A green earth pony stallion moved down the halls of the Castle at the center of Canterlot, dusting and cleaning the various busts and vases that decorated the corridor. His off white mane was cut short like his tail, perfect for not getting in the way.

It was the perfect disguise. No one paid attention to servants it seemed. They were as invisible as the potted plants in the corner. So naturally, no one ever noticed when one was listening in.

'It is easier infiltrating this castle then the one back home.' Vert said to his companion in the link as he dusted another vase.

'Yeah, security here is rather lax…' Temin replied back as she walked the halls disguised as a unicorn scholar, face in a scroll while his ears were hearing everything.

'Yeah, I mean… I get this isn’t home and they apparently have had their peace for millennia, but… seriously? They march in formation well but actual instincts?'

'Yeah.'

A guard dashed along the halls past them, quickly heading for the throne room, his steps were heavy and his feelings laden with concern.

A few minutes later and he was dashing back, along with a group of no less than ten pegasi on their way outside, fully armed and carrying the weapons the aerial guard were trained to use, defensive short-swords and small shields.

Vert blinked at this and had his interest piqued. 'My queen, something is happening here in Canterlot.'

He felt the queen enter his mind and see through his senses as she watched, also replaying his memory.

'Interesting… see what you can find out.'

'Yes, my queen.'

With that order received, the Queen left him and he thought how to find out the information. He tossed out his own annoyance at not having been in the throne room to hear, but he’d figure it out as he subtly started to follow the guards, cleaning along the way.

The guards continued to go out into the main courtyard and double checked their gear, making sure they were equipped and each carrying a bag of chemicals, each one labelled with a simple picture of a fire with an x over it, making their purpose obvious.

"What’s going on?" Vert asked with just the right amount of concern in his voice, turning his head to the sky as he asked, "Are we under attack?"

Temin, his partner in this infiltration mission, began to move towards a command station to see what she could learn.

"A fire broke out near the Everfree Forest where the Patrol is. We need to stop it before it spreads to Ponyville and give them safe passage." The guard leader said, trying to wave them off politely.

"Ah okay." He answered, allowing himself to visibly relax as he tasted the slight shift in the guard’s emotions, it was very small but there and suggested deception was in place. He nodded and moved back towards the castle reaching out to another drone. 'Geli, is there a fire in the Everfree?'

'Not that I can see, but not long ago the Everfree Patrol’s messenger arrived in a fear induced panic and now the guards are mobilizing, armed.'

Vert mentally nodded 'Is the fire department mobilizing?'

There was a pause before a response came. 'No, no movement and no alarms to indicate action being taken.'

Vert connected to the queen bowing. "My queen it appears the group in the twisted forest has been attacked.'

He felt the Queen in his mind once more looking at all the information he had gathered.

'Hmm. I see… Thank you for informing me.' Chrysalis replied, patting the drone’s mental head and sent how pleased she was with his work, causing him to mentally smile at having done well.

The Queen departed, knowing her mate would be interested in this distress to an ally.

The guards had turned to each other and took off, flying at a pace that prioritized a speedy flight while doing what they could to be efficient about it. Vert thought quietly, knowing that a leisurely flight from Canterlot to the Twisted Forest was about forty-five minutes, but if a pegasus pushed themselves like the guard seemed to be doing, it could be as fast as twenty-five to thirty minutes. Ponyville would have been a faster response time.

A drone in Ponyville, currently disguised as a traveler felt the queen connect.

'Diminu. Follow the guards and confirm what they are doing.'

'Yes my queen.' Diminu bowed and began to move towards the forest at a leisurely pace till they were outside of town and could more easily move at a faster pace.

Smoke could be seen starting to float on the edge of the forest, looking much like one might expect a campfire to start out. It only took a few more minutes before the fire smoke turned a very deep black, foul smells starting to waft to the area that caused various winged creatures to fly away and cause a loud racket in doing so.

Diminu noted this change, knowing it was not good for whatever was on fire. The drone hurried its step, changing to a Timber Wolf for speed and maneuverability once within the Twisted Forest. Normally, the changelings avoided the forest because of its twisted and unnatural status, but the edge was more or less ‘safe’ and the queen needed Diminu near enough to the arrival of the guards the messenger requested for the best chance at information. It was worth the risk, so the drone moved around it.

There were signs of regular movement among other wolves near the edge, the forest itself being cleaner in that part that faced Ponyville. The messenger for the guild had gotten up and flown ahead of the rest, their outline visible in the half-lit night sky as he seemed to rush at his greatest speed he could, unaware of the wolf practically following him in a sprint to the destination.

A howl from a timber wolf called out from the area, a howl of mourning by sound and the bitter-sour taste. The fire seemed to be roaring, clacking audible from a quarter a mile away.

The patrol the messenger had summoned for was galloping toward the scene as well, quick to want to be on the scene, even as the pegasus was landing in the grounds. It was now only a few hundred yards ahead and the messenger yelled something that couldn't quite be heard at the distance.

