I can only say "go fuck yourself" so fucking often.
It was a quiet monday morning in Canterlot city, the sun was shining brightly, the yellow-leafed trees were swaying gently in the morning breeze, sparrows were feeding on the bright red berries of the quicken trees. Mile-long traffic jams were already forming along the major streets of the city, dooming a good portion of the city's denizens to waste away even before they got to work.
On such a fine autumn morning, a group of teenagers stood at rapt attention, as an otherwise meek-looking pink haired girl was practically glowing with enthusiasm as she explained something to the other two girls.
"And that's why it's important to start them off with wet food, and only switch to dry food when they're at the very least six months old!" Fluttershy concluded her little lecture, ready to answer any question the girls had, a patient expression adorning her face.
"Huh, guess that makes some sense..." Rainbow Dash replied, rubbing the back of her head. "Should've figured it wouldn't make the kittens tougher if I started off with dry food..."
"Shy, you shoulda know better than to trust this featherbrain with your animals." Applejack shook her head, leveling a disapproving look at Rainbow. "It's a miracle you didn't try teaching them how to swim."
Rainbow Dash harrumphed. "Hey, I would never-" Her words died in her throat as distant sounds of screaming car alarms mixed with the roaring rumble of a good dozen engines reached her ears. "Do any of you hear that?" She caught the concerned expression on AJ's face as the ground began to rumble under their very feet, the roaring of engines rapidly approaching Canterlot High's entrance.
"It'd be hard not to." The farm girl yelled over the overbearing sound, its source rearing its ugly head from around the corner down the street. The thick barrel of a M256A1 smoothbore slid into view, followed by the main body of the heavy vehicle, its tracks biting into the asphalt, splitting it as it went. Its black reflection splintered into innumerable little pieces as window panes shattered on each side of the street. Following the weapon of war was a similarly armored vehicle, sporting a lighter armament and a bulkier frame, clearly made for carrying troops into the heat of battle.
The thrumming noise coming from above Applejack distracted her from the imposing machines, only to center her attention on another, equally dreadful vehicle. Its main body was wide enough to accomodate close to a dozen people, two unguided missile launchers accompanied by two guided one's on each wing. Curiously enough, two bulky mean wearing tactical webbing over white uniforms and a blocky gas mask were hanging onto each side of one of the helicopters, their sheer size rivaling even Big Mac. Three groups each consisting of two helicopters followed their respective ground forces, coming to a stop just behind the heavy tanks, the latter coming dangerously close to squashing those students too stunned to move, barely managing to scramble out of the way at the last moment.
Two loud thuds broke through the cacophony of noise as the bulky man jumped off the helicopter mid-flight, Rainbow having to hold Fluttershy close to prevent her from fainting. Now that these soldiers, and Applejack had no doubt that's who they were, stood on solid ground, the farm girl had to admit that her brother was easily outclassed, as these ispolins easily towered a head and a half over the older apple sibling. Each man took some sort of device off his belt, waved it around for a couple of moments, and waved at the helicopter.
Four black cables were ejected from the helicopter, ten soldiers rappelling down onto Canterlot High grounds, each one clad in black military attire, their faces hidden by eerie gas masks, three blue dots glowing on what Applejack surmised were night vision goggles, although what use the men had for them in broad daylight, she had no idea. Soon enough these soldiers flooded the premises, their rifles aimed in the school's direction. Applejack noticed each member wearing an insignia on their shoulder, a black star over a thick, black 'W', but try as she might, she couldn't remember a US military division with such iconography.
A soldier dressed in a white jumpsuit let go of the cable, pushing away the two brutes as he walked between them. His yellow tinted goggles stared through Aj's very soul as the man addressed her, his rifle pointed at the ground, at least for the moment.
"You, stow your shit into the building, pronto." It felt like his voice was coming from a radio, like it was filtered. Applejack, still trying to gather her wits, earned the man's ire, his voice on edge as he spoke. "Hey, shit for brains, I'm talking to you." Applejack balked at the insult, scowling as the man continued. "Get your retarded ass back to campus, you hear me? I can pop a bullet between your eyes and sleep like a fucking baby."
As if spurned by such a show of injustice, Fluttershy freed herself from Rainbow's grasp, pointing a finger at the man. "Don't talk to my friend like that!" Rainbow nodded, glaring at the man.
"Yeah, we know our rights!"
"Maybe, but you obviously don't know much about martial law." He slammed the butt of his rifle into Fluttershy's solar plexus, the girl doubling over from pain and surprise. Applejack rushed to hold the poor girl as Rainbow threw her fist at the man's jaw, only to receive the same treatment as Fluttershy, the butt of his M4 bruising her jaw.
"You have the right to be ventilated." He spoke, addressing both of them. "I have the right to burn your home, and shoot your dog. Do you understand your rights as I have read them to you?"
