Hello everyone, and welcome. This is a story of a low-rank infantry officer, who's been thrown into the brave new world... And given a new assignment.
This story is basically a sequel to "It's not late yet", so I highly recommend reading it first. The style of first-person live-time telling is the same, but the fic itself is much longer than the prequel. And besides, there are a few moments that I would like to explain in the upcoming story, so stay frosty. Criticism is welcome. Hope you enjoy reading this fic.
"Hello. My name is Princess Celestia. And this is my sister -- Princess Luna. We are the rulers of Equestria. Now please, introduce yourself."
This Celestia and her sister came into my room when I was lying in a Canterlot hospital. The pain has gone, however, I miss my leg. Without it, I don't feel myself... Complete. Yes, that's the word. Still, could be worse. Death, for example. It's quite hard to adapt to new conditions, especially when you find yourself living with anthropomorfic creatures like these ponies -- pegasi, unicorns, alicorns in Twilight Sparkle's case, or even Earth ponies. Makes me sick from time to time.
I don't like these rulers. They're about two and a half meter tall, not mentioning magic hair, or better to say mane, that glows and moves on its own. And of course, they have both wings and horns. Not big deal that they're very important here...
"My name doesn't matter. You can call me... Whatever you want, I guess, I don't really care. 59th Guard's shooting division, 176th Guard's shooting regiment. Russian Federation Armed Forces."
"Oh, good. Still, I think you need to say your name."
That dark blue one, Luna. I can say that she's more impulsive than her sister. I can see it in her eyes. And probably, Celestia is an elder one, while Luna is an younger one. They make me uncomfortable, but I won't say my name. And what if they start threatening me? Doesn't matter. Still can't be worse than now -- without a leg, thrown into another world without any ticket back home. Even death is not that scary now, I guess...
"I. Will not. Say. My name. Understood?"
"That's a bit rude, don't you think?"
"Yes. But I don't care. Mainly because I hate politicians. Partly because I don't fear anyone anymore. Fatalism, what can I say."
"Huh. Well... Maybe you can say your nickname, at least?"
"Cider."
"Good, that will do. Now, please, show me your left leg."
That Luna is surely provoking me to do something stupid, and that makes me nervous. However, not even full knowledge about alicorn magic can prevent a lot of bad things, especially when your gun is lying on the other side of the room, along with the uniform. So, without much sympathy, I show what's left of my leg to the princess. Just a stump, covered in bandages and filled with painkillers.
"Now, hold still, young man."
Luna's horn starts glowing, along with my stump. Something warm starts to boil inside it, and that makes me both scared and confused. Then suddenly, a flash of bright light makes me blind for a few seconds, and I close my eyes.
"Ah, for fuck's sake!"
"If that was cursing, you better quit it immideately. And also, take a look at your leg."
Celestia's voice drags me back into reality. I open my eyes and slowly lower them to take a look at...
"That's not funny, you know that? If this is a joke, of course."
"No. Your perfectly fine leg, good as new."
I take a look at my new limb. Everything in it was familiar -- small scars, skin... I lift a confused look towards Luna.
"How did you do that? Because of course, having your leg back is cool, but isn't there any backfire?"
"Sometimes to use magic you only need to believe. It's not that complicated, as you think."
Luna smiles. Looks like she knows, how much impression she made, and is proud of it. However, that leads to a good question... Why did she do that? As I carefully stand on my new limb, I give it a slight try.
"Thanks. But something tells me, that's not charity, eh? Or else there wouldn't be a need for such places as hospitals at all."
"Yes, you're right. Ironically, for a wrong reason, but still..."
I look at Celestia. Instead of her sister, she keeps her emotions low. She stares at me, while I put on my clothes. Then, she finally speaks again.
"We have a job for you. And this is a kind of job, that can be done only by you."
"And what is it?"
"We need you to kill the Queen Chrysalis."
Luna's face darkens along with Celestia's, meaning that the subject is very important. Their faces look stern, and that makes me feel uneasy.
"I'm not a mercenary. I'm a soldier of Russian military forces. I cannot and will not help you, unless you'll have a good reason why I should do it."
"It's complicated. However, we can explain."
"Well, go ahead."
Celestia and Luna sit down on a bed and seal the windows with their magic. Then, Luna starts to tell the backstory.
"Queen Chrysalis has tried to take over Equestria twice. For the first time, she was banned by my relatives, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Captain Shining Armor. However, when she came back, she'd been spared, and managed to escape. Our menthality forbids us to kill anyone. Even when the great evil named Tirek was unleashed, it was thrown into the prison in Tartarus. However, right now our own laws are not really helping us, since Chrisalys is back. We're recieving reports, that she's raiding the outskirts of Equestria in search for love to consume. And, because she won't stop for the third time, we need your help."
"And what I will get in exchange? Because I have no real reason to help you. You may be tricking me into a trap, after all. And I can't tell, that you're not lying to me, ya' dig?"
Luna's face shows a grimace of disgust. Understandable, but I can't risk. But, instead of her, her sister answeres to me.
"Our archeologists have found an interesting ancient vault, buried into the ground under the town of Ponyville. And in this vault probably lies a technology, that allows to cover huge distances in a short time. I bet that you want to get home, right?"
The last phrase, said by Princess, wakes up my curiosity. Because it's really my only chance to get back home. Of course, that "technology" can mean absolutely anything, but since there are no other options...
"Deal. However, you need to tell me everything about that... Chrysalis. And also, if you want me to kill an overpowered creature on my own, I better have a transport and supply. Because if your only opportunity fails, you'll have to deal with this evil on your own."
"Of course. First of all, you will head to the town of Ponyville and unlock the vault with my best student, Twilight Sparkle. She's brought you here, by the way. And what you will find in it, is yours. Besides, now you are a commander of this whole operation, and everything is classified."
"Wait, you mean that you don't have any guns to provide me with? And no transport?"
"We mostly rely on magic. We don't have a need to build a lot of machines."
That statement left me in a downed mood. Because going to fight with an overpowered opponent, with two spare magasines for a rifle, in a torn gear and clothing, without any transport? Ridiculous! But, there was no other choice.
"Alright. I am in. Now tell me about this queen. Maybe there is a weak spot..."
"Hello, you must be Cider, right? My name is Twilight Sparkle, me and my friends have brought you to the hospital back in Canterlot."
"Yeah, I remember."
As soon as I step from the train, I'm greeted by a purple alicorn. Twilight looks nice and friendly, and I feel uneasy, because I can't tell the same about myself. 3-day bristle, torn clothing and gear, blood and dust... Good thing that Princesses had offered me to ride in a closed coupe. As we begin our march into the town, I put on my helmet -- hot sunlight literally bakes my shaved head.
"So, Cider... I bet that Princess Celestia has told you everything about the situation?"
"Yes, she did. However, right now I'm more interested in that digsite of yours. Don't wanna' fight with my bare hands and a couple of cartridges."
"Yes, we're going just there. You will see everything for yourself."
As we go farther, we drag more and more attention. Understandable, but that doesn't really help with all these glances, looks and stuff like that. And when we finally come to the big pit in the ground, the crowd literally becomes thick as a concrete block. Until...
"Heyo, Twilight! Get over here!"
I lift my head to see a blue female pegasus in the sky. She furiously signals to Twilight. As she sees me, she lands and offers a hand.
"So, you are a Cider that Twilight keeps talking about, huh? Name's Rainbow Dash!"
"Cider. Yeah, that's me. Are you a friend of miss Sparkle?"
