Federal Press
July 15, 2037
REBEL BASE DESTROYED
By Mark Erickson

Just days ago Federal Forces located the rebel base in an abandoned mine 6 miles outside the city of Calten. Under the cover of darkness Federal Army Forces snuck into the rebel based. Details on what exactly transpired have not been released but a Federal Army spokesman stated during a press conference that most of the rebels were neutralized and the base destroyed with minimal losses for the army. The army is confident that the rebel forces have been dealt a severe blow and that they will not be able to recover from. The citizens are assured that what rebels remain will be hunted down and captured to face trial for their crimes…

Twilight Sparkle trotted down the tunnels of the new rebel base. It had been a couple of days since they moved into the sewers and things had calmed down as nearly everything had been stored where it belonged. Twilight had to admit while the smell was taking some getting used to she liked the new base, mostly just cause she got her own room, or quarters as the rebels called them and as a member of the medical team she didn’t have to share a room with someone like the regular soldiers.

The room wasn’t large but it wasn’t small either, from what Twilight could tell it looked like it used to be an old break room of some kind, least that was her best guess since it had a counter along one wall. There wasn’t much in the room other than a cot and a trunk for her to store personal items in, though there wasn’t really anything but a couple changed of her medical scrubs in it as she didn’t really own anything.

She nodded to a couple of soldiers she passed and they returned the nod. It was strange, originally the Soldiers acted indifferent towards her but since what happened in the infirmary they either greeted her with a hello or a nod when they saw her. What Dupo had told her seemed to have been accurate and they did see her as one of them. Much to her annoyance what else he had said turned out to be true and she found herself being asked to do some of the more annoying jobs like run power lines down half flooded tunnels in order to set up lights so the guards could see. She did not enjoy that and her fur still smelled like that tunnel but she tried to think about it as just water and not what was most likely in the water.

Twilight pushed the thought out of her mind as she neared the infirmary, looking forward to starting her shift. “Hello Dr. Grey, hey Marcus.” Twilight said happily as she entered the room and saw her two friends. Marcus looked up from the chart of one of the soldiers injured in the attack on the last base he had been reading. “Hey Twilight, Already time for your shift?” He asked glancing at a clock on the wall, one of the soldiers had brought them a clock so they could all see the time.

She nodded. “Yeah it is.” She said and Glanced over to Dr. Grey who sat in her usual place behind her desk; Twilight swore it was the same desk from the old base. “Been keeping him busy I see.” She giggled.

Dr. Grey looked up from what she was reading. “Of course, he’s very good as an assistant though I guess unlike the rest of my staff that makes sense since he is actually trained.” She said closing the book she was reading. “I suppose since Twilight is here you are free to go Marcus.”

Marcus nodded and placed the chart on the small stand beside the cot. “Alright, suppose I’ll go grab some food then.” He said and patted Twilight head as he walked past her. “Catch you later Twilight.” He said as he left the room, the guard beside the door following him. While the rebels didn’t fully trust the young man yet he was no longer confined to the infirmary and was allowed to roam the base with an escort. Though Twilight knew he only ever went to the mess hall and his own quarters.

“So what you need me to do Dr. Grey?” Twilight asked looking at the Doctor.

“Well you can finish checking the other patients and then I have a few other medical textbooks for you to read if you are done with the others.” Dr. Grey said as she stood and Twilight smiled as she levitated out the two Biology books Dr. Grey had given her after yesterday’s shift. “You’ve read both of them already?” Twilight nodded smiling wide, she had told Dr. Grey she loved books and she had suggested she read up on medicine and human biology so she could be more effective in the Infirmary. “Wow, you weren’t kidding when you said you read fast.”

“Nope, I usually read about 5 books at once when I’m studying. Two is easy though I did read them over a couple of time to make sure I had everything committed to memory.” Twilight said with pride.

“Well then suppose I should give you more than two.” Dr. Grey smiled as she took the books from Twilight and walked back to her desk as Twilight went to make her rounds.

