The transport jerked the other way as a magic blast shot past the back of the copter.

"Hold on lads! Taking enemy fire!" a voice called.

Storm held on to the straps that kept her to the seat, looking at the others.

"Oh shit! Goose 3 is down!" another voice called in her helmet’s radio.

Storm wanted badly to ask what that meant, but she did not, knowing it was not the time.

"Fuck, hope they make it." Xerin said

"Ally?"

"One of the other transports. We are on Jackal 4." He explained.

She nodded, watching and waiting.

"Storm, I’m going to go help Goose 3, stay with the sergeant and I'll meet up with you." Twilight said in the earpiece as she headed for the back of the chopper.

"Got it." She said back, hoping they could hear her.

Twilight spread her wings and dropped out the back of the chopper.

"Looks like you're stuck with me, Sarge." She said, holding onto her straps.

"Relax, I’ll take care of you." He said, using his hoof to gesture toward a button thing close to his chest. Storm got the message, that’s how they talked through the speaker in her helmet then.

"And I'll watch your back. Not leavin’ this to everypony else to sit back."

"Wouldn’t expect anything less of a fellow trooper."

Storm nodded, a twinge of guilt crossing her mind as she knew she hadn't gone through what they did for training, but she was welcome all the same.

The chopper suddenly lurched to the side again and Storm felt the g-forces pushing her into her seat as she saw the world outside the back spinning while the earth pony on the gun held on tightly.

"We're hit! We're hit! This is Jackal 4! We are going down. BRACE FOR IMPACT!" a voice called over the radio.

She grunted, feeling the force and in a different way than most of her tight turns. It was worse. She looked out the window where she could before looking to the sergeant for further instructions, worried now that they were hit and having no clue what else to do.

"Hold on Rook! We are going in hot!" He said as she saw the tops of warehouses out the back

"Got it!" she answered, clinging to her straps for dear life.

The transport hit the ground hard, rolling over multiple times before sliding to a stop. Storm was jostled about, of course, feeling stunned, slow, and sluggish. She had enough thought to reach for her belts, fumbling as she tried to find the latch among the smells of smoke and blood and the yelling all around her.

Suddenly she was grabbed out of the harness as it went slack without her finding the button.

"You still with me? Come on wake up!" Xerin half-yelled.

"Yeah, I'm with ya." She said as clearly as she could, struggling to get up and moving.

She felt something being strapped around her and tried to look at what it was while she got up.

"What're you doing?"

"Shit’s about to get bad." He said and grabbed a rifle off a pegasus lying on the deck, her neck at an awkward angle but unmoving. He strapped it into the saddle Storm now wore and slammed a mag into it. "Lock and load rook!"

"How do you use this thing!" She said back at him.

"Bah!" He said. "Point at something you want dead, bite down on the bit, repeat." He said. "You have 15 shots, semi-automatic, then you need to reload."

"Got it, where's the enemy?" she said, turning to look around.

A magic beam shot between them and Xerin shoved her back, took aim back that way and fired a burst.

"Right there! Come on and stay low!” He said as he headed towards the front of the chopper.

"Thanks, I'll be at right behind you." She said as she stayed down as well as she could while an enemy popped up behind a wall and fired at the open rear of the transport.

She aimed as well as she could while backing up and bit down, firing one shot at a time, judging where it went to better her aim, and within 3 shots, she could shoot roughly at a target and kept him down until a squadmate took him out.

They reached the front of the vehicle, a unicorn gunner was slumped over the gun and blood pooling below them. Xerin kicked open the door beside them and led the way out. Storm looked at him in shock for a second before shaking her head to focus on the living first, the image being burned into her memory. She can get through this… just one hoof at a time…

"I'll cover, get to those crates!" He pointed to an outcropping of crates across an open alley before leaning out with his automatic and firing off bursts.

She followed his orders, moving across and firing at where he was aiming between his shots as she went. Once she arrived and continued to fire, Xerin galloped across and made it just before she ran out of bullets.

He dove under cover right as bullets splintered the box, none of them penetrating, but making her flinch away while he reloaded.

"I'm out." She said. "What next?"

"Hit the button above the mag to eject the spent one and slam another full one in hard. Make sure it all the way in and pull back the bolt!" He yelled as he leaned up over the boxes and fired.

"Got it!"

Storm dropped down to try doing what she was told. It took her two tries to hit the button, then fumbled with the magazine before slamming it hard and pulling the bolt as she was told. She heard the click as a round was chambered without issue.

"What now?"

"Same as before, aim and shoot and we get the hell as far from the crash as we can before we get overrun!"

"Got it. What way?"

He looked around, then pointed ahead and to the side. "There, to that office!"

"Lemme know when." She said, picking out her target area to cover him.

"We go on three, alright!"

"Ready!"

"1… … 2… … 3!" He yelled as he ran out firing towards the attackers as a helicopter made a pass over and gave fire support where it could.

She ran like he did, firing at them in bursts between his own shots, stopping when the recoil became too much, then doing it again till they made it across.

Xerin kicked in the door and galloped inside. She followed him in close, fully alert, adrenaline in full swing, and heart pounding. He slammed the door and looked for a way to block the door while Storm looked out a window carefully for signs of pursuit.

The compound was in chaos. She heard distant gunfire and magic zipping by as helicopters provided air support and her radio was filled with chatter she mostly didn’t understand.

"What next, Xerin?"

"We hold out till backup arrives or it calms enough for us to link up."

"Got it. Just let me know what to do." She said as she swapped magazines, the old one being out again.

"Keep this door covered while I check for a back way in." He said moving down the hall.

"On it." She said, taking up a position that allowed her to look out the window without making her an easy sight for anyone that just happened to look her way. He was gone for a while then returned.

"No back exits I could find. Just a couple of offices and a janitors closet."

"So this place is a trap."

"Depends how you look at it."

"How do you see it?"

"They can only attack us from this one door."

"Defend this and make it a fort. Seems good. Can we get the rest here or is that bad?" Storm asked.

"I already radioed and rescue will be here as soon as it can but till then, we are on our own."

"Try to live till then, I think I can manage that… this is crazy!" She said, eyeing the chaos outside.

"This is war." He said simply. "People go through their lives seeing nothing but sunshine and rainbows and ignore the fact people die every day so they get to keep seeing that sunshine and those rainbows."

"Not here… not before today." She said, growing quieter at the end.

"You'd think that, but this world has monsters in it and other horrors just like our own. Just because you don't hear about it doesn't mean it doesn't happen."

"Considering I've flown a lot of it, I find that hard to believe."

"You can't be everywhere at once, and Tartarus exists for a reason. You cannot tell me that when any of those things escape everyone is perfectly fine."

"Considering Twilight and her pals used the elements on Tirek and this is my world? Yeah, I can. We were weak for a bit, but everyone was fine in the end." She said, "That was about five years ago."

"And you mean to tell me when weakened not a single pony was left in a situation that they needed their strength to run?" He asked. "Not one person was left to die, unable to save themselves."

"That’s what I’m sayin’, yeah. It’s my world, I would know."

He snorted. "Right. Keep believing that. No world is perfect Rook, and someday reality will take a sledge to the fantasy land you ponies seem to believe in."

"Yeah, today’s doing a damn good job of that, thanks." She frowned, fighting the urge to buck a hoof into him and focused on the enemy.

He took up a position at another window. "So, besides that fiancé and egg of yours, got any other family?"

"Mom n dad, Lemon Bloom and Blue Breeze." She said, "Both retired."

"Both my parent are gone a few years ago. Zeti and Dermoa." He nodded.

"What’d they do for a living?"

"Owned a small grocery store in Fillydelphia."

"Yeah? Breezy was a flight instructor, old wonderbolt. Mom’s a teacher in Canterlot."

"Glad you still have them.” He nodded, “Treasure them. In an instant, they could both be gone before you even know it."