"Sure I am! Come on, let's catch up on her."
As we come closer to the pit, we see that it's surrounded by roadblocks, and inside it there are seven more persons. Twilight has already got inside the working site and has been talking to someone. But then, she notices me and Rainbow Dash.
"Looks like you've met Rainbow Dash! Hi there, by the way."
"Hya, Twilight! As you've said, I've gathered everyone under the tent."
As we get to the tent, that stands in a center of the pit, I take off my helmet, to not hit the ceiling. And as we get inside, I see a lot more ponies and a creature, that looks like a small dragon. After that, Twilight starts her speech.
"Hello, everyone, and thanks for coming. As you remember, we didn't have much time to chit-chat with this person, but right now we are working together. Everyone, please welcome Cider. Cider, these are my friends: Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Starlight Glimmer and Spike. You've already met Fluttershy and Applejack, as you may remember, and you've had a little chit-chat with Rainbow Dash."
"Hello, everyone. Hope that our mission will be complete successfully."
Fluttershy is the first to come to me. She curiously looks over my legs.
"H-hi there... Looks like, um... Your leg is back."
"Yeah. Free of charge, since I have to deal with... Well, you know, who."
After Fluttershy, comes Rarity. She definetely looks like she belongs to a higher society -- fancy dress, manners... And I don't like it.
"My-my, darling, you look awful! These pants of yours, they are torn! And that ugly vest of yours, with all these pouches, ugh! I have no idea, but a person, who designed this, has no taste!"
"I don't wear fancy gear, but mine is very effective. And that vest saves my life, by the way -- armor plates inside. However yeah, I wish I had a spare pair of trousers."
Pinkie Pie. She smiles in a weird way. Almost maniacally. And that's annoying. Some people would say that she's insane in a cute way, but I can't stand overhappy persons.
"Hya! Name's Pinkie Pie, and I'm super-duper pleased to meet you! Want a cupcake? I've brought some, so anyone could fill'er tank, if you know, what I mean!"
"U-u-uh... I will take one, thanks."
After taking an offered cupcake, I stop my glance over the little dragon. He looks interesting, not mentioning that he's the only male person under this tent, not including myself.
"Spike, right? You look like a dragon."
"Heh, because I am a dragon, after all! I can breathe with fire, magically send and recieve letters... Basically, I'm Twilight's number one assistant."
"That's cool, that's cool... I kinda like you, man. You stand out for some reason. And no, I don't mean your looks. Just keep it in mind, m'kay?"
After that, an orange cowgirl comes to me and offers her firm hand.
"Applejack. Though, we've met before."
"Sure we did. However, now the situation is way more serious."
"How much?"
"Way, way worse, as much as I can tell. But I think, we'll handle."
The next person to greet is Starlight Glimmer. She looks a bit nervous, but keeps her emotions down.
"Hello there, heh... Name's Starlight Glimmer, but everyone calls me just Starlight. I am... Well, Twilight's student."
"Hello there, Starlight. I really hope that our working relationships with you and miss Sparkle will be very productive."
Finally, I look at Rainbow Dash. She lazyly leans over some boxes, and as soon as I finish with Starlight, she lifts her head.
"A-a-a-and we've met a bit earlier. And I can say, that I'm awesome. Nothing to add here."
"Being too self-confident can be dangerous, especually under a heavy gunfire. And I hope that you will never see that... But anyways, let's look at the vault, that you've found."
Regrouped, we go to the farther end of the tent. I can see an entrance on the ground, covered by a big, but not very thick piece of metal. With the help of Applejack and Rainbow Dash, the cover is moved away, and we can see that under it was lying something. And that something is...
"Are you fucking kidding me?"
The metal cover, that we've moved, has appeared to be a roof of an old garage. And inside this garage, there's standing just an old car. The only chance to get out of Equestria has appeared to be a spoof. Twilight gets over me, being curious.
"Cider, is there something wrong?"
"Pretty much everything. Your beloved Princess said, that you've found something, that could help us in our mission, and the supplies. How the fuck I am supposed to fight with an old offroader?"
"Wait... You know, what that machine actually is? And it is from your world?"
"Of course! But as much as I can tell, it's pretty much useless..."
I jump into the garage pit and look around. The car looks old, and is filled with sand. The overall looks remind me of GAZ 69, but it's heavily modded -- welded-in rollcage, jerry cans at the back, winches at the back and at the front bumper, additional searchlight... And also, inside it were lying some military-graded steel boxes of different shapes. I get into the cargo compartment of the vehicle, and open one of them to see some sort of a gun in machine oil. As it turns out, other boxes are filled with ammo.
"At least something... Looks like the RPD, and 7.62 cartridges. However, I don't understand, how a whole garage could get here, under the Ponyville..."
"We did some research on this machinery, and looks like it's been lying here for at least two hundred years! And it's in a good shape, because it's been kept hermetically sealed under the ground."
My mood is uncertain. On the first side, that old piece of machinery could do only a little to help us achieve our goal. But on the other, it's still better than nothing... And Twilight looks like she's very interested in this junk, so maybe she can do something about it.
"Well, basically, this is a car. Instead of walking, we could ride in it, but something tells me, that you have no petrol here. Any ideas, miss Sparkle?"
"Nah, just call me Twilight. Well, we need to examine this thing, that would probably take a day or two. Meanwhile, you can get your gear in shape with Rarity. Sounds good?"
"I guess so. However, we need to be quick. Someone, give me a shovel."
"You want to dig the car out? No need to."
After the last phrase, Twilight's horn starts to glow, and literally in a flash, we're out of the pit and on the street, along with the vehicle. I put my helmet back on my head to cover from the sun.
"Alright... Since we're out of the pit, I suggest we start working. While Twilight is working with the car, I need someone to fix my uniform. Besides, we need food, water, IFAKs. And be quick -- I've got the world to save, heh."
"You think a bit too much about yourself, you know that?"
Rarity comes to my side and looks into my eyes. I can see a bit of disguist on her face. And that makes me feel funny. I down my voice and say:
"I know. But instead of you, I kill stuff on everyday basis."
After that, a white unicorn frightens a bit and says that I need to come with her, so she could fix my gear. And as we go through the town, one thought emerges from the depths of my mind.
The day starts peacefully. I can see the sun slowly rolling out from the ground, as its rays are warming my body. The last few days were really intense -- first of all, because of Rarity. As she says about my gear, "This is an abomination, not a uniform!" However, somehow we've patched it up. Not good as new, but still a reliable piece of clothing.
Dealing with others was way much easier. Fluttershy has volunteered to pack the IFAKs, and she's even got some help from a zebra named Zekora and a nurse called Redheart. Applejack and Pinkie Pie were ordered to prepare the food and water, also some money just in case. Rainbow Dash, since she's been bored, has decided to bring a map and make marks on it, that would tell where our enemy has been already. And Twilight with Starlight were messing with the offroader that we've found a few days back. As it turned out, it really is an old modded GAZ-69. And what is very convinient, it can run on a rainbow liquid, that they produce in a city called Cloudsdale. As Equestria uses only a little amount of diesel made of dead plants, and no petrol at all, it is a very big luck for us. Yesterday we were testing it, and everything worked fine, pretty much like if we were using the A-76 petrol. Changing the grease was difficult, though...
I stand at the train station. As the sun overheats my head, I put on my helmet. I am waiting for our group fully-packed, locked and loaded -- the car is in a cargo compartment of the train, I have my rifle and machine gun strapped to me, along with a heavy backpack and ammo belt.
