Inside the train...
"I need bandages!" Daniel shouts as he press the wound on Jerry's shoulder. Jerry is now lying on one of the cushions, screams in pain while Daniel desperately holding the wound.
"We don't have any!" Chase screams as he search for the bandages.
"I'm gonna die... I'm gonna die..." Jerry says as tears fall from his eyes.
"Hell no! You are not gonna die! You're gonna be alright! I promise!" Daniel shouts as he tries to reach into his back pocket for a rag. Chase takes his places and shoves both hands onto his shoulder while Daniel wipes away blood. Around them, Shining, the guards and the militias watch in horror at the sight before them. Daniel looks at his rag and sees it stained with blood, and tries to leave to get a fresh one, but Jerry's hand stops him. Daniel looks back to the corporal, who has pain and sorrow in his eyes.
"Please... don't leave..." He says. Daniel nods and tries to hold his wound. Chase frantically looks around, but there's nothing there.
"Stop... we can't save him..." Daniel says with a tremble in his voice. All of the ponies look at him in shock, excluding Jerry. It wasn't like him to give up, and he knew it. Daniel sighs and looks back down. The Corporal is broken, and letting out tears with pain filled cried.
"What can we do for you?" He asks. Jerry lets out gasp and looks around at the two of his best brothers.
"Stay... don't let me die alone..." He says through his tears. Daniel nods as his own tears fall. Jerry closes his eyes and lets out forced pants. Around him, Chase and Daniel share the same emotion he does; pity, anger, sorrow, disappointment. Not in Jerry, but themselves, for letting him get hurt. Especially for Daniel.
"Did I ever tell you how awesome you guys are?" Slowly, Jerry manage to forms a smile between his tears as he look up at the ceiling. He let out a sigh and says, "Ahh, so this is how it feels like." With that, he let out one final exhale and closes his eyes. The smile still plastered on his face. Daniel takes his fingers and checks his neck. Nothing. Anger, sadness, and guilt wash over him as he takes the dog tag from his neck, and walks away. Shining asks if he's alright, but he doesn't answer. He feels his hands begin to tremble, but he doesn't even care. He slide the door to another cargo and slams it shut. He takes a seat and looks at his bloody hands that are trembling. He had just let a ranger die... his brother in arms... it was his fault... because of him... Corporal Jerry Alexander...
Was dead...
______________________________________________
Day 12 - 13:17
Sgt. Daniel Nicholas
1st Bn., 75th Ranger Regiment
Ponyville, Equestria
The train come to a stop, while the helicopters land next to it. The guards and the militias quickly pouring out of the train. All of them had their heads low. Celestia and the others rush through the crowd and meet Shining.
"Shining, what happened?" Cadance frantically asks. Shining just stands in front of them, didn't answer her question.
"Shining," Twilight speaks up, "What happened out there?" Shining still didn't answer, instead he gestures them to look at the train. They all turn to look at the train, only to see the ponies pouring out of it. Then, they saw a familiar figure walks out of the train, back first. Soon, their eyes widened. Jerry is being carried by Daniel, followed by Chase who is holding both of his legs. A trail of blood could be seen coming out from his mouth. The rangers put him down on a bench and the ponies quickly gathered around them. Celestia and the others still didn't believe at what they saw. First is Finn, and now Jerry? Forbes, Zano and Johnson jumped out from the Blackhawk and quickly rushed to them. The residents too began to gather around, about to celebrate their return. But they froze as they saw Jerry was lying on the bench, not moving an inch.
"Poor guy," Chase says as he crouch next to his friend's body. Daniel though, still standing and looks at Jerry with guilt in his eyes.
"FUCK!!" Daniel suddenly shouts as he takes off his helmet and smash it to a wall. The ponies backed away at the sudden burst. "No... that town was really the best way to go wasn't it?" He asked, loud enough for the ponies to hear him.
"Daniel, this isn't the time for morn," Chase says as he tries to calm the raging ranger down; even though he did feel sad at this time. Daniel didn't listen, instead he looked back at his friend. Chase looked back at him and immediately recognize the face. Outlined with fury and rage.
"I hope those things are real freaking happy right now, knowing that they're causing all this sadness and grief!" Daniel shouts as he punches a wall, causing his hand to bleed when a crack emerge from it. Chase didn't answer, he just looked at the sergeant with same amount of guilt inside him. "BUT THEN AGAIN THEY WOULDN'T FUCKING KNOW WOULD THEY? WOULD THEY?!"
