The team had suited up and were ready to go. To help keep them safe, they were given weaponry for this mission. Rainbow Dash and Applejack were outfitted with a knife and sheath, Big Macintosh had been given a broadsword, strapped to his left flank. Fluttershy, being unable to handle the concept of death and killing, even after her ordeal, was given a crossbow with bolts that sent a shock throughout the bolt, intended to incapacitate rather than kill. Rarity and Twilight had no need of weapons, as they had their magic. Pinkie Pie, somehow, always had her cannon on hand (she never left home without it). Derpy said her muffins would give more bang for the buck, whatever she meant by that. And finally, Vinyl had been outfitted with special speakers to help project sound.  

They stepped onto the pad. Fluttershy was back up to full speed, and with new gear, the team was more confident than ever. With a flash, they were whisked away to their destination. Their second mission had begun.

With a quick flash of light, they appeared in a similar setting as their first mission.

" Alright guys, we need to be more careful this time. We all know how the last mission ended. " Said Twilight, with a gaze to Fluttershy. " Now, this is about stealth, not confrontation. We get in, grab what we need, and get out. From here on out, we use hoof signals only, alright? Any questions? "

" We should leave at least two ponies here. " Said Vinyl.

" What? Why? " Replied Twilight.

" You said it yourself. This mission is dependent on stealth. A smaller team makes for a stealthier team. "

" That makes sense... Okay, Derpy, you and Vinyl will stay here and secure our escape route. Got it? The rest of you, with me. " Twilight directed.

They trotted through the forest toward the enemy encampment. Their suits whirred as they adjusted to match their colors to the background. The environment had not changed. Ash still blanketed the ground, trees and grass dead. It wasn't surprising.

Soon enough, they came to another ridge to find that they had been teleported to the opposite side of the camp. The mine now rested to their right. The back section of camp seemed to be lightly guarded. Twilight zoomed in on the camp with her googles. It seemed that the back of the camp was where the enemy interred their slaves. She informed the team.

They waited until the next pegasi patrol had passed. They snuck down the ridge and dashed toward the tents. They slipped into the first one they could find. And somepony was inside.

It was a guard, or, at least, he had the same coat color as they guards outside. He didn't have armor on, but he showed no signs of physical abuse. He looked startled as a group of mottled ash-gray and tent-white figures burst into the flap of the tent. Before he could get a word out, he was tackled and gagged.

Fluttershy's bold side had come out of the dark corners of her mind and decided to show itself. She nudged him in the flank with her drawn crossbow. She whispered, so close to his ear that it sent shivers down his spine, " You make one false move, even ONE little squeak, and this bolt goes somewhere nothing has ever been before. Got it? "

He started whimpering his compliance. " Good. I'm glad we understand each other. " She said. She turned toward

Twilight. " I'll stay here and make sure he stays secure. Go get what we need, and pick me up on the way out. "

" Alright. Vinyl has programmed an alarm into our suits that we can trigger if something goes wrong. Stay safe. " She replied. The team headed back out of the tent.

They snuck from tent to tent, but most slaves seemed to be out in the mine. Security was almost non-existent at the time. They trotted toward the multi-story tent in the center of camp.

" Remember, hoof signals only " Twilight signaled. She motioned a hoof toward Rainbow, and made a diagonal slashing motion across the command tent. Rainbow nodded, drew her dagger, and slashed the tent. They slipped inside.

It was a strange tent. There was a metal frame on the inside. It looked like an incomplete building covered with a gaint cloth. Magical orbs hung in the room they were in, giving off light.

Twilight drew an X in the air, and then pointed upward. Target is upwards. It was a logical guess. Important things or ponies usually took a grand seat. They moved out.

They opened the door, slowly, and filed out of the room. There was a sign on the opposite wall. It pointed out a restroom down the left hall, and stairs, which they wanted, to the right. They headed right. The staircase was just ahead. Suddenly, they stopped. They heard hoofsteps coming down the stairs.

A guard, in blazing gold armor stepped into view. Without hesitation, Rarity stunned him with a bolt of magic. Applejack darted forward and kicked him right in the chest. Big Mac ran forward and dragged him out in the hall. The rest of the team advanced up the stairs. They heard a large sword being drawn, a thud, and then a sheathing of a blade. Big Mac appeared and went up the stairs without a word.

Twilight wondered, Where's all the security? You'd think they'd guard something or somepony that was so important. Hmm. They must be pretty confident. I bet most troops are preparing for their next attack. There are many pegasi busy with patrol and the slaves, but what about the rest?  

