Beyond the Portal

by Firestar463


Chapter 41

“Now arriving in Ponyville. The train will be departing for Dodge Junction in fifteen minutes.”

The conductor’s loud voice echoing through the train jerked Kyle awake. Or at least, he thought that was what had done it. Perhaps it was the sharp jolt as the train pulled into at the station, or the horrible screeching of the brakes as it slowed to a stop

“I thought Princess Luna said she was going to get those things replaced?” he grumbled as Twilight removed her hooves from her ears.

“We’ve been a bit busy,” Scootaloo yawned. Apparently the train had woken her up as well. “I bet she’s been even busier.”

“Just be glad you were able to come back,” Twilight said as she picked up her bags. “I thought for certain that King Varian was going to put you back among the rest of the army.”

“I suppose,” Kyle shrugged as he shouldered his own pack. “But instead he put me in charge of overseeing the entry of troops into Equestria. Getting them up to speed with what's going on, who’s on our side and so on.”

“So what are you doing here?” Scootaloo asked. “Shouldn’t you be back in Canterlot, where the portal is going to be?”

“The Princesses said that the soldiers were going to be setting up camps a bit west of Ponyville,” Kyle explained. “That’s where the mission briefing and training will take place, so it’s where I’ll be.”

From that point forward, the three had to stop their conversation. Celestia had told them that she planned to announce these new developments at an emergency conference the next day, but she wanted to keep it hushed up for now. The three joined the small line waiting to get off of the train, and moved through the slightly larger crowd waiting to get on.

As the trio stepped out of the station, they finally broke away from the rest of the crowd and stepped off to the side. Kyle glanced up at the sky, trying to determine the time. The moon was rising high in the east, and the stars had begun to come out, but the streaks of red and orange on the western horizon told him that the sun had only gone down recently.

“Over there! I see Kyle!”

Kyle turned his head just as a pair of fillies pushed their way through the crowd. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle ran over to the trio, smiling. “ ‘Bout time ya’ll showed up,” Applebloom said. “We were startin’ t’ get worried.”

“Good to see you girls again too,” Kyle chuckled. “And what do you mean, getting worried?” he added. “Don’t think we can take care of ourselves?”

“Well, Rarity and Applejack told us you two had gone on some super duper top-secret mission!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed. “And that you - MPH!” The rest of her sentence was cut off by Kyle pressing his hand over her muzzle.

“It’s not exactly top secret if you go around announcing it to the world,” he hissed quietly, glancing around. Thankfully, no one seemed to have heard Sweetie Belle’s outburst. Kyle slowly removed his hand from her mouth and sighed. “And again, we’re fine. Nothing to it.”

“Hey Sweetie Belle, look!” Applebloom exclaimed. She ran over to Scootaloo and stared at her. “Scootaloo got her Cutie Mark!”

“WHAT?!” Sweetie Belle practically knocked Applebloom out of the way in her rush to see Scootaloo’s cutie mark. For a moment, the two fillies just stared, with Scootaloo’s face turning redder by the second. Finally, Sweetie Belle looked back up. “Looks kinda weird.” she said. “What’s it for?”

“Being a Monk,” Scootaloo said proudly, the red quickly fading from her cheeks. “I got it up in the Crystal Empire after -” she cut herself short and glanced up at Kyle. She looked around to make sure no one else was listening before leaning in closer. “ - After Kyle and I helped Rarity beat the Sha of Greed,” she finished quietly.

“The symbol is that of the Monk,” Kyle explained. “And yes, she got it just after the Sha was defeated. And she earned it, too. I can honestly say that we probably wouldn’t have beaten it if she hadn’t been there.”

“So wait… Scootaloo got her cutie mark…” Applebloom began slowly. “So… does that mean yer not a crusader anymore?”

“What? No way!” Scootaloo exclaimed. “I’m with you girls all the way! We won’t stop ‘til we all get our cutie marks!”

“Well you can start again tomorrow,” Twilight said. “But right now, you three need to head home. It’s a school day tomorrow.”

