“Oh my friends, my friends forgive me

That I live and you are gone.

There's a grief that can't be spoken.

There's a pain goes on and on..."

— Marius, "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables", Les Misérables

Sunset wondered if she was going to be sick. She remembered the instructions the medical staff had given her clearly: relax, keep yourself at ease to prevent any further panic attacks, lest she risk harm upon her unborn child. It had been an easy task for some time now, with the help of Applejack to keep her mind occupied.

But now she was gone. Only a few short minutes ago, a pair of men in dress uniforms had appeared at the door and requested to speak with her privately.

How did they know where she was? Have they been watching us ever since I got brought here? Sunset wondered. All her suspicions about her husband’s current predicament seemed to be true, no matter how much denial she faced. But why are they- oh no.

“Sunset’s mah friend,” Applejack said tentatively, somewhat taken aback by the solemnity of the two soldiers that had entered the hospital room. “Whatever you want to say, you’re OK to say it here.”

“Mrs. Reyes? Husband of Sergeant Marc Reyes?” one of them asked, a withered-looking Major whose eyes seemed weary from a long night’s work. His gaze settled on the plate set upon the door, reading the name with a growing look of displeasure.

He knows who I am, Sunset thought. They’re afraid to tell Applejack in front of me because it could reveal that Marc’s in trouble. What if they wanted to speak to me too and they wanted it done separately? Oh, God help me.

“We would prefer that, under the circumstances, you come with us for the time being,” the Major replied.

“Ah’m fine here, thank you,” Applejack said politely. Sunset’s heart sank: Applejack was unfamiliar with the world of the military and didn’t know what she was about to hear.

“AJ,” Sunset said, her voice held under tight control so as not to reveal her grief, “Go talk with them. I’ll be fine on my own for a little while. Take all the time you need.”

“Are- are you sure, girl?” Applejack asked.

“I’m sure. Go on, they need you right now.”

Applejack remained uncertain but accepted nevertheless. Sunset wondered if she was truly prepared for what was about to fall upon her? Granny Smith was gone, Apple Bloom had all but cut off her family, and Big Mac was now gone- AJ was all alone in the world, and she didn’t even know it. Sunset’s mind wandered back to the multitude of conversations and phone calls they had shared over the years since the war began. All of them, without fail, had spoken of the day when her brother would come back to Sweet Apple Acres and help bring things back to normal. Of when her brother and best friend would be home again, how Apple Bloom would come around and start being part of the family again. Now, though she didn’t know it yet, that dream was gone forever. It was the most sickening thing Sunset could imagine, and her heart twisted in sympathy for her friend.

Marc is still out there, she realized. He’s still alive, but if Big Mac is dead, then he’s still in trouble- he could die today. The thought ran through her like a bullet and her blood turned to ice. This is it. The moment. The only moment. Marc is going to die and I’ll never see him again. His baby girl will never know her Daddy. He’s going to be lost to me and I don’t know if I can bear it.

Sunset gave a gasp as a hard kick from within her belly rocked her from her reverie. Another movement within, then another, each as unpleasant and harsh as the one before. Her baby was reacting to her mother’s distress- Sunset’s fear began to turn to horror.

I can’t lose control now. Not now! You have to hold on until this ends, so do it! Sunset flung her hand in her mouth and crunched down, pressing so deep into her skin that she wondered if she had drawn blood. The pain was terrible and did nothing to relieve her surging emotions that now roiled like a sea in a storm within her.

“Mrs. Reyes? Is everything alright?” One of the nurses, likely alerted by Sunset’s skyrocketing heartrate, came in to check on her. “You look like you’ve been having a rough night.”

“I’ve had better,” Sunset said, a massive understatement as far as she was concerned. “Please, I could use someone to talk to. Is there anyone here I can talk to for just a moment, please!”

The nurse continued with her checks, doing her best to ease down Sunset’s terrors. Finally, when she could do no more, the woman sat down in a nearby chair and faced Sunset, an expression of great grief clouding a soft-featured face that spoke of kindness.

“My name’s Ivy,” she said. “The chaplain’s busy helping your friend right now, I think. But if you don’t mind talking to me…”

“Her brother’s dead,” Sunset said flatly. “There’s no other explanation for it.”

“I’m sorry,” Ivy replied. “It must be awful for the both of you, you seem so close.”

“I wish I felt bad for her. Really, I do- but my husband works with her brother. They’re in the same platoon! And all I can think of is that I’m going to lose my husband tonight. What if he’s already been hurt? What if he’s been killed? How long will it be before they tell me? How am I going to do this alone?”

“Gently, gently,” Ivy said in a soothing voice, trying to shush out Sunset’s resurging fears. “I know you’re scared right now, but let it out gently. You’ve got a little girl inside you that needs you to stay calm.”

“I don’t know if I can do this,” Sunset said, her voice beginning to become thick with tears. “I’ve waited so long for this stupid war to be over. I’ve wanted my husband back with me for years. It’s all we’ve planned for, talked about. I don’t know if I can go through all of this and him not be there with me when it ends. How am I supposed to raise my daughter without him? It’s not fair!”

