//------------------------------//
// Chapter 25: Duty and Discovery 
// Story: Fallout Equestria - The Code of Honor 
// by FireStorm2247 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 25: Duty and Discovery



“Understanding the world you can see is only half the battle.”




Time. 

Time was an interesting thing, full of little tricks, easily able to catch you by surprise. Out here on the surface, there had never been an instance of this. Things had been routine, a direct path, an objective with a goal at the end. Our new lifestyle upon taking Hopeville was very linear and organized, and the tasks we had to undertake didn’t have much of a timeframe. Of course, searching for supplies, exploring the land, they had to be done as quickly as possible. But there was no deadline to come along with it. We didn’t pay much attention to time… didn’t have any need to. Worrying about things like deadlines came from the more civilized life we had in Stable 181. Get to class before the bell, get homework done before the due date, get enough sleep to be well rested for school – all of that was the simple stuff, the habitual. For me it was easy. I enjoyed school and was a good student. But I still had plenty of moments where I wondered where the time went, wondered how the next day had come up so fast. Out in the wasteland, there were no thoughts like that… not until now. 

Time…… It was already time to go.

Off to war.

And it seemed like it was only a few minutes ago that Archer and I were listening to the new Eternity Radio together. 

My sleep the past night had not been disturbed, to which I was very grateful. However, it still seemed too short when I was woken up by a nudge from Gunny. And now that I was awake, I was up and moving in a very strange scene – I was just one of no more than a dozen that was up and moving in our whole group, five of whom made myself and my friends who were joining me. Just off to my right, Blake was still tucked away under his trusty white blanket, only his head sticking out from the covers. He shifted as I looked over him, turning himself over from his belly onto his left side and putting his back to me… but still sleeping peacefully. Archer was nearby too, and when I looked over my right shoulder, I found the available clearing he’d claimed just a few yards behind me. He was still asleep too, his battle saddle and the Longbow laying together behind him. And his saddlebags, now emptied of ammo and provisions, made a pillow for him to lay his head. And even in the darkness, I was still able to see where Shore and his parents had made their own nest. I wasn’t wholly sure, but I thought I saw the three forms out directly ahead where they slept together; his parents had finally allowed themselves to get a little rest of their own, something I knew they sorely needed. 

But other than a few early birds who were out and moving, stretching their legs and working the sleep out of their eyes, it was just me and my friends, all soldiers of Challenger.

It was very early in the morning now, just a very faint bit of color showing to the east, pale blue-green against the thinner sections of the now fully-restored cloud ceiling. And I knew we were near due to head out to Challenger’s military district. Once we had all enlisted, Lieutenant Colonel Ajax informed us that a runner would be coming by in the morning to pick us up and lead us to where we needed to be to receive our first assignments. 

And that’s where my eyes fell back to when I reminded myself of that – back to the east entrance to our camp in the Presidential Palace yard; I was ready to go. 

With Gunny’s help, my MPD armor was back in place, every punctured, dented plate. Goddesses, this armor had seen so much use, protected me from so many potential wounds that I’d lost count. But despite its wear and tear, putting the rig back on was actually rather refreshing, which was turning into the case every time. It was so much a part of me now, something that, without it, I felt I would’ve been in far worse shape than I was now. It was just one of those little things, yet something that was so important. 

After the armor, my saddlebags were resituated on their place over my flanks. And then my battle saddle was back in place, my Stable 181 markspony carbine on the right, Cross’s battle rifle on the left. Then came my two sidearms. After some fiddling, I found a place for Fire Rose and its ammo belt just above my pipbuck. It wasn’t the most comfortable fit, but at least I had mother’s pistol with me. Then, on my free leg – Mother Shimmer’s pistol, revealed by my pipbuck to have a name. I should’ve expected it, what with the way Shimmer had presented it to me. And with the same color scheme, and even the same marking on the frame as Blue Fire’s Torch, I shouldn’t have been as surprised as I’d been. But either way, it served to fully wake me up when my pipbuck listed the fifty caliber pistol’s name as Blue Fire’s Spark. In that moment, the connection became instantly clear. I now had in my possession two weapons with the same mark, and were no doubt from the same origin. Mother Shimmer had been right – there was more to this blue flame than we knew, and had I not been preparing for war, I would’ve pounced on the opportunity to look into it, to start raising the question to anypony who had plenty of travel time to their name. It had been odd enough when I’d gotten my cutie mark, only to see that it was the very same mark that my father had. As far as I knew, no two ponies were supposed to have the same exact cutie mark. But the peculiarity behind it only grew further when I’d first laid eyes on the Torch. Seeing my symbol etched on the stock of a weapon that had no history with the Stable at all – it showed to me that that mark had a presence on the surface. After that came Blake, when he’d gotten his cutie mark by killing a Talon soldier, saving Gunny’s life… making three of us that wore the exact same symbol. And now, with this pistol in my collection of weaponry, I was definitely a believer that this symbol hid something from me… something that I really did want to find out about.

But only when time would allow. 

For now, all I had to do was sling the Torch over my back, and then I’d be ready to move out along with my friends, all four of whom were close by. Gunny – our support gunner with the All-Equestrian and his riot shotgun secured over his back, his revolver magnum and its ammo belt strapped around his right hind leg, Honor hooked to his front left, all overtop his Stable security armor, carried by him ever since we left One Eighty-one. Ivy was right next to him, garbed in her simple leather rig, her lever action rifle and her more sophisticated 12.7mm SMG hooked up to her armored sides. Sierra was father away, already waiting for us where she sat encased in her power armor and its provided compact minigun and missile launcher. And then there was Raemor, likewise ready and waiting, garbed in his Equestrian Army combat armor and duster, grenade APW and fire axe over his back, .45 pistol around his front left leg. 

Each of them was merely waiting for that promised courier. And me – all that remained was the Torch itself. The beautiful blue, black, and grey sniper rifle was laying right at my hooves, my own cutie mark looking back at me. And with a nod of approval, I reached down and took hold of the rifle in my jaws, then swinging my head around and securing it in place over my back, the final piece to my uniform. 

And as I observed it, I couldn’t help but cast a little smile at the sight of it… of all of it. It was no concert dress… but I looked good in my outfit either way. 

With that, everything was set. Looking back to the entrance to the palace yard, there was still no sign of the military runner. Just to the side, my friends were gathering into a circle, Gunny looking my way in silent question as he joined Sierra and Raemor, Ivy following right behind him. To him, I gave a nod and raised a hoof, letting him know I was ready and about to join them. But it was right when I did that I heard a faint yawn, making my ears perk at the pitch of the voice that spoke it. And with slight surprise, I looked to find that it was indeed Blake that was stirring, rolling slowly back onto his stomach, and looking to the ground with half-lidded eyes fresh from slumber. Right then and there, a slight jolt ran through me as I came to the realization, quickly, that Blake was going to see me fully geared up and ready for battle. Except on top of what was already a familiar sight, he’d be seeing me as a newly enlisted soldier of this city, with my pins and S.E.R.A.F. patch in their respective places on my shoulders and chest. While he had already been aware of my choice to enlist… it had not been something that we had discussed.

But there was no time for me to worry on that matter. His eyes came around to find mine, and though it took a little time, awareness came to him as he looked me over in silence. I didn’t try to hide anything, didn’t try to speak about it. I only let him think what he did as I sighed my acceptance, looking back over my shoulder and… for no particular reason, really… fiddled with the Torch again, readjusting it and making extra sure it was secure. All the while, Blake continued to remain silent… which eventually prompted me to find him again. He only stared, tired… but I knew there was more. 

“You should still be sleeping, baby brother.” I gently chided, looking away and pawing once at the ground with a hoof. “It’s early.” 

“You’re leaving?” 

I expected it at any moment now – protest. He was more than smart enough to know what was what in this situation, but I still expected it. “Yes, I am.” I answered with the same tenderness. “I’m just waiting for somepony to come pick me and the others up. I’m afraid it’s that time, Blake.” 

Here’s where it would come up, I was sure of it. It had happened every time we parted ways. If he wasn’t by my side, he regretted it. It was for good reasons, understandable ones – living up to his promise to our father to watch out for me, his desire to stay close to his blood family, his own drive to make positive change, and not just for me but for everypony we held close – all proof of the many good lessons he took from the Stable’s teachings, those that would make him one hell of a stallion someday. Throughout our journey together, nothing had changed in the fact that I was so very proud of my baby brother. And after everything he’d done, that would never change. But now, after so much, came something that was too far out of Blake’s league, something I could not, and would not let him get involved in. And if protest came, I would quell it in a heartbeat, and not just for his safety. I would do so also because, in my eyes, he had truly done so much for me, and more, for all of us… more so than anypony of his age could be expected to undertake. This was the moment, the time for him to acknowledge what he had accomplished, and use that as the reason for him to stand down. And that was not for him to take with shame, but with pride in the knowing that his role in our efforts had helped us achieve results, and more, achieve meaningful victories. 

With that, he deserved to grow up with his friends, become a stallion, maybe find a wife and have children, live a peaceful and enriching life. He had given his best to our fight for survival, and thus deserved the best as reward. 

“I wish I could be there to help you, Nova…” 

Well… not exactly what I had expected, but close enough. It was just one more shred of proof as to how good a pony Blake really was. But it was right when I opened my mouth to reply, speaking my first syllable, that he spoke up to overpower me, saying, “I just feel like I’m doing nothing but getting in the way…” 

My eyes went wide, prompt worry overriding all else as I cast him a puzzled frown. “Blake…” 

“I can’t help it.” he continued on, glumly as he looked away, his eyes averted to the ground. “If I’m not helping you… I feel useless… and I don’t want to feel that way.”

“Hey…” 

Even as I approached, Blake lay his head down on the dirt, keeping his eyes forward. “I’ve felt like that before… and every time, it hurts…… I want to feel like I’m doing good and being helpful… but I don’t… I just feel like I’m no help at all.” 

