(STORY EXTRACT)

I picked up the detonator and rested it on the radio, with my hoof poised to push the tongue trigger on top of it. Ooooh, here it comes… “Countdown’s starting now, so everypony brace yourselves. Twenty seconds to detonation… nineteen, eighteen, seventeen…” The chill night air blew over the trench, Static and Aerith adjusting their welding goggles one last time. “…sixteen, fifteen, fourteen…” There was some small scrambling over in the press trench, myself positively giddy with excitement. “…thirteen, twelve, eleven…”

“Ten.” Another breeze blew over the trench, carrying some fluffy snow with it. “Nine.” Cloudy breaths hung in the air as everyone who could watched out towards the north. “Eight.” The breeze died down, everything becoming eerily quiet. “Seven.” The earth pony beside me adjusted the artillery earmuffs he had on – C’mon, a little tinnitus never hurt anyone. “Six.” Five seconds left to go…

“Five.” A stupid grin was plastered on my face, staring down at the detonator on the radio.

“Four.” Scouring’s armor whirred slightly as he adjusted himself – or it could’ve been Crash Dive.

“Three.” Okay, that might’ve come out as ‘squee’, but I’m hyped, damnit!

“Two.” Sweet Luna above, here it comes…

“One.”

The detonator clicked as my hoof pushed it in, and a fraction of a second later the sky behind me lit up in a brilliant, blinding flash, brighter than the sun, brighter than the Solar Burst grenades, brighter than anything I’d ever seen before. The breath was sucked out of me as I slowly, agonizingly watched the intense light fade around me, scooting forwards to turn around. Still keeping my eyes below the trench line, I slowly lifted myself up, eyes wide and watering – if it was from the wind or the beautiful sight set before myself, I didn’t know. I would like to claim the latter.