//------------------------------// // Part IV: Sacrifice // Story: Lunar Dawn // by We'll_Never_Know //------------------------------// Part IV: Sacrifice That night... "Applebloom, are you awake?" Applebloom grunted in response. She had been sleeping for a while now. As her eyes slowly opened, she saw the face of Scootaloo in the night. "Wake up", her friend whispered. "Why...", Applebloom moaned. She wanted to go back to sleep. "Just get up", Scootaloo hissed. "I'll explain after." Applebloom stretched, and got up slowly. As her eyes opened further, she started to recognize the forms of Pinkie and Sweetie Belle as well standing there awake. She knew that it had to be something important. "What's going on?" "Just come with us", Sweetie Belle whispered. Applebloom finally got up and started to follow the three. They started to creep outside the camp. "Wait a minute", Scootaloo whispered, and she turned back to the camp. Scootaloo watched in confusion. Everything was confusing now. "Wait, where is she going", she asked Pinkie, still being led by Sweetie Belle to their destination. It was now Applebloom saw that Pinkie was carrying a saddle bag. "She forgot the shovel Applejack made", Pinkie answered. "Why", Applebloom asked. Why would they need a shovel? Unless... "You'll see", Pinkie answered. They eventually came up to where they wanted: The site of execution. Twilight's and the soldiers bodies were left slumped; untouched and unburied, their blindfolds still on. Applebloom figured out why they needed a shovel. "Oh...", she whispered. Pinkie nodded in confirmation. "Are we going to bury both of them?" "No", Scootaloo answered from behind her after dropping the shovel from her mouth. "I don' care what Applejack says; Twilight doesn't deserve to be left like this." Hovering lowly in the air, she took the shovel in her hooves and started to dig. "Sweetie Belle, Applebloom", Pinkie adressed, "bring Twilight over here. And take off that blindfold." "Alright", Sweetie Belle answered. Both her and Applebloom went to the body. The ground stank of dried blood. Twilight's body was dirtied from being left out. Fortunately, there was no sign of any sort of bugs getting into her. Her wound was still open, showing a grisly mess of dried blood, muscle, and tissue. Applebloom tried not to look. Sweetie Belle went over to Twilight's, and moved the blindfold slightly. "AIEEEEEEE", she shrieked, jumping back. "What's wrong", Applebloom asked, before seeing what she saw, and jumping back as well. Twilight's eyes were still open. One was rolled back, and the other looking to the side. It looked absolutely terrifying in the moonlight. After a moment, both Sweetie Belle and Applebloom calmed down. "What's going on over there", Pinkie called. "Nothing", Applebloom answered, looking at the open eyes in front of her. Though very disturbing, it also brought a feeling of pity on both of them. They took the blindfold all the way off. Applebloom then slid her hoof across Twilight's eyes, closing them. "Rest in peace", she whispered. Pinkie trotted over, and saw Twilight's body. She took the saddle bag off, and started to rummage through it. When she found what she needed, she started to patch up the neck wound on Twilight, just so she didn't look so horrid. When she was done, Twilight looked a little better than she did before. For the next two and a half hours, Pinkie and Scootaloo alternated on digging. It was hard labor, but they felt it was their duty. Meanwhile, Sweetie Belle had an idea. She went out, and found a few flowers. She picked them, and brought them over to Twilight's body. She then proceeded to weave them into her mane, because, she said, "it makes her look a little prettier...even while dead." When the grave was complete, Pinkie and Scootaloo went over to the body. They saw what Sweetie Belle had done, and smiled. But then a tear fell down Pinkie's face once more. The flowers in Twilight's mane made her look a lot better...but she was still dead. Killed by one of their own. It didn't weigh off the guilt if she was indeed innocent. Even if she wasn't, killing her would still be a shame. Before Scootaloo went to fill the grave, Applebloom questioned them. "What will my sister say if she found out?" "If you asked me earlier, I would've probably said no", a voice called out behind them. They all turned around in surprise and saw Applejack standing behind them. "But since you've already dug the thing, I guess I can't stop you." "Sis, they got me up", Applebloom tried to explain. "I didn't tell them to do anything..." "It's alright Applebloom", Applejack explained. "I appreciate what you're doing." She sighed. "I'm sure she does to." She looked at the weary Scootaloo, and had an idea. "Allow me, I'll fill it." "Thanks, Applejack", Scootaloo answered in relief, stepping aside. Now, she and Pinkie (which proved difficult as Pinkie was not a pegasus) carefully lowered the body, and Applejack filled the grave. When she was done, they stood over it in mourning silence, as the sun rose over the land once more, for another day. * * * The traitor-collaborator was bound with his hands behind his back, being led to an awaiting rotary transport to the prison camp. They decided to send him off early so the aircraft could come back. Major Gilda watched as he left silently, guarded by two of her soldiers. It was sad to an extend in the Major's eyes. It seemed so cruel to leave him in such a depressed state, along with the guilt he must feel for betraying his friends. She knows that's what several of her kind felt in the initial Lunar invasion. After seeing him off, she then started to make her way through the streets to where she was expected. Executive Commander Trixie stood at the edge of the city, flanked by Major Gilda, the Commander, and two soldiers, the latter three having been there beforehand. Her commando team was long overdue, and she was starting to get nervous. Her team were among the best in the Lunar Empire. She self-picked this team for the situation; how could they even possibly have trouble? "How long are you going to wait, Executive Commander", Major Gilda asked Trixie. "Trixie doesn't know", she replied. After a ten more minutes, the waiting was over. She went over to the Commander "I want to send a small team to the forest. Have them look for the bodies." She drew him closer with her hoof. "And tell them not to search out any of the resistance fighters." The Commander nodded, and left to deal with the issue, leaving Major Gilda with the Executive Commander. Gilda stood nervously as the Executive Commander stared out into the horizon. "Permission to speak freely, ma'am", the Major asked. "Granted", Trixie answered, turning to her. "What do you want, Major?" "Executive Commander, your team has been gone for about a day", Gilda told her. "I would suggest, knowing how our enemy works, that they're as good as dead. A search would be pointless, unless you want to risk more lives." "Major, I plan to either find my commandos alive and successful, or dead and ready to send back to their families", Trixie told the Major. "Trixie is still hoping it's the first scenario." "Ma'am, with all due respect, this may not be the best option", Gilda tried to reason. "Trixie will continue to act as if they're still alive, Major", the Executive Commander told Gilda overbearingly, "until the time comes they are not." Gilda straightened. "Yes ma'am." * * * The day was very un-eventful for the group. In fact, it came for them to think, they hadn't done anything in the past week or so. But especially not now. It had been two days since Twilight's execution, but the wounds still were