//------------------------------//
// Chapter 12 
// Story: The lost Empire 
// by Q_The_Exile 
//------------------------------//

	two weeks later
Location: Cat and moon station stub-end yard 
Archy watched as Scootaloo, Sweetie belle, and Apple bloom shunted cars in the small yard in preparation for them to be taken away to the main yard in Canterlot or in Exile. between the tree of them he was impressed, they took to their training with their full efforts and were succeeding so far. Although Apple Bloom was having a hard time with the lingo, orders and slang used on the two railways, but one of the other two fillies would be there to help her if she needed it.
"There you go dad, that's the last of them." Scoot' told him as the tree fillies parked their engines together in front of the single engine shed that housed the engine he gave to Luna years ago.
"Ok! Go get lunch then, it's on me and you have visitors!" he yelled to them as he walked up the platform and into the office section of the station to battle more of his bane: paperwork.
As the fillies walked into the bar section of the station, they saw the mane six sitting at the counter and Luna serving them drinks.
"Hey guys!" Scoot' called out to them as they walked over and joined them at the counter as Luna set in front of them three sodas.
"Hey Scoot's. Rainbow replied with a smile.
"We were just talking to Luna and realized that we have not actually watched or seen you three working before. And we were wondering if we can tag along with you three for the day." Pinkie told them as she popped up behind them from nowhere.
"Sure, we don't mind-," Sweetie belle started to say but was interrupted from a commotion from the office section of the station before a door opened on the balcony above them and slammed closed hard as Archy stomped his way to behind the bar and grabbed a moon shine bottle and a beer mug, filled it, and downed it within seconds. before relaxing with a small sigh.
"Whats wrong Dim'" Luna asked as she came over to him after he poured himself another glass and stole the bottle from him before setting it back on the shelf.
"There was another attack at the ice mine. Three workers were killed and two severely wounded as the monster tipped over the train as it left the yard in the mine." he replied sadly, "It's the third one this week. If there is another attack I will have to shut down the line and loose my ice business and cripple the railroads ability to transport perishable goods."
"How horrible." Rarity gasped.
"I'm sure I can take that Monster down. Yeah, that's what we'll do. We'll help you take down that mean old monster." Dash replied confidently.
"No, I can't let you help me for your safety. you six are the bearers of harmony. if you get hurt or die Equestria will fall to its enemys."
"That is why I will come to protect them." Luna replied to him as the mane six turned and smiled at him.
"...*sigh*... Fine. I guess you can help." he reluctantly replied.
"Yea! We're going Monster hunting!" Pinkie cheered.
"What about the station?" Scoot' asked him.
"hm... I think that you three can take care of it for two weeks." He said as he turned to them.
"Really?" Apple Bloom asked excitedly.
"Sure, Call it an experience exercise." He told them with a smile.
"Yes!" the tree fillies cried out together.
"Now, let's meet at the Ponyville station, Twilight I have to ask a favor of you." He said as he smiled at the tree fillies enthusiasm before tuning to Twilight.
"yes?"
"Can you warn the citizens of Ponyvill that tomorrow they will be having armed forces march through town? I wouldn't normally march them through but all of our stations besides this one and Ponyville will be full of tourists since there is an expo going on in Exile." he replied before continuing to explain, 
"It will take at least two stations to load the troops and equipment up in order to have a big enough force to defend the Arctic station from attack."
"I'll let them know, don't worry." She reassured him.
"Thanks. If that is all, then I will see you tomorrow, Come along scoot's we have to be getting home." He said as he rose from his seat and headed for the door.
"Oh yeah, one last thing; Dress for weather colder than the coldest place you have ever been." he warned them before he exited the building and headed for home.



The next morning
Location: Ponyville
meany of the citizens woke up to their normal routine and started their day out like they normally would have. Today was the day for market and meany of the farmers and craftsponies had set up their stalls already and had their goods out that they were selling.
"-she's the sweetest little rosebud, that Texas ever knew..
they slowly began to hear singing from the road to the Everfree forest. Meany of the towns ponies turned and looked and saw a four row column of ponies come marching out of the woods on the road, all singing together.


(Drums and Flutes come into hearing as the troops approach)
"There's a yellow rose in Texas, I'm going there to see,
No other Feller knows her, Nobody known to me.
She cried so when I left her, It's like to broke my heart,
And if we ever meet again, We'd never walk apart."

