//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: Unacceptable Circumstances // Story: Revenge // by We'll_Never_Know //------------------------------// One year Later...six months after the Lunar Invasion of the Solar Empire The fires of war had raged across Equestria. All across the land, there was the fight between the Solar Empire and the Lunar Empire. There was almost no corner where a bullet wasn't flying. A sniper on top of run down building in Appleloosa, starving and trying to kill his besiegers from a distance, as getting close would certainly mean death. He takes careful aim, and gets the officer in his sight, then pulls the trigger. As the officer drops, and his bodyguards looking for the shooter, the sniper is already off the rooftop and heading to his next position. A Solar marine, waiting eagerly in a landing craft, and then finally landing on the shores of Manehattan, leading a squad through the deadly barrage of machine gun fire from nests set up by the Lunars and artillery strikes. Lunar Rotary Wing aircraft hover above the machine gun nests and rain death on the landing marines. But are quickly dispatched by the arrival of Pegasi Fighters, guns spinning up and shredding the enemy. Fire bombs are dropped on the machine gun nests, and the Marines proceed into the city. Buildings crumble as shells and missiles from both sides wreck them, filling the streets of the metropolis with debris and rubble. A Lunar Fighter Pilot on a Search-and-Destroy mission. His group's target: A Solar Supply Train destined for Celestia's fortress in the mountains. Quickly maneuvering, he catches sight of the train, and opens fire. Gunners on a car try to shoot him down, but he's quick enough to maneuver away from the bullets. He aims for the wheels, and the links, and eventually causes one of the cars to fall over, and soon, the entire train falls off the rail. In a fiery display, cars fly across the track and into the ditches on the side in a massive derailment. For the pegasus, this is mission accomplished, and he heads home with his squadron. One pony on the Solar side in particular strikes interest. A Captain named Shining Armor. Blue maned and white coat, he is one of the most fierce leaders in this war. Driven by personal vendetta for the loss of his beloved wife a year before to Lunar Insurgents, and the unknown fate of his sister caught behind Lunar lines, he spares no quarter in his tactics. Recently, he had devised a plan with the other leaders for a mass counter-attack into the captured territories. Now, he awaits the results, as reports roll in on updates on the situation in each theater. "Sir, we've got hooves on the ground near Appleloosa. They are proceeding to liberate the city", a radio call came in. "Good", Shining Armor answered back. "Best of luck to you. Drive out the invaders and make continual sitreps. Sunrise Base out." "Roger, Sunrise base", the radio caller replied, before cutting the line for the moment. Another transmission came in not long later. "...this is Her Majesty's Ship, Canterlot Rose, calling in! Sunrise Base, are you there? Shining Armor heard the call, and hurried over to the operator taking the call. He took the call. "Roger, Canterlot Rose, this is Sunrise Base. Captain of Her Highness's Guard, Shining Armor on the line. Over." "Sir", the calm, yet slightly frantic officer called over the comm, "we are engaged against Lunar shore batteries on the beach. I repeat, we are engaged with Lunar shore batteries. All Marines and rotary support have been deployed and are assaulting the beachhead. They are under-fire, but they are pushing through. We are accompanied by HMS Celestia's Pride and HMS Firesky, but we need reinforcements. I repeat, we need reinforcements!" Shining Armor thought for a few moments. He looked to an officer standing behind him. "Do we have any ships we can spare?" "Yes, sir", the officer answered. "Dreadnaught HMS Golden Ray and carrier HMS Princess of the Sun." "Perfect", Shining Armor replied. "Order them to support HMS Canterlot Rose; It is imperative that we take Manehattan." "Yes sir", the officer answered, and went over to two other controllers, telling them to relay the ships. Shining Armor went to the comm and informed Canterlot Rose of the reinforcements. He was thanked and then he went off the comm, resuming his rounds. After a bit, another voice called him. "Sir?" Shining Armor turned to the young officer standing at the doorway. He was blue eyed, brown maned, with a lighter brown coat. The mane was strangely done, going up, but he elected not to judge. He was a lieutenant, badge showing he belonged to an intelligence unit. "Report, lieutenant." "Sir, a rotary craft is requesting clearance to land. They report to be carrying High-Value Individuals, one that her highness has put a watch for." "Is it her student's friend", Shining Armor asked, now intrigued. "We believe so, sir. According to the transport, she is explicitly wanted by her highness