//------------------------------// // August 16, 12:55 AM: Danger Zone // Story: A Time of Reckoning: Seven Days in Sunny June, Book IV // by Shinzakura //------------------------------// The world was enveloped in ruby haze and was still and quiet.  Birds that should’ve been asleep ages ago were still caught in mid-flight.  The sun, which should’ve set ages ago, continued to rain down that same stationary light that itself was frozen in time.  Nothing moved, nothing breathed, nothing was alive in the sense of living.  The whole of reality was frozen in less than an instant, and all was still… …except down at the level of the quarks.  Deep within the subnuclear universe, quarks fought and railed like mad against the unnatural shackles that held them still.  Despite their frenzied attempts to do what they had been created to do, they continued to be held in place just as they had been in a time before now.  And yet they continued to rage against the dying of the light, building more and more energy within them. Sooner or later, something would give way: either the immovable object or the unstoppable force.  One would bow to the other and declare absolute victory.  Either the universe would be frozen forever, or the incalculable energy building up in infinite quarks throughout reality would unleash their fury at once, creating a detonation that had never been seen since the Big Bang. One of these forces was going to win, and the clock ran down on the contest. “This is exhausting,” Sunset said as she went through every single bullet and arrow, casting a small charge on each one to keep them in motion once they left the weapon.  “Not to mention boring.” “Yeah, well, try taking apart the magazines and then putting them back together again,” Adagio told her as the three juniormost SIRENs did so, with Aria taking care of her sniper rounds and weapons, while Adagio and Sonata took care of the rest.  “Plus, you’re the only one that can do it.” “I can help,” Raspberry told them. “Yes, but the charge on your wand is finite, so you can’t do this part,” Sunset reminded her. “Also, I should’ve mentioned ‘trust to do it’,” Adagio added. “Dagi….” “Fine, fine,” the eldest triplet relented.  “Get over here and watch what we’re doing, and then you can help.  But be careful, understand?” “Okay, I’m not a filly, you know,” Raspberry grunted as she sat next to Sonata.  “Your sister is a bitch,” she told the youngest triplet. “Heard that!” “Sometimes, yeah,” Sonata admitted, “but she’s my older sister and I love her regardless.” “Dagi, just do me a favor and drop it?” Sunset asked her.  “We have a lot more shit that we have to deal with and that’s not helping.” “I will if she stops being a bitch.” “Takes one to know one!” “You talk again and I will put my fist through your face.” Raspberry raised her magic wand.  “Hard to do that when you’re a frog.” “ENOUGH!  We’re supposed to be at war with the enemy, not with each other!” Aria interjected.  She looked at Raspberry first.  “You are a guest on this planet.  Sunny’s already proven herself – you need to do so yourself!”  She then turned to face her older sister.  “What is wrong with you?  We don’t need this shit right now, sis!” “What’s gotten into you, Ari?” Adagio asked. “What’s gotten into me?  You’re the one antagonizing her!  That’s just unsat, Dagi, and you know it.” Sunset got up from her seat.  “Look, I need a break.  I need time to level out.  I’ll be right back.”  She immediately left the room. “This is your fault, you know,” Raspberry told her. Adagio sighed.  “For once, I agree with you.” Sunset took a walk outside into the strange non-dark darkness.  The whole thing had a surrealistic quality to it, as if she was in some sort of painting.  That was the thing, of course; paintings were always frozen, just like she felt.  Images didn’t breathe or live or have family, just as she felt right now.  There was nothing left for her here on Earth, and if what Raspberry said was true, the place where she was born – as well as her mother – was now in threat, too.  What could she do? The answer, she knew, was befitting that of a princess: help those who couldn’t help themselves.  There was no one on this world that would be able to stop Divine Right save for her, and she knew it would be what her mother – her “biological” mother – would want, even if it meant the end of everything in the dimension she once called home.  Plus, this was her world now, and she felt she had a duty to protect it, so she would do it anyway. But there was also a price to be paid: once she did, she would lose the family that she’d gained here.  She’d already lost her sister, and soon after would come the others.  Worse, by her presence, she would then risk the lives of her friends and others who did know.  She would have to start over again, and she didn’t like that idea one bit. Well, if Razz is stuck here, then I won’t be entirely alone.  Fortunately, they seemed to look similar enough that they could probably pass for half-sisters.  But where to move to?  She didn’t even want to move. I don’t want to give up my life! Sunset recalled the first time she said those words, so long ago.  It had been just after her first magic flare, the day she stood outside the orphanage and watched as the Princess of All and her entourage paraded through south Canterlot.  She’d stayed with Dreamy Heart that day after her first friend, a filly named Seamist, had been adopted, leaving Sunset as the only filly and only unicorn in the orphanage.  The colts had all followed Dreamy’s husband Gentle Smile down to the front rows.  But Sunset was too young and small to go, so she stood with Dreamy by the highest window in the building. Then the painful flare came, and Sunset floated in the air, or so she was told; she really didn’t remember much other than the fear and the pain.  What happened after it was over was everypony looking up at her, with Dreamy holding her though she was shaking like a leaf in a storm.  And it wasn’t hard to see why: down below, several ponies’ wagons had been turned into wagon-shaped teacups, while the royal carriages below had been turned into a tea service set…with the Princess’ carriage becoming a teapot.  As for the alicorn herself, Princess Celestia looked down at her new teapot, then back up in shock at the tiny unicorn that had done it. The next day, Dreamy Heart and Sunset were summoned to the castle by a pair of stern guards.  Though Gentle Smile had been sure that nothing was amiss, Sunset had seen the look of worry in his eyes and she realized she’d broken the personal wagons and carriages of so many ponies.  The Princess had probably demanded she come to the castle in order to be punished.  Sunset suddenly started panicking – she could be thrown in the castle dungeon!  Or exiled!  Or maybe thrown in a dungeon where she was exiled!  Or worst of all – not being allowed to have dessert! By the time they arrived at the throne room, Sunset was on the verge of panicking, and Dreamy Heart was nearly there herself.  And as they were brought in before the Princess, Sunset at that point panicked and shouted out that she didn’t want to be clapped in irons and forced to eat broccoli forever.  It was then that Celestia sighed and explained how impressed she was with what the young filly had wrought.  The next day, Sunset was brought to the castle to live as Celestia’s ward, and a life of adventure, love and happiness occurred…at least before her downfall. Sunset smiled at those halcyon times.  She’d almost thought them lost when she’d changed and alienated everypony she loved, her mother included.  But she was stronger for the experience and now she realized that if she ever saw the sun alicorn again, she would have to remind her that just because she had a family here now didn’t mean she didn’t remember who her other mother was. But I’m going to lose both now, Sunset thought grimly.  Still, I know what I have to do.  These people need my help, and so do my family and friends.  Mother would understand. She wiped the tears from her eyes and walked back in.  The time for introspection was over. Now it was time to fight. Stepping out of the shower, Divine Right reached for a towel, giving himself a smile.  It was time.  Finally time to begin his grand work that had been started so long ago by his father of fathers.  He had been saying at to himself and others all day like a giddy child, but now it was truly time at long last.  