December 24, in the mountain range outside of Canterlot

Temperature: -40 degrees fahrenheit

Time: 12:01 A.M.

“Pull the trigger damn it!” Six yelled over the radio, straining to fight back against the royal guard. Three sweated profusely, shaking with nervousness. His hoof on the trigger, his eye looking down the scope, the crosshair on Luna’s head, Three inhaled.

And pulled the trigger.

______________________________________________________________________

Operation “Revival”: Recruitments

==Lieutenant Colonel Shadow “Dead Eye” Rider > Professional sharpshooter. Can spot movement exceptionally well from all distances. Taken down numerous high value targets with ease in past missions. Can handle extreme conditions exceptionally well. Recruited as primary sharpshooter for the operation. (TYPE) Earth Pony (SEX) Male

Given # for operation: Three

Profile:

-Name: Shadow Rider > Name changed before enrollment in Equestrian Spec Ops. Birth name unknown.

>Born and raised in Manehattan.

>Father: Deceased three months after “Dead Eye”’s birth. Cause unknown.

>Mother: Alive, but in hospital for terminal conditions. Not expected to last unless mission is completed.

Spec Ops Training:

-Mentor: Specter, former title holder of “Dead Eye” > Deceased due to the relentless conditions of the winter. Current “Dead Eye” carries out his missions. All major operations successful. One minor operation failure.

-Targets Assassinated and Major Operations completed:

> Operation “Sand Man” > Successful public assassination of Ibex Empire leader.

X Weapon of choice: (Fire arm) Remington 700 Sniper Rifle, Bolt action

> Operation “Last Breath” > Successful assassination of Germaney General of Army.

X Weapon of choice: (Improvisation/ Other) Water inhalation with no help [drown]

> Operation “Pushing Daisies”: > Successful assassination of Cervidas Admiral of Navy.

X Weapon of choice: (Blade) Standard Spec Ops issued knife, 10.3” double sided blade

> Operation “Revival” > To Be Announced

X Weapon of choice: To Be Announced

==Major NAME REMOVED > Served Equestrian Military for two years before enrollment in Equestrian Spec Ops. Also worked at the major Manehattan hospital, excellent in medical areas. Unskilled in fire arms area, may need assistance. Medical unit dispatched for operation. (TYPE) Pegasus (SEX) Female

Given # for operation: Four

Profile: CONFIDENTIAL

Spec Ops Training: CONFIDENTIAL

==Colonel NAME REMOVED > Mentally unstable, also suffers panic attacks under pressure. However, able to control these attacks exceptionally well. May need medical attention if attacks get out of hoof. Appears normal while suppressing mental fluctuations. Weapon specialist. (TYPE) Earth Pony (SEX) Male

Given # for operation: Two

Profile: CONFIDENTIAL

Spec Ops Training: CONFIDENTIAL

==Captain NAME REMOVED > Very strong in mental concentration. Eye sight is exceptionally well, able to spot a rabbit at thirty miles distant with no ocular assistance. Secondary sharpshooter assigned to operation. (TYPE) Pegasus (SEX) Female

Given # for operation: Six

Profile: CONFIDENTIAL

Spec Ops Training: CONFIDENTIAL

==Brigadier General NAME REMOVED > Deals with pressure exceptionally well. Expert in examining explosives and other complicate obstructions. However, eye sight is restrained, objects at twenty feet in distance too blurry to identify without ocular assistance from either contacts or glasses. Prefers contacts, says they are less likely to lose. Carries around a pair of glasses in case something goes wrong with contacts. (TYPE) Earth Pony (SEX) Female

Given # for operation: Five

Profile: CONFIDENTIAL

Spec Ops Training: CONFIDENTIAL

==Lieutenant Colonel NAME REMOVED > Exceptionally stealthy and guile. Expert in interrogating and pain inducement without fatal injuries. Uses magic to mask movements and maneuver through an area silently. However, prefers a blade as primary weapon, says they are far more silent and stealthy. Team members agree with this opinion, though they are not sure that it is enough to deal with some more elaborate situations. (TYPE) Unicorn (SEX) Male

Given # for operation: One

Profile: CONFIDENTIAL

Spec Ops Training: CONFIDENTIAL

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Operation “Revival” > Current Objective

-Task: Successfully assassinate Princess Luna

>Details: Princess Luna is staying in the royal castle tonight. Her room is heavily guarded, preventing any type of private assassination. Take down of the target will have to be public. Assassination will take place tomorrow during the meeting. “Dead Eye”, # Three for operation, is assigned as Primary shooter with NAME REMOVED, # Six for operation, as secondary shooter. Four other ponies are being taken along with them if any obstructions in the mission occur. They are being dropped of at Ponyville and will have to continue on hoof from there.

