> Be Kyrgyzstan based Soviet Servicemen.
> With water a precious commodity in the burning sun, you simply waited for the fire to burn out as opposed to extinguishing it.
> Its been over 12 hours since the American ignited the hellfire, and just now was it starting to die down.
> After the smoke clears, your commander calls to you in native russian.
> “?epe??? ?po?ep??? e?o , ?o?y???? ?ep??? ???? o?pa??o .“
> You go down to inspect.
> There is a large collapsed cave structure to the east.
> Damn American must have dove into it.
> You kneel before the collapsed cave entrance.
> You begin to remove the rocks from cave entrance.
> You finger your machine gun.
> You’re coming for him.
> You need to get that black box back.
“??? Pocc??-?a?y???!”
 
 
> Be Rainbow.
> Everything hurts.
> You had taken some nasty falls in your training, but this was something different.
> You know all too well that if you fall, whatever comes into contact with the ground is damaged, but the rest of the body is typically alright.
> This was very bone in your body aching, a constant feeling of heaviness, and pain in all of your limbs.
> You slowly open your eyes and look around you.
> All your friends are around you, passed out from exhaustion.
> You unsteadily try to stand, but your hooves buckle under you, and you fall to the ground.
> No, not the ground.
> As your aching head focuses, you realize that you are lying in the lap of MacGyver, who was also asleep, lying against one wall.
> He had saved you numerous times in the last 12 hours.
> Granted, he put you in many of those situations.
> But still…
> You guess you could call him a friend.
> He was certainly awesome enough for you.
> Your vision fades and you drift off to sleep again in Mac’s lap.
 
> Be Twilight.
> Wake up, and groggily open your eyes.
> You are starving.
> You haven’t eaten anything in almost an entire day, and your growling stomach demands some sort of sustenance.
> Your eyes look across the corridor at yet another gated window.
> Who the hell decided to gate all these fucking windows?
> As your brain registers what it is seeing, your eyes shoot open.
> The sun was setting.
> Everything comes rushing back.
> The Meteor
> The Dark Shadow
> Daring...
> You still have to stop Ahuiztol from summoning a dark spirit.
> And It’s not too much of a jump to assume such a ritual must happen at night.
> You groan as you haul yourself to your hooves, and head over to Rarity.
> For a pony that keeps her image flawless, she has seen better days.
> She must hate being so… dirty?
> Was that the right word?
> Whatever.
> You grip her in your magic and shake her lightly to get her conscious again, and do the same with Mac and Rainbow.
> “Five more minutes…” Rainbow says.
> You’re too hungry for this shit.
> You roll your eyes and physically pick her up and shake her in the air.
> Man it’s good to have magic again.
> Rainbow, now wide awake, glares at you.
> Its not until right now do you realize how bad a shape she’s in.
> There are bruises around her sides and chest, and he has a few scrapes on her stomach, likely from flying too low to the ground and scraping her belly on it.
> Small patches of blood are visible on her fur.
> Nothing major, but things like a bit lip and a small trickle leading from her ear, likely from the shockwave.
> Luckily you were just exhausted.
> “Hey! That wasn’t very nice.”
“But it was necessary. We have to stop Ahuizotl.”
> “But im tiiiiiired.” Rainbow mockingly whines.
> You return her prior glare, and she recoils before you turn your eyes to Mac.
> He’s up, but there is something off.
“Hey, are you alright?”
> “Just a little worried.”
> You cock your head.
“About what?”
> “A friend.”
“Why would you be worried about your friend?”
> “You don’t have the kind of friends I do.”
> Wut?
> With nothing more to say, you shrug.
> With everyone awake, you turn and start the hunt to find Ahuizotl.
 
