Blackout nearly gave Red Field whiplash as he shook him.

“Red, goddamn it Red, we’ve got formation in five.” Red Field pulled his face from the lumped pillow and tried to regain full consciousness.

They’d returned from the raid and Red Field had been so exhausted he’d simply picked a bunk in Recon’s quarters and laid down to sleep. He’d forgotten about Flashpoint and what might come of his actions in the wake of Luna’s return. He’d been awake for far too long to consider much of anything. Even as Blackout awoke him, Red Field was still barely capable of grasping much past exhaustion.

“For fuck’s sake,” Blackout pulled Red Field from the bed, “get your CCU’s on and get the fuck out to the grounds.” Blackout pulled Red Field’s uniform from beneath the bed and threw it into his face.

Red Field pulled the uniform on, his eyes crusted with sleep, before staggering after Blackout.

All of the UAT teams had assembled in the tiny yard within the UAT compound. They stood at a fierce attention and Red Field wondered what the matter was. He yawned as he pressed in between Blackout and Chesterfield.

“What was his problem?” Locked Breech asked Blackout, who gave a shrug. Locked Breech looked down at Red Field. “Princess Luna called us here to meet a VIP; how did you sleep through that?”

“I’m sorry sir.” Said Red Field.

“Don’t be sorry, be glad she’s late.” Locked Breech said as he drew back into attention.

Red Field looked forward. The slate colored officers’ building stood in front of them and Bombs Away burst through the door after a minute of waiting. The commander was pulling on his uniform and stopped for a moment to punch his foreleg through one of the sleeves.

“Teams one through five on deck for shoving off.” He pointed to the team beside Recon. “Eight, you guys are QRF for the first op we run.” Bombs Away began to button his uniform. “Recon, hope you enjoy double jeopardy because you’re up for overwatch on three more potential operations.” He realized he’d skipped a button and cursed as he undid them again. “Princess Luna has informed me,” He paused until he finished re-buttoning his jacket. Straightening his collar, Bombs Away looked up at the UATs. “Princess Luna has informed me we are now officially in a state of search and destroy regarding a Conspiracy to overthrow Equestria. We are not certain on many of the specifics of this Conspiracy, but we believe them to be well-organized and well-funded. They can be anyone, ponies, changelings, diamond dogs, gryphons.” He took a deep breath and held it, puffing out his chest a bit. “Gentleponies, I’ll be honest with you and say that this looks to be a bit of a campaign. However let me assure you the juice is worth the squeeze: Princess Luna believes that the Conspiracy is responsible for the Blast.” He paused and Bombs Away’s eyes narrowed at the UATs. “If we have even the slightest chance of catching the fucksticks who perpetrated the worst act of domestic terror in our nation’s history, you can bet your sorry asses we’re going to go to hell and back to get that chance.”

A chariot flew overhead and everypony looked up to see the black aircraft halt above them. Red Field could see Luna’s dark mane billowing off of the side as the chariot descended. The chariot touched down and the door clanged open.

“Madam, excellently timed.” Bombs Away said as he hurried to the chariot. Luna stepped down and he gave her a stiff salute. “I was just giving a preliminary briefing to the troops.”

Luna wore a dark blue uniform in digital camouflage. It fit her perfectly and the fabric stopped exactly at the tips of her black metal horseshoes. She looked around at the assembled ponies.

“Good to see you all.” She said. “The initial attack that took the life of my sister was committed by a changeling, almost assuredly a mercenary, rather than a close affiliate of this Conspiracy. I’ve recently learned that the mercenary is likely hidden somewhere in the Rail Mountains.” Nacht stepped out of the chariot and stood beside her. “Our judicial operations will accordingly begin there.” She looked down at Bombs Away. “Is there somewhere we can speak to the entire unit?”

“Of course, we have a briefing room.” Said Bombs Away.

“Excellent, take us there please.” Luna said. “UATs,” she called to the entire group, “I’ve brought in a specialist to educate you on the current situation of the mountains. Please treat him courteously.” She looked back to the chariot. “We’re ready for you.”

A pair of thick furry ears rose up in the chariot and a single grey paw took hold of the side of the vehicle. The svelte, tall figure of a diamond dog climbed out of the chariot and hopped to the ground. He looked to Luna.

“Where would you like me to give the presentation?” His voice, though more similar to a pony’s than Red Field had expected, was raspy and much higher than those of the stallions’ at Gale Force.

The dog’s eyes were a luminous gold and glistened like gemstones. His long arms, which reached down his slender body and a little past his waist, mesmerized the squat ponies.

“Follow this gentlepony right here.” Luna said, pointing to Bombs Away. Bombs Away seemed just as surprised by the dog as UATs, and he gave a little “uh” as he beheld the dog. He pointed to one of the brick buildings.

“This way- right this way.”

“Thank you.” The dog’s smile exposed two rows of very white and unsettlingly pointed teeth.

The UATs murmured to one another as they shuffled into the briefing room after Luna and her guest.

“Good day!” Everypony in the room looked to the lectern at the sound of the dog’s scratchy voice. “My name is Khyber, I am a foreign relations officer for the federal forces of security, the primary armed forces of the country of Mohs.” He smiled, exposing his shard teeth. “Don’t worry, I’m housetrained.” The UATs were too enraptured by the canine to give him a polite laugh. Khyber cleared his throat. “Princess Luna has informed me that you will be conducting a number of operations in the nation of Mohs, regarding the search for and extradition of criminals responsible for an assassination taking place last year.” Luna, who sat in the front row, nodded to this. He nodded in response. “I understand that you’ve already taken some preliminary actions early this summer. However now that you’re going to be operating in an occupational capacity, I have been sent here to inform you of the situation of Mohs, and give a little cultural sensitivity training.” His toothy smile reemerged. Khyber held his paws together and looked around the room. “You’re commandos,” he said, “you don’t much care for cultural sensitivity.” He waited for a laugh, then turned to face the presentation screen behind him. “A bit of background for my country.” He clicked the remote and map flashed onto the screen. “At its birth, Mohs was an odd nation.” A series of lines and curves squiggled over the screen and covered some of the depicted land. “This is the underside of the Rail Mountains- the country of Mohs. Either name works.” He pointed to the squiggles. “Some hundred years ago, the indigenous packs of dogs native to the area started what is now commonly associated with Mohs: Tunnels.” The map bemused Red Field. None of the tunnels seemed to go anywhere, or at least, anywhere efficiently. Khyber seemed aware of this. “Initially, the tunnels were rather shallow, and relatively confined to specific purposes. Most of them were breeding chambers.” Red Field heard Blackout give a subtle groan of disgust. “And some meat farms.” Khyber looked back at the UATs. “In its early years, Mohs was like a series of tubes: Everything had a purpose, and the majority of the dogs viewed it as just a fraction of their lives. The majority of life took place on the surface.”
Khyber clicked to the next slide.

