Iron and Fist, will bring us Justice.
You have been repeating that for the past hour, saying that motto you made for your cause and for your people.
It has been stuck in your mind ever since you proclaim your secession from the Rainboom Rebellion, along with all your allies and rebel factions, of whom their allegiance was to you and only you.
Those being the Dancing Yaks, Ember Order Squad, the Paragons and Red Moon Brotherhood. But now more has joined your side ever since the burning of the two Rainboom leaders. Now the rebel corps of the Lawless Republic, New Humans, the Dire Sisterhood and the Ruby Regiments have all joined you and your allies against the Rainbooms and Sunset. Their reasons of joining was that they too wanted the Sirens dead and the fact that they were given trial was a betrayal on itself. You welcomed all who wished for justice as you ordered them to march to Canterlot High, where your new foes awaits.
The forged report you gave Sunset was all enough for her to take the bulk of her forces loyal to the Rebellion, down to the former capital of the fallen Siren Empire. But you were no fool, you knew Sunset would leave a token force here to help you in your 'defence' against the incoming 'Loyalist Remnant' heading to the Spire HQ. Your thoughts were right when Indigo Zap told you that some rebels loyal to the Rainboom Rebellion had fled to Sunset, trying to warn her about your secession from the rebellion and that you murdered two of her friends. Although she took out most of those traitors, a few managed to escaped and were heading to Canterlot High at an alarming rate.
You cannot allow Sunset to prepare her forces for yours, she maybe the one that stopped you from bringing justice but she isn't the biggest enemy out there. The Loyalist Remnants are your enemies and now with their overlords free again, they will try and rebuild their broken empire and win the war between rebels and loyalists. You cannot have a war on both fronts, so you much crush one side to defeat the other.
It's only logical to eliminate the weakest foe first, then facing the strongest.
That weak foe is now the rebellion you helped with, fought with and once would die for its cause.
Now you must destroy it. No matter what personal relationships you had with any members still loyal to Shimmer, you will uphold your promise to all the dead people you fought with.
Even if it will break your hope for bringing back the being you once were before all of this.
"Press the attack!" You barked your commands through a radio transmitter as you watched the battle taken place from afar.
This has been the third time your old school has been a stage for a conflict. First was the sudden rescue of you from the lonesome cells, the second being the siege that brought an empire down to its knees. Now the third was a battle between rebels and their beliefs and ideals.
You watched the battle from an abandon building, overlooking the school and its many people all fighting each other through gunfire and explosions. Inside the school and around its many windows, Sunset's forces were giving cover for the rebels below, shooting any of your forces getting too close or overrunning their allies. Your forces were intrenched behind either walls or vehicles, shooting back at their attackers and trying to push forward despite the higher advantage their enemies have over them. This only enrage you, you want to make this battle quick and easy so that your forces can focus on the loyalists. But with each minute going by, it'll give them enough time to make their own assaults and plans against you.
Growling in annoyance, you turned to your Ironbolts, who was watching the same scene as you were. "Why aren't we getting anymore grounds?"
"Rowland" Sunny Flare said as she stand to attention. "Sunset and her traitors are using the school ground as means of defence from any of our assaults. Not to mention the defences the Loyalists placed when they owned the school"
With this information, you thought carefully at what to do and began ordering the Ironbolts their new objections. "Sour, get some of your best snipers and give some support for our people, shoot those traitors at the windows! Sugarcoat, you and the Ruby Regiments go east, cut any assistance for the Rainbooms and try and get an opening! Sunny Flare, you'll do the same with the Paragons, Dire Sisterhood and the Dancing Yaks but on the western side of Canterlot! Lemon Zest, gather some more supplies and bring in some Riot Shields, I don't want anymore dead men! Now get to it!"
They all saluted and rushed off, leaving only you, a handful of other rebels doing their duties and your second-in-command.
Indigo Zap took a step forward and saluted. "What shall I be doing, Rowland?"
You looked at her with your iron glare. "How's the neck?"
"Fine" Indigo answered truthfully.
"Having trouble breathing?"
