A call for help

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While walking in the middle of the badlands, Scaver kicked a pebble in front of him. This job was one of the most boring he had ever taken. The caravan had started from Stalingrad and made its way south, all he had to do was keep a lookout. The badlands had its own gallery of threats. With the caravan on break, he had decided to stretch his legs.

"Wow, look even more nothing." The caravan guard 'Jester' commented, walking behind Scaver. A policy of the caravan, never leave the caravan by yourself.

"Har Har, unless you have something useful to say, can you try to be quiet," Scaver replied.

"Not my fault I'm out here, I'd rather be in the shade, but you had to go for walkies," Jester chewed back.

"I have sat on my hunches since we came to this stupid place, my legs were so numb I thought they would fall off." Scaver shot back, then raised a hoof and shoved Jester in the chest.

"And you could have stayed at the camp, I don't need a babysitter, I survived the streets up north, I can survive thiIIISSS!" Scaver's voice shot up as the lack of ground caught up with him. Jester watched as the hot shot rolled down the loose dirt, and came to a stop at the bottom.

"Real smooth buddy, real smooth..." Jester shouted down to the now brown earth pony who was getting back onto his hooves.

"Yeah, thanks for the head up, jerk," Scaver shouted back, rubbing the back of his neck.

That fall had hurt, and now he was stuck at the bottom of a ravine. Looking for a way out, he notices something out of the ordinary. Some sort of caravan had been lost down here, but he had never seen a wagon like this before. As he walked up to it, he noticed it had torn cloth covering the top and giant black wheels. Kicking the wheels, his hoof bounced back. he knocked on the green material that made up most of the wagon and was surprised by the ring of metal. A metal Wagon with strange wheels was worth looking into.

"Hey, are you alive down there?" Jester asked from somewhere above.

"Yeah I'm fine, I think I found something, go get some of the others, maybe ladder too," Scaver responded.

Upon hearing Jester leave, Scaver decided to poke around. Near the wagon was a strange-looking object, buried partially in the ground. it was round on the top but was rectangular in shape, like a door. It was covered in washed-out colours and metal finishing. The top section had a cutaway with glass, showing the inside. Scaver couldn't make heads or tails of it, but he did understand there were buttons on the side, and he can press buttons. Cautiously, he pressed one of the red buttons. The machine shot to life and inside the glass case, tiny arms moved around small cases. Suddenly, music started to play.

Gonna tell Aunt Mary 'bout Uncle John
He claims he has the misery
But he havin' a lot of fun

Oh, baby, yes, baby!

"A jukebox!" Scaver thought to himself as he bobbed to the music.

Scaver hadn't seen one of these since his trip through las pegasus, Expensive and rare as they were. He had never heard this song before, but the upbeat nature caused him to subtly dance to the music. This could turn a nice profit and he would get the finders fee. Maybe this wasn't such a bad job after all.

The dancing stopped when behind him, and from inside the wagon came a hissing sound. It sounded like steam from a boiler, but what was it coming from? Scaver began to turn around, hearing more noises. Whirring and clicking came from the wagon as a large hulking being came forth. Scaver walked back, his eyes glued to the thing. It was like something out of a comic book. A giant machine painted black, like a great armoured monster. As it rolled forward, he could see more. It had thick legs with wheels on the end, and red glowing eyes on its head.

"ALERT, HOSTILES IN AREA, THREAT LEVEL: RED. LOCKING ON..." The metal demon blasted out.

Scaver's body was rigid and unresponsive.

"WEAPON STATUES: ENGAGED" The machine announced, One of its arms beginning to rapidly spin.

The last thought that went through Scavers mind was how much he regretted taking this job.

War, War never changes. On October 23, 2077, humanity, burdened by millennia of stoked fears and wrong choices, was forced to deal with the horrific consequences of its own making. The Earth was bathed in nuclear fire, ending billions of lives and scaring the world beyond recognition. The hollow halls and echos of the past mark humanity's greatest failure. It was not, however, as some had suspected, the end days. In time, civilisation, in its own twisted way, would resurface in the waste. Many of these civilisations would trace their lineage back to great underground shelters, known as vaults. The sprouting societies of the wastes would face their own trials and tribulations, aided by unique individuals. People who would and did give everything they had to ensure humanity's survival. The progress made from their sacrifice would bear fruit, as humanity took its own steps toward the future. Now, the sins of humanity's past threaten others, innocents forced to fight the very evils humans created. The distant world of Equestria sits in the shadows of humanities wars, and war?

War never changes...

As Twilight and her friends stepped off the train, the mood of Canterlot was bordering on hopelessness. Not since the changeling threat had the guards been so on edge. Heading towards the castle, the activity of ponies increased. Contractors and suppliers were being supervised by guards, bringing hidden cargo to the castle. Slowly getting closer to the castle, the density of ponies began to grow. Most gave the new alicorn nothing more than a slightly too-long stare before moving on.

"What gives, your a princess now, doesn't that mean something to these ponies?", Rainbow Dash asked with a mix of bafflement and annoyance.

"They're scared Rainbow, After everything that's happened recently, I don't think creating a royal welcome is on their minds" Twilight countered.

"After the attack in Fillydelphia last month, I don't think these folks are interested in anything other than answers," Applejack added.

"Twilight, why don't you tell them? Didn't the princesses explain everything when they asked you to help?" Fluttershy suggested.

"Not nearly as much as you think. Besides, I turned that position down," Twilight responded.

"You could have at least told us what going on, you must know something." Rainbow Dash pushed.

Twilight shook her head.
"No, nothing. Well, nothing concrete. I did start looking into teleportation magic as an explanation for why appearances are so spread out. It was the least I could do for the princesses"

"Well, did they at least tell you why we're here now?" Rainbow asked her hoof on her face in frustration.

"No, but since they requested all six of us, I think I have an idea of why," Twilight answered, Rainbow responded to the cryptic reply by rolling her eyes.

Finally reaching the castle, The six friends could barely make it to the throne room from the swarm of ponies trying to get an audience with the Princess of the day. Even Luna was there trying to deal with the overwhelming amount of ambassadors and nobles looking for help. Yet as soon as Celestia's eyes saw Twilight, all commotion ended as Celestia Raised her wings and made herself known.

"Today's court is over, please return tomorrow with your concerns."
Many ponies grumbled at the dismissal of the day's session but left without a fuss. Once the throne room was empty, Twilight and her friends walked toward the two sisters, who in turn left the throne dais they had both been standing on.

"Princess Celestia, Princess Luna" Twilight greeted the sisters, both as Princesses and friends.

"It is good to see you Twilight, " Celestia said with a tired smile, relaxing her posture as the pretence of infallibility was lifted.

"Agreed, We wish it were under more fortunate circumstances, however," Added Luna.

"It's that bad?" Twilight asked.

"Worse than you could know," Luna replied grimly, a frown descending on her face.

The sisters began to walk away from the throne room, and the six friends followed.

"As you know, a few months ago, peculiar sightings started occurring across Equestria," Celestia stated as the group made its way towards the tower that held the elements of harmony.

"We initially believed them to escapees from Tartarus, And went to see for ourselves if the prison had been compromised."

"When Cerberus left his post, they must have escaped," Twilight Concluded.

" Yes, and no. All but one was accounted for in Tartarus, A dangerous foe we had defeated long ago, Tirek." Celestia Began.

"As much of a danger as Tirek is and must be found as soon as possible, He is not the one behind these attacks." Luna finished.

"Then who is?" Twilight in turn asked.

The two sisters stopped, everyone else stopping as well. After a moment, both sisters turned around and with worry in their eyes looked at twilight.

" We don't know" responded Celestia.

After a moment, rarity spoke up, "You don't know?" repeating the question in bafflement.

"Luna had been searching at night for the creatures where they have been spotted," Celestia said.

Luna walked up to one of the decorated windows, staring into the void to recall the memories.

"These creatures are unlike anything we have ever seen, Violent monsters of nightmares that attack as soon as they saw us." Turning to face the six concerned ponies, Luna continued. "We found some that were intelligent, capable of speech. While we hid in the shadows, they talked of this place as different. They were awed by the trees and grass, That the air was clean and nights peaceful."

Twilight had thought and spoken up "Maybe they're from the badlands, or even further".

Celestia cut in "No, while it has been a long since I left Equestria, I have never seen anything like what Luna has described to me. Furthermore, none of the leaders I have sent letters to know of these beings."

"Then where are they coming from, Surely they can't just be popping out of nowhere?" Twilight said.

"They very well may be, for It was your letters on teleportation that pushed me into searching for an extraequestrial solution," Luna replied.

Rainbow Dash swooped in to have her say. "Woah Woah Woah, are you saying there's are like Aliens?"

Applejack bit rainbows tail and grounded her before responding to the pegasus's claim. " It ain't aliens Rainbow, Princess Luna would have said if they were."

"You may be closer than you think," Luna responded.

The girls all looked at Luna, most with confusion, but both Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie with keen interest.

"While not descending from the skies, they are indeed not from its world." Luna finished.

Celestia decided now speak up. "They are being summoned here"

Twilight was the only one able to understand the implications. "But nopony has that kind of magic, I don't think even Discord can do that."

"However powerful they are, The random nature of the sightings and the beings in question suggests that they do not fully control the ability to bring them here. " Celestia responded.

"Have you tried talking to them, You said they were talking" Fluttershy spoke up.

Luna stared at Fluttershy as if Debating something, the pegasus shrinking from the attention. Eventually, Luna gave a sigh.

"Yes, We did" Luna turned herself so that her side was Viewable to everyone there. This was the response" Luna lifted her wing.

The six ponies Gasped in horror as they looked at what Luna's wing had hidden. Burn scar tissue covered a large area that was hidden by her wings, the damage was healing, but the wound was clearly extensive.

As each of the six ponies began to verbalise their own response, Luna cut them off with her wing and words
"We live, that is what matters. Our guards were not so fortunate, the weapons they carried are powerful...".
Celestia took over as Luna began to lose herself in thought.
"I had hoped that in time, we could learn to counter these threats or even engage in talk with them, however, that may not be possible...".

Twilight was the one now to pull the sisters out of their daze. "What's wrong?".

Luna was the one who answered. " We discovered that the summonings are not completely random, while the location is a mystery, the times are set. The creatures appear all at one time in pulses, each pulse brings more of them to our world. Once we found this information, we noticed a pattern. The pulses are quickening".

Twilight's heart fell rapidly as she processed the news, "How long?".

Luna's answer was decisive "At the current pace, the next summon will be within the hour."

Celestia chose this moment to explain her plan. " The reason we called the Bearers here was that we believe that the Elements may be used to influence the pulse, while they won't stop it, they may be able to influence what comes through."
Celestia ushered everyone to continue down the hall. "We don't have much time".

Reaching Canterlot Tower, Twilight was surprised to see a pink alicorn waiting for them.

"Cadence!" Twilight exclaimed before running over to hug her old babysitter. After being embraced by her, Twilight began to start her old ritual with Cadence.

"Sunshine, Sun-"

However, Cadence cut Twilight off with a hoof on her muzzle.

"I'm afraid we're short on time Twilight, the next pulse is happening in minutes" Pointing to a newly installed clock near the door to the Elements.

"We need to hurry" Luna stated as Celestia rushed to the door, Opening and rushing to retrieve the elements.

"I don't understand, what are we trying to change?" Twilight asked bewildered by the sudden urgency.

Cadence came to the rescue, " If we can influence what is brought here, we can use the Elements to find help. While Equestria has never faced these threats before, someone there might have."

Celestia used her magic to give each of the bearers their element while Luna moved everyone to their place.

"Each of the elements represents one of the Elements of harmony itself, Using them, we can find noble souls to help us," Celestia added as she put the final Element on Pinkie Pie.

As soon as they were ready, Luna, Celestia and Cadence began to weave the spell. So much power was being poured into it that the room began to shake.

"Now, Use the elements!" Celestia commanded, And the Bearers obeyed.

The rainbow of magic began to form, creating a loop that connected every bearer, From Twilight's crown came the power that had defeated so many foes. Just as the nearby clock chimed to the time of the pulse, the elements fired at the spell matrix. The room exploded with light.

[Somewhere In Nevada]

It was nighttime, and the cold Mojave air was chilling to the skin. As a man in riot armour was stumbling outside a bar, He looked for a place to empty his bladder. With whiskey on his breath, he breathed the cold air and put on his helmet, no point in getting shot in the head while having a leak. Finding a spot next to a dead tree, he let nature call. When he was finished, he turned to return to the bar. his walk slowed to a stop as he noticed a glow around him, after looking at his body begin to glow brighter he lifted his hands to see the same thing. From his helmet came a slightly muffled voice

"What the fu" and In a flash, he vanished.

[Chicago]

The office building was quiet, for ruins, this was not uncommon. For a location that had been the hub of raider activity in the local area until minutes ago, it was very uncommon. Sitting at a working terminal was a man, surrounded by dead raiders and ash piles, looking through old emails. Finding what he was after, he took the laser rifle off his back and made for the exit. Locating the door, he reached for the handle to open the door. He stopped however after seeing his hand and arm glowing, looking down at himself to see his whole body lighting up the area, the man pulled up his pipboy to check for radiation. The low rad count confused him as he searched for a cause, before himself vanishing in a flash.

[The Commonwealth, The Castle]

The General sat at his desk, looking over reports from the commonwealth outposts, all quiet. Leaning back in his chair, he thought to himself how little his role in the Commonwealth was now. The great General of the Commonwealth spent most of his days making sure the newly named 'Commonwealth Defence Guard' was ready for anything, but most of the fighting had happened a few years ago. With the Commonwealth safe, his role was mostly ceremonial, a 'thank you for past deeds. But to the General, the blood on his hands had never been repaid. Even for all the good he had done, he could not save his wife or his son. he could not undo the death and destruction caused by his war against the institute or his country. Here sat this soldier, For him, the war never ended. The deep thought was cut short by the fact that his candle was turning the office into an interrogation room. looking at the candle, it was not the source of the light, he was. Scrambling out of his chair, He began to run out of his office towards his second in command.

"Preston, Preston!"

The soldier vanished in a flash, the door he was running to opening.

"General?!"

Dejavu

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Twilight had suffered Magical feedback many times before, it was a constant risk that came with pushing her magical limits. The main effect was usually a headache that would gradually pass. This time, it was blinding. The feeling like a building had been dropped on her head was shared by her friends, even the Princesses had not been spared.

A choir of ow's and groans rose from the bearers as the three remaining princesses gathered their bearings. A spell of that magnitude could kill any normal unicorn, but the princesses were powerful beyond compare. Twilight's friends were fortunate not to be affected by the feedback directly, but rather by the blast back. As the youngest of the alicorns, Twilight recovered slowly, managing to pull herself together in time to notice the standoff that had formed.

Standing in front of her was a tall creature, rivalling Celestia in height. It stood on two legs and had two arms that ended in claws, covered with brown material similar to Applejack's hat. The head had a short black mane, covered with a three-sided hat made of similar brown material. Covering most of its body was covered in a blue cotton coat that ended where boots began. The thing that caught Twilight's attention most was partially hidden as she was behind the creature, what she could see was a chamber on a wooden frame that was filled with angry-looking red energy. Twilight didn't know how it worked, but it was obviously some sort of weapon, and it was pointed directly at Celestia.

"What the hell is going on?" The tall creature demanded. Seeing it was surrounded, it turned to point the weapon at ponies at random, not seemingly sure which one to aim at. Celestia instinctively threw a shield around Twilight and her now very much alert friends, Cadence and Luna flanking her with their magic at the ready.

"Put down the weapon!" Ordered Celestia, but instead, the creature pointed the weapon back at her.

"Where am I?" Anger and confusion were evident in the voice as the creature aimed down the barrel of his weapon. But so was something else that Twilight was familiar with, panic. Having been ripped out of wherever it came from, it was probably terrified. If she didn't do something, somepony was going to be hurt. She needed to get the creature out of there and calm it down, but where to send it? Where would she want to be if she was scared? Then it hit her.

The General of the Minutemen had done many things in his life since he left Vault 111. Between the Institute, Far Harbour, and his time as the Silver Shroud, It was safe to say he had a high tolerance for the strange. Randomly being abducted by pre-war horses that had more in common with giddyup buttercups and then having an avalanche of books fall on him was probably up there. As he tried to get up, he found himself weighed down by literature. Unable to do anything he listened to the sound of someone nearby.

"Oh no no no, please be ok!" The voice was feminine, and the sound of concern was evident even from below the layer of books. Slowly the weight was disappearing as books were removed. Eventually, the books were cleared enough to see his rescuer. A lavender horse that was moving the books with her mind. The books had a purple glow around them as they flew off onto shelves, and the same aura surrounded the horse's horn. A unicorn? No, there were wings as well, what the hell are these things? whatever it was, it was helping him. it was also currently speaking to him.

"And I thought that the library might help because this is where I went when I need to relax, but I must have been off by a bit. I haven't been to the library here for a while and some of the shelves used to be over there" The horse pointed in a direction and continued her rant.

But The General had stopped listening, instead, he was trying to comprehend the scene in from of him. Whatever this was, it acted like a brotherhood scribe or a pre-war librarian. It wasn't a bio-engineered weapon or mutated wildlife. Most importantly, it wasn't trying to kill him. The winged unicorn's words began to dry up as she saw he was removing himself from the pile of books, her ears lowered as she walked backwards.

The general said the one thing that was dominating his mind. "What are you?"

The response was delayed as it took time for the smaller creature to comprehend the question.

"My name is Twilight Sparkle, The Princess of Friendship!" The response was said in a way and with a stance that indicated pride, but the General simply doubled down on the question.

"But what are you?"

This time, it seemed the question clicked.
"oh," There was a pause before she continued, "I'm a pony, have you never seen a pony before?"

There was a pause, "No, never seen a pony in my life" Was the General reply.

It was a blatant lie, but the wisdom of telling the pony that humans used to use them as animals of burden before blowing up the world might be the wrong answer.

"Wow, you're really not from here. What about you, what's your name?" Asked Twilight Sparkle, The pony princess of friendship.

"I'm Nate, a human." Nate's response could not have sounded more awkward if he tried, the situation seemed so surreal to him.

"Your majesty..." Nate began, before being cut off by the princess.

"Twilight is fine." Twilight blurted out, a blush forming rapidly.

Nate recovered with his usual composure that had been missing until now. "Miss Twilight, what's going on, one moment I am at my desk and the next I'm, here" He gestured around to demonstrate his point.

Twilight seemed to remember something as her eyes went wide and her ears shot straight up.
"I can explain that, but first we need to"

Whatever Twilight was going to say, it ended when the library doors practically exploded and the big blue pony from before sent a beam at Nate. Once again, Nate was buried under books. From underneath the books, Nate heard Twilight once again come to his aid.

"Wait, stop, he's friendly!" shouted Twilight, the sound of galloping could be heard, and Twilight could again be heard, this time nearby.

"Nate, are you ok?" Twilight shouted over the second avalanche of books. This time, She just lifted all the books at once.

Nate, letting out a grunt of pain, let out a deep breath and asked to no one in particular "Why didn't I just go with Hancock today?"

After the fiasco that had been the prior hour, the human Nate was sitting at a table with seven ponies including Twilight herself. Cadence had stayed long enough to make sure Twilight was ok, then she left to return to the crystal empire, which was itself dealing with the same troubles as Equestria. Luna had left to locate any other humans that may have been pulled through by the elements of harmony.

Currently, Celestia was finishing up explaining the situation to Nate, who had only stopped to clarify what she meant by her sister normally being asleep during the day. This had, in turn, lead to Celestia explaining the roles of the princesses. Nate had almost gotten into an argument with the sun princess when it was mentioned she controlled the sun. According to Nate, the Planet he was from, earth, orbited the sun. Nate eventually dropped the subject when it was brought up that Celestia was over a thousand years old. Nate made some comment under his breath, while twilight didn't hear the whole thing, she did pick up something about Sympathising. After a moment of awkward silence, Nate pushed things along.

"So, the Elements, they brought me here, but why me?"

Celestia broke a soft smile, before responding. "The Elements are a manifestation of harmony, they have the ability to look inside a being and see its essence, whatever the reason, the elements saw you as worthy."

"But I don't understand, what can I do?" Nate asked looking at Celestia, "I have no idea what's causing the pulses".

Celestia dismissed the notion, "We have some of the brightest minds looking into the pulses, what we don't have is any experience fighting these threats."
Celestia took moment before saying something she never thought she would need to say.
"Luna and I cannot be everywhere at once, we need you to teach our little ponies how to fight. Will you help us?"

If not for the threat of innocent deaths and rampant destruction, Nate would have found this refreshing, and poetic. Here was someone who barely knew him, asking him to help lead a group, to protect innocent people, while he had no knowledge of the world around him. Three years ago, even though he was dealing with his own problems, he found the time and effort to help the Minutemen. It didn't matter at the time what they could do for him, or how large of a role they would play, They were just a tiny group from Quincy who needed his help.

After a moment's pause, Nate responded. "I'll do what I can."

Celestia seemed relieved, but before she could comment further, Luna entered the room.

"We have found them!" Luna said with triumph.

Celestia stood up, and asked, "How many?"

"Two others, We have memorised the locations." Luna used what Nate had recently learnt was magic to project a map on the table, while Nate knew nothing of Equestria, the others jump on the situation.

"Well, what do ya know, That's Applelossa, I can go and see if cousin Braeburn has seen anything, he knows all the local news." Applejack offered.

"Oooo, field trip, I wanna go, pick me, pick me!" Pinkie shouted waving her hoof in the air.

Applejack looked sympathetically over at Pinkie before talking to her with thought-out words. "That's all well, sugar cube, but maybe you should sit this one out, I don't know what kind of welcome you're gonna get after last time."

Twilight looked over at Rarity, "What about you rarity, want to go see Appleloosa again?"

Rarity looked like she had kicked a rock and the rock had won, before composing herself and replying. "If it is all right with everypony, I would like to pass on this adventure, I still get cramps thinking about last time" Rarity looked over at Pinkie in annoyance at the memory of their last trip to the frontier town.

Twilight then looked over at rainbow dash "How about you Rainbow?"

Rainbow shrugged and responded, "Sure, I could use the free time, the train moves fast enough to let me practice long-distance flight."

"Girls, what about that one" Fluttershy pointed out the second marker on the map, it was over a place the 6 ponies knew all too well.

"The Everfree forest," Twilight said with concern, her brow deepening as she looked at the marker.

"Are you sure you don't want us to wait until we all go together?" Applejack asked Twilight.

Twilight answered decisively with resolve. "No, whoever is out there might need our help, we can't wait that long. However, if you're up for it, I could use someone to help me calm them down if the need arises, what do you say Fluttershy"

Fluttershy was obviously hesitant to go from the titering on her hooves, but quickly steeled herself.
"If something may need my help, then I'll go."

"Excellent, then we shall return to our mission" Luna stated, leaving soon after.

Celestia, seeing Rarity and Pinkie Pie having nothing to do, came up with an idea.

"Miss Rarity, Miss Pie, Why don't you go and spend time with our new guest here, I'm sure he could use a guide on Equestria and its culture"

"Aye aye, Princess!" Pinkie exclaimed, saluting while wearing a name badge, savanna hat, and a whistle that was around her neck."

"Pinkie, dear, I believe she meant an information guide, not a tour one." Rarity softly told the excited pink pony, who promptly blew her whistle in a depressed manner.

"You can all meet back here when you're done, your friends can stay in the castle with Nate in the meantime." Celestia offered, to which Rarity immediately lit up at the prospect.

"Let me look into getting you a faster train to Applelossa as well, considering the importance of your mission, I feel such a change is prudent," Celestia added.

"All right girls, Let's get moving!" Twilight announced with excitement, the rest of her friends filled with as much energy.

Soon, the room was occupied by Nate and his two new guides. Looking down at Pinkie, he asked a very innocent question. "So is there somewhere we can go to get something to eat, like a bakery or...?"

Nate had seen a mini-nuke go off with less energy.

A buck in the head

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The contrast from night to day was apparent even from inside the pre-war riot helmet, with night vision still active from its wearer's excursion outside to pee. While the self-taught ranger was no stranger to being teleported or abducted, He had learnt first-hand to avoid both while he was intoxicated. Moving from his feet to his ass was not the most dignified of acts, but it was the one that ended up happening. Thankfully, upon looking around, He found himself alone in an abandoned town. It looked much like every other place in the Mojave, except for the fact it looked new. Instead of dried cracked paint and old rotten wood, the buildings were pristine beyond anything he had seen.

The sound of glass breaking broke the moment, there was someone nearby. Scrambling to his feet, the slow walk towards the commotion began. One foot in front of the other, He had a mastery of his alcohol tolerance. Before reaching the location of the sounds of destruction, he stopped to notice a pie on a window sill.

Braeburn Had never been more terrified in his life, he was currently hiding in the 'Salt Block' Saloon in the cupboard under the stairs with the saloon owner Morton Shaker. After the attack that had happened last week, all of Applelossa found that the easiest way to survive was to stay out of the way of the violent attackers. The sound of shattering glass and wood was followed by loud roaring voices coming from outside the cupboard.

"There's nothing here, just fucking salt!" One screamed out, smashing another chair against the wall.

"It's a bar, they must have something here, keep searching" another responded loudly.

"We have searched this entire place, there's nothing here except this shit" the first one replied.

"Check under the stairs, maybe there's a basement or something, If we don't find something, Parker will have our collective ass" The second voice warned

"Parker better watch his back, he ain't got his big brother to back him up no more" the first voice was getting clearer as it was getting closer. suddenly the light was blinding as the door was opened. The two ponies froze in fear as the two-legged horror was looking at them through goggles.

"I found two live ones." He called back to the others before grabbing both ponies by the mane and dragging them into the middle of the saloon.

One of the attackers was wearing a hat much like Braeburn's own. It smiled like a predator looking at a meal before walking over in front of Morton Shaker and kneeling. "Maybe one of you knows where the booze is."

"We, we don't that here, this is just a salt saloon, please, let us go" Shaker begged, cowering before the towering individual.

Shaking his head, the Creature stood back up and with his head motioned to one of the others. A lackey nearby walked over, pulled something out of his coat and aimed it at Shaker.

Braeburn knew death, his pappy had died a few years back, but this was something few ponies had ever seen. With a flash and bang like thunder and lightning coming from the object, the pony next to him dropped to the floor.

A hole was bleeding blood over Shaker's dark grey coat, the pony limp. Braeburn may have wet himself if he hadn't gone before the attack. His eyes shrunk as he continued to stare at the body beside him, his brain trying to find a way out of this situation. He only looked away when the creature in front of him bent down again, this time looking straight at him.

"Let's try that again" The body next to Braeburn was dragged away, "Unless you want to end up like your friend" The nearby window shattered as Shaker was thrown out of it, "You're going to tell me where the strong stuff is".

Braeburn tried to say something, anything, but the paralysis caused by watching somepony die right next to him was still gripping his system.

The monster in front of him stood back up and continued speaking.
"I'll give you to the count of three, one." The object in the killer's hand clicked, and Braeburn felt it against the side of his head.

"Two", before the monster in the hat could finish his counting, the doors to the saloon slammed open.

Another one of the Monsters stumbled into the saloon, carrying a pie. It slowly walked in a wonky fashion over to a table and sat down, putting the pie on it. The four other Monsters were all watching the scene, Braeburn didn't try anything but noticed that all attention was on the newcomer.

The Newcomer was wearing a large Duster, covering some kind of black armour, and on his head was a Helmet with some sort of mask on it. The Helmet was removed to show a short dirty blond mane and 5 o'clock shadow. He then rubbed his claws together, wearing some sort of black material over them.

"Oi, who the fuck are you?" One of the other Monsters yelled out

The stranger looked up to see the others of his kind and Braeburn, looking down at the pie and up again.

"I swear it was just sitting there" he responded.

One of the Monsters that was leaning on a wall walked up to the sitting stranger, he then slammed his hands on the table.

"Do you have a fucking death wish?" the Lackey Roared at the stranger.

"The stranger then lifted his hands defensively. "Look, you can have the pie, no hard feelings." The stranger offered, looking around the room at all the others.

"Just waste his ass already" shouted the Monster wearing a hat just in front of him.

The lackey pulled an object from his pocket that was similar to the one from before, but before he could use it, the stranger went into action.

Slamming the pie into the Attacker in front of him, the Stranger threw the table aside and grabbed the now-blinded assailant. Using him as a shield, the stranger pulled out a weapon of his own and aimed back at the front of the store. Before the two guarding the door could pull out their own weapons, Each was dropped by Precise headshots one after another. The Monster in the hat and the one surviving lackey slowly walk back behind the bar for cover while firing into the wounded goon being used as a shield. The saloon was in chaos as the sounds of the weapons made it sound like a thunderstorm was happening all around Braeburn, who was keeping himself low to the floor to avoid being hurt. From there he watched as the stranger ran to the side of the saloon towards the jukebox, throwing his wounded shield out a side window in the process as he dived behind the machine now being pelted with shots. As the records in the machine began to scatter from the machine, the stranger leaned out and picked up two, he calculated the best angle to throw from low to the ground and threw them like frisbees.

One made its mark, knocking down the Monster who had interrogated Braeburn moments before. The other one went wide and missed, The stranger leaned back behind the ruined music machine as the last standing thug returned to firing. The last standing thug fired repeatedly at the now destroyed music machine in a panic until his weapon stopped working, making clicking noises. The stranger, noticing the lack of sound shot up and shot the final foe. The Sound of movement came from the floor above as two of the surviving attackers raced to join the fight. The stranger, hearing the noise, left his cover, shot straight past Braeburn to the side of the stairs and waited next to the bannister. As soon as one of them began to screen the room, the Stranger grabbed the exposed weapon and fired two times into the Enemy's exposed chest, then aimed up and fired once more up the stairs. The sounds of a body falling down the stairs were followed by said body rolling past the stranger and onto the floor.

Suddenly, it was silent. Braeburn slowly lifted himself off the ground and watched the stranger look around before going to grab his helmet and went behind the bar. A weak voice came from behind the bar "What are you?", The stranger put his helmet on and the muffled, synthesised voice said "I'm the goddamn mailman" Before executing the last one.

The Battle over, the Victorious man sat down, mourning the loss of a good pie. Putting Maria on the table, the gun that changed his life served as both a reminder of his past and a well-concealed weapon for such moments as now. After taking a minute's rest, He noticed something was off, looking to the side and slightly down was a weird... thingy? It was some sort of animal, but it was not aggressive, it was also looking at him.

The creature spoke. "You saved my life, thank you."

The Man looked at the creature for a moment before reaching out with his hand. The talking animal winced as the hand came close until a finger touched it.

"Huh, your real, that's new." The man said from behind the helmet.

Taken back by the response, Braeburn shook away the confusion and continued.
"My name is Braeburn, may I know your name?"

The Man put his legs up on the table in front of him and leaned back "Most people know me as the courier since I was the sixth courier, You can call me six."

Braeburn found that to be a strange name, but decided now was not the time to ask questions about his hero's past.

"Well, Mr Six, You sure know how to handle yourself, these here villains have been attacking our town for a week now."

Six cut off Braeburn before he could finish. "Fucking raiders, too many guns, not enough brains. They're only good for target practice"

Braeburn continued where he left off. "There are a whole lot of them held up somewhere nearby, they already took Sheriff Silverstar. Were defenceless, please, can you help?"

Six leaned back even further on the chair, and after a moment he gave his reply. "On one condition, can I get a new pie?"

Six fell backwards as a result of losing balance as the now ecstatic Braeburn shouted out in joy.

The Creature Braeburn, which Six found out was called a pony, had managed to talk the town out of hiding, and got the local baker to work with what she could to bake a pie as Braeburn left town with Six to locate the raider base. Six had tried to tell the pony to stay behind and continued to do so all the way there.

"No how, no way, I ain't gonna let you go by yourself, you saved my life, I owe you this much," Braeburn Stated with resolve.

"I told you you don't owe me anything but a pie, now stop talking" Six ordered, The courier having lost his buzz and now forming a headache. The man went low to the ground, looking for something. Then he saw it, some spent brass casings were partially buried in the dry earth, they must have been stepped on as the earth was bone dry. Following the last point, they were heading in the right direction.

"How did you learn to track like that?" Braeburn inquired.

"Used to hang with a bunch of rangers, also learnt some tricks from tribals out near Zion." Replied Six, Braeburn Didn't know what a ranger was or what Zion was, but he decided it was something to ask another time.

Six stopped, looking around, then spoke up. "They must have found shelter out here, Know of anywhere nearby?"

Braeburn Thought about his location and responded. "There used to be a mine around here, but they never found enough ore to be worth the effort."

Six took off his helmet and climbed a nearby mound, and looked to the distance. Eventually, a small glint in the distance had promise. Putting his helmet back on, the continued towards the reflective source in the distance.

As they came closer to the source, they could see a Mine entrance with a clean lamp hanging from a beam holding up the roof. Sitting on a wooden crate was a raider who had dozed off under the shade. Next to him was a pickaxe leaning on a bunch of smaller wooden crates and rope hanging off a nail.

Not wanting to waste what 9mm rounds he had been able to find on the dead raiders back in town, Six snuck
up to the slumbering guard. Grabbing one of the boxes, He threw it down as hard as he could on the guard's head.
The Sleeping Guard went limp as timber dropped all over him. Picking up the pick, Six raised it above his head to bring it down on the guard's head. "Wait!" Cried Braeburn, rushing over to the entrance. "Don't kill him".

Six looked at Braeburn, and with disbelief asked, "Your kidding right?"

Braeburn shook his head adamantly "He's defenceless, you can't just kill somepony like that." Braeburn stated.

"Why not?" Retorted Six, but getting a dirty look for Braeburn, threw the pick behind him "Fine"

Six grabbed the rope and knelt next to the sprawled-out unconscious guard, binding his arms and legs. Giving the Guard one last kick for good measure, "Happy" Six asked.

Braeburn nodded firmly, six then proceeded into the mine while Braeburn followed.

Braeburn was prepared for many things when he followed Six through the mine, but there was one thing he never could have been prepared for, the smell. He didn't know how Six handled the smell, Either the mask stopped it, or he had dealt with it before. The latter slightly scared Braeburn, where exactly had all of these beings come from?

When they reached a large chamber, A campfire was evident from the light moving on the walls and roof. From the shadows, Six pointed out eight raiders. Braeburn noticed a crude cage off to the side, hidden from the raiders by some built-up earth. Braeburn quietly rushed to see what was inside, Six was whispering for him to stop but stopped partway through. Inside, Braeburn saw three captives, two he knew straight away. "Sherif, Strongheart" He whispered. The pony and buffalo looked horrible, filthy conditions and a lack of sleep or food had taken their toll.

"Braeburn, what are you doing here," Sherif Silverstar asked in bafflement.

"Getting you all out of here, is he ok, are there any others?" Braeburn asked while studying the cage, it was a simple latch kept out of reach from its occupants.

The sheriff looked back at the pony lying in the back of the cage, "He's dead, no food or water, been here longer than we have. There were others, buffalo that were with Little Stronheart."

Little Stronheart look as if she was about to break into tears, "We were coming to the town to talk about water rights when we were ambushed by those things, they... they ate them, Those monsters ate them"

Both The sheriff and the chief's daughter froze as they looked behind Braeburn, their iris shrinking and ears going down.

Braeburn felt something on his back, he spun around to see Six with a digit against his mask's mouthpiece, shushing him.
"New plan, I make a diversion and you grab whoever and run."

"What are you gonna do?" Braeburn asked

Six held up a red stick and said. "Make a distraction"

When Six walked away, Braeburn looked back to see the two prisoners very confused.
"It's ok, he's helping, Let's get you two out of there"

Six loved dynamite, It was practical. Light it, throw it, and Boom. All these years he still had Benny's lighter, and this was one of the many reasons why. He waited behind a stalagmite for an opportunity to attack the raiders down below. With a practised aim, he tossed it right into the middle of the campfire, The chaos was perfect. Most of the raiders Weren't armed as they didn't expect to be attacked in their own hideout, They were easy pickings. A few sticks of dynamite took care of the ones behind the cover, Then it was down to a few. A shot pinged off Six's helmet, small calibre rounds tended to do that. Well, aimed headshots with Maria dropped the few standing raiders, but the sound of automatic fire dropped Six into cover quickly. The ringleader had brought out an assault rifle and was firing at Six's cover. Using one of the last sticks of dynamite he had grabbed, the threw it over the top from behind cover, after a second, his legendary luck paid off as the gunfire ended.

Looking back up, the Chamber was quiet. Six climbed down towards and past where the campfire had been, now just ash and scorch marks, to the other side of the chamber. Going up to where the ringleader had come from, he saw the remains of his foe's arm, the rifle nearby. Picking it up, he noted it was still functional but was empty. Putting it on his back with the intact strap, Six went into the small room the Raider leader had come from. Inside was a bed, a desk, a safe and a book on the desk. Picking up the book, Six opened it to a marked page, it was a journal entry.

"With L.T. left behind, I'm now running the Bullpits. Nothing is stopping us from taking this place, little freaks are easy pickings."

Most of the page was worthless until Six read the last line.

"Crews getting restless, no chems, no booze, nothing around here except that small ass town, they must have something. I'm keeping my personal stache, in case I need some pull with the crew. If things don't change, they're gonna throw me on a spit next."

Six closed the book and looked to the safe, the only secure location he had seen. The lock was simple enough, thankfully a screwdriver and a handful of hairpins were standard procedure when going anywhere in the wasteland. Six put the screwdriver in the lock and... it was already open. Taking a minute to process how dumb he was, he opened the safe to find a bottle of scotch and a stimpack. Grabbing both and searching the rest of the camp for rounds, Six left for the surface.

The sound of commotion near the entrance caused Six's brisk march to turn into a sprint. The first thing he saw was the guard they had incapacitated free and holding a switchblade. Six tackled the Raider to the earth and tried to get the blade off him, Only to end up with it in his side. Six managed to get on top of the raider and pulled out his gun, putting two shots in his head. the third pull of the trigger announced that Maria was empty. Falling off the dead raider, he collapsed to the side to see Braeburn on the ground, with a deep cut on his side. The pony and pony-like creatures hovering over him wondering what to do. Getting to his feet, he walked over to the three, pulling out the stim pack on the slow walk.

The two uninjured escapes quickly moved out of his way in caution but said nothing. Falling to his knees, he stabbed the stimpack into Braeburn. The injured pony's leg kicked, the cut in his midriff sealing within seconds.

"The pain, it's gone. " Braeburn muttered, slowly being to move.

Six Got back to his feet "Yeah well, don't expect that again, Damn things only work once" At the statement, he threw the empty stimpack over his shoulder.

"You saved my life, again" Braeburn stated, looking at Six, then down at the blood seeping through his duster.

"Your bleeding!" Little Strongheart pointed out, All attention now on Six.

"Yeah, give it a minute" Six replied. Slowly the wound healed on its own.

Braeburn was amazed, "Can all of your folk do that?"

Six looked down at Braeburn, "Nope, I'm something of a special case."

Sherif Silverstar walked up to Braeburn "How did you both even find us?"

Braeburn enthusiastically motioned to Six "Our friend here is a tracker, he found the raider's hideout and took them out himself."

Sherif Silverstar then walked up to Six "Then I must state my gratitude, you saved our lives and the whole town. Thank you, Mr?"

Six motioned for everyone to follow him as he began to walk back towards town. "Courier, And don't thank me just yet, I still want my pie."

The sheriff stared blank-faced as the Courier began to leave. "Your what?"

Appleoosa was celebrating as best as it could under the circumstances. The deaths of the raiders had freed them of the attacks, and the return of the sheriff meant the town leadership was returned. However, the destruction and murder of multiple settlers and natives had soured the mood slightly and it would take a long time for the trauma to heal.
Still, the Settler ponies Celebrated, The buffalo joining them. It turned out that Strongheart's absence had worried the buffalo who sent parties out to find her, only for the raiders to hunt them when they split off into smaller groups. The chief was relieved to find his daughter, but the buffalo had suffered greatly even compared to the settlers.

The Courier, Celebrated his own way, with half the bottle of scotch he had recovered from the mine. Mixed with his blood loss, it had the desired effect at only half a bottle. The other half had been drunk by Braeburn, who along with Six had been hailed a hero. Hoping to take the edge off of the whole situation, Six had offered the stallion the rest of the scotch. Six had in fact never received his pie, as by the time it was ready, no one could find him or Braeburn.

A hangover was a good sign for Courier 6, It meant he was alive. Every day he woke up with a headache was a quick reminder of the fact he was still there to feel it. What was new was the sensation of waking up in a proper bed, Normally he woke up in a bar, outside, on a mattress, but not a normal bed. He was in a bed with proper sheets and pillows, A luxury rarely found in the wasteland. What was more concerning was the fact he was wearing nothing, A fact that was reinforced by the fact that something furry was lying next to him. Turning his head, he saw the pony Braeburn sleeping peacefully next to him. After taking a few minutes to regret his life choices, he stealthily got out of bed, put on his gear and left the pony's house.

Rainbow Dash waited as Applejack left the train by the station, whereas she had simply flown out the window. As Applejack walked off the platform, Rainbow Dash asked the question she had on her mind since the conductor announced they were reaching their destination.

"So how are we going to find this guy? Do I need to fly over and look?"

Applejack responded to the unnecessary question. "No Rainbow, I told you, Cousin Braeburn can help us."

Rainbow countered with annoyance, "I don't see why, it's a human, it's not like it won't stick out."

Applejack argued back with irritation as they walked up to her cousin's home, "Braeburn knows everypony in Appleloosa, besides, it's not like it's going to pop out in front of us"

In front of them was a human quietly closing the down to Braeburn's home. His helmet was under his arm. Turning to walk away, The human stopped dead in his tracks to look at the two now confused ponies.

Rainbow broke the silence "Are you the human we're looking for?"

Applejack quickly told Rainbow Dash off "Rainbow!" then looked to the human, "I'm sorry about my friend here, I'm Applejack, and this here pony is Rainbow Dash. We're looking for a non-local who may have appeared recently, and as someone who has been here before, You fit the bill."

The human seemed taken aback by the statement "What am I wanted for?"

Applejack tried to put it best she could "Well, the princesses have a problem, that they think you can help with. We were sent to find you and bring you back so they can tell you themselves."

The man looked behind him at the door and answered, "Sure, fine, let's go, how are we getting there?"

"By train, come on let's go." Rainbow Dash demanded impatiently

As they proceeded towards the train station, Applejack piped up "What were you doing in mah cousin's house, and why do you smell of him?"

Most of the town stopped what they were doing at Applejack shouting loudly "WHAT!?!"

A bite to eat that's bittersweet

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"And that's how Equestria was made!" Exclaimed Pinkie Pie from her chair, hooves out in a show of grandeur. Both Nate and Rarity had not gotten a word in as Pinkie had told her condensed history of Equestria, as well as getting sidetracked into multiple unrelated stories. After an uncomfortable pause, Rarity was the one to move things along. "yes, thank you pinkie, that was abbreviated somewhat. I'm assuming Nate might have some questions, about more specific moments".

Nate, to his credit, was composed the entire time. He had been prepared for a lot of things, but some more than others needed to be elaborated on, if only to make sure he understood correctly.

"Wait, These elements, which are powerful enough to defeat not only someone who can control the moon, but the manifestation of chaos, is powered by friendship?".

Pinkie piped up to answer "Yep, we have these necklace thingies that have our cutie marks on them, except for twilight who has a crown, and they glow and lift us up and shoot rainbows that go pew!".

"And these Elements of Harmony, redeem people?" Nate asked.

"Not quite, with discord, they turned him to stone, it was Fluttershy who redeemed Discord. To be honest, I don't think even Celestia knows how the elements work, and it was Celestia and luna who found them" Rarity replied.

Nate continued into the next question "And the Princesses, These 'Alicorns', What's the story behind them?".

Pinkie jumped at that question "All the princesses are super-powerful ponies that have wings and horns and are really tall, except for twilight because she's a new Princess!".

Nate pressed the question, "but where did they come from?".

Rarity took over from pinkie "The Princesses have ruled since as long as anyone knows, some say as far back as when Equestria was founded".

Nate moved on to his next thought "What about the three tribes, where are they now, the homelands?".

Rarity answered, " No one knows, the location of the original home of pony kind has been lost for ages. Twilight might be a better pony to talk to about that, I only know that most of Canterlot's elite claim lineage from princess platinum".

Rarity took a bite of her rose petal jam sandwich. She looked at Nate who seemed to be looking around the room they were in. "Is something the matter Nate?".

Nate looked back at Rarity and responded, "I'm fine, I just can't remember the last time I saw a place this clean".

Rarity chose her words cautiously " Yes, it does seem like your clothes could use some, refreshing. I don't have my supplies with me on account of this trip being of short notice, but once I'm back at my boutique, I would happily fix your attire".

Nate raised an eyebrow, "you mend clothes?".

Rarity Explained her job "I'm a seamstress darling, I Make clothes, I also dabble in my own designs".

Pinkie jumped in, "Rarities dresses are famous, she even made us all dresses for the Grand Galloping Gala and they were so good!".

Rarity blushed a little as she continued, " While the highlight is the occasional high society clientele, most of my work is just maintenance and local sales. My boutique is in Ponyville, where I live".

Pinkie once again jumped in for her piece "I work at sugar cube corner as a baker, What I really do is plan parties".

Nate deadpanned at the statement, "Parties, really?".

Pinkie Pie beamed " Yep, birthdays, Weddings, Anniversaries, reunions, Welcomes, farewells. You name it, I've thrown a party for it!".

Nate smirked at the idea of the pink pony being in charge of a wedding, he had to ask.
"You've hosted weddings?".

Rarity frowned as she went to pinkie's defence. "Nate, don't be like that, Pinkie's skills are highly sought after, why, she helped co-ordinate Princess Cadence's Wedding".

"The one with the Changers?" Nate clarified.

"Changelings" Pinkie Corrected.

"Right, what happened to them?" Nate Asked.

Rarity Put her hoof to her chin, thinking deeply " I remember Twilight telling us about an investigation after the wedding".

She then shrugged "As far as I've heard, there haven't been any sightings since".

Pinkie had finished her pecan pie, something that was announced by verbal disappointment.

"Be thankful I convinced him to still allow us to order food, he's still upset about the incident last time". Rarity stated, then faced Nate.

"Pinkie is banned from the palace kitchen, Applejack had to handle the wedding cake at the wedding".

Pinkie raised her hooves above her head, "They said it couldn't be done, but I created explosive custard!".

"They said it shouldn't be done, the entire wing had to be closed off for cleaning". Rarity countered

Nate moved the conversation back to his current thought pattern, "I still don't see why the princesses brought you all into this, you don't seem like much help against mutant animals and raiders."

"Well, the elements were used to bring you here, maybe we're connected?" Rarity offered as an Answer.

"Celestia asked us to tell you about equestrian, maybe we were meant to ask you about your home?" Pinkie added her own guess.

"Pinkie has a point, perhaps the princess was hoping for a quid pro quo of stories. What better way to understand these creatures than to learn where they came from."

Pinkie's eyes went wide as an awestruck look crossed her face "Oh My Gosh, We never asked anything about you".

Out of nowhere, Pinkie donned a deerstalker hat and held a clipboard in her hoof. Pinkie broke into a barrage of questions towards Nate. "When is your birthday, when were you born, what's your favourite flavour of pie, why is it cherry?".

Rarity pulled the lamp away that was now hanging over Nate and pulled down the umbrella that had appeared above them all. " We should let Nate tell us at his pace, After all, he was patient with us so we should return the favour".

Nate, who had elected to ignore the prior events chalking up Pinkies antics to the nature of this place, was overwhelmed with what to divulge. "I wouldn't even know where to begin".

Rarity had an idea "Well, the Elements brought you here because you can help us, maybe start with your particular set of skills, so What do you do as a profession, Nate?".

"I'm a soldier, The General of the 'Commonwealth Defence Guard', although these days I mostly just handle the paperwork and politics"

Nate had said the last part with what rarity and pinkie could tell was disdain.

Pinkie was sceptic, "You don't seem that Dangerous, I mean if your kind had to survive in a world full of scary monsters."

Nate countered Pinkie, "We didn't, Two centuries ago, they didn't exist".

This took the two ponies off guard. "They didn't before?" Rarity asked.

Nate responded after a long unbroken pause. "No, they didn't, two centuries ago, the world was a different place".

Rarity was about to inquire what Nate meant, only for Pinkie to stop her with a hoof, she knew when a monologue was due.

"Humanity was discovering things thought impossible decades before, machines that could wait on your every whim, take you across the world in hours, devices that could think and remember libraries worth of knowledge that could fit on your arm. Medicine that could heal or cure what once untreatable became buyable at any corner store, life wasn't perfect, but for most, it was close enough."

"what changed?" Rarity asked. This time Pinkie didn't interfere.

Nate's head began to drop with the weight of the topic. While he didn't say it, in his head, Nate was thinking it. It's what didn't change.

"Years of consumption lead to shortages of every major resource, Oil, Uranium, Cobalt, the list was endless. In fear, we turned to greed, and from greed, we turned to war. As time went on, things only seemed to get worse, until finally, we ended the world".

"How?" Pinkie asked.

Nate looked up at the ponies, who while ever colourful, had faces that betrayed the depressing mood forming.

"We created weapons that could destroy entire cities, thousands of them, each capable of turning entire areas uninhabitable for centuries. It was thought that every major power having them would stop them from being used, we were wrong".

"Well, I guess that explains your martial lifestyle If you were raised in a world where society had ended" Rarity Reasoned

"Actually, I was trained in the United States Army, I served during the war" Nate explained

Pinkie put two and two together "Wait, you mean before the big kaboom?"

Nate nodded.

"Oh Nate, I'm so sorry," Rarity said to Nate, A mix of pity and respect at Nate's experience.

Nate tried to reassure them "It's fine, I've come to terms with it. As best as one can come to terms with the end of the world."

"I assume having two hundred years to think over it helps," Rarity said

"Actually, for most of it, I was... Frozen, I only woke up a few years ago." Nate interjected.

Nate could see that the two ponies were confused.

"Maybe I should start from the beginning".

Pinkie looked at Rarity and back to Nate "The beginning of what?"

"The day the world ended" Nate Replied

23rd, October, 2077 (Optional Chapter)

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I was getting ready for my big day, I was chosen to give a speech at the Boston veterans hall. A war hero they called me, But I knew after everything I had seen, there were rarely heroes in war. I was one of the lucky ones, I was home and in one piece. I knew where this war was heading, we all did, and that's why we all tried in our own way to end it. That's all I wanted, the fighting to stop, I got my wish.
_________________________________________________________________________________________

The condensation on the mirror lessened as the hot water was turned off, the mirror now revealing Nate's freshly shaven face. In his head, Nate went over the speech he had written one last time in his head and the critical point of his message.

"War never changes" As he said them, he continued to consider the experience behind those words. From behind him came the voice of his wife Nora

"You're gonna knock'em dead at the veteran's hall tonight hon."

Nora's words were welcome, in truth, he wasn't sure how well it would go. "You think?"

"Absolutely, now get ready and stop hogging the mirror" Nora replied, Giving Nate a playful push to get him away from the mirror she needed. With a smile, he left the bathroom and headed to the living room on the left.

Hovering in the kitchen was the new family Mr Handy Robot butler, Codsworth. The Optical sensors on its head picked up on Nate's arrival and moved the freshly made coffee in front of its owner. "Ah, good morning sir. your coffee. 173.5 degrees Fahrenheit, brewed to perfection." The Mr handy unit was programmed with a voice that was made to sound like an old English butler, pleasant and harmless. Nate took the coffee from Codsworth and thanked him. "Thanks, Codsworth"

"Of course, sir" Came the reply.

The robot went on to do more duties in the kitchen, and so Nate went with his coffee and sat down at the nearby bench. On the top was today's newspaper, to Nate, it was more of the same. One thing that caught his eye was the date, the 23rd of October, Halloween was less than a week away. Nora walked into the living room, having finished with the bathroom.

"I can't believe it's almost Halloween, I need to finish making Shaun's costume," Nate said trying to get his mind off of tonight.

Nora could see through Nate's attempt at trying to distract himself, With a warm smile, she tried to treasure him. "nervous, don't be. Everyones gonna love the speech"

Before he could respond, there was a cry of a baby from the other end of the house, to what may have been strange to people over 20 years ago, It was Codsworth who answered the infant's call. "Ah, sounds like someone made a stinky! I shall attend to Shaun"

As Codsworth hovered over to the other side of the house, Nora started talking to Nate after a quick chuckle at Codsworth's antics. "You know, I was nervous at first, but Codsworth's really good with Shaun".

Nate had to agree, Codsworth had been a lifesaver. "We should take Codsworth to be serviced soon, don't you think?" Nate asked.

Before Nora could respond, the doorbell rang. After both of them looked to the door, Nora spoke.
"Can you get that? It's probably that salesman. He comes for you every day"

Nate, more than a little curious, went to the door. Upon opening it, a man in a trenchcoat and fedora holding a clipboard introduced himself.

"Good morning, Vault-tec calling!" The man seemed cheerful and energetic, a well-practised salesman.

Vault-Tec, that was a name that had been thrown around a lot recently. Radio, Television, and even their neighbours had talked about it since work was being done just up the road. But Nate didn't know much about the company himself.

"Vault-Tec? Remind me again." Nate asked, not wanting to sign up for something without knowing it first.

"Why we're about you, sir! And helping secure your future." The Vault-tec representative said, adding emphases on the 'you' and 'your'
"You see, Vault-Tec is the foremost builder of state-of-the-art underground fallout shelters. Vaults, if you will. Luxury accommodations, where you can wait out the horrors of nuclear devastation." After finishing the obviously practised speech, the Salesman looked at Nate with a level of thinly veiled concern.

"You can't begin to know how happy I am to finally speak with you, I've been trying for days. It's a matter of utmost urgency, I assure you"

Nate was confused about this, He never signed up with Vault-Tec, was it part of the pitch?

"What's so important?" Nate asked

"Why nothing less than your entire future! If you haven't noticed, sir, this country has gone to heck in a handbasket. If you'll excuse my language." The Representative's attitude changed to one of concern.

"The big kaboom is... it's inevitable, I'm afraid. And coming sooner than you may think. If you catch my meaning."

The way he talked concerned Nate. Considering that Vault-Tec's primary industry was underground bunkers, the doomsaying was always going to be part of the pitch. but after his time serving in the US army, it seemed less like madness and more like an inevitability that scared him. The Vault-Tec employee had continued his pitch.

"I'm here today to tell you that because of your family's service to our country, you have been pre-selected for entrance into the local Vault. Vault 111." The announcement was emphasised with hands being waved in a motion one would use to imagine a sign above a store.

"But there's room for my entire family, right?" It seemed like a stupid question, but for something as important as the potential end of the world, it was one Nate was going to ask.

"Of course. Of course! Minus your robot, naturally. In fact, you're already cleared for entrance. It's just a matter of verifying some information." The Representative went through a series of questions and pre-recorded information, making sure everything was correct. The representative started talking as he began to finish writing on his clipboard.

"Wonderful! That's... everything, Just gonna walk this over to the Vault. Congratulations on being prepared for the future!"
The Sales representative had begun to walk away from the door as he finished his speech.

"Right, Thanks again", Nate said as he closed the door as he considered the slightly eccentric fellow, all that for a bomb shelter.

"Hey, It's peace of mind. That's worth a little paperwork right?" Nora asked from the couch near the door.

Nate walked up behind her and put his hands on her upper arms. "For you and Shaun, no price is too high"

Nora turned her upper body slightly to look up at Nate, with a chuckle she responded "Good answer"

Nate with a smirk, replied, "I have my moments" and went in for a kiss, only for the sound of a baby crying to interrupt the moment.

As Codsworth slowly came from the hallway, Nate turned around and listened to the robot butler. "Sir, Shaun has been changed, But he absolutely refuses to calm down. I think he needs some of that 'parental affection' you seem to be so good at"

Looking back at Nore with pleading eyes, Nora pushed Nate to do his fatherly duties. "You heard Codsworth, go on"

With a sigh, Nate went down the hallway to the last room on the right. In the room was a Crib with a rocket mobile above it. Inside sat the most beautiful thing Nate had Seen since Nora, Shaun, his son. While Shaun could be a handful, he would storm Beijing by himself for Shaun. This is what he had fought for, this is why despite all the things he had seen during the war, he had faith everything would be alright.

Nate reached a hand down and played with Shaun, who had a toothless smile on his face.

"How are the two most important men in my life doing?" Nora asked from the doorway. "spin the mobile a bit, he loves that"

Nate spun the mobile he had fixed recently, it made a soft tune as it went around. Nora walked up to the crib and looked down to talk to Shaun.

"Hey, how's my little guy? Much better now, huh?" Nora then looked up to speak to Nate.

"Listen, after breakfast, I was thinking we could head to the park for a bit, Weather should hold up"

"Will it be like that night In the park a year ago?" Nate asked with a knowing grin.

Codsworth loud announcement cut Nora from any response.

"Sir, Ma'm, You should come and see this!" Codsworths artificial voice sounded afraid.

"Codsworth, what's wrong?" Nora asked with rising concern evident on her face. Nate too was concerned, Codsworth never sounded scared, and Nate didn't even know Mr Handys could. What was wrong?

Nate left Nora with Shaun as he went to the front room. In the silence, The Sounds of ads and news ramblings of the Television set were replaced with the solemn sound of a news anchor who was grim seriousness. Codsworth was viewing the Anchor, so Nate listened in.

"Followed by.. yes Followed by flashes. Blinding flashes. Sounds of explosions. We're, uh trying to get confirmation."

Nora had walked with Shaun into the Living room behind Nate, who slowly was having the blood drained from his face. He waited for the confirmation, he hoped to god he was wrong, but Nate knew exactly what was going on. It had happened.

"We seemed to have lost contact with our affiliated stations"

Outside, a commotion could be heard, slowly getting louder and more chaotic. On the Television, the News anchor listened into the earpiece he had. His composure began to crack as the information was passed to him. The Continued his report, the once unshakable Anchor stammering to get the words out.

"We... We do... We do have...We do have coming in...that's um...Confirmed reports. I repeat, confirmed reports of nuclear detonations in new york and... Pennsylvania. my god." The last thing to be seen was the Anchor holding his head in his hand in disbelief before the entire channel was replaced by a screen saying 'please stand by'.

Nate had what felt like every conceivable thought go through his head all at once. Who, What, When, Where, Why, Dear god Why? What could they do, where could they go? Wait, The Vault! The Representative had said they were accepted into the local vault.

"We need to get to the vault, now!" Nate Ordered, Panic was barely hidden under the surface. Nora made a break for the door stating "I've got Shaun, let's go!"

Upon leaving their home, Nate and Nore Were Caught in the Fury of the local panic. People were packing cars, running down the road, and even trying to bar their homes. A Vertibird flew overhead, close enough to the ground to feel the ai being pushed by its rotary blades. A Speaker was broadcasting a message from the Rotorcraft. Nate heard it as He ran with Nora and Shaun down the street.

"Residence of sanctuary hills, If you are registered, evacuate to vault one eleven immediately."

One man was shouting over the noise at his wife as he filled the car with luggage.
"We'll drive to the coast, that's got to be far enough" As Nate passed them, he could hear the wife's response.
"What if it isn't"

Nate then saw a Soldier motioning people down a dirt side path while barking "This way, all vault participants"

As Nate And his wife and son followed the path the soldier had motioned to, Nate saw another couple with the husband bent down repacking a spilled bag. The Wife was Baffled at her husband's actions.

"Leave the bags, who cares?" She Cried, his response being "Just help me pack it up!"

Nate and Nora walked up the side of the hill, eventually, they reached another soldier who was in front of a large crowd. He was Barking another message.
"Check-in at the gate, if you're in the program, you'll get in!"

As they reached the chain-link gate, Nate could see the Vault-tec Representative from before arguing with a soldier with a clipboard.
"That's absurd, I AM vault-tec, I'm going in there!"

Another Soldier in power armour nearby began to power the motor on his minigun. This ended the argument instantly.
"Whoa, okay, okay!"

The representative turned and ran, shouting as he left "I'm reporting this!"

Nate went up to the Soldier with a clipboard. All the while, More Announcements were being barked "if you're in the program, step forward, otherwise go home!"

"We need to get it, where on the list!" Nate Explained

The soldier gave him and Nora, who was holding Shaun, a glance over and then down at the clipboard.
"Infant, adult male, adult female. okay, go ahead."

"Thank you," Nora said to the soldier as they passed through the gate.

"Good luck ma'am and God help us all" The soldier responded as they left.

Up ahead was a man dressed in blue with light leather protection on, he motioned to Nate and Nora.
"you two, follow me, Come on!" He ordered.

"What's going to happen to all those people outside the gate?" Nora asked

"We're doing everything we can. Now keep moving!" The Vault security officer responded. It was a blatant lie, Nate knew the answer was sweet nothing.

As they reached the top of the hill, the Security officer motioned to a Sizable gear-shaped elevator platform on the very top of the hill.
"Step on the platform, In the centre"

Doing as they asked, Nate and Nora stepped onto the platform centre with a handful of others. The officer then shouted to a man operating the lift. "All right, that's it, send them down"

Nate attempted to reassure Nora.
"Almost there, We're gonna be okay. I Love you, Both of you."
Nora responded with "We love you too."

The world went so bright that Nate could see nothing but white.
After a moment, the glare began to fade, only for Nate to see the worst thing he could imagine.

In the far distance, Was a rising mushroom cloud, pushing out the clouds. The blast wave was expanding rapidly, and it would hit them, within a minute.

"NOW, SEND THEM DOWN NOW!" Screamed someone.

The platform began to descend, But the wave of destruction was now visibly passing over the tree line.

"Hold on!" Nate Yelled.

Everyone on the platform began to cower at the approaching hellfire.

The platform made it within a second, the roar above them was deafening. As the Platform went deeper, the opening above was sealed, cutting off the light.

It was black. but eventually, a light appeared as the platform reached the chamber at the bottom.

"We did it, we made it, we're okay." Trying to calm herself down.

The Vault overseer announced to the still-shocked platformers.
"Everyone please step off the elevator, and proceed up the stairs in an orderly fashion. No need to worry folks, we'll get everyone situated in your new home, Vault one eleven. A better future underground."

One of the neighbours responded with "So we just..."

He was cut off by vault-tec security who confirmed it for him "yes, up the stairs"

Another neighbour, stated, "I can't believe it, if we had left a minute later, we'd all be.."

This time the overseer cut him off. "No, No. Don't get caught up thinking about that, you're safe now."

Nate Moved along with everyone up the stairs and through the giant gear-shaped hole that leads inside the vault.