"Hello, Cider! Sorry, we're a bit late."
So, our "save-the-world" squad is finally here, led by Twilight. Still, can't blame them -- everybody carries a huge rucksack. Even Spike!
"Alright line-up! At attention!"
As the rest of the team lines up, I count everybody. As I made sure, that noone's missing, I begin to talk.
"Alright, I will be straight with you. Our mission is very important, and way, way more dangerous than anything you've encountered before. So, there is a principle that I've named "One Man Army", since I don't know how to translate it correctly. It means that you don't ask questions, but answer mine. You do everything as I say. Right now, I am your commander, and there must be at least some discipline. You'll be split into two squads: Twilight will lead Rarity and Pinkie, Starlight will lead Applejack and Fluttershy. Spike will be assisting me with planning and documents. Any questions?"
"Yeah, I have one! Why does it sound like you're pretending to be meanie-weanie? Who told you that you can command like that?"
Pinkie Pie seems disappointed. I only chuckle about that -- she doesn't understand, why it's important to keep discipline.
"Princess Celestia did, Pinkie. And yeah, I can't really tell you what I must do, when we find... The thing. I mean, it's classified. But I assure you, if you will not do everything correctly, your body will be a six feet under the ground."
After a few seconds of thinking, a pink pony puts her usual smile on her face and says something like "Okay then". Looks like she understood...
"No more questions? Good. Now... To the train!"
"Uhm, so, Cider... Where are we going?"
"To the city called Manehattan. According to Rainbow's signs on the map, our enemy moves towards it from the side of the sea. I've seen some reports about habitat islands being left in abandonment after... You-know-who's visit."
Spike and me are sitting in an isolated coupe of the train, that moves towards Manehattan. We're studying documents, that have any relation to our enemy -- Queen Chrysalis. Reports, bio, even pictures.
"Have you been to Manehattan before?"
"Honestly, no. Rarity did, however."
"Good. Now go, bring her and Twilight. Dismissed."
As Spike leaves, I open another report file about Chrysalis. In it, there is a list of her abilities. Of course, Celestia and Luna have warned me about her, but double-checking can't harm.
"Can cloak visually into another pony... Able to turn her joints at 180 degrees... Cold-blooded... Powerful magician... Hell, this is going to be tough."
I open a window of my coupe and light up a cigarette. Last package of Lucky Strike... Too bad that I haven't brought any extra. However, how could anyone tell, that I'd be thrown to another dimension right after the IED explosion?.. But, my thoughts are interrupted with a sound of an opening door.
"Ah, Twilight, Rarity. Please, come in."
"So, Cider, what's up?"
An alicorn and a unicorn make themselves comfortable behind a coupe table. Meanwhile, I put out my cigarette.
"First of all, Twilight, I need you and Rarity to make marks on the city map of Manehattan. As you've encountered HER before, you know the best of her weaknesses and possibilities. And, as Rarity's been to Manehattan before, you'll need her help."
"My help? But, what do you mean? I've been just running business there, nothing more!"
"Still, you know the city. What I do need from you both -- predict a probable route of Chrysalis, if she makes it to the city. Like, where she will go first."
As I give Rarity the city map, she makes a thoughtful humming sound. After a few seconds of looking, she lifts her head.
"Well, if you say so. Twilight, dear, let's get to work."
"Sure thing, Rarity."
The pair gets up and prepares to leave, but I stop them for a moment.
"Just a sec. I know that the city is big, so please, also mark any place where we can refuel our car. You know, so we wouldn' stop in a middle of a run."
"Sure thing. Can we go now?"
"Yeah, dismissed. And tell Spike to come back."
After a couple of hours of reading Chrysalis-related documents, me and Spike have decided to take a little rest. The sun is setting outside the window, as the train moves towards Manehattan in rather slow pace, compared to Russian diesel-powered expresses. I am sitting in my headphones, listening to some music while I have a chance, and taking care of my firearms. Spike, meanwhile, is busy reading some sort of a comic book.
"Click-click-click..."
As I load cartridges into machine gun belts, I can feel them click after fixing inside.
"Click-click-click..."
And I can assure anyone -- this is the one of most calming things I ever did...
"Click-click-click-ZING!"
With one belt done, I take another one and an ammo box. And the process repeats again, until I feel a tap on my shoulder. I stop and see Spike, making uncertain gestures. So, I turn off the music.
"Heya, Spike. Any trouble?"
"Nah, not really. Just being curious, what are you doing here."
"Maintaining my weaponry. It calms me down, you know."
"We still have a couple of days before our arrival, you know that?"
"First of all, if I do it now, I won't feel unprepared when we arrive. And secondly, it's almost like meditation. You just repeat things mechanically, not thinking about anything..."
Spike smiles in understanding. He moves closer to my disassembled guns and investigates them.
"What are these, anyway? I remember, you've said that this is a machine gun, but I don't really get it."
"Basically, it's a firearm, that shoots projectiles in a fast rate."
"Seems like you're familiar with it."
"Yeah, I shoot from things like this back on Earth all the time. I've been a machine gunner for some time, you know."
The noise of the railroad, combined with the setting sun, creates a nice ambient. I enjoy it, while I can -- in a couple of days, we will be in Manehattan, searching for the most dangerous thing in Equestria. But right now, I am just relaxing, trying not to think about it. I take a pack of cigarettes, and pick one of them.
"Fuck, where did I put the lighter..."
"I can light it up for you."
"Thanks for the offer."
As Spike takes my cigarette, he blows on it with greenish fire, and it lights up. Our coupe immideately fills with a smell of burning cheap tobacco. I take the cigarette back and start smoking.
"Thanks. Now, where were we?.."
"I just wanted to ask, what were you doing back at your dimension. Twilight didn't tell me much, but looks like you were at war or something."
"Yeah. We were fighting terrorists at Middle East. Sure thing you don't know, where it is..."
"Fighting? You mean, killing?"
I see a worried look on Spike's face. I can understand that -- hell, when Twilight's found me and I've told her the same, she's been in a deep shock.
"Yeah... Killing. I know, it doesn't really suit your world, but ours is different. Not better, not worse. Just different."
"Huh... And what it's like? To kill a person?"
"You know, there are multiple vision points. Technically, all you need is to move a safety lever, load the cartridge and pull the trigger. You just aim the torso, and RATATATA! He's dead."
"No, I mean the emotions. Don't you feel any guilt for taking someone's life?"
"Two sides of a medal. It's easy to kill those, who shoot at you, and you can definetely tell that some people are your enemy. However, sometimes you can encounter situations, when you don't know, what to do."
"Like what?"
I release a big cloud of smoke from my mouth, remembering the Earth. Yeah, there was a plenty of difficult situations...
"For example -- your group enters the city, and your task is to clear the remaining enemy forces, that survived bombing runs and artillery. And you know, that your enemy will try to hide amongst peaceful citizens. Or, when they brainwash little kids to kill everyone on their way. This reminds me of Colonel Budanov -- he's found an enemy sniper, who was a little girl's mother. He's killed the girl, but right after that, came to a prison. Cool story, eh?"
"Woah... Your world is truly a horrible place."
"Nah, cut it out! Like I've said -- it's just different. Or you're gonna' say, that you've never had to make difficult choices during your life? And now let's remember that Budanov was a colonel. He had people's lives in his hands, everything's depended on him."
A dragon's head downs a bit in thinking. Yeah, it's a big hunk of brain food, especially for a guy, who's not used for casualties, no matter, war or technogenic. And I just chuckle a bit.
