I watch the crows fly over the building through the window. All of us have seen it, I see the worry and concern on Xavier's, Xochitl’s, and Ginger’s faces. I look over at Xavier as he holds his hoof over Ginger’s muzzle and tell her, “Ginger, quite or we may all be dead.” She stops trying to yell and Xavier releases her.

From the corner window I hear Trouble, “Oh buck me with Celestia’s forehoof, look at all those crows,” I hear his voice tremble as he says it, “LT, last time I saw them like this was in the Everfree Forest.”

From the other room, I hear Sunset, “Buck, Buck! BUCK!”

This is followed by Blondie, “Oh no, Glad Sunny is with the civilians right now.”

Behind me, I hear Tar Water ask her guard, “So what’s the big deal with crows?”

From another window, I hear Xochitl answer her, “The crows are from our own personal Harbinger, the Mareigan. She is a spirit, but she also determines who lives, and who dies on the battlefield.”

Trouble looks at her, “Last time I saw them like this, Sunset, Blondie, and I were three of the five survivors out of fifty that started. That’s the big deal.”

“Oh, you have to be kidding me, you can not be serious.” Tar replies.

Then Specs speaks up, “Actually she is, the Major saw her, talked to her, and then told us what she looked like. All I saw was a little orb of light, nothing else. But that was the night before you rejoined us.”

“You are all serious? You know you are all insane right? This is insane,” Tar sputters out. I see the fear and terror in her eyes.

I look at her, “Yes Tar, we are serious, several of us have seen her, and she even saved me from miscarrying a while back. So, she is real, and please if you see her, for the love of Celestia and Luna, don’t piss her off.”

Then I hear Xochitl call out, “Bandits coming down the main road, they are spreading out.”

Sunset then calls all of the flying scouts together near the back of the building we are in, as they head toward the roof, I hear him telling them, “Ok, it’s up to us to provide air support, I want wingmates for everypony, Dull Beak you’re with me. Train Wreck take Firefly. Serenity, you and Sky. Quick burst, if we run low on ammo, fly to the SOS wagons, land and rearm asap, then return to reengage. Keep track of your wingmate. Remember, these are raiders, that means no prisoners, given or taken.”

Sweet creator, what have we become when we do not even consider taking prisoners or becoming them ourselves?

“Wait, Choo Choo, I may need you and your horn later. I have an idea of using you, Chip, and Blackberry Pie together as one unit. Sort of like a want to be battlemages unit. I know you are not nearly as powerful as them but do you think you can do that?”

She looks at me with surprise, “No Problem LT I can provide a shield to protect us, as long as they can provide spells too. Never tried working with unicorns like that before, but it should be better than as individuals. It’s funny, our mother usually has us work in teams, I should have thought of it.” From across the room, I see Chip and Blackberry nod.

Then behind me, I hear Sutures, “Count me in, besides, I have a shotgun to use also.” While I agree, I am afraid for her. I had not planned to put her at risk too. It seems I am putting it all on the line this time, whether I want to or not.

“Ok Sutures, if you do this, I want you to stick with Chip and Blackberry so you can be ready more quickly. Use your spells as weapons, even if they normally are not.”

I see Sutures cringe some, “Mollygirl, how far do you want me to weaponize my spells. Do you realize what you just asked me to do? I can perform surgery with my horn and reset bones.”

“Only as far as you are willing but I need all of us to do what we can to survive. This is no longer a battle, but a fight for survival. The civilians are already waiting for the word to run. We are here to give them time to get away and try to survive if we can.”

I see all of their faces change to one of determination at that point. Then I hear from behind me Choo Choo say, “You know Mollygirl, you really do suck at giving motivational speeches.”

I shrug my shoulders, “Well, just being honest and laying it on the line.” After that everyone gets ready for the fight that is coming in their own ways.

As I sit there, I hear an explosion down the street as one of raiders hoof catches a tripwire on a booby trap leading into an old shack. The force of the explosion blows the walls out of it and injures the raiders who are nearby, the one inside is simply gone. Those not affected ignore it and keep coming forward.