The changeling timber wolf shifted into a rat mid run as he neared the building, running towards the fire as the all the other animals ran away.

The guard patrol that came to help stopped at the entrance briefly, the entrance still having some of the fire burning before they dashed through in spite of the fire to look for survivors as they had always trained.

The guard gasped once inside as they saw all of the ponies were groaning or unconscious, all of them facing the fire. They saw how the victims all had some fur or manes singed from the fire, and the blue unicorn had a bulletwound, but none of them knew what it was.

The messenger-pony cried to them for help, holding the hoof of that blue unicorn despite her spilled blood that had trailed down her and crusted from the heat.

The drone connected to the queen and she watched the scene through their eyes, seeing the destruction. She could see that the fact the survivors were set facing the guild hall that still was burning down could only mean they were obviously meant to watch their home burn. A clear message.

Meanwhile, in Manehatten, a drone felt the queen fully enter her mind and lost consciousness as the Queen assumed full control of their body, a useful skill Queens had developed long ago, and she began to move towards Twilight.

"Commander may we speak in private?" The drone asked, disguised as a normal soldier.

Twilight looked up from some reports she was reading as she walked. She nodded, turning towards her office and taking seat. "What is it?"

"It seems the Patrol has been attacked and their guild hall set ablaze. … They seem to have survived but are injured, the royal guard is there tending them.'

"I warned that idiot…" She said with a sigh, shaking her head before she looked at Chrysalis. “Tell Colonel Short Stop to expect injured coming his way. I'll arrange transport for the guild to get to the rally point. They’d be more comfortable with the rest of their guild members."

"I am sending a drone now." Chrysalis nodded.

Char and the other guild members were being treated by the first responders, the second group from Canterlot arrived and upon seeing the fire started using their powder to dull the flames. Their powder seemed to be incredibly effective, bringing most of the damage on the rest of the guild like the walls down to just embers and a charred exterior, but the damage had already been done.

The guild hall, a repurposed inn, had been burned to structural instability and was allowed to burn to the ground by the guard because it couldn’t be salvaged. The survivors were taken out of sight of it and out of the guild grounds itself while the guard stood watch, many of whom saluting out of respect.

While various timber wolves looked about with trepidation, they did not get in the way of the royal guard, and the guard let them do as they wished. The wolves otherwise stayed relatively close by and vigilant throughout the forest to make up for their anxious energy, wanting to protect the members of their pack.

The Queen entered Dawns mind. "Legate I apologize for contacting you but something has happened.'

Dawn blinked, turning her attention to them while her foals napped at her side, 'Huh? Why would you apologize? What happened?’

The Queen showed her both the memories of what had happened and what the drone was seeing as it followed the group as a bird.

Dawn stared at the scene and knowledge being shared with dread, having frozen in empathy at her friend's predicament. Instinctively, she wanted to see if she could cast her healing magic on Gallade, but knew she shouldn't even if she were able. She turned to Chrysalis, trying to calm herself and look to see what the queen would do for her friends.

'W-what are we doing for them?'

'Twilight is arranging for transport for then to the rally point and they will be given refuge.'

'Good… And Storm just left to visit them earlier too… damn. Maybe we should get her a ticket as well.' Dawn thought, debating what options there were. She looked at the times that the trains arrived and left, and blinked. The train that departed for Vanhoover leaves one hour after the train from Manehattan arrives. 'Well... that's convenient.'

'’I’m sure Twilight will help cover the expense.'

'Good.' Dawn thought, now worried about her friends and what they're going through and what more she could do.

Her foals started to cry and nestle up against her, making her curl around them instinctively and holding them against her for warmth. They soon settled down slowly, still whimpering.

'They will be alright though. I believe it's clear Flare made his move.' Chrysalis commented.

'Yeah, that's… fuck.' Dawn frowned, curling around her foals and kissing them to reassure them she was there.

She watched as the guards tended to the wounds, carrying the guild-members away while waiting for the remainder of the building to fall. It finally collapsed after the guild-ponies were loaded onto stretchers and they were ready to load up into a wagon that had been fetched. The few who were still awake heard a loud sickening crunch and various clatterings of the items inside being cracked or crushed.

The Queen cut the connection helping Dawn see indirectly and said comfortingly, 'I figured you should know.'

'I appreciate knowing… it hurts, but I appreciate it anyway. If I were better, I'd greet them directly when they arrive.' She responded, then paused, debating if she wanted to have them come see her when they did, but decided against it. It was too early to reveal herself to the guild.

Chrysalis nodded as the drone followed the group.

The group was carted back to Ponyville, where they were tended to in the clinic there. Reports were leaving back to Canterlot by a pair of messenger ponies.

