//------------------------------// // Prisoner of War // Story: Ranger's Destiny (Undergoing Edited) // by TasteDaRainbow //------------------------------// "Princess Celestia!" Twilight and Sunset gallop through many hallways trying to find the Princess of the Sun. As they stop and were breathing for air, a sudden flash emerge in front of the two mares and reveals the Princess of the Night. "What is it Twilight?" Luna asks as she notice the fear and worried look on Twilight and Sunset's face. "It's Daniel!" Twilight exclaimed, "They are under attack by Sombra's army! They want us to tell Princess Celestia to pull back the Griffons forces!" Luna's pupil turned to pinheads in an instant. "Celestia is in her room!" Luna exclaimed, "Come with me! Quick!" With that, the three of them gallop through the hallway and stopped in front of Celestia's bedroom door. Luna opens the door with her magic and called out for her sister. "Sister!" Celestia jumped from the sudden burst and fell to the floor, they could hear a groan after that. She gets on her haunches and rubs her head, "What is it Lulu? Is it the time for me to get up yet?" She then stands on all fours. "Yes!" Twilight shouted, "Dodge City is under attack and Daniel wants you to tell the Griffons to fall back! They couldn't hold it much longer!" Celestia lets out a gasp. Before she could answer, the walkie - that is still in Twilight's magic - lets out a voice that they recognise as Zano. "This is Private Nicolaus Zanovich, does anyone copy over?" "Zano, is that you? What happened?" Twilight asks frantically. "There's no time to explain right now. I already told Forbes to leave the town of Appleloosa as soon as the Griffons arrives. Me and the rest of the troops are falling back from Dodge City. Goddamn there's too many of 'em. We couldn't hold an entire army." "Where's Daniel?" Sunset immediately asked. "He's... I'll talk to you later when we arrived. Come to the station, I'll tell you there. Out." The ponies just stood there, didn't move a single muscle. Until Celestia came closer to them with a worried look. "Let's head to Ponyville," she says, "I had a feeling that something bad happen to Daniel." After a moment of silence, Celestia's horn glows and they disappear out of thin air. ______________________________________________ Day 7 - 06:43 Sgt. Daniel Nicholas 1st Bn., 75th Ranger Regiment Crystal Empire, Equestria Daniel slowly drifted off from his unconsciousness and immediately regrets it. His head hurt worse than ever, making him winced as he tried hold himself not to pass out again. He started to regain his vision and just to see that he's now tied in a chair with chains on his torso through his arms and legs. He looked to his right and saw the pony that knocked him out in the first place. The pony looked back with his green eyes and Daniel immediately shoots a glare on him, making the pony look away. "I swear to God as soon as I get out of this, you'll pay for what you did," he said in deep voice mix with anger. The pony just stood there and not looking at him. Daniel realises something and quickly inspect his body, he only wears his green shirt and camo pants. Shit, they must've remove the vest. But the waistband is still on him; the grenades, the knife, even his Deagle still in it's place. Except for his walkie. These are the worst enemies I have ever fought in my entire fuckin' life. That's when it clicks his mind. Of course they didn't move it, Celestia's spell must have keeping the waistband attached to him. They won't be able to remove it themselves, it must be fucking heavy, right? Daniel is in his own thoughts when he heard a light clip clop coming from right in front of him. He lift his head up and see a pony walking towards him from the balcony. He can't see his face because of the light that emanates from behind the pony, and to make things worse, he is holding a... whip with it's magic. Oh shit, his eyes widened at the sight in front of him, he know what is coming and he sure as hell he won't like it. The pony stopped just a few feet away from him. "Hello creature, I was expecting to see you." The voice is indeed male so it's definitely a stallion. His face is still hiding behind the shadow, making Daniel couldn't see him clear. "Who the fuck are you," Daniel asks with a voice that's showed no fear for him. "I believe you already know who I am," the pony then uses his magic to light up the room. It's more looked like a throne room, but that doesn't matter. The important thing is that he reveals himself. He had a grey coat, red eyes, a black mane and tail as well as having black on his muzzle with gray lines and sideburns, a red sharp horn and sharp teeth. He wears armor, a red cape and a... crown. This must be Sombra that Celestia's talking about, Daniel thought to himself. "I would choose my next words very carefully if I were you." He shakes the whip right on his face, this makes Daniel gulp in fear. He didn't want to admit it, but seriously, he was afraid. Daniel snaps out