The Skirmish
The Skirmish at Ponyville
By A. Kane
Chapter One: The Skirmish
The stars shined magnificently throughout the lands of Equestria. Stargazer, Princess Luna’s appointed astronomer, studied the moon. The former Nightmare Moon assigned the black, purple-tinted pony this job the day Princess Luna was re-inducted back into leading the kingdom.
“No… No! NO!!!” exclaimed Stargazer. The pony observed dark entrails surrounding the moon forming into clutters before descending into the craters, rendering the formed objects invisible. “I must tell the princess!” Stargazer runs through the balcony of Canterlot Castle, tiptoeing past Princess Celestia’s window and dashes straight through the hallway, barging into Princess Luna’s quarters. “MY LADY!”
“We know,” replied Nightmare, Princess Luna’s head general. The black pony’s red mane grayed out from the situation.
“I’ve felt my flow of energy redirect itself to the moon. My corrupted self is forming an army,” stated Princess Luna.
“We need to prepare a defense. Ponyville is closest to the moon this time of the year,” said Stargazer.
“We’ve received reports of Nightmare Moons terrorizing the town. They’re already here,” replied Nightmare. “However, they only attack during the night. Come Celestia’s sun, they’re all gone. My lady, how long do we have to keep this secret from your sister?”
“No more. We shall issue out a decree tomorrow. It’s only a matter of time before they are able to fight in the sun. Send a courier to inform Miss Sparkle. We need the Elements of Harmony to ward them off,” ordered the dark blue princess.
“Acknowledged, your majesty. But what of Ponyville? How do we deal with the security on our settlement?” asked Stargazer.
“At the rate they’re going, Ponyville is lost…” replied the Princess.
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In the Everfree forest six tents circle around a campfire. Pinkie Pie tells a scary story to her friends, excluding Rainbow Dash, who said she had to use the wilderness.
“Every two hundred years, the perfect thunderstorm takes the lives of campers in the Everfree forest. Nobody knows why or even how the Pegasus ponies make…” Twilight Sparkle paid more attention to her magic books, but kept an open ear to Pinkie’s story, only to chuckle behind her hoof every now and then. Applejack fell asleep, her western hat blocking her face from the rest. Rarity and Fluttershy huddled next to each other, afraid of the scary story applying to their situation. “… and the time has come for another… PERFECT STORM!”
Pinkie yelled the last two words out. At that, Rainbow Dash sonic blasted across the sky and into the ground, landing with a force of colorful energy. Fluttershy and Rarity immediately reacted to the yell and prank, Applejack jumped from her unconscious state, but Twilight kept her eyes on her books.
“Nice try, Pinkie, Rainbow, but I think I’ve figured out your pranks by now,” giggled Twilight.
“Ah, shoot! Twi? Will you just give in to the pranks so they can stop trying?!” exclaimed Applejack.
“Absolutely, Twilight! These pranks are going to drive me to the insanity! And I have an order to fill by next month! Anymore pranking will get my nerves up. And when my nerves are up, I can’t work!” added Rarity.
“Is it over?” asked Fluttershy.
“Wait! What’s that?” asked Twilight, pointing to the ground where Rainbow Dash has landed on. The ground has a perfect circle mark with a whitish glow with marring of different colors swirling around. The group cautiously huddled around the mark. Soon, the colors of the mark dissipated, and the whitish glow slowly followed suit. A face appeared! The ponies didn’t recognize the face or its species; they slowly backed away. Soon, several more faces appeared, and then their bodies. They were human. They were dressed in all-black clothing and gear. They possess weapons and equipment none of the ponies have ever seen before.
A cough was heard. It didn’t come from the ponies. They looked at the strange beings on the ground, twelve of them. All of a sudden, the leader of the humans barked,
“Get up! We’re ambushed! Cover your sectors!”
In unison, the humans, eight men and four women, assembled in strict precision and took up their arms and positioned themselves, directing each other to cover all angles of possible attack. The ponies stood confused.
Minutes have gone by.
“Sir! No threats. Just some horses,” reported 2nd Lieutenant Kane.
“Horses!” cried Rarity. At that, the humans pointed their weapons at the source of the voice.
“That horse didn’t just talk, did it?” asked Sergeant Ryans.
“Of course we talk! And we’re not horses. We are ponies. What world did you come from?” asked Rarity.
“Is there a difference with horses and ponies?” pondered Sergeant Kuznetsova.
