>You have been living on the edge of Ponyville for about a year now.
>After a few weeks, you were forced to get a roommate. 
>The first pony to respond was this strange looking Pegasus.
>She had bat wings and piercing gold eyes. And you think you might have seen fangs.
>It didn't matter much though, she could have been a manticore for all you cared. You needed help.
>She seemed overjoyed that you accepted her though.
>Turned out she had been traveling for a while and had been viewed with suspicion almost everywhere. 
>You couldn't see why, she was nice enough. And a good roommate.
>She even did her share of the chores. Except vacuuming, you put a stop to that after three nights in a row of it. 
>The only thing you had a problem with was that damn clicking. 
>She had told you that's how she finds her way in the dark. 
>So you let it slide since it was better than all the lights being on. 
>You eventually gave her the nickname Echo, which she got all huffy over. 
>But you thought her getting all worked up over it was cute, so you kept doing it. 
>Things were going good for a couple months, at least until a letter came for Echo. 
>You don't know who sent it, or what it said. But you know what it did. 
>She had her things packed before you got back from work.
>She had waited for you. So she could tell you in person.


>It has been so long since she left.
>You found a source of extra income while working, so money was no longer a problem.
>But something was off.
>You found yourself missing Echo's little clicks at night.
>Missing her funny way of fluttering around upstairs when she heard you getting back from work. 
>You missed her.
>It isn't clear when you began to feel this way, but the feeling was unmistakeable. 
>You wished you knew where she was, and what she was doing. 
>You were in the Everfree forest doing your rounds when you got your wish.
>All of a sudden, you heard your name being called.
>"Anon! Is there an Anon here?"
>Coming to a clearing you find a Royal Guard pony shouting your name. 
"I'm Anon, what can I do for you?"
>He gives you a tattered old letter.
>"I'm sorry we couldn't get this to you sooner."
>With that he takes off.
>Leaving you with a rough looking letter. From Echo. That's weeks, if not months, old.
>You tried to read it, but it was almost impossible.
>It was torn and stained in many places. And some of the stains worried you. 
>The most you could make out was that Echo had been near the base of the mountains in the Crystal Empire. 
>You quickly made your way home and packed, it would be a long journey. 
>You stopped by the major's office and explained how you wouldn't be able to patrol the Everfree forest for a while.
>With everything at home taken care of you set off in search of your little batpony. 


>It had taken you weeks just to get halfway there. 
>You had run into some unforeseen difficulty with the train. 
>Turns out some ponies are pretty racist when it comes to batponies, and they didn't like your questions.
>So you abandoned the train and kept to the back roads and the out of the way towns.
>They seemed more receptive to your search for your friend. 
>To bad you had to walk or hitch short rides on carts the whole way. 
>As you rested underneath a tree, you caught a glimpse of something in the sky.
>You raise your hand to shield your eyes from the sun, and see a trio of ponies flying in the direction of the capitol.
>Strange, they wore armour but it wasn't Celestia's royal guards. 
>You bolt upright, those are bat ponies!
>Running out into the fields, you try and get their attention by shouting and waving your arms.
>Luckily one breaks off and lands a short distance from you.
>You run over and introduce yourself.
>The batpony, who calls himself Shriek, asks if you're in trouble. 
>You explain that you are fine, but are looking for your friend.
>As you are telling him about Echo he gets a look on his face that he knows her.
>Followed by a look you didn't want to see. 
>You ask if she's okay, if she is near here.
>He says that she was part of a group they lost contact with up in the Crystal Mountains.
>You pressure him for more information, but he remains tight lipped.
>He apologizes and says that it's classified. Then he just leaves.
>You are left standing in the field trying to process what you have just heard.
>Quickly, you snap out of it. Now is not the time for this, Echo needs you!
>You grab your stuff and get going down the road.
>Somebody has taken your Echo.
>So now you are going to take her back.


