Chapter 8: The Crisis at Hand/Hoof
August 5, 2558
2200 hours
Canterlot
The Royal Castle Throne Room
Nighttime in Canterlot, and Pinkie Pie had finally gotten around to throwing a party for the interstellar visitors; the lights of which were bright enough to render the stars of Luna`s night invisible. The party was raging in Canterlot Square, humans and ponies alike dancing, drinking cider, and even taking turns singing on the erected stage.
Their leaders, however, were in the palace overlooking the festivities, discussing what should be done about the coming threat.
“Two countries in a day?!” exclaimed Celestia.
“I am afraid so my sister,” said Luna solemnly. “Canida has fallen to the changeling army.”
“Damn,” said Lasky. “So it`s possible that their armies are superior and that their opponents are behind in technology. Either way, I have no intel; if you two know anything about their troops, like how they operate, what weapons they`re using, how many of them there are, etc, tell me now.”
“Well they…actually, how about we just show you?” said Celestia. “Luna? Would you please?”
Luna then proceeded to show Lasky the same recording sent to her by the Equestrian soldier when Boardor fell.
After the recording had finished, there was, once again, a familiar stunned silence; this time, however, it was broken by the only human in the room.
“They have a vendetta against you,” Lasky stated flatly. “Why?”
Both princesses proceeded to tell the story of the changeling attack on Canterlot. Lasky quietly listened to it. When it was over, the Captain`s first spoken thought was a question.
“So, you were barely able to hold them off even when they were using their bare hooves?” asked Thomas.
“Along with weaker, but still somewhat effective, magic from their horns, yes,” confirmed Celestia.
“And from what we saw from that soldier`s recording, I'd bet that they`ve found a way to amplify that magic with those spears. If we could only get our hands on one of them, then I'm sure that Infinity Science would be able to figure something out for us.
“Also, I'm pretty sure that their main advantage is their ability to spy. That’s what made you so vulnerable that day, the fact that they could magically disguise themselves and look exactly like anypony they choose; that is, anypony, not anything, meaning that they can`t disguise themselves as one of us humans. Speaking of which, what is stopping them from spying on us right now?”
“There is no way,” said Luna. “Not only was every changeling in Equestria driven out of Equestria when Shining Armor and Cadence used their magic of love to scatter them, but now the shield has been modified so that it is now invisible, encompasses all of Equestria, and will not allow any changeling to pass through whether they are disguised or not.”
“And when exactly was that shield put up?” said Lasky. “What if a few changelings managed to get within your borders before it was?”
“It was put up the moment the spell was cast that day,” said Celestia. “Thankfully, though, with the assistance of Cadence`s magic, Captain Armor no longer needs to think about nor replenish the shield. However, we fear that the changelings` new weapon will allow them to break through.”
“Okay, but I still think that security should be increased around here,” said Lasky. “I think the best option would be to have a few of our SPARTAN-IV fireteams replace your royal guard.”
“Why? Haven’t we just established that there are presently no changelings in Equestria?”
“Celestia, wouldn’t you agree that humanity`s lack of trust can sometimes be its greatest asset?”
“I, guess so.”
“Then you understand why I wouldn’t trust our established enemy to stay out when potentially getting in could potentially give them every advantage?”
“You just said the word potentially twice; aren’t you inadvertently saying that the odds of this are very slim?”
“Yes, but you`re missing the point here, I'm saying that even though the odds of a changeling being put here are slim, aren’t the profits of doing so too great for them to not risk it?”
“Well, I suppose you do have a valid point there,” said Celestia. “So, what should we do about it?”
“Well the first thing we should do is get all royalty in one place, this palace looks like our best option as of now. If any royalty is too far from here, then, with your permission, we`ll use human transport to get them here, because if changelings can only disguise themselves as other ponies, then we can`t risk using any royal guards for exfil; now it`s nothing personal, it`s just a precaution.”
“Very well, you have my authorization.”
“Good, now if you`d be so kind as to tell me where any royalty that isn’t in Canterlot is so that we can go get them?”
Putting a hoof to her chin, Celestia said, “Let me see, along with Luna and I, Shining Armor is here in this palace as well; Princess Cadence is over in the crystal empire; and Princess Twilight Sparkle is down at the party.”
“I'll send a Pelican to pick up Cadence,” said Lasky. “Maybe Captain Armor should go there with the transport; that way she`ll know that we can be trusted.”
“Good idea, I will send for him,” said the princess of the night as she walked towards the throne room`s exit.
“Got it,” said the Ship Captain to the departing alicorn before returning his attention to the other. “And as for Twilight, I'll get Fireteam Icebreaker to escort her inside.”
Captain Lasky and Princess Celestia then went out onto and looked over the throne room`s balcony to observe the party once again.