"Sugarcube! Please stop!" Daniel heard a familiar voice. He turned around to see Applejack was looking at him with fear; her friends too share the same expression. Upon hearing her, he pauses. Looking down to his hand, he sees it stained with blood. Guess his father instincts got the best of him.
"I... I'm sorry... I just... need some time alone..." Before that, he inform all of the guards who were killed back in the fight, along with Forbes. The children all ran to each other and their mothers for strength, and while some were strong for them, others were overcome with grief. Daniel looked away in shame, this was just as he was afraid it would be. He let out a sigh and slowly walk away from the crowd. All of the ponies could tell he was hurting... bad.
Forbes then crouched next to the lifeless ranger. "I'm sorry buddy."
______________________________________________
Daniel sit alone on the fountain/statue while inspecting his friend's dog tag.
Alexander
Jerry T
542 42 6148
B POS
CATHOLIC
He sigh and put the dog tag back to his pocket. His thoughts rush through his mind again. How can he let Jerry die? How can he let so many guards, militias and the rangers to die? Was he doing the right thing as leader of the squad? Of course not... he couldn't even free the town from Sombra's army. How could he be trusted? Forbes was way better than this.
What exactly do You want from me? Why do I have to keep doing this? Why do I have to be the leader? Why am I even here? Tell me something... anything!
"I'm a loser," he said out loud, "This is all my fault." His hands begin to tremble again. He clenched them and closed his eyes, trying to calm himself.
"Niel?" He heard a voice calling him. Looking up to his right, he saw all of the rangers, four of them are new to him. He assumed them to be the pilots of those Apaches. Not only them, the Princesses and the Elements, Shining and all of the guards also standing behind them. Daniel looked away from them and lowered his head and sighs.
"You want to yell in front of my face? Go on... I'm the worst leader ever, am I?" Daniel chuckles at his own thought. The rangers looked at each other.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Zano asked.
"Niel, all of us are hurting. It's not just you," Chase said.
Daniel growl and stands up, facing all of them. "Don't you get it? All of this wouldn't happen if it wasn't because of me. Those guys wouldn't have been dead by now! I just fucking kill them all!"
"You didn't kill 'em!" Forbes shouts.
"Sergeant, it's not what you think," Luna says.
"What do I think?" He smirks at the dark blue alicorn. He didn't saw that the residents began to gather around them. "What do I think... oh yeah! I think I'm a fucking loser, who always mess things up by putting dozens of innocent people to die!"
"They die to protect the others dammit!" Johnson started to lose his anger.
"Yeah, and they die because of ME!! You should hate me dammit!! I am the one who put you on danger!! I am the one who-"
He was interrupted by Forbes, who slapped his face with all of his might and grabbed him by the collar.
"Get a grip there kid!" He shouted right into his face. "None of this is your or our fault! Those men are dead because they're the chosen one! They deserve to be morn but now is not the time! This is war kid! You know a lot of people will die!"
"So what?!" Daniel shouts back. "I'm trying to keep them alive but I failed! I promised them to bring them back to their family but look at what I just did! I suck for being a leader, and probably I don't wanna be the leader anymore. I might as well to die." His voice is quiet as he speaks the last word. "I don't deserve you, and you guys don't deserve me."
"What makes you think that?" Shining suddenly asks, "Sarge, you've been leading us this entire time and we probably won't make it this far if it weren't for you. Nor any other rangers." Daniel was about to say but Applejack interrupts him.
"Sugarcube, ya don't have ta blame yerself fer all of this. Chase told me one day; war wasn't meant to be pretty."
"Remember what I told you Dann," Cadance chimes in, "We trust you. All of us. You may not think about that, but we do."
"You have inspired us by giving those speeches earlier today," Luna said, "You made us confident that we will win the war."
"You are not alone Dann," Twilight spoke up, "We are here ready to stand by your side."
"You have all of us Danny!" Pinkie exclaimed.
"You're always be my number one bro, Daniel!" Rainbow proudly said.
"Don't sorry for yourself, Sarge!" One of the guards said.
"Yeah, we're always here with you!" Another one shouts. Soon, all of the ponies begin to cheer and praise Daniel. Forbes slowly let go of his grip and looked at the dumbfounded ranger.
"Believe me, it was none of your fault Staff Sergeant," Celestia walks to him, "I know it's hurt to lose the ponies you swore to protect them. It is a hard task to do. And I know you couldn't save all of them. You're only one man." She places a hoof on his shoulder. Daniel lifts his head and face her. "I know it means so much for you to protect them. But I know you couldn't do that on your own. Please, you don't need to be sorry."
Daniel stares at her, then he looked around at the crowd of ponies. All of them are smiling at him, he didn't know what to say. Why are they still being nice to him? Was he really that cared?