"I plan on a good vacation after all this. I should show you around, take you to the good places, even in Las Pegasus." She said as she eyed a section of rubble that looked suspicious to her.

"I like that… be nice to see a few places not yet touched by Purists."

"Then you’d better stay alive." She smirked, “It’ll be hard to show ya if you’re dead."

"Don't worry, I have a wife and kids to get home to." He said firing at an enemy who poked their head out.

Storm continued to watch, worried at her accuracy at range, but she figured if nothing else, he could see where an enemy was and help.

"So how come you haven't asked?"

"Asked what?"

"About my name. It's not exactly a pony name."

"It’s not, but I don’t care right now. You’re an ally and that’s good enough f-" she paused as she bit down at the bit, shooting at an enemy that popped out from that rubble she eyed. "Sides, guild's been good for meeting all kinds of ponies."

"How so?" He asked.

"Hired by all kinds, got a griffin, changeling, zebra in the group, helping out those the guard miss. Real satisfying." She said, shooting at another form in a more distant alleyway.

Xerin fired a burst. "Ah, not sure how that makes it normal to see a pony with a changeling name."

"Well, ya got my back so far. Don’t foalnap me and I'll still see you on the other side, show ya around."

"Don’t plan too, parent raised me right, despite what the Purist scum says."

"Fair nuff." She said, "How’s the rest of the squad? Still chatting up a storm?"

"As much as it looks out there." He said firing on some more enemies

Storm fired at another group down the alley, it looked like the other one got friends, but Xerin took them out while she reloaded.

"Still, you’re the first I’ve met in a while who didn’t ask. Last one I married.” He said after the shots died down.

"Figured it was something you did from your world or something." She said. "Though a few at the guild are pretty odd named too."

"Not really, mom and dad were changelings, hence the name."

"Well, commander damn near killed me over my issues with changelings, but yours are different. Still, hard to let go when they capture you as bait for their real target, but she did it."

He sighed. "That’s why I joined up after mom and dad died… they were killed by Purists who blocked the doors and set their shop on fire. … neither of them were strong magic users, just a bit of telekinesis to stock shelves."

"Sorry to hear that." She said, slowing and saying, "They sounded like good parents. I’m adopted myself, so I get it."

He nodded. "It’s no Secret how the EDF feels about racists. It never goes well for Purists who do make the mistake of joining up. They either get over it or… well… they are encouraged to leave. We are out here in these types of situations. The only thing keeping you alive is the trooper next to you. If you can’t rely on them because of something stupid…"

"Yeah." She said, getting what he was trying to say.

He fired another burst, another pony that popped up in the window no longer stood, but slumped.

"Never met my real parents. Bio-mom died in labor and I never knew who my bio-father was. Was a ward of the state without a name. Mom and Dad were wanting a kid, but wanted to adopt one of us who didn’t have a family. Found my lack of a name on the list and immediately adopted me. Apparently, I needed them the most."

Storm shot at the next two that came, not knowing what else to say even as a lot of gunfire was getting louder. She frowned as it grew louder still, assuming it’s getting close.

"Sounds closer, that a good thing or a bad thing?" she asked out of concern

"That much sound and explosions? Can only be one thing." He said smirking.

"What?"

Two enemies moved out of cover a second before the cover they were under exploded in a blast of purple magic.

Twilight stepped into view, surrounded by dozens of guns, a shield up, and her horn glowing as a building burned behind her. Her eyes glowed red from the electronics fully engaged. In that moment, she looked like the very incarnation of war to Storm.

Meadow watched Twilight's back, throwing back grenades, blocking shots, and deflecting magic as she listened to the radio, informing her of movements of allies and enemies alike as she could, supplementing any IFF system information she received. Her management of the radio for Twilight, filtering out information, and putting messages and statuses in the HUD alone made Twilight’s battle performance more terrifying as it was.

The grenades and shots used against them were nothing like what the troopers were using. Black powder bombs with fuses and musket fire were nowhere near as damaging to the armor the EDF used. The EDF endured the extra smoke and sudden noise far better and spread a great deal of cautious relief as they used their rifles and fragmentation grenades to maximum effect.

The muskets were damaging, but never punched through the armor, the few times they would hit. The reload alone was making their numbers advantage nearly worthless since they were still trying to fight back with small guerilla warfare. The troops were most cautious of the magic, which seemed just as dangerous as always.

"Damn..." Storm said quietly, staring openly behind cover.

There were dozens of guns around Twilight now, many of which picked up and being reloaded and rotated through. They were all aimed in different directions, trained on their target as accurately as if she had a hacking tool in a game thanks to Meadow’s constant awareness. Balls of led harmlessly bounced off her shield and she rained down magic from her hill before walking forward, a wake of death and destruction clear from the bodies of the fallen around her.

"She always like this?" Storm asked, calling out to Xerin.

"No. Just when she sets hoof on the field." He said. "She is a one mare army. It’s said death follows her, that he’s been trying to get her for years but can only collect those behind her. A real cybernetic bipedal war machine."

Storm continued to watch, feeling disconnected from it all as if in a really strange dream.

A group of enemy gunners was in a small building similar to Storm’s own. The ones that were alive were firing blind, barely getting the rifles up and aimed in Twilight’s general direction. The shake from the barrels gave away exactly what kind of effect Twilight had on them.

Their shots, the ones that hit her shield anyway, disintegrated on contact. She merely looked at the building with mild amusement and fired a blast of magic.

The entire building exploded, sending rubble and flames skyward as her guns continued to fire and reload at other threats in the area with deadly accuracy. Her face showed her calm in spite of the destruction around her, apparently oblivious, almost disinterested in the destruction and the struggle for life against the enemy on both sides.

Storm realized she was seeing the truest form of Twilight’s potential and power that she would see… underneath the smirks, the sarcasm, the words of advice, there was this killing machine, master of life and death.

She turned away for a moment, feeling a heavy twinge of uneasiness as the scene sunk in.

"W-what now?" she asked, trying to stop her front hoof from shaking.

"We wait. She told you she’d meet up with you so she is most likely coming here."He said as he looked at her closely. "You okay rook?"

"Y-yeah, I'm fine…" She said despite her teeth chattering against her will. She forced herself to breathe deeply as she tried to shove down whatever it was she was feeling. She could deal with it later.

Xerin walked over to her, concerned. "What is it Rook?"

"So much death…" she said, closing her eyes and trying to calm herself down, "Damn I wish I could just go flying right now."

He put a hoof around her, trying to comfort her. "This is war Rook. No one likes it."

She shook a little more, then slowly calmed as his hoof seemed to reach her and she found her center once more.

"Yeah... guess so."

He pulled her into a hug. "It's okay Rook, you'll get through this."

"I know... I will get through this." She repeated.

He continued to hold her as the battle, if one could call it that, raged outside. She hugged him back, holding on for several seconds before slowly letting go.

"I'm ready, gotta keep going. After all, the others are fighting out there, right? Not fair if we don't do our part."

He nodded and smiled. "Spoken like a real EDF Trooper."

She nodded back, looking at him seriously, but cracked a small smile, "Lead on Sarge."

The door burst open in a slew of purple magic as Twilight walked in with the same blank expression and looked at Storm. As she recognized the mare, albeit with a green outline around her form and a status window in view, she smiled.

"Oh good, you two are alright. Got worried when Jackal 4 went down."

"Yeah, we're fine now." Storm said. "What's next?"

"We go after Flare, didn’t know where you were exactly so it wasn’t safe to come faster." She said.

"It's fine. Where's he at?" She asked, "What's left?"

"In a warehouse not far from here. We are taking the short route though." She looked at Xerin. "Sergeant, will you be alight? There is a unit not far back the way I came and it’s more or less secure that way."

Storm turned to him, curious as to his answer, only to see him nod and look at her directly.

"You going to be alright rook?"

"Yeah, I'll be alright. Real question is if you'll be alright without me watchin' your back." She smirked at him.