of his thoughts and look straight to that red eyes, "Yeah right... First of all, I'm a human." Since there's no way out of this misery Daniel decided to play along, "My name is Daniel Nicholas. And yeah, I would love to see you too." Trying to shove his fears away as far as possible. Sombra cocks his eyebrow, "What do you mean by that?" The human just smirks at him. "You'll see," suddenly, the smile replaced with a frown, "After I get out of this crap I'll make sure to plant a bullet right in the middle of your brain." Sombra lets out a snort and then laughs evilly, "I already told you human," he leans forward to Daniel's left ear and whispers, "I'd choose my words very carefully if I were you." WHACK! Daniel felt his right neck like been stung by a scorpion. He shut his eyes and gritted his teeth, trying to not scream and humiliate his manliness. Just then, Sombra laughs again and take a step back. What's even more scarier is that his eyes turned green and what looks like a purple smoke coming out of it. The pain then ease off a bit but it still hurts in anyway. "Now human," Sombra begin. Daniel just narrowed his eyes to him. "First of all, I want you to take off your... thing there that is attached to your body. I believe Celestia had formed a spell that who ever touch it except you, they won't be able to lift it, correct?" Daniel didn't answer him, he just stare at the ground trying to figure a way out of here. "Not answering huh?" Hearing this, his eyes widened and he was just about to answer but it was too late. WHACK! Another one hit his stomach until it ripped off his shirt. Daniel couldn't hold it anymore, he groan in pain and gritted his teeth once more. So this is how it feels like for being slaved, those Crystal Ponies sure earned my respect, he thought to himself. Sombra puts on an evil grin to him. Daniel sees to the spot that he's been hit and... yep, blood slowly come out from the wound. Fuck, it sure is hurt. He winced in pain again. "I like this," Sombra says and now he's levitating something from the table behind him, Daniel looked it more thorough. When it comes into view, Daniel realises that it's his walkie. Sombra levitate the whip to the other stallion and then walk slowly to Daniel. "Will you tell me how's this works? I'm pretty sure this is some communication thing." Daniel just looked at him straight in the eyes until he spits to Sombra's face. Sombra wipe it away with his hoof and when his vision cleared, he saw Daniel was smirking at him. With that, Sombra looked to his General and nods. WHACK! Another one hit at Daniel's right cheek. He wince in pain again, his vision became blurry from the pain that's coming from his cheek. It's not much but it somehow manage to transfer the pain throughout his entire body. Magic, I hate magic, he thought. "Now, will you tell me how's this works?" Sombra asks again while shaking the walkie in front of his face. Daniel looked at him one more time before nod in defeat. "Just..." he replied, "Just press the button right on top of it, it should work." Sombra tilt his head and did as he told. "Anyone can hear me?" He asks. ______________________________________________ After waking up all of Twilight's friends, Celestia, Luna, Cadance, Twilight and her friends immediately gallop to the train station. Once they arrived, they didn't see a train or a chopper in the station. "Where are they?" Rainbow asks as they stopped. "Maybe they haven't arrive yet," replied Starlight. "Chet?" Luna asks as she looked to their right. There, stood the tank commander with crossed arms all by himself. His face is mixed with concern, worried and fear. He turn his head as he heard his name being called. "Ah," he says walking slowly to them, "Princesses," he bow his head. "At ease," Celestia replied, "What happened out there?" "I don't know," he turn his gaze to the field, "I just received a report from Johnson that they're retreating from Dodge City, he said there's too many and they couldn't defend it no matter what. They'll die if they did that." "How about Daniel?" Twilight asks concern. "I have no idea," replied Chet, "But Zano told me that-" He was cut off by the sound of train coming closer to the station. They all turned their head and saw the train that is coming from Dodge City approach them. Not far from behind, the Blackhawk catching up with it. As the train came to a full stop, the guards immediately scattered out of the train with the civilians. Johnson came out last and leaned against the train cargo. The chopper landed right next to the train and Zano quickly help Shining out. "We got wounded!" He shouted. As Celestia and the others looked at him, they all gasped. Shining's neck is now covered in blood. Twilight quickly gallop to Shining and inspect the wound, followed by the others. "By the moon," Luna muttered. "Dear Celestia, Shining!" She exclaimed, "What happened to you?!" "Twilight can you heal him right now?" Zano asks still holding Shining on his arms. Twilight nods and then her horn light