Third person, unknown location:

Captain Shining Armor sat in his cell and wept over the death of Sergeant Major Clare. He had known about what happened between Luna and Star Gazer all those years ago and he knew that the news of Clare’s death would devastate her.

Elsewhere in the cave Clare still hung lifelessly from the noose. The zebras had all left after having a laugh. One younger zebra with a bayonet fitted AK47 walked up to the lifeless body of Clare as he hung from the noose rope. Even after he was dead his very presence sent shivers down his back.

Captain Shining Armor sat in his cell and thought about possible escape plans. He could use a magical energy blast on the next zebra to walk through the cell door but he’d most likely be shot down. He cursed himself for not learning a teleportation spell like his sister had encouraged him.

“FUCK” Shining cried as tears continued to trickle down his face. He was so distraught from Clare’s death, he hopped that they killed him too because he couldn’t live with himself knowing that Clare had been hung and they let him live. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to rip that bitch’s throat out before he got shot down. He vowed to himself that before he died he would see the dead bitch’s eyes with his own. That he promised himself.

The young zebra stood in front of Clare’s body and his body shook in fear. He couldn’t get the thought out of his head about how terrifying the man had been on the battlefield. He alone probably killed more zebras than he could ever imagine.

He thought he saw the man’s chest move, only slightly. “Huh?” he muttered then leaned forwards. He shook his head, figuring it was just his imagination getting to him. As he was about to lean back Clare’s hand shot up and grabbed the noose rope while his legs curled around the zebra’s neck and constricted his throat then lifted his body off the ground.

Clare’s eyes burned with inner rage as he held the young zebra’s body off the ground with his legs. The young zebra cried out and gagged in fear. Clare held himself up by pulling up on the noose ropes with his hands so that the noose rope didn’t strangle him. Without mercy or any feeling of guilt, Clare squeezed his legs and snapped the zebra’s neck silently.

Minutes earlier

Sgt. Clare:

The zebras were stupid, they hadn’t tightened the noose around my neck and I could easily breathe. All I had to do was fake my own death. Damn fools forgot to check my boots, had a small switch blade with a two inch blade hidden in my boots. All I had to do was wait till they all left then bend my knees, pull out the knife and cut the rope away from my hands.

Present time:

I pulled out my small switch blade and cut the noose rope around my neck. The zebra was young and stupid, paid for it with his life. He couldn’t be more than eight years old. Can’t say it felt good killing him but his face won’t bother my dreams any time soon. But I had to thank the kid, he had left me an AK with a bayonet attached to the barrel.

“Thanks kid” I whispered as I dragged his body into the corner of the room and made it look like he was simply passed out. I held the AK47 in my hands, holding it felt weird, mostly because of the trigger and handle modifications so that zebras could shoot it, but also because of its symbolic history. This weapon was the preferred weapon of every terrorist and communist group from Al-Qaeda to the Yakuza.

But beggars can’t be choosers I guess. I stalked through the passageways of the underground tunnels. The soft dirt silenced my footsteps. I had no intention of firing the AK47 until after I was outside the tunnel. I had overheard The Apache talking about going out on patrol to do some marksmanship, or in other words kill a platoon of royal guards and probably use their tongues as trophies or something sick like that.

I heard calm breathing of a zebra as he walked down the dark tunnel. It was dimly lit in the tunnels, a light bulb hung from the tunnel roof about every twenty yards. I leaned up against the corner of the wall and waited as the zebra passed.

I curled back my lips and gritted my teeth in anger as I stabbed the zebra in the back with the bayonet. He tried to let out a scream but I had stabbed the bayonet right through his heart and killed him instantly.

I dragged his body into the shadows then continued on. The tunnels narrowed and I could hear the whistling of a zebra as he trotted along the tunnel system casually. The AK47’s bayonet was kind of clumsy in these tight quarters but I had learned some pretty cool things you could do with just the sling of a rifle.

I slid along the shadows of the corridors and waited for the zebra to trot by me. I was hidden in the shadows and he only noticed I was there after it was too late. I quickly wrapped the sling around his neck and pulled him into the shadows then snapped his neck with the sling. He slumped to the floor and I left his body in the shadows as I continued on.

I was surprised that I hadn’t found more zebras, The Apache must’ve taken most of them out on patrol. I heard screaming echo from a room down one of the corridors. As I continued on I stopped by a large weapons cache.

I spotted my gear and quickly slipped all my stuff back on. I slung the customized AK47 on my back and unholstered my Mossberg 500 tactical. I couldn’t find Shining Armor’s things so I figured I’d grab some extra magazines for the AK47 then just give him that.

I followed the echoes of the screams and found a cell room at the end of a hallway. “Where are your pony friends now” laughed a maniacal voice. I leveled the shotgun at my hip and booted down the door. Two zebras had beaten Shining severally, his face was battered and bruised.

“Right here” I quoted then blasted a round of buckshot into one of the zebras. I racked the pump then quickly blasted the other zebra. His body flew back and slammed against the wall of the cell. His blood smeared against the wall as his body slumped over with a large hole through his chest.

