//------------------------------//
// Chapter 8 
// Story: Rarity's Army 
// by BronyDan 
//------------------------------//

As the next few months went on, the Changeling forces were slowly moving backwards and forwards in their goal to conquer Equestria. They had made a pact with the race of Lethifolds with a promise of fresh pony flesh for them, and the stories of what had happened to the prisoners who would had refused to co-operate, or had out-lived their usefulness had reached Princess Celestia and the description of their deaths were too gruesome to tell the public.

Cloudsdale had agreed to help in the defence by training their Pegasus soldiers for Air-Combat, and when Chrysalis had heard of this, she began an air superiority campaign over Equestria and so the ‘Battle of Equestria’ went underway. There had not been any large bombings since the attack on the prison at the start of the war, but now Changelings would be travelling in large groups, each carrying a large bomb underneath their bodies. Canterlot was the first to feel this, as one night three large bombs were dropped over the city, one practically on the castle, almost destroying the West Wing. Princess Luna had already sent word out to Cloudsdale, and soon the air was thick with Pegasus and Changeling fighting each other with their rifles, bayonets or even with swords and in some occasions, hoof to hoof.

By morning, the battle had ended, but the attack had greatly shaken Celestia. Many houses had been destroyed in the bombing, and the casualties were very large, both from when the bombs hit the city, and from the Pegasus soldiers were had fought. They had managed to send away the surviving Changelings, but this would not be the last bombing attack, nor did it make Celestia surrender as Chrysalis had been hoping; instead it only made the Ponies more determined to fight and to win, and nowhere was that more prominent than in the small village underneath Canterlot.

“Well done ponies!” Rarity called out to the platoon as they marched through the streets of Ponyville carrying their rifles, “If you were to look at us now, nopony would guess we’ve only been formed for nearly two months. We have our rifles and caps, but I believe we can go further if we can manufacture our own weapons as secondary protection. If anypony has an idea, they shall report to me or Sergeant Twilight immediately.”

At that, Pinkie then stopped in her tracks and began bouncing up and down in front of Rarity, “Oh, oh, I have an idea. Pick me, pick me!”

“Oh, excellent Pinkie.” said Rarity, “What exactly is it?”

“I can’t say, it’s a surprise.” Pinkie giggled and she went back in next to Cheerilee and Doctor Whooves. Rarity and Twilight gave nervous glances at each other and carried on marching.

A few days later, Pinkie led Rarity and the platoon up to Sweet Apple Acres, where a large tarpaulin was covering a large object in the yard. As they drew nearer to it, Pinkie ran forward and pulled the tarpaulin off to reveal three slanted wooden planks on an old pram with three large drain pipes tied on either side of the middle one, pointing up to the sky. They were all linked up to a single fuse.

“Allow me to demonstrate my new Rocket Firing Anti-Dive Bomber Cannon Gun!” said Pinkie loudly, “Let me explain a few details of this superly-terrificly great machine. These six drain pipes are all tied together onto this pram for mobility, and the gun powder in each of the rockets will be made out of the following; eight ounces of weed-killer, a pound and a half of sugar and a tiny pinch of Bicarbonate of Soda.” she then showed everypony a thin cylinder with a cone on the top, “This is the rocket in question, with the gun powder inside it. Now when I fire this, the rocket shall shoot straight up and shoot down whatever it happens to hit.”

Pinkie then placed the rocket into one of the pipes, went around to the back of it, and called Spike over to her. After a few seconds of talking, Spike then picked up the fuse and breathed a small jet of green fire at it, and a small spark travelled down the length of the fuse and into the drain pipes. There was a loud bang as the Rocket Launcher jolted backwards slightly, billowing out smoke. As everypony looked up, they could see the rocket speeding up into the sky with a thin trail of smoke coming from behind.

“I must say, that is marvellous Pinkie.” said Rarity, smiling up at the rocket, “I shall hate to be on the receiving end of that.”

Everypony chuckled and applauded, but then their smiles faltered slightly when they then realised that there wasn’t anything in the sky for the rocket to hit. Then all their faces turned into that of panic as the rocket curved around in the air and was falling back down to Earth. Rarity shouted out for everypony to take cover, but their only option was to hide in the barn, so as the rocket sped back down, they all clambered into the barn closing and the doors behind them, but a sudden wind change blew the rocket off slightly and still speeding, it crashed through the roof of the barn. The explosion shook the barn as bits of the opposite wall was blown off completely and parts of the roof caved in.

