Earlier that day
The sun was rising over the city. The streets were full of carriages taking ponies to their destinations. Sunstream was surveying the setup around the hole in the ground, as many of the scientists took samples of the mysterious residue around the entry way to the underground part of Manehatten. Many ponies were curious about what was going on and gathered around the site, trying to get a look at what was going on. Guards were posted around the site to keep out anyone who'd try and get in.
Sunstream walked into one of the tents. He saw one of the head scientists and trotted over to him He was a unicorn with a pale blue coat. A dark blue mane and dark iridescent blue eyes. "So, how's everything going so far?" Sunstream asked.
"Oh wonderful Sunstream, I cannot tell you how much we've discovered over the last twenty four hours." He said.
"How longer will this take Nethercraft, I don't want anyone to get too curious and try and see what's going on here. I have to make a report here soon to the princesses and I want to make sure that we have every detail on this site."
"Of course Sunstream. We'll only be a while longer." Nethercraft replied.
With that Sunstream walked back outside and noticed clouds had come over the city. Rain droplets poured onto the buildings and streets. He sighed in annoyance. Why did they need to make it rain now after the incident yesterday. People in the city were on edge after the mysterious cloud arrived yesterday, causing quite a stir and making everypony nervous. Sunstream wondered how could anypony live in a city like this. All the noise and ponies trotting around everywhere made him feel uncomfortable.
Sunstream was walking towards his tent when he felt a rumbling beneath his hooves. He looked back and saw that the tents were shaking around. The rumbling noise came back again as he tried to look for the source of the noise. He kept looking around till he saw that everypony was gathering around the hole. He quickly trotted on over and pushed everyone aside to see what was happening.
"Hey, Silverleaf what's happening?" Sunstream asked to a mare next to him. Silverleaf was a unicorn. She had iridescent blue eyes, a dark green and blue colored mane, and a silver coat.
"I'm not sure Sunstream. Everypony here just noticed a noise coming from deep inside the hole here. We believe something's moving down there."
"Wait, are you saying that something's moving down there?"
"I don't know for sure. It's just an idea everypony here's come up with so far."
It was quiet for a few minutes. Then the rumbling came back, except it got worse. The ground around it began to fall apart. Everypony scrambled to get away from the hole. "Everyone get back!" One of the guards yelled out.
The cracks in the ground got further out as they reached some of the buildings that was closest to the site. The buildings around it were taken down by the ever expansive hole in the ground. Ponies everywhere around it were fleeing from the site. Sunstream was among them, trying to get away from the crumbling ground. He got about twenty feet away from it as he then hid behind one of the buildings until all seemed quiet. He waited for a few moments, then he cautiously walked around the corner before staring down the street.
A carriage had fallen down the hole. Then it was suddenly tossed back up, startling some of the ponies. They all walked closer to it, until a arm like appendage came out from the hole, gripping the side of the ground to it's right. Two more came out and then finally they saw what was creating the hole. The machine had one big light under the hood of its head. There was another light that circled around it.
The head of the machine slowly rose out from the ground, followed by three legs, two at the sides and one in the back. It stood taller then most of the buildings around it. The machine just stood there, staring at all the ponies in the street before it. Then it made a loud deep sounding roar. Making many of the ponies flinch. Air shot out of it's sides, as two arm like appendages retracted from it. A small whirring noise was heard as these arms came out. It got ever so louder as they came to a complete halt and then everything went from bad to worse.
The arms shot out beams of energy, vaporizing anypony it touched. Sunstream ran as fast as his front and back legs could allow. Left and right, ponies before him disintegrated. Covering him with ash from their bodies. Carriages around him were tossed into the air from the beams, many ponies were unlucky and got smashed under falling carriages. The machine just stood there, annihilating anypony it saw. Sunstream ran inside one of the buildings, where as he tried to flee, ponies were vaporized right in front of him. He quickly found the back door and ran down the street, buildings behind him were destroyed in an instant. Debris flying and fires spreading everywhere.
He finally made a stop at a corner of a building. Hiding behind it before he looked back around. Watching the machine as it walked forward. He saw a colt holding his child as they ran past him. Sunstream quickly checked himself over, noticing only a few scratches here and there. His wings were also scratched up but he knew that he had to get to Canterlot and report this incident to Princess Celestia right away.