open in the group. Rarity's death was too much; Twilight's was a crushing blow. Especially the way and why she died. Naturally, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy found out about the burial. Both agreed it was owed to Twilight. However, that's where the agreements stopped between them. Fluttershy still kept to her belief that Twilight's death was a necessary one; Rainbow Dash said that even if Twilight was guilty, she still shouldn't have been killed. Rainbow Dash also grew very distrustful of Fluttershy, and refused to speak to her or even sit by her. "She'd kill anyone of us in a heartbeat if she thought we were traitors", she later told Pinkie. "I doubt that", Pinkie tried to defend. Though Pinkie did not want Twilight's execution and was heartbroken at her loss, she came to terms with it. It happened; she had to move on. "Also, I thought you were close friends with her before this...war happened." "I was", Rainbow Dash said. "Then she went nuts!" Fluttershy heard this, but said nothing. Rainbow Dash did not realize how much danger Twilight had put them in. Applejack couldn't do it, but someone had to. And it pained Fluttershy that she had to do it, but if Twilight was still alive, then they would probably be dead by tomorrow. Killing her was the only feasible option. Meanwhile, Applebloom had her suspicions. She didn't believe Twilight was guilty of anything. "It was Spike I tell you", she told Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. "I just know it; Twilight wouldn't have done something like that knowingly." Now, all things considered, both Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle heavily considered this alternative. Twilight was smart, but she could be gullible, especially with a friend. Applebloom had already established Spike was with the Lunars, so that would mean he could have given them up by giving Twilight that necklace. "Seems such a shame, though", Sweetie Belle said. "I thought he was a good guy." "What are you talking about", Applejack asked. The three didn't notice her coming, and nearly jumped at the interruption. "Er, Applejack", Applebloom started. "I was thinking...maybe it was Spike who betrayed us, not Twilight..." "Sis,", Applejack told Applebloom. "I would like to think of alternatives too. But what's done is done. We can't reverse it. It'd hurt me if I found out she was innocent, but there's nothing we can do about it now." The three looked down in sadness. That was the harsh truth: she was dead; nothing could change that. Applejack saw their sad faces, and bent down. "I miss her too...but, try to be strong." She left and went and started to check the stores. Then Sweetie Belle had an idea. She started to crawl away slowly. "Where are you going", Scootaloo whispered. "I'm going to see Twilight's things", she answered. Applebloom was flabbergasted. "What...what? No, come back here!" Sweetie Belle crept on anyway, and her friends followed her. The rest of the group stayed where they were, doing assorted task and didn't care to notice. Sweetie Belle then went to where Twilight had slept, and started to look through her sleeping bag. "Hmmm, nothing", she whispered. Applebloom came up behind her, and tried to pull her away. Sweetie Belle continued, until she saw a slip of paper. "Huh?" She took it out, and started to read it. Applebloom and Scootaloo looked over her, and read it too. It was not from Twilight. Rather, it was Rarity's...adressed to Spike. "It's a love letter...", Sweetie Belle trailed. They all looked at it. It was...deep. She poured her emotion into the letter. But the real shame was that she was now dead. "I know I said things about Spike...", Applebloom whispered, "but I think someone should give this to him." Sweetie Belle rolled up the letter. "I'll take it to him, if I live through this", she said. "I'll make sure he knows." Her friends nodded, and she took it to her sleeping place and hid it in her sleeping bag. * * * That afternoon, Trixie stood over thirteen coffins. Her eyes were closed, and her mane ruffled. Major Gilda and the Commander stood nervously in front of her. A reconnaissance team had gone out and found the bullet mangled bodies of her commando team, killed by the resistance fighters. Now, the rotary winged aircraft that had returned hours earlier and another spare was going back out to deliver the bodies to their families back in the Lunar home country. The search team only went as far as the bodies. They drug them away on sleds two pulled behind them. They didn't want to risk another ambush. For Gilda and Trixie, this was a relief no one else was hurt. Of course, Trixie had checked if the locator boxes were still intact, but all were shot up, except one, which was missing. She assumed that the resistance fighters took it. "Thirteen confirmed KIA", she whispered. "One MIA, presumed KIA. All of them, my best soldiers." She looked up, and opened her eyes. "How could I be so underestimating...this wasn't supposed to happen." "Ma'am, with all due respect', Gilda started, "we warned you about these mares. They are responsible for many deaths already. You can't simply wipe them out." "But how were they supposed to know about my plan", Trixie asked her, "How did they know about the tracking device?" "In all honesty, I call it dumb luck, ma'am", Gilda answered. "I doubt they knew about it initially, but consider that they could have seen your team coming in." Trixie considered this, and started to grudgingly accept that their approach was not very well planned out. She had severely underestimated the skill of these resistance fighters. Or, at least, their luck, as the Major put it. "Without my team, I have next to nothing to fight with", Trixie stated. "They were my weapon; my key to success." She saluted the bodies, and then several soldiers starting taking them away on sledges, loading them on two of the awaiting transports. At the same time, a shipment came into the city. She remembered that for the past week or so, The Commander and the Major reported no attacks on the supply lines. The supply lines... Of course! She remembered that's how they resupplied: they used Lunar supplies stolen from raided vehicles. And obviously, they needed to find out where they took them...so you would have to track where the supplies are going. She also took into thought about her fallen soldiers. They tried to follow the source on foot. "Commander, the highest form of our arsenal that you've used on the dissidents is armored land vehicles, correct?" "Correct ma'am", the Commander replied. "May I ask why?" Trixie looked at the remaining rotary transport. She came here with three. Of course, she didn't arm it as well as she should have. So, if at first she could get the armament, and then she could contact the suppliers, who could... She was a fool for not thinking of this earlier. She started to chuckle. "Commander", she told him, "take me to where I can contact Lunar Command. I have a special request for them..." * * * The sun was rising on the next morning. It was very early; just the break of dawn. Applejack had taken night watch with Pinkie, who was fast asleep next to her. As for Applejack, her eyes were barely open. Even when Pinkie was on watch, she had trouble sleeping. Something bothered her though. She had been sad since Rarity's death, but Twilight...it left her out of the right mind. Guilt riddled through her. She wondered if this was Twilight's revenge: that she was innocent, and now the punishment for such a sin was to never forget and always feel the guilt. In her daze, she saw something in the early morning sun. Quickly rushing back to reality, she looked