'How're you feeling?' Apple asked me once she noticed that I was struggling to sit up.

"Like I got shot in both the thigh and the throat." I answered, wincing as it hurt to talk.

"I could get court-marshaled for saying this, but shut the fuck up." Thompson said from a few feet away. "And I'm completely serious when I say that it's in your best interest to not talk."

"In other words, I can only say stuff to my daughter?" I questioned, raising my eyebrow.

"Pretty much." He said, looking over at Zecora as she patched up a zebra. The dude had two bullet holes in his forelegs, confusing me.

'Friendly fire?' I asked Apple, sliding into a sitting position.

'He actually fired at Isaac.' She answered, causing me to frown.

'Schmidt's gonna love him.' I said, looking around for a radio.

"The radio's busted." Blake said, jogging over to me. "Three arrows in it before the Sherman started torching the militia. Doc told me what happened, by the way."

I told him, through the ancient art of military sign language, that he's temporarily promoted to one star general, slapped into the USMC, and put in charge of the operation until reinforcements arrive.

Fuck that. That'd take me all day to sign out to him, I just wrote it down on a MRE package and showed it to him.

"How long until the relief gets here?" Thompson asked Blake, who frowned.

"The radio in the Sherman doesn't have enough range to get a hold of the C-5." He answered. "Two days max is all I can say."

'Dawn will make sure that we get enough reinforcements.' I told Apple while carefully eating from the MRE once I got the green light from Thompson.

'What makes you say that?' She asked, tilting her head to the side.

'He saw how bad it was when he took Blake and Andrew to where ever the fuck he took them.' I answered.

'You were able to see him?' Apple asked.

'I'm not going to lie; I almost died a few hours ago.' I sighed, slumping a little. 'I lost way too much blood for it to be healthy, and he commented that I was very close to needing his services.' Apple merely stared up at me, eyes watering a little.

'Well, at least you're okay now.' She said, hugging my chest as best as she could. I simply rubbed her head as a reply, before looking around the improvised camp the humans have made. With a groan, I stood up and braced myself as I felt like losing my MRE all over my boots (and Apple, since she slipped down when I stood up).

'Jesus Christ...' I hissed in pain, barely holding down my food.

[In Ponyville, several hours later]

Even though Judy had radioed ahead, Max was still surprised to not only find Dawn waiting as the rear ramp descended, but Moon, Luna, Cadence, and his beloved Celestia there as well. "Before anypony blows a fuse," he started, raising his hands slightly to stave off the questions as three hundred zebra fillies, mares, and foals lined up behind him. "Mark told me to load up as many females and young that wanted to leave and bug the hell out…"

"Max, that's not why we are here." Luna said as she stepped up. "But I will let Dawn fill you in after we take care of the refugees."

"On behalf of Equestria and Ponyville, we welcome all of you," Moon announced as Mayor Mare stood at her side. "If you would please follow us, we have a place already set up for you."

While Max stepped aside and waited patiently for the passengers to disembark the plane, Dawn and Celestia had slided up. "There are two warlords vying for control of the refugees," he said, not even waiting for either to ask about what happened. "One of the lords is heavily equipped with armor and weapons, and is willing to help out with dividing up the supplies…"

"But," Celestia asked.

"I found out from, Zorie, the mare who ran an orphanage," he continued, "that once an orphan reaches the right age, the guy takes and sells the foals to the Minotaur and/or the Cat Kingdoms as slaves, using the money (they don't really use bits) to back his military might…"

"Slavery," Cadence blanched, her sharp ears picking up the world. "How horrible…"

"That's nothing," Max sighed heavily as the love princess joined in on the conversation. "The other warlord, at least in my book, needs to be dragged into the street and shot."

"Max, how could…" but Cadence was shushed by her aunt.

"Please elaborate on that for us," Celestia asked, looking a bit hurt that her consort would suggest such an act.

"The other guy sees orphans, and the elderly as a drain on much needed recourses," Max's voice slowly dropped to a whisper. "So he's taken to… to cutting off the loose ends."