"Hey, don't think too much about it. If any difficult situation appears on a horison, I will take full responsibility, not you or your friends. So you can relax a bit."
"Huh. You're talking kinda reasonable for a person, who kills on a daily basis."
"They may call me a murderer, but not a psycho."
"Who are "they?""
"Propagandists. Every war starts and runs with massive propaganda. That's an axioma."
"Man, looks like war is a big business."
"Sure it is. A lot of people and organisations make money on it. Including my country, yeah... Geopolitical situation is a complicated thing, so even I sometimes don't understand, what's going on."
As I finish the cigarette, I return to my ammo belts. Click-click-click...
"Hm. Cider."
"Huh? Did you call me, Spike?"
"Just thinking aloud. I just don't understand, why do you have such an odd nickname. You're an alcoholic or what?"
"Huh, maybe a little! But the real reason is because it's a shortened version of my family name."
"A-a-h... Wonder, what's your real name is, then."
"I won't tell anyone. And besides, it won't tell you anything about me, either. I mean, every name in Equestria that I've heard, basically represents its owner. Of course, human names represent something too, but we've forgotten the meanings a long time ago."
"That's kinda sad, isn't it?"
"Nah, not really. For example, I like my name, but what if it means something stupid?"
I release a slight chuckle and pack my weaponry and ammunition. Since the night's already fallen upon Equestria, I've decided to have a sleep.
"I'm going to bed, anyways. Not tired yet, Spike?"
"Nah, I'm going to read for a bit more."
"Well then. Don't be too late, though. And also, Spike?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for the conversation. If there will be no choice and I'd have to stay in Equestria, you're my number one partner. Keep that in mind."
"Geez, thanks! Have a nice sleep there, Sid."
"Sid... That's how my friends call me. Anyways, goodnight."
And, after a few minutes of thinking, the warm bed makes its job done, and I fall asleep.
"So, according to your research, if she gets to the city, she will move from the coast and to the Summerstorm Festival. Right?"
"Sure it is! As Chrysalis consumes large amounts of love to keep herself living, she will go to the festival, driven crazy from hunger. This is the biggest event happening in this year, so she would probably notice it."
Our train is arriving to Manehattan. Even from the outskirts of it, everyone can see its skyscrapers, an enormous bridge, and its wide streets. And after some time of rolling into the city, the train stops at a huge trainstation.
"Alright, listen up, everyone! Pack your belongings and roll out!"
And while everyone packs up, me and Spike are going to the cargo compartment of the train to get our offroader out.
"Hey, Spike?"
"What's up, Sid?"
"What is the Summerstorm Festival, anyway? Twilight has told me that it's held in Manehattan every year, but didn't really tell me, what it is."
The little dragon chuckles a bit.
"You see, Manehattan is quite a big city, and it's hard to keep a good weather control all across it. So, in this particular time, pegasi from Cloudsdale come, and give citizens a good show, while it rains like at the end of world. Sometimes even Wonderbolts take part in it."
"And citizens like it?"
"Well, pretty much yes!"
"Ugh... I prefer dry and hot weather myself."
As we get into the car, I quickly familiarize myself with the controls. After that, I turn the ignition on, and the machine starts its engine. As it's very loud, Spike is shocked a bit.
"Woah! That's too loud!"
"Don't complain, that's not a limo!"
After a minute of warming up, we're rolling out from the train and meet with others. As Rainbow Dash decides to stay in the air, everyone else get inside the car. Fluttershy, Rarity and Twilight are sharing the back seats, while Starlight, Applejack and Pinkie are holding on to the rollcage. And, as everyone gets in, we start our way into the Manehattan. However, after a few minutes of driving, I stop the car.
"Why did we stop?"
"Rarity... There's noone around."
I get out of the car, and look around. And there is nobody on the street! As this makes me nervous, I take my helmet and tactical vest from the cargo bay.
"I don't like this..."
"Cider... Something tells me that our enemy is here. We are late."
That statement downs my mood a bit. I can even feel my right eye twitching from nervousness. However, I am still full of confidence.
"Alright, it's too early to panic. If she's around here somewhere, it will be easier to find her... Rainbow, Twilight -- you'll do air recon, while the rest will go in a car to the festival, as the most probable point of... HER appearence. If you can make sure that you'll be able to find us in case of anything, of course."
"Let's do it! Come on, Twilight!"
As Rainbow and Twilight ascend above the city, I nervously take the RPD and ammo belts. I go back into the car and lie them down near myself, just in case.
"Alright... Rarity, show us the route. Everyone else -- look out for anything strange."
A very heavy silence is being torn apart by the sound of a car engine, as we ride down the streets. I've seen a few of abandoned cities during my army service, but Manehattan leaves a very different feeling. Usually you see ruins, dust, trash... But not a clean, enormous in size and absolutely empty megapolis. And everything looks so clean and shiny, that I even have to put on my goggles with colorfilterfilter. And the heat is very intense, too -- even in a car with no roof, everyone's literally being cooked up. The tension is so strong, that the surroundings even look surreal. Heat waves flow upwards from the hot tharmac (or whatever these ponies use to build their roads), and even with goggles, it's really hard to focus on the surroundings. However, at some point a loud sound of breaking glass shatters the reality, and my reflexes kick in. I push the gas pedal to the metal, and with a burned rubber, our car shots forward. As I look at the rearview mirror, I see that something's fallen from the third floor of a nearby building. And that "something" was big and black.
"It's her! E-e-ek!"
I can barely hear Fluttershy's voice, but I immideately realise that we've finally found our enemy. So, I hit a handbrake, and with screeching tires, stop the car.
"GET OUT AND COVER! SPIKE, TAKE THE AMMO BOXES!"
"On my wa-a-ay!"
While the little dragon is struggling with heavy pieces of metal, I lie down behind the car and load an ammo belt into my RPD. As I take a sneak peek from behind our improvised cover, I can see HER advancing. As there is no time for admiring her look, I put the machine gun on a car's bonnet and start shooting towards our enemy.
"It's Chrysalis! Everyone, stick behind me!"
"We need to get Twilight and Rainbow!"
As I start shooting towards Chrysalis, I slightly hit her in the leg. She almost falls down, but manages to create some sort of a greenish barrier with her magic, that deflects the rest of my shots. Right after that, she speeds up towards us, like she's not ingured by the bullet. I start to shoot again, and she stops, creating a forcefield for another time.
"Listen up, everyone! I will provide cover, while Fluttershy speeds away to find Twilight and Rainbow! We will distract Chrysalis, but I don't know, for how long! Fluttershy, do you understand?!"
"I-I... *gulp* I'll do it!"
"In three! Two! One! GO-GO-GO, MOVE!"
I look from the cover and release a considerable amount of bullets towards covered Chrysalis, so she couldn't get up. Behind the shots, I can hear a flapping of the wings, and I start to shoot in bursts, to save ammo. However, it gives Chrysalis a bit more time to maneuver, so she tries to advance. Checking that Fluttershy has gone from everyone's sight, I stand up.
"Pinkie, AJ, listen up! Starlight and me are going to cover you, while you'll run towards her into close combat! Rarity, take one ammo belt from the box! Spike, lay the boxes into the car! On my mark!"
I take a quick look at everyone. Pinkie and Applejack are standing in low-start stance, Rarity's struggling with the belt, Spike gathers the metal to trow it into the car, and Starlight comes near me, charging her horn.
"FIRE!"
