Victory, it shouldn’t feel like this I saw my comrades cheer and rejoice but from my perch atop the Ironshod main office I felt hollow. I saw several ponies move bodies and collect weapons from both sides. Limbs were piled together, and sad looking ponies were guided to one mess or another. The soldiers with tears in their eyes identified the bodies that lost their pony-tags. I removed my helmet feeling my mane and coat stick to my skin. With a gasp of crisp night air, I hurled my stomachs contents next to me.“Ach,” I dried heave before spitting onto the bile and stumbling back gasping mouthfuls of air. My chest was tight, and my nerves were fried with a distinct cold clinging to my body. I jumped slightly when I felt a tap on the back of my armor.

“Relax kid,” Flag came up beside me, he sat on his haunches one hoof patting my back. He looked to the mess I made before opening his helmet. “Don’t worry, that’s just the fear leaving you lad, its good to let it out.”

“I don’t think,” I coughed and brought my foreleg to wipe my mouth, but I paused to see blood running down the black armor. “I have never seen you do it.” I chose to spit on the ground and lick my lips.

“Nope, after a while fear leaves you in other ways, even your old man had his own ways.” Flag looked far away for a moment, like he was looking into a memory orb. “But that changed, he found better ways to deal with it. Not that I blamed him, a stallion at war doesn’t always make the best decision.”Flag stood, he walked to the edge to stare at the aftermath of the battle.With great effort I made myself stand next to him. This was my life now after all, the violence and the loss I chose this, so I had to get used to it.

“Does it go away?” I asked, the sight of blood and bodies etched into my mind. Faintly I heard screams that weren’t there accompanied by the loud thundering of guns. I flatten my ears against my head and sighed the sounds slowly faded to nothing.

“No, it just gets easier to ignore.” Flag pointed a hoof down below, away from where the Equestrian Army was gathering their dead. Some of our own Rangers were gathering our lost comrades. An Equestrian field medic was with them for what reason I couldn’t say. “One day it all just turns to white noise, or…” Flag grunted and stepped way from the sight trotting to the stairs.

“Or?” I quickly following behind, before I stopped and returned for my helmet. I caught up with Flag as he descended the stairs after fitting my helmet back on. “Or what Flag?”

“It breaks you, makes you go mad, or it just kills you.” Flag stated that so matter of fact, I felt he knew from experience.

“This wasn’t what I expected.” I confessed, I knew I might had to kill, and to be honest. I liked killing the zebras, or more I felt justified it felt good like each dead zebra was a small apology to Strider. Each kill felt like I was making up for running. But the death of my comrades, even the locals was something else. Yes, they were soldiers but, well I don’t know it felt horrible. It was obvious I suppose but to see ponies die knowing you can’t do a damn thing was devastating.

“What? The killing or the battle,” Flag reached the fourth floor, he paused again to look at me. “Either way the answer is the same, its war. You kill them, or they kill you, we go back and forth. One side gains the upper hand, the other pushes and dies to win or lose again. So, you push, then keep pushing and you keep killing. You keep killing and you tell yourself they’ll give up, and go home. So, you keep going, you keep losing ponies and you keep killing. It’s just war kid, if you didn’t end up killing zebras here. You’d just be killing Crimson Empire soldiers back South.” Flag sighed and licked his lips. “Look, were stuck here, if you’re having a change of hear on your career choice, it’s too late. So, I need you to talk to me. I need you to tell me if you can’t pull a trigger on a zebra.” I cut him off.

“I can kill them, I can kill the striped bastards until this damn planet stops turning.” I glared at Flag, my nostrils flare and my teeth grit. “I won’t forgive them, for Strider and my comrades, I’ll kill every one of the bastards if I have to. I’ll keep killing them for Strider.”

Flag opened his mouth shocked before he closed his eyes. “Look, it’s a damn shame about Strider, he was a good soldier and a good pony. But don’t let this eat at you, if you think it’s hard to ignore the sounds of war now? You’ll cut your own damn ears off if you keep going down this path.” Flag jabbed a hoof hard enough to push me back into my chest. “Don’t make this personal, soldiers die in war its what we do, we kill and die. So, don’t kill with hatred kid, kill because its war and its what we have to do to survive and complete our mission.”

“Flag I” He cut me off just as fast.

“I don’t want to hear it, I’ll damn make sure your father sticks you behind a desk in the command center for this entire operation if I have to. You don’t kill with hatred because when you do, you stop killing as a soldier. You kill as a pony and that will eat at you worse than anything.” Flag gritted his teeth and his eyes looked downcast but I did not feel his anger was directed at me. “You don’t know what it is to live with blood on your hooves, after this you will, but you don’t want to live with the ponies or even zebras you killed out of spite. Those are lives that will tear at your soul kid. The killing you do as a soldier is enough of a burden, don’t put more strain on your soul killing as a pony for gratification.” Flag took a shaking breath, I didn’t expect this much emotion from him this much…pain. He knew this pain he knew killing beyond being a Ranger. “Now I don’t want to hear about this again, just do your job and remember. You’re an Applejack’s Ranger. We have a duty to ponies and our brothers, if that involves killing do it with the dignity of a soldier and with a closed heart.” Flag neighed trotting away.

That, certainly was something to process, I never had a conversation like that with Flag. His presence always made it feel like a relative who visited on occasions and was much more fun than my father. I flinch physically remembering I hadn’t met with my father yet, I was dreading that meeting this was far worse than me being punished for something I did as a colt. With resignation I climbed the final steps to the fourth floor. My father was set up on the third floor in what used to be the Zebra command center. I was glad I hadn’t fired my missiles there, I could have destroyed valuable intel with one stray missile. I made my way down to the third floor and went to an office at the far left of the building. Inside Rangers moved about inspecting the foreign Zebra tech. their computers didn’t look all that different from ours, minus the archaic stone like keys with symbols on them. I presumed it was the letters of their native tongue, it had to be the words on the terminals were compromised of the same symbols. My father, free of his helmet was talking to an Equestrian soldier, by the marks on his shoulder I assumed he was high ranking. I only vaguely remember military ranks from the Equestrain military. I mean, private corporal, wait wasn’t there a private first class? No, I think I made that one up.

“Corporal.”

Or maybe it was Private then special private?

“Corporal.”

Wait okay, Corporal after private but not before…wait didn’t The NCR use the same system?

“Corporal Valiant!” My father barked, and I jumped, shit I can’t believe I just zoned off right in front of my father.“Forgive the Corporal, this is only his third engagement.” My father eyed me with a look that said we were talking after this business was done.

“Not at all Captain, this soldier did a hell of a job I couldn’t get my ponies to move. If it wasn’t for him, we wouldn’t be here.” The Sergeant a sunny yellow stallion tipped his helmet at me in thanks.

“Well, Sergeant please tell the Colonel I will send her three of my Rangers with her. The rest of my platoon must figure out how to get more reinforcements through the encirclement.” My father grunted at me to move by his side with a nod of his head. “I can only spare three men, and I already suffered significant losses as is.”

The Sergeant’s pleasant demeanor shifted to a serious face. “I understand, believe you me, lost a lot of good ponies before you arrived here. I’ll tell the Colonel, have your ponies report to Headquarters back at the other end of the Depo. I’ll make sure to call a wagon to pick up your ponies.” The sergeant saluted and walked off with a brief nod to me, he cleared the door and another pony closed it behind him.

“What?” I barely got a word out before my father yelled at me.

“What is wrong with you soldier!” I jumped and shrank back.

“I-” My father slammed his hoof down silencing me.

“I’m talking, not you! So, shut your muzzle and listen!” I nodded shrinking even further. “Stand up straight when I’m talking to you soldier!” I nodded and shakily got up hasty enough to hit a nearby pony. I didn’t even bother apologizing, opening my muzzle might just get me yelled at more.

“You think you’re special Knight?” His bare eyes bore through my helmet, the faux protection I thought I had behind the helmet fell away. I was a colt again, about to be punished for my misdeeds. “I asked you a question knight!”

“F-Father,” I closed my eyes instantly knowing that was the wrong way to start.

“That’s Star Paladin! You are a soldier a Ranger! Don’t think because you’re my son you can just break protocol and address me without my proper rank!” My father walked off, like when I was a boy I timidly followed.

“I didn’t say you could move! Back to attention soldier!” I froze mid step and returned to my stiff alertness. I just kept messing up, didn’t I? I didn’t know what do, even at attention I shifted slightly under my father’s glare.

