Every war has its traitors.- Applebits

I woke to shouting and for a moment was worried that Bull’s-Eye and Dark Lightning were fighting, that worry disappeared when I noticed Lightning stirring from his sleep on the other side of the fire. The night had been uneventful but I had still slept in my armor, everything but the helmet, which I quickly put on when I saw a Paladin yelling at my Knight to step aside. I stood and approached with due haste as Lightning woke up.

“What is going on here?” I said in a authoritative voice, much like that of the royal canterlot voice, everyone froze at the sight of me.

“Two unknown rangers, what contingent are you a part of soldier!” the lower ranking paladin asked me, I looked at him unsure of what he meant.

“Contingent? What the hell is that, and why do you not address me with my proper rank?” I asked bluntly still using my command voice, they all backed up, I saw them engage their weapon systems, I did the same even though my team did not.

“You, you aren’t part of a contingent, then you need to hand over your armor now or we will kill you!” The lead ranger exclaimed.

I looked at him and said, “No, we are part of the Equestrian First Army, and I am Star Paladin SteelCrusher, I only take orders from the princesses and General Tempest Knight, no pony else, find your place soldier!” I was now spinning up my guns ready for a fight when their scribe, a unicorn mare stepped forward.

“Did you come out of that stable Star Paladin?” she asked me.

I replied with the only logical answer, “Yes, my squad mate and I were rescued by this Shadowbolt from Rainbow Dash’s personal squad, we managed to rescue a large portion of the civilian population that belongs to a nearby town, sadly the stable was over run and we didn’t have the supplies to retake it conventionally, the idiotic raiders had glitched the stable auto turrets, so I did the only logical course of action. I took as many explosives down to the reactor core, which was already malfunctioning and blew the stable.”

They were all staring at me, and I saw two of them shut off their weapon systems, the scribe looked pleased with her answer and backed away to the two rangers who had shut off their weapons when the paladin decided he didn’t like what the scribe was doing and shot her with a grenade machine gun. WHOOSH, WHOOSH, BRRRRRRT, I didn’t think I just fired, he had just killed his own scribe, and I was mad. He collapsed with a thud the two of the remaining four rangers turned red on my EFS, I killed them as well. When I was done, bits of pony and armor scattered the ground, the other two rangers just looked at me in shock, scared witless, they were both knights.

Finally one of them approached me, “Sorry Ma’am” a gruff voice from under his helmet, he was a large stallion, “the scribe had told us no to fire but the others, they only care for what the Elders say, and the paladins only follow the Elders. No need to worry, there are still those of us who will follow Star Paladin SteelHooves when the time comes, if ever.”

I looked at him in disbelief, “SteelHooves is still alive, well if you would follow him will you follow me?” I said, no longer speaking in an authoritative tone but in a curious tone.

“If he trusts you then I will, what was your relationship?” the second ranger said, her voice sounded delicate as though she was crying in her armor.

“We fought alongside each other on numerous occasions, like him I was one of the first rangers, we rarely spoke to one another when we were home, hell he rarely spoke.” I said with a laugh.

They both looked at me and BrokenBlade with a sense of respect.

“My sister and I will follow your orders, could we accompany you?” asked the gruff speaking ranger.

“Yes you may, though I would like to know your names.” I replied without hesitation, for I knew that they were now alone, since I did just obliterate their squad in an instant.

They looked at one another and removed their helmets then looked back at me, they were both earth ponies, the brother was sky blue with a silver mane and blue eyes, and the sister was forest green with a black mane and brown eyes.

“My title is Knight BlueSteel, but my name is Wild Blue, this is my sister Knight CrossedSwords, her name is Green Woods.” The brother said pointing with his left fore hoof as he spoke.

“Welcome to our team, know that we are your friends and we have no intention of forcing you to do anything, we are in this together.” I said with a reassuring smile to comfort them, they were much younger than even Bull’s-Eye was and he had just been promoted to knight before the fallout.

We buried the other rangers, each with a stone marking that I engraved their names into, traitors or not they were still our own. Then we moved out, BrokenBlade pulled the tank wagon and I walked next to BlueSteel while CrossedSwords manned the tank wagons gun and Dark Lightning flew just ahead, leading us toward the town he spoke to me about when I first met him.

“So how are there still Steel Rangers if Equestria has no formal military?” I asked.

“Well Equestria may have no formal military but the Steel Rangers never stopped fighting, they collected up technology to store and use as this trial went on, eventually the old Elders passed and the next generation took over, that’s when everything went from protect the stables and store what tech we could find, to take the stables and the tech inside, discard the civilians and store the tech for ourselves. That’s why there is discontent within our ranks, we are just afraid to act on it seeing as though we all wish to survive, that’s why we are waiting for Steelhooves to make his move, so we can follow him, he is the only pony who could rally enough support for us to return to the way we should be.” BlueSteel told me.