>Status of operation: In progress, awaiting report from the team

______________________________________________________________________

December 23, just outside of Ponyville

Temperature: -36 degrees fahrenheit

Time: 11:27 P.M.

“How much longer until the town?” Three asked the stallion pulling the carriage along the snowy road.

“About a minute more. That’s it up there.” The stallion said through his face mask and heavy jacket, motioning his head in front of him. There was a town in the distance, barely able to see in the whiteout from the snow. The town the mission was assigned to was the royal city, Canterlot. The team was being taken to Ponyville, in which they would have to walk to Canterlot from there.

The winter take over had been raging on for a year now, the ponies of Ponyville creating underground gardens to grow their food. Other towns and cities in Equestria had also begun to grow food underground, trying to maintain enough for everypony to have. Few cities are surviving and thriving in the harsh conditions of the winter.

Princess Luna had been called to the royal palace for a meeting with Princess Celestia and six other ponies. The six ponies were known as the ones who had rid Princess Luna of her evil intentions a year earlier. The winter take over had been growing in strength ever since then, each day getting progressively worse than the last.

The terrain outside of the town was completely covered in snow and ice, gigantic heaps of snow accumulating over the course of the out-of-control winter. The night sky was blocked out by clouds above, almost no light getting through what so ever. The snow descending from the sky was not helping either, every direction a white haze. The light from Ponyville in the distance was just enough for it to be spotted from a distance. The town was surrounded in an orange glow, flicking as the torches lit through Ponyville flowed vividly in the wind. The road the carriage was being pulled along was bumpy and icy, preventing a comfy and cozy ride they were promised by the Spec Ops administration. The lit torches in and on top of the carriage flickered as they continued down the road to Ponyville.

“What is the status of the arrival in Ponyville?” Spec Ops Administration asked through Three’s headset.

“We're are not too far from the town. Everypony in the team seems to be alright.” Three said, putting a hoof up to his ear.

“Good. Debriefing will start as soon as you’re all listening.” Administration said. Three put his hoof up and motioned for the team to turn on their headsets.

“As you all know, Three and Six are the assigned shooters for the operation. Failure in the mission will not be acceptable. If both Three and Six miss, go to Plan B. If all fails and Plan B is not successful in completing the mission, retreat from the area immediately and do not to get captured. Come back to headquarters if mission fails, your failure in the mission will be dealt with once you get here. You will have to travel on hoof from Ponyville to Canterlot, so dress warm and don’t get frost bite, the operation may require all of you to attend it. Good luck.” Administration said through the team’s headsets. The team turned off their headsets.

“You heard him, ponies. Lets go in, take out the target, and get out. There will be no screw ups, got that?” Three said. The team nodded.

“Good.” Three said. He looked over at Two. He was staring out the window intently, lightly chewing on the tip of his hoof.

“Two, you alright?” Three asked. Two realized what he was doing and stopped chewing on his hoof, wiping the saliva off.

“Yeah, sorry, I’m fine. Let it slip a little.” Two said, regaining composure.

“Just make sure that it doesn’t slip too much during the mission.” Three said. He turned his head to look out the window. They were nearing Ponyville, the fire of the torches dimly lighting the area as they came closer. The stallion pulling the station wagon stopped as they came up to the train station.

“This is it, Ponyville.” The stallion said, taking off the harness around his body. The team gathered their stuff and hopped out of the carriage, landing in the snow on the ground. The town roads were covered with snow, hoof prints going in different directions around the town. The blizzard had died down slightly, the wind becoming less violent, providing a decently clear view of the houses and shops across the street from them.

“Where is the hotel we booked reservations at?” Three asked Five.

“Just across the street, right there.” She said, pointing a hoof straight ahead of them. The hotel looked like a stable structure, a slightly duller color than the rest of the buildings around it.

“Let’s get going then, I’m freezing over here.” Four said, her teeth jittering. Three dropped the carriage fee in the stallion’s hoof and the team started walking towards the hotel. The snow around the hotel had been cleared, providing a nice entryway for the door. The awning above the doorway had accumulated a large amount of snow, the fabric sagging down a little. Three pushed the door open and walked inside. The team walked up to the desk and One rang the bell, making a cheery ‘ching’ noise.

“Just a second!” A gentle voice said from the back room behind the desk. A bright orange earth pony came out from the door a moment later, a festive red and white hat on her head.

“May I help you?” She asked.

