Chapter 149: Dragon Across
Part 1: Dragon Boat
TIME: 20:03 ERST
DATE: War Day 1129/7 Quintillus, 1005 C.S.
LOCATION: Leaving Dagi Island, Dragonshire
We were on the small boat leaving the island. It was a motor boat, so, we didn't need to row. Thankfully. Filament was running the engine. I was in the front with Ember.
K: "YOu like him, don't you?" I smirked.
Ember: "I do.." She smiled a bit. "..but, he's a commoner. I can't."
K: "Says who?" I gave her a small poke. "Cadence did it."
Ember: "Sunshine was a Royal Guard, at least. He's just a soldier." She shrugged, looking down at the water.
K: "So what?" I looked right at her. "As your Uncle and Godfather, I approve. He seems like a good guy, he's brave, and he was very protective of you."
Ember: "...I'd have to abdicate." She trailed her finger in the water. "There are rules, and they're there for a reason. We have a war to win. That's more important than my feelings." She sighed.
K: "Bullshit." I patted her shoulder, though.
In the back, I could faintly hear Applejack working on Topaz.
We'd coordinated on the way down the mountain. We both saw it. Ember was flirting hard, Topaz was trying to ignore it, and Applejack had an addiction to playing matchmaker, and as her husband, I had to support her.
Besides, I liked Topaz. First time out, he figured out the Universal Law: "CATCH THE BAD GUY WHILE HE MONOLOGUES!" That says something about a person - breaking the programming like that isn't easy in a world like this one. That and he SHOT THE HYDRA with a TANDEM WARHEAD. Smart lad!
Once we got back to the other dock - which took another hour - I slid up beside my dear wife.
K: "How'd it go?" I asked in hushed tones.
Applejack: "So-so. He likes 'er, awlright. Problem is, honeybun, he knows the rules." She shrugged a bit as we walked to the rental office to drop off the keys - yes, they're THAT civilized around here. "He knows his class in life ain't worth spit, an' I don't see him becomin' a General or nothin' any time soon." She frowned a bit.
K: "Ember said she's tempted to abdicate after the war's over." I shrugged. "She knows darn well he might not live that long."
Applejack: "Her, neither, she keep sassying up her britches like she is - reminds me a' Luna at the start'a the war." She snickered a bit.
K: "Ember has something to prove. So did Luna. People feared her. Now, the respect her for the chances she took." I nodded as Filament set the keys in the drop box, and dropped a wad of cash in there for thanks.
Ember: "Uncle. What now?" She shrugged. "We have the Talisman."
K: "I need a night's rest. Only with the new dawn do I get back the two Charges that I just used - even with the Talisman, the Sword can only call on an Alicorn one time per day, refreshed at local dawn with the rising sun." I nodded. "We'll get an early start, but, I don't think The Creeps will be a problem."
Ember: "What makes you think that, Uncle?" She smirked a bit.
Filament: "Call it a hunch." He beamed a grin.
ANOTHER twenty minutes later, we got back to the forward base camp by the Mound. The whole area was lit up - Rapid Bearing had ordered in as many high intensity lights as possible, started huge bonfires, and essentially saturated the area with as much light as possible, keeping The Creeps as 'at bay' as they could be.
Rapid Bearing: "Ah, there'ya are. We've been busy." He invited us over to the camp area.
K: "I see that. Good work, Rapid." I nodded to him, and patted him on the shoulder.
Rapid Bearing: "Ehh.. their Engineers need some more education. Actually, after this is over, I'd like to detach for a bit, and see to it." He shrugged. "In the name'a cooperation, and all."
K: "Not a problem. I'm sure Ember won't mind - they may be more technologically advanced than us, but WE have experience." I gestured.
Rapid Bearing: "Alright, sounds good. I'll come back to Canterlot whenever I'm done, and if'n'y'all're elsewhere, I'll catch up." He nodded firmly to me.
K: "Deal." I smirked.
Hot food was cooking from a field kitchen, too - and it smelled amazing. Colonel Scorchfang was here, with another Colonel from the proper Army.
Col. Scorchfang: "My Liege. General." He nodded to us. "I hope the Sergeant's performance left nothing to be desired." He looked over at Topaz.
I didn't see Onyx a few feet away, getting some coffee. But, he paced over before I could respond.
Onyx: "Dad.. I think you can stop." He said, in a small voice. "I-uh.." He cleared his throat. "I almost died today. Topaz dove on me, almost broke his tail and his arms holding on to me." He looked at the ground. "Miss Toola Roola and Miss Trixie have been talking to me about Second Chances. I-um.." He looked at Topaz. "I didn't deserve that. Not after the way I've pushed you all these years."
Topaz: "Filament pointed out that you were doing it.. to make me tougher." He shrugged. "I.. didn't realize it.. when I saved you, though. Y.. you're my brother, Onyx." He looked down at the ground. "No monster is going to get my family. Not while I'm alive."
Daigflame: "..is this true, General?" He looked at me.
K: "One hundred percent. More than that, he protected Ember while we were on the island - he used Stone Skin to shield her from an RPG. And THEN, he used a tandem charge warhead from an Ifrit rocket launcher to gut the Hydra, giving me an opening to jump into its guts and discharge Celestia's solar flare attack, and destroy it, before it could reach gigantic size." I nodded to the Colonel.
Ember: "Moreover, Colonel - Bahamut himself said he had courage." She smiled.
Onyx & Daigflame: "WHAT?!"
Filament: "Yuppers!" He gave a cheesy grin.
Topaz: "He did." He nodded. "We saw him after we destroyed the Hydra."
K: "If it wasn't for Topaz, we wouldn't be here. I'm recommending him for a medal." I nodded firmly.
Daigflame: "..my son.." He lowered his head. "..I'm sorry. I.. I've been too critical of you for too long. I thought you were weak. I was very wrong. I see that. If Our God calls you brave, then who am I to argue?" He sniffled a bit.
K: "Strength doesn't always mean big muscles and big breath weapons, Colonel." I reached over and patted his shoulder (leaning up). "Sometimes, it's the strength within. And that's a strength you can't see."
Onyx: "Yeah. I'll.. I'll agree to that." He nodded.
