//------------------------------// // Invasion and False Motives // Story: MLP: Journey Across Time // by B. J. Williams //------------------------------// The main six got back to their room in the barracks. They were aching and bruised from the first day of training. Nearly all of the stress from the day was from the combat training from that day. All of them were hoping that they would never ever EVER had to use what was taught to them. Methods that can hurt, methods that can kill. But it was stuff that they would go through again. Five of the ponies were in a hot tub. "This feels so good after a day of training." Twilight explained feeling satisfaction. "Yep. I agree with that." Applejack agreed. "Oh, I feel all dirty." Rarity stated upset. Of course, she had patches of gunpowder on her fur. "Stupid things." She got into the hot tube which Basil's father had supplied with the other five. "It was a good thing that Basil's father allowed us to have a hot tub in our room." Pinkie added. "That was most delightful of him." "So, how was your training day?" "It was okay." Rainbow Dash replied. "Except that someone ended up hitting me with an explosive. I want to smack the guy who hit me." Applejack just whistled knowing that it was her fault. "I had to go into sword training." Pinkie Pie stated. "And no one hit me like at all." "That's because you have pinkie sense." "I don't think that's it." "What about you, Fluttershy?" Twilight Sparkle asked. "How did your day go?" Fluttershy pointed with her hoof to Ifrit who was just lying on his back. "That would be my default summon." Fluttershy explained. "I don't know how to make it go away." "Oh, I see." "Are you kidding me?" Rainbow Dash stated. "He's a total badass." He turned to the creature. "Hey, what's your name?" "Ifrit." He replied. "So you can talk?" "Ifrit can talk. Ifrit will only talk to certain individuals." "And whom would that be." "Lady Fluttershy and her allies." "Oh." That was a surprise to the group. Meanwhile, Commander Basil XIII was going over on how to help the instructors on how to better the six girls. However, his son Basil Rodelero XIV was allowed to attend this meeting. "Well, I did yell at her." One of the instructors said. "Perhaps I should not have been so harsh on her." "However," another one stated. "She was being rebellious to her superiors." "My son," the commander asked. "Are you sure these ponies are able to handle the military?" "I have seen them fight, myself." Basil replied. "I know they are able to handle it." Then, a pony came in to the tent. He was a messenger for the army. Basil noticed him. "Yes, what is it, messenger?" "It is Tirac's forces. They are planning an invasion from the North." "What? How can that be?" "Messenger," the commander stated. "Are they heading this way?" "Yes, sir." "Stallions, gather your forces. Cassador, Bombard, Switchblade, gather your forces and prepare for battle. The rest of you join the battle after you see that the civilians are evacuated." "Yes, sir." Stated the six generals. Then, the generals left. Basil went to his father. "But father, what about the new recruits and me?" "My son, you and your six friends are not ready to fight yet." "But…" "No buts. You will stay here and be with your friends. That is an order." Basil sighed. "Yes, sir." The generals saw to it that the civilians were evacuated to the South with escorts. Afterwards, they prepared for battle. At the battlefield to the north, armed soldiers and artillery lined the city. Then, in the distance saw Tirac's forces. The enemy forces moved into battle and the Pottok forces entered battle. Then, the forces of both sides entered each others' range. Then, the artillery began to fire. After some time, Twilight Sparkle noticed strange sounds. She got worried about the sounds. "What's that sound?" Twilight asked. The other ponies tried to hear, but then they heard the sounds to. "That sounds like cannon fire." Applejack replied. "Why is there cannon fire going on?" Then, Basil came in. "BASIL!" Twilight Sparkle got out and slapped him. There was a hoof mark on his face. "Hey, haven't you ever heard of knocking?" "I'm sorry." Basil replied. "But we need to get out of here." "How come?" Rarity stated. "It is so nice in this hot tub." "The city's being invaded by Tirac." "What?" "Who's Tirac?" Twilight Sparkle asked. Basil was at first surprised. Then, he remembered the fact they are from someplace different. "I'll summarize Tirac." Basil began to explain. "He is a fearsome warlord with massive armies. He wants nothing more than to conquer the confederacy and rule it under his iron rule." "Well, why can't we kick some butt?" Rainbow Dash asked. "We are ordered to stay here and to wait it out. The military said they would handle it." Then, the messenger came in. "What is it?" "All of the civilians have been evacuated. It is best that if you went with them." "How come?" "Apparently, you are a target for the army too. Your father has allowed you to take the six with you." "Has the other messenger with the civilians come back yet?" The messenger thought. "Come to think of it. He hasn't come back yet." Then, Basil's father came in. "My boy," he stated. "The battle is won. The enemy is retreating but I'm getting a feeling that something is not right." "The messenger has not come back yet." Basil replied. "Can I go get the civilians?" "That's odd. However, it shouldn't be a hard task. So, I will allow you." "Thank you, sir." Then, Basil left. Twilight Sparkle was noticeable about Basil and while the others were not looking she followed him. Basil went outside to prepare to head out but ironically Twilight Sparkle was outside in front of him. He was shocked to see her. "Where are you going?" Twilight Sparkle asked. "I'm going to get the civilians." Basil stated. "Now, I need to get going." He was going to leave. "But what about 'Ponyville' not existing?" Basil stopped in his tracks; he turned around. "Ponyville not existing?" "I know you are hiding something from us. I was awake at the time of your conversation with the commander. Tell me what were you talking about?" Then, suddenly the shrub shook. The two ponies looked to the shrub. "Show yourself, whoever you are." Then, out of the bush came a brown pony with a blue mane. But they saw the front left leg and torso was covered in blood. The pony collapsed. "Hey, we need medic." Twilight Sparkle tried to aid the pony as well as Basil. "Don't even bother." The pony replied. "I'm already a dead stallion." "Aren't you one of the escorts?" Twilight asked him. "Yes, I was one." "Why did you come here without the people?" "It was an ambush." "What?" Both Twilight and Basil stated. "Our messenger must have been slain. The information lead us to bring the civilians right into an ambush. The escorts were slain by assassins and I don't know what happened to the…" Afterwards, the pony died. The medics arrived at the scene. However, a note was noticed on his back and Twilight picked it up and began to read it: 'Dear Foals, I can't believe you actually have fallen into my trap. I deliberately sent information about some of my troops to the north, and sent false information about me slaughtering all civilians. Just so you can get them out of there and lead them right straight to the ambush I set up. I have let only one escort go so you will get this message and ultimatum. Bring me the element to my camp within 24 hours, or I will slay every civilian one after another. Tirac’