Author's Notes:

Bold - Character Narrating (Either Perspective or Narrator)
Italics - Character's Thoughts
Color - Character Who's Narrating or Thinking: Eliya Kel
Sergeant Quake
Commander Hurricane

Darkness… All around me is darkness… This cold emptiness… I hate it so much; I never want to feel that sensation again… but he came to save me. He came to save both of us… we never truly accepted him as a part of our family… even if he looks like “him”. Still… this sensation; this emptiness… it’s so cold… If he saved us… saved us… then he is the only one that can save us…

He would never let someone a part of his family be in a situation like this… He will come… he must… he will… Not even death can stop him… for he brings death… not receive it.

Night was approaching, the sun will soon set; in the far edge of a camp, four watchtowers were recently setup. In between the towers were enchanted fences as tall as the trees that surrounded the camp, the space in between the towers had several soldiers patrolling in a circular manner. All the soldiers patrolled around two sizable cages that can hold five ponies in each. Inside the cages were a single silhouette inside both the cages; in the cage on the left side of the space… was a small figure. The figure curled up in a ball under the blankets it was given; after a few movements from the pile of blankets… Eliya emerged, who was unconscious and recently woke up.

Where… am I? I remember… I remember Lov and I fighting that sudden attack from that group of ponies… Some were… flying… others using magic, while a couple used some shields and crossbows. Eliya looked around her caged space; the cage was made of metal, but if she had her weapons she probably could break free… however that was impossible.

Looking down on her body, were two clamps placed on her ankles which had chains connected to the cage itself. The only injuries visible on her were a few bruises and scrapes, but she was fine and only felt a heavy throbbing in her head when she woke up. Looking from the other cage across her was her sister Lov; who was asleep on top a pile of blankets. Eliya frowned having remembered a familiar situation she found herself and Lov were in on a past job they did.

Well ain’t this deja vu, all we need to finish this touch is a guard to approach me and say-

“Oh… your awake.”

“Bingo,” said Eliya, turning to the source of the speaker. Eliya stared at a stallion who wore armor around his torso, but wore no helmet. The stallion seemed to have a sense of superiority but kept his look calm whilst the slight shudder or two showed.

“My name is Sergeant Quake… You must be the… ‘alien’ that everypony is talking about,” said Quake.

What’s it going to be? Interrogation? Torture? Bribery? I can list this on and on… “What you want, guard?” asked Eliya, gripping the bars of the cage. “You here to insult me, or maybe to throw a rock. Is that it, hmmmm?”

Quake was taken back a bit, not expecting it to speak, but exhaled and focused his eyes on Eliya once more. “No… I was curious, and wanted to see… well… whatever you are,” said Quake, explaining his reason here.

Eliya was surprised her eyes widening a little… until she resumed her bored look. “You’re kidding me,” said Eliya.

“Pardon?” said Quake, in response to Eliya’s answer.

“Your saying you came here… just to… look at me.”

“Um… yeah, is there something wrong with that?”

“Is there something…” said Eliya, facepalming herself. “What kind of military force allows their own soldiers to willy-nilly see their prisoners like this!?”

“Excuse me but first off… I do have permission to come here. Secondly, you’re not a threat considering we removed you of your weapons, you have no physical traits to allow you to escape, and what we can tell is that you can’t use magic,” said Quake.

“And how you’re sure I don’t have magic… What if I do then what then?”

“We enchanted you and your accomplice’s cages that if you do have magic, the enchantments will activate and nullify any magic sensed within or outside the cage. Only way these doors will open is through keys given to the commanders,” said Quake.

Commander you say?

“Also… I’m not a commander,” said Quake, answering her thought.

Drat.

“I also brought you dinner,” said Quake. Slipping through a slot, a tray with a plate and small cup on it are seen. The food on the plate is; a cooked potato, cut pieces of a carrot, and fish.

“Fish?” said Eliya, confused.

“Yeah, fish; we make look like ponies doesn’t mean we can’t eat meat. Especially pegasi, who are omnivores and can stomach fish, but as to how I don’t know. We weren’t sure if you could eat meat or not, but we did a good share of meat and food that a herbivore would eat… so… here you go,” said Quake, gesturing with his hoof.

Eliya looked at the plate, sniffing and poking it with the fork given to her. Quake sighed and went to grab a piece of a carrot and began to eat it in front of her. “See… not poisoned, so stop touching your food and eat. Your lucky some of our chefs in our cafeteria actually went to make some food for you and the other one,” said Quake.

Eliya looked at the stallion than back at her food; with her fork she pierced a carrot. “You didn’t need to do this; and… say thanks to the… ponies who made this. Also, we both eat meat and vegetables, so if it’s fine we’ll eat an omnivore meal,” said Eliya, placing the carrot near her mouth. “Still, we’re your prisoners so I doubt this food will taste that goo-”

Eliya’s eyes widened once she placed the piece of the carrot in her mouth; Quake noticed the sudden silence and peered inside the cage noticing the motionless figure of Eliya unmoving.

