"She's being led out the back- and... Holy crap. I don't know what it is, but it just appeared out of thin air. Some sort of advanced stealth helicopter. GET THERE- NOW! I'll take out the guards." Magnum said, already scoping in.
"Shuck!" Rainbow yelled, drawing her cleaver and running for the back of the warehouse. A patrol squad came round the corner, and Rainbow turned them into bloody ribbons before they could pull their triggers.
"Damnit damnit DAMNIT!" Shining Armor galloped after her. If Twilight gets on that mysterious copter, they probably will never find her again.
"Hold them off for as long as you can!" a stallion yelled, shooting at Rainbow. Something grey dropped down on him from above, and Octavia twisted his neck so that he faced backwards.
"Get her! Now!" she yelled, going after other stallions while Rainbow dashed past them.
The guards assisting Twilight onto the helicopter had all been shot in the head, and Twilight herself was bleeding on the floor with wounds on her back. Rainbow could see her chest heaving- a good sign of life.
"Get the buck OUT OF MY WAY!" she said, bringing the cleaver across in a massive arch and turning five stallions trying to block her into fractions.
"So much for stealth." Octavia pulled out her pistol, firing at the guards.
"I'm going after that damn chopper!" Iris said, galloping for the helicopter while Magnum kept his path clear. The copter was already disappearing again, the front end slowly turning invisible and spreading to the back.
"No. You. Don't." Iris said, his right eye glowing. The air around the helicopter began to ripple, and everything about that area seemed to twist in and out of the dimension. There was an odd wave that spread through the copter, and then the copter disappeared. It reappeared again, but with all its parts in a different order- the pilot's compartment was flipped inside out, the rotors bent, the engines sparking, and the tail upside down. Whatever generator that made it go invisible was also screwed up, and was whining right now, slowly growing in pitch. Suddenly it all exploded outwards, flaming pieces flying everywhere. Iris closed his right eye, laying it to rest.
"Twilight!" Shining Armor knelt by his little sister's side, scanning her injuries. "Twilight..."
"Uh?" the purple unicorn's eyes twitched, and opened slightly. Her lips were awfully dry, and she was in a generally terrible condition.
"Damnit... What did those arseholes do to you?" Shining Armor hugged her closely, carefully avoiding the wounds on her back. "Oh Twilight... I'm so sorry we came so late..."
Twilight just closed her eyes, finally able to rest properly now she was in the arms of her big brother, who was always there for her. A smile crept its way onto her dry lips.
"Let's get you out of here, alright?" Shining Armor said gently. He was glad Twilight couldn't hear the blood and fighting outside of the small bubble he conjured up.
"Mmm." Twilight nodded slowly. Shining Armor just looked at her. He never knew his sister was so fragile- and yet, so strong. Judging by her injuries, she held up against horrible things that normal ponies would probably have given in to.
"We'll be home soon..." he said, lightly moving some hair out of Twilight's face.
"I'm glad you're here." Twilight whispered, small drops of happy tears leaking out from between her closed eyes.
"I'm glad you're safe." Shining Armor said, hugging her closer, his own tears of gratitude beginning to show.
"Alright. Big bro and little sis are together. Package secured everypony! Now clean this crap up!" Magnum yelled through the mic. She signed up for the money, but seeing the two together warmed her often cold heart. Now the money seemed like the bonus.
"Don't need to tell me a second time. Show these bastards what they deserve and send 'em to hell!" Rainbow growled, kicking a stallion in the guts then decapitating him.
"Is that a beeping I hear, Magnum?" Octavia frowned, listening to the mechanical beeps coming through the mic.
"Yeah. It's the monitor." Magnum replied.
"The monitor doesn't beep." Octavia replied flatly.
Magnum quickly looked behind the monitor, and found a small package jammed behind the sofa and stuck to the wall.
"Ah shucks." she said, eyeing the pack of C4 explosive and its continuously flashing LED light.
"What is it?"
"Gift from Santa Colt. Been a bad girl recently." Magnum said, slinging her rifle across her shoulder. She grabbed her pistol and its holster from where she left it on the table, then ran for the window.
She used her gun to smash the glass, and jumped out, catching the framing at the top and swinging up onto the next floor. She smashed through the window and rolled onto the floor. She could still hear the pack of explosives beeping away, the intervals speeding up and haunting her.
"Did you just smash a glass vase or something? We'll have to pay for that you do realize..." Octavia said.
"Uh-oh then. You'll probably be paying for more than just a vase when that pack of explosives go off." Magnum said, kicking down the door and running into a corridor.
"Wait- pack of what?" Octavia's voice broke on the last word.
"From what I hear now..." Magnum slowed, her ears pricked- she could hear much more now. "Seems like more than just one pack."
