With the civilians shepherded out into what turned out to be Atlas Park’s warehouse district, the group made their way into the only part of the base they hadn’t seen.
BW’s goggles had a heat vision mode built in, which was largely redundant considering his powers, but did at least confirm what numbers Arachnos had left in the base. The last room was protected by a line of eight soldiers with three Crab Spider soldiers behind them. The Arbiter, who BW had forgotten the name of, appeared to be having a heated rant at another figure who BW recognised as Aaron Theiry.
“Right, they have the perfect killing field set up.” BW informed the four ponies, the more military trained of those were checking what armour they had while the other tried not to be noticed.
“So around that corner and down the corridor?” Shining Armour asked, considering poking his head out to look but thinking better of it. “Shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Shouldn’t be no. Between the three of you you’ve dealt with quite a few. Another twelve shouldn’t be a problem.”
“What are they rocking?” Aurora asked. The group paused for a moment to work out what she meant.
“Eight grunts and three crabs. The Arbiter’s in their too, but he shouldn’t be any more difficult.”
“Not a big deal,” Shining Armour commented. “But with that ‘killing field’ as you put it we’ll need a distraction. I think I’ve got an idea but it will need everyone.” Shining Armour raised his voice slightly to make sure one particular member of their group didn’t trying to slink off.
***
Trixie had never been more terrified in her life. She thought being thrown through a portal to somewhere she had no idea bout was scary enough, as was when the Ursa Minor was baring down on her, but slowly creeping towards a line of ‘Humans’ with weapons all trained in her general direction was beyond it all.
The plan was simple. She’d slip past the front line, cause a distraction and BW would shoot in, followed by the others. The chaos would destroy any co-ordinated defence efforts and allow them to take down Arachnos easily.
That still required her to go in alone, with no real way to defend herself and eleven angry weapons pointed in her direction. She had to concentrate to keep the invisibility spell on her costume active, which was proving difficult as her fear kept imagining that they’d hear her hoofsteps.
Slowly, slowly, slowly she got closer to the line, almost sliding her hooves over the floor rather than fully stepping.
“What are they waiting for?” One of the soldiers commented, his weapon shaking slightly.
“I don’t know. I don’t like it when Heroes plan.” Another commented.
“This is Black WildFire we’re up against. He’s not the planning sort so it must have something to do with those weird people he’s with.
“Quit your yapping and keep your eyes on that corridor!” The silver armoured soldier, the Arbiter, shouted from behind the line. The soldiers jumped and re-focused their sights down the corridor, still unaware of the terrified pony frozen to the spot infront of them.
Almost out of panic Trixie hurried her pace and stepped around the line of soldiers, not really wanting to be in their immediate line of fire if things went wrong. Everything Twilight had told her about her brother inspired terrific confidence in him, but right now that meant little to her.
It appeared the line of soldiers were guarding a store room with no other exits, the storage crates positioned out of any real order, almost as if they’d thought about created a barricade initially.
The precariously positioned crates behind the Arbiter, who looked frustrated at an unmoved human she assumed was Aaron Theiry, seemed to be her best bet for causing a distraction, so she carefully crept over to them as her heart continued to pound.
Once in a better position, she momentarily thought about how she’d knock the top most crate down before remembering she was a unicorn. Quickly she created a magic aura around the crate and pushed it, making a loud scraping as it moved.
“What’s that?” One of the soldiers asked, looking. Trixie’s blood ran cold as she realised she couldn’t maintain the cloaking spell as well as move something and her heart practically stopped when she heard the Arbiter shout.
“Intruder! Kill her!”
Almost as if that was the cue they’d been waiting for, Trixie heard an explosion down the corridor where the corner was. She and the soldiers looked to see Black WildFire, enveloped in fire, hurtled into their midst and sending the front line flying like skittles.
As the rest of the ponies charged into the confused defenders, the silver armoured Arbiter turned back to Trixie, casting his cape open to reveal a mace and charging at her. Uncertain what to do, she covered her face with her front hooves or hands or whatever they were called as her horn charged with magic. She screwed her eyes shut before her horn let out an enormous boom, magic blasting forwards and sending the Arbiter rocketing across the room at the far wall.
“You’re not human, are you.” Aaron stated to Trixie, looking back at her after watching the Arbiter's arc into the wall.
Trixie moved her arms away to see what she had done, not realising the question was directed at her. Her heart was still pounding and her nerves on edge, though a stray laser bolt brought her back to her senses as she jumped out of the way of another.