I watch the raiders keep approaching the town in a rough line abreast They move through what were once hedgerows and fence lines. Through the remains of the once one family homes and small shops. Getting closer to us with each hoof step.

They are just fifty meters away when I give the order over the all hands channel, “Now! Independent fire.”

The world erupts in gunfire from both sides of the street. I watch as many of them drop behind piles of debris or walls. Some run for cover, most of them getting cut down in the open. I open fire out the window at a group that I see running for a fairly intact house on the south side of the road. I am pulled back in by Taser when a shot comes close to me and I am sprayed by chips of brick.

1^st Squad of the Door Kickers is in the basement of the building I am in. I can hear them firing. I am stunned when I see one of Prairie Fire's grenade rounds take a buck who is leading a charge along the main road right in the chest. It hits hard enough it breaks the skin and explodes from inside of him. This briefly takes the wind out of their sails.

The gunfire from that direction begins to die down some after that. On the other end of town, I can hear more gunfire erupt as the third column of raiders hits against E-troop on the east side of town and in the woods. I notice that most of the raiders before us have military-style equipment and weapons. Only a few are carrying melee weapons as their main armaments. Great, regulars instead of the raiders I had expected. That also means that Silver Spite is probably nearby. And if they are nearby that means that the third column from the west is also near… and that is when I hear gunfire from the north of us. I then hear Kettle Bell over the comms channel, “MG, this is Belles 1, this is Belles one, we have raiders moving against the north side of town, we are engaging, repeat we are engaging.”

“Roger Belles 1 this is MG, good luck and good hunting. Thanks for covering our backs.”

It is then I begin to hear Celestia open fire with three quick rounds. Backed up by Nightmare Moon’s quick sharp barks, both to our north also. They are trying to surround us. Below I can hear Woodrow with the SAW he recently acquired firing in three-round bursts down the main road toward the advancing forces.

As I watch out the window, I see a group of them jump up and run from behind a pile of rubble towards one that is closer. I open fire and while I miss, I cause them to dive for cover. The next window over I see Xochitl is a couple of feet back from the window and aiming his zebra rifle. I hear him fire and then I hear the screams of his target as I turn to look out the window and see the soldier in flames and rolling on the ground.

From the building across from us I hear the call “Medic!” I watch as Sutures begins to get up and then I hear over her Pipbuck Triage tell her that she’s there and has the situation in hoof. Sutures then begins to sit back down but before she can sit fully, we hear from downstairs another cry of “Medic!” and I watch her run out of the room.

I am just about to take another shot when I notice that there is a group of about thirty soldiers on the south side of the main road leapfrogging from building to building I call out for the troopers to shift fire and while we only hit one or two, we are able to temporarily suppress the rest.

Over the PipBuck I now hear Broken Hills call me, “MG this is Door Kicker 2 we need to fall back from the hospital they are getting too close and we will not be able to hold much longer.”

“Rodger, fallback when ready. All Door Kickers provide support.”

I leave this room and shift down to a window where I can see them coming out of the hospital front entrance. They are running for all they are worth. I watch as I see Hills get hit and spin as he falls. Then I see Spring Rain his grenadier directing the others to get behind the hedge and cover her. As she helps to pick up Hills, I see a soldier pop up from behind a hedge and get ready to shoot. She unleashes with her booper. I can tell she had it loaded for a close fight as I see the Flechettes just tear the soldier to pieces with a fine red mist left in the air. She then throws Hills on her back and carries him to the next building while the rest of 2^nd squad covers her.

Once she is to safety, I see them fall back with some covering while the others move. Behind us, I hear the gunfire from the woods getting especially heavy.

“Rangers 3 this is MG, how’s it going over there?” I call.

In return I hear Nugget's voice, “A little busy LT, still holding, gotta go.” I hear her say as I hear the chatter of the carbines and rifles and an occasional boom of a metal apple going off.

I am shifting back to the first room I was in when Duke stops me. “Ma’am I would feel much more comfortable with you further from the lines.”

I am about to argue with him when Xavier looks at me and nods, “He is correct LT, you need to move, the scouts that are here will stay with you and your staff. We are your escort now.”

