//------------------------------// // Rookie No More. // Story: The Baltimare Incident // by Powerdrainer //------------------------------// I would like to thank Vates Despero for proofreading and editing this chapter. Rookie No More. <<>><<>><<>> The Wonderbolts. Once a dream he had as a small colt, now a dream he lived. Soarin looked at himself in the mirror, watching himself as he wore the signature flight suit all members of this elite team wore. The blues and yellows, along with his cutie mark displayed on the suit where it covered his mark. He liked it, a lot. He had worked so hard to get here, going through some of the hardest training any pegasi worth his or her feathers could go through. Most washed out, but he didn't. And now, here he was. Looking at his own reflection with a large, proud smile as he shifted angle every now and then, taking it all in. "Well, hello there, stud," a hot voice said, and Soarin turned around to the open door, a blush showing on his cheeks as he saw the orange and yellow pegasus mare standing there, smirking at him over his flustered behaviour. "Spits… How long have you been standing there?" he asked with a stammer. "Long enough to enjoy the show," she answered in a low, slightly lusty voice. Circling around him, she observed how the flight suit clung to his body, showing off his toned muscles underneath, while Soarin stood frozen on the spot. "Uhh… What are you doing?" he asked after she had completed a full circle. "Just inspecting the new recruit for the team," she answered with a smirk, "And I like what I see." "... Isn't this a bit inappropriate? You know, seeing how we are teammates and everything," Soarin remarked, not sure how to deal with the situation as, on one hoof he didn't wanted to endanger the hard earned position he had gained, while on the other he had trouble keeping his wings under control. "Maybe if I was the captain of the team, it would be," Spitfire purred as she brushed her tail against his muzzle, "But I'm not, yet," she breathed hotly in his ear, grinning deviously as Soarin swallowed loudly. Stepping away from him and turning to leave the room, she looked back at the frozen, sweating stallion, smirking as she looked at him. "Oh, and nice suit," she added with a wink, before she left the stallion alone; putting a bit more sway in her hips as she walked away. Still standing frozen on the spot, Soarin felt a cheeky grin spread across his muzzle as he finally relaxed his stance. Seeing his grinning reflection in the mirror, he looked at himself once more. 'Heh, I guess it's true what they say. Mares love a stallion in uniform.' <<>><<>><<>> 'If only things could have remained as simple as that,' Soarin thought with a sigh as he stepped out of the tear compound, looking up at the sky, 'Things are never that easy, it would seem,' he added as he spread his wings, taking to the sky. Looking down on the city of Trottingham, the city where the first tear opened, he felt a pang of regret over his chosen words. Yes, he wished for things to have remained the same, but some of the change had been for the better. The sudden and large leaps forward in their technological understanding from their interactions with the humans. Even though there were those ponies who believed those inventions, or the humans themselves, to be untrustworthy. Mainly because of the fact that they also brought those ghosts to their world and most, if not all, technology found on this world is related to stopping ghosts in some way or another. The humans helped them to improve their technology, because it was needed to stop the threat of ghost attacks. An improvement that wouldn't even have been necessary if the humans hadn't shown up in the first place. But, then again, it wasn't like they had much of a choice in that matter themselves, as it was a ghost that first brought their worlds together. A bridge between worlds that allowed the crossing of many unwelcome visitors, who would become responsible for one of the most devastating attacks in recent history. Even taking into account the chaos unleashed by Discord some years ago. At least no pony died when he broke free. Injured, scarred, and afraid, yes, but alive. The same could not be said for a lot of ponies who were in Baltimare on that fateful day. Including somepony from his team. <<>><<>><<>> It had been several months now since the ghost boy had last been seen, and everyone was afraid if, when, and where he would show himself again. Everyone was burdened by a constant fear, afraid that they might be the next victim of this menace. To make matters even worse, since the terror of Amity Park had vanished the ghost hauntings had increased tenfold, and were still rising. Why this was, no one knew, save a very select few. But they were unable to tell anyone else, afraid of completely ruining the life of their friend. But, with Danny Phantom gone, the ghosts now had a lot more freedom, and they were eager to use it. Sure, there were