//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: Battle of Cloudsdale // Story: Equestria Under Siege // by Willfire //------------------------------// Chapter 2 Battle of Cloudsdale It has been nearly a week since the final exam of the Dragon Rider’s Academy, Twilight having paid her end of the bet by taking Shimmer out to the most expensive place to eat in Canterlot. Yet it wasn’t a final gloat or to rub in her victory it was more along the lines of saying good bye to a favored rival than anything. “Now you be careful out there Sparkle, I don’t want to get a report you died before we can meet up again. I may be the better flyer but you showed me many times that just because you are a good flyer doesn’t mean you will survive. You need smarts as well and you got plenty of those so use them. Same for you Trixie, don’t lose you cool and you should come out alive for the next time we meet it will be on the battle field and the Quil will shake when they see us coming.” Shimmer told them. “Trixie has no plans of dying anytime soon. She plans on dying a grandmare with lots of grandfoals to keep her company.” Trixie told her. “Same here.”Twilight said. She raised her glass and the other two did the same. Now the three of them sat in a darkened room displaying a map of Equestira along with the rest of their class. They could see color and symbols of different units of the Equestiran Armed Forces scattered all over the map with the strongest concentration around Cloudsdale and a small place call Ponyville. More were scattered south around Appleloosa and the Macintosh Hills and north through half of the Unicorn Range to the frozen North. IT was plan to all in the room where the front was. Beyond the line the rest of the map was lifeless and brown. The Quil took this area long ago. From different regions, visible from even Canterlot beams of light shot forth to the sky and everything within the region died as every bit of magic no matter how small was sucked from the land. They mounted attacks in these regions, attacking the strongholds of the Quil trying to destroy the infernal machines that sucked the land dry only to meet massive resistance and thus far the stalemate held. Without thinking Twilight reached up and touched the 1st sergeant bars on her shoulder still stunned at the fact she made 1st Sergeant like that. She could lead troops into battle. {I’m not qualified to lead troops into battle…} Twilight thought to herself. {Oh Twi, stop worrying. They wouldn’t have given you the rank if you didn’t deserve it. You know that Dragon Riders are hard to come by and those that successfully pass get a major boost in rank for it.} Spike thought to her. {Stay out of my head Spike.} Twilight told him sternly. {Stop broadcasting your thoughts, you know when I’m in this form I can hear your thoughts.} Spike told her. {Then change back!} {Can’t, until you help me.} There was a smirk in those thoughts. Twilight blushed slightly. Her horn glowed a moment then she felt Spikes presence leave her mind. From the far side of the room the door opened and in walked a tall mare with black skin. Her dark mane and tail flowed with an unseen or felt breeze. From her mane they could see sparkles in it, like little stars. Thought she wore combat fatigues, she wore them with elegance that betrayed just who she was. Everyone in the room shot to their feet and saluted at Princess Luna. “At ease and be seated. First, let me congratulate you all for graduating from the academy. Second I have to say good luck. Being Dragon Riders you are now high profile targets to the enemy and they will not hesitate to kill any of you should your diligence lapse for even a second. Trust your training, trust your instincts as they will be the only thing to bring you home in the end.” Luna looked at each of the mares before her and wondered how many of them were going to die before this war ended. A few were barely out of fillyhood and here they were about to be thrust into a fight for survival. Some, clearly fully grown mares, should be home tending families of their own but here they are ready to fight. The rest, had nothing to lose and were here to try to make it a better world. “Now to get you all your assignments. Once you got them you will be leaving within two hours, so say your goodbyes quickly.” Princess Luna started to read off names and locations, each mare shouting an acknowledgement as their name was called. “1st Sergeant Sunset Shimmer, Frozen North Outpost Alpha. Prepare for harsh weather and guerrilla warfare under the command of Prism.” Luna called out. “Yes Ma’am!” Shimmer grinned, finally a chance for some real action. Outpost Alpha was one of the few northern bases to hold the Quil advance to the Crystal Empire. “Master Sergeant Trixie, Badlands Border Patrol. You will be in support for the Appleloosa irregulars.” Luna