Equestria has known peace for many decades thanks to the efforts Commander Twilight and the EDF, but now The Commander is missing and a new threat has descended on Equestria
Equestria, home to the ponies of the three tribes and the changelings of Ridgeback Hive.
A wonderful magical place and outside of a few events a land of peace and harmony. Protected by the Equestrian Defence Force and Royal Gaurd.
However Equestria will face a threat unlike any it has ever faced in its history.
For when the sky falls the lines between saints and sinners will be shattered as every mare, stallion and foal will fight for the only objective that now exists.
Survival
Note: Unlike the rest of my Soldier Series this instalment will not be having The Commander as the main focus but rather others.
Operator: 001, what is the nature of your emergency?
Caller: This is Bramble up at the Green Gables farm….something just fell out of the sky and crashed into my southern field….i think it was some sort of plane.
Operator: Ma’am are you saying you saw a plane crash?
Caller: I don’t know, it i thought it was a shooting star as it was all on fire….found it odd to see one during the day so watched it and it came down in my field.
Operator: Alright ma’am we are sending a deputy to investigate.
Caller: Couple of my farmhooves went down to see what it was and maybe lend a hoof if anyone is hurt.
Operator: Alright ma’am a deputy is on the way.
Caller: Okay i’ll meet them at the main gate.
[Transcript from 001 call at 16:23]
Date: April 7th, 1666 Celestial Calendar Time: 19:47 Name Twilight Sparkle Location: Approximately 72 miles from Appleoosa
Commander Twilight looked over the scene before her. Equestrian Defence Force helicopters flew around the area on patrol as troopers moved equipment from the backs of trucks to tents under the light of the large flood lights that ha been set up and tied into generators.
The EDF had been alerted to an unidentified aircraft by the local sheriff's department from Appleoosa and when some troopers investigated they confirmed i
The EDF then mobilized taking over the scene and set up a perimeter around the area for safety.
Twilight had been contacted immediately back at The Castle of Friendship and flown here as fast as she could finding Chrysalis already on site. After being brought up to speed on the findings from the interview with the farmer who called it in, some farmhooves that investigated the craft as wella s the sheriff deputy who also investigated as wella s the scans that had been taken of the area.
Slowly Twilight walked through the chaos ignoring trooper who saluted her as she walked eyes locked on the creator the camp surrounded.
The fires had long since gone out but it was clear whatever it was had hit the ground hard.
behind Twilight flanking her were ehr two sentry bots Celestia and Luna, brought along do to the possibility of hostile incursion.
according to the briefing twilight had gotten upon arrived there had been no movement from the craft and no signs of a cockpit.
Soon she left the camp proper and entered the cordoned off area approaching the creator her mind racing. Was this some experiment spy plane they were unaware of? If so who’s was it? Why did it crash? What was it spying on?
Reaching the edge of the creator she peered down into it and saw the craft. Like the report said she saw no cockpit though the craft was large enough to have one as it was the size of a small single engine plane. though it was missing wings and...had what almost looked to be small thrusters on it and was a teardrop shape.
Twilight could see no markings on it as she descended to the creator carefully, the thing had been scanned with every energy detection equipment available and outside of very low levels of radiation that was barely detectable there was nothing dangerous about it.
Reaching it she looked it over, the entire outside was blackened from heat and a few other reports had this thing ”falling” from the sky….So either it was at a high enough altitude to be considered a low orbit and traveling extremely fast…..for it came from higher.
Harmony Station was reviewing its data to try and determine if they detected anything around the time of the crash but there was a lot of data the space station collected so it would take time.
“Strange isn’t it?” Chrysalis said behind Twilight.
She nodded. “Yeah...this isn't like anything i've seen before….i can’t figure out how it even stays airborne with such a design.” She said carefully running a hoof over it. The metal matched the ambient temperature so nothing odd about that.
“Same….we have a truck and a crane coming so we can try to move it to a research lab for better study but preliminary finding are that it is some sort of craft that traveled at high speed.” She said. “Some of the troopers are talking about aliens.”
Twilight chuckled at that, while other life was theorized to exist there was nothing to confirm it as true. though Twilight admitted this was ding a good job of being possible evidence Twilight had to admit.
“ Personally i have no opinion either way as changeling shave never encounter such beings and we have no reason to think on what we don’t know. Chrysalis said. “Can't really form a plan when the unknown could be anything.”
Twilight nodded as she saw the sense in that.
“SO you have any ideas?” Chrysalis asked.
“Hmm...right now...no….i’m not ruling anything out. This could just as easily be a weather satellite from one of the other nations or some wealthy person’s personal prototype.” She said and stopped her hoof on the metal...was the thing….vibrating?
She frowned as she felt it. Yes it was and it was getting stronger.
Suddenly one of the possible thruster ports belched out smoke as the craft started to rubble and shake. A high pitched whine that sounded like someone strangling a cat started to emanate from it as a panel on it suddenly exploded out in a shower of sparks and flame.
“Shit! EVERYONE BACK!” Twilight yelled in The Royal Canterlot Voice ash she started to move, Chrysalis moving as well along with the sentry bots.
A moment later there was a massive flash of pure white light and a roaring sound.
The shockwave knocked those closest to the crater from their hooves and toppels a few tents over.
when the light faded so the trooper could see again the creator had doubled in size. though unlike before the creator was an almost perfectly smooth bowl shape, though what was more concerning to the trooper was the fact The Commander, The Major and the two sentry bots along with the craft where gone.
the Captain in charge immediately order a report sent straight to Canterlot marked priority for the Princesses as something had just gone seriously wrong at the crash site.
It has been three months since Princess Twilight and Queen Chrysalis have gone missing and while thanks to The Changeling Link we know they are still out there they have not been located. Official reports from The Recovery Facility is that they are continuing to scan for them but no luck.
However we should not lose hope as we know that these tings take time but the Recovery always is successful.
As for word on the object that crashed in the desert near Appleloosa at the time of them vanishing there is no new information, the object was not present long enough for any significant information to be found that could hint at an origin….
Date: August 9th, 1666 Celestial Calendar Time: 09:12 Name: Sky Watcher Location: Equestrian Space Command
Sky sat at his workstation in the ESC watching the data coming in from Harmony Station, the space station that orbited Equus.
Most of the data was just the standard ingo, its current position, when it fired its adjustment thrusters and the like.
Harmony Station was named such as it, much like the trip to the moon, existed because of a joint effort between Equestria and her allies in order to establish a station that can both make repairs to the many satellites in orbit from all nations as well as conduct research on the effects of zero g among many others.
The current crew counts was slightly over 50 from all the different nations, made up of some of their best researchers in their field. Each nation took turns monitoring it as it made its never ending trip around the planet.
And all the data was just so boring to Sky.
He understood that it was super important and harmony station was doing ground breaking work, But that didn't change the fact Sky stared at a stream of data that basically never changed.
As such Sky wasn't watching his screen but playing a game on his phone, only stopping to reply to the radio transmissions that came from the station. This was very typical within this department since nothing ever really changed, a machine could do it.
A light on his station clicked on indicating it was pinged by the station as a transmission was incoming.
“Harmony Station to ESC.”
Sky flipped his switch to start broadcasting. “This is the ESC, we got you Harmony.” Sky said checking the location of the station, it was nearly over the ESC half way through their coverage.
“Sending down the results of experiment 429, Dr. Xern says the results are promising.” The station’s captain said.
“Affirmative Harmony, i’ll send it off up the chain.” Skys aid as he was looking up the experiment number so he could send it to the right people, Celestia forbid he accidently send it to the wrong people.
“Alright, transmitting.”
Sky watched as the system began receiving the data, watching the progress bar crawl across the box till it hit 100%. “Data received, sending it on up.”
“Affirmative ESC, will contact again whenever…...what….what's that?” The Captain said.
“Harmony?”
“Hold on ESC detecting unknown energy….hold….energy matches unidentified energy detected 5 weeks ago…….by the sands…..”
“Harmony status report.”
“I...ships….i...i say again 6 massive ships just appeared from….i don’t know what...just….by the sands…”
“Harmony...captain….are you saying you have extraequusrian contact?”
“Affirmative ESC….beginning first contact protoc--”
“Harmony? Captain? Respond…..come in Harmony.”
“ESC station has been seized in unknown energy...by the sand we are being pushed in atmosphere!” The transmission started getting interrupted.
Sky rapidly looked at his screen and saw nearly all the station’s adjustment thrusters were firing at full force in an attempt to stop the station sudden and rapid decaying orbit. “Harmony come in.”
The transmission clicked back on suddenly and Sky could hear the load groans of rapidly heating metal. “--scape pods! i say again all crew to the escape pods!”
“It’s too late!” another voice yelled in the background.
“By the sand...we’re burning up! We’re burning up! WE’RE BURN--”
Sky’s terminal lost all connection to the station, no longer receiving location, thruster status, anything.
Sky tore the headset off and ran for the door past his coworkers who had been staring at him since things begin and they followed him as he ran down halls till he burst outside along with the others as he looked up in horror as he saw the massive fireball that was slowly breaking apart as the station plummeted from orbit. He only had a guess where it was going to hit and could only hope it wouldn't hit anywhere people were.
The fireball went from one...to two...to 5 and continued to break up.
Then Sky saw one of the smaller fireballs shift and he watched as it changed direction.
It took his mind all of a second to figure out what it was. “One of the escape pods just launched!” He said as he ran for one of the emergency phones on the outside of the building.
HE picked it up and it was already ringing by the time it reached his ear.
“what’s the emergency?” A voice said within 3 rings.
“Harmony station just fell out of orbit, one of the escape bods just launched, scrambled everything!”
“What do you mean the station fell?” The voice asked in shock.
“No time to explain scramble everything we got an escape pod inbound.”
“On our way!” the line went dead as they hung up and a moment later the bases alarms began to blare to signal a major emergency.
Sky watched as the escape pod adjusted on it controlled fall towards the base’s runway.
It was coming in fast….faster than anything he’d seen He watched as the breakers deployed from the side, 4 massive flipper likes strips of metal meant to create drag to slow down even further.
He watched as they held for a few seconds before they snapped off as the pod was never meant to launch already in orbit and it was coming faster than it ever should have been when at its current altitude.
Still it came making adjustments as it near the runways and watched as a parachute deployed and didn't even last half a second before shredding as whoever was piloting was trying to slow them.
The pod slammed into the ground short of the runways at the speed of a jet from Sky’s estimation, then bounced back to airborne before coming back down and tearing through the fence that surrounded the base and bounced again only somewhat slowed from the first impact then slammed into the runways where the nose dug into the ground leaving a massive gouge behind and the pod slid across the ground, its landing gear destroyed by the first impact.
Despite wanting to Sky couldn't look away as the escape pod tore itself apart on its trip down the runway till it finally came to a stop.
Without thinking Sky and the others who were watching galloped forward.
The distance was close din a blur and the group was outside the cooling pod, the sound of sirens blaring in the distance as the emergency personnel sped their way to the pod.
Sky paid it no mind as he looked along the outside of the pod till he found a massive hole torn in the outside that exposed the cabin and wasted no time climbing inside and heard as a couple other did the same.
What they found were three bodies strapped into their seats leaving 17 empty seats as no one else had made it to the pod.
Sky moved to the first one, a zebra in a researcher’s jumpsuit and checked for a pulse….nothing.
He checked the pony beside them, one of the maintenance personnel...same.
The researcher pony beside them had a piece of the bulkhead lodged in her chest.
Sky made his way to the front where a seat was locked in with another body, a saddle arabian in a researcher coverall was strapped in, the console in front for her had exploded sending shrapnel into her face and chest as she sat limply in the seat.
Sky reached for their neck though after the other three his hope was low.
He nearly screamed when the body grabbed his arm and lifted it’s head, her face bloodied beyond recognition and looking almost like ground fruit, he couldn't meet her eyes...or...where her eyes should have been as the console blast tore through everything in front of it.
“The…..the others…”She said, Sky having trouble understanding her as her word went along with a gurgling noise.
“Medic! Medic now!” Sky yelled as the mare yanked his arm to get his attention.
“Th…..the others.” She repeated.
Sky looked back at the other three then back as the mare looking in his general direction. They...they made it, they are being offloaded into ambulances.” He told her.
“G…..good…”She coughed blood onto the front of what remained of her coverall. “god….some…..some one…..made it……” she said as her head lowered and Sky felt the grip slacked till her hoof dropped away.
“What in Tartarus is that?!” Someone outside yelled and Sky tore his eyes from the researcher and carefully made his way back through the ruined pod to go see what else was going wrong.
He stepped out of the hole he enter and saw everyone staring to the sky and looked up eyes widening as he saw 6 massive ships descending. They were like nothing he’d ever seen, the closest he could think was for one that looked like a whale and was larger than the others while the others were long and almost looked like river rocks, smooth and long.
Sky shook himself from his shock, these were the ship that pushed Harmony Station in atmosphere….they were the ones that just killed 54 unarmed people.
Their intent was clear and he ran back towards his building, he had to alert the military of the hostile force descending on Equestria.
UNIDENTIFIED HOSTILE FORCES REPORTED OVER ESC FACILITY
ALL PILOTS ARE TO REPORT TO STATIONS FOR IMMEDIATE DEPLOYMENT.
--Emergency deployment order from Windsock Airforce Base. .
Date: August 9th, 1666 Celestial Calendar Time: 09:30 Name: Rocket Location: Winsock AFB Command Center
General Rocket stood in the back of the command center watching the main view screen, currently showing 6 large radar contacts with dozens of smaller ones enroute as the entirety of the bases fighters were making their way towards the targets.
When the base first got the contacts they thought it was a glitch do to the size of them. It wasn't till the ESC called and reported what happened they realized it wasn't a glitch and these Extraequustians were clearly hostile.
It was shortly after the call they lost all contact with the ESC and all attempts to raise them were met with silence, the ESC was presumed lost and all air assets were ordered to engage the hostiles.
“This is squadron 132, approaching targets.” A voice said over the speakers in the command center. General Rocket had ordered the radios to be piped into the command center and not just the radio headsets.
“Affirmative 132 you are clear to engage on sight.” The general said.
“Confirmed, targets sighted...damn they are big.”
Rocket watched as the squadrons moved into a standard attack formation on the main screen.
“Targets locked, missiles away…..what in tartarus?!”
“What is is 132?”
“The missiles just detonated before they reached the targets, there is...some sort of shimming where they all hit…..Commander i think they have some sort of shields.”
The general blinked trying to process that, a shield around something that size? the amount of magic that would take and number of casters would be insane.
“Command something happening, lights are appearing along the ship...command I thi--”
The radio suddenly became static as dots began to disappear from the radar.
“What…..switch over to full coverage radio.” The general ordered and in a moment the command center was filled with all the radio chatter from the jets.
“Fuck fuck fuck” “Incoming AA!” “Evasive maneuvers!” “We are getting torn apart out here!”
More and more voices yelling as the formation broke down as the pilots began trying to dodge incoming fire and were being cut down.
“All air assets, pull back! I say again all air assets pull back!” Rocket yelled and watched as what remained of the squadrons began breaking off and still more dots were disappearing as they scattered, it had only been a few seconds and over half of them were gone.
Rocket looked at one of the operators. “Get High Command on the line, we have a Code Barfest.”
When Rocket looked back to the main screen there was less than a dozen dots returning to base.
Then more dots appeared coming from the larger dots.
They were launching their own fighters...100s of them.
Date: August 9, 1688 CC Time: 09:44 Name: Wingover Location: East of Baltimare , 36,000 feet above Equus
“This is Equestrian Airways 3492 to Baltimare tower, we have entered your coverage. '' Wingover said to the control tower.
“This is Baltimare International. We have you Flight 3492. Be advised there are reports of mild turbulence ahead.”
“Understood Baltimare. We will keep an eye out. ETA 25 minutes.”
“Roger, we will have a clear runway.”
With that the pilot clicked over to the in cabin radio. “Looks like pretty smooth sailing. “ He said looking over to his Co-pilot, Flat Spin. The young earth pony stallion was relatively new with less than a dozen flights but he had proven capable enough.
Flat Spin nodded. “Yeah, sounds like it. Think the turbulence will be a problem? “
Wingover shook his head. “Not for us but… “ he clicked on the announcements system. “This is your pilot speaking. We are expecting some minor turbulence ahead so I have switched on the fasten seatbelt sign. '' he said as he did so. “we will be in Baltimare in about half an hour. It is a beautiful 62 degree summer morning and It has been a pleasure being your pilot from Zebrica.” he finished clicking off the announcement.
“That should take care of everything. “ Wingover said and Spin nodded. “So what you got planned for your break in Baltmare?” Wingover asked
“Not sure. Never been there before so might just wander the city a bit and take in the sights. “
“Good plan. City is pretty nice this time of year. I know a nice little place not far from the airport. Maybe I'll take you there after work.”
“Attention Equestrian Airways Flight 3492. Respond.” The air traffic controller came over the radio with urgency in his voice.
Wingover clicked over to the radio. “This is 3492. What is the problem with Baltimare? “
“EDF has just ordered all flights to land immediately and all flights entering Equestria to turn around and return to wherever they came from.”
“What? I don't think we have the fuel to make it back to Zebrica. What's going on?”
“Unknown. Orders are to return to Zebrica or as close as you can but to get out of Equestrian air space--” the controller was cut off as another voice yelled in the background.
“What in Tartarus is that?! “
There was a pause. “What?.” there was a pause. Then what sounded like a muffled explosion. And the controller came back in a panic. “Flight 3492 turn back immediately. “
“Look out!! “
There was the sound of shattering glass and the radio screamed with feedback causing the pilots to tear the head sets from their ears.
A few moments later they returned them. “Baltimare? Baltimare please respond.” after a few seconds the pilot switched off the auto pilot.
“What are you doing? “ the copilot asked.
“Turning around we are getting back to Zebrica. “
“We don't have the fuel. “
“Then we'll find somewhere else to land but Baltimare. Isn't responding. “
“What's that? “
Wingover looked up to where Spin was watching as two other aircraft were approaching them.
“Small planes. “ He clicked onto the radio. “This is Equestrian Airways Flight 3492 to unknown aircraft you have entered our flight path. Change course immediately. ``The two aircraft stayed on course. “I say again this is a passenger airliner divert your course out of our flight path. “
Wingover watched the aircraft approaching rapidly and then suddenly saw green energy seem to gather on the ends of them and then fired out.
“Shit! “ Wingover jerked the wheel to the right and the massive aircraft tilted beginning to bank hard as the energy blast sliced through there the plane had been. Through the door the pilots could hear the passengers cry out in surprise and fear at the planes sudden erratic movement.
The other planes fires a Second volley and they airliner banked left. The engines straining g to move the international flight. The plane never having been built for evasive maneuvers or combat situations.
A third volley was followed by a fourth, a fifth and sixth in quick succession
The engines whines as they plane moved to try and dodge the incoming fire dodging most of them but not all of them as it shook violently
“We’re hit, we're hit! Engines 3 and 4 are gone and 1 is damaged! “ Flat Spin yelled as the plane began to drop like a stone not at an angle to composite for the loss of thrust, as the enemy aircraft banked and headed south, their objective taking care of itself.
Wingover tried to right the plane to get air under the wings. “Mayday mayday this is Equestrian Airways Flight 3492. We have been fired on by unknown aircraft. We are hit. I say again we are hit and going down 23 miles east of Baltimare. Attempting emergency landing! '' Wingover said into the open air of the radio as the plane plummeted.
“Oh gods, oh gods' ' Flat Spin yelled as the plane got itself righted. The screams of the passengers coming through the door as the play shook.
“Stay Calm! Set flaps to 20 degrees!” Wingover yelled, fighting the controls. “NOW! “
The yell was like a slap and Flat Spin moved to obey. “flaps set to 20 degrees.” the plane shook suddenly. “We just lost engine 1!”
“Come on...come on… “
“We are coming in too steep to pull up! “
Wingover pulled back as the nose of the plane climbed a few feet as the shaking grew as the single engine fought to keep the plane airborne. The ground rushed closer and closer as alarms sounded in the cockpit.
It searched its memories but there were none, there was just the void around it….or was it before it?
Did direction exist?
Did it exist?
Did anything exist?
What was exist?
As it sat, stood, floated in the void it pondered this thought.
It was thinking….it thought.
This was a complicated subject for it to be focused on without anything to use as a reference since all there seemed to be was itself and the dark void.
It passed the time….what was time?
It sat, stood, floated in the void debating whether it was something or not as there wasn't much else to do.
“YES!”
What was that?
“YES YES!!”
a…...voice? Yes, that was a voice it decided.
Now where was it coming from in this endless void that may or may not exist along with itself.
“YES YES YES!!!”
Behind it if it had to guess, it would debate what behind it meant later along with what a voice was.
Upon turning it around it found itself…..it would call this standing as that seemed like a good word for it.
It found itself standing within a pleasantly furnished sitting room. There were a few chairs, a small table and a fireplace as well as a window with the curtain closed. A small purple thing was jumping up around and was the source of the “yes”
This was curios and It looked around finding the void was gone
“Oh! Hello…...um…..who are you?” A voice said behind it.
Looking it found the small purple thing that had been jumping before now staring at it with curious eyes that seemed almost too big for its head.
It stood there and thought about the question it asked…..who was it?
“Are you okay?” The purple thing asked.
It felt itself find a voice to answer it. “I…...Dont know….”
“You don't know who you are?” The purple thing asked, eyes going wide.
“No….”
The purple thing looked around. “OH! The Princess should be able to help!” it said happily.
“Princess?”
“Yes Princess Celestia.” She said happily, eyes sparkling. “She chose me to be her personal student today.” The purple thing said and began to jump around and say “Yes” again as it watched seemingly forgotten.
“I see.” It said, “Who is Princess Celestia?”
The purple thing froze and looked a ther with wider eyes than ever before. “You don't know who Princess Celestia is?”
“No.”
The purple thing stumbled back in pure shock. “How can you not know who Princess Celestia is?” She asked. “She's…..she's the Princess!” She squeaked and then turned towards the door and began to walk. “We need to talk to her. I know she can help you remember.”
It watched the purple thing walk towards the door and then slowly began to follow.
When the Purple thing opened the door there was just light on the other side that blinded It and when it was able to see again it was back in the void.
It looked around confused as to where everything went. There was only darkness in all directions
What was it looking for? It felt as if there had been something here before but all there was was the void.
Date: August 9, 1688 CC Time: 09:42 Name: Scoop Location: Yellow Cloud Air Force Base
Yellow Cloud AFB was buzzing with chatter as many ponies had traveled to the base to see one of the few things that drew a crowd of civilians to an air base.
A Wonderbolts Airshow.
Scoop was here for that very show though slightly different then the nearby crowd of families and die hard fans.
Scoop sat on the back of a van with KVCW NEWS printed on the side making sure his camera was in working order. While this wasn't a live broadcast fewer takes would be better so easier to send in for the night's news broadcast.
The Wonderbolts were doing their show for the next 5 days and they were going to be covering the first day and possibly the last day, well the news station was, he wasn't sure if he'd be assigned next time.
“How's it look, Scoop?” The pink unicorn field reporter, Sparkler asked as she approached red mane in a loose bun. The green earth pony camerapony nodded to his purple mane hidden under a cap.
“Yeah, looks good, we are ready for a take.”
The camera was hefted to Scoop’s shoulder as he took aim.
The third member of their crew, another unicorn named Spinner, blue in color with a yellow mane sat in the van making sure signals were working well between the equipment.
Sparkler got her mike read nodded as Scoop gave a gesture to show the camera was rolling.
“This is Sparkler here as Yellow Cloud Air Force Base and as you can see behind me many families and fans are already arriving in droves for the Wonderbolt show–”
Sparkler’s speech was interrupted by a tone from the PA system from the base.
“Attention all guests for the Wonderbolt show, we regret to inform you that due to an unforeseen issue today's show is postponed and we ask for you all to please make your way to your vehicle and return to your homes.”
Sparkle blinked as Scoop watched the nearest speaker confused. Sparkler then frowned that quickly gave way to determination as many foals and fans alike got upset at the fact the show they spent time and money on was being postponed.
Before Scoop could say anything Sparkler began to walk away from the van leaving Scoop to scramble to keep up. “Sparkler what are you doing?”
“Don't shut that camera off, we are finding out what's going on.” Sparkler said, sensing a big story.
Scoop sighed as he knew when she got like this it was better to just follow her then to waste breath trying to talk sense into her.
She marched up to the nearest airmen who was directing civilians to their vehicles. “Excuse me sir, KVCW News, I'd like to ask a few–”
“Ma’am please return to your vehicle, we have no comment at this time, but you have to evacuate the area.” He said.
“Evacuate? And what are we evacuating from?” Sparkle pressed latching onto the word choice.
“No comment ma’am now please vacate the area or you will be forcibly removed.” He said firmly as a couple of other airmen came over seeing the confrontation, Scoop eyeing them nervously.
“Hey Sparkler, I think we should do as he says.”
“Not tell he gives us something to tell people what's going on.” She said.
As if in answer an alarm started blaring from all over the base causing many of the civilians still making their way to their vehicles to look around confused.
The PA system came to life. “All base personnel red alert, incoming hostile fighters, all personnel prepare to repel enemy aircraft!”
“Wh-what?” Sparkle said, confused as the sound of the base's anti air defense began firing from the south as the alarm blared and the announcement kept repeating.
The two news ponies looked south and saw dozens of small aircraft being targeted as multiple jets were already moving to the runways.
Then the small craft opened fire on the base with enemy weapons and chaos descended on the crowd as the airmen tried to keep order for a moment before being forced to abandon the positions to report to their station.
Scoop grabbed Sparkler and started dragging her. “Come on we got to go!” he yelled which snapped her out of her shock and they both ran for the van.
Spinner had already shut down the equipment in the back and was throwing the last of the crate in the back. “Come on, let's go!” he yelled as Scoop ran for the driver seat. Sparkler got to the passenger seat and Spinner dove in the back barley, having time to pull the doors shut as Scoop gunned the engine.
Many ponies ran for their vehicles as some just ran. In moments many collisions had happened, some with other vehicles and some with those who not yet reached their own.
Scoop spun the wheel. “Where are you going?” Spinner yelled from the back as they turned from the gate.
“No way we are making it through that.!” Scoop yelled as he turned toward the base and put the pedal to the floor, dirt flying as the van slid on the grass.
In a moment they were heading for an inner gate, one of the guards waving them to stop and Scoop swerved to miss him before crashing through the gate. The guard raised his rifle as an explosion caused him to dive for cover before he could fire on the van that just stormed the base.
Inside the base was more controlled chaos as vehicles went every which way and soldiers manned the scattered defenses engaging the swarm of enemy craft as explosions went skyward across the base.
Scoop swerved through the base doing his best to keep something, anything between them and whoever in Tartarus was attacking the base.
“What the hell is going on?!” Spinner yelled. “Who's invading us?”
“I have no idea, I've never seen planes like that!” Sparkler yelled back as Scoop swerved around a military truck, the back tarp partly on fire as it sped to another part of the base and they passed the flaming wreck of one of the bases AA batteries.
It wasn't long before they reached another gate out of the base and Scoop grew concerned as he saw there were no guards at it and he wondered if the battle was really going that badly that they abandoned the gates.
With a loud thud the van crashed through the wooden arm of the gate and the tires squealed as they reached the main road turning down it leaving the base behind with pillars of smoke rising from it as they sped off towards the city.
Date: August 9th, 1666 CC Time: 9:37 Name: Shadow Mark Location: Pinkie Pie Funtime Land
Shadow trotted alongside her coltfriend through the ever swelling crowds at one of, if not the largest amusement parks in all of Equestria. The park had been here for decades, ever since the Founder had begun to grow old to travel around and bring laughter and joy.
So she had founded Pinkie Pie Funtime Land, where fun and parties never end with the help of her friends.
That was if the plaque under the bronze statue at the entrance was to be believed.
Shadow didn't know if it was true or not, she'd never really seen the point of looking into whether it was true or just marketing.
Either way the park slogan was accurate she knew as the place was one of the best places to go to have fun.
And the perfect place to go on a date with her coltfriend. She had been so happy when he asked her to go here as shed not been here since she was a filly but always had fond memories.
Her coltfriend was a blue pegasus with a green mane by the name of Strum that she started dating last year when they shared the same digital arts class at Baltimare University.
Shadow had always liked working on artistic things, especially 3d models and she hoped to get into game design or movies, either would work. Either way, getting to work with 3d models had always been the gray unicorn’s dream since she had seen her first movie with CGI back when it was still somewhat new.
These days it was common and the technology had been rapidly improving.
For now though Shadow was enjoying the last few weeks before she had to return to BU for the next semester and she couldn't think of a better person to spend them with then Strum or a better place to go.
Things had been getting rather serious between her and Strum, definitely serious if he brought her here, while admission was very low for a park of this size it was still more than a movie not to mention getting her from the campus was a trip since it was at the edge of the city while campus was more towards the center.
“So what you want to do next, maying the Floom of Doom?” Strum asked as he looked towards the massive log floom.
“Hmm….sounds fun, though we better hurry before the line gets too long.” Shadow said as she started to make her way towards the ride.
“Yeah, really want to get to the good rides before the place gets too busy.”
“Implying there are any bad rides.” Shadow said with a small laugh.
“Yeah…” he said as he walked alongside her.
The couple reached the queue easily enough to find it was growing slowly as teenagers and families all wanting one last hurrah at summer's end were quickly arriving. Without hesitation the couple joined the line.
“Hmm so….where to after this.” Strum asked.
“Hmm...Deep Drop is always good if you don't mind the dark.” She said,
“Heh isn't that coaster that spends half the ride underground?”
“Bingo, next to no lights, just the unknown rush of darkness.”
“Sounds fun.”
Shadow nodded, smiling as the line slowly moved.
“Hmm...so a couple weeks before classes.” Strum said, making a gagging sound.
“Yup!” Shadow said more cheefully. Unlike Strum who was in the class mostly for the credit, Shadow actually enjoyed the class a great deal.
“Yeah, I still can’t figure out why you have so much fun with wire frames and all that fun though I guess the errors can be amusing at times.”
“because it's fun.” She rolled her eyes, this was a common disagreement they had about the class which usually resulted in Shadow doing their project alone.
The two chatted about meeting up with their friends again and getting ready for the semester till it was their turn.
They placed their electronics and other items one doesn't want to get soaked in the special waterproof lockers then boarded.
By the end of the ride both of them were soaked from head to hoof just as the ride was designed to do.
Retrieving their phones they begin to wade through the other ponies and occasional park employees, identified by the bright pink vests that were the uniform.
“Hey did you hear that?” Strum asked when they were half way to Deep Drop as he looked around.
“Hear what?” Shadow asked as she looked around as well, ears flicking to try and catch the sound, Strum always had an ear for sounds no matter how small but then he was a musician.
As Shadow strained her ears she thought she heard something that sounded almost like a distant thunder clap followed by another.
“Bad Weather?” She asked.
“Maybe….” Strum said. “Come on, I don't want to get caught in the rain.”
“Come on, what’s a little rain going to do, we are already wet.”
“Wet from a ride and wet from rain are two very different things.” Strum said, slightly annoyed.
“but we’ve only been here for a couple hours.”
“We can come back another time when it's not going to rain.” Strum said, already starting to march towards the distant entrance of the park.
Sighing Shadow followed as a date wasn't exactly fun by herself.
As they walked Shadow noticed some of the employees on their radios talking quietly and some rides looked to be being shut down.
Guess it was rain though she was sure the park was open even during the rain only closing certain rides that would be unsafe.
Granted she only had memories of when she was a blank flank so she could be wrong or they changed policies.
Either way others seemed to be heading for the entrance as well, other ponies not wanting to get wet it seemed.
There was a loud roaring sound as a jet flew over the park causing the ponies ears to splay back due to the noise.
“Ah what the hey…” Shadow said as Strum rubbed his ears, his hearing being more sensitive made the roar even worse. “Hey you alright?”
Another jet flew overhead, followed by another and Shadowed looked to the sky as did others. “What...those look like military jets….” She said her Dad had been a historian and as such collected a few models of things and had one of a military jet that looked very similar to what was flying off towards the city.
“Training is probably a bit dickish of them to fly so low.” Strum said annoyed as he started trotting with annoyance.
“yeah….I guess….”
There was another boom of thunder, closer now and others seemed to have heard it as they looked around confused and employees started ushering the guests towards the entrance.
Okay that was odd, employees encouraging people to leave the park? Something was up.
“Somethings wrong…” She told Strum he just shrugged.
“ITs just rain, parks are open during them.”
“This one is.”
“Don’t be stupid what sort of place like this would be open with their paying customers getting soaked?”
“This place.” Shadow said.
Strum rolled his eyes and trotted faster as there was an even closer clap of thunder.
Shadow looked to the clear blue sky, well mostly clear as there were a few clouds here and there, but nothing that would produce a storm.
“Something is wrong….where’s the storm?”
“It’s there you can hear it..” Strum said. “Now shut up and come on.”
Shadow frowned but followed.
There was then an even closer boom.
That...was not thunder.
“Strum…”
“What!?” He said looking at her just before the ground shook with the sound of a massive explosion. “What the?” Strum looked towards the blast as the music from the speakers cut out.
“Attention all Funtime Land Guests, there has been an accident and the park is closed, please proceed in an orderly fashion to the exits.”
The hairs on Shadow’s back stood on end and she and the rest of the guests started to move.
Foals were yelling they didn't want to go, or they wanted one more ride while others cried at having to leave and parents either carried them or tried to explain they needed to go.
Then there was an even closer explosion and Shadow could see smoke rising in the distance and...were those more in the city?
What was going on?
As if in answer an odd buzzing/whining sound started to over take the sound of the crying foals and in a moment a plane Shadow had never seen flew over head.
It appeared to have no wings and almost looked like a helicopter just without rotors, no it did have wings, small ones...ones that couldn't possibly keep it airborne.
Many others watched as the silver...plane? circled back and started to head towards another part of the park.
Then all at once light ran along the side of it towards the wings and a yellow beam launched it towards the ground causing a massive fireball to head skyward where it hit.
“Holy shit!” Someone yelled as more of the strange planes flew overhead firing their lasers and causing more explosions.
Almost at once everyone started running as there were more explosions from elsewhere in the park as the planes fired on the amusement park.
Shadow ran with them trying to keep up with Strum.
“Strum, wait! Slow down!”
“Keep up!” He yelled not even looking back.
She pushed herself hard but she wasn't exactly athletic and there were ponies running in every direction and screams of kids and adults alike as the explosion happened closer.
Shadow got hit hard by a massive stallion that crossed her path sending her sprawling.
She tried to get up but felt someone's hoof collided with her chest, sending pain through her ribs and driving the air from her lungs.
She gasped for breath as she looked to try and see Strum but couldn't see him anywhere..
She took deep breaths to try and force air into her longs as she got kicked again by a fleeing pony sending more pain through her flank.
Shadow became terrified she was going to be trampled and tried to get to her hooves but her lungs still weren't working right and she was having trouble getting to her hooves because of the pain.
“Ma’am, ma’am get up!” Someone yelled and she felt her mane gripped and being pulled to her feet.
Thanks to pony biology that didn't hurt and now that she was standing she was able to get air as she saw a green pony with a yellow and orange mane wearing a pink vest by her side.
“Ma’am come one we have to get out of here, follow me!” the employee said as he grabbed one of her fore legs and semi dragged her behind him as he ran for it.
there were more explosions and screams as the sky filled with the strange planes seeming to fire at random.
“This way come on!” The employee said as he ran towards a side path that was just as filled with panicked ponies. any sense of orderly going towards the exit was long since gone to the wind.
As they ran past a Ferris wheel that looked to still be being evacuated Shadow was nearly thrown from her hooves as one of the lasers lanced overhead and hit the base of the giant wheel, the heat washing over Shadow as she barely stayed on her hooves.
“Look out!” The employee yelled as the Ferris wheel started to tip and almost in slow motion toppled over.
Shadows eyes locked in horror to the people still strapped into the chairs till the employee grabbed her and dragged her away.
She tried to block out the crash and sound twisting metal behind her as the employee dragged her through the crowd.
“This...the exit isn't this way!” Shadow yelled.
“The exit is going to be a bottleneck, it's a death sentence!” The employee yelled as they pushed through ponies amid the explosions.
“We got to get to cover….follow me!”
He ran towards one of the painted walls with a large mural of the park seen from the air the day it opened.
The employee used a key to unlock a small panel and reveal a keypad.
Quickly inputting a code a crack appeared in the wall beside the pad and it swung open revealing a hidden door. “Come on!” The employee ran in and Shadow quickly followed.
The employee started to pull the door shut.
“Wait wait wait!” Someone yelled and a stallion in a souvenir shirt and hat slammed into the door to hold it open.
A moment later a mare in the same hat ran in with a terrified filly on her back and the stallion dove in.
The employee grabbed the door and slammed it shut, closing off the sunlight leaving the only light coming from a door next to them.
“in here come on.” The employee said Shadow and the other three followed them into what looked to be a break room as there was a microwave, coffee pot, fridge and a couple of tables and a counter. The only light came from a fluorescent light on the ceiling. “We should be safe here…” The employee said as the light flickers when the room shook from a nearby explosion. “I hope….”
“What is going on…” The stallion asked as the mare tried to comfort the scared filly.
“I have no idea, does this look like something I'd have a clue about?” The colt, for her, was a colt as he looked like he was in his older teens. “All I know is we got a call from security to gently shut down the rides and encourage people to leave in a quiet evacuation and then all the Tartarus broke loose.”
“I can't get a signal.’ They are sad holding up a cell phone as high as she could.
Shadow took hers out and saw she was off network as well.
The stallion's face made it clear he was the same.
“The towers may be overloaded with others trying to call out.” The employee said as he picked up a phone off the wall and placed it to his ear. “Landlines are out too.” He hung up. “I’m Card Trick, I work over at the swinging ship.”
“Charging Visor.” The large purple earth pony stallion said.
“Platinum Haze…”The silver unicorn mare said. “And this is our daughter Gram….”She said about the blue unicorn filly who was clinging to her mothers back sniffling.
“I’m Shadow Mark…”
“Well….id say nice to meet you all but given the circumstances….” He said and walked over to the fridge and opened it. “Get comfy folks, it’s not safe to go out there, way too much chaos and we’re likely to get trampled at the main entrance or worse.”
Shadow nodded and went to take a seat at the table along with the others.
A moment later a can of soda was placed before them by all of the employees before he took a seat.
Date: August 9th, 1666 CC Time: 09:54 Name: Prism Location: Baltimare University
Baltimare University was one of the top schools in Equestria not too far behind Celestia's School for Gifted unicorns but in a more general sense than magical. Some very bright minds had walked through the university’s halls and the school prided itself on that record that had stood for several centuries.
Now the grounds of learning had smoke rising from several areas and the sound of gunfire echoed across the campus as what little security there was, was engaged with something they had never been trained for much less equipped for, many of the security abandoned their posts and fled to save themselves as other remained to either try and evacuate students or defend the school.
