The other squads were told about our new assignments, but our schedules weren't gonna change until we got there. So I hauled my ass through mud, past the whips, the parkour course, and unfortunately, the hell-house. Princess Luna healed me again, wishing me luck in Saddle Arabia. No matter how tired I was, I didn't forget about my meeting with Midnight. I got into the showers, washed off the sweat and vomit, then walked back into the bunk area.

She was sitting on her bed, scraping a rock against her dagger. I stood and waited for her to say something. Minutes passed as I waited, and she just kept sharpening that damn blade, annoying the crap out of me. But I wouldn't want to piss her off. With one last scrape, she examined the edge of it and glanced to me. Tossing the rock aside, she bucked me in the face and jumped down on top of me. I held my breath as the cold steel seperated the fur over my throat.

"You the traitor?" She hissed venemously, picked me up, and threw me against the wall. "I'm gonna say no…"

A smirk made its way over her mouth. "If I was a traitor, wouldn't you be dead?" she sneered. "Now… about that chat."

"If it helps, ask away," I said. I felt the familiar trickle of blood coming from my snout, but I wasn't in the position to ask for a hanky.

She pulled her dagger back, glaring at me sternly. "What happened in the Badlands?"

My neutral expression switched to full annoyance. "That's what this is about?!" I shouted. "You just wanna hear that damn story?!"

She growled loudly, returning the blade to my neck. "It's not a fucking story for me," she hissed.

"Then what the Tartarus do you want-"

"My brother was in there."

…

…

…no…

…

Damn it, no!

I knew she wasn't lying when her eyes started watering again. I had to watch every family mourn their loved one, lots of glares coming my way. It was the reason I never wanted to lead another regime ever again. The hurt, sadness, and hatred stirring in her eyes just… messed with me. She stepped back, letting me stand on all fours.

"But… but I only had Solars," I mumbled. "How was your brother in the Solar Guard?"

"Ma was a regular, Pa was a bat-pony," she explained. "His name was Dawn Strider."

My eyes widened. "Corporal Strider?" I asked.

"So you remember," Midnight hissed. "Now spit it out."

Dawn Strider. He was a good stallion. Funny prick, not too bad of a wrestler either. It had to be him that had the crazy family member. I slumped to my flank, the memories flooding in like torrent of pain. I rubbed the sides of my head as I tried to block out the screams long enough to compose myself.

Western Badlands, 4 years ago

The summer sun beat down on us as we marched through the sands. We had our orders. Punch a hole in the Changeling central hive while Captain Shining Armor flanked around the side of the dunes. We had the bigger numbers, being mostly Earth and pegasi, since the unicorn specialists would give cover from their vantage point. Our armor cooked us alive under the desert's sun.

"Sure we're headed east?" Seargant Decker asked from my right.

Private Arrow Head checked his compass. "Yes, sir," he said. "Right where the sun sets."

"You mean where the sun rises," he corrected.

"Eyes up," I snorted, pulling my spear to my hooves. The Solar regime stomped to a halt, scanning the skies.

Squinting my eyes, I could make out some sort of arrangement of stone. Around that, a few black dots zipping around. "Changelings," Private Flap called from above. "A patrol, by the look of it."

"Then we've been spotted," Decker said. "Orders?"

A forward charge was all this was, so might as well follow through. "Alright. Spears front!" I bellowed. The clank of steel against the hoof armor reverberated through our ranks. "Forward, trot!"

We picked up the pace, the distance slowly closing between us and our objective. The patrol zipped back towards the hive, as did dozens of other changelings. If they had that many, why wouldn't they just hold us off or something? I had a bad feeling itching at my back, and it wasn't the armor. Still, I ignored it as our chance for a quick victory seemed reachable.

Then I heard screams.

I turned around and saw a horde of changelings rising from the sand like undead. They flew high above us, tackling some pegasi and taking a few regulars to the skies. Those who weren't taken airborne and dropped were blasted with splash spells. The smell of burning fur reached me as we scattered chaoticly. I threw my spear into the swarm, where it disappeared in a veil of black chitin.

"Get to the rocks!" I called. I was sure they couldn't hear me, as the whizzing noises of magic arrows and spells came from our only unicorn platoon.