The squiggles had bloated and further overlapped.

“As time went on, the dogs began to discover that tunnels offered more than just a niche property. As more minerals and ore were discovered under the Rail Mountains, some of our larger businesses found themselves obligated to gain tunnel land to prove their relevance. In this stage, Mohs- the underground portion, was growing into its role in our society.” He paused, and saw the bored expressions of the UATs. “In much the same way as your great princess became a cultural identity, our tunnels made us who we are.”

“I think they understand.” Said Luna. Khyber advanced to the next slide. The tunnel portions had tripled in size; now the majority of the mountain was covered, or rather underscored, in tunnels.

“At this point in our history, we diamond dogs have closely identified with the underground. Nearly every aspect of life takes place in some form down there. While we maintain the majority of our villages and farms on the surface, more and more diamond dogs claim that the tunnels are their identity.” He paused, seeing their ongoing disinterest. “For how many of you, am I the first diamond dog you’ve seen?” He asked in a louder voice. “Come on, show of hooves.” A multicolored forest of thick hooves grew into the air. “I’ve been a liaison for my country for about seven years now, and one thing I’ve noticed about you ponies is that you get quite uncomfortable with foreigners, especially of the two legged kind.” He clicked the remote and a strange, monochrome image flashed up on the screen.

It looked like a very grainy radar image. Red Field stared at it a moment, then realized it was an ultrasound.

“My mate is a month pregnant.” Khyber pointed to the image. “We have six puppies on the way and expect at least five to live. She and I have been married just over a year now and are looking to move outside of a military base once she gives birth.” Khyber paused and stepped away from the lectern. “I like reading pony literature, and have a hobby of woodworking. In addition to liaising between our governments, I also work as a mediator for the many ethnic groups in Mohs and spend quite a lot of time settling disputes over everything from land ownership to possession of offspring. I make a bit above average and can easily be described as a more progressive dog in terms of my political views.” He waited a second. “But I am not special. I can name dozens of dogs with my level of education and training, and I can name hundreds of dogs who I’d trust wholeheartedly with just about anything in my life. An issue with the ponies who’ve come to my country has been their continual desire to see difference between our cultures, and the patience to discover confirmation of this.” Khyber grew quieter and Red Field and all the other UAT members unconsciously leaned a bit to hear the dog’s voice. “Our cultures are not alike. I won’t say they are. But diamond dogs are people, as much as ponies are people.” He pointed to Luna. “My countrydogs and I are allowing her and yourselves into our nation with the knowledge that you may create a conflict we are not affiliated with, but may still be hurt by.” He paused, and Red Field saw the slight frown of frustration on the dog’s face. “It is not asking too much that you understand who we are before you do so.”

“I think you’ve made your point.” Luna said, after a moment of silence. “Please give them a rundown of the dogs they’ll encounter.”

“There are no specific diamond dogs.” Khyber turned and pointed back to the screen. “Mohs is home to numerous species of dogs all with the common affinity for tunnels and usually diamonds as well. The term diamond dogs refers only to the citizens of Mohs.” He pointed to himself. “The first kind of dog you’ll probably run into is a dog like myself: A Silicite. Silicites are the most common dogs in Mohs, we are usually thinner, and generally more levelheaded than the other dogs. Most dogs are like me: they want a normal life and have pretty fair views of the world.” He advanced to the next slide, which showed a hulking dog wearing a helmet and shouldering a pickaxe. “The Underdogs are more of the iconic diamond dog. They are usually more upper body than anything else. You’ve probably seen them poking around the surface every now and then. Usually a pronounced overbite, they wear collars and traditionally red vests. Underdogs are no less intelligent than anyone else- though the ones near the surface don’t give that impression. One thing you ought to know about underdogs is,” Khyber paused and gnawed lightly at one of his fingers, “they aren’t technically dangerous to be around, and quite a number of them are very interesting and safe people.” He chuckled. “But if somebody commits a crime, or kills another dog, it’s not a bad guess that an Underdog is to blame.” He advanced to the next slide, which depicted a mountain.

“Burrowing Chalcedonies are a small subset of the population, however they’ve made their way to a place of relevance in Mohs so they merit explanation. They’re more commonly known as bronies and they are a bit of an idiosyncratic group. Their single most defining trait is that they are a communal society. Bronies have caused many problems in Mohs. They are a peculiar group, and their peculiarity makes them difficult to handle. They are not dangerous, generally. They tend to be smaller in size than most other dogs, though there aren’t many photos of them to show you I’m afraid. They live in their own community in one of the eight mountains of Mohs. Their characterizing features are pacifism, acceptance, and difficulty integrating with other dogs. They’re about one, to one and a half percent of the population, yet for a number of years, they were involved in almost half of the crime in Mohs, almost always as victims. Since they retreated into their mountain, they’ve all but vanished from day to day life in the rest of the country. It’s not very likely you’ll have anything to do with the bronies, as they’re almost assuredly uninvolved with the Conspiracy. However they are subject to numerous stereotypes and slander and I want to make it clear to you that they are not a threat to your safety, so long as you stay away from their territory.”

“Please continue.” Luna said, a slight impatience in her voice. Khyber bowed his head to her.

“Of course, I apologize for the interruption. Moving on, while gryphons do comprise a small portion of the population, they usually see themselves-”

“These stallions have quite a lot to do today. Please explain the civil war.” Khyber paused, and his eyes flitted to Luna, then the UATs, then back to Luna.

“There isn’t a civil war; didn’t you tell them that?” He asked in quiet dissatisfaction. He looked back out at the UATs and the dog’s shoulders slumped. “I see you may have been misinformed about the current political status of my country.” He became formal once more, but his words were compressed and Red Field could tell he was growing frustrated. “There is not a civil war.” His smile grew taut as he looked around the room to see how hard that belief would be to erase. “There are sporadic and isolated incidents of violence or terrorism caused by numerous ideological groups seeking to further their own ends.”

“How is that different than a civil war?” Luna asked.

“No one admits to being the face of a revolution. Some groups are mercenaries, some are real terrorists and some are just, complicated.” He chewed his black lower lip. “There are a number of gangs and outfits we’ve managed to identify, though their membership and leadership is so nebulous most of our information simply involves names and logos.”

“You have a problem with random acts of terror?” Bombs Away asked.

“Yes.” Said Khyber.

“Well, we have a lot of solutions for that.” Bombs Away crossed his forelegs. “A universal truth I’ve found is that the ideological efficacy of a group of individuals tends to be inversely proportional to how many of them you shoot.”

Khyber did not laugh.

“I think I can conclude this presentation. I’m sure you’ll get more ‘actionable intel’ from the field officers you are assigned to when you enter Mohs.” Khyber said. He clicked off the projector and set the remote on the lectern. “I’ll need all of the team commanders to come up here and sign this form indicating that I disseminated the appropriate information.”