“I’m back” I quoted then rushed over to Shining Armor’s body. “Cl… Clare… what the fuck… you aren’t dead?” Shining moaned in pain. “Come on captain, if I was sure I was going to die I would’ve put up more of a fight then some quipy one liners and quotes” I laughed, the captain tried to laugh but was in too much pain.

I heaved his body over my shoulders, I’d have to post pone my battle with The Apache until another day. Right now I was gonna have to get Shining Armor to the firebase to get him evaced to a field hospital.

I held the shotgun in one hand as I raced along the tunnel system, not exactly sure how to get out. “Clare… Clare if I don’t make it… tell Cadence that… I…I” he began but I set him down and pulled out my water canteen. “Captain, now don’t you go talking like that. I didn’t escape sure death just to have you die on me” I told him. “Hey Clare… you know… I laughed when you broke my nose” Shining chuckled painfully as a tear came to his eye.

I made him drink some water, it was warm but it was better than nothing. They had cut him up pretty bad but he should make it if I hurried and got us out of here. I placed Shining Armor on my shoulders and began to run towards where I hopped the exit was. Along my way I found a radio relay station.

I rushed up and quickly grabbed a radio set then dialed in to Firebase Bravo. “Bravo two six this is Clare go” I said and soon the voice of Lickety Split returned my call. “Hey Sarge, was wondering when” he began but I cut him off. “Listen, Lickety there’s no time, get me an evac chopper at… Bravo Charlie 9-2-4-2-5-1, out” I ordered then quickly began to race for the exit. I could finally see the end of the tunnel.

As I raced out the front of the tunnel my eyes took a second to adjust to the darkness of the night. There was several zebras standing guard that hadn’t noticed me. I unslung the AK47 and held it in one hand from hip level. I squeezed the trigger and the gun rattled as it chattered out full metal jacket rounds.

The zebras screamed as they were cut down. I looked around throughout the valley. I didn’t have much use for the AK47 just dangling around my back so I dropped it then ran towards where I had ordered Lickety to get me an evac chopper.

Third person, Everfree forest:

“Alright stallions, mount up. Clare is in a tight situation and we’re getting him out. We’ve called in an extraction chopper but we’re gonna need a clear LZ before the chopper lands. Let’s move out double time” Daffodil ordered and the elite shadow guards quickly embarked into military Jeeps.

They all raced off down the dirt path in the Jeeps and finally reached the LZ. They shut off the Jeeps then grouped up. “All right, Bakers Presell: I want you covering the north with the PIG. Jackson, Hammerhead: cover the rear. Every-pony else find some cover and hunker down. Remember the Sarge is out there so don’t shoot at the first thing that moves” Daffodil ordered and the platoon did exactly as they were told.

The group waited and the sound of helicopter rotors echoed through the valley. Elsewhere in the valley The Apache heard the helicopter rotors. She called out to her fellow zebras in native tongue then looked to see where the helicopter was.

Sergeant Major Clare raced as fast as he could with the now unconscious Shining Armor on his shoulders. “Hey Sarge” yelled one of his platoon members. Clare looked over to see Hart waving. He raced over to Hart then looked to see the helicopter landing. “Give me a sec” he told his friend then rushed over and placed Shining Armor in the helicopter.

Shining Armor came around but just barely. Tears rolled down Clare’s face as he held Shining Armor by the shoulders. “Hey Sarge… did we make it?” Shining asked weakly. Clare nodded as his tears dripped down onto Shining’s chest. He had almost lost a good friend. Not in an act of love but in an act of friendship Clare leaned down to Shining Armor and gave him a sloppy wet kiss on the cheek.

“Fag” Shining Armor chuckled but suddenly the moment was disrupted as all hell broke loose. Gunfire erupted everywhere at once. “Get him outta here” Clare yelled and the pilot nodded then began to take the helicopter into the air.

Clare rushed up to the others and unslung his Model 70 and began to pick off zebras. He had a huge advantage because of the night vision scope. A few hundred yards away lay The Apache as she zeroed in on the platoon.

Daffodil stood up, “Alright Every-pony fall back to the Jeeps and” he began but suddenly his head cocked back and he fell to the ground. Blood covered his face. “LT… LT, shit. Lickety get the chopper on the horn” Clare ordered and Split quickly dialed in the helicopter pilot.

“Hey get back down here, we got another wounded” Clare said into the radio. “Uh that’s a negative two six, you got a hot LZ cooking. Over” said the helicopter pilot. “Goddammit get your ass back down here or I’ll shoot you down myself” Clare threatened then a pony threw down a line of ropes with harnesses on the end.

“Great I love harness extraction” Clare muttered to himself as he picked up Daff and put him into one of the harnesses. “Every-pony fall back to the Jeeps and get back to the firebase” Clare yelled, the others nodded and began to lay down suppressing fire as others fell back in a leap frog technique.

As Clare turned to give fire support he saw Daff’s body slump. If someone didn’t hold him his body might fall out of the harness. Clare quickly harnessed himself in then gave a thumbs up to the pony in the helicopter. The chopper began to depart towards a field hospital.