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The two Potters and the Three Princesses	Chapter 28	Griphyx runs across a rooftop as he dodges Nick's spells. He jumps upward and summon his wings and flies into the air as he dodges Nick's attacks with his sword. Griphyx spins going downwards before he vanishes an reappears in a bell tower, panting. "Man, this American style training killer..." Griphyx pants, before Nick breaks though the wall and grabs Griphyx's head and throws him out of a window. "Buck..." Griphyx growls out. He spins in the air and lands onto the side of a spire, cracking it, until Nick appears before Griphyx, a mask on his face and his staff turned into a black sword. Nick swings down only to miss Griphyx, who shoulder rolls away. As he stumbles to his feet, Nick walks on the air towards Griphyx, completely silent white his piercing purple and white eyes bore holes into Griphyx's own eyes. He appears before Griphyx and has his blade upward as a sash goes across Griphyx's chest and left shoulder, making him cough up blood. 'BUCK!!' Griphyx roars in his mind. Griphyx flies into the air from a large gust of wind and sends him far into the sky, before stopping and blocking Nick's sword with his own. Griphyx growls and pushes Nick back forcefully before flying upward, only to get his foot grabbed and to be flung down into a church, making the building crumble. Nick's sword turns into that double ended scythe before splitting it into two and then swings both down, sending waves of magical energy down onto the crumbled church. Griphyx pushes the rubble off of himself, panting harder. He gets to his feet and flies past Nick and when he reaches the sky, he parts it and flies higher, where there is a full moon with a black crescent moon in the middle. He stands atop of a pillar and then waits for Nick to arrive, who does right in front of him. "Sorry, Nick. But you have forced my hand..." Griphyx states before entering his strange demonic form. His tail whips down and splits the pillar in half, making Nick's eyes widen. "It's over." Griphyx states before he points a claw at Nick and fires a black beam with dark green outlining. Nick stares as the beam comes closer, and grows larger and larger. He closes his eyes, and when the magic gets closer, his mask shatters and he is shot off of the breaking apart pillar, and falls onto the ground. ======================================================= The others watch from a screen and Nick walks into the room. "The hell are you all watching?" Nick asks. "We decided to make a magical training room roof, and it would seem that the training area was tampered with, so we had Griphyx fight you from all of the training you have done under us and even your fighting styles." Twilight begins. "And it seems that you pose a bit of a problem for Griphyx, when he isn't fighting at full strength, and you are." She says. "So what? Did I managed to hurt him?" Nick asks. "Yes, for a while, until Griphyx got to the room, and fired a magical beam, and took you out." Luna says. "Just ONE beam of magic took ME out? HOW!?!?" Nick yells. "He is stronger than you all, save for Harry here, and his....Half-Blood-Line is also VERY powerful. It would make sense." Celestia says. "So, who IS his father?" Nick asks. "We can't say, but we know that he is capable of doing as he pleases." Nightmare growl out. Nick nods his head before sitting in a chair, watching Griphyx's slash heals like nothing happens, and then dodges a spell from a magical-copy of Ruby. "Why am I fighting him?" Ruby asks from next to Harry. "Because Nick is powerful, but you are stronger yet. So it would make sense to start from different variations of the power charts." Twilight answers. "Oh..." Ruby states. ==================================================== Griphyx spins in the air and stares at Ruby. She wields a chainsaw-whip and her flaming claws are out. Griphyx dodges her whip as it cracks against the ground before fire roots coil around his limbs, and his eyes widen in realization. "Damn..." Griphyx mutters as Ruby whips her destructive whip across his chest, giving him a gash and making him cry out in pain. Ruby licks the blades clean seductively, before giggling as she keeps whipping Griphyx repeated across his chest. Griphyx's tail lashes out and runs up her form, only cutting her cloths. 'So it seems they got her skin right...oh buck me...' Griphyx thinks to himself. He knows that he would need a stronger attack to hurt her, let alone get through her skin. Griphyx spreads his wings and cuts the fire roots and charges at Ruby. She giggles more, before he stabs his blade through her chest, making her eyes widen and as he pulls the sword out, she falls onto her back, and turns to stone. He sighs out before Elena approaches him, and smiles seductively. "Come to my den~" She slurs. "Said the sider to the FLY!!" Griphyx roars out as he spins and his tail whips at her middle-half, splitting her in two, before both parts turn to stone. "That was easy, but I can already tell who will be the next three..." He groans out. "So you beat them, hm?" Malfoy sneers out. "Buck you Malfoy!" Griphyx roars as he punches him in the stomach, turning him into stone. "Weakling." He states. Out of nowhere, a axe cuts into his shoulder, making his eyes widen. "Such a disappointment, and here I thought you could fight." Drew hisses out. His tail raddles as he smirks. Griphyx vanishes and reappears across from Drew, scowling as his shoulder heals completely ad growls. "You..." Griphyx growls out. Drew smirks at Griphyx, showing his fangs. "Me..." He states before impaling the axe into Griphyx's abdomen, making him cough up blood, before he chuckles and stabs his clawed hand into Drew's chest halfway, before firing off a magical beam and makes Drew's form fall back, but instead of turning into stone, he falls onto his back, and turns into dust riding on the wind. "Crap...now I have to face 'Him'." Griphyx mutters before vanishing. ======================================================== "Who's him?" Harry asks innocently. Elena giggles. "You, silly." She says to Harry. "Me!? But why!?" Harry exclaims. "Because my child, you are at his ranking, and due to your....'Half-Blood' forms appearing, we decided to add you to the list. Ron and Hermione lasted but a second." Celestia explains, nuzzling Harry. "Oh..." Harry states. "Half-Blood forms? Since when?" Nick, Ruby and Elena ask. "During the summer, he looked like an mix between an Alicorn and a Dragon Lord." Luna says. "Indeed he did and does, however, ever since that time, his form has been...changing." Celestia states. It had been a few months since the Game Fight between Drew and Griphyx. During the downtime though, Harry has been gaining Half-Blood magical energy and life energy and has been changing. "It was rather odd to wake up and find out that Harry had a tail..." Luna commented. "Yeah..." Harry said next. ============================================================= Griphyx appears before a temple of sorts and sighs as he pushes the gates open and he finds Harry standing there. But something is different, he wears a mask with red markings, and his eyes are black and gold with black slits. "Hello, Griphyx." Harry says. "Hello...Harry." Griphyx states. "It would seem you manage to make it past the others, for shame, I thought you promised to protect our friends?" He says as he appears before Griphyx, a black sword in hand trickling blood and pointed downward. Griphyx's eyes widen as his right shoulder all the way down to his left hip is slashed into. ================================================ "Whoa....in the first move Harry can do THAT?" Nick states. "Harry can do more than that. He is actually JUST as strong as Griphyx is now. You'd be surprised how many times they ended up in a stalemate." Nightmare giggles out. They watch as Griphyx's wound sprays blood and he appears away from Harry, panting. "But his attacks are hard to counter and do generally leave marks on Griphyx's form..." Luna states. "True..." Celestia says next. ============================================== Griphyx's wound heals up and he brings his sword forward, before his turns into a double-sided-blade that ignites into green magical flames. He crouches down to the ground and looks up at Harry, his eyes firm and cold. He appears behind Harry, and watches as Harry flies into the air, but his shirt is cut. 'I see...' Griphyx thinks to himself before twirling his weapon and throwing it at him, however, Griphyx dodges while in the air and appears before him and slashes upwards only to miss Griphyx. Griphyx appears below him, except he is now holding a strange sword. He has a cold calculating gaze as his sword turns back into the twinblade and he spins it around before stabbing at Harry, who rolls to the side and cuts downwards, slicing a horn off and cutting Griphyx's shoulder. 'Buck...' Griphyx thinks. 'I better end this now...' He thinks again before firing a magical beam into Harry's chest, only for it to be caught by his hand an thrown back at him. The beam connects with Griphyx's chest, knocking him back into a wall. "How...." Griphyx asks. "I always could..." Harry states before his hair grows longer and a tail forms, two large draconic wings form, the two feathered wings form below them. A horn forms on his forehead, his skin is covered by scales and fur as his eyes become bright forest green with white slits. "That's....new...." Griphyx states before he is impaled in the wall by Harry's lance and Griphyx's eyes widen. 'WHAT!?' He thinks to himself before appearing behind him, panting as his body heals. 'That is very new....' Griphyx thinks to himself before stabbing the twinblade into Harry's back, coming out of his chest. ================================================ "Whoa, that's awesome!!" Nick yells out. "Who knew Harry could kick ass, you know, before he got owned by Griphyx?" Nick states. "We did." Everyone says. ================================================ Griphyx turns and goes to walk away, until Harry's lance pierces his chest, making his eyes widen and drop to his knees. He feels the lance get pulled out via his back before he looks over his shoulder and see's Harry standing there, his wound healing quicker than his own. "How...?" Griphyx asks with an even tone. Harry just stares at Griphyx, before kicking Griphyx through the roof and into the air, the moon is brighter than usual. He spins and flies upwards towards the higher spires. 'It would seem that I can't win with pure strength and speed alone, but also magic. This will be interesting...' Griphyx thinks as he stands atop of the spire. Harry appears at the bottom and looks up at Griphyx. "You have forced my hand, Harry. Now, I will show you your demise. Look upon me, and feel true despair." Griphyx says with his twinblade at his side. Black fire forms around Griphyx's feet as he grows taller once more, but he has an extra set of smaller wings, his tail at the furred tip is sharper. His claws are longer and his horn regrows as well. He fans a wing out, dissipating the flames as he now holds two strange twinblade's both are ignited by bright green flame. He spins both of them around before crouching and staring at his brother. "This is the end..." Griphyx states emotionlessly and mercilessly. His tail whips down, shattering the spire and using it for cover. He flies down and when he appears before Harry, his wings ignite into green magical flames and when he impales Harry to the ground, he flaps his wings and causes a magical explosive wave, making Harry turn to stone. Farewell, brother..." Griphyx states before turning towards a magic doorway and walks through it and enters the monitoring room, still in his new form looking down at the others. "Dude...." Nick gapes. "What is it that you want, Nick." Griphyx says and stares at Nick with his cold eyes, making him simmer. "That. Was. AWESOME!!" He yells out with a grin. "I suppose so." Griphyx says evenly before reverting back to normal and walking towards Luna, Nightmare, Ruby and Elena. He wraps his arms around them and holds them close and tight. "Um...Griphyx?" Ruby says with a blush. "I had regretted killing you, Ruby, Ron, Hermione and Harry." Griphyx says. "What about me!?" Nick exclaims in shock. "I regretted that too, but you and I had fought for three hours strait, you are fine, even if you are pathetically weak, for now." Griphyx says with a smirk. "Why you....!" Nick starts, before Griphyx passes out onto Elena's tails. "What?" Is all Nick says. "He just went through nine hour training session, I'm sure you'd be tired too, correct?" Celestia states as Twilight and Harry rest on her back. "I guess..." Nick sighs out. The day had been long and boring for pour Nick, but, unaware to him, someone is about to arrive, to surprise him and the others.
The two Potters and the Three Princesses	Chapter 29	Griphyx and his group walk down a hallway and he turns only to stop and see a line of siders crawling up out of a window. It had been a week since Hermione and Ron became incapacitated by something. He grew furious but when Malfoy had been found the same way as well, he grew curious. He jumps out of the window and finds Fang walking over to him with Hagrid by his side. They walk into the forest following the spiders. Elena is crawling behind the group making poisonous webbing to keep away unwanted visitors. "This part of the forest is VERY dangerous, as there is a certain race of critters that most wouldn't like." Hagrid explains. The group looks at him before large spiders slam onto the ground before them, making Nick shriek like a little girl and hide behind Griphyx who holds a sea shell, making memories flood into Harry's mind. Griphyx brings the shell to his lips and blows. It makes a loud sound and after a few moments the sky cracks and a woman lands before Griphyx, the spiders turn to ash. The woman has a large chest, skinny waist and hips. She wears rags and has brown hair with black streaks and her eyes are tan colored. She smiles at Griphyx and hugs him tightly around his waist. She smirks down at him. "Been awhile, eh tiger?" She teases with a wink. Griphyx nods. He walks forward and she holds onto his arm tightly and giggles at the others reactions. "Dude!! When did you get this babe?" Nick asks, mouth agape. Griphyx's eyes turn murderous, making the new members of the group to freeze. None of them have seen Griphyx so easily ready to kill. He chuckles, as does the woman, making Harry and the princesses laugh. "Those pranks you did with Loki really did pay off!!" She laughs. Holding Griphyx close. She wipes away a tear. "Aaah, that's what I needed." She tells him. "I did too, Phoebe." Griphyx states. Nick stares. "Phoebe...as in...daughter of Atlas? And Loki...Norse God...?" He states. Phoebe giggles and rubs Griphyx's chin with a finger. "Yep~ This fella right here became the champion, along with Harry. He managed to befriend Thor, Loki, Perseus and yours truly." She says with a grin. "I did, and I am still happy that I met you all, just not in the way I was forced to." He says. Phoebe giggles. "That's true, but then again....you are still VERY handsome, my little Griphyx." She teases him. Griphyx chuckles and blushes slightly. "Um...thank you." He says softly. This makes Ruby, Elena to hiss or growl in anger, Nightmare and Luna to nuzzle the two and Celestia to giggle. "No how is 'he' doing, Phoebe?" Celestia asks. Phoebe giggles. "He misses you~" She teases, making Celestia smile widely and blush slightly. "Then I'll be sure to give him a 'special visit' sometime~" She says happily. Phoebe giggles. "Maybe you and him will marry~?" She teases. Celestia giggles more, an shrugs. "Maybe." She states, making Phoebe stutter, not prepared for that reaction or answer. "WHAT!?!?" She shrieks. "Well he IS Griphyx's father, and he IS a wonderful man, when he isn't ready to kill something." She explains teasingly. Phoebe stares, before giggles and holds Griphyx closer to her form. "Then I'll make a harem with Griphyx~" She teases and half tells the truth. She winks at Nightmare, Luna, Elena and Ruby, making them blush. "I don't see a problem with that. In Equestria, harems or 'herds' as we call them, are actually encouraged." She explains. "Why?" Hagrid asks out of curiosity. "Because there are little to no stallions, so we made a law to encourage them to take herds. But they used to be seen as a second class citizen before we changed that too. Many things are different than the time of Discord's Reign." She explains. Nick smirks. "So can you ponies become human?" He asks. His jaw drops when Celestia nods her head. "Of course! We won't look exactly human, but we are as humans call Anthro Ponies." She explains. Nick stares at her, drooling slightly. She giggles and closes his mouth with a hoof. "Stop that." She says. "I guess we should get going on our mission?" Hagrid states. Griphyx nods his head before more giant spiders rush out and charge at the group. Hagrid holds his hand out, and the giant spiders stop. "I am here to see the big guy!" He yells. The spiders make a strange nod and crawl away. "Lets go." He says as he follows the bugs. "Right." Griphyx states as he walks next to Hagrid, the pink cherry pedals appear around everyone as a shield. They follow Hagrid until they reach a giant web covered cave. Griphyx throws his hand out to the side and a bone whip appears in his hand and coils around his forearm, making Phoebe and Harry move back slightly, fear goes through their eyes slightly. He spins the bone whip and the mask forms on his face and he stands next to Hagrid. An enormous spider crawls out slowly and looks down at the group. "Hello....Hagrid..." It says with an old-man's voice. Hagrid smiles up at the bug. "Hello, Aragog." Hagrid says with a smile. The giant spider walks out, before looking at Griphyx and it's fangs twitch slightly. "Fresh meat...?" He asks Hagrid, who shakes his head. "No, these are my friends, hopefully they might become yours as well." He explains. Aragog looks back at Griphyx, who bows to the Spider King. "I see...." Aragog says softly. Elena crawls before him and this makes Aragog quickly move back into his nest. "A mix has entered my domain, is she your friend as well...?" He asks Hagrid. "Yes, and she is also someone that none of us should harm..." Hagrid states. "Why?" A woman's voice asks from behind Aragog. "What's so special about her?" It asks again. "Because if any of my friends or family are harmed..." Griphyx walks closer to the cave, his face completely serious. "I will be sure to end your existences." He tells them. The woman's voice giggles. "And how would you be able to do that?" It asks. A second giant spider crawls out next to Aragog. Griphyx's energy rises and he look like a demon once again, making the two spiders move closer, intrigued. "Your an interesting one..." She says to Griphyx as she crawls before him. Her legs move to wrap around him, but then she freezes as Nightmare appears before her. She notices death is ridden in the Alicorn's eyes and moves back by a few feet. "I see, so you have higher beings with you..." Aragog states. "Magog, come here please." He says. Magog goes to her husband and he looks at the group. "You certainly have interesting friends, Hagrid." Aragog states. Hagrid laughs at that before he sits on a tree stump. "I need to know what exactly is in the chamber of secrets, Aragog." Hagrid states. Aragog sighs. "We have been over this before, we shall not speak it's na- " He stops as Griphyx's tail whips against the ground making a few tree's shake and the ground around him shatter like glass. "Please, tell us. My friends have already been placed into the infirmary. They are like my family. I am sure you two know what it is like to want to protect your family, correct?" Griphyx states. His horns glint in the moonlight, as his eyes peer out from the darkness. Aragog and Magog making a nodding motion. "We can't tell you it's name, but we can tell you that we spiders fear it, as it slithers around." Magog states. Griphyx's eyes widen. "A Basilisk!" He exclaims. Aragog and Magog hiss loudly and go into their hollow. Griphyx smiles sheepishly. "Sorry, it's just that I had a run-in with a few back in the tornement...it wasn't easy..." He states. Magog's legs jet out and wrap around Griphyx's form as he brings him to her 'face'. "Never speak it's name again! Or risk being eaten!!" She yells. This causes Griphyx's eyes to waver slightly, before he is dropped and Phoebe gets in front of him, she looks PISSED. "Touch him and I'll be sure to crush your colony to damned insect!!" She roars. Aragog gets between the two females. "There seems to be a problem. Mayhaps it should have been a warning, Magog. And you miss, are one we will not dare go against. Your father is legendary, even to us spiders." Aragog states. "Who is she?" Magog asks. "I am Phoebe, daughter of Atlas." She explains. Magog backs off into the hollow and hides. Griphyx turns around and walks away. "Yes, now we must go..." Griphyx states turn and walking away, his cloths are Japanese in style and nature. His hair is long and black with two what seems to be hair-clips made from his mask pieces. His jacket is pure white with strange symbols on the back. He looks over his shoulder at Aragog and Magog. "I will come back on a later date and chat with you both again. For now, enjoy the peace and quiet." He states before vanishing and reappearing in front of the moon and everything down below that is a wolf, or any kind of creature loud enough makes a chorus of barks, howls, roars, bellows, whinnies, etc. Phoebe notices that if she and the others stare long enough, they see a giant dragon, a strange mixed and unmatched creature, a skeletal being. Griphyx spreads his wings and vanishes once more in a booming flash of lightning and thunder that sparks a massive downpour of rain and some energy. The princesses teleport everyone ,save for the giant spiders, back to the castle, right in front of Dumbledore. Dumbledore goes to speak, before Griphyx booms into the room and is back to normal. He walks over with his hands in his pockets and looks around the room. There are Half-Bloods everywhere and are holding weapons. He snaps his fingers and the pedals circle around himself before forming into a sword that turns into energy and is sucked into his chest. He looks at Phoebe and hugs her tightly around her neck, as he is shorter than her, and she around his hips. The two separate and look back at Dumbledore. "This is my friend, Phoebe. She is new to Hogwarts and needs to be placed somewhere, may she stay with us?" He says to the old wizard. He smiles and nods his head. "Yes, she may." Albas says. HOLD IT!!" Phoebe exclaims. "I HAVE to do something before bed!!" She yells out. "Oh? What might that be?" Snape asks. Phoebe grabs Griphyx's chin and kisses him gently, making him freeze up and his claws form and twitch before vanishing. He kisses her back gently, before she deepens it more, before parting from him. "That~!" She says happily. "Was a thanks for helping me with Thor and Loki. Never would have lived if they kept beating on us..." She says solemnly. "Nonsense, you had it under control!" A man's voice says. Griphyx, Harry and Phoebe smile as a familiar man jumps through the window "Miss me?" He teases. "PERSEUS!!" The three yell out as they hug the man. Everyone else stops, and gapes. The new Half-Bloods start to question who these two are. "Hey! Hey!! Easy there!! I still have to make sure my Girlfriend doesn't kill me, alright?" He teases once more. "Please, Amy might be the daughter of the goddess of love, but she DEFINITELY knows that you only love HER. Lover boy." Phoebe giggles out. "Yeah well, it's hard to date a goddesses daughter you know?" He says to Griphyx, making him blush slightly. "I wouldn't really know..." He states. Perseus burst out in laughter. "Sure, sure! And I bet that kiss was meant for more than saving our asses in that damned tournament." He states smugly. Griphyx looks at Phoebe. "Is that true?" He asks. She blushes more than usual and nods her head slightly. "Yeah...." She says. "Okay." Griphyx says with a smile before walking over to a new Half-Blood, leaving the others to blink in confusion. "Dude! Are you dating HER!?" A male Half-Blood Minotaur exclaims. "Not that I know of...but if that was the case then apparently I am part of a big harem...oh boy..." He states as he face-palms. "The hell's a harem?" The boy asks. "Hm? Oh nothing, nothing. Just some special friends." He explains. The boy nods his head, before holding out a hand. "Names, Alex. You can call me Firewing." He states.
The two Potters and the Three Princesses	Chapter 30	Griphyx walks along the halls of Hogwarts castle in search of his brother and friends, as they had not been around when he had awoken and were nowhere to be seen. He looks around the long curving hallways as he keeps gaining their scent's, yet, he can't pinpoint them for some strange reason. He turns down a strange hallway with black stone walls and those moving paintings of knights he had seen from the corridors for the stairs as he and the others have spoken to loads of times whenever they were alone. He sighs in aggravation as the knights remain quiet as he passes them by, however, he stops next to a strange portrait of a black knight saluting him? He pauses and looks at the knight as it salutes him as if he were a king or something. "Um..." He starts. "Do you need anything, sir!" The knight exclaims. "No, not really. Unless you could help me find my friends and brother?" Griphyx asks. The knight nods, to Griphyx's surprise, and waves a hand. "Follow me sir! I can show you the way!" He exclaims. He rides on a large black mustang stallion armored with, ironically, white armor plates. "R-Right!" Griphyx says as he chases after the painting as it rides through the other portraits, making them VERY annoyed with both of them, and vanishes around the corner. Griphyx groans and sprints after the painting but as he turns the corner, he claws the wall in hopes to not run into the wall before him. He succeeds, but only for a moment as he then spins the corner and flings himself down the hallways and slams face first into the side of the wall. The painting watches with what Griphyx could think of; confusion or aggravation. He rises to his feet and shakes his head quickly to clear it before he chases after the riding away painting. He growls as he feels a sort of rush from chasing something and decides to try something new. He jumps but his legs keep pumping and he lands on the wall. He kicks up a few stones as he runs along above the panting as it goes from portrait to portrait making leaps to get to the other. He looks ahead and see's a stairwell and he gets a stupid yet clever idea he has been meaning to try. He jumps and lands onto the railing and tries to slide down, but instead what happens is a series of tumbling down the long strange steps as the painting of the black knight and his horse waits at the bottom of the stairs in the portrait of a woman holding a baby as they converse and the baby giggles and laughs at Griphyx's pain to his expense. He slides along the floor in a circle yet keeps going strait and he can feel his eyes spinning around in close to the same fashion of Luna's whenever she becomes confused and passes out for some unknown reason. His groans as he face hits a wall and then his side slams into someone's shoe. He opens an eye and looks up at the shoes owner. He groans again as he sees Malfoy standing there with a smirk and his wand held out and pointed down at Griphyx's neck. "Hello, Potter. What a coincidence of us meeting here, alone." He sneers out. Griphyx rolls his eyes and rises to his feet slowly and pops his back. "Not now, Malfoy. I'm looking for my brother and friends." He says dryly. Malfoy sneers once more as he places to tip of his wand against Griphyx's neck and he gains a glare. "That's too bad then, isn't it? Filthy Half-Blood." He spits out with a hiss of what Griphyx can hear is anger. He rolls his eyes once more before he goes to grab the boys wand, but something rams into him and it is small. He looks behind him and sees an...elf? "What the hay?" Griphyx states in confusion as this elf tries to pin him down. "No one shall hurt the Malfoy house." The elf states with a strange squeaky but serious tone, but his eyes hold a sense of sadness. "I have met MANY strange things in my life, but you my friend, are the strangest thing to take me by surprise." Griphyx states before vanishing and reappears next to the elf while leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. "What's your name?" He asks. "He doesn't have one, Potter. And I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't speak to my House Elf!" Malfoy exclaims. The elf gains a somber expression and Griphyx remembers of when he and Harry were treated like trash by their own family. "I was asking HIM not YOU Malfoy." Griphyx growls out. The elf looks up at the young Potter with a confused look. "Why do you care about a simple elf?" Malfoy growls out. "Because your treating him like trash! He is a living, breathing thing, not. Trash!" Griphyx exclaims. "He's just an elf, you filthy Half-Blood!" Malfoy exclaims as he flicks his wand and shoots a bolt into Griphyx's shoulder, making the Potter clutch it and hiss in pain. Malfoy fires another bolt but it is accidentally shot out at the elf. The elf's eyes widen slightly and he raises his arms, ready to block the accidental attack, but it is stopped by something sharp and metal as it falls down into the floor before him and the bolt ricochets into Griphyx's leg. The elf looks up and gasps to see Griphyx holding a strange wide katana-like-blade from what looks to be a skeletal wand. Griphyx pants as his shirt has a whole that looks burned through and the spot on his chest where the bolt his is black and has a burn mark to it as his cloak flutters down slowly over the elf's body as Griphyx uses his own body as a shield. Malfoy sneers. "Protecting a simple House Elf, hm?" He hisses out. Griphyx pants in pain as his lungs try to gain air, but the pain is too great. Malfoy readies his wand once again, but it is sent out of his hand by Nick who sprints down the hall and slugs Malfoy in the face with all of his might and sends the blonde boy down onto the floor and bounce/slides over to the other wall where he hits his head against it. "Griphyx!" Harry exclaims as he moves to his little brothers side and starts to heal him quickly. Griphyx coughs softly before looking at the House Elf who wears his cloak like a cape and stares wide eyed at the younger Potter brother. "You alright?" He asks. "Dobby." The elf states. "What?" Griphyx asks. "My name, is Dobby." He tells Griphyx again. Griphyx smirks and nods his head as he holds a hand out. "Griphyx Potter." He states. Dobby grabs Griphyx's hand and shakes it as he gives the cloak back to the boy, or, at least he tries to. "Nah, keep it Dobby. You need- actually, hold on." He says and takes the cloak. He looks around for anyone else to be looking, which no one is except for Harry, and he uses his magic to shrink the cloak down to Dobby's size and hands it back to the elf. "What are you doing?" Dobby asks. "I'm giving this to you, seeing as to how you'll need it more than me." Griphyx says with a grin. Dobby stares for a few moments before taking the cloak and putting it on. it goes down his body and hides his form even if he were to walk around. "Thank you, sir Mr. Potter- " Dobby starts but is cut off by Griphyx. "Just, Griphyx is fine with me, Dobby." Griphyx states with a sheepish grin as he rubs the back of his head lightly. Malfoy rises back to his feet and growls. "Get over here now, Dobby!" An older man's voice exclaims. Griphyx growls and spins around and pulls the sword from the ground and changes it back into it's wand-mode and points it as Lucius Malfoy. "Hello, Lucy." Griphyx growls out. Lucius glares. "You." "Me. Now what are here for, Lucy?" Griphyx growls out as he and Lucius circle each other as they glare intently at each other. "My son and that ungrateful House Elf over there." Lucius hisses out. "I can tell he isn't "useless" as he managed to protect your precious little son from my wrath." Griphyx hisses back at the tall pale man. Lucius hisses in anger and fires a bolt of magic at Griphyx, but it is blocked by another bolt from behind the boy. He looks over his shoulder and sees Dobby standing there with a small wand and scowl on his face. "None shall harm the Potters." He states. "Dobby, get over here, now!" Lucius growls out. "I don't serve the Malfoy house anymore! Dobby is free!" The small elf exclaims. Lucius takes this time to look at his ex-House Elf and he notices the cloak. He looks back at Griphyx and growls as he pulls the snake head part of the cane back and reveals a sword and he rushes as Griphyx who is taken by surprise by the reveal of Lucius's cane-sword. Dobby stands before Griphyx and flicks his wand and sends a bolt into Lucius' chest knocking the man away by a few feet onto his back and slide against a wall. Draco growls and gets ready to fire a bolt at Dobby, but he is punched in the face by Harry and stumbles back into Griphyx who fires a weak magical bolt and sends the young Malfoy into his father. Griphyx slowly, but evenly, walks towards the two downed Malfoy's who for the life of him holds no sense of hatred for. Instead he feels only emptiness instead of fury or even anger. He looks down at the two pale blonde haired males standing before him. He turns to his right as his eyes close and he lets out a soft sigh of...sadness? But why? Why would he feel sadness and emptiness for these two Malfoy? These two who have been giving him hell every-bloody-time they would meet. He opens his eyes as he turns back to stare at the two males standing before him as they seem to be ready for a fight even though neither of them could hope to win. "This fight is over. I'll let you two be as you are without having need to take what is left of your 'honor' or worse. I honestly do not care anymore." Griphyx states coolly. Draco does the smart thing and back off from the young Potter while Sirius simply sneers and flicks his strange sword/wand. However, his movements are halted by Griphyx grabbing his wrist, tightly, and managing to cancel his patronus. "You have chosen wisely, Draco. I feel deep sorrow for your father, however, as he did NOT heed my warning." Griphyx states as the two grow wide eyed as they see a flicker of stranger energy go through the Potter's eyes. "And he has lost." He states before letting go of Sirius's wrist and vanishes right as his wand/sword snaps before exploding into two parts as Sirius stumbles back and falls against the wall yet again being outdone by Griphyx Potter. Draco feels nothing as he watches his father grumble and hiss out curses from under his breathe, no, his mind is on what he had just witnessed. He witnessed his father and himself being beaten by Griphyx and his friends. He watched his fathers wand pretty much explode on itself and had seen what looked to be gates behind Griphyx's strange hideous eyes. He felt nothing but hatred for Griphyx for disgracing him but not his ignoramus of a father. He silently swears to regain revenge on the one who disgraced him once again. An oath of sorts. Draco turns and leaves his anger father as he mourns over the loss of his wand/sword. > Chapter 31 It had been a week since that fateful ay of Griphyx defeating Lucius in such a cruel- yet hilarious, way as well as having Malfoy pledge himself into becoming stronger than his rivals. Hogwarts has been in a state of shock when Mrs. Norris was found hanging from a lamp petrified. McGonagall had helped Filch bring his cat to the Nurse's Office in the Hospital Wing of the castle. Harry and Hermione were deducing where this "Chamber of Secrets" was and what could be inside it. Elena scurries around while most of the Half-Blood's seemed to have vanished. Griphyx found out why, when a new message had appeared in the Great Hall's doors. "Half-Blood's and Mudblood's beware! The heir to Slytherin has returned." Is what it had said. Griphyx notes that even Nick is acting a bit spookish than most. Ruby has been terrified since the message had been spoken all around the school by Malfoy and his idiotic goons. Harry has been on watch, however, as there had also been word of a NEW monster that has made Hogwarts it's home. They had figured out that a Basilisk was the Slytherin monster, but when said 'Serpent King' was found by Griphyx himself in an injured state- the serpent now resides as Griphyx's own monster and has been called "Gryffindor's second monster as Griphyx is supposedly the first, and decided to keep it as a pet seeing as to how Griphyx and Harry both spoke to it while hissing- some strange form of hissing and growling for Griphyx, and had it remain somewhere close by to protect the students instead of eat. The Princesses have become worried for Griphyx's safety, as he is one of the strongest Half-Blood's in Hogwarts while Phoebe and Percy had already left to visit family of some sort. Hermione had been a bit on edge as she had been called "Mudblood" by Malfoy multiple times, but never raised his wand towards her as he knew first hand how protective Harry was over the Granger girl. Griphyx had been visiting the Basilisk more and more as it was a "Safe Haven" to him, or, as he would say. The Basilisk didn't seem to mind either, as it would at times become a marking on the inside of Griphyx's right forearm and could even become his limb, as per their agreement. It was also later found out that Nick and Elena had decided to go out on "dates" as they had a mutual ground of understanding for each other. Ruby and Ron would even hang out more than usual and they both seemed to enjoy each others company quite a bit. Phoebe and Percy had decided to express their feelings for each other as they had been long, long life friends and possibly partners when it came to love. Griphyx had also came into possession of a Kusanagi that looked like a long thin rectangle that he would keep on his lower back at all times in case he needed it for whatever reason. Dumbledore had become aware of all this from Griphyx himself. Snape had also been becoming more and more distant, he somehow lost his memory of the Princesses as well as not being able to see, hear, or feel them, thus, he was back to being a total prick once more. Drew has been kept safe by Draco and Snape- not that surprising, as well as holding him as a 'weapon' on the off chance this new 'monster' shows itself. There has even been a 'weapon' for each house. Slytherin has Drew who is the Half-Blood of what many believe is the son of Medusa. Ravenclaw has a female Half-Blood named Sam Rose. She is similar to Ruby, but she has a kitsune and oddly enough, Ruby's cousin. She has amazing looks from what Fred and George keep saying- let alone the gawking Nick does before being beaten by Ruby towards Ms. Rose, as they say she has wide hips, a flat belly, large chest- as she is a third year student no less. Her eyes are a soft baby blue with somewhat slit pupils. Her ears are positioned atop of her head as well as having around nine-tails- all bright orange, and fangs. Her hair is apparently luscious brown locks that lay flat against her back, she is apparently 5' 12" in height and the strongest of the Ravenclaw's. Hufflepuff has a female Half-Blood as well. Her name is Patty Thompson. She has a similar build to Sam, however, she is a Half-Blood of the Asian-Lung Dragon that comes from middle Asia. She is called 'Hufflepuff's Dragoness' as she has the antler horns as those whips as well but they are certain strands of her hair that moves around like tentacles or whips. A long gold tail with that soft silver fur as well as those talon fingernails- though they are not as long or sharp to cause damage unless she wills it, with bright hazel eyes with holy-white slit pupils. She is about 4' 11" and is a second year like Griphyx as well. She is the strongest Half-Blood's amongst the Hufflepuff's. Griphyx is Gryffindor's own mascot Half-Blood, however, he is not only the strongest Half-Blood for his house, but he is tied with Sam and Patty as they hold first and second seat in power while Drew holds forth in power. Griphyx, Patty and Sam have actually became quite good friends over this strange week, so much so that they had been seen around the castle alone and having a blast. Nightmare, Celestia and Luna have split up as well though. Nightmare remains with Griphyx, Celestia with Harry and Luna stays in the 'house' as well as with Dumbledore to make sure everyone is safe. Dumbledore and McGonagall as well as Hagrid have grown rather attached to the youngest of the three Princesses and Goddesses so much so that they have slipped up a few times in laughing at her jokes in the middle of meals, classes, etc. Right now, however, Griphyx is rolling to the side as Malfoy fires a bolt of magic at him. Patty and Sam are with him as well. The two females remain out of their duel as it is between Griphyx and Malfoy. "Stand still!" Malfoy hisses out. Griphyx spins around in his hands as he lets his legs slide apart and prepares to kick the blonde into the wall until an axe blocks the kick. Drew smiles down at Griphyx who's eyes widen before he pushes himself off of the axe just as it is swung upwards missing his chin by less than an inch. Patty and Sam prepare themselves before Drew holds up a clawed hand. "I'm here to stop the duel." He states. "Why?" Patty asks. "There has been another attack. A ghost has been taken out as well as some students have been sent into the infirmary." He says with a serious expression. Griphyx rises to his feet before walking up to the boy who gives him a smirk and a fist bump. While the two don't see eye to eye, they do enjoy good spar with one another as well as made a alliance to help the other out if they had need of it as well as joining Patty and Sam to help protect Hogwarts. "How serious?" Griphyx asks. "Serious enough for Dumbledore and Snape to send me out to find you three. Dumbledore wants us in his office now." Drew explains. Griphyx nods his head before grabbing Drew's hand in a strange arm-wrestling contest in the air while Patty and Sam wrap their arms around Griphyx's waist and shoulders. "Dude!" Drew states. "Nice." He says with a thumbs up. The two girls roll their eyes as Griphyx chuckles sheepishly. "Maybe when all this shit is done and over with, we'll look into him." Sam giggles out. Drew gives Griphyx yet another thumbs up making him blush and cough uneasily. "Right..." He states before they spiral around and appear before the headmaster and the other teaches. He notes that Harry is next to McGonagall and Dumbledore with Nick there as well. "I have called you four here today because it is time that we get rid of whatever this 'monster' in the 'Chamber of Secrets' is." Dumbledore states. "And as such, I am having Harry Potter and Griphyx Potter to lead this investigation. Harry shall be in charge of the Wizards and Witches, while Griphyx will lead the Half-Blood's." He orders. "But...why me?" Griphyx asks. "Hm...?" Dumbledore asks. "Why me? Why not Patty and Sam?" He asks. The two in question blush and smile slightly before regaining their firm looks once more. "Ah, yes, well the reason as to why is simple." He states. "It is?" Drew asks. "He holds the Basilisk which WAS the original 'monster'." He explains. Everyone seems to stop and stare. "How?" Snape asks. "It's part of my body." Griphyx states as he points his right arm out and just below his shoulder. He sweats slightly as his right arm from his elbow down melts from his body before forming into a large snake the size of Harry himself. Snape pulls out and points his wand at the snake, which curls around Griphyx protectively. "This is my Basilisk. She is known as Manda. While she might not look it, she IS more than a Basilisk now." Griphyx explains. Snape looks to preparing to send out a spell, but he is stopped as Manda bites Griphyx's arm and reforms as part of his body and he gains her fangs and even parts of her scales on the back of his hands that have small spikes on them as well. "I would appreciate it if you wouldn't point your wand at Griphyx." Albus states. "But sir..." "It is not up for discussion Serverus. We are in need of Manda's help if we ever wish to find out what holds her place in the chamber. "She says that it was too dark before her old master had disowned her." Griphyx states. "Who was her old master?" Hagrid asks. Griphyx becomes silent for a good while as his eyes close. He makes a series of faces as if having an internal debate with himself. When his eyes open, he has a sad look in them. "She doesn't know." Griphyx sighs out sadly. "It's okay Griph! We can find out another way." Hermione states as she walks up from the back to stand next to Harry. Ruby appears next to Nick and the two hold hands. Dumbledore gains a strange twinkle in his eyes as he nods his head lightly. "That sounds exceptional, as long as none of you have to go into that place." He states firmly yet that twinkle in his eye only becomes brighter. Griphyx chuckles lightly before he shivers and a thin blush forms across her face. "What's the matter?" Patty asks. He looks towards her and Lily before his blush thickens. "Um...Manda decided to give me a mental image that should NEVER be mentioned!" He exclaims loudly as his voice cracks slightly making the two giggle. "Cute." Lily teases. Griphyx blushes more before he shivers once more, but this time the scales on the back of his hands spreads up his arms before they meet at the napes of his neck before conjoining and going down his back where a scaly tail forms. Two long horns sprout from his head as they curve backwards and miniature ones form on his cheeks like whiskers. His skin tone has darkened slightly as if he were tanning slowly. His fangs grow longer and his height is just a bit changed so he is taller. He groans from the new growing pains before they stop and he is rendered into a panting state. Patty and Lily helped him stay standing even though they were blushing heavily from how they had to grab him to hold the pour boy up. "Th-Thanks." He mutters out. Lily smiles up at him. "No problem! Our oh so fearless..." "And handsome..." "Leader!" The two of them state. Griphyx blushes more. "Me? Handsome? N-No way." He stutters out in disbelief. Lily gives him a flat look. "You are indeed very handsome, Griphyx Potter." She states firmly. He blushes slightly more before sighing in defeat. He then slumps slightly before Patty places a hand onto his shoulder gently. "I think you are handsome like how Lily does, just not to the....extent as she does." Patty says with a sheepish grin and eye smiling. He nods his head slightly before he feels a pair of hands incredibly close to his groin. Oh look, his intense blush is back. "U-Um..." He stutters out as he tries to figure out why they are grabbing his crotch! The two of them look confused until it dawns on them. They move their hands away quickly as furious blushes take their faces with a vengeance. "Sorry!" They both exclaim in shock. "It's...It's fine." He says softly. Nightmare watches this and has a half smirk and half glare pointed at the two female Half-Blood's. She then gains a soft look as she looks towards Griphyx as she can see his magic becoming whole- which was odd but she chose to not bring it up at this time until it was private, and even starting to grow up to Luna's rank when she was a few hundred years younger. Celestia notes that Harry's own magic is becoming the same way but without a stranger force deeper inside him like Griphyx has. She looks back towards her younger son before she gains a vision flicker of the two of them battling a man without a nose along with not having hair. When her vision returns back to normal she has a smile on her lips gracefully. Harry looks at his younger brother before the door is busted open as Filch runs into the room with his lamp held high above his head. "Students out of class!" He exclaims. "Students out of class!!" He bellows out as Draco is being tugged along by him. "What seems to be the problem?" Dumbledore asks. Filch glares at the old headmaster. "I found this one looking around the castle and claimed that he knows where the "Chamber of Secrets" is." Filch explains. Griphyx's eyes widen and he grabs Filches shoulders. "Where is it!?" He exclaims. Filch gains a nasty look in his eye before pushing the young Potter into a nearby wall with a loud thump. "Don't you touch me, Half-Blood..." Filch hisses out. Draco gains a sneer as the man lets him. "More importantly, why are you up not in class? Hm?" filch asks. "I am newly appointed leader of the Half-Blood's to keep the normal student body safe." Griphyx states before giving a sheepish smile to Harry. "No offense. Of course." "None taken, Griph." Harry states. Ron on the other hand seems to find it offensive, but keeps his git mouth shut. Draco does not. "What is that supposed to mean!?" He roars. Griphyx looks at him with a glare. "What does what mean?" He asks. Draco growls. "You think your better than US just because your filthy Half-Blood's?" He hisses out. Patty gets ready to tell him off, but Draco beats her to it. "Quiet you little Half-Blood wench!" He orders out with a hiss. Filch and Snape seem to both have delighted sneers on their faces, that is, until they remember who is keeping them safe. "Fine then." Griphyx growls out. He looks to Dumbledore. "I am sorry to tell you that there will be NO help from us. We will protect when NEEDED, not when WANTED. Please, forgive me, Headmaster." Griphyx says with a low bow. Albus' twinkle has dulled slightly, but still remains bright as ever. "You are fine, Griphyx. I still hold you as the leader for the school's Half-Blood's though. And I must ask you, Drew, to keep a lookout in Slytherin." He sighs out. "Why?" Drew asks. "Because when the school learns that it's protectors leader has limited the protection to a VERY thin minemum, they will most likely come after Mr. Malfoy here." Dumbledore says sadly. Drew nods his head before sending a blood chilling glare at Draco, who is whimpering and looks to Griphyx with pleading eyes, but all he gets is cold emotionless eyes that stare back at him. "What are you waiting for?! Protect us!" He wails/orders in fear. "Hm....N- " "Fine." Patty states. "What?" Griphyx asks. "We protect each others houses, but make sure that certain few students," -She says as she sends a bone chilling glare towards the Malfoy- " Don't have OUR protection." She states. Griphyx nods his head. "Acceptable." McGonagall states happily. "Unacceptable!" Snape roars. "Too bad." Patty hisses out. "Malfoy dug many students into this pit, now he- and the others, must deal with said pit." She states matter-of-factly. Griphyx nods before turning and preparing to leave, but is stopped by Dumbledore's voice. "Griphyx." He says softly. "Yeah?" Griphyx asks unsurly. "There will be new "Defense Against the Dark-Arts" teacher coming tomorrow." Albus explains. "Is he a threat?" "Not that I am aware. In fact, he is well known in the Wizarding world." Dumbledore chuckles out, making the others in the room give him a confused look. "What's his name?" Griphyx asks as he places a hand onto the kusanagi calmly. "Gilderoy Lockhart."
The Jolly Rogers	pre	"Fuck. Any of y'all have a smoke?" At the same instant several ponies in the room reached into the pockets of their uniforms and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. I reached over and took the pack that was closest to me from the dark brown stallion who was holding it and opened it and was surprised to see they were the same size as the ones back home. I took a cigarette from the pack and handed him back the pack before reaching in my pocket and retrieving my lighter. My finger ran across the small words engraved on the lighter as I flicked it open and lit the cigarette. "Thanks for the smoke." The stallion nodded and stuffed the pack back into his pocket. I took a long drag from the cigarette and immediately noticed a difference from cigarettes back home, this was the most disgusting cigarette I'd ever smoked. "What kind of cigarette is this?" "It's Clover cigarettes. I prefer these over the Lucky Lights." The brown stallion replied. "Well no offence but that is the most disgusting cigarette Ah've ever had the displeasure of smoking." I put the cigarette out in the ashtray and leaned back on the sofa. My eyelids slowly grew heavier and heavier the longer I sat until there was nothing but darkness. After what I thought was just a few seconds I opened my eyes and looked around the room. There were only a couple of ponies left in here but the few that were looked board out of their minds. I looked down to see Thunderstreak still sitting next to me with a book now in front of her. "How long was Ah out?" Thunderstreak looked up from her book over to a small clock on the wall. "I'd say about an hour and fifteen minutes." "Did Ah snore?" "You sounded like you cut down a forest." "Sorry. You said it's been over an hour?" "Yeah, why?" "Because Ah have got to get gone. The intel Spitfire had said they were supposed to teleport the prisoner to Canterlot when they got back to the Crystal Empire capitol. It's 'bout fifteen minutes until the time Ah wanted to take off and Ah've still got to find my men and then do the pre-flights then takeoff for Canterlot." "Sounds like you have quite a bit on your plate. I'll help you as much as I can but when it comes to those flying machines of yours I have no clue." "That's alright. Any help Ah can get is better then no help at all." Thunderstreak stood up next to me and we headed for the door. As I opened the door a large green blur flew past me towards the ground and landed with a thud. "Austin? What in the hell are y'all doin'?" "I'm trying to parachute goddamn it." "That would explain the crushed beach umbrella. How'd ya get on the roof?" "I climbed up there. Who's yer lil' friend?" "This is Thunderstreak. She's supposed to help me gather all of ya up so we can take off." "Oh. Can you help me up Skip?" I descended the couple of steps to the ground and extended a hand to Austin who grabbed for me to pull him up. When he was on his feet again I detected a smell I had hoped wouldn't be there. "Austin, have you been drinking?" "No sir." "Bullshit Miller. Tell me the truth, now!" I grabbed Austin by the collar of his flight suit and shook him in the moment of rage. "Yes sir I did. There were a few stallions who had a glass bottle of what looked like water and I took a swig and it was all downhill from there." "Tequila. Thunderstreak, what are base rules regarding alcohol?" "Only alcohol that is allowed is beer and wine. No other alcohol is permitted." "Now Miller, tell me who the stallions were and Ah won' t ring yer neck for drinking." Austin pointed a finger over towards three stallions stumbling towards barracks on the other side of the runway. "Thunderstreak do you know who those three are?" "Yeah." "Good write down their names, that they have banned alcohol, let me sign it, then go deliver it to Colonel Spitfire." "Yes sir." Thunderstreak trotted back into the lounge and returned a minute later with the note rolled up and in hoof. "Here you go James. Their names, ranks, and the alcohol story. All I need is your signature." "Alright. Ya got a pencil or something I can use?" "There's a pencil rolled up in there." "Thanks. Austin, turn around." "Why?" "Because Ah said so. You're lucky Ah didn't knock yer ass out for drinking so just turn around." Austin reluctantly turned around while I unrolled the letter and put it up to his back to sign it. After signing it I gave it back to Thunderstreak who then took off towards a large building three fourths of the way down the runway. "Come on Austin. We're supposed to be takin' off right now. Where are Will and John at?" "They went back to their Tomcat to take a nap." With that I started off towards the Tomcat's while watching Thunderstreak flying away out of the corner of my eye. 'Poor gal. Air Force nurse and a single mom. Glad Ah never had kids.' I reached the Tomcat's and found Will and John fast asleep in their seats in the cockpit. "Will, John, wake up. It's time to take off." They both began rousing and stretched before grabbing their check lists and going over the preflight. I walked over to my Tomcat and climbed the ladder to see Austin grabbing his head in pain. "Aww what's the matter you jackass? Too much to drink? Ah've got to applaud your stupidity." I began clapping as loud as I could and chuckled at Austin cringing in pain from the sound. "Not funny Skipper." "To me it is." I climbed in to the pilot's seat and reached down on the floor and searched for my flight helmet. Finally I found it and picked it up, stopping to look at the light shining off the yellow paint around my callsign on the front of it. After a couple of seconds my eyes looked away from the hypnotic glow over at Will's Tomcat. 'They look about done. Best hurry up so we can go see Rusky.' I quickly began going through the preflight, which had become second nature to me, and managed to finish before Will and John. My hands brought the helmet up and slipped it over my head and strapped it on before switching on the radio. "Hawk, Cobra, can y'all hear me?" "Loud and clear Skipper." "Alright. Wonderbolt tower this is Tomcat flight, request permission for takeoff, runway 1-8." "Tomcat flight, this is Wonderbolt tower. Taxi into position and hold on runway 1-8." "Roger that, taxi into position and hold." I reached down and pushed the throttle forward and listened to the engines roar louder with every little movement forward. The Tomcat began rolling forward and I began pulling the throttle back to keep it around five knots. We reached the end of the runway and spun the jets around towards the far end. "Hey Skipper, look over there." I looked up from the instrument panel down the runway to see ponies setting up several cameras along with pegasi hovering above them with more cameras. "Looks like they want our picture boys." "How's my hair?" "Will, you're wearing a helmet." "Oh yeah." I shoved the throttles forward and saw the cameras begin flashing. As we neared the cameras I could see more flashes from them trying to get as good a shot of us as possible. "They want a picture, let's give 'em a picture." When we got almost directly in front of them I brought my right hand up from the control column and gave the camera a quick one fingered salute. "Did you just flip off a camera Skipper?" "Ah don't like folks taking my picture." "Will if you think that was bad his senior picture had to be adjusted to not include his middle finger." I chuckled at that. "Got me a week of staying after school but it was worth it." My eyes looked down at the airspeed indicator, one hundred sixty knots. "Ok fellas let's start climbin' and head fer Canterlot." I began pulling back on the stick and felt the jet begin climbing like a homesick angel. My eyes looked out the canopy trying to find the mountain from yesterday. After a few seconds of scanning the sky I found the mountain that I was seeking of to our left. "Bank right to 0-9-0." "Roger that Skipper, 0-9-0." Both jets banked hard left as we turned to the desired heading. We leveled out to avoid missing the heading and I found Canterlot in the middle of my windscreen. Keeping it subsonic like before it took nearly an hour to reach Canterlot. As we flew over the plateau at the base of the palace we searched for a landing spot, and probably the final resting spot for our Tomcats. "Skipper, small field at eleven o'clock. Looks like our best option because I'm running on vapors over here." "Roger that Hawk. Let's just land in that field 'fore we run out of gas." "Yes sir." We chopped the throttles and dropped from the cruising altitude of five thousand feet down to around five hundred feet above the city and lined up with the field. "Alright boys, this field looks smaller than the one back in Ponyville so we're almost gonna have to hit the fence comin' in to get stopped in time." We swung the wings forward, lowered the flaps and landing gear, barely missed the fence around the field, and landed with a loud thud. I slammed on the brakes and heard them let out a bloodcurdling screech. Finally the Tomcats began to slow before coming to a stop mere inches from crashing through the fence ahead of us. We shut down the engines and all the systems now that what we figured was our last flight. We all climbed out of the jets and set off for the palace, which required walking through the center of the city if we wanted to get strait there. After several minutes of walking we got to one of the cobblestone streets, our boots echoing of the nearby buildings making it sound as though a small army was marching. The further we got into the city the more ponies we saw and the more weird looks we got. Twenty blocks into the city we were almost to the center when I heard a familiar song from the record store up ahead. I hurried up to the store and saw the record spinning on a player in the front window. I went inside and approached the store clerk in surprise and shock. "Excuse me, where did you get that record?" I pointed towards the record player in the window. "That one we just got in yesterday." "Well who's singing that?" "No clue. The company that owns those songs doesn't put the singer's name on them." "Who owns that company?" "Princesses Celestia and Luna." "Thank you." The bell above the door jingled as I left the store and found the other three waiting on me. "What was that about Skipper?" "The song that's playin' is one I used to hear all the time. My main question is how the hell did Celestia get ahold of a Vera Lynn record?" "Who knows. Don't we have something more important to get to anyways?" "Yeah. Let's go." We set off again for the palace and continued to draw more stares for ponies until we reached our destination. As we approached the palace gate the guards snapped to attention and gave a quick salute before approaching us. "Lieutenant Commander Jones?" "Yes?" "Princess Celestia has stated that you would be coming. Please follow us." The guards turned and opened the gate before proceeding onward to the palace itself. We followed close behind so as to not get lost somewhere inside. The guards led us up several flights of stairs before turning down a large corridor towards two large doors with the word INFIRMARY painted above them. "The prisoner is in here. We'll be out here incase you need us." "Thanks. You three probably ought to stay out here too." "Yes sir." I opened one of the doors and stepped inside to see a man with thick black hair laying in a hospital bed along with a doctor and Princess Celestia by the bed. My boots made a thud with each step on the infirmary's wooden floor as I approached the bed. "So this is the prisoner huh? How badly is he hurt?" "Well he had several broken ribs, a piece of one of his vertebrae was damaged but no damage to his spinal chord, a punctured lung, and a piece of aluminum embedded in his left leg. Other than that nothing major. He's very lucky he got here when he did other wise he might have died. He should be better by tomorrow night." "But you said he could have died. How's he gonna be ok that quick?" "We used magic to heal him." "And how did you know how to fix him up if we're the first humans here." "That's classified. I'll leave you three here." The doctor trotted out of the infirmary leaving only me, the prisoner, and Celestia in the room. The Russian airman began to stir and opened his eyes. "Где я?" (Where am I?) "Вы находитесь в больнице." (You are in a hospital.) "Вы говорите по-русски? Но вы американец." (You speak Russian? But you are an American.) "Я говорю немного. Я считаю, это мудро знать способы своего противника." (I speak a little. I believe it is wise to know the ways of one's adversary.) "As do I." "You know English?" "Of coarse. Like you said, it is wise to know the ways of one's adversary." "What is your name?" I walked over and sat on the bed next to the airman's. "Major Anthony Nelson." "I watched I Dream of Jeannie as a kid so don't think that name is going to work." "Very well. My name is Major Marko Loginov with the Soviet Air Force and KGB. Well, formerly KGB. I was a pilot with the KGB to fly agents and agency leaders around. I had top level security clearance which is why I was selected to fly the mission that ended here." "What kind of mission were you flying?" "We were supposed to take out the Nimitz with a new type of weapon we had developed. It is a two hundred forty kiloton anti-ship missile. It was supposed to be a suicide mission but the crew and I planed to ditch the bomber near the Nimitz and defect. The fighters had no idea what we had planed so they naturally attacked." "You said you had top secret information?" "Yes." "Like what?" Marko sat up in his bed and looked over at Celestia before back to me. "You see the big white unicorn too right?" "Yeah." "Good. But some of the information is highly classified. For example, the Americans were not the first to land or walk on the moon. You were just the first ones to make it back alive." "So Armstrong wasn't the first?" "No he wasn't. Yuri Gagarin was on the moon over a year before Armstrong but their suits lost pressure and they died. They just said he died in a plane crash so they wouldn't face the embarrassment of losing more cosmonauts in space." "Makes sense. So you were just trying to defect yesterday?" "Yes." "Good. Then I see no reason you would be a threat." "Thank you Mr.?" "Jones. James Jones. Ah'm a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy." "Thank you Mr. Jones for not deeming me a threat." I nodded and gave him a quick smile before turning for the door. As I was about to open the door I heard hoofsteps behind me and turned to see Celestia behind me. "Can we have a talk James?" "Of coarse your highness. May Ah ask what about?" "It is about your future here in Equestria. I was hoping to talk you into joining the Royal Equestrian Air Force. Joining also comes with a rank increase. How does Colonel sound to you?" "Sounds absolutely fantastic!" "I was hoping to get your men to join as well. Maybe even the man over there in the bed. All of you will get rank increases with joining." "Ah'm sure my men would join as well as Marko so when do we start?" "Well the Grand Galloping Gala is in two days so how about we swear you in then?" "Sounds great. Also, where did you and your sister get a Vera Lynn record?" Celestia grinned before giving me a simple two word answer. "That's classified." I chuckled and opened the door to the corridor outside the infirmary and found all three men and the two guards all sitting against a wall asleep. "Ah what the hell." I went and sat down with them and drifted off into sleep.
The Jolly Rogers	5: The Gala	I growled under my breath at this infernal waste of time. "Don't growl James, darling. I am almost done." "Ya said that an hour ago!" "Well that was on one thing, now I'm almost done with another. You can put your arms down." My shoulders made a crackling sound as I put my arms down. Hopefully this fitting would be over soon. "Ah can go to the Gala without a tux. You know that right?" "No you certainly can not! I know you'll be getting your new uniform then but you need something to wear before it." "No Ah don't. I think yer just being a drama queen again." "I am not!" "Are too." "Am not!" "Are too." "I am not. Now if we can stop acting like children, you're done with your fitting. Your suit will be ready in the morning before we all leave for Canterlot." "Thanks. Ah don't have any money so just start a tab for me." "Of course. So, do you have a date for the gala James? I'm sure you could get almost any mare since you are going to be a military officer." "No Ah don't but speaking of that can Ah use your phone?" "Of coarse." Acting fast before Rarity could think of another thing she needed to waste my time on I ducked into the hall and finally managed to find the phone. It looked like one of those phones like from the old house with the hearing piece and then the end you speak into. I picked up the hearing piece and was greeted by the sound of a voice on the other end. "Ponyville operator, how may direct your call?" "Connect me to Manehattan please." "One moment sir." I sighed and began tapping my foot while waiting for almost a good minute on the operator. Finally a the voice of a stallion pierced the silence. "Manehattan operator." "Connect me to a Miss Thunderstreak please." "One moment." I took a deep breath and sighed. 'It's not wrong if the pony has a human level intelligence is it? Ah don't think so. Let's just go with no it's not.' "Hello?" "Thunderstreak?" "Yes, who is this?" "It's James." "Oh hey James. How are you?" "Ah'm good. Listen, Ah'm going to the gala in Canterlot tomorrow and Ah was wondering if you would be interested in going with me?" "Of coarse! I've never been to the Grand Galloping Gala before. I still need a dress." "Well Rarity here in Ponyville owns a shop. Why not come down here and get a dress?" "But it's already after three and the train wouldn't get there until dark. I suppose I could stay in an inn tonight." "You don't have to do that. Ah'm sure the Apples wouldn't mind another guest." "Are you sure?" "Absolutely." "Alright. Let me call my mom to come get the kids and I'll head that way." "Ok. See you in a bit." We both hung up and I placed the phone down only to notice Rarity in behind me, her smile going from ear to ear. "What are you so happy about?" "Well you got a date darling. Why shouldn't I be happy?" "Ah didn't say she was going." "Well from the fact that you told her to come here, the Apples wouldn't mind another guest, and you said you would see her in a bit I managed to piece it together. Plus there's another phone in the other room." "You listened to my phone call?" "I wanted to know what kind of mare you got. And I need to get my dresses out so they're ready when she gets here." "Well you do that. Ah'm going back to Sweet Apple Acres. Ah done missed the chores for the last two days so AJ and Big Macintosh are gonna be pissed if Ah skip out on a third day." Stepping around Rarity I headed for the front door of the boutique to go back to the farm. As I walked down the street I looked up to the cloudless sky. As I looked I thought about watching the planes overhead as a kid, sitting and watching dad spray fields in his surplus AT-6, learning to fly in the Harvard and helping paint the name Little Miss Mischief along with Betty Grable on the old, dented cowling. 'Mom always did hate the fact he painted Betty on there and not her.' I chuckled at the memory of the time dad tried to teach my sisters how to fly the plane and Brianna almost crashing into the barn at Grandma's farm. Granny almost had a damn heart attack when that happened. After about twenty minutes of walking I turned up the lane for Sweet Apple Acres and could see Applejack and Big Macintosh busy feeding the pigs off to the side of the barn. As I got further up the lane I saw them turn away from the pig pen to continue about their daily chores. "AJ! What do y'all want me to do?" Applejack looked over at me and scratched her chin and looked around before pointing towards a large pile of scrap metal. "Y'all see that scrap pile over there?" "Eeyup." "Don't do that. It's bad 'nough Mac does that. You help Big Macintosh move all that to the junk pile on the other side of the orchard. If ya finish that 'fore dark ya can leave early to go meet yer marefriend." "How'd ya know 'bout that." "Rarity called here. If she knows somethin' it doesn't take long for her to blab to somepony. Now get to work." Applejack walked away towards the house where the smell of food cooking was just beginning to be noticeable. I walked over to the scrap pile where Big Macintosh was waiting with a couple of carts to haul the metal in. We wasted no time in loading the metal up and setting off for the far side of the property. Somewhere along the way I looked back at the metal in the cart I was pulling and got an idea. "Hey Mac, do you guys got a shed you don't use?" "Eeyup." "Can ya show it to me?" "Eeyup." Mac turned and led the way through what was easily over a mile of orchard. We reached a large clearing in the center of the property and saw the shed across the clearing nestled amongst more apple trees. I looked around at the clearing and found it to be almost totally flat except for a small bump halfway down it. "It's perfect. Let's get this metal in the shed." "Why're ya wantin' a bunch of scrap?" "Mac, that's the difference between you and me. Y'all see scrap but Ah see useful material." "How is this junk useful?" "Well Mac," I started across the clearing towards the shed with Big Mac trotting along next to me, "this metal is aluminum, and aluminum is vital in an idea Ah got." "What idea?" We stopped in front of the shed and I swung the door open. "This shed is big enough for an airplane. Well if Ah put the wings on after Ah build the fuselage." I looked back at both carts and the metal in them. "This won't even put skin on half the fuselage. Well, it would cover most of one side if ya only did one side of the fuselage. Not including the engine cowling of course." "What's an engine cowling?" "The part that surrounds the engine of the plane." "Oh. Ah still don't see why you would waste metal on that." "Because Mac, the Tomcats are still in Canterlot. Celestia said it may take a few weeks for them to duplicate one cup of jet fuel into a good reserve so until then Ah've got to find another way to fly." I dumped the metal from my cart out onto the floor of the shed which prompted Big Mac to do the same with his cart. "And on the upside we didn't have to walk all the way across the property to the scrap pile." "All ya did was move it here." "Ya won't think it's scrap when it's soarin' through the sky like a bat outta hell." Big Mac rolled his eyes as we turned to go back to the house. We walked in silence all the way back and made it to the house with an hour of sunlight left. We left the carts by the front porch and went up the steps into the house. "What are you two doin' back so soon? If ya didn't get rid of it like Ah said Ah'll kick both of yer flanks." "Relax AJ. We got it taken care of." "Ya better have. Ya missed chores for the last two days so it's the least ya can do." "Ah know. So what're y'all makin' for supper?" "You'll find out later. Now why don't ya go into town to meet your marefriend." "She's not my marefriend." "Whatever ya say." I grumbled under my breath at Applejack saying that. 'She's not my marefriend. Not sayin' Ah wouldn't mind meetin' a mare to settle down with if we're stuck here for good.' The gravel of the road made a crackling sound under my boots as I walked towards Ponyville. I looked at the sky that glowed orange with pink, green, yellow, and red stripes here and there. The sound of my boots hitting the cobblestone street on the edge of Ponyville snapped me out of my daze and I looked away from the sky at the quaint little homes ahead of me. As I walked down the street towards the center of town I was met by a few ponies leaving the last few open stalls at the market. They smiled and nodded at me as I had become well known in town. One mare in particular had become obsessed with me, Lyra I think her name was. When I had gotten back to Ponyville late the night before she was waiting at the train station and followed me all the way to Sweet Apple Acres with what seemed a million questions about humans. Today I had managed to avoid her but there were still a few hours left until tomorrow so I was on high alert through town. As I passed the library a thought popped into my head and I ducked into the library. Twilight was standing over by the wall levitating a book up to a high shelf. "Hey Twilight." Twilight jumped and dropped the book which landed with a loud thud. "Sorry 'bout that." "It's alright James. Can I help you with something?" She levitated the book back up and slid it into an empty spot on the shelf. "Yeah. Ah know the library is where they tend to keep everything for the town and there ain't no record shop here so Ah was wondering if you had any records here?" "Of course we do!" She trotted over to a few shelves and pointed at a large collection of records. "Any you recommend for a romantic evening with a mare?" "This one's always a big hit with the mares. We've gotten quite a few stallions come back saying it works wonderfully." She levitated a record over to me and I took it from her. "Captain Stardust and his orchestra?" There was something familiar about the stallion on the front of the cover. Maybe it was the trombone he had with him or the round glasses he wore but there was something familiar that I couldn't put my finger on. "His orchestra is supposed to be playing the gala tomorrow night." "They any good?" "They're fantastic. I heard them in concert a few months ago and almost everypony in the concert hall was dancing in isles." I flipped the cover around and looked at the songs on the back, Begin the Beguine and My Blue Heaven. My eyes widened as I realized who it was. "That's who it is!" "That's who who is?" "Captain Stardust. Ah know him. Well, Ah know who he is." "Who is he then?" My eyes darted over to the clock and saw the time to be almost eight thirty. "Ah gotta go. Ah'll tell ya tomorrow when Ah bring the record back." "But, who is he?!" Twilight groaned in frustration as I rushed out of the library towards the train station. As I reached the platform the train from Manehattan pulled into the station. The train rolled to a stop and the doors opened with only two ponies stepping out. The olive mare I had waited for looked around and broke into a grin when she saw me. "Hello sweetie." "Hey Thunderstreak. How was the train ride?" "It was alright. I slept most of the way here." "Well Rarity should be waiting on us. Guess we should be going." "Yeah. What you got there?" She waved a hoof at the record in my hand. "Just a record Ah borrowed from the library. Thought Ah might listen to it later." "Who is it?" "Stardust and his orchestra." "I love them! Especially that song of theirs Anvil Chorus." "They're supposed to be playing the gala tomorrow night." "No way! James this is going to be the greatest date ever!" "Date?" "Of course. You're taking me to the gala as your date right?" "Yeah, Ah suppose Ah am." We walked and chatted all the way to Carousel Boutique. We entered the shop and met the jingle of the bell above the door. "James, is that you?" "Yeah Rarity, it's me." "Is your marefriend with you?" "She's not my marefriend." "Yet." "What was that Thunderstreak?" "Nothing." Rarity trotted into the room pushing a large rack filled with dresses. She stopped next to five more racks with dresses on them and I knew any future money I had would be going towards this. "So Thunderstreak, what kind of dress were you looking for?" "You got anything in camo?" "I'm afraid not." "Then anything classy but not too classy, and it's gotta be a decent price." "Well feel free to browse for one you like. Take your time." Thunderstreak walked over to the racks and picked out a few dresses and trotted over to the changing room. "If you need anything Ah can help." She poked her head out of the changing room and smiled. "And let you see me in my dress before tomorrow? Spoilers." I grinned at her and she ducked back into the dressing room and came back out with a dress in a box. She gave the box to Rarity to ring up, but not without a peek at the dress by Rarity. "Oh that one is absolutely beautiful darling!" "Well sense you didn't have camo I figured this was the next best." Rarity rang the dress up and it came out to seventy five bits, much less than I had expected. We walked out of Carousel Boutique a mere ten minutes after entering. "It was nice of Rarity to stay open late just for us." "Us?" I looked down at Thunderstreak with an eyebrow raised. "Of course. This dress isn't just for me you know." "Then who is it for?" "The fancy ponies in Canterlot, my cousins wedding, and of course you." "Me? But why would ya get a dress for...Oh, oh!" "Took you long enough. And don't think that's tonight. I like to actually get to know my dates. I'm not like my sister." "Well Ah obviously picked the right sister. Especially since ya asked for a camo dress." "I think camo should be its own color. Like camo paint." "You ma'am are a damn genius." "Right? My oldest son doesn't think so." "Oh what does he know?" We reached Sweet Apple Acres and walked up the steps to the house where there was a strong smell of food hovering in the air. 'What the hell did they cook? Smells good.' I opened the door and found six plates of alfredo sitting on the dining room table with the Apple family sitting all in four of the spots. "What's all this?" "Well we knew ya had a mare coming over, and from Manehattan no less, so we wanted to make a good first impression." "Well you guys didn't have to do that. I would have been fine with a sandwich and a beer." I smiled at Thunderstreak and looked up at the Apples. "Isn't she great?" We sat down and ate, one of the first meals that wasn't just an apple since I got to Equestria. The pasta was extraordinarily good, better than most restaurants I had eaten the same meal at. "Where did you guys learn to cook this well?" "Well Big Mac had to take home ec. In high school and they taught them how to cook so he wrote the directions down for us." "Well Mac they taught you well. Ya know who Ah bet would love this? Fluttershy." "Don't waste your breath James. We've all tried getting him to go out with her, except for Applebloom, and every time he says no." "Why not Mac? Ah think she'd be perfect for ya." "Mac you won't know whether or not you have a chance unless you ask her will you?" "Nnope." "So go pick up the phone, call her, and ask her to the gala tomorrow." "Yeah Mac. Ah gotta agree with Thunderstreak. Ah was nervous asking Thunderstreak but Ah wasn't gonna get an answer to a question Ah never asked. Go call her." "Alright, Ah'll go call her if it'll get y'all off my back." There was a collective agreement at that and we went hush to try and hear what Mac would say. We heard him pick up the phone and ask the operator for Fluttershy's then him making small talk with her. Finally the moment of truth came and we heard him ask her to the gala. There was a pause then he said thanks and hung up. He trotted into the dining room with a gigantic grin. "She said yes." "Oh Mac that's great. I told you it would be fine. Now let's drink to this." "Ya really want to drink over something like that?" "James I am a single mother of three. Need I say more?" "Let's get her a drink!" ~~~~~ The Next Day ~~~~~ My fingers buttoned up my tux jacket and straitened the red bow tie Rarity had put in with it. I looked at myself in the mirror of the guest room and smiled. 'Always did look good in a suit.' I walked down stairs and found Applejack in a green and gold dress and Big Mac in his tux with a bow tie like mine. We stood and talked for a bit about what we hoped to get out of tonight when we heard hoof steps coming down the stairs. We all turned and saw Thunderstreak in a ruby red dress. "Well helloooo nurse!" I said with a wolf whistle right behind it. "James, you flatter me. And don't talk so loud, my head still hurts from last night." "Ah told ya not to drink so much, ya didn't listen." Thunderstreak rubbed her head with a hoof and grabbed a couple of aspirin from a cabnet before coming back to the dining room so we could meet the others and head for the train station. We set off and talked back and forth on the way to the library. The others were waiting at the library and seemed impatient about getting going, except Twilight who kept trying to get information from me about the record. We sat at the train station for almost two hours, the train not arriving in Ponyville until almost eleven. We boarded and took our seats in the fourth car and waited for the train to head for Canterlot. The train suddenly lurched forward and began to roll down the tracks. After the train had picked up speed we all began to move around the car. "So where have the other three from the other day been?" "They wanted to stay in Canterlot for some reason. Lord knows what?" "Maybe cause a little trouble?" "Knowin' those three they probably are." "Are they going to the gala too?" "They're supposed to." We continued talking for the next three hours to continue getting to know each other better. She was from Manehattan but originally from Cloudsdale, had two deadbeat ex-husbands, and all about her kids. I told her about my childhood with six siblings, learning to fly when I was only ten, moving to help grandma with her orchard, and seeing dad for the last time. "He had flown to California to help spray a friend's fields out there with his surplus Harvard and when he was finished his friend and him were gonna come back to work at the orchard. They had to fly over the mountains and dad flew ahead of his friend's surplus Mitchell and they were supposed to meet in Denver but dad never arrived. The authorities said there had been a large thunderstorm around his last known position so they combed the nearby mountains for weeks but they never found a wreck." "I'm so sorry James. Was he a nice man?" "Extremely. He would do stuff with all of us but Ah was his only son so he always did more exciting stuff with me. Like teaching me how to build a depth charge we dropped into the pond, how to bail out of a plane, or make napalm. Manly shit." "You put a depth charge in the pond?" "The pond got about three feet deeper after we did that." "Must have been a small pond." "It was. There was only one fish in there." "Poor fish." Eventually we all seemed to group together in the center of the car with the trip easily over half over. "So James, you never did tell me who Captain Stardust is." "Twilight can we not discuss this now?" "Why not? You said you'd tell me today so I want answers." "Well there was this one conductor back on earth who played the same style music, wore glasses like him, played the trombone, and disappeared without a trace." "So you think Stardust is a human who came here and turned into a pony? That's highly unlikely." "Twilight, if Ah could get here how much more difficult would it be for whatever brought me here to change a guy into a pony?" "Well I suppose it is possible but like I said it's unlikely." We all tried brushing it aside but I could tell all the others who hadn't talked were trying to wrap their heads around such an idea. There was some small talk but after that we all mostly sat quiet. ~~~ Three Hours Later Royal Palace, Canterlot ~~~ "So which uniform would you all like to wear for your induction tonight?" Princess Celestia pointed at the uniforms that had been made for us. Marko, John, Will, Austin and I looked at the three example uniforms lying on the table in front of us. "Well Ah don't know about y'all but Ah'm goin' with the olive." "I have to go with the same decision as Lieutenant Commander Jones." Marko and I chose olive drab uniforms, Will and Austin khaki uniforms, and John a blue uniform. "We have one of each color for each of you in case any of you change your minds." Celestia floated our selected uniforms over to a guard who took them to a room behind the stage in the grand ballroom. We all left the small conference room and headed for the grand ballroom where the others were waiting and the crowd was beginning to grow. Thunderstreak and I took a seat at the bar and ordered a couple of beers. "Bit early in the party to be drinking isn't it?" I turned to look at the night blue alicorn that was addressing me. "Luna you know there ain't no such thing as drinkin' too early." "You're right Colonel. Who is your marefriend here?" "I'm Thunderstreak. It's been a while since I've seen you Princess Luna. Last time I did you were still using the royal Canterlot voice and that fancy sounding talk." "Yes, indeed I have mostly caught up with the times. It's still odd talking on a telephone or listening to the radio. We didn't have those when I was banished." "Ah'm sure in time you'll adjust. So Princess Ah have no idea who most of these fancy ponies are, care to help me out?" Luna scratched her chin and looked around the room for a pony to start with. Finally she pointed at a white unicorn stallion with a blonde mane and a unicorn mare with the same coat color and a brown mane. "That's Prince Blueblood and his new marefriend. He's a self-centered pain in my rear and as for her, there's a name for mares like her but it's hardly used in high society, outside of a kennel." "Now Luna I'm sure you don't mean that." "Thunderstreak, Ah've spent two days in Canterlot with the Princesses and Ah can tell ya that Luna speaks her mind." "I do. Celestia does not like it but she deals with it. I believe I'm supposed to be helping my sister greet the guests so I must be going. You two have a wonderful evening." "Thank you. You too." Luna turned and trotted away towards the grand staircase of the castle. As we turned back to the bar we noticed a stallion with a coat that looked about like olive and brown mixed and a black mane. I barely noticed him but looked back when I saw his round glasses and trombone cutie mark. "Excuse me sir, ya wouldn't happen to be Captain Stardust would ya?" "Indeed I am. You that new air force colonel that I've heard about?" "Yeah. Ah'm a big fan of your music by the way. You ever hear of a guy named Glenn Miller by any chance?" His eyes went wide and the color drained from his face at the mention of that name but he quickly composed himself. "No, I'm afraid I have not. Is he very good?" "Yes he is, well, was. He disappeared over forty years ago and they never found him." "Poor man. If you excuse me, I must be going. We're supposed to start playing in five minutes." Stardust quickly trotted away for the backstage area. "Did ya see his reaction when Ah mentioned Glenn Miller?" "Yes but I was just excited to actually see him for real, up close." The Bartender brought our beers over and I gave him the few bits I had collected over the last few days. We sat and watched all the ponies file into the ballroom as the band finished setting up on the stage. There were quite a few military ponies present, possibly for our induction into the air force. As we sat and watched the crowd a lone grey stallion in a white uniform sat down next to us. He ordered a hard cider and a slice of pie to go with it. "Sorry buddy we ain't got any pie here. You want that you gotta go see that mare Applejack." "Look buddy, Ah don't mean to be a prick but I'm gonna get a piece of pie. Now you can get me one or Ah swear Ah'll shove a fuckin' barstool up your ass." "One slice of pie coming right up sir." The bartender galloped off for the food cart that Applejack had set up. I laughed at the bartender running from a pony who looked so harmless. "The fuck you laughin' at you tall son of a bitch?" "An angry little prick who has no concept of what the fuck manners are." We both stared each other before bursting out laughing. "You boy, are one cocky bastard. What's your name?" "Soon to be Colonel James Jones." "Well James Ah'm Rear Admiral Harvard." "Harvard, that's an odd name. So what do you do Admiral?" "Well Ah designed Equestria's newest fleet of battleships and am currently working on a large ship that can allow hundreds of pegasi to take off at one time." "Sounds like you guys' form of an aircraft carrier." "A what?" "It's a big ship the navy uses to launch aircraft like fighter planes. My dad almost served on one in the war with the Japs but they moved his squadron to the Solomons 'fore he got there." "So how big are these 'aircraft carriers'?" "Well the one dad almost served on was 'round seven hundred eighty feet long so they're big." "Sounds like it." The bartender returned with a slice of pie and quickly gave it over to Admiral Harvard. "Well it was nice meeting you Colonel Jones. Hopefully you can tell me more about technology from your world sometime." "Maybe." Admiral Harvard grabbed his pie and cider and seemed to balance it all in one hoof over to a table near the dance floor. Thunderstreak and I finished our beers as the band just finished setting up. Stardust, now in an olive air force uniform, stepped up to a microphone on the stage and cleared his throat to get the attention of all the chatting ponies in the room. They all went hush and turned towards him. "Fillies and Gentlecolts, may I present her highness Princess Celestia!" There was an uproar as Celestia walked onto the stage and took the place of Stardust on stage and smiled to the crowd. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Will, John, Marko, and Austin in their tuxes and waving for me to follow them towards the backstage area. "Thunderstreak, Ah'll be back in a minute." "Ok." I followed them to a room behind the stage where there were dressing rooms all around. On five separate hangers there were our uniforms waiting for us. "Looks like we're about on boys. Let's move!" We all grabbed our uniforms and dashed to put them on as fast as we could. Within three minutes we had all finished dressing except for buttoning up our jackets. The entire time we were getting changed we could hear Celestia on stage talking about our sudden appearance, how we did not pose a threat to them, and how we actually wanted to help them by volunteering to join their air force. We all hurried over to the area by the stage where we would be hidden until Celestia called us out. "And now I am honored to present to you the five newest officers in the Royal Equestrian Air Force. Colonel James Jones, Lieutenant Colonel Marko Loginov, and Captains Will Donavan, John Tarr, and Austin Miller." We stepped out onto stage and waved to the crowd in front of us. Celestia levitated the rank pins over towards us and pinned them onto our uniforms. I looked at the pins on our shoulders and found them to be identical to U.S. Army ranks, well, almost. The pin on my shoulder had a phoenix instead of an eagle holding arrows and oak leaves. Looking at the crowd again I could see Thunderstreak in the very back stamping her hoofs in applause with all the other ponies. "Colonel Jones, would you care to say a few words?" "No thank you. Ah hate public speaking." "All right then. These five have proven themselves to me in the last few days so I have decided to place them on my personal staff. In addition to their new position I am creating the first unit with aircraft and appointing Colonel Jones as unit leader." There was lots of applause and we all stood waving before making a quick exit and resuming the activities we were doing before our introduction to everypony on stage. "I am going to give the stage back to Captain Stardust and his orchestra now." Stardust trotted onto stage and gave the crowd a quick smile as I walked over to Thunderstreak. "So how does it feel to be on a date with an Air Force Colonel?" "I'm a Captain so don't get so cocky about rank." "You're still lower rank than me." "But I'm a mare so I think we both know who runs this show." "Never changes does it? The woman is always in charge." "You got that right sweetie. Now shall we dance?" "Ah don't know much dancing." As soon as I finished my sentence the band struck up a familiar song. "Never mind, Ah know how to dance." Thunderstreak grabbed my hand with her hoof and pulled me towards the dance floor. When we got out there we realized there was a problem. "How am Ah supposed to dance with you? Ah've never danced with a pony before." "Well we'll figure it out as we go. Maybe if I fly up at your eye level?" She seemingly floated up until I was looking her dead in the eye. Her hoofs came to a rest on my shoulders and I carefully put my hands on her back, trying to keep from bumping her wings as I did. Finally we figured out what worked, as the song ended. "Are ya kiddin' me?" "Oh well. At least we know what to do next time." "Yeah, you're right." We left the dance floor and found a table with Mac and Fluttershy who were talking to some unknown unicorn stallion and a white unicorn mare. "Hey Mac. Hey Fluttershy." "Hey James. This is Fancy Pants and Miss Fleur de Lis. Ah was just telling them about you wanting to build an airplane." I looked at Mac then over to Fancy Pants who seemed rather intrigued in the idea. "Colonel Jones why don't you and your marefriend have a seat and you can tell me more about this 'airplane' of yours." Thunderstreak and I took a seat at the large table and I grabbed a napkin and produced a pen from my pocket and began drawing a rough draft of the plane. "The engine is a Pratt & Whitney R-2800-8 and the fuel tank is located right behind that in front of the cockpit. The gull wings allow for short landing gear and a large propeller. The plane can be armed with either six .50 caliber machine guns, four .20 millimeter cannons, or no armament for civilian use. Maximum speed is around four hundred and twenty miles per hour." "Well it is certainly a beautiful aircraft. What would it require to build four?" "First off we'd need aircraft grade aluminum. Then an engine, tires, instruments, a plexiglass canopy, and paint." "It shouldn't be too hard to acquire all that. I want to make a proposition to you Colonel Jones. There is a twenty five thousand bit prize to anypony who can fly an aircraft from Canterlot to Gryphus in less than a day. The best an airship can do is one and a half due to the mountains between here and there. They can't fly over them but I bet your aircraft can can't it?" "How high are the mountains?" "Around six thousand meters." "These birds can clear that easy as long as we have oxygen tanks." "If the planes work you and three other pilots of your choosing can make the flight to Gryphus then split the prize money." "Sounds great. You got yourself a deal Fancy Pants." "Fantastic. There is a mare here somewhere that I believe can help us get quite a few of the materials." "Who is she?" "She's an airship captain who loves flying. If anypony can help us find what we need it's her." He looked around the room before finally finding the red pegasus mare with an auburn mane and waving his hoof for her to come over to the table. As she got over closer I saw her leather flight jacket and aviator wings pinned onto it in addition to a cutie mark of a propeller. She grabbed an empty chair from another table and sat down at our crowded table. "You waved for me?" "Yes, I was just suggesting to Colonel Jones here that we build four of this aircraft he wants to build and use them to win the race to Gryphus." She looked down at the plane drawn on the napkin and looked up at the ponies at our table. "Well it is a beauty I'll say that much. Can it get over the mountains? My airship could do it in less than a day if it weren't for those mountains." "Colonel Jones says they can. So can you help us get the parts for it?" "Of course I can." She looked over at me and offered her hoof for a shake, which I accepted. After the hand/hoof shake she introduced herself as Captain Electra, the first female airship captain. "Electra, that sounds more like a stallion name." "I get that a lot." "So why did you become an airship pilot?" "Because the mare who can create her own job is the mare who will win fame and fortune. I always loved flying but I knew there had to be bigger challenges in flight. When I read there had been no female airship pilots I knew what my life goal was." "Sounds like you've got your priorities straight." She smiled and we all continued to talk over the band about what we needed for the aircraft. ~~~~~ Canterlot Train Station 01:22 hours ~~~~~ We all stood around the platform waiting for the train to Ponyville arrive and take us all home. My eyes barely managed to stay open as we waited until the scream of a whistle jolted me wide awake. The train for Ponyville slowed to a stop before the doors flung open for us to board. We all got into the third car and flopped down on the seats. As the train slowly started for Ponyville I felt a nuzzling on my arm. I looked down to see Thunderstreak cuddling up to my arm and smiling happily to herself. "Did ya have a good time?" "Yeah. Hey James?" "Yeah?" "How would you feel about meeting my kids?" "Ah'd love to. How does this next Saturday in Manehattan work for you?" "Perfectly." "So it's a date?" "It's a date."
The Jolly Rogers	6: Socialists and Secrets	I looked at the large, damaged cruise missile on the stand in front of me. "It's the Stalin Mark VII type cruise missile. We managed to shrink the warhead down to fit but retain the power of a full size hydrogen bomb. How the Kremlin's scientist did it though I have no idea." Marko walked over to the other side of the missile and looked it over. "The missile is safe despite being sent flying from the wreckage. There are plenty of safety measures despite the fact it's meant for suicide missions." "So this thing can take out an entire fleet in one go? What other targets were there?" "In the west it was the Nimitz, Pearl Harbor, and San Diego then New York, Washington, Norfolk, and Pensacola in the east." "So how many you figure reached their targets?" "None. All the crews got together a few days before the mission at a hotel in Moscow and we all voted to defect to the side of the United States." "Why would Gorbachev order a nuclear attack on the U.S.? Ah thought relations were slowly getting better." "With Gorbachev they are but the KGB are the ones that really run the country. They make sure the generals and other military officers do as they want. If they don't then they get a transfer to Siberia." "So what happens when they find out their planes went missing?" Marko's face went grim and he looked down at the floor. "They have a backup plan that they would implement in sixty to ninety days." "What is it?" "They seize control of the government, never raising alarms as they do it, then with in sixty to ninety days they have the entire military ready for an invasion of the habitable parts of the United States." "What do ya mean 'habitable'?" "They would launch a nuclear assault on the United States then take over the areas that weren't a glowing green wasteland." "Well fuck. Ah don't think we're ever gettin' back so god have mercy on those poor bastards back home." We both sighed and left the laboratory at the military base outside Canterlot. As we walked towards the gates for the carriage that would take us back to the palace we noticed a large hangar with the number four painted on it situated in the corner of the base with extra razor wire around it and guards patrolling the perimeter. "What ya think is in there?" "No idea. Look at all those guards though, the others have spears but they have machine guns. Whatever they have in there it is something they don't want anyone to see." "Then we got a new mission." "What's that?" "Find out what's in that hangar." A sly grin spread across my face as I thought about how to get past all the guards. "Colonel I don't like that grin. Stop it. It's worrying me." "Oh come on Marko! You can't tell me you ain't wondering what's in there!" "Well of course I am but look at all those guards. There is no way you will get past them." "You underestimate my abilities Marko. Ah can get anywhere if Ah try hard enough." "Speaking of getting places how is that project of yours that Fancy Pants is funding getting along?" "Ok. We got the engines and fuselages almost finished. The landing gear is done but we need to finish the wings and make the mechanism to fold 'em. The shop that makes the props for the airships is working on plenty of props for our planes. The first one we're gonna to finish is a modified two seat trainer so Ah can train the pilots." We went through the front gate and climbed into the waiting carriage. "So have you decided who the pilots are going to be?" "Well Ah think it should be ponies as a sign that we ain't trying to show off to them." "And building flying machines that can fly several hundred miles per hour isn't showing off?" "If a pony is funding it hell no it ain't. Not like we're building a rocket plane." "So far." The ride was bumpy as we went back to the palace as the guards pulling it seemed to be in a rush. When we arrived we were hurried inside with guards surrounding us, even pegasi flying in a circle around us. When we went inside Princesses Celestia and Luna were waiting for us. "Anyone care to tell me what the fuck is going on?" "We received an anonymous letter stating that you and your men are the targets of an assassin." "Who the hell would want to kill us?" "There was no name but there are several groups that have made attacks on other creatures in the past. The main one we feel could be behind it is an anti-Equestria group from several different nations." "Like where?" "Griffin Kingdom, Zebrica, Camelu, and the Northern Ibex Empire to name a few. All with history of hostility with Equestria. Most of them are on good terms with us now." "That's not all of them. Who's still hostile?" "The Ibex are in the midst of a near civil war and the northern Ibex are harboring anti-Equestria terror groups because we provide the southern Ibex with supplies and Camelu feels we didn't fully repay them for the damage we did after we pushed them back to their own boarders over a hundred years ago." "Did Camelu have any help?" "The Griffins. They supplied weapons and aerial support." Marko and I were rushed to a briefing room where the other three men and the elements of harmony were waiting. "They tell you why we're here Skip?" "Gentlemen, the reason Princess Luna and I had you rushed here is because there was a threat on all your lives. Colonel Jones was named the primary target but the other names on the list included you four, Captain Thunderstreak and her family, the elements of harmony, and several soldiers assigned to your squadron." "Why Thunderstreak and her family?" "Because she's Colonel Jones' marefriend." "She's not my marefriend." "Oh come on sweetie, tell them how you really feel." I spun around towards the door and saw Thunderstreak standing there with a giant grin and three young ponies standing with her. "Hey Thunderstreak. Who are these three?" 'These are my kids. Not the circumstances I was hoping you to meet them in but we're going to be stuck here for the next few days so that should give you four plenty of time to get to know each other." "Yeah it should. Why don't you guys go on ahead and find a room somewhere and Ah'll catch up." "Ok. Come on kids, there's got to be a couple of vacant rooms we can stay in." She trotted away with the kids in tow and the meeting resumed. "There are also troubling happenings in the Griffin Kingdom. A socialist party has been gaining more and more seats in their senate and currently occupies just one seat under half of it." "As long as they don't bother us why should we care?" "Because, there are several cities where the mayors are members of that party and they have banned all equines from their cities. Anypony who is caught in the city is thrown in jail and face the possibility of execution by the city government." "Well can't the national government stop them?" "That is where the problems get worse. The head of the socialist party, Gold Feather, is running for the position of chancellor, the highest elected official. The king is getting old and he has no children so he's likely to name the new chancellor as his successor when he's ready to step down." "So we gotta find a way to keep that big flappy bastard from becoming chancellor. Why not just whack him?" "First off Colonel we can't 'just whack him'. We aren't the mob. Secondly, we can't interfere with their national election. That would only support their claims we try to control the affairs of the entire world." "So what the fuck are we supposed to do if we can't interfere?" "Hope and pray he doesn't get elected." "If it didn't work for us with Schicklgruber Ah doubt it'll work now. My country has dealt with these types of bastards before and frankly we should've taken that son of a bitch out when we had the chance. Ah don't want a world war on my hands but Ah say we take him down." "Colonel Jones is right Princess. If we want peace we either shoot him or prepare for war. There are no other options. We've seen how they are towards ponies and if he takes power it's only a matter of time before war." We all looked at the grey pony in the doorway that we recognized as Admiral Harvard. "Admiral there is always a peaceful solution." "Bullshit. Have you seen this no good sack of shit? He's got his own private army, police force, everything. How long before they're marching into Canterlot because we weren't prepared?" "Ah've gotta agree with the Admiral. First let's know what we're dealing with. ~~~~~ 14:00 Hours Canterlot War Room ~~~~~ The film projector clicked as the poorly shot black and white film rolled and showed the almost goose-stepping griffin soldiers marching past in perfect unison. "So we're dealing with a well-oiled war machine. Where did we get this film?" The lights turned on and illuminated the room once again. "A secret informant that works at the Equestrian embassy in Gryphus. We just got the recent poll in from Gryphus and Gold Feather is in the lead with 79% approval rating. Maybe we can try to somehow throw the election." "And how do we do that without those sons of bitches in their press throwing fuel on the fire?" "No clue. So, any ideas? Anyone?" "Oh, oh, I know! Let's throw them a huge party and get them on our side." "...Pinky, go play with the stuff in that emergency kit by the wall." "Okie dokie lokie!" She skipped happily over to the red box in the corner and began rummaging through the kit. "So any serious ideas?" "Are you my mummy?" We all turned and looked at Pinky who had put on a gas mask. "If you could let us let us concentrate." There were several ideas thrown around but we all seemed to come back to killing him or prepping for war. "Okay so idea. If he gets elected and shows any hostility we move battleships towards their ports." "Then what? We can fight them on the sea but have you seen the tanks the socialists have? They've got bigger guns that we do." "Ya don't need bigger guns to win battles. It seems the bigger something is the more weak points it has. All you have to do with a tank is aim for the treads." "Look, let's worry about this later. We've pretty much ruled out killing him so let's just try to get settled because I don't think we're leaving here for at least a week." "Marko's right. Let's discuss this tomorrow afternoon after lunch and try to decide what to do." There was a collective agreement on that and we all headed for the floor Celestia had told us our rooms were on. When I reached the floor I could hear arguing coming from one of the first rooms. "Must be this one." I opened the door and found the three kids in there with the two oldest arguing and the youngest sitting on a bed watching the black and white television. They all looked towards me and went silent. "Uh, is your mom in here?" "Next room." "Thanks." Pulling the door shut as I backed out of the room the sound of arguing resumed as soon as the door clicked. Walking down to the next door I opened it to find Thunderstreak on the bed watching TV and eating potato chips. "God, have I mentioned how hot you are when you do stuff like that?" "Not yet. Come and sit. What's My Line? is on." "I used to watch that show all the time as a kid. They get to the celebrity guests?" "Not yet." We both sat and munched on chips as the commercials wasted the time between the parts of the show. Finally the commercials turned to the final part of the show. "Finally. Wonder who they have today?" The camera focused on a piece of chalk that floated up to the small chalkboard and wrote the name Swing Sisters before panning out to reveal three mares in what one could assume from the black and white were red dresses. "Oh I love them!" "Who the hell are they?" "They're three sisters that announced they're the voices on all those records that the royal sisters produced." "Oh really? Ah'll be right back." "Okie dokie." I got off the bed and walked out the door. 'Ah like her, she says okie dokie.' Walking down the stairs I eventually found the floor with the throne room. As I approached doors the two guards who were by them pushed them open for me. "Thanks fellers." The shoes that had been made for my uniform sank into the red carpet leading to the empty thrones. "Where the hell is Celestia, or at least Luna?" As I stood there looking around I heard laughing from an adjoining room. Pushing open the door just a crack I could see Celestia and Luna sitting in a small private theatre as a projector shone a movie onto the wall. I pushed the door all the way open and saw a slim man with a suit, bowler hat, bamboo cane, and small mustache who I immediately recognized as Charlie Chaplin. "Alright, Ah could stand Captain Stardust and even the records but this is too much!" The princesses spun around with their eyes widened in horror at my newest discovery. "Colonel, we can explain." "Then go right ahead." "Well actually I can't." "Let me guess. Classified?" "Yes. In due time you will learn but for now you must remain in the dark." "Hey! What is wrong with the dark?" "Nothing Luna. It's only an expression." I murmured some words that not even I could understand before turning and leaving the room in rage. As I stormed out of the throne room back into the hallway it brought worried looks from the guards. "Is everything alright Colonel?" "Peachy as dog shit. Just fucking peachy!" Stomping up the stairs to our floor I slammed the door behind me when I went back into the room where Thunderstreak and I were staying. "James, what's wrong sweetie?" "Them god damned princesses. They keep shit covered up, hidden behind red tape and hangar doors." "Sweetie, come sit down and tell me what got you so worked up." "Ah don't need to sit and they were watching a Charlie Chapin movie. A Charlie Chaplin movie for god sake!" "So them watching a movie got you this worked up?" "Not just a movie. A human movie. A movie Ah know they sure as hell didn't get from me or my men so they've got to be hiding someone besides Glenn Miller." "Like who?" "If Ah knew wouldn't Ah know?" "I suppose? So what are you going to do?" "Ah have an idea but Ah'm gonna need someone who's stealthy to help me." "My kids are fairly stealthy except I catch them because I tried a lot of the stuff they do like sneaking out." "Ah never could sneak out. Town was fifteen miles and the truck was loud as hell." "Let's get the kids over here and go over the plan for whatever it is you have in mind." My eyes looked down where I had been pacing during the conversation and the flattened part of the rug where I had been stepping. Thunderstreak hopped off the bed and opened the door connecting our room to the kid's room. The oldest two were sitting around doing something different while the youngest was still glued to the TV. "Kids, get in here. We have a mission for you." The kids all hopped off their beds and trotted into our room. "First off James these are my kids Typhoon, Sabre, and Lancaster." "Like the airplanes?" "What?" "Nothing." "Lancaster and Typhoon are adopted from the Crystal Empire." "Mum can I please go back to the telly?" "Lancaster you need to get away from that television. You haven't looked away from it since we got here." "Yes mum." "Kid's Ah got a mission for you. A very risky mission that will need all of you working together to help me with it." "What is it?" "Ah like your oldest boy. He gets strait to the point. Sabre, Typhoon, Lancaster, Ah need you to help me break into a high security military facility called Hangar Four." "Is that it?" "Ya say that like you've gotten into more secure places." "Well Mom's here so I've got to say no I haven't." We all gathered around the small table by the television and I drew a rough map of the military base and the guard towers around the hanger. "Now Ah'll bring you three in saying Ah'm giving you a tour of the regular parts of the base, we stay until after dark then we sneak in." "You said there's razor wire. How are we supposed to get past that?" "Wire cutters boy. Now we'll need to make sure they have rubber grips on it we don't get fried if it's electrified." "You act like you learned that the hard way Colonel." "Sabre you can just call me James and yes Ah have learned that the hard way." "How?" "It's a long story that Ah never plan to tell. Ok so here's the plan, Typhoon will distract the guards while the rest of us cut the wire and sneak in. Once we're all inside we'll get in through a side door then Typhoon will find the hole in the fence and sneak in. Sound good?" "No. You're not using my kids to do this unless I'm involved in this too." "Ah already factored you in. You sneak in with me and the boys." "Alright. So when will we do all this?" "Tomorrow night. First we'll need to get on the base before we get to the hangar. Ah'll take y'all to the base with me in one of those special bullet proof carriages they have then we stay until dark. That's when we move in." "And what do you say we're there for?" "Ah have an office there in one of the buildings and y'all are there to help me fix it up." "Is there a telly?" "Yes Lancaster there is a TV." "Well I'm in then." "Ok so Lancaster is on board, who else?" Thunderstreak and the two oldest kids looked at each other and smiled before nodding at me. "Alright, so we're all good. Now let's go over the plan again." ~~~~~ Celestine Military Base, Outside Canterlot 20:00 Hours The Next Evening ~~~~~ The last sliver of sunlight had long since slipped away from the horizon as we sat and watched the guards from behind a stack of crates containing artillery shells. "Looks like there's only about six guards on the ground and four in the towers. Typhoon, let's see what you got." Typhoon got up and trotted over to the gate in front of the hangar and waved at one of the guards which then caught the attention off the others. The guards in the towers noticed the sudden movement of the guards on the ground and lit the gate up with searchlights. "Alright let's move." We all rushed over and quickly began snipping a hole in the chain-link fence. As we worked we could hear the conversation Typhoon was having with the guards which was occasionally drowned out by a growl from Thunderstreak when a guard made a crude comment. "When this is over I want their names, ranks, and serial numbers so you can have them all shot." Finally I had cut the fence enough for us to get through and helped the others squeeze through. "Alright there's a door over there. Move and get in there." Thunderstreak shoved the kids through the door and I signaled Typhoon that we were done. She quickly made an excuse to leave and went off to wait to get into the hangar. I dashed into the hangar and shut the door just before one of the searchlights illuminated the spot where I had been seconds before. Turning around I saw just how much you could fit inside a hangar. "James, what are half these things?" There were boxes strewn around on the floor with what looked like spare parts for an engine. "Looks like something for an engine." Flipping a piece over I found a stamp for the Pratt and Whitney engine company. "Yep, definitely an engine part." Looking around I noticed a wingtip poking out from around a wall of boxes. Walking over I turned the corner and saw a twin engine airplane in front of me. "Oh hello you beautiful old bird!" Running over I looked the vintage plane up and down. "Oh you are beautiful." "You're swooning over a plane more than me." "Thunderstreak this ain't just a normal plane. This old beauty is a Lockheed L-10e Electra. And it ain't just any old Electra. Look at the n-number on the wing." Trotting over behind the wing with me Thunderstreak looked up at the wing. "What's so special about NR-16020?" "Everything! Folks have been looking for this plane for fifty years and they never could find it." "So it just vanished?" "Yeah. And if the plane is here intact then the pilot's gotta be here somewhere." Walking away from the Electra we continued onwards deeper into the hangar. "Hey James, what kind of plane is this?" I turned around and went over to a small area that had been hidden behind crates. Looking in I was met by a familiar T-6 Texan. "Dear fucking god." "What is it?" My fingers reached up and brushed over the famous pin up girl on the cowling. Looking back I saw the names painted on the canopies. "Hey James, your name is under the windows." "That ain't me. That's me." I pointed to the name Junior painted on the rear pilot's canopy. "But then whose name is that?" "My father's." I said quickly as I walked away towards the center of the hangar. As I got closer I could hear voices laughing and cussing about something. Peeking around the corner I could see three men and a woman gathered around a table with cards in their hands. Two of them I could see I easily identified as Glenn Miller and Amelia Earhart but the other one who's face I could see I didn't know. The third man at the table had his back to me and had a cigarette between his fingers. My hand reached for the .44 I had gotten back from Celestia at the end of the gala. "Alright. Hands in the air and ain't nobody movin'!" The people at the table stood with their hands up but the man who had his back to me slowly turned and grinned at me. "Now is that anyway to greet yer old man?" I slowly lowered the gun in my hands and put it back in the holster at my hip. "Nice to see you ain't gonna shoot me, with my own gun at least." "It ain't your gun no more." "But Ah gave it to ya." "Yes you did but, wait, why in the hell are we talkin' 'bout a gun when you're alive and ain't aged a day since you disappeared." "Son, there's more to all this than meets the eye." "Like what?" He sat back down and nodded for everyone to sit. Thunderstreak and I pushed some crates over for us to sit on and we could hear Typhoon trotting down the hallway of crates towards us. "James, we all play a part here. Glenn leads the R.E.A.F. Band, Amelia is an airship pilot, Lieutenant Smith is a flyer in the air force, and Ah'm head of the Royal Navy's design department." "Wait, wait, first how can y'all have lives outside of here?" "Magic. Follow me." Dad got up and walked to the door at the back of the hangar. Opening the door he began to step outside and transformed into a familiar grey pony as he did. "Ta da!" "How is that ta da?" "It just is." Walking back inside he transformed into human form again. "So what is it that makes you do that?" "Celestia had the doorways enchanted so that we could go outside and be hidden but be ourselves in here. It's actually pretty cool." "While it may be cool Ah want more answers than magic. Y'all need to get your uniforms on cause we're goin' out." Walking back with him we found everyone else sitting silent around the table. "Everyone up. We're going to the palace."
The Jolly Rogers	7: Secret Bases and Golf Courses	The guards snapped to attention outside the throne room as we all came down the corridor. "Can we help you Colonel?" "No. Is Celestia in there?" "No sir. She went to bed. Princess Luna is at the throne until just before dawn." "Then Luna will have to do for now." Pushing the doors open I walked up the red carpet towards the throne where Princess Luna was sitting looking rather board. "Princess Luna, we need to talk. Now." "Guards, please wait outside." "But Princess Lun-" "Now." "Yes ma'am." The bat ponies trotted out into the corridor and shut the door behind them. As soon as we heard the door shut Luna broke into a wide smile. "I knew there was a reason Tia chose you Colonel. It is because you take charge and you find a way to get what you want. That is a quality we like in a military officer." "So you know what Ah found?" "Of course. I doubt there would be any other reason that you, Admiral Harvard, Captain Stardust, Lieutenant Norseman, and Captain Electra would be here together except you figuring out some of what we are hiding." "So I ain't in trouble for breaking into a top secret government facility?" "Certainly not. We knew it would only be a matter of time before you figured something out. Think about it for a moment Colonel. Admiral Harvard, Captain Electra, Lieutenant Norseman, they're all aircraft names." "So what about Thunderstreak and her kids?" "That's simply a coincidence. I find it rather ironic that of all the mares in Equestria you chose her." "Yeah, fucking hilarious. So Ah know there has to be strings attached to this. If you brought us here you can send us back, so one question. Why? Why bring us here?" "Colonel, we saw the rapid decent of governments around the world and we knew that those events would eventually lead to a war. Several governments in foreign nations have anti-Equestria parties so we knew it would only be a matter of time before another nation attempted to attack us. We have had problems like Changelings in Canterlot before so we knew we needed some of the best warriors in the universe. We just happened to find all of you and then some." Luna stepped down from her thrown and led us over to an adjoining room with pictures and documents spread across several tables. "Hangar Four was only one of our facilities. We have several more hangars in the badlands around twenty miles from Appaloosa. It is really the only place where we can fly aircraft." "What kind of aircraft?" Princess Luna slid a file over to me with Top Secret stamped in red ink on the front. Flipping it open there were pictures of a B-17, B-24, B-25, P-51, Spitfire, F6F, and most of a B-29 at a desert air field. "Why are you showing me this?" "Because, your father helped us with our naval fleet and we hoped you would help us with our air fleet. Your father said you studied aviation designs as a child. Can you use that to help us?" "Ah'll help on one condition." "That is?" "You send me and everyone else home." "In due time we will. In the meantime you're going to get a star on your shoulders for agreeing to help." The blue aura of Luna's magic unclipped the Colonels pins from my shoulders and replaced them with a polished silver star. "Now, Brigadier General Jones, you and your friends pack your bags. We leave for the air field in the morning." "But what about the Corsair project?" "We'll arrange for some ponies to go and take your place. Now, go pack and be ready to leave at five tomorrow morning." "Yes ma'am." Turning on my heel I hurried out of the room for the bedroom to start packing what little I had. Practically running up the stairs I hurried to the room and began throwing whatever I had in a suitcase that had been in the closet. "James, what's going on?" Thunderstreak rolled over to look at me as I packed the suitcase. "We've gotta pack. We're leavin' for the badlands at five tomorrow." "Five! They can't even show some generosity and make it ten?" "Nope. So go make sure the kids are packed cause Ah ain't leavin' here without all of ya." "Ok." Rolling off the bed she landed on her hoofs and trotted over to the door for the next room. As soon as the door opened the sound of the two oldest kids arguing filled my ears. "Will you two stop arguing?! Don't make me get the spray bottle again! Start packing your things. James has to go to the badlands and we're going with him." "Now?!" "No, in the morning but start now. Typhoon I know you definitely need to start now. You need a whole bag just for your make up." The kids groaned and began throwing things into their bags. "And don't forget to get the soaps and some towels from your bathroom and put those in your bag too." "Yes mom." She shut the door, trotted over, threw open her suitcase, and tossed a few things in her bag. From where I was standing I could just barely see ruby red fabric in her bag. "Is that the dress Ah bought ya for the gala?" "Of course it is. They only let us grab a few things before we left and I wanted to grab the dress I got from the man of my dreams." "Ah would have got ya a flower too but Ah couldn't find one to match your beauty." "That's it!" Jumping over the bed Thunderstreak tackled me and gave me a seductive look. "You. Me. Bed. Now." "Yes ma'am!" ~~~~~ 08:37 Hours Somewhere in the Badlands ~~~~~ The armored transport train roared down the tracks towards the military base in the middle of the desert. The clinking of cups and saucers drew my attention away from the rapidly passing desert outside the window. "Would you care for some tea?" An orange unicorn mare in an olive uniform pushed a small cart with cups of tea and coffee along the aisle of the car. "Coffee please." The mare levitated the saucer and with the cup over to me before looking at Thunderstreak. "And for you ma'am?" "Coffee." Thunderstreak took her coffee and the mare continued down the aisle of the passenger car. "How do you think the kids are doing?" "Ah'm sure they're fine. If anyone should worry about anyone it's ourselves. It's a miracle we got any sleep." "Told you I was flexible." My cheeks felt like they were on fire as I thought about the night before. "Ya weren't lying" "That was something I learned in collage." "Well they taught you well." "Got an A in history thanks to those moves." "Ah can understand why." "So when did you get those stars on your shoulders?" "Last night before you attacked me Luna bumped me up a rank for agreeing to help them." "So now I'm dating a general now? I never thought it would ever happen." "Well think again sweetheart. Shouldn't be long now. We left Canterlot at five and Princess Luna said we would reach the base before nine." "So what all is at this base?" "So far all Ah know is they have old warplanes out there. What else or who else is something that Ah don't know." There was a scream from the train whistle and the train began to slow. "Ah suppose we're here." The train passed through a gate in a razor wire fence and we could see hundreds of ponies going about their work amongst a couple dozen hangars. From the train I could see the runway and the parking area for aircraft where a large bomber with olive and grey paint sat in the sunlight. "Oh, oh, it's a B-17! Someone let me off right now!" "You're like a colt in a candy store James. Calm down, we'll be stopped soon enough." "Fine. Ah've never seen a Flying Fort up close. Ah'm just excited that Ah might get to fly one." "Of course you can fly it." I turned around and saw Princess Luna standing behind me with a smile. "I am sure Colonel Ambrose will let you fly it as long as you are careful." "Colonel Ambrose?" "He is another human here on the base. He was the pilot of an aircraft that we brought here. Once we stop I will take you to him." "Sounds great. So, what is this place?" "Restricted area thirteen. The most secure military facility in the world. Here is where we test weapons, house aircraft, and even some captured enemies of our nation." "Sounds 'bout like Area 51 mixed with Guantanamo Bay." The train rolled to a stop and I hurried over to the door to get out. "James, the plane will be there in a bit. Why don't we let Luna explain why we're here first." "Fine." The doors opened and the warm desert air rushed into the train. Stepping down onto the dry, cracked ground we were met by a man around six feet tall with black hair and blue eyes in a light blue uniform shirt with oil and grease smeared on his face. "You must be James Jones." "Eeyup." "I'm Colonel Christopher Ambrose but you can call me Chris." "Well Chris Ah hope we didn't interrupt anything." "Naw, I was just working on the Superfort in hangar fifteen. So far we've got the engines working again but the fabric for the rear controls is being a pain in the ass. Then the Spitfire blew a tire on landing yesterday so it's getting a new tire and rim in the shop. So all we have for you is the 17, 24, 25, 51, and the Hellcat. As he stood and listed the aircraft that were flyable for the day a sound resembling bees droned in the distance. We all turned and saw three aircraft flying along in the morning sun. "Looks like we got three more for you General." All eyes turned to the sky as the gleaming twin engine Electra led the Texan and a Norseman over the base. "Let's head over to the control tower and get a better view." The small group headed for the control tower and we climbed the stairs that wrapped around the tower. Walking inside we were surrounded by ponies sitting at primitive radio and radar sets. Walking over to the one facing in the direction of the landing aircraft we stood behind the controller and watched the aircraft slowly descending towards the runway. "King How Able Queen Queen, cleared to land runway 2-7 right. Texan One follow the Electra on final. Transport Three follow Texan One in and land right behind him." The landing gear of the Electra swung down which was followed by the Texan. The Electra seemed to float down towards the runway until the wheels made contact with the concrete with a small puff of white smoke from the rubber. The tail of the Lockheed dropped onto the runway as a the Texan made contact with the runway. "Let's go greet them. I think there's supposed to be some passengers on board too." Hurrying down the stairs we jogged the whole way to a hangar where there were roll able steps for the planes. Grabbing two of them Colonel Ambrose and I pushed them out to the tarmac as the planes taxied in. The blindingly polished Electra pulled up to the parking area first and shut down its engines. The props slowed and clicked with every revolution until they completely stopped. We stood by door until it swung open to reveal the elements of harmony all sitting inside along with Spike who was clutching an air sick bag. "Enjoy the trip?" The pilot stuck her head into the doorway with a slightly aggravated look. "Get someone over here that can get dragon puke off a wood navigation table." "Miss Earhart they didn't invent the rank of Private for no reason." She hopped out of the plane and gave each of us a quick handshake. "Ah though Celestia put a spell on the doors at that hangar so you would be ponies when y'all left." "She did but she can cancel it out too. She's in the Norseman if you want to talk to her about it." Chris pushed the steps up to the door for the six mares and the green faced dragon to get out of the rapidly warming plane. As we stood around waiting on the Texan and the Norseman to shut down we looked around at all the hangars and ponies trying to stay out of the sunlight and in the cool shadows of the buildings. "How hot can it get out here?" "Record is one hundred fifteen degrees." "So what the fuck do y'all do when it's that hot?" "Mostly sit inside and work on stuff in the hangars. When it was a hundred fifteen out here we pulled all the aircraft into the hangars from the sun and we still couldn't touch them for almost an hour without getting burned. Some corporal in the Flying Fort's hangar put a couple hundred globs of cookie dough on the wings and baked cookies for the ground crews." "Least he used it to his advantage." The engines on the other two aircraft shut down and the props clicked like the Electra's until they finally stopped. I rolled the other pair of steps over to the Norseman where the door was wide open with Celestia waiting inside. "I figured it would take you a few months, not the next day to figure it all out." "When Ah want to know somthin' Ah'll figure it out one way or another." "I knew I chose you for some reason." "Just get out of the plane so Ah can go fly one." Celestia walked down the steps with Captain Miller and the pilot following right behind her. Meeting up with everyone by the Electra we headed for the main hangar where the B-24 was housed. When we entered we found a gleaming silver bomber having what little paint was on it being touched up. "General Jones, this is the first bird you'll be flying. We'll put it outside so the paint will dry faster so it's ready for tonight." "Why can't he fly it in the daytime?" "Thunderstreak, the air is thinner in the heat of the day so ya gotta fly at night most of the time when you're in the desert cause it's easier to stall from the thin air." "Oh." "Now General Jones if you'll follow me I'll introduce you to the controls so you'll be ready by tonight." ~~~~~ 22:30 Hours Area 13 Runway 27 Right ~~~~~ The growl of the four radial engines drowned out every sound except the static in the radio. Finally the tower responded to the take-off request we had radioed almost a full minute before. "Liberator One you are cleared for takeoff. Runway 2-7 right." "This is Liberator One, roger. Cleared for takeoff. Runway 2-7 right." I shoved the throttles forward and the engines roared in response. The bomber rolled down the runway until I felt it desperately trying to get into the air. My hands pulled back on the wheel and the bomber sluggishly began climbing towards the cloudless night sky. We circled the base as we climbed and looked at the lights below us. Looking away from the base to the altimeter I leveled the bomber out at eight thousand feet. "James! See that glowing spot on the horizon?!" Chris yelled in the headset over the engines. "Yeah!" "That's Las Pegasus! We're gonna want to head in the opposite direction towards Canterlot!" "Roger that!" Turning the wheel I spun the plane until the tail turret was facing Las Pegasus. Over halfway towards Canterlot the plane suddenly lurched and the cockpit was illuminated by an orange glow. "The right outboard is on fire!" Looking out the window I could see the far right engine belching flames and the prop wind-milling out of control. "We've got to land before it spreads! The extinguishers can only do so much sir!" "Roger that! There's a town about fifteen miles dead ahead! Let's try to land there!" We nosed the bomber down towards the town, chopped the throttles, and managed to put out most of the fire with the extinguisher. "We're at three thousand feet sir! Flight Engineer, kick down the gear and add two notches of flaps!" "Yes sir Colonel!" There was a loud clunk as the gear jerked out of the gear bays and snapped into the down position. "Town is approximately three miles ahead! Turn on the landing light and brace for landing!" I looked behind me to see the flight engineer watching the town slowly growing in the windows. "Two miles!" My mouth tasted of blood from biting my lip in anxiety. "One mile! This is it!" The ground lit up in front of us and all we could see was grass. The bomber shuddered violently as we made contact with the ground. As we slammed on the brakes the landing light illuminated something in front of us for half a second before the bomber struck it with a loud bang. "What the fuck was that?!" "Who cares?! Let's just get this big son of a bitch stopped!" The brakes howled as we kept on them until the bomber stopped. Shutting down the engines we all scrambled out of the bomber and saw white smoke coming off the brake pads. "Ok so where are we?" As we stood looking around at the darkness I noticed something lodged in the belly of the plane. Reaching down I pulled it out and looked at the small yellow and black checkered flag on the thin metal pole. "What the hell is that General?" "It's a golf course flag. We're on a fucking golf course!" "Of all the places to land we ended up on a god damned golf course with a flag in the belly and a crispy engine." "Guess we're just a bunch of bad luck chucks ain't we?" "Yep. So where are we?" As we stood looking around we saw more lights on in town than when we had landed along with lanterns and voices growing closer towards us. "Looks like we woke the locals. Let's hope they aren't pissed we woke them up." "Ah hope so too." It was about five minutes later when the few stallions from town reached us and stared wide eyed at the bomber. "Are you all alright?" "Yeah. Just had a little engine fire. Do you have a phone we can use?" "Of course. Are you three going to need somewhere to sleep tonight? We can set you guys up in the inn if you like." "It's fine, we can get back to base soon." "Alright well you can use the phone at my house. I'm sure my wife will want to meet Equestria's newest most handsome stallion." "They're callin' me a stallion? That's a new one. Ah figured everyone'd see me as an ugly hairless monkey." "Obviously not." We all set off for the small town with the stallions leading the way.
