> Code Geass: Stryker of the Equus Rebellion
>  by Skye Mist
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prologue: A World Ravaged By War
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Several years ago, Nymphia began to expand its borders. Griffonstone and Griffonia, Zebrica, and even the Dragon Lands fell to its might. 

Then, they declared war on Japone to lay claim to it as well. As the world's only superpower, Nymphia was a looming political figure. Rights for Japone's great supply of underground resources caused even greater tensions. 

In the final battle for the mainland, the Nymphians brought forth a new combat force. Their advanced technology allowed them to make armored mechs known as Knight-Mares. With the sheer enemy size and Knight-Mare Frames, Nymphia crushed Japone's defense.

The Japonese were conquered by the Nymphians. Their power, rights, and identities were stripped from them. They became Elevens of Colony 11, a mere husk of what it had been. Everyone lived in fear of the mighty empire.

Equestria resolved to stay neutral and out of the, otherwise, world conflict. The creatures there lived in oblivious peace, harmony, and bliss. Nymphia dared not disturb peace there, for the very sun and moon were controlled by the rulers, but with its small size compared to other nations, Nymphia did not lose much.

In Colony 11, resistances broke out, but none ever succeeded in gaining back Japone. While the Nymphians relaxed and enjoyed themselves in the settlements, the Elevens suffered in the crumbling ghettos.

And this-

This is where one young drone makes a vow.

"I swear... I swear, Greymane, so help me, one day... I'll obliterate Nymphia!"
> Act l: Power Is Mine
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Over highway 85 north in Japone, helicopters pursued a large black truck.

"This is Alpha 3! Target headed for Delta 14 at 80 kph!"

"Calling Code 3! All units from floor 2 to 5, take 2-8-8! I want the target intact!"





Beep! Beep!

The slim, elderly stallion started at the sound of the timer.

"You're out of time. You shall make your move every 20 seconds from now on."

The stallion looked nervously at his chess opponent, a changeling drone who didn't seem to care much as he boringly fixed his suit and bow-tie with his magic.

His opponent said indifferently, "Very well, I'm game. Hmm?"

Both players looked up as the door opened to show two young colts in similar uniforms.

The elderly stallion's opponent scoffed. "So, your substitute has arrived?"

The elderly stallion jumped up, relieved, and ignored his opponent's question. "Thank heavens, I'm saved! How's school?"

His opponent looked at the colts. One of them suddenly turned into a changeling and stepped forward. He merely quirked a non-existing eyebrow.

"A school-drone?"

The changeling sat in the chair previously occupied by the elderly stallion. He seemed to assess the posh changeling across from him.

"Hmph, a noblechangeling. How typical." He said with a hint of disdain.

The changeling was seemingly unfazed. "Ah, kids these days. I envy you. You have so much time on your hooves. Time for regrets anyway. What's your name, school-drone?"

"Stryker. Stryker Surveil." The changeling replied curtly. He surveyed the board to make his move, but his friend, a white pegasus with a yellow-streaked black mane and brown eyes, interrupted his concentration.

"Hey, wait a minute! You can't win this one! It's impossible... right?"

"Fallout, when do you think we'd have to leave to get back in time?" Stryker asked coolly.

"Uh, 20 minutes. Why?" Fallout asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Because I want you to not crash into another pony on our way back. I'll need 9 minutes."

The changeling turned to the elderly stallion. "About yesterday?"

"Yes, of course. We'll discuss it later." The stallion stammered.

The noble raised an eyebrow. "9 minutes? You have only 20 seconds to make your move."

His point was emphasized by another buzz of the timer.

"It's enough." Stryker used his magic to lift the king piece.

The noble chuckled. "You start with the king? Very well."

Stryker simply smiled. 'You make too many assumptions, noble... And you can't keep your emotions in check. They tell your bluff.'





Meanwhile...

"Hey, where's Stryker at?"

The pony who asked, a young pegasus mare with a white coat and red mane, looked around at her friends, prompting an answer from them.

"He went somewhere with Fallout, Raincloud." An orange pegasus mare answered as she ran a brush through her amethyst mane and tidied her uniform.

"Ugh, really?! What's it this time? Poker?" Raincloud groaned in annoyance.

The orange mare sighed. "It's like they forget that they're on the student council. They're always off gambling for money! If only Ry-Ry would use his brain in school instead of stupid stuff, he'd actually get good grades!"

Raincloud giggled. "'Oh, I wish my dear Ry-Ry would be a serious young drone.' That's adorable, Amber."

Amber blushed and looked at her hooves as her friends tried to cover up the fact that they were laughing as well.

"Please Raincloud..."

"It's so cute though; the changeling's usually the one pining after the pony in the relationship." Raincloud winked.

Amber covered her face with her hooves. "You're horrible, madam president..."





Back on the highway, the truck veered left onto a different route. 

"Ugh, stupid Eclipse, couldn't he have stuck to the plan?! Just when we finally steal somethin' important from Nymphia! Now we're in a whole heap of shit!" The one driving, a changeling drone, hissed.

"Less talking, more driving buddy!" His partner said as she looked into the rear-view mirror to check on the helicopters.





"Haha! Well, that was fun. It's always fun to play against the nobility; when they lose, it's priceless! Also, 8 minutes and 32 seconds is a new record!" Fallout exclaimed as they left the chess room.

Stryker kept walking as he changed back into his disguise, a dark gray thestral stallion with sky-blue eyes, a black mane, and dusk blue wings.

"He also didn't have much time to move either. And as a changeling, he could have easily used his emotion sensing abilities to cheat his way into winning with that stallion. Being another changeling, I could've called him out on it, so he played fairly and lost. Besides, nobles are overpriviledged parasites anyway so it's nev- What?"

He turned to Fallout to see him chuckling behind a hoof. Using his emotion-sensing ability, he could tell something he'd said had been amusing. He blinked in confusion until it dawned on him.

Stryker facehooved and sighed. "Fallout, you can be too much of a jokester sometimes."

Fallout grinned. "I know; it's just too funny to ignore."

Stryker just shook his head as they stepped outside.

"Why are they killing innocents?!"

"The Elevens terrify me!"

A robotic voice cut through all the voices. "We apologize for the delay. His Royal Majesty, Prince Xirex, 3rd prince of Nymphia, will now address the nation."

Both Fallout and Stryker looked up to the screen. An image of a changeling drone wearing a formal suit showed up on the screen.

Stryker gnashed his fangs together. 'Speaking of noble parasites...'

Xirex's voice echoed from many speakers across the nation.

"To all of my subjects! Including, of course, the many loyal Elevens who support the mighty Nymphian Empire!"





"Bull. Shit!" The changeling said as he dodged the helicopters' bullets.

"We're not Elevens. We're Japonese!" The mare yelled.

"Can you not see my pain? As ruler of Colony 11, it fills my heart with sorrow and rage to see such brutish creatures cause destruction among us! These terrorists cannot see that the battle we fight is one for the good of all citizens! Now, I'd like for you to join me in observance of the eight who died for justice in the line of duty."

"A moment of silence, please." The robotic voice said monotonously.





Xirex finished his speech, and in accordance, many out in the streets joined him in honoring the eight who died.

Stryker just kept walking.

Fallout caught up to him. "Aren't you going to join in?"

"Aren't you?" Stryker shot back.

"Nah, it's sorta embarrassing actually." Fallout said sheepishly.

"I agree. Plus, there's no use in crying over spilled milk. Those soldiers are dead, and they're going to stay dead, no matter how many creatures shed their tears."

Fallout let out a low whistle. "Damn, that's dark, buddy."

"It's merely the truth. Self-satisfaction is all it is. You can't change the world by doing simply that." Stryker said as he stared up at the image of Xirex with narrowed eyes.





"That was splendid, Your Majesty! No one could ever guess that you were at a party while doing that!" 

Xirex smirked as he stepped down from the platform. 

"The viceroy is needed to be the best actor in Colony 11. And after all, what type of changeling would I be if I was a bad actor?"

"My, you're so confident!"

"It's all part of the performance. The media wants a charismatic prince, so I give them a charismatic prince." Xirex stated as he grabbed a hold of a glass of champagne.

"Untrue, Your Majesty! Prince Xirex, our purpose is to assist you in your reign in any way we can!"

A mare of dark tan fur that faded to caramel and a brown mane scoffed as she heard that. Leaned against the wall of the room, she murmured to herself, "His reign is a petty sham."

Her eyebrow rose as a green-eyed changeling general came barging in. "Prince Xirex!"

'A soldier?'

"I beg your pardon, Your Majesty..."

The mare got off the wall and prepared to leave. 'Don't tell me it's another appearance for him. Perhaps it won't be as dreary as this one. Wonder if I should check on my sisters...'

"You fool!" Prince Xirex yelled. The statement was accompanied by the sound of glass breaking.

The mare turned back around to see an enraged Xirex glaring daggers at the changeling general. She noticed that the prince's glass had broke as well.

The general broke a sweat. "The police were told it was medical equipment. If we send out the army, it'll bring too much-"

"Deploy the Royal Guard! The Knight-Mares too!" Xirex cut him off.

"Alert 1! Rapid reaction companies 4, 7, and 8 as well as air assault team 31, immediate scramble! Special Division 9, stand by!"





"Hey, Stryker, can I ask you something?"

"Go ahead." Stryker replied as he flew after Fallout.

"That first move you made... Why'd you start with the king?"

Stryker replied with a straight face, "That's simple. If the king doesn't lead, how can his expect his subordinates to follow?"

Fallout looked at him weird. "What's with that?"

"With what?"

"You plan on running a major corporation or something?"

It was Stryker's turn to look at Fallout weird. "What? No way. Ambitions like that are pointless."

HONK!

Fallout and Stryker started and narrowly dodged a truck by veering sharply. They half-crashed on the sidewalk.

"Whoa! That was close!" Fallout exclaimed. "We gotta watch where we're flying next time."

"Idiots! Watch where you're going!" The changeling driving hissed through clenched teeth. He veered onto an unfinished road in his haste.

"Not that way!" The mare next to him yelled.

The changeling tried to brake, but the momentum kept the truck going and it crashed into the side of an unfinished building.

Fallout blinked. "Uhh... Was that our fault?"

Stryker shrugged. "I don't think so. Their fault they were going too fast."





"Target's crashed at the abandoned V.O building construction site."

"The military will take over from here per General Acadis' orders."

"Him?!"

Said general's thoughts were in a turmoil as he rode aboard a helicopter. The changelings onboard could sense the general's nervousness.

'We have it retrieve it! If that thing falls into the wrong hooves...'





Stryker stared down at the crash. Suddenly, he saw something above the truck. It was like an aura of some sort.

"What the...?"

Fallout winced a bit as he moved his wings. "Ah great, this sucks. Think my left wing got sprained a little."

Stryker was too distracted by the strange aura atop the truck to listen. "Yeah... Fallout, come check this out."

His attention was wrenched from the truck as more ponies showed up to examine the crash.

"Woah. Nasty crash."

"What happened? An accident?"

"Probably a drunk driver... Always some moron."

"Maybe someone should go help."

Stryker rolled his eyes and focused his attention back on the strange aura. "Idiots, the lot of them."

He flapped his wings and dived down towards the truck.

Fallout tried to stop him. "Hey, wait!"

"Oh look, the student rescue team's arrived."

"Why doesn't anyone call for help, y'know?"

Stryker drowned out the sound of the ever-growing crowd as he landed atop the truck.

"Hey, are you alright?" He yelled.

There was no answer, for the two in the truck were both still knocked out from the initial impact.

Fallout sighed and began the walk down to where Stryker was.

"Dang it, I know it's the right thing to do, but at this rate, we'll be late for school!"





The mare shook her partner. "Hey, Plasto! Get up!"

Stryker frowned as he called again. "Can you hear me? Are you okay?!"

"It's you... Finally you've come..."

Stryker blinked. He could only sense the two up in the front with his emotion sensors, but he couldn't detect a third. "The heck?! Where...? Are you in there?"

He leaned over the edge of the open top when abruptly, the truck roared to life and backed up, causing him to fall in. Unfortunately, he landed on his right wing with a pop, making it pointless to try and fly until he could pop it back into place. That'd be painful.

Getting tossed around in the truck, he called out. "Hey, I'm in here! Stop!"

Fallout watched in confusion as it drove away. "So... would that be considered a hit and run?"





'I remember seeing a ladder on the outside. You'd think that they would've stuck a ladder on the inside too.'

His head shot up as he heard a voice.

"Stop this vehicle! Surrender now, or we'll shoot to kill! Stop at once!"

"What do we do now, Sirocco?! That's the army!" Plasto panicked.

The mare, Sirocco, got up from her seat. "That's why I'm here buddy! Just keep driving!"

Meanwhile, Stryker scanned the inside of the truck for a way out. That was harder than it sounded since the truck kept moving in a serpentine movement to presumably avoid bullets from the army helicopters.

'I can't fly out. Even if I could, I would either break my neck because of something I can't see or get shot. Same goes for jumping out. Maybe I could call-'

His thoughts were cut off as a dark-gray mare with a black and light-blue mane came out to the back. He instantly ducked behind the dome-shaped capsule. She took off the coat she wore and placed it on a hook.

"Plasto, can you enter the subway through the Azabu root?" She called up to the front.

"Why not just use it here, Sirocco?!" A voice called from the front.

"Because it'd mean a blood-bath!" The mare retorted.

"Yeah..."

Stryker narrowed his eyes as the mare moved towards a covered mech. 'I've seen her before... but where?'





"Hey, Stryker! Where are you?! We gotta get to school!" Fallout called as he looked around, confused. 'I swore he was right here a couple of minutes ago...'





"Target is moving towards the ghettos!"

"Copy that! Corner 'em!"

"Roger!"

As they pursued the truck, something from the back hit one of the helicopters, and it went down in flames.

"A slash harken?!"

The back of the truck opened to reveal a red mech.

"A Knight-Mare!"

It was launched from the truck and started going after the army Knight-Mares and helicopters.

Stryker tried to get out before the back could close, but the movement of the truck impaired him from getting there in time. He changed back into his natural form and tried to buck his way out. It was pointless though because it was reinforced with steel.

'Shit, these guys are real terrorists! How can I get out?'





The red mech fired a slash harken towards one of the helicopters, making it crash into the other.

"Yeah Nymphia, you know full well what this badass mother-fucker can do!"

One of the Knight-Mares came forward. The pilot was a black vesper with a navy blue edged burgundy mane.

He called out to his comrades, "The rest of you back off! I'll take this guy."

Turning back to the red Knight-Mare, he grinned.

"I assume you dug that relic out of some scrap heap. A broken-down Glasgow is no match for a Sutherland! Not to mention a filthy Eleven who disgraces our glorious Queen!"

He struck the Glasgow with a few slashes, but it still held out, albeit barely.

Plasto called out to Sirocco. "We should split up! We can't both risk being killed!"

"But-" Sirocco didn't get to finish her protest before the Sutherland launched another barrage of attacks, and the truck veered away towards the railroad tracks.

Another Sutherland fired on the truck. Plasto growled as a bullet pierced through his chitin. Nonetheless, he kept the truck moving.

The pilot of the Sutherland that fired smirked. "Simpleminded Eleven!"

The Glasgow tried to claw the vesper's Sutherland, but the arm got jammed.

Sirocco exclaimed, "What?! It's stuck! Of all the times...!"

The vesper took the opportunity to strike. Next thing Sirocco knew, the Glasgow's left arm was detached from the mech and hit the Sutherland at close range. The impact let out a smoke cover, and Sirocco used the opportunity to escape.

The vesper laughed as his Knight-Mare recovered. "I admit, I like your spirit! But your mistake was going up against me, Crescent Blade, with some secondhooved junk!"





"Damn it, there's no cell reception. And there's noling I can contact through the hivemind that'd be able to help." Stryker growled in frustration as his phone refused to work.

He looked up towards the open top that he'd fallen through. 'We're probably somewhere along the old subway lines judging by the darkness and road surface. Probably headed for a ghetto exit. Still dangerous to get out then... Wait, I got it!'

He levitated the mare's jacket and took out a radio from the pocket of it.

'I'm not much of a fan of the government, but I'll take their protection. If I give them a terrorist communicator... wait...'





"Some friend you are, Stryker, leaving me behind like that." Fallout grumbled to himself as he walked the road to school.





"Hmm..."

General Acadis stepped back from the red and black maned pony who had gotten in his face. He took in the appearance of the figure before questioning, "What are you doing, Lord Gear Spring?"

The ash-gray stallion chuckled and put on a grin. "Well, working on my newest invention, but if you mean 'this minute' now, then I guess I'm looking at a drone who blundered. Does that answer your question?"

General Acadis bared his fangs. "You impudent lit-"

"I'll take that as a yes then. You screwed up, didn't you? Terrorists stole the thing you and Prince Xirex were 'secretly' working on? You could easily get it back, but you want to get rid of them in one fell swoop? Let them lead you to their hideout and eliminate them? Hmm?"

Gear Spring didn't need an answer; the flustered annoyed look on General Acadis's face was enough. He turned to the cobalt blue mare behind him.

"Looks like you were right, Azure! Spot-on reasoning!"

Said mare was looking at the ground in annoyed embarrassment of her colleague's forwardness. Letting out a sigh, she looked up at Gear and Acadis. She rolled her amethyst eyes and motioned in no particular direction with a similarly colored hoof.

"It's really nothing. I just found it odd is all."

Acadis interjected. "Okay, that's enough of your tomfoolery. What does the Special Corps want out of this?"

Gear answered simply, "I merely want to assist with the cleanup."

Acadis raised a nonexistent eyebrow. "Assist?"

"Exactly. It's data that I want." Gear answered with a nod.

"If I may interrupt, what exactly did they even steal?" Azure asked.

Acadis hesitated. "Chemical weapons. In other words... poison gas."





Grey armor clad almost everypony as they scattered through the subway system. The voice of a changeling laid out the instructions. 

"The terrorists are hiding in the subway stations. Your mission? Find the weapon they've stolen. Investigate the old subway lines that run through the Eleven residential district in the Shineighku Ghetto. Report in as soon as you spot them; we, the Royal Guard will be the ones to recover the target. Remember, you may call yourselves Nymphians, but you were born Elevens, so you should be able to recognize the stench! If you want to earn the right to carry arms, then show some results! Your chance to prove your loyalty to Nymphia is now!"

"Yes, my lord!" They said in unison through their built-in radios.





Plasto struggled to keep conscious as green ichor flowed from his left side. As the truck sank into a pothole though, he couldn't get the wheel unstuck.

In the back of the truck, Stryker felt the thud of the sink.

'An accident? If so...'

The ruckus caused one soldier to find the truck.

Plasto raised a shaky holed hoof and pushed a button. It opened the side of the truck partially. He coughed up a mixture of ichor and saliva.

"Tire's stuck... Please, Rough Boulder... Find me..."

The lone soldier sent a message to his superiors, and he moved in as he saw Stryker near the poison gas capsule.

"404 has spotted the target."

"Roger that. Prepare for recovery."





Stryker began to half-loft half-climb himself up the capsule.

"I can try to climb up now an-"

A gray armor-clad pony knocked him away, and pinned him to the floor.

"What the-" He got a good look at the soldier. "Are you Nymphian...?"

Instead of answering, the pony said scathingly, "That's enough mindless murder!"

Stryker tried to get free with little success. "Wait, I'm not one of-"

"Planning to use poison gas?! Don't play dumb with me!"

Stryker could taste the soldier's anger. Literally. And it wasn't pleasant.

"Get off me!" He used his forehooves to kick the pony back. He glared at the soldier as he stood up.

"Look, I'm not here by choice! And if that's poison gas, it was made in Nymphia, right?!"

The soldier took a sudden gasp. "My god..."

Stryker stepped forward, fangs bared and eyes ablaze. "Mindless murder...?! Then why don't you just obliterate Nymphia?!"

The soldier took off his helmet to reveal a gray stallion with a lighter gray mane. "Stryker? It's me, Greymane."

Stryker blinked in surprise at the familar face. "You... you became a Nymphian soldier?"

"Yeah, and you? You're a-"

"What are you saying?!" Stryker growled with his eyes narrowed.

It was at that moment that the capsule began to open. Greymane lunged at Stryker, covering his muzzle with a hoof and knocking them both off their hooves. The capsule open fully, and the two looked on in shock and surprise as a tied-up alicorn mare of an ocean-blue and cranberry coat and streaked dark sky-blue mane fell out of it instead of poison gas. 

Greymane said in confusion, "That's not poison gas... What is it?"

They briefly saw a glimpse of the mare's eyes before they closed; two slitted cerulean eyes of a dragon were what they were.





Meanwhile, in another section of the subway system...

"In all of the confusion, I left it in the coat." Sirocco said over a radio.

"It's okay. The Glasgow's circuits are usable. So, were we right?"

Sirocco took a sip from a bottle of water. "Think so. Bet it's poison gas, like intelligence said."

"And Plasto?"

"Don't know, Rough Boulder. I think he made it underground though."





Stryker took off the cloth that held the mare's muzzle closed. "Tell me the truth, Greymane. Poison gas? This mare?"

"It's what they told us in the briefing, I swear!" Greymane said as he untied her hooves.

Suddenly, a light shined on them, and the lead Royal Guard changeling scowled.

"Being an honorary Nymphian will not excuse you, private!"

Greymane raced over to the changeling. "But sir, I was told this was poison gas!"

The lead guard barked at him. "How dare you question orders!"

Stryker looked on in worry. 'This isn't good. A poisonous situation that would threaten Greymane's superiors if unleashed.'

The lead guard grinned though. "However... in light of your outstanding military achievements, I'm going to be lenient."

He presented a hoof-strap gun to Greymane. "Private, I want you to take this and execute the terrorist."

Greymane protested. "But he's not a terrorist! He's just a civilian who got caught up in all this!"

The changeling bared his fangs. "Why, you insubordinate little- That's an order! Didn't you swear your loyalty and life to Nymphia?!"

Greymane turned back towards Stryker and the unconscious alicorn. "Yes... but I can't."

"What?" The lead changeling's voice was eerily calm.

"I won't do it sir. I can't and won't shoot a civilian. I can't follow your orders, sir."

"Very well then."

Stryker's eyes widened as he saw the lead guard levitate his own gun. He opened his mouth to warn Greymane, but it was too late. Greymane fell with a thud to the ground.

"Greymane!" 

The lead changeling turned to Stryker. "Well, Nymphian school-drone, not a good day to be cutting class." He said to the others, "Collect the mare. After you've secured her, kill the student."

"Yes, my lord!" They responded in unison.

In the front of the truck, Plasto lay weak. He opened the cover of a button.

"Death... to Nymphia... Long live... Japone." And with that, he pushed it.

The truck self-destructed and sent out a wide range of smoke. The Royal Guard covered their eyes a from the blast.





At the cockpit of Prince Xirex's base...

"They got away?! And you call yourselves the Royal Guard?!" General Acadis yelled.

The Royal Guard stuttered through the radio, "Forgive me, my lord! The blast was mainly directed upwards, but the-"

"Why the heck do you think I only told you creatures about this?!" He screeched.

"W-We'll continue the investigation!"

"The plan has moved forward to the next phase." Xirex said as he sat upon his throne.

Acadis looked at Xirex in alarm. "Bu-but Your Highness...!"

Xirex said calmly, "If knowledge of her gets out, I'll be disinherited. Tell them back home we're carrying out a planned urban renewal here."

He stood up and raised his voice. "As Xirex, third prince of the empire, I command you! Destroy Shineighku Ghetto! Leave no one alive!"





General Acadis announced over the communication, "The enemy is garbage that can never hope to become even honorary Britannians! Wipe out every last one of them!"

One vesper grinned from within his Sutherland. "Naturally."

Another officer contacted him. "Supervisor Crescent, General Acadis requests that you take command of-"

"Acadis has staff officers. I haven't had this much fun on the front lines in ages!" Crescent Blade cut in.

General Acadis tracked the attack forces as they moved. Xirex did as well and smirked. "Hmph."





In the subway system, Stryker dropped the mare down onto the ground. She looked up at him with her dragon-like eyes as he leaned on the wall and blamed her for the massacre happening.

"What the heck are you?! This chaos is all your fault, isn't it?! Not only that, but Nymphia has even killed Greymane!"





"Not there?" Gear asked Azure.

"It looks like he's gone to the front line." She answered.

He frowned. "Even though we brought the Lancelot here?" 

"Now what'll we do?" Azure asked him worriedly.

Gear held up a key with his magic and shrugged. "We steamrolled our way in here, but we don't have a devicer to use it."





Stryker crawled up the steps of the subways. He turned to the mare.

"Stay quiet and wait here." He whispered.

He peeked his head above the exit to duck again as a Nymphian gunned down a mare.

"Report."

Stryker narrowed his eyes as he recognized the sound of the lead Royal Guard from the truck incident.

"We found only Elevens here, sir."

The lead guard asked skeptically, "You sure? That exit comes out here?"

"Yes, sir. It matches up with our map of the old city."

Stryker watched as they prepared to leave, but his phone decided to go off then. The Royal Guards turned around as he hung up.





Amber frowned as the sound of the ringer stopped. "Huh? That jerk! He hung up on me ! I can't believe it!"





Stryker was thrown against the wall as the lead guard chuckled. The mare was held back from helping him by two other soldiers.

"What an appropriate location for a terrorist to meet his end."

Stryker bared his fangs as the leader pointed his gun at him. "You scum!"

"Still, you did well for a student, but that's to be expected. You're a Nymphian. Unfortunately, my clever young friend, you have no future."

He pulled the trigger.

The mare wrenched free from the soldiers and spread her wings as she moved in front of Stryker. "He mustn't die!"

The next moment, she was on the ground, blood pooling around her head.

Stryker gasped in horror. "Y-you killed her!"

The lead guard simply shrugged it off. 

"Our orders were to bring her back alive if possible. Oh well. Nothing can be done about it now. We'll tell our superiors that the Royal Guard found the terrorist hideout and killed them all. Regrettably, the female hostage had already been tortured to death. What do you think, school-drone?"

Stryker didn't answer as his hoof was held close the the mare's. Was his life really going to end this way?

'How can this be happening? First Greymane's killed... And this mare... Now, I'm about to die. Before I've had a chance to do a single thing with my life. It's gone in a heartbeat...' He thought of his little sister. 'Moth!'

All of a sudden, he felt a hoof wrap around his. The mare's hoof was grasping his. Next thing he knew, he was in a different place. Then, he heard a voice around him.

"You don't want it to end here and now, do you?"

"What...?"

"You appear to have a reason for living..."

"The mare? It's impossible!" He said to himself.

"If I grant you power, could you go on? I propose a deal. In exchange for this power, you must agree to make my one wish come true. Accept this contract and you accept its conditions, while living in the world of creatures, you will live unlike any other. A different providence, a different time, a different life. The power of the king will condemn you to a life of solitude. Are you prepared for this?"

Stryker felt himself lapse through several scenes. Though most were a blur, one stood out among the rest.

"A convergence with the Ragnarok connection? So the myth is beginning once again?" He heard a figure say. Somehow, he felt like he should know the voice. More scenes flashed by.

With determination, he said to the voice, "Yes! I hereby accept the terms of your contract!"

Falling back into reality, he chuckled and kept his eyes closed. Standing yet keeping his head less than inclined, he asked the guards, "Say... how should a Nymphian who detests his own country live his life?"

The entire squad felt Stryker's contempt and smugness. The lead guard sneered, "Are you some kind of radical?"

Unfazed, Stryker smirked. "What's wrong? Why not shoot? Your opponent is just a school-drone. Or have you finally realized?"

He opened his eyes and raised his head. His left eye turned red and held the symbol of a bird. 

"The only ones who should kill, are those who are prepared to be killed!"

The guard asked his comrades warily, "What's happening here...?!"

Stryker looked them all in the eye. "I, Stryker vi Mirren, command you... now all of you... die!"

As all their irises took on a reddish tinge, the leader chuckled and used his magic to point his gun at his neck.

"Happily, Your Highness! You heard him, gents! Fire!"

Stryker watched as all of them shot themselves, green ichor staining the ground where they fell. He stood there for a moment, processing what just happened.

'I've always lived a lie. But now, this incredible power... it's mine...'

Stryker's expression changed to that of a predatory grin. "Well, then..."
> Act ll: Friends and Enemies
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stryker looked at the mare on the ground before him. 

'I don't understand what it is you wanted me to do. Why did you give me this bizarre power?'

He was snapped out of his stupor when a Knight-Mare showed up and sent dust up everywhere. Stryker stood with his eyes narrowed as the pilot surveyed the scene.

"How could all these Royal Guards be dead?" the pilot asked in disbelief. 

Pressing the intercom button, she asked Stryker, "What happened here, drone? And why is a Nymphian student in a place like this?!"

Stryker didn't answer. The mare yelled at him.

"Are you deaf? Answer me or I'll-" She fired off a few warning shots. "Answer me!"

Stryker activated his power as he commanded in a calm voice, "I order you to come out. At once!"

The mare scowled and said, "Who the heck do you think you are to order me?"

His eye turned back to normal as he realized a setback. 'I see. It only works with direct eye contact.' 

He called out to the pilot, "My name is Midnight Striker; my father's a duke."

"Nobility?"

Stryker continued with a smirk as the mare stepped out of her Knight-Mare. Now that he could see her, she was a pegasus with an apricot coat, cherry eyes, a tangerine and fire mane, and she had a hoof-strap gun on her left forehoof.

"My ID card's in my uniform. After you confirm who I am, I'll request your protection."

She raised her left forehoof as she came forward and said curtly, "Don't try anything. I'll take out your ID."

'Oh, don't worry... Now, let's try this again.' Stryker used his power again as she came closer. "Excellent. Now then, hand your Knight-Mare over to me."

The pilot's irises took on a red tinge. "Understood." She lowered her hoof and tossed her Knight-Mare key over. 

"The code number is XG21G2D4."

Stryker caught the key and grinned. "Got it."





The pilot blinked as she realized she was alone. "What the-"

She turned around. 'Where'd that school-drone go?'





Greymane blinked open his eyes to see Gear Spring in his face. He sat up to realize his sides were bandaged.

"So are we having a bad day? Looks like you missed a chance to go to heaven, Private Greymane." Gear said.

Greymane blinked in confusion and looked around. "I did? Where...?"

"Hmm? Ah, we're still in the Shineighku Ghetto."

Azure explained. "With Prince Xirex nearby, this is probably the safest place anywhere."

She held out a green pendant with her magic. "This is what saved your life, Mr. Greymane."

Gear commented, "You're lucky it was under your protective suit because that's what deflected the bullet."

Azure passed it to Greymane as she asked, "Is it a keepsake?"

"Yeah, very." He replied as he took it with a hoof. It was slightly cracked but still intact. 

Gear looked at it over Greymane's shoulder. "You Elevens believe that gods live inside of everything, even objects, don't you? I guess this one-"

Greymane suddenly remembered. "Is Stry-" He stopped mid-sentence. 'I shouldn't drag Stryker into this.'

"What's the latest on the situation?" He asked instead.

"Looks like the poison gas was released. Massive Eleven casualties have been reported."

"They haven't caught the perpetrators yet." Azure added.

"They haven't, huh? Not yet?" Greymane repeated as he narrowed his amber-hazel eyes. 'That wasn't poison gas though...'

Gear asked suddenly, "Private Greymane, how much experience do you have in piloting a Knight-Mare frame?"

Greymane's eyes widened at the implication. "But there's no way an Eleven would be made a knight!"

Gear held up the key. "Well, supposing you could?"





"Congratulations, the only Knight-Mare of its kind awaits you! Once you take the controls of this big beauty everything will change, you and your world." Gear Spring said enthusiastically as they moved towards a large Knight-Mare that was covered by a large sheet.

"Whether you want it to or not..." Azure murmured. 





Meanwhile, in the middle of the fray...

"Those damn Nymphians!" Sirocco yelled as she took out a tank with a slash harken.

"Sirocco, can the Glasgow still move?" She heard Rough Boulder say over the radio.

"Don't worry Boulder, it's all right. I'll decoy them! Get the ponies out of here. The only ones that'll be captured are those of us in the resistance."

"I know but we're trapped, they've got us completely surrounded."





Amber picked up her phone as it rang and placed it behind her ear. "Ah, Ry-Ry? What in the world have you been doing? Where are you now? If you keep cutting class, you'll get held back."

"Are you near a TV?" He asked as he moved across the crumbled buildings.

"A TV?" She asked, confused.

"Sorry, but this is important."

"Hmph, hang on..." She turned to the other girls in the locker room. "Hey, can I change the channel?"

One mare looked up. "Huh? To what?"

"The news, is there anything about Shineighku?" Stryker asked as he began hacking into the Knight-Mare system.

"News? Uhh, let's see... There's nothing on. Traffic restrictions?" Amber offered.

"Why is it restricted?"

"I don't know. They're not saying."

'I get it. Once they finish everything off, they'll release news that favors the military. Hmm?'

Stryker caught sight of the wreckage of a home with the Knight-Mare's cameras. Among it was a chessboard.

"Ooh, you're gambling again, aren't you? I've warned you before how dangerous that is!" Amber exclaimed over the phone.

Stryker chuckled. "Yep, you caught me. By the way, tell my little sister that I'm gonna be late home tonight, would you? Thanks."

And with that, he hung up. 'If only you knew, Amber...'

"Why does he always hang up on me like that?!" Amber whined as the other mares giggled. She tried to call him again.

"The number you have called is beyond service range."

She puffed her cheeks. "Oh darn it, not this again."





'They need to keep a lid on this information, so it'll be hard for them to call in reinforcements. They'll have to make do with the pieces they have on the board. But I'm hemmed in here, and it'll be tough to break through by myself. Gaining refuge carries its own risk, too.'

He opened the hatch to step out and survey the land. He spotted a helicopter going down in flames nearby. He narrowed his eyes.

'I want payback for being dragged into your fight.'





Nearby...

"Well, well... if it isn't our Glasgow friend." Crescent Blade mocked as he fired.

Sirocco gasped as she took off, the Sutherlands on her tail.

Stryker took out the radio communicator he'd taken earlier from his uniform.

Sirocco looked at the power left in her Glasgow. Her eyes widened. "Just 30 minutes left!"

"The west entrance. Use the tracks to move to the west entrance."

Sirocco started as the new voice sounded through the radio. "Who's this?! How do you know this code?!"

"That doesn't matter. If you wanna win, you're just gonna have to trust me."

"To win?" Her eyes widened. She jumped onto the tracks. "Okay, what am I supposed to do now?"

Crescent Blade followed suit with another. 

"You pathetic Eleven. If you simply run away, this hunt hasn't much to offer in the way of sport." He said disappointedly.

Sirocco spotted a incoming train.

"Since you trusted me, you're gonna win. Jump onto the train!" The voice said.

"Gotcha!" She confirmed.

Crescent narrowed his eyes. "You think you can get through that way, hmm...? If that's your plan, then..."

He commanded the other Sutherland, "You! Go after the Glasgow."

"Yes, my lord!" The Knight-Mare jumped to follow, but out of nowhere, a slash harken destroyed it on impact.

Crescent looked wildly around to find the perpetrator. "What the...?" He spotted the Sutherland that fired. "Shot by friendly fire?" He called out to it. "What's your name and your unit?! We're after the one armed Glas-"

He didn't get to finish as it began firing on him. His pupils shrunk. "Oh my god! A terrorist?!"

He turned his Sutherland's gun on the one who fired. "You son of a-!"

The Glasgow shot forward, intent on destroying Crescent's Sutherland. Seeing himself outnumbered, Crescent pulled the eject lever. Sirocco glared as the escape pod shot away.

"You saved me. But how did you get ahold of a Sutherland?" She turned to the place of the other Knight-Mare to see nothing there. "What? Where did he go?"

"Sirocco!" She turned to see the rest of the resistance group with the greenish pelt of Rough Boulder at the head. "What in Tartarus was that radio message earlier?"

She blinked in surprise. "What? He contacted you, too?"

"Sure did. And Pupa's group ought to be here soon."

Boulder's radio received a message. "Are you in charge?"

Stuttering from surprise, he answered, "Ah, yeah."

"I present to you the cargo in that train over there. They're tools for your victory. If you want to use them to win, then follow my orders."

The resistance members began opening the cargo doors. They gaped in surprise; there were Knight-Mares in all the cars!

"There's more in here!"

"Here, too!"

"Amazing! Maybe we should give this guy a chance."

Sirocco gaped in amazement. "All this? But how?"

"Mare in the Glasgow!"

Her ears pricked up. "Y-yes!"

"Stay where you are. Your unit's gonna run decoy. You got that?"

She nodded. "Understood."

"Energy filler status?"

"About 15 minutes worth."

"Then recharge it! In 10 minutes, I'll contact you with your next instructions." With that, the voice disconnected.





Stryker cut off the communication and sighed as he slumped against his seat. The Sutherland was within an abandoned skyscraper where he could see the entire battlefield. 

"This is wearing me out. Regardless, I'll need determination to succeed. After all, I'm betting my life in this game." He grimaced.

He held the black king and turned it over. 'And I can only go forward at this point...'





"The terrorists are mixed among the Eleven populous and they're mounting a minor resistance against us. But they pose little threat to our vastly superior army." General Acadis reported as he turned from the table tracking the units' movements to Prince Xirex.

His head resting on his hoof, Prince Xirex said boringly, "We know that. Moving on."

Acadis nodded. "Understood, Your Highness. The gas capsules will be-"

"What the public thinks." Xirex cut him off.

"Yes. We’ll keep searching for her."

Xirex sighed. "Either way, I want her captured: dead or alive."





Rough Boulder powered on the Knight-Mare as one of his team trotted up.

The silver and white maned black stallion asked uncertainly, "Hey, are you certain about this whole thing? They’ve all had their IFFs removed. What if this is a trap?"

Boulder shook his head as he responded, "The other side has total advantage in this war, Eclipse. They don’t need to set any traps."

With his Knight-Mare ready, he called to everyone, "All right people, let's move. Get to your assigned points."

The radios then got a message. "P1, can you move? It operates basically the same as what you're used to."

Rough Boulder asked, "Can’t you tell us who you are, at least your name?"

"I can’t do that. What if these signals are being intercepted? Anyway, if Q1 is on schedule, enemy Sutherlands, probably two of them, will reach you in 23 seconds. Shoot them through the wall."

Eclipse stamped his hoof in frustration. "Argh, he’s out of his mind."

Boulder told everyone, "Everyone, double check your weapons."

Eclipse frowned. "What?! Are you serious?"





"Enemy spotted at point F 31."

Xirex narrowed his eyes slightly. "A feint, eh? How pedestrian."

General Acadis began barking orders. "Tell Luminet’s squad to go straight in. Have Espogn and Vulgis strike from the rear."





Rough Boulder counted down. "3, 2, 1, fire!"

The line of Knight-Mares fired through the wall, and as per the plan, two enemy Sutherlands were destroyed.





"Sir Espogn and Sir Vulgis, both lost."

Xirex sat up straight and his eyes widened slightly. "Hmm? An ambush?"





Stryker chuckled as he twirled a black knight around. A smirk was plastered on his fanged muzzle as he checked the screen.

'An ID signal can be a double edged sword. Besides, if the terrorists follow the orders I issue, my task at hoof is sure to be completed.'

"P1, P4, P7, move a hundred meter to the right and fire your slash harkens toward 3 o’clock."

"You heard him. Do what the voice says." Rough Boulder said.

Eclipse frowned from atop his Knight-Mare. "Damn, what else does he want us to do?"

"P5, ready?"

"Ugh, yeah... Quit calling me that." Eclipse said as he got into the Knight-Mare and started to power on.





"The enemy's moving towards G 28."

A bead of sweat traveled down General Acadis's face. "Send Luminet's Squad, I mean Gestro's Squad!"

Xirex clenched his teeth together. "This means terrorists have our military weaponry?"

"Sir Gestro has ejected! His unit's been lost!"

"Change our codes, they're intercepting our transmissions." Acadis ordered.

"We already have sir, four times!"

"Do it again!" He fumed.

"This failure is unacceptable." Xirex stated, rising.

Acadis bowed his head in shame. "...Forgive me."

Then the screen suddenly switched over to a call from Gear Spring.

"Good afternoon." Gear said casually.

Acadia whirled around towards the screen. "What is it? We’re in the middle of an operation!" 

"I’d say it's time to deploy the ASEEC's special weapon."

"We've no time for this right now." Xirex said as he approached the table.





Slowly but surely, the resistance group was gaining the higher ground. The military's tanks and Knight-Mare's were slowly destroyed, unit by unit.

"R2, fire anchor. B7, use UN ordnance. N group, you'll continue your advance."





"We just lost Luminet's Squad."

Xirex sighed defeatedly. "So do it. We’ll have to bring up Querner’s squad."

Acadis turned to face Xirex. "My lord, that will break the encirclement."





"Now then, the enemy has five options. Their move." Stryker said as he waited for Xirex to make his move.





"Reinforce the breach with some of the units guarding me. All we know for certain is that enemy forces are here." Xirex commanded.

As the Knight-Mares moved to their new positions, one vesper asked in confusion, "Who ordered them to break formation?"





"Well, that’s a more stupid move than I expected." Stryker sneered with a more than a hint of contempt.

"You, Q1, do you have an area map?"

Sirocco answered, "Yes, I have a map of the old town. But it has no current landmarks."

"It’ll do."





Xirex tracked the enemy's movement. "All right, send in Butres and the others too."





"Mission number 3 now."





Xirex looked at the enemy's location and grinned. "Concentrate our forces there. Surround them."





"Is everything prepared?"





"The enemy’s main force is that center dot. Finish every one of them off."





