"It is well that war is so terrible, lest we should grow too fond of it."
- Robert E. Lee
Geneva, Switzerland CERN laboratory 6:00 PM
Captain Ross and the 1st marine division were ordered to gear up immediately after landing and did so with quick efficiency. Given no time to interact with the other countries, they were herded into military transports and driven to an area they were told was the "Red zone," or the area of most hostile activity.
"I don't know skipper, this don't look like hostile ground to me." Noted Lt. Mildred
"Easy Frank, don't make the same mistake as last time. Remember Libya?" Said Ross.
"Heh, all too well sir."
Ross sat back and looked to his left outside the back of the truck. He saw the front of the Humvee carrying Colonel Seaton and other USMC officers. Anyone not in the military convoy would have beheld quite a spectacle. A long line of military vehicles stretching almost a mile long, housing soldiers from all over the world all being moved to the same destination.
"Still cant believe he's taggin' along."
Ross snapped back to reality. Looking to his right, he noticed Sgt. Avery was talking to him.
"Well, someone needs to supervise our troops in the field, and if it's gonna be anyone it'll probably be him. That man has more military smarts than most of us could ever learn in a lifetime." Noted Ross.
"So he's one a' those uh... military strategists?" Pvt. Wilcox chimed in.
"Yeah, something like that."
The convoy came to a halt followed by shouts echoing all around the column of vehicles. Ross poked his head out the back of the truck and saw a large building surrounded by military personnel milling around the area.
They had arrived.
"Dismount!" Yelled an authoritative voice, probably Seaton.
"Semper Fi!" Shouted the marines simultaneously as they hopped out of their transports.
"Standard column formation guys, right here." Ross said whilst pointing to the ground.
"We'll regroup at the parking lot!"
As they marched, Ross could hear the sounds of hundreds of boots hitting the concrete followed by orders shouted in different languages and dialects.
"Давай! Давайте двигаться!"
"Bewegung bleiben! lass uns gehen!"
"il ne faut pas prendre toute la journée!"
"Keep moving guys! We're almost there." Shouted Sgt. Avery.
Indeed they were, and as they drew closer, their unit saddled right up alongside a formation of foreign soldiers. They looked gruff, and kept glancing over at the marines as if they were from a different dimension.
"What's their problem?" Whispered Cpl. Mcreary.
One of the foreign soldiers began to speak among his comrades in a hushed voice.
"Whaddya' think he's saying?" Asked Sgt. Campo.
"Hey!" Shouted the soldier.
"He talkin' to us?" Said Avery.
"Эй, янки! Скажи своей сестре я сказал привет!" Said the soldier.
His unit erupted in laughter. They cackled even harder when they saw the confused faces of the Americans.
"Why I oughta'... those clowns better be talkin' about my polished boots or these are going up their asses!" Said Cpl. Mcreary.
"Easy Marc, they're Russians. Let 'em have their fun." Said Lance Corporal Childers.
"Yeah, whatever."
"All right line 'em up!" Shouted Ross upon arriving at their destination.
The marines gathered into tight rows in order to fit all the fighting men in the small parking lot. Ross inspected each of his troops from a distance. He observed the mortar squads, heavy weapons teams, and the rifleman. Ross grinned faintly. No matter how he classified them they were all still leather-necks. Raggedy-ass marines.
"Ten-hut!" Shouted Captain Ross when he noticed Colonel Seaton arrive to inspect the men.
"Alright listen up boys! I was given no actionable intel on where we're headed but I do know one thing. When we get there, there will be plenty of ass to kick!" Announced Seaton.
"Hoorah!" Shouted the marines.
"We're the tip-of-the-spear men, make me proud." Continued Seaton.
"Now then, form up and head inside for briefing in room 302. They're all yours captain."
And with that, the colonel left and disappeared inside the building.
"Fall in and regroup inside. Remember, room 302! 3-0-2! Shouted Ross.
Screams of merriment and cheer followed the marines inside as they entered the last place they would see on their earth for a long time.
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Ponyville, Equestria 7:30 PM
Shining Armor, captain of the guard, led his troop of about 250 royal guards towards the town of ponyville. His soldiers ranged from pegasi to unicorns and even earth ponies. The column of troops marched down the main path into town not only to oversee the evacuation but to also make contact with General Taylor's "Marines".
"Captain."
Shining Armor looked to his left and into the face of Lt. Swift Wind. Her minuscule demeanor only masked her true ability. Though she was small and quite skinny, she made up for it in cunning and agility. He prized her for that and it was also the reason she was his second in command.
"Yes lieutenant?"
"These humans, have you ever met one? Don't get me wrong, I'd love to meet a new species any day of the week but I just happened to be in sick bay with hay fever when they showed up at Canterlot."
"Only a few. I've only met the two commanding officers residing with the princesses and the expedition that first came here a while back. You should know though that I don't trust them. They have a deceitful look about them. Also, we were much too welcoming. I still regret asking for aid from their armies. The thought of the humans coming here with their technology is frightening. Especially when it's built to wage war." Said Shining Armor.
"I see. It's just... the troops were talking and have been hearing rumors about these humans. Weird ones."
"And those are?" Shining Armor said, motioning for her to continue.
"Many things. For one, they eat meat!" Said Swift Wind in disbelief.
