High above the ground in the skies above Ponyville, two dragons raced through the skies as fast as their wings could carry them. The Ambassador and his mate Ithaca flew in wingman formation as they slapped and torched anything that got to close. Ships were burned, exploded, tossed aside like empty tin cans. But that ship above made it feel as though all they did was of no help. It was like a hydra, cut off one head, two took its place. The Ambassador found his gaze drifting towards the Galleon feeding the attack. The drake came to a hover as he eyed the metal behemoth.

Ithaca joined her mate in a hover as she two eyed the ship and the tiny dots bleeding from within. Glancing towards her mate, she knew what he was thinking. He turned his head towards her, and she knew what he was thinking. The two shared a knowing nod. Leaning forward, the Ambassador pulled his mate into a deep kiss, for he knew that this could be the end of both of them. Breaking the kiss, the pair rested their foreheads against each other one last time before they separated.

With several hard flaps of their wings, the pair ascended towards the heavens. Through the fire and the flames, the smoke and shrapnel, the pair continued to rise with one target on their mind. The radar within the ship was not blind to the approaching pair and the galleon reacted accordingly though with her main cannons. The guns roared as they peppered the skies with plumes of jet-black smoke as searing hot shrapnel rained down upon the duo. It was nothing more than a mere nuisance as the metal clicked off their thick hides. They flew like hell, determined to get inside that ship!

The Ambassador grunted as he body slammed an exiting drop ship coming from the opened docking bay. The ship was violently thrown off course and forced back into the docking bay as both the Ambassador and the drop ship smashed into the ceiling, denting the metal with a loud creaking noise. The Ambassador landed hard against the metallic floor of the bay as the demolished drop ship moaned before it broke free from the ceiling, smashing against the edge of the hatch before tumbling out of control out the door. The drake groaned, shaking his head as he propped himself up with his front claws, grasping his head. As he opened his eyes, he was confronted by hundreds of soldiers caught terribly off guard by his less than formal entrance.

As he sat up, only then did the Grineer regain their senses and start shooting. Pilots opened fire with their pistols while troops and dock personnel used rifles to combat the intruder. The Ambassador grunted, holding up and arm to protect his face from the small arms fire. "Why you insolent little…" he cursed before he roared as loud and as intimidating as he could. Behind him, Ithaca clawed at the metal lip of the docking door, shredding the metal with her claws as she clamored her way inside. With a single slap of his arm, the Ambassador sent a squad of clones sailing across the large bay, one of them with enough force to dent the hull of a drop ship. Both beasts roared as the went in opposite directions of the hanger. Burying her claws deep into the top of a drop ship, the dragoness dragged the ship across the floor, using it as a ram to demolish several ships in her wake. The Ambassador grabbed a pair of Dargyns, smashing his fists inside their hulls and using them as makeshift gauntlets.

The duo wreaked havoc from within the hull of the mighty ship. It was so alien to what they had grown to know. The vast metal walls went against everything they grew up with. It was not right, and they didn't like it. Even the griffons and their machines paled in comparison to this monstrosity. Metal continued to buckle and moan as a drop ship landed top first against the floor of the hanger while a Dargyn smashed into one of the walls. White hot flames bellowed from the dragoness' maw as she torched several ships, engulfing them in searing hot flames before their fuel reserves went asunder. Both ships exploded, sending searing hot shrapnel in all directions. The hangar was in shambles and well out of commission for the foreseeable future. The dead and the dying littered the floor of the hangar while demolished ships burned, bathing the room in a lethal black fog.

From one of the few remaining, working doors, a Heavy Bombard and a squad of Elite Lancers entered the hangar to address the invaders. At the sound of the opening automatic doors, the Ambassador turned towards the new threats, narrowing his gaze at them. Inhaling deeply, a bright glow began to emanate from the back of his throat. The Bombard in turn lined up his sights and fired. The missile sailed straight and went straight into the drakes open jaws. The red dragons’ eyes went wide, but it was too late. He reflexively closed his mouth just as the warhead exploded, puffing his cheeks out as black smoke bleed from between his lips and nostrils. The drake fell forward, grasping his neck with one claw as he fell into a fit of coughs that racked his form.