Soon everypony was forming a chain from the house to the barn, passing down buckets, saucepans, bowls and anything that could hold water to put out the fire the explosion had caused. They were all covered in black soot and dust and bits of hay were sticking out of their manes. Rarity staggered over to Pinkie, who was being shouted at by Applejack, “Pinkie,” she coughed, “I don’t think you should have added the Bicarbonate of Soda.”

The next week, as Twilight and Spike were waiting in the Church Hall Rarity backed in levitating a box and looking very pleased. “They’re here!” she giggled, “Field Service jackets!” and she placed the box on the table.

Twilight and Spike looked inside to see seventeen carefully folded khaki green jackets, but when Spike picked one up, he noticed something about them. “This one hasn’t got any buttons, Rarity.” He pointed out.

Twilight picked up another one and looked at it “None of them do!” she said, sounding shock and annoyed.

“Now don’t worry.” said Rarity, levitating the two they had taken out back into the box, “I shall just quickly take these back to the shop, and prepare them. I’m sure I have some buttons lying around somewhere.” and she then quickly rushed out of the hall and back to Carousel Boutique.

A few minutes later as everypony was standing to attention, Rarity rushed back in with the box. She had managed to find enough buttons for each one, and she was now showing off her work by wearing one of them. She did look like a proper soldier now. As Twilight called everypony forward to collect one, Rarity leaned over to her, smirking, “These also came with them.” she whispered and Twilight looked at the straps on her shoulders and saw three polished pips on each one, “I am now officially a Captain.” she said proudly, “Oh, and here’s yours Twilight, and Pinkie I have yours as well.” Twilight and Pinkie took the jackets she was holding out and put them on. Twilight looked down the arms of her and gasped to see Rarity had sewn on three military stripes to show her position as Sergeant and Pinkie looked to see a single stripe on hers which showed everypony she was a Lance-Corporal.

“Soldiers.” Rarity sighed with pride as she looked at her small army, standing in full uniform at last, “That’s what we are now; official soldiers. Now, I would like to start off tonight lecture with…”

“Oh, oh, oh oh!!” said Pinkie Pie waving her hoof in the air, “I have another defence idea, Rarity!”

“After last time Pinkie, I think we shan’t need any more firearms.” said Rarity.

“But I promise, this one won’t be as explosively bad this time!” said Pinkie, now bouncing on the spot.

“Oh, very well.” Rarity sighed.

“Wee!” Pinkie squeaked excitedly, “Just give me a few minutes.” and as she turned around towards the door, she then grabbed Applejack, who was standing next to her and bounced out of the hall.

A few minutes later, the platoon were standing out in a field with Pinkie standing next to her next invention; which was just an upside-down tin bath, balancing on a flat wooden cart and the plug had been removed completely, so that the pipe that was still attached could swivel around like a periscope. “I would like to show you all my One-Pony Bullet Proof Tank!” Pinkie called out, “Private Applejack is currently assisting me with this demonstration.”

“I never had a say in it!” came Applejack’s voice from under the bath. Pinkie ignored her and carried on.

“I shall like to demonstrate how bullet proof it is.” And she picked up a hammer and banged repeatedly on the bath, the noise was left ringing in everypony’s ear, but none so much in Applejack’s, “See? Not a dent in it.” said Pinkie putting the hammer down, “The periscope can do a full 360 degree turn, so it gives whoever is inside a full view of the area.”

“What’s the fire power?” asked Twilight.

“Allow me to demonstrate.” said Pinkie, and she remove the glass cover on the periscope and shouted down the pipe, “Applejack, Twilight wants to see the fire power!”

There was a groan from inside the bath, a little bit of shuffling; the sound of somepony banging their head, until eventually, the end of Applejack’s rifle could be seen sticking out of a hole cut out the front of the bath. “Doesn’t seem to be very mobile, Pinkie.” said Rarity, looking at the tank.

