//------------------------------// // Capture the Flag Mode // Story: Twilight's Experiments: The War of Mann Co. 2 // by MIKEANTHONY321 //------------------------------// Battle Arena #8: Doublecross (Capture the Flag) The cool, dry wind of the night hummed its tune daintily in the ears of the mercenaries as they marched to their resupply lockers. Once again, Fluttershy had to be carried by Red Medic. Goosebumps and standing fur strands appeared throughout the group as the dropping temperatures began to get to them. “Yikes; it’s so cold out here! I don’t remember it being like this when we first arrived here.” Spike observed. “It’s only cold because we’re in a northern boreal forest. Look around ya, mate. I think it’s like…autumn or something.” Red Sniper explained, bending down to accommodate the young dragon. Spike nodded slowly. Red Sniper smiled, and slapped him on the back, causing his helmet to fly off of his face. He laughed awkwardly. … Rainbow Dash grumbled. “I bet it’s SO comfy and warm in the grasp of the German guy over there. We needn’t worry about Fluttershy at all.” Rainbow Dash really didn’t mind all the attention Fluttershy was getting. After all, she was glad her fragile friend was able to get some closure in this hostile world. However, the pegasus wished she could get some of the action that Fluttershy was being privileged with. Red Scout tried to read the mare’s thoughts by staring at her expression. He glanced at Fluttershy and Red Medic, and then back at Rainbow Dash. After doing so a couple of times, he got an idea. “Are your hooves gettin’ tired there, Dash? Think maybe I should carry you, too?” He asked in a casual tone. Rainbow Dash scoffed. She turned to Red Scout with an amused smirk on her face. “You? Carrying ME? I think I’d feel safer in a jet with one wing.” She responded. “Aw, c’mon! I’m sure you can trust me!” Red Scout pleaded. … Rainbow Dash didn’t reply. Red Scout pulled a can of Crit A Cola out from his pack, and drank it down in a few swallows. After flexing his muscles and cracking his knuckles, the hyper Bostonian assassin hooked his arms under the pegasus. “Hey, what the hell are ya doing?” Rainbow Dash demanded. She flailed her hooves around in a surprised effort. The teammates in the group chuckled cheekily as they watched their Scout confidently lift his companion off the ground. Red Medic turned his head, and rolled his eyes. As he held Fluttershy effortlessly in his two arms, Red Scout was breathing heavily while straining to elevate his corresponding comrade. Red Scout exhaled sharply as he hoisted Rainbow Dash up over his head. Once he had her perched, he continued his walk. A few stray claps could be heard from impressed teammates. “T…there, Skittles. Now you can see the world from…my perspective.” Red Scout grunted. “I could’ve walked, you know.” Rainbow Dash replied. “Yeah. Rich people who get around in private planes and limousines could’ve walked, too. But they decided to take the more comforting alternative if it meant sparing their lazy, rubbery ligaments.” Red Spy added, flicking a cigarette. “Long story short; enjoy your ride.” Applejack and Red Engineer laughed openly as other teammates giggled. ……………………………………………… The ponies from the opposing team walked silently with the rest of their teammates. Tensions secretly began to rise within them over the upcoming robot battle. As things currently seemed, everything they had was resting on Fluttershy’s shoulders. They would either succeed brilliantly, or die bleeding and screaming. … “What is wrong, Madame?” Blue Spy asked. Rarity blinked a couple of times, and shook her head to clear the haze. She looked up at her companion, and shrugged. “I’m not sure. I guess we’re all just a little shaken about having to pit poor little Fluttershy with so much responsibility. Remember the heart-attack she had at Mountain Lab?” Blue Spy looked off into the distance, removed his cigarette, and let a long puff of smoke escape from his mouth. He nodded solemnly. “…Indeed I do.” “Then you know what I mean.” The unicorn sighed. “I just wish we could do something to ease the tensions.” … Blue Spy was silent for a few seconds. “…Well, she is your friend, right?” Rarity nodded. “Then the answer is simple. It was merely coincidence that she adopted the responsibility of being a Medic. The best you can do is offer her your undying encouragement and support. She has enormous potential, but just has a hard time expressing it. Help her shine.” Blue Spy continued, taking