“Of course it’s not fair,” Ivy said. “Nothing in this world’s fair. Good men and women go fight and die because some monster couldn’t resist killing people. A bunch of innocent people get killed, people’s lives are destroyed, and families are torn apart. War is never fair.”

“Am I selfish, then? Should I be ashamed-”

“Of course not. He’s your husband. Of course you want him back with you- but now you might have to be ready to face that he isn’t coming back. You might have to raise your daughter without him.”

“I don’t know if I can do that,” Sunset cried, her tears dripping down her colorless cheeks. “How am I supposed to do that?”

“I don’t know. You’ll never know until the moment comes. But he’s still fighting now. Your husband hasn’t given up yet. So don’t stop believing in him just yet. He might just love you too much to quit and give up now.”

Sunset knew it to be true, but was grateful for the reminder. Strong Marc, brave and relentless Marc, the indomitable man she had come to love and marry who had fought across countries and wastelands, through battles of flesh and blood to heart and soul- her husband who fought still to come home and live. She knew it to be true, but struggled to keep believing.

“Can you stay with me, please?” Sunset asked. “I don’t know if I can be alone right now.”

Ivy held out her hands and Sunset gripped down tight, praying she would be ready for whatever came next.

The roar of engines overheard had increased triplefold. Marc watched in ever-growing horror as their friendly air support continued to fight on against the growing tide. The Empire, in its weakening throes before the finishing cull of death, had decided to fight their last battles to the bitter end.

“Don’t stop, come on!” Cpt. Armor cried, all pretense at secrecy and concealment having been forgotten with the Iron Guard growing ever closer. “We’re about to move through a choke point, it’ll slow them down! Don’t give up, keep pushing!”

The night seemed endless to the Cavalrymen, each step further only brought the deep black of the night down more heavily upon them until it seemed as though the whole world was pitch and void of light. Marc’s chest heaved with every breath, his head pulsed from the lack of oxygen, his legs shook under the weight. He was fighting for every step forward now, and all the world seemed to struggle against him and he began to fear that he would fall to his knees and collapse if he dared pause his journey.

“Empire’s giving them everything they’ve got,” Lt. Sentry gasped, reaching down and offering Marc a hand up the path. “They won’t be able to hold out much longer.”

“And if they don’t we’re screwed. So keep moving!” Cpt. Armor said. “Once we get through that choke point the whole damn lot of them are gonna have to maneuver in a straight file- no vehicle could get through, and they’ll be forced to slow down.”

“And then?” Marc asked. “Sir, if we don’t get an evac soon-”

“We’ll have one. We just have to hold out a little longer and they’ll make it. Don’t give up now!”

Marc’s oxygen-deprived brain struggled to believe him, the wear and duress of the endless night bearing down upon him until he felt crushed beneath the weight. Part of him was enraged by it all; the cruelty and malice of the Crystal Empire that had begun this miserable war all those years ago that had taken millions of lives and threatened to consume the whole world in fire. Another part wished for panic and a final, consoling release of the maelstrom of pent-up emotion inside him and simply be free of it all.

“Don’t quit- come on, we’re almost there!” Cpt. Armor yelled, still blazing his path forward and leading their movement. “Our route is just ahead of us, it’ll be in sight soon!”

Marc struggled forward, forcing himself to take each step with every ounce of will he could muster. I have to go on. I must go on.

Unbidden, unwelcome, the beautiful face of his wife appeared in his mind and the thought seemed to sear his senses; panic threatened to rise up and wreak havoc upon his ragged spirit. It had been months since he had last held her, felt her warmth against his weary frame. Had that been the last he would ever see of her? And his unborn child- was she to live without her father in a cold, unforgiving world?

No. I will not quit. I will not give up now.

A sudden burst of fire and all eyes looked to the skies as an Imperial fighter was struck down, their friendly air support refusing to go quietly into the night. The dogfight was now even, though the Air Force was likely to be weaponless soon-

She’ll struggle without me. She’s strong, but she relies on me for so much. She needs you to come back. You promised she would!

Another step taken and Marc felt something within his ankle crumble- he fell to the ground unable to support his weight, the pain a sharp flash as the muscle had finally begun to give way-

I’ve broken too many promises. I promised I’d never go back to Wanyama. I swore I’d walk away from the fight, I promised I wouldn’t go to war- please, help me keep this promise! I’ve got to go back!

“Reyes!” Lt. Sentry, having noticed his friend’s sudden absence, turned to see Marc struggling to rise from the ground and rushed over to help. “Give me your arm- that’s it, come on!”

“What’s going on? We get contact?” Cpt. Armor yelled.

“Reyes is hurt!” Lt. Sentry roared back.

“I can still move, sir!” Marc snarled. “Help me up, I can keep moving!”