“Oh, why you…” enraged Rarity before being interrupted by the human leader.
“Enough! Forgive my soldier’s attitudes. It would appear that you six are indigenous to this world. We somehow ended up here. Forgive us for mistaking your customs and norms. Right now, we just exfiled a battle in a vehicle before a blinding light got our eyes. I suppose that after that, we ended up here in, um, what’s this world called?” asked Captain Kane.
“It’s called Equestria. Where did you come from?” asked the curious Twilight.
“We’re from a world called Earth. We’re known as humans. We need to rest up. Do you know any facilities that’ll bring us some food and water?” asked Captain Kane.
“Finally! Some food and water!” exclaimed Corporal Gustav.
“Hush, Roger. I’m sorry. Some of my troops are a little new to their respects. I usually have to speak for them. Will you provide us the resources to freshen up, Miss…”
“Sparkle. Twilight Sparkle. We’ll be happy to accommodate your group, Mr…”
“Kane. But call me David,” said the Captain. “We should get going now. Casey, take my hand.”
The ponies immediately packed up their tents and led the human soldiers to the nearby town of Ponyville in the middle of the night.
David Kane’s soldiers consisted of himself as leader, Casey Kane, his wife, as second-in-command and medic, 2nd Lieutenant Michael Stone as platoon leader and rifleman, Staff Sergeant Vera Hamilton as squad leader and gunner, Sergeant Hope Kuznetsova as a sniper and tech-expert, Sergeant Josh Ryans as designated marksman, Corporal Roger Gustav as rifleman, Staff Sergeant Tak Suun as squad leader and designated marksman, Sergeant Isaac Steinberg as gunner, Sergeant Bo Withers as rifleman, Corporal Harris Williams as medic, and Private First Class Ray Burns as sniper. Each soldier chose to have idle conversation with each pony to know more about the area and to build a sense of trust amongst them. The married couple, David and Casey Kane, inquired mostly on Twilight for information on their worlds, especially on breaks.
“Equestria seems like a nice place to live,” said David. “Maybe you can bury me here instead of the troubles of our world. Always war and conflict and stuff… So tiring and mad-driven.”
“Equestria is usually peaceful. There’s hardly any type of discord that drives us into chaos,” said Twilight.
“I’m sorry for calling you ponies horses,” apologized Casey. “I can’t tell the difference back home on Earth and I ride them all the time.”
“Why would you ride a pony? Humans seem to be heavy enough,” responded Twilight.
“A long time ago, when battles and travels were not as advanced as you think it is, humans would ride horses to get from one place to another,” said David.
“Interesting. We ponies, as the dominant species, hardly have any reason to carry another being on our backs,” said the purple unicorn.
“Well, at our home, ponies don’t even talk. Only humans can. I don’t know why in this world the ponies are able to, but I guess it’s the rules of that universe… or something. I don’t know,” said Casey.
“Don’t hurt your brain, honey.” David laughs. “Twilight, after we get our supplies, we need to find a way back to our home world. Seeing how we came here by magic, I suppose there’s magic in this realm, am I correct?”
“Any unicorn can conduct magic. It just takes a lot of practice and studying. I know two ponies that probably can send your group home,” answered Twilight.
“I wonder who that’ll be,” replied Gustav.
“Roger, your manners,” countered Casey.
“They are our princesses that govern the land. Princess Celestia is the ruler of the daytime and Princess Luna is the ruler of the night. Wait, huh? What’s that in Ponyville, girls?” A shadowy mist descended upon the town. Identical copies of Nightmare Moon wreak havoc upon the awakened citizens. “Girls, we got to save our hometown. Let’s go!” Twilight and her pony friends rush down the hill to their town.
“HEY! We can help!” exclaimed Suun.
“You can’t. It’s magic plaguing this town. I don’t think humans can do anything against magic based on what you guys told us,” replied Twilight. “Stay safe!” The humans watched as the six ponies raced to their home town.
“We’re not supposed to do nothing, are we, boss?” asked Michael.
“No. We’re going to back them up. Snipers, displace to a nearby advantage point. Get full view on the streets. Everyone else, break into squads and don’t let anyone know we’re here. Suppressors on!”
The entire human squad installed silencers onto their weapons. They broke into two and headed off into the two opposite ends of the town from the hills overlooking Ponyville. The snipers climbed a nearby tree that gave them full view of the area.