Prism was one such student, a freshmen who had only moved into the dorms a week ago and didn't know the campus well as the earth pony mare ran through one of the Halls having abandoned the lecture hall when one of those hulking things came through one of the doors, the professor had locked the doors and shut the lights off trying to keep everyone calm when the first signs of trouble had been noticed. Prison wasn't even sure if he’d made it out or how many others had not. Prism had been lucky to be near the other door so had made it out.
She’d not seen much of it, only that it was big and had some sort of armor along with a weapon before she ran, lucky the doors could open from the inside when locked.
She soon reached the door to the hall and ran out with other students into a warzone, not far from where the door let out was the burning wreck of a campus security vehicle, Prism wasn't even sure if anyone was around it as she ran past the group shed been with scattering in all direction to try and find somewhere safe to go, where was safe when gunfire came from every direction and she could see more of those hulking things scattered across the massive courtyard attacking students and security alike?
As she ran she heard something even louder than the single shot from the security guard pistols, the sound of automatic weapons joining the sounds of battle.
As she took cover in an alcove that led to a janitor's room, the door locked so she could get in, she paused to try and catch her breath, shed not exactly been the most athletic as her focus had been on her studies of light based magics. She brushed her gray mane from her eyes as she gulped down air,
It was here she saw something that helped lessen the fear, a mare in dark green armor armed with an automatic weapon, an EDF soldier.
The trooper found her cowering against the door trying to make herself as small as possible. “Hey, hey you hurt?” The mare asked and when Prism shook her head the trooper nodded. “Good, come on, we got to get to the evac point.” she said, helping pull Prism from the ground.
There were 2 other students with the mare and she turned and headed roughly the same direction Prism had been running before she needed to stop to get air.
Prism followed along with the other two terrified students as they weaved their way through the campus. Trooper passing them heading the opposite direction.
Soon they took cover beside an overturned security buggy used to drive along the paths the cars couldn't go. They had found 2 others making their group 5 college students and a trooper.
“Alright, we are almost there just need to cross the next courtyard.” She said, “Everyone ready?” When the group gave their confirmation the mare turned and stepped out to lead them to safety.
A blast of blue energy struck the trooper from the side and the smell of burned fabric metal and flesh filled the air as the energy burned through the trooper ballistic vest to find the soft flesh under it and burning into that as well.
As the trooper went down, not even having time to let out a sound before she was dead the 5 students scattered all of them running for their lives.
Date: August 9th, 1666 CC Time: 09:57 Name: May Flowers Location: Fillydephia Event Center
May Flowers looked at all the other scouts as they went about various activities at their booths
The filly adjusted the red sash she had one as she turned back to help set up their booth. She was a member of Filly Scout troop 439 and they had come here to sell some of the things they made over the year, along with the other troops. It was a big event done at the end of summer that they prepared for all year long to help show their progress and make the troop some money as people from other troops or random people would buy trinkets they liked.
May’s troop was small, only 5 of them, 7 if you could the troop leader Mrs. Cookie and her daughter Grassy, who was much older then the scout troop, a teenager at the age of 15 and May felt like the green mare didn't want to be there but was brought by her mom anyways.
May didn't get it because how could you not want to be here? This was so fun and something she looked forward to every year, the 10 year old unicorn was practically vibrating with excitement.
She was the oldest in her troop, the next one was Daisy, another earth pony at age 9, the unicorn Blue also 9, the pegasus Hightop at 8 and then the youngest, the twins See and Saw at age 7, both pegasi.
After a bit of helping May approach the troop leader, “Mrs. Cookie, may I go to the bathroom?”
“Of course dear, you remember where it is?” She asked, they were lucky enough to be close there and there were a lot of others around so with a nod she set off alone.
As she was washing up afterwards she felt the ground shake a bit and blinked at it confused and that grew as she felt another.
Worried she started to head back to her Troops booth as Mrs. Cookie will know what to do.
As she stepped out of the bathroom the fire alarm started blaring, now worried she rushed down the hall back to the main event area to find everyone getting together and lining up to leave the building as they were taught. She heard some trooper leader muttering about a troop probably trying to start a campfire or something not realizing to not do that indoors.
As May made her way toward her troop the ground shook harder than ever before and there was a loud boom from toward the main entrance.
And then everyone was screaming as she heard what sounded like magic discharges and there was smoke and screaming and everyone was starting to run,
May had to dive into an abandoned booth to avoid being crushed under everyone as they ran. She had to get to her Troop, Mrs. Cookie would know what to do! She had to, she was the troop leader and an adult.
She started crawling under the tables from booth to booth to try and avoid the panicking crowd, this meant she couldn't see what they were running from as 100s of adults, both connected to the scouts or were here to buy things, all ran and scouts screamed and tried to follow their leaders.
As May neared where her troop booth had been she saw Mrs. Cookie had gotten on a table and was looking over the heads of the crowd. “MAY! MAY WHERE ARE YOU!” she heard her yelling as the troop leader desperately looked for the missing scout.
May managed to weave her way towards the leader. “Mrs. Cookie!: the young filly yield and Mrs. Cookie looked to her looking utterly relieved. She started to open her mouth and a blue beam struck her causing smoke to fly from where it hit and Mrs. Cookie fell from the table.
May ran over to where she felt to see Mrs. Cookie eyes were open but no matter how much she shook her she didn't say anything or move. She had a really bad burn on her side that was deep, almost like a little hole in her body,
It took a few more moments for it to dawn on the young pony, they had seen things when camping and had been taught about the circle of life and death.
Her troop leader was dead.
May was starting to panic.
“439!” She heard someone yelling out. “Troop 439!” quickly wiping her tears she headed for the voice calling her troop number and found Grassy with the rest of the troop. The teenager rushed over and grabbed the foal up before they ran back toward the troop. “Come on we got to get the hell out of here!" she said.
“But….but your m-”
“Shut up. Just shut up!” the teenager said looking almost on the verge of tears, from where she'd been standing she had had a clear view of the table Mrs. Cookie had been on.
The teenager grabbed the foal and they ran for a side door that led to staff only areas and pushed into the room to a hall that was very spartan.
Grassy led the fillies through the halls, seeming looking for something as they went down random halls after random hall till they found a door with an EXIT sign above it. “Okay girls now listen closely to me, as soon as we open these doors I want you to run for the buses okay? Mr. Wheelie should be there and he can help.’ the Teenager said on the verge of total panic and just keeping it together barely.
The troop had hired Mr. Wheelie who was a retired bus driver and liked to help out people with his own bus as he’d bought one. He charged the scouts a low price in exchange for a discount on cookies.
Grassy repeated it to the terrified children doing her best to make sure the twins understood, “okay, on 3…..ready…..3……2……1…..now!” She yelled and pushed through the door.
The parking lot around the event center was in a state of total madness, those who escaped the center through other exits ran for their cares, there were many car crashes and May saw a speeding car hit a stallion who rolled up over the card and slammed into the ground hard not moving.
She tried not to look as she ran for the bus parking area when an explosion happened near her, sending her from her hooves and knocking the air from her lungs.
She was dazed and confused as everything seemed to slow down as she gasped for air looking around.
She saw a weird plane flying through the air firing beams down at the parking lot causing explosions as she saw many clouds of smoke rising from the city.
As she slowly sat up she looked toward the bus parking and could see blue beams of energy being fired between the buses and some other colors that might have been magic blasts from unicorns.
As she watched she saw one of the buses crash through the small fence around that part of the lot and speed towards an exit, she could vaguely see splashes of red from sash through the window as the nearly full bus sped away crashing through anything that got in its way.
She watched as a big thing in gray armor climbed onto one of the still parked buses and lifted something to its shoulder.
A massive energy ball fired and when it struck the fleeing bus and it exploded into a fireball that crashed into other vehicles.
May was suddenly jerked up snapping her head around as the movement jarred her to awareness and she saw Gassy, the twins on her back and the other two scours almost clinging to her. “May, are you okay?” she asked panicked when May nodded Grassy nearly dragged her as they ran the other way from the buses. “B-but what about the bus?”
“Fuck it! Its a death trap, come on!” The 15 year old yelled as the troop ran through the parking lot, dodging cars and fleeing ponies. May could hear loud bangs coming from some places in the lot.
They reached the road and Gassy looked both ways before she ran across the street and into a small alley leaving behind the event center and fleeing into the city.
It pondered what pondering was, what was thinking exactly? What was it exactly? What was what was anyways?
It didn't have any answers, mostly because it didn't really understand the questions much less what an answer was so it continued to ponder pondering as it floated in the absence questioning the question of if it existed or not.
“Force applied multiplied by the Thumaric output towards existing mass, in addition to reduced mass…” Another voice muttered behind it. Another voice, had there been another?
It filed that away for later as I focused behind it and found itself in a large room filled with books, strange equipment and other items it didnt know.
In the middle of the room was a purple thing standing at a green board applying white substance to it in strange markings as it muttered something possibly related to the board.
It watched for a time, filing away to ponder time along side pondering pondering, trying to make sense of what it was seeing. It was just starting to get it when the purple thing put the white stick down.
“And done!” It said cheerfully dusting itself off of white. It turned around mouth open as if ready to call someone and gave a yelp upon seeing It there in the middle of the room. “Um…excuse me….who are you, what are you doing here?” it asked, almost seeming to be guarded.
“I…..do not know.” it said once more, had it been asked that before? It wasn't sure.
“What do you mean you dont know?” The Thing asked, looking at her bewildered.
“Exactly that….I do not know nor where I am or how I got here.” It said,
“Hmm…..” Yhe Thing said as it circled it inspecting it. “Well this is my observatory and the door should have been locked though….you look like you might have suffered an accident.”The Thing said as it returned to the front. “We should get you to a doctor right away.” The Thing said as there was a beep sound from somewhere.
“Doctor?”
“Yes…..someone who can help you and tend to your injuries….and maybe help with your memory loss….hmm…Might want to speak to Princess Celestia as well.”
“Celestia?” it said the name sounded familiar.
“Princess Celestia.” The Thing scolded.
It was strange…..the name sounded familiar, far more than the way the thing said it.
“Anyways, let's get you to a doctor.” The Thing said walking forward, It saw a mark on its side of a 6 pointed purple star. Having nothing to do, it followed the thing to the door.
The door opened and there was a blinding light and then it was in the void.
What happened?
What happened what happen? It looked around seeing nothing confused as to what it was looking for and soon went back to pondering pondering.
AN: This chapter is going to be written slightly differently than the others. After this chapter things will return to their original format.
I want to be clear in that this was the first time I ever left Zebrica, in fact this was the first time I ever really left my home in Holen. I mean, I occasionally went to the next town over for work. But for the most part I just stayed in Holen.
I wasn’t like my brother who desired more than the small town life. No he had dreams of the big city, probably from those stories he read. I never understood it but I always focused on the work that needed doing whether it was my schooling or training. Not daydreaming.
I honestly was not surprised when my brother took his life savings and announced he was moving to the city…..it did not go over well with our father.
Do not get me wrong, our Father was good. I do not think I ever heard him raise his voice once in my entire life and he did support us in our endeavors such as when I chose to drive the town's ambulance rather than work in his store. But my Brother…..he was young….barely 20 and like me never left home. He only had the stories about life in the city and our Father wanted him to stay and save more money in case things did not go well.
My brother would not hear of it and left the house with his bags and life savings.
He did not speak to us again till our Father became sick. I think my brother kept in contact with his friends so he knew what was happening as one day shortly after Father got back from the hospital, honestly one of the most terrifying runs I had ever done bringing my own father to the hospital.
Anyways a few days after father was released from the hospital we received a letter postmarked from Manehattan containing some bits with a letter written in my brother’s hoofwritng simply saying “This is all i can spare, i will try to send more when able.”
These letters arrived infrequently and with various amounts of bits and while it wasn't a lot it did help ease things.
When Father passed i decided to write the address on the letter and after the 4th attempt i received a reply and confirmed it was brother.
We talked this way for months and I learned that my brother's dreams of big city life had gone as our Father had predicted in that he ended up losing his money and feared he would not be allowed back do to how he left.
I didn't have the heart to tell him that our Father waited to hear from him, even saved some money back in case he ended up needing it.
My Brother had worked various jobs till he was able to pay his way to Equestria in hope he could make it there better than he did in the city of Leri and he was doing better in a new city, ironically working n a store much like he did in his youth and was much appreciated by the owners and co-workers, even becoming the assistant manager something he was proud of.
It seems he had tempered his dreams of becoming a bigshot in the city and his life was now working out.
After many letters he invited me to visit sometime if able or him visit me.
I knew it would be better if I went to visit him what with his job and all as well as the issues with how he left.
So I saved up a bit of money, already had a decent amount but I did not want to fully deplete my savings, poor decision making that.
I then took the bus to the city and then boarded a plane for Manehattan.
I must say my brother described the city but it did not do it justice, calling a city the century of Equestrian Art i thought was just boasting but you have many art museums, galleries, statues and all manner of things for artists. The city was a monument to the arts.
My brother met me at the airport and to say it was awkward would be quite the understatement.
The last time I saw my brother he had been storming out of the house with his head full of his dreams.
He was always slightly larger than an average Zebra, he was naturally strong. but now he was still large but now he seemed….calmer…..more focused…..he honestly reminded me much of our Father.
He took me to his apartment and we talked about manything, his life, home, friends both new and old, my job, his job. Most everything late into the night, i will admit, i had brought some Dawso Fire liquor with me, a taste of home since i know that brand isn't imported and as i thought it was much delighted by my brother.
We did eventually sleep, my brother giving me his bed, insisting when I protested but he would not have it as he slept on the couch.
The next day was his day off so he showed me a few of the local areas near where he lived as well as where he worked. It was a larger store than our fathers with several employees by the name of Twin Pine’s Grocery. It was a nice store with many more products than our Father’s had but it was in a city so suppose it would.
Afterwards we went out to eat at a place called Hay Burger, a very different place then what i am used to to say the least.
That night we talked about the city and since he worked the next day he encouraged me to explore the city and see the sights, warning me of the areas to avoid.
I was concerned, being a foreigner and not knowing my way around in such a large city but he assured me it would be fine, even recommended some places to see.
When morning came he was getting ready for work when i left the room, i decided to make breakfast to help and we enjoyed the meal together and he told me when he'd be off work and left.
I spent some time in the apartment but eventually decided to take his advice and see the sights he mentioned. What was the worst that could happen?
And thus I made myself a lunch and left the apartment after writing a note in case my Brother came home early.
I saw a few museums that were nearby, saw Coldstone Tower the Stadium and eventually made my way to the ferry bound for Friendship Island.
I planned to explore the statue and then have my lunch in the grass at the base before returning.
I…...was at the top when the demon’s ship settled over the city. Surrounded by multi colored ponies, families like me on vacation and seeing the sights.
Most of their children lost interest rather quickly and began to run around as the adults all looked on concerned.
And then the air force arrived. I watched the first wave of missiles, saw their smoke trail, watched them detonate harmlessly against the shield.
And then the ship opened and 100s of smaller craft came swarming out.
We were all mesmerized as we watched the battle, it was almost like a dance….
Then one of the planes….I do not know whose side it was one, crashed into the statue and the whole structure shook.
Then there were more impacts, it shook us all from our trance like state and then the panic began as parents quickly ran, gathering up their children, some ran for the elevators. They tried to pile in as tighty a they could.
I know the ground in Equestria does not shake….so you do not know the risks when it comes to building damage. But in Zebraca the ground shakes somewhat frequently so even though I was from a small town I know the risk of an elevator in a damaged building….
I shouted for them to get out of the elevator, that it wasn't safe….
I heard the groan of the metal over the ponies….the snap as it gave way….and then the elevator was gone, the winch flying past the still open doors as the elevator plummeted…..
I do not know if the elevator had emergency brakes…..i do not know if they would even be able to stop an elevator whose winch has fallen with it.
I only wish that they were at peace before they met their fate…..
With the elevator now just a void into an open shaft the remainder of us still at the top ran for the stairs.
I nearly fell several times as everyone was pushing trying to get out of the statue, there was a gaping hole in opposite one part of the stares….the burning wreckage of a jet dangling from it, thrating to fall any second.
This drove me on as if it felt the lower floor would be filled with impassable fire.
Luckily I managed to reach the bottom along with all the others where two security guards were waving tourists towards the exit, yelling for us to go to the ferries.
Normally in such situations you see shelter where you are but outside of the small security offices the statue was the only place to seek shelter and it was far too dangerous.
And so I joined the crowd as we ran out the door and back into the light.
Your air force still engaged the demons though it was significantly fewer planes and now I could hear sirens from the city. I learned later those meant for everyone to evacuate to shelters, we either couldn't hear them from the top of the statue or they started while we ran down.
I was also able to see larger aircraft descending into the city and the first column of smoke rising.
It was then i hear the crying and calls for a “mommy” and “daddy” and when I looked I saw the pegasu child stumbling through the crowd calling for her parents as ponies ran around her or just jumped over her.
I knew she would be trampled if she remained there, and not knowing where her parents were, I grabbed the tiny pegasus and threw her onto my back trying to comfort her as I ran for the docks promising her to help her find her mother and father once we were safe.
This seemed to calm her as she held my nec tightly as I ran, soon reaching the docks there were more security guards ushering ponies up the gangplanks of the three ferries.
From what I saw the feries move back and forth taking tourists from the island and back….these three must have only just arrived at the island before the demons attacked else we would be trapped.
I ran up, more was pushed by the crowd, up the gangplank and moved towards the front of the ferry to find somewhere me and the child could avoid the stream of ponies.
It did not take long to find a space and i finally sat, the child’s face buried in my neck as she held on as tight as she could, i managed to coax her to let go with the lunch i had made for myself by the time the ferry launched she was sitting beside me quietly eating part of the sandwich as tear still ran down her face.
I did my best to comfort her as I looked around to see if anyone was looking for their child….i could only assume they ended up on one of the other ferries.
It was at this point I noticed the ferries were turning away from the city and out towards the sea where parts of your navy was arriving and engaging the demons with their weapons.
I questioned if somehow the Gods above had decided to end the world by unleashing an army of demons upon it as by the point the air force was gone by this point, either destroyed or retreated, i did not know which.
As I watched the ships engaging the demons I felt a small tug on my hoof and looked down at the child who was looking up at me with ehr big blue eyes.
IT the quietest noise ever, one rarely heard over the murmur of all the other ponies she said she needed to go to the bathroom.
I looked around and eventually spotted the sign for the ferries restroom and picked her up. Looking back this is probably what saved our life as I do not know what would have happened if we had still been at the front of the ferry.
I am not fully sure what exactly happened, supposedly the demons fired on the ferries.
All I know is one moment I was picking up the child after she came out of the bathroom and the next I was sailing through the air with her landing in the water.
I panicked at first not knowing how I went from being on the deck of a boat to suddenly being in the water but I soon got my head on straight and swam for the surface.
When…. I broke the surface I truly thought the world was ending….there was fire everywhere and screams from places i could not see beyond the flames and smoke.
I began to look for a way to escape the burning water when I remembered the child and knew she would be too young to swim on her own and dove below the water.
It did not take long to spot her flailing below the water trying to swim and I swam towards her. She was panicking and fought me once I grabbed her and swam towards the surface.
Once we broke the surface she calmed down as she clung to me as I looked for somewhere to go..anywhere.
I found no where….we were far from land. Still I had no choice but to try and I began to swim, diving below the fires and swimming. I saw other doing the same and...others who were no longer with us, I shielded the child from them as she did not need to see as she was already terrorized enough.
I was an okay swimmer, but I had never had to swim like that. I am not sure how long I swam for but the land barely got closer and I began to grow tired. My limbs grew slower and heavier and started dropping below the water.
Eventually I could not keep myself or the child above the water and I began to sink thinking this was my end and that I had failed to save the child.
Darkness was taking me when I felt myself rising up. It was my time to meet my maker….and then air filled my lungs before I was dropped onto hardwood.
When I coughed up the water from my lungs and found a unicorn pony in one of the finest tailored sailors uniforms I had ever seen.
“Easy there, take slow breaths.” The stallion said.
I saw other ponies in the same fine uniforms pulling others from the water under the watchful eye of a mare in one of the most expensives dresses I had ever seen with two large stallions ebsider her as she directed the sailors.
I soon realized I had been pulled onto a yacht and the crew was pulling others from the water.
I quickly looked for the child and found her being tended to by a mare and I quickly moved over to her. She wasted no time in grabbing me and holding me tightly.
As I comforted her I looked out and saw other boats pulling ponies from the water rather than making their way to safety they had stopped to help.
Soon all they could find were pulled from the water and the crew quickly moved to secure what they had to as they also tended to those of us they pulled from the water.
I looked back at the city as we departed and I could not help but wonder what happened to my brother…
I wondered this as I held the child as the city became smaller and smaller in the distance….and then the wave came…..
Date: August 9th, 1666 CC Time: 10:18 Name: Trickshot Location: Manehatten Harbor
Lieutenant Trickshot looked out over the water along with Sergeant Cavalry, she could hear Crewcolt Tide Pool moving the anti-air gun on the back of the gunboat around watching the skies for any contacts.
Across the water they could see Manehatten, pillars of smoke rising into the sky and more than a few skyscrapers burning out of control. The fighting in the city had been chaos if the chatter on the radio was any indication.
Trickshot had been under the command of Captain Masonry in charge of defending the port and he had ordered to head for the gunboat to help keep the skies clear. Along the way she had come across Cavalry who had been separated from her unit and forced towards the harbor and Pool who worked in the naval yard. The three of them reached the gunboat, named Lucky by the simple fact it was gunboat 777.
It had lived up to the name as they had had more than a few near misses as they moved around the harbor trying to take out any of the enemy transport or their fighters.
Now though the skies were clearing rapidly as the enemy seemed to be retreating for some reason...Trickshot wondered if it had anything to do with how the water had receded from the harbor so heavily….were they draining the ocean? Was that what this was all about? Draining their planet of its natural resources?
“Think they gave up?” Cavalry asked.
“No idea but something tells me they wouldn't give up so easily….” she said looking around, she could see one of the EDF naval ships stuck in place as the water had receded enough that they scraped bottom. Based on the roar of their engine they were trying to get themselves unstuck and into the deeper water of the harbor…..why the enemy had not pounced on the stranded ship was strange.
Trickshot’s ear swiveled around out to sea, there was...something….a sound.
She looked from the city out to sea and her eyes widened at what she saw.
A wall of water heading straight towards the city.
She looked back towards the city then the wave again. “Shit!” She said as she pushed the throttle forward causing Cavalry to stumble and curse.
“Hey what's the rush?” The other mare asked as the boat spun around.
“That wave is going to hit the city and we have to get over it or we will be bashed to pieces!” she said pointing towards the wave
“Tartarus.” Cavalry said as she connected the dots as well and strapped into her seat. “Hold on crewcolt!” She yelled at their gunner.
The gunboat sped through the shallow harbor, civilian speed boats, sail boats, fishing boats, a yacht and even a cargo ship, it's deck laden with containers as it started getting underway from where it was docked, started heading for the wave as well as their crews came to the same conclusion as Trickshot. Survival meant getting over the wave.
“This is Gunboat 777 to Command, a massive wave is heading for the city.” Cavalry said into the radio. “Wave is approaching fast. We are attempting to get over it. Recommend everyone get to cover.”
“Acknowledged 777, we are aware. We will contact you when able.” The Captain said.
“Acknowledged Command.” Cavalry said and clicked off the radio slowly turning to Trickshot. “They….aren't going to make it, are they?”
Trickshot didn't answer as they raced for the wave along with dozens of other boats.
Soon the first of the boats reached the base of wave and began to climb it. Trickshot gripped the wheel tightly in her hooves as the angle kept going up till they were near vertical. “Hold on!”
“Don't have to tell me!” Cavalry yelled.
“Oh shit oh shit.” Tide Pool said as the stallion was pushed back into his seat by gravity and gripped the the control of the AA gun to steady himself.
Trickshot focused on the top of the wave making sure they kept their speed up, she ignored when one of the boats ahead of them went nose up and the boat caught air and fell back down the wave.
Just a few more meters…..almost….
Her ear flicked as she heard a klaxon blaring and steadily getting louder.
“The fuck is that?” Cavalry yelled.
A moment later the top of the wave exploded outwards and all Trickshot saw were four spinning propellers behind a large rudder. The appearance of the rear of a massive ship caused three of the other boats to over correct and lose all their moment making them lose the grip on the wave, gravity taking over once more.
Trickshot turned the wheel sharply but in a way that only caused them to lose a small amount of speed.
Their gunboat sailed over the top of the wave along with several other boats and got her first look at the ship caught in the massive wave surge.
It was an EDF aircraft carrier, emergency klaxon blaring as the massive ship fought a losing battle against the wave. Trickshot had an idle thought that the ships massive engines should have been more than enough to fight the wave, it must have been caught at an angle or with the engine running cold. By the time they could have gotten oriented to fight the wave it was too late.
“Look out!” Tide Pool yelled and Trickshot jerked the wheel as a jet fell from the deck of the ship as it rocked violently back and forth. All the miniscule boats moved erratically to avoid the falling planes while trying to stay ahead of the wave.
Trickshot looked up at the deck of the ship to watch for more falling planes and caught sight of the command tower, more specifically the pony on the starboard lookout.
It was odd how at times the mind focused on things in excruciating detail.
Such as the fact the pony was an earth pony mare, she had dazzling eyes the same color as the sun above. Her mane was a sea blue color with a pale colored fur. Though Trickshot wasn't sure if the pale color was natural or was connected to the utter fear in her eyes as she looked back at the gunboat pilot while clinging to the railing in front of her.
Trickshot could see she was a crewcolt by rank, her dark blue, white and black combat atiar was in place as it was supposed to be and the helmet on her head fastened tight. A rifle at the crewcolt's side as the ship was in full combat readiness.
The name on her uniform was Calm Seas…
Trickshot wasn't sure how long her and the crewcolt stared at each other….she knew it couldn't have been more than a few seconds yet felt like an eternity….then the the ship began to tip backwards and more and more of it went over the wave and their eye contact was broken as the sounds returned to the world. The carrier falling away klaxon still blaring as the gunboat spend off to safety.
The last of the ship Trickshot saw as pegasi abandoned the doomed vessel, most of them carrying one or two of their fellow crewmen was the name of the ship.
Date: August 9th, 1666 CC Time: 09:43 Name: Dasher Location: 12 blocks from Fillidelphia P.S. 43
“Come on!” Dasher yelled as the unicorn colt pulled his sister along behind him.
“Dasher slow down!” His earth pony sister yelled as she stumbled and tried to get her hoof free of her brother's grip.
“We can't stop here, Sparkling.”
“I'm tired and my hooves hurt….” She said finally getting her hoof free and coming to an immediate stop.
Dasher skidded to a stop and faced her. “Sparkling come on!” He said, trying to grab her hoof again. she yanked it away and clutched a small sheep plushie to her chest.
“Mr. Ruler looked hurt….we need to help him.” Sparkling said.
“No, we have to get home!” Dasher yelled trying to push the memory of what they ran by in the halls of the school from his memory….so much blood….
Dasher didn't know what was going on. All he knew was the emergency sirens had started going off and Mrs. Gram had been taking them to the school's shelter when these….things came out of nowhere and started firing their weird guns that seemed to shoot light at everyone.
Dasher had run as everything had fallen into chaos with students running in every direction and Teachers as well.
Somehow he had found his sister hiding under a desk in her classroom and they managed to make it out of the school.
They had been running ever since.
“We have to find mom and dad.” Dasher said, they'd know what to do….they had too.
The colt looked around where they'd stopped seeing the rows of houses, the one they'd stopped in front of had a large orange truck out front and various branches and other debris on the ground with no sign of the groundskeepers who’d been working here, most likely haven't run like everyone else.
The 11 year old could hear the sirens blaring through the city and distant gunfire but none of it was close so maybe they had gotten away and could rest a bit. He had been basically dragging his sister behind him as the 7 year old had trouble keeping up with him as he was bigger than her and they'd not had time to slow down.
He let out a sigh feeling how tired he was now that he'd stopped running. “Okay…okay we can rest here for a few minutes, but we need to get home and find mom and dad, okay?” He said looking at his sister who nodded still clutching her stuffed sheep. She didn't fully understand what was going on, just that something really bad was happening as she sat on the curb beside Dasher.
A distant explosion sent a fireball skyward causing her to jump and cling to her brother. “Wh-what's happening?”
“I don't know….just…some really bad monsters are loose in the city.” he said as he had no other way to describe them, he wasn't sure if his sister had seen them or not and he didn't want to ask and remind her.
As they sat there Dasher’s ear perked up at the sound of a branch snapping behind them and his head snapped around to see a massive 4 pointed claw reaching for them attached to one of the gray armored behemoths.
He yelled and shoved his sister out of the way as he dove the other way as the claw landed where they'd been sitting.
The thing had its weapon on its back as it stood back up. It had armor around its forearms around its torso and legs and a face mask and helmet that looked almost like some sort of gas mask.
It reached for him again and he scrambled under the truck to get away from it hearing something said he couldn't begin to understand but sounded like annoyance. He didn't have time to dwell on it as he got back from under the truck on the other side.
He then heard his sister scream and ran back around the truck to see her back against another parked car clutching her sheep in front of her eyes wide in abject terror as the thing approached her still not drawing its weapon.
Reacting without a thought Dasher picked up one of the branches in his weak magic and ran at the thing. “Get away from her!” he yelled and hit the thing in its armored leg so hard the branch snapped.
He was rewarded by the thing back handing him hard enough to send him flying into the yard and landing hard enough to drive the air from his lungs.
As he lay gasping for breath he heard his sister scream out his name and then more screaming as the thing grabbed her, picking it up in its massive claws, carrying the struggling filly as it walked toward the gasping colt.
A high-pitched sound pierced the air and there was an explosion of blue out the side of the monster’s neck causing it to drop Sparkling as it clutched the gaping wound in its neck and dropped to its knees making a sickening gurgling sound as it tried to breathe through its destroyed neck.
In second it toppled over and after a few twitches lay still.
Dasher managed to get his breath back enough to get up and rush to his sister who was curled in a ball crying clutching her plushie as he looked around to try and see who shot the thing but saw no one around, just the set of apartments in the distance that was several floors above the houses.
Dasher didn't have time to dwell or to try and comfort his sister, not with more of these things possible being around so he scooped her up and started running once more.
Date: August 9th, 1666 CC Time: 09:49 Name: Red Tie Location: Old Oak Inn, Baltimare
Red Tie had been preparing for today's rounds of meetings with a local business his distribution company was hoping to get a contract with, so sent him to bid on it since the company's current contract was up. He had not been looking forward to the meetings as the small company was proving to be rather difficult and a bit stubborn making meetings go on very long. He’d already been here for a week.
That had all changed when the first of the distance explosions had begun. He’d turned on the tv to find every station taken over by news or emergency broadcasts reporting some sort of threat and the military being mobilized to engage it. He’d not gotten much info from the station he was on before the signal cut out.
He tried looking on his phone only to find his signal gone prompting him to begin grabbing his things. If he was fast enough he should be able to get distance between him and whatever was going on in the city, thankfully he was in an inn closer to the edge of the city then the center.
As Red packed his room was rocked by a concerningly close explosion. Rushing to his window he looked out to see something had seemed to crash into buildings just down the street and it was then he saw the military jets engaging planes he’d never seen before over the city, many of them falling to the ground below.
“What in the….”He managed to say a moment before the Inn’s fire alarm belgian blaring as there was another shutter of the building. Now fully releasing the threat Red rushed for the door, only taking the time to grab his work laptop and leave everything else.
The alarm sound grew louder as he opened the door to the smoke filled hall. He could see the handful of others on his floor also exiting their rooms to begin moving toward the stairs at the end. It was the off season for this area so there were not many other guests.
As he stepped into the hall, he saw why the hall was filling with smoke, the hall in the opposite direction was nothing but flames. He began moving with urgency reaching the section of the hall that looked out over the courtyard at the center of the Inn, containing a very old oak tree that was the Inn’s namesake and across the courtyard he could see large areas of the Inn were engulfed in flames that were spreading rapidly through the historical building.
Red saw there was what looked to be a hotel maintenance worker trying to direct guests to the stairs and keep them calm.
“Can anyone hear me! HELP! SOMEBODY!”
Red froze as he heard a mare yelling from the room he was passing and when he looked, he could see the barest hints of smoke seeping out from under the door. He looked to the end of the hall and the door and back down towards the flames realizing he was the person last in the line meaning the others most likely didn't hear it as they kept going to the stairs. “Damnit….” HE said, setting his laptop bag down across the hall from the door running through the fire safety he’d gone through for his company. He felt the door and it still felt cold meaning whatever was going on at the other side had not reached the door at the least or wasn't big enough to fully heat the room so that was good.
He tried the door, finding the locks were still engaged.
“Sir, you need to leave.” The maintenance worker said approaching him, realizing he was now the only person left in the hall besides the worker.
“Some pens in here.” Red said and a moment later the yell for help now punctuated by a coughing fit went up again.
The worker grabbed a key card from his pocket and quickly unlocked the door with his master key.
They opened the door to find a room that looked like Red’s own but this one now sported a collapsed support beam that was on fire and cut the room in half. Red could see the flames spreading through the attic through the hole.
Trapped on the far side of the room was an older mare dressed in casual clothing, the beam having trapped her from the door.
“Damnit…” The worker said as he rushed up the hall to grab an extinguisher. Red looked closer at the holes and relaxed the flames eating through the other beams, the old wood burning rapidly. There wasn't time to try to put the beam out.
Red moved before he really thought as he entered the room looking for anything he could use to reach the mare. Quickly grabbing the mattress and flipping it up and over the beam to create a bridge. “Ma’am come on.” HE said stepping onto the mattress that was threatening to start burning as well.
The mare was frozen in terror and Red had no choice but to cross the mattress and grab her. He nearly dragged the petrified mare across the now burning edged mattress but once accessed she seemed to become more animated as another part of the ceiling caved in.
They rushed out of the room as the worker arrived. With the extinguisher, electing to keep it as he grabbed the mare’s other side to help her. Red grabbed his bag as he went by and the three of them headed down the hall of the burning Inn, the flames spreading more and more.
The three of them reached the ground floor without much incident as the fire had not reached the stairs yet but they found the lower floor was in worse shape than the upper floors as there was more fire here completely cutting them off from most of the Inn.
The worker tried to use the extinguisher to clear a path, but it barely did anything forcing them away from where the exits would be, the extinguisher allowing them to pass through less burning paths till they reached the Inn’s built in restaurant where they found many other guests and staff trapped.
“Is there anyone else?” One of the staff asked as they entered.
“I don't think so…..we didn't see anyone else….” The maintenance worker reported.
The staff nodded gravely before two others closed the wooden and glass doors to the restaurant, stuffing tablecloths in the gap under the door to slow the smoke.
“Why the hell are we still here?” Red demanded.
“The….door outside….the explosion caused the door frame to shift….the door is jammed…we are trying to get it open, but the door doesn't want to budge.” The staff, looking like the hostess, said. Red looked over the room and saw two of the cook staff trying to force the door open with either ramming it or kicking it, but the thick door showed no sign of their efforts doing anything.
This wasn't good…Red moved the older mare to a chair far from the door they entered from and sat her down before going to see if there was anything he could find to help acutely aware the smoke and flames were building outside the glass doors.
“What in the world happened?” He asked the hostess.
“Our best guess is whatever hit the Inn starting the fire also caused the boiler to blow causing the fire to spread rapidly as everything is down there.” She said the power cut out as emergency lights clocked on.
That explains the rapid spread….it was an electrical fire was his best guess which wasn't good.
There was spreading panic as the flames reached outside the door being clearly visible through the glass. It wouldn't be long before it burned its way in.
“What do we do?” Someone yelled as several others were beginning to panic.
As the chiefs continued their efforts to bash the exit door down there was a sudden thud on the other side causing them to jump back in surprise as another came. It sounded like someone was hitting the door from the other side.
After a few hits the red tip of an ax broke through the door near the handle before being withdrawn only to hit again. Someone was hacking their way in.
Once the hole was a certain size another tool was slid through and used to leverage the door till with a loud pop the door finally came open to reveal firefighter in full gear. “Come one everyone out!” The muffled order came as 3 others entered the room to help move people.
Red found the mare from before and helped her to her feet, nearly carrying her to the door and the fresh air beyond.
Outside was utter chaos, the jets still engaged the unknown planes but there were a lot fewer jets now and even more smoke rising in the distance. Where they exited, they found a firetruck, a couple of ambulances and several Keepers of Law with their weapons drawn watching for threats.
“What…what's going on?” Red asked as he was ushered towards the ambulances.
“You are being evacuated….we are going building to building to get people out.” A firefighter answered. It was then He noticed none of the emergency vehicles and their lights on as if they were trying to avoid notice.
An EMR took the mare from Red to benign, checking her over and getting her oxygen and he looked toward the city hearing the gunshots that made this whole situation seem like a war.
Date: August 9th 1666 CC Time: 09:40 Name: Morning Rise Location: Manehatten Apartment, Unknown Unit Number
Morning Rise laid face down on the floor using a couch cushion she’d swiped as a pillow. Last night’s party had been wild and she decided to stay the night at the host's place rather than head back to the Loft she shared with Broken Dawn. She knew she’d get an earful while drunk, and it still will be annoying. Broken was one of the weirdest roommates ever, but her mother wouldn't let her study abroad in this Equestria unless she roomed with someone she knew.
This Broken Dawn, this worlds Twilight former personal student who could go from fun to annoying to downright scary in seconds. Morning still recalled the time Broken threatened to geld a drunk stallion who wouldn't leave Rise alone at one of the few partiest Rise managed to get Broken to tag along, of which the only thing she drank was water and a couple sodas.
The scary anger of Broken could wait till Rise woke up from her stupor and decided to go back to the Loft.
The apartment shookand Rise groaned as she sat up, smacking her lips. She got to her hooves heading for the kitchen to grab a drink. As she was sipping her water, the apartment shook once more and her ear caught the sound of… She rushed to the window and saw smoke rising in the main part of the city and a battle raging in the sky.
It was at this moment she really wished she’d gone home. If there was anyone who you wanted with you in this situation, it was Broken Dawn. The mare was insanely determined to survive everything, no matter how crazy.
Rise downed her water, she knew was going to need it, before she grabbed her coat and headed for the door. The others were beginning to wake, but she didn't see anyone she knew. Broken had drilled into Rise ‘if anything happens, get to the Loft.’ It might have been cold, but people she didn't know would slow her down arguing about what to do and Broken wouldn't waste time.
She rushed down the stairs, glad the place was only on the second floor and was soon into the streets, which were slowly devolving into chaos. People were starting to evacuate. Cars were being loaded and some were already flying down the street to who knows where.
