The two climbed out of their graves, standing beside their friend. “Blaze? Wha- Who… Why?” Cobalt asked.
Blaze, however was busy thinking of a way to silence the colt. I have no other option… “Hey, kid. Come here for a sec,” Blaze said, crouching in front of the colt.
“Y-Yes?” He asked, slowly approaching.
“Listen closely… Okay? Can I tell you a secret?” Blaze asked, a hand behind his back.
“Y-Yes… Of course,”
“Two can only keep a secret if…”
“I-If wh-”
“If one of them is dead…” Blaze replied, his knife deep in the colt. Blood slowly pouring through his cold metal weapon, then hand. He stabbed the colt, the foal rather several times so it would die sooner. Then he stood up, the body slung over his shoulder, bloody knife in his other hand. The turned to the left, and tossed the body into one of the now empty graves.
“B-Blaze… Why? What was that for?” Silver asked, he too in panic.
“You two saw nothing,” He replied.
“You can’t pretend this didn’t happen! I too have a little brother!” Cobalt threw in.
Blaze switched his knife for his pistol. “Would you rather go back in there?” He asked, pointing at the free grave.
“We’ll shut up…” They replied in unison.
“Good. Go, find the General. Tell him you just woke up in the forest. You didn’t see me, understood?” Blaze asked.
The two nodded and left, happy to live once again. Blaze on the other hand, dropped to his knees, and fixed the graves up as if nothing had happened, but when he was done he didn’t leave just yet.
[6 months later]
The Generals were summoned to the throne room, where each of them received an abundance of papers. They were asked to read them asap. Blaze had brought his stack back into his room. He laid the stack of papers onto his desk, Sonis just coming in. “Hi,” He said.
“Hello, am I bothering?” She replied.
“You too live here… Since they moved out, I’ve been alone anyway,” He replied.
“Ah, I see. I assume you had work to do, so I will keep quiet,”
“Thanks,” Blaze said, and Sonis began to read a book at her desk.
By dusk, Blaze finished reading and returned them to the sisters.
[Another 6 months later]
Blaze, Crimson and Onyx stood in the throne room, a government official by their side. She was documenting the events. The trio saluted, then stood silent. By then Onyx too had the artificial limbs. “So you have chosen your regiments,” Celestia said.
“Yes, ma’am,” They replied.
“We received the reports. Congratulations to all of you. You have exceeded our requirements, and are eligible to take your place in your chosen regiment,” Luna continued.
“As for the troops, they too have passed their trainings. Therefore,” Celestia continued, then looked at the official. “We hereby announce General Onyx of the S.S.R, General Crimson of the R.M.P, and General Blaze of the Special Operations,” The sisters said in unison.
The Generals saluted the sisters, then one another for their successes. Their armor too had changed to go according to regulations. Blaze, however, has lost his plating. The only metal he had on him were his limbs and weapons. “If you have no questions, you may leave,” Celestia said. None of them had any questions, so they turned to leave.
“Gen. Blaze. Stay for a minute,” Luna continued.
He remained inside as requested. “Yes?” He asked.
“We would like to let you know, that your new body is a mere gift from us… And that you shouldn’t be surprised if you don’t get as many troops in your regiment as the others. You know, the Spec Ops are to be the best of the best. Any soldier from any regiment can apply to join,” Celestia explained. He acknowledged them and left to the barracks. Once he arrived, the drill instructor yelled.
“Attention!” Then stood in salute. The trainees were on tryout, but they did know the basic commands, so they too saluted.
“SSG,” Blaze said as a greeting.
“Tryout under progress sir,” She replied.
“How much left?”
“The faces only,”
“Mind if I watch?”
“Not at all, sir,” She continued, her rifle on safety. “You heard him. I’ll say the faces, you do them in the same order. Remember: One mistake is fine, one more and you’re out,”
“Ma’am, yes, ma’am,” They replied.
“Left, Right, About, About, Front, Left, Left, Right, About,” The trainees followed the instructions well, but on the last one, one of them made a mistake by turning around over their left shoulder. “Second mistake. Leave the area,” The instructor said. The trainee headed to leave, but Blaze stopped him.