more breaths from his cigarette. Rarity smiled while staring at the ground. It definitely was possible. She and her friends just needed the confidence. With the right push, Fluttershy could surpass the level of everyone she knew. “Well…okay then. Thank you for the advice.” She whispered. Blue Spy nodded once, and returned to his thoughts. …………………………………………… Soon, the PA systems were going off. It was time to prep for battle. “Mission begins in 10 seconds!” … “A’ight, Skittles, when dem alarms go off, do not run out that door. Go down those stairs over there, and fall into the circular hatch. We’re gonna flank these suckers from the underside.” Red Scout whispered to Rainbow Dash. … “5…4…3…2…1…FIGHT!” Immediately, both teams rushed out of their resupply. Red Scout and Rainbow Dash stuck to their plan, and headed backwards out the lower side. Upon exiting the sewer, they appeared out on the lower bridge. …………………………………………… Music: Playing with Danger (Repeat if needed) …………………………………………… Unfortunately, Blue Scout had the same idea. Before both teams could even meet on the main bridge, Red and Blue Scout were face-to-face in a heated situation. “What are ya doing there with Skittles? This is MY road!” Blue Scout demanded. “Oh, really? I don’t see your name on it, twat.” Red Scout blurted in response. “And plus, I think I have every right to hang out with Skittles.” “Skittles is supposed to be mine, you worthless, gloating, excuse for a human-being!” Blue Scout raged. … Rainbow Dash growled. Red Scout raised an eyebrow. “Rainbow Dash, I need you to step away. Go meet our team on the upper level, or something.” Red Scout ordered. Rainbow Dash gasped on the inside, shocked that Red Scout had paged her by her full name. Suddenly, her nostrils flared. “No way; I want to crush this guy with you! Let’s get ‘em!” She replied defiantly. Red Scout turned to her with a serious expression. He put a finger on her lips. “Step away. This is my fight. ‘Imma show this prick how real Scouts fight, and how they defend their loved ones.” … Rainbow Dash’s eyes widened. She stuttered a few times in an attempt to formulate a reply. Red Scout gave her a warm smile. Feeling conflicted, Rainbow Dash backed away, and sprinted up the stairs to join her team in battle. ………………………………………… Red Scout turned back around, and faced his furious adversary. They stared each other in the eyes, not breaking away for even a second. They stood on opposite ends of the lower bridge, with a health pack in between them. They drew their Scatterguns. The familiar sound of gunfire entered their eardrums as the opposing teams above them met up in battle. The sudden noise did not stir the Scouts’ concentration. Suddenly, after many seconds of silence, Blue Scout let out a battle cry. The two of them charged at each other, and began to duel. …………………………………………. The sound of the duel immediately became evident to Rainbow Dash from her position on the top bridge. Her other teammates paid no mind to it, however. With a sigh, she drew her weapon, and began to fight. Red Medic popped her a quick overheal, and moved on to a different target. Rainbow Dash took the health advantage, and charged onto the enemy lines. She was scratched a few times from bullet impacts, but they didn’t leave any lasting damage. Blue Medic and Big Mac were in the pegasus’s line of sight. In the time it took Big Mac to spin up his minigun, Rainbow Dash had leapt over the two of them, and began to shoot Blue Medic in the back. Void of an Ubercharge, the healer was rapidly eliminated. Big Mac turned his heavy weapon around, and began to fire at Rainbow Dash. Initially, the nimble flier had no trouble dodging the bullets that came out of its spinning barrel. Suddenly, however, she was being thrust upward by an unknown force. Looking down, she spotted Pinkie Pie airblasting her upwards with her flamethrower. A look of panic entered Rainbow Dash’s eyes. “Wee! Isn’t this fun Dashie? Look at you fly!” Pinkie giggled. “Pinkie, stop! I…I can’t do anything!” Rainbow Dash ordered in desperate reply. Pinkie Pie airblasted Rainbow Dash over and over, keeping the mare suspended in the air. Rainbow Dash tried to fly out of the trap, but the air current held control of her wings. Big Mac smiled as he spun up his minigun again, aimed it at Rainbow Dash, and opened fire. …………………………………………… With the Direct Hit over his shoulder, Spike jogged out into the battle by Red Soldier’s side. Fluttershy was latched on behind him. Red Soldier lifted his helmet