Fallout Equestria: Brotherhood

CHAPTER 21: AT THE END OF THE NIGHT

Within a single night, anything can happen. For within that brief amount of time, life, as you know it, could be changed forever.

Adam came through the doorway that lead into the alleyway with Breeze on his back. Blood from her wounds ran down his duster and fur as he carried her towards the ponies outside behind the barricade. Out of the front door to the weapons repair building, Adam came with the mare on his back. Ponies from all sides dashed back and forth in panic. It was clear that they had seen Vladimir come into the town, and this was a sign that everything could go wrong at any moment.

The first place Adam wanted to go was to the clinic, where several of the least injured soldiers were. Some of the injured ponies the clinic ponies helped were still wounded though, with terrible wounds that hadn't had long to heal. One clinic pony was helping Neo stand up. And to Adam, this made him feel all the more better, even with the shocking event that had just happened to him and Breeze.

Making his way to the clinic, Neo noticed Adam coming and forced himself to stand up. As soon as he was up on his own, the clinic pony gave him his things, and went off to help another pony. With Breeze resting on his back, Adam came up and lay her down on the porch of the clinic.

Neo's leg hurt immensely, but besides the pain, nothing was broken and no flesh was damaged enough for him to not move. But he tried to ignore it, and while Adam had got her off his back, Neo felt it only right to help him with her.

"What happened to her, Adam?" Neo asked, helping Adam lay her down gently.

With a somber look in his eyes, Adam said, "We met Cyrus in a building while looking for ammunition. The whole town is low on it, and if the Legion storms the barricade there won't be much we can do to fight them off."

Neo stared down at the wounded mare before them, and called for one of the clinic ponies for help. "She looks like she's been through hell. How did she get that way? What did Cyrus do? More importantly, are you okay?" Neo said in a worrying tone.

The clinic pony Neo had called for saw the mare and gasped whilst leaning over Neo. "By the goddesses..." She gasped, "I'll go fetch some bandages, and a potion or two, I'll be right back!" The clinic mare urgently stated.

Adam nodded to her before looking down at Breeze’s face, giving her a small smile as she rest there breathing softly. "Adam, what happened to her?" Neo asked.

"I... I don't want to talk about it." Adam whispered as the warm expression died away.

The clinic pony came back with another stallion at her side. Each of them carried some form of medical bandage or tool to help heal Breeze's wounds. "You're lucky son," The stallion said as he and the other clinic pony started to bandage Breeze up. "It looks like you got her her just in time, a little longer and I'm not sure what we could do. This is one of the semi-last rolls of bandages we've got, so your timing is impeccable."

Adam got up and stepped back to give the clinic ponies time to work on Breeze Heart, "Will she be okay? Is there anything too damaged?"

One of the mares bandaging Breeze wiped her brow and sighed, "Hopefully kid. We'll just have to see."

With that, Adam decided not to say anything. Because for the moment, she was safe, and that's what mattered.

Tattle and Tale were watching from the corner of the barricade, eager to see what happened next. They could see the whole street beyond the barricade. And out in the very center of it, stood Emperor Vladimir with Lieutenant Covert at his side. The two didn't do anything but stand there in the street, looking directly at the barricade as if they were waiting for something.

Cherry was rushing back and forth trying to help organize the town so that everypony didn't get flung into a complete panic. "Sharp Note, go with the Sheriff! Red, keep an eye on Vlad, and Songbird, take three ponies to get the severely wounded into the main hall! Hurry! Go! Go! Go!"

Cherry was just about to shout out another command until the sight of Breeze being bandaged caught her eye. In that instant, a chilling sensation went down her spine, as panic and shock befell her. Hurrying to the clinic, she went over to the mare where the two clinic ponies were working on, and urgently leaned over the pony before them.

Her eyes went wide, as a now bandaged Breeze Heart lay resting on the old wood porch of the clinic. Falling on her haunches, she looked over the blood stained rags that covered her legs and body. "W-what happened?"

Adam lowed his head and his ears flattened. "I-I'm sorry, Cherry..."

Taking the bandaged hoof of Breeze Heart, Cherry looked down at her and gently pushed a strain of her mane off to the side of her face. "I told you not to do it... I told you... Why couldn't you listen?" Tears began to form in her eyes as Neo too lowered his head in a mournful fashion.

Ponies were taking injured fighters on stretchers and carrying them to the town hall. Cool Blue and the sheriff helped move the injured back as well, while the others got what ammunition they could find, and prepared themselves along the barricade.

Finally, two ponies with a makeshift stretcher came along and took Breeze. Letting go of her hoof, Cherry said goodbye while they carried her off to the town hall with the other seriously injured. She stood there, with both brothers on both sides of her. All of the wounded were carried, this left few able ponies to fight in the town. For what had once been an armed force of more than a hundred was now cut down to merely less than twenty. Of course, this excluded those who were inside the town hall, and the miners digging their now only hope of escaping.

Red Glare watched the Legion's emperor and his lieutenant from atop the barricade intensively, as several other militia fighters got along the top of the barricade as well. And once every other fighter was positioned well on the barricade, they waited for the Legion to make a move.

Then, as if the voice of thunder itself spoke, Vladimir addressed the town. Though, as the Emperor spoke, his voice had a faint hint of sympathy and kindness to it, "Citizens of Arkcannon! Hear me speak. For hours, now both our sides have spilled blood in the name of our ideals. I say no more! Let us lay down our arms and come to an agreement. That way, there will be no more blood spilled upon the road of your fair town!"