Twilight was sitting in a corner of the infirmary reading one of the medical textbooks Dr. Grey gave her, she had some down time as the patients were just on bed rest so only just needed to be checked every once in awhile unless they say something. The only sounds was the quiet conversations the soldiers were having. “Hey Twilight, I’ve been meaning to ask something.” Twilight looked up from her book at Dr. Grey.

“What is it Doc?” She asked closing her book. She had taken to calling her Doc like all the other rebels did as it seemed to be the right thing to do.

“Well…it’s about those bandages on your…well…I guess I’ll say backside.” She said gesturing to the bandages on Twilights flank. “You’ve had them since you had been brought her and since they hadn’t needed changing I saw no reason to undo them. But I’ve noticed you’ve been keeping them replaced even though any injury under them shouldn’t need them anymore.” She looked at Twilight seriously.” So...why are you keeping them replaced and why don’t you do it in the infirmary?”

Twilight felt her blood run cold as she stared at Dr. Grey.” Ah…um…no…it’s…..” She stuttered. And looking around. She knew someone would ask eventually but she hadn’t expected it so soon. She looked around the room, anywhere but at Dr. Grey. “You see….well….” She didn’t want to face what they had done to her; she didn’t want to see her flank missing its Cutie Mark. She knew it was, they had taken the skin itself and it had been left to heal on its own rather than having a healing spell fix it. There was no way the mark had come back.

“Twilight are you ok?” Dr. Grey asked, her face showing concern as she stood up from her chair and walked over. “You’re shaking.”

“I’m….I’m….” Twilight stuttered. She was saved when the door banged open and one of the medics rushed in carrying a stretcher with the help of another soldier. On the stretcher was another Rebel, his left arm missing from the elbow down. His upper arm was tied in a tourniquet but he was still bleeding from other wounds.

Dr. Grey reacted immediately rushing over to the inured soldier. “Get him on a bed, Twilight get the surgical kit.” She said and Twilight blinked and shook her head before jumping up and running for the storage locker. She then ran towards where the medic had transferred the wounded soldier, surgical kit trailing behind her in her magic.

“Her you are Doctor.” She said handing it over and pulling one of the low tables over with her magic. Dr. Grey set out the surgical supplies. “I’m going to need both of your help.” Dr. Grey said to Twilight and the medic who both nodded. Dr. Grey had the medic as a second pair of hands for the surgery while Twilight was in charge of handing Dr. Grey what she asked for.

The three of them worked frantically to stop the bleeding. Twilight even cast a few small healing spells when asked to but the soldier’s breathing was slowing and in the end it stopped all together. Dr. Grey had tried to revive him but she was forced to stop when it became clear there was nothing that could have been done.

“Time of death... “Dr. Grey looked at her watch. “7:34 PM. Cause of death blood lose and severe trauma.” She said in a detached voice before sighing as she pulled the sheet over the deceased soldier form. Silently the three of them walked over to the sinks that had been set up beside the door and washed up.

Once done Twilight looked back at the sheet covered form. She walked over and sat beside the cot. “Twilight are you ok?” Dr. Grey asked as she stepped up beside Twilight.

“He didn’t have to die….a simple healing spell would have stopped the bleeding and he’d have made it back here in time.” Twilight said quietly.

“Maybe, but there is no way of knowing. You shouldn’t blame yourself.” Dr. Grey said resting a hand on Twilight's shoulder.
“If you say so Doc.” Twilight replied simply.

Twilight walked down the tunnel that leads from the infirmary to the mess hall. Her shift had ended not long ago. It had been a quiet shift after the surgery and Twilight had spent it trying to read the medical textbook but her thoughts had kept drifting back to the soldier’s death and how easy it would have been to prevent.

Twilight shook her head to clear it of the thoughts. “This is war, people die.” She whispered to herself as she walked. Even still, there is no reason though that that soldier had to die a voice in the back of her head whispered. She sighed again and was glad when she reached the mess hall.

She looked over the partly filled room with the soldiers that were on duty or had just returned from patrols or other duties. Twilight made her way to the line and looked around. She recognized a few faces but no one she actually knew personally, just soldiers she had seen around. She had hoped to see Marcus or Delco but seems they were either in their quarters or elsewhere in the base.