"No, I am ready for action"
"What about your loyalty?"
This caught Zap off guard, looking at you with unsure eyes. "W-what do you mean by that?"
"Because with this whole betrayal from Sunset and her Red Sun Loyalists" You explained sternly. "I do not know who else is having second thoughts of our little, shall we say, Separatist Movement"
"I can reassure you, I am loyal to the Iron Onslaughts and its leader" Indigo proclaimed her loyalty, still looking at you with unsure eyes. "If I may, why do you asked this?"
"Because I almost snapped your neck in my rage state. Almost killed you for not killing the Sirens. With this knowledge and your physical harm, I fear that I might have harmed or even destroyed your loyalty and your resolve to my cause. Plus, I cannot have anymore secrets going among my forces whilst we continue with our war against the Sirens and their loyal mutts"
Indigo went silent, hesitant to give her answer. But you had to ask her, that attack you made could change her from being a loyal lieutenant to a sneaky double-agent. But she shook her head and looked at you with confidence.
"The only thing that has changed from that moment is that I will not fail another job again and will follow you to edge of the world if I must"
You smiled at her unbreakable loyalty, remaining you of your unbreakable will. "Then I want you to be at the frontline with our allies. I want them fearless and determinate in the face of their old comrades. Any signs of them lacking, you remind them of their mission. Also, if you meet any remaining Rainboom leaders, spare only Fluttershy and leave Sunset for me. Kill the others"
Indigo nodded with a sinister grin. "Yes sir! I always wanted to beat down Rainbow Dash and Applejack for being complete assholes throughout this whole damn war"
"Once you have an opening, radio me and I will send reinforcements to aid you"
With one more salute, Indigo headed off to join the others in the grim frontline. You watched her go before she disappeared from your view, to which you return to watching the battle, holding onto your radio transmitter for any immediate orders or help from your forces. There were a couple of radio transmitters, each for each Ironbolts and vanguard units. You were holding the one that contacts the frontline units of Ember Order Squad and New Humans, soon to be led by Indigo.
"Frontline report!" You called through your radio.
"We're still not gaining any ground, sir!" A rebel replied over the sound of explosions. "We're being sniped!"
"Stand your ground, Indigo Zap will be with you momentary along with support from Sour Sweet's Snipers! Keep firing, Rowland out!"
"Request assistance!" Came another rebel on a different radio transmitter, this time from the west. "I repeat, request assistance!"
You quickly picked up the radio and answered. "This Rowland, status!"
"We're being overrun! Half of Strike Team Valiant is down and we're pulling back!"
"Find cover! Sunny Flare is heading your way with reinforcements! Do not let your men die in vain wit-"
"Incoming!!" A rebel observer in the same room as you bellowed as she pointed at something heading this way. You didn't bother in looking at what was heading your way as you ducked down and covered your head with your hands.
*Boom!*
The sound of a massive explosion hitting the building you were in, echoed through your ears as your sight disappeared thanks to the sudden smoke and ash that was pouring into the room. Once the sound of rubbles stopped falling and things turned somewhat quiet, you checked your surrounding.
There was a massive chunk of the room missing. The windows were blown off from the blast and the walls that were facing the school gone along with it. There was injured and dazed rebels on the floor and in the corner of your right eye, you saw two Lawless Republic men laying dead in a pile of rubble, most likely killed by said rubble. You sighed sombrely from the sight as you got up from your crouching and sorted out your radio transmitters.
"Someone get a medic!" You ordered as your forces scrambled back onto their feet, returning to either their duties or running off to find a medic. Some of them rushed over to the dead rebels, removing some of the rubbles off them. Soon the rebel observer that gave the warning rushed towards you.
"Sir! The enemies has rocket launchers!" She said as she caught her breath.
"I can see that!" You rashly replied as you picked up Sour Sweet's radio transmitter. "Telling me the obvious isn't really helping! What you can do is get back to your post and ready up some transports! I want us ready to move out when this is all over with traitors in chains and rebels back home!"
The observer saluted as she rushed off with some others who were taking the injures away from the building. You grunted from this whole thing with more anger in your veins than blood.
