//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Equestrian Marine Corps // by KillerShadow 15 //------------------------------// Spikes POV "Twilight? Twilight, are you ok? That dragon sure did a number on us." I looked around and saw all of our friends but one. "Twi, where's Rarity?!?" "Spike! Spike, are you ok?" I turned my head and saw three fillies running towards us. I heard a groan and saw Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Apple Jack, Pinkie getting up from the ground. All of them had a few scratches where the dragon had hit them. Had Twilight not used the teleportation spell when she did, we would have died. "Hello!? Is there anybody out there? Hello!" I looked in the direction of the voices in a bit of surprise. 'Who would be looking for us while there's a dragon stalking around? "Hey, we're over here! We need some help!" I shouted the last part after looking over to Twilight and watching her collapse. Within a few moments, we all saw strange bipedal creatures wearing strange clothing that looked like it was made of desert sand. They were also carrying strangely shaped black sticks. "Help, Twilight is hurt!" "Don't worry kid, we've got her." One of the strange creatures picked her up and draped her behind it's head. "Anyone else need help?" We all looked at the creatures and shook our heads dumbly. "Who are you? And what are you? If you don't mind me asking." I could tell that the voice that spoke was Flutter Shy based on the lack of volume in her voice. "Not now, we need to get this one back to town now. Marines, move out!" The rest of us flinched at the shear power of self proclaimed 'Marine's voice. When we looked back, the strange 'Marines' were already a good distance away. James POV I was carrying a purple pony with a horn and wings. This had to the after life. "James, how's the pony?" I looked at the injured creature as we marched on. Her condition did not change. She was still out and had many a scratches and punctures from where I would assume the massive dragon had hit. "She's still the same. John, how much farther?" John looked back and made a hand signal to get low and stay quiet. We crept up to the town, peering through bushes. What we saw was nothing short of startling. There were hundreds of armoured ponies with spears looking around. "James, orders?" I looked at my team. I heaved a heavy sigh before speaking. "Well, we're out numbered. We need to find out how to sneak in and get this creature to a hospital. Have any of you seen one before we left?" I saw Ryan raise his hand. "Yeah, I saw one towards the center of town. It'll be tight, but I think if I distract them, we can make it." I was about to argue when William grabbed my shoulder. "James, don't try to stop him. Just don't." I gave both William and Ryan a nod. "Fine you can go. Don't kill or wound. Just lure them into the other part of the forest." Before Ryan could could stand up and leave, the group of ponies we met earlier caught up to us. Then all hell broke loose. "What the Buck! Why the hay did you just up and ditch us like that!?" I silently groaned as the blue and rainbow pegasus started yelling at us. "Hey! Who's there? Come on out!" I looked through the bushes to see half of the armed ponies walking towards us. Well, we're screwed. "Easy, we need a medic! A purple pony is seriously hurt! She seems stable, but we need to get her a to a hospital." I saw Connie walk out and tell the ponies of our situation. Once Connie had finished talking, she motioned for the rest of us to walk out into the open. "Ok men, we walk out and talk. Don't shoot, but keep your weapons ready in case they attack." They all gave affirmative nods. "Drop your weapons, now!" The ponies lowered their spears at us and prepared to charge. While under normal circumstances, I would have lowered my weapon, I didn't this time. "No. We will not surrender. This is merely a cease fire. Now, we need to get this one to the hospital now!" As I was about to walk away, a regal voice spoke up behind us. "Twilight! What have you done to her! What have done!" I whipped around to see a massive horse staring me in the eyes. She had a similar appearance to the one on my shoulders. Only this one was pure white with a rainbow mane flowing in the nonexistent wind. "We have done nothing. Can we go to the hospital or are you going to let her die? If that's the case, we will not allow that to happen." I griped the creature on my back with one hand, positioned to swing her to my front if we need to make a quick getaway, and the other on my .44 Magnum revolver on my hip. Then I turned away.