//------------------------------// // A fuck up in Canterlot // Story: The bird in the crow family // by InedibleBeef //------------------------------// Jay could hear the double doors swing open, and everyone in the temple stood up. A royally dressed Cadence walked regally down the red carpet, her two bridesmaids on either side of her. ‘Here comes the bride’ sounded throughout the room. Eventually she took her place right in front of Shining Armor, beside Princess Celestia and Luna. He felt bad for himself, since his combat loadout was the most ceremonial thing that he and Will could think of. All the ponies dressed in the most expensive things he could imagine, and he’s just sitting here in multicam, Rifle to bear on his back and pistol at ready. “Be seated” Celestia said in her trademark motherly voice. Everyone obeyed. “We are gathered here in great happiness to celebrate the wonderful union of Stallion and Mare. Both are which of are very important to the royal family.” She smiled. “Our wonderful niece has met a very lucky stallion, and she is lucky herself to meet this said stallion.” Jay couldn’t help but hear something approaching him. It was obviously in the distance, but that was not possible. The sound was extremely distinctive, like blades chopping through air. Oh Jay snapped his head at Will, who had an equally shocked face on. Will slowly reached to his shoulder pouch, where his MBITR was clipped in and turned it on volume on ever the smallest amount. “We’ve got a visual on the target. The wedding is in progress.” “Phoenix and hawkeye have been spotted. I repeat, we found the missing unit.” Everyone shot them looks of death, they had heard their radio. “Be advised! We’re too late, changeling assault is imminent! This place is packed with civvies, so watch your fire. That also means guns and knives only.” The crowd gasped, and Will took action. He increased the volume and drew his rifle. “Everybody down!” He shouted. “I will spend an eternity in hell for this.” “The changeling have broken through the outer shield, they’re dropping into the city. Awaiting orders.” A familiar voice spoke on the line. “This is princess Cadence, engage the changelings and protect the ponies at all costs. I have some personal conflicts to settle with the changeling queen.” “We’re with you ma’am. Ten seconds until deployment.” “Cadence?!” Luna exclaimed. ~~ The MH-6 sped through the front border of the city, heading straight for the Celestial temple. A whole line of other helicopters accompanied them, flying in infantry and delivering them to the streets. They could already see rebels defending civilian ponies from changeling forces. “Five seconds!” The rebels readied their weapons as the black hawk hovered over the roof. Ropes were dropped on either side and everyone readied themselves for the drop. They hooked in, including Cadence, lacking the need since she had wings. Also, Huey no longer needed to carry her everywhere. “Lets go!” The first man of each rope rappelled out. ~~ Both humans had everyone on the ground save for the princesses who were demanding answers for what was going on. When the black hawk hovered over the roof, all hell broke loose. Or so they thought up until fully loaded urban operators broke though the windows and trained their weapons on anything that moved. Though most of the ponies were too terrified to move. More and more operators swung in and landed with ease in the room. “On the ground!” One screamed at the princesses, his weapon pointing straight at them. “How dare you?” Cadence challenged. “How dare YOU?!” Cadence shouted at her own projection. The bride looked at Cadence, dressed in an olive vest and a messy mane. She was surrounded by armed, tall and bulky humans all loyal to her. Her eyes shot looks of pure anger. “What? How did you escape the hive?” Cadence hissed. “I didn’t escape” She shot back. “What is going on?” Jay, Will and all the princesses asked. “She’s a fake, a changeling. She takes the form of somepony you love and gains power by feeding off your love for them!” Queen Chrysalis’s strings were pulled, her eyes flashed neon green and she ditched the Cadence projection. A mass of green light sprung fro the ground blinding everyone in the room, catching them off guard. Suddenly, the light ceased and a menacing Chrysalis stood in place. She bellowed a painfully cliché evil laugh, “Right you are princess, and as queen of the changelings it is up to me to find food for my