Twilight, Lightning and Trixie followed together from Zecora’s hut towards the edge of the Everfree Forest, to a rarely used road linking Dodge Junction and Canterlot. It was late at night, and their only lighting was that of Luna’s silver moon, and a small lantern wielded by Trixie.
By the unicorn’s request, they should wait for a ‘contact’ of sorts to come. Trixie insisted that it was part of her plan to help them reach Manehattan without using any trains, as for now, Trixie herself and even Lightning were both wanted criminals as much as Twilight.
“Are you sure this contact or whatever is really goin’ to come?” Lightning asked, impatiently tapping her right fore hoof on the ground and moving her head in several different directions, desperately searching for something to pop out from the darkness, “We have been waiting for two damn hours!”
“Oh, be quiet, pegasus!” Trixie scuffed, “Of course she’s coming, I paid her only half of her load, and she needs to come take the rest if she wants it.”
Lightning smirked, “That’s your guarantee?”
“I take you never negotiated inside the ‘black market’,” Trixie smiled, cocking an eyebrow.
“Sorry, not the type to make deals with bandits and thieves.”
Trixie laughed hard, “Says the pegasus who’s not afraid of becoming a murderer.”
Lightning shrugged, “Whatever, gal! I could make to Manehattan in five seconds flat; I don’t really understand why we need to follow your plan.”
“You can fly that fast, but what about me and Sparkle? Can you really take us two there?”
Lightning begun to scratch her chin pensively, “I guess it would be a little more difficult. Care to try?”
Trixie almost jumped at Lightning’s neck, “Why are you so damn dumb, you birdbrain! It’s impossible! Sparkle, please give me a little help here!”
“Hmm… Did something happen, girls?” The alicorn asked, absent-mindedly.
Both Trixie and Lightning stared at her with confused gazes. Yes, Twilight knew she was terribly distracted today, but she couldn’t help it… So much has happened on those past two weeks and she still tried to process everything.
Trixie led a fore hoof to her face, sighing, “It’s nothing, really. I shouldn’t be the one complaining about Dust lack of brain cells…”
“Hey!” The pegasus protested, “My brain is fine!”
A loud noise cut their conversation short. It seemed to be a huge machine coming towards them.
In moments, the trees by the other side of the road fell, revealing a big, metallic vehicle moving without the help of anything else but a steam-powered engine.
It had an upper part resembling a wagon, however made of metal instead of wood and four sturdy, iron-made wheels also looking exactly as those of a regular wagon allowed the contraption to move. Atop the cabin, a huge funnel expelled a cloud of steam.
Lightning, distressed with the coming of such a machine, leaped backwards and shouted with wide-open eyes, “What the hay?!”
“Oh! She’s finally here.” Trixie smiled.
“Wow!” Twilight’s attention immediately turned to the heavy machine, “I can’t believe this! It’s a Land Trotter!”
On that moment, a small hatchway opened atop the vehicle, and a very familiar diamond dog popped her head outside, leaning her elbow against the flat exterior, “She’s called Betsy. Pretty neat stuff, don’t you think?”
Trixie immediately waved her fore hoof and walked towards the machine, “Hey, Roxy! How’s it going?”
“Howdy!” The dog answered with a smile, and leaped to the ground to walk towards the group.
Twilight seemed to be mesmerized by the machine; its engine still chattering and the funnel still sending the water vapor out. Her eyes shimmered with vivid curiosity as they didn’t for quite some time.
“It’s so amazing!” The alicorn exclaimed, “I saw one of those over in a science fair in Canterlot three months ago, but they were just on display. I was so disappointed I couldn’t see them working, and now we got one right here! I want to study every part of it and discover how the engine works...”
“Dude…” Roxy sighed and turned to Trixie, “This Goddess is a little bit nutsy, ain’t her?”
Twilight soon noticed she wasn’t wearing anything to hide her wings; not only that, but her excitement made the big feathery appendages flap out from their resting position over her back. Too late to do anything else, all she could do was blush and hide her face in shame.
“Nah, don’t sweat it, Miss Sparkle. Trixie here already told me ‘bout you.” Roxy replied to her reaction, smiling.
Her answer made Lightning cock an eyebrow, “Are we supposed to tell criminals about Twilight’s whereabouts, Trixie?”
“Please, don’t question my judgment, Dust.” Trixie quickly replied, “Unlike you, I know what I’m doing.”
The pegasus shrugged. Trixie turned back to the diamond dog, “She’s pretty. I'm still wondering how your pack managed to steal this cargo from under Equestria Security Burial’s nose.”
Roxy smirked and crossed her arms proudly, “It wasn’t all that easy, but those guys seem to be too lenient with their security nowadays. Looks like the army is having trouble with some kind of excavation project they are running near Canterlot, but I don’ know the details.”
Twilight was still caught into scrutinizing each joint of that machine’s exterior, but she could hear each and every word coming from her friend and the mysterious Roxy. Curious about a few details, the alicorn walked near them and asked, “I’m sorry to butt in Trixie, but how do you know Roxy?”
“Remember the day when we first came to Ponyville? Roxy here was doing a little pillaging job for the Chew Bones gang; they are a pack of diamond dogs, pretty active on Equestria’s territory. It happens that I have a few important contacts within the gang, I sent them a letter requesting to bargain a means of transportation for us. Roxy ended up reading the letter and offering a better deal..”
“Only that I had to steal this steam-powered tank from them, but oh well… They suck at doing good negotiations.” Roxy interrupted Trixie, and laughed, “Besides, you girls have a stronger motive to justify using Betsy.”
“That explains all those letters you were sending to the postal service with Lightning’s help during the last two weeks.” Twilight smiled, looking towards her pegasus friend.
“Gah! I feel like a carrier pigeon!” Lightning complained, “And you said those letters were important stuff!”
Trixie smirked and cocked an eyebrow towards Lightning, “Who said they weren’t? Thanks to me, and my negotiation skills, we now have a cutting-edge steam powered tank at our disposal!”