harder. She saw the form of a pegasus, sitting alone just outside. Applejack got up and went to this form. Rainbow Dash sat with her eyes closed, letting the small breeze whistle through her mane. She barely noticed Applejack coming near, but she felt it none the less. Applejack sat next to her, and looked into the sky as well. "I wonder sometimes, Applejack", she said after a brief moment of silence. "that if all this didn't happen...where we'd be. All of us. Just us six." Applejack sat for a moment in thought. "I dunno", she answered. Rainbow Dash sighed. She then opened her eyes and turned to her friend "Applejack, why did Twilight have to die?" Applejack said nothing at first. There was nothing to say. "I guess I was angry at her", she answered sheepishly. "Bullshit", Rainbow Dash replied. Applejack was taken aback by the language. "Tell me the truth." "What am I supposed to say", Applejack asked. "that I wanted her dead for a long time? No, that's not true. Rarity just died, and I thought that..." "Then why would you want another one of us to die", Rainbow Dash asked. Applejack exhaled. "I thought she was a traitor. She led an entire group of those Lunars here with that damn necklace!" Rainbow Dash was skeptical "And that deserves her death? We killed them all remember. Well, most of them." "Well...", Applejack trailed. "I was angry. I hadn't been well." Her voice trailed into sadness. "Do you know how hard it is for me? I lost a sister and a friend because I said we should go and try to do something. Rarity died because I pressured her into going! If I didn't say...she might still be alive. And do you think it was an easy decision to kill Twilight? I couldn't even do it! I dropped the pistol! Fluttershy had to do it for me!" Rainbow Dash didn't realize what Applejack was going through. Applejack started to tear up."I'm sorry...I..." She realized emotion was taking her as well. "I just miss Rarity...Twilight..and Soarin' so much. This war...it's taking its toll on me." "I know, sugarcube", Applejack told Rainbow Dash. "It's hard on me. It's hard on all of us. But... we'll get through it." Both stared at each other. They were like sisters. They had gone through this war together. They depended on each other for survival. Nothing could break that bond. Both teared up, and eventually began to weep. They embraced. They were Sisters. Sisters to the end. Nothing would change that. They held on to each other as the morning sun rose, Celestia's sign of a new day. And in this morning sunshine and embrace, Applejack heard a noise. Familiar...all too familiar. It was a Lunar Supply Vehicle. "Er, Dash, could you get off me", Applejack asked. Rainbow Dash did so, and sniffed. "Why?" Applejack smiled. "Because we're back in the saddle again." * * * They ran quickly to the camp and woke up Fluttershy. She grumbled but when they explained, she got up quickly with her rifle. Applejack and Rainbow Dash geared up and got ammunition, Dash getting a grenade, and the three then ran towards where the sound was coming from. For about seven minutes they ran until they saw an open plain, with the vehicle rushing alongside. Quickly, they hid behind a bush as the oncoming vehicle rumbled forward. This was the moment. Sure, Applejack and her friends were only three, but the Lunars couldn't suspect. Fluttershy raised her rifle silently, and started to trace the supply vehicle. Dash started to take the grenade out, but Applejack motioned that the two lower their weapons. "Wait", she whispered. She noticed something was off about the vehicle. There was a rustling in the back, and she watched carefully as it continued. Then she saw a rope snap and four crates fell off the back of the vehicle. "Dear Celestia...", Applejack trailed. She held her friends back as they all gasped at their luck. When the vehicle was out of sight and earshot..."let's go." The three crawled out of their hiding space, and went to the dumped contents. Their jaws dropped at their luck: Food, water, ammunition, and a large case filled with unknown contents lay before them. "It's...a..", Rainbow Dash started, "MIRACLE!" She went to the crates and flipped them open happily and saw the contents. Applejack and Fluttershy looked at each other in amazement and glee. They all started to go to the boxes and see what they had. It was amazing. This could help them survive a lot longer! "Alright, alright", Applejack said after a moment of joy. "Let's bring these back to camp..." "Wait", Fluttershy said, flipping open the mysterious crate. She looked in puzzlement at what lay in front of her. Rainbow Dash took a look and recognized it. "I think that's the thing Sweetie Belle used to destroy the tank when..." she paused, "...well, what happened to Rarity." Applejack recognized it. This would definitely would become useful in the future. "Let's take this entire load back to camp", she told the rest. They did as they were told, happy at their luck. * * * "They probably think they're so lucky", Trixie told Major Gilda and the Commander. Gilda was worried for the Special Forces Executive Commander's sanity. Ever since the attack the Executive Commander seemed to go mad. She had started making questionable decisions, all the time saying it was 'necessary'. First Trixie ordered all shipments of supplies be doubled. Her position gave Command a higher urgency to send them. Gilda thought this unfair, as the Commander had requested for months for reinforcements and none were given. But so far all shipments came uninterrupted. The Executive Commander also requested some personal items be sent. Among them, Gilda heard ammunition for her rotary winged aircraft and, to Gilda's puzzlement, quantities of alcohol. This was limited to scotch, but Gilda was starting to really get concerned. Even more so was private attire, of which Gilda had not known what type. One of her concerns was when she overheard an alarming rumor from her subordinates. They said that some of the younger officers were staying out late and not coming back until the early dawn, one every night. They were said to be woozy and slightly off in their strides. The most scandalous mention, however, was that out of all places...they had stumbled out of the Executive Commander's quarters. Gilda at first thought they were simply drunk, coming from the general direction, but it hit her that Trixie was supposed to be the only one with alcohol in the city. And if they were coming from her quarters... Major Gilda simply looked at her papers. Is this really going on, she thought,is the Executive Commander going mad? The signs were all there. She became arrogant, snapping out at subordinates, and her now compulsive mix of alcohol and young male officers. Gilda had never truly warmed up to the Executive Commander, especially with her past. But this was beyond troublesome. This was the Great Trixie? A wench who thrives on pleasures such as this? Shut up, she thought to herself herself,that's traitorous But was it? Or was it just genuine concern? She was very confused. Gilda decided not to press the matter further. She finished what she was doing within an hour. She packed up and headed back to her quarters. But...she passed the Executive Commander's office. She was curious as to what her plan was. She hoped she could just drop in and ask. Yet again, she was only a subordinate... But she was also sure Trixie should be open to questions. She proceeded to the door. She cracked inside and saw Trixie flex something with her magic. Upon staring, Gilda saw it was made of fabric, shaped curiously, almost as if... Gilda just pushed the door opened slightly and knocked with her talon. She