//------------------------------//
// A Bad Ending 
// Story: CSF: Beginnings 
// by XeRom 
//------------------------------//

	We left the Complex, as we had come to call it, around noon that day, and we were to return at the same time the next day. If we had failed to reach some sort of agreement by then, our mission would be counted as a failure. As we left, I barely spoke a word to Shadow or our "escort."
If there were ever a stallion I hated in Equestria, it would be him. Whenever I had him as a training instructor he would always make my life hell, for the sake of it I guess. I never gave him a reason to dislike me, but from the first day we met he's always disliked me and now I was stuck with him as my final instructor. Things couldn't be going worse for me. 
The flight there was less quite, as #2 briefed us on the layout of the outlying land of the camp and the general attitude of its people. "They've taken camp inside the ruins of an old Equestrian city. There's ample cover for ambushes so be on your hoofs when we get there. As for the people, they've been having territorial disputes with the farmers for years and finally things broke over and fighting started."
First things first is we stopped by the village of farmers. Meeting with their council, we set up a declaration that would keep both sides happy and at peace with each other, making sure both ends got their just dues. The Diamond Dogs would get their land back but only if they vowed to stop feasting on the farmers live stock. While the farmers would leave the Diamond Dogs to their own devices and share the grazing lands that their animals use. 
Once everything was in order, we took off from the village and started to head to the ruined city. As we flew, we went over the ultimatum for both sides, as well as how to go about presenting it to the diamond dogs. #2 Started to explain in detail the situation between the two groups as well as why we are here. 
"The farmers pushed them out of their lands into the city where they are now and your job today is to bring about a peaceful settlement between the two groups. We need to put an end to future fighting between the two groups." he said as we flew a quick scouting flight over the city. I spotted their camp in the middle of the town square, several Diamond Dogs were up and about, going between makeshift tent houses and crumbling ruins.
Spotting a tall building about half a kilometer from the square, I called to both of them, "Hey lets land on top of that building! It will give us a good view of their camp and a well defensible place to make camp for tonight." They both nodded their agreement and we flew as quickly as we could without being spotted by those down below. 
Once landed, #2 set about making provisions for the night whilst I set up a firing position in a hole in the wall that overlooked the street and square. Shadow set herself up on the wall next to me. I brought along my standard HR-107, a fifty caliber anti-material rifle. Shadow brought along an HiR-550, chambered in 5.56x45 standard CSF cartridge. Although she always carried a pump-action shotgun wherever she went as backup.
I set up my bi-pod and took range calculations for our position. "How's it looking Spade?" Shadow called. 
"Everything's fine, I'm all set up. I've got range on the center of the camp. How's it looking on your end?"
"I'm all good over here!" she said excitedly, "I've got a good field of view on the surrounding area as well as the camp." I turned over to see her looking gleefully over the side of the wall. Her excitement was just as contagious as I myself was anxious to be on the move. 
I left my rifle and moved to help #2 with setting up the rest of the camp. It took us about an additional hour to get everything ready and by the time we were done it was around two. I gathered the two of them together, "Okay so here's the plan. I'll stay up here and provide overwatch on the camp, while you and Shadow go down and start negotiations with the Diamond Dogs. Shadow, you got everything memorized?"
"Yep!" she pipped, "I've been going over what I'll say and I've got the declaration right here. She patted a pouch on her vest with her hoof. 
"Alright good,"I turned towards #2, "You're going to act like an envoy of the Princess and help Shadow with delivering the ultimatum." he nodded towards me and opening their wings, they both took flight and started towards the camp slowly.
I took up position next to the hole, looking through the spotting scope next to my rifle. I could see them both flying low and slow towards the camp. Putting the headset over my ears, I called over the radio, "How's it looking you two?"
Shadow's voice cracked open on the radio, "Everything is crystal clear so far. They've sent out a small party to great us at the gates, nothing to be worried about."
"Roger that, I have eyes on. Nothing else, over." I called out. Moving back to the scope, I looked over the group approaching them and saw no sort of weapons. "They appear friendly, over."
"Roger, moving in to talk now," her voice broke again as the radio cut off. I moved over to my rifle and took aim on the lead dog. The scopes microphone giving me their conversation...