Twilight smiled even wider, and her eyes begun to shimmer, “You mean you brought it? It’s ours?”
Her unicorn knightress nodded, “Yup. It's not the sneakiest vehicle, nor the fastest, but its resilience can serve us as a mobile base and overcome hard terrain, allowing us to take routes not commonly used, making it more difficult for the army to track us down. It’s also spacious enough for us to sleep inside.”
“I won’t charge too much… I promise.” Roxy said, raising both her paws as to show she wasn’t crossing any fingers.
“That’s awesome!” Twilight cheered, and started to jump on place out of excitement. She stopped, suddenly, remembering about a few other questions she had, “Roxy, I know it’s a little too much, but I would like to ask how you can talk pretty much like us, since diamond dogs speak… well… in kind of a stunted way.”
Roxy giggled, “My parents - step-parents, that is - are actually ponies. They found me near some woods, close to Trottinghan when I was a little puppy. My mum is a teacher, and she did a fine job with me. Diamond dogs aren't any less intelligent than ponies, it's just that they are too lazy to actually learn to speak properly..”
“That’s really interesting. If I wasn’t being chased by a whole country, I would love to study your case, Roxy.” Twilight smiled tenderly to her.
“We can think about it when you clear your name. A bandit like me doesn’t like publicity, but who knows; maybe having my name on some book can bolster my popularity on the black market.”
Trixie stepped in, “I’m sorry to interrupt, but Sparkle, we better get going.”
The alicorn nodded, “Yes, you’re right. Roxy, why don’t you come with us? You would be a marvelous asset to the team.”
Roxy lowered her head and gave Twilight a bittersweet smile, “Nah… I’ll pass. I’m sorry, but I’m not strong as Trixie or Lightning. I’m just a coward, and we all know you girls will be fighting against many enemies. But Betsy will help, I’m sure of it.”
Twilight got closer to her, and offered a hoof bump, “I understand. Let’s be sure to talk about that book once everything is settled.”
Roxy smiled widely, and bumped her closed paw against Twilight’s hoof, “Of course! I just want you to know that I believe in you, Miss Sparkle. Equestria is doing something very wrong, not only with you, but with the entire population. You girls can undo whatever is happening and stop this madness!”
Twilight nodded firmly, “Yes!”
By the time, Lightning was already walking atop Betsy’s husk, with a silly smile plastered across her face, as if the sound of her hooves clamping against the metallic surface was amusing to the borderline pegasus. Trixie was going up there using a set of ladders on its side.
“I need to get going.” Twilight warned Roxy, and begun trotting towards the tank.
“Just one last thing, Miss Sparkle,” Roxy called her, “Judging for the recent movements of the gangs near Manehattan, I think there’s something fishy about to happen over there… You girls should be extra cautious.”
Twilight nodded, “Thank you again Roxy, I will take your advice to heart.”
After a wave from her paw, saying her last farewell, Roxy swiftly disappeared inside the foliage, vanishing from Twilight’s sight.
The alicorn used the same stairs as Trixie to get up on Betsy’s husk, and then used the hatchway to enter, closing the metal lid tightly.
Cloud Skipper finally returned to Canterlot, after one week over on Ponyville.
As the pegasus safely landed outside the great Canterlot Castle, he sighed sadly and looked to the big gates in front of him, bathed in a breathtaking beautiful light.
He began to walk inside, towards his room. During this last week, he was investigating the events that took place at the small city in secret, for the Sun Guard were prohibited of going near the town, as per Princess Luna’s orders.
During his stroll through the ivory corridors, he reaffirmed his conviction of helping Twilight, even if that could cost his post as commander.
Deep inside, he knew that Twilight’s struggle tied with other strange event…
The pleas of his subordinates for answers about the excavation happening not far from the capital still haunted Skipper’s mind. His knights were forced to work until exhaustion, and the work on that mine couldn’t stop for a single minute. To make everything worse, no pony really was aware of their objective, not even the ones commanding the site.
And he was sure that everything connected together… He just needed to discover how.
After walking a while, he finally reached his chambers. As he opened the doors, Skipper heard a faint sound of breathing. It was his marefriend, Midnight Blossom, soundly sleeping on his bed.
Cloud Skipper smiled with tenderness, “I missed you, my dearest.”
With care to not make any loud sounds, he turned towards the armor hanger on his left side, where he meticulously placed his armor and spear, making a brief reverence to the azure star adorning his golden suit of armor.
And then, he felt somepony gently nuzzling his withers with her delicate cheek.
“Don’t walk in without knocking, mister. I’m a lady, even though I don’t act like one.”
“I’m sorry, Blossom, I didn’t want to wake you up.”
He turned away, to find his marefriend with half-lidded eyes and a tender smile. Skipper immediately embraced her, strongly.
“I missed you. One week without even sending me a letter or two was a dick move,” complained Midnight Blossom.
“I couldn’t. Last week was crazy. I had to be as cautious as possible. I missed you too…”
Still taking solace on her coltfriend’s embrace, Blossom continued, “It is true then that Luna didn’t want you guys from the Sun Guard near Ponyville, huh?”
Skipper nodded, “Yes. Thanks Celestia I was able to sneak in and take a few clues before Luna’s vultures could snatch away everything.”
“What did you found?” His marefriend asked, kissing Skipper’s neck.
“I found some strange markings on the forest nearby. They looked like the tires of those experimental steam-powered tanks the Technology Burial is developing, the Land Trotters.” Skipper replied, kissing her forehead.
“Do you think Twilight used one of those to escape?”
“I guess, yes. Although I do need to ask her how on Equestria she did manage to get one of those. They are still being tested. I did destroy the marks, so no pony will try to track them.”
Still hugging each other, Midnight and Skipper remained in silence for a few seconds. Their expressions twisted with worry and a glint of sadness. Both were proud knights of Equestria, and they were wounded by seeing their once peaceful utopia turned into a ground for conspiracies and warfare between brothers and sisters.
