Unquenchable Fire

Long Night

(Clothing repair receipt from the Carousel Boutique, from the private collection of Rarity)

Customer Name: Nimbus.

Clothing item(s): EAF Flight Suit.

Damage: some magical burns and bloodstains. A few small rips.

Total: 45 bits.

Rarity sighed as she set down her saddlebag in the door of the Carousel Boutique. She’d taken the late train back with Mecha, and had just arrived, exhausted.  She didn’t know just what to make of everything that had happened today, but like Nimbus had suspected, she, too, felt that the attempt on Celestia’s life and the still-unknown event which Nimbus had been called out to deal with were related in some way.

Rarity was about to turn the sign on her door from “open” to “closed,” but realized that she still had ten minutes until closing time. Instead, she turned on the lights and trotted over to her sewing machine. She reached for a dress she’d been working on when she noticed a small piece of paper on her machine. She picked it up and read it.

“Rarity, I’ve gone to bed. Nopony stopped by the shop today, but I cleaned up a few things for you. Hope your trip back was safe. Love, Sweetie Belle.”

Rarity smiled. Sweetie Belle could be a handful at times, but she was nothing if not responsible. Sometimes she wondered how she’d ever get her work done on time without her little sister’s organizational skills. She was still musing when her door opened.

“I’ll be with you in just a-“ Rarity looked up at the battered pony standing in front of her.

“Nimbus!” she exclaimed, looking at his scorched and cut body, “what happened? Are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” Nimbus said in a low monotone, brushing Rarity’s comments off, “I just need something washed.” He set down his flight suit on a nearby table. Rarity trotted over and had a look, gasping at the sight.

“Oh my,” she said, examining the suit. It was ripped in several places and covered in blood- both Nimbus’s and some other sort of green variety.

“Can you fix it?” Nimbus asked, emotion still absent from his voice.

“I can,” Rarity said, “and I’ll have it by tomorrow if you need it by then.”

“No rush,” Nimbus said, turning to leave.

“Wait,” Rarity said to him, “Nimbus… what’s going on?”

“It’s nothing you need to worry about,” Nimbus said, shaking his head.

“Don’t tell me that,” Rarity said, “it’s practically written all over you. It’s about the Changelings, isn’t it?”

Nimbus whipped around, his voice suddenly taking on a menacing tone. “Rarity, I’m going to warn you now. You don’t want to know about what happened today.”

“I need to know,” Rarity replied. “If this concerns a friend of mine, then it concerns me.”

Nimbus was silent for a few moments before speaking softly, a slight tremor in his voice. “They attacked Manehatten- the Changelings. They sent thirty of us to deal with what we thought would be a small, contained threat, but it wasn’t that at all. What we responded to was only the first wave. When I left, Manehatten was falling and Twilight had given the evacuation order. I take it you already know that she’s taken over for Celestia?”

Rarity nodded. “She told us before we returned to Ponyville.”

“I expect the city’s been completely overrun by now,” Nimbus continued. “This isn’t some little random occurrence anymore. This is an invasion.”

Rarity’s eyes were wide. “What were the Changelings after?”

“I don’t know,” Nimbus said, “they were just destroying everything when I saw them.”

“But there must be a motive of some-“

“I said I don’t know!” Nimbus yelled, startling Rarity. Nimbus hung his head. “I’m sorry. I just… need some time to think about this.”

“Of course,” Rarity said, “I’ll have your uniform ready in the morning.”

“Thanks,” Nimbus said, walking out the door.

Rarity picked up the uniform and took it over to her work table, where she laid it out flat and began to draw the bloodstains out of the fabric with her magic.

“Rarity?”

Rarity turned and saw Sweetie Belle standing at the entrance to her workroom.

“Sweetie Belle, I thought you were in bed.”

“I was,” Sweetie Belle admitted, “but then I heard shouting. Is everything alright?”

“Yes,” Rarity said, “everything’s fine.”

“What’s that?” Sweetie Belle asked, pointing at the flight suit behind Rarity.

“Oh nothing,” Rarity said hurriedly, trying to block Sweetie Belle’s view of the suit as best she could.

“You’re good at a lot of things, sis, but you’re a bad liar,” Sweetie Belle said, “I’m scared.”

“Oh, Sweetie Belle,” Rarity said, embracing her sister and finally losing her composure. Tears fell from her eyes onto her confused little sister. “Nimbus just came back from Manehatten… there’s been an attack.”

“What do you mean?” Sweetie Belle asked, beginning to shake.

“The Changelings attacked Equestria,” Rarity said, “and I just don’t know… I don’t know what’s going to happen. I don’t even know what to do.”

