A/N
Wow. What can I say? I've been gone a while. Fim's changed a bit since I was last here, but I see the people have not. Please welcome Velkaden as yet another editor here to keep the story at its best! Fair warning though, this one's not too long, but it's part of a series, so don't worry to much about it. Good to be back, everyone. Enjoy the chapter!
Chapter Thirty-Three: Dread Intrusion
Twenty-seven miles off of the Georgia coast, a lone Virginia-class submarine sailed towards King's Bay Naval Station, having just launched a cruise missile strike in an attempt to close the dimensional super-anomaly forming over Atlanta.
"Admiral! We just received an emergency message instructing us to terminate the missile strike!"
"What? From who?"
"General Locklear, sir."
The admiral quickly made his way to the communications station,
"Are you absolutely sure?!"
"It's confirmed, sir! We have friendlies with eyes on the general. Do we kill it or not?"
Commander Stuart jumped from his chair. "The general must be mixed in with invading forces! There might be other survivors from the first attack with them! We have to call off the strike! Now!"
"We have to call off the strike! Now!"
"We have to call off the strike! Now!"
"We have to call off the strike! Now!"
He could hear the distant, warbling voice all around him. He could hear the muffled blast. He could hear them cry out in fear... but he could see nothing.
Captain Greene lept into consciousness, finding himself lying on the ground. It was oddly quiet.
"Wha..."
As he stood and stared upward toward the sky, he realized that it was beneath him. Above, the ground hovered weightlessly across a noir canvas of matter. The shock of such a sight made him dizzy, then immediately brought him back to the ground.
"Argh," he groaned as he pulled himself to his knees. "What... what is this?"
In his left ear he could hear something, or someone stirring nearby. A passing cloud adorned with marble tile drifted below. Resting on it, a feathered animal began to toss and turn as if in a nightmare. He squinted to make out the rather odd form.
"You! It's you!" Greene shakily rose to his feet, the seeming nonexistent ground beneath him somehow supporting his weight. He stepped into the air, as if wading into a otherworldly sea. He glided to the cloud without so much as thought, simply willing himself toward it.
The tumultuously slumbering form of Praetor Phalanx could now be clearly seen. Taking his feathered shoulders in his hands, the captain began to violently shake the griffin war leader.
"Wake up! I need you to tell me where we are!"
Phalanx's arm shot up toward the captain's face, as if he was desperately trying to reach something. His eyes shot wide open.
"Gilda! Gilda! You have to-" His pleas were met by a strange creature, rather than his mate. The talons that had reached out in longing now moved to meet the creature's neck. "Where are we?! Where have you taken me!?"
Lenard kicked the griffin praetor away and began to rub the side of his neck. "I don't know! I thought maybe you could tell me!"
Phalanx's arms began to tremble as he stared at the man. "I know you... But... I don't know you."
Greene shook his head. "What? That doesn't make sense! I mean I know who you-" He became silent, as if deep in thought. "I understand. I can see pictures of you in my head, but nothing makes sense."
"It is the same in my case, though I remember we were not allies. We fought... once. This I know."
"Something isn't right here. I'm getting that vibe from you too, but that doesn't tell us where we-"
The tiled cloud began to crumble as its matter became caught up in some kind of violent pulling force. A hole opened up in the ground-sky, and nothing appeared to be beyond it. The hole coalesced into the form of a monster. It had massive draconic wings, mighty curved horns, and a body covered with black feathers, silver fur, and red scales. As the rest of cloud was consumed by the beast, Lenard and Phalanx found themselves helplessly floating before its terrifying majesty.
"Yes! At long last they see! They see my world for what it is! They finally know my power! They see what I have become, and will worship me for it! For ten-thousand years my plan has festered, and for ten-thousand years I have waited for them to bask in my glory! Now, I command them to know fear! For I am Hircus, and this is MY realm! The Realm Sapphiron!"
Hircus' world bent to his will and began to shape itself around him.
Lenard turned towards his fine feathered adversary.
"Well, I sorta remember now."
********************
The U.S. Navy submarine Minnesota slowly approached the American east coast.
"Can anyone hear me?! I need confirmation on missile impact or anomaly closure!"
"Sorry admiral," Commander Stuart began, "None of our assets in Atlanta are responding. It might just be interference. Anomalies have been known to wreak havoc on our comms systems."