“We’re here for our rooms, we made reservations last week. My name is Shadow Rider.” Three said. The reception pony nodded and opened a book, names neatly ordered in a chart.

“Shadow... Rider... here you are! Rooms one, two, and three. Here are your keys and enjoy your stay!” The pony said, handing three keys to Three. He nodded and One grabbed the keys, levitating them in the air with magic. They walked to the left and down a flight of stairs, leading to a hallway lined with festive lights along the walls.

“Administration grouped us into rooms in pairs. They made the decision who was partnering with who, so don’t get mad at me. Two, you’re with One.” Three said, looking at a note that he kept in his jacket pocket.

“Aw come on, I have to be with the looney bin?” One said, a hint of complaining in his voice. Two looked at One crossly.

“Can it, One, you get what you get. Four, you’re with Five, and you’re with me, Six. Get some shut eye, ponies. We have a long walk ahead of us tomorrow.” Three said. The team nodded and One gave them their keys. The team split up and walked to their separate rooms. Three unlocked the door to the room and walked inside, Six following shortly after. Three took off his jacket and set it down on the chair resting against the wall.

“How do you think the mission is going to turn out?” Six asked, setting her jacket down on another chair next to the radiator.

“I think it’ll be fine. We go to the designated shooting zone, set up, wait for the Princesses and the ponies to get there, and execute the target. It isn’t that elaborate.” Three said, sitting down on the bed. Six walked up to the side of the bed and put a hoof on Three’s shoulder.

“You know... we could always... let off some steam before the mission...” Six said, a hint of seductiveness in her voice.

“I thought we were through, Six.” Three said, brushing her hoof off of his shoulder.

“Oh come on, just because we broke up doesn’t mean we can’t... ‘fool around’? Just like old times...” Six said, starting to climb on top of Three. Three lightly pushed her off and got up.

“Get some sleep, Six. You don’t want to be getting tired when the mission starts.” Three said, laying a blanket on the floor.

“Can’t we just-”

“Goodnight, Six.” Three pulled a blanket over him and put his head down on the pillow. Six folded her fore legs in a pouting manner and laid down on the bed. Six sighed and blew out the candle, pulling the blanket over her.

The mission would start bright and early the next day.

______________________________________________________________________

December 24, hotel inside Ponyville

Temperature: -10 degrees fahrenheit

Time: 7:29 A.M.

Three opened his eyes. The sunlight coming through the window near the top of the wall lit up the hotel room. Three got up and looked over at Six. She was still asleep, snoring lightly with the blanket partially over her mouth. Three sighed and looked at the clock. Seven thirty A.M.

“We should probably get going in half an hour or so, it’s quite a walk from here.” Three thought to himself. Three put on his jacket and walked up to the side of the bed.

“Six, start getting ready, we’re leaving once everyone is ready.” Three said, shaking Six lightly. Six opened her eyes and sat up in the bed.

“What? What is it?” Six asked, rubbing her eyes.

“Get ready to leave for the mission. It’s going to take quite a while to walk from here.” Three said, walking away from the bed.

“Where are you going?” Six asked, turning to look at Three.

“I’m going to wake up the others. Come on, get up and get ready.” Three said as he shut the door. Six sighed and got off the bed.

“He acts like we never had anything between us...” Six said, gathering her things and putting on her jacket.

Three walked up to the room Two and One were sleeping in. He tapped on the door with his hoof.

“Get up you two, we’re heading out in a bit.” Three said. A slight mumbling came from the room and the sound of blankets being moved around.

“Let’s go. We don’t want to be late for our own mission.” Three said, tapping on the door again, harder than last time.

“Alright, alright, calm down. We’re getting up.” One said from inside the room. Three walked away from the door and up to the room Five and Four were staying in.

“Five, Four, we’re heading out-” Three said, lifting his hoof up to knock on the door. The door opened, Five standing in the doorway and Four standing on a chair, looking out the window.

“Oh, good, you’re both up. Get your stuff together and head to the lobby. One, Two, Six, and myself will be out there in a bit.” Three said. Five nodded and shut the door as Three walked back to his room. Six was putting her headset on as Three walked in the room.

“Shadow...” Six said as Three put his headset on.

“We’re on a mission, Six, try your best to stick to the numbers.” Three said.

“...Three. Do you ever think about... you know, getting back together?” Six said, crossing her two front hooves. Three adjusted his headset and sighed.

“We can discuss this when the mission is over, Six. Come on.” Three said, starting to walk towards the door.

“Shadow, wait.” Six said, running up behind him and grabbing his hoof. Three stopped and turned to face Six.