“Ok, let’s move then, how about that single-story building behind us,” I tell them as I gather up my maps along with Paper Work.

I am just about ready to make a run out the door when I am grabbed by hooves. Sutures has returned. “LT, let some of your escorts go first. We need to make sure that the way is clear.”

At that point, I watch as Xavier, Ginger, and Xochitl run out the door. When they are halfway across I see Xochitl turn to the south and let go of a quick burst of fire and then continue running. Xavier bucks the door in and the others follow him inside.

Next, I watch as both Paper Work and Specs run across. They are now being covered on both sides. Then it is my turn, As I run out the door Sutures is slightly behind me followed by Chip and Blackberry. I am halfway to the next building when I am almost hit by a burst of fire, I hear those behind me skid to stop as I enter the doorway I look back and see all three unicorns standing, facing south. Each of them has their forelegs splayed apart and their heads down. Their horns are all glowing. I watch Blackberry’s horn flashes, then I see Suture’s horn flash and suddenly the group of soldiers that were firing at us jumps up from their shelter and runs toward us. Then I see Chips horn flash and suddenly out of nowhere, I see a large group of metal pieces appear and rocket towards the charging ponies. Then I see Choo Choo run behind them and her horn glows and I watch as her shield forms around them. I see first one pony grab its chest and drop to the ground. Then I see the magic bullets shred the one next to it. The unicorns shift their targets and within seconds the attackers are dead or on the ground screaming. Then they all run into the building with me.

I am stunned as I have read about the battlemages, but never seen more than one unicorn conduct an attack at a time. They see me with my jaw hanging open. Then I ask “How?”

Blackberry smiles, “Oh I cast an alter chemistry spell that changed their hormones to cause them to charge us.

Next, I see Chip smile, “It has been a while since I have cast a magic missile spell. I forgot how effective that was.

Finally, I see Sutures, she has a tear in her eye and a tremor in her voice. “I cast a heart attack spell. I,” she pauses, “I reversed my normal defibrillation spell that I use for heart attacks. Instead of performing a heart massage, I simply squeezed their hearts. The opposite of what I did to save you.” As she says this, I see her head go down in shame.

“Good job all of you, Sutures, I am sorry I asked you to do that, I will never ask you to again.”

She looks at me, “Too late, I know how to do it and it came way to easy. Mollygirl, I did it to save us, not because you asked.” Then she walks into the next room and sits down.

I follow her into the room. Sit down next to her and asks, “Are you ok?”

She is quiet at first, “Yeah, I will be. It’s just now I feel like a monster.” She stops wipes her eye and looks at me, “Am I a monster Mollygirl? Am I?”

In the middle of a battlefield, I look her in the eyes, gently kiss her on her forelock, and quietly tell her, “No love, you’re not a monster; I am. I’m sorry.” Then I get up and go to the next room.

The rest have taken positions covering the windows and doors. On the east side of the building, a squad from the Rangers is firing in support of Nugget and her three squads. I unfold the map on an old desk and figure out what I want next.

The battle has been raging for over an hour already. So far, we have fallen back to consolidate at two points. Nugget and her squads are still holding in those damnable woods. I have had the Rangers who were with us move across the street to the old church.

I am just about ready to order the Door Kickers to fall back when I hear a yell go up from across the way, as over a hundred of their soldier charges at us. We open fire on them and watch scores of them drop. However, some get close enough to our forces to try lobbing metal apples into the windows. I see one coming our way and watch as Ginger of all ponies bucks a desk in front of the window in time to prevent it from coming in. It bounces back and explodes. I feel the building shake and thank the Goddesses that it is a brick building and not sheet metal or wood.

Above us, I can hear the blast from my fliers as they strafe the enemy’s positions. I hear Sunset directing them which way to go and where to target. He has complete control of the air. I wish I could say that about the ground.

Again, we hold. But I see several ponies who are wounded. I have reports of heavy casualties from Nuggets squads in the woods, with several reported dead. We will need to get her out of there soon.

Tar slowly approaches me and all but begs, “Mollygirl, for the love of all that is holy, can I have a weapon to at least protect myself?”