Twilight slowly made her way to the line and levitated a tray when she reached the serving bar. She wondered where the rebels got all the stuff they set up like the serving bar. “What will you have?” The cook asked once Twilight reached him, he had to look over the bar to see her but all the soldiers were used to her around the base and it wasn’t like she could grow taller or walk on two legs like the rest of them.
“Um…I’ll take a couple of apples.” She said up at the cook.

“Sorry darlin’ don’t got any apples.” He said and she opened her mouth. “We are out of fruits and vegetables.” He said and Twilight stared at him wide eyes.” We got ham or chicken breast so what will you have?”

“Ah…when will you be able to get more fruits or vegetables?” She asked, skipping one meal won’t be that big of a deal.

“At least a week. Feds won’t be sendin’ a supply convoy we can hit till then, so till then we are stuck with meat.” The cook said

Twilights jaw worked, she couldn’t not eat for a week but…it was meat. “You ok darlin’?” The cook asked adjusting the white circular hat he wore. “You look pale”

Twilight looked around; she noticed the three rebels behind her were staring at her, some with annoyance as she was holding up the line. She looked back at the cook who was looking at her with concern. “H-ham…”She said quietly.

“What was that darlin’? Speak up.” The cook said.

Twilight sighed. “I’ll take some ham.” She said a bit louder. The cook nodded and placed a plat of ham on her tray and a glass of water as Twilight didn’t drink anything else. Twilight still wondered how he remembers what everyone preferred when he dealt with so many people. Well Twilight was easy as she was the only pony but he always knew what everyone else wanted unless they were new and even then it didn’t take long for him to know.

Twilight left the line and made her way towards an empty table and sat staring at her ham. “Meat…why did it have to be meat that was left.” She said staring at what she was going to have to eat for a week. She was not looking forward to this.

Slowly she took the meat into her magic and tried to ignore the smell as she brought it to her mouth. She took a very small bite. She squeezed her eye shut as she slowly chewed. Ignoring the taste she forced it down then gasped. “I am not looking forward to this week…”She said before taking another bite.

In the end she only ate half of her food and had to down her entire glass of water just to try and keep it down. She sat there with her eyes squeezed shut as her stomach told her exactly how unhappy it was. With a groan she stood and carried her tray to where the used dishes went and left it there before making her way out of the mess hall.

Twilight walked down one of the tunnels of the rebel base. She didn’t want to go back to her quarters and she didn’t want to be in the way at the infirmary so she just wondered the base thinking. Her thoughts kept going back to the soldier that died, while it wasn’t the first failed surgery she saw the first one she hadn’t had her magic so couldn’t do much. But this time she had had her magic and it hadn’t matter as he was too far gone by the time he had gotten to the infirmary.

She didn’t know who the soldier was personally, she didn’t even know his name, but the more time she spent with the rebels the more she felt as if they were her friends of a sort, like all the ponies in Ponyville. She didn’t know everypony in Ponyville personably but she saw them as her friends of a sort. So the soldier dying and her not being able to save him was like letting someone in Ponyville die because she didn’t use her magic to help.

Her thoughts ran around in circles as she walked through the base. Eventually her hooves carried her to a certain door of the base and she stared up at the door. She hadn’t really been paying attention where she had been walking so finding herself outside of this door was a bit of a surprise. What also surprised her was when she raised a hoof and knocked.

“Come.” Came a voice from inside and Twilight used her magic to open the door and walked in. “Ah Twilight good to see you.” Clancy said from behind his desk.” What can I do for you, or did you come by for a drink?” He asked with a smile.

She shook her head. “I want to go into the field as a medic.” She said bluntly. She hadn’t known why she had come here till she actually entered the room but then everything in her head solidified into that one thought.

Clancy blinked at her. “Well, I hadn’t expected you to want to go into the field. May I ask what brought this on?” He asked gesturing to one of the chairs in front of the desk.

