The next two weeks flew by far too quickly. I got my head on straight, and my family got to see the Equestria I knew, from the back alley bars to the most beautiful of Canterlot’s old buildings. Celestia and Luna took as much time as possible, treating my family to wonderful dinners, and just generally being amazing hosts. The Princesses, Jen, and Mom were almost inseparable; I’d catch them hanging out, drinking wine and swapping stories, Dad busied himself chatting up the castle staff. There was even word of an illicit poker game every other night that still hasn’t been confirmed.

Dad cleaned ‘em out…just saying.

After how close I’d come in Benral, this was the balm I’d needed. I still woke up terrified, expecting to open my eyes and be back in that fucking basement, but only Tia’s soft body greeted me, and what a way to wake up. I eventually told her about what had transpired, mostly. She cornered me one night as we were getting ready for bed.

“I know you’ve been keeping something from me about what happened while you were gone.”

I sighed, “Tia, I can’t talk about it. Trust me; you don’t want to hear about all that anyway.”

“But I do, I still feel the weight of it on you. I only wish to help, love.”

I pulled her into my arms, “I know, honey, but trust me when I tell you that there’s no good that can come from having that in your head too.”

I could feel her pull away, was she mad? “Zack, I am not a child, I have lived for thousands of years and will live for thousands more. You needn’t try and shelter me.”

Something snapped inside me “Fuck, fine…You have to know? I was captured and tortured for a few days, they broke bones, hooked me up to a car battery, cried, screamed, and never broke. When they were done playing with me, they took me out into the fucking snow, stuck a gun to my head, and all I wanted was to see you and my family just one last time. The only reason I’m still alive is because of Frank and his connections!” Her eyes had gone wide, I knew it took a lot to shock her, but I’d opened up a chink in her armor, I was important to her, and that made her vulnerable.

“That’s the game I play, and sometimes we fucking lose, I’ve lost three good friends over here, in the last six years. Mugged and stabbed, or they get into car accidents, or they slip in the fucking shower. But unlike most people, I don’t have the luxury of accepting that, because I get to see the real reports. The “muggers” cut my friend’s throat and left his wallet, four days shy of his kid’s third birthday, the car accident? Three bullets to the back of the head. Slipped in the shower? Clear evidence of her neck being snapped like a twig by human hands!” Somewhere along the way, I started to cry, tears streaming down my face. “And I just have to fucking eat it and ask for seconds because we can’t fight these people on level ground, only ever in the dark.” I was shivering now, anxiety, adrenaline, and pure unadulterated sadness had taken me over. “I miss them every day, and the world will never know that each of them got us information that saved hundreds of lives, Equestrian and Human both. I was seconds from being a star on the wall in Langley, another accidental death, and a folded flag for my mom. I’m having a hard time seeing the point anymore, Tia; I’m so fucking tired… I-”

She stopped my pacing, throwing her arms around me, wrapping me in a warm embrace, and I just let it go, wracking sobs shook my whole body. “ I love you.” She whispered softly, “You’re a good man, and you have done your duty as admirably as anyone could ask, you have sacrificed and suffered, given up so much. I knew you were special, and I wasn’t wrong. You only need to tell me what I can do, and I will literally move the heavens to make it possible.” I sniffed, and she only held me tighter, “Would you like to work in the castle again? Consider it done. Would you like to advise my military? I’ll pen the recommendation myself. I want to help my darling, simply tell me how.”

I didn’t answer for a moment; I simply laid my head on her chest and tried to collect myself. Once I had control, I spoke softly; I’d done enough yelling at her to last a lifetime. “I’m sorry Tia, I don’t know what the fuck that was about, I guess I’d been carrying that around for far too long, shouldn’t have taken it out on you. I can’t give up yet; there's a storm coming, and the best way I can protect both our nations is from right where I am.”

She sighed, gently stroking my hair, “Then know, that for as long as you live, I will wait for you. And my offer will stand my love. Never apologize for your feelings, if they are sincere, I would gladly listen to you yell forever, if I knew it would help bring you fully back to me.”

I nodded into her chest, pulling away and kissing her softly, “I love you, Tia, thank you for letting me get this out, thank you for not giving up on me.”

“As if I have a choice.” She smirked before kissing me, “I love you far too much.”

This mare, I swear to God.

“Come now, my love, dinner will be ready soon, and I wouldn’t want to keep the family waiting.”

The remaining few days in my leave were peaceful, and before I knew it, I was heading back to the Portal, I needed to get back to Langley and get my marching orders. Tia had come along in her Dusk disguise, insisting on saying goodbye, Luna had said hers at the castle, making everyone promise to visit again soon.