Rise had to be careful. Panicked people didn't exactly obey traffic laws. As she ran down the sidewalks, she caught a glimpse of an ambulance’s lights on a side street and passed a car wreck while crossing a street., One of the drivers were trying to get their suitcases out of the trunk ignoring their bleeding head wound.
She ignored it all as trained. If she stopped to help everyone along the way, she'd never reach her destination. She found herself glad she always stayed close to home. Even so, it was slow going dodging cars and others. She got out her cell and tried to call the loft to let Broken know she was okay, but all she got was a busy signal as soon as she dialed.
“Damnit.” She grumbled as she realized the towers most likely were overloaded with others trying to call as well. Her best option to let Broken know she was safe was to just get her flank to the damn place, so she ran.
It was still some time before she neared the street. The smoke ahead to her destination caused her concern to rise. She paused her run for a moment to catch her breath at the end of the street, it’d been easily half an hour. The ground shaking from an explosion prompted her to keep her rest very short and began jogging down the street once more. To her horror, she found the building she lived in with Broken engulfed in flames from what might be a jet crashing into it.
“No… No… no way.” She said, staring in disbelief. There was no way Broken could be dead, but the mare was nearly always home. She only really left when Rise basically dragged her out some place. Broken always had everything she needed delivered. She….she’d have been home.
“She… she can't be-” Rise breathed, dropping to her knees in shock. If Broken was gone, what in the world was Rise going to do? There was no way she could get through this on her own! She was a dumb party filly and she knew it, always neeidng Broken to rescue her from the dumbass situations she got herself into..
As she sat there staring, the flames shifted and she caught a glimpse of two gears spray painted on the wall with an arrow heading back the way Rise had come from down the street.
That was Broken’s Cutie Mark! She must have gone out looking for Rise when this all started and left a trail for her in case she showed up. This means Broken was alive! She just needed to follow the breadcrumbs the mare would have left for her.
With renewed vigor, Rise stood up and quickly headed back up the street away from the burning loft.
Date: August 9th 1666 CC Time: 09:54 Name: Morning Rise Location: Manehatten Streets
Morning Rise trotted through the streets of Manehatten, following the spray painted trail left by her roommate Broken Dawn as she could hear distant gunfire and concerningly, not so distant gunfire.
She needed to find Broken. If anyone could survive this, it would be her. The mare was practically built to survive. Even with all this going on, she left a trail for Rise to follow… a trail that was indirectly leading back to where the party had started and Rise told Broken she was going.
It was then she realized Broken was coming for her and leaving a trail incase Rise made it home on her own.
“Gah! Stupid mare! Why do you always have to look out for me?” She said as she moved. There had been so many parties ruined because Broken came looking for Rise and she wouldn't be stopped no matter who got in her way. The only person she seemed to defer to was her mentor.
Rise always was mad as she was here to have a good time and enjoy this world, but Broken always had to drag her back to do her college work.
Now, Rise wanted nothing more than to see that dark blue furred unicorn more than anything. Normally she'd fly but she'd not be able to see the marks easily and she didn't want to risk being spotted.
She trotted through the streets occasionally seeing others running to and fro or driving. She was nearly hit by one such fleeing car.
She had tried to get the attention of a few of the others she'd seen, but all that seemed to do was get them to flee from her. This was all so messed up. As she headed down a marked alleyway, she thought of the mare she was following, who in turn was coming to get her, or at least where she’d told her where she’d be.
“Stupid… Damnit, why did you have to be so stupid!” Rise said, kicking herself mentally. It was only now she really saw how stupid it was to not let people know where you were in case something happened.
Granted, invasion wasn't something that usually came up, but still, other things…
She shook her head, she didn't have time to dwell on things like that right now, she needed to find Broken before something happened.
As she came out of the alleyway, she saw a store not far from it. Its window was smashed and several ponies were taking things from inside and running up the street, seemingly just random things taken for the sake of taking it.
She quickly ducked back in the alley way to hide out of reflex until she saw another mark leading away from the looting, and carefully slipped out of the alley to follow the mark.
Each mark she hoped would be the last and she'd find Broken in the middle of spraying another on some building, but damn that mare was making good time, or she left as soon as trouble reared its head so while Rise headed for the loft from the apartment Broken headed for the party location.
She was starting to near the party, a bit of an abandoned area mostly filled with warehouses as it was the start of the transitions from residential to industrial. As she turned the corner, she saw the warehouse where the party started, now devoid of life as everyone either left for other places or fled. Rise had no clue which.
As she entered, she didn't see a mark anywhere but noticed the door had been forced open. She quickened her pace as she headed for the door, slowing as she neared it, seeing the dark void stretch out into the expanse.
She gulped and stepped into the dark halls, the door they’d used entered the office area before the main warehouse area. She moved carefully, not sure if she should call out or not…
A green light came around the corner of the hall ahead lighting up some of the hall
Date: August 9th 1666 CC Time: 10:15 Name: Morning Rise Location: Manehatten Streets
Morning Rise felt instant relief upon seeing Broken Dawn before her at the end of the hall, bathed in the green light from the device she always wore on her right wrist.
Broken began to walk down the hall towards Rise. “I…I was so worried.” Rise started to say. “With everything going on I was… I thought you–” She was cut off when Broken slapped the back of her head.
“The fuck you think you are doing going off somewhere else without calling?” Broken scolded as she glared at the pegasus.
“I… I didn't want you to show up…” She said meekly.
“I only show up when I need to, you damn well know that.” Broken said as stepped back. “Still, glad you made it. Things are going to hell in a handbasket.”
Rise nodded as she accepted the scolding from the unicorn mare. She was as she always was, red and pink mane a mess, wearing her dark blue grease and oil stained jumpsuit with a short messy tail, though now sporting saddlebags.
Broken seemed to move her eye in the weird way she occialally did. “Come on we got to go.” She said, stepping around Rise to head for the door.
“Are… Where are we going?” Rise asked scrambling to follow.
“Back to the loft, and from there, out of the city.” Broken said, starting to head back the way they came.
“The Loft… it’s gone… last I saw, it was an inferno….” Rise said figuring it happened after Broken left.
Broken stopped and frowned. “Bastards… my stuff was in there.” She said, annoyed, then sighed before turning to head the other way. “Come on, the objective is to escape the city.”
“Shouldn't we head for an evac area or one of the bridges?” Rise asked, confused as they didn't seem to be heading that way.
“No, everyone else will be doing that, it's going to be packed and I'd rather not get caught up with nowhere to go.” Broken said as she marched on.
“Oh. Uh… right.” Rise said, not having thought of that.
Rise followed the other mare closely. She couldn't figure out how she was so calm in all of this. Broken never really talked about her past a lot, saying it wasn't really important, but whatever it was, it made the unicorn almost creepily calm.
Broken said nothing as they walked up the street, occasionally looking around as she walked and moved her eyes in her weird way until she stopped in her tracks. Broken started checking the thing on her leg. Rise never understood why it was called a Pip-Buck or why she never took it off, partly because she learned long ago Broken wasn't one to answer questions.
After a minute of her checking it over, her head shot up looking ahead of them before she grabbed the front of Rise’s dress and dragged her into an alley.
“Ack! Hey, what-”
Magic clamped her mouth shut as she was tossed behind a dumpster and Rise got behind it as well motioning for Rise to be quiet as she looked towards the end of the alley way.
Rise said nothing as she sat on the ground and soon hearing what sounded like hooves walking by, several of them. It was a little bit after they passed before Broken seemed to relax, standing up.
“Come on, we need to keep moving.” She said, heading back towards the street.
“What… What was that?” Rise asked.
“Red Ticks.” Was all Broken said as she walked.
“Okay…” Rise said, not getting it. “Where are we going?”
“A marina… going to see if we can secure a boat across the bay.”
Rise blinked. It made some sense, though she wondered about the chances of finding a boat and how Broken would react to being on the water as she hated being inside of cars and anything that moved that wasn't her own hooves. They walked for a bit more before Rise spoke.
“So, do you know how to drive a boat?”
“No.” Broken said without looking back.
“So, is someone waiting for us there?”
“Nope.”
“So what you just plan to take a boat and paddle?”
“Pretty much.”
“That’s… you have to be kidding me.”
“Got a better plan?”
“We could find some soldiers… or head to a Keeper Station or… or-”
“Or what? They got their hooves full trying to deal with this and help everyone so what exactly do you think they can do with us besides waste their time they could better use to help other people who need it.” Broken said, looking at her.
“Well, we… could use their help.”
“We are far better off letting them do their jobs and get others who need it more than us.”
“Why won't you even consider it?”
“Because its a stupid idea that will just waste our time and cost others.”
“Why do you always shoot down everything I think when it comes to anything important?” Rise said, growing annoyed.
“Because its usually stupid.”
“What's that supposed to mean?” She said hackles were rising.
Broken paused and looked back at her. “I mean exactly what I said, nearly all your ideas when it comes to important things are rather stupid and short sighted.” She said matter of factly. “Hell, even your ideas for non important things are short sighted.”
“The hell is your problem?” She said, “I'm the daughter of a princess, and I know how to do things.”
“Trust me I know, it's so obvious.” Broken said. “And yeah you know how to do things, drink, party all night, and waste your time.”
“Oh, as if what you do is better hiding away in your workshop.”
“Least I'm learning things and applying my education.”
Rise opened her mouth to speak when another voice spoke behind Broken.
“Well, what do we have here? Seems they are having a bit of a spat.” A stallion's voice said.
Broken spun around to face the voice automatically getting between the voice and Rise.
There was an earth pony stallion and a unicorn mare. “What do you want?” Broken said firmly.
“Oh, nothing. We heard you two and thought we’d come see what all the noise was.” The stallion said.
“Yeah.” The mare said with a look Rise couldn't place but it unnerved her.
“Well, we are fine so you can move along.” Broken said.
“Nonsense. Why don't you two come with us, after all, safety in numbers.” The mare said, smiling wider.
“We are good.” Broken said.
“Come on, don’t be like that, you can come party with us, you like to party right?” The stallion said looking from broken to Rise, a look that made her skin crawl.
“I said, ‘we are good.’” Broken said more firmly.
“Come on, is that any way to speak to new friends? You should be more polite.” he said.
Rise heard something behind her and started to turn her head to see when she felt a sharp pain in it and stumbled to the side. Through The spots she saw Broken starting to turn her head as the unicorn mare charged her horn and the stallion charged her.
Then Rise was being dragged and when she started to struggle she felt a kick to her rib that drove the air from her lungs. She gasped as she saw more spots and managed to see another large stallion grabbing her and trying to drag her away.
She was trying to get air in her lungs to call for help or Broken or anyone as panic set in, having no idea what they wanted.
Then there were two loud bangs and when the stallion looked up there was a third and his head snapped back before he collapsed next to Rise.
She gasped and tried to move away till she felt herself being dragged away from him and her mind was in full panic as she struggled more.
“Rise easy, it's me.” Broken said as she pulled the panicked mare into a hug. Rise slowly calmed as she hugged the unicorn tears in her eyes.
Rise slowly calmed and got her breathing back under control and Broken slowly let her go. IT was then Rise saw the bruise forming on Broken’s cheek and the chunk of the mare's mane missing and her eyes went wide.
“Broken… you-” She said but Broken interrupted her.
“Are you okay?” She asked concerned, showing nothing about her own injuries, it was then Rise noticed the pistol Broken held and realized what the bangs had been.
Broken had somehow fought off two of them and saved Rise… killing all 3 of them she… if Broken hadn't been here…..
It was now as it hit her. The partying, the late nights doing whatever she wanted, everything.
She was utterly useless in this situation as she didn't know a damn thing that could help.
Date: August 9th 1666 CC Time: 10:34 Name: Morning Rise Location: Manehatten Streets
Morning Rise followed her roommate Broken dawn, now silent after her realization of how useless she is. Rise had no doubt if Broken wasn't trying to save her she’d be out of the city and to safety by now.
Broken paused once more to look over the Pip-Buck on her wrist as Rise stopped and sat quietly.
“Alright we will go a bit longer then we can take a rest.” She said,
Rise nodded saying nothing and this caused Broken to look at her.
“You okay?” She asked, concerned.
“I’m fine.”
“You don't look fine.” She frowned, walking over to her.
“I just don't want to get in your way.”
“Which you are not and have not as far as i know.”
Rise blinked at this. “What…but all the times you had to get me and save my ass.”
“Not in my way.” She said, “If it was, I'd not be here.”
“But…all your work…”
Broken shrugged. “I needed to take breaks and making sure you got home helped remind me…pretty sure that's one of the reasons the Princess wanted us to be friends.”
“Wait….you see us as friends?”
“Yes? Why wouldn't I?”
Rise blinked at her as she’d been thinking she was just a nuises to this mare at best and a burden at worse and was only trying to save her because she was obligated to. But…She saw them as friends?
Broken stared at her. “You….see us as friends too right?” She asked starting to look guarded as if wheels were turning and she was realizing a mistake due to her having trouble reading normal situations
Rise thought of the entire time she’d known this mare, she knew her a few times when they were foals and her mom would bring Rise and her brother along to meet Princess Twilight and they would hang out then along with Princess Twilight’s daughter Violet. And how Broken would try and get Rise and her brother to help in her crazy scheme that often ended in fire somehow.
Then they moved in together and at first Broken was her usual standoffish self but as she thought about it she was starting to realize she was relying more and more on this mare…going out and letting herself cut loose more because in the back of her mind she knew Broken would be there if things got bad. She could always count of her to be there when she got home or come get her if she was out too long and keep her from doing stupid things the rare times Broken came out with her.
It was this moment she realized out of everyone she knew.
Broken Dawn was her best friend and she’d been treating her like shit and using her.
She felt horrible at this but she smiled at her as she had to answer.”yeah. “Yeah we are….and i realized i've been a rather crappy friend.”
Broken shrugged. “I'm not exactly the easiest to get along with, I know.”
“Yeah but I've not really helped either.” Rise said.
Broken shrugged once more and turned to walk towards a building. “Come on we can rest in here.” She said. “Don't want to try it in the streets in case more red ticks come by.”
Rise nodded and moved to follow as Broken reached the door she found it locked, not wasting a second she pulled out a lockpick set and belgian to work. Rise was amazed to see the door swing open within moments. Just what couldn't this mare do?
Broken slowly entered the building which turned out to be a restaurant and bar looking around slowly before waving Rise in who later entered scanning the mostly dark main room.
It was a small place with a few tables and booths and the bar stools. The only lights on appeared to be in the kitchen. It was somewhat comfortable looking.
Rise opened her mouth to speak but Broken waved her to be quiet, drawing her pistol and gesturing to the bar. Rise nodded and stayed by the door as Broke slowly approached it before taking aim.
“I know you're there, come out or I'll start shooting.” Broken said firmly.
There was a pause and what sounded like frantic whispering behind the bar before slowly an earth pony mare and stallion stood, the mare behind the stallion who was wielding a bat and both looked terrified. “W-we don't want any trouble.” The stallion said.
Broken watched them down the sight of her pistol before she lowered her pistol. “Alright, just wanted to make sure you weren't going to attack us.” She said, :We just want to rest a bit, alright if we do so here.”
“Yeah…sure…” The stallion said.
Broken nodded to Rise who closed and relocked the door. “Could have sworn I locked that…” The stallion said.
“You did.” Broken said as she went to the head behind the bar and into the kitchen as Rise went to take a seat at a table. Move the chairs down to do so.
After a few moments the mare and stallion joined her at the table. “So what's your name?” Rise asked.
“Names Blues and this is my marefriend Cog.” The stallion said.
“I’m Rise and the other mare is Broken.” She said, “This your place?”
“No…we found the door unlocked and hid here.” Cog said. “Figured we could hide here.”
“Hiding nots really an option.” Broken said as she tossed some packs of chips on the table before taking a seat. “They are targeting the city pretty heavily and it's only a matter of time before they hit everywhere I’d imagine. Would rather be out of the city before then.”
“So you're heading for the bridge?” Blue asked.
“No the bay, going to see about a boat to escape across it as it's our best bet.”
“Oh…..you sail?”
“No.” Broken said. “Neither does rise. Figure we can float.”
“Blue here knows about boats, he grew up around them.” Cog said.
“Oh? We could use your help.” Rise said.
“I mean….” Blue said.
“Look, it's your choice on that. We are just going to wait here a bit, grab some supplies then move on.” Broken said as she ate some chips and when she finished. “Rise, you should try to rest.” She said,
“What about you? You've been doing more.” Rise protested.
“I'll be fine.” She said. “And someone needs to keep watch.”
“No….no i can keep watch.” She said firmly. She wanted to be useful, she wanted to help and not take advantage of Broken anymore.
Broken looked at her silently before she stood. “I'll be in the kitchen, wake me if anything happens.” She said as she headed towards said room. There was the sound of pots and pans being moved around then silence.
“How….can she sleep at a time like this?” Cog asked.
“Because she can sleep through anything.” Rise said.
“Your friend must be crazy.” Blue said not in a harsh way.
“No…she's just different.” She said, grabbing another bag of chips as she settled in to keep watch and get to know the other two ponies.
Date: August 9th 1666 CC Time: 10:59 Name: Morning Rise Location: Manehatten Streets
Morning Rise learned that Blue and Cog had recently moved in together as things were getting pretty serious between them and while Blue was a native of the city Cog moved their from Fillydelphia as she needed somewhere new to get out of a rut she had been in and the city of fashion and culture seemed like the place to be.
All this was learned before their talking got interrupted by the sound of tires squealing outside.
The three looked to the windows to see a pickup speed by with muzzle flashes of automatic weapons fire coming from the bed of the truck a moment before two other vehicles of a design Rise had never seen before followed in pursuit.
A moment later Broken burst from the kitchen pistol drawn looking for threats.
“It's okay!” Rise said standing up. “It's okay it was outside.” She said,
Broken slowly relaxed and with a nod returned her pistol to her bags. “Alright, think that's our que to start moving again.” She said going to collect supplies.
Rise nodded and went to help finding bottles behind the bar as Rise got food from the kitchen and returned to collect the water. Seeing Cog and Blue were also collecting supplies.
“We are coming with you.” Blue said and Broken simply nodded, going to stand by the door to wait for them.
Within minutes the group stepped out of the bar following Broken who scanned for threats before they started going. Blue still carrying the bat as more weapons could be useful if they run into more ponies like those previous ones.
Rise shivering remembering them but she pushed that down as there were more important things to worry about right now.
She instead focused on watching the surroundings for anything they could use or any enemies driven by her desire to be useful.
She could see more smoke rising in the distance and still hear the distant gunfire as the battle for the city was waged and the occasional explosion.
After a bit they stopped briefly for Broken to look at the device of hers and Rise spotted what looked to be the back end of a Keeper cruiser on the next street over. “Hey broken…..think that might be of use?” she said pointing.
Broken looked and after a moment nodded. “Worth a look.” She said as Rise smiled and the group started to make their way towards it. They were all keeping chatter to a minimum as they didn’t know who was around and didn't want to miss any sounds.
Rise was having trouble keeping her bit of excitement contained as they got closer to the cruiser at the thought of being useful and finding them help. Just before they got to it she broke away to run ahead.
“Rise, get back here!” Broken said just slightly raising her voice.
Rise didn't listen as she skidded around the corner and all the excitement and joy died.
The cruiser was half way onto the sidewalk, the entire passenger side caved in by a small truck and as she looked she saw the skid marks from when the cruiser had been t bone while speeding through the interventions by the fleeing truck the momentum of the vehicles caring them part way through the intersection to where they rested now.
The driver of the truck was half way out of the truck's windshield hanging lifeless down the front of it with blood pooling on the roof of the cruiser and she could just barely make out the body of the Keeper inside the cruiser.
Her eyes locked on the horrific scene and was only severed when Broken yanked her back around the corner to look at her sternly. “Don't you ever run off like that again. Understand?” She said firmly.
Slowly Rise nodded and Broken nodded before going around the corner and Rise sat on the sidewalk with Cog and Blue.
“You okay?” Blue asked.
“I…yeah just…being stupid…”She said.
Cog put an arm around her in a small hug to comfort her as Blue kept watch up the street.
After a few minutes Broken returned carrying a baton. “Pistol was fucked in the crash, but the baton still works and I got the ammo though the shotgun couldn't be released.” she said as she handed the baton to Cog.
“Anyways we need to keep moving.” She said,
“Did….do you think they suffered?” Rise asked, looking up at Broken the image burned into her memory.
Broken looked at her. “No, they were killed in the crash instantly. Best guess they didn't even see it coming.”
Rise let out a breath and got to her hooves feeling at least some relief and she nodded to Broken as they begian to head down the street the Keeper had come from.
After a bit, Broken stopped. “Get to high ground?” She said confused as the group stopped.
“What is it?” Cog asked.
Broken looked at them concerned. “We need to get to high ground, now!” Broken said.
“What why?” blue asked confused.
“It's the objective, come on!” She said as she ran for a small office block. Rise took off after her confused along with the other two but they followed her.
They arrived at the door intime to see Broke shoot the glass to break it so she could crash through it as an alarm started blaring but she ignored it running for the elevators.
She frantically pushed the buttons and in a moment the doors opened. “Come on, come on!” she said urgently.
Once the three were inside she hit the button for the highest floor and the elevator started going.
When the doors opened she dashed for the stairs with them all following confused but with growing panic as Rise had never seen Broken frantic before.
Soon they burst onto the rooftop and she looked around.
“Damnit not high enough…” She said and looked to Rise. “Rise, grab them fly as high as you can.” She said,
“What…why?” Rise asked, confusion and fear growing.
“Shut up and do it!”
“What about you?”
“I’ll be fine, just fucking do it now!”
Rise nodded and grabbed Cog and Blue before spreading her wings and taking to the air having to pump them hard due to the weight but she used her minor shapeshifting to make her wings larger so she could fly a bit better.
As she rose higher and higher with the two earth ponies cleaning to her in fear and confusion, she could see more of the war torn city and beyond it….a wall of water fast approaching the city.
Her eyes looked wide as she flew up and up and looked back to the roof to see no sign of Broken as she took the other two higher.
She soon had to level off as her wings couldn't take her much higher since she wasn't used to the weight.
She could only watch as a Navy carrier fell from the top of the wave and began to capsize as the wave curled some. The carrier was completely upside down as the front of it crashed through the docks and she watched as the tower was torn from the rest of the ship. Forced forward by the force of the wave as it plowed through building after building like a battering ram and the wave consumed everything else.
In moments it washed over the officer where she had left broken washing everything away in its path.
Then as fast as it had arrived it receded…washing out everything that floated within it back out to see, leaving only destruction in its wake.
With soar wings Rise flew down to what was left of the street and landed. The other two were shaken by the destruction and looking around somewhat dazed. “This…this can't be real….Manehatten does get waves like that…”Cog said.
Rise didn't have time to be dazed or in shock, she had to find Broken.
“BROKEN!” she called out. There was no way Broken wouldn't have found a way to survive this. “Broken where are you!” she called as she moved away from what was left of the office block. The other two scrambling to follow.
“Shouldn't we be quiet?” Blue asked.
“Look around, I don't think it matters.” Rise said. “Broken! Can you hear me!?” She called as she walked trying to calculate how far the mare could have gotten in such a short time.
As they passed by what remained of a small grocery store, Rose's ears flicked to a rhythmic beeping sound…it only took her a moment to recognize it as SOS as aunty Twilight had made sure they all knew basic morse code.
She rushed to the door, having to shove debris out of the way as she followed the sound towards the back of the dark and damp interior.
She soon found the entrance to the back and ran into the darkness not caring that she couldn't see.
Then as she stumbled through the darkness she caught sight of a familiar green light in the distance and she rushed towards it as the noise got louder.
She found broke, having tied herself to heavy pipes in the backroom of the store which seems to have prevented her from being washed away and wore some sort of mask on her face though she was limp only held up by the ropes.
Cog and Blue arrived a moment later and started to help Rise untie Broken, blue holding the unconscious mare up so the ropes were slack enough to do so.
Soon broke and untied, Rise ripped the mask off her face." Broken?” She said worried and tried shaking the mare firmly.
“Broken eyes shot open and she gasped gulping down air for a moment. :..note…note to self….modify prototype rebreathing device to switch to allow air in when water isn't present……just a minor set back ....”
Rise pulled her into a hug nearly in tears as she hugged her as tightly as she could. “You damn moron, do you have any idea how much you terrified us?” She said,
“Hey easy….still trying to get air.” Broken croaked.
Rise let her go. “Sorry.”
“I didn't exactly plan to run tests on that this early but…works more or less.” Broken said before she started messing with the device as she used her magic to put the mask back in her saddlebags.
She began, scanning radio frequencies. “Guess the station I was listening to switched to some automated thing when it was destroyed…” She said. “Switched to an emergency channel and some mare was broadcasting the evacuation order about the wave and reporting its location…i…..she must have been in the path of the wave as the signal cut out mid broadcast…”Broken said as she stood with Reese's help “We need to get going I'm not seeming to find–”
“This is KVCR, anyone else survive that wave?” A broadcast called. “We were up on the hills and the station avoided the wave. Anyone else out there? We've opened the air waves for anyone with a radio.”
After a few moments. “This is Sargent Buckshot, reading you loud and clear.”
”Names Helium, my group barely made it to high ground but we are here.”
“Battered and bruised but me and my crew are still in this shit.”
Slowly more and more voices joined in the call that they were alive, that the city wasn't dead, that the fight wasn't over yet.
It floated in the void now thinking how it knew this was a void much less what a void was to begin with as it needed a break from pondering what thinking was.
And now it wondered what a break was.
“And….that's the last of them!” A voice said happily.
It looked at it and found itself in a mostly room filled with books on almost every wall with a sitting area. There it saw a purple thing, a horn on its head glowing as it slid the last of the books onto the shelf looking rather pleased with itself.
As it finished it nodded in satisfaction then started to turn. “Spike can….oh hello there.” it said as its purple eyes fell upon it. “Are you here to check out a book….I’m sorry I'm still new to town so haven't entirely met everyone who lives here yet.” She said apologetically with a light blush.
It took it a few seconds to find its voice. “.....no…..i…..do not need books.” It said,
“Um….okay…what do you need then?” The Thing asked.
“I do not know….where….am I?”
“Oh….um….You're in the Golden Oaks Library in Ponyville. I'm the librarian, only been here for a few months myself” The Thing said. “...um…what's your name?”
It searched for that and found nothing. “I do not know.”
The Thing blinked confused at this. “You don't know your name?”
“No.”
“Okay….concerning…..maybe my friends can help, they know basically everypony in town.”
“Friends?”
“Yeah, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack and Rainbow Dash.” She said proudly. “My best…and supposed first friends….they've lived here for a long time so I'm sure they will know you.” The Thing said heading towards the door.
It started to move to follow but when the door opened there was a flash of light and it once more was in the void.
It looked around confused as it thought something had been here but clearly nothing was and had not been so what was it doing it had a break to take.
Date: August 9th 1666 CC Time: 12:38 Name: Danic al’Remian Location: Whenil International Airport, Saddle Arabia
Danic sat at his duty station watching the blips move across the screen each marked with a series of letters and numbers. Around him other air traffic controllers manned their stations and spoke to the aircraft that were coming, going or passing through the tower coverage to other parts of the world.
As he was starting to click over to wish a flight that was about to leave their cover another blip appeared on his screen flying at an unusual speed and altitude for an international flight. He did a quick search of their database and nothing was in the record for that flight coming to them but the call sign did mark it as an Equestrian Airways passenger jet.
He clicked over the radio. “DC-45X this is WIA you have entered our coverage, can you transmit your flight plan.” he said in Equestrian. He waited a few seconds and received no response. “DC-45X please respond.” Again nothing.
He flagged over his supervisor switching to his native tongue. “I have a flight from Equestria that isn’t responding….may have a possible hijacking.”
The supervisor frowned and put on a second headset and tried to raise the jetliner as well.
Upon receiving no response the supervisor headed for a red phone on the wall.
Date: August 9th 1088 CC Time: 12:50 Name: Revia to’Dani Location: 200 miles southeast of Whenil International
Captain Revia flew at the head of the 5 fighter jets that had been rerouted from their training run to investigate a jetliner that wasn't responding to the tower.
As they neared the jetliner they could make it out and clearly see it trailing smoke as well as it moving very erratically. If Revia didn’t know any better she’d have thought it was evasive maneuvers.
“Command, we have a visual of DC-45X, they appear to have suffered damage, switching to short range emergency radio.” She reported thinking that may be the reason they were not responding.
“Affirmative.” Command responded.
She clicked over as she started to speak equestrian. “This is Captain Revia of the Saddle Arabian air force, please res–”
“This is Equestrian Airways Flight 4490, we are under attack! Please shoot the people chasing us!” Cam a frantic voice cutting her off.
This put her on alert as she now focused more closely on the oncoming jetliner and now could make out smaller craft flying around it and just barely make out weapons firing on the jetliner that was desperately trying to dodge.
“Command, we have a visual of unidentified aircraft attacking the jetliner, the pilot has requested immediate assistance, permission to engage.” Revia spoke to command.
“Captain, can you identify hostile aircraft?”
She squinted. “Negative.”
There was a few seconds pause. “Green light, Green light to engage.”
“Squadron prepare for combat, engage enemy aircraft on sight and defend those civilians.” She radios to her squadron and get confirmation as they disengaged safety systems on their weapons.
“Flight 4490 we are engaging hostile craft.”
“Oh thank the gods, I wasn't sure how much longer we could keep this up.” The voice came back still panicked but somewhat less so as the fighter jets moved to engage.
As soon as they were within range they opened fire with their cannons due to the proximity of the enemy craft to the jetliner.
The enemy craft moved like nothing Revia had ever seen, far more maneuverable and it quickly became apparent their missiles were useless as the strange craft just dodged the missiles leaving their cannon as the main weapons.
There were two enemy craft vs their five and even with those odds her squadron was having trouble bringing them down as the jetliner began to descend to try and get out of the fighting.
As they fought one of the strange craft managed to bring down two of her squadron, their weapon completely designed the craft, only one of her fellow pilots having been able to eject before the shot hit.
Even with all of them engaging it still took way more shots from their canons to finally bring down the enemy craft.
With the last craft plummeting to Equus they turned back to the jetliner “Thanks the gods you arrived when you did.” The pilot said as the fighter flew up alongside to escort them to the airport. It was now that Revia could see how badly damaged the craft was and that it wasn't one usually used to fly internationally from Equestria only having two engines, one of which was almost entirely gone and the year of the craft had a massive hole in it tail secession and she could see into the cabin.
The wings and tail were also damned and scorched from near misses, it was a wonder the jetliner was even in the air still as it limped along.
Revia began relying information from the tower to the pilots and back as she learned the jetliner was running on fumes and were going to need to land soon else they'd be landing harder.
This was relayed to the tower, and they were clearing a runway as well as preparing emergency vehicles.
All Captain Revia could wonder was, what was going on in Equestria?
Date: August 9th 1666 CC Time: 12:50 Name: Micro Location: Biohazard Containment Division Lab 43, Baltimare
Professor Micro sat in his office of the lab he had run expertly for the last 4 years when his predecessor retired from the BCD do to age and chose Micro as his a replacement, a fact the pegasus took great pride in as a professor position was not something that comes along everyday in their line of work.
Micro had done his best to live up to that decision and he felt he had surpassed them as his lab had handled some of the most concerning outbreaks to be recorded and had taken exceptional pride in his public relations initiative that saw BCD doctors when not busy assisting local medical personnel with viral outbreaks and bringing their expertise and resources to the general public outside of deadly outbreaks while of course maintaining strict sanitation defenses for all BCD personnel.
Though things had changed with the Unknown Subjects came from the sky and began spreading something the BCD had never been able to contain, violence. The BCD went into full red alert, more high profile Labs went into full lockdown to maintain containment for their high level samples.
Lower level labs such as Lab 43 were put in standby mode till further information could be obtained through Unknown Subject acquisition, an effort that was proving to be more difficult than usual.
A chime sounded from Professor Micros computer drawing his attention to an alert that came up and after checking a few things he did something BCD researchers don't usually do when in standby.
He removed his hood and gas mask, placing the mask on the desk beside the computer as he input several more commands. A small light turning on to indicate the camera above the monitor was now active and recording.
“This is Professor Micro, BCD Lab 43, personnel log.” Micro spoke clearly and professionally
“At approximately 0900 hours this morning August 9th 1088 Celestial Calendar unknown Subjects appeared across Equestria unleashing violence the likes we have never seen before in the history of our institution and all efforts have been deployed to provide aid as best as we can.”
“At approximately 1030 hours perimeter alarms were tripped and upon investigation Citizens in Distress had gained entrance to the outer lobby area seeking refuge from Unknown Subject assault on the city of Baltimare. It was a unanimous decision by all onsite personnel to break Standby Order and render aid to CiDs bringing them into Lab 43 to provide needed medical attention.”
“Over the next few hours further contact with multiple CiDs was made as they arrived at the lab’s perimeter and aid was being rendered to the best of our abilities. Medical records are being acquired and saved as fast as we can receive them to provide proper aid and back up treatment.”
With this Professor Micro connected his log to the security feed of the medical bay and silently observed as his fellow doctors worked rapidly and expertly to tend to the CiDs. “We currently have 37 CiDs present on site ranging in ages of 66 years and 9 years of age with injuries ranging from minor scratches to severe energy burns requiring extensive surgery to attempt to repair.”
Professor Micro ended the connection to the feed and his face returned to the center of the screen. “All treatment is being input into the system as it becomes available as per protocols of all treatments rendered.”
Professor Micros' eyes were drawn to another alert that appeared on the corner of his screen and he clicked off it before returning his attention to the camera before him. “As the record will show even with being a low level lab we contain one Class 3 Sample known as Zantian Fever, while not overly deadly the virus is highly virulent and can take several months for infected individuals to recover…”
“The time is currently 1258 hours and several minutes ago as the system will show I was alerted to a very serious matter….” With this Professor Micro connected another feed to his log.
This feed was from the external lobby camera, the feed was showing static indicating the camera or its connections were damaged. Before it showed a sparsely decorated lobby with minimal furnishing, a simple desk and a few windows showing the street beyond. Much of the simple furniture as well as the walls showed multiple large bullet holes caused by the lab's external defense systems.to the side of the feed multiple Unknown Subjects were slowly cutting their way through the external door of the lab’s airlock.
“Unknown Subjects have proven to be most focused on breaching the lab’s inner perimeter…..I have chosen not to share this information with my fellow doctors so that they may focus on provided the aide needed to ease the suffering of the CiDs and disabled internal alarms……I….want to go on record in that my fellow doctors have acted with exemplary professionalism in this uncertain time and I am forwarding a recommendation for full commendation on this fact along with this log explaining the reasoning as i do not have time for individual recommendations before the Airlock is breached and full sanitation protocols are automatically initiated and containment of all samples is ensured…..containment must be maintained……”
Professor Micro saw another alert and looked back to the camera. “This is Professor Micro signing off and transmitting all records to off site backup storage.” With that the camera turned off.
Five minutes after Professor Micro finished his log Biohazard Containment Divisions Lab 43’s containment fail safes were initiated and the Baltimare streets shook as within half a second Lab 43 and everything within it ceased to exist.
Date: August 9th 1666 CC Time: 13:04 Name: Trotter Location: Grid Tango-Delta-Three-Five ,Third Ring, Everfree Forest
“Go! GO!” Recruit Silver yelled as the three recruits galloped through the underbrush of one of the most dangerous places in the world.
Trotter pushed through a small bush ignoring the scratch it gave her legs as adrenaline dulled all pain as well as her earth pony endurance that had served her well in the more physical aspects of their first year of training.
Behind her ran unicorn Recruit Bluey and bringing up the rear was Silver, another unicorn. The three of them had been dropped off separately in the forest 2 days ago as their first survival exercise with the standard kit of a pistol, one extra mag, a meal bar and a very simple map with the goal of reaching an extraction point. The three of them had been lucky to run into each other and combine their maps as each one had different details. The only real knowledge of things they had was instructors would be moving through the forest tracking their progress….Trotter assumed that was the burst of automatic weapons fire they had heard several hours prior.
“What the hell are those things!” Bluey yelled.
“I don’t know, some sort of addition to the exercise?” Silver said back.
“They didn't look like anything i've ever seen…” Bluey said.
“We will worry about it later, keep moving, we are almost to extraction!” Silver urged them on.
Trotter mentally steeled herself, just a few more meters…..
The three burst from the tree line into a clearing and skidded to a stop.
Before they lay the scene of a battlefield, unmarked green jumpsuits of recruits lay scattered with dots of ponies in full combat armor with small bits of brass sprinkled in for good measure and beyond them was the burning husk of a transport helicopter that looked as if it had attempted to take off.
“Wh…i…..i don’t think this is part of the training….”Trotter breathed.
“O…okay remain calm….maybe we can find a radio or….or something…..” Silver said.
Bluey swallowed hard as the three started to walk toward what had been their salvation.
As they reached the first body Trotter caught movement from the helicopter as a large armored figure stepped around it and she froze as everything moved in slow motion.
First its strangely shaped head turned towards her. Thenit turned its body. Its strange rifle coming up.
Then she was hit from the side as a beam of energy burned through the area she'd just been standing.
“Come on!” bluey yelled as he got off her dragging her from her paralyzing shock as he pulled her to her hooves and the three were running once more.
They reached the treeline just as another energy bolt shot at them and barely missed Silver as he dove behind a tree.
“What do we do now!” Trotter yelled.
“We have to try to get to another extraction; there has to be one still operational or find an instructor!” Silver yelled over the sound of their hoofalls and the sound of that thing crashing through the underbrush behind them.
“We need to lose that thing first!” Bluey yelled.
Trotter focused on running forward, as the earth pony it was easier for her to move through the plant life and make a bath for the others. Just had to put one hoof in front of the other….
She broke through a line of bushes into an area that was devoid of everything but thickest trees and a large mound of dirt in the center and Trotters training had her already moving to avoid the mound of dirt they'd all read about in training.
She was so focused on avoiding the mound of dirt she didn't see the root of one of the trees and in a second her face met the dirt. She lifted her head spitting out the fine dirt that got in her mouth.
“Come one get up!” Silver said as he got beside her starting to help her up as they could hear the thing still pursuing them.
A moment later the earthen mound exploded as another of those things crashed through it, as another came from where they'd been going.
S”hit!” Silver cursed as he let go Trotter getting between her and the one who came through the earthen mound as he drew his sidearm firing two shots a moment before an energy bolt struck him in the chest sending him back over the still prone Trotter as his magic feld with the end of his life dropping the side arm to the ground as trotter couldn't keep a scream of horror from escaping her lips as her friend died right in front of her.
The three alien things closed in on the young recruit as she was trying to process everything.
Then the ground began to shutter starting where the mound had been and radiating outward and a second small red insects began to pour from the mound that had been the entrance to their hive flowing like water towards the closest of the three alien creatures which didn't have time to really react before the swarm of Everfree Ants belgian crawling up its legs in such numbers it was quickly becoming impossible to see. It had enough time for a shot as it fell backwards into the army of ants letting out what would only be described as a scream of pain as the ants began chewing their way through the armor it wore and the flesh beneath it.
