//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 // Story: Ace combat: Shattered Rainbows // by Brotato //------------------------------// Chapter 5 The sun was starting to rise when Spring Heart’s helicopter reached Hoofington Base. As they landed on the giant yellow “H”, several military police pony’s greeted them. Helping them get off the helicopter, one guard carried Mist as they walked toward headquarters. The hallways were eerily quiet and the only sound was their hooves against the white tile floors. Two guards took position in front of them, barring their escort from moving ahead, while two were in back. Something felt wrong, were they in trouble for what happened in Stalliongrad? Does word spread that fast? Lightning had to fight an urge to tackle the pony carrying Mist toward the medical wing. He didn’t want to lose sight of her, but was for the best to see if she needed medical attention. It was odd that she had not woken up yet. The thought sparked his imagination of terrible things that might have happened to Mist while at the detention center. “What if they injected her with something or performed surgery on her?” He didn’t see any medical rooms for that kind of stuff and he doubted the gryphons would care about sanitation while doing surgery on a pony. His blood started to boil as he remembered all the horrible things the gryphons did to him and the prisoners. His head bumped into the guard pony’s flank, interrupting his thought. Receiving an eyebrow raise from the guard and a stifled laugh from Rainbow Dash, he felt blood rush to his head in embarrassment and admired the white wall to his left. The precession had stopped in front of the doorway leading to the cafeteria. Lightning managed to mumble, “while I’d love to get a bite to eat, I’m quite tired.“ Seeing the guards break into a grin didn’t ease the strange situation he was in. As the two guards quickly opened the double doors, he gaped at all the ponies inside who immediately turned toward him and Rainbow Dash. “Uhm... What the hay is--” “SURPRISE!” A ball of confetti exploded over both of their heads, covering them in the small pieces of colorful paper. Doing his best to brush most of it off, the confetti cleared and he spotted the culprit, who was immediately in Rainbow Dash’s face. A pink pony was bouncing in place as she spoke to her. “Hi Rainbow! when I heard you were the one for rescuing me and every pony in that dusty ol’ detention center, I just had to come over!” Rainbow’s mouth hung in shock. “Y-You were a prisoner in there?” “Yeah it was horrible in there with all those meanie McMeanie pants gryphons bossing us ponies around, but I was too much of a hoof-full for them to handle so they stuck in Block A by myself so I didn’t have any pony to talk to and I was going crazy in there since you can’t have a party by yourself or rather you can but it wouldn’t be a very fun party and there would be all this cake and punch that no pony would eat and thphh--” Rainbow Dash quieted her down by shoving a hoof in her mouth. “Slow down Pinkie, just tell us what is going on.” Removing her hoof, the pink pony thankfully talked normally. A wide grin spread on the energetic pony’s face. “It’s a party silly! when my pinkie sense started acting up, I knew I had to come over and throw one for you!” “Pinkie... Sense?” Lightning spoke up, terribly confused at what was going on. “It’s a long story--” Pinkie Pie butted Rainbow out-of-the-way as she poked noses at Lightning, causing him to step back in reflex. She was back to her energetic talking. “Hi! I’m Pinkie Pie! I’ve never met you before so that means this party is for you also--oh my gosh, double the partying!” She bounced high in the air, wiggling her hooves in excitement. “I throw any pony who I don't know a welcome party in Ponyville, but ever since those mean ol’ gryphons took it I can’t make this an official Ponyville Welcome party so I guess this is a Hoofington Base Welcome party!” Rainbow dash got up from the floor and leaned next to Lightning, whispering. “Save yourself, Lightning. I’ll meet up with you later.” Gratefully nodding, he left the two mares to continue their conversation. Wandering toward the snack table, he helped himself to the red punch bowl and a delicious sprinkled cupcake. “If I’m not going to get any sleep soon, I might as well wake up with a sugar rush.” Finishing the snack and drink, he felt the weight around his eyes lift. His limbs still felt sore, but at least he didn’t risk falls asleep on the floor. Hearing some pony clear her throat behind him, he turned around to meet Luna and several royal guards. Quickly bowing before her, he felt a hoof on his shoulder. “There’s no need for that, Lightning. Please rise.” Apologizing, he noticed Luna had an exotic dark blue dress which had short white folds of cloth draped in front of her, covering the chest. Small specks glinted in the dress, like stars during a clear night. To say she looked magnificent was an understatement. “Y-you look wonderful your highness.” Smiling, she patted the frilly folds of cloth. “That’s