She got behind some cover, followed shortly by Aaron.
“I assume you saved Habashy, given that you're here now.” Aaron stated, though Trixie didn’t know what he was talking about. “I also assume that he told you that he saw me. I asked them to spare Habashy's life. While a coward for most of his life, Habashy took a stand, due to the example Black WildFire set for him. And so, I decided to have his life intertwined with his choice. Had not of you decided to show up or were killed, then he too would have been killed.”
“What are you talking about?” Trixie asked between gasps for breath to try and calm herself.
“Isn’t it obvious? I set this up. Shortly you comrades will soundly defeat them, bringing an end to all of this, returning Atlas Park to its former peace.”
“Why? Why did you do that?”
Aaron regarded Trixie, taking a few guesses about her from the shape of her face under the mask and her tail.
“I’m guessing you’re not from this dimension, you don’t know what it’s like to live fearing for your life from so many evil gangs and organisations and hoping a hero will always be there to save you. But the heroes of this city have become complacent. Too many ignore their calling, their duty, and go in search of glory. Those with power who should act sit on the side lines and let people suffer.”
“What about him?” Trixie asked having climbed back to her feet or hooves or whatever they were, indicating to BW as he knocked away an overhead strike from a Crab Spider before blasting it across the room.
“An exception to the rule, I’m afraid.” Aaron stated, which made Trixie suspicious. “But even he’s turned his nose up to so called ‘petty crime’.”
“An exception? Trixie thinks that’s an excuse.”
“An excuse? Someone had to show them what they were missing behind their blinkers.”
“Are you meant to be the good guy because of it?”
“I do not believe I am the good guy in this situation. Arachnos was a means to an end, a method to help wake up the heroes of this city, to remind them of their true calling.
“Heroes will remember, for some time, that they must always be vigilant. That no part of the city is completely safe. They will stand and protect others, putting their own petty views or laziness behind them.
“And you yourself have become a product of this. If it were not for the destruction of Galaxy, for the Arachnos intervention, would you have been stirred to action? To use your abilities for the good of mankind?”
Trixie wasn’t entirely sure how to answer that speech, especially the last part, her utterly confused expression hidden behind her mask. While she tried to figure out what to say, Aaron looked over at the fight as it came to an end.
“I have a request before they finish.” Aaron stated as the Arbiter was backed into a corner by Shining Armour.
“Erm, what is it?”
“Kill me.”
“What?!”
“Kill me. What I’ve done is unforgivable; even if it will open other’s eyes.”
Trixie looked past Aaron at the others as they finished fighting. Shining Armour had knocked one of the Crab Spiders into Epona, who floored him with a well-placed punch while BW and Aurora Gaze had taken down the remaining soldiers.
“Trixie has been many things, but she is not a killer.” Trixie stated as the others turned their attention to her and Aaron. He sighed as BW stormed up to him, his eyes furious as he raised his goggles.
“You’ve got one minute to explain yourself.” BW demanded of Aaron, coming to a halt just out of reach of the scientist.
Aaron regarded BW, mulling over his words while trying to stand tall against someone a foot taller than him, but Trixie answered before him.
“He thinks you’re lazy.” She stated simply. Aaron sighed explosively.
“Heroes have become complacent. You ignore so many crimes, thinking they’re beneath you. I want to remind you that you have to be vigilant at all times, or this will happen.”
“Yet you brought them in?” BW asked after a moment of stunned silence, gesturing to the unconscious Arachnos soldiers.
“It was the only way to make you see the truth. Many started out just like you, I am sure; eyes full of wonder, your heart bursting with the desire to save the city, the state, the country, the world. But how many times can you do this? Once? Twice?
“It will eventually wear down on you, and you will give in to apathy, like so many others before you. And then, someone like myself will come along and help reawaken you.”
The two humans stood silent, BW with fury in his eyes while Aaron stood ready for whatever would happen. The ponies were sure the hero would strike the man for what seemed to be a massive insult, but instead he just sighed in disappointment.
“You truly are a moron, Aaron.” BW stated, shaking his head in disappointment. “You’ve put people’s lives in danger and, in an ironic twist that really doesn’t help that American sterotype, distracted heroes from the very crimes you’re trying to alert them to. You could have come and raised your concerns with us yourself.”
“Do you really think any hero group in this city would have listened? Actions speak far louder than words.”
“We’re far more receptive then you clearly think, but you would have gotten away with just being ridiculed at worst. Now, you’re going straight to the Zig as a poster child of the self-righteous fool.”
