Marching was heard as a small group of Aurorian soldiers were moving inside the cave. Refugees looked upon them with fear and anxiety as they all but ignored them all as they continued their trek to the very back sections of the hideout. Torches and campfires were being re-lit throughout the rocky structure again as the soldiers marched to their destination with a stoic look in their eyes. That is if you could even see their eyes at all due to the helmets they wore, which covered nearly all of their faces except two violet glowing eye sockets and a mouthpiece for breathing. Both of which could be removed via the visor built into the helmet. They were armed nonetheless, some of the soldiers holding lances while others were equipped with swords yet to be unsheathed for combat. As they entered a hallway within the cave they couldn't help but overhear arguing from the other side. Causing a few of the soldiers to tense and ready themselves in case of hostility towards them as they continued trotting and listening.
"You know that this could lead to a bloodbath! Why the buck would you let them in the hideout in the first place! I thought you were smarter than this Applejack!"
"Ah know what I did Rainbow Dash! And I know that we can reason us outta this mess without conflict! But only if we can at least talk ta them without havin to go to war with ourselves first!"
"Um, girls... I think somepony's coming this way."
"Do you know how much attention you brought to the hideout Applejack! I bet the Changelings are already on their way to slaughter us all! Great job Applejack! Great bucking job!"
"Rainbow Dash! Watch your language Darling! We're civilized ponies, not a group of strippers from Las Pegasus! If this is how you were gonna act at the Grand Galloping Gala next year then I would have jumped off a cliff first than deal with those manners!"
"Um, girls. I think you should listen to me."
"I'M YELLING FOR NO APPARENT REASON!!! YAAAAAAAY!!!"
"I bet those Aurorian ponies are gonna kill us all and it's gonna be all your fault Applejack! You already told their "high and mighty" Princess that we're vulnerable refugees from a ruined country! What's to stop her from murdering us all for sport!"
"Yes, I told her we were refugees but only because I thought she could help us! When we were chatting I asked if she could help us in some way before she told me we'll do this formally later! She's peaceful and Ah know it, and if ya don't see that then how in Tartarus am I supposed ta help ya!
"So you're abandoning us then!"
"That's not what ah meant Rainbow! Please just listen to me!
"Darlings! Please stop this nonsense at once! We're already badly split up from the Manehatten incident. I don't want that to happen again!"
"MURDER! DEATH! EXECUTION! PARTIES!!!"
"Girls, they're um... here."
"Bla bla bla! I'm a traitor, I'm just gonna abandon all my friends and family because I'm besties with a princess! Bla bla bla!"
"Will you all please Shut It!!!"
Everypony in the room stopped. Even Pinkie froze in mid-air as Fluttershy looked at all of them with frustration and trotted to the center of the room. The Aurorian soldiers that were listening from the entrance of the chamber looked upon her with recognition that she was the most logical pony to speak to after that whole ordeal. The leader of the group of soldiers trotted forward and raised the visor of his helmet to show his face.
"The Princess wishes to speak to you all now. That is... if you won't show any hostility towards us?" The guard glanced at Rainbow Dash who grumbled in annoyance in return. "She will be waiting outside of your cave. I'm sure you would do well to be punctual about this matter." The guard finished and turned to his subordinates as they proceeded to trot out of the chamber.
"Well, are we gonna go or not? That's the question we need to solve now." Rarity spoke while fixing her mane.
"Count me out. I'd rather die in a musky cave than work with her." Pointing to Applejack.
Rainbow then watched as she saw Applejack adjusting her stetson before trotting to the exit of the chamber. She glanced back at her with look of sorrow before exiting the room. The rest of the girls looked at her with similar looks before they too followed Applejack out of the chamber. Once they were gone, the river started flowing as Rainbow started to weep.
"Oh Faust, isn't this how we treated Twilight back at the wedding. I shouldn't be the one to talk, I didn't talk at all when we had her trial in the first place..."
Faint sobbing was heard as the Elements (minus Dash) continued trotting to the entrance of the hideout to meet the Princess. They were met with a huge camp that had been set up as a temporary headquarters and were led to a giant tent that was nearly the same size as the meeting area with lavender and grey stripes painted all around it. Once they were gestured inside they saw a wooden table with a map of the surrounding tundra sprawled on most of the surface with a few markers with Changeling and Aurorian symbols to show troop movements scattered about the map in an unfashionable manner. Meteor Shatter and Silver Shriek seemed to be discussing something before the four ponies made their presence known by bowing.
