Chapter 6: Not what it all seems

After spending three days held up inside our suite I decided we all needed some fresh air. As well as spend some time outside without being shot at. Though despite my suggestion it didn’t stop the weary stares I got from Flag and Lemon. Seeing as to them I hadn’t slept a wink since the breakdown. I felt good, rested even, so long as I closed my eyes for a few hours I woke up refreshed. They only accepted my assurance with hesitant nods, still better I got some sleep than none.

“Wow, this place is amazing.” Lemon trotted in place excited, we found a local park near our hotel and thought it be a great place to relax.

“Hello Fillies and Gentlecolts, it’s your favorite host at your favorite station Frozen Thunder!” A Spritebot floated on by and stopped before me. “I have great news! It seems our hero and his friends are actually inside City 12!” The host played sound effects of thunder and a mare squeeing in delight. I cringed a little and looked around, nopony seemed to have noticed me.

“Now, now I know you all want to meet and greet with our hero and his friends. But please dear fans, our hero is here for some R&R. So, I won’t be revealing where he might be! But I will say the park is mighty fine for a trot today!” The tweets of birds followed his words by what I could only describe as a hellhound barking. I rolled my eyes, DJ-Pon3 didn’t need all this random sounds to keep us listening.

“Now then, on to more serious matters, the front has been pushed in our favor and we are now looking at a possible offensive against the striped menace. General Sherman when reached for comment stated, and I quote.” The host cleared his throat. “We intend to take full advantage of this second wind, my staff and Regiment commanders are hard at work as we speak.” There was a brief pause to let the words sink in. “Well, I don’t know about you all, but this is probably the giddiest I have ever been to hear from the old General. Finally, something that isn’t cracking down on us citizens just trying to live our lives.”

The host gave a hardy chortle, “furthermore curfew has been partly lifted, maybe thanks to our hero’s effort or maybe the complaining finally made the council budge and let princess Cadence pass her Grown up and Responsible act. Which of course dictates any stallion or mare above the age of eighteen can now be free to stay up all night if they so wish it. I for one am glad, as a Stallion on the prowl, I can finally go to our fine night clubs and be properly shot down.” The host laughed and banged his hoof against his desk. “But that’s my time for today, I would normally give you the weather, but our weather satellite is still down. We are still working on it and hope you can all be patient with us.”

Okay, I had a good laugh at that last part, now I knew who I took the Pegasus One from. I dismissed the Spritebot with the wave of a hoof and continued my relaxing trot, Lemon followed suit while she adjusted her uniform. “Seriously who thought of giving these uniforms skirts?” She grunted her magic enveloping the hem of the skirt and pulling it down on her body. “They keep riding up my hips and it feels weird.” Her beret slumped on her head she huffed and adjusted it as well with her magic enveloped around it. I found myself agreeing, my uniform was much the same, a white shirt with a black tie with a green blazer and Beret. Just you know, minus the skirt, but still seemed impractical to me.

While Lemon continued to fidget with her skirt, I gazed at the natural splendor of the greenery. Twenty years had done little to improve much of the Equestrian Waste, yet here untouched by the ravages of magical radiation and taint everything was green. Trees, soft grass beneath ponies’ hooves. And bushes with colorful flowers arranged almost like a rainbow by gardeners. A gazebo lied tucked between two trees, two lovers sat beneath its shade.

“Why are you blushing?” Lemon came up to me and I coughed awkwardly. I hadn’t realized only now noticing the warmth on my cheeks.

“Huh?” I fiddled with my tie and decided the sky was much more interesting to look at.

Lemon looked towards the gazebo and smiled “Wow, that must be an easy life huh?” I dared to look back and saw the lovers leaning against each other enjoying the quiet.

“Yeah…no fear of some junky raider shooting you in here.” I kept the words low enough for my ears only, Lemon didn’t need my pessimism.

“It’s sad isn’t it? We, well our ancestors were like this once. Just ponies going on about their lives.” Lemon turned to me eyes downcast.

I wondered about that, the war from what I knew brought many dissenting voices and the Ministry of Morale had to do more than ‘keep morale up.’ I just nodded, there were no words really to describe the disparity between these ponies and those in the Wasteland. Friendliness was common only in some places. Junction Town was a nice place from what I heard, but the farther you got from NCR influence the more it looked like the Wasteland my father grew up in. Unforgiving and filled with the mutated horrors of the waste.

“There you kiddies are!” I jumped a bit startled and turned to Flag, he wore a similar uniform, but he was much laxer than us. His tie was loosened, and he had the first three buttons of his shirt undone.

“Hey Flag, how did it go?” Lemon trotted up next to me, Flag had excused himself from us earlier saying he was going to gather intel on the situation here.

“Well, this place is certainly interesting, in plenty of ways and asking questions only made me look more out of place. But I got what I needed, come on let’s find somewhere to talk.” Flag walked ahead of us and we followed. We picked a secluded place surrounded by large trees with a stone bench and table by some high bushes.

Flag plopped himself down first, “alright so things here go like this.” Flag tapped the table and leaned forward. “Whole of the Empire, is currently run by the joint efforts of the Fourth Army Group command staff and Princess Cadence.” Flag drew a line with his hoof between Lemon and me. “However, depending on who you ask, either the Fourth or Princess Cadence really runs the show. So, last I heard The Command staff took over all day to day running of the Empire with Shining Armor at its helm.” Flag then pointed his hoof to Lemon, “While Princess Cadence is still the ruler on paper.” Flag pointed his other hoof at me, “her decisions need to run by the council acting as an advisory commission.” Flag brought his hooves together with a loud clop. “So, we got our divide between empire ponies and Equestrian Fourth.” The Flag just shrugged and leaned back on his seat “Well it used to be like that, till Shining Armor died when outside the Shield.”