The bird circled for a while before going back to the back to circle the group, trying to see how things were going to end up. It observed, noting nothing substantial being done other than the some of them being fed rations or wounds getting first aid while others resumed their sleep for the night.

The drone returned to his station after seeing how the situation was handled and the wounded under control.

The train from Manehattan arrived without incident, and Storm stepped out of the cabin, only to be paused by a guard.

"Miss Storm, I need to speak with you."

"Oh?"

"Come with me." He said.

"Are you going to tell me what’s going on first?"

"I think it’d be better if I showed you."

“Okay…” Storm said before she stepped off the train.

While Storm stepped off the train, a pegasus mare had landed outside of town and looked around. She was dark green mare with a bright pink mane that was cut short like her tail, her saddlebags embroidered with an O.C.S. in big gray letters on it. Her purple eyes took in the… brightly colored town before her.

She had heard of Ponyville the way it had been, but this was… not what she expected. Even though this wasn’t the town she’d heard of the main office being built in, it was still surreal to her as she began to walk into the town, looking for the hospital.

The town was busy, almost bustling as it went about its business. The clinic was only a ten minutes’ walk away from the station. She frowned at that knowledge, greatly preferring to have a map instead, but she had a delivery to make regardless. The mare approached the first adult resident they met.

"Excuse me, can you point me in the direction of the hospital?"

"Oh, sure! It's over that way, just follow the main road, take a left at the gazebo and it'll be on the right."

"Thank you." She nodded, beginning to walk.

The town was bustling in its own way, not very densely populated, but enough that Storm and the guard ahead were not readily seen until the gazebo plaza, walking toward the hospital as well.

The mare ignored the guard, seeing the one she actually needed to deliver to. She looked at Storm and mentally reviewed the description as she went to the hospital, making sure she would deliver her package to the right person.

After only a little more time, the clinic was reached and the guard and Storm went into the clinic ahead, storm being very confused at why she was being taken to the hospital.

The mare entered shortly after them and approached the counter.

“Excuse me, I'm looking for a-" She said, pausing as she took out a notepad from her vest and squinted at it. "Nightfall?"

"Oh, you too? Third room on the right. He's already got a few visitors." The clerk said.

Storm was in the room already with Gallade and nightfall, the other guildmembers in the room around them. Nightfall was bruised, the toxin dealt with, and Gallade's shoulder was dressed.

"What happened to you guys?" Storm asked, stunned at what she saw.

"We were attacked..." Nightfall said quietly. A knock came to the door and he called out, “Yeah?”

The door opened and the mare entered and stood tall… yet was still the shortest person in the room. "Nightfall?"

"That’s me." He said, eyeing her closely. "Can I help you?"

"Onwards Courier Service, sir, with Priority message for you." She reached into her saddle bags and pulled out a letter holding it out to him.

"I… ok." He said, hesitantly taking it, inspecting it briefly, only to see a plain ordinary envelope and the mare pulling out her clipboard.

"Please sign here and initial here, here, and sign here again to confirm you have taken full possession of your delivery." she said, pointing to areas on the papers before holding out a pen for him.

He blinked, then did as instructed, curious at this requirement.

"Thank you. Have a pleasant day sir." She smiled before turning to leave

He and Storm blinked at the unusual delivery before Nightfall opened the letter to look at what the envelope covered.

I have been instructed to offer you and your compatriots a place to stay at the Equestrian Defense Force rally point along with our citizens where food, shelter, and medical aid will be provided upon your arrival.

Enclosed, you will find bits for tickets, and someone will meet you at the platform in Vanhoover to escort you.

Sincerely, Colonel Short Stop

Nightfall looked at the letter then sighed, debating if he should accept the offer or crumple it, ignoring the bits that came onto the hospital sheet that was over him.

The rest of the group looked at him to have him read it out loud, but he handed it off as he filled Storm in on the attack.

Storm was the last one to get to read it and she blinked, thinking of how that zebra hurt her friends. The fact it was a Zebra and the use of fire… it reminded her of the zebra that almost burned her alive in that warehouse. Storm shuddered and curled up tightly, eyes wide but unseeing as the memories came unbidden.

Nightfall quickly got off the bed, despite his aches and held her.

"What’s wrong."

Storm didn’t respond at first, then after Nightfall held her for a couple minutes, she started to relax.

"Sorry… I…"

"Storm, what happened?"

Storm slowly recounted her story about the warehouse, nearly being burned alive and then shot during her rescue.

Nightfall listened to the story, frowning as he learned what happened, but was understanding while the other guildmembers were horrified.

"That is what we were up against?" One asked.

"Its a miracle we weren’t killed." Another commented somberly.

Nightfall heard that answer, then looked at the invitation. Part of him loathed the idea of running with his tail between his legs, yet when he looked at Storm and how badly she was shaken, he was decided.

"Everyone pack up, we're moving to this place until this Flare business is sorted out." He said, grumbling quietly, “This is exactly why I turned her down… didn’t want to be caught up in this mess… I should have seen it coming.”