"Shuck. You gotta get out of there!"
"No. Bucking. Crap." Magnum rammed her shoulder into a different door, and there was a stair case waiting. From what she could hear, all the bombs are down below at the support structures, so it'll be safe for now at the top. She couldn't risk the elevators, since they might get jammed after the explosion. She bolted up the stairs, the echoing beeps urging her on and following her up the empty stairwell.
Kicking down a metal door, she slowed to a stop on the concrete roof top. The sun shone down on her, awfully bright as it reflected off the clean white concrete of the roof. Her own light blue body would’ve merged in with it all for it not her dark blue mane.
She was thrown off balance as a series of explosions went off down bellow. They sounded uncomfortably close. There was a different noise too- rushing of air, roaring of flames...
Magnum quickly dived to the right, avoiding a fire ball that traveled all the way up the stairwell and erupted out the open door. The door was ripped from its hinges, and blasted out along with a number of other items, which miraculously included the apartment block's reception desk from ground level.
She heard all the stuff clatter down around her, followed by silence- all but the crackle of burning flames. Then that silence was broken by a deep groaning that shook Magnum's very bones. She felt gravity begin to tip as the building's support structures gave way, the multi storied skyscraper slowly falling to one side.
"Holy crap." Octavia said, watching from the warehouse. The ground team had annihilated the local 'infestation', and Twilight was safe and waiting for medical ponies to arrive. "Santa Colt must hate you."
"Yeah. Real bad." Magnum muttered, looking around for a way out. The building was collapsing in the direction of a taller skyscraper, its glass sides reflecting every horrifying detail. They were about to collide soon.
"Leap of faith mate. Hope you make it." Octavia said, watching the gap between the two buildings grow smaller and smaller.
"Gotta love breakable stuff." Magnum said, sliding down the now-sloped roof and leaping just before she could fall off the edge. She curled into a ball when she was in the air, dearly hoping she wouldn't miss the window she jumped for. She covered her head with her arms, and waited.
Her elbows slammed through hard glass, her body following. The impact sent her off balance, and she skid sprawled on the carpeted floor of an office. She came to a halt, severe carpet burn eating at her skin. Looking up, she saw the other building was still falling down.
"Oh no." She mumbled, quickly getting up and sprinting in the opposite direction. She heard an absurd amount of shattering behind her as the two buildings made contact, but they didn't stop there- as expected. They kept compressing into each other, and behind Magnum was a storm of flying debris and other random crap that happens to be in the buildings as the first fell into the second.
The death storm was catching up to her, since she wasn't in a corridor or anything and had to kick down a dozen doors to advance. Or she could try going through walls, but she never learned that trick. She never saw a pony do that anyway.
Finally she reached the other end of the building, but couldn't stop there.
The first building had cut into the side of the second, and the top of the second was now falling over too. The bottom of the second was simply collapsing in on itself- and means certain death.
"I really don't have a choice." Magnum said to herself, took in a deep breath, then swung out and onto the upper half of the second building.
She stayed there, holding onto a cabinet door frame to stabilize herself when the building tips. She watched her mane begin to change direction, originally pointing down towards the ground and slowly rising as the building started falling over.
"Enough." She said to herself, launched a kick at the window behind her and leaped out. She was on the side of the building now, except she wasn't really falling since the building was at a relatively flat level- but it was still falling and turning into something like a downward ramp.
She laid down on her back, sliding down the building. She looked down at the glass underneath her, dearly hoping it wouldn't shatter- because if it did, there'd be close to nothing that could stop her from falling through the building and going out the other side.
She timed her jump, leaping up into the air just as the top of the second building fell down onto the first building with the loudest crash she'd ever heard.
To her horror, all the glass had shattered. She hit her hip on one of the metal frames, and tumbled down into the second building. Her hooves caught something, and she managed to suspend herself from falling all the way through by holding onto a concrete support column. The building was still going down, groaning and creaking and slowly sinking.
She shook off her confusion, then swung onto the concrete support column. She had to get back to the frames- they have a higher chance of staying intact when the rest collapses- especially when they're at the top, which means there won't be much pressure pressing on it. Using various items to guide her to the frame, she finally poked her head into clear space again.
She grabbed hold of the frame, and waited. She heard something snap loudly, and the buildings started falling in on each other again, turning into rubble as they met each other.
The floor swirled away from Magnum's hooves in a hurricane of rubble, collapsing and falling down. Magnum still held on to the frame, but even that was beginning to buckle now. She climbed up and over, since she might get squashed if she were on the inside. Everything was gone now, falling down in a deep rumble so loud it sounded silent. The frame still held, but was swinging down into a more vertical angle. She still held tight though.
