//------------------------------// // Secrets of Alicorn Forge // Story: PonyHammer 40,000: Magic of War II // by Dragon Heart //------------------------------// Hammerheart brought up the orbital map display of Alicorn Forge again and Pegalos appeared on screen. "Commander Hammerheart," said Pegalos, "you must return to Alicorn Forge. We cannot allow the pigskins to acquire the weapons contained in the storehouses near the gate. If the Eldeer smuggled the Hogs onto Galantius as you suspect, it must have been for a purpose. Deploy your squads to rejoin Applejack at Alicorn Gate." _____________________________________________________________________________________ Down on the surface of Galantius, Hog wartrukks were driving through the streets, but Guardpony scouts spotted them from a distance. One of the scouts brought a hoof to his comm link. "Pigskins to the north," He said, "heading for the storehouses." The vehicle's exhaust pipes started flaring, and it sped up, smashing through rubble and broken walls. The trukk then charged through a firing line of Guardponies, running them over and sending others flying. The vehicle kept driving until it stopped at the storehouses. "Out you get, boarz." said the driver as Hogs hopped out of the truck. "Boss wants you ta get da poniez' shiniest bitz." The vehicle took off, leaving the other Hogs to do their work. "Oh, I love bein' a loota!" one of the Hogs said. "Now we can get da best bitz!" Meanwhile at Alicorn Gate, Guardponies and the Blood Phoenixes stood at the wall. Guns loaded and ready to fight the animals that are attacking the storehouses. "Reopen the gate." said Sergeant Wolverine. The reinforced walls unlocked and slowly slid into the sides, then the pillars slowly sunk into the street. "The Hogs are already at the storehouses, Commander." said Applejack through her comm link. The Pony Marines trotted forward. "Empress's speed, Commander." said Fluttershy. The Pony Marines kept moving, then they found Applejack with her small squad. "We need to move up quickly." Applejack said urgently. The Blood Phoenixes picked up their pace, and began galloping with all their speed through the ruined streets. They kept galloping until they spotted the Hog Bandits at the storehouse. The Hogs looked back to see the Pony Marines coming. "Oi, its dem poniez!" one of the Hogs yelled. "Our boss said da buggies would keep em busy." The Hog turned to the other Hogs. "Gather up all da best bitz, we'z gots ta leg it! Da Boss ain't gonna like dis, not one bit." Rainbow Dash took to the sky, and then smashed into the ground, crushing Hogs beneath her hooves and sending others flying. The other Marines shot at the bandits, but one quickly waddled away from the fight. Applejack checked the building to make sure nothing was taken. When she opened the door, she found something else completely different. "This is no military storehouse." She said. "These are relics of the Chapter!" Spike viewed the items from the Strike Cruiser. "Those items match the descriptions of relics long lost to the Chapter." He said. "You should secure them and await extraction." Some time passed, and the Eldeer arrived at the Alicorn Gate. Farseer Prancayla, along with Treelords and Pyro Prisms, began their assault. "Make for the forge works!" said Prancayla. "Let nothing stop you, Eldeer!" The tanks and walkers approached the opened gate and attacked the Guardponies, who were brutally outmatched by their Treebone armor and splinter guns. "Alicorn Gate is under attack!" Sergeant Wolverine shouted. "The Eldeer!" said Fluttershy. "The witch Prancayla!" Hoovitus yelled angrily. "It must be!" The Treelords slashed at the Guardponies, and the Pyro Prisms blasted the defenses with their cannons. "Can't get a fix on them." a Guardpony said. "Return fire! RETURN FIRE!" The Pyro Prisms sped through, the Treelords walked through, and the Farseer and her warriors followed through. Eldeer fell to the Equestrial Guard's weapons, but Guardponies were dying faster against their sudden attack. "Commander Hammerheart," Fluttershy called, "we'll need your help to repel the attack." Applejack quickly responded. "This warehouse is full of relics stolen from our Chapter." She said angrily. "Your Governor is a thief as well as a coward." "I couldn't agree more, Sergeant." Fluttershy