Me and Starlight start to shoot rapidly into the queen, stopping her in a middle of the street. Bullets and energy blasts are literally ripping the air, while Applejack and Pinkie charge towards our enemy. Spike and Rarity, however, lie low in the car behind the rollcage. As Starlight continues the magical barrage, I get in the driver's place, and start the engine. After that, I offer a hand to Starlight.
"Come with me, if you want to live!"
After helping her, I start with a burned rubber, and head after our earth ponies. As they drag attention of the changeling, Chrysalis uses a large amount of magic to stop their punches and kicks. Finally, she lifts them up with her green aura.
"I'VE BEATEN YOU TWICE, FOOLS! NOW, YOU WILL..."
However, the queen didn't finish her cliche speech, as I ram her with the car, sending her skyward. After a few seconds of flying unconcious, however, Chrysalis manages to regain her bearings and stabilise herself with her insect-like wings. As we pick up Applejack and Pinkie, she immidiately dives, sending lightning bolts towards us.
"Now, who's this? An enormous hairless monkey? Ha-ha-ha!"
I rev up the engine, sending the car speeding down an empty street. The blood boils inside me from anger, while all sounds in the world -- magic blasts, explosions, engine's roar -- melt into a symphony of hatred. As I hit the handbrake, the car turns around, and I engage the rear gear. After that, I take the machine gun in my free hand and with all my strenght lift it to face the queen.
"WHO THE FUCK SAID THAT? YOU'VE LITTERALLY SIGNED UP YOUR OWN DEATH WARRANT!"
As I pull the trigger, more and more shots cause the queen to stumble. However, that just stops her barrage, but not the pursuit. Everything looks like in slow motion -- I can literally hear, how an empty bullet cartridge zings from the metal parts of the car, how Starlight charges her horn and shoots another magic blast... But then, an ammo belt comes to an end. As I hit the handbrake again, I roll the car around, and make it face the wide prospect. And Chrysalis starts her magic barrage for another time.
"Cider, I think that she's angry as Cerberus! Do you have a plan?"
"Starlight, dear, would you please shut the fuck up and shoot the damn thing? We're waiting for Twilight's support, after all!"
When Chrysalis starts to shoot again, I turn to a wide street, that looks almost as wide, as a highway. Though, the road itself is not really good -- on its surface, we see a lot of burned cracks. As I can't dodge all of them, I strenghten my grip on the steering wheel.
"Everyone, hold on to something, we'll have a rough ride!"
As I push the gas pedal harder, I feel how magical shots from Chrysalis nearly get us. However, after a few seconds of speeding up, I recieve a powerful kick from the suspension of the car, as we make our way through the damaged street.
"I wonder *OUCH* why this street *OUF* is in such bad *OW* shape!"
"It's the street, where the festifal's been held!"
When I hear Rarity's statement through all the noize, something clicks in my mind. Because all the street damage definetely has to do something with the changeling, who wants us out of her way. As I take a look a bit farther, I can see a green light, emerging from the ground. I push the pedal like mad, going through the holes in the ground, ashes and... Green slime.
"Spike, reload my machine gun!"
While I praise to anyone, so Spike wouldn't break anything, I can feel the car's wheels overspin in green sludge. Rapid handling changes from understeer to oversteer and back don't really help, either. It takes all of my reflexes to just keep the car on the road. Good thing that Starlight basically works as a living turret!
"Machine gun ready, Sid!"
While Spike's shouting, only 100 meters remain to the source of the light. I've been so busy keeping the car in control, that I see the light source only when we get to it.
The whole wide of the street looks like a giant insect nest. Pillars of things, that looks like pods, with green liquid, and what's way worse, ponies inside. My eyes begin to sting, literally being hurt by the sight. And, Chrysalis immidiatelly uses my distraction -- one of her magic blasts hits me, and I knock out.
My body hurts. It hurts so much that I can't even tell, why I am still alive. As I force my eyes to open, I see only a hot tharmac.
"Apply bandages here and here... Yes, like that. Wait... He's awake!"
I hear a familiar voice and a flapping of the wings. Something forces my body to lift and carefully lie on the ground. After that, I see a few faces.
"Flutter... Sh-shy... Twilight... S-spike... You are here, finally..."
"Yeah-yeah. Now, hold still..."
While Twilight mumbles something, I can see myself covered in purple aura. I can feel the pain fading away, and finally start moving. When Twilight finishes with the painkilling spell, I get up and look over the surroundings.
"Where are we?"
"With the help of Applejack, we've dragged you and your gear away. Others are distracting Chrysalis right now. However, we had to abandon the car, sorry about that."
I take a sneak peek from behind a corner of the building. Under the sunset, I can see a pillar of green light, emerging quite far away down the street.
"Well, I guess we're heading there. Spike?"
"I've brought your rifle, machine gun and a couple of ammo boxes."
"See, guys? Spike is a credit to team!"
As I pick up my gear, I open my IFAK and take a few painkiller pills from it. After taking them (just in case that Twilight's spell fades away too quickly), I strap my AK-74 to my back, take the RPD and head out, hiding behind an empty buildings. Others follow me pretty quick, and even scared-to-heart-attack Fluttershy isn't complaining.
"I'm gonna fight them all, a seven nation army couldn't hold me back..."
"Huh? Did you say something?"
"No, Fluttershy, just one good song came in mind."
"You sing on marches?"
"Yeah, sometimes. Usually classic hits or frontline art."
A picture of my squadmates came in mind. A lot of them were playing different music instruments, some had a good vocal characteristics. And of course, everyone could handle a guitar -- classic, what can I say.
As we are getting closer to Chrysalis' nest, the green light becomes more and more blinding. As I put on my goggles, I measure an approximate distance to the infected area. After that, I gather the team together.
"Listen up. I can't hear any magic blasts or anything. There are two variants -- or our friends are in big trouble, or they have managed to hide. So, I think that we should make a small sabotage to get Chrissie's attention. What do you think?"
"It depends on what you're planning to do. Any ideas?"
"We go there, and open as much pods, as we can. We will release these ponies, encourage them, and we'll kick that fat ass of a queen!"
Everyone in our gang smiles in agreement. And so do I, until I take a quick look to the street...
"Now quiet. She's over there."
We take a look from behind a corner of a building and see Chrysalis flying above the street. Her horn is glowing with acid green aura, as well as...
"She's taken everyone out! Look, they're floating behind!"
Spike's voice shows a considerable amount of nervousness, as there is a good reason for that -- behind the queen, covered with the same acid green aura, float Rainbow Dash, Starlight, Applejack, Pinkie and Rarity, all being unconscious. I turn my head back and see a very unfamiliar picture.
"Um, Fluttershy... What are you doing?"
Fluttershy's face fills with so much hatred that I can even feel it. Something rings in my mind, telling that it's not good.
"She harms my friends so much... And all I can do is to squeak and hide..."
Pegasus's palms curl into fists, and I can even see some veins, bulging from inside. I share a worried look with Twilight. But, I didn't have a chance to say anything, as now-not-so-shy Fluttershy literally shots into the sky.
"CHRYSALIS! I'M GOING TO GET YOU FOR THIS!"
Realising, how bad the whole situation is, Twilight sprints after the pegasus, followed by me. As we go from our cover, we can see Fluttershy speeding towards the queen.
"Twilight, you get our guys! Me and Spike are going to distract Chrysalis for a while!"
"Got it!"
As me and Spike are getting closer, more intense the battle becomes -- until now, I would never say that Fluttershy can punch and kick like a true fighter, using her advantage in agility. So I stand up, and start shooting towards the queen. As she notices me too late, several bullets hit her -- two of them hit her in the stomach, and one accidentally hits her horn.