~~~
"What happened in Manehatten Sunstream? Tell me." Celestia said. Seeing him in this condition was unnerving. He was shaking, his eyes looked as if they saw something horrifying.
"P-Princess Celestia. A-a something has attacked Manehatten."
Everything went silent. Nobody spoke for a few moments. "What? What has attacked Manehatten?" Celestia said. Only knowing too well what it could be.
"It...was a machine. It rose o-out of the ground and s-started firing energy beams upon the c-citizens. I'm sorry. I couldn't do anything to help any of the citizens. I just got out of there as fast as I could."
"Thank you Sunstream...go and get some rest. You deserve it." Celestia said.
As he was helped towards the barracks, Celestia walked towards the window, trying to look out in the direction towards Manehatten. She wished that this mountain wasn't in the way, she wanted to confirm what he had said. But seeing him like that was proof enough. "Everypony, you all heard what Sunstream said. One of those machines has attacked Manehatten. We need to find this machine and destroy it as quickly as possible."
She looked back at the rest. They looked scared. This was understandable she felt. Nothing could prepare them for what they would meet. "Twilight, you need to gather the Elements of Harmony, we'll need them more than ever now that we have something on the loose. Shining Armor, gather up the guards, we'll need to strike this machine at once."
Shining nodded and ran off quickly through the doors. "Cadence, you'll be needed back at the Crystal Empire, news will spread quickly and they'll need somepony to watch over them for the time being."
Cadence looked hesitant at first, but she nodded and was also on her way out. Celestia looked over to the delegates. "I'm very sorry about what has happened. But rest assured, we'll get you back to Saddle Arabia as quick as we can. It's too dangerous right now with this thing running around."
"We understand Princess Celestia, we'll make sure to keep out of harms way." Haakim said. With that the two delegates headed out.
Leaving only Celestia and Luna in the room. "Lightwing, I have one more thing for you to do."
"Yes your highness, what is your command?"
"I need you to round up some of our best trackers, we'll need to know where this thing's headed at all times."
"Yes Princess Celestia, on my way." With that he left the room leaving only Luna and Celestia.
Celestia walked out to the balcony, followed by Luna. "Sister, what's going to happen?"
"Don't worry Luna, we'll make it through this, I have every bit of confidence that we'll all make it through this." Celestia said. Hoping to not sound nervous, but really she was asking herself that question. They have never faced this kind of technology before. She was worried that something bad was about to happen.
~~~
Hours after the attack on Manehatten, Celestia had gotten word out to many of the cities to put a barrier around each one. Hoping that even with it's advanced fire power it would not break through any of the shields. She also remembered that Twilight and the others had their Elements of Harmony, just for extra measure in case nothing else could stop it.
Celestia was still worried though. She was still in pain after hearing that one of the cities that she had sworn to protect was destroyed instantly by that thing. Lightwing was trotting into her room. "Your highness, our scouts have reported it's location and course."
"Where is it headed Lightwing?"
"Your not going to like this, but umm, they have reported that it's headed straight for Phillydelphia and Baltimare."
She stiffened at the report, her heart sank with sadness. "Send Sunstream's regiment over to Phillydelphia and another to protect Baltimare. We need to make sure that this thing doesn't destroy anything else and to make sure that no more innocent lives are destroyed." Before he left. Celestia said one more thing. "On another note. Sunstream's not ready to go back yet to duty. Have Nightshade take charge of his regiment for now."
"Yes your highness." With that he trotted out the door. Leaving her to stare back out her balcony. Luna walked in seeing her sister staring outside. "Celly, is everything alright?" Luna asked.
Celestia turned around. She looked at her sister. "I am afraid that Lightwing brought grave news. The machine is heading for Phillydelphia and Baltimare. It's expected to arrive in about forty minutes."
Luna's eyes widened. "What are we going to do about it? You can't just expect our military force to just handle this?"
"I know Lulu, it's just I'm worried about everypony. I don't know what to do. Nothing like this has ever happened before."
"I know Celly, I'm worried for everypony too, but we need to take a course of action that will finally stop this machine. Where are the girls at?"
"They're in Ponyville right now. I sent them there so that when the time comes, we can summon them quickly. I'm just afraid that if I use them now, I'll end up getting them..."
"Celly, I understand." Luna paused before saying. "I'll go over there to make sure preparations are ready for that monster."
