“No! No fucking way! How can you do this!?”

“I have no choice, it's either them or the city, I have to choose the city.”

I slam my hands down on the table, it has been two hours since we reached the staging area for Celestia's forces. I managed to get Celestia to talk to me in private, but as you can hear that isn't going so well.

“How can you say that! They may not be your precious Equestrian ponies but they don't deserve this fate!”

“John, please calm down. Your anger is getting us nowhere.” Celestia states, sitting nearby. I so hated her right now, I just wanted to hit something and the table was the nearest object.

I slammed my hands down repeatedly, the table started to crack until with a final hit, the table broke. I stared at the table split in two as I fought to keep my breathing down and my heart rate under control. I was all too aware that my arms were glowing. I look up to see Celestia staring at me with pity and sorrow in her eyes. I stepped back and took a deep breath.

“Better?”

I nod. “I'm sorry princess, I can't just sit by and watch those mares get taken away, I just can't.” I was bracing myself for the bomb shell I was about to land. “Did you know Twilight is part of the taken?”

I receive my answer as Celestia recoils and her ears flatten back.

“I-I...didn't know.” Celestia says, her head lowering.

“I want to save her, give me that chance.” I walk over to Celestia and place a hand on her shoulder, I could feel her body shaking. “Please, I am asking you as Twilights friend, her brother. Let me rescue her.”

Celestia raises her head. “Ok.” My heart races again. “But under one condition.”

“Anything!” I reply.

“You take these and find Luna too.”

I had found out that Luna had taken some of the guards and headed for a section of the city that pegasi saw civilians hiding in. I had also learned that Luna had not reported in and she left with her bodyguard over four hours ago.

I watched Celestia cross the room and flick open a chest with her hoof, she levitated out two objects which I recognised immediately.

“My ring and sword!” I exclaim. “How did you get them?” I ask, taking them from Celestia's magic as she floats them over.

“One of the ponies escaping the castle gave them to me, he was a doctor in the medical wing, he said I would know the one to give these too.”

I smile as I slip my ring back on, I press the ring and sigh in contempt as my armour flashes into existence around my body. I look behind and realise I don't need my cape, pressing a shoulder gem I retract the cape into the neck area of the armour. I finally clip the sword hilt to my armours belt, adjusting the vembraces I nod my thanks to Celestia.

“I should get going.” I say.

“You know the last location of my sister?”

I nod. “Yes.” I look at Celestia and do the Crescent Guard salute. “I will find her princess, you have my promise.”

“I know you will commander, just be safe.”

“You know me.” I say, leaving the room.

Celestia walks over to a window and looks out, she sighs.

“Yeah, I do.”

A hooded figure stalks through town, it's motions carefully calculated. The figure slides into an alley and stops to gather it's breath, it had been awhile since it had to do this. The figure takes the bag out of it's cloak and studies it. The figure opens the bag and takes out a cupcake, it was pink with sprinkles. The figure removes it's hood, a pink mane poofs out, encompassing a smiling face.

“Ohh! I hope he likes cupcakes! I hope he likes these special ones, his friend said he does!” The figure frowns. “I wish I knew how to make them!” The figure puts the cupcake back into the bag and places it back in it's secure hiding place. The figure pulls it's hood back up, it takes a few looks around before bouncing out of the alley.

I leave Celestia looking out a window and proceed to cross the staging area. I was still slightly awed by the size of Celestia's operation. There were...if my military terms were accurate....three companies of guard currently moving about inside the staging area. I spot several stations used for injury and medical treatment, all stations manned entirely by unicorn doctors. I head for the station that held my companions, apparently they needed to be checked for 'contamination'.

I head through the curtain and into the station, almost bumping straight into one of the unicorn doctors.

“Excuse me sir, I'm so sorry!” The stallion says.

I wave a hand. “No apologise needed, though I hope you can tell me where to find three ponies I lost.”

“Lost sir?”

“They came in for a contamination check up.”

“Ah! You mean the mare and two stallions, I do know them sir, you head out back can't miss them.”

I nod. “Thank you.”

“No problem commander, have a nice day now!” The doctor bows before trotting off.

I wish Applejack was here, she would be laughing right now, I think to myself. I head pass several ponies getting treatment, I would help but my knowledge of their injuries was beyond me. I pass through another section of curtain and enter a larger area that contained pieces of machinery. I was drawn to the devices as apart from Twilight's small lab in her basement, I never really saw much technology anywhere else.

“Can I help you sir?” I turn to face a stallion behind me, he wasn't a unicorn but a pegasis.

“Yes, I'm looking for three pony friends of mine, they came in for a check up.” I reply.

“Oh yes! They are in the final stages of the check up and should be out shortly, would you like to wait?”

I nod. “How long is it going to take?”

“Shouldn't be more than several minutes now commander, you can wait over here.” The stallion gestures to a sitting area, I stride over and sit down on an empty chair. “Your friends will come out there.” The stallion gestures to a door across the room.