“Hey… you not allergic to carrots are you? Uh… kid?” asked Quake, starting to worry. Quake was about to break into the cage… when he heard sniffles; looking back inside, he saw Eliya shedding some tears… but quickly wiped them away. “Jeese, it’s just military food; it’s not the best but it can’t be that bad.”

“I… I never had this kind of food before… The last time my sister and I were captured… We nearly died by those who caught us,” said Eliya. Eliya slammed her fork to the ground, and stood up immediately. “Is this some kind of joke!”

Quake was spooked by the sudden jolt of movement, and tumbled into the ground; some of the nearby soldiers saw this and were ready to move in. Quake gestured with his hoof to go back to what they were doing, some of the soldiers listened while a few watched the conversation continue. “What you mean?” asked Quake.

“What I mean is, are you trying to persuade us that you’re not the enemy. I know this tactic and I won’t let it happen again… not again… never… again,” said Eliya. Eliya clutched her hand into a fist, her nails nearly piercing her skin, droplets of blood dripping off her fist.

Quake stood back up and looked directly at Eliya, staring straight into her eyes… Her eyes were empty… cold… like everyday of her life was more and more death. “I don’t know what you been through… but we don’t treat anypony… Anybody, like what your thinking right now… Whatever you think we might do to you… We’ll never do it… ever,” said Quake, conviction heard in his voice.

Eliya kept her gaze on Quake, until another voice spoke; one of the soldiers approached Quake, he wore armor meaning he was of a lower rank possibly in charge of guarding their recent prisoners. “Sir, visiting hours are over now. Commander Star Gleam also wants you in her tent; she needs to hear your report with the prisoner today,” said the guard.

Quake nodded and made his way to leave, but before he did he took one final look at Eliya. “I need to ask… Is it true that you took down a whole squadron?” asked Quake. “You seem really young and… it seems impossible considering what the others say, and seeing you now...”

“Don’t judge us based on our looks… We probably seen more death than your kind as a whole has ever witnessed… The life my sister and I have lived is the only life we have… and I’d never give it up,” said Eliya.

“And why wouldn’t you? Who would risk their very lives for a life of debauchery?”

“...The kind who had everything taken from them… The kind who’ve been abandoned by their own kind… ‘He’ on the other hand was there for us… all of us… I owe him my life and I’ll continue to work under him until I’m nothing… but ash.” Eliya stared back at Quake; both figures stared at one another until the guard motioned for Quake to leave. Once Quake left the containment area, the last thing he saw was Eliya curling up into a ball.

What in the buck did those two gone through to make them not even fear Tartarus?

Elsewhere; Commander Hurricane and some of his fellow soldiers rest up in the medical tents. Entering his part of the tent was Private Pansy, with her was Commander Star Gleam; Commander Hurricane opened his left eye, staring at the two with confusion. “Well hello there ladies? How may I help you?” asked Hurricane, sarcastically.

“Enough with the pleasantries,” said Star. Star stepped in front of Pansy; grabbing a seat she sits on the right side of Hurricane’s bed. “What in the heck were you thinking? Going into the middle of a forest without telling the other commanders about this; you nearly died!”

“Nothing gained, nothing ventured,” said Hurricane, grinning.

“Oh shuddap!”

Both commanders gave each other a good glare, until both began to chuckle. While many of the commanders are jealous of Star since she’s promoted to a high rank in a young age, both Commander Hurricane and Star challenge one another; the old veteran pony vs the newbie genius. Neither tried to cheat the other, but will always do their darn best to reach the top; in the process they became rivals, but at the same time good buddies.

“It’s good your alright Commander Hurricane, sir,” said Pansy, saluting lightly.

“Now now Pansy, there’s no reason to salute. I basically failed my mission of trying to capture our target; your lucky you made it out safely back to HQ,” said Hurricane.

“I still feel I haven’t done my best as a fellow soldier to this company… sir,” said Pansy.

Pansy stared silently at the ground, feeling ashamed for not staying and fighting back the enemy. Hurricane though is the type to never surrender or back down, he needs to know all of his soldiers strengths and weaknesses; the reason he sent Pansy away was for two reasons, though she willingly joined the military she has zero chances of winning any battles. Another reason was the fact that Pansy has an interesting ability; she has the power to persuade any group or force with swift action, in other words she is the military’s number one diplomat for handling military trades with other countries and so on. If they were to lose her, Equestria’s military would lose an important asset; sadly with her low rank her skill isn’t highly acknowledged or even known, with only some of the Commanders and a few selected ponies who do know.

Still, at least she has got the guts to be a soldier; she would have been a great friend in another time… sadly our paths weren’t meant to meet. “Now Star… What has your sergeant told you about our… prisoners?” asked Hurricane.