I yelped as a changeling landed on my back and brung me into the sky. I grabbed my uncle's dagger and slashed his hoof, making it screech and drop me. Another bug was in my descent path, and I crashed into him before we hit the sand. Some snaps assured me he wouldn't be getting up soon. The pegasi were busy manuevering around them and piking them, while the Earth ponies fought back to back. Another wave of splash spells destroyed that plan of defense, and I watched some scream as acidic magic seared through their coats.

"EVERYONE TO THE FUCKING ROCKS!" I screamed. The remaining stallions galloped full speed for the only other cover in the Celestia forsaken desert.

Dawn Strider galloped up next to me, a swarm of changeling chasing our survivors. A few were tackled to the ground, and from their grunting I could tell they were determined to bring a few down with them. The two of us ran around the large boulder and put our sides to either end. The groups came at different intervals, changelings right on their flanks. I used the crude stone clubs to knock some out of the sky and buy our colts some time.

"I want every unicorn guard on my six!" I called. "On my mark, blast those buggers out of the sky!"

The present unicorns made a wall just in front of our cover, making a barrirer so the changelings wouldn't pick them off.

"Ready! Aim!" I counted to three, then stomped my hoof. "MARK!"

The barrier dissipated and a barrage of magic beams soared through the mild air. I grinned as they fell by the dozens, and even more Solars reached us. The pegasi were still tangling with them, and the sound of buzzing behind me drew my attention. Another swarm was on the approach, and my mind dotted out our play.

"Alright, unicorns in back, regulars in front!" I ordered. "When they get within reach, launch those spears like you were trying to hit the queen herself! Unicorns, I want a payload of mana tailing those shots!"

The earth guards pulled their hoof back, and the unicorns charged their spell. I could see the pegasi finishing up with the ambush squad, so I kept my attention to the newer one. I picked up a slimy stone rod and moved to the front of the wall.

"Ready!" Waiting just a few more seconds, I centered my eye on the bastard in front. "Launch!"

Swinging my hoof forward, I heard the grunts behind me, then the firing of magic. The swarm did their best to maneuver around the barrage, but we took out a majority of them. The unicorns picked off the survivors, and no sooner did the pegasi commander land next to me.

"We're down to half strength, sir," Commander Swift panted. "It might not be a good idea to press on."

"We need to end this war today," I barked. "Form up!"

The stallions resumed their ranks, a considerable amount of pony bodies behind us. We galloped out of cover and straight for the hive. I had the unicorns and pegasi knock out any swarms headed our way, buying us time to reach another set of cover. I peered over the sandy stone, using my telescope to scout ahead.

"Get ready! Another swarm readying up!" I called. I scanned what I could, seeing the main hive itself.

It kinda reminded me of a bee hive, only that this one had dozens of holes over it's shell. Changelings flew in and out as they brought supplies and other objects I couldn't make out. Green goo was being splattered over the hive, over dirtier green, dry slime I presumed. I assumed it was acting as a sort of armor or protection. A wall of stone also guarded the perimeter. As I repositioned the scope, my heart sank into my ass.

The wall of stone wasn't high. But the hundred meter wall off dry slime was. I pulled it away, and I realized I could see it from where I was. "Is that… slime?" Strider questioned.

My hooves went numb as I held the telescope down. "The Captain'll never make it over or through that!" Decker exclaimed. "We have to pull back and wait for support!"

I ignored them bickering behind me as I stared hopelessly. If we dared a charge with so few of us… we'd be slaughtered. If we stayed where we were… we'd be slaughtered. I pulled of my helmet and rubbed my muzzle anxiously. I noticed the silence and turned to them.

They were waiting for me. The hundred or less stallion platoon waited on me. They were tired, hungry, and hot from the relentless summer sun. But… they were determined. The fire in their eyes made me think that if I ordered them to run in there bare, they'd do it gladly. Shining was right. Being a leader wasn't so hard if you had the right stallions. And these colts were the best.

I hardened my facial expression and slapped on my helmet. "On my go, we rush that swarm and head for the wall around that hive!" I shouted. The clanking of armor being refitted was music to my ears.

"Three… two… one… CHARGE!"

The stallions let loose battle cries as we hurdled over the stone debris and rushed right at the swarm. The unicorns sent splash spells into the sky, knocking some to the ground while pegasi rammed the rest. Any on the ground were pummeled by the brute force of us regulars. In the end, three pegasi were left behind with the dozens of changeling bodies. We lined up across the wall of the entrance, panting and heaving. I peered around the cover and saw another swarm assembling.