The Jolly Rogers	8: The Guests of Area 13	~~~~~ 10:00 Hours Stableside, Equestria Stableside Golf Course ~~~~~ "Little more to the left fellas!" The stallions in the standard military olive moved the replacement engine over until it aligned with the bolt holes on the new mount. "Perfect! Now bolt it in, hook up all the shit it needs, slap a new cowling on, and let's get the hell outta here." The pierced steel planking that had been brought in for the runway stretched out across the golf course as far as they could get it. It was easily almost the entire length of the course before it ended at a small lake. "Well General, if we can't get it up in time I guess we'll be swimming." "Eeyup." "Sargent! You get that last cowl panel screwed on yet?" A dark blue stallion leaned over the edge of the new engine down at Chris and I. "Almost Colonel. Tightening the last screw now. Aaand done! Catch me boys!" The sergeant jumped down from the wing onto a group of unsuspecting corporals and privates, crushing about half of them. He quickly rose and dusted himself off before trotting away for the command tent. "She's ready for takeoff. Let's get her airborne and get back to the base. I think Celestia said she was going to fly that Lieutenant Colonel from your squad out today." "Oh great. If there's one more pain in my neck Ah need today it's one of my guys. Please tell me there's another plane at the base for me to fly." "They said the Spitfire's out of the shop but you'll have to talk to her pilot beforehand." "Ok." All three of us piled into the bomber again and went through the preflight. Then the moment of truth came as we had to start the right outboard engine. "Contact!" The engine sputtered and coughed before roaring to life. "Runs like a charm." Pushing the throttles forward we taxied over to the psp runway before lowering the flaps and beginning to worry. 'What if we don't make it? What if we hit the lake? Can all three of us get out before it sinks?' I shoved the thoughts out of my mind and pushed down on the brakes before slamming the throttles forward. "Engines are at max rpm sir!" Letting my feet off the brakes the bomber launched down the runway and used up most of it before we were able to get it off the ground. Swinging the gear up we circled around to see all the ponies on the ground waving wildly at us. We all gave a quick wave back before leveling out and heading for the base. ~~~~~ Two Hours Later Area 13 Hangar 21 ~~~~~ My boots made a clicking as I walked across the smooth concrete floor towards the brown and green Spitfire where a man in a blue uniform sat in the cockpit testing the controls. "Are you the pilot of this bird?" "Yes sir. How may I be of assistance?" Climbing out of the cockpit he stepped onto the wing root before jumping down to the floor. "Well Ah'm General Jones and Ah was told to come talk to the pilot." "Oh well, I'm Group Captain Smith, Joseph Smith." "Ah figured the rank by the four stripes on the end of your sleeves." "You know Royal Air Force ranks?" "My uncle was an Eagle Squadron pilot. He had pictures of the men from his squad and all the ranks of the R.A.F. sketched in a notepad." "Well anyone who served for his majesty is a friend of mine as well as their family. So are you the chap they told me would be borrowing my plane?" "Eeyup." "So General if you don't mind my asking, where are you from?" "Originally from Waverly, Illinois. Small town, mostly just farmers and truck drivers." "That would explain the accent." "Y'all got a problem with how Ah talk?" "Well you say Ah instead of I, you say y'all, and you just seem to lack proper grammar all together." "Then Ah or, excuse me, I will have to learn. I grew up out where hoot owls fuck chickens and directions include turning when you see a barn so my English ain't very good." "That's certainly a colorful description of your home town." "It's the truth though. So I was wondering if I could fly your beautiful aircraft." "Of course. But be warned, she doesn't have the regular controls of American fighters." I put my foot up onto the step area of the wing and hoisted myself up onto the wing. "Go ahead and climb in and I'll climb up and give you a quick introduction to the Supermarine Spitfire." Lifting my foot up through the small open door on the side I put it down onto the floorboards of the fighter and slipped right in. Climbing up onto the wing Captain Smith began going through all the instruments on the dashboard. "And that's the altimeter. Do you understand it all?" "Sure." "Fantastic. I'll have the ground crew open the doors and the tug pull you out. Here's a helmet with the headset in it and here's the throat mike. Good luck." He hopped down and signaled several ground personnel to open the doors. As the doors started spreading apart a small tractor roared to life in the corner of the hangar with a sergeant sitting at the wheel. Driving over in front of the plane he parked and a corporal ran over with a hook up in his hoofs. The plane lurched forward signaling that the fighter had been hooked up to the tug and we rolled out into the bright desert sunlight. A different corporal ran out and unhooked the fighter for the tug to pull away. Taking off my officer's cap I replaced it with the leather helmet and shut the small door on the side of the cockpit. Plugging the headset in and slipping the throat mike around my neck I carefully plugged it into the headset in the helmet. "Clear prop!" I flipped the magnetos to the start position and watched the propeller spin several times before the engine started up with some small flames shooting out from the exhaust pipes. Slowly moving the throttle forward I taxied the plane out to the runway. "Tower this is Red One, request takeoff from runway 9 left." "Red One, you're cleared for takeoff." Shoving the throttle all the way forward the plane shot off like a rocket for the other side of the field. I pulled back on the stick and felt the plane climb like a homesick angel. My hand reached down and flipped the gear handle before I reached up and slid the canopy shut. As I climbed for nine thousand feet the tower called me on the radio. "Red One, we have an unidentified contact thirty miles north-west of the base. Flight level of six thousand. Intercept and lead them away. If they don't turn away you're cleared to fire upon them." "Roger that." Banking right I found a heading of three fifteen and scanned the sky for any sign of the unidentified contact. After fifteen minutes of looking I found a small speck on the horizon and banked to get alongside it. Pulling up next to it I dropped the gear and flaps to loose speed and keep alongside it. Looking out the window I could see a griffin in a blue uniform with what looked like a camera gripped in his talons. I began giving hand signals for him to turn around but he seemed to pick up speed after I did. "Tower this is Red One. Contact is not turning around." "Red One, what is the contact?" "Looks like a griffin with a camera." "Shoot that bastard down now!" "Roger that." Pulling the nose up to drop more speed I brought the plane on the verge of a stall to get behind the griffin. When I leveled out I found him directly ahead and almost exactly in the gun sight. Banking a little to the left to adjust to get him in the crosshairs I pushed the button on the controls and let loose a hail of bullets from the four machine guns in each wing. I saw his right wing let loose a small red cloud and he began to spiral towards the ground. Rolling inverted I watched as he spiraled from six thousand to one hundred feet before he managed to extend his crippled wing and glide down to the desert floor. "Tower this is Red One. Contact has been injured and is currently on the desert floor approximately six miles from the base." "Roger that. We're sending out a band aid buggy for him. Return to base immediately." "Copy that. Red One, retuning to base." Raising the gear and flaps I flew off for the base and landed as quickly as I could. As I taxied towards the hangar where the Spitfire was housed I saw an ambulance returning to base apparently with the griffin inside. Pulling the plane into the hangar I shut down the engine and removed the helmet to hurry for the infirmary. After choking myself from forgetting the throat mike I ran to the infirmary and found the griffin handcuffed to a hospital bed getting his wing stitched up. "Doc, once you're done with him have the son of a bitch sent over to interrogation." "Yes sir." My boot sank into a small spot of sand as I walked out of the infirmary towards the officer's barracks. Going into the third building I found Thunderstreak and the kids all siting around on their bunks. Lancaster was sitting at a table with six officers and cards in his hoofs. Slamming the cards down he laughed and the officers groaned and swore as they threw their cards on the table while Lancaster scooped up the bits on the table. "The kids a damn cheater!" "No I am not. You simply lack the ability to play cards." "And you know who'd say that? A cheater!" "Says the Lieutenant with cards in his sleeve." All eyes focused on the lieutenant's sleeve and they didn't look happy. Turning away so I wouldn't see any ensuing fight I sat down on Thunderstreak's bunk with her and looked at the mare's magazine she had in her hoofs. "Is that the magazine that said I was Equestria's most handsome stallion?" "Yes and when did you start saying I instead of Ah?" "When the Brit in hangar twenty one said I don't know no proper grammar." "So I can hear. Why let one person change who you are?" "Same reason I was worried about asking you to the gala. I was worried I wasn't good enough for you. I just want to be the best I can be for you." "James, sweetie, you're perfect just the way you are. You don't have to change who you are for me or the kids. Just be yourself and we'll all be fine. Don't change to be the person other's think you should be." "I didn't plan on doing much more except just saying I instead of Ah. I ain't learnin' no damn proper English." "Good." Thunderstreak leaned her head against me as she flipped through her magazine. Looking over her shoulder at the article about me I was surprised about how much they knew about me and I chuckled at some of the rumors about me that had started swirling around. As we sat I failed to notice Colonel Ambrose standing in front of us until he cleared his throat. "General, the patient has been moved to interrogation room five and is waiting for you." "Thank you Colonel. Thunderstreak, I've got to go. I'll be back within a couple hours." "Ok sweetie. Be careful." "Yes dear." ~~~~~ 13:30 Hours Interrogation Room 5 Area 13 ~~~~~ The griffin sat staring at me with blood shot eyes. His blood stained uniform had been torn by both the bullets I had fired at him and the MP's getting him in the ambulance. "Listen, we can do this the hard way or the easy way. Why were you flying towards the base with a camera?" "Because I like the lighting here, why the fuck do you think?" "And looks like we're doin' this the hard way. So why did the socialists send you out here?" "To know what Equestria is up to. Chancellor Gold Feather likes to keep tabs on all the neighboring nations." "Did you say Chancellor Gold Feather?" "Oh, I forgot you don't get the paper out here. He was pronounced the new chancellor last night after his opponent met a terrible end." "What kind of terrible end?" "An assassin shot him in the head while he was at home. Bastard deserved what he got." "So rather than win by votes your party leader would rather win by having someone who often talks about his wife and four kids shot to death?" "Yes. Speaking of which, how are your marefriend and her kids?" My eye twitched and without thinking I took out my gun and pointed it at him. "What are you going to do General, kill me?" "No. I'm gonna do this." I pointed the gun at his left knee and fired causing him to scream and clutch at the mangled part of his leg. The door to the interrogation room flung open and Colonel Ambrose rushed in next to me. "For Christ's sake General. You can't just shoot him!" "Oh yes I can. Here, watch me do it again." Taking aim I fired at his right knee and watched a red mist form around his newly destroyed knee. "General, give me the gun before you kill him!" "Touch my gun and you're next Colonel! Now tell me all of what you were doing here before I decide to blow your god damned head off!" "Alright! I was supposed to take pictures of the base and any aircraft outside their hangers! Equestria isn't the only nation that figured out how to bring humans to this world and we needed to know what we're up against! All I've found so far is a crazy General with a fucking gun!" "I'm American. Of course I'm gonna be crazy and have a gun. Y'all better consider yourself lucky I don't put your feet in a blender." "Just put me out of my misery. Now!" "No. I want you to suffer. I want to see you beg for mercy. And I want you to know that I am the most ruthless son of a bitch you will ever meet." "You're insane!" Giving a thumbs up to him I walked out of the room and holstered my gun. Halfway down the hallway Princess Luna approached me with a disapproving look. "James, did you really just shoot the prisoner in the knees?!" "Got information a hell of a lot faster than doin' it the normal way. The Griffin Kingdom has humans. Once the bastard is healed up he's gonna talk to me again." "Why in the name of tartarus would we allow you to go back in and interrogate him?" "Because he knows if I'm crazy enough to shoot him twice within two minutes then I'll be crazy 'nough to do it again. Trust me, he'll talk." "When you put it that way James I suppose you may be the right man for the job." "Damn right I'm the right man for the job. Now, while that sack o' shit is getting' patched up why don't you tell me who else is on this base. So far I've met Colonel Ambrose and Captain Smith. Who else do I need to meet?" ~~~~~ "Lieutenant Day!" A black man poked his head around the corner or the doorway of the hangar and broke into a grin. "Princess Luna. To what do I owe the pleasure of seeing my favorite princess again?" "Well Rodger, this is General James Jones and I am introducing him to all the other humans on the base." "Hello General, I'm Lieutenant Rodger Day of the three hundred thirty second fighter group. How can I help you this fine afternoon?" "Well Rodger, I've been tasked with building the air armada for the R.E.A.F. and I understand you're the pilot of an ol' P-51 Mustang." "Yes sir! The red tailed bird's right in here if you want to take a look at her." Walking into the hangar my eyes locked onto the silver B model Mustang with its tail and wing tips painted blood red. "Oh she's even more beautiful than I thought." "Isn't she? Got four confirmed kills in her. I would have six but that bastard Archer claimed two of mine for himself so he could make ace." "Yeah, folks 'll do that. Dad had three of his stolen from him by Kepford in the Pacific." "Your old man told me about that. Only difference 'tween our situations though was he was already an ace. He could afford to lose those three." Walking across the smooth hangar floor I went over to the immaculate warplane and climbed up onto the wing. "Is the cockpit very roomy Lieutenant?" "More so than you would think." "Ya mind if I climb in and get a feel for it?" "Go right ahead." Popping open the top of the canopy I carefully lowered the side of it and climbed inside. Sliding down into the seat I looked around at all the switches, levers, and instruments and felt right at home. "She's not as complicated as she looks General. She's fairly easy on the controls for a fighter. Flap leaver is by your left foot. Most of it is reachable without looking away from the windscreen." "Not bad. I'd like to fly it one day if you'd let me." "As long as you don't end up on any golf courses I don't mind if you fly it." "Hahaha you're fuckin' hilarious." I deadpanned. Lieutenant Day grinned before he walked away towards a mechanic. "Come along General. There are many more things for you see here. We'll leave tomorrow for another base in the north. You should feel more at home with the jets there." "I grew up with old prop planes so I'm a bit more at home with them but I do love the speed." "You feel the need General." I froze before turning to glare at Luna. "Luna, don't you fuckin' say it." "The need, for speed." "And you said it. Austin told you to use that one if you got the chance didn't he?" "Indeed he did." "So now I know I need to kick his ass when I get back to Canterlot." "Actually you won't be going back to Canterlot for very long. We have decided to build an air field in Ponyville. You're squadron will be the first ones there and we want you to also head the division that maintains safety regulations for that one and all future bases. Canterlot also wants to celebrate you and your men with a parade this Tuesday. We're going to commandeer several cars for it that the men on the northern base built during their spare time. My sister has been searching for a reason to borrow those limousines from them and now she has one." "What make and model are they?" "They said it was a 1962 Lincoln Continental and a 1955 Cadillac DeVille." Continuing on with our tour of the base we headed for hangar eighteen which had the doors wide open and a B-25 Mitchell sitting inside and a record player sitting on a table not far from the plane. As we stepped over the boundary between outside and into the hangar there was a noticeable temperature drop and we could finally hear the record on the player. "Major Nichols! Are you here?" A red haired man stuck his head out from a hole in the top of the bomber and waved at us with a big grin. "Hey Luna! Come on up!" We climbed up the steps they had against the wing and walked over to the top of the fuselage where Major Nichols was wedged in the crawl space over the bombay. "Luna there should be a wire brush somewhere out there. Can you please give it to me?" Luna floated a small wire brush to him and he began scraping away at the inside of the plane. "Damned thing is starting to rust. I told them boys they can't drink when they come in the crawl space for a nap. Do they ever listen though? No. Rank means nothing to them." "Get used to it. Once they see you as a buddy they never respect you. Try to be friendly but be firm at the same time." "You must be that new general I heard about. I'm Major Grayson Nichols. How you like Equestria so far?" "It's actually pretty nice aside from the death threats and the war clouds on the horizon." "Yeah. We hardly ever leave the base so most of the time when we get news from the outside it's almost a week old." Grayson tossed the brush out onto the wing and climbed out of the crawl space where a panel had been removed for more room. "Doesn't matter if you take a panel off, that damn thing is cramped either way." "Too bad you ain't in that seventeen out there. Plenty of room in that bird." "I wish I was. At least that thing has a belly turret. This Mitchell ain't got shit for underside protection. The older models had one but they took it off starting with the G model I think." "Well this is a nice J model I'll say that. What group are you with?" "Three forty fifth bomb group, five oh first bomb squadron." "So you're fifth air force. Lot less mosquitoes out here than in New Guinea." "Definitely. Sergeant, put the needle back on the record! I like to keep music in the hangar so time seems to go faster. Now, if you excuse me I need to check the status of some parts that are getting sand blasted." We all climbed down from the wing to the floor. "General Jones, I am afraid that I will not have time to show the rest of the base so why don't you head for the officer's barracks and try to rest until we head for the northern air field." "Alright. I might go see that griffin before we leave too." "Just promise me you won't shoot him this time." "I can't do that." "Fine, just try your best to refrain from shooting him." Luna and I parted ways and I headed for the infirmary where hopefully they had patched the griffin up. 'How would they fix two destroyed knees? Magic maybe? If they could fix up Marko within two days after he survived a plane wreck why not two shots to the knees?' There was an occasional spot of shade from a cloud overhead as the infirmary grew closer. Walking into the infirmary I could see the griffin lying on a bed on the far side of the room with his knees bandaged and a doctor standing by the bed. As I walked towards the hospital bed the griffin began to squirm and tried to get away. "Calm your shit birdbrain. I'm only here to talk." "Doctor, can you give us a moment?" "As long as the general agrees not to shoot you in the knees again." The doctor shot me a look before trotting away. "Now, who are you?" "I am Second Lieutenant Rory Zoller of the Sixty First Reconnaissance Wing." "Well Lieutenant Zoller, I need you to tell me what humans you have in your country." "We have two pilots, a tank crew with their tank, and a sea captain. They're the reason we have such advanced weapons." "Who are they?" "The tank crews, the captain, and one of the pilots are from a place called the Third Reich and a man from Japan." "So we're facing a few Nazis and a Jap. We took 'em on before so it shouldn't be that hard." "That is where you will face a problem General Jones. Our best pilot can out fly the German ace in nine out of ten mock dogfights they get in and is supposed to start training pilots soon." "Alright, I'll make you a deal. You switch over to our side, help us get as much info as we can on all we can, and we'll set you up in a comfy house on one of our bases." "You have a deal general. I never really wanted to fly for Gold Feather but when the socialists took over my town they gave me an option, either I join their militia or my family and I would be shot. I volunteered for this mission because they said there was a chance the flier would be intercepted. I knew it was my chance to escape. I never planned on you shooting me down or to be such a no good bastard towards you. Guess I got what I deserved." He looked down at his destroyed knees. "They say I'll be able to walk with leg braces or I can be in a wheelchair. I'll take having stiff legs over being a cripple." "How long until they said you can get out of here?" "A couple weeks until it's all fine. Until then I'll talk to your intelligence officers where ever I can." "Thank you for cooperating with me Lieutenant Zoller. My apologies for shooting you earlier." "It's fine general. Maybe one day when the non-too far off war is over I can tell my children I was lucky enough to be shot by the greatest general in Equestria." "You have children Lieutenant?" "A son and a daughter. My pride and joys. They were the only things that kept me going when the socialists sent me away." "I'll try to arrange for a special ops team to go and retrieve them for you." "Thank you general. You are a far kinder man than you first let on." I smiled and left the infirmary for the officer's barracks to try and get some sleep before leaving for the other base in the morning. ~~~~~ 20:50 Hours Officer's Barracks Area 13 ~~~~~ Thunderstreak shifted in an attempt to stay on the bunk with me and still somehow hold on to her book. "Having a tough time there honey?" "They sure as tartarus didn't design these bunks for couples did they?" "Unless Liberace is in charge of an all-male base, no they didn't." Finally getting fed up with trying to lie next to me, Thunderstreak climbed up onto me with her book. Flipping her book back open on my chest she continued reading. "Comfy?" "You aren't a mattress but yes. Very. You know, Lancaster asked me earlier if I was going to marry you. I think he's rushing us." "Sounds like it." "He really likes you ya know. Even though you two haven't spent much time together he really looks up to you. Anyone who can make one star general in a few days after joining the air force is a hero to him." "Well from being around him as little as I have I can tell he's a good kid, as long as he's not planted in front of that damn TV." "He wants you to take him flying sometime." "I can arrange that. So when we get off the base in the north we'll have a couple days in Ponyville before we have to go to Canterlot for that parade, and well, I was thinking about looking for a house there." "Are you hinting you want me to move in with you?" "If you want me to be. I guess I wouldn't be the only one to be rushing us if I did." "Well, I suppose since it is Ponyville it would be a smaller school so the kids might do better. Less crime in a small town that's for sure. And if it's a real house instead of an apartment it would definitely give us all more room. James, I know it is a bit rushed but can we move in with you if you buy a house in Ponyville?" "You know it. I can't remember the last time anyone has made me as happy as you. You are the most wonderful girl I've ever dated." "And you are the most wonderful guy I have ever dated. I hope we run into one of my ex-husband's just so I can show them I upgraded to a nice guy." I could feel more eyes on me so I turned to see Lancaster standing by the bunk staring at us. "Are you going to marry my mum?" "Well kiddo it's only been five days since I took her to the gala so not yet. But she did say she would move in with me if I buy a house in Ponyville." "So we get to live with you?!" Lancaster's smile went from ear to ear at the thought. "Sure do." "Are there many kids for me to play with?" "I know at least three fillies that will be all over you since you ain't got a cutie mark." "Yay! Let's go now!" "We'll go after I finish some business at another base." "How long will we be there?" "We'll leave Sunday morning for Ponyville and then your mom and I will be going to Canterlot for a parade on Tuesday." "Can I come?" "It's probably best if you stay home with your brother and sister if we get a house in Ponyville. But it's supposed to be on the TV so you can watch it which is almost like being there." "Fine." Lancaster trotted away for the table at the end of the barracks where a small TV had been put. "Well we know at least one of them will be happy about the move." "It's like a song I used to listen to as a kid but instead of a girl telling me I'll be wed it's a kid telling me I need to marry his mom." "And if you got any better at singin' from when you were a kid you should sound about like Dino or Presley by now. Looking over to the area on the right of the bunk I saw dad sitting there with a beer. "James sang as a kid?" "Sure did. Won first place in the seventh grade talent show." "It was eighth grade." "Close enough. Kid had a voice as smooth as silk and could damned near sing any song you gave him." "Well than I'm disappointed he hasn't serenaded me yet." "I did at the Apple's house but you were too drunk to remember." "Then do it when I'm sober." "I'll save it for the wedding." "So there is going to be a wedding. Nice to know Ah'll be getting a daughter-in-law." "Can you please go?" "Oh, sorry junior. I'll just go see what my future grandkids are up to." Dad walked away towards the kids with the beer still in his hand. "James, he's you're dad. Maybe try to connect with him. He hasn't seen you since you were a kid and he never got to see you grow up into a man. I wish my dad had made an effort to get to know me so I'm not letting you push him away." "Fine, I'll hang out with him tomorrow but right now it's time for bed." "Alright but there is no way I can sleep on your stomach." "Thunderstreak, I sleep on my side so there should be room for you. And just in case I'll hold onto you. Now grab that blanket while I get out of this damn uniform." Climbing off me Thunderstreak grabbed a blanket off the foot of the bunk as I striped down to my underwear and began putting on a grey wife beater that I had Rarity make. Spreading the blanket out Thunderstreak then climbed back into the bunk and waited for me to lie down. As I slid the shirt down I suddenly felt a hoof on the right side of my back stopping the shirt from going down further. "James, what is this scar on your back?" "Some friends and I got involved in a bar brawl when I was eighteen and one of the guys pulled a knife. Cut my back open and I had to get stitches. Cut almost down to the ribs but you can't kill a Waverly Scottie, you can only piss him off." "You were a busy boy when you were young." "Yep. Now, let's get some shuteye." Lying down beside Thunderstreak I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her towards me, feeling her fur brush against the exposed part of my chest. "I love you James." "Love you too honey. I love you too."
The Jolly Rogers	9: Settling Down	Quick note: the Swing Sisters lyrics are in red during this chapter. The performance is based off this. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "James, get up. Come on sweetie." Opening my eyes I saw Thunderstreak nose to nose with me. "Good mornin' beautiful. What Time is it?" "Six thirty. Celestia and Luna were feeling generous so they let tHe whole base sleep in." "Well there is no one Else I would rather wake up with than you. Even if your mane looks like you peed in a wall outlet." "Like yours is any better King Bedhead?" "Then you're Queen Bedhead. Now, time for a nap." "You just woke up." "And your point is?" "You're perfect for me." Pulling the blanket up over our heads I planted a quick kiss on her nose before falling back asleep. Around eight the kids came over and woke us up by pulling the blanket off us. "You three have ten seconds to explain why you did that or to run for your lives. Choose wisely." "Mom, we're hungry." "Hi hungry I'm mom. Now go away hungry, I'm trying to sleep." "Hi trying to sleep, we're hungry." The three kids by the bed said in unison. A hoof came at my head as I chuckled at the kids. "What was that for?" "For encouraging them. Alright so what do you three want?" "Food." They answered again in unison. "Keep being smartasses and you can go outside and eat sand for breakfast." "The cooks in the mess hall are still cooking breakfast since most of the base slept in." "Well what are they cooking?" "Biscuits and gravy. But they aren't going to be ready for another half hour." "So wait a half hour. Now give us the blanket back." "Actually General Jones you need to get up." Looking behind me I saw Celestia and Luna standing by the bunk with Luna trying not to laugh at me in my underwear. "Before my sister starts laughing will you please put on some pants?" "It's before ten so pants are optional." Sitting up I rubbed my eyes and Slid on the olive uniform pants that were on the floor. Looking around the barracks I saw most of the officers were still asleep. "So what the hell you got me up this early for?" "The base near Vanhoover. Remember?" "Oh yeah. Let me get washed up and dressed and are we Taking the train again?" "No, this time Miss Earhart and Lieutenant Allen will be flying us up there." "Good. Trains take too long." I said picking up the uniform jacket and putting it on and buttoning it up. "We also talked with the griffin you shot down yesterday. He gave us as much information as he could on the humans in the Griffin Kingdom, or Griffin Empire as they have renamed it. We also started a folder on the griffin air instructor. We should have it finished by the time you leave for Ponyville so you can look it over. Your father also told me you're looking for a home in Ponyville?" "Yeah. Why would my wanting a house be of your concern?" "Well I like my subjects to live nicely so if you would accept it, I would like to give you three hundred thousand bits for you to buy a house." "Yes!" "Thunderstreak hold on. There has to be more reason you would pay for my house. What else are you hiding?" "You've found the biggest secret we have general. I'm simply doing this out of the kindness of my heart." "Ok, I'll buy it for now. But don't give me a handout again. If I can't provide on my own then I'll work harder." "I can respect your decision general. Now, let's go eat." ~~~~~ 08:35 Hours Mess Hall Area 13 ~~~~~ Shoveling the last of the biscuits and gravy into my mouth with the fork I slid the plate away from me as a wave of nausea washed over me. "I shouldn't eat that fast." "Of course you shouldn't. I'm in amazement you somehow managed to eat two plates with double helpings in five minutes." "Thunderstreak, I love food. Nothing more to it." Laying my head on the table I groaned as my stomach continued to churn. All of a sudden I felt more nauseous than before and ran for a trash can as fast as I could. Letting lose all the food I had eaten the muscles in my stomach ached as the food continued to come up. "Never tastes as good around the second time does it sweetie?" "Oh for fuck's sakes, just get me a damn doctor!" ~~~~~ "Well Mr. Jones you have a temp of a hundred and one point five, severe nausea, and from what I understand you recently developed diarrhea." "Yeah." "Well it sounds like a stomach bug. Here's some medicine for you to take. Take it twice a day every twelve hours." A pill bottle floated over to me from the brown unicorn in the medic's uniform. "Thanks doc." The medical officer trotted away out of the barracks where Thunderstreak had brought me a few minutes earlier. "So is there anything I can do for you sweetie?" "Yeah, never get sick. I can barely take care of myself let alone the love of my life." "I'm sure you'd do just fine if I got sick. Now pop one of those pills and get ready for a train ride, we're going to Ponyville to look for a house and I don't care whether or not you're sick, I want you there to help me decide." "Alright, let me try to get as cleaned up as I can." Getting up I grabbed a rag off a rack by the small sink in the barracks and ran it under the water from the faucet. Wiping my face off I looked in the mirror at my face which was a pale green. I noticed a blue pegasus behind me in the mirror looking at me. "You look like shit." "Gee thanks Typhoon. That was very, truthful." "I do tend to be brutally honest." "So I can tell. Your mom tell you the news?" "About looking for a house in Ponyville? Yeah, she did." Turning around I sat down in a chair near her and looked at her. "So what do you think about it?" "Well, I've never really seen my mom so happy about someone before. When she came home after you took her to the gala she was so happy. She was smiling and couldn't stop talking about you. She showed off the dress you bought for her too. As long as you make my mom happy I'm happy." "That's good," I waved for her to come towards me which she did "cause just between you and me I'm not really sick. I had this planned out. Between the infirmary and here last night I ran into that medic from earlier and paid him fifty bits to give me some sugar pills with a fake label. Then I made sure I ate fast so I would puke, he used a fake thermometer, and I made sure to take a laxative when no one was looking." "Why?" "Because there is something I need to do in Ponyville beside buy a house." "What is it?" "It's a surprise for all of you. Now, twenty bits and you keep this a secret." "Thirty bits." "Deal. I would have gone up to fifty by the way." "Damn it!" Trotting away mad that she could have gotten fifty bits Typhoon checked to be sure her bags were packed. As she did I felt a hoof on my shoulder. Turning I saw Thunderstreak behind me smiling softly. "Did you talk with her about the move?" "Yeah. She said as long as you're happy she's happy." "That's my girl. So what did you whisper to her?" "Nothing important. I'm gonna pop one of those pills and pack my shit." Getting up I grabbed a paper cup and went over to the faucet and took one of the disguised sugar pills. "Now, let's get crackin'." ~~~~~ 12:00 Hours Ponyville, Equestria Ponyville Train Station ~~~~~ Stepping down from the train onto the platform I was turning to help Thunderstreak and the kids with their luggage when a pink blur knocked me to the wood platform. "OhmygoshJamesIjustrememberedIdidn'tthrowawelcometoEquestriapartyforyou!" "Pinkie?" "Yeah?" "Please get off me. I'm not feeling very good so get off before I puke." "Sorry. So what about the party?" "Pinkie, I have more pressing matters than a party you want to throw." Pinky climbed off me as the other six arrived, along with some others, arrived to greet us. "Hello James." "Hey Twilight. How have things been in Ponyville since you guys left the base?" "Fairly quiet." "Good. When do the kids have to be signed up for school here?" "August 16th. Two days from now." "Perfect cause Thunderstreak and I were thinking of buying a house here in town." "Oh that's wonderful, but isn't it all a bit fast for you two?" "A bit but we're comfortable with it. It's what we want and the kids are fine with it." "Well then welcome to Ponyville." "Thanks Twilight. And Pinky if you want you can throw a party once we get Moved in." "Yay!" As Thunderstreak went over struck up a conversation with the mares in front of us I felt a small hoof tugging at my pant leg. Looking down I saw Lancaster looking up at me and pointing at the three fillies that accompanied the six mares to the train station. "You can go play as long as you stay out of trouble." "Thanks dad!" I smiled as he ran towards the three fillies as it sank in what he said. 'Dad. He called me dad. I'm someone's dad.' "James, sweetie, what's got you smiling?" "It's, it's nothing big but Lancaster just called me dad." "Oh sweetie that's so wonderful!" "Yeah, it is. Guess he really thinks we're gonna get married huh?" "Well you are pretty good with the kids and rather handsome so you would be a good catch. I am one lucky mare." "Damn right you are." "Can I have a kiss?" "But I'm sick." "Oh bullshit. I know you were faking to get out of going to that base." "How'd you know?" "Guys are always whiners when they're sick and you've barely complained." "Alright ya caught me." Flying up to my eye level Thunderstreak turned her head and I planted a kiss on her cheek. "Thank you. Now, let's find a house so I can call a moving company to ship all our shit from Manehattan." "Alright. So, girls, know any houses for sale here?" ~~~~~ 14:21Hours 1237 North Main Street Ponyville ~~~~~ "Now this house has five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a family room, and a furnished basement." The white real-estate pony said as she led us through the two story house. "Well of the five houses that would fit us all inside this one certainly is the nicest. How much is it?" "Two hundred fifty thousand bits." "We'll take it." "Alright, let's fill out the paperwork." Leading us into the kitchen the earth pony mare lied out the paperwork we needed to fill out and sign. After several minutes of filling out the forms we put the last signatures on the papers. "Congratulations you two. You just bought a house." The real-estate pony packed up her papers and left The house to us. "Alright, I'm going to call a moving company in Manehattan and have them start shipping our things then I have to call to have the mail forwarded here." "Alright honey. While you do that I'm gonna go get us some lunch since we didn't eat on the train." "Make sure to get me a cupcake from that bakery we saw earlier!" "Yes dear!" Walking out the door I pulled it shut and noticed a male zebra putting an envelope in the mail box. "Hey, what are you doing?!" The zebra looked at me and ran off as fast as he could. Opening the mailbox I reached in and grabbed the envelope with Thunderstreak's name on it. 'Do I open it and read it or do I take it in to her?' Deciding on the latter I took the letter inside and set it on the coffee table the previous owners had left in the living room. Heading back out I worried slightly at how fast the zebra had run away when I yelled at him. As I walked through town I looked for the bakery that we had seen and it wasn't long before the bright colors of Sugar Cube Corner caught my eye. Going inside I ordered a dozen cupcakes From the mare behind the counter and hurried out as fast as I could before Pinkie Pie noticed I was there. As I left the bakery I noticed Thunderstreak sneaking into the library. 'What are you up to?' Stealthily as possible I went over to the library and looked in a window. Inside a teary Thunderstreak was writing something on a piece of paper before folding it up with the envelope that had her name on it and giving it to Spike who sent it away in a puff of green fire. ~~~~~ Five minutes earlier ~~~~~ Thunderstreak trotted into the living room after finishing all the calls she had to make. "Ahh, I'm so happy we finally got this done and over with." Flopping down on the floor she looked around the room at the light yellow walls and the few things still in there from the last owners. Among the things she noticed was the letter I had set on the coffee table. Picking up the envelope she opened it up and read the note that was inside. Eyes widening in horror she took the envelope and note and took off out the door for the library. "Please let Twilight know what to do!" Flying into the library Thunderstreak almost crashed into the ladder Spike was on. "Twilight!" Galloping into the room Twilight skidded to a stop in front Thunderstreak who tears streaming down her cheeks and looked at her. "Thunderstreak, what's wrong?" Thunderstreak held up the letter and Twilight took it with her magic and read over the two sentences on the paper before looking up at Thunderstreak with a terrified look on her face. "We need to tell the princesses about this at once." "I'll get a quill and some paper!" Running around the library they finally found the things they needed, after Spike told them where, and began writing a letter to the royal sisters. As Thunderstreak finished writing the letter she folded the note and envelope inside it and gave it to Spike who sent it away to Canterlot. ~~~~~ Outside the Golden Oaks Library ~~~~~ I ducked behind a bush as Thunderstreak trotted out of the library and flew off towards the house. Once she was a good distance away I got up and went into the library where Twilight was sitting trying to process whatever had happened moments earlier. "Twilight, what's going on?" "It's nothing James." "Allow me to explain why that's bullshit. I saw Thunderstreak come in here crying and her sending a letter to Canterlot along with that piece of mail she got. What did the letter say?" "Nothing." "Bullshit. Twilight, whatever it is has my marefriend more upset than I could imagine so I need to know." "It's what the note said." "What did it say?" ~~~~~ "Signed S.W." Celestia lowered the letter and looked over at Luna. "S.W.? As in the same S.W. we have been trying to take down for months?" "I am afraid so my dear sister." "If this is the case than we must cancel the parade." "Luna, we cannot cancel the parade. The best we can do is take all the security measures we can to make sure they are all safe." "Very well. But please rethink my suggestion." "I will Luna, I will." Luna slowly trotted out of the throne room towards her bedroom while Celestia looked over the letter again and again. "Where are you S.W.? Where are you?" She whispered to herself as she stared at the signature as though it would give some sort of answer. ~~~~~ My mind raced as I walked along the cobblestone streets of Ponyville. 'What the hell did it say?! It must not be good for Twilight to flat out lie and say nothing.' From my lack of paying attention I crashed into something and both of us made an oof sound as we hit the ground. "Hey buddy! Why don't you watch where you're- oh sorry James." The rainbow maned pegasus quickly apologized. "Hey Dash. Sorry 'bout running into you. Kinda lost in my thoughts right now." "I was reading the new Daring Do book." She replied as she scooped the book up off the ground. "I wouldn't take you to be a reader Dash. Say, if y'all happen to visit the library today or tomorrow see if you can get some info out of Twilight about a note Thunderstreak got in the mail." "Ok. Any idea on what it might be?" "Dash, if I knew I wouldn't be asking you to get info for me about it." "Oh, right. Well I've gotta go. See ya later!" Rainbow Dash quickly put her things in her saddle bags and took off into the blue sky. I picked myself up and dusted myself off before heading for the house. As I walked up the small path up to the house I could see Thunderstreak on the phone in the kitchen. Opening the door I called out that I was home and wandered into the kitchen. "Hello sweetie. How are you? Did you get the cupcakes?" "Shit! I must have dropped them when I ran into Rainbow Dash. Why don't we go down to the market, get things to make dinner, and pick up some fresh not smashed cupcakes on the way back?" "Alright, any suggestions on what we should have so I know what to get?" "Pizza." "Alright so we're going to need dough, pizza sauce, cheese, and some toppings." "Okay, let's get going." Walking outside I wrapped my arm around Thunderstreak's as she flew up to eye level with me. "Alright the market should be around the center of town." Going through town the sky suddenly got cloudy and it seemed that a storm was moving in. "James, did you hear anything about them scheduling a storm for this afternoon?" "No but then again I don't hear much." A flash of lightning darted across the sky and a crack of thunder followed close behind making me jump slightly. "Why don't we just go inside that little restaurant, get lunch there, and call around to see where the kids are before it starts pouring?" "Sounds good to me." The first few drops of rain began to fall as we stepped inside where the smell of food made my stomach growl. Taking off my officer's cap I put it on the hat rack by the door as a waiter approached us with two menus. "Hello folks, table for two?" "Yes please." Leading us to a table over by a small stage for musicians the waiter sat us down and took our drink orders before heading for the kitchen. "Sweetie, while we're just sitting here why don't you call around and see if the kids are with any of the girls?" "Alright. If the waiter comes back I want the hayburger and fries with a cup of ranch dressing on the side." "Ranch dressing? For what?" "My fries. I like to dip my fries in ranch. I actually prefer it to ketchup." "Has anyone ever told you you're weird?" "They never really stop." Closing my menu I got up and went over to the phone booths by the restrooms. "Let's see here, police public call box? No. Ah, telephone." Stepping into the small oak phone booth I picked up the phone and had the operator connect me to Applejack's. A few seconds later Applejack answered but not how I figured she would. "Apple family whore house. You got the dough, we got the ho. How can Ah help ya?" "I get times are bad AJ but not this bad." "Oh, sorry James. We get so many of them over the phone salesponies callin' us now a day's we gotta find a way to try and discourage 'em." "Makes sense. So I was calling to see if Lancaster was out there since he took off with Applebloom and them." "Yeah he's here. Made sure they was inside 'fore the storm started so he's fine." "Alright, thanks AJ." Hitting the disconnect I was talking to the operator again and had her connect me to the library. "Golden Oaks Library, how can I help you?" Hey Twilight it's James. Are Sabre or Typhoon there?" "Yeah they're both here actually. I guess they were out with some other ponies they met and came in here when it started raining." "Alright, well tell them to go home when the rain's over." "I will." "Thanks Twilight." Hanging up the phone I walked towards the table and brushed away the thought when I realized the police box was missing. Sitting down at the table I took a sip of my drink. "The waiter come back yet?" "Yeah. Food should be out in a bit." We sat and chatted as the band set up their equipment and talked with who looked like the manager. I could tell Thunderstreak was listening to their conversation so I decided to sit and listen too. "I thought you said the singer was going to be here." "He was supposed to be." "If he isn't here in the next five minutes you're fired." Looking over at Thunderstreak I saw a devilish grin on her face and I realized what she was thinking. "No. No. I'm not doing what you're thinking." "Oh come on James. Please? For me?" "I don't even know what songs they can play." "Well let's find out shall we?" Waving a hoof at the musician that had been talking to the manager she had him come over to the table. "I'm sorry but we couldn't help but hear your predicament. What kind of music do you play?" "Mostly romance and jazzy songs." The light blue earth pony replied. "Perfect because I have a guy here who apparently can sing." "Him?" The stallion asked looking at me. "Hey, are you doubtin' my singin' skills?" "No it's just you don't look like the singing type to me sir." "Give me one of your books and let me see what y'all play." Trotting back to the stage he grabbed a song book off the piano and brought it back to the table. Taking the book from him and flipped through it for a song I might know. "Ah ha, here we go. I know this one like the back of my hand." Looking over at the book he smiled. "That's one of our most requested songs." Getting up the stallion smiled at the manager and told the ponies on stage what song. "Alright, fellas. Get me a mike and let's do this." Hoofing over a 1950's style microphone they all took their places. I cleared my throat to get the attention of the patrons as the butterflies in my stomach went wild. The customers all looked over at the stage and me. "Hello everyone. I know it's not a very sunny day so a few of you just ducked in here to get out of the rain. Anyways, this is the first time I've sang in front of a crowd since high school so I might be a bit rusty, but this song is for the most wonderful mare in the world." I pointed at Thunderstreak and saw her face turn bright red. The band started up and I felt the butterflies disappear as the music relaxed me. "L is for the way you look at me O is for the only one I see V is very, very extraordinary E is even more than anyone that you adore and "Love is all that I can give to you Love is more than just a game for two Two in love can make it Take my heart and please don't break it Love was made for me and you "L is for the way you look at me O is for the only one I see V is very, very extraordinary E is even more than anyone that you adore and "Love is all that I can give to you Love is more than just a game for two Two in love can make it Take my heart and please don't break it Love was made for me and you "Love was made for me and you Love was made for me and you" The crowd applauded and Thunderstreak looked like she was on the verge of tears. As I stood smiling at all the applauding ponies one of them yelled for more and most of the others followed suit. "Alright but my food's waiting so let me eat it 'fore it gets cold and I'll be back." Stepping off the stage I sat down at the table where Thunderstreak smiled at me. "That was beautiful James. Your dad was right about you being a wonderful singer." I took a bite out of the hayburger and grinned. "Well, I grew up watching Martin, Presley, and Sinatra on TV so I just learned to copy them as best as I could." "Well they were obviously good." As I was about finished eating I felt a hoof on my right shoulder and saw Thunderstreak on the verge of hyperventilating. Turning around I saw three mares behind me, a blonde and two brunettes, each a different type of pony. "I gotta say general, you were very good up there." "Thank you girls. My marefriend and I are big fans of yours." "Oh well that's sweet. How about you join our trio once you're done and the four of us will do a number. "Then it'll be a quart." Wiping my mouth I stood up and got up on the stage again with the three mares following me up. The crowd in the restaurant saw us and began clapping their hooves. "Fillies and gentlecolts I present to you the Swing Sisters." There was even louder approval from the crowd as the mares bowed before the band struck up the music. I snapped my fingers as the mares began singing. "The sweet, sweet the memories you gave to me Can't beat the memories you gave to me" "Take one fresh and tender kiss Add one stolen night of bliss One girl, one boy Some grief, some joy Memories are made of this" The music suddenly changed and I picked up on what was happening. "The faucet she is dripping and the fence she's fallen down" "My pocket needs some money so I can't go into town" "His brother he ain't workin' and his sister she don't care" "And the car she needs a motor so I can't go anywhere Manana, manana, manana is soon enough for me" "Take back your samba" "Ay" "Your rumba" "Ay" "Your conga" "Ay yi yi" "Now maybe latins" "Hey" "In their middles" "Hey" "Are built stronger" "Ay yi yi" "But all this talkin' to the quakin' and this makin' with the shakin' leaves me achin'" "Ole!" "South America" "Take it away!" "If you ever go down Trinidad They make you feel so very glad Calypso sing and make up rhyme Guarantee you one real good fine time" "Drinkin' rum and Coca~Cola" "Go down point Koomahnah Both mother and daughter Workin' for the yankee dollar " The music changed back to the original song and the mares picked up where it had left off. "Sweet, sweet the memories you gave to me You can't beat the memories you gave to me" "Don't forget a small moonbeam Fold in lightly with a dream Your lips and mine Two sips of wine Memories are made of this "Then add the wedding bells One house where lovers dwell" "Three little kids for the flavor" "Stir carefully through the days See how the flavor stays These are the dreams you will savor "With his blessings from above Serve it generously with love One man, one wife One love, through life Memories are made of this" "Sweet, sweet oh yeah!" The audience in the restaurant had swelled to over a hundred ponies that had heard the music on the street. The sound of ponies clapping their hooves was deafening as I took a quick bow and stepped down to pay the bill. Taking the bill off the table I took it over to the cashier and paid before grabbing my cap off the hat rack. I felt another hoof on my shoulder and Thunderstreak nuzzling me. Going outside the rain had stopped and the sun was shining down on Ponyville. As we started to walk away from the restaurant a feminine voice called out to us and we turned around to see the three mares that had joined me on stage. "Hey girls." "Oh, we never did tell you our names did we? I'm Jazzy, and these are my sisters Scat and Ragtime." "So swing is just a stage name?" "Pretty much." There was a tugging at my shoulder and I looked to see Thunderstreak pointing at Sabre trotting towards home. "Hey Sabre! Come here a moment sweetie." Sabre trotted over with a gigantic grin. "What's got you so happy?" "I met the most amazing girl in the world." "Oh really? What's her name?" "Brush Stroke. She's a life guard and swimming instructor at the pool here in town and an artist." "Oh she sounds nice. How are you going to woo her?" "I hadn't really thought of that." Jazzy put a hoof over his shoulder and smiled. "Kid, if you want to impress a lady you've got to serenade her. Sing a song to her like James did for your mom." "You're right. I'll go home and get my guitar." Galloping away Sabre headed home and we were left standing there. "Now, General Jones, there is something we would like to discuss with you." ~~~~~ 17:31 Hours 1237 North Main Street Ponyville ~~~~~ We were all sitting around the kitchen table as the movers brought more things in. "How did they get all this stuff here so fast?" "They had pegasi fly it here from Manehattan in air trailers. Faster than shipping it by train." I took another sip of my tea as the front door slammed shut. We all turned to see Sabre sopping wet from head to hooves. "So, how'd it go?" "She pushed me off the diving board into the pool." There was a lot of suppressed snickering by us and even a few of the movers. The light green unicorn colt plopped down in one of the chairs at the table and floated a towel over and started drying himself off. "She'll come around eventually kid. I'm sure she will." "Yeah right. She embarrassed me in front of everypony there." "Oh honey, that means she secretly does like you." He groaned and slammed his head down on the table. "I think that girl broke him." There was some laughter before Jazzy set down her coffee. "Alright Mr. Jones, my sisters and I heard you're building up an air force to take on anyone who threatens Equestria. We would like to inquire about enlisting to fly or, if nothing else, perform for the troops." "Well I don't think mares can serve on the front lines unless they're a nurse like Thunderstreak. Looks like you girls may be stuck singin' and dancin'." "If that's what it takes to serve our nation then we'll do it." A knock at the door got out attention and I got up to answer it. Opening the door I looked down to see Rainbow Dash standing on the welcome mat. Stepping out I shut the door and she flew up to my level. "Sorry James. All I got out of her was that it was about you." "I figured it probably was by the way it got her all worked up." "Oh, while I'm here there are a couple of things I figured I'd do." Pulling a newspaper out of her saddlebag she gave it to me and I unrolled it to see in big letters Canterlot-Gryphus Race Canceled. "Oh for fuck's sake. I guess those Corsairs are gonna be the first R.E.A.F. fighters then." "Since you brought that up, I was wondering about enlisting." "What the hell is with everypony wanting to enlist all of a sudden?!" "So do I talk to you about that or what?" "Uh, yeah sure. Let me talk to Celestia first and I'll try to work something out." "Thanks James. See ya!" She shot off into the sky like a rocket and soon disappeared from sight. Stepping back inside I sat down at the table and chugged the rest of my tea. "Who was that sweetie?" "Rainbow Dash dropping off a paper for me saying the race to Gryphus is off. Probably cause of that prick they put in power." "Oh I'm so sorry sweetheart. So what is going to happen to those planes you were having built?" "Well, probably have some guns put in the wings, a couple of hardpoints for drop tanks and what not under the fuselage, and then have 'em painted up in olive and grey camo. And while we're on that subject I'm gonna go see the planes. Who wants to come with me?" All four mares jumped up and hurried over to the door and stood by the door waiting for me to open it like a gentleman, which I happily did. ~~~~~ 16:13 Hours Sweet Apple Acres Ponyville ~~~~~ Hoping down from the wing of the first completed Corsair I ran my hand over the bare aluminum that shinned in the light of the descending sun outside the shed. "Well Fancy, your guys and the guys Celestia sent did a pretty good job. But the question before we can fly it is does it run?" "Well why don't you climb in and test it general?" Putting my foot up in the step that pops down from the fuselage I hoisted myself up onto the wing and into the rear cockpit of the Corsair trainer. Looking around the cockpit I found the magnetos by my left knee and yelled "clear prop" before flipping the switch to start and watching the propeller spin as the engine tried to start. The engine whined as it spun the prop then suddenly roared to life. I pushed the throttle forward and held the brakes to see how high I could get the rpm's as high as I could. As soon as the engine hit full power I chopped the throttle and shut down the engine. Climbing out of the plane I smiled at the fact that it had actually worked. "Ya did hear about the race right?" "Yes. It is a shame these aircraft cannot race but I am sure you'll find a use for them general." "I have actually. I need this one painted in olive drab and natural grey camo with the R.E.A.F. insignia painted on by noon tomorrow because I'm taking this thing on her maiden flight." "I'm sure we can do that." "And maybe a pirate flag on the side of the cowling." "Yes sir."
The Jolly Rogers	10: Test Flights, Diamond Rings, and Corpses	A loud bang jolted me awake and I glanced over at the clock on the bedside table, two thirty in the morning. Thunderstreak was sitting up in bed next to me wide eyed. "James, go see what that was." I opened the drawer on the nightstand and pulled out the .44. Sliding out of bed still in my underwear I crept into the hallway and looked down the stairs towards the lower floor where all was quiet. Going down the hallway towards the kid's bedrooms I pushed open the first door where Typhoon was holding a ball bat, obviously awakened by the noise too. Continuing on I looked in Lancaster's room and found him squeezing a teddy bear. "If you're scared kiddo ya can go in me and your mom's room." Hopping out of bed he galloped the whole way and I heard him belly flop onto the bed. All that was left was the bathroom and Sabre's room. Slowly pushing the bedroom door open I saw Sabre lying face down on the floor, still snoring. "All good everyone! Just Sabre falling out of bed." There was annoyed groaning from the other bedrooms which told me this was an almost regular occurrence. Going back into our room I saw Lancaster still snuggled up to Thunderstreak with his teddy bear. "Can I still sleep in here?" "Sure buddy. Just as long as you don't steal all the blankets." Climbing back into bed I put the gun back in the drawer as a couple of small legs wrapped around my neck. "Thanks daddy!" "Alright, lie down and go to sleep." Lancaster flopped down between Thunderstreak and me and curled up with his bear. Laying down I went back to sleep until my alarm went off ~~~~~ 11:50 Hours Sweet Apple Acres Friday August 15, 1986 ~~~~~ The princesses walked around the freshly painted Corsair and seemed impressed by its sleekness. "So General Jones, what are the capabilities of this airplane?" "That's what I was hoping to test with this flight. If she performs like she should then she should be able to take on almost any fighter the enemy can throw at us." "Good because we sent in a special high speed, high altitude jet to get these photos." Celestia levitated a small stack of black and white recon photographs over to me. I looked at the first one which was of an airfield but primarily focused on the planes parked there. Setting the photo on the wing of the plane I looked harder at the silhouettes and saw more details, such as several more planes being assembled on the field. "Well based off the fairly blunt wingtips I can say these are early model Messerschmitt 109's. Looks like they got an early model 190 there too." "The griffin government has yet to announce the existence of the planes or the humans they have in their nation. We believe if they do they will do it by showing them off during the opening of the Equestria Games which are being held in Gryphus next month. We also have the file on the griffin pilot for you." The folder floated over and landed on the wing by the rest of the pictures. "So what are the Equestria Games?" "It's an international sporting event that is held every two years in a different city." "Sounds about like the Olympics." "We were hoping you could do a fly over when the Equestrian team comes out into the stadium as well." "I don't see why not." Looking down at my watch the hands showed the time to be five to noon. "Alright everyone! I need y'all back away from the center of the clearing! Dash, be ready to take off with the camera so you can get some shots of the plane in flight." "Camera's ready." I climbed up into the cockpit and was about to start the engine when I heard yelling for us to wait. We all looked to see Austin running towards the group, obviously just off the train from Canterlot. "Umm, Austin, any particular reason you're in a dress?" "Oh, I got a part time job as a can-can dancer." "I'm fucking done." Trying to forget the haunting image of Austin in a dress I flipped the magnetos and the engine roared to life. Pushing the throttle forward the warbird slowly rolled forward and I taxied it to the end of the clearing. Shoving the throttle all the way the Corsair gained speed and the control column shook as the plane wanted to climb. Slowly pulling back on the stick the plane lifted off and Rainbow Dash was soon on my right wing snapping pictures. I raised the gear which made a thunk as the gear bay doors shut. Leveling out at around a hundred feet I banked left and headed for Ponyville. Coming in low and fast I saw several ponies dive for cover and a few just stand awestruck in the middle of the street. Buzzing the buildings around the town center I saw a small purple dragon drop the scrolls he was carrying as he dove for the ground. Pulling up into a strait up climb I waited until the plane was just above stall speed before applying full right rudder and spinning it around into a dive. Pulling up just above the roof tops I put it through a barrel roll and headed back towards the strip at Sweet Apple Acres. Flying a big circle around the clearing I lined up with the end of the strip and lowered the flaps and gear. Sliding the canopy back I put my free hand over my officer's cap and leaned my head out into the August air. From the back cockpit I could see the main landing gear down and locked. Pulling the nose up above the horizon just before I touched down I saw the stall warning light up as I landed. Hitting the brakes the Corsair began to slow and I taxied it over by the shed. Shutting down the engine I jumped down to the ground where all the ponies and Austin. "I'd say this calls for a celebration!" There were shouts of agreement from everyone and Pinkie seemingly pulled a record player and dress from nowhere and started dancing with Austin. "If we back away very quietly, they might not notice we left." "James! Just because the man got a job where he has to wear a dress doesn't mean it's weird." "It's not that he's in a dress. It's the fact he's got leg hair like a gorilla that makes me wanna puke." "Well, he's not wrong." Austin said lifting the dress just enough to gross everyone out. "Miller put the damn dress down and let's all go into town and get a drink." We all headed for the cars the princesses had brought down from the north and Thunderstreak, the kids, and I climbed into the back seat of the Lincoln convertible with the princesses in the seat in front of us. The car took off and we were in the center of town within fifteen minutes parked in front of an Itallion restaurant. Climbing out of the car we all piled into the restaurant where all the ponies inside looked in shock at the two princesses waiting with us to be seated. A young waitress who couldn't have been older than fifteen came over with a stack of menus and nervously escorted over to a table made up of several other tables pushed together. "Can I take your drink orders while you all look over the menus?" The young mare asked in a voice that reminded me of a slightly louder Fluttershy. We gave her our drink orders and all looked over the menus while chatting about the day's events. All eyes suddenly turned to Rainbow Dash and Celestia however when the subject of her desired enlistment came up. "So Miss Dash, I got a call from General Jones last night that you want to enlist in the air force. What are you hoping to do if you do join?" "Well princess I want to be a pilot." "A fighter pilot?" "Yes ma'am." "Well normally mares cannot serve on the front lines, with the exception of nurses, but Lieutenant Day told me that blacks could not fly either until they formed the 99th Fighter Squadron. Rainbow Dash, how would you feel about helping to form an all mares fighter group?" "It would be an honor your highness." "Oh, no need to be so formal with me. Just call me Tia." "So, Tia, will we be stationed in Ponyville too?" "It is probably a good idea to start somewhere small like Ponyville. And while we're talking about that I need to speak to the mayor about the location of the air field when we're all done here." The waitress returned with our drinks and passed them out and took the orders which ended up with us ordering six extra-large pizzas which should have been enough for all of us. Thanks to Pinkie and Rainbow Dash, it wasn't. The pizzas were gone within a half hour and we all decided it was time to go. Luna picked up the bill and even left the waitress a twenty bit tip. We all said our goodbyes and went our separate ways. ~~~~~ 14:00 Hours 1237 North Main Street Ponyville ~~~~~ The grandfather clock in the corner chimed twice but I barely noticed as I had my face buried in a newspaper. My focus remained unbroken until I heard Thunderstreak talking to me from the other side of the paper. "Oh, James." Lowering the paper I looked at her and saw her in a black silk nightgown. "The kids are all out of the house. I thought, maybe we could do some, things." "Depends. Will there be cake?" "There will be cake." ~~~~~ Ten minutes later ~~~~~ I set the plate on the nightstand and pulled Thunderstreak over to me. "Cake in bed and a TV in the bedroom? I knew there's a reason I fell in love with you." "I'm amazed that cake didn't spoil when they shipped the fridge here." She replied as she nuzzled into my side. "Spoiled or not it's still cake. I'll just scape the mold off." "All guys do." As we lied in bed the peace was suddenly shattered as the front door slammed shut and we heard someone trot inside. "Mum?! Dad?! I'm home!" "Shh, if we don't make a sound maybe he'll go play outside." "Are you guys upstairs?" "Shit. Yes honey?!" "Can I go to Miss Applejack's?" "Yes, just be home before dark." "But the crusaders were going to have a sleepover at the clubhouse." "Alright but I want you home in time for us to sign you up for school tomorrow." "Thanks mum!" "Speaking of doing things before it gets dark I need to go into town for something." "What is it?" "How did you put it when you wouldn't let me see you in the dress? Oh, that's right! Spoilers." "Don't use my words against me mister." Buttoning up my jacket I put on my cap and went downstairs where I heard a noise in the kitchen. Looking in the kitchen I saw Lancaster holding a mountain of food in his hooves when he noticed me looking in. Shutting the fridge he backed out the side door. "You didn't see anything." Shrugging my shoulders I went out the front door and headed for the opposite side of town and Carousel Boutique. As I walked I passed the pool and saw Sabre still trying to win over the life guard, trying being the key word. Continuing on through town I had to take another side street to avoid Lyra who worked in a shop ahead. Finally reaching the boutique I stepped inside and the jingle of the bell got Rarity's attention. "Hello James. How are you?" "Pretty good." "I heard you were a big hit at that one restaurant yesterday." "Yeah well don't expect me to do anything like that again anytime soon." "So is there something you need darling?" "I heard you're pretty good with gems." "Indeed I am. Is there something you need? Necklace or something?" "A necklace would be nice but I was thinking something a bit smaller." "A bracelet?" "Smaller." "Oh my James, are you really asking for what I think you are?" "Yes I am. I have forty thousand bits left after I bought the house so I want the nicest one you can make." "Oh James I can't take your money for something so important! Think of it as an early gift from me." "I can't let you do that Rarity. I'm paying for it weather you let me or not." "Well I have one already made that you can buy now." Rarity floated a small velvet box over to me and I pulled out a bag of bits. "Rarity, you are doing me a huge favor." "It's nothing dear. I'm still saying you let me give you the ring as a gift." "I get the whole generosity thing but I insist I pay. No but's about it. I'm paying for the ring." "If you insist. The ring is two thousand bits." Opening up the bag I pulled out two stacks of hundred bit notes and set them on the desk in the room. "There's what I owe you, plus," reaching back in the bag I pulled out another stack and set it down "plenty for a wedding dress." "I'll make it the most beautiful dress anypony's ever seen." "Thanks again Rarity. I'm gonna be the luckiest man in the universe." I said as I slipped the velvet box into my pocket. "And Thunderstreak the luckiest mare. Now go home and I want to see her with a diamond ring tomorrow when I sign up Sweetie Belle." "Will do Rarity." I told her as I stepped out of the shop. "Will do." ~~~~~ 17:00 Hours 1237 North Main Street ~~~~~ Running up the stairs I went into the bedroom and flopped down on the bed next to Thunderstreak who looked over at me. "So are you going to tell me what you needed in town now?" "Nope. It's a surprise. Say, let's go do something." "Like what?" "Put on the ritz and go have a picnic." "I'll get some food and a blanket." "I'll get my tux." "And make sure to get your bowtie. I like bowties. Bowties are cool." "Will do sweetheart. And you make sure to get that red dress I got ya." "Well what else would I wear sweetie?" ~~~~~ 19:00 Hours Ponyville Park ~~~~~ "This is really nice James." Thunderstreak said as we sat looking at the sky changing its color from blue to a dull orange from our picnic blanket. "Sure is." "You ever wonder what it's like up there? All those stars and planets that nopony has ever seen. James?" "Hmm?" "What is your planet like?" "It's sorta like this one but the sun and moon move on their own. And a lack of talkin' ponies too. Then there's the cars and all that. It's so similar yet so different from this place at the same time. It's like I'm in a dream." "Well I know the princesses said they would send you back when everything blows over with the griffins and well, wherever you go, I go." She scooted over and pressed her head against my chest. "Hey Thunderstreak?" "Yeah?" "What do you think is the ultimate step we could take?" "As in us as a couple? I don't know, maybe adopt another kid?" "Sounds nice actually but there's something else I was thinking of." "What's that?" Shifting to where she moved to face me I got up from sitting, onto one knee, and reached into my pocket. "Thunderstreak, you are the light of my life. You are my reason for living. You are the most beautiful, kindest, and wonderful mare in the world. My life didn't feel complete until I went to the gala with you. Basically what I'm trying to say is," I pulled the small box from my pocket and she put her hooves up to her mouth is shock "Thunderstreak, will you marry me?" "Yes, yes, YES!" I stood up and threw my hands up in victory. "She said yes! I'm the luckiest man ever!" Several ponies in the park looked in our direction and smiled when they saw what was going on. "So where are going to go for the honeymoon? Haywaii maybe?" "That sounds nice. Or Prance. I hear that's romantic." "You make enough that we can go anywhere. Where are we getting married?" "I hear Canterlot has some nice areas for weddings." "And my dress. What about my dress?" "I already paid for it at Rarity's. You can talk to her about it tomorrow when we're at the school sign up." "I never thought I would ever get married again but here you went and swept me off my hooves." "I can do that." Scooping her up in my arms she let out a surprised sqee before turning beat red as I carried her home. We ignored the looks from the ponies out and about and when we got home I opened the door and carried her inside. The kids all looked at us from the couch in confusion at our sudden happiness. "What's got you two so happy?" I pulled the ring box back out and the kid's eyes went wide. "You proposed?!" "Sure did." "And she said yes?!" "We wouldn't be grinnin' is she'd said no now would we?" Typhoon shot up from the couch and pulled Thunderstreak away from me into a hug. "Mom I'm so happy for you! And James, you're obviously insane to join this family. You'll fit right in." "I figured I would. Now, I have just the thing for this occasion." Walking into the kitchen I pulled a bottle of wine out of one of the cabinets and some wine glasses. "Four wine glasses? Sweetie, we can't let them drink. They're minors." "Well I figure for all the shit of mine they're going to have to put up with they at least deserve a glass of wine with us. And literal shit is included in that. I've managed to plug one of them industrial strength shitters at a hospital before so imagine here." "Dear heavens James. Way too much information. But I will take that glass of wine." "See? Typhoon's got the spirit. Now let's drink." "Fine. So when are we going to announce the engagement to everypony?" "Tomorrow I guess? I don't know how that all works." I replied as I poured the wine. The phone started ringing, and since I was the closest, I answered it and an excited voice began shooting me rapid fire questions. "Did she say yes? Did she? Did she? Did she?" "Yes Rarity, she said yes." "Oh I'm so happy for you! When and where's the wedding?" "We haven't figured that out yet but we'll let ya know as soon as we do." "Can I please call and tell the others?" "Hold on. Thunderstreak, is it ok if Rarity tells the others about us?" Thunderstreak nodded yes and I told Rarity who immediately hung up to make the calls. Sitting down at the table I downed my wine in one go before looking over at Thunderstreak and then the kids. "Tell ya what kids, here's twenty bits for each of you. Go into town for a couple of hours and have fun." The kids grabbed the money but Sabre seemed suspicious of my intentions. "What's this for?" Typhoon smacked him upside the head and he began rubbing the back of his head. "They're going to do the do you dunce." "Oh." "Yeah so if you two could go that would be great." They hurried out and I scooped up Thunderstreak in my arms and carried her upstairs. "You really know how to treat a lady don't you?" "I know how to treat my lady cause if she ain't happy then ain't nobody happy." Going into the bedroom I set her down on the bed and shut the door. ~~~~~ 10:20 Hours Ponyville Primary School ~~~~~ Ms. Cheerily smiled as I gave her the filed out form that was needed to enroll Lancaster in school. Stepping outside I saw Lancaster playing with the Crusaders and a few other kids outside by a swing set. When he saw me he hurried over to my side and we headed out the gate for the small high school towards the center of town. "Why do I have to go to school?" "You don't like school?" "I like seeing my friends but I don't like the homework. It's not really a challenge for me." "Well just do it cause it ain't worth the hassle of not doing it." "I know. Can I hang out with you today?" "Sure kiddo but I doubt I'm doin' anythin' today." "It doesn't matter whether you do or not as long as I get to be with my new dad." Lancaster moved closer to me and before long we were at the high school. Going inside we found Thunderstreak filling out the forms for Typhoon but the forms for Sabre untouched. "Need some help?" "Yeah. Could you fill out Sabre's form?" "Sure. Sabre, I may need your help with this." Sitting down in a chair I was joined by Sabre and we began going over the forms. "Allergies?" "Bullshit, bullets, and bitching." "No allergies. Special talent?" "Sword fighting." "Have you now or ever been in any special ed programs?" "Nope." Looking over the packet of paperwork I made sure it was totally filled out and handed it over to mare at the junior class table and went to the door where Thunderstreak, Typhoon, and Lancaster were waiting for us. Heading out the door we were all headed home when I had an idea. "Hey, why don't we all go swimming?" There were sounds of agreement, especially from Sabre. When we got home I ran upstairs to change into the shorts I had ordered a few days before and grabbed towels for us. "Alright let's go." Going outside we headed back towards the center of town where the pool was. When we got to the pool I saw one of the lifeguards turn her nose up at Sabre. "That the girl you like?" "Yeah." "She looks like the kind that would be hard to impress. Singin' didn't work?" "Nope. She shoved me off the diving board over there." "How'd she manage that?" "She led me up there then got me turned around and backed me out onto the board. Then she just shoved me off." "And you couldn't impress her before that either?" "No. She's just too dull." "There's no one who truly is dull. Ya just gotta find what gets 'em excited." "Like what?" "Well normally just find out what they like. You said she likes art?" "Yeah. She's an artist." "There's supposed to be an art show coming to town in a few weeks. Ask her to go with you." "But art doesn't excite me." "No but it might her, so get over it because relationships are about compromise. It's all about give and take." Getting a running start I cannonballed into the pool and went almost to the bottom of the deep end. Swimming back up to the surface I brushed my hair out of my eyes in time to see Thunderstreak and Typhoon dive in with Lancaster not far behind them. Swimming over to me, we all began to float lazily around in the deep end and I could feel my skin getting warm from the sun. A hoof wrapped around my arm and I saw Thunderstreak holding onto me and we floated together in the pool. Suddenly a voice got my attention and I looked over to see an air force sergeant standing by the pool. "Can I help ya?" "General, the princesses have asked that you report to Canterlot immediately." "For what?" "A very important matter." "Very well." I climbed out of the pool and grabbed a towel. "Come on Lancaster." "Why?" "I said you could spend the day with me and I intend to keep my word." Lancaster scrambled out of the pool and grabbed a towel. "So where are we going?" "Canterlot." ~~~~~ 13:35 Hours Downtown Canterlot ~~~~~ Glass crunched under my boot as I stepped into the destroyed room. "Lancaster, be careful. I don't need you getting cut. So princess happened?" Celestia walked over to my side as we surveyed the damage. "We believe a bomb by the level of carnage." Lancaster cleared his throat and we looked down at him. "If I may. This most certainly was a bomb but there are things you lot have yet to notice. The glass, it would have been blown out by an ordinary bomb. And, what is the one thing you never think to look for in a bomb blast?" We shrugged and he pointed to a hole in the wall. "A bullet hole." "How did the forensics team miss that?" "Common mistake assuming that a bomb blast in the home of an air force captain is just a normal bomb blast. Now, I recommend you have your team go back over this room. Oh, and have them look at that rooftop across the street because based on the angle that the bullet is lodged in the wall it deflected off the interior of the captain's skull after being fired from that rooftop." "Do all people with accents like that just have detective skills or what?" "I saw quite a few murders back in the Crystal Empire when I was younger so I have learned to recognize the small details. Can we go get ice cream now?" "Sure buddy. We'll be going princess. I'll make sure to run back by here before we head home." "Thank you general." "Come on dad, let's go!" Lancaster scolded me as he pulled on my pant leg. "Alright, alright. I'm coming." I walked out of the house with Lancaster and had to climb over the police tape. We walked for several blocks when we spotted an ice cream shop. Going inside the stallion behind the counter smiled warmly at us. "What do ya want bud?" "Cookies and cream." "Two cookies and cream please." The stallion scooped the ice cream onto the cones and gave them to us. Walking outside we sat down at a small table outside the shop. "So how could you tell all that just by looking at the room?" "I see everything in the room. It's like I play it out in my head." "What else did you see?" "Well based on the size of the body on the floor under the sheet and the blood spatter, the captain was standing approximately two feet away from the wall when he was shot. Also based on the location of the bullet and the height of the captain the bullet was fired by either a tall stallion or something the size of a griffin from the rooftop across the street." "That's incredible. You're like a little Sherlock Holmes." "Who?" "Oh right. It's a story where I'm from and this man is a genius when it came to crime scenes and what not. I have the books back home. If I ever manage to get back there you'll have to read it. They're fantastic. Absolutely fantastic." "Sounds like it. I do like a good crime story." We finished off our ice cream and walked down the busy street when I spotted a toy store. "Hey, you want a toy or two while we're here?" "Toys? Yay!" "I'll take that as a yes." He took off for the toy store and I had to run to keep up with him. Running into the toy store I saw Lancaster already playing with toys that had been scattered about by other children. As I looked around I found the ultimate source of entertainment, a swivel chair. Plopping down in the chair I began spinning and the room turned into a blur. "Dad, what are you doing?" "Spinning in a chair." "Why?" "Because growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional." "Greatest thing I have ever heard from an adult in a swivel chair." I stopped spinning and waited for the room too as well. When everything was still again I saw Lancaster standing in front of me with a couple of toys in his hooves. We walked to the counter and he gave them to the cashier to ring up. "Your total is seven bits. Would you like a bag sir?" "Yes please." The teenage colt behind the counter gave Lancaster the bag and I placed the seven bits on the counter. We walked outside and we headed back for the crime scene a few blocks away. As we walked the ground suddenly shook with a tremendous roar and there was an unbearable heat on my back. Spinning around I saw an enormous fireball rising into the sky from a nearby building. Scooping Lancaster up in my arms I began running with the rest of the crowd. As we ran there were easily a dozen royal guards running the opposite direction. When we reached the crime scene I ran in with Lancaster still in my arms. Setting him down, I ran out the door back towards the new bomb blast. "Keep an eye on him Tia!" The biggest part of the crowd was gone with a few ponies still wandering in shock. I reached the blast area and saw guards, police, and medics running around trying to do as much as they could. "General! Come give us a hand here!" I found myself running to help, my body functioning on autopilot. "Keep pressure on this wound while I go get some supplies." My hand pressed on the open wound on a pony's leg. The stallion let out a deafening scream out of agony and my hand was soon covered in blood. "Stay with me. What's your name?" "Musket." "What do you do Musket?" "I'm a soldier." He replied just before he attempted to move his leg and let out another scream. "Ya need to hold still for me Musket. What branch you with?" "Army." "Nice branch. Had a friend back home join the army. Alright, here comes the medic. I need you to keep calm for him. Alright?" "Yes sir." The medic crouched next to him and gave him a quick shot of morphine to reduce the pain. He took over for me and I hurried to help with more injured. The next one that I was told to help with was obviously a lost cause from the injury he had sustained. "He's got shrapnel in the side of his neck, severed curated artery, he's gotten morphine but it's not doing much." My hand quickly replaced the hoof on the side of the pony's neck but blood continued gush from the wound. "He's still losing blood!" A dark red pool formed around my feet and knees as I kneeled in the street over the dying pony. The other medic came back and looked at the stallion. He shook his head and waved for me to back away. I stood up and looked down at my blood soaked pants and hand. Wiping my hand onto my pants I walked away from the dead and dying. My insides felt twisted as I listened to the screams of them and dared not look back where my bloody boot prints lead from. My mind was still numb as I walked up the path for the home where Lancaster and Celestia were. "Come on Lancaster. We have to go home." "But dad..." "NOW!!!" He slunk down and followed me towards the train station. The ride home was silent as the screams echoed in my mind. ~~~~~ 01:19 Hours 1237 North Main Street August 17 ~~~~~ The static of the TV was nothing more than back ground noise as I tipped the beer bottle back and finished off the contents. Hoofsteps on the stairs suddenly got my attention and I looked behind me and saw Thunderstreak descending the staircase. "Sweetie, are you alright?" "No. Those screams are still in my head. Every time I close my eyes I see them just lying there, dying. The TV said that seven died. I saw one bleed out right there in front of me." Thunderstreak sat down on the couch with me and laid a hoof on my shoulder. I looked over at her and into her blue eyes. They seemed to look into my soul, and they looked, sad. "James, let me tell you a story. When I had got out of the training in the medical division I was assigned to a base in Fillydelphia. My second day there, there was an accident in the munition stores. A few dozen ponies were killed and almost two hundred were wounded by the explosion. I saw more ponies die in one day than I thought I would in my entire career. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about that day. You learn to move on, to block it out the best you can. There is nothing that will ever truly make you forget, but remember one thing. I am always here for you. If you need to talk about it, I'm here." "Thank you." "James, you're crying." My hand wiped under my eye and I looked at the tears on my fingers. "Guess I am. Last time I cried I was thirteen." "It's normal sweetie. Just let it out. Let all those emotions out." We leaned on each other and my body shook as I began sobbing. A hoof rubbed up and down my back and Thunderstreak whispered kind words to me. Seconds, minutes, hours, I don't know how long we sat there holding each other. The sky was still dark when we went upstairs and climbed into bed. "James?" "Yes?" "It gets better. I promise." For the second time I allowed myself to look into her eyes and this time I saw happiness. The same happiness when she would see me walk in the same room as her. The same happiness that had been in her eyes Friday in the park. "Thunderstreak, thank you for that downstairs." "It was nothing. I know what you've been through." I laid down and shut my eyes, and for the first time since the explosion, I didn't see corpses. The grief and terror of the day had dispersed but I knew it would return. But as I learned later, those few dead would be nothing compared to what was in store.
The Jolly Rogers	11: The Bomb and a Baby	~~~~~ Three and a Half Months Later December 1, 1986 ~~~~~ The sound of glass breaking jerked me and Thunderstreak awake. Grabbing the alarm clock I saw it was already ten to seven. "What the hell is going on down there?" We hopped out of bed and wandered down stairs where the kids were desperately trying to make pancakes. On the floor, a glass that been full of orange juice lay shattered. "What are you kids even trying to do?" "Our best." "Well if you wanted breakfast you should have just told me." "Well it was supposed to be a surprise for you guys. We were going to bring you some breakfast in bed." "You kids don't have to do that. If we wanted breakfast in bed we'd sleep in the kitchen." The kids all sighed in defeat and made way for Thunderstreak to make breakfast for everyone. "It's almost seven so cereal for everyone." "Can I have the rainbow loopy cereal?" "I don't know. Can you?" There was a groan from all the kids as they were reminded of the phrase that was popular amongst their teachers. Thunderstreak and I chuckled at the kids and went about our normal routine. I ran upstairs to shower while breakfast was being prepared. After the shower I dried off and put on my new blue uniform where two stars now sat on each shoulder. Rushing downstairs I sat down to eat with the kids as much as I could. Soon it was time for them to go to school and Thunderstreak sat down with me at the table. "This is about the only quiet time we get anymore." "Eeyup." "Don't give me a Macintosh answer." "I do that just to annoy you." "That's what we have three kids for." We looked outside at the sun gradually rising in the morning sky. In the distance a small speck roared skyward from the new airfield at the edge of Ponyville. "Guess I should probably get washed up and dressed huh?" "I'm a major general, head of the base, and you're a newly minted colonel. No one's going to bother us if we're late." "Shouldn't we wake your dad?" I had completely forgotten about dad. Getting up I walked down the hallway and opened the door to the guest bedroom. Sprawled out on the bed was the grey pony I had met at the gala that was non-other than my father. "Dad, get your ass up! Gotta go to work." He groaned and threw a pillow in my direction before sitting up and looking at me with eyes full of crud. "Fuckin' hell dad. Get yourself cleaned up. We're supposed to be going soon." "I knew I should have moved in with Amelia when she got that two bedroom flat. She wanted a roommate but I had to say 'no' didn't I?" "So go call her and tell her you rethunk it." "Maybe but right now I've got a splitting headache." "That's what ya get for spending your nights drinkin'. Ya got three future grandkids ya could be spendin' time with." He groaned and crawled off his bed to go take a shower and dress for his day at the base. I walked upstairs and laid down for a quick nap while Thunderstreak and dad got ready. After about twenty minutes I felt a hoof poking me in the shoulder and I looked over to see Thunderstreak in her uniform all ready to go. I climbed out of bed and we left for the base while dad sat at the table with a mug of black coffee and holding his head. "See ya later dad!" "Fuck off you smartass." As we walked to the base I watched a couple of biplanes high above loop and roll in the clear December sky. For the last three weeks factories had begun to push out the designs we needed like Stearmans, Flying Fortresses, and even a few early model Mustangs. We reached the base about quarter to eight and went our separate ways to our respective offices. My boots clacked on the tile floor as I walked through the base headquarters building, making sure to avoid the few construction workers that were still putting the finishing touches on the building. On the way to my office I passed the offices for my four men and the secretary's desk. "Ink Quill, do I have any mail?" "I put it on your desk sir." Setting my brief case down, I picked up the stack of mail and sat down at my desk. Flipping through the envelopes I saw quite a few enlistment forms and a manila envelope from Canterlot. Opening the top of the envelope I pulled out a piece of paper and several photographs from the Griffin Empire. Looking back at the paper I read over the few sentences that had been typed. Dear General Jones These are photos taken by informants in the Griffin Empire. The markings of the uniforms are unknown but we did manage to get three more men than had been previously thought to be on this world on camera. Our apologies for the poor quality of the photos but we believe if anyone can identify these men it is you. ~Princesses Celestia and Luna I grabbed the pictures and a magnifying glass and began flipping through them. In one of the pictures there was a griffin in a black uniform standing at attention outside a government building. Looking closer though, I found two small, lightning shaped s's on his right coller. Flipping to the next photo I saw a man whose face was shaded by his cap and completely blocked all aspects of his face, on both sides of him stood men in black SS uniforms. "Ink Quill, when's my first appointment today?" "Nine sir." "Thank you." Shutting the door I picked up the phone and had the base operator connect me to the royal palace. The secretary to Princess Celestia answered and put me through to Celestia. "I take it you got our delivery, general?" "I did. So far all I've got is they're SS. Looks like the two men in the black could be Gestapo." "Gestapo?" "Nazi secret police. Cruel, heartless bastards who'd kill anyone soon as look at 'em." "So what would they need the SS for?" "Well they're tryin' to run ponies out of their country, maybe they're locking up all those they find." "Do you suppose they could be connected to the compounds that have been photographed being built?" "The what?" "The compounds. They've been springing up all around their country. They look almost like POW camps from the air." "Did you send pictures of them?" "We didn't believe they could be connected until now. I'll make sure to send them today. They should be on your desk tomorrow morning." "Thank you princess." "You're welcome. I also gave Marko some things for you to sign." There was a knock at my door and I could see a shadow on the other side of the window. "Speaking of Marko, there he is." Hanging up the phone I called Marko in. "Have a seat Marko." "No thank you sir, this won't take long. I need you to sign off on these." Two folders stamped 'top secret' landed on the desk in front of me. Flipping open the first folder it was all documents of approved B-29 and B-50 designs. "All you have to do is sign these so they can begin production." "Why are there silverplates in here?" I asked looking over my reading glasses at Marko. "That is what the second folder is for sir." I signed off on the contents of the first folder and handed it back to him before opening the second folder. "Marko, you do know what this is, don't you?" Taking off my reading glasses, I walked over to the window to the right of my desk. From here I could see from Ponyville to Canterlot. "I stopped this world from being destroyed once. I don't want to sign the death warrant for it." "This is only as a last ditch option sir." "I understand that, but we saw what this weapon can do. The whole world back home did!" Walking over to the desk again I looked Marko in the eye. "I would sooner fight the enemy by myself before I sign this." My fist slammed against the desk and the force knocked over a few things. "Sir, this has already passed approval by the princesses and the other generals in Canterlot but the princesses said they will not start the project until you sign." "Well why the fuck should I sign?! This is the fate of this world on my desk! This ain't some fighter plane! This is a god damn weapon of mass destruction!" "General please, I don't like this anymore than you but if war does breakout, which you and I both know it probably will, this could end it all sooner and save lives." "But what of the innocent? An entire city, in one go. One plane, one bomb, one city, but how many thousands dead?" "General, I know how you feel but it would be for the greater good if you signed it." Flopping down in my chair I looked at the stack of paper inside stamped 'Manehattan Project' and thoughts of mushroom clouds across the planet horrified me. Then the thought came to me that here or home we could be faced with a nuclear apocalypse. "Fine, I'll sign. But I'm only doing it cause it might, might, work out in the long run." "Thank you." Putting my pen to the paper I began signing the papers. "And so I have become death, the destroyer of worlds." Handing the paper over to Marko he saluted and turned to leave. On the way out he passed Rainbow Dash who was entering my office. "Hiya general." "Hello Ms. Dash. What can I do ya for?" "Five hundred a night." "What?" "What?" "What do you want Dash?" "I was just wondering when our fighters were supposed to get here." "Tomorrow." "What type?" "Warhawks." "Oh come on! I know the air force has better fighters than that." "Not enough for an entire fighter group right now. As soon as there's enough Mustangs for your pilots I'll put in a request to the princesses and headquarters in Canterlot." "Thank you." She turned and left my office leaving me by myself. "Today, is going to be a long day." ~~~~~ 20:00 Hours 1237 North Main St. ~~~~~ The TV screen was nothing but darkness as we all sat around the house. On the far side of the living room the radio let music flow into the room as Lancaster switched between the EBC and CBC. "Lancaster, just pick one already." Typhoon snapped. "But they both have good music." Lancaster wined. "And besides. You're leaving soon for your date anyways." Closing my paper I looked at Typhoon. "You have a date tonight?" "I told you about it." "Did you do it while I was half asleep?" "Yes." "Then honey, I wasn't listening." There was a knock at the door and I ran upstairs if I was to meet Typhoon's date. Grabbing what I needed from my bedside table I ran back downstairs and threw the bullet in my hand at her date. "Dad! Why did you do that?" "To warn him that if he doesn't have you home by ten thirty it'll be movin' a hell of a lot faster." The colt gulped and began sweating as I stared him down. "And before you go, I want to lay down a few ground rules. One, anything you do to my soon to be daughter I will do to you. Two, if you in anyway hurt her I will put your severed head on a stick in the yard as a warning to others. And three, you will address me as sir. Understood?" "Yes sir." "Good. You kids have fun." They hurried out before I could try to scare the boy more. Opening my paper again I read an article about some sergeant being awarded a Silver Star for landing his bomber after an accident disabled the pilots. From the other side of the room the radio finished playing a Swing Sisters song and switched to the evening news. "Our top story comes from the Griffin Empire where the chancellor has just announced a pact with the Changeling Empire. The changelings have been in the news as of the last few weeks for their relentless attacks on Vietmane. There has been concern from the international community about this pact as there is feeling this could be taking the world further down the road to war." I lowered my paper and looked over at the radio as the broadcast continued. "More issues arose when the griffins moved tanks and troops to the coast of the channel between them, Equestria, and the Crystal Empire. Let's bring in our foreign affairs annalist for this. So, what do you think could happen in response to these troop movements?" "Well many different things. It could lead to talks to remove them, absolutely nothing, or allied troop movements to counter them if they do attack." Grumbling under my breath at the talk of 'allied troop movements' I began wondering what might happen if war started within the next week or two. "Now what about the griffin government? Surely they want to avoid war?" "From what we have seen in the last few months, and just these last few days, they seem to be pushing what they can get away with before the international community pushes back. The Crystal Empire signed a non-aggression treaty with them but this seems to be a direct violation of the treaty. Now if the Crystal Empire feels that they are threating them, they have the right to attack first according to the treaty." "So this could be the prelude to war?" "It very well could be. If the griffins and changelings continue on the path they're on the world will have to step in and stop them." "Alright, thank you. Our other story for tonight is the show for the troops being put on in Ponyville tomorrow night. All military personnel that wish to attend have been invited and Major General Jones and his fiancee, Colonel Thunderstreak, are to be two of the VIPs in attendance. Also there will be Princess Luna, the elements of harmony, and several performing acts like the Swing Sisters and Dame Blue Song. The EBC and our sister station from the Crystal Empire, CBC, will be broadcasting live from the show. That's all for this evening so from our families to yours, goodnight." I stayed up later than normal that night. Not because I was worried about how the show tomorrow would go, but waiting for Typhoon to get home from her date. Around ten I heard them come up the path to the door and exchange goodnights before she came inside. "So how'd it go? I ain't gonna have to kill 'im am I?" "No, he was a gentlecolt the whole time. I invited him to come with us to the show tomorrow night." "Oh goodie. That'll give me the perfect time to have a little chat with him." "Dad, don't scare him away. He's the nicest boy I've dated so I'd like to keep him around for a while." "Alright sweetie, I'll be nice to him." "Thank you. Now, it's late, I'm going to bed." "Yeah, I suppose I should go to bed too. Night kiddo." "Good night." Climbing the stairs I got into bed with Thunderstreak who was sitting holding her stomach. "Ya alright honey?" "Yeah, just some stomach cramps." "Ya think it could be related to you pukin' yer guts up almost every day for the past week?" "Maybe, but why is my back hurting too?" "You're the nurse. If I knew what was goin' on I'd tell ya but for now let's get some sleep. If you need something through the night don't hesitate to wake me." "Thanks honey. Good night." "Night." We gave each other a quick kiss, turned off the lights, and went to sleep. ~~~~~ 18:00 Hours Ponyville Aerodrome ~~~~~ The crowd of military personnel, from privates to colonels, had filed into the impromptu seats in front of the stage with a giant Equestrian flag as the backdrop. In the front row sat Thunderstreak, the kids, Me, Princess Luna, and Major General Brave Soldier. We all chatted with the soldiers around us as we waited for the show to begin. Soon a pegasus stallion in an olive uniform stepped up to the microphone and began the show. "Fillies and gentlecolts, officers and enlisted, I am honored to present to you the three most popular mares on Equestrian television and radio, the Swing Sisters!" The crowd roared with applause as the three mares stepped out onto the stage. "Hello Ponyville! We are the Swing Sisters. So girls, what do you think we should sing first for these fine folks?" Jazzy looked at her sisters on either side of her. "Well a lullaby is always nice." The band struck up and they began singing along to the music. "Come on along and listen to The lullaby of Broadway The hip hooray and ballyhoo The lullaby of Broadway The rumble of a subway train The rattle of the taxis The daffydils who entertain At Angelo's and Maxi's "When a Broadway baby says good night It's early in the morning Manehattan babies don't sleep tight until the dawn "Good night, baby Good night, milkmare's on her way Sleep tight, baby Sleep tight, let's call it a day Hey! "Come on along and you can listen to A baby cry the lullaby of ole' Broadway The jump & jivin' & the swingin' roo The lullaby of Broadway The band begins to jam a tune And everyone goes crazy You rock-a-bye your baby soon The atmosphere gets hazy Hush I'll buy you this and that, You hear a daddy saying And baby goes home to her flat To sleep all day "Sleep tight, my baby Get a lot of sleep as time goes by Good night, my baby Have a lot of fun in the night time Get a lot of sleep in the day time Good night, good night Let's call it a day Good night, good night, good night Milkmare's on her way "Good night, baby Good night Milkmare's on her way Sleep tight, baby Sleep tight, let's call it a day "Listen to the lullaby of ol' broadway" The crowd again roared with applause as the girls bowed. "Now, for this next song we're going to have Dame Blue Song come out and sing for you all." The sound of hooves clapping was deafening as the crystal pony mare walked out onto the stage. "Good evening everypony. When I was offered the chance to perform for all of you, I immediately said yes. So, without further ado." Again the band began to play and after one verse the sound of her song the sound of hundreds of ponies' voices filled the air. "Bless 'em all, Bless 'em all. The long and the short and the tall, Bless all the Sergeants and WO1's, Bless all the Corporals and their blinkin' sons, Cos' we're saying goodbye to 'em all. As back to their Billets they crawl, You'll get no promotion this side of the ocean, So cheer up my lads bless 'em all" And so it went for the next two verses that when she finished hundreds of voices floated on the air above Ponyville. We sat in the cold December air, warmed by the excitement, the hundreds of soldiers around us, and most of all the flasks that most everyone had snuck in. Several hours later, close to midnight, the show ended with the four mares performing a medley of songs before taking one last bow. The crowd dispersed and we headed home. "So what was y'all's favorite part?" The kids thought a moment then answered the end with the four mares singing together. "Mine too. Honey, did you ever talk to the doctor today?" "No sweetie. I'm sure it's just some stomach bug." "Honey, stomach bugs don't just make you sick in the morning. Something's gotta be goin' on. The wedding is Monday. If you're sick I want you to be feelin' your best." "Fine, I'll go to the doctor in the morning. But I tell you again, nothing is wrong with me." ~~~~~ 13:45 Hours Ponyville Aerodrome December 3, 1986 ~~~~~ Filling out paperwork at my desk my phone suddenly rang. Answering the phone I heard a mare on the other end. "Is Colonel Thunderstreak there?" "This is her husband. Who is this?" "This is Nurse Redheart from the Ponyville hospital. We are calling concerning her visit today." "Well I'll have her call you back as soon as I can." "Thank you sir." We hung up and I continued about my work. ~~~~~ 19:37 Hours 1237 North Main St. ~~~~~ Thunderstreak had been on the phone for the past half hour. Lying on the bed I flipped through a book on the banishment of Princess Luna when suddenly I heard hoofsteps coming up the steps. Thunderstreak walked in and sat down with a mixed expression of happiness and shock with a bit of sad thrown in. "Honey, what did the doctor have to say?" "Well they got the results of the tests I had to take. There's something I need to tell you." "Is something wrong?" "Depends on what you call wrong. Remember when we stayed at the palace for a couple of days?" "Yeah?" By now I was sitting next to her with my arm around her. "Well, the thing is, the main reason I pounced on you that one night is I was in heat. James, I'm pregnant."
The Jolly Rogers	12: War and Marriage	"Pregnant? How?" "I don't know. We're not even the same species!" "Honey, calm down. If you're worried about it just remember that I'm here for ya. I'm just a little shocked to say the least." "How do you think I feel?! I'm the one with possibly a freak baby growing in me! Oh shit, I hope I haven't gained too much to fit in my dress." "I don't get why you were so worried about losing weight anyways. You got a man, you won the game. Eat a cheese wheel, a deep fried strudel, it doesn't matter because you will always be the most beautiful mare in the universe. Even when you're old and grey you'll still be sexy to me." "Yeah right." She gave me a playful hit on the shoulder before looking down at the floor. "Honey, if you're really this worried maybe you should give it up." "And who would adopt a freak human/pony baby? How do you feel about all this?" "Personally I'm thrilled to be a dad but I'll support any decision you make." "Now I feel like I'd be denying you the chance to have your own, biological child. I don't know what to do!" "Sweet heart, it's alright. We'll figure it out. I promise." "Pinkie Pie promise?" "Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." "This means no more evening wine doesn't it?" "For you but I'll skip the evening drink since you can't have it." She smiled at me before flopping backwards onto her back. I followed suit and we laid there staring at the ceiling for a while. A knock at the door got our attention and we saw the kids standing there. "You guys ok?" "We heard you guys talking." "Oh." They trotted in and flopped onto the bed with us. "You know, we all three discussed it out in the hall and we would welcome it with open arms." "Yeah, I love babies!" Lancaster exclaimed and got a chuckle out of us. "So you three would like a new brother or sister?" "Of course we would. Even if they are a freak." We all sat there looking at the ceiling thinking until Lancaster spoke up. "How do birds breathe in the egg?" "Go ask Fluttershy." "Ok." He hopped down and galloped downstairs. "That was a joke!" But by that time he had already run out the door. ~~~~~ 12:00 Hours Ponyville Aerodrome December 4, 1986 Four Days to the Wedding ~~~~~ The Tomcat roared over the snow blanketed town of Ponyville as we ran air drills. "Bandit, twelve high!" Looking up I saw a C model Mustang diving down at us. Shoving the throttle forward we gained speed and left the Mustang in the dust. "Alright Skipper, there's no way I'm catching up. Disengaging." The Mustang banked away towards Canterlot and we slowed to just enough to stay airborne. Banking over the town we turned towards the airfield and dropped the landing gear. "Tower this is Red Leader. Requesting permission to land, runway four." "Red Leader this is the tower. Cleared to land, runway four." "Cleared to land, runway four." Lowering the flaps we touched down on the new runway and taxied to one of the hangars. Raising the canopy I climbed out of the olive drab Tomcat and placed my flight helmet on a hook on the hangar wall. Walking to my office I went into the bathroom and changed into my uniform. Placing my cap on my head I walked out of the office and began heading for the infirmary. Dodging a small Grasshopper liaison aircraft I had to hold onto my cap as the prop wash hit me. Continuing on across the airfield a P-40 with a blood red tail and rainbow trim tabs roared skywards to my right as Rainbow Dash set out on her scheduled patrol. Eventually I reached the infirmary and found Thunderstreak in her white nurse's uniform giving a patient a shot of morphine. "This the guy who had a bomb crush his leg?" "Yeah. Hundred pound bomb landing on your leg will normally fuck it up." "Lucky it didn't go off." "Uh-huh." "So how ya feelin'?" "Okay. Gonna grab some books on pregnancy from the nurses station before we leave." "Why? Ya did fine with Sabre." "Are you sure? Last night we caught him trying to lick his armpit." "...Yeah get the books." "That's what I figured you'd say. Besides, I need to be in the best condition with this thing growing in me." "Well with my family history just eat a ton of chocolate and you should be fine. That's what my mom and gram did." "Well let's just let the doctor decide in a couple of weeks when I go back." "Alright. Well I've gotta get back to the office." "Okay. Don't forget we're having dinner with the Apples tonight at the house." "That's tonight?" "Uh-huh. Sweetie, you didn't forget did you?" "No, I just could've sworn it was tomorrow." "Nope. It's tonight." "Oh, well I'll be in my office if ya need me." "Alright." Heading back into the cold, December air I walked along while the snow crunched beneath my boots. Looking around at the ground personnel in their long wool coats I felt pity for them. 'They deal with the cold all day and never once have I heard them complain but I can't handle a few minutes between buildings.' When I got to my office I grabbed my long wool coat from the hook on the far wall and headed out for one of the hangars where some of the prototypes were housed to keep them out of the cold. Going inside the hangar I walked around one of the new Mustang prototypes and marveled at the improvements they had made to the armament. "So what do ya think sir? Nothing will escape this thing." A sergeant looked at the olive and grey B model P-51 with the two twenty millimeter cannons in each wing. "I like that the company took my advice on the gun improvements. Did they strengthen the wings to handle the added recoil?" "Yes sir." "It been to the range yet?" "Not yet sir. Want me to load it up for you?" "Sure. Need a hand with it?" "Sure." Walking with him I grabbed two belts of fifty rounds and slung them over my shoulders. We climbed up onto the wings, opened up the gun bays, and loaded the ammo into the plane. With the ammo in place I climbed into the cockpit while the ponies on the ground began opening the hangar door. With the headset slipped over my cap I flipped the magnetos and the Merlin engine roared to life. Closing the canopy I pushed the throttle forward and taxied out towards the active runway and sat waiting behind a B-17F Flying Fortress piloted by a newly minted pilot from Sweet Apple Acres. "Mac, you goin' to the range?" "Eeyup." "Same here. How's about I fly on your wing?" "Eeyup." The bomber rolled onto the runway and began to head for the opposite end with its four engines roaring at full power. When the bomber was far enough down the runway I taxied out and saw a green flare soar upwards into the sky. Shoving the throttle forward the Mustang's tail rose up about halfway down the runway and it began to claw its way into the sky. Raising the gear I searched for the bomber and soon found it climbing up to ten thousand feet. Maneuvering into position just below the left engines I looked up at the bomber where there was Fluttershy painted on next to the name Ponyville Belle. "Ponyville Belle huh?" "Eeyup." We flew on for almost a half hour before we reached the weapons range that was pocketed with craters from previous flights. "Alright Mac, I'm gonna try the guns, back in a bit." Diving towards the ground I opened fire on a target and saw the cannon rounds tear through the dummy griffins like a hot knife through butter. As I pulled out of the dive I saw the explosions of the bombs from Mac's plane a few hundred yards away. Suddenly the headset burst to life as the tower broadcast to all the planes it could. "All aircraft return to base immediately!" Messages of confusion ensued and all the tower would say was it was an important matter. "Tower, this is Major General James Jones. I order you to tell us what's going on." There was hesitation before the controller replied grimly. "The griffins have invaded Prance, the Crystal Empire has declared war." ~~~~~ The Crystal City, Crystal Empire 14:00 Hours December 5, 1986 ~~~~~ The crystal ponies marched past and a flight of Spitfires roared overhead as we watched the troops move out to fight the griffins in Prance. Next to me stood Princesses Celestia, Luna, Cadence, and Prince Shining Armor. We stood silent as the sound of marching filled the air. Celestia looked at Cadence and Shining Armor with despair. "Are you certain we cannot talk you out of this?" "I'm sorry auntie but this is for not only our nation, but the world." "The battle of Prance has begun. If we cannot talk you out of it, how can we help?" "We need more bombers and pilots." "I can offer some of my pilots and a few bombers from Ponyville if you would like them." Cadence kindly accepted my offer and we continued to watch the troops march onward. As we watched we could hear someone whistling through the sound of hooves on the cobblestones. Looking through the procession I saw three soldiers whistling a tune as they marched next to one another. As I looked on more soldiers began to whistle with them but some had begun to sing along to the tune. More joined in and soon half of the troops were whistling and the other half singing. "Pack up your troubles in your old kit-bag, And smile, smile, smile, While you've a lucifer to light your fag, Smile, boys, that's the style. What's the use of worrying? It never was worthwhile, so Pack up your troubles in your old kit-bag, And smile, smile, smile." My mind raced as I watched them. 'They go off to war like cattle to the slaughter. They sing to ignore it.' Turning on my heel I went inside the crystal palace and found Thunderstreak sitting in a chair looking at a magazine for guests of the palace. She looked up at the sound of my boots on the floor and gave me a small smile. "How are the kids?" "They're fine. Lancaster is a bit upset but they should be good." "Well, I need to go to the airfield here in town. I'll be back in a bit." Walking down the hall I went down the stairs until I reached ground level and set off for the grass airdrome that had been hastily set up in a city park. Walking the streets I saw worried ponies, stallions waving good bye to their families as they hurried off to join the rest of the troops heading to Prance. They were fathers, sons, brothers, uncles, and nephews. They had family members that couldn't serve alongside them and the look of fear for family members was on everyone's faces. Not four hours earlier the sirens had wailed and left once towering buildings nothing more than a pile of rubble. On another side street firefighters battled a blaze from an incendiary bomb that had landed on a house. Outside a child cried as the family watched their house turn to charred rubble. Continuing on I entered the park where there sat a flight of Spitfires and around ten Hurricanes. In the middle of the small group of pilots sat Group Captain Smith. "Smith, what can I do to help?" He pushed his cap up to uncover his eyes and looked me up and down. "About time you got here yank. Where's the rest of the lot?" "Still in Ponyville. I'll take whatever you've got." He stood up and led me over to a Hurricane which had blood splattered all over the inside of the canopy. "We'll need to take out the pony friendly equipment but other than that she's good to go." He caught me staring at the blood soaked canopy and began to dig at the snowy ground with his heel. "The bloke got her down. Managed to shut it down just before he passed, god rest his soul." "I'm gonna need a rag and some water." We removed the canopy from its rails and I set about cleaning it while Joseph removed the pony friendly gear. He had just finished removing what he needed and I had slid the canopy back onto its rails when the sirens began to wail their cry of death. The pilots all scrambled for their fighters as enemy aircraft flew across the crystal channel for the city. Climbing into the Hurricane I started the engine and taxied to the end of the dead grass strip. "Get airborne as soon as you can!" I was the third one into the sky and we scanned the horizon for the incoming bombers. Suddenly there was a cry of "bandits, two o' clock!" and we banked right to get the bombers. "It's Heinkels, Junkers, and a whole mess of Messerschmitt's!" "Take out the bombers! We'll handle the fighters." The Spitfires banked away to intercept the 109s while we in the Hurricanes were left with what looked like five flights of 111s and two flights of 87s. The flight leader ordered us to break and intercept and I soon had the nose of a Heinkel in the gun site. Pushing the button on the stick the guns opened fire and raked the nose of the bomber. As I dived to avoid the oncoming bomber I saw the windows covered in the blood of the pilot. "Blue five, good shot." Banking hard left I found myself under one of the flights of Junkers 87 Stukas. Pulling up I got the belly of the flight leader in my site and opened fire. A tracer hit the lethal cargo on the underside of the dive bomber and it erupted into a fire ball, taking two of the three other Stukas with it. "Three with one shot! Top that boys!" Rolling over I dived down towards another Heinkel and opened fire on its right engine. The engine began to belch flames and black smoke before the bomber slowly entered a death dive. I tried to open fire on the next one but there was a loud clunk that signaled the ammo was spent. Banking away from the enemy fire I headed for the airstrip but not before performing a flyby with the crystal palace. Lining up with the strip I dropped the flaps and the gear but the gear locked light for the right main wheel was still red instead of green. Wagging the wings I tried to get the wheel to drop but it refused to budge. Pushing the throttle forward I pulled up and banked away for a snow covered field on the edge of the city. I brought it in just like any other landing but this time the right wing dropped and the Hurricane ground looped, bending the tips of the prop back and tearing the tip from the right wing. Sliding the canopy back I was about to climb out but something caught my eye, something I had looked over in the heat of battle. A picture. A stallion, mare, and two kids sitting in a photo studio. The picture was splattered with blood but the ponies could still be seen through the crusty, dried red liquid. Gently pulling it from its place in the edge of the artificial horizon I slipped it in my pocket and hopped out of the plane. Walking through the snow I headed for the palace where the royals and my family were holed up during the raid. ~~~~~ Crystal Palace Twenty Minutes Earlier ~~~~ Thunderstreak continued to flip through the magazine, oblivious to the oncoming attack. Suddenly the cry of a siren made her look up, throw down her magazine, and gallop down the hall. "Kids! Air raid shelter, now!" The three kids scrambled from their room and down the stairs towards the shelter, followed closely by the royals and two guards. They made it to the shelter and slammed the large steel door shut. Sitting down they all looked around at the seemingly small space. "So now what?" "Now, we wait. This is the sixth raid since midnight so it's nothing new for Shining and I." There was silence for a few minutes before it was broken by a small, scared voice. "Mum, I'm bored." "I know sweetie but the bombs will stop soon and then you can go play in the courtyard." They sat there silent again for a bit until Sabre noticed something in the corner of the room. "Hey, there's a guitar. I guess I could play us some music to pass the time." There was mumbled agreements and Sabre floated the guitar over and found a pick weaved in between the strings. Pulling it out he thought for a moment but came up with nothing. "Anypony got a request?" "Oh, oh, that one song from Grandpa Harvard's records. That blue moon song." "Alright." He strummed the guitar real quick and tuned it before he started to play. "Blue moon, blue moon, blue moon, keep shining bright. Blue moon, keep on shining bright, You're gonna bring me back my baby tonight, Blue moon, keep shining bright. "I said blue moon of Kentucky keep on shining, Shine on the one that's gone and left me blue. I said blue moon of Kentucky keep on shining, Shine on the one that's gone and left me blue. "Well, it was on one moonlight night, Stars shining bright, Wish blown high Love said good-bye. "Blue moon of Kentucky Keep on shining. Shine on the one that's gone and left me blue. "Well, I said blue moon of Kentucky Just keep on shining. Shine on the one that's gone and left me blue. I said blue moon of Kentucky keep on shining. Shine on the one that's gone and left me blue. "Well, it was on one moonlight night, Stars shining bright, Wish blown high Love said good-bye. "Blue moon of Kentucky Keep on shining. Shine on the one that's gone and left me blue." The ponies in the bunker quietly clapped but all jumped when something began banging on the outside of the bunker door. "Shining, go see what it is." He motioned the two guards to follow him and they aimed their tommy guns at the door. ~~~~~ Twenty Minutes Earlier Edge of the Crystal City ~~~~~ In the distance the rumble of bombs landing on the city made the ground shudder as I continued onwards through the streets. The sirens continued to scream their warnings but those still on the streets seemed not to care. As I walked I saw a shopkeeper sweeping up broken glass from his shop window and a fire crew taking a breather as a fresh crew replaced them. There was talk amongst the fire crew that there was going to be another twenty four shift which enticed a "Gold Feather never takes a holiday" remark from their chief. My footsteps echoed off the empty houses on the empty streets until I reached the crystal palace. Going down the stairs to the tunnels under the palace I found the bunker and began to bang on the door with my fist. The door swung open a few seconds later and I saw two guards with guns aimed directly at me. "Don't shoot, I'm friendly!" They lowered their guns and let me inside where everyone looked up at me. "What's going on up there?" Waving my hand for them to follow me I lead them up the stairs to the balcony that overlooked the city. In the distance a new fire roared as black puffs grew closer to the enemy bombers while dogfighting Spitfires and 109s looped and rolled in the grey sky. "Soon as this raid is over we're going home." "Good. I don't like sitting in a cramped bunker for an hour several times a day." From our vantage point we watched the firefighters of the city battle blaze after blaze while the enemy returned to their airfields. The sirens soon made a steady tone signaling the all clear for the city. Ponies emerged from the ground and began the cleanup in preparation for the next raid. "Let's haul ass before more of them bastards show up." Thunderstreak and I lead the way as we went down to the staff car. Piling in we headed for the airfield where our transport was sitting waiting for us on the runway. The driver pulled up to the steps leading to the door of the C-47 Skytrain and we all seemed to fly up the steps into the plane. Sitting down in our seats, the flight engineer shut the door, and the plane began to roll down the runway. "So, how's all that diplomacy you wanted to do with the griffins working now Tia?" "Not the time general." "You know, diplomacy is just telling them to fuck off in a way that makes them look forward to the trip. A nice, big bombing raid on Gryphus would have the same effect too." "General, do you want war?" "Are you waiting until they're marching onto our soil to act?" There was sudden frantic movement in the cockpit that drew everyone's attention to the side of the plane that the air crew was looking out of. In the distance two small aircraft were slowly getting closer to the Skytrain as we flew over the crystal cliffs. "Sabre, did you put that olive colored bag in here like I told you?" "That really heavy one? Yeah, why?" "Because. Sabre, Luna, come with me." Getting up from my seat I went back and unzipped the canvas bag on the floor and pulled out the gun inside. "You packed a machine gun general?" "Not just a machine gun, a fifty caliber. There should be ammo belts and a stand in there too." Opening the door I took the stand from Luna and slid the bottom into a hole I had put in the floor of my transport. Putting the gun onto the stand I took the ammunition from Sabre and loaded the gun, the muzzle turning a bluish, black in the December air being blown back by the propellers. The once small specks had now become two small, unidentified fighters directly behind our C-47. Suddenly one pulled up alongside the plane and immediately I swung the gun around to face the cockpit of the 109. He pulled up and the other banked far out to our left before banking right and opening fire in our direction. "Oh shit, shoot him!" Following orders from whichever voice had said that I pushed the button between the handles of the .50 and saw tracers fly in the direction of the enemy fighter. After a second of firing past him the bullets found their mark and black smoke from the engine followed the fighter all the way to its landing spot in the crystal channel. The other fighter banked away and ran for home like a pup with its tail between its legs. "He's headin' home!" "General, why did you pack that machine gun?" "Because Luna, you never head into a combat zone without either a plan or a big ass gun." Taking the gun of the stand I set it aside, closed the door, and took my seat next to Thunderstreak. "General Jones?" Looking to my right I saw Celestia staring at the floor. "I would like to apologize for my behavior a few minutes ago. It is just that I don't want to see my country go to war." "Neither do I, but we know it is inevitable. We need to start preparing." "How is that?" "First tell your higher generals to get their head outta their asses and preparing to move troops to a battle front and provide more weapons to the Home Guard. I got a letter yesterday from the Ponyville Guard leader asking if we could oblige him with a bren gun." "That shouldn't be difficult. So where should the troops go? The crystal ponies are losing the war in Prance." "Should Prance fall we can send in an invasion force." "General, you seem to know more than just air combat. I would like to make you my military tactical advisor." "It would be my honor." We looked out the windows at the landscape below and all the little villages. I looked up at the sound of hooves stopping next to my seat. "General, message from the Crystal City for you." He hoofed over the piece of paper and trotted back to his station at the radio. Looking over the paper I saw it was from Cadence, Shining Armor, and Group Captain Smith. On behalf of the recommendation of Group Captain Joseph Smith the Crystal Empire is honored to bestow upon Major General James G. Jones the Crystal Medal of Merit for his actions on December the Fifth of Nineteen Eighty Six. Thunderstreak took the letter from me and read it over. "What exactly did you do today?" "I tried my hand at bomber interceptor. Turns out I'm fairly good." "And how many did you get exactly?" "Five." She nodded in approval and looked back out the window. I suddenly remembered the picture in my pocket. Taking it out I held it out for Princess Celestia. "Princess, the plane I was flying, it had this picture in the artificial horizon. I want it returned to his widow." "General, I will personally make sure it is given to her." She placed the picture in a briefcase between her and Luna and looked back out the window as we crossed the border into Equestria. Down below ponies on town streets looked up at the camouflaged transport. As we flew we saw a group of children trying to race the shadow of the Skytrain. "Look at them, so young and innocent." "Tia, it'll be fine. Surely the griffins wouldn't be barbaric enough to bomb civilians on purpose." "But what if they are? Thousands of children silently crying over the rubble of their houses. And when they cry silently it's because they can't stop. Any parent knows that." "Are you a parent Celestia?" She looked at me with sadness in her eyes but she pulled herself together. Two hours later we landed in Canterlot where a snow storm had been scheduled for later that evening. Stepping down from the stairs on the door I sank into two inches of snow. "Damn corporal, need to get some snow plows out here before this gets deeper." "I'll work on that sir." The young marine replied with a smile as he lead us to our car. "Sir, I hope this isn't sudden but Princesses Celestia and Luna have appointed me as you and your family's personal guard." "I would argue with the fact they chose a marine but y'all are the greatest fighting force in the world so I know we'll be safe." "I would disagree with you sir but we are." The three of us piled into the black staff car that would carry us to the train station. "So corporal, tell us about yourself." ~~~~~ 20:00 Hours 1237 North Main St. Ponyville ~~~~~ The front door slammed shut and a frustrated Typhoon stomped into the living room. "Why are all nice guys always such perverts?!" She stood blowing steam from her nostrils before she suddenly noticed the marine sitting in the chair by the radio with a cup of tea. "My apologies," she said as she straitened her mane "who are you?" "Thunderstreak, this is our new body guard, Corporal Tough Charger." "Well it is a pleasure to meet you Mr. Charger." "The pleasure is all mine Ms. Typhoon." "So you're a marine huh?" "Yes ma'am. I felt the military was the best way to help pay for my college education." "You're in college?" "Not yet. I'm trying to get into the University of Canterlot." "Me too!" "Really? How interesting. What are you planning to study?" "Business. You?" "History. I always loved books on the Germane Revolution." They began a lengthy discussion about schooling when Sabre suddenly came rushing downstairs with a scroll. "Guys, guess what I just got?" "A hooker? I don't know, what?" "Spike just forwarded a letter from the princesses. Apparently they liked the song that I sang during the air raid. They want to sign me to their record label." "What?!" We all replied in unison. "I know right?! This is the best opportunity of my life." "Then go ahead and take it. I guess we're all getting big changes in our lives this week." "I guess so. I gotta go write back!" He galloped up the stairs to his room where we heard him digging for paper and a pen. 'Maybe things are starting to look up for us.' ~~~~~ The sky over Canterlot Monday, December 8, 1986 The Day of the Wedding ~~~~~ "Corsair One, you are cleared to land." "Roger, cleared to land." Lining up with the runway for the Canterlot Aerodrome I flipped the gear handle and heard the gear jam in the gear bay. Wagging the wings the gear refused to budge and stayed firmly in place in the wing. "Canterlot tower, this is Corsair One. My landing gear is jammed. I'm gonna have to belly land." "Roger that Corsair One. We'll send out the fire crew." Banking to avoid the runway I brought it in as though it was any other landing. The plane's nose dug into the dirt and dug a shallow ditch about twenty yards long in the dirt and snow. When it stopped I slid the canopy back and climbed out in my dress uniform for the wedding. A fire fighter approached me as I dusted off my collar and smiled at him. "Park it for me will ya?" I began walking away towards the taxi stop down the street from the airfield. "And don't scratch the paint!" Looking back I saw the fire crew shaking their heads at me. Catching a cab I made my way to the palace where there was still last minute adjustments to the decorations for the wedding. In the ball room the final forks and spoons were being put in place as they prepared for the reception after the wedding. Further down the hall I saw Sabre straitening his black bowtie. "Hey kiddo. You ready to be my best man?" "Yeah. I don't have to give that whole best stallion speech do I?" "Naw. I figured you wouldn't anyways." "Good, good. So what do we do until the wedding?" "Sure as hell don't speak of the bachelor party. God, I didn't even know a mare could do most of those things." The sound of hooves on the floor behind me got my attention and a hoof landed on my shoulder. Looking behind me I saw two purple eyes looking back. "General Jones, may I speak with you?" "Of course Tia." We walked down the corridor and the stained glass windows made patterns on the floor and wall that rivaled even the most beautiful paintings. "General, we have a problem." "What is it?" "Several ships from the griffin and changeling fleets have disappeared from their ports. Among them, aircraft carriers and battleships." "And they aren't moving towards the Crystal Empire?" "Our Blackbird and U-2 pilots have found nothing of them in the waters around the Crystal Empire." "So send the Blackbird to scour the channel and the ocean for them. There is no way I am allowing an attack on this nation while I am a general." "We sent the planes out this morning but we have found nothing. Even the shipping companies have reported nothing in any of the sea lanes." "So they're avoiding the shipping lanes? What are the closest military bases that they could hit?" "Honoluna, Haywaii and Manehattan." "That's where the two main battle fleets are right?" "Yes." "Call them and put them on alert. This could be the warning signs." "I'll call them right now. We don't need another wedding disrupted by a national emergency." She began to walk away but stopped in her tracks. "And general, the answer to your question from the plane, yes, a long time ago." She continued down the corridor for her room. Looking at the city below, which had been tinted green by the stained glass, I cringed at the thought of griffin bombers flying overhead raining death upon the citizens. 'No, not while I'm alive.' Going back down the corridor I entered the reception area where ponies in black and white uniforms were carrying platters of food for later in the night. 'And sure as hell not on my wedding day' ~~~~~ 18:00 Hours Canterlot Palace December 8, 1986 ~~~~~ "Fillies and gentlecolts, we are gathered here today to celebrate the union of Colonel Thunderstreak and Major General James Jones." The audience of ponies and a few humans sat quiet as Celestia continued on with the ceremony. "Should anyone have any reason that these two should not be wed, speak now or forever hold your peace." There wasn't a sound and the princess continued on. "James, do you promise to be Thunderstreak's lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?" "I do." "Thunderstreak, do you promise to be James' lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part." "I do." "Than by the power vested in me by the nation of Equestria, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." ~~~~~ Meanwhile in Southern Prance ~~~~~ The sound of barking, growling dogs echoed through the small village. "In the train cars! Now!" A griffin major in his crisp, black SS uniform barked to the cowering ponies on the platform. A small colt nuzzled into his father's leg as they stood waiting their turn to board the train, his older brother standing silent on the opposite side of their father. Suddenly the griffin major appeared in front of them. He leaned down to the cowering colt and stopped inches away from his face. "Are you scared little one?" The young colt nodded and the griffin grinned and flicked his cigarette away. "You should be." Suddenly his claws grabbed his pistol from its holster and put it to the colt's head. "Never show fear when faced by the enemy." He squeezed the trigger and the colt dropped to the concrete platform. The stallion dropped to the platform and began sobbing while the other colt stood silent. "Get up you worthless scum. Now everyone in the train!" They all hurried into the cargo cars and the doors slammed shut. The train lurched forward. Forward, towards death
The Jolly Rogers	13: Let's kill Hitler	~~~ Quick note. During the wedding the following will colored; Will singing is green, Sabre is red, and both singing together is pink. ~~~ "So, Mrs. Jones, how is married life treatin' ya so far?" "Very nice." We looked at all the guests in the ballroom as one of the waiters refilled my champagne glass. "Will the bride and groom please step out to the dance floor for their first dance?" Thunderstreak and I stood up and made our way to the dance floor while Stardust's orchestra flipped to the right page in their music books. Thunderstreak flew up to my level and when we had gotten adjusted the band began to play Moonlight Serenade. "Say, isn't this the first song we actually danced to at the gala?" "Yes it is. I managed to talk Glenn into playing it for our first dance." "That's so sweet." When the song ended the sound of applause nearly made us all deaf. There was a sudden squeak from the microphone and we all looked to see Sabre and Will on the stage with a microphone for each of them. "So, today I gained a new dad, my mom gained a new husband, and this nation gained a new most loved couple. To celebrate this occasion, Will Donavan and I would like to perform a song just for them." "Like the wallpaper sticks to the wall Like the seashore clings to the sea Like you'll never get rid of your shadow Will, you'll never get rid of me "Let all the others fight and fuss Whatever happens, we've got us. "Me and my shadow We're closer than pages that stick in a book We're closer than ripples that play in a brook Strolling down the avenue Wherever you find him, you'll find me, just look Closer than a miser or the bloodhound's to Liza Me and my shadow We're closer than smog when it clings to L.A. We're closer than Bobby is to J.F.K. Not a soul can bust this team in two We stick together like glue "And when it's sleeping time That's when we rise We start to swing Swing to the skies Our clocks don't chime What a surprise They ring-a-ding-ding! Happy New Year! "Me and my shadow And now to repeat what I said at the start They'll need a large crowbar to break us apart We're alone but far from blue "Before we get finished, we'll make the town roar We'll make all the late spots, and then a few more We'll wind up at Jilly's right after Toot's Shore Life is gonna be we-wow-whee! Here comes the party! For my shadow and me!" "Say Will?" "What is it, Sabre?" "Do me a favor?" "What do you want, now?" "Would you mind taking it, just one more time?" "From the top?" "No! From the ending!" "Wonderful!" "And while we are swinging, to mention a few We'll drop in at Danny's, The Little Club too But wind up at Jilly's, whatever we do Life is gonna be we-wow-whee! Wow! For my shadow and me!" "Will?" "Oh, forget it Sabre." "Alright." The crowd roared with approval and they bowed before stepping down from the stage. We applauded with the crowd and went back to our seats at the table. Taking a sip of the champagne I smiled at Thunderstreak next to me. "So what do ya think? Beautiful wedding isn't it?" "It is. And it's nice you got Stardust to play our song." "You're gonna have to put up with me for life so I felt it was necessary." "James, how long do humans normally live." "Well my grandpa lived to seventy so we can go for a while. What about ponies?" "It's, uh, about the same." "Thunderstreak, don't lie." "Fine, it's well past a hundred. Just look at Granny Smith. Applejack said that mare would probably out live the lot of 'em." "So I'm gonna go way before you. But promise me one thing." "What?" "When I get old and I either can't wipe my ass or remember where I am, just take me out in a field and shoot me." "If I don't shoot you in a few months when I'm fat and moody." "I hope not." Something out of the corner of my eye got my attention and I saw it was Pinkie and a grey pegasus mare both sticking their heads into the chocolate fountain. "Will ya look at that?" The remark got the attention of Rainbow Dash who cringed at the sight. "Uh, James, Thunderstreak, I feel I need to tell you that those two are dangerous. Especially with that much sweets in their systems." We looked again and saw Pinkie standing there with her head covered in chocolate, shaking uncontrollably while the grey pegasus hovered above the other ponies. "Derpy, come down." Dash shouted up to her. "Are you threatening me? I am the great derpholio!" "Oh sweet Celestia, not this again." Muttered an annoyed Rainbow Dash as she flew up to bring the mare down. We all watched the spectacle above us but a hoof poking me in the shoulder drew my attention away. Behind us stood Sabre, a note held in his magic. "Can we talk?" "Sure. Honey, I'll be right back." "Alright sweetie." Thunderstreak replied as she watched Derpy try to bite Rainbow Dash. Sabre and I dodged ponies rushing to see the mid-air drama and made our way into the hallway. "So, what's up?" "I enlisted." "You what?!" "I joined the army. You're now looking at Specialist Fifth Class Sabre Rattle." "Aw hell no. I'm talking Celestia into getting you a discharge, now." "No, dad, I asked the princesses for this. I get to be in a tank division to perform for them." "So you're an enlisted show pony?" "Yep." "No combat?" "Nope." "Then that makes it a lot better, but you're gonna have to tell mom." "Alright." "Just do me a favor, tell her tomorrow cause I have to go to Honoluna. I don't want to be anywhere near Ponyville when that bombshell drops." "Alright. What time do you have to leave?" "Plane takes off at ten." "Then I'll tell her at ten o one so the shockwave will get you there faster." "Thanks kid. Now, let's go see if Dash got Derpy down yet." We walked into the ballroom and found the situation over and ponies going back to what they had been doing before. As we walked through the room I heard an animal like sound behind me before a cheerful "Hey dad!" Turning around I saw Lancaster sitting on top of a large bird with a can of soda in his hoof. "Uh, what ya got there?" "A soda." "I think he's talking about the gigantic bird." Sabre deadpanned. "Oh, this is Marvin. He's an ostrich." "Two questions. Why and how?" "Because ostriches are cool and Princess Luna gave him to me." "God damn it Luna. Can this wedding get any weirder?" "I don't know. Come on Marvin." Lancaster began to ride away but something else got our attention. Behind him on the ostrich, sitting quietly, was a duck. "I have really got to stop asking if things can get weirder. This place is starting to take it as a challenge." "Never question the motives of a party princess and a seven year old. Those two will be just as confusing as Pinky." Taking my seat at the table I chugged the rest of the champagne and told the waiter to get me a beer. "What's up with you?" "Oh, you'll find out tomorrow after I leave honey." "What does that mean?" "You'll find out." "James, tell me or I swear to the gods I will castrate you with a rusty kitchen knife." "Ask Sabre, but for all that is holy don't do that to me." "Fine, I'll go ask him." As soon as she was out of ear shot I turned to the four men next to me. "You boys bring the helmets?" They all produced an army helmet and an extra for me. "Helmets on." The helmets plunked onto our heads and we waited. "You what!!!" The room seemed to shake as Thunderstreak's voice rose above all others in the room. "All clear." We took off the helmets as Thunderstreak stormed back to the table. "So, how'd it go?" "I will fucking end you." "I'll take that as not good. Honey, he'll be fine." "I know but, accidents can happen." "Hon, read my lips. He will be fine." "But what if something happens? A show pony can easily be switched to active duty." "I'll do everything in my power to make sure he's fine." "You better." ~~~~~ 11:00 Hours Haywaii Time Honoluna, Haywaii R.N.S. Phoenix December 9, 1986 ~~~~~ Captain Regal Knight led me down the deck of the mammoth battleship sitting in Honoluna harbor. "So captain, what is the top speed of this vessel?" "Twenty one knots." The sailors stood at attention along the railing as we continued down the deck. "General, what are you here for again?" "Princess Celestia has appointed me her military tactical advisor and I am to visit the main fleets and most major bases. That includes Honoluna and the battle fleet." "Fine. But I want you off my ship as soon as possible." "No problem captain. I think I'm done here." Making my way down the gangplank by the second bow turret I stepped onto the PT boat that would take me to the next battleship. The small boat with seventy three painted on in white slowly pulled away from the ship and seemingly drifted to the Fillydelphia. The gangplank from the battleship dropped and the ponies aboard the PT boat went about tying it up as the commander of the Fillydelphia stood waiting for us at the top of the gangplank. Walking up I extended my hand to the elderly earth stallion who promptly brushed it aside. "Nice to see you too admiral." "Don't give me that shit general. I don't like the air force and quite frankly I don't like you." "Aw, come on admiral. Tell me how you really feel." "If you think I am above shoving you overboard you are sadly mistaken." "Now admiral, the princess said you have to play nice with the other brass." "I'm sixty one and cranky. Playing nice at my age is simply telling somepony to go fuck themselves." "Nice to know. If you're going to be like that I'll just go." "Good riddance." Walking back down the gangplank I found my bucket seat on the PT boat and we set off for the docks so I could inspect the nearby air field. As we pulled up to the dock me and two others jumped from the boat to the floating, wooden platform and hurriedly tied the boat up. With that done I jogged up the steps at the end and climbed into the jeep sitting idling, waiting for me to tell the driver where to go. I gave the order and the jeep took off for Lighting Air Base where the first line of Haywaii's defense against aerial enemies. Roaring through the gate we sped around a corner and screeched to a stop in front of a hangar with the number one painted on. "This is where the Colonel's fighter is sir." Climbing out of the jeep I walked through the open hangar doors towards the P-40 sitting in the middle of the hangar. Above, on the nose of the fighter, a sky blue earth pony lay with his hooves dug into the engine trying desperately to fix something. "Come on you stubborn son of a bitch!" He grunted before the cracked line came out and began to wildly spray oil all over. "Fuck! Someone, give me the tape!" He hollered as the oil began a relentless assault on him. Grabbing the roll of silver tape off the wing I tossed it up to him and he struggled for a moment before getting a piece of tape over the opening. "There. Now, you're General Jones?" "Yep. I take it a cracked line in the engine?" "Yeah, fucking thing's been giving me fits all week. Came to a head when that line sprayed oil on my windscreen last night. Had to lean out the cockpit to see the runway." "Maybe I need to see about wipers for the fighters." "Well after that incident I had the crew chief put a wiper off a wrecked bomber on there." "Wise man. Look, I'm here on business so I'll get strait to the point. How combat ready are your pilots?" "Very sir. I would personally swear on my life we could take on any plane the enemy has to throw at us." "Really? Well as I'm sure you have been briefed on the threat that could be on its way here I want you to know that if your flyboys can't protect this island than it's your ass on trial." "I will ensure that this island is safe as long as I am alive sir." "Good man. Oh, and a suggestion, don't park your fighters wingtip-to-wingtip. Makes 'em easy targets." "I'll get on that sir. Now, if you excuse me, that tape ain't going to hold." He replied in an annoyed tone. He went back to his work and left me standing silent by the shark mouthed fighter. After a few moments I decided it was time to leave and made my way back to the jeep where the sergeant sat with a book in his magic grip. Climbing into the passenger seat I looked at him and still looking at his book he began to speak. "I hope he didn't sell you on anything he said. Between me and you, the colonel's the biggest liar on this rock." "Naw, I could tell he's a fucking liar. He couldn't fool me." "Good, good. So, where to sir?" "Hangar nine. If no one on this shit-hole island is gonna let me do my job than I'm going home. I have a pregnant wife and she got an appointment for tonight to check on the baby." "Congrats sir." "You have any kid's sergeant?" "Two and another on the way, sir" "No need for that 'sir' stuff. Just call me James." "Yes si- I mean yes James." The jeep flew across the air field towards the hangar where my C-47 sat in the sun. When the jeep pulled up to the plane there was a stallion with a message from Canterlot. Taking the note as I hopped out of the jeep I began to read as I climbed the stairs and took my seat. To Major General James Jones General, earlier today we received a photograph from our informant in the Griffin Empire. In the photograph the human that you were unable to identify is clearly seen without his cap. The other generals and admirals have seen the photograph and the only one left is you. I will make sure the picture is on it's way when you get home. ~Princesses Celestia and Luna Folding the note up, I slipped it in my pocket and looked out the window at the runway that now sat below the plane. A few seconds later the engines let out a throaty roar and the transport began to roll down the runway. ~~~~~ 20:00 Hours Ponyville Hospital Room 43 ~~~~~ "Well, we got the results back." The light brown stallion said as he walked into the room. From my position in the chair by the bed I could barely see the papers on his clip board. "So would you like the good news or the better news?" "Good news." Thunderstreak and I replied in unison. "Well the baby is doing just fine. And so is the other one. Congratulations you two. You're having twins!" "Twins?" We again said in unison. Suddenly I began to feel light headed and the world went black. Soon I woke up and saw Thunderstreak talking to the doctor. "So will he be fine?" "Mr. Cake did the same thing when we told them about their twins." Sitting strait up as a ramrod I looked around the room and saw the only other two occupants of the room staring bewildered. "Welcome back to the land of the living sweetie." "Nice to be back. I think I'm gonna go outside for some air." "Alright." Getting up from my seat I made my way down the quiet, bare hallway towards the front door. Passing the front desk I nodded at the nurse who gave a small but friendly smile. When I got outside I leaned against the wall by the door and pulled a cigar from my inside, chest pocket. Pulling a small box from my pocket I pulled a match out and ran it across the side of the box which set it ablaze with a small orange glow. Putting it to the cigar I waited for the couple of seconds it took to light before tossing the used match to the snow covered ground. Over the last few months I had learned to enjoy the tobacco from Equestria and its exotic flavor. Just as I tossed away the last bit of cigar the door opened and Thunderstreak trotted out. "You ready to go home?" "Yeah, too damn cold to be out." "And Sabre had to foalsit for the Cakes since Pinkie left for that party convention in Manehattan so it's just five of us." "Typhoon still trying to get the attention that marine today?" "Yeah. How long before you think she realizes he bats for the other team?" "Who knows? I mean, you wouldn't know that he does just by looking at him. Oh, well. She'll figure it out." As we walked along the streets of Ponyville we saw quite a few ponies still out and about at restaurants and shops. "What exactly is Hearths Warming? I know it's coming up but what is it?" "I don't know. We never really celebrated much when I was a filly. Mom was always at the bar so I wasn't very concerned with holidays." "Well I know just the thing. Christmas. We can celebrate two holidays in one month." "Christmas?" "Yeah. When I was a kid we would always put up a tree and every Christmas morning there would be gifts under the tree and I would get a new model plane that me and dad would put together. Why don't we do that?" "Sounds nice. And it would be nice to see how humans celebrate holidays." "So it's settled. We'll celebrate Hearths Warming and Christmas." The snow crunched under us as we walked through town but Thunderstreak decided we should detour by Sugarcube Corner to see if we could see how Sabre was doing. From our view as we passed all was quiet but if what I had heard about the Cake twins was true, he was in for one hell of a surprise later. A few minutes later we arrived at the house. Turning the key I heard the familiar click of the deadbolt and we stepped inside where heat from the fireplace washed over us. "Kids, we're home!" "We're in the kitchen!" Typhoon hollered back to us. Walking into the kitchen we saw them sitting at the table with homework spread out in front of them. "Dad, can you help me with maths?" "Sure Typhoon." Plopping down in the chair next to her I looked at her worksheet in confusion. "When did they start adding letters to it?" I asked as I flipped through the packet. "Honey, this is Greek to me. I don't know if I can help ya." "Can you help me?" Lancaster asked from the far side of the table. "I'll try." I replied as I switched sides and looked over his paper. "So which one is it?" He pointed a hoof at number five. Looking down at the question I began to read aloud. "If Princess Luna has twenty guards to her detail and Princess Celestia has a third more, how many guards does Princess Cadence have? Wait, what? When the fuck did she get in there?" "I don't know." Leaning back in the chair I stared at the homework paper on the table dumbfounded. A sudden, frantic knocking on the door got my attention and, as usual, I was the one to answer the door. As soon as the door was open far enough a grey blur shot passed me into the house. "Dad?" "Son, we've gotta talk. Now." "Ok. Office is where your room was." I said as I lead him down the hall. It had been less than a week since he moved in with Amelia and things had calmed down around the house. Opening the door to the home office I led him to the oak desk by the right wall next to the window. He suddenly tossed a manila envelope onto the desk as I was about to sit. "What's this?" "Just open it." Flipping up the top of the envelope I reached inside and pulled out the contents. All that was inside were three pictures of a human who I had never planned to see. "Are these real?" "Taken two days ago in Gryphus at a socialist rally. Son, this man was presumed dead for the last eleven years I was on earth. There is no way we are letting him live on this planet." "So what's the plan?" "Way I see it; we need to send in a special operations team to kill this bastard." "Alright, what the hell. Let's kill Hitler."