"Why..." He quietly asks, "Why did you-"
"We honestly believe you can do it, sugarcube," Applejack says as she walks slowly to him. Daniel smiled and knelt down to hug her. She hugs back and nuzzles his cheek. "Promise me ya won't blame yerself again."
Daniel feel a tear coming out of his eye and nods. He smiles and hugs her tighter. Everyone was looking at them, some of them are shocked and the others just smiled. Though, both of them didn't seem to care. The moment ends as Daniel gets up, he saw Chase walks to him and handed him his helmet. Daniel smiles and takes the helmet from him.
"You're a tough kid, Dann," Chase says, "I was very lucky to have you. Oh yeah... I believe this belongs to you." He handed another dog tag. Daniel raised an eyebrow and took it. He then quickly inspects it.
Maverick
Finn L
539 41 5479
AB
CHRISTIAN
"Is this..."
"It's all yours, Sir," Chase smiles at him. Daniel tightly grip the dog tag and put it in his pocket.
"You know, you're the toughest ranger I've ever met so far," Phillip chuckles, "I wonder how you survived from the explosion I just sent to those Timberwolves."
"To be honest, you almost made me killed back there," Daniel returns the chuckle. "But thanks for saving my ass though." Phillip slightly nods. "How's Tirpitz going?"
"He's good as new," the tank crew men says, "The magic fixed him too well." Daniel chuckles at him.
"So... what's it gonna be now?" Shining chimes in. Daniel looked at the captain, a confident smile forms on his face.
"Well... we're waiting for your orders, Sir," Zano said. All of them are now focusing their gaze on Daniel. He turned around and walks away from them. He stopped and suddenly drop to his knees. The ponies gasp and Applejack was about to help him, but she was blocked by Chase who grabs her by the shoulder. She turned around and saw Chase was smiling at her.
"It's okay, just watch..." The ponies watch at the young ranger, who is still on his knees. Daniel slowly closes his eyes... and then, he prostrate. The ponies looked at him in awe as he prayed to his God. It took him a minute to stand up again and he looked up at the sky.
"Today..." He started. The ponies ears perks up and ready to listen whatever he wants to say. "Today... at the edge of our hope, at the end of our time, we have chosen not only to believe in ourselves, but in each other." He looked down and see the ponies watch at him in awe. He smiled and turned around to see the Princesses. A determined smile on his face. "Here... we will stand and fight; there will be no further withdrawal! We will stand and fight here! If we can't stay here alive, then let us stay here dead! Today... there’s not a man nor woman in here that shall stand alone. Not today. Today we face the monsters that are at our door... and bring the bloody fight to them! Today... WE ARE CANCELLING THE APOCALYPSE!!!" He shouts as he raise his right arm to the air.
All of them hoot, holler, and cheering in excitement. Daniel looks around him, he smiles when he sees the ponies cheering like nothing had happened before. "Looks like we're rollin' in with everything we got! We kill Sombra, we end this war, right here, right now! Lock and load, soldiers!" Daniel shouts to the troops.
"HOOAH!!" They shout in unison. Chase then handed an ACR to him.
"This is your weapon, Sergeant." Daniel nods and takes it from his hand and cocks it.
The guards quickly rush into the train, while the rangers go on their own vehicles. Except for Daniel and Chase, they're joining the guards in the train. Daniel was about to get in the train but stopped by someone's calling him. He turned around and saw the ponies that he cared the most. The Princesses and the Elements.
"Flurry wants a hug," Cadance says smiling. Daniel smiles back and grab the little filly to his grasp. Flurry immediately wrap her hooves around his neck and nuzzles under his chin. Daniel let out a contented sigh as he hug the filly. The filly always eases his mind when she hugs him.
"All right... I better go," he says as he kiss her forehead and bring her back to Cadance.
"Daniel," Twilight started, "Always know that we're always inside you. We will always here when you're back." Daniel smiles and kneel down to hug her. Twilight's friends immediately join the hug.
"Thanks for being such great friends," Daniel says to them, "I love you all."
"C'mon kid," Chase says from the door, "Sombra's waiting his ass out there." Daniel let go off the hug and walk to the train. He turned around for the last time and smiled at the group.
"Thanks guys," he said as he closed the door. The ponies waved at them and the troops then leave the town and engage forward to their final destination; the Crystal Empire. Finally, they're gonna launch their final assault and Daniel will make sure Sombra gets a taste in every single piece of it.
"You better be ready, Sombra. Cause your time will come... now..."
Finn, Jerry, wherever you are, this is for you... thanks for being my brothers.