//------------------------------// // Prologue // Story: Revelation // by Sandstorm Inkwell //------------------------------// During the Attack on OpFor Compound Codenamed: Operation Wholesale A gentle breeze blew through the streets of Baltimare as the pony inhabitants of the city went about their daily routines. Shops saw customers coming and going, ponies talked to one another in the streets, and an air of serenity permeated the town- Even with a giant metal ship sitting in the city's harbor. The ship was bigger than all but one of the inhabitant's wooden vessels. The only one able to match it's size was the Royal Navy's Pony-o'-War ERN Celestial Guidance. The Guidance was moored in dock, however many knew that it was ready to launch and defend the bay with all it had should the metal ship fire at the city. The pony in the crow's nest saw it first, of course; the opening of a large door on the deck of the ship startling him. At the same time, a smaller craft was lowered into the water with some of the bipedal creatures aboard. The small craft bounced across the waters, barely slowing in time to avoid smacking against the docks. They secured their craft next to a ladder and climbed up it. The first two up held a rifle in their hands and wore a black vest over their digital blue uniform. They kept their rifles lowered as they swept the area with a penetrative look. Deeming it clear, one of them signaled down to the boat. The meaning behind the signal became apparent when a new man, wearing only his uniform, appeared on the docks. “Guard the craft Butler,” he ordered without glancing at either of the armed sailors. “Aye, aye,” replied the woman on the Commander's right as she gave a curt nod. Nodding, more to himself than the sailor, he walked toward the Guidance's gangplank with the other sailor following him. The duo largely ignored the looks that they received from the dockponys, their path locked on the gangplank, guarded by an Equestrian sailor. “What do you want?” questioned the pony, his tone indicating suspicion at the Commander's sudden visit. The only time the human sailors had come into town was for food and the only time one had stepped onto the Guidance was when they had first appeared in Equestria. “To speak to your Captain,” the Commander answered evenly, “We are about to provide support to our forces and would like to warn your Captain before doing so.” “You mean the ones all the way in the Badlands? How in Equestria do you plan on helping them from here?” asked the sailor with a raised brow. The Commander smiled, “You'll see.” The sailor obviously disliked the answer that was given but, seeing as how he was just a lowly sailor, stepped aside to allow the human duo entrance onto the vessel. Nodding his head, the Commander stepped onto the gangplank and began to walk across, his escort quickly following. On the ship, the two made short time getting to the Captain's quarters and knocking on the door. A muffled response came through the door. Motioning for the guard to remain outside, the Commander pushed open the door and walked inside to see the pony Captain sitting at his desk and writing on a scroll. The pony looked up at the Commander's entry, a look of surprise crossing his visage. “Commander!” he exclaimed before pushing aside his scroll and inkwell and motioning to the seat on the other side of his desk, which the Commander promptly took, “May I ask as to your visit to my humble vessel?” “I'll cut to the chase. The Kinkaid is going to be launching one long-range missile in the support of Coalition forces in the Badlands.” The Captain frowned as he sat forward in his seat, resting his forelegs on to the desk, “I can't let you do that Commander. It would be a big risk to this city. I mean, we have no idea what your weapons even do!” The Commander smiled as he sat forward in his chair, “I think you misheard, Captain. I said that the Kinkaid is going to fire. I'm just informing you so that I don't have dents in my hull from your primitive cannons.” The Captain glared at the human sitting across from him, his air one of anger at the insult on his ship. A low growl rumbled from the pony's throat. “Fine,” he hissed, “Now if you would excuse me.” Smiling, the Commander rose from his seat and walked out of the Quarters. “Give fire control the go ahead,” he said as his escort fell into step with him. “Aye,” replied the armed sailor before using his radio to talk with the Kinkaid's fire control. By the time the two were back on the docks, a siren was wailing over the bay, coming from the Destroyer. The siren drew the attention of a good crowd of ponies. When the duo reached the ladder, a roar overtook the siren as fire and smoke began to erupt