> “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.