If it hadn’t been for seeing it with my own two eyes, there was no way I would’ve believed it. Unable to comprehend the sight, I simply froze up. Eos nudged my shoulder, breaking me out of my shock, but I couldn’t bring myself to speak as she looked to me for answers.

Growing impatient with my lack of response, she once more levitated the binoculars to see through, and quickly showed the same sense of shock. Throwing both of her hooves onto my shoulder, she forced me to look at her as she tore the hood away from my face, focusing into my eyes. The sheer terror in her face mirrored mine as her magic wore off.

“How? This doesn’t make any sense!” Eos desperately pleaded. “I don’t understand what’s going on, how could they?”

Between the pair of us stuttering as we looked at one another, the pony who had lent his binoculars had now mustered up enough courage to interrupt, pointing a hoof at Eos. “Wait, you… you’re one of the leaders of the revolution, aren’t you?” With that, my heart didn’t know whether to race or stop. A large part of me considered pulling out my new pistol, but then hesitated as the pony continued to speak. “Don’t worry, I’m one of your followers. But… what has you so freaked out?”

Taking his binoculars back, the pony next to us looked over to the stand. Humming in confusion, obviously unaware of the implications, he looked back at us before seemingly putting two and two together and blinked at me, before turning his gaze back and looking at the gallows ahead.

Before any of us could utter another word, the speakers continued. ‘The Executioner. The one who leads these rebellions, who incites hatred and disharmony, who leaves nothing but untold death and destruction in his wake, ladies and gentlecolts. The one and only. Here to be sentenced for his crimes.’

“It can’t be…” The pony now pointed at me, his jaw hanging loosely towards the ground. “That pony… you… look” For a moment, not one of the three of us could understand what was going on, until the stranger spoke again. “He… isn’t the real Executioner, is he? Yo—”

Shooting a look at the colt to keep his mouth shut, he froze up instantly in response. Grabbing the binoculars back from him I went back to having another look, trying to take it all in. The pony on the stage, bound and gagged, did indeed look an incredible amount like myself. How and where they had caught a pegasai, I wasn’t sure. Had more come down since those two Enclave members? Perhaps, but why? No, the why of it didn’t matter. What mattered was that, somehow, they had a pegasai that looked like me, and he was paying the cost of my actions.

“What’s the plan? How the hell do we stop this?” The pony next to us asked, panic in his voice. “You’re going to get involved, right? Save the day?”

Letting out a deep sigh, I shook my head and looked down toward the ground, feeling disgraced. “I’m… I’m not sure there is anything I can do.” Saying those words hurt me, badly. Up on the stand stood somepony innocent of crime, only guilty of somehow looking like me, and I could do nothing about it. My eyes turned to Eos, but her face reflected the same anguish. I wanted to find the words to explain myself, but instead, all I could do was watch. One by one the ‘guilty’ were prepared for their last moments, told to say their final goodbyes… all aside from the imposter.

With no finesse, the bodies dropped.

Every part of me wanted to look away. I was no stranger to death, nor to finishing my opponents off, but watching the accused squirm violently left me with a sickening sensation. Yet despite that desire, I couldn’t allow myself to look away. No matter how much the sight horrified me, no matter what pain it caused to see, I could feel a burning flame in my soul. A fire within me, burning bright, charring hatred for the enemy into my very essence.

Pony Joe was the first to stop writing, his agony coming to an end. Though I couldn’t see in perfect clarity, I could tell from the way his body fell limp that he was no more. Taking a deep breath, I let it go again, fighting the urge to close my eyes. One by one, the others began to slip out of consciousness, fading away to the stars above.

Finally closing my eyes, I couldn’t bear to see any more. The pain was just too much to handle. I hardly knew these ponies whatsoever but their struggle had become so interlocked with my own, all because of a need for a damn water talisman. Just as thoughts of home began to race through my head, something grabbed my attention; a collective gasp from the crowd.

Opening up my eyes once more, I thought I couldn’t feel more shock than I already had, but that belief was now proven wrong. Even without looking through the binoculars, the sight was unmistakable. Where my imitator was once, was now the body of Neon, the spy.

“Please tell me one of you saw that, please tell me one of you knows what the fuck just happened.” I quickly blurted out in shock, unable to comprehend why Neon was up there in ‘my’ place.

“D-didn’t you see it?” The pony next to me asked, a mixture of horror and confusion laced in his voice. “The way… he… just burst into some kind of flame and changed?”

Shaking my head, I couldn’t believe the words told to me. That made absolutely no sense at all! Looking to Eos to be told the truth of it all, she was fixated on the sight in front, drawing my eyes back to the scene. In a flash of light and fire, Neon now grew wings and a horn. With his form still changing, I felt almost mentally crippled as I tried to make sense of it all. I’d never heard of anything like this happening in all of Equestria.
With one final kick, the body gave up entirely.

Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes felt the pain of the guilt engulf my mind. Whatever that thing in the noose was, it didn’t matter now. I felt Eos’ hoof wrap itself over my shoulder, but I simply didn’t have the strength to look up at her. I wanted to start a fight… or say something to the crowd to rile them up… or… anything! But I couldn’t. Too scared for Eos’ sake… or too cowardly, I wasn’t sure. Either way, I couldn’t put her in the same danger I would put upon myself.

“It’s okay, Crimson.” Eos soothingly cooed into my ear, her muzzle brushing in my mane. “This isn’t your fault. I don’t even need my new power to tell how you feel. It isn’t your fault.”

