Five minutes later, we rolled through the back gate of the Embassy, Scotty and his boys, who I recognized as Tucker and Rob, were mostly silent as we walked through a particular door. Frank was waiting on the other side with a cup of coffee, a cigarette, and an expectation of a debrief, a smile on his face, “Glad you made it kid.”

“Yeah, me too, the guys saved my ass.”

“Again.” Rob snarked from somewhere behind me; I flipped him off over my shoulder. Rob and Tucker, like Scotty, were old friends, I wish I’d known they were on this side of the fence earlier, we always tore it up when the four of us were together. They were also some of the baddest dudes on Earth and any other planet apparently.

In American Embassies throughout the world, there is the overt face of American diplomacy, State Department employees going about their best to safeguard and advance democracy in equal measure, paper-pushers bringing the American dream. Then there’s the other side of things. The darker side. We don’t talk about it, but it exists all the same. You see, another agency piggybacks on State’s overseas activities, like a remora on a shark. Some call it “The Company,” some call it “The Agency,” Mil guys refer to it as OGA or “Other Government Agency.” It’s been called an evil outfit that has designs on World Domination.

Say what you want about CIA, but they do like their varied sobriquets.

Frank, the boys, and I debriefed over lunch; I related everything about the guys who were following me. Tuck had gotten a picture of one of them, the bad guys were blown, and they knew it. I doubted they’d try something that stupid again. Hopefully, it was after one when I walked back through my door, Scotty following close behind, He’d insisted on hanging out, so drinks had been bought, stories told, and poeticism waxed. I settled in on the couch while Scotty grabbed a couple of beers from my colossal fridge.

“Bro, today was insane, the Russkies got some balls huh?”

I nodded while flipping through channels,” Yeah, makes me wonder what they’re up to, big picture-wise, I mean.”

Scott flopped down on the other end of the couch, “Well, you’re the American advising Princess Celestia, and they just made some pretty big demands, makes sense almost, they grab a friend and she might dance to whatever tune they play.”

I sipped my beer, “We aren’t that close, Celestia wouldn’t compromise her nation to save one man. Even when they started mailing me to her one piece at a time.” I grimaced a little bit. “I’m glad you guys were in the neighborhood.”

“Fuck, me too. Otherwise, we would’ve had to come grab your sorry self.”

“Yeah yeah, I’m gonna grab something to eat, you want in?”

Scott shrugged, “Sure, man, whatever you got lying around.”

I went into the kitchen and dug through the fridge, pulling out the makings of a BLT when Scotty’s phone rang. I was only half-listening as I smeared mayo on a piece of bread.

“How long ago? Heading? Fuck alright. On my way.” I heard him sigh, “Hey, Zack! Gonna have to take a raincheck on the sandwich; we got problems.”

Now he had my attention, “What goes on?”

“EQ guards in the Northern sector of the city got hit, three dead so far, one critical.”

I felt the blood rush out of my face, “Fuck, they know who yet?”

Scott shook his head, “Not yet, but it’s all hands on deck.”

I checked my phone, nothing from Celestia yet. “Well, fuck man, be safe.” Something occurred as Scott’s hand reached for the knob, “Scotty, how’d they die?”

He shrugged, “Frank said something about them having their throats torn out. The critical casualty was shot.”

Something clicked in my brain, and the butter-knife clattered to the floor. “Scott, if the Reds couldn’t get to me to get Celestia to cooperate, who’s the next person they’d go after?”

Scotty caught on, and his face went white.”Oh, fuck, the castle. Would they have the balls to try and get her directly?”

“Remember Crimea? Let’s move!”

Scotty was pulling out his phone as we took the stairs three at a time, flying across the lobby and jumping into his Embassy issued SUV. The front gate of the castle looked normal, but appearances could be deceiving. “Scotty, I’m going in, get Frank on the horn, get everyone down here.”