“Okay, so the command staff just gave their position to their next of kin?” I rubbed my chin humming to myself.

“I’m guessing as much stopped asking questions when these ponies in suits started following me. I’m thinking Ministry of Morale types, ponies complain about them enough here.” flag grunted eyes shifting about looking for any eavesdroppers.

“Ministry of Morale agents.” I crossed my front hooves and leaned back on my seat. That radio pony had said the council had been cracking down on ponies. My guess? Looking for spies, dissenters and, maybe even sympathizers to the Zebras. A whole city literally living through what those rotted posters in the waste said. Pinkie Pie is watching you forever, I shivered thinking how creepy that poster was now.

I began to think of the NCR and if they would employ a similar approach with their war against the Crimson Empire. I somewhat knew how the NCR ran itself, with a president or two presidents? I was fuzzy on how that worked out. Old Griffon Gwadyna Grimfeathers and her daughter seem to run the NCR equally. But Gwadyna is the official leader of the NCR, and since they became the big power in the Wasteland it brought back something from the past. Well they brought many things from the past back but the two that most didn’t like were taxes and bureaucracy. I mean how they ever got anything done was beyond me. But here, the general atmosphere was the military was efficient and it acted swiftly.

“This place might as well be a big old Applejack Rangers chapter.” I leaned on my hoof a morbid smile on my face.

“Hey yeah!” Lemon excitedly clopped her hooves on the table. “The council is the paladins and Princess Cadence is the Elder.”

“Well I wonder about that” Flag leaned forward his eyes narrowed giving shifty glances around us. “I find it strange, but since the shield went up, Princess Cadence has never made a public appearance.”

“Well yeah, she needs to maintain the shield, doesn’t she?” Lemon shrugged.

“Remember what Agent Grumpy said, she had to attend the shield and she apologized for missing another meeting. That implies she has been to a meeting before.” Flag narrowed his eyes tapping his hoof to his head in the universal sign of ‘think about it.’

I suddenly didn’t feel as safe as I should have. Something fishy was happening here, and I had an itching urge to know more. “We…we should go back to the hotel.” I hopped off the bench, “I need to figure out a way to contact my father. Err Star Paladin-”

Flag quickly cut in, “relax kid, were under cover here just worry about their protocol not ours.” Flag grinned and patted my back.

“Right, sure, lets go then.” We walked down the main cobbled path that bisected the park into two. When we reached the exit, I glanced up. An archway was erected above the path reading ‘Spike the brave and glorious memorial park.’ I wondered who this pony was? Got a whole park named after him maybe he was a war hero. I looked back down to spot four ponies in black suits with discreet radio transmitters on their ears.

“Sergeant Valiant Knight?” one of them, a brown unicorn stepped up to me.

“Y-yeah.” I cursed for stuttering before a potential threat.

“We were ordered to escort you to the Castle for briefing.” The pony stepped aside to show a military wagon waiting for us. Another pony opened the door revealing luxurious lavender seats inside.

“Right come on guys.” I waved my comrades over, but the brown unicorn held up a hoof before us.

“Just you Sergeant,” he moved standing between me and my comrades. I suddenly really wished I had my power armor on. I felt like colt in comparison to the brown unicorn.

“Go on Sergeant, well be okay.” Flag gave a withering glare to the unicorn between us.

“Yeah, well see you back at the hotel.” Lemon peeked around the big unicorn and gave me her best smile. Seeing that smile really did make me feel more at ease.

“Alright, let’s go then.” I boarded to the wagon and all four ponies followed me inside. The wagon whirred to life and we drove off through the city. I looked behind us to notice three wagons in white and blue with flashing lights follow us. Turning back ahead another two white and blue wagons pulled up head of us.

“Security detail, better safe than sorry Sergeant.” The big unicorn grunted.

“Right” I would have made a remark about what Frozen Thunder said but, I got the impression they weren’t fans of him.

I looked out the passenger window taking in the sights. Various shops dominated the current streets from things like shoe shops to Robronco distributers selling robots and even gun stores promising military grade equipment. One store caught my attention, a placed called Rarity for You with hundreds of ponies lined outside by a picture of none other than Ministry Mare Rarity. We passed the store all too soon and the wagon turned down another road. The following street had a few food places but slowly gave way to apartment buildings. The ponies on this street looked less, well, glamorous in plain clothes or none. Quite a few glared at our wagons as we passed by. A mother even ushered her colt back into their apartment complex. I’m guessing this were the ponies Frozen Thunder spoke about being pushed around.

I was glad when we turned into a highway that gave way to the concrete jungle to some greenery. As soon as we cleared the city I got a good look at the massive walls flanking us. As tall as skyscrapers and only Celestia knows how thick, these walls casted an eternal shadow on the road and green fields. Even if I craned my neck up I couldn’t even begin to see the top through the window. I sat back admittedly impressed and dumbfounded. How did pony achieve such a feat of engineering?

The wagon slowed down I looked back ahead. Where the walls met was a military checkpoint two pillboxes with mounted automated turrets swiveled left and right. Just off the road two combat robots stood sentry. I put my hoof down on my tail to keep it from waging, those were two Ultra-Sentry combat robots! Packing a Gatling magical energy minigun and missile launcher each. A few soldiers stood behind concrete barriers left and right of the pillboxes. All that security to guard a massive gate easily fifteen meters high with red tinted lights lining the top of the door.

“Open up VIP is here!” A soldier hollered and after a few seconds the gate groaned to life. The door’s lights lit up flashing red followed by a blaring alarm. From the middle the door bisected into two, the opening mechanism almost as loud as the damn alarm. The blue and white wagons before us parted to the side to let us through. Slowly our wagon wheeled through the gates and I noticed just how thick the gate was! Easily 8 meters thick this thing looked like it could take a battle saddle mounted balefire launcher and barely leave a scratch.