"Hey, who’s the veteran here?" He smiled back, appreciating the banter.

"And I've got beginner's luck on my side. You want some rubbed off on ya right?" she asked.

Meadow simply smirked, commenting privately, 'seems those two get along.'

'Wonder how long till Lapdog tries to seduce him into showing her, her place." Twilight said chuckling in her head.

"I'll be alright, we will be meeting up after this for drinks, you’re buying." He smiled.

"Now that I- Hey!" she protested, rather liking the idea till the last part.

"Rooks always buy." He smirked and headed for the door.

"Dammit, I'm goin' after him. Can't be considered a rook after this!" she said, dashing off to follow.

'Did she rub him off or something when we weren't looking?' Meadow teased.

'I think she may have found herself a second master. I hope we are there to see her trying to seduce him. Almost wonder if I’ve trained her so much, her seduction involves showing her submissiveness.' Twilight thought before grabbing Storm in her magic. "No time Storm, we got a war to win."

Storm protested at first, then let herself be dragged off toward Twilight. She was pulled close and then her vision was filled with purple She blinked, unsure of why she saw so much purple before realizing she was in Twilight’s bubble shield magic.

Suddenly, the bubble popped and they were somewhere else, and it dawned on her she had been teleported. She looked around at the warehouse interior, fully on guard and trying to watch for threats to protect her as she promised.

“What now?” Storm asked in a hushed voice.

"We search." She said and started to carefully walk forward.

"For what, or who?" She asked, moving with her.

'Want me to establish the phone spell with her so talking isn’t required?' Meadow offered. 'Don’t want our position given away.'

'Yes'

She connected with Storm effortlessly, acting as a filter so only directed speech went through unless commanded otherwise. Her link spell was only possible because she had no form, Reaper found it very useful that Meadow could drive an opponent crazy or deluded or distracted, but it was magic not usable by the ponies of this world, it made them vulnerable to it.

'We are looking for Solar Flare, and when we find him, we are going to kill him.' Twilight relayed.

'Right...' Storm tried to say, then panicked when her words weren't spoken before Meadow calmed her with an explanation as they moved.

'Normally we’d use radios, but you aren't too familiar with them yet, so this will work as a substitute.' Twilight explained.

‘Makes sense…’ she thought before glimpsing at Twilight's rear and looked away quickly, 'Dammit, this isn’t the time to be stealing looks at her flank!' She reprimanded herself, not realizing Meadow conveyed that as well.

Twilight smirked as she walked in front of Storm.

'Someone likes a mare in armor.' She told Meadow.

'Yup, I liked it so much I became a part of you.' She joked, then stopped. She noticed a lower level figure moving and assembling something. She pointed and highlighted, saying, ‘Movement detected.’

Twilight took aim down her scope to investigate as she came to a stop, Storm stopping with her. It was showing the figure through the small doorway inside a chemistry lab, lots of glass tubes and containers present.

'Okay, normally we’d deal anyone in here as hostile targets, but I want to try and avoid possible chain reactions since we don't know what he's doing.'

'Copy. I'll monitor.' Meadow replied.

Twilight started to move forward towards the pony. As she approached slowly, she noticed the pony seemed to hold a spherical beaker, swirled it around, and then approached the door.

"Don’t move or I'll put a round right in the back of your head." Twilight warned.

The pony froze, looking around but staying still.

"What is this place?” Twilight asked.

"L-L-Labratory…" they stuttered.

"For what?

"D-D-Discovering nonlethal subduing gasses." They answered, their voice quaking almost as much as their front leg they were trying to keep still. A line seemed to tie them from a hind leg to the desk.

Twilight watched it for a second before stating, "Identify yourself."

"Pop ‘n fizz… d-d-did Flare say to k-kill me?" He asked quietly after his name, hoof quietly clattering on the ground as he lifted it before putting it back down.

"What?" She asked. "Do you seriously not hear the war outside?"

"I... felt the shaking and heard some noise." He admitted. "I thought they were testing something.”

'Assessments.' Twilight relayed to her companions while she blinked at the pony.

'Fishy, but as a pegasus, unless he is armed, unlikely to cause direct harm.’ Meadow began to list. ‘Possible location risk. Access to chemicals and admitting to making knockout gas intentionally.'

'Why aren't we rescuing him? Seems harmless enough.' Storm frowned.

'That’s not without risk, but no one is available to escort him out and we don’t know if his story checks out.' Meadow replied.

'Meadow is right. If he decides his chances at staying alive are better if he alerts the others to us being here, then we will have everyone down on us. Right now, most everyone is distracted by the battle outside.'

"What are you doing here?" Twilight asked out loud.

'I'm not advocating killing him, as he might be innocent, but just knocking him out for now should suffice.' Meadow suggested as a compromise.

"I just said.” He pleaded, trying to keep his voice level. “I haven't been allowed out or to make fizzy drinks for foals in ages… please, just let me go, I won't be any trouble. I’ll promise whatever you like."

"How did you get here?"

"I was foalnapped." He said, starting to speak more quickly. "’Bout a month ago. Said he wanted a chemist and I was just the stallion for him, but he took my wife and three foals. I couldn't say no!"

"Do you know where they are?"

"No, he said he'd release them if I worked for him. Been here ever since." He said sadly.

Twilight nodded and spoke into her mic. "This is Commander Sparkle to all EDF forces. Be advised, we may have civilian hostages on site. Check your fire. A mare and three foals reported. If they are located, they are to be extracted to the RG perimeter immediately."

"You mean, you're going to help me find them?" he asked with a relieved smile, head hanging lower. "Thank you.

‘Update in situation, heart rate indicates he was telling the truth. It slowed as you radioed it in.’ Meadow informed.

"Turn around" Twilight answered.

"Huh?" he said, pausing and looking between them, "Why?"

"Do it."

"O-oh… ok." he said, puzzled as he turned around slowly.

Once he was facing away, Twilight raised her rifle and struck the back of his head with the stock. He collapsed on the ground and Storm immediately began protesting.

'What'd you do that for! He wasn't a threat!' Storm tried to yell, no words coming out of her mouth still due to Meadow’s magic

'He very well could have been.' Meadow said on Twilight’s behalf. 'He stands less chance being shot by either side while knocked out and keeps us from having him act as a spy and giving away our position ahead of time if my assessment is wrong or he thinks it’ll save his family. It's a little harshness now that can save his life and ours at the very least.'

'Exactly.' Twilight agreed as she ziptied his legs together while Meadow radioed his location for extraction.

Storm was not happy, but stuck with what they did. These two knew what they were doing and were trying to keep her alive. She felt like she didn’t have room to push back too hard yet, maybe after this was over she’d tell them off about this.

They began to walk again afterward, Twilight swapping to bipedal mode to hold her weapon.

'Watch for traps.' Twilight warned.

'Got it.' Storm said.

'Already trying to spot for any, but it’s not easy.' Meadow answered.

'Just stay calm.’ Twilight said, more for Storm’s benefit. ‘Watch for trip wires and anything enchanted. Flare likes leaving traps for anyone who pursues him.'

'Wires and enchantments? Got it. Overlaying your visuals with potential hazards.' Meadow said, adding outlines to anything meeting those criteria.

Twilight blinked, knowing her cybernetic eyes never had abilities like that before yet only just noticing this.

'Are you sure you're not an AI?' Twilight asked.

'I don’t mind acting like one, but I don’t think of myself as one. Why?' Meadow asked.

'You just reminded me of a game is all.' She chuckled, 'and the fact you seem to have gotten really good at working with my cybernetics.'

‘I had a good teacher, though it’s taken some adjusting.’ Meadow replied with a chuckle. ‘Besides, I played games too, why not take inspiration from how some of them work? It’s not combat, but it still was developed for the same purpose, giving the person enough information to work accurately.’

‘I… see.’ Twilight responded, not sure what more to say.