with his hand in order to get a better view. Across the bridge, the veteran could make out his teammate Rainbow Dash being shot out of the sky by an unknown Heavy-weapons wielder. The pegasus was being juggled hopelessly as bullets sprayed through her insides. “Alright dragon, keep your head on. This one is looking rough.” He warned. “Got it.” Spike responded confidently. “Ready, Fluttershy?” “Ready for what?” Fluttershy asked. Spike launched a rocket at his feet, and the duo was sent flying into the air. Fluttershy screamed as the ground beneath them moved away at an ever startling rate. Spike strafed forward toward the enemy lines, and drew the Market Gardener. “Hang on! We only get one shot at this!” Spike yelled. Fluttershy closed her eyes as the duo began to fall. Spike tried to aim his descent to the best of his ability, with the deadly shovel gripped tight in his claw. At the moment of impact, he swung the shovel with all his might. Hit with an instant crit, Big Mac crumpled to the ground. The bullet spray stopped when his weapon was dropped. Pinkie Pie, out of ammo in her flamethrower, began to retreat. … Rainbow Dash, beaten and bloody, fell to the ground with a crack. Fluttershy immediately transferred her healing over to the pegasus, and her wounds began to disappear. In no time at all, Rainbow Dash was back on her hooves. “Thanks, guys. You really saved my flank there.” She chuckled. “Hey, ya know. We work together.” Spike replied casually. Fluttershy was shivering behind the two of them. Her mane was frazzled, and her Tyrolean was tipped sideways on her head. Her eyes were closed tightly. Spike tapped her playfully on the shoulder. “Hey, Flutters, you were the one who decided to use the Quick-Fix.” …………………………………………… Applejack gave one last swing of her wrench, and her sentry gun became a level 3 killing machine. She gave a nod to Red Engineer, who then finished the last upgrades on his dispenser. Their setup was ready. They stood in the Intelligence Room of their humble barn base. Deep behind the back courtyard, the large garage-like room in which they resided housed the Intelligence briefcase. Applejack’s sentry now stood guard of it on top of the staircase to the left side. “Hey partner, did y’all set up a teleporter entrance yet?” Red Engineer asked. “I think I did. It should be right outside of the spawn room. It’s only level 1, though, and it ain’t workin’ yet. What about it?” Applejack responded. “Hightail it on down here for me, missy. I have an idea for where you can aim that sucker.” Red Engineer ordered. … Applejack happily obeyed Red Engineer, hopping off the stairs and trotting over to his location. Red Engineer pulled a map of Doublecross out from his pocket, and unrolled it in front of his comrade. “Alright then; we’re right here.” He explained, pointing to a spot on the map. “The best spot for your teleporter AND your dispenser will be right here.” Red Engineer pointed to a different spot across the map. Applejack squinted slightly to get a better look. Once she had traced the location, she gasped a little. “Whoa, there! Ain’t that the sewer room underneath the BLU base?” She asked worriedly. “You bet your hind end it is. The point is to put it behind that large gas tanker near the center of the room so that it’s in a nice, hidden spot. That way, teammates can cross the entire map without being seen. Also, your dispenser will provide them with nourishment so they can return there in tough times while they’re fighting. It totally beats having to find a Medic or having to return to the base. Think of it as like……a miniature headquarters for team RED.” Red Engineer explained. As his explanation continued, Applejack’s grin grew wider and wider. Once the Texan was done talking, she began to laugh. “I love it! You really are a genius, ain’t ya? No wonder you’re the mechanic on this team!” “Now go, there, farm gal! I’ll stay back and guard your defense equipment!” Applejack cheered while throwing her helmet into the air. Once she caught it back on her head, she darted out of the room to carry out the plan. … Red Engineer clicked on his headset, and gave an announcement. “Hey, team. My good buddy Applejack is building us a recharge zone underneath the enemy base. It’ll include a teleporter to promote fast transport, with all the benefits of a cloaked Spy!” Several approving murmurs could be heard in reply over the speakers. Red Engineer smirked, and sat back behind Applejack’s sentry gun. ……………………………………………… As Applejack trotted