Under The Rainbowby CommissarVulpinChaptersChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 5Chapter 1Cloudsdale Weather Facility Rainbow Factory 11:42 PM “Ugh. What a night. I hate working night shift.” “Quit your whining. Working as a night guard is the easiest damn job I’ve ever had. Nothing to do but stretch out and relax. Besides, who in their right mind would want to break into a rainbow factory? Come on.” A pegasus pony dressed from head to toe in black listened to the conversation between the two guards from a displaced roof panel. He watched them intently from above as they casually strolled down the hall and around the corner. Once they were out of sight, he slung an empty bag over his shoulder, hooked a cable to a roof strut and silently rappelled down the wall. Working from memory of the map he had studied, he navigated the hallways of the factory, slipping past a few more bored guards and a sleeping technician. He made his way towards the center of the factory, stopping at a heavy, imposing door that bore a large ‘NO UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY’ decal. Ignoring it, he pressed a small device up to the keypad next to the door and pressed a button. With a quiet beep, a few sparks, and a plume of blue smoke, the door opened with a hiss and retracted into the wall. The small room beyond featured a maze of pipes filled with glittering, glowing, multicolored liquids. This room was where Pigment, the very heart and soul of the beautiful rainbows, was produced. From here the Pigment was piped to the distillation pools and then to the emitters, which would launch the rainbows in their great arches across the skies of Equestria. At the heart of the tangle of pipes lay a large cylindrical canister, made of sturdy materials, which hummed and glowed with magical energy. Manufactured of a special enchanted steel and held together with countless bolts, the canister was what provided the Pigment for the rainbows that left the facility. This canister was the source for every rainbow in Equestria. And he was going to steal it. Carefully turning valves and unhooking hoses, the stealth pony removed the canister from its nest. Through a small glass window on its side no larger than a peephole, he could see the roiling, churning maelstrom of colors contained within. Within seconds, the automatic monitoring systems detected that the supply of Pigment had suddenly stopped. Alarms blared and red lights sprung up everywhere. Quickly shoving the canister in his bag, he darted behind a stack of crates against the wall. He readied a silenced pistol and waited. Before long, frantic hoofsteps marked the entry of several guards and technicians. “It’s gone!” “What?” “Look! It’s just… gone!” “Alright, spread out! The thief is bound to be here somewhere.” One by one, the guards fanned out in several directions. One of them stayed behind and began to search the room. As soon as he passed behind the crates, the stealth pony grabbed him, put a hoof over his mouth, and shot him twice in the back. The other guards, hearing the commotion, spun around. “What was that?” The stealth pony swiftly tossed a small black device into the center of the floor. It promptly exploded, tearing a jagged hole in the floor. Using the smoke as cover, he darted over to the circle of exposed cloud beneath. As the smoke cleared, he waved to the befuddled guards and dove down the hole, disappearing through the clouds. Once through, he freefell through the night air beneath Cloudsdale for a few seconds, then spread his wings and glided safely down to a waiting truck. “How was it?” Asked the driver. “Too easy.” Chapter 2bananachips presents UNDER THE RAINBOW A Johnny Recon adventure ESS Headquarters Canterlot 11:07 AM “Yes, your Highness, I understand. I will have my stallion on it right away… You’re very welcome. Good day.” Agent D pressed a button and the face of Princess Celestia disappeared from the monitor in front of her. She sighed, then pressed another button, summoning her secretary into her office. “Yes ma’am?” She swiveled her chair around to face her. “Agent M, I don’t suppose Agent R would be within reach?” “I don’t think so, ma’am. He hasn’t checked in this morning.” “Well, I need him here. Would you be so kind as to retrieve Agent R from wherever he’s hidden himself?” “I’ve already tried his cell phone, ma’am, but he’s not answering it.” “I don’t want you to call him, I want you to find him and get his sorry hindquarters in my office. It’s urgent.” “Yes, ma’am.” After her secretary left, Agent D ran a hoof through her pale blonde mane and sighed. “What am I going to do with him?” ‘Le Cheval’ Restaurant and Casino Canterlot Palace District 11:32 AM The Le Cheval, located in the more ritzy side of Canterlot, wasn’t the largest or most expensive casino in Equestria, but it was undoubtedly one of the classiest. Smooth jazz from a live band floated above the crowd, who made idle chat as they gambled or enjoyed a glass of champagne with a fancy meal. Crystal chandeliers spread a warm glow above the crowd, who had begun to gather around an unusually intense game of dice. Three dice clattered onto the table, and several pairs of eyes watched them intently as they bounced along the green felt. They eventually rolled to a stop, the characters on top showing the numbers 1, 3, and 5. “Nine,” The shooter called out. “Madame loses.” The mare who had bet on the roll frowned and clopped her hoof on the table in frustration. She turned to the brown stallion with a magnifying glass cutie mark who was betting against her. “It seems that you are a pony of much luck, Mr…?” “Recon. Johnny Recon.” “Well, Mr. Recon, let’s see if your luck holds up, shall we?” “I have a feeling it will,” he responded with a wink. “Sir?” The shooter spoke up. “Would you care to make a bet?” Johnny Recon thought for a second, then pushed some chips from the pile before him into the center of the table. “Fifteen.” “Current bid is three hundred bits for a roll of fifteen.” The shooter shook the dice in his hooves and tossed them onto the table. After a tense few seconds, the dice rolled to a stop, showing the numbers 6, 4 and 5. “Fifteen,” the surprised shooter called out. “Sir takes the pot.” The stallion with the magnifying glass cutie mark scooped up the stack of chips in the center of the table and collected them in a pouch, then stood up from the table. “I think I’m done for today, madam.” “Are you? I know an excellent place downtown where we could get some lunch. Meet me in the lobby?” “That sounds wonderful.” He looked her in the eye and made a seductive motion with his eyebrows. “I knew my luck would hold out.” “Just don’t fold on me,” She quipped back with a smile and turned, walking back towards the lobby. “Sir?” A waiter came up behind him with a tray of drinks. “Would you care for a drink?” “Gin and tonic on the rocks, please,” he said without hesitation, having ordered his favorite drink dozens of times. The waiter hoofed him a glass, which Johnny took and tipped the waiter with a 50-bit chip. “Keep the change.” As Johnny was headed to meet the mare who had invited him to lunch, he was approached by a confused-looking busboy. “Mr. Recon?” He took a sip of his gin and tonic. “Yes?” “You have an urgent message. It says, ‘Duty calls, Mr. Recon’. She said you’d know what that meant.” He sighed. “Yes, I do know what that means. Thank you.” As the busboy scuttled off, he muttered to himself, “I didn’t even get to finish my drink.” ESS Headquarters Canterlot 11:46 AM “There you are, Agent R,” the secretary greeted Johnny Recon as he pushed through the door. “Ah, Agent M, looking as stunning as ever this morning.” “Oh, stop it. You think you’re such a charmer. Agent D is waiting for you.” “Am I late?” He asked, feigning innocence. “You’ve been late for the past forty-five minutes, Johnny.” “Did she ask for my ‘sorry flank’ again?” “No, she asked for your hindquarters this time.” “Did she now? Well, I’m afraid she’s going to be disappointed.” “You know she doesn’t appreciate the innuendos, Johnny,” she warned as she magically opened the door for him. “She can be such a downer sometimes,” he commented as he proceeded through the door into his superior’s office. The office was nice, but not too ornate, with various books and knick-knacks on shelves and a polished wood desk in the center. A stern mare sat in the leather chair behind it, who looked up at the brown stallion walking in. “There you are. Sit down.” Agent D was a pegasus pony, with light grey fur and a pale yellow mane, done up in a tight bun behind her head. Her right eye wore an eyepatch, while the other eye wore the usual scowl. She sported one of her usual plain black business outfits, which always covered her cutie mark. No one knew why she had the eyepatch, or even what her cutie mark was; and no one was brave enough to ask. “May I ask,” he began as he sat down in front of her, “What was so important that a perfectly good drink couldn’t be enjoyed?” Agent D’s expression did not change. “If I wanted attitude, R, I’d listen to my grandfoals. Now keep quiet and I shall explain.” Pressing a button on her desk, she swiveled her chair around. A wooden panel behind the desk slid open, revealing a large television screen with the ESS logo as a screensaver. Suddenly a picture of Cloudsdale’s weather facility popped up on the screen. “Mr. Recon, are you familiar with the way rainbows are formed?” “If it’s anything like the story, I don’t want to know.” “Whatever are you talking about?” “Never mind.” Agent D sighed and shook her head, then continued. “The central building here pipes the material called Pigment to these distillation pools,” she explained, motioning to different sections of the factory. “The Pigment is purified and then sent to the emitters, where they’re sent across the sky. The process is too complicated to explain in such a short time, but that’s the gist of it.” “So what’s the problem?’ “I’m getting there. The Pigment, the very thing these rainbows are made from, comes from this device.” A schematic suddenly filled the screen, showing a diagram of a cylindrical canister about 40 centimeters in length and 23 centimeters wide. “This is the Rainbow Core. Created using unicorn magic, it provides the color for every rainbow in Equestria. Approximately twelve hours ago, Princess Celestia received word that it’s been stolen.” “Who would want to steal a rainbow machine?” “That’s what we want you to find out.” A map of Equestria popped up on the screen, with a green radar blip in the middle of the San Palomino desert. “Since the Rainbow Core is one of the most valuable objects in Equestria, it has been fitted with a tracking device. We managed to track it to here, where we lost the signal. Pegasus flybys confirmed the location as an abandoned warehouse. We want you to investigate. With the Grand Galloping Gala coming up tomorrow night, this crisis is the last thing the Princess needs.” “I’ve never tried a vacation in the desert before. When do I start?” “Tonight. Agent V already has your equipment. I suggest you go see her immediately.” Agent V’s Laboratory Downtown Canterlot 12:07 PM “Ah, Agent R. Good to see you again.” The white unicorn mare known only as Agent V led Johnny through her spacious lab, where several gadgets and devices were being manufactured and tested. The lab was concealed beneath a nightclub where Agent V worked as a DJ during the night. “I always enjoy a few new toys to play with.” “Well, since this is a low-risk mission, the equipment I’m sending you in with is pretty standard.” She smiled and tossed her shock of neon-blue hair. “…but you know me. I always like to include a few surprises.” She led him over to a table strewn with several objects. She began to magically pick them up and explain them, starting with a pile of black cloth. “This is a black form-fitting stealth suit. If you keep still, you’ll be virtually invisible in the shadows. It also contains a small parachute, deployed by pulling on this cord here. “This belt wraps around your waist, and a magnetic hook in the buckle attaches to any magnetic surface. The powerful motor can then lower you down a 10-meter cable, strong enough to hold your weight. With the push of a button, the magnetic hook will detach and retract. “Now, this may look like an ordinary camera, but it’s not. It’s a flashbang grenade! The real camera detaches from the unit, hidden within the battery compartment. Attempting to open the film reel starts the three-second fuse, then boom!” “Interesting array you’ve got here, V. I’ll make good use of it.” “One more thing, R.” “More?” “Your transportation. Follow me.” She led him over to a garage, within which was parked a small vehicle. It resembled a small car, with only a roll cage protecting its single seat. A small engine lay exposed behind the driver’s seat, powering the four wide tires. “Since you’ll be traveling in the desert, I decided to have my mechanics whip up this little number for you. This sand buggy can reach speeds of up to 75 kilometers per hour along the loosest sand. Its engine is powered by magic, so it’s virtually silent.” “Thanks for all this, V.” “It’s no problem. I tried to plan for whatever you might encounter. But honestly, spying on a warehouse? How hard could it be?” Chapter 3Abandoned Warehouse Somewhere in the San Palomino Desert 10:09 PM How hard could it be? Agent V’s words echoed in Johnny Recon’s head as he