~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Massacre in Lochwind~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The strong winds found its way through the cracks of Camo’s quarters. The cold breeze woke him up from his slumber. The smell of burning wax caught his attention. He looked his shoulder, peering over the sheets at a candle at the foot of his bed. Not remembering a candle there yesterday, he just assumed that the unknown stallions from earlier planted it there. The candle read 11:58. Remembering the note at the moment, caused him to jump out of bed and into the endless hallway. He unfolded the black cloak and ravelled it around his neck and face, leaving a drop shadow, masking his face. The back of the cloak rests on his plot and droops to the side. He grasped the MP7 in his hooves and gazed at it with wonder. He knew he knows how to use it but if he can muster to use it when the time comes. He flung the harness of the gun around his neck and continued on his way. “Where exactly did he want me to go. He was very vague in his letter, despite him saying that it was detailed.”
Camo wandered the corridors only to find no hints of where he was supposed to go. He came across a room with “SSB” engraved on the floor but this time it was formed out of blood. The sight of blood, would normally repel somepony, but Camo was somewhat intrigued. He entered the room without hesitation. A feeling of terror spawned over his face. Unicorn horns, wings, heads of ponies, hooves on plaques lined the walls of this room.
As the group sets out for the flight to Lochwind, thoughts begin filling Camo’s head, he looks to Dalek with a puzzled look.
“So….why exactly are we going to Lochwind?”
“You’re a curious little colt aren’t you. As I said before, it’s better for you to not know. Although, I will tell you one more thing that I didn’t mention before.”
“what’s that?”
“The place we are going to is a place of great wealth. As you know, not everyone is in high ranking status. The dwellers of Lochwind do not share their wealth with the less fortunate. Our object as a part of the SSB is to make peace by bringing equality to all over the land. We can’t have some ponies making one bit at a time, while others bask in wealth..”
“So...what you are saying is we are attacking rich ponies because they didn’t share with the SSB, or anypony in laurelville?”
“Exactly, you want to help the defenseless and poor right?”
“Well….of course i do.”
“Now you’re starting to think like the SSB, good boy!”
“Don’t call me boy...so, what’s the plan?”
“You’re a feisty one…once we get there, you are going to do everything I say. If you don’t follow my directions exactly, I won’t mind killing you.”
Camo rolls his eyes as he flys along with Dalek, contemplating what to do.
“You didn’t exactly answer my question….I want answers.”
Dalek snorted, “Once you do what I want, I’ll tell you what you want to know.”
Camo glares at Dalek after he responds with an answer didn’t want to hear.
“You’re a horrible commander...you know that?”
“Oh...no. Whatever am I supposed to do...I’m horrible...a horrible commander!” Dalek replied sarcastically. “Go drop dead, your father’s waiting…”
“you know...i’m happy that asshole is dead...he was nothing but abusive, sure he was my father but he was a dead-beat for a father...so you saying these things have no effect on me.”
“That may be true but your mother didn’t think of him that way. Even after all the abuse, she stayed at his side during his final moments. How can you deal with that?”
Camo goes silent and looks away from Dalek, he begins to think about his mother. Dalek realises what he has done, a feeling of guilt strangely grows in his chest.
“Look….I’m sorry, I know it’s unfair that you don’t know all the answers now. I apologize for mentioning your mother and father.”
Camo remains silent, he proceeds to put his hood up and speeds ahead of Dalek. A deeper presence of guilt floods him. The other SSB members look at Dalek, puzzled of the currently unknown situation.
A soldier flies closer to Dalek “Sir, what happened?”
“Nothing to worry about, just a little quarrel with the newbie. Maintain formation!”
The soldier nods and fly’s back into his original position.
“Prepare for descent, stallions! And gentle colt...We must land quickly and without notice.”
The other SSB soldier nodded and began their descent. One by one, SSB members quickly darted to the ground only making small dust clouds. They would find Camo already in position, which came as a surprise to Dalek, seeing how Camo had no training or military experience. They all moved up into position alongside Camo, who suddenly dashes from cover into the town.