"Sour Sweet!" You bellowed in the transmitter. "This is Rowland! Come in, Sour Sweet!"
"This is Sour Sweet! I read you loud and clear!" Sour's grumbly voice answered you with the sound of sniper fire faintly in the background.
"We got a problem! Somehow Sunset's bastards has rocket launchers firing at me and some of my men, killing two of them!"
"What?! Oh no, that's awful to hear!" Her 'kind' voice replied in shock, mainly for your sake than the dead. But that'll change right- "But on more bigger questions, how did they get blasted rocket launchers?!"
"No damn clue! But right now, I want you to put a bullet between any launchers's eyes and if I see another rocket getting fired at me, shoot them right in their privates!"
You heard some chuckle through the transmitter. "Sure thing, Rowland! In the privates! Sour out!"
You placed down Sour's radio transmitter and looked at the battlefield. You can see that your forces were gaining more grounds, the frontline was now nearer to the entrance of the school and you could barely spotted some Red Sun traitors falling out from windows thanks to Sour's snipers.
You watched with a straight face, however your eyes held satisfaction. It wasn't due to the fact that your forces were turning the tide in your favour. Rather, it was the knowledge that this whole separation from the rebellion would be over in a day than a week or even a year.
"This is Sugarcoat!" The voice of one of your lieutenants called through one of the radio transmitters.
You looked down and picked up the transmitter. "This is Rowland, Status!"
"We've got a opening!" Sugarcoat shouted as your eyes widened from the information. "The Ruby Regiments has taken down the defences and rounded up all the traitors that have surrendered! We're pressing the attack, though we could use more help!"
"Good work! I'll be down momentary along with some reinforcements! Perhaps some Riot Shields will be of use when we charge into the school's halls again! Hold your ground for now but do not stop firing! If any Red Suns got a brain in their heads, they will surrender now to save their hides!"
With that, you headed out of the building with some rebel bodyguards following you. These bodyguards were handpicked by Indigo Zap herself to protect you. With the fear of any Loyalist assassins or even one of the Sirens trying to end your life through the shadow, she was very one sided when it came to the discussion. But for now, they were useful and loyal, that's all that really matters.
"Someone bring me my revolver!"
Canterlot High. It's almost starting to feel like you're reclaiming an ancient relic or an ancestral homeland for how many times you've come back with weapon in hand and allies at your side.
You walked through the school halls with your trusty revolver in one hand and a large riot shield in the other for protection. You were accompanied by one bodyguard, who was wearing a reddish hood and a white hockey mask that symbolised his ties to the Red Moon Brotherhood. The young man was holding an assault rifle as you two checked each classrooms for any Red Sun traitors. Besides the dead corpses of either your rebels, Sunset's or Siren Loyalists, there was none alive to be found. The sounds of gunfire rang faintly through the halls, seeing as the fighting is heavily on your side since entering Canterlot's eastern region.
"Keep a sharp eye out, kid" You told the young red moon rebel, not even older enough to grow a beard like some of your men. "Don't want to get surrounded or jumped"
"Of course, sir" The rebel nodded, raising his rifle in ready for an ambush.
You pointed your revolver at the entrance to what looked like a math classroom, making sure there wasn't any Red Suns inside. "Why did you join my side?"
The rebel kept his eyes froward as he answered. "Because you're the best hope for this war, sir"
You snorted with a smile. "The only thing you need to have hope in, is your gun not jamming in the middle of a fight or getting out alive without losing a limb"
"I would trade my life to end this whole fight, sir"
"Don't, kid. Otherwise you'll be throwing away a bright future and beside, you won't under my watch" You smiled as you poked your head into the classroom for one final look.
"Thank you, sir" The rebel said, which you could hear a bit of pride and relived within his voice.
"No one dies on my watch, kid. No one" You lied to yourself, reminding yourself of all the dog tags you have back at base. The tags of your men in your battalion and allied factions who died in battle, some in your very hands. You even had your first team's tags, the ones you keep with you. Either around your neck or in a safe pocket within your armour.