She is still being guarded by Taser, but even he has been wounded. I see the fear in her eyes. She is scared like the rest of us.

I think for a second. Then I hoof her my pistol. “I want it back when we are done. It’s a .45 so expect a bit more kick than the 10 mm that most of us carried.”

I see the relief in her face as she takes it into her mouth, “Thank you, I will get it back as soon as we can.” She tells me around the grip in her mouth. Just then I see her eyes go wide and I think she is going to shoot me but instead, she rears up and fires over me right into the head of a unicorn that was running in with a submachine gun. As the body hits the floor, the gun drops.

“First thank you, second go grab that SMG and any ammo on the body. It’s yours to carry in combat, but in between, it stays with the HQ staff or your guard. Third, give me back my dang pistol, now I got to clean it too,” I tell her with a smile and pat her shoulder as she passes by.

Once the pistol is back in my holster, I fold up the maps. “Ok, everyone let’s get ready to fall back.”

We are just about to leave the building when I hear two ponies outside one of the windows talking, I motion for all my ponies to stand still and be quiet. From the noise of movement along the wall, I estimate at least two squads with them.

Then I hear, “Two-Tone, I wish you still had those metal apples, I told you not to use them all trying to take out that bot last night.”

“Look, Duck Stew, I am not going to argue with you, after all, you don’t have any left either.”

“Well, you lead then and the rest of us will follow, you heard what Silver Spite said, he wants us to take this building.”

“I don’t know what his rush is, later tonight another three companies should be here. I heard a rumor that two more should be here the day after.”

“You want to argue with him, go ahead, but you know what happens to those who fail or disagree.”

“Yeah, well you saw what happened to Window Shade. You first, I’ll follow with the rest of us.”

“Thanks, you know what kind of ponies we are dealing with here. Come on, look what they did to our officers at the surrender ceremony, Silver Spite was lucky to survive. Then, Good Doer, they acted like raiders in that place. Not a Buck, mare, or foal left alive there. These Co-op ponies are animals I tell you.”

What? They think we did that and that they are the good ponies? I think to myself. As they are arguing I have everypony start to move to the furthest entrance from the door we are at.

Suddenly Xochitl quietly points out a hidden door on the floor behind a desk. He motions for us to follow as he disappears down the stairs. The rest of us follow and close the trapdoor behind us and bolt it shut. Once we are down there, we can hear them enter upstairs and begin to walk around, searching for us.

We sit in the darkness just listening and then I hear a voice that I never wanted to hear again. I watch as Tar bites down on her hoof to keep from screaming.

“So, where are they?” Silver Spite asks them in a cool tone of voice.

“Sir, they were here just a little bit ago. I heard them inside and I saw them shoot Window Shade. They were here, we tried.”

“We tried, they should have been here,” I hear him repeat back to them in a mocking voice. Then his voice changes to cold and hard. “You, I saw you try and take a prisoner earlier, you tried to spare them. I told you not one of them was to be spared yet,” he pauses briefly, “Yet, you choose to try and do so and disobey me.”

“Sir, I am sorry sir. Please, forgive me, it won’t happen again sir.” I hear the one I think is Duck Stew beg.

I hear a deep breath and an exhalation of disappointment and Silver Spite continues, “You know you are right; it will not happen again.” I hear a gunshot; a body hits the floor above us and then Silver Spite says, “somepony grab his equipment, no need to waste it,” I hear his hooves shift and then he says, “Burn the building, go ahead and leave the bodies no need to clean up the mess.” I then hear his hoof steps as he and several others walk back toward the door they had entered through.”

Above us, I hear them grabbing materials and piling them together to start a fire. Then I begin to smell smoke as the fire begins to take, especially on all the old dried out wood. I can hear the crackle of the fire in the room above us. I have everypony start looking for another exit, maybe we missed some storm cellar doors or something. I begin to wonder if we will need to go back up the stairs and fight our way out.

By the light of my PipBuck I can see the others around me, then in the back, I see Xochitl and Ginger waving at me, and then they point to a small door in the cellar wall. Chip goes over to it and uses his horn to open it as quietly as possible.

