//------------------------------// // The return of a friend // Story: A Night's return and his Flare. // by BlastingCap //------------------------------// The return of a friend Luna looked up from the battle report from applelusa to see Capt. Sliver standing there with a smile on his face, excited with news. “Ok, Capt. Sliver I can tell that you are almost about to bounce off the walls. What do you need to tell me?” as she closed the report and set it on her desk. He started to calm down as he opened his mouth. “He is back.” She looked at with a raised eyebrow. “Are playing a joke on me? Don’t do this kind of joke specially when the team Applelusa just fended off a massive assault and we lost an entire company of ponies to an ambush as they retreated from Baltmare. ” she rubbed her head as she was trying not to yell. “I’m not joking with you he is back, he rescued Pip and Bubbles when they were ambushed by plasma artillery and ten warthogs.” as placed his helmet on the desk where the light hit it sending purple and blue into his eye. He moved it a little to the right. Luna sighed as she realized one name was missing. “What about Shadow breeze?” The absence of that name made her voice Capt. Sliver fell silent for a moment but, spoke up. “He was killed when they crashed into a crater that was formed by plasma artillery flipping the warthog. He died on impact.” the sound of grief stuck in his voice. Luna looked down and fell silent for a moment. She took a deep breath. “call his parents and tell them about their son. I want Nightwing back in here within the hour.” Capt. Sliver put back on his helmet and saluted. “Yes, ma’am.” He turned around and left the room. [an hour later] Luna was looking into Nightwing’s old file, reading more deeply about him. “Created the Black manes as an mercenary group and often worked in what he like to call the “army of two”.” the file read. “Army of Two?” she muttered as a pony in a dull dent ridden Spartan armor came in. The pony stopped at the other end of the desk. “You called for me?” the visor reflecting any light that tried to show the pony’s expression. “Yes, I did.” she looked up from the file and faced the soulless visor. “Before I talk to you I want you to take off your helmet, Nightwing. I want to see my old friend‘s face.” Nightwing nodded and took off his helmet revealing the pitch black fur of his coat and mane that shined with his dark blue eyes. The only other color was the pink exposed skin from a recent scar that went from the middle of his left cheek to the edge of his jaw. “what do you want to talk about, ma’am?” he stood at attention as if he hadn’t left at all. “At ease, Nightwing.” as she said that he relaxed. “But, I want to talk about your emersion back into active service since you pulled that little disappearing act, four months ago.” she closed the file and levitated it into her desk. Without breaking eye contact he sat down. “What do we need to talk about?” “I want you to go back into Spec ops missions again. I have read deeper in your file then, I have before and I read that you like to work in a group called “The army of two.” what does that mean?” she raised an eyebrow. “It means that I like to go into battle with another pony at my side watching my six. It means I don’t have to spend nights alone with the enemy looking for me. It means I can have a friend that I can fight for.” his voice sounded emotionless. “That is all I need to hear, now get prepped we have lost Baltmare but, we are not going to lose Applelusa, our spies say that the Solar Empire is going to attack again in four days. I want you and your partner to take out their artillery, and any tanks they have then, take care of their communication stations and gather any Intel. If they attack before you can do much damage just improvise, I am giving you full access to the armory and to two cycles or one warthog. But, I suggest that you bring suppressed weapons. Any questions?” as she slipped a file to him with her magic. He pick up his helmet as he stood up. “Two.” Luna nodded. “One, if we are captured will we have back up?” “No” Luna said with a cold voice by it had a little warmth since Nightwing began to smile. “Two, who is going to be my teammate?” he said as he raised an eyebrow. The door opened and another pony in Spartan armor came trotting in. Nightwing watched the pony as it came to edge of the desk and saluted. “corporal, Standing Mist reporting for duty ma’am.” as the sound of the stallion’s voice filled the room the memory of the pony that died in Nightwing’s arms flashed before his eyes and his letter. He took out the letter. “S. Mist”. he looked up at the stallion as he took off his helmet. The white stallion’s coat nearly blinded him as it hit the light. “Damn, can your coat get any fucking brighter?” as he rubbed his eyes as Luna rolled her eyes. As his sight returned he looked at the pony that was his partner he put back the letter. He was snow white with a somewhat light blue mane. Luna looked at Mist. “Alright, Corporal you are going be with Sergeant Nightwing. He will fill you in on the mission. You will leave at 0430. And take enough supplies to last four days. Dismissed.” Nightwing and Mist both saluted and said “Yes, ma’am.” in unison. They put on their helmets then, left the room.