The door to the local guard post was smashed to pieces as I came cannonballing out of control into the building, smashing through a desk and hitting the far wall. I groaned as I sat up. That punch from the Heavy Gunner definitely put me on my back. Pushing myself to a knee, I stumbled forward.

“Sir are you alright!?”

Turning my head to the left, a stallion clad in golden armor came running up, helping me to my feet. “You need to get out of here!” I told him before groaning a second time. Facing the door, numerous shadows entered the building before the Heavy Gunner entered the room. Her white armor was chipped and beaten by years of abuse. Her augment, metallic legs banged loudly against the wood floor of the building.

“Tenno skoom!”

I panted as I stood up. “Grineer skoom…”

She growled at me, leveling her Gorgon heavy machine gun. The weapons internal barrels roared to life as it began to cycle. To rolled to the right, dodging the volley of heavy gunfire as she tracked me through the room. But it did me little good as I was trapped against the wall with nowhere to go. Opening my shield, I held it up and braced myself with both arms. Each round impacted loudly, bouncing and whizzing off in various directions, tearing through the walls and furniture.

While she was distracted, one of the stallions grabbed a spear and thrust it forward with all his strength!

It bounced harmlessly off her thick helmet. The gunners head glanced to the side from the strike, the sharp broadhead leaving a distinct scratch along the rounded surface of the armor. Confused, and slightly annoyed, the gunner turned her head towards the smaller stallion. The yellow, demonic eyes of her helmet struck fear in the smaller stallion.

“I’m sorry!” he squeaked as he dropped the spear, where it clattered against the floor as he frantically backpedaled from the pissed off soldier. She shouted and cursed at the stallion as she heaved her weapon over her head, intended on striking at the poor stallion with the butt of her rifle. Reaching for the forgotten spear, I wrapped my hand around its rough wooden surface, smashing the handle across the back of the Heavy Gunner's helmet. Her head recoiled forward before she turned to focus on me. Landing with a slide, I spun what was left of the weapon in my grip…

And drove it through the bottom of her helmet!

She gagged around the shaft and slowly went limp, blood oozing from within the helmet and down my arm. Releasing the weapon, she fell, nothing but a heap of metal and flesh now. The poor stallion behind me, heaved, gagged, and finally vomited onto the floor.

“Tenno!” I heard a shout come from the door. Looking in that direction, I watched as a Lancer began to enter the building. Without thinking, I pulled the broken spearhead from the Heavy Gunner’s corpse and flipped it around, catching it by the blade before I threw it, hitting the Lancer square in the helmet.

As he fell to the floor, I turned to the poor guard, who started looking a little green. “Where do you keep your weapons?”

“In -ugh- the back,” he panted, swallowing hard before he led me into a different room. “How many do you need?” he asked as he opened a cabinet, revealing a plethora of spears and swords.

“All of them…”

One advancing Lancer opened fire on one of the Tenno making sure to keep her head down so that his remaining allies could advance. As he continued to keep the pressure on, there was a loud tink as something buried itself within his neck. He gagged, pawing at the spear buried halfway through his torso. Landing next to him, I pulled the weapon from his body, tossing it in the air and catching it in reverse before targeting another poor Lancer. Pulling another from my back, I turned as a Butcher came charging towards me. Hopping to the right, he missed his attack as I thrust the spear forward, prodding him hard enough in the side to draw blood. He growled before raising the weapon over his head again. His weapon sparked brightly as it impacted against my shield. Using that opening, I shoved the spear forward with as much power as I could.

The bloody tip punched through his abdomen and out his back, killing him. Pulling the weapon free with a wet sucking sound and loud crack I spun the spear around my shoulders, resting on the back of my neck and thrusting it forward, plunging the weapon through a Power Fist’s neck. The shaft snapped in half. With one last turn, I threw the broken end, catching an advancing Lancer right in the eye.

“Serenity! Run!” I shouted towards the berserker.

Turning back towards the advancing Grineer forces, I took up cover behind my shield. Drawing another spear, I thrust it towards an advancing Trooper. The weapon punched through his abdomen like it was never there. He screamed, dropping his Sobek and grasping the shaft. With a mighty grunt, I shoved the Trooper forward and impaled another Lancer!

