//------------------------------// // Welcome to the Front // Story: My Little Strife: The Sigil Is Magic // by Ichtudirweh //------------------------------// "What is that noise?" You question silently to yourself. While a group of acolyte guards pass by you, you drop your mining equiptment and decide to investigate the source of the noise. You stealthily trot over to the source of the beeping noise, while remaining unnoticed by the guards of the camp. You plant your ear to the right of the stone masonry wall. The repetitious beeping from the other side of the wall has suddenly paced to a vigorous rhythm. Your eyes widen with shock. You hastily stand up and sprint away from the wall. The Acolyte guards were alerted by your movement. They proceeded to raise their rifles directly aimed at your torso. Before they had a chance to squeeze off a three round burst in unison, a large explosion discharges from the other side of the wall. The concussive shockwave from the explosion knocks you out temporality. You regain consciousness, as you wake up to the sounds of gunfire discharging around you. Your vision was blurry, but you could make out a large squad of figures charging inside the mining camp. They were shouting out orders to the prisoners of the camp, and were shooting their very own assault rifles. Two figures lift you up from the dirt ground, and drag you on your feet/hooves behind the masonry wall. As your vision clears, you witnessed the entire camp in a state of anarchy. Miners and stallions from the camp rebel against the Order influence. They fought back with the entry assault squad, that has sucessfully infiltrated the camp. Human miners, armed with their laser mining tools, overwhelm the Acolytes and steal their assault rifles. The cyborgs were disorderly from the unexpected assault. Stallions throw off their carrying bags. They buck the Acolytes with whatever remaining strength they had in their legs. Big Mac was dragged out from the complex from the left of you. He hinted some life inside his massive body, due to his slight moaning. After your vision completely regains back to normal, you observe the assault squads more attentively. The squad consisted of mix of humans and ponies, armed with assault rifles stolen from the Order. A few mares served as field medics for the squad. The assault rifles that the ponies carried were slightly modified for their own use. Refugees scurry out like frightened chickens from the blast entry point. The assault squads all wore brown uniforms that were lightly armored with metal sholder plates. The uniforms also contained combat helmets, with an antenna that protruded from the side. All of them contained a wrist mounted communication device, that you've later assumed it was for their headquarters. You were carried to Celestia's old castle keep, that was now abandoned by all royality. Segments of the castle were strategically bombed by the Order, after the events of the yellow cloud epidemic. The castle was now condemned to the public. It was boarded up and blocked off from the homeless of Ponyville. Until now. A muscular ex royal guard, dressed in the same brown combat uniform, intently blocks a section of a wall inside Celestia's chambers. One of the men dragging you, speaks a hidden pass phase to the ex royal guard: "I need gold" The guard nods his head and pressed on a brick inside Celestia's chambers. You hear a series of inner mechanical gears inside the stone wall move in synchronization. The guard moves out of the way from the section of wall he was protecting, to the right of Celestia's old throne. The wall lowers into the ground and reveals a lower hidden passageway. You were still weary from the concussive force of the bomb blast, but you make out flourescent lights mounted inside the dark tunnel. You are carried to a medical room inside a newly disclosed secret underground hideout. They carefully lay you out on a bed. The fatique from the events cause you to drift off to sleep. You reawaken inside the medical room, only to be greeted by Fluttershy examing your vital signs. She was dressed in doctor's scrubs, and she contained a stethoscope around her neck. You lift your head from the pillow to be greeted by her humble, mellow voice. Choose the following options if you: A) Previously formed a relationship with Fluttershy. B) Haven't formed a relationship, but just a friendship with her. A) "Oh my goodness! I was so worried that I would never see you again!" She shouts aloud. You were greeted by a series of kisses to your face. "Where am I....Flutters?" You ask her wearily while drifting your head. "Oh, right. Your inside a secluded underground base inside Celestia's castle. We are the last figment of hope for Humankind and Ponykind. Well....For every creature that's unaffected by the radiation. The rebels sucessfully breached the camp that you were held prisoner in. I wanted to inform you that Applejack finally made it back safely to Ponyville...But....Unfortunately her family in the south did not survive the yellow cloud epidemic. She's now working in the small arms department for this base. Rainbow Dash is requesting that you meet up with her ASAP. She is right around the corner, up the stairs to your right. I think she's planning for another assault on the Order soon..." "Alright, Thanks Flutters. I'll visit her as soon as I can regain my balance..." You pick yourself up from the bed. She lends her forehoof as support. You give her a quick kiss before leaving. She blushes from the sudden kiss, and quickly glances away in modesty. She has one last thing to say before you leave. "Good luck, sweetie. Stay safe....Please don't get hurt. I don't want to risk losing you again." She squeaks audibly as you close the door. "Thanks Flutters. I promise I will return to you in one piece." You return to her from the other side. B) "Oh, Im glad your finally awake. You've been out of it for quite a long time....." She notices you waking up on the bed. "Where am I....Fluttershy?" You ask her wearily while drifting your head. "Oh, right. Your inside a secluded underground base