//------------------------------//
// Chapter 8: The Last Roundup 
// Story: Once Upon a Time, on an Alien Ring World 
// by Hi World 
//------------------------------//

The Warthog's gun rattled with fully automatic fire, the three barrels spinning rapidly. After leaving the ancient alien spire, Applejack, Fluttershy and Trixie were ambushed by a Banshee fighter. Fluttershy wondered if it was the surviving Banshee of the two that she'd faced when she'd landed.

The evil Covenant aircraft fired a deadly, green, fuel rod projectile at the evading Hog, and would've scored a direct hit, were it not for the great and powerful Trixie, who quickly conjured up a force field to protect them. Harmlessly, the projectile detonated against the magic.

As the Banshee pulled up out of its dive, Trixie let loose with the LAAG, chipping away at the vehicle's starboard wing. Even with one wing, the alien vehicle remained intact and airborne, and proceeded to shriek around and fire a round of plasma bolts.

Those blue bolts scorched the side of the Hog as it drove through a shallow stream, and Fluttershy screamed as some of them began to drain her shields.

Keeping the heavy gun locked to the Banshee fighter, Trixie was able to grind up the craft's fuselage, writing it off, and sending the wreckage down to the stream with a splash.

"Ha! I believe you have Trixie to thank for us all still breathing," boasted the Unicorn Mare.
Fluttershy was breathing, quite laboriously.
"Yeah yeah, ya saved our lives. We're eternally grateful," Applejack droned unsentimentally.

As AJ manoeuvred the Warthog through a shady, confining canyon, Fluttershy took a few swigs of water from her flask. It sploshed around and into her face as the Hog rode over some rough ground. She could feel her dodgy sleeping patterns becoming a problem. In need of rest, she hoped the search and rescue mission would be over soon.

Once out of the canyon, the LRV came upon a third energy emitter with Covenant soldiers searching the area, and a crashed lifeboat just to their left. No pony was in sight: Not good.

Charging the vehicle into the enemy, Applejack splattered a Jackal and two Grunts whilst Trixie holed a rookie Elite.

Provoked, the Covenant bellowed at them in their array of voices, and proceeded to open fire on the vehicle.

Trixie subdued the aliens, successfully ending the veteran Elite in charge, and making the remaining Grunts and Jackals flee. Now it was like shooting fish in a barrel.

As Applejack piloted the Hog through an assortment of rocks and trees, and Trixie shouted insults at the cowardly Covies, Twilight announced over Fluttershy's speakers, "Survivors are hiding up in the hills above the structure."
"Well alright then, let's go lend em a hoof!" grinned Applejack as she ran over the last of the Covenant.

The hill behind the tower was steep. Very steep. Almost vertical. But the off-road Warthog and its enormous wheels climbed the grassy incline like it was nothing.
"Yeah, ada'boy," AJ spoke to the vehicle through gritted teeth as they came over the top of the hill and approached a group of surviving Ponies.

Once the Warthog was parked, the three heroes hopped out, and were approached by a frustrated, blue maned Unicorn Mare. Fluttershy recognised the Mare; she was the Pony in the observation booth when she awoke from cryo sleep on the Filly of Autumn. Unlike before, Vinyl was fully armoured in the standard green.

To Fluttershy, she desperately fished, "Yo Fluttershy, you got Twilight Sparkle with you, right?"
"... Yes," she answered uneasily.
"Oh good! We're in a bad way; we got wounded here."
Just then, an agonised wail resounded from behind a distant rock where several Ponies gathered round.
Turning tail and galloping to the source, Vinyl yelled, "I'm coming, Octy!"
Octy?

Rushing after Vinyl, the three Ponies came to the rock where Octavia lay. The dark grey Earth Pony was the first Pony to greet Fluttershy when she woke up in cryo two. Now she was dressed in the usual green armour, only her left hind leg was red.

"Oh goodness!" Fluttershy gawped. "What happened to her?"
Applejack, Trixie and the rest of the Ponies huddled around the distressed grey Mare whilst Fluttershy and Vinyl knelt by her side.