"NO!" Ithaca screamed in horror. Dropping onto all fours the white and blue dragoness slithered her way towards her injured mate and grasping him in her claws. His coughing persisted as she held him. Her worry immediately turned into anger as she turned her attention towards those that injured her mate. They didn't hesitate to turn tail and run towards the same door they entered through. Ithaca dug her claws deep into the metal with enough force to shred it as she clawed her way towards the door. Just before the doors closed, she smashed her fist through the metallic doors and deep into the hallway, frantically clawing at anything she could grab. When her claws came up empty, she pulled her arm free and reared back, inhaling deeply before she rained fire down the hallway with enough heat to melt metal and weld it together. Pulling away from the door, she frantically grabbed her injured mate and helped him towards the docking bay door before the pair slipped out and glided away from the ship.

A bright flash from the galleon caught my attention as I saw flames and smoke billow out from one of the hangar doors as the Ambassador and his mate flew away. "Dammit…" I cursed under my breath. If I had been with them his fight would have been over sooner! They didn't fully disable the ships ability for reinforcements, but they did put a dent in one of the docking bays that was feeding this attack. But I couldn't delve on that for very long, we still had a battle to fight.

I took the lead as we lead the civilians towards the farm. I fired at anything that got to close until we made it towards the main road that went through town. With the Grineer having a major foothold on the town, the last push towards the farm was down the open road. There was little to no cover.

I brought us to a halt behind the last house on the main street. With thirty something civilians; crossing the main road was going to be the worst. As I leaned out around the corner I immediately flinched back when several bullets impacted against the wall. "Ember with me. Juwel you too!" I ordered before I leaned out and opened fire. My sister and Juwel took cover behind me as the former fired past my left shoulder as we quickly kitty-cornered our way to the last house on the block. Stepping out from cover, I opened fire, keeping the Grineer pinned as Ember waved the civilians over. Three mares and a stallion shared a look of concern before they gulped and made a run for it as fast as they could. They reflexively ducked when several bullets shot over their heads, the stallion jumping with a yelp when a few impacted against the dirt at his hooves.

The next few ponies ended up with the same result, running, yelping and jumping. It was about halfway through the group when all hell really broke loose. The stallion up front took a bullet through both front legs, causing both appendages to give way, causing him to roll head over heels, screaming at the top of his lungs in agony the entire time, but he landed safely behind cover. The mare behind him took a bullet through the back thigh, causing her to yelp and limp her way towards us. The next two mares made it and the stallion with them was clipped through the right ear. It was the last mare, the same one that lead me to Serenity, who took a bullet straight through the side.

"LYRA!" Bon Bon screamed as she lunged forward but was stopped by two stallions. "LET GO OF ME! LYRA!"

A chill ran up my spine when the mare landed on her side, gagging for air through her torn lungs. She held up a shaky hoof, silently begging for our help to save her. Blood oozed from both wounds, staining both her light green coat and the dirt beneath her as she laid out in that open street. Everything went blank for me. There was no sound to the gunfire and the screams. I glanced over my shoulder at my sister as she fired at a pair of Lancers that had come around the back of the home, forcing most of those with us to the ground. Juwel was busy trying to apply first aid by shredding clothing that some of the ponies were wearing. Both stallions struggled to hold Bon Bon back as she continued to scream towards her friend.

Everything came back in one massive rush.

The gunfire, screams, and explosions filled the air yet again…

I was moving before I even registered a plan. There was a dumpster in the alley that I immediately got behind, shoving it out into the street before I grasped the bottom, groaning as I lifted the thing and tipped it over. Trash spilled out of the top as it banged loudly against the ground. Pulling the fifty from my back, I slammed it against the metal side.