It didn’t take long for the group to pack up what little they had left and get to the station. They bought their tickets and barely managed to board the next train, arriving in Vanhoover the next day.

On the platform, where all the others waited for people and a few were holding signs with named on it to indicate their escorting parties, one of them was a larger then average gray earth pony holding a sign that said "Nightfall + Co"

Nightfall and the group blinked, not expecting that kind of attention as they walked forward toward the pony, Night noting their large build, similar to Clyde or Big Mac.

"Uhm, who are you?" Nightfall asked.

"Private Storm" The pony said in a… feminine voice.

"Oh," he said, lightly surprised before answering. "Well, I’m Nightfall."

Storm nodded her agreement, even briefly showing her EDF badge to prove they were the right party. Nightfall noticed the motion and missed seeing what Storm showed, making a mental note to ask her about it later while the mare nodded approvingly.

"This way." She said, standing up to her full height and towered over most of the ponies there before beginning to walk towards the exit, taking Nightfall by surprise at how much bigger they were. She stood nearly a hoof taller than Clyde now that they were moving forward and seeing her real stature.

The group followed without much comment. Ponies made way for the large mare, seeming to sense their movement having a single mindedness akin to a freight train rolling down the tracks.

Storm followed on with the others, almost wondering if Clyde has tried to date her or not in his spare time just because they were similar physically.

They walked through the city towards the edge of it and down the road and Char spoke up once they were just outside the town with few that might listen in.

"So just how far away is this place?"

"Few miles." Private Storm said as they walked, muttering afterward, "surprised you weren't briefed…”

Nightfall frowned at the muttering, but let it slide. His hearing was better than some, and he wasn't looking for an argument right then.

They soon turned off the road and began to walk towards the woods

"Oh, I know this area, this is a little past where Dawn's place is!" Char said excitedly.

"Oh? I thought Dawn lived in Van Hoover." Gallade said.

Nightfall seemed to grow stiffer at the mention of it. Dawn was still a sore point for him, and the danger Storm went through now as well as their attack did not have him in any better of a mood. Sure the attack wasn’t Dawn’s fault directly, but she allowed Storm to-. No. He stopped his train of thought there and reminded himself Storm got herself into that situation, it’d be unfair if he held it against her.

Despite his trying to convince himself that he wasn’t bothered, he couldn’t stop himself from gritting his teeth at the idea of dealing with that airhead. Regardless of his own thoughts, their guide paid them no mind as she walked assuming they were following, if not, that was their fault.

As they moved through the woods, a low humming sound started to be heard.

"Uhm, what's that noise?" Char asked, speaking up again while the others talked quietly among themselves.

The mare ignored Char’s question, however, and as they walked, they could hear distant shouts. The shouts didn’t sound like panic, but they couldn’t make out much more from some kind of buzzing noise and all the hammering interfering.

Nightfall blinked, unsure what he was hearing at first before recognizing the sounds. The group continued to follow, staying close together, though Gallade was wincing with each step after a while from her wound hurting.

Soon they stepped out of the trees into a small construction site where several basic house-like structures were being built. They heard as well as saw the low rumbling noise was a generator running power for a handful of tools such as drills for the ponies in hard hats and reflective vests who went about their work under the watchful eyes of foremen shouting orders. The foremen were glancing at the group as they moved through their respective sites, but overall paid them no additional attention as long as they didn’t touch anything or get in the way.

Nightfall hummed at the outfits then more as he noticed the generators and power tools that the ponies used more than the ponies themselves. The others felt like they were comfortable with the outfits, having seen the hard hats and vests in the city sometimes, but were looking around at the construction itself, curious at the tools being used.

It looked like the general frames for houses were being filled in with wiring, drywall, and other items one needs for a house as their guide lead them out of the site and into an area that was filled with complete houses that just missed a few finishing touches.

They followed on, the secretary now speaking up, "And what is the name of this town?"

"Doesn’t have one, it’s just the rally point." Private Storm said, not looking back.

The secretary blinked, but the whole group continued following, most of them realizing they weren’t about to get any answers.

Soon after, they started to hear the sound of foals laughing.

The patrol continued following their unstoppable guide, observing but not commenting, despite Char's gradual nervousness at the situation, looking over to Gallade with worry as she has been wincing more and more as they walked on.

They entered a normal-ish looking town, the grass trampled to dirt roads and the foals played and ran around in the chaos, but pegasi still flew around and the rest of the town seemed fitting outside of the difference in technology.

"Are you injured?" A muffled voice asked next to the group.

Nightfall and the others looked that way, Nightfall asking as he did, "and you are?"

To their surprise, the pony was in a bright yellow suit with a black gasmask, sealed in completely as the eyes stayed locked on Gallade, not responding to Nightfall at all. Gallade looked at the strange pony with concern.