“Sis,” Sweetie Belle said, “are we going to be okay? Do you think Mom and Dad are alright?”

Rarity sniffed once and wiped her eyes. “Of course, Sweetie Belle. I swear I won’t let anything happen to you, and our parents are strong. I’m sure they’re fine.” She stood, patted Sweetie Belle on the head, and trotted into the kitchen.

“And now it’s time for you to be going back to bed. Would you like a glass of water?”

“That’d be nice,” Sweetie Belle said. Rarity returned from the kitchen with Sweetie Belle’s water, which the little filly drank gratefully.

“Now up to bed with you,” Rarity said. Sweetie Belle obeyed, but at the top of the stairs, she turned back.

“Rarity, could you…” Sweetie Belle bit her lip and looked down, “could you possibly sleep in my room tonight?”

Rarity smiled. “Of course I could, darling. I’ll just finish up down here and be up in a few moments.”

“Thank you,” Sweetie Belle said, heading back to her room. Rarity turned back to her work and sighed. Everything was happening too quickly for her. First Celestia, now Manehatten… she couldn’t even fathom what might be next. She made up her mind then and there to visit her friends to talk about it in the morning.

Rarity finished removing the stains from the uniform. There were still a few areas that needed sewing, but she decided to save it for the morning. Right now, she felt very tired. Rarity turned off the lights, locked the shop’s doors, and turned the sign to “closed.” Then she walked up the stairs to Sweetie Belle’s room and climbed into bed next to her little sister. Sweetie Belle stirred and smiled at Rarity.

“Good night, big sister.”

“Good night, Sweetie Belle,” Rarity whispered, “and don’t worry. Everything is going to be alright.” The two sisters drifted off into sleep, each wondering what kind of Equestria they might wake up to in the morning.

…

(Excerpt from the Ponyville Gazette, from the private collection of Twilight Sparkle)

Yesterday, two events shook Equestria to its very foundation, and have left many ponies wondering what is now in store for this country. The first was the attempted assassination and wounding of Princess Celestia by a Changeling, and the second was the invasion and occupation of Manehatten by a large, hostile, Changeling force. In the wake of these attacks, Princess Celestia’s protégé, Twilight Sparkle, has assumed Celestia’s position alongside Princess Luna per royal decree.  At precisely 3:42 a.m. this morning, Equestrian Air Forces were ordered to withdraw fully from Manehatten after a prolonged air battle, after which Twilight Sparkle formally declared war on the Changeling force. Able-bodied ponies are advised to visit their local recruiting stations, which will be set up at each town’s town hall today, in order to preserve Equestria’s military strength against these invaders…

Mecha rubbed his eyes and rested his forehooves on the bar counter. He’d originally intended to close his bar, Poker Night Potshots, down for the night upon returning to Ponyville, but he’d thought better of it in the end. He had a feeling company would be stopping by, and when the door to the bar slammed open and Nimbus shuffled in, still looking much worse for wear, Mecha turned and began setting out a few different bottles of alcohol.

“You read my mind,” Nimbus said hoarsely, as Mecha set the last bottle down. “Done this before, have you?”

Mecha nodded. “I have.”

“Well save the comforting words,” Nimbus said, “I need to forget what happened in Manehatten tonight.”

Seeing Nimbus’s condition, Mecha turned to his assistants, Snips and Snails, who were in the back room, cleaning up.

“You two,” he whispered, “go get Octavia, and give her one of the bar’s first aid kits when she arrives.”

Puzzled, but deciding not to question their employer, the two colts galloped out into the night.

“It was my partner,” Nimbus said as Mecha returned, “in case you’re wondering. I lost him…” he paused for a moment, absently spinning a brochure around on his table. “Dammit,” he said at last, “I lost him, and Twilight pulled me out before I could avenge him.”

“Stormchaser, right?” Mecha asked, sitting down at the table opposite Nimbus and pouring some dark brandy into two glasses. He offered Nimbus the drink, and the Pegasus immediately downed half of it. “He was a good guy, from what I saw when we met. You’re blaming yourself, aren’t you?”

“I have to,” Nimbus replied, “I took my eyes off of him for three seconds, and I lost him.” He sighed. “I don’t care what command says, I’m not taking another partner into combat. I’m operating alone from here on out.”

“Nimbus,” Mecha said, “this wasn’t your fault. This was a conflict. Ponies die. These things happen, but you have to remember that Stormchaser understood the sacrifice he was making.”

“Mr. Mecha!” Snails said, bursting through the door with Snips and Octavia in tow, “you have to turn on the radio now!”

Mecha stood and switched on his radio, causing the voice of none other than Twilight Sparkle to fill the room.