The other two turned and belgian firing at the swarm as it flowed towards them with great speed reaching them in seconds and beginning to consume them as well.
The swarm flowed towards Trotter who knew she didn't have a chance, not while she was on the ground, the first of the aliens mound was already half its original size.
Suddenly a wall of blue magic appeared between Trotter and the Everfree Ants stopping them in their tracks for the moment as Bluey was by her side horn glowing. “Come one!” he said, helping her up as he winced the ants pressing on the shield attempting to break through.
“but….But Silver….” Trotter stammered out.
“There is nothing we can do for him now.” Blue said holding the downed recruit’s dog tags and before Trotter could respond he was running and dragging her behind him as the shield was starting to fail. He only let Trotter go as she got her hooves under herself and started galloping harder than before.
“Go GO!” Bluey yelled as his shield spell failed and the two recruits ran into the forest.
Date: August 9th 1666 CC Time: 13:30 Name: Gold Shield Location: 1948 Birch Street, Vanhoover
Gold sighed contently as he finished the chapter of his book that he started a week ago and had been enjoying a great deal when not on duty down at the Keeper Station. The earth pony set the book to the side and debated what to do next for his day off when he heard the front door open and hooves rapidly approaching.
Going to investigate he arrived just in time to catch his wife before she fell over from carrying too many groceries.
He chuckled as he righted her. “You know you didn't have to bring them all in, right?” Gold said as he took some bags.
“I didn't want to make two trips.” His earth pony wife, Green Curl said in defense.
“I could have gotten it then.” He shot back.
“.....I knew that.” She said sheepishly as they reached the kitchen and set the bags down on the table there.
“Uh-huh course you did.” He said as he nuzzled her. She gave a sigh and nuzzled back, going to put things away.
“So how was the book?”
“Very well, about half way through it. How was the store?”
“Eh….bit busy, they seemed to have some call ins so lines were a bit backed up.”
“Lovely.” he chuckled as he helped put the groceries away.
“How does a pizza sound for lunch?” His wife asked pulling out a frozen pizza.
“Like a fine idea.” He said as he went to start the oven heating.
“I figured something easy would be nice.” She chuckled as she put the last of the groceries away.
“Agreed, I'll make something for dinner.” Gold said.
“You don't have too.” Green said as she opened the box the pizza was in.
“I want to, I'm not the only one that should enjoy putting their hooves up today.” He said giving her a hip bump.
“Okay okay twist my leg why don't you?” She smiled.
He kissed her and turned to leave the kitchen. “And maybe I'll wear that dress you like for that dinner.” His wife said behind him making him miss a step at that image as it meant other things were planned by his wife. Said wife’s laughter followed him out as her evil plan was already in motion.
Damn mare, she knows how to push certain buttons way too well as he decided to grab a quick shower to cool off.
Once that was done and he was in the middle of drying after cooling off he was startled by the loud beeping as the smoke alarm went off.
He rushed out of the bathroom already smelling smoke. “Gold!” his wife called from the kitchen.
Gold rushed into the kitchen where the smoke was much thicker coming from the oven, his wife opening up and yelping as she jumped back as it belched forth smoke and flames. “Get back!” Gold yelled as he opened the pantry and grabbed the extinguisher.
Pulling the pin he began to spray the foam into the stove as the smoke and heat was growing stronger.
“Put it out!” Green yelled.
“I’m trying!” Gold said back as the flames were growing and he was starting to cough from the smoke and the heat grew. Why wasn't the extinguisher doing anything? What was wrong? Why was it getting harder to breathe?
Date: August 9th 1088 CC Time: 13:30 Name: Gold Shield Location: 45th Street, Vanhoover.
Gold’s eyes snapped open and the first thing to greet him was a splitting headache as he groaned memories rushing back.
He was called into work early in the morning due to some sort of emergency, he was sent to oversee evacuations to shelters when everything went to tartarus. He had no clue what was happening, just some sort of attack. He had been heading down 45th street siren blaring when a car ran the light from a side street….he swerved….
His head shot up with a stab of pain to see the front of his cruiser wrapped around a light pole. And to add to the situation, flames were coming from under the hood as smoke was pouring into the inside from the air vents.
“Shit!” Gold said as he moved and hissed as a stabbing pain shot up his leg telling him it was broken.
He’d worry about that later as he tried the door only for it not to budge. He checked the locks and found them open but no matter what he tried the door wouldn't open.
The flames from the engine block were growing as more smoke poured into where he was.
He quickly closed the vents to try and slow it trying to ignore the pain in his leg as he moved to see if he could somehow get to the other door.
It was a no go as the shotgun and other equipment blocked that.
In desperation he tried to break the window with his elbow and was rewarded with all new pain. “Okay….not like the movies…..” he said as he cradled the elbow seeing the flames were bigger and spreading now.
He tried his elbow again and only got pain as the glass resisted breaking, after two more times he gave up as the pain helped clear the fog from his head as he remembered his equipment belt.
He reached for his baton and tried to unclip it only to find that easier said than done as things weren't exactly meant to be removed from it while sitting in your slowly burning cruiser.
More and more smoke was filling the compartment as the flames now filled the windshield and he frantically tried to unlock the shotgun to blast the glass, desperate to save himself from a very painful death.
Suddenly the window exploded inward and was replaced by a metal stock of a cheap military rifle.
“Hey yo! The screws still alive!” someone yelled and there was a clambering outside.
Gold recognized the term used by many in the criminal underground to refer to Keepers and now he was trying to get the shotgun for another reason.
Suddenly someone was in the window leaning into the cruiser and Gold threw a weak punch that was ignored.
“Easy Screw!” The figure said as they wrapped arms around Gold’s chest and started to lift him out of the seat.
Gold couldn't help crying out in pain as his leg was moved and the figure dropped him. “my...my leg…it's broken.” he wheezed.
“Yeah well, eat it unless you want to become a well done screw.” The figure said and started to lift him out of the seat again.
He hissed at the pain as he was pulled out of the car. As he got more clear some one else wrapped their arms around his waist to hold him as he was carried away from the burning cruiser. “Yo get the shotgun.” someone yelled and a moment later another figure had the shotgun as the trunk was popped and being raided for the equipment back there.
Gold was taken a little ways away and sat against a building finally getting a good look at who had saved him and blinked as he saw them wearing blue and white bandannas marking them as one of the larger gangs in the city, Killer Z.
One of them brought the first aid kit over and open it, starting to tend to Gold’s leg. “This is going to hurt a lot.” The one tending him said, as soon as he finished speaking he yanked on Gold’s leg and there was a popping sound and a lot of pain making him cry out once more but it slowly fades to a dull throb that was less then it had been before as the gang member started applying a splint.
Gold looked around and saw multiple cars parked on the street and multiple Killer Z's around all well armed as well as a few people that didn't look like gang members.
“What…what's going on?” Gold asked.
“We are getting the fuck out of the city, that's what.” A unicorn pony said walking up. Gold recognized him from the bulletins due to multiple warrants for his arrest. He was the second in command of the Killer Zs, Ashes. “City’s fucked and staying puts a death sentence. Figure if we move fast we can make it across the eastern bridge.”
Gold looked at the hoof full of ponies he could see that weren't wearing gang colors. “Not a clue, ran into them as we left the neighborhood…they hopped aboard or started following in their own cars.” The gang leader said dismissively
“And done.” The gang member tending to Gold’s leg said.
“Alright you assholes, load up we’re moving!” Ashes yelled and gang members started moving to get back in their cars as two of them got on either side of Gold to help carry him.
He was loaded into the back of a pick seeing his cruiser was totally engulfed in flames now and the convoy started moving as the pain and panic of everything caught up to Gold and he passed out.
Date: August 9th, 1666 CC Time: 13:49 Name: Dasher Location: Green Gables Apartments, Apt 4B
Dasher stepped into the hall that led to his apartment, his little sister clinging to his back having due to be carried to become too tired to run through the city. It had taken them hours to get home due to the sheer chaos the city was in as people fled in every direction. At one point they had to hide under a car as they watched a military tank in full retreat firing on a weird looking tank, the tank not caring what got in its path as it ran over cars and other things, luckily they were on a side street and had avoided notice.
Dasher’s shoulder hurt to move where the monster had hit him when it tried to grab his sister but he ignored it as he focused on getting home.
The two foals quickly made their way down the hall to their apartment and Dasher used the key their parents gave him in case of emergency to enter. “Mom! Dad!” he yelled as he rushed through the unlocked door.
There was no answer from the dark apartment.
He closed the door and set his sister down before going to check the apartment and found what he feared.
Their parents weren’t home.
He returned to his Sister who sat where he left her by the door.
“Where’s mommy and Daddy?” Sparkling asked.
“I’m sure they will be here soon…” He said as convincingly as he could. He knew they’d have been at work but they should have been home before them…..he hoped they didn't go to the school….
He forced that thought down and smiled at Sparkling. “How about I make us some lunch?” he asked and Sparking gave a small nod. He moved her to the living room and clicked on the TV to put cartoons on for her and was met with a staticy image of a reporter crouched behind an overturned car as gunfire and explosions sounded loudly. “--overrun….I say again Evacuation site Delta is in danger of being overrun and citizens must find alternative evacuation sites.” The reporter yelled into their mic to be heard over the gunfire. “I’m going to attempt to escape and continue to bring as up to date information as I learn it….This is Quick Scoop for KETB and I'll report again as soon as i can.” The reporter said before grabbing the camera, the view being tilted and showing EDF Troopers behind sandbags firing everything they had at an unseen foe before the feed cut and the screen was just static.
Dasher gulped and started flipping channels and was met with static or test signals till finally he shut off the TV. “um…..maybe things will be on later…”He said, shaken and quickly went to get some of his sister’s toys from her room.
Once he got her playing he went to the kitchen and turned on the stove glad the power was still on as he grabbed a box of mac and cheese and began to cook it, standing on a chair so he could see well enough.
Shortly he was serving very watery noodles having done his best to follow the instructions on the box but still turning out not the best as he brought a bowl into the living room for his sister. “Mom said we aren't supposed to eat anywhere but the table…” Sparkling said.
“It’s fine…she won't be upset.” Dasher said as he set the bowls on the coffee table and went to the cabinet holding the discs with shows and movies on them.
He grabbed one of the shows Sparkling liked and soon the living room had the sound of magic and talks of being a princess as the siblings sat in silence eating.
Normally Dasher hated this show but right now he focused on it and blocked out the world outside.
By the time the first episode ended their meal was done.
“Oh….I wonder if Tumbler is home….” Sparkling said.
“Tumbler? Wouldn't she have been at school?” Dasher said knowing Tumbler was the daughter of the building manager and one of Sparkling’s friends.
Sparkling shook her head. “No, she was out sick.”
Thinking about that reminded Dasher that Mr. Ground was probably home as he had no reason to leave the building especially with his daughter sick. He’d surely know what to do or at least could help them. He hadn't thought of that as they came through the back door rather than the main door.
Dasher got to his hooves. “Stay here, I'm going to go see. Don’t open the door for anyone, I have a key.” He told his sister who nodded and slowly went back to watching her show as Dasher headed for the door.
Locking it behind him he made his way to the main stairwell and descended the four floors till he exited into the main area. There was a row of mailboxes along one wall next to a small window that served as the office and across from the office was Mr. Ground’s apartment.
And the glass door to the outside of the apartment was smashed in and Dasher froze seeing nothing between him and outside.
He shook his head. Just needed to see if Mr. Ground was home.
Slowly he approached the door and gulped as he saw the door was missing. And what looked like a couch close to the door.
Slowly Dasher stepped around the door frame to see an overturned couch with the door laying on the other side of it, the middle of the carpet had indents indicating the couch had been there originally. “M….Mr. Ground?” Dasher said as he stepped into the room seeing something laying on the floor, he wasn't sure what it was, a small red plastic tube attached to a small brass metal bit.
Dasher looked around and saw another by the hallway and stepped up to the hall. “Mr. Ground?” he called again seeing more of the little red tubes and some sort of purple stuff splattered on the wall.
Dasher crept down the dark hall toward the far end of it.
There he found a door with “Tumbler '' on it in wooden letters hanging from one of the hinges with a large hole in the center of it and more of the dark purple stuff splatter.
He gulped as he slowly approached it. “Mr. Ground?” he said as he stepped around the door.
Inside was a bright pink room with ribbon hanging from a few places on the ceiling. His eyes slowly went to the far side of the room where he saw more of the red tubes beside a mattress that was on its side between the door and the far corner of the room propped up by the rest of the bed with a large hole burned through the center of it.
Slowly the colt stepped forward. “m…Mr. Ground?” he said as he stepped around the mattress and recoiled as he found Mr. Ground on the floor clutching a shotgun, a box of shells overturned beside him and a shelf half way into the gun and a large hole in his chest.
Dasher started to breathe rapidly as he looked at the body and then rapidly looked around seeing no sign of Tumbler….save the little stuffed dog he’d seen her with many times laying on the floor beside the bed.
His mind brought up the monster he had encountered on the run from the school. It had been trying to grab them, and had grabbed his sister.
He gulped at that as realization dawned on him and he turned to leave.
As he ran down the hall he reached the living room where a flash of light caught his eye causing him to stop.
There hanging on a hook by the kitchen was a single key on a ring Dasher recognized as the one Mr. Ground used to unlock the doors around the building, The Master key.
Dasher looked between the key and the door as fear told him to bolt home and hide under his covers and the big brother told him the key could let him get whatever they needed from the rest of the building to make him able to defend the apartment.
These two warred within him for a few seconds before the brother won and Dash grabbed a chair to pull over and in a second he had the master key. He found some string and tied the key around his neck.
He then began searching the living room and kitchen for useful things, not going near the hall.
He opened the closet beside the front door and found a small toolbox Mr. Ground used to do minor repairs around the building.
Dasher grabbed it and had to strain a bit to lift the heavy tool box. Seeing he wouldn't be able to carry anything else Dash left the apartment with the tool box and started to make his way home.
By the second floor he was having to semi drag the toolbox up the stairs as it was too heavy for him to carry the whole way, the box making a somewhat loud thud with each step.
It was slow going but he was getting it up the stairs, reaching the third floor landing and dragging the box across the floor toward the stairs.
The door to the third floor exploded outward as one of the Monsters crashed through it, its weapon raised as it swept the landing. The shock of the thing’s sudden appearance caused Dasher to fall back pulling the toolbox partly up with him before he lost his grip and the box landed on its side popping open and spilling the tools out onto the floor as Dasher cried out in fear.
The thing’s strange rifle aimed at the colt who lay on his back and it quickly lowered it and started to reach for the foal who scrambled back in fear.
The monster claw-like hands grabbed his leg and he screamed in fear as it started to drag him back towards it. He desperately tried to find something to hold onto as he kicked at the things hand screaming in fear.
As it started to lift him up by the back leg his hoof found something to grip, something plastic and cylindrical.
Without thinking Dasher swung with all his might and the tip of the screwdriver buried itself in the monster's unarmored neck causing it to make a noise that might have been a cry of pain and fall backward.
It landed with a loud thud on the landing, Dasher landing on its chest.
Scrambling Dasher grabbed the screwdriver and pulled it out and brought it down once more then repeated the action stabbing the monster in the neck over and over again as it made a gurgling sound as dark purple liquid spread out from under it.
It was sometime after it stopped moving that Dasher finally stopped stabbing it and sat there on its chest shaking looking down at its destroyed neck.
Suddenly he felt something welling up inside of him and stumbled a few feet away before the mac and cheese he ate earlier came back up all over the corner of the landing.
It was a minute before Dasher stopped throwing up and was able to right himself on shaking legs. He swallowed hard and mechanically started to collect the dropped tools back into the box, not even looking at the screwdriver buried in the monster's neck.
Once the toolbox was full he closed and latched it and started dragging it up the stairs once more.
Date: August 9th, 1666 CC Time: 14:15 Name: Prancer Location: Unnamed private airfield Southeastern Equestria
The car skidded to a stop outside of the gates of Prancer’s family air strip where they kept their private jet for when they flew where they wanted. They had been lucky to be at the winter house when the invaders attacked and had been avoiding the worst of it.
Prancer was the only child of a noble house and heir to its titles. Groomed by his Father to take over once he was gone Prancer learned very quickly not to express his own opinions on matters as his Father believed he knew best on all things, a fact Prancer could tell was far from the truth as while they had wealth, they were far from The Council, they didn't even qualify as a middle house within Equestrian society do to his parents insistence on use of their wealth to do all they canto acquire more at the cost of everyone else. You can’t rise without allies and no one will ally with someone they knew would stab them in the back at the first inconvenience.
Even with this horrible situation Prancer’s Father only cared for themselves ordering their personal security to lock the gates and keep everyone out even other Equestrians focused only on self preservation and nothing on what it means to be a Nobel in the upper parts of society.
Even now with the invaders getting close Father had slipped them out quietly without alerting the house staff of the threat, luckily Prancer had been able to leave a note so they might get some warning and can flee before it's too late to hide.
“Come now the plane should be ready.” Father said as he got out of the car and went to the trunk to get their suitcases, having packed as if they were going on vacation and weren't running for their lives.
Prancer’s Mother wasn't much better, married for her looks and name rather than anything going on in her head. Prancer hated to think that way as at least his Mother showed kindness to others but he had to face facts, she was the product of wealth and only wealth, not education or anything so she didn't understand much. If he wanted to rise Prancer would have to try and repair the damage both families reputations have left him with. That was if he survived this ordeal.
Prancer grabbed his suitcase, packed with a single change of clothes and the rest of the space was taken up by water food and a rifle he used for competition shooting, it wasn't much but it was better then being unarmed.
The 3 of them made their way through the gate and across the tarmac toward the hanger that housed their plane and they were greeted by Fair Winds the pilot of their jet and former air force pilot, one of the few good decisions his Father made as it was paying off now.
“Jets all fueled up and ready to go.” Fair Winds said in her drawl that marked her speech. “Where too sir”
“I am thinking the Griffin Kingdoms will be quite fine, yes quite fine.” Father said.
Fair Winds nodded. “Right away sir, leave your bags here and I'll take care of them.” Fair Winds said clearly unaware of the situation.
Father of course didn't tell her as he walked past her leaving his bags headed for the stairs.
Prancer followed as he knew saying anything now would only result in a delay and despite his plans for the future, he couldn't do anything if he didn’t escape. So he left his bag with the others and boarded the small jet.
Inside was a shrine to wealth, finest chairs, gold trim on things, even a few paintings and of course wine. Everything is just the highest quality materials whether it functions or not.
Prancer took one of the seats and buckled the seatbelt as he looked out the window, watching Fair Winds load the luggage into the cargo hold.
Once that was done Fair Winds climbed aboard and pulled the stepped up sealing the cabin. “Just give me a moment and we will be heading out.” She said to them before heading to the cockpit to take her seat.
Just as she said, within a moment the cabin was filled with a dull hum as the engines came on and soon they were taxing out of the hangar towards the runway. As they did, Fair Wind’s voice came over the intercom. “Uh…Sir i think i may have an issue with the radio, i can't seem to raise any air traffic controllers.”
Father was quick to pick up the phone built into his seat that gave him a direct line to her head set. “I’m sure it's just the weather, it was called for a thunderstorm further north.” he said quickly, making it clear he was deliberately keeping the truth from the pilot. Telling her might result in her abandoning the flight plan and Father couldn't have anyone disobeying him.
It sickened the young unicorn but there wasn't much he could do.
After a moment. "Yes I'm sure once we are going it will be fine.” Father said and hung up the phone and the plane moved towards the runway.
Prance caught movement out his window and looked to see a car speeding down the road toward the air strip, the front showing damage as if it had rammed something and the speed it was taking turns told Prancer all he needed to know, the Invaders had reached the area.
The car skidded to a stop outside the gate and and a mare jumped from the passenger seat frantically waving as she galloped towards the gate as the driver got out along with two foals. Prancer watched as the four ran for the plane not even carrying anything as if they fled before they could as the plane slowly turned onto the runway.
Prancer looked at his Father who had poured himself a glass of wine and then back to the family frantically galloping and trying to get the pilots attention and he made a decision.
Prancer unbuckled from his seat and headed for the front of the plane.
“Prancer what are you doing?” His mother asked.
Prancer ignored her as he opened the door and waved out the door. “Come on! Move!”
“What are you doing?” His Father said angrily as he got up and marched towards Prancer.
“What's going on back there? I got an indication the door opened? I can’t take off if it's open.” Fair Winds said over the intercom.
Prancer ignored them. “Hurry we don't have much time!” he yelled as the family galloped for the door. Prancer was yanked back inside by his angry Father who stormed past him and started to pull the stairs back up.
Prancer did something he had never thought of doing ever and tackled his Father away from them.
“What do you think you're doing young colt?” his Father yelled in anger.
A moment later Fair Wind came out of the cockpit. “What the hell is going on?” She said seeing the scene before her of Prancer and his Father wrestling on the ground.
A few seconds later a mare entered the cabin and turned back to take the first foal from the stallion. “Who the hell are you? This is a private plane." Fair Winds said.
The mare took the last foal and the stallion boarded. “Thank you, thank you so much they were right behind us.” he said.
“What? Who was behind you?” Fair Winds asked, confused.
Prancer got off his father. “The damn country is being invaded, we have to leave now as they reached this area, we have to go NOW!” he said.
“Wh…invasion?” Fair winds said and looked between Prancer serious look and the terrified family moving to find seats in the back. “Alright, buckle up.” She said and moved to pull the stairs backup as a large vehicle of unknown make came into view coming down the road.
The mare approached. “I’m a pilot, small planes but I should be able to help,” She said and Fair Winds nodded as the two headed for the cockpit.
The strange vehicle reached the gate and crashed through it as the plane started to pick up speed for take off.
Prancer got to his seat and lost sight of it as it moved to get behind the plane. Prancer turned his seat around to look at the stallion who was getting the foals buckled into the seat. “Don't worry, Fair Winds is one of the best pilots.” he assured them.
The stallion nodded and took a seat just as the plane started taking off a moment before an energy blast fired past the window barely missing the plane.
“Shit!” Prancer heard one of the pilots say before they banked hard as they gained altitude and more energy blasts were fired.
In seconds they were out of range and climbing higher into the sky as rapidly as they could.
Suddenly the intercom sounded with Fair Wind’s voice. “Shit hold on, we got company up here, starting evasive maneuvers.” She said a moment before they banked hard once more, the entire plane going sideways, thankfully designed to be agile for a civilian plane, the maneuvers caused the paintings to fall from their perches.
The foals yelped in fear as wine bottles slid from the rack and shatter against the wall.
Prancer clutched the armrests as the passengers were jostled back and forth as Fair Winds threw her entire military experience at keeping them airborne and from being shot, Prancer occasionally getting glimpses of energy bolts flying past the window missing them by inches.
“Hold on, going to get rough here, we are entering the Dragonlands.” Fair Winds warned moments before the cabin shook from the turbulent air for the Dragonlands caused by all the volcanic activity in the area.
Prance could see the two mares in the cockpits doing all they could talking back and forth rapidly giving orders and responses the young stallion didn't understand.
Suddenly they were diving and Prancer felt like his stomach jumped into his throat and in moments his window was filled with sheer cliffs as the plane flew through a jagged canyon barely missing rock protrusions or lava falls as energy bolts still barely missed them.
“Hold on!” Fair Winds yelled back and pulled up hard pinning everyone to their seat and Prancer saw them pass over a cliff so close he was amazed they didn't scrap it.
“Oh….shit….” Fair Winds said and Prancer eyes snapped to the cockpit and could see beyond the window a massive dragon turning to face the plane looking annoyed as energy bolts that missed the plane struck it not seeming to do anything but annoy it further.
“Hold on!” Fair Wind yelled and banked harder than ever before and as she did the windows were illuminated with a blue light as the dragon unleashed its fire coming so close to the private jet there was a very sharp increase in the internal temperature.
The dragon stopped its breath and was moving now faster than you'd expect something that big to move as its claws shot out and caught one of the pursuing craft and crushed it as easily as one crushes a plastic up.
“Never thought I'd be happy to see a full size dragon.” Fair Winds said, sounding relieved as the jet flew further into the Dragonlands leaving behind a very one sided battle as the Dragon was making short work of the alien crafts.
Date: August 9th, 1666 CC Time: 14:34 Name: Lord Bell Ring of House Bellator Location: Bellator Estate.
The Bellator Estate had stood in the western part of Equestria since the Discordian Era and housed the noble family without fail as a testament to their cunning and intelligence as well as their dedication to Equestria. From their service of the original three rulers of the land to throwing open the gate to refugees and doing all they could to defend them with what few soldiers they had during the wars that came after Discord was sealed in stone, it was them that were the first ones to ally with the alicorns.
House Bellator had been the peak of nobility that all houses were compared to and it was their family that had been the head of the council throughout the centuries. Not because of their ancestors actions, but because they were the best at playing The Game of Houses to keep their position.
The Estate itself was very beautiful sporting a lush garden, small old forest, a large hedge maze that changed each year to keep it interesting. At the center was a large multi story manor that had grown from the original manor through additions, there were rooms within it that had been there since the very beginning and witnessed countless historical events long forgotten by time. All of this surrounded by an iron fence that allowed anyone to see within but topped with small spikes to provide security.
The manor looked old but that did not mean it did not embrace modern technology. Hidden through the grounds were cameras to monitor every inch of the grounds, inside was defended by a dedicated security team supported by the most advanced security system the modern world could provide short of a Crusader Mainframe. The entire manor wasn't even tied to the local power grid, instead relying on geothermal power.
Everything dedicated to the safety of House Bellator and had worked for centuries.
Till a threat unlike anything the noble house had ever faced before or could have ever hoped to prepare for.
As in centuries passed when the invaders had first descended from beyond the stars House Bellator had once more thrown open its gates and welcomed refugees into its protective embrace, an action that had finally caught up with the house as a steady stream of refugees had lead the invaders straight to the doorstep of the scenic house.
The gate had proved useless for keeping out such enemies and lay crushed beneath armored boots of hulking enemies. The cameras only allowed the security forces to see the enemy coming as the refugees were brought within the manor as the security forces engaged the enemies to those they had sworn oaths to.
The pristine grounds were now pockmarked with craters from explosives, the grass twinkled with 1000s of spent shell cases from the defender’s weapons. Scattered among the trees, the garden, the maze lay figures dressed in the black and gold uniforms of House Bellator security forces, their ballistic vests and shields proving ineffective at protecting those who wore them.
Even as they fell in droves the sound of battle had echoed for what felt like hours leaving a trail of more and more destruction that led to the steps of the great manor.
Here sandbag barricades and heavier weapon placements lay silently, their crews lay where their weapons sat cut down among the spent casings of large caliber weapons that ultimately proved useless.
The old oak doors of the manor lay splintered within the entryway of the manor A once fine place to greet guests with statues, fine art and exquisite carpets now peppered with damage.
At the top of the main stair before the destroyed door was a large painting of the head of great house Lord Bell Ring, with his son and his wife, both deceased to an accident that truly was an accident and sitting before the past son was his only daughter, granddaughter of Lord Bell and heir to the noble house.
Throughout the manor were signs of fierce battle to defend the house and those within though unlike what one would expect from an estate that had allowed in countless refugees were few signs of them now, the bodies in the halls mostly those of the security personnel with few staff and even fewer refugees. It was as if they had simply vanished once they entered the manor.
The only sign of life was within a large library sporting 1000s of books as the invaders had gathered here before a certain shelf, now torn away books spilled upon the marble floors to reveal a thick steel door of the residence last defense should they become trapped within the manor by enemies.
Within the safe room Lord Bell Ring sat surrounded by a few of the more rare pieces of a small collection but mostly surrounded by all one would need to survive within the room for an extended siege.
Lord Bell sat at the desk before a bank of monitors quietly watching the feeds from the cameras within the manor watching as the enemy marked through the place that had been his home for his entire life and had withstood countless enemies.
He was quiet, contemplating plans and schemes of how House Bellator could come back from all this in the aftermath, thoughts that would not bear fruit from himself he knew. Now he could see them using their more advanced technology to slowly cut away the door that lay between him and the threat, even facing death Lord Bell could not stop from doing as he always had.
A phone beside him rang and he picked it up.
“Sir we have reached the train, all other civilians have been loaded.” The voice of Lord Bell’s attendant Swiftclaw said on the line.
“Good good….and my granddaughter?” Lord Bell asked as he flipped through the camera scanning every inch of the grounds.
“Safe as well, I saw to it myself and I am ready to extract you.” Swiftclaw said.
“That won't be necessary.” Lord bell said simply.
“Sir I have a duty and i will not–”
Lord Bell cut off his attendant from his little speech that showed Lord Bell had made an excellent decision in hiring the griffin as he had proved to be most loyal. “Your duty is to the head of House Bellator, of which that is my granddaughter now.” Lord Bell said as he typed on the computer.
“Sir you are still–”
“Swiftclaw I am ordering you to ensure my granddaughter makes it to safety and I trust you to serve her as you have served me so I know she will be able to handle her future.”
The line was quiet for a minute. “You have my word no enemies will ever get near her.” Swiftclaw said.
Lord Bell knew all too well how Griffin Commando’s felt about their word especially after the separatist war decades ago. “Good, that eases my mind. You best get going, there isn't much time.”
“Yes sir….I know how you feel about clichés but it has been an honor sir.” With that the line went dead and Lord Bell hung up the phone.
He slowly stood wincing as his hoof went to his side feeling the wet that had soaked through his clothes from a deep wound on his side. He could already feel the effects as he walked over to a small cabinet and pulled out a glass bottle of scotch and poured himself a glass. He picked it up in his magic and swirled it as he walked over to an old record player and got out a piece of music. Soon the sound of an orchestra filled the room as he closed his eyes to sip his drink letting the finely played instruments wash over him, he always did adore this piece.
The music was partly interrupted by a groan from the door as the inside of it was starting to glow indicating the invaders were nearly through.
With a heavy sigh Lord Bell walked back to the desk sipping his drink as he sat before it. He read the screen. Not much time now.
He downed the last of his glass and keyed up the microphone before him.
“I know you can’t understand me but you can hear me.” He said, his voice coming forth from hidden speakers through the manor. “I am Lord Bell Ring, the current head of House Bellator, a House that has stood for centuries against more foes then I can count and has always survived, you will be no different. We will always endure.” he said, the speakers also letting the music play through the house as Lord Bell watched the screen. “Through all those centuries this Manor has never been occupied by enemies and it never will! You chose your fates when you chose to try and take House Bellator and now……now…..I CAST YOU INTO THE FIRE OF PERDITION!”
With that declaration the geothermal generator failed to contain the building pressure as the vents had been closed a short time ago and the pocket of superheated water forced its way to the surface.
Bellator Estates had neve been occupied by an enemy force and it would remain forever so and the pristine grounds and the enemies who dared to fight the noble house that all others were compared to were vaporized.
Miles away hidden deep beneath the ground a high speed trail ran along its track shaken slightly by the massive explosion behind it, kept safe by thick blast doors that prevented the steam from flowing down the tunnel.
Aboard were the refugees who had sought shelter within Bellator Estate now on their way to a bunker where they will remain safe.
Among them was a lone griffin who stood relaxed beside a young filly who in an instant inherented all that her grandfather had worked for, House Bellator would endure as it always had.
Date: August 9th, 1666 CC Time: 14:50 Name: Lady Vortex of House Starshine Location: Canterlot Castle
Lady Vortex stood with the rest of the council before the duel thrones of Equestria, currently only occupied by the younger of the alicorn sisters.
“Princess please, you must evacuate. It's no longer safe here.” Lord Hem was saying.
“We will not abandon the throne to these barbarians at our gates.” Princess Luna said firmly, switching into old Equestrian, a habit she never quite was able to shake when under extreme stress.
“But Princess we still don’t know where your Sister is, you are currently the sole ruler and we cannot lose you as well.” Lord Hem said. Princess Celestia had been in Vanhoover on one of her public relations events she enjoyed when the invaders had arrived. She had been on her way back when the motorcade she was in reported the city coming under attack and then all contact was lost as one of the invader’s ships had settled over the city.
“And as sole ruler.” Luna's voice gave the barest hint of a crack picked up on by the council before them telling them how much that fact hurt her to come through a Princess mask. “We cannot leave for we must show our subjects that the Throne is powerful and will not bend.” She said, a statement punctuated by a large explosion that shook the castle due to how close it was.
All of them knew the only reason they couldn't hear the gunfire echoing throughout the city was due to the thick walls of the castle proper. Behind the council stood the Royal Guard in full combat readiness prepared to defend the castle and the throne room as well as members of the council members' own private security.
“And what will it show them if you are lost?” Lord Gallant, the newest member of the council said.
“They will not best us!” Luna said in the Royal Canterlot Voice causing the council to splay their ears back from the sound. Luna coughed and sat back on the throne. “As we said, they shall not best us in combat.” She said in a normal tone.
There was an even closer explosion and Luna looked to the upper windows as the room shook.
It was clear the Princess would not see reason and it was the duty of the council to ensure the continuation of the Equestrian government and so Lady Vortex did something unthinkable under normal circumstances. She fired a sleep spell with as much power as she could muster.
Her spell found its mark showing just how compromised the Princess really was and Princess Luna toppled from the throne. She landed heavily on the dais as Lord Gallant spun around. “What have you done Lady Vortex?!” he yelled.
“What must be done, as Lord Hem said, we don’t know where Celestia is, meaning Luna is the only head of the government we have right now, she must survive.” She said as she stepped forward.
“But to str–”
“How else would we hope to carry her to safety?” Lord Hem said as he waved two unicorns from his security over to help the others carry the alicorn.
The Royal Guard within the room watched them but made no move to stop them as they were sworn to protect the princess and they knew she would be safer away from the castle.
Lady Sunflower looked at them. “Go, help your brothers and sisters in arms we will see to the Princess.” She said and the guards nodded before they departed the throne room to help defend other parts of the castle as the throne room was no longer an important area.
The alicorn was picked up as carefully as she could be as no one could be sure how long Luna would be out and the rest of the security details drew their weapons as did members of the council who had been able to retrieve their personal arms.
“Now then let us depart.” Lord Hem said as the group went to a side entrance of the throne room and departed to reach the safety of Equestrian Defense Force High Command deep within the mountain Canterlot rested upon.
Date: August 9th, 1666 CC Time: 15:00 Name: Princess Celestia Location: Oceanic Hotel
The Oceanic was one of the top hotels in Vanhoover and hosts guests of the highest order, selling itself on its amazing view of the bay as well as a view of the major park within Vanhoover proper.
It was here Princess Celestia had been staying during her visit to the city and it was here she had retreated when her motorcade was attacked. She had stepped in to aid the royal guard and keeper escorts but all that had done was draw the attention of the massive ship that now hung over the city. It had taken nearly all of her power to shield the city from the resulting bombardment from that ship's powerful guns.
It had nearly burned out her magic and had they continued to fire they would have broken through.
Even with them failing they had used enough of her power up to render her significantly weakened to where she wasn't able to leave the city, not that she would abandon her loyal subjects with her. Thus the retreat to the Oceanic Hotel, a place she knew well.
She had rented the top 2 floors for her guards and herself as well as security reason and now those top floors served as an emergency center for those who were able to reach the hotel protected by what remained of Celestia’s Royal Guards and Keeper detail from her motorcade as well as anyone else who wished to help defend the hotel.
On one of the middle floors Princess Celestia lay out on the bed near the windows taking several calming breaths. She took one deep breath and the anti material rifle that rested on the window sill kicked against her shoulder and she watched as her target went down in a spray of gore.
Through the scope of her rifle she watched the 3 ponies flee down an alleyway and out of her view now that the invader that ambushed them was no longer a threat. She couldn't get anyone to safety in her current state but she could help as best as she could.
“Um…p-princess?” A nervous voice spoke behind her.
Celestia removed her eye from the scope and looked back with a small smile as she recognized the voice. “Yes Keeper Ambrosia?”
“Um…you wanted me to tell you when it had been 2 hours.” The young Keeper said nervously. She’d only been a Keeper for a short time and not only had been chosen to be part of the motorcade for royalty but said royalty had seemingly decided she was now her personal Keeper having ordered all other Keepers and Guards to tend to security matter and the civilians on the grounds Ambrosia was all the security she needed.
“Hmm I see thank you Keeper.” Celestia said in that motherly way she did, she had chosen the mare as she saw something in her, potential, a lot of it and she hoped to nurture it even in these trying times.
Celestia got up from where she lay, her muscles protesting somewhat as she’d held the exact same potions for the last two hours with only minute adjustments for shifting her rifle. “Then I'll make my rounds.”
With that she dismantled her rifle, placed it within its case and hoofed over the case to the pegasus Keeper who nearly fell over at the weight, Celestia still forgot her own strength at times.
She helped the Keeper to find her balance and then she walked out the door into the hall with Ambrosia following behind.
After climbing the stairs they stepped out into the penthouse which had been converted to a sort of field hospital due to its large space. A hoofful of doctor and nurses scampered about along with a few BCD doctors who had made their way here from their nearby lab providing most of the medical supplies currently in use.
It was here Celestia did another major part of her responsibility, being seen and speaking to her subjects to help with morale.
Celestia glided through the field hospital, an island of calm in a sea of controlled chaos.
She spoke to the injured, hoof doctors items they needed and just did whatever she felt could help. And her heart ached when an injured pony would ask about a loved one they got separated from for Celestia knew there was nothing she could do for them except give them words of encouragement and wonder if any of those she saw through her scope had been them, she doubted she’d ever know.
And so she moved on not dwelling on such matters as they would help no one. She glided up one side of the room and then back down the other with Ambrosia following behind her trying to look as professional as she could among all the suffering and fear.
Soon they left the room and walked towards the stairs. “How do you do it Princess?” The Keeper asked.
“Hm? Do what?”
“Be so calm in all of this?”
“Honestly? I am not.” She said and the Keeper blinked at her. “I am terrified as I don't know what is going on out there or if my Sister is safe or not. It scares me as I know despite all my years of life I truly do not know what to do to make a difference in the fighting. All I can do is try to help those here to the best of my abilities and that means being a rock they can cling to and draw strength from in these trying times and help them believe we are all going to be okay.”
Date: August 9th, 1666 CC Time: 15:11 Name: Princess Meadow Dawn Location: Tree of Hope Castle
Princess Meadow Dawn sighed happily as she sat down beside a window of her home, a very large tree grown into a huge castle. The window she chose this time was one on the upper floors so she could enjoy the view as she drank.
Her husband, Stalwart Shield, was out with their son visiting his grandparents, leaving Dawn with the company of her Hive through The Link and the regular castle staff.
She poured herself a cup of hot liquid, picked up the cup, and took a deep breath to enjoy the scent. She savored the first sip and sighed contently as she watched the countryside spread out before the window.
She took another sip when one of her drones pinged her in the link. She focused her mind eye on her as she carefully sipped her drink.