"But this long? It should have dissipated by now, wouldn't you think?"
"Not sure. I'll keep trying to raise them."
******************
Steven Mace pushed off a rather large piece of foam paneling from on top of himself. Even at the lower levels of the Georgia Dome, the shock waves from a distant explosion had been felt.
"Everyone okay?"
"Fine, sergeant," another marine answered. "Just the blast wave from- well it sounded like a missile strike."
Lime Tree Hill began rising to his hooves. "Calling. It's... calling."
"You okay, Lime?" Mace turned and asked.
The green stallion didn't answer, rather he began to frantically look toward the ceiling.
"Lime Tree. Lime Tree!" Mace shouted, trying to get his attention.
Ponyville's mayor's assistant stopped and began to vacantly stare into space, then took off in a full gallop. Mace caught up to him and tapped him on the skull a few times, shaking him from whatever had vexed the green stallion.
Lime Tree shook his head and looked up toward the befuddled marine.
"Sorry, were you calling me?" He spoke up.
"No. It's fine. Just- uh, stay with us a sec, okay?"
Lime Tree shrugged. "Okay."
"Listen. I have something I need to do. Keep an eye on the others. Oh, and let any of the personnel here know if you have any more, uh... problems."
"Sure," Lime Tree answered as the soldier began to hurry away.
"Lime Tree!" Twilight called from across the room. "Help me get this workspace clear."
"Sure," Lime answered, then looked in Mace's direction.
"Wonder what he meant by that?"
________________
Mace hurried along through the dome's lower corridors, taking a second to look at his watch.
"Geez! I don't even remember that last hour!"
He grasped for his comms unit. "Major Classified. This is Sergeant Mace. Any updated info on the location of Sergeant Blade, Corporal Sabre, or Private Skies?"
..."Good to hear from you, Sergeant. There was some kind of blackout just now. The three you're looking for are most likely nearby. Look for Platoon Four, part of the 5th Equestrian Brigade. Most of our forces fell back to the dome for the strike."...
"The strike?"
..."Human forces attacked the portal with heavy weaponry."...
"Is it still up?"
..."Seems to be. Either way, Alliance forces are surrendering en masse. It's like they didn't even want to fight."...
"Good news I suppose. Thanks for the intel, Major."
..."My pleasure, just end this threat before we lose more to our own forces. Any Banded agents you discover must be quickly and silently eliminated. I've dispatched AoD Team Echo to assist you. You won't know they're there until you need them."...
"Understood. Mace, out."
*********************
"Move! Move!" Greene shouted as their shared nemesis reared for an attack.
Captain Greene and Praetor Phalanx stood before Lord Hircus, who quickly brought a hoof down in anger, sending waves of dark energy toward the pair. The pilot and griffin flailed helplessly in the suspended air until the avian member of the duo appeared to be swimming through the air. Lenard quickly caught on and did the same. Hircus took off after them, launching attack after attack after them.
"I can't believe this is working! Never thought I'd get to fly my own body!"
"Just keep moving, human! We are in his domain! Remember that!"
"I get it now! We're inside the anomaly. Actually inside the space between the two openings!" Lenard explained.
"How fascinating! Keep moving!" Phalanx sarcastically ordered.
"Question is, how could a salvo of cruise missiles be responsible for this?"
"STOP TALKING! We are running for our lives here!"
An energy blast hurled between them, nearly singeing the pilot's clothes.
"Right! Got it!"
As Hircus began to lose focus, the world around them began to fluctuate. Various and random items began to appear. Lamps, a cabin, a case of vases, a lemon tree, a large boulder directly in their path, and many other things seemed to appear from thin air.
"How is he doing this?!" Lenard yelled.
"If my studies of Hircus' ancient writings are any indication, this realm is as its creator wishes it to be."
"You mean Hircus made this place?"
"Yes."
"But that means..."
"No time now! Our only hope is to play this chaos to our advantage! He's losing control of it all! Look for something to hide behind!"
"Will that do?"
Phalanx turned to see a large, ornate mansion floating in the distance. "Worth a try. Use all of this refuse for cover. Stay out of his sight!"
The two remained silent, making short jumps to each floating item large enough to hide them until they reached the massive house.
"Do you truly believe yourselves equal to me? I, the conqueror of Yette and Erokhiln? This is but a game for my amusement! I will be sporting and give you the chance to make a challenge out of your sorrow."