“Back in the line,” He said.
“Sir? Don’t you know the rules?” Asked the instructor.
“I’m the big dog. I lead the regiment. I make the rules, unless you have a different idea,” He explained.
“As you say, General…” She replied, the trainee was allowed to continue.
“Congratulations. You are now Privates of the Spec Ops. Don’t ruin our reputation, or else I’ll make an example of you as well,” Blaze informed them, reminding them of Shadow’s fate.
“Sir, yes, sir!” They replied.
“Dismissed,” Blaze said, the troops left, so did he. He was seeing to find his friends among the crowd. He failed, as is was full chaos… Trainees everywhere, some with some without rank insignia, making it impossible to find anyone. After spending two hours doing so, he was approached by Luna.
“Blaze, we need to talk,” She said,
He saluted and waited for her to speak.
“Is it true that you let a failed trainee through?” She asked.
“Yes,”
“Why?”
“Because I can,”
“We’ll see how you like that reply…” She said, and left.
Later that night he left for a walk through the barracks. He walked down the dirt road, each side full of large tents. On one side, he found the instructor. “Staff Sergeant, we need to talk…” He addressed her.
“On guard duty, sir. Cannot leave,” She replied.
“You do what I say, or else.” He said, threatening.
“Threatening a comrade? I start to doubt your capabilities…”
“Offending your superior? You come with me, now,”
“Yes, sir,” She replied, and walked beside him.
“So, I heard you made a complaint about me,” Blaze noted.
The Staff Sergeant knew she was in trouble. “Yes, sir,”
“Why?”
“I found it best, so mistakes can be corrected,” She explained.
“I see… I have one question for you,”.
“Yes?”
“Since when was it YOUR job to judge your superiors?”
“Well, I…”
By the time, they had walked out of the castle. “Were you in the Royal Guard before?”
“Y-Yes, sir,”
“And yet you dare judge an ex Night Guard. You have the courage... “
“T-Thank you sir,”
“Too much of it,”
“Sir?”
“You tried to correct my mistake. It’s time I return the favor,” Blaze replied, drawing his knife.
“Sir, you can’t mean…” She tried to say, but she had a knife to dodge. She leaned out of the way.
“It’s fight or die, here and on the field,” Blaze told her, ready to fight.
“As you wish,” She replied, her knife in hand also.
-She swung, but Blaze disarmed her. Her knife lodged into the ground behind Blaze. “Nice try,” He said.
-Blaze threw his knife, but she dodged. As soon as she could, she pulled her telescopic sword. “No wonder I’m in Spec Ops,” She replied.
“Well, after we’re done, you’ll be in hospital instead,” He taunted.
-She swung, Blaze blocked. The Blaze got stuck between two metal plates of his arms. With a single move, he broke the blade.
-Only holding on to the hilt, she threw it away.
“What now? Pull a gun?”
“Might as well,” She said, pulling her rifle.
Before she could fire, Blaze stabbed his telescopic sword into it. Both became unusable. Blaze pulled his swords he got from Sigmis. “Anything else?”
She pulled her shotgun and fired, but Blaze summoned a stone wall with his magic. In her panic, the Staff Sergeant emptied her shotgun into the wall, hoping to break through, but as she ran out of ammo Blaze cut her weapon to pieces. She had no choice, but her night stick as last resort.
“Time to wrap it up,” Blaze said, and beat her half dead. Then he knocked her out and called the others, pretending to have found her. While she was taken to hospital, he went home and slept. The next morning two RAC troops paid him a visit. They both wore their ACS’s, minigun in hand.
“General. You must follow. Direct orders from Princess Luna,” One of them said.
“Sure,” He replied and followed. Once they arrived, the troops left.
“Congratulations. You earned yourself a demotion,” Luna said as a greeting.
“What did I do?” Blaze asked.
“The same Staff Sergeant who reported your mistake was put into a coma last night…”
“And I was the one who reported it. Did you forget?”
“No, that’s the more suspicious, don’t you think?”
“What did you expect me to do? Would you rather had me leave her die there?”
“Don’t YOU think it would be interesting that you were the one she did wrong to, and you were the one to save her? The one who would be the least suspicious?” She asked.
