Chapter Six
Dovha
The next day myself and the ERU were just off of the coast of the South Pole. Because of the rough seas I had to take a chopper to the camp that Blizzard and his men constructed. It was on the east coast of the continent and a few miles inland. The ships that formed the ERU were being tossed around like rubber ducks in a bathtub and the chopper that I and the ERU soldiers was on fared no better in the high winds. We still had no direct contact with Blizzard or his team so they were shocked to see us when the chopper landed in the base.
When the hatch of the Sea Knight opened we were hit by a torrent of wind, ice and snow. We kept our heads low and fought against the weather. As I stepped off the ramp I heard somepony shout in my ear.
“Sir you and your men can follow me!” Even thought he was right next to me I could barely hear him. Inside the base I took off my goggles that were covered with ice, I put down my hood.
“S-Sir!” said the pony who lead us in.
“W-What are you doing here?” he asked me.
“I could ask you the same thing.” He seemed confused at my answer.
“Where’s Colonel Blizzard?” I asked him.
“Follow me sir.”
The base was mostly underground, well lit tunnels were carved into the ice and metal panels where used as floor boards as to prevent slipping. We passed several rooms and I could hear chatting.
“Why the hell are we hear?”
“We’re not doing anything in this weather.”
Eventually we made it to the command center that was mostly underground but had an observatory that was above ground. The soldier that led me and the ERU opened the door.
“Colonel. Sky Marshall Whirlwind to see you.”
“Pardon?”
I entered the room, I didn't say hello or anything I wanted him to know I was annoyed.
“What are you doing here sir?”
“I was just about to ask you the same thing.” I walked over to a monitor that showed the geography of the South Pole, the further inland you went to more inhospitable and mountainous the land got.
“Colonel. The order was given to you by a letter, correct?”
“Yes sir.”
“Was it delivered to you by a courier by any chance?”
“No sir.”
“I see.” I continued to look over the shoulders of the tech’s manning the computers.
“Sorry sir but…why are you here. If you’re looking for a progress report then I’m sorry. The weather is keeping us confined here in the base.”
“Who was the pony who gave you the orders then?”
“Twilight Sparkle.”
“Where is she?” I said with a little bit or anger in my voice.
“Loading bay 4.”
“Come with me.” I snarled when I stormed passed him.
*
I kicked open the door to loading bay 4, inside there were a lot of snowmobiles and lorry’s with caterpillar tracks up against the side walls and in the middle were some soldiers, they looked like they were preparing to go out into the storm.
“TWILIGHT SPARKLE!” I shouted at the top of my voice.
The men in the middle of the room jumped out of surprise, one looked at a pony with their back to me and there hood up. I had her.
“Twilight Sparkle!” I shouted again. The hooded pony turned, it was her.
“Yes?” Her voice sounded upset.
“I’m placing you under arrest!” I galloped into the room.
“Under what charges?” asked Blizzard who followed me in.
“Forging orders and the signature of a high ranking officer in the NRL military, namely mine.”
“Mrs Sparkle is this true?”
“It is.”
“Care to explain?” asked Blizzard.
“I knew Whirlwind would never agree to this so I did what I thought was right. I created the orders and forged Whirlwinds signature.”
“That’s where you’re wrong Mrs Sparkle. I think finding an alternative route through the South Pole is a good idea.” A ERU soldier used her magic to put the hoofcuffs on Twilight as I spoke.
“You should have come to me first. And now you will be held accountable for your actions. Take her away.”
“That’s not the reason why I did it.”
“Why. Oh let me guess, still have a soft spot for your old mentor do you?”
“No! I think I've found something that could help the win the war.”
“Like what. A snow powered tank?”
“A dragon.”
“A dragon? I think losing your horn has turned you mad. Violet, get a strait jacket for Mrs Sparkle please and a muzzle guard if you can find one.”
“Wait.” The voice came from behind a lorry.
“Who’s that?” I called out.
Slowly a little yellow filly emerged from behind the lorry.
“She’s telling the truth.”