Twilight climbed into the chair and got comfortable before she spoke. “I think…no…I know my magic would be more useful in the field as a medic. My healing spells don’t do a lot of good by the time the injured get to the infirmary. But if I can use them when someone gets injured then there is a higher chance of dying.”

“You realize that if you are in the field you will have to fight and kill at some point. There is no room for pacifists in the field.” Clancy said very seriously.

Twilight nodded.” I figured and……” She took a deep breath. “I am prepared for it.” She said and thinking about it she was almost entirely sure she was. The thoughts of the rebels dying because she wasn’t there and seeing Dr. Grey shot back at the old base…and what had happened to her at Deminal Labs. Granted the labs security weren’t the feds but the Feds allowed that…hell to exist.

“Well, you will need to get some armor and basic firearms training, I’m sure you already have enough training in medicine to be a medic. If you are sure you will need to talk to Sergeant Dupo as well as Liston to get some armor. It will need to be customized to fit you so he will need time to prepare it.” Clancy said sitting back in his chair. “Once you get all that you’ll need to go through some training before reporting to Major Briggs for an assignment.”

“Who is Liston and Major Briggs?” Twilight asked.

“Liston is our supply clerk, he keeps track of everything that’s not food or weapons, and Major Briggs is my second in command and handles most of the personnel assignments.” Clancy said. “If you are sure then speak to them to get what you need. If you change your mind let me know but once your armor is done there will be no turning back, you understand?” Clancy asked and Twilight nodded. Clancy sighed. “Alright. Now then how about that drink?” He asked opening a draw in his desk and pulled out the familiar bottle of amber liquid and two glasses.

Twilight walked down the tunnels enjoying the warms the whiskey was spreading through her body, she only had a couple of glasses with Clancy as she didn’t want to get drunk since she had so much to do today now. With each step she took she felt more confident about her decision to go into the field.

She reached the supply room and blinked as someone had spray painted the word SHOP on the door. Twilight pushed the door open with her magic and walked into the room. IT was a medium sized room that was clear all the way up to a counter that was set up on the far side with shelves of helmets and other small items and a door behind the counter with the words EMPLOYEES ONLY spray painted on it.
“Well hello there little pony, what brings you to my little shop.” The man behind the counter said cheerfully. Twilight blinked at him as he wasn’t dressed like any of the other rebels neither in armor nor camouflage. Instead he was dressed in some dark slacks a white shirt with a dark suit jacket over it with a name tag. He looked to be in his later 20s to with blond hair.

“Um…I need some armor made for me.” Twilight said as she reached the counter.

“Oh heading out into the field? Ah fun times I hear. Least it keeps me busy having to repair or replace armor and such.” He said with a chuckle. “Please follow me; I’ll need to take some measurements since this is going to take more than just a few tweaks.” He said gesturing for her to follow as he headed for the back door.

Twilight followed and when she went through the door Liston turned on the lights revealing row upon row of everything and anything one could possible want. “Like my collection? I have a little of everything one could want little pony.” He said with pride as he grabbed the same type of measuring tape Twilight was used to Rarity using to make dresses. “Now then please stand over there.” He gestured to a small raised platform that had three mirrors around one side and two small spot lights trained on it. “Also will the bandages on your flank be removed soon?”

Twilight Froze. “What’s wrong with the bandages?” She asked hastily.

“Well the way the armor is going to have to be will cause the bandages to be in the way and it could cause the skin to be rubbed raw, trust me you don’t want that little pony.” Liston said happily.

“Do they have to be removed?” Twilight asked not looking at the man.

“Mmmm yes, yes, they do little pony.” He replied. Twilight sighed and started walking again.

“Where did you get all of this?” Twilight asked looking around as she stepped onto the platform.

“Eh, I know a guy.” Liston waved his hand dismissively. “Now hold still, this is a first time I get to take measurements and make armor for a little purple unicorn.” He said with a chuckle, the smile seemed to be permanently affixed to his face. Humming he started to take Twilights measurements of her body and legs, even her tail and head. “Hmm…oh this is going to be an interesting job; I am so looking forward to making your armor little pony!”