rode the sand buggy over the sands of the San Palomino desert. Celestia’s sun had been behind him, but it had recently set, leaving Luna’s stars to twinkle in the dusk. The buggy’s magical engine made almost no noise at all as he leapt the massive dunes. Skidding to a stop, he pulled out his camera. Using the zoom lens, he snapped a picture of the warehouse in the distance. It certainly didn’t look abandoned. Lights from within cast a glow over the surrounding sands and illuminated a convoy of covered supply trucks. One by one, the trucks were pulling into the warehouse and then leaving some time later. He pulled forward, stopping about two hundred meters from the warehouse, and hid the buggy behind a dune. He used his camera to snap more pictures of the trucks and of the guards milling about. Slipping on the stealth suit, he crept through the darkness over to the warehouse. As a truck rolled right past him, he seized the opportunity to leap into the bed. It was a large, covered cargo truck, of the kind used by the Equestrian military. They were designed to be driven by anyone, even earth ponies, and were reliable and simple to service. The trucks were constantly being replaced by the military as they wore out, and the older ones were sold to civilians. The truck pulled into the warehouse, and Johnny leapt out and rolled behind a stack of crates. Snapping more pictures, he could see that the trucks were being loaded with more of the unmarked wooden crates. Careful to avoid the guards’ glances, he snuck over to an access staircase against the wall. There was a single guard watching over the stairs, but he was falling asleep. Easily slipping by, Johnny ascended the stairs and found himself in the rafters of the warehouse, enveloped in shadow and in perfect view of the trucks. The staircase continued upwards, giving access to the roof. As the trucks continued to be loaded, he snapped more pictures of them from above, and then noticed a smaller military car that pulled in out of line. It stopped in the middle of the warehouse, where a large white pony was waiting. Out of the car stepped a jet-black pegasus stallion, with an equally black mane and tail. The most shocking feature of him, though, was his left wing – it had been replaced with a mechanical one, made of polished metal and sporting razor-sharp ‘feathers’. He could overhear him talking briefly with the white one. “Is this it?” The muscular white pegasus turned to a metal crate next to him and hefted it up into the car “Ya. Ze Rainbow Core, safe und sound.” “Excellent. I just need the last of these supplies up at the Peak and I can finish construction.” Fastening his magnetic belt buckle to a steel rafter, Johnny silently lowered himself down towards the black pony’s car. But with a roar of its engine, it pulled away, leaving Johnny dangling in midair. “Hey! What are you doing here?” One of the guards called out as he spotted him. Johnny planted his hooves on the floor as a circle of guards gathered around him, pointing assault rifles at him, their teeth on the trigger bits. Pushing through the crowd, the muscular white stallion he had seen earlier walked right up to him. “Vell, vell, vell. Who do ve haff here?” The huge pegasus stallion towered over Johnny, large muscles tensed in an intimidating stance. “Quite the operation you have here, Franz.” “Silence! I did not giff you permission to shpeak!” He turned to a guard. “Take his camera. He is obviously a shpy.” One of the guards grabbed the camera from around Johnny’s neck. “Open it.” The guard fumbled with the backing, and then popped it open. “There’s no film in –“ Johnny screwed his eyes shut as the flashbang detonated, leaving the guards reeling. Pressing the button on his belt, he zipped up his tether and into the rafters. He quickly detached the magnetic hook, then sprinted over to the staircase and onto the roof. He ran along the crest and was able to see a truck beginning to pull out. He gathered some speed and jumped off the roof, falling several meters before landing onto the soft covering of the truck bed. He slid down onto the hood and yanked open the door, and pulled the shocked driver out of his seat. Taking the wheel, he mashed on the gas pedal and passed another truck, ramming it out of his way. Once he finally caught up to the car, he attempted to rear-end it and force it off the road. But the car was just as fast as the truck and more maneuverable, and managed to evade Johnny’s attempts. He could see the jet-black pony in the driver’s seat making frantic glances over his shoulder. Suddenly the truck Johnny was driving shook violently and lunged forward as it was struck from behind. Looking in the rear-view mirror, he could see that another truck was behind him, with the large white pony with the heavy accent in the passenger seat. It pulled up next to Johnny and slammed into his truck again from the side, almost driving Johnny off the road. The black car with the Rainbow Core inside was all but forgotten as the pair of trucks followed it up into the foothills of the San Palomino Mountain. The smooth desert roads gave way to rough, narrow switchbacks as they wound up the side of the mountain. The two trucks rammed each other back and forth, scraping their sides against the sheer rock walls on one side, then the steel barricades on the other. As Johnny’s truck was shoved up against a rock face, the white pony took the opportunity to leap onto the hood, aided by his wings. He wound up and punched Johnny in the face through the windshield, shattering the glass. Swerving the truck, Johnny managed to get the other pony to roll over to the other side. He rolled through the broken windshield into the passenger seat, and proceeded to pummel Johnny in the head and chest. As he rounded another switchback, Johnny pulled the wheel hard to the left and kicked the white pony simultaneously, causing him to roll against the passenger side door. The door suddenly flew open and he was left dangling over the edge of an almost vertical drop. After the road straightened out again, Johnny slammed on the brakes, causing the white pony to lose his grip and tumble onto the dirt road. Instantly, he leapt onto his hooves again and dove at Johnny, and the two struggled with each other in the cab. Without his hoof on the brake pedal, the truck began to roll backwards down the hill as they fought. A well-placed punch to the face sent the white pony reeling, and a final kick shoved him out onto the road once more. “And stay out this time,” Johnny quipped to himself. He suddenly realized that the truck was speeding uncontrollably backwards, just as it smashed through the barrier and began to plummet over the side of the cliff. He yanked on the handle to open the door, but the old truck refused to comply. As the air whooshed past and the ground rushed ever closer, he crawled out through the shattered windshield. Once on the hood, he pushed off as hard as he could and freefell for a moment before pulling the ripcord on his stealth suit. A small black parachute popped out, slowing his descent to a more survivable speed. The truck, meanwhile, smashed itself to pieces on the rocks below and exploded into a massive fireball as its fuel tank ruptured. ESS Headquarters Canterlot 4:45 PM Agent D flipped through the photographs that Johnny had collected the previous night, displaying each one on the television screen behind her desk. She stopped when she reached a picture of the black pegasus in the car along with the muscular white pegasus. “And there’s the Rainbow Core,” she said partly to herself, referring to the metal crate that was in the car. “No wonder we lost the signal; it was in that metal crate.” She turned to Johnny. “Excellent work, Agent R. We’ve managed to identify the black pegasus here. His name is Night Wind. Former member of the Royal Guard, outstanding record.” She pulled up a photo of him standing amongst other guards, clad in armor. “He was pronounced missing, presumed dead, several years ago following an accident at Ghastly Gorge.” She pulled up a scan of a newspaper article on the screen, the title of which read, ‘Royal Guard Accident Leaves Cadet Missing.’ “I can say with reasonable certainty that he is not dead,” Johnny interjected. “So it would seem. As for the white one, I can’t say. The angle it was taken from inhibits a clear view of the cutie mark.” “Did you see the wing?” “Oh, yes.” She summoned the picture of Night Wind once more. “Must be a product of that accident.” “Quite the fashion statement.” “Thanks to the intel you’ve given us, Agent R, I’m sending you to San Palomino Peak to retrieve the Rainbow Core and find out what Night Wind is up to. He’s got something planned, and I want to put a stop to it. Now, given the nature of the operation and the resources at Night Wind’s disposal, I’m sending you in with another agent.” “And who might that be?” “Agent C. She’s a few years your junior, but she’s shown outstanding performance in the field. Can I trust you to complete the mission without any…‘conflicts of interest’?” “I’m sure we’ll get along just fine.” She sighed. “You worry me sometimes. Now hurry along. Your flight leaves in fifteen minutes.” Chapter 4Equestrian Military Cargo Plane Skies above San Palomino Mountain 5:35 PM “Alright, listen up!” The officer in charge of inserting Agent R had to shout over the noise of the huge engines pushing the plane through the air. “Agent C has been inserted prior, and you’ll rendezvous once you’re in.” “Got it,” Johnny nodded. He and the stallion giving the briefing stood in the cargo bay. “This is one of the most dangerous drops ever tried, so pay attention! You’ll be riding this thing all the way down,” he motioned to the white snowmobile next to them, “and it’s got your parachute. So don’t let go!” The navigator opened the door from the cockpit and shouted to the two that they were almost over San Palomino Peak. The officer nodded and pulled a lever nearby. Deafening wind noise filled the cargo bay as the huge door in the back slowly winched open. “You’ll be thrown around like a ragdoll in a hurricane, so the first thing you want to do is deploy your drogue chute!” Johnny pulled a helmet on, completely obscuring his face, and got onto the snowmobile. “Oh, by the way!” The officer shouted. “Agent V wanted me to give this to you!” He produced a silver case, which he secured to the side of the snowmobile. Johnny nodded, then gave the officer the ready signal, and crouched low over the handlebars as he was pushed towards the back of the plane. The snowmobile slowly tipped over as it was pushed over the edge, and then Johnny was falling through the cold mountain air. As it fell, the horrible aerodynamics of the snowmobile made it tumble and spin wildly. Johnny quickly yanked on the ripcord to deploy his drogue chute, and a small white parachute popped out from behind the seat. This parachute did not slow him down, but rather made his descent more controllable. The snowmobile rapidly straightened itself out, and Johnny was able to get his bearings. He could see the San Palomino Peak clearly below him, blanketed in snow, with pine trees dotting the landscape. Johnny waited until he was only a few hundred meters above the ground before deploying his main chute. It yanked the snowmobile to a more controllable speed, and he guided himself to a clearing in the woods. Once he touched down, he cut away the parachute, started the engine, and sped off into the woods. Secret Underground Facility San Palomino Peak 5:39 PM The technician sitting at a bank of monitors was beginning to fall asleep. Nothing was being shown, just a boring landscape of snow and trees. Nothing moved. Just as he was laying his head on his hooves to catch a few winks, something caught his eye. As he jerked his head up to look at it, he saw that in addition to the bleak landscape, there was something moving on the screen. Something that looked like a pony riding a snowmobile. He blinked and wondered if he was dreaming, watching the snowmobile pass out of one frame into the next. He finally managed to realize just what was happening; they had an intruder. He quickly pressed a button on his control panel, and alarms began to blare. Atop San Palomino Peak 5:41 PM Johnny skidded the snowmobile to a halt, and slipped his helmet off. He pressed a pair of binoculars to his eyes and surveyed the mountain. There was nothing to be seen except snow and more trees. As he was making another sweep of the landscape, he suddenly heard the chatter of gunfire, followed by several bullet impacts peppering the trees around him. He swung the binoculars around, and saw three black snowmobiles racing toward him, with machine guns mounted to the handlebars firing at him. Johnny instantly revved up his own snowmobile and took off, abandoning his helmet. The enemies behind him were faster though, and were catching up to him quickly. Fortunately, their machine guns were inaccurate, and failed to hit him; but they were dangerously close. Two of the black snowmobiles pulled up next to him, while the third hung behind. Swerving around trees and over hills, they began to ram him, attempting to make him crash. As they approached a thicket, Johnny rammed the snowmobile on his right, making him swerve and slam into a tree. The other snowmobile that was right next to him had now disappeared. Johnny looked all around, seeing nothing. Out of the corner of his eye, he finally