//------------------------------// // Hit em again and again. // Story: Ponyframe // by SolidFerret //------------------------------// The Grineer hoped of their ships, landing on the very ground of Ponyville. The Tenno stood their ground, not moving at all as they watched Grineer land and ready their weapons for the fight. "Attention Tenno," Everest, "If you surrender now, we can promise that the death of all of the ponies will be quick." "Tenno, what do you say to his offer?" Lotus asked, with a rather straight face. Princess Celestia looked at her with a face of shock. "No deal, Everest." Frost said. Lotus smirked, "I thought so." She turned away and walked off with Celestia, "Is there somewhere safe we can get the town?" Celestia thought for a moment, "Twilight, do you think we can-" Gunfire started, causing the others to run for cover. "We can try!" Twilight exclaimed over the noise of the fight. Flash Sentry took the lead as Twilight told him the way. As for the Tenno, they all ran for cover as well. The gunfire did a number on their shields. While waiting, they worked a plan. "Can we split them up?" Ash asked. "Only if we do." Banshee said. "Tenno, some news, due to an overflow of ponies, all of the young ones are being sent to the school." Lotus turned to see foals crying and being hugged by their parents in tears. She noticed the one saved from the Grineer team leader. "Now Rumble, I promise you, you'll be okay." Thunderlane sweated nervously. Rumble was hugged by Flitter and Cloud Chaser. Flitter kissed his face non-stop. "Okay, Thunderlane." Rumble said, clearly to shaken to respond properly. "Oh...*sob* Rumble. I...I" Flitter sobbed. To much in hysterics to even talk. "I assure you," they turned around to see Lotus standing above them, "that all of these ponies will be okay." "How?" Cloud Chaser asked. Lotus stepped away, and in one swift move, a holographic setup appeared in her very hands. It showed the a digital map of Ponyville with location of enemies and the Warframes. "Woah." Thunderlane commented. "Tenno, if one of you could escort the young ones to the school secretly." "Is there an adult with them?" One asked. "Yes." A pink mare answered. "I'm their teacher." She told Lotus. "It is confirmed. Good luck Tenno. Stay out of sight." Volt looked over, the others had taken cover in ally ways and were merely fireing back. Taking a chance, he jumped up the walls and on to the roof tops of Ponyville. "Ma'am, you have an escort. Now go." Lotus said as Cherilee stepped out. "But where is he?" Cherilee asked as she stepped outside. "Relax ma'am. You'll be okay." Lotus assured her as the door was closed. "THIS ISN'T HOW THINGS WORK!" She yelled, before silencing herself to avoid attracting attention. "Come on children, keep calm and quiet, we'll be okay." Cherilee said as she herself tried to keep her cool. She only had to simply walk down a long street to get to the school. But her nervousness was trying to get the best of her. 'No, need to stay calm for the kids.' She said in her mind. She took every step she took with caution, the kids were almost quiet except for their breath. The gunfire in the distance sounded so far away. "We're almost there, just stay quiet." She said, the slow walking soon turned into a run as they made it up the shcool yard as Cherilee opened the door. The children quickly ran in. Just when Cherilee was about to close the door, when she saw the path she took, her jaw hit the ground. She might as well have walked through a war. Dead bodies of Grineer marines laid all over the street. The teacher tried her best to not lose her lunch at the thought that death was so close to the children. But who could kill them so quietly? She shut the door and locked it. Ember gunned down waves of enemies with her vipers as Excalibur shot at the others with his Braton. The two were back to back. Nyx kept tricking others into fighting each other, which would draw the areas attention for a short while. While Warframes like Frost and Loki had the ground, Banshee was above them with support. Ash snuck around, killing any Grineer that tried to get away. "Lotus," Excalibur said, "the Grineer is in full strength, and if Ash is correct, they are trying to find where the town is hiding. We may need to guard around town, as well as send in-" "You can read minds, Excalibur, sending him in now. Guard fake locations to draw the Grineer away." At the HQ, a dropship became active. "Ha! They're falling back." A marine spat as he saw the Warframes run and jump away from the fight. "Wait, we got one more to fight!" One yelled excitedly. They saw a dropship fly in and dove to the ground, many would have thought it had