Jed On: AOA Updates. Poss Spoilers.

Ok, so it's been sodding ages since I updated AOA (by my standards, anyway), and I wanted to reassure everyone that I'm still working on it. That being the case, here's what exists of the next chapter so far. It's not as much as I'd like, because obviously I have a baby and I'm getting ready to go to uni again and I have other projects, but it's something. I'm still working on it, so hopefully it should be finished soon.

This is only a rough draft: more will probably be added. Needless to say, if you prefer to read the finished chapter, press "back" now.

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Chapter Thirty Four: Research.

Plymouth Extraction Zone, March 16th 2030.

Twilight Sparkle, stood on the lip of the doorway of a transport helicopter, checked and double checked everything to make sure she hadn't forgotten anything important. All of her gear was safely in place, her helmet and her bayonet all where it should have been - not that she'd need it where she was going, she thought to herself ruefully.

She had spoken at great length with Elliot about what she thought she could accomplish with the spell Well Spring had inadvertently taught her. Used correctly, and with a bit of research, she was certain she'd be able to utilise that knowledge to create a modified portal that would allow human forces to enter Equestria. Elliot, to her surprise, had agreed that it was an avenue worth exploring - and had ordered her to report to Scotland, where Rupert Giles and other scholars were constantly researching anything that could possibly give the last humans an edge in this war.

She had never really considered the consequences of having this idea: she had known it would require research on her part in order to develop it into something usable, but she had half expected her friends to be allowed to come with her instead of having to leave them behind. Elliot, however, had pointed out that here in Plymouth, Everfree team would still be necessary - every soldier would be necessary.

She had explained the fact that she had to leave the group behind with a heavy heart, but they had all been enthusiastic.

"You mean you're not angry?" she had asked them.

"Angry?!" Applejack had said. "Sugarcube, you might find a way for us to go kick Solamina's flanks personally! That's the best news we've had in this place!"

"And it's the best news we've heard too," Desert Wind had added, a feral grin on his face. He and Sapphire Steel were both ecstatic about the idea of taking the war to Equestria.

"You realise that if I can't find a way to modify the spell, we won't be able to do this?" Twilight had pointed out to them.

"We all have faith in you, darling," Rarity had replied, and the others nodded. "We know you'll do your best to make it work."

Twilight returned her attention to the here and now as Elliot walked up to her, a grin on his face. Behind him came the Doctor and Hell Blazer.

"You'll be taken up to the government cultural repository," he said as he reached her. "That's where Rupert's got most of our books on magic."

"'Cultural repository'?" Twilight repeated.

"Sort of a last holdout for the best parts of human culture," Elliot explained. "We've got it buried a thousand feet underground, and we've put some of the best literature mankind's ever written all safely locked away, behind a few of the best warding spells people like Hell Blazer know."

"Do those work?" Twilight asked.

"It'll hold up to everything, including the barrier itself," Hell Blazer replied, confidence in his tone. "I bloody guarantee it."

Twilight smiled slightly. She looked up at Elliot.

"I'll get you a way into Equestria, Commander," she said, sounding as earnest as she could manage. "I promise."

"I believe you," Elliot replied, smiling back. He walked over to the stiffly stood-to-attention ponies of Grey Squadron, who were stood by the helicopter waiting. "Your mission is to get Sparkle to Scotland and then to return. Can you do that?"

"Yes sir!" the disciplined voices of the Squadron replied. Twilight couldn't help but glance at the faces of Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Ditzy, feeling a wave of sadness at the thought of her friends being so... comfortable with this military life. Life, however, was full of such things, prices that had to be paid in order to do the right thing. Twilight had a brief flash of memory, blood splattering over her, and she closed her eyes, trying not to relive it.

"Alright, Sparkle, in you go," Elliot said. Opening her eyes again, Twilight nodded and got onto the copter.

"Don't worry Twi," she heard Rainbow say over her comm. "We'll get you where you're going!"

"I trust you, Rainbow," Twilight replied, a smile forming on her face. No matter what horrors they had all seen, she knew she could still count on her friends.

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