An Electronic announcement stated the same instructions as the overseer as Nate passed through some scanners, a vault-tec employee stating their sex as they passed.

Another vault-tec employee directed Nate over to a table where a woman was handing out vault suits.

As he collected a packed suit from the woman, Nate said "Thanks, what now?"

She responded, "Just follow the doctor and he'll show you where to go."

The doctor smiled as Nate and Nora looked his way

"All right you three, follow me," He said.

Nora spoke to Shaun. "see, this is our new home"

The doctor overheard this and began talking about the Vault. "oh you're going to love it here. This is one of our most advanced facilities, Not that the others aren't great mind you..."

Nate's attention drifted off as he overheard others talking about what had just happened.
"It's gone, Our home, Everything we had..." "My mother and father were down in D.C. Oh god, what if they didn't make it?"

Nora's words brought Nate back to the conversation happening as they walked down the cold halls.
"How long do you think we will be down here?"

The Docter brushed the question aside "Oh, We'll be going over all that during presentation. Just a few medical items we have to get through first." As the doctor talked, they entered a room filled with large machines. They were bulky and filled with pipes. The machines opened to show a place where a human would be.
The doctor motioned to one of the machines and told Nate "Just step in here and put your vault suit on"

Before Nate could do that, he heard Shaun crying. Nore was trying to comfort Shaun
"shh, It'll be okay. Daddy's right here, see?" looking at Nate, Nora asked, "Honey, Could you help me?"

Nate went over to Nora and played with Shaun "who's my little guy, I'm not going far, I'll be just over there"
Shaun smiled and Nora kept reassuring the child. "There he is, see? Daddy's not going far"

With Shaun calmed down, Nate went back to the machine he was designated. Putting on the Vault suit, it was sleek yet not constricting. Nate then grabbed a handle inside the machine and pulled himself inside. As the front slid down and sealed, Nate wondered what kind of medical test this was. Looking through a small window, he could see Shaun and Nora in the machine on the other side. The doctor stood in front of Nate's machine and spoke to him.
"The pod will decontaminate and depressurise you before we head deeper into the vault, Just relax.

So Nate tried just that, saying to himself "time for a whole new life"
as he tried to calm down he noticed something, Why was the pod so cold? A voice played inside the pod.
"Resident secure, Occupant vitals: Normal, Procedure complete" suddenly it was getting really cold!
Before Nate could comprehend what was happening, he was losing consciousness. "In 5...4...3...2..."
_______________________________________________________________________________________

"Manual override initiated, Cryogenic stasis suspended"
Nate awoke in confusion, where was he, what was happening? Oh god, the war, was it real? Where was Nora? The pod, he must have dozed off during the procedure. Why was he so cold?

Looking out the small window, Nate could see a person approaching his wife's pod, they wore a hazmat suit of sorts. they pointed at Nora's pod and said "This is the one, here" What was going on? A bald man came into view, he gave an order to the woman in the hazmat suit "Open it"

Nora's Pod opened. Nora keeled forward as she coughed, Shaun crying.
"is it over, are we okay?"

"Almost, everything's going to be fine," The man said

The Assistant in a hazmat suit tried to take Shaun from Nora "Come here, come here, baby..."

Nora held on to Shaun "No, wait, no, I've got him"

The man pulled out a gun and aimed at Nora. Nate Banged on the glass, trying to get out, to save her.

"Let the boy go, I'm only going to tell you this once" The bald man threatened

"I'm not giving you Shaun" Then the gun went off. Nora went limp as the Assistant took Shaun. Nate tried to scream, but the Cold had him mute. He continued to slam on the window.

The bald man spoke "Goddammit, get the kid out of here, and let's go"

The murderer then wandered over the Nate's Pod, looked in the window and said "At least we still have the backup"

Nate looked at the face of his Wife's murderer and son's kidnapper. He would never forget that face, or that scar going down and over his right eye.

"Cryogenic sequence reinitialised" Went the Pod's speaker, as Nate fell back into unconsciousness.
______________________________________________________________________________________

Nate's lungs felt like they were on fire, He coughed as he awoke once more.
While furiously pounding on the door, Alarms were going off.

"Critical failure in cryogenic array, all vault residents must vacate immediately"

The pod door shot up. Nate with what little strength he had pushed himself out of the pod and onto the floor. After gathering himself, he forced himself onto his feet and towards Nora's Pod. Falling on the pod, he searched for a latch to open the pod. "Come on, there has to be a release!"

Then he saw the red latch nearby and pulled it down. As the Pod door began to open, Nate shouted in panic "Come on, Come on, Come on, Oh GOD"

As the door flew up, Nate saw Nora, She was not moving, not breathing. She was gone. As the Alarms wailed around him, Nate fell to his knees, Lost, and cried.

It was unknown how long he knelt there, but eventually, he found something to drive him. Shaun, they had Shaun. Shaun needed him, and he needed Shaun. Looking at his wife one last time, he took her wedding ring, so that he had, something. "I'll find who did this, and I'll get Shaun back, I promise."

End of the day

View Online

"Did you find him?", It wasn't until Nate had finished recounting the memories of a day he would much rather forget, that he noticed pinkie pie had left her seat and sitting on the floor next to him. Her eyes were like dinner plates, ready to explode into tears at the response to her question, Even Rarity's composure was partially caving at his story. In the wasteland, the most you would get is sympathy for your loss or empathy from someone who had also suffered, however now it felt the answer could break these ponies. He could tell a truth, but a half-truth.

"It turned out that in the time I was refrozen and let out, sixty years had happened. When I found him, he was the director of a place called the institute, And he was dying. Even if it was for a short time, I found Shaun."

"So Shaun grew up and found a home, and you even saw him all grown up. Even if it was for only a small time, you were a family again." Pinkie Said to comfort Nate, although he suspected she may have said it to also comfort herself.

Rarity decided to add her own two bits, "For what it's worth Nate, I'm sorry for what happened to you. No pony should ever have to go through that.

Nate needed to change the subject, This was not helping anyone's mood. "It's ok, I've had time to get over it"
He then tried to find a subject to talk about, Then a very obvious question came to mind.

"So how do a seamstress and a party planner get involved in magical weapons that can stop the end of the world?"

The intended effect was achieved, as both of the ponies in front of Nate took a moment to process the question that had come out of the blue.

Rarity stumbled to throw an answer together "I, er well."

Pinkie came to the rescue, " Well there was Dashie's rainboom, The summer sun celebration, Finding the elements, all of us being friends and helping teach Twilight the importance of friendship."

Nate found a path and he took it. "Rainboom, What's is that?"

Now having a course to follow, Rarity started the story.

"Yes, Right! When we were all young fillies, Rainbow Dash was involved in a race to defend Fluttershy's honour from some nasty bullies. In the race, she managed to go fast enough to achieve something is never done before, A sonic rainboom."

Rarity followed the Statement with a grandiose gesture.

"I don't know exactly what it is myself, but it created an Awe-inspiring rainbow that flew across all of Equestria. The event causes all of us to find our cutie marks at once. It caused a geode to crack in half In front of me, leading to my talent at finding and using gems in my designs".

Pinkie piped up next. "The rainboom was so beautiful it showed me just how happy I could be, and that I wanted others to be as happy!"

Nate was glad the conversation had taken an upbeat turn, but his question had fundamentally not been answered.
"But have you ever wondered why you in particular?

"I'm not sure. From what Twilight and the Princesses have told us, We each represent one of the elements. I assumed that means we each act more like an element than others, but I always found that naive. I'm obviously not the most generous pony in all of Equestria, Why I've met plenty of ponies who have given more than me. And I do mean more, both in amount and in comparison to what they have. Perhaps Twilight can answer your question better, Since we found them, she has had a better understanding of them than anypony."

Pinkie popped up from her spot on the floor with determination on her face. "Right, We need fun, stat!"
With that announcement, she pushed Nate out of his chair and began to slide him across the room with ease.
"Come on Rarity, we're wasting daylight"

Rarity casually responded to pinkie pie's gusto, "Pinkie, it's nearly sunset"

Seeing that Pinkie had not lost any of her bravadoes, rarity followed casually as all three began the trek out of the hall.

"I still have no idea how you knew Pinkie," Nate said with a content smile plastered on his face.
Her response back was a shrug and a "Meh, lucky guess"

Pinkie had pushed Nate to the front gate of the castle before he convinced her to let him just follow her. Nate was herded through the city, going from store to store, part of a grand tour of Canterlot and all its highlights. Rarity had thrown her experience in the pot to help Pinkie with her attempt to cheer Nate up, knowing what places would be more accepting of Nate. After a series of locations, Nate needed a down moment, Pinkie had drained him of energy at a rate on par with his exploits in the commonwealth. Pinkie had chosen a small doughnut shop as the last location of the tour, the sun well and truly set long ago.

Nate had never been a lover of doughnuts, while the luxury of having a fresh doughnut was lost after the war, It was secondary to the other major product on the menu. Coffee, The wasteland had tins of centuries-old coffee, and some plants could be used as a substitute, But it was nothing compared to a fresh cup of joe. Nate had found it humourous that the Stallion who had made him his cup of joe was named Joe. As he thought about it, Nate began to question the naming convention of this place. Did ponies get their names after they found their calling in life, or was their calling in life somehow dictated by the names they were given?

"Need a top-up?" Doughnut Joe Asked Nate. Nate nodded, and the cup was filled.

"Thank you for the friendly welcome, I imagine this must be strange, it is to me," Nate told Joe.

Joe waved his hoof in a dismissive nature. "Any friend of Twilight is a friend of mine, and any friend of Twilight's friends is a friend of mine, and since you're their friend, you're mine"

Nate elected to smile and nod along rather than follow the mental circus that just happened.

Rarity was sitting nearby staring at her own cup of coffee, she looked worried.
"Speaking of our friends, I hope everything is alright. It's not as safe as it used to be, and Twilight and Fluttershy were heading to the Everfree forest of all places. The Everfree was dangerous even before monsters started appearing across Equestria."

Nate turned his chair to face Rarity
"Hey, your friends will be fine, and if my introduction was any measure, I think Twilight can take care of herself."

Rarity looked up at Nate, "You think so?"

Pinkie, who had been messing with a nearby jukebox, sprung up between the two. "Don't worry Rarity, Everything will be just fine!"

Nothings ever free

View Online

Things were not going as well as they should have. Twilights search with Fluttershy had turned up very little, and what it had turned up, was not good.

They had begun their search as soon as they had arrived back at Ponyville, but the trip to Canterlot and back had already wasted much of the day. After stopping at Fluttershy's cottage for some bare essentials, the two ponies had walked reluctantly into the Everfree. Their first stop had been at Zecora's home. Upon Approaching the yard in front of Zecora's hut, an explosion went off on the pathway. Twilight had promptly thrown up a shield, while Fluttershy hit the floor in the absence of any cover. The explosion hadn't done any real damage, there was a scorch mark where it had gone off and colourful smoke in the air.

Suddenly, there was shouting from Zecora's window.
"Run away you filthy beast, You will not find here an easy feast!". The front door of the hut slammed open, and from inside came an angry Zerba armed with bottles that smoked and bubbled.

When Zecora saw who was at her home, her deminer changed immediately. As Zecora began to carefully put down the bottles she held, she talked to her slightly shell-shocked friends.

"I'm glad to see with my eyes, dear Twilight Sparkle and Fluttershy. Why would you be out this late, unless you're trying to be monster bait?"

Twilight dropped the shield as Fluttershy picked herself from the ground. "Zecora, what was that?"

Zecora smirked and picked up one of the vials she had put down, before tossing it into the distance. A thundering boom and a small pink cloud erupted where she had thrown the vial, making Fluttershy drop to the ground again.

"Some Creative toys I've had to make, for all of the attacks as of late. My next question must be clear, what in Equestria are you doing here?"

Twilight slowly walked up to Zecora while noticing all the new traps and defences. "We need to find something in the forest, It would have shown up thing morning"

Zecora put a hoof to her jaw as she thought about something, "While something has been causing a ruckus, I feared it was just one more thing here to buck us."

Zecora shook her head, her expression darkened.
"To search the forest now is unwise, you will only find your own demise."

Twilight didn't like the sound of that one bit. "Zecora, what's wrong, what did you see?"

"I did not see what it could have been, but it was very big and very green."

Fluttershy spoke up "Twilight, maybe we should come back in the morning, and maybe a few guards as well."

Twilight mulled it for a moment before making her decision. "No, whoever is out there could be gone by then. If we are going to have any chance of finding them, it needs to be now"

Zecora picked up one of the explosive bottles, "Then please take this with you, it's the least I can give you."

Using her magic, twilight put the bottle carefully in her bag. "Thanks, Zecora."

With that, Twilight and Fluttershy began the trek into the heart of the forest.

The trek into the deeper forest was uneventful. As the low sun gave way to nightfall, the sounds of the forest began to stir.
Fluttershy stayed close to Twilight's side and watched the world around her for any sign of danger.

"Twilight?" Fluttershy asked, her voice quiet as her eyes tracked everything they could see.

"Yes, Fluttershy?" Twilight responded as they kept moving forward.

Fluttershy stopped watching the woods to face Twilight.
"We should leave, It's nighttime and the nocturnal creatures will be here. They're not the friendly kind."

Twilight scrunched her snout in confusion. "But we've done this before. The day we met, we were here when nightmare moon was keeping it nighttime, A manticore attacked us!"

Fluttershy frowned at Twilight "Twilight, you know that Manticore was hurt, and probably scared. The animals of the Everfree Forest use day and night cycles as much as we do, they didn't know why the sun was missing. Most of the nocturnal animals were probably going to sleep, or trying to."

Twilight had not thought of that, outside of that one event, she had never seen the Everfree at night. It also occurred to her that this was the first time off any beaten path. She felt her confidence begin to slip. She stopped walking and stood still, Fluttershy noticed and stopped in front of Twilight, turning around to face her.

Twilight stood for a moment, and after a deep breath, she came to a decision.
"We should go for a little longer, if we find nothing, we'll turn back. If we don't find them soon, I don't think we will be able to find them, they would have gone too far."

Fluttershy nodded at Twilight's conclusion and fell back beside her as they spent a short while looking for any sign of their goal.

After a time, The forest was getting to twilight. In small numbers, the forest would begin to play with the mind. Sounds and sights would appear, and the constant feeling of being watched.

"Twilight, we should leave, now" Fluttershy squeaked as the feeling of being stalked became overwhelming.

Twilight pulled her head around to respond when the rustling of a nearby bush stopped both of them dead. Twilight slowly approached the bush to the objections of Fluttershy, before pushing her hoof into the bush. Both of them screamed as something shot out of the bush. Once it landed on a branch in a nearby tree, they both realised it was an owl. It looked like Owlowiscious, except she was white.

"Sorry, miss owl, We didn't mean to scare you" Fluttershy apologised to the owl. Twilight felt that it was the other way around, but did not voice this opinion. Instead, Twilight prepared to throw in the towel.

"Let's head home, we're not going to find them. The forest is just too big, how are we supposed to find something out of the ordinary in a place that is so out of the ordinary?"

"Hoo"

Both ponies looked up at the owl, and Fluttershy responded to the statement. "You've seen something strange?"

"Hoo"

"It was big?"

"Hoo"

"And green?"

"Hoo"

Twilight didn't know what was being said, but she did remember what Zecora had said.
Twilight spoke up "Can you show us where?"

The owl nodded before taking off again, Twilight and Fluttershy followed the owl.

After a short run through some denser trees, the owl stopped on a branch. As Twilight finally caught up, she could see light in the opening ahead. Once Fluttershy had also arrived, the owl had taken off, quickly. They didn't say a word as they stealthily crept up to the warm glow. The first thing to hit them both was the smell, it was horrendous. The sounds of talking from the area ahead were low as they found a place to spy from. Staying behind a low covering of rock and shrubbery, Twilight peeked at the source of the glow.

A fire was roaring was burning, and a giant slap of what was once a monster of the Everfree was impaled on a large branch and hung over the fire. There, surrounding the firepit were three beings. Compared to anything else in Equestria, they resembled the new humans the most, but that similarity was thin at best. They walked on two legs, had two arms with hands and all the other basics down. But they were huge, they were green, they were covered in muscles and had non of the fitness Nate had shown when walking. The only thing that had less finesse was their speech.

"I'M HUNGRY, I WANT FOOD" one shouted, another responded.

"THIS MEAT IS MINE. IF YOUR HUNGRY THEN GO FIND YOUR OWN FOOD"

"THE PREY HERE IS COWARDLY, IT RUNS AND IT HIDES"

"YOU'RE JUST STUPID, DON'T KNOW HOW TO HUNT"

"SHUT UP"

Twilight ducked back into the safety of the foliage.
"We should leave" Twilight stated

"But shouldn't we try to talk to them, we talked to Nate and he seemed nice." Fluttershy countered though it seemed she didn't believe her own words from the fear that was growing on her face.

"I don't think that's a good idea, we should leave, now"

As both ponies turned to leave, Fluttershy's hoof was caught by some sort of rope. All Fluttershy or Twilight could do was let out an eep of shock as they were slung into the air as the net beneath them shot up.

In the disorientation, the Shouting green monsters surrounded the hanging net.

"WHAT HAVE WE CAUGHT, THEY LOOK LIKE DOGS"

Feeling a little offended, but mostly terrified, Twilight shouted back.
"We're not dogs, were ponies!"

The Monsters were not expecting that, evident by the shift in expression and lowering of what crude weapons they had.
"THE DOG TALKS?"

Twilight used the pause to teleport both Fluttershy and herself onto the ground.
"We're ponies, we mean no harm, we just want to talk. who are you?"

One stood forward and slammed a fist on his chest.
"WE ARE SUPER MUTANTS, THIS LAND IS OURS NOW"

Twilight flinch from being shouted at, She wasn't sure if they were furious at her, or if shouting was just how they talked.
Fluttershy tried to step up to the challenge as Twilight fell back.
"We're sorry for being on your land, we only wanted to find someone, we will leave you in peace."

There was a short pause before one of the Supermutants spoke up, In a comparatively lower voice than before.

"I'VE NEVER TASTED PONIES BEFORE"

At that statement, both Twilight and Fluttershy made to break for it, only to notice the other super mutants began to flank them.
One Supermutant charged at Them from the side, bringing down some sort of plank. Twilight quickly conjured a shield that met the plank, causing it to explode into splinters. At the display, the super mutant ran to the campsite. Another was using some sort of metal machine that made loud noises. The shield was being struck by multiple small objects, each one having enough force to test Twilight's shield to a level that would impress her brother. When the small attacks began to stop, one of the super mutants took to the shield with a large pipe, each swing visibly bringing the shield down into the earth.

"MOVE"
The mutant that had run away was back with another strange mechanism, but this one looked like a long box.
As soon as the other mutants had cleared from the space between the mutant and the shield, the mutant used the box.
A violent red beam shot out of the box and struck the shield. The Space inside the shield began to warm and the pressure holding the shield in place began to grow. The heat, was this the weapon that had to manage to injure the princess? At this level, it would explain the burns, this much heat would kill a lesser pony let alone an alicorn.

After multiple sustained shots, the pain and exhaustion finally began to reach Twilight, the mental exertion blurred her senses. After repeated shots hit the shield, the inside was feeling like an oven. The assault of beams slamming into the side of the shield ended, Twilight herself bordering on unconsciousness.

The Supermutant armed with the pipe brought it down one last time, Instantly shattering the shield. Fluttershy, seeing her friend about to be beaten to death, pounced out and bit the mutant on the leg.
The super mutant responded with annoyance rather than pain at the small creature who was crying profusely as she tried to defend her friend. The mutant swung his leg and watched as the yellow blur smashed into the trunk of a tree, crumpling below it. It then stormed over to Fluttershy, who raised her head to see the green horror approach,
With no way of escaping the Supermutant's weapons and no way to save Twilight, Fluttershy covered her head, as she heaved with pure adrenalin and fear, she waited for the inevitable.

The mutant raised the pipe over his head to bring it down on Fluttershy's.
"YOU DIE NOW"

Fluttershy braced herself for the pain, but instead heard a sharp BANG, flinching at the sound.
After a moment she realised, she was still alive. looking back up at the Supermutant, she saw the giant fall over backwards. Blood splattered outwards from where his head had landed, a clean hole through the side.

The three super mutants looked around for their new attacker until one was hit in the leg, the two armed with the machine and box fired at the area the bang had come from as the third cried out in pain.

The Box that fired the red beam was hit by the unknown attacker, snapping it in two. The Mutant dropped the broken box and sprinted back towards the two frozen ponies, ripping the pipe from his dead comrade's hands.

The mutant turned around to find the unharmed mutant backing itself towards a small earthen outcropping, using it to guard his rear. As the super mutant aimed his metal machine around looking for the attacker, something dropped from atop the outcrop. A human plugged a large knife into one of the eyes of the super mutant, rolling as the human hit the ground, it aimed a long metal pole that was slung to its body. The pole made a flash at the end and the super mutant that had been trying to remove the knife from its head dropped to its knees and then to the ground.

The Now pipe armed super mutant charged that the human, who in turn aimed the long weapon at their new target. The Weapon failed to do anything, causing the human to look down at it and back up at the super mutant. The Mutant charged into the human, knocking them to the ground and throwing their weapon.
Before the mutant could land a killing blow, a purple light flashed on its back, to which the super mutant responded with a roar of pain. As the super mutant swung round to face his new combatant, the human pulled themself off the ground and located and aimed the machine the Now dead Supermutant was using. With a pull of the trigger, the Supermutants head slowly turned into a bloody mess.
Once the super mutant's body hit the dirt, the human stood up and walked to the Last super mutant, who was desperately crawling away. Tossing aside the dead mutant's weapon, the human picked up their original weapon from the bush line, the weapon having been thrown. The long metal pole was pushed against the mutant's head.

Bang.

At some point, Twilight regained consciousness. She had awoken in time to see someone fighting off the super mutants, to which she managed to fire off one shot to help near the end.
Though exhausted and hurt, she was watching the human with a mix of terror and awe. Was this what it took to survive where they came from? Twilight had seen Nate, but not how he fought. She had so many questions, what are these weapons, do all humans fight like that, how did they know she and Fluttershy weres in trouble? And the biggest question of them all, is this the one they were looking for?

Before any of those questions could be answered, Panic set in as the human now approached twilight herself. With no energy to spend, Twilight observed the human heading towards her.

If Nate was anything to go off of, It's was male. It had messy brown hair and a bushy beard. Its clothes were a patchwork of materials that at one point looked like it was some blue uniform, repaired over years with new material. His Weapon looked a lot like Nate's except thinner and with a metal core. As the man finally reached Twilight, he knelt down in front of her. His face was worn, with a cold reserved look. his eyes, hazel in colour, looked tired.

Before Twilight could think of something to say, The man put his hand on her face and forced open an eyelid. She froze in fear, not having the strength magically or physically to fight him off. He shifted her head multiple times, looking into her eyes. It felt like he was trying to stare into her soul.

"No visible signs of trauma, must be fatigue." The man said to Twilight's surprise. She, in kind, decided to respond.
"I'm ok"

The man shot away in surprise. after what Twilight could only describe as the man shaking the disbelief away.

"Considering everything that's happened today, why is this what surprises me?"
The man knelt back down and started examining Twilight.
"Now, I'm working outside my experience here but let me know if there is any pain." The man said as he searched for signs of internal damage.
"I'm fine, it's just burnout. What's your name?" Twilight asked, trying to learn something about this man.

"That's not really important right now" he responded, finally done examining Twilight. He stood back up and began to walk away from her.

"I'm Twilight Sparkle" Introducing herself, Twilight forced herself to her hooves. Twilight then noticed where the man was going.

"Fluttershy!" She exclaimed, slowly pulling herself to her friend.

The man visually examined Fluttershy, as Twilight came close he put up his hand, motioning her to stop.
"She's breathing rapidly, She's also shaking violently, I think she's in shock. Be careful, there's no telling how someone reacts in this situation."

Twilight struggled to decide what to do, putting her hoof close to Fluttershy's body only to pull it back slightly. Eventually, she placed her hoof on Fluttershy's side.
Fluttershy's reaction was heartbreaking, Fluttershy kicked and screamed at Twilight, in a complete state of panic. Twilight, against her better judgment, used her magic to restrict Fluttershy and give her a hug. Even as a rouge hoof would hit Twilight, she refused to let go.

In time, the Screams became bellows, the bellows became sobs and the sobs became whimpers. Finally, Fluttershy went silent as she ran herself dry.

The man sat there, waiting until Fluttershy was asleep to comment.
"In this state, there's no telling what harm has happened, without intensive care I don't see her doing so well in the long term. Both mentally and physically.

"She has a cottage just outside the forest, but I can't bring her there," Twilight responded, still holding her friend.

The man then got to his feet and made a subtle push between Twilight and Fluttershy. Twilight understood the intent and let Fluttershy go. The man then carefully lifted Fluttershy from the ground. Twilight gathered her bearings and made towards the vicinity of Ponyville, The man followed closely behind.

"John," He said as he walked, Twilight was confused by the statement.

"What?" Twilight asked, looking back at the man.

His face had softened from before, he no longer looked reserved with tired eyes, he now just looked tired.
"My name, It's John"

Nothing more would be said until they reached Fluttershy's cottage.

Twilight had to initially lock Angle in a small cage when he had seen the state Fluttershy was in, eventually, they both settled for Putting Fluttershy in her bed to rest while Angel let no one upstairs. After most of the animals had had their bouts of fear and aggression at John, they had all chosen to avoid him. Twilight took a few minutes to rest before making her way to Ponyville General to find a doctor, This had proven difficult considering it was past midnight and everyone was at home. Fortunately, Dr Patches was working late. With a Medical professional at hoof, Twilight made her way back To the cottage.
On the trip back, she attempted to prepare the doctor for meeting John, as well as what happened to Fluttershy based on what John had seen. Dr Patches, holding a medical bag in his mouth, listened attentively.

As Twilight and Dr Patches briskly reached the gate, Twilight stopped the Docter with her hoof and walk in front of him, stopping him from entering the cottage.
"Now, Remember, He's probably going to be a bit aggressive, just stay out of his way and you should be fine." Twilight reiterated.

Dr Patches looked over Twilight's shoulder and back at Twilight. Putting the Medical bag down, he responded.
"If 'John' is that dangerous, why did you leave him in there?"

"I was talking about the bunny" Twilight countered as she opened the door and walked in.
John was still sitting on the couch since Twilight left. Moving to the side to allow Dr Patches entry, Twilight pointed the doctor up the stairs. The Docter, with his medical supplies, made his way up the stairs. Twilight, deciding to give the Docter the time and space to help Fluttershy, walked over to the couch.

Twilight struggled to find a way to start the conversation, John didn't seem interested in small talk, but she could see him waiting. It was obvious to John she wanted something, to him, everyone always did.

"So, John" Twilight started, but the lack of follow-up left an awkward silence. where to start, her questions, her quest? Before noticing Fluttershy, Twilight had so many questions, but now she was just concerned for her friend. If it hadn't been for John would either of them still be alive? Twilight had her opening.

"Thank you"

John's brow lifted at the words, Twilight continued her words.

"If you hadn't been there, I would be dead. Fluttershy would probably be dead, I drag her into danger even when I knew the risks. You didn't have to help, but you did, so Thank you."

John's posture softened at the apology, and he responded in a soft manner.
"Don't beat yourself over it, you couldn't have known the bastards would be there"

Twilight's eyes and ears fell at the statement, she had known something was in there but had elected to ignore it. Whatever happened to Fluttershy, it was her fault. Those Super mutants, were horrifying. Maybe John knew about them.

"Those things, those, Super mutants, what are they?" Twilight asked.

John leaned back into the couch, closing his eyes. "I'm surprised you don't want to know what I am."

Twilight lifted her hoof to rub the back of her neck, "Actually, we met a human earlier, His name was Nate. I was wondering if you knew him"

"No, I don't know many people these days," John said decisively. Opening his eyes and leaning forwards, John's eyes locked with the floor as he tried to best answer Twilight's inquiry.

"Supermutants, were once people, humans, but they were exposed to the FEV Virus. it changed them, made them forget who they were, made them angry, and violent."

John's eyes became level with the world.
"Not all of them mind you, I knew a super mutant or two who were nice enough, one even saved my life. He was a good friend and never did care about the loss of his past life. I sometimes wonder where he is now..."

Twilight waited to see if John would continue but seemed to have become lost in thought. She decided to keep prompting him.
"So how did you find us in the woods?"

John's eyes centred on Twilight.
"You weren't that hard to find, with all the noise you were making. It also helps I was waiting to ambush those mutants for a good hour."

Twilight wanted to know more, however, the sound of somepony coming down the stairs required greater attention. Before Dr Patches could make it to the room, Twilight had met him at the bottom of the stairs.

"Is Fluttershy going to be ok?" Twilight asked with urgency in her voice.

Dr Patches held a professional manner as he explained Fluttershy's condition.
"From what feedback she could offer in her unconscious state and from a series of non-invasive examinations, she not in immediate danger. Nonetheless, she should be moved to Ponyville general as soon as possible. The tests I could perform are not as effective as the ones down in a clinic and could easily have missed something. The Emergency team at the Hospital should move her, I don't want any complications to arise if there is something more serious. I'll head over now and organise the transfer."

Twilight nodded in agreement and made to return to the other room.

"there's something else." Patches announced.

Twilight stopped and faced The doctor once again.

"From what you have told me, Fluttershy has gone through quite the ordeal. She's going to need friends and family to help her through this." Dr Patches explained.

"Thank you, Doctor," Twilight Responded, Doctor Patches the left through the front door.

Once again heading back to the next room, Twilight noticed John walking towards her with his things.

"If everything's in good hands, I'll be leaving" John stated, continuing to the exit.

Twilight began to beg, "You can't leave!"

John reached the door and reached for the handle.
"I'm sorry but this has taken too much time as it is, I have an important mission to complete"

John opened the door and took the first step out the door.

"But you've only been here for less than a day!" Twilight retorted

John froze, and Twilight waited.
After a moment had passed, John took a step back and softly closed the door. When he turned around, Twilight saw murder in his eyes.

"How did you know that?" John demanded, yet his voice was quiet.
Twilight could guess what he would do if she answered wrong.

"I was sent by my teacher to find you, The have been sightings of strange beings appearing all over and we don't know why. We were able to find the locations of a few using magic, ones who could help us."

John stared into Twilight's eyes as if looking into her very soul, she partially cowed at the threatening look.
eventually, John relented. Looking away, he finally spoke.
"I need to find a way home, I have a job I need to finish"

As he once again made for the door, Twilight responded again.
"We can help you"

Johns's hand didn't even reach the handle before he spun around.
"How?" John asked impatiently.

Twilight decided it was best not to mention how they brought him here, and thus could potentially send him back.
"My teacher is Princess Celestia, she has the resources to help, and I will research the problem myself. Please, Just come with me to meet her. Listen to what she has to say and I promise you, I will do whatever I can to help you get home."

John stood there thinking about what he had just been offered, eventually coming to a decision.
"Fine, I'll go, and I'll listen, but after that, I go back to my world. Deal?"

John put his hand out, and Twilight quickly got the meaning.
"Deal," Twilight said, putting out her hoof to meet the shake.

"We leave first thing in the morning after Fluttershy is taken care of. The girls are going to want to hear about this."

John stood for a second pondering something
"Do you think she would mind if I crashed on the couch?"

The Wildcard

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To a Wastelander, Sleeping on a bed would be considered a luxury, sleeping on a bed on a passenger train, a myth. Six was currently waking up from such a bed, the rocking of the train a foreign sensation. The train had only stopped for a few minutes after leaving appaloosa, to switch to using the steam engine. The pony applejack had explained the day before that to save on fuel the train is primarily pulled by stallions when across flat straight rails, however, switches to using the engine when the pulling crew gets tired or the weather gets bad.

It wasn't normal for six to wake early, but two things had changed that today. The first was his long nap the day before, the second was food. The smell of eggs was something of a mystery to Six, having many things like it but never quite the original. He had tried deviled eggs, deathclaws eggs and even synthetic eggs, but this put them all to shame.
Removing himself from the bed, Six attempted to locate the source of the smell. With the metaphorical gears in his head picking up speed, he noticed it was coming from out the window, It was wafting from the next cart over.
Grabbing his helmet that was on one of the corner bed poles, He headed to the carriage door. Six open the door and heard the sound of the train moving beneath him, feeling the rocking of the cart and connecter. Passing over the connecter, he opened the door on the other side and entered the cart.

The fantastic smell from before was now very noticeable in the dining cart. The only two other passengers in the dining cart were the two ponies that had requested he joined them on a trip to meet their princess. Most people might feel that the situation was strange, being invited by a bunch of strangers to talk to the supreme leader of a society, but Six had more experience than most in the wasteland. Indeed, he had done so frequently in the time leading up to the battle for hover dam, an event that had redefined him. but for now, he was hungry.

As he walked over, Applejack was the first to notice.
"Well, lookie who's awake, we didn't know if you were a morning pony, so we saved you something"

Her hoof tapped at a steel cover over a plate in the middle of the table. So Six sat on the other side, on a chair next to rainbow dash who was chowing away at what looked like eggs and some sort of wavy grass rectangles.
Putting his helmet on the table, Six lifted the cover off to reveal the same food and promptly dug into the eggs. They were delicious. Applejack took a swig of juice. In the quick silence that occurred, Rainbow Dash asked a question on her mind.

"So, is Braeburn good in bed?"

The train carriage was filled with the sounds of coughing as both Applejack and Six choked on their drink and food respectively.

"Rainbow!" Applejack snapped.

"What? I'm curious" Rainbow Dash stated defensively

"There is a time and a place for that, which preferably would be outside of earshot for me" Applejack spat.

"Ok, I'm sorry. yeesh, Applejack, I didn't think you would care that much." Rainbow Dash responded annoyed.

"He's my cousin, I don't wanna hear that kind of stuff about family!" Applejack stated horrified.

There was an awkward silence that followed, eventually to be broken by Six.

"Hey, look, sorry about that, it was kind of a spur-of-the-moment thing"

Applejack threw her hoof up towards Six.
"It's none of my business, Braeburn is a Stallion who can make his own choices. I'd rather not hear about it"

Rainbow Dash came to the rescue of her own mistake.
"Then let's not talk about it, let's about us." Rainbow Dash turned to face Six
"Did you know I'm the fastest flyer in all of Equestria, And Applejack has put every Cowpony shame at nearly every rodeo show there is" She boasted

Six thought about what he had just heard "I saw a cow in a book once, kind of like a brahmin"

Both ponies were perplexed by the statement
"What's a brahmin?" Rainbow asked

Six thought for a moment "It's kinda like a cow, except it, has two heads, kinda wrinkly too"

Applejack went from bafflement to disbelief.
"Err, beg your pardon, did you say two heads?"

"Yeah, they eat as much as you would think." Six responded, then spoke to rainbow.
"So your some sort of messenger?"

Rainbow Dash seemed both confused and annoyed at the question
"No, I'm a weather pony. But someday I'm going to be a Wonderbolt"

Six then looked at Applejack
"Then, of course, your not a rancher"

"Heh, close, I work at my family's Orchard, Sweet Apple Acers." Applejack Replied.

Six leaned back in his chair
"So, why did your Princess send a farmer and a weather pony to find me?"

While Applejack struggled to voice her response, Rainbow went on the offensive.
"Hey, I'll have you know we saved Equestria over three times now!"

Applejack intervened "Now hold on there rainbow, he doesn't even know anything about us"
Rainbow Dash stopped and waited as Applejack decided on the best place to start her story.

"See, it was around two years ago, Me and rainbow here live in a place called Ponyville. Ponyville had been chosen to host a big event called the summer sun celebration, And to do that, we all did our part to prepare.
The princess sent her student to oversee how things were heading, and that's when we met Twilight. Now, most of the ponies in Ponyville knew each other quite well, But as far as making friends goes, Twilight was like a fish out of water. Everything was going along as planned, but twilight seemed in a hurry to leave.
The time arrives when the princess herself is supposed to show, but instead, a dark alicorn appears. Twilight seemed to know who she was, and called her Nightmare Moon.
A few of us locals had talked to her throughout the day and knew who she was, so we went to find out what she knew. Five ponies, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and rainbow over there and I found her in the library where she was staying. It turns out, Nightmare moon was some pony from long ago that was foretold to show that night and bring about eternal darkness. Princess Celestia was missing and twilight said the only way to stop her was with the Elements of harmony.
The Elements were supposed to be these magical, things, I don't know much more myself. There were six elements, Honesty, Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Loyalty and Magic.
Anyway, We knew we had to help our new friend, so we went with her to where a book said the Elements were hidden, in the Everfree forest. Now, that place is dangerous and unnatural, but we knew what was at stake. We faced our share of dangers in the forest, but we always came through.
Eventually, we reach this old castle, and inside are the Elements. we tried to use them, but they didn't budge. Suddenly Nightmare Moon appeared and whisked Twilight away. The five of us searched for her and found her facing off Nightmare Moon, the elements in pieces. Twilight started saying that we're the spirits of the elements, representing each one. Mine was Honesty, Rainbow's was loyalty.
Our friendship was the spark that was needed to make them Elements work. When Twilight finally understood friendship, the Broken elements glowed and rushed right at us, then they became these necklaces we all wore. We blasted Nightmare Moon with some sort of magic and she turned into Princess Luna.
It turns out the Princess had a Sister that became evil and the elements made her good again. The sun rose once more, and Princess Celestia reappeared, Twilight asked to stay in Ponyville with us, her new friends, the Princess tasked Twilight with learning about the magic of friendship and we have all been thick as thieves since."

When Applejack finally stopped her Retelling of the events that lead to her and her friends becoming the bearers of the elements, she noticed even Rainbow Dash was listening intently with her head being held up by her forelegs on the table.

"Er, Rainbow what are you doing?"

Rainbow Dash's forelegs shot up into a shrug
"What, you're good at telling stories," She said

"But you were there" Applejack restored.

"Yeah, but it's nice to hear a story about what we do. Besides, you cut out all the cool things we did, like when I beat that manticore." Rainbow dash stated.

Applejack's face went flat as she looked at Rainbow
"You do remember it was Fluttershy who stopped the manticore..."

"Oh... I helped" Rainbow Dash replied.

Six decided to steer the conversation back to something useful.
"So your some sort of Guardians?"

Rainbow Dash perked up at the idea.
"Hey yeah, that's what we should call ourselves, The Guardians of Equestria!"

Applejack raised her voice to cut Rainbow Dash off
"The point is, we're friends first and foremost, and when Equestria needs us, we're there to help where we can"

"So what about you, Big light in the sky chooses to bring you here in the middle of nowhere, what do you do?" Rainbow Askes Six.

After a moment, Six slowly answered. "I... was a courier"

"Like, a mail pony?" Applejack asked, not expecting that answer.

"Retired, I haven't needed to do that in a while." Six said both to them and himself.

"Retired?" Rainbow Dash asked, giving Six a look over. "You don't look that old"

"I'm only thirty-six. Most folks don't retire till they're in their sixties If they can retire at all." Six explained as turned his helmet on the table to face him. "My last job set me up for life, I can do pretty much anything I want really."

Applejack whistled at the idea of being set for life. "Why, with that kind of money, just imagine all the things we could fix on the farm. We could even send apple bloom to one of them fancy schools."

"Are you serious?" Rainbow Dash jumped in, "With that kind of cash, Why would Applebloom need to go to a fancy school? Just buy all the nearby farms, sit back and let other ponies do the work. you could give Filthy Rich a run for his bits!"

Six decided to add his piece to this conversation.
"Honestly, The money is nice, but there were plenty of things I would give it back over. Money isn't everything"

Applejack silently nodded at the statement in agreement, Rainbow Dash waved her hoof and remarked.
"Yeah, but it would still be nice to have some extra bits, I still owe slinky 40 bits for his window."

A Stallion came through the opposite door of the carriage. He stopped and froze when he saw Six, but eventually, the announcement stumbled out of his muzzle.
"Ponyville Station in thirty minutes!"

He then shuffled back through the door.

Applejack perked up at the news
"Nearly there, once we're past Ponyville, it's a direct line to Canterlot. Maybe flutters and Twi will join us."

" Pfft, Are you kidding me? Miss 'rise and shine' probably took the first train available, They're probably already at Canterlot." Rainbow Dash Exclaimed

"Well, then we should hurry too, I'll go talk with the conductor, maybe he can make our trip faster" Applejack responded.

Rainbow Dash left her seat and started heading towards the carriage door the conductor had just left through.

Applejack left her seat and stopped rainbow from passing her.
"hold on there Rainbow, Maybe you should stay here with Six."

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes.
"I think the big guy can take care of himself. Besides, I wanna see if the kitchen has more hay bacon."

Six moved to a relaxed and aloof posture.
"It's fine, I'll just wait here, View is nice."

The corner of Applejack's mouth cracked into a smirk, and with a shake of her head, she began to leave.
"No worries, Mr Set for life, we'll be back soon"

Rainbow Dash responded to the comment humorously.
"HA, good one applejack, Mr set for life... Still, that must have been some package"

As they reached the far end of the carriage and began to leave through the door, Six pulled out a platinum poker chip on a cord from around his neck.
"It sure was"

When legends meet

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Canterlot, in many ways, is the shining city on a hill. The home of Princess Celestia, the recently returned Princess luna, and many of the richest and most influential ponies, It was the beating heart of Equestria. Its inhabitants viewed themselves as being beyond the petty squabbles of the rest of the nation, a bastion of enlightenment and culture, Tolerant to all who would enter their cities walls. This, like so many other ideas, would be ground to nothing in the rumour mills.

While Rarity had attempted to keep Pinkie's adventure with Nate through Canterlot discrete, it had nonetheless made its way to the presses. One of the monsters attacking Equestria was in their walls, and the public was on edge.
The already wary public was being wiped into a state of panic by the press, and the press had used it as justification to demand answers from Celestia herself. Standing before the crowd of journalists and photographers, Celestia could easily mistake her greatest foe for being the printing press.

"How has the Equestrian Guard been attempting to combat this invasion?"
"Is it true that luna's complete withdrawal from the public is related to the attacks?"
"What is the Crown doing to end the assault on villages and towns?
"Has The Crystal Empire offered any assistance in this matter?"
"What has our newest Princess been doing to assist in these matters?"

Celestia had to be careful in her response. Each question seemed innocent enough but was normally a cover for an underlying insinuation. Each question was an attempt to lure out the failings of the system, to show how she and her sister were failing even if no one would dare say so publicly. They wanted a panic because ponies buy papers when they're scared, they wanted to hear from their Princess things were not ok so ponies would snatch up every news article that reinforced their fears. But Panic would achieve nothing, front pages screaming that they were doomed and could do nothing to stop it would achieve nothing.

"My sister and I are currently doing everything we can to address the current crisis. As I speak, members from all major academies, as well as independent contributors, are attempting to discover the source of these anomalies and end the arrival of new aggressors. The Equestrian Guard has placed every active enlistee on alert, as well as established posts around every major settlement and travel node. My Sister is at this moment attempting to create her own countermeasure with great promise. " Celestia's response sent a wave of hooves into the air as each reporter wanted a different angle of the situation addressed. With a nod of her head at one reporter, a new question was fired.

"Addressing the other members of the Tetrarchy, has Princess Cadenza offered any assistance in this crisis?"

Celestia hated that term, Tetrarchy. Both for ignoring the political sovereignty of the crystal empire and placing her student in an unfair level of expectation. Cadence was the Sovereign of an independent nation, even if None of Canterlot seemed to care.

"The Crystal Empire has been contesting the same crisis as Equestria, and as such has been unable to offer aid at any significant level for the time being. Princess Cadence has however been doing everything in her power to aid our effort to locate the source of these anomalies and has provided many brilliant minds to the Equestrian effort."

Without waiting, another voice shot out of the crowd.

"What is your official response to the accusation that Princess Twilight has yet to provide any meaningful contribution expected of her new title?"

Celestia had learnt three hundred and forty-seven years ago that you cannot throw a reporter off the side of Canterlot, regardless of how personal the attack or how soft the landing was. while it may have been meant as a harmless scare tactic to get the world off her back for a while, it had taken years for the story to pass. Instead, she had learnt to bite the Bridle and ignore the personal part of the question.

"Twilight sparkle has many of her own trials and tribulations to overcome and expecting her to abandon her own struggles at this time serves to benefit no Pony. When and how my student wishes to contribute in a greater capacity to the situation is a decision only she knows best to decide, and I support her in this course of action. Regardless, Twilight is at this very moment attempting to enlist the aid of new allies in this struggle, along with her friends."

After a mass of voices all flared at the statement, Celestia chose another to present a question.
"What Knowledge does the crown have on the activities of the Elements bearers, specifically the rumour of two escorting one of the invaders around Canterlot itself?"

As much as Celestia loved Twilight's friends, The pink one's attempt to have their new guest flirt with Canterlot nightlife had left Celestia in a difficult position. She had hoped to introduce their new secret weapons in this war after a major victory, as to soften the backlash of their new choice of allies, however, she would have to work with the tools she has.

"In an attempt to better understand the threats we are facing, the Elements of Harmony have been trusted with the task of finding new allies in this struggle and convincing them to aid us. It is our hope that they can provide new information on how to best counter the problems we are facing."

Celestia picked another reporter from the ever more restless crowd.
"Considering the localisation of these attacks the equestrian and her allies, has the Crown seen fit to question the griffon ambassador's involvement?"

Celestia internally asked herself the only question that mattered, When will this press conference end?

Nate had spent much of the morning unaware of the commotion his adventure with Pinkie and Rarity had caused. The night before, After finishing the otherworldly experience that was Canterlot, they had all returned to the castle. It was only upon entering through the front for the first time that the extravagance and opulence were seen in their full glory. Nate had seen the homes of millionaires in magazines before the war and even they paled in comparison. After one of the staff had shown the three tired guests to their respective rooms, Nate was presented with his own temporary slice of heaven. silken fabrics and delicately carved wooden furniture decorated the room, luxuries of all kinds made this room seem otherworldly in its extravagance. In many ways, it was what Nate had tried to capture in his own home, a memory of the world before. However, it was sickeningly over extravagant for his liking. Nate had been a soldier, his wife had started a career in law, and they were well enough off, but this kind of luxury was insane. Having spent just over four years in the post-war world, it was also an extreme change from the rebuilt homes of the commonwealth. The people had good homes over their heads, usually, they were the apartments and houses from before the war that had been made safe, but still worn from a century of disrepair. One could at least say American goods were made to last.

After using what was obviously a bathroom, but not as he knew it, Nate slowly slid into the silk bedsheets. The sheer comfort and relaxation the bed offered could only be rivalled by a cocktail of chems Hancock had shown him for dealing with a really bad day. Considering the crash that followed the trip, Nate never tried it again but regardless, the bed had been divine. In the time I took for Nate to fall asleep, He had attempted to put off any and all worries and thoughts until tomorrow when he would have more information to work with. To the room's credit, the soft scents and softer bedding did their job. The mess of subconscious thoughts could be called both a dream and a nightmare if Nate cared to note the difference anymore.

This morning, Nate was still his temporary heaven when Canterlot exploded into news about the infiltration of the strange monsters by non-other than the entourage of the newest Alicorn. Celestia had called a press conference to stop the rumours dead in their tracks. Nate's brush with Canterlot politics would begin with a knock at the door.

*knock knock knock*

Nate stirred from his sleep, shifting over just enough to see the door to the room open. A peach-coloured mare poked through the door in a maid's outfit.

"Wake up call, the princess requires your presence in two hours. when you're ready, just request one of the guards to escort you to the dining hall." After giving her a practised announcement, the staff member left.

After taking a minute to put his head in order, Nate began what was considered a standard morning routine. While he may not be in the Commonwealth anymore, He was still the general of the Commonwealth Defence Guard and dressed for the part. His uniform lay on the end of the bed where he had left it the night before, the mess of repairs and wear. Before putting on his only clothes, Nate decided to head into the bathroom he had seen the night before. Outside of the once-used and slightly odd-looking toilet, there was a sink with a mirror and a bathtub. Within a year of defeating the institute, running water had become a common aspect of many commonwealth settlements, but even a hot shower was still a limited luxury. With two hours to spare, Nate would enjoy that luxury.

Nate cleaned up pretty well, considering all the exposure and combat. He hoped to himself that he was presentable to a leader of a country, wanting to make a good first impression.
Leaving the room in his old minutemen uniform, Nate spotted two guards in gold Armour standing outside the door.

One looked up at Nate and asked "Are you ready to depart"

Nate gestured for the guards to go first down the corridor and follow with "lead the way"
The guards gave each other a glance before they turned and went in the opposite direction from where Nate had gestured. Realizing his mistake, Nate followed the two in the other direction.

As the three walked tone the halls and corridors, Nate once again took in the glasswork and clean stonework. Occasionally, one of the many castle staff would be seen working, quickly stealing a curious look at Nate before whipping back when they thought Nate was looking. Eventually, they reached intersecting corridors

"Nathan!" came a musical exclamation. Nate spun to see Rarity trotting in his direction.
Rarity gave Nate a once over and nodded in approval
"I see you made use of the Castle facilities, it's a vast improvement over before, especially the smell."

Nate didn't see any hint of maliciousness in Rarity when she said that, but it hurt.
"When every day is a life and death situation, sometimes hygiene takes a backseat."

Rarity brushed off the comment with a hoof and followed Nate as he continued to follow the guards, who were looking at him in annoyance.
"Ridiculous, how can you expect to be at your best when you're filthy? besides, the feeling of looking your best is its own reward. Your mane could use some work Nathan, but it shall have to suffice for now."

Nate raised an eyebrow.
"Why do you call me that?"

Rarity seems confused by the question.
"Isn't that your name?"

"People just call me Nate" Nate Responded

"Which yesterday you said was short for Nathan." Rarity replied.

She was correct.

"I prefer Nate" Nate stated.

"Well, if that's what you want. It's a shame really, I rather like 'Nathan'. it rolls right off the tongue."

Once more, a pony was starting at Nate. As soon as Nate looked at the pony, they quickly turned away.
"I seem to be getting a lot of attention" Nate quietly said to Rarity.

Rarity's demeanour shifted to unease at the statement.

"yes, well... it seems our escapade yesterday made the front page."

"What, local legend downs seven pies in one sitting?" Nate Quipped

"Nothing so wholesome, they're saying we intentionally brought one of the invaders into the city."

Nate thought for a moment about this news and broke a smile.
"Piper would have a field day here, she always loved a good story"

Rarity perked up at the mention of Piper.
"Oh, a friend of yours, maybe more?"

Nate let out a small chuckle
"No...No, Piper is just an old friend. She helped me learn about the world after I woke up. We met each other outside Diamond City, she had been kicked out over some paper she had written. Piper convinced the gatekeeper that I was a trader or something. She noticed I was a vault dweller and wanted an interview, in return, She would help me find my way in the commonwealth. Her sister convinced a few settlements to run their paper, the 'Publick Occurrences'. Since then, I don't have time to visit Diamond City as often, but I still grab a paper when I can."

Rarity let out a depressing sigh
"I understand that feeling, some days I fear that between my work and my passion, I don't have enough time to spend with my friends or my sister."

The guards split apart to the sides of the corridor as they reached a big door, standing on either side they opened the door and waited. Rarity, seeing Nate had reached his destination, turned and spoke.
"Well, seeing as you're here, I must be going. As nice as it was to meet again, I need to find where Pinky Pie has run off to. The girls should be all returning within a few hours and I haven't seen mane or tail of her. Goodbye, Nate."
Rarity turned around and waved as she left, quickly being stopped by a pony wearing a mailman hat and holding a piece of paper rolled up.

Nate gave a quick wave to Rarity and entered the dining hall.

"You make it sound like the worst thing possible, I mean seriously, think of all the things a robot could do," Rainbow exclaimed to Six.

"I'd rather not" Six responded while rubbing the back of his head.

Applejack was disinterestedly looking out the window when she cut into the conversation.
"As thrilling as this all is, we're about to reach the station."

Applejack's eyes shot wide as they pulled into the station.
"Woah Nelly..."

Rainbow Dash and Six followed by looking out the window to see what Applejack had spotted and was met with a concerning sight. The entire station was in military lockdown, with guards at every exit and covering the platform. Before Six or his two escorts could react, a pegasus stallion had flown by the carriage, seen them and alerted the rest of the guards. Six began to panic.

"what's going on?" He demanded.
"We Don't Know" Answered Rainbow Dash.

Six grabbed his helmet and threw it on just as one of the doors at one end of the carriage opened. A Mare in armour stepped through.
"You three are to be escorted directly to the castle, please grab your belongings and proceed to the middle of the formation outside on the platform." The mare barked.

Rainbow Dash shot up and flew up to the mare.
"Just what the hay is this?" roared Rainbow dash

The Guard kept a stone face at Rainbow's outburst, while Six snickered quietly at the use of the word 'hay'. After a moment of staring at Rainbow, the guard spoke firmly.
"The Princesses have issued orders regarding the transport of the Outsiders. They are to be guarded at all times and their movements will be planned beforehand to limit the stress of civilians."

Applejack moved beside the hovering rainbow dash to oppose the Guard.
"You can't just do that, He decided to come of his own choice, you can't just treat him like some criminal."

The Guard looked to Applejack and responded in a slightly warmer tone.
"The Princesses believe that it is best if the Outsiders are seen as under watch, the local press has scared the city into thinking they are a threat waiting to happen. As such, until the situation has de-escalated, the outsiders will be guarded. For their safety much more than ours."

Before the debate could go further, a scrawny stallion mailpony squeezed past the guard. The Guard looked ready to bring fire down on the civilian who had just burst in.

"What do you think you're doing!?" The Guard barked at the mailpony. The stallion flinched at the verbal blast but splurted out his excuses regardless.
"I have a message for the bearers from the Princess of Friendship herself"

The pony pulled a scroll out from his bag with his mouth and gave it to Applejack who with some skill opened and unrolled the letter. After a quiet moment, Applejack made a series of babbles before blurting out "Rainbow, it's Fluttershy"

Confused, Rainbow snatched the letter with a "Lemme see that", After a moment, she stopped flying and landed on her hooves with a thud. After a moment, She dropped the scroll and crashed right through a window on the side of the carriage, taking off into the distance.

Applejack raced to the window cry out "Rainbow!", But The rainbow trail was already fading. Seeming to panic at the choice to stay or go, the Guard went up to Applejack, grabbed her shoulder and turned Applejack to face her.
"Go, we have our orders, he's to come with us."

After taking one last glance at Six, Applejack raced out the carriage door. The lone guard then walked over to Six who was still sitting where he was when the train pulled into the station.

"We to head straight for the castle, The Princesses want to meet you personally. When you arrive, you will be brought to a hall for orientation with the others."

Six looked down at the guard, and from his helmet have an electronic voice.
"Others?"

Fluttershy looked at peace on the hospital bed, even covered in wires and tubes. Twilight sat on a chair near the bed while John slept in a chair near the door, catching what sleep he could. Twilight had a hoof on Fluttershy, gently rubbing her friend's side as Twilight lamented her choices the night before. The only sound to be heard was the beeping of a heart monitor and light snoring from John. Then, the rhythmic ambience was broken by the sound of hooves coming down the hall with two ponies in a frantic search. John Woke and after a quick search of the room, settled into the chair awake. "There!" a high-pitched voice came from outside. The sound of galloping got closer and the door to Fluttershy's room blew open. Pinkie Pie raced into the room only to stop as she reached the end of the clinic bed.
Rarity briskly followed Pinkie and after seeing Fluttershy, walked over to Twilight.

"How is she?" Rarity asked softly.
Twilight looked up at Rarity, Twilight's eyes were flat and her eyes red.

"The Doctors say she has a few broken ribs and severe bruising, but avoided Any complications with internal bleeding. Fluttershy will recover, but it will take time." Twilight explained.

"What happened?" Pinkie asked now hugging the leg of Fluttershy.
Rarity went over to shoo Pinkie from Fluttershy's leg as Twilight went over the events in her head.

"We..we entered the Everfree forest, and for hours we didn't find anything. Fluttershy said we should go back, but didn't listen. We found these monsters and they attacked us, I was knocked out. Fluttershy tried to save me, if John hadn't been there..."

Rarity broke the following silence.
"It's not your fault Darling, you couldn't have known-"
"I knew! Fluttershy said we should have turned back but I was so stupid!" Twilight was breaking into tears as she hit both sides of her head with her hooves.

Rarity tried to calm Twilight down as John heard a commotion outside the room. Grabbing his rifle, John left the room to confront the cause. Outside was a Cyan pegasus with a rainbow mane being held down by two of the hospital staff.

"Let me go, I need to see her!" Rainbow Dash shouted as she struggled to free herself.
the three mares left Fluttershy's room to see their friend.

"What are you doing?" Twilight asked the two staff members.

A burly nurse responded as he held down Rainbow Dash.
"This Pegasus came flying through the hospital interrogating everyone for the location of a patient and refused to stop, We had to chase her down multiple times."

After looking down at rainbow dash who continued to claw at the ground in front of her, Twilight informed the Staff members.
"She's a close friend of the patient. You can let her go."

After giving each other a look of confusion, the Nurses let go of Rainbow Dash who raced past everyone into Fluttershy's room. Applejack came round the corner, stopping to catch her breath once she saw the girls. In between a few deep breaths, Applejack croaked out a question.
"Did... any... of you... see...Rainbow?"

John spoke up as the three friends processed what had just happened, looking at the doorway Rainbow Dash had just run through.
"Cyan with the spectrum hair just ran in there."

Applejack, having restored the oxygen content of her body, explained to the girls what had happened.
"We got your message on the train in, the moment she started reading, she was already halfway across the city."

"But if you were waaay over there, how did you nearly beat Dashie here?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"Probably because Rainbow didn't finish the message, According to the pony at the front desk, Rainbow didn't know the floor or room even though Twilight had put it at the bottom of the letter" Applejack responded flatly. Applejack's attention was shifted to see Twilight entering Fluttershy's hospital room.

Twilight entered the lightly lit room she had just spent the last few hours in to see Rainbow Dash in the same chair, doing the same action. As the other four bearers looked in from the corridor, Twilight slowly approached her most loyal friend.

"Rainbow?" Twilight asked cautiously.

"Go away," Rainbow Dash said flatly, without turning away from Fluttershy.

Twilight, who had begun to reach out to put a hoof on Rainbow's shoulder, initially reclined her leg. After a moment of hesitation, she continued and grabbed Rainbow's shoulder.

"Rainbow, I'm sorry" Twilight started, before Rainbow Dash sharply cut her off.

"You're sorry? Look at her, Twilight!" Rainbow Dash was fighting back tears, a war she was losing.

Applejack tried to walk into the room, only for John to step in her way.
"You knew how dangerous the forest was, and you could have waited for us. You think you can plan for everything and you can just make it work. But you couldn't, and now she's here, so just... go". Rainbow croaked the last words as

Twilight walked back bit by bit before reaching to door, John stood out of the way as Twilight left the room. Applejack intercepted Twilight as she turned down the hall to away from the group.

"Twi, you okay sugar cube? You know Rainbow didn't mean any of that she's just-"

Twilight cut off Applejack, tears and conviction on her face.
"I know, But it's time I did something I should have done before." Turning back to look at John, Twilight continued.
"Let's go, John, We have a meeting to attend, I'll sign us out."

As Twilight continued down the hall, Applejack cut off John who had begun to follow suit.
"What the hay was that about, why did you stop me?" Applejack grilled John.

"She needed to see and hear this," John answered calmly before following Twilight's path, leaving a confused Applejack in his wake.

Nate had observed every surface of the Hall while waiting for someone to arrive. Partially his fault for being early, partially not for everyone else being late, even if by a few minutes. It would be during an intense staredown with a portrait of some pony with a moustache and monocle that the doors would open.

The large white Alicorn that Nate had been informed was one of the two leaders of this place. Celestia had all the looks of a strong leader, except her eyes. From the other side of the room, one could see in her walk, then as she approached, in her eyes. She was tired. Her moment of weakness was quickly replaced with the formality and empty confidence of a seasoned politician.

"We finally get to have proper introductions, Your name is Nate, correct?" Celestia asked as she meandered over.

"Yes, but mostly people Refer to me by my rank as General of the Commonwealth Defence Guard," Nate Responded formally.

Celestia's interest was peaked by Nate's response.
"Oh, you're a leader of your people?"

The doors opened again before Nate could answer the question. One of the palace staff entered with a tea cart, rolling it towards the large table in the centre of the hall. As the pony began to leave without saying a word, Celestia started towards the table, looking back at Nate.
"Do you drink tea General?"

"Not recently, But I will try a cake" Nate responded, showing the formal respect he would show the politicians at home.

After seating arrangements were sorted non-verbally, Celestia poured herself a cup of tea and restarted the conversation.
"So tell me about yourself, General, Where do you call home?"

Nate thought for a moment as picked a cake from the tray and held it.
"I live in the commonwealth, what used to be called Massachusetts. My home is within walking distance from the city of Boston. I spend most of my time at the Guard Headquarters, called the Castle."

Celestia listened as she levitated her cup of tea to her mouth, Her eyes closed as she moved on to her next question.
"And how long have you been in your military?"

Finishing the bite he had taken from the baked good in his hand. Nate responded with his time in the commonwealth and pre-war enlistment.
"Nearly eight years now."

Celestia levitated her cup back onto the dish on the table.
"You must be very skilled to have risen to the rank of general so quickly"

Nate had just confirmed what was going through his head as the conversation went on, this was an interview. As to what reason, Nate assumed time would tell. While embellishing his career may have been useful at an interview before most businesses in the United States ceased to exist, Honesty had served Nate well these last few years.

"Actually, It's because I was the only one who could. Roughly four years ago, The Commonwealth was a collection of settlements just trying to survive. The Guard went by 'The Minutemen', A collection of militias and volunteers trying to make the commonwealth a safe place. By the time I joined them, there were effectively gone. My second in command, Preston, was one of the last minutemen. He saw something in me and thought I could bring the Minutemen back. With the help of others, we managed to rebuild the minutemen and help unite the commonwealth. When the provisional government was deciding on military policy, they elected to reform the minuteman into the C.D.G. Since I was already leading the minutemen, I was just folded in."

Celestia said nothing for a moment, deep in thought. As Nate put the last of his cake in his mouth and chewed, he wondered if she was waiting for something, the silence was broken.
"You make it sound like such a small thing, Yet for people to have so much faith in you, It must mean something. Being a leader is a calling that few can meet the challenge, and it comes with many burdens."

Nate didn't like being cynical of people, but being in his position didn't afford him the comfort to be idyllic. Celestia was a sovereign of a nation, and any attempt to be friendly could be tactical in nature. Nate needed to know more about who he was working with.

"So, Princess, How long have you reigned over Equestria?" Nate asked.