“Is that all? Did you want to tell us anything about these terrorist groups?” Asked Luna.

“I don’t think that’s necessary.” Khyber said shortly. “The field officers should give you better information.” He looked back to the UATs. “Please come up here and sign this. This form must be completed before my government will authorize any military presence in Mohs.”

The UAT leaders rose out of their seats and made their way up to where Khyber stood. The UATs began to murmur among themselves in the meantime.

“Bet on us being on first rotation.” Wildcat whispered to the other Recon members.

Recon team, minus Locked Breech who was attending an officers’ briefing, took their rations to their quarters and began a discussion on the possibility of being deployed to Mohs. Recon team’s quarters were twice the size of Barracks Six and were furnished like a college dorm. Red Field and Full Wing sat beside one another on a purple couch, Wildcat and Blackout sat on opposite ends of a card table, and Chesterfield sat on a loveseat.

The senior members of Recon team bored of talking about Mohs within a few minutes and began to ask both new ponies about themselves. Blackout led the questioning, and of the three veterans, he seemed the most interested in the new sniper team.

“Why’d you switch spotters on us?” He asked Red Field.

“Well, it was a bit sudden. I was going to tell you formally, but then Luna arrived and I-”

“I’m not asking about that.” Blackout took a sip of his water and continued to stare at Red Field. “Why him? What was wrong with your other guy?”

“Well, I saw potential in him. He studied the material without any prompting, and he’s shown to be very capable.” Said Red Field.

“More capable than Siplinski?” Asked Blackout. Red Field didn’t answer immediately.

“I can’t really speak to their comparability. Full Wing recently lost his position with Airborne-”

“So you felt sorry for him.” Said Chesterfield.

“Full Wing and I have grown very close, and I felt we made a better team than Siplinski and I, who were not as well acquainted.”

“So why wasn’t he your first choice?” Asked Blackout.

“I didn’t know until recently that he was interested. When I saw that he’d studied the material before asking me, I felt his confidence warranted the position.” Red Field said.

All three ponies took this in and he tried to discern their next question.

“Your buddy sure talks you up.” Said Blackout, now focusing on Full Wing. “You going to leave him pissing in the wind or are you going to back all of that up?”

“Yes sir.” Said Full Wing. “I mean, yeah, I read the whole book and did all of the exercises like twice.”

“That’s nice.” Said Blackout. “You look like some jock straight out of the Wonderbolts training camp. Heard from a few ponies that you about shit yourself when Luna showed up.” Full Wing swallowed. “Gotta say, if it looks like a bitch, and it talks like a bitch…” Blackout shrugged. “All that’s left is for you to act like a bitch and I’d say the science is settled.”

“I’m sorry, she’s just scary you know?” Said Full Wing.

“You know, we deal with scary things in our line of work.” Said Wildcat. “Did that cross your mind?”

“Hehe, yeah guys, I’m sorry.” Full Wing said. “Just wasn’t expecting her to show up is all.”

“You didn’t do UAT basic like Red.” Said Blackout. “You’re just a walk-on? Plan on picking it up on the job?” Full Wing made an “uh” and Chesterfield pointed at the sniper team.

“We’re a close group and we’re always nervous about change.” He said. “You’ll forgive us for being a bit nosy.”

“Hey, don’t apologize, Jesus.” Blackout said. “All we’re saying is: You two have to prove yourselves, and pretty fucking well if you want to work with us. This ain’t some clopper bullshit where all you have to do is run and shoot and not lose your gear. UATs do work, and it doesn’t take much to get dead.” Both initiates nodded. “Red, you seem solid enough and I doubt you’d pick someone who is as dumb as Full Wing looks. I’m definitely not a hundred percent on that last minute change of spotter shit, but if you can pull your weight and keep your head you’ll make it just fine.”

“Jock still needs a nickname.” Said Wildcat.

“Oh, yeah, he missed the meet and greet.” Said Blackout. “Now your buddy here had to put on a little show for us when he first showed up here. Now we call him Idiot’s Mate or something.” He chuckled. “Hell of a show seeing him make Mauser look like an idiot with that checkmate or whatever. Now we just need to get a name for you.”

“Bitch.” Said Wildcat. “First thing we found out about you is that you like to talk like a bitch around mares that scare you.”

Both he and Blackout laughed and Full Wing lowered his eyes.

“Don’t worry you can change it.” Blackout said, still laughing. “Once you prove you aren’t a bitch. But for now, we’re going to know you as our little bitch.”

“How about something else?” Asked Chesterfield quietly.

“What? Aw shit, forgot.” Wildcat said, his grin fading. He motioned to the tan pony. “Chesterfield’s our resident religious nut, can’t say naughty words.”

“If we aren’t calling him bitch, then you come up with something.” Blackout said to Chesterfield. “And it has to be equally or more funny.”

“The guys back on my highschool flight team used to call me Chicken Wing.” Full Wing said.

“Bitch please.” Blackout said, and both he and Wildcat began to laugh.

“How about Duck?” Chesterfield said.

“Duck?” Asked Wildcat. “What the hell kind of a name is that?”

“You know, walks like a duck, looks like a duck-” Blackout was in the process of saying that name sucked when Locked Breech entered the room. He carried a satchel of briefing materials.

“Oh hey! Breech, we’re finding a name for the jock.” Said Blackout. “What are your thoughts on Duck?”

“It’s fine.” Locked Breech looked at Red Field. “Red, I need to talk with you.” He spoke shortly, and had a sobriety to his voice.

“Yes sir.” Red Field said. Locked Breech looked at the rest of Recon.

“Get Full Wing filled in on our gear and callsigns. It sounds like we’re going to be moving out soon.” Locked Breech said.

Red Field stood and the captain pulled him into the hallway of the barracks.

“Private, why did I just get word you assaulted Lieutenant Flashpoint?” Said Locked Breech in a low voice. “First thing he said was you attacked him while he was doing paperwork during the wargame. He’s in the medical bay being treated for a broken leg.” Red Field shrank down against the door. “Private I don’t need to know much else about the situation. Assaulting an officer, far past the bounds of a wargame isn’t something anypony on my team does.” Locked Breech struck his shoulder. “Hey! Look at me.” Red Field looked up. “I said I don’t need to know anything, because there isn’t a reason strong enough to justify that kind of behavior.” He glared at Red Field for a few moments. “But Princess Luna seems think there is.” Locked Breech let a long, tense breath. “And she has ordered that you remain with our team and that we overlook this incident.” He pulled Red Field close. “But we’re going to disregard that second part. So right now, tell me exactly why you broke Flashpoint’s leg.”

“I was angry.” Red Field said. Shame crept over him and the explanation sounded much worse when given to his commanding officer. “We’d had an exchange where I felt degraded by him and I was still upset over that.”