'I won’t abuse this. I don’t want that happening to me and even if I wanted a practical joke, your augments keep me in check.' Meadow chuckled again. 'Ultimately, it's in my best interest to look out for you and do my best for you. I’ll want to do that even if I can get my body back… still, we’ll worry about that later. This isn’t the best time t- Storm, freeze!'

Storm was grabbed by Meadow's magic and held, her hoof nearly pulling at some twine that laid amongst the rubble.

'What the hay!' She protested, trying to move and keep her balance.

'Your hoof nearly pulled that string. It might be nothing, but we need to be cautious.' Meadow said as she gradually moved Storm back, then moved her over the wire next to Twilight.

Twilight walked over while Meadow held the mare in place and carefully followed the line to an IED buried under some rocks, a primitive one.

‘Good catch Meadow.' Twilight said as she carefully cut the line and retied it elsewhere harmless while maintaining the tension while Meadow radioed the IED location.

'It's what I do. Can't have our pet blowing up after all.' Meadow chuckled.

'Yeah...' Storm frowned, subdued at the warning that she nearly died again. 'This is insane.'

'This is war.' Meadow said, preempting Twilight.

Twilight nodded her agreement and started moving again, marking pressure plates and enchanted motion trip mines as well as more IEDs. Meadow made sure this time to notify Storm of hazards by highlighting them with a little bit of color, letting them both make their way to their target.

"Down!" Twilight suddenly yelled and shoved Storm the opposite direction.

A loud crack and a high pitch whine ripped through the air where they had been and something struck the wall next to them.

Storm practically flew from the commander’s throw, letting herself roll an extra time before looking up, ready to bite down and shoot if need be.

'Damn that was fast. I thought I was ready but I didn't see it coming.' Meadow commented.

Storm started to get up again, head peeking out above some rubble before it was shoved down by Meadow’s magic at another crack.

"Sniper! Stay down Storm! It’s a .50 caliber!" Twilight warned.

Storm stayed down, then rolled behind some denser cover.

'I can make a shield to stop it, if you can point out where he's at or give me time. Problem is with that weapon, I can only block about two shots and soften the third before I need to recoup.' Meadow advised.

'Hold. This sounds like an RT43, Zebra rifle. If it's being used this well, it means the sniper knows exactly what they are doing. You put a shield up, they will go for Storm.'

'Ok, not risking that then. What next?'

'Need to get a bearing on them and drive them from their hole.'

'So you want me to analyze and do recon as able? Maybe send a grenade next to them once I find them?' Meadow offered.

'Yes, if you can.'

'I'll test for accuracy.' Meadow said, taking a stone of similar size or weight to the grenade, and said, 'Target for the stone selected. Position chosen to be out of sight of enemy.’

Meadow used an example bullseye selecting a spot past Storm based on the assumption that the sniper was somewhere ahead in a ninety degree cone ahead. If that was correct, it wasn’t going to be seen due to the rubble. She threw the rock with her magic, propelling it like a missile.

The rock grenade soared up then landed just to the right of the marker.

'Margin of error seems to be about a pace off.' Meadow answered while peeking over the barricade and surveying the best possible nest before detecting the best possible spot if she were in their hooves.

'That should work. Frag kill radius is 3 meters, 6 is maiming.' Twilight responded.

'Got it.' She said, pulling out the grenade. She then quietly said a small prayer that only Twilight could hear. 'May whatever gods you believe in show you mercy, for you have shown none and will receive none from us in turn.'

With that said, she pulled the pin and shot it off to the sniper's location. It flew and landed right in the hole the sniper was shooting out of. Twilight’s hearing barely caught a scrabbling sound before a loud pop and a shockwave went out from the nest.

Storm jumped in place, having dug herself under a wall one and a half times as high as her, and looked at Twilight for guidance. The red rain that splattered hit the nest, some showers hitting the barricades that Storm and Twilight hid behind.

'Excellent.' Twilight nodded, starting to stand.

A round drilled her in the chest and she fell back, gasping for air as the round punched through her vest.

'Stay still, I'll patch you up.' Meadow instructed, analyzing Twilight's condition, 'What happened?'

'We missed the sniper…' Twilight relayed as the open room echoed with the sound of retreating hooves.

‘Damn…’ Meadow frowned before discovering the round had missed her heart and lungs but had buried itself deep and had begun to fragment.

'Good thing I learned some healing magic. Hang on.' Meadow said, teleporting the pieces outside of Twilight, then began the tedious work of helping her regenerate. 'I'm gonna be out of commission for a while after this at this rate, but you'll be like it never happened.'

'Just heal it a bit. I may need you later, use my bandages.'

'Got it.' She replied, stopping once the muscles and major arteries mended and grabbed the bandages, securing her from there.

Twilight got up and winced at the pain, but pushed through.

"On me!" She ordered.

Storm leaped to their side, "you ok?"

"Nothing to worry about. Keep an eye out for the sniper."

"Got it." She replied, focusing all her attention to the task to avoid causing her to worry and waste her energy.

They began to walk again, moving forward as Meadow continued to point out possible nests or traps along the way. Storm stayed close, even as Twilight kept a close eye on all of the possible attack locations.

They stopped to investigate the nest, telling Storm to stay outside to keep a lookout.

Inside was a mess, various bits of remains stayed slick with a dark liquid, all of which spreading out from a single location. The two of them silently agreed that a pony had been shoved onto the grenade, used as a shield to soften the damage to the sniper, especially due to the fragments of a limb found in three of the four corners more intact than the rest of the body.

'Damn. Grizzly, but good for the sniper.' Meadow commented.

'Yeah. Quick reflexes to sacrifice whoever they were with to stay alive.'

Meadow had no comment, preferring to look for the next target or signs of Flare. She was trained how to kill, but she still didn’t enjoy it. It was simply another who failed to win in a fight for the right to stay alive.

The trio continued to move deeper into the facility when suddenly Storm felt an incredibly sharp sting in her side. Storm groaned, and Meadow signaled Twilight.

Twilight grabbed Storm and yanked her into cover as the next bullet ripped through where she had been, Storm wincing as she landed.

"And that's why we wear body armor." Twilight said as several muskets fired at once at them and hitting the cover they were under.

The armor had stopped the bullet, it would only be a bad bruise and some soreness but nothing more. The next volley came and Twilight sighed.

"Idiots. No clue how to do staggered firing to keep an even rate of fire." She shook her head. It was almost offensive that her opponent was so poorly trained. She pulled out a rocket launcher from her pocket dimension and loaded it while commanding her ally, ‘Stay down, Storm.’

Twilight waited for another volley as Storm covered her ears and pressed herself against the rubble they took cover behind.

Twilight stood up after the volley cracked against their cover, launcher shouldered and aimed where the volleys were coming from.

Five ponies were furiously trying to reload their arms, backs to the wall despite their mane hairs poking out and their tools acting like little flagpoles in the air. Three seconds later and another sigh of disappointment and a whoosh filled the pair’s ears.

The rocket left the tube, leaving a corkscrew vapor trail behind it as the missile flew straight into the structure. Screams filled the air and then were silenced while the mare calmly reloaded the weapon, looking over at the one beside her.

“Remember Storm, this is why you do staggered fire." She explained as she put the weapon back into storage and picked up her rifle.

Storm watched her leader, feeling safer knowing they were looking out for her, but still on edge as she tried to keep herself calm and focused rather than panicked.

'Assessment Meadow.'

'All targets down or terminated.' She replied. 'Lapdog is bruised but not needing healing.'

She nodded and started moving further into the building. Meadow continued to recuperate, feeling worn out from having taken on Twilight’s wound. Storm kept up, keeping an eye out as best she knew how.

‘Okay, we should be getting close to where the MID learned Solar Flare’s command center was." She said as they moved up some stairs.

'Good. Our losses have been moderate so far. We need to reach him soon if possible.' Meadow reported.

'Before he has time to flee.’ Twilight agreed. ‘Right now he is reliant on runners for information which means he is slowed down.’