The tunnel we pulled through had lights above illuminating the road. We spent almost three minutes inside the tunnel. I couldn’t begin to phantom just how thick this damn wall was. But, the light at the end of the tunnel came and we were on the other side, safe and sound if a bit awe struck on my part. I even turned around to look at the other end of the wall. It was a bit hard to tell but I could see where the castle shield met the wall, the shield perfectly melded into the mega structure.

Speaking of the castle when our wagon pulled up to it I was disappointed all I could see was the spire with the light of the shield at its head. Before me was that mega structure that was tacked on to the crystal castle. The outside looked intact with a path leading to a set of stairs with doubled doors with marble columns flanking the doors. I saw a few mister handy robots floating outside trimming the bushes of a nearby garden.

“This is retrieval team, VIP is here.” The big unicorn muttered his hoof to his ear before he opened the door and stepped out. I followed behind him and he pointed at the mega structure’s front doors. “Wait outside, Agent Grumpy will meet you there.”

“Alright,” I trotted up the stairs looking around the courtyard utterly empty beyond the few robots running maintenance. One of the doors cracked open and I jumped whipping my neck to look at the entrance. A Pegasus clad entirely in gold Pegasus power armor greeted my arrival. With his wings folded at his sides and the wing armor over them I couldn’t even tell the color of the pony. The usually orange insectoid eye pieces were a piercing red with his rebreather firmly on his muzzle. At his flanks were two magical energy rifles with blue gem tips.

“Come with me” The pony stepped aside using the armors scorpion tail to gesture inside. The door locked behind us with the loud thud of maglocks, I wasn’t sure what to really expect when I saw the building from afar. But creepy empty squeaky-clean halls were not. We walked the halls for almost five minutes the armor-clad pony quite as the grave. This place was worst than the Wasteland, there you expected places to be creepy, here things were so much more different this was unsettling at best and downright terrifying at worst. I was leaning towards the second as every step I took felt like I was being led to my own execution. We finally stopped in front of some double doors, a plaque at the of the right doors read ‘Security Council Room #425.’

“Wait here, I’ll announce you.” He swished his armored tail pointing at some nearby seats. He promptly opened the door and went inside. I sat on my haunches for a second before quietly moving up to the door and pressed my ear against it. I couldn’t hear a thing, probably designed that way now that I thought about it. I grunted and stepped back sitting on my haunches. Just what the hell was this place? I looked around some pictures were framed with ponies and the like. I moved to inspect the pictures on the left wall. The first one I saw was peculiar it was the picture of a dragon standing before a floating heart shaped crystal. It was a small dragon purple and green and he was giving a sharp toothed grin waving at the camera. I trotted to the next picture and I recognized Princess Cadence with a white unicorn stallion beside her. He had dark blue hair and incredible blue eyes. He stood proud in rather archaic armor his helmet tucked beneath his hoof. I looked down to the frame where it read Prince Shining Armor and Princess Cadence.

Oh, so this was Shining Armor he looked rather happy in the picture. My guess this was taken before the war and him and his wife began butting heads on the empire’s role in it. I stepped away and moved to the other wall to look at the other pictures. To my surprise there, standing before the stadium I had seen before were the Six ministry mares. Considerably younger they looked maybe about as old as me. they weren’t wearing anything except for big smiles, hard not to when you were with your best friends I suppose.

It should have been me.

I shook my head and did my best to quell the clenching pain on my chest. Strider, I wish we had a picture of us taken now. I’m afraid I’ll start forgetting how he looks like, I couldn’t possibly begin to wonder how I could deal with that. Maybe Lemon knows the spell to copy memories and I can have her make a memory orb with some of my fondest memories of Strider. Yeah, that made me feel a little better and dare I say it? I felt optimistic, yeah, I felt optimistic and I wouldn’t mind sharing these memories with Lemon actually. My heart beat faster at the thought I didn’t try to stop my tail from wagging this time around.

“Sergeant come in were ready for you.” I looked back to see Agent Grumpy poke his armored head out. I nodded and went inside. The room was like the conference room I first reported to high command to. Instead of screens however the Generals were personally there themselves.

“I-ouch” something pricked my neck “what the?” I rubbed my neck and looked to Agent Grumpy a syringe on the flat of his hoof. “Oh crap,” I felt the world tilt and my body felt like a ton of bricks. The world went dark around me.

It should have been me It should have been me It should have been me It should have been me It should have been me It should have been me It should have been me It should have been me It should have been me

I felt sluggish and moving made my head pound. “Oh, what the fuck?” I raised my right hoof to rub my head. My hoof felt heavier than usual, I squinted through a lingering fuzz before my eyes focused on a PipBuck strapped to my foreleg. I groaned and rolled to the side to get to my hooves only to have the ground rapidly rush to meet me. “ugh,” I tried to find the strength to get on all fours again. Slowly I raised myself up to get a proper look around me.

I was in some sort of lab, there was a terminal right next to the criminally small bed I fell from. Other type of lab equipment littered the room. My uniform had been neatly folded for me and placed on a table on the other side of the bed. Great this whole damn mission was already a bust knowing the truth meant ‘we know you’re a freaking spy’ I guess. Well putting the uniform on now was pointless, instead I checked the terminal see if I could maybe use it to contact Lemon and Flag. Send a message the to the room service terminals, if we could use it to contact the hotel services it could be contacted by me from here. I hit the space key and the screen lit up with text.