"Pardon me, but I don’t believe we’ve been introduced." She said politely, her accent betraying her being raised in a family of wealth.

"Dr. Bloodbourn. Are you injured, citizen?"

"I..." she hesitated, looking down to her shoulder instinctively, debating if she should mention it, the gauze covering the wound having lifted in all of the walking they had done.

The doctor stepped forward, pulling out something from the built in saddlebags on the suit with a hoof.

"What barbarian dressed your wound? Were they trying to with their eyes closed?" he asked sounding offended at how her wound was dressed.

Gallade took a step back, "Pardon me doctor, but i don't-"

Nightfall stepped between the pair, recognizing the suit as a haz-mat and suspected inappropriate actions being taken. Even if they had the medical knowledge, they weren’t dressed like a doctor. Gallade was quietly thankful for Nightfall’s support at the strange encounter, even as the others stared in open confusion and surprise.

The Doctor was starting to step around Nightfall when the large mare spoke in her cool voice.

"Doctor, enough." She said, looking at him firmly.

Dr. Bloodbourn turned to look at her in protest. "But the barbarity that has been done-"

"You can deal with it later, right now I have to get them to the Colonel."

"… very well." Dr. Bloodbourn said, turning to look back at Gallade, "I shall see you soon citizen."

With that response he started to turn to go, the crowd parting before him like water before a ship even more than they did the large mare. Private Storm shook her head, watching him go.

"Damn Plague Doctors…" She muttered and then turned to start walking again.

The patrol for the most part stared at what happened, then Nightfall tapped Gallade's good shoulder and led the way to follow the Private, and Storm and the group turned to follow the large mare as well.

They were led through the town, ponies waving to them or nodding as they went by, clearly assuming they were members of the town. Slowly they approached a larger building still being constructed that was at the center of the town.

"So what's this?" Charred asked.

"Administration building.' Private Storm said as walked up to the doors and opened them walking into the three-story building, or going to be, the third floor was still being built

"Then this is where the colonel wants to see us." Nightfall hummed. "Come on patrol, let's see what they want."

The mare led them up to a rather nice desk with two ponies in dark green fatigues and caps behind it.

"This must be the…" one of the ponies looked down at something behind the desk’s raised shelves. "Everfree Patrol, yes?"

"Affirmative." Private Storm said.

"The Colonel wanted to see them as soon as they arrived, he’s in his office."

The large mare nodded and began to walk towards the hall behind the counter.

Nightfall straightened up, the rest of the group doing likewise at his doing so, though Gallade winced from her wound, and they all walked following the large mare.

They were led to some stairs and up them, passed ponies in similar garb as the two at the front desk. Most of these ponies their guide stopped and saluted for as they passed before continuing on.

They soon reached a door and the mare knocked.

"Come." A voice said, and the mare entered.

The group filed in as well, looking at the responses. For Nightfall, it was a bit of nostalgia in the sense that it reminded him more of the military than the guard really did.

Inside was a modest office. There were four walls, a window looking at more of the town, a desk with two chairs before it and another chair behind it. All of them basic and simple. On one wall was the banner of Equestria and that seemed to be the only personalized touch. Behind the desk at the chair behind it was a short, yellow, earth pony mare with a red and cool blue mane reading some papers before looking up as their guide saluted.

The earth pony removed the reading glasses she wore. "At ease and report private."

The guide dropped her salute and stood, legs shoulder-width apart. "Sir, the party you wanted has arrived without incident."

She looked over the group and nodded, her older voice speaking again. "Thank you Private Storm. Please wait in the hall while I speak to them."

The private saluted before leaving and closing the door and the mare looked over the group.

"So you're the Everfree Patrol… glad you could make it. I am Colonel Short Stop, commander of this little town."

"Glad to meet you, sir." Nightfall said, taking the cue for a title from the private, "I'm Nightfall, this is Gallade, Char, and…" he explained as he listed off those present.

"Right then,” She nodded, “I was instructed to offer you shelter here, alongside the rest of your group, and barring that, offer you transportation cost to anywhere you want to go."

"And the reasoning for this offer?" Nightfall asked, concerned about the reasons of an obviously political move.

"Look kid, I have no idea. The Commander says jump, I jump and half way up ask how high she wants me to go. She said offer you shelter and whatever you need and I am doing that."

"Ah." Nightfall said.

"I wonder if she caught wind of your attack then…" Storm frowned.

Nightfall paused, thinking, then nodded, "All right, we will accept."

"All right,” She nodded, “I'll have someone show you to the barracks the rest of your group is staying in." She paused to raise her voice toward the door. "Private Storm, please come in here again."

The door opened and their guide entered and saluted.

"Please show them to barracks 17b."

"Yes ma'am." Private Storm said before turning to guide them.

"And Mrs. Gallade,” Short Stop added as they turned to leave, “I'll be sending a doctor to take a look at that shoulder of yours."