then saw the piece of black fabric fly inside a drawer and she heard it shut. She was puzzled for a second at what she just saw, and why she would have what Gilda thought she had. The Executive Commander perked up in her seat at the sight of Gilda. "Er..Enter!" Gilda walked in and saluted Trixie. "Ma'am, I'm sorry for disturbing you", Gilda started, "Permission to ask a question." "Permission granted, Major", Trixie responded. "Thank you, ma'am", Gilda said. She cleared her throat and continued. "I was wondering ma'am what your plan was to eliminate the dissidents." Trixie paused for a moment. "Well, it would seem Trixie hasn't told you yet..." "No ma'am", Gilda replied. "Alright", Trixie answered. "What I plan to do is order a shipment that will run the same course as the first one from months ago. After a certain time, the dissidents would try to ambush it. Not wanting to risk our own soldier, we'll give them what they want..." "Ma'am?" "Fear not, Major", Trixie reassured, " Trixie will have their presents tracked." Because that went SO well the first time, Gilda thought to herself, but said nothing. Her expression though, gave her away to the Executive Commander. "Yes I know it sounds folly, but rest assured, I have planned this out more thoroughly." She got up and went to the side of the room. "You may have noticed that there was a request for specific ammunition for a rotary winged aircraft. Rather than a ground assault, which it would seem these dissidents excel at gaining victory against, I have decided to use a form of war that they have never seen before." "You plan to use your rotary wing to kill them then", Gilda thought. Those bullets will tear them to shreds..., Gilda thought. I know they are responsible for many deaths, but...is there no other way? "Precisely, Major", Trixie answered. "I trust you have no objections." "No, ma'am", Gilda replied almost in reflex. Inside, she wasn't sure, but there was nothing she could say that would make any impact on this decision. "Good", Trixie told Gilda. "Anything else, Major?" "No ma'am", Gilda answered. "Then you have my leave", Trixie replied, sitting back in her desk and looking away from Gilda. Gilda saluted and walked out. She went to her quarters and took off her uniform and went to bed, dreaming of her past and these infernal dissidents. And yet.. she felt for them. Gilda had fought against the same soldiers as well. It just happened to be a short war, but she fought them nonetheless. She knew how they felt: an oppressor coming into your lands and claiming them, ruling through fear. It just pained her to be that oppressor. She crawled into her bed and decided for these thoughts to wait till morning. Right now she needed her rest. Several hours later she woke up to a noise. She got up and listened. It sounded as if a door opened across the hall...one that held the barracks of the officers... * * * Three days later, Gilda was up early again. But this time, it was with a great purpose. She saw the blades sit idly. There were four other people other than the Executive Commander, her Commander, and herself. They were all wearing jumpsuits and flight helmets, with microphones and headsets built into each one. The side door was open, and on each side were two machine guns on spokes, in addition to the chain gun at the front of the rotary winged aircraft which was controlled by the front seat gunner, an earth pony. The back seat pilot was a unicorn, whose magic powered the aircraft. That's what made these unique: it was the first craft that didn't require pegasus power. Trixie was observing as everything was finalized and then walked into the cabin first as the pilots went to their seats. The first door gunner stepped in and took his position, followed by Gilda and the Commander. They were followed by the last gunner who shut the door. Gilda heard the rotors power up, and not long later they were in the air. She looked to the door gunners as Trixie chatted away to the pilots. Both stood bipedal with hooves on the machine guns, watching out for any targets. Though, Gilda thought, that these gunners wouldn't be shooting at much. As she watched the landscape go by, she started to think about the militants again. This was...this was their downfall. What should kill them. It seems so justified in some ways, but simply cruel in others. Trixie had a electronic board in her magic, straight out of prototypes that allowed her to follow the tracking devices. Trixie had claimed later that these were hidden inside the food cans. She also said that the pilot and gunner had similar devices installed in the cockpit, so they could track as well. "THERE! TWO O' CLOCK!" Trixie had shouted this, and the rotary wing rose and made a slight turn, and the speed slowed. She closed her eyes as she heard the front gun start spinning... * * * It was early morning, and the day had been slow. As usual for the last few days, it was a lazy one. They went to a rock, sat down and started eating their lunch. Applejack took a seat in between two rocks, her back to the rest of the stone landscape. It was then that Applejack started having serious thoughts that something was amiss. This gift seems too much as if they wanted us to have it, the mare thought to herself, Why would they allow something to be so loose?. But she quietly ate her food. They had their weapons and ammo, so if they saw anything, they were ready. Fortunately, in this time, they had witnessed Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash make up. After their initial celebration, Fluttershy went to Dash and asked for her to forgive her change. Dash smiled and the two hugged. Everything was now perfect: they had food, shelter, supplies, and weapons. There was near nothing fhwumpfhwumpfhwumpfhwump... Then Applejack heard a strange noise in the air. She listened closer fhwumpfhwumpfhwumpfhwump... What is that, she thought to herself. She can't say she hadn't heard that noise, but it was a while since she heard it... It was at an airshow in Ponyville. FHWUMPFHWUM FHWUMPFHWUMP.. The annoyed mare decided to look behind the rock, and almost dropped dead at what she saw. In the air, a rotary-aircraft. Heading right toward them. The setting sun glistened off its metal guns. Applejack didn't see anything of this sort before, she only saw Solar ones, but knew what it meant: "EVERYPONY GET..." Before she could finish, a burst of fire from the attacker carved its way into the rocks. Applejack looked in horror as Rainbow Dash took the worst of the assault, taking wounds to the chest, and falling off her perch. The attackers roared over head, right past the team. The rest of the team got down, and armed themselves, waiting for the attack bird to make another pass. "RAINBOW", Scoots squealed in terror. Applejack quickly crawled up the rock, and brought and slung her wounded friend across her back. Oh, gosh. Oh my gosh, Applejack though at the thought of her friend. Rainbow Dash was seriously wounded, and needed to be evacuated as soon as possible. "Scoots, Applebloom, Fluttershy, Pinkie, COME ON, we've gotta get outta here", Applejack ordered. The group did as they were told, and started madly rushing to safety. All except Fluttershy. She stayed behind. She had a burst of courage. She ran back and positioned herself behind a rock. I'll show them, Fluttershy thought, they're not going to hurt my comrades. I'm not scared of them. Fluttershy had the rocket launcher, and she took it out, loading a rocket into it. Fluttershy took no hesitation. She broke cover, and moved into the open. She brought the launcher to her leg, aimed up at the attacking chopper, and fired. The