"GAH! You... Filthy creature! You will pay for this!"
Distracted by a sudden headache, Chrysalis releases our team from her magic grasp. In the meantime, Twilight catches everyone with her own magic and manages to teleport away, leaving only me and Spike. Realising, that we have not much time, I charge towards the changeling, filling her body with bullets. Some of them hit her horn again, making it fall from her head and causing the queen an enormous suffering.
"A-A-AH, MY HORN! U-U-UGH!"
Releasing the rest of the ammo belt towards the changeling's body, I take a quick look at Spike. His jaw hangs open, and eyes look as wide as saucers.
"Woah... You've torn her apart."
"Not yet! Give me an ammo belt."
After loading the belt into the machine gun, I cautiously come to the changeling. I can see that some sort of green and glowing blood comes from her wounds, as she lies on a hot tharmac. But, also I see a devilish grin on a queen's face.
"Fool... You think, you can get through this? Now you're dead wrong."
After speaking these words, Chrysalis' eyes start to glow. As I start feeling nervous, I quickly run a few meters away from her, but that doesn't really help -- a few seconds later, the ground cracks and I fall somewhere deep and dark.
I find myself lying on something cold and dusty. As I try to get up, I feel a zap of pain in my left arm.
"Fuck... That hurts..."
After a couple of minutes of struggle, I finally get up. As I look around, I only see the darkness around myself. A great wall of black nothing -- that's the first association. After a quick search through the pouches on my vest, I finally find a flashlight and a lighter.
"And let there be light..."
As I turn the switch on my flashlight, the space in front of me fills with light. After a quick lookaround, I see my armament a few meters away. After picking it up, I continue to look around. And I see, that I've fallen into some sort of an underground hangar.
"Need to get out of here. That queen wouldn't be waiting."
I start to make my way through the hangar. Must say, that it has literally enormous proportions -- it's high and wide enough, to fit a row of...
"Artillery. Well, fuck me."
My flashlight catches a piece of something, made of metal. As I come closer, I see that it's a towable cannon on pneumatic wheels. And not just any cannon -- 45-millimeter Soviet anti-tank gun from World War Two. As I look around a bit, I can even see an ammo box nearby. As I open it, I see the shells of different types -- armor-piercing, high-explosive, and even projectile.
"That's ridiculous. How in the actual..."
The whole situation reminds me about Ponyville and the garage, where we've found our car and the machine gun. But this place looks much, much bigger. Weaponry and vehicles stand in lines, being preserved by the hangar itself and the dust. Normally I would ask myself, why all this stuff lies here, in a middle of Equestria. But right now I am too much amazed. As I continue to walk, I see more machinery and weaponry -- mostly, artillery guns, but also offroaders, trucks and tractors. And everything is in a good shape! But the most epic thing, that lies here, is a howitzer. Like, a very big howitzer on a crawler self-propelled chassis. The B-4.
"Holy mother of Joseph... I want to shoot from it."
After a quick look around, I climb onto the howitzer's chassis. The 203-millimeter barrel looks just enormous, barely enough for its massive shells, that lie on a crane mechanism. I can even read the writing in Russian -- "Maximum weight -- 150 kilogramms". As I jump on the ground, I see a few fuel tanks a bit farther. And an idea pops into my mind.
"Well... I will definetely become deaf."
After filling the chassis' tank, I get to the driver's seat. After kickstarting the engine with a curved starter, all the mechanisms begin to move. The crane loads an armor-piercing shell into the barrel, while I get myself familiar with the contols.
"Pretty much like tractor driving..."
Feeling the blood literally boil from adrenaline, I put on my headphones -- to ease an effect of the blastwave, and to turn on something motivating. And, when the music kicks in, the howitzer begins to move.
"What shall we use to fill the empty spaces, Where waves of hunger roar, Shall we set out across this sea of faces, In search of more and more applauds?.."
The howitzer slowly moves through the hangar, thundering with a force of a million metal parts. As I turn on the headlight, I can see the farther wall with an opened exit. As I go there, I can see that it's some sort of a tunnel, that's a way narrower, and turns left and right from time to time.
Pretty soon enough, I can see a green shining from behind one of the corners. As I drive the howitzer there, I can see that the source of the light is a giant weird-shaped crystal, placed in a middle of a big concrete chamber. I can see, how its light goes upwards, through the holes in a ceiling to the sky. And on top of that construction sits...
"Hello there, monkey. Looks like you've made your way through the six feet of dirt, didn't you?"
I hear the queen's voice literally inside my head. That shocks me, and I hit the brakes. As I take a better look at Chrysalis, I notice that she's not wounded at all, and even her horn is on its place.
"Shall we buy a new guitar? Shall we drive a more powerful car? Shall we work straight through the night? Shall we get into fights?"
As the music bangs in my head, I am astonished by the synergy of the sight and the song. Somehow it's very depressing, but yet, a very beautiful alliance. The dark, pulsating energy of the Throne meets a metal beast, that will show its strenght. I think, that's a bit of poetic...
"You cannot kill me, until you destroy the Crystal Throne. I bet you knew about it, since Celestia has provided you with information. Nice piece of junk, by the way."
Awaking from stupor, I push the gas pedal and the howitzer starts to move towards the Crystal Throne. The only thing I see on the queen's face is a smirk.
"Looks like you're an idiot, don't you? I am invincible, while being near the Throne. You can't beat me, ha-ha-ha!"
I stop the howitzer about three hundred meters away from the Throne, so the barrel would face it for a direct shot. After that, I release the hydraulic brakes and take a triggering lever into my hand.
"Leave the lights on, Drop bombs, Do towns of the East, Contract disease!"
Suddenly, Chrysalis becomes airborne and charges towards the howitzer. The green aura emerges all around it, lifting the gun up for a few meters. And, while I still have a chance, I pull the lever. As I do so, an incredibly powerful shot sends me and the howitzer back from recoil. Everything happens like in a slow motion -- first, I almost break myself from hitting the control panel too hard, then I see a fire, coming from the gun's muzzle. And after that, only music in my head continues to exist.
"Bury bones, Break up homes, Send flowers by phone, Take to drink, Go to shrinks, Give up meat, Rarely sleep, Keep people in pets..."
These few seconds look like an eternity. I can even see, how the queen's face changes from smirking to fearing. As the shell flies by, the blastwave from its speed sends her a few meters away from the Throne.
"Train dogs, Race rats, Fill the attic with cash, Bury treasure, Store up leisure, But never relax at all! With our backs to the wall."
When the shell finally hits the Throne, I can see it shatter to pieces from an impact. After that, the fuse inside the shell initiates, and all one hundred kilos of metal and explosives tear the crystal apart. I can even see, how the shattered pieces of concrete, metal and stone are flying in different directions, bringing the death to our pair of me and Chrysalis. Our fight finally comes to an end. I applause in my mind to the genius of a Soviet high-explosive engineering, and smile...
I stay awake and alive. I don't really know, how, but I've managed to survive an impact of a howitzer. And my mind is clear, which brings a bit of confidence. However, my face stings, and my legs hurt. The result of a few-meter-high landing on a chassis with barely no suspension at all, what can I say. However, I was expecting a far worse consequences.
"You... YOU'VE RUINED IT!"
As I hear a hysterical shout from somewhere in the depths of a chamber, I carefully step off the platform, and walk towards the source of the sound, limping. As I come closer, I can see Chrysalis, lying on the ground with broken legs, and without her horn... Again.