“Do you have proof of this?” I lowered my tone.
“In my saddle bag.” Said Twilight.
I reached in and pulled out said proof.
“A book.”
“Yes. But not just any book, look on the first page and at the title.” Said Twilight.
I opened it and read the title aloud.
“Legions of old. Hero’s, villains, protectors and myths by Clover the Clever.”
I looked at Twilight, she looked confidant.
“Page 2187.” She whispered. “It’s bookmarked.” She added.
“Bookmarked.” I thought how ironic. I threw the 2186 pages over in one flip. On the page in question was a highly detailed drawing of three dragons. One had four heads and was under water, one had no wings and was on land and the other was flying in the sky.
“Guardians of Equestria. The Dragons of Equestria.”
I looked back at Twilight, she had a smug look. I nodded at Violet to take the cuffs off, I then sat on a ammo box and continued to read aloud.
“It is said that when Faust created this world three dragons would serve as guardians of the land that is now known as Equestria. The guardians would protect Equestria from any threat whether it be from land, sea or sky. The dragons would remain separate from each other and the population until the time came for them to come to the aid of the inhabitants and the land. No pony will know when or where they would rise or even there location at present times but they will come.”
I closed the book and handed it back to Twilight.
“So you think one of the dragons is here, in the artic?”
“That’s correct.” Twilight used her broken magic to store the book back in her saddle bag. The aurora around the book fizzed and sparked, sometimes it cut our causing the book to fall slightly. What should have been a simple task for Twilight now turned into a struggle. I felt slightly guilty. Slightly.
“The book said nopony will know when or where they will appear, so do you expect be to believe that you have found one.”
“I didn't find it. I just put two and two together.”
I looked at her and gave her a confused face.
“What?”
“Do you remember a few years back when smoke engulfed most of Equestria?” said Fluttershy hovering above me and Twilight.
“I’ll never forget it; we had to turn the wind turbines from suck to blow in the weather factory, which was no easy task.”
“Well that smoke, it came from a…dragon.” Fluttershy added.
“Yeah I do remember Rainbow Dash telling me about that. But I thought it was her just going off on one of her stories again.”
“Well it’s all true. The dragon flew away from Equestria that day and was never seen again.” said Fulttershy.
“Okay but that doesn't explain why you’re looking for it here.”
“The mountain range that we are going to be searching for the dragon is called The Black Mountains because of the thick black clouds surrounding it, but there not cloud, its smoke.”
“And just what the hell do you hope to achieve here?” I asked both of them.
“I admit it’s a long shot but my plan is to convince the dragon that the empire is the enemy and not us, I mean the NLR military.”
I stared at her for a while. I couldn't believe what I was hearing, she wanted to track down a fire breathing dragon and ask for its help. I put my hoof on her shoulder.
“Now I really believe that losing your horn has made you go crazy.”
“Do you want three dragons burning your army to a crisp? Because that is what they'll do!”
I took a gulp and admitted to myself that she had a point. I looked at the expedition team. They were all geared up and ready to go.
“Colonel Blizzard. What do you say?”
“I want to make this clear sir. I never knew of Mrs Sparkle’s intentions until now. I was furious when I found out, but after listening to Mrs Sparkle’s motives…I’m all for it.”
I looked back at the team.
“And you lot. What do you say?”
One spoke for them.
“Sir. We were told about an hour ago, and none of us have backed down. I have a brother in the tank corps. I don’t want him to be eaten by a dragon.”
“And you Whirlwind. What about you?” asked Twilight.
I sat in silence for a moment and thought about the pros and cons. The pros outweighed the cons, I stood up.
“Proceed.”
Twilight’s face lit up the search team climbed aboard the trucks and snowmobiles, the steel doors to the outside opened and a gust of freezing wind came rushing in as the doors retracted into the ceiling. The trucks came to life and slowly made their way out into the wilderness.
The door slammed down as the rear lights of the last truck diapered into the wall of white.
“Do you think this will work?” I asked Blizzard.
“Too late to do anything about it now sir.”
