May 4th 2020, 1900zulu

I have changed, I have changed, just like you… just like you.

I blink, looking at the four ponies inside the container, there is the yellow pegasus I had seen before, but the other 3, I knew there was something wrong with them, institutionally… I could tell, I could feel it, it was like the feeling you get when you look at someone who’s been shot, and you see in their eyes that they have given up, that they have nothing left in them, that they are ready to let go.

The first was a mare I think. OK I’m not going to go checking under every pony’s tail to tell. Hopefully there’s a more obvious way of telling, but I haven’t figured it yet… Her mane was a gold color but unlike mine and the pegasus’ manes, it just lay flat, lifeless. Her coat was a grey indigo color. Even her mark seemed faded golden sprig of wheat that was slowly turning brown.

The second mare looked just as bad, a darker off blue color, with violet and white mane, again even her hip mark, a fleur-de-lis, seemed faded. Her eyes down, she could barely look up at me.

The third was a pegasus stallion, I think. He was bigger, and bulkier then the others, but again, he was supposed to be a deep purple with a mixed purple and white mane. Everything just seems so beaten about him.

But for how long? For how long… Must I wait? I know there's something wrong

“Henry this isn’t right, crystal ponies can’t take captivity.” I say, feeling panicked.

Blinking Henry looks at me “Crystal what?”

“I don’t know how but I know… we have to get them out of here, fast.”

Nodding slowly, Henry moves between them, cutting and removing their restraints and checking them over as best he can.

Your crystal heart isn't beating, And you've tried to… Make it come alive

I move up to the first mare, and put my muzzle under hers, lifting her head a little “I know you’re hurt, scared, but you have to be strong, we are here for you, to help you.” I don’t know if she can understand my words, but my form, the closeness, the compassion in my voice seems to perk her up a little.

No shadows, Just red lines, Now I'm here to rescue you, oh oh...

Giving the second mare a gentle nuzzle I find the need to reassure her. “It’s ok, we are here to get you out. You’re safe with me, I promise.”

Henry nods once “Emotionally I don’t know how they are, they’ve been whipped it looks like I can see some welts under their coats, but no broken bones.”

“Henry, tell them the plan, they are going to have to move fast and stay close when this starts,” I say giving each of them hug trying to lift their spirits a little.

Henry nods shifting to Spanish as he talks to them.

Oh I'm still alive, I'm still alive. I cannot apologize

“I’m Twilight Velvet.” I say looking at them with a firm resolve in my voice.
I know I’m supposed to control my emotions but it’s hard, the rage I feel is so real, and I don’t know why. I know they are probably people just like me, scared and confused, and I’ve seen people treated worse than this in some places, but this for some reason… is wrong on an instinctual level.

So silent, No violence, But inside my head, So loud and clear

Henry, catching my drift, translates for me as I talk. “I changed a few days ago, probably about the same time you did. I know it’s hard, but you have to look inside yourselves for the strength, we are going to get you out of here.

You're screaming, You're screaming, Covered up with a smile I've learned to fear.

Henry smiled moving to the door, I knew it was about time, I knew everything was going to happen fast. Nosed the ponies towards the door, and stopped taking a breath. “Almost show time,” he said with and I was forced to put on a smile myself, just to try and help the others.

Just sunrise, And blue sky… Is this all we get for living here?

The yellow pegasus nods slowly “I think my name is Strawberry Sunrise.”

The male pegasus barely lifts his head “Bluesky”

I look to the other 2 mares but they shake their heads no. I don’t know why some of us can remember names and others cannot, actually I don’t even know why I can remember my own name like that, but that’s something we will have to figure out later.

Come fire, Come fire… Let it burn and love come racing through

I hear the shot, no, not one, but two shots, both snipers had fired at the same time, one struck Ornado in the chest, the other in the head. This was followed by the first of the explosions. Henry pushes open the door as people are running and screaming. The sounds of automatic weapons fire can be heard clearly. The HK’s sound much different than the AK’s to my trained ear.

The smell of smoke, burning chemicals and rubber greeted us as we ran out. The chaos of the scene, well controlled chaos let Henry and the prisoners run. I was bringing up the rear, when I heard the cry from Yiska. “RPG!!!”

Turning my head I see the puff of smoke, and close my eyes tight, flinching.

Oh I'm still alive, I'm still alive, I cannot apologize, Oh oh.

The shockwave doesn't wash over me. I hear the explosion right behind me but… opening my eyes, I look back. My horn shine is intense, a brilliant cerise, and in answer a brilliant cerise dome was over me. Whatever that was it saved my life. Turning to run, I found myself running into the dome.

Looking around quick I gulped “Ok how do I shut this thing of… oh yeah.” Reaching up with a foreleg and lowering my head I thwacked my own horn, it hurt, but it worked, the shield was down and I could run.

I've learned to lose, I've learned to win, I've turned my face against the wind

I look around at the fire, at the flames, the wind blowing in my mane, it is safe enough for me to start running, to catch up to the others. There were still more explosions, as the chemicals in the shipping containers went up, I know the team is already falling back and I knew we have to meet them at the rendezvous point.

I will move fast, I will move slow, Take me where I have to go

It felt strange, but I find myself having to actually slow down for Henry, usually he’s the one waiting on me. But this new form is fast, agile, able to weave between the trees better than I expected.

I felt like these hooves could take me anywhere. And for the first time since my change, I felt like… I was right.

Oh I'm still alive, I'm still alive, I cannot apologize, no oh oh

I feel pride, I feel joy, I feel true happiness, I have gotten them out to safety, it was my job but it was also so much more… I could feel it all the way down to my cutie mark.

“I am… Twilight Velvet.”

Author's Notes:

This is a short chapter i know, the song lyrics are meant to carry the theme of the scene in this one. Because of what this chapter meant, i felt i didn't want to add on. i wanted to keep it as just this.