//------------------------------// // Clash at the Academy Part 1 // Story: Mur 199 // by zalla661 //------------------------------// *Wonderbolt Academy* Word travels fast in Equestria. With the inventing of transport spells and message candles, it became common place to send messages quickly over vast distances. The reliability of messenger ponies wasn't 100% but it was the traditional way to get messages from point A to point B. The use of such magic has made it possible to deliver messages in minutes versus hours or days it would otherwise take to deliver them. This was the case for Rainbow Dash and Lightning Dust. Ten minutes ago they received a letter from Captain Spitfire saying that a giant metal monster attacked Canterlot doing serious damage and killed hundreds of ponies in the process. Stunned and outraged, the two newly recruited Wonderbolt Cadets geared up. Within minutes they were ready to leave but Lightning Dust had a look of uncertainty in her eyes which didn't go unnoticed by her wingpony. "Hey, Dusty, what's up? You look uneasy." Dash said nudging her partner. Lightning Dust let out a weak laugh. "No it's fine. I just have a little brother in Canterlot. I hope he's alright. He's the adventurous type," she chuckled to herself grabbing her goggles. "He once went looking for a hydra hoping he could tame it and make it a pet. Thankfully, he never found one." "Heh, sounds like you and me." she said jokingly bumping her hip into Lightnings. "Yeah, it does sound just like you Dash. A trouble maker for responsible ponies like me." "Psh! Whatever! Says the pony who-" "I swear you bring that tornado up again Dash..." Lightning growled. The cyan pegasus flinched by the sudden hostility. Guess she's not over that. She then lay a supportive wing over her teal teammate. "Hey, look, I'm sorry about that. I was part of it too. I forgave you, OK? So don't get so mad. Kay?" The teal pony frowned looking away, but cracked a smile none the less. "Thanks, Dash." "No prob! Now come on! We got a monster to catch!" "Right!" Snapping their goggles on the two ponies ran out of the locker room and into the airfield but stopped when they heard something odd. It sounded like a low growling. They stood still, their catlike ears twisting like little sonars trying to pinpoint the origin of the strange sound. They stood by one of the many buildings next to a long runway that all the pegasis used for taking off and landing when practicing maneuvers. It was considered safe. The buildings nearby were storage hangers for food and supplies and any airships that decided to dock for lengthy stays. It didn't take long for them to findout where the sound was coming from. Seconds after entering the airfield they saw what was making the sound. A giant machine like object flew over them in a low pass only about ten to fifteen meters off the ground. It was silver in color with black markings and a large red star on its tail. It had large wings with several white cylindrical objects attached to each one. It was a very strange craft indeed. Was this the 'creature' the captain had been talking about? It sure looked like she described. They watched from their hiding spot as the machine flew up after flying the full length of the runway and flew up into the sky. It then circled around for over a minute before it flew away from the academy. Shortly after it turned back around coming in much slower this time. From its underbelly came several leg like structures. Its wings flared open into several large flaps as it came to a screeching halt in the runway. It made a loud roaring sound as it slowly came to a snails pace, comparatively speaking, and inched its way along towards one of the hangers at the farthest end of the runway. Several cadets and staff were hiding in the buildings, many had already heard of the strange creature and feared it. Seeing it up close made them cower. But one brave pony, Cloudchaser, was near the building where the craft landed and came to a stop. She watched from her hiding spot behind a crate she watched as it slowly overshadowed her and stopped just feet away, seemingly unaware that she was there. The beasts hissing slowly faded away and what followed was a brief silence. Then a loud thud was heard, and she watched as the head of the beast opened its massive jaw and from within its jagged maw climbed out two figures almost identical. They wore green jumpsuits and had strange markings on them, she took not that they looked like insignia like they had at the academy. One came from the front and was much taller than the other, the one from the back was shorter and was yelling at the tall one angrily in a strange tongue she'd never heard before. Their heads were oddly shaped. They had large dome like helmets on them and clearly not equine. The smaller one unstrapped its helmet and flung it off, still keeping hold of the strap, revealing a furless being with white skin and deep magenta eyes. Whatever it was it was pretty. It had long silver hair that was tied back and it was glistening from a layer of sweat . "I think I'm in love." Cloudchaser said to herself. Suddenly they both stopped arguing and the taller one pulled out a small black object from its side chest area and pointed it directly at Cloudchaser. It