Ignoring the Pegasus' concerns, Vinyl demanded, "Have Twilight send a Pelican to our location, now!"
"Oh, um-"
"-I already have," Twilight affirmed. "Stand by for evac."
"Oh, thank you," the worrying Unicorn bowed.

During Spartan training, Fluttershy just happened to learn medical skills, meaning she was a qualified medic. Examining Octavia's injured leg, she noted how the flesh had been stripped from the bone, like bark from a tree. She squinted her eyes as her squeamishness began to kick in, summoning up that apple pie she'd eaten earlier.

Using what she'd learnt from Spartan training, she was able to put her issues relatively aside, and inspect Octavia's wound.
"Hey, wha'd'ya think you're doing?!" snapped Vinyl, shoving her away.
Nervously, Fluttershy stuttered, "Ah! ... I... I was just... I was only... I... um..."
Thankfully, Twilight suddenly stated, "Vinyl, I suggest that you let her take a look. She's a trained medic, and might be able to help."

Fluttershy was curious as to how Twilight knew Vinyl's name, then remembered she was an AI: She likely knew the names of everypony on the Autumn.

In response to Twilight, Vinyl said, "Oh, you're sure? I didn't know."
An apology would be nice, Fluttershy thought as she took a closer look at Octavia's ruined leg.

It appeared to have suffered explosion damage, but it was too small a scale to have been inflicted by a grenade or a fuel rod projectile. There were also three minor chips in the bone that had been caused by sharp objects... like needler rounds. Fluttershy diagnosed that Octavia had taken at least three needle rounds to her left hind leg. Gosh, it was gruesome.

Fluttershy could treat it and fix it temporarily, but what Octavia needed most was a real doctor.

"Uh-oh! I'm detecting a Covenant drop ship, coming in fast!" alarmed Twilight.
Everypony mumbled worryingly amongst each other. The Covenant couldn't have chosen a worse time to attack.

Full of hope, Twilight asked, "Vinyl, can you snipe?"
"Uh, yeah."
"Good. Take Fluttershy's sniper rifle and be ready for when the Covenant disembark."
"But... what about Octavia?" the Unicorn stalled.
Twilight reassured, "Don't worry. Fluttershy and I will keep her safe."

The sniper rifle Fluttershy had acquired was still being held by her mechanical arm, and Vinyl soon snatched it off with her magic and attached it to her own arm. Still, no "thank you" from the Unicorn, but Fluttershy was glad to be separated from the heavy, specialized weapon.

Continuing with the orders, Twilight said, "Applejack, Trixie, you two get back on the Warthog and be ready to ambush the Covenant once they're off the ship."
"Abso-tivly!" came the farm Pony's reply.
Trixie was being unusually quiet for once, gazing up at the silvery metal spire as it sent up a ball of energy... A ball of blue... sizzling... piping hot energy.

"Everypony else, take up positions on the structure and be ready to attack."
Nodding, the troops hurried to their posts.

As Fluttershy tended to Octavia, the imminent buzzing of the Spirit drop ship grew louder and louder.

Octavia gnashed her teeth and darted her eyes around in fright, sweat beading her forehead. Fluttershy felt like she was looking in a mirror.

Thinking of reassuring words, the yellow Pegasus breathed, "Um, it'll be ok, Octavia... Um... you'll be fine..."
The injured Earth Pony didn't respond however, just sighed and whimpered, her downcast face dripping tears onto her armour.
Fluttershy felt quite awkward; she usually played the crying one.

Taking action as the drop ship closed in, she took out her med kit and produced some bandages. Before getting to work, she quickly placed a hoof on Octavia's neck and checked her pulse.

The poor Mare closed her eyes and winced as Fluttershy withdrew her hoof. Her pulse was running slow, and her breathing came out fragmented.

As the yellow Pegasus gently wrapped the leg in silky white bandages, Octavia strained, "... Thank you..." and put on a brave face for her temporary nurse.
"It's ok," Fluttershy smiled warmly.

Her smile faded when the noise of the Spirit's engines intensified, and a shadow passed over the two of them. Glancing up, she caught sight of the huge purple horseshoe floating around into position. Taking a deep breath, Fluttershy calmed herself, sort of, and continued to wrap Octavia's leg without rushing.