Rainbow groaned and spat blood on the ground, mumbling obscenities through the pain pulsating through her jaw. Applejack helped the athlete up, more holding the girl from assaulting the man again, than anything.
"We, uh, we get it." She tried to placate him, the efficiency of her words unclear in the face of the soldier's stoic stature. "We'll be going into the school, alright? No need to get physical." She cautiously turned her back to the soldier, his chuckle coupled with his previous statement sending a chill down her spine. Applejack's eyes went wide as she noticed one of the students hiding behind the horse statue, holding a pocket knife in his hand, waiting for the soldiers to approach. The farm girl's eyes begged him not to try anything stupid, but the kid just shook his head.
He coiled himself to jump around the corner and stab the first soldier who got in his way, maybe steal his gun, maybe take him hostage, he didn't know for sure. As the footsteps came closer he steadied his breath, steeled himself for whatever may come, and grit his teeth, his decision final.
The last thing the boy saw was the barrel of an M4 pointed between his eyes, and a pair of striking blue lights leering at him. A deafening burst painted the area behind the boy in a mix of brain matter and bone chunks, his body seizing in place before falling to the ground, the muscles in his body constricting all at the same time as he spasmed on the ground for a moment that seemed to stretch forever, before finally growing still.
A black soldier approached the body, kicked him with his leg and chuckled.
"Fuck, even walkers aren't stupid enough to rush us with knives! Heh, at least they bleed red." He squatted, prying the unsuccessful weapon from the corpse's hands, wiping the blade on his hand. "Shit, that's a nox! Limited edition too!"
"Shut the fuck up Starnes, and get that shit sealed." Another soldier walked past him, signaling the others to move the body. "Feel free to loot the bodies after AO is secured."
Starnes sighed, fishing a plastic bag out of his armor's rigging and sealing the knife shut, carefully folding the blade. AS he put his prize away, he looked up to notice the girls facing him, their expressions frozen with a mix of fear and disgust. He snorted, taking a step towards them.
"Wanna join your pal over there, shitstains? Get a move on, pronto."
As the trio shambled towards the school, the rest of the student body following their example, Rainbow managed to speak through her broken teeth.
"They're gonna do that to the entire school, you know."
"Not right away." Applejack countered, lowering her two friends onto the nearest bench. "They would've done so already with that arsenal of theirs."
"Then what do they want?"
Applejack watched as the black soldier scurried around the perimeter, raising temporary fences topped with barbed wire.
"I dunno."
Twilight Sparkle barely stopped herself from biting her nails as she flickered through the images on her screen, each scene not too dissimilar from the first. Heavy imprints in the asphalt, a curtain of men and armor moving through the city, entire blocks of people herded into the backs of military vehicles, disappearing to God knows where. This was beyond governmental overreach, beyond police brutality, a violation of American rights and freedoms on a scale never seen before...
With one exception.
And if things are going the way they went in Manhattan, She thought, it's only going to get worse.
Twilight's eyes went wide as she recognised one of the cams, her attention wholly on the scene.
The familiar walls of Canterlot High gave off an eerie feeling when observed from behind a tall, barbed wire fence. Men clad in black armor securing every possible exit.
She needed to know more.
One of the cameras proved to be close enough to the man in the white uniform, his voice loud enough to hear through the pandemonium, fierce enough to brook no argument.
"Each D-Code will be escorting two squads," Their commander said into the radio on his shoulder. "standart engagement rules apply. Sniff the fucker out and get it ready for transport. If it's a Zeus, rendezvous outside and torch the place. F-35's will be ready to deploy bloodtox in T-15 seconds."
"Sir!" The men replied in unison.
"You all know your duty, whatever it takes." The commander finished, checking his rifle. "Now MOVE IT!"
Twilight felt her heart seize in her chest as squads of soldiers moved into the school, the so-called "D-Codes" cracking their knuckles before shamelessly kicking down the glass doors into the school.
A startling realization creeped up on her, the gravity of her situation matched only by the helplessness she felt.
She couldn't do anything, not alone. Maybe Twilight, the other Twilight could do something? Swoop in with her otherworldly magic and save the day?
Her hands sweaty, Twilight picked up her smartphone and dialed Sunset's number, waiting with bated breath as the beeps continued.
"Sunset? Sunset Shimmer?"
"Twi? Yeah, I hear you." Twilight's frantic question was answered in hushed tones. "These assholes are everywhere, gotta keep it down."
"Thank God you're alright!" Twilight replied, letting out a sigh of relief. "You gotta tell your pony Princess we have a problem on our hands!"
"Already done that, Twi." Sunset fell silent, nothing but the sound of rushed movement and heavy breathing. "She's going to be here any minute now, don't worry. Where are you? Are you safe?"