Dalek jerks at Camo’s surprise action and yells, “C-CAAAMMMMOFLAUGE!!!! DO AS INSTRUCTED!”
Camo’s eyes widen, Dalek notices two guards approaching them, one raises their gun at Daleks chest, theres a thumping noise as the one guards skull explodes onto Dalek. He watches as Camo approaches the second guard.
“Put your fucking hooves up now!”
The second guard drops his gun and raises his hooves in the air in a sign of surrender. Camo puts the silencer of the Mp7 to the guards head.
“Sit the fuck down and get naked!”
Everybody, including the guard looks confused at the random demand.
“Fucking do it or i’ll blow your fucking head off!”
The guard quickly nods, stripping his armor and clothing off except for his boxers, Camo butts him in the head with the gun, knocking him unconscious. He takes the clothes and armor and slips them on, the clothes almost fit perfectly. Camo looks at the group with a smirk.
“look at the rookie….doing shit you didn’t expect,”
“I have to admit, your quick thinking and ambiguous actions proved to be very beneficial. All of the rest of you should be more like Camo here!” Dalek turns to Camo and glares, “don’t make a habit of disobeying me…”
“Oh...i’m sorry if I’m making you look like a jackass in front of your own troops…”
Dalek can see Camo is still hurt from the comments he made during the flight to Lochwind. Camo trots off into an alleyway and waits for them to move. They soon follow him into the dark alleyway, this proves to be better cover than the shrubs they had. Dalek watches as his authority over the SSB go down the drain. “This is a very interesting colt, he could be useful in the future…” Dalek whispers to himself.
“Hey, dipshit! Mind hurrying up a little?!”
“Calm your muzzle, I’m coming…don’t forget who’s Commander in Chief...”
“I’m sorry can you remind me again?...I forgot.”
“You little shi-...” Dalek retained his composure and ignored that comment and continued on.
On the move, the SSB flocked night streets. They reached their destination after a couple minutes of trotting.
Dalek trotted next to Camo, “Look Camo, there is Soleannis Manor. That’s our target. We can finally help the lowly ponies of Larharlville.”
“Hmph...”
The SSB splits into 4 groups. One group goes around back, another takes the left side, the third takes right, and Dalek and Camo along with a few other members approach the front. Dalek takes something out of his side pockets. He holds it up to his muzzle and bites the end of the object. Camo was shocked and questioned what the object was, “W-what is that?”
“Heheh...this is a special weapon that we like to use, exclusive to the SSB. It’s a magic grenade. Once you throw it-...in fact, instead of explaining it, seeing it in action is much better…”
Dalek threw the grenade into one of the windows, the windows cracked but didn’t make a sound.
“First thing about a magic grenade, it doesn’t make a sound when it makes impact.”
Dalek forced open the front doors. The grenade that landed on the interior released a clear-looking gas.
“Second, the magic grenade releases a gas that is very poisonous, once inhaled, it can automatically kill.”
Camo gasps in horror and holds his hooves over his muzzle. “Wait- what? We can die...Why are we in here then????”
“Don’t worry my foolish friend, do you really think I would purposely put you in harms way for some unknown reason?”
“Yes.” Camo mumbles under his hooves.
“Haha. I would, but not this time. When my underlings entered your room, they injected you with a special serum that makes you immune to the effects of all SSB biological weapons while you were asleep.”
Camo uncovered his muzzle, “Yep, definitely cannot trust you...”
“The others should have their bombs in place around this time. Camo. I want you to come with me...”
“Why?”
“Do first, ask questions later...you demonstrated that earlier by disobeying my orders, right?
“Yes…”
Camo and Dalek ascended up the lengthy spiral staircase.
“The third thing about this grenade is that it is programmed to go off at a certain time. It will go off in 25 minutes. Instead of gas, it will create a small explosion.”
They finally reached the top of the steps. At the end of the hallway was a gold door. They walked pass numerous door, vertically aligned with each other. Dalek kept his focus on the door straight ahead, while Camo took the time to notice each door that they passed. Two doors caught his attention which made him pause. To the left, there was a door with a sun pattern and to the right was a door with a moon pattern. The two patterns were very unique and were a splendor to look at. Dalek tapped Camo’s shoulder and said, “Keep your focus on the task at hand. Let’s go.”