*
I wanted to get back home and continue the preparations for the invasion of Le Mare but the weather prevented that so I was stuck in the South Pole until the weather cleared. I couldn't even communicate with the MoD, the weather blocked all contact to and from our satellite. I was frustrated so to take my mind off things I wondered around the base and Blizzard accompanied me.
“It’s very impressive.” I said to Blizzard as we made our way down one of the corridors calved into the ice.
“It is.”
“Have your men done anything like this before.”
“No sir. It was a struggle but we pulled through. We only lost 5 men.”
I stopped.
“Lost?”
“I’m afraid so sir. Follow me.” Blizzard took the next right. On the ceiling the sign read Medical Bay.
At the end of the corridor it opened out into a large room with beds and everything that you would find in a hospital. We were now in the middle of the room and I stopped.
“You said 5?”
“I did.”
“So what about the other 75 that I've just counted.”
“The previous occupants.”
I threw back a screen covering a bed and saw a paralyzed stallion lying in it. He was an Imperial.
“Oh buck!”
I tipped over some screens that were up so I could look at the occupants. They were all Imperials.
“Sir what’s wrong?”
“Were in trouble!” I flew towards the main corridor.
“What from.” He trotted after me.
“The empire! Put your men on full alert, the empire are gonna try and take this base back!”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Trust me, I know!”
*
Three hours later and still no sign of an attack, I was adamant that the empire were going to launch an attack to retake the base. Blizzard didn't think so.
“Sir the base has been on alert for hours now, the empire is not coming.”
“They will, it’s only a matter of time.” I said whilst looking out of the window with a pair of binoculars. All I could see was white and nothing else.
“Sir. I think you’re a bit paranoid.”
I turned to face him.
“Do I look paranoid?” I asked him.
“Well…no, but.”
“Just keep the base on full alert Colonel, that’s an order.”
Another hour passed and still nothing. Blizzard spoke again.
“We've been here for a week sir and we have had no contact with Imperial forces. I think they've abandoned this outpost.”
“That’s what they want you to think. There just waiting and giving you a false sense of security, when you relax and lower your guard, then they'll strike.”
“The weather has never been this bad in the south pole for a decade, what makes you think they’ll attack now!”
Blizzard was getting frustrated and I think so were his men. I continued looking through the binoculars. Through the blanket of white I found my answer slowly edging its way towards us. I turn away from the window slowly.
“I have two words to say to you Blizzard.”
“And they are?”
“GET DOWN!”
I threw myself on to the floor just before an explosion shattered the window. I got up and searched for the alarm button. The steel doors flew open and four soldiers in white artic suits stormed in, they were not NLR.
I dove behind a console just in time to miss the blots from the invaders blasters. I took my blaster from its holster, broke from cover and fired. I hit two of them; one came at me so I whacked him on the head with my blaster. Then the other one wrapped his blaster rife around my throat. He fell backwards; he was trying to get me in a choke hold.
I struggled then elbowed him, he didn't flinch so I brought my head sharply back and on to his muzzle. He broke his hold on me. I got out and fell back down, that head-butt seemed like a good idea at the time. I was back on the floor, my eyes were spinning in my head. My attacker got up, I kicked his knee, he fell then I kick him in the face knocking him out. I staggered to my feet, picked up an enemy blaster then made my way to the truck depot.
Artillery rock the base, the lights flickered whenever a shell hit close by. In the corridors were men running back and forth, some preparing to fight others preparing to evacuate. I on the other hoof was heading to the truck depot. Twilight and her little dragon finding posse would have had no idea about the attack so when they returned triumphant or empty hoofed they would walk right in to the hoofs of the empire.
I entered the depot, still dizzy from the fight. Some men were throwing equipment into the back of the trucks; I saw a little snowmobile and jumped on.
“Whoa whoa whoa.” Said one of the soldiers as he ran towards me.
“Sir what are you doing?”
I flung the blaster over my shoulder, put on a pair of goggles and turned on the ignition.
“Twilight Sparkle and her team need to be warned.”
