Dust Kicker led the way, presumably to the south. A few days passed without much happening but walking. No wonder they hadn't already poured into the United States already, if they didn't have any way to move around quickly. It also meant any move they did make would likely be an uncomfortably large number of attackers, like an old-fashioned war.
I moved up besides Dust Kicker. "You know, a lot of people are going to die if you launch a hostile invasion on America. Humans and ponies both. Assuming you catch them by surprise and take a major population center or two, they will react like a trapped animal."
Dust Kicker snorted angrily. "That is exactly what they are, animals!"
Sandra raised a brow. "Animals with missiles and bombs, and they still work. You plan to march in there with a few legions of ponies, the last thing you'll see is a bright white flash before you find out if there's a god or not."
Dust held up a hoof. "Save your words. I know you're a peacemaker, Peacemaker. Unless the humans of the states submit willingly, we will force the issue. There is no more room in this world for humans. It's our world now. We'll take over where they left off. It'll be ponies to explore the cosmos, it'll be ponies that find God. It'll be ponies, not humans. They're done." She accelerated, ending the conversation.
One of the escorts came in a bit closer. "You don't get it, gringo. They can use all the bombs they want, it just slows things down, si? You think Mexico doesn't have no bombs? It did! Here we are. I used to be soldier myself. I saw them. They can't be stopped."
Dusk perked an ear at him. "How? They're still ponies, right? Flesh and blood, blows up just the same as any human."
The escort glanced ahead, then back at Dusk. "Look, you are good person, si, I know this. They don't care. I'm sorry." He moved away from us, turning his eyes straight forward.
On the dusk of that day, we saw light in the city ahead, which surprised me. "Is it a fire?"
Dust laughed softly. "A fire of sorts, yes, but not the one you're imagining. Come and see what I've been talking about. We're not aiming to drag society backwards, but push it forwards. This way." She accelerated into a full trot and we soon entered the city proper. The lights were working! Not all of them, some were broken, but most of the street lamps were on, and inside homes there was light. I could see ponies inside, living their little lives happily. It almost seemed... normal, if you ignored the pony part.
"Behold! And not a single drop of oil is being burned to do it."
I raised a brow curiously. "How?"
She didn't answer, instead leading us further into the city. she knocked on a door and a furry snout peeked out, several tongues tasting the air. "Dust Kicker, you return. A pleasure to see you, ma'am." The snout withdrew, then the door opened wide, revealing a pony much like Sandra, with bisected jaw and thick tail, though he was a pegasus, not an earth pony. "Operations running full power, ma'am. The grid is holding up admirably, repairs are underway where it isn't."
Dust Kicker nodded at the pegasus and pointed back at us. "Show them the power source."
"Yes ma'am." He looked past Dust to us. "This way." Then he turned away and walked into the warehouse. We didn't have far to go to see a row of a dozen unicorns with wires attached to their horns. They were chewing softly on what looked to be hay as power arced and crackled along the wires. "Here we are. Our brave volunteers. Twelve hour shifts, they are paid in extra rations, which they need, and an extra luxury token. It's hard work, it's long work, but it's good work."
Sandra made a bit of a face. "Does it hurt them?"
He pointed at the first. "Ask him."
I stepped up to the first unicorn. "Hey there. You alright?"
The unicorn looked up at me, finishing his mouthful of hay. "As alright as anyone working is. Not quite what I expected my college degree to get me, but it could be worse." He sunk his snout into the hay. They all seemed to be constantly eating.
I looked to the pegasus. "It must be very draining, if they keep eating like that without putting on weight. Are you sure it's healthy?"
The pegasus shrugged. "As healthy as any hard work is? Pony bodies are built differently, unicorns especially. Food in their belly meta... metabol-- Digests almost instantly if they're putting out energy. Like I said, all volunteers. They can quit anytime they want to. We don't need twelve, but it gives us room in case someone needs to go to the bathroom or their shift ends." He gave a wry chuckle. "No meal breaks, though."
Dusk shrank in beside me. "No thanks. I'd rather be moving. Playing a battery sounds dull."
The pegasus tossed his head at the line. "To each their own."
Dust Kicker advanced and shepherded us back towards the door. "See? Our cities will run entirely on renewable resources, that even simpletons can provide. Even those struck with terrible diseases and tragic accidents will have parts to play. A job for every person."
Cindy raised a brow. "If you're a unicorn?"
Dust waved off the comment. "We have different positions for different types of ponies. It's late, let's get some real food and enjoy real beds. How's that sound?" Her escorts gave a rough cheer of anticipation.