As Pineshield thought over his next actions, Feather Weight summoned a knife from his right fore-leg gauntlet and raised it over Rainbow's neck.
"Buck! No time to think!"
Pineshield took his left fore-leg and knocked Feather Weight's knife above his head, then followed by using his right to slam the spy's face into Rainbow's bed-side table. Instantly, Rainbow was upright in her bed, adjusting her eyes to see what was happening. Within five seconds, Rainbow was able to make out the shapes of Pineshield, Feather Weight, and another. Feather Weight was currently jumping onto Pineshield's back as he wrestled with the other. She knew who's side to take.
She leaped from the bed and collided with Feather Weight, sending him off of Pineshield.
"Thanks!", he shouted.
With his attention and strength now narrowed at Flicker, he easily overpowered him. Rainbow Dash was in the floor with Feather Weight, a blob of kicking hooves and missed knife clang noises in the dark. Finally, Feather Weight found room to act, and shot his hind-legs under Rainbow's back, and flipped her over himself. As she landed behind him, he turned to stab her in the gut.
"No!", Rainbow yelled with determination, not fear.
As he slashed at her, she dodged and his knife embedded into the wall behind her. She turned and bucked him in the face, disconnecting him from his knife. She took the knife out of the wall with her mouth.
"No, Commander, you don't need to do this! This isn't necessary!", he backed away, until his back met the end of her bed.
She used her wings and shot herself at him, kicking his face, followed up by a back flip. When she landed, he was dazed. She ran at him, embedding his knife in his chest. She then whispered in his ear.
"Rot in the pits of tartarus traitor!"
He just gargled blood.
She took the knife from his chest and slit his throat with it.
"That was brutal! Well, the other's tied up and ready for whatever awaits him."
"Kill him!"
"No message to the Queen, no "Nice try!" or anything?"
"Nothing. Just kill him."
"Yes ma'am," he bowed and went over and slit Flicker's throat.
"Well that is going to be a setback. But no matter, we still have one of their's!", Diamond Death was looking at the site of Pineshield killing Flicker.
"My liege, the plan has failed. Pineshield found Rainbow Dash and killed Flicker and Feather Weight in a surprise attack," she sent telepathically.
"Blast! It took us long enough to get that spy deep in cover! Oh well, there is only one thing left to do. We scare the Resistance into surrender. We kill our hostage, and give that as a warning. As for our assault on their portion of Manehatten, it was a total success. And of course, I let one rebel live so she could escape and share the news! They will gather all of their strength and prepare for an invasion! By my calculations, come tomorrow the Resistance will fall."
"So I am to kill this prisoner?", she looked hungrily at Applejack. She wanted so much to be the one to bring her demise.
"NO! I am to do it! And I will deliver her helmet myself as I make my appearance in Ponyville, when we take it back! You will come with me, and together, we will leave no rebel alive"
"Yes my liege, when am I to expect you?", she was hoping to torture Applejack before the Queen could kill her.
A dark purple and black bubble formed and popped, revealing Red Dawn standing where it was. "I am already here. Now, leave us, I am to do this by myself!", she teleported Rarity back to the throne room.
"Ooh, I was THIS CLOSE!", she screamed.
On their way back to the library to tell Spike that Rainbow Dash was fine, she stopped them.
"So, how did you know? How close where they to...?"
"To killing you? He was raising his blade when I acted. As for how I knew, I saw that his armor had a chink in it, a scratch. Do you remember how we stole the armor from the old armory room, the one with the old Equestrian armor?"
"Yes."
"And what color was it, what color did we change it to?"
"It was gold, and we changed it to green, why? How is this important?"
"Bare with me. Now what color did the imperials start making their armor?"
"Purple, they started making their armor purple."
"Well, before I went under, I saw that the original color was showing in the scratch on his armor. And it wasn't gold, it was-"
"Purple."
"Yep. So as soon as I came to I left to find you. Luckily for you, I found Spike, and him and I brain stormed and came up with the only place you would have gone."
"The Out Inn."
"You got it!"
"Well thanks. I owe you my life."
"No, you owe me nothing. You are my commander, it is my duty to protect you, even unto death. On the contrary, I owe you my life."
"How noble," she blushed. "Well in any case, I am thankful."
They continued walking into Ponyville, and soon were back at the library. Upon knocking on the door, they didn't have to wait long for an answer.