through the sewers of the RED base, she began to hear gunshot sounds coming from the lower bridge up ahead. She drew her trusty Frontier Justice, and prepared to fight off the threat. Once she had come into view of the source, however, she was surprised to observe a heated duel between the two teams’ Scouts. She lowered her weapon, and sighed. “Would you two mind to clear up this bridge for me? I’m kinda busy.” She asked. Red Scout turned around for a moment to see who the visitor was. His face, along with his entire front side, was full of bullet holes and splashes of blood. “I think we’re a little bit MORE busy here, so maybe you can take the upper route.” He ordered. “Uh, it’s kind of urgent! I need to get into the BLU sewer entrance.” Applejack defiantly replied. Blue Scout sighed angrily. “Just take the stairs up to the main bridge, and then jump back down on the other side. It’s not that complicated.” … Applejack raised an eyebrow, surprised that Blue Scout was giving her directions into his own base. Shrugging her shoulders, she did as he had told her. … “Don’t let that serve as a distraction.” Red Scout stated. “Oh, please. I’m still fully set on kicking your ass into next week.” Blue Scout responded viciously. “Are you sure about that?” Red Scout asked suspiciously. Before giving Blue Scout a chance to respond, Red Scout drew his Sandman. Grabbing a baseball, he launched it in Blue Scout’s direction. After a few suspenseful moments of airtime, the ball cracked Blue Scout in the skull. … … Taking advantage of Blue Scout’s disorientation, Red Scout burst forward with his bat still drawn. He side-swung his enemy in the left hip, which sent him staggering toward the end of the bridge. Blue Scout’s feet gave way underneath him as they stepped off the edge of the wooden platform. He cried out in surprise as he grabbed the ledge with his hands, and clamped down with all of his strength. His Scattergun fell down into the pit, hurtling hundreds of feet before slamming into the jagged rocks below. The dangling assassin began to sweat. “Okay, man. Let’s slow this down a sec.” … Red Scout smiled as he slowly began to approach his endangered opponent. Blue Scout looked up at him with fear in his eyes as he hung over his painful doom. “What is there to slow down? I’m up here, and you’re down there. I think it’s obvious beyond this point.” He stated boldly. “What’re you gonna do? Kill me, then go prancing around like you’re some big shot? Big deal.” Blue Scout replied. “Of course I’m going to do that. I just thought I’d state a purpose while we were in this situation. Your Scattergun seems to be getting cold down there with no one to keep it company.” “Just get to the point, egg-face.” … Red Scout leaned down, and got very close to Blue Scout’s hanging body. His smile faded, and was replaced with a blank, serious expression. “You stay away from Rainbow Dash. That mare deserves ME, and me alone. If I even HEAR you call her ‘Skittles’ again, I will feed your ass to the Pyros. You understand me?” Blue Scout spat in Red Scout’s face. Red Scout took a moment to sit in silence. Blue Scout smirked cockily as he continued to hang down the side of the bridge. … “I think we’re done here.” Red Scout muttered. He stood up, aimed his Scattergun down, and shot Blue Scout’s grappling fingers. He immediately let go of the bridge, and hollered painfully as he plummeted down to his violent death. ……………………………………………… “There; that oughta do it!” Applejack stated. She made the last few adjustments to her teleporter, and it immediately started up with a red glow. In almost no time at all, Red Demoman appeared through the teleporter. Upon seeing where he had landed, the Scottish alcoholic flashed Applejack an approving thumbs-up. “Thanks, lad!” He said. “No trouble. Just be careful up there.” Applejack replied, pointing upwards. … As Red Demoman staggered away, Applejack swiped an ammo box from the staircase, and used the metal to start on her dispenser. As she was working, Red Soldier appeared through the teleporter as well. “Nice work, engie!” He acknowledged. Applejack nodded. “Just don’t let the team go up there all at once. We don’t want them BLUs gettin’ suspicious on us.” Red Soldier flashed a right-hand salute. “Affirmative!” … As Red Soldier walked off, Applejack kicked back against the wall next to her dispenser. She started to upgrade it passively as it slowly supplied her with metal. Periodically, other teammates would appear through the teleporter. They would