All I could do was look at him in disbelief. CrossedSwords nodded at her brothers story, and then it happened, BANG, BANG, BRRRRT, PEWPEW, the very distinct sound of Dark Lightning going into combat, we all left the wagon tank behind and galloped to the sound of gun fire!

Lightning had engaged slavers, slavers that had taken over the town, the same town we had sent the freed captives to. I ordered my rangers to secure the town and defend the population at any cost, then I charged into battle after them, BrokenBlade stayed on the hill to provide support with his anti tank cannons. I looked up to see Dark Lightning actually firing black lightning bolts from his wings, like he was their source, I guess that’s how he got his name. We rounded the corner BlueSteel opened fire with his grenade machine guns, he had two, and I followed CrossedSwords who had four miniguns like my two, we stopped on the other side of the street and began picking off the attackers. I told them to hold their positions so that Lightning could pick the locks without getting shot while I went to finish the rest of the slavers who were now regrouping after our surprise attack.

BrokenBlade was still atop the hill and raining death with his anti tank cannons. As I rounded the next corner I launched two missiles and dashed for cover in the local sheriffs office as lightning came my direction. “What the hell was that!” I screamed, even though I was alone. I moved through the wreckage that was the wall of the sheriffs office and into what looked like a store, peering through a window, I saw it, three alicorns. I positioned myself in the doorway, they had yet to see me, and primed my missiles. WHOOOSH, WHOOOSH, WHOOOSH, I fired multiple groups of three missiles then dashed into the next building, bringing up my shield as lightning danced about me. Glancing back I noted that I killed two of them and that the other was missing, then I ran into it as it bucked me away. Apparently they can teleport, so unfair. BOOOOOM, the distinctive sound of twin anti tank cannons filled the air, BrokenBlade had moved up to my area and blasted the alicorn for all it was worth, in this case red dust.

“Well then, they don’t much appreciate good artillery now do they?” My friend chuckled.

“Guess not” I replied with a grunt while getting back up to my hooves, “lets get back to the others EFS says that all hostiles are dead.” I finished saying after I got up, all he did was nod. We came around the corner to find the towns medic using our supplies to patch everypony up. I approached him, he looked at me and saw my armors battle damage from the alicorns, he was a baby blue unicorn with a soft voice, white mane, and green eyes.

“Now you look like you had a run in with those winged unicorns that came with those slavers.” He said.

I nodded, “Those creatures are called alicorns, but I don’t know why they attacked you folks, is everypony okay?” I asked.

“Eyup everypony is okay, they didn’t want to kill us, they wanted to sell us, what use are we dead?” the old doctor said, it was a rhetorical question but I still nodded.

I found the ponies that I had rescued the night before, I should say they found me first, next thing I knew, that little grey filly with red mane and grey eyes had me pinned on the ground smiling down at me yelling,

“THANK YOU SO MUCH YOU WERE AWESOME!” I had no idea fillies were that strong, I knew they could be loud but this unicorn was strong for being half my size, and I was considered in no way to be small.

I got up and the filly sat on my back, as I walked over to my companions I saw what she had called her mother talking to BrokenBlade, who had removed his helmet as a courtesy.

“I’m glad you folks are okay miss, though do beg my pardon, you look like your dead?” I could hear him say, he was very blunt, guess that’s why they call him ‘BrokenBlade’ aside from him breaking zebra swords during the war.

“I’m a ghoul.” said the mare.

Just then they noticed me the filly was now jumping up and down on my back with definitive bouncing sound every time she jumped up, I waved a fore hoof at them as a hello.

“So are you her momma?” he said, “If ya don’t mind me asking!” He quickly added.

“I adopted her when her parents died, they were killed in a raider attack, it was the least I could do.” the ghoul said with a smile, which in all honesty would have made me lose my lunch if I hadn’t served in the army and seen worse.

The filly jumped off my back and ran to her adoptive mother, “MOMMA DID YOU SEE HER AND HER TEAM, THEY SAVED US!” the filly said.

I looked at them, “I did what anypony in my situation should have done, it was right, and it is my duty to protect Equestria and its citizens.” I said proudly.

The ghoul looked at me, “I’ve never seen a Steel Ranger jump to help without payment or an interest in the technology, didn’t think you all cared about us ponies who are just trying to live life to the fullest without horror getting involved.” she said it with such disgust that my spirits fell.

“Well we obviously aint normal Steel Rangers from any of, well what they call em, contingents? Eyup, contingents, we belong to the Equestrian First Army and are happy to help.” BrokenSteel said, with a hint of pride, though I think I will talk to him about his grammar problems later when we are in private.

She just looked at us in shock, “Equestrian First Army! You survived the fallout, that’s why you were in the stable when you rescued us?” she asked.

“Yes, we woke up from cryo thanks to our Shadowbolt friend, then we found you and the horrors above, glad to report that I blew that place up with about two tons of explosives and three missiles in the fusion chamber.” I said plainly, her gaze searched me and stopped on my medical gear.

“You’re a medic?” she asked.