“I’m s-sorry S-Star Pala-d-din.” I stuttered every single word feeling tears prickle at the edges of my eyes. Oh, Celestia please don’t let me cry not right now, not in front of my father. After everything I went through please don’t let me cry now.

“Sorry? I guess you think that makes up for disobeying orders!” I swore his voice was only getting louder. “This is an army, every soldier does his job, and does as he is told, you are no exception just because you are my blood!” My father jabbed a hoof to my chest and I fell back on my ass. That only seemed to anger him further, “do you think Strider got away with it?” he closed his mouth, shut his eyes where I saw the briefest flash of pain pass his eyes.

What the hell was that about?

“Everypony leave, now. You too Valiant you are off duty for now.” His voice was low again, and rough like sand paper against gravel. Everypony filed out as quickly as possible, I turned and followed head ducked in shame. When I stepped up to the door Flag was standing there his helmet open.

“Go outside, stay where I can find you our squad will be taking first watch. Now go.” I stepped aside and let Flag through before I exited the room. I quickly trotted down stairs and kept going I exited the office out the west entrance. I sharply turned right avoiding everypony doing their grisly business of collecting bodies. I entered the warehouse adjacent and just walked down random isles. When I was sufficiently lost and sure nopony was near I finally collapsed. I sobbed and despite what little pride I had taken from fighting on my own, I cried out for my mom. I called out for her warm embrace and to forget everything to tell her I was sorry. I wanted to go back home and lock myself up in my workshop with my mother’s carrot cookies and a bottle of sparkle-cola. I wanted to forget ever being a knight, to go back to playing games on my terminal with Strider.

It should have been me.

“I’m sorry, oh Strider why wasn’t I killed?” I felt my heart size and I curled up in a ball tucking my forelegs and back legs into me. “No, I-I don’t want that I just, why couldn’t we, we should.” I was just babbling now; my mind was a mess I couldn’t focus on anything. Laying on my side I looked up to my helmet starring silently at me. the face of a Ranger, a knight a pony worth the lives lost. I just laid there for I don’t know how long. I reached out absently stroking my helmet with faint memories of Strider. I stood, after another while had passed, groaning as my entire body protested. I was sore all over, finally it seemed my mind caught up with my body on how tired I really was.

“Mrr…” I groaned picking up my helmet and putting it on again. The low hum of the warehouse lights my only companion. I could barely hear the ponies outside, with a sigh I looked to the rack of boxes next to me. I read various labels from gun magazines, bullets, spark packs gun parts and outright guns. I frowned, whoever organized this warehouse wasn’t good at their job. I walked outside the isle to the center of the warehouse divided into two long rows of racks. I looked to a sign on the row to my left. Weapon and weapon parts surplus. Oh, never mind then, this was a surplus isle. I looked to the other isles with similar labels, this whole place was a surplus of odds and ends. Exploring further down I saw a row labeled armor. Just armor, no sub category, I walked down the isle turning on my headlamp as this area wasn’t properly lit.

I looked up to the useless dangling lights, I neighed and looked around, several armor bits were boxed named in body part sections. Near the end of the hall, I spotted a huge metal box, it was wrapped in yellow faded tape that read ‘prototype’ I looked at the box with a big stamp of the Ministry of Arcane science. I pulled the huge box down using my augmented strength to lower it down. Damn thing was heavy! It was a jet-black box, a line of dust covered it and it was locked with an electronic lock, miniaturize terminal to unlock it. Well shit, I looked at the terminal and smiled slightly. There was a jack for my bypass tool, so I jacked in and ran a bypass. The maglocks clicked audibly, and I opened the box with an artificial hiss. A rather sleek looking armor was tucked inside. Not just any armor, but power armor, though it was missing the helmet. It was in plain factory silver with the word prototype labeled everywhere.

“Oh?” The mold where the helmet would be fitted had something inside. A small orb, white in color with magic swirling inside like trapped mist. No helmet, just a memory orb.

“Come on let’s check this place out, fuck I’m tired.” A voiced echoed in the warehouse, I jumped startled, nearly dropping the box lid shut. I grabbed the lid to close it, but my eyes were drawn to the orb inside. As an afterthought I opened my helmet and grabbed the orb with my mouth putting it in my saddle bag. I closed the lid and mounted the box back on the rack. With a sigh I walked back where I came to meet the new ponies. When I rounded the hallway, they froze reaching for their guns before relaxing.

“Jeez, you scared us! What are you doing here?” the soldier on the right asked, both ponies standing where I first entered.

“Sorry about that, I didn’t mean to startle you, I was just wondering around.” I hoped I didn’t sound like I was crying earlier.

“Whoa, that voice no way are you him!?” The ponies quickly rushed at me and I closed my helmet. I didn’t want them to see my puffy eyes.

“Who?” I asked.

“The pony who gave us the courage to fight!” The left pony grinned stomping his forehooves excitedly.

“I uh, yeah that was me, but I was just trying to help.” I stuttered feeling heat rise to my cheeks.

“You were awesome! Hey, come on let’s go outside the fellas want to meet you!” The one on the right gestured to the door. The other pony rounded up behind me and ‘encouraged’ me forward. Not that they could move me in armor. Still I followed along while they chatted animatedly about their friends and family. We exited the warehouse to the soldiers outside, the pony that ahd been pushing trotted away to a group of ponies. They looked banged up, bandages on their bodies with downcast eyes. “Hey everypony, look its Valiant Knight the Ranger!” he waved his hoof excitedly at me.

“I-huh?” Before I could make so much as a cohesive word the bandaged ponies turned their downtrodden eyes towards me. A light shined in their eyes quickly exploding into excitement, they moved as fast as their injured bodies would let them to me. More ponies came from behind me as well crowding me all talking over each other.

“Wow hey can I have your autograph?”

“Wow that armor is kick ass!”

“Hey anyone seen my ear?”

What?

“Can we take a picture I got a camera from home!”

I tired to answer as many questions as I could but it all just sounded confusing, so I decided to just keep quiet and nod. While I craned my neck around to try and look at everypony, I caught a glimpse of Flag and my father. From the third story office window facing west. I saw Flag and my father stand side by side looking down at me their helmets down. Flag turned his head to my father. He remained motionless before nodding and both moved away from the window.

Time seemed to have slipped my mind, the swarm of ponies had died down after I got a few pictures taken with them, while others got my hoof print, or more like my armor’s hoof print and my name. Though I was overwhelmed and admittedly flattered, I also felt this was silly. I just spoke from the heart and understood their fear. I wasn’t as heroic as they claimed I was, a dark cloud seemed to settle over me as Strider’s face popped up in my head. I was just a lucky coward, Strider was a hero, he was charismatic and overall, he was a better pony than me.

It should have been me.

I shook my head earning a few odd looks, but I ignored them and made my excuses to leave. Though disappointed they understood I was a soldier like them, I needed to return to duty. I found my fellow Rangers mulling about away from the Equestrian soldiers near our fallen brothers.

When I walked within earshot a voice addressed me “So, you’re a big hero now eh Valiant?” A ranger opened his helmet walking up to me. neither his face or tone looked firendly.

“Leave him alone Spokes,” Another Ranger stood up and came to stand by my side

“Oh, so now you’re standing up for him? After he disobeyed orders…twice?” Spokes snarled baring his teeth.

“Spokes is right, he should have listened to the Star Paladin!” I didn’t see who said that.

“Well he saved me, and I sure as hell wouldn’t be here like the others if he left me to get shot in the field.” The pony I saved opened his helmet and his squad mates came to stand by me as well. While others came up to stand by Spokes.

“What about the others? Think we didn’t want to go back for them?” Spokes spat on the ground. “But we followed our orders, because we understood the mission was at stake!”

“Even so, were already down too many! Valiant was able to save at least one of us.” Somepony to my left uttered.

“What about him? If he got himself injured do you think the Star Paladin would still have told us to keep going?” One of Spokes supporters shouted.

“If Valiant hadn’t gone back he’d never brought the locals and we’d all be dead anyways!” The pony I saved stomped his hoof. “Besides I-”

“That’s enough!” My father’s voice broke apart further argument. His helmet was opened again. He looked at us before he pointedly fixed me with his glare. I buckled under it and lowered my head to the ground in shame. “Valiant with me, the rest of you return to your squads and sort out watches between yourselves. We might be facing a Zebra counter attack. I want everypony able for when it comes.” My father turned without a word and I followed head down, I spared a parting glance to my comrades, left in a standoff before a Crusader broke them up and they all returned to theirs squads. My father led me to the far end of the southern Warehouse next to the office. On the tarmac, was a green wagon low to the ground with foldable windows. The wagon stretched to have four passenger seats. A semi-flatbed stretched behind it at least four feet with a mounted machinegun and seats for two more ponies. In the driver seat was a pony lazing against the steering wheel and the sergeant I met before sat on the passenger seat arms crossed. By the wagon was Flag and Knight Lemon. Her extra welded plates always made her easy to make out between Rangers.