“He couldn’t seem to find any reason you’d be so angry.” Locked Breech tilted his head at Red Field. “Do you mind telling me the specifics of this ‘exchange’ that left you so violently upset?”

“He and I disagreed over what classes I ought to take for my first year of college.”

“And you broke his leg?” Asked Locked Breech. Red Field started to lower his eyes again. “Private I am very skeptical of your capacity to function as a soldier, much less a UAT member. You’re with us because Princess Luna orders it. I’ve never dealt with somepony as dangerous as you, and neither have they.” He pointed to the door to Recon’s quarters. “So right now, you’re going to go in there and explain to them exactly what happened.”

“Yes sir.” He tried to step around Locked Breech but the captain blocked him.

“If you pull anything like that under my command I will kill you myself.”

“Yes sir.”

The ponies of Recon team were still arguing over what they ought to name Full Wing. Red Field stood under the door, not wanting to call attention to himself.

“Red here has something to say.” Locked Breech shoved Red Field forward.

“What’s up Fool’s Mate?” Asked Chesterfield. They waited for Red Field to say something and Red Field tried to think of a proper introduction for his admission. He waited too long and Locked Breech stepped up beside him.

“Something happened the night Red Field joined us.” He struck Red Field’s shoulder. “Just launch right in.” Recon waited for Red Field to speak.

“Excuse me.” Nacht stood in the doorway. “The Princess has requested the presence of Private Red Field and his assistant.”

“In regards to what?” Asked Locked Breech.

“I’m not at liberty to say.” Nacht said. “She would like them as soon as possible.”

“Of, course.” Locked Breech pushed Red Field toward the door.

“We’ll have them back sometime late tonight, or tomorrow at latest.” Nacht said as Full Wing scrambled after Red Field.

“I’d like any further requisitions for my ponies to be made in advance.” Said Locked Breech.

“I’ll let the Princess know.” Said Nacht, his flat voice camouflaging what might have been sarcasm. “Please, come with me.” He said to the sniper team.

Red Field heard the other ponies asking Locked Breech about his announcement as the door closed behind them.

“Where are we going?” Asked Full Wing.

“Princess Luna will inform you of your tasks as they present themselves.” Said Nacht. “Please keep your questions to a minimum.”

The trip to Cantorlot was as smooth as the slabs of decorative granite expertly placed around the Mae’s stable. The Maes’ had a beautiful stable, not just by Rockvale’s stunted standards. It was two stories, with an expansive basement that had also been expertly finished by some of the best interior decorators in Equestria.

For some reason, Red Field thought about the Maes as he sat in the back seat of Luna’s chariot. Red Field knew the Maes basement was well furnished because in the days before their attempts at explicit bribery, Affirmative Action’s parents had tried to “subtly” allow Red Field to bed their daughter. A thick beige couch with cushions had been placed next to the heating duct, which sat above an end table on which stood a gramophone with several custom-ordered records of dubstep and whatever else colts Red Field’s age listened to.

They hit their first patch of chilly air but the black aircraft barely bounced from the turbulence. Red Field felt his tiny SMG slide forward off of the seat beside him and he tugged the black sling to keep it stable. He didn’t want to look at the gun.
The KK-109 was a close-quarters weapon, a weapon for shooting ponies at close range with a lot of bullets that would cut them into raw meat.
Snipers weren’t given KK-109s for operations. But Luna’s “favor” didn’t show any signs of being a normal operation.

Red Field thought back of the time when Affirmative Action had dared him to drink a flight of wine to “see what happened”; this was the night her parents had told the pair they were going to a show and wouldn’t be back till very late.

Nacht looked back at Red Field and Full Wing.

Something about the blank-faced stallion sitting next to Luna made Red Field wonder if he’d made the correct choice by not getting drunk and impregnating a mare he disliked in exchange for an exorbitant tuition to the school of his dreams.

“We’ll be there in twenty minutes.” Nacht said, his steady voice just barely audible above the whistling wind. Nacht looked first at Red Field, then Full Wing. “You’ve had training on that?” He pointed to the KK-109 that Full Wing had clamped to his chest.

“Uh, yeah, I mean, like I know how-”

“School him on it.” Nacht said, pointing to Red Field. He turned and faced forward once more. Red Field and Full Wing looked at one another. They said nothing, then Red Field picked up his weapon and held it between the two.

“This is the fire selector, now on this-”

“Dude I got it, it’s okay.” Full Wing said, flicking his onto full auto. Red Field was certain Full Wing didn’t know the difference between burst fire and fully automatic and he tried to explain more. “Luna’s gonna handle all of this, we’re just along as like, muscle.” Red Field glanced up front to make sure neither of the two heard him, then leaned in close.

“There’s a warrant out for her arrest, she’s a suspect in the Blast. Why are you so quick to trust her?” He whispered. “You aren’t suspicious of her at all?”

“If she was going to do something bad, she’d have already done it.” Red Field glanced up to the pair once more.

“Do you think it’s possible that she’s using us to do something bad?” He whispered. Full Wing shook his head and clicked his KK-109 onto safe.

“We’re probably just here to scare somebody.” He said softly.

Red Field felt very alone. He attributed Full Wing’s confidence in Luna to blunt stupidity. Though he probably would have felt more alone had he known about the effect Luna’s presence had on “less complicated” ponies.

“When we arrive, I need you two to follow me and Nacht closely.” Luna looked back and saw the sniper team pressed together. Full Wing eased away from Red Field and Red Field sat upright. “There are quite a few antechambers and halls to my sister’s palace. Do not speak with anypony you see; I will handle any interaction.” She pointed to the submachine gun slung over Red Field’s chest. “Keep that on safe, we’re not looking to start any fights.” She turned away from them and began to speak to Nacht.

“See dude?” Full Wing nudged Red Field. “She’s got this.”

Red Field didn’t doubt that Luna had this. Only he didn’t know what “this” was, or if he should even be involved with it.

Though he didn’t dare move from his seat, Red Field could tell they were flying over the capital by the radiation of light that surrounded the aircraft. He saw the oily yellow glow of the masses of streetlamps pass over Luna’s dark blue countenance and the pale white of electrical lights on Nacht’s face. The air was slightly warmer above Cantorlot and the minute turbulence of the night air fell away and the chariot grew still. A silence so encompassing and uncomfortable even Full Wing noticed, came over the group. The Pegasus cleared his throat softly and Nacht looked back at them. He looked at Red Field, then Full Wing, then turned and faced forward again. Red Field swallowed and moved his KK-109. As the black polymer of the stock shifted from his lap, he felt the cold kiss of sweat.
The gun had been sitting his lap for some time.

The chariot bumped, sending a shiver through him. They had landed?

The chariot slid a bit, then Red Field tilted forward as they halted. Luna set her hoof on Nacht’s shoulder.

