//------------------------------// // Intermission: The Report // Story: The Last Hope of a Fallen Nation // by thehalfelf //------------------------------// Intermission: The Report     The small pegasus burst through the door, note clutched in his mouth.  Standing before the imposing figure in a black cloak, he saluted before spitting the letter out onto the ground.         “First scout Fleetwing’s report, Commander,” he said, hoof still glued to his face.     The commander chuckled, levitating over the scroll.  “Put your hoof down.  This isn’t boot camp, you don’t have to be so formal all the time.”     The messenger put his hoof down.  “Yes ma’am, sorry ma’am.  I mean...”  He took a deep breath, trying to ignore the chuckling of the pony in black.  “That is the report from Fleetwing in Canterlot.  He has one thing to add, The Spark is gone.”         The commander looked up, white ears perking forward.  “Explain.”     “Uh, well, it seems that nothing has been heard of The Spark for two days.  She isn’t hanging from the castle ramparts like the other dead prisoners, so Fleetwing seems to think she has escaped.”         “Anything else?”  the commander seemed anxious now, most likely to fill in the second in command.         “Just that our informant also either died or escaped.  No word has been heard from him in almost a year and a half.”     The commander looked over the message for a moment, before glancing to the corner where a dark shape loomed.  “Take your leave.”         The messenger saluted.  “Commander.”         As he walked out of the room, an orange earth pony walked over from the corner.  “Are we alone?”     “I hope so,” the commander said before throwing back her hood and planting a kiss on the tip of her second in command’s muzzle.  “I would hate to have any of the soldiers see that.”     “Ah’m not,” Applejack said, years of fighting doing nothing to her country twang.  She reached over and trapped the unicorn’s lips between her own.  The commander remained trapped in Applejack’s passionate kiss until she pulled back and said, “and Ah’d march right up ta The Big Bad Bug and do the same.  Honestly Rares, Ah just don’t see why ya are so keen on keepin’ us a secret.”     Rarity tossed her mane.  It wasn’t up to her usual standards, but one must make sacrifices when waging war.  “I just don’t want it to ruin our reputation, darling.”  She held up her hoof, halting the earth pony’s indignant reply.  “I just don’t want ponies not trusting you in your position just because we have something on the side.  It would be even worse if they would start to question my orders.  It is terrible evil, yes, but a necessary one love.”     Fearing her explanation wasn’t enough, Rarity leaned forward and nuzzled into the orange coat before her.  It was an underhooved move, but the fashionista knew that Applejack simple couldn’t stay mad at her if Rarity was touching her.         Much to Rarity’s surprise, Applejack gently but firmly pushed her away.  “Sugarcube, when this is all over...”         Rarity smiled.  “Darling, I shall proclaim it from the highest tower in Canterlot.”  She giggled at her marefriend’s blush.  “Alas, we must go back to work...”  She glanced over the report, experience leading her sapphire eyes in a dance across the page.  “Ok, there is good news and bad news.  Which would you prefer first?”         Applejack grinned, a dangerous grin.  “Ah’m in a gamblin’ mood.  Bad news.”     “Well, the changeling bastion in Fillydelphia seems to be working diligently on something.  My bits say that they are converting to the latest edition of that dreadful defense strategy.  Obviously, what hold we still had on the city is going to be lost sometime soon.”         Applejack nodded.  “Ah figured as much.  Didn’t think we really had a chance there.”     “I adore your attitude darling.”  She rolled her eyes before continuing.  “Ok, the team sent into Ponyville managed to retrieve the rest of Twilight’s metamagic books.”  Applejack caught Rarity's attention mid-sentence.  Unspoken words flew between the two.  “I know, it is a long shot, but if she does...”         “Sugarcube, Ah hope as much as the rest of ‘em that she does, but if she did die...”     “Hush.  If Queen Chrysalis had in fact killed her, don’t you think she would have bragged about it?  If you think about it, Twilight is the last symbol of the old regime.  She was the Princess’ prize pupil, after all.”  Rarity started to continue, then stopped again and looked up.  “She will probably want to know the news.”         Applejack nodded.  “That’s where Ah was headed.  Anythin’ else Ah need to know about?”     Rarity beamed.  “Just that the changeling forces in Manehatten seem to have routed, and are scattered across the countryside.”         “Uh, what...?”  Applejack was stunned speechless.     The white unicorn bounded forward and wrapped her marefriend in a hug, causing Applejack to bounce along with her.  “I know, it is such wonderful news.  Things are finally looking up.”     As much as she didn’t want to, Applejack extracted herself from the iron grip of her commander.  “Well, Ah’m off to talk to the Princesses.  Keep me updated, alright?”     Rarity put her cloak back on.  “Of course, darling.  And hurry back, we might be packing.  Wait, one more thing!”  The farmer-turned-warrior turned back to the black-clad unicorn in the room. “Yeah?” “Cadence and her army have made it to the border of Equestria.  She says they march on Vanhoover within the end of the month.  If Twilight is alive, pray that she makes it back before then.” Rarity looked over at the mare in the door.  Everypony who knew her knew that she tended to over exaggerate things, but she had never looked more serious than she did now.  “She may be the only one who has a chance, because we both know that things look better now, but if we don’t get some good help soon, everything we worked so hard to achieve will be ruined.” Applejack solemnly nodded her head.  “Ah know, and Ah pray every night.  Fer the safety of Equestria, and fer Twi’.”