[TERMINAL ACCESS DENIED]

[VALIANT KNIGHT EXIT THE OPERATING ROOM AND FOLLOW HELPER TO AGENT GRUMPY]

The terminal refused any commands I tried, whatever encryption the terminal was coded with would not be broken without the use of my hacking module. My ears flattened against my head, then perked up in realization, wait operating room? Sweet Celestia I looked to my PipBuck rotating my hoof it was secured in place, thankfully not attached surgically. But getting this thing off would require a special tool. I looked around to see a mirror above a sink on the far end of the room. I trotted to it quickly hopped up to the sink and looked myself over. As far as I could see there was no sign of being opened on my neck face or chest. I hopped back down and looked myself over and nothing, I sighed and turned towards the door. Looking around the room there was nothing I could feasibly use as a weapon. I was completely at their mercy. With a grunt I walked towards the door opposite the sink and pushed it open. Outside floated a Mister Handy robot, its optical sensors turned, and its limbs rotated excitedly.

“Ah you’re awake sir! Follow me please!” The robot floated off and I trotted after it.

“Where am I?” The hall I was walking through was made of steel as was the grated floor. I felt like I was inside a stable.

“The Ministry Mega hub sir!” The synthetic voice was far too chipper for my liking.

“Oh, okay then where are you taking me?” I tired looking for any signs on the doors we passed but they were only numbered.

“To Agent Grumpy Sir!” the robot rounded a corner and led us to another identical door.

“In here sir!” the robot moved to the door and it slid open to reveal an elevator. I followed him inside and he pressed a button labeled LV10. We rode the elevator in awkward silence on my part for six minutes. This thing was giving general vague answers it was clearly instructed to keep me on the dark. If only I had my power armor, Id break out of this place in no time! The elevator doors opened, and I squinted a little as light filtered through windows lining up the hall. I saw the shield and the desolated cities all meeting here at the castle. Looks like I got moved to the other side of the hub, the robot lead me through more halls, these ones looking like the one I first entered the hub in. the doors we passed were regular wooden doors with plaques of ponies’ names. Offices for the ponies working here, yet still this place was creepily empty. The robot floated me down more freaking halls for another minute until I was back where I started.

“Are you shitting me?” I glared at the robot.

“I’m sorry sir I’m not properly program to respond to foul language. For instructions on how to enable the profanity recognition module please contact your local Robronco industries.” The robot lifted a claw as if to wave me goodbye and promptly floated on its merry way. Before I could even blink the door opened to Agent grumpy.

“Come in,” he opened the door this time wide open with the council inside along with a cloaked figure. I fixed my best glare and stepped inside the door closing behind me with Agent Grumpy standing guard in front of it. Everything was exceptionally quite not even the shuffling of papers, just five ponies against one. I swallowed a lump in my throat and tried steadying my heart that started beating against my chest erratically.

“Very well, I’ll start by saying sorry for having to sedate you, but this was necessary for security purposes.” General Sherman nodded his condolences to me.

“I think we need to bring up the wastelander up to speed.” The hooded figures voice was raspy, a familiar raspy I had heard before.

“W-what?” My mouth slacked open, this was insane they called me wastelander and that voice seriously only meant one thing. “You, with the cloak you’re a ghoul.” I took a step back and the figured chuckled the sound almost grating to my ears rasping out the chortles.

“Yeah, I am so I guess you won’t mind my appearance.” The hooded figure raised his hooves covered with gloves and removed his hood.

Holy shit.

The ghoul’s coat had missing patches his skin was a sickly pale color mixing with the white of his coat. Unlike most ghouls he still had blue mane and it hung around his muzzle. His eyes seemed to glow with magical radiation a soft unnatural green. The horn on his head was pure bone peeled free of skin sticking from his head. “Y-you’re Shining Armor.” I quickly closed my mouth and shut my eyes cursing my own stupidity.

“How do you know my name?” He glared eyes flaring with a murderous green glow.

Before I could answer I felt something sweep me off my hooves. A metal hoof planted itself on my head. I saw a gold blade flash before my peripheral vison before I felt it pressed against my throat. I felt my hind legs quake and it took all my self-control to not squirm.

“Think he’s a Zebra spy?” the modified voice of Grumpy was dripping with venom.

“No, I saw him in a memory orb.” I croaked out but Grumpy put more weight on my neck and I coughed violently trying to gasp for breath. I couldn’t help it my hind legs kicked out trying to buck him off only to meet against relentless steel.

“Nice try, let me cut his throat open and be done with it.” Grumpy pressed the blade closer to my neck.

“Enough agent! Let him up.” Shining Armor rasped banging his hoof on the desk. Far too slowly to my liking he let me up removing his hoof from my neck. I instantly gulped precious oxygen between coughs and slowly raised myself up again. Today was just not my day it would seem, being drugged potentially operated on and almost got my throat cut. I put a hoof to my chest trying to calm my racing heart.

Damn it, calm down don’t show them you almost pissed yourself!

“Okay, I’ll believe you heard my name in a memory orb, what was the memory about?” Shining Armor leaned forward his eyes seemed to glow brighter as he glared down at me.

“You,” I coughed and spit on the floor and promptly ignored Chi-Nu’s disapproving frown. “You were talking to Cadence.”

“Princess Cadence to you!” Shining Armor’s shout made everyone cringe and fold their ears against their skull. It was an awful sound like sand paper against the ears.

“Yes, princess Cadence you were showing her a prototype for unicorn power armor.” I shrunk beneath the fierce ghoul’s glare but to my credit I mustered a faint defiant glare of my own.

“…” Shining Armor’s silence hung in the air like an axe above my neck. He hummed a guttural sound that sounded more like an angry Hellhound. “Yes, I remember now, I don’t know how you got that memory orb. But I believe you, so then now that this… misunderstanding has been settled its time we briefed you.” Shining Armor turned to General Sherman.