“Awwwww,” All three crusaders whined in unison.

“But we’ve got so much crusadin’ t’ catch up on!” Scootaloo complained

“And you’ve got a lot of schoolwork to catch up on,” Kyle replied. “Go on. And don’t worry about training, we’ll start again after you’re caught up in school.”

Scootaloo grumbled under her breath and hung her head. “Fine,” she said quietly.

“Hey, c’mon,” Applebloom nudged her. “Sooner ya get yer work done, sooner we can go out crusadin’ again!”

Kyle watched with a smile as the trio trotted off, talking amongst themselves. He glanced over at Twilight, who was staring after the crusaders with an odd expression. Kyle couldn’t tell whether it was apprehension, amusement, or… something else.

Oh well. It didn’t matter. He nudged her to draw her attention and began walking into town. The sound of her hoofsteps behind him told him that she was following him, and together they walked off towards the treehouse, eager to sleep in a bed that was at least somewhat familiar.

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“Alright, get those boxes through to the kitchens. We’re gonna need them there ASAP if you all want to eat tonight.”

Kyle watched as a squad of soldiers began picking up a pile of large, wooden crates and hauled them off towards a massive tent on the other side of the camp. The camp was primarily made up of a large number of tents. The larger ones that housed the public facilities such as the kitchens or the armory were massive, nearly the size of the town hall that could been off in the distance to the east. The smaller ones, in comparison, were often little more than sheets draped over a set of rods and held down by crudely tied ropes. These served as the shelters of the soldiers when they would sleep.

Not that there was much time for sleep when there was so much work to do.

Despite the frantic work going on around him, Kyle took a deep breath and smiled. This was something he actually knew how to do. This was where he was comfortable. The smell of sweat and steel, the rustle of canvas in the wind, the sound of officers - including himself - barking orders. He was back among the army He had a clear-cut objective. This was his element. This was where he belonged.

So why did it feel so strange?

Kyle shook his head and felt his smile lessen slightly. Of course there would be some transition time. He had been gone for three months, been out of the regimen for quite a while. He had grown used to the oddness that was a relatively peaceful life. But give it a few weeks, and he knew that he would be right back in the swing of things.

Kyle walked over towards one of the few structures that was not a tent - a wooden guard tower that stood high above the surrounding tents. While there was no ladder to climb up, the wooden struts that supported the platform at the top provided plenty of handholds for Kyle to scamper up. Once up top, he gazed down at the sprawling sea of canvases.

The camp was now about an eighth of a mile long running north-south, and double as long running east-west. Only a few hundred soldiers had come through the portals from Azeroth so far, but more were on their way. Even as he watched, a small portal opened on the north end of the camp, and a squad of eight soldiers stepped through before it snapped shut again.

“Well, time to go break in the new guys,” Kyle muttered to himself. He looked down to make sure that his armor was presentable. He still wore the set of armor that Celestia had presented him with in the Crystal Empire, and he had a feeling that he would continue wearing it for quite a while yet. Strapped to his back was the staff that Master Cheng had given him, with the flask hanging down behind his right shoulder. Finding himself presentable, he climbed down the tower and landed lightly before making his way towards the staging area.

As he arrived, he spotted the group setting a small pile of wooden crates on the ground - no doubt filled with poles and sheets to set up their own tents. The staging area was set off to the north side of the camp. The entire area was surrounded in crates, containing a wide variety of supplies ranging from food and potions to metal and cloth.

A white Pegasus in a set of golden armor had been overseeing the squad, but now he walked over towards Kyle. “New squad from Azeroth, sir,” he announced in a deep voice.

“Thank you, Ironwall,” Kyle replied. “Hang around for a minute. I’ll break the new guys in, and then you take them to where they’ll be setting up their tents.”