inside Celestia's castle. We are the last figment of hope for Humankind and Ponykind. Well....For every creature that's unaffected by the radiation. The rebels sucessfully breached the camp that you were held prisoner in. I wanted to inform you that Applejack finally made it back safely to Ponyville...But....Unfortunately her family in the south did not survive the yellow cloud epidemic. She's now working in the small arms department for this base. Rainbow Dash is requesting that you meet up with her ASAP. She is right around the corner, up the stairs to your right. I think she's planning for another assault on the Order soon..." "Alright, Thanks Flutters. I'll visit her as soon as I can regain my balance..." You pick yourself up from the bed. She lends her forehoof as support. You fall into her arms, and you hug Fluttershy unintentionally. She delightfully returns a warm hug to you. She has one last thing she says to you before you leave. "Good luck and stay safe.....If you dont mind." She squeak in modesty. "You can count on that." You tell her in return, as you close the door from behind. You walk up a flight of stairs located to the left of you. It spiraled upwards to the right of the second floor. To the left of the walkway, was the Front's insignia displayed nearby two rebel guards. You jog your way down the hallway at the top of the staircase, to finally meet up with Rainbow Dash. She was patiently waiting for you inside the command center. Her hoof grasped a high tech clipboard, displaying a holographic geometrical layout of Ponyville. Choose the following options if you: A) Formed a relationship with Rainbow Dash. B) Meet with her for your first assignment. A) "Tough guy! Oh man, am I glad to see you! Come over here, I have a special assignment just for you." She proudly offers aloud. You jog over to her hastefully, and greet her with a welcoming hug. She hugs you in return, and jabs you a playful punch on the arm. "In case Fluttershy hasn't informed you already, I organized this entire underground resistance base all by myself! There are many pockets of rebels out there just like us. We communicate only throught short wave on a hidden frequency. Don't worry, it's coded by our most brilliant scientific minds. We are the last flicker of hope for Ponyville. It seems like we still have the free will to oppose the Order. We have many able bodies, but uh.....We lack that one real problem solver that will give us the edge we need. Twilight doesn't count." She snickers to herself. "Im in Dashie. By the way, I am very impressed how you run this whole operation by yourself. Tell me what I need to do." You inform her without hesitation. "Excellent tough guy! I knew I could rely on you. I will give you your ComLink to our mentor, Blackmare. She will be your guide from here on out. Together, you will unlock the secrets of the Order and their ruthless servants." "So, where do I start?" You ask. "Our last raid on the Order was honestly quite a mess. I need you to accomplish several missions to prepare the way for more attacks on the Order. Most of our troops were captured, and are currently being held prisoner. I need you to free our prisoners...." "Sounds easy enough..." You tell her with self confidence. "That's the kind of enthusiasm this rebellion needs! You are so awesome!" She squeals like a school girl. Dash regains her bold posture after going off track. "Ahem, excuse me. Here, take this money and visit Applejack who supplies most of our weapons. Then, this key will get will get you in to see Mayor Mare. She's a corrupt puppet of the Order, but she loves to make deals. Do whatever you need to free our troops in arms." She hands the corresponding items over to you. "Sounds like a plan, I'll get going now....." "Wait! Before you go....." Dash interrupts you before leaving. She grabs you closer to her, and suddenly makes contact with your lips. The sudden kiss threw you off guard. Her magenta eyes closed seductively, while she whispers in your ear. "That's for good luck, tough guy. Now, move out soldier!" Dash dismisses you with a shout. You salute her before departing the command center. B) "Good! I'm glad your awake. Welcome to the Front! Come over here, I have a special assignment just for you." You jog over to her in haste, and give her a warm hug. She hugs you in return, and gives you a playful punch on the arm. "In case Fluttershy hasn't informed you already, I organized this entire underground resistance base all by myself! There are many pockets of rebels out there just like us. We communicate only throught short wave on a hidden frequency. Don't worry, it's coded by our most brilliant scientific minds. We are the last flicker of hope for Ponyville. It seems like we still have the free will to oppose the Order. We have many able bodies, but uh.....We lack that one real problem solver that will give us the edge we need. Twilight doesn't count." She snickers to herself. "Im in, Rainbow Dash. I impressed with the fact that you run this whole entire operation. Tell me what I need to do." You ask her, while you observe your surroundings. "Excellent! I knew I could rely on you. I will give you your ComLink to our mentor, Blackmare. She will be your guide from here on out. Together, you will unlock the secrets of the Order and their ruthless servants." Dash informs you. "So, where do I start?" You ask her. "Our last raid on the Order was honestly quite a mess. I need you to accomplish several missions to prepare the way for more attacks on the Order. Most of our troops were captured, and are currently being held prisoner. I need you to free our prisoners...." "Sounds easy enough..." "Good! I like your enthusiasm. Here, take this money and visit Applejack who supplies most of our weapons. Then, this key will get will get you in to see Mayor Mare. She's a corrupt puppet of the Order, but she loves to make deals. Do whatever you need to free our humans and ponies in arms." She hands the corresponding items over to you. "Sounds like a plan, I'll get going now....." "Alright! Move out! Fight for the Front and Freedom!"