//------------------------------// // 1. Good To Bad // Story: The Red Sun Rises: Homefront // by The Atlantean //------------------------------// The train pulled into Ponyville Station. It was midnight, just two days after the Crystal Empire retreated from Manehattan. The moon was out and shining down on the army as its weary soldiers slowly walked off. They were more relieved than anything. Crimson Dawn walked over to the pink alicorn waiting in the darkness of the night. He saluted her, and she nodded acknowledgment. A purple alicorn trotted over to them, coming from the crystal tree on the outskirts of town. “Princess Cadence. Princess Twilight. It's good to actually meet you.” “Colonel Dawn. I must thank you for your service in the past few months. You have been central to the successful defense of Manehattan.” Cadence replied. Her mane flowed with the steady breeze just starting to pick up. Beside her, Twilight’s mane did the same. “How are the accommodations in Everfree Castle?” “They aren’t the best, Colonel, but they do fine. After all, we are talking about a ruin.” “Yes. But it should be the safest place in Equestria.” Crimson smiled. “If you don’t mind, Princess Twilight, I’ll set up headquarters in your castle.” “Go ahead. If you think that’d be best, I won’t be the pony to object.” Crimson saluted the two and turned to organize the offloading army. He met up with his commanders: the midnight-blue Captain Midnight Shadow, the aluminum-coated Lieutenant Silver Comet, and the white-freckled Major Dazzleflash. They all enjoyed the star-filled sky and spent the night setting up the camp. The next morning, the second of four trains arrived to unload more of the army and some prisoners of war. Among them was Major Crystal Snow, a Crystal Earth mare who had led the Crystal Empire for the majority of the Manehattan Siege. Her deep blue coat contrasted the early-morning sky quite well, and her black gemless crown sat atop her head, waiting for its spots to be filled by crystals taken by Sombra over a year ago. The rear of the second train carried the three steam tanks from Atlantis. Their crews swung down ramps, and the steel behemoths drove off the rail car. The noise woke many Ponyville citizens, and they were shocked to see their ally’s weapons of war. Most complained to Twilight about the tanks, but the princess knew she would surely lose without them. The third and fourth trains offloaded yet more supplies and soldiers. The logistics tents were set up, and Crimson began the process of turning the practical ragtag militia of a force into a machine designed to crank out victory after victory. He knew the determination and courage was already there; he just had to craft and shape it. To turn this defensive war back in favor of Equestria, his troops would need all the training they could get. It was a peaceful movement of supplies. The relocation of the Equestrian army to the small town went without a hitch. Protected by a magical shield boosted by the Tree of Harmony, they were impervious to most if not all attacks by Sombra. One night two weeks later, the whole situation changed from a fairly bad one to worse. Queen Chrysalis had grown tired of watching while King Sombra wasted his forces on northern Equestria. As she sat on the sidelines, the love for lost soldiers in both nations had skyrocketed, meaning a plentiful supply of food for years to come. And with the two opponents weakened by war, it was the perfect time to strike. The Changeling queen decided to attack Appleloosa at some point in the campaign. The small town was just south of the current residence of the Elements of Harmony, and within striking distance of Canterlot. But first she would annex Baltimare, a bustling coastal city that had lost many ponies in the Manehattan Siege. Grievances meant love, and love meant food. It was the perfect first target for her starving army. Once they reached full strength, her soldiers would be able to take on Celestia’s army head to head. The only problem, however, was that group of metal warships that suddenly appeared off the coast not a month ago. It was obvious that the Changelings would never be able to conquer and/or destroy it. Something had to be done in the next day or so unless Chrysalis wanted to die. The alien fleet would have to be annihilated, and Chrysalis knew just the pony to do it. King Sombra almost laughed at the Changeling queen’s request. She wanted him to blow up steel ships that weren't even doing jack squat. But he managed not to and told her the request would be considered. If he didn't actually destroy the entire fleet in one shot, whoever the hell was left would take it as a declaration of war. He had bigger concerns than Chrysalis’s games. She could handle a few steel monstrosities. Meanwhile, Sombra wanted to remove the remaining Equestrian princesses from office. The two that still ran Equestria were behind a magic barrier, protected from any attack. Their army was also just next to their location, taking a frontal assault out of the picture. But with the Gem… That was certainly a possible choice. No Equestrian barrier - hell, no barrier whatsoever - could stand up to its power. And Chrysalis had asked him to use it on something he could very easily miss. What a pitiful request. He called for his military adviser, the crystalline General Shattered Hope. When the general came forward, Sombra ordered him to power up the Gem. Equestria was going to pay dearly for its resistance. “Sir, where shall I aim its targeting mirror?” “The Everfree Forest. Prepare for an immediate attack on the neighboring town to begin directly after we fire.” Shattered Hope turned to relay the orders. But before he went, Sombra had one more request. “Bring me Major Snow’s sister. She has something that may be of value to us.”