Daigflame: "Uhmn.." *Aherm* "What's the plan now, General?"
K: "We eat and rest for the night, and engage them after dawn in the morning." I nodded to him. "I have used up two Alicorn summons, and they are refreshed at the local dawn of a new day. I fear I'll need everything I have in order to make this work.."
Daigflame: "Understood." He stood straight. "I'll make sure you have a cot and a tent, sir."
K: "I never ask for anything more." I nodded back.
Well, ONE problem was surmounted. Topaz had, in his first action, proved his courage to his family, AND to Bahamut himself. Anointed by their literal God, none would question the slightly scrawny runt's courage ever again. I had a feeling, ALL runts might get similar credit going forwards.
I had no idea what I'd just done, the seeds I'd just planted, or what they would mean in the world going forwards.
[End of Part 1]
Part 2: Dragon Break
TIME: 07:22 ERST
DATE: War Day 1130/9 Quintillus 1005 C.S.
LOCATION: Creeper Mound, Dragonshire
Breakfast was from B-Rations. Dried eggs turned into "scrambled eggs," canned bread that was toasted, canned bacon, canned preserves, the works. Even good coffee. Rapid Bearing shared some of his with me, and it compared very well to their "Coffee, Instant, Type 2."
Now.. we were preparing for the assault. Overnight, we got some reinforcements - Rainbow Dash, Derpy, Forest Spirit, Redheart, Gilda, and Dr. Well Wishes. No other Unicorns. More CAG personnel were on the way, but I didn't want to wait any longer than I had to.
K: "Understand, I want only Unicorns with me." I nodded. "Trixie, Dusk, Rarity, Glimmer."
Ember: "I see." She nodded back. "I understand."
Forest Spirit: "I still want you going in with some backup." He frowned. "I'm not eager to be Commander-in-Chief just yet."
Applejack: "Me'n'Dusty'll go." She nodded.
Derpy: "Well, I feel better about that." She shrugged her wings.
K: "We'll be fine. These things don't react well to Unicorn Magic. That's the key." I nodded to them both.
Rainbow Dash: "UGH! I feel so USELESS right now! I HATE it!" She kicked the dirt a bit.
Gilda: "It's alright, babe." She patted her back. "K's got this. We have to trust our friends." She looked over at us. "We'll be ready to pull you all out, if you need it." She nodded sharply. "I can carry your human ass." And smirked.
K: "Mmm. Even after eggs?" I shrugged, and smirked back at her.
Gilda: "Heyy!" She gave me a gentle arm swat.
Daigflame: "I have to admit, General, I.. am jealous that you're so close with your subordinates." He shrugged.
K: "It only works because we work different together. We're already close - married, friends, whatever. You can't do that in most military units." I shrugged back. "There's a line between Discipline and Friendship. That differs in every situation."
Daigflame: "I suppose so." He nodded.
Once we were prepared, though, we started heading for the mound. I took a look at it, and called back into the radio.
K: C> "Hey, Rapid, is that thing bigger? Or am I seeing things?" I knew he already had that thing plotted, charted, and mapped.
Rapid Bearing: C> "Yeah, it is." He grunted. "I think it's gotten about 6% larger in the last 10 hours."
K: C> "Thanks, bud." I clicked the radio off, and shrugged at everyone. "Let's be careful. We'll be in range, soon."
Rarity: "K, darling.. what spells CAN you cast?" She tilted her head at me.
K: "Well, I know the sword has a basic Fire spell, but I've never been able to use it. Besides Summoning Alicorn powers, and being able to share Mana with people close to me.. you know, I don't know proper magic myself. I don't think I could actually learn it." I shrugged at her.
Trixie: "Bull shit." She scowled, and increased her speed to catch up to me. "Say this. 'Spell Spell to Dispel this Spell. And then say the letters of the word Spell." She nodded to me.
K: "Really?" I blinked. "Okay. That's easy enough. And I can just cast that?"
Trixie: "Yes, you can - with the sword. Simple word-based spells should be no problem, other than remembering the words." She smirked.
K: "Any others you know that you can tell me right quick?" I asked, casually.
Rarity: "Mend spell. Mend and Fix this Cloth of Me, form it knew, stitches true." She nodded, slowly, smiling.
Dusk Seeker: "Guard my Call, Heed my Word, give Protect." He nodded. "Simple kinetic magic shield. I use a nonverbal version that's a lot stronger."
Trixie: "Now that you can CAST them, I'll teach you a few simple ones." She grinned wider. "The Great and Powerful War Mage Trixie has a whole catalogue."
Glimmer: "Most spells that need verbal components can be cast by thinking of the word.. if you're a unicorn and the spell is cast from your own horn. You're not. So, you'll have to say them." She shrugged a bit. "Also - Call of Frost, Blinding Bright, Give me Ice of Great Might." She snickered. "Mid level ice magic."
K: "Alright." I nodded. "I'll have to remember them."
Glimmer: "I'm PRETTY sure that, given your sword and the Talisman are your Mana reserves, you'll know when you've depleted them, since nothing will work." She nodded to me.
K: "Actually, I found out that I can drain my willpower and translate that to Mana." I shrugged as we started to get within 500 meters. "It wipes me out, though, for a few days."
Trixie: "IS THIS ZIGGER SERIOUS!?" She gasped.
Glimmer: "ARE YOU CRAZY!? NO, WAIT, I KNOW YOU ARE - BUT THAT'S SUICIDAL!" She exclaimed.
Dusk Seeker: "K! ARE YOU FOR REAL!?" He shouted.
Rarity: "..I've known the whole time.." She half-shut her eyelids. "He can take it. Darlings, human willpower is positively amazing. Though, I honestly thought Twilight would have warned him by now - or Celestia herself."
K: "Hold up." I held up a fist. "Explain to the Monkey."
Trixie: "K-" She butted in before the others could. "-Draining your willpower could KILL you. I'm SERIOUS. You drain too much of THAT off, your body SHUTS DOWN. It loses the WILL to LIVE. And wh-when.. that happens.." She blinked, tearing up. "..you're-"
Glimmer: "It's a very permanent way to die." She said, coldly. "At the brink of death, Magic might be able to bring you back, if you know someone that can actually do proper healing magic-"
Rarity: "-Princess Yuuki-" She nodded into the explanation.