saw it attempting to flank him from the right. It came around and was headed directly for him, at which point it began to fire its machine guns. Bullets struck the snow around him, a few hitting the snowmobile and one grazing Johnny’s right hindleg. He winced at the pain, but kept his course, allowing the other snowmobile to continue directly towards him. When it was just about to run into his side, Johnny hit the brakes and skidded to a stop, letting the enemy snowmobile zoom past him. Not expecting this, the rider swerved uncontrollably and careened down the side of a steep hill, separating from his mount and tumbling down the slope. The third snowmobile, however, seemed to have disappeared. Johnny cautiously rode back in the direction he had come from, looking around. Suddenly he heard a commotion coming from a thicket of trees, and so he turned off his engine and dismounted to investigate. Pulling back the foliage, he saw the third snowmobile, with its rider being held in a stranglehold by another pony atop it. Once the body fell limp, the strangler dropped it to slump over the handlebars, and leapt down into the snow. They were wearing a stealth suit, which covered the head. “Well, that was quite breathtaking,” Johnny commented from the trees. The other pony spun around. “Who are you?” The voice was obviously feminine. “I could ask you the same question, miss.” She took a defensive stance, and whipped out a knife that was strapped to her foreleg. “I asked you first.” He held up his hooves in innocence. “Now, now, no need to get violent.” He cleared his throat. “The trees are nice this time of year.” She immediately calmed down, recognizing the code phrase. “Yes, but the snow can be such a bore,” she completed it. “Agent R, I presume?” “Precisely. Agent C?” “Indeed.” She replaced the knife, and slipped off the hood of her stealth suit. She was quite fit and relatively young, with a purple coat and a mane striped with two shades of pink. “I found an entrance to their base before you came.” She turned and began to walk in the appropriate direction. “They didn’t seem to notice the huge cargo plane overhead, but that was still hardly a covert—” She stopped when he felt a hoof on her shoulder. “Now, now,” Johnny interrupted. “That’s no proper introduction. Might I be acquainted a little first? My name’s Recon. Johnny Recon.” She sighed. “All right, I’ll play along. My name’s Cheerilee. Happy?” She continued to walk away. “And what do you do, Miss Cheerilee?” “I’m a schoolteacher.” Secret Underground Facility San Palomino Peak 5:46 PM The “entrance” to the facility was a well-hidden hole in a rock face, concealed by trees. It was not an entrance proper; rather, a ventilation grate that facilitated crawling. Making their way slowly and silently, the duo crept through the ductwork, stopping at vents to peer through. Most of them led to storage bays and rooms glowing with computer screens. One of the larger grates provided a view of a giant hangar. Within the hangar, various structural components were being unloaded from the familiar wooden crates and being assembled beneath a huge gantry. With a gasp, Cheerilee pointed to the Rainbow Core, suspended from a small crane next to the structure. The black pegasus with the mechanical wing was standing nearby, overseeing the operation. As they watched, the Rainbow Core was fitted into some sort of cylindrical metal shell, and then sealed inside. They continued down the ventilation shaft, stopping above an empty barracks room. Figuring it would be safe, Johnny carefully lifted the grate away and dropped down the hole, with Cheerilee in tow. Several bunk beds occupied the room, and Johnny stashed the case that he had been given beneath one of them for safekeeping. They crept over to the open door, which led to a catwalk looking out over the hanger they had seen earlier. Suddenly, they heard a voice from behind them. “Vell, vell, vell. Look who ve haff here.” “I must apologize for Eisenhuf’s…brutish ways. Sometimes he doesn’t know his own strength.” The black pegasus pony who had been identified as Night Wind sat at one end of a long metal table, with Johnny and Cheerilee sitting together at the other. After the large white stallion with the thick accent had captured them, he had brought them before his superior. Rather than acting angry or threatening them for trespassing, Night Wind had greeted them with a warm smile and generously brought them into this room, which was some sort of dining room. Despite its industrial appearance, it was furnished with candles and various ornaments that gave it a homey feel. “I only wish he wouldn’t be so willing to demonstrate it,” Johnny responded, massaging his sore neck. “I must say, Mr. Recon, you’ve caused quite a bit of trouble for me.” “If I must choose a skill, Mr. Night Wind, I must say that it is causing trouble.” The black pony ground his teeth at this. “I don’t go by that name anymore.” “Oh? And why would that be?” “You see Mr. Recon, I wished to disappear. And in order to disappear, one must abandon one’s name and take on an assumed one. I have redefined myself, Mr. Recon. I am no longer the pony you think I am.” “And what pony are you?” “Let me begin with a little backstory. You see, I was a strapping young lad, strong and able-bodied. I didn’t care much for school, and was full of that characteristic libido that all males seem to possess. I thought it an excellent idea to join the Royal Guard! Fighting for my Princess and defending Equestria! Such a romanticized idea. “But as soon as I enlisted, I quickly learned that was a mistake. Do you know what they used to call the Royal Guard, Mr. Recon? Do you? They used to be called the Whitecoats, because only ponies with the brightest, gleaming white coats were allowed to enlist. Princess Celestia stamped out that discriminatory policy centuries ago, but the attitude is still there. It may not show to civilians, but they have quite the negative attitude to those who are…different.” “But why have I seen grey ponies in the Guard?” Cheerilee asked. “They have tried to accept ponies of different colors for PR reasons, to make them not seem like bigots. But you see,” He held up his good wing, “I am not grey. I’m not even close. I am more ‘different’ than anyone else. And they hated me for it. “I was always ordered to do the horrible jobs, always forced to work overtime, always looked down upon by my superiors and comrades. I was something less than a pony to them. But the final straw came during a training exercise. “They brought us out to Ghastly Gorge for some flight training. I thought it was a dangerous place for cadets, but I had learned to keep my mouth shut. Well, some of my comrades decided to horseplay a little with me and…well, to make a long story short, I ended up at the bottom of the gorge. They, of course, tried to pass it off as a ‘training accident’, but when they went to collect the body, I was nowhere to be found. “I managed to limp to a small camp of gypsies who took me in and nursed me back to health. They were able to magically heal everything…except my wing, which needed to be amputated. But, Mr. Recon, magic is capable of some very astounding things.” He showed off his mechanical wing, which Johnny could see was very expertly crafted, inlaid with various crystals that undoubtedly powered it. With a crisp knock, the doors to the dining room swung open and a group of waiters walked in carrying various trays of food. “Ah! Dinner is served. Please enjoy, Mr. Recon. It’s been such a long time since I’ve had guests.” The meal was simple, but well-made, consisting of butternut squash roasted to perfection, with a crisp salad on the side. As they ate, he continued to monologue. “Once I found out that I was proclaimed as ‘missing, presumed dead’, I was presented with a unique opportunity. I decided to reinvent myself. No longer was I Night Wind, the pony who was different; no, I decided to call myself Blackwing!” “Hm,” Johnny commented, “Has a certain ring to it.” “You like it? I always thought it fit me. “Under this new identity, I traveled throughout Equestria and beyond. As it turns out, I wasn’t the only one with a vendetta against my homeland. There are some very powerful factions out there, hungry for a taste of revenge… and desperate for anything – or anyone – who could get them closer. I made deals. Conducted business. Smuggled money. Made friends. “All the scheming paid off, as you can see from everything around you. Everything I have worked for has culminated to this day. My revenge will finally be complete.” “But what exactly are you doing? Surely you must have something to show for all your hard work.” “Indeed I do, Mr. Recon, indeed I do,” Black wing smiled slyly. “With various ‘inside information’, I found out about this Rainbow Core. After some simple calculations, I devised a way to make use of it. Using this new discovery, I have created the vehicle which will allow me to exact my revenge.” He spun around in his chair and pressed a button on the wall. Metal grates in the walls retracted, allowing the occupants of the room to view the hangar beyond. Johnny and Cheerilee could now see that the structure hanging from the gantry had been attached to the top of a massive cloud. Currently, cranes were in the process of lowering two large engines affixed with propellers onto one end of the cloud. “It’s a cloudship…” Johnny realized. “Indeed it is, Mr. Recon. A cloudship, guiding a mobile base of operations directly over Canterlot. Once there, during the fireworks display at the Grand Galloping Gala tonight, I shall drop several tons of high explosive upon the city.” Blackwing, upon concluding his plan, began to chuckle to himself ominously. “I just have one question,” Cheerilee piped up. “What did you need the Rainbow Core for?” “Ah, yes. The Rainbow Core. That, my dear, will be part of the grand finale. You see, I have devised a way to bypass the magical barriers and release the vast energies that are so carefully contained within. This weapon I have dubbed the Atomic Rainboom. The resulting blast of concentrated magic will be enough to level the city and cause it to go crashing to the base of the mountain below!” “You’re mad!” she exclaimed. “A wise pony once said that the difference between madness and genius is measured only by success,” he replied calmly to her accusation. Blackwing stood up from the table. “I am afraid I must take my leave now. I have some very important business to attend to, and I do not need anyone meddling in my affairs. Good night, Mr. Recon.” With that, several guards appeared and escorted the two to waiting prison cells. Chapter 5Secret Underground Facility San Palomino Peak 6:48 PM The cells that they had been placed in were small, but not too constricting. The walls were concrete, like the majority of the facility, and a sink and toilet shared the room with a small cot bolted to the wall. The sink produced fresh water, and the toilet was functional. There were no windows, and only a single small vent high on the wall. Johnny paced the room until the guards who had placed him inside walked away, and then stood on his cot to peer through the vent. He was able to see into the cell immediately adjacent, which was where Cheerilee was being held. “Cheerilee!” Cheerilee’s purple face popped up to the vent. “Shh! There’s still a guard out here. Just hold on for a minute.” “Wait, what…?” Johnny began to say, but Cheerilee disappeared. A few seconds later, he heard a commotion in the hallway, followed by the wet crack of a pony’s skull being smashed against a wall. After a few moments, his cell door opened with a tiny click, revealing the smug face of Cheerilee. “Wha…how did you…?” She tossed her head, showing him a small metal object in her teeth. “Lockpick earrings.” “Perhaps I should get myself a pair,” he commented as he followed her into the hall. A cautious look around confirmed that the only guard was now lying unconscious on the floor. Without hesitation, Johnny began to undress the guard. “What are you doing!?” Cheerilee recoiled in digust. “We need to blend in with the guards or we’ll never make it to the hangar. He looks your size. Put it on.” She hesitated. “Fine. But I’m taking it off as soon as I can. What about you?” “I’m sure we’ll find another guard on the way. You can take care of him.” Sure enough, they encountered another lone guard on their journey back to the hangar, whom Cheerilee quickly incapacitated with some impressive martial-arts moves. Johnny put on his uniform and they both made their way down the hallways, stopping at the barracks to retrieve his case. After passing some other guards who didn’t give them as much as a second glance, they found themselves on a catwalk overlooking the hangar. The cloudship below was completed; perched atop the cloud, almost impossibly, were three aluminum structures connected by catwalks. Several workers were busy loading bombs into a central structure, which Johnny guessed contained the bomb bay. Blackwing’s Cloudship Secret Underground Facility 7:01 PM Blackwing stood in the control room at the head of the cloudship, ensuring that everything was in order. He observed the pilots as they made their pre-flight checks. He gazed at his reflection in the huge windows, and smiled devilishly. Once the pilots had confirmed that everything was working properly, he made his way to the bomb bay in the center of the ship. He watched