As soon as the Emperor was done speaking, he waited for a response from the citizens of the town. No one along the barricade spoke, even as Adam and his brother made their way up to a spot on the roughly built wall of junk, they remain silent. To the townsfolk, the very thought of speaking could be a sign of weakness, and even though the thought of the fighting stopping now was wonderful, it was only a clever trick. One that the ponies of Arkcannon would not fall for.

"Please," Vladimir called out with worry in his voice, "Do not do this to yourselves. You know as well as I that you are in no position to fight me. So let the fighting stop! Do what any sensible pony would do and lay down your arms!"

Taking his right hoof, Vladimir gestured an X shape on his dark green metal breast plate. "I promise, that no harm will come to those who cooperate with us. This, I swear."

A pony next to Red Glare was nervous, and while biting his left hoof in fear the pony whispered quietly to him, "Red, why don't we do what he says? I mean, we could get out of here! J-just look at all those soldiers, we can't win! This is our chance! We need to-"

Red Glare quickly put a hoof to the frightened pony's mouth to shut him up. "Hush up! Just watch, if we don't give him an answer it might buy us time..."

The once warm friendly glow that Vladimir had soon disappeared as he waited for a reply. And in a dark, almost threatening tone the Legion Emperor said, "Fine! I see how this game wants to be played. Just know that I am a kind leader, and I have faith in your townsfolk. If you don't respond within the next five minutes... Well, I won't be as kind the second time around!" With that, he turned towards the Legion’s iron wagon barricade on the other side of the town motioning for his Lieutenant to follow him.

As the two Legion ponies went back to their fortifications at the town's gate, Covert curiously wondered what the Emperor was planning; and in a low whispering tone Covert asked, "Sir, what are you doing? I know you might mean well, but your actions are puzzling."

Chuckling quietly to himself Vladimir replied, "It gives them hope, and they'll let down their guard coming up with a plan. I want you take the iron wagons behind our barricade and go around the town. Take several troops with you, and some demolition technicians too. Have them blow the back wall and attack from behind. Once they give me an answer, we'll storm them from directly in front of the barricade, and from behind. It will be the last thing they'll see coming."

Covert saw what was happening, and while rubbing his chin thinking about the plan, he grinned, "Hmm, I see, m'lord. So you want this to be over quickly, correct? What if they do surrender? What shall I tell the troops?"

"Tell them, that if they don't surrender, kill them," As he continued walking, he looked around the smoldering ruins of the town, "They've lost enough as it is and this town isn't even worth saving if they resist."

"And if they do surrender, sir?"

The voice that echoed and hissed in Vladimir’s mind cooed lightly to him, "Take those that are loyal, and kill those who dare disgrace you and your authority..."

"Why, kill them of course. However, take the few that did not fight and put them into custody. Especially the children, they could prove helpful in the future if were to raise them under our rule."

They both halted at the metal barricade the Legion controlled on the other side of the street, and with a gracious bow, Covert said, "It will be done, m'lord."

With a respectful glare, the large crimson stallion looked down at his officer, "Good... This ends tonight. One way, or another..."

Red and a few other fighters, including Neo and Adam, came down from the barricade to discuss their next plan of action. There were few ponies left, and based on the number of Legion soldiers on the iron wagon barricade, it was clear they had troops to spare. The only thing currently keeping them alive, was the time Vladimir had given them, and the bluff that their barricade was rigged.

So, eight of the ponies who had got down from the barricade came together in a circle. Red and Cherry looked over the few ponies that were left along the barricade, and in the circle. Cool Blue, Adam, Neo, the Sheriff, and some other fighters were amongst the group. Tattle, and Tale were running along the bottom of the barricade giving ammunition to ponies, and even though the ammunition was little to nothing, the two felt proud to help in the effort.

"So... This is it, huh?" Red stated looking at the group.

"It looks that way." Neo replied.

All of the ponies looked tired, worn, bandaged, or worse. And to think about fighting more was simply terrible to imagine. Light had just started coming back into the world, for the world around them started to gradually become a faint grey. The day light itself seemed sad, because even it didn't transition to the usual orange glow that came from the cloud covered sky above in the morning.

A mare, whose head was low realizing their position asked, "So, what are we going to do?"

Neither Red, nor Cherry spoke. Instead they all sat silent. That is, until Neo spoke up, "How long until the tunnel’s done?"

Red Glare glanced at him with tired eyes, "I'm not sure... It could be almost done, or it could be half done. There's not much we could do to find out, unless Iron Vein or another miner came out it would take forever to get information on their progress."

Adam looked at the town hall behind him, and remembered what the town council had discussed. He recalled, that the building was strong, and in the event of a last stand could take a serious beating. Then he recalled the bluff about the barricade being rigged.

"We can put grenades on the barricade," Adam suggested, "Then that will give us time to fall back to the town hall."

One mare, whose face was covered in gunpowder smudges and dirt stepped up, "And what's so bad about giving up? He said he won't kill any of us who lay down our weapons, so why not just give up?"

Neo shook his head, "After all this, I doubt he'll just let us lay down our weapons and walk away. If we're going to leave, we're going to need to do it soon. And quitting is not an option."

"But we can't win!" The mare exclaimed, "Look at all those soldiers, there is no way in heaven or hell we'll make it out alive!"

"Shut up! We're going to make it out of this, you'll see," Red snapped at her, "I like Adam's plan. It'll buy us enough time just to get back to the town hall. While we've still got time let's gather all the supplies we can and set up the trap."

Looking at the ponies in the circle, Red Glare felt deep down inside himself that this might be their last chance to escape. Because, when it boiled down to it, all that was needed was to buy the miners time. Time, that while on the barricade, they couldn't buy on their own. At least, this way they would have cover on all sides and be safe from other oncoming forces while inside the town hall.

"Alright Adam," Cherry said, "What do we do?"

