I was sat around the table with the other captains and Mac, listening to some of the stories about Swift Kicker and his attempts to impress Celestia, in the hopes of....well you know. It had continued until he met Ida Red when she was visiting Canterlot one weekend. He saw her at a dance on a Friday night.....then shirked his duty over the weekend to find her. He ended up with a month of KP duty, but had always said it was worth it. Mac reached up above the fire place and pulled down a picture frame, handing it to me. Or is that hoofing?
It was a picture of a hospital room, and there were six ponies in it. A teenage Mac and AJ stood to the side next to Granny Smith and a baby Applebloom was being held by her mother. On the other side of the bed was a stallion much larger than Mac now, wearing a guard captain uniform, and I had no doubt's that he was probably the strongest stallion alive, which he has more than likely passed on to Mac.
Turns out AJ was a spitting image of her mother, except she has green eyes, and her mother had deep blue ones and her mane was a deep red. Placed on her head was the Stetson currently hanging up by the door. So much for it being her fathers. I passed the picture back to Mac, who just sat there staring at it. A minute later and Applebloom had jumped in to his lap and was looking at the picture with him.
I felt a tap on my should and turned to meet Twilight's gaze. “Would you please speak with me?” I nodded and we walked out on to the back porch, where we found a bench to sit on. “That was beautiful what you said back there. Where did it come from?”
I pulled out the bible from my pocket and passed it to her. “This is the holy script of my religion. I've never been much for it, but we all need some sort of belief. You put down in your book that I seemed to have a high set of morals, and most of them come from that book indirectly.”
“You see my religion, Christianity, is split. There are those who follow that book almost to the letter, and those who are more liberal about it. My father is from the liberals, and my mother from the others. Her family sent her to a church school, so she had to learn about it, whether she wanted to or not. My father was a soldier himself, so my mother was left to bring me and my brother up by herself most of the time. She taught me right from wrong to the best of her abilities.”
“She sounds like a wonderful pony...er, person.”
“She is. I haven't really thought about it much, but I miss her. I've been away from home for far longer, but I always had a way back.....”
“I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring that up. I'm sure we'll find away."
"Lady Sparkle, do not worry about it. If I can't return home at some point, at least I have found a world worth defending."
"What about your father?”
“My dad? Heh, he's an asshole. But he's MY asshole. We may not always see eye to eye, but something seemed to click when I joined up. We still clash, but it's mainly over which service is the better, Army, or Air Force.”
“And what of you brother? Is he like you?”
“No, he's almost the opposite of me. Self centred, arrogant, ignorant...the list goes on. We didn't speak much due to some events back home. I won't bore you with the details, but it got so bad that I trust complete strangers more than him. Be glad he did not turn up here.”
“Why is that? We may have been able to help him.”
“The first time you saw me, what did you do?”
“I put a shield around you to protect us....and you. Not that it helped.”
“Did you see me point my weapon at you?”
“You pointed....your weapon at me?”
“I was preparing to defend myself. If you had attacked my with any kind of magic, then neither of us would be here today. There is the difference between me and my brother. He would have shot you without a second thought as soon as your horn started to glow.”
“Coming out of FTL flight in five......four......three......two......one. Shutting down ship drives. Opening cooling vents. Engines?”
“Engines cooling. Currently at seven thousand degrees Celsius, and falling. Navigation?”
“Checking galactic co-ordinates and cross referencing with star charts. Done. Position is half way between Sol and the Horsehead Nebula, just as predicted. Reorientating....course corrected. Destination is laid in for the Rosetta Nebula. Ready to go when the engines have cooled. Weapons?”
“Weapons are still offline, can be powered up in thirty seconds if we need them. Not likely, but we are travelling in a faster than light spaceship from Halo to a planet with freaking talking horses on it, so yeah....anyway, status report complete sir.”
“Thank you Daniel for that oh so colourful commentary. Well, we've got around twenty hours before the engines are cool enough for another jump. We'll take four hour watches, the rest can get some sleep. Daniel, you can take first watch. The rest of you, get your heads down.”
“Yes sir.”
“How can there be such a difference between siblings?”
“I don't know. My mother keeps trying to work out where she went wrong, but I always sat the her 'if you raised us wrong, then how come I'm not the same?'”
“If you don't mind me asking, how are you not the same?”
“That little thing we have called choice. I saw what kind of person my brother was from an early age, and I chose not to be like that.”
“Do you have any children?”
“Kids? Me, no I haven't. My brothers got one, with possibly two others but we're not sure. And I wouldn't trade my niece for the world. You're her favourite you know?”
“What do you mean 'favourite'?”
“Remember when I told you that you were stories in my world? Well they took the myths and made a kid show about them. It started about two years ago......and it's mainly about you and you friends.”
“Did you say........two years ago?”
“Yes I did, why.......” I didn't have time to ask as Twilight ran back inside leaving me on the bench. A moment later, Shining Armour and the other six had me surrounded. “Gentlecolts. How may I help you?”
“I'm sorry, but we're going to have to ask you to surrender your weapons, and then follow us back to castle.”
“May I ask why?”