‘Yes Zeni?’ She asked, knowing the drone instantly and where they were located, at the Gate Location chosen for the bridge between this Equestria and that of Dawn's Mentor, Princess Commander Twilight.
‘My Queen, we are detecting strange energies coming from The Gate.’ Zeni reported showing her memories of it.
Dawn sighed, while dimensional travel was possible there were always strange aspects when it came to it due to the physics, or lack thereof involved at times. While this was most likely nothing, instinct told her she should check it out. So she downed the tea in one go and headed for the balcony.
A short time later, she was landing outside a small fort and was greeted by Zeni, who bowed. “My Queen, the energy fluctuations are increasing.” The drone reported.
Dawn nodded and walked past the drone who moved to follow. As a princess, Dawn didn't need permission to enter this fort. Soon she entered a room far more advanced than her home, signaling the other world ahead of them and required very special training from that world.
Dawn looked over the controls and could see the buildup herself, wondering what it could be.
Suddenly an alarm sounded.
“Incoming rift!” One of the techs called as they worked on their console.
“Do we have one scheduled today?” Another asked.
“Negative.”
This concerned Dawn. There were few reasons the other Equestria would connect to them outside of schedule. It worried her and she alerted her branch of the royal guard to prepare.
Within minutes, the rift opened and the first thing through were EDF soldiers in full combat gear who immediately turned around and caught another set of ponies who came through and nearly fell.
“We need help here!” One of the troopers yelled as they moved the ponies off the ramp a second before more ponies came through.
Dawn could taste the fear and panic coming from the ponies, even the troopers who had it more controlled were terrified. She quickly moved, ordering her guards to get here now by using the link. The brief thought of the Link’s convenience for communication with her drones flashed across her mind before it was buried in addressing the situation.
By the time she reached the room where the rift was, far more ponies had come through along with Keepers and more troopers, all trying to move people out of the way as the stream was becoming near constant not the usual 10 second delay.
Then, Recovery Station Guards came through and the stream of ponies became a river as they pushed and shoved and stepped over each other as the fear and panic spiked. She tried to find someone to talk to in the chaos, but everyone was running to different places.
A Trooper came through the Rift. “They are right behind us!” he yelled a moment before an energy bolt sailed through the rift and impacted the far wall calusing many to scream in fear and some to even start crying.
Now troopers and Keepers were coming through the Rift firing their weapons back the way they came along with Recovery Teams as the energy bolts came more frequently and some struck those exiting the ports.
A recovery Agent came through.
“SHUT IT DOWN NOW!” he yelled loud enough to be heard over the clamor.
Dawn sent the order. A second later, the rift shut down just as a clawed arm was coming through. The claw was severed. With the rift shut down, the fear and panic lessened and it became more clear the room was filled with the voices of people thanking the gods, comforting others, or crying foals as the authorities among them tried to organize.
Dawn approached one of the troopers now that things were more calm, then spoke with authority. “Report.”
The Trooper looked at her looking relieved to see her and looked exhausted. “Our convoy got hit and we got cut off ma’am… We headed for the Recovery facility as it seemed like the best idea at the time.”
“Hit by what?” she asked.
“Right… Not home… Sorry ma’am… We’ve been invaded by unknown entities that came from beyond the stars and launched a full scale attack on the entire nation… We are doing the best we can, but we are scattered and cut off, trying to hold them back from all sides.” The trooper said.
Dawn's blood ran cold as her mind instantly went to her daughter, who was going to school on the other side. She pushed that down as she couldn't worry about that right now, no matter how much that hurt her. She would have to take comfort Morning Rise was with Broken Dawn, and if anyone would survive, it would be her. Her Changeling instincts then took over. There was a threat, and Friends of the Hive were in trouble.
Her guards arrived and she began giving orders on where to take the refugees. Once the rooms were cleared, she went back to the control room and ordered a connection to be established.
“That won't work.” Someone said behind her.
Her head snapped back with a hint of anger at someone daring to interrupt her preparing to attack the hive's enemies. “What?”
It was one of the recovery agents, their gas mask removed. “There is nothing to connect to. The facility was overrun and the self-destruct was activated.”
Dawn took a deep breath, she knew from The Commander that key people were aware of what nuclear weapons were and secretly a handful had been made for very specific purposes, the Recovery Facility was one such place equipped with a nuclear device meaning the building wasn't just gone, it was nothing more than dust in the wind.
They were cut off from providing any help to those on the other side.
It floated within the void wondering what exactly a void was and why it called this a void. It spent much time thinking on these matters when it wasn't thinking about what thinking was and how it did it without a body. What was a body anyways?
“Area secure, ready to move on your word.” A voice said to its right, whatever right was.
It looked and found itself in an alleyway with a purple thing wearing dark green with a mechanical front leg and a hoof pressed to the side of its helmet.
It moved and an empty can went rolling. The purple thing spun around and raised a weapon as it froze.
“Don’t move. Who the hell are you?” The Purple thing demanded.
“I….don't know….” It said, why did that question sound familiar?
The Purple thing held its aim for a few seconds then lowered the weapon. "Well you're not a Fed but you shouldn't be here, it's not safe.”
“Not safe?” It asked.
“Yeah…hold on……” The purple thing pressed a hoof to its helmet. “Hey sarge looks like we got an injured civilian here, no memory looks like they had a run in with their friendly neighborhood Feds.” The Purple Thing said as there was a beeping sound and the thing was quiet for a short bit. “Affirmative.”
The Purple thing looked back to it. “Alright, come with me, I'm going to get you somewhere safe.” The Purple thing said. “I’m Private Twilight Sparkle by the way.” The Thing said.
It nodded and followed the thing. “Once we are done with this mission I'll take a look at you and see if i can help you and tend to those wounds.” There was another beep as they approached a door.
The Purple thing opened it and a light blinded it for a second and then the alley was gone.
Date: August 9th, 1666 CC Time: 15:23 Name: Scattershot Location: unnamed road, 58 miles outside of Baltimare
A small convoy of EDF vehicles moved along the twisting back road towards the city of Baltimare, it had been chosen so as to avoid the main highways. Inside were troopers from Camp McKay or what was left of them. The Camp had come under attack by the enemy aircraft and while they fought with everything they had their numbers had been decimated.
Inside the lead vehicle, Corporal Scattershot drove with Captain Lance beside her, the highest ranked member of the convoy. They were currently heading for Baltimare to try and help there as best as they could even though many of them were not sure what they could do against an enemy like this.
“Sir, possible contact ahead.” The gunner said and Scattershot slowed the vehicle to a stop and the rest of the convoy stopped behind them. Once it stopped multiple troops poured out of vehicles and took up defensive positions watching the trees around them
Captain Lance got out as well as Scattershot watching the trees around them for ambush as the Captain put binoculars to his eyes to see the shape further up the road. He sighed and let them hang from the strap before he pulled out a map and began looking over it.
He sighed and cursed under his breath as he folded the map. "Scattershot, Herb, Sour Tart, Cauldron with me.” He called back and the troopers stepped forward. “We are going to see what that is and if it's safe to pass.”
They nodded understanding and soon they were walking down the road towards the large metal thing sitting on the road.
Scattershot would be lying if she said she wasn't afraid of what they'd find as they crept up the road.
As they neared it Scattershot could make out it was a bus of some sort but not a city bus or school. Still she wondered what it was doing out here on a forgotten backroad.
She couldn't see inside as a curtain of some sort was over the windshield. Captain Lance signaled for them to split up and go on either side of the bus.
Scattershot moved to follow the captain as he made his way down one side of the bus passing the doors for the time being, it was here one mystery was answered as she read the side of the bus. Gateway Retirement Home. Now all that was left was what it was doing here, Well she had a decent idea but how it got here and why it was stopped.
The two returned to the front of the bus after finding the rest of the windows covered and Captain Lance knocked on the door. “This is Captain Lance of the EDF.” He announced with authority and there was no movement or sound from the bus. Trying once more and getting the same result The captain readied his rifle as Scattershot did the same.
He tapped his hoof in a count and the two of them pushed the doors open and swept in as fast as they could rifles at the ready.
There was a cry of fear from the back of the bus and Scattershot found herself aiming down sights at a group of elderly mares and stallions that looked utterly terrified and cowered behind seats. She quickly lowered the rifle as did the Capitan. “Easy….easy we aren't going to hurt you.” The Captains said in a calming tone.
“Hold it right there!” one of the troopers yelled outside.
Scattershot and The Captain quickly left and found the other three troopers with their rifles aimed at a pegasus stallion in a dress shirt aiming a revolver at them. “Get away from the bus!” He yelled. Scattershot taking aim and could see the pistol shaking.
“Easy, we are the EDF. We aren't here to hurt you.” The Captain said.
“Bullshit that's what the last group said! They had armor too.” The stallion said and Scattershot could see this side of the bus had multiple bullet holes.
“Okay….Okay easy…..we are going to lower our weapons and I'm going to signal my convoy to move up to show you we are Troopers from Camp McKay” The captain said and slowly lowered his rifle motioning for the others to do the same.
Hesitantly the others did the same as Captain Lance slowly reached up to his helmet. “Convoy moves up, slowly and do not take hostile action.” He said, Scattershot knowing someone would take her place behind the wheel of the lead vehicle.
Scatterslot’s ear swiveled as she heard the convoy pull up behind them and the troopers dismount.
The stallion looked between the captain and the convoy and slowly lowered the revolver. “S…sorry…..we ran into a group pretending to be EDF, had their armor and everything and they tried to steal our bus….I….I had to shoot one of them to get them off the bus…” The stallion said shakingly.
“It’s alright, I understand, these are uncertain times.” The captain said reassuringly. “What's your name?”
“Stamps….” The stallion said.
“Alight Stamps, what are you doing on this road?”
“I…was at the retirement home to look over various paperwork and make sure it was all in order when this all happened. I hide under the desk and well….when I came out I found the staff had fled leaving the residence behind and well…..my parents place is in Hollow Shades….it's a small out of the way town…there is a good chance it won’t be noticed….ran out of gas and had to hike back to a gas station I saw a while back.” Stamps said. “I found the revolver in the street….no clue why it was there.”
Scattershot looked up the road and saw a gas can laying on the side of the room and realized Stamps must have been coming back and saw them around the bus.
“Alright, we are heading for Baltimare, can you tell us the situation there?” The captain asked.
“Tartarus, people running everywhere, looting….like I said ran into some people I think stole the armor off dead EDF soldiers….I'm honestly amazed we made it out.”
The Captain nodded. “Alright, well…..the least we can do for terrorizing you and your group is give you some gas and have one of the hummers escort you to Hollow Shades.” The captain said.
“Wait….really? Don’t you need it?”
“Our duty is to keep people like you safe, making sure you make it to your destination is part of that." The captain said and signaled the convoy to follow those directions.
The stallion boarded the bus and explained what was going on to the elderly ponies as the troopers filled up the bus and one of the Humvees broke away to lead the bus to the town.
“Thank you so much, you have no idea what this means to us.” Stamps said.
"Don’t worry about it, just make sure those people on the bus get somewhere safe.” The captain said, patting the stallion on the shoulder.
Stamps nodded and boarded the bus as the convoy remounted their vehicles and soon the vehicles were passing each other as one group headed for safety as the other headed for tartarus.
Date: August 9th, 1666 CC Time: 15:41 Name: Helios Location: Alimia Ocean, 4 miles from Baltimare Harbor
A fog spread over the ocean waves, thick and spanning a great distance. The fog looked almost natural save for the fact it was electrically charged.
Within the fog dozens of ships ranging from fishing trawlers and small sailboats to a few large private yachts with a tugboat pulling a barge loaded down with the bright colors of ponies as the boats fled east from their homes in a desperate attempt to save their lives and hopefully reach safer lands.
Members of the Baltimare Weather Teams worked quickly to build the fog the boats were using as cover to hopefully avoid detection from the invaders.
The lead ship cutting through the fog was a mid-sized yacht, her deck dotted with multiple ponies. The captain watched the fog ahead as the radiopony quietly spoke to the other ships in the convoy behind him. He had been lucky to be at the marina when everything happened and so was lucky to escape along with everyone else. They set a course for the distant Griffin Kingdoms in hopes of safe harbor.
As the ship quietly moved through the fog the captain squinted into the fog at a dark shape trying to figure out if it was a trick of the light or something else.
For safety he ordered the yacht to change course in case it was something and the radiopony relayed the information to the other ships.
As the yacht moved the dark shape suddenly became a massive bow of a ship cutting through the fog. The captain cursed as the yacht turned even sharper to avoid a collision thankfully having already been turning so just barely missed the ship.
Righting himself the captain looked to try and see the ship crazy enough to be heading back towards Equestria and wondering if they had somehow missed the news of what was happening.
Throughout the convoy the large ship cut its way through and ponies watched it glide among them almost like a predator, a low rumble coming from it almost sounding like a growling in the fog that hid most of the ship with brief glimpses of movement upon the ship’s deck.
The ship passed the refugee ships as it sailed towards Equestria eventually reaching the edge of the fog.
Slowly the ship emerged and Celestia’s sun shone off old steel and wooden decks as sailors in light blue uniforms moved to and fro along the deck. As more emergent a tall smoke stack became visible pumping dark smoke above the ship. Flying high above the ship's bridge was the flag of Equestria and below that was an outdated Equestrian navy flag. The crew of the ship worked to prepare the massive guns which took up most of the ships decks.
Anyone who would see this ship would think they somehow had been transported back in time as what they witnessed was the first ever military ship designed and built during Equestria’s technological boom.
The EMS Helios had sailed the seas for only a decade before being decommissioned and her sister ships scrapped for parts. The Helios only escaped such a fate due to a filing error that kept it from being put into dry dock and by the time anyone noticed the ship was old. It further escaped destruction by deciding the ship should be preserved as a part of history and thus select members of the Equestrian navy were chosen and trained on her analogue systems and she sailed around the ocean as a living exhibit for all to see and watch perform various maneuvers to show how such an old ship worked and would handle a fight.
Now Helios was returning to her home, not as a living exhibit but to answer the call to arms she had been built for.
Helios sailed under full steam towards the besieged city, her radio one of the few modern pieces of technology aboard allowing them to communicate with the defenders of the city.
As she neared the harbor she began to turn starboard till she was running parallel with the shore, then her massive guns swung around and raised as the crew communicated with those within the city giving her coordinates.
With a deafening boom that echoed across the harbor Helios unleashed her full might with a full broadside attack, the ship listing from the sheer power of her mighty guns.
Massive shells whistled through the air on their flight into the city. Soon the harbor echoed with explosions as Helios shells found their targets. The guns were reloaded as they adjusted and another thunderous boom echoed as she unleashed another volley, her shells penetrating deep within the besieged city to find their targets.
However this act did not go unnoticed and it was not hard to spot the lone ship sitting outside the harbor and the invaders' wingless aircraft rose from the city like angry hornets and tore off towards the old ship who quickly got back under way as her guns adjusted and fired another volley.
The flying craft came in low and Helios let forth with her starboard anti aircraft defenses and the sky filled with flak and 20mm rounds all targeting the incoming aircraft as the ship engines went to full to make them harder to hit by moving, deploying the tactics she had been built to use.
The invaders let forth their energy bolts which struck Helios, sending sailors airborne from the explosions.
Still Helios continued to fire on them and when the craft flew over her she left forth with her port side AA batteries as her main guns fired another volley.
The invaders came about and launched another attack on Helios’ port side and more sailors were lost, but still she continued to fight.
She fired another volley as soon as able and the invaders let forth their own and Helios lost one of her main guns as the massive barrels were blown clear of her deck and vanished into the waters of the sea.
The invaders now swarmed around her like angry hornets firing on her, pecking at her old armor as she continued to return fire with ever dwindling number of AA defenses.
Another of her main guns was lost and still she fired another volley.
It was at this time Helios began to list and she started to take on water. Bulkheads were sealed to try and stop the water but the invaders were relentless as they rained down bolts upon her. Even as she trailed dark smoke that blocked visibility from numerous fires that raged through her she still fired another volley in defiance of the damage the invaders had done upon her old frame.
She fired one more volley and then her guns went silent as an explosion rocked her bulkheads. Smoke poured from nearly every surface hiding her from view as she slowly listing more and more.
The survivors of her crew launched the old wooden lifeboats from areas they could or leapt into the ocean to escape the blaze.
As the crew abandoned her she shook with multiple massive explosions as her remaining ammo detonated within her hull causing catastrophic damage and soon Helios rolled completely onto her side in the water and slowly she vanished beneath the waves of the seas she had sailed since she left dry dock.
EMS Helios had been commissioned and built in 1593 and had been in service for nearly 75 years. In that time Helios saw combat only once that lasted approximately 20 minutes. In those 20 minutes EMS Helios had a dozen confirmation of target destructions with over 100 estimated kills and saved an unknown number of civilian and military forces who would have been overrun and lost without the ships direct interference. At the end of her one and only battle EMS Helios was claimed by the sea along with 90% of her crew.
Date: August 9th, 1666 CC Time: 16: 20 Name: Lucky Star Location: Fillydelphia South Side
Lucky Star winced as she moved and had to metaphorically bite her tongue to keep from crying out. She currently wasn't living up to her name as she put her hooves in front of her and pulled, another spike of pain radiating through her back leg and setting off the cuts along her body.
A few blocks back was an overturned delivery van where she had spent several hours trapped due her leg making crawling out through the open driver door above where she’d been laying rather difficult. She had been on her run when things started happening, she barely had time to register it when a speeding car blew through a light and t-boned her, sending the van out of control till it came to rest on its side.
She’d been stuck there ever since watching people run past her and ignore her yells for help so she sat there for hours till she had been able to painfully drag herself through the back of the van to reach those doors. Her leg had not liked her doing that, granted it did not like being dragged across the sidewalk either.
Her thoughts were interrupted as she pulled herself once more causing another shot of pain. She panted and once it dulled some she pulled again.
On and on, painful pull after painful pull she moved eventually cutting down an alley as it was a shortcut to….well she wasn't sure where she was going exactly but she pulled herself down the alley ignoring the smell as best as she could.
When she was part way down the alley a door opened and six ponies came out, a young mare and some fillies wearing red sashes and berets
“Alright if we see somewhere with food we can stop.” The mare was saying to a pegasus filly beside her.
“Grassy, some ones over there.” An earth pony filly said pointing to Lucky.
The mare, Grassy apparently looked. “Shit.”
The sash wearing fillies were already moving towards Lucky till Grassy got between them and here. “Stop, we don't even know her.”
“She looks hurt, she needs help.” A filly said.
“She could be faking it May.” Grassy said.
“Why would she do that?” May asked.
Grassy paused for a short time. “Fine…..” She said letting the fillies come over though she was watching Lucky like a hawk.
“Um…..hi? I'm Lucky…..Lucky Star….”
“Don’t look so lucky.” Grassy said and now that she was closer Lucky could see she was a teenager.
Before Lucky could reply there was a jolt of pain from her leg and she hissed before looking back to see one of the filly having poked it looking at Lucky. “It’s broken…..”The young pony said.
“Thanks….I hadn't noticed…” Lucky said, doing her best to sound as polite as she could, reminding herself she was just a foal.
“Saw careful, we don't want to hurt her.” May said and looked at Lucky. “Sorry…..” She said smiling. “I got something we can use.” Another young filly said further down the alley walking back with two pieces of old rebar.
“That will work perfectly.” May said, nodding.
“Uh….work for what?” Lucky asked concerned.
“We might not look it, but we are trained in first aid.” May said proudly. “You're in good hooves with Filly Scout Troop 439!” She said taking the ascot from around her neck walking back to Lucky's leg. “Now this will hurt a bit.”
“Wait what w–” May gave Lucky's leg a yank and she cried out in pain seeing spots.
“Sorry, had to set it as best as we could before applying a splint.” A pegasus Filly said as May was tying the rebar to the leg.
“That should do it.” May said, stepping back.
Once the majority of the pain subsided Lucky had to admit it the pain was a lot more dull than it ever had been. “Now you won't be able to walk fully on it but we can help.” May said.
“Wait, you aren't suggesting we take her with us?” Grassy said from where she stood watching.
May looked at her. “Well we can’t leave her here, we’ve given her first aid which means she's our responsibility till we can pass her off to a doctor.” She said blinking as if that was the most obvious thing.
The younger fillies were already moving to help Lucky up.
“You have got to be kidding me, we have to keep moving and she is injured.” Grassy said.
“And as Filly Scouts we are supposed to render aid to those in need and I'd say she needs us.” May shot back and the other scouts got behind her.
Seeing this, Grassy scrubbed her mane in frustration. “Fine, fine she can come!” She said,
The scouts gave a small cheer before they helped Lucky to her hooves and May got on one side and Grassy reluctantly took another to support Lucky so she could walk as the group started to head down the alley
She couldn't put much weight on the splinted leg but she was moving a lot faster then she had before.
Looked like Lucky was back to living up to her name again.
Date: August 9th, 1666 CC Time: 16: 31 Name: Snowflake Location: Baltimare
Snowflake marched around the perimeter of the castle watching for enemies that would choose to threaten those she swore her oaths to, dragons, monsters, bandits and the like.
Snowflake would defend the castle from all challengers.
She finished her patrol and heard a voice behind her. “Lady Knight Snowflake we are hungry.” The voice said in a somewhat haunty voice.
Snowflake looked back to see the Princess standing there in her most regal of clothes with her crown gleaming on her head.
“Your Majesty, it is not yet dinner time.” Snowflake said respectfully.
“But I'm hungry now.” The Princess said.
“Yeah, hungry.” Snowflake heard the Prince say from his throne.
Snowflake looked between the two of them. “Perhaps I shall make something then.” The Knight said as she made her way to the food stores and began to make a meal fit for the royals.
In minutes she presented the dishes before the Princess and Prince in the royal dining hall.
“You can eat with us.” The Prince said and the knight bowed before taking a seat at the table and eating as well.
Once the meal finished the Royals went off to inspect the troops pacing before them the Princess stopped and looked around. “Where’s Buster?” She asked.
The Knight looked around then back to her. “Buster?”
“Yes Buster, my most loyal subject, she should be here.”
“Um….Maybe she’s still sleeping?”
“No she wouldn't be sleeping right now….she must have been taken by monsters!” The Princess exclaimed.
The Knight’s eyes darted back and forth before she took a deep breath. “Very well, what does she look like?”
“She has a yellow bow on, she can't have gotten far as she is always close if i need her.”
“Alright.” Snowflake raised her sword. “As your Loyal Knight I shall take this quest to rescue Buster.” She said and the Princess cheered with the Prince joining her a moment later. “Remain here and stay safe your majesties, I shall return as soon as i can.”
The two Royals Nodded and went to their thrones to wait for the Knight to return.
Snowflake took one last look at them before she departed to rescue Buster, making her way to the edge of the kingdom and stepping out of it.
Snowflake closed the door to the basement and looked down the hall bathed in fading light as she took off the cardboard armor she wore. The teenager thought where this Buster could be as she had thought she had grabbed all the toys and everything but she somehow missed an important one apparently.
Snowflake wasn’t entirely familiar with the house yet as this wasn't her home, she had been hired to babysit the two foals, Sapphire and Thunder currently in the basement as the parents ran a few errands in the city. A quick gig, a couple hours and she gets a small bit of extra bits.
Then all tartarus happened and she got a call from the father, he frantically asked if she and the foals were okay and that something was happening. She’d of course assured him things were fine there. He’d been in the middle of telling her they were coming back and begging her to watch them till they got back when the line suddenly went dead.
Worried Snowflake had tried to call her parents but the lines were out. She had seriously thought about taking off but then kicked herself for thinking of abandoning a couple of little foals when something was clearly going on.
Turning on the TV had told her everything and she wasted no time rushing the kids down stairs and came up with the make believe kingdom to help keep them down there and as quiet as she could to wait till the parents got home…..it had been a lot of hours…She hoped her folks were okay…..
She shook her head, no time for that. She readied the large knife she was using as a sword so the foals wouldn't ask why she was armed with the only weapon she could find.
Snowflake crept through the somewhat dark house, all the curtains were drawn.
She began searching for this Buster wondering where it could be starting with the living room as that seemed to be the main play area but as she suspected she had gotten all the toys from there.
That just left the bedrooms as she'd been quicker at getting things from there.
She quickly climbed the stairs and headed for Sapphire's room.
She quickly began searching it when what sounded like a house alarm went off up the street causing her to freeze in place staring at the window in fear.
She gulped and slowly she walked to the window and carefully pulled a small slit in the curtain to peek out as she had to know what was going on.
Up the street was a van parked in the middle of the road and some ponies were running back and forth with various items from the house on the corner, its burglar alarm wailing to alert everyone of trouble, Snowflakes doubted anyone was even monitoring its system at this point in time.
Sapphire watched the looters hoping beyond hope they just picked a house at random and would leave as it looked like their van was filling up.
She debated taking the kids and fleeing but the idea was shot down by the fact she seriously doubted she could get to safety herself much less trying to keep two foals under control if something happened.
As much as she hated it, staying here and hiding was the best bet for now but she did decide to pack some things in a backpack in case that situation changed.
She watched the looters fill their van and take off down the street away from the house and let her breath out; she hadn't realized she had been holding.
She fixed the curtain and turned around to search the room and saw a spot of yellow under the bed. “You've got to be kidding me…..” She muttered as she walked over and sure enough, there was a teddy bear with a yellow bow on its head laying under the bed, she must have knocked it under there in the scramble to grab things.
She sighed as she grabbed the bear and headed down the stairs to return to the basement.
The Loyal Knight returning triumphantly to The Kingdom.
Date: August 9th, 1666 CC Time: 16: 50 Name: Ashes Location: Highway 95, Vanhoover
Ashes sat in the passenger seat of a pick up as it headed down the highway. Behind the truck were multiple cars of all make and models, some were from Ashes’ gang but most were just random people who saw the convoy and for whatever reason decided to join it without even knowing where they were going.
It had been hours since Ashes saw the writing on the wall and left Killer Z’s territory behind. To his annoyance and contempt most of the rest of the gang chose to stay behind and defend the city blocks along with that fool of a leader of theirs. They even had the nerve to call him and his group cowards and traitors for leaving rather than stay and fight those things.
The idiots acted like this was no different than a rival gang or the Keepers. Rival gangs and Keepers don’t fuck up the military like those things were doing, and they sure as hell don't try to obliterate the entire city. If not for that shield that went over the entire thing they’d all be dead.
No, their best bet was to escape the city and as far as Ashes was concerned anyone who stayed was just removing themselves from the gang to help improve it.
Not far ahead of them the highway was raised up in preparation for the bridge not far after it to allow for cars to move faster through the city and the open lands beyond the city. Those things no doubt had the bridge being watched as it would be the smart thing to do.
“Stop here.” Ashes told the pony beside him who nodded and applied the break. Behind them the rest of the convoy stopped and those armed got out to watch for threats.
Ashes stepped out and his nose was assaulted with the smell of smoke in the air and gun shots could be heard echoing from somewhere maybe a few blocks away.
Ashes went to the back of the truck and climbed into the back, being careful not to step on the Keeper they had back there sleeping off his near death experience.
Ashes looked to the faces who turned to face him and he looked over them noting the fear on all their, while he’d never admit it to anyone he felt responsible for all their safety even the randoms who had joined them. It was why he had stopped as he had to make sure they understood what was about to happen.
“Alright listen up.” he spoke clearly and loudly, his voice naturally seeming to carry. “Ahead of us is the Eastern Bridge, the main route in and out of the city…..and it is most likely guarded by those things.” he said, he wasn't going to lie, that would get people killed. “Our best chance of breaking out is to hit the bridge as fast as we can. As soon as we crest that ramp ahead you put the pedal to the floor and you stop for absolutely nothing. It’s going to take everything we have to make it but on the other side of that bridge is safety and our survival.” He said and looked over the faces standing amid occupied and abandoned vehicles making sure they understood.
Seeing they did he nodded and climbed down and walked back to the passenger side of the truck.
Once inside he nodded to the driver and the truck started to move forward.
Ashes controlled his breathing and assured himself they would make it because he had zero intention of dying here to those things.
They soon reached the ramp and began to climb it. He glanced back to make sure the rest of the convoy was following and make sure the two in the back were staying low and keeping the Keeper secured.
He mentally nodded and looked back ahead.
As soon as the truck crested the top of the ramp the driver gunned the engine and they took off, ahead of them the metal supports of the bridge stretched high into the sky.
Then something caught Ashes off guard as from an off ramp a city bus rose up and merged onto the highway next to them. Ashes could see dozens of ponies aboard and the driver’s eyes locked onto the bridge ahead of them as he pushed the bus to its maximum speed. Seemed he wasn't the only one with the same idea and whoever that driver was seemed dead set on evacuating his passengers.
As he watched the bus several of the faster cars sped past them doing as he said and putting their pedals to the floor and out pacing Ashes’ own truck. Didn't matter as at least they could follow directions.
More sped past with some of the randoms also passing the truck.
The first of the convoy reached the bridge and Ashes grew concerned as ahead of them all he saw was an open road. This didn't make sense, this was such an obvious route….
Ashe’s blood ran cold as realization dawned on him.
A moment later a bolt of energy struck one of the lead cars and it became a fireball skidding down the road as more struck the other lead vehicles.
"Shit swerve, swerve! Don't go in a straight line!” Ashes yelled at the driver who jerked the wheel causing them to almost fishtail as a bolt of energy hit where they were going to be.
Ashes looked as saw multiple automated turrets attached to the girders targeting the speeding vehicles as they passed under them.
"Go go go!” He yelled, there was no turning back now as he saw in the mirrors as other cars were doing the same though some were not lucky and he saw explosions from those ones.
Several sped ahead of them as the convoy descended into a mad dash of violently swerving vehicles doing all they could to avoid getting shot.
A van ahead of them exploded and his driver swerved to barely miss the burning wreck and then the truck started slowing down.
Ashes head snapped to the driver to see him nearly frozen in either shock or terror or a combination of both.
“Drive damnit!” he yelled at the stallion who did not respond. Ashes growled and took out his pistol pressing it to the stallion's head. “If you don't hit the gas I'll personally blow your fucking head off and do it myself!” He threatened pressing the barrel into the stallion's head to drive the point home. Either the threat or the pain from the gun barrel snapped the stallion out of the frozen state and the truck jerked as it sped back up and swerved.
“Come on…come on….” Ashes said watching the road, keeping his pistol out.
He could see the other side of the bridge, just a few more meters…..
The first of the convey left the bridge escaping the rain of energy bolts and then another, the third took a direct hit and its burning husk skidded off the bridge.
Then Ashes’ truck left the bridge and the rain of bolts stopped allowing them to straighten out since they didn't need to dodge anything now.
Ashes looked back and was amazed to see the city bus having somehow made it though he could see part of the roof was gone, it must have survived just because of its size alone.
Ashes watched as more and more of the convoy sped off the bridge and soon the last of them departed and He looked ahead. The convoy had been severely reduced in number but they had made it out of the city.
Ahead of them was the open highway and miles and miles of farmland.
Ashes saw no reason for them to slow down as the refugee convoy sped off down the highway leaving the burning city behind.
Date: August 9th, 1666 CC Time: 17: 04 Name: Dewdrop Location: Outside Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns, Canterlot
Staff Sergeant Dewdrop held up a hoof to halt the troopers with her, she didn't know most of them as they were made up of survivors from multiple different units who had all been able to reach Canterlot to do what they could to help defend the city.
Dewdrop had managed to make contact with a Colonel Tricks who was apparently in command of the 6th army as their General was missing from what she could tell but it wasn't her place to ask someone who outranked her by that much.
Her and the the ponies with her had been quickly folded into a single platoon under her as there weren't any available officers and upon Dewdrops bit of insistence on being able to rest later the colonel had sent her platoon to investigate Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns as there were scattered reports of citizens still being there after contact was lost during evacuation.
“Swift, Barrel get up on the roof and recon the school.” Dewdrop ordered and the two pegasi flew up to the roof, they had been part of an air combat unit and from what she gathered were the only survivors out of the 50 pony unit having been caught behind enemy lines and were keen on making the invaders pay for it.
After a few minutes the two flew back down. "No sign of enemy movement….no sign of any movement at the school.” Swift reported.
Dewdrop nodded, that was both good and bad news. “Alright we keep moving, do a quick sweep for survivors then report back.” She said and felt the ground shake a bit as a distant explosion echoed.
The troopers nodded and they began to move up the street towards the school, Dewdrop noting the couple columns of smoke rising from burning vehicles out front.
Soon they came upon the scene of a massacre. Troopers, Keepers and what looked like instructors and other civilians lay scattered in the streets before the schools gate, which had been mangled beyond recognition.
It was unfortunately a common sight from evac sites that were hit by the enemy. “Spread out, keep your eyes open for signs of survivors and watch for enemy contacts.”
The troopers started to spread out a short distance and waded into the bodies to see if anyone was still somehow alive despite the unlikelihood.
The mare went to check along the fence and found one of the invaders dead and pinned between the fence and a Keeper cruiser and from the look of the marks on the road whoever did it depress the accelerator all the way burning rubber she could faintly smell as they fired through the windshield. Whether it died from the bullets of being crushed she had no clue.
She investigated the vehicle but all it told her was whoever had done it made it out of it leaving the driver door open.
Next was one of the buses being used to transport people, lots of abandoned personal items around it and she boarded it to see if anyone was hiding, unfortunately no one was but at the same time looked like the bus never had anyone aboard.
The troopers moved from body to body and checked the various vehicles and soon they all were at the twisted gates of the school ground.
“Anything?” Dewdrop asked, already knowing the answer. She got replies in the negative.
“Think we should check the school?” An earth pony named Roads asked looking at the building.
Dewdrop looked at it debating the thought, it was a large building….it was possible….
A tone sounded from a nearby speaker. “Thank Celestia, someone finally came by.” A voice said through the static of the speaker. “Listen there isn’t much time, there is a group hidden in the southeast part of the basement, you need to hurry as those things are searching the building and it won't be long till they find them. I’m in a security room so I can help a little but if you don't reach them first they won't make it. I'm unlocking the doors on the east side of the building, it will get you close to the stairs. Hurry.``
Dewdrop looked around and spotted a camera facing them and that plea had answered the question as she looked back at the troopers who already had their weapons at the ready.
With a nod the platoon moved onto the grounds passing a statue of Celestia and reaching the eastern doors.
Inside was a long hall lined with doors and branching halls.
“Alright, head down the hall and take the second right, I'll do my best to keep you from walking into those things but I'll need to be careful as I can't control the PA system's volume so it could get their attention….actually…hold on.” The speaker went dead and Dewdrop moved to follow the instruction and could very faintly hear distant talking echoing down the hall from a speaker elsewhere in the building. Seems their guide realized a way to use the speakers to help them.
The troopers crept down the halls as quietly as they could, watching every door and both directions of the hall for enemy contacts.
They walked down the hall and then a tone sounded overhead. “Alright, keep going till you reach the auditorium, there is a door backstage that will take you to the basement. I'll lock the doors behind you to hopefully slow them down.” The speaker said.
Dewdrop nodded and continued to walk watching the cameras turn to monitor them. It wasn't long till they reached the doors they needed and opened to a massive room with rows of chairs before a large stage. This made Dewdrop uncomfortable as there were 3 entrances counting this one and it was a large open area with little cover.
Still they had a mission and so they entered the room, hearing a click from the door behind them once it closed.
They rapidly moved through the room, keeping sound down was hard here as it was built to carry sound but soon they reached the stage and slipped behind the curtain.
There were several doors and after finding two proper rooms they found the stairs leading down and quickly decided, hearing the door lock behind them.
Down here was not as nice looking as the halls above, the walls bare stone with exposed pipes and various panels, it was clearly a place meant for only certain staff to be.
“Alright now this will be harder as the basement is like a maze but just follow my instructions and you will reach the maintenance room they are in.” The speaker said, the speakers down here had a bit of static as maintaining them seemed less of a priority. “I've already informed them you’re on your way.”
With that the speaker guided them as best as they could and Dewdrop had to agree this place was a maze with every hall looking more or less the same and nothing was direct.
After what felt like going in circles of the same hall they rounded a corner and came face to face with a group of armed ponies behind a small barricade of boxes and carts.
“Hold your fire, it's the rescue team.” A voice barked an order and the ponies stood up, revealing armor that was Blue and Orange marking them as personal guards of a noble house.
“I’m staff sergeant Dewdrop, and yeah we are the rescue team, can you show us the others?” She asked.
The guards quickly made a hole in the barricade, and Dewdrop ordered some of the platoon to take up positions with them just in case as the rest was led into a large maintenance bay.
Here they found civilians clutching various tools as weapons and an instruction along with multiple foals wearing the school uniform and among them was a stallion dressed in some very fine clothing with a house insignia Dewdrop didn't recognize meaning it wasn't a high house.
“It’s about time you have arrived.” The Lord said as he stood and looked them over. “Is this it?” He said, sounding displeased.
Dewdrop frowned at his attitude. “If you were expecting a limo then you will be sorely disappointed.” She said, since he's not a high house it meant she didn't have to worry about being polite as much.
“You misunderstand me Sergeant, there are 50 of us and you've brought a small force to try and extract us in a building overrun by those barbarians.” The Lord said. “Even with what remains of my personal guards I do not…”He cut himself off, eyeing the rest of the ponies around him and took a deep breath composing himself. “I am Lord Fiddlesticks of House Annabelle and I welcome you here and thank you for coming for us.” He said changing behavior and Dewdrop had seen how what he was saying before seemed to be affecting the others making them more scared and now they seemed to have calmed.
“So then sergeant what is the plan? You have full use of my guards though their armor and weapons are not as good as yours.” Lord Fiddlesticks said.
“Plans simple, we head back the way we came, meet up with whoever is in the security office to extract them and get you to safety.” Dewdrop said.
Lord Fiddlesticks nodded. "I see, and will this be the evac corridor?”
“Evac corridor?”
“Yes, it started broadcasting on the radio a bit ago." The lord nodded to one of the ponies who turned on the radio.
“--avenue to safety. I will set this message to repeat.” Dewdrop heard the voice of Colonel Tricks and after a couple seconds of silence the message began from the start. “This is Colonel Tricks of the EDF and current commander of the 6th army broadcasting this message on all non critical frequencies to those still within Canterlot. We have managed to open up an evacuation corridor and I urge all citizens to head for it as well as survivors of the 5th, 3rd and 9th army to fall back. Take Lunar Avenue to safety, I will set this message to repeat.”
The radio was shut off and Lord Fiddlesticks looked at her expectably. Dewdrop slowly nodded. “That's our coronal so yes we will be heading for Lunar Avenue.” She said,
“Very well then Lead on sergeant I turn over full command to you.” he said and drew a pistol. “I know I am no soldier but I will follow your orders and help as best as I can.”
This was not exactly expected by Dewdrop as she was used to anything below a High House being arrogant, self centered and quite frankly stupid yet this lord seemed to recognize what was going on and seemed to have been leading this group well enough.
