In my dream, I can smell the roses. My wife calling me for dinner. The children playing with the dog. Then I hear the roar of the engines. I remember what I am protecting. We come from the night.
~
"Eye open Starbust, I need to take a piss. Oh shit, flak. Goddamn flak everywhere."
Luckily Avo didn't take that piss earlier or we would have been royally fucked.
"No, not today dammit, I will not die in this metal death ball."
"Shit, the sixth engine is on fire. Starbust, you need to shut off the fuel lines to engine six before we're blown to hell!" Avo screamed over the head set. "Your going to need pliers and some wire."
Ok, need to find those tools. Oh, damn that hurts. Stupid flames. Ah, here we go, next to the circuit board. Why can't Avo leave his crap were it needs to be. "We're losing altitude, head to the back off the plane, quickly. I will open up the cargo door." Sprinting through the flames, I found a knife and sliced through the straps off the equipment. An explosion knocked me back. Fucking flak.
"Hurry up back to the cockpit Starbust, we got changelings inbound." Damn, why is it just Avo and I. This thing so freakin huge, surely they could spare at least three other ponies. "I can't fly all day you know, even with changelings blown bits off this metal ball."
"Ok Avo, just calm your nips, I'm coming." I replied. Sweet Celestia's ass, climbing this stairs are hard.
"Hop into the turret there."
"Yes sir, Captain Obvious."
"Ha, that's Major Obvious. Now tear those damn Jerrys apart." I placed my hooves into the controls. I aimed for the squad flying towards me. For being some what smart in designing those machines, they are stupid when it comes to dogfighting. After what was a small eternity, those damn creatures gave up.
I have a fire in engine six, five, four and in the cockpit.
Thanks Vulture one, bandits nearly got me there.
Straight ahead, shoot them, shoot them.
Come at us Starbust. Shoot them.
The Changeling crashed into our plane, sending me flying. I am a deaths gates. She greets like an old friend but Avo calls me back.
"Come on Starbust, don't die on me know."
"No Avo, I ain't leaving you."
Vulture One, come in Vulture One.
Vulture One, this is Condor Nine. Condor Nine, you are crowding me, ease off.
Negative Vulture One.
Avo, you need to shuffle over and make room.
"Starbust, pull up the radar"
Thank you, Avo.
Condor Nine, I see solution and gas leaking off your left wing.
Flies like a concrete fridge.
Thanks Avo for th- Shit, put out the fire, put it (static)
Condor Nine!
Condor Nine, come in.
Damn it, that was troop transport.
This is Condor Nine.
Who is this?
Private Copper, sir. Of the 109th airborne sir.
Ok Copper, I need you to look at the stick in between your hooves.
Yes sir.
Pull up the stick until you the dial on your left reaches zero.
Yes sir.
Can you do that for me?
Yes sir. I think it's working.
Can you do one more thing for me?
Yes sir?
Have a man by the side door. You going to get visitors.
"Alright Starbust, we're going to jump to Condor Nine. Their pilots got knocked out and we need to save those kids arses." Avo explained. I gave a quick nod. At this moments I wished I was a Pegasus or at lest an unicorn. When life gives you lemons, make grape juice and wonder how you did, I always say. We jumped, rolling across the tail of the plane.
The unicorn medic caught us and levated us over to the door. "Thank you, my good sir." I said with a simple nod.
"Come on Starbust, no time for grab ass. We have to fly this plane to the drop zone."
"Command, Condor One through Eight is down and Vulture Two through Six aren't responding to radio calls. We have to abort."
"No Vulture One, this is our last chance to take out Tirek."
"Goddamn it. Copper, go tell your boys to get ready , we’re going in hard.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good kid. Damn. Can’t see shit in this fog. OH FUCK!”
~
It’s been five years since Tirek came from hell. Its been a losing war and doesn't seem to be getting any better. Celestia ordered a large invasion against Chrysalis changelings and Tirek. I can feel the death sweet embrace, her kiss close to my lips. But this isn’t the time. I got a war to when.
~
I heard Avo’s voice ring in my ear “Starbust, you there?”
“Yes, what do you need?”
“Copper’s unit and I are pinned down by some type of automated turrets.”