“Right, first thing first we need to inform you about you and your Rangers situation. You were called here to assist in the liberation of The Crystal Empire. If you succeed you will be allowed to leave with your ponies back to the Wasteland.” The general cleared his throat. “That said, nopony and I mean nopony within the empire is aware of what has happened outside this shield. You are to keep it that way, revealing the state of the world to the public would cause massive panic and allow the Zebras a perfect opportunity to strike at City 12 and 13. Worst they could very well take the castle and that must not happen under any circumstances.”

“Wait if you knew all of this, why didn’t you say anything when we first met and gave me that message on the screen?” I lifted my PipBuck up to them, “also why the hell did you put this on me?”

“To answer your first question” Chi-Nu shifted her gaze towards me, “We must make sure nopony that is not directly involved with this council knows the truth about Equestria. We must take every possible precaution even pretending ignorance ourselves with any outsider we bring in.” She pointed to my new ‘accessory’ with narrowed eyes. “That is our insurance and your ensured cooperation.”

“What a bribe? Do you think we don’t have these in the Wasteland?” I rolled my eyes and scoffed at them.

“No, that PipBuck has been modified to deliver a signal to a micro explosive device surgically imbedded into your cerebral cortex.” Chi-Nu smirked.

I swallowed a lump on my throat slowly putting my hoof back on the ground. “I-I see.” Yeah definitely not my day.

“If you disobey Council orders reveal information to anypony we will execute the kill command and you will be dead in five seconds.” Agent Grumpy grunted trotting around me the scorpion tail on the armor swishing about menacingly. “Hell piss me off and I might send the signal myself.” Grumpy let out a rather dark chuckle.

“Don’t worry Agent Grumpy understands the situation were in, he won’t do that without orders.” Shining Armor’s assurance didn’t really make me feel all that better.

“Okay then, you got me on your leash what now?” I sighed my ears flattening against my head.

General Sherman stood from his chair to walk up to me. “We are running out of time and the Immortal Legion is making big moves, moves we thought ourselves prepared for. We cannot confirm what the Zebras are planning but they have been fortifying key positions and making a direct path towards the castle. More importantly they made a big push to take City 6. A push they succeeded in prior to your arrival, unfortunately we were expecting you to get here in greater numbers to break the Zebra encirclement. Instead we got a platoon that already suffered significant casualties. But we can’t be picky your actions have given us a distinct edge.” The General placed his hoof on my shoulder. “Listen son, I know you have no reason to like us at this moment, and we haven’t exactly given you the best first impression. But the truth of the matter is, were losing this war. You may say this war has been over, but here in the empire. Our home and where most of us have built new lives, the war is not over. I know keeping this secret wont last forever, but we need to keep this under wraps until we can eliminate the Zebra threat. We need to re-establish full operational control of the Empire and that means retaking key Cities. We can fix everything son, we can stop the Zebra menace here and now and heal all of Equestria.”

I looked down, we got tricked, I should have known. “What about Ministry Mare Applejack?” Despite everything I heard there was a fool hope she wasn’t fabricated as well.

“Why about her?” Shining Armor leaned forward.

“She sent the message and said I’d meet her.” I took a step from General Sherman to look at Shining Armor.

“…” Shining Armor looked away for a moment, “In time if you prove yourself I will let you meet her face to face. For now, she is where she needs to be to help the war effort.”

“Alright, I don’t really have a choice, but can I ask for some discretion at least?” I sat on my haunches and raised my hooves in a shrug.

“Regarding what?” Panzer Aus who had remained as silent as damn ghost finally spoke up. I almost forgot he was there, his voice almost sounded like Shining Armor’s, but it was due to his old wounds.

“My team, can I at least inform my two team mates about my situation? It would help me make things go smoother.” I gestured to Agent Grumpy, “Also can you keep this guy away from me?”

“How do we know they won’t reveal our secret?” Chi-Nu gave me a haughty glare, I raised my PipBuck at them and shook it.

“They are Steel Rangers they won’t endanger one of their own.” Agent Grumpy of all ponies seemed to support me on this.

“Very well I’ll allow it on my authority and you won’t have to worry about Agent Grumpy he is needed here.” Shining Armor waved away my concerns of the hostile agent.

“Anything else?” Panzer Aus nodded towards me.

“No,” I shook my head, “so what is it you want me to do exactly?”

Shining Armor nodded and crossed his front hooves, “good, down to business then, as you know we were meant to contact you through an agent, but while you were in Spike’s Park things have escalated. We had planned to move out in three weeks’ time. But we just got information that The Immortal Legion has moved to secure the roads leading to City 6. They know were coming and a delay will mean fighting a well-entrenched enemy. So, we already have 12^th and 8^th regiments on orders to move on City 6. Further objectives will be given once on the field. However, one of the primary objectives is to retake Meadowbrook Pharmaceuticals headquarters.”

“Can’t say I heard of that company,” I scratched my chin with my hoof trying to remember my pre-war companies.

“They work primarily under the Ministry of Peace, the potions you use can be attributed to them.” Shining Armor stood from his seat and placed his hood back on.

“All right, I got it retake Meadowbrook.” I lifted my PipBuck and moved to the data tab to see the objective be added to my to do list.

“The PipBuck will update accordingly when you are in the field. Now then you will be briefed about specifics when you are deployed. Your team will be moved to the base you first arrived on. You will be moved by Vertibuck to join up with the 12^th regiment.” General Sherman finished the briefing by nodding to Agent Grumpy. The armor-clad Pegasus opened the doors and signaled for me to follow.