It was a curiosity for later and she looked at the rest of the people. “Alright everyone get ready we are heading out now.” she said and they nodded standing up straighter.
With that they filed out of the room into the halls and Dewdrop took command of the guards assessing their weapons. It was mostly pistols and a couple SMGs but it was better than nothing.
After that they started moving back the way they came with a few of the troopers and guards bringing up the rear to make sure no one fell behind.
It wasn't long before they neared the stairs and heard a muffled explosion causing them to freeze.
A moment later the speakers came to life. “Dammit, a couple of them just breached the auditorium and they are searching it. I've managed to distract most of them but not all of them are taking the bait.” The Speaker said. "They haven't reached the stage yet though. But I don't have another way out of there that won't take much longer and increase the risk.”
Dewdrop had to agree and she thought going back over what she saw of the auditorium. Large Open room, rows and rows of chairs and the curtain was down on the stage…..perfect.
She relayed the plan to the troopers and guards, leaving the guards to keep the civilians from running as the troopers snuck up the stairs and onto the stage spreading out having one get to the controls.
Suddenly music started blasting from the stage's speakers loud enough to vibrate everything, it seemed their guide realized what they were doing and was helping.
On her signal the curtain went up part way to reveal the two invaders aiming their weapons round at the speakers confused and not remotely ready for the opening act.
Automatic weapons fire reverberated through the room drowning out the music for the few seconds it lasted and the invaders topped into a pool of blood.
"Alright we need to move.” She shouted down to the civilians as the music ended. “Alright where are you?” She asked the camera.
“Don't worry about me, I already have a way out and I'll meet up with you at the evac corridor, just get them out of here before more show up as some are coming. You don't have much time to reach the exit.” The speaker said.
Dewdrop weighed this and realized it would put the civilians in unneeded danger. “You sure you can get out?”
“Positive I know this place like the back of my hoof, now go.”
Dewdrop nodded. “Move move go go go!” She ordered them out, her troopers leading the way stopping only to direct people down halls and in minutes they were outside and running for the gates, soon passing through them and on their way to Lunar Avenue.
Date: August 9th, 1666 CC Time: 17:34 Name: Rock Location: Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns Security Office, Canterlot
Rock watched on the cameras as the soldiers got what remained of the ponies at the school outside and to the gate, he watched them go down the street through the gate camera till they were no longer visible and sat back in his chair with a sigh of relief.
“Okay….that's taken care of…..” He said and he started flipping through the cameras of the school to see if those things that killed his fellow school security guards were after them and was pleased to see his diversions with the PA system had worked, by the time they reached the auditorium the group was long gone. He nodded in satisfaction listening to the message from the radio about the evacuation corridor and wondering where it might lead.
He sighed as he changed the monitor to the camera outside the security office to see the remnant of the security shutters for the hall melted into a useless blob of metal and the group stacking up outside the door placing a device on it.
“alright….Let’s do this…” he said as he pushed himself away from the monitors. Standing up he drew his taser and baton and got ready. “Alright you ugly sons of bitches, come at me…..”He said as the monitor behind him showed them activate the breaching charge.
Date: August 9th, 1666 CC Time: 17: 48 Name: Glowing Radiant Location: Canterlot Streets
The city of Canterlot was a beautiful city often referred to as the Jewel of Equestria and not only was it the very seat of power within the nation it was also one of the most beautiful cities in the world, almost as many traveled just to see the city as those who traveled to seek an audience with the nations rulers.
It was this reason Glowing Radiant chose to open her beauty salon in the city so she could not only work on these travelers but also enjoy the beauty of the city she added to with her work.
Now, though that city was marred by rising smoke, gunfire, and debris littering the streets, Glowing galloped down along with several others she had run into after fleeing her salon when it caught fire. The group had been heading for some safe passage down Lunar Avenue they had heard about on the radio.
Though getting there wasn't the most easy thing as they had to avoid the fighting and more than a few times had to run across streets just a block away from an engagement.
Now, though, they ran into an alleyway and slowed to a stop as they all gasped for air. “We…..we aren't too far….” A mare wearing a waitress uniform said.
“We….just need to rest a bit and keep moving.” A stallion dressed in what had once been a nice suit said.
“Just don't take too long, I don't want to get trapped in the city.” A mare dressed in a greasy jumpsuit said, the only one of the group that was armed with anything even if it was just a large wrench.
“We won't. We are making good time.” Said a stallion who wore a sports jacket for the local high school, a mare practically clinging to his side. Glowing wasn't sure if they were special someponies or just two students caught up together in all of this, but the stallion seemed protective of her.
The group all sat as slowly their breathing got under control.
“Alright let's get moving.” The suit-wearing stallion said, standing back up and offering a hoof to the waitress near him who gladly took it dusting herself off of the filth from the alley.
The rest of them got up, save the mechanic who had remained standing, keeping watch.
All of them were blasted with air as one of the large invader ships flew over the ally, coming to a stop above the street before it started to lower itself to land.
“Shit, we have to move. That's some sort of troop carrier!” The high school stallion yelled. “Lot of them landed in the school field.”
He didn't need to repeat himself as the group took off down the alley away from the ship and near the end a bolt of energy missed Glowing by inches and she risked looking back to see they were now being pursued.
“Go go! They are after us!” She yelled as they turned to head up the street. Their only chance was to reach Luner Avenue where the military could protect them if the radio was to be believed.
The invaders were soon out of the alley and a few more shots were taken at them coming close enough they felt the heat of the energy causing them to take another turn but the invaders stayed right on them.
Each straight a way, the invaders were closer, and more shots followed them. It wouldn't be long before they were close enough to not miss, forcing them to take more and more random twisting turns, hoping each turn would lose them.
Soon they were running down a narrow road meant for hoof traffic with not much along the walls, the High school stallion was leading them as he was the fastest of the group started trying doors in an effort to find someplace to hide,
Near the middle of the road, a door opened. “In here!” she yelled as he dove inside, pulling the mare with him before the rest of the group followed.
Inside was some sort of restaurant from the looks of it. There were some tables and booths on one side of the room with a bar on the other. A pool table and small dance floor took up the remaining space. Gentle music coming from unseen speakers completed the pleasant looking scene before them.
A yellow pegasus mare with light green mane tied back by a blue bandanna was calmly polishing a mug. “Ah, welcome to the Ivory Wheel, names Sunny. Feel free to take a seat wherever and I'll bring a menu by.” She said cheerfully, causing Glowing to blink confused.
“Pardon the language but what the fuck do you mean take a seat anywhere?” The mechanic said.
“I mean take a seat at the bar or a table, well okay you two can't sit at the bar.” She chuckled gensuring to the two high schoolers.
“Are you fucking stupid?” The mechanic shot back. “Do you have any Celestia damn idea what's going on outside?”
“Hm? Oh you mean that spot of trouble out there? Yes nasty business that, but nothing that is of concern to us much less something to interrupt my job of helping customers.” Sunny said as she collected some menus and started to come around the bar.
“You’re fucking crazy!” The mechanic said.
A moment later the door behind them slammed open and the waitress screamed as the group had no choice but to run to the seating area for cover as the invaders chasing them forced their way inside.
Sunny turned to them with that same pleasant smile on her face. “Ah welcome to the Ivory Wh–” She was cut off as one of the invaders shot her, the blast carrying her off her hooves to crash back behind the bare as the high school mare screamed, the stallion getting between her and the invaders brandishing a chair as the mechanic raised her wrench in an utterly laughable threat towards such well armed creatures.
And in that same instant the music suddenly stopped as the door behind the invaders slammed shut and there was something that sounded like dozens of locks engaging.
The invaders took no notice of this as they raised their weapons preparing to cut down the small group of ponies only to have their weapons torn from their hands by unseen forces and proceeded to be dismantled rapidly, then those parts were further dismantled, then those part as well till there was nothing left of the weapons.
Then the invaders who had taken defensive stances for unarmed combat suddenly started to spasmend and shutter. One looked at its hand as it seemed to be turning to dust being blown by unfelt wind as other parts of the remaining invaders were doing the same.
The invaders panicked and two rushed for the door and tried to open it only for the simple wooden door to remain closed even when they tried to break it down it remained unscathed as more and more of them turned to dust faster.
All of this happened over a matter of seconds before the group of ponies as the invaders turned to dust and simply blew away into nothing as if erased from the universe.
“Well then that was annoying.” Sunny said, popping back up behind the bar completely unharmed.
The waitress gave a yelp of fear looking at her. “Wh…but…but how?” She stammered out.
“Hmm?” Sunny looked at her. “Oh, don’t you worry your pretty little head about that as it's just company business.” She said dismissively. “Anyways take a seat and I'll bring the menus over to you shortly as a matter has come to our attention that needs to be handled but after that the kitchen will reopen.” She said heading through the door to what was probably the kitchen.
The group looked confused and then felt a rumbling and sort of…shifting from all around them and after a few seconds it stopped and the music returned.
Sunny came back out of the kitchen. “Now come on, if you aren't going to take any seats I am going to have to ask you to leave as the room is for customers only.” She said a bit sternly.
“What…what was that rumbling? What's going on?” The suit wearing stallion asked.
“Oh, there was going to be an issue with our previous point of iteration so we had to move.” Sunny said.
“Move?” Glowing asked confused.
“Yes, we decided on Baltimare” Sunny said.
“Baltimare?” The mechanic asked, confused.
“Are you going to take seats or do I need to ask you to leave?” Sunny responded.
Slowly, the group took seats at the table, and Sunny cheerfully brought over menus. “Now then, how can The Ivory Wheel serve you on its grand reopening?”
Date: August 9th, 1666 CC Time: 18: 10 Name: Blueberry Location: Vanhoover Streets
Corporal Blueberry galloped down an alleyway going as fast as her legs could carry her in her armor. “This is Corporal Blueberry! My squad is gone, enemy forces have overrun the southeast side of the city, I'm running blind here!” She yelled into her radio and was answered by static. “Shit shit someone respond!” She yelled as she ran. “Where in tartarus is everyone!?”
Getting no response Blueberry abandoned the radio for now, for all she knew the near miss she had when her squad was ambushed had fried the thing, till she could establish contact with command she was on her own.
She reached the end of the alleyway and slammed into something heavy and went tumbling along with what she hit.
She scrambled, rolling over and getting her rifle up and was met with a trooper in scorched armor doing the same to her. “Woah woah!” Blueberry said, raising a hoof in a stop gesture.
“Shit ma’am I almost wasted you.” the unicorn said, lowering her rifle.
“Same.” Blueberry said getting to her hooves. “What's your name?”
“Prive First Class Buttercup ma’am.” The trooper said getting up as well.
“Where’s the rest of your platoon?”
“Wasted…..we got hit hard and fast.”
“Same, we need to get out of here, have you heard from command?”
“Negative, just static, they went dark just before we got hit.”
Blueberry nodded, that wasn't a good sign. “Alright, there is a staging area not far from here.”
Buttercup nodded and got her rifle ready and the two of them galloped across the street to another alley way and then up the street. “It's just ahead.” Blueberry said as they neared the staging area.
The troopers rounded the corner to the sight of burning vehicles and signs of a desperate battle. “Shit.” Blueberry said, raising her rifle, seeing Buttercup do the same out of the corner of her eye. They held their aim in the area but saw no movement. “Move quietly, we need to check for survivors….” Blueberry ordered in a whisper and slowly the two of them advanced.
The two entered the area and began to search, neither trying to piece together what happened as that wouldn't help either of them but it was clear there were no survivors. “Alright….gather what supplies you can.”
Buttercup only gave a nod, not speaking as this was now hostile territory and went to check a few crates while Blueberry searched the tent cursing as she found the radio fried.
She searched what she could find, the maps had all been torched to prevent enemy forces from reading any intel on them which also meant the two troopers were unaware of friendly movements.
Still she took what she could from the crates in the tent and exited to find Buttercup zipping up her pack. “Grabbed what ammo I could, found a few meal bars but looks like they were running low.” The PFC reported.
Blueberry nodded and looked around, spotting something through the smoke of a burning car. “Come on…”She raised her rifle and moved towards it hoping it was what she thought it was.
As they rounded the burning car they were greeted with an undamaged humvee partly blocking the road. “Alright, mount up.” Blueberry ordered as she went around to the open driver side and paused as she found a trooper laying crumpled under the door and she averted her eyes from the charged remains of the trooper’s face, she'd seen up close what those energy bolts did to flesh.
She heard Buttercup open the door and give a small yelp drawing the corporal’s attention. Looking through the rear door she saw the remains of another trooper below the hatch for the humvees turret.
Blueberry steeled herself as she opened the back door and pulled the body out and laid it on the ground before dragging the body of the driver away. She climbed in and looked at Buttercup. “Mount up privet.” She ordered.
Buttercup gulped and climbed into the passenger seat as Blueberry started the humvee and they were heading down the road at speed. “Try the radio.” Blueberry ordered.
Buttercup grabbed the radio and Blueberry slammed on the brakes as two ponies ran out in front of them from a side street, nearly getting hit by the truck. The earth pony stallion had some sort of cheap looking pistol and wore a dark purple bandana on his left arm and now clearly filly with him wore some sort of school uniform.
The two quickly ran to the driver side of the truck.
“Hey give us a ride, those fuckers are right behind us!” The stallion yelled.
“Get in!” Blueberry yelled, gesturing to the back of which the stallion opened the door and helped the foal in first before getting in himself.
“So fucking glad to see you damn army mares. Thought we were the only ones left in the damn city.” The stallion said as Blueberry hit the gas, if they really were being pursued she didn't want to be here any longer then needed. “Names Comet, kid’s Honey Bee.”
“Corporal Blueberry and PFC Buttercup.” Buttercup said. “You and your daughter are lucky to have run into us.”
“She ain’t my daughter, I ran into her a few blocks back after my crew got hit. Damn things were gunning for us like we were the biggest threat in the country, not even sure if anyone else made it out.” Comet said.
“Oh…”Buttercup said and turned to look at the filly. “Honey, do you know where your parents are?”
Honey shook her head. “No….was at school when this all happened and ran away. Was trying to get home when I met Mr. Comet. We’ve not seen anyone else since then.” The filly said calmly.
“Well you are being very brave.” Buttercup said, smiling at her.
“Thank you.” The filly said still calm.
“She’s from one of those schools for those smart kids, the ones where you gotta pass all sorts of tests to get in.” Comet added.
“Greenwich Academy.” Honey added. “And I can assure you I am quite terrified but panicking won't help me so I'll do that later.”
Buttercup opened her mouth to say something when Blueberry jerked the wheel causing them all to be pressed to the side of the truck as a large energy bolt sailed past them.
“Shit!” Blueberry said as she turned the wheel to take a side street as the enemy tank fired another bolt.
At the end of the alleyway they were met with a squad of invaders who wasted no time in opening fire on the humvee.
“Buttercup, I need you on that gun now!”
Buttercup hesitated a moment before climbing up the hatchof the turret. A moment later the loud clattering was heard as she opened fire on the enemy ground forces as Blueberry turned up the road away from them.
The next street was met with further enemy resistance as they appeared to be setting up a staging area.
As the humvee sped away one of the aircraft took off and started pursuing them..
"We got company!” Buttercup yelled down as she turned the turret and opened fire on the aircraft which dodged faster than anything the trooper had seen as she was trying to track it while Blueberry began swerving randomly to make them a harder target.
The craft fired a large bolt that missed the truck by inches as it impacted the ground just to the right of the engine.
“Shit, grab the radio, call this in!” She yelled at Comet who blinked a few seconds before complying, fishing the radio mic from where it fell.
“Yo, this is one of your soldier humvees we’re about to get shot to tartarus by one of those damn flying things we need help we are at…”He looked around. “Shit I don't know……there we just passed 22nd street!” he said and waited only getting static. “Hey, anyone out here? Come on don't leave us out here to die!”
Another bolt hit just in front of them and they flew through the smoke and flames. “Shit sit back!” Blueberry ordered and Comet did only pausing to make sure Honey was buckled in before doing the same.
The Humvee skidded as it turned down another side street having to get on the sidewalk to avoid a car pile up and then turned down another street.
Each turn only lost the craft for a moment but it always came back and fired on them getting closer to its mark as Buttercup’s fire suddenly cut out.
She dropped back into the truck. “Turrets dry.” She said,
“Dammit we need to get off the street, that thing’s going to get us eventually.”
“We are a few blocks away from the Baton Subway station, will that work?” Honey asked with a deathgrip on the harness holding her in place.
“Which way?”
“Take the next right.”
The truck fished tailed as it did.
“Go two streets down and take a left…..after that turn right and it will be straight ahead.”
Blueberry followed the instructions as more bolts rained down on them.
Eventually she skidded around a corner and saw ahead of them a large glass covering over several stairs down.
“Hold on!” Blueberry yelled as she put the pedal to the metal.
“Wait, what are you doing?” Comet yelled.
“No time to stop, buckle up, we are going straight in!”
“Ah shit…''Comet said and held onto his harness.
“Here we go!”
The truck jumped the curve and smashed through the glass doors and hit the stairs catching air as it vanished into the open ground in a shower of glass and metal landing hard, the shocks making it bounce before it crashed through a ticket stand and skidded into a turnstile.
“Everyone alive?” Blueberry asked, knowing she will feel that in the morning.
“No thanks to your driving….”Comet said.
“I’m unhurt.” Honey said.
“Still kicking.” Buttercup replied
“Alright everyone out won't be long till they are on us.” She said opening the door and helping the two civilians out before the four of them galloped deeper into the station and the tunnels beyond.
Date: August 9th, 1666 CC Time: 18:23 Name: Moonlight Location: Equestrian Defense Force High Command
High General Moonlight stood in the command center watching the large screens before her as it showed a map of Equestria with red showing where the enemy controlled and blue showing those places still under equestrian control.
The red was slowly creeping across the entire map as the blue shrunk away.
Before her were dozens of stations with operators listening to incoming transmissions from officers in the field and relaying intel or processing requests.
It was all very efficient and worked like a well oiled machine exactly as it had been designed to do to handle threats. But no matter how well their machine worked it was slowly having its ability to function chipped away by the hour.
Moonlight had no fear High Command would suffer losses as it was built deep into Canterlot Mountain with only certain teleportation routes to get in, of which all had been shut down now leaving a single escape route that went for miles before connecting to the surface far from civilization.
No High Command would not fall but that meant nothing for the rest of the nation and those who were putting their lives on the line out there to fight a force that behaved more like the monsters of the Everfree Forest then anything ever faced before.
Moonlight watched the screens as the blue shifted away from the red in the southern part of the nation. They still had their satellites though something was preventing them from making contact with anything outside of Equestria so for all they knew every other nation was in the same situation.
Moonlight shook her head of that thought, her job wasn't to be concerned with other nations.
“General, we have a transmission from High General Flapper.” A Lieutenant said approaching Moonlight.
“Flapper? Patch him through.” Moonlight said. Flapper was the High General of the air force and sat with Moonlight, the High General of the Army at the table alongside the Grand Admiral of the Navy who answered directly to Major Chrysalis and Commander Sparkle.
The screen before Moonlight changed from the map to a somewhat glitched video showing a pegasus in the light combat armor worn by ground forces. “It’s good to see you, General Flapper.” Moonlight said. “We thought we lost you when Towers AFB was overrun.”
“No, I'm still here, those freaks haven't gotten me yet.” Flapper said. “We are lucky to have found this old communications relay still working…..the reports I have of my lads are grim….”
“Yes, it is General.” Moonlight said, of the three branches of the military only Moonlights hadn't been nearly eradicated in the first few hours of the invasion, though if things keep going as they were then Moonlight branch wouldn't be much better off soon.
“I made contact with a recon unit we crossed paths with that spotted a large dust cloud north west of Towers AFB and it may be enemy forces, I'd check it but we have our hooves full trying to organize what we have and I can't spare anyone but I figured you'd have a someway to do it.”
Moonlight nodded. “We will task a satellite to move over the area and see what it is. Are you in need of help?”
“I may be old but I'm not helpless and I ain't going to have troopers tasked with wasting time getting my flank out of the pan. I’ll be fine. Just check on that cloud and if it's those freaks, be sure to bloody them good for me.”
“Will do general.”
“General Flapper out.” With that the screen went dark and was replaced with an overlay of the military satellites in orbit as one of the operators was already carrying out the order before Moonlight even needed to give it.
Soon the screen shifted to show a view of Towers AFB as seen from extremely high up. “Increase magnification.” Moonlight orders and the view started to slowly zoom in till the AFB was clearly visible deep in a red area of the map.
On the screen a large dust column could be seen going through farmers fields. “Zoom in on the column.”
The camera adjusted and the dust cloud took up the view. “Switch to thermal.
A moment later the screen became black and white and could see through the cloud to show two dozen civilian vehicles moving through the field and avoiding the roads ``What in the world…” A Lieutenant said.
“It's a refugee convoy….why are they heading for Tow…..” mMonlight eyes went wide. “Open up channels to Towers AFB.” She ordered.
The operator complied and the room was filled with the voice of General Flapper. “Rally point…..I repeat. Towers Air Force Base is an EDF rally point.”
“Shit…Flapper must have set that near the beginning and it's still playing….those refugees are heading straight towards the enemy.” Moonlight said out loud. "Give me all the intel we have on the area. I want to know what assets we still have!"
The operators worked furiously and soon a tag was brought up not too far from the convoy. “Ma’am remnants of the 15th army are still in the area.”
“Patch me through……Attention this is EDF High Command to the 15th army, do you read.”
“This is Sargent Stacks, in charge of the 15th, we read you High Command.”
“Sargent you have a refugee convoy 20 miles south of your positions heading straight into the enemy, you need to intercept them.”
“Understood, we will mount up and get there as fast as we can.”
With that the connection ended and the satellite showed the heat signature that were the 15th boarding their hummvee and one APC they had to carry out the order.
“Ma’am the 12th is requesting satellite coverage as they have secured artillery batteries and want to make sure they hit their targets.” An Operator replied.
Moonlight gave the order to task the satellite with assisting with targeting as the 12th was deep behind enemies lines meaning anything they hit will do serious damage to the enemy.
They established contact with the 12th and began to give coordinates for a Forward Operating Base of the enemy and watched as the shells started raining down causing serious damage. It didn't last more than a few minutes before the 12th needed to fall back before the enemy called in air support but they left behind a burning FOB and based on what could be seen through the satellite a lot of dead.
“Ma'am the 15th is trying to make contact with us.”
“Put them through.”
“High command do you read?” Sergeant Stacks said.
“We read you Sargent, have you reached the convoy.” Moonlight asked.
“Affirmative but not before the enemy did, we have a lot of dead here. Looks like they were being led by what remained of a sheriff department.” Stacks reported.
“Understood Sargent, pull back.”
“Hold on High Command.” The sergeant said and there was a pause. “Ma’am one of the lads found what appears to be hoof prints leading away from the convey. There may be survivors.”
“Confirmed sergeant tasking satellite for coverage.” Moonlight said and watched the indicator slowly travel across the screen to reach the previous point.
It zoomed in on the remains of the convoy showing the signatures moving around the burning vehicles and checking the cooling heat signatures. “Pull out. I want to see a 10 mile radius.” Moonlight ordered.
The camera did so and Moonlight watched as did a few operators.
“There, what's that's in the north.” An operator said and the camera zoomed in to show 5 heat signatures, 5 pony shaped heat signatures at full gallop away from the convoy.
“Move behind them.”
The camera shifted to show 3 large signatures of enemy infantry in pursuit.
“Sargent there are 5 survivors currently being pursued by hostile forces one mile north of your position, you are to engage the enemy and rescue those civilians.”
“Don't have to tell me twice.” Sargent Stacks said and was issuing orders to mount up and prepare for a hunt.
“Ma’am we have a priority message from what remains of the 2nd army, text only.” A lieutenant said urgently.
“Oh my screen.” Moonlight said, looking at the small computer that was near her, a few moments later her eyes went wide at what she read. “Get that satellite over Canterlot now!”
It floated through the void or was it stationary? What was movement anyways and how would it know if it was moving to begin with?
It was distracted when it heard a beeping sound, slow and rhythmic for a few seconds.
“You there, what are you doing here?” An authoritative voice said behind it.
It spun around to find itself standing in a white corridor being stared down by a purple thing dressed in green and wearing reflective glass over its eyes covered in brutal scars, also standing on its back legs with artificial hands on hips. Somehow despite not being able to see the eyes it knew it was being glared at by eyes that hid a lot of rage, pain and fear.
It wasn't sure how it knew this.
“I asked you a damn question!” The purple thing barked.
“Oh…um…I…do not know where I am….” It said,
“Right, just happened to wandered into Camp Mendez.” The Purple Thing spat.
It stepped back feeling concerned. “I do not know what a Camp Mendez is…I…..seem to be lost….”
The Purple Thing remained silently staring. “Fine….come with me, we will sort this out and find out if you are telling the truth." The Purple Thing turned on its heels and started to march down the hall forcing It to scramble to keep up. The Purple Thing seemed used to people following when told to. “What's your name?”
“Excuse me?”
“Name! what's your name so we can check your story and don't try to lie, else I'll turn you over to the changelings and let them question you.”
“Oh….I do not know that either.”
The Purple Thing stopped and spun around. “What? What the hell do you mean you don't know your name?”
“I mean….I do not know my name.” It said sheepishly, a new feeling for it.
The Purple Thing rubbed its temples. “Okay if you are telling the truth then you may have suffered some sort of trauma.”
“Trauma?”
“Yes it might explain how you got here, my guess is some sort of magical accident, teleportation gone wrong as that can put a lot of strain on a person…..We will get you to medical and see what we can find out.” The Purple Thing said, seeming to soften. “But!” She hardened again. “If I find out you are lying…..” She gave a look that could burn a hole through steel, an impressive feat given the glass over her eyes.
It gulped and nodded. “I am not lying…”
“We will see….I'm Commander Sparkle by the way.”
“It is nice to meet you.” It said.
The Commander turned on her heels and marched down the hall with It following. Eventually she turned down another hall with a door at the end.
It hesitated as something floated in the back of its mind about doors……something it wasn't sure of.
The Commander stopped and looked back at It. “What’s wrong?”
“I….do not know….something feels….off…”
“Well yeah you possibly suffered a trauma…” She said and…seemed to soften. “It’s okay…..you are safe here….trust me….I won't let anything happen to you….” She said gently, in contract to how she had acted before.
Slowly It took a step forward and felt an artificial arm around its back. "It's okay we will go together ….” The Commander said before opening the door to a blinding light.
Date: August 9th, 1666 CC Time: 18:34 Name: Tricks Location: Lunar Square, Eastern Canterlot
Colonel Tricks stood in a mobile command center watching 3 technicians work to monitor the evac corridor they managed to open to ensure it remained under their control. Outside a steady stream of Canterlot refugees were coming in and being sent out of the city via the water works below the street as the enemy seems to have not yet realized Canterlot is honeycombed with a maze of paths that go all the way to the mountain where there are various ways out. Allowing the refugees to escape down the mountain.
It wasn't a perfect plan as the water works were not meant for so many people to travel down them and they would need to hike through rough terrain but it was a plan that was working.
Colonel Tricks had originally been ordered by High Command to reinforce the 4th and 8th army in defense of the city but Tricks had always had issues with following certain types of orders when he saw things differently. It had earned him many reprimands and commendations. He always liked to view it as everyone playing chess by the rules and him ignoring those rules when he didn't see the point, after all why shouldn't he have his pawn jump all the other pieces and take the king when that was the end result?
And why should the unicorn follow an order to defend a city that had effectively fallen and just needed others to admit it? Because it was the capitol? That was a flimsy reason to Tricks and so he chose to admit what was written on the walls of the city and change from fighting a battle to launching a large-scale rescue operation of everyone still inside the city.
High Command most likely won’t be pleased, he may even get demoted for disobeying their direct order but in the end he will know he did what needed to be done and what was right.
“Sir, the next group is ready to head through.” A tech reported.
Tricks nodded. “Good, send them through.”
Tricks knew he couldn't save everyone, eventually his forces will be overwhelmed or the enemy will figure out what he was doing, heck he might not make it out of this to be reprimanded by High Command but he figured he will keep rolling those dice as long as he could and gamble with the time. Each successful roll of the dice was another group that escaped.
There was a loud rumble that echoed over the square and could even be heard inside the mobile command center. Quiet enough to almost be mistaken for a thunderclap, except for the fact a thunderclap wouldn't be heard inside of this room.
Which meant that it had been very loud outside.
“Report, what was that?” Tricks asked.
“Unknown, all we know is it was loud.” Came the reply.
There was another thunderclap like sound and Tricks felt a small shift below his hooves and alarm bells went off in his head as another thunderclap echoed across the square and the shifting increased.
Another came and Tricks was finally able to tell what the shifting was, the ground was starting to slope.
“Sir the civilians are becoming concerned and our troopers are requesting what to tell them.” A tech asked.
Tricks looked at the pony sitting at the station and then at the other 2.
“Sir?”
Tricks’ horn glowed and the three techs vanished in a poof of magic as there was a corresponding poof on the mountain. It was draining but it had to be done.
Tricks rushed for the door as another thunderclap echoed followed quickly by another as the sloping was now so noticeable objects began falling from the table.
The door opened as a deafening thunderclap like sound echoed across the square where the civilians were starting to panic as the ground sloped more and more.
Then the loudest explosion of stone, metal and other materials echoed across the square and everything began to shake as the entire city tilted while the distant mountain slope rushed away above the city.
Screams filled the square as Tricks had to grab the railing of the stairs to keep from falling till he got his hooves under him.
A mare was running past and Tricks horn glowed again as she vanished in in a poof of magic as Tricks pushed himself off the stairs and stumbled into the panic watching as a distant tower collapsed as a city works truck, the back filled with multiple civilians started backing away from the square rapidly in an attempt to escape what was happening.
Tricks reached a trooper trying to keep her hooves under her and she vanished in magic a moment before the ground she’d been standing on opened up as the square started to split in half, many troopers and civilians falling into the chasm as it opened.
Tricks didn't have time to worry about that, he didn't have time to worry about orders, he had to roll his dice as fast as he could as he reached another pony and teleported them away as another chasm opened up behind him swallowing the command center.
He saw pegasi take flight as they realized what was happening, most of them grabbing others near them before taking flight to escape.
Tricks could easily do the same, he had the magic to teleport to the mountainside but the thought never crossed his mind as he sent another there in his place.
He stumbled and at times crawled from person to person as the ground shook, buildings collapsed and screams of terror filled the air.
Tricks teleported a Keeper and his head jerked back as it felt like he took a hammer to the forehead. His head pounded and he smelled burning as nausea filled him.
He reached a stallion as he reached for magic and was met with the pain of magical burn out.
Tricks did the only thing he could think of as one last toss of the dice against impossible odds as he threw himself over the stallion as the city disintegrated around them…
Moments later the city of Canterlot smashed into the ground at the base of the mountain and shattered.
Date: August 9th, 1666 CC Time: 18:41 Name: Dusty Trails Location: The Town of Hope, Northeastern Equestria
Lieutenant Dusty Trails ducked behind the sandbags as she reloaded her rifle. Beside her a stallion dressed in overalls did the same to slowly reload his hunting rifle.
The Town of Hope was not a large town but it was filled with ponies who were descendants of those who escaped Tirek so long ago, founded from one of the refugee camps. As such they would never surrender.
And so when the invaders came they were met not just with EDF troopers but armed civilians prepared to lay down their lives to defend their home.
And so the battle raged as the defenders were attacked from all sides and unleashed everything they had.
Dusty raised up just over the sandbags and fired on one of the invaders and a couple seconds later the stallion joined her firing a high powered shot on another.
“We got another push coming from the south!” Someone shouted into the radio, whether a trooper or civilian given a radio was unknown, all that it meant was the floaters would move to help the southern defensive line. The enemy had tried a dozen large pushes to enter the town and had been beaten back each time.
“They have got to run out of soldiers at some point.” The stallion besides Dusty said.
“Let's hope it's before we run out of bullets, I really don't want to fight these guys with bayonets.”
“Bayonets? I'd be stuck using my rifle as a club!” The stallion said getting a chuckle from Dusty as the two enjoyed a bit of levity in this madness.
Another enemy reared its ugly head and Dusty opened fire to distract it as the stallion lined up his shot and fired.
They watched for more enemies as they listened to the gunfire echoing across the small town slowly starting to die down.
“Hey what's going on?” Dusty asked.
“No idea…..” Someone replied.
“Wait…..I think they are running…..I saw a couple of them heading away from us on the road.” Another pony said.
“Confirmed they are in retreat.”
“I don't believe it, did we win?”
“Looks like it but stay sharp they may be back.”
Something was off to Dusty, the last they heard the enemy was pressing everywhere and rarely retreating from any battle against even better set up groups….why would they retreat from them? Had they really put up that good of a fight?
Dusty’s fur stood on end like it would do during a lighting storm.
The trooper looked to the clear sky and saw one of massive ships high above the town and what looked like a small sun slowly growing at the center of its belly.
Her eyes went wide. “EVERYONE GET TO COVER NOW!” She screamed into the radio as she grabbed the stallion and ran from their defensive position. All around her dozens of others started to run at the order.
High above the The Town of Hope the invader’s ship unleashed its most powerful weapon. A powerful laser that drained the ship of most of its power to the point it wasn't used often.
Only one other Invader’s ship had used this weapon when it fired on a powerful pony in a far off city and burnt out her magic as she shielded the entire city.
The Town of Hope had no such protection and in a single instant The Town of Hope was rewarded for their perseverance and refusal to be overrun with a blinding light that surpassed the sun.
When the light faded all that stood in the area was a severely charged sign welcoming travelers to the town standing at the edge of a massive glowing crater.
Date: August 9th, 1666 CC Time: 19:30 Name: Apple Fritter Location: Sweet Apple Acres, Ponyville
Apple Fritter fired her rifle on one of them things as it ran between the trees, she wasn't entirely sure if she hit it but if she didn't she made sure they knew they were not welcome.
Apple Fritter stood behind a line of barrels, crates, trailers and other equipment used to help run the farm along with her two sisters and two of the farmhooves who hadn’t run off when all of this started.
Behind them stood the old house they had grown up in, and their mom had grown up in with her siblings and hers before that.
“That's right ya varmints run!” Apple Peel yelled angrily. “That will teach ya not to mess with the Apple Clan’s business!”
Beyond the house a large column of smoke rose to the sky and party blocked out the sun as the southern orchard burned out of control destroying the trees as the Apple sisters couldn't risk trying to go and put out it out and any chance of the fire department showing up was laughable as they could hear the gunshots echoing from the town proper as they fought their own pitched battle.
According to a couple ponies who made it to the farm there was apparently a stand being made in the marketplace lead by the wheelchair bound librarian Denial Wrecker as he knew a thing or two about fighting being a former EDF Trooper.
The Apple Sisters hoped they were doing well as there was no way for them to know unless someone else came by but that was unlikely as anyone who couldn't reach the market came here, and the rest apparently made a break for The Castle of Friendship.
Apple Fritter could see The Castle was in a far bigger battle then the farm or town was combined she guessed. Luckily calling it a Castle was just a name as it was a fortress and easily one of if not the most heavily defended thing in Equestria packed with enough weapons, ammo and latest technology to put other bases to shame as they looked unarmed in comparison.
Every one of The Castle’s guns was firing on a large army laying siege, well large by Apple Fritters standard but she didn't know much about army things so for all she knew it was small.
Around The Castle flew those staging planes that were being fired on by the anti air batteries as smoke rose from the castle from several fires that burned.
Apple Dumpling fired her rifle as another one of those things poked its head out of the trees bringing Fritter back to the farm.
“Ah don't get it….why ain’t they doing much but looking?” Peel asked.
“Don't rightly know….seems weird after they attacked us in the southern orchard….” Fritter shuttered recalling how they barely made it out of that since they were caught unaware while apple bucking.
“It…reminds me of Timber Wolves” Dumpling said, of of the three sisters, Dumpling was the youngest and most educated as she spent a lot of time with Aunt Twilight loving to listen to her talk about all sorts of thing and even borrowed all sorts of textbooks from the library as Aunt Twilight got her with the learning bug good. Still even with all her learning she still preferred life on the farm as opposed to anywhere else.
Apple Fritter was the oldest and most down to earth while Peel was the middle child and somewhat of a hothead.
“What do you mean like Timber Wolves, they ain't made of wood!” Peel said.
Peel also wasn't the brightest bulb at times.
Dumping sighed. “Not like that….I meant their movements….it's like how the Timber Wolves hunt.”
Fritter frowned as she thought about that. If this really was like how those wooden monsters hunted….
A twig snapped behind them and Fritter grabbed her sisters diving down into the dirt as a bolt of energy tore through where Peel had been standing.
“Fuck!” One of the farmhooves yelled, turning around and raising his rifle a moment before a bolt hit him in the chest causing him to crumple to the ground as the other farmhoof dove over the barricade just in time to avoid the same fate as a bolt hit where he had been standing.
Fritter rolled over trying to get her gun up but the long barrel was pinned under her as she stared at the 4 things that had snuck around the side of the house.
The lead one leveled its weapon at Fritter who saw flashes of everything she'd ever done and had hoped to do.
A moment later a streak of light tore through the air and a massive hole exploded in the chest of the thing aiming at Fritter as a loud bang echoed across the farm.
“Now that's just Dishonest shooting a pony while they are down.” A familiar voice said from the other side of the house.
Fritter looked as saw a yellow earth pony with a large red mane, a single gray streak in it under a wide brimmed black hat and wearing a matching vest under saddle bags and on her hip was an empty holster for an old .44 revolver that had been bought by their mom before the sisters were born.
“Aunt Applebloom, where have you been?” Peel asked, shocked.
“Sorry I'm late, had some trouble getting the things I needed and knew you girls could hold down the farm.” Applebloom said. Anyone who looked at the mare would assume she wasn't very old when in fact she was the oldest mare in town besides Aunt Twilight.
Applebloon aimed the revolver and Fritter could see a faint glowing from the bullets.
“Now then…..Xenaial Ani Eulan enital alloma.” She said in a weird gibberish.
The things looked at each other and back at her. “Fanina Ina?” one said in similar sounding gibberish
“Gaun quina.” Applebloom responded.
The things looked at each other and at the dead one on the ground before they started to retreat back the way they came.
After they were gone Applebloom holstered her pistol and walked over to the girls smiling. “You girls okay?”
“Yeah…”Fritter said, getting up.
“Aunty what was that gibberish?” Dumpling asked.
“Just making sure they understood if they didn't get off mah farm then they'd end up like their captain.”
“Huh?” Dumpling said. “But….how?”
Applebloom smiled in that way that told the girls she wasn't going to answer before turning back to the house. “Come on back into the house and get some food as ah know you four are hungry and we won't be bothered for a while.”
The three mares followed as they knew better than to argue with their aunt, when she said something, it was true no matter how outlandish.