said, her tone growing desperate. "But the fate of Galantius still rests on holding Alicorn Gate." The surviving Guardponies were attacked by Eldeer Shriekers, They howled their ear-piercing screech as their blades sliced the Guards with horrible ease. Suddenly, more Hogs showed up at the storehouse, ready to cause more havoc on the Blood Phoenixes. "Pigskin reinforcements." said Applejack before she and the Pony Marines opened fire. "She is right, Commander. We cannot allow Alicorn Gate to fall. I will hold off these animals and guard our relics. Go save Alicorn Gate." With that said, Hammerheart and the other Pony Marines galloped off to save the Equestrial Guard and protect the gate. Their determination bolstered their speed, and they arrived at the demolished gate, immediately shooting at the Eldeer forces standing at the area. They were mere Guardians, their firepower and melee combat was rather weak, but then Eldeer Shriekers appeared and drew their blades. "Come ponies!" one of the Shriekers yelled. "It is the day of your deaths! And I am your executioner!" The Eldeer sped towards them, and Hammerheart swung his axe at the first one that got near. The one that dared to speak ill of the Ponies engaged Hammerheart with dual blades. They slashed and clashed blades, while the other Shriekers attacked the Sergeants. They did not last long against their weapons. Hammerheart then struck the last Shrieker in the chest, pulled out his axe, and then decapitated her with a swing to the neck. Hoovitus looked at the ruined gate. "It took firepower to do this." They continued their march, but one of the Pony Marines was shot and killed by sniper fire. The others spotted an Eldeer Ranger in a Guard Tower, and more Eldeer warriors coming towards them on the streets. "You will not reach Prancayla in time to stop the detonation." a Warlock said. "Detonation?" Pinkie said in horrified realization, "They mean to destroy the forge!" "The forge and this entire world, pony." the Warlock stated. At Alicorn Forge, Prancayla was examining the foundry. "Yes, the plans were correct." She said. "The forge's power supply is unstable. A simple chain reaction will wreath this world in fire." The Warlock spoke to the Farseer telepathically. "Prancayla, your wounds." He said. "The ponies press in..." "Suffering and I are old friends, Warlock." said Prancayla. "See to the ponies, and I will enact our final gambit to protect the Woodworld. My retinue's wards will keep me safe long enough." "Of course, Prancayla." the Warlock said. "Eldeer! Our Farseer prepares to strike against the enemy." "Defend her at all costs!" a Shrieker yelled. "Commander Hammerheart," said Fluttershy, "we are experiencing massive power fluctuations. Whatever is happening there, you must stop it!" The Blood Phoenixes fended off the Eldeer and moved on, but explosions warned them of an impending attack. "Xeno ambush!" Hoovitus called. "Fire!" The Pony Marines unloaded their guns upon every Eldeer that attacked. Once the coast was clear, they continued on towards the forge. But then another marine fell to sniper fire from another Ranger in a tower. "Lumiere was the best of us, ponies." the Ranger said. "You will pay dearly for his loss." Pinkie threw an explosive charge into the tower, and after three seconds passed, the tower blew up and killed the Ranger beneath the rubble. A Treelord came walking towards them, but Captain Nule went up and gave the walker a good smack to the side, and then crushed its head beneath his weight. The Pony Marines moved on, eventually reaching Alicorn Forge, where the Farseer was protected by more Eldeer Shriekers. "Destroy the Pony Marines!" one of the Shriekers yelled. "Cut them down where they stand." Hammerheart charged at the Shriekers and smashed them to pieces, while the others gunned down the remaining forces. With the Farseer undefended, Hammerheart and the Pony Marines engaged the witch once again. Hammerheart and Prancayla slashed and clashed. The Sergeants opened fire, but could barely penetrate her protective ward. Prancayla's antlers began to glow, and Treelords appeared around her. "More of them!" said Hoovitus. "Kill them all!" Goliath attacked the Treelords while the Sergeants shot at the walkers. But they were overcoming Nule enough to make him back away to