Luna and I just lay there for a while, both panting lightly from the stress of the attack. I can feel her chest rise and drop as she gently plants kisses on the back of my hand, sending chills up my arm. I take a deep breath before I start to try to pull my hand back, only to get her to hold onto it tighter.

"Heh, I need that."

"Too bad, it's mine." She says as she nuzzles my hand. I look over and decide to let her keep it awhile longer, enjoying the feeling of her soft nose against my hand. I reach over with my other hand and start to gently rub her wing, getting her to take a deep sigh and look back to me. We stare into each other’s eyes until we hear Celestia shuffle around. We quickly get up and move away from each other, putting as much distance between us as possible.

"Uhg... wh... where are we?" Celestia asks as she wakes up and looks around.

"Hey Tia, we're on our way back to the surface. How do you feel?" Luna asks as she walks over to her and helps her to her hooves.

"Like I've got a mind splitting head ache... what happened?"

"You blocked a missile that was too much for you to handle and passed out. We're in an elevator that goes to... well. I actually don't know where this goes." I say as I walk over the pile of guns and pull out the Lmg. It's an M549 saw. It's a fairly short machine gun, with the basic form of my assault rifle, just stockier. This is an FMJ model, but it has a hole blown though it, making it inoperable. I drop the ammunition box and SCORE! It's full! I've just scored two hundred rounds for my rifle back home. I take out the ammo strip and throw it over my shoulder.

"Miles... how... what were those things?" Celestia asks.

"You mean the bots?" I ask, getting her to nod. "They were machines, made to make life simpler for us."

"If they were made to make life easier, then why make them for war?"

"We wanted the best defense possible. That meant using every resource possible. So, we made all bots have a defense program installed in them. When order twenty-three went out, it was supposed to reprogram them to join the fight." Celestia and Luna both lay down as they both think about this, with Luna leaning against Celestia. I walk to the wall and sit against it, I have no clue how far it goes up, but hopefully we can get some decent rest before we get out.

"Do you think your other friends were able to escape Topaz?" Luna asks.

"*sigh* I don't know. I would like to think so though."

"If they left... as well as others, why would they leave so much behind?"

"You tell a city of people that they only have a few minutes to pick up their lives and drag it to another city. Evacuations were never practiced because we never believed we would be found... but after Diamond Halls that started to change. Order twenty-three was made after we lost Diamond Halls to help with the possibility of losing a city. If Topaz was lost, people would evacuate to Quartz Crest... but there wasn't much else to the plan."

"Why wouldn't they bring the machines with them then?" Celestia asks.

"I imagine they brought as many of them as they could, but the first things the Unfamiliar went after was the power supply. Once the machines ran out of juice, they were left behind. They only came back now because I turned the power on." The room falls quiet as we sit there, the only sound being made is the screeching of the rusted metal from the elevator.

"You said Topaz had seventeen million residents, right?" Celestia ask, to which I nod. "Where did they all go? It was a big city... but I can't see seventeen million people living there."

"That's because we didn't see all of it. Every building you saw goes down ten stories, all of which is connected." Before she could ask anything else the elevator shakes and screeches to a stop. We all stand up and face the door, watching it slowly slide open. When the door opens enough for us to go through, we walk through. Luna levitated me her E.A.R. while bringing the broken Lmg. I walk out and look around the dark cavern for any threats. The cavern is large. Being around a kilometer wide and goes out for about two kilometers before it comes to a straight end.

I motion for the two of them to follow me and walk out to the center of the cavern, Celestia and Luna both providing light. There's nothing really to see here so I set my rifle down and flare my magic. I start sending us up through the ground, though I have no idea how far up we need to go. I go for what feels like forever until I come to a stop, due to a tree being in the way. Celestia uses her magic to lift the tree out of the ground and creates a small opening that I lift the ground up to. I pick up my rifle and look around. It’s daytime, close to night time. We're in a forest... but it seems different from the Everfree. It doesn't seem as dark, giving off a more... peaceful feeling. I look over to see Celestia replant the tree before looking back to me.

"Where are we?" I ask.

"This is still part of the Everfree... but something's off about the area," she says as she looks around a bit.

"This must be the most peaceful part of the Everfree." Luna says as she walks around a bit.

"Well... that's fun and all, but we should head out. We need to get back to Ponyville-"

"Give us a minute to set the sun, it’s been out for a day now... that can't be good." Celestia says as she flies into the air. Luna shoots me a smile before she flies after her. I look around some more, inspecting the tree's some more before the world turns dark. I look up at the sky from the clearing we made by moving the tree. The sky is slowly turning from light blue to dark blue, eventually turning black. As the sky dimmed the stars started to shine through, each one coming out one by one until there were too many to count.

"Ahem." I look down to see Celestia and Luna both staring at me, Celestia looking slightly annoyed while Luna has a big smile on her face.

