//------------------------------// // IX.~Rainbow's training // Story: Magic Vs. Machinery // by Exotic Butter //------------------------------// As was once said; there were FIVE cities for mobilization now, since the machines took over big cities like Manehattan and Las Pegasus. One of the cities where an order to mobilize was sended by the Canterlot, was Cloudsdale; the Pegasus city.  From there, the order went to every cloud, where Pegasi builded a house and lived. One of the clouds was of course the brand new "Wonderbolt Base", where the former aerial acrobats mainly trained to use air attacks, such as bombing a moving target or a stationary target. They rarely trained with a blades, IF the Aliens would go face to face againts them. However, they knew, what survivors Pegasi from Ponyville once said: “They have a Bucking shield and we have bombs! Where's the balance in that?!” The pale yellow pegasus mare, known as Surprise, said to her colleague; Rainbow Dash. “Well, I think they have trust not in our aim, but our speed.” She answered, as she and Surprise were waiting on one of the hundreds of clouds with an arsenal attached to their bodies thanks to the strap. The arsenal was a wooden bomb. These bombs were training ones, not real ones.  Let me explain, why ponies have a bombs in a nutshell; Twilight made them in 2021, as an answer against the Griffon Empire. Yes, they were fighting…again…even though they were in a new era of common alliance. But before anypony noticed, the three-month ‘bloodless war’ was over. For almost 9 years, the bombs were stored. Now, it is a way to at least slow down the machines, before Twilight and her team make the ‘Wonder Weapon’. Today, the bombs were dust off from the Canterlot underground storeroom and given to the Pegasi. The biggest bombs that pegasi could carried, were ‘M.B. 500’ Also known as ‘Magic Bombs 500 Lb’. These bombs (As the name says itself…), were multi-purpose bombs with a Magic ‘war’-head. These bombs could make a pretty deep crater with a TEN meters radius. Now that is a piece of technology for a Race that never used them. Since the start of the Invasion, there was no fear of running out of these 'saviors'. Twilight’s factory made more than was planned before… “Speed isn’t a problem, but still… They have a shield…” “I know, I know…” Just then, a pegasus stallion from another not-so-away cloud called their name. “Rainbow and Surprise! You’re next!” “Well, here goes nothin'. Keep up with my left wing, okay?” Rainbow said to her colleague as she and Surprise put their goggles on their faces. Rainbow flapped her wings a few times until she brought them to her body and let gravity taking her to face ground. Same thing did Surprise as well. After a few seconds of free fall, they noticed their target with a few ponies, ready to check the results. The target was an orange plastic box about as big as a pony itself.  They spread their wings to slow down a bit and start aiming. “Bomb away!” She said to herself aloud, as she pressed a button attached on her front hoof to drop the bomb. “Bomb away!” Surprise mimic her. With a medium G-force, they gain back height and slow down. Then they looked back to see the results. “Two clear hits!” Soarin’ called. The two mares just smiled and did a high-hoof. Moments later, they landed next to the target. “Well, Soarin’? How did we do?” Rainbow asked. Soarin’ was deciding which ponies would be perfect for each cooperative. “Very good and… I think I decided... You, Surprise, High Winds and Silver Zoom. You four are ideal for the 1./ Slowing Fireteam.” “Wait… 1./ Slowing…? Does that mean…” “We need your speed at the first lines. I hope you can understand that you are the fastest flier Equestria has right now. Fast scouting and attacking are in the first place, because we don’t want casualties on the first day. But you know that.” “Yea…I know.” “Uh…Soarin’?” A light blue pegasus mare with a white mane was gliding down from the base with a letter in her front hooves. “Yes, Fleetfoot?” “This letter came with a big crate from Canterlot.” Soarin’ raised an eyebrow. “Did they want us already?” He said uncertainly, as he took the letter from her and opened it. “Oh…” That was the only thing he could say. “What do you mean ‘Oh’? What are they saying?” Rainbow said. “I was right. They want us.” “Wha- Where?” “According to some sources, one of the machines is near the Appleloosa region.” “Appleloosa? I thought they were already there!” “Well…yes, but actually no.” “Wait, does that mean that box is full of...?” “Military uniforms.” “When?” Surprise asked. “Hm?” Rainbow raised an eyebrow. “When do we leave our base?” “Right after sunset. Better start packing now.” And with that, Soarin’ took off. “Wait, he said ‘One of the machines’?”