'When we hunt, we kill'
'nothing is safe, nothing is sacred'
'we are Blackwatch'
'we will burn our own, to hold the red line'
'it is the last line to ever hold'
"So let me get this straight. I come with you to become a prince, Just! bacause i am an alicorn, why?" Lamar asked flabergasted.
"Because, think about how it will look if an alicorn is not part of the royal family." Celestia said
"Whats in it for me?" Raptor commented crossing his arms
"If you do this you will receive all the power of the station. You will be aloud to raise your own royal guard like my celestial guard or my sister here's Lunar guard, you will be given troops from the loyal and honorable of equestrias finest rangers of the earthpony tribe, the mages of the unicorns, the Wanderbolts of the pegasi, and the mighty Celestial, Lunar, and Cadencial knights. What say you Sir Raptor?"
"'tch' radio check, Raptor two-one this is Raptor two-two how copy?"
"solid coppy two-two go ahead." Raptor said
"We found something your gonna want to come see sir."
"On my way. You all too im not leaving anyone in here. And Celestia I could still have men out there, No one left behind." he responded receiving the rifle and cocking back the action
"Go to town brother." Lamar said putting hand on his friends shoulder
"Right away." he said his wings flared as he pumped biomass into the mussels and with a massive beat of his wings he was off in a trail of red.
"Lets, Go." Lamar ordered the group as he led them outside.
"Where's Cas?" Jameson asked Lewis
"Over there sir." he said pointing to a small rock formation.
The eight mares watched as he walked over to the rocks but they noticed that when he got there his arms fell limp at his sides as they saw his rifle as he called it fall to the ground beside him. They then watched his whole body go slack and he fall to his knees. When they got closer they saw what made him so upset there on the ground were five bodies all in the same armor as Raptor and his ponys.
'sniiif' they heard him inhale as he pulled himself into a kneeling position.
"Rest now Brothers. For your fight is over, your war is over. Find peace in..." He softly spoke his head held low.
"Whats he doing?" Rainbow dash asked quietly.
"Ever since the founding of zulu squad five years ago the boss only had one rule." Cass explained as they watched Raptor continue his prayer before she to went to a knee and prayed with him
"That didnt answer the question." Dash complained
"The thing about the Lt is that he didnt have the best time growing up and he found a way out when he found an old store buried under rubble, where there were dozens of books, and movie set from the Grimm Darkness of the far future, to the fantastical tales of middle earth and every ware between. But in the wars on earth one has little hope so he created his own traditions and pseudo religion based on the worlds he had read about to give him hope. And when he was put in charge of Raptor and Reaper squads his traditions carried over but to a much lesser extent. This is just his way of coping with loose, we all have our own way but we all respect and honor each others traditions in Zulu squad that's what made us family, and we all would and still will follow him into the deepest depths of hell if it came to it and he would do the same for any of us. Now if you'll excuse me." Starnes said before taking a knee followed by Lewis and believe it or not the Royal sisters followed by the elements both of which just knelt in silent respect and understanding.
"'sigh' scavenge what you can, take there tags. Girls can you make a large gurney? We're not leaving these fuckers here." Lamar said finally back to normal.
"It's not your fault boss. We all knew the risks when we signed up at least they were DOA." Cas said as she looted one of the bodies taking the pack, rifle, ammo, everything and anything of use short of their armor but she did remove there helmets.
"Sorry bro you didn't deserve this." starnes said as he took Axelsons dog tags and threw them to Jameson who was collecting dog tags.
"You all go back. We'll be there tomorrow we have be careful with taking them back to town." lamar said to the elements and the princesses as he looted Mikelson.
"Dude! new watch!" he called as he held up a brand new Rolex.
"how the fuck did he afford that on our salary!?" Starnes yelled as he consumed one of the dead batponys.
"I found an engagement ring on axelson!." Lewis yelled.
"Dude i found an X-86.!
"You mean the Mike-2! bad ass!" And like that the four continued to loot the bodies of there fallen brethren for the rest of the night.
the next day
"Look! Raptor and his guards coming back!" a random pony yelled pointing at the edge of town.