"She's the sweetest little rosebud, That Texas ever knew,
Her eyes are bright as diamonds, They sparkle like the dew;
You may talk about your Clementine, And sing of Rosalee,
But the Yellow Rose of Texas, Is the only gal for me."
(flutes and drum solo)
"When the Rio Grande is flowing, The stars are shining bright,
She walked along the river, On a quiet summer night:
She said if you'll remember, We parted long ago,
I promised to come back again, And not to leave her so."
(troops chorus together)
"She's the sweetest little rosebud, That Texas ever knew,
Her eyes are bright as diamonds, They sparkle like the dew;
You may talk about your Clementine, And sing of Rosalee,
But the Yellow Rose of Texas, Is the only gal for me."
(Instrument solo)
"Now I'm going back to find her, My heart is full of woe,
We'll sing the songs together, We sang so long ago
I'll play my bango gaily, And sing the songs of yore,
the Yellow Rose of Texas, will be mine forevermore."
(Troops choruse together)
"She's the sweetest little rosebud, That Texas ever knew,
Her eyes are bright as diamonds, They sparkle like the dew;
You may talk about your Clementine, And sing of Rosalee,
But the Yellow Rose of Texas, Is the only gal for me"
The towns-ponies watched and listen as the troops continued to match and sing as they headed to the station before the citizens heard another group coming from the edge of town, before tuning and seeing a double wide line of large metal machines moving down the road with a red star painted on the towers on top of them with girls sitting with their heads out of hatches singing together,

(English translation of words)
"Apple and pear trees were blooming,
O'er the river the fog merrily rolled.

On the steep banks walked Katyusha,
On the high bank she slowly strode.

On the steep banks walked Katyusha,
On the high bank she slowly strode.

As she walked, she sang a sweet song
Of her silver eagle of the steppe,

Of the one she loved she loved so dearly,
And the one whose letters she had kept.

Of the one she loved she loved so dearly,
And the one whose letters she had kept."

Another coulomb of metal machines with a black cross on the towers and the last machine looked like a small moving building, was behind it  with this group   singing a different song,

(English translation)
"Whether it storms or snows, or the sun smiles on us,
The day burning hot, or ice cold the night.
Dusty are the faces, but our spirits are high, yes, spirits are high.
Our tank bursts through there in the stormwind [of the assault]. 

Whether it storms or snows, or the sun smiles on us,
The day burning hot, or ice cold the night.
Dusty are the faces, but our spirits are high, yes, spirits are high.
Our tank bursts through there in the stormwind [of the assault]. 

With thundering engines, as fast as lightning,
Towards the enemy, sheltered in the tank,
Ahead of our comrades, In the fight we stand alone, yes stand alone.
So we push deep into the enemy [lines]! 

With thundering engines, as fast as lightning,
Towards the enemy, sheltered in the tank,
Ahead of our comrades, In the fight we stand alone, yes stand alone.
So we push deep into the enemy [lines]! 

When before us a hostile tank appears,
Full throttle is given and we close with the enemy.
What does our life matter for the Reich's army? Yes, Reich's army.
To die for Germany is our highest honor. 

When before us a hostile tank appears,
Full throttle is given and we close with the enemy.
What does our life matter for the Reich's army? Yes, Reich's army.
To die for Germany is our highest honor.

With obstacles and mines the foe slows us down,
We laugh about it and don't drive on them.
And cannons threaten hidden in the yellow sand, yes, yellow sand
We search for ways, that no one else found. 

With obstacles and mines the foe slows us down,
We laugh about it and don't drive on them.
And cannons threaten hidden in the yellow sand, yes, yellow sand
We search for ways, that no one else found. 

And if we are abandoned by treacherous luck,
And if we don't return home again,
If death's bullet finds us, and fate calls us away, yes, us away.
Then our tank shall become an iron grave! 

And if we are abandoned by treacherous luck,
And if we don't return home again,
If death's bullet finds us, and fate calls us away, yes, us away.
Then our tank shall become an iron grave! "

A smaller column of smaller machines that looked like a combination of the two followed after that  with a total of only 12 of the smaller machines with a female from each machine playing an instrument as they rolled along to the sound of their music. Several of the females bobbed their heads to the song while others danced on top of the machines if they had a wide and flat enough spot.
Suddenly the ground began to rumble as a truly massive tank rolled behind at the end of the strange procession with a group of people playing on it's towers and decks. 

The machine's shape reminded several of the ponies of the new warships that the navy had produced with two towers with two long pipes sticking out in each turret, with a taller tower in the center that had a bunch of windows and a smoke stack, and had two identical towers behind. The front two towers sat on tracked unit with a hinge to another set of tracks supporting the middle and another set at the rear after another hinge.
The whole thing left the town's ponies in shock and awe as they watched them move down to the train station and begin loading onto a long train waiting there, leaving who was fighting and needed a force that large and for what. Before going back to their business, with some humming various tunes they heard.