“No altercations.” Her order sounded less like a military command and more like an order for a particular kind of sandwich. Nacht nodded, then, setting one hoof on the side of the chariot, swung himself over the side of the vehicle. His hooves clacked onto what sounded like stone and Red Field heard him walking away.

“What is your team name?” Luna looked back at the pair and Full Wing and Red Field exchanged looks.

“Uh, what do you mean madam?” Asked Full Wing. Luna smiled almost kindly.

“You are a sniper team, don’t tell me you haven’t thought up some terrifying name for yourselves. You know, you probably can’t tell by looking at me.” Luna laughed softly. “But I used to serve in a team of scouts many years ago, scouts for the very first iteration of the Equestrian military that is. We were the Night Watch.”

“Oh well we’re the Night Raiders.” Full Wing said.

“Isn’t that a coincidence?” Said Luna.

Red Field disliked the interactions between Luna and Full Wing. Full Wing resembled a soggy lump of clay spinning atop a pottery wheel and the Princess needed only to nudge him for him to become whatever she desired.

“What was your job back then?” Full Wing asked. Luna had an eerie smile, one quite a lot like that of a cat about to devour a mouse. The smile grew with her interest and as she tilted her head to Red Field, he felt like very nervous mouse.

“I was trained to ascertain information for my superiors so they could make informed decisions. That was my first role.”

“Oh that’s cool.” Full Wing said. “That’s a lot like what we do.”

Luna laughed, along with Full Wing and the nervous mouse.

“Madam.” Nacht’s dull voice came through the side of the chariot and she looked over her shoulder.

“Excellent work Nacht.” She pointed to the two. “Follow me.”

They’d landed atop one of the massive towers jutting from the palace. Of the few pictures Red Field had seen of the palace, only one had focused on the bulwark. Without a good reference point besides an oversized “Wish you were here”(the picture had been from a card sent by Affirmative Action when she’d taken a trip to Cantorlot and invited Red Field to ‘guard’ her hotel room) he’d had difficulty ascertaining the size of the towers. He’d assumed they were around twenty meters in diameter.

His hooves landed on the slick marble as he mantled the side of the chariot and he realized the tower was closer to fifty meters in diameter. Nothing besides empty space stood between him and the crenelated walls. He uneasily looked for any guards.

“This way.” Luna stood over a trapdoor painted a shade of grey similar to that of the marble. The door, entirely unfitting to the otherwise regal construction, had only a single steel handle and keyhole. The tiny needle of a lock pick still protruded from the hole and Nacht popped it out as they reached the door.

“It’s going to rain tonight, the guards usually go inside when it rains.” Luna said as Nacht lifted the hatch.

The trapdoor led to a cramped and cool stairway lit only by the tainted glow of a yellow floodlight. The “Night Raiders”’ responsibility of escort was now effective and Red Field tugged Full Wing along with him as he shuffled past Luna. Nacht still led them and Red Field felt like a colt walking behind him.

“This floor.” Luna said after they’d descended two flights, Nacht opened a doorway on the left side of the stairwell. Red Field tightened up as he followed Nacht into a narrow hallway. Thankfully Full Wing recalled his duty and faced the other direction as Red Field checked the right side of the hall.

“There should just be a few walkers tonight. But I’m glad the Night Raiders are taking their duty so seriously.” Luna said, stepping around Red Field.

Red Field pressed the stock of the KK-109 tightly into his shoulder and kept the bobbing red dot over the closest doorway. They walked for ten minutes, though a series of hallways and once through a foyer. Air conditioning quietly hissed through vents on the floor, but besides the four, nopony appeared to inhabit the palace. Red Field kept the muzzle of his weapon pointed where it needed to be pointed for him to be said to be doing his job, yet he wondered what he’d do if they ran into one of the royal guards.

Nacht continued in his bubble of silent focus and Luna certainly didn’t seem troubled about their surroundings.
Maybe they were just “muscle”- tasked with whatever small responsibilities the vague term connoted. Luna was still a Princess and she wasn’t exactly trespassing.

But she’d picked a lock.

“This one.” Luna stopped at a door, which differed from the others. Most of the doors they’d passed were thick wooden works of art. However Luna stopped before a plain metal door similar to the hatch atop the tower. Nacht began to pick the lock and Luna caught Red Field’s unease. “Queen Twilight changed the locks after the Blast. I guess we cannot call her rule without action.” She shrugged. “Perhaps I should have asked for a key.”

Red Field took a moment to register the sight of the guard rounding a corner further down the hallway. The royal guard looked up as Red Field drew his submachine gun.

“Hey!” Even in panic, Red Field knew this wasn’t standard communication for a UAT escort force. “Hey! Uh, hey!” He half-shouted in the quiet hall. The guard jumped a little as he saw them. He stood double Red Field’s size and looked as if he wouldn’t have any trouble subduing all four of them. Red Field clung to the mass of plastic and metal capable of equating the confrontation.

The guard carried a spear and instantly held it back to throw a jab into Red Field. The stallion beneath the sheen of golden armor looked as panicked as Red Field.

“Oh, Centurion.” Luna walked toward the guard and the stallion took his eyes off of Red Field. “Sorry.” Luna laid her hoof over Red Field’s weapon and pressed it downward. “I apologize for this. My guard here is fresh out of training and doesn’t want to look sloppy.” The guard said nothing and continued to stare at her. “I am looking for the-”

“Madam.” The lock clinked and Nacht swung open the door. The door opened to an empty elevator shaft. Luna seemed disappointed and she focused again on the guard.

“Queen Twilight moved the statue garden?” Asked Luna. The guard said nothing. Nacht quietly closed the door and stood beside Red Field. Full Wing, who was supposed be covering the opposite end of the hallway, looked over his shoulder and back at them.

“This is not a confrontation.” Luna said, the command of her steady voice cutting through the silence.

“She moved it to the eastern wing.” Said the royal guard.

“Thank you.” Luna said.

“The elevator with-”

“I remember, thank you.” Luna said with a polite nod. “Don’t worry, this is all of us.” With that she started down the hallway toward the guard.

Red Field was certain either Luna or the guard would make a furtive movement as they neared. His heart began to pound as the princess walked around the royal guard. However the stallion bowed his head as she passed by and Luna didn’t seem to mind his presence.
Nacht followed after her, then Full Wing. Finally, Red Field lowered his submachine gun and walked by the guard. Red Field glanced at him as he passed. The guard still looked at the floor.

“This way.” Called Luna and Red Field hurried after her.

“She moved the garden; I suppose that’s something. Although the east wing is still the one of the first places our enemies would look were they to find it out of place. I suppose she doesn’t have the best of military advisors.”

Luna addressed nopony.

