A lone figure stared at the slightly scorched sign attached to a corroded chain link fence in my Royal Equestria Security Forces (RESF) dreamscape. The sign read.

Warning Restricted Area
Unauthorized Access is Forbidden
Severe Unstable Arcane Environment
Level 4 Protective Gear Required
By Order of the Royal Crown

The figures features were concealed by a respirator mask and the hood of the military hostile environment suit they were wearing. Although their suit was set up for a unicorn or similar horn bearing individual. With out a second glance they quickly scaled the fence and dropped down on the other side. Quickly they moved across a field of sickly, half dead grass and vanished into the heavy fog. In the distance one could hear the sound of crashing surf; although beyond that silence enveloped the area. Across Equestria and the wider world numerous other sites like this remained. Scars from the recent war.

The figure appeared to know more or less where they were going, despite the dense fog. Soon other shapes began to emerge from fog. The remains of now dead trees. the species no longer discernible. They were now a twisted, mangled mass of the violent, chaotic growth that defied typical definition. However they did have one thing in common. All of them were leaned and bent in roughly the same direction, as if some titanic gale had suddenly occurred and the trees now twisted shapes had captured the event in their now unnatural shapes.

Soon other silhouettes started to emerge from the fog. The blasted, twisted, and destroyed remains military vehicles. Some could still be identified as being former vehicles of the armed forces of Equestria. Others were utterly alien in appearance. However they all bore the signs of chaotic destruction. Even more disturbing were the remains of their former crews. It appeared as if they had been twisted, melted, stretched, and fused with their now equally distorted vehicles, and by the howling expressions of pain on their skulls and partially decomposed faces they had not enjoyed the experience. With the foreign vehicles it was harder to make details, but the occasional twisted limbs emerging from them spoke of a bad end.

Finally the figure started seeing the shapes of destroyed buildings looming out of the fog. At the outskirts of a small former seaside community the explorer paused and pulled from a pouch on their heavy web belt a blocky object about the size of a small paperback novel. They fumbled with it for a moment as the heavy gloves they wore were not optimal for handling small delicate objects. Eventually they succeeded in flipping up a small flat screen on the device. Pushing a membrane button on the right side of the device activated it and the screen came to life. It took a second but the screen lit up and started providing a range of data.

One of those pieces of data was a graph labeled Mana Contamination which currently was informing its user that the immediate environment was contaminated but not dangerous. However as the figure resumed walking they'd only gone about half a block when the device suddenly started chirping and the screen informed its user that they were now in a hazardous area of contamination.

Instinctively the figure smacked the area above the left breast pocket of their suit. A brief ripple of energy enveloped them as the first of their suit's Level 4 Temporary Mana Barriers activated. At the same time a timer started counting down on the device in their hand. In 30 minutes they'd have to refresh it if they remained in an area with this level of contamination.

Their suit had 3 more wards on it.

The other thing the display showed was an arrow that pointed toward their destination. Fortunately for the figure the contamination levels started dropping as they got closer to their destination. That was one of the more intact houses in this coastal community. Well at least its exterior walls were still standing and the roof was more or less intact. Although the windows in the front of it had been blown out, but the front door was still attached. The suited figure unslung their PDW and thumbed the safety off, then slowly approached the front door.

As had been planned the door was not locked and the monitoring device the figure was carrying immediately notified its user that levels had dropped dramatically upon entering the building. The interior of the house was in shambles, but compared to the carnage around it the place felt almost pristine. In the living room sitting on the tattered remains of a sofa sat a lone figure wearing a hoodie and wrapped in numerous soiled blankets and towels. They were so bundled up that only their horn protruding from the hoodie identified them as being a kirin.

The newcomer stopped in front of the seated figure and then slowly sat down crossed leg in front of them and placed their PDW next to them. Checking their monitoring device one more time that levels were still safe they slowly removed their mask and hood revealing a middle aged male kirin. He pushed the hood of his suit back and addressed the seated figure. Through all of this the seated figure remained silent and still. The newcomer placed their gloved hands palm down on the stained carpet and slowly bowed their head to the figure. After several seconds they spoke with a refined voice.

"Based on the signal you sent us it appears you were successful in your mission. Is that correct?"

The wrapped figure on the sofa shuddered and replied in croaking voice. "Yes. Although it took all of the wards you provided me, and I still ran out of them before finding it." With their right hoof they pushed a soiled daypack toward the newcomer who noted the misshapen state of the hoof. Instead of the smooth cloven shape of a kirin it was bulged and rough with almost spikes protruding from it. The newcomer once again bowed and then pulled daypack toward themselves. They took a deep breath and then slowly unzipped the main compartment of the pack.

Inside was a slim, rectangular, metallic object with a mottled bronze-like finish as a result of oxidation. It was about the size of a large cigar case. Even with the oxidation one could see the surface of the object was covered with a dense collection of alien markings. Gingerly the kirin picked it up and noted that it was heavier than expected then carefully they placed it back in the pack and zipped it closed. Then it looked at seated figured and bowed again.

"As instructed you've fulfilled your mission. For that the cause is in your debt."

"And what of my reward?" The seated figure croaked. "Will the cause honor it?"

The newcomer held their head high and looked them in the eyes. At least where they figured they must be because they were so hidden amongst the folds of fabric. "Yes! The cause will honor your sacrifice. Once the true ruler is back on the throne of Shin-kan-nor your family will be released immediately from prison. All charges levied against them by the imposter ruler will be erased. They will be given a lifetime pensions worthy of your sacrifices! Also you may partake in your reward once I've departed. Although I ask if you could wait a minute or so after I've left your presence. Less you draw attention to this area from receiving it. I hope you understand."

The seated figure slowly lifted a grotesquely bulged right hand and pushed back the hood and blankets. The twisted visage of an old male kirin stared at the newcomer. The effects of long term uncontrolled mana exposure were evident. Spittle dribbled from his bulging lips as he spoke. "Then, then, you should be on your way. Goodbye."

The newcomer bowed one more time before putting on the daypack and once again donning all of their PPE. Then without another word they left. The seated kirin listened to the door closed then he picked up from the sofa a tattered photo of a young female kirin surrounded by 4 foals. The old kirin smiled as tears began to trickle from his eyes as a crooked smile spread across his face. With a soft voice he spoke

"Sorry I won't see you again, but I did this all for you." He slowly set the photo in his lap and pulled out a small wireless blasting machine from under a blanket. Methodically he pushed each of the 8 buttons on the arming panel. The device beeped announcing it was ready. He looked around the living room one last time. Smiled. Then he pressed the Detonate button.

The newcomer was 2 blocks away when the multiple satchel charges placed around the house and under the sofa detonated in thunderous roar and a great cloud smoke. They didn't looked back. The next phase of their mission had begun. Quickly they disappeared into the fog.

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