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XCOM: Ranger

by Wanderer D

Chapter 73: Chapter 71: Boot

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Ranger

Chapter 71: Boot

By Wanderer D

***Three Years Ago***

"What do you mean I'm staying here with you?" Sunset asked, eyes narrowing. "I didn't agree to this, Pratal."

"Call me Mox," the ex-ADVENT Captain had insisted for the third time. "And I mean exactly that, Sunset Shimmer. Wherever you come from, it is clear to me that you do not have the knowledge or understanding of how things work here."

Sunset crossed her arms. "Prove it."

Mox counted to ten. Internally.

"You remember when you so nobly emerged from the bushes to help me?"

Sunset thought back on it and nodded. "Yes. And that means you owe me."

"I owe you for your assistance in the city, not for you jumping into a position where, were you violent enough, you would have ended your life bleeding in the jungle. From that perspective, it could be argued that I saved your life in return and our debt was fulfilled."

"But that's—"

"Not what I am going to do," Mox said, raising his hand. "However, if you wish to survive you cannot do so with your skills at this time. Right here, right now, you have a rare opportunity, Sunset Shimmer." He motioned around him. "A camp full of soldiers trained in all sorts of combat disciplines and someone willing to train you."

"I don't need to fight," Sunset said dismissively, "all I need is my brains."

"Then use them!" Mox stated firmly. "This world is violent. You are not part of the ADVENT citizenship, and your experience is very limited. I do not know what sort of settlement you came out of, Sunset Shimmer, but when I say you will not survive, I am not exaggerating."

Sunset grimaced and sat back, glancing over at the Skirmishers. The creatures were crude, and for all their military history, behaved almost like Yaks, only less obnoxious. Still. They were clearly bred for battle, and used to following orders.

A plan began to form in her mind. "Okay, P—Mox, I think you're right. I do have some military history and tactics knowledge, but when it comes to fighting, I'm no better than one of those lumbering brutes we fought earlier. I'll stay, but I want you to teach me to be the best."

Mox gave her a wary look. "And what do I owe this change of mind to?"

Sunset smirked. "Nothing. I just want to be the best there is. Someone that even you would follow."

Mox chuckled. "That is a tall order."

Sunset crossed her arms. "When Betos found out who you were, you didn't seem like the type that would make a name for himself by giving up easy."

Mox crossed his arms and leveled a serious look on her, all mirth gone. "I will not take it upon myself to train weaklings. If you are serious about your request, I will acknowledge it in light of your assistance earlier. But know that there is no turning back."

This gave Sunset pause.

Her original plan hadn't included becoming a warrior of any sort. In fact, it had accounted for her studies into the mysterious and feared field of Blood Magic, which would grant her incredible power if she mastered it. If anything, when she had imagined taking control of a kingdom of her own, she had envisioned sending soldiers to do her dirty work.

But if these Skirmishers were a sample of the people of the world she had arrived at, she'd have a very tough time making it work, especially considering the very limited amount of magic she currently possessed.

They respected not only power, as it was clear the so-called "Elders" were incredibly powerful… these individuals respected tacticians and warriors. Staying behind the lines wouldn't get her far, and as much as she was reluctant to admit, she knew that Mox was right and she wouldn't last long out there with a bat and some instinctual use of her magic.

She needed time to learn how to use magic in this world. Time to study. Time to learn their customs and more about what made this world tick. Who controlled the Sun. Who controlled the Moon. Without knowing the players, she was limited. Right now, she had come in with a leader that they already respected… it was big hoof into their inner circle, and for now, that's what she would roll with.

Sunset faced Mox, who had waited patiently for her to decide and nodded. "I'm all in."

Mox's smile grew predatory. "Good. Our previous experiences showed me that you are not in bad shape, but it is time for you to go through Boot Camp. From what I have talked about with Betos, most of the regular troopers that escape the Elder's claws have to be retrained. You will join them after we ensure you know the basics. This will be your last free day for a long time, Sunset Shimmer. You should enjoy it."

Sunset walked out of the tent and ambled her way through the Skirmisher camp. She was getting plenty of looks thrown her way. It was not surprising, as she had learned that her species, "human", was not necessarily the same as the Skirmisher's own, although Betos had thrown in the idea that all ADVENT soldiers had been human once, as some seemed to carry with them memories of previous lives and places.

Still, the sight of someone such as herself, who hadn't been modified or mutated, walking around their camp was apparently a first, as Skirmishers tended to stick to themselves. But word had spread that she had assisted Mox and as such, although still treated at arms-length, she was still welcome among them.

She had been assigned a small tent of her own—Skirmishers never stayed long in one place, and she had been told straight out that she was expected to carry her own equipment, food, weapons and living arrangements.