said. “Trixie acknowledges.” She rolled her eyes. Shimmer got the better of the two of them. “1st Sergeant Twilight Sparkle, Cloudsdale 10th Dragoon Unit. Hope you got an itchy trigger finger Cloudsdale has been getting hit pretty hard lately.” Luna told her. “Yes, Ma’am.” Twilight said. She gulped when Luna went to the next name. She looked over at both Sunset Shimmer and Trixie, both of whom looked at her in shock. “Cloudsdale should go to you Shimmer, you are the better flyer than I am.” She whispered. “True, but they gave it to you so stay alive over there.” Shimmer told her under her breath so Luna won’t hear. “Shimmer, Sparkle is there something you wish to share with me?” Luna suddenly asked, Busted. Both Shimmer and Sparkle clamped their mouths shut but Trixie didn’t get the hint. “They were wondering why such a high profile combat zone wasn’t given to Shimmer who is the better flyer and fighter between the two.” Trixie said calmly. Then her eyes went wide as three pairs of eyes locked on to her like missiles. She laughed nervously. “Um…oops…” While Shimmer and Sparkle shot daggers at her Luna’s eyes softened a little. “That is a good question.” She said, both Shimmer and Sparkle turned to look at her, their jaws slightly open. “Shimmer is the better flyer and the better fighter than Sparkle. That’s why Shimmer is being assigned to the Frozen North, Only the best Dragon Riders go there as they are more in danger from the elements than from the Quil. Sparkle has proven she is a quick thinker and can adapt to new situations on the fly and the situation at Cloudsdale changes almost daily. And as you know should Cloudsdale fall, Canterlot will be under siege next. Cloudsdale must not fall, so we are sending the best thinker we got there to help. Plus a few skills she learned while in R&D could help them out too.” Luna said. Twilight could feel the blush slowly start to rise on her cheeks. “Any other questions?” No one answered as Luna looked around. “Dismissed and good luck.” Everyone stood up and walked out of the briefing room. Once they were all gone Luna sat down in one of the chairs, a sigh on her lips. Just how many of them did she just send to their deaths? ******************** “You got everything ready Spike?” Twilight called as she ran through the streets of Canterlot. Next to her was a lankly dragon running on two legs. No wings graced his back as he only stood a head shorter than Twilight. He wore a pair of blue jeans with a white shirt. His claws scraped the ground as he ran, keeping pace with the horned folk beside him. “Everything is ready to go. All we need to do is get back and launch. We going to see grandma and grandpa before we leave?” Spike asked as he started to recognized where they were going. “Yeah, I want to say good bye to my parents before we leave.” Twilight said, but they didn’t have much time to do so. “Cool. Let’s see if this still works.” Spike stuck his claws in his mouth and gave a sharp, shrill whistle then dug out five bits. “Twi, got five more bits?” He asked. Without a pause Twilight’s horn lit up and five bits came from her pocket to land in Spike’s hand. The two of them rounded a bend and Spike let his long legs carry him past Twilight. Ahead of them was Doughnut Joe’s shop and he stood there with a baggy in hand. Spike put on a burst of speed, quickly closing the distance between him and Joe and slowed only long enough to hand over the ten bits and grab the baggy. “Thanks Joe!” Spike called as he waved and rejoined Twilight. Once back next to her he opened the baggy and pulled out a chocolate covered chocolate doughnut and passed it to Twilight then pulled out another doughnut covered in sapphires and glaze. “Ha, still works.” Spike said as he ate the doughnut in a single bite. Twilight rolled her eyes but didn’t say anything as she slowly ate her doughnut and finally started to slow as she turned onto the street where her family lived. Within minutes she saw both her parents outside their house working on the little garden in front. It was a small two story house with a fenced in front yard and half of it was being used for the garden. “Mom, Dad!” Twilight called as she opened the fence gate and walked in. “Sparkle? My little Sparkle! Come to momma.” Twilight Velvet, an older mare with purple and white mane and tail said as she stood up dusting off her jeans and pushing the wide brim sunhat back to get a clear look at her daughter. Twilight ran up to her mother and hugged her and after a moment Velvet broke the embrace saying she didn’t want to get dirt on Sparkle’s Uniform. “Don’t worry about it mom. It cleans.” She turned to her father and gave him a hug too. “So what is my little filly doing here?” Her father asked. “Came to say good bye. I got my orders and I’m being deployed to the Cloudsdale 10th Dragoon Unit.” She told them and winced