from the open door on the Kinkaid's deck. After about a second of the building roar, a cylindrical object rose from the deck of the Destroyer and into the air. After climbing a couple hundred feet, the object leveled out, sprouted wings, and began to zoom off on a south by south-east heading. Every head in Baltimare was turned skyward to try to spy the source of the noise. Those that did stared with slack jaws and eyes wide, not knowing exactly what they were looking at. A smoke trail polluted the once clear sky as the missile continued it's path across the sky. “Missile away Commander,” reports the escort that had accompanied him aboard the pony vessel. “Very good,” he replied before climbing down onto the boat. After being joined by the two escorts, the boat's driver pulled out from the dock and started back to the Kinkaid, the smoke still curling over it's deck. Looking back at the city, the Commander smiled again, “Butler.” “Yes Commander?” “Remind me to release the crew on shore leave when the Operation is over.” “Aye, aye!” /--\ “Sacrifice Hill” Directly after completion of Operation Wholesale Walking through the destroyed camp, Jones helping me limp along, I look around at the destruction. Corpses cover the ground, most of them being of the insurgents and Iranians, though I could pick out a few Coalition uniforms. Smoke curls up from the top of the hill and other places in the camp, signifying fires that still burned hot. “It's finally over, isn't it?” I hear Jones ask as we stop to allow a vehicle passage. When the tank passes, we continue walking, not knowing our destination. “I sure hope so Jones,” I reply, nodding to a group of soldiers who were sitting together, getting a nod in return. “Do you think we're going back to Ponyville now?” “I sure hope so.” We descend into silence as we continue onward. After about a minute, we run into Ink, who quickly joins us. “Tyler! What happened to your leg?” she asks in concern as she trots after us. I look down at the unicorn with a soft smile, glad that she's alive and physically unharmed. “Got hit. In and out though so I can still use it once it's healed,” I reply with a shrug as I look down at my bandaged right shin. It was beginning to turn red from the blood, telling me that I should change out the bandage. “Oh. Well I'm glad you're okay.” “And me, you,” I reply with a chuckle, my eyes still scanning the camp. “I think I see our Humvee,” I hear Jones state. Turning to him, I look where he's looking to see what does look to be Athena. Turning, the three of us quicken our pace to get to the Humvee and the rest of the squad. Two members of our squad stand around the Humvee while the last one stands behind the fifty. “There ya are!” Kilborn shouts when he spots us walking to him. His torso is bare besides the bandage wrapped around his midsection. “Hey Sarge,” Jones greets with a nod as he guides me to a crate and sits me down on top of it. Keeping my right leg extended, I look at the other members of my squad and chuckle. “So Sarge, what now?” Kilborn looks at me before looking up at the top of the hill. A sigh escapes his lips, “First, we clean up this mess as best we can. I've heard rumors, though, that the troops are going to try to build a town out here somewhere.” “What about Ponyville Sarge?” Gonz asks from where he was now working on changing my bandage. “I didn't say we were going to join them,” was his reply, causing us to either chuckle or sigh in relief. Ponyville is our home, we all realized that during the battle. The thought of the town and it's inhabitants allowed us to fight our hardest. The silence between us broke when Gonz finished wrapping my leg, “Just try to stay off it, alright man?” “Got it doc,” I reply with a smirk, earning a shake of the head. “Alright,” Kilborn begins saying, “those who can, grab a shovel and start digging.” “Roger,” replies Jones, a similar saying coming from Gonz as those two go to the back of the Humvee to get the E-Tools. “Almost home,” I hear Kilborn mumble as he goes to the back of the Humvee as well. Almost home. /--\ Two Days Later Outside Ponyville Sitting quietly, the squad and me wait in anticipation as the Humvee bounces over the uneven terrain. Our Humvee drove alone as the Abrams tank that had first been with us had stayed behind to make themselves a new home with the rest of the Coalition forces. The thought was nice to entertain; a little piece of Earth here in Equestria. Though, that thought has another attached as a footnote. We are few in number with even fewer females amongst us. The only women were aboard the Kinkaid in Baltimare and there weren't enough of them to create a stable population via means accepted by modern human morality. Now