"But I’ve already seen medical assistance." She protested while Nightfall hummed, noting the barracks number.

The colonel already had her reading glasses back on and was going over paperwork again, seeming to ignore the protest. She made it clear her business with them was over.

Gallade blinked then silently sighed as the group turned to follow the private.

Private Storm led them from the building off toward an area of the town that was more uniform and was clearly military, seeing the civilian ponies they ran into progressively being less common than ponies in fatigues.

The group walked on. Gallade looking like she was trying her best not to wince as the wound caused her more grief. Char leaned against her, trying to support her in his own way, keeping the scarf close to help with dulling the pain.

They were lead to a barracks with a stenciled sign on the door saying 17B. Across the road from it was another labeled 17A.

Nightfall assessed the buildings as the others looked on. He noted their uniformity and clear military indications by the lack of differences, windows along the sides and one above the door.

Nightfall blinked, noting the camo uniforms and continued the comparison as they walked on.

There were members of different races. Ponies were in dark green uniforms, Zebras in tan, and there were a handful of griffins in grey uniforms and horses in reddish-tan uniforms, all going about their day or practicing various things such as hoof to hoof combat or running drills.

The group followed on, Gallade wincing as the bullet wound hurt even more. They soon reached the barracks entrance however and the Private stopped by the door.

"Here we are. If you need anything, just ask someone around here and they should help. " The Private said before starting to wander off.

On the door of the barracks was a 17b stenciled onto the surface.

Nightfall nodded and watched as Gallade winced her way over to the nearest cot and sat down gingerly, char nearly smothering Gallade in attention.

When they entered the barracks, they found they were in a small entry area flanked by two bathrooms that lead into a larger room where there were dividers set up between the beds to create a semblance of rooms for each one. Each ‘room’ had a trunk for storage, along with curtains that could be closed over the window and three skylights down the center of the room to provide light.

Nightfall hummed, moving on to a cot and sat on it, going deep in thought. There was the muffled shouts and such from outside but it wasn't loud enough to be noticed easily and helped him try to think.

"So… what do we do now?" the secretary asked.

"We rest… recover… and when this thing blows over, we start again." Nightfall said. "Not about to let a criminal get to push us out of the way when we have done so well for ourselves since we started."

The sound of the door to their barracks opening echoed in the building and hoof steps on the hidden floor moved carefully and precisely.

Nightfall flicked his ear and turned to where the door opened, wondering if their quarters were shared with any other individuals or if a messenger was coming for the guild.

He saw nothing but the bit of hall outside his ‘room’s’ door. He watched it for a moment longer before turning back to his group, who he could hear was putting their things away and talking quietly among themselves with their doors open. He could hear how worried about the future they were as they tried to settle in, decided if they wanted to share any rooms or the like.

"Ah, there you are, citizen." A muddled voice said at the doorway to Gallade’s room.

Gallade blinked, looking to the door and sharing a room with Charred because of her liking for him as well as his penchant for sneaking into her room to cool down anyway.

"Hi there…" Charred said nervously, looking at the strangely dressed doctor, tempted to ask about the outfit.

"I am glad to see you as well as you can be, and ah, you have a friend! Most definitely good." The Dr. Bloodbourn said, entering the room.

Gallade shifted in place, opting to settle down onto a cot after chilling a spot beside her on her good side for Charred to sit next to her if he wished.

"As I said sir, I have already been treated and simply need rest." Gallade said politely.

Charred took the seat offered, staying close to her in support.

"By someone who is clearly a hack. That injury will take quite some time to heal, be very painful, and oh so in danger of infection. Why I wouldn’t be surprised if you lost your leg due to this ‘treatment’” The doctor said, sitting and using their front hooves to make air quotes.

She blinked, raising a brow at this claim, being unfamiliar with his qualiifications. "Fine, then please tell me what was done wrong and how you would do any better in that event."

"The bandages arent tight enough. Based upon how you are wincing it indicates there is subdermal damage, possibly to the bone, which means you really shouldn’t be on it at all, much less walking for at least a week. Did they even bother taking x-rays?"

"You made several assumptions there, considering the bandage was tight originally, and we don't use normal x-rays anymore." Gallade blinked.

Charred stayed quiet, looking over the wound, "Sooo what would you do then?"

"Don't… use… X-rays… by the gods, does no one care about their patients?" He asked, sounding deeply offended. "I'll do a proper job."

"Normal x-rays have a harmful effect on the body and we have much better ways of looking at the body, supplementing with magic." Gallade explained, frowning at this doctor's scorn of known medical care.

"Only in large doses" He said waving a hoof. "There are far more dangerous things you encounter every day, and from what I have seen of this world’s medical books, you have a poor understanding of medical science, and that is and isn’t truly harmful."

"Well... Maybe things work differently here." Char offered while Gallade simply blinked at this doctor’s incredibly strange speech and assessment.