"Hmph." Stryker smirked.





Xirex, Acadis, and the others were left baffled as the enemy dot suddenly disappeared. Xirex exclaimed, "What?! Where's the enemy?"





Stryker put the king squarely down on the board. "With this, I call check."

Below the military's forces in the underground systems, a series of bombs went off. As a result, the ground above collapsed, taking all the Knight-Mare units with it. All the Nymphians gaped in astonishment as all the units displayed 'lost' on the screen.

Stryker began laughing hysterically, his eyes blazing with near psychotic glee. "HAHAHAHAHA! My plan worked, didn’t it?! I can do it. I can defeat Nymphia! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"





Wide-eyed, Xirex took a step back. 'Who...? Who am I up against?! What if he’s even better than Taiyang?! There's only one option left...'

"Gear!"

"Yes, Your Highness?" Gear Spring asked.

"Can it win? Will your toy beat them?"

"My lord, please be so kind as to call it Lancelot." Gear Spring said with a smirk.





"Z-01 Lancelot now activating. Lancelot activating. Releasing hatch. Z-01 Lancelot standby for activation. Pallet extension initiating."

Greymane powered on the white Knight-Mare as he checked his ear communicator. He heard Azure through the communicator.

"Did you read the manual?"

"Pretty much." He answered.

"Well done. You scored at the top of the class in the simulator." Azure said as she prepared the launch.

"Hey, look. About what you told me earlier..."

Azure blinked. "Huh? Ah, it could be. But the possibility is nearly zero."

"But that means there's still a chance, right?" Greymane asked uncertainly.

"Yes, I'm afraid that's true. Even so, you're not to do anything reckless. The new system isn't outfitted with an ejection mechanism yet."

"Okay, I understand, Miss Azure Cross. That's it?"

"Yes, the advanced weapon developed by us in the Advanced Special Envoy Engineering Corps: Lancelot, the world's first seventh generation Knight-Mare Frame."

Gear butted into the conversation. "Well, if you're ready, Greymane, shall we proceed with the initial startup?"

Azure checked the stats of the Lancelot. 

"Initial startup. Now perceiving from phase twenty. Equipping energy filler. Confirm pre-start. Energy filler now at full output. 30 seconds to reach critical voltage. Core Luminance, shifting phase. Initiating devicer setup. Confirming entry of devicer into Z-01. Individual ID registration confirmed. Confirm man-machine interface. Engage. Yggdrasil Resonance confirmed. Rejection Response, weak. Devicer's Stress Response, weak. All readings, nominal..."

Gear commented, "So far, it's going per the data."

"...status, all green. Status of back up tactical bank, authorized. Secondary confirmation, given."

"Lancelot, activate ME-boost." Greymane said, pressing a few buttons.

Azure looked up as she pressed the last button. "Lancelot, launch!"

All the wires connecting the Lancelot detached as it sped out onto the battlefield. 

Gear Spring grinned. "Haha! Running full throttle right out of the gate."

Greymane piloted the Lancelot towards the heart of the conflict. 'Cooler than the manual. With this...'

"Huh? What is that? It doesn't look like a Sutherland." Eclipse asked as he and three other resistance members spotted the Lancelot.





Stryker chuckled. He moved around a black rook. 'Another push and the checkpoint will fall.'

"This is B group, reporting enemy presence."

'Hm? Reinforcements? Real battle is different, isn’t it?' 

"Status?" He clocked in.

"Everyone ejected, but they took out four units in nothing flat."

Stryker frowned. "Enemy numbers?"

"Just one. I think it’s a new model. I’ve never seen anything like i- Ah!" The line cut off.

Stryker's eyes widened. 'Only one unit?' He contacted another group. "What’s happening out there?"

"Bastard!" He heard through the radio before it went dead.





Another group began firing on the Lancelot. It cast a shield that prevented the bullets from striking.

"What? It reflects bullets?" Stryker exclaimed as he sat up in his chair and began rummaging the data for what he was hearing.

"Arrh, what do we do? Isosta! Ah!" Another line dead.

Stryker clenched his teeth. 'Useless so called terrorists. With all the resources they have, they're being beaten by one unit.'





"Yes, I can do this. With Lancelot I can stop all this at once." Greymane said as the enemy slowly fell one by one.





"N4, N5, hold there. When the rear units arrive, surround that thing." Stryker ordered.

"Gotcha..."

It was only a few moments before it clocked in again. "We can't stop it!"

"N units, what is it?!" Stryker asked fervently. 'What happened? Something I didn't foresee?'





"For heaven’s sake. Now I’ll owe my adopted sister a debt I don’t need to incur. It's for the best, though." Xirex sighed as they watched the Lancelot's progress.





Rough Boulder ejected. "Ah!"

"P1! Report!" Stryker tried to contact the unit, but to no avail. He began to sweat. 'The enemy, can it really be only one unit?'





Azure gaped. "These readings are even higher than predicted."

"It's because our pilot is taking his job very seriously." Gear said.





Greymane worked through the enemy as he thought to himself, 'If I can stop all the Knight-Mares, then this battle is over. No matter what it takes, I've gotta save Stryker and that mare.'

Out of the corner of the Lancelot's vision, he saw a Knight-Mare situated within an abandoned skyscraper. Using the slash harkens, he climbed up the building towards it.

Stryker widened his eyes in surprise as he saw the Lancelot.

"You mean this thing's what's been ruining my plan?!" He said out loud before the Lancelot slammed into his Knight-Mare Frame.

"Are you the guy that's in command?" Greymane said through the intercom.

Stryker flinched from the crash. He thought angrily, 'Nothing more than a pilot. How dare he! No choice, I've gotta get out of here.'

Unfortunately, the Lancelot wouldn't allow him to escape. A slash harken cut off the Knight-Mare's left arm, and the impact sent both of them through the floor. Stryker looked back at it with wide eyes and bared fangs. The Lancelot pounced to strike, but the red Glasgow came in from nowhere and held it back.

Sirocco called out to Stryker. "Hey, I’m returning the favor." The Lancelot struck the Glasgow's arms and chest, preventing it from attacking. She gasped. "I can't-"

She ejected.

'I must remember that the most vital element in battle is the creature one.' Stryker thought as he fled onto the streets. An idea struck him, and he began shooting the building supports.

The Lancelot fired a slash harken at him as it dodged a falling part of a building. It grazed the Sutherland's arm, but wasn't enough to stop it.

"That damn monster's unstoppable!" Stryker exclaimed, glancing back to see the Lancelot still in pursuit.

Greymane narrowed his eyes. 'Bastard. He's tearing things up for no reason!'

"Eeeeeeeeek!"

"Huh?" He looked up to see a earth pony mare with a foal in her hooves falling. He abandoned chasing Stryker's Knight-Mare for saving them.

Stryker curiously analyzed the Lancelot. 'In the midst of battle he rescues someone? Hmm, I concede you the tactical victory here. Nevertheless...'

He pulled the eject lever, and the pod shot off.





Gear raised an eyebrow. "Huh? He saved someone?"

"Yes, so it would seem."

"Hmm... It's very strange of him." Gear said curiously.





Catching them from the freefall and setting them on the ground, Greymane looked down at the two from the cockpit. "Are you alright?" The mare looked fearfully up at the Lancelot and ran away with her foal. Greymane grimaced.

"Greymane, are you tired? We'll call it quits for today." Azure said through the communicator.

"No. I'm fine. Please let me keep going." He shrugged off the offer. The line clocked out.

"Be careful with his operational time!" Gear said to Azure.

"Yes, sir."

"My, that colt's an excellent piece of equipment." He smiled.





Stryker, in a military guise, walked up to another soldier. Said soldier raised his gun in a green aura.

"Stop there, your ID. This is Prince Xirex’s personal transport."

Stryker took off his helmet. "At last, the checkpoint. And barely guarded, per my plan."

The soldier's eyes narrowed, and he raised the gun higher. "Your plan?"

Stryker's left eye went from blue to red. "That’s right. Now I'd like you to let me pass."

The soldier lowered his gun. "Yes, sir. Understood."

Stryker smirked. 'Excellent.'





Sirocco got out from her escape pod.

"Sirocco!"

She turned her head towards the voice to see Rough Boulder and two other resistance members.





"It's your fault. This is what happened when you oppose the Nymphians!"

Eclipse growled and pointed one of his wing-blade at the pony, "What!? Why, you gutless coward!"

"How many people were killed because of this!?" A mare cried out.

"Shut up! Do you know how many of us were killed or captured? Do ya'? Quit crying." Eclipse fumed.

Rough Boulder and Sirocco walked through the entrance.

"Boulder, who was that voice we heard?" She asked him.

"Damned if I know. He doesn't answer when I call so maybe he b-"

The entrance suddenly blew open. The resistance members and citizens gasped as several army Knight-Mares and tanks came in and pointed their weapons.

Eclipse yelled at Boulder. "There, you see! Instead of following somepony we don't even know, we should've used the poison gas. At least it would've gotten rid of these guys!"

Boulder backed up with widened yellow eyes. "But he-"

Eclipse raised his gun towards the army. "Damn Plasto to Tartarus!"

"So this is where you Eleven vermin scurried off to. Prepare to fire!" The leader said.

Sirocco squeezed her eyes shut, prepared for the inevitable. 'Aurora! I'm sorry...'

The leader raised a hoof. "Commence-"

"Attention all forces. Cease fire at once." Xirex's voice projected across the city.

"Cease fire?" Greymane murmured.

"I Xirex, third prince of Nymphia and royal viceroy of Colony 11, here by command you, all forces are ordered to cease fire at once. You will also cease destruction of any buildings or property. All casualties, whether Nymphian or Eleven, shall be treated equally and without prejudice. In the name of Xirex la Mirren, you are here by ordered, cease fire at once. I shall allow no further fighting."





Xirex scowled at a figure in the shadows. "Are you satisfied?"

The figure in the shadows, Stryker, grinned. "Very. Well done."

"And what shall we do now? Sing a few lively ballads, or perhaps a nice game of chess?" Xirex asked sarcastically.

"That has a familiar ring."

Xirex narrowed his eyes. "Hmm?"

"Don’t you recall? The two of us used to play chess together as little drones. ...Of course, I would always win."

Confusion clouded Xirex's eyes. "What?"

"Remember? At the Aries Villa?"

"You, who are you?" Xirex questioned.

Stryker stepped forward as he repelled his military garb illusion. "It’s been a long time... my dear cousin." 

Xirex gasped. 

"The eldest son of the late consort Rancor and seventeenth in line to the imperial throne, Stryker vi Mirren, at your service." He bowed to Xirex.

Xirex found his voice. "Stryker?! B-But I thought-"

Stryker met his cousin's gaze. "That I was dead...? You were mistaken. I have returned, Your Highness." He smirked. "And I’ve come back to change everything..."

'Now that I hold the advantage, there may be a strategic move I need to play...'
> Act lll: A Rebel In Our Midst
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The sun sank into the west horizon. The Nymphian army watched as the Elevens walked away. Among the group, Sirocco looked back at Prince Xirex's base, confusion clear as day in her aquamarine eyes. She wasn't the only one confused; one vesper was confused and indignant. 

Crescent asked hotly, "Why the buck are we letting the Elevens go? What about the poison gas they've stolen?"

"But it's by order of Prince Xirex."

"What about Acadis? Get the general staff on the line." He commanded.

"They're not at their posts, sir."

Crescent exclaimed, "Are you telling me Prince Xirex is alone on the con?!"





Stryker cast an anti-magic barrier as he lifted his forehoof to reveal a hoof-strap gun. He pointed it at Xirex's head.

Confused yet scared for his life, Xirex said in a cheery manner, "I'm overjoyed, Stryker. They said you died when Japone was brought into the fold. What a blessing to have you back. We should depart for the homeland immediately."

Stryker narrowed his rage-filled eyes. He gagged at the overly joyful front his cousin was trying to convey, even through his emotions. Gritting his teeth, he asked acidly, "So you can use me as a tool of diplomacy? It seems you've forgotten why we were used as tools in the first place."

Xirex flinched. Stryker said contemptly, "That's right. It was because my father was killed. Father held the title of knight of honor but was a commoner by birth. No doubt the other imperial royals held him in contempt. Even though you made it look like the work of terrorists, I'm no fool." Stryker felt his rage boil. "You damned royals killed my father, your own family!"

He began to pull the trigger, but Xirex pleaded, "It wasn't me. I swear to you it wasn't!"

Stryker relaxed his grip on the trigger a little, but he didn't drop his hoof.  "Then tell me everything you know. The truth cannot be hidden from me any longer."

As his left eye took on his new power's form, he asked Xirex in a calm voice, "By whose hoof was he slain?!"

Xirex answered as red tinged his yellow reflection-less eyes, "My adopted sister, second princess Eclipse, and your sister, third princess Chrysalis, they can tell you."

"They were at the heart of this?" Stryker asked in disbelief. 'Eclipse I can see somewhat, but Chrysalis as well...?' Xirex opened his muzzle but promptly shut it. Stryker sighed. "That's all that you know, isn't it?"

The red disappeared from both their eyes. Xirex blinked and remembered again that a gun was pointed at him. "I swear it wasn't me! I had nothing to do with it!"

Stryker began to lower his forehoof. "I believe you." 

Xirex nearly breathed a sigh of relief before Stryker raised it again. "However-"

"Please, you can't! We may have our differences, but you and I are still blood! Didn't you just accuse me of murdering your father?!" Xirex chittered fearfully.

Stryker narrowed his eyes. "-You can't change the world without getting your hooves dirty." 

He pulled the trigger.





"Wake up Stryker! I know you were sleeping. Your hooves stopped moving, and your magic fizzed out!" Raincloud hit Stryker's head with a wing with every word.

Stryker rubbed his head. "Well, you don't have to beat me up over it, do you?"

Fallout laughed. "Ha, serves you right for ditching me like that."

Amber piped in. "That's right. What was up with you yesterday? And what'd you do to pop your wing out of place like that?" She raised an eyebrow at Stryker.

Stryker's mind drew a blank. "Um, uh well..."

"That's enough, you guys. Let's not get side tracked here. If we don't come up with a fix for the club activities budget, there won't be money left for anything at all." Raincloud directed the conversation away.

Stryker visibly relaxed. 'Thanks Prez.' He did admonish himself though. 'What type of changeling are you if you can't come up with a good excuse?! Good thing you had your emotion guard up, or anyling could've sensed your nervousness!'

Another council member, a young changeling queen with a seaweed green mane and ocean-blue eyes, commented, "And if it comes to that point..."

Fallout continued, "The track club will be pissed. We don't want 'em stampeding in here."

Raincloud facehooved. "Fallout, can't you be a more serious student council member?"

Amber pointed out, "You know, it would have been nice of you if you would have reminded us about this mess a day ago."

"I would have to say a day later. Then we would've given up." Fallout said as he leaned back in his chair.

Stryker grinned. "Good idea. We can still do that."

"GUTS!" Raincloud yelled. Everyone winced at her volume.

Fallout cleared his ears and blinked. "Are you trying that guts 'spell' again, Prez?"

"Yeah, I want you ponies and changelings to start putting your all into this."

Stryker deadpanned. "I really don't think that your 'magic' is gonna do a whole lot."

"Actually it's got me going, Madam President." Amber played along.

Raincloud nodded. "Supple and willing, that's what I like."

"I train hard in the gymnastics club!" Amber boasted, assuming that was what she meant.

"Sure, let's go with that." Raincloud giggled.

Amber tilted her head. "Huh?"





"Ohh... Eww, our president's just plain dirty sometimes. And she says Fallout should be a more serious council member! Sullying the meeting with her filthy jokes." Amber gagged as she walked into homeroom.

Stryker chuckled. "You finally found out what she meant?"

Amber stuck her tongue out. "Some of us don't have emotion sensing abilities, Mister Gambler. How could I know that she was making a dirty joke at that time? Right, Shadow?"

Shadow Aura, the only other changeling at the council, smiled a little. "Yeah well, that's Raincloud for you. Makes demands for us to follow, but easily goes back on them herself."

Fallout commented, "Look on the bright side. We got the budget balanced, didn't we?"

"They used poison gas?"

"Dang, that's freaky."

"Shineighku's only thirty minutes from here."

"Oh my god! I saw smoke rising over in Shineighku, it must have been the gas!"

"Are they saying anything else about it?"

Everyling and pony crowded around the computer at the news. The council members hung back.

"Shineighku?" Amber questioned as she looked at the others.

"I heard about it in real time from a friend. That's why I called you yesterday." Stryker said.

"Hey, check out the footage of those dead Elevens."

"Oh! Don't look at that!"

Stryker looked at the news as it broadcasted the report. 'This is strange. Why would they cover it up?'

Then he thought of Xirex. He quickly grew nauseous and covered his mouth with a hoof. The same hoof that he'd killed Xirex with, he realized.





Stryker turned off the faucet. Feeling less nauseous, he pondered over the circumstance, 'Are they hiding Xirex's death to fend off anarchy? But if that's the case, when they finally do announce it...' He smiled to himself as he stared at his reflection. 'Hmph, I guess that I'm not as tough as I thought I was.'





Elsewhere...

"That ex-civil servant is such a fool." Crescent scoffed as the carriage went through the gate.

The mare who's Knight-Mare was taken by Stryker sat next to him in the carriage. She raised an eyebrow. "So, are you referring to Acadis?"

"The killer has breached our heaviest security twice already, Ember. This perfunctory inspection is a farce." He said disdainfully.

"Margrave Crescent, now that Prince Xirex is out of the way, we purebloods can-"

Crescent lifted a hoof to interrupt her. "Let me make that call. We still need to woo everyone over. After all-" He shot a toothy grin at her. "we don't need an assassin going after us now, right?"





Stryker walked back into class to find many of the mares and nymphs in a group. He realized that they'd crowded themselves around another mare. 

One with a black and light-blue mane and a dark-gray coat.

"Sirocco! It's been ages!"

"Are you all right? Silen's been worried sick all this time."

"You're okay though, right?"

The mare answered in a subdued tone, "Yeah, I just have to go easy for a little while."

'Of course. That's why she's so familiar.' Stryker realized as he thought back to Shineighku. He sat down at his seat and continued to stare at Sirocco with narrowed eyes.

"Anyway, if I stay home any longer I'll never catch up." Sirocco said to her friends.

Fallout popped up next to Stryker with a smile. "What's up, buddy? See something you like? You've got a thing for her, don't ya'?!"

His comment didn't reach Sirocco's ears, but Amber glanced in Stryker's direction briefly.

The comment didn't have its desired reaction. Stryker simply shrugged and answered coolly, "Just thinking this a rare event. She hasn't been here at school since this whole term started."

"Sirocco Eventide. They say she's sick or somethin', and she barely showed up at school last year either. Still, her grades are at the top of the class. And she's a member of the Flash family, which means she's well-bred and rolling in money. Dang, you sure know how to pick 'em."

Stryker shook his head. "It's not like that."

"Ah, you don't have to hide it. A touch too sheltered though, if you ask me." Fallout said as he patted Stryker's shoulder with a hoof.





Sirocco was having lunch with her friends. Staying quiet, she mostly listened to their idle gossip. Then, they started to freak out over a bee.

"Aaaaah! There's a bee! A bee!"

As it flew around Siroco, one of the mares exclaimed, "Oh my God. Sirocco, run!"

"Hurry up and run!" All the girls ran off, leaving Sirocco alone.

Sirocco started to back away towards a bush. The bee still followed her though. She frowned.

'I don't get it, why is a bee after me? Hmm... I wonder if there's a hive nearby...'

As it flew around her head, she grew frustrated and used a wing to swat it. The bee fell to the ground dead. "God, I hate this! I'm sick of acting like a freakin' invalid!" She took a bite out of the sandwich she was still holding.

Then, she realized that Stryker standing not far away and staring at her. 'Crap, he saw me...'

He narrowed his eyes. 'There's no question, it's her.'

"Can I help you or something?" She asked cautiously.

Stryker blinked, and when his eyes opened, his left one was red. "I want answers."

Sirocco grew stiff, and her eyes developed a red tinge. "Of course."

"Were you the one piloting the Glasgow in Shineighku?"

"Yes." She nodded.

"Why terrorism?" Stryker asked, confused on that part.

"Because I'm Japonese. Though technically I'm half Nymphian." She answered.

"Half blood? ...But why go so far?" He asked.

While their exchange was taking place, Amber was walking down the hall on the second floor. She stopped outside the window when she saw Sirocco and Stryker talking. "Huh?"

"Um, did you want something?" Sirocco asked as the red faded from her eyes.

Stryker turned and began to walk away. "No. I got what I wanted here." He stopped and turned back as he remembered. "Oh, wait. Just to be sure." He activated the power again. "Don't tell anyone about Shineighku."

Sirocco frowned. "What do you mean, about Shineighku? Why would you say that?"

His eyes widened in confusion. He tried to use it again. "Go back to class."

"As soon as I get an answer to my question, I will." Sirocco retorted. Stryker could feel her suspicion.

'It's not working? What's going on here?'

Sirocco narrowed her eyes at him as he tried to back away.

Luckily, Amber decided to call them in at that point. "Hey, Ry-Ry! Sirocco!" The both of them looked up at her. "You know it's time to head over to the chem lab! You'd better get a move on!"

Stryker saw his chance to go. "Oh crap, it's my turn to set up for class!"

He galloped towards the school doors quickly. 'It didn't work? But...'





That evening...

"Well, what shall we do? He may be late again this evening." A denim-blue colored unicorn with cerulean-blue eyes and a black mane and tail asked the changeling across from her as she used her magic to make origami.

The changeling, a young amethyst-maned nymph who's eyes remained closed, shifted her two back bionic legs. "I'll wait. He said that we'd have dinner together tonight."

The unicorn finished folding the paper and held out a crane to the young nymph. "There now. This one's finished."

The nymph used her hooves to feel around the paper crane. "Ah, a bird?"

The unicorn smiled. "Yes, it's a crane."

"Amazing! The Equestrians are so skillful..."

The nymph's ears perked up, and she turned her head towards the door.

"Lady Moth?" The unicorn asked. The door then opened as Stryker walked in.

"I'm sorry I'm so late." He said.

"Hi, Stryker! Welcome home." Moth chirped to her brother with a cute fanged smile on her face.

The unicorn dipped her head. "Yes, welcome home, my lord."

Stryker smiled. "No place like it, Raven Feather. Right, Moth?"





General Acadis walked into a room of researchers. Everyone looked up at him.

He grimaced and sighed, "As you know full well, the project was a complete failure. Therefore this research division is being gutted."

One member called, "Wha...? Yes, but-!"

Acadis didn't let them finish. "I've set up a place in Nareina for you. Move everything out there. ...While we may have no memory of it, the fact is the other staff officers and I left Prince Xirex on his own. I'm gonna be called out for this back in the homeland. When that happens, if His Majesty learns this experiment's got on without his knowledge, I..."

He stopped there, not willing to go further. The changeling researchers all felt the fear of the general and of everyone around them. It was like a cloud of dread had descended upon them.

One member confirmed, "Understood, sir. We'll start prepping immediately."





At the dinner table, Moth chattered away. "Miss Raven was just teaching me about the art of origami. Fold a piece of paper the correct way, and you can make birds, frogs, almost anything."

She talked so much that her soup began slipping down her chin. 

Stryker noticed and used his magic to wipe the soup away. "Easy there. You don't have to tell me everything all at once, you know? It's not like I'm going anywhere."

"Yeah, you're right. Thank you." 

"You're very welcome." 

"I'm so happy, 'cause last night you scared me a little."

Stryker's eyes widened slightly. 'I should know better than to let my emotions run rampant when around Moth, especially after yesterday.'

"Did I? Sorry. I just have a lot on my mind, that's all." He said, his thoughts going back to the day before. He snapped back to the present as he heard his sister's voice though.

"Hey, they say if you fold a thousand of these cranes, your wish'll come true. So if there's anything at all that you've been wishing for...?"

Stryker shook his head, knowing his sister couldn't see him do so. "No, not really. What about you? Do you wish for anything?"

"Well... I wish the world was a gentler place..." She said wistfully, her smile fading a little.

"When the day finally comes that you can see again, I'm sure that it will be." Stryker assured.

"Really?" Moth asked, her cute fanged smile coming back.

"I promise." Stryker placed a hoof on his sister's.

Stryker thought to himself, 'After all, there are very few paths our future can take. The Tempus family is sheltering us for now, but for how long can that last? If our identity is exposed, even Fallout, Amber, and the others will abandon us. We'll end up political tools, or casualty of royal ambition. I have to build a world where Moth can at least find happiness.'

"Huh?" Stryker exclaimed as Moth's magic began to move his hoof in an odd movement. He noticed she was doing the same movement with her own hoof.

"Raven taught me this the other day. It's called a Pinkie promise. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye- Oops!" She released her magic when Stryker's hoof met his eye, and he yelped. Sensing his irritation, she smiled cheekily. "Hehe... For if you lie."

Stryker let his irritation dissipate and chuckled. "Well that's scary. I may have to stick a sugary cupcake in my eye someday."

"That's right. And Raven told me there was also a second drawback if you go back on it; she wasn't really specific about it though. ...So I'd better not catch you telling lies, okay?"

"Don't you worry. I'll never lie, I swear."

'Not to you anyway.' He added silently.





Elsewhere, a certain pink pony suddenly yelled out, "Foreevveerrr!" 

The white unicorn beside her stopped and looked at her weirdly. The pink earth pony shrugged. "Someone just made a Pinkie promise."

Then, she felt her entire body shake uncontrollably. "Woah... Huh? Wonder what the doozy is this time? Woahhh..."





Stryker stared into the school fountain at his reflection. He activated his power and looked at it in the rippling water. 'This is the only weapon I have that'll prove effective. And I don't even know how to use it.' His left eye returned to normal.

"Stryker! Class will be starting in a minute, you know." A passing teacher called out to him.

"Oh, yes sir." He activated his power as their eyes met. "Um, sir? What are the topics going to be for the essays on your next exam?"

The teacher stopped and answered, "The humiliation of Reindinborough, the transfer of the capital, and north and south war topics."

'So, I haven't lost the power, then.' He thought as his eye turned back to blue. The teacher snapped out of his stupor as well.

"Sir?" The teacher locked his gaze on Stryker. He reactivated the power. "What exactly are the topics going to be for the essays on your next exam?"

The teacher walked past him. "Right, very funny. Maybe you should try studying, huh? Just apply yourself, you'll do fine."

"Yes, sir!" Stryker called out. He grimaced. 'As I suspected, I can only use it on a creature once.'





Sirocco stood on the school's roof, leaned against the railing with her phone latched on her ear. She heard Rough Boulder's voice through it.

"So, how's campus life treating you?"

"Stifling." She answered. "I was stuck in history class yesterday. Look, maybe I should just head back."

"The army's on a high alert right now. Stay there, and let things cool off."

Sirocco said uncertainly, "I don't know. What about the voice on the radio?"

"Can't go looking for a voice. Besides, Aurora would be happy to see you back in school. Forget about Shineighku for now. I'll be in touch." He hung up.

'Shineighku...I guess he's right, but...'

'"Don't tell anyone about Shineighku."' Her eyes widened as she remembered Stryker telling her that. 'No, it couldn't have been his voice.'





Sirocco kept an eye on Stryker as they went through classes.

Stryker stood from his chair to deliver his report. "The aristocracy was highly educated, with such an emphasis on edification and training, they produced a superior breed of ruler. And secondly, they possessed heightened efficiency, since only a small number of the very best were carefully chosen from their ranks..."

She debated with herself. 'It could be... no, I can't remember well enough to be sure.'

When Stryker sat down, he glanced back at Sirocco, who looked down in time. It didn't matter, for any changeling could sense the suspicion that emanated from her, though they wouldn't know who it was directed at. Stryker narrowed his eyes. 'All I did was simply mention Shineighku, but...'

'If he knows who I really am, then...'

'At the first opportunity...'

'I need to take care of him.' Sirocco narrowed her eyes.





General Acadis sat by Prince Xirex's coffin as it was transported. He talked with a researcher through the hivemind. "And the research center?"

"Transferred to Nareina last night."

"Right then." He cut off the communication link.

"I pray you forgive me, Your Highness." He said with a sigh, his eyes closed. 





"Hey Ry-Ry, you coming along?" Amber asked as Stryker packed his bags.

"Sorry, maybe some other time." He said before making his way over to Sirocco.

"Yeah, I thought so."

"You've gotta go straight home then, huh?"

"What do you have, a curfew?"

The girls all looked up as Stryker walked over. "What's up?" One of them asked. Stryker locked eyes with Sirocco.

"You think that you could spare a minute? I need to talk to you." All the girls blinked in confusion and looked between the two. Even Amber looked towards Stryker in confusion.

"Sure." She said curtly. "I was wondering when you were gonna ask."

The nymphs of the group were confused at the tension between the two, but on the opposite spectrum, the mares thought there was something between the two. As such, they giggled amongst themselves.





"I hope you can see how determined we are now." A voice said through an intercom.

Acadis's eyes widened as the transport was surrounded by Knight-Mares. "But I've already told you!"

The top was ripped off by the lead Sutherland, and the hatch opened to reveal Crescent Blade. He glared at Acadis. "That you don't remember? Still cling to that ridiculous excuse?"

"Just ask the others! They'll testify that-"

Crescent growled, "Ducking the blame? You're pathetic! You shan't remain at His Royal Highness's side another minute!"





"I didn't even know this room existed." Sirocco said as she and Stryker stopped.

"It's the clubhouse for the student council. They built it as a ballroom for various special occasions."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "And we won't be disturbed inside here?"

"Yes, that's correct." He inclined his head slightly.

"Here it is! I found it! Look! This is it, right?" Both of them turned towards the staircase where Amber had popped up over the railing, holding a chip in her mouth.

Shadow Aura appeared as well, taking the chip in her green aura. "What a relief you found our lab data."

Fallout exclaimed, "Good. My ass is killing me from stooping that low."

The doors opened, and Raincloud walked in with a cart full of food.

"Were you able to find it? I finished up on my end. Shall we dig in?" She asked.

"Wow!" Fallout exclaimed, drooling a little.

"Way to go, Raincloud!" Amber clapped her hooves together midair.

Raincloud smirked. "You adore me, I know."

Stryker finally found his voice as he asked, "Um, what is all of this?"

"Stryker, don't you know? I thought that's why you brought her. We're inducting Sirocco into the student council. It was my grandfather's idea, actually." Raincloud stated as the others rushed down.

Stryker blinked. "The principal's?"

"He thought it best, with her poor health she'd have a harder time with regular club activities." She explained. She turned to Sirocco. "Oh, I'm Raincloud Tempus, the president of the council. Nice to meet you!"

"Oh, thank you, the pleasure's all mine." Shock still had its grip on her apparently.

"I'm Fallout Shieldhunter, the secretary. If there's anything you need to help with, I'm your stallion!"

"Hi, I'm Amber Breeze. And I'm a member of the swim club. Welcome."

"Hi there, my name's Shadow Aura, but you can call me Shadow for short."

"It's nice to meet all of you." Sirocco said. Then, the door opened again, and this time, Moth wobbled in, a tray of cookies in her magical grasp. Sirocco stared curiously at Moth and her bionic hindlegs.

"Amber, I'm sorry but, do you think you could set these on the table for me?" Moth asked before bumping into a table. She fell back onto her rump and rubbed her muzzle. "Ow." Luckily, her magic didn't falter.

"Oh, are you okay?" Amber asked, rushing over to help Moth up before Stryker could take a step. 

"Yeah, I'm good, could you still take these?" She levitated the cookie tray over to Amber as she stood. 

"Sure, thanks, Moth."

"Moth, what're you doing here?" Stryker asked.

Seeing the confusion on Sirocco's face, Raincloud explained. "This is Stryker's sister, Moth Surveil."

"I'm still in the middle school group, so I can't be on the council yet." Moth said.

"That's alright. You're an honorary member in our book." Fallout said.

Moth smiled. "Hello there, it's a pleasure to meet you, Sirocco."

Smiling back, Sirocco answered, "Thank you. You as well."

"Right. Shall we kick this off with a toast?" Fallout asked, raising a bottle onto the table.

"Champagne?" Amber said uncertainly.

"Yeah, but we're on the student council, we really shouldn't..." Shadow Aura said.

Fallout waved it off with a hoof and tried to unscrew the cork. "Oh, come on! Loosen up, you guys! It's just sparkling cider anyway."

Amber tried grabbing the bottle. "You swear? Let me see that bottle." Fallout moved it out of her grasp just as she tried to take it. "We're gonna get in trouble otherwise!"

Moth tilted her head. "What's going on?"

Raincloud gave Moth a glass of apple juice. "Here, Moth."

As Amber tried in vain to get the bottle, Fallout tossed it. "Stryker! Heads up!"

Stryker caught it in his hooves. Amber turned to him and started to grab for the bottle.

"Ah, you aren't getting away with it either, Ry-Ry... Let me see that bottle!" 

As she made a swing for the bottle, she knocked herself and Stryker down, causing the bottle's cork to pop out towards Sirocco. Sirocco deflected the cork with a quick wing, but the cider rained down on her head. Stryker and Amber looked at Sirocco, then the bottle, as they processed what just happened. "Uhh..."

Tilting her head, Moth asked, "What just happened?"





Raincloud asked, "We have a uniform for her, right? Any at all?"

"Raven's on it." Amber replied.





Sirocco washed her mane out in the shower. "This is why I hate Nymphians." She muttered. Her ears perked up as they heard a knock on the door.

"It's Stryker. I've brought you a temporary uniform."

"You can come in." She said.

Walking in with a uniform in his aura, Stryker chuckled. "Sorry about all this. I know they can be a little over the top."

"That's okay. Nothing wrong with cutting loose every once in a while, you know?"

Stryker placed the clothes down. "This is one of my uniforms. Hope that's okay."

"It's cool. Don't worry about it. ...That was fast. You went all the way to the boys' dorm?" She asked curiously.

"Actually, I live here." Sirocco paused at that. "It'd be pretty hard for my sister to live off in the dorms. The principal of the school lets us stay here as a favor."

"I see..."

Stryker began to turn around. "Anyway..."

"Hey, wait!" Stryker stopped. Sirocco pointed with a hoof from behind the curtain. "Can you hand me that pouch over there?"

"Sure." He tried to pick it up in his magic. When it failed, he asked, "Anti-magic protection?"

"Yeah, after all, wouldn't want just anyone to walk off with it." She said.

"True." Stryker said, picking it up instead with a hoof. As he passed it to Sirocco, she grabbed his hoof, making the pouch drop.

"...You really are a live-wire, aren't you?" He asked as she used her other hoof to pick up the pouch.

"Were you the one in Shineighku?" She asked him.

"What do you mean?"

"Don't play dumb. You brought up Shineighku the other day... Why?"

"Why do you ask? Is there something wrong with Shineighku?"

"Don't answer my question with a question! Yes or no, that's all I wanna hear out of you." A blade slid out from the side of the pouch.

The phone rang in that moment. The both of them froze.

"If I don't answer it, someone will come. That okay?" Satisfied with the silent response, he used his magic to pick up the phone.

"Hello? Tempus Academy Student Council. ...No, this is- Oh, it's for you." He said, passing it to Sirocco, who gazed at it in bewilderment. "He says he knows you."

Sirocco reluctantly put down the pouch to hold the phone. "Hello?"

"Glad you're still alive, Q1." A voice said from the other end. Sirocco's eyes widened. She looked at Stryker from behind the curtain.

'Was I wrong?'

"16:00, the day after tomorrow. The observation deck at Trotyo Tower. Come alone."

Sirocco yelled into the phone, "Who are you? How did you arrange that cease-fire order?" The line went dead. "Hey, don't hang up!"

"Did you say cease-fire? Sounds like you keep dangerous company." She froze as Stryker commented.

"Oh, um, that was..." She fumbled.

"Let me guess... You're talking about a game? Something online or perhaps a board game?" Stryker asked.

Relieved, she said, "Yeah, you got me. 'Cause, you know, I've been shut up in my house for so long..." She let Stryker's hoof go.

He brushed off water droplets from his sleeve. "That's what I was warning you about, when I told you not to bring up Shineighku before. Seriously, some guys will try to show you footage of what happened that day and it's pretty damn grim." He began to walk away. "Well, later."

Sirocco sighed. 'I was wrong...'





Stryker held up a recorder to Raven. "Glad you're still alive, Q1."

He walked out as Raven came to. "Huh?"





As they walked down the hall, Stryker explained to Sirocco what it was like in the student council. "The council doesn't require much actual work, I guess. Beyond the occasional paperwork, we'll sometimes plan school events."

"So you mean like the cultural festival?" Sirocco asked.

"Yep, like that, along with the cross-dressers' ball, the absolute silence party and medival day." He said with a chuckle.

"What's up with that?" Sirocco asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Blame our president. You'll be spending a lot of time with her. Hope you're ready." He said as they walked into the student council clubhouse.

"Stryker, it's awful." Moth exclaimed.

"What is?" He asked.

"Prince Xirex has been found dead." Raincloud said.

"They're saying he was killed." Fallout added.

Stryker turned his attention to the TV, where Margrave Crescent Blade was proclaiming a speech.

"Prince Xirex has been taken from us. He fought for peace and justice against all of the Elevens. He died a martyr. We must all bury our sorrow, and carry on his will."

The TV suddenly switched over to a scene of many armed Knight-Mares and soldiers walking a prisoner away from a truck. "We interrupt this broadcast with breaking news. The pony suspected as the murderer has been captured. According to this report, the suspect is an honorary Nymphian." The camera zoomed in to see the face of the pony. Stryker's eyes widened. "Private Greymane, a former Eleven and honorary Nymphian. I repeat, Greymane arrested for murder."

He gritted his teeth. 'Shouldn't I be happy at this news? Greymane's still alive. But why is he being arrested in my place? I have to save him, even I if I have to step up my plans.'
> Act lV: Zero's Debut
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Greymane sat across from Crescent Blade in a prison garb as the interrogation went on. Crescent brought forth a hoof-strap gun in a see-through bag with his red aura.

"Do you know anything about this weapon? Greymane, it was the one used to rob Prince Xirex of his life. The barrel striations leave no doubt, and we've done a little homework on you as well. You're the adopted and only foal of Japone's last acting prime minister, are you not? Your motive here is clear." He narrowed his different-colored eyes at Greymane.

"You're making a mistake! I've never even laid eyes on that gun!" Greymane protested. One changeling soldier knocked him down from his chair with a swift kick.

Crescent scowled. "We've found your hoofprints all over this weapon. You're also suspected of murdering members of the Royal Guard. Come clean now, and you'll be judged as though you were born a Nymphian, not some worthless Eleven."

"You're wrong! I've done nothing!"

He lost consciousness as the soldier kicked him in the head.





"That was Greymane they mentioned on the news, wasn't it?" Moth asked her brother as he tucked her in.

"Yep, it looks like he's still alive." Stryker sighed.

"Yeah, it's been ages. We haven't seen him since the war ended. Even we..." Her voice faded out. "...And Stryker?"

"What is it?" He looked at Moth, feeling her emotions turn.

"It wasn't true what the news said, was it?" She asked, concerned.

"Of course not. Greymane would never do anything like that. They've just made a mistake."

"Yeah... must be." She agreed.

"Right. Well... Goodnight, Moth." Stryker said as he walked away towards the door.





"That's why we should've issued a freaking statement sooner. We could've taken credit for it!" Eclipse ranted as the reporter went on. He stormed out the room, slamming the door in the process.

Rough Boulder sighed. Turning his attention to a picture of him with Sirocco and her sister, he grimaced. 'Aurora, I know you always looked up to me, but I'm not cut out for this, I'm no leader.'





"Is everything in place?" Stryker asked the elderly stallion of whom he'd substituted for in the chess game a few days prior.

The stallion's eyes were tinged red as he answered, "Yes, everything is just as you requested. We have the best in the business working on it. Once the slide system is in order, it's all yours. Once I've erased all of the evidence I should forget this ever happened, right?"





Sirocco and Stryker both stood stoically among the other students, the latter putting his emotion guard up, as the principal addressed all of them. "Truly this is bitterly painful incident for all, the viceroy of Colony 11, our beloved prince Xirex has been lost to us forever. However, we can and will bear the weight of this tragedy, and from this darkest of hours draw strength."





"We've lost the most crucial part of the equation." Gear Spring sighed.

"Can we do it without him?" Azure questioned.

"Don't I wish. The other units never let go of a good pilot. And even if we got one, they'd never match his readings. His operational efficiency clocked at 94 percent. And you wanna replace him?"

Azure frowned. "You should tell them that, perhaps they'll let Greymane go."

"He's an honorary Nymphian, they'd never listen. Ever since General Acadis's disgrace, the purebloods have the military in an iron grip."





"The purebloods what?" Amber asked, eyes wide.

Stryker shrugged. "Well, from what I understand, they're saying that only pureblood Nymphians should be allowed to serve in the military."





Gear stated simply, "Their view is one of their own can never be a criminal. But if the criminal is an Eleven, it paves the way for Margrave Crescent to shut down the practice of granting natives honorary status."

"And what about Greymane?" Azure asked.

"His fate's all but decided, Azure. And there's nothing we can do about it."

Azure grimaced.





Fallout ran up to Stryker's side. "Hey Stryker! You got anything going on later? After all, classes have been cancelled for the day. Folks have been asking for a rematch."

"You're not gambling you guys!" Amber yelled.

"Come on. Don't be such a stick in the mud." Fallout said.

"She's right though. Maybe it's time to quit." Stryker agreed.

Fallout blinked in confusion. "Huh?"

"I found a better opponent actually." He clarified.

Amber tilted her head. "You did? I don't get it."