Adam gulped and thought quickly, all the while scanning the area around them to see what could be done first. "Alright, Brother and me will set up the grenades on the barricade. Everypony else, take what you can and get it back to the town hall."

Red Glare nodded and started calling out to the militia ponies, "Okay everypony you heard him! Let's go! Move, you've got three minutes lets go! Go! Go!"

Breaking up into groups, the last of the defenders of Arkcannon spread out and went into each building, taking the first thing they saw that was worth any value. They took food, water, weapon parts, and a few other assorted things. Though ammunition was scarce, if they were to make a last stand, they would need ammunition.

From across the road on the other side of the town, Covert looked at the large wall of assorted junk and waited. To his left was Vladimir, who, without blinking or breaking focus, stared at the only thing dividing them from the last defenders of the town.

And as time passed, Covert looked at a watch he had every now and again to see how much time they had left before asking for an answer to the Emperor’s proposal.

"It's almost time sir." Covert said glancing at his watch.

"Heh," Vladimir cooed, "Then we shan’t keep them waiting, shall we?"

"Indeed." Covert replied motioning for troops to get ready to follow him.

Soldiers along the Legion barricade loaded their weapons, and positioned themselves in ready to march. Each Legion soldier stood side by side, along the shredded makeshift metal barricade. Their masks hid any fear or anxiety that might be on their faces, giving them a look of pure courage. Like machines, made for battle and that without hesitation would gladly die in the name of their Emperor.

Vladimir, along with tens of soldiers, came marching down the main street of Arkcannon. On the other side of the wall, his troops had already positioned themselves to attack from behind. Charges were set on the back wall, and the last few iron wagons that could at one point not make it into the city, would soon be able to wreak complete devastation on the unsuspecting town folk.

Tattle and Tale had paused to see the small army amass outside the Arkcannon fighter barricade. All the while ponies dashed back and forth taking supplies as they searched everywhere. Neo was helping his brother set up the trap. The trap itself was nothing too complex, it was a simple rig set up with the some of the last grenades they had attached to the barricade. The detonators had been removed and the ignitions ready to fire in a little less than a few minutes. Adam assumed that as soon as their answer was given that the Legion troops would storm the barricade, regardless of Red's bluff. It was calculated that the time it would take for the soldiers to get over the barricade the bombs would go off, and hopefully it would spook them long enough to delay their advance.

Giving the all clear, Adam and his brother backed away from the trap. All that was needed now was the Legion troops to attack, and hopefully within the detonation time.

The small filly, and colt had watched the battle and saw how grim things were getting. In their minds, there must be something they could do to help the effort. Of course, they had helped them by giving ammunition to ponies while some of the lighter fighting was going on, but there had to be something more. But looking at the large army in front of them, their once bouncy courage started to fade.

"Tale," Tattle said in a worrying tone, "How do you think this will end?"

With unsureness in his eyes, Tale said, "I'm not sure... Do you think the Legion's gonna hurt us?"

Cherry was coming up to them, and before the other young one had any time to respond she injected. "No, they won't. Don't worry, I'll make sure, you and your mom aren't hurt."

Both of them looked up at her, hopefulness building inside them. "Do you think... We'll ever come back? Do you think the town will be the way it was?"

Cherry gave them a warm motherly smile, "I'm sure we will. But first we've got to-"

But just before she could speak another word, a loud voice, like that of thunder, boomed out to the ponies behind the barricade. And as he spoke, every pony instantly stopped what they were doing, and listened. "Citizens of Arkcannon! Your time is up! What have you chosen? Will it be death, or a better tomorrow for you? Speak now! I demand an answer!"

Red, who was next to the barricade came up to Adam and his brother who stood along the trap they had set up, and whispered to the two brothers. "Is it set up?"

Neo nodded in response. "Good," Red Glare replied, "How long until it goes off?"

Adam looked at his Pipbuck, which had the time set on a counter. "It goes off in one minute starting... Now."

Then, without replying Red Glare went up the barricade. And though his bags were heavy, and his rifle with fewer than a few shots in it, he grinned. From atop the barricade Red looked down at the whole of the Legion's troops. Lifting his rifle in the air with one leg he shouted, "Here’s an answer for you! If you want this town, come and take it!"

Vladimir frowned at him, gazing at the red maned unicorn stallion with hate. And, with a simple jerk of his head, Covert took a small one-shot pistol and fired it into the sky. A large purple colored fireball came shooting out from Covert's gun, and traveled high into the sky with a loud whistling sound squealing loudly as it went higher. Then, as it reached a certain height, it popped, and the dim fireball was now a slow descending beacon.

Readying their guns, and swords, all of the Legion soldiers prepared to fight. Vladimir just stood there for a moment, and looked at the rebellious stallion on the barricade with a smirk.

Covert saw the look on his Emperor's face and drew his sword as well, and with loud courageous cry, Covert shouted, "Charge!"

The Legion soldiers upon hearing his command stampeded up towards the barricade crying out fierce battle cries as they advanced. Red's grin left as he saw them coming, and quickly he jumped off the barricade and dashed off to the town hall. All the while he called out for the everypony to fallback.

It was at this time, that every soul in the town could hear the roar of tens of Legion soldiers charging onto them. Even Neo and Adam heard the Legion coming and quickly bolted back to the town hall.

Militia ponies stumbled and tripped over themselves as they tried their best to run back. Though their bags were heavy and their bodies tired from the fight that had lasted the night. There were some ponies behind the town hall gathering the last of the supplies they could before a loud explosion went off at the far end of the wall on the other side of the town hall.