My father stopped before reaching the gathered party and turned to address me. “Valiant, open your helmet, I want to see your face when I talk to you.”

I did as commanded though the order was less demanding and gentler in tone. “Yes Sir,” I felt the nights chill hit my face once again. Even with the shield the nights here weren’t as warm as you’d think.

“Valiant, did you see what you did?” My father’s tone was unreadable.

“I ignored your orders sir, I-” He cut me off his voice rising slightly.

“You created a rift, we are a team, everyone of us, every pony here needs to trust one another to survive. Our order is built on brotherhood and the bonds that come with that word. We are a family, and if a family cannot trust one another it falls apart.” My father put a hoof to my shoulder, his eyes bore into mine with something aching to pain.

“You leave me with little choice, though I promise you I do not want to do this. Despite my protest and I am still disappointed and angry at your actions.” My father sighed his hoof feeling heavier against my shoulder. Like he was channeling the weight of his job as Star Paladin through and the weight of that responsibility was trying to bury me into the ground.

“I promised to watch after you, but there comes the time for a stallion to walk his own path. This isn’t your choice and I wish it would be. But after your actions you can’t be here, not for a while you can’t be around this platoon.”

Oh god, was I being sent back to Stable 29?... Alone?

“Father.” I stuttered, and I cursed my own damn weakness as I felt the need to shed tears again.

“Son,” my father’s voice was rough scraping against my ears, he was sending me home. If I went home alone, I couldn’t make it the encirclement the Zebras! I felt my heart start pounding against my chest.

In the snows nothing will you find, only your death and demise.

The lyrical voice of the zebra played in my head along with the howling of the eternal blizzard. I was going to die, oh no please don’t send me back.

“Valiant, I’m sending you with the Equestrian soldiers to city 12.” My father’s eyes harden, and he took his hoof from my shoulder. I let out a deep sigh my heart rate slowing back to normal, I almost had a panic attack.

Wait what?

“I’m going with them?” I was confused, sending me seemed. Well I don’t know what it was but right it certainly wasn’t. We were still out of earshot from everypony else, but my father turned me away from them anyways.

“I told you, I can’t have you around the platoon right now. I can’t fight a war and have you splitting up our force. I need to remove you from the equation, but I also can’t waste what little ponypower I have left. So, listen to me closely, I need you to do whatever the Equestrian locals ask of you. You need to get into that castle, but you won’t be alone, I’m sending Flag and Knight Lemon who volunteered for this mission. I don’t want to send you where I can’t protect you…” My father sighed. “But I can trust Flag will do everything to protect you, and I trust him to make sure the mission gets done.”

“I…I understand father.” I understood just how much of a burden I was to everypony.

“When you get inside, find out about our ‘ministry mare,’ and report your findings to me. I will decide what to do depending on the information you send me.” my father lifted a hoof and tentatively put it around my shoulder. He was stiff and seemed to be waiting, was this? Is he trying to hug me? I reciprocated the action, though it was awkward in our armor and hugged my father for…hell the first time in years really. I could maybe recall once as a colt when he picked me up and held me. aside from that my father had always held more casual physical contact with me.

“Don’t get yourself killed out there, remember your training and do as Flag says.” My father let me go.

“Okay father, I won’t let you down, I’ll make up for my mistakes.” I paused and glared at the ground. “I’ll avenge Strider, one way or another I’ll make them pay for Strider.” My father stared at me and opened his mouth. But like so many times before he closed it deciding to keep quiet.

“Son,” My father sighed, it was weary, and his entire frame seemed to sag. He looked, less soldier-y. if that made sense, nothing like how I always saw him strong and distant. “When you come back, we need to have a talk about Strider.”My father sat on his haunches and from the gap in the armor of his left hoof. He procured the pocket watch I gave him, he lowered it to my level and I saw the crack on the glass. “I also need you to fix this for me when you come back.” He gave me his best smile, a small twitch of the lips upward. I…I savored it, for all it was worth for all the fucked-up shit that got us here I savored that smile.

“Okay dad, it…it will be nice to talk about Strider with somepony else who knew him like me.” I smiled slightly, and my father tucked the watch back into his armor. He stood up and ushered me to the wagon. Flag looked up and stared at my father, even though his helmet I felt the stare was intense. My father shook his head and Flag did the same looking down. Whatever exchange happen between them, Flag wasn’t pleased with the result.

“Alright, are we ready Captain?” The Sergeant asked clopping his hooves together.

“Yes, these ponies will accompany you, and will report directly to High Command.” My father nodded to us.

“Aright, lets hit the road, bird won’t wait forever!” The Sergeant waved at the back seats, Lemon and Flag took their spots. This left the flatbed for me with the gun, I was about to mount it when I remembered and looked to my dad.

“Wait, I’m out of ammo.” I doubled check just to make sure.

“Don’t worry, logistics will take care of you back at base.” The sergeant assured me, I nodded and hopped on the wagon the vehicle groaning under the combine weight of our armors.

“Shit, it’s like I’m hauling scrap.” The driver muttered.

“Shut it Corporal, or I’ll make you pull manually.” The Sergeant smirked at the driver.

“Aw shucks Sergeant, you’re all heart.” We shared a bit of a laugh and got on our way back to the old Equestrain line. I looked back from my seat on the flatbed to my father, he remained there looking at us go, stalwart never flinching until I couldn’t make out his shape in the distance. It took us about five minutes to clear the field to reach the Equestrian forward base. We passed several more ponies cleaning up after the battle, I averted my gaze looking down to keep from staring. Knight Lemon seemed to be doing the same, her helmet tilted down. Flag stared ahead unfazed.

Hey Valiant, you seem down partner, we won! You should be happy for yer’ roll in it.

I almost fell of the Wagon startled, I looked to my companions. They didn’t seem to act like they heard Applejack. I closed my helmet and responded, “Mam? What are you talking about?”

You heard me partner, you just won us a big ol’ victory. Even old Grumpy was impressed, though he don’t like to show it.

“I…I didn’t do anything besides, it was just one battle.” I rubbed my foreleg with the other awkwardly.

Ah ya’ see that ain’t right, cuz when you started with yer’ speech I made sure everpony from here to city 12, 13 and beyond heard it. When you spoke from yer heart, we managed to push the entire front of this war! We pushed em back!

That…wasn’t possible I just, shit I just said what I felt. “I don’t think I.”

You gave these ponies somethin’ they ain’t had for a while now… hope. Your words showed em’ they ain’t alone that they ain’t the only ones who feel like this. They heard your words and inspired them to fight back! Now we pushed the Zebras off several sectors. Didn’t reclaim no cities, but we sure as hell gave them Zebras a scare!

“I, don’t know what to say Applejack, I just feel like I did my job.” I felt I sounded like my father, but it was right. I did what I had to as a Ranger to save my father and my brothers. I didn’t think I was trying to be anything special.

Ah don’ you worry about it, just get some rest back at city 12 and then we can take it from there, well seeyah partner, hope to see you in person soon enough.

The line went silent and I was alone with my thoughts again, everypony else seemed to be in their own world. We cleared the old pony line to more soldiers mulling about seeming to secure the warehouses and sorting wounded ponies on flatbeds. The wagon slowed down to a cluster of warehouses. There were breaches on the storage buildings craters on the tarmac indicated previous bombardment from high yield explosives. There were piles of Zebra shields and damaged Zebra armor. Though I hadn’t noticed before there was a huge burning pile of…something. I saw some ponies drop bags on the burning pile and moved on to gather more. I remembered tales of Fillydelphia and the pit of slavery there. Constant smoke stacks burned day in and out with only Celestia knows what.

“Alright, home sweet home.” The driver drawled and pulled the wagon behind the warehouses. I gaped behind my helmet, a Vertibuck a genuine Verticbuck! It was painted with dark military green. The craft had twin rotors on two wings procuring form the top of the craft. The fuselage had a sleek profile low to the ground while the cockpit was semi spherical with bug eye-like windshields and the tail rotor extended a few meters from the main body. A singular jet engine protrude from beneath the tail rotor lit up ready for action. We dismounted and walked to the bird, well I galloped skidding to a stop. I opened my helmet to get a good look myself, admiring the Equestrian engineering.

