Apocalypse in Equestria

by GeodesicDragon

Sitrep - Part Two

"I still think that game was rigged."

"That was days ago, Herald; just let it go."

Geo rolled his eyes, but the small smile he was failing to hide gave away the fact he was joking. The two of us, along with Celestia, Luna, Cadence, Shining and my friends, were all sitting in Luna's bedroom – the only one which was both privately situated and large enough to accommodate everypony – waiting patiently for a bank of monitors that the Herald had provided to be installed.

"There you go, Sir." a GDA engineer stood up and wiped his brow clear of sweat. "That should now be operational."

"Thank you, Sergeant Jones." Geo waved his hand towards the door. "You may take your leave, but I must stress that what you have seen here is Top Secret; if you tell anyone about any of it, I will kill you myself." He narrowed his eyes. "Are we clear?"

"I will take the secrets I have learned to my grave, Herald." Sergeant Jones saluted. "Glory to the Apocalypse."

"Glory to the Apocalypse." Geo saluted him back. "Dismissed."

As soon as he left, Cadence spoke. "Threatening him was uncalled for," she snapped. "You could have just asked him to be quiet."

"I could have." Geo grinned. "But where's the fun in that?"

"You're nothing but a bully, Herald Geo." Cadence sighed. "I honestly don't know what Twilight sees in you."

"And what in Violet's name is that supposed to mean?" Geo shot back. "The way you worded that would imply that we're—"

"Are you quite finished?" Luna asked, rather curtly. "Time is of the essence, everypony, and we need to make contact with the other leaders." She turned to her sister. "Celestia, are you ready?"

"Yes, Luna," Celestia replied. "Let us begin."

"Wait, before we do that, I want to know... how in the hell is this going to work?" Geo asked. "We couldn't get through to the other leaders before, so what makes you think that you can?"

"How do you think we contacted you when we organised Twilight's test, Herald?" Celestia replied. "With magic, of course."

Geo raised a finger and opened his mouth in order to make a retort, but he was quick to decide that perhaps silence would be the better option. He waved his hand dismissively and sat back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest. "All right," he said. "Do it."

Celestia and Luna both closed their eyes, concentrating intently as their horns began to glow, the monitors being bathed in a combination of blue and yellow light. They flickered on and off for a moment, before staying on and showing three rooms, showing the flags of the Paradise, Insignificance and Twilightlicious respectively.

"Those are the leader's offices, so I guess the spell worked," Luna said. "But the question now is, can any of them hear us?"

"Who said that?" a man came into view on the Insignificance monitor. "Identify yourself at once, or I'll— Princess Luna?"

Luna smiled. "Jock Wallace," she replied. "It's good to see you." She watched as two women and a man appeared on the Paradise and Twilightlicious monitors. "Tracey, Sandra, Raymond, you're all here as well. This is most fortuitous, for there is much to discuss."

"What's going on?" Raymond asked. "Whatever it is, can it not wait? Our region is in the middle of a full-blown crisis; we simply cannot afford to sit here and— Twilight?"

I nodded. "Hello, Raymond," I said. "How are you?"

"I'm... fine?" Raymond sighed. "Look, Twilight, it's good to see you again, but I'm afraid I don't have time to chat."

"Nor do we," Tracey added. "As much as we appreciate you contacting us, now is not a very good—"

"Wait a minute," Sandra interrupted. "We can actually see you; the last time you contacted us, it was via radio." She smirked playfully. "Has Equestria finally perfected the technology required for more effective means of communication?"

Celestia shook her head. "We haven't," she replied. "But he has."

She turned the camera to the left to reveal Geo, who waved. I stifled a giggle as four sets of jaws nearly hit the floor.

"Herald Geo?" Jock was amazed. "You're alive!"

Geo snorted. "It's me we're dealing with here, Jock," he replied. "It's going to take more than a bunch of traitors to kill me." He slammed a fist into the floor, the gesture proving somewhat less dramatic thanks to Luna's fluffy blue carpet. "Enough talk; I want to know everything. How fares my glorious Apocalypse?"

There was a period of uncomfortable silence, which was eventually broken when Raymond swallowed audibly and spoke.

"Well, the short version is simple: the Apocalypse has gone straight to hell," he said bluntly. "As for the long version..." He took a deep breath and let it out. "A week after your disappearance, Daniel MacPherson organised a press conference to finally announce his plans for the future of the country; that included executing many loyalists for their 'crimes against humanity.' During the conference, however, one such loyalist attempted to kill Daniel. He failed, and was killed himself, but he had merely been a distraction. The loyalists who managed to escape the capital hijacked the TV signal and played a video, showing... well, you."

"Me?" Geo looked perplexed. "But that's impossible."

"I know, right?" Jock said. "This video showed a bandage-clad individual in a darkened room somewhere in the country. He spoke just eight words before the signal was cut: 'Rumours of my death have been greatly exaggerated.' News of your apparent survival spread quickly; the loyalists who were captured were first to act. They broke out of their cells and re-armed themselves, thus beginning the Second Battle of Geotopia. The fighting was savage, but when loyalist reinforcements began to arrive from outside the city, the rebels were quick to retreat. When it was all over, the GDA soldiers began searching the wreckage of the Capital Building, where you had seemingly perished in the early days of the war."

"They searched for days," Sandra continued. "But when they didn't find anything, they were quick to realise that the video had been a fake. At the same time, though, they were relieved that you hadn't died after all. Filled with patriotic zeal, they quickly swore to crush the rebels and find you, no matter what."

"Fast forward to now, two weeks after that conference," Tracey said. "The rebels have been forced back to their last remaining stronghold, unable to defeat the loyalists who are fighting with a rage and passion the likes of which we haven't seen for years."