>The Crystal Mountains, usually so beautiful. 
>Only now they stand there mocking you.
>You start your way into the mountain pass, but are stopped by two ponies.
>They look to be bat ponies. Beat down, exhausted ponies.
>"Sorry sir, but you can't pass through here." 
>You are in no mood for this, not with winter just two weeks away.
>If winter gets here before you get Echo, you won't be able to look for her. 
"I'm going up there, and you won't stop me."
>You can see they are barely holding themselves together, they don't need this on top of it. 
>"Fine, just talk to the Lieutenant. But whatever he says goes."
>You agree, if to be moving forward. No matter how big the steps are.
>As you wander the cleverly disguised camp you find your way to the officer's tent.
>The pony at the door waves you in after you repeat what the guard pony told you.
>The Lieutenant was a Unicorn, and didn't seem to have any bat pony traits.
>You don't ask why, you can probably hazard a guess from the beat up look of the camp.
>He turns to you with a face that has seen things.
>"So, you're the troublemaker. I heard why you are here, but as it stands I can't let you go into the mountains."
>You start to ask how he knows you reason for being here, but he cuts you off.
>"My messengers returned shortly before you arrived. They spoke of a strange creature looking for one of my scouts."
>He leads you away from the others towards the back of the tent.
>"We think they were captured by the Ice Ponies, but we don't have the pony power to get them back."
>Noticing your confused expression he pulls out an old piece of paper. Drawn on it is a strange looking pony.
>"The Ice Ponies are a remnant of Sombra's dark magic. It somehow corrupted and animated blocks of ice."
>"We have been holding them back since the reappearance of the Crystal Empire, but we can't locate the source of the dark magic."
>The Lieutenant goes over the last few months with you. Battles and retreats. Small losses and smaller gains. 
>Then he gets to the center of it all.
>"We believe the source is a dark crystal that has somehow remained in place after Sombra's defeat. We just need to find it.
"But Lieutenant, what does this have to do with Echo coming here?"
>He sighs and takes a seat. "She was one of the best scouts we had in the academy. So we recalled her to help us find the crystal."
>You are kind of upset that the reason she was taken from you was for some stupid crystal, but at the same time you sort of understood. You had heard the stories about Sombra and his dark magic.
"Well I'm not going to leave, sir. At least not without Echo."
>You notice a grin on the Lieutenant's face, one that scares you a little.
>"I guess we'll just have to draft you then. If you want to stay, report to the Sergeant. We need to see what you can do."

>You fall face first into the snow, yet again.
>"Get up, either you manage to knock me down or you aren't coming."
>This pony is a tough S.O.B. I guess that's why he's their Sergeant. 
>You struggle to your feet, and level your sword in a defensive stance. 
>All the effort you put in to get here, this will not be the end.
>He rushes at you again, but this time you are ready.
>You shift your stance to give him an opening. 
>To your relief he takes it and lunges at you. 
>Quickly sidestepping, you bring your sword around into the side of his helmet. The sound echoing around the camp.
>He hits the ground and skids to a stop. You fall to one knee using the sword to keep from falling over.
>You are exhausted. And in a great deal of pain, due to the ass whopping you just took. 
>As you try to catch your breath, the Sergeant walks over to you.
>"That was a good hit, boy. Never saw it coming, didn't think you had it in you."
>The Lieutenant trots over and gives you an approving nod.
>"Not bad. Still not at the level of most of the unit, but good enough to come. Take this."
>He magics over a scarf to you. It has the unit insignia emblazoned on it.
>"If you accept this you will be temporarily drafted into the Equestrian Guard. As such you will be expected to follow my commands, is this understood?"
>You stand, sheathe your sword, and grasp the scarf. Looking at it you feel that much closer to finding Echo.
>After putting it on, you snap into a salute. Not a great one, but you did just get your butt kicked in a fucking blizzard.
"Yes sir!" 
>Unfortunately for your ego, you pass out and land head first into a snowdrift.
>The Lieutenant and Sergeant turn to each other and share a good laugh before heading off to plan the assault.

