Chapter 9: Not all is as it seems

"How we experience the outer world is determinedby our inner world. We do not see the world asit actually is, but the way we perceive it to be."- Jim Hartness

The two squads had been at Fort Jenkins, A U.S. base near the city that they were heading to. They had received reports of Spetsnaz operations in the city, possibly involving the elements of harmony. But they were now heading towards the city in a group of LAV-25s.

"Anyone have any idea why the fuck we're here?"

"We have reports of the reds trying to use some of the elemental powers to see if they can control earthquakes. If they can, I feel sorry for the people in California." Specter said.

"With all honesty, I wouldn't mind. I met a guy from Cali, drove me nuts with his accent." Jester said

"Arnold Schwarzenegger on FOX news doesn't count." Scarecrow said, looking up the latest scores for La Liga Soccer on his Droid RAZR MAXX.

"At least he is in the U.S., unlike your Barcelona team. AND IT WASN'T ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER!" Jester replied back, shouting over the engine.

"At least Barcelona can win a Championship, unlike the past few years of the Oklahoma Sooners," Scarecrow yelled back.

"You motherfucker!" Jester yelled. The two argued about their two sports. Applejack, who was sitting by specter, had a questionable look.

"They always argue like that?" Applejack asked.

"This isn't even half of it. The two like sports, Jester likes football, and so does Scarecrow, but Scarecrow loves soccer. He was a star in high school, despite being the only white guy on the team. But he was good at football to, and saw that he had more college scholarships with football. So he took football at UGA. He has shown off his soccer skills during college and even here, and there have been some scouts that have checked him out." Specter explained.

"Oh. Well, What is Soccer?" Applejack asked.

"Well, Scarecrow knows about it more than I ever could, maybe you should ask him sometime." Specter said. He smiled and nodded, then turned his head toward his weapon, making sure it was in perfect condition. He then reached in a pocket in his vest, and pulled out a bottle, taking a pill out of it and then swallowing it. Twilight, who noticed this, started to ask why he had those, but she thought that she would it wouldn't be such a good time, so she would save it for later. The Windowless LAV-25 then came to a stop, knocking the group around some.

"Okay, we're here. Two by two, keep it tight." Soap said, standing up. The LAV-25's hatch opened, and the group saw the buildings, old and new that surrounded them. The girls viewed the area in awe, despite seeing the likes of Japan, Area 51, and even the moon.

"Well, being from a different planet, anything would amuse them." Jester said as they walked.

"You're telling me." Scarecrow said. The group followed Soap, who walked to a Marine.

"Right, glad you guys could make it. The reds have been reported in different areas of the city, possibly scouts for something bigger. I'm sure you've heard about them trying to use the elements to control earthquakes. So it's basically search and destroy." The marine said. The group the followed the marine as he led them to another squad of marines.

"So these are the 141 and Shadow Company. Didn't think they'd have some of the bushes in the city." One of the marine engineers said, referring to Scarecrow and Applejack's Desert Colored ghillie suits.

"I'd watch my words, we could be the ones that watch your back from a distance." Scarecrow said jokingly. Scarecrow and the engineer fist bumped. The conversations were interrupted when another marine ran to the group. He saluted the marine that first met the group, the marine saluting in return.

"Lieutenant, Command gave our orders. We're suppose to move to the east cause of Spetsnaz units detected in the area. It's basically search and destroy sir. They also said that Shadow Company and the 141 would move out with us." the marine said.

"Right. " the lieutenant said. The group readied their weapons and moved out, heading down a few alley ways. It was quiet the first few minutes. Too quiet.

"I don't like it." Ghost said, looking down the red dot sight of his SCAR-H, aiming down every turn or other alleys.

"I'd rather the whole mission be like this, followed by an easy surrender." Soap said, following Ghost.

"Now where's the fun in that?" Price jokingly said.

"Hell, I'd rather be home instead of being here." Jester said.

"What? In our "free country"? We say we're suppose to be the greatest country in the world, yet we invade poorer countries for what we need. Yeah, "Land of the free" alright." Specter said, keeping tight aim with his CM901. This kept Jester shut up for the next few minutes.

"Never thought Specter could get him to be quiet." Scarecrow muttered to Applejack. They then stopped as they came to the edge of a building, and a large, open area of the city was between them and the tower that they are suppose to climb to the roof to scout the target building 3 blocks from there. They would walk, but reports said that it was heavily guarded.