“Pick your tongue up the floor Valiant. We got company.” Flag jabbed a hoof at my side.

I blushed and looked towards the warehouse. A mare in a crisp green uniform with badges on her chest walked up to us. She had a light purple coat with a brown mane swept back into a bun. Crisp blue eyes stared me down and I swore she was my father with a…never mind. I shook my head to get rid of that image. The mare came to stand before me.

The Vertibuck crew stood straight and saluted, “Attention!”

The mare stared at me and I shrunk a little under her cold glare. Flag bucked me with his elbow and I looked to him, he was standing at attention saluting.

Oh shit!

I saluted snapping to attention, the mare backed up as I almost hit her with my helmet. She saluted with an unreadable expression before releasing us from the salute. “Gentlecolts and filly my name is Colonel Starfire in charge of the 12^th Regiment Equestrian Forth Army Group.” She offered her hoof and I shook it firmly.

“It’s good to meet your mam-” Flag cut me off with a wave of his hoof.

“Mam, sorry for interrupting, but Captain Heavy Arms wanted me to tell you he’s giving official command over this detachment to newly promoted Sergeant Valiant Knight.” Flag patted my back and I gaped at him.

“I see, very well…Sergeant Valiant I have been informed you are to report back to headquarters for debriefing. The Council is expecting a full update on the situation outside the encirclement.” Colonel Starfire pointed a hoof at the Vertibuck. “This bird will take you back to the city, and I’m entrusting my report to the council to you.” A soldier trotted up from the warehouse and handed me a magi-tape. I heard about these some time ago, very rarer and just barely used near the end of the war. It was the earth pony response to the unicorn memory orb. It was as far as I can tell audio only. I bet I could play it if I could physically interject my transmitter with the magi-tape contact points.

“I uh, understand mam I’ll make sure the report gets back to the…council. I’ll make sure I have my own…report in order.” Did that sound sketchy? I think I sounded sketchy I felt like a terrible undercover NCR MP.

“Right, you seem fatigued by combat, you’ll be glad to know High Command is giving you leave for an extended period.” The colonel raised her brow at me.

“Thank you mam, I’ll be sure to use it wisely.” Damn wisely at that, to get as much information about the empire as I could and find a way to relay it to my father. With a final nod we were ushered into the Vertibuck. I found the best seat I could considering the cramp quarters and the bulkiness of our armor. The bird roared to life the rotors spinning until they were a blur to the eye.

“Alright, all little fillies and colts strap in were taking off…now.” I felt the entire thing lurch upward. My stomach dropped to my hooves and I felt my world tilt as the bird took to the sky. The side doors slid closed revealing a side long rectangular window to look out off.

“Oh, I want to see!” Lemon got off her seat and parked herself next to the window. I didn’t think flying would feel this…weird. Flag like always seemed unphased staring at nothing. I decided to get up and just lay on the metal floor.

“Hah, first time flier?” the pilot chuckled looking back at me. the copilot kept his eyes on the instruments.

“Y-yeah, Rangers don’t usually fly.” I felt so damn weird! Maybe this was how Pegasi felt when first learning to fly.

“Don’t worry you get used to it.” The pilot looked forward again and I dared not gaze at the top of the buildings.

“How long until we get there?” I muttered looking at the floor ignoring Lemon gushing about the skyscrapers and the view.

“Our ETA is thirty minutes, we got to keep out of sight of Zerba AA. These striped fuckers like to hide with their stealth cloaks on buildings and bring down aircraft.” The pilot grumbled.

“Oh, sorry to hear.” I felt yet another reason to clear the striped menace from the empire.

“Don’t you worry about it; old Flak Magnet will take care of you.” The pilot chuckled good naturedly.

“Flak Magnet?” I raised my head just to make sure I had heard that right.

“Yeah, he got that name from flying four missions, being shot down all four.” The co-pilot laughed while Flak glared at his partner. I just begged Celestia to get me the hell off this thing and be back on sweet ground. To pass the time, I turned where the pilots couldn’t see me and began messing with the magi-tape. I took my helmet off and used the transmitter wires to hooked it up to the tape. Turning on the transmitter I began hearing the report.

“This is Colonel Starfire 12^th Regiment Fourth Army Group. As of 1200 hours we have successfully repelled the Zebra incursion on the Ironshod Storage Site. What follows is the condense report of the casualties and followed up…expense of the fight.”

“Eight thousand K.I.A.”

“Fifteen thousand Wounded.”

“Three hundred M.I.A presumed captured.”

“Five AWOL.”

Figures on munitions and equipment lost used followed. Though I barely listened thinking of eight thousand dead holding this site. So many dead, for a war they didn’t know was over and done with. Thinking about this gave me a rebellious thought. What if I just spilled the beans to High Command? Told them the war was over, told them we all lost. Everypony and Zebra lost, and that Equestria was now a far different place than their ancestors remembered. I shook my head, that was ridiculous and stupid that wouldn’t stop the violence. If anything, the confusion and shock might just cause chaos. Oh right, the tape, I hit the rewind to return to the point I stopped listening.

“…I cannot forget, if anything I’ll be damned sure to let everpony in this council know. Thanks to the Steel Rangers coming in with the shock and awe we were able to force a major push. Still, our morale had to have been the lowest in months. When this Corporal Valiant Knight spoke to our ponies. Well I’ll be damned if even I felt something stir in me. With this push, we are now set to launch a counter attack on City 6. Scout reports the Zebras are moving into the city and setting up in key locations with tactical advantage. I will await word from the eight Regiment and sixth Regiment before getting council permission to launch our counter attack. This concludes my report, Colonel Starfire signing out.” I neighed and stuffed the tape into my saddle bag. I rewired my helmet put it on and talked through the radio only.

“Flag, Lemon I don’t know what to do here. Why the hell did my father put me in charge?” I cursed both annoyed and sad at the situation.

Flag let out a yawn raising his hoof to the mouth of his helmet. “He didn’t” he shrugged a hoof.

“What? Then why did you?” I snorted angry, why the hell did he throw such a responsibility on me?

“Because I can’t make the necessary call, I’m a soldier I don’t do good with talking my way out of things. I can lead you through a firefight and hold a position. But I don’t do smooth talking.” Flag pointed a hoof at me. “You got an entire regiment, scare shitless I might add to charge with you. Trust me kid you got this, just do what you think is right and Lemon and I will support you.”

“That’s right, I volunteered for this mission for you Valiant.” Lemon walked back to sit by me on the Vertibuck’s floor, while I gaped at her.“I saw your eyes when you were looking for Star Paladin Heavy Arms. Worst you lost your entire squad…that’s. Well that’s a lot of stress to bare, so I thought I could help. We are comrades after all, so if you need anything you can count on me.” She put a hoof on my shoulder and a warmth spread down my back.

“Lemon…thank you.” I raised my own hoof to put over hers.

“Alright you two, don’t start making out with everypony here.” I could hear the smirk on Flags voice. Lemon snatched her hoof away and I sputtered glaring at my father’s friend.

“Oh, bite me!” I muttered, and I laid my head against the floor. The rest of the ride was silent, with just the chatter of the pilots talking through their transmitters.

“Alright, were here, if you never seen the view now’s your chance.” Flak looked back at us. My ears perked up. I stood up, only to wobble feeling my body protest begging for actual sleep now. I felt my head throb, but I shook it off and moved to stand by Lemon. Despite feeling ill from lack of sleep, I saw the faint wisps of light filter through the windows, the sun just now began to rise. I hopped up to the window, and my jaw hit the floor…whoa.

City 12 loomed ahead, just like when I gazed at the empire from the hill. I could see the city section divided in a slice of a big pie. The wall cut the city off from the rest, rising in three sections meeting at the castle inside the secondary shield.Every sky scraper was intact, windows pristine and clean, hell I saw a few pegasai fly about cleaning windows. Straining my eyes, I saw the streets crowded ponies dressed in every manner of clothes foreign to the wasteland. Not one of them wore armor. I wondered if any of them were even carrying weapons. The vertibuck began dropping altitude drawing us closer to the spectacle of city 12. As we flew between the huge buildings I noticed ponies in their offices going about their business. Peering towards the city streets I saw no weapons on any pony we flew past. we swerved between row of buildings where I noticed a Ministry Hub. I moved to the other side to get a better look, and the party balloon sign told me all I needed to know.