Glimmer: "-but if your Willpower is drained away, your soul will literally be forced from your body. There's no coming back from that. It.. we KNOW how to do it-"
Trixie: "-we just DON'T because.. the conversion cost is.. so very high." She shook her head.
Dusk: "Put it in perspective, K, one low level spell cast at ZERO Mana, forcibly converting willpower, can knock someone unconscious. If it doesn't, or if they cast something stronger, it can put them in a coma. Or kill them outright. There's been cases of this happening - especially Guard Unicorns trying to keep Shields up to protect their comrades, and taking too much damage to that shield, then dying of drained willpower. There's a play that focuses on that, even - The Lonely Sallet - where the main character dies most of the way through the play, doing EXACTLY that. We have to see the play as part of our training." He snorted.
Rarity: "None of you have had to see the indomitable human willpower, darlings." She said, simply, smiling a small bit, but it was a sad smile. "I have every confidence that his willpower is comparable to our Mana - that his strength of will is that much superior." She nodded. "Granted, a Lady was prepared to drain all her own Mana if that was the case."
Applejack: "Ah.. di'in't git none'a that." She frowned.
Dusty: "I got bits and pieces." She snorted.
Dusk: "Either way, what you're doing - saying - is very dangerous." He frowned.. his face grew perplexed a moment, then he looked me right in the eye. "..I know what you're thinking."
K: "That I'd use my willpower to cast whatever mega-spell I might need to kill Tirek, if we can't find the Rainbow of Light and, somehow, atomics are off the table?" I shrugged.
Glimmer: "That's-" She looked over at me, suddenly, and paced over.. and SHE looked me right in the eye. "You would, wouldn't you?!"
K: "Yeah." I flapped my arms a bit. "You ponies are worth it."
Glimmer: "We-" She stopped, again.. and shook her head. "F-"
Rarity: "We may have saved your life, darling, but I fear we haven't truly saved YOU." She put a hoof on Glimmer's shoulder. "You shall understand."
Glimmer sigh-whinnied.. she shook her head, looking at the ground. It didn't calculate for her. Not yet. She may be willing to help us, even fight the nastiest monsters, but for her, it was simple math: Survival or death. Not why. Not WHAT drove me to do it. What lay behind the indomitable human spirit. For one that had been abandoned by her friends, she could not understand why friendship mattered.
She looked at me, confused, and over to Dusk and Rarity. She gave them a sympathetic look, begging them wordlessly for an understanding that could not be put into words.
Trixie: "Starlight." She paced up, and nodded to her. "I've had.. a lot of things happen to me." She put a hoof on Starlight's shoulder, and smiled at her. "You'll understand. What friends really do for each other." She looked over at the mound. "Mind on the mission, first, though." And looked back to her. "Come on - we have a job to do."
With that, we moved. Starlight Glimmer was having a hard time understanding it all, but she was doing her best. She was, as she later told me, thinking back to how she fell in with Bob, and how the plot with Daring Do got started in the first place. What it meant, what it REALLY meant. She wasn't just trying to get her hooves on something to apologize to me, and seek a not-death-sentence... she was reaching out. Even if she didn't realize it at the time.
We got to the Mound itself, and the holes.. we could ALL see.. they'd gotten LARGER. Large enough for me to walk into, with my head down a bit.
Dusk: "..yeah, this is bad." He frowned. "I know for a fact these weren't that big yesterday."
Rarity: "I'm no magical theory genius, darlings, but it seems to me this is... increasing exponentially." She nodded.
Glimmer: "That makes perfect sense." She snapped out of her reverie, and examined the Mound - a hill, now, really - and put her hoof to it. "Oh, Horseapples, that's COLD!" She snorted.
I put my hand to it and felt nothing, shaking my head.
Trixie: "Our brave General has no natural magic, Starlight." She nodded to me. "He's both hyper vulnerable to it, and insensitive to its radiative effects."
Glimmer: "REALLY!?" She moved over to me, and put her hoof to my hip. "Gosh, you're right! I've never MET a creature that had ZERO magic before." She shook her head, smiling a bit. "You're very interesting, you know?"
I deliberately pet her mane and ran my fingers around her ear. Knowing darn well this mare had approximately zero affection from anyone - pony or otherwise - in, probably, decades.
K: "Thank you, Starlight." And I would intentionally use her first name.
She actually HUMMED a bit.. then her eyes opened, and she shook her head.
Starlight Glimmer: "Ah, yes." She cleared her throat. "I'll put up a light curtain, let's go."
Her mana reserve was probably the largest, and her catalogue of magic was likely as expansive as Trixie's was, now. Raw power? Ehh, I still gave the edge to Dusk, as he'd USED his magic more, every day, as a Guard, even if his spell selection was almost entirely kinetic-based.
Still, I had a lot of confidence in this team - Rarity had managed to overpower Trixie at one point.
The Sword of Rainbow's Light glowed faintly as we entered. Looking in, I saw shadows dancing on the wall. The Lizard-Monkey Brain SCREAMED at me that this was BAD JUJU.
K: "..everyone stand back." I said, quietly.
They backed up behind me, with Glimmer taking position near me to make sure her Light Curtain covered me.
K: "POWER OF ZEUS - LIGHTNING STRIKE!" I called out, extending the sword like a wand.
The MASSIVE thunderbolt that ejected from the tip of the Sword shot through the Mound and impacted a boulder about 20 meters in. The thunderclap it emitted was almost deafening. The illumination instantly turned dozens of them to ash, and made others retreat. Thing is, I FELT that. The Talisman of Tiamat tugged at me, wordlessly, telling me that used A LOT of Mana. No wonder the Sword never tugged at me to use that spell before - it simply didn't have a mana reserve large enough to cast it.
Trixie: "HOLY HAY BALES! THAT'S LOUD!" She covered her ears with the brim of her wizard hat.
Rarity: "INDEED.. indeed, darlings. A lady will have to invest in ear plugs." She shook her head.