subjects. Equestria has more love than any place I’ve ever encountered, my fellow changelings will be able to devour so much of it, that we will be able to gain more power than we ever dreamed of!” She laughed again. Will shouted in rage, not only did he feel like he pulled the pin to a flashbang on his chest, but this… whatever this was wanted to overthrow the Equestrian throne. He stood up and pulled his pistol, but Chrysalis was quicker. She electrocuted him with a spark spell, sending him back down. “Fool! They will never get past Shining Armor’s protection spell!” Cadence shouted. “Hahaha! He is under my control now… isn’t that right dear?” Chrysalis stroked Shining Armor’s chin. “Mmhmm” Shining armor mumbled. “No! Cadence cried and collapsed to the ground. “Chrysalis!” Celestia shouted. “You may have made Canterlot vulnerable to attack, but now that you have so foolishly revealed yourself, I can protect my subjects from you!” She took to the air and fired a bright gold bean from her horn. Chrysalis responded with a green beam of her own, colliding with Celestia’s. At first, Celestia oppressed the queen with her power, but Chrysalis doubled her power and turned the tides in a matter of seconds. Celestia stuttered, noticing the green beam of magic was mere inches from her horn. She was too late, the beam barley touched her, then completely engulfing her in pain. She was hammered to the floor, horn smoking. “Tia!” Luna exclaimed. She bent to her side. “Don’t worry about me,” Celestia whispered, “Get the elements of harmony and bring her down.” Tears welled up in Luna’s eyes, she watched her sister pass out right in front of her. “That will do nothing! My force is too powerful.” Chrysalis boasted. On cue, gunfire erupted from the outside. Chrysalis groaned. “Minions! Tie these creatures up!” She pointed to the group of dazed humans. About half of the wedding crowd morphed into changelings and tried to tame the humans. All of them resisted, but not many made through. Jay stood up shaking, the image of a changeling trying to restrain him sent only one message to his brain, and only one reaction. Attack. He spun around to the changeling and pistol-whipped him in the neck, then he fired on the other two oncoming insects. He made a move to shoot at the others, but was thrown out the window by a magical aroura. All the blood in his body could be felt rushing to his head, He held on to his rifle tightly, as if it was a child. And for the first time, he thought he was actually going to die. Closing his eyes, he waited for what version of hell awaited him, but something smashed him in the ribs. He cried out in agony before he was again smacked on the ground. This time he tried to scream, but he had no air in his lungs. “Oh no! I’m so sorry!” A familiar voice cried out. “Its fine Luna! Bring cheese legs down!” Jay replied, chuckling at his own nickname for the odd creature. “But I hurt you badly!” Luna wailed. Jay looked down at his chest and removed his hand clutching the injury. It was bright red with blood. A compound fracture. “Ugh” Jay groaned and fell to his knees while the pain came crashing down on him. “Wait, I think I can fix it!” Luna said, charging her horn. “Do it quick” Luna used her extreme healing spell, and saw his blood recall itself back into the wound and the bone moving back in the right place, and then his skin began to grow back and change its color to a light brown, matching with the rest of his body. Finally, although Luna wasn’t sure how, his clothes sewed itself back together again matching the colors around it. Jay watched in amazement, “We need unicorn medics.” He decided. He stood up, and felt nothing. “Yup definitely more unicorn medics. Thank you.” Luna chuckled. The ear splitting crack of gunfire snapped them both to attention. They turned to the rebels attacking a group of helpless changelings. “Hey!” Jay picked himself up and motioned for Luna to follow. “Hey, freindlies coming in!” The rebels lowered their rifles and turned their attention to Jay. “You!” One shouted. “Jay Sparks?” “That’s me” Jay replied. “You’re in charge of all of us for now. Boss’s orders.” Jay exhaled, “Okay… Princess Luna” He pointed at Luna. “Protect her. We’re going to breach the upper floor of the castle.” The team immediately got to work, most were already on their way to the nearest entrance while some radioed command for assistance. “We’ve got marksmen on the rooftops waiting for our go.” The captain informed