When the world drew its next breath, he would be master of all.  When this was over, he would be the undisputed vision of what it was to be a man in this realm. He sighed; he knew that the first moment peasant girls feasted their eyes on him they would probably orgasm on the spot, and he knew Cantata would not deal with that well.  She would probably execute a city’s worth of women just for that, but in the long run it might serve to quell any silly notions of resistance, so it would have to be something he would allow. As he walked into the room au naturel, he took time to pause in front of the mirror.  Lithe and a sculpted work of art, by this time tomorrow every woman on the planet would be in hysterics just to be within a meter of him.  Alas, he promised himself to his soon-to-be queen, and he was a man of his word, so those soft tunnels would have to go unexplored.  It would be one of his faults, unfortunately; an emperor needed to make himself available to the people, especially those willing, and furthermore, it was the right of those better to taste the fruit when offered. Slipping over by the bed, he put on his clothing: the usual undergarments, a fine silk shirt, slacks of the finest tailoring, and an expensive pair of shoes he bought in Milan a few months back.  Once done, he went over to the table, picking up his equipment. The longknife seemed to burn in his hands like cold fire.  Though the ancient, corroded blade must’ve been a work of art once, now it served its purpose as his tool to grasp towards the other world.  The metal was flaked with rust patches, darkened by the blood of innocents, and had been weathered down over the ages to the point where the fanciful etching on the blade could barely be seen – from what he could tell, either there had once been the shapes of unicorns, pegasi and horses running up and down the blood channel on both sides of the blade, or they were dogs and time added strange indentation to where no implications were intended.  Either way, whatever knight had once hefted this was long gone and now it was his to slice a pathway towards his rightful place in the universe. He then hefted the spear.  It would be his means of control over the beast.  This spear was the legendary weapon of Carolus Magnus, known to the lesser as Charlemagne.  Still, he wondered why the ancient king would take a solid gold weapon into battle, especially one so ornately wrought – it looked more ceremonial than functional and the haft, with its inlaid silver and carved ivy leaves running up its length, ending in a broadleaf of a spearhead.  Still, the weapon was said to be able to control the damned and with this in hand, he would make Grogar bow before him. “Are you ready?”  He looked up to see Cantata, standing there in a formal uniform that had some extra modifications to it.  Her basilisk sat on her shoulder, preening itself and acting general as genial as a parrot. “So, you’ve deemed yourself an admiral now?” he asked her, looking at the uniform sleeves’ one thick band and three smaller bands, with the topmost one forming the executive curl. “Who’s going to tell me otherwise?” she said with a wolfish grin.  “By this time tomorrow I will be the ultimate military power on this world.  I could wear the blank sleeve of a seaman and they would have to bow down to me.  Thus, I am hardly worried about anyone telling me what to wear.  Besides,” she added coolly, “anyone who does won’t be living much longer after that.” He nodded.  “Have your personnel go get the girl and bring her down to the altar.  Is the new singer ready?” “Took me a while to find one,” Cantata admitted, “but we found one.  She knows what to do and she will be ready.  Once we do that then we shall be ready.” “Savor this moment, my dear,” he told her.  “These are the last moments of the world as we know it.  Within a few hours, we will be as gods and there will be nothing in heaven or hell that can stop us.” “Are you sure about this?” Raspberry asked Sunset. “You’ve been here with us the past few hours, Razz.  You’ve been fine, right?” “I still don’t trust him.” The group were loading the two vans they’d taken for the operation.  However, during this time, Raspberry pulled Sunset aside and confessed her concerns about the man named Sable Loam.  “He was your mother’s worst enemy and you trust him?” “I didn’t have the same experiences you had, Razz.  Hell, my mother never even mentioned him!  And even if she did and I knew of his existence, this Sable Loam is different!  For one, he’s dating Ms. Celestia!” That thought seemed to cavitate the other unicorn’s thought processes.  “What?” “Yes.  Don’t know how long, but they were clearly an item.  Furthermore, he’s here to help save her as well as the rest of my family and friends, not to mention the world!”  She crossed her arms.  “Give the man a break, already!  I mean, people aren’t the same as ponies are on the other side.”  She sighed.  “Have you ever met a stallion by the name of Flash Sentry?” “Yeah, met him once during an official function at the palace.  Generally a good guy, but a bit moonstruck about Twi.  Why’d you ask?” “Because I’ve never met him and from that description alone, he’s leagues better than the local Flash Sentry.”  A quick mixture of infuriating and embarrassing thoughts rammed through Sunset’s mind, a mélange of now-pointless sexual desires and now-prioritized hatred.  “Trust me, even if he’s a dork amongst dorks, he’s head and shoulders above Brad.” “Brad?” “Long story I do not want to get into, and besides, that’s not the point.  The point is, while for the most part people here are the same as ponies, that’s not a universal.  This may be an alternate reality from Equus, but it’s not a mirror universe!” Now Raspberry was really confused.  “But…it is a mirror universe.  I got here through a mirror, remember?” Sunset facepalmed.  “First chance I get I’m going to lock you in a room with Pinkie and let her lecture you on sci-fi.  You will probably not survive the PowerPoint onslaught.” Raspberry was about to ask another question when Sunny Side showed up carrying gunbelts, helmets and body armor.  “Okay, remember what we said: these are for PDW purposes – do not get into a gunfight if you can avoid it, as you will likely lose.”  She then held up the armor.  “You’re going to put these on now.  The moment we get out of the van you do not remove those vests or helmets if you want to live, do I make myself clear?” Both girls took the guns.  “We got it.  We’re all ready to go?” Sunset asked. “Yeah.  We’re loading the rest of the stuff in the vehicle and we’ll be leaving in a few minutes.” “What happens after we win?” Raspberry inquired. “This isn’t Equestria, Razz,” Sunset told her.  “Happy endings aren’t exactly guaranteed.” “Okay, that’s the last!” Adagio said.  “Everyone needs to take five to get any last things in order, and then we’re off.  No stopping us.”  She then turned to Raspberry.  “And you I need to talk to.  Alone.” “Dagi,” Sunset warned. “I’ll behave,” Adagio insisted.  Sunset gave her an even look before departing.  That done, she turned to look at Raspberry.  “Look, I’m not going to bullshit you.  I think you’re a prissy little bitch that is holding us back, and this vaunted magic power that Sunny says you have?  It’s all bullshit and Ouija boards, as far as I’m concerned.  Not that I don’t believe her – I think you just lied to her.” “What the buck is your problem?” Raspberry snarled.  “I get that you hate me, but guess what?  I’ve been through a lot of shit!  I’ve lost all my magic, I’ve changed shape against my will, I’m literally an incalculable distance from my home and I don’t know if I’ll ever get back – or if anypony I love and care about will survive the Celestiadamn war that’s going on!  You at least have your sisters, Sunny and friends!  I may end up here for the rest of my days, basically never a pony again and just as unpowered as you!  I think I’m allowed a little leeway, dammit!” Adagio folded her arms.  “Are you done?” “I think I’m learning to hate you just as much as you hate me,” Raspberry seethed. “Well, just as we’re being clear, if it wasn’t for the fact that I’d piss off Sunny, you’d be missing some teeth right now.  Frankly, I don’t give a fuck about your problems – you try being a child soldier for your entire life and see how that goes watching everyone you know die around you.  You might be some badass mage – supposedly – but I have never had a childhood or anything fucking resembling a real life!  