“Celestia had a glimpse of your world during Nightmare Moon's return, and she was disturbed by the amount of hatred coming from you world for one another. It may have happened the other way and others on your world saw our existence.”
“And if I refuse?”
“Then we shall do what's necessary.”
“I see. Well then, it appears we have a problem.” I was preparing to run when Spike came sprinting over the hill and headed straight to Shining Armour. He handed him a letter which he then showed to me.
Canterlot Castle,
Changelings attacking
Holding them off, but they
have reinforcements. Not everypony
is fighting. Some are just standing
there! Please, send help!!
We are going to lose the city!!
Private Bright Spark
Manehatten Guard.
“You still want to arrest me?”
“I have my orders. We didn't realise that was your world at the time, but Princess Celestia decreed that anyone from your world arriving here would be detained.”
“And you're just going to throw my skill set away when you need it most?”
“No, Captain Fire Rain, I am not.” Celestia walked out of the farmhouse. “You are not like most of your world. I can sense some hatred from you, but it is not for others of your kind. It is for those that deserve and escape justice. I know the doctor has not signed you back to active duty, but we need you now. Gather your squad, a train leaves for Manehatten in an hour.”
“What about my gear?”
“It has been delivered to the guard station. And our magicologists have managed to do something that might help. If they are right, you will never have to 'reload' again.”
“Yes ma'am. We'll take back the city.”
“Captain Armour, head back to Canterlot and gather all available guards, then head to Manehatten. Show no mercy. I shall remain here with the Elements.”
“It will be done your majesty.”
We both turned and ran, him straight towards the station with the others, and after getting the others, me towards the guard station.
We stepped off the train around ten miles from Manehatten. Something had destroyed the tracks so we couldn't just ride in anyway. I put the squad in to a rough arrowhead formation and we started marching, a purpose and destination in mind.
As we crested a hilltop, we all came to a stop. The entire city was covered in a black substance, and you could make out where buildings were, but not what they looked like. “We're too late. My home....it belongs to the Changelings.”
“Corporal Starfyre, are you still alive?”
“Yes sir.”
“And do you still have blood pumping through your veins?”
“Yes sir.”
“Then until you don't, the Changelings haven't won anything. Do you know why?”
“No sir, I don't.”
“Because we have something to fight for. It is not for ourselves. It is not for our friends and family. It is for those ponies, strangers, trapped inside. WE MUST SUCCEED FOR THEIR SAKE. AND UNTIL I FEEL THE LAST OF MY BREATH ESCAPING ME, I WILL FIGHT. WILL YOU?”
They all looked at each other and then came to attention. “SIR, YES SIR!!”
“Good, now lets see if I can find us a way in.” I unslung my sniper rifle and looked over the valley between us and the city. There was a river bed in along it that led right up to the walls. “Starfyre, what exactly is your talent? When you helped me in Canterlot, you started to glow.”
“When I get fast enough, the air around me starts to displace. Violently.”
“Good, I want you, Cannon Bolt and Jet Streak running distraction through the air. If you see a Changeling, I don't want you to hesitate, understand?”
“Yes sir.”
“Good. The rest of us will use the river bed as cover and get right up to the wall. If there isn't a way in, Hammer, you make us a way in. The rest will head to the centre, that's where the one in charge will be. Any questions?”
“No sir.”
“Good, lets move out.” I left the sniper on the ridge to show we had been there and took a L85 with me. These egghead ponies had given me a magazine covered in runes, which was linked to a feeder system back in Canterlot, I had one for each weapon. The only thing that would stop me firing now is when it overheated. They had also managed to salvage my HUD from my busted GSR. It had been trimmed down and smoothed off. It now hung over my right eye and when paired with my helmet, it looked like the one the marines had in the first Halo. And all the software was still working, which would be handy if I had to fire from the hip.
We made good time to the city wall as the pegasi provided us with a good distraction. Streak and Bolt would get the Changelings attention and then lead them towards Starfyre, who would fly at them. When the air around him exploded, the sky was full of falling Changelings. We could tell that where we were there should have been a gateway in, but it was covered in that black substance.
I had Hammer buck part of the wall, and he managed to make a hole big enough for us to go through. I went in first rifle ready for any signs of trouble. It was empty inside, but the whole scene was......eerily familiar.
I looked at the passages and saw that they were quite small, which was not a good thing for us. “Hammer, Feather, return to the hilltop and await the reinforcements.”
“But sir....”
“Look at these tunnels, do you think you can fit down them.....quietly?!
“.....no sir.”
“Then get back and take command of the next batch of troops. Use my authority if you have to, but if we fail, then it will be up to you.”
“Yes sir.”
“Strike, Nova, let's move.” We started down one of the tunnels that led straight to the city centre. “Nova, what's you talent? I've got a guess, but I need to hear it.”
“I can create small supernovas, the biggest can wipe this city off the map.”
“Can you tune it to a specific species?”
“Yes sir, I can. And I scanned a Changeling during their invasion of Canterlot.”
“When we get to the centre, you start charging it up. Me and Strike will cover you. Until then, no more talking, we're going to need all of our senses.” They both nodded and we continued on our way.