"Ember! Man the fifty!" I ordered my sister. She nodded before holstering her rifle as she stepped forward. As I stepped out of the way, she manned the gun and began firing as I drew my rifle. "Juwel, I need you to help provide covering fire!" I ordered her as I held out my rifle.

"I don't know how to operate this thing!" she replied.

"Grab it here and here, shoulder here, line up your sights here and pull the trigger!" I quickly stated, running her through where to grab, how to shoulder and how to fire. With a nod of acknowledgement, she stood behind my sister and started to fire down the street. "COVERING FIRE! COVERING FIRE!" I screamed as loud as I could across the street towards my two remaining teammates. Serenity dropped to a knee, grabbing one of her Grakatas and fired towards the advancing Grineer as Drax stepped out and u loaded with the Imperator. I opened my shield and drew my Lex. I fired around my shield as I exited the alleyway, walking sideways towards the mare trapped in the middle of the open street.

Bullets ricochet off the ground around my feet while others impacted against the shield, clicking and clacking with each hit as the Grineer immediately targeted me. But I continued to push towards the mare until I was right next to her. Lyra held out her weakened hoof to me, silently begging for help as she coughed and gagged around the blood in her mouth and lungs. "I got you sweetie! I got you!" Holstering my pistol, I bent down and as gently as I could, lifted the mare into my arms and held her close to my chest, ignoring the blood oozing down the front of my armor. "I got you…" I panted as I used my shield to protect her from further injury.

I ignored the few bullets that impacted off my legs and head as I retreated as quickly as possible back towards my sister and Juwel. Once I was out of the hot zone, I gently rested the mare on the ground, ignoring Bon Bon's screams as she continued to try and break free from her captor’s grip. I reached underneath her and found the exit wound immediately. "Right through both lungs," I said softly. Leaning back, I pulled out a health restore while I scanned her for any ailments. When she came back clear of any allergies to the medication, I drove the needle into the meaty part of her butt. The medication will stem the bleeding, but she'll need a doctor to stitch up the wounds.

Ithaca landed hard against the ground with Zeitlos jumping off her back. "What do you need!?" she shouted over the explosions and gunfire. I stood up and drew my pistol and fired on three Lancers that came into view. As they dropped dead, I glanced at my radar, seeing nothing but red surrounding us all.

"We need to get them the hell out of here!" I shouted, referring to all the refugees. "We won't make it to the farm! We need to get them out right now!"

We lost our foothold…

The Grineer were pushing their advance and had surrounded us. The Equestrians were going to die if we tried to push towards the train…

"Cal I'm running low!"

"It's empty what do we do!?

"Lyra! Look at me! Look at me!"

"We're going to die… we're going to die!"

"I want my mom… I want my mom!"

"Excalibur, we have to do something!"

The Ambassador landed hard on the roof above us, the building buckling slightly under his weight. "What… are… orders!" he coughed, his voice sounding very coarse and scratched. I looked to him, then Ithaca, and finally the panicked civilians. Their terrified faces will be forever etched into my mind.

"You have to get them out of here…" I said under my breath before moving my attention back to the Ambassador. "Get them out of here! Find something, anything! Just get them the hell out of here!"

The Ambassador surveyed the area in search of something suitable to exfiltrate the remaining civilians until his gaze fell on the local water tower. With a single flap of his wings he sailed over to the tower, slamming his entire body into it as he flapped with all his strength. He roared in frustration, metal buckling and bolts snapping, water bursting from the failing seams as he tried to pull the shell free. He adjusted his grip, his claws finally puncturing the metal as he gave one last shout, tearing the water tower free from its support, dumping hundreds of gallons of water onto the Grineer below. The red drake grunted as he hauled the cylindrical hunk of steel towards us before he landed with it on the ground.

"EVERYONE IN NOW!" he bellowed.