'How would you like me to focus my efforts?' Meadow asked, noting Storm’s alert searching pattern as she stayed at Twilight’s side.

'Defend against the unexpected. Flare isn’t an idiot, he is powerful but he knows he can’t defeat me in direct combat so he will have something up his sleeve.'

'So watch your sides and Storm especially since he’ll kill her to get to you.' Meadow confirmed.

'Affirmative.' Twilight replied, reaching the top of the stairs.

'Can do.’ Meadow confirmed. ‘Any typical signs to look for in traps or favorites of his?'

'None. No telling what he has planned.'

'Won't be easy. Still down from the healing given to you, but I'll do all I can. If something happens and I go quiet, I used enough power to be knocked out until I recover.' She warned.

'Just focus on keeping an eye on things and keep up that HUD thing you are doing.'

'I will try.' Meadow nodded, focused on exactly that.

'This is going to take some getting used to.' Twilight commented.

'First time I've been giving this a try. I'll be open to refining it later if we can. Does it bother you?' she asked, keeping an eye out on a specific angle she suspected heavily.

'No, just used to only the data my helmet gave me and my IFFs from combat mode."

'We'll work on coordinating it later, when w-'

Meadow yanked Storm aside as an object flew past right where her armor was broken already, the bullet burying itself in the wall.

"SNIPER! GET DOWN!" Twilight yelled on reflex as she dove for cover.

Storm moved as soon as she was released from magic into cover as Meadow indicated. Meadow extrapolated from the bullet's mark and where Storm had been to determine the last location of the sniper.

"You damned ponies are lucky, but I assure you, you won’t be leaving here alive, especially not after the warning you got."

The familiar voice of Captain Xenti echoed in the chamber, making Storm freeze and start to shake in place.

'Storm’s shutting down. I don’t detect injuri-… oh god… this is the guy that tried to burn her alive. She’s reliving the memory!’ Meadow warned.

Twilight grabbed Storm and dragged her to another cover with her right as another crack sounded and a bullet splintered into the debris behind where she had been.

'Storm! Wake up! Get your head in the game.' Twilight said, shaking Storm once to get her attention while Meadow recalculated the trajectory and created a slowly expanding circle of potential target locations based on time from last shot fired.

Storm shook in place and scrambled to her hooves. She looked around, looking ready to lash out at whoever she had to until Meadow interfered.

'Storm, calm down and focus. You are stronger than he is, and you're not alone. Stand by us and get ready to act when we need you to. I'm not about to let you go down and neither is Twilight. So on your hooves and get ready!'

Storm blinked, listening to Meadow and felt something click. She looked about, still afraid, but listened closely to her mentor and Meadow, who saved her life several times this mission alone.

"Move now!" Twilight yelled and sprinted from cover, a bullet ripping through where they had been a moment before.

Meadow looked at the surroundings, already pointing out to Storm where she needed to move that stood the best chance of cover for her from both angles the enemy seemed to be shooting from.

As she moved to cover, a figure darted out and tackled her, sending Storm and the figure crashing through the window and down into the warehouse floor to land on some crates, separating her from Twilight.

'Dammit! She's out of range for the physical manipulation magic for me!' Meadow said.

Storm flailed at the figure, pushing them away as best she could, keeping her wings tucked in until she was stopped by the crates.

The figure rolled off of her and she caught a glimpse of a tan jacket over stripes. A few moments later, a voice echoed from around the warehouse.

"Well, well, well… seems the little pony decided not to run home crying. I assure you, you’ll wish you should have." Xenti taunted.

Twilight bolted for the broken window Storm had fallen through, but had to jump back to dodge a magic blast that sent her into some double doors and into an office area.

Storm froze at the voice, then her fear turned to anger as she stood her ground, ready for a fight. She began paying attention to how the voice seemed to move around. She opened her wings, but not to fly. She figured if she could use her skill to hover without flapping, she could sense where things in the room were and how they were moving. She focused on feeling the subtlest of air currents, letting herself try to sense her enemy.

A feather barely twitched, as if air was leaving the room in a small amount.

She snapped her eyes open as she flapped her wings powerfully, launching herself up at the instinct that someone had taken a deep breath, a sign Twilight taught her was just before a sniper would take a shot.

The gunfire echoed in the warehouse as the bullet flew where her heart would have been, even as Storm flew to another position that would be good for both visual surveillance and sensing the air currents, quickly looking for where they might be hiding.

She only spared two minutes before going into the best available cover nearby.

"You know you are going to lose." The Zebra taunted. "You ponies are not meant for fighting."

Storm said nothing. There weren’t any words she could say to convince this madpony, and speaking would give her position away. She knew she had to focus on staying alive. She made a promise to several ponies now after all.

Storm quickly looked around for anything that might help as she figured where to move to next. She did not want to give her enemy any consistent target to fixate on, but if she could sneak away from someplace without them knowing…

A bottle landed in front of her, exploding into flames. Thankfully none of the concoction landed on her or close enough to cause burns, but she could feel the intense heat, the flames blocking most of the vision in front of her.

She started to open her wings, ready to take off by instinct, then stopped herself. Twilight often told her during training she would do things to take advantage of Storm’s instincts so she could act on the reaction.

Storm tried to look for the next cover when a shot cracked the air and zipped close enough she sneezed and dashed toward the second best cover she saw from her spot, wanting to have the best for later and assuming the sniper already knew she’d want the best spot and have a counter ready.

Her flight zipped about, making full use of her maneuvering skills to make up for her lack of speed, trying to pull off the best feints that made Twilight react the slowest when she practiced, all while trying to spot her opponent.

Storm could hear several shots from different directions and dove at an angle, trying to regroup toward Twilight.

A purple magic beam suddenly blasted through the wall and cut a path of burning destruction along the floor from the other room before stopping as various sounds of magical warfare continued in that direction.

Storm winced and quickly changed directions. She knew Twilight would be too busy and she wasn’t about to drag her down trying to cover her sorry flanks.

Storm swiftly switched gears and continued flying about the upper areas, trying to use the air resistance and gravity to constantly make them unable to hit her accurately as quickly until they adjusted. She knew she was trying to buy time, but since she knew how to fly, she was going to put that to good use to keep herself safe that little bit longer!

"You can’t dodge forever pony!" the voice called as another shot rang out.

"Watch me!" She called, continuing to fly and roll, using her wings to instantly stop as needed, only to fly over backward and do a half turn to right herself, continuing to keep an eye out for all of the sniper's spots as she wracked her brain for any ideas on how to remove them or get herself to safety. Her maneuvers were tougher with the armor, but it saved her hide already and she wasn’t about to lose it now.

"You ponies think you are so great with your magic and flight, think you are superior to everyone else, never having to face the harshness of the plains." He called. "You disgust me."

Another shot rang out and Storm dodged again.

"Not really. Best friend of the guild is a zebra and she doesn’t get looked down on. You disgust me by assuming without asking." She called as she continued to fly, evading the shots. "So I guess we're even."

"You think one blind fool exonerates your race for what it does? How you lord your control of the weather and your prosperity while others wallow in filth and struggle to survive? No one is fooled by your lies and it does not forgive you." Another shot rang out.

She dodged again, realizing she can't keep up dodging forever, but neither can their supply of bullets. She simply hoped her stamina would last long enough to await Twilight’s rescue as she continued to roll and fly about.

"If you've got even half the talents of Zecora, you and all other zebras would be welcomed and helped! You would have whatever aid in prosperity you wanted in exchange for your talents. Instead, you choose to fight and conquer. That isn't our fault. Everypony has something to bring to the table, and that includes zebras and changelings too." She said, breathing more heavily as she continued to push herself, looking for a decent place to land and recover for a little bit.

"Oh? So you only help when you can use us? Your true colors are showing pony!" he yelled along with another shot.

"What, you want everything without giving in kind? World never works that way and I bet you know that!"