“Crap, coming over to help you.”
Ok. Inhale, one, two, three, four. Exhale, one, two, three, four. OK, time to find the weapons locker. Of course, karma’s a bitch. The gun locker was knocked cleaned away, about 34 yards from the body off the plane. I sprinted across the open beach. Only one Thompson with two clips.
“Ok Starbust, we’ll lay down cover fire for you. Just keep your head down and take out that MG. On your mark.”
“Now.”
I dashed across the field, to the trenches in front of me.
“Stay in the airplane until I destroy the turret.”
Ok, now, where is a map? Shit, patrol. Got to move. Celestia damn, he scared. A quick knife to the neck put my nerves down. I moved away from his body and headed toward the MG nest. A guard spotted me and opened fire. After a few shooting, slicing and grenading minutes later, I moved towards the MG nest. A commander, apparently controlling reinforcements and the MG at the sametime. I took him out quickly, without making a sound.
“Ok Avo, move up and lets take this trenches. For Equestria!”
“You heard the pony, charge, for Equestria!”
The ground shook from the hooves of the Equestrians paratroops charging across the open beach. A booming sound shook the ground.
“Move quickly, to the trenches!”
I saw the source of the booming. A large, four legged beast walked out. Any ponies in the open were torn apart or burned to a crisp.
“Damnit. How many made it?”
“Three platoons made.” Avo replied.
Ihale. On, two, three, four. Exhale. One, two, three, four. “Ok, we can take down Tirek’s fortress. Lets move.”
A buzzing sound filled the air. A high-pitched scream rippled across the trenches. A battalion of changelings rushed towards us, shocking any fresh blood new to fighting Changelings.
“Look for brightly colored changelings and destroy them. Work your way down the ranks.”
“Grenade”
“Left side”
“Reloading.”
'Their everywh-”
“Move up. Watch your back and watch for any dead comrades coming to you.”
A changeling jumped, trying to rip my flesh from bone. Luckly Copper saved my ass.
“Thanks Private.”
“Maybe you will return the favor one day, sir.”
“GAS!”
Everything goes back.
~
My people murdered....... So many times......... I lost count
“Wake up soldier.” It was all blur to me as I felt hoofs holding me down as I tried to get up. I blinked a couple of times to get my vision in check until I felt a palm of a hand slapped me across the face. My vision focused and what I saw made my blood boil inside my very veins. Standing above me was none other then Tirek himself, the one responsible of throwing Equestria into madness. The one responsible for so many young kids dying in this war. The one that I am going to kill.
"Finely awake Captain. Who are you?"
"Go buck yourself." I growled but he just smiled, as if he was amused by my anger.
“So, we will have some sass, eh? That is a damn shame Captain because I was hoping that you would be corporative with me."
"With what?" As soon as I asked, Tirek motioned to his changeling guards and my heart started bounding when I saw private Copper and Avo.
"LET ME GO YOU BLOODY BASTARDS!" Avo yelled at the changelings, which gave him a quick buck to the stomach as the changelings held down Avo and Copper to the ground which I then looked at Tirek.
"What do you want?"
"Ahh I see you want to be corporative now with me now."
"I said......What do you want. Just let them go."
"Ahhhh se that's the problem Captain Starbust, you are a resilient pony.....And I like that. So I decided to see what would break you."
"Don't listen to him Captain. He's a bloody wanker." Avo growled which made Tirek turn to him.
"You know I like the eyes on this one." He then walked over to Copper and grabbed his head.
"I like yours to."
"Get your bucking hooves off him." I said to him. I was ready to kill every damn Changeling in this room to save them both.
"Captain Starbust I want you to make a choice for me. In your opinion, which one of these two that you care for should I dissect. If you decline, I should put the scalpel to both of them and we would be here all day, it would make matters simple.......All you need to do is look to the that you would have me dissect."
“You will save me sir, right?” Copper questioned.
“Shut up Private,” Avo barked, “Let Starbust chose.”
"Hurry up Captain. I'm losing my patience." Tirek hissed as my anger and fear was growing by the second. This bastard put me in the position that I always dread for. To choose between two of my comrades to live or die. I would honorably give my life for them but I knew Tirek wouldn't let me......bastard.