"And where is this stronghold of theirs?" Geo asked. "And, more to the point, what is Dawson doing about it?"

"They are holed up in Herald's Rise," Jock replied. "Headquarters of the Apocalypse Navy, and where most of your fleet is constructed. Dawson has the place under siege, but the rebels have access to the large guns of the ships currently in dry dock. So, basically, it's become a large-scale artillery duel. My militias are assisting as best they can, but were not cut out for this kind of conflict." He sighed. "I must reinstate the professional Insignificant army..."

Geo cackled. "This is great news!" he said. "Soon, the rebels will be crushed, and I'll be able to go home and crack some skulls." He paused for a moment. "And I mean that literally; I'm going to kill as many of those scumbags as I can get my hands on."

He rubbed his hands together gleefully, at which point I moved the camera so it was focused on me. "Well, that's the military situation," I said. "But what of the humanitarian situation?"

"Millions of Apocalyptian refugees have crossed the border, into both Twilightlicious and Insignificance," Raymond said. "They are being well cared for, of that you can be certain."

Luna nodded. "I hate to ask this, but I feel I must," she said. "How many have perished in this conflict so far?"

"Well... uh..." Jock coughed. "Reports are a bit sketchy, and we keep getting conflicted information, so it's hard for us to—"

"About seven hundred million," Raymond said flatly. "Most of the dead are soldiers, but there have been some civilian casualties."

Luna's face fell, Celestia seemed to develop a tic in her left eye, Cadence and Shining Armour were horrified, my friends looked as though they wanted to vomit, and I could almost feel the black cloud of sorrow and despair hanging over me.

"Damn it, Raymond!" Jock shouted. "I was trying to protect them from the ugly truth; look at what you've done!"

"Whatever, Jock." Raymond rolled his eyes. "They would have found out eventually, so it is better to tell them now."

"So many dead..." Starlight said. "How is that even possible?"

"Two things," Jock replied. "First of all, over ten billion people live in the Apocalypse; nearly a quarter of them serve in the armed forces. Second of all... who the heck are you?"

"Her name is Starlight Glimmer, a friend of mine," I said. "A proper introduction will come later; right now, though, we need you to monitor the situation and keep us informed. The Herald will stay here in Equestria until we are confident that the fighting is over."

"Understood, Princess Twilight." Raymond chuckled. "I just hope you're ready to put up with him once more."

I smirked. "It's not just the Herald," I said. "He also managed to bring three regiments of commandos with him."

Raymond blinked a couple of times, while Geo made his way to my side and grinned. "Forty-five hundred men," he said. "I also managed to bring along five tanks and a couple of of aircraft, as well as thousands of rounds of ammo." He did some counting on his fingers. "All in all, we've got enough supplies to last us for at least six months; longer if we ration it, or succeed in capturing food and water from those filthy Diamond Dogs."

"You've only been in Equestria for five minutes, and you've made an enemy already?" Sandra smiled and shook her head. "Never change, Herald Geo, never change."

"At the risk of sounding like a child... they started it!" Geo folded his arms. "To cut a long story short: they wanted us to help them wage war on Equestria, so we waged war on them instead."

"Oh, okay," Sandra replied. "I'll, er, take your word for it." She coughed. "Anyway, friends, it has been lovely talking to you all again, but we really must be going. Our countries won't run themselves, you know. We'll monitor the situation in the Apocalypse and keep you updated as best we can. Herald Geo, shall we contact General Dawson and let him know where you are?"

Geo thought for a moment. "Nah," he said. "This will be an ideal way for me to test his deducing skills. Keep him in the dark."

"As you wish," Tracey said. "Farewell for now, everyone."

We all waved to them as, one by one, the monitors went blank. When the last one did, Geo stood up, looked to me and put his hands on his hips. "So, Princess," he said. "What happens now?"

"Now? Well... I guess I could show you where I live?"

Geo shrugged. "Sounds like a plan," he replied. "Let's go."

***

A while later, we were stepping off the train and into the cool Ponyville air. The instant my hooves touched the platform, however, Ivory Scroll – the town mayor – came running up to me.

"Ivory?" I asked. "Are you all right?"

"Princess Twilight!" she panted. "Thank goodness you're here! Some soldiers arrived earlier, claiming to be working for somepony they referred to as 'the Herald,' and are refusing to leave!"

Geo stepped off the train. "Those men are with me," he said nonchalantly. "And I'm with Twilight here." He saw the confused look on my face. "I sent word back to the base about where I was going to be, and requested that some men meet me here."

"Oh, well, in that case..." Ivory Scroll straightened herself up and held out a hoof. "Let me be the first to welcome you to Ponyville!"

Geo shook her hoof eagerly, a huge smile plastered all over his face. "Thanks for the welcome, Ivory," he replied. "Now, could you please direct me towards the nearest drinking establishment? I'm in a very good mood right now, and I feel like celebrating."

Ivory smiled. "Follow me," she said. "I know just the place."

The two of them then departed, leaving my friends and I standing on the platform — each of us knowing that Ponyville was about to play host to the mother of all culture clashes...

Author's Note:

Now for the fun part: How is Ponyville going to cope with a bunch of heavily armed, trigger happy soldiers being amongst them? How are the GDA guys going to cope with being in a town full of things that are illegal where they come from, such as fun and laughter?

Only time will tell. Stay tuned for some awkward moments and tense situations!

Comments

[GeodesicDragon]

7922272

I'll bear that in mind. Thanks for reading.

[BestinDworld]

7922536 your welcome if you need information about my nation if you search for it on the nationstates website you should find info on my main page plus info in the ...overview tab just look for the section were it mentions my head of state and the like

[Crystal Static]

This is awesome so far. I can't wait for more.

~Crystalline Electrostatic~
23:59_2/21/2017