"Yeah, I'm-"
A deafening beep threw Twilight off balance, the girl nearly tumbling out of her chair, staying upright by nothing short of a miracle.
"This telephone call has been interrupted for national security reasons under the emergency powers act.
Twilight immediately hangs up the call, jumping out of her chair and hurriedly gathering her belongings. She had to get out, now. Get mom, dad, Shining and Cadance and lay low for a while. Maybe even get out of the city...
Twilight heard her front door slam open, the wood splintering as it impacted the floor, followed by heavy footsteps rapidly approaching her room's door. As the only thing separating her from God knows what creaked and groaned, Twilight approached the window, quickly assembling a rope out of her bedsheets.
She wasn't going to make it easy for them.
Sunset Shimmer's heart seized in her chest as the call was suddenly interrupted, her friend's last words still fresh in her mind. Her throat tightened as the images of her friend flashed before her eyes, the only thing that will be left of her, no doubt. She could see it right now, Twilight's body spasming on the floor, her carpet soaking wet with crimson, her eyes glossy.
The ex-unicorn squeezed her eyes shut, forcing the terrifying images out of her mind. No, it couldn't end like this. Twilight was- is smart, she'd think of something, find a way out. She wouldn't end up like the kid at the statue.
"Think this shit is serious?" An unfamiliar male voice startled Sunset out of her thoughts, prompting the girl to come closer to the door of the classroom she was hiding in, leaning against it.
"When was shit not serious?" Another voice, nigh indistinguishable from the first one, replied. "Idaho was a mess, and we both saw what Manhattan looked like when we left."
"I dunno, these freaks look tame enough compared to the red zone."
"You're either blind or fucking stupid. How many normal people with blue or green skin have you seen in your life? I'm telling you, this shit? It's gotta be another Idaho."
"Damn." Sunset heard a sigh, a group of people stopping short of her classroom. "Shoulda fucking glassed the city."
"Can't dissect a slab of glass. Those nerds at Gentek would eat us alive."
"Fuck 'em. They work for us, and it's high time they remembered it."
"Halt." A much heavier voice spoke over the two, a rapid beeping noise breaking the conversation. "Somethin's fishy this way, get ready." Sunset scurried away from the door as the squad outside got ready to enter, weapons at the ready.
A terrifying crash shook the building, followed by a cacophony of screams, gunfire and magic filing the air. The sheer amount of spent mana sent a shiver down Sunset's spine, the smell of ozone reaching her nostrils as hope brimmed deep inside her. It had to be Twilight! Nothing compared to the might of an alicorn, and even in this body, she could feel it.
"ALL SCOUTING TEAMS REGROUP OUTSIDE THE BUILDING AND JOIN THE REST OF THE UNIT." A steady voice screamed over the sounds of combat through the crackling radio. "ALL UNITS, FOCUS FIRE ON THE BOGEY."
Sunset didn't hear a chorus of 'yessirs', neither did she hear the squad running away from the classroom. Instead, she rushed to the window, watching in awe as Twilight Sparkle, Princess Of Friendship, dealt with the situation.
Alexander Starnes ducked behind a shop's window, the pane of glass melting as a bolt of something went right through, the liquid harmlessly dripping onto his armor. He waited for a moment to make sure the thing wasn't targeting him anymore, before rising from his cover, his eyes scanning the battlefield for the target. There, amongst the black smoke of the burning building and the odd flashes of light, their target, one of the most peculiar things the soldier had ever seen, Red Zone included, was dodging incoming missiles, gracefully dashing out of their way just in the nick of time.
She looked no older than the girls his squad herded into the school, same brightly colored hair, same wild hairstyle, a simple skirt and shirt. An intricate crown adorned her head, that, coupled with an amulet of some kind that was dangling from her neck, imbued the girl with an almost royal grace. Not one to be stunned by unusual circumstances, Starnes raised his M4 and focused on the target's center mass, his finger pushing against the trigger.
His barrage disappeared in the hellfire that rained upon the girl, but as he squinted, he could almost see the bullets freezing mid-air a good meter before the girl, and harmlessly dropping on the ground. A thunderous explosion sent a HEATFS round barreling towards the girl, followed by more volleys from the other Blackjacks. With a flap of her massive wings, the girl soared high into the air, letting the explosive death rush past her, their trajectory sending them towards the school building. Moments before the impact could occur, a lavender aura engulfed each of the rounds, stopping them dead in their tracks, gently lowering them back to the ground.
A dozen screams filled the channel and the Blackjacks went still as hot-white bolts of magic impacted their frames, melting through the metal before exploding in a bright white flash, most of the light contained inside the vehicles.
"Blackjack one-five respond! Blackjack one-four, respond!"