But the rebel with you remembered of all the new faces that joined your I.O.B, full of pride, dedication and hungry for battle and justice. You cannot deny their fire, yet you cannot guarantee their safety. Only promising that so long as they follow you, you'll do whatever's in your power to have them see tomorrow with a smile. Which you are trying to plan for the kid.
Suddenly, you felt something pushing in behind you. You fell onto the cold floor and landed on your ride side, seeing the rebel falling with you. Before you could say anything, you heard gunfire so close to you. You even saw bullets hitting the door that led into the classroom you and the kid fell in.
The kid just saved your hide when you were daydreaming.
"Sir!" The kid called for you as you both got up. "Are you alright?!"
"Argh, I'm fine!" You answered as you raised your revolver and riot shield as you two took cover. You looked at him and gave a nod. "Thanks! Good eye!"
The kid looked at you with eyes filled with delight before returning back to concern. "Sir! There is three traitors carry pistols just down the hall! I think one of them was Sunset herself!"
"Are you serious?!" You asked, readying your shield and pistol. Before the kid could say anything, his theory was proven right.
"Rowland?!" Shouted Sunset, sounding hurt but you can't tell if she was hurt physically or emotionally. Either way, you don't care yet. "Why?! Why Rowland?! WHY?!?!"
You chuckled for some reason to Shimmer's hurtful questions. "For a Loyalist scum, you truly did not except a retaliation?!"
"Loyalist?! I'm not the one betraying our friends, nor burning them alive!"
You growled as you moved from cover and started to shoot back at Sunset with your riot shield held in front of your body and head. You also spotted way she and her two red suns were. The two traitors were taking cover behind a flipped over table, whereas Sunset was behind a wall leading down to another hallway. You headed back to cover with the kid, who was shooting along with you.
"Yet I wasn't the one that helped the Sirens out of their cells! You hear that?! Those witches are freed because of your damn trial!" You bellowed back in anger. "But no more! Me and those loyal to me are gonna deal with them and their scums on our own! You and your traitors will answer for aiding with the Sirens! Surrender and you all will be spared!"
"We'll never join with an insane man and his thugs!" One of the traitors yelled as more bullets were shot at your position.
You looked at your rebel friend. "Listen up! I'm gonna draw their attention to me with this shield! As I get closer to them and kneel down, I want you to gun down those traitorous fucks at the table! Don't shoot at Sunset, she's mine!"
"Got it!" He nodded at you, loading his rifle with a new mag of ammo. You gave one final nod before raised your shield again and opened fire at the two red suns, keeping a steady pace towards them whist keeping your body and head covered. The traitors fired at you, standing up and holding their pistols strongly. You felt each of the bullets hitting and ricocheted your riot shield, some made you halt your movement just to keep a grip on the shield. But you pressed forward, still drawing the attention as you got closer.
"Now!" You shouted as you kneeled down, giving the kid a clear aim at the traitors. You had frontline view of the two getting bullets shot into them, dropping onto the floor dead. You turned to face Sunset, only to see her shadow bolting into the opposite direction and running down the hallway.
"Damnit!" You yelled as the kid caught up. "Sunset's getting away! Come on, follow me!"
You and the kid rushed after Sunset, not letting her get away to rally up her forces and planning a full retreat. "Good aim, kid! Glad to have you on my side!"
"Thank you sir!" He replied with delight, reloading his rifle once more. You both saw that the hallway split in two-ways, neither one knowing which way Sunset went.
"I'll take the left, you the right!" You commanded as you both readied yourselves for another fight. Once you reached the end of the hallway, you turned your attention to left and pointed your revolver in front of you. But that allowed a red sun traitor to grab your arm as you both wrestled for the weapon. Somehow in the wrestling, the traitor managed to open the cylinder, spilling the ammo out onto the floor.
But your knight in reddish armour noticed this and shot the traitor in the side, making him fall to the ground for the kid to end his life.
You looked back at him and chuckled. "Heh, looks like I'm not in my A-game. You saved my ass twice now! What's your name, kid?"