“Flag you have to see this!” I looked to my…friend? I wondered about that, he was my fathers friend. But Flag always acted like an uncle. An estranged uncle who visited rarely but there none-the less.

“Sure,” he stood up and looked out the window with me. Flag let out an impressed whistle and tapped his hoof on the glass pointing. A billboard was being put up, of a pony reclining on a velvet lounging couch. The Pegasus had yet to finish the face, so I couldn’t see who it was. But it was advertising a concert, from the unfinished letters I managed to make out ‘ra live.’ The billboard passed us, and we ogled other signs, apartment buildings and store fronts. I noticed a Robronco store advertising combat robots as home security. I hopped down and moved towards the pilot seats staring out the cockpit. I managed to gather our destination as we headed to the only building with a landing pad. It was huge, built of dull grey concrete with little to no windows. If they could be called so, small ports way above pony height. The perimeter around the building walled off from the rest of the city with two soldier ponies standing outside a gatehouse. Several military wagons were parked inside the perimeter with soldiers patrolling the area. On the wall above an entrance was a huge red flag with Celestia’s sun. We made it, and I nearly face palmed, I forgot to come up with an answer about outside the encirclement. Shit I really am not good at this spy stuff, well I wasn’t a spy per-say. I just happened to be here for an additional motive besides helping the locals.

“This is Centurion 03, we are here with priority pick-ups. Are we clear for landing?” Flak put a hoof to his transmitter. “Copy that, will move for re-tasking after drop off, Centurion 03 out.” The Vertibuck slowed down touching down with only the slightest lurch.

“Alright passengers were here, check your gear and don’t leave anything behind.” Flak’s co-pilot whose name I forgot to ask waved us out. The doors slid open and I moved to hop off thanking Celestia for solid ground. From the rooftop entrance a mare dressed in a military uniform. Although this one had a skirt for some odd reason, whatever I supposed, greeted us and shook our hooves rather excitedly.

“Welcome! I know you all must be tired, but please bear with us for a moment longer. After you deliver your report to the Council, we have set you up on the Cadence-tops! Best hotel in all of City 12! All the big wigs and celebrities get to stay there.” The pony gushed about some of her favorite stars for a moment. I coughed awkwardly to try and get a move on. “Oh, right sorry, please follow me! oh and I was informed you had a report from Colonel Starfire. Please give it to me.” I nodded and handed her the magi-tape, then she turned around and we followed. “Oh, I like your armor colors by the way! The black and red, and the red splotches really make you look scary!” She gushed and waved one of her hoofs excitedly at us.

“Color splotches? This-” Lemon tapped my shoulder and shook her head. “Right yeah…color splotches.” She didn’t this was dry blood.

“So…did you think about what to say to them?” Lemon spoke up over the radio.

I sighed, “not a damn clue.” I glared at Flag not that he’d see it through the helmet.

“Well I got something if you want to use it,” I hope eternal blessing fall on Lemon!

“Please tell me, I don’t know what to say!” I neighed frustrated and freaking tired!

“Okay, its easy, tell them we were deployed from Shatter Hoof. We were on border patrol and got rerouted for new tasking.” Lemon’s idea wasn’t bad, but I also wondered if they will buy Rangers being on standard patrol. From what I understood, our order was heavily involved in the fighting. If not on the Zebra homeland, then here in Equestria.

“That isn’t half bad, but how about we tell them we were running ops in the Zebra jungles? Might sound more convincing than patrol duty for Rangers.” I felt my suggestion spiced up the boring patrol unit thing.

“Yeah, sounds good, I just hope our stories match with Star Paladin Heavy Arms.” Lemon had a point, father wasn’t planning on this, this sprung up on the spot and we weren’t prepared to get imbedded with the Equestrain Fourth. I would need to contact him as soon as possible.

“Alright, Council is waiting for you in here.” The receptionist mare stoped by some big double doors. I thanked her, and we entered inside to a poorly lit room. There was a round desk almost closing around us. There were five chairs, in key places around the circular table all empty. However, there were terminals screens looking into the circle with blank screens. There were no windows in the room, just hanging lights. The walls were a dull grey, only livened up by framed news articles and pictures of officers and soldiers. On the two corners at the far end of the room were two flag poles. One bore Equestria’s colors, the other I did not recognize, by the Snow flake design I could only imagine was the Empires.

The monitors suddenly turned on, with the word ‘connecting’ on them. After a few minutes several pony faces showed up on the screens, though one of the monitors remained blank. Also another had no video feed it only read Audio Only.

“Princess Cadence once more regrets her absence. She is tending to the shield, she has sent me in her stead as a liaison. Hello newcomers, my name is Agent Grumpy, welcome to the Crystal Empire.” The voice from the Audio Only screen sounded youthful, and not grumpy at all.

“Yes, thank you agent Grumpy, my name is General Sherman, and these are my command staff, Lieutenant General Chi-Nu and Major General Panzer Aus.” The General introduced everypony from his position right of Grumpy onward. The general left of Grumpy was an old Stallion, with light brown fur and cropped grey mane and neatly trimmed beard. Lieutenant General Chi-Nu on the other hoof was mare, her face had lines of stress and age, she had lavender colored fur, her mane was swept back into a bun with grey streaks contrasting bright red. Finally, Major General Panzer Aus, who’s name sounded very aggressive I might add, was a black Unicorn, he was bald at the top of his head, his mane instead neatly cut and cropped at the sides of his head. Unlike the others he had a disfiguring scar across the right side of his muzzle like his cheek had been sliced through.

“Thank you, Generals, and Agent Grumpy, my name is Sergeant Valiant Knight.” I glanced to my companions raising a hoof to Lemon. “This is Private Lemon,” I pointed to Flag “and Corporal Flag. Were from the Ministry Manehattan Hub.”

“Manehattan? Tell me, how goes the other fronts?” General Panzer Aus voice was rough and forced. I summarized the Stallion had a wound that made it hard to talk.

“I couldn’t say, last I heard we were still engaged across the border and pushing back Zebra invasions.” Well that was vague and broad. But I also couldn’t be expected to bring in a full report of the whole damn conflict.

“I see, tell me we suffered a major megaspell attack, how does Equestria fair?” General Chi-Nu looked down bringing up some spectacles to put on.

“I…we,” I felt sweat drop down the back of my neck. I wasn’t expecting that question. Shit I should have expected that question! “We also suffered a Megaspell Attack, they…took out Cloudsdale. I think we also suffered a detonation in Fillydelphia from an inside bomb.” I put a hoof to my heart and did what I hope was a convincing mournful tone. [Smooth Rambler] “Though even when hurt, we have continued fighting. Princess Celestia and Luna have launched a new offensive. That’s why were here, to relieve the Empire.” Okay maybe I was better at thinking on my hooves than I thought.

“Then I hope whatever deity protects the Zebras has mercy on them, because we won’t.” General Panzer Aus spat with a bang of an unseen desk.

“What about the encirclement, are their reinforcements waiting to join you?” General Sherman just kept making me stumble.

“Y-yeah, but we can’t fight our way through the blizzard. It has been going for months. Zebras keep destroying our heavy weapons.” I really was just pulling things out of my ass at this point. “So, until they break through were alone.” The Generals went silent, they seemed to be in deep thought. Flag patted my side and I looked to him. He motioned silently at Agent Grumpy’s screen. The screen had lost its previous Audio Only text and replaced by something new. I narrowed my eyes and felt the urge to run out of here.

[I KNOW THE THRUTH]

“Very well, that’s enough for us to go on. We need to secure our position before we can begin a push from our side of the encirclement. I hope you and your Rangers are the right ponies for the job.” I nodded this was a way into the shield after all. The screen changed text and I pursed my lips into a thin line.

[WE WILL MEET SOON BEFORE YOUR FIRST DEPLOYMENT AWAIT MY CONTACT]

That wasn’t very helpful, what contact? Who would we be meeting? I couldn’t very well ask. This Agent Grumpy was playing this one close to the chest. “Would there be anything else Generals?”

“No, I think we have what we need. We will go over the repots from various fronts, we will inform you of your assignment as soon as we are able to. For now, there is a wagon waiting for you outside. Please enjoy your stay in City 12 soldiers. You earned the rest.” I saluted as did my companions, the screens turned off leaving only Agent Grumpy. He didn’t speak, but his text changed once more before the screen turned off.

[MY AGENT WILL MEET YOU AT YOUR HOTEL, THE PASS CODE IS DEAR FRIENDS REMEMBER THE CRYSTAL CELEBRATION]

“That…doesn’t bode well.” Lemon stated what I’m sure we all felt.