Meanwhile, the six ponies tried their best to fend off the Nightmare Moon invasion. Most of them were subdued and captured by the Nightmare Moon figures. Twilight and Applejack are all who stand left against them.
“Give it up,” said the voices in unison. ‘You’re friends are ours, you’re town is ours, and soon, all of Equestria will be ours!”
Suddenly, a figure disappeared. Soon, many more started to disappear. All captured ponies became uncaught from the mist and soon, they all saw the humans, shooting their weapons, their bullets disrupting the flow of magic concentration and causing the mist to scatter. All seemed clear. Two figures eluded being shot and grabbed Twilight and Fluttershy by the neck, holding them as protection against their new threat. The two hostages saw from the corner of their eyes two flashes in the middle of the dark horizon and just like that, the two figures were gone.
The town ponies stared at the regrouping humans. They were unsure as to whether to be grateful for them or to fear them. Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack, however, quickly circled the humans and sang victory songs for them.
“Totally doubted you guys. We’re sorry,” said Twilight.
“You guys kicked total butt!” cried Rainbow Dash.
“That was really, really, really fast on how you defeated these thingys!” added Pinkie Pie.
“Can we get some food now?” asked Gustav, only to be chastised by his commanding officers.
-----
“My ladies! Ponyville still remains under our control!” exclaimed Nightmare.
“I’ve noticed the star patterns. They’re off. Something must’ve happened,” added Stargazer.
“I’ve received news that there are a species of ‘humans’ that have warded off the attack. They are currently on their way here by escort of my student Twilight,” said Princess Celestia.
“We must hurry. The Elements of Harmony must be applied on my corruption to rid this chaos forever!” cried Princess Luna.
“They’re here. Prepare the throne room,” ordered Princess Celestia.
Twilight and her friends guided her human friends into the throne room. Two chairs are in place for this special decision for both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.
“Princesses Celestia and Luna, I present to you the leader of the human group, David Kane. He is a wise man and has shown courage and support for us at Ponyville,” said Twilight, bowing down with her friends to their leaders.
Princess Celestia starts, “David Kane, your group and your services for the defenses of Ponyville will not go unheard of. But we have a serious situation on hand. Princess Luna, my sister, has a corrupted side, and it is slowly fighting its way back here on Equestria. Twilight, we need the Elements of Harmony to be performed for an hour on Princess Luna. It is the only way to purify her complete control of magic. In the meanwhile…”
“My ladies! Ponyville is under attack!” stated a royal sentry who barged in from the outside.
“We know what we have to do. Squad, regroup! We’re going back in. Ponies, do whatever it is you need to do to get these forces out. Last night was nothing. A full army we cannot best, but we can hold,” stated David. As they left, General Nightmare quickly caught up to them.
“My army is under your command. I trust you with them. Now go!” exclaimed the general.
“Much appreciated! Everybody! Straight to Ponyville!” cried Casey.
Meanwhile, the six ponies were outfitted with the Elements of Harmony and started applying the magic to purify Princess Luna.
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“How many of these things are there?!” cried Ryans
“Doesn’t matter! We’re dealing with all of them!” responded Withers. The humans and Luna’s army ran straight into the chaos ensued within Ponyville. The Nightmare Moons conjured up a storm that struck lighting and their horns rayed dark matter onto the incoming forces. Princess Luna’s army countered with force fields and streamed a lighter-colored version of the dark matter back. The humans were caught in the mess in between.
“Hey! Turn that force field down! I’m wasting ammo!” cried Williams. As soon as the force field wore down, Williams ran towards the Sugarcube Corner’s wall for his preferable cover.
“Holy fudge, that was close! Everybody spread out! It decreases our chances of being struck!” cried Stone. Nobody heeded his word, and many more injured fell to the ground.
“Sir, I need your squad to defend our right flank! The enemy can sweep us from the side!” cried the second-in-command.
“Ma’am! We don’t see anything, we’re holding our position!” denied the pony squad leader.
“The retirement home! It’s burning down!” cried one of Princess Luna’s legionnaires.
“Tak! Isaac! Get in the retirement home and rescue any hidden survivors! Go!” ordered the captain.
It was literally mass confusion between the humans and the Princess Luna’s Royal Army. The humans did all they can in their power to maintain the balance of the fight. The Royal Army’s intentions were the same, but they were young, inexperienced, and unsure of themselves.