Dust, dirt, and rubble went flying, as the boom echoed from the south wall off the buildings. A large dusty cloud was now present were the south wall had once been, and for the ponies who were near it, the next thing they heard was the roar of a large weapon firing down on them. Dirt was kicked up, and large hot glowing shells were flung fiercely at them from behind. Like a firing squad shooting down a group of prisoners, those that were behind the town hall had limbs blown off, or bodies completely obliterated, leaving small clouds of red blood mist where they once had been.

The Legion soldiers along the barricade had reached the top, and had started firing down at retreating survivors. However, Adam's plan had managed to work. Because just like he had hoped, the grenades went off below the Legion soldiers. Several loud explosions followed, and the kicked up dust and debris from the barricade blocked the soldier’s view, and stunned the Legion soldiers on the Arkcannon barricade for a few moments.

Cherry was making her way back with Tattle and Tale to the town hall before a stallion militia fighter next to her tripped while retreating. Quickly trying to help him, she noticed that out of pure panic, the Legion soldiers on the barricade had started opening fire at random. Shooting aimlessly into the road in front of them each soldier hoped to hit any retreating militia fighters as they ran back to their only safe haven.

Taking the stallion by the torso, she helped him up before feeling a powerful metal bite on her lower back. Screaming out in pain, Cherry fell down to the ground. The noise from the fighting was loud, and the panic strong in the stallion she had helped, and without a second thought that stallion had already made his way to the town hall without noticing she had got hit.

Neo and Adam's hearts raced. Bullets flew past their heads and bodies with whistles and pings indicated the closeness of the bullets to them. Neo had his shotgun out and levitating, so that every now and again, he could return a suppressive shot to the ponies who were laying down heavy fire on them. Though, while both of them were on their way back, out of the corner of his eye, Neo saw Cherry down on the ground struggling to move as bullets hit the ground around her.

Without thinking another thought, Neo bolted to the left to where Cherry was, hoping she wasn't badly injured. Adam noticed his brother stray from the direction they were going and called out to him, "Brother! Where are you going!?"

While bolting off to Cherry, Neo called back to him loudly over the sound of the gunfire, "Just get back to the town hall! I'll be right there!"

Adam saw Cherry on the ground with his brother galloping his way to her. It was clear what his brother was doing now, but taking a full grown mare like that would be a difficult task, especially under the heavy fire. So, disobeying his brothers orders, Adam turned himself to the side and sprinted over to where Cherry lay.

Neo lowered his head, while gritting his teeth as he came up to Cherry, "Cherry! Are you okay?" He called out to her loudly.

She moaned in pain with one leg behind her back putting pressure on the place she had been hit, "I-I can't feel my legs..." She grunted.

Hearing those words was all Neo needed to hear, because now things had just got a lot more difficult for him. "Don't worry Cherry! I'll get you out of here!" Neo exclaimed taking her right foreleg and wrapping it around his neck.

Her bags were full of supplies and while he picked her up from her position, he struggled as her weight was far greater than he had expected. Grunting, and straining himself to pick her up, he suddenly felt her weight drop. Like Cherry herself was being lifted by some other force, and looking to his side he could see Adam's foreleg around her as well. Adam smiled at him, while helping his older brother take her back to the town hall.

Now with the mare in both of their care, they took her and moved as quickly as they could to the town hall. It was hard, the bullets clipped and scratched them as the deadly shots sporadically flew in all directions.

They were a little less than five feet away from the door of the hall with Cherry in their hooves. Red Glare was beside the door firing short controlled burst at the oncoming Legion soldiers to give the two some form of slack from the hellfire like rain of bullets. And, with a small leap, the two brothers and Cherry went into the hall. Red Glare however, made sure that everyone that was out in the street was in before quickly jumping inside himself.

Right as he had jumped in one pony slammed the door behind him, while two others took several small tables, or chairs and barricade the door. Neo and Adam were panting, and with careful slow movements, they laid Cherry down in a nice relaxed position on the ground.

Neo looked around the hall and called out to the many ponies that were in the building, "Can we get a medic over here! Cherry's been hit, and she needs help!"

Upon saying those words three ponies came out of the crowd inside the cramped crowd and came over to Cherry. One of the ponies pushed, and shoved other citizens out of the way madly to see Cherry. This pony was the mayor. Tears built up in her eyes as she approached the resting mare on the dust covered wooden floor.

"Cherry..." She gasped, putting a hoof to her mouth in disbelief. "C-Cherry?" She cooed once more, falling down onto her haunches next to her wounded daughter.

Wrapping a single hoof around her daughter’s face, Neo stood by his brother and gave the two room. Legion soldiers could be heard outside the building, moving and searching for a way in. The barricaded entrance creaked, as soldiers pushed, and tugged at the door hoping it would budge open.

The two ponies who had come over to Cherry with the Mayor went down to Cherry, just before gently moving her body to the side so that they could inspect the wound. The Mayor's voice was low, and hoarse while small tears ran down her cheeks.

"I-Is she alright?" She coughed in the middle of her quiet sob.

Neo's tone was low, and mournful. "I... Don't know."

"I just hope we got her to here in time. If brother hadn't saw what happened when it did, she might have been still out there." Adam added with the same tone of voice.

Red Glare, Cool Blue, and several other ponies had their backs against the barricade on the door trying to keep it back as well as they could. The room itself was filled with ponies. Most of which were unable to fight. Those souls had paid dearly to be living, for some had no legs, no forelegs, and no type of huge injury that hasn't affected them greatly. Even the ground itself was littered with bloodied rags and small boxes upon which colts and fillies too young to fight sat with their parents.