slightly when she saw their faces fill with worry. “Cloudsdale? That’s some pretty heavy fighting going on there.” Her father said. “My little Sparkle, please be careful there.” Velvet told her, tears coming to her eyes. “Trust me mom, dad I plan to be just that.” She stepped aside as Spike stepped forward. “Spike wanted to say good bye as well.” Suddenly he threw himself at Velvet and gave her a big hug. Then wordlessly he went to Twilight’s father and gave him a hug too. “Watch over Twilight for us. We know you can do it.” “Yes Grandpa, I will.” Spike said. “Good, now get going I’m sure you are both risking being late to come here. And if you see Shining out there, tell him we love him too and he should be safe as well.” Velvet called as Sparkle and Spike stepped back. “We will mom.” And with that both Spike and Twilight Sparkle vanished in a flash of purple light. “And there goes my little filiy…”Velvet said as she started to cry as he husband put his arms around her. ************************ Twilight and Spike reappeared in Twilight’s dorm room. The two of them quickly grabbed what they left behind and were not sending to her parents. Spike grabbed a large duffle bag as Twilight grabbed her helmet and turned to open the door. She paused and looked around, Trixie and Shimmer already cleaned out there ends and were already gone leaving only an empty room behind. “You ok Twilight?” Spike asked. “Yeah, just wondering if I’ll see them again?” Twilight said. She turned and made her way to the main hanger of Canterlot Castle. Reaching up she pulled her camo hat off her mane and stuffed into a back pocket then pulled on her helmet. She would worry about the flight suit later, once she landed and joined her new squad. But for now she needed to get airborn. Entering the hanger she saw it was busy, dragons and winged folk landing and taking off. She went over to an empty dragon bay and looked around. Unassigned, good. She looked over at Spike who nodded with a grin. He dropped the duffle and pulled off his shirt and pants and stuffed them into the duffle as he walked to the bay and turned around. “Ready!” Spike told her. With a nod Twilight’s horn glowed, then Spike started glow, his tail started to elongate as a pair of wings grew from his back. He also started to grow in size, getting bigger and bigger until he dropped to his front claws. Spike’s neck grew longer until a winged dragon standing taller than Twilight and nearly twelve feet long still where the little dragon was just a moment before. “Oh I love this form.” He muttered as a saddle and holder appeared on his back from his dragon magic. Twilight grabbed her duffle with her magic and hooked it behind the saddle then climbed up the ladder and mounted. A gray Earth Folk stallion stepped up with a clip board and checked off some information then called for the armory to release Twilight’s weapon, a large anti personnel SAW. A moment later a slot in the ground next to Spike opened up and the weapon rose to where Twilight could grab it. She pulled it off the lift and the ammo clip next to it. Unlike others, she had only one clip. Part of her R&D research was weapon augmentations. This weapon bore the fruits of her research: the weapon was lighter that most, making it easy for a Horned Folk like her to hold it. The recoil was suppressed making for better accuracy. The clip was her best work, replenishing its own ammo making for less weight to carry in combat. This was ground breaking research and never tested before, this would be the field test to see if it could hold up. If it did, then more weapons like this would come out. Popping the clip into the weapon she cocked it, set the safety then holstered it. {Ready Spike?} She thought. {Yeah, what’s up with the mind radio? It’s not like it is noisy.} Spike thought back. {Nervous really, we are really doing this. We are going into a combat zone, we will join the fight against the Quil and nothing will be the same. You sure you want to do this Spike?} Twilight thought back as the launch sergeant waved them forward, Spike started to move as directed. {Yes Twilight, I feel I have to. TO watch so many Folk fight and die while I hide in the castle doing nothing, even though I’m your assistant I feel like I’m just hiding. I never thought you would try to follow me.} Spike looked around as he joined the launch queue. {Did you really think I wouldn’t. I couldn’t let you go to combat without me watching over you. So now that we are here, let’s watch each other’s back and stay alive for everyone.