them. “Good” Jay said, leading them to the door. Everyone stacked up and the support class planted a charge. Just as he was about to trigger it, six ponies burst through the door, catching everyone off guard and them raising their weapons. They immediately stepped back in fear. “Stand down!” Jay shouted. All obeyed, but held their defensive stance. “How did you all get out of that?” He asked them. “We barley did,” Twilight said. “We need to get to the elements if we are to save Canterlot!” Jay remembered their whole purpose and what the elements were for. “Alright new plan. Redirecting to the elements of harmony.” “Elements of what?” a young rebel asked them. Just when Jay was about to scold him for questioning orders, Twilight answered him. “The Elements of harmony will push out any violent attackers in the city.” The rebels looked confused. “Wouldn’t that kill us?” The young one countered. Twilight drooped. “B-but you’re friendly, right?” “No, were killing the changelings on the streets.” The rebel retorted. Silence came over them for a moment before a marksman interrupted them. “Hey are you gonna do something or what?” “He’s right. We have to do this the hard way.” Jay said, Reaching for his radio. “Were on it.” He said through the mic. “Lets go” They swept through the foyer of the castle, distant gunfire and their footsteps accompanying them. They crossed the lobby and proceeded to the stairs. “Aw damn, by the time we get up there, we’re gonna be out of it.” ~~ Changelings restrained Will on either side. They lined up all the humans to be questioned. One at a time the queen would beat them for answers and get nothing. Although most of the forms of beating were weak by human standards. However unfortunately for them, Chrysalis was growing to realize this. Will was finally forced next to Huey, his friend from camp firebird. “Hey Will.” He said flatly. “Hey Huey” Will replied just as flat. “We’re in some deep shit you know Will?” Huey muttered. “Yeah, I know.” Will said as he watched Chrysalis summon a loaded crossbow and a quiver from thin air and handed it to the changeling captain. “Deep shit” Huey repeated as the changeling aimed at an operator. Will glanced over at Cadence, who was embracing an oblivious Shining Armor. “Hey Cadence!” He said in a hushed voice. She turned his way. ‘Read my mind’ He mouthed. I am her voice rang in his head. They’re not lookin, can you take off my cuffs with your magic? We might have a chance to break out. Cadence looked at him uneasily, Okay, I’ll try. Will could feel the ropes moving around his wrists, eventually coming loose enough for one hand to wriggle out of. Thanks Cadence nodded, then her eyes shot open. “LOOK OUT!” But she was too late, the crossbow bolt penetrated straight through the operators body and onto the wall behind him. He screamed in pain and fell to the floor, blood oozing on the floor. Will growled in anger bit his tongue in order to not pull his pistol. He squinted at the changeling that shot the operator. The changeling was going to shoot the next man in line, but a bolt of his own pierced the head of the changeling, painting the wall green. An explosion sounded, and the huge double doors were blasted open and rebels stormed the room, guns blazing. Will decided it would be a good time to participate in the massacre of changelings and pulled his pistol, also ripping out Huey’s and opened fire. Shooting randomly into the group of the insects. Almost all of them fell in a matter of moments, the rest were cowering in fear. Chrysalis was furious, her best soldiers were being slaughtered in front of her. That was, until she took a bullet to her leg. Her vision blurred and she screamed, the gunfire lasted for what seemed like hours until it stopped. “Medic!” the rebels called for their injured friend. Field doctors got to work on the rebel, and Celestia. One was shining a flashlight into Shining Armors eyes. Eventually, an enraged Huey approached Chrysalis, shotgun in hand. “Wedding crash” He said as he pressed the barrel against her head and pulled the trigger. ~~ “Be advised, they are fleeing the city, let them. Bring all injured to sector C grid 4-09 pony and human alike.” The MBITR sounded as Jay drove a medical truck recklessly down the streets of Canterlot. He thanked the builders for making the streets so wide, or else he would have crashed about five times. He could feel the ponies and the injured rebels they had picked up on the way playing jello against their