“It’s -20 out there sir, you’ll freeze.”
“Then I’ll see you in hell!” I revved the engine and sped towards the open door.
*
I headed towards the black mountain which was to my south west, I took it slow. The blizzard reduced my visibility to zero and I had to watch out for ice bergs and fissures in the ice. One false move and I would be out here with no transport and have to hoof it all the way, I properly wouldn't even make it to the mountain or the base.
The light on my snowmobile flickered, the engine cough and a few feet later it died. I ran out of fuel and I had no idea how far I was from the mountain. I made a decision; I would rather die out here than fall into the hoofs of the empire. I picked up my gear from the back of the snowmobile and started to walk.
It must have been a few hours later when I collapsed, I was freezing and exhausted. I never thought I would die like this, I always thought I would die like in my dream. I curled up into a ball to rest and keep myself warm, if the weather died down then I may still have a chance but it didn't look like it was going to clear up anytime soon. I said my goodbyes and fell asleep.
My usual dream woke me up; I was still in the middle of the frozen waste land and the storm was still raging I slumped my head back down and tried to get back to sleep.
“…Whir…wind…”
I heard a voice I the wind, maybe it was a rescue party or Twilights group.
“...Whirl…wind…”
I got up.
“Hello?!” I called out. I kept turning around, hoping to find the source of the voice.
“…Whirl…Wind…” The voice was all around me; it felt like it was coming from the storm itself. In the corner of my eye a saw a figure, a stallion, I turned to face it.
“…Whirlwind…”
“Yes?”
The storm prevented me from seeing his face. He opened its wings which were huge by the way, he took off into the sky, the wash off of his wings cleared the storm. The black mountains were right in front of me they were at least 3 miles away, I could make that. Spooked by what I just seen I looked around, who the buck was that I thought to myself.
“Thanks, whoever you are?” I called out.
Above my head was the clear blue sky but the peaks of the black mountain were still covered in smoke; I took off and headed for the cave that was still spewing out the smoke. Twilight had to be there or nearby. Outside the entrance was some bags and equipment, I examined them, they were NLR, Twilight and the team must be inside.
I took off my fur coat when I was outside the cave otherwise I might have been cooked alive, the heat coming from the cave was unbelievable there was even a heat haze at the entrance. I poked my head around the mouth of the cave to look inside, nothing just darkness. I took a deep breath, cocked my blaster and headed in. I sneeked in slowly. Why? For two reasons, one I didn't want to wake the dragon and two, I was a little scared. I mean come on it’s a freaking fire breathing dragon would you be scared?
“Twilight.” I whispered.
I sneeked in more, I was a little on edge. What if the dragon ate them and was looking for seconds I thought to myself.
“Okay calm down. There properly okay, I mean he’s sworn to protect us. Isn't he? Twilight better be right I would hate to tell her friends that she’s been eaten….”
I froze, to my left was a giant red dragon sleeping on top of a pile of gold, jewels and plunder, the smoke was coming out of his nostrils and engulfed the ceiling in a black mist. I didn't move for a long time, my instincts were screaming “Run! Just bucking run! Buck Twilight it’s all her fault, save yourself run!” but my legs were all “Don’t move, or your dragon food!”
Eventually I decided to move. I tiphoofed backwards trying to retrace my steps but failed, I knocked something over. It was a skull, I grabbed it to stop it from rolling and examined it. Thank Faust, it was a goat’s skull and not a ponies. I gave a sigh of relief. I felt hotter, the sweat was pouring from my brow and into my eyes. Then I realised, to my right and a few inches away was a teeth of the dragon.
“…Hi…” I squeaked.
The dragon roared and I jumped into action. I pulled out my blaster and fired at him, but the bolts did nothing. He took a deep breath; I knew what was coming next so I dove behind a bolder. The flames licked past the rock as I hid behind it. He stopped and spoke.
“Luft zey joor! Nid nikriin mos aan smahl!”
“I don’t speck giant lizard!” I shout from behind the rock.
“Face me mortal. Don’t cower like a sheep!”