“Thank you.” I say.

The stallion bows and exits where I came in. I continued to look around as I waited and found the area to be no more than a scrubbing facility, similar to what humans used during spill clean ups. I tapped my foot as I finally heard voices, coming from behind the doors in front of me.

“Ugh! I hate these check ups....”

“You can say that again....”

“Wonder how John got on with the princess...?”

As my companions exited their room I stood up.

“Why don't you ask me Stardust?” I grin as my friends turn their gaze to me.

“Sir!” They all say in unison.

“Now now, what have I said about formalities?” I say as I crossed the waiting area. “So? Are you guys contagious or am I alright to come near you?”

“No, we're fine. It was just routine.” Straight Shot replies. “Though I am glad they washed that green stuff off me, I was starting to feel funky.”

I chuckle. “I know what you mean. However, I need you guys again.”

“John?” Stardust says. “What is it?”

“I have to find Princess Luna, she came to the city to free some civilians and hasn't reported in.” My companions gasp. “My thoughts exactly, but I want to find Twilight more than anything else.” I kick the nearest chair sending it flying. “I should have been there!” I say, clenching my fists.

“If you want me, I’ll follow you sir!” Topaz states.

“Me too!” straight Shot replies. “Anything to get away from the royal guard, and besides I'll be more helpful following you.”

“You know you have my support!” Stardust chuckles.

“Cheers guys, I mean it! Now let's get you guys outfitted, it's going to get rough.”

“I think I saw a royal guard armoury tent nearby ,we can ready up there.” Straight Shot says.

“You going to be ok getting into the armour again.” I ask Straight Shot.

“Yeah, can't say I’ve missed it but it will be nice to feel it against my coat.” Straight Shot sighs. “Then again this maybe the last time I will though, the guard know I’m here now.”

“And they won't lay a hoof on you, as long as I'm here.” I say, looking forward and frowning.

Twenty minutes later me and my companions leave the armoury tent. Straight Shot pulls on his armour and smiles as it fits perfectly, Topaz also seemed at home wearing the armour which only reinforced my thoughts of him being in an army before. Stardust however was having difficulty moving, it seems her wings were getting caught on the armours sides.

“Ugh! How do the pegasi guards move in this stuff. It's itchy, heavy and difficult to move in.” Stardust grabs a strap and pulls on it.

I walk up to her and bend down, I pull on a strap and move a section of armour. Clipping it back on, I give it a tap.

“Feel good?” I ask.

“Yeah, much better! I guess I'll just have to get used to it.”

“Yeah, if you want to be in my guards.”

“Huh?” Stardust says, raising an eyebrow.

I give her a wave of my hand. “Discussion for another time, now we have to save a princess and my sister from what ever these changelings are doing.”

“What about the civilians?” Topaz asks.

“We save them too, nopony deserves to be chained up. Not unless they need to be.” I state, checking my armour and weapon. “We good to go?” The three ponies all nod and we head off.

What must have been an hour later we crossed only half the distance than I hoped we would. It wasn't my companions fault or mine, there were shit loads of changelings between us and Luna's last known position. We had held up in an abandoned shop, the changeling patrols causing us to rethink our plan.

“We need to cross to the south side streets, it's the only way to avoid the patrols.” Topaz says.

“That would take too long! We're losing light fast and we have very little time to complete our mission.” Stardust replies.

“Mission? When did this become a mission? I heard it was a rescue.” Straight Shot states.

“It's a rescue MISSION! And you say you were a guard once?” Stardust says, getting annoyed.

“Enough!” I snap. “We can't take those patrols head on, even I can't take on that many.” I stand up from my sitting position and cross the room, peering out I sigh as the sky was indeed starting to darken. “Princess Celestia is not going to hold the sun up for much longer, though it would benefit her greatly, she still has a job to do.”

“What about the moon?” Straight Shot asks.

“Have you forgot Celestia raised the moon herself for a thousand years before Luna came back.” I reply.

Straight Shot rubs his neck. “Heh! Guess I forgot that!” Stardust sighs. “So boss? What's the plan?”

I look out the window and spot some of the patrols heading off towards the large tower that was our objective. I tap my chin and suddenly a thought comes to mind.

“It seems that avoiding these patrols will be impossible, I say we do a little trimming of our own!” I say, pressing the gem on my neck. My helmet activates as the world turns blue. I look to my companions.

“Let's go hunting!”

I make a hand gesture for Topaz to flank around the building, he nods and disappears from sight. I look down on the changelings from my rooftop vantage point, I turn my gaze to an alleyway across the street, Stardust gives me a wave. I look to my left as Straight Shot flashes me a grin.

“Ready?” I ask him.

“More than ever!”