“Remember Sergeant Valiant Knight, the fate of the empire is now in your hooves, do not disappoint.” Shining Armor’s eyes emitted a soft green glow beneath his cloak. The doors were wrapped in an equally dull green magical sheath before closing behind us. Silently I was taken back outside where a wagon awaited me. I was ushered inside just as quickly, and I was driven back to the hotel in silence. Which was fine by me, I had a lot to think about. The ride seemed shorter than before and I was dropped off at the Cadence-Tops. I made my way to the suite practically ignoring anypony in my way. When I entered the suite, I found Flag and Lemon jump up from the couch to see me.

“Kid! Shit you had me scared for a second I…” Flag snapped his mouth shut before shaking his head, “well doesn’t matter you’re here.”

“What happened? What were they talking about when agent Grumpy said he knew the truth?” Lemon gasped but before I could answer she grabbed my hoof and brought it up to her. “Wait where did you get this PipBuck?”

“Calm down Lemon, let him talk.” Flag chastised her with a roll of his eyes.

“Right, sorry go on.” Lemon let my Hoof go and I kind of missed her touch already.

Damn it not the time for that.

I shook my head and moved to the couch, “well to make a long story short, we got tricked into coming to the empire and you’re not gonna believe this, but Shining Armor is still alive!” I sat down and threw my hooves up in exasperation.

“What?” Lemon and Flag exclaimed sitting on their haunches before me.

“Yeah this…this is complicated, Shining Armor is a freaking Ghoul, and the council knows Equestria is gone and at least they know in general about the Wasteland.” I scratched the neck of my head and averted my gaze from them. “Also, this kind of means were stuck fighting their war or they send a signal to this PipBuck and blow my head off with an explosive embedded in my neck.” I waved my PipBuck at them.

“We need to contact the Star Paladin” Lemon held her head between her hooves her expression a mixture of horror and confusion. I didn’t blame her, I just unloaded a lot on them.

“No!” I jumped up and held her by the shoulders. “You do that they kill me! This stays between us and I’m pretty sure they’re spying on us right now. So, we need to play along.” I shifted my eyes to the table and made my way there. I took a seat and moved my hoof across the table spelling out letters.

I need to block the signal

“Look I know this isn’t ideal, but we can help these ponies, the ponies who just want this war over and done with.” I tapped the table a bit before making more letters.

We will contact my father later

“Alright kid,” Flag nodded “What now then?” Flag leaned his muzzle on his hoof.

“Were being deployed tomorrow, Zebras are on the move on City 6 and the Council wants it back in their hooves. We are also tasked with securing Meadowbrook Pharmaceuticals.” I looked both of my comrades over.

“Wait, I heard of that company used to make the potions for the Ministry of Peace.” Flag narrowed his eyes thumping the table with his hoof. “Why do they need one of their facilities back?”

“I didn’t ask I figured the same reason they wanted Ironshod supplies and asset denial.” I shrugged medical supplies were at stake and that was good enough for me.

“Still why would the council specifically call for it?” Flag leaned forward against the table.

“I guess you’re right, but I don’t think I’ll be seeing them again anytime soon. Anyway, were deploying tomorrow.” I slacked against the chair and rubbed my eyes. “We should enjoy the free time we have and get ready for tomorrow.”

“Alright kid, just...” Flag sighed and stood back up, “Just make sure you keep in mind why the council is specifically interested in retaking it.” Flag went to his room, Lemon left the suite wanting to go out for a last look at the city. I just decided to order food and spend the day listening to the radio and the music that DJ-Pon3 would die to have right now.

The day passed us quickly, I maybe slept two hours but felt as fresh as rain next morning. I found some ponies in suits waiting for us in or suite when I first left my room. They doled out new jump suits and they removed my PipBuck just for me to change and promptly placed it on again. Dressed we left the hotel to a roaring crowd outside. It appeared that our deployment wasn’t a big secret, everypony cheered and threw colorful strips of paper into the air. I didn’t know what the hell those were, but they sure looked festive. Lemon shyly waved at everypony and Flag just smirked at every mare that caught his attention. I gave polite waves and double timed it to our wagon. The trip was brief and uneventful, with the prospect of combat again we were all preparing for the possibility of death. I wasn’t sure what my comrades were thinking but I focused on my growing hatred for the Zebras and avenging Strider.

The base was just as swarmed by ponies as the hotel, soldiers kept everypony at bay while our wagon wheeled inside the compound and we were ushered to the landing pad above. A vertibuck was already roaring and waiting, we boarded the metal contraption and were on our way to Ironshod.

“Looks like we get to give you a second trip heroes,” Flak Magnet the unlucky smirk at us.

“Well let’s hope we make it one piece then,” Flag cracked a grin with an exaggerated shrug.

“Har har joker, just for that I won’t warn yah if we hit chop.” Flak grunted as he pulled us over the city walls and through the skyscrapers.

“Don’t worry at this altitude only thing to worry about is the Zebras.” His co pilot chuckled, the bird lurched forward, and I once again laid flat against the ground trying to keep my stomach in order. We arrived at Ironshod where it seemed less populated than before, Colonel Starfire was gone as was most of the 12^th regiment.

“Where is everypony?” Lemon asked while we walked from the Vertibuck to the main hangar. The wounded, medical staff and little security remained at the site.

“Oh? You’re the Rangers!” From the hangar a pony in an officer’s uniform trotted to us and motioned for us to follow him. He ushered us inside the hangar to the main command center abuzz with activity as ponies trotted to and from stations. “Sorry about the mess, the 12^th and 8^th regiments launched the operation some six hours before you came.” He gave us a sheepish grin before he led us through the chaos of ponies.

“Six hours ago, that soon?” I was expecting we would be part of the main assault.