"You'll cut me in on the action too, right?" Fallout asked excitedly.

Stryker chuckled. "Better not. It's not really up your alley."

"Aww..." Fallout lowered his head dejectedly.

Stryker chuckled a bit, shaking his head slightly. 'Oh, if only you knew...'





Sirocco walked around Trotyo Tower with Rough Boulder and two changelings, although they kept their distance from each other. Sirocco stopped at a display while the other three went over to the windowed side.

"Nymphia's resounding victory over Japone opened the unenlightened nation's eyes to its true place in today's world order. Since then, the empire and Colony 11 had walked hoof in hoof down the road to revival." Sirocco heard a guide say.

'16 hundred hours at Trotyo Tower. Why here of all places?'

One of the changelings with Boulder, a blue-eyed female, asked, "It was Greymane who contacted us, wasn't it?"

Rough Boulder shrugged. "Hard to say, Syphilis."

Torpid, the other changeling, narrowed his green eyes. "Yeah, but he might have been arrested after his communication with Sirocco."

"Then we're in danger here. We should go." Syphilis said. Rough Boulder and Torpid nodded and turned to leave.

"Attention please. Paging Miss Sirocco Eventide, Tempus Academy. One of your personal effects has been turned in at the kiosk on the observation deck. I repeat..."

Boulder, Syphilis, and Torpid paused. They turned towards where Sirocco was to see her already gone.

The mare at the counter handed Sirocco a phone. "Hi. I'm assuming that this phone is yours, ma'am." Sirocco didn't say anything, only stared at it in confusion. "Uhm, something wrong? It is yours, isn't it?"

Sirocco's head snapped up, and she nodded. "Ah, yeah thank you so much." She walked away towards Rough Boulder and the others.

She overheard Rough Boulder. "Oh yeah, there's no debating. Life is better here thanks to Prince Xirex. I mean it's all due to Nymphia that we can rebuild as quickly as we did. I'm happy about that, but-"

The phone then rang. Sirocco looked at the phone ID. "Zero?" She put the phone behind her ear. "Uhm... Hello?"

Outside Trotyo Tower, Stryker walked away in his thestral guise, a saddlebag on his back. "I want you to board the outbound train on loop line five. ...And bring your friends."

"What?" Sirocco said in bewilderment, glancing at Rough Boulder and the two changelings in the process.





Crescent Blade sat behind a desk with his hooves together as he talked with the mare at the party of whom had scoffed at Prince Xirex's reign. 

"You handled His Highness's memorial program very well, Miss Hazel Dune. A little too weepy from my taste but..."

Hazel said impassively, "Yes, well the masses tend to like tear-jerkers, your excellency."

Crescent smirked. "Spoken like a true TV-mare. Still, I have to acknowledge the finesse you've shown. You did well in the short time you had. One would almost think you were expecting His Highness to meet his untimely end."

Hazel shrugged. "It's quite common for memorial programs to be set in advance for important creatures."

"Does that include me as well?" Crescent asked snidely.

Hazel answered stoically, "Recent events may have bumped you up the list a bit, your excellency."

"I wasn't deemed important enough till now is that it?" He raised an eyebrow, and he said with barely concealed snark, "How forthright of you!"

Hazel inclined her head a little. "I'm afraid so sir."

"Ever thought of enlisting? The army could use more creatures like you."

"I don't think it would be a very good fit. Not really my cup of tea." Hazel declined.

Crescent raised an eyebrow. "You prefer the civil sector, I take it. No matter, I have another favor to ask of you. Tomorrow night, Greymane will be transferred to his court-martial."

"And we should line the road with good patriotic Nymphians." Hazel finished.

Crescent smiled a fanged grin. "Excellent. You catch on quickly, don't you? Be sure the rabble can see his face."

Ember voiced her thoughts from beside the desk. "Lord Crescent, there are those among the Elevens who see private Greymane as a hero. Some might very well make an attempt to free him."

He narrowed his eyes. "I'll be there personally aboard my Sutherland. If anyone even thinks of causing trouble, they will be executed on the spot."





Sirocco, Boulder, Syphilis, and Torpid stood aboard the outbound train on loop line five. 

"Attention all passengers if you become aware of any suspicious items on board, please alert metro personnel by using the nearest inter-telephone."

The phone went off again. Sirocco picked up and questioned, "What now?"

"Face forward and look to your right." She looked. "What do you see?"

Sirocco scowled as she looked at the shining, pristine skyscrapers. "The Nymphian city. It was stolen away from us and built on our sacrifice."

"And on the left?" Zero asked.

"I see our city. Remnants of the desiccated city after the Nymphians sucked it dry." She said, watching the crumbled, unrestored buildings.

"Good answer. Now make your way to the front of the train."

Nodding to the other three, Sirocco made her way to the front of the train. They pushed their way through a large crowd as they neared the front. No one payed any mind to them though as their red-tinged eyes remained focused on an invisible horizon.

"The next stop is Okubo. Okubo is next. Those wishing to transfer to the Chuo-Soubu line should exit at the next stop. Okubo will be next. Once again. Those wishing to transfer to the Chuo-Soubu line should exit at the next stop."

In the next car, one lone figure in a gold-fringed black cloak was faced away from them.

"Was it you? On the phone?" Sirocco asked. The figure didn't give a response.

Torpid and Syphilis could sense a sense of eerie calmness within the figure. Torpid contacted Syphilis through their hivemind. "Do you think it's a trap?"

Syphilis didn't answer; she only narrowed her eyes at the figure.

Sirocco asked again, "Well, was that you in Shineighku? Was that ceasefire your doing?"

Still the figure didn't show any sign of hearing them.

Torpid, tired of the silence, yelled, "Hey, we're talking to you!"

The figure then whipped around as the train went into a tunnel, revealing to them a equine-shaped creature, presumably a thestral, wearing a black and indigo mask with an odd bird-like symbol along the bottom and five spikes along the top. 

Their eyes widened in surprise and slight confusion. 

The figure wore a dark-purple, golden-striped suit with light-purple, gold embroidery cuffs, and the inside of the cloak was a crimson red. He had a brilliant white handkerchief tied around his neck as well. The only parts of the figure they could see were the very end of his hooves, which were a dark-gray hue, and his leathery dusk-blue wings, which were folded back to hold the cloak in place.

"What do you think of my tour of the settlement?" He asked, his voice echoing off the inside of his mask.

Rough Boulder questioned, "Your tour?"

Torpid exclaimed, "Come on, there is no way it was this joker!"

The figure, Zero, raised a hoof. "I wanted you to fully grasp the two, the settlement-" He gestured his hoof to the right side. "-and the ghetto." He gestured to the left side.

Boulder said bitterly, "Yeah, we know. There is a difference between us and them. A very harsh one. And that's why we resist them."

"You're wrong." Zero proclaimed. The four widened their eyes in confusion. "Nymphia will not fall to terrorism."

"Fall?" Boulder frowned.

"It's nothing more than foalish nuisance." Zero said.

Torpid fumed. "What was that?! You call us a bunch of foals?!"

Unfazed, Zero continued. "You should know your enemy. It is not the creatures, but Nymphia itself." The four gaped. "It is a war you must wage, but not on the innocent. Take up your sword! Fight for justice!"

Sirocco scowled and mocked, "Oh please. That's all easy enough to say, isn't it? Hiding behind that mask... why should we even trust you?!"

"She's right! Lose the mask!" Torpid said, narrowing his eyes.

Rough Boulder agreed. "Right. Are you going to show us your face or not?"

Zero inclined his head slightly. "Very well, I'll show you. But rather than my face, bear witness to my power. If I deliver to you the impossible, then I might have earned your trust. ...And besides, you might never know my true face..."

They frowned in confusion. What did he mean by that? He already wore a mask.





"He killed a prince of Nymphia. Greymane should be treated as a hero."

"Yeah, but he's an honorary Nymphian."

"The prime minister was his father!"

"So what? The bastard gave up Japone, and creatures don't know that about him." A lieutenant retorted.

"The whole Shineighku business was the work of Boulder's group, wasn't it?" One general spoke up.

"Yes, sir. They're being led by a earth pony stallion named Rough Boulder at present."

"Taiyang, what are your thoughts?" The general turned to a golden kirin. Taiyang focused his dragon-like blue eyes on the general as his tail swished and his claws tapped on the stone.

"We should not become involved in this public execution."

"Granted, I'm not exactly thrilled with rescuing your misled ex-pupil, but isn't that cowardly? You're Taiyang, the miracle worker, right? And wouldn't you like to stir up some trouble with the Nymphians?" The lieutenant questioned.

He grimaced. "You're right. I'd love to cause some mischief among the Nymphians, Arset, but there's a difference between miracles and foolhardiness."





"Congratulations! Those two you asked me about weren't on the list of casualties." Gear said as he conversed with Greymane through a see-through cell where Greymane was being kept.

Greymane let out a sigh. "That's good to hear..."

"Not much luck on your end though. You may be getting a trial, but no one is pulling for you for sure."

"But the courts are where the truth comes to light." Greymane frowned.

Gear sighed. "I expect there'll be more smoke and mirrors than anything. The truth is scarce of late."

Greymane nodded. "If that's how the world works, then so be it. I've no regret."





"Any moment. Any moment now. It's a sight to see. The throngs lining the route, all of them waiting on bated breath. Waiting for the accused murderer of Prince Xirex to pass by. An honorary Nymphian and former Eleven, Greymane."

Hazel stood inside the TV van, where she monitored the cameras with a few others as the broadcast went on. "Camera 5 is a little slow." She talked through an earpiece. "Talk to me, Cycer, your team been deployed yet? ...What? The studio? Let them wait. Nothing has been pushed back." She cut off the communication and looked back to the cameras. "Everything is going according to plan. Here we go."

"I-I can see them! They have the suspect! Greymane is headed this way!" The TV reporter exclaimed as many Knight-Mares came into view with Greymane situated at the transport in the center.

Hazel scoffed. 'Like clockwork. Huh, what a circus this is. And I'm as corrupt as any of them...'

Azure frowned. "This is insane. We know that Greymane is innocent."

"The court deemed our testimony inadmissible. There is nothing we can do." Gear said, shrugging.

"Yes, but..."

"Is that altruism or humanitarianism?" He asked her.

"This isn't a time for a game of semantics!" She exclaimed.

"Not much else to do though, eh? We both know where this case is headed, don't we? We couldn't reach him at the summit. All we can do is cut our losses, really."

Moth listened to the radio as the reporter continued on. 

"Voices of scorn growing ever louder. Voices bearing testament to the creatures' love of their prince. Raining their judgement down on a terrorist."

"Greymane!" She exclaimed in anguish.

"Margrave Crescent, integral in settling this case, will be presiding over the trial as acting consul."

Eclipse scoffed as Torpid and Syphilis joined him in watching the news. "No way the three of them can pull this off on their own."

Awaiting near the route the Knight-Mares were on was Rough Boulder as he waited for Zero's signal. 'He told us. He said he'd make the impossible possible. He gave us his word to save Greymane.'

Stryker, or more correctly, Zero, thought to himself, 'Right. No need to turn back. The die is cast...'

Crescent received a message through his earpiece. "Acting consul Crescent."

"What is it?" He asked.

"Vehicle approaching the main highway from third. We just let it through as you instructed but-"

"Do you believe the target could be a terrorist's vehicle?"

"Well sir, it's Prince Xirex's car."

Crescent raised an eyebrow. "The prince's car? Well, looks like we've got ourselves a comedian. Don't worry about it. Just let them through to us." He cut the line, and commanded the other Knight-Mares, "All forces hold here!"

"Huh?" Greymane looked around in confusion as the group stopped.

Torpid gaped. "Hey, they stopped. They really did!"

Eclipse scoffed. "It's just a coincidence."

Syphilis commented, "Yeah, but he said Crescent would try to hog all the limelight, make some sort of stand about it."

"Coincidence!" Eclipse still stuck to his answer.

"This is not a scheduled stop. Could there have been some sort of accident? This is site 5. There is a vehicle approaching them." 

Crescent blinked at the vehicle; it really did have a likeness to His Highness's personal transport. "Huh?"

"It's- it's Prince Xirex's personal transport! And it's heading straight for the cavalcade!"

Rough Boulder's eyes widened. "What the- He's coming straight at them. What's he planning?"

Sirocco bit her lip as she drove the transport. 'Hope they can't tell it's a fake.'

She remembered back to when they'd discussed it with Zero.





Sirocco and Rough Boulder stood before Zero in a scrapyard. "I see. Just you two then."

Rough Boulder frowned. "I'm sorry. We just need a little more time. If more creatures understood what we-"

"No, the two of you will do just fine." Zero cut off.

"Huh? Come on! That's ridiculous! There will be too many of them!" Sirocco exclaimed, stepping forward with a frown.

"With your help, clearing the task at hand will be foal's play." He gestured beneath his hooves at what he stood on. "I'll need this by tomorrow. All that matters is the exterior."





Sirocco snapped back to the present, halting the car as Crescent glared at them. "You dare desecrate His Highness's transport? Come out of there!"

Zero used his hidden magic to burn away the curtain hiding him, making for a rather flashy entrance. All the cameras panned in on him as he stood there.

Crescent and the purebloods were confused. "Huh?"

He cast a voice enhancing spell discreetly. 

"I... am Zero." He projected.

Ember narrowed her eyes from within her Sutherland. "Zero?"

Across the radio and TVs, the reporter asked, "Who is this creature? This pony calling himself Zero, standing before a full military convoy?"

"What is all this?" Fallout asked as the student council crowded around the clubhouse TV.

"What the bloody Tartarus does he think he's doing?!" Eclipse asked, astonished.

"Who is this pony calling himself Zero?" The reporter repeated.

Hazel raised an eyebrow. "Zero? What do you mean, like 'nothing'?"

"Are we gazing on a terrorist? Certainly not the wisest if such is the case."

'Is he an Eleven?' Greymane thought.

'Now to return the favor, Greymane.' Zero, or rather Stryker in that moment, thought as his gaze fell upon a disheveled Greymane.

Crescent gnashed his teeth together. "I've seen enough, Zero. This little show of yours is over." He fired his gun into the air. Several Sutherlands dropped down and surrounded the fake transport. Sirocco gazed at them with a panicked look. "First things first. Why don't you lose that mask?"

Zero raised a hoof to his mask, but instead of removing his mask, he stamped it back down. The box-like structure behind him dismembered, revealing a gas capsule. The very capsule that'd been used to hold that mysterious alicorn mare.

"What in the...!?" Crescent exclaimed.

Ember opened her hatch and called out, "Crescent, be careful, he's got the..."

Stryker smirked from behind the mask of Zero. 'Yes, Crescent. You never saw inside this thing. So you assume it holds poison gas.'

A spark of recognition flickered in Greymane's eyes as he remembered the capsule. "Wait. You don't underst- Ah!" The shock collar around his neck prevented him from saying anything further.

"Can all of you watching at home see this? It's some sort of device, although its purpose is unclear. Stay with us and we'll see if this so-called terrorist has anything to say." The reporter said in a slightly quicker tone.

"You bastard!" Crescent gnashed his fangs together in frustration. 'He's taken every Nymphian here hostage, and he's done it without them even knowing it!'

The Sutherlands surrounding the fake transport aimed their guns.

"You intend to shoot? I think you know full well what will happen if you do." Zero said.

Hazel spoke into her earpiece. "Unit 6, bring up the sound and get that camera right in his face!"

"Ma'am, it's too hairy out here."

Hazel let out a frustrated growl and grabbed a spare camera herself. "Damned amateurs!"

Crescent reluctantly lowered his gun and signaled for the others to do the same. "Fine, what are your demands?"

"An exchange. This, for Greymane." Zero said coolly.

"Like Tartarus! He's charged with high treason for murdering a prince. I can't just hoof him over." Crescent said, glancing back at Greymane.

Hazel ran up with the camera as Zero said, "No. You're mistaken, Crescent. He's no murderer. The one who killed Xirex-" He looked into the camera as she zoomed in. "-was myself!"

The crowd and everyone listening to the report let out gasps of disbelief. Hazel grinned. "Ah-ha..."

Greymane's muzzle hung open, no sound coming out.

Azure exclaimed in astonishment, "Unbelievable!"

Gear settled with a surprised half-smirk. "The real culprit comes forward..."

The student council gasped, but it was Shadow Aura who was the most shocked.

And if Moth could widen her eyes, she would've.

The reporter exclaimed, "What? What does this mean? This masked pony called Zero - no, we can’t be sure who he is - but in any case, he claims to be the real assassin! So where does this leave the current suspect, Private Greymane?"

"Ah, crap! There's no way out of this!" Rough Boulder exclaimed through clenched teeth.

"We are so screwed." Sirocco said in a hushed voice.

"For a single Eleven, you'll save scores of precious Nymphians. I find that to be a bargain." Zero continued as if nothing had happened.

Hazel chuckled to herself, 'This is all just one big performance to him.'

Crescent yelled to his comrades, "He is mad, I tell you! Disguising this truck as His Highness’s! He’ll pay the price for mocking the crown!"

"Careful. You don't wish the public to learn of Calico, do you?" Zero asked Crescent.

"Calico? What's he talking about?" One of the soldiers guarding Greymane asked.

"I don't know." The other shrugged.

Zero tapped a hoof on the transport. It moved forward towards Crescent slowly.

Zero continued, "If I die, it'll all go public. If you don't want that to happen..."

"What are you talking about? What is this?" Crescent demanded.

A small section of the left side of Zero's mask suddenly slid down, revealing his eye, which held the bird-like symbol of which he'd used before. With his, currently, dragon-like slitted eye, Zero said, "...You'll do everything in your power to let us go, your prisoner as well."

As the power took its effect, Crescent replied, "Right, understood." He turned to the transport and pointed at one of the soldiers. "You there, release the prisoner."

The purebloods, soldiers, and Sirocco were all shocked. "Eh!?"

Ember yelled, "What on Equus are you doing, my lord?!"

"Get that colt over here." Crescent growled.

"Huh?" Ember blinked in confusion.

One soldier frowned. "Should we?"

"But-"

"Hoof him over. Nobody gets in his way." Crescent ordered.

"No! What are you thinking? You can't do this!" One of the purebloods opened his hatch to face Crescent.

"Lord Kiquy, this is an order!" Crescent yelled. Greymane began to walk towards Zero, who met him halfway with Sirocco. The latter wore a visor that covered most of her face and a white suit that covered her cutie mark.  

"It's hard to tell what's happening from here, but it seems that Greymane's release has been brokered!" The reporter stated.

"So, who the heck are you?" Greymane asked before the collar stunned him into silence again.

'As I thought, they didn't allow you to speak.' Stryker narrowed his eyes from behind the mask.

"If they get away, we'll lose everything!" Ember exclaimed.

"It's time to go, Zero." Sirocco said.

"Well then, till next time." Zero said before pressing a remote attached to his forehoof with his magic, though to anyone else, it was voice-activated. It released gas from the capsule. The crowds panicked and fled from it.

"Why, you cowardly Eleven!" Ember yelled, going after them. Her Sutherland was intercepted by Crescent's. "Lord Crescent, what're you-?"

"You heard me! Stand down now!"

As Sirocco and Zero, with Greymane in the latter's grip, jumped off the side of the bridge, Kiquy yelled out, "They're not alone at all! They jumped right off!"

The Knight-Mare Boulder piloted shot a net across where Greymane would land and fall into a transport. Sirocco and Zero used their wings to dive into the transport as well, the later gliding rather than flying, per say.

Rough Boulder grinned. "It worked! Now we can-"

The getaway was halted by Kiquy's Sutherland. Kiquy bared his fangs. "You imbecile! There’s nowhere for you to run!"

"Lord Kiquy!" Crescent yelled.

"Huh!?" Kiquy exclaimed before Crescent's Sutherland pointed a gun at point blank, ready to fire.

"Are you going to follow orders or not?! And believe me, there will be repercussions. All units, do I make myself clear? Do everything in your power to help them get away!"





"Damn, I didn't really think he could do it." Syphilis said with a smirk.

"Yeah, who is this pony?" Torpid asked.

"That's crap! How many times can a bluff like that work, anyway?" Eclipse said.

"You gotta give the guy some credit though." Boulder said.

"Huh?"

Boulder shrugged. "Gotta admit it; nobody else could’ve pulled that off. Not the Japonese Liberation Front, certainly not me. We’ve always thought that a full-on war with Nymphia wasn’t a possibility at all. But maybe with him, it is."

Sirocco looked in the direction of where Zero currently was.

Zero and Greymane stood amongst the rubbish of the abandoned building. 

Zero commented, "It looks like they treated you rather roughly. Now you know what they're really like, Greymane. Nymphia is rotten." Greymane flattened his brow. "If you wish to bring change to this world, then join me."

"So, is it true? Are you really the one who killed Prince Xirex?" Greymane asked.

"This is war. Why wouldn't I kill an enemy commander?"

"And the gas?! Those were civilians out there!" Greymane exclaimed.

"A bluff to help things along. The result, not a single death." Zero explained.

Greymane looked away. "The result? That's all that matters to you, I suppose. Hmph..."

"Come join me. The Nymphia you serve is a worthless dominion." Zero said, extending a hoof.

Greymane sighed. "Maybe that's true, but... this nation, it can be changed for the better, and from within."

"Changed?" Zero whispered.

"And any ends gained through contemptible means aren't worth anything." Greymane turned and began to walk away.

"Wait. Where are you going?"

"My court-martial begins in an hour." Greymane replied, stopping.

"Damn, are you mad?! The only reason they're giving you a trial is to find you guilty. The judge, the prosecution, and defense!" Zero exclaimed.

"Rules are rules. And if I don't go, they'll start cracking down on Elevens and honorary Nymphians."

"But you'll die!"

Greymane shrugged. "I don't mind."

"Don't be an idiot!"

Greymane chuckled and faced Zero again. "An old friend of mine always used to tell me that. He'd say I was a fool." Behind the mask, Stryker gaped. "It's my weakness, I guess. I'd try to bring you in, but you'd just end up killing me. And If I'm going to die, it'll be in the service of the creatures. Even so, I thank you... for saving me."

He turned and walked away. Zero watched him until he was nothing more than a speck in the distance. He clenched his jaw.

"You fool."

'So naive. I was so sure Greymane would understand. "Change the system from within?" Bullshit! The system will just swallow him up; it'll eat him alive! Well, I won't take their charity. Not as long as I have the power to bend it to my will.'





"Yes, apparently. Private Greymane has made contact with the authorities. It would seem that Zero has released him. However, now that the original charges against him have been thrown into question, it's very possible Greymane would be found innocent and acquitted."

"Thank goodness." Moth let out a breath of relief as she heard the reporter.

"For legal perspective on all of this, we now turn to our legal analyst..."

Moth's ears pricked up as she heard the door open. "Miss Raven?"

Instead of the denim-blue unicorn however, it was a ocean-blue coated alicorn standing in the shadows. Her cerulean dragon-like eyes caught the light and shined with an unearthly glow.
> Act V: Name's S2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Tthe deserts of Saddle Arabia...

"Open fire!" A Saddle Arabian commander ordered.

Several tanks and a few Knight-Mares fired upon the enemy squadron. The enemy went through them without batting an eye. Two Knight-Mares especially, slashed through and destroyed two units each.

"Gloucesters!?" He said in surprise.

"It's supposed to be in Seruphoof." A second soldier stood beside him, talking into a radio.

The Saddle Arabian numbers were slowly crumbling, and so, they tried to mount a counterattack.

"Shoddy oversized imitation Knight-Mares. Correct, Mandible?" One Nymphian soldier, a green eyed changeling drone with a scar running across his face and right eye, said scathingly as he blocked a barrage of bullets.

Another, a changeling drone with a red mane and tail and green eyes, smirked upon hearing that. "Indeed, Decas. They would've been wise to surrender from the start."

A resounding explosion behind them caused the Saddle Arabians to whirl around. The base, destroyed in a fiery inferno.

"What?!" One commander exclaimed. A single Knight-Mare appeared out of the flames and sped towards them.

Clenching his teeth, the commander thought, 'So Chrysalis, a single unit did that?'

Decas and Mandible used the moment to attack. Striking through the Saddle Arabians with their lances, there were soon none left to contend.

"Another victory. Colony 18 has been established." Chrysalis stated.

A message went over the Knight-Mare communicators. "My lady, about our next course of action..."

"Sorry to have you clean up after my foolish cousin."

"Please don't apologize, my lady. We live to serve and our place is with you."

"Hmph. Do you think that Colony 11 needs our usual treatment?" Chrysalis asked.

"Yes, my lady."

"Good."

She cut off the communication line. Her eyes flashed as she hissed, "I'll drive you into the open, Zero. Xirex will be avenged."





Stryker walked through the door. "I'm back, Moth."

"Welcome home, Stryker." A voice that was definitely not Moth's said.

Stryker froze, suddenly very happy that he'd put up his emotion guard before coming in. 'That mare... That shouldn't be possible. The bullet went right through her head! How-?!'

Yet the alicorn was sitting before him, next to his sister, folding origami with a pearl necklace around her neck and a bow in her mane. A cloak covered her wings, but he'd recognize those slitted cerulean eyes anywhere.

"I'm so glad. I was worried." Moth said, oblivious to the situation.

"I'm assuming you ate out tonight." The alicorn mare stated. Stryker still couldn't make a comprehensive thought.

"Thank goodness. I thought maybe you'd gotten caught up in all the uproar caused by that pony, Zero. I tried calling you but you didn't answer your cellphone and the hivemind was quiet. I wanted to tell you Miss S2's been waiting as well."

Stryker finally managed to speak. "S2?"

Moth giggled. "Your friend goes by such an unusual name."

"Yeah..."

"I was just wondering, is S2 your marefriend?" Moth asked.

Stryker blinked. "What?"

"He made a promise about our future together. Right?" S2 looked up from her origami and fixated her gaze on Stryker.

"Huh?" Stryker took a step back in confusion.

Moth tilted her head. "A future together? You mean marriage?"

Stryker processed that for a second before frantically saying, "No! No, that isn't what she was talking about. It's like a- she's kidding around!"

"No, I'm not." S2 said in a flat tone as she resumed her origami folding.

Stryker used his magic to lift a teacup from the table as Moth said, "Well you're certainly doing this sooner than most. But everyone's different, aren't they? So I suppose it isn't that strange. And if you feel like you're ready for-" He dropped his teacup onto the floor. "Oh!"

Stryker grabbed S2's hoof and dragged her out the door. "Oh, S2. Look what you've done, you're soaking wet. Come on, let's get you to the bathroom so you can clean up. Moth, stay here and I'll clean it up in a minute." He called over his shoulder, "And she was kidding before. Kidding. Just a dumb joke. That's all."

Moth simply tilted her head in confusion. "Huh?"





"Who are you?" Stryker demanded as his door closed.

"She said my name. I'm S2." The mare said, turning away from him to survey the room.

Stryker scowled. "That's not I meant. Why aren't you-"

"Supposed to be dead?" She finished.

"Hmm..." Stryker narrowed his eyes. 'How come I can't read her emotions? She's a pony, not a changeling. She shouldn't be able to do that, alicorn or not.'

S2 fell back onto Stryker's bed. "So, do you like the power that I gave you?"

"As I thought, it was you." He said as he thought of the power he held in his left eye.

"Dissatisfied?" She asked.

Stryker smirked. "On the contrary, I'm grateful. It allows me speed up my schedule tremendously, which is a huge help."

"Your schedule?" S2 raised an eyebrow.

"Yes. My schedule for obliterating Nymphia. I would've had to wait much longer before I could've made the initial move."

"You believe you can destroy it simply by using that power?" 

"I intended to do it without this power." He clarified.

S2 smiled in a ghostly manner. 'I just knew that he'd turn out to be a fascinating drone.'

"But what'll you do now? I'm sure the military is after you." Stryker asked.

"Not the entire military, only a small faction of it. So it shouldn't be difficult to find hiding place. I can make do here." S2 took off the black cloak and bow she wore, throwing it on the floor messily.

"What? You expect to stay here?" Stryker exclaimed.

S2 pulled the blanket over herself with a deep sky-blue aura. "A gentlecolt would sleep on the floor."

"Don't joke around." Stryker said.

"Me being caught would cause trouble for you too." She pointed out.

"It's dangerous to stay together."

"If I wander the streets, they'll find me." She countered.

Stryker scowled. "This isn't about you. It's my situation."

"I hate stubbornness." She turned away.

Stryker sat down on the floor with a scoff. "You sure take things casually, don't you? How did you manage to survive before this? What did you do before now? And what's the deal with that so-called contract you spoke of-"

"Goodnight, Stryker."

Stryker clenched his teeth. "Grr."





"Fukushoofa, Koucanteri, Hireinshima. This has been the seventh occurrence since that pony, Zero, raised his head." Azure said.

"It seems the other groups are following his lead and putting up a valiant fight." Gear commented.

Azure turned to Gear. "And now, suspicions about that 'Calico' thing have cost Margrave Crescent his command."

Gear shrugged. "Maybe he wasn't good enough. Thanks to him, connections between the police and the administration are screwed up. It's made a fine mess for us as well."





"Help them Taiyang! Zero has thrown the Nymphians into chaos. Now is the time for us in the Japone Liberation Front to make our stand!"

Taiyang answered calmly, "Calm down, Slit. The information of Sythi giving the Guren Mark-II to Zero hasn't been confirmed. If we pay too much attention to Zero, we may trip ourselves up. And I'd rather be the one tripping others up, not the other way around."





"So, what did 'Calico' turn out to be anyway?" S2 asked as she adjusted her bow.

"Hm."

She looked up at him with her slitted eyes. "Well?"

Stryker looked at her in the mirror. "You know, for somepony who isn't willing to answer any questions, you certainly do ask a lot of them."

S2 shrugged. "If you don't want to answer my questions, you don't have to. Just as I don't."

Stryker scoffed and focused his attention on fixing his uniform. "Hmph. There is no 'Calico'. It's something I made up when I saw his eyes. But, the more they claim to be comrades of like-mind, the easier it is to divide them with the thorns of suspicion."

S2 looked at the many magazines with images of Zero on the front cover. "...Everyone on Equus is looking for you. Because of you, the world is going through an upheaval. So, is this it?" She looked up. "Is this what you wanted to see?"

"No. This uproar's simply a means to an end." He finished tidying his uniform and turned around to S2. "The world is destined to descend into an even greater chaos."





"Case No. 107 Private Greymane, Colony 11 Military Forces. In the murder of His Highness Prince Xirex you are no longer a suspect, and are hereby set free due to lack of evidence."

Greymane, in a pair of sunglasses to be less conspicuous, recounted what happened as he walked down the sidewalk. 'What happened? I'm free.'

"Out of the way, please!" He looked up in time to see a cream pegasus mare jump out a window. "Look out below!" She flapped her wings, but gravity pulled her down quicker than she planned. With a less than graceful fall, she fell onto Greymane, making the both of them crash to the ground. "Oh!"

"Uh, are you all right?" He asked from beneath her.

The black-maned mare quickly stood up. "Oh, I'm sorry. I wasn't aware you were down here until I had leapt."

Greymane stood up, wincing and rubbing his head with a hoof. "Well, don't worry. I wasn't expecting a mare to come falling out of the sky either."

"Oh, my..." She murmured, looking down at the ground.

"Huh? Is there something wrong?" He asked, concerned.

Her head snapped up. She exclaimed with a little too much glee, "Yes! There is something wrong."

Greymane blinked. "Huh?"

"The truth is bad guys are chasing me. So considering the circumstances could you help me, please?" She smiled at him.

Greymane raised an eyebrow, but accepted.





"We must get rid of this 'Calico' character before Princess Chrysalis assumes her new post." Kiquy said to the purebloods, excluding of course, Crescent.

One narrowed his eyes. "Now the loyalty of us purebloods is being called into question."

"Are the reports we've been hearing true? Lord Crescent was bribed?" Another asked.

"Do you know what this 'Calico' means?" Kiquy asked them.

"Uh..." No one did.

"In any case, Lord Crescent is definitely hiding something. Saying he can't recall anything, Acadis offered the same excuse. Both were scanned for magic tampering, and nothing came up, both times." Kiquy scoffed.

Ember said nothing, keeping a stoic composure. 'Lord Crescent's memory is muddled, but there's no sign of any magical influence. Exactly like those of the soldiers in Shineighku whose Sutherlands were stolen. And...' She thought back to when her Sutherland was stolen. Her eyes lit up. 'That school-drone!'





"We haven't introduced ourselves yet, have we? My name is... Mirage." The mare said with a smile.

"Mirage?" Greymane repeated.

Mirage nodded. "Yes."

Greymane starts to introduce himself. "My name's-"

Mirage stopped him. "Don't tell me."

"Huh?"

"Cause I already know it. You're a celebrity, son of the last Prime Minister of Japone, Private Greymane."

Greymane looked away. "Hmph. You lied before. There's no one chasing you at all, right?"

"Hello there."

"What?" Greymane turned to see that Mirage was playing with a phoenix, a rare blue-fire one.

"Aww, does the phoenix's wing hurt? Oh..." She cooed at it a bit more.

Greymane sat down beside Mirage as she let the phoenix perch on her hoof. He extended a hoof to pet it, but the phoenix bit it instead.

"Aargh!" Greymane flinched.

"Oh my..." Mirage said, her face morphed into a surprised expression.

Azure and Gear paused at a stoplight. Gear let out a sigh. "We're running late. I hope he's still waiting for us."

"Considering the charge, did they really release him?" Azure asked.

"Yes. They had no evidence. I'm sure they put him through the third degree because of that Zero incident." He looked out the window to see Greymane and Mirage. "Huh? What? Why is he...?"





"Do you have trouble with phoenixes or birds for that matter?" Mirage asked Greymane as she finished bandaging the phoenix's wing.

"I like them fine. However..." He extend a hoof towards the phoenix. It in turn tried to bite his hoof. "...The attraction isn't mutual." He finished, withdrawing his hoof.

"I think unrequited love is a mark of a kind pony." Mirage smiled. The phoenix then spread its wings and flew away, albeit a bit unevenly. "Aww... the phoenix flew away."

Greymane then remembered. "Oh, Mirage, why did you tell me that lie when we met?"

"Do you ask because you're concerned about me?" She asked with a hint of a tease.

"Huh? Um... of course."

"Good! Then you can accompany me some more." She exclaimed, clapping her hooves together.

"Alright..." Greymane shrugged.

"Come on. It'll be fun!"

"You know, being here is just like being in Nymphia. I feel right at home." Mirage stated as they went around.

"Are you from the homeland?" Greymane asked.

She nodded. "Uh-huh. I was a student there up until last week."

"Last week? So what're you doing now? By student, do you mean high school? You can go sightsee anytime, can't you?"

Mirage giggled. "Hehe. You ask a lot of questions."

"Ah, sorry." He rubbed a hoof behind his head.

"Oh! No, I don't mean it like that. You see... today is the last day of my vacation. I wanted to see as much of Colony 11 as I could because I'd like to know what kinda place it is." Mirage clarified.

"Well, you didn't need me for that."

"No, I'm glad I could see it with you."

Greymane raised an eyebrow. "Is that right?"





"Greymane, would you mind taking me to one more place, please?"

He bowed to her in a jest. "Your wish is my command, my lady. Where to?"

"Take me to Shineighku." She said calmly.

Greymane's eyes widened. "Uh..."

Everything from her posture to her tone was uncharacteristicly serious. "Private Greymane, please escort me there."





"Stryker."

He looked up from his laptop to see Sirocco. "Hmm?"

"Do you have a minute?"

"Uh-huh. What is it?" He hid the tab about Greymane's release.

"About that phone call the other day." She started to say.

He decided to play dumb for a minute. "A phone call?"

"Yeah, you know, when you and I were in the bathroom."

"Uh-huh?"

"Can you find out what the caller ID was? I want to contact that pony again." She said uncomfortably.

He shrugged as he shut the laptop. "It was a school phone, so I'm not sure I-" He looked up and started as he saw S2 leaning against a tree trunk in her usual attire. "Eh!?"

"I see. Makes sense. I should've known." Sirocco muttered.

'That bitch...' Stryker narrowed his eyes.

Sirocco looked at him weird, then began turn around. "What? Is there something wro-" Thinking quickly, he used his magic to grab her face and pull her closer to him instead of S2. "Woah!"

Amber gazed out the window to catch them in that awkward moment. She backed up with widened eyes. "No way..."

S2 raised an eyebrow when she saw him but left nonetheless. ...Not before flipping a middle feather at him though. Stryker watched as she trotted away.

"Um, excuse me. What are you doing?" 

He almost forgot that he still had Sirocco in his magic aura.

"Ahh... what indeed." He said, letting her go.





Acadis, in a prison garb, flew aboard a plane headed for Nymphia. 'To think I return to the homeland like this... I wish I'd never been involved with the damned mare.'





"Are you insane? You can't go walking around." Stryker hissed at S2.

"Don't act strict with me. I can wear a disguise." To demonstrate, she lit her horn, and in the next moment, a white pegasus with a long, straight mauve and navy-blue mane and tail, bangs, and normal pony eyes stood in her spot.

Stryker still wasn't buying it. He asked her, "What about when you need your magic?"

She rolled her eyes. In a flash of blue, a white unicorn stood in front of him, with the same colored mane and tail, but in a shorter, more curled manestyle without the bangs.

Stryker still looked at her with a deadpan look. "Your cutie mark gives you away. It never changes." 

S2 scoffed as she transformed back into her natural self. "I'd never leave the school-grounds anyway, so it's fine." 

She walked towards the window, an irritated look on her face.

"It's not. You can't do as you like here, you don't belong."

'I don't belong anywhere.' S2 thought bitterly. She saw a nymph scratching a line on the wall. "Hmm? What's with her?"

Stryker walked up behind her. "Oh, is she doing it again today?"

"Again?" S2 raised an eyebrow.

"She's going to be marking that wall like that everyday, because I used my Geass on her to make her do it."

"Geass?" She asked him as she sat on his bed.

"The name of the power I have. That's what I heard when we first made contact."

"You're testing how long it lasts?"

Stryker shrugged. "I need to know the specs of my weapon, don't I? So behave or I'll try it on you."

S2 smirked in turn. "Would it work on me?" She asked innocently. Stryker glared at her.

She rolled her eyes. "Oh relax, you and I are in this together, I won't do anything to endanger us or our unique partnership."





Greymane and Mirage gazed upon the remnants of the ghetto.

"The Shineighku Ghetto... ruined again. The residents were starting to return too." Greymane sighed.

"Dang, they didn't use RG on the Elevens. I figured they wouldn't."

The two of them turned around to see three Nymphian drones on the hilltop, taking pictures of the destruction.

"Hey, look! Those are marks of Hummer rounds. Get a clear shot of it."

"Say cheese! Got it. Okay, me next."

Greymane scowled as Mirage narrowed her eyes.





"This is accurate? This information about Zero?" Crescent narrowed his eyes as he asked the operator. His Sutherland was headed towards the location that Zero had been reportedly spotted at.

"Yes, sir. Lord Kiquy contacted me."

"Right. Set up a cordon around Shineighku Ghetto Sector 4 at once." Crescent ordered.

"Cordon Sector 4. Roger." The operator cut off the communication. He sighed to his partner. "Okay, ball's in your court now, Lord Kiquy."

A sword came between the two. "Ack!"

They looked behind them to see Ember Ash. She narrowed her eyes. "I wanted to be put through to Lord Crescent. But it appears that you're too busy now."





Greymane and Mirage looked on as a black pegasus stallion with a silver and white mane flew in with a changeling behind him. "Get out of here, you damn Nymphian bastards!"

"Huh?" Mirage blinked in confusion.

"Stay here." Greymane told her as he walked up the hill to them.

"How dare a lowly Eleven speak like-"

"Don't call me Eleven! I'm Japonese!" The pegasus yelled, knocking the Nymphian changeling's camera off.

The changeling Eleven whispered to him with her blue eyes narrowed, "Calm down, Eclipse. You're gonna cause a scene."

Eclipse turned back to retort. "How can I, Syphilis?! These bastar-"

One of the Nymphians stepped forward. "Wrong. You seem to forget you creatures lost. You're nothing but a beaten dog!"

"Grrr... you racist hog." The pegasus growled.

Greymane came in between them. "Stop. Please, no violence!"

"Stay out of this!" Eclipse whirled around and used a wing to smack him. Greymane's sunglasses were knocked off by the sudden attack.

Both sides gasped.

One Nymphian murmured, "You're that-"

"Are you Greymane?" Syphilis asked with narrowed blue eyes.

"The pony who killed Xirex?" Another Nymphian said.

His friends corrected him. "No, it was Zero who killed him."

Eclipse snapped out of his shock and scowled. "This pony's nothing more than a slave. Big deal. You're an honorary Nymphian. Nobody cares. You sold your pride, your kind, yourself, yet you call yourself Japonese?!" Eclipse yelled.

"No! You're wrong!" Greymane stated.

"I am not wrong!" Eclipse leapt at him. "You stinking Nymphian lapdog-" Greymane flipped the pegasus over with his quick reflexes. "Ah!"

The others gasped.

"Oh!" Eclipse hit the ground face-first.

"Stop, please!" Greymane said.

Eclipse slowly got to his hooves with Syphilis's help.

"I warn you, I've been trained for military combat. Don't make me fight against my own kind." Greymane stated with a shake of his head.

"Like Tartarus, we're your own kind!" Eclipse yelled.

"Come on. Just let it go." Syphilis said, buzzing her wings and flying off.

"Hmph, lousy traitor." Eclipse muttered before lifting off himself.

Mirage flew up towards Greymane. "Greymane! Oh, my... Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm alright." He said distantly.