Gradually turning my head to look at the beautiful mare next to me, her comforting gaze shared the same pain as I felt, though that pain didn’t take form in anger; but sorrow. Deep down inside, I knew she was right, though I still couldn’t shake the feeling of guilt. Since setting hoof in Coltchester, all I had done was cause damage. Death. Pain. Strife.

For the first time since the start of the journey, I now truly considered what it had cost me… and more importantly, those around me. Too many to names, too many stories, too much pain.

Eos must have noticed my face or read my mind, as the next thing I noticed was a soft kiss planted on my forehead and a hoof around my neck, pulling my face to look at hers. “You’re really not at fault. I promise.” With that my eyes met hers and I let out a pained sigh, but she responded with an even more determined look. “No, I mean it. We already had all of these things happening before you arrived, before you even set out on your journey. The fact you came here and saw all this might be fate, but it certainly isn’t your fault.”

“My fate?” I asked, hurt and confused. “My fate is to cause pain and destruction? To cost innocent ponies their lives?” If it had been any other pony telling me this, I would have spat in anger; but this was Eos and instead of anger I only felt pain.

“As I said. This isn’t your fault and this isn’t the first time they’ve done this. Look around you. What do you see? I see so many who have been hurt and abused by a system that doesn’t care for them. I see injured souls and bodies alike, all wishing to see change, but almost all too scared to be the first one that stands up in protest. And then there’s you.”

“Me?” I interrupted, still feeling upset and confused, though a little more resolute as her words slithered into my ears.

“Yes, you. You’ve breathed a new sense of life into Coltchester.” Her face softened with a smile as she gazed at me, her grip pulling me into the warmth of her chest. “The last time there was a public execution, there wasn’t this sense of anger in the crowd, but fear. You wait. We’ll speak to the ponies once they disperse. I have a feeling that we’re on the cusp of something big, and it only takes a spark to light a fire in the soul of those who feel beaten and downtrodden.”

My teeth grit down hard as I fought to look upon the bodies as they continued to hang silently, yet still calling for attention. Turning my focus to the crowd I could pick out more than a fair share of the citizenry who seemed just as angry as I felt. All it would take was a single spark. I would be that spark. With that thought in my mind, knowing that the pain wasn’t just mine, something changed in me. These lives lost wouldn’t be in vain, I would make certain of it.

Feeling Eos’ wingtips gently pull me, I turned to follow her lead as the crowd began to disperse. There was nothing more we could do here, nothing at all.

“There has to be something we could’ve done.”

“Please, Crimson.” Eos muttered. “You really must try to shed this guilt. It won’t change what happened.”

In perfect harmony, Helios and Selene spoke with curiosity weighing heavily in their voices. “What did happen?”

Turning to the pair, my face must have said it all as they began to grimace. A bottle of rum floated on over to my side as Eos packed away the rest of the purchases we made. Opening it up and taking a swig, the burn seemed soothing compared to the feeling that the hung must have felt. Looking straight at the pair as I kicked my hooves up onto the table, nothing seemed to satisfy my angst. “We went up top, got some gear for me and walked right into a public execution. Pony Joe. Blessed Cradle. Some others. An imitation of myself.”

With those words, the whole room barring myself and Eos paused in shock. Even Titan had stopped dead in his tracks, hoof mid stride as his head turned to face me. “What in Equestria did you just say, Crimson?”

Taking another swig, I closed my eyes and gulped down, relishing the way I somehow already began to feel different. “Yeah, that’s right. Those fuckers had… something… whatever the hell it was, that looks like me. Titan, you remember ‘Neon’ the spy, don’t you?”

“What about him?” Titan asked in a way that told me he didn’t expect good news, which he was right to prepare himself for. “Let me guess. They caught him too, then?”

“Not just that.” I started, chewing my words before taking a deep breath and letting it go again in defeat. “Yes, we’ve lost him. But more importantly, it seems like he wasn’t what we thought. He was my imposter. I don’t know how or what magic might have been used, but…” For a moment I paused, uncertain on whether Titan, or anyone even, would believe what I had to say next. Taking another mouthful and shuddering from the sensation, I finally told them. “There must have been some spell in effect because he burst into magical flames twice. Changed from looking like me to looking like him as we knew him, to looking like… I don’t even know. He had both wings and a horn but neither like a pony.”

From behind me, I heard Tsunami speak in an imposing tone. “Crimson, you’ve had too much to drink!”

Gobsmacked at the accusation, I roared in displeasure. “No, I know what I saw! I saw him burst into flames! He looked jus-”

Interrupting me, the bottle was magically grabbed out of my hooves, causing me to cross them grumpily. “No, I don’t mean what you saw. I mean you’ve had too much to drink. Eos shouldn’t have passed you that bottle whatsoever. You’re on too much medication to be drinking right now.”

In an attempt to defend herself, Eos shyly fought back but with only half of the ferocity that Tsunami could muster. “He needed it! He was too guilt ridden.”

“Guilt,” Tsunami growled. “Will not kill him. Alcohol on the other hoof, whilst in his current state and on the medication he’s taking, absolutely could.”

Turning my focus to Eos, I could almost feel the guilt seeping from me into her as our eyes met, causing her face to droop to the floor. Tears beginning to well up as her actions became slower whilst her breathing sped up and the hiccups began. If ever a sight could break my heart within but only a second, seeing such a beautiful mare being reduced to such an emotional state was it.
Whistling to grab her attention, I waved a hoof at her to come to me before she could storm off or go invisible and begin to hide. Just like a filly running to the other parent after being told off, she was straight to my side, grasping me with her magic before swiftly placing herself on the sofa and resting me between her hooves and wings.

“I-I” She began to sob. “I don’t want you to die. I don’t mean to hurt you. Please… please forgive me. I just wanted you to feel better.”