“She’s going to Manehattan Skipper,” Midnight broke the silence, “I dunno how, but Princess Luna knows where she’s going.”
Skipper licked his lips and frowned, “That’s horrible… The city will be crawling with Sun Guards soon enough due to the Noble Council pressuring the mayors of the big cities to tighten the security in order to find Twilight, in case she’s hiding on those big cities.”
Midnight stared deeply inside his eyes, “We need to go help her, somehow.”
The pegasus sighed, “I can’t go. They did call me to take the position as Guard Chief, but I refused. Besides, I’m already laying low for a whole week; ponies will start to suspect my absence. Can you go?”
“I guess…” Midnight replied with a small voice.
“What’s wrong, my dearest?” Skipper asked, gently stroking his marefriend’s mane with a hoof, “You usually don’t think much before taking action.”
Midnight fell silent and her eyes were darting away from Skipper’s gaze. She looked pensive, worried with something…
“I’m pregnant Skipper… We will be having a foal…”
Skipper’s heart almost stopped. His mouth opened, and his lips felt dry. He stared into Blossom’s eyes, processing her words slowly, as if digesting them. Deep inside however, he felt an inexplicably happiness bubbling on his heart.
“Blossom…” He breathed, his surprised expression evolving into a large smile.
“It’s our baby, my dearest…” Blossom nuzzled his cheek.
And the pegasus quickly took her in his arms once more, embracing his marefriend and whispering at her ear, “I’m so happy, Blossom… I’m so happy…”
“I was a little worried you could react differently.”
The pegasus exclaimed, “You silly filly! I love you! I always dreamed about having foals with you! How could I not be feeling like the most blessed stallion in Equestria?”
Blossom lowered her head, and once more, she darted her eyes away from Skipper’s gaze, “Because I am a plebeian; a lowly moori monster that had no right of existing if it wasn’t for the royal pardon the Holy Lady had given to my kind a thousand of years ago…”
Skipper rested his chin above her head, “I don’t care. I don’t give a damn about traditions, about races, about what happened between Celestia and Nightmare Moon; all I care for is you and our foal, my dearest. Even now, in this dark hour we are facing, all the strength I have comes from you, and I feel even more compelled to fight for a better future now that I will be a father.”
“And a husband… Geez, I don’t want to have a child without being married. What the other knightresses are going to say?”
“I will make you the happiest wife on this whole world, Blossom…”
Skipper stroke Blossom’s mane gently, and kissed her lips with passion.
At the same time, the door of his room slammed open and Pussywillow trotted inside, bearing a huge smile; she seemed truly excited about something, “Skipper! Skipper, you won’t believe this!”
However, at the exact moment when her eyes fell on the scene of her comrade kissing Midnight Blossom so passionately, her mood dropped.
Startled by the sudden sounds, Skipper broke from their kiss, and turned around to find a disappointed Pussywillow, observing them with a shocked expression.
He called her, maybe as impressed by her presence as his comrade was about the scene, “Pussywillow?”
“Cap… I… Sorry… I didn’t mean to… I didn’t know… I’m sorry.” She replied, stuttering and walking back slowly.
Skipper sighed, lowering his head. Midnight did the same.
With a few tears clinging to her eyes, Pussywillow suddenly turned around and bolted away from Skipper’s room.
“It’s all my fault,” said the pegasus, “I should have told her about us…”
Blossom turned her attention back at him, “Why did she seem so upset? Isn’t her your friend and apprentice?”
Skipper sighed, exasperatedly. He paused, licking his lips, feeling his head getting confused.
“Yes,” he finally replied, “But there’s more. Her father, Aster, and my mother, Prima, they are influential nobles. It’s commonplace between noble families of Canterlot to arrange marriages between their children, so to ensure that the nobility of Canterlot continues to exist and also to bolster a family influence.”
“So… Did they arrange your marriage with her?”
He nodded with a pained expression, “We were only foals. I never give it much attention. Pussywillow always seemed to me the type of mare who wouldn’t care about romance, she only thought about getting stronger and becoming a better knight than her father was. But I guess she started to notice me after we grew up… I didn’t want to hurt her feelings.”
Blossom gave him a sweet smile, and caressed his face with a hoof, moving his head to look towards her, “Go after her, and tell her the truth; it’s better to be late than never telling her anything.”
“What about you, my dearest?”
She laughed, “I will be fine. I’m not the type to be jealous, and besides, I need to prepare to go to Manehattan to help Twilight.”
Skipper’s eyes widened in surprise, “You are going? No! You can’t, it’s too dangerous for you and for our baby!”
“Calm down. I need to do something while my belly doesn’t start to look like a watermelon. I’m one of the Unseen, remember? My intention is being as stealthy as possible, so we will both be out of danger.”
Skipper sighed. He didn’t agreed with his marefriend’s conditions, but he knew her enough to know she wasn’t going to back away from action as long as her body allowed her to.
“We will be marrying as soon as this whole ordeal is over.”
“I will think about it.” Blossom replied with a smirk.
Once again, Skipper kissed the moori with passion, and as soon as they broke from their kissing, he bolted towards the corridor to where Pussywillow ran.
Although it was a bright day, the wind blew a fresh breeze, enough to perfectly balance the temperature.
Skipper followed Pussywillow all the way towards a balcony, where she seemed to observe the sun and take some solace with the gentle breeze.
As soon as he spotted her, he sighed. He was sure about living his desire to marry Midnight Blossom; to have many foals with her and to age by her side.
However, Pussywillow was a precious friend to him. She was his companion, apprentice, and probably, successor when the time to retire would come.
“I’m sorry, red-head… I wasn’t ready to tell you… I’m still not ready to tell anypony, I guess.”
He walked near her, speaking calmly.
“Nah… It’s no big deal, Cap. I guess you already noticed I had the hots for you, huh? She replied, and smiled with a sad frown.