“I want to talk about it now. I can’t get you out my head, Shadow. I miss you.” Six said, staring into Three’s eyes. Three only looked at her with a blank stare. Three took his hoof out of Six’s and started walking out the door. Six walked out into the hallway as Three walked up the stairs to the lobby. Six sighed and walked after him as One and Two came out of their room, fully geared.

Three walked up to Five and Four, who were waiting by the doors of the lobby. The reception pony was sitting behind the desk, reading a large book. Three walked up to the desk and set the key down. One, Two, and Six came up the stairs, One putting the key down on the desk. They walked over to Five and Four.

“It’s going to take almost the whole day to get up there in time. The meeting is starting at midnight, we need to get there before then so we can set up and be ready to take the shot. In case something goes wrong and one of us are lost in a white out during the walk, use your headset to inform us that you have been left behind. We’ll stop, turn off our headsets, and yell as loud as we can. If you can hear us, go in the direction of our yells. May everypony make it out safe, and the mission be completed. Let’s head out.” Three said to the others. The team nodded and they walked outside into the winter landscape.

The blizzard from last night had calmed down, the air clear with only a light snowfall. Ponies in the town were shoveling snow out in the streets, pegasi flying over head in an attempt to clear the skies. The torches on the street were put out, the sun light coming through tiny holes in the clouds providing enough light for the town. Night turned on his headset.

“Administration, this is Three. We are beginning the walk to Canterlot. What is the status of Princess Luna?” Three asked, putting a hoof up to the ear piece.

“She is still sleeping. She will be being guarded the whole day, so don’t get any ideas about doing the assassination early. The meeting starts at midnight, don’t be late for it or you’ll miss the shot.” Administration said.

“Understood, Three out.” Three said, switching off the feed from Administration. Three ran to catch up with the others as they walked along the roads for the path to Canterlot.

______________________________________________________________________

December 24, designated sniping spot for operation

Temperature: -34 degrees fahrenheit

Time: 11:34 P.M.

“Six, set up your sniper. Be ready to shoot if I miss.” Three said, walking up to the sniping area. Six had gone ahead of the rest of the team, making sure that the meeting didn’t go under any changes in the time it was supposed to be at. The cave was dry and untouched by the snow, icicles forming on the top edge of the cave. The hole in the cave over looking the palace provided the perfect sniping position. The main palace hall was in the distance, the door to The Elements of Harmony being guarded by several royal guards as Princess Celestia stared out the window at the snowy landscape outside.

“Are Five and Four setting up Plan B?” Six asked, unfolding the bipod on her sniper and setting it on the ground.

“Yes, they’re below the hall right now setting up the explosives.” Three said, taking his sniper off of him and setting it on the ground.

“What happened to One and Two?” Six asked, aiming down the sniper scope.

“They were lost in the blizzard. They couldn’t make it.” Three said, unfolding the bipod on his sniper and setting it against a ledge on the cave.

“What do you mean they couldn’t make it? You tried to help them, didn’t you?” Six asked. She got up from the ground and turned to face Three.

“There was nothing we could do, they were already a mile away from us when we realized they were gone.” Three said, putting a clip into his sniper.

“Did you even bother to search for them!?” Six yelled.

“They’re gone. Let’s just leave it at that.” Three said, looking through the scope.

“You act like the mission is more important than the lives that are assigned to it!” Six yelled. Three took his eye off the scope and turned to Six.

“I decide between the difference between life and death with one single action that I take. Does it look like I value life? Does it look like I could give a damn about life and death!?” Three yelled as he got up.

“What about the mission you failed!? The one mission you couldn’t accomplish, what about that!? What did you feel when you decided to let the target live!?”

“She was a foal, a new born foal that administration expected me to kill in order to start a war! A foal, administration wanted me to kill a foal, a life that had experienced nothing other than its parent's love! Would you expect me to take that away!?” Three yelled, stomping a hoof on the ground, the ground cracking and small rocks falling from the roof of the cave. Six stood speechless. Three steadied his breathing and walked back over to his sniper.

“Administration... wanted you to-” Six started to say.

“They gave me the exact order to eliminate the life of the leader of Germaney’s new born daughter as a declaration of war.”

“Why didn’t you do it?”

“Even I have limitations on what is right and what is wrong. Killing a foal just wasn’t right in my book.” Three said. Six sat down beside her sniper.

“Let’s just get back to the mission.” Three said.

“Three, come in Three!” Five said through Three’s headset.

“What is it, Five? What’s wrong?” Three asked.

