//------------------------------// // War // Story: Assignment: Equestria // by Naxanz //------------------------------// “Like a bug?” repeated Twilight, “Nick I think your underestimating…” “Trust me Twilight; the elements are in grave danger! They already know where they are and they’re coming to get them right now!” Nick had convinced Twilight now; she was starting to become very anxious, “We need to get to Canterlot and warn the Princess!” “But wait, can’t you just send one of those messages with Spike?” “I could, but for something this important I know that she’d want to see us in person.” “So… how are we going to get there?” “By train.” “By train! Can’t you just teleport us there or something like that?” “When did you start believing in magic?” asked Twilight raising an eyebrow. “Long story, but can you?” “No I can’t teleport us to Canterlot. It’s miles away! Do you have any idea how much energy that would take? The farther you try to teleport an object the more energy it takes.” “Oh…” replied Nick with disappointment, “Well, if train is the only way then so be it.” “Spike!” called Twilight as she turned around abruptly. “Ya Twilight?” he asked scampering into the room. Spike’s eyes suddenly lit up as he spotted Nick. “Nick you’re back!” exclaimed the small dragon with excitement. “Spike, I’m sorry, but there’s no time for saying hello; the Elements of Harmony are in danger of being stolen!” informed Twilight taking a few steps forward, “I need you to send a message to the princess telling her that the elements are in danger and that she should be anticipating our arrival shortly.” “Okay!” he replied as he made a dash for a desk to retrieve a quill and piece of paper. Twilight then turned to face Nick again, “I’m going to go around Ponyville and quickly gather up everyone else. Meet me at the Ponyville train station in twenty minutes.” “Okay,” answered Nick as Twilight hurried out the door. “Are that elements really in that much danger?” asked Spike as he began to write the message. “Not just the elements, but maybe all of Equestria…” replied Nick worriedly. --Twenty minutes later-- Nick sat anxiously in the Ponyville train station as he waited for Twilight and the other five to arrive. It had taken him awhile but after stopping and asking somepony named Lyra for directions he had finally found his way to the station. There was a train leaving for Canterlot in about ten minutes and he was hoping that they would arrive before it left so that they wouldn’t have to wait for another one. Just as Nick was about to give up all hope on catching the train that was about to leave the six friends suddenly burst into the station. “Over here!” called out Nick standing up and waving his hand. The six ponies all turned and started galloping towards him. “Nick!” exclaimed Pinkie as she closed the distance between them. “Hey guys,” smiled Nick once they all reached him, “Listen, this train is about to leave for Canterlot, I’ll explain everything on the way there.” “Alright then,” replied Rainbow Dash before flying into the train followed by the five others and Nick. Once they were all seated on the train and heading for Canterlot Nick began explaining to them what had happened while he was gone. He explained how the humans were the ones who had invaded Los Pegasus and how they had discovered magic. He then went on to explain how the captain had found out about the Elements of Harmony and how he planned to steal them. “…I don’t know how much time we have before he attempts to come down here and take them, but when he does we are going to need to be ready,” warned Nick as he finished up his story. “I only have one question,” proclaimed Rainbow Dash raising her hoof. “Yes?” “Why is it that you’re helping us and not your own people?” she asked suspiciously, “Are you a spy?” Nick couldn’t believe that Rainbow Dash had turned on him so quickly. Didn’t Twilight say that she was supposed to be the element of loyalty or something like that? “Okay listen, I’m helping you because the short time that I was down here I realized how awesome this place is. You are a very kind and intelligent race, but the captain thinks otherwise. He thinks that you are no more than animals and he thinks that he can do whatever he wants with this planet. Although it hurts me to betray my own race I believe that you all deserve the right to live and grow on this planet and I will not let the captain take that away from you!” Rainbow Dash seemed satisfied by that answer and settled back down into her seat. “Besides stealing the elements what else might the humans try to do?” asked Twilight attentively. Nick thought for a moment before replying, “Well, if they find any useful resources in this planet they may try to set up mining facilities. Also, they might try to set up alien research posts so that they can continue to study the life on this planet.” “Anything else?” inquired Twilight. Nick couldn’t really think of anything else that the humans might want the planet for. That is until he remembered their primary goal. Why hadn’t he thought of it sooner? “Um…well if… they might…” Nick gulped as he tried to push the thought out of his mind. “…might what?” asked Applejack inquisitively. “…might do…planet extermination…” “What!?” gasped all of the friends in surprise. Nick sighed before continuing, “Earth, my home planet, is extremely over populated. For years we have been trying to find other habitable planets to live on. So far we’ve only found two others that can support human life. Although we are slowly moving people to those planets we are still looking for more. If we find a planet that is inhabitable but for some reason the alien life on it is a threat to colonization we put into effect Operation Revelation, or, also known as, Planet Extermination.” “A-and what is that?” stuttered Rarity in a panic. Nick grimaced as his stomach did a sudden lurch before he continued, “Planet Extermination is when we completely terminate the threat to human colonization. And in this case that would be…” “…us…” finished Rainbow Dash wide-eyed. Nick knew that he should never have brought it up. Rarity looked like she was about to have a panic attack, Rainbow Dash and Applejack were just sitting in the seats speechless, Twilight seemed to be sickened by the thought, and Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy were on the verge of tears. “Listen, our top priority right now is the elements. From what I’ve heard they seem to be the most important thing to you guys. The captain never even mentioned anything about Operation Revelation so I wouldn’t be worrying about it if I were you. Right now we just need to focus on the elements and make sure that they don’t get stolen!” exclaimed Nick trying to get the six ponies to think about other things. Although this did help some the