Celestia's face went through a flurry of emotions in rapid succession. Confusion, realisation, humour and finally nostalgia.
"A very long time, General. I have watched over my little ponies for a very long time, and in the last millennium I did so alone."

Nate's composure was legendary, being a soldier, a leader, a politician and survival the worst the commonwealth could throw at him. Furthermore, there was little that surprised him after waking up in the insanity of the post-war world. None of this was on show as Nate dropped the new cake he had picked up, froze and then looked at Celestia like a deathclaw had climbed out of a fridge.
"Wait, a thousand years. You're telling me you've ruled for over a thousand years?" Nate asked, bewildered.

"No, I said I have ruled alone for the last thousand years, my reign is much older than that. My sister and I were alive long before there were cities and peace. When we both ascended to the throne, Equestria was still a new kingdom. We faced many trials and tribulations, Made many enemies, lost many friends..."
Celestia took a deep breath before continuing.

"In time, I even lost my sister. And in her loss, I learned how to bring peace. For the last thousand years, Equestria has been at peace. My ponies in time learned how to govern themselves, though I fear my peace has left them ill-prepared for what is to come."

Nate stood up and looked at Celestia with a sad face.
" I have seen a world without peace, Princess, and I have learned there is no such thing as a bad peace."

Celestia looked into Nate's eyes, searching for something. Before further words were exchanged, one of the doors to the side crashed open.

A single leg swung through the door, and a Human wearing a leather overcoat and riot armour fell into the step. After rotating on the spot to awe at the room, the Human strolled over to Nate and Celestia. Stopping in front of Nate, the human looked Nate over from head to toe. A male voice came through the helmet's in-built speaker.
"You from the West Coast?"

Nate, perplexed by the man before him, answered the question.
"East Coast"

After a moment, the electric voice responded.
"Nice"

The man then turned and took a few steps toward Celestia, whose hair flowed as she waited patiently.
The man spoke again.
"You know, this is still not the strangest meeting I've had with a ruler, but it's pretty close. Princess Celestia, I presume?"

"That is correct, and your name is?" Celestia Inquired.

"They call me 'Courier Six', I swear, you tell your life's story to a reporter once..." Six threw up his hands. After another quick look at the hall around him, Six removed his helmet.

Celestia raised an eyebrow.
"So you deliver packages then?"

"Naa, these days I'm retired, probably why they now just call me six." Six responded.

Nate was surprised by this.
"Seem pretty young to retire in the wasteland, especially as a courier."

Six gave Nate a look of contempt.
"So what do you do then?"

"I'm a soldier," Nate said bluntly.

Six looked at Nate with curiosity.
"So, are you an officer, or do you actually work for a living?"

"Actually, I'm in charge because they couldn't find another idiot to do it," Nate replied.

After another moment had passed, Six smiled and lightly punched Nate in the shoulder.
"Your fun!" Six Stated.

Celestia decided to jump into the conversation.
"What do mean when you say east and west coast, do you hail from the same land?"

"They were before the previous owners decided to blast the place back to front" Six responded as he and Nate turned to face the Princess.

Six turned back to Nate.
"Of Course, over in the NCR, they a least have the power back on."

Nate knew that acronym.
"The New Californian Republic?

"The one and only, I'm surprised you know it." Six said

"I...knew someone, he travelled out east from California" Nate responded, Six cocked his head and jumped his eyebrows.

"That's a hell of a walk, I spent a fair bit of my life on the road but never made it past the Midwest. Heard the Brotherhood tried it once, no clue how that went." Six pondered out loud.

Nate's face sterned up, as Celestia quietly listened.
"Depended on what side you were on. They're a growing power on the east coast, they arrived in Boston on a massive airship. We eventually convinced them to leave, but something tells me one day they will be back."

Six held a soft smirk.
"A brotherhood chapter not on the verge of collapse, I had a friend who would have loved to see that."

Celestia rose to her hooves.
"As interesting as it is to learn about your world, our final guest is here"

The two men turned around to see A unkempt man walking beside a Lavander alicorn.

"It would be my honour to introduce you both to my old student, and Equestria's newest Princess in waiting, Twilight Sparkle," Celestia announced to the two men in front of her.

Twilight instinctively went to bow to her mentor and leader but consciously stopped herself midway.
"Prin... Celestia, This is John, the human from the Everfree."

At seeing the three humans finally together, Celestia opened the conversation.
"I trust the companions sent to find you three told you something of why you are here?"

"I was told that if I heard you out, you would find a way for me to go back to where I came from," John stated bluntly.

Twilight, from behind John, looked at Celestia with a mix of anxiety and desperation. Celestia, having never looked away from John, stated in a calm voice.
"Yes, if you will listen to our request, we will look into the matter as soon as we can. If you would all walk down this hallway to the Element's vault chamber, we can meet with my sister to discuss the matter." Celestia used her wing to motion to another door to the side of the hall.

Slowly the three humans went to the door the Princess had gestured to. As Twilight herself made for the door, A large white wing cut her off.
"John doesn't know we brought him here, does he?"

Twilight was quickly on the defensive, with her eyes wide and ears down.
"He was furious, I didn't know what to do, he was going to leave and I didn't have time to explain. I told him we could send him home if he at least came and listened."

Celestia looked at Twilight for a long pause with a neutral face. Celestia then closed her eyes and spoke to Twilight.
"Twilight, as your friend and Teacher, I will go along with this. But I want you to consider how long this will last, No trust was ever built on lies."
With that, Celestia left to guide the humans around the maze that was this castle.

Still in The Dark

View Online

As the three humans and the two pony princesses made their way down the hallway, Each of the three newcomers stared at a stained glass window. It contained simplistic versions of each of the ponies sent to find them.

"I see your accomplishments are well displayed," Nate commented tongue in cheek.

"All I ever got was a gold-plated twig" Six commented, with annoyance.

"You had a window made to commemorate Attacking your own sister?" John asked as he looked at Celestia, The glasswork moving behind them as they kept moving.

Celestia did not stop looking forward as she answered John's accusation.

"My sister had been lost to darkness and been imprisoned for over a thousand years, What you saw in that commemoration was the act of Twilight and her friends saving my sister and returning her to her rightful place as princess of the night."
Celestia responded, Twilight knew when her mentor was putting on a face. The return of her sister had left Celestia in tears, and Celestia had left a council in charge for over a month just to spend time helping Luna find herself In the modern world.

"So, where is she now?" John asked.

"In front of us" Celestia answered.

The group was entering Canterlot Tower, the largest stand-alone edition to the castle and the home of the Elements of Harmony. Standing in the centre of the room, Was Princess luna. The Princess of the night stood staring at a mechanical clock mounted on the nearby wall.

After a moment, Luna noticed the new arrivals she had a smile of glee that for Twilight seemed out of place.

"Sister, you have brought our potential advisers. And Our Dear friend Twilight, We are happy for you to join us!" Luna said with half-hidden glee.

Twilight looked at the clock on the wall, the metal casing was completely out of place for the rest of the design of the castle.

As the three humans walked into the centre of the room, Luna intervened.
"Please stay outside the floor centrepiece."

"Princess, This clock wasn't here before, and neither was that"
Twilight pointed to the centrepiece of the room. Outside the Great doors to the Chamber the Elements were kept was a giant sun overlayed with the moon, built into the ground.

Celestia gave Twilight a hint of a smile before gesturing to her sister.
"I believe it would be best if my sister handled things from here."

As the Attention turned to Luna, she walked back over to the mounted clock. With one hoof, she tapped the centre, then pushed down on a piece of decoration on the box. Within seconds, the room began to lightly rumble. As everyone except the princesses looked around for a reason for the vibrations, the centrepiece split open revealing a stairwell. There was a delay once the panel finally stopped moving, Luna broke the silence with an answer to Twilight's inquiry.

"We have made some additions to the castle in light of our new need for secrecy, and the clock tells us the time"

Slowly the group followed Luna down the stairwell. The entrance resealed itself as luna began a monologue down the stairwell.

"In the early days of the crisis, Our sister and I agreed that Preparations needed to be made. We had no knowledge of the cause and even less about the scale. This facility was built as a centre of research and reconnaissance, to assist in the recovery and understanding of this new world. Further, A new organisation was established to respond to any and all threats these new beings and artifacts could represent. Thus was birthed 'The Ministry of Action', with the means to respond to these incursions and understand them."

Luna's speech ended at the bottom of the well and the beginning of a hallway, illuminated by light fittings across the sides. Nate asked what was on all three of the human minds, even if had an inkling of the nature of their assistance.
"This is impressive, but what do we have to do with it?"

The group was stopped as they reach the end of the hall which had a large double door at the end. Luna turned around and addressed the three Humans, as Celestia went to the side to let her sister run the show while Twilight listened.

"The truth is, we are not prepared for this challenge. We have tried to negotiate with those from your world, but they just attack us. We tried to scare them away, they attack our ponies. So we formed this ministry to fight the battles we cannot."

"The escorts you sent told me you control the sun and the moon and extremely powerful magic, why not just kill them yourself?" Six interjected.

Celestia was the one who countered the courier.
"Have you ever removed a weed from a forest, you do not succeed by burning the whole forest down. Even if you ignore the sheer scale of collateral damage that would come from such attempts, As rulers of a kingdom, we can not be everywhere at once."

Luna picked up where she had stopped once the Courier's option had been thoroughly shot down.

"You three were sought out because the Elements of Harmony saw in you the means to help us. Any Insight, knowledge or wisdom, could be the difference in this fight. We know you have little reason to help us, but if you give it a chance, you may be the key to ending this. At any time, if this trial is unsatisfactory, you may leave and we will attempt to send you home. Will any of you join us?" Luna asked as she finished her pitch.

For a moment, there was nothing. Celestia's eyes closed with expected, yet disappointed acceptance. Luna's hope was quickly being replaced with desperation. Her eyes darted back and forth between the three. Twilight's eyes fell on John with pleading.

It was the Courier of the Mojave who stood forward first. Putting on his helmet to free up his hands, Six spoke.
"I'm Game"

Nate stepped forward next, reluctantly. He also said his piece.
"The Commonwealth can survive without me"

The three ponies looked expectantly at John, who eventually step forward.
"I'll cooperate, but only until you find me a way back."

A smile spread across Luna's face.
"Then let the tour begin"

With that, Luna used her magic to throw the doors open. The groups entered to see the Ministry. The main floor the entrance was on opened to a fury of ponies going about their business. Most of them stopped and moved out of the area at the arrival of Luna and the walk into the main hall. On the back wall was a massive map of Equestria, and a slightly smaller model of the landscape on a table in the centre of the room. Ponies were moving models and tags across it while talking amongst themselves. As Luna reached the table, she gave a sharp order.

"Summon the squad leaders, Inform the departments of guests of interest, have everypony at the ready"
The menagerie of ponies dropped what they were doing and sped off to the stairs heading down on both sides of the room.

"If you would all please surround this table, we shall begin the briefing."

"Shouldn't we wait for the head of the department?" Twilight asked.

Luna was studying the model map on the table as she responded to Twilight.
"I am the Head of the department."

A pony in a grey uniform brought over an almanac, which luna promptly levitated over to read. The staff member heading off to other assignments.

"Luna was insistent that she have a direct role in the Ministry from its founding, Everything you see here is of her design."
Celestia explained from the side of the table.

"Being involved with the Ministry gave us a greater understanding of the threat, and in turn the knowledge on how to best approach the problem. Each wing leader knows more about these attacks than all the public collectively, but only we had access to all available knowledge to see the true scale and implication of these events." Luna added.

Finished with the almanac, Luna put it to the side and began casting a spell. To the surprise of only the humans in the room, The flat map of Equestria on the table grew upwards into a blue-hued holographic model of the kingdom. Three miniature flares appeared across the map.

"For reference, This is Canterlot Castle, our current position. And these two are the town of Appaloosa and the Everfree forest, These are the locations all three of you were discovered. The Earliest rumours of abnormal appearance we could trace was an occurrence a few months ago, here in the outskirts of Vanhoover."

A flare appeared near a city on the west coast in the middle of Luna's rundown.

"The first provable sighting was documented on the frontier of the badlands, but the event that brought this to our attention was a small village on the coast of the Celestial Sea."

"They have oceans named after themselves" John stated under his breath in annoyance, getting a look from Twilight. Luna continued.

"The situation became front-page news after the attack on Balitmare seven weeks ago, the official tally was fifty dead. After the attack, all other ongoing concerns were permanently sidelined and we personally went out to hunt down the culprits. The confrontation ended poorly, and after noting the threat posed, we founded this ministry to directly confront and learn what we can. The standard guard is not equipped nor trained to fight such odds, they have been a standing peacekeeping force, not soldiers of war."

"How many recorded incidents have there been?" Nate asked his posture and facial expression stern and calculating.

Luna looked at Nate for a moment, she then picked up the almanac and hovered it in front of her face. As she read each page and turned them, new flares appeared on the map. At first, it was noticeable when they appeared, but by the time Luna was near the end of the book, the table was lit up like the night sky seen in her mane.

"While a majority of incidents were either benign and usually material in nature, I have personally uprooted and removed enough pockets to know what this is. It's an invasion, General, and the rate of incursions is increasing with each wave of new sightings. If we don't learn the source, an unimaginable amount of lives will be lost. At the least, we must learn how to fight them and buy time."

Three ponies made their way up the stairs on one side of the room. The three Ponies lined up to the side of the table and gave a courtesy bow to each of the Princesses in the room. Luna left the Almanac on the time and walk over to the new arrivals, signalling the rest of the group to follow.

"These are the leaders of our three active units, Sergent Battle Bowler"
Sergent battle bowler was a short but strong Stallion with clover green fur and a tan mane. To Nate, he was the closest these ponies could get to a physical symbol of the Army.

"Sergent Rapid Fire"
Twilight was looking at a younger version of Rainbow dash's hero, Spitfire. The only real difference was the shortcut mane and boxing glove cutie mark.

"And Sergeant Levée en Masse"
The Last mare was a Unicorn with dark ocean-green fur and coffee brown mane.

Luna waited for each to give a gesture before continuing.
"Each of these ponies has proven themselves both reliable and trusting enough to lead our forces, and adaptable to these new times."

"You only have three squads?" Six asked baffled.

"It was deemed by our leading experts that a small coordinated approach would serve the interest of the organisation best Since it would allow for quicker specialisation and avoid being tracked. Also, since this project is in its infancy, It was thought best to start small and see what the results say themselves." Luna explained.

Luna signalled the Three ponies to leave, and as they parted, Luna moved things along.
"You will be working with each wing in differing ways, with the Response teams, you will work directly on the field to train them in the respective threats they will face and how to counter them."

"Do we get Ranks?" Six cut in.

"No, since you are not Equestrian citizens, your roles are purely advisory, however, you will have full access to the Ministry's resources and will work alongside the sergeants, not under them. Let us move to one of the Wings you will be working with off the field." Luna said as she lead the group down the stairs. The three officers left as the group went on with the tour.

Going down either stair to the side took the group to a large open area with a window taking up the entire Window on the back, looking out to the open plains far from Canterlot. Twilight realise they were under the part of the castle that always seemed to float. If she looked hard enough, she could possibly spot Ponyville.

Turning to the Right, the group reached a large arch with a sign above it. On the sign was only a flask, But Twilight picked up instantly that this was Research and development.

As Twilight followed Luna into R&D, her eyes sparkled with wonder. The Research Wing was a maze of rooms and tables, covered on every surface were items of varying nature. Some were covered with chemistry equipment, machines and observation devices. Some items were Equestrian in nature as far as they could be recognised, Many, however, were not of this world. Most were rusted or covered in grime, the treasures and junk of a bygone era.
Ponies from all walks of life were here, of differing ages and specialities. Biologists, chemists, physicists, Equinologists, and Linguists, this was a convention of the brightest minds.

"The sheer amount of artifacts we have collected required a proper team of experts to catalogue and examine. While the Wing has made great strides in deconstructing and understanding the technology and culture of these pieces, A local appraisal would help them with some of the more difficult items to unveil." Luna Explained.

Luna walked over to a particular pony who was mid-conversation, The older earth pony with grey fur and charcoal mane stopped and shooed off one of his underlings and the assistant bolted off with the chart they had been talking over. Luna, walking to the side between the elder and the touring group, started the introductions.

"Doctor Grey, these are our three advisers from beyond the portals, they have agreed to assist you in your efforts to understand the assortment of items dropped from their world." Luna then addressed the aforementioned three.

"Doctor Grey is our Head Researcher and specialises in engineering and physics. His Work on the devices so far has given us a valuable, if not crude, understanding of many of the machinations of your world."

"There is only so much you can learn from a machine princess, especially when most of them don't work." Doctor Grey stated as he passed by luna, walking up the Nate, Six and John, with Twilight and Celestia in the background. After giving a silent appraisal of the humans, he seemed to have come to some conclusion.

"I have no issues at this time. however, Maybe you could help sort a bet in Argon's team."

As the pony lead the three with a wave of a hoof, Luna frowned at Grey.
"Doctor, I have requested you put a stop to such illicit workplace activities"

"And in turn, if I did so, they would just do it when I'm not around. Isn't it better I at least know what they're up to?"

Celestia silently giggled at her younger sister as she let out a low frustrated "argh" before the two sisters began to follow suit. Celestia looked around and saw Twilight playing around with a large rectangular machine.
"Twilight, will you be joining us?"

Twilight jumped as a bottle dropped out of a hole in the front bottom of the machine, quickly trotting off with a "Yes!".

Entering a new part of the lab, Twilight saw a bunch of assistances in heavy lab coats. They were in fierce debate while Luna waited for the five ponies to notice the new spectators. Eventually, one does. After a quick word to the rest of the assistances, they all swung around to meet the arrivals.
"Princess Luna, I'm afraid Doctor Argon is unavailable at this minute, is there something we can help you with?" One of the assistant mares asked.

Grey jumped in from the side of luna.
"I believe Doctor Argon was having trouble with her two newest additions to the collection?"

The Assistant who had spoken to luna went right into the subject, probably having dealt with the situation about it for a while.
"Yes, the specimens are much like the others we have recovered, however as you can see, They're glowing."
The assistant gestured to two bottles that the researchers revealed as the group split in half to let the princess see. Sitting on a stand, the two bottles were filled with a strange glowing liquid.

"We thought it may be some kind of potion, Someone having just reused the container and added their own label. However, our samples have come back from a variety of alchemists as negative. Argon was able to identify a list of elements distilled from a small sample, as well as a stronger aura than many of the specimens brought in have shown. Our Linguists have been attempting to decipher the label on the front but with little results. Some here are convinced it's supposed to be some sort of fuel for a flying machine." The assistant said the last part while giving scorn to her colleague, who shied away at the glare. Luna, Celestia and Twilight's eyes were all on something else as the Assistant kept going.

"The fact is we have no idea what it is, I could be another weapon for all we know, Argon has gone to collect some forms to have one sent off for another chemical analysis. In the meantime, a majority of the ponies here are of the mind to have it kept in secure storage, but Argon believes we are close to a breakthrough. Personally, I agree that this should be closely watched, for all we know it could explode or teleport us to space, we have no idea what this stuff is for and"

*Sksss*

The Mare spun around in time to see Six, having lifted his headgear, downing a bottle in one go. After a moment, he smacked his lips and commented. "I'm more of a sasparilla guy, but this stuffs not bad."

"Do you know how hard it is to get those?" Nate commented with annoyance.

The Assistant was frozen, her mind had shut down and so many thoughts crashing at once. It was also at this time that the other assistants noticed the three humans, many of them unsure how to react.

"That's one way to get answers." Came a voice.
A Mare that was a mix of Magenta slowly made her way over the rest of the room's occupancy, a file hovering to the side of her.

"Doctor Argon, we have some guests you may find of interest. These are Humans from the world all these intrusions have been from, and they have agreed to advise us in such matters."

Doctor Argon took one look at the three and passed them by.
"Unless one of them can calibrate a magnetic field sensor then they're no good to me." Argon walked up to a large inactive machine.
"The idiots upstairs, No offence to you Princess, decided it was my responsibility to monitor this thing. My area is Chemistry, not this abomination of physics and electronics."

"A sensor?" John inquired.

"Yes, A Magnetic field sensor. Apparently, the pulses that drop all this garbage here leave behind some residual electromagnetic prints that can inform us when they're occurring, and if done right, if they're nearby. So they contracted out the construction of these big things to help us monitor the background for any disturbances." Argon Explained

"Does it not work?" Luna asked. Twilight noticed John was casually walking up to the machine, going behind Argon, who was busy answering luna.

"- to be hooked to a system as an early warning the external monitor stations have been linked in, but if it's not tuned properly it won't read everything or will drown from everything. Our lead physicist won't be in for another day. Our work on soil samples has been going ahead with no issues, As you can see here..."
Argon promptly moved Luna and Grey to a table on the other side of the room. As the others followed the herd, Twilight noticed John studying the machine. Twilight silently watched as for a minute of reading and observing, John turned the device on.

Argon, hearing the machine start up spun back and began to march over.
"Please Don't Touch That!"

With a crank of a dial and two switches flipped, the machine boomed to life. The screen was picking up faint signals from the area, background electronics and magic. as she slowed to a strolling walk and stopped in front of the machine, Argon made a sound of being impressed and walked past John to go about her duties.
"huh...Maybe he will be useful around here, see you around Grey."

Luna decided to push the tour along.
"If you are all ready, We have one last pony to meet."
As they made off for the last major area of the lab, Twilight approached John.

"How did you know that?"

After a moment of consideration, John responded
"I had a good teacher"

Seeing that He was not going to elaborate, Twilight decided to ask something else.

"I know we don't know each other that well, but could you help me understand something?" Twilight asked.

John took a moment to decide as they were walking along.
"All right, what's on your mind."

"How can I learn to fight like you, is there a way I could learn? I couldn't help Fluttershy because I didn't know how, I need to know."

John shook his head.
"You can't learn that like something from a book, Everything I know is cold, hard, experience. You want to learn to fight and live to tell it, pick fights you can win. live long enough and the world is yours"

Twilight contemplated this ragged man's words.

The Group into a section of the Lab that was a cluttered mess. papers, equipment and diagrams littered every Surface. There was medical equipment for all specialities and niches, and operating setups to accompany them. To Twilight, it almost looked like the unit that she had been at most of the morning if you ignored the mess. Doctor Grey had a look of concern as he looked around for someone.

"Hello, Doctor Feathers?" Grey shouted out.
A loud crash was heard from around a corner, A mare's voice could be heard cursing.
"Crab apples! Piddles get back here! Piddles!"

A flat creature sped around the corner on six legs, All three princesses jumped as it rushed past them. The three humans looked at the creature with minimal care, Grey was plain annoyed.

"Feathers, why is that 'thing' still alive?" Doctor Grey shouted out to the yellow blur holding a grey blur that sped past the group after the escape.

"Dull Grey, How could you say such a thing to Piddles!"
Slowly a pegasus hovered into view, her blue mane ragged and she was holding a cage with the creature inside.

"Piddles is a valued member of my team and I will not have you..."
The yellow pegasus stopped mid-air, eyes locked on the three Humans, Darting between the three. Suddenly the cage She was holding crashed to the floor, upsetting its occupant.

"You have a pet rad-roach?" Six asked in mild disbelief.

The pegasus slowly resembled a foul being told they had free reign of a candy store.
"Oh my, Oh my, Oh MY GOSH!"

The Pegasus zipped up to Nate, Grabbing his head and looking into his eyes, Nate froze in confusion.

"NOT nocturnal, I knew it! Now, do you have molars..."
The personal space invader was yanked by their tail by Grey's teeth.
"DOCTOR feathers, How many times must I tell you, You are professional in a position of leadership, Act like it!"

Doctor feathers blushed as she let go of Nate's face and landed on the floor.
"Sorry Dull, got a bit excited there."

Doctor grey scowl softened as he stepped closer to Feathers.
"I asked you not to call me that Rustled, not at work" Grey whispered.

Luna stepped forward to once again push things along.
"This is Doctor Feathers, Our Lead biologist. She has taken quite an interest in the species of your world."

"We have our own writing circle, Our colleague from Ponyville, Lyra was convinced they were an evolution of the mythical Bipedal apes to the south as if that's a thing."

Twilight knew that name.
"Wait, Lyra heartsrings?"

"Indeed Twilight, The organisation reached out to many ponies, Including Lyra Heartstring and Ex-agent Sweetie Drops, though according to the reports she goes by BonBon now. When Sweetie Drops made it clear her intentions to stay low, we asked that Lyra could be contacted and a person of interest, They agreed to allow research notes to be exchanged, but nothing more." As Luna finished, Feathers seemed disappointed at the reminder, but quickly jumped at it again.

"Our latest letters going around the circuit have been discussing a proper name for your kind. The current runner is 'Centauri Biped'. Personally, that seems ridiculous, Simion Biped is a much better fit." Feather stated with enthusiasm.

"We're called humans, just thought you'd like to know." Six said from the back.

"Humans? Fascinating! Would you be willing to help sate my curiosity?" Feathers took a few steps towards the three.

"Such as?" Six asked hesitantly

"Oh, So many things. We can learn much from the items we find and yet so little." Feathers flew to a nearby table holding a large red-rusted machine.

"The overall design was smooth and simplified, clearly they were interested in aesthetics. The flawless look of the metal and the smooth paint shows the creator must have been from a society that was sufficiently developed to make tools that precise. The cover plates and stylised branding on the front show this was meant to be in the open, a luxury of some kind. The nozzle port and drainage plate say this has something to do with liquids. With the help of engineering, we figured this is some sort of hot beverage machine. However, the entire thing has been neglected for a serious amount of time, Nearly everything we find is in a state of disrepair or decay. What is this for and Why is everything such a mess?"

Nate walked over and looked at the front. Twilight could make out the writing on the front, but couldn't read it.

"It's a Sicilian, an expresso machine. Do you have coffee here?" Nate commented.

Twilight had seen doughnut Joe's coffee machine, it was nothing like this.
"This doesn't look like any coffee machine I have seen." Twilight pointed out.

"Well, it's an espresso machine, makes a much stronger brew of coffee. I was saving for one myself before the war ended." Nate reflected. Feathers and Grey both seemed interested in the comment, the former more than the latter.

"War?" Feathers asked, hoping for an elaboration.

Luna stepped in front of The humans to address the issue.
"The Humans fought a great conflict over two hundred years ago, the destruction wrought permanently scarred their world and has never recovered."

"Those 'Great' people you're after, there gone, blew themselves to oblivion. All that's left is raiders and a handful of people trying to pick up the pieces." John added.

"But you're here, after all that time. Your kind found a way, that's something we can learn from you." Feathers responded.

Celestia, quiet for the entire tour, finally spoke up.
"I'm afraid my available time is coming to an end, I must return to my duties and address the many things I postponed for this visit."

"We are done here, Thank you for accommodating us. Doctor Grey, Doctor Feathers, we must be going. If you three would please follow us to the entrance, You will have free reign of the castle and the city, with escorts."

Twilight decided now was the time to jump in.
"Actually, before we leave, there is one thing I need to talk about before you both leave."

Luna looked to Twilight, then at Celestia. Celestia, seeing Luna awaiting an answer, acquiesced.
"Very well, we can talk in the side room at the exit."

Doctor Feathers rushed in front of the group.
"If it's no trouble, while you're having a good one-to-one, could you spare one of your new friends here to help with my studies? Nothing pervasive, just a quick examination and some samples."
Feather's eyes shifted eagerly from one side to the other like an over-excited pet. Luna kept walking as she replied.
"They are their own beings, if they are willing then it is no concern of mine."

The two sisters made off to the exit, Twilight slowly followed, keeping her eyes and ears on the three humans as Feathers approached.
"So, Anyone up for a little Medical examination and samples? I would be a great help pin the name of science." Feathers eyes and face were lit up, eager as a foal.

John and the courier both backed away with hands up defensively, something Nate had not seen as he stood there until it was too late.
"Much obliged!" Feather said as she dragged Nate into an area sealed off with curtains.

Twilight steeled herself for the coming talks. As the Three princesses entered the small room, Celestia opened the conversation.
"Are you alright Twilight, I was surprised you joined us on the tour. The last time Luna requested your help, you seemed adamant to be left alone."

"I know, I wasn't ready for something like this, I was still searching for my place in this crisis, but I've found it," Twilight replied.

Luna seemed eager at the statement.
"So you will be joining the research team then? Your involvement would be most welcome."

"Actually, I want to join the ponies who go out and fight." Twilight corrected. There was a moment as the two sisters processed what Twilight was asking.

"Twilight, You're not a soldier. You have done many great things and will do many more, some amazing beyond measure, but fighting a war doesn't need to be one of them." Celestia said, softly and meaningfully.

"I want to, I have learned many things from you Princess, but how to protect the ponies I care for was not one of them." Twilight retorted. Luna stood and listened, perhaps knowing, this was between student and teacher.

"You have done more to protect them than you know, Nightmare Moon, Discord, King Sombra, You defeated them without such measures. You were stronger because you chose peace, Not in spite of it." Celestia was not calm, Twilight could see her Mentor was scared of something.

" The Elements stopped them, And there are times when that is not enough. When Queen Chrysalis attacked, the elements couldn't help us. Without them, we were helpless, I was helpless." Twilight was cut off by Celestia, who slammed her hoof down on a nearby metal cabinet, leaving bent metal in the steel case. Twilight, who had seen her mentor for a lifetime, was taken aback by such an out-of-character move.

"You are not helpless, You are better!" As quickly as it showed, the solar flare in the Sun queen was gone.

John of his own volition, made his way from the group to eavesdrop on the conversation, Burst through the door.

Celestia saw John, and her mane, ever so slightly, shifted to an orange hue.
"What have you been telling her!?, Is it you who has MY student wanting to run into the fire?"

John, Confused but firm countered Celestia, his voice raised.
"I only told her what she asked to hear, Whatever your problem I had nothing to do with it."

Before this escalated, Twilight intervened.
"Fluttershy's in hospital, she almost died!"

Nate and The Courier were now outside listening in, but like luna, keeping their distance. Celestia knew many things about Twilight's friends. Every letter, every lesson and message, she had read, Celestia grew to know them as if they were her own friends. Her mane's hue slowly turned to normal as she waited and listened to Twilight, now understanding where this was going.

Twilight, trying to hold it together continued.
"For all my gifts, I couldn't save her, John did that. I want to know how to fight, and I want to fight. For so long, I've sat on my plot and watched Equestria burn. You said you couldn't fight, but I can. I don't hold courts or run agencies, I work in a library. You made me a princess so I could help ponies, that's what I am... and that's what I'm going to do."

Celestia's eyes were pleading at this point. "You could help in so many ways. You could help with your mind, as a symbol, as an agent, with your friends. You could bring hope, You can help by just being you, you don't need to throw yourself at the front lines to do it."

Twilight looked to the floor.
"No, I don't"
Then she looked to Celestia.
"But I want to"

"She needs to learn this, you barely have any clue what's out there. From what she told me, this is a lesson she can't ignore." John added, feeling for twilight's plight.

Celestia looked sternly at john.
"You believe that?"

John looked sternly back.
"I do"

Celestia, taking time to think, finally reacted.
"Fine, then you will Teach her."

Luna, Twilight and John all responded in succession.
"What?!"

"If you feel it's so important that Twilight learn violence then I see no better teacher, you will be entrusted to keep her safe. You're already going to be there with her, so I will leave it in your capable hooves. Or is this lesson not as necessary as you thought?" Celestia had trapped John.

John stood there under the eyes and ears of everyone, unsure how to respond. This was not what he had expected, And he was not going to babysit a child in a warzone. Yet between being called out for sticking up for Twilight, and the hopeful look she was now giving he caved.

"Fine, as long as I'm here, ill watch over her. But that ends once you found me a way home, and you better find one." Celestia nodded at Johns's decision before facing back to Twilight.

"I will respect your decision, but please reconsider, for my sake if not your own." Celestia finished her words and left.

In the silence that fell from her departure, Luna stepped up.

"Don't worry my friend, we will make sure you are prepared for anything. The ponies working here are some of the finest minds and hooves in Equestria."

Luna positioned herself to be front and centre.
"Tomorrow, The teams will be sent to deal with an incident location reported recently, you will all go with them and demonstrate your abilities and knowledge in a controlled environment. You are to assist the teams and give any advice you have on the situation. Until you are summoned tomorrow, you have the freedom to go where you wish. Talk to any of the guards if you wish to leave the castle, they will organise an escort. While you have agreed to work with us, it will take something substantial for the public to accept the situation. You are all dismissed."

Why do we fight

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John sat on the bed in the guest room he was assigned. It was comfy, probably one of the comfiest things he had ever sat on. Yet, he was in an extremely uncomfortable situation. Now he didn't need to just play along until he could return to earth but also had to keep a naive scholar alive in the process. Before all of this, he had one goal, and he felt so close. Everything was slowly getting worse, and there was nothing he could do about it. There was however something he could do in the meantime to help deal with the mess.

John hopped up off the bed and walked over to the door. Opening the door, John stuck his head out and asked the Guard stationed there a question.
"Is there anywhere I can go get a stiff drink?"

John was quietly led through the palace complex. Out of the sight of the visitors and guests of the castle, there was a whole sector for the staff and guards. While few cared for the intruder's presence, those that did mostly show thinly veiled scorn. Ignoring the hostile atmosphere, John kept following his escort until they reached a large wooden door in a cobblestone wall.
When the guard pushed the door open with a hoof, the lights and sounds flooded out of the door. John cautiously entered the establishment to find something alien. The mood was chipper as a pony in the back played an instrument he had once found in a vault. A roaring fire in the fireplace kept the place warm and the wooden floor gave the room a similarly warm feeling. The place was decently occupied by over a dozen occupants as wooden mugs littered tables.

meandering over to the bar counter, John took in the cozy feeling of the bar, nothing like the dingy hellholes of the wasteland. As he sat down on a wooden stool, John noticed someone to his right.

"So, you found your way here too?" Six asked John, holding a shot glass of whiskey near his mouth. His helmet was nowhere to be seen.

John stared at the glass
"They have whiskey?"

Six lifted the glass to his eye level and looked at it.
"Nope, found this stuff in a cave before they found me. The stuff served here seems close to water, but it'll get the job done after enough."

Six placed a shot glass on the table, filled it and moved it over to John. Picking it up and downing it, John simply sat and stared into space. Six sat there and likewise stare into the nothingness, and then a question fell out of John.

"So why did you sign on?"

Six looked over to John and back to nothing.
"What do you mean?"

"You have a home to return to?" John asked

After a moment, Six Responded "No."

"Then why say yes?" John asked again.

Six took a swig of his whiskey and responded "Same as you"

"I Agreed so that they would help me find a way back" John countered, moving himself to face Six.

Six put down the glass.
"They were going to do that regardless of if you said yes. You said yes for the same reason I did, because right now you have nothing better to do."

John didn't respond, he instead downed the shot of whiskey. The Door to the bar made a thud as it was opened, and new arrivals entered behind the two humans.

"Well, if it isn't the saviours of Equestria."
John and Six spun around as someone approached them.

Sergeant Rapid Fire cantered over.
"I'm just pulling your legs, folks around here need to lighten up."

"Saviours of Equestria?" John commented with dubious overtones. Rapid Fire sat on her haunches on a stool next to John.

"Luna seems to think your our winning piece, told us you three would be instrumental in winning this war." Rapid Fire explained.

John thought about that for a moment.
"And what do you think?"

Rapid Fire Shrugged.
"I trust the Princess as much as anypony, But you both don't look like much, would probably fall over if the wind picked up."

John almost rolled his eyes.
" If you stood on two legs I bet you would fall over pretty easily."

"HA, careful what you bet on, I happen to be a veteran biped wrestler, and queen of the underground variant." Rapidfire retorted.

"underground variant?" Six Inquired.

"Yeah, see, Normal Biped Wrestling has rules to make it safe and friendly. Underground is all things fair. As long as your opponent ends up on the ground, doesn't matter." Rapid Fire explained

"You do that for fun?" John asked with bafflement.

"it's how I learn my talent, my sister may be a fast flyer, but I'm the fastest shot there is. I've knocked creatures out before they get in their first swing." Rapid Fire boasted.

Six bumped John with his shoulder
"Dare you to go one round."

John gave Six a stare of annoyance.
"And why would I do that?"

The Courier shook the half-empty bottle.

John gave an exasperated sigh as he got up.

"One Round and you go after."

"All right, this is going to be fun!" Rapid Fire announced with a predatory smile.

"Hey, You know my rules Rapid Fire, not inside!" The Bartender shouted.

"Relax, Chief, we have a place. Come on big guy, this place has a gym." Rapid Fire beckoned as she headed out the door.

John and Six followed her out the door, the latter with a pep in his step, the former reluctant. The eyes of ponies once again began to stare at the two humans with hostility.

"Hey, eyes off! The Princesses themselves vouch for them." Rapid Fire snapped at one of the ponies, who quickly sauntered off.

"Not the most friendly reception from the troops," Six commented.

"For the last few months, all they've had is non-stop news about things like you causing havoc and death. Maybe you can change that, maybe not." Rapid Fire said.

After travelling through a maze of cobblestone tunnels, The three burst into another large room. The rustic room was filled with weights and a boxing ring in the centre.

" Looks like a place in Reno, lost some good money on that fight." Six reminisced.

"This place is used by some of the diehards in their spare time, matches run Tuesday and Thursday night." Rapid Fire elaborated.

John stepped under the ropes and into the ring.
"So, what exactly are the rules to this?" John asked.

"We both step into the ring, and get into a grapple, first one to the floor loses. No biting, punching, spitting or headbutting. Unless you like to play that way." Rapid Fire ended on a playful note.

"Let's just get this over with," John remarked sourly.

With a ring of a bell John couldn't see, Rapid Fire was upon him. She may have been small, but she was strong. after the first few seconds, John's back was killing him. Finally, his knees gave way and he fell. After a daze from his head hitting the floor, John began to slowly get to his feet. Rapidfire was celebrating.

'WOOHOO, another for the books! Good job, you lasted as long as a foal. Still longer than I thought you would." Rapid Fire laughed at her dig as she went to the corner.

John dragged himself out of the ring and to a nearby bench, Six sitting there patiently.

"Now for your turn" John wheezed, if nothing else, he would get to watch this.

John's performance hadn't deterred the Courier, as he jumped up and walked to the ring with confidence in his step. Dipping under the ropes and into the ring, Six took his position.

"Another one enters the griffon den, do you also play by the rules?" Rapid Fire challenged.

Six gave a subtle shrug "I'm afraid I'm always cheating"

Rapid Fire charged at six and met him in the grapple. After a couple of seconds passed, nothing happened. Rapid Fire looked up at Six in bafflement who still had confidence in his eyes. She grunted as she pushed, but Six didn't move. Rapid Fire even tried to get a quick jab at the courier's abdomen. Then six pushed, and pushed, and like a hydraulic press, brought Rapid Fire down. John jumped up and into the ring, just in time for the pony to collapse.

Rapid Fire returned to her hooves, wincing in pain as she looked at Six.
"But how?" she muttered.

"Your not human," John stated.

Six slowly turned to John.
"Oh, I'm human, mostly. but as I said, I'm always cheating. Cost me a small fortune, but I have enough tech in me to put me in the brotherhood's interest. "

"So, what, you're a cyborg?" Rapid Fire asked with vivid interest.

"What does a courier need with that level of power for?" John questioned.

Six's face went neutral, his eyes went down and his hands rolled back and forth. Turning around and meandering to the ropes, Six dropped his head. With a sigh, His head shot back up.
"I fought a war, A big one"
Six turned around still looking down. With a shrug, he took a few steps forward.
"I entered the Mojave as a man, when I left, I was something else."
Lifting his hand, he observed it.
"May have changed in more ways than one..."
The Courier stayed silent for an uncomfortable amount of time before a smile shot on his face. His Posture became aloof, he gestured to Rapidfire.
"Well, I haven't lost an arm wrestle since. Enough about that, so what's your story?"

Rapid Fire was taken back by the spotlight, but quickly recover and told her story.
"Well, I guess it's pretty normal for ponies around here, Family had history. Dad signed up, Sister signed up, and I Signed up. My sister made the Wonderbolts, I made this, not bad for the two school flops."

"So what exactly are we doing tomorrow?" John asked, needing to shift the discussion.

"Well, I and the others will be leading the teams to a known Anomaly site. We make a plan with your insight, neutralise the threat, and use the publicity to get the Ministry out in the open. Then, once we have the resources to stop whatever is causing all this, you all go home." Rapid Fire finished with a warm smile. Looking from John to Six, she left the ring and made for the exit.

John waited until he was alone with Six to confront him.
"Augmentations are not just expensive, they're rare, too rare. I don't know who you are, but I don't trust you. Give me any reason to doubt your intentions, I will put you in the ground."

Six chuckled, pat John on the back hard and began to walk out of the ring.
"Been there, not a fan, see you tomorrow."

John stood alone in the ring, unsure of his predicament, unsure of his next move.

Nate's days had been consumed with paperwork and inspections from the last year, and it was a tough habit to break. His new employer had put in a word about his role. When he asked if he could tour the training fields and barracks, the guard stationed at his door had left and returned with a small escort of three other guards. With the Guards was Battle Bowler leading up the centre, upon noticing Nate he spoke.
"So, your the soldier boy, report on you was short but decisive. Bit presumptuous to think you can visit our military facilities, init?"

"It's what I'm used to, being one of the few things I do to keep myself busy. While there's never a shortage of fires in the wasteland, I'm rarely allowed to deal with them personally." Nate explained.

Battle Bowler nodded to Nate's explanation.
"I can respect that. Normally, access to those areas is restricted, luckily for you, the Princesses made an exception. Let's keep this clean, stay close and follow my orders. Just because the princesses trust you, doesn't mean I do."

Rather than walk in silence, Nate thought it would be better to learn more about who he would be working with. Unsure of a good conversation starter, he went with the name.

"So, Battle Bowler, interesting name."

Battle Bowler gave Nate a death stare.
"You calling my name funny?"

Nate instantly regrets his choice of action.
"NO, No. I just that I noticed that the names here are different. I just wondered how you got yours."

"It's my name, my parents gave it to me, where did you get yours, a biscuit tin?" Battle bowler answered sarcastically.

"What about that symbol, on your legs what do those mean," Nate asked.

"It's a cutie mark, you get one when you find that special thing you like, What makes you truly fulfilled." Battle Bowler explained.

Nate observed it as they walked, slightly too long for Battle bowlers liking from the look he was giving Nate.
"It looks like an M1917, A combat helmet from before my time."

"What are you on about, it's a gold pan. My father worked at a gold mine, I did my bit with pan in the creek. One day I get into a fight with another foal and hit him with the pan, Curving the inside perfectly. started using it in the mine to keep my head safe, more than once saved my hide from blasting powder shrapnel."

Nate raised an eyebrow at such a story.
"Do you still have it?"

"Of course, it's back at the barracks, always keep it nearby, kind of a good luck charm." Battle Bowler replied.

Nate noticed they were out in the open, having left the castle moments ago, they were heading down a side path away from the main entrance to the castle grounds.

"Not sure if anyone told you a lot, but one the reasons you're not supposed to go anywhere without one of us is because this place is a bloody maze. Sure, it looks really nice where the tourists and important ponies go, but the bowels of this place are a mess. During the first month here, I got lost looking for the bathroom, got declared missing. They found me a few days later in one of the old archives under the castle, Ration packs go a long way." Battle Bowler told Nate as they made their way to a large military complex.

The whole complex was a strange experience for Nate. There were hangers but for blimps made of wood and cloth. Modern training courses for ponies armed with antiquated weapons. The layout and building reminded him of the many outposts and bases he had been stationed at while deployed to Alaska, but the buildings had the same look as the rest of Canterlot. The entourage stopped once they reached what Nate assumed was a barrack. Battle Bowler motioned everyone to halt, before going into the barracks. Nate heard crashing and banging from inside the barrack until Battle Bowler burst out with his namesake on his head.

"There we go, started to feel naked without it. Right, Let's get started." Battle Bowler announced as he began diligently walking across the complex.

"Since the Changeling incident, the Royal Guard funding tripled and reforms have been made from the top down. The ranks have been expanded to include fewer ceremonial roles and a reserve has been established. The construction of our first Airship fleet has begun with three ships completed. You're supposed to teach us how to kill the bastards, doctrine from up above will be reformed after they have some results to show for it. We have training facilities here that make the best guards in Equestria, griffons come here as instructors and exchanges. Apparently, the princess doesn't think it's enough, so they put together the M.O.A. Guess we'll see how that turns out."

Nate observed his surrounding as Battle Bowler talked on, it was not promising. They had the drills and the discipline, but wasteland warfare didn't play by any formal rules. The Equestrian military would be hard-pressed as it stood, he needed to see them in action.

"Would it be possible to see a demonstration?" Nate requested.

"It's not my place to request something like that, but there may be some training drill and exercise running at the moment. The Arcane hall usually has some demonstrations running, and sparring matches." Battle Bowler Answered.

"Sparring matches?" Nate asked.

"Come on, I'll show you" Battle Bowler

Entering the academy was an interesting sight. Besides the obvious number of books that could be seen on separate shelves and desks, Unicorns and a few other creatures were in sparring chambers or testing halls. Nate heard a spectrum of sound, from explosions to cracking electricity, to things he could not describe.

"Each of you take a hall. You're looking for Sergeant Levee, she likes to spar in her downtime. I'll take our friend here to see a match." Battle Bowler ordered the three guards. After the first few steps had been taken, the door next to the group burst open as a unicorn flew through it. The pink unicorn had a trail of smoke rising off her as she weakly raised her head and then dropped unconscious.

"Nevermind, I think we found her." Battle Bowler stated as he looked in the room at the unicorn doing a subtle victory dance. "Levee, still humbling the new blood I see."

The unicorn whipped her brown mane out of her face as she approached Battle Bowler.
"They always think they're the next big thing since they have magic to spare. Too bad magic isn't everything, especially if your opponent plays dirty. You brought our new friend and three old ones along, is something wrong BB?" Levee asked.

"hey, what have I told you? On base, It's Battle Bowler. And they're for him." Battle Bowler responded.

Levee looked at Battle Bowler with scepticism, "You brought guards to watch him, why?"

"It's for his protection, somepony might try to pick a fight or something." Battle Bowler answered.

Levee gave Battle Bowler a deadpan stare before addressing the three guards.
"You are dismissed, I will see to our guest's safety personally."

The three guards looked at each other with unease before marching off.

"What do you think you're doing Levee, You can't just countermand my orders. We're the same rank, what gives you the right?!" Battle Bowler flared up.

Levee met Battle Bowler's stance and staredown.
"Firstly, The orders were that someone only had to accompany them, not march them around like a prisoner." Levee started

"That's not-" Battle Bowler started.

"Second, considering what the briefings said about the things out there they have to contend with from their home, I doubt anyone here poses such a threat," Levee added.

"Ok, but-" Battle Bowler tried to cut in.

"Finally, if I needed to, I could tell on you to your sister." Levee finished.

Battle Bowler gave levee en masse a death stare.
"You wouldn't." Battle bowler growled.

"No, I don't have to, I have something much easier that works," Levee claimed with an innocent smile.

"Oh yeah, what's that then?" Battle Bowler demanded as he stood eye to eye with Levee.

The halls echoed with the sound of a gong as Levee brought her hoof down on Battle Bowler's head with enough force to wedge it into the helmet, completely covering his eyes. After the green pony stopped shaking, he collapsed on the floor, legs spread out.

"Ok, fair enough, he's yours... That hurt Levee." Battle Bowler said splayed out.

"You've had worse, see you later BB," Levee said as she left with Nate, Battle Bowler grumbled something as they left.

"Will he be alright?" Nate asked.

"He will be fine, he's got a head like a rock and as stubborn too. He means well, but I think his promotion made his head bigger than that bowl he wears. Sometimes, I need to remind him there was a time when we were still both cadets. We Shared a month of cleaning duty because on the first day, we laughed at our drill sergeant when his potion bag exploded, he had no tail for weeks." Levee reminisced.

"So your old friends then?" Nate asked.

"There's no better stallion to have at your back. But enough of that, why are you here rather than in your room? looking for a fight?" Levee inquired.

"No, I was trying to understand what we're working with, and if I can somehow help," Nate responded.

"That is noble of you. Come, my family owns a café in town. we can talk openly about such things without interruption there, and the food is good too." Levee Invited.

"Won't someone reprimand you for leaving?" Nate asked.

Levee brushed off the question, first with a hoof, then words.
"If they want to scold me for aiding an adviser with understanding the situation over sitting around doing nothing, then, by all means, let them. Now, come, my treat."

Nate was looking forward to going back into town, it was nice seeing clean streets and full shops again.

Twilight had to tell them, what she had started was something she couldn't hide. They would say she was being rash or emotional, and they may be right. But this was too big to ignore, and she was not going to stand aside. Twilight took a deep breath, and let it out. Opening the doors, Twilight saw her friends waiting in the large guest room. Pinkie looked up from her game of snap with Rainbow to see Twilight.

"She's back!" Pinkie announced excitedly, bouncing up and over to the door. The others follow close after.

"Twilight, Darling, tell us what happened," Rarity asked with anticipation.

"The princesses asked the humans to help with fighting the invaders," Twilight answered.

"And what did they say?" Applejack prodded.

"They agreed to help," Twilight braced herself as she finished her sentence. "And so did I".

"Well, that's fantastic, Princess Celestia said she wished you were on the research team." Rarity responded with a pep.

"I'll be with the guards." Twilight corrected.

"What!?" what the response from all four of her friends in the room.

"What were you thinking, how can the smartest mare I know be this stupid!?" Rainbow roared.

"How could you be so reckless?" Applejack demanded.

"Twilight, this is not the time for gallantry!" Rarity Scolded.

Twilight flinched at each response, overwhelmed. Pinkie slid in between the ponies on her back legs.

"Waaaaait!" The three ponies paused.

"Oh, hey it worked!" Pinkie said with surprise. "Let Twilight give her overly emotional and heartfelt reason behind her actions. It's always a good one." Explained with excitement.

In a flash, the lights were off and a lamp was over Twilight's head, creating a cone of light around her.

Ignoring Pinkie's antics, Twilight did exactly that.

"Seeing Fluttershy before, it woke me up. Rainbow was right, I try so hard to plan for every circumstance. But this, this is more than we faced before. I have, no experience in a situation like this. How am I supposed to help Equestria safe if I can't even keep you all safe? But it's more than that. I'm supposed to be a princess of Equestria, We're the last line of defence. how can I protect others if I can't even protect myself? You have always been there for me, but if I don't do this, how can I say the same? I need to do this, For you, for myself, and Equestria." Twilight bled her emotional heart out.

Rainbow verbally let out her frustration as she hovered off.

Applejack ignored Rainbow as she calmly talked to Twilight.
"Twi, you don't need to do this, Fluttershy wasn't your fault."

"Maybe, maybe not. but I still need to do this, I need to learn this." Twilight rebuked.

"How can you still not get it!" Rainbow Dash spat as she landed in front of Twilight.
"I get that you did what you could, Twilight. I get it, But that's not the problem! The problem is you think you can do it all yourself. You don't need to, You have us. Stop thinking you have to go it alone!" Rainbow finished almost pleading.

"I won't be alone, John has agreed to keep me safe and teach me what he knows. It's a unique opportunity I can't miss." Twilight countered.

"You barely know anything about the fella, how could you trust him to keep you safe?" Applejack challenged.

"I trusted you, all of you. Sometimes it just takes a little faith." Twilight responded.

"It's not the same," Rainbow argued.

"Maybe not, but I still believe it's worth trying," Twilight said firmly.

"Twilight, we're all just concerned for you. This, this is terrifying, look at what you just went through." Rarity pointed out.

Rarity's face changed to sympathy as Twilight felt the sting of that memory.
"I need to do this, if not for all of you, or Fluttershy, or Equestria, then for myself. And, I'm going to need you, all of you, for the rest of the way." Twilight said.

All of their faces had softened by this point. Rainbow was the first to hug Twilight, The lights turning back on.
"We'll be there," Rainbow replied.

"Through thick and thin" Rarity said before embracing Twilight as well.

"Cause that's what friends are for," Applejack added as she join the hug.

"And nothing can change that!" Pinkie shouted as she enthusiastically joined in.
Twilight shed a tear at her friend's support. With them, she could do this.
__________________________________________________________________________________

Nate was walking back from the Cafe Levee had talked about. there was small talk, he asked questions and she answered as best she could. Eventually, Nate thought it was best to head back and look for the other two humans to inform them of what he had found out. Levee had a hunch.
"So, why are we heading to the Guards tavern?" Nate asked.

"Because that is where everyone ends up eventually. If anyone has seen them, we will find out there." Levee answered.

They walked in silence until it was broken by Levee.
"You know, you never actually told me anything about you."

"Neither did you" Nate responded.

"Well then, what would you like to know?" Levee asked.

"Well, I assume you volunteered, how did that happen for you?" Nate asked.

"Well, for joining the guards, it runs in the family. My mother signed on, and so did her father. Seemed like a good idea at the time, I could help keep the peace and be stationed close to home. I signed up for Princess Luna's pet project to help take the fight back to these monsters." Levee emphasised the last word. When everyone else referred to the wasteland inhabitance, it was with fear or curiosity, Levee's emphasised disgust.

"What's your stake in this, you make it sound personal," Nate asked.

"It is personal, they took something from me, from all of us. They came here and brought nothing but death and destruction. Hopefully, we can find the cause before there's nothing left to save." Levee stated with conviction. Nate stopped walking, watching Levee keep going oblivious to him falling behind.

"Not everything from the wasteland is bad, there are good people trying to do better," Nate retorted.

That stopped Levee in her track. She then turned around to face Nate.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that." Levee sighed with emotional weight. "This is not the life I expected here."

"And what did you expect, what was your dream?" Nate asked.

"Well, according to my cutie mark, I was supposed to do exactly this. Get ponies mobilised in a hurry, I did wonders for local fires. Ever since I got my cutie mark, I thought I would do something great. I guess I at least get interesting questions about the burning flag on my heinie." Levee said.

"You never answered my question, what do you want?" Nate asked again.

"I don't know, but after all this is over, I'll go see my son," Levee responded.

"Your son?" Nate Asked.
Levee nodded.

"He's with his father. Since the attack, I haven't been able to see them. It's the reason I signed up, But that is not for now, let's get going." Levee said as she started trotting off again. Nate followed suit, getting tired as he hadn't done this much walking in years.

Outer Bull's eye, Outer Bull's eye, Triple twenty. The courier walked forwards and ripped the darts out of the board. The entire tavern was silent, as Six walked back to the mark on the floor and threw the darts again. Inner Bull's Eye, Twenty, Tripple twenty. Once more, he grabbed the dart and walked back. There were murmurs in the crowd, Six took a quick look out to feel the crowd. They were ready.

Triple twenty, Triple twenty, Triple twenty. With a perfect score, the entire establishment went wild. Six basked in the cheer for a moment before walking over to the bar. Leaning on the bar with his two arms crossed, Six addressed the bartender.

"I believe that's another bottle for me," Six prompted with a smile.
The bartender just rolled his eyes and pushed another bottle of scotch over.

"I still can't believe how much of this ended up here, I've already won enough to keep me going for a week!" Six exclaimed.

John looked at the pile of booze Six had made from swindling the bartender and customers. "A week uh?"

"Yeah, since the eggheads figured out it was just alcohol, they let the tavern have it to free up space." Rapid Fire explained.

"I'm surprised it didn't go faster, considering how strong it is compared to the local stuff," John commented.

"While not illegal, Drinking is kinda frowned upon. While most ponies know a place or supplier, it's not something you talk about in the open," The bartender dropped in.

"you seem to do fine for yourself," John noted. The bartender just shrugged and walked off to serve another pony at the counter.

"Most ponies just turn a blind eye to it, just don't do anything in public and you'll be fine," Rapid Fire assured the two humans. Her eyes trailed off to the clock above the shelves behind the counter, she pulled out a pouch of bits.
"it's getting late, better head back to the barracks. You should both get some shut-eye too, Tomorrow's briefing starts nice and early for the Response team. Don't worry, it's easier getting to the castle from here than arriving."

Rapid Fire threw some bits on the table and waved for the bartender before leaving. The Bartender swiped the bits as he counted and grumbled, "Underpaid again".

John sat there with a mostly empty mug, unsure what to do, the whole day he had been led from one place to another and now he was left to his own devices in this place. As if answering his unsung prayer, something came to break the monotony. A life of wasteland adventuring had given John a surprising level of situational awareness and in a place full of creatures that walked on four hooves, two boots stood out. Six seemed to have the same perception, as he looked behind him at the same time a john. Nate was walking over towards the counter as he waved goodbye to the unicorn officer They had seen at Luna's quick introduction, leaving his companion to leave through the door they just entered.

"Where have you been?" Six asked curiously.

"Learning what we're working with, it's not good," Nate answered a troubled look on his face.

"How so?" Six asked back.

Nate sat down next to Six, John on the opposite side of Six.

"They know next to nothing about what's been hitting most sites. They're technologically dated, hard to tell what they do and don't have. Poor lines of communication, even worse weapons. The only real military action they have seen in their lifetime was an invasion of the capital that ended in defeat for the Guard. These folks are completely unprepared for any kind of engagement. Our work will be cut out for us," Nate outlined, sounding fatigued as he went on.

"Fuck" John exclaimed, regretting his previous choice of charity. He was prepared to give some tips and pointers, not help single-handedly transform an entire military.

"That sound like a nice tall glass of future me's problem," Six responded, taking a swig from one of the many bottles he had.

John, sat there, unhappy at the news, grumbling to himself. After spending some time listening to Nate and six's small talk, John Looked at the clock himself, it was indeed late. Leaving Nate and six to their devices, John stood up and slowly made his way to the exit. He was tired, and something was telling him this wasn't going to end well.

Bitter dreams

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"Sister, you need to sleep" Luna begged Celestia.
Any other night, the princess of the night would find it amusing just how much the mentor was like the student. Celestia was pacing in her study, a warm glow emanating from the fireplace. The troubled look on her face had not vanished since her outburst earlier. Luna herself had not seen her sister's cool deminer crack in over a millennium, granted that she had missed most of it. The outburst seemed to shake Celestia, or maybe it was the decision her student had reached. Seemingly too deep in brooding, luna raised her voice.

"Tia!"

Celestia's wing jolted at the disruption. Celestia locked onto Luna like a new guard caught sleeping on sentry duty.

"Please, this has gone on long enough, you have been in here all day. You were so lost, We had to lower the sun for our ponies." Luna pleaded.

"I don't understand, how did it go so wrong. She wants to fight, after everything she's learnt, she WANTS to fight" Celestia stated as if still trying to believe the words herself.

"We do not understand what the dilemma is sister, we fought many battles in our time, is it not what we would do?" Luna asked.

"Yes, we had to Luna, but dear Twilight did not. She was supposed to be different. Twilight and her friends, were proof of a different path. With her understanding of friendship, and her friends guiding her, she would unite all creatures. The Elements, those girls, you must have seen it, It was them all over again." Celestia slowly walked closer to luna as she vented. Luna avoiding the connotation, tried to counter.

"They are gone Tia, and we have used the elements ourselves."

"But look at the difference Lulu, What they did for the empire, for you," Celestia stressed the last part by lightly tapping Luna on the chest with her hoof. "Twilight and her friends did so much, and without having to resort to... excessive force" The last part had left a bad taste in both of their mouths.

Luna watched as Celestia sagged, she was tired, tried in a way few could be.
"This was a burden I wanted her to have," Celestia whimpered out, broken.

Luna was always the younger sister, it was Celestia who was there for her in her darkest moments, and even when she had fallen, Celestia had never given up. Celestia had been the Will of the sun itself, Only Luna had ever seen her vulnerability. hidden under all the formality and preeminence, was an older sister trying to do the best she can. Luna nuzzled her sister, wiping away the single tear forming on her sister's cheek. Luna then did the only thing she could, she sat her older sister down and found words of comfort.

"We may control the sun, the moon, even the stars in the sky, but we cannot control everything, Tia. This may not be the path you wanted young Twilight to take, but it's the path she has chosen. All we can do now is help her in any way we can, and continue to help her be the best princess she can be. Have faith in her sister, she will come out of this stronger. If you had told us a millennia ago that the whole world's fate may lie in the hooves of six ponies again, we would have called you featherbrained. Now we have no doubt that those same six ponies could do so, and you are the one responsible."

Luna looked down at her sister, a small smile appeared on her face.
"Thank you, Lulu."

Luna sat next to her sister and enjoyed the moment, one of the rare few she had time for these days.

As the crackle of the fire could be heard in front of them, the sound of a large door creaking open could be heard behind. The Two princesses stood up as one of the night guards was at the door.

"Your Majesties" he bowed before levitating over a scroll, "I have the reports complied for you".

Celestia levitated the scroll over and gestured for the DayGuard to leave.

"Reports?" Luna inquired as the door was closed.

"I had your new lieutenants keep tabs on our new friends," Celestia explained as she read the reports.

"You mean spying on them" Luna stated, giving her sister a slightly dirty look. She would have scolded her for being so distrusting, but between the moment they just shared and all that Celestia had on her plate, she decided to stop at a sharp reply.

"Just some notes on their behaviour and discussions. It's not spying if they tell them willingly" Celestia said with some cheek. Finishing the report, her face was neutral.

"Did they find something?" Luna asked.

"Yes, and it's not promising. Nathen seems competent, but the others..." Celestia levitated the scroll over to Luna, whose magic usurped Celestia's on the scroll.

Nate had spent most of his time looking over the strategic and tactical defence of Equestria, living up to his claim of being a military official. The courier, 'Six' had shown incredible potential but sounded like he was more at home at a bar than as an advisor. The worst was Johnathan, who had been abrasive and short-tempered most of the time. Miss Levee had spent some considerable time with Nathan discussing the details of our forces, while Rapid Fire had spent much of her time between John and Six. Battle Bowler had initially been assigned to John, but John had been reluctant to go anywhere by himself, let alone talk.

"I don't trust sending ponies out this early Luna, we don't know anything about these beings," Celestia commented.

"I don't see an alternative, what more could you want?" Luna countered.

"I don't know Luna, I just wish we had some more knowledge on them, just something prior to their arri-" Celestia stopped mid-sentence, and looked directly at her sister. Luna was confused for a moment before her eyes grew wide.

"No," Luna answered preemptively.

"But Luna!" Celestia tried to stop her sister as she walked away.

"We do not do such things anymore," Luna said firmly.

"This is an emergency" Celestia responded as she went after her sister who was leaving the room.

"No!" Luna said back in a raised voice, passing down the corridor.

"We only need a few moments, a glimpse would do!" Celestia shouted down the hallway as she followed her sister.

