//------------------------------// // The Operation Downhill // Story: The Equestrian Honor Guard // by Honored Service //------------------------------// The Equestrian Honor Guard Chapter 34 By Honored Service “Um I may be having second thoughts about this plan y’all.” I stood over the ladder that led down to the cave system underneath Canterlot. I shined my flashlight and the beam of light cut through the darkness. A small light in a massive system of dark tunnels, endless abysses, and God knows what else. I picked up a bundle of rope and threw it down the shaft along with a bag of extra torches incase my flashlight died. I’ve seen one to many horror movies to make that mistake. “Well it may be too late for that Honored.” Short Blade said as he peered into the cave. “Time is running out and this stuff needs to get planted.” He pushed a satchel filled with bundles of TNT over to me. I picked up the bag and threw it over my shoulder. “Alright, I’ll do it. In case something goes wrong…I just wanted to let y’all know that you have made the time here in Equestria the most amazing experience ever.” I turned and jumped down the ladder sliding down it till I hit the bottom. I wasn’t good with final farewells, so I’ll just have to make out of this hole so I can give a better one. “Good luck Honored, see you on the north platform.” Short Blade hollered down at me. “You can count on it!” I yelled back up at them. I reached down and picked of the large bundle of rope. I tied one end of it to the ladder and the other end of the long rope onto my belt. I also wasn’t going to get lost in this fucking cave. I’ve played enough minecraft to know that rule. I slung the sack of torches and other assorted cave explore essential…some extra water, red paint, bread, and more water. Okay so maybe I was a little paranoid about getting lost down here. I just couldn’t imagine getting stuck down here and not being able to truly help on the surface. I pulled out the old map of the cave system and began navigating the series of tunnels and caves. Pulling myself over a collapsed rock I entered a large cavern. I was about to move out into the center of the area when I heard rocks moving. I ducked behind a large boulder and waited. “We are to patrol this area and report anything to the Queen. She believes that the ponies are up to something and she wants to know what.” I heard the changeling say to the other one. Well fuck, now I got enemy patrols in these caves that are on the prowl for something suspicious. I crept up on the rock and steadied my rifle in my hands and aimed down the 3.4x scope, where I could see the shiny black shells of the changelings moving around in the large cavern. I lowered my finger onto the trigger and was about to fire when I felt the rope go tight and pull me back a little bit. “What is this rope for?” I slowly turned around to see two changelings examining my rope that would allow me to get back to the ladder. Damn it, this mission was failing already, and I hadn’t even planted the TNT yet. Could this get any worse? The two changelings slowly began to follow the rope to where I was hiding. I moved back into the shadows, and drew my knife. “it leads up here.” “Well go check it out.” “I am…I don’t see why you-“ THUNK “You okay, what happened?” The other changeling walked to the spot where I had just clobbered the other with the handle of the knife. I slinked out of the shadows and came to my full height in front of the trembling changeling. It began to move backwards and opened its mouth like it was about to say something. I lashed out with my boot heel and slammed it into the ground. The changeling coughed and tried to bit me. I grabbed it by the throat and brought it into a choke hold where I held it cradled in my arms as it thrashed and kicked. I jerked the head to the side and felt the crunch of shell breaking and the body stopped moving. I let the dead changeling join its comrade on the cold floor and stepped over the bodies. I reached into my satchel and pulled out the TNT, I wedged it in place at the base of a large stalagmite. “1 down, 4 to go.” I checked my guideline rope and turned on the flash light. Let’s get moving, I wanted out of this hell in the ground now. ********************************************************************** “We haven’t seen any sightings of this ‘ho-mun’ yet my Queen.” The changeling hugged the ground as it bowed to the Queen who stood in front of the massive army. “NO!” She smashed a hoof on the ground causing green flames to explode out and startle any changeling nearby. “He is in that city. And I need to know where!” She turned to a changeling behind her. “Step up the street patrols with the hidden changelings. Tell them not to be discovered, but to look harder for this human.” The changeling nodded and sped of into the sky towards Canterlot. “And the rest of you, get ready to