“Yeah, Captain Heavy Arms and Colonel Starfire wanted to catch the Zebras off guard and attacked during the twilight hours.” The officer parted to show us our power armors while he took off in another direction wordlessly. Beside our armors a familiar pony sat on his haunches. He had a light brown coat and white over his muzzle he wore equestrian green armor and a dirty blonde mane stuck out from beneath his helmet I’d know that stallion anywhere.

“Trapper?” I couldn’t help the smile, I moved and shook hooves with him while he gave me a sheepish grin.

“That’s me, Colonel Starfire reassigned me as your radio pony said I would fit better with you being as you saved my ass twice now.” Trapper then threw a hoof behind him. “Also, we got her,” I looked around his shoulder to notice another pony, or flanks of a pony wiggling about as they dug through a crate halfway inside it.

“Aha!” the pony hopped out with bandages and potions floating above her wrapped in a pink magical sheath. The pony had a light grey almost white coat with a rich light brown mane and tail. When she turned I noticed her rose colored eyes with some lines on her muzzle showing her age. I put her around Flags age really.

“Oh, didn’t hear you come in Sergeant, names Rose of Sharon, a Corporal and your medic.” She gave a half-hearted salute, and I gazed at Flag who gave her an approving smile. Birds of a feather I supposed, at least when it comes to protocol.

“Was just scrounging out some supplies, The Supply core said they were ‘tight on medical supplies’ but I got a nose for finding things where nopony would expect it.” She smirked and scuffed her chest with her hoof.

I smiled and shook her hoof, that was a trait ponies would kill for in the wasteland. “Welcome aboard, but I didn’t expect I’d have non-ranger company. No offense but were pretty much walking tanks in our armor. So, when we engage an enemy cover isn’t a priority.” The two ponies looked to one another, Trapper looked nervous already, but Rose just shrugged.

“I just go where they tell me, but don’t worry I’m armed as is trapper. We’ll stay on your flanks and keep out of trouble.” Rose raised a hoof and waved my concerns away. With introductions out of the way I went to my power armor shined and ready for combat. I turned and bucked the belly letting it rear up. Before I got into it however I watched Lemon look on horrified at her armor. I hadn’t paid attention to it before, but her helmet had been modified with a place for her horn. Instead of metal plates a sharpened horn gleamed dangerously in the hangar light.

“Oh, what the heck did they do that for?” Lemon dropped on her haunches and let out a soft moan.

I trotted up to her and placed a hoof on her shoulder. “Hey, no matter what happens, you’re a Ranger in my eyes Lemon.” I put on my best smile for her.

“Me too kid, I’ve seen you under fire and I’ll make sure Heavy Arms remembers he’s seen you too.” Flag clad in armor opened his helm and gave Lemon a wink.

“Oh…guys thank you thank you so much.” Lemon hopped up and gave me crushing hug. Flag just grinned and wagged his eyebrows at me. I rolled my eyes and patted Lemons back returning the embrace.

“Err, not to interrupt but we need to get going soon.” Trapper coughed into his hoof.

“Right, sorry!” Lemon disentangled herself from me and went to her armor. I returned to mine and did the same. The armor embraced me each plate locking into place turning me into the Zebras worst nightmare.

[M.W.T COMMAND CONNECTION INITIALIZED]

[E.F.S SYSTEMS: ONLINE]

[ATTENTION STABLE-TECH PIPBUCK S.A.T.S SYSTEM DETECTED]

[WOULD YOU LIKE TO SYNC UP SYSTEMS FOR HIGHER PERFORMANCE TARGETING?]

[Y/N]

[Y]

[ACKWNOLEDGED S.A.T.S SYSTEM OPERATING AT MAXIMUM CAPACITY]

[WEAPON SYSTEMS: OPERATIONAL]

[WARNNG LIVE MUNITIONS LOADED EXERCISE CAUTION AROUND SQUAD]

[SELF-REPAIR: ONLINE]

[MEDICAL UNIT: ONLINE]

[SYSTEM CHECK COMPLETE UNIT INTEGRITY AT 100%]

I took a deep lung expanding breath within my armor, feeling the plates shift as I craned my neck up. A shiver ran down my spine and my lips parted into something akin to a prideful grin. I most definitely felt at home inside my armor. I hoped to never be without it in this damn place again. With a few experimental steps to feel how the PipBuck in my arm faired with the armor, I was glad to feel no discomfort. I was ready for war and to take the fight to the Zebra bastards. With added accuracy I might add, maybe the bomb trigger on my hoof wasn’t all that bad.

“Alright then, lets move out.” I looked to my comrades, no friends, Lemon and Flag were my friends. Maybe just maybe I could come to feel the same about Rose and Trapper, but without a doubt I had a friend in Flag and Lemon.

“Hoorah!” Rose and Trapper gave the Equestrian battle cry.

“Sempre Invicta!” Lemon and Flag shouted our words of triumph amplified by the helmets systems. The officer form earlier returned looking more frazzled than I thought possible.

“I was able to secure you transport with a supply drop, they’re waiting outside. Seeing as you got the added fire power they want two of at the front one at the back.” The officer threw his hoof to the other end of the hangar. I led our team out looking at four vehicles parked and waiting by the hangar outisde. The lead wagon was an armored personnel carrier. It was shaped almost like a desert armadillo an animal I read about when I was a colt. The smooth sides making it great for deflecting armor piercing rounds. Atop the armored transport was a rotating cannon, my display lit up without my command registering the cannon.

[M3 75MM ANTI-TANK CANNON]

Okay, that was new, maybe it had to do with the PipBuck and its organizer spell. That was rather useful I wonder if it would interface with my mapping system whenever I find myself in an unknown location. My ears twitch when I heard the loud clanking of armor. I looked to my side to see Flag was the one making that noise hitting my side.