} Twilight thought to him. She looked up and saw she was next in line. Reaching down she patted Spike’s neck then opened her mouth. “1st Sergeant Sparkle, ready for launch!” “Sparkle, you are cleared for launch. Star’s Speed, Sergeant.” Traffic control told her. Spike jumped off and with a powerful flap of his wings took off and angled his way towards Cloudsdale. “We are on course for Cloudsdale, I got a lock on their homing crystal. ETA 40 minutes.” “Thanks Spike.” Twilight moved her mike closer to her mouth. “1st Sergeant Sparkle to Canterlot Air Traffic control, permission for Jump to Cloudsdale.” “We have nothing on radar, you are clear for Jump.” “Thanks Canterlot. Sparkle out.” She looked down. “You heard him Spike, stand by for Jump.” “Right, I already got a lock on to the Cloudsdale Homing Crystal. Hang on tight Twi, time for some Dragon Magic.” Spike laughed. Before them a small point of faint green energy started to appear. After a second it expanded large enough for Spike to dive into. As he hit the energy he shot forward like a shot vanishing in a small flash of light. ************************* Cloudsdale, Mission Briefing Room. Reaper Squad. “Ok squad, time for the 6th Air Combat Squad to take the stage again. Command wants the 6th to run patrols around Cloudsdale so you know what that means. Spot and report, no bucking heroics like last time do I make myself clear Sergeant Dash?” A large winged Stallion with black skin and a blue mane looked at a young cyan mare sitting nearby with a bright rainbow mane, her boots propped up on the desk in front of her, camo hat pulled down over her eyes. Her fatigue shirt was undone and thrown over the back of her chair showing a olive tank top. At the mention of her name she bumped her hat up to look at her commanding officer. “Yeah, yeah. Unless an entire horde is coming at me, I can take ’em. Aww Hay, even with an entire horde I can take them. I am the best flyer in Cloudsdale for a reason you know.” She told him. “By the way it’s Staff Sergeant, you promoted me yourself remember.” She told him, a cocky grin forming on her face. “Don’t remind me Dash, I’m starting to regret that decision. And if you really that good then why are you not in the Wonderbolts Squad? I can answer that one for you, you are way too cocky to make their cut.” Rainbow Dash started to open her mouth to respond but her commanding officer held up a hand. “Follow orders for once and maybe you might have a chance. You and Sergeant Fluttershy will be paired up, you will STAY WITH YOUR PARTNER.” He stressed that last bit. “So you think that paring me with the slowest flyer in the squad will slow me down?” She stuck out her tongue and blew a raspberry. “Please.” She looked over at a yellow skinned Winged folk mare who was shyly looking out from under her pink mane. Belted around her waist were two large bags. Both of them marked with a large red cross. She wore fatigue pants but a simple olive green tank top. “No offense Fluttershy.” “N-none taken.” She barely managed to whisper. With a small huff their commanding officer kept on giving the briefing. Nothing more than a simple patrol around Cloudsdale, see enemy, report enemy, wait for orders. If something big appeared they would have to hold the air zone until the rest of the Cloudsdale defenders to get air born. Once the briefing was done they were dismissed to hit air in twenty minutes. Fluttershy walked into the locker room to grab her gear. Pulling on her jacket after a moment pulled on a flak jacket, loading the pockets with a simple pistol and some ammo. Fluttershy didn’t like the extra weight, but as slow as she was she needed it. Suddenly she gasped, her face flushing to a bright red as she felt a pair of hands on her wings. Or more to the point, on certain spots on her wings. It felt good, too good and only one person would do such a brash move. “Rainbow Dash…what are you doing?” She said turning as she tucked her wings as tightly as she could to her back. “Just doing what I know you like.” Rainbow Dash said with a grin. She looked at the flak jacket Fluttershy wore. “You should get rid of that. You are much faster than you give yourself credit for and that just slows you down. I’ve seen you fly through Quil like they were backing up to reach those that needed your help. Give yourself a chance.” Rainbow told her. She reached up and pulled out her pistol and ammo clips then pushed the flak jacket off of her as Fluttershy made no move to protest. “Wait here.” Rainbow walked over to her locker and pulled out a bandaloader. With a quick strap adjustment she threw it over Fluttershy’s shoulder. After a second she put the ammo clips in and strapped the pistol to her side in a holster. “Do you think this will work?” Fluttershy asked her. “Yeah, you got this. Plus that flak jacket hides too much of your figure.” Rainbow said with a wink. “Thank you.” Fluttershy said shyly her face turning a low shade of red. “Anytime. Come on, let’s get ready for launch and I’ll stay next to you like glue.” ****************** Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy both stood at the Cloudsdale hanger and looked out to the blue sky before