//------------------------------// // Interesting // Story: Mane-Six // by Black_Bones //------------------------------// Disclaimers: You know who owns what so get off my ass, only the plot is mine... sweet sweet plot. Well, here you go. -0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o Mane-Six Chapter One: Interesting -0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o The atmosphere of the Canterlot Military Offices was quite somber. Despite the recent victory at Green Saddle Ridge a week prior, nopony could summon up even a smile. The victory had come at too high a price. A heavy blanket of sorrow filled the air and the worst of it seemed to hover around the Mane-Company Captain's Office. Inside the rather spartan office sat a brown coated stallion looking over a desk littered with papers and folders. He was dressed in an olive green shirt with a patch on his shoulder signifying his rank as Captain. A cap of the same color sat atop his black mane and a walrus mustache adorned his face. Every so often a sigh would escape his body, as if to fuel the depressing mood. There was a knock on the door and a pair irritated green eyes gazed up towards the entrance of the office. “Uhh... Captain Black? Sir, are you in there?” A hesitant voice asked through the door. “Yes, what is it?” The stallion called out. A colt with a brown coat and mane opened the door carrying a small stack of folders. “S-sir, do you have a moment?” He asked fumbling with the folders. “Yes, Private...” The Captain's voice trailed off as he didn't recognize the young colt in front of him. “Buckly, Sir.” The colt replied quickly as he walked up towards the cluttered desk. “I'm the new office aid.” “What happened to Danson?” Captain Black asked leaning back in his chair. “Pvt. Danson's on leave, sir.” Buckly stated, finally relaxing a bit. “He'll be reassigned to Solar Company once he returns.” “Ah...” Black articulately replied. There was a moment of extended silence before the Captain asked. “Well?” “O-oh!?” The colt sputtered before fumbling with his folders. As Buckly sifted through the folders Captain Black found himself smiling for the first time in days. “Was I ever that green?” He thought with a mental chuckle. After a moment Buckly pulled out a rather thick folder and instantly the smile vanished from the Captain's face. “I-it's the final report sir,” The colt said softly as he set it down. “Straight from intelligence.” There was a moment of intense silence before Black suddenly asked. “What happened Buckly?” “W-w-why are, I mean I didn-” The young colt stuttered before seeing the look Black was giving him. It was that “I know you did what you weren't supposed too” look. “We've all been in the dark about the battle since it ended,” The stallion said calmly. “I know you read the report, you wouldn't have been so nervous coming in if you hadn't... Now tell me... What happened to my Platoon?” There was another brief moment of intense silence before Buckly replied. “Mane Company Platoon Six... has almost entirely been wiped out.” Black closed his eyes and sagged in his chair. “Continue...” “As you know,” Buckly started. “5th Company was supposed to relieve Mane-Six who were only supposed to be there temporarily until they arrived... The last transmission from Mane-Six was two hours after 5th company was supposed to get there. They reported seeing a Wolvar scout trike and inquired when the 5th was going to relieve them. After that about an hour later there was a burst of static and some incoherent, garbled up words. Then the signal went dead.” 5th Company arrived three days late.” Buckly said as his face took on a sour expression. “They wanted to investigate something they thought was suspicious... A “supposed” enemy squad that had somehow gotten past Mane-Five and Four at the southern border. There's no confirmation wither or not there was one.” “When 5th company arrived...” Buckly paused to swallow before continuing. “There were only five survivors.” Silence descended on the office for the longest time. After a while the Captain finally opened his eyes. “Who?” he asked, a tone of despair in his voice. “Umm...” Buckly quickly plucked the folder from the desk and flipped it open, luckily to the page he was looking for. “Sergeants Applejack, Lightningflash, Fluttershy, Rarity, and P̶i̶n̶k̶a̶m̶e̶n̶a̶ 'Pinkie' Pie. They found them in the smoking and shattered remains of an APC, armed to the teeth and drenched in blood. They had held off two company's worth of Wolvar and Diamond Dogs with vehicle support, by themselves for 2 days. Physically, they were exhausted, but mostly unharmed. Mentally... I don't know, but they nearly turned the team that found them into “confetti” before identifying them.” “And what of Lieutenant Buckler?” Black asked already knowing the answer. “K.I.A, Sir.” Black sighed before looking up at the ceiling. “Its times like this I wish I was a farmer or something...” “Sir?” Buckly question. “Its nothing Private,” He said quietly. “just thinking about dealing with a different sort of shit... Pardon the language... What actions were taken regarding those mares?” “Umm... That's were things get weird, sir.” Buckly said looking at the report. “According to this, they've been cleared... of everything. They're healthy and unharmed, and they passed the psychological test... All of the test, repeatedly. According to this they're perfectly fine... and even though they've been taken off active duty as a precaution, they requested to stay at the Mane-Six Camp during their down time. They just need your approval” “Your right...” Black said rubbing his chin. “Nopony should be able to come out of a situation like that and be perfectly “fine”... and as much as I would like