assault. We have given the pitiful ponies plenty of time to consider surrendering. Now we crush them once and for all.” “Muhahaha!” *********************************************************** “Now was I supposed to turn left or right at the rock formation that looked like a solider holding two bowling balls. Shit, I think I took a wrong turn.” I slumped on the ground and looked closer at the map. Nope I was right where I was supposed to be. Except the spot the TNT had to be planted was… “How the hell am I supposed to get it up there!” I screamed at the ceiling that was about 75 feet above me. “Whos down there!?” A voice called out from nearby. I jumped and hid as a changeling walked out from another tunnel. It began to search the area as I thought up an insane… no brilliant plan. I crouched and waited for the lone changeling to walk in front of my hiding spot. “A little closer. Come on… just one more step.” I whispered as the changeling moved closer and closer. “I hope this works just as well as it does in my head.” I jumped out and landed on the back of the changeling. “YEEEEEHAWWW!” “HEY! Get off of me!” The changeling screamed as it ran around the cavern. Its wings lashed out and started buzzing as it tried to get some air. After a few moments the changeling took off into the air with me on its back. “Oh no, please don’t fly up to the ceiling, I'm terrified or heights.” I said loudly so the changeling could hear me over the loud buzzing from its wings. The changeling must have heard me because it immediately began to climb up to the top of the cavern. I quickly placed the TNT in a crack on the ceiling and dropped the fuse line down to the ground. The changeling rammed me hard against the roof of the cavern. My back to most of the impact thankfully. “Ouch, well fuck you too.” I drew the pistol and placed the barrel against the back of the changeling’s head. BANG I dropped like a rock. Okay so maybe I hadn’t planned the dismounting very well. I tumbled towards the ground and off of the dead changeling. The ground was rushing up to meet me, and it was coming fast. “SHIT! AHHHHHHHHHH!” I screamed as I covered my head to try and soften the blow and hopefully not damage something to important. “I’M GOING TO D-“I felt all the air leave my lungs as I was jerked straight up into the air. I coughed and tried to breath. I regained my breath and looked down to see I was floating 15 feet above the rocky cave floor. I looked up to see I was dangling from the rope still tied to my belt. The rope had wrapped around a rock protruding “Whew!” That was a close one. I reached to my belt and began to untie the knot holding me in place. “That could have been real-“ The knot came undone and I dropped straight down onto the cold, hard, unforgiving rocky floor. THUMP “FUCK! That still hurt like a bitch!” I rubbed my back and stood up. My spine made a series of rather loud popping noises as a stretched up. I picked up the end of the rope and began my trek back through the cave following the rope as I went along. “You know Honored, out of everything you have done here; this whole cave thing wasn’t that bad. I got the jump on a few changelings, I planted all the TNT, I rode a changeling like a bull, and I survived a fall. All in all, I’ll say that this exploration was a success!” I pulled up the rope and grabbed empty air. “What the?” I held up the rope and looked down to see that the rope had been cut cleanly through and the other end of it was nowhere to be seen. “Fuck me sideways.” I pulled out the jar of red paint I had brought with me. “A lot of good you did me!” I threw it at the wall and watched with satisfaction as it smashed and sent red paint in every direction. “Oh yeah, it helps to actually use the paint and mark a trail. Damn.” I sighed and looked straight ahead. Dark tunnel. Looked left. Darker Tunnel Looked right. Darkest Tunnel. Straight it is! I dropped the useless rope and unslung my rifle. Well onward to freedom! (Hopefully) **************************************************************** “Short blade trotted over to the red mare that was sitting near a hole with a ladder in it. “Skies, he’s going to be okay. Why don’t you go get some food, I’ll watch out for him for you.” Fast Skies turned to her friend and sighed. “I know he’ll be okay, but trouble always just seems to find him no matter what. And now he’s down there somewhere in a massive underground labyrinth of tunnels and caves. I can’t help but be worried for my human.” Sky hugged herself and continued to stare at the dark hole in the ground. Short Blade let out a sigh and sat next to the saddened mare. He put a hoof around her and pulled her close. “Honored will be fine.” He turned away from Fast Skies and whispered, “He has to be.” ******************************************************************* “Now I know I’ve passed this rock before.” I crouched down and