With two suckers on a stick, I pulled a grenade from the Troopers waist, pressed the arming button, and shoved it down the front of his armor. Bullet jumping away, the Trooper exploded in a plumb of red mist and broken yellow armor, which killed the second Lancer. Landing on the roof of a nearby building, I drew a sword and threw it just as a Hellion, equipped with a personal jet-pack, landed, spearing him through the chest with enough force to throw him off the top of the building.

The sounds of their familiar whistling jet-packs filled the air. Several of them took to a hover and primed their rocket launchers. All of them fired their barrages just as I took off across the rooftops. A series of explosions followed in my wake as I ran, drawing yet another spear. I came to a sliding halt, jumping straight into the air as an explosion went off in the area of where I would have been. Pulling my legs and left arm in close, I held that pose long enough to prepare a throw.

I heaved the spear with all my might!

The primitive weapon hit one of the Hellions square in the chest and punched through the back of his jetpack. He went sailing, his screaming form being led along by the momentum of the weapon before he struck another Hellion in the leg, dragging the pair through the air and pinning them to the ground. Not a second later, the first Hellion’s pack exploded, killing the pair. Landing in the exact same place from where I took off, I drew another sword from the small of my back. Turning around, several Hellions landed behind me.

Time to go!

The roofs exploded as they brought hell down a top of me! I ran as fast as I could with bullets tearing past me and many of them impacting off my shields. As I ran, numerous Hellion’s took to the skies, firing volley after volley of rockets at me!

But I traversed forward.

Leaping from one roof to another, I spun in the air, sailing on my back and throwing another sword. I didn’t watch as it hit, but I knew it struck true as I came full circle, landing with a roll and back into my sprint. I made it to the end of the building, leaping towards another before three Hellion’s landed right in front of me! I came to a sliding halt, frantically waving my arms to keep my footing. Spinning on my heels, I turned around to try and head the opposite direction. I made it two steps before the previous Hellion’s chasing me landed. They had me boxed in with nowhere to go…

As I frantically looked between the two squads, I had only one option. Lifting my left hand high into the air, an ethereal Skana appeared before it exploded in a blinding flash of red light. All six of them recoiled back as they were blinded by my Radial Blind ability, the six clones held their hands to their helmets as the wisps of light bleed from the eye holes. Jumping high into the air, I held my sword over my head and slammed it against the roof. All six Hellions grunted as they were thrown from their feet and off the roof, crashing to the ground below.

Landing in an alley below, I exited the area.

With a quick check of my radar, I felt safe taking a breather for a few seconds, knowing that I wasn’t being followed. Panting, I stood up straight and held my head to the sky. As I took several deep breaths I lowered my head, surveying the area.

Then, my hair stood on edge by the guttural growl behind me…

My eyes went wide before I spun on my heels, drawing one of the spears as I came face to face with a Timber Wolf! “Shit!” I cursed under my breath as I took a defensive stance. The amalgam of wood growled at me again as it lowered itself to the ground in preparation for a leap. I shook my head at the animal. “Don’t do this…”

It took a step forward.

I took a step back…

It leapt!

I dove to the right as the animal went over the top of me…

And tackled a Lancer I didn’t see approaching! The poor bastard screamed as the animal sank its fangs deep into his flesh. His legs kicked wildly as he clawed at the animal in a vain attempt to pull it from his bleeding form. The wolf cared little as it snapped its jaws around his helmet ad pulled it free, tossing the forgotten helmet and clamping its jaws around the Lancer head, shaking him violently.

“So that is what these things look like,” I heard a female voice say behind me. Turning around, I watched as a snow-white mare approached me with an eyebrow raised.

“Harmony?” I questioned.

“Sir Knight,” she greeted with a tilt of the head as she watched the wolf tear into the lifeless corpse of the Lancer. “It would appear as though you need help?”

Honestly, I had no idea I was that close to the Everfree Forest. The white, ethereal mare was not too pleased by what she was witnessing, if the look on her face was anything to go by. “It would appear that we have the southern half of town, we could really use some help taking the other half.” I looked back at the wolf that had its head buried within the Lancer’s armor. “Or at least to aid us in evacuating the town.”

“Say no more.” The mare closed her eyes and lifted her head, horn glowing brightly with her untold power. I watched silently, letting her concentrate for several seconds before the glow faded into nothing.

