//------------------------------//
// Chapter 10 
// Story: A Hero's 'Tail' 
// by Garamond 
//------------------------------//

I flew through the chilly morning air as fast as I could, trying to keep the map from fluttering too much. As I soared I took notes, drawing lines indicating the Bryant Army’s spread. I scribbled X’s here and there to represent enemy companies, writing numbers next to the X’s to indicate troop amounts. 
After about thirty minutes Rainbow came out to watch me work.

“Hey there, slick. Brought you some breakfast,” she said, opening a saddlebag and tossing me a coffee muffin.

I put my chalk behind my ear. Catching it, I dug into it gratefully, bittersweet flavor filling my mouth with happiness.

“Thanks, Rainbow. Oatmeal smoothies taste good, but ain’t much for ya,” I quipped, thankful for the snack. 

“I know whatcha mean. Nice to see you lightening up,” she replied, biting into her own pastry. 

“Thanks again. Want to see what I’ve drawn up so far? These lines represent the army’s general territory, with the X’s being actual troops. Sort of like a connect-the-dot game.” 

Rainbow laughed at my analogy. “Well, Quicksilver. When you’re finished come back quickly. We’ve got much to do, and little time.” 

I nodded. “I’m just about done here. We can head back now, before everypony starts worrying about me.” 

With that we took off, back towards town.

***

I landed in Ponyville Square, RD having gone off on some other errand.

Grit trotted up to me, clipboard trapped within the folds of a wing. “We’re ready to go. The Valiant Braves’ will be running an assault as well, on the basis of your map.” 

Twilight plodded up. “May I borrow your atlas for a spell?”

With my permission, she took my ‘atlas’ from my saddlebag and began copying my notes onto her own. Soon she hoofed it back to me. 

I unfurled it on a folding table set out for us, pointing to a black X with lines pointing to a medium sized town, nestled in the valley between two mountains. “There’s a large force there: 6 tanks, 10 APC’s, 2 mortar tows, and a cadre of B copters. All headed to Bardigiano.”

“Wait, B Copters?”

“Combat helicopters, Grit. I found a bunch of vehicle flashcards in the bottom storage box of the APC.” I chuckled at his dumbfounded face, returning to the map.

“I have a feeling this company is going to flatten Bardigiano, using the newly created opening in the Equestrian defense grid to flood the rest of the area with soldiers. Afterwards Bryant’s forces will probably coalesce here.” 

I pointed to a flat, light green section of the map, “and move on to assault Canterlot from the top of the Breadcrumb Flats.” 

Grit’s eyes widened. “They’re going to shell Canterlot! How fast are they moving?” 

I pondered for a second, trying desperately to remember how fast the enemy army appeared to be making progress this morning. 

“I’d say 15 kilometers an hour. They were 4 kilometers out about 45 minutes ago. Oh buck!” I exclaimed, a realization dawning on me. “Grit! Load up, NOW! They’re attacking as we speak!”