picked up a small pebble and flicked it behind me. “Face it Honored, you're lost down here.” “Nope not lost, just temporally not found.” “So lost?” “Yeah.” “Shit.” I shined my flashlight now the darkest tunnel I could find. “It’s always darkest before the light.” Worth a shot. I trudged through the dark tunnel. It felt as if the darkness was seeping into my skin as I moved through the underground cave system. I needed to get out of her soon. Operation Downhill needed me to be successful. At least I would help it be successful. Far off down the tunnel I saw a flicker of light. I squinted my eyes and saw it again. Something shining down here, that meant, “Light!” I screamed and dashed off towards the glimmer of hope. I pulled out another torch and lite it as I approached the shimmering object. It was a green gem and above me was a small hole in the ceiling. I looked around and saw that the wall was very rough and I could climb up it to the hole. I shimmed up the wall and looked out the small chink in the ceiling. I saw the back of a red Pegasus and a light gray stallion. Short Blade and Fast Skies. The ladder must be right in front of me on the other side of this wall. I climbed down the wall and looked around for another passageway. Sure enough there it was, another small tunnel that ended right in front of the chamber I had started in. I let out a sigh of relief and picked up the green fuse detonation wire that the TNT was connected to. I held it in my mouth and climbed the ladder. One hand over the other I slowly made my way up back to the surface. I popped my head out of the ground to see Short Blade and Fast Skies leaning against each other asleep. I looked out the window and saw that is was midafternoon; they must have been sleep from the late nigh patrols yesterday. I connected the fuse wire to another long green wire and tied it off. Very gently, I nudged Sky’s flank with my foot. She cracked open an eye and gave a yawn before seeing me and leaping into the air and tackling me to the ground. Her leaving caused Short Blade to lose his balance and collapse sideways, startling himself awake. “Honored! Good to see that you're okay!” He got up and totted over to me. “Is everything ready?” I was too busy hugging the adorable mare on top of me to pay him much attention. “Yeah…yes everything is ready.” Sky planted a big kiss on my lips and got off of my chest. “I'm glad you're safe Honored.” She kissed my cheek and moved to my side. “Me too, and now for phase 3 of Operation Downhill.” Short Blade cocked his head at me. “Phase 3?” “Oh yeah, I never told you about that part. Well it involves using me as bait for the changelings to be lured into the trap of exsplosives we have planted. Real simple.” I turned and began walking out of the basement of the castle to begin my insults to lure the changelings to their doom. “So phase 3 is you risking your life, again, to save us ponies?” Sky caught up to me and landed in front of me, halting my progress. “Yeah, pretty much.” I shrugged my shoulders and adjusted the rifle on my back. “Sweet Celestia you're dense. But I still love you.” She smiled and flew with me as I walked to the balcony overlooking the castle gardens. Even though there was a battle going on, the gardens had remained intact and still just as calming and beautiful as before this whole mess started. “Sky, I wanted to give you something. Just in case-“ “No don’t say it.” She placed a hoof on my side and I took it in my hand. “Sky this is a very likely possibility, that after today I may not return. If I'm not fast enough, or brave enough or strong enough or-“ I felt Sky nudge my hand with her muzzle. I sighed and looked into those big eyes of green. “Sky I just don’t want to leave you with nothing. And before you say it, memories don’t count.” I reached up took off my helmet and put my hand under the collar of my armored chest piece. I slipped off the dog tags that were around my neck and held them in front of me. The sun glinted off the dull metal. The stamped information spun around before me. I lowered the metal discs to Sky. She held out her hoof and I placed the tags in the outstretched red hoof. “These are something that I’ve had with me since I joined the military on my planet. I want you to have them. And you can give one of them back to me when I see you again.” I smiled and hugged Sky close to my chest as she wept openly into my shoulder. She pulled back and stared at the two little pieces of metal. “Honored, what does that say?” She indicated to the top line on the dog tag. “That’s my name. My human full name.” I looked out to the sun that was beginning to drop in the sky. It must be close to 3 pm. Time to get started on phase 3. “What is it?” “Johnson, Ta-“ “Honored if you're going to get moving it needs to be now!” Battle Plan raced around the corner of the balcony and stopped. “Oh sorry, I hope I'm