"Tis a breach of privacy!" Luna shouted back, her voice echoing off the stone walls and floor. She was briskly making her way back to her room when Celestia responded.

"Like entering someone's dreams?!" Luna had halted at that accusation. Spinning around, wings flared, a snarl on her face as her sister closed the gap.

"That is our duty Tia" Luna spat back.

"So is the safety of our ponies," Celestia responded, everything from her tone to her face was serious.

It took a while, but eventually, Luna's anger subsided. Her head lowered in defeat.
"Fine, a look, but no more."

Celestia showed visible relief at the words.
"Thank you, Sister"

Luna rolled her eyes as she left, she would do it, but she didn't like it.

Dreams were special. Part mind, part magic. For the princess of the night, dreams played a special role in her duty. Once, one of her many titles had been the Guardian of Dreams. While a thousand years had passed, ponies being plagued by nightmares was a plague that never ended.
Since its return, the Night court had never been as busy as its daytime counterpart. So Luna spent much of her time scouring the dreamscape of nightmares and helping troubled minds.
However, part of entering someponies dreams involved entering their mind. This meant Luna had quite the knowledge of the mindscape, and how to navigate it. While Luna only used this ability to help ponies with their dreams, it was entirely possible to do other things.
Before her fall, Luna had on occasion used her gift to explore the memories of those unwilling to tell her what she wanted to know. It was one of the many things she blamed for her descent into darkness, the abuse of power. But Celestia had made a good point, They knew next to nothing about what they were facing or who they were working with. This was a line Luna was uncomfortable crossing, but if it was only the moment before their abduction, she could convince herself it was just. If this could give them even an inkling of what they were dealing with, it may be worth it.
Locating the subconscious minds of the sleeping was usually the most difficult part since it's less a matter of distance than familiarity. Space was inconsequential in the realm of dreams, but knowing exactly what you were looking for was no guarantee she would find it. Having spent time with all three of her targets, Luna could locate their unique signature. Luna picked one at random and broke through the sub-conscience barrier.

Rustling leaves were the first thing Luna noticed, as birds calling and the sound of children playing. The world slowly formed around her as she walked. Grass, trees, a clear blue sky, Luna could almost mistake it for Equestria. The humans walking around and sitting on benches quickly dispelled that notion, as did the strange-looking skyscrapers that could be seen over the tree line. Nate was at a park, sitting on a picnic blanket with another human. With long brunette hair, and in a green dress, Luna assumed this was a female human. Luna slowly walked up behind Nate and listened in on the conversation.

"Nora, I'm so proud of you, your first client! Tomorrow, we should celebrate. There's a place down near the bay that just opened. Good food, fine wine, watch the sunset..." Nate tempted Nora.

"That would be so great, but I need to head down to the office tomorrow, The firm wants me to start right away. We always knew this was going to be a difficult beginning for me, but after a few years, things will calm down." Nora reassured Nate, leaning her head on his shoulder as they watched children on the playground.

"Do you have to go?" Nora asked with sadness in her tone.

"They need every man they can get in Alaska, and the papers already went through," Nate responded, putting his hand on Nora's midsection.

"It's just one tour, then we can we can move to the suburbs and raise Shaun as a family," Nate added.

Luna watched the couple for a while longer before resigning herself to her next actions.
"We are sorry for this."

The dream shifted as Luna commanded the dreamscape to show memories as if flipping through a book. She stopped as the scenery shifted from the colourful world of Equestria to a grittier reality. Nate was sitting at an old desk, wood with gilding. Like everything else in the room, it was old and worn. The Whole room seemed like an office, the walls, floor and ceiling were made of stone and concrete. On the back wall was a blue flag with white stars, a white weapon similar to those found in this world and a white lightning bolt. Nate was looking at a small box with a black face and green writing, tapping away at buttons like it was a typewriter, candle next to him. Luna would have looked at what Nate was writing, but due to the nature of dreams, whatever was written there was lost to Nate's real memories.

"General?" A voice asked from in front of Nate. Luna looked to see a man with dark skin in the doorway.

"Preston, we've been over this. You don't need to call me that when it's just us. No one's around to pester you for protocol." Nate responded, never looking up from his machine.

"Well, that's just it Sir, someone is here, you've got a visitor," Preston said with a smile. That caught Nate's attention as he looked up at Preston.

Preston spoke to someone outside briefly before letting them in. What walked through the door was one of the strangest things Luna had ever seen. It was a machine; it looked like a man, but wrong. It has rubber skin covering parts of its body, but others were bare, showing mechanical parts. It had bright glowing yellow eyes and wore a faded trench coat and fedora.

"Nick, It's been some time."

"I'll say. What, did you get tired of this old mug?" Nick asked with jest.

"No, just been busy with this job. The council wants the frontier secured sooner than later. There have been sightings of raiders returning to Nuka-World, this is the third time this year." Nate explained.

"Let me guess, you don't think they're on vacation?" Nick asked rhetorically.

"No," Nate replied firmly.

"Nate, I've been snooping around. You've refused several offers of time off, the council thinks it's time you stepped down for your own good. A bunch of the old gang have been talking, You never respond to Piper's letters, Never have time for a drink with MacCready, Hell even Hancocks asked me to talk to you. They're are worried, and so am I, Think we both know what this is about, you can't keep blaming yourself." Nick said.

"What are you talking about Nick?" Nate asked annoyed.

"Keeping yourself, buried up to your neck in work, watching over the commonwealth defences personally, putting yourself in as many postings as you can? Sounds like someone who tries to keep everyone safe, might feel like they failed to do so before," Nick insinuated.

"The commonwealth needs protecting, and I'm the one up to the job," Nate stated firmly. Valentine didn't respond right away, Luna saw the machine man's face morph from concern to empathy.

"It's not your fault you know, you did the best you could. Take it from the synth with a dead man's memories, there are some things you have to learn to let go of and move on." Nick told Nate, who had stopped his work entirely.

"Nick, I appreciate the talk, but I'm fine. I need to finish these reports. Once things calm down again, we can talk. Please." Nate told Nick, pain in his voice. The Synthetic Detective looked over his friend one last time.

"Ok, Nate. Remember, if you need someone to talk to, you know where to find me." Valentine turned to leave, before calling back one last thing.

"Oh, and Cait also told me to tell you that you still owe her sixteen caps."

"Take care, Nick," Nate added as the synth left.

As the door closed, Nate tried to get back into his work but found himself too distracted. Eventually, he leaned back in the chair and pondered his place in the world.

Knowing what came next from the slow glow encompassing the General, Luna finished up her snooping and left to find the next dreamer on her list.

As one dream faded into the aether, another replaced it.

A difficult concept for ponies to understand is the self-centred nature of dreams. When scholars of old asked Luna about her ability to perceive dreams, She had tried to explain how this was both a metaphorical and literal description. The perceived world was only as deep as the dreamer. This was never more visible to Luna than during moments such as this dream.

John was much younger in his dream, a necessary change considering his current need for agility. Luna watched as the terrified young man bolted down a metal corridor, the scenery fading in and out as it moved, but John stayed still. Whatever was chasing him stayed just on the event horizon of his dream. From John's perspective, he could run as fast as he could, but his pursuer would always be close.
Transitioning away from a nightmare was much more difficult than a normal dream, as the shock could wake the dreamer. Normally, this could be done by either easing them out of the scenario or by breaking the dream. Since Luna could not alert John to her presence, Luna thought of how best to end the cycle. There was a chance that letting John get caught could break the dream, but Luna also knew it could cause John to wake up. Luna decided the risk was worth it, besides, she wanted to know what could terrify him so much. This was reinforced seconds later as John threw a metal cart in the way as he continued bolting, only for the pursuer to casually walk through it, smashing the cart effortlessly.
The curiosity alone was enough to make Luna's decision for her. Luna's horn began to glow as a magical aura grabbed John's foot and forced him to trip. John's dream responded accordingly, creating a wall in from of him to fall onto. As John stood himself back up, he looked up in horror at the monster slowly approaching him. It was large, humanoid. The was made of metal, a monster. As it walked towards, John, the ground shook with a distinctive thump with every step. As he drew nearer to John's cowering form, the walls rapidly deteriorated, growing old with dirt and dried blood. The metal man held some sort of weapon, it was also metal with an ominous red glow terminating from it. The thumping stopped as the predator reached the prey.
It stood there, looking down at John. Luna leaned in with fascination at this mental construct, what was it, what did it mean?
The metal man lowered his weapon in one hand, using the other to reach up to his head. With a hiss, the head began to lift as the hand removed what was, in fact, a helmet. A human inside was bruised and bloodied, Her blond hair dirty and tied up at the back. Her face was etched with resentment.

"They needed you, and you abandoned them. You left the brotherhood because they were becoming corrupt, Yet look how far you've fallen. You left the people of the capital wasteland to find ghosts, how many have you made suffer?! " The Woman of Steel spat.

"Please, Sarah! I tried, I didn't belong anymore, you were all gone!" John begged, holding himself up against the wall.

"What, we all fall and suddenly it's too hard anymore? We sacrificed everything for the wasteland! What would my father say if he saw you now, what would your father say, what about Amata, or Cross, or Fawkes? They believed in you, I believed in you. They thought you would help the wasteland be a better place, but Look at the monster you have become." John indeed looked at his hands, covered in blood, as bodies started to fade into existence around him.

"You know what we do to monsters, John..." Sarah told John softly as she raised her weapon to him. Voices began to speak as John accepted the inevitable. Voices of the past.

Luna saw where this was going, before Sarah had a chance to fire, she shifted the dream state, hearing lingering words being said softly by a calm warm voice. "I am alpha and omega, the beginning and the end..."

The world faded in as John's subconscious aligned with the memory. John was now as Luna had seen him in the waking world, old and grizzly, walking towards a large building as lightning illuminated the many ruins around him. The heavy rain didn't faze the driven hunter. Luna decided this time to enter the dream properly but still hidden. She could feel what John had felt, the cold and the rain. She quickly trotted over to John, the memory unable to see her. She followed alongside John as he pushed the broken glass doors apart. Somehow, some of the lights were still on, even as part of the roof had caved in. John walked cautiously through the building, carrying a clunky weapon with a round middle. Luna suddenly heard people laughing, something John had also picked up on as he stopped. John aimed the weapon in the direction of the noise as he made for the source. Luna followed behind as John peered around a corner. Luna walked out to see what he was looking at to see light coming from a room down a hallway. John crept down the hallway to the side of the door the light was coming.

" 'When's Marco and Nikky coming back with the chems' he asks me, and I'm just standing there looking at him sitting on those two while they're passed out and he's holding the box of chems, half-empty!" One of the humans was telling to a bunch of his compatriots while sitting around a fire.

Luna walked ahead of John and up to the dirt-covered humans, listening to their conversation.

"Hey, those three idiots used up a week's supply of chems, I paid honest caps for those." One human yelled from behind a counter a few meters away from the campfire.

"You haven't earned a cap honestly your entire life!" One of the humans shouted back amused.

"More honest than you!" The counter occupier shouted back. The rest of the humans laughed at those two arguing.

"At least we got that huge score a while back, chems may be thin but the booze keeps rolling. Maybe another group will try hitting the hospital, then we can hit'em and have chems for weeks."

Luna didn't understand what they were talking about, but apparently, it was enough for John as luna caught a glimpse of him throwing something towards the campfire. Luna watched as a small dark object arced towards the group of humans, clinking and clanking when it hit the ground.

"What the...OH SHI-" Was all one of the humans was able to say before an explosion rocked the area.
Luna could not truly be physically hurt in a dream, pain was very much a sensation she could feel. thus, Luna had trained herself long ago to leave dreams on reflex. Luna seconds after the pain started, shifted back to observing the memory from the outside.

As Luna recovered mentally from the pain, John barged in and started his violent crusade. Luna watched as John brought his weapon to bear, aiming it at the head of one of the downed humans who had survived. The former Nightmare moon princess of the night cringed as a loud bang was followed by the head of the victim of John's aggression had their head was replaced by chunks of gore.

While John continued to blow the heads of the survivors, the human behind the counter ducked under and pulled out a weapon similar to the one 'Sarah' had in John's dream. A beam of light shot from the weapon to hit John on his back, seeing the jacket he was wearing. The burn didn't reach his skin, but the heat was enough to cause John to stagger. The man kept firing as John threw himself towards a stone pillar near the corner of the room the corridor opened into.

"Eat shit motherfucker!" The man yelled, firing the red beam over and over till it ran out.

While he was reloading, John burst forth from behind the pillar and ran towards the counter. firing the clunky weapon once more, the head of the hostile human vanished into red chunks. John jumped the counter and patted down the corpse, finding some yellow capsules. John reactively flinched as holes started exploding on the counter next to him, another human had appeared through an unseen doorway. John unhooked a belt he was using to hold his old weapon and strapped it to the new one on the ground, slinging it over his head and picking up his old weapon with practised ease.

Luna watched the creature she had requested the help of, as it sat under the counter calmly. Waiting until the assault stopped, John peered through one of the holes in the counter to see his attacker reloading on the other side of the doorway. without making a sound, John leapt over the counter and over to the wall the doorway was set in. He reached the wall just in time for the human in the doorway to continue firing at the counter, unaware his target had moved. John was messing with his own weapon, the clunky machine failing to work. After messing with it and ejecting a red tube from the weapon and failing to fire again, John took to using the weapon as a club. His assailant screamed as the weapon was brought down on his hands, breaking them. He then brought it back up, breaking the man's jaw.
An audible thump was heard from the man collapsing on the ground, followed by the clack of John dropping the weapon. Taking the light shooting weapon off his back, John charged further into the building. Luna slowly walked into the dream and up to the broken human in the doorway. She was troubled as she looked back to the smouldering remains of the room's previous occupiers.

"what monster have we asked for aid from..." Luna pondered, unsettled by the lack of morality displayed.

She once again followed John, as the wall of the memory was approaching. The details of the building were muted, losing focus the longer it had been since John had seen them. Some details stayed longer than others, holes in the walls, burn marks, and strange piles of ash. The already horrid background smell was more off-putting near the ash piles, and they were still glowing warmly. The world slowly faded back into place, a sign that Luna was reaching John.

"Please, I'll stop, I swear to god, just please!" A pained voice shouted.

The source of the voice appeared as Luna walked into a room filled with cubicles and machines with glowing glass viewers.
A single wounded human lay up against a cubical as John approached. With the short beginnings of a scream, The human turned to ash as John shot the red beam at him. It was at that point Luna figured out where all those other ash piles had come from. It also occurred to her that the beam she had been hit by weeks ago look eerily similar to the one she had just seen. If these weapons could do this much damage, they were a threat to all creatures in Equestria, great and small.
Luna watched as John interacted with one of the machines, information appeared on the glass like a magic scroll, words forming quickly across the whole thing. John's search ended after scanning multiple pages of information, mostly letters and reports. His eyes widened as he looked at the information on the screen. While most of the information made no sense to Luna, it had obviously meant a great deal to John. John brought his left arm up and started to fiddle with his own small machine. Looking closely, Luna could see a list John had just added two words to.
RAVEN, NORAD, SAC, IRON, ENCLAVE, WHITESPRING, CHICAGO?, MOUNT WEATHER.
Luna pondered the meaning of the list's content, but as John began to leave the chair he had sat on, He slowly began to glow. In a panic, he rapidly began looking at himself and his machine, trying to find the cause. It was too late, as the sole occupant of the building vanished in a flash, ending the Memory sequence.

Luna hovered in the aether, Considering the implications of these memories. This world was much more dangerous, and if John was anything to go by, ruthless than she or her sister could have anticipated. The human world indeed seemed to be in a state of decay, judging from the buildings she had seen in both dreams. Whatever was left of the human species was armed and dangerous. If even a fraction of the creatures of this world were as dangerous, Equestria would need to be in a state of war. Luna internally debated the effectiveness that her efforts would have against the coming storm, as she went to face the last of the foreign dreams.

Her internal conflict was brought to a screeching halt as she looked into Six's dream. it was an empty white hall with Six's sitting on a bench in the middle, his dirty blond hair giving him away. Puzzled, Luna attempted to shift the dream to a memory, only to find nothing change. Her puzzlement worsened to bafflement, her inability to alter a being's dreamscape being a powerful ability. Luna decided to enter the dream, as her magic was far more potent when directly applied. As she took her first steps into the dream, the ground had no texture, no feeling. There was no sound, sights or smells. It was as if the entire hall and everything in it were void. She slowly walked from the wall she had just appeared from towards Six. Even with nothing in the room, her magic would render her completely invisible to all but the most practised of minds.

"I'd offer you a drink, but as you can see, there's not much here..." Six said, still looking at the ground in front of him. Luna stopped, spooked by the implications.

"You can see us?" Luna asked in shock.

"Is there anything else in this place?" Six asked, then waved Luna over. "Make yourself at home, best you can"

Lune walked over to in front of Six, looking around.
"What is this place?"

"Purgatory, The empty, The waiting room, The place between days, the sleepless sleep, take your pick. I'm guessing it's supposed to be inside my head. " Six Answered casually.

"How often do you find yourself in this place?" Luna asked with concern.

"Whenever I sleep, If I do enough damage, I end up here. I don't know what the alternative is, but apparently, it's bad enough for this to seem welcoming." Six explained.

"How can you not know? if you have not experienced them, how can you be sure it is worse?" Luna asked confused.

"Oh, I'm aware on some level. I don't remember when I wake up, but I never want to go back. Besides, my memory here and out there are... disjointed. When I wake up, I forget everything in here; and when I'm here, Everything out there is clouded, both worlds seem like the dream." Six Explained.

"It sounds like a prison, to be all alone, trapped in your own mind." Luna pressed, empathising with Six's cage.

"Probably some form of mental trauma, or maybe physical. Seen Nightkin with mental issues, it's not pretty. But I've lived with it this long, Can't exactly do any worse." Six responded. after a pause, Six stood up.

"So, you didn't expect me to see you, which means you were hoping to be here without me knowing. I'm guessing you're doing some snooping on your new guests, have you seen any of the others yet?" Six Inquired.

"Please do not tell them, we only wished to understand you and your world better, a glimpse of your journies," Luna lightly pleaded.

"Our journies? you're looking for our memories? wait, can you read minds?" Six asked accusingly.

"Nay, But our powers allow us to influence dreams. In desperate circumstances, we have used this ability to turn dreams into memories, for the two are closely linked. However, We only intended to see the moments before your arrival." Luna explained.

Six looked into Luna's eyes as if searching for the truth. Luna stood resolute in his gaze until Six's gaze turned from caution to apathy.

"Well, it doesn't matter. As I said, I never remember this place when I wake up. I just wake up as if I never slept at all. Anything that happens here, stays here." Six elaborated, Sitting back down.

Luna thought about Six's predicament. While out in the waking world, there was a human named Six, here there was also seemed to be a human named Six, who was confined to this prison. An entire section of his memories was locked away, unknown by his waking self. To be alone, trapped in this nothingness, with no one to talk to. If anyone could understand his plight, it was the Princess of the Night, who had been imprisoned both by the darkness and then her sister for one thousand years.

"If you wished, We could visit you, here," Luna asked with a hopeful smile.

Six looked up at Luna in confusion.
"But, why, don't you have an entire nation to run?" He snarked.

"Maybe, but as long as you're working for us, your care is too is our responsibility. furthermore, We too know what it means to be imprisoned alone. Would you not like some company here?" Luna pressed, hoping he would concede. Not only would this part of Six be able to tell her what she needs to know and keep it secret, but She also wanted to help him.

Six's shoulders sagged as he conceded.
"Ok, sure, why not. I don't exactly have anything better to do."

Six once again pulled himself from the bench, this time with purpose as he walked towards a corridor, one Luna as absolutely sure was not there moments ago.

"You wanted to know my story, are you coming?" Six asked impatiently, looking at Luna expectantly.

She swiftly followed as the strange human left down the corridor. As soon as Luna was close enough, she could see nothing but doors. A hallway of doors onto the horizon, unhelped by the completely white and textureless walls, floor and roof. Each door seemed to be unique in some regards, some were heavy and rusty, some were old and flimsy; some were nothing more than cloth, obscuring the other side.

"These, these are memories. Everything you can remember, Your mind has found a way to manifest them as physical gateways." Luna reasoned as she looked from door to door.

"It's how I keep myself entertained, I don't remember the other side very well, but I can choose to revisit them here. It's less like remembering my life and more like remembering someone else's. I remember things vaguely, but here, I can see them again like it's the first time." Six explained as he looked for a door.

"This is incredible, whoever taught you mind magic was a very good teacher." Luna admired, looking at every door she passed with interest.

"What the hell is mind magic? You know what, never mind. This wasn't taught, It just happened." Six stated

"This kind of structuring does not 'just happen', greater minds than we have tried and struggled. If not magic, then what could have caused this?" Luna pondered.

"Hell if I know. My Brain has been shot, bashed, Removed, shocked, and probably done every kind of chem from Baja to Reno. I've heard of some people being able to read my mind and tell the future, but I can't do that. I don't know what's going on out there half the time, Either I'm here or I completely blackout." Six Answered with an increasing tone of exhaustion.

Finally, he stopped at a door. It was old, very old. Dark brown with an old square, brass, door handle on the left. it looked like it had been weathered by heat, sun and sand. There were spots of dried blood sprinkled around a symbol in the middle. It was like a bit, but silver in colour, and it had square grooves cut around the sides, making it resemble something of a gear.

"Ok, 2282, seemed about right. This is the door, my god, it's been that long. still seems like yesterday, Guess this place messes with time too." Six reminisce.

"What memory is this?" Luna asked.

"Well, you wanted to know more about me. I figure, why not start from the beginning," Six answered.

"This is your childhood?" Luna asked, looking at the bloodstains with rising concern.

"No, but after this, whoever I was before stopped mattering. As far as I'm concerned out there, this is the only thing that really matters anymore. Might give you the insight your after." Six responded.

Luna took a look at the door again and immediately moved to open it, Only to be stopped by Six.

"This may be a bit jarring, It wasn't a pleasant experience." Six warned her.

This was immersing herself directly into a memory, not filtered by her control of dreams. Luna knew this could be shocking or disorientating, even traumatising. However, Luna had done much and seen more. She braced herself as she entered the door.

5th, November, 2281 (Optional Chapter)

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Being a courier was one thing above all others, being cautious. Making treks across the wastes was fraught with danger, any number of things could maim or kill. As the lone figure crossed under the overpass separating the town of Primm in half, he elected to ignore the sounds of gunfire he could sporadically hear in the distance. The first rule of the wastes, not my problem. The courier walked down the I-15, his light-coloured cowboy hat keeping the sun off his head. The Mojave sun was crushing, the desert heat a constant companion. While the heat was nothing new to the veteran courier, its constant pressure was a reminder of his dwindling water supply. Thankfully, news travels the same roads couriers do, and all news pointed to Goodsprings. Following the instructions given to him by a caravaneer, He walked until he reach a T junction with a shack. He watched as a large Gekko ran across the road and pounced on a rad roach, then continued with his journey.

Scanning the environment for danger, The Courier kept a steady pace, the ruin of a fridge sitting next to the road of amusing. Suddenly his hands, in their tan work gloves, reached slowly towards his nine-millimetre pistol. his muscles slightly tensed and the hair on the back of his neck stood. Something was wrong, there was no wildlife in the area as he began to reach the springs. Water always attracted critters, unless something drove them off. The Courier's attention was locked on to a sound fizzing through the air, his head darting around. When a red tube with a sparking end landed nearby, he had just enough time to register it was an explosive before he hit the deck.

The thunderous boom left him dazed with a ring in his ears. looking around, he grabbed his hat off the ground and slammed it on his head, then fumbled with his holster to use his gun. From his prone position, The courier could hear gunshots and bullets whizzing above where he had been. finally pulling the 9mm pistol in front of him, he fired a few rounds blindly into the air to buy some time. Scrambling to his feet, he ran for a bolder nearby for cover. After taking a moment to breathe, he held out his pistol in front of him and popped out of his cover, scanning the surroundings. He noticed something troubling, the bullets were not aiming near him, just above where he had been. He stood out from his cover in confusion as to why someone would wait for him to pass by, attack him, but not actually try to hurt him. The answer was upon him as he barely heard the sounds of footsteps over the gunfire, it was a diversion. Turning to see who had snuck up on him earned the Courier a face full of sand, As he recoiled in pain, he looked up. The last thing he saw was the flat end of a shovel racing towards his head. Upon hitting the ground, the last thing the courier heard was someone walking up to him. " The dynamite was a bit much, but it did the trick. We can deal with the square once he's done with his nod off." Darkness took him.

When he eventually came too, it was dark. The Courier was lying down in the dirt, his face on the dry ground. unable to use his hands, he slowly maneuvers himself to his knees. He as he notices his hand were bound, he heard a deep voice talking nearby.

"You got what you were after, so pay up."

The response comes from a man, his accent strange to the courier.

"You're crying in the rain, pally."

The Courier, assuming his captors were busy, attempted to undo his bonds without success. It turned out, not everyone was distracted.

"Guess who's waking up over here?" Another man asked rhetorically.

At being signed out, the courier stopped struggling with his bonds and looked up at his captors for the first time. Two of the men were dressed in leather jackets and white bands of cloth around their foreheads. One was dark-skinned with black hair and a handlebar moustache. The other was pale and had a ginger spiked mohawk and beard.
In between them was a man who looked out of place amongst the wasteland. he had slicked-back hair, a clean shave and wore a checkered suit. The checker-suited man had one last drag on his cigarette, threw it to the ground and stepped on it.

"Time to cash out." He said stepping up to the kneeling courier.

"Would you get it over with?!" The dark-skinned man demanded exasperatedly.
The checker-suited man held up his index finger.

"Maybe Khans kill people without looking them in the face," The checkered suited man started before looking back at the dark-skinned man. " but I ain't a fink, dig?"

The dark-skinned man scoffed it off and continued to wait. The man in the checkered suit, however, took his hand and began to ruffle around in his suit. As he pulled out a small silver object from his suit's inner pocket, he looked back at the courier.

"You've made your last delivery kid." He told the Courier, shaking the object lightly to emphasise his point. he then put it back in his inner suit pocket.

"Sorry you got twisted up in this scene." He continued with a hint of remorse in his words. The message was darkened by the engraved pistol he pulled out from inside his suit.

"From where you're kneeling it must seem like an 18-carat run of bad luck." The man looked down at the gun in his hands at the last words. Then he pointed the gun at the head of the kneeling package deliverer.

"Truth is... the game was rigged from the start."

Before the courier could process what the insinuation behind the words was, he saw the flash of the gun's muzzle.

Lock and loaded

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It was strange for luna to be awake past sunrise. While Luna would occasionally be up during the day to help Celestia with her tasks, that tended to occur in the afternoons. It was even stranger for Luna to be spearheading an operation during the early morning. She watched from her tower at the ordered chaos below, ponies who had combat experience with the enemy they were now going to hunt down. She could see the chariots being loaded with crates down below, roll calls were taking place. Princess Luna's eyes darted away from the ponies below for a split moment to see her sister walking up to her from inside her room.

"Did you learn anything?" Celestia asked.

"We learned much, and yet little," Luna replied.

"Can they help us?" Celestia asked, getting straight to the point.

"The one called Nate seems to have experience leading soldiers, to what extent is unknown. The Courier is... unique, he is a wealth of knowledge that may provide insight that the others cannot, given enough time. This 'John', is ferocious, merciless. We do not know if John is typical of his kind, but it does not bode well if that is indeed the case. We are glad he stands with us rather than against us."

Luna continued to look at the preparations down below, worried about what she might be sending them off to face.

"Nervous?" Celestia asked her sister. Her voice was one of jest and comfort, but it buried a real question.

"Nay, but we do have our concerns," Luna responded, keeping a neutral face.

"Such as?" Celestia pestered.

"The lack of intel on this threat we are to engage. If only we had but more time to scout the location." Luna pondered regretfully.

"The reports you showed me were clear. whatever it is, it's moving. multiple farmsteads are in its path, I'm afraid we just don't have the time Luna. If you don't feel ready for this..." Celestia was cut off by her sister's wing over her snout.

"Don't assume our absence has left us deficient in command. If you recall, We lead the charge for more than our share in the past." affirmed assertively.

"I just don't want you to feel you need to somehow prove yourself, I have complete faith in you and your approach," Celestia told with as much sincerity as she seemed to muster.

But Luna knew that was a lie. Her sister always wanted to be in control, to know every move in advance. Like a chess master, Luna's sister was always three steps ahead. If she wasn't doing something herself, she assigned somepony she knew well enough to act in a way to further her agenda. Of all the things Luna had suggested, Recruiting allies from the other side of the portals was the one option that had shaken her sister. Celestia could trust her student, and she could trust her sister, but outworlders were too much. It was only at Celestia's inclusion of the elements of harmony that the path had been chosen.

"That may be true for you, sister. However, there will be many who will question our capabilities in facing the coming storm. 'Hanging out' in 'Night clubs' may have done wonders for our personal image amongst the ponies, but it has done little to demonstrate our ability to rule. They need to see us as the leader we were." Luna countered.

Celestia did not contend the point but rather brought Luna into a soft hug.
"Be safe, sister." Celestia softly told Luna, and after a pause, Luna returned the gesture.

Luna then watched as her sister took to the skies towards the city proper. Considering how uncommon it was for her to leave without an escort, It must have been a personal trip, and Luna knew where she would be going.

Rainbow Dash was awesome, and she knew it. But as she looked at the sleeping body of Fluttershy in her hospital bed, Rainbow felt helpless. What's more, she was angry at Twilight. While She may have the title of princess stapled to her name, To Rainbow she was still the same old egghead. She had seen Twilight do stupidly powerful magic before but floundered at quick thinking and improvising. Rainbow Dash knew Twilight was not a fighter. However, Rainbow would support her friends as best she could. She looked out the hospital room window trying to find something to focus on since she was brooding, and she hated brooding.

Her Ear flickered as the door to the room was opened, Applejack quietly made her way to Rainbow Dash and pat her on the back.
"Come on Rainbow, Twilight's heading off soon. We should probably say our goodbyes before she gets dragged away."
Applejack began to leave the room only to notice her prismatic friend fail to follow.

"Rainbow?" Applejack questioned with concern.

"Yeah yeah, I'm coming," Rainbow replied while sluggishly turning to meet applejacks gaze.

Applejacks concerned look deeper.
"You alright sugar cube?" Applejack prompted further.

She wasn't.
"Yeah, it's just, I don't get why Twilight's doing this, ya know? We tell her she doesn't have to do this alone, and then she runs off to fight a war." Rainbow vented to Applejack in frustration.

"I know Rainbow, But Twilight needs our support right now. She's a Princess, and she's trying to start thinking like one. We might not like her approach, but we need to stand by her anyway. Besides, maybe she needs this. We are her friends, and we will stick together through thick and thin, but we may not always be there. Maybe this is what Twilight needs." Applejack consoled Rainbow Dash, putting her leg around Rainbow's neck into a one-legged hug.

"Come one, let's go see her off, We might see the Wonderbolts when the chariots leave," Applejack told Rainbow.

"The Wonderbolts are currently in Baltimare, their next stop is Fillydephia," Rainbow muttered.

Rainbow Dash could feel Applejack's eye roll.

"Why am I not surprised, come on, Twi's probably at the reception," Applejack said.

Rainbow Dash gave one last look at the sleeping Fluttershy before being led by Applejack to the stairs.

"Maybe I should sign up..." Rainbow Dash pondered aloud.

"Have you lost your marbles, it's bad she's running off to play soldier, we don't need to be worrying about you too." Applejack snapped at the idea.

"I'm just saying, at least that way one of us can be there for her," Rainbow Dash reasoned.

Applejack stopped her just before they entered the reception.
"What Twilight needs is for us to be supportive, not play the hero."

Rainbow wanted to argue but just nodded. with a nod in return, Applejack pushed open the door separating them from the hospital entrance. Rarity was talking with Twilight as Pinkie was having what seemed like a deep discussion with a clown who had just probably finished performing in the children's wing. Twilight saw Rainbow Dash and Applejack as they approached her at the seating section.

"How is she?" Twilight asked hesitantly.

"She's sleeping like a log, what about you Twi, how are you holding up?" Applejack asked in return.

"Not great, but I feel this is the right path. No one else gets hurt while I sit back and act like everything is fine." Twilight responded adamantly.

Rainbow asked. she wanted to smack Twilight for putting herself in danger by leaving them all behind again but decided to just push the issue one last time.
"Look, Twilight, are you sure I can't come with you?"

"No Rainbow; As a princess, I need to be able to do this on my own. Besides, Fluttershy will need you."

"...yeah, ok..." Rainbow Dash relented, not having considered her other friend might need her more at this time.

"Don't worry dear, Princess Luna herself will be there. Twilight will be fine, and we will be making sure Fluttershy has someone to wake to." Rarity chirped in.

"it still feels wrong, I should be out there as well, in the action!" Rainbow Dash complained, having started to hover to give her wings some action.

"This Isn't a game, Rainbow! ponies are dying. I'm not trying to impress ponies, I want to stop them from being hurt." stated, coldly at first but getting warmer as she went on.

That, Hurt. That this was how Twilight viewed Rainbow had hurt. Twilight looked beyond the group to see someone, walking off towards the exit.

"I just want to help," Rainbow Dash said too softly for anyone to hear.
Looking at where Twilight had gone, she saw her walking up to the sun princess herself.
Everyone now watched or bowed as Twilight walked right up to Celestia and looked up to meet her. Celestia looked down at Twilight with the kind of concern a mother shows her child, leaving to face the unknown.

"I must ask once more, Are you sure about this, my student?" Celestia asked, almost pleading.

Twilight took a moment to consider it one last time before responding.
"I am."

"Then allow me to accompany you, Luna will be briefing our new guests on the circumstances of today's mission. It would be best to arrive before the away team is assembled, and I wish to discuss a matter of some importance with you before you go." Celestia requested.

"Of course pri... Celestia." Twilight stumbled.

Celestia gained a warm smile at the verbal trip and walked alongside Twilight towards the exit. Twilight looked back at her friends one last time, receiving gestures of positivity from all of them. Even Rainbow buried her concern and motioned to shoo her out the door. She just had to have faith that things would be fine.

The first few minutes of the walk were an uneasy silence for Twilight. Feeling as if her mentor was disappointed in her, she could bear the silence no more.

"Celestia?" Twilight asked apprehensively.

"Hmm? Sorry, I was distracted by the scenery. It's rare these days I get to slow down and smell the roses, or spend time with my favourite student."

"I'm currently your only student..." Twilight added in jest. Looking at her mentor, Twilight could see Celestia was troubled.

"You're still upset with my choice..." Twilight deduced.

"I won't attempt to stop you from joining this conflict, but please promise me you won't forget what helped you get this far," Celestia said in turn.

"I don't think friendship alone can help us here alone, The Elements can't stop all these attacks by themselves," Twilight commented.

"To conflate the power of the Elements and the power of friendship would be to misunderstand both, my student, but that alone is not your strength," Celestia responded.

"I don't understand, If not friendship, then what are you talking about?" Twilight asked.

Celestia slowly let out a soft laugh, apparently, whatever the answer was, it was obvious and yet Twilight had missed it.

"I have every confidence you will figure it out eventually," Celestia said.

Twilight pondered on the meaning of her mentor's words, reaching no conclusion. If not friendship, then what could it be? Magic, her rigorous studying habits, being able to recite over 13 academic books without missing a word?

As they made their way through Canterlot main towards the castle, Twilight noticed something peculiar.

"No one's looking at us, at all. Why isn't anypony noticing us?" Twilight asked aloud. Everyone was completely ignoring the two princesses walking down the street. Twilight normally would still get some stares, even if it was more from curiosity than anything. But the very act of Celestia being here should have crowds and photographers swarming.

"why Twilight, don't tell me you've forgotten what a cloaking spell feels like?" Celestia asked with feigned shock.

Twilight took a moment to sense the area around them and felt the subtle but powerful aura of Celestia casting a continuous spell. Twilight was surprised by how subtle the aura was, a moving clock large enough to cover two ponies was not an easy feat without having a large magical imprint. But what really got to her was how obvious of a spell had slipped her mind, It may have been a more advanced spell but one she had learned years ago.

"It may be simple, but it does the trick. I don't think there has ever been a time when this hasn't been useful. Always confused the guards on their first shifts, they get over it eventually." Celestia said.

"I didn't know you could make it both movable and cover multiple ponies, not without extreme concentration," Twilight said.

"It takes practice, and power, things I have had in abundance. I recommend you start practising, you may need to use this spell more in the future." Celestia replied.

The conversation dwindled as they approached the Castle's military complex. It had been rather old until recent, but the rise in security concerns allowed for complete renovations to begin. It was clear from the absence of some of the newer machines she had seen in the M.O.A, however, that Luna's pet project had received a lion's share of the attention, probably because she was overseeing it personally.

As they walked into the large open area in the centre of the compound, they both noticed a blond-haired human looking around while scratching his head.

" I'm glad to see you have found your way here Mr Six," Celestia announced to the confused man, as she dropped her spell.

The courier jumped away and flayed about until he landed his step and stared at the two ponies that had appeared to have just popped into existence.
"Guagh!! the hell?! Where the-, where did-, what!?" The courier shouted a baffled stupor.

"Apologies, I did not mean to sneak up on you. I'm afraid after all these years, I still occasionally forget that outside the castle, it's not as well-known about my invisibility cloaking spell. The secrecy has its uses, but I still occasionally scare those who are unaware of my trick." Celestia said.

"Actually, it's a little closer to home than I'd like. I'd hoped id never have to deal with a Stealth Boy again." Six responded.

"Stealth boy?" Twilight said softly to herself with a mix of confusion and curiosity as Celestia continued to Apologies.

"Regardless, I Apologies for the Negligence on my behalf Mr Six."

"Six is fine, it is a nickname" Six responded.

"It would be simpler if you could tell us your actual name." Celestia returned with an optimistic tone.

"Maybe one day, but today's not it." Six replied in kind.

"A shame," Celestia stated, disappointed but seemingly unsurprised by the courier's response. She looked to Twilight and said her farewells.

"Luna will be arriving shortly, the briefing will be held in the hall three buildings down. She will be in control of this operation, so talk to her about where you can help. Good luck Twilight, be safe."

Twilight watched her old mentor leave before looking back to Six.
"What's a Stealth Boy?" She asked.

"It's a device that uses technology to make you invisible for a short amount of time." Six answered.

"Without magic? How does that work?" Twilight asked Intrigued.

"I have no idea" Six answered.

A military briefing, how long ago had it been since he attended one of those? John watched as slowly ponies entered and found a spot to wait. occasionally, one would look as if they were going to come over and say something, but decided against it. There was a constant low level of chatter from those already seated, mostly questions about what they were headed into. John had eventually gotten bored of eavesdropping and left his head in the clouds. It stayed there as the room filled with strangers he didn't care for.

"Have you ever done a briefing before?" Nate asked. John nearly jumped out of his skin as his mind was rushed back to the present by one of the other humans brought here seeming to pop up out of nowhere. After taking a few seconds to process the current state of the room, he looked at Nate who was next to him.

"Yeah. It was years ago, but it's not exactly rocket science." John responded, to which Nate nodded.

In the silence, they both watched as another pony entered and found a seat.

"I noticed you have a pip-boy, did you come from a vault?" Nate asked before giving John's clothing a once over.
" That looks like it used to be a jumpsuit." He added.

" Yeah, yeah I was raised in a vault. Don't know what happened to it. What about you?" John said.

" Vault 111, It was a cryo facility. I didn't know it at the time, only found out when I woke up. " Nate said, his eyes jumping about as if the act of remembering was itself a challenge.
"Seeing the wasteland for the first time, it's something." Nate reflected.

John remembered his. being forced out of his home, the complete panic in the vault, and then standing above the ruins of the D.C. area. There was little that could have prepared him even if he had time to, It was unlike anything he could imagine. The skeletons of people trying to enter the closed vault littered the ground. Remnants of one of America's most iconic cities were rotting in the distance, and the whole world had a sick atmosphere to it.

"Yeah... Where are you from?" John asked.

"The commonwealth," Nate answered. "You?"

"Capital wasteland," John replied.

Nate's attention suddenly turned completely to John as he heard his answer.
" Do you know the brotherhood of steel?" Nate asked.

"Unfortunately, I did. I even did some work for them but left not long after the Lyons stopped running things. I don't think they would remember me anyway." John told his little white lie, It just made life easier.

"Didn't like the new management?" Nate asked.

"Something like that," John answered flatly.

A loudmouth heading inside cut the conversation there.

"-And so I find out I wasn't even their first pick for the sixth courier for this client, I only got the job because the previous guy declined." Six rambled.

"What does this have to do with your name?" Twilight asked annoyed.

"I was getting to that, So after the battle of hoover dam, a reporter asks if I wanted to tell my story and-" The courier instantly dropped the conversation the moment he saw Nate and John.

"Aw man, did you two see the beds up there? Like sleeping on a cloud. I've seen the lap of luxury before and that didn't even come close to this place!" Six stated ecstatically.

The sudden lack of background noise grabbed all their attention as Princess Luna entered the room from a side office with two old ponies decorated in medals. Luna gave the room a quick sweep before jumping straight into the action.

"We thank you all for volunteering for today's assignment. As you would all know, each of you was invited to this unit because of a combination of your skills and character. The Ministry was conceived to combat the growing crisis of unknown hostiles appearing from a world beyond our own. The truth is we know frighteningly little of this new world and the creatures that have made their way here. While the Military wing of the ministry is still in its infancy, time is no longer on our side. Just outside the town limits of Stableton, a large gathering of creatures has been monitored moving through the nearby Craggy Swamps. By midday, they will decent upon the town. It is imperative that they are intercepted and removed as a threat. While a combination of day and night guards will patrol the outskirts, our three squads headed by sergeants; Battle Bowler, Rapid Fire and Levee En'masse, will enter. With the help of their assigned human adviser, they will then co-ordinate to devise a strategy and proceed with caution." Luna briefed the room.
An assistant then rolled a large board on wheels over to the front with a blown-up photo with its barely visible contents. The photo was an extremely blurry picture covered in white spots.

John recognised the telltale signs of radiation damage. Wherever the photo was taken, either the location was heavily radiated or the object of interest was. One of the senior officers continued the briefing.

"This was the scouting party's best result in attempting to identify the creatures. Whatever they are, it seems impossible to create a clean photograph. Any scouting party that was too close went missing and is considered killed in action, so the only intel we have is that there are a lot of them, and they're slowly on the move. We're going in; setting a perimeter and containing this before, or in case, they reach Stableton. Once dismissed, you are all to report to your commanding officer and prepare to move out." The Officer finished by giving the room back to Luna.

"You all know what's at stake, the future of this program, The ponies of Stableton, maybe even in time the future of Equestria. We don't need heroes today, just do what's needed and keep yourselves safe. We are all counting on you, Good luck."
As Luna began to leave the building, the Senior officer from before piped up.
"Dismissed!"

In the orderly chaos of all the soldiers leaving, John watched as the other senior officer walked over to the humans who had stayed at the back of the room. She was an earth pony with burgundy fur and greying black mane. The effects of middling age could be seen under her eyes.

"Morning, gentlecolts. I'm Major Farsight, I've been instructed to allow you into the contraband vault to find an armament for your mission." The Mare said. Her stern but neutral look softened when her eyes landed on Twilight, who had been beside Six since the briefing began.

"Princess Twilight, a pleasure to meet you," Major Farsight said as she gave a curtsy bow.

John watch as Twilight squirmed at her title.
"Please, just call me Twilight, 'Princess' still feels strange to me." Twilight requested.

The Major let out a single soft laugh before shaking her head.
"You are so much like your brother, you should have seen him when I first addressed him as Captain of the Palace Guard," she told Twilight.

"She's a Princess? Why did nobody tell me that? She's not very tall." John heard Six asking Nate in the background as Twilight responded to the Major.

"You know my brother?"

"Knew him, I was his superior. Watched Shining Armor grow from green to honour guard. He had the same anxious need to impress others and mulishness for rules I hear you're so famous for. Eventually, his team beat that out of him, then he was a natural. Shame he joined the Royal Palace Guard, if he was regular he would have been halfway to general. We needed the new blood more than ever, but he was adamant. Ending a prince though... he did well for himself." Farsight told Twilight, who listened to the mare talk about her brother.

"Sorry, but you mentioned something about weapons?" Nate piped up from behind John.

Farsight had a ping of awareness as she realised she had become distracted.
"Yes, Apologies, please follow me."

As they moved outside and down one of the pathways, Nate continued to inquire to the Major.
"So What exactly are we going to collect?"

"Ever since the anomalies began to appear, the Guard and The M.O.A have been working together to seize any objects we can find. Everything is analysed and if deemed dangerous, put into the contraband vault away from dangerous hooves. Access to the vault is limited to a small few ponies for testing and maintenance purposes. The Princesses have granted you clearance to arm yourselves for the operation today. Princess Luna herself will be there to oversee your visit. In fact, she should be right-." Farsight stopped as she rounded the corner, John joined her to see Luna arguing with the other officer from before.

"General Brasshorn feels that too much trust is being placed in these strangers. Already considerable resources have been poured into your 'Ministry' which is yet untested or even recognised by the Court of Nobles. Now, this blatantly naive trust of strangers you yourself have admitted you know little about, it's too much for the General staff." The Old Stallion argued.

"You can tell Brasshorn that his concerns are noted, but unneeded Colonel. When our sister surrendered her say in military affairs to concentrate on the civilian side of this crisis, We became supreme commander. Until she decides to reclaim her half of authority, Our say will be final." Luna responded with annoyance.

The Colonel seemed ready to bite back, but decided instead to back down and go on his way. The Major forced a slight cough to get the princess's attention. Luna's ear flickered at the sound and she saw her guest's arrival.

"Our apologies if you overheard that, the high command is at odds with Our decisions. They believe a general mobilisation is a better strategy than what We have decided. Enough of that though, Major, if you would please." Luna ordered.

Major Farsight walked up to the wall that Luna had been standing near, made of exposed brick. The group watched as she pushed the bricks in at seemingly random, and then the whole wall descended. behind it was a short hallway into a large warehouse, the whole aesthetic filled with sleek metallic surfaces and well-lit. As the group went inside, tables of America's finest sat on every surface. John could see rifles, pistols, plasma, lasers, small arms, grenades, and ammunition of all calibres and types. Rows of bullets were placed upright on shelves, whoever had done this had been meticulous.

"Somebody had time on their hands" Nate commented openly.

"Ponies have been working night and day to reverse engineer the technologies for civilian purposes, however, it's been a slow burn to figure out each piece. So, we store most of it here and keep military hardware here to avoid unnecessary incidents. You may take whatever you deem necessary for your first mission. " Farsight explained.

The three humans began to look through each piece while Twilight look at everything as a whole. It wasn't long until John found something familiar, an old combat shotgun. It was worn and bent, but robust and easy to use. After checking it over, he found a shelf of ammo drums and began to manually load them with shells that were in a box.

"Hey, what's this do?" John heard Six say aloud.
Looking over, John saw the courier holding a strange gun. It looked like the insides of a laser rifle had been mounted to a wooden frame. at the back was a glass tube with a crank on it. Six cranked the weapon once and the glass tube crackled an angry red.

Nate stepped towards six, looking at the weapon in his hand with recognition.
"A laser musket, what are the odds this could be here?" Nate pondered aloud.

"What's a musket?" Six asked.

That question caused John to reflect, it was a showing of the courier's lack of education. Because of the few people he had chosen to live among in his past, he often took his vault education for granted. Before he could go any further into his thoughts, he distracted himself with the cloth-covered shoulder-mounted catapult nearby. Ignoring Nate explaining the weapon, he approached the Fat Man Launcher.

"-So they named the weapon after how close it looked to the old colonial muskets. While the lack of casing means it requires constant maintenance, the stripped-down nature makes it easy to repair. Though the chances of this finding its way here is unbelievable, what are the chances a commonwealth design would find its way-" Nate's pondering was cut short by John ripping away cloth covering one of the wasteland's most dangerous weapons.

Before Nate could respond, Major Farsight perked up.
" Ha, Yes, We hoped one of you could explain this machine. While our ponies concluded it was a weapon, they could not understand its launch system nor what it would fire" She said.

"The M42 Doesn't need a launch system, the warhead is a self-propelled system that uses the frame to aim" John explained as he examined the launcher.

"Warhead?" Twilight asked out loud.

Nate motioned his hands to show the size of a mini-nuke.
"A Mini-nuke Warhead is a device about this big that is launched from those things, it's a fission bomb that can take out a small building. Its design was based on the larger version"

"Sweet Celestia..." Twilight muttered with mild concern and cautious respect.

"Except the science never really added up with those things, The amount of fission material needed to set off the reaction would require a payload much larger. The energy requirements alone would need to be fifteen times folded to be possible." John said in annoyance.

Nate decided his adventure at Nuka-world and its secret was a story for another time.
"It's too big to take with us anyway. Besides, we should take weapons we have ammunition reserves for" Nate suggested.

"Yeah, that's about my motto. You choose your guns by your bullets." The courier said out loud as he pulled back the bolt on a sturdy hunting rifle and then checked the chamber. He stopped as he spotted an empty magazine for the rifle on the nearby table. he put down the rifle and started loading the empty magazine with rounds.

Seeing both of his colleagues had found their choice pick, Nate began his own search. Eventually finding a 10mm submachine gun amongst the piles of half-functional weapons. It was a design he had not seen since before the war, being uncommon in the New England area before the nuclear apocalypse.

Once each of the three had chosen their prize, Luna spoke up.
"If you have found your armaments, then preparations to depart can begin in earnest. Major, if you could oversee the final operations, We must return to the HeadQuarters to coordinate our other resources. Twilight, If you could bring our allies here to the landing platforms, The chariots will be waiting. "

The Princess then briskly made her way outside before taking off towards the castle. After a quick nod, the Major left the Vault. Twilight looked towards her human entourage to make sure they were ready before being to leave as well. Once they had all left the building, the secret door slammed shut with force. Six jumped at the shock, being only a few feet away as the last one to leave.

" Princess Luna? For a head of state, She seems invested." Nate noted.

"She's been spearheading every effort to counter the attacks. It makes sense, before her banishment she handled all matters of defence. Celestia preferred the pen to the sword. Ever since Luna metaphorically found herself in this new world, she's been struggling to find a role. However, she's not sleeping or holding night court. All of the princesses seem to be taking this personally, even me." Twilight responded.

"Don't you have a whole government to help sort this out?" John pointed out as he stared at the ponies they passed.

"The parliament of nobles has been in a deadlock on how to deal with the situation. Most of the response so far has been the initiative of Luna and Celestia" Twilight explained.

"So all of this has no national support" Nate Concluded.

"No, Luna hopes that today will prove her plan works. Then she can pressure the parliament to push something through" Twilight replied.

"Let's hope this goes well then" Nate added.

As they reached the platform, there was commotion everywhere. Ponies were on the move, chariots being loaded with cargo and soldiers. The three humans stayed close to the little princess as she made her way through the mess.

"Twilight!" came a high-pitched voice. After a quick look around, Twilight beamed.

"Girls!" Twilight replied as she made her way over to her friends, who were waiting near three other ponies the humans recognised.

"Well... we were waiting for you to show up," Rapidfire said as she cantered over to the humans.

"Sergeant Fire, could you act accordingly of your rank, as given by princess and country!" Battle Bowler sternly demanded.

Levee poked the frustrated Sergeant "Bowler, she's the same rank as you..."

After a beat, Bowler's ears fell. "it was a request of conduct..." He muttered.

Nate smirked at the antics, then turned to see how the princess was doing. She was hugging her friends.

"How did you know which platform we would be on?" Twilight asked in present surprise.

"Rarity and I just asked around until Somepony pointed out those three. We asked them and they said you would be here. I do not approve, however, Rarity, of lying to the checkpoint guards." Applejack said accusingly

"Applejack, Dear, I was only stretching things a little. I did say it was princess business." Rarity dismissed. Applejack shook her head in defeat.

"Besides Darling, We couldn't let you leave without saying goodbye," Rarity told Twilight.

"I should be going with you, it's not fair" Rainbow groaned, forehooves crossed while she hovered.

"Maybe next time Rainbow," Twilight said.

Suddenly, a whistle went off and the already busy platforms went into a frenzy.
"That's our cue, let's get moving Ponies!" Rapidfire shouted out as she flew into the sky with her hooves in front of her face to amplify the shout.

In the orderly chaos, Levee addressed the three humans and Twilight.
" Princess, Messieurs." she then gestured to a group of chariots that were ready to go.

Nate entered one of the chariots, he traced the goldwork on the chariot with his fingers in amazement. In his fascination, he barely heard John mumble his discomfort about the transport situation or Six whoops at flying on a chariot through the sky.
He did however notice when the Chariots began to take off. The sudden jolt as the pegasus pulling the chariots began to run and flap. As the carts began to move with haste, causing the wind to blow in Nate's hair. A single voice could be heard slowly getting quieter.

"BYE TWiiliiight, We'll see you when you get baaack....!" Pinkie's voice reverberated across the mountains.

"What a set of lungs on that one," Rapidfire noted to herself. Twilight, who was in the same chariot, chuckled to herself about her friend's antics.

The best laid plans of ponies and men

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Trees were a strange thing to John. In the Wasteland, he had seen healthy trees once. In this world, he had seen two whole forests of them now. Swamps on the other hand were something he had both experience and a deep loathing for. Yet, John preferred the miserable swamp to the endless sky he had struggled to handle while travelling to the objective. The Fact that these ponies could fly was bad enough, but the fact that the creatures that had no right being in the sky could drag chariots behind them without instantly falling like a rock scared the crap out of him. Even as the Chariot dipped below the treeline in a clearing, he held on for dear life. It took John everything not to flop out of the transport and hug the ground.

This was in complete opposition to the courier, who hollered as he jumped off his chariot in excitement.
"WOO, Boomers had it right! I gotta do that again!"

"You can when we've finished the mission." Battle Bowler said as he departed his chariot. He headed directly to a stockpile of unloaded cargo and began to coordinate with ponies unloading chariots.

"Are those guards, why are they not in uniform?" Twilight asked aloud.

"What, the gold and purple plates?? That's for the Princesses' personal guard, The Royal guard. The rest of the guards don't have all that fancy stuff. Could you imagine trying to give every single pony in the Guard enchanted armour?" Rapid Fire Explained.

"Enchanted Armour, what does enchanted mean?" John asked as he found his bearings.

"You know, Enchanted Armour, Juiced up with magic, causes it to have an effect o the wearer. The Royal Guards get enchantments that make them all look the same per their role." Rapid Fire responded.

"...What?" The Courier added meaningfully.

Rapidfire rolled her eyes before waving over one of the Pegasus guards who had pulled one of the chariots. The Guard, who was recuperating from the flight, Promptly made his way over and saluted the Sergeant.

"Private, Lose the armour" Rapid Fire Ordered.

To his credit, The Pegasus only hesitated for a second before stripping off his gear. The moment the chest piece was undone, The illusion began to fade. The Snow-white fur shifted to a crimson red while the mane went to a charcoal black.

John knelt to obverse the transformation with keen interest and a hint of excitement.

"That's... something" John heard Nate exclaim behind him, his footsteps announcing his approach.

The courier was making wheezes and waving his hands, showing what his hidden face did not.
"That's so awesome!" He exclaimed.

"And it's all from this?" John asked as he reached out to the chest piece on the ground, Ignoring the guard that was probably looking towards his superiors for answers.

As he glided his hand over the lightweight metal, he imagined all the possibilities this kind of power could bring. Water's of life indeed. He paused as he hear the subtle clop of hooves slowly coming up beside him.

"You, don't have magic, do you?" Twilight asked.

John thought about it. He had seen many things, even the unexplained occult. But this, this was something else. They could fly without aircraft, move things with their mind, and had the ability to 'Enchant' Objects. The fact that this seemed normal to these creatures, even common was almost scary.

"No, no we don't," John answered flatly.

"wait, no magic at all? This must have been a shock then" Twilight emphasised.

"In some ways" John replied.

"Well, as much as I'd like to hear about this, We have a job to do." Rapid Fire said before flying off to some nearby pegasi and harking an order while gesturing to the sky.
In a snap, the pegasi and Rapidfire were off in some direction. John guessed they might be scouting ahead.

"Well guess we should find whoever's in charge. There's always someone to tell you where to point and shoot." Nate suggested.

The Others wordlessly agreed by following his lead. In the small amount of time they had been talking, a camp was already being established around them. It didn't take long for them to find a large tent being erected in the centre of the camp. It was tall and square, big enough to host meetings inside. The cloth was a deep blue and the detailing was silver. It seemed more at home as a carnival tent than a military HQ. The flap to the inside was guarded by two strange ponies, Unlike all the other strange ponies John had seen. They had bat wings and cat eyes, Obviously another trick of their armour, which was different from the other guards they had seen. The batlike ponies stood vigilant as the group entered the tent.

Inside the tent was a scene more familiar to John, It was a command centre, complete with a map. However, two glaring things stood out. The first was the small differences he could see that gave away its pony culture. The wooden table and chairs, the scrolls, swords and candles. The second was Princess Luna in deep pondering behind a map on the table covered with wooden figures. Beside her, was Levee, carefully setting up figures on the map and making modifications with a pencil.

Luna snapped out of her deep thought with a flick of her ear. Then her head rose to see the newcomers.
"Excellent, you have arrived. While We wait for Sergeant Rapid Fire to return from reconnaissance, a Local has come forth with information" Luna announced, extending one of her wings to gesture to a pony wearing a straw hat and overalls.

"With your information and our allies here, We may understand our foe better. Please repeat to them what you told us." Luna requested of the stallion. The pony stood forth, tapping his chin in remembrance.

"Well, I didn't see much on the account of attempting to get out of there as quickly as a fox caught in a hen house... But they were tall, stood on two legs... No unlike yourselves." The Pony noted pointing towards John and the other two.

"They looked all skinny, ragged, didn't smell great either" The pony added while tapping his chin.

So far none of this helped narrow it down for John, what had been described was the average wastelander. It could have been any number of caravans, raiders or just some poor fools who had landed here by mistake.

"There was also something strange about how they acted. They shuffled around, went after any creature that went near them. It was like nothing was going on upstairs, like they were..." The Pony stumbled to find the word.

Nate however, picked it up just as John realised what the pony had seen.
"Feral."

Every pony in the tent looked to Nate, The Courier seemed to relax at the revelation.

" That's good, I can work with that, a few stray Feral Ghouls are easy enough. How many were there?" The Courier asked.

"About... thirty or so? One of them was glowing too" The pony answered.

The mood of the three humans instantly changed at the mention of a horde. Nate could only respond by running his hands back through his hair as he internally moaned in frustration. After letting out a breath to clear his stress.

"Ok, we have surprise and decent numbers. As long as we're careful, everyone gets through this" Nate said to the group.

"Pray tell, what is a... Ghoul?" Luna asked calmly.

"A ghoul is a human that has been exposed to lethal amounts of radiation, but instead of dying, they change. They lose their hair and their skin rots. The body decomposes while the radiation keeps them alive, they're also immune to diseases and aging. Most communities ostracise them, some because they are different and some because they might go feral" Nate Explained.

"Ferals are ghouls whose brains have turned to mush. They have no higher brain function and attack any none ghouls on sight. Glowing ones are worse, they're soaked in radiation. Radiation heals ghouls but also worsens their condition, Glowing ones are so radioactive that they can revive dead ferals" John added.

"So, we cannot negotiate with these...' Ghouls'?" Luna asked.

"Not once they are feral, no" Nate answered.

"A pity, But we knew the chances were slim. Sargent, bring in the other leader" Luna commanded.

"I'm sorry my princess, but Sargent Rapidfire left for a reconnaissance flight. I believe Sargent Battle Bowler is helping set up the camp, do you wish for me to bring him?" Levee asked.

"Nay, We shall wait for Sargent Rapid Fire's return. In the meantime, however, there is much to be done. Twilight, could you please assist Sergeant Battle Bowler to hasten his effort" Luna requested.

John noticed Twilight break out of a daze at Luna's request.

"Oh yes, of course! it's just, is there no other way to deal with the problem? Maybe we can simply move them somewhere out of the way?" Twilight offered her theoreticals, It was clear to John that she was having second thoughts. It was in her eyes and ears, Ponies seemed so much more expressfull than humans. Those same attributes gave away Luna's thought patterns. John watched as, in response to the question, the Princess of the Night verbally stumbled while trying to find the right way of telling Twilight the truth. There was going to be blood in this war, here or elsewhere. Luna then changed tactics, taking a moment to compose herself.

"We will consider your suggestion once we have heard the other options. Between our officers and our new advisers, they may find a solution." Luna told Twilight, who nodded at the response and left to find Battle Bowler.

As John watched Twilight leave, He heard Luna breathe a sigh of frustration.

"Twilight means well, but we fear how she will fare in the coming storm. She, along with most ponies, never had to face conflict on such a severe scale. As a ruler concerned with her subject's future, we feel she needs to learn this lesson, no matter how painful it may be. Yet, as her friend, we fear the consequence it will have on her heart..." Luna somberly told the three humans.

She then shook her head as if to clear the thoughts before starting up again.

"Regardless, now is not the time. General Nathan, according to the profile composed during your time here, you had formal military training before your world's Armageddon. You will be working with Sergeant Levee who is our foremost tactician protege. Mr Johnathan, you will be working with Sargent Battle Bowler, our assault team leader. You both seem to have a history of frontal assault experience. Mr six, you will be paired with Sargent Rapid Fire, maybe you will be able to keep up with her, mentally if not physically." Luna laid out verbally.

Hearing that 'Nate' was pre-war was a twist John had not expected, but it was what the princess had said about him that caught him. it didn't sit right with John, he had told no one of his past. Where did she get such an idea from, was it just his attitude, could she tell something about a person just by looking at them? or was something darker at work... he didn't trust her, more accurately, he didn't trust anyone. That was a lesson well learnt.

"Now, while we wait for the others to return, why don't you tell me more about these ghouls?" Luna said with keen interest.

Now that she was here in the camp, waiting for Luna to order the assault, Twilight was unsure of her path. In all her adventures, she had always found another way. Even Celestia had found alternatives to killing, there were plenty of places in the royal gardens for more statues if it came down to it. No, there had to be a better way! But look what they had done to Fluttershy, what if John hadn't been there, or if something else went wrong? How could she be expected to protect her friends from this new threat, let alone Equestria? But could she really kill another creature? It felt like every fibre of her being was being fought against. She needed an outside perspective, And the pony with the metal bowl on his head was there to ask. Ordering around ponies left and right was the sergeant, in front of a tent being erected while wooden stakes were placed behind it on the Perimeter.