K: "Well, it's effective - we made them back off." I nodded.
Starlight Glimmer: "Yeah! No kidding!" She smiled, seeing that this problem, now, could be solved indeed. "Come on, everypony.. and.. and human. We got this."
So, deeper in we went, seeking the one that was behind all of this.
[End of Part 2]
Part 3: Dragon Diabolos
TIME: 08:32 ERST
DATE: War Day 1130/9 Quintillus 1005 C.S.
LOCATION: Creeper Mound, Dragonshire
We were deep inside, now. Too deep to go back, really, until we figured out what and how Tirek was doing.. whatever he was doing, here. After sending Zeus' Lightning into the Mound, The Creeps backed off.
No, they retreated.
So, we worked our way down.. down.. seeing nothing but darkness, lightning torches to illuminate our way. Down into the deepest part of the Mound, probably a quarter mile deep, in fact.
My ears popped, actually.
K: "That's.. something." I nodded, wiggling a finger in my ear.
All the ponies stopped, and either kicked their back hooves into their ears, scratching like a dog, or rubbed their forehooves into them. I took the time to use my fingers in Applejack's ears.
Dusk: "We're deep. I've never BEEN this deep before." He grunted. "My ears popped, and now it's like my eardrum itches."
Starlight Glimmer: "No kidding." She snorted.
K: "I think we're almost there." I said, pointing ahead. "Come on - Magic at the ready."
Starlight Glimmer: "..yeah.." She suddenly grew quiet, as did the other Unicorns. "..you feel it too, don't you?"
The Sword of Rainbow's Light glowed a bit.
After a short pause, we moved in deeper. And into a basin deep in the mound, light stopped. As in, I took a step forwards, and I could not see anything at all. I gripped the sword, unable to see my own hands, and.. I pushed energy into it. Power. Anything.
K: "Sword of Rainbow's Light - show us the way." I asked of it.
The sword glowed brightly, and the Darkness withdrew. Suddenly, I could hear and see everyone again, whereas before, when I stepped into the inky blackness, even sound had been banished.
Trixie: "This.. is.. VERY.. dark." She gasped a bit. "This isn't your ordinary darkness. This is ADVANCED Darkness!"
Dusk: "Everyone, stay close.." He warned.
Everything suddenly vibrated.
????: "I am that was given form.." The deep, reverberating voice was everywhere all at once.
K: "Show yourself." I said, plainly.
????: "I am.. that is. Birthed from the Rainbow of Darkness. I reach out, I seize the living.. I consume them in Darkness, I drain them.." It spoke from everywhere at once.
K: "I am the Human of Legend. And I'm going to destroy you." I stated, plainly.
????: "You are not powerful enough." It stated back.
K: "Not alone." I said. "EVERYONE, CHANNEL ALL YOUR MAGIC INTO ME!" I called on the power of the Harmony Stone.. to link our magic power together, now that I had some of my own.
????: "I AM THAT BIRTHED FROM DARKNESS - YOU CANNOT ERASE ME!"
K: "Not.. alone! TOGETHER! BECAUSE WE'RE FRIENDS!" And more. Much, much more.
I could feel emotions again.. strong emotion.. the Sword was telling me what to do.
K: "CADENCE, GIVE ME STRENGTH!" The Crystal Heart.. the power of Love.. "CELESTIA, GIVE ME STRENGTH!" The Sun.. "LUNA, GIVE ME STRENGTH!" The Moon.. "TWILIGHT SPARKLE, GIVE ME STRENGTH!" The power of Friendship.. "SOMBRA, GIVE ME STRENGTH!" The spirit of Redemption. "SUNSET SHIMMER, GIVE ME STRENGTH!" The courage to lead. "EVERYONE, GIVE ME YOUR STRENGTH!"
The sword grew blazing hot in my hands, with the power of EVERY ALICORN ON THE PLANET.. and my close friends.. pumping every ounce of pure magic, friendship, and love into me. Then me, into the sword. Focused like a laser, right at the Heart of Darkness. The earth trembled and shook, the Mound started to crack, the ground beneath us vibrated.. I was sure I was creating the largest eruption of pure magical force ever seen since the Cataclysm at the end of Gusty's age.
Then, it overloaded.. it burst. Blinding bright light illuminated the Mound, I could see only white and rainbow colors before my eyes. Dazzling, powerful, overwhelming.
And in a mark of how far I, myself, had grown.. when the energy blast died down, I did not immediately lose consciousness. I DID, however, fall over on my side, my legs turned to jelly. I couldn't move.
Then, I realized what I'd done - I'd used my Willpower again. Probably almost too much of it. My ears were ringing.. my vision darkening.. I was conscious, but I was so.. very weak.
But, it was DESTROYED before it could get any more powerful. We'd done it. Whatever that Heart of Darkness truly was, it was GONE.
TIME: 11:37 ERST
LOCATION: Field Camp outside of The Mound, Dragonshire
The entire trip back on a litter, I was somewhat awake. Aware. Barely. The Dragonshire Red Berets went in as soon as they saw the explosion of light. They were the ones that got us out. Carried us. I was now resting, with a Dragon doctor overseeing me, with Well Wishes.
Well Wishes: "..my best customer, over here." He said softly, sitting next to me. "How do you feel?"
K: "Ass." I smirked - that was both a comment on his comment, and how I felt.
Well Wishes: "..you almost killed yourself, you know." He said, gravely. "Please, don't do that again."
K: "Why?" I prodded at him, verbally. "Miss me?"
Well Wishes: "I would. After all, we're.. friends." He nodded a bit. "Long way from Ponyville, huh?"
K: "Yeah." I said, weakly. "Tired."
Well Wishes: "I prescribe rest. We'll get you to the main hospital in the Capital for observation for a few days." He nodded, looking at my chart. "I have a feeling, you really will end up dying for us. It.. really makes me feel like a fool for how I acted.. back then."
Starlight Glimmer: "..is K going to be okay, doctor?" She slid in.