"Well I'm not okay. Just look at my prime-G and my elex-4." One of the Nymphians chittered.

"Why did you wait? Damn it, some honorary citizen you are." Another piped in.

The third changeling stepped in. "Why'd you let 'em go? You should have killed 'em." Mirage frowned. "What's a few dead Elevens to a pony like you!?" She began to walk up to him. "Who do you think's been taking care of you all these years anyway?" And slapped him with a wing as hard as she could, causing him to drop the camera. "Ack!"

"I'll not allow you to insult this pony any longer, you parasite." She said calmly, her eyes narrowed. The changelings could sense it though; she was riling mad. They buzzed their wings and quickly left.





"To use my Geass, I need to have direct eye contact with the subject. Transparent objects like eyeglasses present no problem. The effective range is approximately 270 meters. And a subject appears to have no memory of events before, during, or after the power is used. I think this is due to damage caused by the Geass interfering with the brain of the subject. Also if the signal's optical, I can reflect it."

"In the short time you had it, you've learned a lot." S2 commented.

"My opponent is an empire that controls more than 1/3 of the entire world. There's no such thing as being too careful." Stryker said.

"I'd understand if you were an Eleven, but you're a Nymphian, aren't you? ...This opponent may be too large and strong to fight with only Geass for a weapon." She said with narrowed eyes.

Stryker sighed. "Is it good to be strong?"

"Is it bad to be weak?" Greymane asked. "Back then when I was ten, the world seemed like such a terribly sad place. A world without any hope at all."

"Starvation..."

"...disease..."

"...filth, decay..."

"...racism..."

"...constant war and terrorism..."

"Living in a never-ending cycle of hate."

"Rats running in a wheel."

"The cycle must be broken. Somebody has to do it." Greymane finished, turning to Mirage.

"How idealistic." S2 said.

"Of course, it's doubtful if the one who does it will make all the bad things go away." Greymane stated.

Stryker looked at S2. "I'm not that arrogant, and so..."

Greymane shook his head. "No one should lose more of the ones they love. At least, not in a world devasted with war."

S2 looked at Stryker. "And to have this utopia you'd...?"

"How would you do it?" Mirage asked tentatively.

Stryker inclined his head. "It's simple. When somebody wins, the fighting will end."

"Somebody?" S2 said.

"I don't know how I would do it. But if I stop trying, then my father's death will have been in vain." Greymane clenched his jaw.

"The Prime Minister's death?" Mirage asked.

"My own father died, because he had to sacrifice his life in that war." He said bitterly.

"Oh..." She looked down at her hooves.





"Crescent! You're going to pay for letting Prince Xirex's murderer go free!" Kiquy screeched as the purebloods surrounded Crescent's Sutherland in their own Sutherlands.

Crescent darted his eyes around in confused fury. "Kiquy! You dirty coward. That sighting of Zero was a lie, wasn't it?!"

"We have to wipe away our disgrace before Princess Chrysalis takes up her post here. This is how we keep our officials honest." Kiquy said.

Crescent clenched his teeth.





Greymane and Mirage whipped their heads around as they heard an explosion in the background and a plume of smoke rose not too far away. A truck pulled up. The window went down to reveal Azure. "Greymane!"

Greymane widened his eyes. "Miss Azure."

"It's dangerous here, get in."

Gear explained, "The purebloods are having a silly squabble. Let's get out of here. Oh, and by the way, what a shame about your acquittal. Because now you'll have to work for me again." He smirked.

"Wait, please!" Greymane frowned. "Isn't this an opportunity to gather battle data for the Lancelot?"

"Oh?" Azure raised an eyebrow as Gear had a thoughtful expression.

"Greymane..." Mirage started to say.

Greymane turned to her. "I'm sorry, Mirage. We have to say goodbye here. I need to do this. I think I can stop them with the Lancelot. I have to try. I- I must!"

She stared at him for a moment before nodding.





Crescent's Sutherland got a beating as the four purebloods attacked at once. "Damn, it's four against one. Cowards!"

He blocked a lance with a stun-tonfa.

"Don't worry Crescent. We'll say you died in battle. Your family's name won't be disgraced." Kiquy said mockingly.

He deflected the lance, only to come face-to-face with a Sutherland gun.

"You're serious then?" He used the left arm stun-tonfa to knock it away. "You actually intend to kill me?! Kiquy!"

The four Sutherlands surrounded him. Kiquy yelled, "Silence, Calico! We serve the Imperial family. Why else would we be here? All Hail-"

"-Nymphia!" All of them charged. Right before they could strike, two slash harkens blocked them off.

"What the...?!" All the purebloods looked up towards where the slash harkens retracted to. The Lancelot stood in the dying light of the sun.

"Stop it! You're all Nymphian soldiers!" Greymane exclaimed as he came between them and Crescent. Mirage watched from outside of their sightline, her expression troubled.

Crescent murmured, "That's him, it's that Honorary Nymphian. And the advanced weapon, Lancelot."

"What business does the Special Corps want here? Interlopers will die." Kiquy stated.

"No! I can't stand by and ignore this senseless battle."

Fangs bared, Kiquy shot a slash harken at the Lancelot. It deflected off a shield easily.

Kiquy's widened his green reflection-less eyes. "Oh my God. They've perfected the MVSes." He clenched his teeth. "Too late, I won't back down."

"We're on the same side!" Greymane yelled as the purebloods, sans Crescent, began to attack him. With his shields and advanced Knight-Mare, Greymane wasn't deterred much. 

'Greymane... is saving me?' Crescent thought in confusion.

"We can at least kill Calico." Kiquy said. As he charged Crescent, another Sutherland appeared and rammed his Knight-Mare away.

"Lord Crescent!" A familiar voice called.

"Ember! Thanks." Crescent said.

"Still wanna fight?" Greymane asked the purebloods.

"Drones, stand down." Kiquy commanded. They complied.

Greymane loosened the Lancelot's stance. "Y-you understand then?"

Kiquy smirked. "I'm using a chaos mine."

"Huh?" Greymane's eyes widened.

"What!?" Crescent exclaimed.

Mirage flew across the field. "No, stop it now!"

Greymane widened his eyes and covered Mirage as the chaos mine went off. The shield activated. Mirage cowered behind the Lancelot as the chaos mine fired millions of bullets at the Lancelot.

In a matter of moments, the chaos mine fell with a resounding thud as smoke rose from its depleted storage. The Lancelot was untouched.

Everyone gaped in awe.

Ember murmured, "That Honorary Nymphian. He risked his life for that mare..."

Mirage flew towards the center of the field. "Everyone, lower your weapons at once. In my name, I command you."

With that, she closed her eyes, and blue flames whipped around her form. Once again, everyone was stunned with shock.

Kiquy gaped. "It... can't be."

The flames died down to reveal a young changeling queen with a cerulean mane and tail, sky-blue wings... and one heck of a temper. All the changelings could feel the anger that was coming from her. She opened her eyes to reveal two sapphire slitted eyes of pure outrage. 

"I am Masquerade Mirage li Mirren of the empire. And the fourth princess of the royal family." Her chillingly calm voice projected across the entire field.

Greymane gaped. "Mirage..."

"I'm assuming command here. Now fall back." She commanded.

"It's her, it's the princess." Crescent gaped. 

Azure looked wide-eyed at Gear. "Did you know it was her, Gear?"

He nodded in turn. "Uh-huh, but she's been a student up until now and hasn't made her public debut yet. Harder for her to do especially since she was adopted into the family after her hive was wiped. Clever disguise though, took me a few moments to figure out it was her."

Kiquy stammered, "We, we're truly-"

"-We're truly sorry, your Highness!" The purebloods bowed.

Masquerade lighted down.

"My lady!" Greymane got out from his Knight-Mare.

"Hmm?" She turned around to see Greymane bowing to her.

"I had no idea who you were. Please forgive me, Princess."

"Greymane, you and I bear a similar deep pain." He looked up at her serious expression. "You have lost your father as I have lost my cousin."

Greymane flinched a little, but she didn't notice.

"Will you let me help you in your quest to ensure that no one ever again has to suffer the loss of a loved one on the battlefield?" She extended a holed hoof.

Greymane stared in surprise, but after a moment, he accepted. "Yes, I'm unworthy of your kindness."





"I heard what you did, Mirage. You shouldn't be so reckless." Chrysalis said with a hint of a frown as she caressed Masquerade's cheek.

"I know, sister. Forgive me. But-"

"You will address me as Viceroy here, Sub-Viceroy Masquerade. Because we're sisters, we need to follow a stricter protocol."

Masquerade nodded, albeit hesitantly. "Yes, I understand."

Chrysalis smiled at Masquerade before turning to an changeling officer. "Hmph. Now then, give me your report."

"Yes, my lady. The first order of business is a welcome party we've arranged for your Highness and-" She pointed a sword-rifle at him. "Oh!"

Masquerade blinked in surprise, as did many of the soldiers there.

Chrysalis mocked him. "Sloppy, senile, corrupt. Where is Zero? I want the enemy of the empire caught! Get Zero!" She yelled.





Stryker narrowed his eyes. 'I understand I'm lying. To Amber and Fallout and the others. I'm even telling half-truths to Greymane and Moth. But there's no going back now. I can't turn back. As long as S2 and I are bound by our contract, I have to keep at this.'

"Huh?" Stryker refocused his attention to the front of class. Greymane stood there beside the teacher. 'Speak of the devil...'

"I'll be joining the student body here at Tempus Academy beginning today. My name is Greymane. It's a pleasure to meet you."
> Act Vl: Phoenix Hunt
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

In a realm not unlike the dream realm, a lone orchid-maned changeling queen with mismatched eyes stood atop the steps of a great temple-like structure.

A message came through the hivemind. "Your Majesty. The remains have arrived."

"I was just conversing with Xirex actually." The queen replied.

"Huh?"

"The project must proceed without a moment's delay." She continued, not caring for the messenger's confusion.





Sirocco sat among her friends as they spoke in hushed voices about the new transfer student, Greymane. 

"What's an Eleven doing here?"

"He was a suspect in Prince Xirex's murder!"

"But the teacher says the charges were dropped." Sirocco pointed out.

"He was suspicious enough to arrest, though. Right?"

"You don't really think he's a terrorist, do you?"

Sirocco was at a loss for words. "Uh..."

"Of course he isn't. The school board would know something like that."

"An Eleven here at school?" Shadow Aura said a little uncomfortably.

"He is an Honorary Nymphian." Fallout said.

"I know... but still all the same." She murmured.

Amber tilted her head. "Well, he doesn't look all that scary to me, why don't we just talk to him?" She began to walk over to him. "I'm sure he's totally-" Fallout grabbed her tail and dragged her back.

"Hey, the guy just got here. Give him some space."

Stryker stood from his chair, drawing Greymane's attention. He walked out the door, but not before stopping at the door to tug his uniform collar. Greymane widened his eyes in shock.





Greymane walked out onto the roof to see Stryker leaned against the balcony. Stryker turned back with a smirk and pulled his collar again. "Seven years since we used this signal. Long time, huh?"

"Meeting on the roof like the old days." Greymane walked up next to him.

"Yeah." Stryker said, looking out towards the horizon again.

"I'm glad you're okay. I've been worried."

"Alive and kicking thanks to you. You almost died trying to protect me." Stryker said, glancing at Greymane as he remembered how they'd part last.

Greymane shrugged. "I was just returning the favor from 7 years ago."

"Hm."

"Ah, what about that mare? You know, from the capsule." Greymane asked.

Stryker lied. "I don't really know. We got separated during the fray. But you would know more about her than I do, right?"

"No. The only ones who knew anything were the inner circle of the Royal Guard."

"I see." Stryker said, narrowing his eyes. 'So S2 was telling the truth about that. But that also means I can't get any information about her from Greymane.'

"And your name. Do I still call you Stryker?"

Stryker turned around to face Greymane. "The records count my old identity among the dead. I go by the name Stryker Surveil now."

"Oh."

"And you? What happened at your court-martial? And why did you enroll at this school?" Stryker asked.

Greymane shrugged. "I'm as surprised as you are. What are the odds that we'd end up at the same school? Truth is, someone arranged for me to receive a proper investigation. And that someone said that a 17-year-old should be in school."





Masquerade walked along a hall decorated with paintings. She saw one of her adopted father and siblings when they were younger. She smiled a bit at the memories of those times. 'We were so carefree...'

"Were all of these painted by Xirex?" She asked a changeling butler.

"Yes, ma'am." The butler nodded his head stiffly.

She put a hoof gently on one painting. "Such gentle colors. Very much akin to my cousin."





"We've successfully identified the guerrillas, Lord Decas."

Decas smirked, and even his scarred, clouded eye seem to gleam triumphantly. "That's good. Now all we need is their hideout. Get that intel to the Viceroy."

"Yes, my lord."

Tank fired on tank as Eleven fought Nymphian. In the heat of battle, Chrysalis appeared behind the enemy in her Knight-Mare. Using their blind spot to her advantage, she fired her two slash harkens at two tanks.

"What the-"

"Is that Chrysalis?!"

The tanks slowly began to turn around and fire on Chrysalis, but she used the slash harkens to dodge the attacks. Failing to halt the princess, the forces were crushed.

"Relics of a forgotten age." Chrysalis muttered before turning to an entrance into the mountain. She spoke through the hivemind. "Decas, in here? Correct?"

"Yes, my lady. Shall we accompany you?" He asked.

"Not for this level of resistance."

"Understood."

Chrysalis's Knight-Mare sped down the tunnel that led to the heart of the mountain. Once she reached the end, she shouted, "Surrender at once, you feeble-minded Elevens!"

"Down with Nymphia!" They cried before firing their guns at the Knight-Mare. The Knight-Mare was able to take it though.

Chrysalis looked around. "Doesn't seem Zero is here. No point in going after them one at a time, I suppose." She narrowed her eyes. "Vermin." She raised her Knight-Mare's gun. "Rot like the filth that you are!"





Raven and Moth walked in through the doors, the former guiding the latter. Moth grinned. "Hi, Stryker! I returned home." 

Stryker smiled. "Hi there! Welcome back." He nodded his head to Raven in greeting. "Miss Raven. I've got a special present for you today, Moth."

"Really? What could it be?!" She began flitting her wings excitedly and jumping up and down in place. In her haste, she tripped her bionic legs up. "Ack!"

"Moth!" Stryker exclaimed. 

Luckily, Raven caught her in time and placed her on her hooves. She used her magic to pull a chair over. "Are you alright, Lady Moth?"

Moth sat down in the chair. "Yes, I'm fine. Thank you, Miss Raven." She tilted her head. "So... What's the special present?"

Stryker smiled. He lifted a hoof to his muzzle to tell Raven not to speak. "Shh..."

Raven blinked in confusion. "Huh?"

Stryker gestured with a hoof, and Greymane came in. Stepping into the room, Greymane paused as he saw Moth, ever-smiling and patient. He looked at Stryker, who nodded in turn. Slowly, he walked over to Moth and placed a hoof on hers.

Moth started in surprise. "Huh..." She placed her other hoof on Greymane's hoof and felt around it. "This hoof..." A small smile formed on her muzzle. Her closed eyes began to leak tears. "Thank heavens. I knew it. I just knew you'd be alright."

Greymane smiled. "It's been a long time, Moth."





S2 leaned against the doorway of Stryker's room, sharpening the hollow grind edge of a wing guard as she glanced briefly at the unicorn mare who stood gaping at her. She looked back down at wing guard to continue sharpening it. 

"So, this is where you went off to when the war started, eh? Guessing that Mother's still okay if you're here. Smart, using a disguise. Otherwise, they'd question you for being an alicorn. Am I right, Miss Raven Feather?" Her wing guard vanished in a blink of an eye as she stopped sharpening it and looked up at Raven. "Or since I saw through your disguise, Night Shadow?"

Raven chuckled as she snapped out of her stupor, lighting her horn. "Hehe... You always were the observant one..." 

In the next moment, a dusk-blue alicorn with a lighter shaded mane and tail with navy-blue streaks, black muzzle and hooves, and slitted cerulean eyes stood in her place. 

"...sister."





"So, tell me, you will stay the night, won't you?" Moth asked.

"Greymane's enrolled as a student at Tempus Academy now. So you can see him anytime you want to." Stryker said.

Moth flitted her wings and gasped excitedly, "Is that true?"

"Well, I still have military duties, so I can't be here everyday." Greymane confessed.

Her smile faded a little. "Oh, you're... you're still in the military?"

"Don't worry. I've been reassigned to the Engineering Corps. It's a lot less dangerous." He assured her.

"Cool. Engineering, huh?" Stryker commented as he got up, the teapot in his aura.

"Oh, let me help you." Greymane started to get up.

"You just sit down. Unlike seven years ago, we get to be your hosts now." Stryker said with a smirk.

"Huh." Greymane chuckled a bit as he sat down.

"It's funny. You're lot more mellow than you used to be." Stryker called over his shoulder.

"And you're a bit more rough." Greymane retorted.

"Haha! I suppose." Stryker laughed, turning into the kitchen. He spotted S2 inside the kitchen doorway.

"Huh? I told you to stay in my room." He said, frowning.

"Can't a mare speak with her family? And that colt out there, he's the Nymphian soldier from Shineighku, isn't he? Is that wise?"

"Family?" He shook his head. She wouldn't answer anyway. "And... don't worry, it's fine. He's..." Stryker put the teapot down on the counter as he tried to find the words.

"Hmm?"

"He's a friend... from the past." Stryker finally said.





Crescent looked up as his cell door was opened. A dark-red maned drone with green eyes stood there, his eyes narrowed. 

"You're getting out, Crescent."

"Lord Mandible! You see I'm innocent, don't you?!" Crescent exclaimed.

Mandible narrowed his eyes. "Well, it seems in the eyes of the court you are anyway, Calico Colt."

"Huh?" Crescent was baffled as Mandible continued scathingly.

"Whatever the truth is, Zero got away. And you purebloods let it happen. You've been demoted three ranks for failure. You have two options to choose from: starting over as a pilot, or working in a calico factory."





"You should come by again. Moth would enjoy it." Stryker said as they reached the front door.

"Sure. But..." Greymane trailed off, looking away.

Stryker sensed his uneasiness and stopped. "Hmm?"

"Stryker, I- I don't think we should be seen together at school." Greymane said, meeting his gaze.

"What do you mean?" Stryker exclaimed.

"Think, how would you explain it. Being friends with an Honorary Nymphian? You have to guard your secret. No one can know you're royalty."

Stryker's expression turned grim. "Hm."

"And the same goes for Moth. I don't wanna cause you any troub-"

"Doing it again, huh?! Everyone's needs but your own!"

Greymane blinked in confusion. "Again?"

Stryker looked away. "...Forget it."

"Uh, thanks for having me. It was a lot of fun. I'll uh, see you later." Greymane walked away.

"Right."

Stopping and turning around, Greymane said, "I'm glad, you know?"

"Huh?" Stryker blinked.

"I never thought we'd get another chance, to talk like this." Greymane smiled as he started to walk again.





Stryker leaned against the wall as he conversed with Fallout.

"So, what's the deal? Something happen to ya' yesterday or what? You didn't even show up for the council meeting." Fallout asked.

Stryker lied. "You know, I kinda tanked that history exam."

Fallout scoffed. "Please, I don't buy that. The way you study? I-" Fallout cut off as Greymane walked by and entered the classroom. 

As he entered the room, several students looked up and began to quiet down.

"Shh, stop, you guys..."





Stryker stood alone beside the window on the staircase as Rough Boulder contacted him. 

"It hasn't made news yet, but the Blood of the Samurai faction was wiped out by Chrysalis. They were the largest group we had in central Japone. Look, Zero. It won't be long until she comes after us."

"Just keep your head. Our chance will come." Stryker replied coolly.

"But-"

"Sit tight. I'll contact you later." Stryker ended the call.

'Hmph. He's getting too overly familiar. Maybe I better cut my ties with them.'

He looked out the window to see Greymane washing away a rather insulting graffiti message from his uniform. He widened his eyes.





Shadow Aura sat at the computer, using her magic to type as the door opened. Moth wobbled in unevenly though she didn't hit anything this time. "Shadow?"

Shadow Aura started. "Oh! I'm sorry. Am I too loud?"

Moth shook her head as she walked over. "Not at all. Why are you here? What about class?"

"Oh..."

Moth frowned and tilted her head. "Something wrong?"

Shadow let out a sigh. "Well, it's... I dunno, a little scary."

"Scary?"

"We have a transfer student in our class now. It's that colt who was accused of murdering Prince Xirex. He's an Eleven."

Moth set her mouth into a grim line dejectedly. "Oh."

Shadow realized how she sounded and exclaimed while shaking her head wildly, "Oh no, I don't mean it like that! ...It's just that-"

"You don't want a repeat of the past. I understand, Shadow."

She sighed. "Thanks for understanding, Moth."

Moth smiled slightly. "It's fine." 





S2 opened the front door as the delivery pony was about to knock. Unbeknownst to the two of them, a certain blue phoenix slipped past the doorway.

"Oh... Thanks for all the repeat business. Although the name on the account we debit has a guy's name on it, is that okay?"





S2 walked into Stryker's room with the takeout sushi in her aura, the phoenix slipping in as well before the door closed. She saw Stryker trying to fit his Zero mask into a case.

"Trying to hide your mask, huh?" She asked.

"Unlike my Geass, the mask is a physical piece of evidence." Stryker said without looking up.

The door opened again, this time Moth on the other side. Stryker looked up. "Huh?"

"Alright, Stryker, the tea is ready when you are." She tilted her head a little. "That smell... Hey, did you order sushi? Again?"

Stryker closed the case and answered, "They have a special deal going on. I'll be right down, okay?"

"Stryker."

"Hmm?"

"Maybe you should cut down on the seafood. You don't want your blood so high, or your chitin might burst." Moth said, smirking.

Stryker smirked back as he walked past S2. "Just don't touch or tap it, okay?"

"Ooh, scary!" Moth said, turning and heading down the hall.

"Ha-ha." Stryker said, following after her.

S2 looked at the closed door as she put a sushi roll in her mouth. The blue phoenix, previously perched on a shelf, landed on the case. However, the case wasn't completely flat on the table, and the phoenix fell along with the case onto the floor. "Caw!"

S2 sighed. "Really now, Arctic? How clumsy can you be?"

She turned, but she only saw the case. The phoenix was already behind her, a certain mask in her talons as she flew out the door.

S2 scanned the room. "Hmm? What the heck? Where'd that troublemaking phoenix go?"





"Hm. Yeah, I was wondering if that was going on." Stryker said, taking a sip of tea.

Moth frowned. "They're just being cruel to Greymane."

"No. It's just... Hmm. These things take time. They'll come around." He said.

"Isn't there anything you can do, though? I mean, he is your friend."

"Hm. Well I-" He spotted Arctic perched on a nearby bookshelf. "Huh?"

Then he saw what she had in her talons as she took off down the hall. "Caaww!"

"Gahhhh!" Stryker, wide-eyed, got out of his chair so quickly, his chair hit the floor with a loud crash.

Stryker galloped after the phoenix. "Hey, give that back!"

Moth sat with a confused look on her face. "Uh... Stryker?"





Arctic flew out a window.

Stryker said to himself as he chased it, "Yeah, a phoenix. A stupid little phoenix! You've gotta be kidding me. There's no way I'm getting exposed by a lousy bird! Of all the times to be earth-bound!"

S2 looked out the window in time to see Stryker chasing after Arctic.

"Of all the times to be doing pranks, now was the best, Arctic? Well, it wasn't my fault at least. I didn't touch anything." She shrugged, taking another bite of a sushi roll.





Raincloud, Fallout, and Shadow listened as Moth explained. "Yeah, that's right. I think a medium-sized bird flew off with something pretty important to him."

"Important?" Raincloud asked.

"I'm not sure what exactly, but I'm positive it was something of value to him. Because... I've never heard my brother sound like that. He was completely hysterical."

"That's weird. What could be so important to the guy?" Fallout asked aloud.

"A love letter?" Shadow suggested.

Raincloud put a hoof to her chin. "An embarrassing photo?"

"Poetry he wrote?" Fallout offered.

Moth tilted her head. "Poetry...?"

A devilish grin appeared on Raincloud and Fallout's muzzles, and they exchanged a sly glance.

"Leave it to us! We'll get our hooves on the thing before Stryker has a chance to blink. Just you wait." Raincloud said.





Stryker panted as he chased after Arctic. "If I had those terrorists with me, we could encircle the enemy. Maybe Sirocco? No, she's suspicious of me as it is." As he turned a corner, he went face-first into a bush. "Wooaah!"

The phoenix let put a hearty guffaw before flying off again. Stryker backed out of the bush and brushed his uniform off. "Ughh... get it together!"

Arctic turned into a hallway full of students. Luckily, none saw the phoenix. 

Well... except for two. 

Arctic stopped and perched atop a locker, preening her hurt wing. The two nymphs across from it stopped their conversation.

"Uh... Is that the mask Zero wears? Or am I crazy?" One exclaimed to the other as Arctic took off again.

"No way. Why would it be here?"

Stryker ran up, panting. "You two saw it?" He activated his Geass. "Forget everything you just saw!"

The two nodded in a mechanical manner. "Sure. No problem at all."

"Good."

As he chased Arctic, the school intercom came on.

"This is Raincloud Tempus, your Student Council President. Bird hunt, everybody!"

"Bird hunt?" Greymane murmured.

"There's a medium-sized bird loose on campus that needs to be rounded up. Put everything on hold. Participating clubs will get budget priority. And whoever catches our feathered friend, will get an Extra Special Prize!"

Amber sighed as she prepared to jump off the high diving board. "Oh, madam President."

"A big ol' kiss from one of the members of the Student Council! AH-HAHAHAHA-" A fit of coughing from Raincloud stopped the laugh short.

"WAIT! WHAT?!" Amber lost her balance and fell off the diving board with a scream.





Sirocco paused. "Members of... Wait! Like, me?" Her eyes widened as severals colts and drones popped up.

"Exactly!"

Sirocco wore an expression of horror. "Hah?!"

"You've been hanging around the Student Council, haven't ya?"

"Wouldn't mind a taste of those lips."

"It's not gonna be like some lame peck on the cheek though, is it?"

"A kiss on the cheek would be fine with me."

"Wait. We can choose where she plants it?"

"Yeah. All right!" All of them suddenly disappeared off into different directions.

Sirocco galloped towards the school building, exclaiming, "There's no way that's how I'm gonna get my first kiss!"





"What? From a member of the Student Council?"

"Does that include Stryker?" Many of the mares giggled and squeed.

"Actually I would prefer Raincloud." One nymph said.

"Ugh. Could you get back in the closet, please?"

"And when you do catch that bird, bring what it's carrying to me, to me, to me!" It ended with Raincloud in a coughing fit, again.

"Raincloud! Stay out of this, will ya'?" Stryker muttered.





"Offering creatures up as prizes, that's why I hate Nymphians." Sirocco murmured as she ran down the hall. She slowed down as two students walked by.

"I could hardly believe it."

"I was like, floored when I heard it. Haha."

She sped up again as she passed them. "Damn it! Why do I have to pretend like I'm sick and feeble?" Turning a corner, she bumped into someone. "Gah! Huh. Jeez, I'm sorry about that... huh, Amber!? Why are you dripping wet like that?"

Indeed, Amber's mane and fur was dripping wet. Amber exclaimed, "I didn't have time to dry off. They're gonna make us kiss somebody. We've gotta hurry!"

Sirocco nodded. "I'm with you."





Shadow Aura asked, "Moth, is there anything about this bird that's special?"

Moth tapped her chin. "Hmm... I think that its wing must be hurt, because its wingbeats sounded off to me. I smelled a bit of something like fire and smoke but sort of contained, so it might be a phoenix. And, uh... Oh, I almost forgot. It cawed like this." Raincloud brought the intercom microphone close to her muzzle as she inhaled. "Caaww!"





"The school seems so laid back, in spite of the fact that they're in mourning. You suppose Greymane will be alright in here?" Azure asked outside the gate.

"Never mind that. The university here-"

"Don't worry. I've made arrangements with them."

"Hmm. They still didn't have to kick poor Lancelot out, though." Gear said.

"I know. Even if they did say Elevens aren't acceptable." Azure sighed.





"Okay! Let's go!" Raincloud said to Fallout as they took off flying, the latter a little slower.

"What happens if a member of the Student Council catches the bird? We don't get a prize, do we?"

"Do we get a kiss? But of course." She smirked.

"Is that so? Well, what are we waiting around for, then?" Fallout exclaimed.





Arctic dived into a cranny and stayed there as Amber and Sirocco stopped.

"Okay. We do this right and our lips will be safe. Amber, you cover the rear. Hmph." Sirocco began to loft herself up to the cranny.

"Oh, wait a sec!" Amber exclaimed.

"What's the matter?"

"Who would you wanna get a kiss from? Is there anyone in particular?" Amber frowned.

"Huh?"

"It wouldn't be Ry-Ry, would it?" She asked.

Sirocco was confused. "Huh? Just what would make you think that?"

"Oh, how... I guess it... it's just..." As she stammered off, Arctic slipped past them.





Greymane spotted Arctic blur by. He caught a glimpse of blue. "Hey, that's..."

"Greymane!"

He turned to see Stryker run up, sweat running down his chitin and panting.

"Stryker! You're looking for the bird, too?"

A caw resonated from up the bell tower. Both of them looked up.

"Up there." He began to climb the steps quickly.

"Greymane, wait! Don't go up there!" Stryker exclaimed.

"But the Student Council President said to catch it."

"Don't worry about it. I'll get the phoenix." Stryker said, running up after him.

Greymane laughed. "I was always more agile than you. Remember when that little hummingbird got loose?"

"Quit talking ancient history!" Stryker panted.

"It was only 7 years ago!" Greymane laughed.

"Oh, for Pete's sake..." Stryker breathed heavily. 'He always was an exercise nut. Doesn't help that he's an earth pony either.'





Raincloud touched down in front of the bell tower with Fallout as they saw a large crowd gathering. "So, someone's got it cornered, huh? So, who's the lucky winner?"

Amber pointed with a hoof. "Up there! It's... Greymane?"

Arctic was perched on the ledge. 

"Easy now. You don't have to be scared." Greymane said, climbing up towards her.

Stryker appeared behind him. "Greymane, come back!"

"It's alright. Leave this to me."

'That's funny. He never went along with the crowd like this.' 

Missing a step as he tried to get closer, he slid near the edge of the roof, his hindlegs already over the edge. "Woaah!"

Everyone gasped from below.

Greymane glanced back. "Huh? Ah... Stryker!"

Raincloud exclaimed, "Someone help him!"

"Wait, look!" Amber exclaimed.

Greymane carefully slid down and extended a hoof towards the drone. Stryker grabbed it with a hoof.

"Are you okay?" Greymane said, pulling him up.

"Y-Yeah." Stryker said.

Shadow Aura looked at them curiously. "Is it possible? Those two are..."

Stryker glanced at Arctic as Greymane pulled him up. Her talons let go of the mask as she began preening herself. The mask rolled down the roof but was caught on a pole. Stryker let out a sigh.

"Pretty calm for someling on the verge of death." Greymane commented as Stryker stood on the roof evenly again.

"Yeah, right. I was just limp with fear."

"Huh." 

"Hey, what's going on?" Moth asked as everyone began murmuring.

"That transfer student just saved Stryker from a really close call." Raincloud answered.

Moth smiled. "Ah..."

Greymane walked down the bell tower, Arctic perched on his head. "Think it's the same phoenix from the other day."

He looked up as everyone stared at him in silence. Amber glanced at all of them, then trotted up.

"You saved him. Thank you so much, Greymane!"

Fallout popped in. "Yeah. Way to go there, new guy."

Raincloud asked, "That phoenix was carrying something, wasn't it?"

Greymane shrugged as Arctic cawed. "Yeah, there was something in its talons. But I never really got a good look at it. Guess it let it go when I wasn't looking."

"So, where's Ry-Ry?" Amber asked.

"Eh, he said he forgot something. Told me to go ahead."

Raincloud pointed a hoof. "That's it! The embarrassing secret that he's hiding."

"So, that's it, Madam President?" Stryker walked out, nothing out of the ordinary on him.

Raincloud pouted. "Aww, after all this time I thought I had some dirt on you."

"Yeah. He almost lost his cool for once." Amber giggled.

Sirocco spoke up. "So, uh... do you two know each other, then?"

"But... he's an Eleven." Shadow said awkwardly.

Stryker and Greymane exchanged glances as Moth bit her lip.

Greymane started to say. "No. I just-"

"He's my friend." Stryker cut in. Turning to Raincloud, he asked, "Madam President, would you permit him as a member of the Student Council?"

"Huh?" The current members of the council looked at him in confusion.

"The rules are clear. All students are required to join a club. Although..."

Everyone looked at Raincloud.

Raincloud shrugged. "Well, you are the Vice President. I suppose I can't refuse."

A smile appeared on everyone's faces. Moth wobbled forward.

"Well then, I'd say that's the end of that. Now, come here, you two. Lend me an ear."

Stryker and Greymane blinked in confusion, but complied, nonetheless. She gave them each a peck on the cheek. They reeled back, eyes-wide.

"M...Moth?" Greymane exclaimed.

She grinned. "There you go, the reward Miss Raincloud promised. Since you both caught the phoenix, you'll just have to settle for me, almost a student council member."

Fallout hovered in the air. "Alright then, let's celebrate the catching of the phoenix! Everything's on the new guy, naturally."

Amber joined him in the air, pushing him in the shoulder in good nature. "Oh, back off!" She grinned at Greymane. "Hi, there! I'm Amber. Pleasure to meet ya'."

"Oh, right. I'm Fallout, secretary."

"Raincloud Tempus, Student Council President."

Greymane smiled. "The pleasure is mine."





"And now, Her royal Majesty, the 98th Queen of the Holy Nymphian Empire: Queen Arcane zi Mirren." The announcer stated as the orchid maned changeling queen appeared. The queen narrowed her eyes as she spoke.

"All creatures, are not created equal. Some are born swifter of hoof, some with greater beauty, some are born into poverty, and others born sick and feeble. Both in birthland and upbringing, in sheer scope of ability every creature is inherently different. Yes, that is why creatures discriminate against one another, which is why there is struggle, competition, and the unfaltering march of progress. Inequality, is not wrong, equality is! What of the EU, which made equality a right, rabble politics by a popularity contest. The Chineighse Federation, with its equal distribution of wealth, a nation of lazy dullards. But not our beloved Nymphia, we fight, we compete, evolution is continuous..."

Gear commented to Azure with a chuckle, "Evolution, such a pretty little word."

"...Nymphia alone moves forward, advancing steadily into the future. Even the death of my nephew Xirex demonstrates Nymphia's unswerving commitment to progress. We will fight on. We shall struggle, compete, plunder, and dominate. And in the end, the future shall be ours. All Hail Nymphia!" She raised a holed hoof into the air.

"All Hail Nymphia! All Hail Nymphia!" The crowd chanted.

S2 sat on Stryker's bed as she watched the broadcast. "So, this is Stryker's enemy. Well..."





'The word "hatred" is not strong enough. If my mother is the embodiment of Nymphia, she must be destroyed. And if Chrysalis gets in my way, she'll suffer the same fate. You may not know it yet, mother, sister, but I have power. So long as I possess Geass, I can go this alone.'
> Act Vll: Chrysalis's Tactics
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

8 years ago...

"Announcing, Prince Stryker vi Mirren, 17th heir to the royal Nymphian imperial throne."

As a young Stryker walked briskly towards the throne where his mother sat regally, vassals murmured amongst themselves while bowing.

"I heard that King Rancor was killed inside of the Nymphian Palace."

"There's no way terrorists could've gotten in there."

"Which means that the real assassins must have been-"

"Shh... Beware, my friend. You'll regret it if anyone hears that kind of talk around the Palace."

"And yet the young drone remains... even though his father is dead."

"It's over. And the Tempus family who stood behind them is finished as well."

"And his younger sister, the Princess?"

"We understand she was shot in the hindlegs. Heard that they're trying to give her bionic legs. ...And also that she lost her sight."

"Blindness caused by trauma though, isn't it?"

"No difference. Now she can't even be married off for political gain."

Stryker stopped before the throne at the bottom of the steps. "Hail, Your Majesty. My father, the King, is dead."

Arcane glared down at her son. "Old news. What of it?"

Stryker widened his eyes. "What of it?"

"You sought an audience with the Queen of Nymphia simply to inform me of that? Send the next one in. I have no time for these foalish games." She ordered.

Stryker started to run up, crying out, "Mother!"

The guards tried to block his path, but Arcane raised a hoof.

"Yes, Your Majesty." They returned to their posts.

Stryker stopped at the top step and yelled, "Why didn't you keep Father out of harm's way?! You're the Queen, the greatest changeling in this nation, if not all of Equus! You should have protected him and now you don't even visit Moth?!"

"I've no use for that weakling." Arcane stated coldly.

Stryker's eyes widened. "That weakling...?"

"I saw from the moment she was born that she was a weakling. Why else would I name her after a weak insect? If it wasn't for your father..." She let the statement hang like a guillotine. "As for you... You could be so much more if you so choose. That is what it means to be royalty, Stryker."

Stryker shut his eyes to keep the tears out. His sister was not a weakling. Her heart was pure and her spirit free. If being royalty meant he was to abandon his little sister...

"Then I don't wanna be your heir." He looked into his mother's slitted crimson and indigo eyes and yelled, "I give up my claim to the throne!"

All the vassals gasped in shock.

"I'm sick of fighting and scheming against my sisters and cousins over who will succeed you, Mother. I've had enough!" Stryker screamed.

"You are dead."

"Huh...?" Stryker blinked in confusion and took a step back.

Arcane stood. Her voice carried throughout the room even though she never raised it. "You have always been dead to me, dead from the moment you were born. I thought I saw something in you, but I was clearly wrong. Who gave you a comfortable home, the food you eat, the love you flourish upon, and your very life? All of those, I have provided for you. In short, you are nothing to me because you have never existed. Yet you dare to speak such foolishness to me?" She stepped forward threateningly.

Stryker backed up, falling down the stairs, yet he kept his eyes on Arcane. "Ah!"

Arcane towered over her son. "Stryker! You are dead. Therefore, you are not entitled to any rights. I am sending you and Moth to Japone. As Prince and Princess you will serve well as bargaining tools. ...But first..."

Then, all the changelings felt it; it was like a wire had been cut within the hivemind. A shiver went up Stryker's spine, and he almost collapsed right then and there.

Stryker and Moth were no longer connected to Arcane. They truly were, exiled.





Present day...

'Mother, you were wrong. I am not dead. I will crush Nymphia. I will crush you!'





"It's a seventh generation Knightmare Frame, making its abilities far greater than normal." Gear explained to Chrysalis.

She in turn, said to him, "I understand that the Lancelot's pilot is an Eleven."

"That's correct, an Honorary Nymphian. However-"

She cut him off. "I'm promoting this pony from private to warrant officer; that should satisfy him."

"I'm trying to win without having to rely too much on the Numbers." She explained as Gear raised an eyebrow in question.





Masquerade sighed. 'Those who risk their lives on the battlefield are the ones who deserve to rule. I understand the theory, sister. But still...'





"Sorry, you have to sit here watching me do my homework." Greymane mumbled to Azure with a pen in his mouth.

"Oh, don't worry about it. You've never attended a regular school before, so it can't be avoided." She brushed it off.

He spit out the pen. "The guys on the Student Council are helping me, too. But... it's still hard."

Azure chuckled. "Hehe. To be perfectly honest with you, I've been a little bit worried. It's supposed to be a liberal school, but I was afraid you weren't fitting in well."

"Me, too. I was expecting that. But I happened to run into an old friend there and he smoothed everything out for me." Greymane smiled.

"Well then, be sure you never take that friend for granted. If your friendship continues, then your reunion won't have been coincidence. It will have been predestined."

"Okay..." Greymane said with a hint of disbelief.

"Anyway, please try one of these." Azure used her magic to levitate a tray of rice balls over.

"Thank you, I will." He grabbed one and bit into it. He instantly regretted it and winced.

"I'd like your opinion of them." Azure said, smiling.

Not wanting to be rude, Greymane said, "Uh, there's... jam."

Azure smiled. "Yes. I just happened to get some lovely blueberries."

"Alright, stop harassing the poor colt with your food, Azure. Also, pack it up, everyone. We're done today. Don't do anymore. That's all folks... ugh." Gear exclaimed.

"My food is not that bad, Gear! If my sisters were here right now, they'd agree!" Azure yelled.

"Right, sure. But Hazel and Amethyst aren't here, are they?"

"Oh, you... arggh..." Azure fumed.

Greymane tried to find his voice in light of the rather... odd conversation topic. "Ah... Um..."

Azure took a deep breath to calm down. In a moment, her cheerful demeanor returned. "Go to school, Greymane. Classes might be over for the day, but it's important to meet your friends and have a social life, too."





"Say, can I ask you something important?" Amber asked Sirocco as the latter was playing with Arctic midair.

"Uh-huh. Sure, what is it?" Sirocco replied.

"Ah, Sirocco... are you hiding something from us?"

"Huh?" Sirocco paused and looked at her. 'She couldn't know that I'm a terrorist, could she?'

"If it's something too personal..."

"No. What are you talking about?" Sirocco asked.

"You can tell me. I promise I won't be shocked or upset. Uh well, the thing is I happened to see you before." Amber remembered Stryker pulling Sirocco close to him. Were they...?

Sirocco didn't know what to think; she drew out her pouch from her uniform, ready to use if it came to that. Arctic backed up, cawing at the sight of the blade.

Amber whirled around, her cheeks a bright pink. "You're going out with Ry-Ry, right?!"