the workers loading the explosives into racks along the walls. Once triggered, the bombs would fall through hatches in the floor and shower the capital city. Once the bombs were all loaded, the Atomic Rainboom bomb was next. At least three times as large as any of the conventional explosives, it was carefully hoisted up and fastened to the ceiling with chains. When the time came, the entire floor would drop out, making way for the huge device to fall and release its energy on the city. His inspection of the ship concluded with a visit to the engine room, where technicians were busy checking over the two huge engines that were responsible for moving the cloudship through the sky. After he received confirmation from everyone that the ship was ready to go, he made his way back to the control room and began giving orders for takeoff. Blackwing’s Cloudship Secret Underground Facility 7:10 PM From the shadows beneath a stairwell, Johnny and Cheerilee listened as Blackwing himself stepped into the cloudship’s engine room, asked several questions to the technicians, then left. After sneaking aboard the cloudship, they had discarded their guard uniforms and chose to hide instead. Before spotting Blackwing, Johnny had managed to identify each room and lay out a rudimentary plan. They were now crouched beneath one of the connecting walkways just outside the engine room. Luckily for them, the entire surface of the cloud was covered with aluminum deck plates, with a railing all around. “I think we’re safe to come out now.” “What about the case?” Cheerilee whispered. “I guess it’s as good a time as ever to open it.” He brought out the case and popped it open. Inside was a cigarette case, a lighter, two explosive charges, and a watch. Included was a note from Agent V about what each item was and how it was used. “How nice of her,” Johnny said after reading the note. “What are these?” Johnny picked up one of the explosives. “This is a remotely-activated explosive. The other is a timed explosive. Can you place the remote charge on one of the engines?” She took it from him. “Absolutely. I don’t think any of the guards are out –“ She was interrupted by a low rumbling noise. “What is that?” Johnny motioned towards the front of the ship, at the interior wall of the hangar. Currently it was in the process of opening up, allowing the night air to permeate the room. A huge section of the side of the mountain slid sideways on rollers, and then came to a halt. Johnny and Cheerilee next felt the deck plates beneath them vibrate as the cloudship’s engines started up. All the machinery connecting the cloudship to its dock was disconnected, and the craft began to slowly move forward. “We’re taking off!” Cheerilee exclaimed. “Go and plant the explosive. I’ll go check out the control room.” Cheerilee nodded and crept away. Johnny edged through the shadows until he stood outside the control room. A ladder affixed to the side allowed his to scale the wall and stand atop the roof. The roof was mostly featureless, with only a few wires snaking along it to a conduit protruding from one end. Placing an ear to the conduit, he was able to overhear the pilots within talking with Blackwing. “Set heading. Target: Canterlot.” “Yes, sir. ETA is fifteen minutes.” Suddenly, an alarm began to sound. “What the…” “Alarm from the engine room, sir.” “What the hay do I pay you for!?” Johnny heard heavy hoofsteps as Blackwing stormed out of the control room towards the engine room. Fearing the worst, he scrambled off the roof and hurried back to where he left Cheerilee. His search did not find her, however, until he found himself behind the engine room. “Mr. Recon!” Blackwing called out to him. Johnny spun around to see Blackwing standing beneath one of the huge engines, holding a bound Cheerilee aloft by her collar effortlessly with one hoof. “Put her down, Blackwing.” “I’m afraid I can’t do that, Mr. Recon. You and your little minx here must learn not to meddle with my affairs, and she is going to serve as an example. He raised her up and walked to the edge of the cloudship, approaching dangerously close to the huge propellers. She struggled, but was no match for his strength as he began to push her head towards the spinning blades. “Wait!” Johnny called out. Blackwing pulled Cheerilee back slightly. “What now?” Johnny pulled the cigarette case and lighter out of an inner pocket. He placed a cigarette in his mouth and began to light it. “A cigarette? Don’t make me laugh –“ As soon as it was lit, a dart shot out from the cigarette and buried itself in Blackwing’s chest. He stopped mid-sentence, and then his eyes rolled back in his head and he collapsed onto the deck. Johnny tossed the cigarette aside and helped Cheerilee untie herself. “Who did you say made your equipment again?” “Agent V. She’s saved my flank more times than I’d like to admit.” Cheerilee chuckled. “I got the explosives planted like you asked. I don’t think Blackwing noticed.” “I’ll go over to the bomb bay and see if I can disarm the Atomic Rainboom.” “I’ll go up to the control room and see try to stop the ship.” “Are you sure?” “I can handle myself. A few guards shouldn’t be a problem,” She said, and ran off before Johnny could stop her. Johnny snuck into the bomb bay, edging around racks of explosives poised to be dropped onto Canterlot. These bombs were not advanced technology; simple canisters of high explosive with a fuze at the tip to detonate it when it stuck the ground. There was no way to disarm all of them before the ship reached Canterlot; but he wasn’t going to try. He looked around and, seeing no one, prepared to plant the timed explosive charge on a bomb rack. He was interrupted, however, by a white hoof colliding with his jaw. He reeled, and lost his grip on the charge, which went sliding along the floor. Before he could react, Eisenhuf’s steely grip was on his collar, hoisting him into the air. “I am almost sad that I von’t be able to hear you schcream as you fall,” Eisenhuf seethed, standing on his hind legs while punching Johnny in the face again. “You vill be quite the mess to clean up, I’m sure.” Another punch knocked Johnny unconscious for a moment. Johnny kicked at the brute’s legs in desperation, but nothing seemed to faze him. As Eisenhuf was preparing to punch him again, Johnny bit down hard on the hoof that was holding him. The white pegasus yelled and dropped Johnny, who quickly ducked around and leaped onto the huge pony’s back, punching and kicking. Undisturbed by Johnny’s feeble attempts, he simply reared and slammed himself into the wall of bombs, knocking Johnny off. Eisenhuf swiftly kicked Johnny in the stomach, who produced an oof as the wind was knocked out of him. Rearing again, Eisenhuf prepared to bring his front hooves down and crush Johnny’s skull. Before he could do so, Johnny rolled onto his back and kicked Eisenhuf in the stomach with his hind hooves. Unbalanced by this, he staggered backwards on his hind legs. There was a loud metallic thunk as Eisenhuf’s head collided with something. Johnny looked up to see the Atomic Rainboom, hanging by chains from the ceiling, swaying slightly from the impact with Eisenhuf’s skull. Eisenhuf quickly recovered, then yelled something incoherent as he charged at Johnny on all fours. Johnny steadied himself, then leapt into the air, avoiding the pony about to collide with him. He then pushed off the pegasus’s back, using the extra boost to vault through the air and land atop the huge bomb hanging from the ceiling. Eisenhuf could do nothing but paw at the underside of the device, being just out of reach. Johnny inspected the Atomic Rainboom. It was a solid steel cigar-shaped shell, with no markings or obvious entrances. The only distinguishing features were the fins at the back, and the connection points for the two chains. They were remotely-activated quick-release clamps, triggered via wires that snaked up the chains and into the ceiling. Each docking clamp bore a red switch that was clearly labeled, “EMERGENCY RELEASE.” Eisenhuf paced below, taunting Johnny. “Ze little kitten is too scared to come down from ze tree, ya? Vell ze little kitten can sit up zere all she wants, but soon –“ His taunts were interrupted when one end of the bomb above suddenly came loose and swung, like a giant pendulum, straight into Eisenhuf’s muzzle with a bell-like thwang. The impact sent him sprawling and knocked him unconscious. Johnny released his grip from the swinging bomb and alit on the aluminum deck. Brushing off his stolen uniform, he retrieved the timed explosive charge and planted it directly onto the side of the Atomic Rainboom, setting the timer for three minutes. Johnny ran into the control room, and was greeted with the unconscious and bleeding bodies of several guards slumped over control panels. The control panels themselves had been shot up with an assault rifle, and one of the large windows had been shot out. The view before him was that of Canterlot. They were getting dangerously close. He could see fireworks exploding, the thunderous cracks hitting his ears moments after the flashes of color lit up the control room. He could make out individual ponies, milling about on the royal palace grounds. The clicking of a rifle made his ears prick up. “Don’t move.” He heard Cheerilee’s voice behind him. He held up a hoof and turned around. “Relax, dear. I think you’ve dispatched everyone here.” She lowered the rifle. “Oh. Sorry.” Johnny motioned to the shot-up control panels. “I trust you haven’t had much luck with stopping the ship?” “The controls were locked. I couldn’t do anything. But I did find these.” She indicated a pair of parachutes stacked against the wall. “Excellent. I’ve set the charges to go off in three minutes. Once we jump out, we can detonate the remote – “ “You’re not going anywhere,” An acid voice spoke up from the doorway. Cheerilee spun around to see Blackwing, with fire in his eyes and a pistol trained on them. “Cheerilee,” Johnny stepped between her and Blackwing. “Take a parachute and get out of here.” “I’m not going anywhere,” She responded. “Oh, how romantic,” Blackwing mocked. “Disgusting.” “It’s over, Blackwing,” Johnny shouted over the wind noise permeating the room. “Oh, it’s far from over. Do you play chess, Mr. Recon? Are you familiar with a checkmate?” “I am.” “I have you and your little marefriend here at gunpoint, with a massive drop at your backs, and your only means of escape at my hooves.” He stepped forward and kicked the parachutes away. “I’m afraid there’s nothing to do but surrender.” “Are you aware, Blackwing,” Johnny countered, “of the move known as a feint?” “What are you insinuating?” At that moment, Johnny hoofed the detonator on his watch, and the remote explosives on one of the engines exploded. The engine was ripped apart in a giant fireball, and the entire cloudship rocked beneath them. Johnny had prepared for the tremor, but Blackwing had not. He lost his balance and stumbled forward, dropping his gun. Johnny stepped out of his way, and he crashed headfirst into a control panel. Grabbing a loose wire, Johnny jabbed it directly into Blackwing’s mechanical wing. The entire contraption convulsed, and the crystals inside glowed brightly before exploding. Blue lightning arced over the surface, and Blackwing screamed in pain. Johnny grabbed Blackwing’s rear legs and vaulted him end-over-end over the control panel and through the shattered window. Johnny approached the window and stuck his head out. Blackwing still hung outside by a hoof, the wind throwing his mane in all directions and fireworks lighting his coat in various colors. “Checkmate,” Johnny said. “No…” Blackwing managed to eke out before his grip faltered and he plummeted towards the ground, screaming, his one working wing flapping uselessly. The cloudship’s progress was slowed, but not halted as it passed over the city of Canterlot. Fireworks exploded dangerously close to them, their reports like cannon fire. Johnny grabbed the parachutes and tossed one to Cheerilee. He quickly put it on, and then leapt out the window with his purple partner in tow. Just after they cleared the ship, the timed explosive charge detonated, setting off the other bombs. The massive explosion that ripped apart the ship went unseen, but the heat of the blast singed their coats as the fell through the air. Several more, equally intense, explosions followed, making their ears ring with the concussive force. Finally, the Atomic Rainboom itself detonated. Johnny watched as what remained of the cloudship was engulfed with a massive explosion of color. Every color of the rainbow thrust outward in a giant chromatic ring, vaporizing the debris above them. Johnny and Cheerilee pulled the ripcords, and the orange parachutes lowered them gently to the ground, in a grass field outside the palace. After cutting them loose, the parachutes drifted away from them, getting caught in a tree somewhere. Cheerilee collapsed, exhausted, into Johnny’s hooves. Together, they lay down onto the soft grass. She held him tightly as she gazed up at the remnants of the explosion above them. “What are we going to do now?” She asked. After a pause, he looked into her eyes. “We enjoy the show. I’m sure they won’t mind if we drop in.” They could hear the ponies at the gala cheering at the multicolored spectacle above them, believing it was the grand finale. To them, the lingering rainbow ring following the explosions that rattled the windows was just part of the display.