rocket sped, and for a moment time slowed down. The rocket seemed to slow down, as it reached closer to its target. Fluttershy looked with awe at what happened: The rocket exploded on the side of a chopper, and killed one of the gunners on the side. But there was no other damage, not even a smoke trail. Fluttershy looked in amazement. The chopper was still alive. Even a rocket couldn't take this thing down. She looked in awe for a second, and realized it was over for her. But she wasn't gonna go down without a fight. She dropped her launcher, and drew her machine gun, and opened fire on the chopper, screaming: "THIS IS FOR MY FRIEN..." Before the chopper opened fire again, cutting off her voice and silencing it forever. * * * Applejack and the rest made it to a rock. They realized the chopper wasn't following them anymore, and Applejack shrugged her friend off her back, and looked over to see the damage. Forunately, Rainbow Dash had no major wounds on her torso that Applejack could see at first, but when Dash moved her hoof from her abdomen, a large bullet hole was revealed right underneath the ribcage. Half of her right wing was blown off, leaving a very ugly mess of muscle, tissue, and bone. Her eyes were wide open ghastly with shock and pain, and she was breathing heavily and gurgling, not able to say anything. The blood was dripping out of her mouth and her wounds at every breath, and her heart was racing, but slowing down. She was trembling in shock. "It's okay, Rainbow, we'll help you! Scoots!", Applejack cried out. Applejack also looked back, and noticed Fluttershy wasn't there. BUCK, she thought, SHE STAYED BEHIND. SHE'S GONE!. But Applejack knew there was no time for that right now. Now they had to attend to Rainbow Dash. As far as she was concerned, Fluttershy was gone. Scootaloo came with some gauze. Applejack took it in her mouth, then started to peel it off with her hooves. She started to wrap the gauze around Rainbow's chest, when a hoof came up shakingly to stop her. Rainbow turned her head, eyes still open wide, and continued to tremble. A tear streamed down as her eyes calmed. She pointed to something on Applejack's torso with her hoof: A grenade. "What this", Applejack asked, then suddenly realizing the meaning of the gesture. "Aw, no , no, no, Rainbow, I'm not letting you die!" Rainbow Dash coughed, blood came like a mist out of her mouth, and continued to wheeze. She nodded, as if in acceptance of her fate. She took Applejack's hooves in hers, and gestured once again with her head at the grenade. "Give...", Rainbow Dash started, sputtering, "give it to me." Applejack withdrew her hooves from Rainbow's body, took the grenade out of her pack, and passed it to her friend. Rainbow's eyes were starting to shut, as the blood continued to flow out of her, and continued to breathe heavily. She looked once more at her friend, and coughed again. Without a word, she put the grenade, back on the spoon, and pulled the pin with her hooves. Clever filly, Applejack thought bittersweet, you're always were clever. Rainbow Dash smiled back, seeing her friend's reaction. "I... I", Rainbow started again, then started coughing blood, "I want to give them...", she stopped and winced at the pain, but then smiled, "one... last surprise..." She coughed again, and slowly leaned her head back as everyone watched, continuing to tremble. She accepted her fate as she closed her eyes, coughed one last time, and stopped trembling. Applejack placed her head on Rainbow's torso. The heart that was racing just a minute before now stopped slowly, and finally ceased to beat. The final breath left Rainbow Dash's mouth, and blood flowed out and puddled, staining the ground. Applejack drew her head up, and let the tears flow from her eyes, and started to weep uncontrollably. There she was, Rainbow Dash: pegasus, hotshot, and good friend. And a corpse. She stood there for a minute, looking at her friend as Applebloom, Scootaloo, and Pinkie Pie watched in solemnity. Pinkie trotted over slowly at Applejack's side, hair covering one of her eyes, and started tearing up as well. It was amazing, really, in Applejack's and Pinkie's eyes. She was the brash young flyer, and rising star. Now she lay there, gone from this world. So many good times and memories they all held together. They smiled at the memories. They couldn't believe it. She was now just... gone. Eventually Pinkie controlled herself, and whispered to Applejack: "We all loved her, Applejack, but we're not safe here. It's time for us to go." Applejack looked at her friend, and nodded in reply. Applejack turned to Applebloom and Scoots. Both had tears in their eyes, but nodded in agreement to Pinkie. Applejack knew she was right. The Lunars were probably looking for them right now, and that chopper might come back around. She laid her head down next to Rainbow Dash's body, stroked her mane and whispered: "Sweet dreams...", Applejack started weeping again, "Dashie." And the tears fell on the fallen mare's face, before getting up and withdrawing. Eventually, the four remaining resistance fighters trotted back to their camp, as the noise of an enemy rotor wing closed in on their position from a distance... * * * "Why the hell weren't they killed!" Trixie was furious. Gilda watched as she chewed out the front seat gunner. Only two kills out of seven. Not a good gun run. All of the others managed to get away. Trixie pressured to continue, but the rocket blast forced them to land temporarily. Thankfully for the crew in the cabin, the only one killed was the gunner, who took nearly all the impact when the rocket exploded near the rear and the door. The feathers on her head were stained red though. So were everyone's uniforms. "Ma'am, they had the advantage of cover. The rocks formed a natural barrier..." "Then why the hell didn't you try to draw them out?" "I...I tried ma'am! But we had to come around, and then the rocket came..." "Trixie is tired of your pitiful excuses", Trixie told the gunner. The gunner simply stood and said nothing. Gilda shook her head. If her Commander was near-mad before, she must be borderline now. "Permission to speak freely, sir", Gilda asked her Commander. "Permission granted", the Commander answered. "I'm starting to worry for her, the Executive Commander", Gilda told her Commander. "Its fine, Major", he whispered back. "She's just angry. Don't pretend you wouldn't be in her position." "But this plan was doomed from the beginning, was it not?" "Don't say such things", the Commander told her. "This was merely a slight oversight. And how was she to know there were going to be rocks?" Stop trying to justify her foolishness, sir, she thought to herself. Trixie then came to the two of them and sighed. "This was unfortunate", she began, "ugh...WHY DIDN'T THIS WORK?" The last remark nearly scared Gilda. She started to go on about how brilliantly executed this was supposed to be. As this was happening, the remaining door gunner walked off by himself. Shortly, he came to a corner where he saw the body of a light blue mare pegasus with rainbow-colored mane and tail. He went closer, and observed the body. Out of curiosity, he nudged the body a bit... There was a click as a spoon fell off a grenade. BOOM The rest all turned their heads at the noise. The Commander got up and was about to go investigate when Trixie held up her hoof and bowed her head. "Dammit", she whispered. * * * That evening the group sat around a low fire. They had said nothing since what happened earlier. All Applejack had done was take a food can, but smashed it in her anger. She was shocked when sparks came out. She observed it and nearly cried when she realized what it was... "They..it was like...Twilight...they tracked us... "THEY BUCKING TRACKED US!!!!" She broke down and cried for several minutes, in front of the other four. Applebloom and Pinkie came to comfort her, and rubbed her back with their hooves. But they were all on the verge of tears. These...were just too much. Within the last month they lost five good friends, four in combat, one by the own hooves. It was hard to think that they were the last alive. Applejack continued to weep softly, eyes shut as the tears ran down her face. She felt a hoof below her bring her up, and she opened her eyes slowly and saw Pinkie. Her friend smiled somewhat, and Applejack got up, smiling back. Pinkie stepped back, but the feeling seemed to overtake them. They looked at each other. They were the last of all their friends. Out of their group of six friends, they were the last alive. Applejack looked at Applebloom and her friends. All three of them were still alive, and that was a relief. Applebloom was her sister, not like Applejack's friends, but a real sister, and it was a miracle she wasn't hurt.