//------------------------------//
// Into the eye 
// Story: Raining Metal 
// by thecakeisalie 
//------------------------------//

	Luna huffed as she walked out of the conference room. I had forgotten how much of a pain negotiations are,  she thought. A few papers were levitating around her head, all but one having her signature, as well as that of the Prime Minister of the Bridle Islands. The day had fairly much died while she had been in the stuffy conference room, but some important issues had gotten resolved. Luna looked out the large windows of Westmuzzle, watching her sister’s sun start dipping below the horizon. She turned, her horn glowing as she started raising the moon from the east. As soon as that task was done, she disappeared.


Celestia was fuming in her rooms in Canterlot castle. As soon as her sister appeared, she leapt to her hooves; eyes squinted in what almost seemed to be agony. “I don’t like it,” She spoke calmly, but gritted teeth betrayed her. “If it wasn’t for him, none of this would have happened in the first place!”
“Now, Celly,” Luna said, with the smallest sigh she could manage, “You and I both know that isn’t true. Just because you’re angry about something that happened so long ago, you can’t stop being rational.”
“I almost think,” Celestia’s voiced carried a rare imperialistic tone, “that you no longer care yourself. Or have you just completely forgotten what that monster has done?”
“Celly, I’m being a ruler. Sometimes we have to put aside our emotions. And you knew that was going to happen someday, there was no other possible outcome in the long run. Even we will have to answer to him, someday.” It felt to be the thousandth time Luna had explained this, but she was well aware it wasn’t to be the last. “He is the only force that can never be defeated.”
Celestia flared her nostrils a little longer before giving in. “I still don’t like it,” she stated.
“You don’t have to,” Luna responded, “I don’t like it either, for that matter. But it must be done. Having him on our side is an invaluable benefit.”
“Why did he have to bond with the elements, though? That’s the most dangerous thing he could have possibly done!” Celestia knew she was trying to nitpick, even if she was expressing a valid concern.
“I don’t know, sister,” Luna said, shaking her head.


Midnight helped Gear pack up his tent. They had to be back at the naval yard tomorrow, so they were headed back now. It had been almost a week of beautiful weather, snowbound peaks, and other cliché descriptions. It really had been an amazing trip. Icescape had somehow managed to not destroy anything important, and Midnight had learned an awful lot about Bluebird and Gear. But no matter how much fun he’d had roaming the hills of Iceland, Midnight could never fight off a feeling of dread. He started walking faster as he thought about the days ahead. He was almost hitting a full gallop before he realized he’d let himself get too far ahead of the others. He sat on the top of the next hill, waiting for the others to catch up.
Bluebird landed next to him with a thud, dropping his pack. Midnight was spared a quick glance before Bluebird looked back at the other two. “What’s wrong, man?” He asked, a crease adorning his forehead. 
Midnight stared at a lonely cloud in the sky, replying only with “Everything.”


Rainbow was on her way to the hospital to visit Fluttershy when she was stopped by a gray pegasus mail mare. “Hey Derpy. What’s up?”
“Mail for you!” Derpy replied, handing Dash an official looking envelope, taking off for another destination immediately. Rainbow became focused on the letter when she noticed the return address- Ponygon, Castle Loop, Canterlot. She ripped open the envelope, dropping it on the sidewalk, paying attention only to the letter.
 Dear Cpl. Rainbow Dash,
Due to injuries you sustained during the Battle of Manehattan, you have been awarded a Purple Wing. Additionally, your inability to fly for the foreseeable future has led to you being transferred into the Army, 7th battalion, 12th platoon. You are to report to the Manehattan docks at 12 o’clock in the afternoon on Saturday, the 20th of October. 
Signed, General Ironhoof 
Rainbow stared at the letter for a few seconds before noticing that a small medal was indeed attached to the bottom of the letter. After examining it, she reread the letter.  Shoot, she said to herself,  I leave tomorrow! She turned and rushed back to the hotel room. Fluttershy would just have to wait for later.


Twilight’s ship pulled into the harbor of Trottingham. She had finally finished all her paperwork a few days ago, which gave her the chance to relax. No other incidents had happened along the trip, something to be thankful for. She found Applejack, and they departed the ship together. Lodging and food were being provided by the Equestrian military, which meant they wouldn’t be getting any hotels this time around.
“So,” Applejack glanced at Twilight, raising an eyebrow, “What’s with all this mumbling in your sleep?”
“Huh?” Twilight gave her friend a look suggesting Applejack should check into a mental hospital, before continuing, “I don’t talk in my sleep. And when would you have heard it, even if I did?”
“All those times yah fell asleep over paperwork, tah answer your question,” Applejack replied, causing a little heat to rise to Twilight’s face, “An’ yah do talk in your sleep. Kept hearin’ yah say Rainbow’s name.”
“I… I did?” Twilight certainly hadn’t been aware of her words. “I don’t know why.”
“U-huh.” Applejack trotted off, leaving Twilight shouting behind her. 
“Wait! What are you trying to say?”


A few days later, the lone carrier pulled into the Trottingham dock. The crew had dubbed it the Hydra, in honor of it being too stupid to sink when it should have. Gear, Bluebird, Icescape, and Midnight all stepped onto the docks, one after the other. The checked the postings on a message board, discovering that they were all being separated, with the exception of Icescape and Midnight. They had all started away when Icescape, still back at the board, spoke up. “Hey guys, you might want to see this…” he trailed off.
Midnight returned, checking where Icescapes hoof was pointing. A notice had been posted by the colonel in charge of the base. It simply said that any Ponies belonging to Marine divisions 1, 2, 4, 5, or 7 were being airlifted into enemy territory later that week.
As Midnight finished reading the notice, Captain Thorn trotted up. “Wonderful, isn’t it,” He dead panned. “We get to go into that hay hole a little early.” He wandered off again, but not before narrowing his eyes threateningly at nothing in particular.
 Oh well, Midnight thought,  Looks like I won’t get to rest very long before I’m working again.


The night sky was even darker than usual, mostly due to the large amount of steely gray clouds covering it. Bluebird was lugging Icescape over gryphon territory, a dangerous task even when one knew where they were going. Bluebird was to stay behind with the landed troops, as were a small number of other pegasi. Their job was to make sure no gryphons could ambush the group from above. But right now, they were all lugging either ponies or gear over the danger zone. Just a few more minutes, Bluebird repeated in his head.  Just a few more minutes. 


Midnight looked down at the top of dark clouds. He couldn’t see the ground, but he knew that the group must be close to its final destination. Just then, every pegasi in the group started to descend.  Back into the hornet’s nest,Midnight thought.