Two hours later and we had made it to the centre of the city. If it was a normal day, then this would have been a wide open space, but the Changeling structure covered everything, and even had a roof over the top. We managed to get so far with only one minor incident. Whilst walking along I stood on a Changeling and it started to wake. Putting my weight down crushed it's neck, so it didn't have time to call for help. It was then that we noticed the Changelings asleep in the walls and got extra careful.
In the centre of what would have been their equivalent of Central Park stood a thirty foot monolith, which had a weird blue glow to it. We approached cautiously until I made out something inside it at the bottom. There was a blue unicorn mare with a two tone grey mane. Her cutie mark was a moon and wand and her horn was glowing. Trixie. But why is she helping Changelings? Her eyes shot open and connected with mine.
“Help......me......”
This must have been how they took the city, used her illusion magic to trick the ponies and then struck. No wonder they weren't fighting back. I tried to pry some of the black substance away, but with no success. I tried time and time again with the same effect. I looked in to Trixie's face with shame....I couldn't save her. Strike nudged me from the side and pointed to my rifle. I looked at it and then back to Trixie. She just closed her eyes and nodded.
I raised it up and took aim, clicking the safety off. “Nova, how long?”
“Five minutes max sir.”
“Strike, you think you can keep it up that long?”
“Yes sir.”
“Nova, start summoning.” I turned back to Trixie who had reopened her eyes whilst waiting. “I'm sorry.” I don't know if she heard me, but she just shut her eyes and nodded again. I squeezed the trigger.
We saw the effects right away, the monolith stopped glowing, and the walls took on a angry droning and looked like they were moving. I looked around and saw black swarms heading towards us. “Here they come. Strike, keep attacking as long as you can.”
“Yes sir.” I switched my rifle to automatic and began firing.
Shining Armour had managed to gather over five hundred soldiers and ex soldiers. When the news spread, even those discharged for injury in duty had answered the call. At first he refused, but they would not leave, so they all headed down to the train station and headed out. Now just cresting a hill top in full battle armour, they came across the humans weapon, abandoned in the grass. Hushed whispering started until on voice spoke louder than the others.
“Look at Manehatten.....do you think the Changelings left anything of them?”
“Soldier, you have not seen Captain Fire Rain in action. If they attacked him, this hill would be slick with blood. They are still alive.”
“You're correct Captain Armour.” They all turned their attention to the unicorn and earth pony coming up the hill from the city's side.
“Lieutenant Feather. Where is everypony else?”
“Starfyre, Jet Streak and Cannon Bolt are in the air taking out all Changelings they can.” A few explosions sounded and they saw flashes in the sky. “And doing a very good job of it. Strike, Nova and Captain Rain went inside to take out the leader.”
There were three thuds as the pegasi landed, and Streak spoke up. “Look, they're all heading back, And I can see why.” They looked to the sky above Manehatten and to what appeared to be a small sun, growing larger every second. “They're going back to stop whoever that is.”
“I hope Captain Rain is a lucky as we think, he's going to need it.”
Shining Armour looked at the gathered soldiers on the hill. “Remember what Celestia said, No Mercy!!! If any Changelings try to escape, shut them down. If the ball disappears, then we will move in. Until then, get some rest.”
“Sir, there's too many of them. We can't keep this up!” We had backed up to a wall so that we could funnel them in to our attacks.
“If you die in here Strike, I'm going to kill you!!! We need to do this!!” The barrel of my rifle was glowing hot, and it was affecting my aim. Not that it mattered, I had fired hundreds of rounds at thousands of targets and not one missed. But more Changelings kept coming. All of a sudden I was knocked over from the side and swarmed by them, but a blue blur swung across me and knocked them back, before they all fell over from multiple sword wounds.
The rest fell back and started to circle us, occasionally probing our defences. A female voice sounded from above and behind us. “Hello boys. Do you need a hoof?” Looking up, I saw a teal mare standing on her hind legs on top of the wall, one hoof in front of the other, her wings on full display, and attached to her forelegs were gauntlets that had swords on them. “Swift Gale, at your service Captain.”
“Nova, how long?”
“Just another minute sir.”
“Swift Gale, we need to keep them away from him for a minute. Can you help?”
“Of course sir.” With that, she took off in to the swarms in a blur and Changelings started to drop in droves.
“Strike, concentrate on the ones on the ground!”
“Yes sir.”
“Captain Armour, how does the battle fare?”
“Princess Luna, I thought you were staying with the Bearers?”
“That is my sister, not me. Hence why I am in my battle dress.” As Armour looked over her, he spotted a sword sheathed through a belt around her middle. “Now the battle, when will it be joined?”
“It depends on whether that ball of fire in the sky disappears or......” He trailed off as it started to descend, slowly at first but gaining speed.
“The fools!! We sent them to save the city, not destroy it!!!!”
They watched in shock as it impacted the ground, sending out a light that was too bright to look at and a pressure wave that knocked over any unsuspecting pony on the hill. When they could open their eyes again, the Changeling structure still stood.....but it was getting smaller and the Manehatten skyline soon came in to view.
“They did it. I don't know how, but they did it!!”