This, of course, would not do. But it wasn't too urgent—she'd just find one or two Skirmishers willing to carry things for her. Leaders didn't carry stuff. Their flunkies did.

For now, she'd need to plan her schedule, and start learning what made these creatures compliant. Either she could use a similar method as their "Elders", or gain their admiration in some other way… or both.

She ducked into the tent, pulling out her books. If she could figure out how to use her magic, perhaps she could use a more… subtle control, mixed with true adoration. That way her control would be cemented in more than one front, and those who could unconsciously fight her spell if they distrusted her, would have no reason to do so.

Still… that required one major element for her plan to work.

She raised her hand, trying to recall the feeling of when she had instinctually left a flaming trail behind.

Nothing.

She concentrated harder: she imagined the magic pulsing its way through her being into her fingertips; she repeated the motion she had done when attacked; she recited rhymes taught to unicorn colts and fillies to help them focus; she pretended she still had a horn and focused her magic on her forehead.

Nothing seemed to work at all.

"Of all the stupid—" she growled. Among the things she had grabbed from the school were pens and a notebook, and so she sat down to write her findings and theories.

She worked as late as she dared that day, but no matter what attempts she made, the lack of a horn made her using the magic all but impossible, and with that being a large part of her plans, it demanded either an immediate solution, or a total restructure of her expectations.

And she wasn't giving up on becoming a Princess in her own right.

Still, the day had been long, and the previous two had been an emotional and physical and magical nightmare. Her lack of success with the magic was not only frustrating, but also opened up the gates of uncertainty.

At what she'd done.

At what she'd given up.

At what she could do…

...and whether she would live to regret everything.

She spent most of the rest of the night figuring out how to get dressed and undressed in her new body and tying up the boots they had gotten for her.

Sunset had never anticipated that wherever she ended up, she'd had to fight and kill. It had surprised her, really, that she had it in her to smash some zombie's brains in with a bat. The thought still made her sick, in fact, but there was a part of her that actually thought her new-found viciousness was somewhat cool.

It meant that, unlike others, she wouldn't just die. That she had it within her to fight not only to survive, but to dominate. That she was made of sterner stuff than most ponies. And yet she shivered with disgust when she remembered the feeling of bone breaking at the end of her bat swing, the crunchy sound and the wet sound, somehow both squelching together.

It all compounded together with her fight with Celestia and by the end of her study session, she was exhausted. She fell into restless sleep, waking up more than once in what could only be the span of minutes, before finally giving in to her exhaustion.

Her sleep didn't last long.

"Sunset Shimmer!"

Sunset jerked awake and sat up, breathing fast. It took her a moment to understand where she was. Why her bed felt like she was sleeping on the floor. Who the creature standing at the entrance to her tent was.

"What the hay, Mox?!" she gasped, "What time is it?!"

It was still dark outside and she knew she hadn't even gotten six hours of sleep.

"It is time to begin your training," Mox informed her. He didn't sound cheerful, but she could see his smile. "You will join me for a run."

"You're joking."

"I said I would train you, Sunset Shimmer," Mox said. "Whether you truly want to become the best or not is up to you."

It hadn't taken much more incentive than that, and Sunset had stumbled out of her sleeping bag, put on her the uniform they had found for her, and she was out and trotting after him for several miles. After that, she had to swim, which she was unable to do.

Although Sunset had felt embarrassed by the impression that she was unable to do so—after all, back in Equestria, she could swim as well as any other pony—Mox had taken it in stride and guided her to a shallow area where he walked her through swimming as a human.

Knowing the basics from before, it was really just a matter of adapting her knowledge to a new body, but she was secretly grateful for both, his coaching and the fact that he hadn't mocked her at all, something that, if she was honest with herself, she wouldn't have done if roles were inverted.

By the time she was done swimming, she had to assist some troopers in moving heavy equipment from one place to another. Anything from weapon crates, to poles to containers with food, she had to pick up, carry and set down, then return to do the same.

After that, she had eaten her first meal with the Skirmishers. It was a heavy broth with plenty of meat and rice added to it. She hadn't even found out its contents until much later, and being used to meat by then, she hadn't cared much at all.

After eating, she had gone with Mox to learn how to aim and shoot a gun.

It was then, when her target had slowly been chipped away by bullets, that she realized just how close she had come to dying when she had threatened the armed Skirmishers.

By the time that she headed back to her tent, she was exhausted. She had tried reading her book, but the letters swam in the page, and she couldn't concentrate at all.

Fighting a yawn, she had levitated the book into her backpack and slid into her sleeping bag. She was asleep so quickly that she had never even realized what she had just done.

o.0.o End Chapter 71 o.0.o

Next Chapter: Chapter 72: Camp Estimated time remaining: 18 Hours, 36 Minutes
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