Fires of Liberation - Chapter 4

> “Just where do you think we are?” Fluttershy sheepishly asks

> “I dunno.” Rainbow Dash replies. “Wherever we are, I don't like it.”

> The two spend some time exploring their surroundings.

> A small kitchenette that has long since been abandoned.

> Fluttershy flies over to a tall counter.

> Various kitchen utensils and stale ingredients are strewn about the place.

> The walls are lined with stainless steel appliances, such as large ovens and refrigerators.

> Many of them have been left open, their contents been left to rot.

> “Who do you think runs this place?” Fluttershy asks, prodding a piece of moldy bread with her hoof.

> “Dunno.” Dash replies, she runs her hoof along a counter top.

> It collects a large clump of dust, which she shakes off.

> “I don't think anyone's been here in a while, Fluttershy.”

> “Yeah,” Fluttershy replies. “They must have left in a hurry.”

 

> Rainbow floats around the room before coming across a pair of stainless steel double doors.

> It's slightly ajar.

> “Hey! Fluttershy!” she shouts. “I think I found a way out!”

> “Really?”

> “Yeah!” Dash shouts, she tries pulling on the door but finds it jammed. “Ugh! It's stuck! Fluttershy! Help me get it open!”

> “O-Okay!” she whispers, running over to Rainbow's side.

> It's a bit of a struggle, but they manage to get the door open.

> Hesitantly they pass through, revealing an abandoned store front.

> Large glass counters run along the store.

> Each one of them filled to the brim with moldy pastries and stale foods.

> “A bakery?” Fluttershy asks. “This is a bakery!?”

> “It 'was' a bakery.” Rainbow replies, stepping over the broken glass and scattered debris on the floor. “Only Celestia knows what happened here.”

 

> “Rainbow Dash!” Fluttershy whispers. “Come here! Look!”

> “What is it!?” Rainbow replies, quickly flying over to Fluttershy.

> She points a hoof over to the wall where a small framed photograph hangs off center.

> “Are those the 'humans' Twilight was talking about?” Fluttershy asks, handing the photograph to Rainbow.

> It's a group photograph of the Baker's staff and owner.

> “Ehh. I guess? They sure look like it, don't they?” Rainbow asks.

> “Yeah. I mean. Just look at them! Where's their fur? And why are their manes so short and bleak?”

> “I dunno. That something you'd wanna ask Twilight.”

> “Ohh... Twilight... I haven't seen them since we went in the portal. Do you think she's alright?”

> “Pffft. You're honestly worried about Twilight?” Rainbow laughs. “I think the princess is just fine. You worry too much!”

> “But what about the others?”

> “They're fiine! Honestly, Fluttershy!”

> “But we were all separated! Weren't we? What if they're lost!” Fluttershy whimpers.

> Rainbow Dash cheerfully punches Fluttershy in her shoulder. “Then we'll find em. Problem solved!”

> “But-”

> “Come on.” Rainbow interrupts. “Let's just get out here. We'll find the others. I promise.”

> “O-Okay.”

> Rainbow nods with content before she steps through the bakery's front door.

 

> It's a cold night.

>And a cold chill runs down Rainbow's spine as a gust of icy air hits her against the cheek.

> “Come on. We can't just stand around all night.” Rainbow insists.

 

> Fluttershy nods in agreement.

> She starts to trek out into the street.

> The first thing she notices is the city scape around her.

> It blew her mind.

> It was not their height was incredible, but the fact that these buildings were built of earthly materials, like glass and mortar.

> It was not uncommon to see buildings this tall in her hometown of Cloudsdale.

> But the difference was those buildings were bonded together with clouds and a touch of magic.

> And as far as she was concerned they had no such luxuries.

 

> “Hey. Fluttershy, I have a feeling we might find them if we spl-”

> A loud crashing sound interrupts her.

> It didn't sound close, but was still loud enough to put the ponies on edge.

> “W-What was that!?” Fluttershy asks.

> “It sounded like it was coming from over there!” Rainbow shouts, pointing at the city's Business District.

> “Come on!” Rainbow Dash shouts, sprinting down the snowy street.

> “Wait! What if it's not safe? I don't think this is such a good idea!”

> “Got a better plan!? Besides, you're the one that's worried about everypony else!” Rainbow shouts. “What if they're down this way?”

> “I-I don't thi- Woah!”

> Rainbow Dash grabs her by the hoof and starts to drag her in the sky.

> “We don't have time for this!” Rainbow shouts.

> The duo flew quickly and with grace, just barely scraping the snowy ground beneath them.

 

> Dragged against her will, Fluttershy can't do much to resist.

> Rainbow was such a strong flier that she could easily drag her about with little trouble.

> But fear was still lingering in the back of Flutterhy's mind.

> This place was a ghost town.

> Not a single soul in sight.

> Something about that was painfully eerie in itself.