"My name is-"
*Bang!*
The kid didn't finish his sentence before his right side of his head exploded. Your eyes widened as the body fell down, letting fresh crimson liquid to paint the cold floor. You looked at who shot him and your eyes narrowed.
Sunset.
"ARRRRUGGHH!!!" Was all your voice could summon as you charged at Sunset with your shield up like a mad bull. She tried to fire back, but the bullets only hit your shield as you slammed it right against her chest, sending her down to the floor.
"You bitch!!"
You tried to stomp her chest with your iron boots. But she was quicker and grabbed you foot, twisting it to lose your balance and to fall onto the ground on your right side. As you fell, Sunset got up and kicked you in the belly. Your armour blocked most of the attack, enough for you to raise your gauntlet fist and punched straight in her shin. Sunset yelled in pain as she fell down with you getting onto your knees and punching her chest with the same gauntlet which winded her.
"I should of done this when I killed your ex, Flash!" You said angrily. You grabbed Sunset by her neck and pulled her up, choking her in the process. You were more physically stronger than her, which helped in you throwing her to a wall as you caught your breath.
As you caught your breath, Sunset quickly got up from being through onto the wall. She may not be as strong as you, but she was faster and more nimble. She got up and tried swinging some of her own punches at you, only to have your riot shield blocking her assault.
But her attacks pushed you back, allowing her to gain much ground. She quickly picked up the dead kid's rifle and used it as a club against your shield. With one swing, she managed to make you spin around and fell onto your knees again. With your back turned from her, Sunset held the rifle around your neck, choking you as if she was holding chains.
"Rowland stop this madness!" She begged you as you straggled to get freed. "Adagio did something to you! You're not yourself! Please stop. let me help you! Call off your forces, please!"
You rejected her pleads by elbowing her in the face, allowing her to break her grip and making you gasp for air.
"All those years!" You growled, turning around and swinging some punches at her. "I did it for all of us! For the dead! For our friends! For the Rebellion!"
Sunset kicked you back and made you go onto the defence. "You're failing the Rebellion! You're killing our friends! You're betraying everyone who has died from this! You're turning against what your team fought for!"
Your rage, your hatred and your pain burnt through your soul as your eyes narrowed and your teeth gritted. And with one bellowing cry, you slammed your shield against Sunset's face so hard that blood spilt around it. She fell back as you threw your riot shield down to grab her by her shirt.
"You made me commander of our corps!" You cried, punching Sunset again in the face with your gauntlet hand.
"You made me lose my team!" You bellowed, throwing her onto the ground.
"You left me!" You shouted as you pinned her down and sent vicious strikes against her bloody face. "To fight! Your! Enemy! Alone!"
You grabbed the bleeding girl and held her above your head. "You! Betrayed! Me!!!"
With that, you catapulted her across the hall and watched her land with a massive thud as she rolled over the floor coughing in pain. You caught your breath again, wiping your blood away your jaw as you body ached. Sunset was alive but injured badly.
"I...was on the frontline....everyday!" You panted as you walked painfully toward Sunset and where your revolver was laying. "Whilst you... stayed behind with all your friends! Taking the glory....as I held many of my own friends in my....arms, who also died in my arms!"
You knelt down, groaning in discomfort to pick up your revolver and loaded one bullet. "We could of ended this....You and I! Ended all..... this with just three bullets! But.... your talks of hope, destroyed that hope we.... could of had together!"
You got up and pointed your gun at Sunset, aiming at her head to end her as painless as possible.
Sunset's blood-filled face looked up at you with one arm raising up to vainly try and grab your gun. "P-please...."
This sight made you froze, you mouth tremblingly as though this was all her fault. You did not what to do this, she was your closest friend, your once closest ally and in someway, you felt like she was something more. But to stop Adagio, her sisters and her loyalists. This sacrifice had to be made.
"Your forces will be spared" You promised. "They'll live behind bars for awhile till the Sirens and Loyalists are dead. Then, they can finally be free, just like you and me. This I vow and promise, Sunset Shimmer"
Thus, you steadied your hand and was about to pull the trigger. That was until you heard something, something off, something not of this world. It was gnawing at the back of your mind, trying to get through to your mind. It sounded something you heard before, but you couldn't make it out as it was too faint.