and is to be returned safely." Armor considered this. could this be one of Twilight's friends? "Description?" "Pink, sir", the lieutenant obeyed. Armor perked up. It was one of her friends! "Good, thank you lieutenant", Armor told the other. "I shall meet them personally." "Very well, sir", the lieutenant responded, saluting. Shining Armor saluted back and nodded. He started to leave, taking two guards with him. He stopped and looked back to the lieutenant. "What is your your name, lieutenant?" "Whooves, sir", the lieutnenant responded. Armor nodded again. "I'll have to remember that..." Later that day he received word his sister was dead, and now, Shining Armor was left with nothing. He mourned and grieved...as his hatred for the Princess of the Moon grew more and more... * * * Six Months Later... "She's acting up again" "Oh no...", Scootaloo trailed at her friend's words. Both her and Sweetie Belle rushed to Pinkie's bedroom door, and saw Pinkie sobbing miserably into a pillow, with Derpy trying to comfort her. "Third time this week...", Sweetie Belle trailed. "Yeah...", Scootaloo answered. Pinkie Pie had been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or 'PTSD', along with 'Survivor's Guilt'. She would go on about how she should have been with Applejack in Ponyville sacrificing herself, and let Applebloom be spared. She said that she deserved to suffer the fates of her sisters, and that she should be with them, and not alone down here. Pinkie would bury her face into the pillow and cry for a while, and sometimes just randomly break down when she saw something that reminded her of her friends. She would also jump at loud noises, shaking and muttering things, like "don't shoot me...please...". Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were very concerned for their friend, who they used to know as fun loving, was now a living wreck whose life now was spent in sorrow. "We need to get more help for her...", Sweetie Belle commented. "There's nothing anyone can do anymore...we've tried anything", Scootaloo answered, admitting defeat. They tried numerous psychologists around, trying to get her healed, but it was to no avail. It would seem the return of her friends would be the only thing that could help her now. It seemed horrible to say, but Pinkie was starting to become a lost cause...they could only do their best to help her through it. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were then ushered away by Derpy, and they both went downstairs to the kitchen. They sat and ate breakfast. "I wonder when this war's going to end", Sweeite Belle asked. "Not fast enough", Scootaloo told her. "We need an end..." Both perked their heads up when the newspaper came. Sweetie Belle got up and opened the door. "Scoots, come, quick!" Scootaloo got up and ran over, seeing the headline. "What...the Lunars and Solars...are agreeing to... * * * "PEACE?!!?!" "Calm yourself; It's what's best for the nation, Captain", Celestia told Shining Armor. "Luna has caused us too much pain and misery", Armor shot back, "to be forgiven. We cannot allow her to continue to rule!" "Luna is my sister, Captain", Celestia reminded Shining Armor. "She is my blood, and I will give her any opportunity to live in peace with me." "Have you been blinded, your highness? She has caused more deaths than anyone in Equestrian history!" "This war was bound to happen one day", Celesita argued. "It's best if we end it as quick as possible, and save lives before they are taken from us." "Cadence died because of Luna...", Armor trailed, anger in his voice. "Your wife, and my niece, may I remind you, was killed by a group of radicals", the Princess reminded. "Not my sister, nor her subjects." "The Lunars had to had a hoof in it!" "No, Captain", Celesita told her Captain sternly. "Calm yourself, and stop with this slander about my sister, or I will declare you unfit for your post. Is that clear?" Shining Armor's face stiffened and bowed his head to his Princess. "As you wish...your majesty", he snarled, before briskly leaving. The Princess watched, and shook her head. Her Captain's life was in a downward spiral. She understood that he had lost so much, but his obsession was starting to go too far. They needed this peace; war could not continue. She sighed and prepared herself a tea. So much weighed heavily on her head. Stress was building, and was almost too much for her to handle...but she was a millennia old leader. This is what she was needed and made for: to guide her subjects to prosperity. If her sister could simply accept a set of terms, then all would return to normal. And who knows? Perhaps the land would reunite one day.... Shining Armor needed to learn that. Sometimes, one must forgive the other to defeat them. * * * Three days later, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were in their home. When they had told Pinkie Pie the news, that the Empires had ceased active conflict and were seeking peace, they found her happier for a bit. But it was not long until she regressed into depression. Her friends, as usual, were weighing heavily on her mind. She was saying things, like that the peace couldn't bring them back, and that she wanted for them to live to see this day. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle hoped that Pinkie would at least be more prone to joy once in a while. As for them, they were eagerly awaiting the news regarding the peace treaty. So far, both sides were debating a location of where to draw up and sign the treaty. There were several choices, and a final decision was to be reached soon. With the war at a close, both friends knew that their lives would return to normal again, and that they would hopefully no longer had to fear the demons of war. A knock came at the door. The two got up and answered it, and Derpy was standing in the doorway with her mailbag. "Hey", the grey pegasus greeted happily. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle let her in, and welcomed her back. Derpy had taken them all in after the liberation of Ponyville, and now they resided in a large home with her. To support them, Derpy took a job with the courier service, delivering both military and civilian messages around town. It paid well enough. But to help, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo also took odd jobs for the local garrison, ranging from washing uniforms to delivering toiletries and gifts. Derpy went into the living room, and put her bag down. She rummaged through it, and drew out a letter, to giving it to the two friends. "It's intended for you two and Pinkie. Something Her Highness wanted to inform you of." Sweetie Belle opened the letter, and read it. "Oh dear...Pinkie's not going to be happy..." "Why", Scootaloo asked. "The letter says Spike is in Canterlot right now, free from Lunar Captivity, but Her Highness has ordered him here, to Ponyville..." Scootaloo nodded. "Oh...I see...you're right; we need to keep Pinkie away from him." Spike was no loved figure after what he did, but even he didn't deserve what Pinkie Pie would do to him. After a few moments, the two went upstairs. When in the hallway, Sweetie Belle whispered to her friend: "Do you think we should show him...it..." Scootaloo knew what she meant. "He has a right...we should show him if we see him..." Her friend nodded. Spike should know, no matter what he did, what Rarity had wrote him. * * * It was late at night. Earlier, the Princess and her Captain got into another argument, and he stormed off. Now, she came to make amends, hoping she hadn't been to harsh with him. He simply needed comfort to calm him. His life so far had been filled with sorrow and loss, and she understood why he had the buildup of anger within him. She just hoped she could make it up to him. Celestia was escorted by her guards, and went to Shining Armor's quarters. She used the ornate knocker, and proceeded to ask: "Captain? Are you there? Is it okay if we could talk?" There was no answer. "Captain?" Where could he be? She tried opening the door. Locked. "Odd", she commented. "The Princess rolled her eyes, and undid the lock with her magic. The door opened, and she walked into the dark room. "Captain, please, this is beyond a game..." She kept calling his name. No answer. She grew worried and had her guards start searching the room. They turned up with nothing; the room was empty. "That's not possible", she said. Where could he be? Celestia looked around the room, and saw a bookcase. She then realized it was out of place. "Odd...I could have sworn there was a window there..." She looked on the shelves, checking all the books. Was there something he was hiding? Why? Eventually, she saw something sticking out of a book. She opened it with her magic, and took a slip of paper out in the air. It was a note, and she read it: You're highness, I feel that your decision is folly. The Princess of the Moon cannot be trusted to be responsible in a peaceful Equestria. I will take it upon myself to ensure that our land becomes unified. I am sorry that I must leave you, but it is necessary. The right thing needs to be done. Keep safe, your highness With love for you and our nation Shining Armor, your former Captain of the Guard The Princess shook her head in disbelief. She took the book out, and saw his sash and badge behind where it was. She stammered, and slid stepped back, sliding the bookcase away, revealing an open window. Celestia turned to her guards. "Alert the whole Guard and Intelligence units. Captain Shining Armor has gone missing." The Guards nodded, bowing their heads and hurrying away, galloping and delivering their assigned messages. She leaned her head out the window, and saw the signal fires light up one by one on the towers, and the Guard assembling on the battlements, looking out. Her head turned as she saw a train leave the castle...and she knew who was on it. "Stay safe...", she whispered. "I'm going to bring you back home safely...one day..."