“Grumpy knows something the others don’t, worst he seems to hide it from the others.” Flag put a hoof to his chin. “Now this may sound bloodwing-shit-crazy. But Grumpy might be from outside the Shield.” Flag’s theory didn’t hold any merit, the only thing we had to go on was the message of knowing the truth. But for all I know Grumpy could simply be talking about something else. Then again what else could there be? The one truth behind this war is that it’s been over. A soft knock made us all turn to the double doors. The receptionist pony poked her head in and asked us if we were ready.

“Yeah, let’s go everypony.” I sighed, and we followed her outside to two wagons. One was a civilian wagon. It was all black, but the license plates were military with Equestrian insignia on it. Another was a loading wagon with a flatbed. Two soldiers with three other unicorns stood by the loading wagon, when they noticed us one of them came to us excited.

“Hey there sir! My name is Fixer. These are my colleagues Screws and Bolts. We got assigned to recover your armor and have it ready for your next deployment.” Right, we got told my armor would be taken cared of by the logistics division.

“All of our armors?” Lemon asked with a squeak.

“Yes mam, don’t worry we’ll take care of it like it belonged to us.” Fixer and his friends all nodded eagerly while they climbed on board the flatbed.

“I-I don’t know I mean we can take care of it ourselves, right?” Lemon looked at me for help.

“Sorry, but if you’re on leave you aren’t allow to carry weapons…Power Armor is included in that.” Fixer shrugged apologetically. “There was an incident back before the shield came up in the E.C.Z, some drunk soldiers fired on civilians. That wasn’t the last of it and now only on duty personnel in clear combat armor can carry weapons.”

Well, that sucked, I wasn’t particularly fond of having somepony else handle my boy. Yes, it’s a boy and I haven’t come up with a name for him yet.

“Fine by me, just don’t you dare scratch or change the paint on my Sasha.” Flag warned, before his armor parted and stood to its hind legs. Flag exited his armor and I noticed he had bruises on his face. He shook his body and stretched popping his joins. “Shit! I forgot how stiff you get after a while in armor.”

I followed suit exiting my armor, the cool air of the city hit my face and the once filtered noise now filled my head. Thankfully the walls of the compound mediated the full force. Hooves trotting wagons roaring on the streets, I never heard so much activity in my life! I flatten my ears against my head for moment getting used to all the noise.

“Okay, I’m keeping my saddle bag though.” I moved to my armor and unhooked the bag with my mouth. I threw the built-in strap over me and shimmied the bag down to my flank and my comrades did the same. With that done I moved to the black wagon just wanting to find a bed to plop face-down onto.

“Mam?” Fixer looked pointedly at Lemon, she was quiet and still in her armor.

“Lemon, you okay?” I trotted to her, I tried putting a hoof on her shoulder, but her armor reared up and opened to let her out. It had occurred to me I haven’t seen her out of her armor, I wonder what she…whoa. She was small, well at least smaller than me and Flag. Just beneath our chins really, she had a soft green almost yellow coat. Oh, like a lemon, and soft blue eye that seemed to look happy without meaning too. She had a horn…wait what? I blinked once…twice and yeah, no it’s a horn. Lemon is a Unicorn. There weren’t Unicorn Rangers for a few reasons. One of them being the mentality needed to use power armor. The other well yeah, the horn. It wasn’t made with a unicorn in mind, to put it bluntly unicorns didn’t fit earth pony fighting. As a Ranger we act as heavy ordinance a hammer to an anvil. A Unicorn with the precision of magic might be considered the scalpel. They didn’t need battle-saddles like we earth ponies do, Power Armor was to take advantage of the innate earth pony strength.

“Well, that explains the plates,” Flag muttered and dutifully went into the black wagon. Lemon walked up to me eyes downcast.

“Are you going to tell S-Captain Heavy Arms?” she rubbed one foreleg over the other.

I couldn’t help it, I was not the best at being social with anypony! “You’re cute.” It just slipped out and Lemon quickly looked up eyes wide.

“H-huh?” She stammered.

“I, shit no I meant to say. No, I won’t tell but, well I do want an explanation later.” Smooth, I coughed into my hoof trying to regain my composure.

“S-sure okay, uhm, we should go.” She walked around me and entered the wagon. I stayed there a little longer willing my body temperature to return to normal. With a sigh I looked to Fixer and his friends load up the armors and strap them to the flatbed.

“Don’t you worry, they’re in good hooves!” Fixer and his friends waved a goodbye at me. Well at least it wasn’t awkward, they either didn’t notice or decided not to comment on what just happened. I entered the car and sat down next to Flag. Lemon had made her way to the seat at the far end of the car not looking at my direction.

I just made it awkward…great.

“you know, your old man blurted out something like that to your mother when he met her.” Flag smirked and elbowed my side; my eyes went wide and I looked at Lemon on instinct. She had done the same and we both turned away quickly. Flag laughed aloud and leaned back on his seat, while I desperately distracted myself with City 12 passing us by.

We arrived at the hotel at least half an hour from the Council Building. The wagon parked with my window facing the grand building. I gazed up at the huge white hotel, the front entrance had its own driveway. Ponies in red uniforms waited duly for…well I don’t know. They waited anyways I could only guess they worked here. An archway extended from the entrance with marble pillars depicting art on them. Several potted plants lined the walkway with a crowd of ponies gathered at either side. I guess it was a busy day? When the wagon rolled to a stop, the driver was quick to exit and open the door for me. I stepped out and the gathered ponies looked towards me.

“Are you Valiant Knight?” Sompeny in the crowd called out.

“Yeah?” I wondered who these ponies were? Just as I wondered they brought up several cameras and I felt like a flash bang was detonated right in front of my face. I flinched and rubbed my eyes as the ravenous crowd only held back by a red velvet rope bombarded me with questions.

“How does it feel to be a hero?”

“Where is your unit and will they be deployed soon?”

“Valiant do you have a special somepony?”

“Do you prefer Sparkle-Cola or Sunrise Sasparilla?”

I just pushed forward, I learned from Ironshod to just nod politely to the questions. Flag came up behind me and stood by my side with Lemon scurrying behind covering her face from the flashes. I reached the hotel entrance, the doors opening automatically to let me inside to thankfully no more camera ponies. I blinked away the spots in my vison when a pony in a suit and tie came up to me.

“Ah Welcome to the Cadence-Tops Hotel esteemed guests. We were informed of your arrival and have the Penthouse ready for you. Please do not worry about the room service and minifridge. It has all be paid for by the Equestrian and Imperial Government Council.”

I nodded thanking the pony for the information, but I quickly lost track of whatever else he said because this place was amazing! The first-floor ceiling alone was high up several chandelier lights filled with colorful gems dotted the cieling. The walls were a royal lavender, with snow flake patterns. The corners of the walls were plated with silver with intricate designs on them. A set of automatic stairs following the same color scheme as the walls ascended to the second floor, with its twin next to it for gong down. I felt like I just walked into Tenpony Power in its prime, I never in my life witnessed anything like this. I was so used to the wastelands ugliness, remnants of Pony Civilization. Yet here I stood, as if I just stepped into world before the war.

“Heh, yes the Cadence-Tops Splendor has this effect on newcomers.” The suit pony smiled waggling his eyebrows at me.

“Yeah, this place is amazing, compared to the crap hole that’s Manehattan.” I quickly closed my mouth.

“Yes, well perhaps i’d have put it more eloquently, but City 12 is far lovelier sight. It is built with Crystal Pony ingenuity as well as Equestrian. The best of both worlds wouldn’t you say sir?” The pony waved his hoof at the gallantry of the room before looking at me.

“Yeah, it certainly a sight to behold.” I covered my mouth letting out a yawn.

“Ah forgive me, I shan’t keep you any longer I forget you come from the front. Please enjoy all the Cadence-Tops Hotel have to offer.” The pony gestured to one of those red uniformed ponies to come over.

“At your service sir!” the pony straighten up proudly.

“Please take these esteemed guests bags to the penthouse floor.

“Yes sir!” The pony lifted his hat to reveal his horn with a white glow he lifted our saddle bags and floated them above him. “Please follow me!” he cheerfully led us to an elevator at the far-left end of the room. The elevator was just as decorative as the main hall with gems and intricate patterns on the walls. After a few minutes we reached the top floor, the elevators doors opened to a long hallway lined with pillars depicting various engravings of Equestria and the Empire respectively. The pony stopped before a set of double doors and lifted a keycard to a scanner at the right side of the door frame. The door unlocked, and the door knobs were wrapped in a white telekinetic sheath. He opened it to our very own living quarters.