"How nice of him," Lenard whispered as the two made the last jump to the house.
"Quickly, if we are to survive this we will need to learn all we can of this realm and how it functions. I believe this structure may contain information we need."
They stepped through the doors, gravity returning as they touched the floor. The foyer was just as one would expect it. A sitting room with Victorian chairs, a fainting couch, a fireplace with a lit fire, and a bookshelf filled with very old looking books.
"The tomes," Phalanx pointed out. "Take as many as you can. Hircus will no doubt follow soon."
"Weapons would be nice. Something to fight back with. Look for that too."
The human and griffin began to dig through the books, tossing aside any that didn't appear to be useful and stuffing those that could into a hastily fashioned bag made from one of the Victorian curtains.
"Is it just me, or is there a lack of any important literature here?" Phalanx questioned.
"What were you expecting? Quantum Sorcery for Dummies? There's gotta be something useful here!"
"Assuredly."
"I think he's getting closer. This place is huge though, at least a few square miles. We could run deeper into this place, read these things, search this place for a way out."
"There may be a plan there," Phalanx thought aloud.
Greene put the improvised sack on his back. "Right. Let's get lost then."
An energy blast incinerated the door and melted the crystal and gold-laden chandelier above their heads.
Phalanx pushed the captain in the direction of a large winding stairwell.
"Preferably as quickly as possible!"
*****************
Celestia and Luna sat at an ongoing political debate regarding what was starting to be known as the Transanomaly War. As a human politician took the floor to bring up the fiscal concerns of such an engagement, Celestia stood and left. Worried, Luna got up and followed her to the atrium of the undisclosed meeting place.
"Sister. We do not yet have the full support of our allies. There is still much to discuss."
"Then discuss it. I have to go back to them."
"I see. Do you not see the pitfalls of that course of action? Do not our enemies seek to destroy us with our own kind?"
"The Banded's continued existence was our failure. We owe it to our subjects to fight alongside them."
"Very well. Where do you intend to go?"
"Atlanta. If the news is any indication, it will be the heart of the coming invasion."
"You are sure of this?"
"Luna, when the Alliance captured me, I saw him."
"Him."
"Yes, him. The Dread Lord. At first I thought it was simply the substances they had me on. But it was him. I know it."
"You think he is coming here? To the human world?"
"He will conquer both our worlds if he isn't stopped."
Luna sighed.
"I understand, sister. I most certainly do, but we have much healing to do. We will not regain our powers for some time."
"Indeed. But powers or not, I want to be with our ponies, and the humans who valiantly serve with them. To aid them any way I can."
"Go to them then, sister. The subtle nuances of political discourse are within my power. I will speak for us both."
Celestia made a weak smile. "Thank you, Luna."
Luna grinned. "As it stands, you always did find this, the most mundane type of work, to be interminably dull."
"Yes," Celestia chuckled. "Very much so."
"I will do what I can here. May royal's fortune become you, Celestia." Luna turned to leave.
"Until next time, Luna."
Luna tightened her necktie and realigned her formal suit jacket, then reentered the meeting room.
Celestia turned to see several heavily armed humans in suits and ties. The leader stepped forward.
"Leaving so soon, princess?"
"I suppose you'll try to stop me?" Celestia muttered.
"You can't fly as of yet. So what, were you going to swim back? We're on an island-"
"Let me past, or shoot me. Either way I'm not going to pretend that people aren't dying for me."
"If you would let me finish, I was going to say that our aircraft would get you there much faster. We are here to protect you, and if we have to do that in a war zone, so be it. They need as many leaders as they can get."
Celestia bowed her head.
"Thank you. Just- Thank you."
"The jet's this way. We'll brief you on the current situation on the way."
Celestia followed, longingly looking out over the sea.
"I'm coming, my little ponies."
Anomalous Energy Event Team Personnel and Psychological Profile #4 Colonel Timothy Highlander.
Born and raised in a secluded but well-to-do community in Maine, Timothy Highlander found himself constantly looking for something to fill his rather boring upbringing. At the age of twenty one, and completely against his parents wishes, Highlander joined the U.S. Marines to be trained as an officer. Always the sharp knife in the drawer, Highlander used his strategically oriented mind, sharpened on thousands of chess matches and other strategy-based games to shoot through the ranks and gain the attention of the top military brass.
