//------------------------------// // Chapter 7 // Story: Rarity's Army // by BronyDan //------------------------------// A few days later, the news broadcast gave an important report. At 2:23 PM on the 4th June, the Vice Admiral had announced, in agreement with the Griffins, that ‘Operation Diamond’ was completed. A grand total of 338,226 ponies and allied troops had all been safely evacuated from Wingkirk; 239,446 had been saved from the harbour, while another 98,780 were rescued on the beaches and that the last of the 933 armada of little ships had safely returned to Equestria Harbour. 40 Griffin and Chimaera vessels had also participated in the evacuation, and just before midnight the Equestrian Rear Guard had embarked to help. Summing up the experience to members of Parliament in Canterlot, Princess Celestia stated “We must be very careful not to assign to this deliverance attributes of a victory. Wars are not won by evacuation.” Twilight and Rarity were sitting in the back room of Carousel Boutique with some tea, listening to the news on the radio. Rarity switched it off when it ended, “Well, that’s some good news.” she sighed, “getting some of our soldiers back home to Equestria is quite frankly a remarkable achievement.” “Yes, it’s a pity we couldn’t have found some way of keeping them in Talonce.” Twilight muttered to herself. Rarity looked over at her with a raised eyebrow. Over in Sugarcube Corner, Pinkie Pie was working the counter and the customers while Mrs Cake w in the kitchen. She was certainly a lot happier now that the rifles had come, and she was now back to her usual bouncy self. As she stood by the counter, Matilda Donkey walked up, holding out her coupon book and gave it to Pinkie. “Oh, you haven’t got a lot left for this week Matilda.” said Pinkie looking through the book, “I don’t think you should have had that extra slice of cake.” “Oh well, you know what Cranky is like.” chuckled Matilda, “He will insist on having his weekly bit of chocolate. How much have I got left?” “Well it adds up to about three small gems and two bits.” said Pinkie as she gave the coupon book back. “Oh.” sighed Matilda, “I suppose I better have a cupcake then.” “Well I’m afraid we can only allow 1 7/8 ounce cupcakes these days dearie.” said Mrs Cake as she backed out of the kitchen with a fresh tray of baked cookies, “Baking supplies are getting quite slim these days, so you may have to have the rest made up of frosting.” “Very well.” said Matilda, but as Mrs Cake went to check on the twins, Pinkie leaned over to Matilda and whispered, “If you want, I’ll put a small amount of frosting on the cupcake, but I’ll throw in two small slices of Carrot Cake to balance it out.” Matilda nodded in agreement, and Pinkie took the Carrot Cake off the shelf, carefully cut out two slim pieces for Matilda and Cranky and placed it back carefully. Matilda waved her goodbye and walked out into the street. Outside, Applejack was walking through Ponyville carrying her new briefcase where she carried her goods for selling. She gave a few polite nods to ponies as they passed and then snuck down another dark street and into the gloomy Undertaker’s shop. The walls were lined up with empty coffins, their covers propped up next to them. Cobwebs covered the ceiling and grit and grime coated the wooden floor. Applejack walked over to the counter and rung the bell, “Mr Tomb?” she called out, her voice echoing slightly. Another door could be heard to open somewhere in the back, possibly the parlour, and out from the shadows walked a tall, stooping stallion, wearing a black coat over his suit. He had dark shadows and deep lines under his eyes and his cheeks were quite sunken into his face. His mane was a short shocking white, that stuck out in places and his Cutie Mark was that of a tombstone. “Well, what do you want?” he asked in a croaky and oily sort of voice. “Now, is that any way to talk to a mare who has come to make an offering?” said Applejack, as she put her briefcase down on the desk and opened to reveal a collection of handles, “Proper brass copper handles for your coffins, you ain’t gonna get them anywhere else.” Mr Tomb picked up one of the handles and held it close to his face, his eyes darting to and fro. Finally he threw it back in the suitcase, “That not brass,” he croaked, “that’s just cheap rubbish! If I used those on my coffins, they will have rusted through after a week underground.” “Yeah, I see your point.” said Applejack thoughtfully, “But after a week, who’ll know the difference?” Mr Tomb paused for a moment to think this over, “Good point.” he said at last, “Alright, I’ll take a dozen.” but as Applejack was taking out her notepad to write his name down, they heard the low droning sound of the Air-Raid siren starting, “Better make it two dozen.” Mr Tomb whispered. Air-Raids during the day were slightly different from when they happened at night. At night everypony would immediately run to the shelters and make sure that all lights were out in their houses, however in the day, they would like to dawdle in the streets to look up at the small dots in the sky flying overhead. Trixie however wasn’t one of those ponies; she ran out of her travelling caravan with her ARP helmet on her head and would try to get everypony down to the shelters even though they ignored her for a few seconds. Twilight and Rarity quickly ran out of Carousel