"To the left, The LEFT!... Haven't you ponies ever put up a bloody tent before!?" He yelled in frustration.

Twilight walked up behind him and thought about how to ask her question, or remember his name.

"Sergeant... battle bowl?" he asked hesitantly.

His response was to let out a moan of frustration while face-hoofing himself.
"It's Battle Bowler, BA-Tel.... oh." The Sargent had cut himself off as he had turned to see who he was shouting at. His pupil's shank and his ears dropped as recognition hit him instantly.

"Princess, Beg your forgiveness... the lads have bricks for brains some days. Can I help you with something?" Battle Bowler stammered out embarrassed.

"Princess Luna asked me to see if I could speed things up out here, is there anything I can do to help?" Twilight asked

"Unless you know how to pitch a tent, then I'm afraid it's just a matter of making sure this lot is doing it right." Battle Bowler answered flatly.

"Do you have a manual for the tents?" Twilight asked, eager to get started.

"uh, sure, here." Battle bowler answered as he went over to a nearby barrel with a small diagram of the tent and how to set it up.

Twilight levitated the diagram in front of her, memorising how each part connected to another. after visually running it through her head multiple times, she placed the diagram back down. She then took a stance and pointed her horn towards the unassembled tent. Her horn glowed as she focused on projecting the actions in her head onto the tent. Once she had finished, she looked up to see her handy work. Seeing the other nearby tents, she repeated the process in rapid succession.

"Well, that's useful, I should have guessed the element of magic would be good at magic." Battle Bowler noted while impressed.

"Is there anything else I can help with?" Twilight asked again.

"No, No, that'll about do it, Princess, the lads can handle the rest." Battle Bowler responded.

"Please, Just call me Twilight Sparkle" Twilight asked of Battle Bowler, not feeling comfortable with the title.

"All right, Miss Sparkle, but the answers are still the same." Battle bowler said.

"Then do you mind me asking you something?" Twilight asked.

"Of course Pri-aagh- Miss Sparkle, What can I do for you?" Battle Bowler asked in kind.

"Well, have you ever actually, you know... killed something before?" Twilight asked hesitantly

"Of course" Battle Bowler Answered decisively.

Twilight's mind had to catch up with itself at not only the answer but how casually it was said.

"You, You have?!" Twilight asked with shock.

" Yeah, Plenty, Had wildlife on the farm I grew up on. Foxes were a nightmare on the chicken coop. Sometimes after working in the mines, I would find one trying to find a way into the coop. Had to stomp on more than one of their pretty little heads to keep them from coming back, at least for a few months. An that doesn't even cover the larger beasts that could wander in." Battle Bowler elaborated.

Twilight was trying to hold her breakfast down at the thought of stomping a fox's head in. Fluttershy had always found a way to convince the foxes near her cottage to leave her chickens alone. Fluttershy would probably be scarred for life if she had to put a fox down. The look Battle Bowler was giving her told her her face had given her away. Concern marred his face.

"Look, Miss Sparkle, Here in Equestria, in the cities, ponies don't have to worry about such things. You have your perfect weather and comfortable lives. But on the frontier, things are different. Sure, we don't have to fight any ponies or griffons or anything like that. But sometimes you have to protect what's yours, it's just a part of life. I don't enjoy it, but it has to be done" Battle bowler explained matter-of-factly.

The lecture had not helped Twilight as much as she had hoped. Before she could say anything in response, a whistle went off. Every pony watched as a flock of pegasi landed back in the camp, back from reconnaissance. Rapid Fire landed and made straight for the HQ, concern written on her face. On the way, she passed Twilight and Battle Bowler.

"Princess, Sergeant, with me, NOW." she sternly commanded them.

Twilight watched as Battle Bowler was about to say something, but decided against it and followed Rapid Fire. Twilight followed suit.

The Courier ate some of the nuts that were sitting in a bowl on a table on the side of the tent. After the three humans had given small accounts of their dealings with Ghouls and the prejudice that swamped the wastes, the conversation steered back towards how to deal with ferals. He watched as Nate and John argued over the most effective means of shooting a ghoul.

"You Gotta Shoot 'Em in the Head!" John announced adamantly.

"No, the legs, you go for the legs!" Nate re-affirmed.

"Shoot the head, destroy the brain, they're done!" John argued.

"If you cripple the legs, they can't move and you can finish them off after. The head is harder to hit!" Nate countered.

"If you're a good enough shot, then it's not a problem!" John hit back.

"Could you not just shoot both?" Levee asked cautiously.

"Ammunition is hard enough to find in the wasteland, you have to make every shot count. It will be even harder to find here." Nate explained.

"Which is why, You've Gotta, Shoot them, in, the Head!" John re-stated firmly.

Before either Nate could argue further or Luna could stop the argument, the tent flaps flew open with Rapid Fire at the helm.

"They're on the move!" She Announced.

Luna, who had found a chair during the conversation beforehand, shot up.

"Towards the town?" She asked with alarm.

"Affirmative" Rapid Fire Confirmed.

Battle Bowler and Princess Twilight both entered the tent beside Rapid Fire at this point.

"At what haste do they travel?" Luna demanded.

"They're not charging towards it but they're not meandering either. We can cut them off but we need to move, now." Rapid Fire stated, emphasising the last word.

"Then time is of the essence, a plan will need to be conceived on the way. We must cut them off before they reach Stableton!" Luna insisted, stomping one of her forehooves.

" If you want to slow them down, why not just keep them preoccupied? you have soldiers that can fly!" The courier suggested, It seemed obvious to him.

"If even one of them has the mutation to throw radiated chunks at them then there will be many casualties." John retorted.

"Explosives?" The courier suggested. Raining hell down on the bad guys had always worked in the past.

" We have nothing compact enough for our pegasi to carry nor the means of detonating them safely" Bowler interjected.

"We might not need to. If we roughly know their trajectory, we can set off explosives nearby. The sound should cause them to change course" Nate cut in.

"A distraction! We can use flares and small bags of blasting powder to create a target too big to ignore. If they are as mindless as you say, they will rush to confront it. Then we just pegasi to set off the distraction and retreat to a safe distance." Levee added.

The talk brought back the Courier's experience with the NCR, it felt good and inspired him.
"If you can find an open location with some nearby height, I can take up a position for sharpshooting. Take them out from a distance" The Courier added.

" We are to end the threat to Stableton first, then decide how best to deal with these ghouls after" Luna affirmed.

The Courier was confused by this sudden change of mind. Then he noticed the quick look Luna gave to Twilight.

"Sergeant Rapid Fire, Find a suitable location for our distraction, Take a rope hoist for Levee to join your entourage. Bring one for Mr Six here as well, so he may find a suitable position if possible. We will take the flares to mean you have found a location. " Luna ordered.

"Hope you don't mind flying." Rapid Fire told The Courier.

Remembering the view from the chariot, The Courier was giddy to head back into the sky. He quickly made tracks to follow the two ponies as they left the tent. He did wonder what a rope hoist was and what it was used for.

Once the flap was closed. Luna looked to the remaining two humans and two ponies.

As much as she doubted Twilight's idyllic end to this problem, Part of her still hoped there was a peaceful resolution possible. Perhaps there laid a path unseen by both parties.

"We need solutions, alternatives, and what risks they pose. First, let us hear what Princess Twilight thinks." Luna announced.

"Thank you, Princess," Twilight said with sincerity.

Celestia believed that Twilight didn't have enough of a say in decision-making, and Luna was inclined to agree. The nobles were unlikely to take her seriously without some showing of capacity. Regardless of the outcome, Luna was determined to give Twilight some say in the operation. With a smile and a nod to Twilight, the Princess of Friendship began to brainstorm.

" According to both of you, These Feral Ghouls are humans that have suffered extensive brain damage. This brings up two very important points. The first is that they no longer have higher reasoning skills and can be easily contained. If we can take them to a secure location, we can hold them without having to actually kill them." Twilight laid out to the others in the room.

There was scepticism all around, Even Luna was doubting the ability to securely contain that many prisoners.

"Which leads me to my second point. If we can securely hold them, it may be possible to reverse some of the damage done to their brain synapses. At the very least, we could make them passive."

This alternative was certainly appealing, if not more complicated than Luna would like. If it worked, however, it would go a long way to bolstering Twilight's confidence in leading. It would also save lives on both sides if no actual fighting was necessary. There were three others in the room to consult with, however.

"As Our military advisers, what do you three think of this strategy," Luna asked.

"It's a complete waste of time" John stated abrasively.

"I'm afraid I have to agree princesses. Even if we had somewhere to keep them, we have no means of keeping Feral Ghouls subdued for long periods of time. Even if we restrained each one of them individually, it would only risk people getting killed" Nate stated.

"Actually, there are spells that can knock out or freeze a subject without harming them. I could lay a spell matrix where ever the ghouls are and cast one spell to incapacitate them all at once" Twilight countered.

Luna was surprised by it, that could work. Now they would just need a place to hold them.

"Sergeant Battle Bowler, could the contingent here construct a stockade sturdy enough to hold that many prisoners?" Luna asked her subordinate.

"it's doable if we have the time. But I've seen Unicorns lay down a matrix, that takes time and you won't have enough to lay it before they arrive" He voiced his concern to Twilight.

"I could lay it down while they were there, An invisibility spell should do the trick," Twilight said back, confidence seeming to grow at her plan.

Luna saw one problem in the plan, and for her, it was a big one.

"Twilight, in order to activate the matrix, you would need to end your Invisibility charm" Luna pointed out.

"Yes, but the matrix can be activated in a second. that's the easiest part" Twilight countered.

"What if it doesn't work?" John flatly dropped.

"I don't see why it wouldn't, even if it did, I could teleport away," Twilight said.

"You might freeze" John pushed.

"I won't," Twilight firmly replied.

"Have you ever done this before?" John pushed harder.

"Stop it" Nate stood in between John and Twilight.

" It's a bad plan," John told Nate.

"That's not for you to decide," Nate said back.

" It's not up to you either," John shot back.

"They might be able to save them" Nate pointed out.

"They're ferals, they can't be saved." John threw back.

"You don't know that, There are whole possibilities here, magic could help them!" Nate argued back.

"People have died trying to pull it off before, if we try this the next one will be her!" John spat at Nate pointing to Twilight who was taking cover behind Nate from the growing yelling match.

"If They Want To Try It, That's Their Choice!" Nate shouted at John.

"I Didn't Agree To Help Them, Just For YOU TO HELP GET THEM KILLED" John Roared at Nate, both men looking ready to brawl it out.

This had gone on long enough.

"ENOUGH" Luna Demanded in the Traditional Canterlot Voice. it's powerful enough to clean the table of all its belonging, the map and all its figures flying right out of the tent.

Luna watched as everyone responded to her. Battle Bowler had to catch his helmet, Twilight rubbed her ears and the two humans looked at her like she had just tried to cut their heads off.

"Mr Johnathan, do not forget you are here to advise us on the best course of action, not chose it for us." Luna scolded John who responded by backing off.

"And General, It is not your place to defend our honour. If we must argue our ideals, we will do so ourselves." She told Nate, who also backed down.

"These creatures may come from your world, but this world is ours. While you are both under our employment, our judgment will be final. Is that clear?" Luna Commanded.

Both Humans responded with a stifled '"Yes Princess" like fouls being scolded by a mother.

Internally rolling her eyes, Luna looked to Battle Bowler.

"Sargent, in case of unforeseen circumstances, We want an assault team ready to move once we have the coordinate," Luna Ordered. with a crisp salute, the stallion marched out of the tent.

"Twilight, We will go forward with your plan. However, prepare an escape route in case things go astray" Luna told Twilight.

"Understood Princess!" Twilight said, filled with determination.

Luna thought it best not to remind Twilight of her own position.

Rapid Fire loved the feeling of the wind in her mane. She may not have been the flyer her older sister was, but she enjoyed it just as much. Yet, it seemed to be the human that was in a rope hoist below that was enjoying it the most. The one she had been told was named six was hollering in joy as the for pegasi above him, including Rapid Fire herself, held the hoist as they flew in the general area of interception. Levee un mass, for her part, was scanning the world below for an advantageous position, and their foe.

"There they are, down there!" Levee shouted over the howling wind.

Rapid-fire looked down to see Levee pointing towards a clearing in the trees, where she saw the ghouls shambling towards stableton in the distance.

"Is there any clearing nearby?" Levee asked the pegasi above.

"Over there, by the hillside!" One pegasus pointed out.

Rapidfire gazed towards the hill in question. The clearing was a small field, at the base of a hill that was partially free of trees until it was near the top. The clearing was surrounded by dense forest on three sides, with only the hill exposed. The base of the hill had a small decline that went in a line around the hill, probably an old dry creek bed.

"I see it, let's go in for a closer look!" Rapid Fire shouted everyone.

The two squads slowly descended until they were in the clearing. Once the hoists touched the ground, the two occupants got out of their respective hoists and the Unicorn had a brisk walk around the area.

"This will do, the creek bed can provide cover while the hill can serve as a fallback position. if we set everything off in the centre of the field, we can use it as a kill zone" Levee analyzed.

"So, how are we going to get everyone here?" Six asked.

"With this!" Levee stated as she held up a piece of chalk.

"... chalk?" Six asked confused. But Rapid Fire knew exactly what that meant.

"Oh cool, I didn't know you had that kind of power Levee," Rapid Fire commented.

"I do not, but the princess does. She will act as a power source for the conduit, allowing the portal to stay open for the bulk of our forces. Then she will make her way there on her own" Levee explained.

"I guess that means we found our spot, are we set?" Rapid Fire asked Levee.

"yes, this will do" Levee confirmed.

Knowing her orders, Rapid Fire nodded to the rest of the pegasi who in turn pulled out flare guns from their holsters. Between the pouches of blasting powder on their combat saddles and their flare guns, they were ready. With a flash of flint, the flares went off. It was showtime.

Ghoul Problem

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Six scratched his 9'o'clock shadow and pulled his helmet back down. He then went crouched on the ground and brought the stock of the hunting rifle onto his shoulder. From this distance, he would have trouble aiming at any particular target on a hostile. Thankfully he wasn't there to pick out a single target cleanly but to help bring down any hostiles he could. It also helped that his friendlies were all multi-coloured Quadrupeds. Huh, what a fun word... Quadrupeds, He had no idea where he remembered that one from. It didn't matter, trouble was just a few minutes away and he was rusty. Behind Six was a small group of pegasi, who apparently had keener eyes than most. They were scanning the treelines for movement the only sign they were there being the subtle flapping of wings and the occasional brush of wind on what little skin six had exposed. He looked down the hill to the rest of the waiting group below. Ponies dug out shallow trenches to allow themselves to be hidden from the coming ambush while the few who had arrived in armour stayed low to avoid being spotted early. Six also spotted below two men, two princesses and 3 ponies in a conversation.

"Once I've placed each Spell rune, I will get as close to the ditch as I can. If all goes as planned, the ghouls will be unconscious and the guards can restrain them. If something does go wrong, I can cast my protection spell and walk back. Luna can blast the field while my shield keeps me safe." Twilight covered one last time to the others. While most of the faces had her confidence, John and Luna seemed unsold, Most likely because she was the one pulling the plan off.

"Do we have any fallback plans?" John asked.

The question stung, The human had only known her for barely two days and had judged her as incapable. She didn't blame him, in that short time he had seen her nearly get her friend killed. Then she signed herself up for a war she had no idea how to fight.

"Yes, multiple. Our unicorns will also be ready to provide offensive spells and I can Teleport if the worst case happens" Twilight replied.

She waited as each of the ponies and humans in from of them agreed with the plan.

"It is agreed then, Sergeant Rapid Fire, single the pegasi to begin" Luna Ordered.

The Sergeant gave a snap salute from the air and shot off to alert her subordinates. Luna watched her meet with the other Pegasi in the sky. Within the second Twilight heard the explosions and flares going off over the field. The humans had said that while the first flare may have gotten the horde's attention, This would get them moving.

With things now underway, and no means of turning back, Twilight readied herself. A light refractile spell would hide her body, a sound muffler spell would mute her sound. With a muted breath, Twilight claimed out into the field.

The battered human watched the light shimmer go across the field, The binoculars he had been given helped him see what would otherwise be a completely invisible pony. Stealth boys had certain signs you could trace, and apparently, the same flaws existed in the Lavander pony's spells.

John didn't like this, no, he hated it. Risking his own skin was something he could manage, but sending out what he understood as a future leader of this land was plain stupid. It was made even worse by the fact that she was an idealist with little to no combat experience. Even if the plan seemed sound from what little he understood of magic, things can always go wrong. Why would you risk such an important person in a military engagement?

"You don't think she can do it, do you?" Nate asked John.

While the others had left to busy themselves, Nate had stayed.

"Even if she could, she shouldn't risk it. From what she told me and what I've seen, she's supposed to become one of the rulers around here. She spent most of the time sounding like an egghead in a lab coat, now she's making us take risks we don't need to. She's not ready for this and it's going to end badly" John Answered.

"Sometimes you need to have some faith in people" Nate replied.

This caused John to stop following Twilight and look at Nate.

"Didn't you say you're pre-war? seems like you would know first-hand why that's a dumb idea" John said.

Before Nate could respond there was a wave of murmurs from the scouts. A bird whistle sounded off, and the silence was deafening. All the ponies had stopped what they were doing and hidden. The lookouts had dove into the simple ditches dug into the old creek bed. Nate and John exchanged a look before crouching down themselves, now aware of the meaning. The horde was here.

John observed the treeline before finding ghouls bleeding out into the open. The Zombie-like creatures shuffled aggressively onto the open field, not quite breaking into a run. From the treeline, John could see light bouncing off the tree trunks.

"There's definitely a glowing one," John stated as he handed the binoculars to Nate who looked for himself.

" I'll warn Luna to keep that one separate from the others, Princess Twilight seems to have already laid down a few of the spells," Nate commented, handing back to binoculars and pointing out to a certain spot on the field.

Feint blue markings could be seen glowing in small patches across the designated spell array area. Twilight herself was currently unseeable, the area too large to pin her down. The Ghouls, however, were slowly entering the area under the flares.

Two to go, Twilight thought to herself. With twelve laid down, Most of the array was already placed. It was under the red glow of the flares above that the feint runes carved themselves ethereally into the ground. Her left ear twitched as she heard something making its way towards her. When she looked at the commotion, she froze.

The creatures looked closer to humans than any other creatures she had seen, but they were wrong.
They walked with none of the fluidity of the three humans she had seen but shambled and staggered. Their skin and flesh seemed to be necrotic, a theory made stronger by the horrible stench slowly getting stronger. As they got closer, Twilight could see the sunken shrivelled eyes of each Ghoul. There was no intelligence behind the eyes, no spark of self-awareness; they were just like the humans had described, feral. Twilight held her breath as they passed, she could feel her heart going haywire in her chest, The blood pumping in her veins was like zebra drums being played. As the Ghouls slowly walked up to her, she flinched in fear.

As they passed her, she noticed they were completely fixated on the flares above. She let out a sigh of relief, realising she had stopped breathing in the moment. She slowly continued on her course towards the next rune location. Taking care to stay out of the way of the monstrosities, Twilight reached the next location. pointing her horn to the ground, she cast the next rune. A quick zap from her horn and the rune began to crack into existence, forming the necessary symbol out of magic.

One to go, She thought to herself. As she looked around to make sure she was clear of any ghouls in her way, she had to double-check what she saw. One of the Ghouls was even more malformed than the others, it was glowing green with pustules of fluorescent liquid. Walking past it made her whole body feel wrong, and her horn felt numb. As she walked slowly to the final location, she watched the last of the ghouls reach the ground beneath the flares. Casting the last rune, She watched as crackled into place. The hard part was over, now to reach the border of the array nearest to the creek bed,

*Moments earlier*

John looked out across the field as the last of the Ghouls entered the remarked area, all of them staring up at the flares that were beginning to die out. Watching the Glowing one lurch behind the others, John noticed a shimmer appear near the glowing one. pulling up his binoculars, he saw a pony-sized ripple like water as the Glowing one passed. The ripple subsided, with no ghouls having noticed. Whatever 'magic' Twilight was using, it had nearly blown her cover. John picked up the Combat shotgun that he had placed next to him on the ground. Something was wrong.

Once Twilight had reached as far as she could before the magic link was weakened, she stopped. She turned around to face the horde and had a quick check to make sure they were all inside the array. As quick as she could, Twilight dropped her charms and just as the flares finally died off, Activated the Array. She watched as the runes burst into light and after a flash, saw the ghouls being to collapse. Twilight looked back to the cheers of all the guards, smiling with pride. She had stopped anypony from being hurt and had done so peacefully.

Twilight's pride turned to confusion when the cheering was replaced with shouting. The ponies were flaying wilding and shouting words that she couldn't make out. One sound Twilight could make out was the sound of something running up behind her.

The Glowing one was charging at her, its arms stretched out to swipe her. Twilight pulled up a magic dome just in time to stop the attack, the ghoul stumbled at the defence She had put up. The ghoul recovered and began thrashing at the shield, each hit causing damage. What shocked Twilight was that the damage was not the shield cracking from stress, but the shield's magic unweaving itself. She could only watch as the Ghoul stood back and raised its arms, the glow terminating from it getting more intense. What happened next was nothing short of feeling cooked alive, as the green glow burst forth and obliterated her shield. As she collapsed on the ground, the world faded to black on the periphery of her vision. Her ears rang and sound lost focus, but she was still lucid. In defeat and unparalleled bafflement, she could do nothing but watch as the rest of the ghouls began to awake. The Glowing one once more stormed up to her, and she realised she had failed. With nothing left to do, she tried to teleport out and failed. Her horn sparked uselessly and simply sent back pain.

In her final moments, she remembered all the friends and family she was letting down, and words flowed back of promises and warnings she had made and received. What she hadn't expected was to hear the voice of John, the human she had just met. It seemed out of place, not that it mattered anymore. Just as Twilight was about to black out and the ghoul's swipe was about to take out her throat, a thunderous boom brought the world back into focus.

John wasted no time jumping out of the ditch the moment the Glowing one had failed to drop. Ignoring Nate shouting at him to stop, he sprinted across the field. The glowing one released a wave of radiation and Twilight fell over, John didn't know if she was unconscious or dead. The Ghouls soaked in the radiation and recovered from their bout of unconsciousness, the glowing one then went back to attack its now vulnerable prey. The good news was that the pony was probably still alive, the bad news was that if he didn't hurry, he would probably lose his only way home.

John doubled timed his sprint, his shogun close to his chest. He used every last second he could to get close enough, once the time was up, he screeched to a stop, aimed, and pulled the trigger. The thump of pressure on his shoulder nearly knocked him off his feet, exhausted at the distance he had just covered. The Glowing one stumbled back as the buckshot hit it in the chest, buying John the time to recover. He fired two more shots into the Glowing one, knocking it over with the force. Jogging the last leg, John stopped and knelt down to check on the princess in his care. He lifted her chin with one hand while his offhand held the shotgun.

Twilight's eyes were hazed but she was very much awake. She squinted at him, her eyes beginning to focus.

"John?" Twilight asked weakly.
Looking into her eyes, John noticed his reflection. When a ghoul showed up in the reflection, he threw his weapon-bearing arm backwards and pulled the trigger. The sudden force on his arm from the point-blank shot was excruciating, the wrist was nearly broken from the act. His hand in shock, he dropped the combat shotgun. Letting out an all-mighty "FUCK", John stood back up and took the gun with his other hand. The shot had cleanly taken the head of the closest ghoul, but now the rest were beginning to charge towards them. With the combat shotgun now resting on his shoulder, he began to pick targets. The following two shots took out the heads of two ghouls, buying time for Twilight to recover. A third ghoul came at John from the side, giving him no time to react. The ghoul dropped however as a bullet crashed into its torse from the side, coming from behind John.

John turned his head for a moment to see Nate charging toward him, his 10mm Sub Machine gun out. Nate shot a burst of rounds at the closest ghouls, hitting them in the legs and crippling them. When he reached John, he stopped and did so again.

"What the hell were you thinking, They could have taken a clean shot if you hadn't done this!" Nate chastised John, both of them sending lead at the incoming ghouls to slow them down.

"Shut up and help me!" john shouted back, Grabbing Twilight by one of her forehooves.

Nate followed suit and they began to slowly drag her back towards the creek bed. After a few steps, spells and crossbow bolts started to rain down on the Ghouls. The beams of magic did little to slow the horde, while fireballs turned them into moving pyres. Armoured ponies climbed out to attack the non-Flaming ghouls themselves, and pegasi rained whatever they could down on the enemy. One unfortunate pegasus tackled a ghoul coming straight for the three and was swiftly torn apart by three other ghouls. While occasionally a small bang would be heard behind them with a ghoul stumbling from the shot.

The courier reloaded as fast as he could, repeating a mantra to himself of "Shit, shit, shit, shit" before slamming the bolt on his rifle shut and continuing to take marked shots at any target he could.

Nate continued to heave as John and himself made their way to the backlines with the barely conscious Twilight. Looking back, he could see Luna Flying above, taking careful shots into what clusters of Ghouls she could see. As he looked back towards the carnage in front of him, he saw another blast of green energy coming from the battle. The Glowing one was still alive, John had failed to finish the job and it had recovered. The dead ghouls began to rise once more, extending the battle and costing more lives.

Nate cursed himself internally for not checking, then John for rushing out in the first place. Luna had stated moments after John had rushed out that she couldn't save Twilight because she no longer had a clean shot. His lack of discipline had gotten people killed today.

As both humans reached the edge of the ditch, Nate called out to Princess Luna.

"Princess, We need to stop the glowing one, It can revive the others!" Nate exclaimed.

With a nod, Luna swooped above the battle scene and targeted the glowing ghoul. Her horn began to glow as she materialised 3 swords from nowhere and fired them downwards. The Princess began to fly back, signalling her success in doing so. Nate could only watch as something brown was launched at the princess and struck her. The princess began to rapidly fall from the sky, Barely gliding to the edge of the battle. With a crash, Luna landed but a few meters from the trio.

With Twilight in John's care, Nate rushed over to Luna. Battle Bowler and Leveé had also raced out to aid their princess of the night. Luna struggled to her hooves, covered in dirt and slight bruising. She winced as she walked towards the trench line, not stopping when Nate was next to her.

"Our Magic, Something has happened, We cannot use our magic," Luna told the three.

"You have lost your magic?!" Leveé asked, dumbfounded.

"Nay, not lost, We can feel it, but use it we can not" Luna Clarified.

Nate didn't understand what was happening, but things were going south fast.

"Sergeants, Get your soldiers out of there. You're faster than your enemy, Use that to your advantage. Pick them off slowly while keeping a distance, aim at their legs and slow them down. Try to spilt them apart, they're stronger as a group" Nate Ordered to the Earth pony and unicorn.

Battle Bowler seemed taken back by the command but before he could talk back, Leveé clubbed him on the head with her hoof. His helmet sounded like a gong as it vibrated on his head.

"Hoof and hoof it, understood!" Leveé responded, dragging her peer with her.

Nate took the opportunity to look back out to the field, things were not good. Try as the ponies might, the ghouls were too difficult to face in a melee when in this number. What success had occurred was from ranged attacks and opportunists taking out stragglers, yet just as many had died trying to directly take the horde down.

Nate looked around for John, seeing him in the ditch with Twilight. Nate jogged over to the edge of the ditch and jumped down. John was looking over Twilight, seemingly trying to find any sign of trauma. He noticed Nate looking down at him and got up.

"What the hell happened, everything has gone to shit!" John announced.

"Fight now, complain later. They need firepower up there!" Nate Demanded of John, gesturing to the field above.

"Fine!" John Answered, grabbing his gun.

Nate climbed out of the ditch alongside John and they both made their way to the fight.

Nate fired a burst into three ghouls that were running in across the field in front of them, getting their attention. John then took the head of two of them before needing to reload. Nate finished off the third and reloaded as well.

"The Legs, Not the heads!" Nate Emphasised.

"Fine!" John Roared back.

The two finished reloading just as four ghouls took notice and sprinted at them. The two humans stood side by side and mowed the ghouls down, the last ghoul going so fast that as its knees turned to buckshot-caused paste, its rolled a few meters away for the inertia. John waited for more ghouls to get closer while Nate sent single shots out to any ghouls chasing ponies he could see. Eventually, one or two Ghouls would bite and come after the two humans, only to lose their legs.

Time went on and Ponies began to tactically retreat from the fight, leaving the pegasi to rain lightning and rocks down on the Ghouls. Unicorns and earth ponies used hit-and-run tactics to thin out the other ghouls. The ghouls began to lose interest in the fast prey and switched to Nate and John, who as a result stood back to back and took out any Ghouls that were in range. The occasional Ghoul would be dropped by the courier rifle, helping to keep the pressure off the other humans.

Once most of the Ghouls are dead or legless, the guard returned to clean up the rest. A coordinated charge dropped most of the standing ghouls while guards went around with spears to skewer the remained heads.

Finally, the fighting ended. twenty-three ponies were dead or wounded, a pyrrhic victory that left no one celebrating. Rapid Fire had raced back to the forward camp to bring reinforcements, their arrival slowed by the terrain. They did however bring medics who tended to the wounded, and the chariots to bring the Canterlot forces back home. The local forces would be on clean-up duty.

While the expedition prepared for the trip, John wandered the field. Something had gone wrong, and he needed to know what. His boots would occasionally squelch from the thin layer of blood that pooled around the dead. The smell was as horrible as he had remembered, blood and necrosis. John stopped as he reached the corpse of the glowing one, mangled by three swords. He thought about why this ghoul, in particular, caused so much harm, this one had stayed awake, this one had broken the Princesses defences.

He noticed that the swords were wavering the closer they got to the ghoul's flesh, like visible heat from a fire or molten metal. John reached out with his right hand to see if they were hot but stopped as his Geiger counter went off. 'Idiot', he thought to himself, he doesn't have any rad-x on him. he can't afford rads at this point and of course, glowing ones would be...

He stopped.

John shot up and scanned the battlefield. Nate had told him Luna had had a 'Performace issue' mid-battle after being hit by something brown. He had seen where she had landed and where she was coming from, so he followed the trajectory. Finding the brown gunk in a pile on the ground, he knew what it was. The Rever's flesh, ripped out of its own body as a projectile. He brought his pipboy down to it and listened as the ginger ticked away.

A lie by any other name

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"How could you not know Radiation affects your magic, you've been studying radioactive stuff for months!?" John shouted as he stomped across the M.O.A command centre in anger.

Luna would have thrown the human out the window if she didn't understand his frustration. Indeed, this oversight had cost them dearly.

The mission had nearly been a failure, many letters would need to be written for families of the fallen. Upon returning to Canterlot, both Princesses had found their magic blocked. After making their way to the Castle's Medical wing, A Thaumologist from the Canterlot medical academy came to a concerning conclusion. Their magic was not so much blocked as mutated.
The magic in their bodies had become erratic and uncontrollable, but also much more powerful. The pools that allowed magic-using creatures to store magic were perfectly in sync with their body's means of casting it, any significant change could disrupt the process. Since their pooled magic was stronger and more unstable than their ability to cast it, it was like trying to release pressured steam through a straw. When Either Twilight or herself tried to use their magic in any form, the magic would cause a blowback effect. As time went on, the excess Magic would calm down or flow out, but using magic now was not only extremely difficult but could cause permanent damage.

"I and Doctor Argon implemented procedures against using any means of transport or study that didn't use machinery on items that were contaminated. Any item with strange reading or unknown variables was considered too dangerous to handle without proper tools and kept in confined storage. We didn't want any unforeseen consequences and so no one has used magic on any items outside of safety margins. Further, the damage seemed to have required a significant presence of this 'Radiation', no pony has been exposed to enough to show symptoms" Docter Gray reasoned.

"Regardless, it is strange that no record of such an effect exists." Nate brought up.

"The few cases we may have had were already dead by the time the symptom would have shown, with no knowledge of this 'poisoning', we would have chalked it up to some magical plague. If your friend over there didn't have one of those potions, I don't know what we would have done" Doctor Feathers said.

Everypony in the room looked toward the courier, who in turn looked at everyone looking at me.

"A Radaway keeps the rads at bay, I carry a few on me in case of emergencies" The courier commented.

Everyone took a moment to be confused by his jingle before John snapped back into his frustrations.

"None of this excuses the fact that you chose to follow a plan that had unnecessary risks. We were there to stop a threat and your little idealist jeopardised that!" John told Luna.

"How dare you, Princess Twilight has saved the lives of countless beings on several occasions, including our own." Luna snapped back.

"And she nearly paid for that today with her life," John said back to Luna, his voice noticeably quieter.

Luna took a moment to respond. John was right, She had put Twilight in danger, but no more than she already had faced in the past.
"Twilight understood the risks she undertook" Luna answered back calmly.

"No, I don't think she did; I don't think you have any clue what you're up against. If you don't start taking this fight seriously, people are going to die." John told Luna before walking out of the room.

Before Battle Bowler and Rapid Fire made their way to stop him, Luna cut them off.

"Leave him; Sergeant, please continue the debriefing," Luna said, watching the human leave the ministry HQ.

Twilight paced up and down the hallway, trying to bring herself to go into the room. Eventually, she reached the door again and hesitantly knocked.

Twilight was still considering how to word the situation as Rarity opened the door to the guest room the girls had been waiting in. Each of them called out her name together like a symphony as they saw her at the door.

"Hey girls," Twilight greeted them.

"Twilight, what in tarnation is going on, No pony will tell us what happened!" Applejack pleaded, stress and worry in her voice.

Twilight watched as Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and Rarity surrounded her on the other side of the door; all of them were concerned.

"Things didn't go as planned, A lot of ponies... didn't make it," Twilight told her friends.

She tried to fight back the guilt and shame, a strategy that obviously failed from the further concern her empathetic friends showed.

"When I heard what we were fighting, I... I thought I could save them. No Pony would be hurt, We could stop them, help them. But I was wrong, So wrong, and now so many are gone, and it's all my fault." Twilight blubbered out, having slowly become a mess as she told them.

She could barely see in front of her as her vision was clouded by tears, but she felt two of her friends hug her from either side.

A few minutes passed, and it was obvious that none of them knew how to respond. Instead, they took her over to one of the beds and stayed with her until she claimed down.

Eventually, Twilight said what was on her mind.

"I never should have been a Princess" Twilight lamented. Her friends gasped in shock at the statement.

"Now you take that back, You've been nothing but good for Equestria all this time," Applejack demanded as she prod Twilight in the chest.

"I couldn't agree more! Twilight, Dear, think of all the ponies whose lives have been forever changed for the better because of your actions," Rarity chipped in.

"Don't forget all the big meanies we beaten, foiling their eeeevvviiillll!" Pinkie followed.

But that had been with her friends, and with Celestia's blessing. Since this crisis started, things had gone downhill hard. Without Celestia's guidance, she was nothing.

"Rainbow?" Applejack asked, snapping Twilight out of her thoughts.

She noticed Rainbow Dash had walked away and was facing away from the group.

"I told you, you never should have gone alone. I... We could have helped." Rainbow said.

A pregnant silence filled the air.

"Rainbow, It wasn't your fault," Twilight told her friend, who was clearly being eaten by the same guilt she had felt.

"I should have been there, I can't stop thinking about it. What if I had been there, maybe things have been different?" Rainbow mused.

"Maybe, or maybe you would have been hurt too," Twilight answered.

"That line of thinking won't help anyone, What's done is done." Rarity interjected.

"I'm in over my head with this. I need to find Celestia, She was right." Twilight Announced, caught up in her own doubt.

As she left, her friends followed her without saying a word. She must have looked as bad as she felt, but she welcomed their moral support nonetheless.

John breathed in the fresh air, listening to the fountain's running water as he sat on the stone basin. He had stumbled upon an enclosed garden after marching off in one direction from the tower. He wasn't per se lost, but he had no idea where he was. The castle was much larger than it looked on the outside and probably had many hidden locations. His mind blew off steam as he brooded silently, wondering how he had ended up in this mess. He stopped when he realised what he was doing and tried to distract himself from his own inner thoughts. He looked around the garden, noticing how immaculate it was. Everything in this world seemed without grime or rust, even the dirt looked clean. His first question was if these ponies even stood a chance against his world's mess now that he knew radiation took away their one strength, their odds looked worse than before. His second question was who kept this place so pristine?

The latter was answered when an older mare walked in from the same doorway he had. The pony in question jumped with a sound of verbal surprise as she saw him in front of her. She was a light shade of violet, with a rich yellow mane that bounced as she reacted to the surprise. On her head was a straw hat and on her back was a saddle bag filled with gardening tools. Small rubber boots covered her hooves, squeaking subtly as she walked.

"Uh, oh, um, Hello?" She almost asked, obviously unsure of what to do.

"Is this all your work?" John asked, giving her a way out.

"Oh? Ah, yes, yes it is!" She responded, clicking what he had just asked.

"It looks good," John said, Like everything else in this stupid place, he thought.

"Really? Well, thank you!" She said, taking pride in the compliment.

She started taking off her saddlebags, and John went back to stewing in his thoughts. The gardener mare had pulled a spray bottle and began spraying at the base of some of the plants. John went back to wondering if there was someone or something he could turn to to make his progress getting home go faster.

"If you don't mind me asking, What are you?" The Earth pony gardener asked.

John figured everyone at the castle would have known by now, hell, everyone in the city should have some inkling.
"You don't listen to the news much, do you?" John asked.

"Oh Celestia, no... No, I mostly tend to my gardens, here and at home. All the stories of monster attacks these days have made ponies sick with worry. I said to myself, Betsy Bloom, you're going to give yourself the blues if you worry too much, And it's true. If you worry about things outside your control, all your going to do is worry yourself to death" Betsy Bloom explained.

John listened, the mare digging out weeds in between sentences. It was a calm conversation, in a calm place, a luxury John had sparsely these days.

"Well, to answer your question, I'm a human," John told the mare.

"I've never seen a Hu-mon before, what brings a stranger such as yourself to Equestria?" Betsy asked.

"The Princesses brought me here, They found me in the wilderness. They promised if I helped with the attacks, they would find a way to send me home," John explained.

"Well, The best of luck to ya getting home, no one should be kept from their home. However, if you can somehow help however you can, you would have my thanks. Equestria was a nice and safe place not that long ago, All we can do now is hope someday soon it can go back to it." Betsy Bloom told John.

John watched as Betsy struggled with a particularly deep weed, pulling at it with her mouth. After watching the display for a minute, John got up and went over to Betsy. She let go as he knelt down and grabbed it, pulling it out in one tug.

"Thank you, some times the roots are stubborn, could you be a dear and help with these ones?" She asked.

After going around and pulling out the weeds, Betsy pointing out which ones to pull and John ripping them out, the mare admired their progress.

"Be careful, if your this helpful, I may not want you to leave," Betsy joked.

"Honestly, this place, it's nice," John admitted.

"Well, don't let anyone tell you I don't earn my keep, this garden takes some good effort," Betsy replied.

"Not the garden, this place, It's people, its sky, the air. It's so peaceful here..." John noted allowed.

"Well, you won't have much trouble finding work, Not with claws that useful," Betsy replied.

John chuckled at his hands being called claws. For all the digit-required objects he had seen, the locals had a distinct lack of hand-based knowledge. He held one hand in front of him and opened and closed it at the thought.

"That's not the reason..." His mood sobered as his other hand lightly grasped his wrist and he looked away.

Betsy didn't move as she watched John, waiting for him to continue. so he did.

"Where I come from, I have something I need to finish. Spent most of my life searching for something, I can't stop now," John Answered.

"Well, Hopefully, you find what you're looking for," Betsy finished, attempting to go back to her job.

Instead, she looked around in confusion and then took off her hat in annoyance.
"I knew I had forgotten something, I left my snippers at home. Good thing Mower's Sale is still on," She said to herself.

She put her hat back on and began to walk away, but stopped and turned around.
"It was good to meet you, Mr...?" Betsy said, leaving the end to be answered.

"Johnathan," John responded.

"Well, it was a pleasure, Mr Johnathan," Betsy said, leaving John alone.

John sat back down on the basin, listening to the fountain's running water.

Twilight followed the mental map of the castle in her memory, recalling each wind and turn. Her best bet for finding Celestia quickly would be the throne room or her study, Of which she was heading to the former after visiting the latter. No pony had said a word since the guest room except to ask others for the location of the princess. Apparently, both Princesses had been busy since her return. On her way to the throne room, she found her mentor, accidentally meeting her in an intersecting hallway.

"Twilight!" Celestia exclaimed.

Before Twilight could respond, Celestia knelt down and embraced her.

"Are you alright?" Celestia asked softly.

"...no, no I'm not. I made a terrible mistake, and others paid the price," Twilight told Celestia.

"You are not to blame for today's disaster, I am. I should have intervened before it went this far. " Celestia said, her face hardening with resolve.

Twilight then watched as Celestia stood up straight and made towards the tower of harmony.

"Do not worry, my student, I will handle this. I fear my sister's plan has failed, I am going to shut down the Ministry and order full mobilization. I fear the generals will have their war." Celestia stated, much to the horror of the girls, who quickly caught up with the Princess.

"Wait, What?!" Twilight squawked

"Woah Woah Woah, you don't mean 'War' War, do you?" Rainbow Dash asked in disbelief.

"Yes, Rainbow Dash, I mean Equestria will officially enter a state of emergency and declare an armed conflict against these intruders who would harm our ponies." Celestia clarified

" Would the nobles even allow such a thing?" Rarity asked, seemingly stunned by the mere thought.
"Princess," She added after a beat, visibly remembering who she was addressing.

" I would very much doubt it if they had a choice. However, if a state of emergency is declared, the crown has the power to supersede the parliament until the crisis has passed. Since the means at my disposal have normally been enough, it was a clause I had hoped to never need to use," Celestia told the group.

"But, What about the attacks?" Twilight pushed, Unhappy at the news.

This question gave pause to Celestia, causing the girls to grind to a stop as well.

"Until such time as the joint staff feels we are ready, the guard will pull back to major population centres and critical infrastructure. The rest must move to defended locations or fend for themselves..." Celestia announced.

While her friends panicked at the prospect of their respective families being left out to die, Twilight noticed the subtleties of Celestia's motions. The slower walk speed, her slightly tilted down head, her ears splayed back. Even without seeing her face, Twilight knew those words hurt Celestia to her core.

As Celestia continued down the hall, Twilight turned around and went back to her friends who were now in the process of making desperate plans.

"Aunt and Uncle Orange might be able to pull some strings, And Filthy Rich Won't abandon the zap apple trade. I hear them griffons have warriors for hire. Rainbow, you know griffons, dontcha?" Applejack asked.

"I knew A griffon Applejack, and I have no clue where Gilda is. if you remember, we didn't exactly leave on good terms." Rainbow responded in annoyance.

"Mum and Dad will never leave the rock farm, and neither will Lime!" Pinkie insisted.

"Girls!" Twilight snapped, getting their attention.

Each of them looked at Twilight with desperate eyes, as if drilling into hers to find answers, answers she didn't have.

"I'll... I'll talk to her, There's got to be a better way..." Twilight told them, unconvinced herself but unwilling to think otherwise.

Twilight raced ahead to catch up to Celestia, letting her friends follow from behind.

"Princess, I know you don't want to do this..." Twilight prompted, getting a sigh from her mentor in response.

"Twilight, I am not as all-powerful as you think I am..." Celestia said softly, almost in a whisper as she side-glanced her

The statement confused Twilight, both its context and its meaning. The confusion must have been obvious because Celestia elaborated.

"The M.O.A Was in theory meant to allow a precision strike against this threat. If it had worked, I could use it to convince the Military and the public that stronger measures would be unnecessary. While the Nobles may balk at such measures now, once the pressure from the public or their own personal losses mount, they would demand such measures regardless. If the parliament can form an overwhelming majority, they could declare such measures without a means for me to intervene. The Generals would have supreme power until the matter is resolved, effectively sidelining my sister, you and myself. If I Declare such measures now, We at least retain some semblance of control," Celestia explained.

It was unthinkable, that the military and the nobles override the princesses. Why would anyone agree to that?

"Can't you just override them? It's not like they could stop you..." Twilight pointed out.

"Not without destroying centuries of carefully cultivated political traditions. I helped create the parliament after my sister was banished because I didn't want to become a supreme ruler. The parliament gave ponies a means to govern themselves, and thus alleviated the stress of governance I was forced to burden. By ignoring the limitation I agreed to, It would divide Equestria at a time when it needs to stay together most. No, once today's failure gets out, the only option I will have is to concede to the generals. I'm going to take action now, at least then I can constrain them," Celestia elaborated.

Celestia then looked Twilight in the eyes.

"If nothing else from this mess, at least we won't have to deal with the inevitable complaints ponies will have about these humans. For all his insistence that he wanted to leave as quickly as he can, from the reports, this 'John' has had no qualms using every opportunity to criticise the way our ponies approach this crisis. The Nobles and the officers would have a field day..." Celestia added with a hint of frustration, returning to her focused march towards the M.O.A HQ.

Twilight, on the other hand, froze in realisation.

"Twilight, what did she say?" Applejack asked as the group caught up to her.

Applejack walked into Twilight's vision as the pony kept thinking the same thought.

"Twilight, What's Wrong?" Applejack asked.

"I never told him," Twilight said aloud, voicing her single thought.

"Uh, told who what?" Rainbow Dash asked from behind.

"John, the human. When he arrived, I never had the chance to tell him how he got here. Then when he said he would only help until he found him a way home, I couldn't tell him." Twilight Explained to her friends.

"...so you lied to him," Applejack added.

"No, I just... neglected to mention that we were responsible. And it wasn't a lie that we would help him get home, I just didn't that we already can..." Twilight reasoned.

"Twilight, Lies are lies, it doesn't matter what way you word it. If he's only here because he thinks he has no choice, then he won't stay at all. If the Elements brought him here, then you've got to have faith that he'll stay because he wants to," Applejack Lectured.

"That's just it Applejack, I don't think he will. It's only been a day but I've seen everything I need to, he's not interested in helping unless he has to," Twilight countered.

"Maybe he just needs to see how nice and friendly every pony in Equestria is?" Pinkie hinted.

All four ponies present looked at Pinkie, who shrunk at the flat looks.

"Twilight, Dear, forget him. If he's not interested in helping then let him leave. Nathan and the other fellow seem just as willing to fill that void," Rarity offered.

"Maybe, but I can't help but feel he's important for all of this somehow. You didn't see him in the ever-free, or today. The way he took down those monsters, it's scary, yet..." Twilight paused as she tried her best to say what she was thinking.

"Yet what, Twi?" Applejack coaxed

"He knows what we're facing, He seems to know how to face it, and he wasn't distracted by our... our WEAKNESS! He knew my idea would fail, and we didn't listen. We need him, We can't let Celestia send him back!" Twilight Stressed. Concerning her friends, except for Pinkie, who was looking around the corner.

"Well, she's right at the door." Pinkie pointed out, causing Twilight to zip around to see Celestia entering the Tower of Harmony.

"No, nonono-" Twilight started as she galloped to reach the Tower.

John's relaxation was broken when a familiar lavender pony zipped past the garden entrance going "nononono-" followed by four more ponies.

Nate rubbed his temples as the meeting broke down. The Colonel and Major Farsight had both arrived not long after John had left the M.O.A HQ. The Colonel had gone on to deliver a scathing letter from the General staff about the list of casualties and lack of answers, ignoring the fact this was the debriefing and the answers were still being figured out. It was obvious to Nate that this was a pre-planned attack by the General Staff, who would have stirred up trouble regardless of the mission's outcome. it was politics at its dirtiest, the kind that had infected the Minutemen and its successor.

"This was an untested military formation, casualties were going to be expected, "Luna argued with the Colonel.

Regardless, The General staff, Led by Brasshorn, have found the current tallied deaths and injured to be well above expected numbers," The Colonel informed Luna.

"How could they expect numbers against a foe we had little knowledge about before hoof?!" Luna pointed out, getting frustrated at the line of the accusation.

"As per standard procedure, all intel during an ongoing operation is sent back to High command. Estimated numbers were given and your units outnumbered the enemy significantly," The Colonel responded.

"An enemy with unknown properties and strengths! Furthermore, the M.O.A is independent of the military structure, they have no right to interfere, who was sending this information?" Luna demanded.

"The units sent on this mission were from the Equestrian Guard and thus had full accountability to the High Command, Believe it or not, Princess, you do not have your own private army. Now, let's talk about these, Foreign advisors who were clearly unqualified to assist in this mission." The Colonel stated, moving the line of questioning along.

"The humans were brought here by the Elements and had a clear history of conflict with these kinds of creatures. General Nathan here has informed up of leading many a mission such as this one. Without their assistance today, many more could have been lost," Luna Defended.

"And yet it was by their advisement that today's strategy was implemented, a plan with failed horrifically. Further, What proof do you have of their qualifications besides their word? What evidence of their claims do you have, or are you simply trusting these strangers based on unfounded claims?" The Colonel countered.

"I based it on the strength of their character," Luna claimed.

"Indeed, let us see that character as it were. We know that you had the humans monitored by their assigned officers and a report sent to you by way of Major Farsight." The Colonel exposed.

Nate was not surprised by this, but it still felt like a breach of trust. Yet, it was probably for the best,r shoes, he would have done the same. From the way the Courier shuffled around, he must have felt the same. Levee en masse, Battle Bowler and Rapid Fire all looked away from the humans with tell-tale guilt and shame. Luna more than anything seemed shocked at the breach of secrecy.

"Matters of military significance don't avoid the eyes of the General staff, no matter how much you may wish to keep them out. Major Farsight, please repeat aloud the first half of the 'Character' summary from the report." The Colonel requested.

Nate saw the Major looking at him and Six with an apologetic yet sympathetic look. She proceeded to clear her throat before reading aloud from a scroll the contents of the report.

"While we have little knowledge of the other world's norms, it is clear by Equestrian standards that these 'humans' lack the aptitude of soldiers. The two humans known as 'John' and 'six' have shown a lack of initiative, discipline, or respect for authority. 'John' in particular has shown characteristics more in common with a common thug, showing antisocial behaviour, a lack of restraint, no sense of comradery and no willingness to fight without incentive. 'Six' has shown sociopathic tendencies including a willingness to commit petty offences such as swindling and lying to authority; as well as fabricating a past with many inconsistencies to bolster his image. The one known as 'Nate' has shown the least issues, with a willingness to work with others." Major Farsight recounted.

"And could you please read out the last part of the extract on the 'Generals' qualifications," the Colonel requested.

"However, his claims of being a General are superficial or greatly exaggerated at best, with himself admitting to gaining the title by the circumstance of there being no other candidates," Farsight added.

At this point, even Luna was showing signs of discomfort at the continued exposure. Even Nate was being worn thin by this as well, his hands violently clenched; He had earned that title with blood, sweat and tears. The Courier by contrast seemed to be lost in his thoughts, apparently having decided to zone out at some point.

"As you can see, your Ministry has failed, Princess, it's time to move on from this sham," The Colonel finished.

Princess Luna looked as if she was about to respond, but everyone was caught off guard by a new voice in the command centre.

"I'm afraid I have to concur with the Colonel," Celestia stated calmly as she entered.

"Tia..." Luna responded, her voice soft and vulnerable.

"I'm sorry, Sister, but we have been left little choice," Celestia said, showing no emotion.

"General Brasshorn will be happy to hear that the military will finally be allowed to do its job," The Colonel commented.

"Its job will be to follow whatever orders WE give it, Major. Tomorrow Princess Luna, Princess Twilight and I will announce an official State of emergency. The Equestrian Guard will fall back to Major population centres and strategic points until conscripted forces are trained and ready." Celestia ordered the Colonel before looking Luna directly in the eyes.

"Don't you agree, Sister?" the question was a thinly veiled demand, to which Luna caved.

"Yes, Sister..." Luna acquiesced, avoiding her sister's gaze.

"Good, then you have a week to begin decommissioning this est-" Celestia began before another voice begin to echo from behind the solar monarch.

"Princess, please, you must reconsider, I...-" Twilight stopped as she appeared through the door and noticed everyone in the room.
it appeared that no one had informed her of this meeting, since they had left her to recover after today's incident without inviting her.

"Yes, Twilight?" Celestia asked, still showing little emotion past the stern composure.

"I know things didn't turn out as they intended..." Twilight began, Nate noticed the Colonel roll his eyes at the statement.

"But we need the M.O.A, What I saw out there today, The Guard can't handle, our ways won't be enough. I saw it, Luna saw it, They saw it." Twilight gestured to the three Sergeants still trying to blend in with the scenery.

"If we're going to survive this, we're going to need the M.O.A, we're going to need skilled ponies, and we're going to need allies to show us how to win," Twilight said, pointing towards Nate and Six. Her friends showed up behind her beaming with confidence, it almost felt choreographed.

"I'm sorry Twilight, but it's not up to me. Whether the Guards use their experience is up to the generals, and them, if they still wish to help," Celestia told Twilight, before the two Princes looked to the Two humans present, followed by everyone looking.

Even with the scathing description, he had just heard, Nate was not going to abandon this cause.

"If you still need my help, I would still be willing to give it," John affirmed.

"This has been the most interesting thing to happen to me in years, I'm good to keep going," Six chipped in.

Nate noticed all three Princesses, The Major, and the three sergeants gave the two humans a look of gratitude.

"I'm afraid that won't be necessary; I can confidently assure you that the high command has no intentions of listening to what they consider 'Disorganised Outsiders', I'm sorry."The Colonel answered, looking sincerely sympathetic and unwelcoming at the notion.

"Then what will happen to us now?" Six asked, sounding not optimistic.

"Stopping the intrusions has proven significantly more difficult than causing them. If there is nothing more you can do for us, then we will send you home," Luna answered.

"You can do that?" Nate asked, interested in the implications.

"Indeed, however, no pony sent through has ever returned, so such actions were deemed too risky. Whatever allows us to access your world seemingly doesn't work in reverse, adding only further questions. However, We could send you back to where you left in case you wished to leave, we have been able to from the beginning." Luna explained.

"That's News to me!" John stated in a raised voice from behind the four girls huddled by the entrance. As he strode with anger through the door, the girls moved out of his way and he continued over to Twilight. Her ears shot back and she shrunk as he towered over her.

"You Lied To Me!" He roared at the now quivering princess. Only for Celestia to block him by extending her wing to hide the scared pony.

"No, I did, I asked Twilight to keep that information from you. We had hoped that given enough time, you may have changed your mind and decided to stay." Celestia told John. From behind Celestia's wing, John saw Twilight look up at Celestia in confusion at the declaration.

"Well it didn't, and it won't. You're not the only people with trouble, everyone has their own battles to win. What makes you think yours is more important?!" John demanded rhetorically.

That was enough.

"They're trying to save their home," Nate stated.

"So are we! Theirs isn't the only world burning, or is a comfy general's chair dulling your already limited old-world perception?" John snapped back.

What's with this guy and his attitude?

"They didn't cause the mess the great war left," Nate pointed out.

"No, that Masterpiece would be the work of your generation, and we were left to pick up the pieces!" John shot back, gesturing to six, who in turn threw his hands up defensively as he backed away.

John wanted to tell him he was wrong, but in truth, everyone was to blame. From the politicians, and the companies, to every soldier who thought they were only following orders. He had his house, and his family, their nice car and their robot butler. He had never thought about what consequences would come of those luxuries or his choices. No one man could be blamed for the great war, it was humanity's mistake.

Nate watched as John turned back to Celestia.

"I don't give a DAMN about your problems, you're going to send me home!" John demanded.

'You would DARE speak to the Princess that way!?" The Colonel flared, giving a look that would kill. Many in the room were in just pure shock at this point.

"I Would dare demand that she follow through with her promise? yes, I would! Because I don't care what it takes, one way or another, I'm going back," John growled.

The boiling tension in the room was broken when Alarms started going off across the entire castle. Everyone seemed confused Except Doctor Argon, who along with Doctor Grey and Doctor Feathers had been waiting at the side of the meeting.

"The sensor alarm? but that would mean... oh no..." Argon thought aloud.

Nate had enough time to see Argon's pupils shrink to pins before Luna cut his line of sight.

"That's impossible, it's only been two days!" Luna told the Doctor.

"popping, popping, my ears are popping!" Pinkie announced, grabbing everyone's attention, and then the room began to shake.

"what the fu-" The courier manage to get out before Pinkie Pie shouted at the top of her lungs.

"INCOMING!!!" Pinkie bellowed as she tackled everyone in the doorway out into the war room.

The following blast of light blinded Nate as the shaking grew more violent.

Big Problem, Bigger Solution

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A helmet with a built-in light and air filtration system has benefits. When the Tunnel exit exploded, the resulting flash and cloud of dust stunned everyone else in the room. Six went to work helping everyone who had been downed in the blast, All the while the Alarms continued blaring, and lights flashed as the choir of coughing and groans began to die down

"Is everypony okay, Was anypony harmed?" Celestia asked, receiving a collection of headshakes and verbal negatives.

"Status report, We need information!" Luna ordered.

"we're sealed in, some sort of explosive, but where were they hiding that much powder!?" The colonel commented.

"The Sensors have confirmed, another anomaly has opened!" Argon shouted as she looked over a nearby control panel.

"Impossible, the next one shouldn't have opened for weeks!" Grey countered.

"We can worry about such things later, where has it opened?" Luna demanded.

"Here, in the city," Argon answered.

"We need to know what's happening, Is there another way out of here?" Celestia asked.

"There is, but it's an emergency exit that leads down to the mountainside. It would take hours to reach the city," Rapid Fire groaned in frustration.

"Well, whoever destroyed the tunnels did a thorough job. It looks like the entire tunnel roof was brought down, I'm surprised the foundations of the tower didn't give way," Farsight observed.

"The tower foundations are secure? Could the rubble be removed safely?" Celestia asked.

"I think so, but it would take days to clear," Farsight responded.

"Everypony clear the entryway" Celestia requested.

Six watched along with the others Celestia waited for everyone to clear the entryway. She then lowered their head and began to cast. Rather than moving the rocks with her mind as he had expected, six jumped when a giant beam shot out of Celestia's horn into the tunnel debris. Soon the rock began to glow red as it heated up, and eventually melt. Slowly the beam of pure heat began to bore through the blockage, as well as leave everyone uncomfortably warm.

"I see the stairwell!" The Colonel announced.

Celestia ended the spell, revealing a tunnel of quickly cooling magma. With the way now clear, everyone swept into action. Six grabbed the hunting rifle and clips he had left on a nearby surface, the other two humans grabbing theirs.

"We'll stay here, it seems either the blast or the anomaly has damaged the electrical systems," Grey commented as he, Argon and Feathers head back down to the labs.

The remaining ponies and humans left down the tunnel in a line.
"Colonel, you are to take a chariot and head straight to polka. Tell the general staff to send anypony and everypony they can spare." Luna ordered, making her way up the stairs.

"Yes princess, however, it will take time for anypony to arrive," The Colonel responded as they reached the Elements vault room.

"Then we will have to hold until they can arrive," Luna answered.

The Major gave a firm salute and bolted, aware that time was of the essence. The princess continued to the throne room, issuing commands as they went.

"Sergeant Rapidfire, Head to the pegasus barracks and have every pony with working wings flying. They are to alert civilians of the evacuation, By chariot, train or airship. Afterwards, they will fly chariots to the nearest settlements, our priority is evacuating the areas closest to the hostilities." Luna ordered, with Rapid Fire launching off without hesitation. The princess then looked to Major Farsight who moved up to fill the space Rapid Fire had just occupied.

"Major, Organise the Guard, every pony on or off duty needs to be assembled. We will inform the Royal guard that you have temporary authority to command them, The defence of this city is in your hooves. Whatever happens, we must contain the problem; or failing that, buy as much time as we can."

The Major snapped a quick salute and then hobbled as she considered the daunting task.

"Luna, How can I help?" Twilight asked.

"The elements of Harmony are still our last and best hope for the kingdom, you and your friends must stay here," Celestia stated, firm in her statement.

"Oh, Pony Feathers! Twilight, Fluttershy is still out there!" Rainbow dash remembered.

Twilight looked back up at Celestia. Six noticed her demeanour soften to something of acceptance.
"Go, keep your friends safe."

Twilight gave Celestia an affirmative nod and stopped. Six watched as Twilight's friends surrounded her and then they all disappeared in a purple flash.

"She seems to be getting better at that," Celestia noted.

"Indeed" Luna agreed.

Making it to the throne room, the commotion outside was becoming audible. The princesses slowed down as the afternoon sky bathed across their bodies, With the colonial racing off as soon as he was in the open. Six followed the rest of the ponies and humans present in walking past the sisters to join them in surveying the courtyard.

The Royal Guards were on the move, organising whatever formations they could in a short time. Ponies were spreading news like wildfire, with new pieces of information making their way across the courtyard in ripples from the main gate. Princess Luna hailed a Stallion in purple armour, who seemed to be coordinating the mobilisation.

"Captian Lancer!" The Gray Earth Pony locked instantly on the summon and cantered over to the Princesses.

"Your Majesties, Creatures have appeared at the city's central plaza, they're tearing the merchant district apart." The Captain announced.

"Do we know anything else yet?" Celestia asked.

"Not much, they're big, green, and armed. No one has heard any news from the rest of the city so it seems they haven't left the merchant's district yet." The Captain responded.

"Big, Green...ah fuck...Do they look like us?" Nate asked as he gestured to himself, Six and John.

"No clue, it's just word of mouth at the moment." The Captain answered, then returned to explaining the situation to the Princesses.
"We were preparing to hold the main gate until your whereabouts were known."

"We missed the chance to defend Canterlot before and We don't intend to see it happen again." Luna lamented. Moving past the captain, she called out to the ponies in the courtyard as she marched towards the main gate. "Where are Our night guards, awaken them at once! They can live without a day's rest."

Watching her sister take charge, Celestia took a moment to admire her sister in her element, before addressing the Captain.

"Captain Lancer, As of now and until this crisis is resolved, Major Farsight has been temporarily granted authorisation of all military assets in the city. Where she goes, you will follow."

The Captain looked as if he was going to say something, clearly not agreeing with the order. However, he seemed to have decided against it and acquiesced to the order.

The courier, sick of waiting around, chambered a round in his hunting rifle and made his way towards the main gate. Jogging to the gatehouse, he talked to himself.

"Big and green, Big and green. I don't want it to be supers, so it's going to be supers."

Passing through the gatehouse and passing down the steps towards the city proper, Six saw a giant green man screaming as it charged with a sledgehammer towards a civilian at the bottom of the stairs. With Practiced aim and nerves, Six took the shot. With a crack, the sound slammed into the side of the mutant's arm and forced it to drop the hammer.