“Sheep!” I broke cover and fired at the dragons face. He put his arm up to cover it. I ran out of ammo so I pulled out my sword and ran towards him, screaming as I ran. He let out a stream of fire towards me so I took to the air. I held my sword high and prepared for the most almighty swing I would ever do in my life.
I froze in the air. A purple aurora surrounded me, I was confused and so was the dragon.
“Whirlwind!”
“Twilight!” She was in the mouth of the cave with the rest of her team. The aurora from Twilight's horn diapered and I fell to the floor.
“What are you doing!” she shouted.
“He attacked me.” Said the dragon.
“Bullshit!” I shouted back at him.
“He tried to eat me then called me a sheep!” I added.
“You were hiding behind a rock!” He replied.
“How the buck am I supposed to compete with fire breath! That’s cheating!”
“Enough, both of you. You’re like a bunch of school children.” Said Twilight as she made her way into the cave.
“He started it!” I replied.
“Did not.”
“Did too.” I poked my tongue at the dragon, he snarled.
“Whirlwind, what are you doing here?” asked Twilight.
“The base was taken by Imperial forces, I came here to warn you and to take you lot to the emergency evca site.”
“Oh my god.”
“How?”
“Who got away?”
“Blizzard, is he okay?” asked a soldier.
I shook my head in response. Twilight looked at the floor; I think the reality of this whole situation had finally hit her.
“Sit rep?” I asked the soldiers. Sargent High Flyer spoke.
“Sir. We arrived at the summit 1500 hours, Fluttershy introduced us to the VID-“
“VID?” I asked.
“Very Important Dragon.”
“Okay, continue.”
“Twilight Sparkle explained the situation to the VID. He wanted time to think about it so we rested up in our camp on the other side of the mountain. We heard the commotion that you and the dragon caused and here we are.”
“1500 hours?” I looked down at my watch.
“You only arrived two hours ago? Why did it take you so long to get here?”
“The trucks are big and slow sir and there were many cracks in the ice so we had to find alternative routes through the ice fields.” Said Penny.
“Okay, well done. Now all we need to do is convince scaly over there to help us.”
“I heard that Strun!” Bellowed the dragon.
“You were meant too. Corporal, send an update to baseplate I haven’t had the chance to contact them. And tell them we need evca ASAP.”
“Understood sir.”
Two hours passed and Fluttershy and Twilight where still trying to convince the dragon to side with us. I and the expiation team relaxed as the talks continued at the back of the cave. The men wanted to know exactly what happened at the base, so I told them, they deserved to know what happened to their comrades. Later on my thoughts turned to the mysterious figure in the storm. Who was that? If I didn't know any better I’d say the stallion was…me. Underlay caught me off guard.
“Sir!”
“Buck me Underlay, you scared the crap out of me. What is it?”
“I think the dragon has come to a decision.”
I got up and started to wake up the rest of the men. The dragon was lying on his plunder and Twilight and Fluttershy were sat in front of a fire.
“Well?” I asked Twilight, but Fluttershy answered.
“The dragon he has an answer!” Fluttershy was practically bouncing with excitement.
“Well? Will you help us?” I asked the dragon.
“No.”
“Well thanks for nothing; men get your kit we’re going home.”
“Hang on.” Said Fluttershy.
“I will not help you Strun, but I will help her.” He used his tail to point at Fluttershy who was hovering. Just off of the floor. She blushed.
“Why her?”
“Because she came to me for help, you did not.”
“I was a little bit preoccupied.”
“When she and only she needs my help, I will come and aid her and her friends.”
“A how will you know when she needs help?”
“He gave me this.” Fluttershy pointed at a necklace around her neck, it looked like a dragon’s tooth.
“It’s a horn, I’m to blow it when I need help and he will come. It’s called a Dovahserlek or Dragonhorn. The dragon riders used these to call their dragons to battle.”
“And she will do the same. There has not been a dragon rider for centuries.” Said Twilight.
“Okay that’s good. But what about when we land on Equestria, will you see us as liberators or invaders?” I asked the dragon.