> As they neared closer and closer to their destination, the city's condition only seemed to deteriorate.

> More and more craters filled the streets.

> Buildings began to topple over on each other.

> And mysterious lumps of snow began to appear in the middle of the street.

> Something wasn't right.

> And Fluttershy knew it in the pit of her heart.

> Another explosion rattled throughout the city.

> This one so loud that it left Rainbow to a screeching halt.

> She landed and released Fluttershy onto the snow.

> “W-What was that!?” Fluttershy whelps.

> “Shh. Shh! Quiet!” Rainbow Dash shouts.

> Her ear slightly twitching as she tries to listen in.

> Small gunfire erupts not too far from here.

> But off in the distance, a soft roaring sound can be heard.

> “W-What is that?” Fluttershy asks.

> Rainbow squints her eyes.

> “Look!” she shouts, pointing to the night.

> In the darkness of the night, she could barely make out the swirling trails that scattered about the sky.

> Jet fighters playing cat and mouse thousands of feet into the skies.

> Rainbow gawks at the fliers above as they move with speed and grace with the likes she's never seen.

 

> “They're so good!...” she mutters, floating up to the skies above. “Maybe I can just-”

> “Rainbow Dash! Where are you going!” Fluttershy shouts from the ground.

> “Relax! I'm just going to get a closer look!” Rainbow Dash shouts, flying higher and higher in the skies.

> “But Rainbow!”

> “Relax!”

 

> She reaches the top of the buildings, and breaks the cityscape.

> She can't believe her eyes.

> Hundreds.

> No.

> Thousands of buildings stretch for miles.

> Each one of them seemingly bigger than the rest.

> Her heart sinks for a moment.

> She'd underestimated the sheer size of the city.

> It's going to take a miracle to try to find the others here.

> And Rainbow Dash wasn't oblivious to the situation around here.

> The city was barren, looted and deserted and there had to be a legitimate reason for it.

> None of which could be good.

> Something happened here.

> Something awful.

> Worse part is, they're all stuck here until they can find Twilight.

> Her mind races.

> What if they don't find each other in time?

> What if something has happened to Twilight and the gang?

[spoiler]> In reality, she was terrified. [/spoiler]

[spoiler]> But she couldn't let Fluttershy. [/spoiler]

[spoiler]> She had to be strong. If only for her. [/spoiler]

 

> Fluttershy trenches back and forth in the snow, her anxiety getting the best of her.

> “Rainbow!” she shouts, her voice echoing throughout the streets.

> “I don't think this is a good idea! Rainbow Dash! Please co-”

> Her voice is cut short.

> A series of bright red flash can be seen from a nearby rooftop.

> Followed by a thick mechanical chugging sound.

> It's absolutely deafening.

> And it leaves Fluttershy frozen in fear.

 

...

 

> The mechanical noise stops.

> And Rainbow Dash plummets towards the ground.

 

> Fluttershy's worst fears have come true.

 

----

 

> You check your watch.

> It's nearing midnight.

> But the storm isn't letting up.

> You turn the windshield wipers as high as they go.

> Letting out a heavy sigh, you focus back on the road.

> Suddenly, your radio comes to life.

> “Overwatch to Charlie Three. Charlie Three please respond.”

> You reach above and grab the small radio transmitter dangling above.

“This is Charlie Three. Go ahead.”

> A few moments of silence pass before the booming voice returns.

> “Charlie Three, give me a SITREP. Find Strigon Six yet?”

“The pilot? No. I've yet to make contact with crash site. Still en route.”

> “No resistance?”

“None yet. It's all quiet on this end.”

> “Overwatch copies.”

 

> You place the radio transmitter back in it's place, leaving the radio speaker on.

> At the very least, the radio chatter would keep you company.

 

> “Overwatch. Overwatch. This is Eagle one.”

> “Overwatch Copies. Go ahead.”

> “This is Eagle One. Bombing run commence in fifteen minutes. But I've got friendlies that are still danger close. Ten clicks away. Advise.”

> “How are you on fuel?”

> “She's full.”

> “Solid copy, Eagle One. All friendlies in blast zone have been advised. Give a fly around and then commence run. That should give em' enough time to get the hell out of dodge.  Light's green Eagle One.”

> “Roger, Eagle One out.”

> …

> …

> “Ehhh. Overwatch? Bravo Three here. I've got something on radar. Looks small. Maybe it's a bird. But it could be a drone. Maybe one of ours? Please advise.”

> “Overwatch copies. Where exactly?”

> “Just a few clicks south of the Business District.... Altitude still climbing.”

> “Overwatch copies.... We haven't issued for an active UAV for that A.O. What's its current position?”

> “It's still climbing. I think it might be a hostile ECM jammer. Bravo Three requesting permission to engage.”

> “Permission granted.”

> “Bravo Three copies. Guns away....”