“Yeah, pretty much. Why didn’t you tell me before?”
Pussywillow sat on the ground and gazed towards Skipper from above her shoulder, “That’s a good question. I’m not sure when I started to like you… It sorta just happened. My old man told me about the arranged marriage and I was like… Meh, not gonna happen, I look like a stallion for Celestia’s sake! Cap will never notice somepony so dull like me…”
She paused, turning her attention back to the sun above them, and continued, “But hey! You’ve been by my side since I was a little filly! You’re like the only stallion to ever be my friend… I guess it was just a matter of time before it happened. And the whole story about us being promised to each other didn’t help me much to stop dreaming about impossible things…”
Skipper didn’t have any answer to that. He felt sad. He didn’t want to hurt Pussywillow’s feelings, but it couldn’t be helped.
What was done was done…
The silence lasted for a few minutes, before Pussywillow herself broke it, “Midnight Blossom, huh?”
Skipper nodded in silence.
Pussywillow smirked, her eyes were still sad though, “She’s pretty. Heck, everypony around the Shady Through can’t stop blabbering about her curves and stuff… You’re a lucky bastard, Cap.
“I love her, red-head.”
“Good to hear! I can already hear the bickering coming from those moori when they discover she’s a bride to be!”
They both laughed at the same time, as if trying to ignore what just happened and moving on.
“So,” Cloud Skipper called, “What did you wanted to tell me?”
Pussywillow stopped, and nodded, “Yeah. I got a promotion, Cap!”
The pegasus smiled, happy for his friend, “That’s fantastic, red-head!”
She smiled with satisfaction, nodding her head, “Now, I’m in charge of commanding the Palomino Fort forces! I’m one step from becoming knight captain, just like you and Wild Fire!”
“Congratulations, Pussywillow. I’m sure you will be the best Brigade Commander ever!”
Pussywillow’s features changed to an expression of determination, “I will do my very best, and take every advice you gave me to heart, Cap.”
“When are you departing?”
“The noble council ordered me to rendezvous with the new brigadiers A.S.A.P.; I shouldn’t have come to tell you all those things, but what the heck! I’m the Brigade Commander, they can wait for me.”
Skipper felt a little relieved for those last turn of events. He didn’t know how to redeem himself for not telling Pussywillow about his relationship with Midnight Blossom, but she didn’t seem to be against it, which was good.
“I will pay you a visit at Palomino Fort when things settle for me here a little, Godspeed, red-head.”
Pussywillow saluted Cloud Skipper, “Thank you, sir!”
C’mon girl! Get over this! You always knew you didn’t have a chance…
Not even the searing winds from the desert region of San Palomino were able to distract Pussywillow from her aching, broken heart, as she flew as fast as she could towards the Palomino Fort. The sun here seemed different from that of the capital; it was hot, so hot that Pussywillow felt a pressure against her back, as if a force robbed her of all stamina.
The Palomino Fort was a high-security area, erected in the middle of the desert in order to keep its existence as secret as possible. It was also called the “second Night Wing” for obvious reasons; Equestria’s dirtiest secrets were secluded there.
Everything the Princesses never wanted the public to know, from dubious researches to military paraphernalia was stored here.
Pussywillow was selected by the Noble Council to command the brigade tasked to protect the place against possible intruders, even though they may never show up.
Actually, she was just trying to act though. Being promoted to this place was just like being grounded for most knights and knightresses of Equestria, for its location was even more secret than even the Night Wing itself, meaning that guarding it could be as dull as being chosen for castle duty.
I thought becoming Brigade Commander could make me shine a little more on his eyes… Why am I so stupid?
She bit her lips, and closed her eyes, shaking her head in frustration. Pussywillow didn’t want to present herself to her subordinates looking sad, but it was hard to not let her frustration show.
Finally, after being more than two hours late, the pegasus mare spotted the entrance to the facility. From above, she could see the sand-colored walls, forming a perfect square. They were seven meters high, each junction linked by a huge watchtower, armed with both barrier crystals and four disabling cannons each; the barrier crystals, a contraption created by the most respected unicorns from Canterlot, was capable of producing a ward ten times more powerful than one invoked by a unicorn, while the disabling cannons are weapons capable of firing high-speed magic bolts infused with electricity, causing a shock strong enough to knock a mastodon unconscious.
Looking from an outside perspective, the fort was inexpugnable. That’s why being send here for guard duty was the same as being grounded.
Pussywillow landed near the entrance door; a colossal, brassy-gold metallic gate, made of sturdy coronium.
With her head hanging low, the Brigade Commander walked slowly towards the gate, feeling the hot sand shifting and moving under her hooves. She stood still in front of the gates where the guards of both watchtowers standing next to it could see her.
She took the Royal Insignia of her noble heritage out from a pocked on her chainmail, and lifted it, “I’m Pussywillow, Brigade Commander of Fort Palomino, daughter of Aster Spectra, requesting permission to enter the fort and start my duties by order of Celestia Caelum Dies Una.”
Pussywillow wanted to perform this ‘ritual’ in a more glorious way, but she couldn’t help it.
She waited patiently for the gates to open… Only that no pony answered her request.
She blinked a few times, and raised her head towards the top of the tower, storing her insignia back on the pocket. The pegasus looked over the small window of the watchtower, searching for the guard who was supposed to be there, but she found no pony…
“What the hay? Are those birdbrains already slacking in their first day? I’m going to make them do so many pushups that their wings are going to fall off their backs!”
Pussywillow gained the skies and floated a little above the gates. She observed that the outer courtyard was empty.
“What’s happening here? Why’s everything so quiet?”
She quickly shifted her attention towards the four machine guns mounted on the tower to her left. Normally, those weapons operated in automatic mode, shooting any flying created that weighed more than a pony. Even with that precise spell for auto-fire, a guard was tasked with operating it manually in case the detectors picked any magically enchanted signature for an enemy disguised as a small animal using transmutation spells.
