//------------------------------// // Rad: Pink Troy'd- Another Prick in the Wall // Story: Dan Vs. The Magic of Friendship(Season 1) // by Barrobroadcaster //------------------------------// "They're approaching rapidly from the south-west," Tuxley said. He peered through the scope of his rifle at the reddish-brown sand cloud in the distance. "Say they'll breach the perimeter in about... four minutes?" Reginald asked, more of a statement than a question. The crystal butler observed them through his own hunting rifle. Both of their weapons were geared more for sport rather than warfare, and as such didn't have as much range as a sniper rifle. Fortunately, Chris Redfield was more than willing to fill in that role. They were on top of the wall, just above and on the eastern side of the east gate. Far below them, the city was arrayed out like a half-circle, stretching just further than the eye could see out into the distance. None of them really knew it, but from high above, the city of New Troy and the wall that protected it resembled a setting sun from space. The railroad lines that extended out from the city looked like the rays of the sun, as if it had been drawn by someone from high above. Because it had. "Remember to aim for the units in the back," Redfield reminded them. "They're likely to rush for cover the moment they realize we're picking them off, so let's get as many as we can before then." The gentry pair lowered their weapons to toss a knowing glance Redfield's way. "This isn't our first shootout, Master Chris." He looked right back at them. A tyrannosaurus rex and a sparkling horse butler. "Not exactly a first for me, either, but... whatever gets the job done." Dan exited the roof access door, exhausted. "I... hate... stairs...," he said, between exhausted pants. "Why... why couldn't you have... installed an... elevator on this thing?! ANYWHERE NEAR HERE?!!" "We HAVE an elevator but there's still no power to it," Lucid said. "Johnson and Ronson are overdue for their check-in. They must be having trouble at the power plant." "That's not a good sign," Phoenix said. He looked back towards the city. "Should we send someone to check on them?" "No, no no no no no, I'm NOT going back down and then back up those stairs again," Dan declared. "But if you got the power plant working-" "And with that big, shiny army approaching, we're not risking anybody being separated right now. No, hunker down and prepare to do exactly what Dan says," said Dan. Painstakingly, Dan had instructed the troops to set up his volatile mixture both at the base of the wall and on the very top, dividing up the load. He had not told anyone exactly what he was planning on doing with his 'homemade' napalm, but the humans and ponies knew Dan enough to just go along with whatever he has attempting. The donkeys, however, were a bit more concerned. "Has Dan done this before?" Lucid asked Captain America. "Defended a city from invasion? Protected a castle, guarded a structure?" "Well-" "Guarded a bank? Prevented a robbery? Stopped kids from walking on the grass at a park?" "Actually, that last one, he IS pretty adept at," Rogers said. "From what I've seen anyway. But if you're asking has Dan stopped an invasion force before, then yes. At least three times." Technically five times. Once against the griffons, the zebras, the sea ponies and Vice Grip's forces at least twice, not counting Christmas and when the Enclave destroyed Cloudsdale. "Oh, good," Lucid said, somewhat relieved. And Cap noticed that. Which prompted him to add: "He did destroy Ponyville. And Canterlot. And Cloudsdale." The first mentioning of Dan destroying Ponyville turned Lucid's smile into a frown, then each new addition deepened said frown. Confidence for the yellow donkey hit rock-bottom when Cap concluded with, "All at the same time." A couple of the other donkeys picked up on that. "He destroyed... three entire cities?" "All at the same time?" Captain America chuckled somewhere between nervously and bashfully. "Well, it's not as bad as it sounds but I mean, uh, well, I was there and I can tell you-" "Were you being attacked by three different armies or something?" Lucid pressed. "Well... no," Cap said. His hand instinctively reached up behind him to rub his neck. "One big army?" "It was one... guy." "ONE GUY?!" The donkeys encircled him. Cap waved his hands defensively. "Hey, I know it sounds bad but really, Vice Grip is bad news. One guy can cause a lot of problems for people- trust me on that one. I've been that guy." Lucid shook his head wearily. "I guess it can happen. It just seems hard to believe you'd still follow someone after he accidentally destroys three whole cities." A large, dry lump of guilt formed in Cap's throat. And he swallowed it. "It, uh... it wasn't an accident." The donkeys practically turned on their heels, eyes wide, accusing him once more. "Dan destroyed Equestria to... keep it from falling into enemy hands. That makes sense, right?" "No." "Would it help if I said Princess Twilight and Princess Cadence all went along with it at the time?" "No." "Alright then, I'm just gonna stop talking," Cap said, rubbing his neck again. Lucid walked up to him. "Captain, I just have one question: do you think Dan might destroy my city while trying to defend it?" "Uhhhhh..." He looked back and forth between Dan and Lucid. The human merrily mixed two different chemicals into a decorative urn, one labeled "HIGH EXPLOSIVE" and the other "TOXIC CHEMICAL." He looked up at Steve. "Hey Stevie, you wanna toss me that random box that says "FLAMMABLE?" Dan asked. "We're screwed," Lucid said. Steve turned to him. "I promise you we will build you a new city." "It's next to that other random box full of radioactive waste," Dan continued. "It may have to be in a new place," Cap finished. "Will it be a far enough place, I wonder?" Lucid said, leaving Cap with that final question as he walked off. "Gentlemen!" Tuxley announced. "And Lady," he added for Rarity, "they've arrived!" "Open fire!" Dan shouted. And with a huge grin, he added, "And stand back while I open a crate of THIS!" He cracked open the first tank full of napalm as Vice Grip's army reached the city limits. The invaders had arrived and the battle for New Troy had begun.