"PAIN!" The mutant roared, grasping its bleeding arm with its other one. It recovered in time for a second shot to turn its left kneecap into bone fragments. The pony took the opportunity to flee, leaving the mutant furiously looking for the shooter. Spotting The courier at the top of the grand stairs, the mutant limped its way towards his enemy.

"NOW TRY AND HIDE, FROM THIS!" The mutant yelled, throwing something at the courier.

Six realised just in time it was a fragmentation grenade and dove to the side of the stairs onto the side of the hill the castle sat upon. The explosion rocked the front gate as the shrapnel zipped overhead, the descent on the hillside having shielded the courier. With nothing but a river that quickly dropped off the face of the mountain to meet him, Six clawed at the hillside. His hunting rifle continued to clack down the hillside before splashing into the river. Reoriantating himself, the courier found himself defenceless and holding on for life. Looking behind him, he saw the mutant pulling out another
grenade. While the mutant's poor aim from using its non-dominant arm would mean he would be probably safe from the concussion blast, there was no way to avoid the hot shrapnel that would litter the hillside.

Before the super mutant could toss the explosive, a yellow laser shot through its chest. The mutant let go of the grenade with a grunt and fell on top of it. Seconds later, the mutant would explode, leaving chunks of flesh nearby and leaving the pavement below it looking like cranberry sauce. Six looked up to see who had saved him, to find the local sun god in a fighting stance and her horn readied. Her horn lit up as the courier felt himself being pulled off the hillside and dropped on the pavement next to her.

"What are they?" Celestia demanded. she was asking like a commander, she wanted a threat analysis.

"We call them super mutants, They're big, tough and pack a punch. They're smart enough to talk to, but I've never seen them this mad before. I don't think they're going to sit down for cake and talk" Six Answered.

"I don't intend to talk, What are their weaknesses?" she demanded again. She was pissed, apparently attacking her capital was something that got under her skin.

"They don't have one as far as I know, but they go down if you use enough firepower." Celestia took to the skies before he could say anything more, She was out for blood.

The rest of their company left the castle ground to see the carnage that had just taken place. Taking a moment to survey the situation, Six couldn't help but remember walking the colorado river. Gunshots rang out across the city as civilians were in a panic, plumes of smoke were beginning to rise from the city centre ahead of them. The Major slowly walked up beside them, also taking in the situation.

"Any ideas would be good ones about now." Major Farsight announced.

" What's out there?" Nate asked the courier.

"Super mutants" Six replied.

"Where's the rifle?" John asked next.

"Lost it?" Six replied.

"How, you just had it." John challenged.

"Fighting a super mutant." six said matter-of-factly.

"I don't think a hunting rifle is going to cut it here," Nat stated, pointing outward.

From behind a three-story building emerged a monstrosity, big enough to see above the city skyline. It looked like a super mutant that forgot to stop growing.

"What the mother of fuck is that!?!" Six shouted.

"A behemoth" John stated flatly, glaring at the creature.

The behemoth roared, taking out a building next to it.

"Our weapons won't even tickle that," Nate commented.

"Then go get bigger ones! Sergeant Levee, You know the Armory spell. Take Sergeant Batlle Bowler and escort these men, get them whatever they need." Farsight ordered.

"No, We need to slow them down now, before they can spread out. We're your best defence against them, you need us here" Nate countered.

"I'll go, I know what we need, I've faced mutants before, even the big guy" John volunteered.

John walked over to six and held out his combat shotgun as he unclipped the drums on his belt.

"You're going to need this," John said, then gestured to the two pony officers to lead the way.

As they left, six turned back to see more super mutants stumble into the main street below.

"We need to stop them from spreading out. If we can keep the big guy distracted, we can focus on stopping the rest." Nate thought aloud.

"I can send pegasi to keep it distracted, if we can make enough noise in the plaza, the others might follow. But I don't see how we can stop the ones that have already made it into the streets" Farsight mused.

"If someone can drop the ones in the side streets, will you be able to handle them in the plaza?" Six asked.

"It's a matter of keeping them in the plaza, the guard can assault them from the ground and on the walls above. But every squad we have out trying to stop the chaos in the streets is one we don't have here trying them down." Farsight explained.

"Then leave the outliers to me," Six said.

"Twilight, are you sure this is the fastest way there?" Rainbow Dash asked, again.

"Yes Rainbow, Believe it or not, I had to be taken to Canterlot general from the castle on more than one occasion," Twilight responded.

"But I could be there faster, I could go right to her window!" Rainbow argued.

" We need to stay together rainbow, what if something attacks you?" Twilight countered.

"I would kick its butt!" Rainbow answered boastfully.

"And what if something attacked us?" Twilight added.

She hated manipulating her friend's sense of loyalty, but Rainbow Dash's overblown optimism might get her killed at this point. Her words seemed to get the job done, as Rainbow Dash let out a frustrated groan and flew closer to her friends.

Twilight stopped when she thought she heard voices from a nearby alleyway. After a pause, Rarity piped up.

"Twilight, what's wrong?"

Twilight gazed into the alleyway but saw no pony there.

"It's... nothing... Let's keep moving." Twilight said as she went forth.

Never seeing the subtle ripples in the alleyway move.

"Where are the scouts, communication is our greatest priority! Guards must be notified around the city, every bridge and gate must be contested. We must keep them from breaking out into the other districts, destroy the bridges if you must. And somepony get the arcane guards here, those book watchers can help the battle mages; we need everypony we can muster!" Luna's tangent of commands ceased as the Royal Guards Captain appeared beside her.

"Speak quickly, Captain, we have little time," Luna said sharply.

"Princess, your sister and the strangers have engaged the monsters at the city plaza. Their position is tenuous." The Captain replied.

"Take over things here Captain, it is time for us to join the battle," Luna commanded, before attempting to take flight. Her body refused to listen to her request, shooting up her side. The injury from the morning's mission flared and her head began to throb with pain.

"Princess, I must object to this. You're in no condition to-" Captain Lancer said, before being cut off by his princess.

"You have your orders, Captain!...and we go to defend my ponies." Luna finished, bolting to the main gate.

passing through the gatehouse, Luna was witness to a nightmare. smoke could be seen across the city, the plaza below becoming a centre of attention. Her sister could be seen in the distance, a brilliant golden sphere shielding her from projectiles from the surface. judging the situation below needed her attention more, she swiftly made her way down the stairs and over the bridge that separated the castle from the plaza. The Major and the human Nate were just on the other side of the bridge, constructing a barricade with a handful of other guards. Nate was pointing his weapon out into the plaza and shooting at any mutants who left cover. Battle mages from the castle walls assisted the battle below with offensive spells. A sole mutant was sprinting towards the barricade screaming as it threw a small object. Luna watched as Nate singled a unicorn to the objects. The unicorn's magic bounced the object off a small barrier, causing it to fly away from the barricade. The resulting explosion took out the side of a building, causing the stonework to crumble into the plaza.

Small things, explosive. She would need to pay attention to those. Luna decided to try and assist with the defence. Drawing as little magic as she could from her reserves, she shot a beam that pierced the exposed mutant. The mutant dropped with a great hole in its chest. mild pain throbbed in Luna's head, but this pain was bearable.

"Good to see you're recovering" Nate noted, moving further into cover as projectiles smashed into the piled-up walls of rubble they had constructed.

"Indeed. Where are the others?" Luna asked.

"The grouch, Levee and the one with the steel helmet left to find some heavier guns," Nate answered.

"I see, and that courier?"

It's truly amazing how many cities you can visit and still never truly know your way around. The courier could find all the basics, but navigating the back way was an adventure in itself. Some things never change, however, as the courier found himself being chased by a super mutant.

"JUST, STAND, STILL!" The mutant cried, taking a shot at the courier.

The man slipped around the corner onto the main street just in time as the mutant's assault rifle opened up on the brickwork. Around the corner, the courier waited until the mutant rushed around the corner. With the squeeze of his finger, the combat shotgun removed the mutant's head. Once the body crashed to the floor, the courier began looting. he only managed to pick up three grenades in his arms before another mutant spotted him from down the street.

"Shit, shit, shit!" Six muntra'd to himself as he scrambled off to the bang of a hunting rifle.

scampering back into the guts of the city, the courier looked behind him. He ducked just in time to miss the bullet of the mutant that was very much chasing him. Going through the twists and turns, the courier spotted an open door and ran inside. Putting his back to the wall, he struggled with the three grenades in his arms. He stopped when he heard a whimper beside him, beside him was a Stallion sitting against the wall. The Pony was frozen in fear, looking at the courier like he was going to eat him.

"Hold this." The courier stated, thrusting the two extra grenades into the hooves of the pony. he pulled the pin on the last one and waited.

"I'M GOING TO EAT YOUR LEGS WHEN YOUR DEAD HUMAN!" The mutant shouted as ran closer to the building.

The courier watched by the door as Mutant ran past, deftly slipping the grenade into one of the ruined pockets of the mutant's pants as it went by. He then slipped back into the house and waited. The resulting boom shook dust lose on the building. The courier then looked down to the pony who still hadn't moved and grabbed the grenades.

"Thank you!" He said as he rushed out of the building, leaving the pony in a yellow puddle.

The castle's military complex was quiet, with most if not all guards sent to the city. John watched the smoke plumes rising into the sky as he followed Levee and Battle Bowler to the brick all that contained the armoury door. With a quick spell, the doors opened and the three entered the building.

"So what are we looking for exactly?" Battle bowler asked, scanning every pile.

"Something big enough to take down a building. Those suckers can take a lot of damage" John answered.

He looked at every piece he could see, with no success. Every item was too small or too limited.

"What about this thing, it looks big enough," Levee said as she pointed to a poorly maintained minigun.

"In that condition, it's more likely to fall to pieces" John dismissed.

"What about this thing? Looks like it might hurt the buggers." Battle Bowler offered, pointing to a light machine gun.

"Even if this had enough punch to hurt that thing, there are barely enough rounds here. Most of this junk is broken or too small to make a difference. The only weapons that might be worth taking are that weird laser gun and the super sledge." John pointed out the objects and then ran his hands back through his hair as he leaned against a table.

"what about this?" Levee asked, motioning to the Fat Man launcher.

"That would be perfect if it still had any warhead to fire. But I don't see one, so it's just an over-glorified slingshot." John replied.

" You said that the bombs were powerful, that they used some fusion material?" Levee asked, the tone of her question feeling like a lead on more than an actual question.

"Fission, and yes. Nuclear fission was a source of power as much as it was a weapon" John Answered, curious to see where this was headed.

"Well, maybe the science ponies have it, in the laboratory under the castle?" Levee further pondered.

"There's only one way to know. Let's take these back anyway, they will at least with the super mutants. Bowler, can you carry the launcher?" John asked.

" What do I look like, A unicorn? Load it on my back!" Bowler told john.

John complied with his request and loaded the launcher on Bowler's back. Grabbing a bag full of fusion cells, John raced off with the musket. Levee snatched the hammer with her magic and followed pace. Battle Bowler stumbled towards the exit, loaded down with the launcher.

"By Celestia, this thing is heavy..."

"PONIES, WHERE ARE YOU PONIES? WANT TO SQUISH YOU, WHAT TO EAT YOU!" The lone Super Mutant shouted aloud, wandering down an empty street.

Suddenly, something hit the mutant in the back of the head.

"YES, A FIGHT. WHERE ARE..." The mutant Hollard as it turned around to see nothing. Grasping his chunk of rebar, the mutant walked forward. Suddenly something else hit the mutant on the head, enraged, the mutant scanned for the thrower. All it heard was someone laughing at it.

"NO FAIR, NO FAIR, STOP HIDING!"

The Mutant followed the sound of laughter, occasionally being hit by a stone or piece of trash. Slowly the mutant was led towards Canterlot General.

The courier was sprinting for his life, as ANOTHER Mutant was pursuing him.

With nothing left in his shotgun and two grenades, he was running out of options. He jumped a fence, only for the mutant to plough right through it. He tipped over trash cans only for the mutant to crush them under his feet. Finding an alcove, the courier picked up a long piece of wood. Upon seeing hearing the mutant approach, he stepped out and swung his weapon, only or it to shatter into pieces when it struck the mutant's chest.

"OH Come On!" Six complained, dodging as the mutant tried to squish him. Thankfully what they had in raw power they lost in agility.

"JUST, STAND, STILL!" The mutant cried out in frustration.

The courier danced around the mutant, before dropping a grenade and sprinting for his life. Upon hearing the explosion, He turned around to gloat, only to see the mutant limping towards him.

In a panic, The courier ran onto the main street, only to find two more mutants patrolling it. With little choice, He bolted to a nearby store and tried to open the door. The door was locked. He went to the next store and tried it again, this time the limping mutant had left the alleyway and forced the attention of the wandering mutant.

"THE HUMAN, KILL, KILL!"

Six tried the third door, giggling at the handle. This door gave, and he raced inside. Slamming the door shut, he saw a nearby chair and forced it under the handle. That would hold them for a moment, so he had precious time to find a back door. The Store was dark, so he turned on his night vision. Looking around, the Humans unseen face began to beam.

Moments later, the Door bound inwards, once, twice, and finally broke. The two mutants forced themselves into the building, the dark room was silent. The mutants spread out, searching for their prey.

"COME OUT, COME OUT, WHEREVER YOU ARE..." The limping mutant chanted, he would have his revenge on the human. It ran and ran, and now it was trapped. He would kill it, and wear its bones around its neck. As the mutant carefully walked through the room, he saw no human. Seeing only one other exit, the three mutants left the storefront to search the back. It took one step into the second room, and there was a twang. The mutants stopped and frantically scanned the room as they heard something clanking. From the side of the room, a small round object rolled down some boxes of colourful tubes and stop with a clank as it hit a metal canister.

The resulting explosion wiped the conjoined Mr sparkies firework emporium and friendly hanks propane store off the face of the city, as well as most of the block.

Celestia's attention was once focused by another mutant when another projectile bounced off her shield. With a blast The mutant had been reduced to ash, her fury made tangible. The roar of the behemoth forced Celestia to ignore her nagging pity at the loss of life to deal with the present threat. Soaring through the sky, Celestia dived towards the Monster, firing a beam of pure solar energy at the giant. The beam hit the behemoth in the chest, knocking it over with a thunderous crack as it fell through one of Canterlot's marble spires. The action had grabbed the attention of many in the city and the tower came crumbling down on the creature. A new wave of projectiles barraged the Princess, forcing her to divert more magic to the shield. The onslaught was so intense that it seemed projectiles were coming from all over the merchant's district to assault her. Concerntraighting on strengthening the bottom of her sphere, Celestia's focus was broken when a great explosion that rocked the entire city, The fireball climbing into the sky. The sheer destruction being wrought on her city, what madness had clawed its way into Equestria? This train of thought blinded her to the Behemoth, who had grabbed a chunk of the tower it had fallen into and thrown it with all its strength at its flying foe. Celestia tried to refocus her shield but found her effort too late. The boulder shattered her shield, and from inertia alone, carried the princess into the side of the castle walls.

"Remember, Don't stay in one place. If you keep peering over the barricade in the same place, they can wait for you to resurface. Keep your heads down, they only need one good shot." Nate alerted the unicorn guards stationed by the barricades.
With no firearms and no means of flanking, all efforts to break out had ended in one-sided death. When the enemy tried to assault the barricades, the results were less one-sided.

"This is fruitless, they have us trapped, with only the castle to go!" Luna asked

"I'm afraid magic is your only weapon now," Nate added, throwing away his submachine gun that was spent.

"Something has to give, We can't stay here much longer!" Major Farsight stated.

"they will come, We will hold, Then they will rue the day they thought they could take this city!" Luna announced
Farsight's face did not agree.

"Major!" came a familiar voice. Farsight's optimism returned as from the bridge behind them, Sergeant Levee and John arrived.

"Bring us good news" Luna requested.

"Tin Hat is bringing the launcher, Levee thinks there may be mini-nukes in the lab," John answered the news was not comforting.

"And what if there are none in the lab?" Nate asked.

John dropped the bag of cells and handed the laser musket to Nate.

"Use it to throw rocks at it" John replied.

"Go then, you're our best hope now" Luna ordered, hiring at a mutant in cover.

The Battle bowler finally made his way over the bridge and slipped the launcher off his back.

"Ahhh, that's gonna hurt in the morning" He commented as he stretched his back.

"Sergeant Battle Bowler, go with John to the lab, help him find whatever he's looking for" The major ordered.

"Son of!... I mean... yes mam!" Battle Bowler saluted.

The pony and the human began to climb the stairs. And levee settled in for the firefight.

"This was not how I saw our debut to Canterlot going, but it is effective, no?" Levee asked Nate.

The firefight suddenly slowed as the Doppler effect was heard flying overhead. Everyone watched as a large chunk o marble with a white alicorn on the front collided with the castle walls.

"TIA!" Luna cried out, having seen her sister crash through the fortifications. She immediately attempted to fly to her sister's aid but collapsed in pain before she left the ground.

"Princess, your injury is too much, you will not fly today," Levee said as she help her sovereign to her hooves.

"We must.. help her!" Luna ruggedly pleaded.

"You cannot, the castle guards will find her, we must defend this bridge," Levee argued.

"She's right, if they break through here, then they can bypass our chokepoints" Nate added.

Luna resigned to her situation, looking back at the hole in the castle walls one last time.

"Then what do you recommend we do, that... thing, is no longer distracted. Without our sister, nothing is stopping it from simply crushing its way through the defensive lines" Luna asked.

A familiar red and yellow pegasus swooped in and landed at the barricades.

"Reporting in, evac of the neighbouring districts is complete. Civilians are making their way out by the main gate or the airdocks" Rapid Fire announced.

The pegasus's arrival gave Nate an idea.

"We only need to keep it distracted, if you can find enough fliers, you could keep it occupied and away from our positions," Nate suggested.

"Great idea, except the moment we go flying around above the merchant's district, we're gonna be shot to pieces." Rapid Fire argued.

"If we had a way of getting behind them, we could divide their attention for a breakout. but outside of you, we don't have anyone else who can get there" Nate said.

"Not necessarily," Luna said, looking out at the gatehouse, where her personal guard's banner now sat.

"What, this whole time you had a force of pegasi that were not scattered around the city?" Nate asked sarcastically.

"Not quite, but I do have fliers" Luna corrected.

Nate sat on this revelation, then picked up the Super sledge that Levee had left leaning on the side of the barricade. He then thrust the handle in front of Luna.

"Ever fought with a hammer before?" Nate asked.

Luna used her weakened magic to hold the hammer, the pressure of lifting the object seeming to cause less pain than her magic beam.

"Have you not?" Luna shot back, swinging the weapon effortlessly with practised grace.

"Not my first choice, but this..." Nate said as he cranked the laser musket, each crank adding more power to the shot.
"This will do," He said with a grin, the red glow of the energy chamber casting on his face.

The courier was on the hunt, his combat shogun long shed when its drums had run out. In his hands now stood a weapon of a professional, a weapon of standards, the DKS-501 Sniper Rifle. The weapon had been lying in the hands of a super mutant that mysteriously had its head removed by a ballistic piece of rubble after his escape from the now-missing city block.

"IIEEEAAAAHHHH!" another mutant roared as it spotted him casually approaching, the mutant spinning its rusted mini gun.
BANG, the minigun motor kicked it as a 308 tore the minigun to pieces.
BANG, the mutant stumbled as a 308 lodged itself in its eye.

The courier continued on his path uninterrupted. Walking down the street, he stopped as something caught the sun's light.
"NOW YOU DIE, HUMAN!" came from a window, as the mutant shot at him with his hunting rifle. The shot hit home, striking the head and knocking the courier to the ground. The mutant laughed sadistically as it walked away from the window and out through the door.

"HUMANS, SO STUPID... SO WEAK..." The mutant taunted as it lumbered over to the courier's still body. It stood there eyeing up the sniper rifle, deciding the new toy was better than his current one. It dropped the Hunting rifle and reached for its new prize.

Only for the courier to aim straight at its face and pull the trigger. Then mutants body dropped to its knees and fell sideways as the courier struggled to his feet and grabbed his helmet. pulling it off violently, he blinked at the sunlight. Looking at his helmet, the right eye lens was cracked and the right temple had crumpled in. The bullet had failed to penetrate the helmet but destroyed the optics and bent the inside out of shape had also made it uncomfortable. The Courier threw his helmet on the ground.

"You Son Of A Bitch, do you have any idea how hard it is to get one of those!?" He screamed at the corpse. He grappled with his anger before letting out a violent groan and began to storm off. he stopped to look at the mutant's headless body and fired the rest of his clip into the body before resuming his march while mumbling furiously.

His volume had attracted the attention of another mutant. Standing beside an apartment building, the Mutant laughed as it aimed something at the courier that had just walked past its street. What the mutant was carrying was made evident when a rocket flew towards the courier. Diving out of the way, the thunderous boom behind him threw him across the road. He helplessly rolled as his head ringing head tried to pull itself together. Finally coming to a stop, the dizzy ragdoll listed his head to look at the mutant. His vision blurry and doubled, he could barely make out the mutant reloading its missile launcher and aiming it at where the prone courier lay. It laughed at the man.

"I, AM A SUPER MUTANT! I AM UNSTOPPABLE!" The mutant announced triumphantly.

The mutant then exploded into red paste, with a giant chunk of metal replacing the pancaked mess of the mutant. The courier concentrated on the object, trying to figure out what had happened. The object was weirdly shaped, with a flat top and a horn on the nose. Whatever it was had come from above, so the courier strained to look up. He saw two ponies on a balcony.

"I told you passion, you said 'we should throw away your papi's anvil'. And what did I say?!" The stallion asked the mare.

"...We might need it someday?..." She Painfully asked, knowing what was coming next.

"We might need iiiit!" The stallion rubbed in.

The courier chose this moment to reverse his policy of being conscious.

Twilight and her friends stepped onto the floor where Fluttershy's room was located, none of them spoke as they darted straight to the pegasus's room. Bursting the door open, the very much awake pony inside jumped at the sudden intrusion.

"Fluttershy!" The five ponies exclaimed in joy and relief that their friend was awake.

"Girls!? what's happening? Why is there smoke, I heard explosions!" Fluttershy frantically asked questions.

"The city is being invaded, we came here to make sure you were safe." Rarity clarified.

"Then why hasn't the hospital been evacuated?" Fluttershy pushed.

"The monsters have been kept bottled up in the merchant district, while the general public has been asked to leave, the hospital staff think that the problem is far enough away to avoid evacuation," Twilight explained.

"Uhh... Twilight, what was that first part again?" Pinkie asked, looking out the window.

"The medical staff said the monsters are contained in the merchant's district, why?" Twilight asked.

Rainbow Dash hovered over to the window out of curiosity, Then away in panic.

"I don't think that one got the memo!" Rainbow commented.

Twilight rushed to the window and opened it. Looking down, she saw a lone Mutant wandering into the hospital. Screams could be heard from the ground floor.

Doctor Argon smacked the side of the biomolecular scanner, trying to get it to work. Despite all the technobabble Doctor Grey spouted about electronics, it was amazing how many things could be fixed by hitting them.

"Hello, anyone here?" came a voice from upstairs. Argon watched as The human John and Sergeant Battle Bowler came down the stairs.

"Doctor Grey and Doctor Feathers just went to re-algin the crystal array, what's going on out there?"

"Bad news, and hopefully in here is good news" John answered cryptically

"Do you know of an object down in the armoury?" Sergeant Battle Bowler asked.

"Which one? There's kind of a few" Argon responded.

"It's a launcher, it uses a pneumatic recoil system. It fires small warheads." John described the weapon.

"They kinda look like pineapples!" Sergeant Battle Bowler added.

"What the hell is a pineapple?" John asked.

"wait, wait, object three one four, The Catapult?" Argon assumed.

"You know it?" John asked, optimistically.

"Yeah, yeah, we thought it used some sort of self-propelled deliver system; Is that your after?" Argon guessed.

"We have it, It's the warheads we need. Do you have any?" John asked.

Argon shook her head.
"No. We found it in a green case, the box was on some wagon. Inside it was laying on some kind of foam, there were holes that were missing stuff. Guess that's where your warhead would have been" Argon answered.

The Answer seemed to hit the human and the Sergeant like a chariot, both of them falling into a sitting position.

"Then we're doomed" Battle bowler commented.

A pregnant silence filled the air. Argon looked at the two piles of depression in front of her, If they were all going to die, she might as well ask what's been on her mind.

"So what's that stuff tastes like anyway?" Argon asked.

"...What?" John asked in turn, looking at her in confusion and disbelief.

"That blue stuff your friend tried, since we only have the one now, we didn't open the other one. I really wanna know what it tastes like. I mean it glows and it's bubbly, like a potion-"

"That's it" John stated, staring into metaphorical space.

"Excuse me?" Argon asked, watching the human get back up and walked past her.

"Bowler, Go back up to the others. Tell them to buy us as much time as they can, and try to tell them to set up the launcher high up and with a clear shot. I have an idea." John told Sergeant Battle Bowler.

"What if they ask what it is?" Battle Bowler challenged

"Tell them... to trust me," John told him, a steel look in his eyes.

The pony was unsure yet made off on a mission regardless. Argon, thoroughly confused walked over to John.

"uh, so what's this plan?" Argon asked.

"You said you were a chemist?" John inquired.

"I have a Doctorate, why?" Argon asked, wondering where he was going with this.

"Then let's go practice chemistry" John answered, holding the bottle of Nuka-Quantum.

It had been a most glorious charge, one she had not experienced in a millennium. Luna had ordered her personal guard to fly behind the enemy and launch an assault after her vanguard had sallied forth. Her guards were exclusively recruited from a very special kind of pony. Serving as her personal guards since her ascendency, they were her children, the ponyfication of the night itself. Known by many names, Thestrals, children of the night, but commonly known as bat ponies. While the daylight would normally be blinding to them, a thick smoke now blanketed the sun.

Luna herself had achieved first blood on the assault, using her new super sledge to swat a super mutant that was hiding behind the plaza fountain. With Nate's beam weapon, the plaza was blazoned by its light. The signal had been given, and all Tartarus itself has been unleashed. The mutant's defence crumbled from the onslaught. Luna herself was swept up in a bloodlust, She would vanquish her foe who dared challenge her might.

It had also managed to draw every mutant in the city toward their location, including the behemoth. The giant was slowly making its way towards the plaza, with the pegasi efforts to harass it failing. the sound of conflict was too tempting of a target.

"Princess!" came a cry, snapping Luna out of her haze in time to see her bringing her hammer down upon her foe, blood going everywhere. The mutant's head was missing, having been replaced by her hammer. She looked to the source of the voice to see it was the major.

"Princess, When the behemoth arrives, we will be easy targets. we must retreat to the castle, we will have the defensive advantage!" The Major shouted over the ambience of war.

"Neigh! We shall turn tail and run! Our vengeance shall be righteous and unforgiving!" The princess announced, in the ecstasy of battle.

"Please Princess, When that thing comes, we won't be able to stop it. A lot of good soldiers will die!" The major refuted.

Luna stopped, now taking in the situation. If they stayed, the behemoth would crush them all, without anywhere to hide or find cover. She had been so caught up in the fight, she had not seen the danger approaching.

"Very well, Begin falling back. We shall stay with our children of the night, as a rear guard. A sombre nod was The Major's reply, then she galloped to relay the command.

Luna searched the battlefield for her captain and Nate. Finding the human was easy, one just need follow the red beams of destruction. Nate was tied down behind the collapsed side of one of the plaza's building fronts, alongside Sergeant levee en mass. A mutant was shooting them with some rapid-firing weapon, unleashing a hail towards the two. Luna used her magic to fling her hammer at the mutant with as much might as she could muster. The resulting collision slammed the mutant into and through the wall. Luna then walked calmly over to the two who were crouching behind rubble.

"We have done all that we can here, Soon the guards will fall back to the castle. The behemoth approaches" Luna explained.

Breathing heavily, Nate just nodded once and removed himself from the cover. The mutant horde had thinned out considerably, but the losses were mounting. It seemed even he found the situation untenable. The three made their way back towards the bridge barricade, The Night Guard Captian having found their way there first.

"Captian, Every member of the night guard is to fall back to here, we shall hold until everypony is inside the castle. Then take to the skies and join them" Luna Commanded.

The Night Captain bowed and shot to the skies.

"It's Bowler!" Levee shouted, pointing to the stallion racing down the stairs.

"Sergeant, where is the human? did they find what they need?" Luna asked.

"No, But he claims he found something else. He said to buy as much time as you can and to set up the launcher high, with a clear shot." Battle Bowler replied.

"A clean shot, so he still plans to use the launcher. If whatever he's planning has the same power, we're going to need to keep the behemoth here. There's nowhere else open enough to guarantee a shot." Nate analysed.

"Make way!" Came Rapidfires voice as she took to landing on a pile of fresh ash.

"Ow, hot, hot... I'm afraid too many of my team were taken out by the big guy Princess. They carried whomever they could and made for the castle medical ward." Rapid Fire reported to the Princess

"There was little more to be done, they bought us time. Is there anything else Sergeant?"

"Affirmative, Airships have been spotted from Fort Polka. They should be here within the hour" Rapid Fire added.

"If the human doesn't have the weapon then there's nothing more to be done, we should fall back to the castle and Await Fort Polka's reinforcements" Sergeant Levee offered alternatively.

Luna was unsure. Indecisiveness was not something she was known for, but she was conflicted here. If they stayed here, many more would die. If they waited for the reinforcements, they could sally forth and overwhelm the creature. If they miss whatever opportunity the human had planned, however, who knows where the giant may go. Only the Merchant's district had been mandatorily cleared.

"General, what do you advise, should we hold?" Luna asked the human Nate.

Nate pondered the situation for a moment then asked Battle Bowler.

"Did he tell you what he's doing?"

Battle Bowler shook his head.

"No, He said to trust him." Battle Bowler replied.

Luna looked at Nate, waiting for his opinion. Nate breathed out slowly, as reasoned.

"His life is in as much danger as ours, if he believes it's a solution, so must we." That was all Luna Needed.

Luna sent up a small blue flare, summoning the captain. He reoriented himself to hover in the air and awaited his princess's orders.

"Captain! Once all the other units are inside, We will stay here. No Matter what, We Must Hold!" Luna said, emphasising her point by stopping her hoof on the ground.

The captain acknowledge her words and resumed his prior course.

"Why here?" Battle Bowler asked.

"Because if he needs a clean shot, this is where he will get it" Nate responded.

"you should all relocate to the castle immediately, things are about to get messy" Major Farsight suggested.

"No, I'm more use down here than up there. There are still mutants coming in from around the city" Nate countered.

"Monsieur's safety is my responsibility, if he stays, so do i" Levee stated.

"Very well" The Major replied, walking next over to Battle Bowler.

"YOUR Human is not here, And as someone without both a weapon and magic, I do suggest you join me behind the walls." The Major pushed.

"Unless that's an order, Then no Ma'am. I'm Levee stays, then so do I" Battle bowler responded. The Major moved on without another word.

Stopping at Rapid Fire, the Major looked over The Sergeant up and down.

"There's no point in asking you, is there?"

"Nope," Rapid Fire chirped.

The Major shook her head and made her way over the bridge and up the stairs.

"If I was going to launch a warhead from the castle... where would I..." Nate mused, stopping when he hit clarity.

"Can you find some more fliers?" Nate addressed Rapid Fire.

"Probably, why?" She asked.

"I have a job for you," Nate told her.

Each of the ponies who stayed watched as a green mountain made its way towards the plaza.

"This is Insane, you know that right?" Argon commented, pacing back and forth as John worked on processing the glowing beverage.

"What Moron made a commercial drink that could be weaponised?!?" Argon further added.

"I learnt how to do this from an addict who drank the stuff every day, I don't think it was common knowledge you could build a bomb out of soda" John added.

"And we just had that thing in our lab, Were were subjecting it to experiments. We could have set it off and taken out the entire Tower!" Argon Announced in horrific shock at the realisation.

"Not really. Besides the fact that making it unstable is a very complicated process, this thing doesn't have the same kick." John explained.

"It doesn't?" Argon asked.

"That's why I'm going to need the best shot possible. The only way this thing is going to take down a behemoth is with a direct hit to its head. It doesn't have the power to bring it down on its own. Too bad we can't just magic the sucker" John said.

"Magic..." Argon pondered.

She then seemed to have struck an idea, and instantly hated it.

"This is insane, I'm insane..." Argon muttered.

"What are you on about?" John asked, confused and annoyed.

"We know that Radiation makes magic unstable and very powerful, wait here" Argon ordered, wandering off to scramble through desk draws. Finding what she was after, she returned with a basketball-sized crystal cluster.

"This is a chunk of the Crystal array, it collects and stores ambient magical energy. When a charged piece is shattered, the magic inside is released. Without a form of lens to focus the magic, it will just release as wild magic. Energy without purpose, a blast that makes working with such arrays dangerous. If we were to put your bomb inside a charges piece..."
Argon elaborated.

"Then the blast would shatter the casing and mix the magic and radiation. An explosive, not a nuclear bomb..." John followed.

"A Mana Bomb!" Argon finished.

"But how do we put it inside?" John brought up.

"You carve them, I'll hollow this one out and charge it myself," said Argon.

John continued to refine the Quantum as Argon began to carve and then charge the casing. The two worked on their wonder weapon, hoping they still had time.

Twilight's wings subconsciously wrapped themselves around her friends as the thumping got louder. The Monster wasn't mindlessly wandering, it was moving up the stairs. What's worse, it was one of those! The monsters from the forest. She couldn't stop them there, and now she was helpless. Her magic was blocked by her own horn, too powerful to release.

"what about the windows?" whispered Applejack, who was trying to find a way out.

"They won't open!" Rainbow Dash whispered back, her stress getting the batter o her as she tried to force the window open.

"We could shatter them, then escape that way" Rarity suggested.

"The sound would be too loud, with Twi and Flutters out of action, We would be caught before Rainbow could get us out." AppleJack said as she pointed to the door.

"We could sneak out, make like ninjas and use the shadows" Pinkie Pie offered.

"It's too risky, it could spot us..." Said Twilight, who was wincing every time she tried to cast a spell.

"Maybe it will keep climbs stairs?" Fluttershy hoped.

Those hopes were quickly dashed as a door was heard crashing open from the hallway.

"YOU'RE HERE, YOU'RE HERE. STOP HIDING!" The Monster screamed.

Twilight could feel Fluttershy Hyperventilating, Was was in the middle of a panic attack.

"NO, NO, NO, NO!" Fluttershy was chanting, her pupils nearly unseeable.

"Fluttershy, Calm Down!" Rainbow Dash whispered loudly, grabbing her friend by the shoulder.

Fluttershy let out a panicked, Shriek. Silenced by Rainbow's hoof in her mouth. But the Damage was done.

"THERE YOU ARE!" The Mutant Yelled. Suddenly, doors were being smashed in. One by one, getting closer, closer. It was checking each room, slowly reaching theirs.

"Twilight, we could really use some of your awesome magic right now" Rainbow Dash suggested.

"I'm Trying!" Twilight whimpered.

Every time she tried to cast a spell, her brain felt like it was trying to explode. The pain was immense.

"Come on, Rainbow. if this critter wants a tussle, it'll get one" Announced AppleJack.

Rainbow steeled herself and nodded. The two Iron Ponies took up either side of their friends, ready to do what they can.
Bang, Bang, bang, the sound was getting louder, and the monster was close.

Her friends were going to die, and it would be her fault. One spell, teleportation, transfiguration, a spell that put it to sleep, ANYTHING. But Every Attempt was met with more pain.

*Bang*, *Bang*, *BANG!*

To Tartarus with the pain, She Would save her friends, even... even if it killed her.

*BANG*, *BANG*, *BANG!*

Twilight pushed through the pain, it was torture. Every part of her mind was screaming out in pain. Until Twilight herself was screaming in pain.

"TWILIGHT!" Her Friends called out in concerned panic.

Finally, their door slammed open

"FOUND YOU!" The mutant shouted.

The Flash of light was Blinding, the heat searing. The Pain had gone from torturous to unfathomable, with the pony brain designed to switch off when it reached this point.

Finally, the intensity died down, as the magical beam thinned out and faded. Twilight's body became limp, like a puppet with cut strings. She couldn't feel anything, nor hear anything. The Last thing she saw was a perfect hole in the side of the hospital, big enough to fly a chariot through. The Door and the hallway beyond it were gone, with the tunnel banking off and out to the side of the building. The edges of the hole glowed white with heat and the clouds themselves had a great hole in them. Twilight's mind faded into darkness, with the last thought on her mind wondering if her friends were safe.

The sweat on Nate's face was beginning to carve a path through the grime on his face; from the dirt, ash and blood that now defined the city centre. Cranking his musket over and over, he sprang from his cover. He surveyed the plaza to find his best shot and found it with Battle Bowler. The Earth Pony galloped as fast as he could towards a lone Mutant while lowering his head. The Impact of the ponies helmed head into the abdomen of the mutant causing it to keel over, providing the perfect window for Nate. The Mutant flung backwards and landed cold on its back, leaving the Sergeant to stomp away.

Looking to the sky, Nate locked on to a Bat pony flying back first through a window. Following the source, Nate watched the Nightguard struggle to occupy the Behemoth. The maneuvers and dives were fascinating to watch but proved little effect. They simply didn't have the means to hurt the monster. He watched as one bat pony, who had lost their helmet, clung to the behemoth's arm and bit down. The Behemoth responded by smashing its arm into a wall, leaving the bat pony a crumpled mess in the ruin.

Knowing this was pointless, Nate peered out for Luna. The Night warrior was using her magic to rapidly levitate pieces of broken stone and fling them at a mutant. The mutant stumbled backwards as it tried to defend against the barrage until it tripped over, knocking itself out.

"Princess, get your people out of there. They're just getting themselves killed!" Nate shouted.

"Then how would we contain the beast?!" Luna shouted back.

"Stay here, and follow my lead!"

Nate scrambled across the plaza, stopping occasionally to dire an assisting shot at the mutants attacking their forces. When he had reached the far side from Princess Luna, and the far end from the behemoth, he cranked his musket. Once it was fully charged, we held for an opening. The laser shot the behemoth in the face, infuriating the creature. It gave up on the ponies flying around it to attack the human that actually hurt it.

"Captain, Pull back your guards. The Plan has changed!" Luna announced.

The human didn't fire a second shot but melted into the streets. Leaving the Behemoth with its back to her. She then likewise shot a beam at the creature's head, making it turn around in a mad fit. Its focus was now on her, so she made like the human and found the first exit she could. Nate followed by sprinting into the plaza, reading his shot and hitting the behemoth. With the pull of the trigger, the beast had been struck once more. The behemoth let out a roar of fury, and its thunderous footsteps lead away from Luna's position. Nate leapt from his hiding spot and readied herself for another shot. However, a third beam had joined them, as Levee had joined in on the absurd tactic. With the Behemoth caught up in chasing mice, the Night guards refocused on the remaining mutants.

"Carefully... Carefully..." Argon told John as he slip the Improvised quantum explosive into the Crystal casing.

The device slid into space, the light from the quantum mixing with the pink crystal to produce a violet glow.

"And your sure the radiation leak won't detonate the crystal prematurely?" Argon inquired.

"The internal casing should limit the penetration of the gamma radiation enough to keep the explosive stable. However the longer we leave it, the more unstable it could become. I don't know shit about magic, but if this thing reacts the way we think it does, I don't want to wait around to find out" John replied. picking up the device.

"This, thing, is, HEAVY!" Rapid Fire complained. She, along with three pegasi who had volunteered to help bring the Fat Man launcher up onto the gatehouse.

"Why the gatehouse, why up there?" One of the Pegasus asked, rapidly beating her wings to counter the weight of the launcher.

"Something, Something, clean shot, big boom. Just flap harder damn it!" Rapid Fire snapped.

The four collectively groaned as they slowly made their way up the castle walls.

"This Sucks..." One Pegasus stated.

The Behemoth had resorted to throwing pieces of the ruined plaza building at anything that moved. With the Night Guard having slowly spread out into the city, that left a handful of choices to be targeted. The latest chunk collided with the ground and shattered into smaller pieces that rained behind the plaza's central fountain, where Battle Bowler was keeping low.

*KLANG* *KLANG* *KLANG*. His helmet rang as debris bounced off, dazing him. Shaking off the dirt that came with it, Battle Bowler popped out of cover and glared at the behemoth.

"Would You Stop Throwing Boulders At My Head!?!" He shouted, before rapidly ducking back into cover another was thrown in his direction.

John sprinted with the impromptu warhead under his arm, bolting straight out of the castle. The courtyard was full of guards, with many in a bad state. The Pegasi had slowly trickled back from evacuation duty to help airlift wounded ponies behind the walls into hastily set up medical areas. He nearly tripped over a pony as he made for the gatehouse with all haste. As he approached the castle wall, what looked like something that was once a statue burst over the top of the walls. The collision with the battlements sent stone scattering in the yard behind, with the ponies stationed on that rampart slamming into the ground with it. John kept running, the warhead starting to feel warm. Slowing down, John's heart continued to race as he reached the gatehouse. Panting, he put his hand on the wall to steady himself. A guard pony was cowering a stone's throw away.

"Hey *Gasp* do you *gasp* know how *gasp* to get up there?" John forced up, pointing to the top of the gatehouse.

The pony rolled back and forth, staring out into space.

"There's no way out. We're gonna die. It's game over man, Game over!"

John rolled his eyes at the pony. Looking around for a way up, he saw another guard leaving through a door in the wall.

"Hey, HEY!" John hollered, getting the guard's attention.

"Where does that go?" John asked, closing the distance between them.

"Up onto the wall, what are you?" The guard answered, annoyed and confused as it looked over John.

"Can that get me to the gatehouse?" John pushed.

"yeah, there's a door just over there, but the area is restricted. Your one of those foreigners the princesses found, aren't you" The guard asked.

"I don't have time for this!" John grumbled, shoving the guard aside and climbing the stair against the protests from the guard below.

when The city itself could be seen, it was a comfortably horrible sight. The entire central area was practically on fire, with random gaps where buildings used to be. The area now had more in common with the ruins of America than the city he had first glimpsed on arrival. The low sky had slowly bled red as smoke clouded the city, and many of the great towers had crumbled. Just Below in the city plaza, the behemoth could be seen as beams of light shot at it from every angle. John Pushed himself to continue his climb, kicking open the door into the gatehouse and climbing the next case of stairs.

He reached the top in time to see Rapidfire and three other pegasi hauling the launcher from over the side of the battlements.

"Can we get a little help here!?!" Rapid Fire demanded as the four pegasi began to descend to the floor.

John made to assist be was stopped by a senior guard if the fancy armour was to go by.

"Who let you up were? Get this thing out of here!" the unicorn officer barked.

Several guards left their post to follow his commands, only for Rapid Fire to step between them.

"Step aside Sergeant, that thing is in a restricted area without an escort" The officer stated.

"Back off, here's on our side. He's supposed to be here" She asserted.

"On who's Authority?" The Officer demanded.

"Mine" Came a deep voice from the side of the gatehouse.

Hovering in the air was a Bat Pony as Black as night, with purple eyes that seemed to glow beneath his majestic helmet.

"Captain Belisarius" The officer addressed the Night Captain, who landed in front of the glaring unicorn.

The Night Captain looked directly at John, then down to the warhead.

"Is that the weapon?" he asked

"Yes," John Confirmed.

The captain slowly hovered towards John, his eye seemingly trying to piece his soul. He stopped inches from John's face.

"Assist that thing commander, whatever its wishes" Captain Belisarius ordered the officer.

"Captain, with all due respect, you have no authority over me or my platoon. If you have ordered from captain lancer then-" The commander told the Night Captain, being cut off by said bat pony when they dragged the commander into the air by his armour.

"Now, Commander" The Captain growled, dropping the commander on his hindquarters.

The Captain then flew off back to the plaza.

After recovering from the drop, the commander stood up and approached John.

"What do you require?" The commander asked bitterly.

"Clear me an area at the front, if any of your men have strong backs, that would help too" John requested.

Luna was starting to tire of this game of cat and mouse. The Behemoth had started to wise up, relentlessly chasing a threat instead of changing targets when attacked. Eventually, Nate was himself just scraping by in his attempts to elude the behemoth. He had resorted to just running into the ruined shells o the old plaza buildings and escaping out the side. Luna and Sergeant Levee could do little but try to slow the monster down. Her magic was slowly getting more potent, as if the use was shrinking the buildup that limited her. Now she was summoning chains to try and hold the behemoth down, with little success.

"My Princess" Her Night Captain greeted, gliding in beside her.

"Yes, Captain, what news do you bring?" Luna Inquired.

"The explosive payload is in place" He informed her.

"The General is too close, he would be caught in any blast... Evacuate the premise!" Luna announced, launching into a gallop.

She stormed across the plaza, racing to catch up to the human. When she neared beside him, he became bewildered.

"What are you doing?!" He asked befuddled.

"Climb on!" She shouted, prompting a bemused look.

When the Behemoth tried to swipe at him, his momentary amusement was replaced by urgency. He jumped with all his might and grappled onto her back. Giving him a moment to stabilise himself, and for her to get used to the weight, she once more picked up speed.

"What are you doing? There clear, take the shot!" Rapid fire told John, her patients fraying.

"Without the Mini nuke's self-propelling cap, the payload doesn't have the power to launch how it's supposed to. I have to manually estimate the firing arch. At this distance and the behemoth's movement, the chances of missing are high, and we only have one shot" John explained.

"Is there any way to increase those odds?" Rapid Fire asked.

"If they could somehow lead the behemoth on a path directly towards the castle and clear the blast radius, I could choose a spot and evaluate the trajectory beforehand" John answered.

"What spot?" Rapid fire pressed.

"I Don't Know, between the fountain and the barricade?" John guessed.

With that information, Rapid Fire sprung into action and jump off the tower into a glide.

"What the hell is your hair?!?" Nate asked, feeling the Etheral mane he was holding on to.

"Is This Really The Time!?!" Luna shouted back, running for their lives.

The behemoth had taken the game of chase, abandoning all effort to slow down and attack. Luna and Nate were currently heading to the far end of the plaza, the ruined government building marking the border.

"Try to slow the beast!" Luna suggested.

Nate had never tried firing from horseback, never mind a pony princess, but right now was as good a time as any. Instead of aiming careful high-powered shots, he defaulted to holding down the trigger and cranking the musket, firing a shot with every crank. The low-powered shots did less harm, but when aiming for the behemoth's eyes, were a fantastic way to slow it down. His ammo bag was running dangerously low, with his hand had to search for a fusion cell when he went to grab one. From behind the behemoth, Rapidfires orange and yellow could be seen approaching. The Pegasus flew up beside Luna.

"Princess, John is ready, but he needs a clean shot!" She told Luna.

"Isn't that why we chose to stay at the plaza!?" Luna shouted, the behemoth's crashing steps behind them.

"It's not enough! He needs you to get that thing going straight for the castle, A straight course!" Rapid Fire explained.

"There's no way we can stay close enough to keep its interest and get out of the blast radius!" Nate Argued.

"There might be! Sergeant, tell Sergeant Levee to wait but the side of the plaza, somewhere I can see her!" Luna commanded.

Rapid Fire split with the two and flew off.

"Are you going to let me in on the Plan!?" Nate asked.

"We turn around and have the beast follow us directly up the plaza!" Luna Explained.

"Besides not explaining how we're supposed to clear the blast, how are we supposed to get behind it? If we try to go around it, the debris on the ground will slow us down if we go close to the buildings. If we try to slip past it, it will just crush us!" Nate argued.

"We have a solution, but you will loath it!" Luna told Nate.

Suddenly, Luna came to a stop and quickly reversed course. Nate was suddenly heading directly towards the behemoth.

"Princess, What are you doing!?!" Nate cried out.

"Something a friend once showed us!" Luna Answered.

Nate saw as the behemoth took both of its hands and balled them into fists above its head.

"LUNAAAAAA!!!!" Nate Cried out.

Just as the car-sized fists came down, Luna's horn lit up. With a flash, they were suddenly behind the behemoth, heading towards the fountain.

"What a trick!" Nate announced in excitement.

"Indeed! We are glad it worked, We did not know if our magic has recovered sufficiently." Luna agreed

"Wait... Glad It Worked!?!" Nate exclaimed.

"Princess!" Levee's voice shouted, alerting the two to the unicorn's location.

"You may like this next part even less, general!" Luna told him.

"Wait, wHA-"

Luna used her magic to fling Nate, his panicked scream could be heard as he shot towards the side of the plaza.

"come on...nearly there..." John muttered to himself, carefully lining up the launcher.

Luna jumped over the remains of the plaza, fountain. She was now at the marked location, Her magical limitations rapidly re-expanding. It was now or never. The princess ground to a halt and turned around.

"What Is She Doing!?!" The commander screamed, a sentiment being repeated across the walls and by every pony that could see the scene below.

The Behemoth was rapidly catching up to her, and Luna waited. Her two spells ready, she calmly waited for the exact moment. The Behemoth's arms stretched out, preparing to crush her as it charged. Once she could see the creature would have no chance to stop, she cast her spell.

The Area around her exploded into smoke, completely covering her and the immediate area.

John Watched as the behemoth crashed into the smokescreen, and Luna shot out of the top of it. Her wings were Etheral, much like her hair. Yet her real wings were squarely by her body, the magical ones being used in their stead. The guards cheered at the sight, and John waited. Rapid Fire slammed hooves first onto the ground next to him.

"Everyone's clear of that thing, fire Already!" Rapid Fire screamed.

"Wait..." John said calmly!

"What are waiting for!?" She balked

The Smoke that Luna had cast slowly began to dissipate, revealing the outline of the behemoth.

"Gotcha..."

John fired the launcher, and one by one, everyone watched as a pink crystal flew towards the creature. With a whistle, the crystal-covered bottle hit home and detonated.

The blast rippled through the central district, a great blue fireball that blanketed the plaza in light. The smoky sky above the plaza bowed upwards as the air pressure pushed away the smoke. Every remaining window in the area shattered as the blastwave ripped through.

Then there was silence.

As the glow cleared, everyone could see the remains of the Behemoth. Its entire upper body was vaporised, its lower body still standing. Finally, they fell back and crashed into the plaza ground.

Nate watched in awe from the side of the plaza at the aftermath, having like all others shielded his eyes from the blast. He stood there and took in the scene. Blue fire covered the plaza buildings, and the smoking remains of the enemy littered the ground. He could see The Guards on the walls cheering, Luna was gliding back down into the castle grounds. They had won.

Then he heard stone crumbling behind him.

"Look OUT" Cried Levee.

He turned around in time to see the building he was next to collapsing, Burning wooden beams came crashing down from above. Then he felt himself being shoved aside and hitting the ground. Then there was the crash.

Levee Screamed, Nate scrambled back up and over to Levee.

Her left Hindleg was caught under the burning timbers, searing her flesh. Nate tried to lift the beam only to get burned by the blue flame. Her leg now burned, the aqua flame turning lime, her screams getting horse. Nate grabbed her by her forelegs and pulled. She moved forwards, the timbers shuffling. He pulled again, and again.

"LEVEE!!!" Battle Bowler screamed, racing over.

Nate finally pulled her free of the burning mess, Her leg was horrifying. It was charred in places, burnt black. it was twisted and broken in two places. Battle Bowler hesitated as he reached her, unsure what to do. Nate wasn't sure, but he thought he saw him tearing up.

"MEDIC!... SOMEONE GET A MEDIC!... Don't worry Levee, you're going to be Fine!... You're going to be fine...." Battle bowler descended to reassuring her and stroking her mane and her cries grew quieter and quieter. Nate could do nothing but kneel beside her and wait...

As the clouds began to rain...

Consequences

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Celestia strode stoically down the hall towards the throne room. She didn't know if anypony was watching her, but she held herself as if eyes were upon her regardless. During the battle, she found herself overwhelmed by the firepower. The result ended with her ploughing through the masonry of her castle and into the pantry. The impact had knocked her out and now caused her pain across her back. When the kitchen staff eventually pulled her out of the remains of the grain storage, she awoke to an after-report of the assault. The casualties were in the hundreds, with at least one hundred dead and counting. The centre of the city was a crumbling mess, the entire merchant district would need to be built from the ground up. The entire city garrison had been shaken to the core, the even bloodier repeat of the invasion a year prior causing many to question their ability to defend their home. Worse still, the forces of Polka had been summoned, only arriving after the battle. The only thing that had stopped the calamity before the heart of Equestria had been torn asunder, were the strangers she had been so reluctant to seek assistance from. In the face of such news, she needed to appear unwavering to her subjects. Weakness would confirm their fear, weakness could embolden the enemy, weakness would cause her allies to waver, and cause those closest to her to waste concern on her wellbeing.

Her troubled mind would pester her all the way to the throne room, where her sister and two of the humans were. John was leaning against one of the many columns while Luna and Nate were discussing something. Her sister locked on to her immediately, springing towards her.

"Sister!" Luna exclaimed, slowing down when Celestia raised her hoof to single her to stop. Luna's excited relief was replaced with worry.

"I am fine, Luna, just bruised," Celestia told her sister, meaning it in more than one way.

"Then there has been some good news, at least. Little about our situation can be considered so," said Luna, looking in the direction of the out-of-sight city.

"We are alive, that is good news enough," Celestia reassured her sister with a hug.

Celestia watched as Nate and John slowly walked over and stood near the two sisters. Celestia released her sister and addressed the two humans.

"Your deeds today will not be forgotten, Equestria owes you a debt of grat-"

Before she finished her little speech, John stepped forward. The slap rang across the throne room, leaving Luna and Nate stunned. It hadn't hurt, nearly pushing her head slightly to the side. Considering John had just watched her just walk away from slamming through a meter of stone, she assumed the assault was more symbolic than harm intended. Moving on from the absurdity of John's action, she looked down at him with a neutral face.

"Not many can say they've slapped a Princess..." Celestia commented.

"You lied to me," John stated flatly.

Celestia raised her wing to stop her sister, who was already ready to verbally tear John apart. Using the wing as a divider, Celestia stared at her sister until the message had been received and Luna backed down. Celestia returned to addressing John.

"I would have told you, once you had the necessary time to adjust," Celestia explained.

"To being kidnapped," John added, crossing his arms.

"The Elements chose to send you to us, You. They deemed you worthy and brought you forth to aid us. I do not know why they sent you but I only intended to keep the truth hidden until your part in this became clear," Celestia argued.

An honest lie, for she truly did not see why the Elements sent him, but they looked into his heart and found something worth bringing him over. The Elements were not malicious but whatever part in this he has to play, she did not know.

"Then your Elements made a mistake, All I want is to go back to my world. This war of yours, it's not my problem. You're going to lose, and it's because you don't have the balls to make the tough calls. People are going to die, get over it. " John told Celestia, with a backwards flick of the hand.

"Hey, They're just trying to keep people safe!" Nate Scolded John, receiving the most over-emoted groan Celestia had ever seen.

"Them, I get it. Their desperate, but you? I despise you. Your self-righteousness, too clean, unwilling to dirty your hands. In case you weren't following the latest news trends, your world is gone! Your people blew it to kingdom come, claiming to do it for freedom and other bullshit."

John Gestured to himself

"Me? I got to deal with the consequences! I spent my entire childhood in an underground tomb, breathing the same stale air. I then spent the last thirteen years in the filth of the wasteland. I spend every night with a gun next to me just in case some fuck wants to kill me for my shoes! People are animals, morally fucked psychotic killers. The worst part, they never change. They're the same people that you let run your government and your corporations. You want to see a better world but we're the ones that fucked it up in the first place. You lived in a world of abundant food, luxuries and everything you could ever want, and it still wasn't enough. You're still stuck in the American dream, well guess what? It's time to wake the fuck up!" John roared, casting his arm wide.

The room was silent, Only the elevated breathing from John could be heard. Celestia had no idea what to say, and it appeared neither did her sister. All three stood in silence waiting to see Nate's reaction. The human winced, his head low, as if pained. After an unbearably long moment, he looked John squarely in the eyes. The hurt was written on his face.

"I did wake up, two hundred years, after I watched my whole world burn. I lost my home, my wife... my son... I lost everything." Nate told John, his voice low the entire time.

"But I didn't let it destroy me, I picked up the pieces and kept going. I helped those that needed me, because I believe... that people are good. Every day, people in the commonwealth attempt to build a better tomorrow. These folks never deserved this, They don't deserve it any more than the people of the Commonwealth. So I'm going to help them, because we can be better. Because there's good in humanity, and it's worth fighting for." Nate finished, having never raised his voice.

Celestia noticed that at some point, John's anger had subsided into melancholy.

"Maybe you believe that, but I don't... Not anymore" John said to Nate, sombrely.

John spun to face Celestia, who had simply chosen to listen to the two. Then John jabbed at Celestia.

"You, are going to send me home. This is not my problem."

Celestia then watched as the Human stormed out of the castle. When Luna made to pursue, Celestia intervened.

"No, nothing you or I say will influence this. He's made his decision, only he can change it."

John fumed as he left the castle at the audacity of all three beings in the throne room. They wanted to win the war and sacrifice nothing at the same time. War doesn't have rules, it has losers.

He stopped to gaze across the courtyard, the entire thing one massive medical bay. row upon row of makeshift hospital beds were full, the limited medical staff unable to keep up. An ambience of groans, coughs, and cries surrounded the human. he watched as one of the medical mares called out in a panic. Two others came to answer the call but arrived too late. Seeing enough, he carried on outside the castle grounds and into the city. The sun had disappeared above the clouds, leaving the entire city in a grey hue. The sparse rain had turned the stone beneath his shoes from light to dark. smoke still rose above from the smouldering city, the smell of rain and smoke mixing together.

He was aimless in his journey, walking around, unsure as to what he was looking for. So instead he wandered, alone in the rain. None of the civilians had yet returned to the city, leaving the streets eerily empty. The occasional local would appear as he crossed blocks of the city, each one sifting through the ruins. Even more common than the living were the dead, littered among the sides of the street. Each corpse had its own story, a glimpse into its end. It wasn't until John noticed a familiar straw hat that he stopped. Slightly buried in the ruins of Mower's garden emporium was a mare, her violet coat and golden mane just seeable. John rushed forth and climbed into the ruined store, crushing the charcoal remnants of the building as he did. With most of the debris lying on top of a fallen beam, John heaved as he flipped the burned chunk of wood over. Once the collective ash and dust settled, He looked down at the lifeless body of Betsy Bloom. John knelt and cupped the mare's cheek in his hand. she was cold, and he felt her fur polluted with ash. Deep inside him, he felt a familiar coldness. A numbness, one that made him feel ill. He removed his hand, slowly getting up. He stared at her, soaking in feelings of remorse. Just one more person who died, who never deserved it. The reflection of metal dragged his attention down beside the mare. Lying halfway out of her saddlebag was a pair of garden cutters, the snippers she had gone to buy. John collected the tool and wondered how different things could have been.

"Hey, what happened? I woke up and everyone's gone, did we win?" Six called out from behind.

John stared at the Gardening tool in his hand, hearing six's boots on the paved road getting closer.

"Hello, can you hear me?" Six pushed, walking up beside John.

"Oh... fuck... Someone you knew?" Six asked, seeing the dead pony at John's feet.

John closed his hand holding the snips and squeezed. A hand landed on his shoulder.

"Hey, sorry, can't save 'em all," Six told john.

"I know..." John replied, looking away from the snips and putting them away.

He turned his head to address the courier, looking at the man's face.

"Didn't you have a helmet?" John asked.

"Did, now it's ruined." Six said.

John's eyes dropped down knowingly as he nodded in empathy.

"Yeah, we won. Miss 'Sun shines out her Ass' and her sister are at the castle with that popsicle." John told Six, pushing his hand off his shoulder.

He then looked to the castle in the distance, considering the weight of his situation.

" I didn't agree to this, I agreed to a few survival lessons and some training, not a full-scale war. As soon as they're ready, I'm going back. I don't play the hero anymore," John added.

Six put up his hands and waved them apart as if clearing the already-gone smoke.
"Hey, I get it. It's not for everybody. No one can force you to stay."

"You should leave too, this whole thing is going to end badly," John told Six, the two o them walking away from the scene.

"Probably, but it wouldn't be the first shitshow I've walked into. Besides, it's not like I have anything worth going back to. do you?" Six asked John, matching his steps.

John thought about how to respond but didn't get the chance.

"Hey, look. this one's got shit on him!" Six announces, grabbing John by his arm and dragging him to one of the dead mutants that were nearby.

John ripped his arm out of six's grasp, but the courier just moved on to searching the mutant for loot.

"Score!" Six announced, standing back up.

He turned around, holding a small cardboard box in each hand.

"Plastics still intact, you smoke?" six asked enthusiastically.

"Occasionally," John replied. weirded out by the sudden burst of glee.

Six tossed one of the boxes, with John just reacting in time to catch it. He looked over the box in his and moved it around in his hand.

"You know, most people would kill to get these, and you're just giving them to me," John noted, receiving a shrug in return.

Six moved on to the next corpse, rooting around in its pockets. leaving John standing next to the super mutant, the giant laying on its side. It's makeshift armour coming apart at the back. Blue textiles could be seen behind the metal.
Curious, John pushed the mutant over with his foot, grunting at the necessary force. The mutant splashed facedown on the road, its back exposed. He looked up to find Six and cupped his hand over his mouth.

"Hey, come help me with this!" John shouted.

Six dropped another mutant's arm as he stopped searching its corpse, getting back up and heading over. gesturing at the armour on the face-down mutant, John began attempting to pry it off. Six raised an eyebrow, but came up alongside John and pulled with him. The Large cobbled together a plate of metal came off, revealing a vault suit underneath. Six stepped back while John stepped forward, bending down to see the number. scrounging around in one of his pockets, he pulled out the snips.

"Even if we wanted to station guards at every settlement, Even if we were to introduce conscription," Celestia told Luna, who was pacing around the columns of the room.

"We cannot leave the outlying towns and villages defenceless. Every location without a garrison is a slaughter waiting to happen. What if we were to centralise the forces at outposts? Then the outposts could function as bases to respond to nearby threats!" Luna suggested, strained from the lack of options.

"You've seen what could face your soldiers, we don't have the time to fully retrain and arm an entire army," Nate countered, leaning against one of the many columns.

"However, with your insights and the work of our research team, our ponies will very soon have the tools to fight this foe," Luna pushed, leaning forward towards Nate as if trying to emphasise his merit.

"Luna, even if we did, there is no feasible way to defend every piece of land. Besides, even if we could, we would never have the concentration of guards to fight back." Celestia told her sister, shaking her head in dismissal.

"Blast these beasts! How are We supposed to fight a foe who can appear anywhere!?" Luna Vented, huffing in exasperation as she stormed around.

When she finally stopped, Celestia strode up to her sister and put a hoof on her back.

"We must protect the population centres. From there, the guard can respond to threats. In the meantime, our ponies will have to hold their own," Celestia stated.