She now walked ahead of the group. After five more minutes of walking, they reached another metal door. Nacht knelt before the slit of the lock. This time Luna stood next to him, tapping one hoof.
The lock clicked and Luna swung the door open as soon as Nacht stood.

“There we are.” She said. “Everypony inside.” The doorway led into an elevator car more industrial than royal. The car had not been designed to accommodate three ponies and an Alicorn. Red Field and Full Wing pressed against one another and huddled between Luna and Nacht and the door.

The elevator bore ten rows of eight buttons; Luna pressed three of the buttons simultaneously and pulled the door closed. A light above their heads came on and Red Field’s stomach turned as the elevator fell.

Red Field could tell they were free-falling by the brief yet intense period of relaxed gravity they experienced as the car accelerated. The car quieted and they only heard the twang of cables overhead.
Red Field glanced over at Full Wing and saw that his partner was still at ease. Full Wing's shoulders were slumped back and he even looked a bit sleepy. Nacht stood behind Full Wing and Red Field stood just in front of Luna. Her breath made no noise and without looking back, he couldn’t tell she was behind him.

Gravity tugged at Red Field as they slowed to a halt. They stopped with a jolt that knocked his submachine gun into his chin. Luna reached over Red Field’s head and opened the door.

Red Field beheld an abyss of nothing. The light of the elevator shone out from the car and exposed a concrete floor stretching into darkness.

“Night Raiders, why don’t you take point?” Luna’s soft voice was so close to Red Field’s ear it felt as if she were speaking into his thoughts.

“Uh, all right your majesty.” Even Full Wing had grown a little apprehensive of their destination.

Nopony moved and Red Field realized he was the de jure leader of the Night Raiders. With the princess at his back, and a void to his face, Red Field stepped out of the elevator.

The clack of his hoof on the concrete went out and took an instant to return. They'd stopped somewhere very expansive.

Red Field took a single step away from the car and stood on the edge of the light. Red Field heard a light hissing and his ears twitched. The hissing came from above him. Full Wing dismounted the car and stepped out behind Red Field.
Something caught Red Field's snout as he took another step and he flinched backward. Red Field looked up. His eyes, which were growing more and more acclimated to the darkness, recognized a shape.

The form of a pony loomed over him from atop a pedestal. Red Field recoiled, falling back into Full Wing. Full Wing, also on edge, spooked. He shoved Red Field back toward the pony and their opposed forces lost their balance and the Night Raiders ended up in a pile on the floor.

Red Field looked up and saw another pony on another pedestal, standing just to their left. He panicked and struggled get back on his hooves.

“What what?” Full Wing whispered. The slings of their weapons had tangled and Red Field ripped the pair of dangling SMGs from Full Wing. Full Wing attempted to stand, and as he did, his hefty hoof caught Red Field’s leg. Red Field’s head struck the concrete and sent a buzzing shock through his skull. Red Field’s vision reeled and Full Wing writhed under him.

Luna launched a spell, casting a white glow out into the darkness. A maze of pipes, a few leaking steam, became visible overhead. Red Field looked to where the pony had been.

The tall, grey silhouette of a pony atop a pedestal gazed blindly down on the Night Raiders. The pony was a Pegasus with outstretched wings. He had his hoof cocked back like he was about to strike somepony just ahead of him. Out of the corner of his eye, Red Field saw another statue standing above him.

Dozens of statues stood in the area illuminated around them.

“Oh my God!” Full Wing caught sight of the statue and threw Red Field off.

“It’s quite all right, I doubt he’s very quick on his hooves.” Luna said as she disembarked from the car. She was now speaking louder than Red Field had ever heard her speak, and her laugh echoed through the cavernous room. She set a hoof on Full Wing’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, I assumed you knew what a statue garden was.” Nacht stepped over Full Wing and offered his hoof to help Red Field up.

“Uh.” Full Wing got to his hooves and grinned. “Yeah, hehe, just, scared me is all.”

“Mm, well, he certainly was a scary pony.” Luna said, giving the base of the statue a pat. She looked back at Red Field. “Are you all right?” Red Field nodded. “Excellent.” She motioned to Nacht. “Get to work.”

“Yes madam.” Nacht turned and walked in another direction.

“Now then.” Luna used her horn to pick up and untangle the KK-109s. Giving each to the Night Raiders, she pointed out into the darkness. “We have something to do as well.” She started off in another direction. “Please follow closely, it’s easy to get lost down here.”

The light from Luna’s horn only extended about ten meters. Countless cold statues appeared around them and in turn faded into darkness as the three passed through the forest of figures. Most of the statues were ponies, most were unicorns. Nearly all were stallions, but Red Field saw a few mares amidst the figures. Occasionally they passed by Gryphons or even dragons. Many of the figures stood in the same blank stance and wore the same passive expression, not unlike Nacht.

Luna led them at a brisk pace, but after just a minute or so, she stopped. Red Field stood beside a hefty dragon statue and was studying the pedestal to find an inscription or plate.

“Listen to me.” Luna turned to face them. “I am about to do something that has not been done in earnest for nearly a century.” She set her hoof on Full Wing’s shoulder and focused her attention on him. “I am doing this. Not you.” He nodded a little. “You will not speak to him, you will not give him any more attention than what is necessary.” She pulled him forward, almost tipping him off balance. “You will not do anything.”

“Y-yes your majesty.” Full Wing said, shrinking down a little. Luna released him and looked to Red Field.

“All you will do, all I have brought you here to do, is shoot him if need be.” Said Luna, more to Red Field.

“Yes your majesty.” He said on instinct.

“It’s madam please.” She turned and started off again.

The statues fell off in a few steps and they came to an empty expanse in the garden. Scrape marks led out of the expanse and to the bases of the nearby statues, as if somepony had moved all of the statues away from something. As they entered the empty region, a pedestal several times larger than the others poked into the light.

Red Field stopped once the figure came into view.

They stopped a few meters from Luna, who stood directly at the base of the statue.

“Do not fear Night Raiders. This is our plan.” Red Field knew no plan involving the chimera standing over them was a good plan. Luna walked back to them. She paused, looking from one to the other. She pointed to Full Wing.
“Please fight Private Red Field, just for a few moments.” Red Field was still processing that statement when Full Wing shoved him to the ground. “You don’t need to hurt each other, just a few seconds of roughhousing will do.” She turned and walked back to the statue. Red Field kept his eyes on the statue as he got up.

“Dude I don’t want to piss her off. I’m sorry.” Full Wing put his hoof on Red Field’s shoulder and pushed Red Field back to the ground. Red Field’s bruised head hit the floor again and sent a surge of pain through his skull. Despite his panic, Red Field hurt enough to try and escape Full Wing. He rolled away from Full Wing and stood up. Full Wing caught him by the shoulder and threw him to the ground again.