> A heavy barrage of AA Gunfire can be heard over the radio for but a split second

> “Shit. I ain't getting anymore radar spikes. Maybe it was a bird?”

> “Better safe than sorry. Overwatch copies all.”

 

> A small beeping noise comes from your on board GPS.

> You've arrived.

> AS you turn the corner, you pull into a wide city block.

> And just as expected, the plane's wreckage is smack dab in the middle.

> You set the APC to neutral and gather your things.

> As you step outside, the cold winter wind nips at your skin.

> It's cold.

> Almost too cold.

> You flick on your flashlight and head towards the crash site.

> But the white of the storm makes it difficult to traverse.

“Hello!?” you shout.

> No response.

> It's not like you were expecting any.

> You finally get close enough to see the crash.

> It's brutal.

> Bits and pieces of shrapnel is everywhere.

> The wreckage is up in flames.

> There's no way the pilot could have survived.

> You clench your gut and make your way to the cockpit, preparing yourself for the worst.

> By now, you've become desensitized to the gore that comes with this job, but it's still heartbreaking to see a fellow comrade in pieces.

> But it's empty.

“Wha-” you stutter.

> You draw your pistol and remove the safety.

“Hello!? Strigon six!? Hello!”

> Save for the howling winds the street was quiet.

> You shine your flashlight into the cockpit.

> His harness was undone and his helmet is still attached.

> Someone pulled him out.

> A cold shiver runs down your spine as you realize you're not alone.

> But the question arises.

> Why would anyone pull him out?

> Unless...

> He was still alive.

> The hairs on your neck stand on end.

> Hopefully we wasn't taken in by the rebels.

> You've seen with your own eyes what the resistance does with it's captives.

> It's not humane.

> They'd do anything to break a man for information.

> You glance down.

> There's a small trail of blood along with several other footprints.

> You ready your pistol and follow the trail.

> The pilot was dragged along the snow.

> It didn't look like he put up much of a fight.

> Regardless, the trail isn't hard to follow.

> It leads not too far.

> And ends in front of a nearby store.

> Like the rest of the buildings in this street, the front end has been mostly boarded up.

> The door has been kicked in however.

> A small sliver of light fades through.

> You hear voices on the other end of the door.

> Soft voices.

> It sounds like two young girls.

> You press your ear against the door.

> The blizzard picks up even more, and it's winds howl even greater.

> You can't really make out what those inside are saying.

> But whatever it is, you pay no mind to it.

> You've got a job to finish.

> Your heart races.

> Your arm trembles as you reach for the door handle.

 

---

 

“Please!” Fluttershy cries out. “Do something!”

> She tugs at the pants of the human in front of her.

> He is tall.

> He's soaked to the bone in salt water.

> And he's dressed in ragged clothing that looks like it's going to fall off.

> Just soon after Rainbow Dash fell, he emerged from a nearby sewer.

> Needless to say, he was shocked.

> But the initial emotions soon faded with the gravity of the situation.

> Without so much as a second thought, he ran to Rainbow Dash's aid.

> The man is quick with his movements.

> He pulls out a small satchel and wraps Rainbow's wing in a thick gauze.

> It turns a deep red with blood.

> Rainbow Dash is unconscious.

> But her body is still trembling with a mix of cold and pain.

“I-Is she going to be alright!?” Fluttershy shouts.

> The man offers no response.

> Instead, he pulls out a small syringe from his satchel and injects Rainbow with it's contents.

> Rainbow's face and body relaxed for a bit.

> Whatever it was it seems to have worked.

“W-What did you do to her!?” Fluttershy shouts.

> The man runs his hand along Rainbow's wing.

> It's bent out of place.

> Even the slightest touch cause to twitch in pain.

> He grits his teeth and grasps her wing.

> Rainbow Dash writhes in pain as he sets her wing.

> But he's quick.

> And he sets her wing back with a satisfying 'POP'

“R-Rainbow!?” Fluttershy asks.

> The man wraps carefully wraps Rainbow in a small blanket.

> He takes off one his coats and places it over Fluttershy's shoulders.

> He lifts Rainbow Dash up and throws her over his shoulder.

“Where are you taking her?!” Fluttershy asks.

> The man doesn't respond. But instead notions for her to follow him.

“H-Hey! Answer me!” Fluttershy shouts, tugging at his pants.

> The man stops.

> He speaks in a strange language that must be local to the area.

> He points to various spots in the buildings as he speaks.

> Occasionally he even gestures to the planes flying high above.

> But the message is lost in translation.

> Fluttershy simply nods her head in confusion.

> The man sighs.

> The man kneels down in front of Fluttershy.

> He holds out his right hand. “Anonymous.”

 

“Fluttershy.” she meekly responds

> Fluttershy takes his hand and returns the handshake.

> Unlike the harsh winter weather around them, his hand is warm and inviting.