very kind of you. Though we believe it might be too much since this is a simple celebration and not something like a gala...” Finished batting around the dress, she returned her attention to the yellow pony. “But enough about me, we are hoping to have a talk with you about what happened during your capture. After the party of course, with Rainbow Dash joining us.” “Of course, Princess. Although I wouldn’t mind talking about it now. I don’t know how long this sugar high will last and I’ll probably fall asleep on the spot when it fades.” Smirking at his predicament, Luna turned toward a set of doors on the other side of the room. “Very well.” She motioned to one of her guards. “Kicker, please retrieve Rainbow Dash and meet us in our chambers.” The guard quickly nodded and left her side as they trotted out another pair of double doors. -                -                -                - Taking a sip of her tea, Luna placed the cup back on the tray. “Let’s start with you Rainbow Dash. How did your mission go?” Rainbow and Lightning had made themselves comfortable in Luna’s chambers. She could already guess Luna knew what happened at the detention center since the party obviously gave it away. “It was easy, I had it under control the whole time.” She boastfully rubbed a hoof on her chest, like she was polishing it. “Agreed, but what you did in Stalliongrad out-played our greatest expectations. You freed an entire city-worth of ponies, along with Mist and Lightning, from the enemy. No amount of celebrating or praise could express how happy we are with this victory.” Rainbow blushed a bit, rubbing the back of her neck. “I appreciate it, Princess, but there must be another reason we’re here besides telling me how awesome I am.” “Yes, of course.” Pulling out a small black box, she floated it in front of Rainbow. “Doing such a feat has Its rewards.” Gingerly taking the box, she opened it. Inside was a small white cloud pin with a rainbow lightning bolt under it, just like her cutie mark. “W-what is this for?” A smile spread on Luna’s face. “Your reward of course. You showed an amazing amount of bravery and leadership taking that detention center. So it is with our greatest honor that you are no longer a part of Lightning Spark’s Wing.” She held up a hoof before Rainbow Dash could speak. “You will still be working with Lightning Spark, but you are now your own pilot and may do whatever you wish.” Closing the box, she placed it next to her on the couch. “Congratulations on the promotion, Rainboom One. If there’s nothing else you wish to speak about, go ahead and get some rest.” Gaping over what she just heard, she shook her head and thanked Luna. Putting the small box on her back, she left the room. When the door clicked shut, Lightning spoke first. “I suppose you want my side of the story? It doesn’t get good until my... fourth interrogation? I lost count from all the blackouts.” The way he said it nonchalantly gave Luna a horrified look. “Oh! I’m sorry your highness, that didn’t come out right. I won’t lie, I was scared for my life during the interrogations. I wouldn’t want to go through something like that again.” A knowing smile spread of the princesses lips as she teased him. “Really? Even if your dear Mist Dancer might be in trouble?” Lightning felt his face grow warm. “Y-you know about that, huh?” Letting out a nervous chuckle. “We are the Princess of the night, dear Lightning; that includes seeing other pony’s dreams. Besides, before Mist’s... false death, you couldn’t take your eyes off her. Every pony on the base probably knows your crush.” “Ugh, let’s hope I don’t get teased about it.” He put a hoof to his face. “I might have flashbacks of my school years,” he joked. Luna frowned at that comment. “Your condition is nothing to laugh about.” “Actually ever since I found Mist, my disorder seems to have vanished. All that fear of her being... dead... must have really been getting to me.” He remembered that helicopter ride for a moment and a smile crept on his face. “That’s wonderful news, but we have something else that needs discussion.” Luna sat up as she stared down at him like a mother who caught her colt’s hoof in the cookie jar. “Project Alicorn.” His eyebrows shot up at Luna mentioning the project. “W-What about it?” “During your interrogations, did they mention anything about it? Any hints about why they needed to learn it? This is very important Lightning.” Lightning poked his hooves together as his ears folded back nervously. “Well... The only one who seemed really interested in it was a gryphon named Mr.Gilford.” She seemed troubled by this and frowned. “What did he say?” “He kept asking about some special saying or sentence needed. He said he already had two of them and needed the third. Apparently I was the third holder.” The room seemed to have gotten cold, but there were no windows. Luna’s disposition become sullen as she stared at the floor, her hair covering her face. “Lightning... “ Her voice sent a shiver down his spine, it seemed void of emotion as it echoed in the room. “... Did you tell him the third