Chapter 1Cloudsdale Weather Facility Rainbow Factory 11:42 PM “Ugh. What a night. I hate working night shift.” “Quit your whining. Working as a night guard is the easiest damn job I’ve ever had. Nothing to do but stretch out and relax. Besides, who in their right mind would want to break into a rainbow factory? Come on.” A pegasus pony dressed from head to toe in black listened to the conversation between the two guards from a displaced roof panel. He watched them intently from above as they casually strolled down the hall and around the corner. Once they were out of sight, he slung an empty bag over his shoulder, hooked a cable to a roof strut and silently rappelled down the wall. Working from memory of the map he had studied, he navigated the hallways of the factory, slipping past a few more bored guards and a sleeping technician. He made his way towards the center of the factory, stopping at a heavy, imposing door that bore a large ‘NO UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY’ decal. Ignoring it, he pressed a small device up to the keypad next to the door and pressed a button. With a quiet beep, a few sparks, and a plume of blue smoke, the door opened with a hiss and retracted into the wall. The small room beyond featured a maze of pipes filled with glittering, glowing, multicolored liquids. This room was where Pigment, the very heart and soul of the beautiful rainbows, was produced. From here the Pigment was piped to the distillation pools and then to the emitters, which would launch the rainbows in their great arches across the skies of Equestria. At the heart of the tangle of pipes lay a large cylindrical canister, made of sturdy materials, which hummed and glowed with magical energy. Manufactured of a special enchanted steel and held together with countless bolts, the canister was what provided the Pigment for the rainbows that left the facility. This canister was the source for every rainbow in Equestria. And he was going to steal it. Carefully turning valves and unhooking hoses, the stealth pony removed the canister from its nest. Through a small glass window on its side no larger than a peephole, he could see the roiling, churning maelstrom of colors contained within. Within seconds, the automatic monitoring systems detected that the supply of Pigment had suddenly stopped. Alarms blared and red lights sprung up everywhere. Quickly shoving the canister in his bag, he darted behind a stack of crates against the wall. He readied a silenced pistol and waited. Before long, frantic hoofsteps marked the entry of several guards and technicians. “It’s gone!” “What?” “Look! It’s just… gone!” “Alright, spread out! The thief is bound to be here somewhere.” One by one, the guards fanned out in several directions. One of them stayed behind and began to search the room. As soon as he passed behind the crates, the stealth pony grabbed him, put a hoof over his mouth, and shot him twice in the back. The other guards, hearing the commotion, spun around. “What was that?” The stealth pony swiftly tossed a small black device into the center of the floor. It promptly exploded, tearing a jagged hole in the floor. Using the smoke as cover, he darted over to the circle of exposed cloud beneath. As the smoke cleared, he waved to the befuddled guards and dove down the hole, disappearing through the clouds. Once through, he freefell through the night air beneath Cloudsdale for a few seconds, then spread his wings and glided safely down to a waiting truck. “How was it?” Asked the driver. “Too easy.”
Chapter 2bananachips presents UNDER THE RAINBOW A Johnny Recon adventure ESS Headquarters Canterlot 11:07 AM “Yes, your Highness, I understand. I will have my stallion on it right away… You’re very welcome. Good day.” Agent D pressed a button and the face of Princess Celestia disappeared from the monitor in front of her. She sighed, then pressed another button, summoning her secretary into her office. “Yes ma’am?” She swiveled her chair around to face her. “Agent M, I don’t suppose Agent R would be within reach?” “I don’t think so, ma’am. He hasn’t checked in this morning.” “Well, I need him here. Would you be so kind as to retrieve Agent R from wherever he’s hidden himself?” “I’ve already tried his cell phone, ma’am, but he’s not answering it.” “I don’t want you to call him, I want you to find him and get his sorry hindquarters in my office. It’s urgent.” “Yes, ma’am.” After her secretary left, Agent D ran a hoof through her pale blonde mane and sighed. “What am I going to do with him?” ‘Le Cheval’ Restaurant and Casino Canterlot Palace District 11:32 AM The Le Cheval, located in the more ritzy side of Canterlot, wasn’t the largest or most expensive casino in Equestria, but it was undoubtedly one of the classiest. Smooth jazz from a live band floated above the crowd, who made idle chat as they gambled or enjoyed a glass of champagne with a fancy meal. Crystal chandeliers spread a warm glow above the crowd, who had begun to gather around an unusually intense game of dice. Three dice clattered onto the table, and several pairs of eyes watched them intently as they bounced along the green felt. They eventually rolled to a stop, the characters on top showing the numbers 1, 3, and 5. “Nine,” The shooter called out. “Madame loses.” The mare who had bet on the roll frowned and clopped her hoof on the table in frustration. She turned to the brown stallion with a magnifying glass cutie mark who was betting against her. “It seems that you are a pony of much luck, Mr…?” “Recon. Johnny Recon.” “Well, Mr. Recon, let’s see if your luck holds up, shall we?” “I have a feeling it will,” he responded with a wink. “Sir?” The shooter spoke up. “Would you care to make a bet?” Johnny Recon thought for a second, then pushed some chips from the pile before him into the center of the table. “Fifteen.” “Current bid is three hundred bits for a roll of fifteen.” The shooter shook the dice in his hooves and tossed them onto the table. After a tense few seconds, the dice rolled to a stop, showing the numbers 6, 4 and 5. “Fifteen,” the surprised shooter called out. “Sir takes the pot.” The stallion with the magnifying glass cutie mark scooped up the stack of chips in the center of the table and collected them in a pouch, then stood up from the table. “I think I’m done for today, madam.” “Are you? I know an excellent place downtown where we could get some lunch. Meet me in the lobby?” “That sounds wonderful.” He looked her in the eye and made a seductive motion with his eyebrows. “I knew my luck would hold out.” “Just don’t fold on me,” She quipped back with a smile and turned, walking back towards the lobby. “Sir?” A waiter came up behind him with a tray of drinks. “Would you care for a drink?” “Gin and tonic on the rocks, please,” he said without hesitation, having ordered his favorite drink dozens of times. The waiter hoofed him a glass, which Johnny took and tipped the waiter with a 50-bit chip. “Keep the change.” As Johnny was headed to meet the mare who had invited him to lunch, he was approached by a confused-looking busboy. “Mr. Recon?” He took a sip of his gin and tonic. “Yes?” “You have an urgent message. It says, ‘Duty calls, Mr. Recon’. She said you’d know what that meant.” He sighed. “Yes, I do know what that means. Thank you.” As the busboy scuttled off, he muttered to himself, “I didn’t even get to finish my drink.” ESS Headquarters Canterlot 11:46 AM “There you are, Agent R,” the secretary greeted Johnny Recon as he pushed through the door. “Ah, Agent M, looking as stunning as ever this morning.” “Oh, stop it. You think you’re such a charmer. Agent D is waiting for you.” “Am I late?” He asked, feigning innocence. “You’ve been late for the past forty-five minutes, Johnny.” “Did she ask for my ‘sorry flank’ again?” “No, she asked for your hindquarters this time.” “Did she now? Well, I’m afraid she’s going to be disappointed.” “You know she doesn’t appreciate the innuendos, Johnny,” she warned as she magically opened the door for him. “She can be such a downer sometimes,” he commented as he proceeded through the door into his superior’s office. The office was nice, but not too ornate, with various books and knick-knacks on shelves and a polished wood desk in the center. A stern mare sat in the leather chair behind it, who looked up at the brown stallion walking in. “There you are. Sit down.” Agent D was a pegasus pony, with light grey fur and a pale yellow mane, done up in a tight bun behind her head. Her right eye wore an eyepatch, while the other eye wore the usual scowl. She sported one of her usual plain black business outfits, which always covered her cutie mark. No one knew why she had the eyepatch, or even what her cutie mark was; and no one was brave enough to ask. “May I ask,” he began as he sat down in front of her, “What was so important that a perfectly good drink couldn’t be enjoyed?” Agent D’s expression did not change. “If I wanted attitude, R, I’d listen to my grandfoals. Now keep quiet and I shall explain.” Pressing a button on her desk, she swiveled her chair around. A wooden panel behind the desk slid open, revealing a large television screen with the ESS logo as a screensaver. Suddenly a picture of Cloudsdale’s weather facility popped up on the screen. “Mr. Recon, are you familiar with the way rainbows are formed?” “If it’s anything like the story, I don’t want to know.” “Whatever are you talking about?” “Never mind.” Agent D sighed and shook her head, then continued. “The central building here pipes the material called Pigment to these distillation pools,” she explained, motioning to different sections of the factory. “The Pigment is purified and then sent to the emitters, where they’re sent across the sky. The process is too complicated to explain in such a short time, but that’s the gist of it.” “So what’s the problem?’ “I’m getting there. The Pigment, the very thing these rainbows are made from, comes from this device.” A schematic suddenly filled the screen, showing a diagram of a cylindrical canister about 40 centimeters in length and 23 centimeters wide. “This is the Rainbow Core. Created using unicorn magic, it provides the color for every rainbow in Equestria. Approximately twelve hours ago, Princess Celestia received word that it’s been stolen.” “Who would want to steal a rainbow machine?” “That’s what we want you to find out.” A map of Equestria popped up on the screen, with a green radar blip in the middle of the San Palomino desert. “Since the Rainbow Core is one of the most valuable objects in Equestria, it has been fitted with a tracking device. We managed to track it to here, where we lost the signal. Pegasus flybys confirmed the location as an abandoned warehouse. We want you to investigate. With the Grand Galloping Gala coming up tomorrow night, this crisis is the last thing the Princess needs.” “I’ve never tried a vacation in the desert before. When do I start?” “Tonight. Agent V already has your equipment. I suggest you go see her immediately.” Agent V’s Laboratory Downtown Canterlot 12:07 PM “Ah, Agent R. Good to see you again.” The white unicorn mare known only as Agent V led Johnny through her spacious lab, where several gadgets and devices were being manufactured and tested. The lab was concealed beneath a nightclub where Agent V worked as a DJ during the night. “I always enjoy a few new toys to play with.” “Well, since this is a low-risk mission, the equipment I’m sending you in with is pretty standard.” She smiled and tossed her shock of neon-blue hair. “…but you know me. I always like to include a few surprises.” She led him over to a table strewn with several objects. She began to magically pick them up and explain them, starting with a pile of black cloth. “This is a black form-fitting stealth suit. If you keep still, you’ll be virtually invisible in the shadows. It also contains a small parachute, deployed by pulling on this cord here. “This belt wraps around your waist, and a magnetic hook in the buckle attaches to any magnetic surface. The powerful motor can then lower you down a 10-meter cable, strong enough to hold your weight. With the push of a button, the magnetic hook will detach and retract. “Now, this may look like an ordinary camera, but it’s not. It’s a flashbang grenade! The real camera detaches from the unit, hidden within the battery compartment. Attempting to open the film reel starts the three-second fuse, then boom!” “Interesting array you’ve got here, V. I’ll make good use of it.” “One more thing, R.” “More?” “Your transportation. Follow me.” She led him over to a garage, within which was parked a small vehicle. It resembled a small car, with only a roll cage protecting its single seat. A small engine lay exposed behind the driver’s seat, powering the four wide tires. “Since you’ll be traveling in the desert, I decided to have my mechanics whip up this little number for you. This sand buggy can reach speeds of up to 75 kilometers per hour along the loosest sand. Its engine is powered by magic, so it’s virtually silent.” “Thanks for all this, V.” “It’s no problem. I tried to plan for whatever you might encounter. But honestly, spying on a warehouse? How hard could it be?”
