Bow Shock
Peace. That's all Equestrians truly wanted was peace. And yet, as usual, somepony out there just didn't want them to have it.
Nightmare Moon. Discord. Tirek. Chrysalis. All invaders. All destroyers.
Sombra didn't count. Technically, Equestria had invaded, but not without cause.
Once again, there was little to no warning, and an army was practically on their doorstep.
"Sir, reporting another battalion to the west! We're being assaulted on two fronts!"
Shining Armor had managed to shield the entire city of Manehatten, visiting on personal business. He knew he could hold it for days...but that was only when not under pressure from thousands of undead creatures. He maybe had minutes left as they pounded on the shield, and that was without that second approaching battalion.
"Get the citizens away from the boundaries! I may have to shrink my shield to maintain integrity! Somepony, get more unicorns over here now! I need reinforcement! Anypony who can contribute power!"
It'd been barely an hour, and they'd still been unable to get a message out to the Princesses. They were buying precious time, but it wouldn't last. Not like this. There was something blocking magical communication, so they were on their own.
*****
So...it was his time then.
Not far from the Prince of the Crystal Empire, a grizzled stallion of grey stood, his green mane flowing over his ancient Solar Guard armor, his green horn prodding out of his helm. Bow Shock, the impossible to retire sergeant. They'd tried so many times to get him to settle down and 'go home'. But he was always home in the ranks, so why go anywhere else?
Guard duty in Manehatten had never been all that glorious, but he'd had his share of fights, and his specialty always...ALWAYS ended those fights, despite his need of aerial assistance to perform it.
He sighed, watching the Prince direct ponies of all sorts to the best places, to where they were most useful. Bow Shock was the only one he seemed to be ignoring.
"Probably thinks I'm too old to do anything of any sort. Hey, sonny! Set this old vet somewhere useful, ye git! I'm not out of the battle yet!"
Shining turned to look at the wobbling ancient, who visibly seemed to be having trouble just standing.
"I'm sorry sir, but I don't know your talents and I'm doing what I can with what I've got, and I don't have time to listen to everything you can do."
He turned back to directing all the ponies around them, and Bow Shock grumbled, turning and trying to spot one of his old teammates, but not seeing any of them around. He shook his mane, trying to remember...Hornet...no, she was gone. Left him behind for a glorious attempt at the mountain pass record. She died with a smile.
Fracture...no, he was gone too. Surrounded by family on his last cloud.
Fever Pitch...there was no telling where she'd gone, were he even alive. Old bat called him and the rest whippersnappers when they had first met!
Stratos...retired somewhere in Cloudsdale.
Bow Shock turned once again, eyeing the Prince before, with another sigh, he approached the youngster again.
"If you're going to keep holding that shield full solid, you might as well give up now. A little give with a rebound effect would work better in this situation."
Shining glared at the old stallion for a moment, looking like he was about to retort, before he nodded and made the adjustments. He felt a little relief, as the shield sent those that struck the shield packing, meaning they weren't pounding it constantly because they were picking themselves back up.
"Thanks old timer. If you can help reinforce it, I would be grateful."
"Sorry young'un. No can do. My shield spell would only interfere with yours. Doesn't mix well, I'm afraid. Last time I tried it, both of us got a splitting headache. Not going to risk taking your shield down because mine was incompatible."
Shining frowned, looking around for anything that might alleviate the strain.
"However...if you can find me a couple pegasi, I might be able to deal with our little army problem. Or at least get rid of large mass of them. These old bones have one last thing to give, I think."
"What can you and two flyers possibly do to an army like that?"
Bow Shock chuckled, looking Shining in the eyes as he spoke.
"You've heard of the Bleak Pass in the Badlands?"
"The crater? Yeah, I've heard of it."
"That, sonny, was me. Sergeant Bow Shock, at your service."
Eyes wide, Shining shook his head and gave the old stallion another look over, at which point he saw it. The infamous cutie mark that many of his generation both feared and respected.
There, emblazoned on his flanks, was the mark of a meteor falling straight down.
"Didn't the Diarch tell you never to use that again? We can't afford the fallout! Bow Shock, if you do that, we'll ALL die!"
"No...just me, Shining. Just me. They didn't order me not to do it because of the fallout, lad. They did it because I can't survive another."
He placed a hoof against Shining, smiling as he did so.
"Please...give this old soldier his moment in the moonlight. Your shield will protect the citizens from the pressure. I can feel it...you'll protect them all. But we don't have time. I have to do this...one...more...time. I just need two strong pegasi to do it."
