Blue-Sky Days

Chapter Two - "Waking Up, Breaking Out: This Is What It Means To Be Free"

The Heaven Breaker burst through the surface with a massive roar, briefly sailing through the air. The passengers gazed up at the sky for the first time. Seehal's jaw dropped open. "Blue...It's so bright and so blue..." They'd come out into a rocky, dry area. Most ponies only came out here to do mining work. But even such a barren landscape was stunning to the dogs who'd spent their entire lives underground.

Their daze was interrupted by Wojtek. "HEY! No time to gawk! We've got to get moving. Our destination is very close, and we won't be able to unload under fire, so all pilots will have to ride there in the mecha." He pulled a large lever under the main controls, releasing the rear hatch and the clamps holding the cargo still. "Go!"

Zarkyn was the first to react, vaulting over the side halfway through the order. There was a powerful roar of an engine, then a whoop of excitement as his mech strode out into view. It was a little different than the others, with two canons, more complex arms and a large blade instead of a left hand. It was also painted navy and red with cheap stuff he'd probably stolen from around the village. He moved it in front of the driller and stood on the back, arms folded, staring into the distance. He could faintly hear and see the battle far ahead. "Let's go, everyone!"

The rest of the group cheered, pilots quickly climbing down and moving their mecha into a wedge-shaped formation around the Breaker. The various dogs remaining on board began to ready weapons and take up firing stations. Seehal began to panic slightly. "Um, guys? What am I supposed to do? Where do I stand? " He felt an arm wrap around him, pick him up and deposit him near the driver's seat.

"Just stay there and watch Wojtek's butt. Some ponies might try to get up here and take out the driver, and nobody else knows how the damn thing works." It was Realla. She had a long rifle with a crude scope, and was taking up a sniping position near the front.

With a simultaneous roar of engines, the convoy started moving in formation towards the battlefield. Seehal put the trench knife on his left paw, and checked his pistol. He didn't have many shots, but at this range it would be hard to miss. He could hear sounds of battle getting louder, the boom of Diamond Dog cannons and what he assumed were magic projectiles echoing across the rocky landscape. As they drew closer, began to make out the sound of gunfire and screaming. They were coming up on the pony base, just outside the town of Coalhill. It was a scattered array of buildings and emplacements for artillery unicorns. Suddenly, there came a shout from the camp, and a huge ball of green energy sailed over their heads. "We've been spotted! Keep moving, and don't fire until we're closer!" said Wojtek, "We need to conserve ammo!"

They were almost in range. A squad of Earth Ponies suddenly teleported in about a hundred metres away. They wore heavy armour with retractable blades on the outside of the legs. Some of them pulled chariots with artillery Unicorns, firing bolts of energy at the Breaker. They reached the convoy, some earth ponies leaping at the pilots. Most were either caught or knocked out of the air by mechanical arms. One had his head removed by Zarkyn's blade. Realla's sniper rifle bucked twice, and a chariot crashed when the ponies pulling it collapsed. Several others began to lift Earth Ponies with magic and fling them onto the Heaven Breaker. A large soldier landed on a gunner, crushing him under his weight. Two more landed, one close to the driver's seat. Seehal charged, firing his pistol at the pony's head. The bullet didn't penetrate his helmet, but the impact was enough to stun him. With a roar, Seehal plunged the blade of his knife into his adversary's throat.

"Great Mother...I just..." He felt dizzy and fell back against Wojtek's chair. To kill someone, even a hated enemy of his kind, was difficult for one so young, no matter his resolve.

He heard the voice of Wojtek behind him. "Good job, boy. That was a damn brave thing you just did. You saved my ass."

Seehal stood up again, watching as the others threw the remaining boarders over the side. He breathed a sigh of relief, and turned to look at the base ahead. Another energy blast shot towards the convoy, this time arcing through the air. With a deafening boom, it crashed right in front of them, exploding outwards. Seehal found himself thrown by the impact, flying over the railing and hitting the ground hard, making him yelp in pain. He had to get up. He had to keep moving. Forcing himself to his feet, Seehal saw two things: The convoy had kept moving and was now too far for him to reach, and that Zarkyn's mech has been blasted off its feet and was lying face-down nearby. He limped as fast as he could over to it. "Zarkyn! Are you okay?! Answer me, please!" He crouched down to see into the cockpit. Zarkyn was lying half-out of it, blood dripping from his abdomen. "ZARKYN! Don't die! I'll find someone to help you!"