those government groups, like the Guys in White. But they were mostly amateurs pretending to be experts, and, more often than not, they just ended up getting caught in their own traps. Yes, it was truly a good time to be dead for any ghost that gained enjoyment from tormenting the mortals. And, to make things even more terrifying, ever since the first tear opened in Amity Park, more started to show up, opening up the world of Equestria for the ghosts. And right now this problem was repeating itself. It was a seemingly normal day, with people going about their everyday lives, minding their own business. Until, completely unexpected, a ghost portal opened, bringing forth a large group of ghosts, who were quick to terrorize the humans they found there. And, unfortunately for the humans, the village they lived was too far away from any city to have any of the more advanced forms of anti ghost tech lying around. Instead, all they could do was scream and run away in panic, while the many ghosts wreaked havoc in town; not seeming to care when the portal closed behind them. People ran through the streets, ghosts following after them, while sirens blared loudly through the streets. No matter where they went. No matter where they hid. The ghosts would be there with them, scaring them... or hunting them, in Skulker's case. Then, without warning, a ripple moved through the air, distorting reality wherever it passed. Everyone stopped whatever it was that they were doing, except Skulker, who tightened the knot on the rope he had tied around the net holding several humans, before he too looked at what was going on. The ripple continued on its way, collapsing in on itself a short distance from the village, warping and shifting as it tore a hole in the fabric of reality, opening a passage to the newly discovered world of Equestria for all of them. Meanwhile the ponies on the other side looked with fearful eyes at the humans and ghosts. "Well, this hunt just got more interesting," Skulker growled eagerly. Looking down at his captured prey, he let loose a huff of irritation, not at all satisfied with this less than thrilling capture. "You're lucky," he said as he cut the rope and retrieved the net, "It would seem a more interesting hunting ground has just opened up." The humans previously trapped in the net scampered to get away from the menacing ghost, screaming as they ran away. "And it would seem it is open season," Skulker added with a harsh laugh, activating his weapons as he, along with the all the other ghosts, flew through the tear, beginning the event that none dared to speak of, except in hushed whispers. <<>><<>><<>> Ponies were milling through the streets, going about their day to day lives as they navigated the urban jungle of Baltimare. They were chatting with one another, enjoying the many sights the city provided, or taking a moment to enjoy some of the food the many vendors provided. Yet, all of that changed when the air tore open, showing the human world, Earth. And a silence not unlike that found in a tomb settled down over the city. Large, fearful eyes watched the swarm of spectral entities as they flew through. And, in an instant, the silence was shattered when the screams started. The ponies scrambled and ran for their lives, not knowing where they should go, or how to hide from the horrors that came through. And, in the ensuing chaos, many ponies tripped and fell, getting trampled under the hooves of those that managed to remain standing, and were running away in a blind panic. A wave of color spread through the city, moving away from the tear as fast as they could, but the ghosts proved to be faster, even for the pegasi, as they were slowed down by the buildings blocking their paths. Something the ghosts didn't have any trouble with. And, without anything they could do, the trap closed around them, sealing the ponies in the city. A city now under the control of an army of the dead, who looked down at the cowering ponies with malice in their glowing eyes. <<>><<>><<>> Pinkie Pie wasn't having a very good day. No siree, not at all. It started out well enough, as she woke up in the guest bed, her older sister, Maud Pie, lying in the bed adjacent to hers. She and her older sister were staying with their grandmother, Granny Pie, for a few days, while her mother, father, and her two other sisters stayed at the rock farm. Pinkie had wanted to visit her grandmother for a while now, and, thanks to her older sister agreeing to go along with her to keep an eye on her, as Pinkie was well known to be quite a hoof full, especially for someone of such advanced age, they were now enjoying their time with grandma in the city. Pinkie couldn't be happier, as not only could she spend time with the bestest grandmother in the world, save for her other grandmother, but she could also go around the city with her big sister, looking at all the cool things and parties the grown up ponies had. Plus, she knew her sister liked the more