A wolf howled in the distance…

It was faint, but I could hear it. A rumble here, a growl there. As time progressed, the howls, grunts, growls, roars, and rumbling became louder and more pronounced as they got closer and closer. As I waited, I jumped and raised my rifle as a pack of wolves came out of the treeline and right towards me. To my right, the bushes rustled loudly as a manticore came bursting out into the open. The pack of four wolves growled at the mutant cat, while it in turn, hissed and swiped at them aggressively. To my left, the underbrush rustled as well a mighty, stone head came slithering out from underneath as a crockodile came crawling out.

I didn’t want to be near that… not after the last time I had been with them.

The sound of a cat growling could be heard as jaguar came crawling through the trees, the spotted black feline landing without so much as a noise. Lastly, the sounds of heavy panting and grunting filled the air as a mighty grizzly came ambling out of the treeline. Turning her head, the mare ignited her horn yet again. I took a hesitant step as the ground started to shake violently, followed by wood creaking, groaning, and moaning before the ground cracked violently below my feet. Stumbling backwards, the earth exploded as a thick, dirty wooden root tore itself free, wiggling as it waited for its next orders.

“I wish I could afford more, but I still have a planet to look over,” the mare reached over and patted the manticore on the head, the animal responding in kind. “They will fight for you, so long as you fight for us?” I stared at the animal. I could tell he was up there in age, they all were, but they had some fight left in them!

“I will!” I nodded.

“Then go!”

Each animal roared its approval, eager to aid and protect their planet with everything they could! Turning towards the massive boar of a grizzly, we locked eyes. We both knew that this would be his last battle, be he intended to make his mark in history! Stepping towards his, I grabbed a handful of fur and pulled myself onto his back.

“Let’s go!”

The wolves howled…

The cats roared…

The crock hissed…

And the mighty grizzly roared a deep, guttural roar as he reared up on his back paws. Landing with an earth-shattering thud before he took off like a cannonball! With us taking the lead, the rest of the pack followed.

Ember and Serenity held the line as they did their best to protect the civilians. The pair ignored the bullets bouncing harmlessly off their shields, the latter of the two relying on her armor to take the brunt of the hits. Behind them, their escorts coward in fear in the alleyway. Many of them screamed in agony thanks to various bullet wounds. They were beaten, bruised, and many were bleeding. Some of them couldn't walk, others were too afraid to even move. But they needed to hold out before they could make their move.

“Girls!” I shouted over the radio. “Whatever you do! Don’t shoot behind you!”

Ember pulled away from the fight and rested her back against the wall. “Why!?”

“Because I got heavy reinforcements in bound!”

The two Tenno looked towards each other in confusion before they looked down the street towards my direction. The sounds of heavy grunts could be heard as we came around the corner.

“WHAT THE HELL!?”

“TIMBER WOLVES!”

I held on tight as the mighty behemoth of a grizzly charged forward, his heavy paws hit the ground like thunder. As the wolves took the lead, they headed for a pack of Drahks. The ugly, vicious mutated Kubrows. The furless, mutated, pig-like dogs have a pair of tusks as sharp as razors, but it meant little to the wooden wolves as they went for the attack!

With a mighty leap, the feral wildlife tackled the attack dogs!

Not too far behind, the manticore charged forward aiming for a pack of Hyekka kavats. These animals are a hairless version of the Feral Kavat, with a stubbier snout and a stouter appearance. Instead of their multi-feathered tail, the Hyekka have a single tail. With a ferocious growl, the Manticore swiped at the first cat, knocking the Hyekka back with enough force to crush a ribcage.

Tearing past the two packs of wood, claws, and teeth I thrust my spear forward, impaling one Lancer through the chest, dragging him down the street as he clawed and palmed the shaft of the weapon. With a violent shove and jerk of my shoulder, I threw the body from the weapon, before I spun it over my head and threw the weapon to my left, punching through a Lancer’s torso armor, pinning him to a wall.