I go to gesture to Stardust but she waves her hooves and points down the street. I look to where she's pointing and I spot a carriage being pulled up, three burly changelings were strapped to it's front. However that was not what caught my sight, several mares were chained in it's back cabin. I grit my teeth as two of the mares in the cabin were two I knew.

“Vinyl? Octavia?” I say.

“You know somepony in that carriage sir?”

I turn to Straight Shot. “You bet your flank I do! Change of plan, we free those mares.” Straight Shot looks to the sky. “We have time! Can I count on you?”

Straight Shot smiles. “You know me sir, anything for the ladies.” I facepalm. “What? You asked.”

I shake my head and turn back to Stardust down below, I give her a gesture to signal we are taking the carriage. I feel a swell of pride when Stardust doesn’t hesitate to nod her understanding. I look back to the carriage and spot that Topaz had gotten much closer to it than any of us. He looks up to my vantage point and gives me a signal that he was ready.

I move and look at Straight Shot. “Let's go.” Straight Shot nods and falls in behind me keeping low.

It took me and Straight Shot several minutes to make it anywhere near the carriage. I count the changelings nearby, seven plus the three burly carriage pullers. I was also perplexed as to why the carriage had stopped here, I shook the thoughts out of my head, I needed to be in control and these thoughts were distracting. I peered over the roof edge of the building I was kneeling on, two changelings were below me. Perfect!

I turn to Straight Shot. “Left one's yours!” He nods. “Let's get this done!” I gesture to the others for the attack to commence by fist pumping the air. Two seconds later Topaz jumps out of his hiding place and takes out a changeling, Stardust jumps out and knocks out two changelings near her. I pull out my sword, stand up, jump off the roof and grin as my sword slides through the body of the changeling with little effort.

Straight Shot lands on and kills the other changeling before it can turn and attack me. Five down, five to go. I stand up to my full height, my wings flaring out either side. I smile as two changelings high tail it away. I turn my attention to the three burly changelings, they seem to be looking confused. I raise my sword hand, the blade still dripping with green ooze. The three bugs unhook from the carriage and slowly walk over to me.

“Think twice!” I say, still pointing my sword at the three burly changelings. “You have one chance to run! And this is it!”

The changelings look at each other and continue their approach. I shake my head and lower my sword, turning my attention back to Straight Shot I smile.

“Seems they want to die.” I say. “You up to that?”

Straight Shot looks up to me. “They deserve it!” I nod.

I spot Stardust and Topaz flanking the remaining changelings, Topaz glances over and catches my eye, I nod and he returns the gesture. Lowering my body I raise my sword in an attack stance, I was shaking inside but it wasn't from fear. I stole a quick glance to the carriage, the ponies inside were looking out, some had looks of concern, some fear, others had looks of happiness. I turn my attention back to the burly changelings, they were so close now.

I closed my eyes and with a cry, I charged. Topaz and Stardust jumped out of their ambush points and tackled the last of the smaller changelings that remained behind. The burly bugs in front of me reel back as I sprinted forward, I reached the first and drove my blade into it's chest, it screeched in pain. Pulling my blade out I backspined and chopped the bugs head off, it rolled over to the carriage and the ponies inside cheered. I dodge a leg swipe from the second changeling and brought up my right fist in retaliation, I caught the changeling on it's jaw sending the creature sprawling. I heard a yelp of pain and turned to see Stardust get blasted by a green bolt of energy, I screamed and blasted the changeling with my own magic, green and black pieces rained down seconds later.

Topaz finished off his changeling and ran over to Stardust, checking her side he nodded back to me. I grind my teeth and turn back to face the changeling I punched, it was getting back up. I walk over to the changeling, my path was clear on it's existence, my anger was reaching point. The changeling gets back to it's feet only to meet me face to face, it charges a spell, in a fit of stupidity I grab it's horn. A decision I was going to regret, fast.

The pain was hard and came fast, the raw energy of the changelings horn flowed up my arm. I screamed and tried to let go, my hand wouldn't respond, the muscles clamping down and dead set on not letting go. I carried on screaming as green energy flooded my body, even the yellow glow on my arm changed colour. I dropped to one knee the changeling following suit. I managed to open my eyes through the pain, I could see the changelings armour turning grey as it's magic left it's body, I slowly turned my head to see both Straight Shot and Topaz holding back Stardust. Stardust was screaming something at me, her front hoof held out towards me, Topaz was speaking but no sound could be heard. I raised my free hand and held it out towards my friends.

I felt the last of the changelings magic absorb into my arm, my hand let go and I fell to the ground. The pain running through my body was immense, It felt like every nerve in my body was exploding. I lay there, my conscience slipping away. My armour felt heavy, I stared at the sky, I couldn't move. Just before my vision faded, Stardust dropped by my side closely followed by Topaz and Straight Shot. I reached up a hand to Stardust's face and smiled, the next thing I felt was Stardust' s hoof touching my hand.

Then darkness took me.