"Alright. Pegasi up top! Ambush 'em when they come charging!" The designated stallions flew to the higher ridges. "Unicorns, stay behind the Earth, and we'll form a wall! They are not leaving through here!"

"Yes, sir!" What remained of the Solar regime filled in the gap between the masses of sandstone.

"Auxiliary spears to the front!" The unicorns passed up their spears, about half of us resorting to fallen clubs we'd acquired from the changelings. "Pegasi don't move until we go first!"

I glanced to Midnight, but she still had that emotionless look. "Why'd you call it?"

I kept silent, unsure of what to say.

"Why, did you call it?" she said with more emphasis, putting the dagger back to my throat.

I swallowed what little saliva was in my mouth. "I panicked," I said. "We had to hold them off and wait until backup arrived."

"Or you could've fallen back and waited for Shining's battalion," she growled. "But you had to be a fucking hero and end it that day."

"I know what I did!" I shouted, ignoring how hard she was pushing the blade. "I had good stallions killed so we could end a war! They're the damn heroes, not me!"

For a second, Midnight looked like she believed me. But she still scowled and sat back. "Was Strider still with you?"

I nodded, then sighed as I slumped against the wall. "He was with me to the very end," I said in a low tone.

We tossed our spears, most hitting their marks and dropping the bugs. The pegasi jumped from their perches and onto their backs, using their weight to bring them crashing into the desert sands. The Earth stallions bucked and beat the bugs until they were unconscious or worse. The changelings laid around us, but the buzzing still rang in my ears. I turned back to the hive…

…and that's when I knew we weren't making it.

A swarm bigger than three combined was buzzing right towards us. We didn't have any more weapons, just our tired, bare hooves, and low amouts of mana. "Everypony form up!"

We filed into ranks, Strider to my left, Decker to my right. "Will Shining make it, sir?" Strider panted.

"There's two miles of desert between our infil points," Decker said with just as much breath. "If we're lucky, they'll find us before the sand covers us."

I adjusted my helmet, spitting off to the side. "Doesn't matter," I snorted. "We hold them here as long as we can. Shining had to have seen that wall by now, so if I know that bastard he'll be galloping back full sprint."

Strider chuckled, shifting his hooves into a ready stance. "If we make it out of this," he began, "buy me a beer and find me a mare, Lieutenant."

I laughed weakly, the buzzing getting even closer. "Deal."

The horde let loose a massive screech, followed by an even larger volley of spells. The stallions behind me screamed as the acids burned their armor onto their coats, and we braced as they dove. I bucked one in the head, barely rolling out of the way as another crashed down. Those damn meteor crash spells were wiping us out. I went back to back with some private, and we did our best to watch out for one another. He didn't last two minutes against the seven changelings.

A bolt struck me in the face, blinding me momentarily. I screamed as the helmet meant to protect turned on me and burned through my mane. I tossed the steaming steel at a random changeling, hearing it's screeches and cries of pain. Rubbing my eyes furiously, I could make out some of my squad and changelings all around. Most of my stallions were being overpowered with jaws being clamped down on them, while others had the pleasure of being left to burn alive.

That was all I could make out before a bug tackled me from behind. I rolled over, using my weight plus the armor to crush him. I pulled my uncle's dagger and stabbed it into his neck, twisting it to ensure his death. I pulled it out and looked for anypony to team up with. Strider, Decker, and an unfamiliar guard were fighting off the horde, but I could see their fatigue getting the best of them.

Ignoring the bolts hitting my sides and whizzing over my head, I joined their circle and did my best to keep going. "Give them everything you've got!" I shouted, punching a changeling into the sand.

Strider kicked sand into a couple of changelings eyes and bucked one back, then headbutted the other. I turned around as Decker's screams reached my ears. He was burning alive, and the bastards were still blasting him. Screaming in anger, I galloped over and tackled the fucks right into the ground. The first had the honor of having my uncle's dagger in his throat, while the second had the honor of meeting my right hoof. The third had his neck dislocated from a quick buck of my hind legs.

"AAAAAGGGGHHH!"

A bolt pierced my chest, and the burning sensation traveled through my insides. Clutching the wound in pain, I saw two buggers flying straight for me. I hopped to the side, but the one on the right stabbed me with his horn while the other arched around and dug his into my side. They slammed me into stone wall, then one tried biting down on my shoulder. I bit his horn first, snapping it off then cutting off his screams by slashing my dagger through his jugular. I continued my arc until I sunk it into the other's head.