Then Ginger and Xochitl go into the tunnel on the other side of the door followed by Xavier. It does not matter where it goes at this point, we just have to get out of here. By the light of our PipBucks, we move as quickly as the tight tunnel will allow. It is not too long but it ends with another door that is locked. Again, Chip comes to the door. I watch him pick it using his horn. It takes him several minutes and three bobby pins but he finally is able to open it. Again, he uses his horn to move the door open. Ginger is the first one out and I hear her say “Oh hi Sissy, I did not know you were here.”

I then hear Dusty’s voice “Ok bucks and fillies, put down your weapons, it's our ponies coming out.”

We find ourselves entering the basement of the next building north, that is almost an entire city block away. I am rather surprised to see her and the rest of the 1st squad here. When I ask her about it, she simply shrugs, “Duke ordered us to fall back to consolidate the lines. Besides we left a few neat tricks behind when we left there. Oh, and Blueberry Crisp is upstairs, LT, you may want to go talk to her. She was in a near panic when we saw the fire started.”

“Thanks for the rundown Dusty. I appreciate it,” I tell her, then I head for the stairs to go meet Blueberry.

Once I get upstairs, I am led by Pearl to a back room where Duke is. I pull out the maps and we go over the known positions of our troops. We can still hold on, but we need to get Nugget and her troops back before we can pull out of town.

It is then that I hear the gunfire begin to rise. Then I hear Nugget over the PipBuck, “Gunbunny 1, this is Ranger 3, I need fire support now, we are about to be overrun. I repeat we are about to be overrun,”

“Ranger 3 this is GunBunny 1 where do you want it?” Archer replies.

“Gunbunny 1 drop it 100 meters from my position and begin to drop it ten yards closer every minute.”

“Rodger than Ranger 3, you have incoming, make yourself small.”

Then I hear Celestia barking again and the sound of the shell and mortar rounds passing overhead. Just as they detonate, I hear the next set of shells inbound also.

It is just after the third set of rounds passes overhead that I hear several massive explosions from the brick building we originally were in. I run to a window and watch it collapse, spilling bricks and debris into the surrounding streets.

Duke smiles at me, “Sorry ma’am, I love it when a plan comes together, the prezzies I left behind seem to have worked as advertised. I got several pounds of plastic explosive and det caps and set up a booby trap to bring the building down. I am no engineer though, so it’s a bit messier than I would like.”

I shake my head with a smile, “That is ok, now let’s get ready to go get Nugget and her squads.”

“You mean to retake her area, or just to evacuate them LT?” I hear Blueberry Crisp ask from behind me.

I turn and see her in her full armor. It still shakes me up to see her like that, but I recognize her voice, even if it is distorted by her helmet.

“Blueberry, you are going to be leading us to go retrieve them. Once we have them back, we are going to do a fighting withdrawal from the town.” I tell her, “now just let me organize it quickly and we can move.”

I then call both Archer and Sunset on the PipBuck and tell them what I want. Both agree that it will be no problem to support us. As we wind down the five-minute discussion Sunset then tells us, “LT, let me and my fliers go first, I have an idea that may surprise all of them. Just have Nugget tell her troops to keep their heads down. If it works, we may break them for a bit.”

“Ok Sunset, give it a shot.” I tell him.

“Rodger ma’am let me get organized really quick. You will know when we hit them, then go.”

I nod to myself “Ok, on your signal,” I tell him and then I begin to worry, I hope he is right about whatever it is working. Then I look at the others, “OK, get ready, when I give the word we go.”

Everypony was getting ready, either lined up at a doorway to run for it, at a window to provide covering fire or just getting ready to fire or move from wherever they were at. I looked up into the sky and watched as my fliers divided themselves up.

The one group is Serenity, Sky and Dull Beak, I watch them continue strafing the positions to the southeast, supporting the trapped Rangers. The other group is made up of Sunset, Firefly and Choo Choo, they are going high almost to the bottom of the cloud layer and to the west. Then I watch them spin around and begin to dive straight down towards the largest concentration of Silver Spites Troops between us and the cut off squads.

Silver Spites troops are too busy to notice them, instead, they are either firing at the other three flyers who continue to dodge and weave, flying as fast as they can away from the area, or they are firing on the rest of us.