Chapter 3Abandoned Warehouse Somewhere in the San Palomino Desert 10:09 PM How hard could it be? Agent V’s words echoed in Johnny Recon’s head as he rode the sand buggy over the sands of the San Palomino desert. Celestia’s sun had been behind him, but it had recently set, leaving Luna’s stars to twinkle in the dusk. The buggy’s magical engine made almost no noise at all as he leapt the massive dunes. Skidding to a stop, he pulled out his camera. Using the zoom lens, he snapped a picture of the warehouse in the distance. It certainly didn’t look abandoned. Lights from within cast a glow over the surrounding sands and illuminated a convoy of covered supply trucks. One by one, the trucks were pulling into the warehouse and then leaving some time later. He pulled forward, stopping about two hundred meters from the warehouse, and hid the buggy behind a dune. He used his camera to snap more pictures of the trucks and of the guards milling about. Slipping on the stealth suit, he crept through the darkness over to the warehouse. As a truck rolled right past him, he seized the opportunity to leap into the bed. It was a large, covered cargo truck, of the kind used by the Equestrian military. They were designed to be driven by anyone, even earth ponies, and were reliable and simple to service. The trucks were constantly being replaced by the military as they wore out, and the older ones were sold to civilians. The truck pulled into the warehouse, and Johnny leapt out and rolled behind a stack of crates. Snapping more pictures, he could see that the trucks were being loaded with more of the unmarked wooden crates. Careful to avoid the guards’ glances, he snuck over to an access staircase against the wall. There was a single guard watching over the stairs, but he was falling asleep. Easily slipping by, Johnny ascended the stairs and found himself in the rafters of the warehouse, enveloped in shadow and in perfect view of the trucks. The staircase continued upwards, giving access to the roof. As the trucks continued to be loaded, he snapped more pictures of them from above, and then noticed a smaller military car that pulled in out of line. It stopped in the middle of the warehouse, where a large white pony was waiting. Out of the car stepped a jet-black pegasus stallion, with an equally black mane and tail. The most shocking feature of him, though, was his left wing – it had been replaced with a mechanical one, made of polished metal and sporting razor-sharp ‘feathers’. He could overhear him talking briefly with the white one. “Is this it?” The muscular white pegasus turned to a metal crate next to him and hefted it up into the car “Ya. Ze Rainbow Core, safe und sound.” “Excellent. I just need the last of these supplies up at the Peak and I can finish construction.” Fastening his magnetic belt buckle to a steel rafter, Johnny silently lowered himself down towards the black pony’s car. But with a roar of its engine, it pulled away, leaving Johnny dangling in midair. “Hey! What are you doing here?” One of the guards called out as he spotted him. Johnny planted his hooves on the floor as a circle of guards gathered around him, pointing assault rifles at him, their teeth on the trigger bits. Pushing through the crowd, the muscular white stallion he had seen earlier walked right up to him. “Vell, vell, vell. Who do ve haff here?” The huge pegasus stallion towered over Johnny, large muscles tensed in an intimidating stance. “Quite the operation you have here, Franz.” “Silence! I did not giff you permission to shpeak!” He turned to a guard. “Take his camera. He is obviously a shpy.” One of the guards grabbed the camera from around Johnny’s neck. “Open it.” The guard fumbled with the backing, and then popped it open. “There’s no film in –“ Johnny screwed his eyes shut as the flashbang detonated, leaving the guards reeling. Pressing the button on his belt, he zipped up his tether and into the rafters. He quickly detached the magnetic hook, then sprinted over to the staircase and onto the roof. He ran along the crest and was able to see a truck beginning to pull out. He gathered some speed and jumped off the roof, falling several meters before landing onto the soft covering of the truck bed. He slid down onto the hood and yanked open the door, and pulled the shocked driver out of his seat. Taking the wheel, he mashed on the gas pedal and passed another truck, ramming it out of his way. Once he finally caught up to the car, he attempted to rear-end it and force it off the road. But the car was just as fast as the truck and more maneuverable, and managed to evade Johnny’s attempts. He could see the jet-black pony in the driver’s seat making frantic glances over his shoulder. Suddenly the truck Johnny was driving shook violently and lunged forward as it was struck from behind. Looking in the rear-view mirror, he could see that another truck was behind him, with the large white pony with the heavy accent in the passenger seat. It pulled up next to Johnny and slammed into his truck again from the side, almost driving Johnny off the road. The black car with the Rainbow Core inside was all but forgotten as the pair of trucks followed it up into the foothills of the San Palomino Mountain. The smooth desert roads gave way to rough, narrow switchbacks as they wound up the side of the mountain. The two trucks rammed each other back and forth, scraping their sides against the sheer rock walls on one side, then the steel barricades on the other. As Johnny’s truck was shoved up against a rock face, the white pony took the opportunity to leap onto the hood, aided by his wings. He wound up and punched Johnny in the face through the windshield, shattering the glass. Swerving the truck, Johnny managed to get the other pony to roll over to the other side. He rolled through the broken windshield into the passenger seat, and proceeded to pummel Johnny in the head and chest. As he rounded another switchback, Johnny pulled the wheel hard to the left and kicked the white pony simultaneously, causing him to roll against the passenger side door. The door suddenly flew open and he was left dangling over the edge of an almost vertical drop. After the road straightened out again, Johnny slammed on the brakes, causing the white pony to lose his grip and tumble onto the dirt road. Instantly, he leapt onto his hooves again and dove at Johnny, and the two struggled with each other in the cab. Without his hoof on the brake pedal, the truck began to roll backwards down the hill as they fought. A well-placed punch to the face sent the white pony reeling, and a final kick shoved him out onto the road once more. “And stay out this time,” Johnny quipped to himself. He suddenly realized that the truck was speeding uncontrollably backwards, just as it smashed through the barrier and began to plummet over the side of the cliff. He yanked on the handle to open the door, but the old truck refused to comply. As the air whooshed past and the ground rushed ever closer, he crawled out through the shattered windshield. Once on the hood, he pushed off as hard as he could and freefell for a moment before pulling the ripcord on his stealth suit. A small black parachute popped out, slowing his descent to a more survivable speed. The truck, meanwhile, smashed itself to pieces on the rocks below and exploded into a massive fireball as its fuel tank ruptured. ESS Headquarters Canterlot 4:45 PM Agent D flipped through the photographs that Johnny had collected the previous night, displaying each one on the television screen behind her desk. She stopped when she reached a picture of the black pegasus in the car along with the muscular white pegasus. “And there’s the Rainbow Core,” she said partly to herself, referring to the metal crate that was in the car. “No wonder we lost the signal; it was in that metal crate.” She turned to Johnny. “Excellent work, Agent R. We’ve managed to identify the black pegasus here. His name is Night Wind. Former member of the Royal Guard, outstanding record.” She pulled up a photo of him standing amongst other guards, clad in armor. “He was pronounced missing, presumed dead, several years ago following an accident at Ghastly Gorge.” She pulled up a scan of a newspaper article on the screen, the title of which read, ‘Royal Guard Accident Leaves Cadet Missing.’ “I can say with reasonable certainty that he is not dead,” Johnny interjected. “So it would seem. As for the white one, I can’t say. The angle it was taken from inhibits a clear view of the cutie mark.” “Did you see the wing?” “Oh, yes.” She summoned the picture of Night Wind once more. “Must be a product of that accident.” “Quite the fashion statement.” “Thanks to the intel you’ve given us, Agent R, I’m sending you to San Palomino Peak to retrieve the Rainbow Core and find out what Night Wind is up to. He’s got something planned, and I want to put a stop to it. Now, given the nature of the operation and the resources at Night Wind’s disposal, I’m sending you in with another agent.” “And who might that be?” “Agent C. She’s a few years your junior, but she’s shown outstanding performance in the field. Can I trust you to complete the mission without any…‘conflicts of interest’?” “I’m sure we’ll get along just fine.” She sighed. “You worry me sometimes. Now hurry along. Your flight leaves in fifteen minutes.”
Chapter 4Equestrian Military Cargo Plane Skies above San Palomino Mountain 5:35 PM “Alright, listen up!” The officer in charge of inserting Agent R had to shout over the noise of the huge engines pushing the plane through the air. “Agent C has been inserted prior, and you’ll rendezvous once you’re in.” “Got it,” Johnny nodded. He and the stallion giving the briefing stood in the cargo bay. “This is one of the most dangerous drops ever tried, so pay attention! You’ll be riding this thing all the way down,” he motioned to the white snowmobile next to them, “and it’s got your parachute. So don’t let go!” The navigator opened the door from the cockpit and shouted to the two that they were almost over San Palomino Peak. The officer nodded and pulled a lever nearby. Deafening wind noise filled the cargo bay as the huge door in the back slowly winched open. “You’ll be thrown around like a ragdoll in a hurricane, so the first thing you want to do is deploy your drogue chute!” Johnny pulled a helmet on, completely obscuring his face, and got onto the snowmobile. “Oh, by the way!” The officer shouted. “Agent V wanted me to give this to you!” He produced a silver case, which he secured to the side of the snowmobile. Johnny nodded, then gave the officer the ready signal, and crouched low over the handlebars as he was pushed towards the back of the plane. The snowmobile slowly tipped over as it was pushed over the edge, and then Johnny was falling through the cold mountain air. As it fell, the horrible aerodynamics of the snowmobile made it tumble and spin wildly. Johnny quickly yanked on the ripcord to deploy his drogue chute, and a small white parachute popped out from behind the seat. This parachute did not slow him down, but rather made his descent more controllable. The snowmobile rapidly straightened itself out, and Johnny was able to get his bearings. He could see the San Palomino Peak clearly below him, blanketed in snow, with pine trees dotting the landscape. Johnny waited until he was only a few hundred meters above the ground before deploying his main chute. It yanked the snowmobile to a more controllable speed, and he guided himself to a clearing in the woods. Once he touched down, he cut away the parachute, started the engine, and sped off into the woods. Secret Underground Facility San Palomino Peak 5:39 PM The technician sitting at a bank of monitors was beginning to fall asleep. Nothing was being shown, just a boring landscape of snow and trees. Nothing moved. Just as he was laying his head on his hooves to catch a few winks, something caught his eye. As he jerked his head up to look at it, he saw that in addition to the bleak landscape, there was something moving on the screen. Something that looked like a pony riding a snowmobile. He blinked and wondered if he was dreaming, watching the snowmobile pass out of one frame into the next. He finally managed to realize just what was happening; they had an intruder. He quickly pressed a button on his control panel, and alarms began to blare. Atop San Palomino Peak 5:41 PM Johnny skidded the snowmobile to a halt, and slipped his helmet off. He pressed a pair of binoculars to his eyes and surveyed the mountain. There was nothing to be seen except snow and more trees. As he was making another sweep of the landscape, he suddenly heard the chatter of gunfire, followed by several bullet impacts peppering the trees around him. He swung the binoculars around, and saw three black snowmobiles racing toward him, with machine guns mounted to the handlebars firing at him. Johnny instantly revved up his own snowmobile and took off, abandoning his helmet. The enemies behind him were faster though, and were catching up to him quickly. Fortunately, their machine guns were inaccurate, and failed to hit him; but they were dangerously close. Two of the black snowmobiles pulled up next to him, while the third hung behind. Swerving around trees and over hills, they began to ram him, attempting to make him crash. As they approached a thicket, Johnny rammed the snowmobile on his right, making him swerve and slam into a tree. The other snowmobile that was right next to him had now disappeared. Johnny looked all around, seeing nothing. Out of the corner of his eye, he finally saw it attempting to flank him from the right. It