hectic city life as well, as she had grown a bit bored of all those rocks on the rock farm, and together they walked through the city. Or, Maud walked anyway, Pinkie bounced, earning her many strange looks, which she returned with a large, toothy smile. Or they simply sat down with their grandmother, enjoying a snack while she entertained her grandfoals with the stories of her youth, which was something Pinkie found both amazing and strange. Her grandmother was young once too? Now though, she wasn't having one of those super duper funeristicly great days. How could she be? First there was that strange sensation, with her body feeling all weird. The pinching in all four of her legs. The clattering of her teeth. The flapping of her ears. The twitching of her tail. The rumbling of her belly. The itching of her back. And her mane and tail, usually poofy and curly, suddenly deflating all at once. Then the screaming started, and ponies began running and screaming in fear while being chased by those big mean meany-pants ghosts. And they, too, were swept up in the stampede as several ghosts headed their way. "Pinkie!" Maud shouted as she grabbed hold of her younger sister, pulling her onto her back and running away at full speed, "We need to get outta here. Hold on!" Using her earth pony strength, honed through years of grueling labor on the farm, she ran through the crowd; even jumping over a pony or two, as she hurried to return to their grandmother's. "Big sis," Pinkie said in a small voice, holding tightly around Maud's neck with her front legs, pressing her face into the purple mane while peeking up with fearful eyes, "What's happening?" "I don't know, Pinkie. Just hold on tight. I will get you out of here!" Maud answered through her heavy breathing, eyes scanning the area before her for any clear path for her to slip through. "BEWARE!" somepony suddenly shouted, and Pinkie let loose a scream of fright as she saw the strange creature flying next to her. Pale blue skin, with a white glow surrounding his body, his hands raised up in the air, fingers wiggling. "I am the Box Ghost, and I will be your doo— GHAAA!" he shouted, cut off when a massive buck in the groin toppled him to the ground. "That is for scaring my little sister, jerk," Maud huffed in anger, before spotting the approaching mass of spectral entities, and she turned tail and ran away as fast as she could. Pinkie, absolutely devastated by all the scary things happening around her, pressed herself closer to her sister, crying into her mane, eyes shut tight. "Don't worry, little sis. I won't let them hurt you. I promise." "You... do?" Pinkie asked with a sob. "I cross your path, and we walk a mile. I'll do everything to see you smile," Maud answered. "What was that?" Pinkie asked, managing to giggle a bit over the silly rhyme. "It's a Maud Promise. It's an unbreakable promise," she answered, hoping it would help her sister to get her mind off things for a while. Pressing herself closer once more, Pinkie giggled again, but a hint of sadness was still present. "It's silly. I like it." <<>><<>><<>> "HIYA!" a feminine voice shouted as two hooves made contact with a glowing green skeleton, breaking it apart, "Ain't so tough now, hah," the light yellow orange mare said as she readjusted her stetson on her golden blonde mane, a red ribbon tying her mane into a ponytail. "E-yup," a sunset orange stallion replied with a muffled voice, a lasso in his mouth, which he used to pull down yet another spectral entity, "They ain't as tough as they look," he said as he wiped his brow, his two toned brown mane sticking to his head from the perspiration. "That's only because they're simpleminded fools who don't even know how to properly use their powers," a cold, menacing voice said, and they turned to see a large, metallic ghost hovering behind them, his arm raised, and a weapon of some sort coming out of it. "I assure you, I won't make the same mistake," and with that he fired his weapon. "LOOK OUT!" the stallion shouted, and he pushed his wife out of the way, narrowly avoiding the blast of glowing green himself. "Gleam, are ya alright?" the mare asked frantically, afraid for her husband's safety. "Ah am. Don't worry, Sweet," Apple Gleam replied, his eyes, already locked on the ghost that had shot at his wife, narrowing in anger. "Ya've got some nerve, shootin' at mah wife. Somepony oughta buck some sense inta that thick skull of y—" Apple Gleam said angrily, before he was cut off by a blob of green goop being shot over his mouth. "Don't waste my time with pointless talk! I have much more interesting things to do. And you're in luck, as you and your wife are part of it," Skulker said, a twisted smile growing on his face, "Now, I have been itching for a good hunt for a long time now, and it would seem I am in luck. So, here is what is going to happen. I will give you a five minute head start, then I will come for you," he explained with an eager voice, several weapons deploying