written handwriting before me. Should I stop? I wondered. Because if I don’t, when will I?