To her surprise, she heard Applejack's voice shouting near by. Peeking over Octavia's rock, she noticed that the Warthog hadn't moved, and Applejack was yelling at Trixie, who was just standing there, gazing up at the ancient structure.

"Trixie! What are ya doin'?! Ya gotta get in the Hog!" urged Applejack, beckoning her to the vehicle.
"Waaaiiit," Trixie strained, keeping her eyes glued to the spire.

That Covenant drop ship circled the spire and slowed to a mid air stop, ready to lower and deposit the Covies within.

Honking the horn, Applejack bawled, "Trixie! You get in this Hog right now! The Covenant are here!"
"Waaaiiit!"

A good few seconds passed as Trixie fixated on the alien tower. Applejack and Fluttershy stared at her, confused.
Worried, Twilight started, "Trixie...?"
The Covenant drop ship began its descent.

Out of the spire, another blast of energy shot up into the sky, and that's when Trixie got into action. She fired a spell from her horn at the fast moving energy, getting a hold of it in her telekinetic grasp.
"Nnnngg!" she tensed, gritting her teeth and groaning with effort.

Struggling, she waged a tug of war with the resisting body of pure energy. It was attempting to soar up - she was pulling it down. Sweat poured from her head and the glowing aura around her horn increased. Winning, she gradually pulled the orb out of its path, sparks spitting from her overworked horn.

All the Ponies, even the wounded Octavia, widened their eyes with awe, jaws hanging low.

Afraid, the Spirit pilot put his aircraft into a hasty climb in an attempt to flee the glowing blue kill-ball.

As Trixie directed the energy in the Spirit's direction, rays of light cut out from her horn at various angles. She grunted and groaned with the immense labour of harnessing the orb, and her grinding horn began to hiss and pop. Was she going to explode?!

Fortunately, the only one exploding was the Covenant drop ship. The pilot had just rotated the thing when Trixie's captured energy caught up to it and set it ablaze with blue fire. The flaming aircraft hurtled into a cliff face and crumbled to the ground. If any alien survived the impacts, they would have to settle with being burned alive.

Not knowing what to do with her great and powerful smoulder ball, Trixie angled her head at a cliff to the right, sent her weapon lethargically over it, out of sight, and let go.

Gasping for air like she'd nearly drowned, the blue Unicorn collapsed to the ground and panted. Everypony came galloping her way, cheering. Even Applejack whooped and honked the Warthog's horn in celebration.
"Woowee! Nice work there, Trixie!"
"That was awesome!" came the glorifying voice of Vinyl. "How'd ya do that?!"

Fluttershy spectated the party from behind the rock, as did Octavia who twisted her neck to watch.
"Oh my gosh," murmured Twilight. "I hate to say this about Trixie, but... that was really impressive! I knew she was powerful, but not that powerful!"

Wheezing on the floor, Trixie warbled, "... Oh my... That... that really takes it out of Trixie... Phew..."

Remembering her patient, Fluttershy raised Octavia's bandaged leg, and she kept it raised for fifteen seconds, Twilight instructing the grey Mare to apply pressure to the area just above the wound.

Once that was done, Vinyl came bounding over to check on her.
"Is... she ok?" she asked.
"Well..." Fluttershy was a little unsure, and felt more uncomfortable around Vinyl.
Luckily, she had Twilight to handle it. "She'll live, but she'll need further attention from the highest level doctors."

"Ok," accepted the radical Unicorn. To Octavia, she asked, "... Octy? ... A-are you feelin' ok?"
To which Octavia heaved, "... Not... q-q-quite," and proceeded to cough into her hooves.

As those two kept each other company, Fluttershy paced over to the great and powerful Trixie, who really was great and powerful as it turned out. The overpowered Unicorn stood noble and wobbling, using AJ's Warthog to lean on.
"Remind me never to do that again," she joked with a raspy voice prior to clearing her throat.