Ponies were still running all over, frightened out of there wits. Only the soldiers stood stalwart against panic...well, the soldiers, and the local detachment of the Wonderbolts.
"Buckler! Go get me the two strongest Wonderbolts available, pronto soldier!"
A red and orange Pegasi in the Lunar Guard saluted and flew off towards the Nest.
"Thank you, young'un."
"Anything you need me to do...after, I mean?"
"Just make sure to tell those two mares that...I'll miss them, and that I want to be with my family."
*****
They were high...so very high. Bow Shock reveled in it, as the two Wonderbolts carried him higher and higher.
"Make sure we're centered on their largest mass. This will only work once, so don't screw me up you two!"
Fleetfoot and Spitfire groaned, but did as they were told. They'd only been in the city to check on the newest recruits when the shield went up, but being the fastest AND strongest fliers, they'd of course had to help. Why it had to be this greying stallion, they just didn't understand. All Shining had told them was to do as he ordered, without question.
"Ok...this looks about right. What's our altitude?"
"About 1600 meters, sir."
"Higher! I need at least 2200 meters! Higher I said, HIGHER!"
They continued to lift him, soon reaching his mark.
"Are we at 2200?"
"Yes Sir!."
"Good...now let go!"
"What?"
"That was an order, idiots, now let...me...GO!"
They only hesitated a moment, but orders were orders, and Shining had said no matter what. Maybe he could teleport or something...so they released.
"For Equestriaaaa!"
His horn lit, and a shield formed under him in the shape of bowl, the wind whipping around him as he continued to work his magic, pulling and squeezing the air he was passing by, accelerating himself far beyond what the laws of physics were supposed to allow...but he was a unicorn. Physics were his plaything.
"10 seconds."
That's all he needed. Below him, there was the horde, and he smiled. All his.
"9"
He began to extend the shield, his second spell creating an accelerating force upon his shield. He wished his team was here. They usually did that part.
"8"
There was a pressure...he felt it. A shield this size would normally slow down the fall...but his wasn't a normal shield.
"7"
An explosion of sound, a sudden increase in speed. It was beginning. His namesake would soon appear, and after...his enemies would do the opposite.
"6"
The first flamed began to lick the edges, and he made it bigger...wider...thicker. Any pony looking up would see a glowing star forming.
"5"
He felt the need to laugh. He saw his friends beside him. Ghosts flying against the back of his shield, pushing him ever onwards.
"4"
The shield grew, and so did the fireball. His speed grew, and so did his exhilaration. He wasn't even sure if his heart was pumping anymore...but he didn't care. The wave was forming, the flames now inches away from the surface of his shield. There was too much pressure for them to be any closer.
"3"
And there it was. The Bow Shock! The flames extended far from his shield, becoming a barrier that mimicked the bowl of the shield they went around. His grin widened, and he stared death in the face.
"2"
I'm sorry, Celestia. I'm Sorry, Luna. I couldn't keep my promise.
Not enough magic left for the cushion spell. He had to use everything for this. So, with his last breath, he screamed out the name that had become legend. The horror that had decimated the Badlands, leaving a crater where once had stood an invading army...and would do so again. With his last two seconds, he screamed out the infamous strike.
"Bow Shock..."
"1"
"Meteor Impact!"
"0"
Shining finished his countdown, having seen the beginning of the drop. He saluted as the shock-wave passed over his shield, the more flexible version taking it far better than his solid version would have, and was soon followed by a wave of water. If only they'd had a second bridge to the mainland...then maybe...
*****
It had been months. The crater left behind had destroyed both the bridge leading to Manehatten, as well as a large amount of the land beyond it. The water had flowed back in, and there was now a bay into the mainland that hadn't been there before.
A new bridge was being constructed still, and ferries had to deal with currents that were as wild as the fires had been from the devastation. But most of the effort had been put forth initially towards one thing.
Now standing guard over the bridge, a statue stood of a grizzled old stallion, a plate beneath him welcoming all who crossed the bridge, as well as plaque in his memory.
In honor of Bow Shock. The first unicorn to break the Sonic Barrier, and the final member of the Thunderbolt squad. Savior of Manehatten
Standing before it, a young Earth Pony colt watched the waves break across it.
"Momma? Why did grandpa leave?"
"Because, little Shockwave, he had somewhere to be."
The colt smiled, his green mane and black fur waving in the ocean breeze.
"I hope grandpa is happy!"
"I'm sure he is."
They left for the city after paying their respects, neither the colt nor his unicorn mother noticing his flank now bore a familiar mark. One that, if the statue could, he would smile at. His legacy would live on, and those he swore to protect would continue to live and be safe.