“The royal guards have found us! They took Four and they’ve been interrogating her. They know where you are and what you are about to do! They haven’t informed Princess Luna yet, she’s just outside of the palace hall! Take the shot, Thre-” The sound of a blunt object hitting against something came from Five’s headset and everything went silent.

“Five? Five!? Damn it.” Three said.

“What is it? What happened to Five and Four?” Six asked.

“They’ve been taken by the royal guards. We have exactly one minute until we are able to take the shot, get at your sniper and be ready to shoot if I miss.” Three said, laying down and aiming down the sniper scope.

“What about Five and Four!? We have to help them!”

“There’s no helping them if we want to complete the mission! Get at your sniper and get ready!”

“No. I’m going to go help them, whether you like it or not.” Six said, starting to walk to the exit of the cave.

“Six, get back here!” Three yelled. Six continued to walk towards the exit. The sound of flapping wings came from outside the cave as a royal guard ascended from below, heading for Six.

“Six, NO!” Three yelled. The royal guard landed in front of Six and grabbed her by the wings.

“Three, Luna is walking through the main hall, don’t worry about me, take the shot!” Six yelled, pushing the royal guard away from her. Three hesitantly went back to his sniper and aimed down the scope. Luna was beginning to enter the main hall. Three steadied his fore legs and put the crosshair on Luna’s head.

“Go, pull the trigger!” Six yelled, dodging a swipe from the royal guard’s hoof. Something held Three back. Three thought about what he was about to do. If he pulled the trigger, he would be killing one of the two remaining alicorns in the world and Princess Celestia’s dearest sister. But if he didn’t pull the trigger, the winter take over would rage on for centuries, ponies everywhere freezing to death in the harsh conditions of the winter’s wrath.

“Pull the trigger damn it!” Six yelled over the radio, straining to fight back against the royal guard. Three sweated profusely, shaking with nervousness. His hoof on the trigger, his eye looking down the scope, the crosshair on Luna’s head, Three inhaled.

And pulled the trigger.

The sound of explosives being prepared came from the cave. There was a small red dot glowing on top of Three's sniper, just above the trigger. Three looked up from the scope and looked around the cave. Explosives that had been disguised as rocks in the cave were armed and ready to explode. Three’s mouth curved into a smirk as the explosives set of.

______________________________________________________________________

Operation “Revival” AKA “Dead Stop”: Recruitments

==Major NAME REMOVED

Given #: Four

-Status: Accused of treason, being executed tomorrow at dawn

==Colonel NAME REMOVED

Given #: Two

-Status: Deceased, found frozen in the middle of the mountains

==Captain NAME REMOVED

Given #: Six

-Status: Deceased, killed in explosion from pre-placed explosives in the cave

==Brigadier General NAME REMOVED

Given #: Five

-Status: Deceased, blow taken to the head by royal guard was fatal

==Lieutenant Colonel NAME REMOVED

Give #: One

-Status: Found alive in cave three miles off course. Executed when he was found

==Lieutenant Colonel Shadow “Dead Eye” Rider

Given #: Three

-Status: Body not found, but believed to be killed in blast from pre-placed explosives

Operation “Revival” AKA “Dead Stop” > Current Objective

-Task: Successfully lead Shadow “Dead Eye” Rider to his own death

>Details: Explosives will be set in the designated sniping area before hoof as well as a remote detonator being placed in Three’s sniper. Other members of the team do not know of the actual purpose of the operation. If their lives are lost, then let it be so. Execution of Shadow “Dead Eye” Rider will take place at midnight on December 24. Units in Cloudsdale will release the prisoners and continue the normal season cycles.

Status of operation: Successful

______________________________________________________________________

December 24, Administration office in Equestrian Spec Ops headquarters

Temperature: -39 degrees

Time: 5:12 A.M.

“You are sure that the operation was a success?” Administration asked through the headset.

“We searched the area for Shadow Rider, no sign of him anywhere. Even if he did survive the blast, he’s more than likely frozen like an icicle in the ice lands.” The search team said through Administration’s headset.

“Good. Return to base and release the units in Cloudsdale, tell them to come home. The winter is over.” Administration said.

The stallion in administration took his headset off and put it on the desk. He rubbed his face, tired from being up all night waiting for the operation to be completed. He looked over at a picture on the desk of Shadow Rider.

“No hard feelings, Shadow Rider. The “Dead Eye” name is just too deadly to be continued any longer.” The stallion said, raising a red marker up to the picture.

The sound of a gun clicking came from behind the stallion.

“No hard feelings. Just returning the favor.” Shadow Rider said.

And pulled the trigger. Next Chapter: An Unexpected Visit Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 28 Minutes