It was a sight that not even an old war book could depict, and the longer they sat there, the more the Legion came up with ideas to get in. Adam had even heard one Legion soldier outside cry out to get a battering ram to help break down the door. At least, that is what he thought they had said. From the shuffling and murmurs coming from the frightened ponies who crowded the only room of the town hall made the Legion's commands mumbled and difficult to hear.

Red Glare and the few ponies on the door's barricade shuffled items around to help fortify the block they had created. And whilst right in the middle of their quick rearrangement, a powerful bang followed by a forceful push came from the other side of the door. With a quick reflexes the ponies holding back the door quickly scrambled to push back onto it. Even Neo and Adam hurried to the door to help them.

Like the first time, another great push came with the sound of splintering wood cracking roughly on the door. Giving it all they had, every other pony who could helped push back on the door as several more forceful pushed came at the door, splintering and cracking the wood further with every hit.

Red Glare grunted loudly while helping keep back the Legion from breaking in, "We can do it! I know we can! Just... A little longer!"

Among the loud beatings of the battering ram against the town hall entrance, a smaller, more hollow knock could be heard from inside the room. At first, ponies hearts jumped at the sudden noise, but once the ponies on top of where the sound was coming from moved, a pony's head came popping out from the cellar door in the middle of the room. The pony whose head had came out from the cellar was Iron Vein. The brown dirt covered stallion blinked a few seconds while he scanned the room before him.

Red Glare looked over to him from the entrance of the building while holding his place against the barricade, "Iron Vein!" He grunted, "Any news on the tunnels completion?"

Putting his hooves on the edge of the floor he got himself up and out from the cellar and into the crowded town hall. "What's the situation up here?"

"What does it look like?!" Red Glare fumed holding back the door.

"Iron Vein, please just tell us if the tunnel any close to being done!" Neo muttered.

Iron Vein saw the room and all the wounded and tired ponies in the town. Most of the ponies he had know were not part of the few who had made it this far. And it made his heart heavy thinking of all the souls, especially those he knew who gave their lives to help keep their town safe.

"It's almost done... If ya head down now, they should be finished by the time you catch up."

Felling the door boom and crack behind them, Red Glare smiled before raising his head to the ceiling, "Thank the goddesses in heaven. That's the first ounce of good news I've heard all night."

The other ponies in the room heard what Iron Vein had said, and desperately hurried to the opened cellar door with whatever they could hold in their hooves. Iron Vein tried to keep them back, as panic and chaos filled the building. The Mayor was with her daughter, and the other wounded tried to get them ready to be moved out of the building and into the escape tunnel. All the while, huge chunks now came off the door, as the Legion with every push came closer and closer to breaking in. Time was running short for them, and with everypony in a panic no one could organize anything.

That was until a loud voice called out from above the distressing voices of the panicking ponies. Everypony froze. Even the ponies who were about ready to kill Iron Vein to get into the tunnel stopped and looked to the wounded group where the voice had come from.

It was Cherry, who had spoke, and once the room was completely noise free, she spoke, "We're not going to get anywhere fighting each other... We all want to get out of here, and I know a lot of you are scared, and worried for your loved ones... But, storming out of here like that won't do anypony any good at all... So please... Don't lose who you are when we're so close... To..."

She closed her eyes once more, and she went limp as her muscles relaxed. The energy that she had used to get the attention of the ponies inside the building had taken it out of her. Red Glare backed off of the barricade, and looked down at the ground in thought.

"She's... She's right. This is our last chance everypony. We either leave now or never, and acting crazy about it won’t do anything."

All the other ponies on the door heard him and backed away from the barricade. "Then, what are we going to do first?" Cool Blue asked.

Neo stepped up to address the town, "If we really want to get out of here, we're going to need to get the wounded out first. Once they're down in the tunnel we'll get the children and their parents down there as well. And, if we hurry we'll all get out of here..."

Looks of determination could be seen in the eyes of the ponies in the room. It was all their goal to get out, and finally be rid of the Legion, and here it was; the golden moment.

Red Glare looked out to the group with a warm, encouraging smile and clapped his hooves together fast, "You heard him! Let's go! Get the wounded on stretchers! Gather what supplies you can, and line up behind the wounded. We need to be out of here in three minutes! Let's move! Move! Move!"

Ponies took what they could with what they could. Some put personal items in bags, while others put items wrapped up in old linen blankets. Though, many of the ponies were already ready to leave into the tunnel, for most of their major possessions were simple. Some had just their families, while others had small cans of food or a bag with them. The few that had already gathered what they needed offered blankets, and cloths to the clinic ponies to help make stretchers. The clinic ponies themselves tore off table legs, or anything that was long enough to carry a pony. The stretchers that had already been made beforehand were already below the ponies who were too injured to move on their own.

Taking those whose limbs were too injured to move, were taken by anypony they could. Even the ambitious young ones Tattle and Tale offered help with moving the injured ponies. However, other than carrying some supplies, there wasn't much more they could do. Neo and his brother helped put some more objects on the door so that it delayed the Legion, who still beat and pounded on the door with a battering ram trying desperately to gain entrance.

Iron Vein didn't help, though. Instead, the miner pony watched as many of the townsfolk started their descent into the cellar, which lead to the tunnel he and the other miners had been digging. There was a small hunting rifle next to his hooves, and while staring at it he thought to himself. In his mind, he pondered everything that had happen and what life would be like outside.

It didn’t take long for the ponies in the room to gather what they could. Once they had got most of the supplies they could carry one by one ponies went down under into the escape tunnel the town had so desperately fought for. Now was the moment, and once all the ponies, especially those injured were down inside the cellar only the sounds of the braking door, and chants of Legion soldiers could be heard.