“Wait a minute.” said Pinkie and she removed the glass cover again, “Applejack, I’m going to give you a bit of a push.” she shouted again, and she went to the back of the tank, and gave it a small shove. The tank began to roll slowly across the field; however it slowly began to pick up speed as it reached a dip in the grass and it suddenly disappeared. As everypony ran after it, they heard a splintering crash and a splash.

When they reached the drop, they saw that the tank had gone and crashed through a fence and had landed in a nearby pond. Applejack was sitting in the bathtub, which was now quickly filling up with water where the periscope had broken off in the crash. “Quick Applejack, put the plug in!” Rarity shouted, but before Applejack could reply, the bath completely sunk underneath the water, “Never mind.” Rarity sighed as Rainbow Dash flew down to rescue Applejack.

After that, nopony came up with any ideas for several weeks. However one day as Twilight was standing in the Church hall, Rarity walked in levitating something wrapped in brown package, “I just thought I spoil myself a little.” she smiled as she used her magic to remove the paper as well as taking off her service cap. The package turned out to be a brand new official officer’s hat, which she placed carefully onto her purple mane as she stood in front of a mirror hanging on the wall. “I think this does rather suit me, don’t you?” she asked over her shoulder, but before Twilight could answer, she realised the hall was completely empty. “Where is everypony?” she asked.

“They’re all waiting by the bridge into Ponyville.” said Twilight, “Apparently Rainbow Dash is revealing her own idea of defence so I hung back just to let you know.”

“Oh thank you, Twilight.” said Rarity.

“It’s also good timing as well, because today we’re receiving a visit from a General Hoofard to see how this device could help.”

“What?!” Rarity cried out, “Is that today?! Oh my, we must get over there straight away!”

When they reached the bridge, the first thing they saw was a tall wooden frame with a large oil-can on the top, with a pipe leading onto the tank of a toilet, with another short pipe attached to the bottom of that, and ending with a hosepipe nozzle. When she saw Rarity and Twilight approaching, Rainbow Dash stood to attention. “Permission to demonstrate my new Anti-Vehicle Device.” she asked, and when Rarity nodded in agreement, Rainbow Dash sprung into explanation, “Now picture this; you can see an enemy cart approaching, you pull down on the lavatory chain, the oil comes out and pours all over the road, and the wheels and hooves will not be able to grip properly.”

“Quite ingenious Rainbow Dash.” said Rarity; however her eyes fell upon a small puddle dripping underneath the hose. “It’s a little bit leaky.” she pointed out.

“Oh, that’s just a drop, that won’t do anything.” said Rainbow Dash, waving the problem away with her hoof.

“Rarity, staff cart approaching!” Pinkie and Spike called from the other side of the bridge.

“That’ll be General Hoofard coming to expect this.” said Twilight enthusiastically.

“Excellent.” said Rarity standing to attention next to Twilight, “This will show him how well we can improvise. Hurry along now Pinkie. You too, Spike!”

Spike jumped onto Pinkie’s back and she galloped over the bridge to stand next to Rarity. But then as she slowed down, her hooves slipped on the oily puddle and Spike in a panic threw himself forward and grabbed onto the lavatory chain for support, but accidently pulled on it. Oil shot out of the hose, covering the two of them with the stuff and onto the road. Everypony ran forward to try and stop the flow, but the oil continued to gush out. “You airheaded idiots!” Rainbow Dash was shouting above them, “You’ve ruined my demonstration!”

Pinkie managed to push the pipe to the right, but the road was still covered in oil, and before anypony knew it, a cart came over the bridge and the stallion saw the oil and dug his hooves into the road, but it was too late. His hooves slipped and the cart skidded along the road almost toppling over to one side. The entire platoon covered their eyes as the back of the cart made contact with the tower, knocking it sideways and the empty oil drum rolled off the top and then rolled away into the forest. Rarity and Twilight ran forward to see if the General wasn’t hurt, while evrypony looked sourly at the oil covered Pinkie Pie and Spike.

As Rarity came closer to the cart and saw the General close up, her heart missed a beat. She recognised him at once as the stallion whom she had been quite rude to in Carousel Boutique a few months ago. She hoped he wouldn’t recognise her. He did. As soon as he saw her standing next to the cart giving an awkward salute, his eyes widen and a vein could be seen pulsating under his hat as he blurted out, “It’s that damn seamstress!”