Now older and more experienced, Highlander hasn't slowed down. Now working closely with the Anomalous Energy Event Team for a mission into unknown territory, Highlander is on track to be one of the youngest generals in U.S. Military history.
Liberation Alliance Central Command Personality Report #5729: Gilda.
Something of a mystery among griffin kind, the house-less hen-griffin known as Gilda has spent a large portion of her life running. From what or who could very well be known only to her. Raised with the common belief that the griffin nation as a whole was virtually extinct, Gilda actually attended an Equestrian flight school, where she met and befriended a pegasus by the name of Rainbow Dash, who would later become one of the bearers of the Elements of Harmony. The two became like sisters until eventually parting ways upon graduation of that very same flight school.
Not long after Gilda left Equestrian territory she encountered a loyalist and griffin army officer Phalanx, who introduced her to the rest of her kind. Finally finding something to believe in, Gilda has only just begun learning of her heritage and past. And though not yet an official part of the Griffin armed forces, Gilda has finally stopped running.
Affairs of Darkness Department Clandestine Sect. Character Evaluation File #49246: Rainbow "Danger" Dash. (PGS)
Though her nickname is entirely self-given, Rainbow Dash has proven herself a valued part of the bearers of the Elements of Harmony. Tough, energetic, and tenacious, Rainbow Dash's almost overenthusiastic pursuit of a challenge has put her in more than her fair share of trouble, and though raised in the more sheltered contemporary Equestria, she has, along with the other bearers, faced down some of its more fearsome beasts and villains.
One of the more fascinating pieces of this subject's history is her friendship with the griffin Gilda, at the time one of the few griffins known by name to have lived in Equestria. Her knowledge of other griffins could be made very useful if the past avian adversaries ever pose a problem to Equestrian security.
The next chapter in the Heroes and Allies series. It isn't a big one, but its something. As always let us know if there are any errors, and keep up the great work Lyno.
Wow, long time no see. Happily though, a new chapter has arrived. Enjoy.
And here we are, once again. If you spot something my dream team of editors miss, send me a message and I'll destroy it, whatever it is. Cheers, and welcome back all!
P.S. 2100148 Size matters not, Ken.
GASP! The next chapter! It yet again reduces me to...
Apparently not being able to be coherent enough to even make a good comment!
No errors spotted, by the way. Also, I think that ending line deserves to be a link to some epic music.
The wait is always worth it with this story. That epic music man, it just, just...
pinkie.mylittlefacewhen.com/media/f/rsz/mlfw2348_small.jpg
2100248
Liked it, eh? Thanks! Which one are you revering to?
2100259 ALL THE MUSIC. From the entirety of the story. It fits so well. It's epic.
2100277
Well thank you very much! I always liked matching it all up.
2100191
Thanks. Good to see their doing their jobs as well as I knew they could.
Woo! Way to go man! Keep up the good work. I actually plan on re reading the whole story tomarrow just because It's been on my mind for awhile now
2100313
Awesome. Thanks! Hope you enjoy it.
Would it be to much to ask if we will be getting more frequent updates?
2100344
No. It wouldn't. My fault. Weird editing hours and such. Should have been out two weeks ago. Actually, more like a month ago.
the wait was worth it, but that's it?
if you don't mind
2100456
There will be MORE!!! Ha ha! Ha ha! Ha ha ha ha ha ha haaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!
2100473
*turns to crowd* (and suddenly RPing!) did you hear that guys and girls? there will be more!
It has been a while! Very nice to see more of this
Well, I've been working for some time. . .
-Glances around at the stockpiled C-4, MAC's, HVSR's, ammunition, grenades, assult weaponry, and armor-
and I don't nearly have enough stuff to give you. Drat.
11pm, thinking of working on a new chapter for my stuff, see this on featured list. . .
1: looks like I'm not sleeping tonight
2: my readers can wait a couple more days
3: it begins.
DAMMIT I NEED TO SLEEP!
USA USA USA USA
I can't be the only one to have said "I thought this guy was dead."
2100473
In about a month or two, amiright?
Am I, Right? Eh? Eh?...
2100498
Tell the masses! There will be more!
2100500
Thanks. Glad to be back.
2100674
Don't worry. We'll gladly accept any weapons you can give us.
2100714
Thanks for your time! I'm sure the world can wait a few minutes, right?