them. The two of them felt it was an honor to protect their home and looked out at the majestic view of the cloud buildings. “Sergeant Dash, Sergeant Shy, you have sectors 121 through 200. Launch!” Their CO yelled out and waved for them to go forward. Running forward the two of them jumped out of the hanger, their wings flaring open catching the wind as they fell and with a few flaps of their wings they were on their way. Rainbow Dash hefted her weapon, a Cloudsdale T13 Arial Assault Rifle. “Ok Shy, let’s go. You got my wing, I got point. Wide flight pattern.” Rainbow called over her commlink as she started to veer towards their assigned sectors. “R-right.” Fluttershy called back following Rainbow’s lead. “Rainbow, you know we are patrolling the airspace heading towards Canterlot.” “Yeah, I know. The CO is in funny humor today. I’ll give him today got to give the other flyers a chance to earn their wings too.” Rainbow said with a shrug. “This is true.” Fluttershy said as she reached up to the side of her helmet and pressed a button. “Sergeant Fluttershy to Cloudsdale Command and Control, Unit 6-1 reached patrol zone, beginning patrol.” She let go of the button and glanced back at Rainbow Dash who was looking at her giving a thumbs up. “I remember when you were so shy you couldn’t even speak to CnC without whimpering. In fact I’m kinda impress you made it out of Boot Camp at all.” Rainbow Dash told her. Fluttershy just blushed slightly and lowered her eyes. “It has been nearly two years though so no wonder you got better.” “Y-you really think so?” Fluttershy asked. “Know so.” Rainbow Dash told her, she looked around then made a slow bank to the south as her eyes scanned the skies. Nothing worthy of note but a few clouds…then one of the clouds popped. From behind the cloud came a few dozen dark shapes with gossamer wings. “CnC, Unit 6-1 sector 144, I have a few dozen unidentified shapes coming my way. Looks to be on a direct course with Cloudsdale from Canterlot, orders?” “Stand by Unit 6-1, we have them on radar. Checking flight logs.” The shapes got closer and Rainbow Dash could see what looked to be uniforms on them. But she could also make out plenty of weapons too. That meant they were not Quill, but she didn’t know who they were or what they were doing in Cloudsdale Air Space. Rainbow Dash slowly pulled the cocking lever on her rifle and popped off the safety. “Confirmed Staff Sergeant Dash, we have a squadron of Changlings coming in from Canterlot, they are due in today.” It was then Rainbow Dash felt just how tense her muscles were, like she was ready for a fight. She popped the safety back on her weapon and thumbs up to Fluttershy with a grin. She heard the Changlings who found refuge in Equestria three years ago finally got a chance to officially join the Armed Forces. Rainbow Dash thought back to the day she first saw them, the Changelings. She was in Cloudsdale, before she joined the Armed Forces. The nation was still reeling from the news of the front, first the disaster of the Elements being destroyed and the injury to Princess Celestia, then the lost of Las Pegasus and Vanhoover and the subsequent lost of magic in those regions within hours. The folk of Equestria didn’t know what to make of it. Then to see a few thousand black shapes flying through the sky towards Canterlot, escorted by the last two airships if the air force, the rest have been destroyed in disastrous counterattacks by the Armed Forces. Two days later it was revealed that the Changlings, as they were called, suffered a similar fate and the survivors were forced to flee after fighting valiantly for a year. As the Changlings neared she could see the chitinious skin from under their uniforms. A few had their sleeves rolled up and she could see the holes in their forearms that reminded her of moth holes, their fingers ending in wicked claws. Their eyes were solid blue, no iris or pupils to them. Their jaws jutted out slightly, much like a small muzzle and she could see from some of the closer ones they had fangs. Rainbow Dash could respect fighters, even those that lost much and kept on fighting. They lost their home and so much more and as they drew up to where she hovered in air she saluted. Many of the changelings saw her and saluted back out of respect. Some were just too focused on the destination to see her. One Changeling veered off from the rest of the pack and came to a hover before her. “You Cloudsdale Air Patrol?” He asked with a slight hiss to his voice. Rainbow saw he had higher stripes on his shoulder than she did and thus saluted as was required. “Yes Sir, 6th Air Combat Unit, Reaper Squad. Cloudsdale is only ten minutes ahead of you through the cloud bank. They already know you are coming as I reported your arrival.” Rainbow reported. “Good job and thanks for the heads up.” The Changeling before her