March 20th 2016
"— and so, our phantom army was destroyed during the initial bombing raid. As soon as they realised the enemy weren't real, the GDA advanced another two-hundred and fifty miles before they stopped and dug in. They are now fifty miles from the capital, and the population is in full panic. Hundreds of thousands have fled to nearby neutral nations, including Insignificance." Raymond turned to a screen next to him. "Jock, how are you coping?"
"We're fine, all things considered." Jock sighed. "When the Apocalypse invaded Twilightlicious, they also invaded Tarbellville and Mistyoceans. Geo also stationed troops on his border with us, which is a clear violation of our neutrality." He muttered curses under his breath. "As for the refugees... they're a bit shaken up, but they are being well looked after — the GDN may be blockading us, but they can't stop foreign aid coming in."
"That's good to hear," Twilight said. "Thank you for your assistance, Jock, it is very much appreciated in these trying times."
"You're welcome, but I wish I could do more," Jock replied. "As for you, Celestia and Luna, I'm glad to see you both alive and well. When I heard what happened to the Paradise, I will admit to fearing the worst — but then I remembered who I was dealing with."
Celestia and Luna smiled warmly.
"That didn't stop the Apocalypse from sending one of their Hurricanes after us to finish the job," Celestia spat. "Twilight managed to shoot the aircraft down, but—"
"She did what?!" Jock gasped. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but... Princess Twilight, is that true? You single-handedly took down one of the most advanced aircraft in the world?"
"She did indeed," Raymond said proudly. "I couldn't believe it myself, but then I saw the thing hit the ground at Mach Five."
"Wow," Jock breathed. "Truly, Princess Twilight, you are a force to be reckoned with. Did you get anything from the pilot?"
"He... he took his own before we could capture him," Twilight said sadly. "We also examined the... what was it called?"
"The flight recorder?" Jock offered.
"Ah, yes, that. Thank you." Twilight smiled. "We examined the flight recorder but, unfortunately, there was nothing of value to be had."
"Damn it." Jock shook his head. "Well, at least nobody was—" He was cut off as a terrible wailing noise filled the air, which caused the colour to visibly drain from his face. "No... oh, no, no, no!" He shot to his feet and rushed out of view of the camera.
"Jock?" Raymond asked. "What is it?"
Jock's panicked face appeared on the screen. "It's an air raid!" he shouted. "I... I need to get out of—"
The screen began to flicker uncontrollably, Jock's voice and face both becoming distorted before the screen went black.
"Jock?" Raymond pressed a few buttons on his control panel. "This is Twilightlicious contacting Insignificance, do you read?" No reply came. "Insignificance, do you copy? Over." Still no reply came, at which Raymond slammed a fist into the console. "Dammit!"
"Careful now," another voice said. "Those things are expensive."
All eyes turned to the screen as the display changed to show a room with the flag of the Apocalypse hanging on the wall, and Geo sitting in a seat with his fingers in a pyramid shape.
"You..." Celestia hissed. "You will pay for what you have done to our nation and our people, you twisted tyrant."
"Oh, you two are still alive?" Geo raised an eyebrow.
"We are," Luna said smugly. "And the Hurricane you sent after us is nothing more than a smouldering pile of scrap metal."
"I kind of gathered that when I lost contact with the pilot, who then failed to return," Geo said. "I knew I should have sent in a platoon of Shadow Troopers, instead of one guy. Hurricanes aren't cheap, you know; they cost one-hundred and fifty million bits each."
"Really?" Twilight asked. "Well, in case you were wondering, their scrap value is three-hundred bits. Four-hundred if you push it."
"Mock me all you want, Princess," Geo said. "But the fact remains that you are now all alone, with nobody left to help you. I have crushed your allies, and your capital city is within my grasp. I come before you today to give you all one chance to surrender yourself, your friends... and your portal to Equestria."
"And what if I don't?" Twilight asked defiantly.
"Then every city in Twilightlicious will be on the receiving end of one – or more, I haven't decided yet – of the fifty-thousand plus nuclear missiles I have in my arsenal. I will turn your pitiful nation into a smouldering wasteland, if you do not submit to Twilightlicious and, by extension, Equestria being absorbed into the vast empire that is my glorious Apocalypse." He leaned closer. "You have thirty minutes to decide, or else I will press the button." He leaned back and tapped his wrist. "Thirty minutes, Princess, time's a wasting."
He made a cutting motion across his throat with his finger, and the screen went black once more — while his mocking laughter resonated throughout the room.