that's a thought isn't it? In order to have a chance of saving our lineage in this world, we'd have to destroy our morals. I don't think many would accept that idea, I think to myself as I look out my window at the morning sun. So, a countdown hangs over our heads and when the clock hits zero, humans will fade into the history books of Equestria. Our only piece will be of the repelling of other members of our own species and maybe a side note of our settlement in the Badlands. Pretty morbid thoughts. The night of the big attack on our camp replays in my mind. Sarge and I were talking about the chance of unicorns being able to manipulate the DNA of humans to make them compatible with the pony DNA. Of course, the chance that the offspring could still be a pony is strong since the unicorns would be manipulating the human DNA. Even so, should a human be born, they would be dwarvish due to ponies having a far smaller frame than humans. Also, who knew what kind of... mutations a pony-born human could have. Would they manipulate magic? Would they grow wings or show increased strength? The unknowns are many but the possible pay off is of the sort that the unknowns are going to have to be risked at some point. “We're here,” I hear Gonz say from the driver seat as the Humvee rolls to a stop. Leaning around the front passenger seat, I look past Sarge to see the town stretching out before us. I could see ponies stop and point at where we sit on the hill. “Let's get down there,” Kilborn says with a smile as he looks over at Gonz. Gonz nods and the Humvee starts down the hill toward the large mead hall. As we dive down, I see ponies begin to walk to the mead hall as well. Reaching the big building, Gonz shut off Athena as the rest of us climb out of the vehicle. “Kilborn!” I look at my Sergeant in time to see Applejack smack into him and wrap her forelegs around him. The same happens for the rest of my squad as they're greeted by the ponies they had fallen in love with. Looking at the crowd and not seeing Twilight amongst them, I push through the crowd and continue down the street. A few break off to follow me and I pay them no mind as I navigate the streets. Coming up to the library, I stop at the door, my hand frozen in mid-air. After a couple seconds, I push open the door and step inside to see an empty room. I can hear talking coming from upstairs as I close the door and remove my helmet. As quietly as I can, I set my helmet on the table in the middle of the main room and sneak to the stairs. With my rifle back at the Humvee, I don't have to worry of it giving me away as I take the steps slowly. Getting closer to the room, I can make out the voices. Twilight and Scoots, I identify, a smile forming on my face. Reaching the door at the top, I knock once. “Oh!” I hear Twilight exclaim from inside, “Who is it?” “I'm not interrupting mare time, am I?” I ask, my smile so big that my teeth are beginning to show. Silence comes from the room for a couple seconds. It's finally broken by hooves approaching the door. When I can hear them on the other side, I sense hesitation coming from the purple unicorn. Finally, the door slowly opens a hair, showing part of a face and a large, purple eye. When she sees me, the eyes widen as the door is flung open. I suddenly find myself sitting on the ground from the force of the hug from the unicorn. Her shoulders begin to shake as tears erupt from her eyes. I feel tears of joy start to slide down my own cheeks as I hold Twilight in my arms. A familiar orange filly joins our hug, wiggling her way between us. After about a minute of this, Twilight finally separates herself from me and looks into my eyes. “You're back,” she says, as if she doesn't quite believe that I'm actually sitting there. “I said that I would be,” I reply with a smile as I hold her head in my hands. I bring her face to mine and let our lips lock in a kiss. When we separate, we're both out of breath. Feeling something moving on my lap, I look down to see Scootaloo trying to bury herself into me. “Hey Scoots,” I say, running a hand down her mane. “Don't leave again,” she chokes out through her tears. I chuckle as I continue running my hand down her mane. “I won't,” I reply. I know it's a lie. There may be times where I have to leave Ponyville again but I don't want to ruin this moment with hard truths. I look back at Twilight to see her smiling sadly at me. She knows that I may have to leave again. Bringing her into another kiss, I can feel the fear of me leaving wither away. “I love you,” she breathes when we separate. “And I love you,” I reply as she hugs me again. Sitting there, hugging my special somepony and adopted child, I find myself smiling. Home sweet home.