saluted again and started to rejoin the pack when the Rainbow Dash’s commlink, and everyone else’s, went off causing every Changeling to come to a hover as they listened. “This is Unit 1-1, Sector 033 we have spotted an incoming Quil battle front heading for Cloudsdale! I repeat enemy units in visual!” A stallion’s voice called out. “All units, all units converge on Unit 1-1 stand by to repel attackers. Scrambling flyers! Unit 1-1 give me a count.” CnC called back but the radio remained silent. The Changeling commander looked at his troops. “Lock and Load!” As every Changeling in air grabbed weapons and loaded he turned to Rainbow Dash. “Care to escort us to sector 033, Queen Chrysalis wishes me to hand deliver a few choice words to these Quil.” He said as he pulled his own rifle and held it up. At the words ‘hand deliver’ he cocked his rifle and grinned, his pointed fangs giving him a wicked look. Rainbow Dash’s hand slid up to the safety of her rifle as her own grin started to form. “Yes, Sir.” She said. She looked behind her at Fluttershy who pulled her pistol and nodded, a determined look on her face. She shot ahead of the group of Changelings and motioned for them to follow her then she zoomed off for sector 033. Moving at a quick, yet energy conserving speed Rainbow Dash felt the excitement start to build within her. She reached up to the button on her helmet and pressed it. “CnC, this is Unit 6-1 we are escorting the Changeling squad to sector 033 to engage the Quil.” “Acknowledged Unit 6-1. Star’s Speed. Unit 1-1 has broken radio contact. Report if you find out anything.” CnC told her. “Roger.” They weren’t far from sector 033 now. Gun fire could be heard in the distance and Rainbow started to pick up speed. “Time to go to work. Combat Speed Fluttershy.” Rainbow Dash yelled her grin going full blown now. “O-o-okay…! Everyone be…careful!” Fluttershy called out behind her. Behind them a few clicking sounds could be heard and the buzzing of the wings grew stronger as the Changelings behind them also picked up speed. Before them, through one more cloud bank was sector 033. Busting through the cloudbank was a sight that chilled Rainbow Dash’s blood causing her and everyone around her to pull to hover. Before them, nearly covering the entire sky, were more Quil than ever, more than any previous attack on Cloudsdale. Below she could see the bodies of her squad fall to the earth below. Then as one body the Quil, their single red eye now focused on them, turned to look at Rainbow Dash and those she flew with. Her sharp eyes saw the figure of her CO miles below and by the flailing of his arms she saw he was still alive, but his wings were missing. A few moments later there was a muzzle flash of a weapon and his flailing stopped. “You bastards…you bucking bastards…” Rainbow breathed harshly, barely able to keep her temper. To die in battle was one thing, something the winged folk came to accept, the fact your body may or not be found when it hit the earth below. But to have your wings cut then dropped to your doom was too much for her. She could hear Fluttershy gasp and the angry hissing from the Changelings behind her. She reached up and pressed the button on her helmet. “CnC, Reaver Squad is down. I repeat Reaver Squad is down. Only myself and Sergeant Fluttershy remains. Quil numbers are massive, and I’m going to thin them out.” She let go of the button, not caring if CnC even responds as she waved her hand forward. “ATTACK!” In one motion, everyone behind her rushes forward as she does, weapons blazing. ****************** Twilight held on to Spike’s back as the two of them flew through the green tunnel. While a Dragon Warp wasn’t dangerous to the Rider the pulling of the magics around them, saying nothing of the high speed winds of their passing, could make them sick and Twilight was getting there, rapidly. {Looking a little green there huh?} Spike thought back to her. He didn’t speak due to the speeds they were traveling. {Spike, shut up. You know that I don’t generally get sick doing this.} Twilight thought back as she tried to keep her stomach in place. {I know, even the best of Riders can get sick. I’m just going to mercilessly tease you for this one.