Luna threw off her sister's hoof and stood facing her.
"You would have Our ponies defend themselves with torches and pitchforks like a militia?!" Luna shouted, taken aback at the absurdity of the suggestion.

"Actually, that might work..." Nate noted aloud, shaking his arm up and down with his index finger out.

"What?" Luna spluttered, scrunching her face in disbelief.

"Not to fend off an attack, but to hold them off long enough for a relief force to reach them," Nate explained.

The human walked in between Celestia and her sister, Explaining his thoughts while his hands accentuated the plan.

"Instead of sending multiple guards, send one to organise and train the locals." Nate started, lifting one finger.

"Then they can lead the local militias while they pin down the enemy." Nate placed one spread-out hand over a cupped one, creating a cage.

"Then, you can send in a force to neutralise the problem." He clenched his hand that made the top of the cage.

Celestia softly pushed Nate's hand down with her hoof.
"By the time we have organised a garrison to sally out to face the creatures, they will have destroyed the militia." Celestia countered.

"It simply takes too long to relocate a large force," Luna added.

"Then you don't send a large force, but a small elite group. An always-ready force that can be there at a minute's notice." Nate argued.

"The Ministry!" Luna concluded, a beaming grin on her face.

"The Ministry of Action does not have the numbers or means to respond to every cry for help," Said Celestia, still not convinced of the feasibility of the plan.

"Neither does the Guard, yet at least with this, we give the ponies of Equestria a chance!" Luna emphasised her point by thrusting her hoof out towards the door leading outside.

"We can stop them around the nation, and you can keep the soldiers near the cities. Everyone wins."

Celestia's eyes shot down, then back and forth, as she internally debated if this was the right course of action.

Nate stepped aside as Luna walked over to Celestia.

"Sister," Said Luna, pushing Celestia's face up to meet hers.

"What do we have to lose?" Luna asked.

Celestia looked into her sister's eyes, then closed her own and smiled. Luna had been right so far, she might as well see where this ends.

All three beings there whipped their heads towards the castle entrance as the great doors slammed open. A man in a coat stumbled through the door.

"I'm ok, I am completely ok!... maybe a little singed." Six Announced, hands in the air.

John walked around the man, straight up to the two princesses. He then put his hand together and held them close to his mouth, breathing deeply. Celestia looked over to Luna, who nodded at the unspoken question.

"Johnathan, we will have the spell ready in a few days. You are welcome to stay in the castle until-" Celestia started, getting cut off abruptly by the now slightly drenched man.

"I'll stay,"

Celestia double-took at the announcement. He had been resolute in his choice to leave, now he seemed troubled by something. his eyes never meeting hers, his back slightly hunched. She looked to her sister or answered, but received a shrug in turn.

"But you made it clear that-" She started again, and again he cut her off.

"I know, but you need me. I mean... you said you need my help, and good people are dying. So I'll stay until we find out who's doing this," John responded.

"Doing, this?" Celestia asked for clarification, her brow rising in interest.

John spelled it out.
"A portal, one that you say is random, just happened to drop here, in the middle of your capital. Then it unleashed an army, right in the heart of the city."

"He's right, whatever this is, it was intentional," Nate confirmed.

Luna sighed, her shoulders slouching, and her eyes closing.
"We know, whoever is behind this had clearly intended to cripple the kingdom, and may have succeeded."

"What is more concerning is how did they manage to direct the anomaly, and will they do so again?" Celestia pondered to the group. The prospect was unappealing.

The weight of such contemplations was broken as the courier quietly and slowly slid in between the two sisters. he gestured for them to come in closer. Both did so but looked at each other in confusion.

"Uhh, hey, do you have anyone else posted in this room at the moment?" He whispered.

"What?" Luna asked shaking her head, baffled at the question.

"I didn't think so." The courier replied, reaching into his coat for something.

The courier pulled something metallic out from his coat and pointed it out towards the nearby wall. Celestia didn't have the time to register what it was before he started shooting. A candle stand fell over near where he was shooting as hoofsteps could be heard by an unseen assailant. A spy!

"Halt!" Luna shouted out in the vague direction of the sound. Both Celestia and her sister entered their casting stance and opened up wherever they thought the invisible spy was. magic blasts and bullets followed around the room until the spy made its way to one of the coloured glass windows and crashed through it. The three rushed to the window and looked outside into the rain, seeing an outline of their escape forming from the water. The courier's gun clicked multiple times as he tried to fire his weapon, but it was empty. The three stood at the window, looking into the rain as their spy got away. The other two humans came up behind them and looked out the window as well. Celestia's face slowly formed into a stern frown, as she considered the implications of the coming storm.

The stars here were calming, John thought to himself. The skies themselves seemed like one great canvas, dotting the skies with intent. In his hand was a cigarette, in his other a piece of synthetic fabric. He stood leaning with his arms on the railing, looking at the world from the castle medical wing. He had gone there to find something to help him sleep, but found the herbs the on-duty nurse gave him useless. Pony anatomy and human anatomy must be just too different. He went outside when the nurse had told him off for trying to light his smoke on a lantern. The cool night air was soothing, helping him relax alongside his smoke.

His tranquillity was broken by the sound of hooves on stone, Slowly approaching was a pony. when the pony stopped, he waited for them to say something. When they didn't, he twisted around to see Princess Twilight standing there.

"I was wondering when you would wake up. When I was told you were in the medical wing, they said you had been out since the assault." John told Twilight, looking back out to the night sky.

"When I forced my magic through the blockage, I accidentally gave myself magical burnout. I had emptied my reserves to the point that I fell unconscious until the levels had stabilised." Twilight explained, slowly walking over to the railing next to John.

Taking a deep drag of his cigarette, John held it in and then slowly let it out.
"I have no idea what any of that means."

While he didn't look at her, he could see her wings twitching in his periphery, and he could hear her tittering on her hooves.

"What's wrong?" John asked, getting annoyed at her obvious state of distress.

"I...Killed one of those creatures, from the forest. In the hospital, I killed it." Twilight told him, her voice quivering.

He took another drag and exhaled.
"You did what you had to."

If the sniffling was anything to go by, his response had not helped.
"It wasn't easy, you know, my first one. I still remember him, worse, I knew him." He added.

"W...Why?" Twilight pushed out.

"Because he was going to hurt someone I cared about. Because when it came down to it, I was willing to kill to save my friend." John explained.

He decided to turn around and look down at the Princess now sitting beside him. She had wet patches going down from her eyes, she had been crying long before she came out here. She looked up at him with a need for reassurance, he didn't have any.

"How do you do it, How do you move on from it? I feel stuck in a loop, playing it over and over. I trying to think of another way it could have gone, even though I know it is too late. How do I live with the fact that I took a life?" Twilight almost begged, her ears were splayed back, her eyes like dinner plates.

John Looked out, trying to put it as least brutally as he could in his mind. He had another drag.

"You try to push forward, but it doesn't undo what you did. At first, the blood on your hands is like ink that won't come off. Eventually, you have to do it again, and again. Each time, you get a little more numb, till one day you no longer feel anything." John stopped to take another drag.

"Losing that part of yourself, it's bad. You spend your night mulling it, questioning if you're even human anymore. Those who never have to go through it, seem different. You never really feel like you belong anymore, they're innocent. That door has been opened, and it never closes. You just learn to live with it, as best you can," John finished, tapping off the ash as he looked out to the sky.

The silence held until Twilight finally found a response.
"It's going to get a lot worse, isn't it..."

John went to take a drag, but stopped. He held it as he considered her words.
"Yeah, it is."

He turned and leaned back on the railing.

Suddenly he heard her start to sob, so he craned his neck to look beside him.
"They should have listened to you, before. You told us it was a stupid plan, but I wanted so badly to prove that I could help. I believed we could save everypony, like an idiot!" Twilight stopped her hoof to accentuate her frustration, her voice quivering as she spoke.

"If you hadn't been there, I would have died, and so many others did because of me. I heard they used to be human, like you, and I thought we could save them all" Twilight waved her hoof through the air to emphasise her sarcasm.

"But at least now I've learnt my lesson, I don't belong out there. I'm the princess of friendship after all, and friendship isn't going to save Equestria, not this time. If Equestria is going to survive this, it's going to need people like you." Twilight stood back up and made to leave.

John took one last drag of his smoke and put it out.
"If that's your takeaway from today, then you learnt the wrong lesson. That's not what you should have learnt from today."

He heard Twilight stop, then turn around. He did the same and saw her looking at him with one ear down, like a confused puppy.

"What do you mean?" She asked. her confusion supplanting her sorrow.

John tossed the butt off the side of the balcony.
"The lesson, what you should take from this? It's that shit happens, stuff goes wrong, can't always get it right. That's life." John answered.

Twilight's eyes bounced around, as she tried to understand his meaning. her brow furrowed, then slowly rose with understanding, then Finally a subtle smile.

"Thanks," Twilight replied.

John nodded to her, and she made her way inside.

John stood there, pushing against the railing with one hand, still holding the piece of fabric with the other. He turned back and resumed leaning with his arms on the railing. He looked out to the stars in contemplation, the winds howling ever so quietly. After a moment, he looked down at the piece of blue fabric and turned it over. He stared at the fabric, and the golden 87 stitched on.

Ponyville reception

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Fluttershy watched the trees go by as the train carriage rode the rails down to Ponyville. She had held it in since she had awoken this morning. First, it had been Rarity asking if she was alright, knocking on her door in the morning. Fluttershy told her she was okay. Then Applejack stopped her at breakfast to ask how she was holding up, Again she said she was okay. Pinkie had been more subtle, yet persistent. A cupcake on a plate appearing next to her, an 'accident' leaving the local staff covered in flour, and eventually just a hug with no words. Fluttershy did not laugh but did tell pinkie she was okay. Twilight gave her own nervous apology and told Fluttershy if she needed anything in the future that she could ask. When heading to the station, Rainbow Dash kept close to Fluttershy. They took the first train to Ponyville, the line having been closed since the invasion.

It wasn't until halfway down the mountain that the others began to process what had just happened over the last two days. Fluttershy caught some of it, parts of the conversation out of context. At times they would talk about what had actually happened, and other times what the ramifications could be. Fluttershy's mind drifted off, watching the scenery change. The landscape slowly turned to grassy fields and then farms. The distinct look of Ponyville eventually came into view, the track turning towards the town outskirt. Fluttershy brought herself back to reality just before the train reached the station.

"Rainbow, even if the princesses didn't intervene, I just don't think the guard is the right choice for you." Twilight was telling Rainbow Dash.

"What, you don't think if have what it takes?" Rainbow shot back.

"It's not that sugar cube, you would hate the stuff they make you do. Ah heard you must wake up like us farmers, right at the crack of dawn." Applejack told Rainbow.

"oh oh, and always getting told what to do!" Pinkie Pie joined in.

"And stand around all the time," Applejack added.

"Hey, I could do all those things!" Rainbow countered.

Rarity and AppleJack gave each other a knowing look.

Twilight gave the girls a dirty look and addressed Rainbow Dash.

"Besides, Rainbow, Didn't you plan to join the Wonderbolts?"

"Exactly, and I would still have to do all those things then as well!" Rainbow almost shouted, getting glares from the few other passengers.

"Yes, but you can't be a part of both," Twilight told Rainbow.

"So? I'll just leave the guard when I want to join the Wonderbolts!" Rainbow Dash argued.

Twilight looked into Rainbow Dash's eyes, searching for something.

"why are you doing this?" Twilight asked, with no judgment in her voice.

"I... I can't just sit here and do nothing" Rainbow vented, her muscles seizing up from the stress.

"We're not asking you to," Applejack reassured.

"yeah, well it feels like it." Rainbow dismissed, preferring to look at the floor than her friends.

The carriage became quiet, quiet enough to hear the brake activate as the train stopped at the station.

"Ponyville Station!" the Conductor called from outside the carriage.

While the others collected their luggage, Rarity in particular collected her small wardrobe in bag form, Fluttershy grabbed her small bag of toiletries and left the train.

Fluttershy's pupils shrank and her posture stiffened as she saw the crowd that had gathered around the station. She decided to step aside and wait for the others to leave the train. Each of her friends left the train one by one, each reacting with differing levels of surprise at the mob.

just out of view, two fouls appeared sprinting across the platform. one white, one yellow.

"Rarity!" one shouted

"AppleJack!" shouted the other.

Sweetie Bell and Apple Bloom, tackle their respective big sisters with a hug.

"They said the monsters got Canterlot. We all feared the worst, Sweetie even cried." Apple Bloom told Applejack and Rarity.

"I did not!" Sweetie bell defended.

"You did too!" Apple Bloom shot back.

Fluttershy moved on to see the local independent reporters trying to get answers out of Ponyvilles local princess.

"Princess Twilight, Ever since the sudden flash and smoke could be seen from Canterlot, rumour has it the city was attacked. With little to no authentic reports from the city, can you shed any light on the situation?" One reporter asked.

"Snappy Scoop, you know how I feel about being called that," Twilight responded.

"Sorry miss Sparkle, I'm on a job, so gotta be professional." The reporter replied.

"Can you elaborate on the state of the capital, has Canterlot been attacked?" Another reporter pushed.

"Well yes, Howev- " Twilight started, before the crowd bust into a fury of questions.

Fluttershy stood back against the train, trying to create as much distance from the crowd as she could. The rest of her friends, as well as the two fillies, watched as Twilight was swamped with camera flashes and questions. Eventually, Twilight's inexperience with the media was trumped by her absolute experience with teleportation spells. Suddenly all eight of them were in the library. Rainbow Dash, who had been leaning against the train, fell backwards onto a shelf. three books that had been precariously placed fell down and landed on her head.

"Could you warn us your gonna do that next time?" Rainbow asked Twilight, as she rubbed her head.

"Sorry Rainbow, it was just too much. I didn't think we would make it off the platform. Besides, after the last few days, I'm tired and want to sleep in my own bed," Twilight told Rainbow Dash, lowering her head as she started to look fatigued.

"Twilight?" Came From upstairs, where a little purple dragon was standing at the top.

"Oh, hey Spike, I'm back," Twilight said, some of the stress leaving her posture.

Spike sped down the stairs and hugged her.

"Spike, what's wrong?" Twilight asked, the tiredness temporarily elevated by concern and confusion.

"Everypony has been talking about Canterlot, that something had gone wrong. We all saw the smoke, and after the last time... I was scared, that I would never see you again." Spike told Twilight, even as his face was buried in her fur.

Twilight looked down at her baby dragon, first in understanding then adoration. She lowered her head and nuzzled spike with her cheek.

"It's an okay spike, I'm safe... And I'm not going anywhere."

Everyone watched the two, Fluttershy even allowed herself this moment of wholesomeness, and then Applejack spoke up.

" Well, we probably should leave ya to unwind. See ya later Twi."

Everyone took the queue and left the Golden Oak Library.

"Spike, lock the door. As far as I'm concerned, everything out there can wait. Let's go make co-co." Fluttershy heard Twilight say from inside, the door closing right after.

"Well, let's go make tracks Appebloom. granny is probably worried sick." Applejack told her sister as they both started walking away.

Applebloom froze in place, then jumped on the spot.

"Oh shoot! Tracks! We left scoots tried on the train tracks!" The little ball of yellow and red said.

Applebloom and Sweetie Bell both galloped back towards the station.

"Wait, WHAT!?" Applejack shouted, Followed by Rarity shouting "Train Tracks?!"

Both Applejack and Rarity shot off in pursuit, the panic evident on their face.

Rainbow Dash chuckled at the antics, then stopped to consider what she had heard. She hovered in the air, tapping her hoof to her chin, then gave a shrug.

"They'll be fine." She seemed to say to herself.

Fluttershy decided it was time to take her to leave. However, before she had even made it a yard from her starting point, she noticed a certain pegasus was still behind her. Fluttershy stopped and turned around. The act seemed to confuse Rainbow Dash.

"Um, Rainbow, did you need something?" Fluttershy asked.

The question seemed to click what Rainbow was doing.

"Oh!... Nah, I'm...good. I just...." Rainbow didn't finish her sentence, but instead looked down and rubbed the back of her head. Even if Rainbow couldn't say it, Fluttershy knew it.

"I'm okay. But I understand if you want to walk me home," Fluttershy offered.

That seemed to put Rainbow Dash at ease.

"Thank Shy. I know it's stupid, but after what you went through, I just want to be sure." Rainbow Dash told her.

The trip back to her cabin went quietly. Fluttershy knew that Rainbow Dash was never good at explaining her feelings or thoughts. Fluttershy could sympathise, since opening up to others was difficult for her too, just in different ways. This was Rainbow's way of showing she cared, by being protective.

Arriving at a familiar building on the edge of the Everfree, Fluttershy opened the door to her house and walked in. Just as she turned and began to close the door, a cyan hoof stopped her.

"Hey... Are you sure you're doing fine?" Rainbow asked.

"I'm okay Rainbow, I'm just... Tired." Fluttershy told her friend, as she held it back.

Rainbow scrutinised her once over, before removing her hoof.
"Okay... See ya later Shy." Rainbow Dash told her friend, then flew away.

Fluttershy closed the door with a subtle click. She wasn't in the clear yet, so she headed towards the stairs. At the bottom was a familiar white bunny, and he was pissed.

"Hello Angel, sorry I was gone for so long," Fluttershy said softly.

The Bunny was having none of it, gesturing to his empty food bowl. Fluttershy knew it was an act of attention-seeking since she always had emergency reserves just for this scenario.

"I'll handle it tomorrow, I promise."

Angel seemed miffed at the response, but his anger turned to concern as Fluttershy dragged herself up the stairs.

"I'm Okay Angel, I just need some sleep."

The Bunny wasn't buying it and tried to stop her. Fluttershy went around him. He followed her up the stairs and to her room. Fluttershy watched Angel as he watched he close the door on him. Bothering with nothing else, Fluttershy made her way to her bed. She didn't bother pulling back the sheet, she just laid on top of them. She could feel the tears rolling down her face as she curled up on her bed.

Then she stopped holding back, for she was not okay.

Call to arms

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Princess Celestia listened to Neighmares twelfth while drinking her special blend tea. She had suspended a scroll in the air and was staring at it with razor focus. It was a summon for Twilight to action, Sent by the Ministry. The letter had been sent to Celestia for her seal and her personal messaging spell. All she had to do was sign it and send it, then she would have put her protege and friend back into the fire. Every Maternal instinct told her to go to the nearby fireplace and burn it. However, that would go against her student's very adamant wishes and was no longer her call to make. She had another sip as she contemplated how much had changed in the last few months. Equestria had never been a completely safe place, but the recent events seem to undermine centuries of efforts. She seemed to have little control over the events that were unfolding, and that scared her. Celestia took a moment to look up at the clock above the fireplace mantle, it was nearly time for the sun to rise.

Twilight waltzed through the throne room towards the throne itself, the black cloak revealing only her face and mane. Sitting On the throne atop the dais, Celestia lowered her guard relieved to see her pupil

"Ah, Twilight, I am Glad to see you safely home."

Twilight listened to the maddening voices, they told her exactly what to do, and they always knew what to do.

"You, No longer need to sacrifice for our ponies. You no longer need to bare the weight of your crown... I've taken care, of everything," She told Celestia.

Twilight horn became engulfed in the darkest of magics, and with one spell, the entire throne room was frozen solid. Only Celestia still stood, though weakened by the frost. The bottom of the black cloak that had hidden Twilight had been ripped asunder, revealing the amulet that now sat around her neck. Casting another spell, a sickly green miasma shot forth towards Celestia, binding her horn and legs in glowing green chains. Celestia struggled against her bonds as Twilight approached, her face still hidden by the hood of the cloak.

"What is this, What are you doing Twilight?!" Celestia Demanded, the panic and confusion set upon her face like an animal caught in a snare.

Twilight stopped her strides, her head inches from the princess's.

"Succeeding you, My teacher," Twilight responded in a chillingly calm tone. Her horn once more went to work, the magics forming an icicle, larger than most ponies. She aimed it right at Celestia's heart.

"Let your eyes close...-" Twilight told her mentor, throwing back her hood to reveal natural green eyes with a purple glow.
"-now that mine have been opened!"

The Shard of ice shot forth.

"HHUWAAHHH!?!" Twilight cried out, shooting straight up in her bed. She sat on her haunches as she gasped deeply, sweat rolling down her sides.

Movement in her peripheral seized her attention, causing her focus to snap to the source. Spike had fallen out of his bed, completely covered and tangled in his sheets. The dragon struggled with the mighty foe until his head popped loose.

"Three nights, it's been three nights Twilight. How is anypony around here supposed to get some sleep?" Spike asked the universe, clenching his claws in frustration.

"I'm sorry Spike," Twilight mumbled. She looked down at the bedsheets, tracing circles with her hoof as she considered what to do.

"... Did you wanna talk about it?" Spike offered, climbing on top of the bed to meet Twilight's eye level.

"...No Spike, I don't want to talk about it," Twilight replied, throwing herself back into her pillow.

"But it's been getting worse. Ever since you came back, you've had nightmares, you've barely eaten, and you haven't left the library in days!" Spike stressed the last part by opening the blinds, the sun rising in the distance.

The sun hit Twilight's eyes with all the fury of the morning, the tired and sleepy pony using her hoof to block the light.

"You need to go outside, talk to ponies, go see your friends," Spike suggested.

"Yes, Mom," Twilight responded, rolling her eyes.

"Twilight" Spike called out.

Twilight looked at her ward and saw him looking back at her.

"I'm worried about you," Spike said, almost pleading with his eyes.

The two stared at each other until Twilight finally gave in.

"Okay, okay, I'll go. Tell you what, let's go down to sugar cube corner, my treat." Twilight told Spike, adding a smile to the end of her offer.

Spike beamed at the prospect and raced straight for the stairs.

"After I've had a bath!" Twilight shouted down to him.

Twilight shook her head at Spike's enthusiastic antics and then walked towards the bathroom.

She was stopped however by the sound of a burp and fire, signatures of spikes magical mail delivery from the princess. Twilight slowly walked over to the stairs, her curiosity outweighing her need for a stress-reducing shower. Why would Celestia be sending anything for her today, was something wrong?

"Twilight!" Spike hollered from downstairs.

The lack of panic was a good sign at least. Twilight watched as Spike scrambled up the steps and handed the opened scroll to her. She levitated the paper in front of her and read the contents.

"Sorry Spike, looks like that trip to sugar cube corner is going to have to wait."

Nate meandered through the medical wing, taking his time to find the location of his heading. After acting like one too many paintings were interesting, he found the room he had been told she was in. Pushing the door open, Nate saw Levee laying in a hospital bed.

"And so, monsieur le général graces me with his presence once more." Levee jesterly greeted Nate.

"I had intended to come sooner, But I wasn't sure if I should," Nate told her, standing at the edge of the bed.

"I didn't expect you to be here at all, It is a good surprise though." levee replied, shifting up to a sitting position.

The act exposed her now very missing leg. The amputation had been done at the joint, leaving her femur intact. where the rest of her leg would have been attached to was covered in multiple layers of bandages. Levee had noticed him staring.

"It was not your fault," Levee told him, all the humour gone from her face.

Nate sat down on the bedside chair, Resting his hands on his thighs.

"Then why does it feel like it is?" Nate asked.

"I am alive, that is more than can be said for most. We know the risks, that is the soldier's burden. Tomorrow, I may be dead, but today I live. Death is scary, but depending on the company that awaits, maybe not so." Levee explained to the disturbed human.

"You know that's morbid as hell, right?" Nate asked Levee, receiving a shrug in response.

Attempting to change the subject, Nate looked at the flowers sitting on the bedside table.

"And what company are you keeping?"

Levee looked over to see what Nate was insinuating and upon seeing the flowers, she let out a snort.
"Those are from BB, He's been here every day since I left the surgery, and he'll be here many more."

"He seems keen on you," Nate told her, the mare bursting out in laughter at the statement.

"I'll let his wife know," Levee joked, causing Nate to join in.

"I doubt your husband would be too impressed either."

The comment seem to hit a nerve, as the laughing pony just as quickly stopped as she had started. Realising he was the cause, Nate tried to fix the situation.

" Is everything alright?" Nate asked.

"I wish I could go see them," Levee answered, the emotional raincloud looming above her.

"Your husband?" Nate asked.

Levee nodded.

"And my boy." Levee clarified.

"Then why don't you go see them once you're out?"

Nate's suggestion was met with a firm refusal.

"No, the local area has been marked for hazards because one of the recent anomalies occurred a few weeks ago. While the anomalies have not moved from their location, the procedure requires armed convoy escorts for going into the area at all times. With everything as it is now, it doesn't seem right to ask."

Nate mulled it over, then shifted the chair closer.

"I know I can't change how things are, but I'll always be around if you need someone to to talk too. And who knows, fate has a strange sense of humour about these things. Maybe our mission will lead us there."

Levee smiled at Nate, It was a consultation smile. The mouth smiled, but the eyes didn't.

"Your mission may take you there sooner than you think."

Nate looked to the doorway to see Princess Luna standing patiently.

"Princess Luna," Levee addressed with a small bow from her sitting position.

Luna walked to the end of Levee's bed and addressed Nate.

" Unfortunately, the repelled attack has left our allies in the court wanting more results, not less. Prepare your things, General, Your summon will be delivered within the hour".

Nate left the room but wondered why the Princess would come all the way to say that. A guard could have delivered the message. Curious as to what could merit the trip, Nate hid on the other side of the wall just past the door.

"I assume this is not a social visit?" Levee asked the Princess.

"No, it's not. We need to discuss your ongoing role in the ministry," Luna responded.

Nate couldn't see it, but he could hear Levee moving on her bed.

" I can get a prosthetic, I can still fight," Levee told the princess.

"Even with a replacement appendage, you will never be as agile nor fast as your comrades in arms. Thus, you are a liability to them. You will never be activated for field work again."

Luna's words hung in the air before the squeak of the bedsprings announced Levee had landed back onto the bed. Since Nate never heard her on the floor, she must have laid back down.

"Then my career is over, I will clear out my locker once I'm checked out of here." Levee said, the tone of dejection hard to miss.

"Yes, you will. Your office should be ready by then." Luna agreed.

"Office?" Levee replied, puzzled by the statement.

"Yes, Usually holding a commission means having one own office," Luna Answered

There was a moment of silence, as Levee was processing what she was hearing. Nate listened carefully, waiting for the response.

"I don't understand... You're promoting me?" Levee asked, baffled by the turn of events.

"With your tactical abilities and experience, you were to be fast-tracked to a position of command from the moment the ministry was founded. Our direct command was always intended to be temporary, to oversee the initial formation and growth of the agency. After a few months of experience in a leadership role, We would have offered you the choice to enter the academy and move to part-time administration. At completion, the ministry was to be under your guidance. Unfortunately, your injury has forced the timeframe to be moved significantly forward. Once you have been discharged from the palace infirmary, you will become Our direct subordinate. You will be entered into the royal academy and assist us in the daily operation of the ministry. Your education at the Academy will take four months, with the remainder of your tutelage to be overseen by Us as our subordinate." Luna explained.

Silence reigned again. Nate listened intensely, waiting for the response.

"I... I don't know what to say..." Levee finally answered.

"Say you agree, for the alternative is your immediate resignation."

Nate nearly laughed at how blunt Luna had been, yet managed to stifle it.

"Of course princess, I accepted completely!" levee's voice barely contained her excitement.

"Good, then congratulations are in order, lieutenant, We shall discuss the detail upon your clinical freedom. And General..."

Nate froze, He had been found out. Walking back around to the doorway and into the room, he saw Luna's unimpressed face looking back at him.

"While I do not know much about your world; In Equestria, It is considered impolite to listen in on others' private conversations."

Nate's face became flush as he squirmed under the gaze of the Princess of the night.

"Sorry, Old habit," Nate said to both the ponies while rubbing the back of his neck.

Princess Luna walked past him and towards the door.

"We shall expect your arrival at the airdocks."

Nate stood on the pavement looking at the airships in the Canterlot air docks. The giant vessels left him in awe, their sheer size rivalled only by their beauty. From the bulky shape and the sheer amount of cargo being unloaded, he assumed that a majority of the ships were commercial. Freshly cut timber and chiselled stone poured into the city as repairs began over large stretches of the central district.

"You seem lost. do you need directions to your ship?"

John was already dismissing the pony as he turned around.

"No, I'm just looking at the-"

The General stopped when he gazed upon Princess Celestia. His mind ran out of words as he realised to who he had just said no.

"They are incredible to gaze upon, I still remember the first time I boarded an airship. Sure, they were slower than flying, but there's something alluring about standing there and watching the world go on without you. Then at some point, there was always too much to do, even the occasional diplomatic voyage was buried under learning customs and prereading treaties."

Nate listened as Celestia reminisced about a time few were still alive to have seen.

"Sometimes I miss those days, everything seemed so much simpler."

"I would have thought the return of your sister would have left some free time," Nate commented.

Celestia's warm composure waned as reminiscing was replaced with concern, her brow lowering slowly as he eyes shifted to the horizon.

"If anything, having my sister again has made things even more complicated. Before, all I had were my ponies. Now I have my sister again, and yet between our duties, we rarely have the time to spend together."

Nate stood still, unsure how to respond. The awkward moment held until Celestia seemed to immediately threw off her worry, she had thrown up an emotional mask. With how effortlessly she had gone to acting as if nothing had ever happened, Nate wondered how much of the real Celestia he had ever seen.

"Well General, shall we go find our vessel?" Celestia suggested, gesturing with a hoof to the rows of slimmer ships.

"Our vessel, You're coming with us?" Nate asked as they walked, surprised at the implication.

"The entirety of the Equestrian military high command will be there, along with some very influential nobles. Luna has decided to use this particular mission to show the merits of her ministry. If all goes to plan, this expedition will garner the support she needs to make the ministry public," Celestia explained.

"Let's hope we put on a good show then," Nate replied, trying his best to dampen his worry if things didn't go to plan.

"If Luna believes you can handle it, then I have full confidence in your abilities, General. The fact that Canterlot still stands is a tribute to the efforts Luna has implemented. You will do fine."

Celestia's reassurance didn't dislodge the worry Nate was feeling.

"This is our ship, The Cloud Cutter.' Celestia announced, gesturing to the ramp on the side of one o the ships.

The Cloud Cutters was the perfect fairytale ship. With sky blue paint and mahogany making up the hull, Gold trim detailing and extravagant woodwork detailing, and Topping it off with birch railings, the whole thing looked like a cake top decoration had been upsized. The ship's enormous balloon was as white as snow and stretched the entire length of the ship.

While Celestia went up the boarding ramp, Nate took in the sight of the floating vessel. his eyes followed down the hull to the end of the ship. They stopped on John who was walking towards him, staring at the hull beside him. Nate stood by the ramp and watched the man approach.

"It's impressive, isn't it?" Nate asked John.

"It's impressive that it isn't crashing into the ground. This thing should not be able to hold itself together, let alone fly." John answered.

"We flew on pony-pulled chariots and this seems impossible to you? Nate retorted.

"At least then you could argue that it was using velocity and lightweight material to overcome gravitational pull, even throwing the magic argument around. This thing is made of wood and held from the top down. The weight of the hull should have torn itself apart. If anyone throws that magic word around, I'm going to throw something at them." John ranted, his hands gesturing at the ship to accentuate his point.

"Well, I'm just taking in the view. Regardless of how they work here, It will be interesting to be on a flying sailing ship again." Nate said as he began to make his way up the ramp.

"Again? what do you mean Again!?" Nate heard John shout from below him as he left the man to his bewilderment.

Nate's attention quickly shifted to the deck of the Cloud Cutter. Ponies of all shapes and sizes were scattered around the deck. Royal guard standing on watch, nobles discussing ongoing events with other benefactors, and sailors doing pre-flight checks. There was even an eagle-like creature on four legs that was helping unload barrels from the cargo crane. The deck was massive, the area large enough to comfortably land a vertibird if the balloon wasn't in the way.

"How big is this ship..." Nate asked aloud.

" Three decks. Eight guest quarters, a dining room, an armoury, a fully stocked kitchen and crew quarters."

Nate jumped at the sudden response, locking on the courier beside him who was holding a half-eaten apple.

"Even had space for a spa room." Six added before taking another bite of his apple.

"How do you know all that?" Nate asked as he moved away from the boarding ramp.

"Got here early, I was bored. Kinda disappointed really, the armoury was cool though." Six explained nonchalantly, taking another bite and reducing it to the core.

"They already let you into the armoury?" Nate asked, confused as to the reasoning behind it.

"No." Six responded, tossing the apple core over the ship's side and heading towards a barrel of apples.

Nate looked at the scruffy wastelander with a mix of amusement and confusion, before gazing around the ship once more. His eyes stopped when he saw the two princess sisters at the quarter deck. As he closed the distance between himself and the back o the ship, he saw a third figure in a heated debate with the Princesses. Nate caught the end of the conversation as he reached the quarter deck.

"Mark me, If any of these nasties have wings, you're going to wish you had scrapped the lot." The navy blue stallion told the princesses before storming off with a grumble.

"Ah, general!" Luna exclaimed, her sister following behind her casually as Luna cantered over.

"That was Captain Skipper, he had some concerns on which I'm interested in your insight," Luna said with almost giddy excitement.

Luna moved to Nate's side and gestured to the ship, up to the forward.
"what do you think of the Cloud cutter?"

"She's Beautiful," Nate replied.

"Beautiful, yet antiquated. Our policy that will be implemented calls for a refurbishment of standing royal vessels, Captain Skipper believes that our efforts would be better used constructing new ships from the ground up. The recent innovative discoveries from the technology of your world and the refocus on military equipment have led to upgrades that cannot be fitted on an old craft." Luna explained.

"As have I told the captain, and my sister, it just isn't practical to replace our entire fleet. The treasury is already under extreme stress trying to find sources of revenue to fund the armament projects in place. The reconstruction of the merchant district has only exacerbated the issue." Celestia's eyes never left her sister.

"If funding were the issue, then We would just levy tax from the noble estates." Luna dismissed her sister's concern.

"The increase in taxes has already begun to cause unrest. In their eyes, it's bad enough that we're squeezing more from them, but for those bits to go towards the militarisation of the state? They're resistant to the change." Celestia hadn't even finished her point as she made for the stairs.

"Is it they who are resistant dear sister, or you?" Luna accused.

Celestia halted her descent as if to counter Luna's accusation, however, then continued wordlessly down to the main deck.

Nate stayed silent as Luna transversed the inner turmoil of going forth to stop her sister, deciding against it, brushing the issue aside and returning to address the sole human near the helm.

"If you could find your way to the meeting room on deck four, We will begin our debriefing shortly."

Luna then addressed the pony who had been silently standing by the ship's wheel.

"Helmsmare, Inform the Captain upon his return to hold off our departure by the hour. Some of Our 'guests' have yet to arrive."

A fury of commotion on the main deck stole Princess Luna's attention, she moved to the railing looking over the main deck.

"Ignore Our last command, it appears that they have arrived."

The Princess's tone was anything but elated, the reason becoming clear as Nate also came over to the rails and looked below. Coming aboard were ponies in dress uniforms, their chests covered in ribbons and medals.

"They seem important," Nate observed aloud.

"Tis the General staff, their backing of this endeavour is the most crucial. It will also be the most difficult, as General Brasshorn has been a staunch opponent of the Ministry. His presence on this mission will not be a pleasant one," Luna responded.

"It can't be that painful," Nate told Luna, who was reluctantly heading down the stairs nearby.

"Like Fifty lashes," Luna answered.

Nate followed behind as Luna made her way to the host of officers.

At the head of the pack was a much older stallion, his green dress coat littered with more metal visible than cloth. His mane was trimmed short, a light grey. His face was covered with pure white facial hair, neatly kept and trimmed. He looked like an old Confederate officer, with his coat colour giving away his name.

"General Brasshorn," Luna said to the Stallion, acknowledging his existence.

"Princess Luna, I can not tell you how elated I am to be witness to this venture. However, I still have concerns about the validity of these tests. During the incursion in Canterlot, in which many fine ponies gave their lives to defend their home, your ministerial forces were overwhelmed. If not for the assistance of the Cantelot garrison and your retinue of personal guards, I fear things could have gone much further out of control." General Brasshorn told Princess Luna, with anything but quiet.

"If We recall correctly General, it was the efforts of Our research team and the humans who brought down the behemoth. The Vanguard of the Ministry may have been the only thing that avoided the complete destruction of Canterlot," Luna shot back.

"I Meant no disrespect to your efforts, of course. Your collection of unique individuals is formidable. However, this adherence to creating a rouge unit has clearly shown to be ineffective. Every step of the way, they have needed official military assistance," Brasshorn argued.

"The Ministry was formed as an independent body precisely because we needed an alternative to full mobilisation, general. The Ministry is to be a fully functional body, with the possibility to expand beyond martial solutions. You would have Us simply become another division of the Military?" Luna accused.

The main deck was solely focused now on the unofficial standoff happening between the General and the princess.

"Of course, not Princess, I would never dream of disrupting your well-thought efforts. All I'm suggesting is that place somepony in command that has the experience, as well as help foster coordination between your agency and the fine ponies that defend Equestria. I understand that you want somepony who is with the changing times, one of my staff would be perfect for the role." Brasshorn waved forth a pony.

One of Brasshorn's entourage came forth and stood next to him.

"knowledgeable, well-read on military history, strong in mathematics. Why, he is the very model of a modern major general!" Brasshorn announced, more to the gathered crowd than his princess.

"While We appreciate the sentiment, General, a candidate has already been selected to oversee the ministry after Our departure." Luna countered.

"Ah.... yes. The memo about the Lieutenant's promotion, the Colonel informed me on the way here. While I haven't had the time to familiarise myself with your candidates, Her profile did make it onto my desk. Talented, eager, respected. But I can't help but notice her lack of experience or education."

heads swung from Brasshorn to Luna, as everyone awaited the response.

"Lieutenant Levee En Masse was chosen based on the values and attributes needed for the head of the ministry, Some things can't be taught General Brasshorn."

And everyone swung back to Brasshorn.

"Yes, I imagine you would thoroughly evaluate your candidates. There could be no one better than our Princess of dreams to mentally evaluate someone."

Luna's eye twitched at the thinly veiled accusation.

"It would be imperative that you knew her true motivations, considering her foreign nature."

The tension on the deck became heavy enough that it could have sunk the ship if made tangible.

"And what exactly is that supposed to mean!?" Luna's fury began to escape her, and while still restrained, her mask of pleasantry had begun to crack.

"I'm only acknowledging the strenuous effort you would need to find the right pony for the job, going as far as to search ponies from foreign lands with little background. To look through so many fillies and fouls of Equestria and to see in such an unknown individual the characteristics to lead such an important part of your kingdom's defence. Clearly, you must have had some insight into her inner machinations that we did not."

"General!" Celestia's voice shattered the tension as everyone's attention snapped to the Princess.

"I require you and your staff's attention. If you would kindly leave my sister to complete her briefing below deck, I need to discuss contingency plans in the meeting room."

"Of course, Princess," Brasshorn replied, Leaving the scene with his command staff following.

Luna gave a snort as she stormed away.

"The briefing shall take place in the mess hall once we are airborne!" she demanded as she went inside the ship.

The main deck slowly returned to its previous chaos as sailors went about their last-minute preparations.

Six closed the door in front of him and proceeded to the next door down the hall. Crouching down, he took his screwdriver and hairpin and began to work the lock. The Equestrian locks had proven to be difficult to adapt to, simply because they were so easy. Spending a lifetime learning how to pick standardised lock designs had gotten the practice down to muscle memory. These locks were completely different, simpler, and clunkier. Since they had arrived earlier in the day, he had decided to practice this life-saving skill on every lock he could find, only taking a break or an apple and a chat. His adventure had led him across the entire ship, getting lost at various times. It was upon opening this door that he found himself in a barrack, in the presence of Princess Luna. When the Princess turned around to find the source of her disturbance, she looked right into his eyes. The two looked blankly at each other until Luna spoke.

"You're early, the debrief doesn't begin for another hour," Luna told him.

Clearly having missed some important information, he went along with it,

"I see, guess the clock is wrong," Six responded, hoping she would move on.

"You have no idea what I'm talking about," Luna stated.

"Fuck", he thought to himself.

"Not a word," he answered truthfully.

"I presume that means you missed the confrontation on the main deck. If this conflict doesn't bury us, then that Stallion will."

Luna's venting ended as quickly as it had begun, replaces by curiosity and concern.

"Do you know who We are?" Luna asked.

Six had not expected a question like that.

"You're Princess Luna?" Six answered, trying to figure out what game she was up to.

"Yes... But what else, Is there anything else?" She Pushed.

"I heard you throw a mean rave, you seem busy so ill come back for the briefing" Six slowly crept towards the exit to escape the Princess's sudden crisis of identity.

"The scars, do they hurt?" Luna asked.

He knew the ones she spoke of, eventually, everyone asks. Usually, they asked where they came from, and what caused them. They wanted the story, she had asked if it hurt. he touched the scar tissue, checking that they were still there even if he already knew.

"Sometimes, But it's manageable," Six answered.

Luna walked over to him, studying him. As he stood there, she gazed into his eyes, looking for something. Genuine concern, it had been a long time since he had seen anyone show that towards him.

"Who are you?" Luna asked in pondering more than as a question.

Unsure what to do, he responded.

"I'm the courier."

"But who were you before that?" She insisted.

The question only confused him more, He had always been a courier. She continued to drill into his soul with her eyes, and he began to squirm.

"No offence, but could I have my personal space back?" Six requested.

Luna jumped back, apparently realising what she had been doing. She regained her composure and adopted a stone facade.
"Our apologies. Did you need something?"

"No, no... Well actually, yes. Where are we going?" He asked.

"Were you not notified of your assignment? How did you find your way onto the ship?" Luna asked.

"Yeah, I know about the assignment, but where is it, what is it?" Six elaborated.

"Is the purpose of a briefing not to inform you of these matters?" Luna asked in turn.

Six didn't know how to respond. Would she accept the explanation that during briefings he would faze out and pay no attention, Afterwards just figuring it out as he went?

The lack of response seemed to be an answer in itself because Luna caved.

"The disastrous outcome of the first operation destroyed the credibility of the ministry's effectiveness. However, the victory at Canterlot has renewed some support from the Ministry's benefactors. This operation will be a retrial for the ministry, allowing us to demonstrate the true potential of the ministry as a fighting force. While hardly the whole intended use of the ministry, it is imperative that we show our martial prowess to our potential benefactors. First and foremost, they want to know if the ministry can keep the ponies of Equestria safe, or at least themselves."

"Right... but where are we going?" Six asked again.

Luna rolled her eyes, seeing the futility of explaining the political ramifications. Instead, she dove straight into the mission itself.

"There is an old fort that used to oversee a major trade route between the coastal cities and the capital. After the implementation of rail and Airship commerce, traffic on the road no longer required a garrison. The Fort was abandoned and forgotten until recently when it was discovered to have been reoccupied. Humans have been raiding the region, taking whatever they can. We sent a patrol to parley with the humans, but none returned. Scouts who attempt to approach the fort are shot at, and caravans have gone missing." Luna explained, making sure the courier was following along.

"So, you want us to stop them." Six commented.

"Yes, they must face justice for the harm they have inflicted. We shall go in, and subdue them by any means. In the process, we shall demonstrate the effectiveness of our three available squads. Once we meet with the scouting team on the ground, we will plan the assault in advance with the new information." Luna added.

"Why isn't the army taking care of this?" Six asked.

"The ministry was designed to handle situations such as this, What good would it do for the guard to interfere? If we want to prove the Ministry works, then it must do so on its own." Luna Defended.

"Why the ministry at all? Why not change the army? According to the Orange farmer, you and your sister are like gods to them." Six pushed.

"Apples," Luna replied.

"What?" Six asked.

"She cultivates apples" Luna clarified.

"...but she's orange" Six replied.

"I don't see the relevance, And we are not all-powerful. We share a balance of power with many interests in the kingdom, some more difficult than others. The Guard is controlled by fools, Ponies who have never seen true hardship nor struggle! Outside the occasional border incident, they have no true experience to call upon, an unintended consequence of my sister's rule. The Ministry has the freedom it needs to do what it must. Yet every step of the way, they hinder Us. Curse Brasshorn and the nobles. Their pettiness will ruin us all!"

The frustration in Luna grew pronounced as her words became accompanied by a fury of motions. Six could almost see the metaphorical sarsaparilla crate below her. Her quickened breath could be heard in the vacuum of silence filling the room. The courier in his infinite patience, grabbed a nearby chair to sit down halfway through the speech.

"Apologies once again, these last few weeks have been troubling. for all my experience and skill, that We must practically grovel to these imbeciles, is grating. At least my sister would not be accused in front of a crowd of spying on ponies," Luna lamented.

'When did that happen?' Six thought to himself. That would have been something to see.

The ship rocked momentarily as a rumble vibrated through the room.

"What is that?" Six's head zipped around as he saw things shake.

Luna smiled as she looked at his confusion.

"Cast off, my dear courier. We have begun our voyage."

Voyage Club

View Online

"It can not be stressed enough, some of Equestria's most influential members will be observing today's operation. We wish you all the best of fortunes, dismissed."

Luna's briefing was long and meticulous for what essentially boiled down to 'we will figure it out once we get there'. Rapid Fire had nearly lost her mind waiting for it to be over and was now thankful the ship had a gally. After the last few days, she needed a stiff drink. The aftermaths of the attack on Canterlot had left large chunks of the city in ruin, with most of the enlisted pegasi on search and rescue. Between volunteering on and off duty to help, as well as filling out reports, this was the first real break she had since the day before yesterday.

The gally had a couple of faces familiar to her, as well as a good few that weren't. Not being in a social mood, Rapid Fire chose the table with the one pony she knew that always had a pole stuck up his tail hole. Sitting there nursing a wooden mug, Battle Bowler looked up as Rapid Fire approached the table.

"Anything strong on tap?" Rapid Fire asked as she sat down opposite the Stallion in his metal hat.

"Nope." Battle Bowler

"Nothing?" Rapid Fire had not expected that response.

"Warehouse was levelled. The only stuff left was the reserve, which is for the VIPs, and whatever was left at the on-base bar. What was left of the normal stuff went in about a day, and somepony else took off with the contraband booze. No pony thought to find alternatives for the cloud cutter and so come take off, no liquor was brought aboard." Battle Bowler took a swig from his mug once he finished.

"But, then what are you having?" Rapid Fire gestured to the mug.

"Apple juice. Toss it in a barrel with some yeast for a month and you might make a half-decent cider."

Rapid Fire groaned, dropping her head on the table.

"First watching verbal paint dry and now this," Rapid Fire whined.

"It's not that bad." Battle Bowler told her.

"She practically spent an hour telling us nothing! She may as well have said we'll figure it out when we get there."

Rapid Fire scrapped her head off the table and got up to go grab a mug of apple juice.

"It's not like it was a normal briefing, she was trying to look good in front of the minted lot. Gotta impress the snobs if you want their dosh," Battle Bowler stated.

Rapid Fire pulled the keg tap up and waited as her mug filled with juice.

"Speaking of, what happened on the main deck before? Saw everyone crowded around the princess when I was on the lookout."

"I thought fliers had sharp sense." Battle Bowler commented.

"Sharp eyes, not ears. Besides, that's horse feathers. I know plenty who couldn't see a mountain in their way. So what happened?" Rapid Fire pushed, hovering over gently with a mug in her front hooves.

"Brasshorn publicly questioned the Princess's decision to entrust the Ministry to Levee, Bastard. Just cause we're not born here, he thinks we're less Equestrian than the rest of em."

"Wait, you're not from Equestria?" Rapid Fire asked. She had no idea both of her peers were not from Equestria.

"No, I'm from Trottingham!" Battle Bowler snapped, slamming his hooves on the table and causing his mug to jump.

The room's ambience lowered as ponies turned to find the source of the commotion. Rapid Fire looked past Battle Bowler to see some of the crew staring at the two. Battle Bowler's ear flicked, picking up on whispering from the ponies behind them. He zipped around in anger.

"WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT!" He roared.

Heads quickly turned away, with casual conversation resuming.

"Tossers..." Battle Bowler muttered as he turned back around.

"Hey Bowler, Cool it, They're civilians. How do you expect them to react, they don't know you," Rapid Fire said.

"You don't know me!" Battle Bowler jabbed at Rapid Fire, pointing at her.

"Three months of joint operations and you don't even know where I'm from?! I don't even speak the same way you do!"

Rapid Fire threw up her hooves, nearly knocking over her mug.

"In my defence, I don't know a thing about places and ponies. Cloudsdale isn't really known for its outsiders, the whole being in the sky issue."

Rapid Fire began tapping on the tabletop, unsure what to say next.

"So, How did you end up in the Equestrian Guard? Did you buy into the posters?" Rapid Fire settled on asking.

"Sure, let's go with that," Battle Bowler replied.

Rapid Fire frowned at Battle Bowler. As the stallion reached for his mug, Rapid Fire Swiped it from his side of the table.

"Nuh ah, talk." Rapid Fire insisted.

"Ok, first off, rude." Battle Bowler responded with a jab towards Her.

"What do you even care about why I signed up?" Battle Bowler followed up.

"You're the one who pointed out I barely know you, so spill." Rapid Fire answered, leaning forward.

Rapid Fire watched as Battle Bowler mulled it over. Letting out a grown, he conceded.

"Fine, can I have it back now?" He asked, gesturing to the mug.

Rapid Fire slowly pushed the mug back over, never breaking eye contact. She watched as Battle Bowler pulled the mug over and started tapping the side with one hoof.

"Right, well, I guess I should start with how I ended up here. As I said before, I was born in Trottingham. Not the city mind you, One of the mining towns. My Pa was a miner, go figure, and my mum was a Bit counter for the mine. I spent my time learning both trades and getting into scruffs. One day, I'm down by the stream, trying my luck with panning when I hear the news. Something went wrong in the mine, a cave-in at the new shaft. Long story short, By the time they got through, no one had survived."

Rapid Fire watched Battle Bowler as he unearthed old scars, his eyes locked on the content of his mug rather than her.

"By Celestia... I'm sorry," She told him.

"Thanks... The Mine Owners paid out the families of the dead, including mum and me. Between that and most of the skilled miners' dead, the mine closed. With Pa gone and no work, mum moved us across the straight onto Equestria. The ferry is still there as far as I know."

"Wait, you took a ferry? I thought it wasn't a part of Equestria?" Rapid Fire Interjected.

"It isn't, Trottingham sits between Equestria and the Griffon Lands. But they sit closer to the Equestrian side of the island chain. Anyway, So Mum gets a job at an accounting firm in Outer Manehatten. We go from the only home I've known since I can remember to a dingy apartment room. Like any Ill-adjusted teen, I was pissed."

From the beginning, Battle Bowle's face had been a mix of frustration and hesitation. Just then Rapid Fire spotted something new, Nostalgia.

"One of the guards for our constabulary used to keep an eye on me. I think after the first time he dragged me back home, my Mum told him what had happened. Somehow, every scuffle ended up with him pulling me out before things went south. More than once I should have been in the iron pen, but he kept me out. One day, after getting jumped by two back ally thugs, he comes in to help get me home. Normally on the way, he would drop some Horseradish about how if I don't straighten out, I'll ruin my life. But this time?"

Battle Bowler took a swig from his mug, If she didn't know better, Rapid Fire would have thought it was intentional timing.

"This time he takes me downtown, The kinda place you don't visit. We end up down at the precinct, it was a mess. Everypony looked like they hadn't slept in weeks, and the queue for the reception was outside the door. I had just assumed the Urban Guard didn't care since everyone talked about how bad our area's precinct was, turns out they cared a lot. My neighbourhood was one of the roughest in the outer Manehatten area, and I'd been part of that problem. After a good look at everything, he takes me to his office and shows me a picture on his desk. The first thing I learn is the idiot showing me around is the superintendent, and I've been wasting his already limited free time. The second thing I learnt was the reason he cared so much was that the guy was my father's friend, the old man would take the ferry and go for a beer and chat every other weekend. They would talk about me and how things were going, how proud he was. Afterwards, he learnt of the accident and that mum and I were moving into the area. He had gone out of his way to make sure his friend's son stayed out of trouble, but it wasn't getting through. So After talking about him and my father, he takes me by the shoulder, and he says."

Battle Bowler then attempted to make his voice as deep as possible, sounding more like a two-bit version of the Luna Night Guard Captain.

"Bowler, you've got a fighting spirit. Your Pa loved that you stood up for yourself, but what are you standing up for? You have the potential to do great things, but you need to consider what you want out of life. I can give you a chance to do something meaningful, to help make your new home a safer place. I could pull some strings and get you into a Cadet squad for our local forces."

Battle Bowler's poor impersonation ended, Rapid Fire holding back a giggle at how silly he looked.

"So, I took a good long look at where I was headed. I didn't have any better option, so I went along with it. A few years later and suddenly I'm nothing short of an employee of the month. My time mingling with the street gangs apparently made me invaluable, since I knew where they got their dosh. After a couple of raids, the worst of them scattered. Of course, then the mayor pushed for the gentrification of the outer boroughs and the problem was pushed out alongside it. With nothing but paperwork and the occasional patrol, it all started to feel pointless again. So I had two options, move myself to one of the new hotspots, or pack up and go for the big league. My record guaranteed me a good post once I'd gone through training, then it was just a matter of where to go." Battle Bowler finished, emptying his mug to the last drop.

"There you go, story time over." He told Rapid Fire, preparing to leave.

"No, Wait, what about Levee? When did you meet her? What about boot camp? come on, don't leave me hanging." Rapid Fire begged.

"I don't really see how that's your business. besides, my apple juice is over." Battle Bowler said decisively.

Rapid Fire responded by sliding her mug over in one push. Battle Bowler looked down at it and back to her.

"Seriously..."

Rapid Fire stared expectingly at Battle Bowler, resolute in her curiosity. He again looked down at her mug and back up, giving an eye roll response. Sitting back down he swiped the mug of apple juice, humouring her.

"So... you and Levee?" Rapid Fire pushed.

"We didn't actually meet at the camp, but at the nearby pub. I don't remember what caused it, but we had a confrontation. I think that's when I learned she was prench because I remember calling her something along the lines of a baguette munching tosspot. Anyway, we throw hooves. Here I was thinking it was gonna be clean tight, right up until she used magic to drop a chair on me. I wake up in the MP cell, she's there alongside me. I call her a cheat, she calls herself the winner, and the MP who dragged us in calls us both idiots. Stuck in a cell for the night, we begin talking. Eventually, we realise were not that different. We were both outsiders struggling to make it to a place where we can help others. From that day onward we stuck together to make it through the training. I helped her prepare for the physical test and she helped me study for the paper test. After training, we both took to being the best damn guards you can find. We stayed in touch by mail, and then a few months ago she tells me of this new initiative to deal with the ongoing monster crisis. So, Now here I am, part of a new dawn in Equestrian military thinking right alongside her. And yet..."

Battle Bowler's words died off.

Rapid Fire intervened before his mood dropped further.

"Hey, it's not your fault. Besides, we all know the risks."

"Yeah yeah, I know, Rapid Fire, " Battle Bowler responded dismissively.

Rapid Fire wanted to say more, but Battle Bowler clearly had had enough of it.

"Excuse me."

A shadow covered Rapid Fire. Confused Rapid Fire looked up, then around as her eyes settled on the griffon standing behind her.

"You are the SpitFire, are you not?" The griffon stated more than asked.

"Sorry beakface, you've got the wrong pony." Rapid Fire

If the scornful look was anything to judge by, the Griffon didn't seem to take too kindly to her nickname, but she went back to looking at Battle Bowler anyway.

"He said you are the Spitfire, just now. You are WonderBolt Leader Spitfire."

Rapid Fire took the opportunity to swivel around on her bench.

" Sorry to burst your bubbles, but that would be my sister. I'm Rapid Fire, Ra-Pid." She emphasised her name, growing annoyed.

"The Spitfire has a sibling? Are you a Wonderbolt too?" He asked.

"NO, I am not! I am not my sister and never will be!" Rapid Fire stressed and she hammered her hoof on the table.

There was a pause before the griffon asked another unwanted question.

"Can you get me her autograph?"

Rapid Fire's right hook left the room stunned, Battle Bowler embarrassed, feathers in the air and the griffon's lights out after a squawk.

"You've got to stop doing that." Battle Bowler moaned.

Nate passed through the doors of the main meeting hall, its opulence upon every wall. Gold-lined mirrors and crystal chandeliers demonstrated the wealth of a powerful nation. Princess Celestia lay upon what Nate could only describe as a royal couch, Layden with silk on a brass frame. Even her regalia was gold with purple gemstones, the colours of her regalia and her hair being accentuated by her snow-white coat. The scene felt like it had been pulled straight from an old European painting. The one thing that seemed out of place was the book the Princess was reading, the book was old. The brown leather was peeling and dull, and the brass binding and emblem had lost their shine. The only colour that stood out was the green gem that made the eye of the Unicorn emblem on the front.

As Nate walked closer, he realised she was not reading the book, merely staring at a single page. Celestia's eyes flicked up for a moment.

"Enjoying the view?" She asked.

Nate took a moment to register what she had said.

"Pardon?"

"The room, While the extravagance awes most, I have yet to hear how it compares to your world's receptions.

Nate let out a huff of relief and humour.
"Yes. It's a bit much, don't you think?"

"Privately, I find it distasteful. One must keep up appearances, however. Everything must look shiny and new for the public." Celestia clarified with a disarming smile.

"Except that" Nate pointed at the book.

Celestia looked at the book laying on her forehooves, then back up to Nate. She then stared into nothingness as she pondered something, then looked back to Nate properly.

"Please take a seat."

Nate sat on one of the other lounges that curved around her one. Once he was comfortable, The Princess held the book up with magic.

"This book is more important than most ponies could ever know. It's called the Legendarium, although young Twilight knows it by many other names. Take a look."

Celestia levitated the book over to Nate. Once the book was in his hands, he looked at the spine to see the name, Only to see random symbols.

"I can't read it, it's gibberish," Nate told Celestia.

One of Celestia's eyebrows became raised.

"You can't read Equish? Has this problem occurred before?" Celestia asked.

"I don't know, I don't recall reading anything from here," Nate answered truthfully.

"Curious, may I see it?" Celestia requested.

Nate was confused by the request but attempted to hand the book back over.

"Hold on to it, I guess an explanation is needed," Celestia told Nate, who pulled the book back in.

"The Legendarium is very old, only slightly younger than the elements of Harmony themselves. It's what you might even call a projection of the Elements. The Legendarium shows what the reader needs most to bring harmony. It has led me, my sister and Twilight to the Elements of Harmony. It has even on occasion informed us of potentially dangerous individuals before they arrive."

Nate looked at the book in his hands.
" So it tells you the future?"

Celestia shook her head softly.

"No, it only shows you just enough of what you need to set you on your path, usually in the form of the past. What is revealed is ultimately up to the book. When you hold the book, it chooses what is revealed."

Nate felt the book's cover with his free hand, Her wording concerned him.

"chooses? you mean it's alive?" He asked for clarity.

"In a way, much like the Elements, the book has a will of its own. It chooses who it will reveal itself to and what is shown. When I grew suspicious, I attempted to make the book show me what I thought I needed. The book punished me by no longer showing me anything new, only what has been shown before. Even then, it does not guide me through its pages. In my hooves, it's a book, nothing more."

Nate's eyes shot up to Celestia.

"Wait, it punished you. Were you looking for lottery numbers?"

Celestia didn't answer initially, instead, she lightly levitated the book. When Nate let the book go, it slowly levitated over to Celestia. She open the book as it spun around, opening on a certain page.

"After Luna's banishment, I made some brash choices. Choices made out of desperation, many that I would come to regret. The transition was not easy for my ponies, or me. It didn't matter what happened, only that it gave me what I needed. I was going to make it tell me"

"But why, why was it so important?" Nate asked.

Celestia returned the book to his hands, open on a page. The illuminated manuscript was accompanied by a picture. An Alicorn surrounded by darkness, with a black coat and midnight blue mane. The Alicorn was being attacked by another Alicorn, with a white coat and a pink mane.

"Because I believed it owed me."

Celestia's response was blunt and vindictive. It didn't take long or Nate to figure out who the two alicorns were supposed to be.

"I'm sorry."

The stern look faded into subtle relief.

"In the end, it was another that was destined to save her. years before Nightmare Moon's escape, I had left the book in Twilight's observatory. When she found the book, it revealed to her the Nightmare Moon's escape and the Element's role in her banishment. When she sent me a letter about Nightmare moons return, I knew she had found the book. Knowing the Elelemtns were involved once more, I left Twilight instructions to go to Ponyville and make some friends. On my arrival, I left the book in the library she was staying at. On the millennium of her return, Nightmare Moon Escaped and Imprisoned me to the sun as I had her to the moon. I placed my hope in Twilight and the Elements. I have Luna back. It took me centuries to understand, but now I place my trust in Harmony; I put my trust in Twilight and her frie-"

While Celestia gave her heartfelt speech, Nate tried to fathom what she meant by to the moon, or to the sun. It was in that moment of reflection that the book slipped from his fingers. Slamming onto the floor on a new set of pages. Celestia stopped at the distraction and watched him pick it back up. When he tried to reopen the book to the page he was on, he stopped at a strange-looking creature. It was long and serpent-like, but with mismatching arms and legs. its head had two mismatched horns as well.

"What is that?" Nate asked.

Looking up, Nate saw an unsettling visage. Celestia was glaring with hostility and intensity he had yet to see in his short time. Yet her death glare was towards the book, more specifically the picture it now showed.

"Discord... How could HE be a part of this?!" Celestia hissed.

"wait...Discord?" Nate told Celestia.

"Discord is a being of pure chaos and unfathomable power. Before we overthrew him, he ruled over Equestria, imposing his insanity upon all. We used the Elements to turn him to stone when we faced him. Not long ago he broke free once more, Twilight and her friends once again used the Elements to reimprison him in stone. He's currently residing in a vault made just for him, so he could never break free... However..."

Celestia's mood cooled, getting out of the chair and over to Nate. She walked over and looked over his shoulder. Nate Waited as She read the foreign script.

"Princess, what exactly is going on?" Nate enquired.

Celestia chewed the inside of her cheek, contemplating something.

"Before the first attack reports came in, I was considering a test of sorts for Twilight. Discord has always been a considerable threat to Equestria, but if he could be redeemed he would be quite the ally. I was forced to put the idea on hold once things started getting out of hoof with the incursions. Yet if anypony could know what is causing this, Discord would be a good bet."

"Well... Maybe 'Harmony' didn't want you to stop?" Nate threw it out there.