He coughed, blood spurting out of his mouth. "That you, pup? It's too late for me. There's a bunch of shrapnel in my gut, and it feels like my leg is broken." He coughed again, breathing becoming harsher and shallower. "Listen, you have to do something for me. Take my mech, the others are counting on us."

"But I can't pilot that! I don't know how, and it's lying on the ground!"

"You'll be fine. It's easy. Use the handles to move around, triggers for the guns, and...urgh, hold...hold the outside handle buttons to move the arms. It should...be able to right itself." He crawled out of the cockpit, trailing blood. "You have to leave me and...catch up with the others. They need you."

Seehal wiped the tears from his face. "I...I'll do my best."

"Good boy. Now, one last thing: Help me onto my back. I want to see the sky one last time." Still crying, Seehal turned him over. "That's better. It really is...an amazing sight. Goodbye, Seehal. Enjoy this new world. Live life, for me, and for yourself." Slowly, his eyes closed and his breathing stopped. Seehal screamed his rage and grief at the heavens.

****

In the command center of the base currently under attack, Colonel Macintosh was attempting to restore some semblance of order. The Diamond Dogs had devastated their fortifications with cannons, mortars and rockets. The swordsponies had fared better, largely due to the Dogs' lack of proper armour. A scout ran into the room, bleeding from a bullet wound and singed by explosions. "Colonel! They've broken through the lines! They're in the base!"

Macintosh nodded wearily, and put on his helmet. "Alright, then. We have to inflict as many casualties upon them as we can. It's a great honour to die for Queen Celestia, and in service to the kingdom. On my order, charge out and engage them!"

One soldier was simply staring at him. When he finished, she ran towards the door, screaming: "I'm not going to die here! We can still get-" She was cut off as the blade of Mac's massive folding sword decapitated her with ease. He looked sadly down at the body.

"A real waste. But it’s better than running away. Her Highness doesn't fancy traitors and deserters.” He folded his sword back into place and gestured to the main doors. “Now, let’s go! For the Kingdom of Equestria, we fight and die!"

****

Seehal had reached the base fairly quickly. Zarkyn's mech could move fast if he really pushed it. It didn't take long for him to figure out the controls and get the hang of piloting it. Suddenly, a small group of ponies came fleeing past him. He spun the mech around, and fired the machine guns, eyes burning with rage. Bullets smashed armour and tore through flesh, and he screamed in fury.

He continued on, past scattered ally and enemy troops. He ignored the shouts of his fellow soldiers, and gunned down every pony he came across. Eventually he reached the center building of the base, and faltered as he saw ponies flood out through the main doors, charging towards him. Among them was a massive red stallion wearing customised heavy plate. Even with the incredible weight of such equipment, he easily kept up with the others. Gritting his teeth, Seehal fired both cannons and a rocket directly into the mob, sending burning bodies in every direction. The only pony still going was the red behemoth, charging faster and faster at him. Seehal squeezed the HMG triggers, but they only fired a few bullets into the ground before winding down. Cursing, he tried to free himself from the pilot's harness, but Macintosh slammed into the mech first, sending it tumbling over. Thankfully, Seehal's small frame had helped him avoid any broken bones.

He pulled out his trench knife and cut his way out, seeing his opponent also returning to his feet. Mac flicked a tiny release lever on his right front greave, leg-mounted greatsword folding out and locking in place. "I'm sorry about this. War ain't no place for little ones like you. But I'll do what I have to." He advanced, moving with practiced ease on only three hooves. Seehal waited until he got close, feigning injury. Then he fired his pistol at his opponent's head, bullet slamming into his helmet and stunning him. Mac bellowed, swinging his blade in the direction of the attack, but Seehal had already moved, holstering his pistol and jumping onto the stallion's back. He dragged his knife along the gap between neck cover and chestplate. Mac was flailing, roaring in pain, but unable to shake off his attacker.

After cutting every exposed inch he could reach, Seehal jumped up and grabbed onto Mac's helmet, bringing his other paw up and tearing his knife across the stallion's visor, slicing both of his eyes. He screamed, and Seehal was sent flying through the air, landing roughly. Mac continued to thrash around until he smashed his head on the overturned mech and fell to the ground, bleeding all over. Seehal slowly got to his feet and walked over, his injuries starting to get the best of him. He reached the pony's prostrate body, and drew his pistol once again. Pointing it carefully into Mac's visor, he fired.

Seehal limped over to the side of the mech and sat down leaning against it. Looking up at the sky through all the smoke, he gave a faint smile. "Zarkyn...I hope I've made you proud." With those words, he blacked out.