Sirocco blinked. "Ry-Ry?"

"The other day I saw you outside." Amber said, her gaze dropping.

Sirocco widened her eyes in realization. She quickly stuffed her pouch back into her uniform. She shook her head quickly and lighted down on the floor. "Ah, no no no no. That was all his doing."

"His doing?!" Amber's head snapped back up, a bright blush on her cheeks.

"No, wait! It wasn't like that!"

"I don't get it. You were trying so hard to catch the phoenix before." Amber said in confusion.

"No, that wasn't it! Besides it's not like we kissed or anything!"

"Or anything?! Then you stopped short of doing it?!" Amber exclaimed.

"Will you quit imagining things? You don't understand the circumstances one bit!" 

By now, both of their cheeks were burning red.





Raincloud stood in the principal's office on the phone.

"But an arranged marriage is so... I understand how much you want to reestablish the Tempus family. But Mother, it's just that..."





Chrysalis sat on a throne-like chair as Decas gave the report. 

"The Saddlema Ghetto is now completely surrounded. The Yamare Alliance's hideout is located at somewhere in here. Half the creatures in this neighborhood are cooperating with them. So, if we proceed now-"

"What will be the effect on production?" Chrysalis asked.

"Primary sector output should decrease by 0.2%."

"Within expectations, you mean. All right." She turned to the line of officers to her right. "All of you here participated in the Shineighku disaster. Is that correct?"

They bowed. "Yes. And we're indebted to you, Princess Chrysalis for your mercy."

"That's not what I'm asking." She narrowed her eyes. "Do you think the conditions are similar?"

"Huh?"

"To those in Shineighku." She smirked.





"Military authorities report that they have surrounded the Saddlema Ghetto, a known hiding place for terrorists. Viceroy Chrysalis is also on the scene, and entry to that area is restricted."

S2 looked up from grooming a fiery phoenix as Stryker walked into the room. "Oh, well? What has you looking so serious?"

Stryker gave no reply.

"It appears that a full scale assault will be launched in two hours. Consequently, power will be shut off..."

"News is one thing, but why are we broadcasting the start time?" A mare asked Hazel in a quiet voice as the reporter continued.

Hazel narrowed her eyes. "Because they're trying to provoke Zero..."

"Zero is a criminal with a flair for the theatrical. I've recreated the same conditions that existed in Shineighku in order to draw him out. If he's the overconfident type, I predict he'll come here to try to kill me." Chrysalis stated.

"Viceroy, you'd really risk your own life like this?"

"What you fail to understand is war is a struggle between pride and life." She said, narrowing her eyes at the drone.





"You're not falling for the enemy's provocation, are you?" S2 asked as Stryker sorted through a case. The phoenix cocked her head and let out a questioning caw.

"They went to such trouble to invite me, though. Besides, there's something I'd like to ask Chrysalis personally." Stryker said.

S2 sighed. "Destroying Nymphia or discovering who murdered your father, which is more important to you?"

"The two are of equal importance. The royal family members are competing with each other to see who will ascend the throne and become the next ruler." His eyes flashed with anger. "Or rather, they're being forced to fight by that nymph."

"But the very thing you hate is the same thing that makes Nymphia strong. The royal heir who is best fit to become the next ruler of Nymphia is the last one left standing."

"Exactly. The weak ones lose and they're cast aside. Nymphia is that kind of nation. That kind of world."

"Survival of the fittest is the most basic rule of all."

Stryker felt his rage boil. "If that's true, then what happens to Moth?! Should I simply give up on my sister because she's frail?! I refuse to accept that. I'll wipe out that sort of world myself." He closed the case.

He looked up to see S2 pointing a hoof-strap gun at him, her horn projecting a magic-proof barrier. "Hmm?"





As Greymane neared the student council room, Sirocco stepped out, looking flustered.

"Like I've said, there's nothing between Stryker and I!"

"Stryker?" Greymane questioned.

Sirocco started at his appearance but said to Amber, "Anyway, that's how it is." She began to walk away. 

"There's nothing going on." She muttered.

Greymane blinked in confusion and stepped into the room. "Huh? Um... where's Stryker?"

"I don't know where he is and I don't give a damn!" Amber shouted.

"Huh?" Greymane blinked in confusion. 'Did I miss something?'





"You can't go, Stryker. You need to fulfill your part of our bargain, so I won't have you dying before that." S2 said calmly.

"Notice that what you're saying and what you're doing are contradictory." Stryker narrowed his eyes.

"Oh, I won't kill you. I'm merely going to shoot you in the forelegs to quiet you down."

Stryker smirked. "Now I get it. You're unable to use Geass yourself, aren't you?"

S2 flinched the slightest bit. Despite not being able to sense her emotions, he knew obvious signs.

"I'm not surprised. I suspected as much. You obviously wouldn't have asked me to do it if you could've done it yourself." He said smugly before pulling his own hoof-strap gun out from his uniform. The phoenix cawed in a panicked manner at S2.

"Do you honestly think you can threaten me with a gun?" S2 asked coldly.

Stryker smirked and answered, "Yes, I do."

Instead of pointing it at S2, he pointed it at the side of his own head.

The phoenix grew eerily silent. S2 clenched her teeth. 

Stryker said calmly, "Until I met you, I was dead. An empty corpse existing behind a false guise of life, a life in which I did nothing real. Day to day, I merely went through the motions of living as if I were a zombie. And I always had the feeling that I was gradually dying. If I'm condemned to go back to that, then I'd rather..." Stryker started to pull the trigger.

"Stop it." S2 lowered her gun and cast away the barrier.

"Hmph." Stryker stopped and lowered his own gun.

S2 cast her eyes downward. "I see now. It's life without meaning. And a life like that..."





"Gahhh...!" A drone fell into a pool of his own ichor. Several bullets were lodged in his chitin, some penetrating his insides. The crowd gasped as the pool of green ichor grew. 

"Oh my God. Why the heck did you do that?! Even foals are here. What's going on? We haven't done anything!" One pony shouted at the Nymphian soldiers.

"That's exactly why. The creatures of this ghetto refuse to report the terrorists. You hide them, cover for them. That's treason against a suzerain state!"

As if on cue, they fired all at once at the citizens.



 

"We're done sweeping away those in charge." Decas said, turning to Chrysalis.

Chrysalis's slitted harlequin eyes gleamed. "It's nearly time to set our plan into motion. So, shall we begin?"

Decas nodded. "Right." He spoke through both the hivemind and communication lines. "Attention all forces. Commence eradication of the Saddlema Ghetto." As troops and Knight-Mares gathered, he commanded, "All forces, assume No. 1 battle stations."

Crescent and the purebloods all stood on the sidelines next to Chrysalis's own checkpoint.

"I don't understand. Why won't Princess Chrysalis order us to attack as well?" Crescent said irritably.

Kiquy said scathingly, "She won't because Calico is here." Crescent clenched his teeth. "Just be thankful that you haven't been disposed of. You're to blame for this. It's due to you that our careers are over."

"You're wrong. Zero's the one who did it!" Crescent exclaimed.

Kiquy turned his head away and scoffed. "That again, hmph."

Ember narrowed her eyes in thought. 'Zero. Could that student be working with him?'





"Suppression of area 4 complete. 8th and 11th mechanized infantry companies are sweeping north and south in a pincer movement."

Stryker, in a military uniform guise, scowled as the destruction went on. 'Always the same. Chrysalis replaces Xirex, yet Nymphia never changes.'

A Knight-Mare halted him as it landed from a building nearby. "What unit are you from? Your unit name and ID, soldier."

Stryker replied instantly, "Private Midnight Striker, sir. With Third Reconnaissance Company." He took out a disc with his magic. "I obtained this item from one of the terrorists. Could I ask you please transmit it to headquarters for me, sir?"

The pilot opened his hatch. "Disc, huh? Well, I still need to verify your ID first."

Stryker smirked. "Right, understood. But before we do that, sir," He activated his Geass. "I'd like to borrow your Sutherland. So, hoof it over."

"Sure. No problem. Just take good care of it." The drone said.

Stryker smirked. "Thank you, I really appreciate it."





Within a warehouse, the Yamare resistance hid, waiting for the inevitable.

"It's hopeless."

"Can't we break through along the Saddlekyo Line?"

"They got armor blocking it. We can't use backroads, either. Any reinforcements from Akabaneigh or Jujib?"

"One creature might get through but not a group."

"Ranot!" An earth pony mare ran in with a radio.

"Damn. Any word of Tackda or Kawagaitchi districts?"

"Forget that. Listen!" She thrust the radio forward with the volume increased.

"Huh?"

The radio fuzzed to life. "This, is Zero." 

"Zero!"

"Zero, you mean...?"

"I assume all of you have heard about the Shineighku incident. Do what I say, and you'll be saved." Zero said.

Smiles and cheers broke out among the Yamare group. They had a chance now! 





"B-12, suppression complete."

"F-7, no sign of the enemy."

"D-24, we are 87% complete."

"Paladin team, change course to 516." Decas commanded.

"Yes, my lord. Moving to 516."

The two Sutherlands moved to the location. One said, "No response at all. This pony Zero might turn out to be a no show."

"Yeah, he's just another run of the mill terrorist."

He spoke too soon, for the next moment they were attacked by two explosive missiles. The Sutherlands exploded before they could eject.

The Yamare members gaped. "They came! They really came!"

"Just like Zero said they would!"

Stryker smirked from within the stolen Sutherland. 'Now then. Shall I drag Chrysalis out, or should I make an opening?' 

"R-1, R-2, maintain distance. Draw them back to the area where N-2 is. B-7, open fire towards 2 o'clock. P-5's team will commence its barrage." He said through the radio.

"Serto team, contact lost."

"Enemy spotted in district G-4-7."

"Kuznetackii team engaging. They were ambushed."

"The enemy appears to be using Sutherlands captured from our own forces."

Chrysalis narrowed her eyes but kept silent as her subordinates murmured amongst themselves.

"Exactly the same as Shineighku."

"Has there been any sign of Zero yet?"

"N-2, continue towards the upper-right. R-4, fire. N-1, take the drone on the left. Right. P-3, take out the bridge and close down the route now." Stryker commanded.

Chrysalis's forces dwindled extensively.

"Point 1-7 has fallen. Hypter team, contact lost."

Chrysalis raised a hoof. "That's enough. Order all troops to fall back. Further damage and casualties serve no point."

"Fall back? With all due respect, we can still fight them."

She shook her head. "We can't fight them like this."

Decas commanded, "All forces, fall back behind Ghetto perimeter at once. Formation dosen't matter. Fall back behind Ghetto perimeter at once."

Stryker lay his head on his hoof as he sneered internally, 'What? No stomach for it?' He tapped the screen with the other hoof. 'If I blend in with the retreating units that'd put me right next to Chrysalis. Have I cleared the task at hoof already?'





S2 lay on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. 

"Hm. You can't fight your own blood, can you? But regardless, that type of creature is dangerous. ...I wonder which path he'll take. ...I understand. Just who do you think I am, anyway?" She said as she got up. The phoenix tilted its head and cawed at her. She smiled. "Make sure your sister doesn't anything to draw attention to herself, Majesty."





"Hmm.... So, Ry-Ry lived here before this became Colony 11, huh? Was he a neighbor?" Amber asked as she stroked Arctic, her eyes unfocused.

Greymane avoided the question. "Uh... what about yourself?"

"Myself?" She turned to look at Greymane. "I guess we're a lot alike in that respect. Honestly, I didn't like Ry-Ry at the beginning when I first met him. He gave me the impression that he was flippant, and the only thing he worked hard at was avoiding hard work."

She looked down at the ground.

"But back when we were both freshmen, I happened to see him come upon a traffic accident. A driver rear-ended another car and was clearly at fault, but he tried to blame it on the elderly owners of the other car. Nobody tried to help them. And then..." Amber paused and smiled a bit. "Ry-Ry didn't do it so he could boast to his buddies or laugh about it later. He did it with the same bored expression he always wears. That's when I wondered, 'What's up with this drone? What goes on his mind? What does he wanna do?' I really wanted to know and in the process of finding out..."

"You fell in love with him?" Greymane finished.

Amber widened her eyes and blushed. "Huh, um... You think that what this is?" She looked down. "...Maybe you're right."

Raincloud stood outside the door, having listened in on the story. She sighed.

"How dreamy it is to be in love. Oh, how I wish."





'Chrysalis, you're no match you'll lose.'

"Zero is no match, I'll win." Chrysalis grinned.

One drone turned to her. "Huh?"

"Of course. That's why we call Princess Chrysalis, the Goddess of Victory." Decas said.

Chrysalis turned to Mandible, who stood next to her throne-like chair. "Shall we go, then, Mandible, my knight?"

He bowed. "It is my pleasure to serve and obey you, my lady."





'Hmph. Even with my Geass, the normal security makes it too risky for me to simply stroll in. I guess I'll have to create an opening as I did with Xirex.' His phone rang. Stryker looked at the caller ID. 'Hmm? The Student Council room? I thought the Bird Festival meeting was scheduled for tomorrow.'

"I know Sirocco said I had it all wrong, but it seemed like she was getting upset in order to fool me." Amber said dejectedly in midair.

Greymane held the phone in his hoof as it dialed. "Which is why in this case, it's best to simply ask him directly. On your behalf, I can ask him how he feels about you."

She whirled around to him. "What?! You'd really do that?!"

"Just relax. It'll be fine." He said.

Amber swooped down and grabbed the phone from Greymane. "Are you nuts?! No way!" She slammed it back onto its ringer.

Stryker tilted his head as the call stopped outgoing. "Hm? Oh, whatever."

Greymane grabbed the phone again. "Aw, come on. Let me handle this for you. I'll be discreet."

Amber yanked it back. "I don't want your help, okay?"

He leaned to get the phone back. "It'll be fine. Oh!" He tripped over the cord and fell, taking Amber down as well.

Arctic fluttered down with a chortle.

"Sorry." Greymane said sheepishly.

"Uh..."

"Oww..." Greymane suddenly exclaimed.

Arctic had an almost michevious gleam in her eyes as her talons sunk into his hoof, not enough to draw blood but enough to hurt. 

"Uh-oh. ...Does that hurt much?" Amber asked.

Greymane winced as he tried to move. "Greatly."





'You're desperate, Chrysalis, using your Royal Guard in such a manner.' 

He spoke into the radio.  "This is Zero. N-1 will reengage their IFF signal. Operate as a Britannian unit."

"Understood."

'...as my decoy.' Stryker smirked.

Decas reported to Chrysalis, "One Knight-Mare left transmitting an IFF signal within the city area."

"Can't you contact it?"

"Scrabble the rescue team!"

"No, destroy it." Chrysalis ordered.

"You can't! He might be a captive of the enemy."

Chrysalis bared her fangs. "I ordered all troops to fall back. I have no use for soldiers who can't follow my orders."

Decas narrowed his eyes. "You heard the Princess."

"But-!"

"Do your duty even if it costs your life. My subordinates follow that code without question." Chrysalis said coldly.

Mandible headed a group of Gloucesters as they headed towards the decoy. "At your command, your Highness."

The N-1 pilot exclaimed, "Hey! What're you doing? Can't you read the IFF signal? I'm on your side!"

Mandible and the Gloucesters continued. 

"Damn it!" The pilot fired at them, but they jumped right over and used their lances to pierce through the cockpit.

Stryker narrowed his eyes. 'No confirmation? Well then...' 

"N-2, transmit signal then fall back to the hospital ruins. R-1, R-2, hold your positions, fire only if attacked."

"They've transmitted another signal, which means one thing. They've set an ambush. Send in more Gloucesters and surround them." Chrysalis ordered.

Stryker stared wide-eyed at the screen as his plan fell apart. 'They're not following? No, damn it!' 

"R-1, R-2, abort the ambush and fall back at once. Abort!"

"Gloucesters have arrived at the indicated area. No sign of the enemy." Decas reported.

'He anticipated my move. It's possible we really are dealing with Zero himself.' The ends of Chrysalis's fanged mouth went up.

"P-2, N-3, circle around behind the enemy." No response. "What's wrong? Come in! P-2, N-3!" Silence. "Damn it! B-1, B-5, move in!"

"Like Tartarus! There's no way we can beat Chrysalis's Royal Guards. That's a death sentence. I'm out!"

Stryker clenched his teeth. 'You fools!'

Three Yamare members stepped out of their Knight-Mares.

"Hey, we surrender."

"We won't resist."

"Spare us."

Chrysalis narrowed her eyes. "Kill them."

Shots rang out.

"P-6, P-8, what's happening?" Static. "Aargh! B-7, circle around and cover N-4."

"This is B-7. I've got a prime target here. I'll take him out first."

Stryker exclaimed, "No, hold fire! That's a decoy. B-7, that's an order!"

"What d'you mean? I've got this bastard right in my sights!"

"Fall back! They'll strike from above. B-7, fall back!"

Static.

"Idiot! B-8, this is Zero. I want a status report now."

"Screw your status report- Aargh!"

"B-8! ...Damn! Anyone who's left, report in from the P-group now." Stryker yelled into the radio. His attention was sidetracked by an announcement coming from Chrysalis's transport.

"Mission complete. All forces, take formation No.4."

Stryker clenched his teeth and closed his eyes as he shook in dismayed fury. His hoof hit against the panel. 'Beaten as easily. But that's not how the game was supposed to go.'

Chrysalis smirked smugly. 'This didn't work out the way it did in Shineighku, Zero. So, are you still masquerading as one of us? We'll discover who you are shortly.'

'This... This is what a real organization can do.' Stryker thought.

"Attention, all Knight-Mare pilots. Open your hatches and reveal your faces." Chrysalis's voice came through.

Stryker snapped his head up in surprise. With a growl and his eyes wide and burning with hate, he hissed, "Chrysalis!"

Chrysalis smirked. "Hm. I repeat, all pilots, open your hatches and show me your faces."

Stryker shook. 'What do I do? If she gets me in a line-up without my mask, my identity will be exposed. That can't happen. Can't use a disguise without them knowing I'm not one of them. Use my Geass? No, impossible. It won't work unless I look directly at them. The enemy is protected within Knight-Mares. That leaves the infantry and the other pilots. Forget it, they're too many of them. How do I turn this around? No, would that work? Show them I'm Zero, then use the power? But then the Knight-Mares. Maybe I can start shooting and break out of here? Impossible, against Chrysalis's Royal Guard that would be suicide.'

He was snapped out of his stupor as Mandble's Knight-Mare stopped in front of his. "Open your hatch. It's your turn."

'What can I do?! I'm cornered!' 

Mandible narrowed his green eyes. "What's wrong? Hurry up and open your hatch."

"Well, my hatch was damaged earlier in battle." He lied to buy for time.

"I see, then we'll open it for you. Turn around."

Stryker clenched his teeth. 'Damn it! There's no way out!'

"Well, come on!"

'It's over.' Stryker felt his heart beat wildly. "Yes, understood. At once, sir."

"Zero's been sighted!"

Mandible turned.

Stryker widened his eyes in surprise. "Huh?"

There, on the top of a partially-crumbled building was Zero, mask, cloak, and all.

"Aha, I was right. Zero has a flair for the dramatic." Chrysalis grinned triumphantly.

"No way!" Stryker gaped. 'The only one who'd know is...'

Mandible commanded, "Capture him! Platoon 3 and 5, stay..."

"Image detected. Target confirmed."

'I'll just have to play along then.' Stryker followed the other Knight-Mares.

"Head around back."

"Sharpshooters, open fire!" They fired at the building Zero stood on.

Zero fell back out of their view.

"He fell!"

"Your Highness, how do you want us to proceed now?" Mandible asked.

Chrysalis narrowed her eyes. "Hmm... Any likelihood it's a trap?"

Decas turned to her. "There's always that possibility. Especially since we don't know anything about this pony, aside from the fact that he seems as prideful as you anticipated, Viceroy."

"Then there's no point in chasing him." She inclined her head.

"Correct. If he intentionally revealed himself directly to his enemy, he must already have an escape route already in place."

"So self-preservation trumps all?" Chrysalis sneered.





Stryker ran down the dark, underground sewage-ways. 'That's how Chrysalis is. She's nothing at all like Xirex.' 

"Huh?" He stopped as 'Zero' appeared before him. He narrowed his eyes.

"Why did you rescue me?" He asked.

'Zero' took off the mask with 'his' hooves. A white female pegasus with a straight mauve and navy-blue mane and bangs was behind the mask. In a flash of cerulean, S2 stood in her natural form before him. She fixated her slitted eyes on Stryker. "I told you already. I can't have you dying."

Stryker growled, "I wouldn't have lost if the conditions were equal."

S2 turned, the mask in her aura, as she smirked. "You sore loser. If you're really that good, you should be able to set up conditions the way you want."

"That's what I'll do then, I'll set them up."

S2 turned back towards him.

"I'll raise an army that can't lose to Nymphia. A nation!"





'Only question is... Who will serve my army? If only I could ask Greymane to join me... But he's a Nymphian soldier now. Even if he doesn't enter into the fray, he's still my enemy. ...Well then, I'll just have to choose.'
> Act Vlll: Taken Hostage
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shadow Aura, Raincloud, and Amber were all seated on a train. Amber gazed out the window in awe.

"I've never left the Trotyo Settlement before, this is my first time!"

"I'm sure you wish Stryker could've come with us, don't you?" Raincloud asked with a smirk.

"Eh?!" Amber blushed and broke her gaze. "No..."

Raincloud giggled. "Don't be so shy. Tonight we can stay up all night talking. Let's tell each other which colts and drones we like from school."

"Then you'll probably have a lot to talk about, right Madam President?" Amber asked bluntly.

Raincloud shrugged. "Who can say?"

It went dark suddenly as the train went through a tunnel. Shadow Aura flinched a little and tensed up.

Raincloud wrapped a wing around her. "Shadow, it's all right. There are lots of Nymphian tourists at Lake Kawagaitchi so security's fine. Don't be afraid, it's not the ghettos."

"Yes, but-"

"We'll be with you the whole time. We won't leave your side for a second. No one will try anything if they recognize you. Not with us here."

Shadow Aura smiled a little and her posture loosened. "Thanks."

Light flooded back into the train as metal-plated Mount Fuji came into view.





"Woah..." Rough Boulder and his group hesitantly entered a massive, fancy, and mobile vehicle.

"What are you waiting for? Come in." Zero said from a cushioned sofa within the vehicle as he sat in his usual getup. As the group came in and looked around the two floors, Zero stated, "As of now, this place will be our hideout."

"So, you think joining up with us is a good idea?" Rough Boulder asked him as he walked in.

"Yes. We're comrades, after all."

Eclipse gaped as he walked in. "Holy crud..."

"So what is this, huh?" Syphilis asked to no one in particular.

"Do you mind if I ask how you came by this?" Rough Boulder gestured.

"I borrowed it from a rather libertine nobleman who indulges my requests." Zero replied.

Rough Boulder raised an eyebrow. "You asked for it, just like that?"

Zero waved a hoof offhandedly. "Don't worry, no strings attached."

"It's huge. Check it out, it's got a second story." Torpid said.

Sirocco commented, "On the other hoof, no one would expect us in something like this."

"Hey, it's even got a TV." Torpid exclaimed. As most of the group gathered around the TV, Torpid turned it on.

"How are things looking at the scene?"

The reporter announced, "I'm here in front of the Lake Kawagaitchi Convention Center Hotel. The hotel-jackers have identified themselves as the Japone Liberation Front."

"Huh?" Eclipse blinked in surprise, as did everyone else.

Rough Boulder walked up and asked, "What's happening?"

"Members of the Sakuradite Allocation Meeting, most notably Chairnymph Jaete, were taken hostage, as well as several tourists and hotel employees." The screen switched to that of a room full of terrified ponies and changelings, the latter greater in number than the former. "This footage was taken by the perpetrators. In it, you can clearly see Chairnymph Jaete, including some students."

Sirocco started as she recognized Amber, Shadow, and Raincloud among the hostages. "From the Student Council."

Stryker perked his ears up. "Hmm?"





"The leader of the group claims to be Lieutenant Colonel Arset of the now defunct Japonese..."

Taiyang stamped a clawed hoof down, gaining the attention of his fellow soldiers. "That imbecile!"

"Sakuradite, an essential component in the manufacture of high-temperature superconductors, is a vital strategic resource that directly affects world security. Colony 11 is the largest producer of this material, providing 70% of Equus's total supply. Here at the yearly national meeting of sakuradite producers, it will be determined how this resource will be distributed among the world's nations. It's no exaggeration to say that the outcome determines the balance of global power between Nymphia and other countries. It is believed that the terrorists are using world interest in the annual gathering to their advantage by carrying out this violent hotel takeover."

Arset stood before the hostages, his reflection-less green eyes narrowed. "I am Arset of the Japone Liberation Front. This stand we're taking is for the freedom of Japone and our country's creatures. Even though you are not soldiers, you are still Nymphians. You are the ones who rule and oppress us. Sit still, be quiet, and you'll be fine. If you don't..."

Silence followed. The threat was clear.

Shadow held tight onto Raincloud, her demeanor switched from that of her normal peppy self to a frightened shaking nymph. Amber let her head droop dejectedly. 'Ry-Ry...'





Syphilis narrowed her blue eyes. "So they made their move."

"They're easily the biggest anti-Nymphian force in Japone, and now their pride's hurt." Boulder said.

"Because of us?" Torpid turned to Boulder.

"Maybe." He narrowed his eyes.

Eclipse grimaced. "I don't know whether to feel happy or sad about that, because they're all gonna end up dead."

Stryker's phone began to ring. He looked at the caller ID. 'Fallout?'

"Ah, Stryker, I've-! Huh?" Fallout broke off as the other end hung up.

"This is Stryker, please leave a message after the beep. Beep.."

"What the bloody Tartarus is he doing at a time like this?!" Fallout exclaimed.

Stryker grimaced. 'I know, but...'





Decas turned to Chrysalis. "All bridges connecting to the hotel with the exception of the main one have been destroyed. Our attempted approaches from the air and water have been unsuccessful. There's only one route left that will allow us to develop a possible hostage rescue plan."

Chrysalis had her interest peaked. Narrowing her eyes, she gesturing for him to continue.

"The main utilities tunnel running directly beneath the Convention Center Hotel. Basically, we would go in through this route, destroy the foundation block, and submerge the hotel. Since the tunnel was also built to handle supply deliveries, it should be able to accommodate Sutherlands. Even if the enemy has taken precautions, it should be no problem."

As he spoke, three Nymphian Sutherlands were released down into the utilities tunnel. "Go."

"They've been using substandard weaponry, so we'll have no trouble evading them." Decas included.

In the utilities tunnel, the JLF spotted the Sutherlands with a modified Glasgow. "Enemy detected! As expected, they're moving through the underground tunnel."

"Roger that. Raikou secondary startup, both quad-linkage legs locked. Super Electro Magnetic Shrapnel Cannon voltage confirmed."

One Sutherland pilot spoke through the communicators. "I think these creatures have Knightmare rifles. Spread out and break their ranks."

"S.E.M.S.C., fire!" The Glasgow shot out a large beam headed straight for the Sutherlands.

The three pilots widened their eyes. "What?"

The beam engulfed the Sutherlands, which exploded within seconds.

"One shot!" A JLF member exclaimed.

"Yes! It works! The Raikou is a complete success!" Another spoke through a radio.

Arset grinned as he heard that. "What do you think of that, Nymphian hogs?"





"Wiped out?" Decas widened his eyes.

"It looks as though they've modified a Glasgow into a linear cannon."

"Then there's no way we can break through."

"What do we do now? If we release the political prisoners as they demand-"

"We can't show weakness to terrorists!" Chrysalis yelled.

Mandible turned to her and spoke through the hivemind, "But, Princess Masquerade Mirage and Shadow Aura, they're-"

Chrysalis clenched her teeth. "Yes, I know."

Decas came into the connection, "Thus far it appears that none of them have discovered that fact. If they learn that your sister and daughter are among the hostages, Your Highness, they'll undoubtedly use them as bargaining chips. Princess Shadow Aura should be safe if she doesn't draw much attention to herself. As for Princess Masquerade Mirage, she went there just to observe, therefore she isn't registered along with the other guests."





S2 looked down from the roof to see the same nymph from before scratch a line on the wall. Majesty cocked her head at S2 as she sighed in a exasperated manner.

"Yes, yes, I understand. I'll do well this time. I'll try to look out for him but I'm not his guardian." She said, rolling her eyes.





"Can't the Special Core offer any assistance with the rescue operation?" Greymane said, turning to Gear.

Gear shrugged. "I've already asked them, but we're in a regular unit and they don't acknowledge our chain of command. Besides-"

"It's too risky to entrust the operation to an Eleven, is that right?"

"Yet I'm sure you're aware that Princess Chrysalis is very discriminating about Nymphians and Numbers."

"So the Japonese still aren't being accepted enough into your structure." Greymane narrowed his eyes.

Azure stated, "If that were true, then what point would there be in even having an Honorary Nymphian system?"





Zero watched the news from a small laptop as he sat in a swivel chair.

"Sir, did your daughter appear to be..."

He heard Torpid ask, "Where do you want this?"

Rough Boulder answered, "Over there, by the driver's seat."

Syphilis exclaimed, "Hey, what about these boxes here?"

"Is there anything you want to say to the terrorists?" He heard the reporter say.

"She was only sightseeing. Amber is still a student, but these criminals act indiscriminately. Savages... I want to know if Am- I want to know if my daughter is alright. She hasn't done anything wrong."

"All he's asking..."

Stryker narrowed his now slitted thestral eyes. 'We need to organize before we fight them again. It's too soon though, we're not ready, but we can't just sit here and do nothing either. Knowing Chrysalis, she'll sacrifice the hostages.' He frowned as he realized something. 'Then why doesn't she make her move? Shadow's there, I know, but is it possible-'

He was snapped out of his thoughts when Sirocco came up to him. "Zero... what will happen to the hostages?"

"Eventually, there will be no reason to keep those Nymphians alive." He said, placing his head upon a hoof as he swiveled around.

Sirocco looked down at her hooves. "Yeah... I'm sure you're right."

Rough Boulder walked in with a box of uniforms at his hooves and exclaimed, "Hey Zero, I found these. Should I hoof them out to everyone? I mean as far as gear goes it looks pretty hip, but we're just a resistance group so-"

"Wrong!" Zero interjected, drawing everyone's attention.

"Uh..." Rough Boulder blinked in confusion.

Zero stood from the chair. "We're not a resistance group, is that clear?"

"Well then, what are we?" Boulder asked.

He gestured with a hoof. "What we are, what we're trying to be..." He clenched his hoof. "-are knights for justice!"





"Attention all sniper teams, situation is hold, all team commanders confirm..."

Azure turned to Greymane, who was in the Lancelot as she made adjustments. "Those teenage hostages are friends of yours from school, aren't they? They're still negotiating so let's not give up hope."

"I have faith in the system. I prefer the logic of systems to individualist emotions." He said.

He widened his eyes as the Lancelot's cameras spotted something. "Ms. Azure, look."

He zoomed in.

"Huh?" Azure looked at the screen as the camera focused. Three JLF members stood on the roof with a drone who's wings had been tied with an anti-magic barrier cast around him.

"Situation changing!" The communicators fizzed in and out.

Greymane gasped. "That's..."

"Hotel roof, Alert 2, Status D. Urgent report..."

"What are they going to do to him?" Azure gasped, though they both knew the answer.

Greymane looked on in horror as they pushed him closer to the edge. "Oh no, don't do it." The drone fell to his death with a single push. "No!"





"Our demands have gone unanswered. Therefore, we will throw one hostage from the roof every thirty minutes until our terms are met. For the sake of the hostages, negotiations better be in good faith." Arset said over a broadcast sent to the military.

Decas walked down the corridor with Chrysalis and Mandible. His uncut eye burned with rage as he growled, "This is their warning? Barbarians."

"For now, we could negotiate just to get the nymphs, mares, and foals out." Mandible suggested.

"Forget it! If you give in to their conditions even once, then you're simply legitimizing terrorism." Chrysalis growled.

"Then do we use force?" Decas asked.

"We would pursue that course of action after we secure the safety of Princess Masquerade Mirage and Shadow Aura." Mandible said, glancing over at Decas.

Chrysalis clenched her teeth. 'Mirage... Aura... I....'

A drone appeared out of a hallway behind them. "Viceroy, it's Zero! We just received a message from Zero."

Chrysalis, Decas, and Mandible all turned towards the drone with widened eyes.





"What? What do you mean Van 3 was stolen by Zero? What the buck was Gygus doing all the while?!" Hazel yelled at the drone that'd ran up to her. 'Just when I could visit Amethyst.'

"He said that when he realized what was happening, it was too late."

She scoffed. "Hm. Then where's Van 3 now?"

"Driving straight towards the military." The drone chittered.

"What?!" Hazel said, her eyes wide.





As the van drove up to the military, lights focused on Zero, who was atop it. 

"We confirm, it's Zero. Should we open fire?"

"No, just stand by. We'll capture him after he's surrounded." Decas commanded.

In the van, now in their new getup to disguise themselves, Boulder asked Sirocco, "Hey, when Zero went off about justice earlier, what do you think he meant?"

Sirocco answered, "Don't know, but we may die first before we find out. Seems all of our escape routes have been cut off."

"I'm just wondering, why didn't we use that other vehicle?" Torpid asked from the back.

Syphilis said sarcastically, "Oh, so you want the whole world to see where we hide out, huh?"

"Point taken."

Syphilis narrowed her eyes from behind her visor. "Hmm... I don't know about this Zero character, you really think we should trust him? I know he's saved our hides, but is it safe to assume he's doing this for the Japonexe?"

Eclipse shook his head, joining in on the conversation. "No way, we hardly know the guy. But if anything goes wrong, I'll do something about it."

Chrysalis, Decas, and Mandible showed up in their Gloucesters. The van was now completely surrounded. Stryker narrowed his eyes from behind the mask. 'Chrysalis, much as I'd love to get you back right here and now, you're more useful to me alive. If you do what I predict, I won't need to use my Geass.'

Chrysalis opened her hatch. "Well well, we meet again, Zero. Are you a member of the Japone Liberation Front? Or perhaps you intend to help us? Regardless, our concerns take priority over yours at the moment." She raised a sword-rifle into view and aimed it at Zero. "And so for the death of my cousin Xirex, I shall take my revenge right here."

Zero asked, "Chrysalis, which would you choose: Xirex, who is dead, or Masquerade and Shadow, who are alive?"

Chrysalis widened her eyes in surprise. 'How could he have...?'

Stryker smirked. 'My suspicion's confirmed. The first task at hoof is completed. ...You haven't changed, dear sister. You've always doted on sweet little Masquerade ever since Father adopted her as his own. You know Shadow can hold her own even if she can be skittish when fearful; you trained her yourself. You're really just worried about Mirage. That's why you won't take aggressive action, your emotions are getting in the way.'

"It's within my power to save Masquerade Mirage and Shadow Aura for you." Zero stated.

Confusion flickered in Chrysalis's eyes as she shook slightly. "What do you mean? I have no idea what you're talking about."

"I said that I'm able to rescue them." He repeated.





Arset narrowed his eyes. "Zero, you say?"

The drone nodded. "Yes, sir. Word came from the Nymphian Army."

"Attention all forces, let Zero pass. I repeat, let Zero pass." A broadcast announced across the JLF members.

As the van neared the hotel, Zero inclined his head slightly. 'Either the Japone Liberation Front will accept me as their ally, or they're going to treat me as nothing more than a nuisance. In any event, I highly doubt that they can resist the temptation of meeting the infamous Zero. We shall see.'

The gates opened. Stryker smiled. 'Excellent. All the operation's preliminary conditions have been cleared.'





"Viceroy, what are we doing?" Decas asked through the hivemind.

"I believe that by letting Zero go in, we can buy some time before the next hostage is executed. So, this is our chance. We can hit them both at the same time." Chrysalis smirked.





"Wonderful! I want to thank you for that lovely order. Hahaha!" Gear exclaimed before turning to Greymane. "They said you've got the green light, Lancelot. You've orders to charge right into that linear cannon in the tunnel."

Azure frowned. "Wait a minute, you mean they're using him as a decoy to make an opening for them?!"

"Yep, seems like they'll use the confusion to send in the Royal Guard." Gear nodded.

"Seems like?! But Gear-"

"Miss Azure," Azure turned around to Greymane. "I'm ready. Please let me do it." He let out a deep breath. "If Lancelot and I are needed, and we're able to give the hostages an opportunity to be saved, then I'll do it. Even if it means being a decoy."





"Warrant Officer Greymane, here is a guideline for your mission. According to prime search the hostages are located on the hotel's middle floor and believed to be locked inside a food storage room. Advanced prototype weapon Z-01 Lancelot will use the utilities tunnel to move under the hotel. Once on site you will destroy the foundation block and submerge the building. The area with the hostages should hold out for 8 minutes. Hostage rescue and mop up of the terrorists will be handled by other units. You will be using the VARIS to destroy the foundation. Set the Impact Rail to Anti-Material Level 3." Azure said through the communicator.

"The only variable in this is that pesky linear cannon waiting for you in the tunnel. Space is tight in there, the Lancelot will only have a 47.8% evasion rate." Gear added.

Azure turned to Gear as the Lancelot prepared to launch. "Are we really going through with this?"

"Yep, make sure you both pull out of there before it's too late. Lancelot might be wrecked, that would be unacceptable." Gear instructed.

"Before it's too late?" Greymane questioned. He grimaced, but nodded. "Understood, sir." 

He remembered when he spoke to Amber about this trip.





"Greymane, the president and Shadow and I are going to Lake Kawagaitchi on Sunday. Wanna join us?"

Greymane shook his head. "Sorry, I have to work that day."

"You do? Too bad, but I guess that can't be helped then." She shrugged.

"But thank you for inviting me, I really appreciate it. I hope all of you have a great time."





"Twelve minutes to operation start. Commencing countdown."





Shadow Aura flinched as a JLF member walked by. "An... Eleven."

Unfortunately, the pegasus stallion heard her. Whipping around, he exclaimed, "What did you say?"

"Aah!" Squeezing her eyes shut, she clung onto Raincloud, who'd draped a wing over the young princess.

"Not Elevens! We're Japonese, dammit!" The stallion shouted.

Raincloud frowned. "Yes, we're aware of that. Just lay off of her."

"Then correct her, we're not called Elevens!" He growled.

"Fine, we'll correct her." Amber said hotly.

"How dare you speak like that to me?!" He took a long look at Aura. "Wait a minute, isn't that Princess Shadow Aura, Chrysalis's little grub?" 

Near the back of the room, a cream-colored pegasus mare with a black mane and cerulean eyes widened her eyes. 'Shadow?'

He grinned as two more JLF members came up. "You're going to the lieutenant. As for you two," He pointed his gun at Amber and Raincloud. "-you're coming with me to the next room, and I'll teach you a real lesson."

Amber and Raincloud exchanged horrified glances as Shadow cried, "No! No!"

Masquerade started to rise, but the nymph next to her grabbed her hoof and shook her head. "Mm-mm."

"I said get up now!" He yelled as he grabbed her by the hoof.

She flailed about. "No! Let me go!"

"Stop it!" Masquerade said, standing.

"Who the buck are you?" The stallion demanded as Shadow squirmed in his grip.

"I demand you take me to your leader right now, understand?" She said, narrowing her eyes.

"What?"

The nymph beside her whispered, "No Sub-Viceroy, please."

Masquerade payed her no mind as cream fur became black chitin, black hair became cerulean, and blue fire burned away her disguise. With her now slitted sapphire eyes still narrowed, she announced, "You're addressing Masquerade Mirage li Mirren. The fourth princess of the Nymphian Empire. Let my niece and her friends go, or else." The JLF members gasped. Obliging, the stallion slackened his grip on Shadow Aura, who immediately backed up towards Amber and Raincloud as they were also released. 

Smiling as her gaze met Shadow Aura's, she asked, "Are you all right, Shadow? You haven't been hurt, have you?"

"Huh?" Aura blinked in surprise of seeing her aunt and murmured, "No."





"You have no intention of joining me?" Zero questioned as he stood in front of Arset and two other JLF members.

Arset narrowed his green eyes. "Remove that mask and reveal your real face to us. It's disrespectful not to."

"I understand, but before I do, I'd like to ask you something. What exactly do you hope to accomplish by this action?"

"Gain attention. I want this country and all of Equus to know that the Japonese aren't dead yet." Arset said, pride gleaming in his eyes.

Zero scoffed, "How stale. You creatures are obsolete, there's no saving you."

One of the other JLF members, a earth pony stallion, scowled, "What? Why you arrogant-"

"Explain what you mean by that, Zero." Arset said calmly.





Greymane started up the Lancelot. "ME Boost."

"Lancelot, now launching!" Azure said.

The Lancelot shot down the tunnel like a bullet.

The JLF saw the Lancelot with the modified Glasgow. "Reaction confirmed, one enemy Knight-Mare. It moves twice as fast as the others." The one at the monitor reported.

"So what?" Another said. "It'll end up like the rest. S.E.M.S.C, fire!"

Greymane gritted his teeth as the cannon fired its explosive shells. The Lancelot used its speed to its limit to dodge them. "Gah!"

The blast sent a mighty gust to come out of the opening of the tunnel, causing everyone to duck and cover. Azure yelled, "I warned you about this, Gear!"

"He doesn't wanna play decoy, he's going for the goal." Gear exclaimed.





Sirocco, Eclipse, Syphilis, Torpid, and Boulder moved about the building as Zero kept Arset busy, placing bombs along the walls and vents.

Outside the room Arset and Zero were conversing in, the pegasus stallion brought Masquerade forward for the sentries to see.

