//------------------------------// // The Army of Familiar Creatures // Story: The Unlikley Sanctuary // by Tie RoamingHooves //------------------------------// The plot thickens! Shining Armor and Daniel were conversing when they heard a whistle from ever free and noticed pegasi guards moving a twowards bright light coming from the edge of Everfree. There was a thunderous explosion prompting everyone on the farm to turn their head to see what made the noise. As the two moved to get a better view of what is happening their jaws practically fell off. Daniel was stunned to see a fully operational airstrip appear out of nowhere. There were humans strung cross the ground all getting up. Daniel knowing what this meant ran to grab a humvee and swiftly had Shining Armor climb aboard and he drove through the orchard towards the base. Out in front was a sign that was comically hanging off its post. It read Marshall Airfield. Thank god, they were American. The the airfield was equipped with its own surplus of supplies stock piled behind the hangers. In front of the hangers, on the giant slab of flat concrete that was the tarmack rested approximately 30 or so CH-47 Chinook's. These transport helicopters were all neatly spaced and looked like they were ready to take passengers. In the open hangers rested various aircraft from the A-10 Warthog to the F-22 Raptor. The runway had looked like it had been repaired from bomb impacts as the grass surrounding it was riddled with craters. The hangers and the rest of the base also sported battle scars. On the ground were soldiers who were very confused at what just happened. Some of those who came to their senses were surrounding A golden clad pegasus and dark blue unicorn colt who sat on there haunches shocked at what just occurred. The Humans had their guns raised and were moving in to aid those already on the scene trying to figure out what they are looking at. Daniel slammed his foot on the accelerator and sped up before the soldiers did something they would regret. Shining armor was not enjoying his time in the vehicle which he was holding on to the dashboard of for dear life. Being off road at these speeds obviously weren't his kind of thing. The humvee was nearing its destination when the soldiers at the airfield took notice. Looking at the light armored vehicle speeding towards them, some lowered their weapons but some kept them trained on the creature before them.The humvee stopped and Daniel rushed out. The humans pointing their weapons at the were of lower rank than Daniel judging from the patch on their arms. "Stand down. They're friendly!" he yelled at them who looked at each other in confusion. "I said stand down! Stop pointing guns at them before you do something you regret." he shouted some more soldiers reluctantly lowered their guns but a few continued to aim at the two ponies. The more Royal Guard starded to arrive with spears pointed and horns flared. The Americans had again raised their weapons. Shining Armor hopped out of the humvee and joined the Daniel's side. "Enough!!! Stallions stand down! Daniel I got things I need to do but this is getting us nowhere. You need to get these humans to listen to you or were going to have a repeat of Tuesday. We lost too many good ponies already." "Men I will tell you one more time to stand down. Now. Stand. Down." he said with his voice growing dark. Looking between each other they nodded but didn't lower their weapons. "Sir, with all due respect... I think I speak for all of us when I say this but there is no way in hell I am letting go of this trigger. Have you not noticed they are talking horses, sir. I know this ain't normal, no way, no how." Daniel shot them a look that made them all lower their guns. His expression then lightened and he addressed the group. "Look, I would much like to tell you all what is going on but you wouldn't believe me if I told you. For now all you need to know are that these ponies are friendly and are not a threat. Shining Armor and I need to have a word with your CO if that wouldn't be too much trouble." One of the soldiers ran off to find their commanding officer while the rest were standing rather unnerved by the talking ponies that were standing in front of them. Daniel now had to break it to what looked like at least 3,000 men and women, that they are no longer on earth. I was suffering from writers block at this point until I heard this. I found that this song fits nicely with this part. Rainbow had flown from the cloud hours ago and was nearing her destination. The book she had looked in told a legend of a race of creatures that no longer exists but had been much more advanced than any other sentient species on the planet. Their name was lost and long forgotten but the book said that they were able to raise the dead and restore them back to their former glory. This is exactly what she was looking for. Legend has it that this race did it with their advanced technology and it was what they had left behind. The ruins were located in the snow covered mountains at the border between the Griffon Kingdom and the pony nation of Caneighda. She knew she'd likely never find the technology but she would stay their until she died if she had to. Who is she kidding? If anypony was to find it it was definitely somepony as awesome as her. She then realized something else. What would everypony think of somepony who died suddenly being brought back to life? This was a giant 'if' that unnerved the pegasus. The ponies would most likely frown upon her... Oh what the hay? Who the buck cares? Ponies can think what they want to think as long she had Scootaloo. Rainbow wouldn't care in the slightest... but then again what would she tell Scootaloo after the deed is done? She would definitely need to the think out her explanation to her more than anypony... that is, if she even understood what happened. No. Scootaloo of all ponies would be owed an explanation. Rainbow could not leave Scootaloo in the dark about this. She would just have to come clean. Leaving her thoughts and returning to reality she looked up to see the mountain range that served as her destination. As she neared the Unice (pronounced yoo-nis) Mountains, she felt the air start to chill. She rose higher while still in semi-warm air so she wouldn't have to do it later. She was far above the clouds that moved themselves much like in the Everfree Forest and could only stare in awe at the mountains as they grew closer. Equestria didn't have mountains like this or at least she hadn't seen mountains like this in Equestria. She flew for another thirty minutes and she entered the mountain range and looked over her saddle bags at the magnificent cliffs as they went by. At this particular spot in the range she came to a valley and at the bottom, were pillars sticking out of the snow. She then realized why the ponies in the first expedition never would have found this place. The first expeditions had been made by mainly unicorns and earth ponies. The pegasi likely had to stay with the group of grounded ponies and never would have made it this high up. She flew down and noticed at the base of a rise to another mountain there was a door. A pillar had fallen in front of it and had slightly obscured the entrance because the color blended with the snow to some degree. But then again, it was visible nonetheless. She walked to the door and gawked at the designs carved in the stone arch that supported the entrance. She walked in and pulled out a device called flashlight she had picked up at a town in the Griffon Kingdom. She turned it on and held it tightly with her teeth as the cold made its way into her mouth. She pointed it at the wall and promptly backed away. There was a picture on this wall with many creatures... very, familiar creatures. Celestia was speaking with Mayor Mare when she suddenly remembered what she was perplexed about only days earlier. She thought the word human sounded familiar. She remembered seeing ruins with pictures of creatures remarkably similar to the humans stranded here now. She dismissed herself from Mayor Mares office and walked out. She got out and took flight and headed towards the Griffon Kingdom. She had to be sure of her hunch. If she was correct this could change everything.