"You ponies get everything handed to you! Food, safety, education, but you do not share your bounty! You let the rest of the world rot and live in squalor. Even you said you will only help those in need if they have something you want."

"Fine, bitch about your life and take it. Not like we haven't worked to get where we are after a couple thousand years and there’s no point in helping somepony who isn’t willing to help themselves! I'm done talking." Storm called as she dove to the side, facing her gun harness at one of the nests and strafed it much like a helicopter would before breaking off and trying to reload in midair.

Another shot rang out from her left and she grunted as it grazed her cheek, growling at just how many nests could be in the warehouse.

Storm continued to evade as best she could, ejecting the mag, managing to slam the cartridge into place, but struggled to pull the bolt back while in flight. She made sure it wouldn’t come out without pushing the button and then left it alone while she looked again for some kind of cover… the rafters weren’t any good, and the debris below left too many openings and would be difficult to take off again.

She knew the sniper could be anywhere, and it was clear he had taken the time to know the terrain and she didn’t. Twilight’s training came rushing back to her as they had sparred, how fighting on the enemy’s terms was an uphill battle no soldier would choose if there were options otherwise.

Storm’s flight slowed, wings trying to cramp and she lost a little altitude before double checking for windows or a door to escape yet again. The armor was definitely weighing her down and she didn’t have much more endurance left. She spotted a door on the far side behind her, and started letting herself be pressed backward toward it and tried not to be obvious about it as another shot grazed her ear.

“Keep running, coward.”

She ignored the insult and dove for the door, knowing they had to reload by counting how many shots they had fired before and the longest pause between shots to count the highest amount of shots it could have been.

She could barely hear a curse in the air as she crashed through the door into the open air of the loading area. She tumbled, the armor pinching part of her fur before she let the roll move her enough to get her onto her legs again and ran, letting her wings rest as she looked for cover.

The sky was too clear, a horrible decision to take flight even if she weren’t tired out. There were wagons and crates, but nothing else.

She dove for one of the further wagons from the door, looking for possible enemies and teeth chattering against the bit as she tried to be ready to shoot yet not shoot if there wasn’t an enemy or was an ally there.

With mixed emotions, she found no one in the upturned wagon and barely caught sight of movement at the door, ducking down to make sure she was out of sight while keeping a close eye on all the other directions an enemy could surprise her from.

Her breath came out raggedly and she fought to calm it, not wanting her breath to give her away despite the noise around her. She noticed how the battle still raged, purple light blinking into the sky from in the warehouse. Based on the sounds’ volumes, she didn’t think there was anyone else nearby, but she wasn’t about to make any assumptions that could get her killed. She let herself afford a small sigh as she got her breath back and debated the next move.

"I know you didn't go far, coward! Show yourself so you can die like a warrior!"

'A warrior still picks and chooses their battles, fool. I'm not running away, but I'm not gonna stay somewhere I can't win. Buck that.' She thought, then tried to reach out. ‘Hey Meadow, can I get some help with this guy eventually?’

She got no answer, and due to the flashes of purple she still saw, she suspected she was really on her own. Her helmet and radio wasn’t on and she bit her lip, looking around for some kind of cover and other weapons. She only saw the warehouses and wagons, and no other weapons were on her, just the rifle with the single magazine left. As stealthily as she could, she tried to pull the bolt back, succeeding in chambering the round.

She took a deep breath and let it out slow, realizing that she would have to face him on her own. She knew she’d be shot at if she came out of hiding if he was still there, assuming he wasn’t maneuvering to flank her already.

She felt outnumbered and her mind seemed stuck for ideas as she tried to come up with any kind of plan. For lack of anything better to do, she decided to risk peeking out from the wagon.

Storm caught a glimpse of a dark colored tail having taken cover behind a wagon. She eyed it with suspicion, but decided to risk firing at the wagon. She didn’t have any allies nearby that she knew of and that should mean an enemy.

She bit down on the clamp three times, shooting three bullets in a spread that would injure rather than kill, just in case she was wrong.

Storm heard a curse from the wagon and shot twice more while looking for a new piece of cover and then ducking back, feeling antsy. She knew she had stayed put for too long.

Taking a chance, she flew noiselessly low to the ground as she left the warehouse area and looked for a new target, praying she shot an enemy, not an ally.

She growled at herself, wishing her helmet was still on her. She didn’t know when she lost it, probably when that fire concoction was thrown at her… that’s right, the strap holding it on was shorn off and it fell… She peeked out, wondering how she could get help.

‘Storm, this is Meadow, you have a message you want to get out?’ Meadow asked, finally letting Storm know she had been there all along.

‘Thank Celestia you’re still with me…’ Storm thought, then deliberately relayed, 'I’m pinned down by snipers and the zebra leader by the warehouse, I could use some help.'

'Permission to transmit request for help for Storm.' Meadow asked in a factual concise way to Twilight as she fought, still maintaining the HUD to help Twilight dodge and plan.

"Do it."

"This is Steel Pony 2 requesting fire support on outside of warehouse building. Marking area with green moon." Meadow said using the radio as she used magic to place the appropriate marker above the building. "Two allies known in area. Steel Pony engaging primary target and Lapdog is pursued by multiple hostiles."

"This is mortar team Sierra-Foxtrot-3-8-2, we read you. Dropping 60 Mike Mike. Danger close."

'Storm, get to deep cover or get flying. Explosives are on the way!'

Storm took off as fast as her aching limbs would allow, hearing a whistling sound in the air gradually growing louder even as she rushed to run away.

There was an explosion behind her, followed by another and another. Half a dozen blasts rained down before Storm heard a copy of the radio report through Meadow.

"This is Serra-Foxtrot-3-8-2. That should do it. Got a request for fire support to grid Kilo 23. Good luck Lapdog."

‘Thanks!’ She thought to Meadow, trusting they would relay the message.

Storm took to flight without realizing it during the blasts, flying up to a roof and laid low on it to prevent being easily spotted and peeked out at the damage.

She was stunned to see the entire loading area in ruins. Small craters scattered through the concrete and wood and no sign of any carts or wagons staying fully intact were in sight.

She continued to look, keeping still and trying to spot any signs of life or activity, hoping to spot her nemesis, fully expecting him to still be alive.

"That… didn’t… kill…me… Coward!" She heard the captain yell despite his heavy panting.

Storm quickly pulled out her rifle, listening for that panting to tell where he was coming from and wanting to kill him with it if she could. She was startled to hear it nearby, as if he were limping next to her.

She whirled around to spot him, only to be tackled from the side. She lashed out at the tackler, knowing that only an enemy would try it and felt her hoof meet hide, hearing a grunt before she was punched in the side.

She winced, since the armor didn’t soften that blow and continued swinging at the form, vaguely recognizing it as a zebra and threw everything she had until he kicked her off with a grunt.

Storm rolled onto her hooves and got ready to fight like Twilight had taught her, watching her opponent closely.

He was rolling to his own hooves, his uniform torn and stained with blood along his side and his rifle was gone as he panted.

"Stupid pony… just die!" he yelled as he lunged at her.

"After you, murderer!" she yelled, using his momentum against him as Twilight taught her. She knew he would make this as deadly as he could, and every move counted.

He flew through the air briefly and twisted so he landed on his hooves, sliding back.

She took a breath and centered herself, trying to weigh the options of attack or defend, only to see him charging at her. She took Twilight’s training, ducking in close and throwing a full body blow to knock the wind out of him while pushing him away.

He put a hoof up to block it, but winced as he jumped back, his weight being more distributed on his left side.

Storm eyed him closely, ready to tackle his right side, mentally planning how best to knock him out.

'Lapdog!’ Meadow’s voice echoed in her head firmly, ‘You need to protect everyone that's still left! He won't give you a chance at mercy, ever. If he tries to take your life, you need to take him down so others don't go through what you did.' Meadow tried to remind her.