"Yeah, I'm pretty much a ruiner. But before I shoot you in the head, let's just talk, okay? You've got nothing to lose, after all."
The changeling's face changes from mad to sad after a few seconds of thinking. Chrysalys sighs deeply and lies on her back.
"Why do you want to talk? And what about?"
"I want to know, why did you attack these ponies anyway. As much as I can tell from the files, they'd offered you a sanctuary and a chance to rule your subjects, but you'd just left. That doesn't make any sense."
"I've always wanted to avenge that unicorn, Starlight Glimmer... She'd ruined everything that I'd built! And without my subjects, now I lose to an enormous monkey with a fire-spitting stick... And something tells me, that this time everything won't finish until my permanent banishment."
"Not banishment. Your DEATH."
"That's why these ponies have brought you here, huh? Because noone in Equestria can kill?"
"Yeah, pretty much like that."
I take a cigarette from the pack and light it up with my Cricket lighter. A hot smoke fills my lungs, and the stinging sensation goes away from my face for a bit.
"Well, there's also a strange coincedence. I've found a buried garage under the Ponyville, and now I fall into the tech-filled hangar. None of these ponies use technologies like these -- cars, guns, or even firearms."
"Honestly, I don't know either. I've found this system of tunnels by accident, and I really had no idea, that this tech can be so powerful. Ugh, what could I do, if I'd discovered this earlier..."
"Any ideas, how it could get here?"
"Well, I've heard that before Equestria these lands were occupied by someone else. But these are just rumors, after all. Noone really believes that before ponies nobody came here, or where the Ponyville stands. To think about it, there are probably a lot of other remains of this kind. Or this can be just a coincedence. I'm not really sure about it."
As I finish the cigarette, I release a big cloud of smoke and throw the filter away. I take the rifle, that's been strapped to my back, and the magazine. After loading the barrel, I take out my music player, and enable the dictaphone.
"For a record, Chrissie. Any last words?"
"Yeah... You don't belong here, fool. I may be a villain of everypony around here, but you are the thing, that will ruin the balance of this reality. You think that you're fighting for good, but in reality, you're a murderer. A person that can't exist here. Remember my words, monkey. Keep them in mind."
"You're done?"
"Yes. Now... Do your thing."
A wide grin emerges on my face. As I turn off my music player, I push the safety lever on my AK-74, and, after taking a quick aim, pull the trigger. I hear the loud "bang", that echoes across the chamber. However, much to my surprise, Chrysalis doesn't die yet -- I can see how the bullet is being held by the purple aura in front of her face. Right after I notice that, something heavy hits me in the back, and I lose my conciousness from suffering a great pain.
As I wake up, my eyes immidiately shoot wide open. However, that's not the best decision in my life -- I immidiately become blinded by the bright light from somewhere up above.
"Well shit, I'm in Heaven. Never believed in that, yet somehow managed to lift up."
"You're thinking too much about yourself, you know that?"
I hear a familiar voice somewhere nearby, but can't really tell, from where it's coming from. As the light distracts me, I complain.
"Someone, turn off the light, will ya? Or bring me my goggles, for fuck's sake!"
"Alright, just having fun there. And please, stop swearing!"
A few seconds later, the light above shuts down, and I can finally look around the surroundings. I find myself on some sort of a couch, in my gear, and right under the lamp. And the voice's owner is Rarity, that's standing right over the couch.
"Finally, you are awake. You were blacked out for a day, and honestly, I thought that it would take much more time for you to wake up."
"Yeah... I just don't understand, why Twilight did hit me."
"Um, what do you mean?"
"Don't play stupid, I'm not buying it. Her aura is purple. And she's stopped the bullet."
A heavy silence fills the room, as I get up from the couch and walk towards the window. As I look through it, I can see wide crowded streets and high skyscrapers of Manehattan. As I turn around towards Rarity, I can see a slight neurosis in her eyes.
"Well, you've never mentioned that you've wanted to kill her... Nobody has known about it. So, we kind of snuck up behind you and... Knocked you out."
"Well, I was hired to kill Chrysalis. By Celestia and Luna. Have fun with that fact."
"Wait... You say that Princesses have offered YOU to KILL for them?"
"Correct. And I completely understand them. We had a deal, after all. Anyway, where's Chrysalis?"
"Well, thanks to the Elements of Harmony, now she's reformed. Can't say that I trust her much, but I guess that's the situation pretty similar to Discord."
"Who's Discord?"
"Nevermind. I'll tell you later."
After a quick gathering of my gear, me and Rarity are walking through the halls of what happens to be a hotel. We see some ponies on our way, that would say something like "hi" to me and bow before Rarity. Then, we finally make it to the big room, filled with our team and Chrysalis in the middle of it. After closing the door behind us, me and Rarity go inside.
"Sid, you're okay! And... Do you know about... Chrysalis?"
"Yeah, Spike. Rarity has told me about the situation. And I am very disappointed in everyone of you. Maybe except yourself."
As I take a look at Chrysalis, I can see her literally shaking, with eyes like saucers. A picture of recent carnage comes in mind, and I can feel the anger building up in me. I come a few steps closer to the former queen and lift her from the floor by grabbing her dress. As I look straight into her eyes, I can see her fear.
"Now, you must give me a good reason why shouldn't I finish what we've started. You've got five seconds, or else I will shoot."
After saying so, I take my rifle in my free hand, and push its muzzle into Chrysalis' ribcage. As I take a quick look around, I can see that the gang starts to shout loudly.
"Five!"
"Cider, why are you doing this?!"
"Four!"
"She's reformed!"
"Three!"
I push down the safety lever, and punch the changeling, so she falls back on the floor.
"Two!"
I take a quick aim, and load the barrel of my AK-74.
"ONE!"
But then, something unexpected happens. In front of my rifle's muzzle, appears Spike. His face shows an enourmous amount of bravery -- he's literally shaking from nervousness, yet his moves are confident.
"Spike. Why are you standing in front of your commander's gun?"
"Not just a commander, but also a friend! I know that Chrysalis has done a lot of awful things, but at least listen to me!"
Spike's phrase shocks me, and I step back, lowering the gun and unloading it.
"You... Did you call me a friend?"
"Sure thing I did! Will you just listen to me? I'm not asking to do anything extraordinary."
After a quick thinking, I put the gun down and cross my arms in waiting.
"You know, Cider... You've said that you were killing all the time back home. And you've said that sometimes you have to make difficult choices. And I can understand why Celestia and Luna asked you to deal with Chrysalis. They have laid a huge responsibility on your shoulders, and you've said that it's all yours. But... I think that this time THEY must learn something."
As I look around, I can see everyone smiling. Twilight and Rainbow Dash even hover a few meters under the ceiling from excitement. And I can feel, how something breaks in the depths of my soul.
"They must learn, that sometimes they need to deal with problems personally. Not to hire a killer that won't fit into the society, because there weren't any killers in our history, at least on purpose. I know that you have an order, but we would like to take a bit of responsibility from your shoulders. Killing won't work here, you would be an outcast, if anyone will know about it."
After finishing his speech, Spike offers me a hand. As I look straight into his eyes, I can see only an endless ocean of hope. Events of a past few days roll by before my eyes -- how we've started our way from Ponyville, how we've arrived to Manehattan, how we've caused all that carnage, and how I've almost killed the changeling. I move my look towards Chrysalis. I can definetely tell that she's in a bad moral state -- her eyes are like saucers, and she's curled on the floor like a scared kitten. With a heavy heart, I shake Spike's hand.