“He hasn’t seen me yet, but he should be coming right about...” said Star. At the same time Quake entered the medical tent, saluting once he saw his superior. “now.”

“Commander Star, you ordered me to come see you at your personal tent, but somepony told me you were here. I’m sorry if I am interrupting anything,” said Quake.

“No no nothing at all; to be honest it’s perfect timing you’re here… Commander Hurricane here wishes to hear your report with our prisoners,” said Star.

“Of course; I visited the prisoners as per your request and met with one of them to be awake. She seemed to speak she’s from a faraway land so that rules out her being a foreigner instead of a native; she also seems to mention that her and the other prisoner may be siblings, twins maybe. She has some mistrust issues but that may have to do with her past; she said she was captured previous times so that either means she has a criminal record or was captured by another nation before,” said Quake, speaking his report.

Star Gleam began to pace around the tent and Hurricane’s bed; she looked back at Quake then Hurricane, finishing her staring with sigh. Approaching Pansy, Star gives her specific orders to the guards patrolling around the prisoners. “Pansy, tell the soldiers at the prisoner’s compound that there might be enemy forces that may free their allies. I want the soldiers there and at this camp to watch for any sudden movements outside the perimeter; have some of the pegasi fly up and patrol the sky, I want the unicorns to place some sigils around the area to track any movement, all the earth ponies are to prepare some defenses. Check the armory and our recent patrol paths, I want them changed ever thirty minutes until we get backup from the other pony tribes; send some scrolls to Canterlot and the nearby settlement if they have any ponies they could send just in case,” said Star, giving her orders to Pansy.

“Sir, yes sir!” shouted Pansy, saluting. Once given her orders Pansy heads off leaving the tent with Hurricane, Star, and Quake to continue their conversation alone.

“Is there anything else that you may have forgotten Sergeant Quake?” asked Star.

Quake pondered his mind for any other small details he’d forgotten… then it popped into his head. “I almost forgot; our prisoners are omnivores, they both eat meat and vegetation, sir,” said Quake, remembering that small piece of information.

“That’s good to know; well for now on you’re to speak to them and give them scheduled meals. I don’t want the other commanders or higher ups to make a move and get those ‘things’ to be executed; we need to find out what they are and why they’re here,” said Star.

“Well well, look who’s finally taking things serious for once,” said Hurricane, grinning.

“I’m doing this to protect our nation from unwanted guests… besides,” said Star. “If I’m able to get information out of them that means I may get promoted… maybe even becoming your superior.

“Bha! The day that happens is the day I retire; and we both know that ain’t happening anytime soon,” said Hurricane. Both commanders began to laugh heartily enjoying their small conversations and challenges with one another; Sergeant Quake knew about his commander’s challenges with Commander Hurricane, sometimes he and the other boys would come and watch… it was good entertainment especially if all your doing is trotting around an area that has nothing to protect than your own hide.

Back at the prisoner compound; the light of the moon shines down upon the land, revealing the many strange wonders of the night. Within Eliya’s cage, she is woken from her sleep; rising up she still sees her sister is asleep… but then she hears a noise. The sound is coming from somewhere… until she could hear the sound behind her. Turning to see where the sound is coming from… is a very surprising sight; behind her was the core of her base… the Main Battery. It stood tall before her, but then when she looked around her surroundings… was another surprise; the once rock hard floor and distant forest was now gone, replaced with a cavernous cave system with entrances leading to more tunnels or hidden facilities deep underground.

What shocked Eliya even more was instead of being inside of a cage, she found herself standing on top a platform. The whole area was barren of life, only the small flickers of light seen in the distance, the nearest being the light from the Main Battery. Of course that isn’t it’s name for it’s real name has long since been gone, and instead gave it the name of Main Battery… as to why though is the real mystery. Eliya had no idea how she could be back home especially having the last time seeing it when it was consumed by a white explosion… unless…

This is a dream; of course it has to be. If not then I’m either really high… or dead.

Eliya began to wander in her old home… her only home; while it wasn’t the perfect place to live, home isn’t where you live… but who you’re with. She was part of a band of criminals and psychopaths, and each one of it’s members were there for each other. He was the one to bring them together, why was still a mystery… but he gave them something to live for, a purpose… a family; and now his alone once more.

Eliya examined her surroundings and everything she remembered was where it was… but it wasn’t real… none of it was. In a blink of an eye, it all disappeared; what was once the home of Eliya and her sister was now a cage. Eliya gripped the cold bars of her prison, staring at the lunar symbol on the sky, gleaming with light.

“I promise… I will get us back home… The both of us… even if it means I have to die doing so,” said Eliya. “I don’t care if these… ponies treat us well… I won’t be someone’s prisoners… I will never be caged… not again...”

Eliya sat there on the cold floor of her cage, contemplating a plan of escape… however… her chance for freedom shall come through a domino of events to come… For Equestria will know the true wrath of insanity and it’s fellow apostles.