There were cheers of excitement and thunderous applause as they watched the Alicorn and his group draw ever closer. However there cheers turned to tears when they saw that the four Ponys with there weapons on there backs each carried one end of a large gurney that carried the bodies of five of raptors guard, Five ponys they never got to and never will get to meet, and in there other hands they each carried large bags. They watched as the one known as Reaper neared but upon seeing this sight he fell to his knees in grief before taking Raptors position on the gurney. The now confirmed group of five carried the bodies of their fallen brethren to the train station where much to the crowds amazement waited a group of six celestial, six Lunar, and six Cadencial knights who actually knelt in respect to the fallen, as there bodies were taken into the lead car of the train before they too brooded a separate car and were whisked away to canterlot.
Canterlot sunset
As the train pulled into the station the Princess of the sun along with her sister and the rest of the royal family waited along with the royal guard captains and there knights, as well as a few royals from other countries who were in town. Equestrian flags flew in the dark skies eliminated like the rest of the streets below them by large torches and hearths. The element bearers stood at celestias side as they wait.
"Here they are." Celestia said solemnly something like this hadn't been done since her sisters banishment and even then it was something she hatted doing it reminded her that no matter what she did she could not protect all of her litter ponys.
They watched as five ponies walked out of the front car but unlike other times they had seen them they did not have there armor on. However they each had on matching cloth uniforms comprising of from the bottom up well shined and polished black "shoes", prim and pressed midnight blue dress pants or a knee length skirt in Cass's case, they wore black jackets with many different medals and symbols on them, and each of them had on a black hat that kept there manes out of their faces.
They each had subtle differences in their uniforms for example Lewis had his police badge below the blackwatch star on his uniform and had other law enforcement as well as three commendation medals a purple heart and a Navel Star as well as the medals from the four campaigns he was in and a single grey and red hexagon shaped one on his uniform. Connor had a red stripe going down the side seems of his pants he also had two purple hearts, the ranger serves medallions two commendations, and an army service medal of excellence.
Cass had not much in the way of medals but the majority of her left breast was covered in ribbon racks from excellent service to what ever you could think of she probably had it she also had the same red stripes on her skirt as Connor did on his pants. Starnes on the other hand had many medals he also like Lewis had the same hexagon shaped medal, as well as a POW medal, different distinguished service medal,legion of merit, the navy and Marine corps medal, the Navy Cross, And Last but not least a Medal of honor around his neck. Last was Raptor who's uniform was a bit different form the others he had gold stripes on the seems of his pants, gold buttons on his jacket gold rank bars,one thick diagonal gold stripes on his sleeves, and had a small gold rope going threw the loop on his right shoulder and under his right arm, and he like Starnes and Lewis had the same hexagonal medal except his was polished silver and with a ruby as the border of the medal, he also had a the army occupation medal, didtinguished servive medal, a silver star, bronze star, two purple hearts, the ASUA, and last but not least and to him the most important the Blackwatch Iron Star. (sorry about that i kind of got carried away)
"Who is that Auntie?" A pink alicorn asked holding Shining armors hand and gesturing to the male alicorn who marched in front of the gurney Rifle in hand.
"He be'eth Raptor Cadence. The last male alicorn." Luna said as slowly the mass of equestrians followed the group to the main courtyard of the castle and there they lay the bodies under guard with helmets on there chests. as the five go off to fetch the preparations.
And as the Luna finaly raises the moon for the first time in a thousand years, the mass of civilians who had gatherd to watch the spectacle and the many other representatives of the equestrian military they all watch as the five Ponys place there fallen brothers on large piles of wood under a statue of Celestia and Luna. They then each took a single step back as they turned around and each retrieved an unlit torch before turning back around as one. They then as one took out small silver rectangles flipped them open creating a spark and a small flame before lighting their torches and tossing there torches into one of the five piles setting them alight and steeping back.
"Burial detail! Attention!" Raptor yelled as they all raised their arms in a salute. In a display of respect the members of the equestrian military salted as well.
"Zulu squad! Preeseent... Arms!" he continued as they drooped there salutes and retrieved the large strange crossbows from there backs.
"Ready!" he yelled as the five of them aimed there bows over the bodies of there brothers
"Fire!,... Fire!,... Fire!,... Fire!" He yelled and much to there dismay they fired there strange weapons forcing them to lay their ears flat on there heads in an attempt to lessen the noise. however just as they thought they were done raptor fired one last round off.
"Celestia." Raptor said as he stood next to her never taking his eyes off of the burning bodies.
"Yes raptor?" she responded knowing this was a privet conversation.
"i'll do it. but i pick my team."
"Thank you Sir Raptor. have one of your guards take this to the royal smith, and your coronation will be held in two weeks."