Grand Theft Pony

On the foreign fields of The Badlands, that’s where it all began on my first intelligence operation. Behind enemy lines we watched the BSZ, (the Badlands States of the Zebras) an anti-terrorist group that have been threatening to bomb Equestria for 4 years.

We finally took notice by this organisation when several bombs was set off in Manehattan, the zebras killed just under 80 ponies including themselves when they said there final words after committing suicide with an explosive belt. After the aftermath, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna had witnessed there city crumble and it had almost became a war between the two nations.

It was Celestia that suggested to send the WAF (the Wing Air Force) to the dry land to keep an eye on them and prevent any zebras crossing the boarder, on the other cheek, it was Luna that suggested that war was the moral thing to do but, Celestia, the ruler made it clear to the public that a war will not break out until further actions are made.

It was that serious that a quarter of the soldiers had set camp on the edge of the boarder, standing guard and patrolling the area for any civilised villages to step into to rediscover any information about our opposition. We found out that the zebras are taking the elderly zebras for mining and the young to teach them there ways. Today that’s when we stepped in. Alpha team.

“Tango, Whiskey this is Zulu, Charlie checking connection, over.” Spitfire whispered through the radio as the gloomy night covered our position on the hill that over looked another village that had been said to be crawling with zebras and not the good kind. Scanning through the scope of my lends, the village was completely black except the glowing fire within the unhinged, gravelly homes through the holey window, slightly showing the outside cramped area of the front door.

Right now, this ruin looked abandoned and swept by the BSZ who had taken families of there own race to do there dirty work, we aren’t sure they are even here in the first place, for all we know, this could be a trap, an ambush to slowly pick us off one by one but, they don’t know what we’re capable off.

“Zulu, Charlie this is Tango, Whiskey. connection is good, over.” The voice of Wing Rider fuzzed through Spitfire’s radio on her chest. On this operation, there are 3 squads of 4, alpha, bravo and Charlie, all on each side of the village except the front, that’s where we are vulnerable if there was a chance to be in a fight, it was a fight that wouldn’t be in our favour thanks to lack of cover and sight on the enemy. Behind me, Thunderlane and soarin sat waiting for the green light as they checked pockets and ammunition in there mags.

“its crazy how the BSZ can just take young zebras and teach them how to kill. Its inhumane.” Thunderlane said thoughtfully, pulling the strap on his desert coloured helmet.

“it is what it is, they do the killin and they do the working, it’s a part of there system, they all have a role.” Soarin said with a pity sigh as he turned his assault rifle over. “what do you think, Rainbow dash?” Soarin asked me. I kept my gaze forwards and lucidly replied.

“I don’t know, there just crazy son of a bitches.” I said.

“alpha, bravo, Charlie, you are clear for entry, good hunting.” Wing Rider said as the radio was cut off and that’s where it all began.

“right, its go time ponies.” Spitfire took charge and Thunderlane and Soarin stud up in there mental state. “Rainbow dash… you know what to do.” Spitfire nodded as I nodded back with reassurance and with that they took to the air as I stayed in my prone position, bits of tiny rocks digging into my armour like bullets, I moved and wriggled to find a comfy spot, but the ground was too bumpy to slant my body into. I was there back up, there third eye, the sniper.

I carried a Barrett M82A1 bolt action sniper and a sidearm. I was their way out if they got themselves into deep shit. Spitfire, our section commander was the first one into battle, through doors and to give orders, she was our assault. She carries a TM-9 submachine gun for the medium combat fight and a sidearm with grenades for the cherry on top.

Thunderlane was the Band-Aid to our lives, putting the squads lives in front of his own, he was our medic, carrying a Stoeger M-3500 Semi-automatic shotgun for close quarters combat and like Spitfire, he has a sidearm and grenades but has medical supplies with him.

Soarin was our supply pony, armour, ammo, grenades, food, water, everything you need to survive in The Badlands. He was our support, carrying an M-14 carbine with drum magazines for that long-distance fight, a sidearm and grenades, a lot of grenades. Of course, on this mission, the weapons we had all wore a suppressors take away less of the firing bullets, it was a stealth mission to take out the terrorist out this village and disarm them before interrogating for key information like other BSZ camps and plans in there future. Doubt it will be a bright one.

I lowered my scope towards my team which they were hugging the side of a stone wall of a house as Spitfire who was closest to the corner peeked the corner and progressed on, Soarin and Thunderlane following. In theory, I can just lay back on the job and wait for them to come back with a job well done but, this is the Badlands, these BSZ are no joke so, I’m all ears at all time, even if it's at camp or in the battlefield, I must not switch off now, my friends souls are on the line so, as I lie here on a hill, taking cover by the sandy rocks, not giving a inch of movement, I watched and looked for any sign of out of place details, a bit of movement, a colour, anything that would threaten my team.