will. He was driving to the temporary medical camp, which was situated right outside the local hospital. He eventually had to slow down because of the rebels carrying their injured friends and civilian ponies were scattered along the streets. They parted and made room, and Jay took the opportunity to drive through. There were numerous green shelters set up, and under them were field doctors working furiously on the innumerable patients. The employees helped the humans on the pony patients and vice versa. Jay stopped in front of the tents and killed the engine, jumping out of the drivers seat. He opened the back of the truck and the ponies literally fell out like goo while the rebels carried each other to the tents. “I am never doing that again.” Twilight muttered, fighting the urge to vomit. Jay ignored her and helped Will carry a marksman with a stab wound to the nearest tent. A pony nurse was waiting for them at the entrance. Right behind them, two more rebels carried an injured pony to the same tent. “Get him in!” Will shouted as the nurse passed them through. “I’m sorry but you all have to wait.” The nurse informed them. “No! The marksman cried. “Let them through!” Jay and Will stopped, and looked at the nurse. “But sir you’re hu- “Bullshit! Let them through.” He shouted. The nurse shifted uneasily. “Okay,” She let the pony go through and Jay and Will to carry the marksman back outside. “Jay set him down and get some bandages!” Will ordered. Jay did as told, retrieving the bandages from the truck. The ponies still wobbly from the bumpy ride. Once again, Jay ignored them and continued on to Will putting pressure on the marksman’s wound. He unraveled the bandages and applied them to the now elevated leg, tightly wrapping them around it. They then proceeded to put more pressure on his leg and force feed him painkillers and antibiotics until he stopped moaning in agony. “Hey, help us here!” Another militant cried out for Will and Jay. “Look after him” Jay said to the ponies as he ran off under a shelter. A rebel lay on the table, multiple burns and stabs covered his body. The entire table was painted a bright red with blood, and a pool of the liquid formed below. “He’s losing a lot of blood.” The pony doctor wailed. Obviously overwhelmed with the current situation. “I can see. We need some kind of rag,” Will said. “Give me your apron.” He said. The surgeon didn’t argue, but removed his already stained apron hastily and handed it over to Will, although he wasn’t sure about what he intended to do with it. But he honestly couldn’t care less. Will unsheathed his knife and cut a large portion off, balled it up and held it against the largest wound. “Hold this” He told the doctor, who complied. He continued cutting off pieces of the apron. Meanwhile Jay prepared a defibrillator because he knew he already needed it. “He’s got no pulse.” Jay deadpanned, holding two fingers on the bottom of his jaw. “Shock him then!” Will shouted desperately. Jay didn’t need to be told twice, he charged the device and placed it over his heart. The body shook violently before Jay pulled away and checked his pulse again. Still nothing. Jay charged the defibrillator again, furiously rubbing the two pads together and forced them directly over his heart. Again, his body nearly jumped off the table in the shock. Jay checked his pulse, nothing. “Dammit!” He blared. Slamming his fists on the table. “Jay…” He did not answer instead he picked up the defibrillator and began charging it again. “Jay!” Will shouted, snapping him. “He’s gone now.” Jay exhaled and set the defibrillator down, turning it off. He looked at the rebels face, half of it was burnt off from a magical spell. His eyes and mouth were wide open. He passed his had over his eyes, shutting them and closed his mouth. Cursing himself, he sat against a supply crate and stared at the life he failed to save until Cadence paced over. She stared at the body with the saddest eyes he had ever seen. “Is he…” She whimpered. “Yes” Will sighed. Cadence’s eyes watered, she covered her mouth with her hoof. “Is not your fault.” Jay said, knowing that was exactly what she felt. He had seen too many recruits blame themselves for the deaths of others. She sobbed and said nothing. All who were not being treated or were treating stared on at their first casualty, bowing their heads. While the bustling of the medical teams and the cries of the injured sounded, there was a silence for the one who had fallen.