“I’m not angry with you. Tsunami is.” I quickly corrected the poor alicorn, stroking her cheek. “And… she might be right. I already feel different, my stomach hurts. I don’t feel so good.”

“Give him here, I’ve got to get him to a toilet! Now!” Tsunami ordered, causing Eos to jump off from the sofa in pure shock. With a swift movement, Tsunami got a hold of me and threw me across her shoulder to carry me on her back over to the restroom. “And you. Yes you. Would you please be so kind as to get a supply of clean water? He’s going to need it.” With my eyes closed and already halfway to the toilet, I had no idea who she was talking to, but it didn’t matter. I was just glad to have somepony who seemed to know what they were doing. Closing my eyes, everything began to hurt and spin around as if the whole planet itself was drunk.

For the next half hour, my head laid on what started as a clean towel that sat upon the seat of a toilet. Over and over, my body relinquished every ounce of energy and fun that the alcohol had brought me as I threw up, with only the reassuring soft coo coming from Tsunami to make me feel any better.

With yet another burst of tears and pain emanating from my stomach, my head felt like it was going to explode with the rising pressure before more sick went down the bowl. Despite all of that, a soft, tender touch caressed my mane. “That’s it. Let it all come out. You’re doing well, Crimson.”

“I d-don’t want to feel l-like this a-a-again.” I whined, feeling completely unable to help myself. My composure was long since lost at this point, there was no more shame to be had. “I feel like I’m dying.”

“I know, Crimson. I know you don’t want to feel like this again.” Tsunami murmured in a motherly tone. “And this is why you won’t be mixing alcohol with all of this medication you’re on again. And before you say anything; once you’re off the treatment, you can go back to drinking at that point. Not sooner.” For a moment she stopped, but with a small breath, she continued to lecture me. “And it’s good that you feel like you’re dying, because that will just make sure you do stop. I won’t let you die, Cherry needs you to save her.”
Those words… those six words both hurt and sobered me like none other.

For the next while, there was an oddly tranquil peace to be had in simply laying my head on the toilet seat, my mane being stroked by Tsunami as she looked after me. Finally I had the feeling like there was no more bodily desire to puke. With a little squirt of water into my mouth, I swilled it around before spitting it out into the bowl.

“Thanks, doc.” I murmured without much energy left inside of me. “You really are a lifesaver.”

“You’re welcome, Crimson. It’s my job to look after you, after all. Even still, you really ought to be more careful of what you’re doing. I can help you out in so many ways, but I can’t bring you back from the dead. Four Ridges needs you. Alive.”

Looking at her for just a moment longer, something in what she said gave me the strength to lift myself from the bowl. She was absolutely right. Four Ridges did need me. Cherry needed me. Hell, even Coltchester needed me. I had to overcome this.

With a knock on the door, I peered round to see three faces, though one closer than the rest, her head lowered in shame. “H-hey. I…” With a jab to the side, Eos squeaked before correcting herself. "We hope you’re feeling better, and I’m sorry for what I did. I just wanted you to relax, wanted you to feel less guilty.”

For a moment she hesitated, but the moment I went to respond she immediately rushed to continue talking. “We want you to come with us… back outside. Not just me, not this time. All of us. I told Titan what happened earlier and I’ve told him the way I feel, he doesn’t like it. He tried to tell us it absolutely wouldn’t be happening, but we’re not going to back down. All three of us are going above, and we’d like you to be with us so you can see how everyone is dealing with the… events from earlier.”

“Whoa whoa whoa!” Tsunami burst out. “Crimson? In this condition? What if something happens? He’s still not in fighting form. Especially after your little stunt.”

Almost roaring in anger, Eos stamped a hoof to the ground. “I’m sorry, okay! I’m sorry that I didn’t think about the danger of giving him alcohol, but you-”

At this point, Helios stepped forth gave her sister a caring look that caused Eos to deflate with a sigh. “What my darling sister means to say is she’s sorry for her actions and she understands the outcome could have been deadly, but it was a mistake she knows not to make again. Likewise, Crimson is also aware not to accept alcohol again whilst being treated for his condition, so the issue will not arise again. Do not forget however, that it was my sister, Eos, who has spent the most time and dedication taking care of Crimson out of anypony here. Her heart is in the right place, Tsunami. And yes, I am aware you want an apology from her. She would also like one from you.”
For a moment, both mares glared at the green alicorn, to which she just shrugged. “I know neither of you have said it, but don’t forget, I read minds… for breakfast.”

“Goddess damn it, Helios!” Selene barked out, trying to fight her laughter through the words. “Where do you get off from being so... augh. I can’t think of the word.”

“Regal?” Helios asked with a raised eyebrow and a smirk.

“Nooo.” Selene muttered, holding the ‘o’ for emphasis. “I was thinking more along the lines of unpredictable and purple.”

Though she obviously tried to hide the fact, it was clear to me at least that there was a twinge of confusion on Helios’ face as her eyes narrowed and her lips straightened slightly. “Wait, what do you mean purple? You’re one to talk! You’re literally purple!”

The face that Selene pulled upon hearing that remark was something I’d never quite seen before. Her mouth contorted in the weirdest fashion as her eyes looked back. “UGH! It’s an expression! From books! It means you go on and on without getting to the point. And you’re sooo like that one minute and then make a terrible, terrible pun! Why, I ought to teach you how to really have fun.”

With a deep breath, Helios giggled and let it all back out before releasing a content sigh. “You know I enjoy plenty of things, sister. Especially your company. Now, back to the point; Crimson.”