Red Field felt trapped in a nightmare. Surrounded by the looming figures of unknown ponies and dragons imprisoned in the basement of the royal palace, he struggled to keep from being assaulted by Full Wing. His skin burned and sweat soaked through his uniform as they fought. Full Wing gave him another kick in the flank and Red Field tried to scramble away. Full Wing grabbed him again and Red Field took hold of his knife.

“That’s enough.” Luna called. “Night Raiders, over here please.” Red Field limped after Full Wing, who galloped over to where Luna stood. “Please stand by.”

A crack, no more than a millimeter in size, appeared on the knurled claw of the statue. All three watched as the crack let off a hiss. A tiny piece of stone cracked off and fell to the floor. The crack slashed upward and tripled in length. Red Field had split his lip during his momentary beating and he desperately wiped away the blood as the statue began to vibrate. The crack shot up the leg and body of the figure and spawned a series of other cracks that branched over the stone. The cracking and crumbling grew louder and more fragments of rock tumbled from the statue. Red Field could feel his legs growing weak as the first tones of Discord’s patchwork body became visible from under the marble.
He drew the KK-109 into low ready. Full Wing braced himself as if he planned on tackling the emerging creature. Yet Luna stood ahead of both of them, gazing patiently up into the statue’s face.

The last of the stony prison fell off and crumbled into mist at the base of the pedestal. Discord remained in the position he’d been frozen in. Standing with his shoulders shrugged and mouth twisted into a small frown of “not bad”, Discord stared straight ahead and into the blackness of the garden.

A drop of blood fell from Red Field’s chin and stained the floor.

Discord’s unblinking eyes waited a moment, then slid down and focused on Red Field. Discord’s snout rose into a grin.

“Why hello hello.” His purring voice sent shivers through Red Field. He continued to stare at Red Field as he sucked in a slithering breath. “I presume I have you to thank for my freedom?” The absurd beast towered over Red Field from atop the pedestal and his poorly dilated eyes made Red Field feel as if he were gazing into an abyss.

“I freed you.” Luna said. Discord jumped down from the pedestal.

“Yes, thank you Luna, just a moment.” He stepped around her and moved toward Red Field. Full Wing sidestepped and abandoned his position beside Red Field. About half a meter stood between Red Field and Discord and the chimera extended his bird leg to cover the distance in a single step.

Luna grabbed Discord by the arm and jerked him back to her.

“I’m here to speak to you.” She said, pulling him away from Red Field. Discord kept his head stable and allowed her to pull his body and exceedingly long neck back to her all while he continued to stare at Red Field. Then, without any indication he’d grown bored of Red Field, Discord swung his head back to Luna.

“Goodness!” He said as he took a step back in what appeared to be genuine surprise. “Luna, you’ve changed- and certainly not for the better!”

“I need information from you.” She said. Discord nodded.

“Of course of course.” He produced a tub of cream obtained from hammerspace and popped off the lid. “Here, this is eighty percent Shea butter with aloe and essential moisturizers. Ought to help change you back to how you looked before I became a giant chess piece.”

“Stop babbling, it pains me when you do that.” She said.

“Ohhhh.” Discord set his claw beneath his chin and frowned. “Well.” He hopped up and took a seat on the pedestal. “You must be very desperate to come to me for answers; I’m more of a questions and irrationality personality.”

“I said to stop.”

“Just want to admire the art?” Discord knelt on the pedestal and pressed his hips outward.

“Stop.” The dark mist of Luna’s magic clamped Discord’s mouth shut and she narrowed her eyes at him. He shrugged and she released him. “I need information on changelings.”

“Did you already chat with Lieutenant Chrysalis? Isn’t she their supreme commander or some such?”

“She knew nothing.”

“What a surprise.” Discord lowered himself to the ground and spread himself over the cold concrete. His plumed dragon tail flicked a bit and Red Field inched away from the cottony tip. “It’s been so long since I’ve stretched out.” A tiny crabapple tree grew over Discord and he tugged free a squat green apple that looked like a potato. Crunching down, Discord rolled his eyes in thought. “Now, that dark one. The one with the crystals, or was it rock candy?” He said, his mouth full of the sour fruit.

“I spoke with Sombra.” Luna stood over Discord, though this didn’t faze him.

“Well, who does that leave?” He asked in slight exasperation. “I’ve been on ice for quite some time and surely you don’t think I’d have anything to do with those nasty beasts.” He said before taking another bite of the apple. His bushy eyebrows jumped and he propped himself up on his elbow. “Or maybe you do.”

“Changeling mercenaries, who do you know?”

“I knew five.” Discord returned to munching his apple. “Two are dead, I think.” He rolled his eyes as he thought. “Really, all of them are dead when you think about it. Aren’t we all-” Luna pulled the apple from his claw and threw it on the ground.

“Changeling mercenaries and their whereabouts.” Luna said. Discord stood.

“Wherever mercenaries are sold.” He replied, sounding irritated. “Where anyone who knows anything knows to look to find anything or anyone. You know the place, if you know anything at all.” He yawned and waved her off. “Go, have fun on your witch hunt. I’m glad to see you’re keeping busy,” A grin alit on his face. “Oh!” He clapped his claw and paw. “Would you let me draw up the charges? I’m so good at drivel and nonsense!”

“Sombra and Chrysalis are dead.” Luna said. “So is whoever I find with those mercenaries.”

“Well look at you, back to the extrajudicial legislation! Who died and left you in charge of everything?” Discord asked with a flagrant throw of his lion paw.

The gushing patter of his own heartbeat rose in Red Field’s ears. He realized he was holding his breath. An infinitesimal smirk bent the edges of Discord’s mouth upward. The smile wavered and Red Field couldn’t tell if Discord was terrified of the response the joke would elucidate, or eager for it.

“You make such an effort Discord.” Luna said.

“I try.”

“It’s a shame you were a statue during all of this.” She said.

“Isn’t it?”

Red Field’s hooves felt cold and lighter. He looked down and saw the KK-109 had left his grasp. He looked up. The submachine gun was in midair, flying toward the Discord and Luna.

A burst of spattering gunfire exploded in the quiet garden. The popping gunshots tore into Red Field’s ears. The muzzle flash blinded him and he ducked clumsily behind one side of the pedestal opposite Discord. He struck Full Wing, who’d already crouched behind the pedestal.

Full Wing shoved his gun into Red Field’s hooves and Red Field nearly dropped the weapon. In an instant he returned to his senses and swung out from behind cover. He set the weapon to full and had already applied five pounds to the seven pound trigger as he drew his sights onto the first thing he saw in the gloom.
Luna stood, still staring at Discord. Discord stared back at her. Red Field saw his SMG floating between them. Smoke curled up from the barrel and casings scattered the floor a few meters from the gun.

A series of holes perforated Discord’s thin brown trunk. Purple blood, with an oily sheen poured from the holes and pattered onto the concrete. Discord looked down and nodded at the wounds as if they were somehow satisfactory.