I popped the door, and Scott grabbed my arm, “Here, man.” He had opened the center console and was holding a Glock 29 out to me; the little ten-millimeter had more than enough power to kill a Griffon if you were careful about shot placement.

I took the piece along with a spare mag, tucking it into my waistband just behind my right hip. “Thanks, bud, here’s hoping I’m overreacting.” I shut the door, and Scott sped off to alert the cavalry. I moved up on the open gate, the closer I got, the more I realized that there was a pony in the guard shack, relief shot through me as we had a brief conversation and he allowed me through.

I was halfway to believing I’d been wrong when a blue-tinged explosion of magic rocked the upper tier of the castle, chunks of marble the size of cars flew through the air, smashing through buildings outside the castle perimeter.

Luna

“FUCK!” I shouted and broke into a full sprint. Now the castle was alive with activity; the main hall was suddenly full of Guards shouting and running. I grabbed a Lieutenant as he passed.”LT, anyone have eyes on the Princesses?”

“Protective details have Princess Luna; apparently, the attackers tried to take her, it…it didn’t work out. Princess Celestia’s detail was in place last, I heard.”

I nodded. “I’m going to head up to the Solar Wing, advise your Ponies, and tell them to spread the word. You’re about to have a lot of friendly company.” He nodded and raced off. I kept moving up the stairs to the Solar Wing.

My heart dropped, and I drew the Glock at a smell I was all too familiar with.

Blood.

I stalked forward, checking doors and windows, the hallway was quiet as the grave, no sign of movement anywhere, as I got closer to Celestia’s door I could hear voices, hushed, but present all the same. I slipped the Glock back into my waistband; dynamic wasn’t the way to go here. I was about to knock when my phone vibrated—a text from Scott.

On property, two dead Guards so far, North hill, eyes on the Office, two unknowns, get in there. I’ll text for green. Call for red. Cav is on the way.

I shoved my phone into my pocket and knocked on the door. I could hear a frenzy of activity on the other side before Celestia answered, sounding strained, “Please come in.”

I pushed the door open; the Office was in disarray, The big oak desk was knocked on its side, papers scattered on the floor, The bodies of Celestia’s protective detail laid crumpled in a corner. In the center of the room, Celestia was on her knees, a Griffon behind her with a sword hovering dangerously close to her throat, another off to the side, his sword drawn. Celestia’s eyes widened as she saw me, “Zack! Ru-“

“Quiet Bitch!” The Griffon spoke, poking her in the neck with the razor-sharp tip of his sword. “As you can see, Human, I have the upper-hand here, If you take another step, I will cut her throat, and this world will freeze as the sun dies. No longer will the Pony races lord their supposed superiority over the rest of the creatures of this world. Glory to the Red Griffon Collective. Search him”

His second stepped forward, pulling my phone out of my pocket and tossing in on the coffee table that remained, miraculously, intact. A second later, he found my gun and added it to the pile.

I shook my head, keeping my hands raised, “So they finally convinced you, huh? Are the Griffons gonna be the right arm of the Russia-Sino Alliance? How well has that worked out for anyone in the past, hmm? You have no way out, My government and our allies are headed this way, not to mention the Guards who are gonna be itching for payback. You’re dead; you just don’t know it yet.”

“They are our allies and benefactors! With their help, we will rise again. As the dominant force on this world and yours! I care not for my own life; the individual is nothing in the face of the Collective!” He screeched, veins standing out on his neck.

The cheese had clearly slipped off this guy’s cracker. I was silent, trying to come up with a way to get Celestia out of this, when I heard the roar of a helicopter, a second later an MI-8 pulled into a hover just outside the office window. If they had a helo, that means they had Russians. So that’s how they planned on getting her out.

Fuck.

The Griffon eyed me suspiciously, never taking his sword away from Tia's throat. "You look as though you have something to say, human."

Over his shoulder, a light glinted through the foliage on the North hill. On the table, my phone vibrated. Once.