“Indeed I am, but the doc has ordered me not to use my horn, apparently I cracked it in combat, he wants it to heal before I use it again, but I did donate a large amount of supplies for the clinic.” I replied with looking at the wounded.

“I can understand that, thank you, for everything.” she said, ending the conversation.

I walked over to our new teammates, “Hey I have a task for the two of you, it will improve our image and give you both a sense of pride! That is, if you are up to it?” I said looking them over, they had handled combat well, a few minor dings and scrapes but nothing near pain for the pony inside.

“What is it?” BlueSteel asked, with a determined face, I removed my helmet.

“Its simple, I want the two of you to stay here and protect these people and their town from invaders who wish them harm! Do you accept?” I said it with a straight face looking back and forth between them, they wasted no time replying, not even changing their look of determination.

“We would be honored ma’am!” BlueSteel said.

“We would also like to paint our armor to match yours ma’am?” CrossedSwords asked.

“Well I see no reason why you can’t, you fought like one of us, and alongside two of us. I consider the two of you members of my army, seeing as though I was second in command and General Tempest isn’t here to welcome you himself!” I stated with a half hearted smile, then I saluted them.

“Thank you it is a real honor!” they both said in unison.

I walked over to Dark Lightning, he had pulled our tank down to the town to stock up a little on food and ammo, and give the town medical supplies in return. When I felt hot, I wasn’t wearing my armor, I had shed it for the doctor to inspect me, the world faded away and I felt like I was falling.

“I failed my oath, I failed my army, I failed her, I failed everyone.” I heard a low grumbled sorry voice say in the darkness, then the room imploded with light, I saw alicorns, green ones, surrounding a large green sphere, I could make out a pony inside, he had dragon like wings and was very large, I felt cold all of a sudden like all the life was sucked out of me. “Why couldn’t fate have just let me die when I failed, why…” the voice trailed off and the image faded.

I woke with start, I was on a medical table, there was a curtain dividing the room, I was alone on this side, but I could hear the voices of my comrades on the other side, and the town doctor. I was sweating like I had just performed the medical mega spell that Fluttershy taught us, I got up and got water, I knew it was radioactive my armor had said so when I was in the sheriffs office fighting that alicorn. I drank a few gulps to bring my temp down then notice the curtain slide back.

“You are awake!” the doc said, “why don’t you lie down your body must be over worked which would explain the blackout.” he continued. “Though when you fell everyone in town was healed.” he said with astonishment in his voice, “I’m sure it was you, although you seemed to heal yourself as well, my only recommendation is that you don’t use your horn for a few more hours, at least until you have the energy.” then with a nod the good doctor left.

After he left I got back up, I was still in pain but I could rest later, I needed to talk to somepony that I could trust while this was fresh in my head and figure out what happened to me. Naturally Dark Lightning was the only one of us near me when I blacked out, so I was happy to see him on the other side of the curtain.

“Now I’m going out and I don’t want her to move to much, leaving you here to watch her Mr. Lightning.” the doctor said, and my friend nodded, as the doc walked out the door.

“Lightning I need to speak with you, alone.” I said as soon as the door shut.

He trotted up to me, “You aren’t supposed to be up!” He stated, his voice was stern.

“I don’t care, been through worse, what I have to say I have to make sense of while its still clear, I can’t very well do that alone.” I said to him with a look of concern.

“What’s going on?” He asked.

“I think I saw General Tempest, he was surrounded by eight green alicorns, and was thinking aloud, speaking of how he had failed.” I said recalling the memory as Lightning got me more water, I know my coat is white, but does that make me look dehydrated? I sat on the cold floor, thankful for small favors.

“Can you remember anything else?” He asked placing a cup next to me filled with water.

“I remember being cold, and power radiating from him, the room was definitely made of metal, and underground, that’s all I saw and felt.” I said this between gulps of water, my sweat matted coat now dry, I felt better. “What is in the water?” I asked him as he pondered what I had said.

“Well its pure water from the tank, it has its own water stone, its much cleaner than what they have been using. Oh and I have extra stones from the stable in the tank, I want to give the town one before we leave.” he said.

“So what did the doc mean when he said I healed everypony when I passed out?” I asked him.

“Well he spoke the truth in that, you even managed to restore large areas of that ghoul mares flesh, you performed, in a small scale, the mega spell that Fluttershy had created for her medics.” he said, wondering how I had done it while unconscious.

I looked at him, “You were there the first time we did it weren’t you?” I asked.

“Well yes I was, wing pony to Rainbow Dash, why, were you? I didn’t see any mares aside from medics!” he said.

“I was nearby, and part of launching the spell, I was a medical pony before I became a ranger.” I said as his eyes went wide.

“You, what, but, never mind, that’s just, well impressive.” he stated, a little shocked that we met before we employed power armor on the battlefield.

Author's Notes:

Interesting development, more questions to be answered soon. For now Lightning and Applebits are just a bit bewildered at their past meeting.