//------------------------------// // The Rally Call // Story: Unbroken // by Dusk_Shine6995 //------------------------------// Unbroken By: Dusk_Shine6995 Chapter 3: The Rally Call Two weeks later “Congratulations maggots,” said a smiling Captain Blade, “you’re finally ready to lead O.C.I.D.” Sound and Fury saluted and then hugged each other. “Now lets go talk with the princesses on who else will be in the squad.” Captain Blade commanded the two and with that, they started heading towards the throne room. They were there within a few minutes but noticed the princess was talking with an embassador from Manehattan and decided it would be for the best if her royal duties were left undisturbed. Now they had some time to kill. Captain Blade said he’d see them later when they would meet with the princesses. Sound and Fury agreed to start exploring the castle. “Oh my Celestia, I’m excited, Fury,” exclaimed Sound. Fury simply nodded and kept walking with his best friend. “Should we head back to the room before we see the princesses?” Sound asked. “Sure,” Fury said simply. Once they got back to their room, they collapsed onto their beds. They had spent their last day of training sparring with every single soldier in the facility that morning! It wasn’t very difficult, thanks to Luna’s hoof to hoof combat training, but there were hundreds of them for both Sound and Fury to fight. Just as Sound was falling asleep, there was a gentle knock on the door. Fury got up to answer the door. It was Luna. “Hello Fury,” said Luna, “is Sound awake?” “Yes,” said Sound nervously, as she fell out of her bed. Luna barely managed to stifle a laugh but Fury chuckled a little at his friend. “Anyway, I was wondering if you two would come with me to my private quarters to discuss the other members of your squad. Celestia is already on her way,” Luna said. The two nodded and started following Luna up to her room. The pair noticed that this end of the castle seemed darker but in a friendly way rather than a scary way. Once they got to Luna’s room, she opened the door and motioned for them to go inside. “There you are! Let’s get down to business. We have a few profiles of some great soldiers here,” Celestia said seeming to be in a rush. “These soldiers are ready and will hmmph...” Celestia began to say but was interrupted by Fury’s hoof. Celestia glared at him over his hoof. “You agreed that we would choose the other members,” Fury said, deadpanned as he removed his hoof from Celestia’s muzzle. “We are letting you, these profiles are here to aid you in your choice,” said Luna who had now entered the room. “Your logic doesn’t make sense to me,” said Fury, confused. “It makes perfect sense, you are choosing who is in your squad so we have these to aid you,” said Celestia, who seemed annoyed that Fury didn’t understand. “I understand the use of the profiles,” Fury enlightened, “what I don’t understand is that we have soldier profiles when you said that they aren’t ready to handle the Changelings.” “Because these are our best soldiers,” Luna answered. “But you both said your armies aren’t ready to face the Changelings, meaning none of your soldiers are qualified to be on this squad,” Fury said, starting to get annoyed himself. This statement made sense to both Luna and Celestia. “If none of our soldiers are qualified then who is,” Celestia asked. “I have an idea for that,” said Fury. Celestia was about to ask but Fury started explaining, “We will come up with a test. The four who score the highest will be qualified enough for the squad. We will also be testing citizens willing to join your army.” “That’s... actually a brilliant idea,” said Luna. awestruck that they hadn’t thought of that. “You took two ponies from the streets of Canterlot to be the leaders of the this squad,” said Sound out of nowhere, “so where’s the harm in having other civilian ponies on the squad?” Celestia was pondering what they were saying, knowing there was no way to change their mind. There was a long silence “What kind of test will it be?” Celestia finally asked. “Written, specifically for who will be doing what,” Fury began to explain. “For example, a medic’s test may be ‘about taking a decision between helping in the fight immediately or helping an injured member to aid in battle after securing the injured pony. In this case, the best answer would be to help the injured member and then help in the fight.” “Surely there will be more to it than that?” asked a confused Celestia. “Thou did not let him finish, dear sister,” said Luna. “I’ve been researching something very recently,” Fury began. “There are relics out in the Everfree Forest. What their function is, I don’t know yet. However, we will send teams of four to retrieve them,” Fury finished. “You want to send untrained civilians into the Everfree Forest to find relics that you don’t know where they are nor what they do!” shouted