came around and was headed directly for him, at which point it began to fire its machine guns. Bullets struck the snow around him, a few hitting the snowmobile and one grazing Johnny’s right hindleg. He winced at the pain, but kept his course, allowing the other snowmobile to continue directly towards him. When it was just about to run into his side, Johnny hit the brakes and skidded to a stop, letting the enemy snowmobile zoom past him. Not expecting this, the rider swerved uncontrollably and careened down the side of a steep hill, separating from his mount and tumbling down the slope. The third snowmobile, however, seemed to have disappeared. Johnny cautiously rode back in the direction he had come from, looking around. Suddenly he heard a commotion coming from a thicket of trees, and so he turned off his engine and dismounted to investigate. Pulling back the foliage, he saw the third snowmobile, with its rider being held in a stranglehold by another pony atop it. Once the body fell limp, the strangler dropped it to slump over the handlebars, and leapt down into the snow. They were wearing a stealth suit, which covered the head. “Well, that was quite breathtaking,” Johnny commented from the trees. The other pony spun around. “Who are you?” The voice was obviously feminine. “I could ask you the same question, miss.” She took a defensive stance, and whipped out a knife that was strapped to her foreleg. “I asked you first.” He held up his hooves in innocence. “Now, now, no need to get violent.” He cleared his throat. “The trees are nice this time of year.” She immediately calmed down, recognizing the code phrase. “Yes, but the snow can be such a bore,” she completed it. “Agent R, I presume?” “Precisely. Agent C?” “Indeed.” She replaced the knife, and slipped off the hood of her stealth suit. She was quite fit and relatively young, with a purple coat and a mane striped with two shades of pink. “I found an entrance to their base before you came.” She turned and began to walk in the appropriate direction. “They didn’t seem to notice the huge cargo plane overhead, but that was still hardly a covert—” She stopped when he felt a hoof on her shoulder. “Now, now,” Johnny interrupted. “That’s no proper introduction. Might I be acquainted a little first? My name’s Recon. Johnny Recon.” She sighed. “All right, I’ll play along. My name’s Cheerilee. Happy?” She continued to walk away. “And what do you do, Miss Cheerilee?” “I’m a schoolteacher.” Secret Underground Facility San Palomino Peak 5:46 PM The “entrance” to the facility was a well-hidden hole in a rock face, concealed by trees. It was not an entrance proper; rather, a ventilation grate that facilitated crawling. Making their way slowly and silently, the duo crept through the ductwork, stopping at vents to peer through. Most of them led to storage bays and rooms glowing with computer screens. One of the larger grates provided a view of a giant hangar. Within the hangar, various structural components were being unloaded from the familiar wooden crates and being assembled beneath a huge gantry. With a gasp, Cheerilee pointed to the Rainbow Core, suspended from a small crane next to the structure. The black pegasus with the mechanical wing was standing nearby, overseeing the operation. As they watched, the Rainbow Core was fitted into some sort of cylindrical metal shell, and then sealed inside. They continued down the ventilation shaft, stopping above an empty barracks room. Figuring it would be safe, Johnny carefully lifted the grate away and dropped down the hole, with Cheerilee in tow. Several bunk beds occupied the room, and Johnny stashed the case that he had been given beneath one of them for safekeeping. They crept over to the open door, which led to a catwalk looking out over the hanger they had seen earlier. Suddenly, they heard a voice from behind them. “Vell, vell, vell. Look who ve haff here.” “I must apologize for Eisenhuf’s…brutish ways. Sometimes he doesn’t know his own strength.” The black pegasus pony who had been identified as Night Wind sat at one end of a long metal table, with Johnny and Cheerilee sitting together at the other. After the large white stallion with the thick accent had captured them, he had brought them before his superior. Rather than acting angry or threatening them for trespassing, Night Wind had greeted them with a warm smile and generously brought them into this room, which was some sort of dining room. Despite its industrial appearance, it was furnished with candles and various ornaments that gave it a homey feel. “I only wish he wouldn’t be so willing to demonstrate it,” Johnny responded, massaging his sore neck. “I must say, Mr. Recon, you’ve caused quite a bit of trouble for me.” “If I must choose a skill, Mr. Night Wind, I must say that it is causing trouble.” The black pony ground his teeth at this. “I don’t go by that name anymore.” “Oh? And why would that be?” “You see Mr. Recon, I wished to disappear. And in order to disappear, one must abandon one’s name and take on an assumed one. I have redefined myself, Mr. Recon. I am no longer the pony you think I am.” “And what pony are you?” “Let me begin with a little backstory. You see, I was a strapping young lad, strong and able-bodied. I didn’t care much for school, and was full of that characteristic libido that all males seem to possess. I thought it an excellent idea to join the Royal Guard! Fighting for my Princess and defending Equestria! Such a romanticized idea. “But as soon as I enlisted, I quickly learned that was a mistake. Do you know what they used to call the Royal Guard, Mr. Recon? Do you? They used to be called the Whitecoats, because only ponies with the brightest, gleaming white coats were allowed to enlist. Princess Celestia stamped out that discriminatory policy centuries ago, but the attitude is still there. It may not show to civilians, but they have quite the negative attitude to those who are…different.” “But why have I seen grey ponies in the Guard?” Cheerilee asked. “They have tried to accept ponies of different colors for PR reasons, to make them not seem like bigots. But you see,” He held up his good wing, “I am not grey. I’m not even close. I am more ‘different’ than anyone else. And they hated me for it. “I was always ordered to do the horrible jobs, always forced to work overtime, always looked down upon by my superiors and comrades. I was something less than a pony to them. But the final straw came during a training exercise. “They brought us out to Ghastly Gorge for some flight training. I thought it was a dangerous place for cadets, but I had learned to keep my mouth shut. Well, some of my comrades decided to horseplay a little with me and…well, to make a long story short, I ended up at the bottom of the gorge. They, of course, tried to pass it off as a ‘training accident’, but when they went to collect the body, I was nowhere to be found. “I managed to limp to a small camp of gypsies who took me in and nursed me back to health. They were able to magically heal everything…except my wing, which needed to be amputated. But, Mr. Recon, magic is capable of some very astounding things.” He showed off his mechanical wing, which Johnny could see was very expertly crafted, inlaid with various crystals that undoubtedly powered it. With a crisp knock, the doors to the dining room swung open and a group of waiters walked in carrying various trays of food. “Ah! Dinner is served. Please enjoy, Mr. Recon. It’s been such a long time since I’ve had guests.” The meal was simple, but well-made, consisting of butternut squash roasted to perfection, with a crisp salad on the side. As they ate, he continued to monologue. “Once I found out that I was proclaimed as ‘missing, presumed dead’, I was presented with a unique opportunity. I decided to reinvent myself. No longer was I Night Wind, the pony who was different; no, I decided to call myself Blackwing!” “Hm,” Johnny commented, “Has a certain ring to it.” “You like it? I always thought it fit me. “Under this new identity, I traveled throughout Equestria and beyond. As it turns out, I wasn’t the only one with a vendetta against my homeland. There are some very powerful factions out there, hungry for a taste of revenge… and desperate for anything – or anyone – who could get them closer. I made deals. Conducted business. Smuggled money. Made friends. “All the scheming paid off, as you can see from everything around you. Everything I have worked for has culminated to this day. My revenge will finally be complete.” “But what exactly are you doing? Surely you must have something to show for all your hard work.” “Indeed I do, Mr. Recon, indeed I do,” Black wing smiled slyly. “With various ‘inside information’, I found out about this Rainbow Core. After some simple calculations, I devised a way to make use of it. Using this new discovery, I have created the vehicle which will allow me to exact my revenge.” He spun around in his chair and pressed a button on the wall. Metal grates in the walls retracted, allowing the occupants of the room to view the hangar beyond. Johnny and Cheerilee could now see that the structure hanging from the gantry had been attached to the top of a massive cloud. Currently, cranes were in the process of lowering two large engines affixed with propellers onto one end of the cloud. “It’s a cloudship…” Johnny realized. “Indeed it is, Mr. Recon. A cloudship, guiding a mobile base of operations directly over Canterlot. Once there, during the fireworks display at the Grand Galloping Gala tonight, I shall drop several tons of high explosive upon the city.” Blackwing, upon concluding his plan, began to chuckle to himself ominously. “I just have one question,” Cheerilee piped up. “What did you need the Rainbow Core for?” “Ah, yes. The Rainbow Core. That, my dear, will be part of the grand finale. You see, I have devised a way to bypass the magical barriers and release the vast energies that are so carefully contained within. This weapon I have dubbed the Atomic Rainboom. The resulting blast of concentrated magic will be enough to level the city and cause it to go crashing to the base of the mountain below!” “You’re mad!” she exclaimed. “A wise pony once said that the difference between madness and genius is measured only by success,” he replied calmly to her accusation. Blackwing stood up from the table. “I am afraid I must take my leave now. I have some very important business to attend to, and I do not need anyone meddling in my affairs. Good night, Mr. Recon.” With that, several guards appeared and escorted the two to waiting prison cells.
Chapter 5Secret Underground Facility San Palomino Peak 6:48 PM The cells that they had been placed in were small, but not too constricting. The walls were concrete, like the majority of the facility, and a sink and toilet shared the room with a small cot bolted to the wall. The sink produced fresh water, and the toilet was functional. There were no windows, and only a single small vent high on the wall. Johnny paced the room until the guards who had placed him inside walked away, and then stood on his cot to peer through the vent. He was able to see into the cell immediately adjacent, which was where Cheerilee was being held. “Cheerilee!” Cheerilee’s purple face popped up to the vent. “Shh! There’s still a guard out here. Just hold on for a minute.” “Wait, what…?” Johnny began to say, but Cheerilee disappeared. A few seconds later, he heard a commotion in the hallway, followed by the wet crack of a pony’s skull being smashed against a wall. After a few moments, his cell door opened with a tiny click, revealing the smug face of Cheerilee. “Wha…how did you…?” She tossed her head, showing him a small metal object in her teeth. “Lockpick earrings.” “Perhaps I should get myself a pair,” he commented as he followed her into the hall. A cautious look around confirmed that the only guard was now lying unconscious on the floor. Without hesitation, Johnny began to undress the guard. “What are you doing!?” Cheerilee recoiled in digust. “We need to blend in with the guards or we’ll never make it to the hangar. He looks your size. Put it on.” She hesitated. “Fine. But I’m taking it off as soon as I can. What about you?” “I’m sure we’ll find another guard on the way. You can take care of him.” Sure enough, they encountered another lone guard on their journey back to the hangar, whom Cheerilee quickly incapacitated with some impressive martial-arts moves. Johnny put on his uniform and they both made their way down the hallways, stopping at the barracks to retrieve his case. After passing some other guards who didn’t give them as much as a second glance, they found themselves on a catwalk overlooking the hangar. The cloudship below was completed; perched atop the cloud, almost impossibly, were three aluminum structures connected by catwalks. Several workers were busy loading bombs into a central structure, which Johnny guessed contained the bomb bay. Blackwing’s Cloudship Secret Underground Facility 7:01 PM Blackwing stood in the control room at the head of the cloudship, ensuring that everything was in order. He observed the pilots as they made their pre-flight checks. He gazed at his reflection in the huge windows, and smiled devilishly. Once the pilots had confirmed that everything was working properly, he made his way to the bomb bay in the center of the ship. He watched the workers loading the explosives into racks