\ Applejack couldn't imagine what she'd do if Applebloom ever did get hurt; she was her last living relative. Their parents, grandmother, and Big Mac just a few months ago...all gone. Applebloom went to hug Applejack again, and comforted her. Eventually, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle went to do night watch. Pinkie laid down and after a few minutes started to go to sleep. Applebloom stayed near Applejack, as the latter watch Scootaloo barely keeping her eyes open as Sweetie Belle slept. Pinkie was fast asleep, and Applejack saw Applebloom was fighting fatigue as well. "Go to sleep, sis", she whispered to her sister. "It's okay, you need your rest." Applebloom looked up at her, then got up and moved a few small steps away and plopped down on the ground and soon was snoring. Applejack smiled, and then soon fell over and began to rest as well. * * * Out of all days, this was the one that made Gilda concerned for her Executive Commander the most. Trixie had ranted about how she couldn't get these dissidents, her mood swinging from fury, to sadness, to hope and then back again. No matter how hard she tried, they just couldn't be beat. When she was delivered a message from Command, demanding an update and reasoning behind her failures, she tore it up violently. She said that they could wait, and that eventually she'd get them. After about an hour, the Major and the Commander were excused, hearing Trixie pant behind them after so much yelling. "Permission to speak openly, sir", she asked the Commander. "Permission granted", he answered. "I'm starting to really doubt our Commander's ability to lead", she admitted. "That's borderline treason", he answered. "I don't care anymore", she shot back. "She's failed twice already, and cost us several lives. We can't let her stay." "She's our Executive Commander, Major", the Commander told her harshly. "You will treat her with respect, and follow every order, is that clear, Major?" Gilda gulped. "Yes...yes sir." "Good; do not let me have to repeat myself." The Commander trotted off as Gilda shook her head. Why was she the only one to see the Executive Commander's problem? * * * Pinkie tread slowly in the night with a saddlebag. She didn't want to attract any sort of attention by anyone. Pinkie wanted to be in and out as quickly as possible. There were a few things left behind that she had to get. She was soon back at where the ambush had taken place, in the rock bed. In the night, she could barely see, so she crept around, constantly looking around for what she was searching for. bump Her hoof touched something solid. She looked down and nearly threw her head back at the sight. Fluttershy's body was limp, twisted in an odd way. Parts of both her wings were gone as well as several gaping bullet holes permeating her body. Her eyes were wide open and pupils tiny, with the face of uttermost shock. Pinkie sat and held her tears. She went over to Fluttershy and went over her eyes with her hoof, closing them. "Rest in peace, sister", she whispered. Pinkie then went to the rest of her corpse. Fluttershy was carrying the extra rockets and Pinkie knew she needed those. She made quick work of putting them in her saddle bag, and as she was about to leave, she looked back as the moon glistened metal on the ground. She went back and saw Fluttershy's rifle, with the carvings in the stock. Pinkie looked at it...how much time she saw Fluttershy carving it. Sure, the hash marks to mark how many she killed but the other side showed her true side...the loving one. Pinkie felt bad that she wasn't with them anymore. Pinkie decided to do one last thing. She took the rifle and placed it in her pack. She would keep it from now on, to honor the memory of her friend. She would defend herself with it, and continue to keep track. How many Lunars it took from here to the end of her war didn't matter. What mattered was she was going to avenge her fallen sisters. * * * Applejack woke up the next morning and rubbed her eyes with her hooves. She looked around and saw her now small band of friends. She frowned to think that just a month ago, there were four more ponies sleeping here...and now they were dead. It had taken a toll on Applejack, thinking about how they buried Twilight and Rarity...but left Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. She started wondering of any way to allow most of them to survive. Applejack looked and saw Sweetie Belle was not at her post. She got up and looked around for her, and saw her asleep by the rock where they had carved the names of those gone. Applejack noticed two more added: Rainbow Dash Fluttershy Applejack smiled. After standing for a few moments, she went over and nudged Sweetie Belle with her hoof. She woke up and got up slowly, and Applejack accompanied her back to the camp. It was then Applejack noticed Pinkie was out of place. She trotted over to her sleeping, and saw a saddle bag laid awkwardly. Applejack flipped it open and jumped back. There was a rifle, a launcher, and several rockets in there. Upon looking, Applejack recoginized the rifle as Fluttershy's, and noticed that this was the gear Fluttershy was wearing at her time of death. Applejack then knew that Pinkie had snuck off during the night. Aside from nearly endangering them...she also looted a body. She was angry at first, ready to kick the sleeping pony awake, but then decided that perhaps Pinkie's intentions were for the best. When they were awake, Applejack took Pinkie aside. The three younger ones looked in curiosity. "Listen, sugarcube", Applejack told Pinkie, "I know you went out last night. Why did you take those things from Fluttershy?" "Uh...uh...", Pinkie answered, trying to find the perfect lie. "I..." But she couldn't lie. Applejack gave her a look, and she knew she had to spill the truth. "Our...friends...I want...to avenge them...I want to...kill Lunars...make them pay...for killing our friends." Applejack tsked. "Sugarcube, don't think like that. You can't let those thoughts get to you." "But...our friends", Pinkie whispered. "We can't let this go unanswered." "It won't and it doesn't", Applejack assured her friend. Pinkie smiled for a second, but looked back down. Applejack smiled and raised her friends head with her hoof. "Sugarcube, I've been thinking..." she looked to the younger group, who were apparently hearing in. "They need to survive. You know that. I have been thinking...perhaps I want to deal a blow too. But I am thinking of who to take." Applejack paused. "Want to come? So