"Screw you."
"Why do you resist Captain....You know how this will end, If you do not choose I will kill both of them.”
“If you think that I’m choosing then you are out of your damn mind.”
“Pick me.”
“WHAT! Avo you don't have to-”
“Its okay Captain its my time to go…...You just promise me that you will kill this son of a bitch.”
“I Promise.”
“Good.”
“I...I...have made up my mind. I choose Avo.” I told Tirek.
“An excellent choice Captain.” He turned his attention towards Avo. “I hope you don’t disappoint Corporal. Don’t be a waste of my time.…..hehehe”
Tirek operated the machine with care, placing the brain and nerve system inside a glass jar. He smiled, savoring every moment of this.
“You, guard them. You three, follow me.” Ordered Tirek as he walked out. But not before glancing back at Starbust “Goodbye Captain.”
I watched as Tirek exited with the canister, the door slammed shut behind him. I felt a tap on my shoulder. “Uh, Captain,” Stuttered out a shocked Copper, “How are we going to escape?”
Examining the prison, I came across a pipe. ‘This should be of use.’ I think to myself. I looked towards Copper and pointed towards the guard. He nodded, walking up towards him. While Copper distracting the guard, I ripped off the pipe and cleaned out the guards clocks.
“Copper, try the door.”
“I’m trying….. it won’t budge…..Fuck!”
I looked around. The only other escape route was the small window to my left. “Copper, see the window?”
“Yes why?”
“Because we are going to jump through it.”
“WHAT!…...No offense but ……..ARE YOU OUT OF YOU DAMN MIND!”
“Only on Weekdays,” I answered as we sprinted through.
A shell landed where we where moments ago. A sharp pain entered the back of my skull. It was that moment when everything went silent as I felt my body going numb as I couldn't even feel the very fur. I could feel my entire world around me going dark as I plunged down to the waters below. As I made contact with the cold water I could feel all the pain floating away as the darkness crept around me. I tried to fight it but it kept coming until there was nothing but darkness…...Then silence.
20 years later
I watched from a still position. Resting, observing the world around me. Days, weeks, years, all a blur to me. Only things I can remember is, her, Mint Swirl. Or Minty as what the other patients call her. A pure white coat, with a red and minty green mane. Her cutie mark is a quill on top of a mint, signifying her talent for writing and enjoying sweets. She can be...shy at times, and seems to keep her library full of books.
Minty walked into the ward. She set the plate onto
I could hear the sound multiple engines outside. Voices giving orders could be heard outside. A knock resounded throughout the clinic. Hooves pounded up the stairs. The new ossing the hands around.
All of a sudden the doors next to me busted open and three changelings walked into the room. Upon the mere sight of seeing them made my blood boil. The memories of them filled my mind as I recalled all the horrid things they did so many years ago.
“Hey Korporal, was sollen wir tun mit diesem Abschaum?”
“Warum töten diese Unterarten natürlich.”
The Private pulled out his pistol, walking around and executing the patients one by one. I could have sworn that he formed a smile as he killed all the innocents around me. As he killed the last patient next to me, he tossed the tray in front of me aside. He pointed his gun at me, getting ready for the kill but at that point my blood was already at the breaking point as I couldn't just sit there anymore. As he was about to pull the trigger, I lunged towards the changeling; slicing his neck open with the knife from the tray.
“Changeling scum.” I said, spitting on his dead body. I stripped the dead body of anything important, taking ammo, armor and anything else I needed.
A lonely guard stood in the hallway. A poor decision on his part. I slowly took out my knife and threw it at the changeling. The knife found it’s mark, dropping him without making a sound.
“Now, where would they take you Minty?” I whispered under my breath. The sound of boots against hardwood snapped my back.
“Können Sie diese Narren glauben? Fürsorge für die zurückgeblieben?”
“Ja, ich weiß, was meine. Sollte links sie zu sterben.”
They rounded the corner slowly. Enough time to hop over the wall. I landed on mutilated Nurse’s body. I let out a sigh of disgust. Basterd’s couldn’t take the time to clean up after themselves. I moved slowly through the dim office, trying not to make a single sound. My ears and eyes on full alert, searching for any danger. A light flashed through the glass, making me dive into a desk. A loud rattling noise echoed through the halls.