Furthermore, Sunny is the first real friend I’ve had that I can rely upon in a context outside all I have ever known, so I am not going to let her get killed just because you want to do your Goddamn sob story about ‘I can’t use my fingers as LEDs anymore!” bullshit!  So get the fuck off your high horse, shut the fuck up and shove it so far up your cooch your fallopian tubes will have them tattooed from the results!” Raspberry frowned.  “Wow, so you decided to have a private conversation with me just to insult me.  Thanks.  I feel so much better, now.” “Just get this through your fucking thick skull, you twat: when you and Sunny go do what you need to do, you better make Goddamn sure she survives.  She is important to me and my sisters, more than you can ever know.  And if she dies….”  The look on Adagio’s face, to Raspberry’s shock, was one of sudden worry. Raspberry put a hand on Adagio’s shoulder.  “I won’t let her die.  She’s my friend, too.” Adagio glared at her, then swatted it away.  “If she dies, you won’t outlive her long, do I make myself clear?”  Before Raspberry could say anything, Adagio walked away.  But while the Equestrian native stared daggers into the SIREN’s back, she didn’t hear what said girl had to say: “If she dies…I don’t think any of us is going to outlive her that much longer.” “Get in there,” another masked woman carrying a lethal-looking rifle snarled.  As if to prove a point, she aimed it right at Velvet’s head.  “I ask a second time, someone doesn’t get to see me ask a third, are we clear?” “You’re a monster,” Velvet hissed. “You think I give a shit what you think?” the SIREN responded.  “I’ve heard worse from better.  So carry your little babby-spawning ass in there or I’ll give you a new hole, one you can’t use.” Cadance immediately moved to her future mother-in-law’s side.  “She’s not worth it, Vel,” “Yeah, Vel,” the SIREN snarked.  “I’m not worth it.” “You better hope I don’t survive this,” Cadance warned, “or I swear I will have your ass behind bars for the rest of your days, in a place where your only meaning will be serving as someone’s living blow-up doll.” “Like you got the stones, you prissy bitch.” Despite the danger, Cadance sized up the other woman.  “I’ve heard worse from better.  Get a new line,” the lawyer taunted. “And what’s stopping me from killing you right here and now?” Cadance gave a catty smile.  “You don’t have the stones.”  The SIREN was about to draw on Cadance when her partner grabbed her shoulder and shook her head.  Giving Cadance one final death glare, the woman walked off. “And you say I’m brave,” sighed a relieved Shining, who was still recovering from his earlier trauma. She kissed him.  “I learned from the best,” she said with love in her eyes. “Well, as entertaining as that was,” Luna grumbled, “we have no idea where we’re going or what happens next, and I doubt our escorts will be anywhere near forthcoming.” “Lu, we have to trust that we’re going to be okay.  We have to for their sake,” Celestia reminded her sister, nodding her head in the direction of the girls. “In case you’ve forgotten,” the younger replied in a whisper, “they’re likely the ones that will survive this, especially with those strange powers of theirs!” “Assuming they still have them, sister.  It’s not like we’ve ever asked.  And given the situation, I don’t think further information is forthcoming anytime soon.  I just hope they still do have the abilities that alien princess gave them – we may have to rely on them getting us out of here.” “Is everything okay?” Solaire asked them. “We’re trying to find a way to protect our students from this,” Celestia said, a half-truth, “but honestly, there’s not much we can do, given the circumstances.” “That is completely understandable and I’m sure under a normal situation you would do your utmost,” Solaire insisted.  “For now, it is the responsibility of we adults to make sure that they survive to bear witness to this.  And I promise you, as much as I am heartsick over my daughter’s situation, I will do everything I can to help you.” Celestia smiled.  “You’re a good woman, Soli.” Solaire frowned.  “Not good enough to stop my cousin, I’m afraid.” Luna looked at her.  “There’s a story there, isn’t there?” “Not a very good one.  Divine has always had a sexual desire for me ever since we were children, and it enraged him when I moved here to America for university and fell in love with my husband.  Summer Breeze…he loved me for who I was.  He didn’t care that I was a princess – he didn’t even know I was one until I knew I could trust him.  And even after that, it wasn’t anything to him.  I was Soli, the woman he loved, not some princess.”  The look on the woman’s face became one of wistful nostalgia and Celestia idly wondered if she looked the same way whenever she thought about her past relationship with Discord. The melancholy then turned to anger as she then added, “And now I find my cousin, tied with these…inexplicable powers, but he has also murdered my oldest brother and his wife, and possibly even my husband as well!  He was always trouble, but now he’s become a monster and I can’t help but feel responsible for it.” “Take some advice from me, Soli: sometimes there’s not a damn thing you can do to help.  When I was younger, I had…issues…that my sisters tried to help me with, and I had to learn the hard way.  Clearly, this Divine Right person has to do the same way.  He might even have to learn it as his last lesson.” “God forgive me,” Solaire told Luna, “but I’m beginning to hope that’s true.” “What do you think’s going to happen to us?” Fluttershy asked.  Surprisingly, she was calm, which worried the girls: the calmness was either Fluttershy building up to one of those rare nasty moments that she had, the kind Pinkie had dubbed “Flutter-rages”; or worse, that she had accepted that they weren’t going to survive this and that she was coming to terms with her own impending end. “We’ll get out of this,” Rainbow said, in a matter-of-fact tone.  “We always do.” “I would beg to differ, Rainbow dear,” Rarity said morosely.  “We didn’t fare that well back in late January, and then we had that issue with Fluttershy and her father.  And then the triplets came into our lives and then vanished.  Right now, to use one of my father’s metaphors, we’re not exactly batting .400, dear.” “Hate to say it, but Rares is right,” Applejack chimed in.  “An’ Ah don’t want you to do anything stupid, Rainbow.  We already know these jerks mean business.” “I believe,” was all that Pinkie said.  Rarity turned to say something, but then she saw the crystal-clear look in Pinkie’s eyes.  “I know she’s coming.  You guys know it, too.  She won’t let us down.” “We don’t even know if she’s—” “Ixnay on the Unsetsay,” Rainbow warned.  “If Twily and Tavi hear us….” “Hear what?”  Octavia walked up to them.  “Care to enlighten me?” “We were just going over the situation, dear,” Rarity improvised.  “We were going to tell you as soon as you had some free time away from Twilight.” The raven-haired girl sighed, running a hand through her hair.  “Right now…I don’t trust myself around Twily.  I’m still angry with her and the fact that we don’t know what happened to Sunny’s not sitting well with me.  As for Twily, she’s with Uncle Night right now, not that he or Aunt Velvet are in any better shape.”  She shook her head.  “I feel like I’ve got a headache coming on.”  She groaned.  “Sorry, I’m just dealing with too much shit right now.” Despite how she felt, Pinkie went over and gave her friend a hug.  “I think we all are.” “How are you holding up?” “Great?” “And if I asked you to tell me the truth?” Octavia insisted.  Pinkie frowned slightly, let go of her and turned away.  When that happened, Octavia turned to the others and said, “That bad?” Applejack sadly nodded.  “I’m not sure which one is feeling guiltier,” she told her friend.  “But I do know that this is tearing them both apart right now, and I’m worried about you, too.” “I’ll survive.” “That’s not what Ah meant, Tavi, and you know that,” Applejack told her. “I know what you meant.  And the answer is, no, I’m worried sick right now.  I have a cousin that for the longest time I was jealous over, because I thought that she was stealing my spot as Twily’s sister figure.  And now that we don’t know if she’s alive, I feel as though it’s partially my fault.  And that’s on top of my own medical issues –I haven’t had a pill since this morning.” “That doesn’t sound good at all, sugarcube.” “Yeah, tell me about it.  