"I brought the hostage that I radioed about earlier for the Lieutenant Colonel to see. She claims that she's Princess Masquerade."

Inside, Arset bared his teeth and lunged at Zero with a sword in his aura. "Zero, there's no point talking anymore!"

The left side of Zero's mask slid down to reveal his slitted eye. "Die!" He commanded with his Geass.





"Fire!" The cannon fired, but the Lancelot dodged the spheres yet again.





The sound of gunfire made the sentries turn around. "Huh?"

One opened the door wide. "Colonel! Ugh!" He grabbed his left shoulder as he was shot.

"Calm yourselves." Zero said, a hoof-strap gun on his foreleg.

Masquerade blinked. "Zero..."

"The Colonel and the others committed suicide when they realized how meaningless this operation was." 

The JLF and Masquerade gasped as they saw how true his words seemed. Arset's sword was impaled into his own chest while the other two had blood stains. All three had blood and ichor on themselves, yet the thing that seemed to support that they'd killed themselves was that not a speck of blood was on Zero.

"Masquerade." The young queen started as Zero singled her out. "You were willing to sacrifice yourself for your niece and the commoners. You haven't changed." He said, leaving Masquerade puzzled.

'Huh?'





"What? The AE6 Knight-Mare?" Chrysalis exclaimed.

Decas nodded. "Yes. At the rate it's going, it'll break through soon."

"Huh. Do we dare hold out hope?" She narrowed her eyes.





The Lancelot's shields held out against the barrage of attacks. Greymane pressed onward. "Yes. It can take this level of destructive force."

The JLF widened their eyes in panicked surprise. "That thing broke through salvo number five. I can't believe it."

"Just don't panic. Deploy the quad-link free-fire armgun, batteries too. We'll shield this final defense with our lives."

As the cannon began charging up, Greymane contacted Azure. "Ms. Azure, it's time for me to use the VARIS."

"No, you could get killed!" She exclaimed.

He blocked another attack. "There's no room for me to evade, I'll risk getting blasted to take the first shot." The Lancelot prepared to fire the VARIS.





The JLF were forced to stay still, or Zero's group would fire on them. The JLF member who'd gotten shot in the shoulder clenched his teeth. "Why you stinking son of a..."

Inside the room, Zero and Masquerade conversed. 

'Heaven must truly be on my side. I never expected that Chrysalis's one weakness was among the hostages: Masquerade.'

"I heard that you're the Sub-Viceroy now your Highness, Princess Masquerade Mirage li Mirren." Zero said.

"It's not an appointment I'm happy with." She said curtly.

"No, it's because Xirex was murdered. That was my handiwork." 

Masquerade narrowed her eyes from the way he said it without remorse.  

"He begged pathetically for his life to the very end. He pleaded with the same tongue that ordered the deaths of Elevens."

Masquerade's mouth made a straight line as her eyes wavered. "So is that the reason why you killed my cousin?"

"No."

"Then why?!" Masquerade demanded.

"Because Xirex was a relative of the Nymphian Queen."

Masquerade's eyes widened.

"That reminds me... You're one of her children, aren't you?" Zero raised his foreleg, and pointed the gun at her.





"Use maximum output! I don't give a damn if it destroys the guns. Be prepared to die defending this spot. Smash him!" The JLF pilot said. 

The cannon fired just as the VARIS did. The beams went straight towards one another. Several bombs and explosives separated from the missive, but they never made their mark. The VARIS exploded all of them on impact, and it continued until it hit the cannon itself. A fiery explosion resulted, blowing smoke everywhere. The Lancelot launched upward, out of the water.

"It's the Eleven." Chrysalis said, astonished.

Greymane fired the VARIS at the foundation block, as per the plan. All the hostages were shaken, literally, by it. 

As several floors collapsed, Chrysalis exclaimed, "He really did it." She turned to her right. "Mandible!"

He nodded. "Right."

As the building collapsed slowly, Greymane spotted someone with the Lancelot's cameras. It zoomed in to reveal Zero. "No way."

'The white Knight-Mare from before.' Stryker thought, eyes narrowed behind the mask. He used his magic to press the button in his, currently invisible, aura. The bombs planted before by Zero's group exploded.

Greymane stared in horror as the Lancelot landed on the main bridge. The building toppled, no longer able to hold its own weight.

"Shadow! Mirage!" Chrysalis exclaimed, wide-eyed.

"My friends!" Greymane yelled, charging back in.

"Warrant Officer Greymane, don't!" Gear yelled through the communicator.





"What about the cameras in Van 3?" Hazel asked.

"I told you, Zero took the van-"

"Well then, let's hope we pick up a signal from them." She said. She narrowed her eyes. 'What are you doing, Zero? Wasn't that part of your plan: to show us something?'





As the dust settled, Azure and Gear spotted the Lancelot.

Azure exclaimed, "He's all right!"

Gear let out a sigh of relief as he leaned back in his chair.

Greymane looked on in despair. "I couldn't rescue them. They're dead... I failed. Not again!" He slammed his hoof down on the panel in self-frustration.

A boat began emerging out of the debris.

The cameras of Van 3 turned on to reveal Zero. Hazel exclaimed, "We've got it."

Across Japone, Zero was broadcasted. "My dear Nymphians, have no fear." The picture switched to that of all the hostages, safe. "All of the hostages from the hotel are safe and sound. I, Zero, return them to you unharmed."

"They're fine!" Greymane smiled.

"Whew, they're all right!" Fallout breathed a sigh of relief.

Chrysalis gritted her teeth. "Of all the brazen audacity... If we attack you, those creatures will quickly become your hostages, won't they, Zero?"

The screen flicked back to Zero. This time, unseen lights focused on the entire group, though none them could be recognized because of their new uniforms and visors. 

"Creatures! Fear us, or rally behind us as you see fit. We, are the Black Knights." Zero announced, his leathery wings spread open.

"Black Knights?" Azure said.

"Ironic, isn't it? The terrorists referring to themselves as knights." Gear chuckled.

Zero stood center, everyone's eyes on him. "We of the Black Knights stand with all those who have no weapons to wield. Regardless of whether they be Elevens, or Nymphians. The Japone Liberation Front cowardly took innocent Nymphian civilians hostage, and they mercilessly executed them. It was a wanton and meaningless act, therefore they have been punished."

Taiyang narrowed his eyes a bit. "Hm."

Hazel received a message on her communicator. She narrowed her eyes. "You heard me right, I said let it run. Liable? I'll be the one responsible for this."

"Just as former Viceroy Xirex was punished for ordering the slaughter of countless unarmed Elevens, we could not stand by and allow such cruelty  be carried out, and so we made him pay for his actions. I will not repudiate battle on a fair and level field, but neither will I tolerate a one-sided massacre of the weak by the strong. The only ones who should kill, are those who are prepared to be killed! Wherever oppressors abuse their power by attacking those who are powerless, we shall appear again. No matter how mighty, how formidable our foe may be."

Moth raised a hoof to her mouth in shock while 'Raven' simply had a grim expression. 'What have you gotten yourself into, sister?'

"Knights... for justice?" Sirocco whispered to herself.

A breeze began to pick up, making Zero's cloak fly in it. "Those of you with power, fear us! Those of you without it, rally behind us! We, the Black Knights, shall be the ones who stand in judgment of this world!" Zero finished with a stamp of his hoof.

'From now on, the Black Knights shall become my counterattack: against the world in which I was trapped, and against my own undecided heart.'
> Act lX: The Drug That Remembers
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"...Clearing the last of the debris from around the Lake Kawagaitchi Convention Centre Hotel. It's been two weeks since Zero unveiled his Black Knights. But there's still little insight into the pony behind the mask." Reporters said. "They weren't able to track his escape route. They let the hostages go and somehow made it to the other shore."

Sirocco awoke with a start when there was a crash. "Huh?"

She opened the door to see the black blond-striped maned maid beside a broken light fixture. The cinnamon pegasus looked up at her. "Sirocco! I mean, miss. Forgive me. I didn't wish to wake you."

"Again?" Sirocco sighed.

"I'm sorry. It was the support chain this time, it broke."

"Well, just get it cleaned up. And be quick about it. I have to leave for school." Sirocco said curtly.

"Mistress, you've been attending school quite a bit lately. Making any friends there?"

Sirocco stiffened. "I don't see how that's any of your business."

She stepped back into her room and closed the door. The maid stared at the door, a flicker of sadness in her eyes.

"Just go, will you..." Sirocco whispered, eyes shut, as she leaned against the door.





"I know it's for welfare, but why waste it on the Elevens?" A drone said, walking up.

"That's why I'm selling it to you, my friend. The Eleven population could use a little thinning out, if you ask me."

"Your payment will be transferred to your wife's account."

On the roof, several figures ran and flew.

"Princess Chrysalis is a soldier. This sort of thing doesn't interest her all that much."

All the lights suddenly turned off and gunfire rang outside the warehouse.

"Hit the lights! Turn 'em on!" The drone exclaimed. The lights turned on, revealing Zero and the Black Knights, all armed.

The drone's green eyes widened. "You're... you're the...!"

"The Black Knights!" Sirocco shouted, standing.

Everyone in class looked at her and laughed as she blushed in embarrassment.

After class, Amber said to her, "That's not like you, dozing off in class like that."

"Well, I..." Sirocco's mind drew a blank.

"You could learn a thing or two from Stryker. He's an expert at sleeping in class." Fallout said.

Sirocco turned around to see Stryker still at his seat, turned from the front of the class with a hoof raised to keep his head up. "He's not sleeping now, is he?"

Fallout shrugged. "I don't know what he's up to night after night. But he sleeps through about half of them these days."

Sirocco raised an eyebrow at that.





"The EU is starting an offensive along the El Alamane front. We can't go on dragging our hooves around here. I want to solidify domestic affairs. It's high time Colony 11 was made a satellite nation. For that to happen, we need to stamp out terrorism, of course. But another major problem is the rampant abuse of Refrain amongst the Elevens. Productivity is plummeting. It's coming in on the Chineighse Federation's Kyustable route. We have to put an end to it." Chrysalis explained.

"Yes, but be careful." Masquerade said.

Chrysalis smiled. "You as well. I don't want you leaving the settlement."

"Chrysalis, what about Black Knights and Zero?" Masquerade asked worriedly.

Chrysalis chuckled dryly. "I'll let them roam free a bit longer. I owe them that for saving your life. However, upon my return..." She gently caressed Masquerade's cheek. "Once I've cleaned up this Colony, I'm entrusting it to you. Try to stay out of harm's way from now on. All right, Mirage?"

Masquerade thought of her last encounter with Zero.





"Because Xirex was a relative of the Nymphian Queen."

Masquerade's eyes widened.

"That reminds me... You're one of her children, aren't you?" Zero raised his left foreleg, and pointed the gun at her. A tense moment passed before Zero lowered his hoof. "But I suppose for now..."





Masquerade sighed. 'When he spoke to me that night, what was he alluding to? ...Greymane, what would you make of all this? About what Zero is doing. And of me...'





Sirocco yawned as she stopped outside the student council room. "Dang, this double life sure is a killer."

"Come on, Greymane, hold him down!" She heard Raincloud say. 

"Hmm?" She walked into the room to see everyone dressed up like birds. Raincloud wore a rainbow-colored parrot outfit, Amber wore a peacock-themed outfit, Shadow wore a white-feathered dove outfit, Greymane wore a black-and-white woodpecker outfit with a red frill, and Fallout wore a grey-shaded peregrine falcon outfit. Stryker was beginning to look like a flamingo with all the pink makeup that covered his face.

Struggling to untie himself without magic, Stryker exclaimed, "Damn it, Greymane, cut it out! Stop it! I'm not kidding!"

"Sorry, Stryker. But it's the president's orders." Greymane said.

"Yeah, like you're not enjoying this at all! And can't I just wear a costume, or better yet, transform?!" Stryker yelled, still squirming around.

"Would you hold still?!" Amber exclaimed. "And you don't see Shadow transforming into a dove, do you?"

Raincloud turned around to Sirocco, sporting a parrot beak on her muzzle. "Good Macawning."

Sirocco blinked. "Uh... Good morning, I guess. What's all this?"

Fallout looked up from holding Stryker still. "What do you mean? Didn't we tell you? It's our welcome party for Arctic."

"Sounds like fun...?" Sirocco said uncertainly.

Raincloud shrugged. "Well, classes are postponed, so we might as well have some fun, right?"

Amber pointed with a hoof over to a rack. "I set some stuff aside for you, over here. To make up for all my getting so upset before. Take your pick."

She blinked. "What? For me?"

Stryker stopped squirming for a bit and smirked. "She doesn't need a costume."

Sirocco looked at him. "Hmm?"

"You're already wearing a mask, right?" He asked. A silent message weaved through his words.

Sirocco scoffed. "You really are a riot, you know that? You ought to be on television."

"What do you think, Miss TV Star?" Fallout asked, turning to Amber.

"Oh, I thought that she meant Stryker." Greymane said, confused.

Amber groaned. "Would you quit joking about that? The whole thing's a huge pain in the butt. We've been hounded with questions day and night. Even in the locker rooms!"

"We haven't been able to leave school grounds in a week." Raincloud sighed.

"Not that I don't feel for you, but I don't see why we can't leave either." Fallout frowned.

Raincloud closed her eyes and said dramatically, "Hmm, that's the price of friendship. The Romance of the Three Kingdoms: 'It matters not that we were born apart, upon this day we die as one.'"

Fallout blinked. "Is that your idea of a love quote?"

She turned to him with a mischievous gleam in her eyes. "If I go down, then we all do."

"That's a little dark. Right, Greymane?" He asked, turning to Greymane for backup.

Greymane was teary-eyed as he said, "I'm glad... that we could all be together again. You know, like this."

Stryker smiled understandingly.

Fallout hopped over Stryker's head and threw a foreleg around Greymane, causing them both to fall. "Come on! Hey, we're supposed to be unwinding in here!"

Amber, Raincloud, Stryker, and Shadow laughed at Fallout's antics. Amber smiled, "That's what's so refreshing about Greymane, though."

"Yeah, but once in a while you just want him to get a clue, you know?" Raincloud said.

"Oh, sorry about that." Greymane said awkwardly, as Fallout used his hooves to make him do a funny face.

Fallout said in a silly voice, "Oh, you lovely pretty bird."

They laughed again. "Oh Fallout, never change!" Amber said.

Sirocco smiled. 'It's so funny to think I helped save their lives.'





'Ever since we made our big splash at the hotel jacking, the Black Knights have taken the world by storm. We've become a friend to the weak, just as Zero proclaimed we would. Terrorists who involve civilians, an overbearing military, criminal syndicates, corrupt politicians and profiteers, if the law would not punish them, then we would. In the blink of an eye, we'd become heroes. Support for us has swelled. And we've even gotten our hands on some Knightmares again. Of course, no one could show that in public, because-'

"Stop pretending you're a Black Knight." A mare said to the filly.

Sirocco was snapped out of her thoughts. She stopped walking for a moment.

"But why?" The filly pouted.

"You musn't ever say anything against Nymphia. We're Elevens. Have you forgotten that?"

'...Because our leader Zero had killed Prince Xirex. There are many in our ranks who wish to know his true identity, myself included. But if we push too hard, I suspect that he would vanish. And without him, I'm fairly certain we'd be finished.'





Stryker buzzed down the steps of the Tempus home. Fallout ran up to him. "Hey, there, pal. Haven't seen you much lately."

"Really?" Stryker glanced at Fallout as he continued walking.

"Yeah, really."

"Hmph, guess I've been busy."





Shadow Aura sat the computer, her thoughts drifting back to the hotel jacking and her aunt.

'"Are you alright, Shadow?"'

She stopped typing for a moment. 'It's been a while since I last saw Aunt Mirage...'





Taiyang and the Four Holy Swords were discussing Zero and the Black Knights.

"Why would the masses flock around those who saved Masquerade?" A nymph by the name of Caeca questioned.

A drone, Slit, added, "Even Sythi has said that they would send the Black Knights the Guren MK II."

Another drone by the name of Arques widened his eyes in disbelief. "To those would-be Robin Hoods?"

"They're not part of the resistance. Killing Arset was proof of that." Another nymph, Cyeas, narrowed her eyes.

"The colonel killed himself, didn't he?" Caeca asked.

Slit answered, "Well, I hear they didn't try to stop him." He turned to Taiyang, who'd been listening patiently. "In any case, Lieutenant Colonel Taiyang, we can't let this stand."





"Mistress Sirocco, mistress Sirocco." The maid called. Sirocco headed downstairs.

She stopped near the bottom. "Madam President?"

Raincloud smiled. "I just dropped by to give you something."

"Huh?" Sirocco blinked in confusion.

The maid asked, "Where would you like me to show her to? The parlor perhaps. Or maybe-"

"We'll be in my room." Sirocco said curtly.

The maid bowed her head. "As you wish."

A nymph came into view above the stairs. She scoffed, "Oh, I heard you had a friend down here, I was sure it would be a colt. Out all night and missing school. Not to mention all your visits to the ghetto. You're lucky your father's back in the homeland. " She narrowed her eyes at the maid in particular. "No fighting one's blood, is there?"

The maid looked down and stepped off to the side.

Sirocco replied acidly, "You're the one who's enjoying Dad not being around here, aren't you?"

"Hm."

The sudden crash of a vase turned their heads towards the maid.

"Oh dear, what have I done?"

"What's wrong with you?" The nymph said scathingly with a scowl.

"Forgive me, milady, forgive me." The maid began picking up the broken vase pieces.

"Can't you do anything right? Besides selling your body, that is."





"Quite the complicated home life you have, isn't it?" Raincloud commented.

"So what was it you wanted to give me?" Sirocco asked.

Raincloud gave her an envelope. "Grandfather asked me to pass this on."

"You mean the principal?"

"Your transcript since middle school." Sirocco's eyes widened. "I thought I'd better give them to you off of school grounds." Raincloud said.

Sirocco sighed. "So my secret's out then, isn't it? That I'm actually an Eleven and Nymphian half-breed."

She began signing the papers. She spoke through her teeth. "That was my dad's old colleague down there. She only lets me stay here on account of my father. My mother was that clod of a maid who knocked over the vase."

She gave the paper to Raincloud and spit out the pen.

"And your father... is he the head of the Flash family?" Raincloud asked.

Sirocco stared down at her hooves and nodded. "My mother is such a fool. In the end, she wound up a servant to that witch. All because she was Japonese. If Dad knew what really went on, he'd probably take me and my mother far away. The witch lets her be like royalty when Dad comes here to visit, but it's back to being a maid when he's not. And no matter who's ridiculing her, all she can do is laugh like it's nothing. She didn't have to stay in this house, you know? Dad offered her a chance to go to Equestria, to be a normal pony there. But she refused."

"You hate your mother?" Raincloud asked.

Sirocco shook her head. "No, I just find her depressing. She used to be a lot different."

She picked up the teapot and began pouring two cups.

"Well, this is getting a little heavy. Imagine, the wife and the daughter and the other nymph, all living together." Raincloud said.

Sirocco shrugged. "Eh, it could be worse. Three square meals and a roof, right? I mean, it's not unbearable. Most of the time, anyway." She muttered the last part as she took a sip of tea.

"That's good. Still, somethings in life we can bear on our own, but when you add them all up, they eventually break you." Sirocco looked at her questioningly. Raincloud exclaimed. "Oh, don't worry. I won't lie, I'm always hungry for secrets, but I'd never talk about this."

Meanwhile, in a smaller cramped room, Sirocco's mother, Amber Flurry, unlocked a drawer. She took a deep breath as she gazed on the bottles of Refrain. 'Life can be perfect again... We can be one big, happy family again...'





"I can't believe you teared up. That's so embarrassing." Stryker commented while reading a book as the two of them were in the student council room.

"It's called honesty." Greymane said before wincing. Arctic chirped as she stayed on his hoof.

"Well, good thing the Black Knights were there to save them. That's all I can say." Stryker said.

As Arctic let his hoof go, Greymane realized something. Stryker turned to glance at him when he felt his emotions. "If they wanted to catch criminals, they could have joined the police force, you know? Why don't they, I wonder."

"They probably don't think the cops are up to the job. I tend to agree." Stryker said, going back to reading.

Greymane turned around. "The police may not be that effective right now, but they could evoke change from within."

"Yeah, and in the process, they get all tangled up in red tape and bureaucracy." Stryker scoffed.

"If they had done everything in their power to change things, that might hold water. As long as they don't, then all of it's just self-righteous posturing."

Stryker glanced at Greymane again. "Self-righteous?"

"And what constitutes evil in their eyes? What standards are they using? It's nothing but self-satisfying gratification." Greymane said.

Amber walked in. "Oh, it's just you two?"

"Anyway, I guess I gotta go back to the base pretty soon." He said, winking at Amber. "See you around, Amber."

"See you later." Amber nodded. As the door closed, Amber took a deep breath. 'Here I go...'

"So Ry-Ry... I was, um..." She blushed. "I was thinking if you had some time, you and I-"

"'Back to base.'" Stryker narrowed his eyes as Amber blinked in confusion. 

"Now that was an interesting choice of words. 'Go back', implying that's where he thinks he belongs."





"Refrain?" Sirocco asked into her phone as she stopped walking.

"It's a psychotropic, makes you think you've gone back to the past." Rough Boulder said.

"Must be all the rage here in Japone." Sirocco said.

"Yeah, well... Who doesn't long for the days before the occupation, right?"

"Mm."

"This stuff was specifically targeted at the Japonese. Can't very well ignore it. Soon as the Burais are stocked, we move." Boulder said.

"Supplies keep rolling in. And I hear lots of creatures are ready to join us. Black Knights sure are popular, huh?" Sirocco said.

"Well, we are the heroic knights for justice. I'll call you when the ammo gets here." The call ended there.

"Come on Eleven, say something."

Sirocco turned her head to see five Nymphian drones abusing an Eleven stallion.

"You are sorry, aren't ya?"

Sirocco looked around, but no one helped the poor stallion.

"Bowing your heads is what you Elevens do best, right?"

"Eleven..." Sirocco growled.

"Eatin' bad food really makes us wanna off somebody, you know?"

Sirocco began to walk over, but a holed hoof stopped her by the shoulder. She turned. "Stryker."

He shook his head. "No, there's five of them. You wouldn't stand a chance at all."

"So you think I should just ignore it?" She narrowed her eyes as her volume increased a bit.

He turned towards the commotion. "Go on, take a good look at that Eleven."

"Come on, what's the matter? Aren't you gonna cry?"

"Buddy, just say you're sorry."

"If we intervene and help him win, he wouldn't be able to sell a thing tomorrow. It was his choice to become a Nymphian slave. That's just the price you pay for working in the settlement." Stryker said.

Sirocco turned to him. "Well even so-"

"You got a problem over there?" Sirocco was cut off as the drones began walking over to them.

"Not feeling sorry for this Eleven, are ya?" One of them asked.

"Nah, they feel the same way we do, don't you guys?" Another said.

Stryker closed his eyes and smirked. "Not quite." He opened his eyes as his Geass manifested. "But you're tired of beating up Elevens now, aren't you?"

A moment passed before one of them said, "Yeah. This is boring."

"You guys wanna hit the arcade?" Another asked as they walked away.

"I got no bits."

Sirocco stared wide-eyed in confusion as Stryker shrugged. "Well, they got bored pretty quick, huh?"

Sirocco trotted over to the beaten stallion. "Hey, are you all right?"

He looked up and saw the uniform she was wearing. "Huh? A Nymphian student! What can I get for you? How about a nice California hot dog, miss?" Stryker walked up. "Is this your dronefriend? I can get him something too. I have ice cream, if you like?"

Sirocco's eyes widened in dismay. She glanced at Stryker, who simply gave a near-missable shake of his head.





"In some ways, Colony 11 is better off now than the old Japone ever was. Being made a colony of the Empire has stabilized its military and economic position in the world. Elevens can even attain full citizenship through the legal process. It's easy to become a honorary Nymphian. Just a question of pride, really. Though I can certainly understand why they'd resist." Stryker said as they sat on a bench.

"And?" Sirocco questioned.

"Hmm?"

"Knowing all that, what does Stryker Surveil think about it at all? What do you wanna do?" She asked.

"Nothing."

Sirocco frowned. "You know, you've got a lot of brains but you don't seem to be doing much with them. It's all Amber talks about, saying how intelligent you are but how you barely ever apply yourself."

"That's why I don't do anything." Stryker said, earning a confused look from Sirocco. "That Eleven we saw back there could tell you. He could lead a better life as long as he bows his head to Nymphia."

Sirocco realized how close that was to her mother. Her eyes widened. Slapping Stryker with a wing, she yelled, "You must think you're pretty cool, huh? Just playing the critic and judging the world from the sidelines. Guess I was a fool to expect anything more from you. You know, I really thought you were a better drone than this." With that, she flew off.

Stryker narrowed his eyes as he rubbed the cheek she'd slapped. "Hmph."

Meanwhile, Amber Flurry opened the drawer. Nothing was left.





Crescent and Ember sat at a bar. The latter asked, "So, about this Calico thing..."

Crescent clenched his teeth.

"Sorry to bring it up." She said. "Is this whole thing true, though? That you can't remember anything about when Private Greymane was taken."

Crescent growled, "I don't expect you to believe me."

Ember shook her head. "No, it's just that... during the whole Shineighku incident, I suffered some sort of memory lapse also."

He turned to her with wide eyes. "You did?"

She nodded. "By the time I regained my senses, my Sutherland had been stolen. But right before that entire gap in my memory, I remember running into some high school drone."

"So you think it was that student?"

She narrowed her eyes. "I can't remember his face, but there may still be a way to get to the bottom of this."





"What the hell is Zero thinking? After all his talk about bringing down Nymphia, he's just got us running around helping the police." Eclipse whispered.

"Still feels pretty good to have the will of the creatures behind us, though." Rough Boulder said.

"Yeah, he's right. We're totally heroes on the Net." Torpid added.

Sirocco sighed. "Are we in the right? I don't know anymore."

Boulder turned to her. "Sirocco..."

"There's the signal from Zero." Syphilis whispered.

"I can't believe he got in there." Torpid exclaimed.

"How many tricks does this guy have up his sleeve, anyway?" Eclipse asked.





The workers inside the warehouse moved about, storing several shipments of Refrain.

"Is the shipment for Nickeroya ready?"

"Nice and safe here in the settlement."

They spoke too soon, for the warehouse was under siege by bullets a moment afterwards. "Huh?!" 

The door was knocked down. Eclipse exclaimed, "The Black Knights have arrived!"

"Intruders!"

Both sides fired, but as Sirocco's Glasgow entered, the Nymphians ran. "Knight-Mares!"

"Screw this!"

"These Knightmares really are amazing. Each one is an army unto itself." Sirocco mumbled. The Glasgow shot through a closing warehouse door. Sirocco gasped as she came upon a room full of creatures.

"Japone! Japone! Japone!"

"That's right, I'm getting married next month!"

"I've been promoted! I'm going to the Maris office!"

"Leave it to us! Japone is on the vanguard of technology!"

"Refrain..." Sirocco murmured.

"I'm studying abroad! I can't believe I got in!"

'"When you add them all up, they eventually break you."' She remembered Raincloud saying.

She gritted her teeth. "That's right, which is why I'm here."

"Careful, it's dangerous to run like that." 

Sirocco widened her eyes as she caught the pegasus mare from falling. "Mother!?"

"Really, Aurora. Please Sirocco, I need you to keep an eye on your little sister."

Sirocco shut her eyes. "My God, how weak a mare are you, Mother...? First you give in to Nymphia, then to a horrid witch, and now this... My sister's gone. Let her go!"

The Glasgow was suddenly attacked. Sirocco looked to the right as the arm was blasted off. A Knight-Mare stood armed. "The night police?!"

Sirocco raced away, the police Knight-Mare in hot pursuit. 

Torpid exclaimed, "Isn't that a police unit?"

Rough Boulder gaped, "They're in on this deal?" He turned. "Eclipse!"

Eclipse exclaimed, "Don't look at me! When I checked it out, there weren't any cops involved!"

"Corrupted filth..." Zero growled.

Sirocco tried to dodge the police unit, but she couldn't attack with her mother still on the other arm.

"You're in the way! Damn it! I don't need you! I don't want you!" She yelled. The police unit fired at the Glasgow's leg and it crashed loudly.

Sirocco recovered to see her mother on the ground before her. "Sirocco... Aurora..."

The police unit kept firing at her Glasgow. Sirocco gritted her teeth as she held out.

Zero and the other Black Knights caught up to her. 'It won't work on a Knight-Mare.' Stryker thought, gritting his teeth.

The police unit's gun ran out of ammo, and so, it began approaching the Glasgow. Sirocco exclaimed to hr mother, "Go on, run." When Amber Flurry turned towards her, she yelled, "Get moving, you idiot!"

"I'm here for you." Sirocco stiffened. "I'm here for you, Sirocco. I'm here, as I always have been."

"What...?" Sirocco felt tears well up in her eyes. "Then that's... that's why you stayed in her house? You stayed there for me?" She blinked them away. "You fool!" The police unit rammed into hers and drew a blade to strike into the cockpit. She blocked it with the Glasgow's remaining hand and prevented it from moving any closer. "Or maybe... I'm the fool."

She shot the slash harkens into a shipment area. As the Glasgow was pulled towards them, the police unit was too. The police unit cockpit was crushed as the steel bar stopped it cold.

"Sirocco!" The Black Knights ran out, sans Zero. Sirocco glanced back at her mother.

"I'm so happy for you... You can finally become a Nymphian now, Sirocco. Nobody will ever be able to hurt you now, darling. And you're free to travel and use the phone anytime you want."

'So this... is her mother?' Stryker thought. 'Those who indulge in memories of the past are foolishly happy. Because they assume that tomorrow is coming. If Sirocco is struggling to dispel such illusions, I'll stand by her. All we can do is live each day, one moment at a time.'

Unbeknownst to anyone, S2 stood on a steel beam above them. She stared down with an expressionless face as Sirocco ran from the Glasgow to her mother. 'False tears bring pain to those around you. A false smile brings pain to one's self. I know such from experience. I guess Amber Flurry and Sirocco do too...'





Sirocco sat by her mother's hospital bed as the nurse said, "It's an after-effect of Refrain. She's unable to talk much. She'll recover eventually, but it will take time."

"Mother, your sentence... you got 20 years. But you wait! I'm working to change things when you get out, I swear to you! I'll make a world where you and I can live a normal life again. So please, Mother..." Tears began to trail down her face. She started as a cinnamon hoof was placed on hers.

"Hang in there... Hang in there, Sirocco... My little filly..."

Sirocco smiled as the tears fell. "Don't you worry... I will. I promise you."
> Act X: Battle at Nareina
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stryker scrolled through the applicants for the Black Knights as S2 dove from the diving board. The moon shined brightly in the sky as the sound of a splash echoed.

He stopped when he came upon an interesting one. 'Hazel Dune', it read. He narrowed his eyes. "Hmm, a Nymphian? Looks too confident to be a spy. An extremist, perhaps?"

"Isn't it wonderful? How the number of recruits keeps growing." S2 commented.

Stryker smirked, keeping his eyes on his laptop. "And it was simpler than I ever expected. 'While I bitterly hate the Nymphians, I refuse to condone terrorism.' That's the prevailing view of most Elevens."

"Then basically Elevens support the Black Knights for the most part."

"Which in turn makes it easier for us to operate as a whole. It's a huge help that creatures don't report our activities to the Nymphians. Plus, I hear some group called Sythi offer to send us some Knight-Mares. The number of informants has been increasing quickly, too. The Japonese can't resist jumping on the bandwagon. They hear a well grounded buzzword and off they go."

S2 fluttered out of the pool and dried her mane. "Hence the 'Knights for Justice' act."

He looked up at her. "Yeah, well everybody loves a hero, and what better hero than a knight."

"I kind of doubt that's what a real knight for justice would say." She chuckled.

"You don't think so?" He asked with the hint of a snark.





Hazel turned to Ember and Crescent. "Yes, I was demoted from my position. In very much the same way that you were."

Crescent gritted his teeth.

"We have no intention of letting the situation end this way. And we have the sneaking suspicion that you don't either." Ember said, inclining her head.

Hazel raised an eyebrow and smirked. "That so? Well, who can say."

"We have a lead that might help us find Zero." Crescent said. Hazel's ears perked.

"You're familiar with Tempus Private Academy? I want to investigate a student drone attending there. I think he may be working with Zero." Ember said. Hazel typed up 'Tempus Academy' on her laptop.

"Ember and I are going to be shipping out with the military soon for duty. And we'll be stationed in the Nareina mountains. Therefore-"

"Nareina?" Hazel questioned. "Isn't that where the Japone Liberation Front headquarters are rumored to be located?"

"You may be a bit too clever for your own good." Crescent said, narrowing his eyes.

Hazel chuckled. "You overestimate me."





In a large warehouse, the Black Knights, including their new recruits, exclaimed in awe and excitement of the new Knight-Mares. Righteously so, for these new Knight-Mares looked more advanced than their old Glasgows.

"Wow, it's amazing."

"These are Glasgows, aren't they?"

"Burais, a Japonese modification."

"I've never seen these before."

"Damn, the Black Knights have gotta some serious muscle."

"It wasn't easy to sign up with the BK."

"So that makes us special, huh? We're elites now."

Off to the side, the original Black Knights gazed on a different Knight-Mare with the same awe.

"Those guys from Sythi, They believed in us. They sent us this." Syphilis gaped.

"A completely Japonese made Knight-Mare." Torpid exclaimed.

"A Guren MK-ll." Sirocco stated.

"Did you check up the manual?" Syphilis asked them all.

Eclipse grinned, "I'm really loving this. The big shots in Sythi are recognizing us. We've got their approval."

"Eclipse, would you show me how to use this equipment here?" A new recruit called.

"Oh sure. Hang on, I'll be right there." Eclipse took off.

Syphilis shook her head as she and the others, sans Sirocco, followed. "Newbies, what are you gonna do?"

Sirocco turned around as hoofsteps came from behind the Guren. Zero appeared out of the shadows and scoffed, "First Eclipse and now Syphilis and the rest are treating this like a party. Sythi is backing multiple resistance groups, correct?"

"Yes. Which means that we finally made it in. They know that we're worthy." Sirocco said confidently.

"No, you're wrong there Sirocco. This is merely a test they put to us."

"So, what if it is? This is still incredible." She exclaimed.

"You're an optimist." Zero said before throwing a key towards her with a leathery wing.

Sirocco caught it with a hoof. She turned it over. "What's this?"

"The Guren MK-II is yours now, Sirocco."

Her eyes widened. She looked up at him. "Mine? But we have a lot more members now, and we can't afford to lose you. We need the Guren's defense to protect you."

Zero shook his head. "You're a top notch pilot. I'm a commander. I'll use a Burai. But you're our only ace to play during a battle. Besides... you have a reason to fight."

She nodded determinedly, realizing what he meant. "Right."

"Zero, you got a second?" Rough Boulder walked up with a folder in his hoof. "We got some weird intel here from a Nymphian who wants to join up with the Black Knights."

Stryker raised a non-existent eyebrow.





"This maybe a trap to draw us out. I'd say even if we wanna confirm the information it's too risky to contact her directly. But news like this isn't something we can just ignore. What should we do?" Boulder asked as Zero read through the folder.

Zero closed the folder. "This weekend, we're going hiking."

"What?" Boulder asked, wide-eyed in confusion.

"To the Nareina mountains."

"Very well, then." Boulder said hesitantly.





Moth sat up in bed and yawned as 'Raven' walked in. "Raven, we won't need any breakfast for my brother this morning."

'Just like you told me, sis...' 'Raven' grimaced. She asked questioningly, "He's going out?"

"He'll be leaving on a three day trip starting today." Moth answered.

"Oh, I see." 'Raven' smirked at this point. 'More than likely it's not true, but, I wonder...' 

"My, your brother's been going out quite a bit recently. Think it's a mare or nymphfriend?"

Moth tilted her head in thought. "Huh... Maybe it is."





"Sector five, nothing to report. ...Right. The next scheduled report will be in two hours." The unicorn stallion put down the phone to resume his game.

The drone laughed as the stallion sat down. "Of course, there's nothing to report. This area's controlled by the Japone Liberation Front. No one can just stroll in-" The door opened and Zero walked in. The two grabbed their guns and stood quickly, causing a chair to fall. "Zero!"

"Relax, I only came to talk." Zero took off the mask, revealing a black-maned thestral with slitted sky-blue eyes. He activated his Geass. "I want you to ignore any unusual activity during your watch."

"Sure, no problem." The drone nodded as they went back to their game. "Come on, it's your turn."

"What's the rush? We're just on regular duty, you know." The stallion said as he planted the chair back to its original spot.

Rough Boulder spotted a series of flashes in the mountain with his Burai. "I've confirmed the signal from Zero. We're now moving to way point 2."

As they moved up the mountainside, Eclipse asked through the radios, "Hey, why doesn't Zero just use the radio in his Burai?"

"And what do you suppose he meant when he said hiking?" Syphilis added.

"Ah... military training, right?" Torpid suggested.

"Only with Zero in another location?" Eclipse said skeptically.

"Maybe we'll dig a hot spring." Torpid said.

"Is that why we brought those excavators?" One of the new recruits asked.

"Then, heck, I'm all for it." Another said.

As Sirocco examined the Guren MK-ll's manual again, Eclipse asked her, "Sirocco, you heard anything about this?"

"I haven't." She said, grimacing.

"What about you, Boulder?"

"Nope, not a word." Rough Boulder said. 'Zero wasn't using the radio to avoid being traced. Is he serious about this?'

'The day I've waited for has finally come, Chrysalis.' Stryker thought, now transformed back into his normal self as he read through the Burais' manual. He glanced out the window, and gaped in shock as he saw S2.





"We're certain that the Japone Liberation Front headquarters are in this area. We've already split 4 battalions into seven units and hidden them in the vicinity. We've only to wait for the Viceroy's signal then we'll surround them in one fell swoop and wipe them out." Decas stated, turning towards Chrysalis as he finished.

"And are you confident that the enemy won't show up outside the encirclement line?" Masquerade asked.

Everyone looked towards her. Chrysalis asked, "You mean Zero?"

Decas answered, "Have no fear about that. As the operation begins, we'll be blocking off the surrounding highways and mountain roads also."

"Plus, we have reserve units. If Zero is stupid enough to show up, it'll be the end of him." Chrysalis added, narrowing her eyes.





"What? You wanna meet her? Are you kidding? Do you know who you're talking about? Yeah, I know she's you're aunt, but she's probably swamped with meetings and appearances. And I don't think being her niece will get you past security, princess or not." Raincloud exclaimed.

Shadow shuffled her hooves. "Yes, but... Well... Aunt Mirage, I never got to thank her."

Raincloud sighed, "Hmm, there was a time when my family name had the influence to arrange that. So, tell me Shadow, do you know what the social status is of a principal's granddaughter?"

"Um, not a very high one?"

"Correct, not very."





Stryker walked up behind S2. "What are you doing here?"

"I said that I would protect you, didn't I?" She said without turning to look at him.

"Aren't you overdoing it?" He asked.

"I've been wondering about something Stryker. Why are you Stryker?" She asked, ignoring his question.

"I don't have time to discuss philosophy with you." Stryker scoffed.

"You changed your family surname to Surveil, but you kept Stryker, the name that was given to you at birth." She closed her eyes and smirked. "Hm, how sentimental. You can't let go of the past."

"Well, S2 swings to the other extreme, doesn't it? It's not a humane name." Stryker narrowed his eyes as the wind stirred a few snowflakes.

S2 finally turned to him with a distant look in her eyes. "Stryker, do you know why snow is white?" Stryker didn't answer. S2 smiled. "Snow is white because it's forgotten what color it's supposed to be."





"All units are in position." Decas announced through the Knight-Mare communicators to Chrysalis.

Chrysalis prepped her Gloucester. "Understood. Masquerade will provide logistical support From G1 as planned. Have her command the medical group."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Princess Chrysalis." Mandible contacted through the hivemind.

"Mandible, let me guess. This is about Mirage, isn't it?" Chrysalis asked.

"Yes. she really should be in a government agency, not-"

"But she's being unusually stubborn about this. She told me she wanted to see actual combat for herself."





"What's that unit there holding to the rear?" Masquerade asked the three soldiers behind her.

"Our reserve force with an Eleven pilot." One answered.

"What? You mean that's the Lancelot?" She exclaimed, whirling around to face them with wide eyes.

"As a rule, Numbers aren't permitted to operate Knight-Mares but that particular unit is an exception." One of them said.

"The second princess is the patron of that unit. We have no say over their personal selection. But she said she wants them to have as many chances at real combat as possible." Another quipped in.





As the excavators sprayed dirt into the air, Zero walked up to the ridge where Rough Boulder stood.

The latter asked, "Are you really going through with this?"

"Our opponent is Chrysalis, whose forces are among the best Nymphia has to offer." Zero stated.

"Then why don't we cooperate with the Japone Liberation Front?" Boulder mumbled, turning to the side.

"What was that? Rough Boulder, don't you believe in me anymore?" Zero said with an edge of mock hurt.

Boulder turned to Zero and exclaimed, "What do you mean? I was the one who asked you to be our leader, don't you remember?"

"Then there's only one answer to give."

Boulder sighed and nodded. "Right."





"Viceroy, it's time." Decas said.

Chrysalis smirked as she answered, "Right. Commence operation." Her Knight-Mare was launched first, giving the signal for all units to deploy. Chrysalis sneered, "You, the Japone Liberation Front. You, who time has left behind. You, who have forgotten basic creature decency. You and your dream of a bygone golden age shall fall and rot to nothingness."





