//------------------------------//
// Equestria Under Attack 
// Story: Trouble Begins. 
// by Darth Redbeard 
//------------------------------//

	Off the coast of Manehattan, a fleet of ships began to approach the city. Over 600 ships and 2,000 planes were getting ready to strike at the city. After the air and naval attack, an advance guard around 10,000 soldiers would attack the city. These forces consisted up of clones of their leader and robots. The calm breeze allowed the fleet full sailing towards their destination. They had worked for months on this fleet while two others were already prepared for their own invasions. While they had thought they would be invading their enemy, they were instead invading a neutral country in hopes of gaining some more ground. It was just three weeks ago that they were given their orders to head for a city called Manehatten. The Captain of the flagship was looking over his map when the Admiral arrived.

        “Captain, any sign of patrols?” The Admiral asked. The Captain shook his head.

        “No Admiral Harley, not a single Equestrian patrol at all,” he replied. “Also, no sign of you know who anywhere.”

        “Then let us keep it that way.” The Admiral ordered. “I’d rather not get into an engagement with their naval forces until we have the home field advantage.” The Ground Forces commander soon walked onto the bridge of the flagship. His uniform was bright red, with five stars on it. Just like the rest of the forces, he was also a clone of their leader, but was proven to be ruthless in the field against rebellions, and was soon chosen to lead the invasion.

        “Have our informants contacted us yet?” He asked, his voice demanding that he hear the answer he wants or someone's head would fly.

        “Yes, sir,” the Captain answered. “They’ve told us the Equestrian fleet is in anchor at Horseshoe Bay near Baltimare, so the defenses in Manehatten will be weak and Fillydelphia is still trying to get over the large-scale bandit raids from a few years ago. They also have some important targets that will help us take Equestria with ease.” When the three of them turned to look ahead of them, they saw the lights of Manehatten emerge from the fog in the distance.

        “General Bryce, prepare your men,” The Admiral commanded. The general left and gathered the men on the ship for landing. “Captain, have the fleet get into formation and begin hitting the city. I want them to feel the might of the Lennex Empire.”

        “Right away, Admiral!” The Captain exclaimed. He grabbed a torch and began waving it to the rest of the fleet to get into formation. As they neared the harbor, the main ships began forming up and readying their cannons for battle.

At midnight, the fleet began open fire on the harbor and city. The only ships there were blown to pieces as their crews were flung into the harbor, the water running red with their blood. In the city itself, fires began raging from the harbor area and began spreading throughout the city. The planes began to take off from the carriers and joined in the attack, just as the invasion force landed at the docks. As they got off the boats, they found no resistance as they began moving into the burning city.

“Keep moving men!” The Lieutenant yelled. “Take this city for the glory of the Lennex Empire!”

        On the other side of the city, a young girl was woken by the sounds of the cannons. She got out of bed and went to the window. As she opened the blinds, she saw the fire near the harbor area, along with flashes from the cannons on the ships. Before she could try to figure out what was happening, her parents rushed into her room.

        “Come on, Babs,” her mother exclaimed. “We need to get out of the city!”  Babs nodded and got into her regular clothes as fast as she could. As soon as she got ready, They ran down the stairs of their apartment into the streets. All around them was chaos as people were fleeing from the fires caused by the bombardment  from the Lennex ships. Members of the Manehatten police had formed some barriers along the roads to stop the attackers. Just as they got the barricades up, the Lennex forces began marching on their positions.
     
“Fire away lads!” The chief yelled. His officers opened fire, but their weapons weren’t very accurate, only a few stray bullets grazed the impending Lennex forces as they loomed over the police officers. The Lennex officers stopped 15ft short from the officers and got into formation, a firing line. Those in the front crouched so their accomplices behind them could still take aim. They worked in perfect synchronization without being needlessly yelled at for commands. The police stood terrified as the Lennex forces lined up their shots perfectly. They had time to count their last seconds
One

BANG

Sudden noises of gunfire shook all those still in hearing range as the soldiers had no trouble mowing down their opposition. Blood splayed across the street and was slowly leaking into a big pool on the ground through multiple holes per officer. The only people still alive were shielded by the rest of their team. "Get back! Retreat! We'll regroup at the train station"

        Babs and her parents ran as fast as they could away from the mayhem, but the panicking crowd shoved her parents to the street as she was knocked into an alleyway. As she was about to head back onto the streets, she saw her parents pleading to the soldiers to let them live. the soldiers showed no remorse and impaled them with their bayonets, her parents let out a strangled cry for help but it went unnoticed to all but Babs. She just sat there behind a dumpster, terrified at seeing her parents draw in their last breaths. Then, their bodies went limp, they stopped fighting back and accepted their fate. Babs snuck down the alley to find somewhere to hide all while silently sobbing at her parents demise. Babs continued to hide sobbing to herself, until she heard a voice call out names she swear she had heard before.

        “Well done, Magnum and Pearl,” the leader said. “With the help from you two and our spies, we’ll be able to take over this land in no time. As per agreement, we will make the two of you the rulers of this land.” Babs was shocked to find that Sweetie Belle’s parents were part of this whole thing. She had heard they were stuck up nobles, but to actually betray Equestria! That was low, even for the most corrupt of officials in Manehatten.

        “We also have two presents for your leader,” Pearl began. “First, let us introduce, Prince Blueblood.” Two of the Lennex soldiers dragged a beaten and bloodied Prince Blueblood to the Lennex ground commander. “We also present to you, a young teen with Dragon DNA. While we may not have him, we know where he lives, and who he is. I’m sure your Emperor would be pleased. Also, you have full permission to do whatever you wish to do to him.” The Lennex officers smirked at the suggestion. Now they had an advantage against their enemy, and could have some fun while they were at it.

        “What is the young one’s name?” One of the officers asked. Magnum and Pearl also began to smirk, as Babs heard the name of one of her closest friends.

        “Spike Sparkle.” No sooner did those words leave Magnum’s mouth, did Babs feel like she stopped breathing, it was steadily growing more and more painful to draw breath. She had no idea her friend was that unpopular, but to be used like that, she felt like she was about to throw up.

        “Alright,” The Commander said. “Take this prince to the cloning machines. Have all forces begin moving on Canterlot. We’ll crush all of Equestria by killing their leaders.” The Lennex forces began to torch more of the city, as the remaining population tried to run for the city, only to be shot at on the way there. Babs soon ran out of her hiding spot, just as one of the Lennex soldiers saw her.

        “Get that spy!” He yelled. He and two others fired, but missed as Babs ran to the train station. Just as the last train was about to leave, the Lennex forces began attacking the station. What was left of the Manehatten police held their ground as the train began leaving. Babs ran by the train, as one of the passengers held their hand to pull her onto the car. The train left, just in time to see the station and platforms collapse from the Lennex attacks. Lennex planes began attacking the bridge as the train moved across, hoping to stop the survivors from escaping, but were too late. The train made it across, just as the bridge also collapsed. Babs looked back and saw her home burning. The flames lighting up the night sky, making it beautiful to those that had no idea what had happened. For Babs, she had lost her parents and home. Finally letting out some tears, she fell into an uneasy sleep, the only thing she could think about was all the destruction that had happened, and that she had to warn Spike about what the Lennex Empire was going to do to him.