“You don’t need to ask. I’ll come. Coltchester might not be home to me, but I need to see the outcome. I need to see what the impact was.”

“Well then, if you are going, you’re not going without us.” Looking over to the door, behind the alicorns stood a large figure. As soon as the girls stepped aside, I could see all of the special forces that Cherry had called in, besides Shockwave and Deadlight. For a moment that reminder felt like an anchor, dragging me back down, but the confident faces quickly revitalised me. “We were already approached by Eos about the plan, and we all agreed you aren’t going anywhere without us. Not this time.”

The strength of the support from everypony around me felt revitalising. Getting onto my hooves and supporting my own weight for real, I knew we had this. With the whole lot of us going, we could handle any situation that the Coalition could throw our way.

Trotting to my room and looking at my gear, I quickly grabbed my cloak again. It didn’t seem appealing this time, the citizens of Coltchester needed to know that the Coalition was wrong, but now still wasn’t the time for armed uprising… not yet. They hadn’t killed The Executioner, but perhaps it would prove best for them to believe they had if only for a short while. If anything given me more reason to fight with a ferocity they could have never expected. Grabbing what else I needed, I made no waste of time getting myself ready.

Stepping through the hallway, past the main room where everyone stood, I was quickly flanked on all sides by a whole slew of bodies. Each and every one of the special forces stood proud. With another step, the three alicorns joined me, a cheerful yet subtle smile on the faces of each.
Across the hall was Maisy and Deadlight, who were playing Prince Snugglebums and Sandstorm. For a moment I considered calling them over, but taking even but a moment of notice I could see that Deadlight really had a way with the manticore. With all of us going, perhaps it was best to leave someone behind to hold down the fort.

Making our way to the door, there stood Titan, armoured up and gun ready. Everybody stopped, aside from myself. Stepping up to the imposing stallion, I looked him straight in the cracked eyepiece.
Clearing my throat before speaking in the most commanding voice I could muster, I said but a single word. “Titan.”

Despite his deep rasping and croaky voice, not even the added effect from voice modulator could intimidate me now that I was feeling this. His glare was impressive at imposing his will, but I couldn’t back down now. “Where do you think you’re going? All of you.”

“We’re going out there, we’re going to show the Coalition that no amount of slaughter will hold back the tide of the citizens will. They think they’ve won this fight now that they put on a big show, but I am telling you now, a cause like this doesn’t die just because something like that. The fire they themselves lit will be the flames that burn their coalition down, all it needs is the residents to see the strength they truly have, to stand up against them. We’re going off to remind them what they stand to gain.”

His face didn’t move, nor did his body, though I could still hear the faint sounds of his breathing slipping past the helmet. I was expecting him to order us to turn around, or at least the alicorns to do so. What I wasn’t expecting was for him to turn around, face the door and open it up for us. Much to both my surprise and respect, that’s exactly what happened. Titan being the first to step out into the light.

It was time for the ponies of Coltchester to be the jury, and not the accused.

Walking amongst the scattered groups of citizens, we had dispersed to avoid being too obvious, though with a quick glance I could make out all of the ponies I had quickly come to know much better. Of course, the alicorns stood out most of all, and side by side they strode, holding their heads high in confidence but without an air of superiority. Watching as strangers would approach them, there was an undeniable degree of fear but also of devotion towards the ‘Goddesses’ as many called them.

“What will you do for us?” “How are you going to help?!” “My brother was up there!” “I’m hungry! How are you going to feed me?” “What about my foals?” “We want revenge!”

Overwhelmed with the sudden flood of demands and requests, I could see that Eos was struggling to comprehend everything whilst Selene spoke to one of the directly and Helios merely sat down and closed her eyes. It would be a complete mystery to anypony who hadn’t known her, but I quickly realised that this was just her finding mental fortitude, perhaps even probing the ponies with her telepathy.

Watching the crowd get larger and rowdier, one call rang out to me louder than any other. ‘We want revenge’. Stepping closer to the crowd, I raised my head high without removing the hood, keeping my face hidden from view. “So, its revenge you want, is it?” For a moment I paused, lingering those words in their minds for effect. “What of freedom?”

With that, the crowd gave way to hushed chatter. Looking into their eyes, I lowered my hood and unfurled my wings, bestowing them all the gift of knowledge; the knowledge of who I was. “I say that freedom bears the heaviest price, but is the greatest gift any can have. The freedom to not only work for honest return, but the freedom to truly live.”

With that, one of the ponies that had been silent now spoke, a trembling in their voice. “You? But… you were.”

“That was an imposter.” I promptly replied. “And they’ll rue this day, the day they thought they had won, the day they thought they finally broke the spirit of all those who live in the Slumside of Coltchester. All those who they view as lesser, inferior, insignificant. I tell you now, you are none of those. None of them! Each of you has a story to tell, a future to see. If we work together, we can make that future as bright as possible. But we need to work together, and that’s why I work for these three.”

Now another voice from the crowd spoke as the chatter became louder, almost drowning them out entirely. “Y-you work for the Goddesses? Is that really the truth? There was rumours, but nobody could say for sure.”

Nodding my head before stepping in front of the three mares and sitting down, I didn’t even need to say it verbally. The energy from those I could see was electric. Now ponies approached, speaking to the three alicorns in a more subdued, respectful way. No more incoherent shouting over one another, instead, they seemed glad to wait for their chance to speak to ‘the Goddesses’. One by one, they got their answers.

Turning my head around, I could even see members of my backup approaching ponies in pairs, no doubt trying to gauge just what was going through everypony’s heads right now. Freight Train and Brick in one group, Grinder and Iron Wall in another and Tsunami trotting alongside Titan. Seeing everypony out here, working together like this, pledging their time to a cause when all they were truly tasked with doing was keeping me safe.