Look, if I start acting weird or something, just….” “You don’t have to say it.  You know Ah’ll look out for ya.  What are friends for?” Despite the situation, Octavia smiled.  “Thanks, AJ.” Due to his injuries, Night leaned on his daughter.  By now, Spike, his fear having overcome his adventurous spirit, clung to his sister’s leg almost to the point of impeding her movement.  Idly, a part of her mind wondered if this was what a child bride felt like.  Then her mind turned away from that macabre thought, focusing on the equally-macabre reality. “Not that I blame you, but you’re being awfully quiet,” Night told his daughter. “I….”  Her emotions warred within her, roiling for dominance.  Was Sunset alive?  If she was, would she ever speak to her again?  Had her own stupidity cost her sister’s life – or worse, her own?  Would anything ever be the same again? “Dad, I…I had an argument with Sunny.  I drove her away, said she wasn’t my sister anymore.  And now…now she might be—” “I know.  Your friend Pinkie told your mother and I about an hour ago.  She said we had to know, even though it’s tearing her apart.”  He looked around for a second, as if wondering if he should continue.  “I wasn’t aware Sunny and Pinkie were in a relationship.” “They’re not.  In fact, Pinkie confessed her feelings just before we left for our trip, and Sunny turned her down.  I don’t know the whole story.  The others aren’t talking to me, not after what I did.” “I know about that, too – Pinkie was rather…explicit in what she told us.  And I have to say, right now, Twilight, I’m extremely disappointed in you, just as your mother is.  But…God help me, I can’t be mad.  Not now, not when we’re in this situation.  If we survive – if your sister survives – an apology is the very least you’re going to owe her.  Adopted or not, she is a part of this family, and you failed her by making her not feel welcome, especially after how close you two have been.  A ‘teenage spat’ doesn’t cover it.” Even though she felt like she’d been crying for hours, Twilight felt the crushing pain of sorrow once more.  I’m so sorry, sis.  I know you’ll never forgive me – I don’t know if you’re even alive, but I’m so, so sorry! “Wow, looks like you really fucked up, Twily,” Spike muttered. “SPIKE!” both Night and Twilight admonished him at the same time. “Well, it’s not like I’m going to live long enough to be able to say ‘adult words’!” the young boy admitted. “You might not believe it, but I hope you’re wrong, son,” Night said, fighting the sorrow burning within him.  “I truly hope you’re wrong.” “Okay, listen up and we won’t kill you!” the lead SIREN ordered.  “All of you fucking cunts and limpdicks are going to go into that door, one at a time.  I see any stupid shit, and the first person I’m going to shoot is that kid over there, got that?”  The command was so beyond the pale that even her fellow gunsels looked at her. “Monstre!” Solaire seethed while Twilight instinctively pulled her brother close to her.  She’d already lost one sibling.  It wasn’t going to happen again. “Hey, you think I like the idea of putting one in a kid’s brainpan?  I ain’t a monster, just doing my job.” “One could argue that threatening to murder a child is monstrous,” Shining snarled.  Never in his life had he ever thought of killing someone before.  He’d fired his gun before in the line of duty, and had watched as the man slowly succumbed to his wound.  The act of drawing on the man and pulling the trigger had been ingrained through long training, to the point it had become instinctual.  But he didn’t think of the implications of it until it had been over and done.  But as he looked at the armed woman now, he was intent on it, the price on his soul to be damned.  Threatening his little brother, when the family wasn’t even sure that one of them had survived, was crossing the line of lines. “Yeah, well, being a stripper isn’t as glorious a life,” she told him.  “Now shut up or I’ll change my mind and shoot you first.” He stepped forward, never taking his eyes off them.  “I’m okay with that, if it saves their lives.” The woman smiled.  “You got balls, that’s for sure.  Too bad you probably wouldn’t survive, or else I’d look you up.” Cadance glared, then took her fiancé’s arm.  “He’s taken.” “Hey, I’m okay with a threesome,” she told Cadance.  “Well, like I said, you aren’t going to see tomorrow, so it doesn’t matter.  Shame, too.  Anyway, just make my life easier and get in the fucking hole, okay? “Someday, you’re going to pay for this,” Cadance warned. “Maybe, but not today.”  She pointed her gun at the hole and the rest complied, walking forward, one by one into the hole.  The last to do so was Cadance, who gave the SIREN a glare that was enough to make her curdle her blood.  Saying nothing, she went through the door, and a second later, another SIREN shut the hatch and dogged it shut, preventing any chance of escape. A third SIREN chuckled.  “Heh, that girl thinks she’s a badass.  Really should’ve put one through her head, Chief.” “Probably,” the chief petty officer replied.  “But there’s something about her that makes me think she’s a harbinger.” “A harbinger?” “Yeah.  And not a good one.” “ALL HANDS, THIS IS AN EMERGENCY ALERT!  GUNFIRE REPORTED AT THE MAIN GATE!  REPEAT, GUNFIRE REPORTED AT THE MAIN GATE!  THIS IS NOT A DRILL!” The SIRENs immediately raced towards the entrance to the building, pausing along the way to recover body armor, helmets and other vital gear.  By the time they’d reached the doors, several other SIRENs stood there, tense and on alert.  Finally, Cantata showed up, flanked by several of her officers.  Several basilisks flew in the air around them, as if on the lookout for trouble. “Several of our air support units,” the SIREN captain said, gesturing to the flying creatures, “have spotted potential signs of trouble.  That was bad enough.  But now we have reports of gunfire just a klick away from the main gate.  I want a small fireteam to go out there and assess the situation.  If necessary, take out whatever is out there.” “But there shouldn’t be anything out there, ma’am!” one of the petty officers commented. “True – but until we have incontrovertible proof that was nothing, then we should treat it as a potential attack, correct?” “Aye.” “Okay then.”  Cantata turned to one of her lieutenants.  “Take your team out there and find out what the hell is going out there, understood?” The lieutenant opened her mouth with the intent to order her fireteam into action.  Instead, what happened was the side of her head jerking as a round ripped through at subsonic speeds.  A second later came the report in the distance – the sound of a perfect sniper shot. Cantata raced back into the building, while the remaining SIRENs at station charged towards the front gate. At her position as spotter, Pines pulled away from her binoculars and looked towards the others.  “I think we have their attention.” “I guess you didn’t kill Cantata?” Adagio asked. Aria pulled away from her sniper rifle.  “I have the feeling that would’ve made things worse, sis.  If we’re going to take her down, we’re going to do it eye-to-eye.” Zephyr shook his head.  “Shoulda taken the shot when you had the chance, kid, but I’ll take the goose egg.  We ready to do this?” The look in Sable’s eyes was one of restrained rage.  “Are we ready?  The question is, are they ready for us?” “Don’t get cocky, Loam.  You might be a professional, but so are these girls.  Don’t forget that or else you’ll be in a pinebox by this time tomorrow.”  He turned and looked at Intermezzo.  “We ready?” “Yeah.  Soni’s got the rigging up.  Let’s get going and hope that we’re successful.”  The SIREN then turned to look at Sunset and Raspberry.  “You sure about this?  I still think getting you via insertion with us is going to be the best chance we have, plus that way you don’t have to use up excess magic.” Sunset was going to say something when Heliodor started chirping excitedly.  When Vesper asked what the bird wanted, Raspberry clarified.  “He just keeps saying ‘they’re here’, but I don’t know what that means.” “We’re facing off against people with enough magical power to stop reality, Razz – you know what that means,” Sunset pointed out. Heliodor chirped off a long staccato burst of sound and Raspberry looked at him oddly.  “What do you mean you have a need for speed?” A cry not unlike anything any of them had ever heard split the sky, and at that, Heliodor’s face seemed to harden into a grimace.  