Neo and Adam had stayed up with Red Glare near the entrance of the cellar so that they could help ponies down. And once the last of the ponies was down inside the cool cellar, Red Glare helped the Sheriff down. Then Adam, and Neo went down quickly, as they heard the pounding of the Legion forces increase as time went by.

Neo and Adam poked their heads from out of the cellar entrance on the floor and blinked curiously at Iron Vein who stood there, looking aimlessly at a rifle on the floor next to him.

“Iron Vein,” Neo called to him, “Come on! We’ve got to go, they’re almost through!”

Iron Vein shook his head, and turned sharply towards Neo before pausing once more, and in a quiet sigh he said, “Yeah... I’m coming. I was, just thinking...”

Motioning his hoof for him to come down the cellar Neo called for him urgently, “Just come on! We need to go!”

And with slow sluggish steps he made his way down to the cellar entrance where Neo and his brother were. Though, as soon as Iron Vein got down with them they started to make their way down into the cool damp underground.

Iron Vein however, poked his head once more out of the cellar entrance and looked one more time at the town all around him. It was empty, with only boxes and torn up pictures of better days that were only memories now.

He sighed once more, and taking the cellar door with one hoof he said, “Goodbye.” And with a heavy tug on the cellar door it closed.

Now, the ponies of Arkcannon walked down that tunnel that they had tried so hard to defend. With little supplies on their backs, the injured on stretchers they marched. Though, while the last of the fighters marched they remain quiet. For they had got what they wanted after that long night. They had their freedom, but the cost was something that nopony could forget.

It was early morning, and the air outside was cool. There was no wind, or anything to disturb the calmness of the morning. The light had come back to the world, for a dim blue covered the world. All was quiet at the Coalition outpost and the miners had managed to dig under the Legion's perimeter, and like Adam had planned they easily snuck right underneath them, to the Coalition outpost several miles from the perimeter.

The outpost which the former Arkcannon residents resided had a large lookout tower made of an old bus stacked up so that it was standing vertically in the center of the outpost. A small wall of piled wagons, and other vehicles made up the rest of the main structures of the outpost. Tents and storage crates were also lined against the outpost's walls. Though from a distance it would seem like the outpost itself would be deserted, or occupied by salvagers. However, that was not the case on the inside.

Those that had been injured during the battle were now being treated in various tents along the wall. And those who were not injured rested after the long night.

Adam was sitting on a old log near the central watch tower with a bowl of old dried fruit in his hooves. He just looked at it, thinking about all that had happened the night before. Neo came trotting up from behind him, a dried piece of meat gripped with his teeth, and both their bags hovering at his side.

And once he had come next to his younger brother he sat down next to him. Neo's voice though was muffled by the jerky in his mouth making his words sound muffled, "Adam, they'ff got da lasht of da injured taken care of."

Adam's look was somber, but regardless of his mood he still replied, "What? Oh, well... I just hope everyone does alright while they're here."

Taking the jerky in his mouth, Neo began to bite off bits of it as he spoke to his brother. "Also, look what the outpost did." Neo said while patting his and Adam's saddlebags.

"Three days of supplies, and a little bit of ammo too. I told them we were stationed at the town, and they offered to give us this stuff."

Adam didn't reply, but instead he went back to the small bowel that rested in his hooves. "I know... There were several ponies there that I knew who died, but at least we made it." Neo said.

Adam shuffled around where he sat for a moment before replying, "But, it's just what happened to Breeze that concerns me... I... I think I need to talk to her."

"You should. After all that, having somepony there to comfort them might be good for her morale. But... Adam, I've been thinking... Remember when Cool Blue talked about that place called Silver Mane?"

"Yeah?"

"Well," Neo paused and took the guardian badge from his duster collar, "What if being guardians wasn't such a good idea. What if, we just... Quit."

Adam looked at him surprised, "Quit? Why?"

"Think about it for a second. Ever since we've been guardians, bad luck seems to follow us wherever we go, like a lost puppy... I know it was supposed to help us find mom but, at what cost? First it was Lu... Then the town... What next will we lose because of this position? Me? You? Or maybe somepony else."

Adam thought about what his brother said, and to some extent, there was some truth to it all. Sure, they had had some things happen before then, but when they got the positions, everything changed. And it was possible it could get worse from there onward.

"And, that thing Cool Blue said about growing up. About making our own decisions. I already heard the captain here contacting the Coalition about us, so it'll only be a matter of time before we have something else to do... But if we're going to find mom, we're going to have to take life by the reins, and plot our course ourselves. Together."

"Then, what are we going to do?" Adam asked.

"Well, the first thing we need to do is leave the outpost, and soon if we can." Neo said standing up, and stretching his foreleg.

When Adam saw his brother stand up, he too felt the urge to get up from where he was sitting. "But, before we leave, I need to talk to Breeze... It's... It's something I've been needing to do."

Neo patted his brother on the back with a calm smile, "Don't worry. We won't leave without saying our goodbyes."

Adam smiled for a moment, before getting his saddlebag next to Neo and slinging it onto his back. "Can we see her first?" He asked.

Neo nodded, and started to make his way to the other side of the outpost. "Follow me, I'll show you which tent she's in."

Adam blinked, and trotted off with his brother while following closely behind him at Neo's left side. Ponies calmly sat and ate what food they had took with them from the town, while those without food were given something by the members of the outpost.

In front of them was a fairly rough looking green tent, with several grey metal boxes sitting next to the entrance. The two brothers came up to the tent entrance and stopped. A pony opened the flaps just as they had come up to the tent itself. The mare who had come out of the tent wore the basic steel armor of the Coalition with a red cross painted on her left shoulder piece.

She stopped and looked at the two curiously, "You two are here to visit one of the injured?"