Is everything here overdesigned and fancy?

I already felt the novelty of the splendor wear off, while I didn’t think it by any means ugly. It quickly loses its splendor when everything is so flamboyantly designed. The room, or more like an apartment really, was spacious with a lavender carpet floor. The living room had a huge floor to ceiling window stretching from wall tow all overlooking city 12. Lemon looking over our previous awkwardness trotted to the window to stare out of it. Flag on the other hand movedstraight to the self-serve minibar with various alcaholic brands all very expensive I was sure just left of the entrance.

“Man, this…this is something.” I looked around the spacious living room, white couches and snowflake lights hanging above. To my right was a spiral stair case. While to the left two closed doors lined the equally decorative lavender wall. A kitchen with black appliances was at the left near the fireplace.

“Where would you like your bags sir?” The pony chirped and walked to stand by the white couch.

“The couch is fine.” I nodded to him, he paused looking worried.

“Uhm, the bags could stain the ouch sir…they aren’t washed and are covered with red paint.” He pointed to the splats of…oh right it still had blood from the battle.

“Y-yeah sorry, just place them on the carpet by the couch then.” I looked around and moved to the couch just about ready to crash. The pony nodded and stacked the bags neatly by the couch. “Oh and thank you.” I added as an afterthought.

“No problem sir, the master bedroom is upstairs, and the other two rooms are to your right.” He bowed his head and moved to leave.

“Oh, hey is there somewhere I can wash my bag?” I asked him.

“We can take care of it sir, just call room service with any of the terminals inside the rooms.” He smiled waving off the idea of me washing my things myself.

“Alright thanks.” I nodded, and he bowed once more leaving and closing the door behind him.

“Oh, can I have the upstairs?” Lemon bounced in place before me.

“No, that’s Valiant’s he’s in charge he gets the officer digs.” Flag pipped up before he took a swig from a shot glass.

“Aww, alright.” Lemon’s ears dropped, and she lowered her head with a pout. Though to me she only looked cuter…okay yeah, that’s my cue to get some sleep now.

“Well, I don’t know about you guys, but I’m going to bed. I feel like I’m about to pass out.” I grabbed my bag and trotted upstairs. My bedroom had double doors, what was it with this place with and double doors? I pushed into my room and kicked the door closed behind me. I dropped my bag by the foot of the huge bed. I stripped out of my suit and crawled under the bed sheets and laid there for a moment. I sighed, I felt my strength leave me and my aching body begin to shut down. I groaned and laid on my back staring at the ceiling with small gems embedded in it. This was big, I knew that much but, now that I’m alone that I can think and there’s no immediate threat to my life. I thought about everything, the trip here, the battles I’ve fought b the Zebras I’ve killed.

I turned to my side curling into myself, and closed my eyes shut but as I did the screams started up again. Then the gun fire and then the explosions. Like a highlight reel being projected on my closed eye lids I could see myself sprint across the Smokey Ironshod tarmac. My heart pounding against my ears and the yells of ponies, the zebras like demonic beings charging from their lairs. Machinegun fire rained down like a reaper tearing ponies apart all round me. fear and anger mixed together, and the taste of metal filled my mouth. Blood, there was blood in my mouth, I stopped and looked around, but the ponies became a blur. Colors swishing about without form and the voices faded to screams. The gun fire faded, and screams grew louder, I tried stepping back but something grabbed my armored leg. I panicked bucking whatever the hell grabbed me. Something else clawed at my forelegs and I looked down, ponies, bits and parts of them. I stood atop a pile of bodies, pony hooves grabbed at my legs and I thrashed against them violently. But all it did was make me fall and have the monstrosities grab at me. I was being restrained my anger faded to an all-encompassing fear, I willed my minigun to fire, but it wasn’t there anymore. A hoof forced my muzzle to the ground. I found myself staring at Strider’s helmet, but that wasn’t right. He wasn’t at Ironshod. I trashed harder and I yelled every profanity I knew at the monsters keeping me down. My heart felt like it was about to burst, and I felt something wet between my legs.

I just pissed myself.

Fuck no I can’t die like this I tried pushing against the force on my muzzle willing me to look away. To keep me from staring at Striders helmet. The more I struggled the harder it pressed, until I felt my head threaten to cave in. With a loud rustic screech Striders helmet opened, I felt my mouth dry up. Strider’s flesh was rotting off his face, his eye sockets had maggots crawling in them, I could see the bone around his mouth, his teeth cracked and missing. The remains stirred shaking and twitching like it was being electrocuted.

“Run Valiant.” The mouth with no tongue spilling out maggots told me. I felt my body go still, I watched Strider crawl up to me his armor rusted and riddled with holes. Blood and maggots pouring from the wounds. I felt my face being forced up as Strider climbed atop me and held my face between his hooves.

“Run Valiant,” he uttered before twitching and then he screamed bloody maggots pouring from his gaping maw. I screamed in desperation, the maggots greedily poured into my mouth. I felt the maggots tear themselves into me burrowing into my insides. I felt thousands of bites as they ate from within, filling my stomach and gullet.

“Run-” Strider barfed up more blood-soaked maggots, and I gagged trying to scream before feeling something crawl up my gullet.

I opened my eyes the room was dark with only the faint glow of the gems embedder on my ceiling. I turned to my side and vomited my empty stomach. Nothing but pure liquid I dry heaved and yelled. The doors burst open and light flooded my room around a silhouette at my door, I scrambled trying to find a weapon, I was going to die! The sheets were wrapped around me restraining my movement and in my struggle I fell of the bed freeing a hoof to crawl away while my head threaten to split apart from the wailing of the dead.

“No!” I tried finding anything to hold as a weapon to fight off my attacker grabbing at me and pulling the sheets off. “No get off I don’t want to die Strider! Father! Help me!” I felt tears leak and my heart felt like it was trying to kill me banging against my chest. “Stop! Father, father! Strider help me please don’t let me die!” hooves grabbed my face and forced me to look at my attacker. As I did the room was lit up with the flip of a switch. Flag, he was panting with a bruise on his cheek his eyes bore into me I couldn’t read his expression, my vision soon began getting blurry. Flag wordlessly cradled me against his chest and I clutched him with every bit of strength I had in me. “Aaaaahhhh!!!” The scream tore itself from strained lungs, I wept loudly my body shaking with tremors. Flag hugged me close and nuzzled his face against mine.

I lost track of time, all I knew was that it was still daylight outside. With a final shutter passing down my spine I finally retreated from Flags embrace. He slowly let me get up keeping his hooves on me. I saw Lemon stand at the doorway with tears in her eyes looking at me sadly. Nopony said anything, I looked to my bed id ragged the sheets down with me, I also saw the wet spot where I threw up. Worst I saw the spot where I pissed myself. I looked down and brought my hooves up to wipe my face. I licked at my lips and tasted blood in my mouth. My tongue passed over where I bit my lip and drew blood. “I, I need to go to the bathroom.” I muttered and side-stepped Flag.

“Kid.” Flag turned to look at me, his eyes were confused unsure what to do.

“I’m fine now…sorry about that.” I pointed to his face, and Flag shrugged offering a small smile.

“Zebras hit harder.” He joked, and I chuckled, though my throat felt like I had swallowed glass. Lemon looked unsure between speaking and taking a step into the room. I looked at her and just offered her my best smile to comfort her. Though I’m sure she felt she should be the one to comfort me. I entered my rooms bathroom, just next to the closet. I turned the water on and just stepped into the stream. The water cleansed me of the grit and dirt of battle. Even inside a sealed suit sweat and blood from injuries got a pony smelling something badly. I only assumed nopony said anything out of being star struck. I chuckled, being a hero reminded me of the Light Bringer. What was her name? Littlepip, that’s right she disappeared after the attack on Neighvarro all those years ago. Wherever she is, I kind of want to talk to her. Maybe she would know how to deal with the sudden hero worship for something I felt anypony would do. Then again, even now the Wasteland was cruel, and war was hardly going away anytime soon. Equestria was always a battleground to one war or another.