As I watch them continue their dive, their bodies extended with forelegs straight ahead and back legs behind them with their tails. I call out over the comms channel, “here it comes, get ready.”

And then, right before it is too late to pull out, I watch as all three pull up. My heart almost stops though when I see Choo Choo having problems pulling out and she almost hits the ground pulling out only a couple of meters above it. As they pull up and away, I watch them rotate their bodies. But what is most shocking is to watch the explosive force of three side by side Tactical Rainbooms. It levels the building right next to them, damaging another that is nearby, any ponies that are outside near it are thrown by the concussive wave. The fires in the building we escaped from are blown out like candles.

Right then I yell out as loud as I can to those around me as well as on the com channel. “Go! Go! Go!”

As we surge forward the opposing forces to the south are quiet, those to the west are stunned and only a few seem to be still firing. To the east as planned the Artillery shifts and puts up a wall of fire between us and the southern forces, where those still able are trying to pick themselves up. This seems too much for them and most begin to run. As we run forward, I am behind Blueberry Crisp and I hear her minigun begin to wind up. We see some of them try to jump up and attack us and we fire on the run. Not caring if we kill them or just forced them down, those behind us will take care of them.

We have just crossed the bridge and we find Nuggets HQ. All of them are wounded, some of them several times. Of the thirty ponies that she led into those woods, only fifteen are left standing. We grab every pony or cow we can that is still alive. Those who are dead, if we can find them, we grab one of their id tags and their equipment if we can. It is a quick snatch and grab.

As we leave, I notice all the bodies on the ground. At least seventy raiders were killed. The Ranger squads here put up a real fight. But the cost, the cost must be worth it.

Within minutes we are falling back, taking the wounded and dying with us. Once back to our jump-off points we reconsolidate the line. We have taken five more wounded and two dead making the rescue. The medics begin to treat the wounded as best they can.

I am in the same building as them along with my escort. I hear Ginger crying over her mother being hurt so badly, and Xochitl trying to comfort her. I see Dusty come out of the backroom shaking her head and she goes over and holds Ginger too.

I go into the backroom; I see the medics trying their best to save those we have just rescued. Six of them are walking wounded and I watch as they grab their gear and head back out. Then I notice Nugget has been set to the side. She is having trouble breathing. She has several cuts on her from shell fragments. I also see at least two bullet holes in her chest.

As I approach, she tries to smile. “Sorry Mollygirl, I tried. We did our best.”

I lay down beside her and put a hoof on hers, “I know old friend, you did great, I am so sorry we could not get there sooner.”

“You did fine, thank you for getting my people out of there.” She says as she coughs up some blood. I hear more ponies coming up behind me. I look up at Sutures sad face with a questioning look and she shakes her head no.

From behind Sutures, I hear Ginger scream, “Mooommm, Noooo!” and she rushes up and puts her hoofs around Nugget, burying her nose in her fur as she cries.

Dusty comes in next, “It’s alright mom, you're going to be ok.”

Nugget weakly tries to smile again, “No Dusty, it’s not. This has been coming for a while, ever since Hoofington, and I am sorry, but I have to go soon,” I see her smile as she coughs up more blood, she looks behind us and I hear her say, “Just a minute dad. Let me say goodbye first.”

I have tears in my eyes, I cannot help it. I know what is happening.

She looks at her daughters, weakly she tells us, “I love you girls, remember that. I have to go now,” she turns her head slightly toward me, “Mollygirl take care of my fillies for me, get them home. Remember your promise about Ginger. She is both of ours daughter now.”

I can only nod in reply, as I watch her lay her head onto my hoof, her chest slowly stops moving and I feel her whole body relax. I know she is gone now, and the only thing I can do is whinny in pain. I sound like an animal not a pony it hurts so much. I am joined by two other voices in this scream.

Behind me I hear Duke run-up to the doorway, “What’s wrong? What’s going on?”

I hear Sutures tell him, “It’s ok as it can be. We just lost Nugget, now please let them be for a minute.”