along the walls. Once triggered, the bombs would fall through hatches in the floor and shower the capital city. Once the bombs were all loaded, the Atomic Rainboom bomb was next. At least three times as large as any of the conventional explosives, it was carefully hoisted up and fastened to the ceiling with chains. When the time came, the entire floor would drop out, making way for the huge device to fall and release its energy on the city. His inspection of the ship concluded with a visit to the engine room, where technicians were busy checking over the two huge engines that were responsible for moving the cloudship through the sky. After he received confirmation from everyone that the ship was ready to go, he made his way back to the control room and began giving orders for takeoff. Blackwing’s Cloudship Secret Underground Facility 7:10 PM From the shadows beneath a stairwell, Johnny and Cheerilee listened as Blackwing himself stepped into the cloudship’s engine room, asked several questions to the technicians, then left. After sneaking aboard the cloudship, they had discarded their guard uniforms and chose to hide instead. Before spotting Blackwing, Johnny had managed to identify each room and lay out a rudimentary plan. They were now crouched beneath one of the connecting walkways just outside the engine room. Luckily for them, the entire surface of the cloud was covered with aluminum deck plates, with a railing all around. “I think we’re safe to come out now.” “What about the case?” Cheerilee whispered. “I guess it’s as good a time as ever to open it.” He brought out the case and popped it open. Inside was a cigarette case, a lighter, two explosive charges, and a watch. Included was a note from Agent V about what each item was and how it was used. “How nice of her,” Johnny said after reading the note. “What are these?” Johnny picked up one of the explosives. “This is a remotely-activated explosive. The other is a timed explosive. Can you place the remote charge on one of the engines?” She took it from him. “Absolutely. I don’t think any of the guards are out –“ She was interrupted by a low rumbling noise. “What is that?” Johnny motioned towards the front of the ship, at the interior wall of the hangar. Currently it was in the process of opening up, allowing the night air to permeate the room. A huge section of the side of the mountain slid sideways on rollers, and then came to a halt. Johnny and Cheerilee next felt the deck plates beneath them vibrate as the cloudship’s engines started up. All the machinery connecting the cloudship to its dock was disconnected, and the craft began to slowly move forward. “We’re taking off!” Cheerilee exclaimed. “Go and plant the explosive. I’ll go check out the control room.” Cheerilee nodded and crept away. Johnny edged through the shadows until he stood outside the control room. A ladder affixed to the side allowed his to scale the wall and stand atop the roof. The roof was mostly featureless, with only a few wires snaking along it to a conduit protruding from one end. Placing an ear to the conduit, he was able to overhear the pilots within talking with Blackwing. “Set heading. Target: Canterlot.” “Yes, sir. ETA is fifteen minutes.” Suddenly, an alarm began to sound. “What the…” “Alarm from the engine room, sir.” “What the hay do I pay you for!?” Johnny heard heavy hoofsteps as Blackwing stormed out of the control room towards the engine room. Fearing the worst, he scrambled off the roof and hurried back to where he left Cheerilee. His search did not find her, however, until he found himself behind the engine room. “Mr. Recon!” Blackwing called out to him. Johnny spun around to see Blackwing standing beneath one of the huge engines, holding a bound Cheerilee aloft by her collar effortlessly with one hoof. “Put her down, Blackwing.” “I’m afraid I can’t do that, Mr. Recon. You and your little minx here must learn not to meddle with my affairs, and she is going to serve as an example. He raised her up and walked to the edge of the cloudship, approaching dangerously close to the huge propellers. She struggled, but was no match for his strength as he began to push her head towards the spinning blades. “Wait!” Johnny called out. Blackwing pulled Cheerilee back slightly. “What now?” Johnny pulled the cigarette case and lighter out of an inner pocket. He placed a cigarette in his mouth and began to light it. “A cigarette? Don’t make me laugh –“ As soon as it was lit, a dart shot out from the cigarette and buried itself in Blackwing’s chest. He stopped mid-sentence, and then his eyes rolled back in his head and he collapsed onto the deck. Johnny tossed the cigarette aside and helped Cheerilee untie herself. “Who did you say made your equipment again?” “Agent V. She’s saved my flank more times than I’d like to admit.” Cheerilee chuckled. “I got the explosives planted like you asked. I don’t think Blackwing noticed.” “I’ll go over to the bomb bay and see if I can disarm the Atomic Rainboom.” “I’ll go up to the control room and see try to stop the ship.” “Are you sure?” “I can handle myself. A few guards shouldn’t be a problem,” She said, and ran off before Johnny could stop her. Johnny snuck into the bomb bay, edging around racks of explosives poised to be dropped onto Canterlot. These bombs were not advanced technology; simple canisters of high explosive with a fuze at the tip to detonate it when it stuck the ground. There was no way to disarm all of them before the ship reached Canterlot; but he wasn’t going to try. He looked around and, seeing no one, prepared to plant the timed explosive charge on a bomb rack. He was interrupted, however, by a white hoof colliding with his jaw. He reeled, and lost his grip on the charge, which went sliding along the floor. Before he could react, Eisenhuf’s steely grip was on his collar, hoisting him into the air. “I am almost sad that I von’t be able to hear you schcream as you fall,” Eisenhuf seethed, standing on his hind legs while punching Johnny in the face again. “You vill be quite the mess to clean up, I’m sure.” Another punch knocked Johnny unconscious for a moment. Johnny kicked at the brute’s legs in desperation, but nothing seemed to faze him. As Eisenhuf was preparing to punch him again, Johnny bit down hard on the hoof that was holding him. The white pegasus yelled and dropped Johnny, who quickly ducked around and leaped onto the huge pony’s back, punching and kicking. Undisturbed by Johnny’s feeble attempts, he simply reared and slammed himself into the wall of bombs, knocking Johnny off. Eisenhuf swiftly kicked Johnny in the stomach, who produced an oof as the wind was knocked out of him. Rearing again, Eisenhuf prepared to bring his front hooves down and crush Johnny’s skull. Before he could do so, Johnny rolled onto his back and kicked Eisenhuf in the stomach with his hind hooves. Unbalanced by this, he staggered backwards on his hind legs. There was a loud metallic thunk as Eisenhuf’s head collided with something. Johnny looked up to see the Atomic Rainboom, hanging by chains from the ceiling, swaying slightly from the impact with Eisenhuf’s skull. Eisenhuf quickly recovered, then yelled something incoherent as he charged at Johnny on all fours. Johnny steadied himself, then leapt into the air, avoiding the pony about to collide with him. He then pushed off the pegasus’s back, using the extra boost to vault through the air and land atop the huge bomb hanging from the ceiling. Eisenhuf could do nothing but paw at the underside of the device, being just out of reach. Johnny inspected the Atomic Rainboom. It was a solid steel cigar-shaped shell, with no markings or obvious entrances. The only distinguishing features were the fins at the back, and the connection points for the two chains. They were remotely-activated quick-release clamps, triggered via wires that snaked up the chains and into the ceiling. Each docking clamp bore a red switch that was clearly labeled, “EMERGENCY RELEASE.” Eisenhuf paced below, taunting Johnny. “Ze little kitten is too scared to come down from ze tree, ya? Vell ze little kitten can sit up zere all she wants, but soon –“ His taunts were interrupted when one end of the bomb above suddenly came loose and swung, like a giant pendulum, straight into Eisenhuf’s muzzle with a bell-like thwang. The impact sent him sprawling and knocked him unconscious. Johnny released his grip from the swinging bomb and alit on the aluminum deck. Brushing off his stolen uniform, he retrieved the timed explosive charge and planted it directly onto the side of the Atomic Rainboom, setting the timer for three minutes. Johnny ran into the control room, and was greeted with the unconscious and bleeding bodies of several guards slumped over control panels. The control panels themselves had been shot up with an assault rifle, and one of the large windows had been shot out. The view before him was that of Canterlot. They were getting dangerously close. He could see fireworks exploding, the thunderous cracks hitting his ears moments after the flashes of color lit up the control room. He could make out individual ponies, milling about on the royal palace grounds. The clicking of a rifle made his ears prick up. “Don’t move.” He heard Cheerilee’s voice behind him. He held up a hoof and turned around. “Relax, dear. I think you’ve dispatched everyone here.” She lowered the rifle. “Oh. Sorry.” Johnny motioned to the shot-up control panels. “I trust you haven’t had much luck with stopping the ship?” “The controls were locked. I couldn’t do anything. But I did find these.” She indicated a pair of parachutes stacked against the wall. “Excellent. I’ve set the charges to go off in three minutes. Once we jump out, we can detonate the remote – “ “You’re not going anywhere,” An acid voice spoke up from the doorway. Cheerilee spun around to see Blackwing, with fire in his eyes and a pistol trained on them. “Cheerilee,” Johnny stepped between her and Blackwing. “Take a parachute and get out of here.” “I’m not going anywhere,” She responded. “Oh, how romantic,” Blackwing mocked. “Disgusting.” “It’s over, Blackwing,” Johnny shouted over the wind noise permeating the room. “Oh, it’s far from over. Do you play chess, Mr. Recon? Are you familiar with a checkmate?” “I am.” “I have you and your little marefriend here at gunpoint, with a massive drop at your backs, and your only means of escape at my hooves.” He stepped forward and kicked the parachutes away. “I’m afraid there’s nothing to do but surrender.” “Are you aware, Blackwing,” Johnny countered, “of the move known as a feint?” “What are you insinuating?” At that moment, Johnny hoofed the detonator on his watch, and the remote explosives on one of the engines exploded. The engine was ripped apart in a giant fireball, and the entire cloudship rocked beneath them. Johnny had prepared for the tremor, but Blackwing had not. He lost his balance and stumbled forward, dropping his gun. Johnny stepped out of his way, and he crashed headfirst into a control panel. Grabbing a loose wire, Johnny jabbed it directly into Blackwing’s mechanical wing. The entire contraption convulsed, and the crystals inside glowed brightly before exploding. Blue lightning arced over the surface, and Blackwing screamed in pain. Johnny grabbed Blackwing’s rear legs and vaulted him end-over-end over the control panel and through the shattered window. Johnny approached the window and stuck his head out. Blackwing still hung outside by a hoof, the wind throwing his mane in all directions and fireworks lighting his coat in various colors. “Checkmate,” Johnny said. “No…” Blackwing managed to eke out before his grip faltered and he plummeted towards the ground, screaming, his one working wing flapping uselessly. The cloudship’s progress was slowed, but not halted as it passed over the city of Canterlot. Fireworks exploded dangerously close to them, their reports like cannon fire. Johnny grabbed the parachutes and tossed one to Cheerilee. He quickly put it on, and then leapt out the window with his purple partner in tow. Just after they cleared the ship, the timed explosive charge detonated, setting off the other bombs. The massive explosion that ripped apart the ship went unseen, but the heat of the blast singed their coats as the fell through the air. Several more, equally intense, explosions followed, making their ears ring with the concussive force. Finally, the Atomic Rainboom itself detonated. Johnny watched as what remained of the cloudship was engulfed with a massive explosion of color. Every color of the rainbow thrust outward in a giant chromatic ring, vaporizing the debris above them. Johnny and Cheerilee pulled the ripcords, and the orange parachutes lowered them gently to the ground, in a grass field outside the palace. After cutting them loose, the parachutes drifted away from them, getting caught in a tree somewhere. Cheerilee collapsed, exhausted, into Johnny’s hooves. Together, they lay down onto the soft grass. She held him tightly as she gazed up at the remnants of the explosion above them. “What are we going to do now?” She asked. After a pause, he looked into her eyes. “We enjoy the show. I’m sure they won’t mind if we drop in.” They could hear the ponies at the gala cheering at the multicolored spectacle above them, believing it was the grand finale. To them, the lingering rainbow ring following the explosions that rattled the windows was just part of the display.