We covered the civilians as they poured into the metal shell. We helped the injured where needed, but otherwise provided covering fire. "What of the others?" I shouted.

"You seemed to have distracted the enemy long enough for Ithaca and myself to get the others out!" Zeitlos answered. "These are the only ones left!"

We did it…

As the twins finished helping everyone inside the towers hull, I rushed over to Ember, who was now firing her Braton and grabbed the fifty. I materialized another belt and loaded it into the ammo box before charging the gun and heading back to the dragons, gun in hand.

"We must leave!" The Ambassador shouted before grabbing a cart and throwing it out of sight. "Get in!"

I couldn't leave… not until I got aboard that ship.

"Everyone," I said calmly towards my team. "Extraction is here. If you want to leave, leave now. Otherwise we're on our own." Ember, Serenity, and Drax approached, all three of them looking towards me expectantly. They were contemplating on leaving, but none of them dared go any farther. If we die, we die together. I nodded my thanks and understanding. "We'll cover your retreat!" I shouted towards the drake.

"What!?" Juwel shouted in shock. "No, we will not leave you!"

"You have to get them out of here!" I shouted towards the Ambassador. "That's an order dammit!"

The drake ground his teeth together in frustration but still grabbed the water tower. "We will return for you!"

"Don't bother! We'll be gone by the time you do!"

None of them liked that answer, but the drake tried to take off, grunting when he failed to lift the water tower. "Rahhhhh! I need help!" Ithaca for her part flew over with three flaps of her wings, digging her claws in deep into the metal as she flapped her wings furiously to garner any lift. The two struggled some before the metal cylinder finally lifted off the ground and into the air.

A bullet whizzed past my head, impacting against the wall. I reflexively ducked and returned fire at the Grineer Lancers that advanced down the alley. "Go! Get them out of here!" I ordered.

The pair of dragons flapped their wings harder, the sound of rushing air could be heard over the gunfire as they kicked up clouds of dust in their wake. They continued to climb, doing their best to move as fast as they could as bullets impacted against the metal surface. It was a struggle, but soon they were out of range of the danger. Juwel and Zeitlos flew along silently, constantly looking back towards the little town they had lost to save.

"We can't just leave them to die!" she shouted in exasperation and worry.

"You were given a direct order!" the Ambassador shouted towards the smaller dragoness before he grunted and readjusted his grip on the metal.

"They're going to die though!"

"Then they will die on their feet fighting for us! Do not forget that young one!" the Ambassador shouted back, this time turning his head and glaring the smaller dragon into submission. "I do not like it any more than you do…" He turned his head forward so that he could see where he was headed. "But they made their decision, now we make ours. Our world is no longer that safe haven we thought it was. It will be up to all of us if they don't win on this day…"

"A day which will live in infamy…" Ithaca said softly.

Back on the ground the four of us continued to fire at anything that got to close. We were seven little dots in a sea of red. Our pets had found us, and they fought tooth and claw, mauling whatever we couldn't get to. "We're surrounded!" Ember shouted as she pressed her back against mine.

"No shit what gave it away!?" I shouted back over my shoulder.

"We need to get out of here!" Serenity screamed.

"Pick a direction!" As the three of them continued to fight, I materialized a flare gun into my hand and held it over my head. Here's hoping that Big Mac will understand this message. Pointing the gun directly towards the sky, I fired it, sending the bright orange ball high into the sky.

Back at the farm, Big Macintosh panted loudly as he dragged his hooves in the dirt as he dragged the now soiled cart behind him. He was exhausted and soaked in sweat. "Just one more…" he said under his breath. He knew his Ma and Pa were looking over him and had given him the strength he needed on this day. He slowly lifted his shaking head and donned a confused gaze when he saw the bright orange ball of flame in the distance. On his side, his sword hummed, and he knew. He knew he had done his part and that he could rest now. With a shaky hoof, the stallion unhooked himself from his harness and turned back towards the train.