Dazing off into those thoughts, Helios was the one who brought me back to alert with a small mental nudge. ‘Wakey wakey, Crimson. We’re not safe out here, remember.’
She was right. Even if this crowd appreciated us, not everyone did. That needed to change.

“Excuse me,” A voice called out from behind me, a tan pony standing there. “But what happens when those who don’t like you come knocking?”

“We deal with them.” I answered plainly.

With that, their face turned to a grin as they stepped back and moved into a doorway, passing by two dark figures. “You better be ready, because you’re out of time.”

Whilst trying to figure out what that was meant to mean, I felt time almost freeze as I instinctively hit into S.A.T.S. Although I couldn’t properly see the two figures were beginning to edge closer towards me, the magical spell was doing its job for certain. They were hostile.
Planning out my movement, I grabbed my pistol and took aim.

Feeling the bit and trigger of this new pistol for the first time I was almost put off by just how different it seemed, and yet at the same time as I pulled the trigger, it felt so much better.
Watching the first bullet rip through the air, my aim was true and the first figure stammered on a gargle before falling to the floor. Sending out a second shot, the spell wore off just as the other hostile jolted backwards, though this one still alive.

Now I could hear the screams of confusion filling the air, though I couldn’t let that distract me. Jumping out of view from the doorway, I saw a nearby market stand. Not true cover, but at the very least it could conceal me. Getting to it was no issue, but now the frantic crowd was blocking a clear view from where the hostiles had approached from.

Without a moments warning Brick slid down next to me, preparing his assault rifle to bare whilst using a small mirror to peak past our cover. “What the hell just went on there?”

In the shock of it all, I couldn’t be anything other than honest. “I don’t even know.”

“Wait, so you don’t know yourself? Why did you shoot then?!”

Hearing the cracks of bullets flying above us, we both scrambled into separate cover whilst Freight Train wordlessly pushed up into an ambushing flank, shotgun at the ready. Taking in the surroundings, Titan had moved to cover one direction of the road alongside the three alicorns. Tsunami was on crowd control whilst Grinder and Iron Wall covered the other direction of the road.

“Crimson!” Titan called out. “What’s the target?”

Repeating myself was all I could manage. Honesty was the only card up my sleeve. “I don’t know, all I know is there was at least two hostile targets.”

The sound of hooves rushing forward quickly came to a stop as a shotgun rang out, the next sound being the heavy thud of a body hitting the floor. Almost snapping my neck, I poured my attention over to Brick who once again used his mirror to look out before nodding and getting into a defensive yet more relaxed firing position. Poking my head around, there laid the body of some donkey.

Without a word, Freight Train threw something into the doorway where the newly deceased had come from whilst Tsunami and Brick stacked up behind him. As soon as an enormous bang was heard, Freight Train was being followed by Brick and tentatively shadowed by Tsunami in a formation entirely new to me. Another roar from the shotgun rang out from within the building whilst the rattle of an assault rifle filled the air as well. Only seconds later, the deep voice of Freight Train called out to me. “Crimson! Get here. Now.”

Not taking any time, I leapt out from my spot and rushed to the doorway. In that moment, I felt my stomach drop as I heard Tsunami utter the words ‘he isn’t going to make it’. Rushing further towards the trio, I let out the most immense sigh and the sides of my head felt like they were about to crumple as the relief hit me. Freight Train and Brick were fine. Instead, ahead of me was a stallion laying on the floor behind a desk with a small ham radio unit that was now destroyed, the pony bleeding profusely from his gut.

“Who sent you.” I barked out, not wanting to play games. “Nobody just approaches somepony with the reputation I have and makes a threat like you did, especially not with such a small group. Someone set you up to this, didn’t they? Who?”

For whatever reason, I was expecting the dying pony to smile, spit blood and perhaps even laugh at me. To tell me to fuck off and burn in hell. Maybe the thought flashed through his mind, but no, whatever he had in mind, that stayed put as he just looked at me. There was no sense of hatred in his eyes, nor panic. Pain and anguish were all I could see as I looked at him, then his breathing stopped. The light in his eyes remained, but the tight clutch he held onto his wound now failed him as his forelegs slipped to his side, limp.

Feeling the anger and frustration of the moment overwhelm me, I began shouting carelessly. “Celestia damn it! He was sent by somepony! I know it! I just know it!”

“You never did explain that, Crimson. You’d best do so to the crowd outside, no less. As accustomed to violence as Coltchester may be, if you’re looking to win them over, you don’t want to be seen as randomly killing at leisure.”

Nodding in agreement, I tried to lift the body from the floor with little luck. Between the awkward posture, lack of desire to get potentially infected blood all over me and sheer weight of the dead pony, it was just no good. Brick however seemed far less fussed about the task at hoof and swept the corpse over his shoulder as if it was no hard feat whatsoever. Whilst I didn’t envy the mess, I couldn’t help but feel a little outclassed by his brute strength.

Stepping out of the building, the crowd had somewhat reassembled whilst the alicorns sat in the middle of the street, once more talking to everyone they could. The moment Brick shrugged the body onto the floor however, a deafening pause was only broken by the shocked gasp of a few.

Before anyone else could think of what to say, Freight Train cleared his throat. “So, we tried to ask this particular pony what in Equestria just happened, but he didn’t want to talk. Can anyone here identify him?”