from his armor, making the ponies' eyes widen in shock and horror, "So, run! Oh, and do try to make things difficult for me. I like it when they struggle," he added, laughing uproariously as the two ponies ran away as fast as they could. "Four minutes and thirty seven seconds," he muttered, inspecting the large knife coming out of his left wrist. "Oh, I'm going to enjoy this!" <<>><<>><<>> Alarms were blaring through the compound, and Soarin raced through the corridors to meet up with the rest of his team. It was fortunate that he was already in his flight gear, as he knew that, whatever it was that was going on, it was bad. The alarm, this alarm, would only go off in the most dire of situations. The sort of situation where the standard forces of the Royal Guard were not sufficient enough to deal with whatever threat had arose. So, hearing that alarm blaring through the building, and knowing the urgency behind it, he wasted no time at all, and he all but flew to ready room, expecting the worst. "Hey, rookie!" he heard the familiar voice of Spitfire call out to him, and he briefly glanced to his side to show he heard her, while she caught up with him and matched his pace. "You know what's going on?" she asked, dead serious, eyes narrowed a bit. "No. You?" he answered quickly, turning a corner. "No. No idea what this is about, but it's bad, I know that much." "Yeah, I figured," he answered, his tone indicating the alarm still blaring all around them. "Yeah," was all she said in reply, and the two of them rushed to the ready room, joining the rest of their team. Fleetfoot, Blaze, Fire Streak, High Winds, Lightning Streak, and several of the other newly joined ponies were standing at attention along with the more senior members of the unit, and both Soarin and Spitfire were quick to join their ranks; looking at, and waiting for instructions from their captain, Rainbow Blaze. A wonderbolt who had more than earned his place, as well as the respect of those under him. The light blue stallion with his rainbow colored mane and tail, was already in his flight suit, and looking at all the mares and stallions standing at attention, a dark, serious look on his face. "Alright, everypony. Here's the situation," he started, a displeased tone in his voice. "Approximately three hours ago, an unknown force entered and captured the city of Baltimare. We have no idea what it might be, as our intel is lacking. The royal guards responded to this unknown threat, as dictated by protocol, but contact with them was lost mere moments after they'd arrived. The last we heard from any of them, was through emergency dragon's fire, and the message we received was torn and incomplete," Rainbow Blaze's voice reverberated through the room, "Only one word was legible enough to read, and it doesn't bode well," he continued, and everypony in the room held their breath, waiting for him to continue. "Ghosts!" he stated, and a shock rippled through those in the room. "Now, we don't know for certain if this unknown force is what we now fear it to be. However, if it is, then we are in a very bad position, as we don't know anything about those things. But that is where we come in. We have been called in to assess the situation, and to help any and all citizens, while aiding any of the royal guards that are there. If it is indeed ghosts, then under no circumstance are we allowed to engage the hostile force. We are not prepared, nor are we trained to deal with such a force, and trying to fight them would be an act of suicide. Am I clear!?" he bellowed. "Sir! Yes, Sir!" everypony responded. "Good. Now, everypony, team up and prepare to depart. We leave in five," Rainbow Blaze ordered, and they all scrambled into action. Rainbow looked around the room with a trained eye, seeing all those under his command get ready to fly out. Yet, as he began to prepare himself, he couldn't help but feel sad for letting down the one who meant more than anything to him. 'I'm sorry, sweetheart. Looks like daddy isn't coming home for your birthday today afterall.' <<>><<>><<>> It had taken them hours to reach the apartment, instead of the few minutes it usually takes. The terrified mass of fleeing ponies, plus those ghosts popping up everywhere and nowhere, made it an all but impossible task to get anywhere directly, and they had to make a detour more than once. But finally, Maud and Pinkie made it back to their grandmother's home at the edge of the city. Maud, hoping that their grandmother was alright, and fearing what it was they would find, tried her best to reassure her younger sister while keeping a brave face for her. But, shaken by what she had seen so far, whenever she turned away from Pinkie her face turned into an emotionless mask. Pinkie, mane still flat, rushed to the closed door of the small apartment. Standing on her hind legs, she racked her front hooves against the door, making a lot of noise while she cried out for her grandmother. Maud, flinching and looking