Jumping from the grizzlies back, I landed with a roll and opened fire with my Soma. Behind me, the grizzly reared up on his back legs and roared. A nearby Trooper opened fire with both barrels from his Sobek. The grizzly grunted from the strikes to the shoulder before turning towards the Trooper and roared, challenging him. With a might slap of that paw, the Trooper’s armor was rendered useless as he was thrown into a wall with enough force to spiderweb it. Dropping to a knee, I continued to fire as I watched a blue dot approaching me rapidly from behind. Spinning around, I opened my shield just in time for the black jaguar to leap onto its surface. Standing up, and pushing with both hands, I catapulted the animal into the air, where it landed atop a Butcher, tearing into his unarmored form.

Turning, I whistled loudly. “Storm!” Within seconds, the blue and black Kubrow came barreling out of a nearby alleyway with Knight in tow. “Gett’em girl!” I watched as the pair tear past us. Behind me, the grizzly landed on all fours, ignoring his injured shoulder as he followed the duo. As those Grineer in the immediate area made a run for it, the Crockodile slithered past me, dragging a screaming and flailing Elite Lancer by the ankle before disappearing into a random alleyway. Turning around, I watched as the Manticore loomed over an injured Hyekka, lifting its mighty tail, the Manticore impaled the Hyekka. The injured animal cried out in agony as the Manticore lifted its insect like tail, with the stinger poking out the other side of the Hyekka, it whipped its tail, sending the cloned cat smashing through a window.

With that, it headed out of the area and into a different part of the town.

Bullets tore over my head.

I ducked reflexively and started backing up as multiple more squads of Lancers started to advance. “Ember! Serenity!” I shouted, turning towards the pair as they returned fire. “Get the civilians out of here!” Drawing my sword, I began hitting it against a tipped over cart in the center of the road and waving my arms wildly. “HERE, HERE, OVER HERE!” I shouted as loud as I could, drawing the Grineer’s attention to me. “COME AND GET ME!”

More bullets impacted over my head, forcing me to duck as I rapidly backpedaled and turned back into the alley behind me. I ran as fast as I could, watching my radar as several red dots followed my blue. I ducked and weaved through a few more alleys, even having to jump over the Crock as he came crashing by, this time dragging a Trooper by the torso through the street.

Landing with only a slight stumble, I headed for a nearby building.

The doors opened as I stumbled into the building. Several long shelves full of produce, drinks, food, and other necessities lined the building. There were even tools, clothes and other small knick-knacks as well in other aisles. I blinked and turned around, just above the door read a sign that said, ‘Thank You for Coming to Barnyard Bargains!’

“How long has this place been here?” I questioned, confused. “And how have I never noticed and never been here before?” Lowering my head, my eyes went wide when I spotted several Lancers, backed with a few Scorpions came running towards the open doors of the building. “Shit!” I cursed as I ran down a random aisle.

What happened next was something I would have expected Pinkie to do.

The Lancers and Scorpions shouted at me as I ran down the aisle and opened fire on me just as I reached the end of the aisle, several bullets impacted against the shelves, showering me in shredded produce. I slid in front of one aisle, staring down it as a Lancer came sliding up as well. Turning to the right, I made a run for it. The Lancer followed…

Stepping back, I headed back down that aisle.

Heh… idiot fell for it.

Simple minded clones.

I made it halfway down the aisle when a Lancer ran by, looking in my direction before doing a double take before he came to a sliding halt, disappearing for a second before reappearing and raising his rifle. I came to a sliding halt myself, flailing my arms to keep my balance before I spun on my heels and ran in the opposite direction. I made a few meters before a Scorpion appeared in front of me.

I came to a sliding halt yet again.

Frantically looking between the pair, they slowly and cautiously advanced on me.

With nowhere left to go and reinforcements joining the two, I had nowhere left to go. Grabbing onto a shelf, I pulled myself up, caring little of the boxes, cans, and other produce I knocked onto the floor. Frantically I pulled myself to the top of the unstable shelving unit. Waving my arms to keep my balance, I hopped to the next shelf and onto the floor. Grabbing a forgotten shopping cart, I pushed it along as I ran. The wheel squeaked and skittered loudly, but I ignored it as I watched my radar. Once I was close enough to the end of the aisle, I pushed the cart forward, knocking the lead Lancer off his feet and face first into the cart. Adjusting it accordingly, I kicked the cart towards three more sprinting Lancers. All of them came to a sliding halt, their boots failing to garner traction on the smooth floor.