"Stack up." The marine lieutenant said. His marines stacked up on the building side, SC and 141 behind them. The marines were just starting to move, but Scarecrow stopped them.

"Wait. If these guys are anything like me, they couldn't resist a spot like this. Large buildings, close together, lots of windows…. It's basic training for us." Scarecrow said. "Almost cost me my life my first time in combat, moving with some rangers."

"So what do we do?" Twilight asked. Scarecrow looked at her, and if he were not wearing his custom made mask, she would see the smile on his face.

"Simple. SAT." Scarecrow said. He moved near the front of the group. "Someone give me their helmet." Applejack looked at ghost.

"SATs?" she asked him.

"Stands for Sniper Attraction Trap. It's a technique Shadow Company soldiers perfected to keep there men alive. Just watch him, you'll see." Ghost said. The girls watched in silence.

"Tucker, put that helmet to use." The lieutenant said. One of the privates, obviously private Tucker, unstrapped his helmet, and gave it to Scarecrow. Scarecrow put the helmet on the edge of the barrel of his M98B, and slowly poked it out into the open. He then held it in place, and all seemed silent. A shot then rang out, and the helmet went flying off. Scarecrow pulled his M98B back from the edge. He turned around, and saw Soap with his hand covering Fluttershy's mouth, who obviously had the look of a girl that was screaming or had just screamed.

"Right, the basic." Scarecrow said. He grabbed the helmet, which had luckily rolled back towards them, and observed the entry point of the bullet. "hmm… 7.62 by 54mmp cartridge… shot seemed to come from the northwest…" Scarecrow said. He got on one knee, and aimed to the northwest, and viewed the area through his scope. Between two buildings, he saw a small walkway with blacked out windows. "Dragunov. That looks like the perfect spot, but I have to wait for the confirmation…" he said. He waited, every muscle in his body tensed. He then saw what he needed, a flash from inside the walkway, showing a sniper scanning the area. Scarecrow quickly aimed, took a deep breath, and fired. He could see the faint color of red splashing out, a sign of the headshot. "Clear, let's move."

The group then proceeded to the building they had to climb, watching every corner for suburban spetsnaz. They slowly entered the building, walking slowly past the set of cubicles on each floor they covered. They got to the roof, 98 floors above the ground, and set up a scouting area. Ghost was setting up a communications radio, and Scarecrow and Applejack were scanning the area with their equipment, Scarecrow using his sniper rifle, while Applejack only used her binoculars. The scanned the suspected hiding spot of the Russian scientists, in the Alam Muttahid building. The building, first opened in 2016, was spectacled as one of the most unique buildings in the world. Being 1,870 feet high on each side, it is known world wide for it's unique U shape, which represents the "U" in united.

"That place is armed to the teeth. That must be where they have it." Scarecrow said, observing the building through his scope.

"Ya'll gonna need a lot to punch through those defenses." Applejack added.

"We have an air support on standby," one of the marines said.

"No use with it in there. If we destroy the building with the element in it, all will go FUBAR." Price said.

"We got enemy UAVs turning our way, need to get inside to avoid it's scanners or things are gonna get messy." Scarecrow said, getting his stuff together. He helped Applejack up, and the group moved inside the building.

"They have went inside the building." Discord said. Makarov, who was standing by him, exhaled roughly.

"Your girlfriend's minions better perform as expected." Makarov said.

"I've told you already, she is not my girlfriend!" Discord said, a little embarrassed.

"Just make sure they kill them." Makarov said, chuckling a little at seeing discords embarrassment.

"They are already in the building." Discord replied.

As the group moved back down through the building, all seemed quiet until they heard a crash come from a different room.

"What the fuck was that?" Jester asked, pointing his LMG in that direction.

"Probably just the tremors, this town is near a major fault line, now keep your eyes forward." Specter said.

"I don't know mate… remember how the reds found us in Japan?" Ghost asked.

"Good point." Scarecrow commented.

"Well, you never know. Johnson, Tucker, check it out. We'll stand by for you." the lieutenant ordered. Johnson and Tucker nodded, and went along the hallway that went into the room.

"Why do we always have to do this shit?" Johnson asked with no real reason.

"I know, right? I'd rather be back home with my girlfriend, I miss her to death." Tucker replied.

"Me to, mate. Ever since I met my girlfriend in Boston, we were perfect for each other." Johnson said. They then froze as they saw what looked like a shadow move.