"Trixie. That was..." Twilight hesitated, debating whether or not to compliment the big headed Mare.
"Go on," Trixie encouraged, knowing what was coming.
Regrettably, the AI sighed and said, "That was amazing."
Trixie chuckled smugly. "Hm! Hm-hm-hm! Hm! Yes, it was, wasn't it, hm-hm! ... Everything Trixie does is amazing."
Well, that was predictable.

"Ok, what the hay was that big glowing thing?!" Rainbow Dash's voice made Fluttershy jump.
"Ha! Big glowing thing you say?" Twilight quizzed in reply. "I... think we know what you're talking about."
Sheepishly, Trixie grinned at Fluttershy, and the two of them shared a giggle.
"Well whatever it was, it nearly blinded me. I'm not surprised I didn't crash, but if somepony else was flyin', they might have!"
Ah, just what they needed; another egotistical Mare.

The majestic Pelican drop ship came whizzing overhead and descended in good time. Merrily, the soldiers made their way to their ride and hauled themselves on board. Vinyl and Fluttershy carried the injured Octavia down the slope and carefully laid her down in the Pelican's troop compartment.

"Oh, I believe this is yours," said Vinyl, offering Fluttershy her sniper rifle back.
"Oh it's ok, you-"
"-Oh, of course! Take it, Fluttershy!" Twilight interrupted deliberately loud.
If you insist.

Fluttershy really wasn't bothered about the sniper rifle. Snipers were meant to be skilful; something she was not. Nether the less, she accepted the sniper with her mechanical arm and turned to face AJ and Trixie in the Warthog. She came up short upon hearing Vinyl's voice.
"Thanks for your help. All of you."
It's about time.
"Your welcome," Fluttershy answered along with Twilight and Applejack.

Into the sky, the Pelican took off.
Over the radio, Rainbow Dash played, "Uhh thank you for flying with Rainbow Dash air lines, uhh this is your pilot, uhh Rainbow Dash. Uhh estimated time of arrival at base is about, uhh twenty minutes."

Twilight, Fluttershy and Applejack chortled while Trixie looked on sadly.
"Oohh! I wanted to be on that Pelican," she wined, slumped over the LAAG. "Ugh! I'm exhausted."
"Don't worry, Trixie, we'll all be boarding the next one," informed Twilight, brightening everypony's face.
"Good. Let's get this over and done with."

Into the passenger seat, Fluttershy strapped herself in. Each of the three Ponies took a drink from their flasks before Applejack hit the accelerator. She sped the Warthog trough a gap in the rock face on the other side of the energy emitter, which had just fired another deadly sphere of energy.

One final lifeboat was all that remained.

Applejack drove the Warthog LRV through a shallow river at the bottom of a beautiful waterfall and up a steady incline.

Trees and boulders dotted the area just outside an arch of rock. Amongst them, was a small assortment of Grunts, Jackals, and one Elite.

"Open fire!" ordered Applejack, prompting the great and powerful Trixie to let loose the LAAG.
The Elite was floored in no time, leaving just a couple of stubborn Jackals and some fleeing Grunts.

As Trixie mowed them down, Applejack put the Warthog into a power slide and hit one of the Jackals. The bird-like biped crunched on the impact and was moulded out of shape by the truck's spinning tires.

With all the aliens dead, Applejack manoeuvred the vehicle under the rocky arch and through a dry, stony canyon.

Fluttershy was tired. She yawned and reclined back in the passenger seat, her eyelids beginning to close.
She was briefly startled out of fatigue upon Twilight announcing, "I'm picking up reports that the Covenant have secured the Filly of Autumn's crash site."
Not sure what to say to that, Fluttershy murmured, "Oh dear."
"It's a shame, I know."

Laying limp over the gun turret, Trixie groggily muttered, "Wake Trixie," yawn, "When you need Trixie..."
The spell she'd used to harness the energy sphere had really taken its toll on the little Mare.

With Fluttershy and Trixie developing bags under their eyes, Applejack was the only awake Pony in the Hog. Good thing too, since she was the driver and all.

Fluttershy couldn't wait 'til they were done, and she could finally board Rainbow's Pelican and have a nap.