However, the weapon didn’t react to her presence, even though she was already at the warning distance.
“It’s… turned off.”
They were never supposed to be turned off. Ever.
Clueless about what could possibly be happening, Pussywillow traversed the walls. She was completely freaked out by the menacing guns at both her sides, and she continued to look at them the whole time, until she finally landed on the outer courtyard, inside the fort.
The pegasus breathed heavily, feeling relieved for not being shot down by the powerful weapons. She then proceeded to scan her surroundings with attention, glancing over several warehouses and hangars placed all around the outer courtyard.
The silence was frightening.
With no pony in sight, Pussywillow turned her focus over the main building, a huge complex placed to the back wall of the fort. It was not only the management facility, but it was also the only access to the underground part of the fort, where the true secrets of that place were stored.
“I just hope this isn’t some kind of prank…”
Pussywillow searched through the whole management area for any staff, any pony that could tell her what have happened to the important facility but found no pony.
The mortal silence continued to haunt her; she could even hear the sound of her hooves hitting the stone floor.
After entering each room and going to each place she could, the pegasus mare saw no other option, but to proceed to the underground.
She stood still in front of the steps leading to a small door at the very end of them.
It can’t be a prank… There’s definitely something wrong here.
It was when her ears captured a sound coming from the lower area. It sounded like voices, but she couldn’t discern what they were talking about, since the door separating the lower area was lightly soundproof.
Pussywillow gulped, and with care to not make any loud noises, she floated towards the door, gluing her face and her ear against it.
I still can’t hear anything… Dammit!
Shaking from the smashing tension permeating the air, she reached the doorknob with a hoof, and turned it, ever so slowly, and then pushed the door, just enough for her to pass.
She reached the first underground hangar, more precisely at a higher metal platform, where she could see the whole storage from above.
Down there were left dormant a whole squad of Yellowjackets; small but nimble flying machines, developed by the army. They were propelled by an advanced engine, which worked with magic crystals supplied by the Crystal Empire. The goal of these machines was simple: Aerial warfare.
Each Yellowjacket was loaded with two small caliber machine guns; they were capable of firing 50 magic bolts per second. Their speed could easily outmaneuver even the most skilled flyer, and they were made of coronium, one of the most resilient metals found in Equestria.
This small squad down there, composed of not more than six airplanes, was capable of lying siege to a big city, like Manehattan or Canterlot, in a few minutes. Due to their high destructive capabilities, Holy Lady Celestia closed the project, and ordered the six airplanes to be locked away inside Fort Palomino until further orders.
However, it wasn’t the presence of those machines that called Pussywillow’s attention.
“Mission accomplished. I hope both ladies are here to hand the payment to us.”
What is he doing here?!
Pussywillow’s heart almost stopped. The big, blue creature, adorned with several golden and red accessories, and a hand at the end of his tail was impossible to mistake. It was Ahuizotl.
The creature was sat on pile of armors, those belonging to the guards of the facility. He sported a victorious smile, baring his menacing, pointy fangs.
He wasn’t alone. Actually, he was accompanied by a group of well-known outlaws, all of them known faces to Pussywillow. Between them, Doctor Caballeron, the stallion with a golden skull cutie mark, a notorious thief and old partner of the blue monster Ahuizotl. The gang was formed by seven stallions, as far as Pussywillow could see.
Also, she couldn’t help but to observe two mares standing right in front of the group. The shock only grew when she actually paid attention to their identities.
Fleur De Lis and Sapphire Shores! What in the name of the Holy Lady is happening here?!
“We are happy to see you work fast and clean, Ahuizotl.” Fleur spoke, smirking as she observed the pile of armors where the monster was sitting.
“We are professionals,” Caballeron replied, while polishing a golden sword he probably had stolen from a guard of noble heritage, with a scrap of white fabric, “Now, hand us the money.”
Promptly, Sapphire Shores took a stuffed saddlebag from her withers, and without any difficulties, threw it towards the stallion. As the bag landed, its contents flowed out, revealing a considerable amount of golden coins.
“Perfect!” The stallion exclaimed, walking towards it. However, before he could take the first coin, a tail with a hand on its tip entered his way, snatching a bit first.
Ahuizotl brought the piece to his arm hand, and begun to toss it, looking intently to the two mares in front of him, with a malicious smile plastered on his face.
“I’m not satisfied.” He said, looking towards the mares with a piercing gaze.
“Oh! Are we gettin’ a little greedy here?” Sapphire Shores replied, and then laughed for a few seconds before continuing, “Every bit you guys asked for is on that sack. Aren’t money enough?”
With his enormous smile still plastered across his face, Ahuizotl answered, “It would be. As I already told you two, I only care for two things in this world: money and power. And in certain a way, money is also power… So, do you girls know what else is considered power?”
Sapphire and Fleur exchanged glances, one smiling to the other. There was so much malice permeating that place; so much venom, that Pussywillow could feel it intoxicating her.
“I’m clueless, Mister Ahuizotl,” Replied Sapphire, “but I’m sure you’re about to tell me.”
“It’s knowledge. From the very beginning of this ‘task’, I was asking myself as to why two nobles from Canterlot would be calling me and my boys to steal those projects.”
“They are invaluable pieces to bring about a new era for our country, Mister Ahuizotl,” Fleur quickly replied, “and I do believe they shouldn’t be of any concern to someone as you, who’s not even equine to begin with, let alone concerned with the fate of Equestria.”
The blue beast smirked, “When someone like you get their claws into weapons of mass destruction supposedly buried deep within Equestria’s darkest holes, I have to at least pay some attention to it.”
“You peeked into the projects didn’t you?” Sapphire asked, cocking an eyebrow.
“I’m sorry, M’ lady,” Caballeron interrupted, “but I couldn’t resist looking inside that treasure chest.”
Ahuizotl shrugged, smiling with malice, “You know, it’s hard for my boys to not peek into those kinds of things. Besides, nothing in our contract said anything about not looking inside the chests.”