"Is she Okay?!", he shouted as he flung the door open.
"You betcha kiddo!"
"OH RAINBOW DASH! I was so scared! If you didn't make it I would've been left alone! You are the last of them!", he ran up and hugged her and began sobbing.
"It's okay Spike, Pineshield saved me! Don't worry, I'll bring us back together, you'll see!"
"You will, you really will?"
"Yes, I promise!"
Just then Pineshield looked around hurriedly.
"Shouldn't we be back at base? They've had a long time without us."
"OH! Yeah, of course! Spike, see ya later, duty calls," and with that, her and Pineshield left the library.
On their way back to the base, Rainbow Dash tiredly rested her head on Pineshield's sturdy shoulder. Pineshield, of course, looked very embarrassed, and had no clue what to do. Was he supposed to ask her to stop, like a flankhole, or enjoy it, or would that be weird? He could ask her i she was tired, yeah, that would work.
"Uh, Dash? You tired?"
"Mhm," she yawned.
That's so adorable! NO! Stay focused!, he thought.
"You don't feel weird resting your head on my shoulder?"
"Not really. I mean, I can rest my neck can't I? You don't mind do you?"
"No." And why should I?, he thought.
"Okay," she leaned her head on him again. This time he grinned.
"And thanks again. I know flattery is wasted on you, you humble wreck!", she leand away and punched his shoulder.
"Yeah, and again, it wasn't anything but protecting my commander."
"You sure? You have that look in your eyes. I think you like me."
Did she really just...?
"What?! I couldn't! I wouldn't! You're my commander! I'm a soldier, I can't waste time for feelings like love."
"You say that like soldier's and ponies are different! But soldiers aren't empty suits of armor, we're just ponies."
"She said that to me once, my sister. I know I never talk about my family, but I guess you deserve to know. When I joined the Equestrian empire, the old one, I pretty much lost all emotion. I mean, general love, like for the pony race still remained. But I didn't have room in my being for compassionate love. All I was filled with were a general sense of justice and loyalty, and honor, but that's where the sentiments ended. My sister saw me growing distant from mom and dad, and even her. She told me that even though I was a soldier now, didn't mean I couldn't be the same brother she once knew. I guess I just never regained my ability to love."
"Well maybe I can help with that," she leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. "I like you Pineshield."
"You do?", he was blushing now.
"Yes, ever since you reached the rank right below me, I've found myself intrigued by you. I've sorta had a crush on you. Do you like me?"
"I've always kinda liked you but, I don't know."
"Well let's just try it an-" they had arrived and were met by a sweating Pegasus soldier.
"Commander! Manehatten! It's been taken!", she panted through deep breaths.
Rainbow's head shot upright from Pineshield's shoulder. "What?!"
"The queen left me alive to tell you, she's coming this way! To take the final piece of the land back!"
"This can't be! We need to get everypony together! We stand and fight!"
"Uh, here comes Spike," Pineshield was looking back.
"Rainbow!"
"Spike? What are you doing here?"
"I couldn't sleep. I thought I could stay with you guys for the night. I ran here as fast as I could because I didn't know if they locked up after hours or something!", he was panting heavily.
"No, gate's still open. But you can't stay, not tonight. In fact, it would be good for you if you just packed up and left town!"
"What? Why?"
"The queen is coming back to reclaim Ponyville soon, and I don't want you to be here when she does!"
"She's coming here? Soon?!"
"Yes, and I believe she's going to come at us with all her might. That's why I need you gone. Get the town's ponies and get them out of town as well!"
"Will you survive?"
"Hopefully, yes. Probably, no. But if Equestria's going to fall into her hooves once and for all, it will be after we all die!"
"Commander, we need to start getting ready for what is to come!", Pineshield stepped in nobly.
"You're right. Spike, do as I said, Pineshield, get the troops together! Get a message sent out to all of the remaining unicorn rebels and tell them and their soldiers to meet us here! We need to well up our strengths here for our final stand!"
"Um, that may not be necessary," Spike interrupted.
"What?"
"Well, I may have a friend who can help, more than you know."
"Who?"
"Do you remember Golan? The young dragon warrior I befriended?"
"The one you took lessons from on dragon fighting styles?"
"Yes."
"What about him?"
"Well, he is now called Lord Golan, after he overthrew the evil emperor and took the throne. He may be willing to help us, if I ask."
Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes on him. "Ask."