"What was that?" Tucker said.

"Keep your weapon ready." Johnson replied. The two moved closer to where the shadow had gone, and when they entered that room, they saw what looked like two creatures who were a cross of an insect and a pony. The two creatures grinned at them, showing their sharp teeth.

"What the fu-" before Tucker could finish, the creatures pounced the two men, taking them down before more than 3 shots could be fired, before they could even scream.

"Where the hell are they?" the lieutenant muttered. After what seemed like hours, Johnson and Tucker came out, walking as if they had cramped legs.

"What the hell happened in there? We heard gunfire." Soap asked.

"We, uh, *cough* had ran into a couple of Russians, but we took them down. It's all clear now." Tucker said.

"Your voice sounds raspy, you alright?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Uh, yeah, it's the *cough* the sand. Yeah, I accidentally swallowed some sand blowing in the wind." Tucker replied.

"We'll get you some water when we get back to base. Let's move out. While you two were gone, we got the coordinates of the target building. We'll be regrouping with the 15th armored and 23rd infantry, then air strike will make an entrance for us. Anyone in the building is our problem." The lieutenant said. The group moved out of the building. Johnson and Tucker looked at each other, nodded, and followed the group.

They got to the exit of the building, and could see the tanks and men waiting for them.

"We ready to move out?" one of the soldiers asked.

"Positive, we're moving out as soon as the rain comes." the lieutenant said. The man nodded, and pointed to a radioman. The soldier picked up his radio, and said the coordinates of the building entrance path.

"copy that, we will move on your word." the radioman said. He then changed signals, and spoke the order on his men's radio. "23rd, this is Sgt. Boykin, be ready to move out, rolling thunder is bringing the rain."

"Copy, we have view of the Alam Muttahid building, multiple tangos spotted, coordinates 361 north, 451 west." a man said.

"Copy that left gunner, we will start our circling now. Be ready. Rolling thunder is about to boom." An AC-130, spray painted to look like a thunderstorm, the name "Rolling Thunder" was proudly shown on the sides of the plane.

"Copy that. I'm sending in a welcome gift with the 105mm, then I'll move to the 25 while our boys are moving in." the left gunner said.

"Copy that." the pilot said. "Happy birthday motherfuckers."

The ground shook as they could hear the explosion of the 105 crashing down.

"That's our signal, move out!" the lieutenant said. The company of soldiers and tanks advanced to the Alam Muttahid, fighting every step of the way. It was a tough fight, even with the help of the AC-130.

"All ground units, be advised, this is Rolling Thunder. Multiple tangos are in the building, but we do not have permission to fire upon it. You're going to have to take them out yourself." the Rolling Thunder Pilot said.

"Copy that Rolling Thunder, We're moving in." Price said, leading the way.

"Price, Your 141 and our Shadow company are coming in to support, ETA 6 minutes." Specter said.

"Right, they better get their bloody arse moving." Price replied. They got to the entrance door, only to find it locked and barricaded.

"Ghost, get the C4." Soap said. Ghost went to the front of the group, and place 4 C4 charges on the doors.

"When in doubt, C4." Ghost said, chuckling. He stepped back, and prepared to flip the switch. "FIRE IN THE HOLE!"

Everything seemed to slow down in front of Applejack. It appeared that everyone was moving at a slower pace, giving her time to aim her weapon at one of the Russians, and firing. She was not a disturbed about killing as she use to be. But this disturbed her in herself. She didn't like killing, she knew it was wrong. But she knew it was either her and her friends or them. The pace seemed to pick back up as the room was cleared.

"Price, if you and your men, along with Shadow Company, want to proceed to the target floor, the marines will stay down here to make sure reinforcements don't break through." The lieutenant said.

"Right, thanks. Moving out." Price ordered.

"Great. Just us again." Ghost muttered. The group filed into an elevator, and waited as they went up. An instrumental version of Psy's "gentleman" was playing as the elevator jingle.

"Bloody hell, this guy again?" Price groaned.

"What, at least he's not like bieber." Jester replied.

"True, but I mean come on. This song came out in 2013 and people still won't shut their bloody trap about it." Price replied.

"Why are we even arguing about songs?" Scarecrow asked.

"Passes the time." Jester replied.

"And it can be a comedic moment for the story!" Pinkie Pie suddenly said, catching Scarecrow off guard.

"Where have you been?!" Scarecrow asked.