began yelling in her direction, swinging the object back and forth. Maybe it didn't see me. BAM! A sound of thunder and a bright flash came from the object in the creatures... hooves. The crate Cloudchaser hid behind lost the edge of it and the window nearby broke. She let out a girl scream diving to the floor not realizing she fell in the open. The tall one ran close pinning her face to the floor, yelling. "Кто вы, и что вы?" it yelled. "I um, please don't hurt me!" Cloudchaser begged shivering in fear. "I-I have a family!" Clearly it was not convinced. The creature applied more pressure to her face putting the object next to her head. It was a small rectangular thins with a small barrel built into it. The only thing she could think of was that it was a weapon of some sort, especially with the way it held it. Just when she thought it was all over, the smaller one came up and shoved the large one away. "Молния остановить! Это не опасно , посмотрите ! Это попрошайничество за свою жизнь!" it screamed flailing its arms. The two began a heated debate that lasted over a minute before the smaller one stopped and turned away from the large one crossing its arms with a angry look. Cloudchaser knew that look. Disappointment. The silver haired one walked over to the scared pony and knelt down beside her. "Не волнуйтесь немного Коневодство , я не сделаю тебе больно." it said gently, reaching for the pegasus. Cloudchaser flinched as the creature reached for her. She readied herself for a world of pain but was surprise to feel, her ear being rubbed. She dared to look and see the creature smiling at her rubbing just behind her ear. Now most ponies loved it but Cloudchaser suffered and injury as a filly so it didn't feel like much to her. But it did do one thing. It proved to her that the silver haired one was not a threat. At least not to her. Hoping to ease the tension, Cloudchaser rubbed the creatures claw and heard it giggle. *PoV Lightning* Just my luck. I finally find a safe place to land only to find it's inhabited by the strange horse creatures. One gets the drop on us and before I could interrogate it, Trixie shoved me away and told me to leave it alone. How am I supposes to get home if I can't talk to these stupid horse things?! I watched as Trixie walked over and began talking to it. It clearly didn't understand her but I was surprised to see it rubbed against her hand like a cat would. God I hate cute things. "Trixie! Stop playing with it!" I yelled sternly at her. The small equine yelped, making Trixie turn angrily at me, again. "What is you problem, Lightning?! Ever since we got here all you've done is be a big thug!" I felt my blood boil at this point. "Shut up! I'm trying to protect you!" Trixie doesn't want protection! She wants you to listen!" she turned away crossing her arms. "You're like a man I swear! You never listen to the woman because you have to be right all the time." I rolled my eyes at this. "Trixie. We're both women last time I checked." "Are you sure?" she asked glancing back at me. "Cause the way Trixie sees it you're being a huge 'dick' right now." "Really? REALLY?!" I slipped my sidearm bag into my chest holster. "You're going to be like this now of all times?!" I gesture to the world around me. "We're God knows where! In a strange land not our own, fleeing for our lives and you want to blame me for looking out not only for myself, but for you as well? All I want is to keep you safe! BUT YOU WON'T LET ME!" Trixie sniffed a few times kneeling down and gaping her knees. The little equine stepped closer and rubbed her back comfortingly. That surprised me. Trixie looked at it and smiled taking its hoof in her hand. The equine was maybe half our size like the largest dog in the world kind of way, but like a dog it seemed docile. Maybe I had this one pegged wrong, as the Americans would put it. "Thank you little one." Trixie said to it. Once again it tilted its head, clearly not understanding her, but what Trixie did next was clear as day. Leaning forward she pulled it into a hug. The little equine wrapped its arms around her then it opened its wings... Wings? It was a pegasus! Trixie squealed and picked it up swinging it around and yelling like school girl. The poor thing looked disgruntled as the white haired woman swung it around like a doll in her arms. "OH! It's so cute! And it's a pegasus!" she held it up to my face. "LOOK! Isn't it cute?" "GAh, get it away from me!" I swatted it in the face making it bite my hand. "AH! The little-" "Lightning! Stop." I gave up then. "Fine whatever! Do as you wish I'm gonna setup the perimeter." I turned and stormed off, from behind I could hear Trixie talking to it. No doubt she cuddled with it just as I left. "Stupid child." I growled. But in my heart I knew it was wrong of me to hold it against her. She was always compassionate. Me? I was cold and calculating. Part of the reason I never got into long relationships was due to how I perceived people and things in life. Numbers. That's all they were. Numbers to me. As pilot I never got too attached like other squadrons did. I was a loner at heart. But the day I met Trixie changed that for me. Slowly I began to wonder if life was really worth living alone. Trixie helped me realized it