The muttering from the masses was indecisive, though there seemed to be a shadow of recognition on just a few of the citizens. Puffing my chest out and raising my head high, I took a deep breath and gave the friendliest smile I could muster. “If anypony or anyone at all is able to identify who this is, or better, who they’re affiliated with, it would be to my great appreciation. I know I’m the one who shot first, but only in self-defence. This pony made a threat against me and I knew my life was in danger. I need to know why. If coming forth puts you in danger, we will provide you security.”

Looking over towards Helios, there was a nod of understanding in return before she scoured the crowd with her eyes, looking for any leads. If anypony here was hiding their knowledge, perhaps she would pick it out. Noticing my silent plea for help, Eos spread her wings as she walked through the slew of ponies before wrapping a wing around me as she now stood next to me.

Looking around for a moment, she cleared her throat before talking with a level of confidence that I hadn’t seen from her before. “If any of you did not trust the Executioner in what he has just said, then I tell you not to take his words; take mine. We will keep you safe from harm if need be. If you did not trust the Executioner to have your interests at heart, then I tell you this; take mine. If you do not wish to answer his plead, then consider it mine.”

Looking up at her, I was speechless. The aura of confidence and command radiating from the alicorn were awe inspiring. Just as much as I had felt moved by her words, it seemed that another had felt the same as from near the front, a mare stepped forth.

The mare wasn’t much to look at, though not ugly she was simply unassuming. A bland coat and messy mane, tattered rags covering her flanks. Slowly, she stepped closer, looking around before approaching fully. “I don’t know his name, but I recognise him, just about. He worked with another stallion I know, a zebra. A client of mine, I won’t name who. They both work for another zebra. Zemal. I’m sorry, but that’s all I’ll say.” With that, the mare pulled closer and in a much more hushed tone, spoke softly into my ear. “Not even your promise would keep me safe if I said even another word. Perhaps I’ve said too much as it is. All else I can say is that if you’ve truly upset Zemal, you’re kicking up more dirt than you realise.”

Zemal? Why did I feel like I knew that name?

Smiling back at the mare, I thanked her quietly. If she was feeling unsafe, I wouldn’t put her at further risk. Turning my attention back at the group of citizens, I now had to try and make amends.
“So, with that out of the way, is there anything we can do for you? Our cause is your cause. We are nothing without your support, nothing without you. What can we do to make you see that the best hope for Coltchester is putting power in the hooves of the citizenry collectively coming together as the peoples’ liberation army of Coltchester?”

“We’ve seen you fight, but we don’t know why.” One stallion rebutted. “And why, if we’re surviving, would we fight too? Life may not be great, but we’re alive. Sometimes the status quo is best.”

“Who wants to survive when you can live?”

Before he could reply, the pair of us and just about everypony else was thrown off from their conversations as a screaming mare came our way. “RUN! RUN! RUUUUUN!”

My eyes snapped to the direction she ran from as the masses began to scream and panic, nopony truly knew why she was acting this way but all of the locals seemed to understand that when someone said run, you ran. I didn’t need to say anything for the special forces to form up a defensive line, hiding behind whatever hard cover or concealment they could ready for the emerging threat. In the distance I began to see figures approach, though something about them didn’t look like Coalition forces.

The three alicorns leapt into the sky, climbing up onto the rooftops above. Figuring they had a good plan, I quickly realised that I would be best off using that same advantage myself. Spreading my wings and gaining height, I quickly made it onto the rooftop with the trio and looked down from our spot.

A little over two dozen more ponies and even zebras ran from the direction of the fleeing mare now. Stallions, mares, and even colts and fillies. Both the young and old stampeded down the road, past where we had only just stood. All of them ignored everything to their sides, including my guardians. Their only concern was ahead; to escape.

“Do you three have any idea what the threat is?” I asked, completely bewildered. “I don’t see any Superhoof robots. There’s no way that many people are running from nothing at all but last time I saw everypony run like this was those robots attacking. Something isn’t right here.”

“No, we haven’t” Selene responded plainly. “And you’re right. Something isn’t right here. I could try teleport closer… perhaps take Eos with me, we could go invisible. We’ll be able to see what it is that way. What do you think, sister?”

“We could. Between your teleportation and our invisibility magic working together, we could get closer and identify the issue. Then Helios and I could telepathically pass on the message.”

With a nod, Helios gave her vote of confidence. “Right.”

Just like that, it was decided, and the pair were already gone from sight. I did have my worries about the plan, but there was no time to waste. Whatever the cause for the mayhem was, we had to know.

“Crimson.” My name. The way Helios had said my name gave me the chills. Turning to look at her, the green alicorns face was one of pure horror. Her pupils dilating with every passing moment, a shiver down her spine. Instead of words, she merely pointed down the road. Failing to notice whatever it was she was trying to point out, I instead noticed the nearby horizon. The sounds of explosions and a thick smoke were coming from the direction of the Luxury District. Down below, my eye caught more motion. This time, it wasn’t citizenry, but Coalition soldiers that were running our way.

Reaching over to my holster I pulled out my pistol, though a hoof onto my shoulder gave me pause as Helios shook her head and began to mutter inaudibly as her horn flared my mind filled with her words directly. “No… no, not them. They’re fleeing too.”

True to her word, the Coalition soldiers ran right by the special forces who watched with anticipation. For a moment I expected them to fire, but then realised that Helios must have been telepathically speaking to them as well. Clever girl.
Watching the Coalition soldiers, somehow I just knew that there was no malice in the way they ran. Whatever was going on, it was severe.

Without warning, Eos and Selene were back at our side, Selene dry heaving. Looking at her in this state, I was absolutely baffled by what I saw. I figured that teleporting must have been an exhausting spell, but this seemed excessive. Before I could manage to ask what was going on, a sickly, overwhelming smell filled my nostrils and my eyes shot to the direction of a truly horrific sight.