"We're under enemy attack?" The leader of the JLF, General Kytus, exclaimed. His green eyes were widened in surprise.

"Yes sir. The Nymphian forces have completely encircled the Nareina mountains. We've counted over a hundred units."





"It's begun." Zero said as several Nymphian airships appeared over the mountain.

The Black Knights all gaped at the sheer number.

"Huh? What the bloody Tartarus?!" Eclipse exclaimed, turning to Zero. "You've gotta be kidding, Zero!" He pointed with a hoof. "Those troops coming in have this whole area totally surrounded. There's no way out!"

"We've already been cut off. Our only chance of surviving now is to fight." Zero said calmly.

"What? We can't fight the Nymphians!" Torpid exclaimed.

"Let me get this straight. We're surrounded and you want us to fight them head-on?!" Eclipse yelled. 

"And we'll be fighting against Chrysalis. Her forces are far stronger than any we've encountered." Syphilis added.

"Correct. It would be a miracle if we win this." Zero agreed unflinchingly. Noling could tell what he was thinking; his emotions were a sea of calm.

Rough Boulder whirled around. "Zero, what are you saying?"

"Even Messiahs need to perform miracles if they're to be acknowledged. Therefore, we have to produce our own miracle, don't we?"

Eclipse yelled, "Now look, pulling this off isn't gonna be cheap! The price could be our lives! I knew it wasn't sane to make you our leader!" He began pulling out his gun and the metal of his wing blades reflected the sun's pale rays. "It should be me!"

Zero pulled out a gun and pointed it. Everyone froze with wide eyes. Silence descended.

Zero then turned the gun towards himself with a simple flick of the rotary bar. Still, the silence remained, if not becoming thicker.

"Our path of retreat has been cut off. If you think you can win without me then shoot me! Someone... anyone."

Everyone glanced briefly at Eclipse, but he too, was frozen with shock. A tense moment passed.

"Since you've joined the Black Knights, you have only two choices: You may either live with me or you may perish with me." Stryker narrowed his eyes.





"We're completely surrounded and our underground reserve forces were captured all at once." One stallion reported through the radio.

A mare clocked in as well. "General Kytus, we've received the message from Chrysalis's forces demanding our surrender."

"Imbecile. If we fall here then we've lost and the whole resistance movement falls with us!" Kytus exclaimed.

"Then general, do we engage the enemy in battle or do we dig in?" A unicorn mare to his left asked.

"What about Taiyang? Where is he?"

"He's gone to Sythi. To get the custom Burais." The mare replied.

"The Four Holy Swords are traveling with him, too." A earth pony stallion to his right added.

The mare frowned. "If they're on schedule, they should be returning soon, but..."

"Taiyang won't make it in time." The stallion finished.

"Prepare to send out the Burais. We'll break the encirclement on one side and evacuate. We'll show them the Japonese spirit and pride. This is our moment of truth." Kytus said.





Masquerade watched with narrowed eyes as the soldiers laid out the plan to her. 

One drone said, "We believe that the enemy's main base is located in the mountains here, but we haven't pinpointed it yet. However until we obtain a list of their collaborators, we can't burn down everything with our aerial bombing."

The second took over. "The enemy is engaging our encirclement, and they'll try to breakthrough with some point. From there we'll be able to ascertain where their base is."

The third pointed at the map with a hoof. "Our forces are divided into three fronts. The units let by General Decas here," He pointed to the right front. "-General Aeces here," He pointed at the middle front. "-and Viceroy Chrysalis here." His hoof landed on the left front. "As for our flanking forces-" The screen began to fritz out. "What?"

"It's enemy ECM." The first drone said as they looked out the windows.





Decas announced to his front, "The main enemy force should be coming out anytime now. We're switching to ECCM mode, link up on channel alfa four. The enemy, what are we calling them again?"

"Burais, sir."

Decas smirked. "Right, they're rather like pseudo Glasgows, so watch out for them."

"Yes, my lord."





Chrysalis smirked. "How clever, they turned this whole mountain into a fortress."

"Your Highness, please fall back." Mandible said.

"Mandible, don't treat me as though I'm another one of your nymphs." She sped ahead.

"Princess Chrysalis!"

Three Burais spotted Chrysalis. 

"It's Chrysalis!" One panicked.

"Don't panic. Take out their leader." They begun firing on her. She dodged their attacks and thrust her lance forward, scattering them and impaling one of them.

"Insolent worms!" She exclaimed, taking out the other two with her lance. She launched a slash harken at a tank nearby as well.

Mandible narrowed his eyes. "Right, well then, I'll cover you from the rear."

"Hm," She smirked before looking for more Burais. "Well, Chrysalis is here! Is there no one who will challenge me?"





"What's wrong? Challenge me and try to take me down." Zero said.

Eclipse scoffed, turning away as he muttered, "All right, fine. Do what you want."

"We acknowledge you as our leader, Zero." Syphilis said.

"Thank you very much. I appreciate it." Stryker smirked.





"An evacuation order has been issued for this area. Anyone remaining must evacuate at once. I repeat. An evacuation order has been..."

"Why did they choose this place?" A nymph researcher asked.

"If the military should find the experimental data on Code R, it's all over." Her partner said.

"Being inside the terrorist area, we thought it would be difficult for them to discover us." A third member entered.

"This was all General Acadis's decision, so there's no use in complaining about it." The nymph said, frowning.





"They're too fragile." Chrysalis sneered as she took out yet another Burai.

"The enemy seems to be concentrated over here. This may be the target. Split up now." Decas commanded his attacking front on the other side of the mountain. He and another Gloucester ducked behind large boulders while firing whereas the other two went head-on, firing their Knight-Mare guns.





"No good. Our second attack wave had no effect." The mare said.

Kytus gritted his teeth. "Their sheer dominance is insurmountable."





"General Decas, based on the analysis of the enemy's movements, I've determined that the entrance to the JLF main base is that lodge located up on the mountain." One of Decas's soldiers said.

"I believe the proper word for this situation is 'Bingo'." Decas smirked.

"Well, to be more precise sir-"

"Oh just call it in already, Mr. Literal." He said. A flare went up.

"Is that... Decas?" Chrysalis asked.

"So, that's where the main enemy base is located?" Mandible said.

"Right. We'll be securing our position here."

He asked, "Are you sure about this?"

Chrysalis chuckled. "I don't need to steal achievements from my subordinates. Send the reserve forces to back up Decas. Looks like he'll be getting another medal."

Stryker placed his mask down beside his seat as he shifted into his natural form again and closed the manual. "Impressive as always Chrysalis, a very logical deployment. However excellent though it is, it's also easy to read, as is your location." He tapped the screen with a hoof.





"I thought the reserve units were supposed to be assigned to General Decas." Crescent asked.

Ember turned to him. "That's right, they were, but our unit has to secure the rear line of Viceroy Chrysalis."

He exclaimed in astonishment, "You mean this is the rear line?! You can't get any further away from the battlefield!" He stamped a hoof down in frustration. "How am I going to redeem my reputation out here if I'm not even near the fighting?!"





"We've lost contact with Nyea's unit."

"No response from sector three."

"Major Tergo has been killed."

"Kato and Kito are gone, too."

"What about Niya?"

General Kytus clenched his teeth in frustration. 'Where's Taiyang? If only he were here the divine wind would blow. We'd have another miracle of Itsukustall.'





Taiyang and the Four Holy Swords smashed their way through the barrier. The soldiers in front yelled out, "Look out!"

Arques asked Taiyang, "Sir, don't you think this is a little extreme?"

"Arques, Cyeas, prep the custom Burais ASAP. Tell Caeca and Slit behind us to do the same. Traffic is blocked off all around Nareina. They've already begun to attack. I just pray that we are in time."





As the units made their way up the mountain, Decas smirked. "Now any resistance still remaining in Colony 11..."

"...will soon be finished." Chrysalis said.





"Right, all preparations have now been completed. Black Knights, prepare to move out." Stryker said through the intercom.

"Damn it, we have no choice."

"I don't wanna die."

"We'll make a miracle happen."

"Yeah, we'll have Zero with us."

Stryker's Burai turned to the others. "We the Black Knights are going to launch a surprise attack on the Nymphians from the summit of the mountain. Per my instructions, you will charge on most down toward point three. And the intent of this operation is to capture Chrysalis, third Princess of Nymphia. Our breakthrough route will be opened by the Guren MK-II."

"Sirocco, use penetrating electrode number three, settle things with one blow." He said, turning to the Guren.

"Got it." The right hand of the Guren was placed on the number three excavator. "Output confirmed. Wave surger level is ready and holding." She took a deep breath. "Activating gun bullet now." She pressed the wave surger button, sending a massive beam down the hole.

Sirocco breathed deeply as they waited for an effect. After a few moments, the ground began to shake and crack. "It worked!" She exclaimed with a smile.

The land began to shake and burst, causing great amounts of dirt and grit to quickly crash down the mountain. The giant landslide came down the mountain, submerging Nymphian and JLF Knight-Mares and tanks alike. S2 turned from the small outpost and narrowed her eyes as the landslide continued on.

"Woah... What's happening?!" Kytus exclaimed as the very building began to violently toss.

"Is this an earthquake?" A Nymphian pilot exclaimed.

"At a time like this? Aah!"

"What the buck?!"





"What's happening?" Masquerade exclaimed.

"Impossible! How could a landslide come out of nowhere?!" One of the drones exclaimed.

"Aeces and Decas's units are getting wiped out!"





"Climb! Get to higher ground!" Decas yelled.

"Status report!" Chrysalis ordered as she watched the landslide sweep by.

"We're still trying to confirm."

Mandible exclaimed, "Your Highness, fall back. You're in danger there."

"I don't care. Forget about me. Find out about Decas. And where's Aeces?"





The JLF stronghold shook madly as the landslide struck. 

"Will this place hold together?" Kytus asked.

"This center area should make it through." The mare said.





"Oh my, at this rate they'll be swept all the way to the bottom." Gear said.

"These heat readings are abnormal. Do you believe a hydrovolcanic eruption was artificially induced?" Azure asked.

Gear shook his head. "Impossible. Unless of course, someone's used Resilence's Radiant Wave surger."

"Hey, has something happened?" Greymane asked.

Gear waved it off with a hoof. "It is has nothing to do with us. So just relax and continue waiting."

Greymane frowned, but complied nonetheless.





The landslide swept away any Knight-Mares, soldiers, and tanks in its destructive path.

Stryker smiled, his fanged mouth twisting up in a devious smirk. 'It's even more destructive than I anticipated. We did succeed in isolating Chrysalis's unit, but I guess we could've been a bit more accurate. Perhaps I should've consulted a physics teacher. Hm... Or ask Shadow to tutor me in probability. Heh, think of that, the niece tutoring the uncle.'





"New enemy force confirmed moving in from the summit. Carapace's unit is moving to engage them."

"Hoping to take advantage of all the confusion, are they?" Chrysalis narrowed her eyes.

"Emergency call from Carapace unit!" 

Chrysalis frowned. "What's wrong?"

"It's not the Japone Liberation Front, they think it's, the Black Knights!"

Chrysalis's eyes widened. "What? Then it's-?"

"Zero. How dare he show up here, Zero!" Crescent yelled, charging his Knight-Mare into the fray.

"Lord Crescent, you can't just abandon your post!" Ember exclaimed.

"This requires drastic measures. If you want glory in life, then follow me!"





"Chrysalis has only limited reinforcements headed her way. Smash right through them!" Stryker commanded.

"Yeah, we can do this now." They fired on the advancing units.

Near a cliffside, Syphilis and a few others hid.

Syphilis narrowed her eyes. "All right everybody? You know the game plan. Our job is to watch their backs. Get ready? Fire!"

Missives fired at a tank, causing it to topple and explode. 





"The enemy's taken out Carapace's unit? If I can finish this before Zero reaches Princess Chrysalis, then I'll be golden." Crescent exclaimed.

"Lord Crescent." Ember spoke through the Knight-Mare radio.

"Ember, you came. I knew that you would." Crescent grinned.

'Burn the bridges behind you and keep your back to the wall. Classical strategies remain effective ones, don't they?' Stryker thought.

"Zero!" Crescent exclaimed, firing on two with him.

"Ugh, damn it!" Two pods shot off.

Crescent stopped. "Is Zero here? If he is, then face me. Come forward and fight Crescent Blade!"

Stryker sneered at him. "Well, well, it's been a while Crescent. So you're still in the army? I'd love to stay and catch up, but I'm afraid I don't have time right this minute, Calico Colt."

Crescent's ruby eye twitched. "Grr... Calico?! Die!"

He charged towards Stryker's Burai, but the Guren landed out of nowhere and struck his Knight-Mare gun away with its right hand. Crescent was reverted to using the stun-tonfas.

"Lord Crescent!" Ember exclaimed.

"Stay out of this. This is my duel." He growled.

"But look at it, I've never seen a Knight-Mare like that before! Is it possible that the Elevens have-"

"You think Elevens are capable of such technology?" Crescent asked. He charged it, striking with the stun-tonfas. However, it dodged each attack with speed and precision.

"It's fast. This thing, is this what destroyed Carapace's unit?" Crescent exclaimed as the Guren grabbed the Sutherland.

"Yeah that's right, Nymphia. We can finally go up against you on equal footing head on. And our counterattack begins with this baby: the Guren MK-lI!" Sirocco raised the Guren's right hand, ready to strike.

"Oh buck! There's something on its right hand. But if I keep my distance?" He backed up, only for the right arm to extend and latch onto the Sutherland's head. "What's this?"

Sirocco narrowed her eyes. "Nothing personal." She pressed the wave surger button.

As the Sutherland began to buckle and break, Crescent exclaimed, "Ah... What- What the buck's happening?!"

"Lord Crescent, eject!" Ember said.

"I can't run now. Zero's right in front of me. He's standing right here!" The Sutherland sent a warning alert as blood began to bleed from his nostrils. "Damn it! The auto-eject! Don't you dare activate! I can still get Zero! I know it! I know I can still get him! Gah!" The systems all shut as electricity frizzed and a loud warning 'beep' could be heard.

The beaten pod shot off at the last second. The Guren's arm retracted again as the Sutherland exploded.

Sirocco smirked. "I won't lose! Not with this. Guren MK-II!"

Ember gaped in shock. "She defeated Lord Crescent! Who are the Black Knights? Who are they, these warriors?"

Stryker narrowed his eyes. 'All our tasks at hoof have been cleared. The pieces are in position. Even Chrysalis will lose with only limited allied reinforcements. I'll capture her, then at last, I'll learn the truth about my father's death. And once she's my prisoner, I win! Barring any unforeseen events, my Black Knights will claim victory!'

In the distance, Chrysalis saw the plume of smoke from the explosion. "Grr..."
> Act Xl: Nareina Continued
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"What are our losses?" Decas asked.

"I've only got a signal from 20% of our forces."

Decay's eyes widened. "20%? Our command structure can't sustain this."





"This is the Maskra unit. I can't raise General Aeces. It looks like the second division has been wiped out!"

Greymane turned to face Gear. "What's going on?"

"Hmm, it's very unnatural."

"Unnatural?" Greymane questioned.

"There seems to be an unconfirmed report that the Black Knights have appeared." Gear said.

"Zero..." Greymane grimaced.

"Congratulations, this is our chance." Gear exclaimed.

Greymane widened his eyes. "Gear!"

"You're so rash." Azure said, smacking him with rolled-up newspaper.

Gear rubbed his head. "Why is that?"

Azure smiled innocently. "Would you like a detailed explanation?"

Gear turned away. "Eh... no, I'll pass... Anyway, while the high command's still gathering data, all we can do is play by ear, right?"





Masquerade narrowed her eyes, but held her tongue as the battle progressed.

"Is the viceroy safe?" One of the drones asked.

"Yes, she was outside the mud flow. But the units guarding her flank were lost. That means she's totally isolated." Another chittered.

"Then, what the bloody Tartarus are those purebloods doing?!" Masquerade exploded, unable to keep silent any longer. 

The drones all exchanged worried glances. Princess Masquerade had a rage that was rumored to be as sudden and venomous as a cobra's bite. The forces had better quickly turn the tide...





Kiquy's Sutherland began breaking down because of the Radiant Wave Surger. He pulled the controls, but none worked. "C'mon, move! I can't lose to Elevens. I am a Nymphian!"

"Lord Kiquy!" Ember exclaimed as the Sutherland exploded.

"All right. Guren Mk-II, move to planned point. We'll break through the rest of their line and take Chrysalis." Stryker commanded.

"Right." Sirocco nodded and broke off from the group.

"Got it. Let's pull this off." The rest continued on their route.

"Fight to the death!" Ember yelled, taking command of the purebloods. They fired on the Black Knights. Torpid's Burai lost its leg.

"Ugh...Ahh!"

"Torpid, you okay?" Eclipse asked, stopping.

Torpid opened his hatch. "Yeah..."

Left and right, Black Knights and Nymphians sustained injuries.

Stryker narrowed his eyes. 'That's right. Move swiftly. If you survive this battle, you can call yourself a true warrior. And afterward...'





Masquerade and the three soldiers listened as the report came in. One chittered, "The purebloods are holding their ground?"

"Yes sir. Under Lady Ember's command."

"Then use the moment for the viceroy to retreat. Send air cover." He commanded.

"No, wait! Something's approaching the viceroy from behind!" Masquerade exclaimed.





"All units, are you ready?" Taiyang asked.

"Yes sir." The Four Holy Swords answered in unison.

Taiyang grinned. "All right. Deploy the custom Burais."

"Deploy."

"Listen carefully. If this landslide was artificial, it should allow us to hit Chrysalis from behind. Capture Chrysalis now. Take revenge for what happened seven years ago!"

"Yes sir. By the honor of the Four Holy Swords!"

"What?" Chrysalis turned around to see Taiyang's Knight-Mare.

"Protect her Highness!." Mandible commanded. Taiyang and the Four Holy Swords slashed through the defense.

"Surround them." Taiyang said.

"The Japone Liberation Front?" Chrysalis said.

"Slash and encircle!" Taiyang ordered, cutting down a Sutherland.

"Right!"

"These are not just any Burais." Taiyang smirked.

Arques laughed. "This reminds me of seven years ago."

"But it's different now. This time we have Knight-Mares as well." Cyeas said.

"Your highness, leave them to us. Please,  you have to withdraw for now." Mandible said, clashing sword and lance with Taiyang.

"Very well. I know a way to turn this around. Mandible."

"Yes?"

"After you drive them back, meet me over at point nine."

Mandible narrowed his eyes. "Nine? I understand."

"Chrysalis!" Arques and Slit charged at her.

"You weaklings!" She drove her lance forward, creating enough of an escape route for her.





"All right. Keep this up and crash Zero!" Ember said as the purebloods kept firing. Zero and a few Burais took cover behind boulders.

"Maybe we should get Sirocco over here." Eclipse said.

"No, if we break formation now, our plan is ruined." Stryker said. 'This is turning grim. If it goes on we'll be fighting her royal guard next.'

"Zero, Chrysalis is under attack down below." Sirocco clocked in.

"What's that? Which team made the move?" Stryker asked.

"It's not our group. Looks like the JLF."

'Someone else understands my intent? How excellent. They'll hold off the royal guard, which is just what we need.' He smirked.





"Sorry for the late arrival, general." Taiyang said, checking in with the JLF.

Kytus exclaimed, "Taiyang! We've been waiting."

"General, please send all remaining units to join me here."

"Can you beat them?" Kytus asked.

Taiyang nodded. "Yes. But only if we can hold off their main force. We have a chance now to turn the entire war around."

Mandible gritted his teeth. 'I've heard Colony 11 has a formidable commander, their shining knight. Is this him? Taiyang?'

"Fine. Let him try me." He said, his Gloucester taking up a attack stance.





Several JLF tanks began firing at Decas and his remaining forces. "Gah... at a time like this?!" 

"What do we do?"

"Fall back! We have to find a way to link up with Viceroy Chrysalis." Decas commanded as they fired back.

"But sir. Their main base is right in front of us. And if we're hit from behind, we'll be wiped out!"

"You fool! If Princess Chrysalis is taken by these Elevens, this entire battle is lost!"

"Y-yes sir." The mountain crumbled beneath the Knight-Mare's feet. "Whoa!"





"Sub-Viceroy Masquerade, you must act now to prevent disaster. Send in the G1!"

Masquerade shook as she choked out a single word. "No."

"But Commander Mandible is completely pinned down. He can't get to Chrysalis. Her life is at stake here!"

"You think I don't know that?!" She bared her fangs at the drone, who flinched in fear. "We just can't. There's a field hospital right here and civilians. They've been evacuated from all over the area and brought to this point. Besides, the G1 base is a command center. The viceroy ordered me not to move it, no matter what. If it weren't for the number of civilians here, I would've done so a long time ago, orders be damned!"

The drones gaped at the princess.

The screen suddenly received a message from Gear Spring, breaking the tense silence.

"Well, hello there. The ASEEC crew reporting for duty."

"Insolence!" One of the drones bared his fangs. "You are irregulars. Your orders are to keep silent and observe."

Azure dipped her head respectfully. "Yes sir, normally we would but-"

"But all of this waiting around is boring." Gear said with a wave of his hoof.

"Sub-Viceroy Masquerade, I beseech you. Please order us into the battle." Greymane said.

"How transparent. You just want the glory of rescuing the viceroy." One of the drones sneered. "Our whole army is out there. You think one unit is going to change things, with an Eleven pilot?"

Masquerade frowned.

Gear replied, "Right, right. But what's the harm in trying? Since it's just one unit it won't look bad for you if we lose, right?" 

Masquerade gasped as Greymane mouthed something to her.

"Are you listening?" Gear asked.

'Mirage...' 

"Yes, I understand. Please do it." She nodded, her decision made. The drones snapped their heads towards her, their eyes wide.

"We got it." Gear smiled.

"Thank you very much." Azure bowed her head.

Greymane nodded. "Right. I won't fail."





Taiyang backed off to recover. "Damn. He's fierce."

Mandible threw a chaos mine up. 

"Scatter!" Taiyang said.

"Lieutenant Colonel, what about Chrysalis?" Caeca asked.

"If Zero's the pony I think he is, he's moving into position right now. We've got to trust him."

"What? Zero's on the move?" Mandible exclaimed.

"Right. We'll keep going and come over and back you up." Ember said.

"Never mind that now. Just track Zero." He said as he blocked a sword with his lance.

"Yes sir. This is his projected course." Ember said, his screen tracking the movement.

Mandible's eyes widened. 'The princess was trying to trap Taiyang. Now there's a Knight-Mare waiting for her.'

"Princess Chrysalis!" He exclaimed through the hivemind.

Chrysalis's Gloucester stood in front of the Guren. "...I got the message, Mandible."





"Advanced weapon system Z01 Lancelot. Utilize sand-panels to climb liquified slope at max combat speed and rescue the viceroy." Azure said.

"Yes, understood." Greymane replied.

"Greymane, there's one thing I want to ask you." Gear asked.

"What's that?"

"More than anything, you hate when creatures die. Yet, you are in the military. Why is that?"

"I'm in the military to stop creatures from dying." Greymane said.

"And that self-contradiction will get you killed someday." Azure grabbed his lab coat collar with her magic. "Uh, sorry?" She smacked him with a hoof before releasing him.

"Lancelot, now launching..." The Lancelot shot out and headed to point 9.





"Chrysalis!" Sirocco yelled, charging the viceroy.

"Lowborn scum!" Chrysalis thrust her lance forward, only for the Guren to jump behind her. Sirocco tried to grab her with the Guren's right arm, but Chrysalis used the slash harkens to pull herself upwards.

"Grr!" Sirocco growled.

'What's this? That's not just a customized unit.' Chrysalis thought wildly. She whipped her head around as shots were fired from the opposite direction.

Stryker pressed the intercom button. "Can you hear me, Chrysalis? This is checkmate."

"Zero." Chrysalis growled.

"Yes. Should we cerebrate our reunion? Of course, you'll have to surrender to us first. And after that, there are a few questions I want to ask you. And in case you're wondering, your reinforcements won't get here in time. I win, Chrysalis." Stryker narrowed his eyes.

"You are a fool, Zero." She turned to the Guren. "This one. If I take this one out, I'm free and clear!" She fired her Knight-Mare gun at it. The Guren dodged them with ease. Chrysalis fired a slash harken. The Guren grabbed the wire and cut it.

"You've got some moves!" Chrysalis said, using her lance once more.

"Hm." Sirocco grabbed the lance with the Guren's right arm, and used the Radiant Wave Surger. 

"Huh?" Chrysalis let go of the lance, letting it fly into the Guren. As soon as she did however, bullets were fired from behind, destroying her gun. "Ugh! Coward! Attacking from behind!"

"Really? And your own attack methods don't show acts of cowardice?" Stryker sneered. Chrysalis gnashed her teeth together.





"Ugh... They've launched a pincer assault before we could regroup. I'll never be able to reach the Princess now." Decas exclaimed as tanks fired them from front and rear.

Ember and the purebloods were easily cut down by the JLF. She ejected, but the others weren't as lucky. Mandible held off Slit.

"Lieutenant Colonel, we've crashed the enemy reinforcements." Slit reported.

"Right. Switch to Spinning Life Or Death formation." Taiyang nodded.

"Yes, sir." The Four Holy Swords answered. Slit backed off from Mandible.

Mandible gritted his teeth. 'If this goes on, Princess Chrysalis will be-'

"Mandible." His eyes widened at his princess's tone. "Mandible, my knight. You and Decas protect Mirage."

"Your highness!" Mandible exclaimed.

"I won't surrender."

The Lancelot raced to get to point 9.

"As an imperial princess, I'll fight to the last." Chrysalis said, eyes narrowed.

"Princess Chrysalis!" Mandible exclaimed.

"Hm. She's so predictable." Stryker said contemptibly.

A blast shook the ground and stirred dust everywhere.

"Huh?!" Stryker and Sirocco exclaimed. The dust settled to reveal the Lancelot, the VARIS in its hand.

"Oh my!" Azure exclaimed.

Gear chuckled. "As reckless as ever, eh? He's used the VARIS to clear the obstacles in his path."

"Viceroy, are you all right? I came to help, your Highness." Greymane said.

"Special Core? Who authorized you?" She asked.

Mandible heard the commotion and sighed. 'He can get her out of there. If it's the Lancelot unit.'

Eclipse asked, "Hey, isn't that Knight-Mare...?"

"Yeah. The one from Shineighku and Lake Kawagaitchi." Rough Boulder said.

Enraged, Stryker yelled, "Again?! It's him again?!" He raised his Knight-Mare gun and fired. The Lancelot put up its shield. "Mk-II, destroy that unit immediately! It's interfered with us enough!"

"Right." Sirocco nodded. The VARIS fired three shots at it, but the Guren dodged with great speed. As it got closer, the Lancelot tried to kick the Guren. The Guren blocked it with its right arm as it activated the Radiant Wave Surger.

"Huh?" Greymane's eyes widened. He released the sand-panel and backed up.

"You handle that thing. I'll take out Zero." Chrysalis said. She fired her slash harkens; one decapitated Rough Boulder's Knight-Mare arm.

"Now, you'll pay for Shineighku!" Sirocco yelled. The Lancelot kicked it back and fired the VARIS again, but the Guren swerved to its right. Dodging and coming closer, it prepared its right arm.

Greymane exclaimed, "Huh? It's as fast as the Lancelot?!"

"If I could take it down..." Sirocco growled.

The Lancelot sent the other sand-panel at the Guren, which swatted it away like a fly. The Guren leapt over the Lancelot, aiming for its legs, but the Lancelot jumped away, firing its slash harkens in the process. The Guren blocked it with its right arm.

"Is that all you've got?!" She yelled. The Lancelot and Guren got closer to the edge. The Lancelot swung its swords, but the Guren grabbed one of them and used the right arm to explode it. Now in close range, the Lancelot fired the VARIS. The right arm of the Guren activated the Radiant Wave Surger, clashing with the attack.

Greymane gaped. "Blocked?!" 

The edge of the cliff could no longer support the weight, and it crumbled, the Guren falling down. Eclipse and Boulder jumped down to help.

"Hey, are you okay?" Rough Boulder asked.

"I am." Sirocco replied.

"Boulder!" Stryker said.

"Yes?"

"How's the Guren Mk-ll?"

"The right hand is wrecked. We've got to fix it." Boulder said.

Stryker gritted his teeth. "Grr... Retreat!"

"Huh?"

"All Black Knights move to your escape points. This has become a war of attrition. Retreat!" His Burai used its slash harkens to climb the ravine and retreat. Chrysalis's Gloucester tried to follow, but its power levels were depleted.

The Lancelot came up. "Viceroy?"

"Go after Zero." Chrysalis said. Greymane blinked in surprise.

"But-"

"My energy filler is just drained. Go!" She ordered.

Greymane nodded. "Right!" The Lancelot turned and sped off.





"Ugh... I'm hating this retreat thing." Eclipse said.

"We thrashed 'em. But if we kept pushing..." Rough Boulder trailed off.

Eclipse scoffed. "Face it. We left the JLF there as bait, but we ran away."

Sirocco grimaced. "I hate it when you say it like that but..."

Rough Boulder narrowed his eyes. "Yeah, but creatures aren't just pieces in a chess game."

Stryker glanced back to see the Lancelot on his tail. He fired at it, but it easily dodged. 

"Zero wouldn't think like that. If he did, he'd end up using us as pawns, too." Boulder grimaced.

The Lancelot fired the VARIS, and it destroyed a leg.

He shook his head. "I don't believe he'd do that. His rage is real."

Stryker transformed and grabbed his mask as the escape pod ejected. 

"He hates Nymphia as much as we do. I think a creature who knows rage also knows sorrow." Rough Boulder finished.

Zero stood before the Lancelot, the wind blowing his cloak as the only sound.

Stryker's slitted pupils shrunk as he breathed unevenly. 'What can I do now?!'

Greymane spoke into his earpiece. "Special Core head trailer, found Zero. Going in for capture."

'Zero, I owe you. I know that you've saved a lot of creatures. I know there're lots of Elevens supporting you from the shadows. However, your methods are... very wrong.' He pointed the VARIS at Zero. Stryker gritted his teeth.

Both widened their eyes when a familiar face flew down.

Greymane gasped. 'That's... Is that the alicorn from the capsule in Shineighku?'

S2 hovered in between the Lancelot and Zero. She narrowed her slitted eyes.

"Stop now. Don't even think about hurting him."

"S2?" Zero said.

"She's working with Zero?" Greymane said.

S2 lit her horn and closed her eyes.

"Wait. What are you doing? You're challenging a Knight-Mare?" Zero exclaimed.

"It's a problem if you die. It'll be indirect contact, but it's worth a try." She said, her aura growing red. She opened her eyes wide; white light streamed from them. A Geass symbol on her chest, previously veiled by her cloak, glowed.

Greymane took a short intake of air.

He felt like he was falling through space. Several scenes flashed by. And at last, he stopped. But what greeted him was not pleasant. His eyes widened as the lone figure in the room turned. "Father. You're dead. That's impossible." He began to take steps back as his father stepped toward him. "No, I didn't mean to... No, I, I just..."

Zero flew up to S2 with his leathery wings. "Hey, are you using Geass on him?"

Her eyes still streaming white and her horn still glowing, she answered, "I'm just feeding him some shock images, I can't tell what he's seeing, though. Anyway, you've got time to get away now."

"What about you?" He asked.

"I can't move yet. You go first."

"Don't be foolish. I can't keep owing you favors." He put a hoof on her shoulder. His eyes widened.

S2 exclaimed, "No, not now!" Her aura began turning a splotchy black and blue as her eyes began emitting a wispy, purple smoke.

Stryker passed through a scene of a mob. "What? This is different." A shadowy figure: King Sombra. A dark forest. Two other alicorns, both with slitted eyes. He recognized the older one from ponylore: Nightmare Moon. The younger's form flickered. Stryker's eyes widened. "That's..."

Tears streamed from S2's now closed eyes. The smoke and aura didn't stop. "Stop. Stop it. Stay out of my mind."

A young S2, in the ruins of a castle, crying. A changeling nymph with the Geass symbol on her chest.

"Stop it. No, I'm not..." The tears kept flowing.

Two phoenixes with her, laughing, playing, helping...

"You're unveiling me." She squeezed her eyes shut.

"I had to do it." Greymane exclaimed panickedly.

Stryker gasped. The Geass symbol, the restless undead, the subconscious of creatures...

S2 snapped her eyes open. A giant surge of dark magic exploded from her horn into the sky, snapping Stryker/Zero into reality. The Lancelot suddenly began firing the VARIS everywhere.

"What's happening to him?" Zero asked, regaining his senses.

She yelled, "Idiot. Get away now!" She gasped as a stone edge pierced her chest.

"S2!" Stryker exclaimed. More and more rock was thrown up by the VARIS.

"Hurry!" S2 shouted just before a stone knocked her on the head. Her wings stopped beating, and she began falling, blood still staining her chest.





"Damn you!" Cyeas yelled as Mandible escaped.

Taiyang ordered, "Don't follow! I have no idea what Zero is trying to do now. Our only course of action is to get to the General and get him out of here."

"Your Highness, I'll be right there." Mandible said through the hivemind as he headed towards her location.

"Mandible, relay this message to all units. Prepare to retreat."

Mandible was about to protest before Chrysalis said, "There's no reason to waste the lives of any more of my soldiers. Stay in formation and fall back cautiously." 

Chrysalis sighed to herself, "We have to face facts. We've been defeated this time."





The Black Knights cheered as the sun began to set.

"You see, Nymphia sure had its hooves full just dealing with the Liberation Front." Eclipse said with a cocky grin.

"Yeah, that gave us the chance we needed to escape." Rough Boulder said.

Sirocco exclaimed, "Hey, where's Zero?" Boulder turned to her. "I can't raise his Burai. You don't think he's been captured, do you?" She frowned.





In a nearby cave...

Stryker, in his natural form, narrowed his eyes. S2 lay unconscious, her cloak and necklace cast to the side.

'This mare, she can't be just a pony. She recovers from wounds in ways that are beyond normal, even for an alicorn. Alicorns are just long-lived immortals anyway, not truly immortal. She was shot in the head in Shineighku and yet... Xirex confined her for his private experiments so she's not connected with Nymphia.'

S2 began to murmur something.

Stryker's eyes widened. "What?" He put an ear close to her muzzle.

"Skye..."

"...You finally called me by my real name." She smiled.

Stryker fell back, his eyes wide in shock. "What...?" He whispered the name to himself, "Skye..."





"So, Zero escaped again." Chrysalis grimaced.

"The Japone Liberation Front hammered our defenses, and he slipped away in the confusion." Mandible said.

"Despicable. Using someone else to cover his movements. ...Oh, what about Greymane?" She questioned.

"He's safe now. We had to wait till his energy filler ran out to finally stop him."

"Stop him? From what? Was there a problem with his unit?"

Mandible nodded. "Apparently. It was going berserk."

"A failure unworthy of my adopted cousin's forces." Chrysalis shook her head.

Gear, Azure, and Masquerade all gazed at a still traumatized Greymane, the latter two in shocked worry and the former in mildly confused surprise.





S2 stirred and sat up. Instantly, she put a hoof to her neck. Finding her necklace not there, her eyes darted around until she found it and used her magic to put it back on again.

"I removed the shrapnel and cleaned the wound." Stryker said without turning around.

She said coldly, "That wasn't necessary."

"Apparently not." He shrugged.

"So there was no point in protecting me at all. Your pride always gets in the way at the most ridiculous moments."

He smirked and glanced back. "But then I learned something from it."

"Skye."

Her eyes widened.

"That's your name, isn't it?" He asked.

She tried brushing her momentary shakiness off by scoffing, "You have a bad habit of eavesdropping."

"Well, it's a good name. It's a lot more pony-like than S2."

"Oh, that's a joke, as if I want to be more pony-like. After all, I, I..." Stryker looked back as she faltered. "I'm nothing but a tyrant's daughter. A mistake. A-A freak... So what's the use of it? A name?" Tears fell from her eyes.

Stryker turned around, but didn't meet her eyes. "It's a good time to say this. Yes, you saved me today. You did that before, and then gave me Geass." She looked at him in confusion. "That's why, I'll only say this once." He turned away again. "Thank you."

Her eyes widened. "No one's ever thanked me before." S2, rather Skye, murmured. 





A battered Crescent limped in front of the researchers' trucks. 

"Ugh... Another soldier." A stallion groaned as they stopped.

"No wonder our battalions fell apart." A nymph commented.

"I swear I'm not Calico. Zero!" Crescent's eyes rolled back into his head as he fell.





Stryker stood in his complete Zero outfit. "Looks like our ride's here."

Sirocco ran in. "Zero, are you okay? The others went on ahead and- Who's that?" She asked, pointing a hoof at S2, who looked in peak physical condition.

"Oh, you needn't worry. She's a, very important friend." Both S2 and Sirocco were surprised at that. Zero turned to S2. "S2, I don't know why snow is white. But I still think snow is beautiful. I don't hate it."

S2 smiled understandingly. "I see."
> Act Xll: An Ally Gained, A Life Lost
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"The Japone Liberation Front was nearly wiped out by your Nareina operation, viceroy. Now, we're hunting down the survivors, one by one."

Chrysalis narrowed her eyes at the drone from her position at the head of the table. "Are you being sarcastic? We're barely pulling our forces back together after that fiasco."

The drone shook his head rapidly. "No, I- I didn't mean to-"

Mandible didn't let him finish. "The Occupation Government is responsible for this. They've done nothing about Colony 11's subways and mining railways. In the ghettoes, they falsify the registries and property deeds as the rebellion spreads unchallenged."

"Ah, the subway tunnels stretch over the whole country. We can't just fill them all in. We don't have the budget."

Mandible growled, "The terrorists are using them as their strike bases and escape routes."

"B-But, Prince Xirex instructed us-" Chrysalis glared at him. "Ah, he said forcing them would fuel the rebellion giving the Chineighse Federation an excuse to attack."

"They've already got their excuse. Zero is growing stronger and bolder everyday." She scowled.

Decas cleared his throat, gaining everyone's attention. "Vice-Minister. Internal Affairs has appointed special group of the Elevens to self-govern this area, isn't that right? A group who are called the NAC."

Many of the Nymphians in the room blinked in surprise and confusion. "Huh?"

"When we stormed Nareina, we looked for the evidence of the NAC's conspiracies. But it was buried in the landslide. Still our suspicions remain high." He turned his head towards Chrysalis. "If we suppress them now..."

"Hm, a group of blue-bloods and plutocrats. Relics of their dismal past." Chrysalis said.

The minister stood from his chair, panic in his eyes. "Oh, wait! please! These are just rumors. There's no evidence of that at all. If you suppress them, then the Elevens' economy will certainly collapse. That means no tax revenue to send to the homeland. Also, it's a prime directive of the empire that Numbers should take care of their own kind."

"And what have you done to find the Black Knights?" She said scathingly.

"We analyzed the shield machine they left, showing Zero was behind the Nareina operation. But that's all we've got. You can't squeeze information out of corpses."

Chrysalis shook her head. "So you can't catch Zero and you don't want us to hit Sythi. Do you know the word 'incompetent', minister? It's for creatures who can't get results."





"So, the Nymphian viceroy has gone this far already." The old drone sighed to the circle of members.

"With the Liberation Front smashed, the last embers of Japone have died away, Kuruta." The stallion to his immediate left said.

"No, he may be on the run, but Taiyang is still strong, still fighting." A mare across from them argued.

The stallion to her right shook his head. "Even if that is so, I heard he lost his custom Burais. So, there's no hope."

"There is hope." A younger voice interjected from behind them.

"Hm?" They all turned to see a slim, young changeling queen with a fancy, wavy light-blue mane and tail and red eyes. Eyes which now were fixated on Kuruta.

One mare exclaimed, "The Black Knights, Silken? You've been infatuated with Zero ever since he rescued Greymane. We even sent him the Guren Mk-II."

"So?" The young changeling queen asked.

"Zero and the Black Knights are no more miracle-workers than any resistance group." The mare clicked her tongue and shook her head. "Y'know... even though you claim that you're nothing like your mother, you both have one thing in common: stubbornness."





"And after the defeat at Trafoalgar, Eneffy the third found herself surrounded by revolutionaries in Reindinburgh."

Shutting out the teacher, Amber looked at the two concert tickets in an envelope and smiled. 'Oh, father...'

"However with the help of Lord Mirren, she fled to the Glade colonies now known as our homeland Nymphia."

She glanced over at Stryker's empty seat, and then over at Sirocco's empty seat. 'Oh...' She sighed despairingly.

Afterwards, in the student council room, she flew back and forth restlessly as she held the envelope in her hooves. "Hmm..."

Raincloud looked up. "Huh? Okay. What's got you so worried? Constipated? Need to go to the restroom? What?"

Amber stopped and blinked, processing the question. "Huh? What? ...N-no, that's not it."

Raincloud put a hoof to her chin as she thought. "Hmm... Ah! You're lonely 'cause Stryker is gone, aren't you?"

Amber said dejectedly, "Well... It's more like Sirocco is absent the same day he is... again."

"Oh, so carefree. While the rest of Equus grapples with what happened at Nareina. Greymane's been out for two days because of that, too."

"I know that! But Ry-Ry and Sirocco gone on the same day together? That's serious."

Raincloud giggled. "Hehe! I envy you, Amber. That's what I love about you."

"Don't make fun of me!" Amber pouted.

"Caw!" Arctic said from her perch, seemingly agreeing with her.

"Then just tell him already," Raincloud said, pulling Amber down to the ground again. Amber placed the envelope on the edge of the table. "Three little words: 'I like you!'."