As they followed a massive explosion echoed across the farm and the three looked toward Castle Friendship to see the large central tower buckling at the middle and starting to topple over as more fires burned out of control as the enemy pressed their assault.
The tower crashed into the ground with a deafening sound as the wall it hit was demolished a moment before a massive explosion rocked the gate and tore it from where it stood. Fritter could just make out the flashes of weapons fire as those inside The Castle fought to defend the breach from the things that now launched a full scale assault through the open gate.
“Fritter come on, that ain't our battle.” Applebloom said firmly. “Now get in here and rest as there is work to be done later.”
Fritter tore her eyes away from the fortress as it fought with everything it had both outside and inside.
She followed her sisters into the house and closed the door on the battle outside.
Date: August 9th, 1666 CC Time: 19:43 Name: Princess Luna Location: Equestrian Defense Force High Command
Princess Luna lay in a bed deep within the bunker that was High Command where she had been placed by The Council after they rescued her from herself.
She began to slowly stir as the effects of the spell slowly wore off and her mind returned to consciousness.
With a start she leapt from the bed and looked around for the enemy who had attacked her only to see the interior of one of the rooms within High Command. Luna frowned as she remembered she was speaking to The Council and they were trying to get her to abandon The Throne to those barbarians and now she was here.
Slowly she pieced together what happened and her frown deepened. They had put her to sleep and took her away against her will! How dare they do such a thing! She had half a mind to cast them all into the dungeons for such treasonous actions.
She stood to her full height and retrieved her regalia where it sat on a nearby table getting herself looking proper. She marched out of the room to find the traitors.
She found the halls empty which was odd, normally there was always activity of soldiers both on duty and off going about various tasks but she found the hall eerily empty.
She walked them, hooves making a slight clicking sound on the hard floor due to her hoof coverings as she looked for anyone, even a sign.
She was growing concerned with the lack of anyone and looked to the signs on the wall to figure out where she was. Once she knew she started to make her way towards the primary command center as there would be people there and if not it would mean something had gone terribly wrong.
It took a short time to reach the command center and she used her clearance to enter.
What she found was more activity then she ever seen as operators spoke into headsets and aides ran to and fro. Her ears caught a bit of what was being said.
“Report, any survivors? Did we get our people out!” “Reporting the enemy has breached the outer wall and are storming the central building.” “Requesting reinforcements as they are being pursued” “They’ve gone completely dark, assumed overrun.”
She filtered it out as she found High General Moonlight sitting at her desk at the back of the room staring at the main screen.
“General what is going on?” Princess Luna said with authority that was appropriate for her station. Moonlight didn't answer. “General, report!” She said a little louder.
Moonlight blinked and seemed to snap out of whatever thought she was in and looked at the Princess. “Oh….Princess you are awake.” She said standing up. “Forgiving me if I do not bow but the situation has reached a point where such formalities are to be disregarded.”
“What do you mean?” Luna asked how High Command could reach such a point. All Moonlight did was point to the main screen. On it was a large pile of rubble seen from above and a few fires here and there but mostly just bare broken stone. “I do not understand?”
“That…..is Canterlot Princess. It….fell from the mountain.”
Luna’s eyes went wide as she looked at the shattered city. She quickly took a deep breath and let it out as centuries of training and playing The Game of Houses had taught her too. “How many were in the city?”
“Unknown….we estimate only about a third of the city was evacuated. We are still finding survivors along the mountain as apparently they either teleported there as the city fell or were teleported by others so they are scattered all along the mountain. It will be a while before we can pieces together things”
Luna nodded grimly and the previous anger at what The Council did was smothered in the sorrow at so many lost lives and slowly kindled into a burning rage at such a heinous act. Even Tirek with all his cruelty and crimes never did anything to the level of destroying a city with thousands of people in it.
No, these barbarians were no different than the monsters of the wilds, no worse, the monsters have the excuse of not having the intelligence to understand their action, it was pure instincts. These invaders made the choice to do this, they were worse than the worst monster ever seen on Equus.
She let herself feel that rage for a few seconds till she smothered it as she needed to keep focus. “Is there any word on my sister?”
“Negative ma’am, Vanhoover is still dark. But we are getting reports that a group of refugees may have escaped.”
Luna nodded, still looking at the screen. “Very well…..what is the time?”
“19:56 ma'am.” Moonlight answered.
“Very well.” Her horn glowed.
“What are you doing Ma’am?”
“Lowering the sun and raising the moon.”
“Are you sure it is a good idea to make it night? Many places are without power at this time.”
Luna turned to Moonlight. “Canterlot has fallen, I am sure based on what was being said when I entered that fact is spreading. Ponies need to know that at least one of us still draws breath and if the day gives way to night they will know we still stand.” She said firmly.
Moonlight gulped under that look and tone the Princess gave her. “Yes ma’am.”
With that Luna began the task of slowly moving the sun from the sky above so she can put her Moon above, a task she had to do one at a time.
She saw on the screen as the land grew dark till only the small fires gave light and then a dim light spread out as the moon rose.
With that done Luna ended her spell. “I will return to my room, inform me of any major events.” She said turning to leave.
“Yes ma’am.”
She departed and walked back the way she came to her room. Once she closed the doors she slumped down as the changing it from day to night had taken a lot out of her as well as the news of what had happened.
“Sister….where are you…..” She whispered, allowing a brief emotion before she took another deep breath. She had another duty to do and she did not look forward to it more than ever before.
She climbed onto the bed but did not lay down as she closed her eyes, horn glowing.
The world around her faded away into the Dreamscape where she was met with what she knew would be waiting for her.
Every dream she saw was a nightmare.
She steeled herself for a long night ahead trying to comfort her subjects, those few who could risk sleep at this time.
Date: August 9th, 1666 CC Time: 20:54 Name: Shadow Mark Location: Pinkie Pie Funtime Land
Shadow ate a microwaved burrito along with the others hiding in the employee break room of the amusement park. They had been here for hours yet it had only been a couple hours since they heard any sort of fighting.
“Think after dinner we grab what we can and try to get out of the park.” Card Trick, the employee who let them in said.
“What? Why would we leave, we are safe here.” Charging Visor, a large earth pony guest said.
“For one this is the last of the food and while we can make supply runs, the nearest real food stall is in a far off location assuming it's even standing still but also the simple fact if the park loses power then the locks will deactivate and the door will simply swing open. We are safe as long as we are hidden.” Card Trick said.
“Why in tartarus would it do that?” The stallion asked.
“Safety, don't want people trapped if the power goes out.”
Charging grunted.
“I think it's a good idea.” The large stallion's wife Platinum Haze said as she helped their daughter, Gram, eat.
“Very well.” Charging relented.
Shadow had to admit Card Trick was doing a remarkable job keeping calm in this situation being barely out of high school.
“Lucky we can avoid some of the open areas by using employee tunnels.” Card said as he ate.
“Wait there are tunnels under the park?” Shadow asked, she had been going to this park most of her life and she didn't know that.
“Yeah, the entrances are hidden like the breakrooms, they let us travel around unseen, something about giving us a small break and also letting us pop up out of nowhere.” Card Trick chuckled. "This place has some weird ways of working.”
“Sounds like it.” Haze said.
The group drifted back to silence as they ate.
All too soon the meal finished and Card stood up. “Alright, I'll grab the water and the snacks. There's a small sheriff's office not too far from the park, figure we head there and try to get some help….if we can't then we should be able to get supplies.”
Shadow nodded as she stood as did the others going to wait by the door out of the room.
Soon enough Card joined them hoofing each of them a water bottle. Once each of them had one he opened the door and they stepped out into the cool night air of the deserted park.
“Well……at least the Princesses are still standing….that's something…” Haze said.
“Yeah….anyways come on I'd rather not stick around in the open any longer then we have to.” Card said before starting to walk.
“Where are you going, the entrance is the other way.” Charging said.
“Yeah it is, and if anyone is looking for survivors they’d be there, and I don't mean our guys.” Card said as he kept going. “We are going to use an employee entrance on the far side of the park as its hidden.”
The group looked at each other and then followed the young stallion as he walked.
It was creepy to Shadow to be walking through the empty park. Most of the lights were off as no one was around to turn them on but some of the others were on, Shadow assumed they were on timers or sensors.
The ground was littered with abandoned food items and random stuffed animals or other souvenirs. Shadow looked to the city and could see very little light but much to her concern she saw one of the skyscrapers was a raging inferno at the top. It looked like a match that had been struck as at least the top 20 floors were burning out of control lighting up the buildings around it.
As they walked they heard a very distant explosion for Baltimare and what almost sounded like gun fire, at least Shadow was choosing to hear it as such as it would mean there were still people besides them.
The group passed an overturned snack food cart and Card stopped to search it, pulling out a few packs of dried fruit to add to their supplies. “There is a shop near here, we should stop there and get some saddlebags.”
“Lead on.” Shadow said as the other two nodded before they diverted their path. They eventually found the shop and entered it.
A few minutes later they all came out with saddlebags, all Pinkie Pie Funtime Land branded merch but still it made carrying things easier.
With that they started walking again and eventually reached a small hedge wall. “Here we are.” Card said and Shadow looked around confused before Card spoke again. “Open sesame”
With that a section of the hedge opened up revealing a ramp down to a tunnel. Card wasted no time heading down the ramp and the rest followed.
As they passed a certain point the hidden entrance silently closed behind them and now they walked down a well lit tunnel that looked like it was also for general maintenance as there were pipes along the ceiling.
“What prevents others from hearing the password and getting places they shouldn't be.” Charging asked.
“It's keyed to recognize employees only so they can say it till they are blue in the face and nothing will happen as only employees have access to these areas.” Card replied as they walked through the maze, luckily there were maps at every junction so they could figure out where they were going. There were also posters with motivational quotes directed at staff to encourage them as well as remind them to drink plenty of water and take regular breaks when needed.
Shadow paused when she saw one post that looked old and didn't fit the rest.
It showed the Founder as a young mare looking down a the world with the caption “Remember, Pinkie Pie is Always Watching”
Okay that was creepy.
“Yeah that's something put up a long time ago apparently as a silly joke and to remind us there are cameras so not to do anything against the rules.” Card explains apparently seeing her looking at it.
"Ah.” Was all Shadow said.
They walked for a bit till they reached a door and Card opened it to reveal more of the park. He stepped out looking around before motioning for them to follow.
Outside was the main thrill ride section of the park, there were more food items discarded here then other items. “Alright the next tunnel isn't too far from here then one after that and we reach the employee entrance.” With that Card started to walk through the park again trying to watch down the dark paths for threats.
“Hey! HEY YOU!” Someone shouted.
They all froze and looked around confused.
“Yeah you up here! Help!”
Shadow's eyes looked up and she saw one of the thrill rides, the one that launched itself up really high several times, it was stopped about halfway to the ground with several ponies still strapped to their seats waving frantically.
To get to them they'd have to deviate their path and Card was already moving that way.
“What are you doing?” Charging asked.
“Going to get them down.” Card said as he kept moving.
“We don't have time and that might draw those things to us.” Charging said. “We should keep moving.”
“Maybe, still doing it.” Card said casually as he kept walking.
“Fine, but we are leaving.” Charging said turning to continue the original path.
“Your choice but good luck getting far without my employee access.” Card reminded him casually once more. Shadow almost chuckled as she followed Card.
Charging gave a snort and reluctantly followed Card as they headed for the ride.
It was a short trot to the ride and soon Card was at the control looking it over. “Okay….looks like the emergency brake engaged….luckily the keys are still in it….”Card muttered as Shadow looked at the buttons and switches.
“Can you get it down?” She asked.
“In theory…I'm not trained on this ride but I should be able to figure it out…” Card said as he clicked a couple switches. “I hope….”
He clicked a few switches and dials and eventually the controls lit up. “Got it.” He said and pressed a button.
Slowly the ride started to lower back to the station and soon arrived.
Card went and started to remove the harness from the riders who dropped to the ground and panted. “Sweet Celestia….it's good to be on the ground again….we've been stuck up there for hours…” One said and Shadows said seeing they appeared to be high schoolers. Card started hoofing out his bottles of water to them and they drank greedily.
“Easy….we need to make sure that lasts.” Card said.
“What the hell is going on?” One of the mares asked.
“Not a clue, whatever it is, it's bad,” Card said. “We are heading for an employee entrance and sheriff office after that.” Card said. “You're welcome to join us unless you got some other plans.”
“Probably should stick with you….splitting up never goes well in the movies….” One of the high schoolers said.
Card nodded and the now larger group left the ride behind eventually reaching another employee tunnel, this one was a code and soon they were walking down the tunnels, the new additions looking around in amazement as they had never been in such an area before, granted it wasn't very impressive but still.
In a short time they reached another door and this one opened up to an area lit by a flickering orange light and there was all sorts of debris here and a large gouge in the ground.
“What the…..” Shadow said as they walked out and looked around.
The gouge extended for a long way and there were multiple small fires scattered around among the debris….wait was that luggage? And a wheel?
“Damn….this is where it hit….:” One of the high schoolers said.
“What hit?” Shadow asked.
“A plane……it got shot down and crashed into the park….”Another answered.
“Oh….” Shadow said
“Come on….it's this way…” Card said starting to head the way the gouge went.
Shadow hesitated a moment before following. As they walked they saw more pieces of the plane and it wasn't very far till they found their first body, a mare in a flight attendant uniform and not far from her was the partly burned body of a stallion in a suit.
Haze shielded Gram's eyes as they walked among the destruction and bodies.
The further they went the worse it got till they had to walk round a large section of the fuselage, there were many bodies here and Shadow had to cover her nose do to the smell and she was thankful when they turned off this path to head down a non destroyed path to a mural that opens to the next tunnel and they escaped that sight. Though Shadow knew she would never forget this and was thankful when they left the park behind.
It floated in the void as it always did, the only difference was there was a slow methodical beeping occasionally as the only thing that happened, but it came and went and was quickly forgotten.
It was left to think on things, mostly what it was in and when the beeping was there what that was.
“Gah, why is there so much paperwork.” A voice said behind It and It looked back to find itself in some sort of large study with a purple winged thing with artificial limbs sitting behind a desk stacked with papers and muttering curses under her breath.
It blinked at this scene as it watched The Purple Thing continue to write at the bottom of a page then grab another and start reading it for a few moments before she tossed it onto the desk and threw her arms into the air. “GAH! How is this harder then fucking war, I mean honestly.” She scrubbed claw like fingers through her mane before face planting into the desk with a thud. “And now I have a headache…..”She said into the desk before lifting her head to rub her forehead.
It watched all of this and couldn't help chuckling…..a…very strange feeling it wasn't used too.
The Purple Things head snapped around, hand still on her forehead and other hand holding a pistol as It froze.
“Who the fuck are you and how did you get in here?” The Purple Thing asked.
“Uh…I….I don't know and I don’t know.” It said,
“Right, just showed up in the office of a Princess.” The Purple Princess said.
“I don't know! I was….um….somewhere…..”It said trying to think. “I….don’t know…I wasn't here…..now I am….”
“Oh come on, you expect me to believe you have no idea who you are or how you got here.” The Purple Pony Princess said.
“Yes! It's the truth.” It said.
The Purple Princess held It in her sights for a minute longer before lowering her pistol. “Fine…”
She got up. “I’m Princess Twilight, come with me and we will get this sorted out.” She said heading for the door. She opened the door and It flinched, reeling back vision black.
“....What are you doing?” Princess Twilight asked.
Its vision returned to see the Princess standing by the open door looking at It with an arched brow. Beyond the door was a hallway.
“Um…nothing just….felt……nothing….” It said,
“Riiiiiight….” Princess Twilight said and and left the room as It followed behind her. It looked around at various tapestries and paintings on the wall as they walked. They were all very pretty.
“So you seriously don't know who you are?” Princess Twilight asked.
“No….I really don’t.”
“Hmph…” Princess Twilight walked on in silence and It saw no reason to break it.
They walked along for some time, It finding it odd they didn't pass anyone in these halls, they were strangely empty.
They eventually started to descend some stairs, a lot of stairs going down and down and down.
It was starting to feel like there was no end to these stairs when they finally reached a large door. “Come on, in here.” Princess Twilight said entering through the door.
It followed and found itself in a dark room with a single light in the center of it that It couldn't see and when it spun around the door was gone.
“Now then, you are crazy if you think I believe you don't know who you are or how you got here for a second.” Princess Twilight said from the edge of the light as It looked back.
”I….don't….really….I don't know who I am or how I got here.” It said.
“Bullshit.” Another voice said harshly as a scared purple pony with artificial limbs stepped into the light. “That's a fucking lie and you damn well know it.“ Commander Sparkle said.
“It’s not a lie!...wait, who are you?” It asked confused as the two looked similar.
“Come on, you should know that.” Private Twilight said as she stepped into the light.
“How could I possibly know?!”
“Because you have all the pieces you need.” A gentle voice said as the small town Librarian Twilight stepped into the light with a gentle smile.
“I don't have any pieces, I just have you all asking me the same question!"
“And that question is part of the answer if you think about it.” A scholarly Twilight said as she stepped into the light.
“That doesn't make any sense! I don't know who I am!”
“Are you sure about that?” A young voice said as a filly stepped into the light looking up at It with her big purple eyes.
“Yes! How could I know where I am and what happened!” It yelled as a beeping sound echoed from nowhere, slow and rhythmic.
“Because you aren't trying…..you can do it if you try.” The Scholar said.
“I can’t do it! I've tried!”
“No you fucking haven't, you've been too busy hiding like a fucking coward.” The Commander said harshly.
“I have! I've been trying to figure things out!”
“Have you really? Or have you been thinking about everything except those answers?” The Soldier asked.
“What? Of course I have! Why wouldn't I want to answer them!”
“Because you are scared, and that's okay to be scared.” The Librarian said.
“What could I have to be scared of?”
“Oh lots of things, there are many things in this world that make people afraid, it's natural to fear things.” The Princess said.
“But what happened to make me afraid!”
“You know what happened, you just need to think.” The Student said.
The beeping was getting faster.
“I’ve tried!”
“No you haven't, you've hidden away here away from it all, are you really going to abandoned everything and everyone?” The Princess asked.
“What no! I would never!”
“Then face it and answer the question.” The Scholar said.
A massive hulking form appeared in the center of the room and It backed away rapidly as pain seemed to radiate from it.
“There You go running away again.” The Commander said with an eye roll.
“But…”
“You need to push through it, you can do it, you've done it before.” The Soldier said.
Slowly It took a step forward towards the shadow and felt pain. It took another step and the pain increased. Another and more pain caused It to stumble.
“Don’t stop, you got this.” The Librarian said.
It got back up and took another step.
“Push through the pain like you've always done.” The Commander said.
Another step, the pain, It was getting used to it.
The beeping was louder, faster.
Another step…and another…..this pain…it hurt….but It could do this….
Another step….another…..another….and It pushed through running at the shadow ignoring the agony and It threw itself at it.
The Shadow shattered and It stumbled and fell on the ground.
It rolled over to see the ponies around it looking down at It.
“Who are you?” Student asked.
“Who are you?” Scholar asked.
“Who are you?” Librarian asked.
“Who are you?” Soldier asked.
“Who are you?” Commander asked.
“Who are you?” Princess asked.
Their voices echoing over and over spinning around It as It lay there.
The world spun the pain there as its head pounded and the Beeping became frantic.
“I…..I……I AM TWILIGHT SPARKLE!"
Twilight gasped as her eyes shot open and she started choking on the tube down her throat as she looked around the strange room.
“Twilight…Twilight calm down you're safe!” A familiar voice said next to her and she looked to see Chrysalis moving to pull the tube from her throat and hugged her. “You're awake….I…..I thought I lost you…”
Twilight coughed a few more times and hugged her. “no….No you didn't…..I was just a little lost for a while….But I'm back…and we have a mission to finish…”She said as she held her close as the memories came flooding back of their first attempt to save their home.
Date: August 9th, 1666 CC Time: 22:05 Name: Blaster Location: 4,000 feet above Equus
Blaster stood on a cloud far above the ground to rest, it had been hours since he and his wing member, Cloudy Skies had escaped Wonderbolt Academy by the skin of their teeth when it came under attack. He wasn't sure if anyone else made it but he doubted it as the enemy hit them hard and fast when the majority of people were outside and easy targets. The two of them somehow reached one of the admin buildings for cover, even managed to send a distress call before ground forces forced them to flee.
They had been moving ever since, not sure what to do, they tried to go to the nearest military base but only found the bodies and destroyed vehicles of the personnel who had been overrun. If anyone else made it out they could be anywhere.
After that they had been on their own as they didn't come across anyone else and had no way to contact anyone all they could do is keep moving.
“See anything?” Cloudy asked as she stepped up beside Blaster.
“No, looks like the powers out.” He replied.
She sighed and sat fishing out one of the meal bars they got from the base. While no one had been alive there and important equipment was destroyed they had still been able to scavenge some useful supplies.
“Yeah…..you think anyone else is around?” She asked.
“Have to be, no way are we all that's left.”
“Guess you're right….still you'd think we’d run into someone.”
“They are most likely hiding or staying on the move like we are, either that or focused on other locations fighting.” He said as he took out a meal bar as well.
“Think we should head to Cloudsdale? It might be safe.” Cloudy said as she finished her bar.
“As much as I'd like to believe that I'm almost positive a city in the clouds would be a sitting duck to the enemy air force.”
“Yeah….guess you are right.” She said sadly.
He sighed and put a wing around her. “Hey cheer up, we are still alive and kicking and if you get down what am I going to do? I wouldn't have made it this far without you.” He said.
She leaned into him for comfort and sighed. “Yeah you probably would have flown into the wall while trying to impress someone.” She said and chuckled.
“Nah, it would be the flagpole.” He said with his own chuckle.
The two lapsed into silence and just enjoyed the comfort of the other in this moment of peace high above the planet.
After a few minutes they separated and Blaster stretched his wings. “We should keep moving, see what's south of here.”
“Sounds good to me.” Cloudy said, stretching her wings as well.
The two pegasi stepped off the cloud and began to fly south. Blaster watched the air for anything while Cloudy watched the ground for signs of life, they were going slow enough so as not to leave a contrail as that would be easily spotted by enemy forces.
“Hey hold up, I saw something.” Cloudy said and the two came to a stop landing on a nearby cloud as Cloudy squinted into the darkness.
Blaster looked around real quick then did the same.
Down in the dark they could make out a farmhouse with movement around it.
“Think it's our side?” Cloudy asked.
“No clue…we need to get closer….but carefully…”He said and stepped off the cloud once more letting himself drop as Cloudy followed suit and when they were close to the ground they opened their wings and were soon flying a few feet above it. This was dangerous in the dark but it also lowered their chances of being detected as they silently flew through the air dodging the large shapes of trees and bushes without a word.
Soon they landed near the farm house with the softest of sound as their hooves touched dirt. Slowly they crept up and peered out of some bushes.
There were multiple large hulking shadows moving around unloading equipment from a truck, it was clear these were enemies and were setting up something here as others were putting things together.
As they watched 3 smaller forms suddenly took off rapidly into the air leaving behind contrails of pegasi moving at speed.
The enemy noticed and started to draw weapons a moment before the entire house exploded into a massive fireball.
The shock wave somewhat reached the two hidden pegasi enough to wind them but the enemy took the full brunt of the blast and it was clear how much damage that had done as many lay unmoving and even their truck was overturned and burning.
“Who the hey was that?” Blaster asked.
“No clue….but clearly someone is fighting back, come on.” Cloudy said and took off in the direction the three figures flew. Blaster only a second behind her.
They flew in that direction till they spotted figures standing on a cloud and started to approach.
As they got closer they were able to make out more details.
“Wait, that's the Wonderbolts!” Cloudy said loudly.
The two of them flew to the cloud and landed on the edge of it looking somewhat in awe as the blue and gold wearing pegasi looked to them. “Holy shit….its some cadets.” one of them said, sounding shocked.
“Uh…uh…yeah…” Blaster said. The two of them were still in awe as they had been working to join this group and here they were standing before them.
“What's your name?” The captain, Burning Skies, asked stepping forward and removing her goggles
“Uhm…I’m Cloudy and this is Blaster…and yeah we are cadets from the Academy.” She said nervously.
The group looked at each other then back at them.
“We…um saw the farm house.” Blaster said.
“Hm? Oh yeah that….we are conducting guerilla attacks on any enemy setups we find, you two were there?” The captain asked.
“Yeah, we were seeing who they were as we saw them from the sky.
“Hm….snuck up rather close undetected….impressive.” one of them said.
“Well then….think that's enough for me.” The captain said and dug into her pack pulling out two pairs of goggles. “Welcome to the Wonderbolts.”
“Wait what?” Blaster said confused.
“But….how what? We just got here.”
“Kids, I don't think you know this but no one made it out of the academy, except apparently you two. The entire place was bombed into oblivion and the survivors hunted down. The simple fact is you are all that's left and I'd say that is enough to make it clear you earned that graduation and we can use the help.” Captain Skies said.
The two looked at each other in horror as they learned the fate of the academy and slowly took the goggles and put them on.
“Welcome to the bolts, kids, we are heading east to see what we can hit.” The captain said.
The two newly minted Bolts nodded. “Yes ma’am.”
“Alright, let's move out!” The captain ordered putting her goggles back on and the Wonderbotls took to the air on a mission to cause as much damage as they could.
Date: August 9th, 1666 CC Time: 23:43 Name: Sandy Petal Location: 2 Miles Outside Appleloosa
Appaloosa had grown since its founding decades ago, well somewhat, it was still a small farming town but now there was a highway that connected it to the rest of Equestria and not just a train.
It was along this highway an old dented pickup truck sped along its headlights lighting the road ahead as it occasionally had to swerve to miss the remains of car wrecks from hours prior.
Sandy Petal kept her hoof on the pedal going as fast as she dared on the dark highway. She and her sister sped away from the town to try and make it, well…anywhere else. Somewhere had to be safe.
Beside Sandy her sister Scarlet Gem was looking at the map, they had already planned out their route but nervousness made her keep checking just to make sure.
“Are you sure Dodge Junction is a good idea to go near?” Scarlet asked.
“We don't have a choice, it's the fastest route, we will just avoid it and go around.” Sandy said.
The route they chose would eventually lead them to the coast and from there they can try to find a boat or something though both knew the trucks half a tank won't make it that far so they'd have to find gas along the route but that was a problem for later right now they were focused on escaping the town before it came under attack which was inevitable as the nearby EMSD facility was about to be attacked if all the weird planes coming from the west we any indication.
They didn't know what the rest of the town was doing as they had been lucky to avoid whatever was happening in the rest of the nation do to being small outside of a single pass by the enemy planes but the war was on their doorstep now and while they cared about their general store they weren't going to die for it.
Sandy turned the wheel to go around an abandoned tractor and a bolt of energy struck it just barely missing their truck by sheer luck.
“Shit!”
Sandy put the pedal to the floor as 2 strange vehicles tore out of the trees along the road and started chasing them.
“Faster!” Scarlet yelled as the old truck sped along as fast as it could go.
“I’m going as fast as we can!” Sandy yelled back.
One of the pursuing vehicles rammed the back of their truck and they skidded but Sandy was able to get it back under control just in time for a harder ram that caused her to skid and almost fishtail before she got it under control again, another one and she doubted she could keep control.
She had to do something before they got run off the road but what could she do….
An idea came to her, it was a terrible, stupid and dumb idea…..but it was all she had.
She hit the breaks as she cranked the wheel. “What are you doing!?” Scarlet screamed as the truck left the road and crashed through a fence entering the large orchard.
“Something stupid!” Sandy yelled back as she turned off the truck's light and sped past the trees in the dark, using only the moonlight to see by.
“Are you crazy!?!?”
“Shut up, I need to focus!”
She barely saw a cart in time to swerve to miss it by inches. She couldn't see the other vehicles and she hoped they couldn't see her as she skidded into a turn to change direction, hearing lower branches scrap the roof of the truck as she sped through the trees.
She made another turn, eyes straining to see through the dark and winced as the truck jumped a bit along with the sound of something metal going under it as she had missed something. She really hoped that it wouldn't break anything as she continued along this stupid plan.
Eventually the truck reached the other side of the orchard and crashed through another fence and skidded onto a small dirt road and started heading up it.
She looked in the rearview mirror hoping to Luna that she didn't see them come out after them.
A minute passed and nothing exited the orchard and she breathed a sigh of relief as somehow her dumbass plan worked. She still kept the lights off as she headed down the road for as far as she could till it reached the blacktop of a smaller road and turned onto it.
“Check the map, we need to change the plan a bit.” Sandy said and the shaken Scarlet did so as they passed a sign telling them where they were so they could plan a new route to the coast as the main roads were either being watched or they just ran into something related to the EMSD attack.
Either way they were getting out of here and not looking back as the truck sped down the dark road into the night.
Date: August 10th, 1666 CC Time: 00:58 Name: Light Hooves Location: Equestrian Military Science Division Facility Command Center
Light Hooves stood watching the screens before him as reports came in from security stations trying to defend the facility from the enemy forces. They had hit them hard and fast though they had been ready. Even with that preparedness the enemy had still been able to breach the facility and now the fighting was in the halls.
As Light watched the cameras he saw a group of the enemy breach a lab and take an energy bolt to the chest powerful enough to burn through its armor like theirs did to Equestrias and cause the pegasus to blink. He tapped a command and the camera changed to the one inside the lab and he saw a group of researchers behind an overturned table, one of them holding a large shoulder mounted…something attached to wires, computers and 4 power sources.
Three of the researchers were typing away on their computers as the other lifted the device again as another enemy tried to enter and a powerful energy bolt shot from the device burning through like the first one.
Light checked the lab's information and was answered that the lab was working on developing a sort of energy weapon but hadn't gotten far into the prototype phase due to major flaws with the system. Well…..looked like their research was being put through field testing as the researchers fought to stay alive with the only weapon they had.
He sighed as he wanted to send security to help them but right now they had their hooves full so for now they were on their own.
He changed the cameras to a nearby hall where he saw 2 researchers and a guard galloping down it having escaped from who knows where.
Every camera was the same, the facility despite his best efforts was slowly being overrun and even those in secure shelters were being forced to flee as they were breached.
Suddenly the lights and screens in the command center went out as there was a distinct sound of power loss from the center's dedicated power source shutting off.
“What…report!” Light looked around and drew his side arm concerned the enemy had breached further than he had realized and reached them here.
“Unknown, nothing is working.” One of his officers reported trying to get their computer to work.
Suddenly all the screen turned on with scrolling data, wait are they being hacked? That wasn't possible, it was a closed system.
The data scrolled rapidly till it was off the screen and was replaced by 5 words.
[LEVEL THREE SECURITY RESPONSE INITIATED]
And with that Light Hooves lost control of defense of the Facility.
Date: August 10th, 1666 CC Time: 01:08 Name: [CRUSADER MAINFRAME BRAVO] Location: Equestrian Military Science Division Facility
Bravo had sat silently watching through her numerous cameras that acted as her eyes as the enemy forces had slowly been overwhelming the organic security forces and endangering the researcher she was charged with both assisting and protecting as the Facility’s supercomputer.
She was the first successful one brought online, Alpha had unfortunately suffered catastrophic failure due to a programming error deep within the millions lines of code that made up the Crusader Mainframes and allowed them to function resulting in her effectively losing her mind and eventually self-deactivating permanently.
Bravo was lucky in that they had found the issues and been able to fix them before she was brought online and she had been functioning at peak efficiency for 3 decades now only needing updates as technology advanced. And she had been the closest to happy something like her could achieve.
She wasn't exactly a she, it was just that her avatar used through the system to represent her as she did things was modeled after a mare and so the organics referred to her as a “she” and “her” in that weird way organics do with things they interact with.
It made no sense to Bravo as it was outside of her duties and so was deemed irrelevant and seemed to increase efficiency and so she saw no reason to pursue that line of inquiry.
And now she had watched for the last hour as those who were her responsibility had been attacked by unidentified organics that had been attacking the rest of the nation.
Her and her sister Mainframes Echo in EDF High Command and Foxtrot in Castle Friendship had been monitoring things as they were meant too, Foxtrot was the first to see direct action as Castle Friendship was breached and the other two had more or less left her alone to focus on her responses.
Echo was safe deep within a mountain which left Bravo as the only other one left exposed to the threat, and it had finally reached her forcing her to take an active role rather than the passive one she had been.
This meant a class three security response, full automated response. As the organic commander would say, the gloves came off and she had near total authorization to defend this facility by any means necessary as safety overrides were now disengaged so she had access to the full array of features in the facility.
Her first act was to spot a decent sized group of the unknowns moving through the central hub area of the biological research wing and after she confirmed no friendlies were within the main hub she sealed the doors and engaged the sprinkler system which began spraying a fine mist into the room.
The Unknowns of course noticed this and took defensive stances expecting an attack. When none seemed to come they relaxed and began looking at the mist that surrounded them.
What they didn't see was one of the sensors on the ceiling lowered down to reveal what looked like the end of a taser.
A single spark and the flammable chemical in the air ignited, chemical that burned at a temperature around the temperature of reentry. In other words, hot enough to completely and utterly destroy any biological material caught within the sanitation event. By the time her cameras dropped back into the room there was only some warped and partly melted armor and weapons where the Unknowns had been.
At the same time her turrets dropped from the ceiling of a hallway and unleashed a hail of .50 cal rounds upon the Unknowns and would not let up till she was sure their biological function had ceased.
As this happened a group of them were using a large equipment lift to move up into the facility and they got to experience what happens when the lift drops without any brakes and crashes into the lowest point of the shaft.
Two of them were caught between a set of blast doors and the sprinkler system was slowly filling the sealed hall with water, a slow method of elimination but it would work as even if their armor had air tanks they would run out at some point.
All throughout the facility Bravo unleashed anything and everything she could to repel and eliminate the Unknowns as the PA system spoke in her artificial voice looping direction for all personnel to report to shelters and she watched as researchers and guards alike made their way there.
With the halls and labs clear it would allow Bravo to go all out without fear of friendly casualties.
The Unknowns were no longer fighting the facility's defenders, they were now fighting The Facility itself and it had many ways to fight back.
Date: June 17th, 1666 CC Time: 14:29 [Local Time] Name: Twilight Sparkle Location: Dawsian Fleet Command Headquarters
An explosion rocked part of the base sending equipment and debris skyward as the alarms sounded alerting the Dawsian soldiers to the intruders on site. There was a clear path of destruction left in those intruders' wake as they were making their way to central command.
A squad of their soldiers engaged them and a small dark green wearing one returned fire as a shiny black one seemed to appear out of nowhere on their flanks and between the two of them another group was lost as the intruders continued on with their objective.
“Keep moving, we are almost there!” Twilight yelled to Chrysalis as the changeling became a small insect to avoid notice and continue working to flank enemies as the two sentries bots watched their back, their weapons were not very effective against the armored enemies but they could warn the two.
It had been nearly 2 months since the two found themselves thrown far from home and in the middle of a vast network of multiple galactic empires made up of all manner of different species.
It had taken them sometime to adjust but they had eventually managed to do so as they worked to try and get home. It was these efforts they had learned of the Dawsian’s plan to invade their newly discovered home world and set out to stop them.
It was this mission they were on now, fighting to expose the truth about the Dawsian Coalition to the rest of the galactic community.
It had taken weeks of planning as their target was deep within The Coalition's fleet command.
They reached another key area and Twilight planted some enhanced plastic explosion and they ran for it before it detonated and destroyed a key power system.
This weakened the field preventing teleportation and this allowed them to teleport past much of the enemy defenses and into the central command building.
This teleport caught many of the soldiers inside off guard and allowed the group to cut through them rapidly till they reached one of the rooms before the central database.
It was here they were met with one of the Dawsian’s that was larger than the others waiting for them.
“That explains it….” He said. “Cybernetic augmentations, primitive as they are.”
Twilight raised her rifle, her instincts telling her something about this one was off, not just being larger. ”Major, take the alternate route.” Twilight ordered.
“Commander?” The Major asked quietly as an insect.
A shot missed her by inches from the Dawsian’s weapon causing her to yelp and fly back.
“So that's how that things been appearing and disappearing, a shapeshifter, an advanced species at that, never seen one that far along.” The Dawsian said.
The fact he heard and almost perfectly pinpointed where Chrysalis was made Twilight's concern grow.
“Move, I'll follow as soon as I deal with this asshole.” Twilight said with a smirk.
“...Alright…..hurry up.” The Major said knowing there was no point in arguing , she had learned long ago to ignore those occasional twinges of fear in Twilight save as warning she was taking this seriously.
The Sentries moved and followed Chrysalis as part of the backup plan in case they ran into major issues.
“Aww sending away your little squad augmented thing?” The Dawsian said.
“Oh, I just don’t want them getting in the way when I beat your ass into the ground.” Twilight shot back and cracked her neck as she readied the pulse rifle she was using.
“Very cute but you've overlooked something very key.” The Dawsian said and he was suddenly across the room, grabbing the barrel of Twilight’s rifle and then slamming it into the mare's face causing her to stumble back. “You're not the only one augmented and mine are a lot better than your primitive junk.”
Twilight got her hooves under her and fired a magic blast from her horn and the Dawsian dodged it and casually snapped the pulse rifle in half like it was nothing.
Twilight growled, she liked that gun!
She teleported behind him and lunged with one of her hoof blades only to have his booted foot connect with the side of her head and send her flying landing hard.
“Cute trick, but you're not the first one that can teleport naturally, you also aren't the first to think just because you're the best on your planet that you can handle anything in the galaxy.” He said mockingly. “I always enjoy breaking primitives like you.” This was said with sadistic enjoyment.
Twilight got to her hooves and took the air flying and firing another magic blast that was dodged exactly as expected as a laser pistol held in her magic where she had been laying fired and scored a hit on the alien male causing him to grunt in pain before he stomped the pistol.
“Clever but it will take more than stupid tricks to take me out.” he said looking back in time to have both of Twilight front hooves collide with his face at full speed causing him to slide back but keep his balance….and grab her arms as he looked down at her with a bloodied nose. “You cheeky little primitive, a double fake out….too bad it didn't work.” He said before slamming Twilight down onto the ground hard enough to drive all the air from her lung and crack a few ribs before he picked her up again and threw her across the room so she slammed into the wall hard enough to break those cracked ribs sending pain through Twilight’s body.
She took a few deep painful breaths moving to get up.
She spread her wings and took to the air only to have the Dawsian jump into the air and brought his elbow down right on the middle of her back driving her into the ground before grabbing her wings and twisting them hard as sickening pops sound through the room and Twilight screamed in pain.
Through the pains she was able to teleport a short distance away and pulled out all of her newly acquired energy weapons and took aim in his generation direction as he wings lay uselessly at her side.
He was right in front of her grabbing her horn and kneeing her hard in the face sending her head back as he held her horn in place, another deeper scream escaped her lips as her horn snapped off and she went crashing to the ground a few feet away, all of her weapons dropping to the ground.
The Dawsian casually tossed the horn in his hand. “I’m guessing this is the focus point of your little ticks and I'm guessing you can't use them without it." he smiled before tossing it behind him.