Without consent, I quickly laid myself down next to him. And he didn’t even flinch as I opened up my right wing and set it over him, hugging him to me. “I don’t want to hear any more of that.” I asserted with some sternness. “Because you know that’s not true.”

His ears begun to fold back. “I’m sorry…” he replied, guilty. “I just know that what you’re about to do… I know it’s something I can’t help you with… and I hate it that I can’t.”

With a little sigh of sympathy, I chose to lay my head down too, looking to him as I did so to try and get his eyes on me. “You’re right…” I answered him, very careful. “You can’t come with me on this one, and you know why already. But just because you can’t help me now doesn’t mean, even in the slightest, that you’ve been useless.” And finally, he did look back to me, the two of us laying there together, facing each other eye-to-eye. “You’ve been anything but useless, Blake.” I said, with all the confidence I could muster. “You may not believe it, but you’ve done everything you could have possibly done to help me.”

“You… you mean that?” 

Without an ounce of hesitation, I hugged him even tighter, pulled him even closer. Now, I only wished that my carbine wasn’t in the way. But that still didn’t stop me reaching over to lay my head right next to his, bumping my muzzle to his in the process. “I would never lie to you about that, Blake… And I hope that you trust me when I say that.” 

Slowly, he nodded against the dirt. “Yeah I… I do…” 

“Ever since we left the Stable, I saw great courage and devotion. And not only have you helped us in so many ways, but you’ve willingly given your time and effort to help complete strangers.” I explained, taking advantage of the attention he gave me. “Do you remember when we first started traveling across the wasteland? When all our survivors carried only what they’d stuffed in their pockets or what saddlebags they’d managed to take?” Again, he nodded… and glanced sidelong to me. “You helped carry our supplies so that I could scout out the terrain from the air. And after, when we found Hopeville, you volunteered to help me and my friends scout the roads. And even in the face of incredible danger, you didn’t back down. You stayed with us, pressured me into letting you come along to Proudspire, and when we were there, you comforted Kayla through the toughest choices she had to make as a leader. You remember that don’t you?” Though he didn’t speak up, and though a sad little frown remained, showing his doubts… he nodded again. “I know how much Kayla appreciated you being there for her, and I know that out of everything that little town threw at you, you two became good friends. And it was the same case with Lucan when we found him. You remember him?” 

“Yeah…” 

“You were there for him when he had nopony else to turn to, you and the rest of your young friends. You helped make sure he felt welcome, and you gave him a friend to be with in Hopeville.” To that, he nodded a reluctant agreement. “Then, after going through a whole other battle in Hopeville, in the aftermath of which you worked in Gracie’s clinic, you still came with me and the others to Buckley. And… even though you’d almost been killed… because you were with us, you were the one that ended up saving Gunny’s life when the Talons invaded.” And here, I made especially sure we looked eye-to-eye. “As frightening as that was for you… and as sorry as I felt about you having to do what you did… Gunny wouldn’t be alive right now if it hadn’t been for you killing that soldier.”

“It was scary…” Blake responded, slow, hushed. “But I’m glad he’s okay… and I’m glad I did what I did.”

“We all are, Blake. And if all of that didn’t show how brave you are, then you fighting with me outside Challenger’s gate definitely did.” I said steadfastly. “You put your own life on the line for our survivors. When you were wounded out there… it was the most terrifying moment of my life… and honestly, it still haunts me. But that, and everything before it, has shown that you’ve played far more than a small part in helping our group through all the trials that this new life has thrown at us.” I definitely had his attention now. But I wasn’t stopping there. “Everything you’ve done, Blake.” I continued. “Even something so little as carrying around supplies – it all adds up. You have done more than enough, and so should have no reason to feel like you’re a burden, or that you’re useless, or anything like that.” And without a moment’s hesitation, I shifted enough to reach up a foreleg and sling it over Blake’s neck, pulling him in for a big hug. “You have been anything but useless, Blake, and I’m so very, very proud of you.”

With him against me, I felt when he hitched just a little, sniffling once lightly. And I couldn’t help but crack a tiny smile, realizing that my words had touched my dear brother. “Really?” 

“Really.” I answered him, meeting his eyes once again; oh yes, there was a tear in there. “Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for us, Blake… for me.” I picked up, letting my smile grow. “I love you so much, little brother. And don’t you ever doubt that for a second.” And it was then that Blake snuggled himself up tighter against me, resting his head against my chest… an embrace that I was all too happy to accept. “Your actions are just one of many reasons why I wouldn’t even think of taking back my choice to enlist in this city’s army, Blake.” I reached down, brushing my muzzle along the back of his neck. “Doing this – it lets me do something for you for a change, something that’s probably the most important thing I could ever do for you.”

“And what’s that, big sister?” he asked, remaining in his place against me. 

“Fighting for a better future that you can grow up in and live a peaceful life in.” came my proud answer. “That kind of future is what you deserve, Blake. And if going off to this war and doing my part to fight in it can help me give that to you… then that’s my new mission.”

After a little bit longer, Blake pulled away and situated himself to look back at me. There was the remnants of a smile of his own on his face. But I knew what he was thinking now – the same thing that had always been occupying his thoughts to some degree or another. “I still wish you didn’t need to go out there.” he muttered. “I don’t want you to get hurt anymore… because you’ve been through a lot, too.” 

Truthfully… I was touched by his words. But still, “Knowing that you’ll be able to grow up makes all of it worth it, Blake.” And I shifted to reach a forehoof up to touch his right cheek. “I want to be able to give you something from all this Blake, something greater than the life we’ve led so far, something greater than myself… something worthy of you. And I can think of nothing better than life itself, life in which you have freedom from fear, life in which you have beautiful things to look forward to. That’s what I want for you… because you have so much to be and so much to do. I want you to be able to do the things you want to do, whatever those dreams might be. And I want to be able to call that something that I won for you by fighting those who would take that away from you.”

Through all of my talk, he kept his eyes on me. He listened, didn’t flinch, didn’t object. I knew he took my words to heart. But right after we went silent again, his eyes abruptly looked away and off to his right… and I heard hoofsteps in the near distance, drawing me in to follow where Blake looked. I met Gunny’s eyes from afar, the big unicorn looking to me as, just beyond him, Raemor and Ivy closed the distance between two Challenger soldiers…

Our escorts were here.

Together, Blake and I looked to one another one more time. And before I could, Blake took the opportunity to speak. “Can I ask you for one more thing, Nova?” 

After a moment, I nodded. “What’s that, Blake?” 

“You said that you wanted me to grow up in peace…” he answered with strength, to which I nodded. “Well… I want you to be able to see me grow up, Nova. So…… just be careful out there, okay?” 

One more time, I pulled him in for a hug, resting my head over his as he returned to his place against my chest. And after a short little sigh, I let myself smile just a little bit more. “Don’t worry Blake,” I assured confidently, shifting to plant a kiss on his neck. “I’ll be back before you know it.” And closing my eyes, I let myself repeat my words. “I’ll be back before you know it.” 

A promise… and a prayer.


***				***				***


“That the last batch?” 

“This is it… for now at least.” Up ahead, an earth pony stallion was clad in the green camo S.E.R.A.F. combat armor, wielding a dual shotgun saddle, to whom one of the runner’s guiding us through Challenger’s streets was calling to as we approached the open gate leading to the city’s military district. “Way I hear it, the Lieutenant Colonel rallied up a couple small groups of civvies who signed on last minute.” the soldier up front and left of us continued as we approached. “But this group here is from the outside, one of the few to make it through to us.” 

“Word’s already going around the camps about them.” the gate guard hollered back. “They’re going to save lives out there, especially those two fliers there. Never thought we’d have pegasus ponies on our side.” 

And the soldier – he looked over his shoulder right to me, then to Sierra, who walked by my right side, and whose visor turned to me. “Neither did I.” he said, casting us both a smile before facing front, both he and the second soldier in our company trotting ahead to close their distance to the gate. “Is Ajax still meeting with the captains?”

“Yeah, they’re all still in there.” the earth guard answered him with a nod. “But he said to let them in anyway. He wants to get them on the field asap.” 

“Alright then.” And as we came up to the gate, our two escorts turned and faced us, the second soldier ushering us through with a nod and small smile. “Head on in, wastelanders. The LC’s ready for you, so when you find the tent, just go on in.” 

“Which way?” Gunny questioned, coming into my sight at my left side. 

“The command tent’s dark green, big, marked by a white star on the front flap.” came the runner’s explanation. “Just follow the trail through the shacks, turn left at the fork, and you’ll find it on the left side in a dirt clearing.”

“There’s a twenty mil parked outside, too.” the first soldier added quickly. “You’ll know it when you see it.” 

“Thank you.” I spoke out as Gunny nodded his understanding. 

“Sure. And thank you for coming to serve with us.” he replied directly to me, raising his hoof to his brow in a quick salute. “All of you. Thanks. And good luck out there.” And with that, we were on our way through into Challenger’s military district. 

Right away, there was a distinct change in not only the way this district looked in comparison with the rest of the city, but also in the atmosphere… like the gate was some kind of barrier between two worlds. Even in the early hour, things were very busy here, fast-paced, yet still crisp and organized. S.E.R.A.F. soldiers were crossing the street ahead of us regularly, trotting to and fro as they conducted their various errands. Flanking the road on both sides, immediately past the gateway, were four long, large metal shacks, two on each side of the trail. The front doors on all of them were open, and within each I could see the shining presence of candle fire. Beyond those shacks, I caught a glimpse of dirt clearings, home to a number of military supply crates and metal shipping containers, perhaps supplies for the city’s fourth battalion waiting to be allocated. Further down the road, we beheld a large plot of land to the left that was home to one massive tent. Dozens of tables were set up underneath it, atop all of which was a variety of disassembled weapons bathed in lantern-light. Mixed in with the technicians working on cleaning and maintaining those weapons were several couriers, carrying in hooflockers and ammo boxes to store there, while others still hauled out finished weapons and brought them further into the district. On the right side of the road was another yard sealed by an old chain fence, beyond which were more shipping crates; two twenty millimeter flak guns were sitting unattended amidst the stockpile there. 