I chuckled softly, keeping my hands raised. "Ya got me, Bud. Celestia? I'm sorry about the carpet."

Her eyes shone with confusion "Wha-?"

I closed my right hand into a fist.

The ornate stained glass window behind the Griffon spidered, his head exploded in a shower of gore, staining Celestia's white coat red, I snapped the Glock off the table and shot his Lieutenant three times in the head. I watched the Griffon take his last breath and hustled across the room, just before I reached her, another shot took out the engine of the hovering helo, black smoke pouring into the room, I jumped the remaining ten feet and covered her body with my own. A moment later, an explosion threw shrapnel into the side of the castle. I rolled off of the Princess, my ears ringing.

”Celestia? Are you alright?!”

She looked into my eyes, shaken. "I don't think any of this blood is mine…Where is my Sister?”

I blew out a sigh of relief and offered her my hand, pulling her to her hooves. “Her Guards got her to safety last I heard. Come on; we have to move." I scooped my phone off the table as we moved across the room, my Glock covering the corners, I dialed with one hand, and after a few moments, Scotty’s voice came over the line

"Go"

“Nice shooting Scotty. Moving through the Solar wing with the Princess. How's it looking exterior?"

“The exterior is dicey to every direction except the South, move South, and you shouldn't run into any bad guys, The Guards are taking it to ‘em, and our guys plus a bunch of Brits just rolled up, can't say the same for the interior, that's all you."

"Understood. We'll see you on the ride out." I ended the call and was about to start moving when Celestia grabbed my hand.

Her eyes held hurt and confusion in equal measure. "When we get to safety, I believe I deserve to know who you really are.” It was a simple question, with a very complicated answer. I felt awful about lying to her all this time, but what else could I have done? I sighed deeply but didn't answer as I cleared door frame, stepping over the body of a fallen Royal Guard, numerous stab wounds had almost torn the Equestrian apart. Celestia took a knee, brushing her hand over her soldier's chest with a quiet sob. "I am so sorry."

I dropped down next to her, my eyes and sights still trained on the long corridor. "Let's make it count, Equestria doesn’t stand a chance if I don't get you out of here. "

She shook softly as I laid my hand across her shoulder, but when she spoke, it was with barely contained rage, not sadness. "They're going to pay."

I squeezed her shoulder and stood. I watched her say a silent prayer for her guardian, regaining her hooves a second later. With a look and a nod, we continued down the hallway, heading for the balcony. The bay window overlooking the South cliff face was in sight when Celestia's ear swiveled towards my Office's closed door, and, faster than I could stop her, she snapped a leg out and shattered the dense wooden barrier. Thirty pairs of eyes locked onto the unexpected light source in the otherwise darkened room, someone let out a scream, swords flashed… And I damn near shot the Captain of the Royal Guard.

Celestia's shocked voice was the only thing that kept me from pulling the trigger, "Captain Blaze?"

I eased the slack back into the trigger as the Captain lowered her sword, "Captain."

She nodded and beckoned us into the room, "Mr. Andrews, Princess, we have wounded."

Celestia rushed past me and lit up her horn, bathing the side room in a yellow light illuminating the castle staff and wounded guard ponies that had sheltered there. That musical chiming noise sounded as she let go with several healing spells at once, wounds closed, and bones knitted back together in their wake. I made my way across the room, doing my best to smile reassuringly at every pony that made eye contact, reaching my desk I pulled a duffel bag from a large false-bottomed drawer, withdrawing my medical kit, plate carrier, and a shorty M4 chambered in .458 SOCOM, the round had more than enough punch to take down a fully armored griffon warrior, I silently thanked the universe, and Frank, for foresight, he’d never trusted the Griffs.

I was slipping on the gear when a hand landed on my shoulder, Celestia, I could feel it. Turning my head slightly, a grim expression on her face, but her deep purple eyes were pleading. "Zack, we have to get them out."

I nodded, "I know, I'm already working on a plan, Captain?"