"Now then, I have been given the honor of treating you." He said, seeming to ignore them both.

"You speak of honor," Gallade said coolly, "And what honor is it that you have in doing so?"

"I'm sure he's just trying to be nice Gallade…" Char tried to cut in.

"My calling is to heal. It is an honor to do so and ensure life goes on, or remains comfortable in the time they have left."

Gallade raised a brow but said nothing, not wishing to be rude despite him not answering her question even as he dug out a kit from his saddlebag. She watched him closely, nervous due to his odd behavior and attire, now wondering what strange items they would pull out. He had pulled his kit out and laid it on the table, revealing all manner of instruments.

Gallade settled down, recognizing much of the tools as what the doctor she had seen before use. There were a few new things, but not nearly the difference he implied before, no matter his arrogance.

"Now then, let’s take a look at that shoulder of yours." He said, taking out a pair of scissors.

She closed her eyes and looked away, letting him look as he began to cut the bandages off.

The bandages, once removed, revealed a cleanly treated bullet wound, clearly in its first days of healing but adequately treated. The wound had reopened from activity and the painkiller was wearing off.

“My, my. The doctor truly was a hack allowing you to walk on this." He shook his head as he pulled out a tape recorder and spoke clinically. "This is Dr. Bloodbourn, medical case 29483. Unicorn mare between the age of 23-28, single left shoulder GSW, based on shape estimated .38 caliber, possibly higher."

"GSW?" Gallade asked, Char blinking at the acronym as well.

"Gunshot wound." Bloodbourn said before turning to the recorder. "As you heard, Patient is fully awake. Bullet clearly missed anything vital but unknown if hit the bone or fragmented."

"The other doctor said he got it all out." Charred answered, trying to be helpful.

"I'm sure he did if he even know what he was looking for." He said in his normal tone then back to clinical. "That was Patient's companion.." He got a small device, turning on the hoof size metal detector and waving it over her shoulder.

Gallade blinked and looked at the device, unfamiliar with it and unsure what to expect, especially when it seemed to click a little bit when it came close to her wound.

"Hmm. Seems there are some fragments left." the doctor said. "I'll need to run x-rays to see if if the fragments need to be removed."

"Uhm, if there are fragments in there, shouldn't they be removed?" Charred asked, worried at that answer.

"Well, I need to find them first, and if they aren't anywhere bad, it will be up to the patient if she wants them removed or not."

"I would think that would be best, would it not?" Gallade asked.

"Many soldiers go through their lives with fragments in their body. As long as it's not in danger of hitting anything vital, surgery is optional."

She blinked, surprised at this outcome. "Then I suppose we will need to find out more, assuming you are correct."

"Won't know without x-rays."

"Very well." She said, waiting for them to do what they need to do.

"Would you like to come with me on hoof or by stretches?"

"I will walk." She said, slowly moving to stand, making a slight wince of pain.

He nodded and began to walk. She moved out from the room they were given, Charred at her side supporting her as the pair followed Dr. Bloodbourn out.

He led her back through the town at a leisurely pace.

They walked on, Gallade was doing her best to ignore the sharp pain the wound was causing her, limping along.

They began to approach a large truck, with four wheels in the front and 6 in the back and pop-out sides with a metal staircase leading to a door in the back. Gallade blinked, pausing at the sight of the vehicle.

"What's that?" Char asked, looking at it with confusion and concern.

"Our lab." The doctor said, not looking back as he walked towards the back entrance.

Gallade blinked, and hesitantly limped her way toward the back with him, Char at her side still.

Bloodbourn walked up the stairs and input their code. There as a beep and a loud pop from the door as it started to open.

Gallade blinked in surprise while Charred let out a quiet 'ooo', impressed at the door.

Inside was a very small area to stand with a glass door between them and the rest of the area. The doctor stepped into the box.

"K-kinda small space for a lab eh?" Char laughed nervously, staying very close to Gallade as they made their way inside with him.

The large metal door began to close behind them slowly.

"Uhm, we're not going to be trapped in here, right?" Char asked loudly as he tried not to bolt, preferring to be by his close friend's side.

"Of course not. Just dont break containment and everything will be fine." He said as there was a chime.

"Uh... sure. Whatever that means, sure." Char said, pressing close to Gallade.

A second tone sounded and they were all sprayed with a white cloud.

"Ack its killing me! It tastes horrible, get it off me!" He yelled out loudly, jumping up and nearly landed on Gallade, who winced and gritted her teeth as the stuff agitated her wound. The gas stopped a few seconds afterward to reveal the doctor looking at them.

"How would it being killing you? Are you a contagion?"

"I… dont know?" Char said, slowly calming down and getting off Gallade's back carefully, "I mean, we just had a zebra try to kill us..."

"I wouldn't know anything about that." He said as he reached up and started undoing some clamps for his suit, then unzipped it, revealing a black and white striped hide and a short mohawk as he removed the hood and mask.