“Although,” Lasky started. “They do seem to be having a good time down there…”
Suddenly, multiple humans came on stage and their lead singer announced, “This next song is dedicated to why we humans will fight for you wonderful ponies. Hit it Vinyl!"
Thomas and Celestia were surprised by this, and curiosity got the better of them.
“Okay,” said the ship commander. “I'll contact them after this one.”
Nobody here knocking at my door
The sound of silence I can’t take anymore
Nobody ringing my telephone now
Oh how I miss such a beautiful sound
And I don’t even know how I survive
I won’t make it to the shore without your light
No I don’t even know if I’m alive
Oh, oh, oh without you now
This is what it feels like
Nothing to hold but the memories and frames
Oh they remind me of the battle I face
without your love, without you I drown
Somebody save me I’m going down
And I don’t even know how I survive
I won’t make it to the shore without your light
No I don’t even know if I’m alive
Oh, oh, oh without you now
This is what it feels like
And I don’t even know how I survive
I won’t make it down the road with one headlight
No I don’t even know if I’m alive
Oh, oh, oh without you now
This is what it feels like
As the song ended, and the mixed crowd of humans and ponies erupted into their thunderous applause, the Captain found himself momentarily shocked at the amount of preparation that must have been done within a single day to put on such a show. But then he remembered that many of the marines and naval crewman were, in some form or another, very artistically inclined. Also, that Vinyl Scratch character really seemed to have a way with modern-sounding music.
“Umm, Captain?” said Celestia as she placed a hoof on Lasky`s shoulder, interrupting his thoughts. “Weren't you going to contact your men?”
Suddenly, thoughts of the crisis at hand re-flooded Lasky`s mind, and he remembered what he supposed to do after the song.
“Oh yeah, right” he said as he brought his wrist communicator to his mouth. “Gunnery Sergeant David Alvarez? Do you read?”
. . .
August 5, 2558
2231 hours
Canterlot Square
The thing about apple cider is that it`s basically pony`s alcohol; therefore, the harder it is, the more it hurts their tongues and the drunker they become. For humans however, the sensation is much more different; for them it`s just sweet, like drinking a non-carbonated bottle of soda.
Therefore, the bartender at the party`s bar, as well as anypony at or around the bar, was impressed (to say the least) when all six of the marines of Fireteam Icebreaker each began to chug down a full bottle of the hardest cider that the bartender could give out (it was what the bartender said was so hard, that he was only allowed to mix it with other drinks and not give it out by itself).
Everypony continued to watch in awe as the six humans finished their bottles in synchronous, at which point they and every being around them, whether a pony or a human, gave out enthusiastic cheers and then proceeded to continue partying to Vinyl`s looping tune.
This was one of the biggest and brightest parties that the marines of Gypsy Company had been to in a long time. There was rarely any partying aboard the ship, so they were determined to make the best of it. So, Fireteam Icebreaker decided to scatter after their little show of cider to meet some ponies and other marines.
However, there was one marine out of the six who`s main goal that night was to meet (and apologize to) just one, particular young pegasus with rainbow-colored mane.
You`d think that with hair like that, thought PFC Ogden Jenkins. She`d be easier to pick out in this crowd.
As he wandered through said crowd with another bottle of cider, he concluded that it must be the various colors reflecting off of the magically floating disco ball and bathing the square in rainbow-colored light that must be making it so hard. It was at this point that the young soldier wished that he had found out her name earlier so he could at least try calling out to her through the noise of the music and partygoers.
He finally struck luck when he reached the edge of the crowd and saw her sitting at a table talking to her purple princess alicorn friend, Twilight Sparkle. As he approached, he could hear them gossiping about somepony who was apparently named “Flash Sentry.”
Setting his bottle on the table, he said, “So, some party, eh?” as he thumbed at the fray behind him. As he sat down with them, he took off his helmet and placed it on the table as well, revealing his short, black hair. Looking to the rainbow-maned pegasus in front of him, he said, “Look I'm sorry if I hurt you or made you feel humiliated today. I was only doing what I was ordered to, attack if attacked, or subdue, in that case.”
“Oh, it`s alright,” said the cyan mare with a smile, much to the marine`s surprise.
“Wow,” said Jenkins. “That was…fast.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, I don’t know, it-it`s just the way you looked as I left Twilight`s tree-house; I mean it must`ve been the look in your eyes or something, I just didn’t think you`d be this quick to forgive me.”
“Oh, please, I don’t hold grudges; especially not after that song one of you just sung, apparently you`re going to fight the changelings for us? Anyway, I still want a good rematch!”
“Pff, bring it!” said Ogden jokingly, throwing up his arms in challenge before waving it off. “Not now though, we don’t want to crash this party now do we?”
The three shared a quick laugh, glad that there were no more hard feelings.
“By the way,” started Jenkins as he pointed a finger at the cyan pegasus. “I never got your name.”