recover. The Pony Marines retreated to a nearby building. "Rgh, damnation!" said Hoovitus, "We need support!" Applejack heard that loud and clear. "Understood!" She said. "Hold fast!" Hammerheart and Goliath engaged the Treelords. Then Applejack appeared with heavily armored Pony Marines. "Sergeant Applejack and Termineightor squad reporting for duty, Commander." She said. The Termineightors fired their Storm Bolters at the Treelords. Prancayla was in shock from Applejack's sudden appearance. "No... I..." "I stand with my Siblings, Eldeer!" Applejack shouted. Rainbow Dash saw Applejack wearing the holy armor and was amazed. "Termineightor Armor. Where did it come from?" She asked. "They were the center piece of Brae Tyre's collection." Applejack explained. "Now let us finish with these xenos." While Hammerheart and the others fought the Treelords, Applejack combated against the Farseer. Prancayla slashed and stabbed with her spear, but it could not pierce Applejack's Termineightor armor. The Sergeant bucked her Powerhooves at the animal witch with all her strength. When the Treelords fell, Hammerheart and the Pony Marines turned their attention to Prancayla, who was doing everything she could to keep herself alive. The Farseer grunted in pain. "Naycha, lend me strength." She prayed, but her prayers went unanswered with one final blow, and she fell to her knees in defeat. "Remarkable..." said Prancayla, "I had thought surprise lost to me..." Applejack slowly went up to her. "What a wondrous lesson to come from such primitives..." The Farseer looked up to the Pony Marine before her. "I wonder if the Bloody-Hooved God... will teach you anything in turn..." "Why, witch?!" Applejack asked. "Why seek to doom these worlds?!" "You never asked yourself..." said Prancayla, "where this Hive Fleet was bound for next... Unless we stopped it here... it would next feed upon Eldeer... Surely even you can see... three pony worlds... was a small price to pay to save a Woodworld..." Applejack looked upon the Eldeer in repulsive anger. "Save your excuses, Witch. Alicorn Forge is secure, and your life is at its end." With that said, Applejack turned around, and gave Prancayla a good kick with her Powerhooves, ending the animal's blasphemous life. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Back aboard the Ponigeddon, the Blood Phoenixes were recovering once again from their bout against the treacherous Eldeer. Pegalos appeared on screen. "Commander Hammerheart, I commend you in your leadership in this crisis." Pegalos complimented. "You have made very significant progress in your battle with the Hive Fleet. And the death of Prancayla has finally put an end to Eldeer operations in the sector." "I hope it has, Cap'n," said Applejack, "but I am not so certain." "Regardless," Pegalos continued, "securing Alicorn Forge means we now have a means to produce weapons for our battle against the Paranids. We now have all the components necessary to mount a major strike at the Hive Fleet invading the sector. The Stampede of Fury will arrive in system in a matter of days. We will then equip our new weapons and mount an attack on the hive ship that guides the entire Hive Fleet. Not all news is good. Our surviving Unicorns say the Hive Mind has become aware of our approach. It is likely to throw its most potent forces at key locations across the sub-sector. It remains to you to hold the sector until we arrive. Pegalos out." Fluttershy appeared on screen after Pegalos. "And thank you for saving Galantius, Commander Hammerheart." She said. "I have issued a warrant for the former governor's arrest and confiscated all of House Brae Tyre's holdings. We will conduct a thorough search for any additional stolen Blood Phoenix relics. You should find my administration to be much more cooperative. Fluttershy out." After the recovery, the Capital Spire started blinking. Hammerheart focused in on the area, and Fluttershy appeared. "Commander Hammerheart," She said, "a Paranid Specter has evidently been stalking the hub-blocks for weeks. Now, a massive infestation has followed in its wake, claiming countless more lives. Eliminating this killer would greatly boost morale among the population and help secure our defenses. Only your Pony Marines have a chance of killing the Specter before it escapes again."