Dalek approached the door and stood in front of it to face Camo.
“Through this door, is our special target. I will now finally tell you the last use of the magic grenades. The last thing a grenade does is detonate in sync with the other bombs. It will create one huge explosion.”
“What other bombs? Didn’t we only throw in one...wait...is that why they split up? You have multiple bombs ready to detonate this manor?!”
“Yes, now you are starting to get!”
“You could say it is our secret weapon in case a mission fails. But know this…I don’t like to fail. Got that?”
Camo gulped and nodded, “Yes.”
Dalek turned once again towards the door. He pushed the door open, he spotted two figures sleeping in the bed. He proceeded to trot in with Camo closely behind him, he wakes them up.
“Well well well...look who’s back...did you two miss me? ”
The two resting in bed went by the name of Forelorn Shadow and Gaia Sentry. Gaia was the first to awoke at to the sight of a mysterious figure approaching their bed. Dalek removes his Honey badger AAC from around his neck and holds it by the grip and mouth of the gun and points it at Forelorn. Gaia rushes out of the bed only to be stopped by another gun. The other gun glowed with green magic, floating in the air. Gaia Sentry trembled backwards.
Forelorn spoke in a stern voice, “What are you doing here Dalek?”
“Killing you.”
Dalek swiftly pulled the trigger on gun. The bullet tunneled through his brain and cracked the bed-board. The blood splattered on the side of Gaia’s face. A drop stained the cornea of her right eye. The last couple moments of her husband’s death was too for her to sink in. She flickered her mouth, jaw openGaia trotted over to her husband's bed side. Dalek switched the focus of the two guns onto Gaia.
"Why would you do this Dalek? I thought the members of the SSB and the ponies of Lochwind town were on good terms. We signed a treaty?! Remember?!"
Dalek glared dastardly at Gaia. "A treaty, eh? Ah...yes. Now I remember. It was a couple years ago but I can still remember it as if it was yesterday, but transactions, agreements are a thing of the past, my dear Gaia. They are not absolute, so I have no interest in them. But you know what is absolute?...this moment, right now, is perfect. The broken widow: A wife crying at the her husband’s dying side, as the murderer escapes relieving the maiden of her once beloved and spirit.”
“You’re a murderer!!!” Gaia wipes away her tears and gets up and charges at Dalek. Dalek drops the gun that he is holding,
“I can see the anger in your eyes, I love the passionate hate for the pony who caused you pain. Yes! I can only surrender to it, come at me, let me feel your rage.”
A gunshot rang. Gaia paused in her tracks. Dalek’s face was oozing with blood. Gaia’s jaw hung low in despair. From Camo’s perspective, he couldn’t tell what happened. He inched close to Dalek and asked, “D-dalek?” Once he moved closer, he was able to capture the extent of the scenario. The blood dripping off of Dalek’s face was not of his own but of Gaia’s. She was shot in back of the head. Her blood splattered all over his cold face.
“B-but...I don’t understand. How could you have...you surrendered both of your guns, the one in your hooves and the one that you levitate with magic…”
Dalek remained in silence and pointed in the direction of the window by the door that was cracked open slightly. Camo trotted over to the window sill and peered out. He was came face-to-with the moon. In the far distance, he could see a group of four-to-five stallions in bushels across the river.
“I sent a special squad of snipers to the riverbank to take aim at that window over, just in case something happened, and as you can see ‘happened, happened. When I lowered my two guns, I had another one ready for action. I’m not dumb Camo, I wouldn’t surrender that easily, silly little willy filly.”
Camo couldn’t respond because he was still struck by Dalek’s strategic and critical thinking abilities. As well as awestruck by his cold attitude after all of this.
“Camo, I want you to check all of the other rooms and see if there is anything of value in them. If anyone is present, take care of them. Got it? I’m gonna finish up in here.”