"Right... anyway, let’s get going... which way do we go?" Celestia shakes her head as she charges her horn and teleports us to the back of my home. "Oh... yeah... magic." I say as I walk into my now empty home. I walk to the front room where I find all of the girls, each of them looking saddened as they share a group hug. Twilight and Applejack are in the center of the group, both holding each other as they cry lightly into each other. "What happened-"

"MILES! PRINCESS! Where have you all been!" Twilight says as she they all look up at us in surprise.

"Miles found his way home and needed assistance getting back. What’s the condition of Ponyville?" Celestia says as she walks over to Twilight so they can share a quick hug.

"Well... Princess... they told us that they killed you and Luna. Saying that was the reason the sun was still out.... so Ponyville surrendered-"

"WHAT!" Celestia and Luna both yell.

"Where are Storm and Big Mac?" I ask, making Twilight and Applejack slump back. "Let me guess, they surrendered so they would leave all of you alone."

"How did you-"

"Spartans never give up without something worth protecting." I say as I head out the front door and look out at Ponyville. The town seems to be alright, no fires, no screams...

"Miles, you can't go to Ponyville." I look back to see Twilight standing behind me.

"And why's that?" I ask as I look back out. There was a fight recently around the front of my home. I can tell because of the blood stains... but where are the bodies?

"They told us that if anypony tried to enter the town... they would start killing prisoners... starting with Storm and Big Mac."

"How long have they've been captured?"

"About an hour-"

"Good. I'm heading over-"

"You can't!" She yells as she grabs me with her magic. "If you go they'll be killed!"

"Teleport us to the roof."

"What?"

"Teleport us to the roof." She looks at me in confusion but looks away in shame.

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"They put this black substance on my horn that's blocking my magic... I can't do anything."

"That's a lie-"

"How is that a lie? I can't do anything without my magic! What could I possibly do-"

"You could be strong." I say as I look back to her. She looks away from me so I walk over to her and pull her chin so she's looking at me. "Magic is a skill you have, but it's not what defines you. You are stronger then you think, and I need you to use that strength right now to help me get through this. I have a plan, but we need everyone at their best for it to work. What do you say?" She looks down for a bit before she looks back to me with a more confident smile.

"You can count on me."

"Atta girl. Now go inside and let everyone know we're going out to do a little recon." She nods to me and runs inside... okay, now I need a plan. I look back out to the town and try to make out whatever I can... but from this distance in the dark, it proves to be pointless.

"Okay, let's get going." Twilight says as she trots up to my side.

"Alright... see that tree over there, we're going to make a run for it. Keep low, and try to be as quiet as possible, ready?"

"Ready." We run off for the tree, keeping as low as possible as we run through the cool night air. When we made it to the tree I slide down against it, Twilight lying beside me. "OK, what now?"

"I'll climb the tree and try to look into Ponyville, you watch the area around us. If you see anyone coming near us, give the tree a few taps and stay low." I lay my rifle against the tree and pull myself up the lowest branch. I motion for Twilight too pass me my rifle and continue the rest of the way up with it. When I get as high as I could go I peer out through the leaves towards Ponyville. I can see a few ponies being lead back and forth by Diamond Dogs. It seems that they're collecting metal in the middle of town. The few unicorns I do see have the black sludge on their horns, and all of the pegasus have their wings chained up. I look around some more until I see Storm Cloud and Big Mac. They're in the town square, chained up with they're fore hooves being held above their head. Storms still in his armor, but there's a dog in front of him, playing with his sword...

TAP...TAP...TAP...

I look down to see Twilight hiding behind the tree. I look to the opposite direction of her hiding to see three dogs walking towards us.

"Twilight-" I whisper to her.

"Shh Miles! They're getting closer!" Twilight says in a hushed tone.

"Run to my place and get the others. Head straight for town square and rescue Storm and Mac, I'll provide cover." I say as I take aim at the dogs.

"Miles don't-"

PEW PEW PEW

I send three rounds at them, dropping them instantly. I turn my attention back to town square and aim for the guard playing with Storm's sword. He's looking around in confusion, sniffing the air. I calculate where the round will go, set the rifle to single fire and pull the trigger, sending a red bolt down and hitting him square in the head. I keep my focus on the area around Storm and Mac, killing any dogs that enter the area with precise shots. Storm and Mac look around in confusion, but by the third dog they get smug smiles and look out to me. Another dog comes up behind them, only to get a round in his throat. He isn't dead on the ground, so I try to end his misery, only to hear the rifle click. I pull open the gem slide and start to refill the gems as quickly as possible. Once they're filled I look back to Storm and Mac, seeing three dogs interrogating the two of them. I aim and set my order, going left to right I pull the trigger and send three bolts down, hitting them each in the back. They fall to the ground and start to wiggle around, yelling out in pain. One of them tries to get up, but I send a round into the back of his neck, killing him.