“You’re good. Real good… But this time you missed. Blame me once again and you’ll see what I could’ve given her,” He replied.
“Threat me again. I dare you. I dare you to do it, and you’ll see what the light hides from during night,”
“Then we have an agreement,” Blaze said, turning his back and leaving. As he left, the same RAC guys waited for him.
“Where to?” One of them asked as they blocked his way.
“Either past, or through you,” He replied.
“I doubt so,” Said one, swinging for a punch. Blaze caught the fist, and crushed it with a single hand.
“Last thing you’ve done, son,” Blaze exclaimed, and soon the ACS was punctured by his trademark spikes from below. Blood seeping through the openings. Then Blaze looked at the other one.
“I-I didn’t know he would do that… I swear!” She replied.
“Good,” He replied, and dragged the body back to the throne room.
“What’s the meaning of this?!” Luna asked with anger.
“He tried to kill me, this RAC unit can confirm,” Blaze replied. The mare standing beside him.
“Is it true?” Luna asked.
The soldier saluted, then the face plate of her suit slid open. “Yes, ma’am. I can confirm that RAC Sergeant Silver Glaze deserted by attempted harm of superiors,” She replied.
“I start doubting you, Blaze. Do NOT make me regret nominating you for the Spec Ops General,” Luna informed him.
“If you won’t blame stuff on me, I will. I will…” He replied, and left for good that time. The RAC soldier walked by his side.
“Sir?”
“Yes?”
“I- It it true that the Night Guard soldiers were immortal?”
“I don’t know. I never got to be resurrected,” He replied.
“Understood. Do you think ex Night Guards are still so if it was true?”
“We will see in time. Then again, Shadow didn’t seem to be revived when I took his head,” He explained.
“Thank you sir. I believe this is where I part off,” She said, and turned a corner.
Blaze continued on his way and paid his sister a visit. By then she and Daar were married, even had two foals. Blaze arrived to the door and knocked. Seconds passed, Daar opened the door. “Ah, come in, come in, brother in law!” He said, welcoming him. “Come, sit,” He said.
Blaze took a seat as asked to. “Who was it, honey?” Blossom asked from upstairs.
“Come, see for yourself!” Daar replied.
Blossom trotted down the stairs, holding one of the foals with her magic. “Oh, big bro. Nice to see you,” She said with a greeting. Daar took the foal off from her. She went and hugged him in no second.
“I see you’re just fine, sis,” He replied. “Have you found a job yet?”
“No… Not yet…” She replied. “The workshop is making just enough to pay the employees, and to last us some food,” She continued.
“Good thing I brought this,” Blaze replied, giving her a small bag of money.
“No, no, bro, we… We can’t accept that…” She insisted.
“I have no need of it, but I’d rather give it to you than have any other slacker get it,” He explained.
“We… Fine… Thank you, big bro,” She replied.
“Any time, sis. Okay, it was nice seeing you again, but…”
“Duty calls,” Daar threw in.
“Later, bro in law,” They bid farewells. Things were calm as they could be. The troops trained, the nations lived, evolved, traded… Until one day order was given. An elite group of all regiments to transfer to the Crystal Empire. That meant every General with their own regiment. A hundred of troops chosen by the Generals themselves. Transport choppers made the travel time short, once arrived, the regiments rallied up again.
The Generals stood in front, while the Crystal Guard too visited them, only to protect their royalty. Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor. Cadence stood in front. “Mares and colts, welcome to the Crystal Empire. I must ask the Generals to follow me. The rest remain,” She exclaimed. The mentioned officials followed, while the RAC Gen. was stopped by the guards.
“No face, no pass,” One of them said.
“No pass, no life,” The Gen. replied, his gun spinning without fire.
Blaze grabbed the shaft of the guard’s halberd, and broke it off with a single hand. “Next thing is your spine,” He said. The guards gave way.
Cadence lead them into a safe room where none else heard them. “Alright, thank you for coming first of all… Even if you had no other choice… The situation is, King Sombra may return. We had reports of Dark clouds in the distance,” She explained.
“We will do what we must, ma’am,” Onyx replied.