“Ponies of Equestria, it gives me great sorrow to announce that Princess Celestia is unable to rule for the time being. For the moment, I will fill her position as co-ruler with Princess Luna. As my first duty, I regret to inform you all that our great city of Manehatten has fallen to an unexpected and underhoofed attack by the Changelings. We do not know why they’ve committed this act of aggression, but we do know that their intentions were purely evil. For this reason, after careful consideration, both Princess Luna and I have agreed that henceforth, Equestria declares war on the Changeling invaders. May Celestia’s love and wisdom help us through these difficult times…”

Nimbus slammed his hoof down on the table. “So it begins,” he said. “How many more are going to die before this is over, I wonder?”

“Nimbus,” Octavia said, rushing to his side, “I came as soon as I could. What’s wrong?”

“This whole day,” Nimbus said. “I can’t keep up with everything that’s been thrown at me.” He looked at Octavia, his eyes almost pleading. “I just want to go back to the way things were.”

“Well you can start by letting me fix you up,” Octavia said, as Snips set down a first aid kit on the table next to Nimbus.

“I don’t need it,” Nimbus said, “I’ll be fine.”

“Like hay you will be,” Mecha said, “you look like you’ve been through a thicket of six inch brambles.”

Reluctantly, Nimbus let Octavia start cleaning his wounds with an antiseptic cloth, wincing occasionally.

“You need to put what’s happened behind you,” Octavia said, “Equestria’s going to need you, among many others, in the next few weeks, I feel.”

“I know,” said Nimbus, starting to come out of his shell of depression. “But if Equestria’s going to get me back, then it’s going to get me and me alone. I’m not bringing another partner into harm’s way.”

“That’s just foolish,” Octavia said, “that’s just asking to get yourself killed, which does neither you nor me any good.”

As Nimbus and Octavia discussed the war, Mecha headed into the storeroom. Snips and Snails followed him. As Mecha brought down a bottle of one of his best wines, he noticed the two colts standing before him.

“Need anything else done?” Snips asked.

“Eenope,” said Mecha, “you’re free to go. Actually, hold on a moment. There’s something you need to know.”

Snips and Snails leaned closer to Mecha, listening intently.

“I don’t want either of you two to even think about sneaking off to battle with the armed forces. You are nowhere near old enough, and I need you to look after the forge here anyway. I suspect we’ll be rather busy soon. But seriously- if I find out that either one of you so much as tried to go off and fight the Changelings, I will personally skin you alive!”

Snips and Snails backed down nervously. “Of course,” Snails said, shaking, “whatever you say.”

“Listen,” Mecha said, bending down to their level. “My intent isn’t to scare you. You two have become like family to Sugary Spice and me. If I lost you two…” he let the sentence hang.

“We understand,” Snips said.

“Good,” Mecha said, getting back to his hooves, “then go back home and get some sleep.”

The two colts headed out the door and into the night. Mecha closed the door behind them and brought the bottle of wine over to the table with Nimbus and Octavia. Nimbus was looking considerably better now.

“-I understand,” Nimbus said, nodding to Octavia. “Here’s the best I can do for now: I’ll work training here in Ponyville until I can find a suitable Pegasus to fly with me. Until then, I’ll leave on sorties with other squadrons when I’m needed. I won’t be striking out on my own that way, and I’ll still have a partner at some point.”

“That’s more like the Nimbus I know,” Octavia said.

“Hate to break up the discussion,” Mecha said, setting his bottle down, “but would either of you care for a drink?”

Both ponies nodded appreciatively and Mecha poured them each a glass of the dark red wine, not hesitating to pour some for himself as well. As the ponies drank, Mecha made an announcement.

“What the hay… I can’t believe I’m saying this. Nimbus?”

Nimbus looked up at Mecha, raising an eyebrow questioningly. “What is it?”

“I’m reenlisting,” Mecha said, “I’m cancelling my retirement until further notice, meaning until this Pride-forsaken war is over, I’m back in the military.”

Nimbus smiled. “It’ll be good to fight alongside a friend. Don’t feel like you’ve got to do this on my account, though.”

“I’m not,” Mecha said. “I just can’t bear to think of Equestria being taken over by a bunch of bugs. I’m informing Twilight of my decision tomorrow.”

Mecha stepped behind the bar, pulling out his old Corporal ranks from a hidden drawer and looking closely at them. The bar’s light glinted off their metallic finish in a way that still thrilled some part of him, even after he’d been away for so long. Now Mecha knew the truth behind the phrase “once a soldier, always a soldier.”

And he was eager to prove that he was more than ready to get back in the fight.