Well Wishes: "Oh, indeed." He nodded, with a small smirk. "Our dear General can take quite a beating." He looked over at her. "I.. when I first met him.. I thought he was the cause of so many ponies dying. That his weapons and his tactics, if they were gone, we'd.. the war wouldn't exist." He shrugged, flapping his forelegs a bit. "I was very, very wrong about that. I treated him shabbily.. but.. he forgave me."
Starlight Glimmer: "I.. I see.." She put her right forehoof to her mouth for a moment, pondering something.. but, she shook her head, and nodded to me. "I.. we'll be in to.. see you. Make sure you're okay." And she slid back out.
Well Wishes: "I'm no friendship expert, I'm a doctor. But.. she's got something going on up there, I expect." He shrugged a bit, and patted me on the shoulder. "You'll figure it out. You always do."
K: "Thanks." And with that, I let myself fall asleep.
And what dreams I would have, when I did.
[End of Part 3]
Part 4: Dragon Net
TIME: 08:58 ERST
DATE: War Day 1135/14 Quintillus 1005 C.S.
LOCATION: Royal Hospital, Bahamutburg, Dragonshire
I was being discharged today. The hospital reminded me of one from home, from when I was a kid. A few differences - the TV sets were older models, there were no personal electronics, and the medical machines were larger, but it was.. SO CLOSE to being what I remembered. I seriously considered asking Applejack if we could move here after the war. That or vacation here. Something.
Ember came to visit me several times, considering I nearly died protecting her country and peoples. We talked. It was clear she was crushing hard on Topaz, but the rules were the rules. She was seriously considering Abdication after the war. They started seeing each other, socially, in secret, while I was laid up.
Onyx came and apologized to me, personally. As did Daig. They both regretted underestimating me. They both counted me as a solid ally and friend, now. Daig, though technically in retirement, had been a Red Beret (officially, Dragonshire Army Special Forces). He volunteered to come out of retirement to lead the Red Beret Brigade, saying that if I was willing to die for his people, he shouldn't be sitting at home, filling a National Guard desk job, when he could still do THE job.
I didn't tell them about Topaz and Ember.
I was sat up in bed, getting a clean uniform on. Black cargo pants, black wifebeater, black socks, a brand new pair of boots that Ember ordered made for me was the crown jewel here. Better than anything Rarity could make - and she even admitted this - they were 10-inch jump boots. Black leather, reinforced steel toe, Goodyear (here called ScaleHard) welt. They were taller than the 6-inch or 8-inch boots I was used to, and they were just a bit tight. Which meant they'd form to me, with time. I'd have to walk them out.
Applejack: "Honeybun." She hoofed me my uniform shirt.
K: "Thanks." I got it on, and buttoned it. "You think Tirek is going to try something else?"
Applejack: "Mmm.. prolly. That varmint usually goes for a desp'ration attack one his first plan fails. Dusk already alerted th' Dragons." She shrugged, and sighed, and slithered up into my arms. "Sore glad yer back 'n healthy." She kissed me.. it tasted like apple cinnamon.
K: "Me, too." I held her close. "We need more moments like this."
Applejack: "Shore'nuff." She sloppy-kissed me.. extensively.
Rarity: "A-HEM!" She announced from behind us.
K: "Ah, Rarity." I nodded. "Sorry, we were getting re-familiar." I looked over at her.
She looked a bit tired around the edges. It made sense. She'd expended her energies, too, and I bet she used up a bit of her precious willpower. As I was told, Ponies using up willpower.. isn't a wise idea. They don't have the same sort of Willpower that I do. Mine seems to be a consequence of being human, whereas ponies have Mana. Mana, being so powerful, made the need for a strong will much less as the species evolved. Thus, absurdly strong willpower energy was rare. Applejack had it, but that was because most Earth Ponies have almost no magical ability at all. Big Mac had it, too. It still wasn't anywhere near as powerful as mine.
Applejack: "This'n dun tuckered us all out, Rares." She shrugged, reading her like a book. "We'll be needin' rest after this, fer sure."
Rarity: "I agree, darlings." She smiled. "Dusk, Trixie, and I plan to lounge around Ponyville for a few weeks, until we figure out our next move."
K: "Sounds good to me." I nodded. "One Wedding, and one long rest."
Daig came in at that point - now in his old Red Beret uniform, and he had a spare Grand Carbine in his hand, which he held out to me.
K: "...alright, what happened." I stood, finished buttoning my grey uniform shirt, and stuffing it in my pants.
Daig: "We have an incident down at the port." He nodded to me.
K: "Aha." I nodded, sliding my uniform tunic on. "How bad?"
Daig: "A container ship from northern Europe came in, on our side of the divide." He shrugged. "Troops are coming off of it. Lots of them. We figure it's a battalion or so. We don't exactly have a navy, we have a Coast Guard, we didn't have any way to filter this out."
K: "What would their objective be?" I took the Grand.. it was a bit large for me, but whatever, I collapsed the stock as far down as I could.
Daig: "Best guess - the Airship Hangar near the Port. We're arming up six mid-sized Airships to give us some strategic reach." He nodded. "That and we were getting ready to ship 400 Ifrit Recoilless Rifles to Prance.. some technological components to the Bright Eyes Institute, things like that. The main port has a lot of moderately valuable items. No grand slam things, but-"
K: "It's all stuff that adds up." I paced through the halls, with everyone following me, and as I passed Dusk, he was already talking with Topaz and Onyx. "How long?"
Daig: "Started twenty minutes ago. I got the radio report on the way over to give you a ride to the airport." He nodded to me.
K: "Everything you got, we got, we all got, we get it there and contain it." I nodded, looking to Dusk. "Anyone on the way, or at the airport?"
Dusk: "I'll say this for Tirek - he's predictable." He nodded. "And, yeah, we got Spike, Smolder, Sunset, Norfy, Cosmic, Gaze, Flash, Coco, Slapshot, Havoc, Bella, Seven, and Firecracker."
Ember met us at the front of the hospital. There was a 5-Ton Truck with some of the Red Berets in it there, as well. I just motioned, and everyone piled in. I would have to adjust to the Grand Carbine - I was used to weapons at least 7 inches shorter, sometimes way more than that.
