//------------------------------// // 19. The Battle of Aquarius River, Day 2 (FB) // Story: The Red Sun Rises: Homefront // by The Atlantean //------------------------------// Crimson opened his eyes during a blink to see the Domination Army advancing towards the Atlantean camp. Behind him, a lone artillery piece boomed defiance at the enemy, soon silenced by the guns across the river. Guns that moved without being pulled. Holy shit. Also coming up was a circle of steel barrels that flashed with rapidly escaping muzzle exhaust as if the Dominion figured out how to make a gun shoot several bullets a minute. Given their technological advantage, he didn’t doubt that was the case. Platinum Starlight came up to him with a piece of paper, the 2nd Coastal’s orders on it. “Sir, the Sarge just relayed. We’re to get the hell outta here!” Crimson was about to reply when he heard a shriek and ducked. Platinum did as well, and the cannonball whizzed over his head by the thickness of his mane. The two looked back at the disorganized AREA and saw a hopeless mob. Most of these boys hadn’t been in a fight before. Ammunition carriages exploded, tents burned, and stuff was flying everywhere. “Platinum, tell Haybale to get our sticky bombs out of the storage and meet up with me! Get some yourself and have Hummingbird get the regiment out! As my first order as a lieutenant, that’s what we’re doing!” “But-” “Do it!” Platinum hastily saluted and hurried to the 2nd Coastal’s section. He relayed the orders and got the same reaction from Haybale and Hummingbird. But they followed Crimson’s command for the most part. The injured Earth pony mare called her comrades and charged to assist the defense by the river, using their sharpshooters to pick off enemy troops south of the bridge. Haybale and Platinum came up to Crimson with the bombs. He waved them on as he raced to the bridge and flew to its underside. The two friends instantly knew his plan and did their best to hoist the sticky bombs up to Crimson as he fastened them to the underside of the bridge. “I hope this works! If it doesn’t we’re really gonna be fucked!” Haybale yelled over the noise. The shiny Unicorn beside him nodded agreement. A dozen loud cracks were heard. Hummingbird dove as best she could with an injured leg and fired from behind a tree. Alongside her, the rest of the regiment lined up to fire from behind cover. Beyond them, the army was slowly wearing off its shock. But it wasn’t fast enough. The Domination Army was less than a mile from the base of the bridge, starting to gallop as they realized the regiment’s stand. Crimson yelled when a bullet zipped through his left wing. He dropped the bomb held in it and nearly let go of the ledge his hoof was wrapped around. “Shit! Another bomb!” Platinum tossed it with his magic. “Last one, boss!” Crimson payed the comment no attention. Either that, or he hadn’t heard it it. Whatever the reason, the lieutenant fastened it nearby and started to climb back under the bridge. His left wing had fallen uselessly at his side, blood dripping from three more painful bullet holes appearing in the feathery extension. Crimson dropped, his energy finally gone, his normally stone-cold face scrunched up like a candy wrapper without the candy. Above him, one of the bombs was hit by a bullet aimed at the Pegasus. It instantly exploded, sending shrapnel in all directions and setting off the other bombs. The stone arch shuddered and collapsed, its keystone turned to dust. It crumbled and chunks fell into the churning water below. The Unicorns in the 2nd Coastal threw protective force fields between them and the disintegrating bridge. Underwater, Crimson closed his eyes, believing it to be the end as sharp stones ripped his left wing apart and he fell to the unconscious. A white light filled his vision… ---------------------- He woke up in a hospital bed. Where his left wing had been there was only a bloodied stump. Crimson was covered in bruises, scratches, cuts, and two bullet holes, and also had a concussion. He could feel the mother of all migraines coming in like he hit a wall. “Oh, son of a bitch…” A pink Unicorn field nurse heard him and came over. She used her magic to keep him from getting up, and called for someone to get some Platinum guy. The one who left came back with two Unicorn stallions and an Earth pony mare. “Lieutenant! Thank Harmony you’re alive, sir!” The shiny metallic Unicorn was overly ecstatic. Beside him, the other two smiled and cried tears of relief. Crimson’s memory was fuzzy, but wait… “Haybale? Hummingbird? Platinum?” Each saluted as he said their name. They were just glad to see he hadn’t gone to another world when they fished him out of the river four hours ago. Everyone turned to a practical scream. “Crimson!” A young Pegasus mare - Platinum recognized her to be Crystal Shard, sent to reinforce the 2nd Coastal and arriving right after the battle - ran as fast as her legs could carry her since flying was prohibited in the field hospital. She took her elder brother in a loving embrace, crying more than Celestia had when she banished Nightmare Moon. only these tears were not from sadness as much as they were from sibling love. He hugged her back, dazed and trying to remember what the hell happened. “Your wing, Reddie! Your wing!” Crystal Shard just couldn’t stop crying - nor would she let go. Platinum finally dragged her off the Pegasus and held her back with his magic, trying to comfort her as best he could. “You shouldn’t worry. Lieutenant Dawn’ll live. He’ll just have to get a prosthetic from the foundry,” the nurse said. Inwardly, she felt a twang of jealousy for the stallion, who had a mare to love him as much as this one did. The nurse had cared for the red Pegasus - granted, his coat color made it extremely difficult to find blood to clean off - and she’d practically fallen in love with him. Seeing him awake was the most beautiful thing she ever knew. Just the fact that Crimson was alive was a miracle! The lieutenant saw the nurse’s badly hidden expression and said, “She’s my sister, ma’am. I haven’t seen Crystal Shard in a long time.” With that she visibly relaxed. The nurse walked back to other patients ad continued doing her job. “Who is she? The pink Unicorn.” Crimson looked at his friends. “I think that’s Rose Thorn. She runs the entire field hospital, leading by example.” Platinum replied. Just then, Queen Atlanta walked in to see the wounded. The ocean-blue alicorn stared worriedly at the sea of blood, cleaning alcohol, and groaning ponies. Her eyes rested on Crimson and she bowed her head to him in respect. He saw the gesture and attempted a salute, but his right foreleg wasn’t up for it. “Why the hell would the Queen bow that deeply to me of all ponies? I’m a lowly officer in her army.” “Well, sir,” Haybale replied gruffly, “it’s my belief that she sees your stunt today as an act of courage. I wouldn’t worry ‘bout it, sir.” Crimson locked his eyes with each of his friends and sister. “Thank you for being there in the battle. I appreciate it.” His head plopped back down on the dirty pillow and he fell fast asleep.