around in fright when her younger sister started making such a ruckus, quickly moved to the pink filly, stopping her attempt to break down the door, and potentially give them away. "Pinkie, be quiet. We don't want any of those… things, to hear us," Maud said in a quiet, scolding tone. "But… But what about grandma?" Pinkie asked sadly, lower lip trembling. As if on cue, they heard a grunt of effort and the sound of something heavy being moved, before the sound of the lock being turned could be heard. With a creak, the door opened slightly, and the elderly eyes of the earth pony mare Pinkie Pie knew as her grandmother peeked through the gap. A gasp left her, and she opened the door completely, motioning for her grandfoals to hurry inside. Wasting no time, Maud and Pinkie rushed inside the relative safety of their grandmother's home, while Granny Pie looked around in fear before closing the door, straining herself to push the heavy dresser back in front of the door. Turning to her two grandfoals, Granny Pie wasted no time in embracing the two, and inspecting them for any injuries. "Are you two alright?" she asked as she hugged Pinkie and Maud for dear life, "What happened?" "I don't know," Maud answered in a monotone as she pulled away, the shock making it impossible for her to feel much of any kind of emotion. "It was those meany ghosts," Pinkie piped up, still holding her grandmother tightly, "They scared everypony." Feeling the tremors running through Pinkie, Granny Pie pulled her even closer, shushing quietly while brushing a hoof through her flat mane in an attempt to comfort her frightened granddaughter. "Don't worry, Pinkie. Everything is going to be alright," she told her, and Maud as well, as she saw the scared look in her eyes, while a mask of emptiness covered her face. "But I'm so scared," Pinkie squeaked, eyes shut tightly. "Oh, Pinkie. Don't you remember what I taught you, about those scary things?" Pinkie looked up at her grandmother, a confused look in her tear rimmed eyes, and her grandmother leaned down to nuzzle the top of her head. "Remember, when you were a little filly, and the sun was going down?" she started to sing, and a smile grew on Pinkie's face, while even Maud seemed to relax a bit. "The darkness and the shadows, they would always make you frown…" she continued, and Pinkie joined in happily. "I'd hide under my pillow, from what I thought I saw," Pinkie sang. "But then I said that wasn't the way to deal with fears at all…" Granny Pie sang. "Pinkie, you gotta stand up tall. Learn to face your fears. You'll see that they can't hurt you, just laugh to make them disappear," the two of them sang, Pinkie laughing as she felt her fear evaporate into thin air; her mane and tail slowly inflating. "So, giggle at the ghostly," Granny Pie said. "Guffaw at the grossly," Pinkie continued, smiling. "Crack up at the creepy," Granny Pie spoke again. "Whoop it up with the weepy," Pinkie said with a giggle. "Chortle at the kooky," Granny Pie replied with a chuckle. "And snortle at the spooky," Maud finished with a sad smile, tears showing in her eyes, and Pinkie and her grandmother pulled her back into the hug she had pulled away from moments before. <<>><<>><<>> They flew through the air at top speed, their signature goggles covering their eyes, allowing them to see clearly even at such high speeds. They'd been flying for almost an hour, and they were finally nearing the city. Rainbow Blaze, signalling the group to slow down, took a long look at the distant city, seeing several columns of smoke rising in the air. He, as well as the rest of the group knew from that first glance that things were very wrong indeed. And he signaled the group to continue their flight in a slow, stealthy manner. Both to recover their stamina from the flight, and to avoid being detected by any hostile forces in the city. Soarin shared a glance with Spitfire, before banking to the left along with the rest of the group, using the clouds as cover to hide their approach. A nervous knot tightened in his stomach as he saw the city growing closer and closer with each flap of his wings, as he didn't know what to expect. This was his first real mission as a Wonderbolt, and he didn't want to make a mess of things. But, more importantly, he didn't want to let down his team as they headed into the unknown. "Hey, rookie!" Spitfire called as she flew next to Soarin, "Keep your head in the game, alright," she told him, seeing the nervous look on his face. "Just keep a clear head, and everything will work out, 'kay?" she said, and Soarin gave her a nod in confirmation. "Besides, after all this is done, I don't think you'll be a rookie anymore," she said with a wink, "Now, come on. Time to earn those figurative wings," she added with a winning grin, and they all angled down to the city. Not knowing what they were heading into, but not slowing down a bit. After all, they were the Wonderbolts. The best of the best. And now it was time to prove it.