Whether they were ghouls or, Celestia forbid, living ponies, I couldn’t be sure. All I knew was they were coming… fast. Guttural screaming, wailing in agony and soul destroying pain, the figures ran at us, aflame. Without hesitation the first shots were fired at them, quickly gunning down every target to both end the suffering and stop a threat. Spreading my wings, I went to jump into the sky only to be grabbed by Eos.

“No.” Her command was strong and undeniable. I wanted to get into the air, to see what I could do, to stop the source. “Don’t you dare.” Eos yet again insisted. “They’ve got two of them, one with a short flame, one that shoots far and… those poor souls.”

At this point Selene broke into tears, a flash came into my mind of innocent bystanders being sprayed with some liquid before their confusion led to their ultimate demise. My fur stood on end as I now understood, and I wished I hadn’t.

Looking back to the ground, two figures so heavily armoured that they could almost be mistaken for Steel Rangers were getting closer and closer, each with heavy tanks on their back and evil nozzles on their side. Yelling down to my forces below, there was only one option for them. “Retreat! Retreat! Don’t get hit by the liquid!”

As soon as the words had left my mouth, a spray from the longer ranged shot towards the special forces, though no fire followed. That figure then took a step back, whilst the other stepped closer. Looking at the ground, my blood ran cold as I then realised how this worked.

In a scream of absolute desperation, Grinder cried out with a voice that betrayed any amount of training. “Fuck! FUCK! FUCK! FUCKFUCKFUCK!”

As the flame erupted from the armoured figure, it followed the trail, rapidly approaching the heavy weapons pony. In an almost impossibly quick moment, a flash of green enveloped Grinder and a force field prevented the fire from getting inside… though for how long Helios could hold onto the spell, I hadn’t even the slightest clue. As if knowing my fear, which she probably did, Eos dived down and used her own magic to overwhelm the fire in its own protective shield, allowing Helios and Grinder to retreat with the others.

With Eos disappearing out of the way and everyone else in new cover, I barked the only request I could think of. “TITAN!”

“I can’t risk shooting them, Crimson!” Titan cried out in return. “Between my explosive bullets and their fuel tanks, this whole place will go down if I do!”

Looking down at the pair, I noticed one point at me as they both looked up. A spray of pellets shot into the wall below me, causing me to jump back into cover before their heavy footsteps marched forth once more.
As they passed by the building, I could hear laughter from the two figures… at least one was a donkey by the sound of his see-saw laughter. Their advance up the road was slow but calculated with precision to avoid the fire they had caused. More squirts of the long ranged fuel sprayed across towards my team, though this time they knew to avoid it with even more desperation than the last.

For a moment I considered using my grenades, but Titan was right about the explosion being too dangerous. These buildings weren’t in a good state and there was no telling how bad it would be. Right as a hail of bullets held the two at bay for just a moment, I racked my brain trying to figure out a way to fight them. Their armour was all over with no obvious weak point… and then it hit me. They had no trouble looking up… there was no way the armour was as thick at the back of the neck!

Releasing the magazine from my pistol and emptying the chamber, I slid a new magazine in with the brand new armour piercing rounds ready to trial for the very first time. There was one shot at this, only one. Extending my wings, I jumped down from the building behind the pair and hit my S.A.T.S.
Approaching the back of my target, I lined up a single shot into the back of his neck, knowing that the recoil at this speed would be too much to handle a second chance.

Pulling the trigger only a meter away as I swept up to my target, the recoil of the round alone knocked me off balance and into the ground, stunned, but as I looked up I could see it also threw my opponent down to the ground, head first.

Following every instinct that was trying to keep me alive, I rolled away from the targets, trying to get back into the air before a shotgun blast smashed into my side knocking me yet further away. By all rights, I should have cried like a bitch or been unable to even do so at this range, instead I just felt winded yet unrelenting in my desire to escape. Trying to get to my hooves, I slumped back down as all the energy I’d just had left me. A spurt of flame licked in my direction, though as soon as it started, a purple field surrounded me and purple hooves were firmly planted either side of me.

Then the flames stopped. Looking back to the armoured opponent, the stance that Eos held was both glorious and horrifying. Her horn lowered to his chest, he simply fell flat onto his belly, letting out an indignant series of pained grunts before the death rattle was all that was left. Ripping his flamer away, Eos quickly attached the battle saddle to herself and claimed it as her prize.

Watching the events unfold left me absolutely dumbfounded. I had seen Eos kill before, but only the once. Now she did it again, and yet again, it was for me.

With Selene’s help, I was now back on my hooves. The shotgun blast to the chest had hurt me immensely, but looking down, I couldn’t feel nor see blood. Moving my cloak out of the way, I could see that my new armour hadn’t even taken a dent. Realising just how strong it was, I couldn’t help but smile and kiss the two amazing mares on the cheek each. “Your generosity and tenacity just saved me from both serious injury and death. Thank you.”

With a thin wisp of a smile sliding onto Selene’s face, she pointed at Eos. “Its her that saved you, really. There’s no way I could have kept up that shield for long… Besides,” And with a playful rub of her cheek and a wink, Selene continued after a short pause. “She’s the one who wants kisses! N-not me!”

As we approached the team, Titan and Helios came rushing to greet us first of all, and upon seeing the salvaged weapon, Helios scoffed. “Why in Equestria are you carrying that, sister?”