The end of the frame clinked against the pile of rubble and debris on the floor. Magnum looked down, sighed, then began climbing down. The dust was beginning to settle, and all was quiet once again.
*
Rainbow fumed at the heart beat monitor. Twilight needed medical attention, and she was thrown in here with her because her wounds still needed healing.
"I hate this place!" she growled. "But I end up here every. Bucking. Time."
"It's actually quite nice. Appreciate the fact that you get a window and a nicely tinted curtain." Octavia said, reading more newspapers. Apparently the two buildings were a simple demolition project, and the local citizens were evacuated for that. It was a good lie, since no other buildings were damaged. Although the owners of the buildings and the staff that used to work there weren't so happy about it.
"The curtains are stupid!" Rainbow said, punching the fabric hanging from the ceiling by her bed. "You can't remove them! I don't get much sunlight at all!"
"Come on, Rainbow. Rest. We've got other patients here as well." Octavia said, nodding to Twilight, her chest heaving as she took in deep breaths. Shining Armor was by her side- Twilight hadn't woken up all night, but he stayed up through the entire twelve hours. Now he completely couldn't hold it together anymore- he was snoring by his little sister's side, his head rested gently on the bed. Octavia smiled at the pair- they were probably two of the most loving siblings she had come across. She was glad she was part of the operation that reunited them again.
Rainbow growled, but said no more and did no more. She laid back into the pillow, and her head almost sunk through it. "Where's Magnum? How come she doesn't get to stay in hospital with us?"
"Because she didn't get hurt." Octavia said. Despite being in the 'demolition' of the two buildings, Magnum still survived with barely a scratch on her.
Rainbow growled.
"Come on... Shouldn't be that boring. Where are your books? Should I go get them for you?" Octavia asked. She wasn't often one for caring, not recently anyway. She may have been before, but now she couldn't remember what she was like back then. All she remembered was the dusty old case with the cello in it. Maybe right now was a sign of her old self, just maybe- feeling sorry for the somewhat miserable Rainbow Dash.
"No thanks... I finished them all." Rainbow said, her expression softening by the littlest. It had been such a long time since she really felt anything close to kindness- in the dark side of Equestria, something like that didn't even exist.
"Right..." Octavia sighed, sitting back down.
"I hope Twilight wakes up soon." Rainbow said after a long period of silence.
"Yeah..." Octavia admitted. She didn't know the unicorn well, but she'd seen her at the gala with the princess multiple times before. "Rainbow?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you think we're doing a good job?" Octavia asked.
Rainbow didn't reply for a moment. She knew what Octavia meant- they had gotten into the business to eliminate criminals, to keep the dark side away from innocent eyes on the lighter side. To keep the ponies they care about away from harm. But now it seems, they just made it worse. Twilight has been tortured, and now she's seen what they tried to stop her from seeing. Even worse, she's experienced it.
They turned when they heard the purple unicorn groan.
Twilight yawned, but flinched when pain shot up her back. She felt cold all over, and was aching in practically every part of her body. She rubbed her eyes. There was sunlight coming through the window, tinted light blue by the curtains. She could hear her own heartbeat monitor and someone else's breathing. The sheets covering her were light and fluffy, just like in a hospital. Looking around, she realized it was a hospital. She remembered falling asleep in Shining Armor's arms, relieved that the pain and suffering was over. She heard a familiar moan, and looked down.
Shining Armor had his head resting by her side, clearly asleep. She smiled gently, and closed her eyes. To her, there wouldn't be anything more comforting than that.
Rainbow smiled too when she saw what happened. "I miss light Equestria." she said, closing her eyes.
Octavia sighed, and sat down. She fell asleep in the chair, remembering her past, and what led her to become what she was right now.
*
Many years ago, Canterlot, at the Grand Galloping Gala.
Octavia finished the last piece of music, sliding the bow smoothly to a stop. The sudden loss of music was filled in by silence, then replaced by applause. Octavia nodded, the tiniest of smiles on her face as the ponies in the dance galleria clapped for the band.
Vinyl Scratch winked, although Octavia couldn't see it through her purple shades. Despite Vinyl being a DJ, she joined Octavia in the classical music section with her equipment simulating classical instruments. At first the Canterlot crowd didn't quite enjoy the mix, but then they started to like it. Eventually they started to love it, too.
Just then was the last piece for this year's gala, the band needed their own free time after all. Another rival band was stepping on stage while Octavia and Vinyl were still packing up, and when they crossed they all stared daringly into each other's eyes. The Gala was meant to be fun, but somehow year after year it failed that objective.
Placing her shiny and well polished cello case down in the storage room, Octavia followed Vinyl to the drinks stand.
Octavia often valued her own character. Acting graceful and as somepony who was proud of her own accomplishments. Always with a head raised high- but then it's always good to get out of character once in a while.