"Oh… that’s what you look like under that suit?" Char asked, staying by Gallade's side as always.

"Quite." He said, putting the suit in a locker and once it closed another chime sounded and there was a click from the glass door.

Char blinked in surprise and Gallade simply looked on in mild amusement, not giving away just how baffled she was at her surroundings, even if she did know it had to be a pony of some kind under the suit. She wouldn't have guessed Zebra, but still.

The Doctor opened the glass door, and the smell of disinfectant filled the little room. He breathed deeply and sighed contently as he entered the room where a pegasus worked at another table.

"So… you like the smell of hospital room huh?" Char asked, trying to strike up a conversation.

"It is contagion free." He said as he entered

"I… guess that's a good thing?" Char said, feeling clueless.

"Excuse me 'doctor' but I would appreciate moving forward for your version of the x-ray so I can rest. This wound is giving me more discomfort than I would want to stand around for." Gallade said politely.

"That is what we are doing." He said as he approached a machine near the back of the room with an X on the floor. "Please stand on the X."

She blinked and walked over to the X mark, standing so her body was roughly centered on it.

The Doctor guided her to stand at a certain angle, centering the wound above the x and holding her back half well away from the zone influenced. The Doctor then removed a small device with a screen on it and turned it on clicking a few buttons as the screen turned on before moving it to her shoulder and looking at the screen as he adjusted a dial

She blinked, frowning at the simple nature of the xrays. The ones taken at the clinic had a board they could roll in front of the patient and see what was going on. having pictures seemed lesser in her eyes, but she humored him nonetheless.

"Hmm, you have a few fragments left," the doctor said as the pictures developed, "but nothing major. I can remove them if you like."

Bloodbourn clicked another button and showed the pictures on the screen, clearly showing three bits of metal lodged in the bone of her shoulder.

"Then do so please." Gallade agreed.

He nodded and turned off the x-ray machine placing it back in its holder. "Follow me to the surgical area."

She nodded and walked onward, limping toward the area as indicated.

"Please get on the table." He said, gesturing to the table against the wall.

She blinked and climbed onto the table with as much grace as she could muster.

"Dr. Cloudy, could you assist me with a surgery?" He asked, looking at the Pegasus.

"Yes, doctor." The mare said as she filed what she was doing and came over before looking at Char. "Would you mind stepping out of the surgical area?"

"Oh..." he blinked once, sad at the idea of going away, "I can't stay for emotional support?"

"Not in the surgical area. You will be in the way." She said and made a shooing motion with her hoof. "Off you go, behind the line."

Charred's ears went back against his head with a frown and he walked back behind the line, "I'll be over here Gallade."

"I know Char." She smiled at him.

A see-through curtain was pulled around the area and Dr. Cloudy moved over to a tank and began to put a mask over Gallade’s muzzle.

"Now then this won't hurt a bit… unless it does, but it will all be over before you even notice anything. Just breath deep and count backwards from 100." She said as Dr. Bloodbourn washed up and put on surgical scrubs.

She nodded slowly, blinking as she took a deep breath and started to count.

Dr. Cloudy turned on the anesthesia, slowly increasing the amount as Gallade began to count. The mare breathed slowly and deeply as she was instructed, her eyes drooping lower as she did.

After a moment, Bloodbourn took over as Cloudy went to wash up and dress for surgery

Gallade's eyes flickered as she started to lose consciousness, lying still on the table as she fell asleep from the medicine.

"She is ready." Bloodbourn said as Cloudy returned and the surgery began.

Char looked away, not doing well with blood and waited patiently while the doctors worked in silence, except for the occasional request for something.

Char tried to wait patiently, sighing impatiently as he reached the later stages of the surgery. Eventually, the doctors removed the remaining fragment and began to sew her back up

Char turned back, noticing the different motions of the doctors and waited for them to finish, hoping they were done.

The bloody surgical equipment was moved to the sink for cleaning, their scrubs removed, and they placed fresh, tight bandages around her shoulder as the doctors began to remove the patient’s own scrubs and the mask from her.

Charred watched, getting the feeling they were done since they removed the mask. He smiled as Cloudy pulled back the curtain.

"She should wake up within an hour." She said before going back to her work.

"So… it's ok if I go past the line now?”

She nodded.

Char quickly walked over to Gallade and held her hoof, waiting attentively for her to wake.

Once Gallade awoke, they were delivered to their barracks, Gallade in a wheelchair, and the patrol started to piece together how they could still do their jobs without their headquarters, not having given up on themselves entirely yet.

Author's Notes:

Well the Patrol is rather safe now, the Zebra Captain might eb good but now the patrol is surunded by a small army made up of different militaries as well as who knows how many possible armed civilians.

I have a PATREON with fair rewards. Every bit is greatly appreciated and helps me out.