Camo nodded and fled the room. He tried to forget the events that just went down in the past 30 minutes by remembering the location of the two doors. Once he came across the two doors, he opened the door to the one that had the sun-symbol on it. He took a quick look at the room before him, it resembled that of a young filly’s room. It has toys sprawled out on the floor and walls painted a light blue color with clouds on them. The object that stood out the most was the sun-shaped chandelier hanging off the wall. It was off but, he bet that it looked beautiful in the day. Below it was a giant white bed with a mid-young filly located in the middle of it sleeping.
He crept closer towards the bed and saw the face of the sleeping filly. The face was so pure and peaceful, like the color of its white fur. The mane continuously flowed as if magic was entangled into each strand of hair. The filly slept in a cresent shape. Dalek’s word’s echoed through his head. Camo pulled out his MP7 and aimed it at the fillys’ head. His hooves clutched the trigger but couldn’t follow through. He laid his gun to the side and picked up the filly and laid her on his back.
He grabbed his gun again and headed out the room and into the other. He was surprised once he entered because it almost resembled the other room except the walls were covered with painted-on stars and the chandelier was not a sun but a moon. The bed was occupied by younger looking filly with light-violet colored fur. She slept in a similar position, cresent, only facing the opposite way. Looking at their sleeping positions, it almost looked like they completed each other. This filly had a continuous mane as well but had a blue transparent look to it. Camo picked her up as well and carried her out on his back.
Dalek yelled from the room he was currently in, “Camo, put anything that you find in the cargo wagon outside!”
Camo grunted and continued on his way. His movement was slowed because of the extra weight on his back but he forged on. He made his way outside into the night sky. The other SSB members were in the distance, riding towards him. “Crap. I can’t let them see these two, they will kill them. I have to hide them in the cargo and fast.” Camo did some quick thinking and covered the two fillys underneath his cloak. He used the last bit of his energy to sprint towards the cargo wagon. The SSB members were closer in view than they were before. He put the two in the wagon and placed bushels of trees and wood over them to mask them. The white furred pony poked her head out of the cargo, “ Hunh...M-mommy?” She struggled to open her eyes because of how tired she was but could see that the pony in front of her wasn’t her mother. “Who are you?”
“My name is Camouflage. I’m going to get you outta here. I need you to go back to sleep or else you’ll get caught.”
Celestia sees Camo in the security uniform, she smiles with a sense of trust in Camo.
“Hi Camo! My name is Celestia! Is this a game of hide-and-go-seek?”
“Yeah kid, something like that. Now go back to sleep.”
Celestia nodded and buried herself within the cargo again. Four SSB members approached Camo.
One of them spoke, “Is everything going as planned, where’s Dalek?”
“Yeah…everything’s fine. Dalek? He’s still inside, finishing up. He’ll be out soon.”
The three other members changed their focus on the door of the manor, Dalek burst through the doors in full throttle. He quickly passed the other members and went on a furious gallop. As time passed, all the other members formed behind him. One of the members carried along the cargo wagon with the harness around him. Camo looked very confused. He tried catching up with Dalek at the front of the pack. He bumped into one of the trotting members on the way,
“Hey, do you know what’s going on. Didn’t the mission go well?”
“Don’t ask questions. Just do.”
The member shrugged him off. Camo gained speed to catch up with Dalek. He was close in speed but couldn’t catch up so he decided to yell at him, “DALEK! WHAT’S GOING ON!?”
Dalek turned his head so that he could hear whoever was talking to him, “I’m sorry, could you repeat that?”
“WHAT’s HAPPENING? WHY ARE WE RETREATING? Didn’t we accomplish our mission? Aren’t there still SSB members in the manor, waiting for your orders?”
“No. We didn’t. It went terribly wrong! I-I looks like we are going to have to resort to plan B unfortunately…”
“WHAT?! No...we...did everything that you wanted...there are still some of your soldiers at the house...y-you can’t just...No!”
Dalek dawned the same dastardly face, Camo caught glance of it from the side,
“Wait, before you blow the house, I seen a few things i want to grab.”