The Captain walked up to the desk, resting her hands on the smooth oak surface, "What's the word?"

I laid out the burgeoning plan. We would have to jump; the marauding Griffons would tear us apart in the air, the Pegasi and Celestia would have to carry the Unicorn and Earth ponies down as quickly and quietly as possible, once they had an open enough area to do so safely, Celestia would teleport them beyond the castle grounds and behind our perimeter. I'd stay, cover the rear and make sure these ponies got away safely. Celestia hesitated, but agreed; Blaze followed her lead. The wounded that Celestia had healed were ready to move, and we had no time to waste. I made my way to the door, with Blaze at my back, to check the corridor and make sure we were clear before moving the group the remaining hundred yards to freedom. Halfway across the room, I heard voices, muffled at first, by the walls, the closer they came, the clearer they got. I strained to pick up anything identifying over the sounds of gunfire outside.

“Проверьте эти комнаты, найдите их”

"Back, get back!" I whispered to Blaze, flattening myself against the wall next to the door, my pocket knife whispering open with a soft click. The Russian was close; I could hear his boots thudding on the marble floor as he approached. I took a deep breath, closing my eyes and steadying myself.

Take him quietly.

The Russian stuck his head through the doorway, his flashlight beam playing over the opposite wall towards the center of the room…and landed on Comet’s horrified face.

Shit.

I struck hard, clapping a hand over his mouth, knocking his rifle out of his hands, and driving him back into the hallway. I used the momentum when we struck the wall to drive my knife into his chest, ripping it out in a spray of blood and slamming it into his throat. He struggled briefly as he bled out, I watched his pupils dilate, counted to ten and let him slide off the edge of my blade, checking the hallway and finding no other threats.

Just like riding a bike.

I grabbed the straps of his assault pack and dragged him back into the dim room, a maid retched at the sight of the dead man. Celestia was staring at me, her expression unreadable as I wiped the blood off my face and caught my breath. "We have to move; the Griffons brought friends."

Blaze nodded, "Alright, Ponies, let's go" The soldiers snapped to, the civvies less so, but they still moved, self-preservation was one hell of a motivator. We piled out into the hallway, and I tossed the dead Russian's rifle to Blaze.

"You know how to use that?"

She answered with a small smile, checking to make sure a round was chambered. "Yeah, joint exercises with some of your Special Forces awhile back."

I returned her smile. "Had to ask Captain, wanna cover the left hallway?"

She nodded before quickening her pace to match mine. We stalked down the hallway, Celestia bringing up the rear, her horn alight, ready for whatever came our way, our charges in the center of our lopsided diamond formation. Coming to the junction, I went right while Ember went left. Nothing but emptiness greeted us. "Clear," I whispered.

"Clear." Came Blaze’s reply,

"Alright, let's hustle." I threw open the balcony door, once again clearing right, I was struck by how beautiful the view was, endless fields stretching from the base of the cliff-fed waterfall to Ponyville further south, where I would've marveled for hours, now the plumes of smoke from Luna’s spectacular exit, the crashed Russian bird and the sounds of frantic fighting taking place marred the otherwise awe-inspiring scene. I motioned the civilians forward, two by two they lined up, each of the nine Pegasi and Celestia grabbing a Unicorn or Earth Pony each. I cleared my throat and addressed them. "Pegasi, you're gonna want to free-fall for as long as possible; otherwise, the Griffons are gonna tear you apart, when you earth-types get on the deck, keep low, move fast and find some overhead cover. Keep your heads, and we'll get through this."

Celestia, who had been strangely silent, spoke for the first time since I'd iced the Russian. "I give you my word, my subjects; I will protect every one of you."