The group came to a halt when hurried boot steps drew their attention from down the corridor as a group of men and women in tight fitted red and white costumes rushed towards them, weapons at the ready. Shining Armour could see they were disciplined soldiers from how they were lined up but their weapons didn’t seem stylised like Arachnos’ were.
“Speak of the devil.” BW mused, shaking his head before raising his goggles.
The newly assembled soldiers parted as a woman walked through. She was tall and elegant with long blonde hair, wearing a blue dress which had a red hue around the neck and down the arms where she wore white gloves that matched her knee high boots. She had gold shoulder pads and belt, to which was strapped a small sword while her eyes were covered by a red mask.
“What’s the situation?” She asked of BW as she approached, looking serious and sounding authoritative, though still much shorter then him.
“Situation is Spiders in the woodwork, Libby.” BW answered in a less serious manner, as if he was explaining a child’s misdemeanour. Aaron just kept a straight face. “Aaron Thiery here helped sneak them in while we were busy dealing with Galaxy City.”
“Who are they?” The woman asked, indicating to the humanised ponies.
“A few extra-dimensional mates of mine. Seems Arachnos stumbled across a natural portal to their dimension when they set up shop. There’s one in the Galaxy City arena too which the Vanguard is keeping an eye on.”
The woman walked pasted BW, straightening up her costume slightly as she approached Shining Armour. Everyone paused a moment in surprise as the crate Trixie attempted to move earlier finally fell, fortunately not hitting anyone.
“Welcome to Primal Earth. My name is Ms Liberty and I command Longbow.” She said pleasantly with a smile after a moment of surprise, offering her hand to shake. Shining Armour noticed BW roll his eyes, seemingly not having much respect for the woman.
“Prince Shining Armour.” He introduced, shaking her hand. “These are Lieutenants Epona and Aurora Gaze and this is-” He paused for a moment as he got to Trixie, considering what to call her. “The Mysterious Mare-do-Well.”
The lieutenants laughed while BW smirked out of confusion more than anything else. Trixie didn’t look particularly amused through her mask.
“I’m very sorry for any trouble Arachnos caused on your world, but rest assured we’ll make sure it won’t happen again.” Ms Liberty continued. BW raised an eyebrow, which suggested to Shining Armour that Longbow wasn’t the most efficient military unit on Primal Earth, or at least in BW’s opinion.
“You know what, Libby,” BW started, walking over to stand next to her. “This base is all they’ve seen of Primal Earth so far. I’m going to show them we’re more than a few dark, unpleasant metal corridors with red lights.”
“I would happily show them around the city.”
“Actually, I can do that. I’m pretty sure Longbow’s leader has more to do than being a tour guide after what happened in Galaxy.”
“Very well, just don’t start filling their heads with your opinions. They should be allowed to create their own.”
Ms Liberty turned away from BW and supervised the Longbow soldiers, not seeing BW’s disapproving look as he lowered his goggles.
“You don’t mind escorting this guy to the Zig, do you?” BW asked one of the Longbow soldiers.
“What’s he done?”
“He let Arachnos in.”
“I see. We’ll take care of him.”
“Thank you.” BW said simply, waiting for Aaron to be cuffed and securied before turning to the ponies. “Let’s get out of here.” He said, nodding towards the corridor.
The ponies followed him in a slightly unsure silence from what they’d just seen and heard and they had plenty of questions.
“I take it you’re not friends?” Epona asked, drawing level with the enormously tall human.
“We were, but it seems being the one to take on any and all threats was more important to her.”
“I take it it’s a long story?”
“A very long story that needs a hell of a lot of context. She means well, but you don’t find many more self-righteousness people then her.”
The group exited the warehouse fairly quickly and followed BW along the roads. They were beyond anything they had seen in Equestria, more advanced in every way as motorised carriages zoomed past, mighty buildings and walls towered over them and what they assumed were other heroes soared through the sky.
Plenty of other humans, less extravagantly dressed then BW walked the streets, many stopping to stare and take pictures as they went by. A young human even asked BW to sign his scrap book as they exited the ware house area and entered a park, something he was happy to do before excusing himself.
As they reached the other side of the part, something more magnificent came into view. Upon a massive plaza stood a huge statue of a human carrying a globe on his shoulders and back. A large, official building stood behind it while more and more heroes seemed to congregate under the statue.
“Ladies, Gentlemen, or whatever it is you call yourselves;” BW said, turning to them. “Welcome to Atlas Park.”