As Twilight informed, "I'm reading a lifeboat signal ahead, as well as three Covenant drop ships," Fluttershy became more alert.

"Trixie, we need ya!" hollered Applejack, waking up the drowsy Mare.
Trixie woke up with a snort. "Huh? Wha...?" yawn, "... What's happening?"
Repeating Twilight, AJ updated, "We're coming up on a lifeboat n' three Covenant drop ships."
"Oh good. Looks like we'll be at base soon."

Annoyed, Applejack accused, "All ya care about is you gettin' to base, donchya?"
There was no reply from Trixie.
"Here you are; the most powerful Unicorn for light-years, n' yer so reluctant to help."
"All Trixie heard was "most powerful Unicorn," so thank you."

Sighing, AJ sped the Warthog out into an open, grassy area. There were a few of the usual trees and rocks lining the surrounding cliffs. There was a huge rock slide dominating the area; massive boulders forming a dusty maze. Just beside the rocks, a lifeboat had dug a trench into the field and ended up against a tree.

The most notable things in the area were of course the three Covenant drop ships. They had just deposited their troops and were now leaving. Their whirring engines struck fear into Fluttershy who cowered behind the Warthog's dash.

Once the Spirit's were out of sight, the Warthog emerged from behind a couple of trees and went to work on the Covenant foot soldiers. The aliens were in the process of advancing into the rocks when the large UPSC vehicle growled into their midst and made road kill out of three Grunts and an Elite.

Trixie did her best to regain focus, and managed to put an end to one Elite and one Jackal with the lethal 12.7x99mm rounds.

Reaching the downed lifeboat, Applejack spun the wheel and swerved the Hog back the way they'd come, around the rock slide. Up ahead, a blue armoured Elite crouched behind a rock, and before Trixie could get a decent shot on him, something cracked through the back of his head and hurled his limp body out into the open.
"Survivors detected!" whooped Twilight as a poor little Grunt suffered the same fate. "Ponies are concealed in the rocks!"

Amongst the boulder field, a tall, thin, white Unicorn had taken a vantage point, and she skilfully picked of the stupid Covies one by one with her S2 AM sniper rifle.

The Covenant were screwed. Between the sniper in the rocks and the Warthog on their ground, what chance did they stand?

A Jackal rolled out of the way of the speeding Hog, only to be shot from behind by a Pony with an assault rifle. Oozing out of the rocks, the Pony survivors pushed the horrible alien soldiers back into the Warthog's arena, where the sniper had a much better view, and the four wheeled beast rampaged on.

Covies were riddled with bullets, flattened by the Warthog, sent air born by the ferocious sniper rounds, and blown up by grenades. It was hell for them, but the Ponies were relishing in it, except for Fluttershy. She didn't care that they were winning; a fight was a fight, and she just wanted it to be over.

Luckily for her, the fight didn't last very long at all. The Covies were unusually low level, and Fluttershy felt sure that the next time she came into contact with them, they would have a lot more to throw at her.

Winding their way out of the rock slide, the surviving Ponies laughed and celebrated the defeat of the Covies.
"Well done, everypony! A Pelican is on its way!" broadcasted Twilight out loud.
If the Ponies had been happy before, they were beaming with delight now; stomping their hooves on the ground and cheering.

"Hello!" greeted a deep pink Earth Pony Mare with a pale pink mane and tail and green eyes.
She beckoned the Warthog over.

Bringing the truck to a rolling stop, AJ killed the engine and greeted in return, "Well howdy there, Cheerlie!"
The three Mares on the Warthog dismounted and approached Cheerlie.

Sergeant Cheerlie was once a teacher back in Ponyville on Equestria. As her name would imply, she was a cheerful character... Not as cheerful as Pinkie Pie, but still.

"Thank you for your help just now," gratified the grateful Cheerlie. "I don't know what we would've done without you!"
In return, Applejack figured, "Hehe, I reckon you'd've done just fine without us, what with a sniper as skilled as that. Hehe."
"D'oh, I suppose Fluer de Lis is quite a good shot."
"Good shot?" Twilight laughed. "She was amazing!"
Trixie grumbled to herself, "Trixie would've done better."