‘But-’ Storm started to protest.

'Only one of you is walking away from this. It’s him or you, kill or be killed.' Twilight cut in.

'I don't want to kill! He needs to answer for his crimes, and-'

'Storm, I get it.' Meadow replied, 'but now each one we kill prevents dozens more ponies from dying. You are being a shield and blocking him from getting to them. Putting him down will save many more, and capturing him will lead to his execution anyway. I promise you that bastard isn’t walking away or going to a cell after this. Do what your heart tells you if it helps you sleep at night and you get to sleep tonight, but fight to protect those you love and your friends in the EDF.'

“I…’ She hesitated, watching her opponent who was looking over every part of her for some kind of advantage.

'Storm,’ Twilight answered, ‘he has killed I don't know how many. You experienced first hoof how sadistic he is. He was like that before he met you and was comfortable with doing that long before then. He's done it before, and I do not doubt he did it after you and will continue to do it if he ever escapes. He is a sadistic psychopath who won't stop till he himself is stopped. Ponies go to the dungeons, dogs get put down.'

'Fine, fine. I get it, leave me alone so I can concentrate.' She replied.

'We are never alone.' Meadow said softly, before turning to Twilight and admitting, 'I have no idea why I said that… I've had lots of time alone.'

'No clue either.' Twilight shrugged as she dodged a rocket.

'I'll ask Dawn when we meet up with her.' She said, keeping the HUD filled with markers for enemies and arrows for those outside her vision, as she could see all around them with her magic. She was nearing the end of her strength, but still trying to run all of it at once for as long as she could, even as it flickered occasionally.

The Captain charged again and Storm let out a flurry of blows, countering his offense with an offensive front of her own, trying her hardest to force him back, keep him from turning to hide his weak side and inflicting as much damage as she could to his injuries.

The zebra bled on, being pushed back toward the roof’s edge. He did an admirable job blocking, but Storm’s ferocity by another surge of adrenaline was becoming too much for him to do more than block or dodge.

Storm continued to fight, pushing forward inch by bloody inch and not giving him any room to breathe himself as she thought back to what he put her through, channeling her anger. Her armor helped more than she realized, the blows being spread out through the whole plate rather than focused based on the angle of the punches she received. She finally grew tired enough to need a break herself and forced one by punching him heftily with a roar.

“See! I am no coward, you are! You’re the one who ties your victims up and burns them alive with no chance to fend for themselves or even help themselves! How many others have you tied up, helpless and shown just how much of a coward you are?” She yelled at him, intending to rile him up.

He tried to attack yet again, but she resumed her constant punches and kicks like Twilight had repeatedly trained her to do. She started to worry slightly as his eyes got a dangerous glint to them, wondering if riling him up was a bad idea.

'It's good to make your foes angry, they become stupid.’ Meadow encouraged. ‘Stand for yourself and make them pay when they make a mistake and keep a cool head!'

'It's what he was trying to do with you too.' Twilight pointed out. ‘Time to see if he can take his own medicine Storm!’

He threw a punch as Twilight said that to her and managed to catch her in the jaw with a loud pop, spinning her to where her back was to another edge of the roof.

Storm let her anger turn into a cool force in the pit of her stomach. Her jaw hurt like crazy, but she used her wings to stabilize herself and returned to fighting, ignoring the pain she felt as it reset itself into place with a second blow and made him pay for each blow he gave her.

She yelled when he threw a punch that fractured a wing bone, he growled when he got a solid hit to his chest in return and threw his weight into her trying to push her to the back of the roof now that he knew she couldn’t fly as easily now.

She tucked her wings back in and pulled him back onto her, using her rear legs to push him up and off of her some distance away before rolling back onto her hooves, barely coming short of throwing him off the building.

'Storm, you still have your gun right? Shoot him. You can't miss.' Meadow reminded her.

‘Oh… I bucking forgot.’ She growled and finally turned herself to the now lunging zebra and bit down.

A loud crack tore the air, no louder than any other time, but it was all she heard for the next few seconds as the captain stopped dead in his tracks, his uniform slowly turning a deep red, spreading from the wound.

Storm watched, wide-eyed and ready to defend herself further, both with her remaining shots and with her body. She watched as he looked up, seeing his face full of confusion and shock.

“H-…. How? Y-you were…. You were…” He said, voice getting quieter and quieter.

He stumbled backward as he tried to get his shaking limbs to undo his shirt to bind his wound.

His hooves didn’t find more roof, they found empty air and the rest of his body tumbled backward over the edge. The next thing Storm heard was the sickening crunch of a body hitting cement eight stories down.

‘He’s gone… It’s… really over…’ Storm thought, her legs shaking until she collapsed onto the building, her eyes unable to look away from her foe’s corpse.

Storm was unaware of the battle now, how only a few scattered shots were echoing as the final buildings were being cleared. She laid there… exhausted and finally looking away when she could bear it no more.

‘You did what you had to do.’ Meadow said faintly in her ear, trying to help her come to peace, ‘Know that with his life ending comes the knowledge that ponies you love and care about and those you haven't met will not face the terrors you did this day.'

Meadow groaned as she stopped the HUD from the combat, chuckling, ‘Sorry Commander, I reached my limit.’

'Rest, I got this.' Twilight said as she dealt with the last of the minions.

'At least I also recorded Lapdog's battle, up until this point. The zebra is dead. She fought well.' Meadow said faintly.

'Rest up. I got this.' Twilight repeated as she turned her attention to the exhausted Flare, both of them had brought everything they could for the fight, and she was proud of them both.

Meadow watched, technically helpless for the moment, but fully aware of what they were doing, and trusting that Twilight would come on top.

Both of them fought, Flare using his expertise in teleporting to dodge and attack from her flanks while she did her best to keep up with his rapid teleporting.

Meadow noticed her reaction time was faster and decided to offer help once more. 'Should I notify you where he is? I have enough strength for that...'

'Rest,' she repeated firmly as she focused on the battle.

Meadow chuckled and added a single arrow that would point toward him and hover over him as she stayed conscious, ‘I can rest when he’s dead. Go get ‘em commander.’

'Thanks." Twilight said as she dodged attacks in the air and wielded her sniper rife.

Twilight’s magical reserves were dwindling as well, burning themselves at a rapid rate as she dodged, returned fire, dodged, returned fire.

Meadow strained, pushing herself further to her limit. She had tried to reserve the rest for an emergency, but it was heavily needed for this fight and this was the biggest foe they would face here.

‘Better settle it in the next few minutes. This is harder than I thought.’

‘Understood.’

Twilight closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them, purple flames were in her eyes. Hatred, rage, pure bloodlust flowed through Twilight that she normally only removed for one person.

Twilight dodged a magic blast from Flare and a dark crystal exploded up from ground where the blast had come from. Meadow was struggling to keep up with the information, still pointing out projectiles and the direction flare was

A group of the few remaining ponies entered and made the mistake of alerting Twilight to their presence by firing on her. Her armor absorbed the blows before a step toward them caused dark spikes exploded beneath them, shooting up and through the unfortunate souls’ remains and held them in the air limply.

Meadow could hear whispering that spread through their minds, promising Twilight the world, promising her everything she wanted and more as she used it to fight.

'Focus Twilight,’ Meadow warned, ‘don’t get lost in your feelings’

A dome of crystal burst around her to block another attack, only to dissolve and return fire with a blast of green and black magic.

‘Twilight!’ Storm warned, ‘You’re using too much dark magic!’

More and more spells were thrown at her enemy that constantly ran and fired shots at her, more and more crystals littering the warehouse remains.

Meadow put up a timer counting down from twenty, feeling herself struggle to interact with the world as a whole as the battle raged on.

'Be careful Twilight, don't listen to the whispers, you will hurt yourself, and hurt Chrysalis' feelings if you go too far.'

The whispers grew more frantic and numerous as she continued to use her magic. All she had was her battle and the whispers as Meadow’s timer went to zero and she panted, having no more magic and stuck as a passenger for the ride.