You lowered your revolver as you looked to the end of the hallway to the right. The path didn't have much bodies littering the area, unlike the rest of the school. It felt familiar to you, yet at the same time you cannot even remember this part of the Canterlot after the Sirens won the Battle of the Bands.
"Rowland!" The voice of one of the Ironbolts called, rushing towards you. The voice belonged to Indigo, who was followed by Sour Sweet and Sugarcoat. "Rowland! We've captured Canterlot, uh again! We've rounded up everyone still loyal to Sunset and are sending them back to base, as is your orders"
"A-and what about the Rainbooms?" You asked, still trying to hear the fainting sound that was down the hall.
"We couldn't find them" Sugarcoat bluntly answered. "Most likely ran away like cowards"
"Oh and Rowland?" Sour asked, coming a bit too close than normally before pointing a finger at Sunset. "What about her? Shall we shoot her as well?"
You looked at Sunset for the last time, seeing her coughing and injured. Your mind, focusing on the sound, made a strange decision. "Take her back to base as well, throw her in the Bunker like the rest. I'll deal with her when I return"
"Return?" Indigo questioned.
"I'm gonna check that way for anything important, then I'll come back to you lot" You explained as you started to move towards way the sound is coming from. "And someone take the kid's body, give him a proper burial and put his dog tag on my desk when we get back"
And with that, you and your Ironbolts did as you said. Them taking the dead kid and Sunset and you headed off, wanting to know what this sound is.
Silence reined supreme as your aching body reached to a large metal door, the like of which you can only guess was for something important inside. It was dull the colour but had the pattern of two Sea serpents looking down at you as if they were judging.
The strange sound was much louder, smoothed yet almost like something you would hear when sorting out electrical equipments. Every time you heard it, you felt dread, yet calmness. Hatred, yet warmth. Powerless, yet unstoppable. Why you felt you had to find the source of this sound you have no idea. But you must know and you must find out.
So you opened the metal door, only to have your eyes widening and your heart jumping to where you were.
A dark narrow hallway, almost narrow to allow only a handful of people in at a time. Instead of lighting, torches like that you would find in castles lightened the hallway. On each side, doors with numbers littered throughout this narrow hall. But you knew what they were and where you are, though your mind wished it could forget this place:
The Lonesome Cells.
Flashbacks to your time in one of these cells flashed before your very eyes. The torture, the starvation, the lose of lives and the countless hours of nothing and waiting. Your breathing were quick, your ears listening to the sound now accompanied by screams, painful grunts and lustful giggles from the orange monster that tried to claim you. It was here, that your hope died and was replaced and avenged by your new purpose: Iron Justice.
The sound grew louder, blocking your mental illusions as you shook your head. You controlled your breathing and tightened your grip on your revolver before taking a brave step forward and entered the hallway of the Lonesome Cells.
With your weapon up high and your eyes focused and not wanting anymore mental attacks. You walked through the hallway, wary of each of the cells's doors, even if all you walked past were closed. You noticed that each of the doors's numbers had letters underneath them, like signatures or some sort of code. Like on door one, it had the letters D.D and door two had N.G. This sort of pattern continued for the other doors.
That was until the eighth door that is.
You looked at that door, a door that was no different than the others yet hit the deepest. The door's letter contained the letters R.W, and from how the strange sound was at its loudest, you felt that this door and its cell was the same one that contained you inside.
You hesitated, fearing for the worse and the unexpected. But you took one final deep breath and kicked the door to the eighth cell, aiming your revolver at the ready and standing your ground.
It was exactly as you remembered it:
A plain room with no beds, no comfort and no light besides the hallway's unless the door was open, otherwise it would be pitch black. It was large enough to hold quite a lot of people, after all when you were here the entire Rainboom team rescued you and had still enough room for all of you. You could of sworn that these cells were more smaller than the Bunker at the base, but you guessed your mind wasn't thinking about its size rather how to get out of this horrid place.