The Jolly Rogers	14: Prelude to War	"So, here's the plan. The intel says that Hitler is staying in the palace in Gryphus on the second floor. He's supposed to speak from the balcony outside his room tomorrow at noon. We can send in a team of five assassins to take him out. Then it's all good." "What about that parade you were scheduled to be in out in Fillydelphia?" Dad asked me with obvious concern in his voice. "It got moved to the twelfth. I need you to make sure this gets taken care of." "No problem." "Now, you probably ought to go home. It's late." "Yeah. The parade's supposed to be on TV. I guess I'll see you then." He walked out without another word and left to return to Canterlot. I walked out into the living room and turned on the radio where the news had just ended. "Sweetie, what did your dad want?" "Nothing dear. Just business stuff." "Alright, now come get your dinner or you're going to be wearing it." ~~~~~ 10:00 Hours Ponyville Aerodrome December 10, 1986 ~~~~~ "Attention!" Major Rainbow Dash barked to the fifty flyers in front of us. They all snapped to attention and waited for orders. "You are about to embark on a great crusade into the war that will end all wars. You are the first Equestrians to enter combat and you will succeed. When you reach the Crystal Empire I want the griffins to tremble in fear when they see our fighters. I want you to prove to me, the princesses, and the world that you are the greatest pilots in history." Rainbow continued, "And now, with the support of your nation behind you, fly. Fly and prove to the enemy we are a force to be reckoned with." "Yes ma'am!" They all shouted and they climbed into their aircraft. Of the fifty fighters a few were the red tailed P-40's of the all-mare squadron but most were stallions who snagged the positions before more mares could sign up. The engines fired up and they all rolled towards the runway like a gaggle of geese. "Well, once they takeoff they're now pilots for the Crystal Empire. We can do no more Dash. Oh, and my files say you haven't had your tetanus shot. Can you go get that so I don't need to bitch about it?" "Yeah. But, can you talk to Thunderstreak about being less forceful with needles? She's giving medicine not trying to stab somepony to death." "Yeah. She's probably gonna kill me when I have to get my shots." Walking away I headed for my office and was only about fifty yards away when a sergeant approached me with a clipboard. "General, can you sign off on these parts orders for me? We're stuck using tape and cannibal planes for repairs." "No problem." I was writing my name on the paper when a blast made me and everyone else nearly dive for cover. Looking around I saw smoldering rubble where my office had been in the headquarters building. "Fucking hell! Miller! Tarr! Marko! Will!" I shouted as I ran towards the building and ponies poured out of it. Just as I reached the building the four men in question walked out covered in dust and a few cuts. "Are you boys okay?" "Yeah. Just shaken up." Will replied as he wiped away the blood that was running down from a cut on his forehead. "General, what the hell happened?" "If I had to guess I'd say someone was tryin' to kill me." Walking into the dusty rubble I found nothing left of my office or its contents. Suddenly two hooves wrapped around my neck and I could tell by the softness and color that they belonged to Thunderstreak. "I was so worried! I thought you were inside. When I saw your office, I..." She broke down sobbing and I turned around and pulled her into my embrace. "Honey, it's fine. I'm alright. See? Not a scratch." She continued crying and I had to lead her home after giving the order to put the base on high alert and that only those with my permission could come and go. ~~~~~ 12:30 Hours 1237 N. Main St. Ponyville ~~~~~ Thunderstreak sat at the table with a bottle of cola. It had been over two hours since the explosion and she had calmed down. Pulling up a chair I sat down with her and looked over at her. "Honey, I want an honest answer. That note from a few months ago, did it have something to do with today?" She nodded and looked down at the table. "It was a threat against you." "What did it say?" "The man must fall as all men must. The fate of all is always dust." "And look at me. I'm fine. You have no need to worry." In the corner of the room the young stallion in his black dress uniform stood at attention and watched our conversation. "And if anyone did try to pull anything here we have Corporal Charger to help protect us." "I'm always here ma'am. Anyone who dares to attack any of you will have to go through me first." "See? We're completely safe here." The words had barley left my lips when the kitchen window shattered into millions of shards and we all dived to the floor. Corporal Charger drew his pistol and quickly made his way to the window where the familiar rat-tat-tat of machine guns started and sent him ducking down again. "Looked like five charlies outside equipped with sub-machine guns. Where's a grenade when you fucking need it?" I grabbed a napkin off the table and crawled over under the window by Charger. Slowly lifting the napkin I let it slide into the view of the gunners outside who immediately fired at the movement. Crawling back to the table side by Thunderstreak I told her to stay low and I crawled as fast as I could up the stairs to the bedroom. I hurriedly grabbed the .44 and extra rounds from the drawer and made my way over to the window at the end of the second floor hallway. Peeking outside I saw three zebras with tommy guns and two griffins with MP 40s. They were focused on the lower level and obviously had no idea that someone had escaped up stairs. Making sure the gun was loaded I stood up just enough to get one of the griffins in my site. Squeezing the trigger I saw the window shatter and the side of the griffin's head explode into a cloud of blood and brain matter. "Fucking shit! One's upstairs!" The other griffin screamed and I hurriedly ducked down. Crawling back downstairs I heard two shots from the kitchen and the amount of machine gun fire decreased. On my hands and knees I went into the kitchen where Thunderstreak still hid under the table. "Get to the living room. Get the phone and call the base. Tell them to send soldiers, an air strike, I don't care. Just get help down here. The code to mobilize is 'Danny Boy needs a doctor'. Say that three times and tell them General Jones' house as the location." "Alright." She replied and hurriedly crawled as best she could into the living room. Making my way to the spot under the window I sat next to Charger and we both looked at each other. "Corporal, how much ammo you got?" "Two more rounds sir. I doubt I can do very much with this." "Then do what you can. And if need be we'll shoot those bastards with spare ammo for mine and a hammer." "Yes sir." He said just before he peeked up and over the window sill and a bullet whizzed past his head. "Alright. We need something to distract them." Stroking my chin for a moment I thought of an idea and handed Charger my gun. "What in tartarus are you doing?!" "Giving them something to shoot at." Crawling out of the kitchen I made my way to the front door which had a few dozen bullet holes in it from the initial random firing. Flinging the door open I jumped out and shouted "Look at me, I'm a target!" before diving for cover around the corner of the house as bullets whizzed past my head. I heard two loud bangs in rapid succession and the machine gun fire ceased. Looking around the corner I saw the two remaining attackers lying dead on the street by the fence. As I stepped out from my hiding spot I saw three jeeps with gun mounts in the back and a couple of troop trucks close behind. They screeched to a stop near the corpses and troops poured out of the trucks. A grey pony in a khaki Navy uniform stepped out of the lead jeep and walked up the walkway towards me with aviators on and a corncob pipe clenched firmly in his mouth. "For fucks sake dad, you ain't MacArthur. Get rid of the pipe." "Nice to see you can critique my appearance even after getting shot at." "I got it from mom. Now, why are you here in Ponyville?" "Am I not allowed to check on my son after a bomb was placed in his office?" "It would be nice if you called first." "Your wife called me." We stood in the yard as MPs roped off the area. Another jeep came flying up to the house and before it had fully stopped the three kids had jumped out and came running up. "Are you all okay?" "Why did they do this?" "Is Charger okay?" The bombardment of questions made me snap and I had to yell to quiet them. "Yes we're fine; I don't know why they did it; and Typhoon it's high time you learned Charger bats for the other team. Now everyone inside." They all went inside single-file and I remained outside to help in any way I could. There was a sudden cry of "There's a live one!" from one of the soldiers moving the attacker's bodies. We ran over and found the zebra barely conscious and struggling to breath. A medic hurried over and began to work on him but shook his head. "He's losing blood internally and I can't get him to an ER fast enough to save him." We nodded in acknowledgement and the zebra tried to say a few words that became mixed with the gurgling of blood. Kneeling down next to him I listened to the words that he could get out with his last few breaths. "You will fall. And Equestria will fall with you." He whispered then let out his last breath. He then went limp and the medic had two MPs haul him away. As we all stood watching the soldiers clean up the bodies the stern voice next to me spoke up. "The mission in Gryphus failed by the way." "There was a chance it would." "Celestia isn't happy we did what we did." "She'll get over it. Won't be the first time we'll do something stupid. We are from the the Jones family after all. You wanna come inside for coffee or something?" "Naw, I should get back to Canterlot. Explain to Celestia what happened. Oh, and before I forget." He pulled a manila envelope out of his briefcase and gave it to me. "Intel on locations in the Griffin Empire." I took the envelope from him and he trotted back to his jeep. The motor roared and the exhaust pipe belched a puff of black smoke before the jeep went flying down the street. As I walked back inside I found the kids rummaging through the cabinets and Charger pressing a hoof to his shoulder. "What the hell happened?" "One of them bastards got a lucky shot in my shoulder." "Why didn't you tell one of the medics?" "Cause I don't want this on my record. If I get it taken care of by somepony who won't report it I can still fight. Celestia doesn't want a damaged soldier guarding a VIP and this is the nicest job I've had." "Alright. Sabre, Typhoon, you two help him up to Sabre's room and we can treat him there. Be discreet though. There are MPs and medics all over outside." They nodded and helped the wounded marine to his hooves and led him upstairs. Walking into the living room I found Thunderstreak sitting on the couch in silence. Her gaze was directed at the floor and she had sadness in her eyes. Sitting down next to her I reached over and pulled her into me. Her head pressed against my chest and she looked up at me. "James, I don't want to stay here. I want to go somewhere safe." "Alright, I'll look into a house up in the Appaloosa Mountains. That's out of range for any enemy aircraft and we can have a fence around the property." "Thank you." We sat in silence as the soldiers outside finished the quick repair work on the house which mostly consisted of plywood nailed over the bullet holes and shattered windows. A few minutes later Typhoon came downstairs looking for more cotton and gauze in the cabinets. As she started up the stairs I told her that her and the other two needed to pack a bag. "Why?" "Because it has been decided that it would be safer for you guys to be in the countryside than here." "But, what about school?" "We can get you a tutor. Your safety is more important to me than anything else so go start packing." She nodded her head and hurried upstairs to tell her brothers and we were again left in silence. We watched the ponies outside the house through the remaining windows and we continued well towards nightfall. When we finally moved from the couch it was five and as I walked into the kitchen to fix dinner I heard a knocking at the front door. Placing my hand on my gun I slowly opened the door but found a brown earth pony sergeant in a Third Armored Division uniform and a letter with the division insignia at the top in his hoof. "For Specialist Rattle." He said as I took it from him. Shutting the door I looked over the letter and found the words Germareny, deployment, and December 11, 1986 amongst the many others that were now insignificant. Hurrying upstairs I went into Sabre's room where he was packing a bag to go with Thunderstreak and the others. "Hey dad." He said without even looking up at me. "Sabre, we need to talk." In the corner, Charger dozed in a recliner that had been placed by the picture window on the wall facing the street. Sabre plopped down on his bed and sat on the edge like I had seen Lyra sit on the park benches. Sitting down next to him I handed him the letter and saw his face go blank. "I have to report to the train station tomorrow at six to deploy to Germareny. I don't want to go." "Well son, you were the one who enlisted so get over it. And as long as you're a show pony you have nothing to worry about. Now, I'm going to go cook dinner. And Charger is to have your bed tonight so you can use the cot in the garage or sleep on the couch." Walking out into the hallway I went downstairs and picked up the phone. Pressing zero I was connected with the operator and had her connect me to the Canterlot palace. "Royal Palace. This is the secretary to Princess Celestia, how may I help you?" "This is General Jones. I wish to speak with the princess." "One moment general." Tapping my foot I listened to the silence from being on hold. A few moments later the phone clicked as someone picked it up. "Hello?" "Princess?" "Ah, General Jones. I hope you know I'm not very happy about that little stunt you and your father pulled." "Oh well. Now listen, I need to use you and Luna's mountain retreat for a few weeks." "What for?" "To smuggle coke, what do you think for? My wife is terrified of being in town after two attempts on my life in one day." "Alright general, you can use our mountain house. There'll be a car there to pick you up between noon and one tomorrow afternoon. Is Corporal Charger going with you?" "I'm actually staying here. Thunderstreak, Corporal Charger, and two of the kids are going." "Which one of them is not going?" "Sabre. He's supposed to ship out for Germareny tomorrow morning." "My apologies general. Also, I'm sending Lieutenant Colonel Loginov to Honoluna tonight for inspection. So to repeat what I said earlier, the car will be there between noon and one tomorrow." "Thank you. And while I have you on the phone, how far along are those aircraft carriers that the Navy's building?" "The first one is supposed to be launched on the seventeenth." "Which one is that?" "I believe your father said it's called the Hornet." "Oh the Hornet! I liked that one. Did he add the larger aircraft elevators like I told him?" "I think so." "Good, good. Well I have to go. Thank you for letting Thunderstreak and the kids stay at your mountain house. I truly appreciate it." "It isn't a problem general. Have a nice evening." "You too." Hanging up I went over to the stove and placed a pan on the front right burner and a pot on the left. I grabbed a jar of alfredo sauce from the cabinet and scraped the contents into the pot with a spoon. Going through the rest of the movements that had become routine for me if Thunderstreak had to stay at the base later than me I whipped up a meal of fettuccini alfredo for everyone. "Alright everybody, dinner's ready!" I called to anyone in the house that cared. A few moments later hoof steps were heard on the stairs and only Lancaster came down to eat. "Where're your brother and sister?" "They've locked themselves in their rooms. Can I eat in the living room?" "Sure buddy." I watched him balance the plate on his hoof and a thought came to me. Sitting down in the living room I handed Thunderstreak her plate and she ate slowly. "Honey, I called Celestia and she said you and the kids can stay at her and Luna's mountain house for a few weeks. Oh and Sabre's getting deployed tomorrow." "That's nic- wait what?!" "Sabre has to report to the train station tomorrow at six. If you want to spend some time with him he's up in his room." She hurriedly scurried up the stairs in her attempt to spend as much time with her only blood child as possible. As soon as I was sure she wasn't coming down for a while I slid my plate over to Lancaster. "What's this for dad?" "I need to go into town so you can have the rest of my food." "Why do you have to go to town?" "Never you mind why buddy. It's just something I have to do." Grabbing my officer's cap from the hat rack I headed out the door. ~~~~~ 19:45 Hours Golden Oaks Library Ponyville December 10, 1986 ~~~~~ "You want me to do what?!" Twilight asked almost in complete shock. "I told you, I want you to use a transformation spell to turn me into a pony." "Why in Equestria would you want to do that?" "We're seemingly on the brink of war, my air crews are suffering from low morale, and quite frankly I want to know what they think of me. So I'm going to take you to the base where I have a sergeant's uniform ready." "Alright, I'll do it. But won't the guard ponies notice you going in and a different species coming out?" "Already covered. I have fake papers and IDs in the uniform." "Fine." We left the library and made our way to the base which was only a twenty minute walk from the library. I tipped my cap to the MPs at the gate who then did the same with their black and white helmets. Walking past the rubble of my office we went to the hangar where the two Tomcats and the only helicopter on base were housed. The Bell UH-1 Iroquois was built to the exterior specifications of the one from the other airbase that I was supposed to visit after Area 13 but with a VIP interior. We walked past the helicopter and took a hiding spot behind the Tomcats where lockers lined a ten foot spot on the wall. "Alright, let me get the uniform out of my locker and we can get this over with." Opening the locker door I reached in and grabbed the olive colored sergeant major's uniform. Placing my officer's cap on the hook inside I shut the door and stood in front of Twilight. "Okay, I'm ready." "Alright then. Let's see if I remember how to do this." Her horn lit up and a few seconds later a purple beam shot from it and struck me directly in the chest. The sensation was somewhere between pain and being tickled but I looked down and saw my hands slowly begin to turn into hooves. Likewise my nose slowly transformed into a snout and I didn't have to go too far cross-eyed to see the end of it. About a minute later I felt the sensation stop and my human uniform hung off my body. Looking down at my hooves I saw my fur was a deep blue. "How's my hair?" I asked Twilight who looked utterly exhausted after performing the spell. She looked up and gave a weak smile. I began to unbutton my jacket and Twilight's eyes suddenly widened. "What are you doing?!" "Getting undressed so I can put on my other uniform." "Well you're not used to your new body so what if, you know, is out?" She asked with her cheeks turning a bright red. "Then turn around if it embarrasses you." I replied as I turned around to throw my jacket into my locker. Sliding off the oversized pants I tossed them into the locker as well before putting on my new uniform. As I turned around I buttoned the top button on my uniform and Twilight's cheeks were still bright red. "You didn't turn around did you?" "No." "You enjoy the show?" Just when I thought her cheeks couldn't get any redder I saw them go another shade deeper. I chucked as I kicked the locker shut and I patted her on the shoulder. Walking past her I went out the door of the hangar and waited for her to catch up with me. When she had caught up I led her to the gate but the two MPs stepped in my way. "No one goes off base without the general's orders." "I have the pass. Let me find it." I said as I reached a hoof into my pocket. Pulling out a piece of wrinkled paper I presented it to the MPs who stepped aside. Just before we got passed the gate they stopped us again. "General Jones entered with Miss Sparkle. Why is she leaving with you?" "Well he had something to give me and he told me to find the sergeant major since he was supposed to be leaving." She quickly lied to the two grey ponies in black helmets who seemed to accept the answer. Stepping back they let us pass and Twilight gave me a wink. We continued on and I found a bar that was filled with air force personnel. Trotting inside I looked around through the light blue haze of cigarette smoke at the other ponies. From privates to a familiar rainbow maned major, it seemed the bar was full of pilots and many others. The waitresses had at least five mugs of beer per tray and quite a few were swatting away hooves with their tails. Taking a seat at the bar I ordered a beer while Twilight ordered a glass of wine. Suddenly a hoof wrapped around us and a head poked between ours. "Hey Twilight! Who's your friend? He your boy toy?" Dash asked her with a sly grin and looked over at me with a serious look. "So, you banging my friend or what?" "Rainbow Dash!" "What? I was only asking him a question." Leaning over I told Twilight it was fine and explained to Dash that I wasn't doing what, or who, she thought. Taking a drink from my mug I looked over at Rainbow Dash who was looking back at me with a suspicious look. "You sound a lot like General Jones." "So?" "Nothing. Just that you're here with Twi, she knows transformation spells, and you're cute." "Alright Dash, you're drunk. Maybe you should go home." Twilight said as she hopped of her barstool. "No! Now tell me yes or no, is he General Jones?" "No! Now go home before I tell James about your behavior here while you're in uniform." "Just one more drink?" "No. Go home." "Fine." Dash replied and she made her way to the door. Looking back at us she frowned but went outside. Twilight apologized for Rainbow Dash's behavior and took a sip of her wine. "I'm sorry about Rainbow Dash. She can be a hoofful when she drinks." "Obviously." "Hey, you wanted to get to know your troops, there's a card game right over there." "You're right. Let's play a game of cards." I hopped off my barstool and went to help Twilight off hers but she slipped when she landed and accidently made me bump into somepony and I felt their beer spill all over my back. "Watch it you lousy fuck!" "Hey, can you not see the lady slipped?" "I do and now my beer's all over her back." "Alright asshole. I was being nice but you done pissed me off." Drawing my hoof back I threw a hit and landed it square on the side of his jaw. He went flailing through the small space between stool and floor and was quickly up and ready to fight. He charged at me and on the advice of Twilight who was yelling "buck him in the face" I turned around and raised my hooves. Sending a buck in his direction I hit him in the nose and he reeled back in pain. Shaking his head as more ponies joined the fight he charged again but I simply stepped aside at the last second which made him slam face first into the bar. Grabbing Twilight's hoof with my own I told her to run and we hurried out of the bar where two hooves grabbed onto my face. Suddenly I felt lips against mine and violet eyes we're looking at me. Pushing Rainbow Dash away I wiped my mouth and looked over where she sat with a satisfied grin. "Why?" "So I can say I kissed a general." "Major Dash go home before I have you court marshaled, shot, and sent to the front!" "Fine." She replied and she hurried off into the night sky with a few sudden falters from the alcohol. Shaking my head I looked over at Twilight who gave me a small smile before apologizing again for Dash's behavior. Deciding against the idea of continuing into town more I told Twilight that it was probably best we go back to base. Trotting through the edge of town I told Twilight to wait for me out of sight of anypony while I went and got my other uniform. Nodding to the two MPs they gave me a nod back and I hurried to the hangar. Grabbing the other uniform from my locker I stuffed it in an empty garbage bag so as not to arouse suspicion. Trotting out the gate I saw the two guards look at each other with quizzical looks but they shrugged it off and let me go. I looked around for a few minutes before I found Twilight and I hurried behind a tree to put on the oversized human uniform. I finished buttoning up the top of the jacket as I came out from behind the tree. "Alright, hit me with your best shot." Her horn began to glow and a purple beam shot out again which gave me the same tingling pain I'd experienced before. I felt myself getting taller and I saw my hooves revert back to hands as my uniform began to fit again. Looking down at myself I made sure to do a check to make sure everything was back. "Hands? Two. Eyes? Yes. Nose? Fantastic. Is my hair good?" "It looks fine." Twilight replied again out of breath. "I'm not ginger am I? It's still black right?" "Yes. Now can we please stop with these spells?" "Yeah." "General, I have something that would help you much better than these silly little spells and bar fights." "Like what?" "There's a changeling that lives on the outskirts of Ponyville. He's the first changeling to leave the main hive and live. Maybe he can provide some information on the inner workings of the hive." "That would be useful for military intelligence. See if you can't get me a meeting with him tomorrow around noon." "Alright, I'll try." ~~~~~ 12:00 Hours Ponyville Aerodrome December 11, 1986 ~~~~~ "And further more you two blockheads; if you ever pull a stunt again like you did today I will have you discharged! You're grounded for the next two weeks. Consider yourselves lucky I don't have you working the shit burners in Vietmane. Do I make myself crystal fucking clear?" "Yes sir." The two pilots replied and I sent them on their way. Just as they left my makeshift office Twilight entered with the changeling that she had talked about the night before. "James, this is Lieutenant Byrd." "Lieutenant, it's a pleasure meeting you." "You too general. I understand you wish to know the inner workings of the main hive?" "Yes. Please, sit." I told him as I waved a hand at the chair in front of my new desk. He took a seat and he pulled a piece of paper out of the pocket of his jacket. Taking it from him I unrolled it and found a chart showing the layout of the changeling military. "The military runs the government with the queen as the head of all the branches. The Navy is the one that they tend to focus on with the hive being on an island south of the nation of Neighpon." "What is their primary tactic when it comes to battle?" "Surprise. They used it during the royal wedding and I am certain they will use it again." "I'm sure this information will be useful. I'll make sure it reaches Canterlot immediately." He stood up and gave a salute which I returned and he made his way out of my office. Twilight made her way in and smiled at me. "So, was his information of any usefulness?" "He gave me a chart of the changeling military. Will you please have Spike send this to Canterlot at once?" "Of course." I handed her the chart and she hurried out of my office. Looking around at the old part of the medical ward I sat down at my desk again but a commotion outside drew my attention. Just as I was about to get up a corporal barged into my office with a piece of paper. "Sir, urgent message from headquarters in Canterlot." He said as he hoofed over the telegram. Looking over the message I could only mutter "My god" as I read it over and over again. "Sir, what is it?" "The western fleet at Honoluna and the eastern fleet in Manehattan have been bombed. Equestria is at war."
The Jolly Rogers	15: A Date Which Will Live in Infamy	~~~~~ 12:00 Hours December 12, 1986 Canterlot Palace ~~~~~ Flashbulbs illuminated the grand ballroom of the palace as Princess Luna stepped up to the podium. From my spot off stage I looked on as Princess Celestia stepped up next to me. "We all knew war was inevitable, but we should have been better prepared." "Princess, I hope you know that no one blames you for what happened." "Your father wrote this speech for me. I only hope that we will be better prepared in the future." Princess Luna finished her short speech and Celestia made her way to the podium where flashbulbs again lit up the room. "Yesterday, December 11, 1986 - a date which will live in infamy - Equestria was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Griffin and Changeling Empires. The changelings have, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Haycific area. The facts of yesterday speak for themselves. The citizens of Equestria have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation. As commander in chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense. Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the Equestrian military in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory. I hereby declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by the griffins and changelings on Thursday, Dec. 11, a state of war has existed between Equestria, the Griffin Empire, and the Changeling Empire." She stepped down from the podium as questions were shouted about the attack and we hurried to the national military headquarters on the far side of the castle. As we walked into the headquarters we were met by the other generals and some officers from the Crystal Empire. "I want a full briefing on the attack as well as information on when the soonest we can strike them back is." Celestia ordered as she took her seat at the table in the middle of the room. Taking my seat to her left an admiral stood up to give a briefing. "Your highness, we have reports that the Phoenix has been sunk with over a thousand sailors still trapped inside. We also have reports that a changeling mini sub was sunk by DD-139 outside of Honoluna yesterday morning before the attack." "And this information wasn't relayed to western fleet headquarters at that point why?" "It was believed that the situation was handled at that point your highness." "Well obviously not admiral. General Silverwing, what are the reports on the status of the air bases in the affected cities?" A white pegasus stallion in a blue uniform stood up and looked around at the others at the table. "Your highness, we have reports that over six hundred aircraft have been either damaged or destroyed. Some pilots were able to get airborne and have claimed twenty enemy aircraft shot down." "Thank you general. General Jones, do you have any suggestions?" "I do actually. You see, when I had Admiral Harvard add the larger aircraft elevators to CV-1 I had a special operation in mind. This mission, operation codename Doolittle, would enable us to strike at the heart of the Changeling Empire. But we would need full cooperation between the air force and the navy for the mission. As for the Griffin Empire we can start establishing bases in the Crystal Empire for strikes against targets deep inside their territories." "General Jones," A navy captain stood up and looked over at me "how do you propose the air force would be any help with this unknown operation of yours?" "Operation Doolittle is the launching of R.E.A.F. medium bombers off the Hornet." "Are you mad? You can't launch an air force bomber off a navy aircraft carrier! It can't be done!" "Actually captain, it has been done before so don't tell me it can't be done." "This is why I like General Jones." Celestia said as she looked around at the other military officers. "He doesn't have time for bullshit, and neither do I. General Jones, I want you to head Operation Doolittle and get it underway as soon as possible." "Yes ma'am." "Very good. I want the rest of you to be preparing to launch an all-out attack against the enemy in any way you can." She stood up and walked out of the headquarters leaving us all sitting at the table. In the corner of the room teletypes were continually typing out messages from all around Equestria but one of the sergeants manning the machines grabbed one of the papers from a machine and brought it over to me. On behalf of the captain of the Fillydelphia, request that the Equestrian Medal of Valor be awarded to Lieutenant Colonel Marko Loginov for his service at Honoluna during the attack of December eleventh. "Good god. Gentlemen, please excuse me. I need to get back to Ponyville." ~~~~~ 14:00 Hours Ponyville Aerodrome December 12, 1986 ~~~~~ The engines on the silver C-47 shut down as the door swung down. From the airplane emerged Marko in his blood stained olive uniform with a black patch covering his left eye. "Welcome home Marko. I needn't ask how your trip was." "So when are you putting Doolittle in effect?" "As soon as possible. How long do you need to wear the eye patch?" "A while. When does the Hornet launch?" "Seventeenth. I need air crews and someone to put them together. Tell me you would be up to that." "Of course sir." "You've also been awarded the Medal of Valor which is basically Equestria's version of the Medal of Honor and the Silver Star. You are to report to Canterlot tomorrow where you and five others will be awarded the Medal of Valor for service during the attacks." "Not important. What's the status of the eastern fleet?" "It's in far better condition than the western and the fools neglected to hit dry-docks and ship building facilities during the attack so the keels we already have laid down for three cruisers and a new battleship are unharmed." "Very good. General, I bid you a good day." He snapped to attention and gave a quick salute before turning on his heel and walking off for his office. Standing on the tarmac I looked up at the sky as fighter planes from another airbase flew overhead towards Manehattan. Turning around I walked towards the gate where the two MPs saluted me but I didn't even bother saluting them back. Making my way through the streets of Ponyville I ignored the colt selling newspapers with the headline of 'WAR!' printed on them. As I turned onto the block that the house was on I saw reporters waiting outside for me. Shielding my eyes from the flashbulbs I made my way to the door and breathed a sigh of relief at the peacefulness. Making my way into the kitchen I grabbed the phone off the hook and pressed zero. "Operator." "Connect me with Canterlot please." "One moment sir." "Canterlot operator." "Connect me to the royal palace." "Please hold sir." "For fuck's sake. It's the palace, how many folks could be calling?" "Royal palace." The exhausted voice of Princess Celestia's assistant answered. "This is General Jones. Can you connect me to Celestia's mountain house?" "One moment sir." Sighing I grabbed a chair and sat down by the phone as I heard someone answer the other end. The sound of Thunderstreak's voice relaxed me after the day I had had. "Hello?" "Hey honey." "I heard Celestia's speech on the radio. How many are really dead?" "We won't know for sure for days, maybe weeks. There are still around a thousand still assumed trapped inside. If we can't get any out in a week they're all to be reported as KIA." "That's awful. Please tell me there are plans to get back at those bastards." "There are but this isn't a secured line so I can't tell you what they are. We got a bunch of registration forms from ponies wanting to avenge the attacks today and it's just been one giant pain in my ass." "I'm sorry." "How are the kids?" "They're fine. They love the view from here. I really wish you could be here too." "So do I but I'm needed here. Especially with the operation we have planned and maybe when you get back from the mountains in a few weeks I'll have a surprise for you." "Like what?" "If I told you then it wouldn't be a surprise would it?" "No. Aw shit, Lancaster just pickpocketed a guard. I'll call you back in a bit. Love you!" "Love you too." There was a click and I hung up the phone as I heard a knocking on the door. Hurrying to the door I opened it up and Marko rushed in and slammed the door. He breathed a sigh of relief and pulled a manila folder from his briefcase that he presented to me. "What are these?" "Files on the pilots I think could be up to the job for Doolittle." "Come on. We can discuss this in my office." Walking down the hallway I glanced at the family picture on the wall of all of us just a week before the attack. "You're very lucky sir. I never had a family of my own." "It's never too late. I'm proof of that." "I suppose so sir but I've yet to meet a mare who gets me like Thunderstreak does you." "We all have our Thunderstreak somewhere Marko. You just have to search." I told him as I sat down at my desk. Marko took a seat across from me as I flipped through the files. "I see you have Captain Macintosh and Major Dash in here. I can see Mac but Dash? Mac is a good pilot and flies by the book but Rainbow Dash can be reckless. Not to mention she's cocky, arrogant, and she's only qualified in fighters like the forty and thirty nine. Not a Mitchell. I trust her to run a squadron of mares because they're all quite frankly shitty pilots, but her at the controls of a twin engine bomber taking off from an aircraft carrier? Her guts would be splattered all across the water." "Sir, I would not have put her in there if I didn't believe she could do it." "I understand that Marko but I'm not just looking out for her safety. I'm also looking out for the five crewmembers on her plane. If she fucks up that's six fliers less we have towards the war effort." "I know sir but I feel if we have someone here in Ponyville that can help this mission it's Major Dash." "And again I trust her with a scrap worthy P-40. Not a brand new B-25. But if you feel she'll be useful then get her and the other flyers together at the field in a week." "Yes sir." ~~~~~ 10:00 Hours December 19, 1986 Ponyville Aerodrome ~~~~~ Eighty flyers stood at attention in a line before me with their uniforms freshly cleaned and most of them seemed not yet to have seen the age of twenty-five. "You are all here as part of a secret program ordered into action by Princess Celestia herself. This mission is dangerous and could prove deadly. Any of you brave enough to accept, step forward." All eighty took a step forward and I led them to the sixteen B-25Bs and B-25Cs that lined the tarmac of the airfield. Leading them to the B-25B that would serve as my bomber during the training I walked them around it before stopping by the left side of the nose. "Your grandmother could take a B-25 off a mile long runway. I'm going to teach you how to do it in three hundred eighty six feet. Because at three hundred eighty seven feet, you're dead. Those flags on the runway mark the point you need to be at by the time you take off. For this I need a copilot and aircrew." A red stallion stepped forward and four other stallions followed suit. Climbing into the cockpit I took the left seat and Mac climbed into the right. Down below we heard the bombardier shut the hatch and make his way to the nose. Flipping the battery switch I plugged the throat mike and headset in and did the usual check before calling role. "Copilot?" "Eeyup." "Bombardier?" "Here sir." "Turret gunner?" "Locked and loaded sir." "Tail gunner?" "I hate these goddamn tail turrets!" "Flight engineer?" "Here." "Alright, let's roll." Sliding the window open I stuck my head out and looked down at the seventy one ponies and four men below me. "Clear prop!" They all ran in the opposite direction and I flipped the magnetos and depressed the starter. Watching the prop slowly spin before the engine fired and roared to life I had Mac slide open his window as I fired up the other engine. "Tower this is Red Leader, request permission to taxi to runway 3-6." "Red Leader this is tower. Taxi to runway 3-6 using the taxiway in front of you." "Roger that." Pushing the throttles forward a half inch the engines shook the plane as she slowly started to roll. Pulling back on the right one I let it spin around towards the taxiway. "Alright Mac, it's basically like your 17 but with two less engines and a nose wheel. Just steer with your throttles and you should do fine." "Ah learned in an A model. Ah know what Ah'm doin'." "Alright then. She's yours till the runway." Laying my head back I closed my eyes and listened to the roar of the engines until a poking at my shoulder. Looking over I saw Mac pointing ahead and I saw the runway and the bright red flags. Dropping thirty degrees of flaps I held the brakes as I pushed the throttles all the way forward. Holding it until it was at max rpm I heard a cry of "Let her go before she shakes apart!" before I released the breaks. The bomber lurched forward and the red flags fast approached. Pulling back on the stick the nose wheel stayed firmly planted on the runway as we rolled past the markers. "Fuck!" Chopping the throttles I let it slow and we turned onto a taxiway. We rolled up to the parking area and the other aircrews watched as we shut everything down. Climbing down from the front hatch I waved the crew chief over. "I want you to strip this plane of all unnecessary equipment. Including that bombsight." "Yes sir." "Alright, the rest of you are dismissed until the bomber's ready." They all walked away for the rec hall but a cyan mare turned around and approached me. "General?" "Yes major?" "I could see when you walked down the line earlier you didn't like me being here." "Major, don't take this personal but to me you seem reckless. You pull unpermitted stunts over the base, you wrecked the first fighter the air force gave you, and you focus more on impressing Colonel Spitfire than doing your job." "If that's how I truly act then here are these." She pulled the silver wings form her uniform and dropped hem at my feet. Just as I was about to talk she turned and trotted away for the base gates. 'Fuck. What did I just do?' ~~~~~ 11:04 Hours Golden Oaks Library Ponyville ~~~~~ "You did what?" "Twilight, I know I fucked up but can you try to get her to take her wings back?" "I can try but have you met Dash?" "Yes. She's a stubborn asshole but I need her for this mission." "So why did you tell her all that?" "Because if I don't pull off this mission it's my ass on the chopping block so I'm under a bit of stress." "That's still no reason to say what you said!" Twilight replied as she paced the floor. "Look, I don't think I'll get her back to base and I don't want to get someone from the goddamn reserves to replace her." "Fine, I'll talk to her but don't expect me to get her back for you." "Thank you Twilight. Call me later with any news." ~~~~~ 15:10 Hours December 19 Ponyville Aerodrome ~~~~~ Climbing into the stripped down bomber I followed the normal checklist before taking it out to the runway. Pushing the throttles forward I held the brakes until a green flare rose above the field. Releasing the brakes I let the bomber roll towards the flags. I began pulling back on the stick and the nose wheel lifted but the main gear remained firmly planted to the runway as we rolled past the flags. Chopping the throttle I parked it and gave it over to the crew chief. "Do whatever you can to lose weight on this thing. Lose the armor plating if you have to." "The armor?" "Are you questioning my authority sergeant?" "No sir." "Then lose the goddamn armor." I saw Rainbow Dash standing by the nose of another bomber off to the side watching me. "Everyone go play ping pong or something. I got someone to talk to." They all dispersed and I walked over to the sky blue pegasus in her olive uniform. "Twilight came by my house and talked to me. I'm sorry. You're right. I can be reckless, arrogant, and I'm not the best squad leader." "Major, I should not have said what I did. Yes I didn't originally want you on this mission but if you swear to fly as I tell you, I'll keep you on the mission roster and put in a promotion request for you at headquarters." "You would ask them to promote me if I fly right?" "Only if you promise to fly as I tell you." "Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." "Then I'll send in the paperwork. Oh and here's this." Reaching in my pocket I pulled out silver wings and gave them over to her. Rainbow Dash happily pinned the wings to her uniform and looked up at my bomber. "So what's the target for the mission anyways?" "That, major, is classified." Walking away I headed for the Tomcat hangar where the Iroquois sat waiting. I climbed on board and slid the door shut. The pilot started it up and the blades turned into a blur as the blue and white helicopter lifted from the ground. Looking down at the ground personnel I thought about the mission in a couple of months before grabbing the bottle of champagne in the ice bucket by my seat. Popping the cork I grabbed a glass and poured myself a drink. "Damn, I should have been a general a long time ago." ~~~~~ 17:24 Hours December 19, 1986 The Royal Mountain House ~~~~~ Sliding the door to the helicopter open I looked down at the landing spot and Thunderstreak off to the side of it. Swinging my legs out I placed my feet on the skid and hopped out before the chopper was on the ground. Looking up at the pilot a few feet above me I waved to him before jogging to Thunderstreak. She wrapped her arms around my neck and I grabbed her carefully around the waist. "And how is the most beautiful mare in the world?" "Better now that her handsome husband is here. The kids have missed you." "Is that why they aren't here?" "Actually I didn't tell them. Thought I'd make it a surprise." "I hope they like it." We walked up the small incline towards the mansion that sat atop the mountain. From what I could see of it, it was made of grey stone that blended into the surrounding mountains and royal guards stood at attention all around it. Out on the deck I saw Typhoon sunning herself while Corporal Charger stood guard next to her. Walking up the steps I saw her look up at the sound of my boot nails on the wooden deck. As soon as she saw me she jumped up and ran over to me. Bending down I gave her a hug which she eagerly returned. "Now, where's your brother?" "He's in the library. He's barely left that room since we got here." "Well let's go surprise him." Standing up I let Thunderstreak lead me, Typhoon, and Charger through the house towards the library. Looking around at the oak paneled walls I admired the many painting depicting life and history in Equestria. We turned a corner and walked past giant oak doors into a vast two story library that was seemingly overflowing with books. "Lancaster!" Thunderstreak called out and it echoed slightly before a blue head popped up over the railing of the second floor. "Yeah mum?" He looked over at me and I gave a small wave to him. He galloped over to the staircase and all the way down. "Hi dad!" "Hey buddy. Your sister tells me you've been hanging out in here." "Not just hanging out here." Thunderstreak said as she stepped up next to me. "Sleeping in here too. He's got a sleeping bag all set up upstairs with a little book fort all around him. I swear he's gonna be as bad as Twilight when it comes to libraries." "What's wrong with libraries? In a world of fools it's the only intelligent place I can go." Lancaster said which made me laugh. "Aren't you a bit young to be antisocial?" "I'm not antisocial, just selectively-social." "I also heard you pickpocketed a guard." "I read how in a book on shelf fifty six." "I think you need to get out of the library. Maybe watch that show you like. What was it again?" "Doctor Whooves." "Yeah. I think there's supposed to be a new episode on tonight. Let's watch it and then you can spend the rest of the night in the library if you want." "Alright." "Good. Now, let's go eat. I'm starving." We all made our way out with Thunderstreak leading the way again. Walking down a couple more hallways we entered the kitchen which looked big enough to cook for an army. We stood waiting for a few moments before the head chef approached us and gave a quick bow. "What may I fix for the general and his family?" "I was thinking pizza." "Then it will be done. We will bring it to the dining room when it is ready." "Thanks. Hey, what are your policies on midnight snacks?" "The staff goes to their homes at the base of the mountain every evening so the kitchen is yours." "Fantastic." ~~~~~ 20:00 Hours December 19 Library of the Mountain House ~~~~~ Walking into the darkened library I saw a light on the second level and made my way up the stairs. Looking around the corner of a book case I saw Lancaster lying in his sleeping bag with his face in a book. Knocking on the case he looked up at me from inside his little book fort. "Permission to enter?" "Granted." Walking over I took a seat next to him and he set down his book. Looking over at it I saw it was easily college level or over. Reaching inside my jacket I pulled out a small book that was brightly illustrated. "I, uh, Will made this little book for you and I thought I'd give it to ya." Handing him the book I saw him look it over before giving it back to me. "Can you read it to me?" "Sure." Flipping open the book to the first page I cleared my throat before commencing. "Twas the night before Christmas, And all through the camp. Enlisted men sleeping, MPs on a nap. Snuggled up warmly in their OD beds. Dreams of no PT danced in their heads. "The grass swayed silently on the parade grounds. Soft white snow covered the campground. Mailroom letters of holiday cheer. A pine tree bearing standard issue gear. "All was still, from the rifles and ammunition. To all the soldiers, with or without commission. 2330 hours with a clam winter breeze. Not a single thing stirring all were at ease. "Then out of the clouds a dark figure did appear. A floppy hat and facial hair of white. Big round barrel, red snout so bright. His sack held presents for the armed forces. Wonderful gifts for Celestia's horses. "He landed his sleigh atop the rec. room. Dressed in camouflaged woodland costume. Quietly he moved, and performed his routine. Being extra careful not to be seen. "He climbed off the roof without a peep. And noticed twenty pounds of snow in the captain's jeep. With a wave of his hoof the snow melted away. A private will thank him come Christmas day. "On his way back, a wire did snap. This was the sound of the master sergeant's trap. With a double-barreled shotgun came the first shirt. He screamed into the intercom, putting the base on alert. "Ponies grabbed their rifles, helmets, and bandolier. Galloping out, battle ready, without any fear. They had him surrounded, ponies all around. He looked around but no escape could be found. "With rifles trained upon his head. The dark figure shot first, with a burst of hot lead. 'He has a gun!' they did discover. Everypony rushed and ducked for cover. "No one could shoot back, the troops tried their best. Some how he had the whole base suppressed. In a blaze of gunfire, he moved hoof after hoof. Shooting and climbing to the top of the roof. "The figure took off, his guns still spitting lead. 30 caliber bullets wising just overhead. But I heard him shout, as he flew out of sight. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight! "Then came the morning, Christmas day. But there was absolutely no sign of foul play. No bullet shells, no tracks from a sleigh. There is no other answer, Santa's a green beret."1 Closing the book I looked down at the sleeping colt next to me. Leaning down I gave him a quick kiss on the head before quietly getting up and heading down stairs. Turning left I made my way to the kitchen and found it already occupied. On the counter Thunderstreak sat with a spoon and a tub of ice cream. "Mind if I join you?" "Not at all. Spoons are in the third drawer to your right." Pulling out the drawer I grabbed a spoon and hopped up on the counter top with her. "So why are you down here eating ice cream by yourself?" "Because I'm four months pregnant and around this time in my last pregnancy I tried eating everything I could." "At least the princesses are paying for this food and not me." "Yeah cause we'd be broke and then some." "Listen, I've been thinking about all this and I think we should think up some names." "Alright, like what?" "Well, James Jones the third has a nice ring to it." "Oh geez. James, while it's a nice name, what if they're more pony than human?" "Ok. How about Lightning? Or maybe Mustang?" "I was thinking maybe Starfighter. I saw the blueprints in your office a few weeks ago and the name seemed nice." "How about Phantom?" "Sounds a bit scary." "Alright, let's discuss this tomorrow." Digging into the ice cream I sat and ate with Thunderstreak for nearly a half hour before talking her into putting the ice cream away and going to bed. Letting her lead the way she lead me upstairs to the bedroom where she had been staying. Looking around at the extravagant room and the large bed I noticed doors to a balcony. Walking over I opened the doors and walked out into the cold night air. Looking up at the clear sky I saw what looked billions of stars all across the sky. Looking down at the deck below I saw Typhoon leaning on the railing and looking up at the sky. The sound of hooves on the wooden deck got our attention and I saw Charger walking out in his uniform. "Hey honey, come here." I said in a whisper loud enough for Thunderstreak to here and she made her way to the balcony with me. Looking down at her I saw she was already in her black robe. She looked down at the deck with me and we saw Charger offer Typhoon his uniform jacket to cover up. She draped the jacket over herself and they proceeded to converse about something. Just as I was about to go back in I saw something unexpected, Charger lean over and kiss Typhoon. "Hey! You get away from my daughter!" I shouted and they both wheeled around in shock and I saw the blood drain from their faces. Turning around I hurried downstairs and made my way towards the deck. Just as I swung the door open I came face to face with Charger and wrapped my hand around his throat. Pinning him up against the wall I reached for the holster on my hip. Finding the gun missing I looked at the squirming colt before me. "That's ok. I'd rather kill you with my hands anyway." Squeezing his throat I watched him gasp for air as Typhoon and Thunderstreak attempted to pull me away from him. "James! Let him go!" "I'll kill the little son of a bitch if it's the last thing I do!" Finally they managed to pull me away and Charger dropped to the floor trying to catch his breath. After downing a couple of shots of whiskey from the kitchen I was willing to sit down and listen to whatever he had to say. Going into the library we all sat down in the chairs in the center area of the first floor. Looking over at the light brown stallion I felt my rage bubbling up again. "Dad, listen. I know you thought he was gay but the truth is that he's bisexual. He tends to lean towards guys but I'm the exception." "So I shouldn't kill him why?" "Because I love him. He finally admitted he liked me a day or so after we arrived." "Well he better keep his hooves to himself or I will kill him. Family bodyguard or not." "Sir," Charger stood up and approached me "I would never hurt your daughter. I love her too much." "You've known her for a couple weeks." "No offence sir, but you and Mrs. Thunderstreak moved in together after only a week." "Don't get smart with me corporal. I can have you working in the frozen north or in the jungles of Vietmane fighting the changelings at a moment's notice. And I will ensure it happens if you ever hurt her." "Yes sir. I apologize for not telling you sooner." "It's alright. But I'll be watching you. Even when you don't think so, I'm watching you. Pop quiz, what am I doing now?" "Watching me sir?" "That's right. Now both of you go to bed. And if I catch you two out of bed together after ten while I'm here I'll make sure he's deployed and you young lady will be grounded. Now I am going to bed. If anyone wakes me up before ten tomorrow I'll kill 'em." Making my way to the second floor of the library I went out into a second floor hallway I headed for the bedroom. Opening the door I flopped down on the bed and removed my tie and cap. Unbuttoning my uniform I laid down as Thunderstreak came in and sat next to me. "Thank you for not killing him." "It took everything in my power not to." "I know honey but she's seventeen and will be graduating in the spring. You can't protect her for the rest of her life." "Wanna bet? She's my daughter now and if something happens to her I don't think I'd be able to handle it. And that goes for Sabre and Lancaster too. I love all of them and I'll protect them as best I can. Someone breaks her heart; I'll break the little bastard's neck." "I know sweetie but they need to fall and get hurt before they go out into the real world. Because if they don't they'll get hurt then and be living in our house for the rest of their lives. And I really don't want to be cooking for three when we're old and grey." "I know. Oh and before I forget, my dad, his friends, and all our friends from Ponyville are coming out here for Christmas." "Great. One more Jones I get to deal with. Was your dad this bad tempered about when your sisters had boyfriends?" "He used to greet them at the door with either a shotgun, his machete, or a hand grenade." "Did he ever nearly kill any?" "All the time. There was one that nearly lost his head when dad came out with his gun." "Great. Well, I'm going to sleep. Goodnight sweetie." "Goodnight."
The Jolly Rogers	16: Demons Run	~~~~~ 06:00 Hours December 25, 1986 Royal Vacation Mansion ~~~~~ A sudden weight landing on my chest jolted me awake as Lancaster hopped up and down on our bed. "Dad! Dad! Get up! Santa came!" He hurried out of the room and Thunderstreak rolled over to face me. "We spent a half hour setting up presents under the tree. Couldn't he wait until eight to wake us?" "No, I know what it's like to be a kid on Christmas morning. Let him have his day." Climbing out of bed I slipped on a pair of pants and my red and white flannel shirt. Walking downstairs I went over to the banister that over looked the living room where several guards had helped erect a pine tree a couple of days earlier. Below Lancaster ran around grabbing every gift that had his name on it while Typhoon and Charger sleepily made their way out from their rooms. As we made our way down we saw a maid coming in with hot chocolate and coffee on a silver tray. Grabbing a mug of coffee I sat down in one of the chairs as Lancaster tore open a present. He pulled out a small stack of books that was tied up in red ribbon. "You wouldn't believe the trouble I had to go through to talk Celestia into getting me those for you." I told him as he untied the ribbon to reveal my copies of the Sherlock Holmes books. "You had Celestia use her magic to get a few books from another planet?" He asked as he looked up at me. Suddenly he jumped up and gave me a hug before going back to his gifts. Off to my left Typhoon opened up a gift of hers that was mostly makeup while Charger stood by in his uniform. "Dad, didn't you get Charger a gift?" She asked as she looked over at him. "You mean besides not killing him? Yeah but that'll come later." Suddenly a gift appeared before me and I saw it was from Thunderstreak. Opening up the box I saw a new .45 revolver sitting at the bottom. Pulling it out I held it in my hand for a few seconds before slipping it into my pocket. "Thank you dear. I love the new gun." "I thought you would. Your dad recommended it." "Of course he did. While all of you open up gifts I'm gonna go clean up. The others are supposed to be getting here around noon." "Alright sweetie. While you're getting your uniform can you layout my red dress for me?" "Yes dear." ~~~~~ 12:15 Hours December 25 ~~~~~ The staff cars slowed to a stop and I stepped out to open doors and butlers did the same. From the first car the four men under my command and dad in his human form stepped out with the six mares and their younger sisters in the second car, the Swing Sisters in the third, and finally the princesses in the rear car. Walking back to their car I saluted quickly as confusion set in. "Your highness, why didn't you tell me you, your sister, and niece were coming?" "A bit of a surprise for you general." "To say the least. The chefs weren't expecting you or they would have made something more elegant than pasta, breadsticks, soup, and pizza." "That sounds fine to me general." Luna said from beside Celestia. Leading them all inside I showed them to the dining room where lunch was laid out on the thirty foot table. Taking our seats we began to pass food to each other and my plate was soon filled with pasta and pizza. Stuffing my face I saw Thunderstreak, Luna, and Austin doing the same. After an hour we had finished off the meal and dessert and now sat in the living room surrounded by gifts. I now had two guns, a new record that was yet to be released, and a pair of brand new aviators. "Alright, I think it's time Charger got his gift." Celestia nodded and floated a couple of patches over to Charger with her magic. He took the patches and looked up at us in surprise. "You're making me a sergeant?" "That was before I found you making out with my daughter." "Sir, I still apologize I didn't tell you earlier." "Oh shut up before I strip you of a stripe and make you corporal again." "Yes sir." ~~~~~ 18:00 Hours December 25 Ponyville, Equestria ~~~~~ Stepping down from the Huey I turned and helped Thunderstreak and the kids down. Walking away we climbed in the waiting jeep that then took us home. Walking in the front door I nearly stepped on a pile of mail that had accumulated below the mail slot. Scooping it up I flipped through it and found a letter from Germareny addressed to Thunderstreak and I. Tearing open the envelope I pulled out the letter and looked it over. Dear Mom and Dad, I'm finally all settled in here in Germareny. Quite a few soldiers are worried about whether or not the griffins will invade Germareny now that Prance has fallen. We listen to the CBC for updates and the other soldiers treat me no different. Even if I do get most of the girls. Two other soldiers and I even started a small band and have been playing at a local bar for spending money and have managed to make close to fifty bits each. The city we're stationed in is beautiful. I wish you two could see it. I'll try to write again in a couple days. Love, Sabre ~~~~~ 18:10 Hours Hayburg Target Range Hayburg, Germareny ~~~~~ "Target, white shack!" The orange twenty year old colt shouted down to the light green unicorn in the turret. "Got it." Sabre replied as he looked through the sight for the turret. "Target is two hundred yards." "Fire!" "On the way!" He hit the trigger and a flash emerged from the end of the barrel as the shell left it. A second later the white target shack exploded with a fire ball. Sabre pumped his hoof in the air in victory as the spotter climbed into the turret. "Your parents still think you're a show pony?" "Yeah. This beats staying in camp all day I'll say that." Sabre looked through the sight again at the smoldering rubble but something caught his eye. "Hey, look over by the shack and tell me if you see that." The spotter stood up and climbed up on top of the turret where he began scanning that section of tree line. "Looks like something moving over there." "Another one of ours?" "Looks more angled on the armor than ours. One of those fake Panzers maybe?" "Maybe but why would its turret be turning towards us?" "No clue. Maybe," The spotter was cut short as a white cloud emerged from the other tank's barrel and the shell landed a few yards to the right of the tank. "Fuck! Driver, radio base the war is on! And somepony get me more shells!" ~~~~~ Meanwhile in Northern Prance ~~~~~ "Warum zum Teufel ist es so kalt hier?" (Why the fuck is it so cold here?) A young blonde man in his black SS uniform asked the other soldier with him as they stood guard outside the museum. "Weil es Winter ist, du Narr." (Because it is winter you fool.) The other replied as he turned up the collar in his coat, the movement making his black helmet slide down almost over his eyes. "Warum hat der Fuhrer selbst wollen zu dieser Stadt kommen? Es sieht aus wie ein Mini-Paris." (Why did the Fuehrer even want to come to this city? It looks like a mini Paris.) "Weil er will Kunst fur seine Sammlung." (Because he wants art for his collection.) "Das ist keine Entschuldigung dafur, dass uns aus in der Kalte." (That is no excuse for making us stand out in the cold.) "Beenden Sie jammern. Wir schworen einen Eid auf den Fuhrer und wir werden sie gehorchen." (Quit your whining. We swore an oath to the Fuehrer and we will obey it. ) "Das war in Deutschland! Nicht dieses, Nutsy Land!" (That was in Germany! Not this, nutsy land! ) The younger said throwing his hands up in the air. "Halten Sie den Mund! Wollen Sie der Oberst zu horen und mit Ihnen auf Sie geschossen?" (Keep your mouth shut! Do you want the colonel hearing you and having you shot? ) "Nein." (No.) "Dann halten Sie ruhig." (Then keep quiet.) They resumed their shivering and clutched their MP 40s with one hand. Suddenly the door to the museum opened causing the two guards to snap to attention as an SS officer and an older man in a greenish-grey overcoat stepped outside. The old man turned around and in the glow of the city street lights the two SS soldiers tried to remain calm as Adolf Hitler looked them up and down. "Ich wunschte, ich hatte mehr treue Manner wie Sie am Ende." (I wish I had more loyal men like you in the end.) He mumbled before turning back around and climbing into his staff car. The two soldiers opened the other door for the colonel before taking their spots in the front seat. "Sergeant?" "Ja, mein Fuhrer?" (Yes my Fuehrer?) The driver asked. "Wollen Sie Musik horen?" (Do you listen to music?) "Ja, mein Fuhrer." (Yes my Fuehrer.) "Welche Art?" (What kind?) "Wagner mein Fuhrer." (Wagner my Fuehrer.) "Ich auch." (Me too.) "Was halten Sie von Valkyrie glaube, mein Fuhrer?" (What do you think of Valkyrie my Fuehrer?) ~~~~~ 21:30 Hours December 25 Canterlot War Room ~~~~~ Two marine sergeants opened the doors to the room and allowed Princess Celestia entry. The other generals and I turned to look at her but resumed looking over maps and reports of the invasion so far. "Where was the first sighting?" "Hayburg." "What division is based there?" "Third Armor." "That's my son's division. Any reports on casualties?" "They've reported several tanks destroyed and enemy aircraft bombing the base. So far almost one hundred killed, a couple hundred wounded, and a few dozen captured." "Who first reported the invasion?" "A tank crew who was fired upon at the Hayburg target range." "I want files on that crew." A brown stallion in a green army uniform stood up and I saw the light glint off the four stars on each side of his uniform. 'Fuck. What's this jackass want?' "General Jones, what authority do you have to request files from the army?" "I have the authority as Celestia's tactical advisor to speak with the crew to determine the best way to take out a Panzer so do not question me general." He sat down again and I resumed looking over the map of Germareny when a sergeant at one of the radios shouted a message to us. "Reports of an explosion at Gold Feather's palace and an aircraft taking off from Gryphus towards Equestria just minutes apart!" Walking away from the map I went over to the radio operator who was still receiving information. "Intercepted messages suggest it was a member of the SS that caused the explosion. We may be looking at a defector sir." "Radio all bases along the eastern coast to look for that single airplane and watch for a parachute or it landing. Do not fire on it unless makes any threatening movements. When you're done with that I want you to radio the headquarters in the Crystal Empire and tell them the same thing." Turning to face everyone else in the room I saw them all looking at me. "What the hell are y'all looking at me for?" Celestia approached me and I could tell she had bad news. "Tia, I can see in your eyes it's not good. Spit it out." "General, the tank crew that spotted the first Panzer was captured." "Alright. I'd still like to see their files." "That's the thing general." She gave me the files and I noticed a name I didn't want to see. "I'm so sorry." I felt rage boiling up inside me and I ripped up the files in my hands. "Demons will run." "What?" At the table I saw a grey stallion stand and look over at us. "Haven't you ever heard the saying princess?" "What saying admiral?" "Demons run when a good man goes to war. Night will fall and drown the sun when a good man goes to war. Friendship dies and true love lies. Night will fall and the dark shall rise when a good man goes to war. That saying. I've only ever seen that look in his eyes once before and he nearly killed someone. He is going to get his son and my grandson back if it is the last thing he does." Nodding I walked out of the room and went downstairs to head home. Climbing in the jeep I waved my hand for the driver to head for the Canterlot airbase and we took off. As we careened through the streets of the city I kept thinking over and over about what the griffins might do to Sabre. Every general and admiral had heard the rumors about the camps that they sent POWs to and how they were treated. 'What's one more mission over enemy lines?' ~~~~~ 10:00 Hours December 26, 1986 Ponyville Aerodrome ~~~~~ Sitting in the left seat of the stripped down B-25B Mitchell I looked up at the green flare in the sky. Releasing the brakes I let the bomber roll and pulled back on the controls. As the flags grew closer I felt the bomber want to climb and start hopping a couple inches into the air. Just before we reached the flags the bomber lifted and started to slowly climb into the blue sky over Ponyville. Banking left I looked over at Mac who was watching the instrument panel for any abnormalities. "Hey Mac." He looked up at me and I reached down and locked the controls to keep the plane level. "What would you do if someone you really cared about joined the service and got captured?" "Ah'd do everything in my power to get 'em back." "Good. Because I might have a mission for you after this one." "What is it sir?" "We'll discuss this after we land." Reaching down I unlocked the controls and pulled back on the throttles. Looking out the window I saw the airfield to my left and the group of aircrews waving up to us. "Ponyville tower, this is Red Leader. Left downwind for runway 3-6." "Roger that Red Leader. Runway 3-6 is clear. You're cleared to land." As we passed the end of the runway I dropped a notch of flaps and the landing gear. Banking left again I dropped another notch of flaps before lining up and lowering them all the way. Pulling up just above the runway I felt the main wheels make contact as we rolled down the runway. Letting the nose wheel drop I let the bomber slow before turning it onto the taxi way. Rolling up to the parking area of the airfield we were met by the applauding and cheering aircrews. Shutting down the engines I climbed down and opened up the forward hatch. Climbing down to the tarmac I was met by the happy aircrews who had been beginning to doubt if the bombers could take off in the short distance. Helping Mac and the bombardier down I led Mac to my jeep which drove off for the house. ~~~~~ 11:30 Hours 1237 N. Main St. Ponyville ~~~~~ "So let me get this straight. You want me to risk my life over enemy territory and then go on a ground mission to an enemy POW camp to help rescue your son?" "Yes Captain I am. The camp has over three hundred Equestrian and Crystal Empire troops inside its perimeter. If we can get fifty out it'll be a success. But the main objective here is my son. There is no power on this planet that will stop me. And keep quiet about this. Thunderstreak still doesn't know about Sabre." "Mah lips are sealed sir. Where is the camp?" "It's near the Germane border with Romaneiga. Of course the griffins haven't pushed into Romaneiga yet so we can fly over Germareny from there and parachute in." "And how'll we take the camp?" "We'll have explosives that we'll place at points along the perimeter fence. We'll then detonate them in the middle of the night and create a distraction and help the prisoners overrun the camp. We have reports that a group of airmen and other personnel that were captured have set up a secret transmitting station in a hut in the camp. We can radio them and establish a plan for where to place the charges and maybe the best time to strike according to the guard's schedules." "Who's the head of the group?" "Some air force colonel who got relocated there a few weeks ago. He's supposed to be there for another four weeks until they finish the officer's camp. We also got reports from resistance fighters that they've been moving troops out of the camp for the Griffin Empire. If we wait too long we may risk Sabre being sent to a camp in the Griffin Empire. Surely you've heard the rumors of the camps there." "Ah have sir. And don't call me Shirley." "Not the time for jokes Captain Macintosh. Can I count you in?" "Yes sir." "Good. Now, here's a slip for a pass tomorrow so that you and your family can go do something. I heard the new theatre in town has a good comedy making fun of Gold Feather." "Applejack's been wantin' to see that. Ah guess the whole family can go." "Yeah." Filling out the pass for Mac I saw him looking over at the bookcase where rolled up blueprints stuck out from the top shelf. "Those are original blueprints I drew up for the planes that we're all flying. They're supposed to start sending out the first batch of Lightnings this week. One of them is supposed to go to the 339th here in Ponyville." "That fighter squad with the peppermint candy looking noses?" "That's the one. 'The flying candy canes' as the 332nd calls 'em." "Ya know yer gonna hear it cause the mares didn't get one." "Not my fault if the higher ups don't send them one." "So what'll happen to mah bomb group after this mission of yours?" "They'll probably get sent to a base in the Crystal Empire to fly missions against the griffins." He gave a small "hmpf" at that but seemed glad when I handed over his pass. Standing up I showed him to the front door while Thunderstreak cooked lunch in the kitchen. "What was Mac here for sweetie?" "Nothing. Just discussing some military stuff." "Any news about Sabre?" My blood ran cold and I attempted to quickly think up a lie. "He's safely behind our lines in Germareny." "Thank the heavens. Are they sending him back here?" "They're keeping him there to perform for the troops to keep moral up." "Alright. But if he gets hurt I'll kill Gold Feather myself." "I know honey. I know." ~~~~~ 13:00 Hours December 27, 1986 Manehattan Naval Yard ~~~~~ Walking along the deck of the still incomplete Hornet I stopped to watch a crane lower a large section of the island into place. "General!" Turning around I saw a black stallion in a navy captain's uniform walking towards me. "Captain, I understand you're the soon-to-be commanding officer of the Hornet." "Yes sir. How many bombers are going to be on here?" "Sixteen." "And what about the new carrier capable Mitchells?" "The prototype hasn't come off the assembly line yet. We're having problems with the hydraulics for the wing folding mechanisms and the arrester hook got bent by some dumbfuck in a forklift. We might just scrap the entire project." "Shame. I really want to see one of those serve on here." "As do I. How soon will this sail for Honoluna?" "The island is supposed to finished in a week and then we'll sail out for Haywaii on the first." "So now we have a date for Doolittle. January eighth, nineteen eighty seven."
The Jolly Rogers	17: Operation Doolittle	~~~~~ 10:00 Hours January 1, 1987 Vanhoover Naval Yard ~~~~~ "Careful with that bomber! You fuck it up and I'll fuck you up!" An ensign yelled up to the petty officer working the crane that slowly moved the fifth bomber over to the deck of the Hornet. Around me the air crews watched as they moved the bombers to the carrier. By my side Rainbow Dash stood in her uniform as the shadow of the bomber that was dangling over us passed by. Above us on the deck they waved bright orange paddles directing the crane operator where to place the bomber without hitting the others and still leaving room for the other eleven. To my right the eleven bombers sat waiting as one crew painted nose art below the pilot's window of the last bomber. "General Jones, Lieutenant Colonel Dash." We both turned around at the voice and saw Princess Luna flanked by four guards. We gave a quick salute and I removed my cap and placed it under my arm. "Princess Luna. I'm surprised you came all the way out here." "It was at the request of my sister. She wanted me to come and check on the operation before you left port." "Well come with me and I'll show you the modified bombers." Leading her over to the bombers I walked her around and showed her all the changes but halfway through she broke away and headed for the last bomber. Following her over I saw the crew was putting the finishing touches on the nose art and I felt my face growing red as I saw Luna looking it over. On their stands the crew saw Luna and the color drained from their faces. Up on the side of the bomber there was a racy picture of Princess Luna along with the name Midnight Maiden. "General?" "Yes princess?" "Answer me one question." "It's nose art your highness." "I know that general. My question is am I really that attractive?" The air crew and I breathed a sigh of relief and the three fliers on their stands nodded at Luna when she looked up at them. She smiled and turned around to face me. "Let's go check on the five on the carrier." Again showing the way I led her up to the Hornet's gangplank and through the narrow corridors up to the flight deck. Leading Luna to the lead bomber I showed her the bomb bay where three 250lb bombs sat on their racks. "General, do you have any chalk?" I shook my head as a seacolt stuck his head in the bomb bay. "I do your highness." He held the piece of chalk out for her and she took it with her magic. Floating it up to one of the bombs she scribbled a message of 'from Luna with love' on it before giving it back to the sailor. Making our way out of the bomb bay we walked past the second bomber where Will and John painted the famous Ruptured Duck art on the nose of their plane. Going back down below deck we found the gangplank that lead off the ship. When we were back on the ground she said farewell and made her way to the black sedan she had come in. Walking back over to Rainbow Dash I put my cap back on and watched as the crane hoisted the sixth bomber up. ~~~~~ 19:10 Hours January 3, 1987 Honoluna, Haywaii ~~~~~ The glow of the street lights of Honoluna illuminated the harbor as the Hornet passed the sunken wreck of the Phoenix. From my spot on the deck me and almost a hundred others on the ship tossed wreaths into the water to honor the over fifteen hundred that had been declared dead from the Phoenix. After we had all said a few silent words we resumed what we had been doing as the ship prepared to refuel before setting out for the rest of the mission. Looking up towards the bow of the ship I saw a pony sitting and looking out across the water that reflected the city lights. Walking up towards them I saw a rainbow mane and tail on the pony and the small portable radio next to her. Stopping next to her I watched as the waves made the orange glow of the lights dance on the water. "Aren't you cold Dash?" "With fur and a wool uniform? I'm fine." Sitting down next to her I dangled my legs over the side. "You're listening to radio Honoluna. Up next on armed forces request hour is Beer Barrel Polka by the Swing Sisters." The radio began to play the song and it echoed out across the water towards the city. "You look out towards the city and you'd never know there was a war on but turn around and it's right in your face." "Yeah, but that'll be over with this raid Ms. Dash. The whole world will stop and look. The changelings think of themselves as invincible but this'll be a great big slap in their faces." "But how do we know it'll work? We know nothing of the AA cover in the area, whether there're air bases that can send intercepting fighters, or even if the targets will be visible. It is an industrial complex we're talking about." "We'll handle that when we get to it. I've got to say, I have not missed being on a carrier. I forgot how cramped these bastards can be sometimes." "It can be at times. That's probably why most of the pegasi like me spend their free time up here." "I wonder what the boys on the Nimitz are doing right now if my planet hasn't become a glowing green wasteland. Someone should make a movie or an arcade game like that. A post-apocalyptic world with mutants and what not. Maybe I should suggest that to an entertainment company if I ever get back." "I would go see that movie. Well general, I think I'm gonna turn in for the night." "Alright." She grabbed the radio and shut it off. As she walked away I looked at all the ponies on the streets of Honoluna and how they went about their lives like the attack nearly a month earlier didn't happen. Standing up I went over to the first bomber where it sat in peace, the rest of the world blissfully unaware of its mission. Patting the bomber I made my way below decks for my quarters. ~~~~~ 08:00 Hours January 8, 1987 R.N.S. Hornet ~~~~~ A pounding at my door awoke me and a lieutenant stepped in. "Sir, enemy ship reported on the horizon. Your presence is requested on the bridge." Getting up I hurriedly dressed myself and followed him through the maze of corridors up to the bridge. Upon reaching the bridge I was met by the black earth pony from before, who had a telegram in his hoof. Taking it from him I saw that it was from one of the cruisers on the outskirts of our group. "We've radioed for Admiral Harvard asking if the Hood can open fire on the patrol boat but he's yet to reply." "Well I'll speak for him. Open fire and don't stop until it's on the bottom of the ocean. How far are we from the main hive?" "Almost six hundred miles sir." "We launch now!" The captain nodded to a sailor who picked up a microphone. "All crew to general quarters! Air force pilots, man your planes!" Walking out I hurried down to the flight deck where the air crews were still struggling to put on their uniforms as they ran for their planes. "Listen here! I want the all nose guns and tail guns out! Go get some black hoses and put a rod in it!" "Sir, is that such a-" "Now!" The gunners ran for the ship's island to look for black hoses while the others set about removing the guns. Climbing into the cockpit I saw the flash of the Hood's guns in the distance as Big Macintosh climbed in behind me. Down below I heard the sound of the crew removing the nose gun and passing up the replacement. 'I just had to name it Doolittle didn't I?' Going through the checklist I heard the hatches shut. Hurrying through the radio check and roll call I reached for the starters. Depressing the starters I heard the two engines roar to life at almost the same exact moment. 'Against regulation but I'm in a hurry.' "Super chargers low and latched?" "Super chargers are low and latched." Mac replied. "Full flap." "Flaps full." Looking over at Mac I saw him saying a quick pre-takeoff prayer. "When'd you find religion?" "When ya assigned me this mission sir." "I want you to do me a favor." "What's that sir?" "Pray for both of us." Looking down at the pony in the bright yellow vest I saw him wave his checkered flag towards the nose signaling for us to take off. Pushing the throttles forward the bomber began to roll forward and the nose of the carrier grew bigger. Pulling back I felt the nose lift but the main gear stayed firmly on the deck. We hit the end of the carrier and the bomber dropped towards the water before gaining lift and beginning to climb just before we would have crashed into the water. Climbing up we circled as the other bombers took off and joined up with us. Nearly an hour later we headed for our target as storm clouds gathered over the Hornet. "Hey guys! Turn your radios to the EBC." We all switched our radios over to the EBC as Celestia come on the radio. "From Gryphus, the Changeling Hives, the Northern Ibex Empire, and Camelu we have been described as a nation of playboys who hire foreign soldiers to do our fighting for us. Let them say that now. Let them say that to the soldiers who today are fighting in the far waters of the Haycific. Let them tell that to the boys in the Flying Fortresses. Let them tell that to the marines." "Another broadcast on the CBC." We again switched the radios as Shining Armor cleared his throat to speak. "Fillies and gentlecolts, members of parliament, what was named the Battle of Prance is over. The Battle of the Crystal Empire has begun. With griffin forces only a dozen miles away in places we must face the grim possibility that griffin forces may launch an invasion. But with the unity of every crystal pony and our allies, we shall defeat the griffin menace. But should the griffins have the audacity to invade our soil, we shall fight them with everything we have. We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in Prance, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our nation, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender." The flight engineer reached over and switched the radio back to the EBC which had begun playing music again. As the sound of Al Jolson's Sitting on Top of the World filled the headsets in our bomber we locked the controls and settled in for the flight. The flight engineer passed out small tins of food for us to eat on the way. Peeling back the top I groaned and cussed. "The goddamn quartermaster filled it with grit! Mac, you want this?" Mac took the tin and scarfed down the contents. 'This is gonna be a long flight.' ~~~~~ 12:30 Hours January 8 Off the Coast of the Main Changeling Hive ~~~~~ The roar of the engines had long since become mere background noise as I called out to the crew to man their stations. As we flew over the beaches of the island that housed the main changeling hive we kept an eye open for any changeling zero fighters. In the distance we saw the smoke rising from the main industrial complex in the near center of the hive. "Alright, there's the target! All aircraft open bomb bay doors!" Out my window I saw other bomber's bomb bays open as my bomber shook from the doors dropping open. Up in the nose the bombardier operated the improvised bombsight to try and get our deadly cargo on target. Below us the holes in the ground that lead to the subterranean city teamed with life as changelings went to and fro as we neared the hole where the factories were located. Just as we were almost on top of the complex the bombardier cried "Bombs away!" and the bomber lurched up as our payload dropped down on the target. Pulling our bomber up we climbed to five thousand feet as the explosions behind us made a thunderous roar. "We hit a munitions factory sir!" "All bombers head for Neighpon. Keep your eyes peeled for zeroes. Lord knows they ain't gonna be happy with us after that." We banked right after our thirty seconds over the hive and made our way northwest towards Neighpon. Several hours later we could see the coast of Neighpon in our windscreens but halfway there a thunderstorm had moved in and slowed us down with a headwind. Running on fumes I prayed that we would make it to the coast as a bomber to our left lost its right engine. As we crossed over the cliffs into Neighpon I breathed a sigh of relief as Mac and the flight engineer tried to keep the engines running. Suddenly the left engine coughed and sputtered as the prop began wind milling. "All crew prepare to bail out!" The flight engineer gave us our parachutes and we hurriedly strapped them on as I contemplated whether to give the order. Just as I was about to say we try to belly land the right engine began to cough. "Fuck this death trap. All crew bail out, bail out!" Air began to rush in as the hatch below us was blown away by its emergency release. The bombardier and flight engineer gave us a quick wave before diving through the opening. Locking the controls, Mac and I made our way to the hatch. Waving for him to go first I watched as he dived out and I quickly followed suit. As I tumbled out through the grey rainy sky I saw the tail hatch gone as well as the bomber stalled and entered a dive for the ground. Pulling the ripcord I felt the jerk of the parachute slowing me down and I counted the parachutes from my plane. 'One, two, three, four, five. All good.' Looking up I saw two other air crews bailing out and one more trying to belly land their bomber. As the other bombers continued on I saw a few more crews bail out as the gliding bomber slammed into a rice paddy below and all but two crew members climbed out. As the ground grew closer I bent my knees just before landing. The best way to describe landing in a 1940s style parachute is like jumping off a moving train car going thirty five miles per hour. Picking myself up I unhooked the parachute as the crew watched our bomber crash into another rice paddy nearby. Looking around I saw a stallion approaching us in curiosity. (I am an Equestrian.) "Dude, I'm from Detrot." "Oh, well we're supposed to be at some airbase around here." "There's one about twelve miles north of here." "Fantastic." Walking towards the north I made sure to stop by the wreck of the other bomber where the pilot was slumped over in his seat and I could see blood coming out of the crushed tunnel that lead to the nose. Continuing on I saw more aircrews on the ground and walking towards their destroyed bombers. As I approached the wrecks of the second and third bombers I saw my men and Rainbow Dash who was slung over Will's shoulder. "What the hell happened?" "She ordered her crew to get out while she tried to crash land it in a rice paddy. She bellied it in but when she did it pushed her seat against the panel and her leg got pinned. We looked it over and we think it may be broken or at the least dislocated." I looked over at her and she gave a weak smile as I looked over the wreckage of Ruptured Duck. Waving for the ponies on the ground to follow me I continued onward towards the airbase that the farmer had told us about. ~~~~~ 01:30 Hours January 9, 1987 Ursa Major Airbase ~~~~~ Looking out the window of the base commander's office I saw the two coffins being loaded onto a C-54A. On the other end of the phone I was holding Celestia rambled on about intercepted messages saying that a munitions factory was destroyed with a tank factory and an aircraft engine factory were damaged. As I looked outside again I saw my fliers climbing onto the C-54 and four C-47s. "Princess, I've got to go." Hanging up the phone I rushed out to the C-54 and up the steps where the plane's flight engineer was waiting by the door. As I stepped into the aisle I didn't look at the coffins in the back of the plane and took my seat in the front. Out the window I saw the ground crew push the stairs away and the transport began to roll forward. Looking down at my watch the ands read 1:34. Laying my head back against the headrest I closed my eyes and settled in for the flight across the Haycific. ~~~~~ 11:21 Hours January 9 Honoluna, Haywaii ~~~~~ As I walked down the street many ponies stopped and asked if they could get me to autograph their morning papers or get a picture with me. It had been less than twenty four hours since the order of bombs away over the changeling hive was given and news had already reached all around the world. Saying goodbye to the group of five that had stopped for my autograph I went into a nearby bar where five sailors, three marines, and an air force pilot all gave me a salute. Returning it I sat down at the bar where the bartender brought me a beer on the house. Picking up the copy of the morning paper that sat on the edge of the bar I saw the headline of MAIN HIVE BOMBED. Below the headline was a photo of our bombers on the deck of the Hornet. Taking a drink of my beer a heard one of the sailors say my name. Looking over I saw him holding out a piece of paper. "Can I have your autograph for my son?" "Of course. Does he live here with you?" "Him, my wife, and my daughter. He got injured during the attack last month and now his back legs are paralyzed." You know what, let's go see him. That's better than just some little piece of paper." "You would really do that?" "I have three kids myself so I know how kids love to meet an idol." He paid the bartender for his beer and led me out onto the sunny street. Following him down several streets we finally arrived at a beachfront house where a yellow pegasus mare hung a few dresses and towels out on the clothes line. As she picked up the empty laundry basket she looked up the sidewalk towards her husband and she dropped the basket to come greet us. "General it's so nice to meet you! Do you want some tea, coffee, water?" "No thank you. Actually I'm here to see your son." "What did he do?! Page Turner! Get your butt out here!" "No, ma'am it's alright. He didn't do anything wrong. Your husband told me about your son and I'm here to meet him." The screen door on the porch swung open and a tan earth pony stepped out with his back hooves being held a couple inches above the ground due to his wheelchair. Coming down the ramp by the front steps he made his way over to us where he looked at me confused. "General Jones? What are you doing here?" "Well your father told me about you and I wanted to meet you." "Alright." "How old are you?" "Fifteen sir." "Well you are certainly the most interesting fifteen year old I've ever met." "What about your son in that POW camp?" "How do you know about that?" "It's on page five of this morning's paper." "National paper or Honoluna paper?" "National." "Alright, I'm sorry to cut this short but I have to go." Signing the piece of paper that the sailor was still holding I hurried onto the sidewalk for the airbase. 'Please for my safety let Thunderstreak not have seen that.' ~~~~~ 19:25 Hours January 9 Canterlot ~~~~~ The bartender brought me a fresh beer as the words that Thunderstreak had sobbed into the phone rang in my ears. 'Don't bother coming home until he does!' Taking a swig of my beer I heard someone clicking their tongue at me. Looking to my right I saw a brown pegasus mare in a red dress looking at me. She set her glass of soda down and shook her head. "Honey, drinking won't solve your problems." "Neither will soda." "Honey have you thought that maybe your wife would like you to do something to fix the problem?" "How do you know it's with my wife?" "Guy with a wedding band and a beer. Honey I've seen plenty of guys like you in my time here." "And you are?" "Miss Jazz Rhythm." "Well Miss Rhythm you're right. Let my son join the army and now he's in a POW camp. My wife told me that until he comes home I can't either." "I'm sorry to hear that honey. I've got to go work. Best of luck to you." She hopped down from her barstool and wandered off towards the front of the club. Finishing off my beer I was about to order another when an announcer on stage presented the night's jazz singer Jazz Rhythm. Turning around I looked on as the brown mare sang Putting on the Ritz, A Tisket A Tasket, and It's a Lovely Day Today. When she had finished all three of her songs she took a bow and made her way backstage. Paying for the few beers I had consumed I made my way out of the small club towards a hotel near the palace. Just as I was about to go inside to check in I heard somepony land on the street behind me. "General?" A voice smooth as silk asked for my attention behind me. Without even looking I knew who it was. "Yes Luna?" "Is everything alright?" "My marriage is in jeopardy and if I can't get Sabre back it's all over so to recap it's just fucking wonderful." "James, it will all work out." "How do you know?" "I can't tell you how I know but trust me when I say it will." "If you can tell how things turn out why didn't you stop the war?" "James, during my thousand years away I met a brown earth pony who taught me that certain events cannot be stopped. This war was always supposed to happen and you were meant to help us win." "Well what would happen if I did this?" Turning around I pulled my new .45 revolver from its holster, cocked the hammer, and held the muzzle to my right temple. Luna's eyes widened as she attempted to talk me into lowering the gun. "James I am begging of you to put the gun down." "Why?! At this rate I got nothing to live for! That idea to rescue Sabre is basically just a suicide mission! I figure I'll end up six foot under either way!" "Nothing to live for? What about Typhoon and Lancaster? What about Equestria? What about your men? What about your father? What about your pregnant wife? That seems like plenty to live for to me." "And how many of them would be unaffected if I pulled this trigger?" "None would go unaffected. Your children would lose their father. Equestria would lose one of its greatest military minds. Your men would lose their leader. Your father would lose his only son. And what of your wife? She would lose the love of her life. Every marriage goes through rough patches and nopony knows it like me. If you'd just lower the gun and let things take their course you'd see that it all works out." Slowly I lowered the gun and removed the bullets before letting the hammer down. Luna held out her hoof and I gave her the gun and the bullets. She teleported them away before offering a room for me at the palace to stay at until the mission into Germareny. I declined multiple times before relenting and agreeing to stay at the palace where I knew she would have guards standing outside my door for any sign of trouble. 'If she's wrong I'm jumping off the god damned balcony.'
The Jolly Rogers	18: Jones' Heroes	~~~~~ 23:50 Hours January 15, 1987 A Field in North Western Romaneigha ~~~~~ I tossed my cigarette butt away and looked back over my shoulder at the C-47 sitting in the snow covered grass waiting for me to give the order. Around me several ponies and Marko all sat with shoe polish smeared on their faces to help them blend in with the night. Standing up I heard my back pop and the others stood up in anticipation. Looking around at all of them I slung my M1 over my shoulder. "Alright, let's go." With those three words they all grabbed their rifles, machine guns, and pistols. Their helmets rustled in the breeze from the dead leaves in their helmet netting. The pilots saw us coming and tossed their cigarettes away and climbed in to start the engines. As we climbed up the steps we all grabbed a parachute and strapped it on before finding a spot on the bucket seats that lined the wall of the C-47. Outside the engines roared to life and we could barely hear the sound of the flaps lowering underneath us. Around me I could see the blank empty stares of those in the aircraft. Next to me Marko leaned over towards me and shouted over the engines "Did you get that air cover we need?!" "The best in Equestria!" "Good!" He leaned back and laid his head back against the wall of the plane as the engines roared louder as we took off for Hayburg. ~~~~~ 02:00 Hours January 16, 1987 The Sky over Hayburg, Germareny ~~~~~ Standing next to the open door I looked at the glowing red light on the wall. As I watched it I saw it change to the green light directly below it and I could see the lights of the city glowing ahead of us. 'God help me if this chute's a dud.' Jumping out the open door I counted to ten then pulled the ripcord and felt a jerk as I began to slowly drift down out of the night sky. Looking down I saw the open field that we had decided as the drop zone. Bending my knees I tumbled and rolled through the grass. Finally stopping I picked myself up and unhooked the parachute and heard grunts in the dark from the other parachutists as they landed. In a loud whisper I rounded them all together and looked around for the pony with the field radio. ~~~~~ Meanwhile West of Hayburg ~~~~~ The grey army captain looked at his watch as his tanks sat ready to provide backup for our attack. Just as he was about to give the order to fall back into Romaneigha one of the crew of the lead tank stuck their head up out of the turret hatch. "Sir, just got the message from Red Rose to move towards the base but hold out of sight. Do we acknowledge?" "Tell them Bad Wolf will meet them short of objective and wait for further orders." "Yes sir." The enlisted pony nodded and slid back down into his seat to radio us back. Nodding to the tank drivers who had their heads stuck outside the captain looked forwards towards the distant glow of the lights of Hayburg. ~~~~~ Back in the Field West of Hayburg ~~~~~ "Red Rose this is Bad Wolf. We'll meet you short of objective and await further orders." "Roger that Bad Wolf. Red Rose out." Waving my hand for the radiopony to go back to his spot in our little circle I pulled a fabric map out of my pocket and unfolded it to reveal Hayburg with the prison camp just south of it. "Alright, we're in this field here. We need to get here before dawn." I told them as I pointed to our position on the map and slid my finger over to the location of the camp. "Once we're within a couple hundred yards we'll radio the air force colonel that's running the secret intel operations and get the location of the night guards. We'll then plant the explosives in Mac's pack at strategic points along the camp perimeter to create a bit of chaos Discord himself would be proud of." A hoof shot up in the air and got everyone's attention. "Yes corporal?" "Sir, won't the guards notice ten ponies and two humans running around near their fence?" "What do you think the camo and shoe polish is for?" "What about the guards with the search lights?" "That's what we have a sniper for corporal. He's one of the best snipers that Equestria has. He could castrate a gnat at fifty yards if he wanted. Right sergeant?" A black unicorn pony looked up from preparing his gun and nodded before going back to cleaning his rifle. "What type of gun is he using sir?" "Twenty two caliber. It's quiet and if you hit in the right spot it'll scramble their brain like eggs. Now, enough talking. Let's move out." Folding up the map up, I put it back in my pocket and pulled my rifle off my shoulder. Walking southeast towards the camp I kept my head on a swivel looking for griffin patrols. "Sir, message from Hawk. He reports heavy flak fire over Hayburg. He wants to know if he can strike yet." "Tell him not yet. Climb higher if he needs to." "Yes sir." Looking towards Hayburg I could hear the sound of the flak guns and air raid sirens as search lights scanned the sky. In the black of the night I could see the shells bursting and hear the distant roar of the F-14's engines. Nearly an hour later we reached the camp and planted the charges where the colonel had radioed us to place them. As I planted the last charge I ran for cover with the spool of wire leaving a thin red trail behind me. Taking a seat behind a boulder I felt the snow melting beneath me and drench my pants as I cut the wire. "Private. Radio Hawk, Hammerhead, and Bad Wolf and tell them the mission is a go." The radiopony nodded as he went to work and I hooked up the wire to the plunger and signaled to the others who were waiting to detonate their charges. With my signal seven explosions rocked the night and sirens began to wail in the camp. As the twelve of us that had parachuted in charged over the destroyed fence into the camp we opened fire on anything that resembled a griffin. As we continued through the camp we dodged machine gun fire from the camp guards and some prisoners picked up the MP 40s of the dead guards. As we all took cover from an MG 42 in a guard tower I peeked around the corner to take a pot shot at the gunner. Just as I was about to squeeze the trigger I heard the familiar roar of the F-14 as it came in to take care of the gunner. As the olive drab and grey blur passed I saw something drop from under the belly of the plane and slam into the ground with a fireball. I stepped out from the cover to look at the burning guard tower as the smell of the flames reached me. "God I love the smell of napalm in the morning!" As I was about to start looking for the few remaining guards I felt a tug at my pant leg and I turned around to see a bruised light green unicorn in a specialist's uniform. "Hey dad." I immediately bent down and hugged him where he returned it despite wincing in pain from all his bruises. Pulling back I turned around to see over three hundred ponies shoving nine griffin guards forwards and dozens of guns aimed at them in case they tried to run. They all kneeled down in front of me and several begged for mercy as I looked down at them. Just as the supporting tanks rolled in late I raised my rifle to a griffin officer's head. "Are you afraid captain?" "No. I would find it an honor to be killed for my country." "Then looks like you're the one going back to our POW camps alive." Moving to the next griffin I noticed a skull and crossbones on his collar. "SS. Ya know sergeant; I don't care much for the SS. All that heiling and goose stepping really irritates me. What was your job here?" "Firing squad." "Good." I replied just before squeezing the trigger and watching him drop. Moving on to the next griffin I saw another set of skull and crossbones. Without a moment's hesitation I pulled the trigger and stepped over his now limp body. "Let this serve as a warning to all griffins that as of now those who wear the emblem of the SS will be shot on sight!" Continuing down the line I shot one more griffin before it was all over and the rest were lead out of the camp at gunpoint. Walking behind the now free prisoners I looked down at Sabre who broke into a smile when he stepped through the opening in the camp's fence. Making our way up a nearby hill I called forth the radiopony who gave me the microphone. "Hammerhead! Camp is clear! Light it up!" Through the static there was a gurgled "roger that" and the roar of eight jet engines to our right made everyone turn and look. From behind the trees on the hill emerged a B-52 Stratofortress with its bomb bay doors open. As it passed over the camp at nearly a thousand feet it released its payload. We all watched as the bombs screamed towards their target and obliterated over half of the camp on impact. As the fireballs rose into the sky a cheer erupted from our little hill as I began to organize our escape from Germareny. "Alright, everypony listen up! We're gonna walk ten miles west of here where planes and trucks are waiting to take us to Romaneigha and then Equestria!" Another cheer went up at me saying they were going home and I lead the way down the hill towards the rendezvous point. ~~~~~ 14:00 Hours January 16, 1987 Ponyville Aerodrome ~~~~~ The tires of the C-47 let out a squeal as we touched down. Taxiing over to the transports parking area we looked out the window where there were dozens of reporters and most of Ponyville waiting for us. When the plane came to a stop we opened the door and hopped down to the ground. As we approached the area where the MPs had roped off I saw a familiar olive colored mare flying towards us in her nurse's uniform. She immediately wrapped her hooves around Sabre who seemed in a bit of shock at the sudden hug. As she pulled back she flew up and wrapped her arms around my neck as tears streamed down her cheeks. "You can come home now. Thank you." "Honey I had this all planned before you even knew. I was getting him back one way or another." She pulled away and we all walked towards the crowd where Big Macintosh talked to a reporter about the operation. Walking through the space through the press area I suddenly noticed it was lined with Ponyville military personnel standing at attention saluting as I walked past. Suddenly a hoof stuck out in front of me and I looked up the leg to the dark red reporter who had a notepad and pencil in his magic. "General Jones! How long was this mission planned before being carried out?" "Several weeks." "Is it true that six griffin guards were captured?" "Yes it is." "Is it also true that you executed three more in cold blood?" "I don't classify it as killing them in cold blood if they're SS. We've all heard about those black shirted bastards in the media. They deserve nothing more than death." "Seems a bit dark doesn't it?" "No it does not. I have no sympathy for the SS, the Nazis, or quite frankly anyone who supports them. As far as I'm concerned they can all rot in hell. No further comments." Walking away I climbed into the waiting staff car with Thunderstreak and Sabre. As we drove away I tipped my helmet to those who lined the street by the base. When we reached the house I placed the helmet on the hat rack and made for the phone to call the palace. After nearly three minutes on hold Celestia finally answered. "Hello?" "I want Sabre's discharge papers in the mail this week." "Ah, General Jones. I figured you'd call about that. I've already had them sent this morning and somepony at headquarters got a report from another freed prisoner Sabre was beaten and suffered a broken leg not long after he arrived. They've decided to award him the first of the new Injury Medal that your father helped institute and the Prisoner of War Medal." "Alright. Do we need to go to some ceremony or something?" "Well we will have a ceremony for the Injury Medal so we'll present both to him then." "When is the ceremony?" "In two days here at the palace." "Alright. Well I'll see you then I suppose." She hung up and I looked into the living room where Saber walked towards his chair with a noticeable limp. Going into the living room I sat down on the couch next to his chair and I looked at his front right leg. "How'd it get broke?" "What?" "Your leg. How'd it get broke?" "Just a little accident at the camp. Nothing to worry about." "It might be. You never know what diseases are in a POW camp." "Dad, it's fine. No need to worry about it. Just don't let mom know." "I won't but if she asks about the limp and goes off and asks if I knew, just go Shultz on her." "What?" "I know nothing. Nothing!" He gave a small laugh at my terrible Sergeant Shultz impersonation just as the door opened and the other two came in from their day at school. As soon as they saw Sabre they ran over and hugged him while Charger stood guard in the corner. They began to ramble off questions to him but he raised his hoof, visibly wincing as he did, and they both went silent. "I'll answer all questions later but right now I'm going to go get washed up and see Brush Stroke." He got up and made his way upstairs where we heard the bathroom door shut. Picking up a copy of the morning paper off the coffee table I flipped through it and ignored all parts that discussed the war or anyone I knew. After reading only one article in the paper I set it down and had Lancaster turn on the TV where a light grey earth stallion was on the screen smiling next to the words 'Miss me?'. Suddenly the phone rang and I got up to answer it where Princess Luna was on the other end. "General, we need you in Canterlot at once." "What's going on?" "Classified." The phone clicked and I looked at it before hanging it up on the wall again. Walking into the living room I saw the TV was off, Lancaster was on the floor with a book and a small record player, and Typhoon sat on the couch snuggled up with Charger. "Hey, fucknuts, what was one of the rules I told you when we got back?" He hurriedly got up and resumed his position in the corner of the room as Sabre came downstairs in a clean uniform on and a comb being held by his magic. Trotting over to a mirror he slicked his hair back in his regular ducktail do before heading out the door. Heading upstairs I went into the bedroom to put on my blue dress uniform and looked over at Thunderstreak who was sitting on the bed with a photo album. "What's that?" "Pictures of Sabre from when he was a colt." Sitting down next to her I switched into my blue pants as I looked at the pictures of the young Sabre in their old apartment. She turned the page and I saw the picture in the center of the left page and pointed to it. "What's this from?" "My second wedding. He hated wearing that suit. Now it seems he wears one for damn near every occasion." "That or his uniform. His discharge papers are in the mail by the way." "They better be. What happened to his leg though?" 'Fuck' "Sweetie, just tell me the truth. I know it has to do with the camp so you may as well just tell me." "Alright, he suffered a broken leg pretty much as soon as he got there. He's good now but he'll probably have that limp for a while. Hopefully it's not permanent." "Yeah. So what's got you getting dressed up?" "Luna called and I'm needed in Canterlot. Hopefully I'll be back before nightfall but if not I'll see you in the morning." "But you just got back." "Well until we've got those big flappy bastards in the Griffin Empire defeated I'll have to report to Canterlot at a moment's notice." "Don't forget those bugs on the other side of the globe too." "Wouldn't think of it." Getting up I planted a kiss on her cheek and hurried downstairs for the airfield. As I walked along the streets of Ponyville I got many happy greetings and some salutes from pilots in a cafe. When I reached the airfield I told the ground crew to get my C-47 out of its hangar and I leaned against the side of the hangar as I waited. Reaching into my inside chest pocket I pulled out a pack of cigarettes and lit one as Six Jerks in a Jeep began to play over the base PA system. As I took a long drag on the cigarette I saw a staff sergeant approaching with a paper form the base radio hut. Taking the paper from him I read it over and hurried off to find Rainbow Dash who was sitting inside a hangar with a number of other pilots. When I entered they all jumped up and snapped to attention. Giving them a small salute I let them sit but pulled Dash aside. "Congrats Miss Dash, your group is being shipped out." "What? Where?" "Crystal Empire. It's part of the Equestrian build up to attack the Griffin Empire from bases there." "I don't think our P-40s can make that without stopping." "No," Giving her the paper I saw her eyes light up "but a Mustang can with drop tanks. At my request the princesses have decided to equip the 332nd with P-51Bs." "Are you serious?! Is there a hidden camera around here?" "No this isn't a joke. They'll be here tomorrow and they want them painted before y'all leave for the Crystal Empire." "Of course Mustangs don't have de-icer boots do they?" "Not this batch. They're supposed to start adding them but the first batch is sort of being hurried. And I suppose if you're going to the north you'll need something." Leading her to my temporary office I pulled a file out of my desk and slid it over to her. "That's the Griffin Empire's best pilot. She's Goldfeather's niece and their so called 'General of Fighters'." Dash opened the file and I saw her ears go back. "Is there a problem Miss Dash?" "It's just; I was friends with her when I was a filly." "Miss Dash, there are no friends in war. Only those that want to kill you less than others." "I know sir. But is there any way we can try to capture her?" "Not without a full-scale invasion of Gryphus there isn't. Sorry Dash. I truly am. But your duty to your country comes before old friends." "Yes sir." "Alright then. If you'll excuse me, I need to get to a meeting." Walking out I made my way to the waiting C-47 and took my seat. Setting my peeked cap on the seat next to mine I laid my head back and looked out the window where a few dozen mares, Rainbow Dash among them, all waved to me with enormous grins. Waving back at them I got ready for the couple hour flight to Canterlot. ~~~~~ 18:30 Hours January 16, 1987 Canterlot War Room ~~~~~ "We already have enough of your little goons up there to stage a fucking coup d'etat. Why do we need more?" The Crystal Empire delegate asked through his thick Scottish sounding accent. "Sir?" A younger stallion with a black curly mane stood in the doorway trying to get his attention. "Sir?" "What? Either come the fuck in or fuck the fuck off!" The younger stallion hurried over with a piece of paper which the older one proceeded to rip apart. "Now take that fucking paper and shove it so far up your fucking ass you puke it out. Alright? Okay. Fuckity bye." The younger stallion hurried out and left us all alone in the room again. Celestia stood up and hurried over to take the place of the Crystal Empire delegate. "Thank you for that, interesting, review. Now, I would like to discuss the political gains on both sides of this build up. Any military officers that wish to leave may do so." Every officer in the room stood up and made their way into the hallway, myself included. As I walked down the hallway I felt a tap on my shoulder and I turned around to see Austin in his khaki uniform. "James, can we talk?" "Sure. What ya want to talk about?" "Can we actually talk somewhere more private?" He asked as he looked around at all the palace staff and military personnel. "Sure." We walked down to the open hallways that were along the many courtyards of the palace and I could tell something was wrong with him. "Austin, what's wrong? We've been friends since you bet me I wouldn't punch you in the nose back in kindergarten. I can always tell when something's wrong." "Promise you won't get mad?" "We became friends after I broke your nose! I'm pretty sure if that's how we got here in the first place then we can handle whatever it is like civilized men." "Okay." We turned and sat down in a courtyard and he looked down at the ground as he dug at the packed snow with the toe of his boot. "So, uh, I've sorta met someone." "Hey! Good for you man! A nice mare is just what you needed." "Well, about that. It's not a mare." "Oh. Well who and what you do off base is your business. If that's what makes you happy then go for it." "So you're not mad?" "Why should I be? If anything I should be happy for you. I was beginning to worry you were gonna be alone forever." "Thank you for being understanding." "Not a problem. Hey, you wanna go see dad with me? I figured while I was in town I would." "Nah. I need to get back to Ponyville." "Alright." Getting up I popped my back and walked down to the palace garage where I met the driver of my staff car. We went down the rows of cars and carriages until we found an armored Chevy sedan with a major general's flag on the side of the hood. Climbing into the back seat I gave the driver dad's address and he drove the ten blocks to the building where their apartment was. As he pulled up to the address I told him to just go ahead and head back towards the palace. Getting out of the car I headed up the steps and pressed the button for their apartment. "Hello?" "Hey Amelia, it's James." "Come on up." There was a buzzing and I opened the door to head upstairs. Walking over to the elevator I hit the up button and waited next to a young colt who stared up at me in awe. When the elevator arrived I stepped inside and the colt followed me in. "Are you a soldier?" "I'm a general but I try to be like my airmen." "Do you know my dad?" "That depends. Where is he?" "He said he was going to the Crystal Empire to fight the griffins but they can't find him." I felt a pit in my stomach at that and I silently thanked god for the innocence of youth. "I'm sure he'll turn up buddy." I told him as we reached the floor where dad and Amelia's apartment was. Getting off the elevator I turned and saw the colt wave to me as the doors closed and I gave a small wave back. Walking down the hallway I knocked on the door to their apartment and a few moments later Amelia opened the door. "Hey James. Come on in." Walking inside I was surprised to see that everything inside was human sized. "Where'd you guys get all this?" "It's custom made." Sitting down on the couch across from dad who was in his chair I grabbed a cup of coffee off the tray on the table as Amelia came in and sat down next to me. Looking over at her out of the corner of my eye I saw a few small grey streaks in her hair. "James Glenn Senior, you put your paper down. We have a guest." Dad put his paper down and looked over at me. "Hey." "Is that all you have to say to your son? No wonder you two don't talk much." "There are many reasons why we don't talk much but let's not go into that." I said and I saw dad's glare over at me and apparently I wasn't the only one to notice. "James, don't you look at your son like that." Amelia scolded and he picked up his paper again. "Sorry about your dad. He's been so uptight lately you could shove a lump of coal up his ass and get a diamond." "It's fine. Can we talk on the balcony for a moment?" "Sure." She got up and led the way over to the sliding door to the balcony. Going out I slid the door shut behind us as she zipped up her jacket. "Amelia, I need you to tell me something." "Okay." "Has he been drinking?" "I don't see-" "Has he been drinking? Yes or no?" "Yes but not that much." "That's how it starts but once he starts he keeps drinking more every time. If he's drinking then I'm done with him. I dealt with his drinking when I was younger and while I have quite a few good memories from when he was sober, I have more bad ones from when he was drunk. It's odd how even if they beat you, you still look up to them as though they could do no wrong." "James, if there's something I know about it's drunks. My father was my best friend and he was also a drunk. He let me down my whole life but I still loved him unconditionally. I'll see what I can do about his drinking but I'll need you to be patient with him." "Alright." Looking down at my watch I excused myself and went downstairs where I waved down a taxi to take me to the airbase on the edge of Canterlot. When we arrived I paid the stallion and went to enter the base but the MPs blocked my path. "What's the deal fellas?" "We have orders to keep you here." "Orders from who?" "Orders from me." A voice replied from behind me and I turned around. "Ya know Luna; some warning before you show up would be nice." "Well then he's some warning for you. My sister wants you to help with a naval attack on an enemy fleet. You're leaving for the battleship Neighvada in three days." "Are you serious? My son just returned from a POW camp and now you want me on a battleship?" "Yes. Duty to country comes first." "Fine. Send the information to my house and I'll look it over." "I will. See you in two days general." Luna flew away and the guards let me pass. Climbing into the C-47 I headed for Ponyville. ~~~~~ 12:00 Hours January 18, 1987 Canterlot Palace ~~~~~ Sabre stood at attention as Celestia pinned the two medals onto his uniform before extending her hoof. Sabre then extend his and shook Celestia's while camera flashbulbs popped in front of them. After their hoofshake they stepped off stage and Sabre happily showed off his medals to Brush Stroke. As I was about to excuse myself I felt a small tugging on the left side of my uniform. Looking down I saw three medals being pinned onto my uniform. "The fuck are these for?" "For your mission into Germareny." Celestia replied before walking out into the press room to answer questions from reporters. Looking down at them I saw a bronze and silver star on either side of a merit medal. "They look good on you." Thunderstreak said as she flew up to get a better look at the medals. "I never got the purpose of medals. You get them for doing what you're ordered. It's like when you were in school and the teacher gave you a sticker for being good. Don't get me wrong, I'm honored to have them but I don't see why I need to get something like a medal for doing my duty." "Well just wear them during meetings and whatnot when they expect you to." "I will. Now, let's get out of here and go home. I would like at least one peaceful night with you before I have to go somewhere." "Alright but if we're gonna watch TV then I'm picking the station." "Not gonna argue with the moody pregnant mare." "I am not moody!" "Whatever you say honey."