Daig: "Alright, Troop, listen up - we got some enemy forces hitting the dock area. There's a lot of stuff there the Alliance needs! We're going in careful, fast, and we put 'em down. Onyx, I need your unit on the line. Cragg, I need your team on overwatch, sharpshooters." He nodded. "And Sugar, your team pulls support for General K's Troop. Rockhead, your Team, close the door, keep them on the Piers."
K: "I see you're taking to my command style." I smirked. "How'd you know I'd want to go in?"
Everyone looked at me. Stared at me. Flat expressions.
Rarity: "....K, Darling. FIVE MINUTES with you, and we know who and what you are." She batted her eyes at me.
Topaz: "She's right, K." He nodded. "And I haven't even known you that long."
Ember: "I have. She's right." She smirked.
K: "Yeah, yeah." I shrugged, smiling, holding on while the truck barreled down the street.
Before long, we could hear gunfire. And I could hear the long-forgotten tune of police sirens wailing. As the 5-Ton got to a stop, and we piled out, the officers went to their platoons. I was handed a bandoleer by one of the Red Berets and threw it over my shoulder. I saw Daig grab an M-3 Greaser.
K: "Hey, trade me - I got too used to pony-sized guns." I offered the carbine back, knowing what he was about to do.
Daig: "Sure, General." He swapped with me. "I'm a better shot with this, anyway."
Topaz: "Colonel!" He glared at him. "You haven't even been confirmed as Brigade C.O. yet!"
Daig: "Exactly why I'm getting my shot in now, junior." He reached over and rubbed his son on the top of the head. "You showed you maybe got a piece of courage on that island. I'm your old man - I can't possibly let you show me up." He grinned widely.
Topaz: "Alright, then, sir, I'm staying on your six." He affirmed.
K: "So assigned. Topaz is CAG, now, and I am in charge." I looked at both of them. "Don't get yourselves killed."
They looked between each other, and smiled a bit.
Firecracker and the others ran up at this point, loaded for bear.
K: "Alright, by the numbers. It's a container yard with flanks for days. Keep to Threes and Sixes, move careful, we sweep one end of the pier to the ocean." I looked at Daig and Topaz. "You two, with me. Ember, you're with AJ and Dusty. Us six for a squad. Norfy, Cosmic, Gaze, split and take a Squad each. Grab some Dragons if you need to."
Gaze: "Aye, suh." He grinned. "C'mon, lads. Time fer some real work."
K: "Alright, let's move in - on Onyx's Platoon. Move fast, shoot straight, we'll be done by lunch." I motioned to them.
We moved up to a line of Dragon police officers - they were in very nice dark blue uniforms that looked a lot like 1960's LAPD uniforms. They were armed with shotguns, and revolvers. The SWAT Team, equipped with what looked like some basic body armor and riot helmets, were armed with SMG's and Grand carbines.
Capt. Silverstrake: "General! Colonel!" He motioned us over - he had a white top to his peaked cap. "We have the line held, for now. I have 15 officers down, and at least three more are out there in the cargo area of the pier. Can you look out for them?"
K: "I'll do what I can." I nodded. "Daig." I looked to him. "I've got a Doctor with me, but he's not combat trained. I have a feeling, we're going to need him."
Daig: "On it." He nodded and grabbed his radio. C> "Onyx, grab that pony doctor and his medical gear, you give him cover as we advance - we have three police officers in there, possibly wounded."
Onyx: C> "Yes, Colonel."
With that, we advanced into the Cargo area. We could hear gunfire from several angles - police response, National Guard troops, and the Red Berets moving into position and picking off enemy troopers.
We moved past the first stack, and I caught sight of them - Gizmonks. They were as nimble as Dragons, and bipedal like them, too. Also smarter than most Raptorians, so, it made perfect sense they'd get this job. I put a burst from my Greaser into the one running past the slot between the cargo containers, and watched him fold in half.
Daig grabbed one as he ran by the other way, knee-kicked him in the stomach, and as he folded in half, whipped him over to Topaz, who was quick with the knife. The enemy's partner was grabbed by Daig, put into a choke-hold, and got his neck snapped. After all, Dragons are MUCH bigger than Gizmonks.. Daig also used the enemy's corpse to SLAM into the third Gizmonk that rounded the bend, then after that third one fell over, he grabbed his skull and used his Fire Breath like a plasma torch, burning an instant hole through it.
Dusk: "Remind me NEVER to piss you off!" He said, taking a snap shot with his Sherman-Spencer, but grinning.
Daig: "I gotta keep up with these Whelplings!" He clapped back.
Two older soldiers, I could see the mutual respect.
We advanced, and as we moved up the next slot, with Dusk, Rarity, Trixie, Firecracker, Rainbow Dash, and Derpy taking the other side. Behind me was Onyx's first squad, with him in it. Behind Derpy and Dusk, was Second Squad. Further out, more Red Beret squads or CAG personnel were moving in. Every row was covered. As we moved between slots, we alternated left or right which would breach first.
We finally made it to one of the small office structures on the Pier that handled loading and unloading. My six took it. Daig gracefully allowed his son to kick the door. And when he did, the steel door fell right over. He might be weak for a DRAGON, but that still put him on the high end of what an Earth Pony could do. Ember and Daig entered first, with Topaz behind them.
From above, a Gizmonk tried to grab Ember by her horns, flipping upside-down from the ceiling, and grasping at her. He managed to grab ONE of them, and when he drooped his body down to grab her up, Topaz whipped around, hearing her yell out, and put a single round from his Grand Rifle into the Gizmonk's head. Daig fired his Grand Carbine into three more Gizmonks in the room.
As the rest of us moved in, we shot everything that moved, that wasn't Dragon or Pony.
K: "Clear left." I called, pulling the magazine out of my Greaser, and putting a fresh one in.
Topaz: "Clear right!" He called out, kicking a magazine out of his Carbine, and putting a new one in, hitting the bolt release as he did.
Daig: "Clear center. Structure clear. We're half way." He nodded. "Not bad."
Dragon Red Beret: C> "Second Squad - we found one of the officers. Get that doctor up here!"
K: C> "You heard them." I chimed in. C> "Good luck, Well."
Well Wishes: C> "I never thought you'd drag me out to an active war zone! YIPE!" A pause. C> "I'm okay.. I'm okay."