 
> Be Ahuizotl.
> You are on your knees before the altar.
> Sitting atop it are the relics of all known victims of the Dark Shadow.
> You look at them with pride. You searched years for them, stealing, bribing and even killing.
> The Staff of Harbringer Crythos, infected Archmage of the Changeling Hive Balethys.
> The Helm of Nightmare Moon, Infected Princess of Equestria.
> The Crown of Warmaster Narveid, Infected Primer of the Gyphon Empire.
> The Trident of Tempus Charybdis, Infected Lord of the Sea Ponies.
> The Horn of King Sombra, Infected Prince of the Crystal Empire.
> You rival many, even perhaps twilight herself, in terms of researched knowledge.
> Most of what you learn comes from ancient tablets and writings, which you destroy after reading to prevent rival treasure hunters from following your trail.
> You know these items and their owners by heart.
> Who they were, what they wanted, and how it consumed them.
> Luna’s jealousy, Charybdis’s sorrow, Sombra’s control, Narveid’s protectiveness, and Crythos’s desire to learn.
> All brought destruction to others, and eventually to themselves.
> All of them strong in their own right.
> But together though, they were a beacon for the Dark Shadow.
> You look to your right, the strange creature from the stars looking at you.
> When this creature showed up, he informed you of his position as Prince Jack Dalton of America.
> It was not a land you have heard of before, but due to your travels, you don’t question that a lost or hidden civilization may exist.
> More particularly, during your prayers and offerings to the Dark Shadow, you begged for one to come from the stars.
> And the response could not have been better.
> Jack was perfect.
> The only thing on his mind was money, and when he told you that American royalty require everything they use to be made of gold, you were sure he was the one.
> The Dark Shadow would infect him, feeding his power to achieve his true heart’s desire: Money.
> His infection would feed his greed, and forge a path to riches.
> And, in the end, you would be there.
> And you would steal it all out from under him.
> His Greed would be his downfall.
> It truly was a pity.
> Moonlight streams through the window.
> “Is it time?”
> You turn to him, a fake smile forming on your face.
“It’s time, my lord.”
 
> Be Jack Dalton.
> You can’t believe this guy is such a moron!
> Granted, you couldn’t believe You’re here either.
> You were flying to brazil on another orchid smuggling run, when you ran into a storm.
> Being the /expert/ pilot you are, you knew for a fact you could fly through it.
> Things got dark.
> Things got bumpy.
> Things got really bumpy.
> Then boom!
> Ground.
> Completely wrecked your baby.
> No alcohol or condoms required.
> No sooner had you emerged from the plane did you notice that the storm was gone, and you were in a sandy desert.
> You were sure you had died and were in hell.
> You did some crazy shit in your time, but you didn’t deserve this!
> You were just looking to make a quick buck.
> Then, out of nowhere, this large blue creature came out of nowhere.
> You thought you were dead.
> But then, it offered you a few coins.
> All were solid gold.
> Haha! This must be heaven.
> When he asked your name, you knew just how to respond.
> You told him you were royalty!
> And that you needed money!
> AND HE BOUGHT IT!
> You chuckle to yourself.
> He keeps offering you gold and gems.
> All you need to do is gather it up, then skip town with the loot and you’ll be set for life!
> You know just what Mac would say:
> If something looks too good to be true, it probably is.
> But hey, this looks REALLY good.
> So here you are, and it looks like he is offering you a crown of sorts.
> Could probably catch a pretty penny.  
> You stand before the altar of items.
> Ceremony is fine by you.
> If his culture means you get money, who are you to argue?
> He begins chanting some sort of incantation.
> As you watch, a purple mist begins to rise from the artifacts in front of you.
> Neat.
> The mist rises up to the level of your eyes.
> Looks like some kind of glitter, but it has a gaseous aspect to it.
> You aren’t superstitious per say, but this is something different.
> You notice the mist glimmer in the moonlight, almost as if alive.
> Ahui-whatshisname gestures to the artifacts, offering them to you.
> What a nice guy.
> And in the end you would steal it all out from under him.
> His hospitality would be his downfall.
> It truly was a shame.
> You reach out to grab the prize
> Suddenly the mist jumps to your arm, twisting around it.
> It’s freezing cold.
> You try to shake your arm to get it off, but it soaks into your skin.
> Within seconds its in your veins, climbing up your arm.
> You scream (a manly scream), and try anything to stop its movement.
> Your veins turn dark blue as the mist climbs.
> God, its so cold!
> By the time its at your shoulder, there’s nothing you can do.
> Then…
> Then…
> Nothing.
> You feel fine.
> You look at your hands, then to Ahuisomething.
> “Are you alright, my liege?”
“That depends.”
> You feign weariness, holding your head.
“Americans can only get better with gold or silver crosses.”
> “Of course.”