Through the radio, I listened to my team enter buildings. It would start off with Spitfire counting down to three then, they moved in. after a few seconds, Spitfire would whisper through the radio “clear.” Which was followed up with Soarin and Thunderlane saying clear too. It was getting to the point that I thought my radio was on a loop, I know the BSZ had been here due to the only voice being my team and female zebras saying something in a shocked and fearful tone.

I don’t know what but I felt I wasn’t alone, I stud up onto my stiff legs and drawn out my 9mm pistol. The bushes cackled, the wind spoke and scornfully it started to rain. Something felt off, the BSZ wasn’t down there, surely not. I held the button on my radio down.

“Spitfire, something’s wrong, I can feel it, over.” I said as I glanced at every direction, something, anything that wasn’t meant to be there.

“I know, there’s things down here that are off. They’ve left ammunition and goods here hidden, why? Are the females apart of the terrorist organisation?” Spitfire said more confused than I was.

“It would make sense, there’s no reason why the BSZ would single out the females to survive, it would be a waste for them.” Soarin added through the radio.

“I agree, some had tried to fight back.” Thunderlane said.

“I’m coming down, I don’t-“

Boom! An explosion had made me duck and suddenly my paranoia had vanished as a red blaze of a mushroom struck the village with a thunderous strike that made my hearing fizzle. That was the signal, the heart sinking sound of engines and zebras shouting something in their language made my heart skip a beat. white trucks with the beaming lights and the zebras with there AK’s started to race down from the back of the village like a wolf pack howling.

“Spitfire! Enemies spotted 6 o’clock of the village, 500 meters, do you copy, over!” I shouted the position of the zebra hoard but the radio replied with a noxious static.

“Do you copy, over!” I shouted again as I watched the zebras get closer.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck!” I growled as I lied back to my sniper and took aim. I calmed my breathing and held it in as I pulled the trigger. Bang! One flew into a tire with great force that the driver spun out of control onto its side. I Pulled the cocking hand back, the used bullets flew out with its smoke and I pushed the handle back into place. Breath, aim, fire and pull was my rotation for five rounds, all of them into the vehicles, I had to slow them down. Quickly, I wrapped my rifle by the sling and galloped down to hell itself.

With no time at all, I made my way through the tapered, ruined walls, scanning left to right of each corner I took.

“Tango, Whiskey this is Zulu, Charlie, we’ve been ambushed for south of the village, we need reinforcements, over!” I shouted as the sound of gun fire rang in the night air.

“Affirmative, reinforcements have just left the air field, over and out.” Wing Rider said calmly. Too calm that it didn’t match the description of what I was in. I’ve never been in combat before, this is my first time experiencing it, it’s terrifying. I wanted to hide in one of the building and curl up in a ball but, I know I can’t do that, not now, not as long as my friends are in danger, I won’t run away.

Tightly, something swiped me from the floor as it wrapped it’s hooves around me. It slammed me to the floor as I was forcefully gasped, knocking out my pistol. I looked up at the zebra who wore a shemagh scarf around his head and a uniform with bullet resistant armour. He pinned me down as he gave me blow after blow with his hooves, shouting in zebra. I struggled back to kick myself free, I managed to get him off balance as I slowly but surely knocked him off me.

My first instinct was to reclaim my sidearm but, before I could get up, I was kicked in the ribs which made me tumble on my side, the pain that was generating from my side was like a thousands of bullets digging into one spot. I hadn’t felt anything like it in my life, to rub the salt into the wound, the zebra wasn’t done.

He kicked and kicked my body as I felt my ribs start to shift inside, it suddenly got harder to breathe. No, no I can’t die like this, I have my whole life ahead of me, I can’t lose it now. Brutally, he never stopped, I tried to get up but, he just wouldn’t let me have a chance to stand. He would laugh as I would start to cough up the red thick blood. I slumped onto my hooves as I wiped the red away. I tried to breathe normally but the havoc and the fear around me was too much. The zebra mockingly said something before gripping a knife from his side, I couldn’t move, I was too weak to keep my legs from shaking, it seemed to amuse him. I trotted backwards has he moved towards me, didn’t get far until I hit rubble, this is it, my death? Damn it.

I closed my eyes as he charged a battle cry. I held my breathe and tensed my body was my was coming to an end. The sound of conflict, the angered vibes, this was war for them and a tea party for us, what was we thinking? They wanted a war a the very beginning, why didn’t we take caution in the first place? We know the zebras beliefs, they only believed in one god and one god only, Orí, the deity of destiny.

They believe everyone should follow his vision of a heavenly life up in the skies surface. The reason for there death threats and crimes against the pony race is unknown, they just turned one day with a video of civilians, soldiers and even journalists being tortured and executed.

We knew it was serious so why didn’t we do anything about it? Why Celestia, why? Wait... aren’t I meant to be dead by now? I peeked open an eye and to my shock, the zebra was lying on the floor, blood escaping beneath him.

“Are you... gonna... stand there... or what?” Spitfire’s heavy breathing said, she did not look good, she was barely standing as she leaned on the side of a wall and more wounded than I was. Blood trickling down her head as her helmet that saved so many lives was missing.