The dragon lent forward; his teeth were a few inches away from my face.
“Do you know why I am here and not in Teevakraya, Equestria as you know it?”
“Um…dragons like mountains?” I answered. Twilight slap her forehead with her hoof.
“Yes you are correct Strun. But my reason for being here is this. Teevakraya’s leader wishes to use me and my brothers as Kakaffraye, weapons. We are protectors not destroyers. I came here to escape her and her destructive ways. Also tell me this Strun. What was the first country that the empire invaded?”
“Le Mare.” I answered. The dragon shook his head.
“Equestria. You have my answer, now be gone for I must catch up on the sleep that I have lost.” He turned around and slumped on top of this plunder facing away from us. Fluttershy thanked the dragon repeatedly as I turned to leave the cave.
“Well that wasn't the most straight forward answer ever but an answer is an answer. Everypony get your gear were leaving ASAP.” I said to the soldiers.
As I packed my kit away Twilight came over, much to my displeasure for she was the one pony I didn't want to see. I ignored her, she cleared her throat.
“Well, aren't you going to thank me and Fluttershy?”
I lost my temper. I stood up and glared at Twilight.
“The only thing that I’m going to thank you for is the 100 plus men that we've lost!” I flung my kit bag onto my back and stormed down the mountain path. A couple of minutes later the rest of the team caught up with me.
We made our way down the mountain slowly; the ice and loose rocks made it a very dangerous decent. Half way down Fluttershy came up to me.
“Whirlwind. Please don’t be mad at Twilight. She did what she thought was right.”
“By going behind my back?”
“Okay I admit that was wrong but she was only doing it for-“ An explosion interrupted Fluttershy, then another, shells hit the mountain side above us. The shells were coming from our left and low, it was the Empire.
“Get into cover!” I shouted. I pushed Fluttershy into cover behind a rock then grabbed Twilight who was in shock and threw her top of her friend.
“Stay in cover!” I barked at them.
They nodded sheepishly. I then took cover and started ordering the men.
“I want fire superiority! Graffiti, get the AT launcher out. Penny. Try and get thought to Baseplate and send them a contact report. Everypony else open fire!” I cocked my blaster and selected single fire, there was no point going full auto the Imperial ground forces were in cover the same as we were. We fired down at the Imperials as they tried to storm up the mountain face.
“There’s too many of them!”
“Keep it together Coin Toss!”
“Sir. Last mag!”
“Same here sir!”
“AT rounds complete sir!”
“Whirlwind. Whirlwind!”
Twilight was shouting down my ear but I was too busy concentrating. She nudged me and caused me to miss my target.
“Faust dammit what!” I faced Twilight, she pointed at Fluttershy, and she was holding the dragon horn.
“Is it a onetime use?” I asked.
“I don’t know.” Replied Twilight.
I looked at Fluttershy and to my surprise she wasn't a quivering wreck, she looked calm and at peace.
“Blow it!”
She took a deep breath and blew hard into the horn. The noise was biblical; it covered the sound of gunfire and the wind. The horn was no bigger than a cell phone! After Fluttershy ran out of breath I uncovered my ears as did Twilight, I could hear nothing, did I go deaf?
“Wow.” Said Twilight.
I could hear Twilight but no gunfire from my men or from the imperials. I looked at the squad, they were shocked.
“I didn't say you could stop shooting!” They picked up there blasters and continued shooting.
“Well we are now truly buck. Any other bright ideas?” I asked Twilight.
“I…err.”
“Sir. The imperials, there retreating!” said one of my men.
“What?” I looked down the mountain. The imperials were indeed retreating, almost in fright.
“I think the sound of the horn must have scared them. It scared me.” Said Fluttershy.
“I doubt that. There not children Fluttershy, there highly trained soldiers. What do you think happened Twilight. Twilight?”
Twilight was speechless; she raised her hoof and pointed at the mountain peak. I looked up to see the dragon on the peak, wings open and looking down at us. He gave an almighty roar which shook the ground; he took off into the sky and gave chance to the Imperials.