Without further ado, he rocketed into the air, not so much leaving a trail behind and burning a path into the atmosphere as he reached out to face his species’ ancient nemesis. “Heelee!” Raspberry cried. “Looks like the battle’s underway,” Intermezzo said.  “Okay, everyone suit up, we’re going in.”  She turned to look at the two former unicorns.  “Last chance to catch a ride with us.” Sunset waved it off.  “Hey, isn’t the point of a misdirection attack to allow the other team to sneak in unopposed?” Intermezzo grinned.  “I like how you think.  You two take care of yourselves.” As the trio drove off, Raspberry looked at Sunset.  “Wouldn’t it have been a better thing to go with them?” “You know as well as I do that they would slow us down from the part of the mission that we need to do,” Sunset replied. “And the real reason?” Raspberry asked. “I…if we don’t make it out alive, I want to remember them as they were, not in pieces,” the older ex-unicorn admitted.  “They are three of my closest friends and I….” Raspberry patted her friend on the shoulder.  “We’re all going to make it out of this, Sunny.  We’ve all been through worse, and you know it.  Besides, if there’s anypony here who should be worried, it’s me.  You’ve got all the power right now, and I’m going in with just your borrowed abilities.” “Hey, you’ve been in more scraps than me, Razz.  If there’s anyone who’s going to get out of this, it’s you.” Raspberry laughed.  “I seem to recall a unicorn that’s been living on her own for the past few years in a place nopony has ever been before, according to her.  And if she’s survived this long, she’ll get out of this alive.”  She went over and hugged Sunset.  “You’ll be fine, Sunny.  We’ll get through this with flying colors.” “Okay, let’s get going.”  With that, the two girls started running towards the fence.  Sunset was already looking at ways to get in, and she opted to go through the classic way.  Recalling one of the spells that she’d learned from Celestia, it was one of the ones she made sure to translate to a human casting form, in the event that she had no choice but to protect herself.  So as she focused, she called forth a cyan sphere of energy in her hands.  Sliding to a stop, she thrust both hands, cupped in fists, forward.  The blast of energy rocketed away from Sunset, slamming into the wall and exploding, sending chunks of masonry flying in all directions.  By the time the smoke cleared, there was a hole in the wall where none had been before, but few had noticed, given that the telltale sound of gunfire had started in the distance. “Wow, magic blast?  I wouldn’t even know where to begin,” Raspberry told Sunset. “Well, it’s not exactly called a magic blast, at least not the version I used,” Sunset began to explain, but then thought better of it.  “Look, the firefight is going to distract them, but it’s not going to do that for long, so we need to get going!” “Lead the way.” The van, in the meanwhile, rushed forward, and the moment it could be seen, the SIRENs began firing on it. “Hope you installed the armor on this thing or it’s going to be a short trip!” Vesper shouted to the back, where the others were getting ready to fight.  Between Intermezzo gunning the engine and the hail of bulletfire, it was hard to hear much of anything. “Don’t worry,” Sonata shouted back, “I’m sure the ablatives will work!” “You’re sure?” “I guess!  I’ve never worked with ablative armor before!” With a final roar of the engine the van impacted into the front gates.  The front armor on the van exploded outward sending the ruined wrought iron doors slamming forward.  While most of the enemy SIRENs managed to get out of the way in time, a few did not and were torn apart by the flying metal. As the van skidded to a stop, Intermezzo screamed, “I thought you said this was ablative armor!” Sonata blushed.  “Did I say ‘ablative’?  Sorry, meant reactive.  Silly me!” “I have a hard time believing a girl who can turn a van into an APC made a mistake like that,” Zephyr droned. “Argue later,” Sable said, kicking the door open and jumping out.  “Right now it’s go time!”  He immediately rushed away from the van and got by one of the concrete barricades that had been set aside but not put in place.  As they opened fire on him he ducked behind the cement object briefly before returning fire. “Kid, you’re going to get yourself murdered that way!”  Zephyr jumped out of the van and dove for the concrete barrier, the rounds fired at him sizzling through the air above his head.  He landed in an undignified manner, then lobbed a grenade over the top.  The grenade went as aimed, causing several SIRENs to scatter before it went off.  As it was, the blast stunned a few, allowing him to get a few shots in.  “You bitches are going down!” he shouted. “Tough talk from a dead man!” one of them shouted, drawing a bead on him from a marksman’s rifle… …only to have her neck torn open by an arrow shot.  A distance away, Aria reached for another arrow in her quiver.  “It’s the shot you don’t hear that’ll get you,” she stated, then nocked her bow once more. “Bow and arrow?  Seriously?” Vesper drolled, though with a hint of a smile on her face. In response, Aria took aim, fired her bow, and the missile flew true, right into the muzzle of shotgun that aa SIREN was taking aim with.  The weapon backfired, sending heated shards into her face and body and making her scream in pain before another arrow immediately tore through her mouth, ending her for good. “Okay, bow and arrow it is.” “Sometimes you just have to have an appreciation for the classics,” Aria said with a smirk. Finally, between the gunfire and the crash, the bulletproof window finally shattered, and Intermezzo and Adagio dove behind the front seats, which were immediately shredded by automatic gunfire. “They have us pinned down!” Intermezzo shouted to the others.  “We gotta clear out that sharpshooter topside or we’re done for!” “I can’t get a bead!” Aria shouted back.  She poked her head out and a stitch of bullets immediately made her duck back in.  She poked her head back out and returned fire with her DMR.  “That’s a negative, she’s too well buttoned up!” “I’m going for it,” Adagio insisted. “Dagi….” “Mezzo, I’m faster than you.  I can get over there and take her down, then when I do that, I’ll have another angle of attack for the tangos.” If Adagio was expecting approval from her grande sœur, what she got was something else.  “Are you crazy?  You’ll get killed out there!” “No I won’t,” Adagio said confidently.  “You taught me well, remember?  Besides, I’ve already tried the being dead thing.  Didn’t care much for it.” “What?” “Long story.  Look, Mezzo, you’ve looked out for me my whole life.  Let me return the favor.” “Dagi…I-I can’t do this!  I can’t watch you die!  I love you, kiddo!” Adagio took Intermezzo’s hand and held it against her cheek.  “I know.  We all know.  We were supposed to be just mentor and mentee.  We’ve become something more in all this time.  When this is all over, we’re going to have to talk about the change in our relationship.” “Like what?” Adagio’s smile was loving.  “Maybe…adoption?” “You’d better live long enough for that to happen, do you understand me?” Intermezzo ordered. “Yes, ma’am,” Adagio said with a salute. “Yes, Mom,” the older woman replied. Adagio gave a fond smile and immediately rushed back into the front seat and kicked the door out.  Immediately the front door started taking fire, but the teen wasn’t going to stick around long enough for that.  She dived through one of the windows of the nearby building, rolling as she landed and then hopped up onto her feet in a run.  She immediately vaulted up the stairs as fast as she could, ramming the door at the top until it got open; the moment it did, automatic fire buzzed against the door as it ricocheted off. I’ve got one chance to do this right, or else she’s a goner, Adagio thought to herself.  In the rush, she’d left behind her carbine so that Intermezzo could reload faster, which meant all she had on her was a pistol – and sidearms weren’t exactly known for their range.  Still, she was going to have to do it, or else…. Adagio shut her eyes; it was too horrible to contemplate.  She evened her breath, then looked through one of the bullet holes and what she saw terrified her: while one of them was still drawing a bead on their location, the sniper had a spotter…and she was setting up an RPG, and there was no doubt as to what was going to happen next. Adagio dashed out the door, the bullet whizzing right past her neck.  