All four of them crashed rather comedically as they were sent down the length of the building, propelled by the shopping cart before crashing into a pyramid of soup cans with a loud bang. As much as I wanted to enjoy that moment, I didn’t have time as a Scorpion exited a nearby aisle, looking towards her moaning companions before she turned her head to me. Gritting her teeth, she lifted her left arm and shot her grapple-hook at me. Leaning to the side, I dodged the attack and slipped back into the same aisle I exited from. With her hot on my tail, I spotted a gumball machine. Palming it with both hands, I tipped the dispenser over. Its glass head smashed loudly against the floor, sending hundreds of colorful candies rolling across the floor. The poor Scorpion failed to stop in time as her metallic feet immediately lost traction. She screamed in panic as she flailed her arms and kicked her feet in a veined attempt to keep her balance. I watched patiently as she slid by me, smashing into a glass door and demolishing the milk shelf within.

Turning, I disappeared further into the building.

With their target gone within the building the remaining Lancers helped their partners free from their soup prison while the other Scorpion helped her milk soaked twin free from the cold storage section. Annoyed, the wetter of the two, barked orders to clear the building!

The lights flickered, then went out.

The building was immediately bathed in darkness, the only light entering the building coming from the glass front door. They looked to the ceiling in confusion before they looked to each other, the bright yellow glow of the eye holes of their helmets, glistened from each other’s armor. Holding up her hand, the now less wet Scorpion pointed towards each of her troops and pointed towards the aisles. With a nod each, the soldiers took to the aisles before they slowly began to advance.

Right into my trap.

On the far end of the building, I sat pinned in between an aisle and the wall. Widening my feet against the wall, I pushed with all my strength. My groaning became louder as I strained against the weight of the long shelving unit. Once the thing reached its tipping point, gravity did the rest. The self banged loudly against the next one, sending them dominoing down the length of the building. The sounds of dozens and dozens of produce, boxes, cans, and other miscellaneous products impacted against the floor. I landed on my back against the shelf, watching as each shelf crashed against each other. The sounds of screaming could be heard as they were buried under hundreds of pounds of debris and shelving units.

As the last one banged against the opposite wall, I let out a sigh of relief.

Standing up, I did my best to climb over the debris field and exit the building.

“Excalibur, Miss Sparkle would like to talk to you,” Ordis said.

“Ordis I’m-” I started to say when more gunfire tore past me, many of those bullets impacting against my shields. “I’m kinda busy here!” I shouted as I drew my rifle and returned fire yet again. Retreating, I tried my best to escape down an alley.

“Excalibur, she is insisting she talk to you!” he pressed.

I cursed under my breath. Now was not the time to talk to her. Eventually, I relented. “Yes?”

“Cally!” Twilight screamed. “Please tell me you’re okay!?”

“I’m fine!” I shouted over the gunfire before I took a round to the head. “OW!”

“Cally!” Twilight sobbed.

“Twilight I’m fine!” Still hurt though. I paused as I opened fire, gunning down several advancing Lancers and injuring several others. “What is it?”

“Cally please come back to the ship!”

“Twilight I can’t!” Turning, I drew my sword and slashed at a Powerfist that got to close. They were equivalent to Butchers, but instead of a single cleaver they wielded a single Furax guantlet. Kicking the corpse, I drew my Lex and fired three shots. “I’m needed here!”

“But-”

“Twilight stop!” I shouted at her, a little more forcefully than I intended. I panted loudly as I imagined the hurt look upon her adorable face. I sighed as I took a calming breath, reholstering my pistol. “Twilight… I promise that when this is all over that we’ll go and do something. I… Ordis pull up a feed!”

There was a flicker as a live feed of Twilight’s face appeared on the right-hand side of my H.U.D. Just as I had expected, she had been sobbing for who knows how long. Her cheeks were matted and stained with active tears.

She sniffled loudly, wiping her nose with the back of her hoof. “Do what?”

I glanced at her, “Whatever you want, Twilight. Just you and me. Name the place and we’ll do it!”

She sniffled twice this time. “I… I want… I want to go to the beach! Some… somewhere near Las Pegasus. Just you and me!”

“Just you and me,” I promised. “And you know what?” Peeking around a corner, I opened fire on a Heavy Gunner that was trying to keep me pinned. “While we're at it lets get married.” I glanced at her as she inhaled sharply.