“Uh…thank you?” Twilight said staring at the strange man who reminded her of Pinkie Pie to an extent.

“Oh no thank you little pony! It’s not every day I get a customer as unique as you!” He said chuckling as he wrote the last of Twilights
measurements onto a small note pad. “Now then that will be 20,000 credits for the armor and helmet.”

Twilight sputtered. “20,000!? I have to pay for this!? But I don’t have any credits or bits or anything!” She franticly said. “I didn’t know I had to pay for this.” Her breathing started to quicken.

Listen laughter broke into her building panic. “No, no, it’s free little pony. The soldiers would be going out naked if I charged credits for my wares. I just couldn’t resist the chance to tease my most interesting customer.” He chuckled and patted her head and she scowled up at him. “Aw don’t be like that just a little prank, no harm done.” He chuckled as he headed for the door hanging the tape measuring on a hook by the door. “Anyways the armor should be ready in a week little pony.”

Twilight grumbled under her breath about being tricked again as she followed him out of the door and made her way to the exit of the door to the SHOP. Leaving behind the Pinkie like human who was trying to stifle a laugh at how she was acting.

It didn’t take long for her to get back to her quarters where she now stood in the middle of the floor staring at the bandages on her flank. If she wanted to go into the field she had to remove them, but…she couldn’t stand the thought of what she knew was under them. Whenever she replaced them she used her magic and didn’t look.

Now it was either the bandages stay and she can’t help in the field, or she faces what happened to her and help her friends. She sighed and squeezed her eyes shut as he horn was wrapped in a magical glow. The choice was simple.

When she was done she slowly opened she eyes and started at the square of scar tissue where her Cutie Mark used to be. It was a reminder of where these people….where her friends rescued her from and she would do whatever it takes to help them.

Staring at the mass of scar tissue she felt her stomach lurch and she galloped from her quarters and for the bathrooms that had been set up as her stomach wanted to thank her for putting meat into it.

Twilight stepped into the armor and froze wide eyed. Sergeant Dupo was there as she expected but what wasn’t expected was for him to be standing inside a cage where he had had her set up the tables when she was last here. All the tables she had set up were filled with guns and ammo. He even had shelves and lockers as well and a few creates.

“Well, well if it isn’t the new blood; come by to do more work kid?” Dupo asked looking at her from inside his cage.
“Where did you even get this and why did you set it up?” She asked completely dumbfounded.

“It’s set up so the guns can be locked up when not in the field, it’s for safety kid.” Dupo said completely ignoring the first question.
“And where did you even get it and how did you get it set up?” She asked still staring.

“That is none of your business kid. Now what the hell do you want?” Dupo asked leaning on his counter and staring at her with annoyance.
“Um….I’m here for firearms training.” Twilight said.

“Oh heading out into the field are you kid?” Dupo asked and Twilight nodded. “Well then best we get started then.” He said as he turned around and started looking over the tables before plucking a few of the weapons off the table and ammo and then took some keys from his belt and unlocked the door. “Get to the firing line kid. “He said as he locked the door behind him.

Twilight stepped up to the first line she had painted on the floor. “Now then. “Dupo said as he stepped up beside her and held up a pistol. “This is a Grop 45; it’s a standard issue .45 caliber pistol, mag hold 8 shots plus one in the chamber.” He said as he held up a long rectangle and slides it into the receiver at the base of the grip. He then ejected the mag and had her do it a few times before he showed her where the safety was and how to chamber a round.

“Now then kid, aim down the site and try to hit as close to the center of the target as you can. “ He told her and she took the pistol in her magic and he explained how the iron site works before she took aim. She squeezed the trigger and yelped when the pistol kicked out of her magic.

“Well I’ll be kid. “Dupo aid whistling before picking up the pistol and Twilight looked where he was looking, her shot had hit only an inch from the center of the target. “Well looks like you are going to be a marksman kid.”

Author's Notes:

well this is a short chapter as I can't figure out how to extend it any longer.

Hope her inner conflict is believable.

I have a PATREON with fair rewards. Every bit is greatly appreciated and helps me out.