A second round hit her left shoulder, but despite the pain and the force, she somehow managed to stay on her feet, ignoring the haze of her own blood splashing into her eyes or the fact that she couldn’t feel her left arm. She heard a whoosh in the distance. Half-blinded, she fired.  She heard screams, knowing she hit her target.  She then took a chance and wiped her eyes just as the explosion sounded off.  Adagio didn’t need to know what happened then.  Her eyes shrank to manic pupils as she walked up to the two SIRENs.  She didn’t even let the marksman speak; she just fired two shots at point blank range into her throat.  The next one she immediately slammed her foot onto her chest and said, “You killed my mother.” “Fuck you, you traitorous bitch!” the SIREN snarled.  “I always knew you were weak, Blaze!” “Oh, I’m weak alright,” the girl with the gun snarled.  “I’m weak enough to murder the person who killed one of the people I love most.  Oh, and it’s Dazzle, not Blaze.  You’re confusing me with my sister.” “So fucking wha—”  The SIREN’s shout turned into a scream as Adagio dropped the gun, grabbing her enemy with both arms and throwing her into the ruin of the van.  She didn’t take the time to note the odd juxtaposition in her life: the closest thing she had to a mother, now encased in a burning wreck with the SIREN that had murdered her.  Adagio didn’t take the time to think of any of that as she ignored her wound, picked up the marksman’s gun and started firing at anyone she knew wasn’t an ally.  She only knew that the mission, the one she’d come for all along, would take priority. The rage and hatred could abide until she found Cantata Blast. Then Hell itself wasn’t going to stop her from murdering her ex-commander. Queen sniffed the air.  Something smelled wonderful, an aroma she’d never encountered before.  Maybe, back when she was other she might have, but that was before she became perfect.  She yipped in delight, this was heaven! She growled orders at Sister and Mate, informing them of the situation.  Sister seemed interested as females do.  Mate, however, only wanted one thing and one thing only – typical of males, honestly.  While that was fine by Queen, sometimes there were other priorities, like food or sleep. Or this wonderful, indescribable thing. Queen immediately loped off in the direction of the scent, with Sister and Mate soon following.  Soon she would have that. Soon she would have all. “Let us the fuck out!”  Rainbow shook against the bars, to no avail.  Other than being in this creepy Greek-like place, there was no sign of anything that could indicate where they were or how they were going to get out.  It was like they were in a cage on a stage. Actually, it probably is exactly that, she mused. “Rainbow, don’t hurt yourself, sugarcube.  Whatever’s going on, we’ll find out in due time,” Applejack assured her. “Applejack, they’re going to kill us,” Twilight said softly.  “They’re going to kill us and we have no idea why!” “We don’t know that, Twily,” Cadance said, though she wasn’t entirely convinced of her own words.  “Aunt Tia?  What do you think?” “They’re going to kill us.”  That came not from Celestia, but from her near-twin, Solaire.  “They’re going to kill all of us, and it’s my fault!”  Solaire started to sob.  “I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry.” Celestia embraced the other woman.  “You are not to blame.  That madman is.  And one way or another, we will get out of this okay, Soli.  I promise.” “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”  Everyone turned to see Divine Right standing there, with a grin the proverbial cat had prior to ingesting the canary. “Divine, I swear, let me out of this and let my daughter go, or else….” Solaire seethed. “Or else what?  You’ll cry some more?  Maybe make babies with more commoner trash?”  With his chin, he gestured to the two men in there.  “After all, you have two here to get started with, right?  Looks like you’ve got enough for your own little soiree!” “You disgust me!” “The feeling is mutual,” he told her.  “To think I ever even thought to be with you….  I must have been mad.  Well, fortunately, you have contributed something to my needs.  And what that is, you will find out later.  Who knows?  You might even live to see it.”  With that, he started to walk away. Looking at her family and the children present, Velvet finally lost it.  “We’re doomed,” she said, looking at the man on the other side of the cage and holding all the proverbial cards.  All she could see, though, were the corpses in her mind, the corpses that these people around her would soon be. To her surprise, Rainbow walked over to her and, taking her hand, said, “Don’t worry, Mrs. V, the cavalry’s on the way.” “Rainbow,” Celestia began, “I don’t think—” “You’re wrong, Ms. Celestia,” Rainbow said.  “Trust me: there’s nothing that can – or will – stop her, short of a magical orbital friendship laser.  No one knows that better than me and the girls.”  She looked at her four fellow CHS students and to the surprise of everyone, they all had the same look on her face. “Buy some time,” Rarity suggested. “On it,” Rainbow said, turning to shout at the enemy who was departing.  “Hey, ¡puto!  We’re not done with you yet!” “Rainbow!” Octavia shouted.  “What are you doing?” The Latina started banging against the bars again.  “What, you a scared chickenshit?” He finally turned.  “Children should be seen and not heard,” he told her.  “Especially worthless children.” She laughed at him.  “Hey, asshole – newsflash: you know that you just fucked up hard, right?” He leaned against the bars, looking at her with eyes filled with murder.  “You dare talk to me that way, trollop?” Pinkie had had enough at that point.  She gently pushed Rainbow out of the way, saying, “Let an expert handle this, Dashie.”  Looking at him eye to eye with a cocky grin on her face that she copied from one particular person, she suddenly crowed, “Oooooh!  Now you fucked up!” “Excuse me, you little pink-haired slattern?” “Now you fucked up!  Now you fucked up!” He reached through the bars and grabbed her shirt.  “Shut up, you little whore or I will shut you up!” “You have fucked up now!” “You will shut your mouth when I order you to, do you understand me?” In response, Pinkie pulled away from him and started dancing, side to side, continuing.  “Now you fucked up!  Now you fucked up!” “I WILL KILL YOU WHERE YOU STAND!” he roared. She didn’t stop.  “Now you fucked up!  Now you fucked up!  Now you fucked up!” To the shock of everyone, Divine raised his hand, and an aura of sulfurous yellow surrounded it.  Pinkie was painfully and unceremoniously lifted up by her neck, and she started choking due to his magical grasp.  Looking at her with the gaze of a spider admiring a fly, he said, “Now learn your place for what little time you have left, whore.  Do you have any last words?” Pinkie fixed her blue eyes on him and her smile went away.  Her hair began to straighten and her visage became one of stone.  And with the volume that people who knew her tended to call the “Royal Canterlot Voice, she bellowed: “NOW YOU HAVE FUCKED UP!” “Die, you little cunt!” “If I do,” she gasped, “she will personally send you to hell where you belong!” Suddenly he realized.  “Ah, a ruse.  How cute.”  With a sweep of his arm, he threw Pinkie painfully into a wall.  “Cheap theatrics won’t frighten me, any of you.”  He tugged on his coat lapels to straighten them, then dusted himself off.  “I have wasted enough time with you.”  With that, he departed once more. The moment he was gone, Pinkie forced herself back to her feet.  She had a bruise and a cut lip that was bleeding, but the smile on her face was virtually a mile wide.  “That should do it,” she chirped. “PINKAMENA PIE!” Luna scolded.  “What the fuck were you thinking?” “I was thinking that I was saving us from him getting a little trigger happy.”  She looked at them all.  “He had a gun on him and while I don’t know if he was going to use it, I didn’t want to risk it.” “And people say we’re foolhardy,” Applejack said, and Rainbow nodded in agreement. Luna went over and fiercely hugged the teen.  “You could’ve gotten yourself killed, Pinkie!” “I know,” she said, her hair starting to return to its curl.  “But I know she would have done the same thing.” “Who’s this ‘she’ you keep talking about?” Octavia asked. “I’d tell ya, but it’d spoil the surprise!” Pinkie said with a wink. Sunset and Raspberry ran down the halls as fast as they could – or, rather as fast as Raspberry could, given that even with her brace allowing far more mobility she was still not used to running in a human form.  To their surprise, they had not come across any opposition yet, but who knew how much time they have. “Look, that Gordian Knot has to be around here somewhere,” Raspberry said.  “There’s gotta be a focal point, but you’re going to have to sniff it out, Sunny.  Without my magic, I can’t tell anything.” “Working on it.  It’s black magic, so I’m not as versed in it as you are.”  Sunset put her hands against the walls, trying to feel for ambient magic leakage.  “Cover me; I’m going to focus a large pulse through the complex and see if that helps any.” “Sure thing,” Raspberry replied, while Sunset sat down.  “Uh, what are you doing?” “Focusing,” Sunset said as she closed her eyes. “Sunny, you’re a unicorn.  Just—”  It suddenly dawned on the other former unicorn as to what she was going to say and then she simply said, “Oh.” “Yeah.” “So…is that how humans do it?  Magic summoning, for those that do?” “I don’t know.  I know that when I had my magic locked, I had to do a lot of meditation and such to get to use the big stuff when I got a chance, and now even with my full power available to me, some old habits die hard, you know?”  A smile came over the flame-haired girl’s face.  “Maybe it just shows how human of an outlook I have now.  I never intended it, but maybe at the end of the day, this is who I was always meant to be, you know?” “Instead of Celestia’s daughter?” “That I don’t know.  Don’t get me wrong, I love her.  But after this is over, like I said, assuming if my family here still wants me around, I’m going to have to do a lot of soul-searching.  I’m not going to deny the mare who raised me.  But neither am I going to deny the man and woman who are doing that now.” “Know how you feel.  When I was adopted, I found out I have three siblings that I’ve never met; I don’t even remember their names and I think one of them was even against having ‘a kid sister’ this late in life.  So in a sense, I’m in the same boat as you are.  But as much as my biological father and I never got along and that I never knew my biological mother, I don’t forget they’re there even when I’m with my new parents.  You shouldn’t have to, either.  Let me ask you this: if you were completely human and had never been a pony, wouldn’t you still have had a mother and father that would have mattered?” “Honestly, it’s never bothered me.  I’ve seen images – a flash – of what my dam looked like, but even then, the trail stops there and I have no idea who sired me.  And frankly, I don’t care.  For me, the buck starts and stops at….”  She groaned.  “I still don’t know whether I should be calling her ‘Mom’ or ‘Princess Celestia’.” “That’s up to you; I can’t help you there.” Sunset was going to continue the conversation further, save that she suddenly felt a strobe that nearly knocked her off her feet.  “Did you feel that?” Raspberry gave her a lidded look.  “No magic, remember?  I can’t feel ambient backlashes, given I wasn’t doing a probe.” “Yeah, sorry.”  Sunset got back to her feet, then reached for her gun and checked the ammo, like she was supposed to.  “I never thought I’d be doing this.” “What, fighting the bad guys?  What about that thing you did with that ‘Club’ group?” “No, I mean this.”  She brandished the gun for her friend to see.  “I mean…killing someone.  That’s a major line I’ve never crossed.” “Yeah, it’s not easy.  But when you have friends and loved ones, they’re there to help you get through it.” Sunset gave her a curious look.  “You sound as though you have.” “Yeah.  I thought I told you that I took down a werewolf named Fair Vista.  Sable Loam was her mate, and that’s why his name freaked me out at first.”  She paused.  “Is there a Fair Vista around here?” “Yeah, there’s a Fairvista Boulevard in downtown that’s named after her,” Sunset replied.  “If I remember correctly, the historical person was a gunslinger during the old days that they used to call the ‘Lone Wolf’ because she was single-handedly hunting down the outlaws that murdered her husband.  Whose name was Hitching Post, not Sable Loam, as I recall.” “Wolf themes,” Raspberry replied.  “And I think the local Sable had a nickname like ‘wolf’ as well.” “Wolf of Kabul.  I recall one of the triplets’ mentors mentioning that.”  Raspberry looked at her and Sunset explained the reference.  “It has to do with a war on the other side of the world, in another country.” “The Sable Loam Applejack encountered was the result of a war far from Canterlot.”  Raspberry smiled.  “You ever wonder just how thin the paries quartum is?” “Sometimes – though here they’re referred to as the quantum strings.  A scientific reference, not magical.” “Quantum strings.  Right.  What’s a ‘quantum’ and why is it made of strings?” Sunset sighed.  “You ask that again and I’m going to make sure you sit through one of Dr. Hooves’ lessons.  I swear, for a high school teacher, the man thinks he’s a tenured university professor.” “Okay, you’re confusing me.  You clearly lead a different life than we ponies do.  I get that.  Can we get back to what we were doing?” “Hey, you started this.”  Sunset summoned a ball of energy and tossed it in the air.  The mote of light started to slowly head in the direction that they needed to go. Raspberry shook her head.  “Yeah, yeah, yeah.  Anyway, you’ll know what’s right when the time comes.  If you can take your opponent down without killing, do that.  But if it means saving a life….” “Yeah, I know.”  Both girls started running after the ball, which was picking up speed.  “Believe me, I know.” “Dagi?  Are you okay?”  Vesper looked at the young girl, trying not to see where her sister had just been killed, warring with the emotions of losing both her sister and her best friend in a span of days.  “Dagi, say something.”  The girl had a blank-eyed, stare, the kind that Vesper knew all too well; it usually ended up with a SIREN losing it and falling to suicide or some other casualty.  Finally, the woman grabbed Adagio by the shoulders, shaking her violently.  “Seaman Dazzle, get a hold of yourself!” “She told me she loved me like a daughter,” Adagio murmured. “Dagi, please, not now.  Not while we have a mission.”  Despite the situation, Vesper wrapped her arms around the shattered girl in an embrace.  “Please, don’t do this to me.  I can’t lose you, too.” Unaware of what was going on, a short distance away, Sable grabbed one of the injured tangos and pulled her to her feet.  “Let’s go have a chat, shall we?” “Fuck you, small dick,” she said, but Sable did it anyway. “Where you taking this skank?” Zephyr asked. “Think Vesper might want some information out of her,” Sable remarked. “Good thinking.  Me and the kids here will clean the rest up.” “Clean the rest up?” Side picked up on Zephyr’s point immediately.  “Let’s just say we’ll be a few bullets short, but we’ll manage,” she added. “I like the way you think, Sides,” Zephyr said, to which the girl did a mock-curtsey. Evergreen, however, was not as eager about it.  “In cold blood?  Isn’t that a little…?” “Yeah, it is.  But they have Sable’s girl and mine, as well as a fuckton of innocents.  I don’t think we have time to do this the nice way,” the older man responded. “I really don’t like the idea,” Sable told him.  “Granted, I’m not saying I like my fights fair when it comes to these girls, but….” Zephyr chuckled.  “Wow, a nice guy.  Didn’t think SOF had any left.  Okay, we’ll do it your way.  They’re going to have concussions and multiple wounds, but they’ll be alive at the end of the day.  That work?” “Yeah, I can live with that.  But keep in mind, it’s more for those girls than for me.” “Loam, they’re child soldiers.  They were killing people at the same age we were busy playing Rebels vs. the Empire.  Sad to say, but I bet they’ve seen more shit than either of us have.” “You’re probably right, but don’t blame me for wanting to keep them innocent whether or not they are.” Zephyr thought of Shimmer and the innocence that had been shattered when they captured her and her mother and shot him.  He never wanted to see the look like that on a girl’s face ever again.  “You have a point,” he sighed. “Thanks.”  He then turned back to the captured SIREN.  “Okay, now you’re going to be nice and tell us all about this building and all other sorts of info, right?” “Only thing I’m going to tell you is that you and these idiots with you are dead when the rest of our force hits you like a ton of bricks.  We’re just the gate guards.  The really nasty stuff is coming,” she taunted. “Yeah, yeah, yeah.  Heard that all before.  As I recall, I’ve already taken out several of you ‘elites’,” Sable responded as he pushed her on towards where Adagio and Vesper were.  As he approached with the victim, he called out, “Hey, we got one that might want to talk!” Before either of them could respond, Adagio grabbed Vesper’s pistol and then without warning started pistol whipping the SIREN for what she was worth. “Dagi, stop!” Vesper ordered, but Adagio wasn’t anywhere near done yet. The teen turned to Sable.  “Give me your knife,” she growled. “Look, kid—” “Give me.  The Goddamn.  Knife!” she said in a tone that implied she wasn’t in the mood to argue.  Sable looked at Vesper and she shrugged, so Sable reluctantly did so.  Adagio reacted by taking it, then backhanding her captive with the gun again, just enough to wake her up.  The SIREN screamed and Adagio took advantage of this by jamming the gun in the girl’s mouth. “Hello, Rococo,” Adagio said.  “Haven’t seen you in a while.”  The SIREN looked at her and mumbled something angrily, and Adagio sighed.  “We used to be friends once.  You still have the knife I lent you back in February?”  Adagio removed the gun so her former friend could talk. “You traitorous bitch!” she snarled. “Coco, you were a good friend, but you were as dumb as a sack of doorknobs.  The captain betrayed us for power.  She didn’t want to get back at CSIS for what they did to the Admiral, she maneuvered us this way so we could be her private army.  For her and that prince of hers.” “You’re lying,” Rococo replied. “No we’re not, Seaman Shred,” Vesper told her.  “We have proof.” “You’re lying.”  Her tone didn’t sound like someone who was convinced, but instead the rote repetition of someone who had been brainwashed.  Furthermore, her pupils soon became slitted and her skin started to turn green.  “And now I’m going to kill you!” “I meant it.  You were a friend, Coco.  Goodbye.”  And with that, Adagio slammed the knife into Rococo’s heart as hard she could, then pulled on its side hard enough for the blade to snap.  The changing creature that was a SIREN spat out a torrent of blood, then slumped to the ground, dead. Adagio looked at the ruined knife, then tried to hand it back to Sable.  “I…uh…owe you a new knife.  Sorry about that.” He looked at the knife, then at the malformed creature lying on the ground.  “Remind me not to piss you off.” “Yeah,” Adagio said sadly.  “Yeah, I guess.” Vesper looked at her charge.  “Are you going to be okay, Dagi?” To her surprise – and concern – the teenager suddenly gave a huge smile.  “Not until I kill Cantata until there’s nothing except component atoms – and I might consider going after those, too.” Heliodor raced through the sky, avoiding the stares of the basilisks on his six.  He mentally laughed, they were just stupid pigeon-lizards; they didn’t have the brains or he magic like he did. Or the need.  The need for speed! Without a warning, the phoenix as canary immediately made a divebomb for a weathervane, one of the bigger basilisks on his tail and coming in hot.  He gave himself a cocksure grin, and chirped the opening bars to “Danger Zone”.  Just as the claws were about to grab him, he barrel rolled to the right, followed by a snap immelman and spat green flame at his foes.  The first basilisk had no time to stop and impaled itself on the vane, while the other two were instantly immolated by the flames. Seeing that, more of the unnatural creatures rushed towards him, murder in their unnatural eyes. He grinned.  After all, their egos were just writing checks their bodies couldn’t cash. But for now, it was time to turn and burn, baby, turn and burn. In his bedchambers, Divine Right prepared for the final sacrifice, the one that would give him all the power in the world, the ownership of reality.  He would be the God-Emperor of All and there would not be a thing that would gainsay him. He vaguely heard an alarm in the background, but immediately dismissed it as Cantata just running drills.  That’s what she did, after all.  If there was an actual emergency – as if anything would get past his timestop spell – then she would handle it.  Right now, he had much more important things to do. He looked over his selection of robes and wondered which one would be best to be declared ruler of all in.  On one hand, the purple was the color of emperors and kings, and definitely fit him.  On the other hand, the gold brought out the color of his eyes, and looking good was always a priority. So many choices, so many choices. “How?” Cantata asked. “I don’t know, ma’am!” the petty officer reported.  “Somehow, the surviving rogue SIRENs are now on the campus and they’ve got help from two men.  We haven’t identified them yet, but from what we can tell, they’re clearly operators.  They managed to take down the gate guards before they were even aware.  And while they did suffer a casualty from what I can tell, they now have command of the front gate.” “Well, take them down and kill them, am I clear?” “Aye, ma’am.”  She ran off to grab her own team and engage. “I swear, it’s like I have to do everything myself,” she hissed. Sunset and Raspberry continued to make their way down into the belly of the beast, following the seeker ball, running down the stairs as fast as they could.  So far they had yet to run into any major opposition, save for one person who had been doing perimeter patrol and had the dumb luck to run into the pair while they were using one of the stairwells.  Sunset, not in the mood for a dragged-out fight, made quick work of her, and to Raspberry’s surprise, her fellow Equestrian had a few more skills than she actually let on. “How did you…?” Raspberry asked, astonishment in her voice after she saw Sunset rush in and before the enemy girl had pulled her gun, Sunset had slammed her into the wall courtesy of a well-tossed fireball, followed by a volley of brutal punches to the head, face and chest of the SIREN.  By the time Sunset withdrew, the unconscious SIREN fell to the ground and Sunset used that advantage to affix the offender to the wall and cases a Fullquiet spell to her.  Sunset then stripped the girl of her weapons and they moved on as if nothing had happened. “I learned a few things while I was here, Razz,” Sunset said with a grin.  “I’ve had to, since for the longest time I was just by myself.  Sure, now I have Twily and the others, but for years, I was the only one looking out for me, so I had to learn something.  AJ and Bonnie want to learn where I picked up what I already had, but I didn’t want to tell them that I learned by watching TV.  Maybe my special talent is being more of a trouble magnet before anything else.” “Well, if nothing else, it explains that weird dance you did when you were attacking me back in Ponyville.  Now that I’ve seen you do it as a human, it makes a lot more sense.  Looks a lot more impressive, too.” “Yeah,” Sunset responded, not sure how to reply to that.  She was sure that Raspberry had given her a compliment, but she had to admit she had never really been one for compliments no matter where they were. “How much farther do we have to go?” Raspberry asked. “Not entirely sure, Razz.  But I’m sure that one way or another we’ll figure it out.”  The line of tight anger that was Sunset’s personal rage and worry began to smolder once more.  “And you know what?  I kinda hope we don’t – I do my best damage when I improvise.”  She gave her friend a wolfish grin and probably for the first time since Raspberry had arrived on this planet, one of the few people she trusted had become all the deadlier for it. But underneath that, the normally-mulberry mare could see the worry and fear that Sunset had for her trapped family, wondering if her loved ones were still just that – or if she was doomed to forever be alone. If nothing else, right now, Raspberry knew that Sunset would use that worry and rage and pain against her opponents.  So much so that maybe not even Tirek could stand against her. In its supernatural confine a monstrous being laughed.  Soon, it reminded itself.  Soon I will be free and this waste of a mudball will be mine….