Further down the road we went, seeing next the district’s personal clinic. It was a small shack of metal and wood and cloth, but the field hospital was definitely seeing use this morning, as I saw through open windows three different army medics checking over the wounded from yesterday’s skirmishes… and perhaps more than that, the missile strikes themselves. The barracks complex was nearby the hospital, a much larger, much broader four-story sheet-metal house. But unlike the hospital itself and the multitude of smaller tents, shacks, and supply yards that made the majority of what we saw thus far, this building was largely empty, devoid of light, of voices; even the double doors were shut.

After passing by a pair of training yards, one devoted to physical training, the other to hoof-to-hoof combat, we arrived at the fork mentioned by the gate guards. Gunny took the lead at the sharp turn to the left, and upon rounding the corner past one two-story shack, we arrived at what I felt had to be the busiest section of the district. Nothing less than organized chaos, there was a whole crowd of soldiers in the streets, yet not one of them was staying in one place. Every one of them out here had a task and a destination. Some carried weapons – heavy machineguns and their tripods, heavy ammo including missiles, twenty caliber rounds on ammo belts, and what I recognized to be balefire eggs. And there were other weapons still that I’d never seen before, the most prominent being what looked like a minigun barring the weapon’s single barrel and what looked to be some kind of glowing battery pack. Those who weren’t charged with weapons were hoisting ammo boxes and duffle bags, and one team of four even pulled a two-wheeled cart loaded to the brim with assorted supplies. There was a constant flow here, both of soldiers heading deeper into the district with their gear, and of others returning with their own items. This wasn’t the case just here either, but everywhere I could see past the tents and shacks. And I had no doubt that Ajax’s entire battalion, or close to it, was out here, gearing up for the up-and-coming march to Ashton. 

Though it took a bit longer in the congesting traffic, we eventually found our own destination, which Gunny called back to us and pointed for the rest of us to see. Sure enough, the one tent that stuck out among the others was that which was emblazoned with an aged white star against the dark green fabric on the entrance flap. It was the biggest as well, easily four times longer than, and twice as wide as, the more square-shaped tents along the road. And past the constantly opening and closing gaps in the crowd, I could see the aforementioned flak gun right outside, the barrel facing skyward on its modified housing, the crew ever watchful. With Gunny pushing through the crowd for the rest of us, we were able to follow him to a clearing just outside the command tent. I emerged from the bustle right behind him, the both of us turning around just as Sierra came through. Ivy was right behind her, stumbling past a hastily-moving soldier that crossed her path before Raemor came in smoothly behind her to join our circle. 

“This is the place, alright.” Gunny commented, looking over his shoulder to the white star waiting for us. Then, facing front again, “We all ready?” 

“I’ve been ready.” Sierra remarked, her helmet trying to muffle her voice. “It will be gratifying to me to serve Challenger’s cause.”

“I agree.” Raemor added promptly. “At this point, it’s among the most worthy and the most meaningful of missions.”

“Before I came to Hopeville, I never really thought about what this place was trying to offer me, and all those who came here looking for a place to call their own.” Ivy chimed in, a littler quieter. “Now that I’ve seen the light though… yeah, I’m definitely ready.” 

“What they’re trying to make here, and what they’re trying to build for this world… that’s a very good reason to pay them back.” I said, heartened by my companions’ combined resolve. “So let’s get in there and see what needs to be done.” 

“Right then.” With that, Gunny about-faced and made his way up to the entrance flap. And with one final look behind him to us, watching as Sierra and I followed him up, he pushed his way through and entered. With a quick gesture, Sierra motioned for me to go in next, and ducking my head, I pushed the flap and stepped inside.

As the flap brushed against my back, I looked back up to find myself entering a chamber bathed in the combined light of seven lanterns. Six were placed on separate tables along the tent’s walls, three to each side. All of them illuminated a vast array of equipment, ham radios and their batteries and speakers, computer terminals with their own power units tracking communication frequencies. Every terminal, every radio – they were each attended by their own operators, several of whom were speaking into their radio’s microphone to reply to whoever was on the other end. It made for a jumble of voices, words from which I could only pick out if I focused my hearing on one operator at a time. But it was the very center of the tent that I found myself drawn to. A much larger table was home to a large paper map, smoothed out to cover the whole of the table. A whole mess of miniature flags on tiny sticks, dark green, bright red, and black in their colors, dotted the map all over in a tri-color canvas. And around the table, congregating together and conversing, five ponies who, right away, I knew were officers. The first, because I had met him already – the Lieutenant Colonel himself, garbed in his black kevlar vest and dark green duster. Beside him, a stout light grey unicorn stallion with a darker grey mane, garbed in a simple leather overcoat and a dark green beret, pinned to which was an emblem in the shape of a five-pointed leaf, like Ajax’s, except gold instead of silver. Then, on the opposite side of the table, two earth stallions and one unicorn mare, all of whom wore dark red berets contrasting with the sole green one. I couldn’t see any pins on their hats or combat armor, but I knew that they were higher up on the chain of command somewhere. And one of them… I felt like I’d seen him before – the stallion closest to me, white with a jet black mane under his beret… but I couldn’t quite place it. 

But just shortly after being able to fully take in the sight of the command center, during which time my friends had all joined me inside, Ajax himself looked my way, his firm stare causing me to stand straight, rigid at attention. One by one, his fellow officers turned to find us as well, halting their discussion, before the Lieutenant Colonel spoke up. “Just the group I was hoping to see. You’re right on time.” Without pause, he stepped around the grey unicorn and came to us directly. And together, all of us remained silent, the better to eliminate the risk of interrupting our now superior officer. “Real quick, I want to make introductions, a very brief tour of Challenger’s chain of command.” he said, turning back around and promptly gesturing a hoof first to the grey unicorn. “Fourth Battalion’s second in command is Major Dhatri. Any orders you’ll get in the field will be relayed to your company commander from him.” And then he motioned to the three others. “These are the company commanders.” came his quick explanation, looking first to the white earth stallion. “This is Captain Royce, first company. Behind him, Captain Ira – she’s second, and then Captain Knight for third company.” Then he looked back to us. “All five of you will fall in with first company. You’ll be taking orders from Royce directly, who I believe you met before in Hopeville a couple weeks back.” With a light start, I finally remembered that stallion, the one who delivered our supply caravan and helped us fight off the Legion’s first assault against us back home. And Royce himself, he nodded as he too recalled our first meet. “I did this intentionally, knowing you’d been in contact before.” Ajax explained. “I think taking orders from a familiar face would give a bit of an edge for you out in the field… So, now that you know the hierarchy, it’s time to get to work, soldiers.” And nodding to us, he said, “I’ll warn you all now – coming into the S.E.R.A.F. with the way things are now, your initiation is going to be lightning fast. You won’t have much time to acclimate yourselves before you’re thrown into the thick of things. As such, consider my first assignments your orientation.” We all kept quiet as he spoke, only watching. And I followed him as he looked right to me again. “You and you,” he said, first to me, then to my right where Sierra stood beside me. “you two are my V.I.Ps. I want you both to stay here with me so I can point out where I need you two to fly first. And I’ll be giving you some essentials for the trip as well.” Then he looked over me, back to the others. “The rest of you – I want you three to head back outside and proceed to your designated company area. As you might’ve noticed, we’re rallying troops and supplies, and sending them to their proper locations. When you get back outside, turn left and head deeper into the district. You’ll be heading to the Proving Grounds, the largest firing range in the district where you’ll be going through a quick run-through of unit tactics, and where you’ll also receive some additional gear for your upcoming missions. You’ll find signs out there that will show you the way to where you’ll need to go.”

“Yes sir.” Gunny voiced. 

“Alright. Any questions?” With everything being very straightforward, none of us replied. “Outstanding. You three are dismissed. My two pegasi, come with me.” 

As much as I disliked it, we had no time to speak goodbyes. I only looked over my shoulder to meet the eyes of each of my companions, exchanging only a silent message of farewell, and to take care, before Gunny led Ivy and Raemor back outside. And when the tent flap closed once more, separating us, I finally looked ahead to the command table. The Lieutenant Colonel was already back in his spot, and Sierra was moving up to join the circle of commanders. So, with a light lunge, I pushed myself into a trot to catch up, and stepped up beside my power-armored friend to face the regional map together. “Before we begin, ladies, I want to remind you how much of a blessing it is to have you two here.” Ajax spoke, looking between us. “Challenger has the numbers, the equipment, the skill, but lacks an air force altogether, and it’s our one true shortcoming going up against the Legion. Now that you’ve helped to fix that, at least in small part, we have a whole new element to work with, a very highly valuable element. So once again, thank you.” 

“Of course, Lieutenant Colonel.” Sierra’s slightly muffled voice replied through her helmet. 

“Just tell us where to go, and we’ll do our best.” I encouraged after, to which Ajax focused back on his map, his officers following suit. 

“The situation is this.” he began. “As of two days ago, the Talon Legion successfully secured the whole northern half of the region with their cruise missiles, as marked by the black flags.” And to visualize his words, he swept a hoof over the great swath of little black banners pinned to the map; it was a very unnerving display, seeing the whole region shrunken down to this miniature model. “While we didn’t have many troops out there at the time, those who were are all assumed to have been killed in action, or captured by the enemy. And it’s this that brings me to a point of interest.” As he explained, he leaned forward to get a better angle on his map. “Despite the invasion, we’ve managed to keep a military presence in Talon territory. And we’ve received reports that the Legion is using key locations to intercept both civilian traffic and possible military reinforcements coming in from the northlands. These sites make a net for any and all that approach, and as far as we know, they’ve taken no prisoners.”

“Where are these traps, sir? “ Sierra asked.

“Deep in the occupied region.” Ajax responded, reaching a hoof out to the southern border of the mass of black flags. “The front of the Talon zone here shows where ground patrols and aerial scouts have passed through. While not heavily populated, we know that the Legion is keeping eyes on that front at all times, safeguarding its outposts, keeping avenues for their own fresh troops to move through without incident.” Then he moved his hoof back, tracing the northern border. “Out here is where the brunt of their forces in this area are located. And it’s where they’ve set their network.”