to be able to look into it more... I can't. However, if they want to stay at the camp, it's the least I can do... and hopefully it will help them out in some way.” Black straightened up in his chair and gestured a hoof to his desk. “Leave the report there, I'll read it after I'm done with these forms... I also have quite a few letters to write...” “There's something else sir.” Black sighed for the hundredth time that day. “And that would be?” “Well, its about a new recruit sir.” Buckly stated pulling out another folder. “She's been passed from one company to the next cause they would rather not deal with her.” “And why would that be?” Asked Black curiosity slowly overcoming his previous mood. “Well her name is Twilight Sparkle sir, She's a Unicorn from Canterlot.” “Ah, some sorta noble I take it, no wonder the other company Captains didn't want her. They wouldn't want to have to foal sit her.” The Captain said while nodding his head. “That's what everypony else thought too sir. Wouldn't even let me get to the details before they told me to pass her along. While she is of a noble blood line, she a Librarian, Sir.” “A Librarian...” Black said with a raised eyebrow. After a moment his other eyebrow shot up. “Wait, do you mean from the Canterlot Magical Archives?” “Yes, she's actually been drafted into service for an undetermined amount of time by the Empress herself. From what I hear she's might actually be Celestia's Apprentice.” “What was the reason for drafting her?” The Captain asked surprised that a possible V.I.P was being placed in the army. “Well, your not gonna believe this...” Buckly said shaking his head with a bewildered smile. “but it's to uhh... make friends.” There was a moment of contemplation before Captain Black smiled brightly, an idea forming in his head. Librarians took a mandatory psychology course as part of there training to better allow them to study the effect of certain magics on ponies. Maybe if he sent her to the camp, he could get a better diagnosis on his surviving soldiers. Looking up he held out his hoof for the folder. “Interesting, I'll take her.” -0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o A few days later... The rumble of an engine filled the air as an light armored scout bike with a sidecar made it's way down the dusty road to the Everfree Camp Military Camp. Oddly enough the sound of the rumbling engine was strangely soothing to both it's driver and passenger. A lavender coated mare with a stylish blue, pink and purple manecut, sat quietly reading up on the Military aspect of the Equestrian Empire, the wind billowing in her face had yet to disturb her. She was dressed in the long sleeved golden trimmed orange robes that designated a Librarian of the Magical Archives, a position of much prestige and envy among unicorn mages everywhere. Attached to her belt by a thin iron chain was an old and well worn book another sigh of her position. Senior Librarian Twilight Sparkle normally would have either been doing her job as the Assistant Overseer of Arcane Research and development or working on her project to gain her Masters Title. Instead she found herself suddenly enlisted in the Equestrian Imperial Army. Her sudden assignment to the armed forces had thrown a wrench in her plans and so for the past week she has been reading nearly non-stop, to the further annoyance of her teacher and learning all she could. She was currently about to read The Equestrian Imperial Armed Forces Primer, a rather small book supplied to an Imperial soldier during training. It was a compendium of useful/mandatory information for any Equestrian, covering such diverse topics as arms and equipment maintenance, personal hygiene, rules and regulations of the Army, and enemy recognition and particulars. Additionally, it features a section dedicated to the value of trust and friendship in the field, as well as areas to be filled in by the owner, so that it may act as a record of service. “Miss Sparkle,” Said the driver suddenly breaking the steady rumbling of the engine. “We'll be arriving soon.” “Oh,” Twilight said with a sigh. “Thank you, Corporal Stanton.” “Ma'am.” The Driver replied with a small nod. Twilight absentmindedly set the Primer down on her lap and reached down for the large satchel at her feet. With practiced ease she slipped the strap over her head and rested it on her shoulder in one single fluid motion. She scowled at how light it was compared to what could fit inside. She had been given a five book limit by the Empress not including her tome and the Primer which had been given to her by a Private named Buckly who saw her off from the Military Rail Station in Canterlot. As the transport came over the hill they had been approaching a site Twilight had not been expecting came into view. It was a town or at least, what had once been a town. “Corporal, what is this place?” Stanton gave a sad sigh. “This is the Mane-Six Camp, also known as the Everfree Outpost, and up until 12 years ago... it was known as Ponyville.” As they neared Twilight could better see the condition that Ponyville was in. Many of the buildings were riddled with bullet holes with their windows shattered, some showed varying degrees of fire damage and some we're even collapsed. “What happened here?” Twilight whispered in dismay. “Well,” Stanton began as they entered the main road into the town. “About 12 years ago the Wolvar tried a brute force blitz maneuver to try and take Canterlot and they almost succeed. They were stopped here in Ponyville by a combined force of the Town Militia, retired veterans, and the very ponies that lived here. If the Wolvar had over taken the ponies here, they could have taken the rail system all the way up to Canterlot.” “But the