But what caught your eyes were the chains hanging on the wall. The very same chains that held you when Aria, Sonata and Adagio tortured you and where that orange monstrosity tried to make you her mate. How they hung your broken body without pity or mercy. Now they just hang there, motionless and without purpose made you shutter to your core.
But that all changed when your mind began seeing painful flashbacks, all of which burnt your mind and throbbed your stomach. The pain was so much that your dropped your gun and placed both your hands on your head. You even slapped yourself with your gauntlet hand in some vain attempt to rid it. Flashbacks of times in this cell, times on the frontline with faces of dead comrades and friends popping into your vision from time to time. Your screams echoed the hallway in torment and anguish.
But the strange sound. The sound was now overpowering you, getting louder and stronger by the seconds. However, it was now clear. You could hear it better, understanding it and hearing not strange sounds but words. They were burning in the back of your mind, trying to get some sort of foothold within your brain. You knew all too well, and you were in dread and rage.
The song of the Sirens.
But then it stopped. In a flash it ceased, making you feel something sharp in your right shoulder. It was almost like a hornet sting and it sure stung like one. You reached over it with your left hand and grabbed ahold of something, something in your neck. You pulled it out to reveal a small needle with something written on it, however you couldn't read it as your sight went blurry. Your eyes felt hard to keep open and your aching body was tensing up and lacking anymore strength.
With your last bit of strength, you turned around to see who it was. Once you turned completely, your legs gave way and you fell to your knees, your armour didn't help their pain. Your breathing were slow though heavy, just like your eyes as you looked up to whoever it was.
Your blurry eyes captured someone in a purple outfit with orange skin and larger orange hair. The figure was standing in a calm pose, almost like there was no threat nor any serious danger. Your mind tried to find words, but your energy was spent and whatever was in that needle made sure of that.
"Took you long enough to kneel before me" Came a lustful giggle from an all too hateful witch. Your last thing you did was gasped in horror before you fell back and landed on the cold ground with a metal thud. Your eyes slowly closed, your hearing muffled but could pick up another lustful giggle.
"Just relax....and let your Queen do the rest"
You woke up to a massive headache and your body wishing for death. Pain was the only thing you could feel, even breathing was too much. Although you felt lighter, your eyes remained blurry and your ears muffled. What you could see though, was the infamous chains that was in your Lonesome Cell, so you haven't moved from your blackout.
You turned you head to the right, not knowing why but you guessed that was the way out of here from the last thing you could remember. Although you did see the door that was your exit, it was blocked by someone, someone you despise. You saw that orange witch sorting out her skirt and putting on her belt chuckling sinisterly to herself. You gave a harrowing cough, which could the attention of Adagio Dazzle, who looked at you with a satisfying grin.
"Well despite your little gun being small and worthless" Adagio smirked as she placed both her hands on her hips. "Your other bigger gun had a much powerful mag that I thought"
You had no idea what she was talking about as you coughed again, this time with blood coming out.
"That rebel Sunset sure knows how to fight" Adagio went on, coming closer to you despite your discomfort. "But I knew my most powerful champion could defeat her with simply his fists. And I was right, like I have been all this time"
She knelt down to you and wiped your blood away. "I will admit at first I had my doubts. But how you slaughter your way through my forces and now Sunset's were quite, how shall we say, arousing. But you always stood tall in your goals and when you want it done, you make sure it is done by your hands. Just like me"
She gave you a kiss on the forehead before she headed out of the cell. She then bent down and picked up your revolver and looked at you.
"Here, honey" Adagio said as she threw it to you, landing just next to your hand. "You'll need for the days to come. Don't think that my forces will stop now that Sunset's little rebellion is stopped by you. But know that the offer still stands, and my forces still needs that general and king they deserve"
Blood boiled, sweat gathered and flames of rage rampaged in your broken body. Through the pain, you shut it out as you grabbed your revolver and aimed it at Adagio. With your anger, you pulled on the trigger, only to hear the sound of an empty gun ringing through your ears, accompanied by more giggles.