"Well, the writer hasn't really given me anything to say, how else am I suppose to talk in this story?" Pinkie said.

"Pinkie, lets not discuss that." Jester said, remembering what happened in Japan ith his and Scarecrow's meeting with the apparent "author".

"Okay, fine." Pinkie said, putting on a little pouting face.

"We're here." Specter said. The elevator showed that they were on floor 200. The group filed out as quiet as a mouse, but that wasn't even as quiet as the floor was.

"They must have fled as we were coming up." Ghost said, noticing the mess that was around.

"No signs of element energy" Ghost said, checking a scanner he created earlier that morning on the way to the city.

"So we came here for nothing?" Rainbow dash asked, putting the strap that held her AUG around her shoulder.

"No, no, no. Something's not right…" Scarecrow said, looking around. He walked to the window, looking at the other side of the building. His eyes widened, and he cracked a smile, which was hidden by the stitched smile on his mask. He then walked over to Ghost and Rainbow Dash.

"Ghost, do you have one of those cables launchers that you can slide on?" Scarecrow asked.

"Yeah mate, but what for?" Ghost curiously asked. The group looked at Scarecrow as he was setting up the launcher at the window.

"Command said floor 200, right?" Scarecrow asked.

"That's right, but nothings up here." Jester said.

"Well, this building is known for it's unique U-shape. That means two towers at each end. So…" Scarecrow said. He didn't have to finish his own sentence.

"So that means two floor 200s…" Soap said, catching on to what Scarecrow was saying. "Bloody hell, the Yanks right!" he yelled.

"What do you mean?" Fluttershy asked. She was then caught off guard as Scarecrow broke the glass window with his knife, and fired the cable, setting it up to the other floor 200.

"Here goes nothing." Scarecrow said. He set up a clip to hang on to the cable, which was tied to a rope around him. He ran into a full sprint, and went off the edge of the building, sliding toward the other floor 200.

"Bloody smart lad he is." Price said, now understanding. The guys and girls hooked up to the cable, ran, and rode across the cable like Scarecrow. Scarecrow broke the glass with a bullet shot, and knocked down one spetsnaz soldier, quickly taking cover. The others did the same, and they knew this was the floor 200 they needed to go to.

"All Shadow Company units, be advised. Change tactical entry point to the 200th floor of the left tower, repeat, the LEFT tower." Specter ordered.

"141. New entry point is left tower, same floor. You know what to do." Soap said.

"We're coming in hot!" a shadow company soldier yelled. As the group was fighting, they could see glass break from the fire of multiple helicopters, then cables attaching to the building. SC and 141 soldiers slid into the building, opening fire. Some were shot right when they set foot, others didn't even make it into the building. One Russian had an RPG, and fired it at one of the choppers. It hit one of the choppers tail rotors, and it began to spin out of control. Soldiers that were connected to the cables were holding on for dear life, and, as remarkable as it seems, they were all able to luckily jump into the building. But they had to move immediately after, because the chopper crashed into the building, hitting Russian and U.S. and British soldiers.

"Move up!" Soap ordered. Both squads were slowly gaining ground. Twilight had just fired a shot from her UMP-45, taking one Russian down, when one suddenly jumped her from a hidden corner. She screamed, and Specter saw what was happening.

"NO!" he yelled, and jumped at the Russian, tackling him. They fought, but eventually Specter got his tactical knife into the Russian's throat. He then got by Twilight, and helped her up. "You alright?" he asked.

"Yeah, thanks." She said, giving him a quick smile. But she quickly pushed him down, her falling on top of him, so they both dodged a spray of bullets.

"Well, I guess we're even." Specter said, their faces close together.

"Guess so," Twilight said, blushing a little. They got up, and continued fighting.

"Right. Bravo 6-9, rendezvous ETA 20 minutes." The lieutenant said over a radio. He sat down in the chair closest to him, and pulled out a picture. He had ordered the other soldiers to go outside to guard the area. All except private Tucker and Johnson.

"So, you two said you had girlfriends back home, right?" the lieutenant asked.

"Yes sir." Tucker said, still with the raspy voice.

"You know, I hope we can all get home someday to see our loved ones. I'd like to see my wife again." the lieutenant said.

"Really now?" Johnson asked, moving closer to the lieutenant.

"Yeah. Which I guess you two feel the same way about your girls, right?" the lieutenant asked.

"Well, that's how the actual Tucker and Johnson felt." Johnson said. The lieutenant looked up, confused, but the last thing he saw was a pair of blue eyes and sharp teeth.