crashed at the large amount of dust that rose and how fast it was flying. Yet, they saw it fly overhead and away. When the dust cleared, a very bulky Warframe stood before them. His armor reflected the rays of the sun. Without warning, he charged right at the group in front. Ignoring all of the shots fired at him, anyone in his path was gored and torn apart. "It's Rhino!" The Grineer called as they fired. Instead of being stopped by his shields, the bullets reflected away, one even hit a marine. Rhino wasted no time as he readied his axe and slammed it into the ground, which finished off the hurt marine. "All units, fall out!" A panicked marine ordered before being cleaved in half. The rest wasted no time in running. The marines fired back, only for Rhino to charge to them again, killing them and getting into the middle of a group. "Fire!" They ordered. Rhino used his axe to kill the closest marine. They all rushed at him in hopes of killing him with no avail. Rhino swung his axe, catching a marine on it. He swung it into the air, spun around slowly, and slammed it into the ground. The marine was severed in half, raising his hand in despair before it fell to the ground. Rhino quickly pulled out his Gorgon and fired, the rounds tore the marines to shreds as they fell. Rhino could see dropships for the marines landing. 'Cowards.' He thought as he rushed at them. "We're getting out of here." A marines said as he ran the ship. Rhino landed on him and let out a powerful stomp, slowing down time as the others floated in the air. He chopped a few down with his axe as Excalibur jumped in and stabbed one into the ground before jumping away. Any marines left, carried each other into the few dropships that took off, leaving Rhino to look as they flew away. "Lotus, what do you need me for?" His deep, crackly, yet emotionless voice asked. "Rhino, you never cease to amaze me." Lotus responded. A Grineer trooper tip toed up the path as quietly as he could. He was sure this was the place. He snuck up to the door and, as fast as he could, busted the front door in with his shoulder. "HA! I was right!" He cheered happily. Though the screams only added to his success. Cherilee had the foals in a corner as he walked in. The look of terror on their faces made him smile in accomplishment. "Sorry I wasn't here sooner." He taunted. Raising his shotgun, he pumped a shell and aimed at them. "NO!" cherilee screamed as she rushed at him, only to get a shotgun blast to the stomach. She fell, clutching her bleeding wounds. "MS. CHERILEE!" Sweeite Belle yelled out. Just when the he was ready to start firing, Volt jumped on to his back, knocking the shotgun away from him. The Trooper staggered over to the front desk. "Oh, someone just made a BAD mistake." He said with a large amount of confidence as he flipped volt onto the desk, breaking it. He slammed his foot down to only meet the splinters as Volt got up quickly. Volt braced himself as the trooper tackled him through the wall. Getting up, the trooper held on to Volt. Not expecting for the move he was about to make. Volt got out his dual Ethers, spun them so they faced him, and stabbed himself and the Trooper in the process. The trooper fell backwards with Volt going down with him. He laid there in pain but knowing he would be okay. "Lotus, send Trinity." He said. "Who's hurt?" She asked. "The teacher and me." He said as he blacked out, leaving the foals to look at him. "Mr. Lightning Bolt, are you okay?" Apple Bloom asked as she poked him lightly with her hoof. "Well I guess the operation was a success." Lotus clapped her hands. "Really, a school teacher was shot." Celestia scolded. "But did she die?" Lotus pointed out. The Princess looked over to see her wounds fully healed by Trinity, Volt was being hugged and thanked by the foals. "I stand corrected." She said flatly. "You should learn to trust me more." Lotus said as she walked over to Waframes, who stood still as they were bombarded by 'thanks' from the ponies. "I'm gonna need a team of four, we're cleaning out that ship." "Lotus, perhaps I can handle the operation alone." Excalibur said. "No, I think a team would be more suited for this one." Lotus knew Excalibur was known for carrying out solo missions. Though some didn't end that well for him. "Understood." Excalibur said as he got the order. "I will go." Vauban said as he stepped forward. "As will I" Banshee agreed. Nxy stepped forward as well. "Okay, we now have a mission. You'll get it when you're on the ship." As if on queue, four dropships appeared, the four stepped in without question. The hatches sealed as they took off, leaving a crowd that waved goodbye. "They have this one." Lotus said.