Author's Notes:

Added on 03 Aug 2016

Formerly Vigilance Is Eternal

With only the stars to guide them on a clear night sky, two large, armored mini-trains with the Bernese Local Guard seal speed towards a large house with a covered balcony circling the whole structure. Their headlights briefly shine on the carnage they will soon be exploring, and it does nothing but work up their nerves. There are gazebos and placed in the center of its lush lawn is a fountain with a statue of Iron Will striking a cool pose on the top. One of the vehicles drives towards the back while the other skids to a stop next to a couple of abandoned motorized wagons. Once the vehicle stops, the back opens and heavily armed and armored ibex guards jump out and move towards the house. They do this quickly and professionally, and they check the vehicles, too, and when they find that they are empty, they continue on. They take up positions outside of the front entrance, which has the front door completely destroyed, and keep low so that they aren’t seen from the windows, which are riddled with bullet holes, just like the rest of the wall.

The Lead Guard pokes his head in and sees that the house is dark and has a thick atmosphere of dust, but he can make out bodies all over the floor and more bullet holes, as well as a giant slab of stone sticking out of the ground at an angle. He gives the order to move in, and he and his team rush inside and spread out while being sure to keep each other covered. As they move through the destroyed house, most keep their eyes out for any hostiles, but there are a few that stare at the horrifying mess made up of mutilated corpses, broken furniture, and blood splatter. One particular thing that the Lead Guard finds disturbing is a unicorn stallion laying in a pool of blood with his eyes and mouth wide open in horror and a knife in his neck.

“We have a survivor!” says one of the guards. “Earth pony mare. She's going to need medical help and fast!”

The Lead Guard rushes over to the guard and sees him placing a bandage on a blueish-gray pony with a grayish-violet mane. She is covered in bruises and scratches, and her gray frock is torn and drenched in blood from a knife in her stomach. Around her are more ponies of various races, all wearing armor and armed with automatic weapons, and all unconscious with a variety of injuries.

“This one's alive!”

“So is this one!”

“This one expired!”

“We got a runner out back! Light green unicorn mare, thirties, sixty to seventy kilos! We're in pursuit!” crackles a guard over the radio.

There are distant shouts, some crashing and a mare shrieking. A pair of guards rush out the back to assist and the Lead Guard takes another pair with him and they travel up the stairs.

The steps creak, the lights flicker and their breaths are steady as they inspect the scenery. The lights flicker sporadically, briefly lighting the ransacked and hole pocketed hallway. Darkness, light. Darkness, light. On and off the light goes. Flashing.

They pass a mutilated bathroom door, and after a quick inspection they find only a utility belt with spare ammo and a syringe of beige colored fluid in the bathtub. But they stop when they hear breathy whispering, giggling and shushing. They quickly pin it on a room with its door wide open.

The Lead Guard motions one of the other two to go first, and one short staring contest later he complies. The point guard enters the room, followed closely by the other and lastly the Lead Guard. The room the enter has a trail of blood that leads to a corner. The bed is stripped of its sheet, and a picture of Iron Will hugging Fluttershy has fallen to the floor. The trio shine their lights on the only figure in the room.

She is an earth pony mare wearing an lavender armored suit with a cape, and her dark pink mane is hanging limp and is frazzled. Her pink coat is covered in blood, and her hoof is wrapped in a sheet, which is dripping blood, and she is facing a broken mirror, grinning and rocking herself back and forth.

“Its okay, nopony will hurt you anymore. I'm here. I'm here,” says the mare in the corner. She giggles and gently shushes an invisible friend while rubbing the mirror, leaving a streak of red. “Its okay, Pinkie, don't cry. You have nothing to be afraid of. I will protect you as I have before, and I will make sure you will stay safe. Forever and ever.”