“Yes sir,” the Pegasus replied. He spread his wings and took off into the air, earning him a few stares from the gathered troops. He landed on top of the wooden watchtower that Kyle had just climbed down from

“Alright men, listen up,” Kyle announced, commanding the attention of the squad in front of him. He felt himself falling into the same routine that he had practiced countless times in the three days since troops had started moving in. “You’re not in Goldshire anymore. This is Equus, and here, there are a few new rules to live by. Listen up, and listen well, ‘cause one screw up could cost you everything.”

“You already know about our new allies, and the newest members of the Alliance - the Ponies. They look like the horses back home, but you’d better believe me when I say that they’re not. They’re smart - as smart as any of us, and I’m willing to bet smarter than some of you. Do not use them as mounts. Treat them with respect, for they deserve it as much as you or I do.”

“Secondly, our enemies - the Changelings. You already know that they can take on the form of a Pony and infiltrate our ranks. There are Ponies helping us out in setting up the camp, so there are opportunities for Changelings to sneak in. Also, we have yet to determine whether or not Changelings can take the form of a non-pony, so we don’t know if they can impersonate one of us. These Changelings are not mindless - they are intelligent, cunning, ruthless, and they have a plan. If you see anyone - Pony or not - acting suspiciously or trying to get into an area they’re not supposed to, report it immediately.”

“Also, our other enemy here in this world is the Sha.” Kyle could feel the group go tense as the word left Kyle’s tongue. “They have returned here in Equestria. Four of the six Prime Sha have been destroyed, but the other two are still out there. You should all know the signs of the Sha after Pandaria. If you see any of these signs anywhere near here, report it to myself or another officer immediately.”

“Next, public relations.” Kyle gestured of to the east, towards Ponyville. “Equestria already knows we’re here. Princess Celestia, their leader, already announced it four days ago. And we are welcome here, so there’s no need to be secretive. But many of them are still wary, as I’m sure you would be if a race of aliens suddenly announced an alliance with your people and started setting up a camp of soldiers outside of Goldshire. Again, I emphasize point one - treat the Ponies with respect. We are not here to invade. We are here to help them. Don’t give them any reason to distrust us. Any crime against a Pony will be punished as if you had committed it against any other member of the Alliance, because that is exactly what it is. Are we clear?”

“Yes, sir!” the group replied in unison

“Good. Now, the town to the east is called Ponyville. During your free time, you may request permission to enter and interact with the local populace. While doing so, please leave your armor behind in your tent, though you may bring a weapon. Do not draw it unless you have been attacked or are in imminent danger of being attacked, though I doubt that will happen. I cannot stress this enough - we want the Ponies to like us. We want them to WANT to be in the Alliance. Do not give them a reason not to. Any violations of policy will result in termination of visitation privileges.”

“Are there any questions?”

One hand near the back rose into the air, and Kyle pointed. A Night Elf hunter poked her head over the crowd. “What of our companions? Can we bring them into town?” She asked. To emphasize her point, a large striped Nightsaber poked its head out from behind the front row of troops. “I’m not sure if Moonshadow will be comfortable being alone in camp.”

“Good question,” Kyle nodded. “For any Mages, Warlocks, or Shaman among you, I ask that you please keep your elementals or demonic pets dismissed unless you are being attacked. The Ponies are a fairly peaceful race, and the sight of these creatures may frighten them. Hunter companions, however, are natural creatures. So long as you are absolutely certain that your friend will not attack, you may bring it with you. Several Ponies quite enjoy seeing strong bonds with animals, and it may help you to relate to them more easily.”

“Any other questions?”

The silence that followed was broken only by the sound of hammers in the distance and the low rumble of talking throughout the camp. “Alright then,” Kyle continued. “Whoever is the commanding officer of this squad, please come see me. Everyone else, start moving your stuff to your designated locations."

“Oh - and welcome to Equestria.”

Kyle watched as most of the group began opening the wooden crates and pulling out metal poles, rolls of rope, pegs, and canvas sheets. One, however, broke away and walked towards Kyle. He was a Draenei, covered in thick plate armor and hoisting a large, two-handed maul over his shoulder.

“Master Sergeant,” The Draenei saluted. “I am Sergeant Azas. I command this squad.”