not interrupting something.” “I’ll tell you when I get back Sky.” I leaned down and kissed her lightly on the lips. “I promise.” “You better,” She said as she gave me a smile, “And you better stay safe.” I flashed her my trademark smile and hugged her again. “I will be. And you better be here with the rest of Saddle Company to welcome the mane 6 to the castle. Let the Princesses know I’ll be joining everypony after the operation is completed.” I jumped off the balcony and landed on my feet and took off running towards the center of the city. Time for the final phase of Operation Downhill, and if this goes right then this should end the Battle for Canterlot, and stop the changelings once and for all. The Princesses may not like my idea that I have planned, but I can’t let any changelings survive. They escaped once and then just came back more pissed off than ever. “Oh but Honored how are you going to kill all the changelings?” I asked myself as I vaulted over a pile of debris from a destroyed building. “That’s easy Honored. Carefully!” I chuckled at my morbid humor and continued on my jog through the city. I ran down the center of the street not trying to hide or be stealth in anyway. The whole point of this was to be seen and get the Queen’s attention. And in doing that, hopefully get her to lead the army after me. I stopped and entered a damaged building that overlooked the market square. I climbed a series of stairs that lead to a room with a blown out wall. I could see the entire square from this vantage point. I reached into my backpack and pulled out an antique looking plunger that was connected to the detonation wires below the square and the charges on the mountain side. This would be my first fall back point in the Battle for Canterlot. Once the plunger was in place, I moved out of the building and continued my jog to the market. I slowed my jog to a walk as I strolled into the middle of the large market square at the edge of the city. I unslung my rifle and began sweeping and clearing the surrounding buildings. I wanted to look like I was actually doing something so that this whole thing would be believable. Okay into the next building. I kicked in the door and leapt into the dark house to wait for the changelings to show up. Which would be soon…I hope. **************************************************************** “Galax, did you see that?” A changeling turned to its partner and pointed a hoof at the building that they strange shaped creature had just entered. “I did. I think that’s the, what is it called, humon. We need to report this straightaway. The Queen wanted and update on it immediately.” The two lone changelings took off into the sky and raced to the massed army of changelings. Down below a face appeared in a window of a damaged building. A smile slowly spread across the face of the creature as he stood up and strolled out into the entrance of the market square. The tall bipedal creature shouldered his rifle and cocked the weapon. He stared off into the distance. Watching. Waiting. Ready to protect. ******************************************************************** “My Queen, we saw it!” The changeling gasped out, as it collapsed in front of Queen Chrysalis. “Thank you my loyal solider.” She positioned herself at the head of the massive army. “We move out together, lets end this!” She took to the sky, 5,000 pairs of wings beating in anger as the changelings followed their leader towards the burning city. ********************************************************************* I watched as the two clueless bugs flew off. Ha perfect. I stood up and walked out of the house and across the market square. I readied my rifle and waited for the swarm to arrive. My heart was thumping in my chest and I wiped my brow with my sleeve. I was scared. Correction, I was scarred shitless. I was taking on an entire army, and the fate of the pony world rested of my shoulders. I heard a faint buzzing in the distance. It grew progressively louder as I waited for the army swarm to get closer. I watched in horror as the army came into sight. The sun was literally blocked out as the entire remaining changeling army covered the horizon and descended straight towards me. And in the front was a large figure speeding rapidly at me. Shit. I heard a loud hissing noise and dove to the right as a green fireball exploded right where I had been standing. A 4 foot deep crater was all the reminded of the street where it had struck. A loud piercing laugh echoed through the sky as the army of changelings dove straight at the market square. I jumped up and sprinted away from the bugs that began to land all over the square. More and more of the changelings landed and began to follow after me. I looked over my shoulder to see at least half of their numbers occupying the square and the other half was either following me or hovering near the square. I jumped through a shattered window of the checkpoint building and rounded a hallway. I ran up some stairs and into a large room that had the wall blown away. From this position I could see the square filled with changelings. I reached down and picked up the plunger I placed in the building and pulled the handle up. “Well it looks like we’re going to have… wait for it…. A blast.” I slammed the plunger down and waited. 