"Tornado three-one where the hell is our air support!?" Alex's commander, second lieutenant Jason Moss hollered over the radio, raining down suppressive fire all the same. "I want that bitch to shit blood, pronto!"
Just on que, three AH-64 apaches descended upon the girl, unleashing their entire arsenal upon her. With a twist of her wings and a powerful gust of wind she did a barrel roll, avoiding the barrage of AGM 114 Hellfire coming her way, Starnes almost losing his shit when she simply *poofed* them out of existence with a flash of lavender light. The same aura grabbed one of the heli's by its tail, swinging it into another one at full force.
"MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAYYYYAHHH"
A thunderous explosion rocked the area, followed by three lavender flashes. The charred remains bit into the ground, plowing through asphalt and sidewalk alike. Not too far away from a squad of soldiers, four pilots materialized, all of them wounded, but alive.
"Jesus Fucking Christ, Tornado three-three disengage, Ghost Hog one-two medevac duty!" The sole AH-64 backed off, raining suppressive fire on the target, the latter focusing the remaining ground forces. While the troops redirected her attention, a UH-60 landed to pick up the injured pilots, all the while available soldiers dragged their incapacitated comrades out of the still tanks, placing them inside the helicopter.
As the helicopter vacated the premises, Starnes heard the voice of his commander speak over the radio. "Bloodtox deployment in T-15 seconds, prepare for limited visibility."
Alex dove into cover as the girl sent a bolt of magic at him, narrowly avoiding it as the ground sizzled where he stood a moment ago. Changing the magazine, Alex watched one of his fellow soldiers get hit by a bolt, his arm darting to his sides, the man falling to the ground, paralyzed. The girl's white, glowing eyes focused on the man, and for the first time in years, he trembled. It felt like he was being judged by something nigh omnipotent, and he wasn't too optimistic on the outcome.
The ear-piercing howl of F-35 splitting the skies above shook Alex out of his reverie, as a thick, blood-red gas covered the premises, a heavy smell not too dissimilar from paprika entering his respirator. A heavy shower of white bolts descended atop his position, soldiers dropping left and right from the barrage.
"Red Crown, Bloodtox ineffective, disengaging from target!" Jason Moss hollered over the radio. "Begin fire mission! I repeat: fire mission, callsigns Almighty, coordinates as punched. Do it now, out." Starnes' eyes went wide, the man mentally preparing himself for the pummeling that was about to come.
"Roger, initiating barrage, hold onto your ass!"
As the tell-tale sound of approaching bombardment shattered the heavens, Starns' whole world went white, a tingling sensation enveloping his body.
Sunset's jaw dropped as what remained of the soldiers disappeared in a bright, white flash, leaving naught but burning remains of two helicopters and charred earth. Her joy was short lived ast she heard perhaps the most terrifying sound of her life.
Thunder and fire poured over the lavender dome erected over the school, sending a web of cracks across its surface. After a good minute of pummeling, the deadly rain stopped, thick black clouds cascading down the shields' surface. The dome shattered, its pieces dissolving in the air as the one who cast them lowered herself onto the ground, her gait uneven as the light from her eyes faded.
"Twilight!"
Twilight Sparkle felt drained. Physically, mentally, magically.
Not from the fight itself, but from the action that ended it.That teleportation took a lot out of her, much more than she expected. Perhaps she miscalculated? It was a hectic situation, after all.
She felt a familiar voice calling her name, enveloping her into a hug and helping her stand.
Was she fine? That wasn't important. The school was fine, and that's what mattered.
Where did they go?
A weak smile graced Twilight's lips.
"To be judged."
Jason Moss forced himself to open his eyes, scrambling to his feet despite the insane vertigo. The area surrounding him was no better, composed of a sprawling green meadow peppered with flowers of various colours. Thus, the three functioning Blackjacks spewing exhaust into the air coupled with close to four dozen of Blackwatch finest men stood in stark contrast to the world around him.
"Red Crown, this is Charlie Actual, do you copy?" He could quite hear their response, a constant white noise drowning out anything coherent. "Red Crown, this is Charlie Actual, do you fucking copy?" More silence.
"Sir!" One of the soldiers approached, limping ever so-slightly. "What are your orders?"
Jason sighed. Of-fucking course Starnes made it.
"Command's not responding, we're on our own for now. See if the Blackjacks are operational, man them and help move the wounded."
"Yessir." Starns was about to turn around, but paused. "What's our plan, sir? Where do we go?"
Moss turned to observe several shapes taking off from an elegant castle embedded in the mountainside, fixing his goggles to zoom in.
"I wouldn't worry about that, Starnes."
Author's Note
Blackwatch did nothing wrong*, fight me.
*Second game nonwithstanding, that game's story is ass.
Yes, le edgy fic for the shits and giggles.
Always wanted to write Blackwatch.