up for a few seconds before it disappears. "Done," she replies, "Shining?" She shake him but Shining didn't respond. Zano looked at him and let out a sigh of relief. "He just needs some rest," he says, "Mind if anyone take him?" "I'll do it," Cadance takes a step forward. Zano put Shining down and stretch his arms. Cadance horn glows and the next second, they disappear. Zano then limply drop to his knee and sat down. He take off his helmet and run a hand through his hair while letting out a desperate sigh. Chet and Johnson suddenly joined the group. Then, a bright flash appears and Cadance emerge from the light. "What happened?" Celestia break the silence. Again, the only response she get is a big sigh from Zano. The private then looked to Chet. "Tell 'em what I just told you my friend." Chet looked at the ponies who are waiting for his response. Then, Rainbow realises something as she surveyed her surroundings. "Hey," she called out, "Where's Daniel?" Chet didn't dare to look at them. He didn't say a single word. "Where is he?" Applejack now getting intense. Still no response from the rangers. "Answer us!" Sunset demand. "He fell from the chopper," Zano says burying onto his hands. There was a heavy silence filled the air for a moment. "W-what?" Fluttershy asks as she didn't believe what she just heard. "I don't know he's make it or not, the thing is he fell from the chopper. He yell at us to leave and get Shining home, the last thing I saw him was he trying to break free from that army," Carl chimed in. "Only God knows where he is now," Johnson added. All of the ponies are motionless. They only hope that Daniel is okay right now. Cadance notice something and glance at Applejack. Just as she thought, the look of horror plastered on Applejack's face. As if she just saw a ghost or something. Cadance is about to comfort Applejack but she's interrupted by a voice that is coming from Zano's walkie. "Anyone can hear me?" The ponies eyes widened as they heard the voice, except for the rangers. Zano quickly snatch his walkie and hope that Daniel is okay. "Yeah, Daniel is that you?" He asked only to be respond by an evil laugh. The rangers confused for a moment but then they realised something. This is not good. "Daniel?" The voice replied, "Don't worry, this little muppet is right here... with me." There's a brief silence before the voice speaks again. "Here Daniel, I believe you want to talk to them?" Another voice speaks up, "Go fuck yourself." That is definitely Daniel. No doubt. WHACK! That's what they heard next. And just then they could hear Daniel screaming in pain, making all of them realise what is happening. Daniel's being captured, this is worse than ever. "Be nice," the voice says again. They heard Daniel panting for air. "What ever you do," Daniel says making them to listen to him carefully, "Don't come and save me. I'll make sure this bastard gets his ass kicked." WHACK! They heard the beating sound again, louder this time with Sombra laughs mercilessly. Applejack couldn't take it anymore, pushing her friends aside she walks and snatch the walkie from Zano's grasp. "If ya touch him one more time Ah swear Ah'll buck ya directly ta the moon!" She shouted angrily. Sombra's laugh only become louder after she threatens him. "Listen here little mare, I just wanted to talk to Celestia." He replied after his laughter dies. Applejack was hesitate at first but she passes the walkie to Celestia, who immediately levitate it with her magic. Cadance sit next to Applejack and wrapped her wing to comfort the orange mare. "What do you want now, Sombra?" She asked firmly. "Ahh Celestia," Sombra said, "Long time no see?" "Just cut to the chase dammit!" Johnson shouted impatiently. "Slow down there my friend," Sombra replies, "You don't want anything happen to your friend here do you?" He manage to make everyone silent at that moment. "That's what I thought. Celestia, I can make you an offer." "And what is that?!" Rainbow exclaimed making Celestia glare at her. Sombra laughs again, "You will bring me all of the Elements, as an exchange I'll give you back the human." Before Celestia could reply, they heard Daniel shrieks. "Don't listen to him! He's a fucking liar! Don't do that Celestia!" A loud thud is the next noise they heard before everything goes silent. "What did you do to him?!" Starlight shouted. "I'll give you twenty four hours to made up your mind Celestia," Sombra begins, ignoring Starlight's question, "If you haven't get any decision until the time's come, you'll see what I'm about to do with this human. And you know you're not gonna like it." With that, the walkie was cut off. Celestia let out a depressed sigh. "So that's Sombra?" Chet asked with crossed arms, "He sounded like a badass." The ponies shoots a glare at him. "What, I'm just saying." Chet raised his arms up in the air. The ponies and the rangers are now desperate than ever. Sombra forces them to make an exchange, a tough one. Johnson sighed and dropping his gun to the ground. "Well shit."