"You need to stay here Luna, I can't risk losing anyone."
"And what, you'll have me just sit around here for the next month, no I'm going over there to help."
"Luna no you can't."
But Luna was already out the door. Teleporting over to Phillydelphia. Celestia just stood there. She went to stand back out on the balcony. "Oh Lulu, why did you have to do that?"
~~~
When Luna finally appeared before Phillydelphia, she could see that everything was in order. The shield was up and the defensive weapons were being set into place. Towers were put in place for Unicorns so they could fire the energy beams at the machine. Catapults, Ballista's and Trebuchets were set up in in a perimeter around the left side and front of the city.
Luna quickly trotted on over to the front gate. The shield opened up before her. "Hello there your majesty. I'm glad you have come."
"Your welcome Nightshade. How has the process of setup gone?" Luna asked. Talking as they walked along the shield. Nightshade was a unicorn. His mane a dark blue, his coat dark aqua and his eyes a dark green.
"Good your highness, we've got a perimeter set up and ready. I'd like to see that monstrosity set one hoof here. We'll blast him away before he even gets the chance to hit us."
Luna admired that even in a delicate situation. Nightshade was always so calm. They continued to walk along until a runner trotted up to them. "Commander Nightshade sir. The machine has been spotted about two miles from here."
"Good, get everyone into position, we're gonna send that thing back to the scrap heap from whence it came."
Soldiers ran to get in their positions. Many went into the trenches that had been dug out. Others manned the artillery that were put into position.
"Commander, what about the villages? Has anything happened to them? Are they okay?"
"No, that thing slaughtered them all. But strange thing was that thing picked up many of the fleeing ponies with these tentacle like arms that wrapped up around them and lifted them straight up to these cage like things at the back."
"Wait, are you saying that this thing is capturing ponies. But why?"
"That we don't know yet." He looked back into the city. "Now your highness. I recommend that you get back into the forcefield."
Before Luna could say anything. He spoke up again. "I'm not saying that your going to be in the way. I mean you raise and lower our moon. I'm just telling you to do this so that we don't loose you. If we lost you. Celestia would be heartbroken and never let us hear the end of it."
Luna smiled. She liked that ponies still loved her. She nodded and trotted back into the shield. Luna found a spot where she could see the whole battlefield.
An hour had passed. There was no sign of any movement. Nor had there been for a while now. Nightshade and his men were still looking around. "Was the information you received correct lieutenant?"
"Uh, yes sir. The scouts said that it was headed in this direction."
And as if to respond. A noise was heard in the distance. The sound of something metallic walking towards them. "Alright men. I hope your ready to die today, because if we don't stop it here. More innocent lives will be taken away."
A hoorah sounded out. Everypony was ready.
Within a few moments. The Tripod was within a hundred yards from them. It came to a stop and looked out upon the defensive line. It just stood there, looking at them. Nightshade looked at it. Seeing it this way made him think it was scared.
"Alright ladies, let's show this thing what were made of."
On command. Catapults and ballista's fired upon the machine. Nightshade stood there in anticipation. But then he was met with disappointment and terror as all the rocks and metal arrows were reflected off an invisible shield. It stared at the objects that were thrown at it. Then a loud roar came from the machine. It's arms coming out from its sides. "Fire, Fire everything!" Nightshade yelled out. Panic rose from his voice.
With that. Catapults were tossing huge boulders at the machine. Ballista's shot giant metal arrows and trebuchets launched large objects at the machine. Unicorns were firing energy beams, but sadly, nothing seemed to pierce the shield. The Tripod opened fire upon the artillery, destroying them with such ease. Ponies were being vaporized left and right. The towers were destroyed instantly. Luna watched on in horror at what this thing was capable off.
It roared again. It marched up closer, keeping it's fire upon the confused and frightened ponies. Everything they threw at the Tripod had no effect against it's shield at all. "Everpony get back inside, retreat. Retreat!" Nightshade yelled out.
Everpony was scrambling, trying to get out of the killzone. Luna didn't know what to do. Fear had taken hold of her. Ponies ran on through the shield. But many didn't make it. Some of the soldiers that were scrambling to get through were vaporized. The Tripod then stopped to a halt. Looking at the shield before it. Another roar came from out of the machine as it opened fire upon the shield.