The Jolly Rogers	19: Sink the Bismarck	~~~~~ 10:15 Hours January 20, 1987 R.N.S. Neighvada Crystal Channel off the Coast of the Southern Crystal Empire ~~~~~ From my position on the bridge I looked down at the two turrets on the bow and all the sailors rushing to secure anything that was loose ahead of an approaching storm. "Worst storm I've seen in twenty years." The captain said as he came up alongside me and looked out at the approaching clouds. "What are we out here for anyways?" "Canterlot and the Crystal City confirmed reports of a griffin battle fleet sailing into the channel." "And our job is to take them out. Are there recon photos of the fleet?" "We do." He said as he turned and grabbed an envelope off a desk and opened it up. Taking the pictures from him I turned and spread them across the navigation table in the middle of the bridge. Flipping the switch on the side I saw the light under the plexiglass top flicker before coming on. With a better view of the objects in the recon photos I went to work identifying them. "Looks like two aircraft carriers in the center with destroyers forming a ring around the outside of the fleet. Cruisers on the inside between the destroyers and carriers and, aw fuck." "What? What is it?" "See these two ships here?" I asked as I pointed to two large ships flanking the carriers. "Yeah." "Those are Bismarck class battleships. Eight fifteen inch guns, two on each of her four turrets. Those things'll make short work of a dreadnought like this. Add in their belt armor and those things are nearly indestructible. Our shells'll just bounce off them. We need air support if we're going to take down this fleet. How long until we rendezvous with the third fleet?" "Approximately sixteen hours with this storm that's coming in." "Radio Manehattan and tell them to send us both of their new carriers." "Sir, is it wise to risk both of our carriers like that?" "There's no reward without a bit of risk. If we don't stop that fleet here and now then they'll have free range of the entire eastern seaboard of Equestria and the Crystal Empire. We'll fight them until we only have one ship if we have to but for now we need to tell the third fleet what we're up against. And tell our escort destroyers to watch for periscopes. This is U-Boat territory up here." "Yes sir." The captain replied before sending word to the radio room. As I watched the storm clouds roll in I decided to go below and try to relax. Heading down two decks below the main deck I took off the navy dress jacket Celestia had given me for my time on the ship. Walking into the mess I grabbed a cold biscuit and sat down at a long table where five sailors sat with playing cards and over fifty bits worth of money piled up in between them. Taking a bite out of the stale biscuit I watched as money changed hooves many times. As time dragged on the ship began to pitch and roll with the growing waves and on more than one occasion the table began to slide on the smooth steel floor of the mess. Just as more cards were about to be dealt the red light on the wall began to flash and the drone of the ship's alarm sent everyone scrambling. As we all ran through the corridors of the ship there were cries of "man your battle stations" all around us and the sound of the five inch guns firing on deck could be heard. Climbing up to the bridge I saw sailors on deck trying not to get sent overboard by the waves. "What the hell is going on?! It's a complete cluster fuck below!" "Enemy cruiser sighted sir!" The captain said as he grabbed onto the navigation table to keep from falling over. "We've opened fire on her but the gun's gyroscopes are having a hard time keeping up with the waves." "Then open fire with the fifteen inch guns and don't stop until that cruiser's sunk!" "Aye sir!" Looking outside again I saw lightning continuously dancing across the sky with a bolt hitting the water every few seconds or so. "What about our escorts?!" "The Derby is taking on water and sinking sir!" "Jesus. What about the Ponyville?" "Her watertight doors are shut sir and she's taken only minor damage!" "Tell the Ponyville to ride our wake! That should hopefully be a little smoother!" "Aye sir!" The captain hurried over for the bridge's telephone and we all had to grab ahold of anything that was bolted down to keep from getting sent tumbling across the bridge with each wave. Looking out the port side of the bridge I saw the Derby sinking in the monster waves and her lifeboats being smashed to splinters. "There're sailors in the water!" A voice yelled and everyone rushed to look out at the crew of the Derby desperately trying to keep their heads above water. "We've gotta help them!" "We stop for nothing! Get back to your stations!" The crew obeyed and we continued to plow through the water as the storm intensified. Down on deck the bow turrets had turned and the guns were desperately trying to find their mark. Finally they found a chance and the roar of the fifteen inch guns drowned out every other noise imaginable. Looking out across the water I watched the shock wave from the guns make its own wave. A few seconds later there was an orange flash in the distance and there was a call of "direct hit" from the second turret. The order to stand down was given and then we finally gave the order to turn around to pick up any survivors. As the ship turned to port we could see the few remnants of the Derby floating on the waves and only two heads still above water. Several sailors rushed out and threw life rings to the two sailors in the water. As the crew attempted to get the ship into position the sailors threw a rope ladder over the side and one of the two crew members in the water attempted to grab ahold. Just as he managed to get ahold of the ladder a wave came and slammed him against the hull of the ship. Everyone within view saw him go limp and slip below the water's surface. The other attempted to grab him before he went too deep but he arrived too late. Grabbing hold of the ladder he hurried up to the deck before another wave could try and sweep him away. "Get him to the infirmary!" The captain yelled out to the crew on deck and they rushed him down below. "Any news from Manehattan?" "The carriers are going to leave the port at noon." "What aircraft do they have on board?" "Twenty Wildcats, ten Corsairs, and five Avengers each." "Any news from the air stations?" "A PB-1 spotted the enemy fleet at a standstill near the eye of the storm with three less destroyers than in the original recon photos." "Fantastic. What about their battleships?" "Intercepted radio messages suggest their radio and radar antennas are damaged. As for the carriers, over half of their aircraft have been either damaged or destroyed." "Even better." There was a sudden commotion behind us and we turned to look at the crew who were franticly working by orders from the hydrophone operator. "What the hell is going on?" "Sir, contact on bearing of zero-nine-zero." "What's it sound like?" "Diesel engines sir. Twin screws. Sounds like a submarine." "Any friendly submarines in the area?" The second mate quickly looked over the map and shook his head. "No friendly subs for over eighty miles sir." "Fuck. Sound the alarm and call general quarters." "Aye sir." The first mate hurried over and activated the alarm while the captain called general quarters over the PA. Down below the crew hurried for their battle stations but when the sub was lost on the hydrophone an hour later the crew was told to stand down. ~~~~~ 00:55 Hours January 21, 1987 R.N.S. Neighvada ~~~~~ Standing just outside the port side of the bridge I looked out over the now calm water. "Thank heavens that storm finally passed." The captain said as he stepped out to join me. "Care for a smoke?" "If you're going to smoke then go back inside. That cherry can be seen for miles out here." I told him as I looked at the horizon through my binoculars. Lowering them again, I let them dangle around my neck and I pulled my wool overcoat tighter around me. "Cold general?" "Just a bit. Between that storm getting me soaked in the afternoon and now it's cold as hell, yes I am." "Channel is smooth as glass." He said right before he took a deep breath in through his nose. "You smell that?" I took a whiff and I detected a different smell in the cold. "Ice." "Very good general. We may remake a naval man of you yet." "Captain! Iceberg off the starboard bow." We stepped inside and made out way over to the starboard side just in time to watch the iceberg pass by. "Sir." We turned and faced the young petty officer who gave a message to the captain before stepping back inside. "The third fleet has radioed that they're about to start signaling with the Morse lamp. Go tell the crew on the bridge to get the lamp ready and look for the third fleet." "Aye captain." Stepping back into the bridge I looked back at the captain who pulled a 40s style flashlight from his coat pocket and he began to signal the Ponyville. "Alright, listen up! Who here is the lamp operator?" A different petty officer than before raised his hoof and I told him to get his overcoat on. He did and he led the way up to one of the Morse lamps on the rear mast. When we reached the lamp I looked out at the horizon with my binoculars and saw a flashing in the distance. "TF on bearing three-six-zero." Lowering my binoculars I looked over at the petty officer. "Looks like we have the third fleet. Signal them 'Neighvada steaming due north'. We'll see what they do from there." "Aye sir." He began to signal and a couple seconds after he stopped they began signaling back. "Will meet at World's Fair in one hour." The petty officer looked over at me in confusion. "What's the World's Fair?" "It's the codename of the rendezvous point for us and the third fleet." "Oh." "Alright. Looks like that's it for now. Shut off that lamp and let's get back inside. It's cold as fuck out here." "Aye sir." He shut off the Morse lamp and we made our way down to the deck. "Be careful sir. There can be ice patches on the deck." No sooner had he said it when I felt all grip my boots had on the deck vanish and I fell backwards onto the deck. The petty officer rushed over and helped me up. "Thank you. What's your name?" "Petty Officer Third Class Wood Wind, sir. All my friends just call me Woody." "Well, thank you again Woody." I went to step forward but I began slipping again but this time there was nothing to catch me as I slid towards the railing. I felt my hip hit the top part of the railing and I saw Wood Wind desperately trying to grab my arm as I fell backwards over the railing. Tumbling through the air I attempted to right myself and pencil dive into the water but I found myself falling face first towards the water. Sticking my arms out in front of me I dived into the ice cold water of the Crystal Channel. Opening my eyes I looked around me at the surprisingly clear water and down at the sea floor below me. About a hundred feet down the channel bottom was made entirely of glowing crystals. Swimming up to the surface I gasped for air and the sound of dozens of sailors yelling at me on the deck drew my attention away from the rainbow colored crystals under me. Rope ladders were thrown over the side as two search lights found me in the water and there was suddenly more frantic yelling as I swam towards the ladders. Grabbing ahold of one I slowly climbed up and was met by a medic. "General Jones I presume?" "Yes sir." I was barely able to tell him with my teeth violently chattering. He rushed me down to the infirmary where they took my wet clothes and gave me a wool blanket to wrap around myself. "Hey doc?" "Yes?" "When I was in the water, I saw crystals." "Yeah. We're passing over the rainbow waters. The crystals on the sea floor emit light that they absorb during the day and at night the water around them looks like a liquid rainbow." "It's beautiful down there." "You should see the Rainbow Falls. My parents built a house near the falls when they got married. Half my foalhood was spent swimming in a rainbow lake." "We have nothing like that back on Earth." "What do you have?" "Closest we have is Niagara Falls in upper New York state." "What's that like?" He asked as he pulled up a chair. "Well I've never been there myself but I've seen pictures from my dad and mom's honeymoon when they went there and it's magnificent." "Can you walk on clouds?" "We wish. We couldn't fly until a few hundred years ago when they made the hot air balloon." "That's quite a while." "Not really when you look at how long humans have been around." "So what are other humans like?" "I could go on for days about that but honestly, most humans are like ponies. We're all different, we usually stick with our own race but you get places like New York or Chicago where everyone can sorta blend together, and we don't particularly care for war. We'll fight if we feel like we have to but we're usually a fairly calm, happy race. At least in central Illinois we are." "Illinois?" "It's a state in the country I'm from. My home country is made up of states which are made up of counties. Each county has its own government which is less powerful than the state government which is less powerful than the national government. But, there are fifty states and all their governments combined are equal in power to the national government." "So, the states are just as powerful as the king?" "America doesn't have a king. Well, there was Elvis but he wasn't the leader. We have a president. Every four years we vote on who the president should be." "So the citizens are in control?" "That's how it's supposed to be. Every now and again you get those that lie and cheat their way to office but most are in there by our votes. Although the number lying their way in is growing." "Who's the president now?" "Shit, Regan I think?" "You don't even know the leader of your country?" "It's been a few months since I was there and he's not exactly a young man. For all I know he could have died." "So what are the other humans on this planet beside your four men and the other few in Equestria?" "Honestly, I don't know who all's here besides that SS officer that defected a couple weeks back and Hitler." "Oh. Well General Jones, I would like you to stay down here for the rest of the night so we can make sure you're not hypothermic or ill from being in the water." "Alright. But do you have something for me to put on besides a blanket?" "We have a bathrobe." "Bring it here." He brought the bathrobe over and I slipped it on and tied it. Sitting down on the bed again I was fluffing the pillow when a sailor brought a telegram over to me. To Major General James Jones, Hi dad. Mom and the others say hi too. I figured since I couldn't tell you to your face then I'd send you a telegram. The royal sisters approached me the other day after the ceremony and said they would like to have me do a screen test at their movie studio for some movie. Still debating whether to do it or just stick to making records. Also, what would you think about having grandfoals this early?" ~Sabre Setting the telegram aside I stood up and looked out the porthole above my bed at the water outside. It shimmered and looked like a shipload of watercolor paints had spilled into the ocean. A chuckling to my right drew my attention away and I looked at the only other patient in the room. "It's always fun seeing someone see the Rainbow Waters for the first time. I remember the first time I saw them. I was seventeen and I spent the whole night on the deck of the ship with my head dangling over the side and I just watched the water." Sitting down on my bed I faced him and looked him over. "What part of the ship you serve in?" "I was second mate on the R.N.S. Derby. You?" "Major General in the air force and tactical advisor to Princess Celestia. I'm onboard to help take care of the enemy fleet." "Oh. Well I would salute you if I didn't have a chunk of the Derby removed from my arm a few hours ago." "It's fine. I figure you probably saw my ass when they took my clothes so I owe you the courtesy of not saluting me." "It was like seeing a monkey with mange." He said with a small laugh and I had to grin at that one. "I must say, that is a new way I've heard myself described." "Well, I'm not wrong am I?" "No. I guess not." "I heard you talking about your planet. Sorry you ended up here just to end up in a war." "It's fine. Everything happens for a reason and if I ended up in this war then there's bound to be a good reason. We're all born with a purpose, and if my purpose is to help wipe the Nazis off this planet then so be it. "Say, there's a portable radio over there. You mind bringing that over here?" He asked and pointed to the radio on a table on the far side of the room. Getting up I brought the radio over and set it on the table between our beds. Turning it on the sound of a Manehattan radio station filled the room. "This is your friendly disk jockey. What's a disk? Hell if I know. Up next is Romantic Rhythm and the Swing Sisters singing about, what else? Civilization." The music filled the room and the stallion tapped his hoof on the mattress along to the music but stopped and looked over at me. "Your son is Specialist Sabre Rattle right?" "Yeah." "Do you think he'd send an autograph to my daughter? She's absolutely nuts about him." "I'm sure he wouldn't mind. I'm sure he'll get even more requests if that movie deal goes through and once the episode of the Blue Solo Show with him on it is on the TV." "He got on the Blue Solo Show?" "Yeah. Some sort of welcome home special. He taped that the other day after he got his medals." "Neat." The song on the radio ended and the stallion in the other bed shut the radio off. "Well, it's pretty late general. Goodnight." I bid him good night and laid down on the hard mattress. Looking up at the grey ceiling I would spend the next few hours trying to sleep while watching the reflection of the rainbow waters on the ceiling. ~~~~~ 07:00 Hours R.N.S. Neighvada ~~~~~ Looking off the starboard side of the battleship I watched one of the two aircraft carriers from Manehattan steaming along with sailors getting her airplanes ready. "Sir!" The captain and I turned and looked at the first mate who waved us over and pointed to spots on the navigation chart. "The enemy battle fleet was just reported seventeen miles out by a Catalina recon plane." "Seventeen?!" "Yes captain." "Somepony radio the rest of the fleet and tell the! Call general quarters and get ready to take damage!" "Aye sir." Red lights began flashing and the alarm buzzed all across the ship and soon the sound of alarms echoed from the ships around us. The radial engines on the carrier's Wildcats sounded like a swarm of bees and AA guns opened up at a shadow overhead. "Sir, enemy recon plane has reported our position!" I watched as off to starboard Wildcat fighters scrambled to intercept any oncoming fighters or bombers while the carrier crews readied the Corsairs. "Enemy has been given the order to open fire, sir!" "General Jones, you're the highest rank here. What now?" I looked around at the crew in the room who were all looking at me in return. Walking over to the navigation table I looked it over and the area between us and the enemy fleet. "We have enough room. Send two battleships and four cruisers to make a pincer maneuver. One battleship and two cruisers on each side. That should draw some of the fire from their battleships away from our carriers." "But we're also risking two battleships and four cruisers in the process." "No reward without risk. Besides captain, do you want the full power of the enemy raining down on us or have their fire spread out?" He stood for a moment before nodding. "Somepony signal the rest of the fleet the new strategy." A petty officer stood up and grabbed signaling flags before hurrying out to signal the other ships. Almost thirty seconds later there was a plume of water ahead of us and the bow turrets had opened fire in the direction of the enemy fleet. "Sir! Enemy aircraft reported flying in our direction!" "Tell the AA batteries to get ready! Everypony get ready to see some bombs!" The captain barked to the crew and they went to work alerting the AA gunners. The captain stepped over to me and we stepped outside into the chill January air. "General, what kind of aircraft are we going up against?" "Well from the recon photos I can safely say we're looking at carrier capable 109s, 110s, 190s, and 87s. The griffins are going to throw every one of them at us and there will always be aircraft that get through our air cover and past our AA batteries. Let's hope that today is not one of the days where that happens though." I told him as more plumes of water rose into the air around us. Off to the port side of the Neighvada we watched the bow turrets of the recently repaired Califoalnia open fire on the enemy fleet. On the edge of the fleet we saw a destroyer take a direct hit on her bow and lift out of the water before settling back onto the surface and starting to sink moments later. "Sir, enemy aircraft sighted!" We looked north and saw over a dozen aircraft flying towards us and our fighters climbing to meet them. The long range AA guns opened fire and black puffs of smoke formed a wall in front of the enemy aircraft. Moments later we saw half of the aircraft emerge from the flak cloud and the short range gunners opened fire. The tracers from the AA guns on all the ships rivaled the best Fourth of July fireworks I had seen and proved even better when we saw aircraft going down in flames. But what the gunners had failed to notice was the dive bombers flying above the main group. As we watched the main flight of fighters and fighter/bombers we were alerted to the dive bombers presence by the wail of their sirens. Looking up we saw the shadows of them against the morning sky and the gunners opened fire on them but they were too late. The dive bombers pulled up and we heard the scream of the bombs as they fell towards the ships and the water. We felt the ship rock and there was a tremendous explosion on the stern of the ship. Running over to look, I saw the aft tripod mast twist and fall sideways into the channel as the crew inside jumped into the water in an attempt to save themselves. "Aft fire control is down captain!" The captain ran over and watched in horror as the mast sank to the bottom and crew members thrashed about in the water. We saw a group of ten sailors get swept under the stern of the ship and moment later a red spot in the white foam of the ship's wake. Turning away I stepped inside where there were reports coming in from every ship in the fleet as well as from shore based recon aircraft. "General! Friendly aircraft report the two battleships and carriers are damaged and turning around for home!" "Then someone radio the closest friendly airfield and tell them to send a flight of B-17s out with a fighter escort. Drop tanks on those fighters too." "Aye sir." They went to work sending the message to the radio room and a few minutes later they reported the message had been sent. "Alright! The enemy is running for home with their tails between their legs and if we have anything to say about that, it is that they won't be making it home. If they get within range of their home port then they'll have fighter and bomber protection. We cannot allow that to happen. We have suffered damage and many lives have been lost within one short hour. Let's make sure that they did not die in vain. If anyone here objects to hunting down the enemy fleet, speak now." Looking around the bridge I saw no one speak up and the captain signaled full forward to the engine room. Turning around I stepped outside into the freezing air and looked at the horizon ahead of the Neighvada. ~~~~~ 11:35 Hours R.N.S. Neighvada Approximately Three Hundred Miles from St. Neighzaire, Prance ~~~~~ After fending off two more waves of aerial attacks and the aft turret being temporarily put out of action, we had finally caught up with the enemy fleet and had opened fire with the fifteen inch guns with additional fire from the Califoalnia. "Sir." I turned around and looked at the captain who was holding a clipboard out for me. "We took roll and we've figured up the casualties. We've lost approximately twenty four crew members; we've got another seventy in the infirmary, and sixteen missing." Taking the clipboard from him I looked over the names of the dead and missing. As I scanned over the missing I noticed a familiar name, Petty Officer Third Class Wood Wind. Handing the clipboard back to him I watched the Califoalnia's guns fire in the direction of the black smoke from the crippled enemy ships. "General, that flight of B-17s is reporting that they're approaching our position." "What about their fighter escort?" "They're to rendezvous with the three thirty second fighter group over us." "The three thirty second?" "Yes sir." "What bomb group is it?" "Ninety first bomb group sir." "Jesus Christ. They deployed another group from Ponyville and they didn't even bother to tell me. Can we make radio contact with the bombers or fighters?" "We can sir but we'll have to have the radio room patch you through." "Then do it. And hurry." "Aye sir." They went to work patching the bridge radio through to the B-17s and P-51s and a minute later they gave the microphone and a headset to me. "Bomber flight this is Neighvada, do you read?" "This is bomber flight, we read you loud n' clear." A deep, southern sounding voice replied. "Hey Mac. How's it goin' up there?" "Alright. No escort yet." "Well you've got Dash flying escort today so what do you expect?" "If you're gonna badmouth me over the radio at least make sure I can't hear." A tomboyish voice said and I quietly laughed to myself. "Mornin' Dash. How are you liking deployment?" "This is the first real mission they've given us so today is good." "What've they had you doing?" "Flying inland patrols over the Crystal Empire." "What kind of combat is that?" "Exactly." "Alright, that's enough chatter for now. You two be careful up there." "Will do." I removed the headset and gave it back to the radio operator and was about to go below decks when the captain approached me with a telegram. "General Jones, you have been summoned to Canterlot." "What for?" "The commanding general of the air force has retired on active duty. Celestia and Luna have placed you on the list of his potential successors."
The Jolly Rogers	20: The Mole in Canterlot	~~~~~ 20:00 Hours January 21, 1987 Canterlot ~~~~~ My boot nails clicked on the stone floor that led to the war room of the royal palace. As I approached the war room I nodded to the two marines standing guard by the doors. Stepping inside I saw every general in the air force sitting around the table except for three standing at the end. They all turned to face me and the princesses simply nodded to me and waved a hoof in the direction of the three generals at the end of the table. I took my spot and Princess Celestia stepped over next to us. "As you all know, General Silverwing decided to retire on active duty and he has left the air force without a commander. These four have been selected by my sister and I as the best candidates for General Silverwing's replacement. We have yet to make a decision but we feel the two best ones for the job are Major Generals Brave and Jones." "Excuse me for interrupting your highness," A grey colored stallion said as he stood up "but why not have a four star general replace him? That is the next rank down from Silverwing's position after all." "Because after the attacks on Honoluna and Manehattan it's obvious that the higher ranking generals have lost touch with their inner soldier. Perhaps a trip to the front would do them good." I saw the two four star generals in the room swallow hard and I tried not to smile. "As I was saying before, we've yet to make a decision but we should have one by the end of the week. General Jones, who do you feel should be the successor?" "Well your highness I feel it should be Major General Brave Soldier. Only military officer to be awarded the Medal of Valor during peace time, flies with the pilots under his command on a regular basis, and is the one who headed building bases in the Crystal Empire for our air force. He's the obvious choice." "I'm afraid I must object to what Major General Jones is saying your highness. I'm not the officer who organized a plan to launch bombers off an aircraft carrier, I'm not the one who helped build up our aerial fleet into the force it is today, I'm also not the one who lead a raid to rescue nearly four hundred prisoners of war. General Jones is the one who did all those things. I feel he would do a better job than me." The light blue pegasus next to me said. "I see both your points but I can't give both of you five stars. My sister and I will consider both of you greatly but only one of the four generals standing before me will get the position. You all may go home. Except for you General Jones. We'd like to speak with you." I watched as the other generals in the room made their way out and left me alone with the princesses. Looking over at them I saw them wave a hoof for me to sit down. Taking my seat in the closest chair I watched as they produced a folder and slid it over to me. "James, we're organizing a top secret mission. It is as important as Operation Doolittle but far more dangerous." Opening the folder I looked at the sheet of paper inside. "Are you serious?" "We want you on the mission James. Operation Arnold is highly dangerous but we feel you would know how best to organize it so that more of our fliers get home." "Do we have pictures of the target area?" "We do." Celestia replied and she grabbed black and white photos from a nearby file cabinet. She gave them to me and I flipped through them slowly. "Looks like eighty-eights. Those things can tear a B-17 apart with one shell if they aim right. What about the local fighter protection?" "Our informant in the Griffin Empire stated they have high amounts of ME-109s and more barrel shaped fighters." "Probably Focke-Wulf 190s. Make sure we don't have any early model Thunderbolts on this mission. What group is equipped with those?" "The Three Fifty Fifth Fighter Group as a squadron of razorbacks but we're having Crystal Empire fighters escort the bombers on the first leg. Once they hit their range limit they'll be relieved by P-38s with the Fifty Fifth Fighter Squadron which will then be relieved by P-51Bs of the Three Thirty Ninth." "So we're gonna have to deal with three different fighter covers both ways?" "Yes. And there are still air raids by the griffins on the Crystal Empire so you'll have to watch for 109s on takeoff and when you're forming up." "Great. I know that the Crystal Empire has sent a couple of squadrons of Hampdens to bomb them by night and even a squad of Manchesters to bomb them by day but have you seen the combat report on that daytime raid?" "No." "They got slaughtered. Of twenty bombers sent out only one made it home and half its crew was killed." "But they had no fighter protection." "Fighters cover or not, we're still looking at a possible blood bath. One bomber is ten ponies. You're wanting to send one hundred fifty bombers. That's fifteen hundred fliers. If losses are as good as fifty percent then that's seven hundred fifty airmen we no longer have towards the war effort. Between the enemy fighters and the flak I'm willing to bet though that we're looking more at losses as high as seventy to eighty percent." "Is there no way to bring those losses down?" "Not without better fighter protection. I've gotten reports from pilots and crews under my command that fighters are breaking away from the bombers to chase decoys while the real enemy fighter force comes in from any other direction to attack the bombers." "So what do we do?" "Before they were deployed to the north I gave the pilots of the Three Thirty Second the order to stick to the bombers if they were ever assigned to escort duty. I want red tails on the bombers wings when they're approaching the target. You can keep those candy cane looking bastards for another time but I want pilots that'll stick with the bombers on this one." "I'll have the message sent through to Lieutenant Colonel Dash. You may go home now if you like." I stood up and gave a quick nod to them before stepping out into the hallway and reaching into the pocket inside my uniform for a pack of cigarettes. I pulled one out and was about to put the pack away when I heard hoofsteps to my right. Turning to look, I saw Princess Celestia standing next to me. "You mind if I borrow one of those from you?" "You smoke?" I asked as I gave her the pack in my hand. "It takes the edge off. Even royals need a way to deal with stress. Luna drinks and I smoke." "I never would have taken you to be a smoker." "That's why you never judge a book by its cover." I nodded before bidding her goodnight and making my way to the palace motor pool where my car was waiting. The driver opened the door and I took my spot in the back seat but I looked at the driver as they got in the front seat. "You aren't my driver." I said to the mint green unicorn mare in the driver's seat. "Just got reassigned sir." She replied and I immediately recognized her voice. "Lyra?" "It's Staff Sergeant Heartstrings now, sir." She said as she put the car into reverse for us to leave the garage. "I guess everypony really is pitching in to help the war effort huh?" "Yes sir, we are." "How're things in Ponyville?" "So far, so good. They're building a new base on the other side of Ponyville." "A new base?" "Joint army/marine base." "That's just what we need around town. Equestria's Misguided Children." "What?" "E.M.C. The Equestrian Marine Corps. My dad calls them Equestria's Misguided Children." "Oh, ok. I have an uncle in the Marine Corps. He's supposed to be stationed in Ponyville once the base is complete." "How long until it's finished?" "A couple weeks." "What rank is your uncle?" "He's a gunnery sergeant." "I had a cousin who was a staff sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps." We turned onto the newly built paved road between Canterlot and Ponyville and I placed my cap onto the seat next to me and loosened my tie. "Miss Heartstrings?" "Yes sir?" "Do you know Colonel Thunderstreak?" "Your wife? I've seen her around Ponyville and I had to go to her for my medical." "When was the last time you saw her?" "A couple days ago when I had to take another human to Ponyville." "Who was it?" "Some colonel. I can't remember his name. He was damn good looking though." "Should you be talking like that in front of a major general?" "Oh, right. Sorry sir." "It's fine Lyra. I'm not a man to judge who others go for. I'm the one who knocked up a mare so I'm definitely not one to judge." "No one needs to judge another anyways in my opinion." "Too bad the griffins and many others don't think like you Miss Heartstrings." I laid my head back against the headrest and quickly fell asleep for the rest of the ride to Ponyville. ~~~~~ 10:25 Hours Ponyville Aerodrome January 22, 1987 ~~~~~ "Look at me." Thunderstreak said as she sat on the desk in my newly rebuilt office. "What about you?" "I'm getting fat." She said as she poked gently at her stomach. "You're beautiful. I don't care if you gain weight or not. Besides, isn't that what you're supposed to do after you get married?" "No! My mom never got fat after her and dad got married." "To be fair your mom threw up her own body weight every night because she drinks like a fish." "Yeah she does." I spun my chair to face the radio in my office and I turned the knob which was the power. The sound of music poured out of its speakers and filled my office. "Can this radio get GNR?" "GNR?" "It's a radio station in Manehattan I used to listen to." "Well we can certainly see if it can pick it up." I twisted another knob on the radio and the sound of other stations was babbling as I continued turning the dial. I found the frequencies for the Manehattan radio stations and stopped when Thunderstreak held up her hoof. I stood up and gave her a quick kiss before walking outside into the snow. I stood there and looked up at the grey sky for a few moments as snow fell all around me. Looking down again I walked towards the control tower and listened to the snow crunch under my boots as a civilian DC-4 taxied towards the runway. Opening the door to the control tower I made my way up the spiral staircase where three controllers all sat around looking outside. "Morning boys." "Morning sir." "What's the weather report for today?" "The snow is supposed to get worse from here on out. After this plane takes off we're shutting the runways down." "I thought the weather team was supposed to handle this shit." "They normally would but they're all pitching in for the war effort so the weather is doing as it pleases. This blizzard is supposed to dump another four feet of snow on us before it's over." "That's just fan-fucking-tastic. All we need is four and a half feet of snow. My youngest kid is only about three and a half feet." I sat down at the small card table in the middle of the control room and put my feet up on the table. "So what's with that civilian plane out there? I haven't seen a civil one out here in weeks." "It's some soccer team from the Crystal Empire that had a match here in Ponyville and some other civilians from up there." One of the controllers replied as he raised his binoculars to look at the four engine prop plane at the far end of the runway. "Gulf Alpha Lima Zulu Uniform; you are cleared for takeoff." He said into the microphone in front of him. I stood up and watched as the plane throttled up and began rolling down the runway. We watched it begin to bounce as it rolled down the runway but we soon noticed something wrong. "Why isn't he pulling up?" One of the controllers asked. "If he can't take off he should have aborted by now." Another said. The plane's nose began to slowly rise off the runway which was followed by the main gear but the plane was hardly gaining any altitude as it flew towards the houses on the edge of Ponyville. "Dear Celestia. He's gonna hit the roofs!" One of the controllers ran for a phone to call the fire department while the rest of us hurried down the stairs. Halfway down, we heard the crash but we continued onwards. We made our way outside and ran towards the pillar of black smoke rising into the sky. As we ran we were joined by nurses and doctors from the base and MPs who would try to keep ponies back from the wreck. I felt my heart pounding in my chest as I ran and I could see emergency crews from Ponyville hurrying towards the crash site. As we arrived at the site we were met by burning wreckage along with dazed and bleeding survivors. We quickly went to work getting the most severely wounded on carts that would take them to the hospital and doing what we could for those that could be treated on site. Fire fighters and a couple MPs pulled others from the wreckage. As I stood up from giving a stallion a shot of morphine I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned around to see Colonel Ambrose in his dress uniform. "How can I help?" "Go and give morphine to any of the injured that haven't gotten any yet." "Yes sir." He took several vials of morphine and hurried off to help the medics as I began helping the nurses load more of the critically injured onto wagons that would carry them to the hospital. I turned around and began digging through the wreckage again when I saw a familiar face amongst the survivors. Hurrying over to the cart I pulled the nurse aside and asked her about the red stallion in his dress uniform. "Apple, Macintosh; has minor scrapes and bruises but he does also have damage to his eyes." "Would it be alright if I were to ride along with him?" "Are you family?" "I'm his CO." "Sorry sir. Only family is allowed to ride along." "Well what if he gives consent for me to ride along?" "Well," She said as she looked over at the near empty cart "I suppose if he gave us consent we could allow it. I'll go and ask him." She trotted away and I saw her say a few words to Big Mac before she gave a wave for me to come over. I made my way over to the cart and sat down next to Mac where his ear turned at the sound of the wood creaking. "James?" "Yeah. How you feeling?" "Been better. Wish I could say I haven't been worse." "So what were you doing in town?" "I got a pass from the commander of the base up there. I think I might be more than three days." "On the upside, you get a break from the war." "Well I would like to at least be able to see during my wedding." "Yeah. Wait, what?" "You didn't think I wouldn't eventually propose to Fluttershy did ya?" "Well, I figured you would eventually but this is one hell of a way to start off an engagement." "Originally she said no but the next morning she told me she'd changed her mind." "That's nice. I'm happy for you Mac." "She also enlisted in the Marine Corps." I looked over at him in shock with my mouth slightly agape. "Are we talking about the same Fluttershy here? The same pony who's scared by her own shadow wants to be a marine?" "Eeyup." "Well that should prove to be interesting. Now, I have a proposition for you." ~~~~~ 19:50 Hours 1237 N. Main St. Ponyville ~~~~~ Thunderstreak pulled my wool overcoat tighter around herself as we all sat around the fire place. Sabre draped his army overcoat over Brush Stroke as he brought more blankets to everyone. "How long until the power's back on?" "No clue. So what's your master plan now that you're gonna be a dad numbnuts?" I asked him as he sat down next to Brush Stroke. "Have you two even told her parents? And no offence to her but why is she here and not at her house?" "She's here because the weather is too bad for her to go home and I figured we'd get married." "Can I speak with you in the kitchen for a moment?" Sabre got up and followed me into the kitchen where I leaned against the counter. "Why?" "Why what?" "Why would you throw away your whole career just for one mare? You had a chance to do something great with your life. You could have been the best damn singer and actor Equestria has ever seen but you went and knocked some girl up." "What? Are you saying it's my fault?!" "Well you were the one who stuck your pecker in her so yes I am! You're my son now and by God I'll make sure this whole thing never goes public if I have to!" "You don't think I'm not worried about this too?! I know I had a career ahead of me but I'm willing to be a father who will care for his kid! That's a hell of a lot more than you're doing right now!" "Are you saying I'm a bad father just because I'm worried you'll fuck up your life?!" "Yes I am! It's my life and it's about damn time I take control of it! I'm moving out." "You'll come crawling back in a week. Don't think I don't know that." "Oh really? Just you watch me. I'll take care of my family and I'll do it like a dad should." "I'd like to see you try." I walked past him and back into the living room. Sitting down in the chair closest to the fireplace I stared into the dancing flames until a quiet voice made us all look away from the fire. "Doesn't anyone care what I have to say about this?" The purple mare asked as she looked up at us from under the olive overcoat. "Isn't anyone concerned how I'm going to fare now that I have a foal growing inside me?" "Now you know how I feel sweetie." Thunderstreak said as she took a sip of her coco. "What am I going to do? I'm only seventeen and I'm pregnant with the kid of Equestria's new heart throb. That's all I'll be known for now." "Well, have you ever thought about being an actress or a singer? If what I've heard about you is true, you're an amazing singer. You could always fall back on that." "I suppose. But who'd come and see me once I got fat?" "Sweetie, trust me when I say it's worth putting on the weight." Brush Stroke sighed and pulled the overcoat tighter around herself as Sabre came downstairs with a suitcase. "Alright. I called a friend and he's gonna bring his Cub over." Sabre said as he set his suitcase by the door. "Wait, like the airplane?" "Yeah. He's got skis on it instead of wheels. He's just going to fly us to your house. Why?" "You know full well I'm scared of flying." Brush Stroke said as she looked over at Sabre. "You're a pegasus." "Yes. And I trust my wings. Not some fabric covered death trap." "Well that's all we have for transportation at the moment so it's either stay here or we fly out of here." "Well then you can fly out of here. I'm not going in that wreck waiting to happen." "What?! You'd rather spend the next few days here than with your parents?" "At least your mom seems to know what I'm going through. My mom would probably make me give it up!" "Well that's good right? Give the kid to an adoption agency." "You know damn well I meant it in a bad way Sabre. She'd drag me to some clinic as quick as she could." "And that's a bad thing?" "Why you," Brush Stroke hurriedly grabbed for anything she could launch at Sabre "you no good son of a bitch! You don't care what happens to this foal do you?! You lousy egotistical asshole!" Sabre ducked as she threw a vase in his direction which proceeded to shatter on the wall just above his head. "What the hell did I do?!" "You know full well what you did you no good bastard! You tell your dad you'll take care of us like a father should and then you turn around and do this! We're trough Sabre! If I never see you again it'll be too soon!" "Fine!" Sabre grabbed his suitcase and hurried outside before anything else could be hurled at him while Brush Stoke finally broke down into tears. She sat down as Thunderstreak and Typhoon tried calming her down. I got up and stepped outside where Sabre stood watching for the little yellow plane. "What in the hell is wrong with you? That poor girl is going through the biggest problem she's probably ever going to have to face and you say it'd be good for any of that to happen to your unborn foal. You're going to be a father now it's high time you damn well act like one. You're out of school now so I can't tell you what to do and I sure as hell don't approve of you getting her pregnant. But as long as you live under my roof you live by my rules. And as of now I'm establishing a new rule that you get your ass back in there and start acting like the stallion you need to be. You understand me?" "Yes sir." "And if you fuck up on this level again I will personally sign your ass up for the Marine Corps and let some DI straighten you out. Am I crystal clear?" "Yes sir." "Good. Now get in there and do what you need to do. Even if I am pissed at you for getting yourself into mess. I'll handle your friend." He turned around and went inside as the little yellow plane flew overhead in the near zero visibility conditions. Reaching into my pocket I pulled out my flashlight and began using the light to signal the Cub flying overhead. Soon after he banked and lined up with the street where he touched down a few moments later. As he slowed to a stop I ran over and tried to desperately stay on top of the snow. Just as I reached the plane I saw the door fling open and a brown colt around Sabre's age stick his head out. "Evening Mr. Jones!" "Evening. Change of plans son. Sabre is staying here so you just go on back to your house. Alright?" "Yes sir! Have a good evening sir." He shut the door on the little Piper and I quickly made my way to the house. Just as I got to the door I heard the little engine on the plane power up and I turned around just in time to see it take off into the blizzard. Turning back around I went inside where everything had calmed down and Sabre sat in the kitchen with Brush Stoke. Sitting down in the chair again I watched the fire dance amongst the logs in the fireplace. "He doing as I told him?" "Yes he is. I don't know what you said to him but thank you." "No problem. I don't want him turning out like my dad." "Me either. So, where is it the princesses are sending you after this blizzard?" ~~~~~ 21:00 Hours Palace of the Chancellor Gryphus, Griffin Empire ~~~~~ The sound of boot nails clicking on the marble floors echoed through the corridor as a man in a blue Luftwaffe uniform walked towards the war room. As he approached the doors the two guards snapped to attention and extended their right arms. "Heil Hitler!" They shouted in unison. The man in the Luftwaffe uniform gave a quick salute back and the guards hurriedly opened the doors. "Ah, Oberst Steiner! Wir sprachen gerade uber Sie." (Ah, Colonel Steiner! We were just talking about you.) Another man in a Luftwaffe uniform said as everyone looked up at him. "Ich entschuldige mich fur die Verspatung Herr General. Ich bin gerade von einem Luftbohrer." (My apologies for being late Herr General. I just returned from an air drill.) "Es ist in Ordnung Oberst. Mein Fuhrer, das ist der Mann mit der Verteidigung der Gryphus beauftragt." (It is alright colonel. My Fuhrer, this is the man tasked with the defense of Gryphus.) The older man slowly stood up from his chair and walked over to the young Luftwaffe colonel who was now standing at attention. As the older man looked him over he stopped at the Iron Cross on his chest. "Wo hast du dein Kreuz zu bekommen?" (Where did you get your cross?) "Ich wurde wahrend der Schlacht von Stalingrad mein Fuhrer ausgezeichnet." (I was awarded it during the Battle of Stalingrad my Fuhrer.) The old man nodded and patted the Luftwaffe colonel on the shoulder before turning and taking his place at the table in the middle of the room. The colonel looked around at the other humans in the room. "Entschuldigen Sie Herr General, aber wo sind all die Greife?" (Excuse me Herr General, but where are all the griffins?) "Sie sind einfach unsere kleine Marionetten. Wir brauchen sie nicht fur alle unsere Plane." (They're simply our little puppets. We do not need them for any of our plans.) "Und was sind Ihre Plane Herr General?" (And what are your plans Herr General?) "Einfach. Sobald wir diese Welt und ihre Ressourcen unter unserer Kontrolle machen wir uns auf den Weg zuruck nach Hause und wieder aufzubauen unserer tausendjahrigen Reich." (Simple. Once we have this world and its resources under our control we make our way back home and rebuild our thousand year Reich.) "Und was passiert mit diesem Planeten, wenn wir unseren Heimatplaneten unter unserer Kontrolle?" (And what happens to this planet when we have our native planet under our control?) "Wir nutzen jede Ressource konnen wir aus dieser ekelhaften Fels zu bekommen und dann werden wir es aufgeben." (We use every resource we can get from this disgusting rock and then we abandon it.) "Was ist mit den einheimischen Arten? Wenn wir die Ressourcen, was aus ihnen werden?" (What about the native species? If we use up the resources what will become of them?) "Sie sind nicht von Bedeutung, ausser zur Verwendung als Sklavenarbeit." (They are of no importance except for use as slave labor.) "Aber sie sind unsere Verbundeten." (But they are our allies.) "Sie sind Dreck. Nun nehmen Sie Ihren Platz. Das Treffen ist zu beginnen." (They are filth. Now take your place. The meeting is about to begin.) The general walked away and the young colonel took his place at the table where maps of the Gryphus area were scattered about. "Jeder ist vorhanden. Lassen Sie die Sitzung beginnen. Zunachst einmal, die Reiter produzieren seit mehr ihrer B-17-Bomber und P-51 Kampfer, die den ganzen Weg von ihren Basen in der Crystal Reich Gryphus fliegen kann. Dies ist, wo Oberst Steiner kommt in. Unter seinem Kommando haben wir drei Staffeln von Messerschmitts und zwei weitere Staffeln von Focke-Wulf zu Gryphus verteidigen. Nach unseren Agenten in Canterlot der Feind bereitet fur einen Angriff auf diesen Industriekomplexen hier, hier und hier." (Everyone is present. Let the meeting begin. First off, the Equestrians have been producing more of their B-17 bombers and P-51 fighters which can fly all the way from their bases in the Crystal Empire to Gryphus. This is where Colonel Steiner comes in. Under his command we have three squadrons of Messerschmitts and two more squadrons of Focke-Wulfs to defend Gryphus. According to our agent in Canterlot the enemy is preparing for an attack on these industrial complexes here, here, and here.) The general pointed to a different point on a map as he stated the targets. "Und was sind sie?" (And what are they?) The Fuhrer asked as he put on his glasses to get a better look. "Einer der Komplexe produziert Motoren fur Flugzeuge, dieses ist der Produktion unserer Tiger-Panzer, und die dritte ist die Herstellung von Prototypen unserer Wunderwaffen." (One of the complexes is producing engines for aircraft, this one is producing our Tiger tanks, and the third is manufacturing prototypes of our wonder weapons.) "Welche unserer Wunderwaffen bauen sie?" (Which of our wonder weapons are they building?) "Die Dora ist kurz vor der Fertigstellung und die Maus uber halbwegs abgeschlossen." (The Dora is nearing completion and the Mouse is over halfway completed.) "Gut. Holen Sie sich das Dora, seine Position an der Kuste entlang und bewegen Sie die Maus in eine andere Einrichtung." (Good. Get the Dora to its position along the coast and move the Mouse to another facility.) "Wir haben bereits begonnen, damit mein Fuhrer. Wir haben auch Informationen, auf die Überschrift und der Hohe der Feind auf sich nahern, damit unsere Luftabwehr bereit, um den Feind vom Himmel zu klopfen. Oberst Steiner Piloten werden nur benotigt, um jede feindliche Bomber, die uber unsere AA Feuer bekommt zu bekommen." (We have already begun doing so my Fuhrer. We've also got the information on which heading and altitude the enemy will be approaching on so our anti-aircraft gunners will be ready to knock the enemy from the sky. Colonel Steiner's pilots are only needed to get any enemy bomber that gets through our AA fire.) "Sehr gut. Meine Herren, ich muss fur die Nacht zuruckziehen." (Very good. Gentlemen, I must retire for the night.) The Fuhrer slowly walked away, leaving the other men in the room at the table. Colonel Steiner looked around at the others and made sure to avoid eye contact with the SS colonel across from him. The general dismissed them and Steiner hurried out to the Mercedes staff car that was waiting for him. "Where to Herr Colonel?" "Take me home. I need to make a call to someone." "May I ask who sir?" The griffin in the front seat asked. "You know I disapprove of the Nazis. Correct, sergeant?" "Yes sir. We both do." "Good man. We have an informant close to the general placed in command of a mission against Gryphus and I feel I need to warn the general." "Who is the informant sir?" "He's a major in their air force. A human from the United States of America."
The Jolly Rogers	21: Operation Arnold	~~~~~ 03:00 Hours January 26, 1987 Crystal Heart Aerodrome ~~~~~ I flipped the light switch on the wall of the barracks and saw a couple bodies shift in their bunks. "Come on. Drop your cocks and grab your socks! Off your asses and on your hooves!" I said as I kicked the posts of the bunks and watched the stallions jerk awake. "For the love of Celestia general it's three in the morning!" "Yeah. And it's five in the afternoon in Rio but that doesn't mean I've got a margarita does it? Now wake up and get your asses to the briefing room by oh three thirty." Walking out into the cold winter night I looked up at the moon and the stars. "General!" Looking over to my right I saw a sky blue pegasus walking towards me with her rainbow mane peeking out from under her crusher cap. "Morning Dash. How's so called 'greatest flier in Equestria' doing?" "I'm doing great. I'm guessing you're the one who changed the course we're flying on to the target?" "What? There was a change?" "Apparently we're supposed to come in from the opposite direction. I'm guessing you didn't give that order did you?" "No. Where'd you hear those orders?" "They were sent to me from Canterlot." "Interesting. Well, I have to go make sure my crew is up and moving. See you over the target Miss Dash." I walked away towards the shower hut where a steady line of air crews were waiting in their bath robes for the showers. Walking past them I went inside where I saw my crew standing at the mirrors and the urinals next to them. "Sleep well Major Miller?" "This is a god damn nightmare man! Wake me up at three A.M. and expect me to fly and this is a fucking nightmare." He said as he tried to comb his hair and not fall asleep. "Nice to see you're well." I said before continuing on past him and past the crew at the urinals. "Only one shake of those wangs ladies. Anything more than that constitutes pleasure and we're not in that business." "Yes sir." Walking out the exit, I made my way towards the briefing room only a hundred yards away. In the distance I could see the search lights switch on in Crystal City which was followed by the wail of the base's sirens a moment later. I looked over towards the runway as a flight of Crystal Empire Spitfires took to the sky. As they flew away I started walking again and I could see the MP standing guard by the door of the briefing room. "Morning sergeant. Need some coffee or anything?" "Sir, you know I'm not supposed to have anything that might distract me while I'm on duty." "If anybody said anything about it just refer them to me. Now how do you like your coffee?" "Black sir." "I'll get someone to fetch it for you." Walking inside I saw the intelligence officer talking with the base commander in front of the covered map. "Hey fellas. Did you factor in that change from Canterlot?" "Yes sir we did." The young captain replied as he glanced over at the map on the wall that was covered by an olive colored sheet. "Good, good. Hey, can one of you get me some black coffee?" "Of course. Private!" A young private looked up at the base commander and pushed his glasses up. "Yes sir?" "Go get the general some coffee. Black." "Right away sir." The private galloped out of the briefing room and I made my way over to the door where the MP was still standing at attention. "Good god sergeant, stand at ease once in a while." He seemed to relax a bit and looked over his shoulder at me. "Sir, this room is the most secure room on the base. I'm the only thing standing between any spies and the information in this room." "Well, there are the guards at the gates so you're more a second line of defense." "Hey, I'm here in case one of them fucks up." "I know sergeant." I looked down at my watch as the private from earlier came galloping towards me with a cup of coffee. "Black, sir. Just like you asked for." "Thank you private." I took the coffee and gave it to the MP. "Here you are sergeant." "Thank you sir." He said right before taking a sip of the black liquid. I looked around at the Flying Fortresses on the base as they sat waiting for their air crews. Reaching into my inside coat pocket I grabbed my pack of cigarettes and my lighter. Just as I was about to light a cigarette I heard footsteps coming towards me. Looking to my right I saw Austin tying the tie as his unbuttoned olive colored uniform jacket fluttered behind him in the wind. "Why the fuck do these things always have to be so god damned early?" He asked with a yawn. "Because it's a six hour flight to the target and another six back. We can't attack at night with the bombsites in these Forts. They weren't designed for that." "So we have to get up this fucking early?" "Unless you want to help land a crippled Fort at night, yes." "Fine. So when is the briefing supposed to start again?" "Three thirty. About five minutes from now." I told him as I lit my cigarette. Slowly pilots, navigators, and bombardiers all piled into the briefing room. Walking up into the front row I found my seat with my crew and sat down as the intelligence officer trotted up to the map. Looking around at all the other pilots I saw Rainbow Dash and the other mares watching intently. "Mares and gentlecolts; your target for today," He reached up and pulled down the cover from the map "is Gryphus." The room was suddenly filled by the sound of murmuring as everyone turned to the pony next to them with worry. "Quiet! Quiet everypony." Everyone quieted down and the intelligence officer cleared his throat. "Anyways, your primary target for this mission is to bomb the Federgewicht engine factory and the Schwarz Stahl tank factory directly next to it. The area is heavily defended with 88mm flak guns. We also expect heavy fighter cover over the target. The commander of their fighter force, Lieutenant General Gilda Goldfeather, is expected to be present for this mission so try and shoot down her aircraft if at all possible. Also, we're offering a five hundred bit bonus for every enemy plane shot down as an incentive for shooting straight. Now on to the rest of the briefing." ~~~~~ 05:01 Hours January 26, 1987 Crystal Heart Aerodrome ~~~~~ I reached up and grabbed ahold of the edge of the hatchway under the nose of the B-17F. Pulling myself up into the crawl space I hoisted myself up into the cockpit. Climbing into the left seat I looked over at Austin in his flight suit who was looking at me in my flight suit. "Well, one of us is going to have to change." He said with a small laugh before going back to his checklist. I looked down at my checklist but I looked back up to see Austin waving to a light blue stallion with a dark blue mane. "Who the hell is that?" I asked as I leaned over to get a better view of the stallion. "My boyfriend." "Oh. Well he looks like a nice guy so good for you." "He's amazing. In the kitchen and in the-" "I don't need to know!" "I was going to say cockpit. He's a P-38 pilot. Get your mind out of the gutter." I shook my head and resumed going over the checklist. Sliding my headphones over my crusher cap I clipped the throat mic on. "Radio check. Bombardier?" "Here sir." "Navigator?" "Present." "Top turret?" "Here." "Radio operator?" "H-h-h-here sir." He said as he attempted to keep his stutter under control. "Waist gunners?" "Here." Came the response from the two gunners in the waist and the one who would later be underneath it. "Tail gunner?" "Ready sir." "All present and accounted for. Beginning engine start up." I slid back the window to my left and gave a quick wave to the crew chief before shouting "clear prop". Sticking my hand out I signaled as the left inboard prop started to slowly spin. The engine gave a cough and sputtered before letting out a roar as it came to life. I looked over at the rpm gauge which read out 800. 'About average.' Signaling again I watched the crew chief move to the next engine with his fire extinguisher as the left outboard started up. When it had turned over I watched Austin signal as the right engines started up. Behind us the drone of other bombers was present as I slowly pushed the two middle throttles forward. The two inboards growled louder in response and I felt the bomber slowly start to roll. As we gained speed I could hear the next Flying Fort in line powering up behind us. Soon the aerodrome sounded like a hive of angry bees while the bombers rolled towards the runway like a gaggle of geese towards a pond. As we got to the turn on the taxiway I pulled the left throttles back and gently pushed the right ones forward. The bomber spun to face the runway and I pushed the left throttles forward again. Turning onto the runway I looked over at the control tower as we rolled to a stop. I saw a green flare from the edge of the tower rise high into the midnight blue sky as the flaps lowered to takeoff position. "Let's go." I said as I slid my window shut. Slowly pushing the throttles forward I felt the bomber shaking as we began to roll down the runway. "Austin, read out speed." "Sixty five!" I could feel the tail of the bomber getting lighter as we roared down the runway. "Eighty!" The tail lifted off the runway and now I could see the end of the runway fast approaching in the windscreen. "One hundred!" The bomber began to skip on the runway like a rock over water. "One fifteen!" Pulling back on the controls I felt the bomber takeoff as gracefully as a crippled goose and kept it under control while the flight engineer cycled the landing gear. We banked right to circle the aerodrome until the rest of the bombers with the 91st Bomb Group could take off. ~~~~~ 10:00 Hours The skies over Prance near the Griffin Empire Boarder ~~~~~ "This Natzi country boys. Keep your eyes peeled for enemy fighters." A voice said from the formation of bombers with the 398th Bomb Group. "You mean Nazi?" A young voice asked, the stallion obviously not over age twenty. "That's what I said, Natzi." "Nazi." "Natzi." The exchange continued for several more minutes, much to the amusement of everyone else in the formation of fifteen hundred bombers. Looking down at the altimeter I watched it roll passed twenty thousand feet and I could already see some steam beginning to roll off of my exposed hand. To my right Austin was continually looking out his windows to make sure we were staying a good distance away from the bombers to our right side. I looked out the window to my left and I could see the Ponyville Belle and a red pony in the pilot's seat. Looking back out the left windscreen I saw uninterrupted blue sky and glances of the countryside through the occasion break in the clouds below us. Above us, a P-38 kept watch and we made sure to keep a good eye on him. "Rendezvous with red tails in one minute." We looked around for the early model P-51s and soon I spotted little red fins poking through the cloud cover like a school of sharks on the hunt. Slowly they rose through the cloud layer and the P-38s broke away for home. As I watched the Lightnings fly away a Mustang pulled up alongside us inverted. As I watched the Mustang I saw the cyan pilot give a wave before rolling upright. "How you feelin' Dash?" "I'm fine as wine. How's things over there in your world?" "Cold as fuck." "That's the nice part about these Mustangs. Exhaust blows right into the cockpit. Heats itself." "Until you black out and crash. Knew a guy who did that." "I'll be fine." "Alright. Whatever you say." ~~~~~ 10:59 Hours Approaching Gryphus Heading 215 ~~~~~ I looked out ahead of us and saw several black puffs appear nearly level with us. My hands gripped the wheel tighter as the sky began to turn black with flak. "I thought it was supposed to be light on the way in?!" Someone said over the radio. I looked to my left in time to see a burst nearly tear the right stabilizer off Ponyville Belle but she continued to fly on. The bomber shuddered with every near miss and I could hear the shell fragments slicing into and ricocheting off the bomber's skin. Ahead I saw a couple dozen black specks appear from the clouds. "Bandits at 12 o'clock!" "More on our six!" The tail gunner called back. "More at our three and nine! Sweet Celestia, they're everywhere!" The waist gunners yelled out as I felt the slight shudder of the waist guns firing. The flight engineer climbed into the top turret and swung it around until the guns were aimed forward. The cockpit began to rattle as the top turret opened fire on the fighters ahead of us. Around us the Mustangs went to work as we continued to fly towards the target. "All aircraft, open bomb bay doors!" The bombardier shouted and the clunk of the bomb bay doors drowned out the sound of the guns for a split second. The flak continued to get thicker as we flew on. Ahead of us I saw the enemy fighters open fire, their guns looking like flashbulbs on their noses. I saw the tracers zip past us but none hit. The fighters scattered in all directions to avoid a collision with us and the gunners opened up on any fighter they saw. "Yodelin' Jive is hit!" I looked out my window and saw a Fort tumbling towards the ground in two pieces, neatly dissected by a flak burst. Looking back up I continued to steer the bomber through the flak. Just as I was about to look down at the instrument panel I felt the bomber shudder and an explosion. Looking out the left window I saw the outboard engine on fire and the prop wind milling out of control as an enemy fighter banked away. "Feather the prop and flip the extinguisher!" Austin went to work trying to feather the prop while I flipped the trigger for the left outboard fire extinguisher. Looking back out the window I saw the fire was slowly dying out but the prop continued to wind mill. "I said feather the prop god damn it!" "I did!" By now the hub was glowing red hot. And then, right before my eyes, the prop broke away. It flew under the wing and out of sight but the tail gunner soon called up "a prop just took out A Bushel and a Peck". I turned back around in my seat as we neared the target. "Release on my mark! In three, two, one...bombs away!" The bombardier called out over the radio. The bomber jerked upwards as the bomb load screamed towards its target. We flew onward but just as it looked as though we might make it through the flak fairly unscathed the bomber jerked up at least twenty meters and I felt a stinging in the right side of my face. As the bomber settled again I felt air rushing into the cockpit and looked over to my right. The front right corner of the cockpit was blown open and Austin was slumped over in his seat unconscious. "Sergeant major, take the controls!" I unbuckled and the top turret gunner took my place in the left seat. I unbuckled Austin's straps and pulled him back and laid him on the floor behind the pilot seats. "Get the radio man up here!" I yelled to the sergeant major in the left seat and a few moments later the wooden door to the bomb bay swung open. "Dear gods!" The radio operator exclaimed as he turned to throw his guts up out the still open bomb bay doors. When he had recovered he carefully stepped inside. I propped Austin's head up and looked over at him in desperation. "Do something for fucks sake! Save him!" I yelled as I finally began to process the severity of Austin's injuries. I felt something oozing out onto my hand that was holding his head up and I could see a pool of blood forming underneath. "Help him!" "General, I can't." "Bullshit! You're a unicorn, use your magic!" "Not even magic can help him now sir. I'm afraid it's just a matter of time." I looked down at the blood spattered and cut face of my best friend. The man who had been like my brother. "Do something! At least try!" "Sir, I can't. I can't stich a brain injury like I can with a shrapnel wound." "Just try! He can't die!" "Sir, he's too far beyond help." He replied in the gentlest voice he could muster. I reached up and grabbed him by the throat with my free hand. "Either you try or I throw you out that god damned bomb bay. Your choice." He quickly went to work with every relevant medical spell he knew but to no avail. I continued to watch Austin's face grow paler as the pool of blood under him grew bigger. As my hope for help died, I watched Austin breath out one last time and the radio operator removed his flak helmet in respect. "I'm sorry sir." I gently set Austin's head down and stood up. Wiping away any tears and blood on my face with my clean hand I made my way back to the left seat. "Sir, perhaps it's best if the sergeant major flies the rest of the way." "No. I'm flying this thing home. Even if it's the last fucking thing I do." Sliding into the seat, I grabbed hold of the wheel and felt something in my right hand squish as I grabbed on. Not even looking down at it I continued to fly onwards with the occasional glance at the now empty seat. 'I shouldn't have let him come. This is the most dangerous mission yet. He wasn't even on Doolittle. I shouldn't have let him fly this!' I slammed my right hand on the dashboard as I slipped on my oxygen back on with my left. Less than five minutes had passed since the flak burst and the flak only continued to grow thicker. The bomber jerked up again and I could hear the chaos in the tail. "Pilot to radio operator, what the hell is going on back there?!" "Sir, a shell exploded near the tail!" He replied. "I'm-I'm afraid we've lost another." "Find a spot for him. How bad are the others?" "Well the two waist gunners are out of action to say the least." "Ball turret?" "Gone sir. He's the one we lost. I'm lucky to be alive after that burst!" "Take care of them. I'm not losing anymore crew!" I glanced down at the smashed instrument panel and the few remaining instruments that were still operational, and the blood spattered on them. I gently reached down and wiped the blood off them as the flak began to die down. As I looked up I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. Looking over to my left I saw a BF-109 flying alongside of us with a human pilot. He gave a wave in my direction and I heard the top turret spin around. "Don't fire." I said as I watched the 109 sit alongside us. "Has anyone seen this 109 fire his weapons?" "No sir." A voice replied. "Same goes for the one on your other wing." I looked over to the right wing where a 109 with a bright yellow nose flew steady with us. Above us I saw a Mustang diving for the yellow nosed 109. "Do not fire on the two 109s unless fired upon!" The Mustang pulled up and circled around to fly next to the yellow nosed 109. Looking back at the body on the floor I felt the emotions coming back. Turning back around I choked back the stinging lump in my throat and readjusted myself in the seat. ~~~~~ 17:12 Hours Over the Crystal Empire ~~~~~ The sun was sinking in the sky just off the right side of the bomber's nose. The Bf-109s had managed to stick with us thanks to the special longer range drop tanks fitted under them. We were now flying level at two thousand feet over the snow covered fields of the Crystal Empire as Crystal Heart Aerodrome appeared on the horizon. As we began to drop altitude I got more bad news that day. "Sir, hydraulic pressure for the landing gear is zero. We're gonna have to belly land." The flight engineer said as he looked over my shoulder at the aerodrome ahead. "Tell the crew to brace for impact and possibly prepare to bail out." "Yes sir." He climbed down to the nose compartment then back to the tail a minute later. "Tower, this is Red Leader. We've got no gear and two defectors. Tell the AA gunners to not, I repeat not, to fire on the 109s." "Roger that Red Leader. We're telling the gunners to hold their fire. We'll have the fire wagon and the Band-Aid buggy waiting for you. Land in the snow next to the runway." "Roger that." I banked left and the 109s banked to stay on my wings. I leveled out for a moment before banking right to line up with the landing spot. The flight engineer reached over and lowered the flaps a bit and I saw the 109s do the same out of the corner of my eyes. As we approached the aerodrome I could see the fire wagon and ambulance waiting for us. The flight engineer lowered more flaps as we got lower and closer. Soon we were kicking up snow as we flew along just above the ground. I saw the 109s belly land short of our spot and I pulled back on the throttles as we crossed over the taxiway. The bomber gently set down in the snow and skidded to a stop. Unbuckling from my seat I got up and stopped next to Austin. Bending over I grabbed ahold of him under his arms and dragged him across the narrow catwalk in the bomb bay into the tail. As I went to step out of the radio compartment I fell and was met by a face full of snow. "General? Are you alright?" I looked up at the voice and I saw the MP from that morning. "I'm fine." "Are you sure sir?" He asked as medics brought in a stretcher for Austin. "I'm sure." We followed the medics out the rear door of the bomber and watched them load Austin in the back of the ambulance. "I'm sorry sir." "Why? He's not dead. He can't be. I don't trust that unicorn." I said as I wiped dried greyish colored gunk off my hand on the bomber. The MP looked back at the chunks that were stuck to the plane and then back up at me with sorrow. "What's wrong?" "Nothing sir. Maybe you should go talk to the doctors sir." I nodded and walked towards the medical ward which was now buzzing with activity. As I stepped inside the hospital I was met by a light grey stallion in a white nurse's uniform. "Can I help you?" "Maybe. I'm looking for Major Austin Miller. He came in with a head wound." He flipped through the papers on his clipboard and pointed towards the back. I walked to the back of the hospital where a doctor was sitting at his desk with a book in his magic. He looked up at the sound of my boots on the tile floor and set the book down. "Can I help you general?" "I'm looking for Major Austin Miller." He sighed and let me through a swinging door to a dimly lit room that was as cold as outside. I looked around at all the silver drawers and stopped as the doctor pulled out a larger on than the others. When the drawer was all the way out I looked down at Austin who was covered only with a sheet. "We're going to have him flown to Canterlot to be interred in the military cemetery there." He said as he slid the door shut again. "Do you know of any spouses or someone who needs to be informed?" I nodded yes as I thought about the fact that my best friend, the person who had been through everything with me, was actually dead. My stomach felt twisted and I was on the verge of vomiting as I made my way out of the hospital. Stepping outside I looked up to see a B-17 flying overhead before I slid down the exterior wall of the hospital. As I sat in the snow I thought about the winter during my junior year of high school. ~~~~~ December 8, 1967 Waverly, Illinois ~~~~~ "Here." Austin said as we walked down the snow covered street. In his hand was a small, narrow box which I took as I pulled my coat tighter around me. I opened the box and pulled out the knife inside. "What's this?" "A birthday gift. Don't tell me you forgot your birthday again." He said looking over at me. "No. I just didn't expect any gifts from anyone, that's all." I replied as I looked over the knife. "I got it engraved to match the pins on your coat." He said as he pointed to the pins on the shoulders of my overcoat. "Honor and Country. Thanks man." I said as I put the knife in my pocket. ~~~~~ January 26, 1987 Crystal Heart Aerodrome ~~~~~ I smiled as I looked over the knife I held in my hand. The blade caught the last glimpses of sunlight in the sky and reflected them against the wall of the hospital. As I put the knife back in its sheath I wiped away the tears which were running down my face. I took a deep breath in and tasted the saltiness of a tear I had missed. Looking up I saw the light blue pegasus stallion from that morning talking with another pilot. Getting up I brushed myself off and straightened my cap. Walking over to him I saw Lieutenant Colonel pins on his uniform. As I got close to him I saw him snap to attention and salute me. "Are you Major Austin Miller's coltfriend?" "Yeah." He said as he looked up at me. "I'm Major General James Jones. His best friend." "Oh yeah! He's mentioned you before. I'm Soarin." He said as he extended his hoof. I gently shook it and he looked at me oddly. "Is something wrong?" "I think you should sit down." I said as I motioned to the empty mess hall behind him. We walked over to the unlocked doors and I allowed him to go first. He sat down at the first table and I sat down next to him. "Is there something you need to tell me?" "I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. But, Austin passed away during the return flight from Gryphus. Flak hit the front of the cockpit and he was killed." Soarin looked over at me in a seeming state of shock. "I'm sorry Soarin. They're flying him to Canterlot to bury him. Since you're his coltfriend I would like to ask you to lead the fly over of the funeral." "Of course." He said as he reached for a napkin to wipe his eyes. "Of course I will." ~~~~~ January 30, 1987 Canterlot, Equestria Over Equestrian National Cemetery ~~~~~ The casket was slowly lowered into the ground as twenty one aircraft of the R.E.A.F. flew overhead, led by an olive and grey P-38. I looked down at the funeral below and said a small goodbye from the left seat of the brand new B-17G prototype at the center of the formation. As we flew out of the area over the cemetery I watched the other aircraft break away from the formation. I turned the wheel of the bomber and looked to my left for Celestine Airbase. In the right seat a dark grey pegasus stallion watched the interment panel. I saw the airbase come into view and leveled out to enter the pattern. "Celestine Tower, this is Air Force 3-0-0, request full stop on active runway." "Air Force 3-0-0, fly left downwind, runway 1-8 Left. Number three for landing." "Runway 1-8 Left for Air Force 3-0-0." We entered the traffic pattern and kept an eye out for any stray aircraft. As we banked left to land I watched the P-40 in front of us try to line up with the runway but he aborted as a sudden wind gust pushed his plane off course. Our bomber flew through the gust with barely any movement as we brought it in on final. "Wait, weren't there two planes ahead of us?" The copilot asked as he watched the P-40 bank away. Just as I was about to answer him I saw a blue and yellow PT-17 pull up and allowed us to pass under him. The copilot and I looked through the roof windows and saw the little biplane disappear from sight before returning our attention to the runway. We pulled back on the controls and I reduced power as we got over the runway. We dropped with a gentle bump and the tail soon dropped onto the runway. We taxied to a remote part of the airbase and shut down the bomber. As I lowered myself from the hatch in the nose I heard hoofsteps approaching me. I turned around to see a white colored mare with a light and dark blue mane. "Commanding General Jones?" "It's Major General Jones. I told the princesses I no longer wish to accept the position." I told her as I reached up and wiped a smudge off the polished skin of the B-17 with my sleeve. "So who are you?" "I work for the Royal Sisters." "I kinda figured. So what shitty-ass mission are they sending me on this time?" "Actually it's outside of Appaloosa at Area 13. They need you as a test pilot for some new planes." She said as she pulled a folder from her saddlebag. I took the folder from her and I flipped through the pictures inside. "And these are already built?" "Yes sir. The princesses have requested you be the test pilot of the aircraft." "What's the catch?" "Catch?" "What strings are attached to this job?" "All they ask is you help with the job at hoof." "Fine. But if there are three more stars attached to this then I don't want any part of this." I told her as I handed here the folder back. "The mission for those stars got my friend killed. I'm never risking that again." "I understand sir." She replied before walking away for a black staff car. I looked back up at the silver bomber and sighed. 'What the fuck have I managed to get into here?'
The Jolly Rogers	22: Coffee Shops and Electric Chairs	~~~~~ 11:30 Hours February 1, 1987 Area 13 ~~~~~ "No!" I shouted as I stormed out of the largest hangar on the base. "General!" Luna called after me as she galloped to catch up. "Please. It's just a test." "No! I am not dropping anything in the desert and sure as hell not that!" "Why not?" She asked as she caught up to me. I rolled up the sleeves on my khaki fatigue uniform and wiped a small bit of sweat from my forehead. "Because too many have already gotten killed because of me. I'm not allowing that number to increase into the hundreds of thousands." "It's only an early version. There are no guarantees the weapon will work." "And then the weapon will be upgraded and improved and then before you know it we'll have an arsenal that could destroy the planet. When I was eleven I helped my dad build a bomb shelter because the wrong person got ahold of the secrets of the atomic bomb. I'm not going to let that become a possibility here." I told her before looking over my shoulder at the B-29 Silverplate prototype which sat gleaming in the sun. "Fine. But please at least come to the bunker tomorrow." "No promises." She walked away and I looked back at the B-29 again. Shaking my head I looked down at my boots and kicked away a stray scorpion. Looking up at the sky I saw a cloud pass in front of the sun and send a slight chill over the base. Turning back around I walked into the hangar where a Peacemaker prototype took up the entire hangar. As a crew directed the fin into place I looked at my little P-40 squeezed into the hangar next to it. Walking over to it I climbed into the cockpit and started up the Allison engine. Carefully taxiing out of the hangar I made my way to the runway and slipped the headset over my cap. Pushing the throttle forward I let the plane roll until it was beginning to bounce before pulling back on the stick and letting it climb for the blue sky above. ~~~~~ 13:45 Hours 1237 N. Main St. Ponyville ~~~~~ Opening the front door to the house I removed my cap and loosened my tie. Walking into the kitchen I grabbed a box of cereal from one of the cabinets. Opening up the box I shoveled a handful of the contents into my mouth as I went upstairs but stopped halfway up and turned around. Looking downstairs again I saw a mare in a blue and white checkerboard apron in the living room with a feather duster. "Um, hello?" "Hello Mr. Jones." She replied in a gentle voice which had a slight British sounding accent. "This may be a bit idiotic sounding, but who're you?" "Oh, I suppose your wife probably didn't inform you. I'm Solar Dancer. The new housekeeper and nanny." "Housekeeper? Nanny? Excuse me for a moment." I hurried up the remaining steps and down the hall for the bedroom. Opening the door I saw Thunderstreak sprawled out on the bed with a box of bonbons and the TV remote. "So what's up with Mary Poppins downstairs?" "I just need help around here." "She says as she shoves another bonbon in her mouth." "You try being pregnant. Plus she makes the best strawberry and pickle milkshake in the world." I gagged slightly at the thought of consuming such a thing. Sitting down on the bed I watched the TV but I could hear another noise behind the sound of the TV. "What's that noise?" Thunderstreak looked up and listened. "Sabre practicing for a movie he's in. Sounds like the lamp post scene." There was a sudden thud and a dull groaning from the other side of the wall. "Yep. Definitely the lamp post scene." She said as she reached down for another bonbon. "I forget how quiet it is here while Lancaster's at school." "It does get rather dull here. Although I'll take dull over having the Crusaders over like they were yesterday. Scootaloo accidentally ate some of our bird feed before she realized it wasn't sunflower seeds, Sweetie Belle destroyed the curtains, and then Applebloom nearly set the kitchen on fire trying to make herself a snack." "Sounds like I missed quite an interesting afternoon yesterday." "You have no idea. From now on they crusade at the other's houses." "Sounds safer. Where's Typhoon?" "She's in Canterlot on some sort of odd little motorbike." ~~~~~ Meanwhile Near an Anti-War Protest in Canterlot ~~~~~ Typhoon sat on her deep blue motorbike wiping bugs off her helmet as she listened to the sound of protesters down the street. She rolled her eyes at them but a whistle blowing down the street made her look up. She saw a protester running in her direction with two police officers close behind him. He looked about for a means of escape and Typhoon saw his eyes lock onto her motorbike. She hurriedly put on her helmet and started up the bike as she felt him jump onto the back. "Drive, fucking drive!" ~~~~~ "Well I'm sure she's staying out of trouble. She's a good girl." I said as I picked up a book from the bedside table. Flipping through it I found the page corner I had folded down and was about to start reading when the phone rang. "Don't worry. The housekeeper 'll get it." Thunderstreak said as I put my book down. The phone stopped ringing and I went back to my book. "Mr. Jones?!" The housekeeper called up the stairs. "Yes?" "It's for you and Mrs. Thunderstreak." "Who is it?" "She said she's from the primary school. It's regarding Lancaster." ~~~~~ 15:05 Hours Ponyville Primary School ~~~~~ We sat down in front of Ms. Cheerily's desk and Thunderstreak glared at Lancaster who was kicking at the floor with his hoof. "Thank you so much for coming." Ms. Cheerily said as she sat down from seeing the last of the students out. "You're probably wondering why I called you here." "I'm guessing Lancaster did something wrong." Thunderstreak said. "Well, yes." Ms. Cheerily said as I lifted up my thermos of coffee to take a drink. "He, um, he told another student to, and I quote, 'go fuck themselves with a cactus'." I began coughing as I choked on my coffee and finally managed to calm down enough to swallow what hadn't been spilt onto my uniform. "Mr. Jones you think this is funny?" Ms. Cheerily asked as I was doubled over in my chair laughing. "No ma'am. I think it's fuckin' hilarious." I managed to say between snorts. "Obviously we know where he learned such language from." She replied as I finally managed to calm myself down. "Who did he say it to?" Thunderstreak asked. "Diamond Tiara." "Oh. Well then that's understandable." "I'm sorry?" "Well Diamond Tiara is the school bully. I'm sure you've heard about that." "I've had reports of that yes but I haven't seen it for myself so I can't do anything about it." "And did you hear Lancaster say anything to Diamond Tiara yourself?" "Well, no. But-" "No buts about it. Don't call us here trying to punish our son if you don't have proof or heard him say it." Thunderstreak stood and walked towards the door with Lancaster and I in tow. We stepped out into the icy February air and I listened to the snow crunch under my boots as we walked back towards the house. "Dad, am I in trouble?" "No buddy. Even if you actually did say it you're not in trouble. That was just too damn funny to punish." "Nice to see you're teaching him such wonderful things." Thunderstreak snapped. "Not my fault if he starts finding shit like that funny." "Yes it is. You teach him shit like that and then he goes and says it at school." "Whatever." "Did you just whatever me?!" "Yes. Yes I did!" "Then plan on sleeping on the couch tonight!" She shouted as she stormed off towards the house. "Well, wanna go get some food?" I asked as I looked down at Lancaster. He gave a small nod and we walked down the snow covered streets. As we entered the central part of Ponyville I noticed a good number of ponies out and about. We entered a small cafe where many of the customers turned to look at me. Ignoring the looks I let Lancaster lead the way to an empty table. Sitting down I took a menu from a waitress who had suddenly appeared by our table. As I flipped through it I looked up to see a dark grey stallion in a black trench coat looking over at me. As we made eye contact I noticed one of his eyes seemed to have a haze over it. He carefully stood up and slowly trotted over to our table. "General Jones?" His voice was rough as sandpaper and I noticed a scar under his fur by his bad eye. "Yes?" "I need you to come with me." He said as he slowly pulled back one side of his coat to reveal a Royal Intelligence Agency badge. "What do you want?" "I just need to talk to you about someone under your command. Do you mind if we step outside?" He asked as he pointed at the cigar in his inside pocket. "Of course. Lancaster, come on." I said as I stood up to go outside. "No. Just you." "Alright. Lancaster, you stay here and tell the waitress I want some hot tea when she comes back." He nodded and I followed the stallion outside where he pulled out his cigar. "Who's under your command that holds the rank of major?" "Well, all but one of my men and then a few pilots with the training squadron here in Ponyville." "Well one of them is a spy." He said right before taking an extra-long drag of his cigar. "Excuse me?" "You heard me general. There's a spy amongst your men and but we don't know which one." "Well why the fuck not? You're the damn RIA. You ought to know." "The man who holds this information refuses to say who it is until he talks to you." "And who the hell would that be?" "A Luftwaffe colonel by the name of Steiner. He was one of the pilots who defected the other day." "And who's the other?" "Fighter General Gilda Goldfeather." "You're telling me you have been holding two pilots with very important information and no one bothered to tell me?" "To be fair, you did shoot the last griffin you interrogated. Twice." "And now he's working for us and has both his kids." "My point is, the princesses thought it best to keep this information from you until you had finished grieving. We don't need you aiming for someone's head this time." "Just shut up and take me to the colonel. ~~~~~ 08:00 Hours February 2, 1987 Eichen Coffee Shoppe ~~~~~ The bell above the door jingled as I entered the small coffee shop in central Canterlot and I saw a man in the corner in a light blue button up shirt with grey suspenders. He was sipping his coffee and flipping through the day's copy of The Canterlot Daily Mail. As I approached the table he looked up at me and gave a small smile. I placed my blue overcoat on the back of my seat before sitting down across from him. He folded his paper and reached over to put out the cigarette which sat in a notch on the ashtray. As he put out the cigarette it made a thin blue line of smoke which danced its way towards the ceiling. I looked over his face and I saw his blue eyes watching me back. He reached up and brushed away some of his brown hair which had fallen down over his forehead. "I take it the RIA got ahold of you for me?" "Yeah." "They wouldn't even give me a phone call so I could contact you." "I know." "Are you not going to question me knowing English?" "I read your file last night. Three years in a boarding school in Cardiff. Born into a wealthy family from southern Germany you became a pilot for Lufthansa in 1934 before joining the Luftwaffe in 1937." "You certainly did your research general." "Why did you defect?" "I felt I could help your effort against the Nazis." "That's something else your file mentioned. You were secretly involved in what you called Valkyrie which was the bombing of the palace in Gryphus a few months ago. You're extremely anti-Nazi." "That's right. Before the Nazis came to power I could come to a coffee shop like this and sit in peace with my coffee and my thoughts. After they arrived I couldn't go anywhere without seeing a swastika or their storm troopers." "What're the compounds being built in the Griffin Empire, Prance, and Germareny?" "Work and death camps." He said as he lit a new cigarette. "They're sending ponies to the camps. More specifically unicorns and earth ponies. They seem to see pegasi a sort of equal." "Alright, now to get down to why I'm really here. Who's the spy?" "Major William Donovan." ~~~~~ 445B Elm Street Canterlot ~~~~~ I knocked on the door and glanced back at the royal guards behind me. The door opened and Will poked his head out. "Sir, what are you doing here?" "I need to have a word with you." I replied as I pushed the door open. "Search the apartment. Tear it apart board by board if you have to." The royal guards entered the apartment and began their search. "What the hell is going on?!" "You shut up!" I shouted as I pulled out my .45 revolver and pressed the muzzle to his forehead. "Sir, I found something!" A voice called form the other room and I had a guard replace me on watching Will. I walked down the hallway to Will's bedroom where a guard was standing by the door. He led me in and I saw several small radios on a desk by the bed as well as a typewriter looking machine next to them. Walking over to the machine I picked up one of the red books next to it and opened it up with a smile. "Sergeant, get the other generals over here. They're going to love this." ~~~~~ 12:00 Hours Royal Palace ~~~~~ "So what is this thing?" Luna asked as she looked over the red book. "This is an enigma codebook. The enigma machine is like a typewriter but it sends messages in code. Now that we have the codebook we can intercept messages to the U-Boat packs in the Crystal Channel and send ships to sink them. We'll know everything sent over these enigma machines. I gave a second copy we found in the apartment to the War Department and already we have the location of a super-heavy rail gun." "What about messages between the high command?" "Already on it your highness. The Office of Strategic Services is already planning a raid on St. Neighzaire thanks to the information they've gained in the few hours they've had the codebook." "And the Nazis know nothing about it?" She asked as she slowly flipped through the codebook. "Not a clue. Will is locked up in the dungeon fifty feet below ground level. He's not getting anything out to the enemy." "What do you plan on for his sentence?" "He's going to be executed at midnight. The electric chair at the city prison is being readied as we speak." "And you aren't bothered by that?" "He's a traitor and responsible for the death of my friend. If he hadn't sent them information Austin might still be here. My wingman or not, he needs to be punished." "I can understand your decision James. But I don't feel that death is a worthy punishment." "Well then what would it take to ensure his execution?" "It could only be ensured if issued by the commanding general of the branch of service." "Alright then. I accept the promotion and my first order as Commanding General of the Air Force is the execution of Major William Donovan on charges of treason." Luna looked down at the floor and even without seeing her face I could tell she was frowning at my decision. "Princess, don't give me that look." "How can one give you a look when they aren't even looking at you?" "Just at the thought of the person. So who do I see about my stars?" ~~~~~ 20:00 Hours 1237 N. Main St. Ponyville ~~~~~ I sat on the couch in my white button up shirt with my face buried in the paper while Lancaster played with his toy soldiers on the floor. In the corner of the room the radio played Mairzy Doats and I gently tapped my foot to the music. Up the stairs Sabre was desperately trying to figure out how to dance down the stairs like he was supposed to for his movie role. Solar Dancer sat down on the couch next to me and I looked over at her over my reading glasses. "Aren't you supposed to be doing housework?" "My shift is over." "I thought all mares were supposed to do housework until bed." "Mr. Jones, what gender are the princesses?" "Well they're female." "Are you suggesting they do housework?" "Of course not!" "Good. Grab a feather duster and get to work." She said as she sat back with a triumphant little smile. I gave a small grunt and returned to my paper before looking down at my watch. Getting up I set the paper on the coffee table and went upstairs. Going into the bedroom I went over to the closet but I turned around when I felt a hoof on my shoulder. Thunderstreak was hovering at eye level and looking at me. "Where're you going?" "Canterlot. Official business." "Well, can we maybe do something together before you go?" "Like what?" She looked at me with an eyebrow raised and I quickly caught what she meant. "Oh." "Takes you long enough to catch that." She grabbed my shirt collar and pulled me forward. Pushing me onto the bed she began to kiss my neck but I quickly found a way to turn the tables and grabbed ahold of her. She let out a surprised squeal and I quickly flipped around and set her on the bed. Kissing around her neck I heard her giggling. "Damn it! You know I'm ticklish!" I continued to kiss her neck, much to her displeasure. Suddenly sitting up I began coughing and Thunderstreak looked at me worriedly. "Are you alright?" "Hairball." I replied between coughs. "Way to nearly kill the mood." "Nearly?" "A little hairball isn't going to kill the mood." "Excellent." I said as I leaned over and began kissing her again. I began unbuttoning my shirt but she hurriedly pushed me off her. "Get up, get up! I gotta fart!" She shouted and I watched as she ran out in the hallway. A moment later I heard her let one rip before slowly trotting back in. "Wow. And I thought I killed the mood." I said as she got back on the bed. "Oh shut up." She replied with a gentle hit aimed at my shoulder. Getting up I buttoned up my shirt and got my new olive drab dress uniform out of the closet. Undressing from my khaki pants and white shirt I pulled up the pinkish colored pants and slipped on the khaki colored shirt. "So what are you going to Canterlot for?" "An execution." I replied in a monotonous voice as I tied my tie. "What?" Thunderstreak asked as she moved to the edge of the bed. "Yeah. Turns out there was a spy amongst us. He's getting the electric chair at the Canterlot City Prison at midnight." "Well who is it?" "No one important. At least no one you need worry about." I told her while I slipped on my olive jacket on, the five little stars on the shoulders catching the light as I did so. Buttoning it up I grabbed my cap from the shelf in the closet and I felt the texture of the gold oak leaves on the brim as I put it on. Walking out into the hallway I made my way downstairs where Louis Prima played on the Zenith style radio. Saying a quick goodbye to everyone I went out to the garage where my specialty built Hudson Hornet sat silent. Opening up the garage door I squinted at the sudden beam of moonlight coming in. Walking back to driver's side of the olive drab Hornet I took little notice of the white sun and moon on the door. Going through the keys on my key ring I finally found the key to the ignition and started up the car. The purr of the engine made me relax has I backed out of the garage and onto the snowy street. Shifting into drive I headed down the road towards Canterlot. ~~~~~ 11:55 Hours February 2, 1987 Canterlot City Prison ~~~~~ I stood next to Princess Luna and other generals as they strapped Will into the prison's electric chair. The guards in 1930s style uniforms double checked the straps were secure before stepping back. As the guards stepped back the prison warden stepped forward. "Major William Donovan, you have been sentenced to death by order of Commanding General James Jones on charges of treason. Do you have any final words before the sentence is carried out?" Will looked up at us with a smile that would haunt me for years. As he gave us the most evil smile I'd ever seen he said a small "Heil Hitler" before they placed the black hood and wet sponge over his head. I looked down at my watch and saw the time to be ten seconds to midnight. As the warden counted down the seconds I turned my back a couple of seconds before they flipped the switch. As electricity surged onto Will I could see the flickering of the lights overhead. Just as the time passed five seconds after the switch was flipped all the lights in the windowless room went out and the sound of the electricity flowing to the chair stopped. Turning around I heard grunts and the sound of metal breaking free of something in the blackness. "Did you really think that I wouldn't find out about your plans to capture me James?" A sinister voice asked in the dark. "Did you really think I wouldn't find a way to work this in my favor? I now have the entire top brass here in one little room and you can't see me. See how things work James?" "So what's your plan?! Kill everyone here including myself?!" I asked as I spun around trying to figure out where the voice had come from. "Kill you? Don't be so obvious. I'm not going to kill you. Kill me and you're just like me. I kill you and I lose the one person who can keep up with me. We're just alike, you and I. Except you're boring. You're on the side of the angels. You and I both know that good guys lose in the end James. Don't act like you don't know it either." Will replied. His voice seemed to come from every direction. "So how'd you manage this then huh?" "Oh, it was simple really. You only need a few willing conspirators. Just like my boss here in Equestria. He managed to break into one of the most secure places in the country with some gum, a fire extinguisher, and a diamond. I learned form the best. And the prison really needs to step up security. I got a changeling in here no problem." "Oh yeah. Well I know you were electrocuted so how'd you pull that off?" "Just enough to make me shake like it was the real deal." He seemed to brag from his place in the black abyss. "The entire prison's power system is down. Even the backup power. As soon as the inmates upstairs realize that, they get out of their cells. Then you're facing chaos that not even Discord could pull off." "You're awful cocky for a man who won't even face me without being in darkness. Although you're no man. You're a worthless coward." I told him as I pulled my .45 from its holster. Just as I pulled the gun out I felt a hand grab my throat. "Care to repeat that last bit?" He asked and I could smell the hayburger from his last meal on his breath. A small smile crept onto my face and I gripped the gun in my right hand even harder. Slowly raising it I felt the muzzle make contact with his gut just below his chest. "I said, you're a coward and I hope you rot in hell." Squeezing the trigger I heard the sound of the gun going off and the hand on my throat relaxed. Just as the hand slipped off my throat the lights overhead came back on and I saw Will holding his left hand over the bullet wound. He looked at me and smiled again. His teeth were stained red with blood and I could see blood at the corners of his mouth. He began to stumble forward again and he reached out his right hand. I watched his hand as it reached towards my gun. I placed the gun in the holster and stepped forward towards Will while everyone else stood silent. "You took an oath to protect this country. I don't know whether or not you remember that," I told him right before punching him where I had shot him "but I do. And you break that oath; you pay with your life." Reaching down I grabbed my gun again and looked at him curled up on the floor from the punch. Cocking the hammer I placed the muzzle to the back of his head. Closing my eyes I squeezed the trigger and heard the sound of the shot echo off the concrete walls. Opening my eyes again I holstered the gun and turned around where the brass and Luna looked at me. "Don't look at me like that. You call yourselves military officers? I shoot a condemned man and you all look horrified." Walking passed them I went down the hallway where several guards ran passed me towards the room I had just come from. As my boot nails clicked on the concrete floor I pulled out my key ring. Walking passed the guards who quickly opened the gates to the outside for me I found the key for the car and made my way to the area where all the vehicles at the prison were parked. Finding my green Hornet I hurriedly got in and started up the engine. Putting my hands in front of the vents on the dashboard I warmed my hands as snow began to float down from the night sky. Looking out the windshield I looked up at the snow and sighed. Fastening my seatbelt I shifted into reverse and backed out of my spot. Shifting again I drove to the front gate where a guard was waiting for me. He waved his hooves and I stopped the car. Rolling down the window I gave a quick nod to the brown guard. "Sir. Phone call for you." He said as he put up his collar to keep the sudden wind gusts from sending snow on his face. Getting out of the car I hurried over to the guard booth and picked up the phone. "Hello?" "James, sweetie, are you almost done there?" Thunderstreak asked on the other end. Her voice had a slightly higher pitch to it than normal. "I was just leaving when the guards flagged me down. What's wrong?" "There's a huge snowstorm heading your way. I think you need to just stay in Canterlot for the night." "Honey, I'll be fine if I drive home." "Please stay in a hotel." "Thunder, I'm coming home tonight. I need to be in my own damn bed for once this month." "Just promise me you'll be careful if you do come home tonight." "Sure." "That's not a promise." "Fine. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye. I'll drive careful." I went through the motions of the promise with a small laugh. "If you wreck I'm gonna kill you." "I know dear." "I love you." "I love you too." Hanging up the phone I walked back out to the car and drove through the now open gate. The headlights caught the snow as it fell to the ground and I could hear the wind howl over the sound of the radio. Reaching over I turned up the radio as Elvis came on. Tapping my thumbs on the steering wheel in time with the music I turned onto the highway which would lead straight to Ponyville. As I drove down the road the wind continued to get stronger and the snow got worse. After nearly thirty minutes it was near blinding and I struggled to see as I drove through a forest. As I went around a bend in the road I saw something move ahead of me. Looking closer I saw the shape of a deer appear out of the snow. Jerking the wheel to the left I felt the car start to skid and I desperately turned the wheel to the right to try and counter it. The car slid off the road and I felt it hit the ditch next to the road broadside. As I flung my arms up to protect my face the seatbelt suddenly tightened as the car went upside down. 'Please dear God let me live.'
The Jolly Rogers	23:Operation Dora	~~~~~ 08:57 Hours February 3, 1987 Canterlot Hospital ~~~~~ I opened my eyes and looked over at the beeping heart monitor next to me. "Somebody come shut this beeping fucker off!" I heard something move in against the wall and I looked over to see Thunderstreak sleeping in a chair. A doctor quietly trotted inside and adjusted the volume on the heart monitor. "Nice to see you're awake General Jones. We were worried your injuries were worse than they looked. Thankfully we were easily able to use magic to heal them." "Well how'd they look?" He grabbed an x-ray off the wall and gave it to me to see. I looked at the x-ray of my left leg and the bone jutting out of the side. Pulling back the blanket I looked down at my leg and the reddish/pink scar running down the outside of my left leg. "Is anyone besides my wife here?" "Your mother-in-law was here earlier." He said as he looked through a chart on his clipboard. "Took five security guards and all of their tazers to subdue her." "Yep. That's Skytrain. Biggest drunk in Cloudsdale and Manehattan." The doctor turned and went out of the room. The click of the door was quiet yet was enough to wake Thunderstreak up. She looked around and I could see drool still at the corner of her mouth. "Good morning." "You son of a bitch. If I wasn't so tired I'd kill you." "Now, now, remember what your counselor said." "Fine." She said as she brushed her brown mane out of her face. I looked around at the bare white walls of the room. On the small table next to the bed there were flowers and cards which I simply ignored for the time being. "So did the doctor say when I could get out of this hell hole?" "He said you could leave the day after you woke up." "One more question." "Yeah?" "Is the car okay?" ~~~~~ 10:00 Hours February 4, 1987 Canterlot Hospital ~~~~~ I adjusted my cap as we stood at the hospital desk while the nurse filled out the discharge papers. She gave me a copy of the discharge papers and another paper to Thunderstreak. "What's this?" "A list of things your husband did during his time here." I looked over at the list in her hooves and smiled. "I may have done a few bad things here." "Set all the alarm clocks in the gift shop to go off at five minute intervals, moved 'caution wet floor' sign to carpeted area, when asked if he needed anything by a nurse he proceeded to shout 'Why can't you people just leave me alone?' doctors were called, looked into security camera and used it as a mirror while he picked his nose," Thunderstreak looked up at me and shook her head before continuing "darted around hospital suspiciously while humming the 'Pink Panther' theme, used funnels in maintenance department to practice his 'Madonna look', hid in gift shop clothes rack and shouted 'Pick me! Pick me!' at customers, and finally went into a broom closet and shouted 'There's no toilet paper in here!'." "Told you I did a few things while here." I told her with a smile as we turned and began to walk away to leave. "What the hell is wrong with you? You didn't even let me know so I could join in!" "Sorry dear." We walked out the doors of the hospital and were immediately swarmed by reporters. Leading the way to the black Lincoln limousine I hurriedly ushered Thunderstreak into the limo before climbing in next to her. As the limo began to drive away I noticed Celestia and Luna sitting in the seats in front of us. "Where are we going?" "We're taking you to the airport so you can go home." "Well actually I managed to get a couple of tickets to the concert at Quicksilver Hall tonight." I said as they turned around to face me. "We don't need you to be out tonight. Especially after what happened this morning." Celestia replied as she tossed a newspaper at me. Catching it I unrolled it and looked at the headline. "Griffin U-Boat sunk the ocean liner Equestria while she was sailing to the Crystal Empire." "So what's the Navy Department planning to do?" I asked as I read through the information on the sinking. "They've already learned the identity of the sub captain and the location of the sub thanks to the codebooks you found." "And?" "They're sending Avenger bombers from the Wasp to drop depth charges on it once our destroyers confirm the location." "What's the status of the Neighvada?" "It's being updated in Manehattan. Why?" "Because I want the navy to help in a new operation I've been planning after we captured the enigma." "What is it?" ~~~~~ 19:00 Hours Quicksilver Hall Canterlot, Equestria ~~~~~ As I walked into the theater box a few meters above the seats below I looked behind me at Thunderstreak. She gave me a small smile as we took our seats while the Air Force Band finished setting up on stage. When they finally settled down I saw Stardust walk out on stage in his olive colored uniform. His major rank pins gleamed in the stage lights and the crowd applauded as he did a quick bow. He stepped up to a 1930s style spring microphone and quickly the crowd calmed down. "Mares and gentlecolts, thank you for coming this evening. I know the weather hasn't been the greatest over the last couple of days. The band and I would truly like to thank the man of the hour though." He pointed a hoof up at our theater box and a light quickly followed where he pointed. I stood and waved to the crowd below as they applauded and quickly waved for them to quiet down. As they did I took my seat again and reached over to grab Thunderstreak's hoof. She leaned her head against my arm as the band began to play In The Mood and I could hear her quietly humming along to the song. "Hey honey?" "Yeah?" She asked as she looked up at me. "How would you feel about just staying the night here in Canterlot?" "I wouldn't mind it. We can go see my grandparents tomorrow too." "Good. I like your grandparents. They're so fun to listen to." ~~~~~ 11:25 Hours February 5, 1987 Shady Oaks Assisted Living Community ~~~~~ "Albatross! You keep eating them damn candy bars and I'll shove 'em up your ass!" The elderly pegasus mare shouted from her spot in the kitchen at the old stallion sitting in the living room in front of a small black and white TV set as he ate another fun sized candy bar. "The diabetes'll kill me before you do you old bat!" He shouted back as I watched them bicker with a small smile on my face. "I hope you damn well choke on one." Comet told him as she brought three cups of tea into the living room. I took my cup from her as she sat down on the couch next to me. The tan mare smiled at me which made her wrinkles much more defined. "So James, how're things going with the war?" "They're going about as well as you'd expect a war to go. It's taking its toll. Even on royalty. Last time I saw Shining Armor he was drinking scotch more than he was eating food. Same with Luna. They're both starting to get a drinker's gut." Comet looked over at Albatross and sighed. "I know plenty about beer guts." She took a sip of her tea but put her cup down when the phone rang. "Don't worry grandma, I'll get it." Thunderstreak told her as she got up and hurried over to the phone. She picked up the receiver and let out a deep sigh a moment later. "James, it's for you." Getting up from the couch I took the phone from her and leaned against the kitchen wall. "Hello?" "Dora is a go." A voice said on the other end and I quickly hung up the phone. Grabbing my overcoat off a rack I put it on as Thunderstreak and Comet looked over at me. "Sorry to rush out like this but they need me at headquarters." "We understand dear." Comet said with a small smile. I hurried down the hallway and out the front door where a black staff car was waiting for me. Climbing into the back I saw Colonel Steiner in a new Royal Military Intelligence Services uniform as well as a female griffin in and R.E.A.F. uniform. "Here are the photos of the target you asked for." Steiner said as he pulled a manila envelope from inside his coat. Opening up the envelope I pulled out pictures of the rail gun which was positioned along the coast of Prance. "What's the AA cover?" "A few eighty-eights and twenty millimeters." "Fighter cover?" "The First, Second, Seventh, and Twenty Sixth Fighter Groups are based along or near the coast. You may be looking at a slaughter in the skies if they learn about the raid." "So we'll distract them. Have the boys in intelligence send a 'secret' message that we're going to be bombing St. Neighzaire tonight at midnight. That should get their attention if they've begun intercepting our messages." I looked at the giant rail gun in the photographs again before looking up at the griffin sitting across from me in a rear facing seat. "I don't believe we've met. I'm Commanding General James Jones. You must be the famous Gilda Goldfeather." I said as I extended my hand towards her. She leaned forward and shook my hand and I noticed her stomach seemed to be bulging a bit. "You are with child?" "You can tell?" She asked as she leaned back in her seat and I noticed her cheeks were slightly red. She reached down and placed her hand on her stomach. "Only three and a half months along." "I don't even know how it happened. We're not even the same species." Steiner said and I looked over at him. "You two are together?" "We were to be married on the tenth but, as you can guess, that's been put on hold." "Well my wife is currently five months along so it's not odd to me for a human to be with another species." "You are married to a pony?" "The most beautiful one in the world." I replied as I pulled my wallet from my pocket. Opening it up I showed him a small copy of the family photo to which he gave a small smile. The car continued on through the streets of Canterlot and many ponies barely acknowledged the car as they had grown use to the jeeps and troop trucks moving around the city. We turned up the closed off lane to the place and guards were quick to usher us inside. Walking up the grand staircase of the palace I said hello to the guards who I had come to know during my many visits. As we approached the War Department area of the palace we saw the royal guards gradually being replaced by marines and MPs. Walking under an archway that had the words Department of Defense carved above it on the wall we were met by staffers and intelligence officers who had been monitoring enemy radio messages all morning. "Sir, enemy is planning to send a U-Boat full of supplies to a changeling island." "Send a bomber loaded with depth charges to find it and have Admiral Ironside send the Drum after it. What's next?" "A new type of tank has been sighted near the capitol of Prance. Reports say it is nearly twice the size of our Shermans." "Have Liberators of the 453rd Bomb Group bomb it. Next." "Lieutenant Colonel Rainbow Dash reported her group has had its first pilot to reach ace status." Gilda stopped in her tracks and Colonel Steiner and I turned to look at her. "Is something wrong?" Steiner asked and Gilda looked up at him. "You remember that old friend I told you about?" "Yes." "That's her. Lieutenant Colonel Rainbow Dash." She turned to look at me. "Even Dash is in this?" "I'm afraid so. But she's doing very well for herself. Commanding officer of the 332nd all mares fighter group. And just between you, me, and a fence post I think she's shagging a group captain with the 133rd Volunteer Group up in the Crystal Empire if what I've heard is correct." I told her as we began walking again. "Also, who was the pilot to reach ace?" I asked the young radio operator. "A First Lieutenant Derpy Hooves sir." "Have her awarded the Flying Cross." "Yes sir." The radio operator hurried away and we turned the corner to enter the restricted area of the War Department. Walking into the room where a couple dozen ponies sat around in front of radio sets and a man in a green air force uniform stood on the small raised part above the rest of the room. "Any news John?" "None yet sir." He said as we joined him on his platform. Looking down at all the radio operators I finally found the one I was looking for. "Operator thirteen!" The orange mare turned to look at me and removed her headset. "Come here." She stood up and trotted up to the platform. "Send a message to Ponyville Aerodrome and tell them to plan for an attack on the sub pens at St. Neighzaire at midnight tonight." "Yes sir." She trotted back to her radio set and began to tap out the message on her telegraph. We stood silent for several minutes after she had finished sending the message but turned to face a commotion to our left. Several operators had begun to write down messages and gave them to runners when they had finished. All at once four runners brought me messages and I read them over. "Good news. They bought our rouse. All four fighter groups are being deployed to St. Neighzaire Aerodrome." I said as I set the messages down on the oak wood railing. "Or they're bluffing and you'll be flying into a trap." Gilda replied. Turning to face her I looked down at her. "That is a risk I'm willing to take for the safety of Equestria and her allies." Stepping down from the platform I walked down the hallway to the Department of the Navy. Stopping in front of the secretary's desk she looked up and smiled at me. "Admiral Ironside has been expecting you." She said and pointed to his office down a small hallway. Walking to the wooden door I knocked before entering. The battleship grey stallion looked up at me and waved his hoof at a chair in front of his desk. "Please, sit." Taking my seat I looked at him across his desk. His white uniform seemed to glow from the light coming through his office window. "So you want the assistance of one of my battleships for your operation? Why should I allow that?" "Because it is your duty. To win a war there must be cooperation between branches of the military. Without the assistance of the navy we may be looking at a long battle to destroy the Dora railway gun. We only need one battleship. One of your old dreadnaughts is all we need. We don't need any of the new ships like the Marauder or even subs like the Catfish. Just an old dreadnaught." He smiled and stood up from his chair. I watched as he walked around the desk and then leaned against it. "Of all the brass in Canterlot, you're by far the most hardheaded son of a bitch among us. I knew you'd come here. Ask me in person for one of my battleships. I plan on giving you the Neighvada for this mission of yours. I just wanted to prove to myself that you are as hardheaded as we all thought." He said with a small laugh. "Well, thank you for your cooperation." "The Neighvada has already begun steaming her way north towards her position in the Crystal Channel. Now, I think you'd better run. You've got a plane to catch." ~~~~~ 23:00 Hours February 5, 1987 Shining Armor Aerodrome ~~~~~ "Wardog One, you are cleared for takeoff." A voice said in my headphones. I slowly pushed the throttles forward and the engines roared in response. "Callout our speed." I told the light brown earth pony stallion in the right seat. "Seventy." We roared down the runway and I reached down and adjusted the seat in the B-24 with my left hand. Three pros of the B-24 Liberator over the B-17 was that it had adjustable seats, a larger bomb load, and tricycle landing gear. The down sides of the Liberator was that with the larger bomb load and smaller wing it took longer to get off the ground, caught fire easier, and climbed at a lower rate than the 17. All this I would learn throughout my career. As we rolled down the six thousand foot runway the copilot continued to callout our speed. "One fifty!" He shouted as we neared the end of the runway. Pulling back on the controls I felt the nose wheel lift and the bomber hit the snow and grass at the end of the runway before the main gear finally began to rise above the ground. The flight engineer flipped the gear handle up and we heard the familiar clunk of the gear entering their bays. As the Liberator slowly began to climb I turned the wheel to the right and looked around for the formation ship. The yellow and red checkered B-24A came into view to our right and moved its way across the windscreen until we were flying behind the climbing bomber. In the distance I could see the darkened outline of the Crystal City and remembered the blackouts in effect for the cities in the area. The blue formation lights on the formation ship were now on and we made sure to keep a safe distance away as we flew to the right and behind of the bomber. "Wham Bam this is Wardog One. Have a visual and on your tail." "Wardog One this is Wham Bam. Roger that. Our engineer has eyes on you. How many boxcars on the train?" "We have fourteen boxcars on the train and one rowboat in the creek." "Roger that. We have eyes on fourteen boxcars. Breaking away." The formation ship banked away from our flight and we began to cross the channel at two thousand feet. To our left I could see the second Liberator in the formation and the only lights we had to see to ensure we stayed a safe distance away was the light from the moon. As we cruised over the channel I kept an eye on the special night instruments which had been painted with radium so that we could see them in the dark. To my right I could see the copilot looking over the instruments on his side of the panel and behind me the flight engineer kept a watchful eye out for any signs of trouble. Down below the moon's reflection seemed to dance on the waves and we dropped down to fifty feet of altitude as we neared the middle of the channel. Ahead of us we could see the cliffs along the coast of Prance and I felt my stomach begin to tie itself in knots at the thought of the giant rail gun and its AA batteries. Shaking my head to get the thoughts away I focused on flying the bomber to the target. "Get ready to climb." I told the formation and we began to climb to avoid the cliff faces. Up ahead I could see the glow from the work site around the rail gun. Flying just above the treetops we could see activity on the rear section of the gun. Just as I was about to mention it to the copilot there was a tremendous roar and a flash from the muzzle of the 800mm gun. "Jesus Christ! All aircraft open bomb bay doors!" The roller-shutter bomb bay doors slid up the sides of the fuselage and the crew readied their guns. We entered the clearing and aimed to fly directly over the gun. Just as we were about to fly over it I pulled the bomb release handle in the cockpit and dropped the armor piercing bombs. Pulling up I knew we had only three seconds before the bombs went off thanks to their time fuses and I could hear the gunners opening fire on the griffin troops on the ground. As we leveled out at hat I thought was a safe altitude I heard the bombs go off in the rear section of the rail gun and the ammo stores go up with them. Just as we were about to celebrate I felt the bomber shake and calls began to come forward from the tail. "Shrapnel's hit the hydraulics for my turret!" A panicked cry came from the belly gunner. "We've got a big fuckin' hole in the left elevator sir!" "Sir, Lightning can't feel his legs!" Looking down at the instrument panel I saw the hydraulic pressure for the gear and the flaps was at zero and the rpms for the two inboard engines were dropping fast. "Fuck. All crew prepare for a crash-landing!" Looking around for an empty clearing I finally found one a mile away from a farm house that was just over five miles from the target. Pulling back on the throttles and controls I lowered the airspeed and dropped altitude as we neared the small field. From the tail the panicked cries of the belly gunner were ignored as everyone tried not to think about what would happen. "General! Please! I don't want to die!" Removing my headset I focused on setting the bomber down. We dropped down from below treetop height and into the clearing. The tail just below the tail gunner's turret began to drag and the calls from the ball gunner became more excited until they suddenly ended and I could hear the ball turret being crushed under the bomber. As the tail continued to drag I heard a loud cracking and the nose suddenly dropped and dug into the frozen ground. As snow and dirt poured through the broken nose windows the bomber slowed and the flight engineer opened up the emergency hatch in the top of the cockpit. Unbuckling from my seat I got up and climbed out of the emergency hatch as the bomber came to a stop. The left wing had dropped and we began to run down the wing when I looked back. The tail section had broken away and lay over a hundred feet behind the nose section. The tail gunner and right waist gunner both dragged the left waist gunner along by the straps of his flight suit and we all hurried towards the farm house as fast as we could. In the distance we could hear dogs barking and orders being shouted in Germane. Pushing through brush and tree limbs we eventually broke through and the farm house was only a few hundred feet away. "You boys stay here." I told them as I jogged up to the door. Knocking on the door I waited a few seconds until a tired looking blue pegasus stallion opened the door. "English? Can you understand me?" "Yes, yes, get in before the Gestapo catches you!" He scolded in a loud whisper. I waved for the crew to follow me and they dragged the wounded gunner along behind them. As we entered the small house I noticed a red pegasus mare on the steps leading to the upstairs. We hurried over and dragged the now unconscious gunner upstairs. Halfway up the steps we heard a pounding at the door and double-timed it up the creaking steps. We set the wounded stallion down on the floor and the remaining five of us all produced our side arms. Sneaking down the steps we peeked around the corner and saw two griffins in black SS uniforms flanking a tall blonde man in a major's uniform. "Wir wissen das du sie irgendwo versteckst! Wo sind die Piloten?!" (We know you're hiding them somewhere! Where are the pilots?!) He shouted as he kicked stallion who was now lying on the floor. "I don't know." The stallion gasped out. "Lugen!" (Lies!) The Gestapo officer shouted as he kicked the stallion again. "Wo sind sie?!" (Where are they?!) At that the five of us aimed around our cover at the black shirted men. Squeezing the trigger I heard the loud bang from the gun which was followed by the four others firing at the griffins and the Gestapo major. Firing again I saw the right side of the major's head open up with a spray of blood, brain matter, and bits of skull. The only remaining griffin, though severely wounded, opened fire in our direction with his MP 40. His magazine was empty a few moments later and we seized the opportunity before he could reload. The tail gunner fired his revolver and the bullet traveled through the side of the SS sergeant's neck and into the wall behind him. The griffin grabbed at his neck as blood spurted out onto the floor and the nearby table. He collapsed and we hurried over to pull the weapons off of the corpses. Taking the dead major's Luger pistol I bent down and helped the stallion to his hooves. "Are you alright?" "Yes, yes. It's not the first time I've been beaten by the SS, and I'm sure it won't be the last." He said as he sat down at the blood stained table. The mare brought over seven cups of coffee which was just hot water with a ground up coffee bean in each cup. "I apologize for the weak coffee. We get very little of it here so we try to conserve our rations." She said as she set the small tin cups down and I noticed her ribs were visible. "When is the last time you've eaten?" I asked her when she sat down next to her husband. "Three days ago." She replied before taking a sip of her coffee. "Can pegasi eat fish?" I asked as I turned to face her and her husband. "We can but most of the channel is frozen and the griffins patrol along the coast. They would notice us." "Don't you worry about that." I told them as I looked down at the dead Gestapo major. "I can make sure you folks get some food." ~~~~~ 01:12 Hours February 6, 1987 One Hundred Yards off the Coast of Prance ~~~~~ The pitch black water was visible through the hole in the ice and I looked down at the black uniform I had donned. "You look weird as tartarus sir." The tail gunner said as he brought a cup of warm water out to me. "I know. I don't like being in this damn thing." I told him as I took the cup from him. He sat down and I noticed a blue wool blanket wrapped around him. Taking a sip of the water I looked at the middle aged yellow earth pony. "You know I've always wondered something." "What is it?" "Why is it some ponies have fur over their hooves and some don't?" "Well for me it's because I've worked so hard I've just worn it off." He said as he looked at one hoof and brushed his red mane off his forehead with the other. "There was this one farm I used to go and work at in Ponyville for a month or so every few years. Mrs. Smith was the owner and boy her daughter was a looker. That's why I lost most of the fur on my hooves; from working on their apple farm. Not that me and her daughter didn't have a few rolls in the hay too though." He said with a small chuckle. "I know Granny Smith. Nice lady. Her grandkids are amazing." "She's got grandkids? She never told me." He asked as he looked up at me with his orange eyes. "Yeah. Her oldest is with the Ninety First Bomb Group. Captain Macintosh Apple." "He's-he's a pilot?" "Yep. And the middle one, she's been trying to enlist to ferry bombers." "There's a girl?" "Two. Applebloom is eight and a half. She goes to school with my youngest son." I told him as I reeled in a seemingly half frozen fish and set it next to the half of an oil drum I was sitting on. Dropping the hook down into the water again I took another sip from my tin cup and looked up at the moon overhead. "Luna sure did make it pretty tonight." I said as the thousands of stars in the sky twinkled like tiny gems. He looked up and nodded in agreement. "She sure did sir. She sure did." ~~~~~ 03:30 Hours February 6, 1987 Gannet Family Farm along the Coast of Prance ~~~~~ Walking through the front door I immediately removed the black uniform jacket and sat down at the table with the night's catch. "There you go. Ten fish. That should serve you two plenty." I said as the pegasus mare covered her mouth and began to cry. "What's the matter? Do you need more? Cause I can go get more if you need it." "No. This is plenty. It's just that not even our neighbors, who were the friendliest ponies we've ever met, helped us when the griffins invaded our country a couple of months ago." "You said 'were'. What happened to them?" "The SS took them away for being earth ponies." She said as her husband placed all but one fish in the ice box and set the remaining one on the stove. Putting on my olive uniform I let the crew go to sleep on beds made of bales of straw from the barn. Setting a chair by the door I kept my pistol at my side the rest of the night, ignoring the homeowners' constant persisting that I get some sleep. As dawn broke over the coast I heard a rooster crow in the distance, followed by the sound of a rifle. Grinning at the commotion from down the road I heard something move to my right and turned to see the flight engineer rolling over in his sleep. As I looked at the crew I heard a noise and glanced over at the stairs in time to see the stallion of the household coming down the stairs. "Morning Mr. Gannet." "Good morning general." He said as he grabbed a tin cup from the cupboard. "Do you have any way to get a message out of here?" "Funny you should ask that. Our neighbors to the north are part of the resistance and saw your plane go down in the clearing. They snuck over while you were out fishing and they've been working to get a rescue party for you." "Tell them thanks from me." I said as the distant sound of helicopters could barely be heard. Getting up I kicked the straw bales the crew was sleeping on and hurried upstairs to bring down the injured gunner. As I reached the bottom of the steps I could hear the familiar sound of two Hueys now overhead. Opening the farmhouse door I was met by two olive colored helicopters with large red crosses on the sides. "Move, move, move!" The air crew rushed out to the helicopters and I placed the wounded gunner in the second helicopter. Running up to the second helicopter I was about to climb in but stopped and turned to face the house. In the door way the mare and stallion stood watching and I hurried over to them. "Come with us!" I shouted over the sound of the engines and rotors. "There won't be enough room!" "Bull! I'll stand on the skids if I have to so you two can get out of here!" "Fine! Let me grab something!" Mrs. Gannet shouted and galloped back upstairs. She returned a moment later with a photo album. "Let's go!" She yelled and rushed out to the lead helicopter. Her husband and I followed and we all found our seats and were soon in the air over the coast. In the distance smoke was still rising from the destroyed rail gun and the Neighvada continued to shell it for good measure. "Sir! Urgent message from Canterlot!" The copilot shouted and handed me a hoof written note. To Commanding General Jones By order of Princess Luna marshal law has been declared in the city of Canterlot. Due to this your presence has been demanded at Air Force Headquarters. ~Rear Admiral Harvard "Lieutenant! What happened!?" "Canterlot was bombed by long range griffin bombers! Initial reports say there's been heavy damage to the palace! I'm afraid Celestia has been fatally wounded!"