“Hopeville makes the northwest corner of this trap.” Major Dhatri suddenly explained. “From there, they use the old highway itself, all the way down to where it connects with Plainwell. After that, it’s Marefax, so that they can avoid running into Buckley Air Force Base. And then, their trap extends east out to the old White Mane Dairy Farm, and an old military bunker system in the far northwest corner here. Those four locations are their primary outposts on the northern edge of the region, and they make the four pillars of the blockade they’ve set against us.” 

“What can we do about that… um, sir?” I ventured, curious… but also very uncertain… doubtful. “With how well they’re dug in… I don’t see how we can even get close to those locations.” 

But in response, the Lieutenant Colonel raised a hoof, silencing me. “One step at a time.” he replied. “It’ll be a tough slog, but we can acquire the means to give ourselves a fighting chance when we turn our attention to the south. Have a look.” With his hoof, he reached over the map, over the black flags, and the dark green marking Challenger’s presence, then touching the tip of one of the red flags. “Here. While the Talons occupy the north, the Black Blood Raiders have taken over landmarks to the south and to the east of the city. Despite the Talons’ military strength, this is the most pressing issue we face. And there are two reasons why.” Listening intently, I studied over the positioning of the flags on the table, taking note of the names inked onto the aged paper. “The first reason is because they’re presence in this part of the region has cut the city off from Ashton, which has kept us from linking up with our base of operations outside the city limits. And additionally, raids on the HQ and on our own walls here are keeping us from gaining any ground in this sector.” 

“We’ve only been able to hold them from two points.” Major Dhatri added at the break, hovering a forehoof over one of the green flags on the map. “We’ve kept an outpost running in the Moonstone Peaks, here, using it to intercept any hostiles coming from the old farms farther east. And we’ve got another camp built in a collection of ruined greenhouses to the south, keeping watch for enemy mobilization in Searchlight and running search and destroy ops against any patrols we can find. Between those two positions, and the Brightheart Farmstead to the northwest covering our flanks, we’ve managed to establish a triangle around Challenger to keep the enemy from throwing too much at us at once. But that’s all the territory we have left outside Ashton.”

“The soldiers still out there there do a good enough job catching enemy squads on the move, shooting down vertibcks, sabotaging supply dumps.”  Captain Royce put in. “It isn’t enough to keep every enemy force out of what turf we have left beyond the city walls, but it definitely takes some of the pressure off of us while we rally up our last battalion.” 

“Yes. And that issue is what brings me to the second reason as to why the raiders are our new favorite ponies.” the LC picked up. “They’ve occupied an Old World ruin that may hold the key to making a push against the Legion outside of Ashton.” 

“What’s that, sir?” Sierra questioned.

But I already saw. “The Wheaton Armory.” 

“That’s right.” Dhatri voiced, both he and Ajax nodding. “With how secure and fortified Old World military installations were, and generally still are, we jumped at the opportunity to secure it for ourselves when Challenger was still young, and restore it so that we could use it as it had been used way back when.” 

“That armory houses Challenger’s largest weapon cache, an emergency supply that we could fall back on in times of need.” Ajax confirmed for us. “And while it has everything from small arms to heavy weapons inside, what I’m interested in is the stockpile of balefire eggs stored in the secure vault on the bottom floor of the armory.” Balefire eggs…… as much as I disliked them… there was no denying how useful and how potent they’d be in this situation; if anything could make a damn good reason to secure that armory, it was those eggs “There aren’t as many of them as I’d like there to be, but what the city managed to scavenge and buy over the years definitely amounts to enough for us to provide an edge for ourselves when we make a push into Legion turf.”

“How did the raiders take it over?” I asked… curious and worried simultaneously. 

“According to survivor reports… they came at the garrison there with a force of over two hundred.” came his response, carried on a slightly resentful tone. “The sheer numbers that the raiders sent against it was enough to overwhelm them… It happened just a day before the Legion’s missile strikes.” That sort of opposition – it sounded very familiar. Back in Hopeville, long ago, they’d invaded the town with a force of about that many, if not more. But it seemed that Challenger did not have the ponypower that we had when we’d fought them; this was worrisome news.

“But if the raiders have occupied this armory, it might be compromised.” Sierra voiced concernedly, pausing as she looked among the assembly. “Correct?”

“Maybe to an extent.” Ajax responded, nodding with a little hesitance. “But definitely not in regards to the weapons we need. When the time comes that we get there, and if we take it back, then you’ll see why I’m so confident.”

“But focusing back on your task, the armory is just a large piece in a bigger picture.” Dhatri added quickly.

And Ajax nodded after. “Yes. This is where you two come in.” he said, drawing my focus back on him. “The whole battalion, and additional task forces, are gearing up to drive the raiders back to Ashton where they came from, a three-pronged maneuver that will give us a lot back in the shortest amount of time. But while preparations are being finished, I need the two of you to head east and survey the Black Blood’s Base Post, right here.” And tapping his hoof on the map, I found the location beneath the red flag there. “Runners from the Moonstone Peaks have been giving me more and more reports of increased troop movements out in the region around that location. Couple that with a sharp increase in the number of raider parties trying to chip away at that outpost, and I have all the reason I need to believe that they’re massing troops and ordnance for a push into our territory. With all that being said, I want the both of you to take over advance scouting for that outpost while they hold the line, and find out what those scumbags are up to.”

“Yes, sir.” Sierra responded as I nodded. 

“Remember, I want eyes only out there.” he said sternly, looking between us. “Stay up high, move fast and quiet, get in, look, and get out, quick. This is only reconnaissance, so I don’t want you two picking any fights. If things get hairy out there, retreat and get back to safety. I’m going to need the both of you for far more than just this, so come back alive and unharmed. Understand?” 

And together we replied with, “Yes, sir.” 

With that said, he gave us a nod. “Alright then. I’ll be waiting for your report when you get back.” And he turned his focus back to his map, his officers doing the same. “You’re both dismissed.” 

And turning together, Sierra and I made our way back out, ready to take to the air on our first mission in Challenger’s army.


***				***				***


“Not much farther now.” 

The warning came suddenly out of the lengthy silence, just before my wingmate adjusted her altitude to rise up and level out by my right side. Tracing along the great expanse of the earth far below, I found myself once again taking in the sight of the black smoke trail bridging the surface to the clouds above. We’d spotted it first just over two hours into our anticipated three-hour flight, the first unique anomaly emerging in the wake of over a dozen abandoned battle sites along our flight path. Sure enough, the whole region east of Challenger was its own warzone, the land marred with a spaced canvas of scars – blast craters and black scorch marks… bodies, enemy and ally alike, and the mangled wreckage of wagons and mobile guns too. Neither of us knew any of the specifics of the enemy presence out here, or the number of skirmishes that took place. But even though it’d been quiet throughout our flight, with only the occasional allied or enemy patrol breaking up that monotony, we both knew that with the farther away we flew from Challenger, the more dangerous the area became, even with all of its scars left over from those battles we’d not been witness to. And the closer we got, the both of us paying frequent visits to our pipbucks’ world maps along the way, the more closely we held to ourselves that caution.

That was the case now more than ever as we finally came to realize the source of that smoke trail. It was finally confirmed for us, as from our vantage point just below the cloud ceiling, we could see the full expanse of the tightly packed array of tents and shacks amidst scattered Old World buildings that made yet another farm of the old Equestrian southeast. We were very high up, our best measure to keep ourselves hidden from the eyes of the enemy until we were in position, but I knew the farm when I saw it. I could see an intact two-story house, the actual farmhouse, a little cube on the ground below. With it, a pair of grain silos were off to the northeast, like tiny needles sticking out of the dirt. And then there was one large barn positioned to the west of the house, with two smaller storehouses about half the size of the barn laying side by side to the south. From what I could tell from up here, everything looked to be in relatively good shape. And the Black Blood had wasted no time in making a very solid and very defensible position out here. But more than that – there was a lot of activity around it, lots and lots of little specs surrounding the buildings. And that’s what we needed to get a better look at.

“Remember the plan?” 

Looking right, I met Sierra’s visor at her question, giving a single nod. “We’re going to have a good chunk of ground to cover on hoof once we get down there.” I answered… a little nervous as I did, something I couldn’t help to prevent. “Lot of room to run into patrols, especially if we’re seen on our way down.” 

“I know.” Sierra responded, the two of us beginning to slow our airspeed as we prepared to split up. “Right now, let’s just focus on making it there. Keep your eyes on the surface the whole way down, watch for any signs of raiders on patrol. And most important, stay close to me. You’ve got the eyes with your sniper rifle, but I have the means to keep you protected if we come across any danger.” To that I nodded, the both of us gradually pulling ourselves back, slowing, and eventually falling into a hover. “Once we get to ground, we get as close as possible and learn whatever we can learn about this outpost. Then we leave quick and quiet, no distractions, no fighting, just like Ajax said.”

Blinking, taking in a breath, letting it out slow, I pursed my lips and nodded one more time. “Yeah.” I said, gathering up my focus, pushing away my worries. “Okay… I’m ready when you are.” 

“Then let’s go.” And after a pause, the both of us waiting with locked gazes, she gave a single nod before her metal-clad wings snapped shut. And only a second after she dropped away, I followed suit, pulling my wings closed with a quick, sharp movement, entering an instant freefall. The air closed in around me, the cold wrapping me up, the wind whistling in a sustained low tone as I righted myself into a nosedive. Sierra was just a few yards ahead, and a couple of quick wingbeats closed that distance so we were back together side-by-side. Then, it was down to keeping watch on the surface as it rapidly approached us. But despite my focus on our potential landing zone, spotless as we drew closer, I couldn’t ignore the little nagging feeling in the back of my head, a pesky little wish that, for just a moment, I’d taken back my choice to enlist in Challenger’s army. Only here, only now, could I have thought of that regret. Because in diving through the air like this, just letting myself fall…… I felt that if the circumstances weren’t as they were… I would’ve actually found something rather meditative about this plunge. 