“That is what I’m afraid of… I don’t want innocent casualties… You don’t even live here, I cannot ask you to die for the kingdom…”
“Nonsense. Orders and priorities are the first,” Blaze reminded her.
“Thank you for your efforts, none the less,” She said, and they returned to their tasks.
[1 month later]
The troops were still in the Empire, on top of their guards. Eventually, the guards filed a report requesting the royals examine something they had killed on patrol. They paid a visit, but the Generals insisted to join. They brought 10 troops each. On their way they moved in a certain formation. The royals in the middle, surrounded by Spec Ops, a line of SSR, RMP and at last the RAC in the outside, forming a wall. Once they arrived, the RMP’s noticed something off…
“Sir? Why are their eyes green and yellow?” Asked one of them from Onyx.
Soon the Crystal Guards who waited for them drew their weapons and attacked, but were taken down easily. The RMP’s shot them from behind the RAC’s riot shields. As soon as the attackers were taken down, large crystal walls surrounded them.
“A trap!” Crimson said. Everypony prepared to die if must. Soon Sombra himself made an appearance. Before he could take shape, the miniguns began to fire, bursting through rapidly through the dark smoke.
“Yeees… Hatred and aggression… Ah, just my favourite…” He said, circling around the group. The RAC’s kept walking in a circle, sideways to keep him in sight.
“Leave at once, or be killed!” One of the SSR’s addressed him.
“And you shall,” He replied.
He flew into the crowd, hitting most SSR and RMP’s. They shot themselves right away. The RAC’s too were hit, their suits were heavily damaged, but were still able to move.
“Remember guys. Final stand!” Crimson reminded them.
Sombra took shape in front of them, and cast a spell which paralyzed them all. “Fine soldiers… I could use a few of you… What do you say? Fight for me, and you get what you desire…” He said.
“Never!” Onyx replied.
“How about you… Gen. Blaze? Do you not want even MORE power?”
“You’re right… I do… Let me join you,” He replied.
“Yes! Finally!” Sombra replied.
“Let me free, so I can kill them myself,” Blaze asked.
“Yes! YES! Prove your loyalty!”
Blaze could move again. He slowly walked toward Sombra. “I will join you…”
“No!” Crimson yelled.
“IN HELL!” Blaze shouted. Before anyone could react, he grabbed Sombra and teleported both of them away.
As they disappeared, the palisis ended. “Oh, no… No no no no no no no!” Crimson began to mutter, having a clear idea on what Blaze has just done.
“What’s the prob-”
A huge explosion shook the ground. Both the skies and ears echoed from it. The shock wave reached the group. Crimson only took her helmet off and saluted. “Honored to have been in the same regiment before,” She said, as if she was talking to Blaze. The remaining troops joined her salute to remember him.
“What did he do?” Armor asked.
“The Night Guard’s soldiers were granted with an ability. It was our last resort. Our bodies were made of darkness, dark matter to be precise. It was an unstable material. With that, we had the ability to trigger a chain reaction leading to a large explosion… He teleported away so we would not meet the same fate…”
A former Night Guard suddenly spoke up. "It is the end of the line of the final journey... The enemy's leaving the past..." She quoted, having been to the Tuvale Basin. A few others joined in.
"It's the Equestrian troops and the Crystal Army joining together at last..." They said to fit the situation.
Since the threat was eliminated, the bodies were taken home. In Blaze’s absence, it was up to Sonis to bring word to the twins, who in reply erected a marble statue of their fallen friend.
The royal sisters honored him as a national hero.
One morning, Blossom opened the entrance door of her home… Only to find a small scroll on the doorstep, wrapped in a black ribbon. She only picked it up with teary eyes.
The end.
She finished reading a book, which she folded shut with her magic. She and Daar were well in their elder years. Their children looked up at their uncle from what their parents told them. As so, one chose to join in his hoofsteps. She stood tall, and saluted. Her left shoulder bore an insignia not anypony can have. Colonel of the Spec Ops.
“Mother?” She asked, reaching for the book.
“Yes,” She replied, giving the book to her.
She returned to the grave, and laid the book to rest on his gravestone. The book’s title said the following: Guards: The untold story of a soldier.
[The End, for real this time]