Chapter 10
Blaze was flying up high with Rainbow Dash and carrying three bombs. One was small for an entrance hole, the second was bigger and would allow them and all the prisoners to escape, and the third was a precautionary one, in case they had to blow the whole place to Discord’s mansion.
“Blaze, once we get in position, you will wait for Twilight to give the order. She will be distracting the guards and soldiers with her illusion army. When she says to drop it, you drop the small bomb on top of the roof. Then, you and me will dive into the prison and unlock all the cells. Once they are unlocked and out, you will detonate the second bomb by the South wall. Then we will get everypony out and fight our way back to camp. If things go awry, you detonate the 3rd bomb and destroy everything around you. If it comes to that, don’t hesitate to do it.” Rainbow Dash ordered. He didn’t like the idea of detonating the 3rd bomb. It was the largest bomb he had ever created. It would destroy everything in a 5 miles radius. Including Rainbow Dash and Twilight. He didn’t think he could do it.
They arrived at the waiting point. They were too high up to be seen by the sentries below. “Rainbow, what happened to Twilight? She’s….changed. It has to be more than just killing her parents. The look in her eye made it seem like they killed her brother.” Blaze said reluctantly.
“It wasn’t her brother they killed. They did kill her parents, and that was when she decided to help us with supplies. But then, when the army was visiting New Buck, she came. Chrysalis. She flew in with her army. They searched everywhere for her, but they never did. Instead, they found a little purple dragon. Spike. He has been with her since she started training with Celestia. Chrysalis used him as bait to try and bring her out, and it would have worked too, had Spike not attacked Chrysalis. He bit her hoof, her neck, he even tried to burn her mane with what little fire he could create. In the end, Chrysalis snapped his neck in her mouth. Twilight saw the whole thing happen. I was told of the attack and the group of soldiers I had under my command went to help. I flew as fas as I could to find Twilight, and when I did, she was petrified and couldn’t move. She had just seen her life long companion die right before her eyes. I found her underneath her bed, crying, unmoving, unresponsive to the world. I was able to get her out, but she wouldn’t speak, she wouldn’t eat, she wouldn’t drink, we eventually had to force feed her.
“Ever since that night, she hasn’t been the same. She’s vengeful. She only wants to see Chrysalis pay for what she did to her.” Rainbow Dash concluded. “I’m only telling you this because of who she is. She is a good pony with a strong heart. And I can trust you. You are a legend all throughout Equestria. You’ve done so much for this army. We need more like you.” She said. Blaze was speechless. He couldn’t even imagine what that must have been like. To watch your oldest friend die before your eyes.
“Do you think, once this is over, she’ll be able to move on?” he asked.
“Maybe. She’s a smart mare. She’ll figure something out. Always does.” she replied.
Rainbow looked up at the stars. "You know? This war has changed more than just her. I used to be full of pride and adventure. But ever since this war, I have seen soldiers die left and right. I've seen ponies next to me get ripped in two." she said as she stared at the stars above the earth.
I was at Las Pegasus when all those ponies died. I was second in command and I had disobeyed orders from my commanding officer because I wanted to prove that I was prepared and ready for anything. I rushed into the city with the troops under my command and the low intel we had. That didn't matter to me at the time, all that mattered was for me to prove myself. We attacked the city and were slaughtered. I saw the two ponies next to me drop dead, decapitated by magic bolts. I was the only pony who survived. I fought my way out of the city somehow and met up with my superior. He sent me to the medic and said he would discuss what just happened later. I wanted to go back in with him, but the medic had me bedridden. She even went so far as to tie my wings up so I couldn't fly out. We heard an explosion and the medic let me look at the city. There was a giant mushroom cloud over the city. Chrysalis ordered a nuclear bomb to be detonated in the city. It would've been a great strategic point. She must've thought the city would be more useful to her destroyed than in our hooves...
"400 ponies died in a nuclear explosion and it's all my fault..." Rainbow Dash concluded. "Anyways, after that battle, I've put my pride behind me. Too many died that day because of me and my pride. I'm not going to let it happen again."