Boutique and headed for the library where Spike had walked outside to watch. “Come on Spike.” said Twilight using her magic to place Spike onto her back, “We have to go down to the cellar!” and they ran back into the library with Rarity looking over her shoulder at the dots in the sky. Pinkie and Mrs Cake walked out into the street as well, each carrying one of the twins and looked up. “Good heavens, they like bees.” Mrs Cake gasped. “What are you doing?” Trixie shouted at them as she ran towards, “You can see them in the air, so get undercover!” and she ran on to another group down the street. Pinkie stuck her tongue out at her and went back to looking; “Whee, well done boys!” she shouted at the top of her voice at the sky, “Show them we can beat them nasty cheeselegs!” “Pinkie, those aren’t ours.” Mrs Cake whispered, as she turned back to the store and walked quickly around the back, “Those look like Changelings.” “Oh. BUCK OFF CHEESELEGS!” That evening, Twilight and Rarity entered the Church hall to find everypony already standing to attention, holding their rifles in their right hooves. The atmosphere was certainly different these days, everypony was now putting all their efforts into the training now, and Rarity had now finally decided to train them how to charge with bayonets, shoot at enemy changelings and how to knock somepony out using the butt of the rifle. “Slope forelegs!” Twilight called out. “One, two three, one, two three, one!” said everypony in unison, lifting their rifles and swapping forelegs until their rifles were in their left hooves. Rarity walked along the front of the line, eyeing each one of them, when she was satisfied, she ordered them to stand at ease. “I have some good news.” she announced, “We have been given some new armbands, but also an issue of field service caps.” everypony all nodded their heads and muttered to each other in agreement. “Now on the command ‘Fall out’, you will come over to the table where Lance-Corporal Pinkie will hand out a cap and armband, and I shall give out tonight’s patrol order. Fall out!” Everypony walked over to the table and Pinkie (who was already wearing her cap) handed them out with the new armbands. They weren’t white with ‘LDV’ crudely written on them, they were now a light green with ‘Home Guard’ printed on them instead. They all stood in small groups, admiring each other with their first piece of uniform. “Do you think this green clashes with my colour?” Lyra was asking Bon-Bon. “Am I wearing it right, Doctor?” asked Derpy. “Well yes if you’re retreating.” chuckled Doctor Whooves, “You’re wearing it back to front.” "Twilight, could you shrink this for me?" Spike asked. Because he was smaller than the ponies, Twilight had to use a shrinking spell on his rifle and ammunition so that he could use it properly, she figured she would now have to do it for his uniform. When they had all settled, they all stood back to attention in their lines as Rarity addressed them, “Now tonight, I shall want everypony on high alert after what has happened at Wingkirk. Private Cheerilee you and your section shall patrol the area from the bridge to the edge of the Everfree Forest. Private Turner, you and your section shall be on watch at the windmill and, if you can, try and get somepony into the Town Hall. Corporal Pinkie, your section shall be on watch from the East side of town. You can set up your headquarters in the Library tonight. Do you mind Twilight?” “No, not all.” said Twilight, “Oh, and Rarity, we also need somepony to be on Coast Duty as well.” “Of course.” said Rarity as Twilight pulled the chart out of her bag, “So whose turn is it tonight?” Up on the cliff side looking out over the sea, Fluttershy shivered slightly as the sea wind hit her. Even though she turned it down, Twilight had given her a rifle just in case, and a pair of binoculars. As she looked over the sea, the sun was beginning to set, and she then heard the sound of rustling grass behind her. She gave a squeal of terror, picked up the rifle and held it up, “Halt, who goes there?” she tried to call out, but her voice shook as it slowly became a whisper. The two figures came closer, and Fluttershy lowered the gun as Rarity and Twilight drew level with her. “Well done Fluttershy, keep on your hooves.” said Rarity, “Any sign of them?” “Not yet.” whispered Fluttershy, fearing the Changelings might be listening. “Well they already flew over today.” Twilight observed, “I don’t think they’ll attack again so quickly.” “You can’t be too sure Twilight.” said Rarity, “These Changelings could come at any moment. Alright Fluttershy, stay for another fifteen minutes and you can head home for the night.” “Thank you.” said Fluttershy as she brought the binoculars up to her eyes, still shaking. As Twilight and Rarity headed back to town, Twilight looked behind her as she saw the sun slowly descending, changing the colour of the sky to that of bright orange. “It’s a beautiful sunset tonight.” She sighed dreamily. “It really is a beautiful land altogether, Twilight.” said Rarity as she stood next to her friend, “They shan’t get it you know. They will not get their hooves on it. We shall fight to the last pony, until we are down to one round each, we shall keep firing to defend what is ours.” “Yes Rarity, we will.” said Twilight, as Luna took over from her sister and stars were beginning to appear in the sky.