give Applejack their regards, and jog off up the stairs and into battle. Applejack would simply tip her helmet in response, and return to her relaxing. At one point, the farmer heard something rustle near the far wall. She opened her eye warily, and scanned her surroundings. Nothing was to be seen in the basement of the BLU base. Just as Applejack was closing her eyes again, Red Sniper uncloaked in front of her in a blue halo. Applejack yelped, whipped out her Frontier Justice, and pointed it at his neck. He was obviously an enemy Spy, since he had appeared from nowhere with the enemies’ color. “Hey, what the hay do you think you’re doin’? I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but this place is RED property now! Get outta here before I blow your head off!” … The imposter reached up for their face, and removed the mask that powered the disguise. It was Rarity. “Rarity? What in tarnation are you doing down here? And why aren’t you trying to sap my stuff?” Applejack asked. “I need to say something important to you.” Rarity answered. “Didn’t you lose your disguise kit a couple battles ago?” Rarity reached in her suit pocket, and pulled out the Eternal Reward. She shot Applejack a bemused glance. “I backstabbed Red Sniper earlier, and got his disguise. I thought that would be obvious.” “And one more thing; how’d you know I was down here?” Applejack asked. “C’mon, Applejack. Did you really think I wouldn’t see the barrage of your teammates coming up to the base through the sewer stairs? The fact that you had a teleporter down here was as clear as day.” Rarity replied annoyingly. … “Well, whatever. What is this ‘important thing’ you need to speak to me about?” “It’s about Fluttershy and the robot battle. I spoke to Blue Spy earlier about it. His advice was to give her support and encouragement.” Rarity started. “Well, duh! Ain’t that something we always do as friends?” “No, not that kind of support. We need to let her know just how imperative she is to our operation, and how much we rely on her.” “But…wouldn’t that just make her feel more pressured?” “The way I see it, we have to really be there for her. Not like we normally are as good, loving friends. No, we have to be there as if we were nursing her at a hospital. Believe it or not, I think we’re just as important to her as she is to us.” … “I don’t think I understand you completely.” Applejack shrugged. Rarity sighed. “We have to catch her when she falls. We have to support her when she’s down. We have to forgive her when she fails. We have to………” She hesitated. “Do you see what I mean here?” Applejack nodded solemnly. Suddenly, a red light flashed behind them as Fluttershy herself appeared through the teleporter. She gasped when she saw Rarity, and drew her dreaded Ubersaw. “S…stay back! I…I will swing! I swear!” She cried nervously. Rarity began to step closer to Fluttershy. Fluttershy quivered, and stepped backwards into the wall. She pressed against its surface, trying to keep a distance from the misunderstood Spy. “Fluttershy, I just want to talk to you!” “No! I will not feel another knife get pushed into my back! Stay away!” Rarity stepped onto the teleporter exit to reach Fluttershy. Fluttershy held her Ubersaw out in front of her defensively. Rarity held out a hoof, trying to get Fluttershy to reason with her. “Fluttershy, I just wanted to—” … Suddenly, Red Heavy appeared through the teleporter. Rarity disappeared in a glowing cloud of red ions as she was disintegrated instantly. She was telefragged. Fluttershy flinched, and made a small squealing sound. Red Heavy heard the sound, and turned around to face the wall. “Hey! What is little pony doctor doing against wall like that? Come; follow Heavy!” The Russian ordered. Red Heavy marched off with his minigun as Fluttershy began to stray from the wall. Applejack’s jaw hung open, shocked at what had just happened. “Fluttershy, don’t follow him yet. I need you to stay down here with me.” ……………………………………………… “Alert! The enemy has taken our Intelligence!” The Announcer rasped angrily to the BLU team. Blue Medic groaned. “Ugh, already? How did zey get in here so fast?” “Follow me, doc! Maybe I can stop ‘em!” Pinkie Pie offered, running up to the German eagerly. “Fine, zen. Just don’t let zem escape.” … Blue Medic latched onto Pinkie Pie with his healing. Currently equipped with the stock medi-gun, he was determined to make his Ubers count. Pinkie Pie ran full speed toward the Intelligence room. Once she had gotten there, she and Blue