Luna watched as it targeted the shield. She quickly ran down the stairs and out into the streets. The shield was taking multiple hits from it's energy rays. Only did she realize that this shield wasn't going to last much longer. She quickly ran back down the street and further into the city. Luna only got about twenty feet before she saw the shield go down. Citizens of the city were all around her as they tried to run away.
The machine roared again. Seeing all the fleeing ponies. It opened fire upon them. Vaporizing many of them and turning them into ash. Many of the soldiers that tried to protect the citizens were wiped out by the energy ray's.
Luna was running within the crowd of ponies, but many of her people were being vaporized right before her very eyes. She ran right into many of the ash clouds of the former living ponies. She turned a corner and hid behind one of the buildings. She watched in horror as she saw many of the ponies running down the street she was just in being vaporized into nothing but ash.
After the ponies numbers died down. She felt a trembling sensation beneath her hooves. Only knowing that the machine was walking down the street. One of it's legs landed right next to her as it continued walking down the street. Following the fleeing ponies. Luna just stood there for a while. She was completely shocked at the destruction capability of such a thing.
Luna's only instinct right now was to teleport back to Canterlot. She mustered up her magic and she disappeared. She soon was back inside the castle. She heard some talking in the dining hall. Luna took a quick peek into the room and saw her sister and the Mane Six discussing something. Emotions well up inside Luna after remembering that very tragic memory she experienced over a few moments ago.
She opened the door and everypony looked at her. "Sister I'm glad your alright." Celestia said as she got out of her chair. Celestia walked up to her only to stop a few feet from her. "Luna are you alright?"
Luna couldn't contain it anymore as she quickly hugged her sister and began crying. The Mane Six quickly rushed over to her as well. "Lulu, what's wrong?" Celestia then noticed the white stuff over her body. Realization where this had originally appeared before shocked her to the very core. "Lulu, what happened at Phillydelphia?"
Luna looked at her sisters eyes. "It...was just...so terrible. We thought that...everything would've been fine...but it took out..."
"What are you talking abo-"
"It took out everything, the defensive line that we had setup. The soldiers and the shield that you had ordered to be put around the city. It broke through and started laying waste to everypony around me. I couldn't do anything. I was just locked up in fear that I couldn't think rationally, I couldn't protect the ponies...I."
Luna cried harder. Celestia stroked her mane. Then said in a calming voice. "There there, Lulu, it's over now, you don't need to cry anymore." Celestia helped Luna up to her hooves and escorted her to her room. She laid her down in her bed and let her sleep. Celestia then walked back out into the dining room. Where the Mane Six were waiting. "What happened Princess Celestia?" Twilight asked.
"Girls, it seems that the machine broke through the shield and defensive lines. Phillydelphia has been destroyed."
Everyone gasped. "Where's it heading now." Rainbow Dash asked.
"We believe that if it got through Phillydelphia, that Baltimare was next. It seems that the guessed path was right."
"So what now yer highness, what do we do?" Applejack asked.
"All we can do...I don't know what we can do." She looked to the ground for a moment before lifting her head back up again to look at the girls again. "Were going to destroy this thing no matter what it takes."
~~~
Nightshade and the others were running over to Baltimare. The machine was a mile behind them and gaining ground quickly. Nightshade arrived inside the shield, along with his remaining soldiers of colts and mares. "Alright men, let's set up a defensive perimeter inside the shield. This is our last stand, so no matter what, we'll stop this thing here and now."
"But Commander Nightshade, didn't you see what happened to Phillydelphia, there's no way that we'll be able to hold that thing off."
"I don't want to hear any of it rookie. I know that we won't be able to hold it off for long, but how would you rather go out. Sitting on your back legs and begging for mercy, or would you rather go out the soldier way."
His soldiers yelled out in answer. "That's the way I like to hear it."
With that. They got inside the buildings and waited for it to come. It didn't take long before they heard the sound of the machine walking towards them. It bellowed out a roar and fired upon the shield. Energy beams were fired upon it but the shield kept the machine from harm. The shield dissipated. Leaving the city open to it's weapons of mass destruction. Nightshade and his men fired upon it. But they didn't last long as it fired a beam of energy at them. As the energy ray was about to hit Nightshade, his last thoughts were of hoping that he did all he could to protect his home.
The Tripod marched through the city of Baltimore. Destroying and killing everypony it saw. Two cities were destroyed. How many more were next?