I don't have to go alone." "NO", Applebloom screeched. Pinkie and Applejack looked over. "Sis, I'm coming with you." "What", Applejack said in confusion. "No! You're much to young..." "...and your sister", Applebloom pointed out. She turned to Pinkie. "Miss...Pinkie, sorry, can't you take my friends to safety. I need to do this with my sister." "But...I want...", Pinkie stumbled. "Applebloom..." Pinkie was cut off by Applejack. "Sis...I can't lose you. You need to go, be free." Applejack couldn't see her sister hurt. Not her... "But I can fight", Applebloom shot to her. "I can help you. And we need an older one with us. Make Pinkie go with them, please. Take me instead!" Applejack actually considered this. Without an older supervisor, even though Applebloom and her friends were now older, they couldn't make it. And, as well, either one of them would be recognized. Either her or Pinkie needed to be with them. And Applebloom wanted to do something with her sister... After a minute Applejack apologized to Pinkie, who stuttered. Applejack ignored her and went to Applebloom. "You know we could die, right?" "I know", Applebloom told her. "But I need to do this with you." Applejack shook her head. "Fine; you can come." She turned to Pinkie and the rest. "What will happen is that Applebloom and I will go to Ponyville tonight, make a distraction. Pinkie, I want you to take Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle up through the frontlines." "Won't we get killed", Scootaloo asked. "If I distract them there, no one will follow you. You'll just have to make it out." Applejack looked around for distractions, and then saw the rockets... * * * Applejack and Applebloom made their way as fast as possible to Ponyville. The trip was long, but they had to move quickly. No breaks; just getting to Ponyville. Their hooves were aching as they galloped and trotted but that pain was necessary. When they got to the outskirts of the city, they looked around. There were Lunar Soldiers looking around. The lights were searching and officers were barking orders to their subordinates. "Do you think we could get in", Applebloom whispered to her sister. Applejack looked around for any possible weakness. They weren't mobilized yet, but she could tell soon, it would be impossible to get in. "Let's look around a bit more", Applejack told her sister. She complied, and they snuck around the perimeter of the town. Nearly at every point, there were Lunar Soldiers armed and ready. But in what seemed like a stroke of luck, they found a route that lead into an alleyway. They would be able to sneak past any Lunar guards and make it in. "Alright, Applebloom", Applejack addressed her sister, "do you have the explosives?" "Yeah, sis", Applebloom whispered back. She shifted to jiggle the pack. Applejack nodded. They made the explosives out of the rockets Pinkie took from Fluttershy's body. What would happen was that once the makeshift timer was started and finished, the rockets would detonate simultaneously. It had taken time, but they got it done. Now was time as ever to use it. This was it. The final move. Their last strike, one they could possibly not come back from. But Pinkie and the rest needed to get to safety. They needed a distraction; here it was. "On three, Applebloom", Applejack told Applebloom. Both got into a position to gallop as fast as possible. It was now or never. "One" "Two" "THREE" Both took off and raced across the open field and into Ponyville. Once they got safely into the alleyway, both paused to see if they were being followed. Looking around desperately, because if they were caught now...it would all be over too soon. To both of them, this was a near-suicide mission. But if they were going to die, it would be after their bomb went off. They needed to give their friends time. When it was clear, they moved through the alleys and shadows, careful not to attract any attention. There were no citizens out; only Lunar soldiers on patrol. Applebloom and Applejack were sure to be seen if they were clumsy. They made it to a loading zone in the town. There were several vehicles and crates here of supplies. They could tell they had made it all the way across the city. They run to a cluster of buildings. When they were in another alleyway, something occurred to Applebloom. "Sis, where do you want to plant the bomb?" The thought just hit Applejack too. Poor planning on their part; they didn't even have a target. "Uh....", Applejack trailed looking around. She poked her head out of a corner and saw a group of five Lunars. There was a light blue unicorn leading them, reading something. She was flanked by another unicorn and a griffon. They were escorted by two regular Lunar soldiers. Applejack was sure the ones in front were in command. The party went inside a small building. Applejack motioned to the structure. "There Applebloom", she whispered. The two then went to the building. The walls weren't too thick, so the bomb could blow through it. "Alright, bury it". Applebloom and Applejack quickly dug with their hooves and then Applejack took the bag off of Applebloom and put the bomb into the hole, setting the makeshift timer to go off before retiring to safety. * * * Trixie slammed her hoof on the table and shouted in anger. "COUNTER-ATTACK!?!?!?!" Gilda and the Commander jumped back. New intelligence reports came in, and they were urgent. A large Solar Army force was making their way into their former territories. Lunar armies on the borders and in the conquered cities were to prepare for it. "FIRST THESE DAMN DISSIDENTS, AND NOW THIS?" "Ma'am, with all due respect, we can hold this city for...", the Commander tried to comfort. "SHUT UP", Trixie yelled, then lying back trying to regain her composure, breathing heavily. "We need to arm every soldier we've got", she said. "They could be here in a matter of hours..." "Ma'am, in all due respect, you are paranoid", Gilda tried to say, as calmly as possible. "PARANOID", Trixie yelled, losing it again. "PARANOID, MAJOR! TRIXIE IS A REALIST! DO YOU THINK THEY'LL STOP FOR TEA ANYTIME SOON? THE SOLAR ARMY IS HEADING THIS BUCKING WAY! AND I'VE GOT LITTLE FIGHT THEM WITH!" Gilda kept her mouth shut, the Commander spoke up. "Pardon the Major, ma'am", he said calmly. "But you need to calm down. A great tactician as yourself would know when a threat is most..." "I BUCKING KNOW", Trixie yelled again. "AND TRIXIE KNOWS WHEN WE'RE BUCKED." She took a moment to calm down, breathing again. "I know that when a threat is near, it's always important. We have to deal with this as soon as possible" "I understand now, ma'am", the Commander said. Neither he nor Major Gilda wanted to press anymore. Trixie calmed down and sat back. In her service, she's never had this big a problem. All the other races were pushovers compared to this....these brigands that called themselves 'freedom fighters'. She lost an entire Special Forces unit and wasted ammunition in a rotary winged run that claimed only two of the enemy. She was not in a good mood. "Trixie just wishes..." BOOOM!!!!!! An explosion rattled the room. The wall burst open and the people in the room went flying back as the force of the explosion sent them. Gilda felt herself hit a wall and black out for a second. When she regained consciousness, her ears were ringing, and her vision blurred. The room was wrecked. The table was now in pieces, and Gilda found some splinters all over her body. Her eyes readjusted, and she looked around. Her Commander lay dead, a large piece of table impaling him, along with his hind legs crushed by a part of the wall. She looked some more, and then saw the bodies of both soldiers. But where was the Executive Commander? Gilda snapped around when she saw some ruble lift. Trixie stumbled up and struggled to regain balance. When she did, she looked up at Gilda and her eyes burned with the greatest fury. She motioned for Gilda to the bodies of the soldiers. She took one of their weapons in her magic, and Gilda took one in her talons. By now, Gilda's hearing had come back mostly. "Trixie has had enough of their..." Trixie started to say, but Gilda's hearing messed up again and didn't hear for a second. "...kill them", Gild managed to pick up hearing again. Both cocked their weapons and headed out. "You check over here, I'll check over there", Trixie yelled. "Yes, ma'am", Gilda said grudgingly. Gilda was shaken by the explosion, but in her heart wished Trixie had been killed as well. * * * "We did it!" Applebloom and Applejack were happy. The explosion went off, and they were able to and they were able to get away. Now they were in the sections of the crates.  "Yes, yes we did", Applejack told her sister. They were going to get out, reunite with their friends. This was going to be glorious. Then there was gunfire. "GET DOWN", Applejack screamed, as they lept behind a crate.  Applejack looked back. "Applebloom, are you..." She wasn't there. Applejack looked a bit farther at a cry of pain. She peaked out and saw  Applebloom lying on the ground, screaming in pain. A bullet took her in the hind leg and through the thigh. The bullet had gone through the thigh, and by the angle of the hit, out next to her heart. Applejack's world just crumbled at that moment. She looked to see the blue unicorn advancing toward her sister with a rifle in her magic...to finish the wailing young fighter off. Applejack didn't wait. She took the pistol out of her saddle with her hoof and stood up on her hind legs. She stood and the unicorn looked up in shock. There was a brief exchange of gunfire. Applejack saw as two of her bullets went through the front of the unicorn, one right below and the other next to her neck. She tumbled over, breathing heavily. Blood started to trickle from her, and Applejack noticed the same of Applebloom. Applejack smiled. Then winced in pain, and fell over.  Applejack didn't know what happened it had...rushed into her. She looked down and saw. Her side...and right below her heart...was hit. And she was bleeding fast. She took a moment to struggle up, and enough to drag Applebloom by the saddlebag with her teeth. Her sister was now moaning and whimpering. Applejack needed to get her out of here...she had to...no matter how much it hurt. * * * Gilda ran to where the gunfire was. She looked around for the dissidents. They needed to be stopped...right now Gilda needed to end it. They may want freedom, but her head would be taken if she didn't help. This is where it counted for her. Her Commander, all those soldiers...but these fighters only wanted freedom... She couldn't trouble herself at the moment. Right now she needed to act. She moved around some more with the rifle. There they are. She saw them, and raised her rifle... But she saw who they were. Both were bleeding...heavily. One was dragging the other by her saddlebag, limping and groaning in pain, small drops of blood dripping from both of them. Gilda figured that was Trixie's doing. But if they were still alive...that meant Trixie wasn't. A sort of relief to Gilda. But now she could end them; bring a stop to these attacks forever. And... Sisters, she figured, fighting together... The one dragging her sister saw her and stood for a moment, her eyes growing small and she started to shake in pain and fear. Gilda had her rifle raised, but lowered it, sighing. The one dragging her sister looked at her curiously, the eyes showing the intensity of her wound...and moved on without a word. Gilda watched her drag the sister away. "Fly", she said. "Grow wings and fly. Go; be safe." She dropped her rifle, and walked away back to the ruin of the building. By now, there were many Lunar Soldiers on sight, and a few dragging a blow unicorn. Trixie, she thought. The name boiled in her. She walked up and ordered the men to halt. They tried to say that the Executive Commander was in danger, but Gilda said she didn't care. The troops cleared a path and let Gilda pass to the bleeding Trixie. "Trixie is hurt...help me", she groaned. Gilda looked down at her and turned her head away. And promptly took one claw and dug it into Trixie, and a sharp screech was heard. The soldier's readied their rifles at Gila. "Traitor...", Trixie spat out. "I don't care, whore", Gilda told her, and held Trixie until she died. The soldiers looked at the Major in confusion. She had just murdered one of the greatest minds in the Lunar army. Eventually, they lowered their rifles and put them on the ground, and let Gilda get to an elevated position. "I am your new Commander", she said. She looked around at all the soldiers, all the flags and patches, wearing the emblem of a nation they fought for. And the one Gilda fought for. She may have hated Trixie...but this was her life. She was a soldier. A soldier of Luna. "My first order: ready the defenses. We will await the arrival for the Solar Army. In the meantime, sweep the city. Make sure no one gets in or out." She thought of the sisters. "But no one is to be harmed. Take prisoners if there are any." She saluted them, and they went to attention. She waited a few moments. "Hail Luna", she adressed them. "HAIL LUNA! THE ONE TRUE RULER OF EQUESTRIA!" * * * Applejack stumbled out of the alley. Applebloom was still in her teeth. But Applejack felt the strength leave as the blood did, her life coming to a close. I have to keep going..., she thought. need..to...help Applejack thought about what had happened. She caused the distraction...Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Pinkie were safe. They were now on their way to the frontline...and freedom. But Applejack was here with her sister. Living and dying at the same time. Bleeding and tired. There was nothing she could do...nothing... I have to move on She pushed on, and her eyes adjusted to the market place. So many memories were here, with Big Mac, selling the family crop... And where this whole war began for her. Right here. This is where she was with Applebloom when the invasion began. When she had six friends and a brother... I can't stop now She dragged Applebloom, and heard the noise of approaching ponies. She hurried, but the pain was getting unbearable. She knew she couldn't last much longer. She limped around, trying to find a place. And she then recognized the stand she sold her crop from. Applejack moved towards it, and dropped Applebloom. She lay slump, next to her sister. Struggling, she lifted a hoof to stroke her sister's mane. "It's going to be okay...sis, hang in there..." "Sis", Applebloom croaked. Applejack listened. "I can...see...Big Mac...Twilight...Rarity..." She was going. Applejack knew it. Her sister was dying. And so was she. Applejack stroked her sister's mane for another moment, the sound of hooves getting closer. A light shone on them, and there was shouting. Applejack felt Applebloom's chest...and there was no heartbeat. She blacked out. Another moment later, the lights were still shining. She saw the form of a griffon. The same one from earlier? She squinted, but the world was darkening around her. Her vision declined, and so did her hearing and the rest of her senses. The last word she heard came from the griffon. "MEDIC!" She saw a pony start to come over... And she closed her eyes, and saw her dead friends and Big Mac. She then wondered if she'd ever open them again.