They both nodded. "Well, two of the injured in there just fell asleep. You guys had a rough time out there, and it shows. Is there anyone specific that you're wanting to see?"

Adam stepped up and answered, "Her name is Breeze Heart. She's a pegasus, but...," He found it hard to speak about her wings, "Her... Wings aren't there anymore."

The medic brushed off one of her legs while nodding to him, "Well, I've got good news and bad news. The good news being she's awake and with time she'll be okay. The bad news is, whatever happened to her really did something. She mumbled in her sleep when you guys brought her to us. Something about help, and 'he's killing me' or something. So if I were you, I'd try to not get her too excited."

Adam calmly replied, "Thank you. I'll be sure to remember that when I talk to her."

The medic nodded back in response and trotted off to another tent on the other side of the camp. Adam gulped nervously as they both stood there. And after a few moments, Adam took in a deep breath and looked up to his brother, "Can I go in by myself? I want to talk to her alone."

"Sure, Adam." Neo answered.

With that, Adam moved forward into the tent. He moved the flaps to the side with his left foreleg, and came into the dimly lit tent. There were four medical beds inside, with small lockers at the end of each bed. Breeze was at the far end of the tent, laying on her side with her back facing Adam. This was it for Adam though, he could apologize finally for what had happened, and hopefully be forgiven for what had happened to her.

He slowly came over to her bed, and sat down next to the side of her bed. Adam extended a hoof to her, and gently lay it on her shoulder. In a surprised reflex, she quickly turned around to see who was there with a scared gasp. Though, once she had seen it was Adam, she sighed with relief and looked at him while laying on her back.

"A-Adam?" She cooed.

Adam smiled at her, feeling tears build up in his eyes. "Yeah... It's me."

Breeze sounded tired, and weak as she spoke, "You came to see me... I don't know what to say."

"It's okay. I just wanted to stop by and say..." Adam found it hard to apologize for the feeling of guilt started to grow in his chest, "I-I'm sorry... For what happened..."

She blinked lightly at him, "I know... But I want to ask you something..."

"Yes?"

"Why didn't you help me?"

Adam slouched down where he sat with a tear going down his cheek. "I was scare... I saw him there, with the shadows filling the room. I was frozen, and I felt like a pony watching the whole thing happen on a screen with me far away unable to help..."

She lifted a hoof up to his cheek and wiped away the tears on one of his cheeks. "I know, and I'm thankful you got me out of there. I just can't can't help this feeling like I needed help, and you just didn't. I don't know what to think about it..."

Adam sighed feeling more tears run down his cheeks, "I understand..."

She smiled at him though, looking up from her bed at the sad buck, "I will say thank you though. For fighting your fear. It saved us both, and I can say honestly that, even though you weren't fast enough, you helped me in the end."

Adam nodded while wiping some of the tears away, "Go find your mom, and don't let anything like that scare you again... It could be somepony else's life you have in your hooves. Not just m-" Before she could finish, she coughed hoarsely while closing her eyes, "I... I can't talk... It's hard... Just promise me, you'll never let those things affect you again."

Adam took her hoof and put his head to it, and promised. "Good... Take care of Neo..." She said with a peaceful sigh.

Soon, her muscles became relaxed and her breathing shallow as she drifted off. Adam lay her hoof back down patting it gently as she rested peacefully. And, just before he stood up, he looked down at her and whispered. "Goodbye Breeze. I won't forget you."

Outside the tent, Neo had the small sun badge in his metal hoof as he watched the light from the grey sky reflect off of the tiny metal badge while he waited for his brother. Adam though, came out of the tent with a content look on his face. Traces of the tears he had shed a few moments ago were still visible, though deep down inside, there was a sense of peace inside himself. That talk he had with her, while brief, was just the thing he needed to lift that heavy burden from his chest.

Neo saw him coming out, and noticed the wetness around his eyes. "Adam, are you okay? Did everything go well with her?"

Adam sniffled faintly with a small smile on his face as he nodded, "Yeah. It went well..."

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah." Adam replied softly.

"Well that's good to hear, I hope she gets better."

"She will." A voice said from behind them.

Neo turned around to see who it was, and to his surprise, Red Glare was standing behind him. "I talked to the doc who was working at that tent earlier. She said she'd be fine. I don't know about Cherry and some of the others though, hopefully, things turn out well for them too."

Both brothers noticed that he was loaded with bags, and armed with a rifle that hung at his side. "We can all hope that things turn out for the better. We made it this far, and I don't think those who got injured during the fighting will give up just yet." Neo added.

"Heh, we can hope... As for those of us that are okay, we're moving out." Red Glare sighed smoothly.

"Is that why you're packed like that?"

"Yeah, most of us are just going where we think is best. Some have family in Ironhoof, while some are just going to wait for the caravans to stop by and join them."

"And what about you?" Adam asked.

"Well... When I was thinking about all those good folk who died fighting for us to get this far. They died so we could make it out and live freely. The best I can do to honor them is remember their sacrifice and live the best I can. Though, to tell you the truth, I might head on down to Maneton. I heard it's fairly quiet there, minus the raiders and such."

"Maneton's a nice place. You'll be happy there." Neo added.

"Then I'm making the right choice heading there." Red Glare said before walking off towards the gate of the outpost.

Though, Neo stopped him just as he had started to walk off, "Red. One last thing before you go."

"Hmm? What is it?"

"Did Coo- I mean Sharp Note leave already."

"Yeah, I heard him say he was heading north somewhere. Says he's got family up there or something."

"I see, thanks again, Red. And good luck out there."

Red Glare nodded back to both brothers, "You too, and good luck finding your mom. If you're in Maneton don't hesitate to find me." He said before continuing to the gate.