Medic saw Red Demoman standing across the room with the Intel on his back. He did a twirl in front of them, and gave them the peace sign with his fingers. Blue Medic gasped. “Pinkie, vatch out!” Before any action could be taken, the duo was blown up violently by the stickybombs that were placed expertly around the rim of the entranceway. Gory remnants flew through the air around Red Demoman, splashing blood everywhere. … “They’re gonna bury what’s left of ya in a soup can!” He taunted. Red Demoman placed a sticky on the ground in front of him. After running over it, he detonated it, causing him to fly past the railing and over to the battlements of the BLU base. He beat Blue Sniper to death with a bottle on his way by, and left the base through the lower bridge. “Spectacular job, Demo.” A voice spoke over his headset. “Eh……who is this?” Red Demoman stammered. “It’s Red Spy. I saw the whole thing. Pretty smart job back there.” Red Demoman burped. “I’m drunk…what did ya expect?!” There was silence over the other end. Red Demoman just shrugged the conversation off, and continued to carry the briefcase back to the RED base. ……………………………………………… “Success! We have secured the enemy Intelligence!” The Announcer stated to the RED team. Red Engineer clapped his hands together happily as Red Demoman passed through the room. His plan for Applejack was working beautifully. And so far, there were no serious enemy encounters for him to worry about. Suddenly, to prove him wrong, a blue halo materialized next to Applejack’s sentry gun. Once it had appeared completely, it took the form of Fluttershy. “Hey, damned Spy! Get your ass away from that sentry!” He yelled. “Who, m…me? I…I’d never do something like that!” The fake Fluttershy sobbed in response. Right on cue, the fake Fluttershy placed a sapper on Applejack’s sentry, and disappeared. Immediately, Applejack was notified of it on the other side of the map. … “Hey, you’d better take care of that!” Applejack rasped over Red Engineer’s headset. Red Engineer sprinted up the stairs to assess the problem. “I’m trying, I’m trying! The Spy’s disguised as Fluttershy!” “Fluttershy’s standing right next to me!” Applejack exclaimed in the speakers. “Well, it doesn’t really matter where Fluttershy REALLY is, does it? There’s a Spy-Shy hanging around in here somewhere!” Red Engineer stated angrily. … Red Engineer fixed Applejack’s sentry gun from the sapper damage. As soon as he did so, however, the Fluttershy imposter appeared down by where he was first sitting; next to his dispenser. In the blink of an eye, the dispenser was being sapped as well. “Dammit!” Red Engineer ran down to the dispenser to fix the damage. As he did this, Red Pyro entered the room. “Pyro, help me! There’s a damn Spy in here!” Red Engineer ordered. Red Pyro nodded his head once, and began to shoot flames throughout the room. Walking around and spinning in circles, the arsonist tried to cover the whole room in all-consuming fire. Right then, Fluttershy’s burning halo appeared in the far corner. Immediately upon impact with fire, the hidden Spy was visible to the world. The fake and burning pegasus began to sprint out the door. Red Pyro did not let him up easy, however. Following him on the way out, the muffled assassin continued shrouding the Spy in flames until he collapsed to the ground. Sure enough, the corpse was that of Blue Spy. … Red Pyro walked back into the room, and shot a thumbs-up. Red Engineer smiled, and wiped his forehead. “I thank you kindly, Pyro. Your Spy-checking skills are matched by no other.” Red Pyro giggled. ………………………………………………. “Alert! The enemy has taken our Intelligence!” Blue Medic grumbled under his breath. “How are vee letting so many enemies steal our stupid briefcase?! I zought vee had better defense!” Blue Engineer, who had spawned next to Blue Medic in the resupply, shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know what to tell ya, doc. Every time I go into the Intel room to build, an enemy is already there before me. I don’t know how they’re getting here without crossing the bridge.” “Vell…did you see anyzing suspicious over zee course of zee battle?” Blue Medic asked. … Blue Scout, who had been sitting in the corner pouting for most of the battle, raised his hand. Blue Medic and Blue Engineer turned to him curiously. “I saw that orange pony go running by into our sewer entrance after the battle had started earlier. I wanted her out of my way, since I had an important job to do.” He explained. … Blue Scout