From the makeshift military post, Lightning can see the towering fences of the quarantine zone. It used to be guarded by armored soldiers, anti-flight spells, and armed patrols. Now, all that’s left are walls and gates.
The gate mechanisms are somewhere in the base. Probably in the control tower. Fiddle got the backup power back on, but the stairwell is barricaded. So it’s Lightning’s job to get up there.
She lands on the roof easily, a cloud of dust swirling around her hooves. Lightning goes over to the roof access door and pushes it open. The interior is dusty and old, mostly untouched since the guards left.
Papers and chairs are scattered about the floor. Looks like they bailed in a hurry. Lightning flinches as she wonders what happened to the guards stationed here. The civilians turned against them pretty quickly after they found out.
The truth. Lighting wonders how many ponies in the service realized the truth like she did. She knows there were some who blindly followed orders. Those were the ones who got promoted after the mass desertions.
There was a lot of conflict within the military, especially after the quarantine zone collapsed. In the end, it wasn’t long before the infighting collapsed the military completely.
Lightning slinks down the hallway quietly. She doesn’t think there’s anyone else in here, but better safe than sorry. After some searching and stumbling, she finds the control room. Her ear twitches as she reaches for the door. Something cold and metal is pressed against the back of her head.
Her life flashes before her eyes. A stern voice tells her not to move. But Lightning recognizes that voice. She thought Midnight Strike was dead.
The pressure on the back of her head disappears, and Lightning slowly turns around. The other pegasus lowers her weapon, eyes wide in disbelief. Then, Midnight Strike cracks a smile and pulls Lightning into a hug.
They haven’t seen each other since the night Lightning left. Midnight remembers that only a hoofful of Wonderbolts ended up staying behind. Her face falls at that.
They signed up to ‘fight the enemy.’ They never thought they’d be fighting their own. Lightning nods and changes the subject, asking her what she’s been up to.
Midnight shrugs. Hanging around old guard posts mostly. Hoping she’ll find others. Her eyes fall to the floor.
A while after Lightning left, word got out Spitfire was helping refugees leave the city. That apparently pissed off the fourth battalion, who thought everypony in the city was infected.
Midnight survived their attack, others weren’t so lucky. She doesn’t know where Spitfire ended up, but she hopes she’s still alive… somewhere. She shakes her head and sighs, asking what Lightning’s up to nowadays.
Exploring, she answers. With her marefriend.
Midnight laughs. Lightning’s lucky to have one..
Lightning nods, feeling slightly guilty. Fiddle’s too good for her, she thinks. She deserves far better. And Lightning sure doesn’t deserve her. She loves Fiddle. She hopes Fiddle does too.