I knew I would’ve. 

As it was, I lightly chided myself to get my head back in the mission. No more than perhaps a minute passed us by before we were closing in on the surface. And out of the corner of my eye, I saw Sierra as she shifted in the air, letting her wings come out partially as she prepared to right her course. I did the same, slow, careful, drawing my wings out and extending them about half full. “Okay, let’s go in at an angle.” Sierra spoke through her helmet, her muffled voice battling with the rushing wind. “We have plenty of distance between us and the outpost, so let’s ease into the landing.” 

“I’ll follow your lead, Sierra.” 

At my word, she begun to pull up, easing out of her dive. And again, I followed her move, slowly fanning out my wings wider, leveling out smooth and easy. Then we guided ourselves down the rest of the way to the surface at an easy angle, coming down on an even patch of land. Soon as my hooves touched the dirt, I was on the alert. A quick sweep all around – we were all clear at the moment, thanks solely to our distance from the outpost. Still, we were deep in enemy territory, and I knew we couldn’t rely on that fact.

“Thankfully this terrain is rather smooth.” Trotting up to my side, Sierra was looking eastward toward our destination. Even from here, I could see the structures of the raider’s base post. “We may not have to get as close as I thought…… Let’s move up a little, and then we can get set up.”

“After you.” 

Without a word Sierra headed out, setting herself into a steady trot. Even with her armor, her hooves stepped rather quietly on the ground, heavier, but still quite muffled, perfect for our advance. Like her, I kept my head turning and eyes searching, left, then right, over the shoulder, then facing front again, watching every angle I could to make sure the serenity we’d been graced with wasn’t about to be compromised. But the further in we moved, the more I came to believe that the raiders in this area were keeping themselves tucked away in that outpost. If that were the case, it might’ve served as a tactical choice, the better to keep the position fortified with as many soldiers as possible. But with that, it added to my initial suspicion that they were hiding something important in there.

Sure enough, the rest of the way to a closer viewpoint was perfectly clear. And with that little blessing on our side, Sierra finally stopped, looking over her left shoulder to signal me to do the same. “Okay. Set up here, and let’s look and see what those raiders are up to.” On her command, she hunkered down and settled herself onto her belly, going prone. And me, I craned my head around and bit down on the stock of Blue Fire’s Torch, pulling it free of its clamps on my back and bringing it forward before laying myself down by Sierra’s left side. “Hopefully this will do for you, Nova.” Sierra commented as I reached forward, unfolding the legs of my rifle’s bipod. “I just don’t want to chance going much closer than this.”

“This is fine.” I assured, securing the bipod and digging into the ground to set up. “Barring the buildings, I’ve should have a perfectly clear view. If there’s something important there, I’ll find it.”

“Okay.” Nodding, Sierra looked ahead again, then to the right, keeping watch. “Whenever you’re ready, then. I’ll keep watch.” 

With one final shove, I dug my rifle’s bipod solidly into the ground. Then, I lined myself up to the ourpost, bringing the Torch up tight against my shoulder. And taking hold of the firing bit, I brought my eye up to the scope, and focused in on the sight I found. As I’d thought, I had a very good view of the outpost from this location, even from this distance. And without the land to block any part of the picture, I could look at any part of the expansive enemy base. Starting in the center, I settled my scope on the sight of a convoy of restored Old World wagons, a train of five lined up just in front of the barn. It was swarming with activity, raiders working together to unload large wooden crates, each of them disappearing behind the wagons en route to the barn. Around those wagons alone were a few dozen troops, easily three or four, all clad in that red and black armoring that defined their faction. I kept my scope on each wagon individually for a few seconds a piece, slowly making my way left. Across a gap between the barn and the two silos was where the larger bulk of the camp’s old ratty tents had been placed, nothing unusual to see there. 

Then I looked over the silos. The both of them were rather well-preserved, with only the occasional missing tile in their shells. Atop that, they were both, by and large, left alone. The only exception were the sentries using the balconies at their tops to watch for intruders. None were looking our way, but the sentinels up there were packing some serious rifles, definitely military grade, and looking much better than the weapons I remembered seeing from past encounters with this group. With them… a sickening reminder of the kind of ponies we were dealing with, taking shape as the display made by seven corpses hanging from their necks by chains tied to the silo balconies, four on the right silo, and three on the left. The silos themselves seemed to make the north edge of the outpost’s perimeter. Nothing but a few stray crates and a couple of metal barricades lay nearby. “Everything alright, Sierra?” I ventured, guiding my scope back the other way. 

“We’re okay for now.” came her reply, an answer I greatly appreciated as I passed over the wagon train again. “I’ll let you know if that changes. Just be ready to move quickly.” 

“Okay.” Then I paused, checking out a cluster of activity by the southwest corner of the barn. A whole mess of raiders were gathered there, making one tightly packed circle. It was definitely an assembly, a debriefing, and while not threatening, it did serve to reinforce the Lieutenant Colonel’s suspicions, even if just slightly. There was definitely a high concentration of ponypower here. Between this assembly and the wagon train, there had to have been close to seventy or eighty raiders there altogether, and that wasn’t including any occupying the farmhouse, the silo sentries, or those outside the two storage houses on the southernmost part of the property. Past another cluster of old tents and spaced wooden shacks, there was a smaller group of raiders collected out by the two facilities’ entrances. They were split into two teams, both of them occupied with their own… “Uh oh.” 

“What’s the matter?” 

I kept my scope leveled on those two teams, taking a closer look at the mobile gun units that they were making modifications to. “They’ve got some mobile guns with them.” Indeed, I recognized the long tubes of a tri-barrel missile launcher, protected by welded iron plates and mounted onto an old iron housing, in turn attached to four wheels. Crude, ugly, but still an adequate delivery system to bring heavy weapons into a firefight, and making more than sufficient infantry support. Additionally, with the added plating jutting out from the sides of each of the two units I saw, I recognized how the gun crews could remain protected from direct attack while still guiding their guns through the battlefield. But it was then, as I continued looking those weapons over, that I managed to get a better look at the second gun, the one farther back. It was longer, more evenly proportioned than the first. But the weapon that occupied the unit’s frame was much larger than the missile launcher, with a single long, wide tube pointed at an upward angle from the housing that supported it. I recognized the shape of the weapon, its components… because I’d seen it in action before. “They’ve got a balefire egg launcher out there, Sierra.” I reported, slightly adjusting my scope to draw along the front of the storehouses. “Out by those two warehouses there.” 

“What other reason would they have one of those other than that they’re preparing for an attack?” 

And I nodded slightly. “That’s exactly what I was thinking.” As I watched, there was a spaced but constant flow of raiders moving in and out of those depots; it drew my thoughts to another conclusion. “And who knows how many more of those guns they might have tucked away in those buildings… They’re definitely gearing up to make a move… and my guess is that a lot of that equipment wasn’t there before.” 

But there was something else by those warehouses…

“Hey Nova…” 

Yes, there was something there… there behind the farthest warehouse, just tall enough to stand above the slanted rooftop. Thin, long pieces of blackened metal… three… six… two sets of three attached to a single metal pipe that disappeared behind the depots. “Goddesses.” I recognized the sight of rotors, belonging to a grounded vertibuck; the Black Blood had their own aerial asset with them here.

“Nova…” Sierra spoke with an urgency that abruptly yanked my attention away from my scope. “We’re being watched…” 

I’d seen all I needed to see.

Quick as I could, I reached forward and retracted my bipod, releasing the firing bit and grabbing the Torch by the stock. All the while, my eyes darted along the eastern horizon, searching for what brought Sierra’s warning. But it was only when I looked north, reaching around to secure my rifle to its place over my back, that I caught a blemish on the smooth terrain. That was where Sierra was looking, to a trio of ponies stopped about three hundred yards away; they either recognized us, or were about to. “Damn it.” With a shove, I forced myself back up to my hooves, settling back on all fours and stepping back to close ranks with my companion. 

“I think they know we’re not supposed to be here.”

Then, in a sudden violent hiss, a bullet slashed right over us, right before three more struck the ground right in front of our faces in rapid succession, and a fifth deflected violently off Sierra’s armored body. I ducked down quick, crouching low with a jolt just as two more rounds whizzed by just off to my left. “I’ve seen what I need to see!” Another trio of rounds struck harshly against Sierra’s power armor, three more still striking dangerously close around us. “Let’s get out of here!” 

But as I turned back around, already extending my wings to make ready, I found her just as she reared herself up on her hind legs, pulsing her wings to keep her upright, before a missile let loose with a mighty roar from her heavy battle saddle. It sailed east, right toward the raider post, arcing left to line itself up with the grain silos just as a bright red fireball shot up into the air from the left-side tower. “Signal flare! Move now!” She didn’t even wait for the impact. Looking to her again, I saw her on all fours once more, turning herself around. And as soon as the missile detonated, she was airborne, wings beating powerfully to carry her armor’s weight with her. “Come on, Nova! Stay low and move quickly!” 

With a grunt, I threw myself forward, catching the air, rising up and following right on Sierra’s tail. “Are you alright?!” 

“Just fly!!” Even then, another round shot by, a second one following right after that passed just below me. “And keep dodging! Don’t give them a target!” 

She followed her own advice, banking hard left as two more bullets slashed past us. They drove me to tilt almost full sideways and turn, moving right, opposite of Sierra as she righted herself. Then, almost in unison, we drew back together, crossing over each other as more rounds flew by. I followed my own pattern, keeping left and putting more space between us as we pushed ourselves forward for all our worth. Out of the corner of my eye I saw as she climbed up higher, falling behind me as she did so. I peeled right again in response, keeping myself lower, and jerking with alarm as one more round struck Sierra’s armor with surprising strength, almost directly above me. 