gasped in surprise when he was suddenly picked up by his shirt by Blue Soldier and shaken back and forth. His eyes shook around in their sockets. “You idiot! You let an enemy ENGINEER into our base?! How could be so insensitive?! They’re probably down in our basement right now, tea-partying it up with their sentries and their teleporters!” He screamed angrily. “I don’t care, Soldier! Now put me down before I show you what this feels like!” Blue Scout yelled in response. “Hey hey, don’t worry about it, you two. We’ll just go down there with a little extermination force and wipe them out. We already have Pinkie Pie in the room with us.” Blue Engineer suggested. “You bet I am! That sounds like a great plan, there!” Pinkie mused. … “You know vhat? I bet vee could do zis by ourselves. C’mon, let’s go.” Blue Medic instructed. Blue Medic charged out of the resupply locker, with Blue Engineer, Blue Soldier, and Pinkie Pie close behind. Just as they were making their way down the stairs, the announcement rang that the enemy had capped the Intel for the second time. ……………………………………………… Music: The Art of War (Repeat if needed) ……………………………………………… “So do you see what I’m saying, Fluttershy? You are very important to us, and it’s essential that you understand the task that we’ll all be facing.” Applejack explained. Fluttershy stuttered nervously. She didn’t know how to respond to Applejack’s sudden wall of information. Without warning, though, her thoughts were interrupted by a very low rumble. “Um…what’s that sound?” She quivered. Applejack craned her head to hear the sound better. As the sound began to get louder, she gasped in surprise. “Someone’s coming down the stairs! Quick, Flutters, hide!” Applejack cried. … Applejack sprinted around the corner, and dove against the wall in the next space of the room. Fluttershy stood awkwardly next to Applejack’s dispenser. “Wait…where do I go?!” She whispered loudly. Applejack unwillingly ignored her friend. At this rate, any sound would give her away. Fluttershy would just have to take one for the team this time around. … Blue Medic, Blue Soldier, Blue Engineer, and Pinkie Pie appeared around the side of the gas tanker. They raised an eyebrow when they caught a glimpse of Fluttershy standing alone next to the two Engineer buildings. Fluttershy crumpled to the ground, and covered her face. “Where is the Engineer?!” Blue Soldier screamed. Fluttershy squealed quietly into the floor. As Blue Soldier struggled to get an answer out of her, Blue Engineer approached the teleporter and the dispenser, and hit them with his wrench until they were destroyed. Applejack grumbled. “Don’t think y’all are gonna keep her hidden from us. We know she’s down here somewhere, and we want to waste her before she builds more stuff.” Blue Engineer scolded. … Fluttershy didn’t make a sound. Blue Soldier began to clench his fists. “C’mon, Fluttershy, all we want is Applejack! It doesn’t have to be that hard.” Pinkie Pie consoled. Fluttershy still didn’t say anything. Her face remained buried in the cement, with her Quick Fix lying idly on the floor. The BLU group glared at her impatiently. … Blue Soldier growled. Without warning, he grabbed Fluttershy’s backpack, and tugged on it until it broke off of her back. This was enough to make Fluttershy show her face. “Hey! Please, give that back!” She begged. She jumped up after it, but he held the pack above his head where she couldn’t reach it. Blue Soldier felt the large, metal power device in his beefy hands. He stared thoughtfully at the big red “+” that was plastered on the side, and then back at the frightened pegasus who wielded it. … “Did you say you needed this useless piece of junk?” Blue Soldier stalled. “Yes! Please! Give it back to me!” Fluttershy pleaded. Blue Soldier looked back down at the pack. Suddenly, his face tensed up. His grip tightened on the device. “My God, what is WITH you passive fighters in this war?! I didn’t sign up and risk my life for petty little maggots like you to get all frou-frou and friendly in my face! Long live our beloved aggression!” He announced menacingly. He brought the pack backwards in his grip, and swung it hard at Fluttershy like a baseball bat. A large metal clang rang through the ears of the mercenaries as the surface of it struck Fluttershy in the right cheek. She flew backwards, and slammed into the broken shards of the dispenser. … The BLU fighters gasped in shock. Blue Medic covered his mouth. Fluttershy put a hoof under her crumpled body, and