wasn't. As I scanned the perimeter I saw several more of the little beasts. No doubt drawn in by the sounds of the engines. I was watching as they circled around watching us. The sun was high in the sky and I could feel the heat from it. My suit wasn't helping much either. Thankfully there was a breeze making it bearable at least. I pulled out my portable binos and looked around the field seeing several of the equines dressed in similar garb to the one we 'captured'. Just then it heard a noise from nearby. I quickly pulled out my Makorov V and pointed it back at the plane. I quietly circled around trying to find the source of the noise. Finding nothing I relaxed a bit putting my gun away. Then it hit me. "Gottcha!" I struggled only to find I had been blindfolded somehow. In seconds I felt two things on me. No doubt these little equine things. One was on my head but the other was on my back. Using my one free hand, using the other to hold the one on my back in place, I felt for a nearby building and jumped with all my strength into it. I smashed the equine between me and the wall, and it worked too. I heard it cry in pain and the other began to swear at me. It didn't say nice things. The one on my back slid off my back. Now free, I reached for my ballistic knife and jabbed at the on eon my head. I hit it, but only in the leg. It cried leaping off me and sent me to the ground. I twirled over quickly standing up and readied my gun and knife to fire should they come any closer. There were two. One was cyan with a rainbow tail and mane. It looked very angry as it helped its friend, which I couldn't help but notice it looked an awful lot like me. Must be a coincidence. I pointed my gun at it ready to fire when the one Trixie caught from before ran between us and shook its head. "Please wait! Don't hurt my friends!" it said pleading to us. It got on its knees holding its tiny hooves together giving us a very sad look. Trixie d'awwed at it while I groaned. I knew what was coming next. "Lightning sweetie?" I didn't want to argue with her about this. "Fine! Get in the plane we're leaving!" I got a good look at Trixie who was smiling at me. But then the two from before jumped me when my back was turned and I spun around wildly swinging my knife trying to hit them. But the teal one with my hair style bit my hand making me drop my knife. Trixie and the smaller equine were yelling trying to pry us apart. Just as they managed to get the two assailants off me I turned to grab the one with the silvery hair and held it in a headlock pointing my gun at it. Needless to say Trixie was not pleased. "Lightning! If you hurt it I swear-" BLAM! I shot in the air as one of the equine creatures dropped in front of me gripping it leg.The others made no sudden movements, but Trixie being Trixie, decided to help the poor thing. But before she could I grabbed its hurt leg, I got a good look and was sure it was a he, and slowly dragged him along side the MiG and tossed him over. Trixie frowned at me but went to tend to his wound. I kept hold of my hostage knowing they wouldn't come after me with their friend in danger. I climbed the ladder into the cockpit and turned on main power. The plane powered up and I whispered into he equines ear as clear as possible considering my English was horrible. "If you try anything I kill you. Understand?" "Yes." it said. "Good." I continued powering up the plane waiting for the main generator to heat up. One thing they never fixed with our MiG was the startup time on the generator. It took over minute to start and in the cold it was far worse. Back in Russia we use to fly more often during the winter season to keep the engines hot. Sure it was hell for the poor maintenance people but we needed them ready in case our enemies attack us. Now was the best time to turn the engines on. They were still warm and it took only a few seconds before I was able to ignite the engines. But immediately I had a problem. Something was wrong with the engines and the wouldn't start. I saw a red light saying there was a malfunction with the intake valves. They were stuck. Swearing I got out and pointed my gun at the equines firing a short making them jump back a few feet. Trixie screamed from the sudden sound of gunfire and used herself to cover the wounded equine I shot earlier. I put the one I held in the seat and use the seat harness to tie it down. "You run. You die." I warned it. It nodded. I turned my attention back to the intake valves and saw there was debris holding one side down. I was quick to remove it and threw it to the side. By then Trixie had bound the wounded leg of the male equine and was helping him limp to his friends. I watched closely as they approached. Two others took the equine and walked off with him looking back at Trixie who waved at him. I was sure he smiled and waved back. The others kept their distance and I returned to look at the console. No red light. Lighting the ignition I was relieved to hear the sound of the engines coming to life. I clapped my hands and cheered at my success. "Trixie! Let's go!" I yelled at my girlfriend. "Comin- AHHH!" She turned and ran back just in time to get struck by lightning. The bolt went through her chest and stuck the ground sending her to the ground. My