>Celestia was rising the sun as you joined the unit for the final preparations.
>The Lieutenant cleared his throat and the low rumble quieted down.
>You noticed a badly injured bat pony standing behind him, judging by his gear he was a scout.
>"Thanks to the information provided by this scout, we now know the location of not only the crystal but our lost scouts as well."
>With a gesture from the Lieutenant, the scout steps forward with a visible limp. 
>"The location of the crystal is just on the other side of the Crescent Moon Crevasse. As for our comrades, they are located inside the Refraction Ice caves."
>A quiet rumble of conversation runs through the assembled force. It turns out those places have something of an infamous history to them, though you pay it no mind.
>"The crystal is heavily guarded, but the captives are left with what amounts to a skeleton crew."
>The Lieutenant retakes his place out front, and has the scout report to the medical tent.
>"This changes our plans somewhat, we cannot risk a full attack on the crystal with the numbers as they are. So the Sergeant has come up with an alternate plan of action."
>You recognize the Sergeant as the one who whipped you as he gestures to a map.
>"We will split our forces. The main assault force will wait in hiding at the Glorious Plot snowdrift, while a small rescue force shall make their way through Crotchtit caverns."
>You couldn't help but notice that the ponies in the Equestrian Guard had a peculiar sense of humor. At least you hope that's all it was.
>"Those who will be in the rescue party have already been notified. We move out in three hours so be prepared. Dismissed!"
>You grasp at the armband signifying those in the rescue party around your arm. So this was it, you were finally going to get Echo back.
>No matter what stood in your way.

>Funny, you thought the name for this cavern was just for laughs. Seems it was more aptly named than you thought.
>You scrambled up a steep incline trying to keep up with the others. 
>Thankfully you were able to make it to the staging point without slowing anyone down.
>As you glanced out over a snowbank, you got your first glimpse of the Ice Pony camp.
>It just looked like a quarry, with ice instead of stone. 
>After a short time studying the camp the leader of the unit, a Corporal Glitter Shine, pointed out the cage the prisoners were in.
>"There are only a few guards, so we can handle them no problem. But we don't have a Unicorn with us and we don't have time to break off the lock, so you need to pick it, you got it private."
>You nodded your understanding and readied yourself for the order.
>After the Corporal made sure the others knew their jobs, she gave the order.
>It happened very quickly.
>The ponies were able to engage the Ice Ponies with brutal efficiency, opening up a route to the cage for you.
>You sprinted as fast as you could through the gap, deftly avoiding the rage of the battle around you.
>Reaching the cage, you get to work on the lock. Thankfully it's a simple one and you have it off in no time.
>You throw the door open and hurry the ponies out. 
>Most seem well enough as they pass you on the way out, but there are a few who seem to beat up to fight.
>You can hear the sounds of battle increase as the captured ponies who are well enough join in to exact their revenge on their former captures. 
>After the initial rush of those leaving the cage, you make your way inside to search for Echo.
>And you find her.
>Laying in the corner. Covered in bandages. Not moving.

>You quickly close the distance and slide to a stop next to Echo.
>You cradle her head in your arms, and brush her main out of her face.
>Her eyes are covered with thick bandages, and she flinches as you adjust her mane.
"Don't worry Echo, it's me Anon. I'm here, you're going to be okay."
>She begins blindly flailing her hooves as if she is trying to see if you're real.
>You gently grab her hoof with your free hand and give a soft squeeze.
"It's okay, I'm really here. I'm here to take you home."
>You notice the bandages becoming damp, and she throws her hooves around you and gives you the best hug she is able.
>She begins to speak, but it's a harsh whisper. 
>"Anon, I'm sorry. I tried so hard..."
>You return her hug, being mindful of her bandaged wounds.
>She seems so much more frail than she used to.
"Hush now, you have nothing to be sorry for. Right now I have to go help the Lieutenant, but I promise I will take you back home after this. Even if I have to carry you the whole way."
>She nods into your shoulder, she understands that this has to be finished. 
>You remove you thick coat and cover her, and when she seems more comfortable you return to the entrance.
>The battle has finished, though you couldn't tell when. 
>Only that it was a flawless victory for the Guard ponies. 
>Luckily no casualties were incurred during the battle and roughly two thirds of the prisoners were in fighting shape.
>You spot the medic pony examining a minor cut on one of the ponies.
"Medic! There are ponies inside that require attention, now!"
>The medic, upon hearing you, sprints towards the cave and begins her work.
>The Corporal approaches you, looking no worse for wear. 
>"Good job getting them out so quick. Maybe you do have some uses. But we can't rest yet, the main assault starts soon."
>You give yourself one last glance inside. The medic was doing an admirable job with the injured.
>As you turn back, you draw your sword and test its edge.
"Good, I still have some business to take care of."
>You join the assembled unit and begin the march towards the end of this nightmare.
>And this will be the end, you think to yourself, one way or another.