My body was done. I could feel my tail on fire, the burning was still eating away at my insides, and my face was starting to sting. The armor meant to keep me safe only added to the soreness of my muscles. One by one, I watched the stallions get overpowered, until only one remained. Strider screamed and hollered as he was struck with spell after spell, and stabbed by horns and fangs. Even as his coat caught fire, he headbutted, bucked, and finally flailed until they piled onto him.

I tried desperately to raise my hoof and grip my uncle's knife, but my bleeding chest and side were keeping me from moving. The green ooze covering my coat and armor was all I could see as my head lowered weakly. When I glanced back up, I could see the entire swarm cackling and snickering at me. I coughed out blood, and shakily stood on my hooves, using the stone for support.

"Come… come on!" I yelled, swaying in a daze.

I received another bolt to the face, then a knockback spell that slammed me back into the stone. My eyes weighed heavily as I tried lifting my head. The cackles were getting closer, and I looked at my dead stallions with guilt.

The changelings started hissing and screeching suddenly, and I understood why when I heard him yelling. "CHAAAAAAAAARGE!"

I forced my eyes to open just enough for me to see the changelings getting pummeled by hundreds of magic bolts and knockback spells. And in came Shining Armor, smacking two into each other then firing more projectiles.

"Push onto the hive!" he ordered. "Spark, Crackle, bring me a medic!"

He looked over the bodies, searching for any signs of life in the colts. Each body they checked got the same look: a sigh and a shake of the head. Spark, I presumed, came over to me checking my wounds then putting his hoof under my jaw.

"Captain! The Lieutenant's alive!" Spark called.

Shining galloped over, looking over my wounds as the field medic started using blood clot spells to stop the bleeding. "I… they… they're gone," I croaked.

Shining took off his helmet, rubbing his forehead in sadness. "You did your best, Silver," he said.

My vision started to fade as the sedative shot kicked in. "Never… never again…"

"Never again."

Midnight looked content with my retelling of the Badland massacre. She sheathed her dagger and stood up from the bed. "Is that it?"

She walked to the door, but stopped and turned back to me. "This isn't Solar anymore, LT," she said. "You'd better watch your own damn ass. 'Cause I sure as hell ain't helping."

She walked out, and I sighed as I laid down for the night. I lost the only other pony that could help me. Now, three out to get me, and one trying to help. It's no wonder they never put Solars in this. Everypony hates us. At least I'll finally take up Blossom's advice of taking a vacation.

Speaking of which.

I searched through my bag and took out the mirror. Tapping on it twice, I waited for Blossom to pick up. It was some time before she did. That smile really did help.

"Hey big brother!" she smiled. "What happened to your eye?!"

Oh yeah, shit. "I uh… got roughed up, pulling two idiots apart," I laughed nervously. I hate lying to Blossom, but I was not going to risk her getting hurt.

She laughed softly, glancing behind herself. "I just put Daney to bed," she groaned playfully.

"Aww, I wanted to see him," I grinned. "How's everything?"

She looked off to the side quickly before turning back to me. "I'm fine," she sighed. "Chaser had to leave early again."

"Don't worry, I'll be up for a while," I laughed.

She giggled lightly, then a frown worked its way slowly across her muzzle. "What are you thinking about?"

Blossom shook from her thoughts and feigned a smile. "Nothing much," she said.

"Blossom… c'mon." I did my best to frown, even though the bruise on my brows were hurting like a motherfucker.

"I'm just thinking about Strong."

I sighed softly; the topic something we normally avoided. "I'm sure he's fine," I said. "He's a big guy."

"But you know how he is," she sternly spoke. "He's gone through a lot, even if it's not like your kinda stuff. Maybe you could check up on him? Ask the princesses maybe?"

I shook my head. "I don't think they'll search for one stallion," I chuckled. "Look, I'll keep an eye out for him, but in the meantime, you have fun in Prance."

"Au revòir."

I laughed a bit as the crystal lost its glimmer and dulled. Hiding it under my personal belongings, I pushed the bag under the bunk and laid down. Falling asleep used to be so easy in the night, but now I could only keep my eyes and ears open for any sign of the traitor.

I wonder how Strong's doing anyway.

Author's Note

Yup! Bet some of you forgot about this story, eh?! Well, ideas flowed, time was put in, and I'm back! Hope you're all ready for this! Remember, like, fav, comment, and have an awesome day or night!