"Alright guys. So... I am not sure... but I think I may have a clue to getting our hands on a dragon to English translator." Raynor said as he set down a large map of Equestria atop the table which had several places marked out for him. "Anyways, I borrowed this map from Twilight, so please ignore the ink and such."
"It's in that place they call the Crystal Empire isn't it?" Slade asked as he took a look at the map, wondering for a moment what the large red circles meant.
"Yep. So here's the thing... normally if we were to take train, it'd take I'd say about 6 hours. Not too painful. The thing is... we got no train. Why? Because some goddamn flying lizards burned it up."
"Well... that's awfully convenient." Rogers began.
"Of course it is. It's basic warfare. They are doing the old "divide and conquer". If Equestria can't as much as unite or hold any sizable force in one place, not that it really matters in my opinion, than whatever resistance, no matter how weak to begin with, will essentially be nothing."
"If you haven't forgotten, I know that." Rogers glared at Slade. Seriously, what a smartass. He's just like Tony, only about a few thousand times worse.
"So... what do we do then?" Armin asked. "You're not saying we can walk there.... right?"
"That's actually what I kinda had in mind..." Raynor began. "By my estimation, it'd be about 3 days for us to walk there. Well, that's assuming we can walk nonstop. So in that case, I'd give it 6 days."
"I don't fink it'll be a problem. Ja?"
"Doesn't strike me as it would be." Cap replied. "Though just in case, I think we should actually arm ourselves and be prepared for anything. Just in case. The last thing we need is to be caught by another fire-breathing lizard without as much as a rusty fork to defend ourselves with."
"And that is why I actually the things down at engineering produce more ammunition for all of us." Raynor replied. "Now then, you all think we should start tomorrow?"
A chorus of yes followed by various nodding. It would be settled then. Tomorrow morning.
"So... how long do you think it'll take with this route? Specifics at least." Rogers asked as he walked with the map. The previous night, he had repaired his uniform though he'd probably have to make a flame-retardant version later. As of now however, it would be fine assuming he wouldn't have to bear the full-brunt of another wall of fire.
"Hmmm..." Raynor said to himself as his heavy armor left dull thuds within the ground they walked. His armor's HUD giving them an approximate of a time. "Yeah. 6 days sounds pretty reasonable if you count in things like sleeping and the fact that we all need to take a break sometime. I dunno anything about super-soldiers or magical witches, but I can at least assume we all have to rest some time."
"Yeah. By the way Raynor, the first day we met, you mentioned you were a freedom fighter."
"Part time. We kinda run on cold feet, so I am also a mercenary so I can get some money to fund my war."
"Yeah. Is this... Terran Dominion as oppressive as it sounds?"
"Perhaps not, but they're pretty bad. The Emperor called Mengsk is a total scumbag who's lies and exploits the very people he's sworn to protect. He only cares about power that one and as of now, I am kinda out of ways to show the people the truth or to topple him."
"The price of freedom is high, Jim. But it's one I hope you're willing to pay."
"I'll fight to my last breath Captain, you bet your shield and your shiny outfit on that one." Jim smiled as they continued to move.
"So... tell me about zes titans Armin. Zeir regeneration capabilities?"
"Formidable. We blow their heads off with a cannon and they just grow one straight back."
"Oh... fascinating. Truly fascinating. Tell me, have your scientists gotten opportunity to study any of zese Titans? I am certain zey wood make many medical advancements."
"Part of the problem Doctor. Titan corpses have a tendency of just evaporating into thin air."
"Zen that must be quite ze problem. I assume zat capturing zem alive must not be an option?"
"We did it the moment we won the battle I was in... it's a long story and all, but it was pretty difficult in capturing those two titans. And they were the smaller variants."
"I see..." Medic continued. "So Armin... vat is your reason for staying?"
"Staying? I... well... you know with all this magic stuff right?"
"Ja?"
"I think it might be a way to help in our war against the titans. And even without that, imagine all the good things like controlled weather may be. The potential is limitless!"
"I see... vell... as you probably do know, I am here to advance my medical research. Imagine all the breakthroughs I'll be making! It's fantastic! Wunderbar!"
"Alright doctor... but with that machine you have... don't you think further advancement is almost... like impossible at where you are?"
"Vat ever do you mean?"
"You literally heal people with nothing but a beam of light! How is that even possible."
"Science my dear boy... science! But zere are always things to improve. One breakthrough for example is vat I call ze kritzkrieg. Using some advanced science, I vas able to build a machine that could store enough energy and transfer zem to it's patient, but mostly ze patient's weapon. Imagine... bullets traveling at 3 times zeir normal velocity! Rockets with ze same explosive radius but ze force of somefing 3 times greater! Zen, zeir is ze quick fix! And ze vaccinator! I am a genius!"
"I would doubt that medic. But can I have a question?"
"Sure."
"You wanted I think hearts. Particularly Slade's, Steve's and Sanya's?"
"Yes... vell... not just hearts... DNA samples, blood, etc. You see... Slade and Steve are both vat we'd call ubermensch... or supermen. Zey have much strength within zem and have tapped into ze power of ze gods! Imagine what I could do... if I was to replicate ze serums zat made them zis way. We could be gods!"
"Become gods? I can see how you may make humanity a bit... stronger but becoming gods?"
"How do I know zat? Elementary Armin. Can you explain how Steve stayed alive after being frozen for 70 years? Or how at age 80, Slade still is as fit as a kind? It's simple... zey must be immortal! Or perhaps... just long lived... it'd be better if it was the first one by ze way..."
"But what about Sanya? Why does she interest you?"
"She is a witch! Vhere does magic come from? Zis certainly isn't because of devil worship or black magic rituals isn't it now? It's merely science! Science zat some of us may not understand... and zat some lesser men may never have the capability to understand. But I intend to unravel it's secrets! YES!"
Did we mention he had a screw loose and was perhaps a bit too obsessed with his line of work?
"I think the good doctor maybe a little bit excited with his work..."
"Yeah... he's not coming near me. If he does, I'll cut his hands off, that's for sure." Slade commented as he picked up a small splinter. He flicked the tidbit of wood, and chuckled to himself as he watched it slice a grasshopper in half. 80 years old, and he still hadn't lost his touch. Perhaps what medic was right. Even he didn't know the true capabilities of the experiments that had been done to him. Was he immortal? Most likely not. But is he still fighting at the same pace, if not at even greater than he was when he was only about 20 years old and ready for the experiment? Could he make the assumption, that from the fact he was 80 years old and had still yet to feel the symptoms of old age, that he could be very, very long lived? Most certainly. Of course, enough about him. He had his own questions.
"So tell me about being a witch anyways. Do they all start as young as you do?"
"At around 12, most witches find their powers to emerge. This is when they are at their best. From about 12 to 20."
Yikes. And they thought he was too young when he started at 16.
"And how old do MEN start?"
"I think 18 is the minimum... I think there are such things as male witches, they're either rare or legendary. Rumor has it that Karlsland has some kind of secret research team that makes male witches? The details are just rumors and fairly unreliable."
"Tell me."
"Okay. I think their organization's name is like... um... I think it's called HYDRA?"
Wait. What?