As the remaining spetsnaz soldiers were taken down, Shadow Company and the 141 secured the floor.

"Sir, energy signal is going through the roof when I put it next to this door." Ghost said, showing Soap his scanner.

"Right. We'll break the door down." Soap said. "Stack up!"

"Well open the door, you Brits just watch our ass." Specter said. The SC solders lined up against the wall next to the door, and jester stood in front of it. The girls waited in the back with the 141.

"Try not to laugh." Ghost said to Rainbow Dash.

"Laugh? Why?" Dash asked him.

"This is one of the ways SC soldiers enter rooms. When hostiles are known to be on the other side, the soldier will drop as soon as he breaks the door." Ghost said.

"What do you mean?" Dash asked again.

"Just watch." Ghost replied. Jest stepped a few feet back from the door.

"BREACHING!" Jester yelled. He ran to the door and drop kicked it. When he hit the ground, they could see a grenade fly over his head, thrown from the reds. One of the SC soldiers threw it back in, it exploding shortly after. The SC soldiers ran into the room, guns blazing, 141 following shortly after. Applejack jumped over an office desk to avoid a grenade, and she could see in the corner of her eye something glowing. She turned towards the glowing, and she could see what they had come for. One of the elements. It was the element of kindness, Fluttershy's element.

"Ah've found it!" Applejack yelled, starting to get up to get the element. She could see that it was in a container that was connected to what looked like a mainframe to a large jackhammer. But as she started to go for it, she was tackled by a spetsnaz soldier. They rolled around, Applejack trying to hit the man in the face. But her arms were not as strong as her legs, and the man was able to keep her from grabbing him.

But she got a blow to his ribs with her knee, and was able to get up. But the man got up just as fast, and aimed a pistol at her. Just as Applejack saw him, The man was tackled by Rainbow Dash, who ran her tactical knife through him. She got up, some blood on her hand. She shivered some as she looked at it

"Thanks, I owe ya." Applejack said.

"No problem." Dash replied, wiping her hand on her vest. Dash helped Applejack up, and they continued to clear out the room until they knew it was safe. As some of the other soldiers guarded the entrance ways, the girls and guys walked to where the element was.

"What the bloody hell is it connected to?" Soap asked.

"Looks like an experimental C-1275 earthquake manipulator" Ghost said.

"Okay, now in English please?" Soap said.

"Or at least Japanese?" Scarecrow said right after Soap.

"In other words, it's an experimental machine that is suppose to be able to start an earthquake anywhere, whether there is a fault line near that city or not." Ghost said. "I've never seen one in real life, only in schematics."

"Can you get the element out?" Specter asked.

"Won't be able to shoot the glass, but maybe I can get through the code that's holding it shut." Ghost said, hooking up his hacking equipment to the computer.

"Good luck with that." A voice said. The group quickly turned to where they saw a TV, and an all to familiar face plastered an evil smile on his face.

"Makarov." Price muttered.

"Ah, So I see you still remember. I thought you said that I would see you in hell. Well, I came back because you weren't there." Makarov mockingly said.

"You never wanted to go, you had to send your brother instead." Scarecrow said with a cold tone.

"At least my brother volunteered, unlike someone else's brother, am I right?" Makarov insultingly replied. Scarecrow clinched his fist and bit his lip in anger. Applejack could tell, and quietly grabbed his hand.

"At least his died like a hero, unlike your entire family, who you kill like a coward." Soap said, defending Scarecrow.

"Oh, did his mother go out the same way?" Makarov simply said. Scarecrow tried his best not to say anything, so all he thought to do was punch one of the metal walls of the machine, and actually left a dent in it.

"How is it a man of your idiocy can pull off so much chaos in this time?" Price said, pulling a chair near him and sitting down, as if he and Makarov were having a friendly discussion over their history.

"Well, for one, I'm not an idiot, and two-" Makarov started.

"He's had some help." Said a voice familiar to the ponies finished. The all to familiar draconequus reared his head into view.

"Discord. So princess Celestia was right." Twilight said.

"Oh, yes, right indeed. She's a very bright girl, I will give her that, just as you are, Twilight." Discord said.

"how do you know it's me?" Twilight asked, shocked because she thought that he wouldn't recognize their human forms.

"Simple, I just watched the way you all act, and I put the name to the body. Pinkamena was not so hard though." Discord explained, chuckling.