Pussywillow couldn’t do anything besides pay attention. A mix of fear and curiosity had taken her over, and she found herself unable to run away and call reinforcements.
What chests those guys are talking about? What about weapons of mass destruction? I thought Equestria’s most dangerous weapons were those Yellow Jackets and the Land Trotters…
“What do we have here?”
A female voice shouted from behind the knightress. Pussywillow was sure that the blood in her very veins had frozen instantly on that moment. With her heart about to pop out from her chest, she slowly moved her neck around.
She found a gray earth-pony mare, her neck decorated with a bow tie.
She was a famous musician from Canterlot, her name: Octavia Melody.
Pussywillow was sure that for an instant, Octavia’s purple eyes flashed in a bright, crimson red, before returning to normal. She eyed Pussywillow from head to toe, a small and malicious smile forming on her mouth.
“I was told that Ahuizotl had taken care of every knight inside the complex, but I guess he failed?”
From the corner of her vision, Pussywillow saw when every creature at the hangar below turned his or her attention towards her and Octavia. The panic skyrocketed.
“Caballeron,” Ahuizotl’s expression and voice becomes serious, “You guaranteed me that all the knights were taken care of…”
The stallion laughed, “They were. I bet this rat was tardy for her duties. We can take care of her right now –“
“Leave this one to me…”
Fleur and Sapphire exchanged glances. The unicorn cocked an eyebrow, while the earth-pony replied with a smirk.
Terrorized, Pussywillow asked, “What’s happening here, Octavia? Why are you, Fleur de Liz and Sapphire Shores negotiating with those monsters?”
With a cold stare, Octavia answered, “We are going to save Equestria…”
A loud sound of something heavy falling against the railing floor of the platform startled Pussywillow. Ahuizotl climbed from the lower area using only his strong limbs.
“I’m sorry, lady knight, but today definitely is not your luckiest day…”
Pussywillow quickly turned to him. She drew from her armor a small metal bar, fiddling with a mechanism. The cane sprung to life, becoming a long spear, which she wielded in her pasterns, as she floated slightly above the floor.
“Damn you all! If anyone here thinks you can mess with my brigade like this, you’re going to be sorry!”
Octavia calmly walked between the two, only staring towards Pussywillow with a huge, mocking smile. Like a weightless feather, she leaped from the platform, landing below, near Sapphire and Fleur.
Sapphire grabbed a strange, black flute from her saddlebag. The instrument had mysterious carvings in gold lettering. She passed it to Octavia.
The gray mare took the flute, and got up in two hooves with uncanny ease. She skillfully positioned her fore hooves to play the instrument. An exquisite tune was produced the instant she begun to blow the flute.
Unable to understand what exactly was about to happen, Pussywillow shared her attention between the group of mares and Ahuizotl. She was afraid about having to fight that monster, and she wanted to know what she just witnessed, but so many things were happening at the same time that she couldn’t do much more than staring and wait.
“I’m not an equine, sure…” Ahuizotl begun to talk under his breath, “Heck… I’m glad I’m not. Things are about to become pretty serious if those guys are going to truly bring those projects to life…”
“What?”
Before any of the two could exchange another word, the ceiling gave in.
A thick cloud of debris covered three giant creatures observing the room below them.
Octavia stopped playing the tune. She motioned her attention to the looming shadows above, and smiled. Soon, the cloud vanished, reveling three vampire fruit bats. However their size was abysmal… The ugly creatures were as tall as an ursa minor.
With another, different tune, Octavia resumed her melody. Clearly obeying the music she played, the three monstrosities hovered using their giant, leathery black wings, and landed near each mare, offering their backs, so they could use them as mounts.
Octavia, Sapphire and Fleur boarded the bats, and they quickly flew through the holes they opened, vanishing thought the blinding pillars of sunlight invading the underground storage.
“What the hay…?” Pussywillow said under her breath, licking her lips in a mixture of awe and fear.
Without losing any second, Ahuizotl jumped towards her, grabbing her head with his big hand. Pussywillow could not react in time.
Like someone throwing away a baseball, Ahuizotl lifted the knightress from the ground, waving his arm backwards to build-up momentum and finally tossing the pegasus like a ragdoll.
Try as she may, the force applied over her was impossible to stop. Pussywillow rolled through the air without control, her wings flapping frantically trying without success to produce some kind of counter-force in order to make her stop.
She travelled from the underground platform, directly through the door from where she had entered, through the stairs she used to access the place, finally landing against the hard stone floor of the empty room preceding the underground hangar.
The ferrous taste of fresh blood invaded her mouth. Her head was still spinning, even though she knew she was safely on the ground. Pussywillow coughed, and opened her eyes, her vision immediately falling upon the image of Ahuizotl walking through the door.
Puffing, the knightress got up. She took her spear from the ground in front of her, and begun to float again.
“You should lie down. It’s less painful to have your skull crushed while laid.” Ahuizotl warned, popping the knots of his right hand with his left hand.
“What just happened? Why those nobles were here?”
The beast cocked an eyebrow, “You’re awfully lousy for a pony who’s about to die.”
“Don’t underestimate a Royal Sun Guard, monster…”
Swiftly, Pussywillow charged towards Ahuizotl, the tip of her spear whistling through the air. Her speed startled the monster, and he quickly dodged the thrust, rolling to the side.
As soon as he managed to recover, Ahuizotl punched Pussywillow, forcing the knightress to use the handle of her spear to block. Even so, she was smashed against the wall, gasping for air.
“Looks like you really want to fight for your life!” Ahuizotl roared.
“Answer my questions!”
Letting one hoof go from her weapon, Pussywillow took a small knife from a pocket on her chainmail, and gouged the blade in his hand.
Ahuizotl shouted in pain, immediately backing away, trying to take the knife out of his hand. Pussywillow’s expression was furious, “What a crybaby! This shallow wound is enough to make you cower?!”