“I'm Rainbow Dash!” said Rainbow Dash as she struck a proud pose. “Fastest flyer in all of Equestria!”
“Ogden Jenkins, Private First Class of the UNSC marine corps,” said Jenkins, holding out his hand for a handshake. “Pleasure to meet you miss Dash.”
Dash stared at the hand awkwardly for a few seconds before holding up a hoof for Ogden to see. Ogden realized what she was trying to get across and made his hand into a fist. They both chuckled as they fist/hoof-bumped.
Twilight however, remained silent, deep in thought as she observed Ogden`s fist change back into a hand, seemingly in slow motion, as he retracted the gloved appendage back to himself.
Where have I seen that before? she thought to herself.
A sudden tap on her shoulder ripped her from her thoughts.
“Princess Twilight?!” called a voice from behind her.
The purple alicorn turned to see the leader of the six humans that had come to her house earlier that day.
“Oh hi!” said Twilight, having to now shout over the music as Vinyl raised the volume. “Mr. David Alvarez isn’t it?!”
“Yeah! That`s me!” said gunny with a smile. “Listen, uh, my Captain has just ordered me to take my squad and escort you back to the castle!”
“Why?!”
“I dunno! He just said that it was for security reasons and that he`d brief us when we got there!” gunny then pointed at the PFC. “Jenkins! Call `em in!”
“Aye, aye, sir! Let`s hope they still have their helmets on!” said Jenkins as he put on his and adjusted the helmet mike. “Icebreaker, Icebreaker, this is Jenkins!”
As he was saying this, he spotted Sgt. Alex Thompson in the crowd. He was standing next to Private Oscar Morgan while talking with the cowgirl pony with an orange coat and blond mane named Applejack while the private was speaking with a pegasus pony with a yellow coat and pink mane named Fluttershy. Since Alex had his helmet on, he heard the incoming transmission. He began to look around and quickly spotted Jenkins and gunny at the table.
The PFC beckoned him over with his arm as he continued, “Fall in on gunny`s position over!”
Ogden then observed as Alex tapped on Sidney`s shoulder and told him to follow him. They then quickly said their goodbyes and jogged over to the table. Corporal Marcus Williams and Private Eugene Phillips soon joined them as well.
“What`s going on?” asked the Corporal.
“We need to escort Princess Twilight to the castle,” said gunny. “Captain`s orders.”
“Aw man!” complained Eugene. “I hate to have to leave such an awesome party so soon.”
“Yeah come on, gunny,” said Alex. “It`s the first party he`s ever been to!”
“What?! No it isn’t!”
“Then quit complaining!”
“Aye, aye, sir.”
“Come on, marines,” said gunny. “Let`s load up and get this done.”
“Aye, aye, sir!” said the rest of the marines in unison.
They then proceeded to walk toward the castle. At the edge of the party/concert area there was an exit leading towards the castle; just outside of it, Fireteam Icebreaker found the ammo dump where every marine at the party had dropped their gear, weapons, and, well, ammo.
Any marine in the squad that didn’t have on a helmet grabbed one. They then proceeded to each take and load a M6H handgun and then take a combat knife and place it in the knife sleeves on their shoulders.
There were a few other marines guarding the dump who struck up a conversation as Icebreaker began to leave it.
“Leaving so soon?” one of them joked. “Where`re you headed?”
“The Castle,” said gunny. “Captain wants her up there but had to call for some protection. Don’t worry, though, we`ll be back.”
“Alright, see ya round!”
“See ya.”
As they walked away from the party, two mares were still in it, sitting at another table, watching them leave from a distance. Their names were Lyra and Bon Bon.
Except, they weren't Lyra and Bon Bon.
“They`re leaving!” said “Bon Bon”.
“I have an idea,” said “Lyra” before getting out of her chair. “Follow me.”
They both walked into a nearby alleyway where they changed into their true form, two changeling soldiers.
As they walked past a dumpster, they could hear the muffled screams of the real Lyra and Bon Bon coming from it.
“Sir,” wispered the changeling that had recently been disguised as Bon Bon. “They`re awake!”
“Don’t worry,” whispered back the other, higher ranking changeling. “Once you`ve tied up, gagged, and blindfolded a pony, they just can never seem to find a way out!”
“Combine that with putting them in a place where nopony will think to look and they`re doomed!”
“Right you are. Another reason why changelings are superior!”
“Heh heh, yes sir!”
The two continued to quietly giggle manically as they exited on the other side of the alleyway, the sounds of the party now sounding much more distant though only behind one building.
“So, what`s your plan?” asked the subordinate. “And what will we do about these, humans, that have come to help the infernal ponies?”
“Don’t worry about the humans, whatever they are, for we have already managed to topple the countries of two other species today! We`ll just kill them like the rest. As for my plan…”
The changeling then shape-shifted into one of Celestia`s royal guards, armor and everything.