"Great, so now it's two we're fighting." Specter muttered.

"Make it three." another voice, this one feminine, said. She revealed her face after saying this. Her revealing herself caught all the girls off guard.

"Chrysalis?!" the girls said in shock.

"The one and only." She said with a devious smile.

"I knew we should have bought a bigger camera." Makarov muttered.

"What are you doing here?" Twilight asked.

"I hired her and her little friends to help." Discord said. "In fact, I think there are two of them now." Discord said. The group turned around to see that hteir men were lying across the ground, blood covering the floor, and two changelings stood there, blood on their teeth and claw like hooves.

"What the fuck?!" Jester said, pointing his M249 SAW at the two creatures. The two changelings looked at the group, and their eyes started to glow green. Then, in front of the guys and girls, They changed into exact copies of soldiers, one SC, the other 141. They each picked up a gun from the body nearest to them, and aimed the weapons at the group. The guys aimed their weapons in return, but before a single shot could be fired, everyone's attention was caught by the sound of whirring machinery.

"What the? I thought you said it wasn't operational yet!" Makarov exclaimed.

"It must be the fact that Fluttershy is near her element, giving it extra power!" Discord said. The element was glowing brightly, and the earthquake machine was moving faster and faster. In seconds, The building was shaking violently. The changelings changed back to their original forms and frantically flew off with their insect like wings.

"Everyone grab on to something!" Soap said, trying to keep his balance.

"Discord, that creation of yours better work to get the element." Makarov said.

"do not worry, it will, and the machine is running strong enough it doesn't need it now." Discord said, and he pressed a button, and the element disappeared.

"SHIT!" Specter yelled.

"Well, maybe we shall see each other at a later time, price." Makarov said. Price simply responded by giving Makarov the middle finger. "The feeling is mutual." he said, un-amused. The TV shut off.

The post Applejack was holding onto broke apart, and she started sliding to the broken windows. She looked up and saw Scarecrow, grabbing on to another post, reaching his hand out.

"Applejack, grab my hand!" Scarecrow yelled. Applejack was able to grab it, and held on for dear life. Fluttershy was screaming, holding on to Soap, burying her head into his shoulder. Soap was trying to hold both of them onto a large group of cables that had tore out of the wall.

"that machine's caused the fault line to erupt!" Ghost yelled. He was looking out, and could see the entire city feeling the wrath of the earthquake. He saw one tower collapse in the distance, then another smaller building collapsing. Specter could see the bodies of their fallen comrades sliding out of the windows, falling silently to the ground far below. The towers of the building started to creak, and everyone's hearing was drowned out by the sound of metal breaking apart.

"THE FUCKING TOWER'S FALLING!" Jester yelled. Scarecrow was somehow able to pull Applejack up with his one arm while making sure he didn't lose the grip. Applejack wrapped her arms around Scarecrow, and Scarecrow could tell that she was about to cry.

"Just hold on! We'll be ok!" Scarecrow said, holding Applejack tighter.

"I can't die, not now!" Applejack said.

"You're not going to die! I promise you! I'll give my own life before you lose yours!" Scarecrow said, trying to reassure her. It was not an easy thing to do when hundreds of tons of steel could fall almost 2,000 feet straight to earth. Applejack started to look down, but Scarecrow put hi hand under her chin and pulled it up. "don't look down, keep your eyes on me!" Scarecrow yelled over the loudness of the chaos surrounding them. They locked onto each others eyes. And suddenly, all the noise stopped for only a few seconds, but it seemed like hours.

"Nick…" Applejack started to say, but Scarecrow put a finger over her lips.

"Shhh…. Don't speak. Just keep looking at me." Scarecrow said. Applejack pulled down Scarecrow's mask, and they kissed. At that moment, they didn't care if all the others saw them or not, they knew that they could die at this moment, and they wanted to be together when it happened. As they pulled away, they looked at each other. The group then heard one last, loud creaking of steel and glass.

"It's going to be okay, Just hold on to m-" Scarecrow was saying, but then the sound that they all dreaded filled their ears. The steel mainframe breaking apart completely. Scarecrow and Applejack buried their heads into each others shoulders, all of the group screaming as the towers toppled over.

Hey guys, I'm sorry that I have not updated in forever, but I've been busy with finals testing for school, and I've been having to help my family a lot recently with some issues. But hopefully over the summer I can update better! Stay tuned for the next chapter of Shadows of Hope!