But that… that, and after two more rounds came and went, far too wide… I didn’t hear anything else, no more gunfire, no more bullets racing by. And a quick look over my shoulder – we’d put a lot of distance between us and the outpost in a big hurry… definitely enough to be out of effective range. 

“Hey!” I looked up, then left, where I found Sierra as she leveled out at my altitude a short distance away. “I think we’re safe…”

“If anything, they’ve only chosen to stop pursuing us.” Sierra retorted. “You saw that flare they launched… if there were patrols in range they’ll be on the lookout for us. We have to keep moving…” But suddenly, she cut herself off with a grunt, and she dropped sharply when she missed a wingbeat. But before I could even react with more than a gasp, she managed to catch herself with professional swiftness, quickly stabilizing herself and returning to a smooth flight posture. 

“Sierra what’s wrong??” I immediately set out to looking her over as I dropped altitude to rejoin her… But I found no indication that she’d been wounded in our very brief but very dangerous retreat. “Are you wounded??” 

She only shook her head at me. “We need to get back to Challenger… ah… put some more distance between us and that outpost…”

But that little grunt – that was all the evidence I needed to confirm my worries. “Sierra you’re hit…” I couldn’t see where – her armor wasn’t any more dinged and dented than it already was – but I knew she’d taken a bullet.

“It’s nothing.” she insisted, firm, stubborn. “Besides… there’s no shelter to hide in… and until we at least cross into Challenger’s territory… we have to assume we’re being followed.” I couldn’t keep myself from frowning as I looked at her. But she didn’t make any effort to return the look. Instead, even though I didn’t speak, she shook her head again, keeping her eyes forward toward the open sky. “Just… just keep flying, Nova… We need to get back to Challenger… quick as we can.” Only then did she finally look back to me, that visor concealing whatever pain she might’ve felt from me. “This isn’t my first time.”

Though hesitant, I turned away without a word and faced the open western sky ahead of us. I did as she asked only for the logic behind her concerns of pursuit. We did need to put more space between us and the Black Blood’s proverbial hot zone. But I wouldn’t be keeping my eyes off her, either way. The slightest sign of danger to her ability to fly, and I’d make sure to land us, no matter how far from Challenger we might be.

***				***				***

Enough was enough.

Sierra was slowing down, falling behind… just like my gut said she would.

We’d kept up a rather rigorous pace since the raiders had chased us off, as I was sure she wanted. It had to have been about a half hour, maybe a little more, into our flight back to Challenger, and it was easily past midday now. But with increasingly steady progression, Sierra was getting more and more sluggish, to the point where I was having to slow to an almost casual speed. “Okay, this has gone too far, Sierra.” I’d been watching her the whole way, and I knew that while a more critical wound would have grounded her long ago, I also knew that whatever injury she’d taken back at the outpost had to be treated before it became a real problem. “We need to land, Sierra, at least long enough to get you to drink a healing potion. Though, a little time to rest your wings wouldn’t be such a bad idea, either.”

“Okay, I… I won’t argue anymore.” came her response, her words laced with fatigue; at least she had good common sense on her side to balance that stubbornness she showed me earlier. “I’ve actually… had my eyes on a spot, out to the northwest from here… Do you see it? We’re close already.” 

Eager to land so as to treat Sierra’s injury, I snapped my eyes back to the ground below, studying over that blank dusty canvas again. I followed her direction, tracking along the ground due northwest, scanning left and right to search for any signs of blemishes against the otherwise monotonous brown. But sure enough, just a few seconds later, and I found the site where Sierra had proposed to land. It took up a narrow but long portion of the land altogether, culminating in a multitude of iron boxes – Old World wagons. With the two of us flying relatively low to the ground, between three and four hundred yards up, I had a good clear view of the area. From this vantage point I could see ten identifiable vehicles in total, ranging in overall size and shape. And from here I could also see the scattered mess of wreckage strewn about each of them – boxes, metal crates, boards, plates, shrapnel... so much debris. 

“Looks like a sacked caravan.” Sierra commented through my initial observation, drawing my attention back to her. “I think we can use those wagons… they should be enough to hide us just in case there’s enemy soldiers about.”

While that was true, of course, so was the opposite. That was the first thing that came to mind, with this wreckage laying right in the middle of raider territory. I wasn’t so confident that it was a safe place to linger. But still, it looked clear from up high… and Sierra’s struggle to keep herself aloft was becoming too difficult for her. “Yeah, let’s get down there. Come on, we need to get you a potion.” 

She wasted no time at taking advantage of my command, dropping just a second later. Quick, but still careful, she angled herself in toward the wrecked wagon cluster, lining herself up with the rear of the train. I followed her in close behind, watching her movement, monitoring her condition. In the end, she handled herself well, maintaining a steady course, and a smooth, comfortable descent the rest of the way down. We both drew to a hover just above the rear-most wagon of the old convoy. It was definitely Old World, both in model and in its very worn condition. An old passenger wagon, it was rusted down to frailness and was full of holes, both from the many years of weathering it had endured and from the contributions of various firearms. But more than that, the bus had on its roof the remains of a mounted gun turret, a model of heavy machinegun complete with its own housing and gunner’s seat. There wasn’t a single spot on the whole assembly that hadn’t been visited by the same rust that coated the bus, and the weapon itself had been broken down, its long barrel bent down, and the rest of its frame warped and caved in various places. Right beside the old passenger wagon was a much smaller two-wheel cart, a small cargo wagon that was now partly buried under the ground. And just a few paces in front of those two – a smaller passenger chariot, with three of its four wheels rotted down to splinters around it. 

But as I sat there staring, even as Sierra let herself land, her iron hooves hitting the ground with a heavy thud… I found myself looking over the first three wagons in the train again. I did so to revisit the order I’d seen them in… to see the details, the wear and tear in each. Something about them drew my interest, and with it a subdued yet strong sense of déjà vu… of familiarity.

“Nova…” Once again, Sierra gave me a shout to put my mind back into the present situation. She was already on the ground, now looking up at me through the visor of her helmet. “I would like that potion now, please.

“Oh… sorry.” I let myself fall the rest of the way to the ground, landing smoothly on all fours a few yards from the back of the passenger bus. “They’re in the right-side pack, Sierra. Go ahead and grab one whenever you want.” Right before our departure from Challenger, the Lieutenant Colonel had made extra sure that we had everything we needed for the mission. And while we both were all set with weapons and ammunition, neither of us had potions of our own, and thus, I was given two to keep for us, to use if the need arose. 

As soon as I tucked my wings back against my side, Sierra was freeing herself from her power armor helmet. With a hoof she flipped a tab on the lower jaw for the plate to swing down from the hinge on the front of the muzzle. Then, reaching up, she placed her hoof on the side of her helmet and roughly pushed it up and over, letting it fall to the dirt with a thud. As soon as that helmet fell away, I could hear Sierra’s breathing, not heavy, but definitely labored as she struggled with the pain of her wound. She followed it down, staring at the hunk of metal with her head bowed, not paying any mind to the locks of her now slightly disheveled black and silver mane that brushed along her cheeks. 

She took a second to close her eyes, holding her breath as she tried to keep the sting of her injury at bay. As she stood there, I turned and trotted the rest of the way to her, drawing up alongside her to present the saddlebag holding her potion. “Hey, where are you hit?” I inquired, putting a more demanding edge to my voice to get her attention back on me. “How bad?” 

After a short exhale, she opened her eyes again, promptly shaking her head. “Right side… and it’s nothing serious.” she responded with an assuring bit of confidence. “My armor kept it from hitting me full force, but it was definitely a high-caliber round… I think I only got one of those sniper towers.”

“Well, as long as it’s not serious.” She turned herself around, passing a quick look to me before focusing on my saddlebag. “If it’s as minor as you make it sound, one potion should do the job.”

“Yes, I agree.” And reaching up, she used a forehoof to unbutton the pack’s flap, then throwing it over and digging her muzzle in to find her potion. 

“Hope you don’t mind the mess.” As she sifted through the pack, I took the opportunity to give our surrounding another look-over. Right away, that familiarity I’d felt only moments ago returned, so quickly that I squinted my eyes in puzzlement. This cluster of wagons, this old caravan… it definitely didn’t seem very significant at first glance. Akin to the old radio station, or that power plant out west, it seemed like any other Old World ruin. And it was definitely Old World. These wagons were so broken down – heavily rusted, the metal distorted and caving, and most of the wagons themselves sinking slowly into the earth, falling at a crawling pace into their own graves – that they definitely resembled the state brought from a hundred and seventy-five years of age. But I just couldn’t get it out of my head that I’d seen them before… there was a small cargo cart closest to us, then an old armed passenger bus, then a chariot, missing three wheels… There was a taxi… I could see the fragments of yellow and black color on the hull where it lay nestled close to three other civilian transports. There were two other carts in the mix there… and the last, up at the front, was a heavily armed wagon… definitely military-grade, maybe a personnel carrier.

And that’s when it hit me… right as my eyes came upon something else that would’ve told me the same discovery had I not found out for myself first. 

“Hey…” 

Sierra startled my gaze back over my shoulder, where I found her holding a now empty potion bottle in her mouth, which she promptly spit out. Quickly I realized that I’d been so sucked into the sight of this wreckage that I hadn’t even noticed that she’d gotten her potion from my saddlebags. Now she met me with perplexed eyes, trading between looking to me for an explanation and looking out to this old convoy. “Sorry…” 

“Are you alright, Nova?” came her question, my armored friend drawing up beside me so that we could observe together. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” 

“Well… kind of, I guess.” Swallowing, settling into a state of calm, I gave her the answer she wanted. “I’ve been here before.” 

“Have you?” she asked in reply, more curious now. “I thought your group had not traveled out this far east.” 

“No, it’s not that.” I explained, the two of us looking to one another. “I saw this place… in a memory orb.” 

Sure enough, Sierra’s eyes showed her understanding as she remembered the recent past, just yesterday when I viewed Mother Shimmer’s first memory orb. “This is what you saw?” She took another moment to look among the old wagons again, nodding as she took in the sight. “How can you tell?” 