The stallion trotted his way towards the train, dragging his hooves and stumbling occasionally down the beaten and blood-soaked path towards the train. But once he saw the locomotive, he widened his step just a little bit more. Once he was close enough, the armed conductor shouted down at him. "That it?"

Big Mac shook his weak head as best as he could. "Yes…" he wheezed. "Go…"

As the stallion climbed aboard, the flower sisters helped him aboard, Lily and Roseluck using their bodies as braces as they helped the stallion into an open seat. The train jerked, then lurched as the brakes started to squeal as the train started to roll backwards and away from Ponyville…

"DRAX!"

"Serenity no!"

The dragon frame laid unmoving in the center of the street, his armor still smoking from the explosion as Serenity dropped her gun and ran to him. I followed, running out into the open to protect them both. "I got him!"

Unable to properly fire back, I just wrapped grabbed Drax by the back of the collar and dragged his ass towards cover. He groaned as he came to, groggily turning his weak head. I grunted as I dragged him along, several bullets impacting and ricocheting off my shields. With a shaky hand, Drax palmed one of his pistols and fired towards the Grineer. Time seemed to slow as all hell continued to rain down upon us.

Serenity opened fire with one of her Grakatas while she covered us before her shields exploded and a bullet tore through her armor and right through her knee. She screamed out in agony as her leg buckled, causing her to fall. She tried to crawl, but the incoming fire was too much that she had to keep firing. I handed Drax off to Ember before I went back for my friend.

"Keep firing!" I shouted at her as I grabbed one of her neck braces, dragging her back towards safety. When one gun ran dry, she grabbed the other, leaving the empty one in her lap. As I glanced over my shoulder, Ember leaned out yet again, holding strong as several bullets creeped up her body before her shields exploded and her head recoiled back. "EMBER!" I screamed in horror as she fell backwards. As soon as Serenity was safe, I moved towards my little sister, grabbing her by the shoulders and dragging her back to safety. The scream of agony she let out eased my worries some as I pulled her behind cover.

We were done.

We lost the town…

We had to extract now!

Ember groaned as she grabbed her bleeding shoulder. "How many rounds do you have?" she said with a wince as she propped herself up against the wall of the building.

I glanced at my ammo counter. 150 rounds left. "Enough to count…" Frantically, I started grabbing available guns. I grabbed one of Drax's Jagara and placed it in a cross draw on my hip before grabbing a dropped Grakata, checking the magazine before putting it on my left thigh. Glancing to the side, I crawled over towards my sisters’ rifle, grabbing a fresh mag from her before placing it on my back. Lastly, I grabbed the fifty, opened my shield…

And accepted my fate…

I was firing before I rounded the corner. The gun roared in my hands as I gunned down dozens of dozens of soldiers. Like a wave they advanced. When one clone died, two took his place. I was the only one left. The only one to hold the line. I had to hold the line. The sights were there but the sounds never came. My shields held true for as long as possible before they exploded in a flash of blue sparks.

"AH!" I cursed as I felt a bullet tear through my right knee, forcing me down onto my good knee. But I never gave in. I continued to fire, gunning down several advancing Lancers. Once I felt that my armor was healed enough, I forced myself back onto both feet, but I could feel my right leg shaking violently. But bullets only last for so long.

I watched that ammo counter sink like a stone.

And when the fifty ran dry, I flipped it into the air and caught it by the barrel. With my makeshift mace in hand, I held it high, spinning as I brought it down, shattering a Lancers knee with the mass of metal before I caught a Trooper in the side, sending him flying as I smashed his rib cage. I kicked another Lancer back as I brought the ram up, clacking the Lancer on the jaw as I lifted the weapon over my head, smashing it over the head of the first Lancer I struck. Metal buckled and broke as the gun shattered upon impact, leaving the searing hot barrel in my hands. Turning back around, the Lancer I kicked was recovering. Lifting the barrel over my head, I forced the jagged end of the barrel down the front of his armor, impaling him with it.