The Jolly Rogers	24: Fires and Air Racers	~~~~~ 12:00 Hours February 6, 1987 On Approach for Celestine Aerodrome ~~~~~ The camouflaged C-47 began to make a rapid decent as two Home Guard P-39 Airacobras flew alongside us. The plane suddenly leveled out and touched down on the north facing runway of the aerodrome. The pilot turned off as soon as he could and I saw a black staff car waiting for me at the hangar. As the pilot let the plane roll to a stop I stood up and walked to the back of the plane. Opening the doors I hooked on the steps and made my way down to the tarmac. Walking towards the staff car I saw the form of an alicorn step out from the back seat. "Princess Celestia. I had heard you'd been fatally wounded." I said as I gave her a quick salute. "As did I. But I chose to ignore it and continue living." She replied and in downtown I could see smoke rising from the south side of the palace. "What's the level of damage to the palace?" "Not much. I had Luna end the martial law over the city." "Where is she?" I asked as we climbed into the back of the black Continental. "She's back at the palace helping to clean up. Thankfully the raid hasn't done much than collateral damage and it's managed to boost support for the war." "Any increase in enlistment numbers?" "Most major recruiting offices report there's been a steady increase all day. Especially in ponies wanting to become pilots with each branch." "Have you beefed up security in the city?" "We've brought in marines from the new base in Ponyville. As well as one of their best new soldiers." "And who would that be?" "Corporal Fluttershy." "Fluttershy actually made it into the marines?! How in the holy hell did she manage that?" "The drill sergeant said she was the best recruit of the lot. Surprising considering her calm and peaceful demeanor." Celestia said as she took a sip of the tea she had in a small thermos. "Her drill instructor actually said she has the possibility to replace him if she works hard enough." "Are you serious? How can that weak, shy pegasus possibly have the possibility of becoming a drill sergeant?" ~~~~~ 15:00 Hours February 6, 1987 Highway Marnie Corps Base Canterlot ~~~~~ I stood on a reviewing platform as marines marched past and I looked for a yellow pegasus mare among the reviewing column. Finally I noticed Fluttershy in the front row of a group of marines in her olive colored dress uniform. Almost forty minutes later the reviewing parade was over and I made my way through the crowds of marines to find Fluttershy. As I walked past a small group I noticed a familiar pink mane under an olive colored cap. "Fluttershy?" She turned around and gave me a smile that stretched from ear to ear. "James. I'm so happy you're here. Mac told you the news right?" She asked as she showed me a diamond ring. "Yeah, he told me. You look good in a uniform. I'm surprised you made it." "I was too at first. Although I've finally gotten the self-confidence I needed because of it. I'm no longer afraid to speak up for myself." She said with a smile. Just then a young private bumped into her and I saw his cup of coffee spill onto her uniform. "What the fuck was that?!" She shouted as she spun around. "What the fuck was that?!" The young private quickly realized what he had now done and I could see a small flash of fear in his eyes. "Private Pile, I should have known you were the little fuckup! You have five seconds, exactly five fucking seconds, to un-fuck yourself! I'm amazed you're even here! Did your parents have any children who lived?!" "Ma'am, yes, ma'am!" He barked back. "I bet they regret that! You're so goddamn ugly you could be a modern art masterpiece! And why in the name of Celestia did you have a coffee on the parade grounds?!" "Well, ma'am, I needed some coffee." "Oh, you needed coffee?! Out-fucking-standing! Your ass is on my shit list and I expect my uniform cleaned by oh five hundred tomorrow. Understood?!" "Ma'am, yes, ma'am!" "Now get the fuck out of my sight!" The private quickly galloped away and Fluttershy turned around to continue talking with me. As we talked I noticed a stallion in a gunnery sergeant's uniform talking to a lance corporal who pointed in our direction. The gunnery sergeant trotted over and tapped Fluttershy on the shoulder. "Congratulations corporal. You're being deployed to Ponia.*" "When?" "The eleventh. Congratulations Corporal Fluttershy. I expect great things from you over there." He said as he gave her a quick hoofshake. As soon as he was gone I noticed a slightly panicked look in Fluttershy's eyes. "Flutters, what's wrong?" "Well the wedding was planned for the twentieth. We're going to have to move it up and I don't know if Mac and I could manage that." She replied as we began to walk towards the gate where she was to be dismissed so that she could return to Ponyville. We met the MP who was in his little shack with her dismissal orders. She got her orders and we climbed into my new car, a sea foam colored 1959 Cadillac. Fluttershy looked around at the interior of the car as I started it up and we started driving down the road to Ponyville. Up above us a plane with a polished aluminum fuselage and blue wings roared past and we both looked out the windshield at the plane which was now ahead of us. I could see the propeller was losing rpms and the engine seemed to start coughing. Flooring the gas I sped up to catch up to the descending plane as we hit the plains south of Canterlot. The planes propeller was now near wind milling as the engine seemed to be at idle. Fluttershy and I watched in state of shock as the pilot crash-landed the plane in a small field. I slammed on the brake and the Cadillac screeched to a stop. We hurriedly got out of the car and ran over to the plane where the pilot was now out of the cockpit and inspecting the engine and propeller. "Are you alright?!" I shouted and he looked up at me. "I'm fine but the old girl is busted up pretty bad. We can fix her though, she'll go faster." He replied and I immediately recognized the voice. "Fancy Pants?" He removed his leather flight helmet and his blue mane fell out. "Nice to see you too general. Do you mind if I ask for a ride back to the diner just down the road?" "Of course not. Got everything you need from the plane?" "Yes sir." "Fantastic. Climb in and we'll all get some food at the diner." I said as I gestured towards the car. We all made our way to the Cadillac and climbed in. Driving down the road I looked in the rearview mirror at Fancy Pants who was rubbing his head. "You sure you're alright?" "Fine, fine. Just a little bump on the head, that's all." He replied as he set his flight helmet on the seat next to him. We drove in silence for about twenty minutes before I pulled into the small lot in front of the roadside diner. We all climbed out and made our way into the small red and white building. Removing my hat I placed it on the hat rack by the door as a young unicorn mare trotted up to us. "Three?" She asked a she grabbed some menus. "Yeah." We followed her to a booth and slid in as she set them menus down. "What can I get you to drink?" She asked as she held her small notepad in her magic. "Just tea for all three of us." I replied and she hurried off to get our drinks. We picked up our menus and I noticed Fancy Pants looking at it funny. "You know, I've never heard of half the items on this menu." He said as he continued to look it over. "You've never had a hayburger before?" "They've never had anything like it at any of the restaurants I eat at in Canterlot." "Well I'd say it's high time you tried one." I said as I noticed the waitress trotting back towards our table. "So are you ready to order?" She said with a smile and she was again holding her notepad and pencil in her magic. "I think it's just gonna be hayburgers and fries for us." I told her with a smile as we handed her our menus. As she trotted away to place our orders I looked over Fancy Pants' leather jacket. On his left chest I noticed his name in fabric paint. "That's a nice jacket." "Thank you. I have a friend who sent me this from Ponyville." "Well who ever made it certainly did a nice job making it." "Also, do you know if the navy needs a new transport plane?" He asked as he leaned back in his side of the booth. "I'm sure they would. What do you have in mind?" "Fancy Pants Industries is currently building the biggest plane in the world. Uses as little metal as possible. Made primarily of wood." "How big is this plane of yours?" I asked as I leaned forward. "The wingspan is longer than a hoofball field." He replied coolly. "That's over three hundred feet. Are you sure that'd be practical?" I asked as the waitress brought us our food. "It would be capable of carrying nearly eight hundred fully equipped troops. I trust the navy will see the possibilities." "And I trust they'll see a big bill for it too." I told him as I dipped one of my fries in a small cup full of ranch dressing. "Admiral Ironside isn't the kind to appreciate spending more than absolutely needed. He's so uptight about stuff like that that if you were to shove a lump of coal up his ass in two weeks you'd have a diamond. If the transport ships are doing fine then he'll just brush your offer aside." "But I trust he'll be interested in a fighter design I have." "Look, if you can come up with a good pitch for your planes then I'll arrange a meeting between you two but it'll ultimately need the approval of at least one of the princesses." "I can live with that." He replied as he took his first bite of a hayburger. "So why did you want to come down here again?" I asked him as I ate my fries. "Oh, right. I wanted to see if they had a phone I could use. I saw this place while I was flying. Then the rpms started to drop with no explanation and then the engine just quit all together. That's the problem with wars. It's difficult to find good mechanics." "I'll be right back. I need to use the phone real quick and then I'll just let you have it." I told him. Getting up from the booth I walked over to the small phone booth in the corner of the diner. Stepping into the cramped wooden box I shut the door and picked up the phone. "Operator." "Yes, can you connect me to Ponyville please?" "One moment sir." There was a click before the voice of the Ponyville operator came over the phone. "Ponyville operator." "Hey Switchboard. Can you connect me to 1237 North Main Street?" "Will do. One moment." I stood in the small phone booth as she connected me to home. "Hello?" "Hey honey." "James, where are you?" "Well that's the thing. We had a bit of a delay in getting home." "We?" "I was giving Fluttershy a ride home from Canterlot." "So what's the delay?" "We were driving along route three and an airplane crash landed in a field near us. We stopped to help the pilot and now we're at that little burger joint about an hour from town." "I see. So when're you going to be home?" "Hopefully within the next couple of hours." I told her as I turned to look at the booth where Fluttershy and Fancy Pants sat talking. "Alright. Well be careful driving home." "I will dear." She hung up and I did the same. Stepping out of the phone booth I walked over to the booth and slid into my spot as Fancy Pants slipped out and trotted over to the phone. "So Fluttershy, you worried about going overseas?" "A little. You've been in combat. What's it like?" "Well I'm pretty sure it's different than being in a bomber or a fighter. But one thing you need to know is, never get friendly with anyone you serve with. You'll only live to see them die right in front of you .Keep to yourself and keep your head down. That's about all the advice I can think of. Oh yeah, and shoot straight." I told her as I took a sip of my Coke. A few minutes later Fancy Pants returned to the table and pulled out his wallet. "Lunch is on me." He told us as the waitress trotted back towards us with the bill. He took the bill from her with a smile and I noticed she had a slight blush as he smiled at her. Fluttershy and I slid out of the booth and walked over by Fancy Pants. "No need to wait for me. I have a ground crew on the way to pick up me and the racer. I'll just wait here. Thank you for the lift general." Fancy Pants offered his hoof for a shake which I accepted and he gave Fluttershy a kiss on the hoof. We walked out of the diner and climbed into the Cadillac where Fluttershy seemed worried again. "Fluttershy? You alright?" "I just remembered something. If Mac and I are deployed then who'll take care of my sister?" "Your sister?" "Scootaloo. She can take care of herself but if you haven't noticed, she can be a little reckless sometimes." "I never knew Scootaloo was your sister." "Most ponies don't. Those that do can't seem to grasp how we're sisters. The shiest pony in Equestria and the wildest filly in Ponyville are somehow siblings." She replied. "Well, I suppose we could watch her. It wouldn't be much more work than normal since Sabre left for Applewood this morning." "Are you sure? I wouldn't want any more stress on Thunder than she needs." "Honestly I think she's looking forward to having more foals around. Between Sabre being gone all the time and Typhoon being close to graduation, it'll be good to have Scootaloo around." "Well, alright." Fluttershy said with a bit of hesitation. "I'll need to get you the list of things for her." "Like what?" "Well she needs to take her meds with breakfast and dinner, you need to talk with Ms. Cheerilee about finding her a math tutor, and make sure she stays out of trouble to name a few things." She told me as we continued to drive towards Ponyville. We talked all the way to Ponyville and when we entered town I noticed the streets were empty. "Hey Flutters, does the town seem a little deserted to you too?" I asked as we continued to drive through town. "Yeah, they do." She replied while looking around at the empty streets. As we drove through the town square a brown mare in an air raid warden's uniform flagged us down. "Identification?" She asked as I rolled down the window. "Commanding General James Jones and Lance Corporal Fluttershy." I told her. She snapped to attention and I gave her a quick salute back. "What's going on sergeant?" "Sir, the enemy is using long range bombers and fighters to try and attack airbases in Equestria. They've tried to bomb Ponyville overnight but our pilots were able to intercept them in time." "So no bombs fell on Ponyville?" "Not that we know of sir." She replied. "Do we know what kind of bombs they were carrying?" Just as she was about to answer us a familiar orange mare came galloping down the road. "James! The orchard's on fire!" "Dear god. Fluttershy, you go and ring the school bell, get everyone you can to help." I said as I climbed out of the car to look at the orange/ red glow on the horizon. "AJ, you go try and help at the orchard! Sergeant, get as many other air raid wardens as you can and try to keep order!" I shouted to them as I climbed back in the car and sped away for the aerodrome. Behind me I heard the sergeant's whistle crying out for the other wardens in town. As I drove towards the base I saw the MPs at the gate open it for me and I drove through before skidding to a stop in a thin layer of snow. "Sound the alarm! Get everything that can hold water! Buckets, bottles, metal drums! Whatever we can use!" "Why sir?" "Fire at Sweet Apple Acres! The whole orchard is on fire!" I replied as I began running for the ramp where several bombers sat under the overcast sky. As I ran for the bombers the base siren began to wail. Pilots, aircrews, and ground crews all ran for their planes. As they ran a voice came over the PA system. "All personnel, begin filling anything you can with water!" "General!" I turned to look at where the voice came from. Behind me Big Macintosh was galloping towards me. "Where're the empty oil drums?!" "They're by the motor pool!" Mac galloped away and I could see crews filling glass bottles with water and tying them together so that they would scatter when released. They passed them to other crews that were loading them onto the racks under Warhawks, Lightnings, Mustangs, and any other plane that could carry them. Meanwhile bomber crews were loading fifty-five gallon drums filled with water into the bomb bays of B-17s. Running over to the hangar where the Tomcats sat gathering dust, I met the crew chief for my personal P-38 Lightning. "Sir, we've got your plane fueled up and ready to fly. We've got drop tanks with water on the hard points." "Call the tower, have them see if there's any recon planes in the area to give us an idea of what we're dealing with." I told him as I climbed the ladder up onto the wing of the Lightning. "Yes sir!" He galloped away towards a phone and I climbed into the cockpit of the Lightning. Strapping into the seat I hooked on the parachute and shut the canopy. Going through the bare minimum of the checklist I started the engines and taxied out to the runway where a P-40 was about to take off. "Air Force Fifteen Forty-nine is taking off from runway four." The other pilot said over the radio. "Air Force Two is taking off, runway four." Pushing the throttles forward I began to roll down the runway alongside the P-40 and a few moments later we both pulled up and began to climb. "Air Force Two, this is the tower. One of our recon planes has reported about one hundred fifty acres are on fire and growing. They've also reported isolated fire funnels coming from the blaze." "Roger that tower. Air Force Two, over and out." Leveling out over Ponyville we began to fly towards the burning orchard and I could feel the cockpit beginning to get warmer. "You getting warm over there too sir?" The P-40 pilot asked. "If it gets any warmer I'm gonna start sweatin' like a whore in church. What's your name airman?" "Second Lieutenant Flare Charger, sir." "Where you from lieutenant?" "Derby, sir." "Never been to Derby. Well, I went to a derby once but it wasn't a town and I lost five hundred bucks. Last time I ever go to Louisville." I said as I looked down at the flames now under my plane. "Alright Flare, let's drop tanks and get back." I called over the radio to him as I wiped the sweat from my forehead. I flipped the switch for the hardpoints and I felt the tanks drop from the plane. Looking out the window I saw the drop tank falling from the P-40 and we began to bank away from the fire. As we leveled out from the turn I noticed the air seemed a little more rough than it had been. "Flare, you feel that?" "You mean the turbulence? Yeah." Only a moment after he had replied, a tower of flames rose up from the ground and we both banked to avoid it. Soon more and more fire tornados began to spring up and we continued to bank left and right to avoid the fire. As I was banking left I felt the plane shudder and the cockpit suddenly felt like a baker's oven. Looking at the rearview mirror on the canopy I saw the elevator fabric on fire. "Jesus fucking Christ! I'm on fire!" "Where's the fire?" "It's my elevator! The fabric's on fire!" "Can you last until we're over the fields up ahead?" "I don't know." I replied as I looked at the mirror again and saw a burnt piece of fabric rip off as the flames licked at the middle of the elevator. "I might. If not I'm goin' down in flames. That'd be the shits wouldn't it? I survive bombing missions, flak fire, and enemy fighters only to get killed by an orchard fire." I radioed over with a nervous chuckle. "Don't talk like that sir. I'm sure you'll make it." "Right now I'm pretty sure all that's keeping me up here is me saying every prayer I know." I looked down and I saw the snow covered fields of Ponyville and I began to pull back on the throttle. As I descended I lowered the flaps and dropped the gear. Pulling back on the wheel as I was about to touch down I felt the gear hit and there was a loud crunch from the nose. The nose of the Lightning suddenly hit the ground and it went tail over nose. I felt the seatbelt tighten as I held my arms up in front of my face. 'Please God let me live.' ~~~~~ 19:00 Hours Ponyville Hospital Room 203 ~~~~~ "Looks like it was just a concussion. Nothing serious. You can go home tonight." The blue unicorn stallion said as he looked over the medical chart. Thunderstreak glared at me from her seat against the wall as I sat on the hospital bed. "So that's it? Just a bump on the head?" "Pretty much. You're free to go home. Although, a message for the missus, no hitting him upside the head for this. We don't need any brain damage." He said while looking over at Thunderstreak. "Ugh, fine." She groaned and I could see her with slight disappointment on her face. Getting up from the bed I grabbed my blue crusher cap off the hat rack and opened the door. Thunderstreak trotted out into the hallway and I followed her out. Just as I was putting on my cap I felt a sharp pain and quickly dropped to the ground. Looking up at Thunderstreak I saw her with a small smile. "Doctor didn't say I couldn't hit you upside the other head." She said with her smile still on her face. "You're gonna be the death of me. You know that?" I said, all the while keep a hand over the family jewels. After a few minutes I was slowly able to stand again by climbing up the wall. "Mares push a living thing out of us but if a guy gets one little hit to the nuts he's down. Yet somehow we're the weaker sex?" "That's probably because you all crawled up from hell or something along those lines my dear." I replied as I was finally able to stop leaning on the wall for support. "Once I make sure my left bollock is still there do you want to go to the dance hall? Glenn is supposed to be performing there tonight." "Sure. I don't have a dress that fits me though." "You know that doesn't matter right?" I asked her as we walked out of the hospital. "I know. But being the wife of a general means that appearance is everything." "No it isn't. Honestly, how you look isn't going to be noticed by anyone. Dress or no dress." "I heard that the Crystal Empire has an entire squadron of human pilots now. Someone said one of the pilots is here in town." "Really? Wonder why I wasn't informed?" "I'm sure it's for good reason sweetie." She replied as we neared the dance hall and we could hear the band from half a block away. Outside the dance hall there were dozens of pilots, marines, sailors, and soldiers who were all filing in with their dates. We made our way into the crowd and we were soon inside the crowded hall. Looking around I saw Big Mac and Fluttershy sitting at a booth in the corner and we made our way over towards them. "Mind if we join you?" I asked. Mac waved a hoof for us to sit and we both slid into the booth next to them. "I figured you'd be out at the farm after this afternoon." "Not much we can do now. Just replant in the spring and hope for the best." "Speaking of hoping for the best, you're up to twenty three missions right?" "Eeyup." "Well I can guarantee your next two are gonna be milk runs." "Fantastic." As we sat around in our booth Mac suggested someone getting drinks for us and I was quick to volunteer. While sliding out of the booth I heard someone getting out behind me. Looking back I saw Thunderstreak following me and we both made our way over to the bar. Leaning against the bar I ordered three beers and a class of coke. While I was waiting I became aware of a man standing next to me. Looking over at him I saw he had dark brown hair and blue/green eyes. He smiled and extended his right hand which caused his RAF great coat to flutter a bit. "You must be General Jones." "Please, just call me James." I said as I shook his hand. "And you are?" "Captain Jack Harkn-" "James! You get those drinks yet?!" Mac shouted across the room and I turned to face in his direction. "Yeah, give me a second!" I shouted back as I grabbed the beer and soda up off the bar. Thunderstreak and I made our way back to the booth and I passed around the drinks. Taking a drink of my beer I wiped my mouth and looked down at the dance floor where dozens of couples danced to the music. Just as the band was halfway through In the Mood the air raid sirens began to wail. Within seconds every servicecolt and mare was running for the door and many left without grabbing their overcoats or caps. Sliding out of the booth I hurried for the door and joined up with a group of pilots running for the airfield. Around us the lights began to go dark as searchlights crisscrossed the sky as the AA guns opened fire on several silhouettes which stood out in the moonlight. As we reached the base I heard the familiar scream of dive bombers and we all dived for cover. As the scream of the dive bombers died off it was replaced by the piercing cry of their bombs falling earthward. There was a tremendous explosion to my right and I felt small bits of dirt and concrete hit my back. Getting up I saw several parked fighters and a hangar completely destroyed. "Get some fire trucks over here!" Someone shouted as I began to run for an undamaged P-51B. Climbing up onto the wing I opened up the canopy and climbed into the cockpit. Shutting the canopy I fired up the engine and made my way out to the taxiway. Lowering the flaps I firewalled the throttle and began to roar down the taxiway. Pulling back on the stick once I hit ninety I began to climb up towards the enemy bombers. Behind me a P-39 had taken off and was climbing to aid in the attack on the bombers. Banking right I scanned the sky and finally saw the silhouettes of a flight of bombers at my two o'clock. Lining up behind them I got the lead bomber in my crosshairs and gave a quick squeeze of the trigger. A short burst from my guns found their mark and I saw the lead bomber's right engine begin to belch flames and black smoke. Banking slightly to the left I fired at another bomber and was met by them returning fire. I saw my bullets hit the side of the bomber but their fire also found its mark as well. The fighter shuddered and fuel began to spray out of several holes in the right wing. "Air Force Two is disengaging." I radioed as I banked away. As I was turning I saw yellow streaks ahead of me and the fighter shook again. The engine began to sputter and the coolant indicator slowly began dropping. "Tower, this is Air Force Two. I'm declaring an emergency. Requesting priority landing." "Negative Air Force Two. The runways are temporarily out of commission." "Are there any fire trucks available?" "Negative." "Goddamn it." I said as I let go of the throat mic. Leveling out I noticed the main road through town looked wide enough to accommodate a fighter. Pulling back on the throttle I reached down and lowered the flaps. As I tried to keep the fighter steady I lined up with the main road and lowered the gear. As the fighter descended I flipped on the landing light and the street was bathed in white light. The main wheels hit the cobblestones and I pulled the throttle all the way back. As the fighter slowed the tail dropped and I shut down the engine before reaching down and shitting off the landing light. Popping open the canopy I unbuckled, climbed out onto the wing, and hopped down onto the cobblestones. As I looked around the darkened street the sirens began to go off again but the held a steady tone. A few moments later the lights in town turned on again and I could see the dance hall just down the road. Walking to the hall I went inside where everyone who had stayed behind were sitting around with their drinks. As I was about to walk towards the booth I had been at when I noticed a new man sitting at the bar. Walking over I noticed a stump where his right hand should have been. "Excuse me; I don't believe we've met." I said as I tapped on his shoulder. He turned on his bar-stool and that was when I noticed the patch over his left eye. "I'm Commanding General James Jones. And you are?" "Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg; at your service."
The Jolly Rogers	25: The Bandito and the Fox	~~~~~ 20:30 Hours February 6, 1987 Ponyville Dance Hall ~~~~~ "As in the Colonel Stauffenberg that planted a bomb at the Wolf's Lair?" I asked as I sat down. "Indeed." He replied as he lifted his beer mug to his lips with his left hand. "I see they placed you with the Military Intelligence Department." I said as I looked over his uniform. His peaked cap sat on the counter and I noticed the purple trim on it. "I've yet to see a division with purple trim on their uniforms though." "It's a new branch of the department. Our division's mission is to kill Hitler and bring down his new regime." Stauffenberg said as I took a sip of an unattended beer. "Alright, next question. How are you speaking English?" "Some sort of technology the princesses gave me." He replied as he took off the unit pin on his collar. "As long as I have this on or near me, everything I say is translated into English and I can understand everything people say to me." He placed the pin on the counter and I looked it over. "No technology, just good ol' fashioned magic. Translation spell. They use it on the fences of our POW camps." I said as I gave the pin back to him. He pinned it back onto his uniform and we sat at the bar in silence for a length of time before I finished off my drink and bid him goodnight. ~~~~~ 07:00 Hours February 7, 1987 1237 N. Main St. Ponyville ~~~~~ I opened my eyes and looked at the ringing alarm clock on my bedside table. Reaching over I shut off the clock and rolled over to face Thunderstreak who was staring at me. "Good morning." "Fuck you and everything you stand for." She replied as she rolled over to go back to sleep. "Love you too." I told her as I sat up in bed. Swinging my legs out over the side I got up and walked down the hall to the bathroom. Turning on the shower I placed my hand under the stream of water to test the temperature and adjusted the shower multiple times. Finally it seemed close to reasonable as it seemed the only options were scalding or freezing. Climbing in I made sure to shower quickly and I was out within fifteen minutes. Wrapping a towel around myself I stepped out into the hallway. Returning to the bedroom I flipped through the clothes in the closet for my uniform. Laying out my uniform I slipped on my khaki colored riding pants and the knee height leather boots. Tucking in the khaki colored shirt I slipped on my olive colored dress jacket and buttoned it up. "Where're you going?" Thunderstreak asked without rolling over. "Out." "Out where?" "Just out. Thought I might run by the store, get some groceries. Then maybe swing by Sweet Apple Acres and see if they need help cleaning up. Not much else to do around here on a Saturday." I told her as I put on my cap. She rolled over and looked at me. "You're going grocery shopping in your dress uniform?" "Well my class B is at the cleaners and I don't exactly have a sweater so this is the best I've got." "Alright, I'll call Rarity in a bit and see if she can make a sweater for you." She said as she rolled back over. I walked out into the hallway and downstairs to the living room where I found the Cutie Mark Crusaders and Lancaster all sitting in front of the TV watching Saturday morning cartoons. "I'm going to the store. Anyone need anything?" "The store?! Are you going in the car?!" Lancaster asked excitedly. "Yeah. Why?" "Can I come?!" "Well of course. Get your coat and scarf and we'll get going." He hurried over and grabbed his coat and scarf from the rack on the wall. The Cutie Mark Crusaders followed him and grabbed their coats. Lancaster slipped on his blue/grey coat and wrapped his blue scarf around his neck. "Alright, let's go." He hurried out to the car and the girls followed him to the garage and I thought I noticed Applebloom's cheeks were red. Walking out behind them I walked out to the garage and opened up the door. The wind stung as it hit my face and I climbed into the car. Starting the car I looked in the back seat where the kids were all sitting looking back at me. "Seatbelts?" They all clamored for the two seatbelts, each going around two of them. As I was watching Sweetie Belle struggle with the buckle I noticed Applebloom sitting close to Lancaster. Shifting into reverse I backed out of the driveway and drove through the snowy streets of Ponyville. As I drove I waved to Lyra who was sitting on a bench by the square talking with a marine drill sergeant. Driving through the square I turned left and turned into the parking lot of the grocery store. "Alright, couple ground rules. Number one is only one box of sugary cereal for each of you. Number two is no running off. You all stick close to me alright?" I asked as we all climbed out of the car. They all agreed and we made our way into the store. Grabbing a cart I began to push it up and down the aisles. While I looked over a can of ravioli I felt a tug at my pant leg. Looking down I saw the kids looking up at me. "Can we go get some candy from the next aisle over?" "Yes but only one candy for each of you." They hurried off around the corner into the next aisle and I placed a couple cans of ravioli in the cart. Pushing the cart into the next aisle I saw the kids bringing four giant gummy bears towards the cart. "What the hell is that?" "Five pound gummy bears." Lancaster replied as they stood up on their back legs to place them in the cart. "Well go ahead and get your mom and I one too." Looking up from the cart I saw Colonel Stauffenberg placing a bag of candy into a small basket. Walking down towards him I looked at the candy in his basket. "Hard candy? You don't look that old to me colonel." He turned around to face me and I noticed he wasn't wearing his pin. "Haben sie was vergessen Herr Oberst?" (Forget something colonel?) I asked as I pointed to his coat collar. "Ja." "Hier. Nehmen sie eine von diesen." (Here. Take one of these.) I told him as I pulled a small white pill from my inside pocket. "Was ist das?" (What is this?) He asked as he took the pill from me. "Eine besondere Pille, um die ich die Prinzessin bat fur Verhore aufzutreiben. Man nimmt sie und sie ubersetzt alles was man sagt. Wir zermahlen sie normalerweise und vermischen sie mit Wasser." (Special pill I had the princesses whip up for interrogations. You take it and it translates what you're saying. We normally grind them up and mix them into water.) I explained to him. He swallowed the pill and a few moments later he looked at me "Is it working yet?" He asked and I gave a small nod. "Amazing isn't it? They can do just about anything here when it comes to magic or medicine." I told him as the kids brought two more giant gummy bears and set them in the cart. Stauffenberg looked down at the kids and I noticed he gave a small smile. "Are they yours?" "Only Lancaster. Kids, say hello to Colonel Stauffenberg." I said as they all looked at the man with the eye patch. They all said hello and I could tell they were all keeping themselves from asking about his injures. "How long have you been in Equestria colonel?" "Only a few days." He replied. "How much money did the princesses give you?" I asked and he pulled out his billfold. He opened it up, trying not to drop it as he did, and I saw a five hundred bit note inside. "That's a very handsome amount." I said as he put his billfold away and picked up his basket. "Where are you staying here in town colonel?" "A little inn on the edge of town." "Oh that won't do. Tell you what, you can take the guest room at our house and since the girls are staying over they can just stay in Typhoon's room. Just come on over around five and we'll all have dinner together. Let you get to know the family." "I do not wish to intrude." "Oh, it's alright. Besides, it'll be nice having another guy around the house. Don't get me wrong I love my wife but I'm swimming in an estrogen ocean." I said with a small laugh. "So what time did you say dinner is served?" ~~~~~ 07:59 Hours February 7, 1987 On the road to Sweet Apple Acres ~~~~~ As we drove down the small dirt and gravel road towards the orchard I noticed a turn up ahead. "Hey kids, wanna try something fun?" "Yeah!" Turning the wheel sharply I pulled the emergency brake and the car began to slide around the turn. Glancing in the rearview mirror I noticed the kids all grabbing onto each other except for Scootaloo who had her hooves up and was laughing like a madmare. Turning the wheel again I released the emergency brake and stopped the car. "So, was that fun?" I asked as I turned around. The three were still clutching each other while Scootaloo shouted for me to do it again. Turning around I began driving again and looked for the turn off to the farm. Finally I found it and turned up the snow covered lane towards the bright red barn. Slowing to a stop I shut off the car and climbed out. Looking around I saw nothing but charred trees and exhausted members of the Apple family. Shutting the car door the kids slowly got out and followed me up to the house where I noticed two large holes in the roof. As I looked at the holes I heard hoofsteps behind me and I turned to see Mac slowly walking up to us. "One of the pilots misjudged his aim and dropped two drums through the roof." "How much is all this going to cost?" I asked as I looked back at the orchard. "The insurance company is only willing to pay for the house. The trees, that's our problem." "And the cost for that?" "At least a quarter million." He said with his ears going back a bit. Reaching into my pocket I grabbed my checkbook and the pen that was inside it. Unscrewing the cap from the pen I began writing. "Mac, I have a lot more pull in Canterlot than most like." I said as I ripped the check out and gave it to him. "This is a check for two hundred fifty thousand bits. I want you to get this place fixed up. If you need more just let me know. Lord knows we've got more than enough money in Canterlot to support the war and fix this place up." He looked up at me and I noticed he had tears at the corners of his eyes. "Thank you. I'll pay you back." "No, no. This isn't a loan. This is a gift." "We can't just take your money and not pay it back." He replied as he went to give the check back to me. "First, it's not my money. It's the princesses'. Second, as your superior I order you to take the check." I told him as I pushed his hoof away. He reluctantly took it and stuffed the check into the inside pocket of his leather coat. We all turned around and I looked out over the orchard. "So how far did it burn?" "All the way to the west pond." "The west pond?!" Applebloom asked in a panicked voice. "Eeyup." "Did you check on the clubhouse?!" "Eeyup. It's alright. Fire never touched it." Mac told her and I noticed she visibly calmed down. We all stood looking over the orchard for a bit but the calm was broken by a grumbling noise. Looking down at my stomach I sighed and looked over at the kids. "You guys eat breakfast yet?" ~~~~~ 08:30 Hours February 7, 1987 1237 N. Main St. Ponyville ~~~~~ Everyone dug into their pancakes as we all sat around the TV and watched the cartoons intently. "So, he's the bad guy?" I asked as a black stallion ran across the screen. "Yeah." Lancaster replied as we continued to watch the cartoon. "And he's stealing the Sun Stone so he can try and take over the world?" "Yeah." "And the Doctor is trying to stop him because it would change the course of history?" "Yeah." They all four replied in unison. We all continued to watch animated Doctor Whooves and I found myself more confused and interested as it continued. When the show ended I looked down at the kids who all seemed to understand what had happened. "I didn't understand any of that." I told them as I got up to take my plate to the sink. Walking into the kitchen I set my plate in the sink and went back upstairs where Thunderstreak was still lying in bed. Climbing into bed next to her I pulled the blanket up to my chin and went back to sleep. ~~~~~ 17:00 Hours February 7, 1987 1237 N. Main St. Ponyville ~~~~~ "Well dad, that's the risk you take when you release a mongoose into the apartment. Now look, I've got a guest over and we're about to sit down for dinner. Just promise me you won't try to kill it." I told dad as I turned to look at everyone gathered around the table. "Why?" "Need I remind you of the outhouse episode? Now I've got to go." Hanging up the phone I grabbed plates off the counter and set them in front of everyone at the table. Setting my plate at the head of the table I sat down and Stauffenberg looked around at everyone at the table. "Is there a problem colonel?" "No. Just thinking about my own family." "I understand. I have many family members back on earth. But, we must all make the best of it." "Indeed." We all began to slowly eat and chat as everyone got to know Stauffenberg. "So Claus, where are you from?" Thunderstreak asked as he used his fork to cut a slice in his steak. "Berlin but originally from Albstadt." He replied before eating the piece of steak he'd cut off. He chewed for a few moments before swallowing and he gave a small smile. "This is very good. Where did you get this?" "Special store in town that caters to creatures like griffins here that eat meat." I told him before taking a bite of my salad. "And you do not eat meat?" "I've been a vegetarian since tenth grade." "Well for a man who doesn't eat meat I must say that you can certainly cook it." He replied before taking another bite of his steak. We all ate in silence but soon I noticed Scootaloo had set her fork down and was looking at Stauffenberg. 'Please don't ask about his hand.' I mentally begged but to no avail. "Where's your other hand?" She asked as he was halfway through lifting another piece of steak to his mouth. He smiled and gently set his fork down. "You're a very inquisitive filly aren't you? If you must know, I lost it in North Africa to a British fighter plane." "Ok." She said and she finished up the rest of her meal. After about a half hour everyone was finished eating and the kids had all gone out to do something around town. The three of us left in the house all went into the living room and sat down. ~~~~~ Meanwhile on the Streets of Ponyville ~~~~~ "What're we doin' out here?" Applebloom asked as they all walked around town. "We're looking for somepony to sing for Fluttershy and Big Mac's wedding." Scootaloo said as they continued to trot towards the dance hall down the street. "And I know a few ponies who may just be up to it." She told them as they stopped in front of the dance hall and a couple marines and their dates looked at the kids with interest and confusion on why kids would be out after dark. "Here they are guys!" Scootaloo announced as she pointed to a poster on the dance hall. "The Swing Sisters. In route to-" "Haywia" Applebloom interrupted. "I'm fine thanks. How're you?" Scootaloo asked with a grin at her friend's butchering of Haywaii. Applebloom swatted her hoof away and they all made their way into the crowded hall. "Can you guys see anything?" Scootaloo asked as she jumped up and down trying to see over the sea of marines and pilots. "Not yet." The other three replied in unison. Just as they were about to give up Lancaster called out for the others. They hurried over to him and he pointed to a hallway over in the corner of the dance hall. They trotted down the hallway and stopped when they saw a door at the end with a gold star on it. Lancaster walked up to it and slowly opened the door. Sticking his head inside he saw three mares sitting at their vanities. As he watched them one of them noticed him in their mirror and turned around to face him. "Hey, sweetie. What're you doing here?" Jazzy asked as she smiled at Lancaster. Scat and Ragtime turned to look and smiled at the young colt. "We're here to talk to you about something." He replied as he pushed the door open more to reveal the three fillies behind him. They all filed into the dressing room and shut the door behind them. "How long are you going to be in town?" "We leave the eleventh for the Crystal Empire." Ragtime replied. "Perfect." Scootaloo said as she stepped forward. "Would you be able to play at a wedding on the tenth?" ~~~~~ 20:00 Hours February 7, 1987 Ponyville Aerodrome ~~~~~ I looked over at Thunderstreak who had fallen asleep in a chair in the corner of my office. Looking back down at the paperwork in front of me I sighed and removed my reading glasses. Setting the glasses on my desk I pinched the bridge of my nose before looking over at the clock on the wall. "It's only eight?" I asked as I looked at the papers on my desk. "This is gonna take me all night." As I gave another frustrated sigh there was a knock on my door and I looked up to see Sabre standing in the doorway. I waved him in and he sat down at the chair across from me. "So," He began as he sat down with a small groan "what's new?" "Not much. Just one of those 'same shit, different toilet' type deals. I've got a shit ton of paperwork for new aircraft types that need approval, requests for new planes from a number of fighter and bomber groups, and then there's the requests for leave from a couple of generals I sent to the Crystal Empire." "Generals have to ask for leave?" "They do if I send their asses to the Crystal Empire. I'm their superior and what I say goes. If I say 'jump' they better damn well ask 'how high?'. But anyways, how's that movie of yours coming along?" "It's starting to come together. The dance instructor is a real hardass on us. Although I think he's going a little easier on Brush Stroke. Though, to be fair, she does have experience as a dancer." He said as he set his black fedora on the desk. "So what kind of movie is it?" "Musical comedy. I had to do four different shots today just for one scene. One scene! And I was soaking wet the whole time. Then they've got me swinging and singing on a lamppost; and they keep bitching about my makeup because it's going to be in color and it's driving me nuts. If the next movie I do is like this then I'm done." He told me as he propped his back hooves up on the desk and turned on the Zenith style radio with his magic. As the music replaced the silence in the room I put on my glasses and went back to the paperwork in front of me. Signing off on several designs I set them aside and looked at the next one in the large stack. As I looked over the design for a new heavy bomber I noticed something in the list of bombs it would be able to carry. Picking up a red phone I was connected directly to the war department. "Equestrian War Department, Sergeant Major Spearhead speaking." "Can you connect me to Princess Luna's line please?" "And may I ask who this is?" "Commanding General Jones." "Right away sir." He replied and a few moments later there was a small click as Luna picked up the phone. "Good evening James. How may I help you tonight?" "Well I was signing off on some of these designs you sent to my office and I noticed this new super heavy bomber has nuclear weapons in its list of bomb loads. I thought I told you to cancel Operation Manehattan?" I ask her as I removed my glasses again. "You did but I overrode your request. This is all in the name of peace." "You're creating the possibility of a nuclear conflict further down the line. If you open relations with my home country they're not going to be happy about you having atomic weapons. Those of us involved in the project could possibly even be tried for treason for giving away nuclear secrets. Between you and me I don't feel like being on the wrong end of a firing squad." I told her as I turned in my chair to face the window of my office. "I can understand that James but you must see things from my point of view. I kept this project going to ensure that war is avoided in the future. If the world knows we possess this type of weaponry then countries may be more hesitant to start a conflict with Equestria or our allies." "Or they develop their own and we start a new cold war. I survived one close call in my lifetime and I know of a second one after this war. I'm not ready to go through a third. Besides, even if I did approve of Equestria having atomic weaponry, I would most certainly know not to use it." "James, I understand your view as your friend but as a princess I must order the program's continuation. I'm sorry. But the Manehattan Project will-" Luna's voice was cut off as the line went dead and I set the phone down. Picking up the black phone I heard the Ponyville operator on the other end. "Connect me with Canterlot." "I'm sorry sir but Canterlot is experiencing some bombing right now. I'm afraid it may be awhile before we're going to be able to get communications back up." The mare's soft voice replied as I looked out the window towards Canterlot. "Alright. Will you please call my office or home phone when the line is open again?" "I will sir. You have a nice evening." Hanging up the phone I turned in my chair to face the door where Claus stood looking in with a piece of paper in his hand. He stepped into the office and his boot nails seemed to echo off the walls as they clicked on the wooden floor. He stopped in front of my desk and held the message out for me. Taking the paper from him I put on my reading glasses and looked over the message. "Sabre, get your mother home and get everyone out of town." I said as I removed my glasses with a shaking hand. "Why? What's wrong?" He asked as he removed his hooves from the desk and leaned forward. "Just do it." I told him as I stood up and grabbed my greatcoat off the coatrack. Slipping on my coat I walked past Claus and he turned to follow me out. As we walked down the hallway towards the outside I began talking to Claus. "How many tanks are we looking at as of now?" "As of five minutes ago we're looking at fifteen panzer divisions." "Fifteen?!" I asked as I turned to look at him. "I'm afraid so sir." He replied. Turning around I continued down the hallway and out into the cold February night. "Any news on how many more we may be looking at?" "No general but reports also put another twelve divisions making landfall in the Crystal Empire." "Jesus. Claus, I want you to radio headquarters in Canterlot. Get every Equestrian Armor general there that you can." I ordered as I walked towards my personal C-45. Climbing in I made my way up into the cockpit and strapped into the pilot's seat. Starting the engines I taxied out to the runway and got airborne as quickly as I could. As I climbed out of Ponyville I heard small click and a moment later a voice came through my headset. "Ponyville Tower to Air Force Two; do you read?" "This is Air Force Two. I read you loud and clear Ponyville." "General, new radio message in from the coast. We're now looking at nineteen panzer divisions. This is a full blown invasion." "Alright. As of now I'm issuing the order to maintain radio silence unless on a secured line and have all available aircraft on high alert and ready to fight at a moment's notice." "Yes sir. Ponyville Tower, over and out." I resumed looking out the windows at all the darkened towns and roads below me. Up ahead I could see the city of Canterlot burning in the distance. ~~~~~ 22:45 Hours War Room, Canterlot February 7, 1987 ~~~~~ A large map of Equestria spread across the wall was the center of everyone's attention as a pony with a large wooden pole moved a red magnet over a small coastal town on the right side of the map. "Nineteen. Nineteen panzer divisions and we didn't catch it until all but four had made landfall." I mumbled to myself as I looked at the map with Princess Luna. "Do we have any idea how they got that many tanks here?" "We believe a mixture of landing craft and Me-321 gliders." She replied as we continued to watch the map. As we stood I heard the large wooden doors to the war room open and two men in their fifties or sixties walked in. They approached us and I noticed one was a four star and the other was a five star general. They both gave a salute to Princess Luna and she smiled at their presence. "James, don't believe you've formally met our newest general officers. I'd like you to meet Field Marshall Erwin Rommel and General George Patton."
The Jolly Rogers	26: Life's Full of Surprises	I extended my hand to both of the men in front of me and Rommel was the first to accept. "Field Marshall Rommel, you're absolutely brilliant. A strategic genius." "Thank you, general." He replied as we broke the handshake and I extended it to Patton. He shook my hand and it felt as though he was trying to crush it. When we ended the handshake we all turned to the giant map and we watched a mare move another red magnet. "So, what's the plan?" "Well," Began Rommel "we're looking at nineteen panzer divisions but they made the mistake of landing them all with in a twelve mile area." He pointed to an area around fifty miles south of Baltimare along the coast. "With the Home Army's tanks I can perform a simple pincer maneuver and cut them off from their supply lines on the beachhead." "And then when they're cut off we close in on them and destroy them." Patton said. "My pilots can provide air cover for your operation if needed. We have new anti-tank A-24s that can knock out a panzer with a couple shots from their cannons." I told them as I watched the map. "I will need your pilots to ensure that no enemy transport aircraft get supplies to the enemy troops." Rommel replied as he removed his peeked cap and set it gently on the table. "No need to worry about that general. With our radar stations along the coast we'll be able to see them coming a hundred fifty miles before they reach the coast." "I've seen these radar screens general." Patton said through his Boston accent. "There's no way to tell if they're ours, theirs, or a flock of damn birds." "That is where our cooperation with the navy and the merchant marine come in. Ships sailing in and out of Equestria have been ordered to report any plane they see. Whether it's ours or not. And," I walked up to the map on the wall and borrowed a wooden pole from one of the mares "to get to their troops the planes would need to fly over a major shipping lane." Pointing to a thin blue line leaving Baltimare Harbor I helped make my point. "Since the declaration of war there's been an average of one convoy entering or leaving Baltimare every hour. Whether they're going to Manehattan, or through the canal in Paneighma to Applewood; we have ships that will be able to catch any incoming aircraft." "Then why didn't they catch it before?" Patton asked and I found myself grumbling under my breath. "That's a problem to bring up with Fleet Admiral Ironsides." I told them as I began to walk out of the room. As I walked down the corridor my boot nails clicked on the marble floor but the sound of hoofsteps behind me made me stop and turn around. Princess Luna came to a halt next to me and gave me an envelope. "What's this?" "It's a human pilot we just assigned to help with the defense of Baltimare. I was hoping you would go and speak with him." ~~~~~ 22:00 Hours February 7, 1987 Baltimare Aerodrome ~~~~~ A thin man in a blue air force uniform stood outside the transport plane as the engines shut down. As I looked at him out the window I saw a cigar clamped firmly in his jaw. Getting up from my seat I walked back and opened the door. Hopping down from C-47 I heard someone call "attention" and heels and hooves snapped together. Saluting the man ahead of me he returned it and began to walk forward to meet me. His slicked back hair shone in the moonlight and I saw a shadow above his lip that I noticed turned out to be a mustache. Extending my hand I felt him grab my hand and he gave it a good, firm shake. "General Jones, I presume?" He asked with a German accent. "At your service. And you are?" "Lieutenant General Adolf Galland." He replied as we began to walk towards a Quonset hut where a metal chimney belched white smoke. We entered the hut and I felt the warmth from a makeshift stove envelop me and I relaxed in its presence. He sat down at a table made out of a giant spool for telephone wires. Sitting down on the small folding metal chair across from him I watched him place his peaked cap on the table. "So general, what brings you to our little airfield?" "Well, I'd like to see how ready the pilots and crews are for the defense of Baltimare." "Hold on, I'll get our best pilot in here." He stood up and walked over to the door. "Major Hartmann!" He shouted as he stuck his head out the door. Returning to his seat he continued to puff on his cigar until a tired looking young man entered the hut and gave a lazy salute to Galland. Galland waved him to take a seat and the young man pulled up a chair. "General Jones, this is Major Erich Hartmann. Major Hartmann, this is Commanding General Jones." We looked over at Hartmann who had dozed off in the few seconds he had been sitting down. Galland gave a small 'what can you do?' type of laugh about Hartmann. "He's not slept in almost three days. Between training pilots day and night and now the invasion he's been running about like a headless chicken." "I can understand that. So how many kills does he have?" "Three hundred fifty two back on Earth; another five here." "If all our pilots were like him the air war might be over by now." I said as I pulled a small flask out of the inside pocket of my greatcoat. Taking a quick drink I placed the flask back in my pocket and looked around the Quonset hut. Along the walls, all the way down on both sides, there were bunks with personal items taped to the wall or laying on the thin mattresses. Down at the end I noticed two bunks that were bigger than the others. As I sat in my seat I felt as though I was melting next to the heater. "I think I'm gonna step outside for a few minutes." Getting out of my seat I walked outside where a group of pilots sat around with a guitar and several empty bottles around them as snow began to fall from the overcast sky. As I looked at them the one with the guitar began to play and sing with a falter here and there amongst his words. Finally he stopped and one of the other pilots told him to play again and he cleared his throat. "Dashing through the snow In my rusty Thirty Eight Through the sky I go, gliding all the way I need new piston rings I need some new main tires My fighter's held together by a piece o' chicken wire "Oh, rust and smoke The heater's broke The hatch just blew away! I light a match, to see the dash And then I start to pra-ay! The frame is bent The engine went The radio it's ok Oh what fun it is to fly this rusty Thirty Eight!" The other pilots around him were laughing as the guitar player continued and the snow began to fall harder. "Bouncing through the snow clouds In a big blue cloud of smoke Ponies laugh as I fly by I wonder 'what's the joke'? I've got to get to the armory To get some ammo belts Cause Adolph Hitler's comin' soon In his big ol' Fifty Two! "Oh, rust and smoke The heater's broke The hatch just blew away! I light a match, to see the dash And then I start to pra-ay! The frame is bent The engine went The radio it's ok Oh what fun it is to fly this rusty Thirty Eight!" The guitar player finished playing and all the pilots were laughing and applauding the singer. As I smiled at the group of drunken aviators the familiar wail of an air raid siren pierced the blackness of the night. "Attention! Attention! Unidentified aircraft inbound from the northeast! All pilots report to your aircraft!" The PA system blared and the base was filled with the groans of exhausted pilots. Slowly they all dragged themselves to their planes and up into the cockpits. As I stood by the hut Galland came out and stood next to me. "They're all exhausted. They have to get up for every plane spotted. Even if it's one of ours. They're up at all hours because of the training flights from Manehattan that fly down towards us." "Well better safe than sorry I suppose. Last thing we need is an enemy plane using friendly markings to bomb us." I said as I pulled out my pack of cigarettes. Pulling one out I patted my pocket feeling for my lighter but I couldn't find it in any of my pockets. "Pardon me general, but do you have a light?" He reached in his pocket and produced a silver lighter. Reaching over he lit my cigarette and I took a drag of it before lowering from my mouth between my fingers. "From the sounds of your luck so far I'd say it's probably just another training flight." We stood and watched the pilots for a bit until the sirens sounded the all clear. Looking again at the pilots we saw several who had dozed off in their planes. Those who were still awake climbed out of their fighters and slowly made their way back to their bunks. "So general, what can I do to help your pilots?" "We need new planes. We're working with second-hand Warhawks and Lightnings that are lucky to get off the ground." "I pull every string in the air force. What d'ya want?" "Spitfires. Give us a squadron of Spitfires and we can finish the job." ~~~~~ 07:10 Hours February 8, 1987 War Department, Canterlot ~~~~~ "Now listen to me, the South Pole incident never happened. Understood?" Princess Luna asked a colonel who was holding a folder stamped top secret in red ink. "Yes your highness." He replied. He turned and walked out of her office and I stood up from my spot on the bench outside Luna's small office. Stepping into the doorway I saluted before walking in and shutting the door behind me. "James, I just got a request form from Applewood I felt you might be interested in seeing." Luna said as she slid a folded piece of paper across her desk. Picking it up I read the first couple of lines and set it back down. "Please tell me you're not going to grant that request." "James, if Sabre wants to reenlist then that is his choice. He is turning seventeen tomorrow and in the eyes of the law he will be a legal adult. Last time he joined with your consent. This time he can do it without permission. It's all up to him." "Does he even think before he does shit like this?! He thinks it's all a fucking game! He wants to be a goddamn hero! He sees all those shiny medals and he gets these ideas in his head that he can be a hero!" I shouted as I paced the floor. "All heroics get you is six foot under in a pine box!" Slamming my fist against the wall I stood looking at the white paint until a thought came to me. Turning around I smiled at Luna with a small laugh. "The reserves." Throwing my hands in the air I looked at Luna again and she had a perplexed look on her face. "Don't you get it? The reserves! If he's in the reserves then he can't fight. No, even better idea! His leg! He got his leg broken in that POW camp. His leg still gives him problems! He can't even get in the reserves. Oh, this is good." I said to myself as I clasped my hands together. Looking at Luna I noticed she was looking at me with her eyebrow raised. "Happy?" "Very." I said as I looked down at my watch. "Alright, I have a meeting at seven thirty with John." Giving her a quick salute I walked out into the hallway and down towards the intelligence department. Opening the door to the room that was filled with radios I walked up the steps to the platform that overlooked the entire room. Stopping next to John I looked over at the phoenix on his shoulder. "When'd you get promoted?" "Couple days ago. So, you wanted a meeting with me?" "Yeah. We're supposed to step up the anti-sub campaign and I need one of your enigma codebooks." "Well, I can't give you the code book but I can have my operators rely information. I'm sorry sir, but we need the codebooks here." "Alright. Have you been in contact with the division trying to kill Hitler?" I asked as I watched the radio operators below us go about their work. "We've been talking. I've had runners taking messages from Gryphus over to them to analyze. So far they've figured out some of Hitler's daily routine from photographs and radio messages. If you're interested in more information I think Stauffenberg is in his office over there." "Alright. Well, I think I'll be off now. See you later John." Patting him on the shoulder I turned and walked out into the hallway. Pausing by the door I pulled out a pack of cigarettes and removed one. Lighting the cigarette I leaned against the marble wall that was beginning to turn a yellowish color from the amount of smoke breaks that had been taken by workers. Looking up at the ceiling I saw a painting that stretched the length of the corridor. Though the paint was old, faded, and chipping away; I could still see the picture rather well. While some of it was now lacking smaller details I saw hundreds of ponies in armor charging head on against an entire army of changelings. Blowing smoke from my nose I gave a sigh and looked down the hall towards the office of Colonel Stauffenberg. Looking back at the ceiling I sighed again and pushed myself off the wall. Walking down the hallway I walked outside into the sunny February morning. Making my way down the stone steps of the War Department I began walking down the sidewalk where many ponies were beginning to go about their day. As I walked I saw dozens of mares heading to work in trucks that had been set aside to transport factory workers. Waving to workers in their famous red bandanas they all waved back with smiles on their faces. Walking further I saw a city police officer standing on the corner and approached him. "Excuse me officer, can you point me in the direction of the Red Star Line office?" I asked the overweight stallion who seemed to be on the verge of dozing off. "Uh, yeah. You're gonna want to keep going down this street until you hit Fourth Avenue then hang a left and it should be the second building on that block." "Alright. Thanks for your help." Walking down the street I kept an eye on the street signs until I eventually reached Fourth Avenue and turned left. Looking at the signs in front of the buildings I saw the sign for the Red Star Line. Looking at the posters in the front window I saw one for their only ocean liner not in military service or sunken. Entering the office I saw a mare behind the counter who looked up and gave me a smile. "Good morning sir. May I help you?" She asked as she set down a book she had been reading. "Yeah. I was wondering about advanced booking." "Alright, when were you wanting to book?" "Well I was hoping for whenever the war ends." "You and a number of others, honey. And what ship are you wanting?" "The Titan if possible. Do you have a brochure or something for the Titan?" I asked as I looked at her desk. She opened a drawer and pulled out a pamphlet that had a picture of a large ocean liner on the front. Taking it from her I thanked her and made my way out onto the street where ponies were making their way to work. ~~~~~ 19:00 Hours February 8, 1987 1237 N. Main St Ponyville ~~~~~ I let out a sigh as I put the key in the lock for the front door of the house. Setting my head against the door I thought about what had been happening over the last couple days. After a few moments I turned the key and went inside. As soon as I stepped inside the heat from the living room fire place surrounded me. Shutting the door I set my hat and jacket on the rack by the door. Walking into the kitchen I grabbed a bottle of cola from the refrigerator. As I opened the bottle I realized something. It was quiet. Too quiet. Carefully making my way out of the kitchen I was by the stairs when I heard music. Looking upstairs I recognized the song as Love Never Changes and I slowly began to make my way up the steps. "Honey?" "James? I'm in the bedroom sweetie! I've got a surprise for you!" Thunderstreak replied with a seductive tone in her voice. Smiling to myself I removed my tie and stopped in front of the door. Grabbing the handle I was about to open the door when she began talking again. "And I want your eyes closed until I tell you to open them." "Whatever you say sweetheart." Closing my eyes I turned that handle and stepped into the bedroom. Taking another step further I stopped and behind me the door closed. Still smiling to myself I heard her walk around in front of me. "Alright sweetie. Open your eyes." Opening my eyes I saw a woman in front of me with long brown hair and beautiful blue eyes. Looking her over I watched her red dress catch the light and further down her stomach showed she was pregnant. Looking back up at her eyes I smiled a little. "Thunderstreak?" "Surprise." She whispered in my ear as she hugged me. Behind her the record on the player stopped and she broke the hug. "How about we put some more music on?" "Alright. But first a question. How-" "How am I human?" She interjected as she placed the Chordettes record back in its sleeve. "Well, I went to Twilight today and she was able to get ahold of Luna for me. After eight of course because I knew she had called you in at seven. Anyways, with a little help from Luna we managed to come up with a face that I liked. Keep the hair and eye color and hello new body. Don't think I'll keep it though. I figured this could be your little Hearts and Hooves Day gift." Thunderstreak said as she placed a new record on the player. "Now, I know we had trouble with dancing at the gala. So," She placed the needle on the record and In the Mood began to pour from the speakers "let's give it another shot." Thunderstreak began to dance her way over to me and I took her hand. Putting my right hand on her waist we began to dance around the room. When the record ended we stood in silence for a few moments before I led her over to the bed and sat her down. "Another question; where'd you get a dress that fit your new body?" "Oh, Rarity made it. I already had a good idea of height in mind so she just went off that." "I see. Now, I've got a surprise for you." Reaching into my pocket I pulled out the brochure from earlier in the day and held it out for her. She took it and looked it over. "What's this?" "Well since we never got to take a honeymoon, I figured once the war is over we could go on a little cruise. And what better ship than the Titan? Almost nine hundred feet long, a swimming pool, gymnasium, five star meals, and look at the grand staircase." I said as I pointed to the staircase pictured in the brochure. She continued to look it over with a skeptical look on her face. "How much will this cost?" "Well for just you and me it'll be about forty four hundred each. So a little under nine thousand." "Nine thousand! James, we can't afford that!" "I make over fifteen thousand a month. You make just under six thousand. Together we bring home around twenty one thousand bits a month." Grabbing a pad of paper and a pencil off the bedside table I began doing the math. "Now if we take that and multiply by twelve we're making over a quarter of a million bits a year. Sweetheart, we can afford nine thousand bits." "I hate having money now. It pisses me off." "How on earth does having money piss you off?" "Because then I can't bitch as much!" She said as she threw her hands in the air. Even after dancing with her I was still getting used to seeing her with hands. "I'd believe that." I said under my breath but a moment later a pillow hit me in the face. We sat in silence for a while but a knock on the front door drew our attention. I slowly stood up and made my way downstairs where another round of knocking echoed through the house. Opening the door I saw Big Macintosh standing on the doorstep "Mac, what're you doing here?" "She's gone." "What? Who's gone?" "Fluttershy. She's gone. She left a note on the counter at the cottage and she's run off. I don't know where she is." He said as he stepped inside. I led him over to the couch where he began to cry into his hooves. From upstairs I could hear steps and turned around to see Thunderstreak standing worried at the top of the steps. "James, what's going on?" Mac turned around to face Thunderstreak but froze when he saw her standing on the top step. "I'll explain later. Now," Sitting down next to Mac I put a hand on his shoulder "just stay here and try and calm down. I'll head into town and get the girls together and I'll have a search party sent out from the base. We'll find her Mac. Promise." Getting up I grabbed my greatcoat and a garrison cap off the rack by the door I headed out into the cold. Getting into the car I drove towards Golden Oaks Library where there was thankfully a light still on. Parking in front of the library I got out of the car and made my way inside. "Twilight? You here?" I asked in a tone that was on the verge of shouting. From the steps leading upstairs came the sound off hoofsteps. "James? What's going on?" She asked in a tired tone. "Mac just came by the house. Fluttershy's run off and he can't find her." Her tired expression gave way to concern and she hurriedly began putting on her winter clothes. "I'm about ready to call together a search party from the base. Try and get the others here before I get back. And once you get ahold of them I want you to go down to that red police box on Third Street. The phone in the box should connect directly to the police station." I told her as I turned to leave. She nodded as I closed the front door and climbed into the still running car. Driving over to the airbase I parked in front of the base offices and hurried inside. Walking into my office I grabbed the microphone that was connected to the base PA system. "Attention all personnel, you are all ordered to be by the base gates in five minutes. I repeat, you are all ordered to be at the gates in five minutes." Setting the microphone down I opened the top left drawer of my desk and grabbed the pistol that was hidden under a mess of papers. Removing the clip of the captured P.08 I checked to make sure it was loaded before replacing the clip and sliding the pistol into my pocket. Walking outside I saw pilots, ground crew, and other base personnel slowly making their way towards the gates. As I stopped at the gates I looked around for somewhere higher I could stand. Finally I found a small ladder and made my way up to the flat roof of the guard shack. When the crowd finally stopped growing I looked at all of them and raised a hand to silence them. "Alright, I don't like being out in the cold any more than all of you but listen. I'm sure you're all familiar with Captain Macintosh Apple." There were nods in the crowd and some mumbled answers. "And I am sure you're all familiar with Miss Fluttershy; Element of Kindness and Captain Apple's fiance." There were more nods from the crowd. "Well I am here to inform you that Fluttershy has gone missing. And our job tonight is to find her. I've already had someone gather the other elements and inform the local police department. As of now you're all going to be divided up into teams of twenty. You'll fan-out and look wherever she might be. I'll also need a team to head over to the marine base to let them know one of their troops has gone missing. And everyone grab a gun. Who knows what comes out of the Everfree at night." Climbing down from the guard hut I went inside where a cabinet filled with guns caught my attention. Opening the cabinet I grabbed as many clips as I could fit in my pocket and the Thompsons to go with them. Walking back outside I made my way over to the car and gently tossed the guns into the backseat. Climbing into the driver's seat I turned the car on and drove towards the library again. Looking out the windshield towards the sky I silently thanks the heavens that the griffins had chosen to not launch a raid that night. Pulling up in front of the library I climbed out and looked up at the full moon overhead. Sighing I grabbed the guns from the backseat and went inside where five mares were all standing panicked. "Girls, calm down. I figured we'd start searching around Fluttershy's cottage. From there we'll check anywhere in the Everfree she might be hiding." "Are ya crazy?!" Applejack shouted. "The Everfree Forest at night is one of the most dangerous places in Equestria!" "Which is why if she's in there we need to get her out." I said in a deeper, more angry tone than I had meant to. Applejack immediately went mute and stood there with everyone else. "Now, I figured the Everfree would be a bit high on the 'shit yourself factor'. So naturally I brought guns for everyone." Passing out the guns I gave everyone clips and they all loaded their guns in silence. Pulling out my P.08 I cocked it to ensure there was a bullet in the chamber before placing it back in my pocket. "Alright. Let's roll ladies."
The Jolly Rogers	27: Found and Returned	I looked around the small, dimly lit cottage and made sure to keep one hand on the pistol in my coat pocket. As I walked into the small kitchen I noticed a piece of paper lying on the two pony table. Picking it up I looked at it but set it back down on the table and continued looking around. "What the hell!" A shout came from upstairs and I quickly turned around and looked up the stairs where four others were looking up. "Rainbow Dash! What's wrong?" Twilight asked for the group of us. A moment later Rainbow Dash appeared at the top of the steps holding a pair of pink furry hoofcuffs. We all looked around, a bit embarrassed to say the least, and resumed our search outside the house. Grabbing an electric torch from the glove compartment of the car I turned it on and aimed it at the forest. Next to me were the others who all looked nervously at the dark, terrifying looking trees of the Everfree. As I stood looking at the forest I had a sudden thought. "Ladies, I think I just had a better idea than running around the forest." ~~~~~ 21:30 Hours February 8, 1987 Fluttershy's Cottage ~~~~~ Mac sat quietly on the couch in the living room as Lancaster looked around the house. The rest of us stood silently in the living room and I could tell everyone was thinking the same thing. Looking at the mares next to me I noticed Applejack was glaring at her brother while Rainbow Dash's face was a bright red. "So Mac," I started and he looked up at me with the same look of sadness and worry he had earlier "since no one else has had the balls to ask; what's with the hoofcuffs?" His face somehow got redder than it already was and he looked down again. "Well, uh, Fluttershy is sorta into that." He mumbled just enough for us to hear and from the corner of my eye I could have sworn I saw Rainbow Dash's cheeks glowing red. "Well what she lets you do-" "Actually she cuffs me." "Uh, Rainbow Dash? Your nose is bleeding." Rarity said and we all looked over to see blood coming out of Dash's nose. She hurriedly covered it with her hoof and went on the hunt for tissues. We all stood in silence again but the sound of Lancaster coming downstairs drew our attention away from Mac. "Well? Anything?" I asked as he adjusted the collar on his coat. "Besides a disturbing amount of bondage equipment? I found that plenty of personal items had been taken. Also, she seems to be expecting on coming back if she didn't ask anyone to take care of her animals. She did give them lots of food though which suggests she is planning on being gone for at least a few days. Does she have any family?" He asked as he looked around at all of us. "Her mom lives in Cloudsdale." Rainbow Dash said as she entered the room again with a tissue stuck in her nose. "Then I'd say try looking in Cloudsdale. And Mac, for Celestia's sake find a new hobby. Now if you'll all excuse me I'll be going home." He put his scarf on and made his way outside. Looking at the others I shrugged my shoulders at them. "So who's up for a trip?" ~~~~~ 23:17 Hours February 8, 1987 Cloudsdale Airfield ~~~~~ Climbing out of the VIP modified B-17 I looked around at the only walkable area for non pegasi. Behind me five mares and a red stallion all piled out and waited for their eyes to adjust to the darkness. "Twilight? You still know that cloud walking spell?" I asked her as she slowly walked forward. "I never forget a spell." She replied with sleep in her voice. "What about that amnesia spell you found a few weeks ago?" Rarity asked with an eyebrow raised. "Don't be silly. I think I'd remember if I found an amnesia spell" Twilight said as her horn began to glow. As I stood there I began to feel the magic around me and it soon felt as though the magic was soaking into me down to the bone. Twilight's horn stopped glowing and we all gently stepped forward towards the clouds. Looking back at all of them I shrugged my shoulders. "Only one way to see if it worked." I said. Jumping forward I heard everyone gasp but a second later I was jumping up and down on the cloud. "Hey, it worked!" Everyone gave a sigh of relief and they all began walking towards the terminal. Following them we made our way through the terminal and out to the streets of Cloudsdale. Looking around I found the streets were surprisingly busy. "So, anyone know the address?" I asked looking around. "Um, 705 Cumulous Lane. If I can remember correctly." Rainbow Dash stated as she pointed a hoof directly ahead. We began walking in the direction she pointed and I made sure to stick close to Dash. "So, what brought you back to Ponyville besides the wedding?" "Luna sent me a letter. She gave me a week leave for what she called 'exemplary leadership'. Easy to be a good leader when the general for the Fifteenth Air Force doesn't give us any missions." "Hey, your group got that Celestial Citation for that mission to Gryphus." I said pointing to the ribbon above her right chest pocket. "I'd say you're a pretty good leader. Even if you did bang that group captain with the One Thirty-Three Squadron." "Wait, you know about that?!" She asked with surprise. "Colonel Dash, I work with the government. We know everything. From what your favorite foalhood cereal was to what shampoo you use." I replied looking up at the street signs. "There's a lot of stuff here that shouldn't be able to be on a cloud." I said as I looked at the shops along the street. "It's all enchanted before it's shipped here. Most of our stuff would go through the clouds if it wasn't for magic. Before the three tribes formed Equestria everything pegasi used was made of clouds. We knew nothing about agriculture so most of the food then came from markets along the coast. That's why pegasi have different teeth than earth ponies and unicorns." She told me as we turned down a lane near the edge of Cloudsdale. "We adapted to eating the fish from the markets. After the tribes formed Equestria we began to move inland. Although we still eat fish on holidays and other special occasions like birthdays and whatnot." "I wondered what that salmon was doing in my freezer." I said to myself as we walked. Rainbow Dash pointed again; this time to a cloud house just up ahead. We all looked at Mac who was looking down at the lane under his hooves. "You alright Mac?" "I don't know." "Well we're all here for ya so if ya need anything just let us know." Applejack said as she gently placed her hoof on his shoulder. He gave her a weak smile and we all slowly made our way to the door of the house. Rainbow Dash knocked on what looked like a door and a moment later a mare who looked to be in her forties or fifties answered and smiled at Rainbow Dash. "Rainbow, it's so good to see you." She said with a voice as kind as a grandmother's. The mare hugged Dash and apparently just then noticed us. "And you brought friends. It's always nice to have company." "It's good to see you too Mama Shy. Is it alright if we come in?" Rainbow asked as she broke the hug. "Of course sweetie. I have some fresh pies and banana bread in the kitchen." We all made our way inside the house and followed the older yellow mare into the kitchen. "So Mama Shy," I started and she turned to look at me; her greying pink mane shifting as she did "I find it a bit odd that a mare is up this late. There something you want to tell us?" I asked as I grabbed a slice of banana bread. She began glaring at me and I sensed Dash was waving at me to stop. "I'm always up this late." "Alright, who bakes pies and banana bread at eleven in the evening?" I asked her with suspicion in my voice. "Me. That's who!" She shouted and Dash immediately rushed over. "Mama Shy, I think you need to calm down." Rainbow said as she leaned close to the older mare. "No! Who in the hell does this asshole think he is?!" She yelled and through the window I saw lights come on across the lane. "Mama!" We all turned to see Fluttershy standing in the kitchen doorway. "Don't you dare talk to James like that!" She scolded and I noticed the older one immediately backed down. "Sorry sweetheart. I'll just be in the living room if anyone needs me." Mama Shy said before carefully making her way into the living room. Fluttershy looked around at all of us but focused on the red stallion hiding in the back of the group. "Mac?" He slowly stepped forward with his head down and his ears back. "Oh Mac, what're you doing here?" She said in a soft tone as she walked over to him. She looked up at the rest of us and her eyes looked like she had been crying. "What're any of you doing here?" "We were worried about you. You ran away." Twilight replied as she stepped forward. "Is something wrong darling?" Rarity asked. Fluttershy's eyes began to water and Applejack helped her sit down. "I-I went to a special doctor this morning." "What kind of doctor?" Pinkie Pie asked. I was surprised at how quiet she had remained through everything. "It was a fertility doctor. For the last few months Mac and I have been trying to have a foal." Fluttershy explained as she looked up at us. "Mac went a few days ago and his results came back fine. And then when I went-" She broke down crying and we all walked over to her and attempted comforting her. Slowly she began to calm down and we stepped back to give her room. Mac on the other hand stayed next to her and wrapped a comforting arm around her. Fluttershy took a deep breath and looked over at Mac who gave her a small smile. "I went to the doctor and he told me I can never have foals." There were some gasps from the girls and Pinkie's hair deflated like a leaking balloon. Fluttershy looked over at the large stallion next to her and gently leaned her head against his neck. "Do you still love me?" "More than anything in the world." He said as he laid his head on hers. "Even after I ran away?" She asked as she gently cried against him. "I would tear the world apart if it meant being with you." Mac replied as he pulled his head away and gently put a hoof under her chin. She looked up at him and smiled before hugging him. Walking away from the touching scene I made my way into the living room where the older Shy was sitting on a cloud couch with knitting needles and a half finished scarf. "You were awful defensive earlier. Something you want to tell me?" I asked her as I leaned against a wall. "Not really." "Have you ever been married?" "I was for thirty five years. My husband passed almost ten years ago." "What kind of business was he in? If you don't mind me asking." "He was in waste management." "As in genuine waste management or Istallion waste management?" "Is that any of your concern?" "Not particularly. I'm just a curious man." I told her as I crossed my arms. "Well you know what they say; curiosity killed the cat." "But satisfaction brought it back. So, care to answer my question?" "Not really." "Very well." Turing around I looked at everyone before stepping outside. Pulling out my pack of cigarettes I grabbed one and was about to put the pack away when I heard someone come out as well. Turning around I saw Rainbow Dash walking over next to me. "Mind if I bum a smoke off ya?" She asked with sleep starting to weigh down her eyes lids. "Not at all." I replied as I tossed the pack to her. She took a cigarette out and gave the pack back to me. Leaning down I lit the cigarette for her before lighting my own and slid the pack and lighter back into my pocket. "So, what's up with Flutter's mom?" "She used to be married to one of the biggest crime bosses in this part of Equestria. You'd never know just by looking at her that she basically runs all of Cloudsdale. Then once she goes the business will be turned over to Fluttershy." "Fluttershy's dad was a mob boss?" "Oh yeah. He had this really big scar on the right side of his face that he'd got in a knife fight. Plus his eye was all foggy so that just made him look scarier. But every time I would come over to play as a filly he was always really nice." "And Fluttershy is supposed to somehow take over a crime organization?" "Sounds weird right?" "You know, legally I should report her mom for this. But because I helped my uncle and my dad operate a moonshine still when I was a kid; I can't go preaching following every law in the book. Plus I've got something like five unpaid parking tickets from the city of Canterlot." I told her with a small laugh at the end. We stood silently outside in the night and my mind started to wander to thoughts about the atomic program. 'I never did hear about that nuclear test. Maybe they postponed it? I know it could end the war but at what cost?' Looking down at Rainbow Dash I sighed and looked up at the stars. "Hey Dash?" "Yeah?" "If you had the power to end this war, to save lives but to take hundreds of thousands at the same time, what would you do?" "I would try to do what I thought was right but I'd keep the security of Equestria first on my priority list. Why do you ask?" "Because I have the power to wipe out an entire enemy city in one go; to play God and decide who lives and who dies. And I just can't do it. Luna expects me to be some kind of tough skinned warrior that'll have the balls to kill hundreds of thousands of the enemy. But most of them aren't the enemy. They're families. Families with children. Do you ever think about that Dash?" "I try not to. When I fly I feel like I'm piloting my own coffin. My only thought in this war is to stay alive. James, if I were in your shoes, I'd do what was best for the country. That's all I can say." She replied as she tossed the cigarette butt away. She turned around and went back inside. 'What am I supposed to do?' ~~~~~ 10:00 Hours February 9, 1987 Office of the General of the Air Force Canterlot ~~~~~ "And with your support sir, we will have the backing of a high enough official to form our little group." A thin stallion with a greying, brown goatee stated as I looked over the photos of paintings on my desk. "So let me see if I understand this; you want me to give you my support so that you and a group of experts can protect art?" "That is correct, sir." He replied. "Well, you made quite a compelling argument. What can I help you with to begin the group?" "We need young art experts." "All the young experts are already overseas. Fighting. You have my support, but I'm sticking my neck out so you and whoever you find better not disappoint." I told him as I signed a paper he had set on my desk. Handing it back to him I smiled at him. "Welcome to the air force, Lieutenant. I expect to hear back from you when you have everyone you need." Standing up I extended my hand and shook his hoof. He walked out into the hallway and I sat back down at my desk. Looking at the bare walls I opened up the top right drawer and pulled out a manila envelope stamped TOP SECRET. Opening up the folder I looked at the black and white photographs of two different bombs at a desert hangar. Flipping the paper over my eyes scanned over another picture, this one of a polished B-29 with its crew standing under the nose. Looking at the rest of the information on the page I set the folder down and picked up the phone on my desk. Punching in extension thirteen I heard Luna pick up the phone in her office. "Yes James?" "You mind telling me what Operation Gojira is?" "Just a little pest control in the South Haycific. Nothing major." "Then why is it in with the Manehattan Project?" "It does require the use of an atomic bomb." "As long as it is not used against the enemy. I shall allow the use of nuclear weapons as long as it is only for killing whatever a Gojira is." I told her. "Alright. Also, Rommel's tankers managed to capture a human SS Panzer major. I was planning to see if he would talk to me about their future plans and I would like you to aid me in the interrogation." "Me? You remember what happens when I'm allowed to question captured troops don't you?" "Yes. Which is why I want you there." She said before hanging up. I set the handset down and walked out into the hallway. Walking down several flights of stairs to the underground interrogation rooms I turned down a dimly lit corridor and saw Luna waiting for me. "Did you bring your gun?" "I have a six shooter in my inside chest pocket." "Well don't use it right away. I'd like to see if he talks to me first." She said as I walked over and opened the storage closet behind her. Grabbing a thick, moldy brick shaped object off a shelf I turned to her. "Or we just hit him with this old phonebook." I told her as I held it up. "James, no. We try it my way first. Alright?" "Fine." I groaned as I crossed my arms and leaned against the wall. She made her way into the room and shut the door. Looking through the small window I saw her sit down at the table and ask him a question which he ignored. Opening the door I launched the phonebook in his direction and saw it hit him square in the jaw. "Answer the fucking question you fucking shitball!" "James, I thought I told you to wait." Luna said as she stood up. "This is the leader of your air force? No wonder we never saw any fighters." The blonde man in his black uniform said and I reached into my inside pocket. Luna stepped aside and I sat down on the corner of the table. Pulling out the pistol I pulled on the cylinder release and flipped the cylinder out. Rotating the gun I let the bullets fall out into my hand and set five of them on the table. "Let's play a little game shall we?" I said to him as I held up the one bullet in my left hand. "But I'm gonna leave this one in cause it's my favorite." I told him as I placed the bullet against the cylinder. Flipping the cylinder back into place I lowered the gun and stopped to where the muzzle was pointed towards his groin. "Now, what are the High Command's plans?" "Fuck off." "Alright then." Pulling the trigger I heard the gun click and saw him jump and look over at Luna. "Do something! Stop him!" He shouted with his voice shaking a little. "Hey, you're the one that refused to answer my question." Luna told him. "What're the High Command's plans?!" I asked him again and my voice echoed off the stone walls. "I don't know!" He shouted. I frowned at his answer and a click echoed through the room. "Answer!" "I said I don't know!" Another click and he began to panic even more. "That was three. Six chambers in this gun. One of those next three is gonna take your nuts off unless you tell us what we want to hear." I told him as I looked at the gun. "I am sworn to secrecy!" He shouted and I squeezed the trigger which made the hammer emit another click. "Fifty/fifty chance you get neutered like a dog this next time. Now tell us what their plans are!" "They're going to attack Equestria again! Just please do not shoot me!" He pleaded in fear. "Attack how?" "I don't know. All I do know is that they said they would kill Equestria by going for its heart." The panzer officer stated. I looked back at Luna and she nodded. Raising the gun I placed it in my pocket and held out my left hand which was balled up. Opening my hand up for the SS major to see I showed him the sixth bullet for the revolver. "This is why you never play a game with me." I told him as I placed the six bullets in my pocket. "You can never tell when I'm bluffing." Smiling to the shaking major I walked out of the room and out into the hallway. Turning around I saw Luna shut the door and grin at me. "Maybe we should make you head of interrogations as well." "Maybe. But I've already got enough on my plate without dealing with the occasional POW." I told her as we began to walk down the long corridor. "I'd also like to ask you a favor James." "What is it?" "The Strategic Scientific Reserve has developed a new type of earthquake bomb. We were hoping you would be the pilot to drop it." "Alright. So I'll see you at Area Thirteen on the twelfth?" "Of course. Now, I think you have a wedding to go help prepare." ~~~~~ 17:00 Hours February 11, 1987 Ponyville ~~~~~ Fluttershy and Big Macintosh smiled at each other as they stood at the altar. Smiling as I looked down at them both I open up the small book in my hand. Looking around at all the ponies crammed into the small wedding chapel I nodded to myself before lowering my head and directing my eyes to the book. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the presence of these witnesses, to join Captain Macintosh Apple and Lance Corporal Fluttershy in matrimony commended to be honorable among all; and therefore is not to be entered into lightly but reverently, passionately, lovingly, and solemnly. Into this - these two ponies present now come to be joined. If anyone can show just cause why they may not be joined together - let them speak now or forever hold their piece." "Just hitch 'em already!" An elderly green mare shouted, which earned her a gentle yet firm nudge to the ribs from the yellow earth pony stallion next to her. "If that's it then let's continue. Mac, do you take Fluttershy to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold; for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health?" "I do." He replied and I looked over to Fluttershy. "Fluttershy, do you take Mac to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold; for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health?" "I do." She said and I saw her blushing under her vail. "Then by the power vested in me by the nation of Equestria, and apparently Granny Smith;" I said with a hand gesture and small laugh towards the old mare "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride." Mac carefully lifted the vail over Fluttershy's face and slowly leaned over to kiss her. Fluttershy rolled her eyes and grabbed Mac's cheeks and pulled him the rest of the way. Placing the book under my arm I began clapping as everyone else applauded. "Fillies and gentlecolts, I am happy to present Mr. and Mrs. Apple!"
The Jolly Rogers	28: Resurrection	~~~~~ 18:00 Hours February 11, 1987 Ponyville Dance Hall ~~~~~ I looked at Fluttershy and Big Mac and smiled before taking a sip of champaign. Lowering the glass I looked down at it and began to swirl the golden drink around the glass. A weight on my arm made me glance at the olive colored mare in the seat next to me. Smiling to myself I slid my arm out from between us and around her shoulder. She began to nuzzle her head into my side but stopped and placed a hoof on her stomach. Looking down at her I raised an eyebrow at her in worry. "You okay?" I asked her as I removed my arm from around her. "Yeah, just hurry up and feel my stomach." She replied as she grabbed my wrist with her hoof and brought it down to her stomach. As I gently placed my hand on her stomach I felt a small thump against my palm. "They're kicking!" I said with a small laugh. There was another thump against my palm but this time it was nearly twice as hard as the first. "My, they're gonna be soccer stars if they keep kicking like that." Looking at Thunderstreak's face I saw her smiling at me. "What?" "Today's the first time I've seen you genuinely smile in a long time. I've missed it. You have such a nice smile." I glanced down at our table but then looked over at Thunderstreak. She slowly reached a hoof up and placed it against my scared right cheek. "You miss him. I see it every day in your eyes. And we both know you blame yourself for it. But you shouldn't you know. Another second later and that flak shell would've got another bomber. It was just a bad place at a bad time." "If it wasn't for me he wouldn't have been in that place." I told her as I grabbed a scotch off a passing waiter's tray. Taking a sip I set the glass on the table and looked down at her again. On stage Glenn had struck up the band again and a familiar song seemed to float through the air. "They're playing our song." Thunderstreak said as the band continued to play Moonlight Serenade. She began to gently rock back and forth with the music and looked over at Fluttershy and Mac who were out on the dance floor. "They're so sweet together." She said as she continued to look at them. "I'm sure they're gonna be that couple that loves each other just as much thirty years from now." ~~~~~ Meanwhile in Applewood ~~~~~ Sabre led Brush Stroke into the recording studio where a group of technicians all sat next to recording equipment. "Just imagine you're by yourself. The only other pony here is me. Okay?" He asked the trembling purple mare. "You've already filmed five different scenes and those were one take wonders. I'm certain you'll do just as good singing." He told her. She looked at him with anxious eyes. "Those weren't singing scenes." She argued as he stopped her next to the recording room door. Inside an orchestra was set up and waiting for her so that they could begin. "I'm a good actress but I'm far from a good singer." "Not true. I've heard you sing before. You're incredible. I know you don't believe me half the time but you're a very talented mare. You're smart, an amazing singer, and definitely the most beautiful mare around. Even more so than that blonde mare the studio's been talking to." He told her. "Just record one song and I'll show you how good you really are." "Fine. One song and if I don't like it then find me a new voice." She told him before going inside the recording room. Sabre stepped back and went over to the control panel next to the window in the studio. Inside, Brush Stroke carefully stepped up to the microphone. "Don't worry. You'll do fine. Everyone is nervous in their first recording." A young earth pony stallion said to her from his spot. She seemed to relax a bit at his words and outside, Sabre nodded to the technicians. "Alright Brushy, We're good to go." He said to her through a microphone connected to the recording room. She took a deep breath and the band began to play an upbeat song that seemed to relax the mare even more. After a few seconds she began to sing the song on the stand in front of her. "I'm singin' in the rain. Just singin' in the rain What a glorious feeling I'm happy again! I'm laughing at clouds, So dark up above The sun's in my heart and I'm ready for love!" And so it went for the next two minutes that the purple mare, the love of a certain green unicorn, was singing in the rain. Seemingly without a care until the end of the music she then cast her eyes down when silence filled the room. Stepping out of the room she slowly went up to the stallions sitting by the control panel. "So how bad was I?" She asked, seeming on the verge of tears. "You tell me." Sabre said as he put a freshly cut record on a nearby player for her to hear. As she stood and listened to the music she looked up at the beautiful voice that came from the speakers. "That's-that's my voice?" She asked as she pointed a hoof at the record player. "Told you that everything about you was beautiful." Sabre told her as he hugged her. "Just shut up and let me enjoy my moment." Brush Stroke told him with a new found confidence in her singing voice. ~~~~~ 20:00 Hours Canterlot Time February 11, 1987 Gryphus, Griffin Empire ~~~~~ A griffin sat atop a building in downtown Gryphus. In his talons he gripped a high powered rifle that he was setting up on the edge of the roof. Laying down he took ahold of the rifle again and looked through the scope. In the crosshairs of the scope sat the main steps of the palace. As he watched the steps a Mercedes 770 slowed to a stop next to them. The front right door of the car flew open and an SS private hurried around to the back driver side door. He opened the door and stood at attention as the old man in a green/grey overcoat stepped out into the cold night. "Gotcha." The griffin said as he got the man in his crosshairs. His talon gently lowered onto the trigger. But just as he was about to pull of the best shot of the war, a problem arose. A tall blonde man in an SS general's uniform walked in front of the older man. "Come on you bastard, move!" The griffin swore to himself. As if he had heard the demand of the far off griffin, the SS general moved. The man was once again in the griffin's crosshairs. "Say goodnight you son of a bitch." He squeezed the trigger and the bullet began its flight towards Adolf Hitler. ~~~~~ 00:15 Hours February 12, 1987 Equestrian War Department ~~~~~ I wiped the sleep from my eyes as I walked down the corridor leading to the department briefing room. Walking inside I buttoned up my uniform jacket and took my spot in the back of the room. The room was packed full of personnel from every branch of every rank. On the small platform in the front of the room Celestia and Luna looked over the message again and again. As I leaned against the wall I heard someone stop to my right. Looking over I saw Colonel Stauffenberg standing next to me in a white shirt with grey suspenders. His hair was a disheveled mess and a grey garrison cap with pink piping sat cockeyed on top of his head. In the front of the room Celestia and Luna finally stopped their discussion and Celestia stepped up to the podium on the platform. "Fillies and gentlecolts, we have just received word from an agent in Gryphus that enemy leader Adolf Hitler has been taken to the hospital as a result of an attempted assassination." The room erupted into cheers but I stood quiet in the back. But my lack of excitement was soon noticed by personnel who fell silent. As they all eventually stopped their excited chattering. "What?" I asked all the ponies stating at me. "Why aren't you excited?" A MAC lieutenant asked. "Why should I be? Didn't you hear her? She said 'an attempted assassination'. He's still alive and is likely going to recover. Not to mention his little black shirted goons will find the shooter when he tries to flee the county." I replied. These words sent everyone back to their depressed and tired looking states. "All the supporters of the Nazis will use this to rally against us. Their Ministry of Propaganda will say that we sent the griffin who pulled the trigger and the level of support for Hitler will be higher than ever." "What if we finish him off?" A voice asked and the crowd parted to reveal a marine corps gunnery sergeant. "And How do you propose we do that gunny? It's not like we have half the city of Gryphus under our control." I said as I looked at the old marine. "Who says we need to have the city. We know what hospital he's in. There'll be civilian casualties but I say we bomb the hospital. Without their leader they'll be useless." "And what if they move him before the raid? What if all my aircrews end up doing is bombing a hospital full of civilians? Then who's the barbarians in this war? Not to mention that they have protocols in case Hitler is incapacitated or killed. If he's unable to run the country then the commanding general of the SS is to take control. Then we've got an empire run by another nut-job who'll just order his men to kill all those they encounter." I replied. As we stood there contemplating what to do there was an ear-piercing wail from outside. "Another raid?! Don't they fucking sleep?!" Someone shouted as we all began to head for the palace air raid shelter. As we all began to make our way down to the shelter I noticed a light on down one of the corridors. Running over to the open door I saw John standing on his platform shouting orders to all the personnel running around the room. "John!" I shouted and he turned to look at me. "We've got to get to the shelter!" "Bullshit we do! Right now this is the only way to get information out of Canterlot! You seek shelter sir but I'm staying here!" "If you live I'll see that you get the Legion of Merit for this!" I shouted back to him before running down the steps to the shelter. Even underground we could still hear the familiar sound of the anti-aircraft guns and the explosions of bombs hitting the city. But forty minutes into the raid there was an explosion almost directly over the shelter. "What section was that?" Someone asked as we all sat around the dust covered room. "Sounded like intelligence." Another replied. Standing up I went over to the steel door and opened it up. "What the hell is he doing?" The voice asked and I turned to face those in the room. "There were still personnel at their posts in the intelligence department. If there're any survivors they're going to need medical help as soon as possible. Now you lot can either help me or stay down here and let your comrades upstairs die. The choice is yours." Walking out the door I hurried upstairs where I was met by carnage and destruction. Looking around in the smoke filled air I finally found the intelligence department and saw a large hole where half of the wall of the corridor used to be. As I ran over towards what was left of the intelligence department I tripped over something and fell to the floor. As I got up I looked behind me and saw the body of a young royal guard laying on the floor, his eyes staring at me. Even after death he looked terrified. Turning away from him I began tossing aside broken furniture and pieces of wooden beams. Behind me there was the sound of hoofsteps and soon there was over a dozen ponies around me. When we had finally cleared enough of the rubble to get in we all hurried inside the room. Inside we were greeted by burning equipment and the smell of burnt flesh. "Everyone spread out and look for survivors!" I ordered and we all began to sift through the rubble of the room. As I looked through what was left of the stand I heard coughing to my right. Looking over I saw John on the floor with blood running out of a wound above his left eye. Kneeling next to him I placed my hand on the wound and called for someone to help me with him. As I looked at him I saw him give me a weak smile. "How's about a cluster to that Legion of Merit?" He asked with the same pained, half smile on his face. A moment later a young army private was helping me load John onto a makeshift stretcher. Though the stretcher was nothing more than curtains hastily attached to metal poles, it worked as well as a standard army stretcher. As we carried John out into the damaged corridor the sirens began to wail again. "Is it another raid?" The private asked as we carried John down the stairs towards the medical wing of the palace. I listened for the drop in tone but it didn't come. "It's the all clear." I replied as we continued down another flight of stairs. "Well that's good right? Means that everything is good from here on." He answered with slight optimism in his voice. "I wish it did." I told him as we began our journey down the corridor that lead to the palace operating room. "God, what I'd give for a MASH unit right now." I mumbled to myself as we entered a small white room. Inside there was no one to be seen. "Hello?!" I shouted. "Is anyone here?!" From around a corner a unicorn stallion in a white lab coat appeared. "I'm Doctor Bone Saw. Is there someone in need of medical treatment?" He asked as he began to approach us. "This man has injuries to his head." I answered as he looked over John. "We need to get him into the O.R. now. I'll have the private help me. You're free to go sir." "Not without knowing what'll happen to him I'm not." I told the doctor as he took the stretcher from me. "Alright. He's likely already lost vision in his left eye and he's missing two finger on his right hand. The rest is scrapes and bruises. Now you can leave." The doctor replied as he and the private began to carry him to the O.R. They disappeared into another room and I stood in the same spot for what felt like hours. Eventually I left the room and went back upstairs where there were now military doctors treating the wounded on site. Deciding that they didn't need my help I made my way to the palace garage where my car was waiting for me. ~~~~~ 10:00 Hours February 12, 1987 Ponyville, Equestria ~~~~~ "And how exactly did you get suspended?" I asked Lancaster as we drove towards Sweet Apple Acres. "Some colts were making fun of me so I punched them in the nose." He replied as he looked out the window. Looking in the rear view mirror I noticed he had a bit of a black eye. "You've got a bit of a shiner there buddy. You alright?" "Yeah. I'm fine." Lancaster answered as he looked towards me. "So why were those other colts making fun of you?" I asked with come concern in my voice. "Because I like someone at school." He stated while returning his attention back out the window. "Oh. Is it a filly? I know Applebloom has had her eye on you." I said as I grinned in the mirror at him. "It's not a filly." Lancaster said just loud enough for me to hear. "Oh. So it's a colt. What's his name?" I asked him with the grin still on my face. "Rumble." He said, again barely loud enough for me to hear. "He's the grey one with the dark mane right?" Lancaster nodded his head and I smiled to myself. "His brother works at the airfield. I've talked to him before. He's mentioned Rumble a few times. Said Rumble had his eye on a colt too." This drew Lancaster's full attention towards me. "He said Rumble talks about a blue colt with a coat and scarf. If I didn't know better, I'd say Rumble's got his eye on you." This made Lancaster smile as he looked out the window. Ahead of us the charred remnants of the orchard loomed like an army of the dead. Pulling to a stop in front of the farm house I climbed out of the car and looked around. Scattered throughout the orchard were members of the town's home guard. They were going about their work of removing the charred trees and replacing them with new ones. As I watched them work I saw a familiar orange mare approaching me, but there was something different about her appearance. She was wearing a Santiago blue uniform jacket with a matching skirt and beret. Applejack gave me a somewhat lazy salute which I returned with a smile. "Good morning lieutenant. I see you managed to pass your flying exam. Fly anything good yet?" I asked Applejack who stopped in front of me. "Nah. They ain't given us anything nice yet. Just some Warhawks and a few trainers." She replied as I hopped up to sit on the hood of the car. She joined me on the hood and we watched the crews working with their tractors to remove the trees. Overhead there was the drone of an airplane and I glanced up at it in the morning sky. It's blue fuselage blended in with the sky but its yellow wings made the airplane easy to spot against the blue. As I looked back toward the orchard I could hear bird singing their songs as a gentle breeze blew through the charred trees. Applejack sighed and laid down on her back. "Weird to think that in a few months' time it I could be in the Crystal Empire delivering a new plane instead of bucking apples. That'll be a bit of a change to get used to." "Well hopefully things are going better a few months from now." ~~~~~ 11:30 Hours May 1, 1987 Equestrian War Department ~~~~~ "For fuck's sake Luna! I'm trying to explain that what you're wanting can't be done!" I told the night blue alicorn as I paced behind my desk. "For the last nine days the crews with the Eighth, Fifteenth, and Ninth have been bombing the griffins 'round the clock. The Eighth Air Force alone has lost a quarter of its bombers because of their campaign against Gryphus. Not to mention you wanting the Fifteenth to try and hit the enemy's oil fields. Every time they send a raid against the oil fields they get slaughtered. Then there's the Ninth which is a sad excuse of an air force now. They've lost over half of their bombers because they're doing the low altitude raids. If I order them to keep this up we're not going to have any bombers left to hit the griffins with." Sitting down at my desk I sighed and put my face in my hands. Ever since the griffin air raids on Equestria stopped in late March, we had begun to step up the number of raids against griffin targets like factories and railway stations. Now the royal sisters had requested that the raids be stepped up and be against more heavily defended targets. "James," I looked up as Luna started towards the doorway "I'd like to discuss this later. Right now though I have another meeting." She walked out and I sat looking out the open door into the hallway. The hustle and bustle of ponies going between offices was merely background noise as I had long since gotten used to the sound. Standing up, I walked out into the hallway and towards the intelligence department. Looking at the names on the office doors I found the one I was looking for. Walking in I was met by the smell of coffee and noticed a tan mug sitting next to a full coffee pot. Grabbing the mug off the desk I poured some of the black liquid into the mug. Just as I was about to take a drink there was a familiar voice behind me. "Hey, crotch rot." I lowered the cup and turned to look at the man who wore a mask over the left side of his face. "Gonna slurp my lifer's juice out of my own cup?" I looked down at the mug in my hand then back to the man. "Yeah, guess I should've gotten shots beforehand." "If your brain was half as quick as your mouth asshole, the princesses would've made you a twenty star general by now." "And if I was half as ugly as you colonel, I'd be a poster boy for a prophylactic." We stood looking at each other for a moment until we both grinned. "Damn, good to see you John." "Likewise. So," He started as he walked over and sat down in the chair behind his desk "how was your trip up to the front? Enlightening I suppose?" "That ain't no shit." I said as I sat down on the corner of his desk. "We need to start funneling more supplies and planes to medium air forces like the Ninth. I met a corporal up there who used his heated flight suit in bed because they don't have enough blankets. We're here in Canterlot eating caviar at fancy parties while they're lucky to have potatoes and grits for dinner. I'll tell you this right now, I'm not very happy with how the big boys are using their equipment either. B-17 crews playing chicken with jeeps, fighter pilots flying hungover; they're all oversexed, overdrunk, and underworked. Sure, they may be flying against dangerous targets, but they're still a bunch of kids who think this is a game." I told him as I took a sip of the coffee. "Sounds like you've got work to do." John replied as he rolled his chair over to the coffee pot and poured some coffee into another mug that was sitting next to it. As soon as the cup was filled to his content he rolled back over and set the mug down. He began shuffling through paperwork. As he did so I looked at his chest. On his uniform were three rows of colored ribbons, but one stood out from the rest. The only ribbon not in a row was a lone light blue ribbon centered above the rest. Looking down at my own chest I saw my rack of ribbons which had grown rather impressive over the last few months. Though there may have been an oak leaf cluster added here and there to my older ribbons, I didn't really care much for my medals. And while I myself had been awarded the Medal of Valor in March at the request of Admiral Harvard for my part in Operation Doolittle, I tended to play down the significance of the medal when asked about it at dinner parties. Looking down at my watch I took another sip of coffee before looking back at John. "You going to that Spring Ball here at the palace tonight?" "Nah. Not much chance of getting a last second date for a guy like me." He said as he signed off on paperwork without even glancing up. "Oh, come on. There's bound to be at least one mare you know who'd dance with you." I said with a smile before drinking the last of the coffee in the mug. "What about Applejack? She seems like the type of mare to give anyone a fair shot. Besides," Walking over to the coffee maker I poured more coffee into the mug "she's very pretty for a farm hand. Believe me, some of the female farm hands we had in Illinois weren't exactly lookers." "Oh, I know." John replied as he took a sip of his coffee. "I grew up in Staunton. My father helped build the strip of Interstate 55 that's to the east of town. I spent every summer from when I was seven to eighteen detasseling corn." "No shit?! I used to go to Staunton to pick up corn for our livestock!" "You buy it from Bill Purdy?" "Yeah!" I replied with a smile as I sat down on the edge of his desk again. "He's the guy I detasseled for. About the only good looking girl around there was his daughter Kendra." "Ah, Kendra. I remember her. Of course she's ten years my junior but she's the right age for you. I remember seeing her again when I was home on leave a few years ago. She grew into quite the looker." I said before taking a drink of my coffee. "Yeah. But she's not here so like I said, not much chance of getting a date." "I'm telling you John, ask Applejack. I'm sure she'd be happy to go with you." "Please," He said waving a hand to the mask covering the left side of his face "what woman or mare would want me? I look like the Phantom of the Opera." "It's not that bad to tell you the truth. Kinda makes you look a bit mysterious. Girls like a bit of mystery. Anyways, I've got to be going. Told the wife I'd be home by one." Finishing off the coffee in the mug I set it by the coffee maker and made my way over to the door. Turning back around I looked at John with a small smile. "I still say you should ask Applejack when you get back to Ponyville this afternoon. I'm more than willing to bet that she'll go with you." Walking out I made my way down to the garage and over to the newly installed shack where a young unicorn specialist fourth class sat with a book held in his magic. I knocked gently against the wooden wall of the shack, causing the soldier to jump and nearly fall off his stool. "Sorry, kid. Can you call for my jeep?" He nodded and picked up a black phone that sat on a board which was barely hanging onto the wall of the shack. "Will General Jones' driver please pull forward to the pickup area?" He said over the garage PA system. A minute later the rumble of an engine sounded the approach of my jeep and another moment later it pulled around the corner. It slowed to a stop and I climbed in next to the mint colored unicorn mare who was my driver. "Good morning, Lyra. How're you?" I asked her as we started to pull away towards the exit. "I'm well. Thank you for asking." "You drive me around half the time. It only seems fair to ask you how you are since you've got to deal with me." She smiled at that and I removed my peaked cap. Setting it on the floor behind my seat I swept my hair back with my left hand. Looking in the small mirror that'd been mounted to the passenger side I noticed my hair was now almost completely grey. "Lyra, when the hell did I start getting so old? When I first got to Equestria I only had a few grey streaks. Now I'm grey with a few black streaks." I said as I grabbed one of the few black streaks left in my hair. "Well, my mother always said that what we put our parents through we get back ten fold when we have our own kids." She replied as we turned down the highway to Ponyville. "Were you a hoof full when you were young?" "Not really. I was somewhat behaved. And though my kids are better behaved than I was at their ages; I don't think it's them. I think it's this damn war." I replied as I leaned back into the canvas covered cushion on the back of my seat. "I should've stuck to my two stars and been done with it. instead I grabbed three stars in the name of revenge." "Well, think, once the war is over you can retire and live out the rest of your days with your wife as a national hero." "Or as a murderer." I mumbled to myself as I thought about the atomic weapons being built at Area 13. ~~~~~ 20:00 Hours May 1, 1987 Canterlot Castle ~~~~~ "Are you sure you want to be down here?" I asked Thunderstreak as we walked down the damp corridor that was part of the palace dungeon. Around us the sound of some of the captured enemy troops, most of them members of the SS or with connections to the high command, echoed off the stone walls. "Of course. I always wanted to see what it was like down here." "There's not much to see. Stone walls, steel doors, and steel bars. That's about it." I told her as I noticed two guards on either side of a door ahead. "Sergeant, what's going on?" the guards turned to look at me and snapped to attention when they saw who I was. "Sir, this prisoner has been deemed a possible danger to himself as well as mentally unstable." One of the guards explained as I approached the small window in the door. Inside was the SS major whom I had convinced I was going to neuter with my six-shooter. he was laughing maniacally while staring out the window which overlooked Canterlot. "The hell is wrong with him?" "He's simply gone mad, sir. Guess he wasn't built to be in prison. He keeps shouting 'they're coming'. Who he's talking about though we have no idea." "Well, just keep an eye on him. Make sure he doesn't off himself or anything. Have a good evening boys." I told them as I began walking the other way. Thunderstreak followed and we made our way up to the palace gardens. Strolling through the garden I could smell the blooming flowers and around us the gentle breeze sent cherry blossoms fluttering through the air. Finding a bench next to a cherry tree I took a seat and was joined by Thundertreak a moment later. She leaned her head against my shoulder and let out a content sigh. Another breeze cause more pink petals to dance their way down and we were immediately covered in dozens of them. Thunderstreak leaned back and gave a small giggle when she looked over at me. "What?" "You should see yourself. You look like you belong in one of those cartoons from Neighpon." She replied as she covered her mouth with her hoof to suppress another giggle. "Good lord, my wife's a cartoon nerd. And I couldn't love her more." I said as I smiled at her. Another breeze came by and caused her purple dress to flap as though it were trying to fly away. Looking up at the sky I saw it was the most dazzling shades of orange, purple, and red. Looking up at the palace I saw John standing on a balcony. As he stood there I noticed an orange pony walk up next to him and I smiled to myself. "Go get him AJ." ~~~~~ Five Minutes Earlier ~~~~~ John looked around the room at all the high class and military ponies who strolled about the room or stood chatting in their own small groups. With a sigh he looked down at his glass of brandy before looking over at the archway that lead to a balcony. Walking out to the balcony he finished off his drink and looked down at the now empty glass sitting on the railing. Anger building up in him he grabbed the glass and threw it as far as he could. He watched the glass fly through the air until it disappeared into some trees in the gardens. Looking out over the city he felt a lump in his throat and placed his face in his hands. How long he stood there he didn't know, but the sound of hoofsteps caught his attention. He continued to keep his face hidden in hopes that whoever the pony was they would go away. "John?" A mare's voice asked and John felt himself tense up at her country accent. "Yeah, Applejack?" He asked, trying to swallow the sob that was caught in his throat. "John, what's wrong?" She asked as she trotted closer. "What isn't? I'm stuck on a different planet than my family, I'm helping in a war that I no longer wish to be a part of, and to top it off I have this!" He said as he lifted his head and pointed to the mask. She didn't even flinch as he somewhat shouted and looked into his eyes. "John, I know you probably don't think of us as such, but we're your family too. Everyone. All of Equestria is your family. Foals look up to you. I heard one of Applebloom's school friends say he wanted to be like you when he grew up. You my not think you have much, but you are one of the wealthiest men in the world. Worth and value aren't measured in material items. It's whether or not you can smile even when life gets you down. It's not how high you you climb, but how high you bounce when you fall. If you think you have nothing on this planet, let me remind you that you still have ways of getting a family. Look at James." "What mare would want someone who looks like me?" He asked as he looked back out over the city. He sighed but a hoof soon gently turned his head. He looked into Applejack's green eyes and felt himself relax as soon as he saw her eyes didn't hold the same judgmental manner that others at the ball did. Slowly her hoof reached up towards his mask but stopped. He gently nodded his head and her hoof slowly removed the mask. As she pulled it away he looked for the look of disgust in her eyes, but it never appeared. She set the mask on the railing and looked at his scarred face. Though he was somewhat against inter-species relationships, John found himself slowly falling for the mare with the green eyes and soft orange fur and slowly they began to inch closer to each other. ~~~~~ I smiled as I watched the two on the balcony kiss but turned when I heard hoofsteps behind us. Thunderstreak turned as well and we both stood and snapped to attention at the sight of Princess Celestia. "At ease, you two. I don't care much for saluting." We both relaxed and I saw a certain look in her eyes; a look I still have trouble describing. She gave a gentle smile before looking at me. "James, I have a very special guest who wishes to speak with you." "Alright. If I may ask, who is it?" "Their identity is something I've elected to keep hidden until you two meet." She replied before turning and slowly making her way through the gardens. We followed and I looked around at the beauty that surrounded us. From the cherry blossoms to the birds that sang in the trees, the gardens were what I imagined Eden would look like. We followed Celestia into the palace and up two flights of stairs until we came to a corridor that lead to the ballroom. Stopping in front of a door, she turned and looked at me again. "James, this is someone you haven't seen in a little while so certain it'll be a shock for you." She said as she opened the door. Raising my eyebrow at her I paused before slowly walking towards the open door. Stepping inside I stopped and looked at the individual before me. In front of me was a man in a blue air force uniform with brown hair and brown eyes. He stood silent, staring at me in return. Slowly I walked up to him and reached out a hand. Placing it on his shoulder I confirmed he was in fact real before grabbing him and pulling him into a hug. "I thought I lost you." I said with tears in my eyes. Pulling back, Austin smiled before returning the hug. "For a while you did. But alicorn magic is a powerful thing. And Celestia made the greatest sacrifice of all to ensure I came back." "How?" I asked as we broke the hug. "You ever wonder Jim, why Celestia keeps a phoenix as her pet? It's because when an alicorn begins to die, their body does something pretty much identical to that of a phoenix. When the alicorn finally dies their body bursts into flames and they are reborn from the ashes. Celestia gave me that gift. But to do so she gave it up. This is her final life. And I'm afraid that once she passes, it will be for good this time. " Looking over at Celestia I saw her nod that it was in fact the truth. "So this means you're immortal?" I asked him as we stood looking at Austin. "Yes. Yes it does. Which, once my friends and loved ones begin to pass, I hope to return the gift to Celestia." "Hooves crossed I live that long." Celestia said with a small laugh. We all gave a chuckle at that before resuming standing in silence. As we stood there a thought occurred to me. Grabbing Austin by his sleeve I dragged him out of the room and down the corridor. "Jim, where are we going?" He asked as I basically dragged him behind me. "To surprise your coltfriend. God knows he's going to love you more than he did before." I replied. We stopped in the doorway to the ballroom and looked around for the light blue pegasus. Finally I spotted him at a table near the dance floor with a glass of bourbon. "There he is. Now go over there and ask him to dance." I said as I gave him a gentle push. He took a couple steps before he turned back to look at me. Waving my hands for him to go he rolled his eyes and continued on his way. Leaning against the doorway I looked down to see Thunderstreak next to me. Looking back up I was just in time to see Soarin leap from his seat and wrap his forelegs around Austin. But as I watched the touching moment it was shattered by the cry of an air raid siren. Rushing over to the balcony I could see dozens of aircraft soaring over the city with white parachutes descending from the sky. As I watched I could see ME-321 gliders descending towards the fields around Canterlot. Turning back around I saw all military personnel present looking at me. "Everypony get to the War Department and destroy anything stamped top secret!" I shouted and they all galloped away to carry out the order. Walking over to Celestia I looked her in the eyes. "Get Luna and get the hell out of here. Understand?" She nodded and hurried off to find her sister. Turning around to face the crowd of civilians I frowned. "Everyone get out of Canterlot in anyway you can!" Some obeyed but a white unicorn stallion stepped forward. "Why should we listen to you, a human?" Blueblood asked. "Because," I started "the Nazis just landed in Canterlot."
The Jolly Rogers	29: The Bastards	~~~~~ 20:45 Hours May 1, 1987 Canterlot Castle ~~~~~ Looking back outside at the paratroopers I felt my heart sink. Crouching down to be face to face with Thunderstreak, I grabbed her hoof. "Thunderstreak, you know I love you right?" "Of course. But I don't think this is the time to do a state of the relationship check." She said as she glanced out past the balcony. "I need you to do me a favor. It's the most important thing I can ask of you right now. I need you to get out of here. Go down to the garage and have Lyra get you the hell out of here. Understood?" I asked as I looked into her blue eyes. "And what about you?" She replied with tears in her eyes. "You stay here and fight just so you can be captured or killed?" "I swore an oath to protect this country. Even if it means giving my life to do so. Now," standing back up I looked down at her "get out of here. In our vows we said we'd obey each other. Well now I'm asking you to do as I say." She nodded before turning and galloping down the main flight of stairs. Turning around I saw Austin and Soarin standing by a table. Nodding my head I clicked my tongue as I looked down at the floor. Reaching in my inside pocket I pulled out my M1911 and looked back up. "Alright, boys. Let's get to work." Cocking the pistol I walked down the grand staircase towards the palace armory. The sound of the hob nails in my boot heels echoed off the walls of the empty corridor and ahead I could hear two voices speaking German. Suddenly two men in SS uniforms came around the corner with MP 40s in their hands. Raising my pistol I squeezed the trigger just as they noticed me. The first shot hit the one to the left in the chest and I fired at the second one before he had time to fire. He dropped to the floor and I continued towards them. Stopping next to the bodies I crouched down before placing my pistol back in my pocket and taking their submachine guns. "James," Turning around I saw Austin and Soarin standing behind me holding machine guns "we found these in the guard armory upstairs. Will they do?" Standing up, I grabbed the Thompson from Austin and looked it over. "You grab more clips?" "Of course." Handing the gun back to him I looked down at the gun Soarin had grabbed. "Hoofheld thirty caliber. Good choice." I said as I looked at the gun and the ammo belts he had across his back. "Now, " holding the German's MP 40s in each hand I gave a small nod "let's go down swinging." Turning around I began to jog down the corridor that lead to the armory under the War Department. Ahead of me I saw the large, bronze colored doors to the armory. Smiling to myself I heard Austin and Soarin stop behind me. "James?" Stopping, I turned around and was met with fourteen enemy machine guns aimed at us. Looking at all the enemy troops I realized there was no way of getting out alive if I fired. Thankfully though, we had our own ace up our sleeve. Setting the MP 40s down I looked at Soarin who appeared to have the same thought as me. Nodding to Soarin he began to crouch down. "Austin, fire!" Dropping to the floor I heard the sound of machine gun fire which ceased a few seconds later. Looking up I saw fourteen dead griffins and Austin lying on the floor. Getting up I walked over towards him and I saw him weakly smiling up at me. "Wanna see a light show?" Grabbing Soarin's leg, I dragged him up and we backed away to a safe distance. We watched as Austin let out a deep breath before he suddenly burst into flames. Looking on I watched as he turned to ash. Pulling back my left sleeve I looked at my watch. A moment later a shape began to form in the ash and Austin sat up gasping for breath. Once he caught his breath he smiled at us before looking down. "Am I naked?" "Doesn't bother me." Soarin said with a wiggle of his eyebrows. "There's a time and a place." I said before either could continue that conversation. Austin ran his tongue along his teeth and let out a small "hmm". "New teeth. I don't like them." He said as he stood up. Removing my jacket I handed it to him. "What's this for?" "You don't need to be running around with that out. Just, cover up please." I told him as I walked past him to the armory doors. Taking out my key for the armory I opened the door and walked inside. Freezing on the spot I looked down the barrel of a Karabiner 98K. Looking past the muzzle of the rifle I saw a griffin in a Luftwaffe enlisted uniform. Behind him there was a large hole in the wall of the armory where it had been smashed in. "General Jones, you are now in the custody of the Imperial Griffin Air Force. Place your hands on top of your head." Raising my hands I made to look like I was obeying. As my hands got to the same level as the barrel of the rifle I grabbed it and pushed the gun away from me. Lunging at the griffin I forced him to the floor but he retaliated by slashing across my chest with his talons. Screaming out in pain I felt him shove me off him before pinning me to the floor. Looking up at the griffin over me I brought my right knee up into his gut before rolling to pin him under me again. As he started to thrash about I took my thumb and jammed it into his left eye, causing him to let out an ear shattering scream of anguish. Feeling his eyeball being crushed I removed my thumb and reached for the knife on my boot. Grabbing my knife I brought it up before driving it down and into his forehead, silencing the screaming griffin. Taking a moment to catch my breath I stood up and looked around at the weapons in the armory. Grabbing a few hand grenades and some more ammunition for my pistol I walked back out into the corridor. I saw Austin had tied my jacket around his waist and was now standing ready with the Thompson. I gave them both two grenades and then made my way a safe distance down before pulling the pin on one of my grenades. From the other side of the armory came shouting in German and I threw the grenade down the corridor into the armory. Ducking around the corner I braced myself for what was to come. The grenade went off, and with it, so did everything else in the armory. A cloud of smoke and debris rolled down the corridor and I began running the opposite direction. Meeting up with Austin and Soarin I led the way down a staff stairwell and into the hidden worker's passageways. "These passages lead to every part of the castle. And if the enemy is using the main corridors to make their way through the palace, then these worker's passages are our best chance to get out and into the fight." I said as we turned right and began our walk down another of the small hallways. The white paint seemed to reflect the light from the small electric lights overhead. The drone of another wave of aircraft came from overhead and the lights flickered as explosions came from the city. A few seconds later we stopped in front of a white door at the end of the passage. "Well boys, you ready?" They nodded and I flung the door open. Running outside I crouched and made my way over to a small stone wall. Waving my hand for Austin and Soarin to make their way over I peeked over the wall. Down below us the city was quickly being overrun by griffin troops and I could see the airstrip on the far side of the city being bombed to pieces. "Son of a bitch. That was our best chance of getting back at 'em. And our best chance of getting out of here alive." I said as I sat down and leaned back against the wall. "What about the highway?" Soarin asked. "If we can get a halftrack, a tank, even just a Jeep with a machine gun; we can fight our way to the highway and get to Ponyville to regroup." "He's right." Austin said as he looked over the wall again before sitting down next to me. "Emergency protocols dictate that in the event of an invasion force landing in the capitol the royal family, cabinet members, and general officers and staff are to be relocated to Ponyville." "Have you seen the number of troops down there? We would need a tank to get through." I told them in a defeated voice. As we sat there I heard steps to our left and raised my gun. I saw a brown earth pony stallion in the sight of my gun and I lowered the weapon. "First Sergeant Dusty Hooves, sir. Tenth Armored Division." He said with a salute. Giving what could've been considered a salute I stood up and looked him over. "You a driver?" "Yes, sir." Standing up I walked over to him. "Has the enemy captured your base yet?" "Yes, sir. But I was able to get my Sherman out." He said with a small bit of pride as he waved a hoof towards a tank hidden under some branches in the palace gardens. Walking over to the tank, I smiled at Austin and Soarin. "Boys, I think I just found our way home." ~~~~~ 04:00 Hours May 2, 1987 Griffin Occupied Canterlot ~~~~~ "Well boys, we tried." I said as we were marched through the gates of a makeshift POW camp in Canterlot City Park. Around us griffins watched as captured troops finished erecting what could be described as a tent city. Several of the troops looked up at us as we entered the camp and I saw a number of them look down in defeat at the sight of me. The griffin that was holding a gun to us silently pointed us to a tent and turned to return to the gate. Walking over to the gigantic canvas tent we lifted the flap and saw two rows of fourteen cots. Some of the troops looked up at us and one began approaching us. "General Jones?" The tan stallion asked. "Yep. You are?" "Colonel Thunder Chaser of the 509th Bomb Group." He said with a relaxed salute which I returned. "So Colonel, got any escape plans?" I asked in a hushed tone as I leaned towards him. "A couple. We've already figured out the guard for our area. He's clumsy, overweight, and not exactly the brightest." "We'll call him Shultz." I said with a smile as I walked forward towards an unclaimed cot. Lying down on the hard cot I closed my eyes to take a nap. And then the guard showed up. "Roll call, everybody! Roll call! Out, out, out, out, out!" Opening my eyes I saw an overweight griffin crammed into an overly tight uniform. His helmet was slightly askew and he had a rifle slung over his shoulder. He turned and made his way to the next tent as we all filed out and formed two rows of seven. He counted us as other guards counted the prisoners from other tents. After almost an hour we were dismissed back to our tents as the sun began to peak over the horizon. Walking into the tent I placed a hand on the Colonel's shoulder. "Colonel, do you happen to know how to make a radio?" ~~~~~ 20:25 Hours May 2, 1987 Stalag Luft 23, Canterlot ~~~~~ Everyone in our tent crowded around the home made radio. Though it was a crudely built device made of parts smuggled in by other prisoners, we managed to get it tuned into the now griffin controlled Radio Canterlot. Outside, a noise got our attention and I hurriedly covered the radio with a wool blanket as another prisoner got out a deck of cards we'd been given by the guards. The flap to our tent lifted and the fat guard waddled his way over to us. "What are you doing?" He asked as he craned neck to see in the middle of our little group. "Playing cards." I responded looking up at him while the other inmate shuffled the cards. "I'd ask if you'd like to join us but only bits is good in this game." The stallion across from me dealt the cards as the guard gave a small "hmph" and made his way out of the tent. We uncovered the radio and reconnected a wire to turn on the radio. "Greetings everybody! This is number one enemy, Axis Aerith, of Radio Canterlot." The female voice said. This was to be the first of the daily 'Axis Aerith' radio shows that troops would get laughs and joy from. Of course, we weren't aware of this and unbeknownst to myself, we weren't the only ones listening. ~~~~~ 20:35 Hours May 2, 1987 1237 N. Main St. Ponyville ~~~~~ Thunderstreak sat on the couch looking at the radio as Luna placed a hoof on her shoulder. In the kitchen, Celestia removed a kettle of tea from the stove and set it on a silver tray. Grabbing it with her magic she took the tray into the living room and set it on the coffee table. In the corner of the room the radio was tuned to Radio Canterlot. "And now, a very special tune for Colonel Thunderstreak from us here in Canterlot." The voice from the radio said and a moment later Moonlight Serenade began to play. Thunderstreak, who had already been crying, launched the tray of tea at the radio in a fit of anger before falling back onto the couch. Placing her face in her hooves she let out a sob that rang through the room. Luna wrapped her forelegs around Thunderstreak while Celestia turned off the radio and set about cleaning up the tea and shattered cups. ~~~~~ 00:25 Hours May 3, 1987 Stalag Luft 23, Canterlot ~~~~~ We huddled around a map of the city drawn in the dirt floor and looked between the map and each other. A single match illuminated the map as Colonel Thunder Chaser came over next to me. "Alright, everypony here?" The colonel asked. Everyone nodded and the colonel and I each grabbed sticks we'd found outside. "Let the briefing begin. Boys, tonight we escape Canterlot." "Sir," A yellow earth pony raised his hoof. "how will we escape with so many griffins in the city?" "Because we have a secret member we've recruited. George, will you come in here please?" The colonel said in a loud whisper and a moment later the fat griffin guard made his way inside. "Our guard George has agreed to help us out of the city in exchange for asylum in Equestria. Now, there's a few things that need taken care of first. George, did you manage to get a truck for transport?" "I did. The commandant bought the fake transfer papers so he thinks you're getting flown to Stalag Luft Three. And I've got the papers here for the other one." George replied as he laid his rifle on one of the cots. "Good. Now, General Jones, will you explain stage two?" Colonel Thunder Chaser asked to which I nodded. "There are camps all across Canterlot. Most of them are dedicated to holding civilians. Among those civilians is a pegasus stallion who was under the protection of the government. He's one of a few ponies who possesses what we codenamed 'the Gift'. We had brought him in from his cloud house outside Ponyville to do some research, see if we could possibly give his abilities to other ponies. The griffins found some unburned documents on him in the war department and are planning on having him flown to the Griffin Empire to perform their own research on him. This means they're going to dissect him like a middle school science project. No offence." I said as I turned to George. "None taken." "Now, he is listed as a top priority for immediate rescue and evacuation. The rest are unfortunately listed as collateral damage in the eyes of the general staff." "Collateral damage? That's my family you're talking about!" A grey pegasus almost shouted before being silenced by the other prisoners. "You think I don't know that? Look, if I could rescue everypony in this city, I would. I don't like the thought of leaving anyone here as much as any of you. But we have to think about Equestria. We all swore an oath. Now I'm willing to abide mine. And if any of you break yours, I'll personally see to it that you're shot for treason or desertion. Now, our target is codenamed 'Fire Bolt'. He's black with a blue muzzle and a blue and black mane and tail. Shouldn't be hard to find. George, is the truck ready to go?" "Yes sir. It is warmed up and awaiting you for transport." George replied with a salute. I saluted back and looked down at the map. "Now, we're here," I pointed to the central park on the map before pointing to an area near the castle. "the other camp is here. We have to get dangerously close to the enemy headquarters. That's why George here found us a solution." George produced a folded SS major's uniform and a blond wig. "Uh, sir?" The same yellow earth pony from before raised his hoof again as he looked at the SS uniform. "That's a human uniform." "Yep. George killed a human SS officer for us just for this." I told them as I began to take off my uniform and put on the SS uniform. Buttoning up the jacket I smiled to myself. "Bit snug in the chest but not too bad." I said as I pulled up the black riding pants. Slipping on the boots, the wig, and the peaked cap I smiled to myself and gave a slow spin for the others in the tent. "Not bad, huh? Say colonel, did you ever decide on a name for us tonight?" "Yeah. We're calling ourselves the Bastards." He replied. "Alright. Come on Bastards. To the truck." I said as I walked towards the flap for the tent. Stepping out into the warm spring night, I walked over to the back of the waiting truck and undid the latches on the tailgate. Lowering the gate, I stood by as all the ponies in the tent climbed in. Once everypony was inside I closed the gate and made my way up to the passenger side of the cab. Opening the door I climbed in and sat on the canvas seat. George climbed in, his stomach almost against the steering wheel, and shifted the truck into drive. We approached the camp gate which was opened by the operator with a wave to George as we drove by. Now driving on the trail that turned into one of the many streets in Canterlot, I breathed a small sigh of relief at our escape from camp. Looking in the side mirror at the barbed wire fence behind us I smiled to myself but let it drop when I remembered what was ahead of us. Up ahead we could see the lights from the next camp. George slowed the truck a couple blocks before the camp and turned towards the gate. The gate for the second camp swung open and George drove us in. Tensing up, I saw the building being used for the camp commandant. The truck screeched to a halt and I swung the door open. Stepping down, I grabbed the fake transfer papers from George and walked towards the camp office. The two guards by the door snapped to attention before one opened the door for me. Walking into the building I saw the light for the commandant's office was still on. Knocking on the door I heard a groan from the griffin inside. "Come in!" The griffin called from the other side of the door. Grabbing the handle, I opened the door and saw the griffin's eyes go wide at the sight of me. He stood up and snapped to attention, his talons forming the familiar Nazi salute. I raised my right hand and he relaxed slightly. "Lieutenant, I am here to pick up a prisoner of yours for transport." I said with my best German accent as I handed him the fake papers. He looked them over before nodding. "Everything seems to be in order. I'll have one of the guards get him for you." "Oh, that von't be necessary. Vhat tent is he in?" "Number twelve." The commandant replied as he handed me back the papers. Saluting him again, I made my way outside and looked around the camp. About twenty yards away, a tent with the number twelve painted on it caught my attention. Walking over to it I opened the flap and saw all the occupants in their beds. Quietly stepping inside, I removed the SS cap and began to walk down the middle of the camp, looking for the pegasus we had come for. I finally saw the blue in his mane and quietly made my way over by his cot. Crouching down next to him, I began to rouse him from his sleep. "Hey," I whispered as I gently nudged him in the shoulder with my hand. "I need you to wake up." His eyes barely got open before he glanced at me. His eyes shot open at the SS collar tabs. Quickly placing my hand over his mouth I began to explain myself. "I'm Commanding General James Jones of the Royal Equestrian Air Force. I have a truck waiting outside that will get you out of here and back home." Removing my hand I saw his wings were missing some feathers. "They removed your primary flight feathers like all the other pegasi. They'll grow back but it'll be awhile. Look, they think I'm here to transfer you to the Griffin Empire so just act a bit nervous and don't think about the fact they'll shoot us if they figure us out." Grabbing his shoulder I gave him a small smile. "No pressure." Standing up, I placed the cap back on my head and took a few steps back as he rolled off his cot. He reached under his pillow and produced a book which he then tucked under his wing for safekeeping. Letting him lead the way, I made sure to keep a hand on the pistol on my hip. To this day I still don't know how they didn't catch on sooner. As I 'marched' the pegasus to the truck, I made sure to keep an eye on the guards. When we reached the truck I breathed a sigh of relief as I lowered the tailgate and the other 'prisoners' helped him into the truck. "By the way, never did catch your actual name." "Harts Fire." He replied as he took a seat in the back of the truck. Slamming the gate shut I climbed back into the passenger seat and looked over at George. "Let's get the hell out of here." I said as I removed the cap. George put the truck in drive, made a U-turn, and drove out the camp gates. As we drove through the occupied city, I made sure to keep my eyes peeled for anything that would threaten the mission. Like he had read my mind, George spoke up from the driver's seat. "I'm sure we'll make it, sir." "And if we need to hide or fight while in the city?" I asked as I looked over at him. "We can find a basement or something." "You know the problem with that though, George? Fighting in a basement offers a lot of difficulties. Number one being, you're fighting in a fucking basement." I replied as I crossed my arms and looked back at the road ahead of us. The truck bounced as we drove through the cobblestone streets of Canterlot. "Now, there's going to be troops patrolling around the edge of the occupied zone. So we need to find an area they're not going to be at during this time of night." "The old trading trail on the southwest side of the city. No griffins go there because they've heard there's timber wolfs in the woods around it. It's just wide enough to accommodate a truck." "Then we go there." ~~~~~ 01:50 Hours May 3, 1987 Greenridge Forest ~~~~~ We all stood next to the truck and looked in the direction of Canterlot. Undoing the buttons on the black SS jacket, I took it off and threw it to the side of the road. Leaning my head back against the side of the truck I let out a sigh and looked at the stars above us. Looking down again, I looked over at Harts Fire who had his face in his book. "Harts?" He looked up from his book at me as his eyes adjusted from looking at the pages. "I know you're probably tired but just to ensure that everything is fine, I need you to test your wings" "I thought they removed some of his feathers?" Someone asked to which I held up a hand before pointing to Harts as he walked a few yards away. He took a deep before his wings shot upward and fire shot into the sky. Everyone looked on in a mix of awe and terror as blue flames came from his wingtips and turned into red/orange bolts of fire that rose into the sky. He quickly folded his wings which caused the flames to be extinguished. As he turned around I saw the others still staring at him. He quietly trotted over and picked up his book and turned to the page he had left off with. "Maybe we should go ahead and get going again before they figure out we escaped. I'm sure that could be seen in Canterlot." I said as I opened the passenger door of the truck. Setting my right foot up on the step, I looked back at Austin who was climbing into the back of the truck. Looking down at my boot for a moment I sighed and climbed into the cab. George climbed in on the other side and started up the truck. He had stripped himself of his uniform the moment he had left the truck and it now sat between us folded on the seat. As we started going down the road I noticed George glancing over at me. "Something on your mind?" "Yeah, what was that back there?" "That, George, was Harts Fire. He's one of only a few non-unicorns in the world who has abilities like that. And even unicorns have difficulty controlling things like fire." "So, he can shoot bolts of fire from his wingtips?" "Yeah. There's a mare we had on file who can manipulate stone with a wave of her hoof. We think they're either what's left of an almost extinct type of pony or the next evolutionary step in ponykind. And even though just one of them could wipe out entire divisions of troops without breaking a sweat, we've found that they're all pacifists. They'll only fight if they feel it's absolutely necessary so we can't exactly recruit them to fight for us. We do want to study them though. If we can figure out how they have their abilities then we might be able to give them to others. Those who will fight for us. Honestly I'd rather have them fighting on the front lines than any kind of tank or plane." I said as I remembered the SS cap on my head and removed it. Tossing it out the window, I laid my head back against the rear of the cab and watched the beams from the headlights dance across the dirt road with every bump. Looking up at the moon in the sky I began to whistle Moonlight Serenade quietly to myself. Then from the back I heard a chorus of whistles join in. Looking through the small window between the cab and the back of the truck, I saw Austin and Soarin dancing as the ponies on the benches in the back whistled along. Turning back around towards the front, I laid back and closed my eyes. ~~~~~ 03:05 Hours May 3, 1987 1237 N. Main St. Ponyville, Equestria ~~~~~ "Jimmy." Austin poked me in the shoulder and in my still half asleep state I turned in my seat and adjusted my head to get comfortable again. "Jimmy, get up." Ignoring him, I relaxed again and tried to resume my sleep. It was then that a hand grabbed me by the back of my shirt collar and dragged me out of the seat. Falling through the air, I hit the ground with a grunt and laid there. Shrugging my shoulders I rolled over onto my side and placed my hands under my head. Austin sighed and grabbed me by my shoulders and lifted me up. I suddenly felt a stinging in my cheek as at the same moment a smack noise sounded through the air. My eyes shot open and I looked at Austin in surprise. "Did you just slap me awake?" "Uh, maybe?" He said with hesitation at answering. "If you did then I will fucking punch you into paralysis." I said as I slowly got up. Removing my tie, I slowly walked towards the front door of my home and tossed the black tie onto the yard as I undid the top button of my shirt. Opening the door as quietly as I could I stopped halfway through and turned around. Waving for Austin to come to me, he hurried over and placed a hand on the door frame. "Yeah?" "Bring Harts Fire over here." He walked over to the back of the truck and I saw him talking to the stallion that was hidden behind the cover over the back of the truck. Harts Fire climbed out of the truck and made his way up the path to the door. "Harts-I can call you Harts, right?" He nodded his head as I smiled a small bit. "Since you can't fly for a little bit and we won't be able to get your cloud house to ground level until tomorrow; how about you spend the night? We have a guest room and I won't take no for an answer." "I suppose it would be rude to decline such an offer from someone like yourself. Especially if I can't reach my house." He replied with a smirk at the last part. Stepping aside I let him enter the house before quietly showing him to the guest room. Opening the door I told him to make himself at home. After a few minutes showing him where the lower level bathroom was, I bid him goodnight and made my way upstairs. Quietly opening the bedroom door, I walked over to the bed and gently sat down on my side. Ignoring Thunderstreak's snoring I laid down and rolled over to face towards her. Her side gently rose and fell with her breathing/snoring and her chest fur was ruffled from whatever she was dreaming about. Scooting closer to her I felt her fore hooves suddenly shoot out and grab me, my head being pressed against her soft fur. As she held me there I noticed her snoring had stopped and instead I heard her sniffle. "Don't you ever worry me like that again, James. I thought I'd lost you." She said as her voice cracked. "If I lost you, I don't know what I'd do." "Every thought and every dream I had since the other night has been about getting back to you." "I love you, James." Thunderstreak said as she pulled me even closer than she already had. "I love you too, honey." I replied as I wrapped my arms around her and felt my eyes start to water. "I love you too."