“Because of that.” When she looked to me again, I faced the convoy, pointing to the ground just ahead. There, beside the first cart and hidden amidst scattered debris made of old crates – the remains of an ancient skeleton, brittle, cracked, with the ground slowly sucking it in. Only the upper skull, the spine, and part of the ribcage was unclaimed. And just like in that memory, more skeletons lay beyond it, one after the next scattered among the wreckage… a graveyard just like in the memory. “Mother Shimmer… she stood here once.” Sierra had never met Buckley’s leader in person, only hearing what my friends and I had to say about her. But still, she nodded, still knowing some of the details of the memory I’d given to her. “She saw all of this.” 

“How did Mother Shimmer react to it?” Sierra asked. 

“That’s the thing… the way she acted around it… it almost seemed to me like she had some kind of connection to it.” I remembered the memory as if it were my own. And I knew that even if it was only a small part, this convoy played a role in her history…… and it was that that made me all the more curious. “Kind of makes me wonder…” I paused, taking a look over to where Sierra watched me. “Are you feeling better?” 

“I’ll manage.” she answered, brief. “What are you thinking, Nova?” 

“I just… I want to have a look around.” But I was immediately hesitant afterwards, and for a good reason. We had a schedule to meet…… and I wasn’t some wastelander anymore… No, I was a part of a very organized, very real military force… where I was expected to follow orders quickly, thoroughly, and I even had the pins and the patch to prove it. But atop that, I had been told directly by Ajax, my superior officer, not to distract myself, not to fall astray from the objective.

All these thoughts ran through me in rapid reply to my initial desire… all of it berating me for the very thought of sticking around in hostile territory. But Goddesses… I wanted to look. That memory orb… Mother Shimmer herself, and the things she had shared with me, the things she’d given me right before my exile from Buckley… there was so much more to her, and to know that she had been here in this very spot once upon a time… I really did want to know why.

But apart from my clashing thoughts, Sierra herself was looking at me with a small frown and slightly narrowed eyes. “Nova, you know that’s not a good idea.” she warned, to which I had to let out a light sigh. “We have to get back to Challenger, quick as we can, and I know you’re responsible and dedicated enough to understand that.” 

And at that, I had to purse my lips, looking away from her to accept the facts for what they were. “Yeah… you’re right.” 

Then I looked back up to her… only to see that her eyes weren’t on me anymore. They were past me, and were instead on the wagon train, slightly squinted as she tried to identify… something. “There’s a… a light by that cart…” 

I cocked an eyebrow, promptly turning to face the wreckage again, trying to find where Sierra was searching. That cart at the tail end of the convoy – it was surrounded by the remains of its former cargo, comprised largely of the splintered remains of old wooden crates. It was difficult to tell exactly how many, as there were both large and small chunks that made up the mess. There were other bits of junk in the mix too, amounting to two old sheets of metal, and a couple of tattered blankets, thin, brown, ugly things. But it was when I retraced myself, sweeping across the area again, that I finally found something… out of place… within the dark, dead color of everything around it.

And that was exactly what I found… color.

There was something underneath that little trolley, right behind the tailgate hanging from one of its four hinges. Piercing through the dreary browns of rust and dirt and rotten wood, overtaking the lifelessness there… a shade of sapphire hidden under one of the old blankets, just barely breaking through the small crack under its covering. It was just a thin sliver, almost wholly concealed. But there was no denying the pure, clean, gentle shade of blue hidden among the bleakness… and it was flickering, pulsing… a light.

“I… I did not see that before.” Sierra piped up, curious, puzzled… hesitant. 

I was about to leave… I was ready to… but now… “What is that…” I narrowed my eyes… in a trance… Tunnel vision came back in a blink as I zeroed in on that light… and approached. Sierra said my name behind me, an uncertain half-question that did not make me stray from my focus… especially as I drew closer, confirming for myself that the hidden light was indeed flickering. It was like a candle… one of Challenger’s lanterns… but stronger to reveal itself through the light of the day. It was only when I stopped just before that flickering blue that it disappeared again, hiding itself away one more time under its rotten shelter. And in that moment, my pipbuck gave a little chirp to draw my attention. A quick look, and I was confronted with my computer’s larger map. Every location I’d passed through in my travels had its own unique sign stamped onto the display – a house, a cluster of buildings, a little hill, a star. But one of them was highlighted with a flashing light that encircled the simple ‘V’ icon and the name of the location beneath it – my pipbuck’s confirmation that this was indeed the Convoy Wreckage, the very one that it had first identified when I’d been viewing Mother Shimmer’s memory. 

Now I was here, following her steps… walking where she once walked… through a place that she had her own hidden ties to. And as I lowered my pipbuck back down again, looking back to that blanket, the question came as to whether or not whatever I was about to uncover shared that same connection… And so without further delay, I reached out a forehoof, digging into that musty blanket and pulling it back and away with a single swipe. And that light came out, shining gently before my eyes. 

There on the ground, set atop a much cleaner white rag, were three items placed side-by-side. Two of them I immediately recognized, having seen several before. Holotapes, one on either side of the last item of the set. Small, twinkling from the soft light that swirled around it… was an unblemished, clear-color, drop-cut crystal attached to an equally clean silver chain. And it was this crystal that cast that sapphire glow we’d found… which came from the inside. At first, I couldn’t distinguish it… but after a moment of study… I saw something shocking… and yet fascinating. Trapped within the crystal’s glimmering body, shielded within the light it gave – a little fireball that hovered in the very center of the crystal, copying the gem’s shape from its spherical base to its pointed top. The flames rose to life and danced up and around, brushing up against the crystal’s sides, base, and top, constantly intensifying and receding. But that little fireball burned on within the crystal… hovering freely and casting that elegant, beautiful light eternal. 

It was… a strange discovery… as it glowed with such new life, the likes of which I’d never seen before in this world of rust and ash, of decay and ruin. But more than that… it sent a very powerful jolt of awareness through me. This… it marked a very big piece of a very obscure puzzle falling into its place. That puzzle started right where I’d began, where I’d been born in One Eighty-one and where it eventually came to pass that my father and I shared the same cutie mark. Then the Torch came into my life, sharing the same exact thing. And in time, so too did Blake bear it, and then the Spark… all carrying the same emblem and its colors.

And that led me to the present, to this… 

No longer could I believe in coincidence, not on this matter. Because now, I was confronted not just by another item carrying the mark I wore, but by a blatant physical manifestation of that symbol. Even before now, I’d grown more and more curious. Between my own personal experiences and Mother Shimmer’s own thoughts on the blue flame, the first pony to speak directly about it, I’d been drawn further in. And this curiosity had peaked in Buckley, where Blake had gotten his cutie mark in battle, and where I’d been given the Spark. After then, I had acquired all the evidence I’d needed through my travels to believe that there was indeed something about the blue flame, something different. Now… now I knew that that hunch was more than just a hunch. This blue flame… it was out there, behind the scenes. I had no idea as to the what or the where, or even the how and why. But this crystal held the same origin as the rest of those artifacts and weapons I’d found. They were connected – how could it be otherwise? But the question now was how they were bonded. What was it that made this similarity? And who would know anything about it at all? Shimmer didn’t, and nopony in the Stable did, apart from my father and I upon earning our marks. So who would know? And if I went looking… where would I start?

“That’s… very beautiful.” To my right, I registered Sierra’s voice, now muffled. And when I finally allowed myself to look, I saw the armored pegasus once again concealed behind her suit’s helmet; her visor was tinted blue from the glowing crystal. “That flame inside… there’s a spell around this pendant.” 

“You think so?” I asked, a little curious as I looked into that light again. 

“I’ve seen things like this before back in my own home.” Sierra responded. “A shaman with enough aptitude and training can command water or light or fire with their magic, use them as weapons or weave works of art from them. It wasn’t uncommon there… and to see this flame burning without any source of fuel… the magic here is sophisticated.” 

I nodded, with that thought having crossed my mind before. But really, there was only one thing I could think of here. “It’s just… a bit shocking to see something like this when your own cutie mark is this exact same thing.”  

“Your… oh yes.” It wasn’t hard to tell that Sierra hadn’t thought of that at first; but she definitely did now. “Yes, that is… that is quite strange.” She even took a moment to turn to me, looking me over from head to tail in a quick sweep. “It’s just like your rifle… and your pistol, too.”

Again I nodded. “And my brother’s cutie mark… and my father’s… This is definitely more than a case of sheer happenstance.” I stated in firm reply. “At first I’d only entertained the thought to make inquiries about it. But seeing this… now I really want to make it a point of finding answers… or at least when I have the time to do so… even if that may not be for a good while yet.” And making that final decision, I reached out a hoof and proceeded to paw at the rag the three items rested on, draping it over them and hiding away that light again. “I’m going to take this medallion with me… and the tapes.” And once I had them bundled up, “Let’s get going.”

“Hold on.” Sierra’s voice became very suddenly hushed, focused. My ears perked at the tone – I recognized it from so many other circumstances. And when I looked back to her, she was staring out deeper into the convoy, standing alert. “There’s hostiles on my E.F.S..”

“Shit…” Uniform, we both lowered ourselves down into a crouch, huddling up against the cart to take cover. “How many do you see?” 

“I’ve got three so far.” came her whispered reply. “Wait… no, four.” I raised up my pipbuck, checking out my own compass and pointing myself in the right direction. There they were, packed close together, moving ever so slightly on the display; but I counted five red dots, finding the fifth just as it appeared right in the middle of the others. “Five…” 

“More raiders.” I stated, lowering my computer away… unable to keep myself from growling at my very obvious, very stupid mistake. “Sorry, Sierra…” 

“It’s alright, Nova.” came her response; she took a quick peek out behind the cart, ducking back in after a moment. “It took us both by surprise. Right now, let’s just focus. We need to deal with this before we leave.” 

The time for berating myself would have to wait. Now, all that mattered was ensuring that neither of us paid for that mistake. “Right… what’s the plan?” 