'Twilight, remember why you fight. Remember who you love, what you will return to.' She said, using what she could to drown out those whispers

She covered her hooves in dark crystal claws and shred through another enemy pony.

'Twilight!' Meadow called, trying to muster any degree of strength she could, 'Twilight, come back!'

Twilight jolted as if struck, standing still.

'Twilight… welcome back.' Meadow said, 'I was worried about you.'

Twilight didn't move or say anything. She could hear the voices nearly screeching their promises at her, trying to have her use more dark magic to solve all her problems and make the bad ponies go away.

'Twilight, I'm still here, we'll get through this together.' Meadow said as she tried to undercut the screeching. 'We are never alone.'

Twilight continued to stand, her emotions seeping into Meadow, showing Meadow just how badly she wanted to give in, to stop the pain and the struggling.

'Twilight, come back, I'm here, and we'll get through this together.' She said, 'You saved my life, and I will not abandon you. You taught me magic, taught me to love myself and gave me a purpose. Twilight, come back to us. You don't need your dark magic for these fools. Let's do this, together.' She said 'And even if that weren't enough, remember the mate of your dreams, How would Chrysalis feel if you let yourself be taken by darkness? Who would guide Violet to make friends while taking over the world? What about Lapdog and your other pet Dawn and her foals? Come.'

"They… they wouldn't like it." She whispered.

'There ya go. Think of them, the example you're setting Twilight.' Meadow said, giving her a gentle hug sensation on her back before saying, 'DUCK!'

She dropped to the ground right as a bolt of magic went right where her head was. Meadow sighed in relief.

'Sorry, I barely saw that one in time… I’m so weak.'

'What’s going on? What's happening?' Twilight asked, confused while the dark magic had cut off.

'You went apeshit on the enemies and we're still fighting. Flare is still alive but worn down. You can still get him and keep him from hurting more families. I have no more strength left... must rest...' Meadow said. When Twilight only expressed confusion, she summarized again, a faint whisper. ‘You beat up some ponies, Flare's still alive, go get em princess. I’m passing out for a few days now.'

Twilight blinked looking around at the destruction confused by it before having to dodge another attack on her own.

Meadow drifted, barely aware of what was happening. She wasn’t capable of actual sleep unless the commander was, and now she simply watched passively, the sensations Twilight feeling barely reaching her.

The battle raged on, getting down to just Flare and Twilight, and Twilight began blocking his long range teleports with a shield around the room.

Flare’s strength started to wane, and Twilight threw blast after magical blast until eventually he was hit by one back into one of the dark crystals, a spine stabbing him through the flanks as he bled over the crystal.

Flare yelled out in pain, squirming as he tried to push himself off of the crystal, barely managing to do so before he fell onto the ground, shaking in place as he bled before he finally laid still, his blood still pooled around him.

Twilight panted as she finally allowed herself to look around the destroyed room.

'Storm…' Meadow whispered in her comatose state, a brief flicker of her direction coming up in Twilight’s vision.

Twilight almost missed it, then realized what Meadow said and galloped toward her ally.

Twilight noted the fallen form of the zebra captain, looking around and then up and seeing Storm’s mane hanging over the edge. She spread her wings and swiftly flew up to the rooftop and landed beside her.

“Storm!” Twilight called as she walked closer.

Storm didn’t seem to be moving, a single blink crossing her face and showing she was alive as her eyes focused on something in the distance, her limbs tucked in close to her and shaking in place.

"Storm?" Twilight asked, worried Storm had an injury until her magic confirmed she was not in peril.

Storm blinked again, her eyes starting to focus and looked at Twilight in an expression she knew all too well. Storm was in shock, the weight of their battle having collapsed in on her now that the danger had passed. Twilight took a deep breath, and raised a hoof.

"Snap out of it Lapdog!" Twilight said authoritatively, the slap of metal on fur echoing faintly off the nearby walls that remained.

Storm yelped and punched Twilight back, hitting her in the chest as tears came to her eyes.

"I killed him... I bucking killed him!"

"It was him or you lapdog." she said, her voice calmer to match what they needed.

"He fell… he… the sound he made when he hit the ground… I watched him bleed…" Storm said as she shook in place.

Twilight sighed and acted on an age-old, tried and true way of handling this. A bottle of amber liquid appeared beside her and she tilted Storm's neck back and dumped whiskey down her throat.

Storm coughed and sputtered, drinking only half of it before she turned to Twilight wiping her muzzle in agitation.

"What the hay was that!?" She growled.

"Whiskey, nectar of the gods." Twilight said happily and took a big gulp herself and smiled at Storm.

Storm snorted before the warmth of the drink felt like it was spreading from the inside, making her trembling slow until it stopped.

"A tried and true method for fixing this sort of shock." Twilight answered with a smile.

"Thanks…” Storm sighed, “I just… I don't know if this is for me. I thought I was tough, but this is just something else entirely."

"Can I be honest with you?"

"Yeah, of course."

"You always remember your first. Every detail, every sight, sound, smell and taste." Twilight answered, taking a seat next to Storm, a wing spreading over her. "I was just 23 for my first… He was an enemy soldier, I was being trained as a doctor. … The place was under attack, my friend was shot, we had an injured soldier in the room and another medical tech… He pushed into the room and… I meant to drive him away with my friend’s pistol. … I emptied the mag and… … I hadn’t meant to kill him, but the bullet hit him in the neck… … I’m not sure how long I kept pulling the trigger as I watched him die and then just… shut down… A lot like you did actually… A very good friend of mine helped me exactly how I am helping you."

Storm sighed, blinking away the tears she didn’t even feel as she mindlessly replied, "So, I'm doing the same thing you did… now what? I become an alicorn?"

"If all it took was this to become an alicorn we'd have an army of them." Twilight chuckled. "No, no. What we do is you and me are going to find the cheapest bar we can, and you are getting black out drunk."

"The… cheapest one huh?" Storm asked as she turned to look at her. "Maybe I'll have a couple. As long as they don't taste like piss."

"That’s the point. Nothing fixes up a soldier like cheap booze."

Storm laughed emptily. "Sure... whatever you say."

Twilight tapped Storm on the nose, letting out a small sound with a smile, “Boop.”

Storm pulled back and shook her head at the sudden touch, looking at Twilight with confusion and a little frustration.

"Who knows what’ll happen too. Might end up in a good bar fight, or you'll wake up in bed next to someone else." Twilight chuckled, putting a wing over her

"Stop me if that happens. I don’t want to have that good a time and not remember it." She smirked.

Twilight smirked back. "No promises. I'm getting drunk right along-side you. I'm your wing mare." She said, starting to lead them away from the roof with her wing still draped over Storm. She'd be delegating paperwork for this time. She had more important things going on.

Storm laughed, "As long as it’s you, I won’t mind… Did you get Flare?"

"Yeah. He's dead."

"So, how’s Meadow? I stopped hearing from her after the air strike."

"Resting"

"What, she fall asleep mid-battle?" She asked sarcastically.

"She used up her power keeping my sorry flank alive."

"Wait, she saved your flank?"

"A few times yes."

Storm whistled low. "Bet neither of us expected th-" she stopped as she remembered, "wait, where’s Sarge?"

"Huh?"

"Xerin. He watched over me till you got back to me."

Twilight radioed and listened to reports before answering.

"He linked up with another squad and continued the mission. He is currently escorting out the hostages."

"Good. If we’re getting drunk, we need to bring him along for the ride."

Author's Notes:

Well then that was quite intence now wahtisnt it for everyone.. Storm confronting the Zebra who scared her dn winning

and twiight bttling not only Flare nd his goons but also the sweet sweet promises of Dark Magic, good thing Meadow was there to snap her out of it or she might have been lost to its promises....

Well....either way, not much left to do now but finish up now isnt there?

See you all in the epilouge!

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