“So she’s really dead?” Discord asked.

“Almost a year ago, explosives placed by a changeling impersonating a guard.” Luna said. Discord pulled his head back, as if Luna had just told an off-color joke he found distasteful.

“The coronation of the dark queen takes place in the darkened statue garden of Equestria’s worst criminals?” Luna fired another burst into Discord. The machine gun recoiled and tore a gash up his body. Red Field clutched Full Wing’s weapon, not sure what he should do.

Discord took a few steps back, though he still looked very much at ease. He wiped some blood from his nose and cocked his head.

“You aren’t queen?” Luna emptied the rest of the magazine into Discord’s body. Red Field’s skin began to crawl as bits of Discord’s body were torn away by the stubby firearm. The weapon clicked and Discord chuckled, flashing bloodstained teeth. “Takes more than that to kill me.” Luna took the magazine from Red Field’s weapon and reloaded. Discord laughed. “Didn’t you plan an ornate execution for me? Whatever happened to that?” She drew the KK-109 up again and fired again. Most of his flesh was torn away and the few internal organs in his shank body were mutilated or destroyed. Discord shrugged again and fell to the floor. Blood had already pooled around him and he coughed as he pressed himself up on his elbows.

“Centuries of hating me and it comes to this?” His purring voice had grown soft. Luna threw the KK-109 back toward her cowering soldiers and knelt beside Discord.

“Centuries of hating your jokes.” Her horn glowed and she dug around in the remains of the chimera’s body. Discord laughed, coughing a little blood onto her.
“You're terrible at controlling yourself. Can't change who you are I suppose.” Luna gripped something and blood surged out of Discord’s mouth. Red Field's ears flattened as he heard a pop and Discord gasped involuntarily. Veins stood out on his gaunt neck and the color began to drain from his face.

“I have three hearts.” Discord’s voice was now a whisper. Red Field heard something and looked over his shoulder. Full Wing sitting on the ground. His face was pressed into his chest and he was crying. His muscular shoulders shook with sobs and his entire body shook. “You’re such an angry person Luna, would it kill you to smile?”

Luna reached a sharp horseshoe into Discord’s body and dug around. Red Field’s jaw clenched as she stopped and began to crush something. Discord choked and his legs twitched a little as the flesh gave way. A spider web of veins stood out in purplish threads all over his body and Luna searched for his final heart. Discord’s arms trembled and he began to sink to the floor.

“You,” he took a breath, “wonder why nopony thought to make you the bigger sister.”

“God, stop it. Please.” Full Wing said between sobs. Discord flicked his head at Full Wing.

“You lead soldiers like that? Were the Shadowbolts too fierce for the new Luna? Are you still as dumb and mute as you used to be?”

“The Shadowbolts served their purpose.” Luna leaned toward him. “And I have nothing to say now, because nopony likes saying anything after a bad joke.” The spasms of Discord’s legs and arms stopped and a long, hollow breath drifted from his bloody mouth a moment after the final pop.

Full Wing kept sniffling and Red Field realized he too was crying. Luna rose and walked away from the corpse and toward Red Field. She glowered at him and Full Wing.

“Pst.” Luna walked past him and over to Full Wing. She hadn’t said anything and Red Field saw Discord’s head had risen from the puddle of blood. His eyes were blackened and his mouth was now just an inky maw of blood. He looked directly at Red Field. “Would you believe I shagged her?” The corpse asked with a grin.

The pedestal on which Discord had stood lifted into the air, then tipped toward him. The head was still grinning at Red Field as the base of the pedetal crushed it into the concrete. Discord’s body twitched a little as the stone landed, then grew still once more. Purple blood splashed outward and dotted Red Field’s hooves. Luna knelt beside Full Wing.

“Get up soldier.” She said.

“I-I can’t, please.” Full Wing said. Luna pulled him up and shoved the empty gun into his hooves.

“That is no way to represent your company.” She pointed off into the darkness. “The elevator is that way. Hold the car.” Full Wing’s face was stained with tears and once he caught sight of Discord’s mangled body he started crying again. “Go!” Luna shouted, shoving him away from them.

The garden echoed with the Pegasus’ sobs as he galloped into the darkness. Red Field was wiping his face as Luna set her hoof on his shoulder.

“Red Field.” He couldn’t meet her gaze and simply tried to stop the tears from running. “I’m sorry to rough you up tonight.” Luna said. “I apologize for having to expose you to such a terrible monster. However monsters are your enemy and you can only grow used to them.” A few of his tears hit the concrete. “For being a new soldier, you did well.”

“Thank you your majesty.” He said, trying to regain his composure.

“Thank you.”

“Madam.” Nacht emerged from the darkness and walked past the dead chimera. “I am finished. What did you learn?”

“Nothing that we couldn’t have presumed.” Luna said, starting after Full Wing.

Red Field clutched his unloaded KK-109. His tears had given way to a clammy coldness and sickly anxiety and he shivered in the humid garden. His trembling translated into the thin walls of the elevator car and an audible rattle grew as they crowded once more into the car. Full Wing sat in the corner of the car, with his hooves tucked up to his chest. He cried softly and his KK-109 sat beside him. Luna ignored him and Nacht gave her something as he took his place beside her. Luna turned her attention to functioning member of the Night Raiders.

“Private Red Field, effective immediately I hereby promote you to the rank of specialist in accordance with the professionalism demonstrated on tonight’s operation.” Red Field heard a tiny click. Luna tossed whatever Nacht gave her out of the car. It hit the ground with a sharp clack and Red Field made out the shape of a grenade rolling out into the garden. Luna pushed the button for the top floor and the doors slid closed. The elevator whirred upward and after a few seconds, a series of thuds and rumbles reverberated up the shaft after them.

“Red Field.” Luna wiped at some of Discord’s blood, which had stained her leg. “With my sister gone, we’re not going to host a menagerie of villains in our basement.” She glanced back at Full Wing. “Equestria might not be used to violence, but our enemies are.”

Red Field vomited twice on the trip back to base. Luna continued to fly through the moonlit night while the sniper of the Night Raiders retched over the side of the chariot. Full Wing continued to cry quietly.
They reached the base a little past 0100. They’d landed in the main base of Gale Force.

“Madam.” Nacht’s voice was still flat, yet it bore the faint impression of an opinion. “Is this the best course?”

“What else am I to do but hunt for justice?” Asked Luna, looking down at him. Nacht could match Luna’s gaze, even if he didn’t look particularly cognizant.

“Mohs has never been our friend. If our enemies are out there, we may never find them.” Said Nacht.

Luna looked back at the “Night Raiders”.

“We’ve got Gale Force with us now.”

Next Chapter: Chapter 20 Estimated time remaining: 5 Hours, 29 Minutes