It seemed after ponies waged the great war that nearly wiped us out, we got a taste for it. Now we seem to wage it everywhere we can. The Crimson Empire was its own set of troubles. I also knew enough about the NCR to understand why ponies were slow to trust their words. They were born out of a good idea, but so were the ministries and now they’re just decrepit buildings with ghosts of the past. I neighed rubbing my eyes, I still felt somewhat tired. But I wasn’t going back to sleep today, not after that. I finished my shower after a good scrubbing with soap, I used up the towels provided and exited the bathroom to find pony maids cleaning my room. I paused for a second, they didn’t seem to notice me, I looked down embarrassed when they switched the sheets. While looking down I noticed my saddle bag wasn’t in my room. I frowned pretty sure I brought it in, with a sigh I turned to the maids finding my voice and courage to speak.

“Sorry about the mess.” I tried rubbing one foreleg against the other. They turned to me and waved it off telling me they would be done soon. I nodded and went back into the living room, it seemed my companions weren’t going back to bed either. Lemon was sitting over a pile of things on the couch, one of those piles looked very familiar. I went to sit by her looking around for Flag who had disappeared on us. When I sat down next to her Lemon looked to me and seemed to freeze in place. An awkward silence started between us and I wasn’t sure how to break it. I glanced at the pile of stuff to finally notice it was our stuff outside the saddle bags. At the top of my pile was the memory orb from Ironshod.

“Hey, did you see it? The memory orb that is.” I pointed to it.

“Yes, by accident though, I didn’t know you had it so when my magic touched it I kind got sucked in.” Lemon gave a sheepish smile. “Oh, also please don’t think I was going through your stuff, it’s just I called for laundry to be done so I emptied our saddle bags to let them wash them.”

“It’s okay, you don’t seem like the snooping type Lemon.” I offered a smile of my own. I felt the awkwardness melt away and I felt at ease next to Lemon.

“So, what’s inside it?” I asked her while I stood back up and grabbed the orb I returned to my sit placing it between us.

“Want to see for yourself?” she asked with a glint to her eyes. I raised a brow and pointed a hoof to my hornless head.“Don’t worry, I know a spell to let you access a memory orb experience through me. Just hold still okay?” Lemon closed her eye and a light-yellow glow enveloped her horn. “Okay are you ready?”

I took a deep breath and let it out. “yeah, go ahead.”

“Okay, here we go.” A light flashed, and I felt my entire self-disappear in a disturbing way only to feel myself reappear somewhere else.

I wasn’t sure where I was, it was a room a crystal room at that with brilliant crystal walls. I was a Stallion though I couldn’t tell much beyond that as the pony I was inside didn’t look at himself. When the pony finally moved his head, I could feel warmth spread across my chest. Love, and admiration when my eyes fell on an alicorn. She was a light pink with colorful hair. She wore a crystal crown and clothed herself in an elegant dress.

“Shining Armor, what are you doing here? We have guests from Equestria and the Zebra Empire. They want to know where my husband is.” The Alicorn’s voice was regal yet gentle, she carried a gentle sort of authority that brought a bit of shame to my host. By extension me, but still Shining Armor bowed his head to the Alicorn.

“I’m sorry Cadence, I had to attend an important matter, here let me show you.” I felt the foreign effect of magic on my head. Or rather the horn this pony had, little by little I felt pieces of metal clamp around my body. Each piece seeming to seal around me all ending with a helmet forming around my head.

[X-02 MAGICAL UNICORN POWER ARMOR ONLINE]

“Oh? Is that what I think it is?” Cadence, princess Cadence but to Shining Armor it was just Cadence. I recalled that they were married.

“Yes, Twilight sent me some of her best staff and the Arcane Sciences hub here was finally able to adapt a power armor model for unicorns.” I felt pride fill Shining Armor, and I wondered what his relationship to Twilight Sparkle was. She knew him well enough to send him resources and invest into Unicorn power armor. “With this I can feel it, we can turn this war around and start pushing against the Zebra Empires heartland.” Through his feeling of glee, he didn’t see Cadence’s mood shift. Though it was hardly noticeable I was able to detect her position slouch and her eyes look downcast.

“I know, I know why the Zebra delegates are here, or why you want them there. But you know what they are going to ask. To join their side if not to at least to post sanctions on trade between Equestrai and the Empire.” Shining armor was getting angry, increasingly so but he was very good at concealing the rage inside.

“I know, but I will not allow that to happen, just as I won’t allow you to send our troops outside our borders.” Her response was as firm as if she were talking to one of her subjects. Hell, he probably was, and his powers weren’t as great as hers in terms of ruling. But then again, I’m just guessing.

“I know, but all the same if the Zebras decided to attack us for our gems. I’ll make sure were ready.” Shining armor sighed feeling the anger drain away. The two were silent for a moment before Cadence sighed.

“Would you turn that thing off now?” she gestured with her hoof to Shining Armor.

“Ah the recollection spell, yeah I’m done. I just wanted to use it to record the unveiling. Twilight wanted to see it. But I think I’ll wait for a more…formal occasion.” Shining armor said and just like that, the world went black.

I blinked and moved the moment I felt my self back into my own body. I stood up and shook my entire body for good measure. Lemon laughed into her hoof at me, but I didn’t care I just needed to feel in control of my actions again. “That…that was weird. I had no idea how it would feel looking into one of those things.” I shuttered before sitting down next to Lemon again.

“Don’t worry its always weird for the first time.” Lemon assured me before taking the orb. With her mouth and put it back on my pile of stuff.

“So…Lemon mind telling me how you sneaked your way into the Rangers?” I had nothing else to talk about and I figured I might just get this out of the way.

“Well the how was easy enough, the way is something else altogether.” Lemon returned to sit by my side. Doing so she looked out of the window quietly before speaking again. “I wanted to be Ranger since I was a little filly, my mother was a Ranger, as was my grandad, but when my mom married a unicorn. Well here I am, and I was told unicorns couldn’t be Rangers, we can’t interface properly with the armor.” She huffed and rolled her eyes. “So, I spent my time practicing in my mother’s armor, without the helmet of course, it wasn’t until I got older and was taught spells by the head scribe that I formed the idea to join the Rangers.” Lemon closed her eyes and her horn glowed for a moment before disappearing all together.

“Whoa!” I leaned back before bringing a hoof up, she opened her eyes and then moved her head closer for my hoof to tap her horn. She hid her horn! That was freaking cool I had to admit, kind of like how Applejack hid the secondary shield from us.

“Yep, something I worked up myself, a spell to reflect light and essentially become invisible. But I use it a lower scale. Still keeping this for long periods of time gets tiring, so when I got my armor. Well you know the extra plates.” She smirked, and her horn faded into existence again. This was good, I really didn’t want to think about my nightmare and consequential breakdown. Lemon was nice to talk to, I almost fell as much at ease as I did with Strider.

It should have been me.

I flinched, and she noticed, “Valiant…” Lemon reached for me.

I stood up abruptly and just pretended she didn’t see anything. “Hey, I don’t know about you but I’m hungry. You wouldn’t happen to know how to cook would you?” I knew I could order food from the terminal. It was a given really, but I felt bad knowing how expensive everything here had to be.

“Sorry, if you want a mean bowl of boiling water, I’m your mare. Otherwise I got rations from our bags.” I groaned, I wanted real food, the dry rations we used when not on base were bland and honestly disgusting depending on what rations the scribes packed you. As if to answer our prayers, Flag came in with a servant pony rolling in a tray filled with food. Apples, hay and flower salad. I felt my mouth water and Flag chuckled seeing us look at the food like hungry Hellhounds.

“Come on and eat kids, old Flag brought the chow.” He gave a mocking bow waving his hoof elaborately at the food. I completely forgot my earlier thoughts about expensive food, and Lemon seemed to agree. I picked up the plate of hay, Lemon grabbed the flower salad, while Flag grabbed more hay and for good measure some whiskey from the bar to wash it down. While we ate we just talked about life, Flag opened-up more about his past though nothing too deep. I got a feeling there was a before Applejack’s Rangers he wasn’t willing to share. Lemon spoke about her mother, which I shouldn’t have been surprised was Elder Strawberry Lemonade. I had fun, I forgot most of my troubles and the mission at hand, it felt nice to just enjoy a day without having to worry about war. All in all, maybe today wasn’t going to be a bad day.

Level Up: 4

Perks: Bat Pony: Sleep? What’s that you certainly don’t need it, just rest your eyes for a few hours and you will have the energy of a party-mental hopped up colt! Just, you know, if you oversleep beyond a few hours, you will feel groggy and suffer a penalty to agility.

Author's Notes:

Oh boy this one was a long one! Anyways, please enjoy! The search for an editor continues! Also looking for an artist to help me spruce up my cover art! I love it but I hope to get more detail on the cover.