The Mare in question came pacing down to Cheerlie's side. None of the Ponies knew anything about the white Unicorn, just her appearance, and that she was very good with a sniper rifle.

Standing next to Cheerlie, Fleur had a thin smile on her face.
"Well done... Lance Corporal Fleur," researched Twilight.
The model Unicorn didn't speak, just nodded her head respectfully.
"She doesn't talk much," Cheerlie mentioned, like a parent introducing a teacher to a shy Foal.

Whilst waiting for their ride, the soldiers sat around the Warthog, eating, drinking and talking.

The extremely thin Fleur de Lis passed on the food break to take great care of her sniper rifle; taking it apart, wiping every single component clean, and scrubbing the inside of the elongated barrel.

Applejack and Cheerlie sat together and caught up on their adventures. They were happy at first, but when Cheerlie asked about Pinkie Pie, Applejack became downcast. Cheerlie was shocked at the news. Comforting each other, the two Ponies hugged.

In the Warthog, Fluttershy relaxed in the passenger seat, staring up at the vibrant blue sky and the beautiful ring world arching above. Next to her, Trixie reclined in the driver's seat, nibbling on her half of the blueberry muffin Fluttershy shared with her. Fussily, the Unicorn used her magic to pull the blueberries out of the sponge and chuck them carelessly out of the vehicle. Once the muffin was finished, they each took swigs from their canteens.

"Is it here yet?" yapped the great and powerful Trixie.
"ETA; two minutes and thirty seconds," came Twilight's super accurate answer.
Neither of the two Mares reacted, just continued to gaze up at the ring world.

After two minutes of trying to stay awake, Fluttershy was alarmed by Rainbow's voice fizzing out over her speaker.
"Hello, everypony! I'm here to pick you all up and transport you to base!"
A big smile appeared on Fluttershy's face: Home time at last.

The squaddies gathered their things as Fluttershy and Trixie yawned and dismounted the Hog. Glancing at each other, they accidently made eye contact, and both immediately peered up to see the Pelican listing into position. It came down and lowered the gangplank for the soldiers to hop aboard.

Once everypony was inside the aircraft, Rainbow manoeuvred the Pelican's elevated hind over the parked Warthog and made use of an insanely powerful, magical magnet to secure the heavy vehicle to her vessel. Baring the extra weight, the Pelican wobbled vertically upwards and soared away.

Taking a quick glance into the troop bay behind her, the rainbow maned Pegasus waved ecstatically and beamed, "Hi Fluttershy! Hi Applejack!" Refocusing her glimmering cerise eyes at the sky ahead, she added, "Man, it's great to see y'all safe aboard my bird!" Yapping on and on, she said, "You're gonna love it at base! Zecora and her elite team - uh, elite as in hard-core, not elite as in stupid aliens. Yeah, she n' her team snatched up a pretty big alien facility, kinda like the ones dotted around here, heh!"

"That's very nice, Rainbow," spoke the AI Twilight. "But don't get too comfortable. As soon as we arrive, we need to devise a plan to rescue Captain Rarity from the Truth and Reconciliation."
Boggled, Rainbow asked, "The what and whaty-whaty-what now?"
"The Truth and Reconciliation. It's a Covenant battle Cruiser."
"The Covenant are holding Rarity on a battle Cruiser?!" Rainbow was appalled. "Well, we need save her right away!"
Agreeing, Twilight nudged, "Yes, after we've come up with a plan. We're not just gonna go flying in head first, are we, Rainbow Dash?"
"Wha...? Oh, er... no... of course not, hehehe. Just... hurry up, ok."
"Oh, I will. In fact, I think I already have a plan."

Everypony in the Pelican's troop bay laid on their bellies and diagonally faced the rear hatch, much like the inside of a lifeboat, only Pelicans were a lot more spacious.

As the Pelican continued its smooth flight, the great and sleepy Trixie nodded off, snoring loudly. Applejack, who laid next to her, rolled her eyes.

On the other side of AJ, Fluttershy had drifted into a blissful sleep of her own.