They met no more opposition. Twilight took the time to check everypony's status in her goggles. Fluttershy, Derpy, and Vinyl showed up first. Their status was normal. She moved onto her team. Almost everypony's heartrate was skyrocketing. Slightly elevated breathing in everyone but Big Mac, who seemed to be a pillar of strength. Everyone seemed okay. They hit the top floor.

Again, there were no guards. However, the hallway on this floor seemed to be circular, rather than square. They circled the whole floor, just to be sure. There was only one room. The team split into two lines, each on one side of the door. She motioned to Pinkie Pie, then made an explosion with her hooves. Pinkie nodded. She whipped out her cannon. She hesitated. She looked to Twilight. Twilight nodded. She pulled the firing string.

The cannon boomed, and the door imploded, and the team charged in. Immediately, a siren started to sound, and Twilight activated her suit's alarm.

No one was in the room! There were filing cabinets however. They were locked. Damn. Twilight didn't hesitate to zap the locks open. The team grabbed whatever they could, and stuffed it in their pouches. Big Mac stood watch at the door. Hoofsteps sounded up the stairs.

He shouted a single word, " Hurry! "

Within seconds, their pouches were full and weapons drawn. Enemies were on the top floor! They engaged. Rainbow and Applejack slashed and stabbed. Big Mac crushed bones with his broadsword. Twilight and Rarity shot zaps of magic. Pinkie reloaded her cannon and cleared the hall with a single shot.

An alarm in Fluttershy's suit activated. " Well, Mister, that was fun, but that's my cue. " She got up off the bed, kissed the guard roughly on the lips one last time, and shot the electrified bolt right in his gut. She exited the tent and headed toward the command center.

Alarms had also gone off in the suits of Derpy and Vinyl Scratch. Vinyl started to set up her speakers. Derpy buried her muffins along the ridge, and ran back to the magic circle.

The team had just exited the tent, and they were surrounded. The enemies slowed, but didn't stop their advance. Twilight received a nasty gash on the side of her face during an exchange with the enemy. Their earth ponies and unicorns had showed up. Twilight was having trouble protecting the team from magical attacks, so Rarity helped her, reinforcing Twilight's magic with their own.

Everyone else was fighitng. Big Mac swung his sword to and fro, hacking and slashing anyone who came near. Applejack and Rainbow Dash were stabbing and cutting at their opponents, never leaving each other's side. Pinkie Pie wheeled her cannon in front. They were getting overwhelmed.

" ENOUGH! " She shouted. The pulled the firing string, and her cannon fired. A path was cleared, and the team ran through it, propelled by fear. There were still being overwhelmed!

Then, Big Mac spoke the last words he would ever speak. He yelled to Twilight, " You need to get out of here! Now! I'll hold them off as long as I can! Get Applejack out of here! "

And with that, he halted and lashed out with both hind legs. The impact caused an enemy unicorn to literally explode!

Applejack and Rainbow Dash turned; they tried to get back to get Big Mac. They could see the enemy swarming him. He fought with everything he had.

" NO! Big Mac! Brother! " Applejack yelped.

" I need to help him! " Shrieked Rainbow Dash.

Twilight grabbed Applejack with her magic before she could get away. Pinkie Pie grabbed Rainbow Dash and dragged her back.

Big Mac had vanished under enemies at that point. There was no turning back. The team had just made it back to the  ridge, and Vinyl joined them.

Fluttershy could be seen flying backward, shooting her bolts into the swarm of enemies. She reached the ridge. " Vinyl, hit it! " She shouted.

Vinyl nodded, and hit the detonator switch that she was carrying. Immediately, hundreds of decibels of sound were directed toward the enemy. They also activated the sound-sensitive explosives Derpy had baked into her muffins. The ridge exploded in a rush of heat and fire. It was nearly unclimbable now. The rest of the team dashed toward the magic teleportation circle.

Fluttershy crashed into the rest of the team, sending them stumbling into the circle as Twilight activated it.

The team reappeared on the familiar pad in a jumble of bodies. They were safe. They had all made it. Well... almost all of them.

The realization of what had happened finally hit home. The team broke into sobs of regret, anger, hate and sadness. They had lost a valuable team member today. No, he was more than that. He was loyal, and steadfast. He was a role model. He was a friend. He was family. He was Big Macintosh. Next Chapter: Chapter 10: Coping Estimated time remaining: 29 Minutes