*radio static* “Captain! This is Hope! Ray spotted some sort of portal in the rear lines of the Nightmare Moon army. Every figure one of you guys takes down, another reappears through this portal. We’ve tried shooting at it, but nothing! We need a unicorn to take it down!”
It has been an hour since the fighting has started. The Elements of Harmony has purified Princess Luna, but the portal continues to resend fallen Nightmare Moons. Twilight and her friends venture back into Ponyville, only to meet a warzone with injured Royal Guards and some humans on the ground. The Captain spots them.
“Get over here! Now! We got a situation!” he cried. The six ponies rushed over to his side of the Carousel Boutique.
“Well at least my home hasn’t burned to smithereens!” cried Rarity.
“We can worry about that later. Listen up! My snipers have spotted a portal behind enemy lines that revives the fallen Nightmare Moons. Our best guess is that magic can only be used to take this out. No Royal Army believes us. I’m asking you guys to believe me. Are you ready to join the war?” asked the captain.
“We’ve doubted you guys before. That’s a mistake we’re not making again,” rallied Twilight. Her friends yelled their approvals as the captain’s heart warms up.
“Thank you, friends. Now here’s the plan. Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, I need you to scan the battle from the skies. Take these throat communicators. Just talk into them and we’ll hear you two, as you’ll hear us. Speak loud and clear and inform us of any unnoticed enemies. Our snipers can’t see everything. We need a bird’s eye view. Applejack, Pinkie Pie, we need you to carry our ammo. Stick to cover the same way we do and don’t expose yourself at all. Twilight, Rarity, which one of you is more proficient in magic?”
“It’s Twilight. Always has been,” replied Rarity.
“I’ll teach Rarity the force field spell. That’ll keep us moving as fast as we can,” replied Twilight.
“Then, Twilight, I need you to take out the portal. You have the most dangerous job, but we’ll make sure you’ll come out of this alive. I promise,” said David.
“Let’s go!” cried Casey. The remaining humans and the six ponies raced to the portal, taking out everything in their path. The scouts informed the group of any unseen targets. Rarity synchronized the force field shield with the firing of the humans. Ammo is no longer a weight problem for the humans as they raced with their pony friends to the enemy’s vital port. However, as they raced, one by one, a human or a pony is blown into submission. Upon arriving, there were no more Nightmare Moons at the moment, but it was just David and Twilight.
“Do it. I’ll cover you,” said David. Twilight’s horn started glowing luminescent white and the portal started closing. Unaware to the two, there was a Nightmare Moon sneaking up on Twilight, preparing to charge. “Whatever happens, keep closing that portal,” he ordered.
David draws his weapon and snapped his aim onto the incoming figure. He pulls the trigger. *click* He’s out of ammo. David, out of options, runs to Twilight, jumps over her, pulls out his knife, and slices the figure on the neck. Unfortunately, the figure’s horn stabs through David’s stomach. At that, the figure disappears, David falls to the ground, and the portal is closed.
“David!” cried the unicorn.
*cough* “You know… death is inevitable… to everyone… Just bring… my men home… Case… She’s pregnant. Maybe… maybe one day… you can give pony rides for my kid…” he laughs in pain.
“David, you’ll make it! I know you will!”
“There’s no medic… they’re unconscious… They’ll wake… but I’ll be gone…” He coughs blood out of his mouth and is losing consciousness.
“David. Thank you. You sacrificed yourself for us. May the afterlife greet you well.”
“What… are friends… for?” At that, David breathes his last.
-----
One Year Later
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“Dear Princess Celestia,
“It’s been a year since the Ponyville incident. I’m sending this letter to remind you how much I’ve learned from David and his friends. I’ve learned that in human nature, war is common, and sometimes, it’s what brings them together. We should all be like this with our conflicts with each other.
“You’re highness, I thank you again for granting David’s last wish to bring his friends home. I am still surprised, however, on the fact that Casey decided to stay here. They had a daughter, named Violet. Whether she feels compelled to visit her husband’s grave or the stress of their world was too much, I don’t know. Casey wouldn’t tell me. But I also learned that everybody has something special to bring. I believe it is not wise to judge others as incapable when you didn’t see them put to the test.
“And last, I always ponder the meaning of David’s last words: “What are friends for?” He called us his friends, and he died for me, his friend. I suppose friendship is about sacrifice for one another. That’s the way David seemed to have in his book.
“For now, princess, I have to go give a pony ride for Violet. David would’ve loved to see that.
“Your Faithful Student,
“Twilight Sparkle”