"Maybe our time together made you dull in the head, hopefully it will not be forever" Adagio giggled as she walked away from you. "Ta-ta Rowland, see you in nine months"
You were lost to Adagio's words, not that you were wishing to hear it. You just stayed there as she disappeared from sight and left you here again in your Lonesome Cell of Cell Eight. Your body fell again, your blood fell again and so too did your mind as you closed your eyes. You welcomed the nothing and the dark, it was better than what you just saw and what you were feeling.
But your Iron Heart and Paroxysm of Rage doesn't die here, that much you know.
Walking through the Bunker was the same as always.
You walked through the hallway, your prisoners behind bars either watched you in hateful silence or backed away in fearful gasps. Your iron wardens either saluted you or stood up straight as you walked past them, still showing their loyalty throughout all of this.
You walked through that hallway with a newer more warlord-like armour, your face was now covered expected for your eyes and jaw. You walked with one hand on your revolver on the right and the other on a longsword on the left, a symbol of your might and leadership. But you walked like nothing has changed, never minding everyone besides the person you were heading to.
You turned left where the hallway splits in two different ways. You walked towards the only cell in this path, the cell that originally contained the Sirens. But now, as you unlocked the door and walked through it, it was homed to a different leader.
The former leader of the now ruined Rainboom Rebellion:
Sunset Shimmer.
She was sitting on a bed with a leather belt around her belly, which in turn was attached to chains that made sure she could only move within her cell and no further on. Her injures were cleared up, though you could see some leftovers here and there but nothing too damaging. The sight was pitiful and pathetic to you, seeing that she could of prevent it all but allowed her pride to get the better of her.
"Where are they?" You growled, not showing any mercy or emotions to her as you closed her door.
Sunset looked up at you sadly. "Who?"
"Don't play dumb with me!" You snapped at her, taking a few steps towards her. "Your allies! Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy and what remains of your forces! They attacked a supply run carrying food and clothing to give to my forces fighting the Loyalists! Where are they and where is their base?!"
"Rowland, I don't know" Sunset weakly protested. "I don't know anything after.... What you did at Canterlot. I have been in here for the past two weeks and I don't know. I just don't know"
You growled as you walked up to Sunset and grabbed her by the throat, pushing her back to the wall and holding her there. "Do you take me for a gullible fool? Or a lazy man? If you didn't know where they were, why would I be down here wasting my time and not working on a plan to wipeout the Remnants?!"
Sunset didn't answer, but looked into your eyes. She looked at you with those same eyes of utter sadness yet utter hope for the past two weeks. With a shaky hand, she placed it on your right cheek, holding it there whilst you felt her cold palm.
"Rowland, I know you can hear me in there" Sunset whispered as your eyes changed from rage to confusion. "I know you're in there somewhere. I know you're afraid and it's okay"
"Afraid? What are you-"
"And I know that you wouldn't do this and I know you're being controlled. But know this isn't you, okay?"
"What the fu-"
"You are Rowland Weaver. You were there with me at the beginning of our rebellion. You were there when we fought to save everyone from Adagio and her sisters. You were there when they took you away from me and you were there when we save you"
"Where are the Rain-"
"So fight! Fight against the Sirens! Break free! This Warlord is not you! He's nothing compare to you! So fight, Rowland Weaver! Fig-"
You had enough as you slammed her on the wall, choking her to make her shut up. You let her go to allow her to breathe again.
"You will tell me where they are! And you will submit to me so that our combined strength under my lead will bring an end to this war against the Loyalist Remnants and put a bullet between the Sirens's heads!"
Sunset looked at you again, her eyes watered up and her breathing slow and steady but still weak. "What have they done to you, Rowland?"
You snorted as you headed out of her cell. You opened and then slammed the door behind you, locking it up again.
"You'll have to tomorrow to make your choice! I pray you will make the right one!"
You walked away from Sunset and headed back to where you came in. You smiled when you see the banners of the Scorpion hanging from walls.
After all, you are the Warlord of the new, unyielding:
Iron Scorpion Regime.