>You were too late.
>The battle had already started by the time you reached the rendezvous point. 
>The Guard ponies led by Corporal Glitter were well trained and did not hesitate to join the battle.
>You didn't think, you followed their lead into the fray. 
>The battle raged around you as you struggle to link up with the Lieutenant. 
>Hacking aside any Ice Pony to enter your view you slog through the chaos and roar of battle.
>This fight was not going as well as the rescue had.
>Ponies were falling. 
>All around you the casualties on both sides mounted as you hacked, slashed, and stabbed your way through the enemy lines.
>You made your way through the outer rings of the battle and found the Lieutenant.
>He was still fighting, but you had no idea how. 
>He had sustained multiple wounds and was attempting to hold off three Ice Ponies.
>Rushing in, you leaped off of a fallen corpse of an Ice Pony and delivered a devastating blow to one of the three.
>Its head shattering with the impact, it falls limp. 
>The Lieutenant gives you grateful nod as he renews his attack.
>Together you both make short work of the remaining enemy around you.
>As you stand back to back, trying to catch just a second of breath you spot the Sergeant.
>Laying broken and motionless atop a massive pile of shattered ice. 
>You can see a spear of ice running through him, though the one to deliver the blow did not escape without harm.
>It was missing the entire upper section of its body, clearly a blow delivered by the Sergeants mighty hooves in a final act of defiance.
>You pause just long enough to perform a swordsman's salute, you just added another name to the list of those you were to avenge.
>Out of the corner of your eye, you spot Corporal Glitter fighting like a wild animal. 
>Such was the ferocity of her assault, that as she shattered enemy after enemy it began to look like a blizzard had formed around her. 
>It was as if nature herself had joined the fray. 
>You manage to get her attention, and she joins you quickly. 
>Shaking off snow from her body, she joins you and the Lieutenant.
>A ring of Guard ponies now surrounded the three of you, holding back the tide.
>"Corporal, Private, I can't go much further than this. I am tasking you two with the destruction of the Crystal. Just follow the purple light and you will find it."
>"If we can't stop it here and now, all of Equestria will be in grave danger. It is up to you, NOW GO!"
>You both salute, hoping it won't be the last time, and charge into the melee screaming like warriors of old.

>You and Glitter tear through the enemy ranks with the ferocity of Titans.
>Your strikes meting out your vengeance with brutal efficiency and righteous fury. 
>Glitter, however, makes you seem like a bumbling novice with her perfect timing and form.
>Show off.
>As you rip and tear into the horde, the remaining Guard ponies form in behind you.
>They push you forward towards the hateful purple glow at the center of the cluster.
>As you give yourself over to the flow of battle you can feel a strange sense of calm.
>You cut, parry, and counter without thought. Without effort.
>The battle has long since passed its climax, and the eventual defeat of the courageous Guard ponies is evident to all.
>Those who have not yet fallen are barley holding out.
>Their mortal bodies, physically hardened as they are, have long ago run out of energy. 
>The ring surrounding the Lieutenant has shrunk in size significantly and those behind you begin to break formation.
>Glitter takes a hit to her left flank, blood rage in her eyes as she strikes down the offender. 
>Shortly after you take a brutal shot to your stomach that nearly doubles you over.
>Glitter obliterates the Ice Pony about to crush your skull with a powerful kick to its undefended side.
>You compose yourself as quickly as you can, coughing up blood in the process. 
>This needs to end sooner rather than later.
>Thanks to the brave ponies who had pushed you forward, the two of you had finally reached the crystal.
>And three massive Ice Ponies that look to be the size of train cars.
>The few remaining Guard ponies that remain with you form a wall between the Ice Ponies and you.
>"We will hold them off for as long as we can, just destroy that crystal!"
>You grip your sword tightly and look to Glitter.
>You both look like you have been through Tartarus, but the ride isn't over yet.
>Glitter gets a look on her face that makes you, admittedly, more than a little nervous.
>"You ever fly, Private?"
>You get a sinking feeling that this is going to hurt like hell.