an outraged Celestia. “I never said I didn’t know where they are, Princess,” Fury retorted. “I did however say that I don’t know their function. They are located in the dead center of the Everfree Forest. “What about the untrained civilians entering the Everfree Forest?” asked Luna making sure to emphasize on the Everfree Forest. “We will have the best trained units watching over them like guardian angels,” Sound answered for Fury. “How will we go about rallying our subjects to join this squad?” Luna asked. “Leave that part to me, my dear sister,” said Celestia, smiling slyly. “What dost thou have planned, sister?” asked Luna. Celestia merely kept smiling while leaving the room and added, “You two, be ready in two days.” “We are scared to ask what she hath planned,” Luna said, shaking her head as she left the room. The next day The ponies of Ponyville all franticly bowed as Princess Celestia landed in the town square. “Rise my subjects, for I come on official business and have no time for such formalities,” Celestia said calmly but forcefully. “Equestria is in need of soldiers,” she began to explain. “The Changelings that attacked Canterlot during the royal wedding are still a threat to Equestria. We are in dire need of any and all ponies willing to aid in the efforts to prevent the takeover of Equestria! If you are willing to aid Equestria in it’s time of need, go to Canterlot Castle by noon tomorrow!” With that Celestia took her leave. The ponies of Ponyville were shocked at the Princess’s sudden arrival and disappearance. Low murmurs erupted in the town. Out of nowhere, somepony shouted, “Those Changelings will pay for attacking our fair lands!” That phrase alone started an onslaught of hatred and rage against the Changelings. Everypony was ready to go hoof to hoof with some changeling scum. Among the ponies in town, there was one pony who snuck back into her home before things got out of hoof. Equestria needs me, needs my help, and I’ll be damned to Tartarus if I don’t answer its call! Moon Dancer thought, angrily, inside her home. I’m not going to wait. I’m going to Canterlot tonight! As that thought struck her, she was already starting to pack. However she wasn’t alone in her deep desire to help Equestria. “Equestria needs heroes that’s for sure; I will face all the trouble I must endure,” Zecora mumbled under her breath as she started home to prepare for her journey to Canterlot. Celestia had now made stops at Cloudsdale and Dodge City. She and her convoy of royal guards were now heading for Appleloosa. “Citizens of Appleloosa!” the Princess said as they landed. ““The Changelings that attacked Canterlot during the royal wedding are still a threat to Equestria. We are in dire need of any and all ponies willing to aid in the efforts to prevent the takeover of Equestria! If you are willing to aid Equestria in its time of need, go to Canterlot Castle by noon tomorrow!” She concluded and they flew off. Appleloosa didn’t get into a huge hub-bub over this news as Ponyville did considering there were less people but they were still ready and willing to fight! Ah’ll do anything to keep Appleloosa safe, thought Braeburn as he was walking back to City Hall with Sheriff Silverstar. “Sheriff, Ah’m goin’ to Canterlot right now,” said Breaburn, all of a sudden “Don’t let me stop you, sonny,” Silverstar said nonchalantly. As soon as Braeburn heard that he was already out the door and heading for the train station. “Spitfire, did you hear that?” asked Fleetfoot mid-routine “Yes I did but what should we do,” asked Spitfire as they soared past each other. “I think one of us should actually do something and sign up,” Fleetfoot said, nearly running into Soarin’ while she wasn’t paying attention. “Who would or should? You know as well as I do that we can’t just drop a member without any problems!” she exclaimed. Their routine came to a close with their signature firework ending. In the locker room, Fleetfoot said, “I think you should, Spitty.” “What? Me, joining the military!?” Spitfire nearly yelled. “Yes, you...” Fleetfoot started, “Equestria needs somepony to help and you’re the best of us hence why you’re captain of the Wonderbolts!” Spitfire sat confused and then asked, “What would make me a good soldier anyway?” Fleetfoot looked her long time friend and captain in the eyes and said, “Spitfire, you are loyal, tough, strong, smart and I know from experience you have a mean right hook from that drunk jerk who was hitting on us in Cloudsdale!” Spitfire didn’t say anything. She just hugged her friend. “Thanks, Fleetfoot. I think I’ll head to Canterlot tonight... mind taking over for me while I’m gone?” she asked with a slight smirk. “Of course, Spitfire,” said Fleetfoot, smiling. Spitfire left the locker room and started towards the train station. I may not be much of a fighter but I’m going to give it my all! she thought optimistically.