“Good,” Kyle nodded, leading the Draenei away from the group as they began hammering poles into the ground. “Am I correct in assuming you are a Paladin?”

“Yes sir, I am.”

“Very respectable.” Kyle felt a small smile creep across his face. “So, you already know the drill here. There are a few other officers around the camp. If you have any questions, let me or one of them know. Once you and your squad get set up, report to the mess hall for some food. After you’re done there, your job for the rest of the day is to start moving supplies from Canterlot here to the camp. You’ll find mages waiting to open portals for you back here at the staging area.”

“Every day, you’re to check the assignment board. It’s just outside the commanders pavillion. Tasks for each platoon are posted there daily, with more specific assignments divided between squads. Once your task is done for the day, what your squad does is up to you. But remember, you are responsible for their actions. Understood?”

“Yes sir.”

“Excellent.” Kyle extended his hand. “Again, welcome to Equestria.”

“Thank you sir,” the Draenei replied, gripping Kyle’s hand and giving it a firm shake. Kyle watched as he hooked his mace onto his back and walked over to the poile of crates that his squad had brought with them. He picked two of them up and balanced them on his shoulders before falling in line behind Ironwall, who was leading them area from the staging area.

“Not bad, Slater,” a voice hissed suddenly into his ear.

Kyle didn’t even flinch. Instead, he simply closed his eyes and smirked. “Hello, Shade,” he replied, turning to look.

Shade frowned at Kyle, displaying the fangs of her Batpony disguise more prominently than usual. “I thought I had you that time,” she complained.

“Not even close.” Truth be told, it had been close - Kyle had only heard her hoofsteps behind him a split second before she had spoken. Still, Kyle was determined to not be caught off-guard by the Pegasus again - not after she had nearly made him spill his ale in the mess hall that first day. “So, is something going on, or are you here for idle chit-chat?” he asked, knowing full-well the answer.

“No time for chit-chat today,” Shade replied, just as Kyle had predicted. “I’m here to bring you with me. Got a bit of a meeting with you, me, Bulwark, and some Human called Amber Kearnen.”

“Kearnen…” Kyle murmured, closing his eyes. He scoured his memory, trying to place a face to the name. After all, he was certain he had heard of this person before. Nevertheless, he drew a blank. “Well, let’s go see what this is all about,” he finally said, following Shade away from the staging area.

A few minutes later, the pair stepped into the commander’s pavillion. Normally, the area would be filled with officers discussing strategies or logistics, but now, it was empty save for three other figures. One was a Pegasus in the standard golden armor of the Royal Guard - almost certainly the Bulwark that Shade had mentioned.

Another figure was a slender female human. She stood a couple of inches shorter than Kyle, and was dressed in a sleek set of leather armor - clearly Night Elf craft. Her pitch-black hair was tied in a ponytail behind her head. Her one visible eye was blue, while the other was hidden behind a green eye-scope. On her back was a large gold-and-white rifle with a large scope attached to the top.

The final figure was a large, dark-blue Unicorn stallion. His mane was short and pitch-black, with a similarly-short tail. His cutie mark depicted a golden crown, inset with jewels.

“Master Sergeant Slater,” The human announced, stepping forward and extending her hand. “I’m Amber Kearnen, sniper for the SI:7.”

“A pleasure,” Kyle replied, shaking her hand. “So, the SI:7 is getting involved. Good news for us.”

“Indeed. We’ve got a small team already set up, just waiting for the opportunity to slip in.”

“Gotcha. So, who’s this?” he asked, motioning towards the mystery stallion. “I thought you said this meeting was only going to be for four of us?”

“Perhaps this will help you recognize me,” the stallion replied in a soft, Draenei accent. His body suddenly erupted in a flash of green fire, forcing Kyle to shield his eyes. Once the light had faded, Kyle looked out and saw that the stallion had been replaced with a Changeling Queen. One that was smiling warmly.

“Ah, Queen Yxia,” Kyle chuckled. “I guess I should have figured. So, we’re finally getting this thing rolling, eh?”