heart skipped a beat when I saw her fall. Her scream echoed in my head as all time seemed to slow down. I always thought it was a myth, but it really did happen. I looked up to see a few other of these pegasi moving clouds and arranging them in a circle around us. They wore strange blue uniforms that covered their bodies except the ears and nose. Each of them had goggles and identical marks on the butts. Must be some sort of response team. My anger rising I immediately put my helmet on and leapt from the plane and did a roll to soften my blow. Pushing into a running start after I rolled I ran to Trixie and picked her up. I saw she was breathing, just knocked out. I fired my side arm at the group and they scattered when one of them fell. "It killed Surprise!" one said with a white mane and tail. "Then we fight back with lethal force to defend ponykind. Wonderbolts attack!" a orange maned one declared as several charged me and others kicked the clouds making them shoot lightning at us. I tried to drag Trixie through the lightning storm and bodies of these pegasi. They punched me as they flew by a few even nipped at me. I was glad I put my helmet on, but they kept pushing me back. So I activated one of my planes new features. I activated a short range remote communication to the plane and took control of it. I opened a small digital pad I kept in my pocket making sure the equines didn't get to it. I slowly maneuvered the plane over towards us as while making it head towards the runway. I tried to climb the ladder but found it impossible to do so with Trixie unconscious. But I was surprised to find help close by. The equine I captured grabbed Trixie from me and lifted her into the cockpit pilot area. I quickly climbed in as another wave of equines rammed into the side of the plane and me. I felt me head ringing and the plane actually leaned to the side from the impact of all their bodies. As luck would have it several knocked themselves out falling limp on the runway. They ween't dead, but they'd have a bad headache later. The ones still up were high up and turning around for another pass. I reached below Trixie's seat and pulled out her AK-74U and opened fire on the wall of feathers and flesh. Several fell from the sky like ducks that met a hunters scattershot. The others scattered again but I was then met with lightning striking my arm. I screamed at the pain and nearly dropped the AK over the planes side. I managed to get into the cockpit and closed the hatch. Good thing was that the plane was meant to fly through the worst hurricanes so it was lightning proof. To an extent. The equine in the front was nuzzling with Trixie making sure she was alright. That made me mad for some reason. But I had no time for that. I leaned over the pilot seat and managed to reached for the back seat control switch. Once I flicked the switch I settled down and turned off the remote comm. line to the plane and went to good old manual. I was sad not to be in the pilot seat, and boy was Trixie going to flip her lid when she woke up. I lined up the plane with the length of the runway and gunned the throttle sending us full power towards the end. The G-forces never felt so good as they did now. Somehow I got off on running for my life like this. It was thrilling, the thought of death right behind us, the all or nothing of it, it was simply an amazing feeling. And a terrifying one. It dawned on me as I pulled back on the controls sending us upward, the equine in the front screaming like child. I frowned thinking about what happened only minutes before. I nearly lost Trixie today. She got lucky. But she may not be that lucky again. I had to discard the thought however when the radar began beeping as red dots lit up the radar screen. I had no idea what most things were here, Trixie had been trained to use them but I was not. I simply focused on what the dots were doing and maneuvered the plane around dodging the equines as they flew around. That's when I saw it. A large zeppelin like craft hoovering nearby. A whole row of thirty or so surrounded the entire landmass. They were white with gold rims and elaborate decorated with large propellers at the back of them. Probably for propulsion. I flew straight at one and fired the main gun but found the bullets hit some kind of pink barrier protecting the crafts. "Oh, shit!" I swore pulling up into a U-turn as to not fly into it. Suddenly the sky lit up with beams of every color imaginable. One hit the planes wing knocking it downwards, forcing it into a nose dive. I pulled back on the throttle lessening its power and safely pulled up from the dive and leveled the craft face to face with another zeppelin. This one was different. It was larger and was painted blue and black. It had several flags on it with a symbol of a black mass around a crescent moon shape. I looked to see that there was a wall of the equines flying around it. I was sure I could take them on, but that wasn't the issue. The issue was with so many of them flying around I was in more danger of one accidentally flying into the intake of the engines and destroying them and the plane. There was no way this would end well. But I had a plan. I just needed to stall for Trixie to wake up. This was going to be a long day.