“Don’t hurt them okay, be nice.” Said Fluttershy calling out to the dragon.
“Well you don’t see that every day.” I said whilst picking up my blaster.
“Yeah that was something alight.” Twilight kept her eyes on the dragon, she was in awe. I looked down at the men; they were in the same state as Twilight.
“Wake up!” I shouted at them. “We've only got 3 hours to make it to the evac point, so saddle up!”
“Yes sir!”
*
We made it to the evac site and with time to spare, the sea was now calm so rib boats picked us up on the western coast and would take us to the ship.
“I don’t see it!” said Twilight as see tried to hold on to the boat and talk over the sound of the engine.
“Trust me, not far now.” I replied.
A few moments later and the pilots cut off the engines to their boats. We drifted a bit in the open water.
“I don’t like this.” Said Fluttershy.
“Whirlwind what’s going on?” Before I could answer I heard the sound of the submarine’s bridge breaking the water surface behind me. It cast a shadow over us. Twilight and Fluttershy gazed up at the bridge.
“Hold on.” Said the boat pilot.
There was a bang as the boat came in contact with the rising sub. Twilight and Fluttershy looked over the side, now the top of the sub had appeared on the surface. They both looked at me.
“Cool huh?” I replied.
Suddenly there was a slight drop then a slow decent into the sub itself.
“Attention. Lift lowering.” Could be heard on the PA system as we descended further into the sub. Before the lift touched down I jumped out of the boat and walked over to Free Bee the Captain of the sub. I shook his hoof.
“Sir, it’s good to see you again.”
“Yeah you too Free.
He nodded at the boat.
“Is that her?”
“It sure is.”
Free Bee nodded at his escort, they fell out and trotted towards the boat.
“Twilight Sparkle?” asked one of them.
“Yes?” she replied.
“You are under arrest.”
“Pardon?!”
The MP’s (Military Police) hoof cuffed Twilight, she put up a bit of a struggle but was nothing they could have handled.
“Why I’m I under arrest?”
“In case you forgot you still forged my orders and put the lives the lives of many ponies at risk. In other words, treason!”
“Whirlwind, you can’t.”
“I can and will Fluttershy! Twilight, You will be placed under house arrest until we reach Manechester, then we will turn you over to the civilian police and then you will be put on trial.”
“This is insane!”
“No Twilight, this is justice. Take her away!” I ordered the MP’s.
Twilight’s face sank. I’m grateful for her and Fluttershy finding the dragon and convincing it to help us but it’s how Twilight when about it. If she would have come to me first I might have said yes. You should always ask and never assume.
We were welcomed back to Manechester by the locals; the embankment was crowded with cheering ponies. Somewhere holding up signs saying Welcome Home and Heroes. I didn't know what they were told so we had to go along with it. When the steel doors opened to the deck of the sub the crowd roared.
“What’s all this?” asked Free Bee.
“No idea, just smile and wave.” I replied. We did so and the crowd loved it.
“Do we move her now?” asked Free Bee through his fake smile.
“Hell no. Twilight Sparkle seen as a prisoner. No way. Wait for the crowd to dissolve, and then we’ll move her. No hoofcuffs.”
“Aye aye sir.”
When the crowds finally went home we moved Twilight. She had an MP escort. I was still on the deck with Free Bee.
“What now?” she asked.
“You will be taken to your room by the civilian police and you will remain there until authorised.”
“Whirlwind…I.”
“Save it for the trial Mrs Sparkle. Get her out of my sight.”
The MP’s lead her down the ramp and onto the dock were the civilian police were waiting with a carriage.
“Can I go with her?” said a rather sheepish Fluttershy.
“Of course you can.”
She drifted off and followed the carriage into the city.
“Permission to speak sir.” Asked Free Bee.
“What is it?”
“I think you’re making a big mistake sir. Twilight is too important, she won’t be punished by the court but you might be.”
“Thank you captain that will be all.” I took off into the air and headed to the MoD bunker.