Adam smiled at Red Glare as he walked alone towards the exit. "I hope him and the rest of the town does okay..."

"Yeah... But before we head off too, I need to say goodbye to one more pony."

"Cherry?" Adam added.

"She was a good leader, and... A good friend. I'd hate to leave her before saying goodbye."

"Which tent do you think she's in?"

Neo scanned the area around them, and pointed out the the tent on the far end of the outpost wall. "Let's just start from there and work our way down. I've got to see her."

So, starting from the farthest tent, both of them poked their heads inside each tent and scanned them for Cherry. In the first few tents they had looked into, only a few of them had injured ponies. None of which had the mare they were looking for. But, just as they came to the tent nearest to the gate, they saw the Mayor. The Mayor herself was sitting on a box at her daughter’s bedside, crying soft sobs to herself while muttering quietly.

Adam and Neo took their heads out of the tent, and stood back. "I'll wait out here if you want, brother." Adam said.

"Thanks... I'll see if the Mayor will let me talk to her. Wish me luck, she doesn't look like she's in the mood to talk."

Adam motioned his head to the tent while stepping back for his brother. Neo took a large gulp and hoped for the best, if all went well he could at least say goodbye to her. Because if there was one thing he wanted to do it was to say his goodbyes.

Neo came inside slowly, and carefully with light hoof steps while coming closer to where Cherry lay. "Uhh... Mayor..." Neo muttered softly.

She turned towards him her eyes drenched with tears. "What is it?"

Neo inhaled deeply before speaking, "I wanted to see if I could speak to her."

The mayor didn't answer, but rather hesitated for a moment before returning to her daughter in the bed. "She's... A-asleep." She stuttered quietly.

But before Neo could say anything she continued in a heavy tone, "You know, this is my fault... I should have done something in the beginning... When it all began. But I was so scared for my town... For my daughter, that I gave in without thinking. They came in and killed the Coalition defenders stationed there. When they were done though, Cyrus came up to me and told me he could make a deal with me... A deal that would keep the town and it's citizens safe from the law of the Legion. It didn't take me long to think about it... The deal was if I reported on any rebellious activity in the town he wouldn't have the townsfolk hurt in any way... But every day, they would come and demand more and more from us. And each day, we would give and give in fear of them... And when we couldn't give any more... He started killing ponies, so that there would less mouths to feed, and kept taxing us as he had before. Yet, I still helped him. I reported on rumors, and rebellious ponies in town... I-I can't tell you how I feel about it. Even my daughter started resisting the Legion, and if something wasn't going to be done soon, I might have lost her... It all changed when you came though. Everyone's hearts were alive, and hope came back once we heard the Coalition remembered us. Just look at what hope did for us... It could have been avoided. Prevented, or even not even a threat if I wasn't so afraid to act in the beginning. We had the numbers, we had the force to stop them..."

The Mayor looked hard at her daughter's resting face with a smile, tears rolling down her cheeks as she continued, "I just wish.. I just wish I could fix it all..."

Neo took the guardian badge on his duster and lowered his head with the tiny badge in his hoof. "Then, when she wakes up... Could you give this to her?"

The Mayor blinked at the stallion to the side of her, "G-give it to her?"

Neo extending his hoof to her, and nodded with a serious look in his eyes. "Yes."

She took the small trinket from his hoof and looked at her reflection in the worn metal. "Y-you want her to have your guardian badge? Why?"

"I don't need to say. But when she wakes up, I would like you to tell her something when you give it to her."

"Yes," the Mayor replied, "What is it?"

"Tell her... That she's a hero now. Just like those travelers she admired when she was young."

"I'll... I'll tell her."

Neo smiled without saying anything in response. Instead, he turned to the exit and stopped right at the tent flaps. Then, looking back at the Mayor he calmly said, "Oh, and one more thing... Tell her, I said goodbye." Upon saying his final statement to the Mayor, he opened one tent flap with his foreleg and left.

Adam blinked at his older brother and followed next to him as he started walking off to the gate. "Brother, did it go well? Are they going to be okay?"

Neo stopped, and gave Adam a content smile. "Yeah, I think they'll be okay."

Adam smiled back at his brother with his own badge in his hoof. "I hope so..."

"Are you going to leave the badge?" Neo asked.

Adam looked down at it, remembering the day not too long ago that they got it. "When I look at this, I remember the reason we got it in the beginning. These were to help us find mom..."

"And we'll find her," Neo said putting a hoof on Adam's shoulder, "With or without it."

"And we'll do it together." Adam added.

"We'll do it together."

Adam paused for a moment, looking at the badge rest in his hoof. Then, with a slow tilt of his hoof and an extension of his foreleg, he threw the badge off into the distance, and it flew high up through the air before hitting the powder-like dirt on the ground. "Like I said. We're going to find her, with or without them." Neo stated once more.

"Do we even have an idea of where to go?"

Neo nodded, facing the gate of the outpost, "Yeah. We're going to Silvermane. We're going north."

Foot Note: Level Up!

Would you like to level up Neo?

Yes-

No

New Perk: Carnivore: You now gain +25 health points every time meat is consumed.

Foot Note: Level Up.

Would you like to level up Adam as well?

Yes-

No

New Perk: Veteran of the Night: If you should happen to attack somepony while sneaking you gain an extra 35% chance at getting a critical.

Proofread by:

Noakwolf

LyonAzakura

Colonel Lat Muffin

(AN: I hope you enjoyed this chapter everyone! It took awhile to make, but I pulled through. And with summer right around the corner I'll have plenty of free-time to write. As for Cherry, you'll just have to wait and see what happens. See you at the next chapter!)

• Noakwolf