tried to get back up. Just as she was about to do so, Blue Soldier stomped over to her, and began to repeatedly beat her with the bottom end of the power backpack. “Oh mein God, Soldier! Stop it! Vhat zee hell is wrong vith you?!” Blue Medic yelled. The doctor stepped forward, and used all of his might to try and pull Blue Soldier off of Fluttershy. Pinkie Pie and Blue Engineer did the same. Applejack immediately left her hiding spot as soon as she heard the bang over Fluttershy’s face. She was now standing behind Blue Soldier, trying with the rest of the group to pull him off of her. … Blue Soldier got about two dozen solid strikes in before the group finally managed to pry him off of her. Blue Medic grabbed the pack out of his hands, and slapped him across the face. “You monster! Vhat zee HELL vere you zinking?!” He raged. “I don’t think he was, partner.” Blue Engineer added. The bunch of them stared worriedly down at Fluttershy, who was crippled on the ground and motionless. After twenty seconds of nothing, the broken pegasus slowly lifted a hoof. Everyone watched anxiously as the resilient young mare tried brutally to stand herself back up. She managed to get her other hoof underneath her. Once she had lifted her front end up, her face became visible. Blood dripped from her mouth and her nose, and tears dripped from her eyes. Multiple deformities were evident in her complexion from the strikes by the cold, hard metal. “Son of a bitch, Soldier! I can’t believe you!” Blue Engineer rasped. “Fluttershy…oh my gosh…” Pinkie Pie whispered. Fluttershy supported her head above the ground for a few seconds, but suddenly collapsed again after Pinkie had spoken. Her hooves moved to cover her face, and she began to sob loudly. …………………………………………… Music: Nayru's Wisdom (Repeat if needed) …………………………………………… “Stop! Stop! Everyone, stop fighting!” The Announcer screamed. Startled and confused, the mercenaries stopped in their tracks. They all tuned into their headsets, curious to see what the deal was about. Everyone who was dead immediately respawned. “It’s a stalemate! Everyone loses! Apparently, the events that have unfolded tonight have led to absolutely no progress by ANY of the teams!” She continued. Murmurs began to sail around the map as fighters discussed what was going on. Everyone slowly and subconsciously began to collect around the main bridge. “Some select mercenaries have clearly forgotten what it means to be a fighter here at Mann Co. In this company, we do indeed fight a lot. But we fight honorably! Fist fights and beatings are not what we are going to tolerate!” Shocked gasps could be heard around the group. More petty discussion arose between the fighters. … “I hereby announce, under the supervision of Saxton Hale himself, that the Soldier of the BLU team be suspended from this company until further notice, for the disorderly assault of Fluttershy, on the RED team.” Loud gasps filled the air as the mighty announcement was made. Red Medic’s was the loudest. “Vhat?! No! Not Ms. Fluttershy! I vill KILL him!!!” He vowed furiously. … The five fighters down in the BLU sewers, excluding Fluttershy, stood in a loose huddle in confusion and worry. The activity going on in the facility was because of THEM. And now, due to their little dispute, everyone was paying the price with an unruly stalemate. “What?! You can’t SUSPEND me! I’m probably the best fighter that Builder’s League United has ever had!” Blue Soldier defiantly yelled. “I wouldn’t argue. I’m sure you wouldn’t want your suspension to become an expulsion. Now stand down!” The Announcer ordered. … Blue Soldier reluctantly dropped his weapon, and lowered his head. Immediately, he disappeared in a brilliant flash of light. Just seconds after, Red Medic came bursting down the stairs. “Oh, Fluttershy! Look what he did to you!” He sighed sadly. Red Medic took a good, long look at his abused companion. Fluttershy didn’t even get up to look at her partner. She continued to cry into her hooves. … The distraught Medic turned angrily to the remaining four bystanders. “Go! Get zee hell out of here! Leave me vith my beautiful friend! I vill nurture her alone!” Blue Medic, Blue Engineer, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack raised their arms into the air, and backed out of the sewer slowly. Once they were gone, Red Medic rubbed his hand through Fluttershy’s destroyed mane. “Oh, dear Ms. Fluttershy…vhat tvist of cruel fate could’ve brought you into zis horrible vorld?” To be Continued…