The Jolly Rogers	30: Mistakes	~~~~~ 10:03 Hours May 3, 1987 1237 N. Main St. ~~~~~ I held the hockey stick with my left hand as I taped a can of hairspray to the end of it with my right hand. Next to me Austin had a wooden pole with a match taped to the end. Thunderstreak looked out the window at the wasp nest by the door. She turned around and sighed at us. "Are you sure you don't want to call somepony to get rid of that? Or at least, you know, wait for a third stooge?" She asked with a tone of sarcasm. "Hey, you sting my head; I burn down your house. That's the Jones way." I replied as I ripped the tape and stuck down the last little bit. "Besides, John was busy." Austin told her as he lit the match. We nodded to each other as I taped down the button on the hairspray and placed a dented army helmet on my head. We flung the door open as Luna joined Thunderstreak by the window. I followed Austin out and he suddenly shouted about his match going out. Inside, Luna sipped her coffee as we got stung by a swarm of angry wasps. "You know what we have to do, right?" Thunderstreak asked as she stood next to Luna. "Yeah. I'll go get the video camera." ~~~~~ 12:30 Hours May 3, 1987 Ponyville Air Force Base ~~~~~ "We lost an estimated two hundred fifty aircraft on the ground during the invasion of Canterlot. Of course we know fifteen pilots managed to get their planes here to Ponyville. The other thirty five planes of the fifty that managed to get in the air are unaccounted for. We've called every allied aerodrome and civilian airport within their range to check for them and we've had no luck. We're listing them as lost in aerial combat." Spitfire explained as she showed me the list of aircraft based in Canterlot. The ones that had been destroyed had their serial numbers written in red ink with the survivors written in black. "And the Navy managed to destroy their research planes before their evacuation of the city?" I asked. Her white dress uniform seemed to glow from the light that streamed in through my office windows. "They did. All classified information was destroyed to prevent its capture." She replied as she adjusted her cap which she had tucked under her wing. "Alright. Thank you Captain. You're dismissed." She snapped to attention and saluted before trotting out of my office. Looking back down at the paper of the lost aircraft, I sighed and my right hand made a fist as it sat on my desk. Slamming it against the wood in frustration I heard a knock from the doorway. Looking up at the door I saw Gilda standing in her Equestrian Air Force uniform. Her talons held a manila envelope with classified stamped on it in red ink. "Come in. And shut the door behind you please." She stepped in and kicked the door shut with one of her paws. "Sir, urgent intelligence for you." Gilda said as she placed the envelope onto my desk. Opening the envelope, I reached in and grabbed the pictures from inside. I grabbed my glasses and put them on to get a better look at the pictures. In the first picture a plane could be seen parked on the ground, its swept back wings each had an engine. And each engine had no propeller to be seen. Flipping to the next one I saw a profile shot which showed off the plane's shark-like shape. My hand shook as I reached up and removed my glasses. "Get every member of the general staff and the princesses. If they question it, tell them it involves something that could cost us the war." ~~~~~ 14:00 Hours May 3, 1987 Ponyville Town Hall ~~~~~ "Fillies, gentlecolts, and gentlemen; today at twelve thirty hours I received recon pictures of a new aircraft the Nazis have now put onto the aerial battlefield. This aircraft, if different variants are built, could affect the outcome of the war. We may have two F-14s in our arsenal; but the fuel reserves for them were located in Canterlot." I said as I looked around at the ponies and few humans sitting around the conference table. The conference room was located on the second floor and outside Marine Corps pegasi stood guard by the windows. "Now, we only have piston aircraft. The Air Force's best fighter? The P-51 Mustang. The Navy and Marines' best fighter? The F4U Corsair. And the Army Air Corps doesn't even have any frontline fighters. The aircraft that we may all now have to face," I removed a fabric cover that was over a large display board next to me. "has been issued the military-wide codename of 'Swallow'. This aircraft is the Messerschmitt ME-262." I said as I pointed to the aircraft illustrated on the display. "It is equipped with two Junkers Jumo 004 B-1 turbojet engines, four 30mm cannons that can go through a B-17 like a hot knife through butter, and it can fly at altitudes up to thirty seven thousand feet. This is around two thousand feet higher than the Air Force's B-17Gs. We're facing a wonder weapon folks; and if it can be put on carriers then it won't just be the Army and the Air Force who has to deal with this aircraft." "General, you say it can turn the tide of the war, but what would the effects actually be on the battlefield, for all branches, if this aircraft went into mass production?" A Marine Corps colonel asked from his seat halfway down the table. "It can be used for interception, ground attack, and high speed recon missions. This plane will be the ultimate weapon against us. If we don't manage to damage their production process then the tide of the war will be turned against us." "It wasn't against us when they took our capitol?" A Navy commodore asked with a tone of annoyance. "Commodore, if I may," Gilda stood up from her seat and gently placed her cap on the table. "as someone who has flown the 262 in its testing phase, I can say that what planes you have that you think can take on the Swallow; will get shot to pieces. Your pilots will get slaughtered before they even know they're under attack. The tactic they teach the pilots to use is a dive attack. Now, they've cured the problems of the controls freezing when the aircraft approaches Mach 1. There are even reports of a 262 going supersonic but those aren't confirmed. And this means they can easily dive from above any Equestrian formations without concern about their planes killing them. This plane is going to slaughter your troops in the air and on the ground." "Well it should be easy considering General Jones is killing just as many in the air as the enemy!" An Army colonel shouted. Everyone looked at him before looking at me. My brain finally finished processing what he said and I slammed my fist on the table. "What the fuck is that supposed to mean?!" I shouted at the colonel. He stood up and tossed a folder towards me. It landed halfway between us and slid to a stop in front of me. Picking it up I opened it up and flipped through the contents. "James." I looked up at Celestia who had a somewhat upset look on her face. "We've gotten reports from mechanics and pilots in almost every branch about planes being damaged even when not in combat. Wings collapsing during the most basic maneuvers, Corsairs ripping in half when they catch a wire, bombers having engines rip from their mountings during level flight. We believe it to be faults in the designs. The designs you drew up. As of yesterday I brought in a team of aeronautical engineers from earth to investigate the safety of the planes. We've got engineers from Grumman, Boeing, Douglas, and Lockheed out at Area 13 checking out the designs and making improvements. It also seems we'll be needing jets now. But, due to the closeness you have to this case, I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to take a leave of absence until this all blows over." I sat down and rested my head on my right hand. Nodding my head I sighed and looked up around the table. "And what am I supposed to do until then?" I asked as my sights stopped on Celestia. "Well, I'd recommend finding a hobby. Besides getting stung by wasps." Luna suppressed a laugh at her sister's comment. "Thunderstreak is only about three weeks from her due date. I'm sure she could use some help around the house." I nodded my head again and stood up. I started walking towards the door but stopped behind the two four star Air Force generals. Placing a hand on their shoulders I looked down at them. "Take good care of my Air Force, boys. I'll be watching very closely from the sidelines." They nodded and I walked out the door. Heading downstairs I gave a small nod to the receptionist and stepped outside. The warm spring air greeted me and I sighed again. Going down the steps I walked through town towards the elementary school. When I arrived I stood with the other parents who were waiting for school to let out and talked with some of them. "So what do you think about them wanting to cut the amount of funding the elementary gets?" A mare in the group asked and there was a collective groan from the rest of us. "The school is already using old textbooks. What's the money going to now?" I asked. "Well, I heard from Rose who heard from Aloe who heard from Thunderlane that they're funneling that money to the high school hoofball team." Rarity said which got even more groans from us. "Can't they raise their own money?" Button Mash's mom Milano asked as I gently sat on the top rail of the fence that surrounded the school yard. "If science club, soccer, volleyball, and even cheerleading have to raise their own money; why does hoofball get to just sit back and do nothing for their funding?" I asked the group and there were mummers of agreement. "I mean, when I was in school, our teams earned all the money they needed. They didn't get it handed to them. Science club and FFE, if they have to work for their money then by Celestia so should the hoofball team." Another round of agreement went through the group just before the sound of the bell ringing made us all look up to the door of the schoolhouse. A crowd of colts and fillies poured out of the school and into the yard. I saw Lancaster walking down the narrow path with the Cutie Mark Crusaders and Rumble. They all walked out the gate and over by me and Rarity as the other foals began to leave with their parents. As they stopped by us, Rarity and I both asked how their day had gone. "Fine." They all answered in unison. "Nothing fun or exciting happen?" I asked them to which Rumble immediately got a devilish grin. "I leaned that if you do this," He leaned over and kissed Lancaster on the cheek which caused his coat to revert to its crystal state. "he does that." Lancaster immediately blushed and his coat returned to the regular blue. Next to him the girls let out a giggle and I had to suppress a small laugh myself. And then I realized what just happened. "Did you just kiss my son in front of me?" Rumble tensed up but Lancaster came to his defense. "Dad, I'm nine years old. In some cultures I could be married by now. Besides, how old were you when you got your first kiss?" He asked as he looked up at me. "That's not important." I replied. "Oh yes it is." Rarity said as we stopped in the road about halfway home. "I got my first kiss when I was ten." She said as she put a hoof up to her chest. "Alright James, your turn to share." "I said it wasn't important." "Is too." "Isn't" "Is too!" The Crusaders said in unison. "Nineteen! Happy? I didn't get kissed until I was nineteen." I admitted and Rarity covered her mouth with her hoof. "So help me if any of you laugh I will skin you alive and turn you into shoes." I threatened them as we started walking again. As we walked through the town center I saw a number of colts climbing on the B-17 that was parked next to town hall. After the completion of their tour of duty the crew of Ponyville Belle went on a war bonds tour of Equestria per the request of Princess Luna. Once the tour was completed the Air Force presented the bomber to the town of Ponyville. Now instead of war weary stallions it hosted the foals of town as their play area. Continuing on through the square we said goodbye to Rarity and Sweetie Belle who broke away towards Carousel Boutique. "Hey dad?" I looked down at Lancaster who was looking up at me. "What're we doing for dinner tonight?" "Well that depends on whether or not your mother agrees to something." I replied as we neared the house. Pulling my keys from my pocket I flipped through them and found the right one as we turned up the walkway for the house. Unlocking the door, I opened it and immediately removed my jacket. Hanging up my jacket and cap I made my way upstairs to the bedroom. Opening up the bedroom door I walked over and flopped face first onto the bed. Behind me the sound of hooves entering the room made me open my eyes. "Long day?" Thunderstreak's voice asked as she sat down on the other side of the bed. "You have no idea. I've been ordered to take a leave of absence by the princesses. How does a vacation to Las Pegasus sound?" I asked as I turned my head to look at her. "Why did they ask you to take a leave of absence?" She asked as she laid down next to me. "The blueprints I drew up for the planes we use are shit. They brought in engineers to find all the faults with them. I'm pretty sure the Air Force is out of the war until they fix all my fuck ups." I told her as I rolled over onto my side to fully face her. "Well it'll be nice to have you home more. And what was that thing earlier about Las Pegasus?" "I was thinking, it may be awhile before I'm back from this leave. And while that trip on the Titan after the war is going to be our honeymoon; I was thinking that we could go on a family trip. Go see the sights, maybe see a show or two. I heard Blue Solo and Romantic Rhythm have a duo show out there at one of the casinos. Maybe we can go see them." She smiled at the idea but then frowned a bit. "How will we get there? There's no civilian gas stations to fuel the car between here and there." "Just leave that to me." ~~~~~ 18:30 Hours May 3, 1987 Ponyville Air Force Base ~~~~~ "Thanks for letting us borrow the Electra, Amelia." I said as the kids finished loading up their bags into the silver airplane. "Not a problem. I'm just glad you're out of that camp. Can't have my future stepson in a prison camp." She replied as the setting sun caught the diamond ring on her left hand. "How'd you get yourself, dad, and the plane out of Canterlot before the griffins captured the city?" I asked her as I looked back at the plane. "We were actually on a trip to Manehattan when the invasion happened. As soon as your dad heard on the radio you were reported captured he immediately wanted to come to Ponyville." Amelia said as we began to walk towards the plane. "When did you put all the seats and windows back in?" I asked her as I eyed the windows lining the side of the plane. "Oh, I had that done a few weeks ago. With the war going on I figured there's not going to be much long distance flying. Besides, it was designed for times like this. Your father and I were actually planning on a trip out west ourselves. Maybe we'll stop over in Las Pegasus and see Sabre's show." "What show? He never told us about any show." I told her as we stopped next to the door of the Electra. "Apparently he's got some sort of big dinner show type thing going on at one of the casinos." She said as I climbed up the small metal steps by the door. Giving a small 'hmm' of acknowledgment I smiled at her and stepped into the plane. I shut the door and heard her grab the steps. As I walked hunched over towards the cockpit I stopped by the entrance to the cockpit and turned around. "Your families know you're coming with us right?" I asked the Crusaders and Rumble who all were strapped into their own seats. They nodded their heads and I turned around again. Climbing into the cockpit I sat down in the left seat and buckled the seatbelt. Sliding the side window open I felt the evening breeze dance into the cockpit as I went through the preflight checklist. After making certain that everything was as it should be I stuck my hand out the window and made a twirling motion with my index finger. Flipping the magnetos to both for the left engine I hit the starter and the propeller began to spin. Pulling my hand back inside the plane, I watched the propeller spin before the engine finally sputtered, coughed, and then roared to life. Looking over at the engine's tachometer I waited until it reached an acceptable point before repeating the process with the right engine. As soon as both engines were running I signaled for Amelia to remove the wooden chocks under the left main gear. She ran over and under the wing before appearing a few moments later with the chocks tucked under her left arm. With a wave she bid us farewell and I waved with my left hand while nudging the throttles forward with my right. Looking forward out the front window I taxied the plane out to the runway. Clipping on my throat mic, I called the tower before slipping on the headset. "November Romeo One Six Zero Two Zero, you are cleared for departure to Las Pegasus. You're currently the only mechanical air traffic in Equestria. Should be easy flying." The single controller in the tower said. I eased the plane onto the runway from the taxiway and lined up with the far end. Lowering the flaps I took a deep breath and was about to start moving the throttles forward when something moving in the cockpit doorway caught my attention. Turning my head I saw Lancaster standing next to me. "Hey kiddo. Wanna sit up here with me?" He climbed into the right seat and strapped himself in. Looking back out the window I pushed the throttles forward and continued to glance between the window and the airspeed indicator. The tail of the plane rose and I no longer had to stretch my neck to see ahead. Once the airspeed reached 130 mph I pulled back on the wheel and the plane began to rise from the runway. As we climbed out of Ponyville I leveled off at three hundred feet and raised the flaps and gear. Banking right to a west heading I rocked the wings as we flew over Harts Fire's now grounded cloud house. Flying over Sweet Apple Acres I dropped altitude and came in low over the farm house. As we flew over I had to pull up early to avoid hitting the chimney with the left wing and I looked back in the cabin to see the kids all looking outside while Thunderstreak had her muzzle in an airsickness bag. Looking back out the front window I put the plane into a climb and watched the altimeter start climbing up towards eight thousand feet. ~~~~~ 23:05 Hours May 3, 1987 Las Pegasus Airfield ~~~~~ As I carried the last of the kids to one of the carriages that were waiting for us; I looked around at the bright lights of the city. Looking back towards the carriage ahead of me I saw the other four foals asleep. Typhoon and Charger both sat on one side while I placed Sweetie Belle onto the bench with the others. I quietly shut the door and made my way up to the carriage for Thunderstreak and I. Climbing in, I shut the door and sat down next to Thunderstreak. "Thank you for the trip, sweetie." She said as she laid her head on my shoulder. "But, where are we going to be going to stay?" "Well, Sabre apparently has a show out here. He lived with you for seventeen years so I think it's time he played host for you. Especially since he's one of the biggest stars in Applewood." I replied as I rested my head on top of hers. ~~~~~ 23:37 Hours May 3, 1987 Moondust Casino Royal Suite ~~~~~ The door of the suite swung open to reveal a very tired Sabre. "Fucking tartarus guys. It's almost midnight. Dad, I thought you'd be in Ponyville. Not that it's not pleasant to see you; you guys are always in my heart." "Yeah, well; I'm here, I'm there, I'm fucking everywhere. I'm the eggman." I said as we started to make our way inside. "You all come to bother me in a different time zone?" He asked as the door swung shut behind the last of us. We immediately tossed our bags down to claim where we would be sleeping and no one dared to take the couch before Thunderstreak could lay claim to it. Laying down on the wooden floor I removed my smoking jacket and rolled it up to make a pillow. Bidding goodnight to everyone I turned onto my side and quickly fell asleep. ~~~~~ 07:13 Hours May 4, 1987 Moondust Casino Royal Suite ~~~~~ I flipped the pancakes onto plates with a spatula before moving the pan and spatula to the sink. Turning around I grabbed the plates and passed them around to everyone in the kitchen and the dining room. Taking my own plate to the corner of the dining room I stood and grabbed the pancake on top. I took a bite before noticing the sound off hooves in the hallway. Looking towards the doorway I saw Sabre making his way towards the table. He sat down with a huff and was breathing heavily as he leaned back in his seat. "I swear, everything I do wears me out nowadays. I need to lay off those peanut butter and banana sandwiches." Sabre said as he continued to try and catch his breath. "I told you those things were addicting." I said just before I took another bite of my food. "Honey, you need to go to a doctor. You're worn out just from getting out of bed." Brush Stroke said as she placed her hoof on his. "I'm fine, Brushy. I just need to cut back on the junk food." He replied as he leaned forward and grabbed a pancake off his plate. "You guys coming to my show tonight?" "Yeah. We figured we'd go see the sights today too. You want to come with?" Thunderstreak asked Sabre who had half a pancake crammed in his mouth. He shook his head and Brush Stroke looked over at Thunderstreak. "Sabre actually has to meet with the casino owners today. I'd be happy to join you though. I need to look for some stuff for our nursery." Brush Stroke replied and they both looked down at their stomachs. "Girl's day?" "Absolutely." ~~~~~ 18:27 Hours May 4, 1987 Las Pegasus Police Department ~~~~~ "I look away for not even one minute and you five manage slip away and cause more chaos than Discord." I told the kids as we walked down the front steps of the police station. "How did you even manage to get onto the casino floor? Not to mention play any of the games? I mean, the blackjack dealer should've known from the lack of cutie marks that you all were underage! And then the aquarium. You literally blew up a one hundred thousand bit aquarium." "It was the only place big enough to demonstrate the experiment." Lancaster explained as we turned down the sidewalk back towards the Moondust. "You can't just throw a brick of sodium into a gigantic fish tank." I told him while the others just walked along looking guilty. "And another thing, Scootaloo, you don't peep on the showmares. Applebloom, if you see a bunch of mares going in a place called the Adam's Apple, it doesn't mean there's apples involved. Sweetie Belle, you actually didn't do anything really serious so you're fine. Same with you Rumble." "One question though." Applebloom said as we entered the lobby of the Moondust. "Why were those mares all throwing money at those stallions?" ~~~~~ 19:10 Hours May 4, 1987 Moondust Casino Restaurant ~~~~~ Thunderstreak and I walked around backstage looking for Sabre. As we looked I felt a small smack against my leg and I looked forward to see Brush Stroke waving at us. We gave her a smile as we approached her and we followed her into a dressing room. At a vanity Sabre sat in his black suit looking like it was brand new. "Look at my baby boy!" Thunderstreak exclaimed as she rushed over and wrapped her hooves around Sabre. He seemed barely able to lift his forelegs to hug her back and I looked over at Brush Stroke with worry. She had the same concerned look in her eyes but like me she kept quiet. "You look so grown up." Thunderstreak said as she pulled away. He smiled to her and I finally noticed his eyes. The once vibrant, blue eyes now looked exhausted and bleak. He offered us a smile that seemed to say he thought he was doing better than he was. "I'm glad you guys are here. This'll be the first show of mine you've seen won't it?" He asked as he looked between Thunderstreak and I. "Besides you and Brush Stroke's movie; yeah this'll be our first show." I said as I stepped forward to give him a hug. I gently wrapped my arms around him and I felt him do the same before I started to pull away. "So how you feeling?" I asked him as I stepped back. "Tired. Got a little nap in after my meeting. But I should be good for the show." Sabre stated as he picked up a glass of water. He took a drink and then gently set the glass back on the vanity top. "You guys probably ought to get back to your table. If what I heard about the aquarium at the Sunrise is true, there might be something destroyed out there." We nodded and walked out into the hallway where Thunderstreak looked up at me. "What happened at the Sunrise?" "Nothing of significance. It's better not to ask questions." I told her as we entered the restaurant through a side door. At the table the kids were all sitting talking with each other, much to my relief. At a nearby table Charger sat in his dress blues as Typhoon talked about something I couldn't make out from a distance. Sitting down at our table I loosened my tie a bit and undid the top button of my white dress shirt. A waiter brought out the night's meal and a few minutes later the lights dimmed and a spotlight shone on the side of the stage. Sabre appeared and made his way to the center of the stage. He smiled as the crowd applauded and he chuckled as he picked up the microphone. As he gripped it in his magic he began to walk up to the edge of the stage. "Fillies and gentlecolts, I'd like to thank you all for coming out here tonight. I'm gonna try to do the songs you want to hear. Now without further ado." The band began to play a song I knew well and Sabre let the intro drag out longer than normal before he began to actually sing. "Somewhere-beyond the sea Somewhere waiting for me My lover stands on golden sands And watches the ships that go sailing Somewhere-beyond the sea She's there watching for me If I could fly like birds on high Then straight to her arms I'd go sailing It's far beyond the stars It's near beyond the moon I know beyond a doubt My heart will lead me there soon We'll meet-beyond the shore We'll kiss just as before Happy we'll be beyond the sea And never again I'll go sailing" The band played a bit and Sabre stepped down off the stage. He walked over to our table and grabbed Brush Stroke's hoof as the music turned into something one could slow dance to. They danced their way around the table before he kissed her hoof and made his way back up onto the stage. "I know-beyond a doubt My heart will meet me there soon We'll meet; I know we'll meet, beyond the shore We'll kiss just as before Happy we'll be beyond the sea And never again I'll go sailing No more sailing So long sailing Bye, bye sailing No more aqua Bye, bye H2O" The band finished the song and the crowd, everyone at our table included, applauded him. "Thank you. Thank you very much" Sabre said as he attempted to catch his breath. I immediately felt something was wrong and looked over at Thunderstreak. She had a concerned look too when we both looked back to Sabre. He suddenly let out a deep breath and then collapsed. ~~~~~ 22:00 Hours May 4, 1987 Las Pegasus General Hospital ~~~~~ I paced back and forth as hospital security attempted to keep reporters out. The white walls of the waiting room glowed from the lights on the ceiling and I looked at my watch to check the time. "James, when he's awake and alert they'll let us know." Thunderstreak said as I started pacing again. Just as I was about to turn on my heel and start back the other way the door opened and a light blue unicorn stallion stepped through. His white coat flapped a little with each step he took and I took a step towards him. "Mister and Missus Jones?" He asked as he put a note pad into his coat pocket. "Yes?" We replied in unison and he singled us out from the rest of our group. "Sabre is awake and he should be fine but there is something I think you should know." We both sat down and he teleported a clipboard into the room that he then began looking over. "I'm afraid his red blood cells aren't absorbing as much oxygen as they should be. It's a genetic disease and often times the illness remains dormant. Some carriers can go their entire lives without showing any symptoms of the disease. But usually it emerges itself after an injury and according to medical records he broke his leg while in the service. I feel this is the most likely thing to have brought on the symptoms. Now, I'm afraid he'll have to use oxygen most of the time. That also includes when he sleeps because the slowed breathing reduces the already low levels of oxygen in his system. He should be fine for his nightly performances as long as he's on oxygen immediately before and after the show. He should also avoid most physical activities. Now, if you'd like you all can go back to see him but only two at a time." Thunderstreak and I stood up and walked out of the waiting room. We made our way down the white hallway and found the room Sabre was in. I opened the door and saw Brush Stroke sitting next to the bed, her hoof holding Sabre's as he looked at the flowers that had already been sent to him. We made our way in and stopped next to the bed. "How you feeling kid?" I asked as I kneeled down next to him. "Tired. Very tired. Who sent the flowers?" He asked through the clear oxygen mask. "Uh," I leaned over and looked at the attached card. "Soprano Note." "Is he the one down at the Starlight?" "I think so." I replied as I looked at something else by the bed. "And Blue Solo sent you a bottle of bourbon." "If the hospital food is as bad as all the stories say, I may be surviving off that bourbon." He said with a chuckle. I stood up and patted his hoof before stepping out into the hallway to give Thunderstreak her time with Sabre. Shutting the door behind me I leaned against the wall and slowly slid down it to sit on the floor. Tilting my head back to rest it against the wall, I sighed and closed my eyes. "Sir, is everything alright?" A female voice asked and I opened my eyes and looked over to my left. Next to me stood a nurse with a white coat and green eyes who was looking at me with some worry. "Yeah. Just-do you have any kids?" "Oh yeah. Twin boys." She replied with a smile as she sat down next to me. "How old?" "Ten. You have any kids, sir?" "Three plus twins on the way." I told her with a small smile. "One of my boys is in that room." I said as my smile dropped and I pointed a thumb to the door next to me. "I knew I should've told him to go to the doctor's sooner but I thought 'it's just him eating junk food'. I should've said something. I noticed him breathing kind of heavy for months when he'd visit but I still just thought it was from all the junk food. I'm a horrible father." "Hey now, don't you say that. You love your son right?" She asked me as I leaned my head back again. "Of course." "And you'd do anything for him?" "Absolutely." "Then you're a good father. Every parent makes mistakes. Mine usually involve letting my boys have sweets but we all make big mistakes. That's usually how you end up with more kids." She said with a smile and a chuckle. "Well, I probably ought to get back to my rounds." She stood and stretched her legs before looking back down at me. "Remember, every parent makes mistakes. Don't beat yourself up over one mistake. You do that and you'll make more mistakes because of it." She walked down the hallway and I thought about what she'd said. As I watched her walking away I heard the door open and I turned to see Thunderstreak walk out with Brush Stroke behind her. "I'm going to take Brush Stroke back to the suite. Will you keep an eye on the kids until I get back?" Thunderstreak asked me and I simply nodded my head in response. Slowly standing up I began my way to the waiting room to escort the kids back to see Sabre. ~~~~~ 00:05 Hours May 5, 1987 Las Pegasus Airfield ~~~~~ I ran my fingertips along the aluminum skin of the Electra. With the end of every panel I felt the rivets slide under my fingers and I smiled at the shine that the reflection of the moon made on the skin of the plane. "I thought I might find you here." A tomboyish sounding voice said behind me. I turned around to see Rainbow Dash perched on the wing of the Electra. "Hey Dash. What're you doing all the way out here?" I replied as I walked over and climbed up onto the wing to join her. "I actually need to talk to you about something serious." Dash answered as I laid down next to her so my view was up to the stars. "Alright. Shoot." "I'm pregnant." "Yeah, and I'm the President of the United States." I replied with a laugh at her statement. "For real Dash, what'd you want to talk to me about?" "James, I'm serious. The group's chief medical officer sent me home. I'm pregnant." I looked over at her and saw she truly was serious. "Dear God. You really are aren't you? Well, congrats. I never took you for the motherly type." "That's the thing, James. I'm not the motherly type. Moms don't become famous fighter pilots or stunt fliers. Moms can't do fun things like go to Wonderbolts shows or go on weekend trips to Las Pegasus." "Plus with you being pregnant you can say goodbye to cider this fall." I said as I looked back up at the stars. There was the thud of Dash smacking her face against the plane's skin and she let out a loud groan. "You just had to mention that didn't you?" She said with a whine as she flopped over onto the wing. "Yeah. But think, if you have a filly, you can make her a little Rainbow Dash Junior. Tell her all about how her mom was one of the first mares to fly in combat and what all those medals on your old uniform are. In fact, I probably shouldn't tell you this, but the royal sisters are filling out the papers to present you the Medal of Valor for the first mission to Gryphus and for helping in Operation Doolittle. You'll be Equestria's most highly decorated female service member in history." I told her as I rolled over onto my side to face her. She looked over at me in shock from what I said. "The Medal of Valor?" "Yep. You'll be the first mare to receive it. Not even Captain Spitfire has been awarded the Medal of Valor. Closest she's got is the Navy Star." "Wow." Dash said as she looked up at the stars. "Wanna say you don't have potential to be a Wonderbolt now? I think if you meet the right stallion you could pull off being the most awesome mom ever and being one of the best stunt pilots in the world." "You know," She rolled over and looked at me. "you're right. I could totally do that. But there's a problem. I don't know many good stallions." "Well, what about Thunderlane? He seems like a nice guy. Plus he's an instructor right there in Ponyville." "I suppose. He does seem like he could be a cool guy." Dash answered as she rolled back over. "And just because they've grounded you, it doesn't mean you can't fly in civilian life. In fact, you can start right now. Climb in." I jumped up and opened the hatch in the roof of the cockpit. Climbing in, I flopped down onto the pilot's seat and looked out the window at for Dash. A thump next to me made me turn to see Rainbow Dash in the right seat. I reached up and shut the hatch and began running her through the preflight check. Once the engines were running smoothly I let Dash taxi the Electra out to the runway. At night the Las Pegasus airport switched over to uncontrolled airspace as very few planes flew in or out after dark. I slid my headset on and clipped on the throat mic. Reaching down by her seat I grabbed Dash's headset and throat mic for her. I gave them to her and clicked my microphone on. "November Romeo One Six Zero Two Zero is taking off from runway 1-8." "Can you hear me?" Dash asked over the radio. "Yeah. You hear me?" "Yep. So where are we gonna go?" She asked as we turned onto the runway. "Don't know. Maybe go out to the salt flats north of here. How far along are you?" "Well the medical officer said it couldn't have happened more than two weeks ago. Why?" "I've got some cognac and champaign in the back. Maybe we should toast your decoration and the future Rainbow Dash Junior." I said as I pushed the throttles forward while she grabbed ahold of the control wheel. "No drinking remember?" "You're only a couple weeks along. I don't think it's gonna affect the kid if you have a drink or two now. Besides, what's the worst that could happen?" ~~~~~ 08:15 Hours May 5, 1987 Great Equestrian Salt Flats 174 Miles North of Las Pegasus ~~~~~ My mind slowly began to wake up and I kept my eyes closed yet the red glow of my eyelids still hurt. My head was pounding as I opened my eyes to see the sky and the sun rising from the east. I groaned as I closed my eyes and rolled over. I wrapped my arm around something furry and smiled slightly to myself as I felt the feathered wings of a pegasus against my chest. And then I remembered where I was. My eyes shot open and I saw my arm around Rainbow Dash. Removing my arm I tried to get back and away from her but began flailing as I fell off the trailing edge of the wing. The thud of me landing on the ground awoke the pegasus who slowly and groggily crawled to the back of the wing. "What's going on back-" She froze and her eyes went wide as she looked at me. "Uh, good morning?" I said as I looked back up at her. "James, I think we did the nasty." "What makes you say that?" I asked. I had already assumed what her answer was but what she said next surprised me in that I hadn't noticed it before. "Well, number one is that you're naked." I looked down at myself and immediately covered myself with my hands and my mind began running through what to do. "And number two is that we're both covered in dried sweat." "Alright, where are my clothes?" I asked as my mind's priority went from covering myself to get dressed and make a plan. Getting up I looked on top of the wing and then under it. As I continued to walk around in search of my clothes I heard a snickering from the wing. Turning to look at Dash I saw her looking at me. "I was satisfied by that?!" She began rolling back and forth on the wing while holding her stomach with laughter. "Fuck you, Dash!" I shouted as I found my clothes strewn under the nose of the plane. "You did, remember? And going by the smudges and white spots on the wing I'd say we had one hell of a time." She said as I put my underwear on. "Dash, this is serious! I'm a married man who just slept with another mare! Do you know what would happen if all this got out?" I asked as I slid my slacks on. "Not really." "Number one, I'd probably get a divorce and lose everything I care about. Number two, I'd likely end up surrendering my command out of shame. Number three, the princesses would likely not submit the paperwork for your Medal of Valor." Dash's face suddenly got very serious at that and she started to realize the gravity of the situation. "And finally, I'd forever be known as the most famous guy who fucked Rainbow Dash." Buttoning up my shirt I walked over to the main door of the plane and climbed in before sticking my head out and looking at Dash. "Get in! Come on! I think I know somebody who can help us cover this up." Walking forward to the cockpit I flopped down in the pilot's seat and the main door slammed in the back. "Where're we going? We can't exactly go back to Las Pegasus like we are." Rainbow Dash asked as she made her way forward. "Area 13. I know some guys out there who can keep a secret."
The Jolly Rogers	31: Gains and Losses	~~~~~ 9:30 Hours May 5, 1987 Area 13 ~~~~~ I paced back and forth as a cleaning crew finished polishing the bare metal of the wing. From his seat to my right I could see Chris with his arms crossed and his eyes followed me like a hawk's. "I'm surprised at you James. I really, truly am." "Can it, Chris. I was drunk." I said as I turned on my heel to go back the other way. "James, people tend to do what they secretly want to when they're drunk. Or apparently who they want. Now look, I'm willing to hide this but I'm not happy about it. For god's sake James, your wife is pregnant! And then you did this. I can't believe you." "Just shut up already! Jesus H. fucking Christ! I made one mistake, alright?!" I sat down in a chair by the plane and ran a hand through my hair before looking down at the concrete floor. "One very big mistake and I would give anything to undo what I did. I need no further punishment than having to live with the knowledge of what I did. Because what I did will haunt me for as long as I live. I don't need your help to remind me of how horrible I am." "What if you told her?" A female voice said and I looked around for its source. Around me were only stallions and Chris. "Who said that?" I stood and looked around, Chris looking at me like I had gone mad. "I did." The voice said again and I spun around again. Still, I didn't see the mare who spoke. "Oh, silly me. I forgot to mention, I'm in your head." "Then get out of my head!" "James, what the hell is going on?" Chris asked as he stood up from his seat. "Please calm down. It makes it harder to make the connection." The voice said. "My name is Mind Reader. I'm here at the base. Can you bring me a book or something? It's pretty boring in this room. Oh and just think what you want to say. Ponies are looking at you funny." I looked around and everyone in the hangar was staring at me like I had lost my mind. "Alright, so what was it you wanted?" "Just a book or two if you'd please." "Where are you?" I asked her as I started walking outside. "They set me up with a room here on the base but I can't seem to get the door open. Can you maybe unlock it for me?" "They locked you in a room?" "It's actually quite nice. And the guard is really chatty but his thoughts are really perverted." "Heh, what can I say? Every guy is the same." I replied as I entered the main building. The guards in the corridor snapped to attention and saluted as I walked past. I opened the door to my office that had been built at the base and went over to the desk. Opening the top left drawer I retrieved the universal key that sat under a pile of papers and walked back out into the hallway. "What does the guard look like?" "Oh, he's got a red coat with a shaggy blue mane. And he really likes garlic bread. Just follow the smell of garlic." I smiled a bit to myself as I began walking towards the holding rooms. After a few minutes I entered the hallway where the long term holding rooms were. A single soldier was in the hallway and he was sitting directly in front of a door. I approached him and I saw he held a Playcolt magazine in his hooves. "Sergeant." He looked up and snapped to attention, tossing the magazine aside when he did. "I demand you open this door immediately." "Yes, sir." He replied with a salute and he turned around to face the door. He grabbed a key from his pocket and placed it in the lock. The stallion turned the key and then pulled on the door. Looking inside the room I saw a smiling pegasus mare. Her coat was a green color that resembled the sea and her mane was white like snow. "Mind Reader?" "That's me." She replied as I waved for her to follow me. I lead her through the hallways of the building and I would occasionally glance over my shoulder at her. "So where are we going?" "Well, you said you wanted a book." I answered as I threw open the double doors of the base library and stepped inside. Waving my hand at the books that lined the shelves I smiled at her as she stepped inside. "Welcome to the library of Area 13. Banned, human, and any other type of book you can possibly imagine. All under one roof. Books not even in the Royal Library can be found here." I told her as I began to stroll through the library that was as long as a hoofball field and as wide as it was long. Looking up at the signs along the rows of shelves I began to read them off. "You've got your choice of Equestrian, human, Gallopfreyan , griffin; just about everything you could ever want. Books on everything that is, was, and ever will be. Where do you want to start?" "Human." She replied as she turned down the aisle of shelves that were stacked top to bottom with books. As she grabbed a book of a shelf I turned down an aisle that only had a few books in it. "Where're all the books at?" I asked myself as I slowly walked through the aisle. "Destroyed." A voice replied and I turned to look at the stallion who had answered me. "They all burned with their libraries. These were the few that survived. The knowledge of a lost race is contained within the pages of these books." The red stallion said as he picked one up in his hoof. He looked at it before setting it back down; the sleeve of his black leather jacket sliding down almost to his hoof when he placed his hoof on the floor. "The writers of all these books are dead. I knew one of the authors on this shelf. He's long gone now." I looked up at the sign above the aisle; Gallopfrey. "I'm the Doctor by the way." He said as he extended a hoof. I shook it and flipped through my mental rolodex looking for where I'd heard that name before. And then I found it. "I know who you are Doctor." I said and he simply raised his eyebrows at me. "You're the stallion who leaves only destruction in his wake. You would make a very good human." He let his face go neutral as I picked up one of the books. "The last of the Time-Lords. The stallion who hates war but can get entire armies to turn and run at the mere mention of his name. You and I have some similarities Doctor. I never asked for this war. But I serve because I feel it's my duty to protect those I love. Those who I would lay down my life for without question. Tell me, do you have a family Doctor?" I set the book down after looking it over and turned my head to look at the stallion. "I did." "So you know where I'm coming from when I say I must fight?" "Yes. I suppose I do." He replied as he looked over at the few books left from his race. We stood silent for a few moments before a thought struck me. "Doctor, can you do a favor for me?" ~~~~~ 10:00 Hours Las Pegasus ~~~~~ Lancaster sat on the couch in the living room of the suite with the crusaders and Rumble, their attention focused on the black and white TV in front of them. As they sat watching an older stallion walk around a control console in a room, a noise made Lancaster's ears perk up and he turned to look towards the hallway. There in the entryway to the hall stood a red stallion in a black leather coat. "Don't tell me you're watching that old one. Those adventures were all so boring." The stallion said. "Who are you?" "Me? I'm the Doctor." He replied. The kids immediately launched themselves off the couch and galloped down the hall past the Doctor. ~~~~~ 14:20 Hours May 5, 1987 Las Pegasus General Hospital ~~~~~ I held Sabre's hoof with my hand and looked down at the floor in shame after telling him what had happened. Steeling my nerves, I looked up at Sabre. He had an eyebrow raised at me as though he had no idea what I was ashamed of. "Am I supposed to say something?" He asked me and I looked at him in shock. "I slept with another mare. It's completely wrong!" I exclaimed as I adjusted myself in my chair. He let out an amused laugh and my confusion increased even more. "Nine months on this planet and you still haven't learned much. James, it's not uncommon for married couples to have other partners in their relationship. There was nothing wrong with what you did. Just tell mom what happened and she'll understand. Trust me, she had two coltfriends at once back in Manehattan. She won't be fazed by this." Sabre told me as he patted my hand with his hoof. I nodded in understanding and smiled to him. "And if you want, I get out of here tomorrow. I can help you tell her then if you're still feeling bad about it." "Thanks, Sabre. But I think I can do it on my own now." ~~~~~ 22:13 Hours May 5, 1987 Las Pegasus Airfield ~~~~~ I sat on the wing of the Electra and looked up at the stars as Thunderstreak wrapped her wing around my back. The cold desert air made me shiver and she pulled me closer with her wing and I began to feel as though I should just stay quiet. But I thought about what Sabre had said and decided to just go forward with it. "Thunderstreak, I have something to tell you." "You slept with Rainbow Dash?" She asked as she set her head on my shoulder. I immediately looked at her in shock and she turned her head to stare back at me. "What? I'm not an idiot James. Besides, I know I'm kind of moody sometimes and I certainly haven't felt like doing any of that in weeks. I know how guys are when it comes to that. If they can't get it at home they'll get it somewhere else. I'm just happy it was with Dash and not some bimbo off a street corner." She looked back up at the stars and I leaned my head on top of hers. "While I know it's not uncommon, I want you to know that I'm never doing that again." I told her while looking at the stars. We sat there on the wing for what felt like hours but were likely minutes when the drone of an airplane made me look around in surprise. "I thought we were the only plane flying right now?" I questioned aloud as I finally saw blue formation lights in the distance. As the plane got closer to the airport I could see the blue exhaust flames from three engines. "B-17." I said to myself as the plane lined up for approach. Hopping off the wing I noticed a small plane next to the bomber. As I slowly walked towards the runway I could hear the engines of the bomber staining to keep it in the air. Suddenly two red flairs arced out of the tail of the bomber and I turned to look at Thunderstreak. "Get to the terminal and call for some ambulances!" I shouted as I took off running for the runway. The bomber cut its engines just before touchdown and the tires let out a squeal as they made contact with the runway. Over head the fighter plane circled around before landing, its silhouette barely visible in the night. As I got closer to the bomber I saw its rudder was almost completely shot off and the fuselage resembled Swiss cheese from the amount of bullet holes in it. The bomber's engines shutdown as it turned off the runway onto the grass. It rolled to a stop just before I reached it and up close I noticed the nosecone was blown open and the tail gun position was splattered with blood. The nose hatch swung open and five men dropped down to the ground. "How many wounded you boys have onboard?" I asked them as I approached them. "At least two plus one casualty." One of them replied as the man I assumed was the pilot sat down with his back against the left main gear. Looking towards the main gate for the ramp I finally saw ambulances coming to help. "Well gentlemen, you did your duty and as the general of the air force, let me be the first to welcome you to Las Pegasus. We're gonna get your boys help but there's some things you probably need to know first." I told them as I produced a small flask from the inside pocket of my smoking jacket. Handing it to one of the men with pilot's wings, he took a quick nip of it before passing it to another member of the crew. The small fighter taxied up next to the bomber and shut down its engine. Looking over at the fighter I was amazed to see a swastika on the fin and a Balkan cross on the body. The canopy flipped open and a pilot hopped out and walked around his plane towards us. The bomber crew saw this and they all looked ready to fight as the ambulances pulled up to the tail of the B-17. Stepping in front of the crew I turned to face the fighter pilot who stopped in front of us. He clicked his heels and snapped to a salute for the American airmen. Looking behind me I saw them looking at each other in confusion. I turned around and returned the salute from the Luftwaffe flier. He broke the salute and extended his right hand towards the crew and I. The crew again looked around at each other in confusion just before shouting pierced the darkness. I turned and ran towards the tail of the bomber as one of the gunners shouted of monsters in the plane. Stopping next to the tail door I saw the paramedics backing away and I climbed in to the waist. "Boys, I need you all to stay calm and listen to me." I kneeled next to a gunner who was cradling one of the injured crew. "Those are medics out there who are trying to help you. I know they may be monsters to you but believe me when I say that they are not going to hurt you. You have my word as a general and a gentleman. Now let the medics take care of them boys." He nodded and I stepped back to wave the medics in. Jumping out of the plane and out of the medics' way I walked towards the crew who was now standing under the wing in shock. Calling over a unicorn who was one of the ambulance drivers, I asked him if he knew a translation spell. "Of course sir." His horn began to develop a white glow as I pointed to the German pilot under the nose of the bomber. The unicorn cast the spell and the pilot shuddered as he felt the unicorn's magic begin to take effect on him. The unicorn's horn ceased to glow and he turned to walk away. I walked over to the pilot and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned towards me with a small smile that showed friendliness but exhaustion at the same time. "Can you understand me?" I asked him as I stuffed my hands into my pockets. "Of course. Your German is very good for an American." He replied. "Actually you're speaking English through the help of a translation spell." I told him before I raised my eyebrows. "Wait, how did you know I'm American?" "It was day and then suddenly the middle of the night. I've heard about your comic books. If anyone could do that it'd be the Americans." He said as he gave a small wave of his hand as though it obvious. "Alright. Oh, and I don't believe we've properly introduced ourselves. I'm James Jones." I said while extending my hand to him. He grabbed it and shook it. "Stigler; Franz Stigler." ~~~~~ 10:00 Hours May 6, 1987 Area 13 Interrogation Room 4 ~~~~~ The shot glass clinked on the metal table as I set it down as well as a bottle of whiskey. Sitting down in a metal chair, I poured a shot of whiskey and slid it across to the B-17 pilot. "Standard procedure. Loosen up your tongue a bit." He downed the shot and I poured another one with a grin. "No one's counting here." He gave a small smile and downed the second shot before setting the glass aside. I unbuttoned my khaki uniform jacket, which I wore to assure them I was somewhat like them, and slipped it off. Setting it on the back of my chair, I pulled out a pen from my shirt pocket and opened up the notepad on the table. "Now," I unscrewed the cap and lowered the pen towards the paper "let's start with your name and rank." "Second Lieutenant Charlie Brown." I wrote down what he said and looked back up at him. "Your position on your aircraft?" "Captain." "You have been briefed on your location; yes or no?" "Yes." "Good. Now, the question that's been on my mind, what's with the German pilot?" I asked as I put the cap on the pen. "This part is all off the record." "Well," He paused and contemplated it for a moment "he seemed to have escorted us out of Germany." I raised my eyebrows and he looked at me just as surprised as I was. "I know. Sounds crazy to me too." "That was real Eddy Rickenbacker of him to lead a crippled enemy plane out of his own turf. Not the first time I've heard of a fighter pilot doing that though. I went through something kind of similar a few months back but it was two defectors on my wings." I poured myself a shot in the same glass I'd given Charlie and downed it in one quick go. "Now Charlie," Setting the glass aside I made sure to lean forward and look him in the eye "your two wounded crewmen are going to make it." He breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed a little bit. "But I'm going to make you a proposition. I need men who are willing to not only serve this country but to also train others who want to defend it. I was hoping that you and your crew would agree to become instructors for the B-17." "Hold on now." Charlie replied as he leaned forward again, now our faces were only about a foot apart and he had a serious look in his eyes. "I volunteered to serve the United States. Not another country and certainly not one filled with mythical creatures." At hearing this I reached into my left pocket and pulled out my wallet. Opening it up for him to see, I pointed to the picture in the middle of it. "You see these kids here?" I asked him as I continued to point at the family picture. "These are my kids and we're expecting two more. Kids are kids no matter the species. I know you didn't sign up to defend this country and you can say no to my offer, but before you turn me down I want you to think about this. My youngest boy's childhood memories are going to be filled with the sound of air raid sirens. The only way I can keep more of those memories from being made is if we can knock out the enemy's ability to make war materials. I'm not asking you for this as a general; I'm asking as a man who cares for his children." He sat for a moment before giving a small nod. "I'll do it. You'll have to convince the rest of my crew though." I smiled at his answer and nodded in satisfaction. "Thank you Charlie. There'll be a promotion in this for you. I can guarantee it. Someone else will be along to get more information for your file. Now, if you'll excuse me, it's Mister Stigler's turn to answer some questions." ~~~~~ Twenty Minutes Later Interrogation Room 3 ~~~~~ I slid the full shot glass across the table to Franz who was dressed in his blue Luftwaffe dress uniform. His grey/blue cap showed wear around the edges of it and the leather brim was beginning to crack along the front. Franz made quick work of the shot after he took ahold of the glass and set it aside once he was finished. "Now, Lieutenant Stigler, I have a request for you." He nodded in acknowledgment for me to continue. "Tell me why you spared that bomber." "You saw that bomber for yourself general. To me it was as though they were in a parachute." He replied as he leaned back in his chair. "You remind me of another Luftwaffe pilot I've read about. Rodel, I believe his name was." His eyes widened and a large smile spread across his face. "I was trained by Rodel in Africa!" Franz said with both happiness and pride in his voice before he pointed to the tan Afrika band around the cuff of his sleeve. "Franz, you have no idea how happy I am to hear you say that." "Why is that general?" He asked as his brow raised in confusion. "Because I'm going to ask you to help us. We already have some well-known faces on our side as of this time." I told him as I slid a tan folder across to him with a list of our people he no doubt had heard of. He opened it up and looked through the list, his eyes growing wider with every name he recognized. "So Franz," Franz looked up at me over the folder with a serious look now on his face "what do you say? Will you help us in our fight against the Party?" He sat there for a moment and thought it over. And then he nodded. He set the folder aside and we both stood up. He clicked his heels and was about to salute when I stuck my hand out. Franz smiled a bit and shook my hand before reaching down and ripped the Luftwaffe eagle off his chest. I smiled at his action and opened the door for the room. "Now Franz," Waving my hand to a guard at the end of the hallway I looked back to Franz with a smile "I have a bit of a surprise for you. I understand you were both in the same group in Africa." A man in a tan uniform walked into the doorway and smiled at Franz. His brown hair was slicked back and his eyes were as blue as the sky. "Franz, I believe you know Hans Marseille." ~~~~~ Two Weeks Later 19:55 Hours May 20, 1987 Ponyville Town Hall ~~~~~ I looked over the paperwork in front of me, making sure I read every stipulation of the deal. Celestia looked at me from across the table. "James," I looked up at her from the paperwork "why would you want to do this?" I smiled as I put my signature on the paper and then put the cap on my pen. Reaching up to my shoulders, I removed the general's stars and picked up the gold lieutenant's bars that sat next to the papers. "Let's just say that I'm trying to make up for past mistakes. Besides, it's only for twenty five missions and it won't happen until after Thunderstreak has the kids." I replied as a B-17 roared overhead for a landing. Three days prior to that, all the major flaws had been found in the designs and the list of required repairs had been sent to every airbase and carrier under Equestrian control. Now there were dozens of squadrons who had worked day and night to get their planes back onto the air. I reached down and removed the wings from my chest and replaced them with ordinary old pilot's wings. Standing up to leave, I smiled at Celestia and gave her a sharp salute. Walking out the door, I went down the stairs and out onto the street. Above, the sky was so dark that it was almost black. In the distance, thunder roared and lighting danced and snaked across the sky. Picking up my pace I noticed that several ponies were closing their shutters to ensure their windows survived the coming storm. The wind picked strength and I had to place my hand on my cap more than once to keep it from flying away. Walking up the sidewalk to the front door of the house I saw that all the windows had been covered and even the mail slot was secured. Opening the door, I could hear frantic movement upstairs. "Put the boards on your windows!" Thunderstreak shouted and the banging of hammers echoed through the house. Removing my jacket and cap I placed them on the rack by the door. Going upstairs, I went into the bedroom where Thunderstreak was taking a quick break as Luna finished putting a large sheet of plywood on the window. Thunderstreak turned to face me and gave me a small smile before flinching and putting a hoof to her stomach. Just as I was about to ask her what was wrong I saw a wet spot on the floor. Her eyes met mine and I felt my breath catch in the throat. Luna turned to look at us and took a step but stepped in the wet spot on the floor. "Did she sneeze again?" Luna asked as she wiped her hoof on her other foreleg. Luna looked between us and her brain finally realized what she had actually stepped in. She immediately grabbed Thunderstreak with her magic as the storm outside began to send down its rain upon the town. "James, fetch Typhoon for me." Luna said as she prepped herself. Running down the hallway to Typhoon's room, I flung open the door and saw Charger fall off the bed in shock while Typhoon attempted to catch him. She turned to look at me but before she could say anything I said what I had to. "Your mother's going into labor! Luna needs your help." I said before turning around and running back to the master bedroom. "You do know what you're doing right?" I asked Luna who was sitting at the foot of the bed. "I was three times a midwife for my sister. I do believe I know what I'm doing. Now get out." She replied while Typhoon squeezed past me into the room. Luna pushed me backwards with her magic and shut the door once I was in the hallway. I stood and stared at the door before stepping back and sitting against the wall. My eyes stayed firmly glued on the door and more than once I considered barging in when Typhoon would hurry out to fetch something for Luna. As I continued to stare at the door I felt a hoof on my shoulder and I turned to see Lancaster looking at me with worry. "Dad, it's after ten. You should probably take a nap or something." He said as he gently tugged my arm to tell me to get up. I sat there and looked back to the door again. "Why can't I come inside?" I asked myself aloud as Lancaster sat down next to me. "Cause that's how this whole thing started." He replied and I continued to look forward at the door. "Dad," I looked back over at him again as my eyes continued to grow heavy from exhaustion "in most of Equestria and other equine nations, it's tradition for stallions to be forbidden to enter the room when a mare is giving birth. Only now are such traditions starting to be broken down." He explained. "Luna has been back less than two years. She still sticks to pretty well every tradition at times like this. Now, let's get you a nap or some coffee." Lancaster placed his hoof on my shoulder again. I decided he was right with what he had said earlier and I stood to go downstairs. Just as I was about to walk away, there was a bright flash from the window at the end of the hall. The lights in the house immediately went out and a thunderclap that rivaled the explosion of a bomb, echoed through the house. Typhoon came flying out of the room and almost ran into me in the darkness. There were thumps every time she ran into the wall and I could hear her swear under her breath. Reaching into my shirt pocket I pulled out my lighter and flicked it open. An eerie orange glow illuminated the wall next to me and I walked down the hallway and found Typhoon by the stairs. Leading the way downstairs I heard her peel off to search for flashlights and lanterns. I sat down on the couch and flicked the lighter shut. The room went black and around me the shadows of items seemed to creep through the darkness towards me. A thump on the couch next to me made me look over to see that Typhoon had tossed me a flashlight on her way back upstairs. Laying my head back against the back of the couch, I closed my eyes and fell asleep to the sound of rain and thunder. ~~~~~ 00:17 Hours May 21, 1987 1247 N. Main St. ~~~~~ I opened my eyes and looked up at the ceiling. Lifting my head up I saw through the living room window that the rain had let up but in the distance thunder continued to roar. Standing up, I grabbed the flashlight off the couch and looked around. And then I heard it. From upstairs came the sound of a baby's crying. Running around the end of the couch I hurried towards the stairs but tripped over something in the dark. Picking myself up I continued my run to the upstairs with a gigantic smile on my face. Grabbing the railing at the top of the stairs, I slid around the corner and skidded to a stop in front of the bedroom door. Flinging it open, I saw Luna holding a foal in her fore-hooves and Thunderstreak laying her head back on a pillow. Grabbing Thunderstreak's hoof, I smiled at her but she looked back over at me with tears streaming down her face. My smile faded and I looked over at Luna. "Where's the other one?" I asked her as I looked at the small blue filly that she had wrapped in a blanket. She looked down and I followed her gaze. There on the bed sat a green colt wrapped up in a blanket like his sister. But there was one thing that I noticed was wrong. He wasn't breathing.
The Jolly Rogers	32: Into The Desert	I sat down on the edge of the bed, my mind trying to decide how I should react to seeing the stillborn foal. Finally I heard a sob echo off the walls and I realized that it was me. I placed my face in my hands and began to weep, not caring what anyone else in the room thought. A hoof wrapped around me and I raised my head up to see Luna holding me in an attempt to comfort me. After what was about an hour I finally spoke. "What now?" Turning to look at Thunderstreak I saw she was holding the blue filly with tears still in her eyes. Carefully I reached over and gently took the filly to look at her for myself. I slowly unwrapped the blanket from around her and saw that she seemed to be somewhat like a manticore. She had hooves on her back legs but where fore-hooves would have been were hands that I slowly reached for. I extended a finger towards her hand. She gently wrapped her fingers around mine and I gave a small smile but then let it drop when I began thinking about the situation. Looking over at Thunderstreak I saw her looking back at me. "I don't know what to do. I really don't." She said and her voice cracked with every word. "I honestly don't know if I'll be able to see her every day and not cry." Thunderstreak continued and I looked back down at the foal. Wrapping her back up in the blanket, I began to think of what to do. And then a thought struck me. "What about Mac and Fluttershy?" I asked and Thunderstreak looked at me again. "Fluttershy can't have foals and we know that they would be good parents. Maybe we should give the foal to them." "It would be legal as I am here to grant the request for change of custody." Luna said as she looked between us. "As long as both of you agree on the decision of course." She added and Thunderstreak looked between Luna and I as she thought. Thunderstreak sat silently for a moment and then gently nodded as she began crying again. I nodded to Luna that I gave consent as well and she gave a small nod back in acknowledgment. I stood up with the foal still in my arms and silently walked out of the room. Stopping in the hallway I turned to see Luna had followed me out and had shut the door behind her. "I'll handle the paperwork in the morning as long as Mister Macintosh and Mrs. Fluttershy agree to adopt the foal. Perhaps it would be best to talk to them now though to ensure that they will be alright with the situation." ~~~~~ 00:59 Hours May 21, 1987 Fluttershy's Cottage ~~~~~ I gently shut the door of the car and made my way up the path towards the small cottage on the edge of the Everfree. When I reached the door of the house I sucked in a deep breath and raised my hand. Knocking on the door, I stood and waited for a minute until the door flung open. Looking down I saw an angry looking rabbit standing in front of me. "Sorry, Angel. Can you get Mac and Fluttershy for me?" He stood for a moment and then hopped off. A minute or two later I could hear hoofsteps coming from inside the home. Fluttershy and Big Macintosh walked down the stairs and both looked at me through eyes heavy with sleep. "James, is everything alright?" Fluttershy asked as she flipped on the living room light. Mac waved for me to come in and I walked in and shut the door. "Things could be better." I replied. It seemed that they only now had noticed the foal as Fluttershy's eyes were glued to the bundle in my arms. I sat down on the couch and they sat down on either side of me. "Is that the new baby?" Mac asked as I pulled the blanket down for them both to fully see the filly's face. "She is." "I thought you guys were supposed to be having twins?" Fluttershy asked with curiosity as she leaned forward to see the foal better. "We did." I replied and the tone of my voice must have said everything because I suddenly felt someone hugging me. Turning to look at Fluttershy I saw she was looking up at me. "I'm so sorry James." "If there's anythin' we can do to help, just let us know." Mac said from my right, his tone enough for me to believe his offer. "Well, I actually came over to ask you guys about something." I replied as Fluttershy finally ended the hug. "Thun-" I paused as I contemplated how to phrase what I was about to say. "Thunderstreak and I have decided that it would be for the best if we could find a couple parents more suited for her. We decided that we wanted to give her to somepony who would love her and raise her as though she were their own." Looking down at the filly in my arms, I felt a weak smile cross my face. I looked up from the filly and turned to look at Mac and then Fluttershy. "Ponies who wouldn't be able to have foals of their own." Fluttershy covered her mouth with her hooves in shock and I gave her a small nod to confirm her thoughts. "If you two would agree to it, we would like to turn over custody to you." Fluttershy nodded quickly as tears streamed down her face and I tuned to see Big Mac's answer. He nodded his head and though he held his usual, neutral face; his eyes showed joy and hope. "Well I suppose that since I'm here, I'll just go ahead and be the first to say this." I gently turned my body and let Fluttershy take the foal in her forelegs. "Congratulations on your new baby girl." I gave the both a smile and then stood up to leave. But just as I was about to shut the front door behind me I heard Fluttershy's voice. "James." I turned to look at her as she held their new child close to her. "We'll be sure to send you a picture of her before you ship out." I gave a weak smile and a small nod to her in response and gently shut the door. ~~~~~ 12:32 Hours June 29, 1987 The Skies Over The Zebrica Coast ~~~~~ "Jones, Stigler; straighten up!" A voice barked over the radio. I leveled my plane and sighed as my view of some ancient ruins along the shore was blocked by my left wing. Alongside me flew Franz who gave a small wave from the cockpit of the P-40 that he had just recently been checked out in. Waving back to him, I looked past his fighter and out towards the seemingly endless desert. Ahead of us, General Galland's Spitfire, the only non-Curtiss plane among the formation, gently bobbed up and down with the air rising off the dunes below us. Looking back ahead of my fighter, I could see our final destination on the horizon. About a mile inland from the sea and ten miles ahead of us lay a small desert airfield. We all began descending and as we approached the field we entered the traffic pattern. After the three planes ahead of me landed it was finally my turn. At last I got a good look at the airfield that I was going to be staying at for a tour of duty. And I was not very impressed. Scattered around the edges of the field were groups of tents that matched the color of the surrounding sand. Gently touching down on the hard-packed sand that made up the runway, I let the Warhawk slow until I could safely maneuver her on the ground. As I turned off the runway I was suddenly shrouded in the loose sand kicked up by my fighter. Through the swirling blizzard of sand emerged a stallion who hopped up on the left wing of my fighter and began directing me though the sand to my spot. After finally reaching the area where the other new pilots were parked I shut down my engine and slid back my canopy. "James!" Turning my head to look at who addressed me I saw Galland walking towards my fighter, his trademark cigar clamped firmly in his jaw. "Welcome to Zebrica!" Unbuckling my seat straps I stood up and hopped out onto the wing of my P-40. Walking back toward the trailing edge I made sure to shed my leather flying jacket before jumping down to the ground. "Let's go report in with the commander." Walking along side Galland I glanced over at him and then back at the command shack. "Dolfo, is it weird?" I asked. He raised an eyebrow at me, clearly needing more to the question. "Being a general but taking orders from someone as low as a Major or a Phone Colonel." He clapped a hand on my shoulder and smiled. "You'll get used to it." He replied as we entered the command post. Inside, a motor driven fan spun slowly and did nothing to keep the room from being just as hot as it was outside. Sweat was already soaking my forehead and I removed my crusher cap to wipe my brow. Looking around the shack I saw several photographs of pilots next to their planes, many of them having upwards of ten victories painted under their canopies. The sudden click of boot heels made me spin around and snap to attention as the group commander, a red pegasus stallion who wore the rank of colonel, walked into the shack. He Returned our salutes with a wave of his hoof as he took a folder from the stallion behind the single desk in the room. He flipped open the folder and looked at the paper inside. "General Adolf Galland?" He asked as he looked up at the general, whose cigar was now burnt down dangerously close to his mustache. Galland stepped forward and the colonel looked closely at Galland. "For Luna's sake man, put out that cigar before you light your face on fire." Galland quickly reached up and grabbed the cigar and tossed it out the still open door. "General, you and Lieutenant Marseille will be with First Squadron." Galland and Marseille saluted and walked out of the shack to collect their duffel bags from their planes. "Major Hartmann." The blond pilot stepped forward and saluted the colonel. "You'll be with Third Squadron." Erich broke the salute and walked out like Galland and Hans. "Now, Lieutenants Jones and Stigler." We stepped up and snapped to a salute. The colonel looked up at us from the folder at us and gave us what was easily the laziest salute I'd ever seen. "You two will be with Second Squadron." We looked at each other and shrugged before walking back out to our planes. When I reached my plane I extended my hand to open the storage hatch but reeled back at the searing pain the hot metal inflicted on me. Shaking my hand, I used my other hand and my shirt to open the hatch. Grabbing my bag from inside, I slammed the hatch shut and walked around the tail to meet up with Franz. "You two want a lift?" Galland's voice shouted and I turned to see him smiling to us from behind the wheel of a captured kubelwagen. The car rolled to a stop and we both eagerly tossed our bags in and clambered into the back. Galland gunned the accelerator and we went careening across the airstrip. As we approached one of the four tent "towns", the kubelwagen began to slow and stopped in front of a tilting sign that proclaimed the area to be that of Second Squadron. Franz and I grabbed our bags and jumped out of the ugly little vehicle. Our heavy flying boots sunk into the loose sand between the taxiway and the tents and behind us Galland drove off. Looking over at Franz, I saw him smiling at the cluster of tents. He started off and after a moment I began to walk behind him. Several heads poked out from behind tent flaps and I could feel their eyes watching us as we walked past. "You must be the new pilots." An unidentified voice said from behind us and we turned around to see a grey unicorn looking at us. He wore a tan short sleeved pilots shirt and matching tan shorts that somewhat helped him blend into the sand. We both nodded and he grew a smile to rival any of Pinkie Pie's. "Alright fellas, let's give these guys a big Second Squad welcome!" ~~~~~ 23:15 Hours June 29, 1987 Maretuba Airfield, Zebrica ~~~~~ Stumbling our way out of the mess tent, Franz and I leaned on each other for support and laughed at something I couldn't even remember. The entire group had thrown a party to welcome us to their little airfield and they made sure to keep the booze flowing. In my hand I carried a near empty bottle of captured griffin alcohol. The bottle itself was enough to get me drunk as a skunk as the griffins brew much harder stuff than ponies. As we stumbled across the runway, I dropped the bottle of 200% proof alcohol and looked down at it. Waving my hand at the bottle, we continued on towards our tents. After drunkenly navigating through the majority of the tents we found ours and I let go of Franz to try and leave. But I managed to fall on my face and a dull thud told me that Franz had done the same thing. Reaching my arms up, I slowly pulled myself into my tent and somehow crawled up onto my cot. A rustling at the opening of my tent got my attention and I rolled over to see the squadron leader sticking his head inside my tent. "Jones, you and Stigler are going up on patrol at noon tomorrow." He said and it was clear that he too was drunk. I nodded in understanding and he retreated from my tent and made his way across the row to Franz's. Rolling back over, I closed my eyes and quickly fell asleep. ~~~~~ 11:35 Hours June 30, 1987 Maretuba Airfield ~~~~~ I adjusted my sunglasses as I walked around the group of tents, my head feeling like a kettle drum with every heartbeat. Franz was in no better condition and stepped out of his tent in his flight clothes and sunglasses just like me. We looked at each other and we both groaned at a kubelwagen backfiring nearby. As we both stood there, the squad leader trotted up to us in good spirits and smiled at both of us. "Good morning, lieutenants." "What the hell is so good about it?" I asked as I held my head. "And how the hell are you so chipper? You were just as smashed as us." "You drink enough of that griffin made stuff and you start getting used to it. Now, let's get flying!" We followed him to the small group of planes parked near our tents and found our fighters parked right up front. Climbing up into the cockpit, I strapped into the seat and went through the startup procedures. After a few minutes the engine was running smoothly and the squad leader began to taxi towards the runway. Signaling a stallion on the ground crew to remove the chocks, I saw him a few moments later with the chocks draped across his back. Pushing the throttle forward, I taxied behind Franz and the squad leader. Several ground crews waved to us as we rolled past and as we past Third Squadron I could see Marseille laying out sunbathing in nothing but his underwear. The three of us rolled onto the runway and I slid my canopy shut in preparation of what was about to come. As expected, when the squad leader powered up, he kicked up any loose sand behind him and I listened to hear when Franz would power up. When I head the roar of the fighter in front of me I began counting to ten. Once I hit ten I pushed the throttles forwards and my fighter began to gain speed. Roaring down the runway I saw the horizon fill my windscreen as the tail lifted up. Gently pulling back on the stick I began climbing up into the blue sky. "Alright. Today we're going to head for the deer city-colony of Tobuck about fifty miles down the coast." The squad leader's voice called over the radio. "One of our L-3s reported a possible griffin airfield in that area. If we can find it then we can report it to local bomber command." Falling into formation on Franz's right wing, I zoned out as we climbed up to ten thousand feet and felt like I could fall asleep to the drone of my engine. But before I could do such a thing a call came over the radio. "Bandits, eleven o'clock low." Pulling against my shoulder straps, I looked down and ahead of the left wing. Sure enough, there were a group of Me-109s snaking their way back and forth a couple thousand feet below us. They were painted a pinkish-tan and the only way I could see them was their white spinners and the black crosses on the wings. We rolled inverted and began to dive on the unsuspecting 109s. Rolling around so that we were facing right side up again, we each selected one of the five 109s for our target. Waiting until I was sure I would hit it, I opened fire on the fighter on the far right of the V formation. My 50 caliber bullets tore into the nose of the 109 and he began to pour black smoke out from his engine. Looking over at Franz's plane, I saw him open fire and shell casings fell from his wings like brass rain. Looking back up as I raced past the 109s I saw their color change from that of sand to the same blue as a robin's egg. Pulling up into a climb, my fighter screamed it's way back towards the heavens. I smiled at getting my first victory with the squadron but when I looked in the mirror on top of my canopy, I felt my elation turn to pure dread. "James, you've got on on your six!" Franz called and I immediately pulled back on the stick, rolling around to face the opposite direction as the 109 behind me. Just as I began the nose dive I saw a sandy colored blur zip past me and, knowing that the griffin pilot would soon begin his chase again, I began to dive for the desert floor. The needle on my altimeter whipped around counterclockwise, 9,000 feet, 6,000 feet, 3,000 feet. Pulling back on the stick, I felt it had grown heavier with the speed I'd picked up in my dive. Leveling off, I looked in my mirror and breathed a sigh of relief when I saw nothing there. But my relief was short lived as a moment later bullets and cannon shells whipped past me. Before I could do anything I saw the engine cowling get shredded by the bullets. The engine began to couch and spit out an oily, black smoke. Pulling the canopy release, I unbuckled my seat straps and tightened the straps on my parachute. Climbing out onto the wing I let the slipstream pull me off the wing and I began diving for the ground. As soon as I was clear of the plane I pulled the ripcord on the parachute. The sound of air filling the parachute added some comfort in knowing that I wouldn't fall to my death. But looking around for the griffin fighter that had shot me down, I felt the dread return as I saw him heading straight for me. Just when I felt like I was about to be shot like a tin duck in a shooting gallery, the pilot flew past me. Watching in amazement at the plane passing me by I saw him rock his wings at me before banking away and flying off into the distance. As I floated down I looked around for Franz and saw them dogfighting a few miles away. Getting close to the desert floor, I bent my knees and tumbled across the sand and down a dune with my parachute when I landed. Laying still for a moment to get my bearings and let the world stop spinning, I finally stood up when a small gust of wind sent sand flying into my face. I removed my parachute and looked towards the sky to try and figure out what direction was where, but found it useless with the midday sun. Shrugging my shoulders, I began walking the direction I was facing and decided that it would either be my salvation or my death. ~~~~~ 23:40 Hours June 30, 1987 Somewhere in the Desert ~~~~~ My death. It was to me most certainly my death. I'd been walking through the desert for hours and the sun had said it's goodbye almost an hour earlier. I hugged myself to keep warm as I trudged across sand dune after sand dune. Just as I was about to lay down and rest, I saw it. From my position at the base of a sand dune I could see a small light coming from just over the dune. Scrambling up the dune I felt like jumping for joy. But when I reached the top, I felt my heart drop to my stomach. There in front of me sat an airfield. A griffin airfield. "Beautiful night, isn't it?" A voice asked with a slight British sounding accent. Jumping in surprise and turning to face whoever had said that, I felt my heart go from my stomach to my boots when I saw who had talked. There on the the dune lay a griffin in a tan uniform on his back looking up at the sky. He turned his head to look at me and patted his talons on the sand next to him. My mind screamed to run but I stood there, looking at the relaxing griffin. He raised a brow at me and I didn't know whether to run or do as he said. "Well, are you gonna sit or are we gonna be all awkward about this?" Slowly, I walked towards the griffin and sat down next to him. "By the way, Sergeant Michael Harper." He extended his right hand and I shook it, confused as to why this griffin wasn't trying to strip my flesh from my bones. "James Jones." I replied. He sat sat up and his eyes looked as big as dinner plates. "As in General James Jones?" He asked with some excitement in his voice. "Um, well, yes." I answered and mentally braced for him to pounce on me and attack. "Wow. I'm a very big fan of yours sir." Michael said as he shook my hand again. That was a development that I hadn't been prepared for. "The fact that you're the man behind the most powerful air force in the world is incredible enough but that you know so many famous ponies is amazing. Tell me, is Fancy Pants really wooing Fleur De Lis?" He asked with true fascination and excitement in his eyes. "Oh. Well, yes as a mater-of-fact he is." I told him and he smiled. "Man, is he lucky. I wish I could nab someone like her." He sighed as he laid back again and I looked down at him a bit confused. "You keep up on Equestrian news?" I asked and he nodded his head. "You'd be surprised how many back home risk being shot for reading smuggled Equestrian newspapers. We mostly love the comic strips but we do read the new too. A lot less censorship than the with the Party. They have a whole agency just for propaganda and censorship. If I didn't think the SS would shoot my family, I'd just jump in my fighter and fly on over to your field." Micheal replied and I laid back on the sand dune. "It is." I said as I looked up at the sky and the griffin looked over at me in confusion. "The first question you asked me. About it being a nice night. It is." We sat in silence for a bit and then a thought occurred to me. "Tell me, if you really do read our news, then surely you've read about the camps the Party has built. Why do your people continue to fight?" He reached into his shorts pocket and removed a billfold which he flipped open. He held it out for me to see and inside was a picture of him next to a female griffin with two kids in front of them. "I fight for my family. Most fight simply because it's serving their country. Others join seeking glory or honor. And those of us who are fit enough to serve, well we don't really get a choice. It's not a matter of if you get drafted, but when you get drafted. I volunteered because then I at least got to choose what branch I went into." He put the billfold away and looked down towards the airfield. "Although, I really could be shot for just sitting here and talking with you." "Then why are you? Why haven't you taken me prisoner?" I asked him as I'd been curious about it since I sat down. "Well, I just like talking with people. There aren't many down there who enjoy the same things as me. Anyone I can talk to is someone I consider a friend." We sat silent for a few moments until he sighed. "That's what we all need in this dirty, rotten war. A friend." "Yeah. Say, you're a pilot, right?" I asked as I turned my head to look at him. "Yeah. Why?" "Did you fly today?" "Yeah." "You get any victories?" "One. A Warhawk. Came in from above and hit his engine. Pilot bailed out." I smiled and looked back up towards the stars. I let out a small chuckle which slowly became a full blown laugh. Micheal looked at me, extremely confused. "That was me. You're the one who shot me down!" I exclaimed and his eyes got wide again. "Sir, I apologize. If I'd known it was you I wouldn't have fired!" He replied and I chuckled again. "You know, you're probably the first fighter pilot to ever apologize for shooting down a plane." We both had a small laugh about that. And then the severity of the situation finally sank in. "But now, I'm fifty miles from my home base and there's no way I can get back alive without a tank or a plane." I reached up and held my face in my hands and let out a defeated groan. "What if you did have a plane?" Micheal asked and I looked over at him. "You don't mean-" "Steal an airplane. You're what, about six foot?" "Six foot, one." I replied as we sat up and looked down at all the parked aircraft. "Okay. So we'd just remove the canopy and it'd be good to go." He replied just before he spread his wings and jumped off the top of the dune. Running after the gliding griffin, I felt the urge to shout and tell him that such a plan would very likely get us both killed but bit my tongue for fear of waking the others in camp. Micheal landed a few yards ahead of me and turned to make sure I'd followed him. He then walked towards a 109 that was parked by itself on a vacant part of the airstrip. Climbing up onto the wing, he opened the canopy and pulled the canopy release handle. There was a clunk of the canopy detaching from the aircraft and he gently brought it down and set it in the sand. As I looked on, he opened the panel for the storage compartment and pulled out a crank handle. He then walked around to the right side of the nose and inserted the handle into a hole on the side of the cowling. I climbed up onto the wing and into the snug cockpit of the 109. "You know, this'll be my first time in a plane like this." I said as I buckled the shoulder straps. Micheal began cranking the engine over and I could hear the engine winding up. Once it was ready, Micheal removed the handle and I reached for the starter. But before I could start the engine I saw Micheal's talons holding a Knight's Cross in front of me. "It's mine. I got it for shooting down forty planes. I want you to have it. And let the world know we're not all the blood thirsty monsters they think we are." I took the medal from him and saw that the swastika in the middle had been ground off of it. Nodding to him, I slipped the ribbon under my collar and hooked the medal together in the back. Sticking out my hand, he shook it and I smiled to him. "Micheal, you've got bigger gonads than anyone in the whole damn Luftwaffe. Hopefully we'll meet again under different and better circumstances." He nodded before quickly flying off towards the empty mess tent and I hit the starter for the fighter. The engine coughed, spit, and belched a plume of white smoke before finally starting up. Pushing the throttle forward, I began rolling towards the runway. I turned to look back at the camp and could see pilots and ground crew looking out from their tents in confusion. Spinning around to line up on the runway, I saw several griffins running or flying towards me with pistols in their talons. I ducked and began to push the throttle forward as bullets whizzed over and past my head. There were a couple of metallic thuds as bullets hit the plane. With the engine running at full power, I pulled back on the stick and began climbing into Luna's starry sky. Below me, the griffins lowered their pistols and watched me fly off unscathed. Smiling to myself, I reached down and retracted the landing gear. As I was looking back up from the gear handle, my eyes stopped on the Knights Cross dangling from my neck. Smiling at it, I began to remember what Micheal had said about considering me to be a friend. In the middle of a war, I'd managed to make a friend.
The Jolly Rogers	33: Final Mission	Once I leveled off at a reasonable altitude, I pulled back on the power and let the plane cruse along at a decent speed and began looking for Maretuba. Above me, the full moon illuminated the Zebrica coastline and helped me see what was happening on the ground. I passed over a small zebra village and saw that some of the huts still had fires going as evidenced by smoke rising from chimneys. After about a half hour of flying, I finally spotted a few scattered yet close campfires. Smiling in relief, I began to descend and pulled back on the power a bit more as I lowered the flaps. As I got closer to the airfield I could see ponies slowly trotting towards the runway to see what plane could possibly be landing at this time of night. I dropped the landing gear and leaned my head out the side of the cockpit to ensure that I was lined up completely with the runway. The 109 settled onto the hard packed sand and I cut the engine mixture, the engine sputtering and then dying as a result. I slowed on the runway and several ponies and a couple of humans came chasing after the plane. It gently rolled to a stop and I unbuckled my shoulder straps. Climbing out of the cockpit, I waved a greeting to them and hopped down to the ground. I was suddenly swarmed by ponies and I looked around the group of pilots and ground crew with a grin. It wasn't hard to find the two humans in the group and I smiled to Franz and Marseille who smiled and waved back to me. The crowd parted and I walked forwards to talk with the other two. "We thought you were dead for sure!" Franz said with a laugh and a smile as he shook my hand. "So did I." I replied as I looked back to the fighter and then down to the Knight's Cross around my neck. Looking back up to Franz, I smiled again. "But let's just say that a new friend's kindness was my saving grace." ~~~~~ 10:00 Hours July 1, 1987 Maretuba Airfield ~~~~~ I lifted the flap of my tent and walked out into the already blazing heat. Even at only ten in the morning the temperature was pushing 100 degrees fahrenheit and I looked around for what crews or pilots in the squadron weren't working or flying. Spotting a group of enlisted ponies and Franz sitting around in a circle, I walked over and sat down with them. "Here's your breakfast, sir." A master sergeant said as he tossed me a can of something. Turning the can in my hand I looked up at him after reading the label. "Sarge, I'm a vegetarian." I told him as I held up the can of spaghetti rings and meatballs. "Around here sir, the only good food is the stuff the griffins leave behind when we take fields like this one." He replied as he shoveled a spoonful of another can into his mouth. I grabbed the can opener that sat in the middle of the circle and cut the lid off the can. Fishing the lid out with a fork, I gazed in at the contents of the can. True to the label the can held spaghetti noodles that had been made into rings and small meatballs could be seen in the sauce. Looking over to Franz for any indicator of whether it was good or not, I saw him running his finger around the inside of his can and then licking the sauce off. I dipped my fork into the can and lifted up a forkful of the food. Slowly I placed it in my mouth and began to chew on the noodles and meat. "So how is it, chief?" A corporal asked as I swallowed the mouthful of food. I gave a small smile at the surprisingly good food. "For the first meat I've eaten since high school; not bad actually." I replied before taking another bite. "I may have another can once I'm done with this one." ~~~~~ 12:00 Hours July 1, 1987 Maretuba Airfield ~~~~~ I held my stomach in pain as the spaghetti rings sought their revenge. Franz lifted the flap of my tent and walked in with two tablets in his hand. "Here, take these and it should calm your stomach." He said as I sat up and accidentally let a rather loud fart slip out. "What the hell was that?" Franz asked as I took the tablets from him. "The war cry of my colon." I replied as I popped the tablets into my mouth and chewed them up. Standing up, I twisted my torso until I heard a loud pop from my back. Smiling at the sudden relief that swept through my back, I untwisted and grabbed my sunglasses off the footlocker next to my cot. Franz and I walked out of the tent and I put on my sunglasses. "You know, if you'd stare at the sun for a few minutes every day, you wouldn't need those sunglasses." Marseille said as he walked up to us with his hands in his shorts pockets. Over the field's PA system I could hear I've Got A Gal In Kalamazoo and its echo off the sand dunes. Whistling along to the music I walked over towards the flight-line. As I got close to all the aircraft I heard the horn on one of the kubelwagens turned to see Galland grinning as he held a piece of memo paper in his left hand which was also holding onto the steering wheel. The vehicle slowed down and he stopped right in front of me. "Be sure the Major gets this." He said holding out the paper for me. "What's got you grinning like a Cheshire Cat, Dolfo?" I asked his as I took the paper from him. "Until the third, we have a cease-fire with the griffins down the coast." "Seriously?" "Apparently tomorrow is some sort of holiday for them. They actually sent us the request for the cease-fire." "Well by God we ought to give them something in return. Someone in the squadron had mentioned a possible party at the beach. See if they'd like to attend." I said as I put the paper in my left chest pocket. "I'll suggest it. Maybe we can make it a group party." Galland said as he shifted the vehicle into first gear and began to drive off. Turning around to walk back to camp, I saw the squad leader talking with his crew chief and tightening the straps on his parachute. I jogged over to him and pulled out the memo from my pocket. He looked up at me and I held the paper out for him to take. The major took the paper and looked it over. A grin spread across his face and turned into a smile. "Sergeant, help me take off my chute. We have some parties to plan." ~~~~~ 09:00 Hours July 2, 1987 Maretuba Airfield ~~~~~ The tan colored Ju-52 rolled to a stop just off the taxiway. All three engines gave a cough before their roar died to the gentle clicking of the propellers. Looking around at the other Equestrian pilots and ground crews, I saw them all chatting excitedly with each other. As soon as the rear door on the 52 opened, a griffin came barreling out of the plane and was followed by several others. They happily saluted us, all of us saluting them back. A single griffin broke away from the group and approached our group commander. The griffin wore the rank of colonel just like our commander and instead of a hoof/claw shake; they embraced each other with laughter. They turned to look at us and the griffin wrapped an arm around the colonel's shoulder. "Colonel Blue Book and I went to university together in Manehattan!" He announced for us to clear our confusion. "James!" A voice shouted and I turned to see a familiar griffin climbed out of the Ju-52. Smiling to him, I walked over and stuck my chest out so that his Knights Cross stuck out more boldly against my uniform. He extended his talons to me and I shook them with a large smile. After we broke the shake, I pointed towards a tan fighter with a white band around its nose. He smiled again as we walked over towards it. "Made sure not to scratch the paint. Figured you might want her back someday." I told him as we walked around the 109. "I should've figured it was you who let him go, Micheal." His commander said as he walked over to us. Micheal gave a sheepish and guilty grin as he rubbed the back of his neck. His colonel wrapped an arm around the younger griffin and smiled. "Yet I couldn't be prouder, son." I turned away from the squadron art on the nose and looked at them. "He's your son?" I asked in surprise as I raised an eyebrow at them. "Indeed he is. He got most of his markings from his mother's side." The colonel replied as he took his arm off of Micheal. "By the way, you can just call me Senior." He held out his talons for a shake which I gladly accepted. "Well sir, it's a pleasure to meet you. Now, what do you say we hit the beach?" ~~~~~ 11:15 Hours July 2, 1987 The Coast of Zebrica ~~~~~ I sat back in a wooden chair as griffins, ponies, and humans all splashed around in the sea. Next to me, Franz dozed lightly in the sunshine as seagulls flapped overhead. I smiled as Galland and several others tossed around a P-40 hubcap like it were a Frisbee while others bobbed around in the waves on spare tire tubes. As we all enjoyed ourselves, the drone of an aircraft made me turn around in in my seat and look. Just as I turned, a Ju-88 roared overhead and blew sand over all of us. Franz awoke with a start and stood up as the Ju-88 lost altitude and came down towards the water. Several griffins, ponies, and Marseille; all bailed out of their tire tubes into the blue water as the bomber flew over their heads. The bomber's tail dipped down and dragged across the waves, leaving a wake behind it as it continued to descend. Everyone on the beach began running towards the bomber and we all dived into the sea. As I swam out with everyone else, the bomber's belly hit the water with a loud metallic smack. "That's the wrong camouflage scheme for a plane out here." Someone remarked as we continued to swim towards the green plane. "So help me, Tia if you brought someone else here." I grumbled under my breath as the hatch on the top of the bomber's cockpit popped off and into the water. Four men climbed out of the bomber and slid over the side with a splash. Their life jackets kept them afloat as they swam away from the sinking plane. We reached them after they were only around ten yards from their plane and to me the only officer of the four bore a slight resemblance to Franz. Holding my arms out at my sides, I floated in front of the crew as others gathered around. "August!" A voice shouted and I turned my head to see Franz swimming towards us, him being one of the last ones to arrive. "Franz!" The officer replied as he began swimming towards Franz with an elated smile. They hugged each other and I could see Franz had tears running down his face. They began speaking to each other in German, clearly both being overjoyed to see the other. Franz turned to me with a smile as he kept an arm wrapped around the man next to him. "James, this is my older brother, August." ~~~~~ 12:00 Hours July 2, 1987 The Coast of Zebrica ~~~~~ The smell of cooking meat rose from a grill that a griffin captain had brought as Franz, August, and I strolled down the beach. I had quickly dried off in the sun and I scratched at the dried salt that caked my arms. Franz's hair and August's clothing too were covered in dried sea salt and I could hear it cracking on August's pant legs as he walked. "So let me get this straight," August started as he looked around us at all the ponies and griffins relaxing around us "this is a different world inhabited by mythical creatures and horses that belong in a book of fairy tales?" Franz and I nodded to him and he rubbed his temples with his hands. "Don't worry. You get used to it." Franz reassured him as he placed a hand on his shoulder. "And how is it that we're all speaking English, again?" August asked us as we stopped our stroll along the beach to look towards the sea. "Translation spell. It's actually a necessity for almost every unicorn in the Equestrian military to know it." Franz answered and August sat down in the sand as he continued to process what was going on. "Like I said, you'll get used to it with time. I'm still adjusting to it. But, if it's any consolation," Franz sat down next to his brother and put his hand back on August's shoulder "our duty on this world is to rid the universe of The Party once and for all." August looked over to Franz and I saw a small grin creep onto his face. "Well why didn't you say so? I can handle this if it means we get to fight The Party." Franz smiled and patted August's shoulder. "I knew that would get you. Now, how about we go get some lunch?" ~~~~~ 10:45 Hours July 3, 1987 The Skies Over Zebrica ~~~~~ I leaned against my seat straps and looked down at the desert floor. Leaning back, I glanced at my altimeter, 20,000 feet. My oxygen mask felt like a clammy hand grabbing the front of my face as the small airbag attached to it inflated and deflated with every breath. Clicking the microphone button on the control column of my P-40, I knew that the pilot in the plane next to me could hear me. "Franz, I don't mean to cause any alarm, but none of these landmarks are showing up on my map for the area. You think we missed it?" I let go of the button and looked down at the map in the clear pocket on the front of my flying pants. "I don't think so. It doesn't help that a lot of these places got wiped off the the face of the planet by the fighting. I heard that the crystal ponies east of us dropped ten ton bombs on some of those places." He radioed as I looked over to see he was looking down at his own map. Bracing the stick between my knees, I pulled out the map from my pocket and unfolded it to get a better view. Scanning over the map for a few moments, I folded it up and slid it back into my pocket. "Looks like we're gonna be coming up on the first landmark. Should be an old fort at our ten o'clock." I radioed and leaned forward, pulling against the straps to see the remnants of an ancient fortress ahead of my left wing. Leaning back, I sighed as I wiped away the bit of sweat that escaped from my flight helmet. "Alright, let's drop down so I can take off this damn mask. I swear that they intentionally make these the most uncomfortable things in the whole damn plane." We rolled up and over before diving down. Leveling off below 12,000 feet, I ripped off my oxygen mask and slid back the canopy. I stuck my head out the side of the cockpit and let the propwash of my Warhawk's propeller act like a giant fan. Looking over to Franz, I saw him grinning at me. It may not have been the most stylish way to cool off, but as the desert would prove to us and to history; the simple things would make a big difference. ~~~~~ 12:50 Hours July 3, 1987 Zevera, Zebrica ~~~~~ I combed my hair straight back, ensuring a proper appearance as I hadn't managed to get a haircut for weeks. I smiled at my reflection in the mirror and straightened my black tie. "I still can't believe Field Marshal Brand invited us to lunch and dinner. In his Zevera headquarters to boot!" I said with an even bigger smile as I turned around to look at Franz. Franz stood near the door and had his crusher cap tucked under his left arm. Grabbing my crusher cap from off a dresser, I tucked it under my arm and walked over by Franz. A knock at the door made us turn our heads as a griffin corporal opened it up. "Um, sirs?"He seemed cautious to enter any further as he pushed his thick Coke bottle glasses up his beak. "The Field Marshal is ready to meet you." I stepped back and waved a hand towards the door. "After you." I told Franz with a grin on my face. He rolled his eyes and walked out into the luxurious corridor. Following him, I shut the door behind me and we followed the corporal. After a few minutes of walking we came upon double doors that were at least twenty feet tall. The corporal stood aside as Franz and I opened the doors. We were greeted by what was easily thirty griffins sitting at a table. The table itself was wide enough to accompany two people, as evidenced by the two griffins sitting at the far end. At the sight of us, they all stood and snapped to attention. Franz and I looked at each other before saluting back. We broke the salute and the griffins did the same. "Lieutenants, it's a pleasure to meet the two best pilots in the whole of the desert air force." A griffin with greying feathers and fur said as he walked around the table to greet us. He wore a tan regulation uniform but his collar and shoulders showed him to be a field marshal. Behind us, the doors to the dining hall shut and I felt a brief thought of concern dart through my mind. He first shook Franz's hand before turning to me and smiled. "Now you, I must say that I've been looking forward to the day that we would meet. Please, have yourselves a seat." He waved his talons at the two empty seats on the end of the table. We sat down as he made his way back to his seat. Looking down to my plate, I saw it was a reasonably sized steak with a small salad and potatoes. Fresh vegetables; even in my five days in the desert I had given up on seeing fresh food until my return home. My mouth watered at the sight of the food but I held back from diving in. Looking around the table at all the griffins, I saw ranks ranging from lieutenants up to the Field Marshal. The Field Marshal cleared his throat and everyone at the table turned to look at him. "Gentlemen, first may I say it is a pleasure to welcome Mister Stigler and Mister Jones to this meeting." There was a round of applause for us and we both smiled and nodded to those around us. Once the clapping had died down the Field Marshal cleared his throat again. "Also, I would like to remind everyone that this meeting will be civil. There will be no throwing a fork at someone's head. Right, Colonel Bowen?" His gaze shifted to a griffin in a grey uniform who simply nodded his answer. He then adjusted himself in his chair and nodded with a satisfied smile. "Alright. First, let's eat and then we'll get down to business." We all began eating and about halfway through lunch I heard the Field Marshal speak. "So, Lieutenants, tell us a bit about yourselves." I waved a hand at Franz, inviting him to go first. "Well, I'm from Bavaria and got my love for flying from gliders in my youth. I attempted to become a priest but I left to become a pilot with Lufthansa." Franz paused to take a drink of champagne before continuing. "It was while with Lufthansa that the Luftwaffe enlisted me to fly my plane to Spain to rearm the fascist forces. I then became a flight instructor with the Luftwaffe before transitioning to fighters after my brother's disappearance." He paused again before leaning over to me. "James," he whispered "my brother died. Why did I just say disappeared?" I shrugged my shoulders and the Field Marshal had an eyebrow raised at us. "Apologies. As I was saying, I fought in the desert of North Africa, the island of Sicily, and then in northern Germany." The Field Marshal nodded and then turned his attention towards me. "I'm from Waverly, Illinois. My father served in the U.S. Navy and I took my first flight at six years old. I worked on my grandmother's farm all through school and I enlisted in the Navy after graduation. They initially wanted to put me in twin engine recon planes but I begged my CO and he threw a fit with command. That got me transferred over to fighters." I laughed a little at the memory and I saw a couple Luftwaffe officers chuckle at it too. "I flew with the new generation of my father's old unit until I ended up in Equestria. Since then I've been enjoying a higher rank and the great displeasure of being in a war." Picking up my champagne glass, I downed the alcohol in one go before placing the glass back on the table. Not long after that we began to talk amongst ourselves. I struck up a conversation with a tank corps colonel next to me while Franz talked with a Luftwaffe captain about various tactics in desert flying. Around a half hour later we were all finished eating. The Field Marshal was about to speak to us all again when the doors opened behind us. "Ah, General! Glad you could join us!" He said with a smile and I turned to see who had entered. Upon setting eyes on them, I could feel the blood run from my face. There by the door stood a griffin in a black uniform with silver SS general ranks on the collar. 'My god, I just ate my last meal.' I thought as the griffin removed his cap. He set it on a hat rack by the doors and slipped his jacket off. "My apologies for being late. It seems the crystal ponies were bombing the airfield again." He replied with a soft and proper voice. The SS general walked towards Franz and I. Glancing over to Franz, I saw his face was pale and clearly he was as terrified as I was. The general however, extended his talons towards us for a handshake. I nervously reached a hand out and he gave it a firm yet gentle shake. He then shook Franz's hand before finding an empty seat at the table. "Well, now that we're here, I suppose it's time to reveal our plans to our two wonderful guests." The Field Marshal said as he stood up. "Gentlemen, all in this room have one common goal. We all want this war over with as soon as possible. And while fighting will end it eventually; we need to end it sooner. That is why we must kill Hitler." Franz and I turned and looked at each other in surprise that so many officers, an SS general and a Field Marshal among them, were conspiring to kill Hitler. "And hopefully Mister Jones can get us Equestrian help in our operation." He looked to me with a hopeful look. "You tell me what you need and I'll grease the wheels." ~~~~~ 21:00 Hours August 1, 1987 Tobuck, Zebrica ~~~~~ I laid on my cot as I read a book which sat just ahead of my pillow. On the footlocker by my cot sat a small oil lamp which illuminated the tent enough for me to see. A rustling got my attention and I looked up from my book to see a sergeant holding a burlap sack next to my tent flap. "Mail, sir." He pulled out an envelope and gave it to me. I thanked him before sitting up and setting the book next to the lamp. Tearing open the envelope, I pulled out the letter from inside and unfolded it. A couple photographs fell out and I set them on my leg as I looked at the letter. Dearest James, I hope you get this letter at the last address you gave me. I heard the front is moving again. Hopefully though you'll be home soon. The kids have been keeping busy over their summer break. I've actually gotten peace and quiet the last few days since Lancaster has been staying the night with the crusaders. Also, the crusaders finally got their cutie marks. Maybe now the town will be a little safer. Lancaster is still trying for his mark. Maybe when you get home you can help him try and get it. And about the photo you enclosed in your last letter home, the one of me painted on your fighter's nose; what does Mo Cuishla mean? I made sure to enclose a couple pictures for you as well. The one is of Lancaster and his friends having a movie night in the back yard. Celestia sent one of her "best movie makers" to show some cartoon pictures. I think you'd like him. He's a nice gentlecolt. I also sent you a picture of the baby. She's been doing well and Fluttershy seems to have no problems taking care of a foal. Mac however seems to be awkward at being a parent. He's always asking her to check and make sure he's doing something right. Anyways, I hope you'll be home soon. Be safe!!! Love and miss you, Thunderstreak I smiled as I folded the letter back up and picked up the pictures. I smiled at the photo of Lancaster and his friends as they gathered around a stallion with a slicked back mane and a mustache. And, though it was half obscured by Scootaloo, his cutie mark looked like it was Mickey Mouse. Reaching over to my footlocker, I moved the lamp and flipped up the latches. I opened it up and pulled out a piece of paper and a pen. Grabbing the book that I had been reading, I used it like a mini writing table and set the paper down on it. I put the pen to the paper and began to write back. My love, I got your letter. Thankfully we're staying here in Tobuck for awhile. Or at least until we've made serious progress here. I'm up to my forty-eighth sortie. Two more and I'll be rotated home. If all goes well I could be leaving by the fourth. As for the crusaders, I'm glad they finally got their cutie marks. Can't wait to get home and see them. Tell Lance not to worry; I'm sure he'll get his soon. Give my thanks to the movie stallion. And tell Mac to calm down. She's a baby; she'll let him know if he does something wrong. Also, about my fighter's name. Mo Cuishla is from an old Earth language. It means 'my darling', or 'my pulse'. With all my love, James I folded the letter and stood up in my tent. Lifting the flap, I walked out into the starry night to have the letter mailed to Ponyville. Though, knowing how fast the Military Postal Service worked, I'd probably be home before my letter. ~~~~~ 13:00 Hours August 2, 1987 Near Tobuck Airfield ~~~~~ My fighter coughed and spit as I guided it through the sky. My left wing had a hole in it where an unexploded flak shell had passed through and by my right knee was a hole big enough to poke my head through. Bits and pieces tumbled off my crippled Warhawk and it seemed as though she'd fall apart before we could reach the field. Bullet holes filled both the cockpit and the rest of the plane. I slid the canopy back as I made my approach for Tobuck. Somewhere behind me was Franz, his fighter fairing almost as bad as mine. In an unnatural display of stupidity, we had attempted to fight ten Me-109s on our own. Now we were paying for it. I pulled back on the stick and I felt my fighter settle onto the hard packed of Tobuck's taxiway. The engine ground to a stop and the propeller blades bent backwards as the fighter skidded down the taxiway on its belly. As she came to a stop, she spun and I could see the runway where Franz was landing on the runway. Lifting myself from the cockpit with my arms, I fell out the right side of the cockpit. As I rolled over to see Franz's plane, a mechanic came galloping up to me. "Sir, are you alright?!" He asked and I attempted to focus on the one in the center as three of him now filled my vision. "I'm fine. Go check on Franz!" I ordered and he galloped away to obey. But as I laid there on the sand by my fighter, I realized that I knew Franz would be fine. And the real reason I had ordered the mechanic away was in fear of what had happened. I could feel blood covering my back from a shrapnel wound. But I didn't care about the shrapnel. What I truly was afraid of was that I couldn't feel my legs.
The Jolly Rogers	34: Artificial Flowers	~~~~~ 10:27 Hours August 5, 1987 Tobuck Airfield ~~~~~ I looked at my crusher cap in my hand and slowly turned it back and forth to see the sun glint off the phoenix on the front. Stopping for a moment, I could see my feet on the rests of the scratch built wheelchair. I could feel myself growing hot behind the ears as I heard the flight surgeon's words play in my head, 'paralysis below the waist from combat injuries'. I threw my cap into the sand ahead of me but felt myself lose my balance in my seat, causing me to fall forwards. From next to me I heard Franz jump up off the ammo crate he was on and hurry over to me. Looking up to him, I saw his head bandaged from an injury he'd sustained in the same fight as I. He was trying to get into a position to lift me when I snapped at him. "No, goddamn it! I'm gonna do this on my own! I'm not as helpless as everyone thinks!" He backed off and I turned around to crawl to my chair. I set the brakes and began to climb my way back up into the chair, though I had difficulty turning around. "James, do you need help?" Franz asked as the distant roar of a C-47 transport grew louder. I sighed and looked at the seat taken from a salvaged Warhawk. "Yes." I replied in a voice that was barely audible. I felt Franz grab a hold of me and turn me in the wheelchair. Looking down at my legs, I grabbed my pant legs and set my feet on the rests. As I finished, a hand held a khaki crusher cap in front of me and I carefully took it from Franz. As a tan C-47 set down on the runway I could hear a vehicle approaching us from behind. Turning my head to see a kubelwagen as it slowed to a stop, I saw Galland, Marseille, and Erich climb out and walk towards us. "We thought we'd see you off." Galland said as they stopped in front of us. We all shook hands and said our own goodbyes. "This also came across the wire for you. I wanted to deliver it before you left." He handed me a telegram and I unfolded the piece of paper. To the best adversary someone could ask for, Heard you were going home. Best of luck to you. Hopefully I'll still be around after this war and we can meet up for drinks. Once again, best of luck. ~Sergeant Michael Harper I smiled at the telegram and looked up to see Marseille was holding a piece of metal in his hands. He turned it around to reveal the small nose art from the side of my plane and the nine Balkan crosses underneath it. I thanked him as I took the panel from him. The C-47 rolled up and the doors opened for anyone coming or going. A couple new pilots hopped out and a moment later a metal ramp was pushed up to the door by a ground crew. We all shook hands again and Franz began pushing my chair towards the ramp. The ground crew stood alongside the ramp and I heard them snap to attention as we began going up towards the door. Raising my hand to my cap brim, I suddenly felt very sad. Not because of my legs, but rather because I was leaving behind so many pilots and ground crew that I had grown to think of as friends. Franz secured my chair in the back and helped the flight engineer carry me to my seat in the front row of seats. Around me sat wounded pilots leaving Zebrica and I saw many of them looking longingly out the windows at the P-40s. I was set down in my seat and Franz took his spot next to me. The plane began to roll down the taxiway and I refused to look outside in shame. What I was ashamed of, I don't know, but in that moment I felt as though my world was collapsing around me. The plane turned onto the runway and I felt Franz nudge my shoulder. I looked up at him and he pointed to the window. There between the runway and the other taxiway in a line stood the entire group. The pilots, mechanics, cooks; everyone was there. They all snapped to attention and I could see salutes the entire length of the runway. The engines let out a roar and we gathered speed as we rolled across the sand. A blur of salutes passed by until we lifted into the air. As we headed back to civilization, I'd never felt more alone. ~~~~~ 08:00 Hours August 6, 1987 Ponyville Aerodrome ~~~~~ I looked up and over my shoulder at Franz who stood silently behind my chair, ready to push me down a ramp from the plane. On landing, I had seen a crowd of ponies and a few humans waiting for us. Now I was nervous at what their reactions would be at seeing me in a wheelchair. But of the reactions I worried about most; I worried about Thunderstreak and the kids. What would they say since they had no prior knowledge of my injuries? Would they welcome me back and act as though I was still the same person? I heard the thump of the ramp making contact with the fuselage and a moment later the door opened. Looking back to the morning sunlight that poured through the door, I took a deep breath as Franz pushed me forward. I immediately noticed that the shouting of welcomes died down and a murmurer went through the crowd. But the thing that made me forget the whispers was a group of kids, still smiling, held a sign that said Welcome Home. From the crowd darted a green pegasus mare who I felt my heart leap at seeing. I held my arms out and wrapped them around her as soon as she collided with me. Thunderstreak began to cry and I felt others hugging me as well. Turning, I saw Lancaster, Typhoon, and the Crusaders all with their legs wrapped around me. They all slowly broke the hug and I set us moving when I simply said, "Let's go home". ~~~~~ 08: 45 Hours August 6, 1987 A Hill Outside Ponyville ~~~~~ Franz stopped pushing as we reached the top of the hill. There in front of me sat a shed that clearly had seen better days. The paint had long since peeled off, the wood was grey from exposure, and the door hinges were almost rusted away. But to the kids who had lead us out here, it was pretty much the best place in Equestria. A hoof painted sign above the doors read Ponyville Glider Club and from what I could see through the gaps in the wood doors, there was indeed the beginnings of a glider inside. I wheeled myself closer and Scootaloo quickly opened one of the doors for me. Going inside I found myself in a room filled with tools and wooden parts. It smelled of glue and freshly cut wood; a scent that reminded me of my school days in wood-shop. On the walls were newspaper clippings that were held up by push pins. Going over to one I saw it was of Rainbow Dash receiving her Medal of Valor. I turned to look at the glider and all the kids gathered around, their faces showing pride in their work. Franz walked up beside me and began inspecting the glider. "Who's been gluing this together?" Franz asked as he knelled to look closer at the wing. "I did, sir!" A brown and white colt answered as he stepped forward. "What's your name?" "Pipsqueak, sir. But everyone just calls me Pip." "Pip, come here for a moment." Pipsqueak trotted around the wing and over to stand next to Franz. "You see these globs of glue here?" Franz asked him as he pointed to several areas where glue had been heavily applied. "Yes sir. I didn't miss a spot." Pipsqueak replied proudly. "There's glue in areas that don't need it." "But I didn't miss anything." Franz placed a hand on Pipsqueak's shoulder. "But that's not the point. A job should be done right." "Nopony will know once it's covered up." Pip argued. "Fix it because you'll know." Franz said as he looked down to Pipsqueak, who looked on the verge of tears. "Now, I'm not saying you'll be doing this alone. I did the same thing as you when I was a boy. I'll stay up here and help you sand the excess glue off. Even if it'll take us weeks." That seemed to lift Pip's spirits quickly and he grinned at the idea of having help with such a project. ~~~~~ 14:10 Hours August 7, 1987 Ponyville General Hospital ~~~~~ I laid still on the examination table as a doctor looked over my back. "Well Mister Jones, I have good news and bad news." He said as I felt his magic feeling around my back. "The good news is, we can repair your spinal cord. It'll take time but you'll be able to walk again." The sensation of his magic disappeared and I used my arms to sit myself up on the table. "I sense a but coming on." I said as I slipped on my white dress shirt. "But, with the area of your back that was hit," He levitated up an X-ray to show me my back. "I'm afraid that one more hit like that will permanently put you in that chair. Be careful Mister Jones. I'd hate to see you back here after we get you healed." He set the X-ray aside and pushed his glasses up his snout. "Now, your treatments will be every other day starting tomorrow." ~~~~~ 12:30 Hours August 27, 1987 Ponyville General Hospital ~~~~~ I shakily stood with my crutches and leg braces as Franz and a nurse stood on either side of me. Taking a few steps, I felt myself beginning to lose my balance. A hand suddenly grabbed my shirt collar and stopped me from falling. I quietly cursed myself for needing so much help as I was righted by Franz. "Are you alright?" He asked me. "Fine. Let's get going. I'd like to be walking on my own by Christmas if it's alright with you." I replied as I took a few more shaky steps away from him. "I'm gonna do this goddamn it." "James, you need help." Franz answered as he walked alongside me. "Bullshit. Help is for those who can't do things for themselves. Like kids or the elderly. I might be grey but I'm not that old yet." I told him as I turned myself around to go back to the other side of the room. "James, in the desert I was your wing man. What is a wing man's job?" "To protect and help the other- oh." I said as I stopped in my tracks. "Exactly. Now, let me help you. That's what I'm here for." He placed a hand on my shoulder and gave me a reassuring smile. I smiled back and slowly began walking forwards again. ~~~~~ 09:25 Hours September 26, 1987 Ponyville Glider Club ~~~~~ I hobbled up the slope of the hill as Franz walked along side me. I was now able to walk with the help of a cane and I found it to be much more preferable than in a wheelchair. Ahead of us was the old shed with the doors wide open. When we reached the top we were met by all the kids in the club as well as an inspector from the Department of Transportation Safety. He trotted around the completed glider and seemed to be impressed by what he saw. "Well, you kids certainly did a good job." The inspector said as he moved the control stick to see the elevators and ailerons perform as they should. "Very well put together. No excess glue visible under the fabric." Franz grinned as Pipsqueak beamed at the comment. "I'd say she's ready to fly." The kids all cheered the news and I smiled as I pulled up a stool that had been set nearby. Sitting down, I saw the kids all looking at one another in confusion. "Was ist los?" I asked them. "We never decided on a pilot for the first flight." Applebloom replied as they all looked to me. "Well, what if you all put your name in a hat and have me of Franz pull a name out?" I suggested. "Then everypony has a fair chance." They all seemed to agree on the idea and I removed my black fedora for them to use. One by one they all wrote down their names on pieces of paper and dropped them into the hat. I gently shook the hat to stir up the paper and all around me I could see the hopeful faces of the kids. Holding the hat up to Franz, he reached inside and pulled out a folded piece of paper. "And the pilot is," He unfolded the paper and read the name on it. "Scootaloo." There was a shout of joy and I saw an orange filly jumping around in the back of the group. As I smiled at the elated pegasus, footsteps coming up the hill made me turn to see who would be out in this secluded area. A man in an olive drab uniform jacket and crusher cap made his way up the hillside towards us. He looked up and I saw it was Charlie. He smiled but his eyes still held their usual worried appearance. "Your wife said I would find you here." He said with his smile still in place. I extended a hand and we shook hands as we looked at Scootaloo climbing into the glider. "That's a nice glider." "It is. The kids did a good job." I replied as I stood up and leaned on my cane. Walking up to the glider, we stood behind Franz as he gave Scootaloo a brief rundown of do's and don'ts. "I'll tell you what my brother August told me on my first flight. Keep it below one hundred feet and don't try to turn. Just get the feel of flying and we'll work on that other stuff later, alright?" She nodded in response and the other kids grabbed hold of the rubber launching rope. I heard another person coming up the hill and I saw August running up the hillside in a dress shirt and slacks. "Good, I didn't miss it." August smiled as he grabbed a hold of the glider's tail to keep it in place until launch. "Franz, did you go over the flight plan with her?" He asked as he looked around the body of the glider to Franz who was strapping Scootaloo into the seat. "Yes, August. I told her exactly what you told me. Keep it under one hundred feet and don't turn." Franz replied as he handed Scootaloo a flight helmet and goggles. "Now, let's get this filly in the air." Franz grabbed a hold the rubber rope and, together with the kids, began pulling it to build up tension. Charlie and I stepped back to avoid the wing hitting us on launch as Franz and the kids all stopped at the bottom of the hill. Scootaloo slid the goggles down over her eyes and nodded back to August. August nodded back and began the countdown. "Three, two, one!" He released the tail and the glider shot off. And then straight up into the sky. "Push on the stick!" We all shouted at Scootaloo. The glider leveled off and then nose dived. "Pull up!" We shouted again as we chased after the glider. I hurriedly hobbled behind everyone as the glider's nose lifted but not high enough to keep the glider's belly from hitting the ground. There was an alarming snapping sound of the glider's wooden frame and the craft skidded to a stop. We reached the glider and immediately checked on the young filly at the controls. Unstrapping Scootaloo from her seat, we lifted her out and set her on the ground. She shook her head and slipped off her goggles. "That could've gone better." She said as she removed her flight helmet. "You still did better than Franz's first flight. He nose dived straight into the ground." August said as he turned her around to check on her wings. "You'd think would've learned from your crash, Franz. We didn't compensate for her being lighter than the intended pilot." August said as he nodded that she was unhurt. After telling Scootaloo that she would be fine, we walked over to the glider to inspect it. From the belly stuck a shard of wood as sharp as a razor and as big around as my pinkie finger. Though the bottom was caved in a little and the back was bending a bit, the glider seemed to be in relatively good condition. "Well it can be repaired. Some hard work and it'll be flying in a couple weeks at most." Charlie said as he walked around the glider. "At least she doesn't look like The Pub." He quipped. "Ja. She's definitely better off." Franz said, earning a chuckle from all of us except for August, who had no idea what we were talking about. "Now," I said with a groan as I sat down on the side of the cockpit "we can put this little Humpty Dumpty back together. But how long is it going to take again? My hearing's already going downhill I'm afraid." "About two to three weeks at most." Charlie said as he placed a hand on the wing of the glider, which then promptly snapped and caused the wingtip to fall to the ground as the broken end hung on by a few small slivers. "Actually, better make it a month." He said as we looked to the broken wing. And if I didn't know better, I could've sworn I heard Pipsqueak start to cry. ~~~~~ 20:00 Hours September 26, 1987 1237 N. Main St. Ponyville ~~~~~ The clock in the hallway chimed eight times as I sat in my recliner in the living room. As I sat and looked off into space, I began to think about how it had been over a year since I'd arrived in Equestria. These thoughts lead to thoughts of Earth. What was the rest of my family doing? Was the world a radioactive no-man's land? These were interrupted by the sound of the radio clicking on and I looked up to see Thunderstreak walking away from the radio towards me. She climbed up into my chair and onto my lap, her rump on the left armrest and her back hooves sticking off the other side of the chair. I felt her forelegs wrap around my neck as she placed her head against mine with a content sigh. "Have I told you how happy I am that you're back?" She asked while I placed my left arm around her. "Everyday since I came home." I replied as the radio spewed out the day's news. Pulling her closer to me, if such a thing was possible, she kissed me on the lips with a passion that I hadn't seen since she had lost the foal. Returning the kiss, I kicked down the footrest of my recliner and stood up with her in my arms. She broke the kiss with a surprised squeal and for the first time in months, I took a step without assistance from a cane or someone else. Making my way over to the stairs, albeit rather wobbly, I kissed her again and behind us the radio played what would become our song right after Moonlight Serenade. ~~~~~ 08:00 Hours September 27, 1987 1237 N. Main St. Ponyville ~~~~~ I opened up the front door as I finished tying my robe. Leaning down, I used my cane for support as I grabbed the morning paper. I tucked it under my arm and walked back inside. I sat down at the kitchen table and unfolded the paper as I took a sip of my coffee. As I scanned the front page stories I saw it. There, under a story about another local pilot making ace, sat the line Top Griffin Ace Killed. Reading the story, I saw the name Michael Harper. My heart sank as I read the story. According to the paper he'd escorted a damaged B-18 Bolo back to its base, an act that the local Gestapo learned of. He was arrested and tried for treason. The Griffin Empire's so called "Blood Judge" had declared that he be hanged with piano wire to be made an example off. Setting my paper down, I looked down at the table and felt a pit in my stomach. A knocking at the door got my attention and I walked into the small hallway between the living room and the doorway. Opening the front door, I saw Franz holding his copy of the paper. "I'm sorry, James." He said as he stepped inside. "Not your fault he's dead. At least he went out knowing that he did something right and saved others by doing so." I told him as I hobbled to my office down the hallway. Franz followed me to the office where I sat down at my desk and he took a seat across from me. I reached under the desk top and felt a key I'd hidden under there. Pulling it out, I unlocked the bottom left drawer and pulled out a first aid kit. I opened it up to reveal gin, vermouth, a small jar of olives, toothpicks, and glasses. I made myself a martini and offered one to Franz, who declined the offer. As we sat and discussed what we'd read I saw Thunderstreak stick her head into the office, her mane and coat a disheveled mess as she'd clearly not been up long. "James, what's wrong?" She asked as she saw the drink in my hand. I slid the paper over to the corner of the desk as she trotted into the room. She picked up the newspaper and I tapped the story with my finger to show her the one. She looked it over before setting the paper back down. "I'm so sorry, James. I know you considered him a friend." "Yeah. So much for those drinks after the war." I mumbled before taking another sip of my drink. Setting the now empty glass on the desk, I stood up and looked to Franz. "Feel free to stay as long as you like." I then turned to Thunderstreak and smiled. "I'm gonna go into town if you need anything." "I think we're about out of bread and milk. That's it." She replied as I started to walk over to door. Stepping out into the hallway, I heard her follow me out. We got halfway down the hallway before I heard her wings flap and felt her breath by my ear. "Last night was amazing by the way." She whispered and I stopped in surprise that she would say that with a guest and a kid in the house. "Oh. Well, I do aim to please." I replied, still awkward at the conversation. "Although I must say, you weren't too bad yourself. Ten out of ten, would ride again." I said with a grin and the comment was met with a gentle thump on the side of the head with her hoof. "James," She grew serious and somewhat depressed sounding as she pressed her forehead to mine. "I was thinking last night. With Typhoon graduated and off at university in Vanhoover; I started to realize how lonely it can get when you're gone with just Lancaster here. And even then he's usually off with the Crusaders trying to get his cutie mark. What I'm saying is-" "I want another kid." I said; cutting her off from saying the same thing. She leaned back and looked at me in surprise and I saw her eyes were still filled with a slight sadness but a glimmer of hope was there too. "Not right away of course. But maybe sometime soon?" She said quickly. "Yeah. We'll decide when the time is right." "Absolutely. Say, how about we hop in the shower and run into town together." I said as we started to go upstairs. "Alright. But remember last time we tried anything in the shower?" "I didn't mean like that!" I said as we reached the top of the steps. "I don't feel like explaining anything to the ER nurse again." ~~~~~ 11:00 Hours September 27, 1987 Ponyville, Equestria ~~~~~ I held a bag of groceries with my left hand as my right hand held my cane. We slowly made our way back through town and around us I saw several ponies out having Sunday lunch. As we walked though, I could see two young pegasus colts ahead of us attempting to get passers by to buy flowers. I gently tapped Thunderstreak's hoof with my cane and slightly nodded for her to look ahead at the colts. She took the bag from me and I fished into my left pocket for my billfold. Opening it up, I pulled out a twenty bit note and tucked the billfold back into my pocket. We stopped in front of the colts and I saw the older one's eyes light up at the sight of the bill. "How much for two?" I asked as I looked at the paper mache flowers they had. "Five bits, sir." The older colt replied as the younger grabbed two flowers from a box. He gave them to us and I tucked the stem of mine into the button hole on my jacket. "Do your parents know you're out here selling these?" Thunderstreak asked as she tucked hers into her mane, the white of it standing out against the brown. The colts grew silent and I thought I saw the younger one start to tear up. "Oh." She said as she realized what I had. "Come, we'll fix you two a nice meal. Celestia knows how long it's been since you had one." This immediately made the younger colt perk up and smile at the thought of a good meal. The older one however seemed to not enjoy the idea as much as his brother. They however followed us back to the house, both of them being extremely quiet the whole way. We reached the house and led them inside. They sat down at the kitchen table next to each other and remained quiet unless we spoke to them. "So what're your names?" I asked them as I sat down and leaned my cane against the table. "I'm Orchid and this is my brother Black Lotus." The yellow pegasus colt replied as he pointed a hoof to himself and then his younger brother. The smaller, white colt nodded in confirmation and I smiled at him. "You don't talk much do you?" I asked him and he shook his head. A few minutes later there were plates in front of all of us with two grilled cheese sandwiches each and bowls of tomato soup to go with them. I took my time eating, a skill I learned from many successful dates, and watched the kids to see if there was anything I could pick up anything from them. They ate slowly and without making a mess. Every so often one would stop to wipe their mouth with a napkin. When we finished, we sat and began to talk with the kids or, in the case of Black Lotus, talk to them and got a nod or head shake in response. "So, if you don't mind me asking, what happened to your parents." "Lot, why don't you go play outside for a while." Orchid said and Black Lotus complied without hesitation. As soon as the front door shut, Orchid began his story. "Well, it was a few years ago. Lot is still too young to remember it very well. Our parents owned a flower shop in Derby just down the road. We had a greenhouse that was connected to the shop through a back door so that it was easy to get to the fresh flowers in the winter. Anyway, there were electric lights that ran along the top of the greenhouse and an automatic watering system that would water the flowers every twelve hours or so. One night there was an exposed wire for the lights and the watering system turned on. They said that the wire likely wouldn't have been much trouble if it wasn't for the water. The sparks that it made managed to catch the wooden racks on fire despite the water and soon the whole greenhouse was on fire." He took a deep breath before continuing. "By the time it woke us up it was already blocking all the doors on the bottom floor. We lived upstairs and I remember mom shouting and telling dad to get us out while she called for help. Dad came and told me to get Lotus out of the house. I grabbed him and jumped out the bedroom window. Thank Celestia I'd learned to glide by then. But mom and dad kept trying to put the fire out. By the time the fire department got there, they'd gone from all the smoke. After that I realized that I would have to take care of Lotus and get income somehow. That's when I learned how to make those little artificial flowers with paper." "So you have no home?" Thunderstreak asked as she wiped away a tear that was running down her cheek. "No, we do. You know that little Istallion restaurant over on second?" He asked and we both nodded in confirmation. "We've got a real nice box behind there. Plus with all the good food they throw away, we eat like kings." We looked at each other and I saw a look in Thunderstreak's eyes. We both nodded and I realized I must have had the same look. We turned to look at Orchid and I told him to fetch Black Lotus from the yard. They both returned and sat down in the chairs they had occupied before. "Now, I think I speak for both of us when I say that we're sorry for what you two have gone through." I said and from the corner of my eye I saw Thunderstreak nod. "But a box is no place for children to grow up and live. That's why we would like to take you in and, if you'd let us, maybe adopt you." Orchid's jaw dropped while Black Lotus jumped from his seat across the table and almost tackled Thunderstreak and I as he smiled from ear to ear. "Well, what do you two say?" We looked down to Lotus whose head could've flown off with how hard he was nodding. Looking over to Orchid, I saw him look to his brother and shrug his shoulders. "Sure. Why not?" And with that, we were on the path to the kids we had been seeking.