2100777
I can't be held responsible for loss of sleep. But I totally encourage it. Thanks for your time!
2100807
All the way!
2100839
Well just glad to be of service, and being a brony can do that to you. Might wanna take some time away from the fanbase. Clear things up a bit.
2100838
I thought I was dead too for a bit. Good to be back.
2101294
Yeah... You're right. Sorry about that, really. I'll try a little harder this next go around.
2101054
I'm honored. I can only hope that opinion sticks thorough this little tale I've crafted. Let me know if it doesn't. Thanks for reading!
2100839
You ever check the Humans Aren't Bastards group?
2102305
2100839
He should. I'm in it. This story was actually the first one put into the HAB group. It started the group if you will. It's a great place for people suffering bronyitis.
2102886
No. Both planets are named Earth. Humans and ponies both refer to their planets as Earth.
an update? hehe.....
2103491
Please, be sure to savor it...
2103754
I approve of this.
Well, here it is, the next installment of Heroes and Allies. We hope y'all enjoy it.
Never fight in the void between worlds! Even if you are in some being's pocket dimension playground, the chance of attracting something you really don't are too damn high.
fc05.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2012/069/f/9/cosmic_horror_by_noxinoen-d4sdaa4.png
4.bp.blogspot.com/_rF0dOTrYWM4/TLt-lbB1uRI/AAAAAAAAAaM/GkAu-rs-tuQ/s1600/Mossman_HPLovecraft_large.jpg
Also Celestia and Luna finally realized they need to lead their ponies! I guess someone told them what those pointy metal things on their heads signify.
Still it's good to see them getting back into the story as opposed to sitting on the sidelines letting others die for a distant figure they don't know. That's kind of a dick move.....despite the fact I do it all the time to my allies in Supreme Commander.
............Would Celestia go nova like an ACU if she died?
Joking aside it is nice to see that. Good work! Look forward to the next installment! Hopefully the wait isn't as bad.
2105161 Lots hope she doesn't, we all know how much damage an ACU going nova can do, and if she were in the city...
2108160 It's got a magnificent defense mechanism, You don't dare kill it.
2109614
I approve of this.
C4, ductape, and one WWII age dirty bomb, this will fix everthing
2110534
That's all anyone really needs.
2112787
The answer is actually much simpler. Both planets are called "Earth." Perhaps there's a connection between the two of them...
Or should be of.
2120619
Nice catch. We'll get it.
2122237
Agreed.
2125484
It can make dialogue confusing to edit if it's not denoted like that, plus it keeps things organized. As for your findings, we'll correct them. Thanks. It is weird that I spelled Pinkie that way in the first chap. Odd.
2143857
Why would this offend me? Celestia isn't planning on fighting, rather being a military general near the fighting. A few centuries of leadership experience could very well help, not only in the fighting, but inspiring her people. True leaders, lead from the front. Or at-least somewhere near the front. And of course, Alicorns are very powerful beings, even without their powers...With them... Well, they are much more powerful than the average soldier...
2147686 Remember the effects of the elements had on everyone when they dispelled all the magic. I think it would be even worse for an alicorn having both Unicorn, and Pegasus magic. And remember Celestia is used to being close to her subjects, and they, while not used to frequent visits, are used to having a real sense that she is taking care of them. She wants to make sure that her ponies are all okay and know that she is still taking care of them.
2148117
2147798
I'm glad you brought up the good guy/bad guy motif, as that's been something of a underlying point in this story. Which is truly good or bad? The defenders of a legitimate nation, or the army trying to take back the land of that nation stole from them? All interesting points. Beyond that, Pyrrhic victories are a fact of war, but some situations do not end quite as pointlessly. One thing I do try to do here is to portray the story as being positive when it should be, darker when it has to be, and realistically the way it deserves, so as you might imagine, it can be hard to keep everything perfectly in line. I ask that you bear with me there.
You do make some valid points here though, running off and getting yourself killed heroically is usually not preferable to doing your job under the radar. And the "good" guys (whoever they may be,) don't always win. Either way, good to see the story generating some deeper thought process here. You would make an excellent author yourself I imagine, albeit probably a more noir one. As for you, Innate, good do see you're keeping tabs on the comments around here.
2265168
No fair using weapons of mass destruction!
2407084
It's no problem at all. I wouldn't mind if you mailed that list to me either...