1 2 BOOM The entire market square shook as a massive hole in the ground opened up and swallowed the landed changeling army. I heard their screams of shock and terror as they plunged into the dark void below. BOOM I looked up to see an avalanche of dirt and rocks speeding down the mountain heading straight for the market square. The rush of boulders and rocks would bury the changelings in the hole. This would be their grave. I turned back to the square to see the changelings diving in and out of the hole in the ground trying to save as many of their comrades as possible. The okay changelings would fly down and begin bringing up the wounded that had survived the explosion and fall into the pit below. I shouldered the rifle. I couldn’t have survivors. Not changeling survivors. I aimed down the low powered scope to begin doing my grim work. I targeted the large figure hovering above the crater. Queen Chrysalis was staring at the mass grave with nothing but shook and anger on her face. This changed to rage as the avalanche of dirt and ruble crashed into the market square. What changelings were left scattered at the wave of death that cascaded into the pit. Operation Downhill was a success. The changeling army was obliterated leaving only three hundred or so still able to fight and one very pissed of Queen who was staring at me. Her horn began to glow a sickening green. Oh shit. I leapt out of the building just a green explosion destroyed the top half of the building. I tumbled and rolled and came to a stop on my knee in a firing position leveling the rifle at a trio of changelings that surrounded me. BANG BANG BANG Tink tink tink The three red hot shells hit the ground as the bodies of the changelings joined them. I turned on my heel and sprinted back towards the castle. My stomach was heavy with guilt. They may have been changelings, but I hadn’t expected my plan to kill that many of the little buggers in one go. “THAT’S RIGHT HUMAN. RUN. RUN TO YOUR PRECIOUS CASTLE AND PONIES. FOR WHEN I ARRIVE YOU WILL DIE SLOWLY AND PAINFULLY FOR WHAT ATTRCOITES YOU HAVE COMMITED HERE!” The booming voice of Queen Chrysalis rang out through the streets and pounded into my ear drums. Oh the atrocities that I committed? Should I bother showing her the hundreds of innocent ponies that are dead thanks to her plan for taking over Canterlot? I am merely protecting those who are unable to do it themselves. I slowly ascended the marble steps leading to the castle doors. Along the way guards and civilian ponies alike congratulated me on my stunning plan. I could only mumble thanks. Still feeling guilty over the lives I had taken single handedly. “Well I guess I should apologize for calling your plan stupid and ludicrous.” A motherly calm voice said next to me. I turned to see Celestia smiling at me. It wasn’t a happy smile, but a smile of understanding. “Come, I'm sure you have a lot to talk about. There is no worse thing to do than to keep this bottled up inside of you.” I followed the Princess to the throne room and took a seat next to her in a chair she levitated over to her throne. I talked about my guilt and my confliction for what I had done. Celestia sat there and listened patiently as I told her about my feelings. How awful I felt. “Feel any better?” She asked after I finished and just stared at the floor. “A little I guess.” “You know, I can understand how you feel. Being immortal my sister and I have witnessed more death than you have in your time here.” I looked up at her. “Yes I may have not taken that many lives with my own will power and explosives, but I watched generation after generation die and move on. But I just accept that this will happen and move on. Don’t forget about it, but learn from it.” She gave me a genuine smile. I returned it. I had learned from it. I wasn’t fighting just because. I was fighting to protect those I cared for and for those that deserved it. I was a human. I was made for protecting. And tomorrow I would protect these ponies from the final changeling. The last battle. The end of it all. These ponies deserved to live free, and I was going to insure that that happened. Well my faithful readers, it has been fun and i have enjoyed writing for you, but all great things must come to end. Next chapter, chapter 35, will be the final CHAPTER of The Equestrian Honor Guard. There will be an epilogue, but that's not a chapter. So hold on tight, and be ready for a ride. Peace- Johnson