“I don’t really know why I do, but I want it. I hope to the Goddess I’d never need such a horrifying device, but…” Eos paused, looking down at the weapon. “Something about it calls out to me. Besides, we can’t allow for anypony else to get their hooves on it. The other weapon used the same fuel tanks by the looks of things so I’m taking those too. At least if I take it away, it can’t be used again.”

Shrugging her shoulders, there was nothing more to ask and no answers to be had it seemed. Instead, we just regrouped and began our return ‘home’.

The walk back to base was slow and uneventful. Freight Train, Brick and Titan formed a vanguard with myself and the trio of alicorns in middle, Tsunami and Iron Wall covering the rear flank. The streets had been empty for the most part, until we came closer and closer to the bunker once more. With just a few hundred more yards to go, ponies slowly approached us, bowing their heads.

“Wait, please, excuse me, wait…” One timid pony began, finally catching our attention. Stopping, the alicorns and I all turned our attention to him as one. “You… you were the ones we were speaking to before, weren’t you?”

“Yeah.” I replied flatly, worn out from everything I’d seen through the day. Realising how it came across, I felt guilty and let out a sigh. “Yes. Sorry. I’m just tired. Yes, we’re the ones you were speaking to. What can we do for you?”

Pointing at the flamer on Eos’ back, the young stallion’s voice chirped a little. “That weapon. That belonged to one of the enforcers that work for the gang. How did you...” His sentence dropped there as he realised the answer to his question. Without any warning, he threw himself down to the ground and kissed the hooves of the three alicorns before getting back up. “I’m sorry to have to ask, but what were your names again?”

“Helios, Eos and Selene.” The three girls said respectively, “And this is one of our closest allies and companions, The Executioner.” Selene then added.

“Well, they aren’t very pony… but I’ll remember those. Thank you.”

Just like that, the pony scurried off, leaving Eos mystified at the encounter. “Not very pony?” She muttered to herself, her eyes glazing over and looking into the corner from there on out. No matter how I tried to talk to her, nothing seemed to pierce her mental blockade.

Setting my gear down in the bedroom and inspecting my new armour once more, I was yet again simply amazed by what a great job it had done. My cloak was beginning to be nothing but holes of varying sizes at this point, though given where we were, that was only fitting. Perhaps it would even help me blend in better, who knew.

Stepping out into the living area I saw a mixture of happiness, relief, and more than just a touch of tiredness amongst all the faces. No matter how quickly a fight ended, it was always something that felt like all of your energy had been drained once it was all over. Looking over to my favourite sofa spot though, I saw Eos, and the glum look on her face had only deepened.

Approaching towards her, she didn’t even look up. Somepony tried to say my name in a precautionary way, though I didn’t pay heed. If Eos was upset, I needed to try and help.
Stepping up next to the sofa, I lifted her head up slightly with a wingtip before sitting my rump down on the floor.

“Hey Eos,” I began. “What’s wrong?”

Without a word I felt myself being lifted by both her hooves and magic, but instead of being lifted into her embrace like I had expected, I was turned away. “I’m not Eos.”

Turning back around, I stared at the big blue mare with utter confusion. “Well, I haven’t seen or met any other big blue mares quite as wonderful as you. Especially not any other alicorns.”

“HEY!” Cried Selene.

“Blue alicorns.” I corrected myself.

“That’s better.” She muttered with a grumpy ‘hmpf’.

Turning my attention back to Eos, I raised her face up once more with a wingtip and rubbed my nose on hers in an attempt to cheer her up again. Focusing her eyes on me, she once more picked me up between her magic and her hooves, but this time pulled me close. “I… I just don’t know, Crimson.”

“Don’t know what?” I asked before having a hoof gently place itself on my lips.

“I just don’t know, is that really me? Should I take a new name? But what?”

The mare’s voice was so rife with sorrow that I could feel my heart breaking under the strain. Looking into her eyes, I tenderly asked my question. “Why would you want to change your name though?”

“Because Eos was the name given to me in Unity. You heard that colt, it’s not a pony name. It wasn’t my original name. Goddess, I don’t even know my old name.” Her face drooped and voice lowered, lids closing as she began to hiccup and cry. “I don’t even know who I am.”

Gently brushing my hoof along her mane and tickling behind her ear, I then gave Eos a kiss on the nose and made a futile attempt to wipe away her tears. “Eos, your name is beautiful, as is both your body and soul. I cannot think of anything more fitting. Who you once were, before or during Unity, is over now. You are the pony who I see right in front of me and for what it matters, I adore her. You don't need to change your name, Eos, because that's who you are, and you should never change."

Pulling me up onto the sofa with her, I could feel her wings wrap tight around me as her hooves squeezed me closer. With little more than a whisper, she spoke. “Thank you.”

Author's Notes:

Well, this took a whoooooooooooole lot longer than I'd expected to release, and I'm really sorry that it did... but that's just the way things go sometimes.
First of all was the worry about the cliffhanger reveal. Then other stuff. Then it was real life getting in the way (like being on jury service! and I swear I had this chapter name from beforehand!) lol.
Not much else to say here other than my undying admiration for Brisineo is as strong as ever as yet more art (and then yet more on top of that) is seemingly always being produced by him for me. A lot of it isn't on his DeviantArt page, so go check out his tag on Derpibooru if you want to see the full extent of his talents!
Likewise, throwing out the love to Stan and regolit for always giving me feedback and support! Getting that really does mean a lot to me.
Thank you to -everyone- however, for all of the support. Even if its only a like and/or follow, it still means something to me, something more than I think people realise.
And of course, as is customary, many thanks to Kkat for giving us this world to play with!

I sincerely hope everyone has enjoyed the read and hopefully the next chapter won't be quite as long of a wait away!