"Don't be ridiculous lieutenant. I made you my second-in-command for your intuition and sharp wit. Don't make me regret that just because you believed some stupid mares-tale."
"Sorry sir. I don't know what came over me."
"It's quite alright lieutenant. Just, please don't let it happen again."
"Yes sir." Said Swift Wind apologetically.
The column of troops neared the town and immediately witnessed the mass chaos that ensued there. One would think a twister conjured up by discord himself ravaged the town.
"Ms. Mayor?" Called out Shining Armor.
The town looked alarmingly emptied already, with a few remaining ponies still trying to evacuate on carriages drawn by volunteers from town with nowhere to go.
"Company! Fan out and assist anyone you can." Shining Armor ordered.
"Shining Armor!?" Said a familiar voice.
A distinct blue-green dragon appeared from a deserted pastry shop waving wildly. He wore a plastered smile that only one dragon in Equestria could possibly muster.
Spike.
"Spike?"
"Yeah! Whoa-"
Spike came skidding to a halt at the sight of all the royal guards behind his old friend he threw a bachelor party for.
"Things must have been pretty bad up in Detrot. Bet you guys whipped those changelings good though huh?"
"No Spike we..."
Shining Armor was at a loss for words. How had he not heard yet?
"We're at war Spike." The captain said in a weary tone.
"Oh my..."
Spike's smile left almost immediately.
"That's horrible. Oh no, Twilight! I've gotta-"
"It's okay Spike. She's fine. Everyone's in Canterlot under the protection of Celestia and Luna." Coaxed Shining Armor.
"Well, then why are you here?" Spike asked, wiping away the tears that had quickly formed in his eyes.
"You know about the humans right?" Asked Shining Armor.
"Yeah, like Ms. Renault?"
"Uh... sure. Well, we're here to meet humans. Human soldiers."
"Wow. Oh! Then you probably need to know where to meet them right?"
"That would be helpful."
"Uh... lets see if I remember, okay, you'll want to head um... north of the town for about a mile and then you'll find a small camp with these weird markings. That's where they'll come in from."
"Thanks Spike. Company! Form up!"
The soldiers regrouped in column formation and began marching out of town. Shining Armor turned around and called out to Spike.
"Don't worry! I'll make sure Twilight and everyone else gets home safely!"
"I know you will." Spike said quietly to himself.
And on that note, Spike was once again left alone in the dreary shell of what was once the lively town of Ponyville.
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Geneva, Switzerland CERN laboratory 7:40 PM
"What a load a' bullshit!" Shouted one of the marines.
"Please calm down. Understand that we are being completely serious!" Shouted Frank Wilczek.
"I sure as hell ain't going through some kind'a portal that looks like something outta Stargate just to rescue a buncha' stupid horses that look like they belong in my daughter's coloring book!" Yelled Sgt. Avery.
"Actually, they're ponies." Corrected Sarah Renault.
"...and whether you like it or not, they need our help!" She pleaded.
"Man, fuck this shit!" Yelled one marine.
"Yeah this shit is fucked up. I'm outta' here!" Shouted another.
Hearing this, many of the marines stood up and began to leave the large auditorium. Captain Ross was torn. Had all this just been a big waste of time? Did his troops lives just get interrupted because of some joke about colored "ponies"? But then again, they wouldn't bring half the world out here if they weren't telling the truth. Ross had to act fast.
So he did.
"SIT THE FUCK DOWN!"
The entire room fell silent. The marines that were leaving stopped immediately in their tracks. The marines that were thinking about leaving quickly changed their minds.
"I know we're all really confused right now, HELL I'm probably more mind-fucked than any of you right now, but we need to stick together on this. There has to be a reason they flew us out here and we can't just disobey a direct order from General Taylor!" Said Ross.
The room remained quiet.
"Lets just go with it, and hope nothing goes FUBAR. Got it?"
More silence. Ross took this as a yes.
"Good. Gear up and I'll meet you all by the portal thing-a-ma-bob in 5 minutes."
Ross's orders were followed by a series of grumbles and quiet 'yes sirs' which were coupled with more profane words that Ross pretended he didn't hear. On his way out, he passed professor Frank Wilczek.
"You owe me one." Said Ross as he passed by, patting the shaken man on the shoulder.
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One mile north of Ponyville, Equestria 7:45 PM
Shining Armor and his troops arrived at the "campsite" that Spike had described earlier. There were crates of all sorts scattered all over the place alongside different tools and gadgets that littered the ground.
Yep. Humans had been here.
"Company halt!" Ordered Shining Armor.
For a while, they just stood there. Stood there and waited for something, anything to happen. It was then that Lt. Swift Wind approached Shining Armor.
"Captain?"
"Yes Lieutenant?"
"What exactly are we looking for here? Because most of the troops haven't seen humans before either."
"Well... they walk on two legs instead of four."
"Wow. How odd." Said Swift Wind.
"Yes, I know. Um... they have two other appendages they call, uh... arms I think? Anyway, they have these stubby little things at the ends called hands. That's about all I know really. I mean, other than the basics. You know, head, eyes, mouth, nose, and ears. But other than that, that's all I know."
"Hmm, how interesting. And these humans, do they-"
Swift Wind was cut off to the sight of a peculiar dark-green boot followed by a longer appendage materializing in mid-air, stepping through where there was once nothing but air to where there was now a thin, transparent, purple wall.
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