Ember: "Some team we're a part of." She rubbed the base of her horn. "Nice work, Topaz." She smiled at him.
Topaz: "Ah.. thanks." He shrugged.
K: "Gizmonks are tricky, very agile, they'll try to climb whatever they can." I gestured a bit.
Rarity: "I think this spot would be perfect for sniper overwatch, K." She pointed up to the roof. "And Trixie on the machine gun."
Trixie hefted her personalized MG-4/2 and smiled.
K: "Good idea." I nodded. "Rest of you, on me." I motioned.
With that, Dusk, Rarity, and Trixie detached. Havoc, Seven, and Bella moved up.
Havoc: "Mmm. Glad to see me?" He wagged his tail, looking at Daig. "Captain Havoc, Canidan Rangers."
Daig: "Colonel Daig Scorchwing." He nodded. "Special Forces."
They looked at each other a moment, looked down at their forelimbs, realized they both had "fingers," chuckled, and "shook hands."
K: "Always glad to see you." I said, leaning over and petting Havoc. "Who's a good boy?"
Havoc smiled, bearing his teeth in a happy grin, as he no-look fired his C-7 into the head of a passing Gizmonk.
Havoc: "Me. I'm the good boy." And he wheeze-snickered.
Bella: "It looks like Tirek is trying his usual, K." She slid up under my hand for pettin's. "He's getting to be predictable at this point."
K: "Attempt a home run, and if it doesn't go right, try conventional tactics." I shrugged. "I'm guessing there's something else, here."
Seven: "Probably is." He was more aloof about physical affection, but he nodded to Daig. "Captain Second Seven Devils, Vulpine Special Forces Squadron."
Daig: "Lots of friends.." He looked down for a moment, and nodded. "I'm honored you'd come help defend my lands."
Havoc: "Any time, buddy." He grinned, toothily.
Starlight Glimmer: C> "AH, K?! I NEED SOME HELP OVER THERE!"
K: "Let's go." I motioned.
We took off, and moved up, looking for the source of Glimmer's transmission. It wasn't hard, of course. She was firing off magic left and right.
We slid in between containers, and Starlight Glimmer was with Bob, and Gilda. The other two police officers were here. One was bad off, and Daig went to him immediately. The other was hit in the shoulder area. Applejack helped Daig with the badly wounded officer, while I went to the one that was less hurt.
Officer Goldstrake: "Thank you!" He nodded, as I tore his uniform coat and shirt open to get gauze in there. "We were the first in, the sector car in the area. All of a sudden, they were all over the place."
I took his revolver off the ground, and dumped the rounds out of it. I grabbed the speed loader from his belt, and reloaded it for him, and handed it back to him.
K: "You good for a bit longer?" I nodded to him.
Officer Goldstrake: "Yeah, a bit - how's my partner?" He looked to the other wounded officer.
Daig: C> "Hey, Doctor-Pony! We need you over here! Purple Smoke!" He tossed a smoke flare a bit away from us. "I got the bleeding mostly stopped, he's still breathing. Needs a doctor, but I think he might be okay."
Officer Goldstrake: "Thanks.. we've been together since the academy." He shrugged.
Well Wishes: C> "I have a name, Dragon!" I could hear him huffing and puffing through the mic, though.
The Red Berets were pushing ahead of us, as we stayed with the wounded officers. I leaned out to take a peek, and watched a Dragon leap on a Gizmonk and literally tear his arms off. The Gizmonks were definitely getting the worst of it.
Dusk: C> "Something's up, this is-"
Rarity: C> "-to easy, darlings. You should get to the Cargo Ship. I think they're planning something."
K: C> "Agreed." I looked at Daig, as the Red Berets protecting Well Wishes arrived, with a couple of SWAT officers carrying stretchers.
Well Wishes: "Ah, K. Such lovely places you take me. I fear, with you, I'll rarely be bored." He smirked, and started working on the more wounded one.
K: "Alright, they're good. Let's go." I motioned, and we advanced.
We were far behind the advancing line, now. By the time we caught up to them, they were at the end of the pier, and the enemy had been pushed back to the cargo ship.
K: "Onyx - something's up. This is too easy. I have a very bad feeling." I put a hand on his shoulder as we got to him.
Onyx: "Like, what?" He tilted his head to me.
K: "I think they have some kind of super weapon on that ship. The infantry attack was a diversion of some kind, there's no way they expected it to work very well." I shook my head.
Havoc: "I'm thinking they have an Atomic." He frowned. "It's the one thing that makes the most sense."
K: "Bad place to detonate it." I shrugged. "The way the harbor is arranged compared to the city, only about a third of its energy would hit much that's important. So, if it IS, it's either big enough that it doesn't matter, or something's close enough that taking it out is worth the cost."
Daig: "The harbor itself? This is the largest in Dragonshire. Then there's the Airship Docks. And after that, there's our main research institute not far form here. The capitol building and the palace aren't THAT far.." He shook his head. "..and what's an Atomic?"
K: "Atom Bomb. Splits atoms, makes a massive explosion, can take out a city if used right." I sighed. "We need to get aboard that cargo ship."
And, we would. We had the force necessary to do it. It was going to be tough - if they had an Atom Bomb, this was going to be messy. I'd love to know where they got one, though. We'd have to see.
[End of Part 4]
Part 5: Dragon Atom
TIME: 10:27 ERST
DATE: War Day 1135/14 Quintillus 1005 C.S.
LOCATION: Harbor Area, Bahamutburg, Dragonshire
Not having many other options, we got two of the helicopters from the airport - Dragonshire UH-1B Ladons - and loaded on to them. They were very close to UH-1 Iroquois from Earth, but not quite. Together, we were going to hit the cargo ship from the gangplanks and from above at the same time.
Air Cav tactics. We were really evolving. Most dragons could do limited flight, but I didn't want to mess with differing physical abilities even between the Special Forces troops, no matter that my team wasn't all Pegasi. We had sharpshooters all over the place, ready to pick off anything that stuck its head up.
As we came over the Cargo Ship, the rope bags with flash-bang grenades inside were tossed out the open bay doors. When they landed, they exploded, stunning anyone close by.