>You were right, it did hurt. Quite a lot in fact.
>But you man up and take it, you have things to do.
>You just wish she had warned you before she launched you over the Ice Titans. 
>You smack into the crystal, grabbing one of the smaller outcroppings for support.
>It pulsates angrily, and you can feel an electric tingle all over your body.
>You raise your sword and bring it down with all of the anger and sadness you have been carrying inside.
>Your blade cracks open a large gash in the crystal, dark energy pouring out like blood from a vein. 
>A moment later it erupts like a volcano made up of all of the worlds evils.
>As you are thrown clear you can feel the evil surrounding you. Enveloping you in darkness.
>Your mind is cleared by a bone jarring impact as you hit the ground.
>As you lay there dazed, you can still see Glitter fighting the Titans. 
>You can hear the Guard ponies battling their icy foes.
>Why didn't it work?
>Wasn't destroying the crystal supposed to stop all this?
>You see a Titan slow and stagger, then fall to its knees before Glitter delivers a blow that shatters a piece of its face.
>You can hear a roar rise up from behind you followed by the thunder of hooves and the horrible crash of a charge.
>So it's a gradual loss of power, not a complete severing of control, or so you hope.
>You cough, more blood.
>Pulling yourself up, more through sheer will than with strength, you are determined to see this to the end.
>You still have your sword, and you still have breath in you lungs. 
>The Titans finally run out of whatever power was animating them and collapse into a pile of snow and ice.
>Much to your dismay, so does Glitter. 
>You can see bright red splashes all over her, to have been fighting in that condition against that kind of foe.
>Glancing over your shoulder, you see the few Guard ponies still on their hooves are making a final push on the weakened Ice Ponies.
>Turning back around, you start to make your way to Glitter to make sure she is okay.
>You never saw it coming.
>You know the sound the flash makes on an older camera? That's about what it sounded like when the shot connected with your head.
>Collapsing to the ground your vision whites out, before fading slowly to black.
>As your consciousness fades, you can make out the cheer of a victorious army and a sudden splash of snow on your face.
>The last thing you see is Echo's face. With those beautiful eyes, and warming smile.
>You try to touch her, but you are unable to reach.
>Then black.

>You wake up in a field hospital with a throbbing headache.
>Your vision is a little blurry, but at least you aren't dead.
>Propping yourself up, you look around while shaking off the nausea.
>There are fewer wounded then you expected. 
>Beside you, one of the ponies who had watched your back at the crystal.
>He was badly wounded, but was holding on. 
>At the far end of the tent, surrounded by doctors and medics, was Glitter.
>She was in rough shape, and from what you could hear, it wasn't clear if she was going to make it.
>The nausea finally passing, you grab your sword and leave the tent.
>The smell hits you before anything else does.
>It was rank, and the view before you was nightmarish. 
>The scene was reminiscent of those in old history books before the peaceful times.
>As you wander about the camp in horror at the aftermath, you find the Lieutenant.
>Bandages still fresh, and still in a great deal of pain, he was organizing the journey back to Canterlot.
>Then you come across the grave site.
>It was large, and still growing as the battlefield was cleared.
>You come across the grave of the Sergeant who had kicked your ass when you first arrived.
>You would latter learn that he had taken down more Ice Ponies than anyone else during the battle.
>Undoing your sword from your belt, you place it on the grave.
"No warrior should be without his weapon. Take mine as thanks for all you have done."
>You leave the graveyard, you still have somepony to find.
>Finding the Lieutenant taking a much needed break, you make your way to him.
>"Glad to see you can still move about, we were worried after that sucker punch you took."
"Yeah, but it hurts every time I do move. Have you seen Echo, sir?"
>"We have already sent her back to Canterlot with the messengers along with some of the more serious cases."
"What about Corporal Glitter Shine, why wasn't she moved?"
>"We couldn't move her, internal damage was to great. If we can't stabilize her, we can't move her. Here, take this."
>He gives you a sealed letter bearing the seal of the Equestrian Guard.
>"That is Echo and your walking papers. You are free of your obligation to the Guard, but remain ours to call back if we should require your help. Dismissed, Private."
>You manage a salute, and the Lieutenant shows you to a wagon train that is leaving for Canterlot.
>You want to stay and see if Glitter will be okay, but since getting your papers you are no longer a soldier and as such, no longer authorized to stay here.
>At least you leave a quickly written letter by her bed side. 
>Hopefully you can see her again one day to thank her in person.
>With one last look around, you hop on one of the wagons and prepare for a long ride.
>At least the worst was over.