There was a hoot, followed by three whistles. “That ‘s our cue Blaze. Showtime.” She said with a grin. They dive-bombed the ceiling. He threw the first bomb and blew a hole into the roof sending shards of concrete flying into the air. They dove in and landed in the middle of the jail room.
“Rainbow, you get the ones up top, I’ll get bottom.” Blaze yelled. Both of them got to work immediately unlocking latches and opening doors. Blaze was on the third row when a door opened by itself ahead of him. He got ready for a hoof battle. But it wasn’t a Leasath. It was Shining Armor.
“You! Worry about the guards. They’re starting to filter in. I’ll get the latches.” Shining Armor said as he started using his magic to unlock the doors.
“Rainbow! We got company!” Blaze shouted to her. She flew down and stood next to Blaze, ready for a fight. They closed the distance between them and the soldiers and charged.
Blaze was quick on his hooves and fast with his punches. He would take off and grab a few soldiers and slam against walls. Rainbow Dash was having no trouble in kicking every single soldier around her. “All the prisoners are out! Let’s get out of here!” Shining said. Blaze flew to the south wall, placed the bomb and retreated. When he detonated it, soldiers went flying into the air. A few of them were dismembered, and their fellow soldiers watched as parts of hooves and legs started land next to them.
“Alright! Everypony out! We’re getting out of here!” Blaze shouted. Some of the Pegasi who were imprisoned flew out of the ceiling. Rainbow Dash was trying get a path cleared so ponies could get out of the prison. “Shining Armor! You need to get out of here!” Blaze yelled to him.
“Not until every other pony is out!” He replied.
“Shining Armor! Princess Cadence, your wife, is back at the camp! She thinks you are dead, and if you stay here much longer you sure as hay will be!” Blaze shouted. Shining seemed to falter for the exit.
“But what about the rest of the ponies?” He asked.
“We’ll take care of it. Now go!” Blaze ordered. Shining Armor reluctantly left them and sprinted for the exit. Blaze looked at Rainbow Dash. The look in her eyes told him what she was about to have him do. “I’m not going to do it. Not now anyways. There are still too many of our soldiers here. We can’t let them die before they get a chance to escape. Hold out for 10 more minutes.” He said. She nodded and went back to clearing a path for the rest of the Aureolian soldiers.
Blaze was picking soldiers off one by one with ease. His skill here had kept him alive this long, but he started to grow fatigued. They had been at it for 15 minutes as it was and he told Rainbow to keep at it for 10 more minutes. He wasn’t even sure if he could do that. He kept at it though. Knocking the soldiers back one by one. Even though he was doing well, there were still too many of them. They started to crowd around him, giving him no room to move. He looked at Rainbow Dash. She gave a sorrowful nod. “Do it.” She told him. He reached for the detonator.
All of a sudden, a rumble appeared. First softly, then it grew stronger, and the walls started to shake. Rocks fell from the ceiling and crashed around their hooves and the floor started to open up beneath them. Blaze watched as ponies started to fall into the crevices. “Run! All of you run for the exit now!” Twilight demanded in a voice that wasn't quiet her own. Everypony, Aureolian and Leasath, ran for the exit. Blaze grabbed Rainbow and charged for the exit. He saw Twilight, eyes glowing white as she chanted something over and over again. The building staggered. It sagged, and then collapsed on itself releasing a blast of hot air. Twilight collapsed as the spell took its toll.
“Twilight!” Rainbow Dash yelled as she flew over to her. She picked her up and cradled her in her arms. “No Twilight! Not you too! You can’t die on me! Not today!” Rainbow Dash was crying. “Please. Don’t leave me here alone.” She said between sobs. Blaze knew a lifeless body when he saw one. She was dead. “Rainbow…I’m sorry. I’m so, very, deeply sorry. But we need to go. We need to get out here.” He knew she wasn’t going to move. Not unless Twilight came to. He walked over, picked her up and threw her onto his back. “Rainbow I’ll carry her. We need to go. Now.” He said. Rainbow slowly got up. They took off and headed for the camp.