This wasn't my first time fast roping, but it was my first time in a while. The Dragons all took wing on the way down, the rest of us went by rope. Once we hit the deck, I put down a Gizmonk with my M-2 Pistol. Three shots. I reholstered and brought up my Greaser, as we moved towards the superstructure.
Daig: "Where would the atomic bomb be?!" He called out.
K: "Maybe below! Come on!" I motioned.
We moved up to the superstructure, and Filament literally ripped the door off its hinges. Once it was open, we rushed in. THEN I saw them - Raptorians. Three of them in robes. I gunned them down, fast, and moved towards the stairs leading down. Topaz and Daig were right behind me.
We got down to the Cargo Deck, and shot five Raptorians and three Gizmonks as we landed. I reloaded my Greaser, popping the old mag out and the new one in - it was an open-bolt SMG, I didn't need to rack the bolt. Once we got to the door to the cargo bay, Daig was the one to breach. Instead of the door, he tore a HUGE hole in the wall with his bare claws.
Topaz: "Yeah, gonna be a bit before I can do THAT one, Dad." He snickered.
Daig: "Give it time, boy. Protein, some Gems, and pumping iron. You'll get it." He laughed.
Ember: "Yeah, yeah, come on." She ushered us forwards.
I moved through the hole, and I gunned down the Raptorian on the other side. It was another in robes. Fascinating. The cargo bay was empty, except one large container.
K: "That's it. Cover me." I motioned.
Daig: "Covered." He nodded as we moved forwards, and Applejack and Dusty came in behind us.
I got to the container, and opened it. Inside was exactly what I didn't want to see. A massive sphere. But, worse. There were crystals all around it.
K: "I don't like this." I frowned.
Daig: "I REALLY don't like this - these are Kinetic Crystals! Whatever that Atomic Bomb can do, this amount.. this would be.. ten, a dozen times larger." He frowned.
K: "Ohhh.. FUCK ME." I frowned, and got out my multitool. As I examined the casing, I saw what I didn't want to see.. a timer. "FUCK ME." I exclaimed.
Daig: "How long?" He looked at the timer. "Queen Ember! YOU HAVE TO LEAVE, NOW!"
Two minutes.
Ember: "LIKE THAT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE!" She shouted back.
Topaz: "How bad?" He saw the timer. "Ohhhh.."
I was working to get the casing open, and my hands were a bit shaky. They used screws that weren't the same as the bits I had on my multitool, but close enough. I got the access port open, and reached in to feel what kind of device it was. Implosion. Good. I got the sword in there and cut the wires as fast as I could.
K: "If I can get the core out, and break it, the explosion won't be so bad." I said, hurriedly. "What kind of damage can those crystals do?"
Daig: "It's not going to matter if you break it, those crystals-"
Topaz: "APPLEJACK! HIT THAT LEVER BY THE DOOR!" He called out.
She did, looking at us, very worried. The upper cargo bay doors opened, letting in the light.
I got the core out, but it had its own timer on it, AND a few anti-tamper devices.
K: "I can't.. I can't defuse this. I can break off one of the panels, and stop it from going critical, but-"
Topaz: "DO IT! THEN GIVE IT TO ME!" He held his hands out, throwing all his gear off, and stripping to the waist.
Ember: "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!?" She yelled at him.
Topaz: "THE ONLY THING I CAN - I'M THE MOST EXPENDABLE!" He said, yanking the core out of my hands as soon as I cracked off several of the plates.
Ember: "N-NOT TO ME YOU'RE NOT!" She.. she was crying.
He grabbed her and kissed her.
Topaz: "Soldier always kisses his girl.. for luck."
Daig: "SON!" He shouted, wanting.. wanting to take it himself.. wanting anything but the reality of the situation.. he knew what Topaz was doing was militarily correct, but.. his SON.
And with that, he SHOT into the air as fast as he could. No words, just action.
We ran up to the deck, not caring about any gunfire going on around us. We saw him fly.. as fast as he could... as far as he could.
K: C> "AIRBOLT ONE AND TWO, LAND NOW, INCOMING E-M-P!" I ordered the helicopters.
I saw the device drop from his hands, but.. then I saw it explode.
He'd gotten far enough from the Crystals, to prevent them from activating. I saw the helicopters falter, but both landed somewhere flat. The engines cut out almost immediately.
We were all looking, though. Then Daig and Ember both shot into the air...
TIME: 14:47 ERST
LOCATION: Royal Hospital, Bahamutburg, Dragonshire
Dr. Well Wishes: "You are, by far, the most lucky individual I have ever met." He said, finishing bandaging Topaz.
Topaz: "Oh, it was nothing." He smiled.
Daig: "Son.. you.. you reckless bastard." He frowned, but he was crying a bit.
Ember: "Topaz. You.." She grabbed his hand.
Onyx: "Great, bro. Now I'M the one that looks like the runt around here." He laughed, though.
Topaz: "I did what I had to." He nodded. "I did the job. Protect my Queen and my Nation at all costs, even my own life." He said, quietly.
Ember: "..and your queen.. is.. very impressed." She blushed. "Bahamut-damnit.. Topaz.. if I wanted a mate.. I.. I want YOU. I want to KNOW you. I've seen.. you.. you risked your life for me. Everything. You risked.. I mean.. for all of us." She was now crying.. ugly crying.
K: "I think it's a pretty sure thing, what you want, my Niece." I put my hand on her shoulder. "Maybe it's time the rules changed."
Applejack: "Darn tootin' - y'all should marry for love. An' we seen love come up real fast 'round these parts." She said, softly. "We knows it when we sees it."
Starlight Glimmer was in the room, too, with Bob and Dusty. She looked like she was lost in thought. Some gears were turning in her head, seeing this. I didn't know what they were, at the time, but it was something.
We'd figure that out, later. For now.. the problem was solved, and we needed to return to Ponyville. To home.
We all needed a rest after this. We needed our friends, and time to relax. Dragonshire had been saved because friends they didn't know they had, came out of the woodwork to save them.
Because after all.. Friendship is Magic.
{End of Chapter 149}