rest of the ride up to Canterlot was mostly in silence. Once the train finally came to a stop they all jumped out of it and into the Canterlot station. “Follow us,” said Twilight to Nick as they walked out of the station, “We’ll lead you to the castle.” Nick followed the six friends through the city as they made their way to the castle. Nick didn’t have much time for sightseeing as he ran through the city, but from what he could tell Canterlot seemed to be a very impressive and fancy city. After what seemed to be about ten or maybe even fifteen minutes the seven friends finally all stopped in front of the massive castle gates gasping for breath. Two guards dressed in iron and gold armor were guarding the entrance to the castle. As the friends approached the gates they drew their pikes unsure of the sudden mass of ponies and strange creature. “Who goes there?” inquired one of the guards distrustfully. “It’s me, Twilight, and my friends!” answered Twilight still a little short of breath, “We are here on urgent business and need to speak with the princess!” “Oh, it’s you Twilight,” replied one of the guards as they lowered their weapons, “Come on in. Celestia is expecting you. She’s waiting for you in the great hall.” The guards gave a signal to another one which was up in the gate tower and the gates began to slowly open. When the gates were fully opened the seven friends all hurried into the castle and then into the great hall where the princess was waiting. Once Nick entered the great hall he saw what he knew had to be the princess. It was by far the most beautiful pony that he had seen yet. She was all white with a flowing rainbow colored mane; not to mention that she was an alicorn. To show respect Nick bowed. “My faithful student and her friends what brings you here?” asked the princess taking a step forward, “I received your message about the Elements of Harmony being in danger but what kind of danger? And what is this thing that you have with you?” “He’s a human and his name is Nick…” answered Twilight. Twilight then went on to explain what humans were and how they were the ones who had overtaken Los Pegasus and how they now wanted to steal the elements. “And are you sure that Nick is on our side?” inquired the princess once Twilight had finished. “Positively,” exclaimed Nick cutting Twilight off, “I will not stand to see such injustice!” “Is there a way I may speak with this captain?” asked Celestia calmly. Nick was about to say no until he remembered Nicole, “Actually yes...” Nick walked over to a nearby table and set Nicole onto it. “Nicole, sync with my communicator and establish communications with the Atropos using holographic display.” Her screen lit up as she responded to Nick’s voice. After a few seconds she responded, “Sync complete, establishing communications.” In a few more seconds a holographic image of Mark appeared in the air above Nicole. “This is the Atropos who is...” Mark broke off in mid-sentence as he recognized that it was Nick, “Nick? I can’t believe it! What are you doing? The captain is furious that you escaped alive and now you’re contacting the Atropos? Why?” “Mark, you’re a good friend, but I need you to put on the captain.” “Wait what? Nick I hope you do realize that if you keep this connection up for more than a minute the Atropos will be able to track it and the captain will know exactly where you are. Disconnect now before somebody else sees that you’re communicating with me!” “I’m glad to see that you still my friend Mark but I need to speak with the captain.” Mark hesitated a second before pressing a button. His image suddenly disappeared and was replaced by an angry captain. “Yes? Who is this?” fumed the captain obviously annoyed. His eyes suddenly widened as he realized that it was Nick. “YOU! I’LL FUCKIN’ KILL YOU!” roared the captain letting his anger get the best of him. Nick could sense Celestia and the other six cringe at the captain’s sudden language. “Where is he!?” barked the captain to somebody behind him, “I want you to track this call!” “Wait, please just listen to what I have to say first,” interrupted Nick trying to stay calm. “And what is that?” asked the captain mockingly. “I’m here with the ruler of this land and she would like to have a word with you…” The captain suddenly broke into a cold laugh, “The ruler of what? The little pathetic ponies that you think are apparently better than people!? Listen Nick, they’re nothing more than animals and I’ll do whatever I want with them. Now if you’ll excuse me I’ve got more important things to do…” “Who are you calling animals!?” blurted out Rainbow Dash unexpectedly. She flew up to the holographic image of the captain so that she was at eye level with it. The captain turned to face her giving her a piercing glare. “You,” he replied unfazed. In a rage Rainbow Dash flew into the hologram at full force passing right through it and crashing into the stone wall behind it. “See? What did I tell you, nothing more than savage animals,” smirked the captain. “Let me handle this,” assured Celestia stepping in front of the hologram. “And who, might I ask, are you?” inquired the captain indifferently. “I am Princess Celestia, the ruler of Equestria.” “Oh?” gasped the captain uncaringly. “Are you the one responsible for attack on Los Pegasus?” “What if I said that you were?” “What?” “I never ordered an attack on that city. I just sent down a crew to study it. You’re the ones that attacked us first!” Nick could tell that Celestia was somewhat surprised by the captain’s response but quickly concealed her emotion. “From what Shining Armor told me, he’s the captain of the royal guard, you attacked us first and we were forced to fight back.” “Oh no, you’ve got it all wrong. We just came down to study the city. Your guards must have thought of us as a threat and attacked us.” “Whoa, hold on a second!” interrupted Nick butting into the conversation, “So, the ponies really did attack us first?” “Apparently,” replied Celestia. “Then that does give the captain the right to wage war with this planet if he wants to,” stated Nick shocked, “But until war is announced you still don’t have the right to take from them what is rightfully theirs.” “Are you referring to the elements?” inquired the captain raising an eyebrow. “Yes.” “Listen, I don’t have to declare war to take that from them because they are nothing more than animals, but if it makes you happy I will,” replied the captain with a sneer. “Wait, I’m sure there is a way that we can settle this peacefully!” interrupted the Princess. “Peace? Don’t even bring it up. I’ll take from you what I want. And now, for the content of that double-crossing twofaced bastard Nick, I declare war!” exclaimed the captain. With those final words the communication connection ended and the hologram of the captain disappeared.