ponies here would not be moved or be cast aside by the approaching horde. The resolute defense of these brave ponies held off the Wolvar advance long enough for two platoons of Solar-Company soldiers, who had been en route to Canterlot, and a platoon of Skydivers from Cloudsdale to arrive and finish them off.” Stanton came to a stop in front of a large building, obviously the Town Hall from its centralized location. “Canterlot had been spared... But the cost... was the town and almost every adult pony who lived here.” Stanton gestured up at the Town Hall. You could see at once that the building had been swiftly fortified by the amount of wood planks and furniture used to make barricades. The Hall like most of the other buildings in Ponyville was riddled with holes but the sheer difference in amount was staggering. Whole sections of the walls seemed to have fallen by the sheer amount of holes in them. “The Ponyville citizens made there last stand here under the command of retired Lieutenant “Granny” Smith.” Stanton said with a respectful tone. “She was a Mane-Company veteran and one of the last few founders of the town still alive. When the battle was over they found her atop the Wolvar Commander, had strangled him to death before she bled out from her many wounds.” “Is that why Mane-Company has a camp here?” Twilight asked staring at the ruined building in awe. “That is... one of the reasons.” Stanton said before he continued to drive. “Most of the foals who lived here and were evacuated just before the battle, joined the Army and were later assigned to Mane-Company. So the Mane-Six Camp was reestablished here.” “I wasn't informed completely,” Twilight stated cautiously.. “but I heard Mane-Six had suffered heavy casualties in their last battle.” “That is true, but most of the ponies assigned to Mane-Six at the time were-” Stanton was suddenly cut off by a cyan and white blur that flashed in front of the transport. “Shit!” He cried as he swerved for a moment, before quickly easing his way back onto the road. “What in Celestia's name was that?” Twilight asked as she pried her hooves off the edge of her seat. “Don't really know myself,” The Driver said, his eyes scanning the area for another siting. “I've heard stories ranging from a speedy animal to freak magical anomalies. All I know for sure is that Mane-Company knows about it and it doesn't bother them in the least.” The previous conversation forgotten the rest of the drive passed in silence. Stanton came to a stop in front of a large dead tree in the town. As he stepped out Twilight took a good look around. Quite a few of the buildings in the immediate area had been renovated and a large amount of tents were erected around the tree. “Well Ma'am,” Stanton said as he opened the door for her. “Welcome to Mane-Six” The colt quickly helped the mare out before getting back oh his bike and riding away. Left alone, Twilight stood up on her hind legs and started walking around. It was a well known fact that all ponies were double jointed in their legs and while most Canterlot Unicorns preferred to go around on all fours, thinking it unseemly for them, she had learned at a young age to walk upright to try and impress her brother. She had even learned to do it first. It was a skill mandatory for all members of the Armed Forces to have as the ability to walk on two legs put them on even terms with the Wolvar, who like their Diamond Dog cousins, were bipedal. As she walked she came across a pink colored mare sitting on a box in front of one of the tents. From what she could see the mare was dressed in a green light combat vest with a mesh shirt underneath, green cargo pants and a pair of combat boots. Her magenta colored mane seemed oddly flat and lifeless as it draped over her face. The mare's blue eyes were cloudy and unfocused even as she quickly and skillfully took apart a very large rifle-like weapon. She then seemed to look over the parts, her eyes seeing yet not seeing. 'I wonder if that's what I look like when I've been working for so long...' With no one else in the immediate vicinity she made her way towards the mare. “Come on Twilight,” She muttered to herself. “Just say 'hello', I mean how hard could it be?” -0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o Distant sounds filled the mind of Mane-Six's heavy weapons specialist. Gunfire and cries of pain, fearful sobs and explosions. Images flashed in quick succession. Blood, fire, smoke, and blurred shapes. A new sound entered her perception. Hoof steps, like something was approaching her from the left. Her eyes flickered, there WAS something coming from her left. The mare tensed up and her mind went into overdrive. Unknown enemy, no weapons at the ready, no back up around her. Her eyes fell upon the disassembled weapon before her, there was only one thing she could do. The mare's hands descended on the disassembled Red Hammer Anti-Tank Rifle and in record shattering time had it reassembled, locked and loaded. She shifted her body carefully while aiming from the hip towards the approaching figure's chest. Just before her finger could squeeze the trigger a voice cut through the haze. “Umm... hello,” The figure spoke. “I'm Twilight Sparkle.” Suddenly everything came into focus, she blinked and the blurry image shifted into the lavender colored mare before her. The rifle fell from her hooves and onto its box with a dull thud. She sat there staring wide eyed for one brief moment before jumping up with a loud gasp. With a quick twist she spun around and ran. 'Oh sweet Celestia! What was I about to do!?' Twilight blinked at the retreating form of the pink pony. “Okay... that was interesting.” -0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o-0-O-o