Jen was taking about a million pictures as we walked up the steps to the ECP, Mom was walking arm in arm with Tia, having some conversation I couldn’t make out. Dad kept pace with me.

“Ya know, boy, I love you, with all my heart, and I’m so proud of the man you are.”

I was a little taken aback by the spontaneous admission, but that was just my old man. “Thanks, pop, truly, means everything to know I haven’t let you and Mom down.”

He smiled, throwing an arm around my shoulder, “I don’t think you know how. Just make me a promise.” His eyes turned flinty for a moment, “Don’t make me outlive you; I couldn’t take it.”

I pulled him into a hug, “Nah, not getting rid of me that easy old man.”

We all shared some goodbyes, Mom and Celestia looked like they were in on a joke that no one else got, but it warmed my heart to see them hug like old friends, with Mom promising to come back, Dad tried shaking her hand to no avail and was swept up in Tia’s embrace. Jen got her hug in and bounded off after the folks, leaving Tia and I standing on the steps.

She moved in and hugged me tightly, “I miss you already.”

“Me too, sweetheart, me too…I’ll come back as soon as I can.”

“In one piece?”

“More or less, I love you.”

“And I, you, my darling.” She pulled back and kissed me so hard I forgot what day it was for a second, breaking it only when air became a necessity. “Think of me?”

I caught my breath, or tried to; she had that effect on me. “Try and stop me.”

With one last look of sheer longing, I backed away until only our fingertips were touching, then with all the willpower I had, I turned and walked through the portal doors.

“You can’t be serious.”

“I’m deadly serious Andrews; the White House won’t be touching this one.”

I’d arrived at Langley earlier that day; now, I was sitting in the office of Charlie Rutledge, Deputy Director of Operations for SAC or the Special Activities Center. The tall, dark-haired DDO had seen more than his share of shit, evidenced by the no-bullshit look in his blue eyes. I’d laid out the whole shebang for him, based on the intel I’d gotten out of the Empire and the information Chang had supplied, we had a solid case to start preparing for war. POTUS apparently disagreed.

“Rut, they’re amassing their forces, Griffons are going hungry in the streets so they can pour more and more into Mil spending, I’ve seen it myself.”

Charlie leaned back in his chair, sighing. “And I’m not discounting that Zack. I know Equestria has been a friend and ally for a long time now, You know I made some moves there too. But we have to consider the ramifications for both worlds if we start swinging at the Reds. At least that’s the line I’m getting from the Hill.”

“Rut, this is fucking bullshit.”

“Agreed, but as it stands, we have to keep doing business the way we have been.”

“Frank know about this? Jesus Rut, you know what I went through over there, it can’t all be business as usual.”

“Frank knows, and he knows well enough that this is the game, if they make a move, then it’s on. But until then, we keep hitting them in the dark.”

I sighed, fucking politics…” Well, where does this leave me?”

“I’d like you to get back with your guys ASAP. There are some things we need to chase d-“

The door to Rut’s office was thrown open, a shaken looking analyst on the other side. “Boss, turn on the TV!”

Charlie didn’t need to be told twice; the man’s tone said it all. The flat-screen whirled to life already tuned to CNN. The images flashing across the screen almost brought me to my knees; the anchor’s voice barely reaching my ears.

“Multiple sources have confirmed this; the images you are seeing are indeed accurate. As of eight o clock local time, the Griffon Empire, along with the Russia-Sino Alliance, have declared war on the nation of Equestria.”

Over his shoulder, images whipped by.

Airborne soldiers landing in the streets of Trottingham

Fires burning in Fillydelphia

School foals, led by their teacher, fleeing from hulking Griffon Soldiers in Ponyville

A tear slipped down my face, in a flash that sadness was replaced with more hate than I knew how to handle. Someone was going to fucking burn for this.

“Rut?” I all but growled.

He nodded without taking his eyes off the TV, “Go.”

I turned on a heel, pushing my way past the analyst, my phone already dialing Scotty’s number. After a few rings, he picked up, “I see it, brother, when?”

“Time-fucking-now, Where’s Tuck and Rob?”

“I called them before you called, they’re on their way, begging borrowing and stealing, we’ll be at the Portal by tonight.”

“I’m at Langley, swing through and grab me, we’re going to war Scott.”

“Fuckin’ A,” I could hear the stress in his voice, and I knew he was as terrified for Raven as I was for Celestia.

“Scotty, she’s in the palace, there’s no way the Princesses are gonna let anything happen to her.”

“Y-yeah, I know, bud…Thanks.”

“Anytime, be safe.”

“If you can’t be safe?”

I smiled.

“Then, be fucking deadly.”

Author's Notes:

Shit is getting spicy now folks!