I drew my Soma and fired from the hip, gunning down several more Lancers. Another bullet tore through my left shoulder, forcing me to draw my Lex, firing it wildly, striking a Trooper before he landed at my feet. I held my own in that open street, because if I died today, I died on my feet, knowing full well that I at least did something to protect these people. Holstering my Lex, I continued to fire from my Soma until all 200 rounds ran dry. Throwing it on my back I drew the Grakata and took a knee, firing several bursts until it too ran dry, where upon I threw it and hit a Butcher in the head.

I drew both my partially empty Lex and the Jagara, firing akimbo in both directions. But when my Lex ran dry, I continued to fire the Jagara. When a Butcher got to close, I hooked him on the shoulder blade with the lower blade attached to the bottom of the pistol. Tossing him away, I grabbed a Trooper by the collar, smashing the front of his helmet with the pistol and driving the blade into his skull, firing from both barrels. Leaving the gun in the clone’s head, I grabbed a storage device and made the large revolver I bought back in the alternate earth appear within my grasp.

I fanned the hammer for six shots, all of them striking true, killing six advancing Lancers.

As I holstered that empty gun and drew my sisters’ rifle. But before I could even get a shot off a loud resonating metal clang filled the air as a Shield Lancer bashed me with his shield. I grunted from both the strike and hitting the ground.

"Tenno Skoom!"

I barely had enough time to dodge the giant blade as it punched deep into the dirt next to my head, humming loudly in my ear. I struggled with the Butcher a top me as I grabbed his wrist with on hand and his face with the other. We struggled against each other for several seconds before I opened my left Venka next to his head. The clone’s eyes went wide in horror at the sound as I gritted my teeth, pulling my left arm back and plunging the blades into the side of his right temple. Pushing the body off me, I grabbed the clever and pulled it from the dirt.

I clashed blades in a flash of electrical sparks with another Butcher as I stood up. We struggled for dominance before I pulled my head back, smashing my helmet against his nose before I kneed him in the gut and sent him sailing. But I did make sure to take his weapon as well. I spun, heaving one of the cleavers at a Trooper, catching him square in the helmet.

"Oof!" I grunted as I was thrown off my feet as a bullet tore through my abdomen. I landed on all fours, holding a hand against the wound, sluggishly getting onto one knee. I pushed myself forward, diving and throwing the last cleaver at a Lancer, striking him in the chest. Laying there on the ground, it was a struggle to prop myself up on my arms.

I panted as I sat up, sitting on my knees and watching as the Grinner surrounded me from all directions. They didn't shoot at me. Not even once. They were waiting. It was my move. Reaching up with both hands, I drew my Exalted Blade, hoping that my remaining energy would hold out just long enough for this to work. Drawing my Skana, I used both as crutches to stand up on shaky legs.

A gunshot tore through the air.

I turned around to see as my sister, who was hunched over holding her shoulder as she fired her pistol. Behind her Serenity and Drax limped out, firing Grakatas like made. "You thought you could have all the fun?" Ember mumbled as I caught her in my arms.

Give them hell guys…

All three of them landed at my feet as we all sat back to back, killing anything that got in our path. This was our final stand. Today we die. Today, we will be remembered. I swung my ethereal blade with reckless abandon, waves of red energy disemboweling dozens of clones. Our shields were useless and could not recover through the fire and our armor only held on for so long. As we held our own in that barren street, we failed to hear the sounds of metal clacking together.

Two metallic feet banged loudly against the roofs of buildings.

Then Ambulas smashed feet first down directly in front of me!

I was knocked from me feet, landing hard against my back as the gargantuan moa stood like a beacon of hope.

Gunfire erupted yet again.