From outside I can hear the gunfire begin to pick up again. Sutures comes over and takes Nuggets Id tag off and gives it to me. She then begins to pull the blanket over Nuggets head, the three of us each stand, we give her a kiss and say goodbye and then I lead my daughters out of the room and back into the fight. I have to be strong for them now too.

As I try to get myself back together, I realize then, just how much one buck has taken from me and those I love. Fear turns to hatred. I want his ears. Ginger is so upset she is in no condition to move right now. Even Xochitl does not seem to be able to help her. I have the wounded evacuated first and then we begin a fighting withdrawal. Silver Spite and his troops, however, stay to the west side and the east side, shooting when they can. But they are not trying to advance. It seems both sides are pretty much played out after the last several hours of fighting. But I know more are coming.

I and my escort, and staff fall out the back of the building and follow the medics and wounded north to a large factory on the north end of town. I carry a still crying Ginger on my back. She is my daughter now. My responsibility. Once there we wait for the others to fall back also. I gently set Ginger down and sit next to her while she cries herself to sleep with her head leaning against me.

Once they arrive, I am approached by Duke. He looks me over and shakes his head, “Ma’am, you look like hell.”

I laugh lightly, “Thanks, at least I look how I feel.”

He smiles back, “Just to let you know, we should not go back into the part of town we just evacuated. I left several more surprises for them.”

I raise an eyebrow at him, “Really? Like the one from earlier?”

I swear he smiles even more, “Yep at least one more that big, and several smaller ones. I put those tin cans and string to good use with some metal apples.”

“Ok, thanks for the heads up. I was not really planning on heading that way again anyways. I want to hold here till it starts to get dark, then we are going to fall back. I want the Rangers to go first, then you. The Belles will be the last to go as they are still our strongest troop.”

“Makes sense ma’am. We doing an all-night march again, or just across that bridge?”

I shake my head, “Just across the bridge. I want to rearm, dig in for the night then we move before sunrise again. We still have a way to go. Also, once we get there tonight, I want another officers call, I need to get numbers of how many troops we still have.”

“Yes, ma’am. Sounds good. What about the Civilians?” he asks.

“They move before we do. For now, we make small ambushes and booby traps when possible. Tonight, I will let the officers know where we have been ordered to stop and hold by Manesville.”

After he leaves, I see Sutures approaching. She lays down next to Ginger and I. Today has taken a toll on her and it shows. Without moving Ginger, I shift myself so I am touching her more. I try to think of what to say, but really, I am just too emotionally and physically drained.

She puts a hoof on me and we just share a moment of the three of us, just holding and being held. Right now, I think all of us need it. I now have so many stones in my saddlebags I really don’t know how I can hold up. But I need to be strong for them. I know Sutures needs me too right now, and the least I can do is be here for her.

I begin to relax and close my eyes for only a brief few seconds it seems and I am woken up by a huge explosion a block away. From the other room, I hear Duke laughing and say, “That’s one,” then there is another huge explosion, “And that’s two.”

In the distance, I can see the flames from the explosions reflecting from the remains of the nearby buildings. As I get up Sutures and Ginger do also. Besides me, I hear Ginger say, “Good, serves em right.” I put my hoof around her and she leans into me.

On my other side, I see Sutures just stare at the fires and shake her head. As she gets ready to head into the other room, I take my hoof off of Ginger and use it to stop Sutures. I then put my hooves around her and I feel her stiffen some. “Sutures, I am so sorry dear.”

She stands there for a bit then she tells me, “Sorry doesn’t always fix things Mollygirl. I love you, but today. I just don’t know.”

Inside a piece of me feels like it is dying, “I love you to Sutures. Please forgive me.”

She tries to smile, then tells me, “Nothing to forgive dear, you were just doing your duty.” She then wipes the tears from her eyes and walks away.

Ginger comes over to me again and this time hugs me. “Let’s go ma, we need to get them out of here.”

I nod my head and we walk together into the next room. It is already beginning to become dark out, so I give the order, “Ok people, let's get out of here.” With that, the orders go out and we begin to evacuate Targhee. First, the Rangers fall back followed by the wounded, myself and staff. We are followed by the Doorkicker’s and the last to leave are the Belles. The battle of Targhee has finished and we are moving closer to home.