} Spike grinned knowing full well she couldn’t see it but could feel it. {We are nearing Cloudsdale, prepare to drop from Jump in 5…4…3…} ********************** Rainbow Dash was breathing hard as she hovered for a second trying to catch her breath. Next to her Fluttershy panted, nearly exhausted from the fighting. Two Changlings also hovered near by trying to catch their breath and passing ammo clips between them. She, Fluttershy and the two Changelings behind here were only a few that were left of the original group that charged the Quil battle front, the gambit worked stalling the attack long enough for Cloudsdale to get the rest of its defenders airborne. “Sergeant Dash.” One of the Changelings spoke and she turned to look at them. One passed her two clips which she expertly caught. A quick glance showed they were the same caliber as her weapon. “I’m sure you are getting low.” “Yeah, thanks. Ready for another around?” She asked them as she turned back to the battle that raged before her. She could see Winged Folk zipping here and there along with a few other Changelings. Tracers zipped around in a deadly crossfire of shots as many Quil fell to the ground miles below. Over her radio she could hear the screams of defenders dying as the Quil got to them. “Ready!” The Changelings and Fluttershy said. Fluttershy checked her clip and recocked her weapon. Rainbow launched herself forward with a yell followed by the two Changelings and Fluttershy. The four of them stayed in sync as they weaved and dodged enemy Quil. These Quil didn’t use weapons, in stead they were humanoid with some sort of wrist mounted blade on both arms. Their gray bodies shimmered in the sunlight offsetting the olive green of the Cloudsdales defenders. With a twist she flipped to her back and fired three shots, two the chest and one to the head of a Quill to who tried to get the drop on her then flipped back to the way she was before firing into another one. The two Changelings behind her were watching the flanks, strafing fire into groups of Quil who didn’t see them coming. Fluttershy with weak screams of fright would take aim and fire. She has seen enough of her fellow Winged folk fall to the earth below and despite the fear that tried to claim her she fought on. Rainbow Dash winced at a slight detail that crossed her mind. Fluttershy had deadly aim nearly every shot she fired was a head shot straight into the Quil eye. If there was a one to one comparison between shots fired to shots landed between the two of them, Fluttershy would be the winner of that contest hands down. “Unit 6-1 move to sector 054, the 10th Dragoon unit is pulling back and need some cover.” CnC called over her mike. “Copy that CnC, Unit 6-1 enroute.” Rainbow said as she shot another Quil that tried to rush her. With a sharp bank Rainbow led her unit towards sector 054. Diving and spinning she fired at Quil who tried to stop her, her squadmates right on her rainbow colored tail as the four of them weaved through the deadly lead storm that raged around them. Suddenly she felt a weight land on her back and grunted. Out of instinct she shifted sideways as the Quil tried to stab her with both blades only to put deep but not serious cuts on her back and belly. But the Quil wasn’t done as she started to fall, unable to flap her wings. The Quil crossed its blades over her body to cut her in half. Rainbow’s eyes when wide as she saw this, scrambling to get her weapon to bear on her enemy but she couldn’t move it fast enough. She saw its muscles tense for the strike and she closed her eyes as a single gunshot could be heard over the din of the battle around her. Suddenly the weight fell off her back and something caught her tail. Opening her eyes she saw Fluttershy clutching her tail and struggling to keep them afloat. With a flick of her wings Rainbow was flying under her own power again. “Thanks Fluttershy.” Rainbow Dash said with a grin. Fluttershy only smiled at her as she pulled her pistol again. Fluttershy blinked then leveled her pistol and after a second she fired and another Quil dropped to the ground below them. Rainbow spun and fired a spread of lead dropping a few more Quil and causing the rest to back off. “Come on keep moving!” Rainbow yelled and started moving again. They were on a time limit. They were not far from sector 054 and quickly saw what remained of the 10th Dragoon Unit being swarmed by Quil. The Changelings were quick to rush past Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy diving into the mass of Quil to try to save the hard pressed Dragon Riders. Rainbow and Fluttershy saw where the Dragon Riders were trying to go and flew over to provide covering fire. The Quil, momentarily stunned at the combined Changeling and sudden fire from nowhere, pulled back a moment. The three remaining Dragon Riders took the chanced and spurred on their Dragons trying to reach Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. But the stun lasted only a few seconds before the Quil swiftly counter attacked. One Changeling, flying forward with its gun up to try to push the Quil back failed to see a Quil above drop like a stone, its bladed arms cutting the Changelings’ head, arms and legs from its body. Seeing his hive mate killed the other Changeling didn’t see one fly up behind him and sliced it down the middle sending two halves falling to the ground below. As one body the Quil closed in on the Dragon Riders, many of them taking hits from Rainbow and Fluttershy to give their