"Mommy!" the filly surprised me so much my hind legs stopped supporting me.

"Honey drop don't bother the soldiers," a stallion came from the side of the road. He noticed Fire Light. "Well I'll be! Fire light!"

She looked towards the sky behind her. "Hello, Butter Knife."

"look," he looked down. "I'm truly sorry for all I did."

"That's what you said last time."

"I don't mean to break up the reunion," Skyler took his helmet off. "But we have to find Apple Pie."

"Apple Pie?" Butter knife looked confused.

"Yea," Chains stepped up. "You know him?"

"Of course," Butter knife said. "We were in flight school together."

I spoke up. "Where are your wings?"

"Got mugged. Mugger cut them off so I couldn't get away."

Chains stopped me from asking another question. "We can talk personally later. Right now we need to find Apple Pie."

"Follow me," the wingless Pegasus started trotting.

Knowing Recon and Apple Pie were good friends I walked with Recon. "Why doesn't Apple Pie have wings?"

Recon didn't make eye contact. "He does."

What?

I was confused. "Why didn't I see them?"

"He pretended to be an earth pony so he wouldn't have to be a pilot. He didn't train to be a pilot."

"So?"

"So, earth ponies don't need wing holes in their armor."

              *******

"Move up!" Chains tried to yell over the bullet fire. I threw all my grenades and jumped my overturned table.

Chains went on the radio. "Skyler, Apple Pie, how's the sky front?"

"I can't see two bloody feet in front of me," Apple Pie's voice was under the sound of what seemed to be a sandstorm.

Then it rolled in from above.

Sand covered every piece of land, flying everywhere for miles in each direction.  

"Night vision!" Chains neighed through the radio. I smacked the switch on the side of my helmet. All enemies in a 50 meter radius became outlined with red.

My visor was very red.

At first I thought it was enemies, then the pain kicked in.

I had been shot in the head!

"Medic!" I yelled. Sounds got muzzled, I got dizzy, my vision got blurring, and to top it all of, a bullet hit my front right hoof as I fell to the ground.

Once again, I fainted.

              *******

I woke up in the sand. I looked around.

Ponies and zebras alike shared a bloodbath. Luckily, none were ODSPs.

Sadly, no one was alive.

I stood up and started trotting.

I stopped to realize my helmet and front right hoof guard were replaced with bandages.

My light blue mane had been painted red.

I walked through the night looking all over for Any sign of life. The only thing I ever saw was a ghost town.

I saw a few actually.

I came upon another city around noon. Unharmed by balefire bombs, but nopony was outside. I suddenly recognized it as apploosa.

I grew up here. I started walking through the city yelling names of my old friends and teachers.

No response.

I heard galloping behind me. I spun and was pinned to the ground by what looked like one of the goddesses. It laughed and it's horn started  to glow.

It's horn flew off.

It was as surprised as I was to see that. But less surprised when it ripped to shreds and what looked like bloody pieces of torn paper.

I looked around to see where it came from, but nothing was around as far as I could see.

I walked through more of the town when I came upon a sign.

It reads: All civilians to New Appleloosa or stable. Please move to designated area quietly. Thank you.

Carved into the other side was: Spark, if you come across this, take the train to New Apploosa.

I got onto the train.  Some carts weren't lit. Others barely. But 2 carts were just fine. One, the VIP room, two, the conductor's station.

I started up the train's mechanisms and got it automatically going towards New Apploosa.

I opened all the windows and got all the lights working as good as new.

I ended up charging in the VIP room where I woke up by a loud thump and shake that threw me from my bed.

I looked out the window.

I had made it.

New Appleloosa.