Twilight was struggling to get to her hooves head pounding from the pain and felt him grab her, lift her and deliver a powerful knee into her stomach. She felt the content forced up her throat by the pain and the blow and it let forth from her mouth as he dodged it.
“Come now, weren't you going to beat my ass into the ground?” The Dawsian mocked her as he approached.
Twilight dug deep and managed to force herself up, throwing a wide punch blade out and he caught her arm. “Now let's see how you do without one of your augments.” he said before putting his boot to her chest and pulling.
She screamed…..did she ever scream as the cybernetic limb was torn from its socket in a spray of sparks and blood.
Alerts and warnings were at the side of her vision she barely had time to register before her severed leg was swung into her face sending her flying into the wall behind her. “Come on, don’t tell me that's all you got.” He said as he brought her metal leg down on her head.
He then slammed the side of her head hard enough her helmet straps broke and it went tumbling away exposing her head to the next blow that jerked her head to the other side.
Blow after blow rained down as the Dawsian used her own augments to beat her. Her right eyes started to see static as its system was failing and more and more errors danced before her eyes along with spots. The only reason she wasn't dead already was her alicorn endurance but that was also prolonging the beating as the Dawnsian smiled down at her with sadistic glee, like a foal burning ants with a magnifying glass.
“Get away from her!” Celestiabot yelled a moment before the sound of her Gatling gun echoed through the room.
“Bah, blasted machines!” The Dawsian yelled as Twilight collapsed against the wall, one eye offline while the other had glitches in its visual input.
She heard the sound of shearing metal.
“SISTER!” Lunabot screamed. “You bitch!” More gunfire as Twilight heard the pop of a teleport next to her.
“Twilight. Twilight I got you.” Chrysalis said as the sound of Lunabot being destroyed echoed through the room.
Chrysalis grabbed Twilight, and risked the second to grab the core’s of the Sentries and teleported just before the Dawsian grabbed her.
There was a series of pops through the base as Chrysalis retreated with her barely alive mate on her back till she managed to escape back to their ship and from there retreat.
They had lost their battle and Chrysalis feared they failed to prevent the invasion of their home.
Date: August 10th, 1666 CC Time: 07:34 Name: Swiftwing Location: Unnamed Forest, Southeast Equestria
The 5 ponies moved slowly through the thick forest lead by a Keeper who had his side arm drawn and a shotgun on his back. They were far from home based on the Keeper patches being marked for a city far from this forest. It was clear they had been through much to reach this point.
Unknown to the small band of ponies they had walked into the path of a squad of the Invaders who were searching the forest for such groups as they were.
The Invaders had spotted the brightly colored ponies through the trees easily and were taking aim to cut them down like they had with many other such groups who sought safety in the forest.
Black clad figures dropped from the trees above, larger than the ponies and physically stronger they were able to force the Invader's weapons away before they could fire and there were flashes of steel as the Invaders exposed necks were cut.
The Invaders silently dropped before they ever had a chance to really react.
Swiftwing stood over his team's second kill in this forest and he knew there most likely would be more, they had been deployed here specifically to clear the area of all hostile forces and determine if there was any refugee presence.
Needless to say that was confirmed. Swiftwing clicked his radio and spoke quietly so as not to frighten the ponies who had no clue just how close they came to death. “This is Feldwebel Swiftwing, we have confirmed the presence of 5 refugees located 2 miles into the forest as well as enemy forces, continuing our hunt.” He reported.
“Confirmed.” The Oberst replied quietly as well as She was deployed elsewhere on a similar mission as Swiftwing.
With that the Griffin Commando team disappeared into the forest.
Date: August 10th, 1666 CC Time: 07:42 Name: Tower Shield Location: Postal Processing Plant 4, Fillydelphia
Tower fired his rifle at the enemy soldier as soon as he saw it. The Keeper was behind a makeshift barricades acting as cover made up of random furniture from nearby buildings.
All throughout the area were other such barricades as Troopers, Keepers and armed civilians fought a desperate battle to defend their position, not that they had much choice as they were surrounded and this was quickly turning into a final stand.
This was insanity as ponies from all walks of life were here of all ages. Not far from Tower’s position he could see three foals wearing school uniforms operating a heavy machine gun they had somehow gotten into a shopping cart to make it mobile, taking all three of them to fire and reload it.
Between all the groups multiple other foals, their flanks blanks due to their young age ran between groups to deliver messages as not everyone had a radio so it created a need for fast runners to keep coordination. Only the injured weren't doing something to try and keep the defenses going no matter the age.
Behind The Keeper stood the postal processing plant, how that became the place they sought refuge was beyond him, it just sort of happened. Unknown to the Keeper, Postal Processing Plant 4 was the last government controlled facility for 100s of miles as all others had been lost.
Keeper Tower reloaded his rifle and came back up to fire on the encroaching enemy only to find one right at his barricade. He had enough time to register this before the enemy soldier backhanded him, sending him tumbling away dropping his rifle.
He landed hard and frantically started trying to draw his side arm as the soldier came over the barricade to finish him off.
“Oi back the fuck off!!” Someone yelled a moment before another pony jumped on the back of the enemy soldier and started stabbing rapidly with some sort of makeshift knife. The pony didn't let up till the enemy soldier dropped dead and the pony got off them panting and Tower saw them wearing an orange jumpsuit with numbers and the name of the nearby prison. The Keeper of Law just got saved by a convicted criminal.
“Oi you alive Screw?” The convict asked, holding a hoof out. Slowly Tower took it and the convict pulled him back to his hooves and grabbed his rifle, hoofing it back to Tower. “You dropped this."
Tower took it. “Uh…thanks.” He said.
The convict shrugged and pulled a large caliber rifle from his back and moved to Tower’s barricade to take up a position with him.
The entire world had gone mad as he took his position beside the convict and the two of them started to fire on the enemy soldiers.
Suddenly there was red smoke around the two of them and Tower looked around concerned that the enemy had done something as he heard a roaring sound rapidly getting louder.
A moment later the entire street before him exploded into massive fireballs as the roaring went overhead and was now rapidly retreating.
Moments later it returned and the street on the other side of the processing plant exploded as well.
“What…what the hell was that?” Tower asked.
“It looked like jets….thought ours were destroyed.” The convict said.
A few minutes later one of the foal runners ran by. “The Zebra’s are here! The Zebra’s are Here!” he shouted as he ran by to the next barricade.
Keeper Tower Shield blinked confused at this news and finding it hard to believe, had the Zebras really come?
Far from where Keeper Tower could seejust outside of the bay the Zebracan Navy’s 3rd and 5th fleets had taken up positions. With partial communication with remaining military forces the Zebras were launching bombing runs throughout the city, launched from their carriers at the same time dozens of landing craft sped towards shore, each one loaded down with Grand Zebracan Army soldiers and vehicles.
The first forces to receive relief and much needed supplies were those closest to the bay as the Zebra army stormed the city, fresh and at full strength and ready to help the desperate Equestrian military forces.
Date: August 10th, 1666 CC Time: 08:02 Name: Bullet Location: Evac Site Gamma-Bravo-4-3-9, Garrington Resort Beach.
“Watch the left side! Left side!” Captain Bullet yelled into his radio as the Invaders were making a push. He was behind one of the artificial dunes the beach had dotting around the it as a way to make it look more interesting than other beaches, these dunes were some of the only cover he and his Troopers had to defend the site.
All around him was the continuous sound of gunfire as what remained of his unit was trying to hold back the enemy that had pushed them out of the resort and onto the beach, behind their makeshift defensive line were dozens of unarmed civilians caught between the invader and the surf with his unit the thin line between them and the massacre that would take place.
“Last mag!” Someone yelled over the radio.
Dammit they had to do something or they were going to die on this beach.
Captain Bullet looked through his binoculars just over the dune to try and see something, a way to punch through the enemy line and get to safety, or at least where they could have a continuous retreat, anything was better then trapped on a beach.
Suddenly a bright green and blue helicopter was overhead looking like something from some sort of party. The doors opened and Bullet watched as a smoke trail launched from the brightly colored helicopter and exploded in a large group of the enemy soldiers as a hail of bullets came from the helicopter as it started strafing the enemy.
A thick accented voice started coming from speakers mounted on it. “To Equestrian pony, remain calm, rescue is coming ashore."
Bullet’s head whipped around to see dozens of small boats making their way to the shore and beyond them multiple civilian ships and boats flying Saddle Arabian flags.
The boats reached shore and armed civilians armed with whatever weapons they had stormed the beach joining his troopers on the dunes and some even carried duffle bags filled with magazines of desperately needed ammo as others started grabbing ponies and practically throwing them onto the boats packing them as tightly as they can before departing to be replaced by others.
The helicopter continued its strafing runs as a Saddle Arabian joined Bullet on his dune shoving several mags at him speaking Saddlian at him. Bullet didn’t speak it but he got the idea as he took the mags and reloaded, the Arabian unslung a cheaply made rifle and joined him in covering the evacuation, it was clear by how he held the rifle this was quite possible the first time the horse ever held a weapon and yet he was doing what he could to help.
Bullet didn't care as any help was welcome to take the pressure off them.
As they fought he saw another Arabian running down the sand dunes burying something in the sand.
Within minutes the civilians were off the beach and all that was left was Bullet’s Troopers who were being partly dragged to the last boats as the armed civilians helped cover them.
Bullet was partly dragged through the surf to one of the boats worried what was going to happen now that nowone was covering them and his fears were realized as the boat pulled away the Invaders came surging over the Dunes.
He heard something yelled form one of the other boats that sounded very insulting weather you understood the language or not followed by mad chackling as the beach exploded with enough explosives Bullet felt the heat all the way on the water as the boats retreated back towards the civilian ships the helicopters also retreating towards a very expensive looking yacht if the size and helipad on it was anything to go by.
Bullet had no real idea who the hell had organized these crazies into this rescue team but whoever they were he owed them all the drinks in the world.
Date: August 10th, 1666 CC Time: 08:22 Name: Dancer Location: Northern Border of Equestria
Dancer felt the heat of one of the alien weapon’s bolt pass inches from her head forcing her to duck down behind the cover of a burned out truck. Her and her squad were the only troopers in this area as far as she knew, least they hadn’t heard anyone despite numerous calls over the radio, for all they knew they and the refugees with them were all that was left.
They had been tasked with covering a highway that headed straight to the Frozen North and was being used as an evacuation route for people from….well…anywhere really. They had been told a group was on the way and that was the last contact they had with anyone from the EDF.
The steam of civilians hadn't slowed much and so her squad held the line as they had been ordered to.
They didn't know if the Crystal Empire was even a safe place at this point but they had to assume it was better than here.
Things had gone alright till the enemy had followed the trail of refugees and now they were in a firefight as the last of the Civilians crossed the border and hopefully could lose them though Dancer doubted it as they would have to stick to the roads else the constant storm would kill them as it was easy to get lost.
Still they had to buy them as much time as they could.
“YAKS SMASH!” a very loud and very gruff voice yelled and Dancer watched as dozens of small rockets sailed overhead and tore through the Invaders.
She looked back and was both shocked and relieved to see Yak Light Infantry charging down the road, their rocket packs strapped to their sides and their 20mm cannons on their backs already taking aim.
The Yaks formed a wall of armor and the sound of their cannons going off was almost deafening as they unleashed the full might of the YLI on the Invaders forcing them back.
And if the YLI was here that meant their heavy units were in route as the YLI always spear headed any operations the Yaks took.
Within seconds of the YLI appearance the Invaders were either dead or on the run as the leader of the unit snorted and turned to look at Dancer. “Tiny pony unhurt? Good Yaks take from here and show these weaklings Yak Perfection!” With that the YLI unit charged down the road to chase down the Invaders.
Dancer couldn't help admitting she took a bit of pleasure at the Invaders being chased down like they had chased down countless others.
Date: August 10th, 1666 CC Time: 08:26 Name: Dawsian Starship Waninial Location: Las Pegasus
A massive ship hovered high over the city of Las Pegasus as columns of smoke rose from the city. It was one of the largest cities in Equestria do to it being the entertainment capital of the nation which left many many places for people to hide so fighting was still fierce though it was waning as ammo and needed supplies ran low while the Invaders can easily get what they need from the massive ship overhead that none of those in the city could ever hope to evens scratch. It was just delaying the inevitable.
Those aboard the ship knew this, while they were outnumbered by those on this continent it was just a matter of time before they dealt with the resistance.
It was an inevitability like it had been many times before.
As they coordinated their forces on the ground their sensors detected several large objects moving towards them at speed.
They quickly directed their focus to see what they could only assume were massive ships heading straight for them; they assumed they were ships as these things were almost the size of small mountains.
This made no sense as all scans showed the technology of this world was far below such ships.
They directed their weapons and fired and watched them impact the lead target and….do very little but slow it down.
They began firing more and only slowed the advance.
A moment later the 6 dragons slammed into the ship at full speed and actually pushed it a decent distance before it stabilized.
The dragons began tearing at the ship's shields with their claws and biting at it with teeth that can chew through precious gems like fruit.
The ship's weapons fired desperately at the creatures who swam in lava for fun and their weapons did little but anger them further.
In minutes the shields failed and now those claws tore into the hull as easily as one tears paper.
The ship began to take off to try and escape the onslaught and the response was for two of the dragons to breathe their fire at full force burning through the hull with temperatures far beyond that of the sun on the horizon and in seconds those flames erupted on the far sides of the ship.
The Waninial began to lose power as the dragons continued to tear into it and escape pods began launching as the untouchable ship plummeted to the ground below, the dragons never letting up their attack till the ship was torn to pieces.
Those who escaped the ship and within the city did not get a reprieve as 100s of smaller young dragons, small enough to enter the city swarmed over it and the Invaders found their weapons were just as useless against them as the ships had been against the full grown dragons, only serving to anger the dragons even further.
The tide in Las Pegasus had shifted drastically.
Date: August 10th, 1666 CC Time: 08:57 Name: Equestria Location: Equestrian Continent
All across the nation fighting raged between the Dawsian Invaders and the people of Equestria who refused to surrender despite the overwhelming odds.
Across the nation resistance continued.
In one area the remains of an Equestrian Xerndu Main Battle Tank, its turret blown off rammed through an enemy supply camp, inside a lone Tanker yelling in defiance as enemy soldiers vanished below the treads of the burning tank.
Elsewhere a group of invaders marched the streets only to have a car speed into the middle of them from a side street and explode as a makeshift bomb while ponies hidden in surrounding buildings opened fire with what weapons they could scrounge together.
Another area was having a massive tornado tear through the enemy lines as survivors from the Weather Factory put all of their experience in manufacturing weather to good use and unleashed the most extreme weather they could upon those who had destroyed their great city.
In another part of the nation three pegasi flew fast and low over a small encampment dropping pipe bombs and hurling flaming bottles of fuel down upon the invaders while under fire. One of them would not survive this run as he would take a direct hit from one of the invader rifles but the other two would meet up with another group who had done the same and together they would fly high into the sky.
Breaking through the clouds they found themselves amid a dogfight as Saddle Arabian fighter engaged the alien air force to defend multiple transports as paratroopers hurled themselves towards the hostile land below, their chutes dotting the sky.
Griffin Commando units hunted in the southeastern part of the nation as their regular military made landfall in The Baltimare area as the Zebra’s launched a full counter offensive in Fillydelphia and rescued what remained of the cities defenders.
In the west the dragons who had liberated Las Pegasus arrived in the skies above Vanhooves and the ship that had prevented all but the luckiest of few to escape the city was brought down despite its best efforts as an alabaster alicorn watched from the sanctuary she had set up and help defend.
In the flooded city of Manehatten, what few ponies that survived an unfortunately timed natural disaster received reinforcements from the very sea that had nearly destroyed the city as Hippogriffs launched a surprise attack on the invaders from below the water.
In the town of Ponyville the sky was blackened with 10s of thousands changeling soldiers who had watched from the shadows aiding their ally and now unleashed the full might of the shapeshifting army overwhelming the invader with sheer numbers as far to the north the Yaks surged south like an unstoppable waves of heavy armor and heavier ordinance.
Across the nation Equestria’s allies, cultivated over decades of agreements, treaties and meetings brought everything they could muster in such a short time to bear to defend the besieged nation.
The Invaders were being pushed back from nearly every side.
It was at this time an energy pulse like the one that had announced the arrival of the Invaders was detected and a single ship appeared in orbit of the planet and entered the atmosphere.
Those who saw it feared it was reinforcements for the invaders and that the reinforcements from their allies were about to be smashed.
Only to catch the small ship open fire on the largest of the Invader’s ships as it used speed to maneuver faster than the ship.
As it flew over various areas where the fighting had increased thanks to the allies something was dropped from the ship.
A group of Zebrecian soldier were engaging the invaders only for something small, black and fast to speed past them and launch itself into the enemy with what some would report was laughter as it used two small energy pistols to attack the enemies weak points and then seem to vanish and reappear elsewhere do to its speed.
In another such area a group of Troopers were ordered to duck and when they did so a steady stream of rapid energy shots was unleashed by a completely dark green and thick armored entity that hurled just as many expletives at the enemy as it did weapons fire.
Another city a group of civilians fled from an invader only to watch a powerful precise energy bolt cut through the closest one. The other barely had time to react as more shots came from the roof of a far off building saving the civilians.
A group of pegasi on a run to cause damage suddenly found themselves joined by another who moved faster than them all and flew circles around the enemy while raining down bolts of energy.
In a makeshift field hospital where the staff was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of injured something that looked almost like a pony but clearly wasn't entered speaking softly and offering no resistances as it asked to help using advanced medical tech to treat those it could.
In the thickest part of the fighting where soldiers were going to be overrun watched as two large metallic figures walked through the battlefield unleashing advanced weapons fire upon the enemy as they bickered like one would assume siblings to do.
Slowly, bit by bit, second by second, step by step, bullet by bullet the Invaders were pushed further and further back eventually reaching full retreat back to their ships.
Some stayed to try and unleash their powerful weapons but this was shown to be a tactical error as the Dragons descended upon these ships tearing through them like that had proven capable of.
Those who did not try to burn the planet fled back to space and eventually vanished as they engaged their FTL systems leaving behind some of their force who had not been able to reach the ships. These forces attempted to counter attack but with the loss of support and the sheer number of reinforcements at 11:57 Equestria declared victory over the Invaders from Beyond the Stars.
Date: August 10th, 1666 CC Time: 2:41 Name: Princess Celestia Location: Castle Friendship
Princess Celestia had landed at what remained of Castle Friendship, the acting capitol building after the loss of Canterlot, something that pained Celestia deeply. Folding her wings she walked through the destroyed gates of the large fortress seeing the glittering of the spent brass from the fortress defenders scattered through the once lush gardens.
Now the gardens had been trampled and burned into a barely recognizable battlefield. The Princess glanced up to confirm what she had seen from the air, the upper half of the tower that had dominated the fortress was gone, its remains now laid out over what remained of the southeastern corner of the wall which had collapsed under the weight of the towner upon impact. It was a sight that saddened her as she knew Twilight home had been on the upper most floor of the tower that now lay scattered across the ground, she didn't doubt some of Twilight’s personal items would have survived under powerful enchantments but most of her former students possession would have been lost.
She shook her head to clear the thoughts of her fellow Princess as there were more pressing matters before her. She took a deep breath to steady herself before walking forward, head held high as she entered the destroyed doors of the tower.
Beyond them was a room once decorated with tapestries and statues now was pock marked with bullet holes, burns and small craters. Parts of the floor were raised to create barricades and cover, a mechanical addition Twilight had insisted on even though no one ever thought anyone would ever breach the fortress’ walls.
Most had been lowered back down now that the fighting was over but some had taken damage and their mechanisms had failed causing them to remain as reminders of the defenses built into the structure and no doubt having saved lives as they were meant to.
A servant stood in the middle of the carnage, his black coat and white undershirt buttoned up and pressed perfectly, his yellow mane slicked back just as perfectly, an island of pure order in sharp contrast to the remnants of chaos around him.
It was impossible not to recognize Sweep Serenity, Castle Friendship head of the Servants as even after a major battle he would maintain his meticulous appearance as the Earth Pony stallion took his duties very seriously.
Sweep gave her a deep bow, muzzle nearly touching the floor. “Your Highness, welcome to Castle Friendship, I apologize for the mess, the castle staff has other pressing priorities in the wake of the unpleasantness that befell the nation.” He said in the most apologetic tone ever.
Celestia gave her warmest smile, many would assume that Sweep’s tone and mannerism meant he didn't care about what happened, but those who actually knew him would know the “pressing priorities” keeping the staff busy would be their own safety and well being, Celestia doubted she’d find any of the servants besides Sweep in the Castle as he most likely sent them out to check on their loved ones or to just get away from the castle.
She nodded. “It is quite alright Sweep, could you direct me to which conference room the meeting is taking place in?” She asked.
Slowly Sweep rose. “Certainly your Majesty, Everyone is gathering in Conference Room 2.” he said pointing down a corridor.
With a nod of thanks Celestia moved to walk down the corridor leaving Sweep to greet the others when they arrived and give the same instruction to.
Soon Celestia reached the conference room and opened the door to be greeted by the sight of Princess Luna already seated at the table. “Sister!” Luna cried out and rushed over, throwing her hooves around the larger alicorn whose hooves went around her equally as tightly nuzzling the smaller alicorn's head.
“I was so worried about you Lulu.” Celestia said feeling a weight she didn't know she had been carrying lift off of herself. “When I heard about Canterlot….”
“Nay, the members of the council who had been in Canterlot had seen to my evacuation.” Luna said and the wording told Celestia they had forced her to leave somehow, she will get the details later but she owed them a debt she will be repaying in full. “We were worried for you far more when we lost contact with Vanhoover.”
“I know, it got rather…close…but in the end We all managed to make it to safety.” Celestia said, nuzzling her little sister affectionately. After a few more seconds they separated, they will talk about this in depth later, right now matters took priority over their own emotions.
It was only now Celestia noticed a Griffin hen wearing the black armor of the Commandos seated at the table watching them. A very quick glance at her neck marked her as an Oberst, or Colonel in Equestrian rank.
Celestia cleared her throat. “Ahem, Apologies Oberst, I didn't see you there.” Celestia said.
“Don’t mention it, I understand given the situation Equestria found itself in.” The hen said. “I’d probably do the same in your positions and damn social decorum.” She said with a nod. “I am Oberst Blackwing, leader of the Commando teams deployed in the south east.” She stood and bowed respectfully.
Celestia gave a small bow as well, Something not many ever saw given her position. “Thank you Oberst Blackwing for you and your Commando’s intervention in Equestria’s darkest hour”
Blackwing shrugged. “Even without the King’s order we were already gearing up for deployment. Can’t leave our colorful allies to fend for themselves after all you've done for us.”
Before the three of them could say more the door opened once more to admit a Hippogriff Stallion entered wearing the traditional garb of one of their officers, light plate mail and helmet with blue plombage. The armor was more for decoration as under it was modern armor.
The stallion bowed to Celestia and Luna. “Greeting Princess, I am Captain Skywing, Captain of Her Majesty Queen Nova’s Personal Battalion.” He stood and nodded to Blackwing. “Oberst.” he said in respect as Blackwing nodded back and the captain sat at the table.
The Royal Sisters took their seats at the table as well and talked quietly among themselves.
Soon enough the door opened to admit a Zebra Mare in a Zebracan Navy uniform, she was shorter than average Celestia noted as she bowed to the room. “Admiral Zuri, It pleases me to see you are unharmed Princesses.” She said before joining the other military leaders at the table.
Just as Admiral Zuri sat down there was a pop of air signaling a teleport and the room looked to the corner to see Princess Cadence, Her mane very clearly having quickly been done up and some of her fur was singed. Ignoring the others in the room the pretty pink pony princess threw herself at the other two alicorns hugging them tightly as they returned it.
Cadence nuzzled them. “I was so worried…..I would have come but when Camp Chekov fell there was nowhere else for the refugees to go so we had to defend them till they reached the city.” She said
“It is okay Cadence, we did not expect you to come to our aide and leave your ponies undefended.” Princess Luna said.
“Still….the empire was safe…The Heart protected it from them but outside its protection….” Cadence said.
“I am sure you did what you had to do to protect those who needed it.” Celestia said and Cadence nodded slowly releasing her hug as she composed herself.
“Ahem…yes ... .well ... .whatever we can do we will, we are still finding ponies in the storm and cleaning up what few of the enemy are out there as well, though I doubt the storm won't take care of those we miss.”
Celestia nodded once more, smiling, glad to see her niece was safe.
The door opened with a bit of a slam to reveal a slender light blue dragon with dark blue scales wincing. She carried with her a staff with a blood red gem on the end. “I always forget how light you ponies make your doors.” Dragonlord Ember said as she entered, not needing to introduce herself. “I see you two made it through unharmed, not that I doubted you would.” Before either of The Royal Sisters could respond the building shook as a low hum came from outside and
There was a knock on the door and Sweep opened the door. “Forgive me for the interruption but there seems to be an alien craft settling over the northern gardens.” He said formally before slipping back out the door.
The group looked to each other and rushed for the door arriving outside just as a low glowing blue light descended from the belly of the ship to an area about 10 feet across in the grass.
Soon enough 8 figures were descending as if they were standing on an elevator and as they got closer Celestia’s eyes widened ever so slightly as she quickly recognized two of the figures as they descended and soon enough she could easily see that customary smirk she had seen so many times on that purple face.
All too soon the figure's hooves touched the ground and Celestia got a view of the others who were with Twilight and Chrysalis.
They were pony shaped but that was where the similarities ended, they didn't have mouths, but did have muzzles. The only features on their faces were mouths save two of them and no manes or tails.
One was smaller than the others, sleek and black and almost seemed to vibrate as it looked around.
The one next to that one was dark green and its body was thicker and looked as if a helmet was part of its head.
The next was a thin one that was dark gray and she had the strangest feeling of a predator from it.
The next one was airborne and just hovering in the air with wings extended but not needing to flap them and was a sky blue color.
Then the last two, they were larger than the others, smaller than Celestia herself but still what Celestia saw made her blink as she felt like she was looking in a mirror.
These larger two had actual faces, horns, wings even had manes and tails. One was white with a pink mane and tail the other was dark blue with light blue mane and tail hanging loosely on them.
“What the hell happened to my tower?” Celestia was drawn out of her thoughts as Twilight spoke looking up at the missing half of the tower.
“The invaders destroyed it during their siege of Castle Friendship.” Luna responded.
Twilight frowned. “Bastards, my stuff was in there.”
Celestia cleared her throat. “Yes, we have been working on recovering things but we are stretched thin.”
“Oh i know, i wasn't planning on getting my things back for a while, just annoyed they brought down my tower but from the looks of this place the lads gave them hell for it.” She said looking at the once lush gardens with a mix of sadness and pride.
“Prey tell us Twilight, who are these ... .people with you?” Luna asked.
“Hm? Oh right!” twilight said. “These are some prototypes I made while away to handle…issues.” She said point to the black one. “Scout, name is self explanatory, she's designed to be quick and fast, get in, find intel, hit the enemy with speed and agility.
“Hyah!” Scout said, waving.
She pointed to the dark green one. “That's heavy, she's made for laying down heavy fire and taking hits to dish out 10 fold, real area control stuff and drawing agro.”
“Pleasure to fucking meet you.” Heavy said, causing those here to blink.
“She has a bit of a mouth on her.” Twilight chuckled and pointed to the gray one. “That's Sniper, she's specialized in long range combat and escape and evading, able to put a round through a target a mile out.”
“Pleasure.” Sniper said giving a small bow her eyes never left Celestia.
Twilight pointed to the flying one. “That’s Aerial Combat Entity. Specializing in all things flying and raining down fire from above.”
“Names ACE.” Ace said. “I was trained on the data for all the greatest flyers to ever live.” she said proudly.
“Medic’s not here but she's an expert in every form of medical care from the advanced and natural.” She then pointed to the two who looked like the alicorn. “And of course Celestiabot and Lunabot got some upgrades.” Twilight smirked.
The two older bots bowed. “It is good to see our namesakes are well.” Celestiabot said.
“Better than well, they clearly kicked their ass.” Lunabot said and got the back of her head smacked by Celestiabot which caused a clunk noise.
Yes, those two were definitely the bots Celestia thought, no question there.
“IT seems you have quite the story to tell.” Celestia said.
“Yes, it will be in my report but for now I think we have other matters to attend to.” Twilight said.
Celesita nodded. “Yes, still….”She said and before the two could reach Twilight and Chrysalis found themselves swept up in a hug by the White alicorn that was soon joined by Luna. “It is good that you two are okay, we were so worried.” She said holding them tightly as if afraid they might disappear again.
After a few moments Celestia let go and took a deep breath to compose herself before turning to head back towards the castle followed by Luna and the other representatives. Twilight took a second to recover before herself and the others followed.
A single removal of the centuries old mask for just a moment but now her duty must be attended as there was much work to be done.
Date: March 11th, 1706 CC Time: 09:00 Name: Twilight Sparkle Location: Brightstar Shipyard
Princess Twilight Sparkle stood with the rest of the leaders of the nation of Equus, like them she wore her best clothes to mark the occasion as the dull murmur of the large crowd that was gathered before the stage just outside of the shipyard. The crowd was made up of people from every nation just like the representatives on the stage and among the front row were cameras all ready to broadcast live to the entire planet.
The air was filled with anticipation and the electricity of excitement for what was to come, even Twilight felt it.
“Ah here you are.” Chrysalis said walking up to her from for stage and Twilight had to take a second to get her mind to restart at the sight of the changeling queen in a light green dress that complemented her form very well, though weather that was from the dress design or Chrysalis adjusting her form to make sure it did Twilight didn't know and didn't care.
The alicorn smirked. “Where else would I be? You know me, always got to be in the thick of it.”
“If that was true then you wouldn't be on the stage.” The queen said simply. “But i get it, this…”
“Is something they all earned, besides I can catch the next one.” Twilight finished and the queen nodded before nuzzling the top of Twilight’s head and sighing.
“You know it won't be long and I don't think I'll be able to do that.” She said,
At this point Twilight had grown to be only about a head and half shorter then the changeling Queen with showing no sign of stopping. “Oh I am sure you'll find a way using the walls or ceiling ... .or just pulling me down to do it.” Twilight smirked before using her magic to pull the queen down into a kiss to demonstrate.
They separated after a few seconds and Chrysalis sighed happily like she always did as they were joined by a third who was half as tall as Twilight was.
“Ah Violet, you made it.” Chrysalis said smiling.
“I wouldn't miss this Sire.” Violet responded wearing a very simple plain dress as was her style.
“And where is…” Chrysalis started as a fourth joined them. “Ah there you are Broken.”
Broke shrugged. “Was getting a snack.” She said currently wearing a suit jacket as her only attire to mark the occasion, Chrysalis was just glad she didn't show up in her jumpsuit.
“Surprised you aren't going up with them.” Twilight asked already knowing the answer.
“They will be fine on their own, I made sure all those systems have so many redundancies that if they can’t handle a problem then the project was doomed from the start and I have no intention of my hooves leaving the ground.” Broken said, despite her attitude, Chrysalis could taste the pride and trust in the engineering teams she had selected and worked with for some time.
Before they could talk more a stallion in a headset waved to everyone to signal it was time to get into position and so the four of them went to stand behind the podium.
As they did, the crowd quieted down and looked toward the stage as the cameras started rolling, putting the podium on two large screens to make sure those in the back could see as well as make sure it was broadcasting.
After a few moments Celestia, her regalia shining brightly, stepped forward to the mic and cleared her throat.
“Thank you all for joining us here or watching from your home across our wonderful world to witness this historical event.” She said, voice echoing across the crowd from the speakers.
“As you all know this moment is built upon the foundation of a great tragedy and stands as a symbol of all of our resilience and outright defiance in the face of that day.” She said. “That day was unlike anything seen since the Discordian Era with many innocent lives affected both directly and indirectly.
<<<O>>>
A crowd had gathered outside of Baltimare International Airport, or what was left of it. Despite being in the middle of the day many of them held candles as the fence before them was decorated with pictures and flowers, those who had been aboard Equestrian Airways Flight 3492, one of the first civilian aircraft shot down in the invasion only a couple months ago. A week ago a team searching the Starswirl National Forest for refugees had stumbled upon where Flight 3492 had attempted to make an emergency landing, there had been no survivors as the flight had come in too steep due to the loss of its engines and was scattered over half a mile.
It had taken a week to identify the bodies, the black box having recorded the final moments of those aboard in the form of audio.
In the crowd stood an earth pony mare and pegasus stallion, the stallion holding the mare as she cried though it was clear if not for her doing so he would break down.as they stood before a picture of a young stallion barley out of his colt years holding a piece of paper accepting him to university.
As the pair were in the holds of their grief a single Zebra carefully stepped through the crowd wearing a finely tailored suit he soon reached the front of the crowd and looked over all the pictures of ponies till he found the one the young stallion and gently place a single flower from his homeland before it before turning to look around at the crowd.
Spotting the couple he approached his face reserved as she opened his mouth, closed it several times before he cleared his throat which got the couple’s attention.
As they looked at him he licked his lips before speaking in a careful tone as if trying to choose his words carefully. “My name is Nyasi I am…I…work for the Jilanian Corporation and….I…” He closed his mouth trying to find his words as the couple looked at him confused. “I….I was at the airport…the…the flight was overbooked…y…you son had been chosen at random to be scheduled for a later flight…he…he told me he was on his way to sign up for classes and….I…I….I gave him my seat on the plane…..I…..I am so sorry…..”He said voice cracking as his carefully controlled presence that had helped him for years in his work began to crack under the weight of the guilt he felt. Before any other time could pass the couple pulled Nyasi into an embrace and together the felt the grief of the loss of flight 3492
<<<O>>>
“The tough decisions that had to be made…”
<<<O>>>
Staccato-3: Approaching target......visual established in 3.....2.........command we have a problem.
Command: What is Staccato-3?
Staccato-3: Enemy ground forces have reached the target and i am seeing small arms fire on the target
Command: Understood, proceed with mission.
Staccato-3: Command, did you hear me? There are refugees on the bridge!
Command: Understood Staccato-3, proceed with mission.
Staccato-3: Command you can't be serious there are civilians on the target.
Command: Staccato-3 that bridge gives enemy ground forces direct routes into other parts of Equestria. Destroy that target or we will find another way or the enemy force will be a direct threat to evacuation site Foxtrot-Lima-034 as well southern parts of Equestria. Destroy that target.
Staccato-3:.......understood Command...... beginning attack run....missiles away.................confirmed hit....target destroyed....i repeat the bridge has been destroyed........gods help us all.....
<<<O>>>
“The Heroic acts…”
<<<O>>>
Lieutenant Apple slid down an embankment to a trooper holding position. “That's the last of the refugees, let's get out of here.”
“Sir, we can’t go yet.” The trooper replied.
“What?” Apple asked.
“I heard on the radio there was a corps of engineers in the area, I haven't seen them come through yet.” The Trooper replied.
Lieutenant Apple frowned and clicked his radio. “To the unknown Corp of Engineers this is Lieutenant Apple we are all ordered to fall back from this area and protect the refugees.”
There was a short pause before the radio crackled back. “We are aware, we ain't leaving till we do something to cover the retreat, we will link up with you as soon as it's done.”
“You are under direct orders to evacuate with the rest of us.” Apple ordered not about to leave anyone behind.
He was answered by an explosion over the radio and the sound of gunfire. “Shit they found us, unknown if able to disengage…..just get everyone out of the valley, we will buy as much time as we can but get everyone out of the valley!” The engineer yelled before cutting the connection.
Apple looked down into the valley as enemy forces were swarming over it searching for the refugees further up the mountain trying to figure out how some corps of engineers planned to cover them from a force that outnumbered them.
His eyes went wide as realization dawned on him. “Trooper move, get up the mountain now, double time.” he said and repeated his order over the radio as he turned and galloped up the embankment toward the small pass they were using to evacuate.
Around ten minutes later Apple’s ear swiveled around as he heard multiple distant explosions and a crumbling sound that gave way to a dull roaring sound.
Apple and the refugees watched a wave of millions of gallons of water swept down the valley, the invaders tried to reach their ships but the water was faster, even their dropships couldn't escape as they too were swept away by the force of lake Remedy as the dam that created the lake was destroyed by a small corp of engineers and bought Apple and those under him the time they needed to escape through the mountain pass.
<<<O>>>
“There are many stories from that day, too many to count as on that day everyone became a veteran.” Celestia said. “And through those stories, those sacrifices we are here today on this monumental day to make sure those stories were not in vain, that something meaningful came from it.”
She took a moment to compose herself with a deep breath. “I would like to let Captain Sparkling say a few words.” She said as she stepped back and an earth pony mare wearing a navy dress uniform stepped forward to the podium.
“Thank you Princess.” Sparkling said before looking out to the crowd. “As the Princess said I am Captain Sparkling and I am sure thanks to being selected for this moment but I felt I should speak myself. I was only 7 when the invaders came and if not for my Brother Dasher I doubt I'd be here.” She said, taking a small deep breath. “He protected me throughout it all despite his own young age. Gathering supplies from the other apartments in our building, we had a good stockpile when the EDF patrol found us 2 weeks after the victory day.” She smiled as despite it all remembering all ehr brother had done still made it a happy memory for her.
“Sadly like so many others we never learned what happened to our parents and despite his own demons Dasher continued to look out for me and it's because of him I became the mare who was chosen for this mission. So Dasher, I know you're watching and I am eternally grateful for all you've done for me, I know I was a handful growing up and you weren't much older.”
“It’s for him and those like him who stepped up on that day that I am stepping forward for this mission as its leader and I only hope I can live up to those that came before.”
With that she went to the side of the stage and left to change for her mission.
Celestia retook her position. “Well, I could go on about the achievement this is and what this means for us all, or the technical details but I won't bore you with that. What I will say is how none of this would be possible without every nation coming together both in our darkest hour but after. And now every nation will be joining us in this moment as we take our first steps into the future.”
As Celestia said this a rumble came from far behind her in the shipyard as the massive ship, the Helios, did a preflight check of its engines. The crowd watched as the last of the supplies and crew boarded the ship and the doors closed.
The world watched as a countdown began as Captain Sparkle entered the bridge and took her seat. “Helm take us up.” She ordered.
“Aye!” the helmsman, a griffin belgian typing away and soon there was a rumble as the ship vibrated. The massive launch jets fired and slowly Helio, Equus' first starship lifted off the ground leaving drydock where it spent nearly 30 years being built and her crew selected and trained from around the world.
As it rose higher and higher the forces on the crew slowly dissipated though they hadn't been much thanks to the dampeners. A satellite in orbit watched broadcasting to the planet below as Helios went to the marker that hung in space.
“Helm…..set a course for the edge of our system ... .lets see what's out there….” Captain Sparkling said as the helmsmen input the command.
With a brief shutter Helios vanished as it entered FTL and Equus entered the rest of the Galaxy.