They nodded grimly; they were all terrified, who wouldn't be? But they moved, all the same, Celestia's words buoying their spirits; without another word, they began stepping over the railing. I spun and took a knee, aiming my rifle, keeping the remaining civvies covered. The gunfire on the castle grounds stopped suddenly, the quiet in its absence was eerie, I could feel sweat rolling down my neck that had nothing to do with the heat, I twitched at every little noise, a symptom of being out of the field for so long. The return of the Pegasi and Celestia damn near made me jump out of my skin, outside of some heavy breathing, they didn't look any worse for wear.

Celestia spoke up, "The first ten are safely away, once we were on the ground, I teleported them outside the castle grounds." She looked worried but resolute.

“We'll get them out safely." My declaration put a smile on Celestia’s face; I think I even saw a small smile from a particularly scared-looking chef. "Ember, cover, I've gotta make a phone call" I pulled out my encrypted cell and punched in the numbers.

"Go" His voice sounded a little strained, and it set off alarm bells somewhere in the back of my brain.

“Scotty, How's the sky?"

A moment passed before the answer came, "A little dark."

"Sky" was a status check codeword with two responses, either "Blue," indicating all clear, or "Dark," suggesting some kind of coercion. I'd just gotten my answer. “Copy, on the move North with the HVI, will advise.” hopefully, whoever was listening would take the bait. I waited for a response; I got nothing. I spun around and addressed everyone. "Guys, we gotta move, my escape plan just went to shit." Celestia's brow furrowed, but she didn't respond, just kept an eye out as the Pegasi grabbed their plus-ones, Comet was milling around and waiting on her ride with royalty. I took over from Captain Blaze; the hallway was still barren. Now my bells were ringing so loud I'm pretty sure Tia could hear them, why hadn't we been attacked? Or at the very least, why hadn't anyone come to check on their dead friend?

I was about to voice my concerns when I realized that it was just ten maids and me, best not to alarm them unduly. I kept that EoTech sight trained on the door, creeping closer and closer to confident that we were gonna get hit. They'd already tried taking Celestia once; I couldn't for the life of me seeing them just letting her go. Loud thumps announced the return of the evac crew, they moved quicker now, building to a rhythm and bailing over the side. And then the Russians showed up, bullets shattered the bay window, and the doors were all but ripped from the frames, I felt one lance into my side. The impact spun me to the floor, screaming bloody murder. I regained some footing and fired on full auto through the opening. The puncture like reports of the AK's almost drowned out by the thunderous .458 rounds as they shredded anything and everything in their way. I had no cover at all, but we took what we could, and I was going to pay for it.

I slammed a new mag home, and waited, quiet, greeted my ears for a moment. Then the absolute deluge of gunfire started up again, rounds tearing chunks off the marble balcony, the railing was almost completely gone, blood was pumping steadily out of the wound in my side, I was fucked, and I knew it. I held my fire, and the Russians began to advance, their voices getting louder. I knew I had seconds to make a call, so I made the only one I could, I leaned the corner and dumped thirty rounds of .458 into the first element, the heavy shots chewing their way through armor and flesh alike, I didn't even stop to listen to the screams. In one fluid motion, I slung my rifle and jumped off the balcony into the sky.

Falling.

The wind stung my eyes as the side of the mountain rushed by; my rifle spun away. The sharp rocks below got closer and closer, and I knew I was about to die,

At least I got Celestia out. I thought as I closed my eyes and waited for the end.

I was about five seconds from meeting my maker when I stopped suddenly, something wrenching in my back, I felt a pop in my shoulder, followed by a wave of nausea-inducing pain. But at least I wasn’t going to splatter all over the ground.

“Got you!”

I looked up through the pain to see Celestia hanging onto my plate carrier and belt. A flash of magic and I found myself lying on a cobblestone street, my vision tunneling, a pair of strong hands grabbed me, and a British -accented voice cut through my fading consciousness.

“We’ve got a live one, MEDIC!”

Author's Notes:

Well we've fallen down the rabbit-hole now boys and girls! Next chapter will be up in a few hours.

Translation:

“Проверьте эти комнаты, найдите их”- Check those rooms, find them!