Chapter 7: Moving Out
Not a week after first landing in Equestria, the humans had turned their plain field into a sizable base. All of thier aircraft took up most of the area, but there was still enough room to live. After the first wave landed two more groups arrived a few days after one another, pushing their total numbers to just under 800 people. The second and third waves also brought with them supplies, food and weapons.
The base was comprised completely tents that ranged in size. The largest tents were allocated for sleeping and eatibg, while the smaller ones were used for supplies, weapons and medical equipment. Cans of propane had been brought in for making hot meals. Currently Matt was content enjoying one. He felt it was quite well earned. They had all been working quite hard since arriving in order to get things up and running. It made Matt incredibly sore and tired, but unfortunately there was more for him to do.
"Matt?" A guy called with his head stuck through the entrance. Matt looked up at him, his fork just inches from taking another bite. "Rebbeca wanted to see you." The man told him. Matt stood up and, taking his cup of Top Ramen with him, left the dining tent.
He was led to a Tent that was in more or less the center of the camp. He pushed open the thick fabric and inside were Rebbeca, Hudd Jacob and a few others. "Hey guys, whatcha need answered today?" He asked tiredly. Over the past few days, he had been asked seemingly endless questions and most had been trivial.
"Don't worry, this is actually serious." Rebbeca reassured after seeing his bored facial expression.
Matt straightened up and thought something might be wrong. "What's going on?"
"Well you know that there haven't been any pony sightings since we landed here. By now they have to know that we're here." Hudd said. " So we think that their holding back; trying to fortify some position to defend from. And I think I know where they're going to do it."
Matt shrugged. "Well where?"
"On the way in spotted some kind of village not to far from here. You know of anything like that?"
Matt racked his brain for a moment, then it came to him. The village he needed to go to. "Ponyville." He said. "That's its name."
Jacob perked up at the mention of the town. Matt assumed he had heard of it before, which was resonable considering how important Ponyville was.
"Hudd that's really really close." He urged. "And its supposed to be where Twilight Sparkle lives."
"That's not all." Matt said to himself as he thought about his own personal mission.
Hudd, Rebbeca and Jacob talked to each other for a moment before Rebbeca looked up and asked, "What do you know about it?"
Matt looked between them. "What are you thinking?" he asked them.
"I wanna hit them first." Hudd said. "We strike first and hit them hard."
"Well then." Matt said pleased with the plan. " I know a little bit. I used to...live there. From what I remember it has no defenses." He thought back to how he would come to the field from Ponyville. "The quickest way to get there would be to go north to the tree line and through the forest."
Hudd nodded as Matt talked and when he finished he stood. "Well." he said as he stretched. "I'm ready to move. What about you, Rebbecca?" he asked jokingly.
"Yeah I think I'm good to go too." She finished and looked to Jacob.
"Good, I'm sick of waiting here." He added.
"Okay then." Hudd said. "We can give the news later today and hopefully move out tomorrow morning." He looked around to the others who made no objections. It sounded good to Matt. For him the sooner they left the better.
However there was one important thing he should have remembered. The quick route he told them would take them through more than seven miles of the dark, mysterious Everfree Forest.
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"This is a mess." Storm Hammer said shaking his head.
"I know, but it's all we can do." Shining Armor responded. The two unicorns were standing on the platform of Ponyville station, ushering the few remaining civilians unto the final train. All of their faces were stricken with fear and uncertainty over what would happen to them.
The rumors of humans in Equestria started five days ago. A school teacher had reported it after overhearing her students talking about it in the yard. The next day a small group of Soarin's scouts confirmed it. Evacuations started later that day. The order to evacuate Ponyville came from Princess Luna herself. She had shown herself to Shining Armor only for a moment to tell him.
"Is that the last of them?" Storm Hammer asked.
"I believe so." Mayor Mare said shakily. "I...I just don't understand. How could they be here?"
"I don't know." Storm Hammer lied. "But you get on the train. We have it from here." The Mayor thanked the two unicorns and boarded the train with her citizens.
"Just you and me partner." Storm Hammer joked. "I bet if we work together, We take 'em!"
Shining Armor turned towards him after a few minutes. His joke hadn't gone over so well with him.
"How can you be like that right now?" He asked forcefully. "Why is it impossible for you to even act like you care about what happens to our country?"
Storm Hammer looked to him offended. "I'm ready to do what it takes to protect my country. The same as you." He was going to protest more, but stopped as he thought of something he could use. He had always had the feeling in the back of his mind that they couldn't defeat the humans. But he knew that putting a strong piece back onto the board would at least help to even the odds. "The difference between me and you is that I have nothing to lose if we're defeated."
Shining Armor's face changed. He knew he was talking about Twilight. "My sister has nothing to worry about."
"I don't know..." Storm Hammer said. "I told you before that they'd be looking for her, now they're actually here. Talented as your sister is, can she do any better to protect herself than she did at the Atlanta Bureau?" Storm Hammer knew he was getting close to what he wanted from Shining Armor. "Princess Luna saved her once, maybe she'd do it again, you know since you're too busy to see her anyway."
He watched Shining's face. He could see the brief moment of thought and consideration, just before it went away and Shining replied. "Shut up. The train is here."
It was true. The first of Storm Hammer's forces had arrived. Dozens of Earth and Unicorn ponies exited the train, each of them had a on a set of plain looking armor. Once they all assembled in front of him, he spoke.
"There are humans less than eight miles from this spot. They will most likely come from the Everfree Forest. Or take the long way around it. The emplaced weapons are pointed in those directions to soften their approach. I want barricades on every street, alleyway and avenue. You defend these streets with your lives. If they get through, they will flank our main force. You push them to the end of main street. It goes all the way down to the Market. And at the market at two emplaced weapons. Force them where we want them and then destroy them. You do not fall part the market or you will die. Is that understood?"
"YES SIR!" They shouted back.
Storm nodded. He was proud of them. "This is an enemy we have never fought before, but we will not fear them. They will learn to fear us!" Storm Hammer short speech caused an uproar from the troops as they passed him to fulfill their duties.
After a moment, Shining spoke to him. "We should get going back to Canterlot. We need to report to the others."
Storm Hammer took a step back and pointed a hoof to the door of the train. "After you." He asked politely. He was confident that he had done what he wanted. He felt that Princess Luna had spent far too long in solitude sulking while things crumbled around her. He needed someone to bring her back into the fight and he felt Shining Armor would be the one to do it.