As we pass the first ridgeline, I see Archer and his artillery as they fall into the line of march. He waves me over and I see the surprise on his face when he sees Ginger sleeping on my back. He jumps down from the caisson and walks next to me as we all head north.

“Mollygirl, is Ginger ok?”

I shake my head, “Yes and no, physically, she is ok, but she lost her mother.”

I hear him inhale hard, “Nuggets gone? Son of a sea biscuit. I am so sorry to hear that. Does Dusty and Sutures know?”

“Yeah, yeah they know, they were there too.”

“Mollygirl, are you ok?”

“Yeah, I will make it, but I am worried about Sutures dear. She is taking the deaths hard, and I, I,” I can not bring myself to tell him.

“You what Mollygirl?”

I put my head down in shame, “I asked her to use her magic to kill today. Archer, she did it, but I think part of her hates me now. I am so sorry about that.”

I see him tense up, “Mollygirl, can I ask why?”

I sigh as we walk and then I tell him, “I thought it would help break their morale. I read about the old battlemages, I know they were specially trained and all, so I did not expect ours to be as powerful as them, but I thought it could help.”

He shakes his head, “Mollygirl, I know you did not mean it, but you hurt her in one of the worst ways possible. She has always used her magic for healing and helping others.”

“Archer I already apologized and I told her I would never ask her to it again.”

“Mollygirl, I really do love you. I still want to be your stallion too, but you should never have asked her to do that in the first place.”

“I know, I know now. Buck me to Tartarus, I know. Archer, what if she never forgives me?”

He sighs again, “Well, just give her time. Worst comes to worst at least you still have Badger and Magpie. I am sure they will still want you. I best get back to my troops. I will see you later at officers’ call.”

I nod my head and just continue walking as he climbs back up on the caisson, shaking his head. Great, not only have I gotten my troops killed or wounded, and a personal friend killed, I have alienated the two ponies I love. Can things get any… Nope, I am not going to even finish that thought. No need to bring that kind of luck down on us all. Next, I hear thunder in the distance and it begins to rain on us.

Suddenly I feel my foal move. “Thanks, little one for reminding Mommy that things can get better too.” I tell her. Then I pull a rain tarp out of my saddlebag and drape it over me and Ginger. I hear her tiredly and sadly say, “Thanks ma.” Then I feel her shift and go back to sleep.

Dear DJ Pon3, we are banned from listening to your broadcast normally, but sometimes sneak it so we can hear some different music. While listening recently I heard your claim that our Commander Silver Spite was the one who killed his father as well as the other officers of our regiment. It was not. They were lied to by the betrayers of the so-called Co-op Expedition Force. They did it. Silver Spite, while still recovering from wounds taken there, stood before all of us and told us of their treachery. They even kidnapped his mare Tar Water who is carrying his foal.

They have killed my friends and fellow soldiers of the Army of Fillydelphia. They have laid waste to several villages including Good Doer. Last night was enough for me, At the old town of Targhee, they ambushed us, set buildings afire and detonated others while they were still occupied. They stripped the dead and seem to have taken up an alliance with the Enclave, as they received support from at least twenty Pegasi. Please remember there are two sides to each story. With their atrocities in mind, could you please play The Storm.

Two Tone, Sergeant

1st Battalion 3rd regiment, Army of Fillydelphia

Thanks again to Kkat for creating the world of FoE as well as to all those who have since added to it and helped to build upon Kkat's foundation. I would like to make special note of thanks concerning the Battlemages. The idea of such a unit was not mine, I borrowed it from Fallout: Equestria - Echoes by krdragon. While the story has been idle for some time, I have found that it was interesting and worth reading what was already published, and would recommend it to others as well.

For those who desired action, I hope I have provided it to you in this chapter. It was not an easy one to write considering what occurred to some of the characters, but it also allowed me to show you how the common soldier may not know what they are truly fighting for, but only are able to form opinions upon what information they have been given.

This chapter's dedication song is based upon the Battle of Culloden in Scotland. The youtube link for it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QVo-rH-6us