"Good, you're here. Now sit please, and make yourselves comfortable. Or as comfortable as you can be on a wooden stool I suppose." Meteor Shatter explained while taking a seat herself with Silver Shriek moving stand guard next to her. The Elements each took their respective seats and glanced at each other to as what would happen next.
"Silver Shriek, would you kindly?" The princess asked turning to the guard and giving him a calm look. Silver complied and lit his horn to dim the lights in the tent while also levitating the troop markers into strategic positions on the table in front of the Elements.
"As you can see here on the map. My scouts have reported a large dispatchment of Changeling forces are currently making their way towards this area from the East. The estimated time for their arrival is at least three hours." The young Princess said as Silver Shriek was moving the markers with the Changeling symbol in a slow formation towards the group of Aurorian markers. "Silver, please show them the situation." the royal asked.
"Yes Princess... Due to the size of the enemy forces and the large amount of civilians here, an evacuation could take a large amount of time before all civilians can be accounted for safely, and of course the supplies that reside within your hideout would take too much time to transport before the enemy arrives. I propose a defense against the intruders by using your cave and our forces to fortify it." He finished while levitating the Aurorian markers to surround the area in a defensive formation.
"But that's crazy! Ya said it yourself that there are civilians here. We'd be putting them in harms way if we do that!" Applejack protested.
"Yes, and No Miss Applejack. You see your choice of shelter was rather wise as with enough magical reinforcement this cave can be impervious to attacks from the air. Forcing the enemy to resort to ground attacks which I'm sure you know isn't to their advantage." Meteor explained. "Plus with my forces guarding the only entrance to your hideout then I'm sure that we'll probably be able to hold out until reinforcements arrive. The only problem is how long the reinforcements can get here and if they can even make it at all." The Princess said with a nervous tone.
"And what exactly is keeping a whole battalion of soldiers coming to our rescue?" Rarity questioned.
"Most of the Aurorian forces are currently up further North near Chilldale, our city near the borders dealing with a massive Changeling siege, and down South in Starfall, our capital city. The only friendly personnel able to reach us would be from a fort a few miles to the West we came from." Meteor explained as Silver showed another group of Aurorian troop markers coming in from the right of the map.
"How long would it take fer ya to fortify the cave then?" Applejack asked. Raising her brow.
"My troops can enhance it in at least half an hour. But if they do they'll have to rest for a while as well. I can also set up defenses to help keep intruders out of the cave if you wish." the Princess said.
"Ooh! Ooh! I want to help! I can set up party mines to keep em out!" Pinkie started jumped around her stool ecstatically.
"I'll go ahead and ask our guards to help with the fortifications to the cave, and we'll need some fresh equipment to bring the Royal Guard back to its former glory if you know what I mean. Rusted armor is The. Worst. Possible. Thing." Rarity said nearly fainting from her exploit.
"Bring your troops inside once they're done so they can rest, I hope." Fluttershy meekly said as she hid behind her mane."
"I'm guessing you're all agreeing to this then?" Meteor questioned.
The girls looked at each other and nodded. "Yes" they spoke in near unison.
"Alright then. Now I'll get the preparations started for the defense. It would be appreciated if you helped as well. Oh, and once this is over I'll speak to you all again on what we're going to have to do with the ponies staying here. I'm afraid this place won't be much to live in once this is over." Meteor trotted over to a bunch of soldiers and started relaying instructions to which the soldiers started working briskly.
"So what do we do know?" Fluttershy asked.
"Ah, don't know Sugarcube. All we can do is help them defend us and hope for the best." Applejack and the rest of the girls trotted inside the cave to tell everypony the news.
Meanwhile in the skies above the Tundra
"I'm sure you've already been briefed on what your mission is I presume?"
"Indeed sir. I'm with the Fifth Swarm division now sir."
"Excellent, keep yourself hidden to the ponies until the right time to reveal yourself. This is only the first step to a complex plan from the Queen herself. Do not fail me, understood?"
"Yes Lord Shiftwing, I understand."
"Good, Let's begin then shall we?"