Using the wall to propel her with her hind hooves, the knightress flew against the monster, tackling his head with a shoulder bump.
Ahuizotl was send to the floor, as Pussywillow quickly stood in his chest, and used one of her wings to point the tip of her spear against his neck.
Her voice thundered through the room, “Answer!”
The beast smiled at her, seemingly defeated, “I’m really not aware of every little detail, my dear. A few weeks ago, Fleur de Liz contacted me, while I was doing my treasure hunting job in a distant land. She said that she would pay quite an interesting sum if I and my usual co-workers managed to invade the secret San Palomino base, and steal from the deepest level hangar a certain chest containing something she wasn’t allowed to tell.”
“And you did come, you stupid monstrosity!” Pussywillow shouted in anger, “Why can’t you leave our country alone?!”
“I go whenever the money appears, my dear. That’s my trade.”
Upon saying that, Ahuizotl surprised the knightress by hitting her with a strong punch from his tail-hand.
The hit landed right against her face, and send her flying meters away, right against another wall. Her body crashed against it, her ears being struck with a loud hum. Pussywillow barely could understand what just happened.
She tried to get up, but before she could do anything, the knightress felt the amazing weight of Ahuizotl’s hand smashing her back. The monster had jumped on top of her, and was using his powerful limbs to keep her pinned against the ground.
Pussywillow could feel her ribcages being slowly pressed further and further, they were going to break in any moment…
“Equestria… So beautiful and bountiful of a country it is. Even though those pesky pegasi keep standing in my way. It will be a shame to see it turning into a wasteland of destruction…”
Grinding her teeth, Pussywillow turned her face towards the monster. He was smiling, victorious. She asked, “What was inside?!”
Ahuizotl firmly closed his fist, “I should just smash your skull, but your kind is so amusing. You are so courageous and heroic even when facing certain death. I can’t help but to play with the likes of you as long as I can.”
Pussywillow felt an intense pain. Suddenly a loud sound… Her armor had bent. Any further damage and her bones were next, “Answer!”
“We found a project! An ancient tome, older than Equestria itself! It is from the time when the extinct country of Unicornia waged war against the barbaric goats from the far north, my story researcher said. In order to defend their country, the powerful warlocks from that place devised a weapon; first it was a mobile fortress, one that could serve as means for their nobility to escape, in case the goats managed to break through all their defenses. But someone saw through that absurdly powerful machine, and turned its capacity to protect, to something able to destroy… It has many weapons, but one is a masterpiece, produced only for slaughter… a cannon, named after the ancient goddess of war from the time when the alicorns were unknown to the world; The Hammer of Aernas. One shot from the thing and a whole city like Canterlot will be obliterated.”
Pussywillow could barely believe in what she has just heard. Ahuizotl had no reason to lie to her, but if what he was telling was the truth, somepony had just got their hooves into something darker than the Yellow Jackets. It was no wonder that Luna and Celestia had ordered that project from ancient Unicornia to be secluded and buried inside San Palomino Fort.
“You suddenly grew silent, knightress. What happened? Did my report scare you?”
“Shut up!”
“I’m sorry but I do feel like talking right now! We gave them everything, even the projects for the Yellow Jackets and for the Land Trotters. If they could muster the capital and the personnel to construct all those things, we could be witnessing the birth of the world’s most powerful army to ever rise. Equestria, the peaceful utopia… Who could have guessed it was a sleeping titan, ready to make the world tremble upon the weapons from the forgotten past?”
It wasn’t a wonder. Equestria was erected by the combined power of three different countries; the highly magic advanced Unicornia, the militaristic Rainbow Valley and several nomad tribes of earth-ponies, bolstering eons of traveling through different locations and gathering the knowledge from several different cultures. All of this united together under the flag of not only one immortal alicorn Goddess, as it had happened with other countries like Concordia, but two.
Equestria was a power house. It had resources, capital, scientific and magic advancement, everything to become the world’s most powerful nation. If wasn’t for Celestia and Luna’s view on pacifism, maybe the whole world could be already under its flag.
“Stop spouting nonsense! Our princesses would never allow such things to come into existence!”
Ahuizotl cackled, mocking Pussywillow, “Your princesses, you say? Don’t you understand, little pony? They are gone. Both of your silly monarchs are gone. Your precious sun and moon will no longer raise the same way as they did before. The twilight has come to Equestria, and it will change everything. I’m so lucky that it will be a profitable event for the likes of me.”
She couldn’t help but to wonder what he meant by that. What twilight was Ahuizotl talking about? Maybe something related to the dreaded Twilight Princess?
Did the monster know something she didn’t?
“Then we will do something about it ourselves!” She exclaimed, grinding her teeth, and enduring the pain of having her body smashed further and further through the armor.
Ahuizotl smirked, and replied with an ever mocking tone, “Mortals defying gods? That’s interesting… But what chance do you dream of having against them, if you can barely handle me?”
“I’m not done yet…” The mare struggled. She stretched her foreleg, trying desperately to grab her spear. Pouring all her strength and willpower into the task, Pussywillow managed to envelop it in her pastern, activating a small, red switch etched on the handle.
The weapon covered itself in electrical sparks. These blue bolts grew in intensity, soon passing through Pussywillow’s body. It was clear she got hurt from the intense electricity running though her very being, but her intention was clear; she wanted to hurt Ahuizotl.
Her plan worked. The blue beast shrieked with fury, immediately letting go of her. He backed away, a strong stench of burnt fur permeating the air.
Pussywillow turned off the contraption, and got up. Both of them were breathing heavily, however Ahuizotl was noticeable more damaged by the electric attack.
“How… did you…?” The monster asked, struggling to keep conscious.
“Pegasi are vastly resilient to lightning and cold. We shepherd the weather, did you forgot? It’s a matter of how our species evolved to better master our abilities. It’s not like I have received no damage, but I bet you will be knocked out in a few minutes.”