“Married?” she squeaked.

I nodded. In the background, I heard everyone gasp or squeal in joy. “Yes Twilight, when this is all over, let's talk about wedding plans. We’ll go wherever you want, and I’ll get you the biggest, brightest, most beautiful ring I can find!” By now, she had booth hooves covering her mouth as tears of joy threatened to break free.

“I-I want a small wedding,” She started to explain as she lowered her hooves.

“That’s fine with me.”

“And… and I want Princess Luna to preside over it!”

“Why Luna?” I questioned, raising an eyebrow. Not that I minded. I opened fire as I crossed the street and dipped into another alleyway.

“Because Luna made a request after my brother's wedding. She felt as though she had been left out when Celestia presided Shining’s,” she explained.

“Well I’m okay with that!” I said excitedly. I could feel this strange feeling welling within my chest. The butterflies were starting to get stronger!

“And… I want to go somewhere exotic for our honeymoon!”

“I can think of a few places…”

“And… and I want six kids!”

My eyes went wide at such an extreme declaration. “Maybe we should start with one?” We still didn’t know if our genes were compatible, but we could make it work. If there wasn’t some magical for of contraception, Trinity could probably come up with something.

“Four?”

“Let's go with two for now?” I suggested.

“Deal!”

"Twilight when this is all over-"

BOOM!

Everything went white as I was violently thrown from my feet, smashing through a nearby window, landing painfully on my side.

I don't know how long I laid there on that floor.

Ever so slowly, I lifted one arm and placed my palm against the floor. Shakily, and with all the strength I had, I pushed myself up. Getting my other arm under me, I got my upper half off the floor. So far, so good. My vision was very blurry and the ringing in my ears drowned out all other sounds. Tentatively, I lifted a leg and got my foot under me. Okay, doing good. Repeating the action with my other foot, I stood up. Making sure to grab my rifle, I stumbled towards the broken window.

I nearly lost my footing, forcing me to rest my hand against the windowsill before I made it out of the building. Still lost in my daze, I climbed through the same way I came in. When I landed, I stumbled forward and into the crater before I crossed the alleyway and pressing my hand against its surface for stability. I groaned, but no sound reached my ears. Pushing off, I felt a wave of nausea and lightheadedness hit me like a Galleon and forced my back against the wall. Pushing off the wall a second time, I turned back towards the main road…

I needed to get back into the fight…

Stumbling forward, I needed to evac. the city…

Lifting my head, I came to a halt as a Lancer stood before me with his rifle raised. My legs shook violently as I did my best to stay on my feet. I could feel my body shaking as shock was starting to take over. Lifting my hand, I waved at the Lancer to hold off. I stumbled, causing him to line up his sights while I hit the wall with my shoulder, groaning as I tried to not throw up. My head felt like a lead weight as I turned it the opposite direction, watching as three more Lancers approached.

Waving them off, I pushed off the wall and gripped my rifle.

Okay… I can do this… even though I can feel my knees knocking together.

Panting loudly, I swallowed hard and nodded my head before taking three deep breaths of preparation. Alright, I'm ready. Spinning on my heels, I raised my rifle at the lone Lancer.

I jumped, then ducked as something big and heavy hit the ground behind the Lancer with enough force to shake the earth and throw us off balance. He turned, and fired, but his bullets did little as a large head snapped around his form, lifting him into the air and shaking him violently. I stared in awe at the gargantuan lizard before me. Turning around, I felt the ground shake as an equally as large lizard landed behind the three other Lancers. Its gargantuan maw snapped around the center Lancer, heaving him high into the sky.

The Lancer on the left turned to the side and started firing into the sky. His gunfire also did nothing as he was tackled to the ground by a smaller, armored lizard clad in jet black armor. Pulling its longer neck back, it sank its fangs into the Lancer's helmet, crushing it. The Lancer on the right grunted as something slammed into his back and threw him to the ground. Grabbing him by the ankles, the gold clad being lifted the Lancer into the air and slammed him front first into the ground before spinning and throwing him through a nearby window. Both smaller lizards turned towards each other and slapped claws before rearing back and billowing plumes of red fire.

Turning around, I faced the large red drake. "Ambassador, it's good to see you!" I greeted the large dragon ambassador as he glowered down at me.