"We've come on an emissary from the Princess, to settle the land dispute between you Diamond Dogs and the local farmers here. If you will allow us admittance to your camp, we wish to speak with your leader." Shadow said, just as practiced. #2 staying silent as ever, just as a Royal Guard would.
The Diamond Dogs voice was uneducated and hoarse when he spoke, "Ya, you get to speak with our leader," he screeched, "We let you in very quickly, bad farmers take away Old Hunting Lands from us."
Shadow and #2 followed the Diamond Dog towards the house at the far end of the camp that looked like it was the old mayor's building. Leading them inside, I lost sound on their conversation for a moment. I switched to a thermal view on my scope, watching the group as they went through the house. They finally reached the "leader's" office in the middle of the building. They were to far in for me to get their conversation, and I couldn't use my radio as it would give away that they weren't alone. 
So I sat and waited as the meeting took place. Taking my view away, I looked to the rest of the camp, seeing a few other Diamond Dogs congregate around the entrance to the building, waiting as anxiously as myself for the meetings results. 
After a solid three hours of time passed, the meeting finally came to an end. They finally excited the building and I caught their conversation again...

"It's been a pleasure meeting with you today, and I can greatly say that this treaty will work for the benefit of both groups." Shadow said to the Diamond Dog leader. 
"Yes yes, very good for us, we get along good now with farmers." he said in a somewhat better accent than the first one. Happy that this was finally over, I took my eye off the scope and shook off the dust from sitting for so long. Moving back to the scope, I saw as Shadow and #2 led by the Diamond Dog leader were walking through the few dogs that were assembled. 
Before I knew what happened though, a hole split up in the ground and Shadow along with #2 fell in. The dogs began howling, screaming with glee. "Silly ponies, thought you trick us with your honeyed words, well now who has tricked who?" the leader shouted into the hole, as the dogs started to make their way in. 
Before a thought entered my head, I pulled the trigger on the Diamond Dogs leader. The echo of the shot reverberated through the empty city but the bullet missed it's mark. Another dog had jumped in front of him a moment before and was split in half from the shot. The leader quickly disappeared into the whole with about eight other Diamond Dogs.
I flew up quickly, leaving my rifle behind and speeding towards the hole. "Shadow? Shadow?! Are you there?! #2 are you there?!" I screamed into the mic, to no response. Whatever they fell into must be blocking the signal. I flew harder than I had in my life, landing at the hole in a matter of seconds. 
I ripped my pistol from my holster, and dove into the darkness of the hole...

Magic spewed from my horn as I light up the surrounding area, it appeared to be an old sewer system. I ran as fast as I could without leaving myself open to ambush through the tunnel, eyes scanning all around me for any Diamond Dogs. I suddenly heard a shot, followed by two more, followed by silence. 
Disregarding my own safety, I galloped ahead as fast as I could on three hooves, sweat dripping from my snout. 'No, no, no, no, no, no! Oh Celestia let them be all right!' I thought, slowly panicking as to their fate. I saw light up ahead and released the flow of magic to my horn. As I got to the source of light, a large sewer drain opened up into a large underground cavern. Torches had been lit leading to a small place in the corner of the room where two figures lay prone, one on top of the other with five Diamond Dogs surrounding them. Flying into the cavern, I charged to the location just in time to see a spear be thrown into the one on top who had tried to get up.
My vision went red as I screamed, "No!!!" and I tackled the closest Diamond Dog, shoving my pistol in his snout and pulling the trigger, spraying gore across me and the floor. I hopped off him and took aim, and before the other four new what happened, I slowly acquired each target and pulled the trigger, gore splattering on the walls until only their leader was left. 
Using my magic I pinned him to the wall, walking forward I place the barrel under his snout. "You're too late pony," he sneered spitting at me.
"Yeah, so are you." I said, pulling the trigger. Releasing the magic, I let his body fall to the ground. Turning towards the two on the ground, I moved towards them to see #2 on top of Shadow, a spear protruding through his breastplate. I ran to his side, quickly moving him off Shadow, laying him gently next to her. Shadow was unconscious, but was still breathing with no visible marks on her. 
Leaving her I turned towards #2, who's breathing was becoming more and more rapid, his eyes half lidded. He spoke, coughing up blood, "You... I always knew you could do it." he said coughing more. "You pass with flying colors..." pulling something from under his armor, he produced two medallions in the shape of crossed horns with wings coming from both sides of the center. "Take it... You deserve it..."
"But... But why did you save her? All these years you've been the hardest on me... Why?" I say, a tear rolling down my cheek. 
"It's up to you to protect Equestria, not me... That's why. I wanted you to be the best at what you would do and you've shown me you can do that...." he said, coughing once more before closing his eyes. His breathing stopped.
"Thank you," I whispered looking into his face, tears sliding down my cheeks.