Trails of flesh blood escaped from Ahuizotl’s mouth, his eyes were about to close for themselves, “Whorse… You will pay for this…”
“I don’t think so, since you will be rotting away in a prison cell as soon as I report this situation to the capital. They will swarm this place, and you will still be here, since your gang abandoned you.”
Without thinking twice, she turned around and bolted towards the exit. Only her will power keeping her going, Pussywillow knew, her body was already too damaged to keep going. But she wouldn’t fail.
Words about those events had to reach the Princesses ears. She didn’t know why three nobles from Canterlot had stolen the projects for weapons of mass destruction, but somepony had to do something about it.
As fast as lightning, Pussywillow escaped from the complex, and as soon as she reached the outer courtyard, she gained the skies.
Argh… My ribcage is killing me… It hurts so much…
Beating her wings was a test of strength; every time the appendages flapped, a sharp pain like a penetrating knife pierced her chest.
That’s it… I broke at least two of them… One of my lungs probably has a hole on it… Canterlot is still too far and I’m not one of the best flyers… Maybe I will try to reach Las Pegasus instead, and ask for somepony else to deliver the message to Canterlot…
In a matter of a few minutes she was already gliding through the cerulean blue skies above the searing desert. Each cell of her body shouted her to stop, but her duty as knightress was above all pain.
C’mon! C’mon!
Don’t you dare to fail now!
Keep your eyes opened!
Keep flying ahead!
And suddenly, something hit her. It caused a new pain, a sharper, deeper, much more intense pain.
Why my left wing isn’t responding anymore?
Why I’m feeling so heavy?
Pussywillow glanced over her left side. She was pierced by a giant arrow. A kind of arrow only seen by her in story books, those projectiles were mortal weapons used by several different cultures from outside countries with a grim purpose: To kill dragons.
No…
Blood gushed out of the wound. The spear-like arrow had impaled her wing, rendering it useless, as the body of the arrow was still etched though it. Her armor meant nothing. The tip was resting inside her body, destroying her inner organs.
No… Keep Flying…
Pussywillow felt as if her mind and her body had become separate entities; her unbendable will wanting to press further, even against all pain. However, her body had reached its limit.
No…
Nothing more than a spectator watching a movie playing out in front of her, Pussywillow begun to lose altitude. For those dreaded seconds before hitting the sand below her, she marveled about how she could feel no pain at all.
The only thing she felt was warmth.
No… You can’t fall… If you fall you will never make it…
Was it the sun, shining brightly above her?
Was that Celestia’s embrace, protecting her loyal knightress?
With a loud sound of metal, Pussywillow fell to the ground, still feeling no pain.
She still felt as if that surreal scene playing all around her was something she was watching.
The cerulean blue sky was right in front of her. Everything else seemed to have vanished, as if her peripheral vision was unable to catch anything. Everything had become an infinite, soothing blue.
As the seconds passed, she finally understood it wasn’t a scene playing. She wasn’t looking at an actress on a play. She finally understood, it was her and she was about to die.
She cried.
Fresh tears rolled from her eyes through her face and vanished when they felt over her golden armor. Her whole body was numb. She couldn’t move more than her eyes and neck.
Pussywillow’s heart sunk with shame.
A knightress of Equestria was about to fail on her sacred duty. Her vow to protect the peace until her dying breath was going to go unfulfilled.
Grinding her teeth to hold on the tears, Pussywillow shouted, wasting the last energy her pierced lungs could produce, “I’m sorry Cap! I’m so very sorry! I wasn’t tough enough!
In the end, I was just a good for nothing, unable to win your heart and unable to help my country… I’m so, so sorry…”
She stopped.
And then, she breathed heavily, once, twice.
No more.
“Bull’s-eye!”
Sapphire Shores shouted, happily. She wielded with her fore hooves a brutal, giant heavy bow, two times the size of her body, from which the spear-like dragon slaying arrows were launched. In order to aim the weapon properly, she had to balance herself only in her hind hooves.
“Using those dragon slaying arrows against equines is a little gruesome.”
Both Octavia and Fleur de Liz were with her. Octavia displayed a cruel smile on her face, watching as Pussywillow's numb body spiraled out of the sky and fell, thanks to Sapphire’s arrow. Fleur seemed either neutral or uninterested.
The trio was kilometers away from the San Palomino Fort. How in Equestria Sapphire Shores managed to hit a flying target, moving at considerable speed, was a mystery.
“They pack a punch. We are assassins; we better make sure our prey dies in one hit.” Sapphire replied to Fleur’s off color comment.
“Besides it’s her own fault for messing in business she shouldn’t” Octavia affirmed, glancing over her unicorn friend.
Fleur smirked, shrugging, “I don’t care. Our mission here is accomplished.”
“I hate to bring you two some bad news, but it looks like the Leader already has yet another task for you two.” Octavia warned.
Both Fleur and Sapphire seemed interested in what Octavia just said. They both turned their full attention to her.
Octavia begun, “The Twilight Princess is moving to Manehattan as we speak. For us to advance to the next phase of our plans, she must be dealt with. Travel to Manehattan A.S.A.P. and kill Twilight Sparkle.”
The nature of the task seemed to bring joy to both mares. They smiled widely; Sapphire even licked her lips as a predator looking at its prey.
“I couldn’t be happier about a task!” Sapphire yelled.
“Is there anything else we gathered as intel to help us with this one, Octavia?” Fleur asked, still smiling with satisfaction.
Octavia shrugged, “Not really. But you’re good with gathering intel, and since she’s struggling to keep a low profile, I’m sure you two will reach there before her and have plenty of time to find a good way of approaching them.”
“Let’s get going Fleur.” Sapphire yelled, as she begun to walk towards one giant vampire fruit bat awaiting them.
With satisfaction, Fleur bowed to Octavia and the musician bowed back. Fleur smirked and said her farewells in kind of a unique manner, “To save Equestria and to shape our future with our own hooves-“
To which Octavia replied steadily, “We shall tinge the world in a bright crimson and smash the Divine!”