“Hey kid, I asked how you want us to split?” Flag shook his head muttering something under his breath I didn’t catch.

“Oh right, me uhm okay.” I turned around looking at my team this was my first real ever decision in the field. Flag was the more experienced soldier among us, so I felt much more comfortable with him bringing up the rear. “Okay Flag you take the rear, Lemon and I will take the front. Rose go with Flag and Trapper stay with Lemon and me.” I felt a surge of pride when my team nodded and moved to mount up.

“Okay ready then Sergeant?” Lemon elbowed my sides as she passed me.

“Oh, you bet private,” I chuckled and followed her to the lead vehicle we mounted up and after a few minutes the convoy roared to life. The inside of the armored wagon was cramp for two of us, so Lemon moved to stand by the gunner manning the cannon. Trapper squeezed himself in between two ponies near the middle and I sat on my haunches by the back door. Inside were several soldiers all looked grim and most looked like they had seen combat recently. The entire atmosphere was suffocating to say the least.

“Were you guys part of the assault?” I looked the first pony to the right of me.

“Yeah, it got hairy your ranger guys just kind of blasted through their lines, but the Zebras weren’t budging. The rangers had to double back to dislodge the defenders, we…we lost a lot of ponies doing that.” The pony swallowed a lump in his throat and his lips quivered. “Shit I thought with you guys with us it be different, ya’know? Scare the Zebras but the bastards didn’t let up! They just dug in deeper and even the fucking wounded just…just.” The pony gasped for breath and wiped his watering eyes. “The wounded used grenades to blow themselves up when we entered their lines. We lost a fourth of the 8^th regiment and we weren’t even in the fucking city yet.” The pony lowered his head his helmet obscuring his eyes from me. His frame gave away everything though, he wept silently, and the rest just stared blankly ahead their minds somewhere far, far away.

I shut off the speakers in my suit and closed my eyes, my head making up images of what I would find when I got there. Death and despair and a blood bath of bodies left unrecognizable by explosives. I bit my lip and resisted the urge to shake my head in front of everypony. I had to project strength give these ponies hope again I had to pull a miracle here.

“Valiant,” Lemon’s voice broke me from my stupor. I glanced up to her sitting at the other end of the transport.

“You’re not alone okay? Were here, I’m here we can do this together.” Lemons voice was like soft velvet. The tenderness behind each word washed over me and my mind became blank, serene like breaking the surface of a turbulent ocean to find the surface unmolested by the maelstrom beneath.

“Thanks.” I muttered engaging just the line between us.

“Hey, want to hear a song?” her voice hitched, and I could almost picture her bouncing on her hooves with eagerness.

“yeah why not, we got time to kill.” I cracked a grin she would not see.

“hmm…hmm hmmhmm…hmmmm hmmm hmmmhmmhmm…”

“Birds in the sky”

“Carry these words for me”

“Life tasted sweet”

“It let me live”

“It let me breathe”

Lemon’s voice filled my every sense, my mouth parted but no noise dared escape it.

“Love hurts so bad”

“But Still”

“Saved my soul”

“Flowers of a brighter past”

“They bloom so free”

“Beneath the sun”

I placed my hoof over my heart and resisted running a medical check to see if my heart was still there. I felt so light I could not feel my heart thumping in my chest. A feathery tickle is the only reminder I am alive and listening to Lemon and not suffering from delusions.

“Memories”

“I want to give them to you”

“So you can see what we left there”

“When all hope bleeds out what remains is doubt”

“Should have left it all for you for tomorrow”

“As your time draws near”

“Will you live in fear”

“Could have left it all for you but we let go”

Lemon hummed a sweet dulcet tone that faded gently into unspoiled silence. I opened my helmet I had to let her see, no matter whatever other pony here thought. My eyes were teared up and I could not remember a time when I felt such a true smile from the depths of my heart. Lemon opened her helmet and her eyes so gentle and kind returned the affection. The feeling was indescribable to me try as I might I could not put into words the feelings that washed over me while I looked into this mares’ eyes. I nodded and closed my helmet, I shut off all outside communication and let the blissful silence engulf me while the transport trudged along the road. The world became distant and I could only hear Lemons sweet voice humming the opening to her song.

“hmm…hmm hmmhmm…hmmmm hmmm hmmmhmmhmm…”

Level Up: 5

Perks: Steady hooves: Whenever you need to line up a shot weather it be through cross airs or pissing through a donut from thirty paces away. You have a steady aim as your mind fades to blank and you hum a familiar song.

Author's Notes:

Hello first things first to those who follow this story, I apologize for the hiatus. But life happened and many changes came into my life I had to deal with. But I found the motivation and the joy to start writing again and come back to the world that first made me a fan of MLP. The world that I could not deny intrigued me to no end, so heres is Chapter 6 for everypony to enjoy. I am actually very excited as I found some editors for my earlier chapters and those are seeing a revise as we speak. For now please enjoy this chapter I poured two whole weeks into. I edited myself over and over again. I hope I have improved as I came at it repeatedly with a fresh prespective each time and re-wrote everything that sounded awkward to me. Lots of plot details here as well.

For those who might wonder, the song used is Quiet’s Theme Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain Original Soundtrack. I’ts a beautiful song it’s meaning something I will leave up to you. However the meaning I chose to take from it will relay to the story later on ;). We are drawing a close to the first arc of the stroy which is the introduction! Or the arc I have come to affectionately call, you in the crystal empire bitches! But this authors note has gone long enough. Again please enjoy this chapter from the bottom of my heart and thank you for reading please leave a comment telling me your thoughts!