fellows cover. One horned one mare screamed as a blade came from behind and jutted out the front of her chest and with a negligent flick she was thrown into the air to the waiting blades of others and ripped to shreds. The one that threw the mare then proceeded to plunge its blades into the back of the dragon. The dragon roared with pain and crumpled up falling out of the sky. Another horned one, a stallion threw up a shield to protect himself from the mass of Quil only to have it quickly shattered as nearly a dozen blades slammed into it at once. His scream, and the Dragon’s, was short lived as the same dozen quickly fell upon the helpless Dragon Rider and his Dragon their blades flashing in the sunlight. The last Rider, another mare, was more lucky punching through a few Quil in her way with a blast of magic from her horn. She was cut and scraped but ok as was her Dragon. She pushed her Dragon hard to try to reach Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy knowing that if she reached them she would be safer than where she was. Then she saw it. Both Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, not paying attention behind them trying their best to keep her alive, had a single Quil flying towards them from behind, arms spread. Its blades aimed for their necks. “Behind you!” She managed to scream. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy reacted with instincts granted to them by long battles fought and barely survived as the two of them suddenly dived down out of her way as she charged her horn for one more magical attack when a flash of gray before her eyes made her pause. Like time was in slow motion, she noticed the wings of her dragon friend no longer flapped and before her where his head use to be was empty space. She felt the forward momentum she built with him started to send his body end over end as it started its long trip to the ground. But she never had time to truly connect the dots as to what just happened, as she looked up the last thing she saw was a blade slashing for her neck. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy looked up in horror as two heads, a dragon and a mare’s dropped past them followed by two bodies. “All forces fall back or run for it. Lightening blast device active, discharge in two minutes.” CnC called out. From the sounds of the static they were hit too. Rainbow turned to Fluttershy and grabbed her around the waist. “Time to get the hay out of here.” With that she turned and flew as hard as she could away from Cloudsdale. There were too many Quil for her and Fluttershy to get back to the shelters before the discharge so all they could do is run for it. As Rainbow Dash flew Fluttershy struggled up enough to get her pistol out and took aim at the Quil following them. As they flew Rainbow thought she saw a small flicker of green energy ahead of her. {The Hay is that?} She thought. She saw it again, stronger this time. {It can’t be…can it?} Suddenly that flicker of green light expanded and a purple Dragon appeared with a rider on his back. From where she was she could see it was a mare with purple hair and a pink highlight. And she didn’t have a clue what was going on. Rainbow groaned. “Move it filly, before you get fried!” Rainbow yelled as they neared. The mare could only look at her oddly as they passed. ******************** Twilight watched the Cyan Rainbow and yellow blur rush past confused as to what is going on. “Twilight, Quil!” Spike yelled out. He breathed a fireball into the mass of Quil as they neared then turned to follow the two that shot by them. “Arm up Twi, time for a fight.” Twilight could barely comprehend what was going on but when she saw the mass of Quil heading for her, her pupils shrunk to pip pricks. “Oh horseapples….” She paused a moment then grabbed her gun as her horn charged a spell. With a flash she and Spike disappeared and reappeared near the two fleeing Winged Folk. “What’s going on?” She yelled as she spun in her saddle to pepper the Quil behind her. “Under attack, Lightening device about to discharge in approx one minute and we are nowhere near the safe range for this.” Rainbow yelled back. “Spike you got Canterlot’s homing crystal?” Twilight yelled out. “Got it. Jumping in 5…” Spike said as he charged his magic for another jump. “You two go in first and we will follow. Meet you at Canterlot!” Twilight called back. “…1…JUMP!” The green spark appeared before Spike and expanded as he slowed to let the two Winged Folk go first. As they neared the Rainbow one let go of the Yellow one and grabbed her hand pulling her into the Jump gate. The yellow one screamed in fear as they shot forward out of sight. “Go Spike…oof!” Twilight felt something hit Spike. She hear him roar in pain as she felt something pierce her side. Before her the gate collapsed as Spike started to tumble towards the ground.