Amber blushed and exclaimed, "Uh... I couldn't! I just couldn't! I mean what if..."

"What if he rejects me, it can ruin our great friendship. Hahahahaha!" Raincloud laughed. "Like he would ever do that!"

Amber looked at her hooves. "You don't have to laugh that hard, you know?"

Raincloud sighed, "...It's comfortable isn't it? This place now. The way we're together."

"That's true." Amber murmured.

"Still, we should prepare ourselves a bit. The fact is nothing stays the same forever, you know."

"Uh..."

Raincloud waved a hoof. "Oh, forget it. Please don't take me too seriously. If it's bothering you, why not you just ask him the next chance you get?" She turned towards the door as it opened. "So, how do you feel about it on your side?"

Amber glanced behind her and jumped into the air. "Huh? Wha... Ry-Ry?! I thought you were absent!"

Stryker stopped beside the table. "Moth had a little fever this morning and Raven was busy. So, I stayed home to help."

Amber blushed. "Oh really? Y-you don't say. So, is Moth feeling better now?"

"A bit." He turned towards Raincloud. "Madam president, those papers?"

"All right." She dropped a stack of papers on the edge of the table. "Make sure you organize all of them by year and class, okay?"

He chuckled as he used his magic to levitate them. "Yeah, I will. Maybe your cutie mark should be different, Prez; you have a talent for ordering creatures around."

Raincloud laughed. "Haha! Maybe it should be! And you're a great subordinate, by the way."

Stryker paused for a moment at the door before chuckling at the irony. He called over his shoulder, "Subordinate? I guess that's what I am."

Amber turned to Raincloud as the door closed. "Oh, madam president! You nearly gave me a heart attack doing that!" She turned to pick up her envelope, only to see nothing on the table. "Huh?! Where are my tickets?" She remembered Stryker picking up the stack of papers. Her eyes widened, and she sped down the hall.

"Ry-Ry!" She called as she made it outside.

Stryker turned around. "What is it?"

Her mind seemed to crash. "Ah... Um... Is my dad's letter mixed up with that paperwork?"

He blinked and sorted through the papers. "Huh? Oh, sorry." He gave it back to her. Amber took it, but bit her lip as she stood there looking down at her hooves. Stryker raised a nonexistent eyebrow. "What's wrong?"

Amber's gaze snapped back up. "Uh! Ry-Ry!"

"Yes?"





S2 looked out the window to see Amber give Stryker a ticket while blushing, and fly off. "Huh?"

She suddenly frowned. "Stop being so suspicious. That's hardly the case. To me, he is nothing more than a-"

"He's talking to you again?"

S2 turned to the pony walking through the door, hence she didn't see a changeling on the next roof. "Yeah. Can't even look at Stryker without him commenting something." She rolled her eyes as the pony changed form in a bright aura. "...Hey, Night, I have to ask..."

The dusk-blue alicorn looked at her. "Mhm?"

"Have you ever, well..."





Amber lighted down behind the school building. She smiled to herself. "I did it! I actually really did it!"

She blushed. 'So, now what happens? He'll come, right? I mean he didn't say no. Then again... N-no, he is just coming with me to a little concert. So, it's not big thing but still it's a chance.' She hugged her ticket. 'Thank you, father.'

Her phone began ringing. "Huh?"





"Sythi praised us for using the Guren Mk-II so well. I thought that was encouraging." Rough Boulder said as he leaned against the wall.

"But there was the white Knight-Mare." Sirocco said from next to Zero as she reread the manual.

"Don't sweat it. It was a tie, right? A tie! Hahahaha!" Eclipse laughed.

'Why would Amber just out of the blue...?'

'"My dad works where really long away from here. But he likes to send me great staff like this to keep my spirits up, you know? So, I was just wondering..."'

"Here." Rough Boulder handed him a letter, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"Hmm? What's this?" Zero said, taking it from him with a hoof.

"A love letter." Boulder said sarcastically.

"Oh? From you?" Zero shot back.

Eclipse exploded with laughter. "Ahahahaha! And they say you have no sense of humor! Hahahaha!"

"You laugh too much." Sirocco said to him, looking up from her manual.

"It's an official letter from Sythi. They urgently request a meeting." Boulder said.

"Is this really such a big deal?" Zero asked.

"A big deal?! It's Sythi!" Sirocco exclaimed.

Boulder added, "If they accept us it means funding and support. It could solve our financial crisis."

"Crisis?" Zero asked.

"Uh...!"

"There shouldn't be any problems if you're following the budget I laid out." Zero said.

Rough Boulder fumbled his words. "Uh, well..." He looked over at Eclipse.

Eclipse exclaimed, "Hey! It's not my fault! We're turning into a big organization now! That means new expenses, y'know!"

"Like Prench dinners for the new recruits so you can show off?" Sirocco asked snidely.

"Hey, you-"

"I know where you've been taking them, big spender."

"Uh-?! You know about it?!" He exclaimed.

"Hm... We'll put Rough Boulder in charge of the treasury for now." Zero said.

Eclipse stood up and pointed a hoof towards himself. "Hold it right there! I'm the one that's in charge of the cash! That's my job!"

"If you want me to trust you, then show me some results."

"Did you actually just say trust a pony who hides his face from his own partners?!" He exclaimed.

Torpid and Syphilis both glanced in their direction.

"How about it, Zero. Huh?!" Eclipse exclaimed.

Boulder turned. "Hold on... That's a-"

Sirocco interjected, standing up. "Zero is not the problem here. Who cares who he is? He had the skill to outwit Chrysalis, didn't he? That's why he's the leader of the Black Knights. Do you really need to know more?"

Eclipse turned away, scowling. "Grr...!"





"Huh... So, what do we do?" Eclipse asked as he rested his head against a crate.

"I don't know." Boulder shrugged.

"We were in Aurora's unit. Young or not, she certainly was one of the better commanders." Syphilis said offhandedly.

Torpid added onto it by saying, "I don't mind about her older sister Sirocco technically being of higher rank than us but..."

"You were next in line to be leader." Eclipse finished, turning to Boulder.

"No one said that at Nareina." Rough Boulder grumbled.

"'Cause Zero practically forced us." Torpid retorted.

"We're the senior commanders and he keeps secrets from us." Syphilis emphasized.

"Hmm..."





Stryker rested his head on a hoof as he looked through Sythi's members. 'I've narrowed it down to twelve possibilities. Now let's see which bets pay off. For that, I'll have to meet them face to face...'

There was a knocking at the door. Stryker readied his mask and disguise.

"Who is it?"

"It's me." Sirocco's voice came through the door. "Um... I'm sorry if I was out of line when I spoke up back there."

"Sirocco, tell me. Do you wanna know my identity as well?"

Sirocco leaned on the door and murmured, "...That alicorn knows, doesn't she?" 

She let out a deep breath. "...No, sorry to bother you."

Stryker listened as her hoofsteps faded.





Stryker peeked into his sister's room.

"Stryker?"

"Huh?" Stryker blinked in surprise as Moth sat up. He walked in. "Huh... Looks like your fever's gone."

"Maybe I was just a little moody." She said with a smile.

"Moody?"

She laid back down. "Mm... It just seems to me lately that you've become a little distant, like you have other things weighing on your mind."

Stryker's eyes widened in surprise.

"Perhaps my body just did this on its own to get your attention." Moth giggled.

Stryker held Moth's hoof with his own. "You're wrong. I haven't changed. No matter what, I'll always be at your side, Moth."

She turned her towards him and asked, "So then, can I be a little selfish now? Could you please hold my hoof just a little bit longer? If I fall asleep alone, I'm afraid I'll have that dream again."

"Sure..." He held her hoof tighter. 'Don't worry, Moth. I'll always be here for you. Always.'





S2 raised an eyebrow as she leaned against the tree trunk in her pegasus disguise. "You're serious? You're asking me for a favor?"

"Yes, I got the idea from something that you said. No matter what Sythi's intentions are, I want their power." Stryker said.

"Is that what you truly wish for? If it's at the very core of your reason for living, then I'll try to help you."

"Then do it. S2, I need you."

She smirked. "Hmm, I understand. By the way, you forgot something." She held up his ticket in an invisible aura.

"Huh?!" He snatched it from her aura and scowled. "I didn't forget! I don't know when I'll be back tonight so I was planning to call her and cancel."

She scoffed. "Stick to your contract."

Stryker's phone went off. "Huh?"

Stryker latched it onto his ear. "It's me. ...Oh good timing, I wanted to call. You see-"

S2's ears flicked as she heard Amber's voice leak through. "Um... Listen, Ry-Ry?"

"Hmm?"

"I know I made a date with you, but I may be late."

She looked at the incoming train headed for Nareina.

"Sorry, but anyway, I'm sure it'll be fine, really. But I promise you that I'll be there."





Zero stood alone in the fog as a limo rolled up. The driver's window slid down.

"Please bring your command staff along as per my master's instruction, understood?" The stallion said.

"They're patrolling the perimeter in case of any unpleasant contingencies. I'll call them soon. However before I do..." A part of the left side of his mask slid down, revealing his red left eye.





"Severely damaged corpses should be brought to tent 2. ID all personal items. Bring remains with identifiable faces to tent 1. Note locations and times."

"Medical team 2 will arrive and help provide support. Transport personnel, report to tent 2."

Greymane took a drink of water as he thought to himself about the last confrontation between him and Zero. 'Was it really her? Did I really see her there? And then... Just forget it. She doesn't show up in any of the data.'

"Dug enough bodies out of the landslide yet?" Gear asked, walking up.

"Hmm... I'd like to continue recovery operations if that's possible."

"Be my guest till it's out of your system. Consider it Princess Chrysalis's pleasure to indulge you."

"Hmm..." He asked Gear, "Ah, Gear, Zero and the Black Knights what are they trying to do? What do they hope to achieve by sacrificing all these lives?"

"They're knights for justice, haven't you heard?" Gear asked with a hint of sarcasm.

Greymane clenched his teeth. "Is this justice?"

"Hey hey, I hope you're not going to start spouting some embarrassing theory about the nature of justice. We're soldiers, after all."

Greymane looked up to see Amber and who he presumed to be her mother being led by Ember Ash. "Huh. Hmm?"

"All set!" Greymane looked towards Azure. "I replaced the energy filler for you."

"Ah... okay!" He looked back again, but he couldn't see Amber anymore. He walked away to find her.

"Azure." Gear walked over.

"I checked the units, including the purebloods." She said, her eyes fixated on the Lancelot.

"And I was right, wasn't I?" Gear asked.

She turned to him. and nodded solemnly "Yes, a radiant surge."

"Resilience. I never thought he'd work with our enemies." Gear narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Plus their pilot was extremely skilled. Greymane's mental status is so unstable now. If we have to fight that Knight-Mare again..." She grimaced.

Gear raised an eyebrow. "You don't think it could win? Against my dear Lancelot?"





"This is taking too long. When do we get there?" Eclipse asked impatiently, tapping a hoof on the limo seat.

Sirocco rolled her eyes. "Could you chill out? You're embarrassing."

They all suddenly felt a slight bump before the limo began to move oddly. Eclipse exclaimed, "What the heck?"

"We're going up...?" Sirocco questioned.

The limo came to a stop, and the door was opened by the driver. "Sorry for the inconvenience. The master is waiting for you."

As they exited the limo, they caught a glimpse of what was outside. Their eyes widened. "Huh...!?"

"Wow...!" Torpid exclaimed, running over to the window along with Eclipse, Sirocco, and Syphilis.

"This is... the Fuji mines?" Rough Boulder asked, joining them.

"That's not possible. There's no way we could be here." Syphilis commented as she turned towards Boulder.

Sirocco frowned. "It has to be Mount Fuji! There's only one mountain like this."

Eclipse said, "That means the Sakuradite's right below us? The damned treasure that caused this whole war. You know what they do to intruders here? Execute them!"

"Their power reaches all the way up to here? The Sythi group is amazing." Boulder exclaimed in awe.

"It's repulsive." They all turned around and noticed the speaker, hidden behind a curtain. 

In an instant, the windows all became opaque, casting the room into an eerie red color. 

"Mount Fuji, a sacred mountain once known for its clear water and quiet beauty. Now it is bent to the empire's will, a place of hideous violation. Our reflection of what Japone has become. It pains me so. ...I apologize for not showing my face. But, Zero, your face is hidden as well. Unfortunately, I cannot allow this. To trust you, I must know who you are. Therefore, you will show me your face." 

He pointed a cane at Zero in his green aura. Four Knight-Mares appeared out of the darkness and pointed their guns.

Sirocco stepped out in front of Zero, who had not spoken a word yet, and spread her wings defensively. "Please wait! Zero has given us power and victory. That should be-"

"Silence! Now which of you is Rough Boulder?"

Rough Boulder started. "Huh...! That's me."

"You will remove Zero's mask."

Rough Boulder hesitated, but began walking over to Zero.

"Boulder!" Sirocco exclaimed shockingly.

Boulder grimaced. "I'm sorry Zero, but we need a reason to put our faith in you, too. So help us to put our trust in you." He took off the mask with his hooves. He dropped the mask and gaped in shock. Everyone else followed suit as a resounding 'clink' echoed throughout the room. 

"Huh?!" 

"A mare?!" Eclipse spoke their thoughts. A white pegasus mare with a straight, mauve and navy-blue mane and bangs was behind the mask. She opened her wings from behind the cloak to reveal a thestral wing slip-on prop. A pearl necklace rested around her neck and a black bow was placed in her mane.

"It can't be...!" Boulder gaped.

Sirocco narrowed her eyes at the mare's accessories. Her eyes widened in recognition. "Wait a minute! It's not! This isn't Zero. I saw her before. She was with Zero after Nareina." She pointed a hoof at the pegasus mare. "You're that alicorn, aren't you?"

The speaker behind the curtain asked, "You there, mare, is this true?"

S2 smiled slightly as her disguise dissipated, revealing her true form. Everyone, with the exception of Sirocco and the old drone, gasped. Her slitted eyes had a certain gleam to them as she answered, "It is."

"So you are not Japonese?" The old drone questioned.

She inclined her head, a serene smile still plastered on her face. "Correct, clan chief of Sythi, Kuruta Quasi."

"Huh!?" The two bodyguards raised their guns. One exclaimed, "Anyone who can identify him must die."

"Especially one who is not Japonese!" The other interjected. The Knight-Mares raised their guns threateningly as well.

"Hey, hold on! I'm not part of this!" Eclipse exclaimed.

Suddenly, one of the Knight-Mares fired slash harkens at the two across from it, disabling them of their weapons. The Knight-Mare to its immediate left was met with a stun-tonfa, knocking it backwards. Speeding in front of Kuruta and his bodyguards, it pointed a gun towards the curtain, and essentially, Kuruta, before anyone could do anything.

"You're soft and your methods and thinking are outdated. That is why you'll never win!" Zero said, opening the hatch.

"Zero?" Sirocco exclaimed.

"When did you...? Grr!" One of the bodyguards pointed his gun at him.

His partner exclaimed, "Hold on! He can fire at us with that remote." Indeed, there was a remote strapped onto his hoof. "Everyone, stay back! Don't make a move!"

Zero lighted down on the floor with his leathery wings and walked forward, his hoofsteps the only sound in the tension. 

"...Kuruta Quasi, founder of Kuruta Industry which has monopoly on Sakuradite mining, formerly a key backer of the last Japonese regime. However, when Japone fell, you dodged the tribunals by collaborating with the colonial rulers. Commonly known as Kuruta the traitor. In reality, you're one of the leaders of the Six Houses Of Sythi, who support resistance groups throughout Japone: a double agent. ...How cliché."

Zero stopped before the curtain.

One bodyguard growled, "Show some respect, you swine!"

"Stop!" Kuruta ordered.

Zero chuckled a bit. "It's as you guessed though. I... am not Japonese!"

The Black Knights gasped in shock. Eclipse exclaimed, "Is he serious? No wonder he never showed his face!"

Kuruta asked, "If you are not Japonese, why do you fight for Japone? What is it that you want?"

"Simple. The destruction of Nymphia." Zero replied coolly.

"And so, do you believe that this is possible, that you can do it?"

"I can, because I must. I have reasons which compel me execrably." He chuckled, lifting a hoof up to his mask. "I'm glad I'm dealing with you." He took off the mask. A green blaze whipped around Zero's form and an aura appeared around the mask.

The Black Knights gasped. Syphilis and Torpid exclaimed in unison, "A changeling?!"

Kuruta gaped from behind the curtain. "You..."

Stryker smiled. "It's been a long time, Lord Kuruta."

"Is it really you? It's been eight years since that family received you as a hostage."

"Yes. And I appreciate you for taking care of me then." Stryker nodded respectfully.

"If I hadn't come tonight, were you planning to take a messenger hostage?"

"Not at all. I came to ask for your help. That's all I'm seeking from you."

Kuruta smiled. "So the flower planted eight years ago has finally bloomed?" He burst out laughing.

Eclipse narrowed his eyes and attempted to see around the Knight-Mare that blocked Zero from view. "I can't see him!"

He began to step forward, but Sirocco barred his path with a wing.

"Boulder!" Kuruta said as his hearty laughter subsided.

"Yes!" Rough Boulder stood at attention.

"This drone is a true mortal enemy of Nymphia. His face must remain hidden for vital reasons. I urge you to follow Zero. And I guarantee that if you do, we will assist you generously with intelligence and strategic support." Kuruta said.

They all blinked in surprise, but Boulder managed to say, "W-we thank you."

"I am grateful, Lord Kuruta." Stryker said, a green blaze transforming him back into a thestral. He turned as he levitated the mask back towards his face.

"Are you embarking on the path of blood?" Kuruta asked, finally coming out from behind the curtain and revealing the old drone.

Stryker stopped and glanced back. Before he put the mask back on, he smirked and answered, "Indeed, if that is my destiny."





Ember stopped as she glanced at Amber's ID again to confirm. "Yes, I'm afraid this is him. I'm sorry you had to learn about it like this."

Amber's mother murmured, "I-it's all right..."

"Can you please identify the body?" A soldier asked, unzipping the bag.

Ember glanced at Amber's ID a second time and started. Amber had a picture of the drone she'd been looking for.





Stryker walked off the train, his phone dialing as he shielded himself from the rain with an umbrella. He sighed as the line didn't go through. "Of course, it's too late already." 

'Anyway, things are finally moving forward. Now the Black Knights will operate as I envisioned.'

He stopped as he spotted something out of the corner of his eye. "Huh?" 

Amber was just standing there in the rain, looking down at her hooves. Stryker's senses began picking up on her sadness, so he ran over to shield her with the umbrella.

He immediately apologized. "I'm sorry I was late. I thought you'd already be back home by now. Anyway, never mind that. Come on, let's go some place to get out of the rain now."

"...Ry-Ry, tell me. Zero... he fights for the weak, doesn't he?" Amber asked quietly.

Stryker blinked in confusion. "What? Yeah, well, that's what he says."

"The-then... w-why did he kill my f-father...?" 

Stryker's eyes widened as the breath left his body. 'What?'

Amber looked up at him with tears rolling down her face. "Y-you know... my fa-father... He w-was so gentle. H-he never ev-ever hurt me. He... he didn't do anything wrong. But h-he was buried alive. He couldn't- He couldn't breathe... Wh-why did my father have to die? I-I don't want this! Father...!" 

She rushed forward and hugged Stryker tightly, sobbing into his shoulder. Stryker could only stand frozen as his telekinetic grip on the umbrella fell away. "Please, Ry-Ry..." She looked up at him. "Help me."

Stryker felt her lips press against his. He almost flinched as a flood of emotions not his own washed over him. 'What've I done...?'

He unconsciously wrapped a hoof around her and pulled her close, trying to comfort her aching heart.

'I never understood what consequences my actions brought. ...Now I do. And it's too late.'
> Act Xlll: The Battle and The Mare  
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"He was a pious soul who is always looked to God in his life and friend to us all. To his wife, he was a devoted husband, to his foal, a loving father."

'Father...' A tear fell to the ground from Amber's muzzle as the priest continued. She, her mother, and many others were gathered around the grave in black attire. The entire student council was there also, Greymane even. They all wore saddened and worried looks as they stood in the background, except Stryker, whose unreadable gaze was locked firmly on his hooves.

"May he rest in peace forever cradled in the bosom of our Lord." As the priest finished, the grave the coffin was placed in was slowly refilled.

Amber's mother rushed forward. "No, stop!" The crowd looked at her in sympathy. She fell back on her haunches in front of the grave as the tears rolled down her face. "Don’t bury him again, please. He suffered enough. Oh God, don’t leave me."

Amber put a wing on her mother's back and whispered softly, "Mom, he’s gone already." Her voice faltered slightly. "Please Mom."





A young Amber looked up at the clear blue sky while resting on a cloud with her father. She giggled. "Guess what Papa? Someday when I grow up, I'm gonna be your wife."

He gave her a side glance and chuckled. "Oh, that’s very sweet of you, honey. But your teacher told you, didn’t she?"

"Huh?" Amber made a oblivious expression.

"Someday you'll meet the colt you really love." He said, smiling.

"More than I do you?" Amber asked with a tilt of her head.

He put a hoof to his chin in thought. "Hmm... It’s hard to explain." He paused for a moment before turning to Amber and tickling her with his wings, which made her squeal happily. He laughed and booped her nose. "But I do know, if you truly love that colt and he cares for you just as much, it would make me the happiest father on Equus."





Amber placed a flower on the grave with cloudy eyes as she finally turned away from it to face her friends. She smiled at them with only the ghost of her usual self.

Sirocco was the first to speak. Guilt-ridden, she said regretfully, "Amber, I'm so sorry this happened."

"Oh, stop. What have you to apologize for?" Amber said, the ghostly serene smile still adorned on her muzzle. Sirocco's eyes flashed with guilt before directing her gaze towards her hooves.

Fallout grimaced. "We feel awful."

Amber blinked in confusion. 

"It just that... when we were all watching the hotel jacking on TV, I thought the Black Knights were... you know, heroes. I mean the news was handling it all wrong, anyway I was posting online how I thought what happened in Nareina was kinda cool, and I... I'm sorry." He bowed his head in shame.

Amber waved it off with a hoof as she walked up to them. "Come on! Don't be silly. That has absolutely nothing to do with this at all. I mean even I was saying Nareina was-"

Raincloud put a hoof on her shoulder and frowned. "Amber, stop." She draped a wing over Amber's back. "Seriously, I'm starting to worry about you here. Have you cried yet? If you simply hold it in, It's only going to be harder for you later on."

Amber's smile faded and her gaze dropped as she whispered, "You don't have to worry. Really, I'm fine. I've cried a lot."

Greymane scowled and stamped a hoof down, earning the attention of everyone, sans Stryker. "Cowards, Zero and his group. Their methods are just cowardly. He doesn't even get his hooves dirty. He stirs creatures into a frenzy, tips the world into chaos, and then sits back and congratulates himself. It's not going to change a thing. Anything gained through his kind of tactics is just meaningless."

Sirocco winced.

Raincloud sighed and straightened up. "Well, anyway, I think it's time we headed back, everyone." Letting go of Amber, she smiled softly. "Amber, we'll be waiting for you, back in the old student council room, same as ever."

Amber smiled a bit more and nodded her head.

"Come on guys, let's go."

Fallout stopped in front of Stryker, who'd still hadn't moved a bit. "Hey, Stryker! I-"

Raincloud urged him to move forward, using her wings to push him ahead.

"What? What I'd do...?" Fallout asked confusedly.

Sirocco cast a backwards glance at Amber before walking away with the others. She sighed. 'Are we really doing the right thing, Zero?'

A heavy silence fell between Stryker and Amber as rain began to fall. 

"Ry-Ry, forgive me."

Eyes wide, Stryker snapped his head up and looked at her incredulously. "What?"

Amber began to shake and her voice broke a little. "It wasn't fair. Kissing you like that. It wasn't fair of me at all. It was just... just something I did. Forget about it, okay? I shouldn’t have put you on the spot like that." She met his gaze with teary eyes as her voice broke even more. "I'm sorry. It was totally stupid of me. I mean, you finally kissed me, and I can't even be happy."

She turned and flew off.

"Wait! Amber!" Stryker yelled out. But Amber didn't turn back as her form grew smaller in the distance. 

The rain continued on.





Stryker looked down at his hooves as he sat on his sofa. His phone vibrated on the table, indicating a call, but he ignored it.

"Do you regret it? That your friend's father was caught up in all this?"

Stryker's eyes flashed as the phone silenced. 

"You were just accusing Kuruta of being too soft. What happened to the path of blood?" S2 asked as she sat on his bed.

"Shut up." Stryker said, his voice lacking his normal conviction.

"But it turns out you're the soft one. Did you think this was all just a game? You've already killed your fair share of creatures. By hoof, or words more often than not." She continued in her usual blunt, unfeeling way.

"Just shut up." Stryker growled.

"All of them left behind a family. All had lovers and friends. Are you really telling me you hadn't grasped that yet? Hm, I would have thought you to be better prepared."

"Just shut up! I am prepared! I have been from the moment I killed Xirex." His eyes flashed as he yelled.

"Then why this hesitation? Has she shaken you so badly? One kiss and you go to pieces then, huh?"

He turned around with a scowl to see her smug face as she scoffed at him. 

"So for all your preening and posturing, you're really just a spoiled little drone with a swollen head and a big fat mouth."

In a swift second, he pinned her to his bed with his fangs bared and eyes ablaze.

S2 said calmly, "You've gone way too deep to be turning back now. You've passed the point of no return. You need a reason for living, don't you? ...You're not going to disappoint me, are you?"

Stryker recoiled, the anger in his eyes replaced with overwhelmingness and pain. S2 sat up as the bathroom door was slammed. "Hm."

Hot tears burned in Stryker's eyes as he leaned over the sink. His hoof repeatedly slammed against the counter in an pointless attempt to rid himself of his pent up emotions.

"Yes, that is why creatures discriminate against one another."

"So, is that the reason why you killed my cousin?"

"And any ends gained through contemptible means aren’t worth anything."

"Are you really going through with this?"

"That’s all easy enough to say, isn’t it?"

"You can’t! We may have our differences, but you and I are still blood!"

"It’s nothing but self-satisfying gratification."

"And to have this utopia you'd...?"

"I wish the world was a gentler place..."

"You appear to have a reason for living."

"And I've come back to change everything."

"Are you embarking on the path of blood?"

Stryker's eyes flashed as he came to his final decision. 'I've already spilled so much blood to get here...'

The sky began to clear as S2 heard a phone dial. 

"Boulder, it’s me, Zero."





Sirocco stared longingly at two pictures on her laptop. One was from when she was a filly on a picnic trip with her parents and sister. The other, taken only shortly before the Nymphian takeover, was her with her sister and Rough Boulder on a camping trip. 

She sighed sorrowfully. 'Aurora, you were always positive with what you do... What would you do now?'





Amber lighted down on the empty sidewalk, tear stains still evident on her face. Meanwhile, on the other side of the street, a familiar apricot pegasus closed the door of a carriage and headed towards her, leaving a clipboard with Stryker's picture on it in the seat.





"I have some bad news, Greymane." 

Greymane looked from the Lancelot to Gear.

"We've just got word from Chrysalis's Royal Guard. We're on deck for the next operation." Greymane's eyes widened a bit in surprise. Gear smirked slightly before adding, "I wonder, are they acknowledging your skill or do they need another decoy?"

"Oh Gear," Gear Spring turned as he heard Azure call him. "Care for another lesson in proper social etiquette? You look like you have some time to kill."

"Eh... I'll have to take a pass on that." He answered distastefully. Turning back to Greymane, he smiled, "Now then, I believe we were talking about your mission."





The Black Knights stood at attention in one of the many warehouses that dotted the docks.

Rough Boulder frowned. "Wait a second, Zero. I realize this is a request from Sythi. I think we can definitely handle it. And I'm pretty sure that Japone Liberation Front would rather join with us than flee to foreign soil and all... But-"

"You're the one who brought us this information. Hazel, wasn't it?" Zero asked, interrupting Boulder.

Hazel disregarded the two guns pointed at her, and nodded. "That's right. It's an honor that you’d meet me like this, Zero."

"So, Princess Chrysalis is going to deploy the Royal Mareines on General Kytus of the Japone Liberation Front, is that correct?"

"Yes. The network is already poised to broadcast a special report on it."

"Lieutenant General Taiyang will never make it to Kytus in time. Which means that Japone Liberation Front has no military strength right now. Their only chance of escape is the liquid Sakuradite they're carrying."

"Which is why we should help General Kytus escape instead of going after Chrysalis." Rough Boulder interjected.

"Boulder, who are we?" Zero asked.

Rough Boulder blinked in confusion but answered, "We're the Black Knights, Zero."

"Then we have but one task. We will destroy Chrysalis's troops. And in doing so, rescue the remnants of the JLF. Tonight, we regain what was lost to us at Nareina."

"What are our chances?" Boulder asked.

Stryker smirked. "Need you ask?"

Boulder nodded. "Understood."

"Hm." Hazel narrowed her eyes slightly.

"Begin preparations. You all have your orders to carry out." Zero began to leave.

Sirocco rushed forward. "Uh... Zero!"

He stopped and turned back to her. "I have something to attend to. Whatever it is, save it for later." Sirocco's eyes flashed with conflicted emotions as Zero's hoofsteps grew softer.





Decas narrowed his eyes. "Just so you know, the viceroy has reservations about using the numbers. But 'Use every able body', I always say. Even if it's the son of the former prime minister."

Greymane's eyes widened slightly, but he did not interrupt his superior.

"Our target is Kytus. Take him out, and the Japone Liberation Front is finished. We're sending in the Royal Mareines. Your job will be to provide supporting fire from the shore until the marines have Kytus. As well as annihilating any stragglers left over."

"...I'm to annihilate them, sir?" Greymane asked in disbelief.

Decas gave the slightest of nods. "Nobody but the target is to survive. Is that clear?"

"Uh..."

Decas's scarred eye seemed to bore into him. "Warrant Officer Greymane, show your loyalty to the crown." He turned. "This is your chance to get ahead in the world, soldier."

As Decas walked away, Greymane said reluctantly, "...Understood, my Lord."

Gear popped up next to him and smirked. "Onward, faithful soldiers. Conflicting morals, right?"

Greymane tensed and clenched his jaw slightly.





A lone sea lion swam beneath the surface of the water, carrying a bomb on its back. It looked up at the surface.

'Hmm, sunset. I need to hurry if I want to be there for the game to play out.'

Amber walked along the barely lit docks. Her wings nervously ruffled, and her eyes remained wide with uncertainty and denial.

She murmured to herself, "No, Ry-Ry... It can’t be true. He would never get tangled up with somepony like that."

'But...'

"There is a possibility that this drone is linked to the Black Knights." Ember had said.

Amber's hooves had shook as she held the picture of Stryker. "W-What’re you saying he’s involved...?"

"In terrorism."

"I don’t believe you!" She had yelled, shutting her eyes and flattening her ears. 'It can’t be... It has to be a lie!'

Yet she had followed him here.

'Ry-Ry... I’m so sorry to be doubting you like this. But... Please... I wanna believe in you.'

Ember clenched her teeth as she watched Amber from behind one of the warehouses. 

'Dammit, she lost him. If she'd just called me sooner, I could’ve had him. I should’ve grabbed him when I had the chance... No, I need proof. If he talks to her, I can learn what his role is in all this. Which is all the more important if he can manipulate memory without magical aid somehow. I won’t have to die, striped of my position and honor like Crescent. Damn, this is my chance to move back up again. So I have to find a link to Zero. It has to be me.'





"Who's there?" Stryker asked as the warehouse door opened. He was internally relieved that a towel was draped on his head and that the dying sunlight casted many dark shadows. A green inferno turned him into his thestral form.

He heard Sirocco's voice stammer. "I-I'm sorry, I'll go."

"Second thoughts?"

He heard her hoofsteps stop. 

"I thought that the goal was justice. The only reason I've fought until now is because I thought it was the right thing to do. So I could live with the killing, but now..." Her voice had been low and quiet; it was instantly replaced with the desperate plea of a mare whose morals had clashed. "Tell me. Is this real? Is what we are all doing here really going to change the world for the better?"

Stryker didn't hesitate to answer. "Yes, it will, or rather... it must change the world. Will there be sacrifices? Not only just soldiers but the innocent as well." Stryker gazed his Zero outfit. "And yet, because of all these things, we have no choice but to continue on. No matter the cost, even if creatures see us as cowards, we have to prevail. If that means more blood will be shed, so be it. We've spilled so much to get here. We can't let it be in vain."

Stryker paused a moment.

"...But I won't force you, Sirocco. If you wish to turn back, now is the time."

Sirocco's eyes widened slightly in surprise at the offer, but Stryker felt her determination stir. "I've made my choice. I'll follow you to the very end."

Stryker smiled slightly. "I'm grateful, Sirocco."





S2, in her pegasus disguise, stopped her walk past the campus as snowflakes began to fall. She held out a hoof, and a small snowflake melted into her white fur.

'"Yes, you saved me today. Thank you. S2, I need you. I do."'

She sighed. "What am I doing? I just can't afford to make the same mistake here all over again."

Unbeknownst to her, a changeling with chitin the color of snow roamed the campus only a short distance away.





Decas turned to Chrysalis. "It’s time."

She nodded and ordered, "Commence the operation!" 

"All underwater units, hit the water! Dive! Dive! Dive!" Several units disappeared beneath the dark surface of the water as they sped towards the JLF tanker. "Special team, you're clear for category C1 weaponry."

The Lancelot rested along the edge of the bay along with other Knight-Mares. 

"Our unit will be covering them from the shore. Careful though, we want that tanker in one piece." Greymane heard through his earpiece.

"Understood, my Lord." He nodded.

"Once torpedo attack is confirmed, all units go to weapons free. Repeat, weapons free."

A jet of water shot several meters into the air as a resounding boom echoed across the docks.

Amber froze, eyes wide. "Oh my God... Terrorists?"





Boulder frowned and spoke into his earpiece. "It looks like it’s started. Zero, you wanna move out or what?" No response. He turned to the submarine ship where he knew Zero's Burai was. "Hey? Do you read me? They’re closing in on the JLF. Come in."

"We have to hold. Chrysalis moved faster than expected. If we go now, we'll die along with them."

Boulder frowned.

"Commence support fire. All units restricted to micro round ordinance only. Be careful not to set off that liquid Sakuradite!"

JLF members raced to the deck of the ship.

"Damn those Nymphians! When the bloody Tartarus did they get here?" 

Guns raised, they fired at the water units.

"Enemy units! They’re coming from the water- Ah!"

"Myse! -Ah!"

One by one, the JLF were gunned down by the support fire Knight-Mares that lined the dock.

"2-0-2, 5-0-3, focus fire at 9 o'clock."

Greymane gritted his teeth. 'This isn’t battle. This is wholesale slaughter.'

"Warrant Officer Greymane." Azure's voice came through his earpiece.

"Go ahead."

"I certainly know this must be hard for you. But you are a soldier, remember that."

"...Right, I understand."





"How could they've found us? Where is Taiyang?!" Kytus demanded.

"We can’t locate him, or the Holy Swords."

He gritted his teeth. "What about Sythi?! They said they would send help!"

"Yes sir! But we have no way of contacting them now!"

"So they’re just gonna sit back and watch us die here?!" His eyes blazed as a disgusted scowl appeared on his muzzle.





"We surrender! Please cease fire! This is the Japone Liberation Front! I repeat we surrender!"

Greymane spoke into his earpiece. "Sir, they’re issuing a surrender over an open channel."

"Ignore it." Decas responded.

Greymane frowned. "Yes. But sir..."

The ship began to steam out of the docks.

Decas's sneering voice reached Greymane's ears. "You see? They’re just buying time. Now, carry out your orders!"

Gunfire rang out.

Amber took a step backwards from the resounding chaos. "Ry-Ry just couldn’t be a member of the Black Knights... could he?"

Rough Boulder narrowed his eyes as the Nymphians began to gain the upper ground. "Dammit! It’ll be too late soon! When does Zero plan to move?!"

Boulder turned to face the newest member of the Black Knights as she scoffed.

"I just hope that he isn’t doing all these to honor some foalish notion of justice." Hazel sneered.

"The Knight-Mares are boarding the ship!" Boulder exclaimed into his radio.

"I see..." Zero responded. Stryker smirked, his thestral eyes gleaming. 'That leaves only one way out. They have to be careful around that precious Sakuradite.'

Nymphian Knight-Mares began to bombard the JLF ship. 

"Zero! If we don’t hurry-"

"Very well then, go ahead." He pressed the switch beside his hoof.

Directly beneath the ship, a bomb exploded. The Sakuradite became active.

"What the bloody Tartarus is going on?!" Kytus exclaimed as a glowing pink light engulfed the entire ship.

The ground shook, and the water crested as the Sakuradite came to its self-destructing phase. Both sides gaped in shock and confusion.

"I can’t believe this idiocy! They blew up the liquid Sakuradite?" Chrysalis exclaimed.

"Just what you'd expect of the JLF, choosing to take the Nymphians out with them." Zero's voice came through the radios.

Boulder frowned. "Suicide? But they never mentioned..."

"We're going to rush Chrysalis's position head-on! Forget about everything else. All that matters is achieving our goal. If you want to avenge the JLF, then capture Chrysalis. And show them our strength and determination!"

Sirocco nodded from within the Guren Mk ll. "Right."

The Black Knights' ship moved into action, angling their course towards the remaining Nymphians. 

"This is like Nareina all over again." Boulder exclaimed.

"It’s outstanding!" Hazel beamed, jumping from the platform.

"Hey, get back here!" Boulder exclaimed.

She began to run off, feeling a burning sense of ecstasy. 'The JLF was just bait! Their command is wide open now. One of the oldest tricks in the book!'

"Where are you going? Hey!"

Hazel swerved left and right as the bullets missed their mark. She began chuckling to herself. 'It makes perfect sense! He wanted to cripple his enemy’s defenses using the Liberation Front as a living trap! He’s excellent material, this Zero! He’s chaos incarnate! More, show me more of your genius! Let your ego engulf the world!' 





Black Knight Knight-Mares leapt from the water, assaulting Chrysalis's forces with attack after attack.

"Enemy attack?!"

"2-0-4 signal lost! Tymere, form up with 3-0-8! Provide support! All unit, status report! I repeat, what is your status?!"

Among the chaos, Greymane thought to himself in confusion, 'Why would General kill himself? It doesn’t make any sense... Wait, the main force! Could they have used the tanker as a decoy?!'

Decas began issuing orders left and right. "Mount up now! And form a defensive of line, on the double!"

Chrysalis readied her Knight-Mare. "How did they know we were here?!"

"Your highness!" She heard Mandible call out.

"Knock their Knight-Mares into the sea before the pilots can mount! Guren Mk-II, you’re with me!" Zero ordered.

"Yes sir!" Sirocco replied.

"Your highness, we can handle this." Mandible's voice spoke through the hivemind.

"Quiet! How many times you think I'll allow them to mock me?!"

She was suddenly lurched backwards as Zero struck her Knight-Mare.

She scowled. "I haven’t even powered on!"

"Do you think you can best me in Knight-Mare combat!?" She yelled, using her Gloucester to slash off one arm of the Burai.

Before she could strike again, the Guren came in from nowhere and slashed at her Knight-Mare.

"That new model again!" She growled.

Stryker narrowed his eyes. "I'll smash your hatch and drag you out, Chrysalis."

He smirked as his hoof hovered over his controls, ready to fire. His Knight-Mare's sensors suddenly alerted him of a nearby figure.

Turning his attention to it sharply, his eyes widened.

"Amber...?"

He was suddenly thrown back in his seat as a familiar white Knight-Mare struck.

Greymane gritted his teeth. 'Zero, your methods are not going to change anything. You're focused on goals, and don't understand the pain of others!'

"Zero!" The Guren attempted to aid, but was cut off by Chrysalis's Gloucester. The Guren quickly swerved to avoid being pierced by its lance.

"This is payback for Nareina!"

At the same moment, Stryker held his ground against the Lancelot. He spat, "Well, if it isn't the knight in shining armor?!"

The Lancelot landed a hit on the chest of the Burai. 'These are creatures' lives you’re playing with. You're nothing but a murderer!'

The Burai failed to dodge a hit from the Lancelot's barrage of attacks. 'Why?! Why do you keep getting in my way?!'

Another hit. 'Why do you keep spilling creatures' blood without meaning?!'

'If it wasn't for you...!'

'Because of you...!'

"Critical damage to unit. Systems failing."

The Lancelot pinned the barely functioning Burai. "Zero, this is the end result."

"Auto-ejecting."

The cockpit skid across the dock, sending wild sparks into the air. Electricity shot through the entire unit. "Grrahh...!"

The Lancelot turned towards the deformed remains of the cockpit, but before it could move, a voice called out. 

"Lancelot, behind you!"

Whirling around, a shield was instantly put up as it was met with the claw of the Guren. "Get the fuck away from him!"

Lashing out at each other, both sides did not see the young pegasus mare that cautiously approached the broken cockpit of Zero. 

A green flash prompted her to take a step forward.

Her hoof brushed against an object. Startled, she looked down to see a hoof-gun. 

Slowly, she picked it up. The sound of the ensuing battle faded in her mind. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears.

"I-Is this Zero’s...?"

"So then with this..." She slowly—shakingly—pointed it at the exposed, masked head of Zero. "You'll repent for my father!"

She started slightly as Zero unconsciously gave a low, painful groan.

His head moved slightly. Not much, but slightly. But it was enough.

The mask fell to the pavement.

Amber felt her heart stop as her breathing hitched.