“Yes,” Bulwark replied. “Queen Yxia has agreed to reveal to us the points of greatest weakness. We will then push deep into Hive Regali while the main force lures the majority of the Changeling army out of the hive, and we will eliminate the remaining Sha and Chrysalis.”

“So, let’s get right to it,” Yxia announced. Her horn lit up, and a large sheet of parchment burst into existence upon one of the tables. The group gathered around and peered down at it. It was a map, detailing the Badlands. Down towards the south west corner, Kyle could see a large circle marked ‘H.R’. Surrounding the circle were three small stars, labelled A, B, and C. The north-east section of the map showed a town called Appleloosa, while the rest of the northern sections were taken up by the Everfree forest. An arrow pointing off to the northwest was labelled ‘To Ponyville’.

“So, here’s Hive Regali,” Yxia said, tapping the circle labelled ‘H.R’ with her hoof. “There are numerous entrances and exits to the hive. The main entrance is where the combined forces of Azeroth and Equestria will strike to draw attention away from our infiltration. I’ve given it a bit of thought, and I’ve narrowed our routes down to three possible places.”

Yxia pointed to the star labelled ‘A’, which was about halfway between Hive Regali and Appleloosa. “Our first option is the most direct route. It’s just a straight path that slopes downward and leads to our main food-storage facility. It’s where most of our infiltrators would go to drop off their collected love when they returned. It’s the fastest route, but also the most obvious. There will certainly be resistance along the way.

“So we’d need another army to get through,” Bulwark replied. “Not a good idea. What else do we have?”

“Our second option is route B,” she continued, jabbing the appropriate star with her hoof. This one was directly north of the hive. “This one takes a bit longer, but is less frequently patrolled. It was mainly used as an exit for our infiltrators, since the entrance is partially concealed. However, the entrance will be in the middle of the battlefield where all the main fighting will be taking place. We’ve already got plans to collapse the tunnel as the battle begins to stop the Empire from sending reinforcements up into the middle of our lines, but if we went in we’d have to be quick to avoid running into the Changelings that would be rushing out to attack.”

“Easy to get to, but if we’re too slow we’re dead,” Kyle murmured.

“Finally, route C,” Yxia pointed to the star to the south-west of the hive. “This is by far the longest route, and the furthest away from where we are. It’s the route I and my Changelings used to escape when Chrysalis took over. It’s long, winding, and has numerous dead-ends. We also left a few traps in our wake to deter any who might attempt to chase us, and they’re likely still active,”

“Sounds like a bad idea,” Amber muttered. “I assume there’s some upside.”

“Two, actually,” Yxia nodded. “If my guess is correct, Chrysalis doesn’t even know this passage exists - it was an emergency escape known only to the royal family. And secondly, this path will take us directly to the heart of the hive, straight into the throne room.”

“So longest and potentially most dangerous route, but also the one with the least Changeling resistance,” Shade mused. “We’d catch her completely by surprise.”

“Exactly.”

“I’d say route C,” Amber said. “I’d rather get the element of surprise. Plus, you know your way through those tunnels, and you know where you left traps. It shouldn’t be too bad, I hope.”

“I agree with Amber,” Kyle nodded. “It’ll give us the best chance of catching Chrysalis off-guard and killing her.”

“Any opposed?” Shade asked. No one spoke up. “Alright then. We have our plan,” she continued. “We’ll start our operation here in a few days, once the rest of the army moves in. Until then, we know what needs to be done. Let’s get to it!”

Bulwark, Shade, and Amber all quickly exited the tent. Yxia, however, remained still. Kyle moved to follow the trio, but stopped when he heard Yxia talking.

“Soon, father. Soon she will die. Soon our line will be restored. Soon I will avenge you.”

Kyle felt a chill run down his spine. The desperation in Yxia’s voice… the pain… the hatred with which she spoke… He shuddered slightly as he continued, pushing the tent flap aside and leaving Yxia alone in the tent with her thoughts.