sacred message?” Letting out a small whimper for what might happen to him, he steeled himself. “Y-yes?” He couldn’t prepare himself for what came next as she dragged him in front of her face. Her eyes twisted in contempt for what he said. “Yep... I”m dead.” Her royal Canterlot voice was at full volume as she spoke. “Do you not know what you have done, foal?! With that knowledge in their possession, they have the power to take Celestia’s power for themselves. You have doomed us! what do you have to say for yourself?” Lightning had stopped struggling in her magical grip and slumped like a rag-doll. His eyes full of sadness, but anger welled up inside him. His condition came back as he saw himself back in the detention center, still being interrogated. Luna was replaced with Mr. Gilford, that smug grin on his face as he held the one he loved in his talons. But... Rainbow Dash rescued me. Am I still in the detention center and it was all a dream? Or am I hallucinating again? He didn’t know which was true, but the gryphon holding him felt real. He clenched his teeth as his anger threatened to overwhelm his sense of reason. “No!” he yelled out, holding his head. “This is not real. This can’t be real!” He Repeated it to himself as he struggling furiously in the gryphon’s grip. “Oh it is very real.” His mind told him, disguised at Gilford. “Of course you are to thank for dooming your entire race. It was quite entertaining seeing you fall apart when I brought your love interests into play.” “You’re horrible! how can you do this to us? All this suffering and pain you caused--” “Was for a great cause, little pony.” Finishing his sentence. “The gryphon kingdoms will take over the known world with this new power.” Lightning’s imagination and condition got worse as the room suddenly burst into flames, covering the entire room. Gilford didn’t seem unphased as he began laughing like a maniac. The flames felt so real as they licked at his hooves, threatening to consume him. “Let me go, this isn’t real! He cried, tears starting running down his face. The gryphon’s grip didn’t loosen as he felt the flames growing hotter, consuming the room around him. Gilford’s face was sneering at him and pressed his beak against his muzzle. “And there’s nothing you can do to stop--” “Let him go.” Another familiar voice came in, interrupting the gryphon. It was calm and cool, brushing away the flames in his mind that threatened to consume him. Gilfod’s face contracted in pain as the last flame died out and his grip loosened. Falling to the ground, Lightning gulped in the now cool air, before looking up at who spoke. The false image had mostly faded as he stared at Mist Chaser, glaring on Gilford. The last bit of hallucination fell as he saw Luna looking back at her. “Mist! you’re finally awake. We were worried--” “I don’t want to hear it.” She walked over toward Lightning’s prone form, still glaring at Luna. “What gave you the right to interrogate one of your own pilots, Princess?” “This isn’t an interrogation, dear. I was simply questioning.” “By yelling at him with your royal voice? That hardly seems like a simple questioning.” Luna’s face turned into a scowl. “You were not here when he admitted to telling the gryphons the secret saying! They already have all three of them. Do you not know what this means?!” “It means, we have roughly forty-eight hours to strike Canterlot before she becomes the next Celestia.” She said matter-of-factly. Luna rubbed her forehead. “A direct assault on Canterlot would be an all or nothing attack. If we lose... “ “We will not, Luna.” Her determined attitude brought a smile to Lightning’s face as he slowly got up. His head felt heavier than it should have and his legs wobbled at bit. “Hello Mist, it’s good to see you.” The smile she gave him almost made him black out. “Hello Lightning, it’s good to see you too.” She looked back toward Luna. “This... Interrogation is over. I’m escorting Lightning back to the barracks.” Luna only nodded slowly and looked away, motioning the conversation officially over. “Here, let me help you.” Mist lifted him up and let him lean on her side as they left Luna’s chambers and down the long, white hallways. Lightning’s sugar high was long gone and The comfortable position he was in, didn’t help him from not dozing off. “You might want to hurry, else I might just sleep on you.” Lightning’s mind was foggy and content. Mist chuckled, but said nothing as she lead him toward her bunk-room. Opening the door, she didn’t see any pony else inside. The blinds were closed, making the room dark except the light coming from the hallway. "Here, you can sleep in my bunk for now." Guiding him toward her bed, he flopped on top of the blankets with a sigh. “Thanks Mist. We’ll talk after I get some shut-eye, all right?” He quickly started to doze off until he felt himself being pushed across the bed and another form lie down next to him. Feeling her back press up against his chest, he put a hoof over her shoulder and held her close. Nuzzling her blue mane and breathing in her scent, he finally fell asleep.