The drinks stand really had its own hall, neon lights and lasers shining everywhere. This was where the ponies like Vinyl like to hang out- most of the other Canterlot ponies haven't even heard of this place, but Octavia was glad they didn't.
Loud music blasted from comically large sized speakers, shaking the room with sound waves. Neon lights and lasers made the drinks look ghostly with colored glows, but none-the-less a lot more appealing.
"We'll have the usual." Vinyl said, taking off her shaded glasses. They come here every year, so the bartender basically knew them.
"Sun Set Cider and Icy Blue I take it?" the bartender winked, putting down the glass cup he was cleaning. "Coming right up."
"This place is awesome!" Vinyl said, accepting her cup of light blue liquid.
"Mmm. I know." Octavia said, taking a sip from her orange and red colored drink.
Vinyl often hung out with the DJs, but she laid that down during the galas. Octavia, while not much into rock music or dubstep, was still a close friend.
Their fun was abruptly ruined when a small and controlled but none-the-less loud explosion made its way over the music. A gun shot.
The gunpony fired again, destroying the speakers. There were shouts and screams, and then more firing. Vinyl and Octavia were frozen in their seats, not knowing what to do. Guns seemed like myths to them, they've seen them in movies, television, on the Internet, and a lot of other places- but never real. It never occurred to them as real, it was always something in stories. Horrible, killing machines.
Octavia looked to the exit, but didn't know whether that would be a good idea or not. Vinyl placed a hoof on her shoulder, telling her not to.
The gunpony was yelling something, firing shots into the air. A stallion tried to stand up to him, but ended up with a bullet in his head.
Octavia gasped. It just happened so fast- the stallion was already dead in a bright flash. Whimpering, she cowered under the bar table. Vinyl put an arm around her, and she did the same- just for the comfort, no matter how little it would be.
Then for a reason Octavia simply couldn’t understand, the pony with the gun began opening fire on everypony in the room. Octavia and Vinyl hugged each other even tighter, squeezing their eyes shut as ponies fell screaming and bullets ricocheted all around them.
It was hell for the both of them, waiting it out. Waiting for the gun fire to stop. The gunpony reloaded, and began firing again. Alarms went off, but the gunfire didn't stop.
Octavia heard Vinyl scream, and basically squish her in her arms. Then she released her hold, and fell limp. Octavia opened her eyes, trying to make sure nothing happened.
She cried out when she saw Vinyl bleeding on the floor. A bullet had ripped through her right shoulder, and there was blood almost everywhere. She wished she hadn't opened her eyes, because the floor was littered with dead ponies, and those that still lived were soaked in blood. At least the room was dark, and the neon lights revealed little of the entire scene- but with each muzzle flare, she could see more. There was just a sea of bodies, and blood. Crying, she buried her face in Vinyl's chest. Her heart was still beating, and she was glad. Vinyl's eyes opened up just the slightest, looking at Octavia for reassurance. There was none.
Now there were more gun shots, and then it all ceased. Silence. The royal guards were finally here. A squad of the white stallions poured into the room, searching the sea of bodies for survivors.
Octavia had tears pouring down her face when she stood up, waving frantically at the guards and calling for a medic. Vinyl was still bleeding, and her shoulder was even worse. There was flesh torn in half a dozen directions, and her skin was ripped. Shards of bone could be seen amongst the mess. Armor piercing rounds.
"Damnit... Vinyl..." Octavia sobbed. "Hang in there... Oh Celestia, why...." she cried, hugging Vinyl.
*
Octavia was abruptly woken from her nightmare. She was back in the hospital, away from the past.
Rainbow prodded her arm. "Are you alright? You seem... Pale."
"Yeah, I'm fine." Octavia lied and wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead. "How are you?"
"Still bored. But Twilight and Shining Armor are awake." Rainbow pointed at the siblings.
"Morning, Octavia." Twilight forced a smile. Not because Octavia was unpleasant, but because the pain killers she ate weren't working as well as she would've hoped.
"Morning, Twilight.... Wait, morning?" Octavia raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah. Think we all deserved a little rest." Twilight winked.
Octavia quickly looked down at her watch- so it was morning. She'd overslept, for whatever reason. She didn't feel tired, she just randomly fell asleep.
"You have any idea how bored I was?" Rainbow asked glumly.
"Nope."
"I had to listen to you mumble in your nightmare for a whole twelve hours without falling asleep."
"Er... Sorry?" Octavia wasn't sure how to respond.
"Terribly sorry, Twily." Shining Amor took in a deep breath, and continued: "But I have to ask you what they tried to get out of you."
Twilight looked down, remembering the painful memories. "They asked me where Princess Celestia would be on Friday. I think they want to assassinate her."