"Miles!" I hear Luna call out.

"Up here." I say as I focus on the dogs. I can see a few of them peering out from cover, but being too scared to do anything.

"Can you give the girls cover so they can get to Storm Cloud and Big Macintosh?"

"I've got the alley covered, go ahead and send them down... what about the rest of you?"

"We're going to the mass of metal and securing that and any prisoners we come across. Once we have that we'll make our presence known and take back Ponyville."

"Alright... stay safe."

"You to." I watch the road as Twilight and Applejack run towards town square. A few dogs come out ahead of them, but quickly get red bolts in their face and skull. They run past them and continue down into the square. I send two more shots at the downed dogs, just to be safe. They talk for a few seconds before they start searching the bodies, eventually finding keys and unlocking Storm and Big Mac. They hug for a moment before they each pick up swords, Storm getting his and Big Mac scavenging some random one. Twilight motions for me to come down to them, so I jump out of the tree and start jogging into town. I look from house to house, seeing ponies looking out from their windows. Most that see me smile and cheer me on, while others run inside.

"What took you so long?" Storm asks as he sheaths his sword.

"Sorry, I got side tracked. I'm back now, so now we take back Ponyville. What can you tell me?"

"The leaders are in town hall. Most of the guards are underground, so we should get moving." I nod to him and start moving to town hall, the four of them following closely behind.

"How did you get side tracked?" Big Mac asks.

"I found Topaz... and went in." I hear them all stumble for a moment before they follow after me. "I know it wasn't the best time to have done that... I was being impulsive and went anyway."

"So-" Storm starts.

"Topaz fell. The only thing left there were destroyed buildings and frenzied bots."

"Oh... sorry to hear that... are you going to be alright?" Storm asks as I walk up to the door of town hall. I step forward and kick the door in, sending it flying in. I walk in with my weapon raised, looking for any targets. I see the receptionist hiding behind the counter, peering out at us. I walk forward and check my sides before heading to the back door. It's already open, so I walk in and check my sides before I head up the stairs. When I reach the top and glance back to the rest of them. Storm and Big Mac are the only ones with me right now, each with their swords out. I smack the butt of my rifle into the door, breaking it and opening it slightly. I walk in and look around to only see thee grey griffin and a Diamond Dog waiting for us, each just standing there.

"So you made it out of the metal city after all. That's good, that's good. I need you alive for later." The grey one says to me.

"Under Terradisian jurisdiction, you are to be arrested and tried for illegal trespassing and theft of government property, but since we're the only Terradisians here, I'll pass judgement on you." I say as I approach them, Storm and Big Mac moving to their sides.

"Go ahead, pass judgement." He says as he rears up and holds his arms out, a large smile growing on his face. I flare my hand and pull towards me, pulling him down and pinning him to the desk. The dog tried to run, but Big Mac stabbed him in the gut, killing him instantly. I walk over to him and prepare to pull information out from him, when he starts to laugh.

"What's so funny?" Storm asks as he walks out in front of him.

"Oh... nothing... it's not like I'm the one who's about to let the one I love die." He says as he glances over to me.

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" I yell as I slam the butt of my rifle into his side, getting him to laugh harder. I flare my other hand swirl it around, enveloping my hand in the white energy.

"Miles... maybe we should just kill him." Big Mac says as he glares down at him.

"We will, but first I want to know what he knows."

"Hope you enjoy this." He says as I slide my hand into his consciousness. I immediately find resistance from him, so I start to force my way further into his mind. I can feel an area that's weaker then everywhere else, so I press there and break through. I find myself in the underground cavern from before, watching him return to it as dogs run all about.

"What's next Steelwing?" The dog from town hall asks as he runs up on all fours.

"Everything is going according to plan. Next we move to capture the princesses. Get your dogs ready in Canterlot and we'll start as soon as they appear." The dog nods and barks to some other dogs, who run off into the cave.

"Do you truly believe we can capture the giant ponies?" He asks as they all walk off towards the entrance.

"Of course. Luna will surrender to us, which will make Celestia surrender afterwards. It's all part of the plan." He says as he walks up to a wall and taps on it making it slide down to reveal another open room with hundreds of dogs, griffins and several smaller dragons. "Oh, and for the human listening to us right now... surprise."

KRACK

I suddenly tear away from his consciousness as something hits me on the side, sending me to the ground. I look up to see the red and yellow dragon from before standing over me, with his one good wing out. He has a large scar going across his chest, starting at the left of his hip and going up to his right shoulder. He's holding a long weapon I've never seen before. It looks like it should be a spear, but has a curved swords blade at one end, and a squared off bottom at the other.

"I told you to watch your back." He says before he slams the bottom of his weapon into my head, knocking me out.

Next Chapter: Chapter 74 The Trade Estimated time remaining: 71 Hours, 3 Minutes