The Jolly Rogers	35: Back in the Saddle	~~~~~ 09:00 Hours October 10, 1987 The Skies Over Ponyville ~~~~~ I looked down at the small town of Ponyville. The town was full of ponies going about their usual Saturday morning routine. Looking to the edge of town I smiled at the vibrant colors of the changing leaves. I situated myself in my plane's seat, not being used to the purely civilian aircraft. The small Ercoupe gently bounced in the sky as I soared over the forest. Banking left, I headed back for town. As I leveled out I looked to the frowning colt sitting in the seat next to me. "What's the matter?" I asked Lancaster as I gently pushed the control wheel forward and let the plane start descending. "I still haven't gotten my cutie mark." He replied with a sigh as he rested his head on his hoof. I frowned a little and looked forward. But before I could do anything else, I head a roar behind me and the cockpit suddenly turned dark. I looked up to see a large plane that had almost flown into us. We both looked out the window at the Lancaster bomber that was flying towards the town airstrip and then to each other with wide eyes at the airplane. We hurriedly landed and climbed out of the plane, our eyes seeming to never leave the large bomber. As we walked towards the bomber, I saw the pilot trotting around it and looking the plane over. Their white flight suit seemed odd to me and they removed their flight helmet, to let a long gold mane fall out. She looked away from the bomber and down to a clipboard in her hoof. She wrote down a few things before looking down at her watch and writing another couple things. Her eyes finally looked over to us and she smiled as she tucked the clipboard into a pocket on the flight suit. "Hello there! You must be General Jones. I'm Blues March." She said as she saluted me. I returned the salute to let her stand at ease and a smile never left the blue mare's face. I noticed a musical note on the front of her flight helmet and pointed to it. "That your cutie mark?" I asked her and she nodded in response. "I learned my talent was as a blues singer in the mines up near the Crystal City as a filly. I worked in the mines until Sombra was defeated." She replied. "Were you ever at the mine near Emerald City?" Lancaster asked her and she nodded again. "Me too!" He said, seeming a bit happy at finding somepony who had been through the same thing he had. "I love your plane by the way." He told her. She looked at the bomber with a small smile and sighed. "Sadly she's not even mine. I'm just flying it down here as part of an exchange program with the Equestrian Air Force. If you'd like, I can show you around the plane though." We both nodded and she showed us over to the entrance door on the tail. She led the way up to the nose and I stood back as she took her spot in the pilot's seat while Lancaster sat down in the flight engineer's seat next to her. She showed him all the different instruments and quizzed him on some of them, seeing what he already knew. Once she was done with that, he let out a sigh. "I'd love to say I flew in one of these." He said and she looked over to him and then down to the pocket where her clipboard was. "Well, you could. All I'd need to do is rework and fake some numbers on the paperwork." She replied and he looked up at her in surprise. "He's had some experience in flying with you?" Blues asked as she looked back at me. I nodded in confirmation and she gave me a small grin and a wink before turning around. She walked Lancaster through starting up the bomber that bore the same name as him. He seemed to take to it like a duck to water and I smiled as we began to roll towards the runway, her showing him how to adjust the seats in the cockpit as we did so. We turned onto the runway and I grabbed onto the wing spar that was in front of me for support. The four Merlin engines gave out a roar and we began to speed down the runway. The bomber's tail raised and she began to skip like a rock on water until, finally, the ground began to shrink away from us. Blues had Lancaster raise the landing gear and we climbed out of Ponyville. The trees looked like a multi-colored blur as we roared overhead, their beauty rivaling any artwork I'd seen. We climbed up to three thousand feet and she looked over to Lancaster. She motioned for him to come over to her and then stood up. His eyes grew wide as she left her seat and he quickly leaped over to grab a hold of the unattended controls. A few moments after he did so, it seemed to click in his mind what he was now doing. Here he was, a eleven year old colt, controlling a four engine bomber and one of the largest planes on the planet. "I'm flying!" He exclaimed as he sat down in his seat and Blues sat down in the seat he had occupied before. She looked back to me and pointed a hoof at a small, metal ammo box next to me. I opened it up and grabbed the small camera that was inside. "I like to snap pictures when I'm flying." She said with a sheepish smile. "I thought you might want to get a few of him and I can send them to you." I nodded and smiled as I snapped a picture as the bomber went into a gentle left bank. And, though I didn't notice it from the camera's flash, there was a flash from Lancaster's flank as a cutie mark of a pair of R.C.E.A.F. pilot's wings appeared. I lowered the camera and finally noticed the wings. Smiling, I snapped another picture of him with his new cutie mark; him still completely unaware of it as he looked out the side window with a smile. ~~~~~ 20:00 Hours October 16, 1987 Las Pegasus General Hospital ~~~~~ I sat next to the bed where Sabre laid with an oxygen tube in his nose. "What were you thinking?" I asked him as Brush Stroke held his hoof on the other side of the bed. "I got tired of that damn oxygen tank." He said as he looked over to me. "You complain about an oxygen mask on missions. Imagine dealing with that non stop except for an hour and a half show at best. I just wanted a day being normal again. A whole day without a fucking oxygen mask on is all I wanted." "I get that. I felt the same way about learning to walk again. I wanted just one day without that chair and I'm still trying to completely ditch this damn cane." I replied as I tapped the cane on the leg of my chair. "But we all must learn to make the best of the cards we're dealt. It's kinda like that expression of 'if life gives you lemons, make lemonade'." "And if life gives you melons, you're probably dyslexic." He replied with a chuckle. "But anyways, I heard you brought some other visitors." I nodded and beckoned for the two colts sitting out in the hallway. They trotted in and sat down between Sabre and I. "Sabre, this is Orchid and Black Lotus. And, as of this morning, they are your new brothers." I said as I smiled down to the tow colts. They stood up and stepped forward to the edge of the bed. "It's good to meet you guys. Too bad it couldn't be under better circumstances." Sabre told them with a small laugh as he waved a hoof at the oxygen equipment around him. "You boys like music?" They both nodded with smiles at the mention of the subject. "Brushie, I think Ruby brought my record player. Can you set it up please?" He asked Brush Stroke and she nodded with a small smile of affection. "You boys listen to much music?" Sabre asked as he turned back to face the colts. "Not really." Orchid replied. "We couldn't exactly afford a records or a turntable. We would go down to the record store sometimes though and listen to whatever record they had playing in the window. That was only once in a blue moon though." "Well you'll never have to worry about that again. Trust me, between me and dad, you guys won't have to worry about not having a record or player nearby." Sabre and I both chuckled at the truth of the statement as it seemed every other room of our homes had a record player. Sabre looked over to see that Brush Stroke had finished setting up the portable record player and was setting some records out. Sabre grabbed them with his magic and floated them over to him. He flipped though them with a look of disapproval and let out a long sigh. "Looks like Ruby only packed records of mine." He said with a disgruntled tone. However, he reluctantly removed a record from its sleeve and placed it on the turntable. With a small click, the player turned on and the needle came down on the edge of the vinyl disk. As the characteristic crackling sound came from the speakers, Sabre turned to the boys. "You guys ever heard of the song Splish Splash? ~~~~~ 10:00 Hours October 19, 1987 Manehattan Harbor ~~~~~ I sat along side Fancy Pants as we rode in the motor boat out to the mammoth flying boat. The silver airplane sat anchored and overhead there were blimps floating through the sky as news ponies snapped photos of the behemoth aircraft. "She's big." I said as we pulled up alongside the Hercules. "Biggest airplane in the world." Fancy Pants replied. The boat's pilot cut the motor and we drifted up to the door on the right side of the nose. A rope ladder was dropped and I followed Fancy Pants up into the plane. Once inside, I saw several reporters getting photographs of the inside of the plane. We climbed the ladder up to the upper deck and there we found more reporters with cameras. Fancy Pants showed me to the pilot's seats and we went over the locations of various controls and instruments. Around a half hour went by and most of the reporters departed the plane. Looking out the window at the choppy seas, I raised my eyebrows in slight concern and looked over to Fancy Pants. "Are you sure today is the best day for the taxi tests?" I asked as I turned back to the window. "The seas aren't the best for this kind of thing. Maybe we should wait a couple days." "Nonsense." Fancy Pants replied as a we looked back at the sound of someone coming up the ladder. Two Equestrian Navy officers appeared and took the last two vacant spots in the back row of the seats installed on the flight deck. Behind us, a tan colored pegasus stallion fiddled with the controls and radio equipment at the flight engineer's station. He gave a few quick taps of the Morse equipment before nodding to Fancy Pants. "You ready, Streamline?" Fancy asked and the tan stallion nodded. We went through the engine start up procedure and a few minutes later all eight engines were humming; waiting for their chance to run at full power. We carefully pushed the throttles forward and the engines began to roar as the flying boat slowly began to move across the water. With the assistance of two motorboats for guidance, we made our way into the deeper part of Manehattan Harbor. It was at this area that we did five taxi tests before turning the plane back towards the docks to end the day. As I sat in the copilot's seat, Fancy Pants tapped me on the shoulder. "General, look out that window and tell me what the wind is doing." I looked out the side window and saw the waves smashing against the front of the float on the right wing. "Going by occasional white caps, I'd say wind from the east at about fifteen knots." I replied as I turned back to him. "Would you call that a headwind, General?" He asked as he raised a brow. I realized what he was meaning to do and I nodded. "I would." I said with a small grin. "Streamline, lower twenty degrees of flap." He said as we looked back to the stallion. He lowered the flap handle to where the number twenty was painted and looked back to us. "Call out our speed as we go." Streamline nodded and gave us a small smile as he too knew what was about to happen. We began to push the throttles forward and the eight engines roared with delight at the chance to finally run at full power. As the Hercules sprinted across the waves, Streamline began calling out the speed. "Thirty!" The plane began to shake as she slammed into the oncoming waves. "Forty!" I felt as though my arms might rip off from the violent back and forth motion of the control wheel. "Fifty!" The engines roared as they continued to attempt to get up to take off speed. "Sixty!" The wings flirted with the idea of lift as air rushed over them. "Seventy!" I felt the violent shaking stop as an invisible gust of air finally lifted the plane from the water. I looked out the side window as we climbed up and away from the harbor below us. The waves began to shrink away as we passed one hundred feet and I smiled as I turned to look at Fancy Pants. "Fancy, I do believe she'll fly." I said with a smile. He only nodded and smiled back as we continued to climb. ~~~~~ 12:31 Hours October 19, 1987 Pier 13, Manehattan Harbor ~~~~~ Fancy Pants and I smiled as we walked into the building alongside the pier. From the south windows everyone had a perfect view of the Hercules. Inside, ponies chatted as waiters carried around trays of food. "I heard you're needing a new type of aircraft in the Air Force." Fancy Pants said as we stopped next to Streamline and Fancy Pant's accountant, a stallion named Penny Bags. "Yeah. Jet aircraft." I replied as I grabbed a glass of champagne off of a passing waiter's tray. "Either of you guy's know about jet aircraft?" Fancy asked as he turned to the two stallions. "No, but it sounds expensive." Penny Bags replied with a hint of annoyance in his voice. "Oh, it will be but these things are the way of the future." Fancy Pants replied as he took a sip of his champagne and I noticed his face seemed to scrunch a little. "The way of the future." He mumbled as he lowered his glass and I saw the two stallions look at each other in concern. They immediately set down their glasses and stepped up next to Fancy Pants. He continued to mumble the sentence as they escorted him away towards the back door. Behind me, it seemed to be like the band unknowingly read the situation as they began to play. I looked to the back door as it shut from them leaving and frowned in worry. Of course I would later realize this was the start of Fancy Pants' decent into reclusive madness. ~~~~~ 19:00 Hours October 21, 1987 Ponyville ~~~~~ Thunderstreak, Orchid, Black Lotus, and I all walked down a side street of Ponyville and I hugged myself to ward off the cold. Up ahead I saw dad and Amelia's new favorite spot in town besides the airport. In flashing lights above the entrance was the name of the establishment, Tropicana. We entered and I looked around at the various ponies dancing on the dance floor that was surrounded by potted palm trees. Along the walls were painted murals of rain forests and far off beaches and we stopped as a waiter trotted in front of us with a large tray of food balanced on his back. As I looked ponies dancing again, I saw the familiar grey and red coats of dad and Amelia's pony covers. I whistled a tune that I'd always used to get dad's attention, the opening to Green Acres. He looked over and I waved him over as we continued on to a corner booth that could easily fit us all. We slid into the booth and a few moments later were joined by Amelia and my father. "Didn't expect to see you here." He said as he slid into the booth with Amelia beside him. "Figured we'd introduce you guys to the boys." I replied as I nodded towards the two colts. "Boys, this is your new grandma and grandpa." I told them as I looked back across to the couple. Amelia smiled as dad looked back at me with a slightly annoyed look. I grinned at him and leaned back in my seat as Amelia trotted over to excitedly talk with the boys. ~~~~~ 11:45 Hours October 23, 1987 Ponyville Town Hall ~~~~~ I stood at the steps of the town hall and looked up at it as I sighed. Looking back down to the letter I'd received the night before, I unfolded it and read it again. Dear James, With your injuries fully healed I would like for you to come to the town hall tomorrow at noon for your reinstatement as head of the Air Force. Please be on time and in uniform. ~Princess Celestia Stuffing the letter in the inside pocket of my uniform jacket, I walked up the stone steps of the building and through the double doors. I removed my cap and placed it under my arm before ascending the staircase to the second level of the building. Walking over to the conference room that had been converted into a meeting room for the general staff. I opened the door and was met by the top generals of each branch. They all snapped to attention and saluted me. I returned the gesture and we all took our seats around the table. As I looked to the end of the table I saw Celestia and Luna standing next to a large board with a map of Canterlot and the surrounding area. With our attention on them, Celestia stepped forward. "Generals, today is the day we plan to take back Canterlot." ~~~~~ 05:10 Hours October 26, 1987 A Forward Airfield Near Canterlot ~~~~~ I walked around my the olive P-51B as I performed one final pre-flight inspection. Stopping at by the nose of the fighter, I reached into the pocket of my heated flight suit. I removed a pack of cigarettes and proceeded to light one up. Looking over to the metal cowling around the engine, I raised a hand and patted it where the name Canterlot Express was painted in yellow letters. "James!" A voice called out and I turned to see Franz in his own flight suit as he walked towards me. He smiled as he clenched a pipe in his teeth. "Morning, Franz." I replied as I removed the cigarette from my mouth and flicked away the ashes on the end. As I breathed out, my breath formed a fog that drifted away in the predawn darkness. "Awful cold, isn't it?" "Ja." He answered. I looked up at the stars and smiled to myself. "Still pretty out this morning though. Good morning for an invasion." I said as an orderly came around to tell us all that it was time to start our engines. Franz and I said a temporary goodbye as we parted. I climbed up onto the wing of my Mustang and hopped into the cockpit. Soon the roar of dozens of Merlin engines filled the night and we made our way from our cloverleafs to the runway. It was time to go back to war. ~~~~~ 06:00 Hours October 26, 1987 The Skies Near Canterlot ~~~~~ I scanned the sky looking for friendly bombers as the eastern sky began to get a blue hue as it neared dawn. After a few minutes of looking around, I clicked the button for my throat microphone. "This is Quicksilver Zero One. Anyone else think we missed the bombers?" There were a few responses of agreement as we all looked around some more for the B-17s and B-24s. Suddenly Franz called over the radio "heavies at ten o'clock low". I leaned against my seat straps and adjusted my oxygen mask as I looked ahead of my left wing. Sure enough, there I saw a large formation of four engine bombers a thousand feet below us. Their blue formation lights stuck out in the dark and I looked over my left shoulder to see the bomber stream was still climbing and easily over fifty miles long. "Goldsmith Two Zero, this is Quicksilver Zero One. Do you read me?" I asked as I pressed the button for the throat mic. There was some static but a few moments later a response came through. "This is Goldsmith Two Zero, we read you loud and clear. Is that you at our four high?" Charlie asked as my eyes found the lead bomber in the formation. "Indeed it is." I responded. "Good. I thought Frenchy was gonna start shooting if you guys didn't call us soon." Charlie responded with a small chuckle. I pushed the control column forward and to the left to dive down to form up with Charlie. A moment later I was flying alongside Charlie's left wing and I could see Franz on the right wing. "You know, you guys are pretty hard to spot in the dark with that olive paint." "I could say the same thing to you. If it wasn't for your formation lights then you'd probably be heading to Canterlot without an escort." I said as the bombers began to shut off their formation lights as we could now begin seeing each other in the pre-dawn glow. "So how's it feel to be back in combat again?" I asked as I spotted Canterlot ahead on the horizon. "Kind of weird without all of the old crew. I'm sure Ecky would've loved this place." Charlie said as I looked over my shoulder as I thought I heard something behind us. And then I saw it. "Jesus Christ! Fighters jumping somebody at six o'clock! All fighters, break and engage! Good luck, Charlie." I said as I peeled away from the wingtip of the B-17. Franz roared over the top of the bomber and stuck close to my tail. We weaved between bomber flights in pursuit of the enemy fighters. Finally we spotted a flight of four Me-109s diving away from their firing pass on the bombers. I called "tally-ho" and we rolled over and dived after them. I began tracking the flight leader in my gun sight and I squinted. I felt the corner of my mouth turn up in a smirk as his bright yellow nose fell into my firing line. Squeezing the trigger, I let loose a quick burst of my machine guns and watched his cowling get shredded by my bullets. His engine began belching black smoke and he rolled over into a nose dive. The other fighters scattered and we gave chase to try and keep them away from the bombers. ~~~~~ 14:21 Hours October 26, 1987 Highway 1 Outside Canterlot ~~~~~ I taxied to a stop and shut down my engine at an improvised airstrip on the highway where several fuel trucks were set up for our planes to refuel. Shutting down my engine, I flipped open my canopy and climbed out. I hopped down from the wing and looked over to Franz's Mustang where he jumped down like I had. His face was covered in a film from the exhaust that found its way into the cockpit except for where his oxygen mask had covered. Franz's eyes looked exhausted and his shoulders slouched as he trudged towards me. "How many missions have we flown today? I lost track." "I think we're up to six." I replied as a sergeant approached me. He gave me a clipboard and I signed the papers authorizing the ground crew to start refueling and rearming the aircraft. The signature came out sloppier than normal as my hand was shaking. I handed the pen to Franz who signed the paper for them to go to work on his plane too. As the ground crews swarmed our planes, I unzipped the right chest pocket of my flight suit and removed my pack of cigarettes. I lit one up and felt my hands slowly stop shaking. Franz and I walked over to a small hut that had been temporarily set up for pilots. We opened the door and walked inside where a wood burning heater kept the room warm and a small, round table was set up with chairs. I sat down in a chair and as I smoked my cigarette I unzipped the left chest pocket of my flight suit. I reached inside and pulled out a pocket Bible. Franz looked across to me in slight surprise. "I didn't take you for a man of faith, James." Franz said as he unzipped his left chest pocket and removed rosary beads. "I'm not really. I was raised in a Baptist family and I was the only one among them to question religion. I only do this before a big event really. Kind of a ritual to try and get on God's good side just in case I'm wrong and I kick the bucket." I replied as I patted the Bible. "Of course anytime I damn near break my neck or crash I ask him to let me live. Guess it's kind of like that expression of 'there's no Atheists in foxholes'." "What verse do you recite?" "Psalms Twenty Three." I replied. I looked down at the book and began reading. "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul; he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil." Looking up from the page, I saw Franz nodding as he thought about the verse. "It's a good verse." He said as the door opened and the sergeant who was in charge of the ground crew trotted in. He dropped six chunks of lead onto the table. "We fished those out of your planes. All six from your engine compartments. One of those we found in your radiator." He said as he pointed a hoof towards me. "Well how long until we're airborne again?" I asked as I glanced at my watch. "Sir, you two ain't going nowhere for the rest of the day. Besides, the invasion is pretty well over. All you guys are doing now is basically cleaning up what's left of the enemy's forces. Rommel, Patton, and the other ground generals have most of Canterlot back under their control. I'll call for a staff car to come pick you two up." He trotted out and a moment later I reached into the pocket on my pant leg. "Well since we're not flying again today," I held up a silver flask with a grin "want a drink?" > 36: Revelations ~~~~~ 19:00 Hours October 31, 1987 Ponyville, Equestria ~~~~~ I sat in my chair and ran my tongue along the fake fangs in my mouth as I flipped to the next page in the evening news paper. "James, sweetie." Thunderstreak said as she trotted out of the kitchen. "Did you get the grill outside already?" "Yes dear. I also got the fruit for the kebabs and the steaks for the guys." I replied as I set my paper down on the coffee table and stood up. She smiled at me and I grinned at her dressed up in a white apron and poofy white hat with fake chocolates sticking out. "Now Lucy," I said in my best Ricky impression "I think we ought to go welcome our guests." I walked down the hallway to the back door and opened the door for her. She flew up to give me a peck on the cheek as she passed and I followed after her. We walked into the backyard and smiled to all the ponies and humans gathered in the backyard. The smell of popcorn emanated from the popcorn machine by the back fence. I walked over to the grill and fired it up as the guys gathered around me in their own Nightmare Night costumes and among the men present were the surviving members of Charlie's original crew. As I grilled up the kebabs and steaks I felt a gentle tug at my cape. Looking down, I saw Black Lotus staring up at me. "Need something, Lot?" I asked as I knelled down to be eye to eye with him. "Actually, I prefer Blackie." He said in a quiet and polite voice. I looked at him in surprise as these were the first real words I'd heard him say. "Hey, that's my name!" One of the guys said and I turned around to see Charlie's ball turret gunner grinning at us. "So you're Blackie too, huh?" He asked as he kneeled down next to me and the colt nodded. The man's brown eyes lit up as they seemed to talk without saying a word. "So what was it you wanted bud?" I asked Lotus and he looked away from Blackie and pointed a hoof towards the house. I stood up and walked inside where a knocking at the front door echoed through the house. I stopped in front of the door and grabbed the door knob. Opening up the door, I saw an older, white unicorn stallion with a slicked back mane and a mustache. He held a briefcase in his magic and reached a hoof up to remove the grey fedora that sat atop his head. "Mister Jones, I presume?" He asked and I nodded as I stepped aside to let him inside. He levitated his hat up to hang on the hat rack and stepped inside the house. The stallion raised a hoof and ran it through his greying mane before extending it towards me. "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Mister Mouse." He said as I shook his hoof. I looked back at his cutie mark and saw it was Mickey Mouse. "Uh huh." I replied as I raised an eyebrow at him. "You must be here with the movie." I said, pointing to the briefcase in his magic. He nodded and I waved a hand towards the back door. "Right this way, Mister Mouse." We walked to the back yard and I saw the eyes of every kid there light up at the sight of the stallion. He smiled to all the kids and made his way back to the projection equipment. I went back to the grill where the other guys were still standing around, Black Lotus and Blackie carrying on a quiet conversation near the back. "Hey, guys." I said and the men looked at me. "Does that stallion remind you of anyone?" Pointing a finger in the stallion's direction, they turned their heads to look at him. "He kinda reminds me of Walt Disney." Doc, Charlie's navigator, said as he turned around to look at me. "Ja. I bet Galland would agree too." Franz commented as some of the others nodded, apparently seeing it too. "If anyone would know Disney, it'd be Galland." "Does he really have Mickey painted on his plane?" Charlie asked and Franz nodded. I removed the steaks and kebabs from the grill and set them on plates. "Food's ready!" I announced and several ponies stood up from their blankets and trotted over to get their food. In the back, Mr. Mouse finished putting the film reels into the projector as everyone took their seats. I set a steak on a plate for myself and walked over to sit next to Thunderstreak on a large blanket. I saw her scrunch her nose at the smell of the meat but she didn't say anything as I sat down and removed my false fangs. I began cutting the meat as the projector clicked on and the film began to roll. The side of the house suddenly lit up from the projector I took a quick glance around us and saw Charlie and his crew sitting together towards the back while Franz and August were in the front row, laying on their stomachs with their chin on their hands like anxious kids. Next to us sat John and Applejack who was leaning on John's shoulder as he wrapped an arm around her. Lancaster sat with the Crusaders and I glared at Rumble as I noticed his hoof on Lancaster's. "James." Thunderstreak whispered and I turned to look at her. "Relax. They're just holding hooves." "So?" I inquired. "He's still my son. And hoof holding leads to kissing which leads to the Serta Samba." I told her as the opening for the movie started. She rolled her eyes and leaned on me as I raised a fork with a piece of steak to my mouth. As the opening credits ended, I settled in for the movie. ~~~~~ 21:05 Hours October 31, 1987 Ponyville, Equestria ~~~~~ As ponies and men made their way out the side gate to head home for the night, I walked over to the projector where Mr. Mouse was packing up his films and the records for the movie. "That was a good movie Mister Mouse. In fact, that was pretty well identical to the Earth version of Sleeping Beauty. Same title and everything." I said and I saw him glance up at me as he put the reel canisters in the briefcase. "Of course I'm sure that it wasn't very hard for you to make the transition to ponies from humans was it, Mister Disney?" He stopped and turned his head to look up at me. His mouth turned up into a grin which turned into a smile. "That obvious, huh?" He asked and I smirked as I nodded. "I was pretty suspicious when I saw a picture of you a few months ago but seeing you in person and watching your picture tonight just confirmed it. Actually, Sleeping Beauty is the first full-length film I ever saw. We went to the theatre for my sister's birthday." I told him as I sat down on the chair for the projector operator. "I must say, I'm a big fan of your work. Now that I'm thinking about it, the first movie of any sort I saw was one of yours." "Which one?" He asked as he sat down in front of me with a smile. "Johnny Fedora and Alice Blue Bonnet with the Andrews Sisters. The theatre in Carlinville was having a short-film day when I was about six and that was the first one they played. Of course, I loved it. I thought that was the greatest thing I'd ever seen." I said with a smile. Walt nodded with a grin at my story. "Well, it's been an honor to meet you Mister Disney." I said as I stood up. "I suppose I should let you get going. You've still got to catch a plane and I have a meeting tomorrow morning." I shook his hoof one last time and showed him to the front door. He grabbed his hat and gave me a smile and a parting nod before trotting out the door and into the night. ~~~~~ 12:20 Hours November 1, 1987 Canterlot, Equestria ~~~~~ The princesses, the other top generals, and I all walked along the war torn streets of Canterlot. We stopped to look at a burned out home that had been caught in a fire fight between Rommel's tanks and an SS Panzer division. As we continued on our trip through the city, I took a sudden turn and walked up a lane towards a barbed wire fence. The gates at the entrance were open and I looked up to the metal sign above the gates and read it aloud as I heard others coming up behind me. "Work brings freedom." I walked through the gates and removed my hat as I realized what the camp was. Around me, soldiers held their machine guns close as captured griffins cleaned up the camp and prepared it for demolition. I walked up to a large building that had tall chimneys jutting from the roof. Stepping inside, I felt my blood run cold as I saw that the building was the camp crematorium. As I walked further inside I passed a table that was sitting next to one of the crematory doors. I looked around the building and could feel rage building up at those responsible. "What is this?" A voice asked and I turned around to see Celestia and others looking at ashes on the table I'd passed. "Ponies. Innocent civilians who were slaughtered simply for being different." I replied and my voice was filled with bitterness and anger. As soon as I told them what it was I saw several officers step outside in in shock and I could hear at least one throwing up. Walking back outside again, I looked around at the griffin inmates and realized that most of them were Luftwaffe or army personnel. The realization hit me that these griffins weren't responsible for this. They were mere bystanders being blamed for the crimes of the SS. "We need to stop this." I said. A nearby guard looked at me odd and I pointed around at the griffins. "These griffins aren't the ones responsible for this. Send word around to bring all the SS prisoners here." He nodded and set off to spread the order to all guards. Within fifteen minutes, twenty three SS prisoners were standing in front of me. I turned to the guards who had their guns trained on the prisoners. "How many of them were guards at this camp?" I asked and the guards pulled back only two. "All of these are former guards." One of the MPs said as he waved a hoof at all of the remaining griffins in black uniforms. "Good. I want them to be the one's cleaning up this place and then I want them to be hanged in the city square. Understood?" I asked and the guards nodded in understanding. At this, several of the guards' eyes widened in fear at what else might happen to them. All of a sudden, an SS lieutenant lunged forward and grabbed a guard's machine gun before the MPs could react. He began firing and I dropped to the ground and I heard the MPs open fire before all went silent. I went to stand up after the guards shouted an all clear but dropped back down to the ground as I felt a deep, burning pain in the side of my chest. Reaching a hand over to the spot, I felt a warm liquid running down my chest. Raising my hand up I saw it covered in blood as a metallic taste formed in my mouth. "Son of a bitch." ~~~~~ 12:45 Hours November 1, 1987 1019th MASH, Canterlot ~~~~~ The doors to the operating room swung open as the gurney I was on was pushed inside. "Blood pressure is sixty over eighty!" A nurse shouted as the gurney stopped and a blood pressure cuff was ripped off my arm. "I certainly hope you all know what you're doing." I said with a weak chuckle. "For today sir, we'll certainly make it look like it." One of the doctors replied and they all gave me a reassuring smile before slipping their masks up over their snouts. A nurse placed a mask over my mouth and nose and I began breathing in deeply as another nurse brought in blood and I.V.s. As I breathed in I began to feel extremely tired and I let my eyes slip shut. ~~~~~ 13:00 Hours November 2, 1987 1019th MASH, Canterlot ~~~~~ I lay on my bed and was reading a book when I heard smacking on the floor. All of a sudden the curtain for the post-op slid open and a doctor walked in wearing swimming fins and the famous fake glasses and moustache styled after Groucho Marx. "So, how's my top patient doing today?" He asked as he grabbed the chart off the end of my bed. "Still a bit sore." I replied as I set the book aside and removed my reading glasses. "I would expect so. You had a cracked rib and a collapsed lung. You're lucky you got here as fast as you did, too. You lost almost half the blood in your body. Good thing we've got a fair amount of your blood in the national reserve." He replied as he hung the chart back on its hook. "Good news is that I think you'll be out in a week." He said as he sat down on a stool next to my bed. "Bad news is that I noticed something while we were operating." He sighed and removed the comedic face wear. "You've got a bad ticker, General. I'd say you're not too far off from a heart attack. One good tantrum and you'll certainly be feeling it." I sat up and looked at him. "I've got a bad heart?" I asked in concern. "It's not just a mistake on your part?" "General," He started as he stood up. "I haven't been wrong yet." "So you're serious that I have a crap heart?" "I'm always serious." He said as he placed the Groucho glasses and mustache back on. He began to trot away, his flippers making a plap plap, plap against the floor, but as he grabbed the curtain to leave I stopped him. "I never did get your name, doc." I said as I looked over to him. He reached back and lifted up his lab coat for me to see his cutie mark. I looked at it and saw it was an eye like on a bird of prey. "The name's Hawkeye." He trotted out and I stared after him, in awe of the stallion. ~~~~~ 15:30 Hours November 26, 1987 Royal Mountain House, Location Classified ~~~~~ I pushed away my plate as I patted my stomach after Thanksgiving dinner. "Oh geez." I groaned as I felt like I might throw up. "Dinner was amazing." I said as I turned to look at Thunderstreak. From the table were mutters of agreement by all of Charlie's crew, Franz and his brother, and every other human in Equestria. I reached over and patted a hand on Thunderstreak's hood and gave her a small smile. She smiled back and looked like she was about to say something but dad interrupted her before she could begin. "So, who wants to join in a Jones family tradition?" Dad asked as he stood up and produced a Colt .45 revolver. Some of the people at the table looked at dad in alarm but I smiled as I looked towards the back door. "You got the targets set up out back?" I asked him and he nodded. "Then let's go!" I stood up and grabbed my uniform holster off a shelf by the door. I put on the belt and walked out the back door as I heard everyone else get up from the table. I stepped outside and saw several targets lined up on top of the deck railing. "Still think you're gonna hold your title, old man?" I asked as I turned around to see dad had his belt and holster on. "I'm only five years older than you, you know." He said as we walked up to the targets. We turned and placed our backs to them and each walked ten paces back towards the house where everyone was looking at us with raised eyebrows. We stopped after ten paces and turned on our heels to face each other. As was tradition, we shook hands and turned again but this time it was to face the targets. "Alright." Dad said as we stood there with our right hands hovering over our holsters. "Draw!" He shouted and as quick as I could, I grabbed my revolver from the holster and fired all six rounds at the target. The combined noise from our guns echoed off the surrounding landscape and I smiled as I twirled my Colt and slipped it back into my holster. As we walked up to our own targets I grinned when I could finally see mine well. "Still think you won?" I said as I snatched the target paper off the plank it'd been nailed to. I held it up for him to see six holes in the bullseye of the paper and I looked to his to see only five in the bullseye. "Looks like you won this year. You've certainly improved." He said as we shook hands. "And that's without doing this last year." I replied as we walked back towards the group where they were still looking at us confused. "What was that about?" Franz asked. "Well, you see, every year when I was younger our family would have a so-called 'gunfighters competition' where we would see who could get the most bullseyes with old Colt .45s. Before he disappeared, dad was the champion for six years. I started joining in the last two years he was on Earth and ended up sixth and fourth. Now," I chuckled a little as I looked over at dad for a moment "I'm the champion." "How did you get so good anyway?" Dad asked as he turned to me with a raised eyebrow. "Well, you remember that Old West show that traveled around the area when I was little?" He nodded and waited for me to continue. "Well during the winter a couple years after you were gone, I went and joined them as a gunfighter. Then there was the practice that I used to get by shooting bad fruit from the trees at Me-ma's certainly helped too." "Wait, wait, wait; Me-ma?" Thunderstreak asked and I felt my face get warm as I rubbed the back of my neck. "Yeah. That's what I call my grandma." I said and I heard Doc and Andy snickering. I shot a glare at the bombardier and navigator and they both cleared their throats and looked around as though they were searching for something of interest. After my face cooled back down I remembered another tradition of the family. "Hey dad." He looked over at me and I reached into my pocket. I grabbed the slender object inside and removed it to hold it in the air. "How about Five Finger Fillet?" I asked as I flicked open the switchblade. ~~~~~ 16:45 Hours November 26, 1987 Royal Mountain House, Location Classified ~~~~~ "Alright, now give me the cloth." I said as I tied a shoelace around the base of Austin's pinky finger. Thunderstreak stood aside and supervised me and Franz after our insisting that we could handle it. Franz handed me a piece of cloth to put on the end of Austin's finger to try and cover up the spot where the finger was severed. "Good news is that the royal helicopter is coming to take you and your finger to the closest hospital." "So how's it going, Nubs?" Dad asked Austin as he walked into the dining room from the kitchen with a bottle of soda in hand. Amelia delivered dad a backhand to the chest for the comment but I head Patton chuckle at the comment as everyone stood around us and watched the 'procedure'. ~~~~~ 06:00 Hours December 8, 1987 Ponyville, Equestria ~~~~~ A shrill ringing snapped me from my sleep and I quickly rolled over to grab the phone on my nightstand. "Hello, General Jones speaking." I sat up and pulled the string for my lamp as Thunderstreak rolled over and looked at me still half asleep. "Happy anniversary and happy birthday, shithead." A voice said and I immediately slammed the receiver down before shutting the light off and lying back down. "Who was that, sweetie?" Thunderstreak asked as I pulled the blanket up over my head. "My ever glorious father." I replied as I buried my face into the pillow and sighed. Just as I felt like I about to fall asleep for an eternity and then some, the bedroom door burst open and I heard two colts and three fillies shout in unison. "Happy anniversary!" They yelled and I ripped the blanket off of my head and sat up in bed. I looked over at the doorway and saw Lancaster, Orchid, Black Lotus, and the Crusaders standing there with trays filled with burned food. I cast a sideways glance at Thunderstreak and saw she was looking at me from the corner of her eye. They set the trays on our laps and smiled at us. I looked down at my tray and saw burnt pancakes, burnt hay bacon, burnt eggs, a burnt cupcake with a candle in it, and somehow they had managed to burn the orange juice as well. "This looks fantastic." I lied and I saw they all smiled at my 'compliment'. "Although, we'd like to eat alone if it's alright." I said and they all nodded and trotted out, shutting the door behind them. Looking over to Thunderstreak I saw her looking in her glass of juice and muttering a "how in the hell?" at the burned liquid. "Well, would you like me to call in an order at Sugarcube Corner? I need to go into town anyways to pick up my dry-cleaning." She nodded and I grabbed the phone off of the nightstand. I held it up to my ear and was reaching to dial when I heard a voice on the other end. "Well how soon is the cake going to be done, Pinkie?" Orchid asked over the phone and I held the receiver away from my ear and looked over to Thunderstreak. "Do you know anything about Orchid ordering a cake from Sugarcube Corner?" I asked and she shook her head. I put the phone back to my ear and could hear Orchid again. "Alright. Look, the party's at five. Can you have it over here by then?" He asked and I looked at Thunderstreak before setting the phone down. "He's having a party." I said and Thunderstreak looked up from poking a charred pancake in confusion. "A party? What in Equestria for?" She asked and I shrugged my shoulders. "Maybe our anniversary?" I suggested as Thunderstreak dumped the contents of both our trays into the small trash can by the bed. "Be sure you put some stuff on top of that so the kids don't notice." I said as I swung my feet off the side of the bed and stood up. She grabbed a couple pieces of paper laying on her nightstand and set them over the burnt food as I grabbed my uniform from the closet. Walking over to the doorway, I peeked out into the hall and hurried over to the bathroom while it was clear. I stepped inside and turned on the shower and stripped down before climbing into the shower. After a few minutes I heard a knock at the door and heard someone step inside. "Who the hell is in here?" I asked as the door shut. "Who do you think?" Thunderstreak said. "What d'ya need?" I asked as I put a glob of shampoo in my hair. "I gotta take a crap." She said and I stopped scrubbing my head for a moment at her statement. "You couldn't have waited until I was done?" I asked as I poked my head out from around the curtain to see her reading a magazine on her 'seat'. "Possibly but I know it annoys the shit out of you when I do this." Thunderstreak replied as she flipped to the next page in her magazine. "No, it just annoys me. The shit part here is all you." I replied as I stuck my head back in the shower and into the spray of the showerhead. I quickly washed the rest of myself, carrying on a conversation with Thunderstreak all the while, and climbed out to dry off. We continued to talk as I dried myself off and got dressed. "So I was thinking about leaving the base a little early this morning so we could have an anniversary lunch somewhere. Where'd you like to go?" I asked as I gelled my hair into a pompadour style. "Well, there's one place I would like to go but it'll take a while to get there. Even if we fly." She said as she finally stood up and flushed. "That shouldn't be a problem. I can just call Canterlot for some fuel and we can take the Tomcat." ~~~~~ 16:45 Hours December 8, 1987 Ponyville Aerodrome ~~~~~ Thunderstreak and I walked away from the olive drab F-14 and we both removed our aviator sunglasses. "So how's it feel being only the second pony in the world to go faster than sound?" I asked as we climbed into a jeep near the hangar. "I honestly don't think I'll ever get used to it." She replied as she unzipped and removed her flight suit. "I actually just approved a project to build a supersonic research plane. I thought about finding a mare to be the first pony to pilot a plane past the sound barrier." I said as I started the jeep and began to drive for the base gate. "Really? Who were you thinking?" Thunderstreak asked as I waved to the gate guard. He waved back when I drove through the gate and I turned onto the road leading to the town square. "Well, I was thinking maybe Rainbow Dash considering the princesses allow mothers in the reserves." And then a thought hit me and I pulled the jeep onto a dirt trail before stopping the jeep. "What're we doing?" She inquired as she looked around and then over to me. "If mothers weren't allowed to join the service, how'd you get in?" I asked as I turned off the vehicle. "Oh. Well, about that. You see, it's only mares who've given birth that couldn't go in." She replied as she rubbed her hooves together. "What?" "The truth is," She sighed and placed her head in her hooves "none of the kids are biologically mine. You of course know that Typhoon and Lancaster were adopted from the Crystal Empire. But Sabre is adopted too. He's technically my nephew." "What?" "I've told you my sister sees a lot of stallions. She got pregnant and mama was actually smart for once when she realized that it wouldn't be a very good home for Sabre. So she told my sister to give the foal to me and we'd pass him of as mine. My sister didn't mind cause then she'd be free to go running around again." "Does he know?" I asked without looking at her and I realized that my voice had gone ice cold. "No. No one's ever told him." She said as her voice broke from emotion. I looked over at her and wrapped my arm around her. She sniffled and buried her face into my side and I rubbed her shoulder with my hand. "It's fine. It's alright. I'm sorry I asked about it." I said. "Hey, look at it this way. You raised him from a foal so really, he's all yours. He was never your sister's. He's always been your son." I said as I looked down at her. She removed her face from my side and looked up at me as she wiped her eyes with her hoof. I smiled at her and she returned it with a grin. "Now let's see you smile because if we were right this morning, we've got a party to go to." ~~~~~ 20:55 Hours December 8, 1987 Ponyville, Equestria ~~~~~ I stood in the living room and smiled as ponies and humans wandered around and conversed together at our anniversary party. In the corner of the room was a record player blasting Glenn Miller and Swing Sisters records for partygoers to dance to. As I stood there I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned around to see dad standing there. "James, we need to talk." He said and I waved a hand for him to follow me. I walked down the hallway and into my home office. Dad stepped inside and I shut the door behind him. Grabbing my key for the desk drawer, I opened it up and removed a bottle of bourbon and a couple glasses. "Jimmy, I think you need to sit down for what I'm about to tell you." Dad said as I opened the bottle and I looked up at him in surprise. "Must be big news." I said as I put the top back on the bottle and sat down at the desk. Dad sighed and looked around the room as though he were trying to find an escape route. He placed a hand up to his temple and rubbed. "Amelia and I have discussed this and we've concluded that it's time you knew. James, your mother and I raised you with all of your sisters. And we were barely able to afford that. The truth is, you weren't the only son we had." He said as he looked away from me. I looked at him and stood up from my seat as my hand balled up into a fist. "What?!" I shouted and, though neither of us noticed, the music and conversations outside stopped. "You have a twin brother, James. We gave him up for adoption. Last I knew, he went to a family near St. Louis." He explained as I walked around the desk and towards him. He began to back up until his back hit the door. "I have a twin brother and you waited thirty seven fucking years to tell me?!" My voice seemed to thunder through the house and outside several guests looked at each other in concern. Just as I was about to continue my shouting I felt a painful pressure in the left side of my chest and pain shooting down my left arm. I stepped back and attempted to catch my breath but found it impossible. Leaning on my desk I attempted to get around to my chair but sat down against it in exhaustion. Dad was almost immediately next to me and looking at me with the most concern I'd probably ever seen. "James, what's wrong?" He asked me as I looked over at him and held a hand up to my chest. "I've got a pain in my chest. And I can't breathe." I replied with what little breath I could muster. Dad immediately stood up and ran over to the door and flung it open. "Somebody call an ambulance! James is having a heart attack!"
The Jolly Rogers	37: Moon Glow	~~~~~ 08:27 Hours December 9, 1987 Ponyville General Hospital ~~~~~ I looked up at the white ceiling tiles of my hospital room. Outside I could hear the sound of nurses and doctors chatting as they passed by or ponies going to visit their family members. I sighed and glanced over at the clock on the wall. Groaning at the time I looked back up at the ceiling. The door suddenly clicked as it opened and I looked to it with a smile but it quickly disappeared as only a doctor entered. He trotted over to me and I let my head drop back onto the pillow. "How're you feeling Mister Jones?" He asked as he picked up my chart off the foot of the bed. "Could be better." I replied with a huff. "Any word from my family?" "I believe they're on their way." He said. "And my father?" "On the list for those not permitted to see you." The doctor replied as he set my chart down. "You're lucky you got here as fast as you did. I honestly don't think you would've survived if you hadn't. Now, I've called in the doctor who originally discovered your heart problem and he should be here any time." The door suddenly opened and a tan stallion with a disheveled black mane poked his head inside. In his magic he held a martini glass and a cigar was clamped in his mouth. "I'm gonna take a shot in the dark and guess this is General Jones' room?" He asked as he stepped inside and I saw he was wearing a red bathrobe in place of a lab coat. The other doctor raised an eyebrow but said nothing as he left the room. As soon as the door clicked shut, Hawkeye opened his medical bag and pulled out a first aid kit that he set on my bedside table. He flipped up the switches on the kit and I saw it contained all the ingredients for a martini. "You drink, General?" "Only on days ending with a Y." I replied as he mixed up a drink. "You know, you remind me an awful lot of a guy on a TV show I liked. Name and everything." I said as he gave me the drink. We clinked the glasses and both took a swig of our drinks. Hawkeye grabbed a chair and scooted it over by the bed. "Really? Do tell me about this other Hawkeye." ~~~~~ 09:15 Hours December 9, 1987 Ponyville General Hospital ~~~~~ The door to the room clicked open and Hawkeye and I both looked towards the entrance as a record played in the corner of the hospital room. A green head stuck in the room that I immediately recognized as Thunderstreak. "Hey, honey!" I said with an ear-to-ear smile. "Come meet Doctor Hawkeye." He stood up and trotted towards the door as Thunderstreak entered with the youngest boys behind her. Hawkeye grabbed her hoof and kissed it and uttered something I couldn't understand. "Bon matin. Vous ȇtes aussi rayonnate que le soleil." Hawkeye said and I saw Thunderstreak's cheeks and the tips of her ears get a red tint to them. "Thank you." She replied as she rubbed the back of her neck with her hoof after it was released. I raised an eyebrow at them but shrugged it off as a nurse brought in the morning paper for me to read. I thanked her and unrolled to paper to see the headline in giant, bold letters reading North Ponia Surrenders. Setting the paper aside, I grabbed one of the pills the doctor had set on my bedside table in case I felt more chest pains. I quickly downed the pill and got some looks from everyone but Hawkeye quickly went into doctor mode. "James, what's wrong? Are you experiencing more chest pains?" He asked as he leaned over me. I shook my head and held up the paper for him to see. He took the paper with an excited smile and began hopping around the room. Hawkeye finally calmed down enough for us to ask him about his joy. "I was stationed there with the 1019th! Now we never have to go back!" We each gave our congratulations to him and a smile never left my face. That is until the door crept open. I looked over and saw a man in a dark navy uniform. My smile dropped and became a scowl, the heart monitor next to me beeping quicker at the sight of dad looking inside. Everyone in the room stepped back as dad slowly entered and removed his hat, tucking it under his arm. He carefully stepped up next to the bed and sat down in the chair where Hawkeye had been sitting. I glared at him and everyone else silently went out into the hallway. "James-" He started to talk but I quickly raised my hand and cut him off before he could continue. "Shut up. I don't care to hear it." I said, my voice sounding as venomous as a cobra. "James, please, I only ask that you listen for three minutes." He pleaded as he set his cap on the bedside table and placed his hand on top of mine by my side. I quickly pulled my hand away and placed it on my stomach as I continued to glare at him. "Three minutes. Start talking." I told him and he took a deep breath as he steeled his nerves. "Well, as you know, your mother and I had our hands full with your sisters when you were born. Of course we discussed our situation after we found out she was pregnant and we decided that one more kid to the bunch wouldn't hurt. Naturally, everyone was excited but nervous after your aunt had a miscarriage a few month before you were born. I don't think your poor mother would've been able to handle loosing you." He stopped as he folded his hands on the edge of the bed. "The doctor had said you were supposed to be born on January eighth but when your mom went to go to the store on the night of December seventh, you two suddenly decided you were coming out. The next day we welcomed you and the surprise that was your brother into the world a month early. But with your brother came some problems. We had planned on only one baby, not two. So we decided to keep you since you were the first born of the two and we put up your brother for adoption." Dad again paused as he pulled a piece of paper from his jacket pocket. "We never told you before because we didn't want you to miss someone you didn't know. Last I knew of, this was his name and address. He was adopted by a couple with the last name of Lawson down in St. Louis." He folded his hands again and I glanced at the paper on the bed. "Your three minutes are up." I said monotonously and dad silently stood up to leave. He grabbed his hat and walked over to the door. Just before he was about to open it to make his exit, he turned and looked at me. "James, I want you to know that I love you and while you may not claim me as your father anymore, you'll always be my son." He opened the door and placed his cap on his head before walking outside. ~~~~~ 13:05 Hours December 16, 1987 Ponyville, Equestria ~~~~~ I held a knife in my hand, ready to cut my unsuspecting victim. Bringing the knife down I made contact and began slicing the sandwiches in two from corner to corner. With the sandwiches cut, I took the plate over to the table where Lancaster sat with a book held in his hock. "Here ya go, Elvis. Two peanut butter and banana sandwiches." He looked at the plate as I set it down and I saw him scrunch his nose a little. "Mom always cuts them down the middle." He said as he set his book aside. "Yeah, well that's how we cut them in the county jail." I replied as I wiped my hands off with a rag. He didn't say anything more as he silently bit into the sandwich. From the doorway I heard hoofsteps and I looked up to see Thunderstreak standing there with something in her hoof. She looked concerned and I immediately felt my heart sink as worst case scenarios began to run through my mind. "Butter Cup, what's wrong?" I asked her and I slowly walked towards her but she backed up with each step towards her. "James, um, I have some news that I think you may want to sit down for." Thunderstreak said and I gently sat down in one of the kitchen chairs. "James, I'm-how do I say this gently?" "She's pregnant." Lancaster said and we both looked to him as he took another bite of his sandwich. He stopped as he sensed our gazes on him and looked up at us. "What? You mean it wan't obvious?" He set the sandwich down and placed his fore-hooves together. "I had it figured out a week ago. The slippers for the aching and swollen hooves," Lancaster said as he waved a hoof at the pink fuzzy slippers on Thunderstreak's hooves "the weird cravings for things like strawberry and pickle milkshakes, and you haven't noticed but she's been throwing up every morning in the bathroom. It's pretty clear that she's pregnant again." We stayed silent as he resumed reading his book and eating. "Also, if I were you, I'd be looking for a bigger house. This one is getting a bit small." ~~~~~ 11:30 Hours December 18, 1987 The Hills Outside Ponyville ~~~~~ I clasped my hands behind my back as I looked out the large picture window of the hilltop mansion. "How much did you say it is for this again?" I asked as I turned to face the real estate pony who was watching me. "This home is going for about one million bits. The owner's flexible on the price though." She replied as she looked down at the paperwork on her clipboard. "I can do nine and a quarter in cash. Would they take that?" I asked as I turned back around to look out the window towards Ponyville. "I'll ask them and get back to you as soon as I can. Now, how about we take a look at the library?" ~~~~~ 05:00 Hours December 25, 1987 New Jones Family Mansion ~~~~~ I shut the front door of the large home as quietly as I could and sighed with relief when no one stirred at the click. Setting my briefcase by the door, I walked in further and loosened my tie as I entered the gargantuan living room. Around me sat several boxes still waiting to be unpacked. But there by the picture window overlooking town, stood a pine tree covered in lights and ornaments. I slowly walked over to it and grabbed one of the silver, glass orbs on the tree and rolled it around in my hand with a small smile. At the base of the tree were dozens of gifts all wrapped in brightly colored paper and I made sure to not bump any as I adjusted my feet. I looked at the glass ball in my hand and smiled as I saw the ever familiar, albeit distorted, reflection of my little world's sun. "James, sweetie, is that you?" Thunderstreak asked as I hung the ornament back on the tree. "Yes, dear." I replied, turning around to face her. "I would've been home from Ponia sooner but my flight got caught in the blizzard near Vanhoover." I told her as I walked over and scooped her up, much to her surprise, and carried her over to the window like we were newlyweds again. Looking out the window, I let out a content sigh as snow lazily drifted down on Ponyville. The town glowed against the blanket of white as the street lights made the town have a yellow hue to it. "You know," I started as I sat down on the wood floor with Thunderstreak on my lap "I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful place to be; or a more beautiful mare to be with." Leaning my head down, my lips met her's and there, in that moment, it seemed at though it were only us. My heart skipped a beat from the warmth of her lips against mine and she carefully reached a hoof up to place on my shoulder. We broke the kiss and I ran my tongue over my lips, a distinct and wonderful flavor hitting my taste buds. "You got new chapstick." "It's butterscotch. I know how much you like those little candies." She replied as her face flushed and her ears went back. "I honestly was wondering if you'd notice." Thunderstreak said as she looked away from me; her mannerisms at that moment making her seem like a love-struck teenager. "Of course I'd notice, Butter Cup. There's few things in this universe that can get almost as sweet as you. Butterscotch is just one of those." I told her as I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her tight against my chest, hugging her as we watched the snow fall. "And what are the other things?" She asked, looking up at me with her beautiful blue eyes. "Well let's see, shall we?" I asked as she looked back out the window and I rested my chin on top of her head. "Besides butterscotch, it has to be those peanut butter cups I love so much. And then it's-actually-I can't think of anymore." I told her as I reached down and grabbed one of her forehooves with my hand. She placed her other hoof on top of my hand and let out a pleased sigh as we both sat and waited for the coming sunrise. "Wait, is that why you call me Butter Cup?" ~~~~~ 07:30 Hours December 25, 1987 Jones Mansion ~~~~~ I awoke to a poking in my side. Slowly opening my eyes, I saw Orchid standing over me and I realized that Thunderstreak and I must have fallen asleep on the living room floor. I felt Thunderstreak still wrapped in my arms and I looked down at her with a smile as she buried her face into my chest. Carefully lifting my hand off of her, I ran it over her mane and felt her start to wake. "Honey, it's time to get up." I told her as I started propping myself up with my other arm. "Just five more minutes, Dad. Please? I don't want to go to school." She mumbled in her still half-asleep state. Gently nudging her with the hand that wan't keeping her from falling over. She finally began to really wake up and opened her eyes to see Orchid still staring at us. "Are we still on the floor?" She asked as she rubbed her eyes with her hooves. "Eyup. I'm sure the kids would like to open their gifts too." I told her as I looked to Orchid. "Actually, Lotus isn't up yet and I think Lancaster's still in the library." He said as he looked back towards the grand staircase that led upstairs. "Should I go get them?" He asked as he looked to us. "No. Leave them be for now." I told him as I glanced towards the banister for the upstairs. "They'll be along eventually." ~~~~~ 10:30 Hours December 25, 1987 Jones Mansion ~~~~~ The boys had all finished tearing through their gifts and I smiled to myself as I watched each one with their new acquisitions. By the window sat Lancaster in a sweater with one of the anatomy books he'd received as Orchid and Black Lotus played with the metal, toy planes we had bought them. A loud knocking took my attention away from them though and I stood to answer the door. Grabbing the gold colored handle, I opened the door and smiled at John and Applejack as they stood on the doorstep. "Well howdy, strangers!" I said with a smile as I waved them in. In their arms were several boxes wrapped in colored paper that I assumed were gifts for the kids. They made their way towards the living room and I was about to shut the door when a hand suddenly planted itself on the oak door. I stopped and opened the door again to see Franz and August standing there. August was grinning from ear to ear as Franz rubbed the back of his neck. "Morning, guys." I said as August walked inside, still grinning as Franz continued to look around. "Hey Franz, what's up?" I asked as I stepped outside and shut the door behind me. As I looked over to him, I saw a grey pegasus mare with a blonde mane standing next to him. "Oh, hello." "Um, I wasn't entirely sure if I was aloud to bring someone. I should've phoned first." Franz said as he looked at me. "Oh, of course you can bring someone. The more, the merrier!" I replied as I smiled to him and the mare. "I apologize, but I don't believe I got your name." I said as I bent down to smile at the mare and get a better look at her. "I'm Ditzy Hooves but everyone just calls me Derpy." She said with a smile as I took her hoof and gave it a quick kiss in greeting. She blushed and I thought about where I'd heard the name before. "You must be the fighter ace I've heard about before." I said and her blush deepened at the mention of that. "Franz, I knew you were going to the Crystal Empire but I expected you to return with something like a snow globe, not a beautiful mare." I told him and now it was Franz's turn to blush. "We met at an officer's club there. I kind of got involved in the skittles tournament there and it came down to just us." He replied, looking down to her with a smile. "I won but he was a good sport and bought me a beer." Ditzy said as she leaned against Franz's leg. "We got to talking and he shared a few of the secret flaws of the 109 with me. If it wasn't for my leave home this week, I would've put that to use." She told me as she cast a quick, loving glance up at Franz. "Well no sense in standing around until we freeze to death. Come on in before we all catch pneumonia." I told them as I opened the front door and led them inside. "Lunch should be ready around noon. Nice thing about owning a mansion, we have an excuse to hire a kitchen staff." I said with a small laugh. We entered the living room where John, Applejack, and August were all sitting on the chairs and couches that surrounded the tree. As Franz and Ditzy made themselves comfy on one of the couches, I looked around and noticed Lancaster was missing. I looked upstairs and walked up the grand staircase to head for the library. Opening the double doors for the two story library, I walked inside and heard voices talking in the middle of the library. I crouched down and quietly made my way over to the railing that went around the opening that allowed a view of the level below. There on the floor in front of a small table sat Lancaster and across from him sat Princess Luna, who quietly sipped from a tea cup as Lancaster talked. "I'm just not sure what to do about it. I mean, I have feelings for him; but I just don't think our talents are compatible." Lancaster said as he sipped from his tea as Luna set her cup down. He lowered the cup a little and held it in front of him as he thought. "I don't want to wake up when I'm older and realize I no longer love the pony in bed next to me." He said as he sipped from his cup again. Luna nodded with understanding as he set his cup down again. "I was once in your position young one. I was in love with a handsome stallion; a prince from the Crystal Empire. He and I were engaged to be wed and we couldn't have been happier. But as the date approached for our wedding, I realized that we both had different obligations in our lives. He to his nation and I to mine." She took another sip from her tea before continuing. "All of the worst case scenarios ran through my head, much like with you now. I had nightmares of him no longer loving me as our destinies kept us apart. But I came to realize that every relationship is not without it's flaws. We were wed and we had a very loving and wonderful marriage until a most horrid day came upon us." Luna was visibly upset at the memory as she looked down at the table. "My prince began finding pleasure in dark magic and he soon loved it more than he did I. But you needn't worry about that young one. Until then, we were very happy despite our destinies and the distance between us." The night princess lifted the tea pot with her magic and refilled the cup in front of her. "If I may, your highness; what was your prince's name?" Lancaster asked as he looked across to her. "His name was Sombra." She replied. I quietly stood up and looked down to them. "I thought I would find you here." I said and they looked up at me. "Guests are arriving, I thought I'd inform you two in case you want to be social. If not I can ask a cook to bring you your lunches in here." "I think we'll just eat in here. We have some things to discuss together." Luna replied and I nodded in understanding. "I'll have them bring you your food then. And some more tea." I said with a smile before turning on my heel and walking out. Shutting the double doors, I made my way downstairs. "Hey, Butter Cup?" I called towards Thunderstreak. "How the hell did Luna get in our house again?" ~~~~~ 20:16 Hours December 25, 1987 Jones Mansion ~~~~~ Thunderstreak and I stood on the balcony that overlooked Ponyville and I could see my breath swirl and dance its way towards the sky. Overhead, the full moon illuminated the night and I looked over to Thunderstreak with a smile. "You know, I never thought I would meet someone as amazing as you." I told her and the night hid the red tint to her face. The Glenn's band began playing a song inside for the Christmas party and I smiled again at the song they chose. Grabbing Thunderstreak's hoof, I pulled her close and held her only a few inches from my face. Her blush was now clear to me as we stated to slow dance on the balcony. She placed her head against my chest as her wings held her up. We continued to dance until the song was clearly approaching its end. Her head lifted from my chest and looked at me with her beautiful eyes. In the moonlight they glowed the most vibrant blue I'd ever seen. And there in that moment, I realized it wasn't luck or fate that led us to that wonderful moment. It was the moon glow that shone in her eyes. That wonderful moon glow made her the most beautiful pony in the world to me. "It had to be moon glow, way up in the blue That wonderful moon glow, led me straight to you" I sang to her as I hugged her tightly. She leaned her head back and I felt my heart leap at just the mere sight of her. Leaning in, our lips touched and though it was snowing; to me it was as sunny as spring. Breaking the kiss, I gave her a loving smile. "That moon glow gave me you." ~~~~~ 11:30 Hours December 26, 1987 Fluttershy's Cottage ~~~~~ I knocked on the wooden door to the small cottage as Thunderstreak tightened her coat around her. Just as I was about to knock again, Mac opened the door and I noticed he was wearing a knit green sweater that-paired with his red coat-fit the season perfectly. "Mornin'." He said with a smile. Mac waved us inside and we entered the cottage, a wood burning stove in the corner of the room enveloping us in its warmth. "Tea and sandwiches should be ready soon." Mac told us as we sat down on the couch. Almost as if on cue, Fluttershy entered with a tray of tea on one wing and a platter of sandwiches on the other. She gently set them down on the table between us and sat down with Mac on the couch across from us. "It's so nice of you to have us over." Thunderstreak said with a smile as we took our saucers and tea cups. I nodded and took a sip of the tea. "The weather has been so nice lately. Just the perfect amount of snow." She said before taking a sip from her tea. "It's not gonna last though. The weather station's been getting reports of a big storm coming. Supposed to bring us up to seven inches of snow." Mac said as he grabbed a sandwich off the platter and took a bite. "Oh yeah. I heard you helped start a weather station. How's that going?" I asked with interest as I remembered seeing the new station on top of a hill during one of my flights over Ponyville. "Very nicely actually. Our radio can reach the station all the way in Manehattan and our specialized radar will pick up the weather fronts and not aircraft." He replied and I could see out of the corner of my eye that the girls had started their own quiet conversation. "Really? We may have to ask you where you got it. I'm sure Ponyville tower would love one of those radar sets." I told him, sipping my tea. Just as he was about to respond, a crying emanated from upstairs and Mac quickly put a hoof on Fluttershy's leg. "I've got her this time." He told her with a small smile. Mac hopped off the couch and made his way upstairs. "I figured it was only a matter of time before she woke up. She's rather feisty when she's not asleep." Fluttershy said with a small giggle. The sound off hooves on the steps drew our attention towards the stairs and we saw Big Macintosh carrying the small blue baby that was a hybrid of a human and a pony. "Merryweather decided that she wanted to join the party." He said with a chuckle as he sat down and held the child with a smile on his face. Mac looked down to the baby and then back over to us. "Would you guys like to hold her?" He asked us and Thunderstreak and I both nodded in response. Carefully standing up to take her from Mac, I sat back down with Merryweather in my arms. For the first time in months, I held my baby girl and I sniffed as my eyes began to water. "James, you're crying." Fluttershy said as I wiped my eyes with my right hand. "No, I'm just sweating through my eyes." I replied with a small laugh as Merryweather wrapped her fingers around my pointer finger. She smiled up to me and I smiled back at her with a small laugh escaping at the sight of her. "She's beautiful." I said to myself as Thunderstreak carefully took her from me. The sight of her made me realize that no matter what happened to us, there would always be a silver lining somewhere. "She really is beautiful." I said to myself again. And in that moment, the face of freedom was no longer all of Equestria, but the face of a baby girl.
The Jolly Rogers	38: Into the Fire	~~~~~ 09:00 Hours December 28, 1987 Royal Palace, Canterlot ~~~~~ I sat in the white marble hallway in front of Princess Celestia's palace office. The door suddenly opened and I stood up and snapped to attention as a royal guard walked out. "Her Highness will see you now." He said in a monotone voice and I gave him a thankful nod. Making my way into the office, I saw Celestia sitting behind a desk with her forehooves pressed against her temples. "Please tell me that you're here to shoot me." She said as she scanned paperwork on her desk. With an exhausted sigh, Celestia looked up to me and I saw bags under her eyes. "How long's it been since you've slept?" I asked her as I set my hat upside down on the edge of her desk. "That depends." "On what?" I asked her as I stood in front of her desk. "What day is it?" She asked as she shuffled around some papers on her desk. I slowly made my way around her desk and patted her on the shoulder. "Come on. I think you could use some sleep." I said as I made her stand up and led her out of her office. We walked to the wing of the castle that served as Celestia's private quarters and I noticed a surprising lack of royal guards in the corridor. "Quiet down here." I said to no one in particular as I looked around at the empty hall. "I requested that my wing be empty of guards. Though I must admit, it get's rather lonely without somepony around." She said as we turned to enter her room. I opened the door and stood aside for her to enter. Just as she was about to retire to her room for the day, I cleared my throat to get her attention. "Your Highness, I wish to request something of you." She stopped and raised an eyebrow at me and waited for me to continue. "Ma'am, I flew forty nine combat missions in fighter aircraft. Now I wish to request a tour of duty in bombers." I said with the most determination I could muster in my voice. She turned to fully face me and looked me in the eyes. "You remember how it went last time you requested a tour of duty?" She asked and I gave a single nod to show her I was serious about my request. "Will this one come with a demotion as well?" "Preferably." I replied as the corner of my mouth turned up a little. "Fine. Um, screw it; I hereby declare you First Lieutenant James Jones. Report to operations and they'll give you your bars and your new unit. Pack your bags." She said as she entered her room and shut the door behind her. With a smile, I made my way back towards the war department to receive my demotion. ~~~~~ 18:00 Hours December 28, 1987 Jones Mansion ~~~~~ Thunderstreak and I held each other as we slow danced to the radio and I felt her face against my chest as the local station played Moonlight Serenade. My olive colored shirt felt damp and I knew she was crying when I heard her sniffle. The song ended and the announcer came on with a kind and sweet voice. "That song was for General Jones and his wife. Radio Ponyville wishes the best of luck to the General in his upcoming tour of duty with the Eighth Equestrian Air Force." I reached over and turned the radio off and I heard Thunderstreak sniffle again. "Why is it that when I need you the most is when you do things like this?" She asked with her face still against my chest. "Doesn't your family matter to you?" Thunderstreak asked as she finally looked up at me. "You all mean the world to me. That's why I do this. If I can do just one little bit to help end this war sooner, then I can ensure your safety." I told her as I gently wiped away a tear from her face with my thumb. "It's only for twenty five or so missions. And I've got to train with my new aircrew anyways so I'll be in Equestria for at least another month or two." I said to try and reassure her. "If you like, I can take the train and come home on the weekends until we ship out." She nodded and I smiled at her. "And, I'll even Pinkie Pie promise you that I'll write you from wherever they send us." ~~~~~ 03:10 Hours February 14, 1988 Emerald Aerodrome, Crystal Empire ~~~~~ A prodding at my shoulder woke me and I shielded my eyes as a flashlight shined in my eyes. "Sir, it's time to get up. Breakfast at oh three forty five; briefing at oh four thirty." A stallion said as he started to move to the next bunk. His two buck teeth stuck out against his features and I nodded to him before grabbing a pen and paper from my footlocker. My Love, We're now at home at our base in the Crystal Empire. By the time you get this, it will have been Hearts and Hooves Day. I hope you liked the gift of chocolates in the last package I sent home. We're due to fly our second mission today. The orderly is nice though about waking us up. We call him Bucky at his request. A good natured jab he has at his buck teeth. The good news is that the crew seems competent enough that we may just all get through this tour alive. Let me tell you a bit about the crew since I didn't tell you much during our training. First is my copilot, First Lieutenant Coal Digger. He was a miner before he volunteered. I looked across to the bunk next to mine where Coal lay staring at the ceiling of the large Quonset hut. "I swear, I'll never complain about how warm a mine is ever again." He said as he pulled his wool blanket up and covered himself completely with it. I grinned at his action and then resumed my letter. Coal is an interesting character to say the least. Last week after we got here, he tried to convince a local nurse that he was a fighter pilot. To try and prove it, he told her he'd fly a fighter right over the hospital. He went and tried to take a P-51 and tried to taxi out but when he saw an MP jeep, thinking they were after him, he jumped out of the plane while it was still rolling! They found it nosed over at the end of the taxiway after it hit the mud. Next are Powder Keg and Windsock. It's funny really that they made Powder Keg navigator instead of the bombardier as he was a demolition expert before he was drafted. He's also got a quick temper and would fight a manticore if he so pleased and he defends Windsock as though he were his blood brother. Windsock is our bombardier. He's quiet. Kind of like Mac where he doesn't say much until you get to know him. He also can't talk to mares to save his life. When we all went to the pub nearby, Powder Keg went home with two mares while poor Windsock couldn't even talk to a mare without stuttering every word. It's odd that such polar opposites can work together in such a small space but they seem to balance out the other. Setting the letter aside, I grabbed some things from my footlocker and slipped my boots on over the ankles of my long underwear. With my clothes, razor, and toothbrush in hand; I made my way into the pre-dawn cold of the Crystal Empire. The snow crunched under my boots and from around the field I could hear the ground crews doing final preparations of the bombers. Entering the showers, I sighed and smiled to myself at the warmth of the steam from the showers. Several stallions were in there already and I dug around in my kit for my bar of soap. My hand bumped the tin for it and I immediately moved my hand back and grabbed it. I stripped down and walked into the group showers. The problem with the showers though is that they were designed with ponies in mind, not humans. lawn chair sat under one of the shower heads and I sat down in it and twisted the knob for the water. "Five bits says we're hittin' the One Ninety plant in Flankfurt again." One of the more seasoned pilots said as I scrubbed myself. Others nodded and the showers were silent except for the noise of stallions entering or leaving. After I was finished cleaning up, I walked out and dried off. I proceeded to shave and get dressed for the day as others got ready around me and I noticed that no one really said much. I decided that it was a combination of everyone's nerves and their mutual knowledge that a bomber crew member only stood a twenty-five percent chance of surviving a full tour of duty. Walking out into the cold again, I stopped by the hut to get my letter and finish writing it over breakfast. I neatly folded the letter and placed it in the pocket of my leather jacket with my pen. I opened the door to the mess hall and saw pilots and crews all eating breakfast, quiet conversations being held among the individual crews. Grabbing a tray, I entered the line and the cooks ladled powdered eggs and hay bacon onto my tray. I grabbed a tin cup of coffee off a table and found my crew in the sea of fliers. Pulling out the letter, I began writing again as I ate my breakfast. Another crew member is Scratchy, our top turret gunner. He's certainly earned his nickname. Every night he lets a stray dog stay in his bunk with him so it doesn't freeze. The problem is that he gets fleas from the dog! But besides itching all day, he's a good pony and a hell of an engineer when it comes to in-flight problems. Then there's our radio operator. His name is Sound Wave. We try setting him up with a mare at the local pubs but all he seems to want to do is talk about his radio set and how it works. Maybe we can find a mare who likes radios as much as Sound does. After Sound, we have the triplets who are the waist and ball turret gunners. Bulls Eye, Crack Shot, & Sharpshooter are three brothers who all enlisted together and ended up on our bomber. But as their names imply, I wouldn't want them anywhere else. On our first mission they managed to shoot down five fighters, a new squadron record! Looking up from my letter at the crew, my eyes looked at all of them and then stopped at my tail gunner. I felt my lips form a slight frown but I shrugged it off and went back to my letter. Our tail gunner is a name you'll most definitely recognize. He's honestly only here because his number was picked by the Canterlot Draft Board. Of course, Corporal Blueblood just proves that even royalty aren't exempt from this war either. So far he's not too bad. He doesn't talk much and his reputation as a total dickwad seems to be the driving force for that. Not too many ponies actually attempt to talk with him. I imagine he must get pretty lonely. Anyways, I love and miss you. Tell the kids I love them and not to worry, I'll be home as soon as I can. Yours forever, James I folded the letter and stuffed it back into my pocket as the crew and I finished our breakfast. We all ate silently, most of us having our own morning routine at breakfast. I watched others for signs of nervousness. Coal grabbed the stock report from the newspaper on the table. Windsock wrote in a notebook and then gave it to Powder Keg for proofreading. Scratchy set aside some of his breakfast to take back to the dog that was likely taking up most of his bunk by now. The triplets all squeezed together to look at the comic section of the paper and would all chuckle when they got the punchline. And then there was Blueblood. He sat and stared at his tray, pushing his powdered eggs around with a fork. He sighed and stood up, the tray levitating in his magic, and set in on the tray return for the kitchen before walking outside. I watched him through one of the windows of the mess hall and saw him stop and look up at the pre-dawn sky. I silently hoped that his demeanor didn't mean today was going to go poorly. ~~~~~ 09:27 Hours February 14, 1988 The Skies Over Prance ~~~~~ The roar of the other B-17s around us was just background noise as we flew in formation at 30,000 feet. "Alright boys, that's enemy territory below. I want everybody in flak jackets." I said as I clicked on the throat mic. Down below us was the coast of Prance and I knew that if I could see the enemy below then they could see us up above. At that moment there would be spotters who would relay our position and heading to flak batteries and fighter wings ahead of us. But another look around at the other bombers helped me to relax a small bit as I knew that we were all here to share in the misery. I looked over at Coal and saw him checking his instruments before nodding in satisfaction and leaning back. "So guys, this what you expected yourself to be doing when you grew up?" Sharpshooter asked as he spun his ball turret around to check the hydraulics. I knew that now was the time we would all start to talk to avoid thinking about the fighters and flak we would all be facing soon. "Not at all. I thought I'd be blowing shit up for a living." Powder Keg replied and I heard a couple of the guys laugh to themselves. "I wanted to be a weather pony as a kid." Windsock said and I bobbed my head as I thought about how he would make a good weather pony. "It's not exactly what I expected but it's close enough." I said before looking out the side window to ensure we were still a safe distance away from the neighboring bomber. "I'd rather be under the ground than this far above it." Coal said as he looked out his window and I saw him swallow hard as he stared at the ground so far below. "When I was little, I wanted to be a vet." Scratchy told us as he climbed up into his turret behind us. I turned and saw him spinning it to make sure he had full mobility. Looking back out the window, I saw light flak five thousand feet below us. Thankfully, or regrettably, it wouldn't get close enough that day to cause anyone to turn back for home. "When I was a kid I wanted to have a radio show." Sound Wave told us and I could hear his grin in his tone. "I love this job." Bulls Eye and Crack Shot said in unison and the bomber trembled slightly as they tested their guns. "What about you Blue? What'd you want to do as a kid?" Sharpshooter asked and we all seemed to listen a bit more closely for the answer. "I don't care to say." Blueblood replied and it was as though we all had the same idea. "Come on Blue, tell us." We said together and I smiled at our working together on everything. "You guy's will laugh." He said and there was a chorus of disagreements. Finally he relented and we all waited for his answer. "I wanted-I wanted to be an adventurer." Blueblood said and no one laughed. "Well, this is kind of like being an adventurer isn't it?" Windsock said and I think most of the crew cocked their heads in questioning like I did. "We're up here in unfriendly skies on a dangerous mission to try and end a war of oppression. Sounds like something a from a story about knights to me." There were utterances of agreement and we all smiled at the idea. "What do ya say guys?" Sharpshooter asked as I looked out Coal's window at the city of Mareis in the distance. "We all adventurers?" "Yeah!" Several of them said in agreement and I nodded as we looked around for the Thunderbolts that were supposed to escort us. "Of course, when you think about it, Blueblood is the one in the most danger here. Being back there alone in the tail and the fighters usually come from back there." Powder Keg said and I suddenly realized the impossible had happened; someone besides me felt bad for Blueblood. "Blue, they ought to give you a medal just for being back there." "I never thought about it that way." Blueblood said with a hint of realization in his voice. "I guess I finally got what I wanted. Up yours, dad; you lousy prick." Coal and I looked at each other in questioning worry before directing our attention back out the window. I suddenly saw something white float down in front of my face and I looked up with an eyebrow raised. When my eyes landed on the ceiling of the cockpit I let out a laugh that made Coal look over at me. I pointed up as white specks began floating down in large numbers. He looked up and I saw his face contort into a smile that was hidden by his oxygen mask. "Well I'll be damned." Coal said as we looked at the frost that was falling from the ceiling like snow. "Condensation from before takeoff I guess." "It snowing up there too?" Crack Shot asked over the intercom. "Yeah." Powder Keg and I replied at the same time. Scratchy popped out from his turret and looked at the spectacle with a smile at the 'snow' that fell around us. "Snow angel!" Bulls Eye called and could only imagine the sight of the large earth pony laying on the floor of the bomber. The idea made me grin as we neared the Germane border. Powder Keg called out that we were only one minute from the border and the intercom was deathly quiet afterwards; none of us wanting to say anything as we realized that this was it. The formation banked right to head towards Flankfurt and I knew that as of now we were locked onto that heading. As I looked forwards I saw dozens of grey/green fighter planes emerge from clouds and head straight for us. At seeing the fighters coming for us, I said the first words that popped into my head. "Oh, fuck." ~~~~~ 11:45 Hours February 14, 1988 Somewhere Over Germaney ~~~~~ I looked out my window at the ground less than three thousand feet below us and felt a pit in my stomach. The raid on Flankfurt had gone far worse than expected and that day would later be referred to as the Hearts and Hooves Day Massacre. I clicked the button for the intercom and tried desperately to talk with the crew. "Hello? Hello?!" I ripped off my headset and slammed it against the dashboard. "God damnit!" A hoof tapped on my shoulder and I turned to see Powder Keg holding a map, his face matted with dried blood from shrapnel that had cut off most of his right ear. "We're here." He said as he pointed to a location on the map that was about fifteen miles from the coast of Germaney. "I'm gonna try and plan a route for us to get back." I nodded and he returned to the nose of the bomber. Scratchy suddenly appeared between Coal and I and I turned to look at him. "Go back and check on the boys in the rear. I want to know how bad it is." I told him and he gave a quick nod and hurried for the catwalk through the bomb bay that led to the radio room. Looking back out my window, I felt my heart drop at the dead outboard engine. Powder Keg popped back up and pointed at his map. "Turn to heading two forty and that should put us heading straight for home." He said and he quickly disappeared back into the tunnel leading to the nose compartment. More movement behind me got my attention and I saw Scratchy sit down against the bulkhead between us and the bomb bay. "How bad?!" I shouted and he looked over to me with eyes that looked like they'd aged thirty years in the time he'd been back there. "Crack Shot took a good sized piece of shrapnel to the gut, Sound caught some in his back legs, and I tried to check on Blue but Sharpshooter told me not to go back there!" He replied and I again felt that pit in my stomach. "Get Sharpshooter up here now!" I barked and Scratchy slowly got up and made his way towards the back. A few minutes later, Sharpshooter appeared next to me. "How bad is Blue?" I asked him, already knowing the answer was not going to be good. "He's dead, Lieutenant. His whole damn head is gone. The tail turret looks like a cheese grater and all the windows are shattered back there." He replied as he waved a hoof towards the tail. I nodded and sent him back to his post. We neared the coast and I felt a small glimmer of hope fill my chest. But what none of us had noticed was that Powder Keg's route would lead us directly over a griffin airfield. ~~~~~ 15:40 Hours February 14, 1988 Sapphire Aerodrome, Crystal Empire ~~~~~ I sat at the bar of the Sapphire Officer's Club and swirled the whisky in my glass. Looking out the window on the wall of the club, I was able to see our battered Fortress sitting on a hard stand where several amazed fliers and ground crew personnel walked around it. As I sat there, I downed what was left in my glass and pulled out a piece of paper and a pen from my jacket. Setting the paper on the bar I set to work penning a new letter home. Dear Thunderstreak, I don't understand the purpose of war. Today we attacked Flankfurt. It went horribly. We got jumped by over fifty griffin fighters who, along with the flak gunners, seemed to already know exactly where we were going to hit today. Our bomber took some hits and I don't even know how we got it back to the Crystal Empire. Our rudder was held on by only two cables, we lost two engines, our hydraulics for the landing gear were shot out and the gear had to be cranked down by hoof, and most of the crew was wounded to some extent. I'm sad to say that Corporal Blueblood was KIA today. It's odd really; the fact that we can mourn for a pony who most thought a pretentious asshole. He told us that he wanted to be an adventurer as a kid. It seems like something so insignificant that it's hardly worthy of mentioning; but the fact that a pony who was once a kid with dreams is now lying on a stretcher in the morgue is enough to make me wish this war would just end. The door to the officer's club opened and I turned to see the base interrogation officer trot inside. He made his way over towards me and I stood up off my stool. I saw the captain's bars on his shoulders and I snapped to attention, the action making him pause where he was. "At ease, Lieutenant." He said and I took my seat back on the bar stool with a sigh. The captain hopped up onto the stool next to me and the bartender slid a glass of bourbon down to him. He gave a thankful nod to the stallion behind the counter and then turned back to me. "Boy, your plane's so damaged I'd be amazed if they don't give you the Air Force Cross for landing it. Now, Lieutenant, why don't you tell me what happened?" "Well Captain, would you like the long story or short story?" ~~~~~ 20:16 Hours February 14, 1988 Sapphire Aerodrome, Crystal Empire ~~~~~ The drone of a bomber overhead signaled our ride back to our own base had arrived. Those of us on the crew who hadn't been wounded enough to warrant hospitalization all stood up from our table at the officer's club. Just as we were about to leave, the interrogation officer entered and I saw a concerned look in his eyes. I felt my heart drop as I thought maybe Crack Shot had died. The others stepped outside as he pulled me aside to the corner of the club. "Good news, your wounded boys are gonna pull through." I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding and looked at him, waiting for the rest. "Bad news, I just got off the phone with headquarters. They were amazed up until I mentioned the griffin flying along side you. Then they went nuts!" He said in a whisper. "Worse news is that you can forget any medals for you and your boys. You're to instruct them to never discuss this mission." "What?! That's fucking bullshit!" I told him as I started for the door of the club. A hoof suddenly wrapped around my arm and stopped me and I turned to face him again. "Listen, suppose somepony ends up in a fix like you; and their gunners hold their fire cause they heard a story about a griffin who is gonna fly with them. Now say that griffin isn't as friendly as the one you encountered." I saw his point but tore my arm away from his hoof and walked outside into the cold night. Looking up at the night sky, I let out a sigh that danced it's way through the cold air. "If anyone's up there, please give me the strength and luck to get through this intact." ~~~~~ 05:00 Hours February 21, 1988 Emerald Aerodrome, Crystal Empire ~~~~~ I sat and stared at the tin cup full of coffee in front of me. Though it had been a week since the mission to Flankfurt, I still felt jittery and had been having nightmares about the fighters and flak that hit us. The flak bursts always got closer and closer until my face was stinging with shrapnel, the fighters came at us and the pilots had red glowing eyes like devils, no other bombers were around us to help divide the attacks, and slowly we were shot from the sky. The bomber always went into a spin and exploded in midair; that part of the dream waking me up every night. My thoughts drifted back to the now cold cup of coffee in front of me and I sighed with exhaustion as I rubbed my eyes with the palms of my hands. I heard someone sit down in the chair across from me and I moved my hands to see a cook sitting there with worry written across his face. "You alright, sir?" He asked in a voice rough as gravel. "Yeah, yeah. Just tired." I lied and I saw him look at me with an expression that showed he clearly didn't believe me. "I know that look, Lieutenant. I've seen plenty of shaken fliers come in here to gather their thoughts. I was one of them at one point. Let me guess; nightmares, flashbacks, and there's more whiskey in that cup than coffee?" He asked and I nodded in response. "Like I said, I was once like you. I was a gunner way up there and I saw my buddy die right in front of me. Piece of shrapnel came and sliced right through his head. His brains splatted all over me and the fuselage. And after that I ripped off my stripes and came in here. But let me tell you, after awhile, you start to realize that it's all a part of war. I know the number for a therapist in town if you need to talk with someone about it." He said as his horn glowed and a pen and napkin levitated over to us. He scribbled down the number and slid the napkin over to me. "I highly recommend her. She's the best around for this situation." "Thanks. Hey, can I ask you something?" I said as I picked up the napkin and tucked it in the inside pocket of my leather jacket. "Besides asking if you can ask me something?" He asked with a small chuckle. "What would you say if I said that a griffin pilot saluted us?" I asked as I took a sip of my coffee. "I'd say that's the best joke I've heard all week." He replied as he stood up and then walked away back to the kitchen. "Yeah." I mumbled as I raised my cup back up towards my lips. "That's what I was afraid you'd say."
The Jolly Rogers	39: Oncoming Storms	~~~~~ 05:05 Hours February 16, 1988 Emerald Aerodrome, Crystal Empire ~~~~~ I gently pushed the two middle throttles forward and rolled another seventy feet or so before pressing on the brakes and stopping the bomber again. The tail of the bomber ahead of us was just a silhouette in the foggy night and I had to strain my eyes to make sure we didn't collide with them. After around ten minutes of moving and then braking, we were third from takeoff. We sat and the bomber rumbled as another bomber rolled down the runway on takeoff. As we sat there, there was a brilliant orange flash in the sky that was followed by a boom reminiscent of a thunderclap. Coal and I both ducked but quickly recovered and looked over in time to see the glow of burning wreckage falling to earth. There was silence before a call from the tower came over the radio. "Continue takeoff sequence." Coal and I both looked at each other but said nothing before looking back out the window. Eventually it was our turn and I pushed the throttles forward. Our bomber raced down the runway, the wings flirting with the thought of lift as we skipped across the pavement. Finally, the bomber lifted off and we hurriedly raised the landing gear. As we started to climb up with the rest of the squadron, there was a loud bang and a pop that drew my attention towards the left wing. "We've got a fire!" I shouted and immediately I set about shutting down the burning inboard engine. After cutting the engine mixture, feathering the prop, and hitting the engine's fire extinguisher; we let the nose drop and stated banking back towards the airfield. Just as I thought we were in the clear, Coal hit the intercom button as he leaned forward. "Looks like left outboard is running hot!" He said while leaning over to look out my side window. Looking out with him, I saw a couple large holes in the side of the cowling. "Look's like the inboard threw some shit when she blew up." I stated as I surveyed the situation we now faced. After thinking it over and casting a couple glances out the front window, I hit the intercom again. "All crew to crash land positions!" As I adjusted my hands to better grip the wheel, I caught a glimpse of Powder Keg and Windsock climbing up to join Scratchy against the bulkhead. We shut down the left outboard engine and I smacked Coal's shoulder with the back of my hand before pointing out the front window. "Let's try and set her down in that pasture." I said as a snow covered field loomed through the fog and dark. Coal nodded in agreement and I looked back at the three stallions sitting against the bulkhead. Powder Keg's one full ear and the small stub of the other one was folded back as he looked up and mumbled a prayer to himself. Windsock and Scratchy both sat silently and stared ahead, neither one seeming to blink. We neared the ground and Coal and I pulled back on the controls to level ourselves out. The nose lifted a bit and the bomber's tail gently began to drag through the snow. Pulling back on the mixture controls for the last two engines, I heard them cough and then die as the nose settled onto the ground. A cloud of snow flew up from the touchdown and I had already unstrapped myself from my seat before the plane had stopped sliding. I slid open the side window of the cockpit and squeezed out of it, my flight suit not helping me as it kept snagging on my way out. "What the fuck happened?!" A voice shouted and I looked to my left to see Sharpshooter galloping away from the tail of the bomber with the others not far behind him. My heavy flying boots slammed against the snow covered ground as I tried to run as far from the bomber as I could. Approaching a wooden fence that bordered the pasture, I placed my hands on the top and swung myself over the fence. I stopped to catch my breath and turned around to look at the bomber that now began to smoke again. Another look around found that all of the crew had made it out safe. Now there was only one more problem. "Where in Tartarus is the base?" Powder Keg asked as we looked around at our surroundings. We could only see trees in every direction around us and I suddenly longed for the heat that came from the close quarters of the bomber. The sky was beginning to get a blue glow on the horizon and we finally gathered our bearings from that. "I think we can find our way back to base from here if I can get to my maps in the bomber." Powder Keg said as we looked at the sky and then back to the bomber. More smoke was coming from the damaged engines and I shook my head. "We got lucky once. I'm not risking anybody going back in there." I replied as I looked back around at the trees. "If we all walk in one direction then we'll eventually hit a road. From there we follow the road to a house or town and get a ride from there." With one more glance at the bomber, I saw the familiar sight of fuel leaking from the wing as the engines let out an angry hiss from the heat. "We better decide on a direction now cause I don't care to be around when that bomber finally goes up with all those bombs on board." As if we had all decided in our heads, we started walking towards the rising sun. Now I only hoped that we wouldn't be too far from civilization. My knees were killing me. ~~~~~ 06:00 Hours February 16, 1988 Somewhere in the Crystal Empire ~~~~~ We all had been walking for what felt like ages. My feet and knees were begging for rest but the temperature only seemed to drop as we trudged onward. The sun now sat just above the horizon and I stole a glance down at my watch. "Fuck. We've only been walking for a half hour?" I asked as I looked back up at the sky. "I'm getting old. I sound like my grandpa." I complained to myself as we all stopped to take a short breather. As we all stood there, I could see a column of black smoke rising into the sky from the direction we had come. Just as I was about to sit down on the stump of a tree, Windsock raised a hoof and pointed. We followed his hoof towards what he was pointing at and saw the wonderful sight of a small village only about a quarter mile outside of the woods. With shouts of joy, we all took off running; any fatigue forgotten in that moment. Our boots kicked up snow as we all ran towards the village and from the edge of town we saw crystal ponies stop to see what all the shouting was about. With a smile, I attempted to skid to a stop in front of a white crystal mare but hit a slick patch and fell to the ground. I continued to slide and collided with the mare, her landing on my chest as a result. "Hi!" I said with joy a moment before we collided with the side of a house. Dazed, I shook the snow from my head and smiled at the mare who was clutching me as she shook with fear. "Sorry, Miss. Didn't mean for that to happen." I told her as I stood up yet she remained firmly attached to my chest. "Need help?" A stallion asked and I turned to see a stallion that had a green coat that looked like it was made of emerald. He approached and carefully began removing the white mare from my flight suit. "I do apologize for Pearl. She can be a bit jumpy around new folks." The stallion said as he finished peeling the frightened mare off of my leather flight suit. "I'm Emerald Stone by the way." He said as he set Pearl on her hooves and extended a hoof. I stuck my hand out and shook his hoof with a smile. "Lieutenant James Jones, Royal Equestrian Air Force." I replied as I looked at Emerald. Even his eyes were emerald green. With a quick glance around, I saw that the others had made themselves friendly with the townsponies. Powder Keg was already hitting on two mares with Windsock by his side. He wrapped a foreleg around Windsock's shoulders with a smile and one of the mares was clearly eyeing Windsock as her cheeks flushed every time she glanced at him. Looking back to Emerald, I smiled again as we looked to Pearl who now was calmed down and was looking down at the ground. She kicked lightly at the snow and I saw her glance over at the area where we had collided. There on the ground sat a basket that had some sort of flowers spilled out of it. "Oh, geez. I'm sorry Mrs. Pearl. I didn't mean to make you drop those." I said as I walked over to the basket and carefully placed the flowers inside. Carrying the basket over, I gave it to her with an apologetic smile. "Thank you." She mumbled in a voice that I could barely hear. A tremendous boom suddenly sounded through the air and Pearl yelped in surprise as she jumped to hide behind Emerald. I turned to look as a large cloud of black smoke drifted into the sky. "What was that?" Emerald asked as we watched the smoke. I chuckled with a guilty grin as I rubbed the back of my neck. "That was sorta, maybe our bomber." I replied and he looked up at me. "Where are you guys stationed at?" He asked as Pearl quietly emerged from behind him. She quietly began gathering up the flowers again as she picked up the basket. "Emerald Aerodrome." I told him as I tuned my attention away from where the bomber was. He gave a light laugh and I raised an eyebrow as he began to trot away. Pearl and I followed him into the small village that couldn't have been home to more than a hundred ponies. "I was the main sponsor for that when they started construction. They even named it after me." Emerald said nonchalantly as we stopped at a small cabin not too far from the edge of town. He opened the door and we walked inside where the warmth of a wood burning stove wrapped itself around us. While my flight suit was able to keep me comfortable, I smiled at the thought of the heat that the stove was putting off. "Not to sound like an ass, but this is rather modest for somepony who can sponsor an aerodrome." I said as we sat down on benches at the small table in the middle of the room. Besides the main room, there were only two other rooms in the home. "We live modestly here. Most of these homes were around for decades before the Empire vanished and our home has been here since my great-grandfather built it." He said with a wave of his hoof around the home. "This town used to be a lot more prosperous though. Originally, one of the biggest gem mines in the Empire was outside of town. And then He came to power and now the mine is empty, all of her gems taken." Pearl looked down at the table with tears at the corners of her eyes but a green hoof gently placed itself under chin and lifted her head. She looked up to Emerald and he gave her a reassuring smile to tell her that it was alright. With a small smile, she set about getting a vase for the flowers. "If I may, what kind of flowers are these?" I asked as I looked at the silver flowers in the basket. "I would love to have some of these for my flower bed." I said and Pearl froze where she was standing. Her head turned and I saw a somewhat terrifying look in her eyes as she smiled. "Now you've done it." Emerald said as he grabbed a tin cup of water off the table and took a sip. "What'd I do?" I asked in a whisper as Pearl filled a vase full of water and then started to walk back to the table. "Pearl loves to garden. I think you just found a new best friend for your stay here." He said with a small chuckle and then got up to go into one of the rooms. Pearl set the vase on the table then sat down across from me with the smile still in place. "So, you like flowers?" ~~~~~ 18:00 Hours February 16, 1988 A Village in the Crystal Empire ~~~~~ I sat at the table and took a drink of water as Pearl continued to talk about her flower garden. I had enjoyed lunch with the wonderful couple who's hospitality had been extended after Emerald's phone call to the base. Apparently it would take a truck overnight to reach us due to a recent snowstorm and thankfully we had all found someone who would let us stay the night in their home. At the stove was Emerald who was busy cooking dinner for us. The smell of fish filled the room and I looked over at the cooking meat and then at the two ponies. "I don't mean to be rude, but do you guys typically eat meat? I know pegasi eat fish because my wife keeps some in the freezer but I didn't know crystal ponies did too." "Because of our remote location and only being about five miles from the coast, fish has been a staple of the town's food supply since its founding. Out her there's very little food during the winter months. Come spring and summer, we can get cabbages that weigh up to ten pounds from the amount of sunlight we get. But between is when we rely more on what we can get. Fish is one of those." Emerald said without looking away from the fish. Outside, it was already dark out and I sighed as I stood up. Unzipping my leather flight suit, I began stripping it and I was soon just in my regular uniform. Emerald turned to the table with the pan of fish and set it down. As he sat down on the bench next to Pearl, I noticed a fourth plate sitting next to mine. Just then the door flung open and the inrush of cold air chilled me to the bone. It slammed shut and I turned to see a blue/green crystal filly removing her wool coat and scarf. "Lieutenant, this is our daughter Turquoise. Turquoise, this is Lieutenant James Jones. He'll be staying the night with us." Emerald said to her and I saw her smile to me. I smiled back as she trotted over and sat down next to me. We passed around the pan and each took a piece of fish. It may have just been over a day, but I felt as though I was a part of that small family. ~~~~~ 01:20 Hours February 17, 1988 Turquoise's Bedroom ~~~~~ I sat up straight from the bedding I'd set up on the floor and looked around. I gasped for breath and my body was soaked in sweat. My eyes darted around the room, ensuring that the griffin fighters shooting us were just a nightmare. A small groan from next to me made me look over at the bed to see Turquoise roll over on her bed to face me. "Are you alright?" She asked with sleep still in her voice. "Yeah. Just a bad dream." I replied as I rubbed my face with the palms of my hands. "Would it help to talk about it?" She asked as she sat up but kept her blanket wrapped tightly around her. I smirked in the darkness at the question. If one can always find someone to give out kindness, it's kids. "Doubtful." I said but I heard her slide off of her bed and walk over to me. A warmth landed on my shoulder and I looked over to see that her blanket was wrapped around us. While a bit awkward to say the least, I wasn't about to push away the filly for fear of hurting her feelings. "What was it about?" She asked and I softly sighed as I had by now endured the dream enough to have it memorized. "The war." I said simply. "I have those too. In my nightmare the bombers come back. They scream whenever they attack." She said and I immediately realized that she meant the Stuka dive bombers with their Jericho trumpets. "Well, don't you worry your pretty little head about those bombers. They're never going to come back. Alright?" I said and she nodded. She looked up to me and I gave her a reassuring smile. "You promise?" "I promise. Now, better get back to bed. Don't want to be tired tomorrow now do we?" I told her as I gently shooed her back to bed. She climbed back onto her bed and wrapped herself in the blanket like she was a little pony burrito. She rolled over to face the wall and I quietly laid down and covered myself back up with the wool blanket. Not long after, I fell into a peaceful sleep. ~~~~~ 10:00 Hours February 17, 1988 The Crystal Empire ~~~~~ I stood in front of Pearl, Emerald, and Turquoise in my leather flight suit and smiled to them. "Well, I guess this is goodbye. For now anyways. I'll be sure to come and visit you folks again in the future. Maybe bring my family up and we can all have a nice lunch together." I said and they all nodded at the idea; Turquoise especially. Turning to look at the waiting truck, I saw everyone was sitting in the back and I chuckled at Windsock as he waved to the mare from the night from before; his face having a love struck expression to it and lipstick stains all over. Powder Keg grinned and I realized that he had finally managed to set Windsock up with a mare. Shaking the hooves of the three ponies in front of me, I said one more goodbye and hurried over for the truck. Climbing into the back, I waved for the driver to take off for our base. Before I dropped the canvas flap over the back of the truck, I gave one final wave to the wonderful family that had hosted me. They waved back and I dropped the flap with a smile on my face. ~~~~~ 20:15 Hours February 18, 1988 Emerald Aerodrome, Crystal Empire ~~~~~ Snow crunched under my shoes as more of it drifted lazily from the sky. Along side me strolled Franz and Charlie. Franz had said that his visit was one of having no work at the Ponyville airfield while Charlie had managed a three day leave and simply wished to visit the Empire. We discussed how things were going back at home, the war, weather, new airplanes; the basic bullshit that happens when three pilots like ourselves got together. As we talked though, I remembered an encounter that I recalled had happened before. "Hey, Franz." He looked over to me and raised an eyebrow. "You remember Micheal's dad, right?" Franz nodded as we entered the officer's club. On the wall behind the bar were portraits of Equestrian actresses and models in various pin up poses. We all sat down at the bar and the bartender looked over to us. I held up three fingers and he set about pouring three drinks. A couple moments later, the three drinks were set in front of us and he trotted away to give us privacy. With no prying ears, I told Franz and Charlie about the 109 escort that we had out of Germaney. "It might be him." Charlie said as he took a sip of his drink. "If he's anything like his son, it just could be him." Franz nodded in agreement and took a sip of his drink in thought. "Your friend John works in intelligence. Maybe he would know if that group is stationed there." Franz suggested and I felt disappointed in myself for not think of that. Reaching over the bar, I grabbed the phone and picked up the receiver. After a few connections from different operators, I finally had Canterlot on the line. "Canterlot military switchboard, how may I direct your call?" A mare's voice asked as I looked at one of the pictures of Fleur de Les on the wall. "Connect me with Central Intelligence, please." I said as I raised my glass up towards my lips. "And who is this calling?" "James Jones." I replied just before taking a sip of the whiskey in my glass. "Can I have your verification code please?" The mare asked while I set my glass down on the oak bar. "Verification code is Nightmare." I said and there was a silence as she patched me through to John. After a few moments, John answered the phone. "Hello?" "Hey, John. It's James. I was hoping I could get some info from you." I told him while glancing around to make sure no one was listening in. "I was hoping you could tell me what fighter group is in the vicinity of Hoofburg, Germaney." "Sure. Let me check my files here real quick." I could hear some shuffling of papers from his end of the line and a "ah ha!" as he found the one he was looking for. "Now, the group in that area is JG. 13 under the command of a Colonel Joshua Harper." John said as he read from the file. "Is he any relation to Micheal Harper?" I asked in a hushed tone. "He's his father. Why?" John asked and I quickly decided to end the conversation. "No reason. Thanks, John." Setting the receiver down with a small click, I looked over to Franz and Charlie. "Well he's definitely Micheal's dad. Maybe he remembered me from Zebrica?" I suggested as I took another sip of my drink. Franz and Charlie shrugged their shoulders in response. "Oh well. That's one mystery solved. Also, when you guys get back to Ponyville," I pulled a small book out of my jacket pocket "can one of you give this to Harts Fire?" Sliding the book over to them, I made sure they could see the title; The Life of a Crystal Knight. "I liked it very much. I know he likes to read so I figured someone else may as well enjoy it too." "What's it about?" Franz asked as he picked up the white book to look over its covers. "A knight in the royal court before and during the reign of Sombra. Kind of romancey in spots but a good amount of action and whatnot." I said as I slid my empty glass away from me. "Basically, he grows up in a farming family but joins the Crystal Empire's Royal Guard against his father's wishes. He gets a commission and is knighted by Luna and Sombra after their ascension to the throne. He winds up on the royal court and meets a beautiful young mare. They get married and all that sappy bullshit and it goes all the way up until the war and vanish of the Empire." Franz nodded in approval as he set the book down on the bar. "So, now that we're all finished with our drinks, who wants to go spend a night on the town?" ~~~~~ 01:54 Hours February 19, 1988 The Rose Gentlecolt Club, Crystal Empire ~~~~~ Charlie, Franz, and I all stumbled our way out of the front door of the club and into the cobblestone streets of town. The streetlights along the road were dark, as they would be for most of the war, and I found it difficult to find our way; though the alcohol in my system may not have been helping at the time. As we stumbled along, I could hear a song playing on a radio in a store front and I began to sing along as I remembered it fondly from my time in Zebrica. "Resting in a billet just behind the line Even tho' we're parted your lips are close to mine" Franz and Charlie heard the song as well and joined in as we all drunkenly stumbled along the street Charlie and I's voices mingled with the German sang by the radio and Franz. "Hebt mich wie im Traume Your sweet face seems to haunt my dreams Wie einst Lili Marleen My own Lili Marlene" The song ended as snow started drifting down on us and from where we stood on that dark, empty street; it seemed as though we were the only living creatures on the planet. What I didn't realize was that despite the incoming weather, the mission for that day hadn't been scrubbed and I would be taking off in only four hours. ~~~~~ 08:50 Hours February 19, 1988 The Skies Over the Griffin Empire ~~~~~ I took a swig of black coffee from one of four thermoses I'd brought along to try and sober up. While my takeoff had been somewhat wobbly, I showed that even while drunk I could fly a plane. Looking back, it wasn't the best idea to do so but hindsight is always 20/20. Around us flew other bombers that consisted of our group and several others that were on their way to Gryphus. "Remember boys, call out any fighters you see." Coal said over the intercom and I looked out the window as my head pounded like a kettle drum from my prior stupidity. Below us passed farm fields and I looked up to see a single engine fighter coming our way. It's big, fat radial engine was most obvious to me and I felt my heart leap into my throat. "190 at ten o'clock level!" I shouted and Scratchy's turret quickly swung around to face the incoming fighter. But just as the gunners were about to fire, the fighter banked left and flashed a star and bars under its wing. "Stand down, he's friendly." Came my order as I feared that in their excitement, some of the gunners may not have realized he was actually a P-47 Thunderbolt. A couple seconds later there were more Thunderbolts appearing from above us. Some of them I noticed weren't equipped with the regular eight .50 calibers but four 20mm cannons in their place. "Heavy hitters." I said and Coal leaned over to look at the heavily armed fighters. "They certainly are." Coal said as he watched a Thunderbolt flying a few dozen yards from us. He leaned back and went back to his instruments. We fell back into the routine of just looking out the windows and waiting to get jumped by fighters and flak. Ever since the loss of Blueblood, we had all grown quiet on our rides to and from the target despite attempts to strike up conversation by the replacement crew members. We only seemed to talk when it was to call out fighters or something else related to the mission. Just as I was about to click on the intercom to remind the crew to keep their eyes peeled despite the friendly fighters, tracers ripped past the bomber and a second later they were followed by an Me-109 that roared over the left wing and climbed up to begin another pass on us. With a sigh, I adjusted my oxygen mask before gripping the control yoke harder. "Welp, here we go." ~~~~~ 13:45 Hours February 19, 1988 Emerald Aerodrome ~~~~~ I dropped down to the concrete with a thud from my boots. From the nose hatch dropped Powder Keg and Windsock as I removed my flight helmet and wiped back my sweaty hair with a shaking hand. Looking up at the new B-17G, I let a thin smile cross my lips before turning to the crew chief as he trotted up to me. "We brought her back as best we could, Chief." I told him as his eyes darted to the fin where two lines of bullet holes sat running down from the top of the rudder towards the waist guns. "Like I said, as best we could." "That's an easy fix. At least you didn't bring her back looking like the first one." He said, his backhanded compliment making me nod in agreement. "Alright. You go ahead and head over to debriefing and we'll get to work." The pudgy Sergeant First Class said as he adjusted the ball cap that sat atop his head and covered his short mane. I headed over towards the debriefing shack but stopped when the sound of a damaged bomber filled the air. Turning, I saw a bomber with an engine out on the left wing and only one wheel down coming in to land. The wail of sirens sounded throughout the base and I saw dozens of ponies stop what they were doing to watch the show. It seemed that there was always one after each mission. Just when it seemed that the bomber was going to make it, the left wing dropped and the bomber began to head for the ground sideways. The ailerons were all the way over for a right bank, the bomber didn't recover and the wingtip hit the ground. The nose of the bomber was sent towards the ground and the mammoth aircraft cartwheeled twice before being completely engulfed in a fireball that continued to roll for a couple hundred yards. After a few moments, everyone resumed what they had been doing and I let out a sigh. It's horrible to say, but I didn't really feel anything after just seeing ten ponies die a fiery death. The air war would make someone like that. Every mission meant seeing someone you knew die either from flak, fighters, or a crash. Reaching into my pocket, I grabbed a cigarette and started to walk away for the debriefing hut. ~~~~~ 14:00 Hours March 17, 1988 Emerald Aerodrome ~~~~~ I was showered in champagne as I dropped down from the nose hatch and I let out a shout of victory as I raised my hands in the air. Cigars were passed around to all the original crew members as we had just completed our twenty fifth mission and our tour of duty with the Eighth Royal Equestrian Air Force. As we all celebrated with booze and our cigars, the crew chief held up a camera and we all stopped dancing around long enough to get a picture together. As soon as the flashbulb had flashed and popped, we all started celebrating again as other crews converged on our hardstand to congratulate us. But while I was celebrating in the Crystal Empire, there was something stirring in Equestria. ~~~~~ Meanwhile In Canterlot ~~~~~ Fancy Pants walked into the foyer of one of the many mansions in Canterlot. But the owner of this particular mansion was no ordinary pony. He was a member of the Royal Court and a personal friend of Air Luna World Airways President Round Trip. Fancy, who was the Chairman of the Board for Trans Equestria Airlines, knew that he had not been called there for just a friendly visit. He walked with a limp towards the dining room. His face and body were still bruised from a recent air accident but he made certain not to wince when he saw an older stallion sitting at the table. His light blue coat was graying with age but his eyes still held a fire in them that showed his drive to get whatever he wanted. Iron Hoof looked up at him and gave him a polite smile which Fancy returned but made sure not to let his guard down around the old stallion. Fancy sat down at the table and they began to eat while conversing about the one thing they had in common, flying. Iron Hoof was becoming well known for his bill trying to create a Civil Aviation Board. Once they had finished the main course and dessert had been brought out, Iron Hoof looked over to Fancy Pants with the fire back in his eyes. "Now, I'm sure you've clearly figured out that I didn't call you here just for a nice lunch." Iron Hoof said as he placed his forehooves together on the table. "I'm not gonna beat around the bush so I'll just come right out and say it. You need to sell Trans Equestria to Air Luna." He told Fancy Pants as he leaned forward and looked closer at Fancy. "There's only enough room in Equestria for one international airline. Let it be Air Luna. Round Trip would give you a good price for it." Iron Hoof waited for Fancy Pants' response as he leaned back in his chair. Picking up his fork, Iron Hoof brought it down towards the dessert that had been placed in front of him before Fancy interrupted him. "You and your wife went on vacation to Mexicolt earlier this year, correct?" Fancy asked as he looked over at Iron Hoof with a look resembling a lion that had figured out how to take down an elephant. "That's right." Iron Hoof replied as he stabbed into the slice of cake with his fork and raised it up to his mouth. "And how did you get there?" Fancy Pants asked him as Iron Hoof started to eat the bite of cake. "We flew." Iron Hoof stated simply as he chewed the cake but then stopped suddenly as he seemed to realize where Fancy Pants was starting to go with that. Fancy Pants leaned in real close with anger in his eyes. "Are you sure you want to go to war with me, Iron?" "Fancy," Iron Hoof started "we just beat North Ponia and we're currently beating the Griffin and Changeling Empires. What the hell are you?" He inquired and a moment later Fancy Pants stood up as he levitated his brown fedora over from a hat rack. "Tell Round Trip I said thanks for the flowers in the hospital; and that he can kiss both sides of my ass." ~~~~~ 03:15 Hours March 20, 1988 Ponyville Aerdrome ~~~~~ The C-54 touched down on the runway, the tires letting out a breath of smoke and a chirp as they made contact. I looked out the window at the town of Ponyville. All was quiet as snow floated down on to Ponyville and I saw a car sitting over by the terminal building. The plane taxied up to the terminal and steps were pushed over to the tail door by two tired looking ground personnel. An inrush of frigid air swept through the plane and I was thankful for my olive colored, wool greatcoat as I followed two ponies out the back. I turned sideways to get through the door with my duffel bag and snow fell on me as I stopped atop the steps. There by the car stood Thunderstreak who waved to me and I waved back as I descended the steps. After months away, it was good to finally be back in Ponyville. Walking over to the car, I set my duffel bag on the hood and scooped up Thunderstreak into a hug. "Hello my little Buttercup." I said as I held her and she wrapped her forelegs around me as best she could. "Let's go home."