Celestia dismissed the idea outright.
"I can't take the risk. If Discord is behind this, then I can risk letting him out. Even if he isn't, He's unpredictable, there's no telling what he would do. No, until I know more, I won't."

Celestia walked back to her seat. With nothing more to be said on the matter, Nate flipped the page over to see what showed up. Landing on one with a picture of someone familiar.

"Princess, I think this one is about you," Nate announced, holding up the book in front of him.

Celestia stopped mid-stride, her ears flicked at the mention. Nate had to let go suddenly of the book as her magic yoinked it out of his grasp and in front of her. Celestia began as she scanned the page, Then looked back at Nate.

"It's my history... But why would this appear for you?" She pondered aloud.

After a moment of deep thought, She closed the book.

"Thank you for your company, General. I'm afraid it must be cut short, but I must consult with my sister. And I do believe that you need to stop by the armoury before we arrive, you don't intend to fight unarmed do you?"

Nate took the hint and began to leave, looking back to see Celestia opening the book once more as she took a different exit.

John had gone straight for the armoury to keep himself busy. When he arrived, he was thoroughly unimpressed. Most of the equipment was crude and antiquated. Once you moved past the shiny finishes and elaborate designs, they were blades and pointed sticks. He had seen some of the Locals using crossbows during his stay, but even that was limited in power and availability. If they didn't catch up to the wasteland's equipment, these ponies were screwed. His personal saving grace was that along with the functional guns, they had brought a collection of barely functioning energy weapons on board. Soon he had settled into taking apart the cases of laser guns and salvaging the best parts. A rust-free screw here, an intact crystal array lens there, piece by piece he had assembled a functional weapon. As John used the Equestrian screwdriver to realign a lens, it baffled him that he was using one at all. These Ponies had the means to build machines and even some limited electronics, yet they still used spears and shields. How had the sisters stayed in power for so long?

John put down the Screwdriver and picked up the laser rifle. he breathed out slowly as he squeezed the trigger as he looked down the sight. The rifle jolted as John reacted to the sudden burst of high-intensity heat and light. It was annoying, even with no recoil on paper, the human condition and the expanding air in front of the rifle created much of the recoil the rifle was designed to avoid. Even more annoying, the suit of armour he had been using as a test dummy showed little improvement from his last realignment. The metal was turning black, but the damage was superficial.

"Damn it..." John muttered to himself as he put the laser rifle back down on its side and picked up the screwdriver.

inserting it into the case, he notched it against the pin holding the lens and slowly turned it. His concentration was broken by the heavy armoury door being opened, allowing the screwdriver to slip. As the screwdriver clattered to the floor, John
searched for the interloper. Nate stepped into the armoury, to John's annoyance. The self-described General looked around the room before setting his eyes on John.

" Hiding down here, one might think you were avoiding everyone," Nate commented.

"That was the plan," John answered as he bent over and picked up the screwdriver.

John could only inwardly groan as he heard Nate approach.

"Are you... Building a Laser rifle?" Nate asked, yet John couldn't quite place if he was hearing surprise or concern.

John began to once again realign the lens, not looking up as Nate appeared in front of him.

" None of this stuff is any better than a laser pointer, if it works at all, So I'm improvising," John explained.

He stopped working on his rifle to look up temporarily. Nate had picked up one of the discarded lenses that were scratched or cracked.

"You know, maintaining energy weapons is pretty rare in the wasteland. You said you did some work for the Brotherhood?" Nate asked John.

"I did some contract work for them" John answered as he started working on the next lens.

"And what kind of contract work requires an in-depth knowledge of energy weapons?" Nate pressed.

"The kind that's none of your business." John jabbed.

John carefully turned the screwdriver, rotating the lens ever so slightly to concentrate the beam more when the rile was fired.

"It's ok if your Ex brotherhood, One of my friends was a Paladin before he-" Nate started.

He was cut off as John took the screwdriver out and slammed it on the table and shot up at Nate.

"Why the hell does this matter to you?!" John Snapped, finally over Nate not getting the hint.

Nate was leaning on a nearby wall his arms crossed.

"Whether you like it or not, We're going to be fighting together. I need to trust you and I can't do that while you're hiding things. Besides, who knows how long this whole conflict could take? We're going to have to find a way to get along eventually, and getting to know each other would go a long way to finding some common ground," Nate explained.

John used both hands on the table to stabilize himself as he stood up, pushing his chair back with his legs.

"We may have to work together, but I damn well don't have to like you. You need to trust me, Trust me to do my job. I'll pay my part, just make sure you're doing yours."

John Watched as Nate listened to what he had said and then casually leave the same way he entered. After a brief reflection and disregard of the prior conversation, John scoffed. Picking up the rifle, he closed the exposed case. He held it in his hands as he looked down at it. After a moment, he aimed it at the Suit of Armour and squeezed. The Red Laser reduced the Armour to slag. Satisfied with the result, John slapped the Fusion Cell ejector lever. The Spent cell shot out the side and clacked on the floor as it bounced away.

Second Chances

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Twilight was not a good flier. What most pegasi learned over their entire childhood, she had only had a year to try to master. The saddle pack did not help matters. Thankfully, she had one of the best fliers in Equestria to aid her. when she wasn't periodically interrupting her gliding with intents flapping for lift, she scoured the world below.

The message from Celestia had given her Coordinates for the location of Luna's next mission. The Princesses had decided it would be quicker for Twilight to meet them at the place instead of waiting for her at Canterlot. Twilight had marked the journey and memorised the landmarks using her library map and Topography skills. Trees and rivers passed by, the occasional cloud causing her to change course slightly. It was in the lack of restrictions and peace of mind that Twilight found the freedom that was so appealing to Pegasi. That feeling was interrupted as she once again had a misbeat and threw off her rhythm.

"waahhgh!" she cried out as she rebalanced herself.

Once her flight was stable, she frantically looked around to see if anyone had seen her. Upon realising she was how stupid that seemed in the middle of the sky above nowhere. She face-hoofed her own stupidity. However, her shame was broken by the spotting of another landmark. A lumber mill that marked the last leg of her journey.

"Right, there's the mill... and over there is the village, so that means the fort is-"

Twilight cut herself off as she finally saw the airship moored in a nearby clearing. Marked with the flag of Equestria, as well as a giant sun emblem on the main balloon, it was definitely the princess's ship. Colourful tents started to become visible as she descended towards the landing. The camp was much more open than last time, with the tents and layout reminding her more of a carnival. Her thoughts were confirmed as she closed the last few yards.

As she touched down, Twilight looked around. Instead of defences and medical areas, the entire camp was filled with catering and seating. Guards were unloading and assembling frames to hold glass panes in viewing areas. Nobles, Industrialists and high-ranking officers were being served refreshments and getting caught up in conversations. If she hadn't known better, Twilight would have thought this was an outdoor party instead of the heart of a military operation. Her walk through the camp was interrupted.

"Princess Twilight, Glad you finally arrived, Princess Luna said you would be flying in."

Twilight looked up to see Rapid Fire hovering above her.

"What's with all of this?" Twilight waved to the surrounding reception.

Rapid Fire did a mid-air shrug before popping down in front of Twilight.

"Princess Celestia thought that the M.O.A needed some good publicity, so they brought out some big shots to watch us storm the fort. I guess they might give bits or at least get ponies to shut up." Rapid Fire said as she looked at the VIPs with contempt.

"But the entire camp is wrong. Isn't the command tent supposed to be closer to the centre, and there isn't even a ditch around the wall," Twilight pointed out.

Rapid Fire looked at Twilight as if the Unicorn had just swallowed an apple whole.

"How do you know so much about our camp layouts, your dossier never mentioned you on any tour."

"Actually I read several historical accounts of early equestrian military theorems. The Camp layouts are practically the same." Twilight explained.

"Huh, guess that's what happens when you don't have a real war in over six centuries," Rapid Fire mulled.

Twight took the moment to look at the reception. Had Equestria really become so comfortable in its peace that it viewed war as a foreign novelty? Had they learned anything from Chrysalis's invasion?

"Ahh, I'm sure it'll be fine. Come on, I'll escort you to the command tent, princess." Rapid Fire shrugged it off.

Walking away from the main area, Rapid Fire led Twilight to the back of the camp to a Much larger blue tent. Inside was a whole different story from the outside. The inside of the tent was dim, torches left shadows swaying across the cloth of the tent. Two dozen guards surrounded a giant table, with a map of the surrounding area. At the end of the Table was Princess Luna, lording over the map. Beside her was Battle Bowler and the three humans. They were all furiously arguing while pointing at the map.

"If they have even the slightest amount of firepower, then rushing the gate is suicide," John pointed out.

"What about if we drop in from the ship? Overwhelm them in one swoop." Battle Bowler offered up.

"Can't risk it. If they have any explosive ordinance or even just a crack shot, they could knock it out of the sky." Six countered.

"What about our flying contingent, could they not screen the drop?" Luna asked.

"If they have anything automatic, they'll just get chewed up. " Nate added.

"if that's what it takes," John responded.

"HEY, my team is not going out there to be a pin cushion!" Rapid Fire snarled.

"Indeed, Our pony's lives will not be thrown away so frivolously." Luna glared at John.

"Unless something else changes, a bloodbath is pretty much guaranteed.." John countered.

"He's right, without knowing what equipment they have, we have no idea what they can do. Did your scouts report anything we can use?" Nate asked Rapid Fire.

"Not really, anypony who got too close is dead. we know there are at most two dozen and that's about it." Rapid Fire Answered.

Twilight stood there and watched the arguing go back and forth. She wished she had something to offer, but this was out of her depth. After last time, why did they even want her here? She felt like an imposter, somepony pretending to be what they're not. Like some agent from one of Rarity's spy novels. It would be so easy if she were, she could just slip in a back door and woo one of the guards.

"Wait... backdoor?" Twilight thought aloud.

Looking back up, Twilight pushed herself in between two guards to look at the map. The two ponies instantly moved out of the way upon seeing who it was.

"why would they take a giant wooden horse?!" Rapid Fire asked a guard who had dropped his own suggestion.

"What about a back door?" Twilight piped up.

Suddenly everyone was looking at her.

"The Fort only has one door. besides, what are we going to do, dress up and sell them cookies?" Battle Bowler commented sardonically.

"No, she's right, what we need is a way to sneak in," Nate affirmed.

The same guard from before seemed to light up as he was about to say something, only to get cut off by Rapid Fire.

"Enough with the wooden horse!"

The guard's eyes dropped as his face sank disheartened.

Six patted the guard on the back.

"I liked it, Steve." Six encouraged the guard pony.

After a beat of awkwardness, Luna looked at Twilight.

"Battle Bowler is correct, the fort only has one entrance," Luna reaffirmed.

"Maybe we can make our own way in. A window or sewer system," John pondered.

"One of the scouts did see a drain pipe big enough to get through, but it has a locked grate. Without the key, we would need to burn through with magic or try and pull it off the hinges. That's gonna draw attention." Rapid Fire commented unconvinced.

"I could get through that." Six chimed in.

"You, how could you get through that?" Battle Bowler scoffed.

"I'm good with locks?" Six answered.

"Maybe where you're from, but our locks could be completely different. There's no guarantee that it could work." Battle Bowler shot back.

Six casually walked over to the end of the tent, where a chest stood. The entire thing was solid metal, with intricate engravings. Six crouched in front of the lock mechanism and pulled out a screwdriver. Everyone crowded around him to see what would happen. Moments later the lid popped open revealing the pay chest filled with bits. Six gestured to the open box and waited.

Twilight saw Luna slowly lowering herself to whisper into Battle Bowler's ear. Twilight could only barely make out what was said.

"I want him under watch at all times..."

"We still need a diversion. Some smoke and mirrors to keep them occupied so we can sneak in," John pointed out.

"Smoke and mirrors, That could work..." Nate considered, looking at Luna.

The princess stood back upright as she noticed Nate's gaze.

"You have a plan, general?" Luna inquired.

"Something I saw in an old movie. Is there any magic that can make a giant fake copy of someone?" Nate asked.

"You mean illusions?" Twilight offered up.

"We make a big enough distraction with fire and smoke, just before the clearing. We make a large illusion image and project sound across the clearing. There's no way they will ignore it. Princess Luna can be our wizard." Nate explained.

"We do not understand..." Luna responded, confused at the reference.

"It's from the Wizard of OZ. With half the stuff I've seen here so far, I expected to find the yellow brick road." Nate said in jest, only for Luna to mouth the last part in further confusion.

"You want Princess Luna... to be a wizard?" Twilight asked.

Everyone was just as confused as they looked to Nate to Enlighten them about his wayward plan.

"We need someone who can be intimidating. We use special effects to make them bigger and more intimidating. Then our infiltration team sneaks in the back. Once the guards in the fort are preoccupied, we send in the rest to overwhelm the front."

Twilight could see that something Nate had troubled Luna. Her attention seemed preoccupied. This became more evident as two certain humans began arguing.

"This isn't going to work." John doubled down.

Nate had seemingly had enough of it.
"This is the best chance we have."

"It's ridiculous and you know it." John snapped back.

"No, your right. This isn't going to work. Let's go with our backup plan. I'm sure you look great as a girl scout." He threw back sarcastically.

Twilight flinched as she prepared for another round of shouting between the two. Thankfully, Princess Luna cut both of them off before they could start.

"Do You have a better plan, that does not involve simply throwing ponies at their defences?"

If John wanted to say something, he didn't.

"No? Then this is our course of action, And you will be leading the frontal Assault."

The standoff ended as quickly as it had begun.

You are all dismissed." Luna Commanded.

Twilight watched as everypony left the tent, some took longer than others. Some of the ponies that had worked with Luna longer seemed to hesitate. More than a few looked to Twilight, clearly feeling it wasn't their place to have a one-on-one with the Princess.

Twilight walked around the table, watching Luna stare intensely at nothing on the map.

"Luna?" Twilight asked.

Luna snapped out of her thoughts, her surprised expression meeting Twilight as it turned to see her waiting. Her face warmed upon seeing Twilight.

"We forget, Celestia is no longer the only one who can do that. It is good to see you, We feared the unfortunate result of our last mission may have dissuaded you." Luna said.

"Luna, are you ok?" Twilight asked.

"Those humans seem to argue for the sake of it."

"Do not fret, It is nothing." Luna dismissed.

"If you don't want to do this, we can find another way." Twilight offered.

"You are a good friend Twilight Sparkle, but if a creature of fear is what they need, then a creature of fear We will be," Luna responded, resolute yet clearly uncomfortable.

"Creature of fear..." Twilight considered the line, an idea in her head.

"Luna, Do you remember Nightmare Night?"

Sitting in the loge of the assembled seating, Princess Celestia watched stoically as some of Equestria's most politically powerful ponies mingled. She had helped Luna create a second chance to gather the support for her Ministry, now she waited to see what Luna would present.
Great glass mirrors had been placed around the primary function area, enchanted to show the reflections of other mirrors that had been placed just out of sight of the derelict fort. When the presentation began, the mirrors near the fort would be raised to show the operation to the spectators from safety. Celestia used the time to listen in on the conversations around her.

"It all seems rather cut and dry to me, A forward assault and flyers from the air."
"Won't a lot of ponies get hurt?"
"These monsters are tiny compared to the ones that attacked Canterlot, and they can beat them."

"I don't see how this 'Ministry' is going to solve things, the increased patrols by the guard have barely stopped the attacks on my shipments."
"Well, maybe you should stop importing machine parts from Asterion..."

"I heard some of the monsters are under the employment of the Ministry..."
"Everyone has heard that, it was in the paper. Don't you ever pay attention?"

"I'm telling you, coal is going to be big! give it a decade or so."
"Just because you bought that mine, doesn't mean I'm stupid enough to."

Celestia's eavesdropping came to a halt as the command tent in the distance opened. If she had been drinking, she would have drenched half the crowd at the spit-take she would have done. Alongside Twilight was her sister, In the form of Nightmare Moon. Celestia sat Frozen, unsure of what to do. The spell was broken by watching her sister's dark counterpart sneak away, trying to hide as far from everyone as unmajestic as possible. Celestia calmed at the display, as the Real Nightmare Moon would never act that way. An embarrassed sister trying to hide from the public, would, however. As her panic left, a curiosity took its place. What could they possibly be up to?

Deciding to unveil the mystery herself, Celestia stood up from her loge's seat and left the stands, stopping only to gesture to her guards not to follow. As she left the stand, she followed down the path her fellow Princesses had taken. But as soon as she started, she lost them. The many tents become a city itself. She could fly but that would draw more attention than she needed right now. The high tents became the walls of a maze. Celestia decided that the best action would be to go in one direction until she found a clearing or the wall. Whatever Luna was playing at, this was dangerous. For her reputation, for her authority, and for her mental health.

Celestia stopped dead in her tracks. Something was wrong. Over her long reign, she had developed a keen sense of her surroundings. She was alone, and yet being watched. She looked around with her eyes only, keeping her posture still. There it was again, from inside a tent to her side. Mentally preparing herself for whatever it may be, Celestia went over to the tent's opening. Using her magic, she threw open the flaps.

Nothing, the tent was filled with boxes of tools and materials. Was she just on edge? She watched the inside of the tent, looking for anything out of the ordinary. It was nothing. Just to be sure she went inside, the flaps closing behind her. The dark interior had many shadows, and she scanned every single one. She couldn't shake the feeling. yet her attention was grabbed by the sound of two ponies.

"Ah, pony Feathers, whose idea was this?!"

"Just keep pulling!"

Shadows crossed over the opening of the tent as the frantic flapping of wings and the dragging of something across the ground was heard.

Celestia popped her head outside of the tent, just in time to see two pegasi dragging one of the mirrors from the viewing area across the ground. One of them happened to be a pony Celestia recognised as Sergeant Rapid Fire. Maybe they would lead her to wherever her sister and Twilight had gone. Celestia followed them at a distance.

"Why not just use magic?" The other pegasus asked.

"They are magic, numbskull," Rapid Fire Groaned.

"You know what I meant!" The other one pushed back.

"I don't know! Because they still needed a receiver or something? how else are they gonna have something to project? " Rapid Fire Answered.

"but why did we have to steal it?" was what she got back.

"Because shut up!" Rapid Fire FInished.

They led Celestia to the camp's side, in the fort's direction. Reaching the gate in the barrier, Celestia could see her sister and Twilight, in mid-conversation with some of her command staff, including two of the humans.

"Seriously? Does Princess Celestia have one? Do you?" Nate asked, Twilight.

"This Form was the consequence of envy and wrath. It is Our own, and no one else's," Luna answered, clearly unimpressed by the insinuation, or the topic.

"Still... It does command respect, makes you look taller too," Nate Noted.

"Commanding Respect was Our previous mistake. We intend to earn it. Now, tell us of this Wizard and Our role to play." Luna asked.

"Ok, yeah spill it. What's this wizard thing about? you said it was a movie?" Rapid Fire asked as she helped lift a commandeered mirror into position.

"The heroes of the story are looking for this Wizard to help them get what they desire most. When they eventually reached him, he appeared as this big see-through head with fire and smoke everywhere. But the dog finds the real wizard, who is this small man. he used a big machine to project this facade and used the effects so people would be too awed to notice it was all fake," Nate told to everyone present as if he was recounting a timeless legend.

"And you wish for Us to create this Facade. Once everypony is in place, we can use the mirror as a focus for our magic to project the illusion." Luna presumed.

"oh, that's what they meant by a receiver..." Rapid First commented. Finally letting go of the mirror.

"Most raiders are not that smart. You give them something big and loud and they'll shoot at it," John added.

Celestia used the moment to announce her presence.
"And what do you intend to do with this diversion?"

Apparently, no one had expected her to come down here. Least of all Luna, who scrambled to piece together a response.

"Sister! I... this is not what it looks like!" Luna exclaimed.

Celestia usually loved catching her sister in these awkward moments, however, the circumstances around it allowed for no such pleasures.

"No, but it sounds like you are planning to create a diversion by pretending to be Nightmare Moon," Celestia responded candidly.

"That is half of the plan, yes," Luna affirmed.

Celestia hated arguing with her sister in front of others, it did no good to their collective authority and image. Worse, she hated Twilight seeing it.

"Miss Fire, Have these three seen the camp? Perhaps a short tour is in order," Celestia suggested.

"Yes mam, just doing some last-minute che-" Rapid Fire started.

"Now, Sergant." Celestia ordered.

Rapid Fire took the hint.

"Yes, Princess. You two, let's go!... Princess sparkle, if you would follow me please."

Celestia watched as Twilight looked from Celestia to Luna, knowing what was up. If she wanted, she could have refused, She was a Princess in her own right. However, Twilight acquiesced and followed Rapid Fire.

The other ponies in the area quickly caught on and made tracks. The last few lingering ponies promptly took off with a glare from their Princess. Once the area was clear, Celestia spoke.

"What were you thinking!?" Celestia chastised.

"Tia..." Luna started with tired restraint.

"Besides the fact that this is treading a very fine line of what I would consider ok, considering the last time I saw this." Celestia gestured to Luna's new form.

"Do you have any idea how much damage this could do if the public saw it?" Celestia continued.

"Tia..." Luna tried again.

"NO, we spent too much getting your throne back. Loyalists have already informed me that important nobles are already unhappy at how quickly you were reinstated. BrassHorn has already informed me that the General staff are opposed to you overseeing our defences," Celestia stressed.

"They don't care about our abilities, they just don't want another obstacle in their way." Luna shot back.

"We have to play their game, Lulu. It's not like before, we have limits too." Celestia responded.

"What harm can it cause? We have scared the children of Ponyville in this form before, no harm came of it." Luna reasoned.

Celestia did not have the time or desire to know what Luna was talking about.

"Tia, Trust Us. It will work, It was your student's idea after all," Luna reassured.

Celestia took a step back to register what Luna had said.
"Twilight. Twilight told you to do this?"

"She believed that by pretending as if it is merely once again Nightmare Night, the role would be more bearable. She also said that it would, 'add flare'."

Celestia did not think this was wise, but undermining her sister and Twilight would help neither.
"You know how important this is, just promise me you know what you're doing"

She watched as Luna's form reverted to the sister she know and loved.

"Do you trust her?" Luna asked.

"Of course I do," Celestia replied.

Luna walked slowly up to her big sister.

"Do you trust us?" Luna followed up.

"Of course I do," Celestia replied, warmer than the last.

"Then trust in us both, in this moment," Luna finished.

Celestia smiled, her sister having come so far in such a short time.

Luna walked around Celestia.

"Now, If you will excuse us. We must relocate our ponies, since you sent them afar," Luna jested.

Celestia, watched her sister leave. She couldn't help but wonder how this would play out.

John sat under one of the many trees inside the camp. He watched as Nate was slammed into the floor by Rapid Fire.

"That can't be an allowed move," Twilight commented beside John. Both she and John had decided to stick to the shade while Rapid Fire squared off against Nate in biped Wrestling. Nate was sorely getting his ass kicked.

"Hey, the minotaurs of Asterion take the rules very seriously. They have been passed down for generations, I learnt from one of the best athletes on the isles. I keep the rules-free stuff to the underground ring," Rapid Fire protested.

"You said she pushed down." Nate wheezed.

"She did for me," John answered.

"See, that was your second mistake. Gotta keep a low centre," Rapid Fire told Nate.

"What was the first one?" Nate groaned.

"You agreed to play," Rapid Fire gloated with a smirk.

"What in blazes are you doing?!" Battle Bowler shouted from a distance.

It was enough for everyone to turn to see him approaching with a team of ponies and Six.

"We're half an hour out from operation, and you're here faffing about!" He continued to shout as he marched straight up to Rapid Fire.

"Don't blame me, we got sent away because the Princesses are at it again." She said as she shrugged.

The sound Battle Bowler made was somewhere between a sigh, a groan and a snarl.

"Ngaaahh! Why can't these bloody things ever go as they're supposed to?" Battle Bowler stressed rhetorically.

"It's not like there was much left to do anyway Unless the Princess needs a script. We have weather ponies bringing in our special effects and the mirror is in place." Rapid Fire dismissively told him as she helped Nate to his feet.

"Mirror?" Battle Bowler inquired, his head tilting to the side.

"Yeah, one of the specialists figured Princess Luna could reverse the enchantment and use it like a camera." Rapid Fire clarified as she swatted Nate's rear to get him on his way.

"Ow, was that really necessary?" Nate asked.

"Sorry, habit." Rapid Fire casually apologised.

Battle Bowler shook his head.
"Anyway, this is the infiltration team. Once you're done doing your magic trick, we're going to be kicking their backsides in."

John had a good look at the assembled group of ponies.

"Do any of you have stealth training?" John asked.

Their replies were a mix of no's and this one time's.

"Unfortunately, The Princess's personal guards are some of the few covert soldiers I know of, And they only tend to work at Night." Battle Bowler explained.

This was the team that was supposed to break in and disorientate the enemy, John had seen enough.
"Well, might as well get something to eat. Not worth dying on an empty stomach."

"Not enough time, didn't you find the mess hall on the flight?" Battle Bowler asked.

"I was busy making sure I had a working gun," John said as he stood up.

"He's right dude, Someone's going to call us up long before you find the mess tent." Rapid Fire added.

"I thought we had half an hour?" Twilight asked.

"Yeah, half an hour until showtime. But somepony will come looking for us long before that to make sure everyone is in position." Battle Bowler explained.

"Great, there goes that idea," John scorned.

"Wait, I packed some sandwiches before I left," Twilight announced, lifting off her saddlebags and rummaging through one.

"I hope you don't mind Daffodils. Wait, what's this?"

Twilight pulled out of her saddle bag a round glass bottle with a cork. Inside was a strange-looking liquid.

"Zecora's potion!" Twilight squeaked.

The bottle jumped from her shock, forcing her to scramble to catch it. When she was sure she had it, she let out a relieved sigh.

"A Potion, don't see them too often. what's it do?" Rapid Fire asked.

John looked at the bottle. From the way Twilight was handling it, it must be important. Maybe it was an Aid item, like a stim pack. Maybe it helped her magic somehow.

"When Zecora threw one, it exploded."

Or maybe it was a fucking hand grenade.

"You know an alchemist that makes bombs, that's new." Rapid Fire commented.

"Zecora's home is in the Everfree Forest, It's been even less safe recently. I don't really want to hold on to this." Twilight said as she held the bottle away from her.

She looked at each person there in turn before facing John.

"Here, you should take it. You just throw it at something and it should explode... I think."

John hesitantly took the bottle. He didn't know what to make of it but held on to it anyway.

"Is it a good idea to let him have that?" Rapid Fire asked Battle Bowler.

"Too late to regret it now." Battle Bowler Answered as he pointed towards Princess Luna, who could be seen approaching.

Everyone present stepped out of the way as Luna walked into the middle of the crowd of soldiers

Luna looked at everyone one at a time. Then she addressed them collectively.

"Prepare for battle."

Desolate Fort

View Online

The raider counted the trees, again. Watch Shift was bullshit, nothing ever happens. The last thing that showed itself was some weird colourful flying animal. The guy on watch shot it down and threw it on the spit. Might have looked weird, but it tasted alright.

Nearby on the ruined walls was another raider, also keeping an eye out. In the raider's hands was a packet of cigarettes, and his cravings have been getting worse. he hefted his rifle and walked over.

"Hey, pass me one of those," The raiders told the other.

"Fuck off," Was the response.

"Hey, was just asking. You seen anything?"

"I haven't seen shit."

"Why the fuck are we up here? Nothing ever happens."

"We here because the boss fucking said so, so shut up and keep looking."

Clearly not going to get his hit, the raider looked to the tree line. He could smell the smoke as the other raider lit one. The only thing to see was the fog moving in. The smell was getting to him.

"Come on, just the one."

"What part of shutting up didn't you understand?"

"Where did you even get those, I thought the boss took them all."

"Yeah, and he gave me a pack"

"What, why?"

"Cause I can shut up and keep a lookout."

The raider didn't bother responding, seeing as it was going nowhere. Instead, he watched the fog roll in. It was rolling in fast.

Suddenly from the fog was a glint of light. Then another somewhere else in the fog. The raider nudged the man next to him.

"Did you see that?"

"See what?"

"Over there!"

The two watched enthralled as suddenly the fog exploded outwards, covering the entire ground outside the fort.

"What the fuck..." The Raider said aloud.

His confusion turned to startlement as thunder crashed ahead, dark clouds rolling overhead.

Each of them began taking steps back as darkness engulfed the ground beneath them, the clouds blotting out the sun. They covered their faces with both arms as the wind picked up.

"What the hell is going on?!"

Multiple raiders could be heard rushing up onto the walls to figure our what was happening, yet the sounds of their footsteps were blocked out by a booming sinister laugh.

"HA HAHAHAHAA... FOOLS!"

The Woman's voice seems to echo from everywhere.

"Did You Interlopers Really Think This World Was So Defenceless? That You Would Face No Reckoning For Your Crimes? Now You Will Pay For Your Transgression! We Are Your Reckoning... We Are-"

From the fog in the middle of the field came a shapeless void, Like storm clouds rising from the ground. The giant plume rose and gave form, similar to the creatures they had hunted before. Yet it stood above the height of the wall, its horn and wings nearly reaching the treetops. Its pitch-black fur was only interrupted by what looked like armour, deep blue in colour. The shapeless void remained in what seemed to be its hair. Jagged teeth and slit irises could just be made out from this distance. A Monster.

"NIGHTMARE MOON!"

Thunder crashed from above.

"We are your reckoning, seriously? And I thought the silver shroud was bad..." Nate ideally commented to Twilight.

"She may be laying it on a bit thick, And Nightmare Moon didn't use Nosism" Twilight clinically critiqued back.

"Nosism?" Nate asked for clarity.

"The Royal 'WE' " Twilight simplified.

"Wait, She does that, but Nightmare Moon didn't? Getting some real split personality feelings here." Nate replied, with the last part under his breath.

"At least she's enjoying herself, I wasn't sure she would agree to it all things considered." Bermused Twilight.

"What happened exactly?" Nate asked.

As Twilight opened her mouth to respond, the sound of bullets zipping nearby snapped both of their attention.

At the far end of the clearing, flashes could be seen across the fort's walls. more and more flashes appeared as more raiders shot at the illusion.

Luna Laughed absurdly in front of the mirror, which in turn made the Large illusion laugh menacingly.

"HAHAHA. It Barely tickles!" Luna Announced.

"Do you think she would be saying that if they were actually aiming at her?" Nate jested as he looked down at Twilight.

"At least we know it's working," Twilight commented as she looked back over to see the fort walls lit up with multiple small flashes."

Thunderous fire could be heard from the front of the fort, as the assault team hid in the tree line to the side of the fort. From here, John could see the massive illusion standing in the clearing and wondered how long it would take for something to go wrong.

"Sit tight, we don't move till those guns do," Rapid Fire ordered the group.

"What if they don't?" one Stallion asked.

"Then we move anyway"

At the rear of the fort, a small team snuck up to the walls. Running parallel, they reached a large drain pipe, with an iron gate covering the way.

"Showtime digits." Battle Bowler told Six.

Six got to work, taking out his pins and screw drive. The lock was more archaic than the others he had practised on, the pins were heavier and the hole wider. The seconds passed as he tried each pin separately.

John waited against a tree as the performance continued. Occasionally, Unicorns would throw a fireball at the walls, making it look like the oversized image of Nightmare Moon had cast it. leaning back and looking over, John commented idlely to Rapid Fire.

"Turns out they did have machine guns, and ammo to waste. I wonder where they got that hardware."

"I'm just glad one of you brought up the guns part before. Are you sure where safe here?" Rapid Fire asked as she further lowered herself out of the way.

"As long as they are shooting at that, they're not looking for us," John answered back.

As if Lady Luck herself had heard him, the large illusion fizzled out.

John shot off the tree in surprise as the gunshots stopped.

"Well... the guns stopped." Rapid Fire commented. Drawing John's deadpan gaze.

In the silence, The group heard the raiders shouting something. When they looked back at the walls, Raiders were pointing in their direction. John dived at Rapid Fire, bringing them both to the ground as the raiders chose to shoot at them.

Ponies swarmed into action once the reality hit them that the illusion had stopped. It didn't take long for Nate to find the cause. A single high-caliber round had struck the mirror projecting the illusion onto the field, leaving a massive hole in the frame. He didn't know if it had been a stray bullet, or if someone had managed to see the mirror, but now the guns of the raiders pelted down to the side of the fort.

"What happened!?" Luna demanded as she marched away from her mirror.

"The mirror, the was hit!" One Pegasus answered.

"They're attacking the assault team!" An earth pony alerted.

"We must draw their ire!" Luna Commanded.

"We're too far away to accurately hit anything." A unicorn replied.

"Then We shall go." Luna countered.

"If they can shoot this far, they could pick you off before you even land anything," Nate added.

"So we can do nothing?" Luna scoffed.

"Not unless you can fire at something you can't see," Nate responded.

Luna was visibly angered at the situation.

"This is lunacy! We are helpless, all while our potential benefactors watch!" Luna stopped mid-rant to look up at the mirrors showing Equestria's elite the show.

"The Mirrors! Twilight, We Require your aid." Luna raced back to her original station, with Twilight galloping off with her.

Not wanting to just stand around, Nate followed suit. The brisk run was short enough that Nate caught the beginning of the conversation.

"Twilight, Can you connect this mirror back with all the others, then flip this mirror to receive and the others to send?" Luna asked.

"Maybe, why?" Twilight asked.

"We cannot attack because we will be at risk if we are seen, But we don't need to BE seen. What if we were to use the mirrors as our weapon?" Luna hinted.

Twilight's eyes grew with astonishment.

"That's Genius!" Twilight exclaimed.

"I don't understand, are you planning to use them as a periscope?" Nate asked.

"Think of the mirrors as doors connected by magic, they don't just show an image of the user, they are seeing the actual user. Normally the connection is too weak to allow anything more than light to pass through, but with sufficient power, we can use them as openings. With so many mirrors connected to one, it wouldn't be possible to send through any physical object, but magic? Sure, each spell would be weakened by the division, but with enough low-level spells..." Twilight left the insinuation in the air.

"That's, Incredible," Nate stated. taken aback by the sheer possibility of it.

"There are many things magic can do, General, it is only a matter of one's imagination," Luna advised him, a proud smile on her face.

"However I don't know how long the mirrors will last, That much magic could shatter them." Twilight mused.

"Better that we break them and buy our ponies time, than nothing at all." declared.

"What's taking so long?!" Battle Bowler barked at the courier, who had been messing with the lock for far too long now.

"The pins, one of them isn't biting." Six remarked, continuing to mess with the lock.

"Well, we're running out of time. We need it open now!" Battle Bowler demanded.

"Wait, wait..." Six said aloud.

After a moment, a loud clank was heard.

"Got it!" Six declared, so sure of himself.

He got back up to his feet and moved to the side of the pipe. With an over-exaggerated gesture to the door and a smirk on his face, he pushed on the gate. When the door failed to open, he tried again. Battle bowler came up beside Six and looked up at the man as he now threw himself at the gate.

"Well?" He asked.

"It's stuck!"

Bullets continued to chew at the tree John was using for cover. A stray bullet zipped past and hit one of the ponies in the head, killing them instantly.

"Fuck!" John shouted, He knew this was doomed from the start. Now they would all die for nothing.

No, he had not survived this long to die hiding. Unholstering his Laser rifle, John flicked the switch to turn it on. He would take at least one of these bastard with him.

Celestia could only watch as the chaos unfolded. While most of the guests didn't have a clue what was happening, Celestia understood the principles of the plan. While it looked as if the fort was attacking in some random direction, it was evident to her that one of Luna's teams had been caught and was stuck.

Suddenly the mirror that was being used as the display began to glow. Everyone watched as unannounced the image of the battlefield was replaced by one of Luna, without her disguise. Her sister began to talk through the mirror.

"Apologies for the change in plan, Sister. We must commandeer the mirror system. We advise you to disable your mirror, Now." Luna stated.

Celestia was as equally confused as the rest of the ponies in the stand, however, that confusion was cleared up as Luna Pointed her horn at the mirror and began to cast a spell. Now taking the chance, Celestia burst into the air from the stand and shot the mirror with magic. The mirror shattered into pieces just as the first of Luna's shots came through. Thankfully the only casualty was a horderves tray being carried by one of her staff, to the misery of the noble who had been grazing it.

With the show over, Celestia decided to intervene before things got out of hand.

John had unholstered his laser rifle and flipped the on switch. After shaking off any lingering regrets, he jumped out of cover. However, he nearly dropped his rifle at the sight of hundreds of blue bolts crashing into the side of the fort.

"It won't budge." Six affirmed after trying for the umpteenth time to force the gate open.

"Well, we will have to force it open," one of the ponies behind him said.

"Yeah, with what? What we need is a battering ram." Battle Bowler told him.

Suddenly, all eyes were on Babbtle Bowler. Were they really that dense?

"You know, a battering ram. it's rusted, so we need to hit it hard," he explained.

He was confused, even the courier was looking at him while stroking his chin in thought.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Luna forced herself to continue as a barrage of magic shot out of her horn and into the mirror, The sheer weight of the attack had bought her ponies time, but a mirror seemed to shatter every other moment. They were down to less than half the mirrors.

"Luna!" Celestia's voice called.

Luna didn't look away from the mirror, but she knew her sister was behind her. Whether she was there to scold or help did seem to matter, as she was interrupted by Twilight.

"Where down to our last three mirrors. We need more time!"

"We're out of time!" The General shouted as the roar of the magic missiles began to die down.

"We need to give them a new target!" Luna announced back as the last mirror broke.

"Then let's give them one. Luna, Twilight, shields!"

"This is stupid" Battle Bowler commented with a deadpan.

"It's brilliant" Six shot back.

"This isn't going to work." Battle Bowler said firmly.

"Do you have a better idea?" Six asked knowingly.

"No, I do not." Battle Bowler admitted.

"Do you want your comrades to die out there?" Six further pushed.

"No, I do not." Battle Bowler answered dejectedly.

"Then believe it's going to work." Six replied.

Everypony was standing around Battle Bowler as he faced the drain pipe. They had given him enough room for a running start. After tightening the helmet on his head, Battle Bowler took a deep breath and charged with a warcry.

"For equestria!"

With an almighty crash, the green pony ploughed into the gate, taking it clean off its hinges and causing it to fall over with an even louder crash. For as small as ponies were, apparently, they hit like a truck.

everyone rushed forth to see if their squad leader was okay. His groans of pain indicated he was indeed alive.

Six decided it was as good a time as any to take charge.

"Right, you stay with him, the rest of you on me."

"Hey, when did you end up in charge?" One pony asked.

"When all of you helped me convince your superior to charge head first into an iron door. Any questions?" Six asked.

When no one spoke up, he took that as a no.

"Good, On me."

Nate had watched as the princesses had marched out onto the field. standing side by side, they had each created their own magical barrier surrounding them. The overlapping blue, purple and gold light had shone like a beacon in the clearing. Where one barrier had failed, three overlapping shields absorbed the impact of each bullet fired at it, leaving them intact on the ground as they dropped.

Yet even from here, he could see that the three princesses were struggling to move forward under the non-stop rain of bullets.

Six carefully pushed up the grate on the floor as he popped out of the opening. Upon seeing no one in the immediate area, he carefully placed it down to the side and helped the ponies up out of the sewer.

Once they were all out, they unholstered their knives and spears. The first thing Six noticed was the smell, the place reeked with dampness. The room was cold and dark, the numerous boxes and shelves gave away that they were in a store room. without a word, they made their way out.

Opening the door, Six ended up face to face with a raider who was guarding the door and had turned upon seeing it open. Before the Raider could react, Six stabbed him in the gut with a knife, then proceeded to do so over and over again. The raider slumped to the floor. The rest of the team came out after six, a little concerned about their temporary leader. As they made their way down towards the courtyard, a new smell caught Six. It smelt good, like a roasted brahmin. He could have gone for a good steak right about now, one of the few things he liked about the ultra-lux casino was their food. However, he always felt weird eating at the ultra-lux knowing that they nearly returned to being cannibals.

The sound of one of the ponies whinying alerted six to look behind him. It was obvious that something was wrong, everypony looked distressed and more than one looked green. It wasn't until they passed what to count as a kitchen around here that he saw why. hanging over a fire on a spit was the charred remains of a pony, freshly cooked. At least two ponies threw up upon seeing the roast, it seemed his ultra-lux comment may be a little closer to home for them.

"Those monsters... this is sick!" One pony seethed.

Six didn't feel like explaining the culture gap of the wasteland when there was a job to do. He did however grab the lever action shotgun sitting on a nearby table and checked to see if it was loaded. It was.

"Well, they're all still out there, why don't we say hello?"

With grim determination, the ponies followed Six to the door leading outside. Once everyone was in position, six, With thinly veiled glee, he kicked the door open.

Before the first raider could turn around, Six fired the shotgun point blank into the back of one's head. As the rest of his team came forth and the raider turned around, the fighting in the courtyard descended into bloody carnage.

John watched as raiders began to leave the wall, it seemed as if the weird idiot had done his job.

"Alright, let's move!" Rapid Fire declared, rushing forward to reach the gate.

With less gunfire pinning him down, John let loose and started picking the remains of the raiders off the wall as they were distracted by the blinding dome now moving towards them from across the field. With the rest of them falling back from he wall, The assault team reached the large wooden gate. As the team pulled the great doors open, they were treated by the sight of an impromptu machine gun nest.

"Oh, Fu-" was all John got out before the nest opened up at the gateway.

After recovering from the shock, John looked around to see who else had sidestepped over, only to find his team down to just him, Rapid Fire and two others.

"What the hay is that?!" Rapid Fire shouted in shock.

"More guns, some do that," John shouted back over the roar of the machine gun.

Six fire another round into a raider coming down from the ramparts, then another, then another. A large brute of a man then came down, from the raised office behind him. Aiming his shotgun, he squeezed the trigger, only to hear a click. Noticing the man storming towards him with brass knuckles, Six flipped the shotgun over, grabbing the still-hot barrel with his gloved hands. The Colossal man charged towards him roaring, and so the courier charged at the man with a crazed scream.

"Well how are we meant to stop it?!" one of the Ponies shouted back.

If only he had a frag explosive on him. It then occurred to him, that he had the next best thing.

"Keep in cover!" John shouted to the three ponies, who responded to his redundant suggestion with a low-effort salute.

Not wanting to take chances, John took a moment to consider how to throw the bottle. After making his best guess, He slipped out of cover for a second to throw the bottle. a new round of bullets forced him back into cover before he could see what sounded like a massive explosion, making some of the forts morter sift free. The Machine gun nest had gone silent, and with a look, John saw the effect of the bottle.

A layer of black soot completely covered the area where the Nest had been, with nothing but a constant trail of smoke being where the nest was.

"... I need more of those." John considered aloud.

Looking back as the three ponies stormed forward. John saw the three princesses had stopped moving forward, they now returned to the treeline, having bought the time needed.

John decided to follow his team to the main courtyard of the fort, where blind panic had taken over. A handful of ponies lay bleeding or dead, with the raider's numbers being at least twelve. at least four were seen throwing their arms down and putting their hands up. All the while, the courier stood in the middle of the mess. his face and blond hair were dyed red from the blood. He was holding the barrel of a shotgun with the wooden butt in splinters.. on the ground was a large raider with the remains of his head in a pulp with the rest of the butt of the gun scattered through. Upon looking down at the mulch of a man's head and then around him, Six looked to the skies and let out a holler.

"WOO!"

Choices

View Online

As Celestia and Luna walked back to the command tent, they reflected on the events of the day. They looked at the clearly unimpressed ponies leaving.

"That could have gone better," Celestia commented, Watching the cleanup as she passed by.

"There were complications, but the fortress has been taken and the ponies of the region are safe. That's what matters." Luna responded, her eyes focused on the command tent ahead.

"The goal was also to sway these influential ponies to aid your new organization. To do so, we needed to put on a show as well as secure the area." Celestia emphasised.

Smoke still came from the hole Luna had blasted in the viewing stand. The strange stallion from before mourned the loss of his snacks as a valet cleaned the spilled food. His associates tried to drag him away.

"If it were a choice between saving lives or appeasing spoiled nobles, we would choose the former every time." Luna snubbed, moving faster as she scorned the leaving ponies.

Celestia quickened her pace to catch up to Luna and cut her off outside the command tent.

"Luna, there is only so much we can take from the treasury before we have to justify it to the public. Without benefactors, your project will never go beyond this." Celestia gestured widely to the surrounding camp.

Luna walked around Celestia, unimpressed by her sister pressuring her.

"It matters not. Once the ministry has had time to grow, public opinion will sway to our side, and we can raise the funds ourselves." Luna reasoned as she opened the tent flaps fully with her magic, allowing herself and Celestia inside.
Celestia was displeased by her sister's effort to slide off the issue.

"Your new ministry requires equipment, food, transport, and a proper base of operations. How do you intend to grow your operations without more money?" Celestia asked, knowing Luna had no answer.

Before Luna could shoot back a flimsy argument, they were both interrupted by a third voice.

"I might be able to help with that..."

Both the royal sisters were surprised to see General Brasshorn and a well-dressed stallion in the command tent. The Stallion, who had just spoken out, stepped forth. The Stallion's coat was a flat steel grey, with his short-styled silver mane parted in the middle. With a white front piece, black vest and pork pie hat, the Stallion cut a decent image.
The General introduced the Stallion.

"Your Majesties, May I present the baron of the Ruber estate. He has a proposition that may elevate your financial concerns"

The stallion took off his hat at the introduction.

"The name's Oil Slick. It is an honour to make your acquaintance." He said, putting his hat back on.

"Ruber... that estate owns a fair amount of land near Dodge City. Doesn't your family hail from there, General?" Celestia inquired.

"Yes, ma'am. The Baron has been something of a philanthropist to the city, Paying for public repairs. 'Baron Rails' helps keep the city on the map." Brasshorn explained, painting the Baron in as good a map as he could.

"Yes, it was fortunate that you are personally acquainted with an industrialist who could fill our needs," Luna stated, hiding little of her insinuation.

"I knew your father, Coal Dust. You have my condolences for his passing" Celestia said, pushing past Luna's previous comment.

"Thank you, Princess. The world lost a true visionary that day," The Baron responded.

"You said you had a solution to the Ministry's financial situation?" Luna Pushed, Visibly uninterested in being in the tent any longer than she needed to be.

"Yes. As it has been explained to me, you're in need of some significant investment, however, you also need a supplier. It just so happens I have both," The Baron announced.

The General piped in once more.
"Ruber Industries has been a reliable supplier of equipment for the guard for over three years now. With control of most major rail and a decent share of heavy industry, the Baron will keep you supplied and do so at the lowest expense on your side."

"So generous, and what does 'Ruber Industries' want in return?" Luna asked.

Celestia and Luna both listened for the catch.

"I've been listening to the news on these...creatures. I've heard things from all corners of Equestria, The Machines they have. I know you have Equestria brightest working on figuring it out. I also know about your foreign friends working for your ministry, the papers talk. I bet they know things, like how their machines work. why else would you fast-track them to your employment?"

Celestia did not like where this was going.

"We can manufacture your toys as well as regular capital. In return, Ruber Industries gets the patent for any technological innovation to come out of your ministry."

Celestia held her disposition, not wanting to give the baron any window into her disgruntled reception. Luna had no compunction.

"You cannot be serious." Luna deadpanned.

The Baron was taken aback by the blatant response.

"I ah...I assure you, Princess, I am. With Ruber Industries' backing, Your ministry will have whatever it needs at no markup, and we get the sole right to make what you need."

"Making the whole Ministry dependent on your company," Luna sneered.

Brasshorn used the opportunity to cut in.
"Be reasonable princess, how many others are offering you such a deal? Your alternatives just walked away."

Celestia stopped listening to ponder on that. Not all options had walked away, there was always one available.

"And what do you receive from this arrangement, General? We refused to allow you access to the dangerous technology in the ministry, so you use the baron's access to go around us?!" Luna accused.

If looks could kill, the General would be guilty of regicide. While he would never directly oppose the sisters, he was seething.

"We need those weapons to win this war. Good ponies die because they don't have the tools they need." The General defended.

Luna flared at the statement.
"Don't lecture Us about how our ponies are dying, we are the ones signing the orders!" She hissed.

"That, your majesty, we are very much aware of," Brasshorn replied.

It was time to step in.

"Baron Oil Slick," Celestia said in a raised voice, catching everyone's attention.

"Unfortunately, The patents are not for sale. The danger of having one source of equipment is something that can not be ignored given the nature of the threat. If something were to go wrong, the Ministry needs to have alternative methods of supply. We will, however, offer patents on all things considered unessential; As well as preferential treatment on all future business. However, the licenses for anything deemed dangerous by Luna's Research team are not open for negotiation."
Celestia laid down her terms.

The baron considered the offer.
"I see, I hope you accept that this alteration comes at a cost. While the offer of providing goods at no markup will stay. I cannot afford to invest in the Ministry without the guarantee of majority market control."

Monopoly, what he had wanted was a market monopoly.

"Princess, you must reconsider" The general began to say.

Celestia quickly cut him off.
"General Brasshorn. Princess Luna and I are completely aware of the situation the guard is in, however, we will not give our guards untested and unknown technology. Whatever the Ministries Research team deems dangerous will stay within the ministry where it can be safeguarded. Outside of this tent, this is not a war and it will remain so until we say otherwise."

Whatever he was about to say, The General thought better of it.

"You may both leave." Celestia prompted, causing the two ponies to leave the sisters alone.

Luna watched the two leave, waiting for the fabric of the tent opening to close. Once she seemed sure they had privacy, Luna cast a notice-cancelling spell. Celestia was used to Luna doing this when she didn't want to see her arguing with the sister in public, usually when it was a more personal matter.

Luna swung round to face Celestia. All of her bravado was gone, replaced by hurt.
"How could you undermine Us like that?!"

Celestia waited patiently as she let Luna vent her frustration.

"You claim to trust us, yet intervene at the first instance! How are We supposed to be taken seriously if you keep interfering?"

"Luna, I'm just trying to help," Celestia told her sister, her calm voice a stark contrast to her sisters.

"We know today didn't today did not go as planned," Luna admitted as her eyes wandered.

"Luna," Celestia said to her sister, getting her attention.

"seven dead, five wounded. That is a statistic that hurts to read. But that number would have been greater had conventional tactics ruled today, Your ponies saved lives today. It's early, there are many mistakes they are going to make. I do believe your idea will work."

"Then why do you keep pushing Us aside?" Luna asked.

"Because you still don't understand. We rule WITH the nobles, not over them. Keeping peace for a thousand years, took compromise. To rule over Equestria meant making deals, and handing over some control. They handled most day-to-day matters, and I kept the final say. It is a relationship built on trust and support. I could have told them what do to and made them do things my way. However, then I would have to make them, rule with fear." Celestia explained.

Luna clearly saw where this was going, as it was written on her face. Celestia knew the shadow of the moon was not so far from the light of the sun.

"For over a thousand years, Equestria saw peace. It wasn't always pretty, it certainly wasn't easy, but it was peace. If you try to simply keep them out or turn them away, the nobles will simply find their own way, with no oversight. Then we will have no means to stop them but force, this is the only way to provide true peace. You don't have to like it, but I need you to understand it."

Luna had seemed to listen carefully to Celestia's words. It had not been the first time Celestia had tried to explain the new world to Luna, but it had never been a clear cut. The fact was that this was the most interaction Luna had had with the public and the political elite since her return.

"I'm trying to help you Luna, I don't want to see you ostracised or shunned by our ponies. I need them to see you the way I see you. I know when the time is right, Our ponies will see you. Not alongside me, but on your own hoove, seeing who you truly can be."

Luna's eyes had drifted to the floor during Celestia's speech. When she finished, Luna's eyes met hers again, all the previous resentment lost.

"A thousand years, was truly a world ago. I do not know how you did it, Tia, all those centuries." Luna told her sister with a comforting smile.

"Actually, for the few, I did have some help. Come on." Celestia answered, using a spell to pop the silence bubble around them and throwing the tent flaps open.

"What?" Luna asked, unprepared for the sudden change of pace. Celestia had already left the tent and caught the sun's glare.

Celestia Marched with an enthusiastic bounce as Luna caught up to her. Celestia continued to scan the area, looking for somepony.

"Sister, whatever are you looking for?" Luna asked as she tried to avoid the sea of workers packing up.

"Not what, Who." Celestia corrected, Finally seeing the pony she was looking for.

Celestia saw a Unicorn with a yellow coat and orange mane, his cloud-covered cutie mark clear to see.

"Lord SunSpot!" She called out.

The unicorn had not been expecting it, as he jumped at the call and looked around. When he finally saw the Princess walking up to him, he bowed.

"Princess Celestia, it is an honour!"

Luna finally caught up to her sister, who was waiting for the theatrics to end.

Celestia turned to Luna and gestured to the Unicorn and he rose.

"This, sister, Is Lord Sunspot. House Solar has been a reverent supporter of the crown for generations."

Turning back to Sunspot, Celestia took the moment to update her knowledge of the house.

"It has been a few years, sunspot. How is the family?"

The Unicorn dropped an uncomfortable cough at the question, seemingly trying to find the best words to say.

"Well, My wife and I divorced, that was a mountain of paperwork... and my son decided to move to the Crystal Empire to continue his studies. I think he finally just had enough of it."

That was not the news she was expecting to hear.

"I'm sorry, sunspot. I had hoped the consequences would have been less severe." Celestia said, unhappy at the news.

"It's not your fault, cracks had been forming for a while." He said.

"If I could go back and change things I would, losing a daughter is too much," Celestia added.

If Luna Looked confused, she did not say it. Celestia was grateful, for it was not something she felt should be brought up in front of Sunspot.

"We can't change the past... still, I think it affected Sunburst more than most. He didn't talk about it afterwards, just kind of buried it. Still, he writes back now and then. That boy has big plans, I think when the time comes, he's going to be a great leader."

Sunburst seemed to reminisce on the matter, before jumping back in.

"But, you didn't just come to ask how I'm doing, not after a show like this. How can The Solar House assist the crown once more?" Sunburst asked.

"To put it plainly, Our anti-incursion organisation needs funds. We can provide benefits to your estate and future preferences for offices." Celestia told the Unicorn, hiding nothing.

"Say no more, it's yours. Give our treasurer the details and we will make it so. It will never be said the Solar House shirks on its duties to the crown. Do you reckon we could see about putting some advertisement in there somewhere, a billboard or two? 'House Solar gets it done!'," SunSpot jested.

Celestia giggled at the idea.
"I don't think that will be possible, even if it's well-earned. Thank you Sunspot, your support is always appreciated."

The Unicorn simply nodded and continued towards the ship to leave.

"And what was that about the nobles?" Luna asked knowingly.

Celestia smiled at her sister.
"House Solar has been reverent supporters of me for generations, they practically build their house up to help support the crown. In turn, they get benefits and positions. When a Member of House Solar sits in an office, I can rest at night knowing they're doing what I need."

"And his daughter?" Luna inquired.

Celestia's mood soured instantly from the painful reminder.

"Ah... yes, Sunset shimmer. Before Twilight, there was another I. A student of mine with great promise, another failure of mine."

"What happened?" Luna asked.

"It doesn't matter, she is gone. I fear the loss has done more damage than I had feared. I just hope my failers don't return to put Twilight in danger... Where is Twilight?" Celestia asked.

"She decided to stay and help with the aftermath of today," Luna responded.

"Are you sure she is ready for such things?" Celestia asked, concerned for her ward.

"Aren't you? She was there for the last battle." Luna returned.

Celestia pondered on the right words to say.
"War... is not an easy thing to suffer. I am concerned about what it could do to her."

"Unfortunately, she will have to learn, for this is only the beginning," Luna told her sister.

Twilight walked into the aftermath of the battle, the scene a mess. She had been spared the worst of it last time by being unconscious, now she had all the time in the world to take it in. As she wandered past the dead bodies she gagged at the smell, it reeked. The charred remains of humans and ponies alike could be found. Flies swarmed over the bodies. occasional cries of agony or whimpers could be heard from the living as the medics tried to save the few who could be saved... it was a nightmare.

"So much death..." Twilight muttered, overwhelmed at the scene.

Her morbid trekking ended as she saw Nate and the courier. Nate was hauling a firearm in each hand, adding them carefully to a collection leaning on a short stone fence. The Courier was next taking them and stripping them, then throwing them onto another pile. The courier's clothes and face were covered in a layer of drying blood. He didn't seem fazed as he continued taking apart the weapons, all the while smoke rose from the white stick in his mouth.

"Here's two more, it would go faster if you helped find them before disabling them," Nate told the courier.

"We fought, you lift. Seems fair to me." Six retorted, never looking up from the weapon in his hands.

"Where did you even find cigarettes?" Nate asked as he dropped the two guns and rubbed his hands.

The courier took out his cigarette and pointed it to a building behind him.
"Head honcho had a safe full of em. good thing about this duster, pockets."

Nate leaned on the wall, looking at the courier.
"Are you gonna share them?"

"Nope." The courier replied as he ejected a magazine and let it hit the floor.

"Of course not," Nate muttered to himself as he walked off to find more firearms.

The courier put the smoke back in his mouth and reached over to grab a new gun. Twilight, looked around for a way to be useful. Eventually, she stopped when she saw John talking with a familiar green pony. John seemed to look for something, before stopping when he noticed Twilight. He waved her over, and she complied.

"John, what's wrong with him?" Twilight asked, seeing the sergeant barely standing.

"The idiot was convinced to run headfirst into an iron gate. He's got a concussion. Can your magic make light?" John asked.

Twilight nodded, to which John waved her closer. Casting a light spell, Twilight watched as John tilted Battle Bowler's head up so he was looking at the light. The career soldier groaned at being forced to look at the light and meekly tried to push John away.

"Responsive, probably no long-term damage. Going to be stuck with one hell of a headache though." John stated, leaving the pony to sit where he was.

John stood up and walked over to the courier. Twilight decided to check up on Battle Bowler in a different sense.

"How are you feeling?" She asked the sergeant.

"Like anyone would feel if their brain was mush." He replied dryly.

" This is... it's horrible." Twilight said as she looked around.

"Well... get used to it. Cause it's only gonna from this point on." Battle Bowler responded.

"Wait... what?" Twilight asked, confused by what he meant.

"I, don't know, now leavemeimgonnagosleep..." Battle Bowler's words blurred into one as he slumped into a nap.

Unsure what to do, Twilight left the strange pony to his endeavour, his weird helmet covering most of his face. Looking for where John had gone, She saw him talking to the Courier. She couldn't make out what they were saying, but something had clearly set John off because he charged off.

She approached the courier.

"What was that about?"

The courier took out his smoke, tapping it to clear the ash as he spoke.

"He wanted to know if there were any more wounded he could check up on. I said 'Sure, got a bunch of the bastards in the back, they surrendered during the fighting, but I reckon one or two of them were bleeding." The courier explained.

"They surrendered?" Twilight asked, not quite what to make of the news.

"Yeah, doesn't happen often. But sometimes they see the writing on the wall, other times they don't have much fight in them, to begin with. Raiders aren't one big group with ideas. They all have their own reasons and rules. Usually, it's a waste of time though, wasteland rules don't usually care for surrendering. Guess this group was lucky." The courier explained as he went to put his smoke back in his mouth.

He stopped as the distinctive sound of a laser rifle rang out.

"Guess not." He finished, taking a deep drag on his smoke.

Twilight quickly put together what was happening. She bolted in the direction she saw John go, hearing another blast as she reached the room built onto the side of the fort's wall. A red light flashed as another blast rang. clearing the doorway she saw the scene before her.

John stood before a lone raider, bound at the hands and mouth. The raider was screaming into her gag which muffled the sound, desperately trying to wiggle away. Next to her were three piles of ash, all that remained of her companions.

"JOHN, STOP!" Twilight screamed.

The intrusion caught his attention temporarily, causing him to shift to see her.

"What are you doing!?" Twilight demanded, trying to understand why John had lost it.

"My job," he said flatly, before turning back and raising his rifle to the prisoner.

With little time to spare, Twilight teleported in front of John, face-first into the rifle.

"Get out of the way Twilight," John ordered, unfazed at the disruption.

"They had surrendered!" Twilight pushed, flaring her wings to cover the prisoner as much as she could.

John lowered his rifle as he rolled his head as much as his eyes.

"They're Raiders Twilight! They only did that because they were losing. If the roles were reversed, you would be dead and everyone you love would be next. They don't care about good and fair, they're sick bastards who are just looking for the next hit" John shot back, annoyed at Twilight's persistence.

"You don't know that, we need to give them a chance to change. we could rehabilitate them, everyone deserves a second chance!" Twilight stressed the last part.

"No, they don't. These fucks don't deserve mercy, everyday we suffer because of ilk like them. All they do is kill and take! They're scum! The only thing they deserve is a bullet, That's justice! I do what no one else can!" John spat back, even more agitated.

"This isn't the wasteland here John, and we don't just kill people." Twilight declared her stance firm.

John almost seemed to growl as he threw his head back and ran had hand through his messy hair.

"You just don't get it, Amata!" John shouted at Twilight.

That threw Twilight off, as she looked at John, full of rage, she asked one question.

"...Who is Amata?"

The question seemed to throw John off just as much. For a moment, the rage was gone as he seemed to reflect on the question. Just as quickly, the determination was back.

"Get out of my way Twilight!" John demanded.

"No, I won't let you do this!" Twilight cried.

"Out of my way!" John roared.

Twilight wasn't ready for it. Before she could react, John had taken his arm and used it to throw Twilight aside with extreme force. As she crashed into the ground in pain, she could see John aim his rifle at the now crying prisoner. Twilight mashed her eyes shut to avoid seeing what was to come.

After what felt like an eternity, she flinched at a sound. However, when she did hear something, it wasn't the sound of a laser rifle blast. It was the clatter of something hitting the floor. Ignoring the thumping pain on her side, she opened her eyes. The Woman was still there, looking up at John. As Twilight looked back over to John, his hands were empty. He had dropped the Rifle to the floor, his hands still hovering where they had held it. John was staring at Twilight, shock seeming to have gripped his soul. Twilight watched as slowly, as he shuffled backwards.

"I... I didn't...I'm..." John blabbered, unable to find the words, lost in his head.

He bumped into the doorway as he tried to leave, before turning and leaving.

Fallout: Harmony

by Foreverking0

A call for help

Dejavu

A buck in the head

A bite to eat that's bittersweet

23rd, October, 2077 (Optional Chapter)

End of the day

Nothings ever free

The Wildcard

When legends meet

Still in The Dark

Why do we fight

Bitter dreams

5th, November, 2281 (Optional Chapter)

Lock and loaded

The best laid plans of ponies and men

Ghoul Problem

A lie by any other name

Big Problem, Bigger Solution

Consequences

Ponyville reception

Call to arms

Voyage Club

Second Chances

Desolate Fort

Choices