"You will be dealing with it. Keep her off me and under arrest. If she will do anything, ANYTHING that will cause additional carnage, I will end her and probably beat you the fuck of your mind. Understood?"
"So, that means..."
"Yes. I'll let her live. But only because you puny ponies are not used to killing. I'll go get some fresh air now."
"Just wait for a second."
As Spike comes closer, I can see a key in his hand. I lift my eyes towards his.
"What's this?"
"A key from your car. While you were out, we've managed to fix it up. There were a few minor problems, like broken glass and bent metal, nothing too serious. And I am coming with you."
"Well... Thanks for that, man. Let's go, then."
Me and Spike are rolling through the streets of Manehattan in our GAZ. The traffic of rickshaws flows around us, being filled with shouts, gasps and other sounds. However, no matter how hot it was in the middle of the traffic lane, I didn't take off my gear -- who knows, maybe someone will need my help immidiately, if Chrysalis goes rampant again?
"Alright, Spike, where are we going? I understand the route, but you didn't tell me, what's the place anyway."
"Really?"
"Yeah, really."
"Well, we're heading to the bar. Don't worry about me -- I'm already mature as heck. But anyway, there's someone who wants to meet you."
"On what purpose? It's not me, who reformed the changeling with Elements-of-whatever."
"Well, let's just say that this person is a bit more, than you think. Oh, come on, just drive and don't ruin the surprise!"
As I drive through thestreets of Manehatten, I can see how the sun sets above the horizon. As its reflections blid me, I pull my goggles down from the helmet, and put them on my face. Spike only laughs a bit.
"Always ready for anything, huh?"
"Pretty much yes. Without any roof, it will be hard to drive if sudden wind, duster or rain approaches. Besides, with colorfilter these goggles also act as sunglasses. Not too stylish, but they work."
"Seems like that you prefer function before style? Understandable."
"Well, I can't say that I'm a man without taste, I have a few cool leather coats back home, for example. And an enormous amount of other stuff, too."
"I won't even ask how these leather coats are being made..."
"Sorry about that."
"No worries. Hey, park the car here."
After parking the car and going out from it, I take a look at the building's facade. Typical 6-floor house, and the first floor is occupied by a bar, that tries to look more like a tavern, with all its wooden exterior. After a few seconds of thinking, I go after Spike into the front door.
When I get inside, a loud noize of a big company hits my ears. As we go further, I can see that now this bar reminds me not a tavern, but a roadside cafe in a middle of a small road somewhere between Moscow and Sochi -- wooden interior, loud company, and the smell of booze. As me and Spike go to the bartender, he greets us. He somehow reminds me of Leps -- black mane, tinted glasses and a tuxedo.
"Hello there! You must be Spike, a friend of Rainbow Dash? She's told me about you, you've helped her to reform the changeling, huh?"
"Well, technically... You can say so."
"Ah, don't be so modest. Specially for you, anything's free of charge. And who is with you?"
"Ah, he's my friend, Cider. He helped us a lot, you know?"
"O-ho-ho, that's awesome! Feel free to order anything, buddy. No charge, too. Don't mind if we have a little chit-chat?"
As I stay more in this place, I feel more and more relaxed. So, I lift my goggles, and take off my helmet, while taking a seat near the bartender.
"Well, if you say so. Spike, tell me when a person, who wanted to talk with me comes, m'kay?"
"Sure thing, Sid. I'll go find her."
As I look around, I see that a big and loud company has gathered around a few tables, drinking alcohol and laughing. As they wear pretty similar blue-and-yellow uniform, I can tell that they are probably from the same organisation. I ask the barteder about them.
"Oh, these are the Wonderbolts. As much as I can tell from your look, you've come from very far away, and probably don't know about them. Here's your coffee, by the way."
"Thanks. Yeah, who are they, anyways?"
"Yesterday they were performing on the Summerstorm festival. Basically, Wonderbolts is an aerial team of the most high-performing pegasi. Of course, the backstory is much deeper, but it's a good place to start."
"So, they only do airshows or what?"
"Nah, there's a whole spectre of what they can do -- from weather control to fighting."
A picture of MAKS exhibition appears in front of my eyes. As I take a sip from my cup, I remember how I've been there as a kid. I've seen a lot of aerial perfomance by "Russkie Vityazy" and "Strizjy". As much as I can tell, these are not just a high-pirfomance groups, but also a training centers for regular pilots. Hell, I've always wanted to be a jetfighter pilot, because of them -- men without fear. I've even got a light class civillian pilot licence! But, to be a jetfighter pilot, you need to have a lot more, than just passion...
"Hey, Cider! Here's the mare, who wanted to see you."
As I turn my head towards Spike's voice, I can see that he's accompanied by the mare. Her mane and tail look fiery-orange, while the rest of her fur remains yellow. And, she's wearing a sky blue uniform.
"I am Captain Spitfire, leader of the Wonderbolts team. And you are?.."
"Captain, callsign Cider. 176th Guard's shooting regiment from 56th Guard's shooting division. Infantry, in less words."
"So, you are a military officer?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Looks pretty much like Rainbow Dash said. I am her Wonderbolts commander, you know. Pleased to meet you."
As I shake Spitfire's hand, she sits near me while Spike runs somewhere off.
"So, why did you want to meet me, captain?"
"No formal ranks between us, Cider. Both of us are captains, after all... But anyway, there was no specific reason, why I did want to see you personally."
"I don't understand."
"You see... Wonderbolts are formally a civillian organisation, but all of us are officers and recruits, and Equestria's military command keeps an eye on us. We even fight sometimes, for example, we've been fighting against a giant dragon in Ponyville a few years back."
"And?"
"And you have pulled off an actual military operation. Well, I don't want to be too immodest, but if you take Rainbow's story as the truth, you are literally a savior of Equestria right now. I don't want to spill it out loud, because there will be much of a heat after you, but I am very impressed. And knowing that RD doesn't like to speak about anyone else's achievements..."
My face becomes red from a sudden Spitfire's statement, because of a few reasons. One: that's really embarassing. Two: there is a saying, that if one knows, everybody knows. And oh boy, if she knows about my attempt of killing the changeling...
"Ma'am, thanks for the compliment, but I think that the Elements of Harmony are the true saviors -- they've reformed the changeling and rescued everyone from their pods. They even prevented me from doing something they say I'd regret about. I'm not too happy about it, but still."
"Well, you can say whatever you want. But for me, you'll be a hero."
"Thanks, I guess... To think about it, noone's called me a hero before you."
"Really? Rainbow's said that you were fighting terrorists back home. Pretty heroic, if you ask me."
"I did. But noone has called me a hero. My country's media shows us as workers, and others... Well, we're pretty much like mass murderers for them. Fucking politics, what can I say. And to be honest, doing war is an everyday routine. Not heroism"
"Woah. That's kinda... Not good."
"It is. But someone has to do the job."
Flashbacks of war come across my mind. First boot camp, first cigarette in entire life, first foreign mission in 2008. Then, there was Middle East. Endless desert, filled with jihadists and not-so-clever allies. Helicopters, tanks, infantry vehicles, firefights, bombing runs and artillery strikes -- everything does WAR. But, these are not unpleasant memories, no. These represent... The routine.
"And you know what? I don't regret my choice. I had to make difficult decisions, and I'd seen some shit. But I've always wanted to do good deeds, and I think that I'm pretty good at it."
As I look at Spitfire, I can see her smiling. Her face shows a lot of confidence in the bright future, I can say. And, as we cling with our cups, I think...
