//------------------------------//
// Five 
// Story: Fighting Back the Beast 
// by Mr Anomalous 
//------------------------------//


FIVE


"That's a lot of treasure."

"Yeah...how are we going to carry it all?"

"More than one trip?"

"More than one trips are for pussies."

"Do you want all of this?"

"I'm not getting all of it, we're splitting it up."

"Well, yeah, I know, but...you know what I mean."

"Maybe I don't. Details."

"I just expect you to not be an idiot. Looks like I need to re-state my assumptions."

"Hey there, be nice."

"Anyway, you know what I mean."

"Maybe..."

"Whatever. How are we going to move all of this?"

"Maybe instead of killing the dragon, we could enslave it and use it to carry all of it back to Helghan, and then kill it."

"Bit cruel."

"I was joking. You know that."

"Maybe I don't-"

"Knock it off!" one of the heavy troopers called, "You're annoying all of us!"

Zyve and Sycth pouted and went silent. They were really, really bored. Not for much longer though...

"Men! I have a visual! Battle stations!"

"That's more like it! Come on!"

Oresteil made sure that his weapon was charged and that the rest of the troops were ready. He watched as Commander Stromm slid into the tank, ready to command it. This was going to be fun.

The heavy trooper who had spotted the dragon in the first place scuttled down the entrance, as fast as he could with all of that heavy armor, and made sure that his weapon was ready.

There was silence for three seconds. The Helghasts were all quite excited, and also nervous. Dragon. Come on.

That silence was broken as a loud roar bellowed down the cave, and a massive, green dragon tromped inside, anger in his eyes.

The tank fired of a shell which impacted the dragon's chest, only knocking a few scales off. The heavy troopers all pressed their buttons and soon there was a wave of hot metal streaking down the dark cave, lighting up the passage in little sparks of light.

Zyve and Sycth took cover behind a large boulder and also began to shoot, adding their own concussive cracking and the tinkling of shells to the barrage.

The dragon was almost entirely unharmed, and roared again. He charged forward and swept his tail, launching three spikes from it, which embedded themselves in the ground near the ranks of heavy troopers, who began to fire more frantically.

Oresteil slowly slunk closer, unnoticed by the dragon, and readied his weapon. Again, the tanks fired with a deafening roar which shook the cave, and the dragon shuddered as the shell hit him. But he was still up. Twilight was right; dragons are tough.

The dragon readies a flaming breath but Oresteil seized the chance and lept from his hiding spot, letting loose a barrage of electricity.

The large reptile writhed in pain, and roared. Just then, Stromm, the brilliant man that he was, timed the tank's shell just right. The tank shuddered as it launched yet another round, this time directly into the dragon's maw. It's head exploded and it was thrown backwards, creating a heavy quake which caused the gold in the cave to jingle as it landed on the rock floor.

Zyve looked at Sycth and asked, "So. How are we going to carry all of this?"



Everyone was panting, exhausted from their recent battle. No casualties or injuries, thankfully, just a dead dragon.

Stromm climbed out from his vehicle, as did the other men who were inside.

"Well. Gold anyone?"


The dragon's corpse was doused with gasoline and lit afire. The tanks was loaded with gold, and each of the soldiers grabbed as much as they could carry. Stromm was glad; this money would massively help his budding country, which was going quite well at this point. Also, he was committing Zyve and Sycth to be his personal bodyguards: they were tough.

The Helghast leader rode outside of the tank, taking in the scenery. The forest was hideous, he had no idea what he was doing out here. He slid back inside of the hatch and smiled. He really wished that he could take his mask off here, he wanted his troops to see how happy he was. You would be too if you had gotten to see a dragon, battle it to the death and loot his horde.

That had been the first time in years that Stromm had been in combat. It seemed as if he had not lost his skills, nor had his men. Helghast training did its job very well.





"Thanks ladies, that tea was great."

"You are ever so welcome. Be sure to drop by again soon!"

Octavia looked at Vinyl, whos eyes widened.

"Oh! Yeah! Nice to meet'cha Marah. Uh...good luck finding your boy!"

The women smiled.

"Thanks. I'm going to need it."

As Marah walked down towards the picket fence, she heard the door shut and Octavia say, "Now...I beleive that we have some unfinished business regarding that...rude interruption of my music."

"'Octi...no...please..."

That was all Marah head and she was out into the town again.





Industry was picking up. More and more buildings were being put up, as well as more and more trees becoming cut down. Populations was finally rising again as well. Over fifty new children, many of them males. 

Twilight's spell ended up a success, and Stromm's people could now do as they please without their masks, at least inside New Helghan. The borders could clearly be seen, aside from the wall, yes, walls, no longer fences, due to the blue shimmering in the air.

The walls were not really necessary, nor were the guards on them, but it had become a habit of the Helghasts to be ready for war. It was understandable. 

There had been some...issues regarding the trust of the locals, but the most aggressive that they became was painting angry phrases on the walls like Get out!, or You will only bring war!. 

In response, the some of the guards had been put on the ground, and that seemed to halt all anti-Helghast movements. Stromm hated the men like Visari who had started all of this, but he was certainly grateful for the uniforms. They were terrifying, especially to normally peaceful ponies who would be so angry as to paint angry messages on the walls.

There had been some issues regarding Zecora, she didn't like how destructive they were being to nature, but it had been fixed when Stromm made a patch of the forest untouchable, and Zecora had been made happy. Ponies were even coming to live in New Helghan, and Helghasts to Equestria. There was an open trade route that streamed steadily between the two nations, and one had even been opened with The Crystal Empire up north, and the Cameloo. 

They had attempted one with Gryphus, but they were like the old Soviet Union of Earth: Proud, with an Iron Curtain of their own. Stromm hated oppression like that...very much. 





"Private, I called you here today because I am told that you are good with your stealth and data gathering."

"So they say, sir."

"Right. I am sure that you are aware of the country Gryphus?"

"Affirmative."

"I want you to gather information on it first here, in Ponyville and Canterlot. Then report to me, and I will decide if I need to send you to Gryphus."

"Yes sir."

The trooper made an exit, to prepare for his mission, and Stromm sighed. He really hoped that he would not have to go to war with Gryphus. Celestia would most certainly object, but New Helghan had been founded under the principle of freedom and justice. Almost like America, on the ISA's Earth, but Stromm actually planned to stick to his ideals.

Therefore, if the Gryphon people were oppressed, it would be his job to liberate them. And liberate him he would.