"You don't mean," Cadence gasped, the slow nod Max gave her making her sick. "By Celestia, how could anypony do such a thing?"

Max didn't bother to answer, instead his eyes were on Judy and Big Mac as they met up with Granny Smith and Applebloom. As he watched, Judy reached into the harness Mac had on and pulled forth a very young zebra foal… "Oh my gosh, she has a horn," Applebloom cried gleefully. "We have a unicorn in the family… yee-haw!"

"Before any of you ask, neither of the warlords care what happens to half-breeds, however the religious zealots see half-breeds as a blight to Zebra purity and actively hunt them down." Slowly he turned away from the happy family to gaze at the princess of love, "The moment Judy and Mac learned that Zorie was hiding a three month old half unicorn filly, they decided to adopt her while we were still in flight… they named her Applespice."

"Ooh, I have to go see…" Cadence suddenly squealed and trotted off.

"Now that she's out of the way," Max moved his attention toward Dawn. "You had something to tell me?"

"Not long after the C-5B lifted off from the Southern Zebra Nation," Dawn sighed for it was his turn to give bad news. "Two of the Sherman tank's crew were killed and Mark was badly injured during battle…"

Max stood motionless for a good two seconds before he suddenly spun on his heels, and marched over to where Anon and Moon were presiding over the Zebras. "Yo, Lt…" he called as he caught up and pulled Mark's other self aside and filled him in…

"I need all humans front and center in five!" Anon roared out before shooting Dawn a harsh look, "When this thing is over, we are going to have a little chat."

"What is going on sir?" Schmidt inquired after running over from where Twilight was cooing over Applespice.

"We're mobilizing in ten!" Anon announced.

"What? Why?" Gallan asked in confusion, Pinks next to him.

"The General got himself ass-deep into trouble and we have to go bail him out." Anon said. "Hopefully before the bastard dies."

While Anon barked orders, Max sidled up to Judy and whispered the news. Though she kept her cool, he could see the question in her eyes. "Stay with Big Mac and Spice, I'll come get you when Hanna is loaded and we are ready to fly."

"Thanks T-Rex…" Judy whispered.

"Max," Celestia pulled her human aside, "can I have a moment?"

"Sure," he nodded.

"Max, I don't want you to go back…" She said.

"Huh?"

"I was fine with you helping with the relief effort," her big magenta eyes pleaded as she spoke. "But this is different, I don't want you getting hurt… or worse."

"Celestia, I have to go," he gave her a warm smile, even as he realized she was shivering with fear… fear for his life. Oh so gently he reached out and pulled her close…

[6 hours after loading, and a long 17 hour flight]

Two Humvees and a M-Rap were moving even before the rear ramp of the C-5 was down all the way. Then came the troops, 20 day guards, 20 night guards and 20 death guards, all responding to Anon as he directed them to the line. Several of the death guards went into the medical tent to relieve Doc, Zecora, and Dr. Steelhooves to help treat the wounded.

Afterword, once all the relief supplies were off loaded, Max descended and headed for the command tent with two oddly colored weapons. A unicorn death guard was with him to heal Mark.

Once Max had convinced the sun princess that he was needed, she took it upon herself to make sure her human would return to her. To this end she had gathered her two sisters and created a few gifts. "Hey there Mark," he called as he first saluted his commander, before setting a wrapped package down before him. At the same time, a healing beam struck Mark's neck and the hole in both his windpipe and throat closed.

[Mark's POV]

"What the fuck is this," I glanced down at the package (glad to be able to talk again), but then my sharp eyes saw the weapon strapped to the Master Sergeant's back. "And is that…"

Pulling the weapon, Max let a wicked smiled cross his lips. "It a Type-51 Covenant Carbine…" he said as he flipped the power to ON. "However it was made by Celestia, so while its nonlethal, it will still put a Minotaur on his ass and out cold."

I couldn't help but have a fangasm. Meanwhile, Apple was sitting on the table and opening up the package for me, since I couldn't really move too much.

Next Chapter: Another Nightmare Estimated time remaining: 8 Hours, 42 Minutes