“I’m not made for stealth.” she responded quickly. “But you might be able to get closer to them, take one by surprise. Can you do that?” 

Without hesitation, I nodded, taking a look out from behind cover – it was clear so far. “Yeah, I can do that.” 

“I’ll be close by.” she assured, a hoofstep signaling me that she was moving out. “You make your move, and then I’ll engage them, try and keep most of them off your back.” 

I didn’t look behind me to watch her. But I could hear her steps, surprisingly light, as she made her way out into the open, slowly to keep herself as quiet as she could. That was my cue to move, and staying low, I rounded the back left corner of the old cart and trotted up to its front; past a pair of the old passenger wagons, the area was still clear. I snatched the opportunity to move further in, but still kept an eye out as I crossed in front of Sierra and the westernmost chariot, making my way over to the next closest vehicle. And with a leap to quickly close the gap between me and new cover, I landed quiet behind the rear of the splintered vehicle, moving along the tail to look out past its right side. It was here that I finally found one of the hostiles scouting out the convoy. Just as I thought, it was another raider, giving me a close up of a sight I hadn’t seen in quite a long time. That red and black patchwork armor, leather and cloth, heavily beat up with a combination of natural wear and general neglect… something I hadn’t seen this close since the first invasion of Hopeville. And this unicorn fit the bill of one of the Black Blood in every other way, too. He held in his telekinesis a beat-up nine millimeter SMG, and there was a pistol in its holster on his front left leg. And he himself was exceptionally dirty, with a scraggly brown mane and his normally bright red coat darkened with dust, grime… and traces of what I was certain to be dried blood. 

Yes… it’d been a long time… and I was none too happy about it… Seeing him only inspired the focus I needed.

He was moving slowly down the north side of the convoy, checking every gap between the wagons with a careful, watchful eye. And judging from the simple fact that he was staying on a straight course toward me, I felt certain his companions were fanned out among the other wagons to maintain a formation in their search. Only a couple seconds later, and the unicorn raider stopped, squinting his eyes as he found something that caught his curiosity. I returned back to cover while he was distracted, then reaching down to my right foreleg to slowly pull my mother’s pistol from its holster, securing the firing bit in my teeth… preparing to jump.

One more cautious peek, and I found my target on the move again at that same slow pace, studying the caravan’s taxi wagon as he begun to pass it by. And with his attention diverted, I returned back to cover, taking a step back… crouching… counting down in silence, gathering myself for a lunge… bracing… and with a grunt, I leapt from cover and out into the open, turning myself in the air and landing to face my first enemy head-on. He swore with alarm, backing up a step with wide eyes on me, all he could manage before I activated S.A.T.S., freezing him in his place just as he was attempting to raise his weapon. One shot for the chest, the second one too, and I executed the spell. 

With a mighty voice, Fire Rose lashed out, and the raider staggered from a direct hit to the torso. And with the second, he stumbled again, nearly dropping his SMG. And yet he stood, his armor holding together as he caught his footing again. Then, with surprising speed, he wheeled around and jumped, scrambling for safety behind the taxi. I followed after him behind my iron sights, lining back up just as he turned right and made for shelter. I chomped down on the bit, trying to catch him before he could flee. But this shot missed, the bullet punching through the wagon’s weakened hull just above his head before he disappeared. And with a short growl, I followed his move, ducking back behind my own wagon. 

“Look out!”

“Fucking minigun!!” 

Just behind me, a violent buzzing roar ripped through the air. And I saw Sierra, poised firmly in a crouch, her compact minigun belching fire as she made her terrifying presence known to the enemy. Even through the great noise, I chanced a quick look out to see where she was shooting. In a flash, her heavy weapon had shredded one of the enemy contacts while simultaneously annihilating the right rear corner of one of the passenger wagons near the head of the convoy. But just a second later, and another raider emerged from hiding behind one of the smaller cargo carts, a unicorn with a heavy revolver pistol. And before Sierra could turn her wrath onto him, he locked her in his sights and fired. His first shot silenced Sierra’s minigun as the round struck hard against her armored chest, breaking her focus and causing her to stagger back a step. Then he fired a second round, just as I emerged and brought Fire Rose to bear, that glanced off Sierra’s armor to smash into the ground just off to my left. Up came S.A.T.S., followed by one programmed shot to the head. I executed the spell, putting a round into the raider’s skull, and drawing a startled shout from one of his companions hidden behind the cover they shared. That was all the time it took for Sierra to recover, and a missile went racing across my vision, smashing right into the cart; I heard a scream of agony buried within the rolling flames and the pattering of shrapnel.

“EAT IT!” Suddenly, a cry reached me through the lingering ring in my ears, coming from the right side of the wagon I hid behind. And with a jolt, I dropped to a low crouch just as metal plunged through the weakened wood with a series of shattering cracks. As quickly as it hit, the object was ripped free of the broken boards, and I managed to come about to face the attacking raider. Another unicorn stallion greeted me with a hateful glare, a long pipe held aloft beside him… attached to one tip of which was a wicked-looking metal spike. It was coming for me again, the raider swinging with an angry grunt. I was forced to duck down again as I met his challenge, and once more the pipe struck the wagon. Behind me, Sierra’s minigun roared back to life to overtake a rifle shot as she engaged another target, and in my crouched position, I fired another round of my own that struck my attacker in the upper leg. But the armor plating around the limb held its ground against me, and though he stumbled, losing his footing, he used the momentum he had to carry himself forward, crashing right into me before I could get off another shot. I was forced two steps back as the raider recovered himself, finally stopping him with a desperate shove to keep him off me. But too late, I felt a hoof on me, just in front of my left wing-joint; and it shoved me back with shocking strength. 

The force of his push destroyed my balance, and with a startled yelp, I fell over to land heavily on my right side, with my pistol landing with a thud just inches away from me. Soon as I was still, the undercarriage of my former cover now in perfect view, I quickly forced myself to look back up, and I found the raider just as he resituated his spear in his telekinesis, the tip of the blade pointing right at me. And down it came, just as I rolled over my carbine to evade, and the blade stabbed into the dirt where I’d fallen. 

As the steady fire of Sierra’s minigun reigned over the field, I rolled back onto my stomach, using the momentum of the movement to push myself up onto all fours again, finding him just as he pulled his spear free. “Quit moving around so much you little bitch!” 

He brought the bladed tip of his spear back around to face me, and thrust forward again. I anticipated the move, skipping to the side just enough for the blade to stab past me. But as I recovered from the awkward landing, I saw my assailant as he twisted, bringing the bottom of his staff around in a quick sideswipe to try and catch me. I ducked quick before he could reach me, and he stumbled forward a step from the momentum of his attack. Hunkered down, I knew his next move even before he actually did so. He recoiled, reversing his course to try and catch me again. But this time, I was ready, following the path of his weapon as I forced myself back up to full height. And as he swung, I reared myself up and brought my forehooves before me, and caught the shaft, halting his attack. I staggered back a step, the both of us grunting from the force of the hit. Still, I held my ground, locking myself and the unicorn in a standstill. That stalemate only lasted a moment, as his telekinesis was pushing hard, driving me back to the point where I was standing straight up on my hind hooves, threatening to fall backwards. But before I could be overwhelmed, I resorted to my wings, snapping them out wide, drawing them up and thrusting them down. One thrust, coupled with what strength I could muster to jump, and I pulled myself over the spear. And with one more thrust to climb, and one more to push myself forward, I flew myself over the raider entirely. 

I landed right behind him, turning over my shoulder to find him as he tried to collect himself and return to a proper stance to face me again. I spun and rushed him, finding that spear again as he tried to swing again. But I had finally gotten ahead of him as I ground my forehooves into the dirt and spun again. And carrying my hindlegs around, I bucked out and felt as my hooves connected with him.

His spear fell just shy of me, plunging into the dirt by my left side, and I heard a grunt from him as he stumbled back. But as I made to turn, I caught new movement that startled me to a stop. Coming out from hiding behind the wagon I’d been driven from was the first raider I’d seen, who now snapped his SMG to eye level to take aim at me. But the gunfire that blazed to life… it didn’t come from him, but instead engulfed him. Without a single cry, he was torn to pieces before my eyes by a hail of bullets that rained down from above. He was literally pulverized into the dirt, ground down in a hideous display of firepower. And I saw at the top of my vision as Sierra pulled up from a steep dive, flying right above me and moving fast. I spun, following her flight path until I found what now had to be the last raider standing. He was now completely unarmed… and was running away at a full gallop, heading north in the first direction he’d thought of. He’d already fled the field, but only a second more passed before, in a blink, a missile streaked down from above, striking just behind him with a thundering detonation, and hiding him from me behind a raging fireball.

Just like that, the fight was over… and I couldn’t help but blink at the thick dust cloud left in the wake of that missile; Sierra… she’d taken down all but one of that squad… and with such rapidity and lethal precision… Goddesses, was I glad she was with me. 

“Are you alright, Nova?” 

Her call came from above, where she lowered herself back into my field of view and stayed in a hover low over the ground, facing me. “Yeah, yeah I’m good.” Wasting no time, I searched quickly for my mother’s pistol, finding it just a few steps away. “You?” 

“I’m fine.” she responded, brief as I scooped up my weapon and returned it to its place. “Pick up what you found, and then we need to leave. One of the raiders managed to send up a flare, so more patrols will come soon.” 

Looking back, back to the tail of the convoy, my eyes fell right where I remembered seeing that crystal necklace. And beyond there… all clear… but I knew that wouldn’t last long. So, following Sierra’s warning, I sprinted to reach my new treasures, to pack them up and keep them safe. And then, finally, we’d be off to Challenger again… no more distractions. We had a duty, and Sierra was in the right place to remind me. Now, we needed to get back and prepare for whatever step we’d take next in this mission against the massing Black Blood threat. 



Footnote: Level Up!!

New Perk: Dancer – If there’s one pony who’s hard to hit, it’s definitely you. When evading or sprinting, you gain a +1 bonus to your agility. 

Skill Notes:

Unarmed: (50)