An eerie silence followed by the clicking safeties was all that could be heard.
‘Shit’.
The sound of a boot contacting with hardwood rattled throughout office. As the sound of lead racing past my head. It seemed forever and a day but they finally ran dry. My chance. I just popped my head pistol up, taking careful shots for their heads. I dropped them all, fish in a barrel.
Creeping forward, I picked the AR of the dead enemy. I quickly frisked through the eliminated contacts, probably missing multiple clips but time was of the esince.
I peeked through glass, spotting one, three, seven, fifteen, twenty-one enemies between me and a thin wooden wall.
‘Screw it.’
I broke the glass, all twenty-one heads looked at me. All I could do was smile and wink before ducking beneath the my thin cover. I quickly went prone, crawling towards the left side. The door creaked open, two armored giants trudged in. I pulled the trigger, my bullets bouncing off them like rubber against solid steel.
I cursed myself. ‘I knew I should have searched them more thoroughly.’ As I sprinted through the door. I quickly came across the changelings I killed before.
‘Where is it?!’ The sound of heavy boots moving quickly. My heart thumping louder. ‘Come on dammit!’ The two large shadows moved slowly through the light.“Here it is!” I shouted out. Pulling the pin out, I chucked the tin can towards the door. Two figures appeared, before having blood and chunk of skin splattered across the wall.
I stared, jaw dropped. ‘Damn. That powerful?’ The soldiers gathered called out to their comrades. ‘You got any more?’ I asked the body below my foot. Unfortunately, I couldn't find another one. I could hear the sound of heavy boots coming closer towards my position. I had to think fast or they kill me. I tried to find anything that I could use. That is until I spot another AR lying next to the dead changeling. I picked both, dual wielding both. At that moment my ‘Killing Changelings Brutally’ instinct kicked in as I smiled, knowing what I’m going to do those poor fuckers.
The last one hit the floor. 'Seven shots to the chest, sloppy.' I sighed in disgust. A scream rippled throughout the asylum.
‘Minty! I dashed through the front doors of the asylum to see Minty surrounded by armored Changeling troops. One of them spots me and shoves Minty into the armored carriage as the then opened fire on me. I dashed towards the nearest pillar for cover as I hear them shouting at each other.
“Franz , flankieren ihn verlassen. Ich bekam Recht.” The changeling corporal demanded.
“Warum zur Hölle muss ich immer links zu bekommen?”
“Weil Ihr meine Hündin , jetzt holen die linke.”
“Fein, Arschloch.”
I checked the left side, a the private shakely holding his rifle approached me slowly. Fear across his face.
“Kommen Sie mit den Händen up.” A voice called from the right.
“Speak Equestrian asshole!”
“Come out gun no.”
“Fuck you!” I retorted, spinning around to right, catching the corporal off guard. Pulling the trigger, I shot him straight through the skull. 9 out of 10, could use some work on execution. I ducked back, the position I was original was light up.
“Well shit, they got a fuckin MG.” I muttered to myself. Blindly chuckin a grenade, a cry rang out from the other side. I patted myself on the back. I picked my head, three Changelings and a man on the MG. Seems easy enough. Grabbing my last grenade, I chucked in that general direction. More screams ment success. Charging towards MG turret, he shot at me. He couldn’t the back side of a barn. Jumping up, I slammed my rifle into his head. He fall down the turret hole, died. Rotating the turret slowly, I was taking shots from the remaining three.
“Eat lead mother buckers!” I shouted, pulling the trigger. The gun was shit, hitting everything but them. But it did scare the shit out of them. I jumped out, flanking to the right. I came up right on their flanks, lightin them straight up.
The officer walked out with Minty. “You, gun down.”
I laughed. “Really bro? Are we going to do this?”
“Just...back.”
I dropped my gun, approaching him slowly with my knife in back holster.
“Stop..there.”
I throw the knife, sticking in his hand. He dropped the pistol, grabbing his hand. Minty picked up his gun, aiming it at his head.
“Thanks Mints.” A confused look on across her face.
“How, you’ve been paralyzed below the neck for 20 years.”
“Crazy things have happened.” I responded, kicking the Colonel.