“Stay by me, man- one step at a time, we’ll do this! We can do this!” Lt. Sentry’s voice was ragged and cracked, the brutal night having struck upon him with no forgiveness or release. He had watched his soldiers die tonight, he had watched old friends give their last breath and now faced the final specter of death himself but spat in its face-

A thundering Boom! in the skies and the battle overhead became raked with burning metal, one of the friendly aircraft struck dead-center and erupting in flames, the Empire suddenly regaining the strength of numbers, with only one friendly aircraft remaining-

“Don’t stop! Don’t stop, it’s just up ahead! Look, don’t give up now!” Cpt. Armor cried pointing to a thin, open space in the mountains that looked hardly able to fit a single person through its maw-

Marc’s every step was agonizing, he forcing himself to run though all his senses pleaded for him to cease. A fire raged within him now, desperate to keep on living though it seemed Death had encircled them all-

I will not quit! I’m going to get back! So fight- FIGHT!

A mighty crash and the last friendly fighter overhead was struck down, writhing in the air as its death throes became a cloud of fire, the pilot within fighting against the controls and somehow throwing itself against one of its foes, the two aircraft shattering and careening to the ground-

“Oh shit,” Lt. Sentry breathed. “Sir-”

“I see it! Don’t stop, the last fighter will take time to circle around! Don’t quit, don’t quit!”

The roar of engines met their ears in a deafening crash of artificial thunder and none dared to look at the vicious predator that now soared overhead, knowing its very eyes would be focused upon them-

A whistle through the air and the missile flung itself through the skies, tearing through the night in a blur of light as it careened into the mountain and detonated.

“Lieutenant, you mean to tell me you’ve neglected to tell me of your emotional investment in this operation from its beginning?” Col. Roark’s voice remained calm, though the crackling within it threatened an almighty storm.

“I deemed it to not be pertinent information, sir,” Twilight said calmly, hoping a rational, emotion-free attitude would be enough to free herself from this. She certainly hadn’t told anyone that Shining was her brother, and no one else in the room had known. Maybe, just maybe, this was some sort of test of her abilities.

“You didn’t think that perhaps your relationship with the Commander of Knight Troop –your brother- could be pertinent information?”

“Only if it became critical to the operation, sir,” she replied.

“Lieutenant, it should not take my superior officer, who is currently speaking with the Secretary of Defense and the President himself, to inform me that one of my soldiers is related to the men on this mission! Do you realize what sort of liability you are to the success of this mission?”

“I maintained a mindset that I would excuse myself from my duties if I could not control myself, sir. And I have done so-”

“What you think doesn’t matter! You let your emotions already get the best of you when you did not immediately alert anyone to this matter, and now you cannot be sufficiently removed from this operation without causing further detriment to their survival! If you panic now and it becomes a critical moment, I cannot have you replaced!”

“I’ve not been a liability, sir-”

“You have been a liability since this operation began by not divulging critical information!” Col. Roark roared, his voice as harsh and heavy as thunder. “Lieutenant, I cannot remove you from this operation now because I’d be imposing further danger, but you’d best believe-”

“Holy shit!” The cry was so strong that all conversation stopped and every eye moved to the screen as the whole world became white from fire and heat-

“What just happened? Status report!” Col. Roark said, his attention temporarily diverted from Twilight.

“Empire just fired on the mountain, sir! Drone may have been hit!”

“Oh my God,” Twilight whispered.

“Get out of the area and get a visual! Move!”

The drone moved further and further out until the entire area was under its scrutiny. The movement of rock and earth continued but slowed with every passing moment, the river of ground slowly petering out until it had become a mound before the broken spire of the mountain.

“What am I looking at here?” Col. Roark asked.

“What’s left of the mountain, sir. Empire created a landslide to cut off any ground-based movement.”

“Do we have any visual on Knight Troop?”

“Searching now.”

Twilight’s heart was in her throat. He had been so close- right on the cusp of possibly finding a way out. Her breath was held and draining her of life.

“Sergeant Buckner, how much longer till evac arrives?” Col. Roark asked quietly.

“Twelve minute ETA, sir.”

“And the Iron Guard?”

“Eight Minutes.”

The already-haggard officer sank to his chair and upon his face was a look of horror and defeat so great that few dared to look at him. He sighed after a time, rubbing his hands across his face and staring at the screen before him with a miserable air of finality. “If you are not currently involved in any essential tasking, leave,” he ordered. “Don’t stay and see this.”

Twilight felt his gaze rest upon her but she remained resolute and stood her ground, though the tears that had threatened her all night finally found their form and began to spill down her cheeks. She dreaded what was to come, but refused to give in and let her imagination take its place. This was her brother- she would stay until the end.

Author's Notes:

And so it comes- and the night still holds on. Only two more chapters to go. Can you be there when it ends?

I'll likely be away from updates for a time, possibly till the end of the month. With a big move ahead of me, I'll be occupied by other things until I'm fully settled. Hopefully it won't be too long.

As always, comments and corrections below. Enjoy.