“Fine, but if you’re not back in formation under 15 minutes, I won’t mind blowing you up...”
Camo nods and gallops into the house, he gallops up the main stairway to the two rooms, he grabs two teddy bears, a few dolls, and some clothing. He trots to the murder scene, he scavenges and retrieves a few necklaces, a pair of golden hoof-cufflets, and a gold jewelery box and piles it on top of the toys to hide them. He makes his way back to the moving cargo wagon. The ground below him shakes rigidly, a burning sensation flares the fur on his plot. He looks behind him and his eyes go blank as the image of manor bursting in flames reflects in his pupils. Different parts blew up subsequently, one right after the other.
“Shi-”
Camo caught up to the wagon. He found that Celestia had poked her head out once again. Camo shriek, “No! Don’t look!” It was too late, Camo could already see that Celestia had enveloped the explosion into her wide eyes. Tears started to seem down the sides of her cheeks.
“M-mommy?...D-daddy?” ,Celestia cried. The roaring flames and embers of her home only influenced the rain of tears. Camo rushed to Celestia, face-to-face. He made rigorous effort to try and block Celestia’s view. Suddenly, the blue-fur colored pony woke up to the calamity as well. She caught glance of it and started to cry as well. Celestia noticed and took the quick action to cover her view as well. Celestia’s tears pelted the soft fur of the violet colored filly. Celestia mumbled small words underneath her weak breath, “D-don’t cry…whatever you do, don’t cry, my dear little sister...Luna.”
Camo reached into his pouch and grabbed an item with his muzzle. He showcased a little teddy to Celestia and flung it onto the cargo wagon near their ponytails. He reached inside once again and grabbed a similar teddy bear but different color. He grinned to reassure them and flung the second one on board as well.
An hour passed and the trip was to be longer than expected due to the cart of valuables, so Camo climbs into the back. He takes his black cloak out of a pouch and leans against the side of the cart and covers himself up, he keeps the Mp7 on his lap in case of trouble. He watches the two sisters, who are curled up with their teddy bears and sleeping.
“I’m so sorry this had to happen to you.”
He whispers as he stares at them. Dalek trots to the back and looks at Camo with a sense of happiness, seeing that he got away from the blast.
“You had me worried there for a second, Cammy. I thought you were going to get caught in the blast, that’s usually how all of my rookies die...but for some reason, I’m glad you made it out alive.”
“yea, sure you are..”
Dalek can hear depression setting into Camo’s now monotone voice, which he finds strange due to the usual upscale sassiness in his voice and attitude.
“I’m sure by now, you are questioning my methods and actions, and even if you can trust me.”
“No, just doing some heavy thinking, seeing is how i have nothing in life now.”
Camo sighs and curls up in the back of the wagon with the cloak as a blanket and a pouch as a pillow. The feeling of guilt from earlier returns into Daleks chest, seeing his newest rookie in the dumps.
“Cheer up Camouflage, it’s not worth sulking over. This is the reason why I had to keep you in the dark about the mission. In situations like these, we can’t get attached to our targets.”
“You think this is about the mission? It’s not, it’s about the fact that I’m such a screw-up. I tried helping my mother but in the end i made things worse, I’m a horrible son and i feel worthless. so maybe you should have shot me, or blew me up.”
A cold chill rushes up Daleks spine from hearing Camo’s grim words.
“Maybe I should have...what would that solve? Your father would still be dead and your mother grieving in pain, not only for the death of her husband but for her son as well, Camo.”
“Lets face it, she doesn’t love me anymore, so killing me would solve problems for you and her...”
“Hehe...not to sound mean or anything, but keeping you alive or killing you would benefit me either way...but your mother on the other hoof, she still needs you. She needs her son as reminder to move on, to live everyday like it’s your last.”
Camo sighs and closes his eyes, Dalek notices tears rolling down his cheek.
“f-figures...”
Dalek slightly looks away sensing the heartbreak occurring to Camo, he quickly trots to the front and gets back in formation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Choose your words wisely, they may come back to you~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~