The moa flinched before it lifted its leg, gears grinding and hydraulics flowing as it locked into place before smashing its foot against the ground, cracking the dirt below. The shockwave shook the ground so violently that several clones were sent sailing into the air. Hopping forward, the Corpus weapon leapt forward, kicking a Lancer in the chest with enough force to cave in his chest plate. The sounds of energy building filled the air as the main cannon started to charge. All of us winced as the canon fired, spinning wildly as the laser cut through anything in its wake. Soldiers were sliced in half as buildings were set ablaze.

It killed everything in sight.

Beeping, the moa trotted off and out of sight.

I blinked before I went limp and let out the biggest sigh of relief I ever had. I swear I could hear the music playing in the background. We made it. We will live to fight another day. I stood up first and helped my sister up next as Serenity helped Drax to his feet. With us all supporting each other we started to limp towards the farm.

"What now?" Ember panted as I wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"Head for the train and evac with the Liset," I answered before looking towards my friends. "Get healed up and tackle that thing head on. Ordis, evac towards the train." We started to limp down the road, forever grateful.

There was a distant whistle.

Before there was an earth-shattering explosion not too far in front of us as a plume of dirt sailed high into the air. There was another and another! They were getting closer!

"ORBITAL BOMBARDMENT! INCOMING CREEPING BARRAGE! EVERYONE RUN!"

The explosions of the canons filled the air like the drums of death as the town began to explode all around us. We turned tail and ran. Our wounds no longer hurt as we all had one massive adrenaline dump.

"THEY'RE FIRING ON THEIR OWN TROOPS!"

"THEY CAN MAKE MORE! RUN DAMMIT!"

Time seemed to slow. With nowhere else to go we ran back towards Ponyville central. Homes and businesses exploded in clouds of debris and fire. Grineer survivors ran for their lives, dropping their guns and running as fast as they could in their panic. The explosions were deafening as we were showered with large hunks of debris from buildings and rocks. Boulders the size of carts sailed past us as wooden beams were turned into lethal shot. One unfortunate Lancer was shredded to pieces as another was decapitated by a support beam.

We still ran.

The round that hit Sugar Cube Corner was one of the worst. The building was obliterated by the explosive payload, sending chunks of wood and metal sailing through the air like missiles. Even the shockwave itself was so powerful we were thrown from our feet, sent sailing back several feet into the street. I had enough time to throw up my arms in a pathetic attempt to protect myself. But when I opened my eyes, nothing was left standing of the little culinary shop…

"Ember get up!"

"Drax isn't moving!"

"I got him go!" I grabbed the dragon by an arm and heaved him over my shoulders. I screamed at the top of my lungs and with one last heave, he was secure. I winced as an explosion went off near us, collapsing a building and showering us in debris. I ran as best as I could. "Head for the tree line! We'll lose them in the forest!"

Get to the forest.

Get to the forest…

Get to the fucking forest!

Hell rained down upon is that day. A day that will always live in infamy. Equestria's darkest day in history.

My heart was like a drum in my ears and all I could hear was my heavy breathing. We needed to get out. We needed to leave. I saw the explosions, but they never registered. Just get to that forest. It's just over there. Just on the other side of those buildings. Ambulas joined us, leading the pack to safety. Just as we crossed the bridge…

Both Ambulas and Town Hall exploded.

…

I dragged Ember out of the water, propping her up under the bridge.

I blinked.

Serenity had Drax.

He was awake.

I blinked again.

I smashed my shield into the mud as Serenity did the same with Drax’s Aegis.

I coughed.

Ember held me tight, screaming about how much she wanted to go home.

Another explosion.

The earth shook violently.

That one was closer.

We huddled around each other, crying, screaming, begging for a miracle.

Another explosion, this one much closer than the last.

I held my sister tighter, trying to reassure her that we were fine.

We were fine.

There was a crash.

I stared at the explosive warhead buried in the mud and the water right in front of me.

Don't go off…

Don't go off…

Please don't go off!

I closed my eyes.

I love you Twilight…