“Spitfire!” I shouted in relief as I went to run to her aid but realised that I wasn’t in a good state myself. I kneeled down to take a breather.

“Where are Thunderlane and Soarin? Did they make it?” I asked as I hoped it would be the case.

“Thunderlane is treating Soarin... he’s not looking too good.” She finally said as her legs failed her. She dropped her weapon and collapsed onto the wall. Unendurably, I go back up and limped towards my dazed friend.

“Go... go to... Thu-“ Spitfires voice started to fade.

“No, no not now, Spitfire! Stay with me!” I shouted as I shuck her alarmingly. “Get up damn it, get back up!” I shouted in her face as my eyes bled. Nothing, her eyes looked towards the sky as if she could see a light, a bright light to heaven. Oh no, I am losing her, shes going to die because of me. Damn it, why do I have to be so weak.

“Mom?” Spitfire said heavenly as she whispered her final words under her breath as the body fell stiff. A strong, loyal and brave mare died that day because of my stupidity.

“No, NO!” I screamed as I collapsed in front of her as I held her in my hooves like a precious baby. My tears fled from my eyes as my emotions got the best of me. I cried in her chest as if the tears would magically bring her back to life. I looked down at her.

“Spitfire!” I shouted at the empty body. “I’m so sorry, Spitfire.” I sniffed. The white rose, the white majestic rose that I bare was covered with stripes of the thick blood, never to be washed away. That was my first loss, my first friend taken from me. I wanted to cry forever, I wanted to plead to the gods for help, I... I... I want to hurt somepony.

I lifted from my grave as I inhaled in shock from under my covers, I breathed and sweated like I had ran a marathon in a hot sunny day, dry stains of tears was left on my cheeks. I couldn’t stop shaking, I couldn’t stop memorising the images of my military experience. Calmly, I tried to provoke my breathing slowly and sat on my side of the bed. I put my hoof in front of me and all I saw was the outline of my hoof.

It was still dark, my alarm clock glowed quarter to twelve, that would be two hours sleep for me. I sighed miserably as I covered my eye with my hooves, feeling my tears rush out for another prison break. I could feel the heavy bags from under my eyes, the sound of parties and cars horns going wild from outside our abandoned block. barricaded windows, the empty rooms, it was once a gang festered hotel but, was run down when ponies started to get killed. It’s where I come to hide, where we come to hide. I turned as a lamp from behind me switched on and the covers moved.

“Rainbow Dash...?” A soft and sweet voice yawned from behind me. The way her pink mane perfectly falls into a adorable mess, her friendly, sky blue eyes shined brighter than the twinkling stars, her small smile is something that the world would stop and stare at if it was on a frame, her naked, smooth, silk body was the heat to my cold heart.

“Fluttershy, you're back.” I said with a warmly smile as I caught her yawn. She teasingly pulled me back on to our double mattress as we lied together, face to face. A touch of perturb was on her face.

“You’ve been crying. Was it that nightmare again?” She said as I let her use her hoof to rub my tears.

“Yeah, it was Spitfire this time. I just can’t forgive myself for not being stronger, I hate it.” I said as Fluttershy wrapped her comforting hooves around my body as o felt my vibrating body slowly stop.

“It’s okay Dashie, everything is going to be okay, do you know why? Because we’re together. These nightmares, we can fight it together.” Fluttershy whispered in my ears as she gave me a peck on the head with passion. I hugged her back as I felt her stroke my greasy mane like a dog. I don’t know why but I fell apart, my tears freely came out as I felt safe, secured by her love. I sobbed like a foal who had seen a monster in my wardrobe and Fluttershy was the caring mother telling me everything is okay and she won’t let anything hurt me.

Fluttershy was the best thing that had happened to me after I was kicked out of the Wing Air Force, I was alone in Las Pegasus, nowhere to go and limited bits to spend, I was on the peak of suicide but then, The Wing brotherhooves brought me into their life as bounty hunters. It wasn’t a glamorous or easy life but it was living, using food on the table and money in our pockets. Fluttershy, she invited me in and I accepted, I think that’s when I fell for her.

It turned out that the gang were watching me for awhile and had data on my past, the boss was eager to bring me in and sent my to claim a bounty as a test. Without hesitation, I killed the target, I don’t know what it was but, I felt different when I took out the bounty, I can’t put my hoof on it but I really don’t feel like the old me anymore, that when I knew I was weak in the badlands, inexperienced and foolish. I bit more than I could chew.

“Thank you Fluttershy, I love you.” I said as I kissed her deeply. She kissed back as our tongues played with each other. We separated as we both smiled with affection.

“I love you too, Dashie.” She said as we embraced each other as we flipped the covers back over us and switched the lights off as we drifted to sleep together. unfortunately, I didn’t escape my ever lasting nightmare. In the back of my mind was were it hid and waited to feed of my torment.