The Jolly Rogers	40: The Admiral's Death	~~~~~ 10:00 Hours March 22, 1988 Jones Family Mansion ~~~~~ I walked into the living room where Thunderstreak laid on the couch and stared out the picture window at Ponyville as another round of snow clouds loomed on the horizon. I walked over and knelt down by the couch to wrap my arm around her in a hug as I sighed. "I have to get to Canterlot. Try to stay off your hooves as much as you can, alright?" I said and she nodded in response. I leaned in and gave her a kiss on the cheek before standing back up. "I love you. Try to get feeling better, alright?" I told her as she sniffled, her snout red as she reached for a box of tissues. The recent weather had caused several of us around the house to get a cold but thankfully it hadn't reached me yet. Grabbing my coat, I walked outside and saw that Lyra had pulled my vehicle around. There in the drive sat the type of vehicle that had been my first, a 1947 Hudson pickup truck. The red paint shone in the morning sunlight and I smiled to myself as Lyra opened the door. "Good morning, Lyra." "Good morning, James." She replied as I climbed into the truck. I smiled to her as I put the key in the ignition and started the truck. As I let the truck warm up, I conversed with her about various things that had been going on lately. For her it was her uncle being discharged from the Marines while she wanted to know more about my latest tour of duty. Once the truck was warm enough, I shifted into first and gave Lyra a small wave as I started to drive down the driveway and off for Canterlot. ~~~~~ 13:15 Hours March 22, 1988 Canterlot, Equestria ~~~~~ I walked up the steps of the Equestrian Supreme Court and held up the folder in my hand to shield my eyes from the flashbulbs. Once I reached the top of the steps, I walked inside the large marble foyer where Fancy Pants was waiting for me. "Where the fuck have you been?" He asked in a high whisper as he started trotting along side me. "Traffic was hell. Plus, do you know how hard it is to find parking big enough for a truck around here?" I asked without looking at him. We stopped in front of a courtroom where several ponies in suits stood around smoking cigarettes. Fancy Pants pulled out his own pack and lit one up before offering one up to me. I denied it with a small shake of my head as I sat down on a bench by the courtroom doors. In the last few months I had noticed my knees and other joints hurting worse than normal, my face had more wrinkles than I cared to admit, my eyesight was starting to go down hill, and I had said farewell to the last of my black hair as it was now nothing but grey. Pulling out my reading glasses from my inside pocket, I slipped them on and flipped open the folder as Fancy Pants sat down beside me. "I've compiled a list of things that should help your case. Now, Iron Hoof is a good friend of Round Trip, right?" I asked him and I turned my head to look at him. He nodded in confirmation and I looked back to the list. "Well then, here's the list for you and I'll be standing by in case you need to call me as a witness." The doors to the courtroom opened and the ponies in suits all tossed their cigarettes into a bin before entering the room. Standing with a groan, I gave the folder to Fancy Pants before we entered the crowded room. "It's showtime." ~~~~~ 17: 45 Hours March 22, 1988 Equestrian Supreme Court ~~~~~ I wiped my brow with a handkerchief as I walked out of the crowded courtroom. The heat generated by the couple hundred bodies and camera lights in the room had pushed the temperature into the nineties and several reporters hurried over to nearby water coolers to refresh themselves before returning to their offices. Fancy Pants found me in the crowd rather easily I'd imagine and followed me down into the foyer where we stopped as ponies filed out of the court. "Well, that seemed to go rather well. I also think that was the first time I've ever seen a member of the royal cabinet called an asshole on live television." I said with a grin at Fancy Pants' action earlier in the day. We finally walked out onto the steps after the foyer had emptied out and made our way down the steps towards the street. "Say, come with me, I think I know someone who can help you with this case." I told him when we got to the bottom of the steps and I led the way to my pickup. Once we were on the way to the yet undisclosed location, I made sure to check the truck's mirrors to ensure we weren't being followed. After about twenty minutes of driving, and more turns than required, I stopped in the alley way between two apartment buildings. I climbed out and led Fancy Pants through a door on the side of one buildings and up several stories of stairs. We reached the seventh floor and I paused near the stairs to try and catch my breath as Fancy Pants came up behind me. Once I had caught my breath, I led him down the hallway of apartments to the last one in the hall where I knocked on the door. "Coming!" A voice shouted from inside and we stood waiting outside. A moment later, the door opened and John stood before us with only a towel that was pitched like an army mess tent. "Interrupting something?" I asked with a grin as the smell of sweat and sex seemed to pour out of the apartment. His face was red, though I'm sure it was before mention of the subject, and he gave a tense nod of his head as he stepped aside for us to enter. We stepped inside and Fancy Pants and I both removed our hats to place them on the rack by the door. "Let me get some clothes on real quick and I'll be right back." He said before entering what I assumed was his bedroom. Hushed voices came from within and I could hear the voice of a mare that had a country accent. My lips tuned up into a sly grin as I realized that clearly we hadn't just interrupted them in the middle of an energetic session, but one that had lasted all day. John returned a couple seconds later in jeans and a t-shirt. "Alright, what's up?" He asked as he sat down in a chair as Fancy Pants and I sat down on the couch. "We need you to get some information on someone. As much as you can get." I told him and he leaned forward to ensure the conversation stayed quiet. "Who is it?" He asked. "Iron Hoof." I replied as Fancy Pants sat silently next to me. "So let me get this straight." John said as he stood up and walked over to the apartment's windows to pull the blackout curtains. With his action, I reached over and turned on a light that sat on a stand by the couch and it was soon the only light available. "You want me to collect information on a stallion who's a member of the Royal Cabinet and holds more hearings a week than a damn Puritan in Salem?" He asked as he sat back down in his chair and looked across to us. His damaged eye was a foggy blue but his other one glared at us with extreme questioning as we sat in silence. I nodded my head to answer his question and he quickly leaned forward with a small grin. "It's a damn good thing for you that you and Princess Luna think about the same. She's had me collecting information on him for months now. She wants him gone but he's too useful at the moment for them to dispose of him. I'm certain she won't mind me sharing the information with someone else. Come with me." He stood up and I glanced at Fancy Pants before following John into a room next to his bedroom. He turned on a small lamp that sat atop the desk in his home office as he sat down behind the desk. With a wave of his hand, he invited us to take a seat across from him. Once we were seated, he pulled a file out of his desk and flipped it open. "Before we begin, I want to know something." Fancy Pants said and we both looked over at him. "Was all this intel obtained legally? If it can't be used in court than it's of no use to me." "Mister Fancy Pants, I can assure you that it is all legal." John replied and Fancy visibly relaxed at that bit of news. "We've got enough for you to win your case. Of course, that's not enough for us to get rid of him but it'll get him off your ass." He said as he started to flip through the papers inside the file. "His likes, dislikes, where he goes, what he does, who he does; you name it and it's in here." John told us with a grin as he slid the file over to us. Fancy Pants looked through the file but paused when he saw a certain paper in there. And, from where I sat, he had a the biggest smile I'd ever seen from him. ~~~~~ 10:27 Hours March 23, 1988 Equestrian Supreme Court ~~~~~ I sat directly behind Fancy Pants and I fanned myself with my cap as the room was sweltering despite it being freezing outside. The banter and occasional shouting between them had been going on since nine that morning and it was quite often the same thing that they'd been debating over for the last few days. "Why not just say what this damn hearing is about?!" Fancy shouted from his seat and the other cabinet members around Iron Hoof had found ways to distract themselves as the two argued. "Or did I just hallucinate you telling me during lunch at your home to sell Trans Equestria to Air Luna?" This question made the cabinet members look up from their books and crosswords and glance over at Iron Hoof. "That is not what is being argued here Mr. Pants!" Iron Hoof shouted across the floor to Fancy Pants. "Maybe it's that my company is one of the largest warplane and tank producers in the nation?" Fancy asked as he pulled out the file from the day before and set it on the table in front of him. "I have evidence here that you've attended NESP meetings." Iron Hoof's face turned red and he went to grab the gavel by his hoof but an orange stallion placed a hoof on the gavel and looked at Iron Hoof. "Let him speak." He said before turning to look at Fancy Pants. "Mr. Pants, what is the NESP?" "It is the National Equestrian Socialist Party. It basically follows the same ideals as the National Socialist Workers Party in the Griffin Empire. Those in that party are currently waging war against us. Should the judgement of a supporter of their's be permitted in the National Court of our great nation?" Fancy Pants asked as he stood up and pointed a hoof at Iron Hoof who now sat in shock as he looked at the file on the table in front of Fancy Pants. An angered murmurer went through the courtroom and I could see the other members of the cabinet were suddenly expressing great interest in the hearing. "You may also note, after doing some research among the court's public records, that in the last year, most of Mr. Hoof's cases have been against companies or citizens that have been helpful to the war effort. Now, I don't know about you but this is something that raises some questions about the patriotism of Mr. Hoof." Fancy Pants said. The members of the cabinet besides Iron Hoof all looked to each other before the orange stallion spoke up again. "In light of these revelations, I think it best we dismiss this case. All in favor, say 'aye'." The stallion said and all the members beside Iron Hoof said "aye". With a motion of his hoof, the stallion grabbed the gavel and brought it down on the table in front of them. "The case of Equestria virus Fancy Pants Industries is dismissed. Mister Pants, you may go now. Court is adjourned." Fancy smiled triumphantly at Iron Hoof and the old stallion glared at Fancy in response. Everyone stood and applauded as Fancy Pants walked down the small aisle towards the doors of the courtroom. That day would eventually lead to the battle between Trans Equestria and Air Luna for domination of the world's airways. ~~~~~ 21:45 Hours March 25, 1988 Jones Family Mansion ~~~~~ I sat in front of the fireplace in my chair as I swirled whiskey around the glass in my hand. The cold of the outside seemed to leak into the house but I needed not to worry about that as I watched the fire. Hooves gently wrapped around me and I felt Thunderstreak's chin rest on top of my head. Raising the glass to my lips, I took a sip before lowering it again and the only sound in the room was the crackle and pop of the fire. "What're you still doing up?" I asked her as she moved around the chair to come and take a seat on my lap. "I could ask you the same." She offered as her rebuttal. "Just thinking." I said as I watched the fire. "A bit for your thoughts." She watched me with a slight frown. I sighed and took another sip from my glass before looking at her. "I wish I could tell you." I told her while I set my glass on the small table by my chair. Bringing my hand over, I stroked her cheek and gave her a weak smile. "But it's nothing to worry your beautiful little head over." "James, what's wrong?" She asked as she scooted closer to me and put her forehead against mine. "It's classified. All I can say is that a lot of our boys are going to die." I told her as I picked her up and started to carry her towards our bedroom upstairs. But as we went up the stairs, she pressed a hoof against my chest and I paused my walk with one foot on a different step. "James, I just want you to know that I'm always here if you need to talk." She said and I gave her a nod and another pathetic smile before resuming my trek upstairs. ~~~~~ 12:05 Hours March 26, 1988 War Department, Canterlot ~~~~~ I sat in front of two different maps of different locations that had several small ships and aircraft placed on them. My eyelids drooped as I looked at the maps and I let a silent sigh escape me as one of the admirals continued on about the invasions. I was no longer interested in how the invasions would take place after the death estimates for each were announced. The smaller invasion of the two would cost at least twenty thousand troops their lives. And then there was 'the Big One' as it was so called. It would cost at least the same amount but in the first wave alone. "General Jones, what is your opinion?" A voice asked and I looked up from my thoughts to see everyone else at the table looking at me. "My apologies, I'm afraid that I zoned out." I replied and Princess Luna looked at me with concern. "General, you do not look so well. Perhaps a stroll through the gardens will help you feel better." She said and I nodded before standing and walking over to the door but I stopped and turned my head to look when I heard hooves following me. Luna was approaching me and I held the door open as she led the way out into the corridor. We silently walked down a couple flights of stairs and out a door to enter the snow covered gardens of the palace. "James," Luna said to begin conversation "what is troubling you?" She asked and I did not look at her as I kept my eyes on the gardens. "Things." I told her as we stopped and watched a group of Blue jays in a tree. "This damned war. It's not fair. Not to those who must go and fight and die in nations that were once just as peaceful as Equestria." With a deep sigh of tiredness, I brushed the snow off a nearby bench and sat down on the damp wood. Luna cleared a spot next to me and sat down. "And the night terrors?" She asked as she removed her crown to show that she was not asking as Princess of the Night, but as a concerned friend. "I know that they deny you sleep. Perhaps it will help you to talk about them?" I chuckled as I looked at the ground and clasped my hands together. "You know, you sound like a filly I met back in Crystal Empire." I told her and I looked over to her with a very small smile. "But, honestly, it probably wouldn't. Unless you can get them to go away, I doubt it'll help." Standing up, I looked down to her and gently took her crown from her lap. Placing the crown on her head, I offered up a small smile to her. "Now, Princess, I think you should get back to that meeting. Send the details to my office. I have something I need to do before I head home this afternoon." ~~~~~ 13:30 Hours March 26, 1988 Equestrian National Cemetery ~~~~~ I stood in front of a headstone and looked down at it as I wiped away a couple tears. Kneeling down by the stone, I gently patted it as I looked at the writing on it; Corporal Blueblood 1966-1988 379th Bomb Group Royal Equestrian Air Force Bronze Star, Air Medal, Good Conduct Medal My head dropped as I thought about the events of the day that Blue had been killed and my hand curled up into a fist as it sat on the headstone. "I'm sorry, Blue." I said in a whisper between me and the grave. The distant roll of thunder made me look up at the sky that had been growing cloudy. The weather that week had been abnormally warm during the day and I was not surprised to see rain moving in, but one thing did make my breath catch in my throat. From my peripheral vision, I saw a white pony approaching me. I stood and turned to face them but let out the breath that I'd been holding as I saw it was Princess Celestia. She stopped and stood next to me while I turned back to the headstone. "He requested we not put his royal title on his stone." She said and I turned my head to look at her as the first few drops descended and melted the snow where they landed. "He wrote a letter. They found it in the tail turret when they took him out. I'm guessing that he wrote it during a lull in the attacks." She used her magic to teleport a letter in front of her and then levitated it over to me. I gently grabbed it from her magic as she watched me. To whom it may concern, please give this letter to my aunt Auntie, if you're reading this than I have passed on. I know I wasn't always the most well behaved foal, especially compared to Cadence, and I would like to say sorry for the stress I caused you. Tell Cadence I'm sorry I couldn't make our lunch date before I shipped out. Give my best to Shining Armor as well. I know that I surely will meet my fate among the clouds and I have one request of you. Please ensure that my title not be included on my stone. I wish to put my days as royalty behind me should I be lucky enough to live. And now to our fantastic skipper. James, I wish you nothing but the best with your life and all future endeavors. May your life be filled with joy and your home filled with love. I do hope that I should live through this ordeal so as to share a proper drink with you. Perhaps if I survive we could meet at the Copacabana and have a couple bee The letter ended there and the page had small red spots splattered all over it. I turned the letter back over to Celestia as the rain began to really fall down. She teleported it away and I looked back down at the stone as she started to walk back towards the palace. While I stood in the rain, I saw something else moving behind the stone. I looked up at movement and saw something that made me freeze all movement and hold my breath. There, behind the headstone, stood a white unicorn stallion with a blonde mane in an air force dress uniform. He had a blueish glow to him and I watched as he smiled and gave me a salute. I finally snapped out of my shock and saluted the ghostly apparition before me. I broke the salute and he did a second later before he turned and started to walk away, only to vanish into thin air. I stood there looking at where Blueblood's ghost had stood moments before, before turning and walking away. A new sense of determination filled my soul and I had a new mission after protecting those I loved; I had to avenge Blue. ~~~~~ 09:54 Hours March 28, 1988 Jones Family Mansion ~~~~~ I walked through the quiet halls of the house and had my hands clasped behind my back as I was deep in thought. Though I'm sure I looked odd walking the halls in nothing more than fatigue pants and a bathrobe, I didn't pay it much thought as I contemplated the plans that had been sent to my office. Over two dozen airborne transport units would be needed, meaning that we would be needing more C-47s and C-54s for the front line units. Then there was the fighter cover that would be required to support landings. Dozens of squadrons of P-51s, P-38s, P-47s, and even a squadron of the new P-82 Twin Mustangs would be needed. Rescue planes from the Navy would be under Air Force jurisdiction as well for rescue operations from our bases as well and we had began taking care of transferring them to their new bases. The sound of hooves behind me made me stop and turn around to see a cook stop a yard away and remove his hat. "Sir, your breakfast is ready." He told me with a small bow and I found that weird but shrugged it off as I followed him to the dining room. I sat at the head of the table and looked at the plate in front of me. Two pieces of toast, a scrambled egg, three strips of hay bacon, and a bowl of bran cereal was my usual breakfast and now there it sat before me. "Thanks." I told him as I pulled my plate to me and picked up my spoon so as to start my meal. I slowly made my way through the food but stopped halfway through my toast as the telephone in the living room began ringing. Standing up, I walked through the halls and into the living room where the phone by my chair continued to ring. Picking up the receiver, I listened to the silence on the other end for a half second before talking. "Hello?" "James, it's Amelia. We need to talk." She said on the other end and I sat down in my chair. "What's wrong?" I asked her due to her voice sounding tired and strained. "Your father is in the hospital. They said it's his liver. I guess the booze finally took its toll." She told me and my grip on the phone loosened until the receiver fell from my hand. The sound of hooves behind me didn't grab my attention until a hoof was placed on my shoulder. I turned my head to see Thunderstreak hovering behind my chair. "James, what's wrong?" ~~~~~ 11:02 Hours March 28, 1988 Canterlot Royal Hospital ~~~~~ I stood in the hallway as the doctor in front of me explained dad's condition. "It's cirrhosis of the liver. I'm afraid that even if we could perform a liver transplant, it may not take and he could be worse off than he is now. It would likely kill him. We would use part of your liver but the risks with your health is just too great. Not to mention that such and operation is still considered experimental and has, at most, a twenty fiver percent chance of living a year." He removed his glasses and tucked them into the pocket of his lab coat. "I'm very sorry Mister Jones." The doctor turned and walked down the hallway to another room and I stood there for a few moments taking deep breaths. After I felt I was ready, I entered dad's hospital room and saw him laying on the bed. His skin had a yellow tint, his face looked thinner, his stomach was swollen, and he looked exhausted despite simply laying there. "Jimmy, come here." He said in a tired voice as he slowly raised a hand a couple inches off the bed. I walked over and gently squeezed his hand. "Jimmy, I'm sorry. For all the trouble I've put you through over the years." Sitting down in the chair by his bed, I felt my eyes begin to water. "It's fine, dad. It helped me become who I am. You don't need to apologize for that." I told him as he slowly turned his head to look at me. He gave the best smile he could muster and then turned his head to look back at the ceiling. He sighed and opened his mouth but it was several seconds before any words came out. "I'm going to die. I know it." That made me about start crying but I made sure to keep myself from doing so for his sake. "We're all going to die someday, dad." I said as I patted his hand to try and offer some sort of comfort. "Well I think my someday is soon. Very soon." He told me. His lips turned up into a small grin and he looked back to me. "It's like what your grandpa Jones always said; ashes to ashes, dust to dust, if the women don't get you then the whiskey must." A knock at the door made me look over and Amelia stood in the doorway. I let go of dad's hand and walked out into the hallway with her. "The doctor talked to you, right?" She asked and I nodded in confirmation. She grabbed my hand and we both sat down on a bench in the hallway. "They said it's like he's just given up. He's not wanting any treatments of any kind. Just some pain killers and that's it." "That sounds about like him. I remember this one time when I was a kid, he broke his foot but he still went and flew the crop duster after he did so. He looked like he wanted to cry every time he pushed on the rudder pedal." I replied with a faint grin as I looked at the floor. Amelia placed a hand on my shoulder and I looked up at her. "Go home now. Go see your wife. Cause one day we'll all stop breathing, turn cold, and die. Spend time with her. I loved your father every day I was with him. Now go and spend time with her while you can." She squeezed my hand before she stood up and walked into dad's room. ~~~~~ 06:25 Hours March 29, 1988 Jones Family Mansion ~~~~~ I walked out onto the balcony for Thunderstreak and I's bedroom and sighed as I looked at the surrounding countryside. A small valley nearby was filled with morning fog and the grass shined with dew as the sun began to rise over Ponyville. The sunrise painted the morning sky a vibrant shade of pink, almost as pink as Pinkie Pie, while it faded into a light blue where the sun peeked over the horizon. Two legs wrapped around my arms and chest as Thunderstreak rested her head on my shoulder. "I was thinking, the kid's spring break starts tomorrow and maybe we could do something special. You know, just the two of us." She said as I placed my hands on her hooves that were placed on my abdomen. "That'd be nice. Problem is, can we convince someone to watch the kids?" I asked her as the first noises of the day came echoing up from Ponyville. Every morning I would wake at six just so I could hear it. The clock tower chimed for six thirty and the melodic chimes echoed off the surrounding landscape. On days like that morning, the chimes bouncing off all the different hills would sound like a song. Whether it was something made intentional by the builders or simply by accident, I was glad that it happened because of the beautiful noise. "I'm sure I could convince one of the girls to watch them." She said as the last of the chimes faded away and we were once again surrounded by silence. "I was thinking that maybe we could go to a nice resort in Mexicolt. Relax on the beach or in a spa for a week. Maybe see about getting you some hair dye." "It would like to have a hair color other than grey again. Yeah. Yeah, let's go. It'd be nice to spend some alone time with my girl again." I turned to face her and smiled at her brown mane which was sticking up in every which direction. I kissed her on her snout and she let out a small giggle that made me smile even more. Just as I was about to kiss her again, the phone in the bedroom rang and I excused myself from our moment to go and answer. When I picked up the receiver, I could hear someone sniffling as though they were crying. "James, it's Amelia." A female voice said and I immediately sat down on the bed as I knew that it wasn't good. "It's your father. I'm afraid-" Her voice cracked and she sniffled again before continuing "James, he's gone."
The Jolly Rogers	41: Operation Isola	~~~~~ 12:00 Hours April 3, 1988 Canterlot, Equestria ~~~~~ The sound of bells echoed through the streets of Canterlot as rain poured down from the grey storm clouds overhead. I walked alongside Amelia behind the caisson which held a flag draped casket. Amelia wore a black blouse and skirt with a black veil over her face. To my right was Thunderstreak who was in a black dress that, at any other time, would have been beautiful. On her right and Amelia's left were the kids who were in either black suits or, in Typhoon's case, a black dress. Behind us walked the royal sisters, John, Marko, Austin, and over a thousand Equestrian troops from all the different branches of service. A man once said that the nice part about being in the rain is that no one can see your tears. Such a statement never summed up a situation so well. I tried my best to ensure that my face remained neutral despite the tears that streamed down my face. We finally made our way to the national military cemetery and it seemed that the temperature had dropped another twenty degrees as soon as we had passed through the gates. I managed to hold my composure all through the funeral until I looked up on a hill where a pony's silhouette stood out against the grey sky. They raised a bugle up to their lips and Taps echoed through the cemetery. That was more than I could handle. I broke down and through my crying, silently thanked whoever was up above that it was raining. I felt a hand on my shoulder and I turned to see Amelia standing next to me, tears mixing with the rain that hit her face. She stared at me for a moment before pulling me into a hug. I wrapped my arms around her and we both cried into the other. ~~~~~ 09:00 Hours April 6, 1988 Near the Mareianas Islands ~~~~~ A quick glance out the window of the aircraft showed the water quickly approaching us as the flying boat came in for a landing. The fleet around us had a half dozen battleships and three aircraft carriers. I straightened out the front of my khaki uniform and was glad that the seats had a belt because otherwise the shock from landing would have thrown me from my spot. With another look out the window, I saw a PT boat approaching the aircraft. The blue seaplane slowly stopped and the boat pulled up along side us where the door was. I unbuckled and walked forwards towards the door that had been added to the front of the PBY Catalina. I thanked the crew for the ride before I stepped out the door and onto the deck of the PT boat. As soon as I had found my seat, the boat raced off for one of the aircraft carriers. As we neared the carrier, I could see a large white number 17 that stuck out against the dark grey of the ship. The fresh paint and newer type of carrier showed that this one had still yet to see actual combat. The name of the carrier, if I remembered it right, was the Harvard. I smiled a bit as we pulled up along side a whaling type boat that was crewed by a couple of seaponies. "Good morning, sir." They both said as they saluted me. I saluted them back as I hopped from one boat to the other and I extended a hand to both of them. They shook it and we began to motor towards the carrier. Waves breaking against the bow of the boat caused a spray of water to rain down upon us with each one that we hit. We finally reached the carrier and the boat was lifted back onto the ship. When we disembarked, I was met by a Navy commander who snapped to attention as soon as my feet hit the deck. I gave a lazy salute back and he turned to lead the way without a word said between us. I followed him down corridors and up stairs until we entered the ship's bridge. From this position halfway up the island, I could see most of the flight deck without leaning out a window. A sea foam green stallion in an admiral's uniform. The commander tapped him on the shoulder and he turned to face him but quickly looked past the lower ranking officer towards me. The sunlight from the windows glinted off the three stars on his shirt collar and he smiled at me. Rather than a salute, he stuck out his hoof for me to shake. I shook his hoof as I returned the smile. "How are you, James?" He asked as we stepped over to the windows that had a view of the flight deck. "Been better. How about yourself?" I asked him as an F6F Hellcat raced down the deck before seeming to drift into the air. "Fine. I'm sorry for your loss." The admiral said as he took a sip from the coffee mug held in his magic. "Thank you, Sea Foam. How's your husband?" I asked and I saw his lips turn up into a small smile at the mention of his spouse. "He's doing fine. In fact, that's him right there." Sea Foam said as he pointed a hoof towards a neon yellow stallion he was walking across the deck with a leather helmet on and a checkered flag in his mouth. I smiled about the happiness in the admiral's voice as he pointed out his husband. "You going to come to the ship's dance tonight? Provided that the changelings don't bomb or shell us first." He asked me with a small chuckle at the second part. "We're supposed to have a bunch of MAVES coming aboard tonight for the dance so you won't be without company." "As nice as that sounds Foam, I'm a married man." I told him as I followed him to what would serve as my cabin. "Hey, just remember the rule me and Shooter have. Eatin' ain't cheatin' and suckin' ain't fuckin'!" ~~~~~ 20:16 Hours April 6, 1988 RNS Harvard ~~~~~ The sound of the band on the far end of the mess made me tap my foot under the table. Next to me sat a very nervous and shy looking young mare in a MAVES uniform. Across from us was Sea Foam and Shooter, both in their white uniforms. I turned to the white mare next to me as Foam and Shooter seemed to be groping each other with their eyes. "So ma'am, what's your name?" "I'm Peach Mane, sir." The mare replied in a voice that was barely audible over the band. I noticed that her mane was indeed a peach color under her cap and smiled at her. "So what did you do before the war, Miss Peach?" I asked as a stallion set drinks on the table. I slid her bottle of soda over to her before grabbing my glass of water. "I worked on a peach farm. My dad is a thirteenth generation peach farmer." She said. Now that we were getting into her territory, she seemed to be coming out of her shell. "Thirteen generations? That's a good length of time." I replied as I took a sip of my water. "We've worked the same farm since one hundred years before Princess Luna's banishment. We've been around longer than any other farming family in Equestria." Peach told me with a bit of pride in her voice. The band struck up a song that made me smile and Peach gasp and then sigh dreamily. "I love this song." She said as the band played the opening of La Mer. "Would you like to dance?" I asked her as I stood up. She nodded and I lead her out onto the dance floor. She stood up somewhat clumsily on her back hooves and I was surprised how tall she now was for a mare. She was about shoulder height on me now that she was standing up and I carefully started to lead us into the dance. As the song continued, I recalled the lyrics that were missing from the song. "La mer Qu'on voit danser le long des golfes clairs A des reflets d'argent La mer Des reflets changeants Sous la pluie "La mer Au ciel d'ete confond Ses blancs moutons Avec les anges si purs La mer bergere d'azur Infinie" Peach looked at me in surprise and I stopped singing among the two of us when she did so. "Did I do something wrong?" I asked her as I looked down at my feet and her hind hooves. "I didn't step on you did I?" "No, no. You did nothing wrong. Just, I didn't know you spoke Prench." She said and I flashed a smile at her as we continued to dance. "Just enough to keep things interesting." I replied and she blushed a bit as she looked away from my face and down at my chest. "You-you also have a very nice singing voice." She stuttered out and I grinned again. "Well, I certainly thank you for the compliment." I told her. Out of nowhere, I felt somepony bump into me and a voice began whispering in my ear. "Remember the rule, Jimmy." Foam's voice said in my ear. He and Shooter quickly disappeared into the sea of dancers before I could turn my head to look at him. As I thought about his words and Thunderstreak and I's private agreement about other mares, I decided that maybe I should go for it. As long as Thunderstreak had green lighted it, why not? "Hey Peach, would you like to have an even better time?" ~~~~~ 21:00 Hours April 6, 1988 RNS Harvard ~~~~~ "Sweet Celestia, that was amazing." Peach said as I stood up from the end of the bed and wiped my mouth before straightening my tie. "Celestia had nothin' to do with it, Peachy. That was all me." I told her with a smile. "If you're always that good, I don't see how your wife lets you leave the bedroom." She remarked as I climbed up on the bed with her and carefully wrapped an arm around her. She smile a bit before rolling off the bed to put on her uniform. "I must say, that was far better than dancing. Thank you, sir." "Running off so soon?" I asked with a smirk as I rolled onto my side and made a sarcastic attempt at a sexy pose. She rolled her eyes and laughed a bit as she slipped on her blouse. "Can't even stay to enjoy the after glow? Or even round six?" She chuckled again as she skid on her skirt. "You know, no stallion has ever gotten that many out of me." "What can I say? I'm just that good." I told her with a smile as I rolled over to the edge of the bed. Just as she was about to offer a rebuttal, a warning siren began wailing that was accompanied by a call to battle stations. I was quickly out of bed and into the corridor with a couple dozen stallions who were putting on helmets and flak jackets before peeling off towards the AA guns. I climbed the stairs towards the bridge and found Sea Foam shouting orders to the crew members that were frantically running around the bridge. "Foam!" He turned to look at me and I pointed a thumb towards the flight deck. "You got a fighter you can spare?" He turned to a petty officer who had a list in his hoof. The petty officer looked over the list before looking up at Foam. "Corsair Seven Fifty One is available, sir." "You heard the boy, Jimmy. Go give 'em hell!" Foam called after me as I turned and ran down to the hangar deck where Navy and Marine Corps pilots all ran around to their planes and crews lined them up for the elevator to the flight deck. I found a midnight blue F4U Corsair with a white 751 on the side. Putting my foot in the step in the left wing flaps, I climbed up onto the wing and then up into the cockpit. A ground crew came over and pushed the fighter into the line behind a Hellcat. When they stopped me, a stallion with a cigar in his mouth and gunnery sergeant stripes on his shirt climbed up onto the wing. He handed me a flight helmet and goggles before sticking his hoof out towards me. I shook it and he gave me a quick smile as the line started to move again. "Best of luck, sir." He said as he jumped down and helped to push my plane forward. After less than two minutes, I was up on deck with the wings extended and the engine running at full power. I watched Shooter and waited for him to wave his checkered flag for me to go. Finally, he knelled and waved it towards the bow of the ship. I released the brakes and the fighter began to roll across the deck. Just as the tail raised up, the AA guns opened up on silhouettes in the moonlight. "Looks like Zekes and Bettys, three high." A voice called over the radio. I could barely see with certainty the types of aircraft we were against but I would have to trust the word of the other pilot. Pulling back on the stick, the Corsair climbed quickly and I saw the silhouettes growing bigger. I pulled up underneath a twin engine bomber and flipped the switch for the gunsight's illumination light. The cross hairs lit up and the were perfectly on the belly of the bomber. I squeezed the trigger and the four 20mm cannons let loose with a roar and a flash. Tracers tore into the belly and I could see the flashes of metal on metal with every round that tore into the bomber. I moved the stick a little bit and raked the right wing and engine of the bomber. An orange glow began coming from the engine and the bomber banked to head back in the direction it had come. The bomber however didn't stop banking and I saw several pony looking shapes jump out. Parachutes seemed to pop out of them a moment later and I suddenly felt the fighter jump as flak started to burt around me. The AA gunners, confused in the excitement and the moonlight, had opened fore on me thinking I was an enemy fighter. "Somebody call those gunners and tell them they're shootin' at one of their own!" I shouted as I hit the button for the throat mic. It took a moment but the guns eventually stopped firing at me. I saw the silhouette of a Zero fighter dive past me and I immediately rolled over and dived after him. He suddenly appeared in my gunsight and I squeezed the trigger only for the cannons to let loose one loud bang and then a clunk as they jammed. "Fuck!" I swore as the four rounds that had fired struck the Zero but failed to do any real damage to him. I broke away and flew back towards the carrier. In the moonlight, the carrier's deck glowed and I had little difficulty in coming in for a landing the dark. The approach was no problem, the landing itself, that was another story. The long nose on the Corsair presented visibility problems that, as the son of a Corsair pilot, I should have accounted for. Looking back, I realize that I deserved the award for 'dumbass of the night'. I pulled up and stalled the plane about twenty feet above the deck. The fighter came down suddenly and there was three loud bangs and a metallic crunch as the landing gear collapsed from underneath the plane. I sat in shock for a moment as several of the deck crew galloped over to check on me. "Are you alright, sir?" A distant sounding voice asked and I shook my head and turned to the stallion in a yellow vest outside the cockpit. I nodded my head as I unbuckled from my seat and climbed out. Removing my life vest, I walked over towards the island of the ship. I sat down against it as the enemy planes turned back against such fierce AA fire. But if they had struck at us once, I knew they would soon return. ~~~~~ 04:30 Hours April 7, 1988 SSN-115 'Swordfish' ~~~~~ You'd think that as someone who'd joined the navy, I wouldn't have a problem with the idea of submarines. You'd be dead, fucking wrong. I silently cursed whoever had thought of the idea of the submarine. Those damn things are nothing but claustrophobic, underwater deathtraps. I squeezed through the small hatchway in the single aisle that ran the length of the sub and entered the control area underneath the conning tower. I had a moment to look around before a lieutenant appeared in front of me. His uniform had a sub commander's pin above the left breast pocket. "Lieutenant Squid." He said and I mentally chuckled to myself at a sub skipper named Squid. In back on Earth, if a Marine called a sailor that, it would've started a brawl. Here, it was just a name. I shook his hoof and followed as he led me over to a glass-top table with a map of the island group on it. A light in the table illuminated the map and a sheet of glass with a grid on it was laid over the map. A petty officer stepped aside for us to stand next to the table. "General, we are currently here." He pointed towards the large lagoon in the middle of the map that was surrounded by the islands that made up the Mareianas. "The enemy has an airfield on the main island from which they have been launching anti-submarine patrols with their bombers." His hoof slid across the glass to the big island on the southern side of the chain. "They also have their main docks located there. We've been trying to sink as many of their ships as we can before they can enter the port but-" He stopped suddenly as the drone of an aircraft could be heard above the sub and the entire crew began working frantically. He grabbed a hold of a microphone for the sub's PA system and raised it to his mouth. "All non essential crew to the bow and prepare to dive!" I stepped aside as over a dozen stallions galloped past me and towards the forward torpedo room. "How deep is it here?" I asked as the submarine's bow pitched downwards and we began to dive under the water. "About one hundred fifty meters." He replied as he leaned against the navigation table. "And how deep can we go?" I asked him as I we continued our decent under the water's surface. "Around ninety meters maximum. Any deeper and we risk the hull collapsing in on us." Squid told me as I leaned against the table with him. The sub leveled out and the engines stopped as we began to float almost three hundred feet under the surface. "And now, the hunter has become the hunted." The crew all remained quiet as a pinging sound echoed throughout the vessel. "There's their sonar buoy. Thank Celestia they can't see us well among all the rock formations in the area. Not to mention that half the time their buoys don't send back very accurate information." We sat silent again until explosions could be heard outside the sub. They grew closer until the sub would tremble more with each blast. The enemy may not have had the best sonar, but they were damn good at dead reckoning when it came to dropping their depth charges nearby. Except for one, none got too terribly close for comfort. One however was close enough that when it exploded, so did a pipe running along the hull of the ship. The crew was able to shut off the flow of the water in the pipe but now the submarine would need to return to the main fleet to ensure the crew could get the freshwater pipe replaced. After a half hour of waiting, we surfaced and I joined the Lieutenant up on top of the conning tower. We began to sail out of the island chain with nothing to show for the mission. But more importantly, I could get off of that fucking deathtrap. ~~~~~ 05:00 Hours April 8, 1988 RNS Harvard ~~~~~ I looked down at my instruments as the Corsair's engine rattled the whole plane. With the canopy slid back, the breeze from the propeller felt amazing in the hot, humid morning. I leaned to my left and looked behind the plane where several other Corsairs as well as Hellcats warmed up on the deck. Looking back towards the deck crew, I saw Shooter wave his flag for me. I quickly pushed the throttles forward as I held the brakes. Once the engine was a t full power, I let off the brakes and the fighter roared down the deck. I pulled back on the stick and the plane gracefully climbed up into the pre-dawn sky. I raised the gear, flaps, and slid the canopy shut as I circled and waited for the rest of my flight to form up on me. With five flights of four planes each, the number of fighters just from our carrier alone was at twenty five. That wasn't counting the fighters, dive bombers, and torpedo bombers from other carriers that would help to soften up the landing zones ahead of the invasion force. With an order to maintain radio silence, I slipped on my flight gloves that had been dipped in a special luminescent ink so that we could use signals in the dark. I raised my left hand for my flight to see and pointed towards my right. My right hand tilted the stick and I banked to the right and towards the island chain. The other three Corsairs followed me and we headed east towards where the sun would soon be rising. ~~~~~ 05:45 Hours April 8, 1988 Near the Mareianas Islands ~~~~~ I leaned against the straps that held me in my seat and saw the main island in the chain appear through the broken cloud cover below us. I waved my hand downward and pointed as I looked to the other pilots. They leaned forwards and looked before looking to me and nodding their heads. I led the way as I rolled inverted and dived down towards the island. At the request of myself, the crew for the fighter I'd been given mounted a captured Jericho Trumpet on the left wing. I engaged the trumpet as I dived through the clouds and the scream of the siren could be heard over the roar of the radial engine. I broke through the clouds and immediately was surrounded by black clouds of flak. I got a row of barracks buildings in my sight and squeezed the trigger, letting loose a torrent of cannon rounds that pierced the roofs of the hut-like buildings. As my altimeter broke five hundred feet I began to pull up and hit the release switch for the two, one thousand pound bombs that were slung under the fuselage. I continued to pull up and away from the barracks and disengaged the Jericho Trumpet. I looked in the rear view mirror on my canopy and watched as my bombs detonated in the middle of the barracks. Leveling out, I looked down at the enemy airfield where a dozen or more Zeke fighters were taxiing towards the runway. I rolled over again and squeezed the trigger as my sight traveled across the row of fighters. I scored hits on all of them and managed to knock some out where they were, but others continued to roll now with large holes in their wings and tails. As I circled around, I saw the others from my flight strafing the enemy fighters. Some now sat burning on the taxiway while a couple continued to head for the runway. One of the fighters that had been near the front reached the runway before I could catch him on the taxiway but I now was going at him head on where he sat. I opened fire on him but was coming in at just the right angle for him to fire at me while on the ground. His rounds began hitting my fighter, each round peeling away a line of metal on the wings and leaving an aluminum streak where paint had been. My rounds were hitting him too and a couple hit his fighter in the front of his engine cowl. But while I had scored lucky hits, so did he. The supposedly bullet proof glass of my Corsair's windscreen was pierced by a round that went clear through my left shoulder as other rounds hit my engine. The fighter began couching and spraying oil all over the nose as black smoke followed me. I pulled up just before I would've hit him and began flying blindly away from the engagement. Flak started to burst around me again as I got out into the range of their bigger AA guns. As I flew, I got the feeling that I was not alone and looked behind my left wing. There, sitting like an angel sent from above, flew another Corsair. He closed in on me and I slid the canopy back with my right hand, the stick braced between my knees as I couldn't move my left arm. I grabbed a hold the stick again and looked around to try and get my bearings. By this time, the other pilot was wingtip to wingtip with me and had his canopy slid back as well. I dreaded to think about it, but there was just no way my crippled fighter was getting back to the Harvard as she was. I stole a glance at the ocean below me and swallowed hard as I realized that it was my only option of living. Bracing the stick between my knees again, I pointed downwards with my right hand and saw the other pilot nod in acknowledgment. I grabbed the stick and screamed in pain as I cut the power and lowered the flaps with my left hand. Pulling back on the stick, I began to descend and I checked to ensure that my life jacket hadn't gotten any holes in it. The plane hit the water with a sickening crunch and skipped once before skimming across the surface and coming to a quick stop. Grunting and my vision blurry from the pain, I unstrapped from my seat and grabbed the emergency life raft from my plane before stepping out onto the wing. I inflated the raft and climbed inside, using my good arm to paddle away in case the sinking plane created any suction that would pull me under. A nearby splash made me stop paddling and look over towards where the noise came from. In the water floated the Corsair that had been flying with me. The pilot had climbed into his own raft and began paddling towards me to meet up. He still had on his flight helmet which had the Equestrian Marine Corps insignia on it. He waved to me and I offered a half-assed wave back as he continued to grow closer. The sound of a blast of air made me turn back to my fighter as she slipped under the water and a small panel from the tail fell from the sky with a plume of water. Turning back to the Marine pilot, I saw he was only a couple yards away from me. "Are you injured?" He asked as he help up a medical kit. "Took a slug to my left shoulder. Other than that, just as peachy as dog shit." I told him and he chuckled a bit. "Sounds like something our C/O would say." He produced a piece of rope from his raft and tied ours together to ensure we floated together. "Tell me," I stared as he opened up the medical kit. In the distance, the sun began to peek over the horizon. "why did you land with me? You could've just reported my position and flown back." "Because," He held up a needle in his fetlock and stuck it into my left arm "we never leave a man behind." He injected something into my arm that I assumed was morphine as the pain eventually started to subside. He carefully set about packing and bandaging my wound as the morphine really kicked in. I sat and stared off into the horizon as my mind seemed to be just as adrift as us. A patting on my leg snapped me out of it and I looked over to the red stallion who had a hoof out towards me. "Guess if we're going to be on this little float trip together, we may as well know the other's name. I'm Captain Star Dancer." He said and I extended my right hand to him. "General James Jones. Though, you probably already knew that." He gave a shrug and nod of confirmation. I made eye contact with him and that was when I finally noticed something different about him. "You're a bat pony." I stated and hit looked as though he wanted to make a smartass come back but held his tongue. "I am." He replied simply as he relaxed a bit and leaned back in his raft. "I've never actually had a conversation with a bat pony before." I told him as I adjusted myself in my raft to get more comfortable. "Nor I with a human." Star said as he crossed his forelegs. "So, since we're here, tell me about yourself." ~~~~~ 13:45 Hours April 8, 1988 Somewhere in the Haycific ~~~~~ I laid on my stomach and watched the waves over the side of the raft. I had long since removed my shirt and pants, the sun making it far too hot to be fully dressed. Star had stripped down to nothing but a pair of sunglasses. My back burned and turned red in the sunlight as I watched a small fish swim just under the surface. I turned over and slipped on my sunglasses to keep from being blinded. We floated for what was probably a couple hours, neither of us saying a word as we watched seagulls fly around and swoop downward to catch fish. . After another hour of floating, the rafts lurched and a slight grinding noise awoke a sleeping Star and made me sit up. I lifted up my sunglasses and looked at the white sand of the small island we'd landed on. Carefully standing up, I walked out of the raft and my feet sank into the wet sand. I turned back to Star who hopped out of the raft and grinned at me. "Well, here we are! Guess we'll be staying here." He said before trotting off along the white sands. I pulled the raft further up onto the beach to keep it from getting swept away before following him. He suddenly stopped and turned around. "Hey, do you know how to hunt?" He asked. "Of course." I replied. "You go find us food; I'll handle getting a shelter together." ~~~~~ 21:15 Hours April 8, 1988 Somewhere on the Mareianas Islands ~~~~~ I sat on the sands and watched the reflection of the moon on the waves. The sound of sand shifting behind me drew my attention away to see Star walking towards me. He sat down next to me and produced a small silver container. His hoof held the flask out to me and I graciously accepted it. I took a drink and felt the whiskey burn as it ran down my throat. Handing the flask back to him, I looked back out over the ocean. "You think they'll ever find us?" I asked as he screwed shut the top of the flask after taking a drink. "Don't know. I'm sure they're out here lookin' for you though." He replied. "You mean us?" I asked him as I looked over at him. "No. I mean you." Star said as he untwisted the cap and took another drink. He handed the flask to me before continuing. "Why would anypony give a shit about a batpony?" He asked me as the burn of the whiskey was welcomed back. "Why wouldn't they?" "Do you have any idea why you've never really met a batpony until me?" He took another drink as he waited for my response. "I'd never given it much thought." I replied simply. "Or why we're never seen in restaurants or in certain shops?" He asked as the flask was passed back to me. "I figured you were just nocturnal. You know, being batponies and all." I told him and the whiskey was taking its hold as it burned far less than previously. "We may mostly be nocturnal but it's not necessarily by choice. We're not really accepted in most of Equestria." He said with a slight slur in his voice as I passed the flask back to him. "You know how long I've been in the service?" "Nope." I said as the tide slowly made the waves creep further up the beach. "Thirteen years. I joined at sixteen as an officer cadet due to my father being in the royal guard. I graduated a second lieutenant. In thirteen years I've only made it to captain. You know what one of my OCS classmates is now?" He asked me and I shook my head as the flask was again passed back to me. "A brigadier general. Most of them have made lieutenant colonel or colonel. And here I am; a captain. And all because I'm a batpony." I took another swig from the flask and looked over at him. "You ever consider going into the guard? I'm sure they'd let you in with open arms." I told him as the moon continued to rise higher into the sky. I laid back on the sand and I heard Star ungracefully plop down next to me. Our eyes locked onto the moon and I pointed a finger up at it. "My people have gone there. Well, to our moon anyways." "You guys send people to the moon too?" He asked as he looked over at me. I turned my head to look at him and shook it. "Yes but not as punishment like Celestia did." I replied. "We did it in the name of science and exploration. To go and visit something we'd never gone to before. Shit, that was almost twenty years ago now." I said as I looked back up to the moon. The whiskey was definitely having an effect as my head spun and I noticed the stars were spinning too. "How fucking strong is that whiskey of yours?" "One eighty-five proof." He replied casually. I nodded my head in approval as I held out my hand. "In that case, give me another drink." ~~~~~ 10:03 Hours April 9, 1988 Somewhere on the Mareianas Islands ~~~~~ I slowly opened my eyes and immediately regretted it as the sunlight made my head pound like a drum. As I rubbed my head with one hand, my ass hurt like hell and I stopped rubbing my head for a moment. "Did I fall down last night?" I asked myself in a whisper. The hand not on my head reached down and brushed up against something fuzzy. I slowly lifted my head and looked down, only to see I was naked as a jaybird and Star was curled up behind me. "Goddamn it." I grumbled under my breath as I quietly inched away from him. "I could've at least been on top." I searched around for my underwear and found them by the front of the small shelter Star had built for us. I grabbed them and slipped them on as I looked down the beach in both directions. As I stood on the beach, I heard a droning sound in the distance. Then I saw it, several aircraft flying in formation in the distance. "Wonder what they are?" Star's voice asked and I turned to him in surprise. He raised a pair of binoculars up to get a better view. "Thunderbolts and Lightnings." "Very, very frightening." I said with a small chuckle to myself. Star cast a sideways glance at me but went back to watching the planes through his binoculars. I turned and went over to the rafts to get the flare guns but Star's voice made me stop as I searched through the survival kit from my raft. "Looks like they're banking this way! Better find that flare gun and fast!" His words made me quicken my search as the sound of the fighters grew louder. "They're descending! I think they see us!" He said as I finally found the flare gun. I started to run towards the beach but froze when I heard the familiar crackle of machine guns and the hiss of bullets hitting sand. I began running as Star galloped away from the fighters but wasn't fast enough as a red mist and chunks of flesh flew upwards from his flank. His leg was held on by only a few strands of flesh but his fall didn't stop the fighters attack. As the first plane pulled up, the second opened up on him. The bullets walked across the sand and hit him again, Star simply laying there. I raised the flare gun and squeezed the trigger, the red flare arching high into the sky. The fighters ceased their attack once they saw the flare and began to circle the island. I ran to Star, but it was too late. Blood pooled around his mouth and his body was mutilated from the impact of the .50 caliber rounds. I sat with his body, my mind and body numb as I stared off into the distance. My thoughts were interrupted by an aircraft landing on the water and I stood up to gather what I needed. I put on my shirt and pants as the Catalina taxied closer to the island. I gathered up as many of Star's things as I could find before I carried them down to the shore. A raft with two search and rescue fliers paddled near in a raft. They beached it not far from me and I walked over to them as they secured the raft. "These are his things. I want them taken back." I told them. One of the fliers nodded and placed the things in the raft before dragging it back to the water. "Help me load him up." I told the other one. He followed me to Star's body and helped me load him into one of the rafts we'd arrived in. We carried it to the water as the other raft dragged along the sand, it still being tied to the one we carried. We gently set the raft in the water and climbed into the other one. Once we were in, we began paddling towards the seaplane where the other flier and the pilots sat waiting for us. ~~~~~ 18:00 Hours April 9, 1988 RNS Harvard ~~~~~ I looked at the flag covering Star's body as the ship's minister said a few words. My brain worked overtime, not noticing anything until the slab he was on was tilted up to allow Star's body to slip overboard and into the ocean. I let my head drop and I slowly started to walk away from the scene, my eyes stinging as I kept back my emotions for the stallion who was my only friend for the time we were stranded. As my feet carried me along the deck of the carrier, I passed several sailors that seemed overjoyed at the rapid success we were having in the invasion. My mind was not on that however, but on how soon I could get home. After the events of that morning, I simply wished nothing more than to go home and be with my wife. Thunderstreak was more than just my wife; she was my best friend as well. The problem with war though is that all your friends end up dead or fading away from your life. As I thought more about the state of our marriage as of late, I decided that there was only one solution. Alone time. With the kids and stress from the war, we'd been somewhat strained and snippy with each other at times. I stopped at the railing that was directly below the port bow AA guns and looked at the wake coming off the bow. I knew exactly what we needed. We needed to get away to someplace; but where? Then as I thought back to the places we could fly with Trans Equestria, it struck me. White sandy beaches, friendly locals, exotic food, and plenty of chances to relax; the choice was clear. We were going to Mexicolt.
Bioshock: The Bond Between Sisters	pre	"Now that's completely ridiculous!" exclaimed Applejack as she sprung from her chair and onto the tile of the kitchen floor. "Look, I miss Apple Bloom; I really REALLY do. Losin' her was the most painful thing I've ever felt in my entire life. That's why I feel like even if the chances are slim, we owe it to our sisters to take every opportunity we are given to get them back." Applejack slid her hat in front of her eyes and made a soft sniffling sound. "I don't know girls; for some reason I just feel good about this one." "I'm in," said Rainbow Dash in a serious tone. "Talk of adventures aside, those poor fillies don't deserve to be ripped from their homes, and loved ones. They're probably scared and alone, and there is no way I'm gonna stand idly by knowing that I could be doing something." Rainbow lowered her head and gave a sympathetic smile. "Besides Scootaloo was my biggest fan; what kind of hero would I be if I didn't go and save her as fast as possible?" Rarity swallowed hard and tried to hold back her tears. She didn't know what to say, and she couldn't help but look back-and-forth at her two confident friends. For some reason she couldn't help but feel weak around them. How could they be so sure? she thought. Are they not afraid just as I am? She knew that trusting this Silver River character was a bad idea, but something strange in the back of her mind, almost like a primal instinct, told her that she had to go. No matter how small this part of her brain was it was screaming to come out, and as the idea began to grow Rarity couldn't help but let it creep onto her lips and fly out into the air. "I don't want to go. I really don't want to," admitted Rarity, her body shaking feverishly. "But I think I have to. If I don't, I know that I'll regret it for the rest of my life." She whipped her head up and once again glared directly at her friends, but this time instead of fear, her ice-blue eyes were consumed with a newfound fire. "I am going to do this! And no matter what happens I am not going to stop until we find what we're looking for!" "Alrighty then, I guess if we're all in agreement." Applejack pulled her hat back atop her head and gave a short gesture towards the atlas with a hoof. Rainbow Dash nodded and moved over to the large book. She then took a deep breath and pulled apart the crusty yellow pages. "Let's see, page thirty-four." She squinted her eyes again and flipped through the pages of the rotting book of maps until she got to the proper place. "Woah! I think you all need to take a look at this!" "What is it darling?" questioned Rarity as she moved to the other side of the table. "He definitely made sure we knew exactly where we needed to go!" Rainbow pointed down to the page at the dark red circle of liquid that was soaked into the paper. Inside of the circle was a minuscule black dot placed in the middle of the ocean that seem to signify an island. On the outside were three dark red words scribbled onto the page in all capital letters. "Well," started Applejack a deep worrying in her voice. "I guess I know what I'm doing with my weekend." * After a few days of preparation, the three ponies were ready to begin their journey. They decided it would best to follow in the footsteps of their sisters by starting in Manehattan and renting a boat from there. Their train ride up to the big city was long and silent. Nopony spoke, for there was nothing to say. Their nerves infected their mind and blocked their speech. When they arrived and began their hunt for a way to cross the ocean, they tried to put on brave faces, but there was still very little talking between the three of them. Nopony wanted to reveal to the others how truly petrified they were of what would happen. What if they couldn't find them, and what if they could, but they ended up being too late? Through some of Rarity's connections, The trio was eventually able to get their hands on a little boat that they could use. After a few hours of preparations, they left. Thankfully, now that it was summer, they did not have to deal with any of the ice that their sisters did. So the trip ended up being relatively smooth for the most part, until a storm hit just as they began to draw near their objective. * "Rarity! Where are you!?" screamed Rainbow Dash over the sound of the pounding rain. "Over here!" came the weak voice of her purple maned friend. Who was trying her best to shelter herself under a small group of food crates. "Where is Applejack?" "Right now she's driving the boat. Why?" asked Rainbow as she tried her best to keep the water from getting in her eyes. "Are we getting close?" "Apparently. But with this storm knocking us around, I'm not so sure if we know where we are anymore." "Can't she use the stars to navigate or something?" "Not with these storm clouds. Right now it doesn't look like we'll be seeing the sky for miles. "Well then, what now?" asked Rarity right as another enormous wave crashed upon the deck causing her weak cover structure to be blown to the other side of the boat. "Oh my gosh! Are you okay?" cried Rainbow, flying over to help her friend up. Rarity grabbed her friend's extended hoof and shakily heaved herself from the deck and onto her hooves. "Ugh! Disgusting!" moaned Rarity as she spit some ocean water from her mouth. "I suppose I'm fine for now; thank you." "No problem. Now we should--" Before Rainbow could finish her sentence the air around them suddenly ignited into blinding yellow light. Then in a fraction of a second their ear drums were assaulted with the deafening crack of lightning striking the boat. Rarity belted out a blood curtling scream and glued herself to Rainbow Dash. "Oh no! LOOK!" she cried as she pointed a shaky hoof to the stern. Rainbow whipped her head around to see what Rarity was fussing about, but had to double take just to make sure her eyes were really working. The back end of the boat was being engulfed in flames. "Ohmygosh!" shouted Rainbow Dash, her breath speeding up into a crescendo panic. "Okay okay, I've gotta keep calm and think of a plan." "What should I do?" squeaked Rarity who was still desperately clinging to her friend. "First of all, get off me. Second use your magic to help me out here." Rarity sniffled and pulled her soaking wet mane out of her face. "Okay, what do you need?" "Well I think we can put out that fire if we get enough ocean water to spray up on the deck. So the plan is you levitate one of those crates and use it to collect as much water as you can. Then I want you to pour it all out on top of the fire." Rainbow Dash hollered, trying to be heard over the roar of the intense storm. "I'm going to see how much I can do myself, As soon as I get flying, I want you to do your thing. You got that?" Rarity nodded tentatively. "I think so." "All right here goes nothing," mused Rainbow Dash as she stretched apart her powerful wings. She then opened her mouth and sucked air into her lungs until they burned. She paused for a moment to listen to the blood pumping through her brain, and then suddenly she took off, rocketing into the sadistic downpour. She looked around to try to find something that she could fill with water, but to keep the rain out, she had to squint her eyes so thin that it was nigh-impossible to see anything more than an inch in front of her muzzle. Still she was eventually able to blindly make her way to a section of the deck that contained a large stash of barrels. Some of them were larger and meant for keeping items like fish or large fruits, but there were also quite a few smaller ones meant for the holding of spices and other ground commodities that would be too heavy to store otherwise. Rainbow Dash hovered over them and placed a foreleg on her head to keep out as much water as she could. Even with the weather conditions, she was able to quickly spot a manageably small container that also happened to be empty. Rainbow let out a sigh of relief and quickly scooped the barrel up. She then smiled confidently and launched herself back into the air. She then dove into the choppy ocean that surrounded them. She was only underwater for mere moments, just long enough so that she could fill up her bucket and make a quick rush for the fire. As she raced over the battered motorboat, out of the corner of her eye, she could see Rarity tirelessly heaving water onto the roaring flames with the help of her levitation magic. Rainbow Dash knew that she wanted to keep up with her friend that she would have to fly faster, so that's what she did. She exploded into a blinding blur of speed and dumped a shower of liquid onto the burning deck. Using all the strength she could muster she flew back and did it again, and again, and again, until the once roaring tower of flames was nothing more than smoldering embers. "Oh dear, are you alright?" Asked Rarity, running over to a collapsed Rainbow Dash who was on the deck taking in deep gasps of air. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine." wheezed Rainbow brushing Rarity off with the wave off a hoof. Just then, the door to the captain's quarters swing open and Applejack came speeding out. "Is everything alright out he--" Suddenly Applejack found her legs dropping out from under her. "AH! What the hay?! How the heck did a hole this big get here?" "Probably the the fire," said Rarity quite matter-of-fact. "Oh, yeah... Now could one of y'all pull me outta here!" "Of course darling!" Rarity bent down into the blackened hole and hung her hooves out for her friend to grab. "Thank ya kindly." Applejack dusted herself off and flipped her soaking mane. "Now to get down to business. The way the rain is slowin' down, this storm seems to have almost passed us by. While you guys were putin' out that fire, I caught sight of a little island out in the distance. I may be wrong, but I'm thinkin' that's the place our mystery stallion was implyin' with his letter." "Alright sounds like a plan," agreed Rainbow Dash sitting up on the slick wooden deck. "Is there anything that we need to do to help?" "Well, not that I can think of..." ApplejacK rubbed her chin a bit as the rain still dripped on their head. "I'm just hopin' that this here ship don't sink. What with the big hole in the top." "It doesn't seem to go all the way through. We should be fine," said Rarity a twinge of false optimism in her voice. The three ponies and then went back to sailing almost as if the storm had never happened in the first place. Applejack went back to piloting the boat, and Rainbow Dash decided to fly closely behind to make sure that if something went wrong everypony would know as soon as possible. With no designated job to do, Rarity decided she would just look out on the ocean and watch as the little island grew from a tiny speck into the looming shape of a dark lighthouse. Suddenly, the feeling of urgent nervousness caused by their near shipwreck began to dissipate from the minds of the three ponies, and instead, the deep-seated dread of the path in front of them creeped its way back into their thoughts. All three of them were still jaded by the fact that they were told that their sisters may still be alive only just as they were beginning to accept their new lives without them. It was a scary thought that the ones they love might be stranded and alone, but it was only one of many scary thoughts that passed through their heads. All of their worries, big or small, ran together into a murky river of paranoid thoughts and broken ideas. It's hard to discern what's what when your skull is full virtual flies that all seem impossible to swat down. "Uh, Rarity?" It was the voice of Rainbow Dash. "Rarity we're here now. Are you coming?" "Huh!?" exclaimed Rarity as she was sucked from the depths of her mind. "Yeah, earth to Rarity. We made it." Rarity turned her head and once again looked out at what lay before the boat. To her surprise, what was in front of her was, in fact, a small round island on top of which was a angular black tower that seemed to function as some sort of a lighthouse. "Can we get a move on?" asked Applejack. "Oh... Yes, let's," replied Rarity as she began to follow the other two, a glassy look still in her eyes. Applejack trotted over to the side of the ship and started grappling with a thick rope that was attached to some sort of pulley mechanism. "Dagnabit I musta tied this not a little bit too tight when we set sail." She grunted and tried to pull the heavy knot apart with her teeth. "Well I'll be darned. Could one of y'all come over here and help me lower the gangplank?" "Sure," said Rainbow Dash who proceeded to pick up a sharp wooden shard and snap the slimy green tinted rope. Almost instantly after it was cut, the frayed tangle began to speedily unwind itself, and soon the thick oak board that was the gangplank came crashing down onto the rocky surface of the mysterious island. The three mares cringed at the sound of the wood splintering against the craggy outcropping, but Rainbow Dash attempted to play it off with a confident smile. "That ain't the kinda help I was lookin' for," droned Applejack through firmly clenched teeth. "Yeah... well whatever, let's just get on with this," insisted Rainbow Dash as she tried her best to avoid eye contact with her orange friend. So then, an agitated Applejack, a red-faced Rainbow Dash, and a restrained Rarity all disembarked from their small vessel and began their climb up the damp rocky hill towards the looming giant that was the lighthouse. The silent party of unhappy equines eventually made their way onto a path and up to the front door of the intimidating tower. The large double doors that lead inside appeared to be sealed shut, but what was even more curious was the small piece of paper taped to the door. "IN HERE," it said in bold scrawling handwriting. "Well if that ain't ominous..." muttered Applejack trailing off. "Well," started Rainbow Dash tapping her hoof rhythmically. "Are we going to go inside, or are we going to stand around all night?" Applejack rolled her eyes and removed the note from the door. She then inhaled, clenched her teeth and placed a firm grasp on one of the large brass handles. Unexpectedly the monolithic door swung open with little effort. It opened up so fast, in fact, that it sent the orange pony tumbling backwards onto her rump. "After you," she groaned. "Oh yeah... Uh, thanks," squeezed out Rainbow Dash, desperately trying to hold in a fit of giggles. When the group finally got completely inside, the lights were all mysteriously on despite how decrepit the building appeared. As everypony trotted across the cold tile floor of the cavernous rotunda they couldn't help but notice how unblemished the reflective polished surface looked. Everything in the room from the slick stone stairs that they walked down to each and every elaborate art piece that adorned the walls. Everything was perfect, not a single hair was out of place, and that made it all the more unsettling. As the ponies moved through the main room none of them could keep their eyes off of an oddly out of place bronze bust of a haggard looking stallion. It's morbidly stern expression and cold pupiless eyes seems to follow them wherever they would go. This bothered Rarity the most, but she too felt an describable need to stop in-front of the monstrous statue and read out the thick crimson banner that lay below it. "No gods or Princesses. Only ponies," she recited to herself in a small voice. "Rarity, come on, we don't want to lose ya," chimed Applejack from the bottom of the first staircase. Rarity swallowed hard and made her slow descent downward. After several flights of stairs and a few too many minutes, they all reached the bottom level, the same level that housed the strange contraption their sisters had been lost in, though they didn't know this yet. In front of the trio sat the very machine that took their family away from them, open and ready for their dissent. "What the heck is this thing?" asked Rainbow Dash as she darted around the massive orb-like object in an attempt to view it from every angle. "Well I'll be darned if I know, but I know one thing; I ain't goin' inside that." "I think we have to AJ," admitted Rainbow Dash. "There's nowhere else to go." "I suppose there ain't..." Applejack pursed her lips together and scratched the back of her head. "What about you Rarity? What're you thinkin'?" Rarity jumped to attention and blinked rapidly. "Oh, yes I, um... I guess we don't really have any other choice," she added, coming out of her strange fugue state. "Two to one, I guess that means I lose," grumbled Applejack as she slowly trotted towards the ball-shaped machine. The interior of the odd transportation mechanism had remained relatively the same as the last time it had been used, and beside the seats being a little bit wet this time, the only real thing that had changed was the lever in the center which now had another large note taped to it. "'Pull this' it says. Like we couldn't figure that one out for ourselves," joked Rainbow as she took a seat. "So, you guys ready to do this thing?" "Well, I guess so," said Rarity who was busy twiddling her hooves awkwardly. Applejack sighed and removed her hat from her head. "I'm gonna to regret this..." she mumbled to herself. "Sure, I'm ready."
Bioshock: The Bond Between Sisters	The Descent	Chapter 3 The Descent After the lever was pulled, the glass door sealed shut, and a low monotonous hum began to ring through the small cabin. Before long, the trio could feel their sphere jump and then begin to move down. Everypony remained mute, for they were all preoccupied by what was going on outside their constrictive enclosure. Only a few seconds past before a loud sloshing sound could be heard, and water could be seen flooding in around the see-through door. It was hard to make out what came next; for a while it was just darkness outside, presumably a wall or some sort of other obstruction. Soon after, a quiet violin tune began to crackle in from a speaker that was somewhere above. The three ponies then looked at each other, confused and nervous expressions clouding their faces. Only then was it truly sinking in that they had no idea where they were going or why they were trusting the atlas. That small moment of apprehension only added to the overall sense of dread that was polluting the air. The next thing that became visible was a large yellow sign affixed to a massive archway. The sign read "10 fathoms". Below the archway was a towering statue of a pony stretched out on it's hind legs. Its front legs were pulled up above his head seemingly bound in an awkward fashion very abnormal for a regular pony. It's hind legs, however, did not exist. The middle of the statue's body simply melted away into its large stone base. The chamber did not stop; it continued to sink deeper and deeper. Soon another archway could be seen with a similar sign. This one read "18 fathoms". Then after the sign, the water seems to open up from a small elevator tube to a large dome. Suddenly, just as it seemed the ponies were about to get a larger view of the surrounding area, a tall metal screen moved up from a slot at the bottom of the cabin and in front of the windows. There was a flickering sound, and then a rectangle of light appeared on the golden screen. The girls were perplexed for a moment, quite unsure of what was happening in front of them, but as soon as a grainy picture of the black lighthouse was cast on the projection screen, they all knew they were in for a mid-journey movie. The group simultaneously jumped as the projector switched from the photo to an ostentatious advertisement for product they didn't understand. "Fire in your Hoof!" It said overtop a picture of two happy ponies passing a ball of flames back-and-forth. "Incinerate!" Was written in massive font across the middle section. At the very bottom of the advert were the words "Plasmids™ by: Yarn Industries®" The advertisement was accompanied by a startlingly loud track of old-timey music that seemed more at-home in a fifty-year-old toothpaste commercial than a strange underwater transportation machine. All of the sensory information they were being bombarded with already had the girls more than a tad confused, and the next section of the video only intensified the feeling. In fact, it probably raised more than twice the amount of questions that it answered. What appeared to them next was a black-and-white photo of a tall, dark colored pony with a thin black mustache. He was reclined in a cushy chair with one hoof under his chin seemingly contemplating something very important. "Hello," cracked a confident voice from above. "I am Yarn B. Quark, but since we are all friends here, you may call me Yarn." There was a short pause, and not a single sound could be heard, save from the repetitive "inspirational" music playing in the background. "I have a question for you. Is a pony not entitled to the sweat of his brow?" The slideshow on the screen then flicked to a picture of a farm and a downtrodden looking pony wiping an excessive amount of sweat from his forehead. "'No.' says the pony in Manehattan. 'It belongs to the poor." The sideshow clicked once more; this time it was the Statue of Friendship overhanging a pony, its hoof extending to grab the frightened unicorn. "'No!' says the pony in Canterlot. 'It belongs to the princess!'" The picture then once again switched, this time into that of a colossal Princess Celestia looking down upon a flock of royal guards. "'NO!' says the pony in Stalliongrad. "It belongs to everypony!" The picture then became one of a pony running away from a large hammer and sickle hovering above him. "I rejected those answers. Instead I chose something different. I chose the impossible. I chose... Rapture!" Just then, the screen on which things were being projected slid back into the ground where it came from revealing the glass door to the outside. The jaws of Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity all dropped, for before them was a city unlike they had ever seen. A sprawling landscape of skyscrapers laid out before them, all of them completely submerged by water. Neon signs adorned every one of the towering buildings, each of which were advertising some sort of product or casino. The only thing connecting these strange facilities was a long tube system that stretched from place to place. All around the massive metropolis was life. Everywhere the trio looked all they could see were schools of fish, squid, whales, and every other aquatic animal you could possibly think of. It was complete mental overload. The poor little ponies didn't even have time to think about what they were seeing, for the strange stallion over the intercom was still speaking. "A city where the artist would not fear the censor, where the scientist would not be bound by petty morality, where the great would not be constrained by the small. And with the sweat of your brow, Rapture can become your city as well." As the stallion was saying this, the small air pod floated its way seemingly unassisted between the buildings and towards some sort of docking bay. The pod then went through a series of neon rings on which were a series of gold phrases. "All good things," said the first. "In Equestria," said the second. "Flow," said the third. "Into the city," said the final ring just as it's neon exploded and fizzled out. After that, they approached the docking area. It was a large concrete hole with the words "Rapture Transit Authority" printed on it. As they moved inside they could tell it was another elevator, this one sporting advertisements on every wall. "Well," said Applejack her voice scratchy and strained. "I guess this is it... This is where we're gonna to find 'em." "I'm not sure if I like this place," added Rarity, her expression hidden behind her curly mane. Rainbow Dash considered responding, but before she could speak a word the sphere came to a screeching halt. "Does this mean we're done? Is it time to get off?" It was Rarity again, this time much louder. "I reckon so." "Let me see what's going on outside," added Rainbow Dash as she pulled herself from the velvet bench. "Let me see here." She moved over to the window and pressed her muzzle up against the glass. "Uh... it's pretty dark out there; I don't think I'm going to be--" She stopped. "Do any of you guys hear that?" "H-hear what?" asked Applejack. "It's um... Kind of a shuffling sound. Like there's something out there." Rarity cocked her head and tried to listen for the sound, but the only thing she could hear were her heart's feverish attempts to launch itself out of her chest. "I don't hear anyth--" "Shhhh!" Rainbow Dash turned backwards and put a hoof in front of her mouth. "Quiet!" A few moments passed, Nothing. A few more moments, Still nothing. However, right when Rarity was about to give up, she picked up a small, near-silent scratching sound. The more she listened, the louder it got, and, in turn, the harder her heart convulsed. That wasn't all either; soon she could make out the sound of heavy hoofsteps clacking across a hard surface. And then, out of nowhere, was a great moaning. "No!" came a weak scream. "Please don't do this!" It was a stallion's voice, the voice of somepony who was clutching onto the last fibers of their hope. It was the voice of somepony moments away from death. "Take my money! Take my gun! Take anything; just leave me alone!" The room was then filled with a scream. It was not the scream of poor the stallion but the scream of something else, something much worse. To describe the noise that echoed through their chamber as a voice wouldn't be accurate. No creature capable of sentience would have ever uttered that beastial howl. The lights flickered on for a moment then fizzled back out. "What was that!?" screeched Rarity. "What was wh--" "Shhhh!" Applejack shoved her hoof in Rainbow's mouth. "Hush!" Did they see it too? Rarity wondered. In that miniscule moment of low light Rarity saw a shadow she couldn't quite make out. It looked like two ponies, but one of them wasn't right. It was long and emaciated, almost beyond the point of recognition. And then there was the splatter. It was quick; somepony with a less discerning eye would probably have missed it entirely, not Rarity. She saw every wild drop shower the ground, all before the lights faded into black. Time dragged by at the pathetic pace of a maimed animal. Nopony moved a muscle, but the scuffling continued. It got louder and louder until it seemed like it was right outside the door. "What do we have here?" echoed the guttural drawl of the figure behind the door. The lights flickered again and through the window they saw it, the thin, almost rotten face of a monstrous pony. It opened its mouth wide and screeched once more. Everypony in the sphere fell to the floor with their hooves smashed over their ears. All thoughts inside their heads shattered and were replaced with the brain-rattling pain of pure dread. Suddenly the monster pounced onto their prison causing it to quake and tremor. The girls screamed as the beast smashed its hooves against the ceiling of their enclosure. Over and over it banged until the thick metal of the orb began to dent and fracture. This is the end! thought Rarity, her ears on the verge of bleeding. However, right as the girls were resigning themselves to death, the cacophony ended. The uproar was replaced with defining silence. Then... The door... Popped... Open. Applejack peeled her hooves from over her face. "S-should we g-go out?" "What else can we do?" Rainbow pointed out. "Well... Alrighty..." Applejack pulled herself up, her wobbly legs still shaking. "Rarity, are you ready?" Rarity gave a cursory nod. "Well, okay then." Applejack stood near the open door, at the threshold between worlds. "Let's get a move on."
Bioshock: The Bond Between Sisters	The Radio	Chapter 4 The Radio The floor was sticky. That was the first thing the ponies noticed as they abandoned the safety of their bubble. Viscous fluid pooled around their hooves, but the room was once again too dark to see what was in front of them. The only light source available was a massive window at the other side of wherever they were. Despite its size, it illuminated very little of the room. It was almost as if the light was being muted by some unknown force. Applejack swallowed hard. She refused to go any further before she knew what she was stepping in. She dipped her muzzle down, bringing it as close to the liquid as she could without getting wetter. She took a deep breath, and a recognizable metallic scent filled her nostrils. She couldn't place exactly what it was, but it was a pungent odor. When her head was down Applejack also picked up a faint sound. It was a raspy gurgle, the kind of sound a sick pony makes before his final breath. At first, she thought it must have been one of her friends, so she called out, "Uh, girls are you okay?" "I'm fine," Rarity squeaked. "Yeah, what would be wrong with us?" asked Rainbow Dash. "It's nuthin'... I was just hearin' some weird sounds that's all." Suddenly there was a heavy wet coughing. "WHO'S THERE?!" Rarity shrieked. "I-it's me..." came the deep voice of the stallion that the girls had heard through the glass. "Are y-you Applejack and c-company?" "I reckon you could call us that. Why?" The stallion took in another quivering breath and then ejected a few puffs of air from his nostrils. "I was supposed to come here to give you a radio, but the damn splicers..." he trailed off. "Are you hurt darling?" croaked Rarity. The stallion laughed. "See for yourself." Suddenly there was a soft whirring noise and a small ray of orange light came from the mystery pony's horn. As the light grew, more and more of his body became visible. At first it was just his horn, but soon his face was illuminated and then his everything. The light was weak and flickering, but that didn't keep the ponies from seeing the rest of his body, or lack thereof. The wetness beneath them was beginning to make a gruesome sort of scene. Every year or so applejack would have to repaint her family barn. She always enjoyed it; it made her feel like one those fancy artists from Manehattan. Splattering can after can of candy apple paint was oddly satisfying. But sometimes she would make a mistake and knock the can over. Watching the flood of vibrant red slop wash over the land incited a strange visceral reaction; her heart would always skip a beat. Seeing that same sticky mess spilled on the floor made her finally realize what had bothered her so much. "That bitch got me right in the belly!" He gestured to his torso. Just under his ribs, where a healthy stomach once rested, was a long incision going from side to side. Rainbow gaged. "I think I'm gonna be sick!" Sometimes when Rarity was in a hurry she would drop her bag. This was fine if it was zipped; she would just pick it up and go on her merry way. But sometimes, if she left it open, all of her expensive trinkets would fall out. Everything from her false lashes to her compact would tumble onto the ground. That's what Rarity always imagined surgery to be like. You must be careful when unzipping a pony; you don't want to lose what's on the inside. "Oh sweet Celestia!" Rarity shrieked. "We must find you a doctor this instant!" The stallion released a bloody cackle. "There's no time for that. What I need is for you to listen." The three ponies nodded. "I was sent here by Silver River. He has a message about your three sisters." Applejack snapped to attention. "You know where Applebloom is!?" "No... I'm sorry; I'm just the messenger." He frowned and took a few more shallow breaths. "I was supposed to give you a radio." He tried to turn his head and look around but gave up after a few pained moments. "I think that splicer might have taken it." "Do you know where it went?" asked Rainbow. "We can get that radio back!" "It went up the stairs behind me. I assume it's trying to get back to the city center. That's where all those fucking splicers hang around." "Alright!" Rainbow shouted as she stomped her hoof against the ground. "I'm ready!" "Hold on there Rainbow!" Applejack grabbed her friend's rainbow tail between her teeth and held her back. "We don't have anythin' right now! No weapons, no protection, no map. We don't even know where we are! Runnin' in blind is just suicide and you know it!" "But look at what that thing did to him!" Rainbow Dash pointed at the waterfall of gore protruding from the poor stallion. "I'm not going to sit around knowing that a monster like that is keeping us from getting our sisters back!" "Do ya wanna to end up like him?" Applejack raised a blood soaked hoof. "This could be us next, coverin' somepony else's horseshoes." "Silver River contacted you for a reason," whispered the stallion. " He knows that you have the power to clean up Rapture and save your three sisters. You've come this far, why not go all the way?" Applejack sighed. "I guess there ain't no turnin' around anymore. You two." Rainbow Dash and Rarity turned. "Are ya ready? Do ya think you can handle what might be ahead?" "I think we've got this!" cried Rainbow as she shadowboxed the air. "Rarity?" The white mare hung her head low, her baggy eyes pointed at the thin layer of red liquid coating the floor. Rarity looked at her reflection. The last few days had been hard on her. She hadn't had the time for the demanding level of hygiene required to look the way she normally did. In that respect at least, the face she saw below her was unfamiliar. "For Sweetie Belle I would battle Chrysalis' army one thousand times over." "Well then," Applejack cracked her neck. "since we're all in agreement I reckon we ought to get movin'" She turned herself around to face the void, and the rest of her group followed suit. After a few blind stumbled Rainbow Dash turned her head to look at the fading stallion. "Hey," she said, her stone face melting. "When we find the monster that did this to you, I will make sure to throw a punch in your name." The stallion's eyes were no more open than the width of a thread, and his breath was a crackling whisper. That, however, did not stop him from laughing at Rainbow's promise. "The name is Johnny." "Alright, Johnny, we won't forget you." The corners of Johnny's eyes filled with crystal pools of acceptance. This was the end of his story. "Thanks kid." The rattled adventurers marched on into an ocean of foggy uncertainty. Each step from then on was in the realm of Yarn, a tangled ball of mystery deep inside the cradle of the sea. It was a long trot down the silent corridor. Rarity had remembered that she was in fact a unicorn and could light their way. With the new aid of vision, they trotted down the red strip of carpet that cleaved the hallway in two. Scattered across the floor were a myriad of curious picket signs. All of them had similar statements of protest scrawled across them. "You can't keep us here!" They said. "Free us!" "Red tape will never stop our escape!" All around were the remnants of a long past struggle, overturned benches, lamp posts shattered into glass razor blades, even abandoned scraps of clothing soaked red with life. "What happened here?" Rainbow asked, her mouth a desert. "Looks like the ponies wanted out. I'm guessin' That Yarn Quark feller said no." Applejack spat on the floor beside them. "Yes, but why did they want to be let out?" No pony had an answer to Rarity's question, so they turned and went back to moving forward. On the ponies' left side with the windows that they had seen from the inside of their chamber. Now that they were up close, they could see the ocean beyond them. Huge corporate structures jutted from the rocky wasteland of the sea floor and extended into the murky water that surrounded everything. It was all beautiful in a way, but it was also cracked. Small dribbles of water seeped through the walls of a broken dream. They soon reached the set of stairs that Johnny had told them about. They were a steep mountain of steel, and each one had a deposit of viscous yellow slime making them slick to the hoof. "AH!" Rarity howled as she slipped and slammed her knee against against the dull metal. "Rarity!" Rainbow flew back down the stairs to help her comrade. "Let me see it." Fire ignited in Rarity's leg as she lifted it in front of her friend's eyes. Rainbow leaned in close and watched as a wet strip the color of the carpet began to weep from a crack in her partner. "I'll be fine!" Rarity croaked. "I've dealt with worse!" "Okay, but we've at least got to get something around that... Ah! I've got an idea!" She rocketed from the stair she was on and snatched the hat off Applejack's head. "Hey! Give that back!" "Sorry AJ." Rainbow grabbed the brim with her teeth and pulled with all her might. Soon she was able to tear off a thick strip of the brown fabric and toss what was left of the hat back to its owner. "Horsefeathers Rainbow!" "Here, this should stop the bleeding." Rainbow Dash moped up as much of the blood that was trickling down Rarity's leg as she could. She then tied the fabric around the laceration in a tight cocoon. "That should do for now." "I would say brown isn't really my color, but I suppose there isn't much option," Rarity joked. Rainbow Dash snickered and shook her head. "You're welcome!" "Thank you." Rainbow then scooped Rarity into her arms and flew her to the summit. At the top of the stairs there was a large room. Enormous pieces of the crumbling ceiling lay in the middle of the room, blocking their path. Rarity was about to extend her spell so they could see the whole enclosure. But just before she mustered up the energy a few dim lights fizzled on with an electric zapping. Beyond the garbage that obscured their way was a doorway arch which was covered with concrete rubble. " I don't think I like what's been goin' on around here," muttered Applejack as she bounded over a frayed electric cable. "How are we going to get through that door?" asked Rainbow Dash as she darted over to the crushed entrance. "No big deal," Applejack assured. "I think I saw crowbar or something laying around down here." "There's a wrench." Rarity bent down and tried to hoist to the metal tool up in her mouth, but her leg wouldn't allow it. "Ah!" She grabbed her knee. At this point the makeshift bandage was already starting to soak through. "Calm down Rarity. Don't you go over assertin' yourself." Applejack trotted over and took The wrench for herself. It was heavy and mottled with rust. It made it taste like there was blood in her mouth, but Applejack knew that, at least for now, her insides were undamaged. "Alrighty girls I'll get this door open in a jiffy." She moved to break the rock, but suddenly there was a swift whistling sound from above. "What was that." There was a hiss and everypony's bones turned to ice. " I'm going to cover you with a sheet." It was the same gravelly gurgle from outside the pod. "Take cover!" Rainbow cried as the splicer dropped from the ceiling. Rarity tried to move away but she wasn't quite fast enough to avoid the beast. It was mere hoof steps away from her by the time Applejack intervened. "Take that ya varmint!" The monster howled as the wrench was buried in the back of its head. It turned towards its attacker shaking its wild mouth froth all onto the floor. " how dare you strike me!" it screeched as it reached out an abnormally extended foreleg to grab its prey. Just in the nick of time, Applejack was able to duck under the sweeping leg and only lose her tattered hat in the process. "I'll save you AJ!" Rainbow was a bullet as she split through the air. There was a crash and another howl as she smashed her back hooves into the splicer. Rainbow landed on the ground in front of the creature to check if it was still alive, but as she drew near, it grabbed her and rolled on top of her body. Applejack raced over and started hammering on the splicer's back with the wrench. Pieces of skin tore off and showered the orange pony with flecks of rotting flesh, but the splicer held fast. It held Rainbow Dash's legs down and lowered its head to her neck. In one swift mighty chomp it tore through her fur and ripped out her throat. Rainbow made a spittle-filled choking noise, and her eyes rolled back into her skull. A fountain of liquid sprayed from her neck and rained down to the floor. "Oh Celestia! RAINBOW!" hollered Applejack who could do nothing but speed up her whacking. The creature stood up, a blood soaked tube of meat still hanging from its mouth. It once again turned its attention to Applejack. But right as it was about to pounce on her, a screaming siren sound came blaring into the room. Everypony, even the monster looked up to see a bulky helicopter robot hovering in from an air tube near the ceiling. It had flashing yellow lights all over it and a strange metal device hanging from the bottom. The splicer tried to run from the machine, but it wasn't able to get away from the hanging tube device. In a cacophony of cracks and bangs, a belt of pointed cylinders fed into the robot and shot out the long tube. The strange projectiles pelted the beast, ripping bloody holes all through its body. The splicer once more let out its brain-rattling call and then slunk away into the ceiling hole from which it came. The robotic helicopter then shined a spotlight down onto a rectangular object. "Is this thing on?" crackled a voice. The three ponies looked at each other. "Hello? If you're there, will you pick up the damn radio?" > The Potion Chapter 5 The Potion "Alrighty," crackled a voice through the strange object lying in front of Applejack's hooves. "If ya want to save your sham you're going to have to listen to me very carefully." It was difficult to place where the stallion's accent was from. The dancing lilt of his speech pattern was completely foreign to the orange mare. "Are ya sure this thing is gonna work?" She stammered, holding the cool glass vial in front of her face, and peering through it's ice blue contents. "A'course I'm sure! That glass is full of distilled magic. That's fierce powerful stuff there. If you would just shut you mouth and listen, I could teach ya how to use it, that way we can keep your friend from being a red stain on the concrete." Applejack's legs were wobbly rubber bands, and her mouth was in a drought. "Okay. What now then?" She asked. "Take the bottle over to her body." Beneath the farm pony was the mangled body of Rainbow Dash, blood and various other bodily fluids pooling in dark puddles all around. "I'm already there." "Well good for you." There was a short pause and the stallion let out a brief cough. "Next what you're going to have to do is open the bottle." Applejack closed her teeth around the angular glass stopper and popped open the strange container. "Umkay," she slurred through the vial in her mouth. "Now you're sure she's still alive and kicking?" "Alive I think... Kickin', definitely not." Suddenly the mare found herself drowning in chills. "Good nex--" he stopped himself. "I mean not good... Rotten in fact!" "I get your point." "Anyway. The next thing you should do is spread the liquid as much as you can around the victim's body." Applejack took a deep breath and looked at her twitching companion. "So I just gotta rub it around?" "Yes, now would ya hurry it up already? Sitting around and blathering isn't keeping anyone alive now is it?" The blue liquid trickled out in a slow sappy goop. It collected in a large gelatinous puddle on top of Rainbow's stained fur and crawled across her body. " here goes nothin'." Applejack pushed her hooves down into the sticky mess and smeared it across the pony's stomach like a fancy shampoo. After a few moments, it seemed to react with something. Minuscule fizzy bubbles rose to the top and popped with a popcorn crackle. The color of the whole soupy potion went from translucent blue to an opaque purple. "What now?" "Well this is the part where we wait. Speaking that your friend was in flitters, it's a fuckin' crapshoot as to whether this is gunna to work or not." The tired farmer swayed backwards and toppled over onto her rump. "Is that what this place is like?" "You mean that splicer?" There was a static-distorted chuckle from the radio's speaker. "Bird that's only the tip of the iceberg down here." "Then what happened?" Applejack shot up from the ground when she heard Rarity speak. "How did things get this way?" Her voice was strained; it was the sound of one's vocal chords fighting back against their host. "ADAM happened." Rarity produced a storm of blinks. "What now?" "ADAM. The result of a bloody spell gone diabolically wrong. It's a powerful magic drug produced by what we call the "little sisters"." "Alright slow down sugarcube," said Applejack. "What are you talking about little sisters?" "A scientist we call Mother Goose first created them. When she found out that a dock worker's injury was mysteriously healed by a large sea slug, she set out on capturing one. Sure enough she got ahold of the bugger, and when she started running tests on it, what she found was astounding. It produced some sort of magic energy that could heal almost any wound you put it on. She called it ADAM." The stallion sighed, and his voice grew tired. "Unfortunately she wasn't able to find any more of 'em. The one slug wasn't enough to produce a viable business, so she tried to replicate the results by other means. After years of fiddling around, the git finally did it. She was able to turn ponies into ADAM factories. There was a catch, several actually, but the first was that the spell didn't work on most ponies. The only ones that it had any effect on were very young fillies. Apparently that was no object for Mother Goose. She decided that all she had to do was start an orphanage. Then came the little sisters... Anyway let's stop acting the maggot and get back to work. I'll fill ya in more later. How's she doin'?" "Well she's..." Applejack turned her head back to where she thought her companion lay, but in the place of the soaking pony was something else, a bubbly blob of blue fizz. "She's doin somethin'" "What? What's happening!?" cried the voice on the radio. "She's bubbling away," mumbled Rarity as she moved a few steps closer to the scene. "Well that's queer..." "What!? Is something wrong?" Rarity screeched. "To be honest I wouldn't be able to tell ya one way or another," admitted the stallion. "Normally you administer the potion orally, but considering what happened to her..." "So ya don't know what yer doin'?" "Hey missy, don't go giving me any cheek. Your friend was dead, and I'm just tryin' to help--" "Mostly dead," Rarity cut him off. "What?" "You said she was dead. She was just mostly dead." "Whatever the fuck she was I don't give a--" Rarity once again took the conversation into her own hooves. "That's another thing. Do you think you could cut down on the lewdness? Some of us don't appreciate that kind of language." The stallion sighed. "Look. If the process worked, the mostly dead one should be turnin' to ash any second." As if on cue, the quaking pile of sludge burst and shattered into a rain of soft blue ashes. The floor stains, and everything around them, disappeared without a trace leaving nothing but clean tile. "Well that's done," Applejack said. "What now?" "Down the the stairs there is something we like to call a Vita Chamber. Anypony who comes in contact with one of those potions has a special connection 'em. I'm no unicorn, so I won't let on that I know shite about magic. But one thing I do know for certain is: those Vita Chambers bring ponies back to life." Rarity's innards suddenly twisted themselves into acrobatic knots in her lower body. "Do you mean, like a zombie?" The Stallion chuckled. " No, nothing like that. You'll see; she'll be fine." * Air forced its way into Rainbow Dash's lungs, expelling the scathing fire that set her neurons ablaze. A blinding blue supernova invaded her eyes, and further broke apart her scattered thoughts. What had happened? As the light dimmed and the whirring sounds quieted, Rainbow began to regain memory of the previous hour. Her eyes grew wide. She slapped a hoof to her neck. All there? But it just... How? After her brutal revelation, Rainbow Dash made another discovery. What am I doing in a tube? Rainbow wasn't typically claustrophobic, but the glass cylinder she was encased in made her flail her tired legs in an attempt to escape. It was no use; she had no energy. The mare sighed and slouched back onto the cool tube wall. Her eyelids quickly became lead, and her thoughts receded into white fuzz. However just as she began to drift off, the walls of her casing opened by themselves. "Rainbow Dash!" echoed the welcome country drawl of Applejack. "Oh man," mumbled Rainbow. " I sure am happy to hear your voice." She opened her eyes and threw her head forward. " how did I get here?" "The fella on the radio had us coat yer body with a blue potion, and ya came back to life!" Rainbow opened her mouth, but somehow found herself speechless. "...What?" Applejack blushed and cleared her throat "Howsabout I have him do the explainin'? Come on, he's up the stairs talkin' to Rarity." * "The name is Silver River, and I'm the stallion who just saved your hide." said the calm voice through the grainy brown box. "You're the one who sent the atlas too?" interrogated the polychromatic pegasus. "Aye." "I don't mean to sound rude, Mister River, but would you mind telling us what this is all about?" Rarity asked. "Ponies are always trying to get out of the city, but not often does anypony voluntarily enter. That's why it was a great shock when we found your siblings had made their way down here. After the news hit me, I knew I needed to find their next of kin as quickly as possible before something awful happened to the poor dears. Finding you three wasn't too hard; you've all made quite the names for yourselves as the Elements Of Harmony." "It's mighty nice that you want to help us out and all, but how are we supposed to find our family down here?" Applejack glanced over at the mess of blood and bullet holes from their splicer conferentation. "I assume you're worried about the splicers. Don't worry; with a little ADAM, you should be able to handle them. The Big Daddies are what you should be worried about... As for where to find the darlings, I have a few leads as to their last known whereabouts. T--" "I beg your pardon?" Applejack interrupted. "'With a little ADAM'? Didn't you say that stuff was bad news? "You fuckin' bet it's bad! Turned the whole damn city arseways. Regardless if you want to fight those beasts you're gunna have to fight fire with fire, or lightning with lightning as the case may be." "Are you suggesting that we too should use this ADAM substance?" Rarity inquired, her legs wobbling. "All three of you? No. We can't have you all running around as bloody Adam addicted splicers now can we? One of you, however, we can keep under control." "If one of us has to do it, it's going to be me!" shouted Rainbow Dash as she slammed a hoof to her chest. " I can't have my friends taking any weird drugs without me making sure it safe first." "Well..." Silver River stopped. The room went dead. Not an echo could be heard. "ADAM does have some effect on pegasi, but nothing particularly useful. If we want to use its power to full worth we have no choice... but to use the unicorn." "Woah woah WOAH!" Rainbow cried. "There is NO way I'm going to let you do that to Rarity!" Silver laughed. "Suit yourself. But I'm telling ya: if you don't have somepony who knows how to use plasmids, you ain't lasting long down here." "Well then I guess we're gonna have to wing it, eh Rarity?" Applejack gave her friend a hearty smack on the back. "No." Rarity whispered. "What?" "I said no." Rarity turned her face upward to look at Applejack. Her eyes were wet with fresh tears like morning dew. "If this is what must be done to save them, I am going to do it!" "Rarity, you don't have--" The quivering white pony interrupted Rainbow Dash. "Yes I do! I must do it! I must do it for her! Do you understand me? Please..." A small dew droplet fell from the eye of the wilting flower. "Let me do this. Let me be the brave one for once. You two are always so strong and fearless. Let me play the hero for one moment... Please." "Well there ain't much arguin' with that. What about you Rainbow?" Rainbow Dash nodded. "So," came the soothing voice of Silver River. "You're in agreement then?" Rarity sucked in a deep breath. "Yes I am... I mean, Yes we are!" "Grand. The security bot from earlier should be resting in the rubble somewhere. As well as the Vita vial we gave to the blue one, I also stocked the machine with an ADAM syringe and an Electro Bolt plasmid. That should get ya started." Applejack dashed over the the helicopter machine, that was now sitting atop a pile of broken concrete, and quickly grabbed the two bottles. "Are ya sure about this, sugarcube?" M Rarity gave her a piercing glare. "Alright, just be careful." The massive syringe full of a deep blood red liquid rested in Rarity's hooves. It was intimidating to say the very least, and bone chillingly terrifying to say the most. Rarity didn't enjoy shots to begin with, who does, but she could tell this one was going to be a real doozy. There's no point in drawing it out I suppose. There was a loud squelch as the thick needle dove into Rarity's vein. Soon the liquid flooded inside. The feeling of the concoction invading her body was like that of millions of enraged hornets stabbing away at the walls of her blood vessels. Rarity shrieked; she was beginning to lose grip on her body. Her legs and her tail and her chest and her eyes all began to disobey her. Everything twitched in a mad flurry of blurred visions and buzzing thoughts. "Steady now!" rang the distorted shouting voice of Silver River. "Your genetic code is being rewritten! Just hold on, and everything will be fine!" Rarity held one leg in front of her face. Long spider trails of iridescent blue fanned out along the entirety of the appendage. She was pumped full of electricity. "Wha- what did you do to me? I can't feel my--" Fwump! Rarity toppled to the ground. The room around her was a cyclone of misshapen forms and peculiar new colors. She was sure that everypony was trying to speak to her, but all she heard was a slow-mo garble of mind numbing echoes. Soon her mind couldn't stand it anymore. She went out cold.
Bioshock: The Bond Between Sisters	The Voice	Chapter 6 The Voice "How long is it gonna take for her to wake up?" asked Applejack as she bit at the ends of her hooves. "I have no idea," admitted Silver River. "And you're sure she'll be okay?" There was a deafening pause. "She'll be alive." The orange mare pushed what was left of her hat back into place. "What exactly is that supposed to mean now?" "It means I don't know." "How do you not know!?" The two continued to babble, but for Rainbow Dash it all blurred together. In one upside-down day she had to deal with her whole world being rewritten. She watched a stallion die in front of her. She had to feel her own flesh being torn from her bones, just to come back from the dead. Then she sat back and did nothing as one of her best friends shot herself up with magical drugs. She needed a break. She needed to be alone. Rainbow splattered a ball of spit onto the ground. "Hey, guys, I think I'm going look around a bit, okay?" "Well alright," Applejack scrunched her forehead together. "Don't wander too far off ya hear? We don't want you to get scooped up by one of those things now do we?" "I'll be fine." Rainbow kicked a pebble then trotted away. When they were fighting the splicer, Dash noticed something. Before the flying contraption filled the monster full of lead, it must have come from somewhere. She peered upwards. There wasn't much on the ceiling, just a bit of moss and a few thin gray lines. One of the said lines went down the hallway and through the still rubble-covered door to the next room. The other however, made a sharp turn toward the left and dove behind a conchrite pillar about halfway through the room. Rainbow crept along the path of the arrow. Soon she found herself on the other side of the support structure staring down the opening to a ventilation shaft. "Dangit!" she mumbled to herself. No reason to squeeze myself through there. I guess I'll go back and talk to-- Rainbow's brain locked up. In her ears were the near-silent sounds of childhood laughter. It had to be in her head, didn't it? She turned away. Fear can twist the mind, and juice vivid darkness from the depths of one's memories. There is no way it was real. With every step Dash took, she felt herself being dragged back to the opening with an otherworldly magnetism. She peered over her shoulder. Her mouth went dry. She had to. It was a tight fit. And Rainbow Dash had to wriggle to pull herself through, but claustrophobic is one adjective that has never described the blue pegasus, even if she was crammed into the tube like a winged sardine. The farther she pulled herself in, the louder the childish voice became. Before long her mind began to jump to a hopeful conclusion. It sounds familiar, but that would be a real coincidence wouldn't it? She tried to shove the thought from her mind, but the idea kept nattering in her skull. What if it was her? As she neared the light at the end of the damp tunnel, making out the individual words that She was hearing became easier. "What's this?" came the young voice. For some reason, it sounded as if the filly's speech was distorted like a dirty vinyl record scratching against the needle. "It looks like a new toy! Can I play with him Mr. Bubbles?" Mr. Bubbles? Rainbow wrinkled her muzzle. What kind of name is that? Suddenly, a new voice ripped through the silence. "New toy? You'll see about that little filly! I'll tear you to shreds, and then I'll suck you dry!" WHAT!? The packaged pegasus pulled herself forward at the speed of an inchworm pumped full of plasmids. I don't know what context this is, but I don't think I want anypony getting sucked dry. Rainbow Dash's eyes ached as she pulled her head out of the other side of the rusty vent. She tried to look at what was going on in front of her, but the light was too strong. She heard a loud yell and saw a blurry shape rush forward. Her ears shot onto the back of her head as the cacophonous whirring sound of spinning metal filled her encasement and rippled through the tunnel. "W-- Wait I'm sorry! I didn't know you're Daddy was around! Please I--" The whirring sped faster and faster until it became one continuous hum. Soon there was a blood curdling scream and the hum slowed to a sporadic ballet of stop-and-go squelching. Through her still squinting eyes Rainbow could see a blob of red spray across her field of vision like one of Rarity's modern art paintings. Suddenly Dash could feel a new wetness soaking into her face fur. "That wasn't nearly as fun as I thought it would be." rang the syrupy voice of the young pony. "Why did you have to drill him so quickly Mr. B?" There was a low heart-stopping rumble. It was the sound of a massive beast. Its low echo was similar to a whale, but deeper and somehow more sinister. Before that moment Rainbow Dash didn't think a sound could be evil, but never has she felt a monsoon of dark emotions so massive and mind-numbing. Her eyes finally became accustomed to the light, and what she saw made her seal her vision shut before the image could be burned into her brain. She slunk back a few feet and thought about everything that had just happened. Somepony got wacked. That's what the red was, but who was that voice? It was young; she knew that. There was some sort of distortion that caused her to sound like she was speaking through a mask or something. What was it that was under that over-resonant echo? It sounded gravelly and gruff, a bit like Rainbow's own voice. In the moment that her eyes were open what was it that she saw, besides the glowing steel behemoth looming over a mess of pony entrails. It looked like a blur of orange, orange fur maybe? After a few minutes, the sound of heavy hoofsteps creaked into silence. "Okay, Rainbow," the pegasus whispered to herself. "Let's do this." * Ants crawled beneath Rarity's fur. The muscles in her body twitched like a nest of angry bees, and her mouth was bone-dry. Surprisingly however, she didn't feel bad. As she lifted her head up and looked at her orange friend, her whole body surged with a warm wash of power. She felt strong, stronger than she had ever felt before. "Oh good!" Applejack chimed. "You're finally awake!" Rarity pulled herself to her hooves and dusted her body off. "Y'all we're startin' to worry us for a second there." "How does it feel to have power?" came the crackling voice of Silver River. Rarity did not answer. She took a deep breath and looked down at her hooves. A alien blue glow radiated from her white appendages, and a solar warmth permeated through her flesh and into her bone. Rarity wracked her brain, focusing all of her energy to one spot. The blue that surrounded her hooves started to sizzle and pop. Before long, the pops turned into snaps and the snaps turned to stovetop cracks. The blue force field fluctuated and morphed into a great azure sparkeler of electrical arcs fanning out around her leg. Her body was made of thunder, or at least that's how it felt to Rarity. "The process may be painful," Silver admitted. "but there's nuthin like a fist fulla lighting now is there?" Applejack coughed. "Aren't ya goin' to talk to us?" Rarity turned away from her friend and set her sights on the security helicopter sitting in the rubble. "Is somethin' wrong? Why don't ya want to ta--" CRACK A rope of electricity jet from Rarity's hoof and surged into the derelict robot causing its propeller to spin faster than a weather vane in a hurricane. Bright diodes of light shone all over the machine and the stone around it rattled. Before long the bot had flung itself into the wild spiral of a weather pony who was drinking on the job. Rarity grinned a smug smile as the helicopter exploded on the ground in a mini sun fireball. "What the bloody fuck is going on down there?" Silver shouted. "My security bot just went totally haywire!" "Oh, sorry darling," Rarity answered in a butter-smooth voice. "I was just trying out my new power." "That certainly is one humdinger of a zap!" Applejack said as she scraped her shocked body from The floor. Rarity cocked her head. "Oh dear. What happened to Rainbow Dash?" "Well," The farm pony rubbed her chin. "I don't really know where she ran of to." She trotted in the direction of the buried door. "She said she was goin' to go pokin' round back here." Applejack looked through some of the large cracks in the rubble. "Maybe she squeezed her way through one a these." "Is there anywhere else she could have gone?" Rarity asked. "Well, there is one other way," Silver mumbled. "Spit it out; we ain't gonna bite." "There's an air vent down the left." Rarity turned and peered at the small opening down the hall. "I doubt she would crawl through that. Did she not say she wanted to just look around? Seems strange to me." "I don't know, Rarity," Applejack shrugged. "we can't rule anything out." "Do what you must, but I am not shoving myself through a dirty shaft." "Well, I think we need to assess all of our options first." AJ insisted, stepping between the door and her friend. "There are two of you aren't there?" Silver's voice froze the room. "One pony per direction." "What a wonderful suggestion, Mr. River!" Rarity said, grinning. "Have you been sniffing bad perfume?" cried Applejack. "That's a plain rotten idea!" "You'd cover more ground," pointed out Silver River. "Yeah, and it'd get us both killed!" "It's the best way to save your three sisters." Applejack snorted and flicked her tail. "Alright, but I don't know what's gotten into you Rarity!" She didn't answer. She turned away and poked her head through the large gaps in the wall of conchrite boulders. * Rainbow Dash slunk through the room in which she heard the voice. It was a large tiled clearing with fishbowl glass windows leading to the murky sea outside. Above her were stairs leading to an upper level with bright flashing lights. Near a door under the balcony was the body of the unfortunate splicer who crossed whatever it was that passed through. Rainbow crept over to the dismembered mess. Maybe it had something useful? In its soaked coat were a few wrinkled bills she assumed was money. Crud, now I really wish I brought my saddle bags. Dash looked down at a metal box that was hanging from the side of the splicer's mangled body. It was moldy-olive green and had been stenciled with bright yellow symbols. Well, it looks like a saddle bag... She reached out and grabbed the box with both hooves, but when she tried to unglue it from the corpse it refused to budge. She turned the sticky body to see if she could find what was keeping the box magnetized so tightly. What the heck? On the creature's chest was an X shaped harness held together by a clip at the center. Rainbow cocked her head; she had seen this before. Why is he wearing a baby harness? Upon further inspection, it was attached not only to the box but also something long and metal on the splicer's other side. A mile-long shiver went up Rainbow's spine. Alright. Let's do this. She unclicked the buckle with her teeth then scurried her way around to the strap that was draped over the splicer's back. She took a deep breath of the musky air then closed her eyes. It's no big deal Rainbow. You've done worse...right? Dash pulled, but nothing happened. She pulled harder and her hooves skid around the slippery floor like skates on fresh ice. She snorted and clenched her teeth until her gums went numb then she tried again. What's in this box, lead? She arched her back and planted her hooves firmly onto the ground. With one last pull, she was able to dislodge the harness. Rainbow's mind cheered in satisfaction at completing the task. Her legs, however, didn't get the memo. She tumbled backwards and crumpled on the ground like sheet of parchment. Ow. Even with Rainbow Dash's strength, the blue pegasus strained to put the monstrous device on her own back. Once the straps were over her shoulders, she reached down and snapped the buckle closed with a satisfying click. Suddenly Rainbow remembered the reason she had taken the box off the splicer in the first place. She grabbed the crinkled wad of bills from the floor and pulled open the top of the rusty box. However she dropped them again when she saw the container's contents, an enormous pile of shiny pointed cylinders. They were capsules of death, little tiny murderers all lined up in neat rows; Dash just didn't know it yet. Now more curious than ever, she decided to make a closer inspection of the heavy device hanging on the other side of her body. It had a long tube with a hole in it coming out of the front and a bulky body with a knobs sticking out of it. Many of the parts seemed designed for movement, but Dash couldn't seem to find a way to make them work. She tried to blow into the tube. She tried sliding the knobs. She even tried pulling on the confusing banana-shaped appendage hanging from the lower side of the device. Right as she was about to give up and trash the thing, the colorful mare noticed a small swingarm that was attached to its main body. She grabbed it between her teeth and pulled it out so it was in front of her face. On the end of the metal extremity was a round red button. I wonder. She swallowed her spit, opened her mouth then bit down on the button. BANG! *** Applejack sighed and scratched her head. "So, what now? "Well," Silver River began. "We can't just sit on our arses, now can we? Rarity is gone, but both directions are gunna lead up to the city center eventually." "Alrighty. If you think that's best." Applejack stood up, placed the radio under her hat, and picked up her monkey wrench. "Say, when you said you've gotten reports of where Apple Bloom is, what do you mean?" "Well, To be honest Applejack, I don't think you're gunna like the answer to that question." AJ pursed her lips. "Why not?" "Well..." whispered Silver River. "Ah fuck... I didn't get any bloody reports. I've been fibbin' to ya about that." "Then where the hay are we goin'?" Applejack cried, stamping her hooves on the ground. "Where all the little fillies and colts go in Rapture." River paused and released a great sigh. "To Mother Goose's Nursery." The farm pony staggered and fell back onto a pile of rocks. Her heart felt like it was about to collapse in on itself. "Wait... yer not sayin' they..." "I am so sorry." "But they can't do that to little Applebloom. Not her and not Sweetie Belle or Scootaloo neither." Applejack's voice cracked and warm tears began to slip from the corners of her eyes. "At this point your beloved has probably already been turned into a Little Sister The reason that I want us to go track Mother Goose down, is that I have reason to believe she might be carryin' a cure. If we managed to get our hands on that, then we can administer it to the poor darlings and get our arses out of this city." Applejack raised an eyebrow. "And how am I supposed to trust you now that I know you've been lyin'? What's in this little journey for you?" There was nothing but static over the radio for what felt like years. Finally Silver River begin to speak in a choked tone. " I need that cure myself. Ya see, I have a daughter. A tiny little thing, cute as can be..." there were drawn out sniffles from over the line. "We were playin' in the park one day, just like we did every day. Lilly was singin' her favorite tune, that's her name, Lilly, it was her mother's name..." Silver chuckled for a moment. "Anyway, as I was sittin' on the bench and Lilly was singin', two stallions in lab coats waltzed up to be me and started a conversation. They greeted me and told me they were from Gatherer's Garden, the ponies who develop most of our plasmids, and then they started talkin' to me about Lilly. Now just like any other father, I was proud to talk about my little sprout, but soon things took a turn. They pulled out a file with some paperwork in it, and then with a stone cold face told me they would be taking my daughter. Said she was perfect Little Sister material..." Applejack's face dropped. "But ya fought back right? Ya didn't just let 'em take her away?" "I wanted to. I wanted to kick their fuckin' teeth out. But when you're dealin' with evil ponies you gotta be wide. They might have something stuffed up their sleeves." "Did they?" asked Applejack, swallowing her spit. "They had my wife. They had her captured, and they Said they'd kill her if I so much as moved a fuckin' inch. So I didn't." "Well," Applejack puffed up her chest and tried to collect a confident tone. "Every ounce of my condolences goes out to you and the rest of your family." "We all have our own hurts." Silver coughed and filled his lungs with air. "The best way to right the wrongs that have been done to us is to go out there and grab this city by the balls. We're gunna make it to the nursery, and we're gunna take that cure out from under Mother Goose's fat nose." Applejack grinned. "I'm with ya pardner! Let's get the rodeo movin'!"
Bioshock: The Bond Between Sisters	The Beast	Chapter 7 The Beast Rainbow felt powerful. She had never come across anything like the behemoth now hanging from her back. It was a death machine, a tool of pure murder, and she liked how it felt on her. Rainbow didn't like feeling helpless; she hated feeling scared. With this, she felt like she was the one in control again. Nopony could push her around anymore. She was a force of nature, not some children's doll. Scootaloo could be saved, and Dash was going to be the hero she always dreamed of, that is, if she can find the courage to push herself forward. The path in front of her was a tarry black corridor with blinking red lights hovering somewhere deep inside. From the trail of blood and destruction, it was clearly the path that the filly disappeared down, along with the beast. Her better judgement was having an aneurysm, but her curiosity pulled her like an overzealous dog yanking its owner by the leash. Rainbow Dash has many strengths, self control has never been one of them, neither has patience, or good judgement. However, her bravery and heroism are nearly unmatched. The hallway was rotting. The air was stagnant, and every breath felt like inhaling a chemical weapon. Frayed cables rained sparks in a shower of orange fireworks, and death loomed over Rainbow in ominous clouds of acid rain. Suddenly, there was a demonic cackle from the bowels of the cavern. Rainbow Dash's heart fractured and she bit down. A cascading spray of lead launched into the darkness. There was a hair-raising crack, and the low light fizzled to nothing. The ripped cables ceased to spit their lighting. All noises turned off. The lights flickered. Like a looming mural smeared on the faded bricks, a tall shadow crawled up the back wall. As the bulbs flashed, the shadow jerked and shrunk. Whatever was coming, it was getting closer. Rainbow Dash froze. I gotta go back! The pastel blue pegasus wheeled around and began to gallop away. Rainbow leaped in the air to fly, but instead of soaring into the air as expected, she sunk like a rock. As she crashed to the rusty iron grate below her, she could feel all her air being vacuumed from her lungs. A sharp sting jabbed into her legs, and soon a warm trickle of blood seeped from her fresh wounds. What's different? Why can't I fly anymore? Suddenly it came to her. It was the gun. A long hunk of steel, wasn't going to do her balance any favors. She gritted her teeth and flexed her muscles. Her cuts burned like fire as she peeled herself up, but she put on a brave face. Rainbow began to limp to the exit, but before she could move more than a few hoof-lengths away, something closed onto her tail. Dash tried to run. But all she did was scrabble her hooves. Her eyes widened; she was being pulled. Ever so slowly, she was being dragged backwards. Rainbow Dash did something she hated, something she would only do in a true emergency. She cried for help. She cried and struggled, but no pony came. After a few moments, she felt a splitting knock on her head. Before she could even know what hit her, she was out like a shattered light. * Applejack looked around. She was trotting down a glass tube with only a wrench slung over her back and the voice of a pony she had never met coming through a staticky radio. Around her was the ocean wasteland. Wrecked buildings jut from massive sand dunes and drooped in unnatural directions. Ecosystems of undersea animals floated by on either side of the orange pony. Everything from massive squid to tiny skittering crustaceans moved by in an endless cascade of alien life. Applejack's hooves splashed through a layer of ankle high water that was pouring through spider web cracks in the surrounding glass. She was miserable. "How much farther till we reach that city center ya keep talkin about?" She moaned. "Shouldn't be too long now sweetheart. But there's something you ought to know before ya go rushin' in there," admitted Silver River. "What is it now?" "The city center is one of the only places in this shit hole that's still inhabited by anypony. When you get there you're gonna have to be wide." Silver paused. "Some of the things there are not gonna take too kindly to an outsider." "Like what?" Applejack asked as she hopped over some shattered tiles. "Like the Big Daddies." Applejack scoffed. "What in tarnation is a 'big daddy'? Is that supposed to sound intimidatin'?" "Laugh all ya want, but this is no joke." Silver lowered his voice. "Little Sisters are extremely valuable down here in Rapture. There was a time where many ponies were stealing them to make money off their plasmid producing power. So Mother Goose had the idea to make protectors for them. Through a series of heinous genetic experiments that question the very fabric of morality, the bitch was able to create a breed of monsters of which the world has never seen. They're more like machines than they are ponies. If you're not scared of Big Daddies, you have either never seen one, or have a death wish." Silver sighed. "I'm just sayin' maybe you should be careful, huh?" A chill drove up Applejack's spine. "I'll keep that in mind." * A deep throbbing pain wedged itself in between Rainbow's skull and her skin. Rainbow Dash was in shambles. Where was she? What had dragged her away? She yanked herself into a more upright position. An aching sense of pumping blood flushed through her head as she opened her eyes. For a few moments, all she could see was stars, but soon the horrors set in. Standing not far away was the thin body of a mangled splicer. Rainbow Dash began breathing like it was an Olympic sport. She had to escape, but how? She took in her surroundings. She was on an operation table in some sort of hospital room. There were large glass windows leading to a long hallway. Down the hall were doorways to more rooms of a similar design. The splicer was toying with some tools at a workbench on the other side of the room. Next to her was a trolley with a few assorted items such as, a magnifying glass, a pair of scissors, some bandages, and a scalpel. A scalpel... What's going on here!? Rainbow Dash tried to calm herself and focus on the situation, but everything was overwhelming her senses. She shook her cloudy head and got ready to run for it. She took one deep breath and lifted a hoof, or she tried at least. Her limbs were bound to the table. Come on Rainbow, this can't be the end. She took a deep breath and tried to tear herself from the bed with all her might. Nothing. It was useless. She was doomed. The splicer turned around. It was in a stained lab coat and a strange animal mask. He trotted up to Dash and pushed his face into her personal space. Its beastal mask was grinning. "Yes yes, you will make a perfect subject." The splicer stretched out a matted leg and stroked the blue pegasus' chin in a long sweeping gesture. It cackled and moved over to a gramophone in the corner of the room. Then it pulled a large record from a box underneath and placed it on top of the turntable. Suddenly, the needle fell, and a scratchy, skip-ridden tune pumped from the horn and into the stale air. Rainbow assumed it was supposed to be relaxing, but it was more annoying than anything else. "What shall I do with this one, Princess Cadance," the splicer growled as it flipped through a book of photographs. Cadance? Dash's head rolled as if she had been hit again. Why is he talking abo... Does he really think she's here? "No no no. I can't." The splicer paced around the room in jerky spasms. "No!" He was staring bloodshot into a dark corner. Is he talking to somepony? "That killed them last time!" At that, Rainbow Dash's constraints felt quite a bit tighter. "Why would it work this time?" It put a hoof to its face. "I'm trying to make her beautiful not disgusting! No! No no no no NO!" It kicked the trolley next to Rainbow with explosive force, causing it to clatter to the ground and all of its contents to go flying about. A scalpel lodged itself into Rainbow's left wing, and a slow bead of blood dripped to the ground. The splicer cocked his head and stared at the small pool, his neck bent at a supernatural angle. "DAMN IT!" It screeched. "STUPID! STUPID! STUPID! I always mess them up! I MAKE THEM UGLY! Cadance I'm so sorry! I wanted to please my princess! But all I can do is make monsters, disgusting monsters!" It trotted over and looked down on Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash looked up, her eyes wide and pleading. Everypony knows those eyes. They may not have seen them first hand, but they know. They were the eyes of an animal at slaughter. * After the operation, Scootaloo didn't feel quite the same. She didn't know what was wrong, but it felt like she was looking at the world through a tinted window. There was something else inside her, something that controlled all of her movements. For her, life was like a windup mouse. She moved, but her direction was predetermined by another force. She couldn't figure it out though; every time she formed an idea, it slipped away from her like a balloon. She knew there was a big metal pony, and she knew that she was supposed to call him Mr. Bubbles? A few days after the operation, (maybe it was a few months, Scootaloo couldn't tell.) she was going down a corridor with Mr. Bubbles. It was a corridor she vaguely remembered, so they had probably trotted it before. It was in a medical district, one of them. They all looked the same to Scootaloo, so it could have been A or B, who knows. There were doors going down the hall, doors on both sides, lots of doors, so many doors Scootaloo couldn't even count them. Then again, she couldn't really count at all. There were scummy windows looking into each room. Inside there were things happening. There were lots of things and noises going on that no filly should ever have to see. Scootaloo saw every single one. Even though she forgot them seconds after they flashed before her eyes, they still left some sort of scar. After trotting for Celestia knows how long, something changed. When Scootaloo's neck turned and looked into a chamber, she saw something familiar. It was a blurry rainbow. A fracture of a memory popped into her head. Rainbow Da... "Look Mr. Bubbles!" exclaimed Scootaloo's mouth, but it wasn't her. It was the Little Sister. "I want to see that one!" She pointed a hoof over to the rainbow. The metal behemoth next to her lurched and let out a rumbling roar. The beastial call rattled the whole hall, and suddenly there was silence. Everything in Rapture fears the Big Daddy. It trudged its monstrous iron body over to the window step by heavy step, its legs crushing the tiles beneath like a fallen tree squishing an unsuspecting bunny. The Little Sister rushed to the window and pressed her muzzle against the glass. I love you ra... Before Scootaloo could finish her thought, the Little Sister pushed the idea from her skull like dust into the dustbin. "Her!" It said. "That one, the rainbow one. She's pretty; I want to keep her!" Scootaloo got a strange sinking feeling. Was it fear? That didn't feel right to her. No, it was dread. > The Reunion Chapter 8 The reunion The few moments in time directly before a disaster feel like the longest seconds of anypony's life. Sometimes in life there are experiences that are so cemented in a pony's memory that they can open their brain like a book and turn the specific page on which this moment happened. For Rainbow Dash one of these moments happened the day she found herself strapped down on an operating table with a diabolical scientist hovering over her body. If things weren't bad enough as they were, something happened that even the wisest pony could not have predicted. A massive drill broke through the room's sole window and rained a storm glass shards onto the concrete floor below. When the cacophonous sound exploded into the small chamber, Rainbow had her eyes closed. She thought that the doctor was going to take her apart. She was sure that it was the end. But that was not what happened after all. After a short period of shock, she thought this ear-blasting noise must have been a good thing. For a moment, she was even convinced that her friends were here to save her. But soon she cracked her eyes open. Through the murky hole that was once a window, Rainbow could see a grid of sinister red light. The doctor turned to look as well, but as soon as he saw the light, he hit the floor. Dash opened her mouth to ask what the heck was going on, but before she could even get out a single syllable, there was a bone-rattling moan. Whatever was looking through the window was producing a deep growling cry that Rainbow Dash only vaguely recognized. Unfortunately for her, when she finally realized the beast that was peeking into her world, it was far too late. The doctor screamed so loud that it sounded as if his vocal chords were being shredded asunder. He tried to drag his frail body to a turret in the back of the room, but whatever was outside began to move in. With a slow screeching sound, a massive armor-clad leg slowly pushed its way through the opening and down onto the floor below. There was another horrifying scream from the monster, and soon its entire hulking body was standing tall in front of Rainbow Dash. One of its four legs was dedicated to the impractical metal drill that shattered the window. That leg was attached to an equally impractical iron body suit. Where a pony head should be was an orb shaped helmet with the glowing red lights facing forward. Around the helmet was some sort of metal cage similar to the muzzles they put on ponies after they went mad. It dragged its metal hooves forward. Rainbow changed her mind. Now she was sure it was the end of the line. The doctor screamed again and jumped between Dash and the beast. He had a gun now. He fired the gun over and over, but the bullets only sparked and bounced off. The gigantic metal pony picked the doctor off of the ground by putting a front leg under his belly and lifting. No matter how much he squirmed and screamed, there was nothing the doctor could do at this point. The creature's drill began to slowly spin. "No! Nononononononno! Please!" The rusty drill began to whirr. "I don't want to die! I can't die! My work isn't fini--" Rainbow closed her eyes, but she couldn't close her ears. She wasn't sure what was worse, the reality that she couldn't see or the bloody picture her mind had painted for her. "Look at her, Mr. Bubbles!" came a filly's voice from nearby. Rainbow's eyes shot open. It was the voice she was following. The voice that had been attacking her brain for hours. She scanned the room for the source, and she quickly found it. An orange pegasus filly. "SCOOTALOO!" Rainbow screamed, her voice scratchy and sore. She once again pulled on her shackles but all she managed to do was aggravate her cuts. The filly danced around, her glowing yellow eyes filled with girlish excitement. "Mr. Bubbles, I want to keep her with us forever and ever!" The giant, cage headed, monster lurched to Rainbow's table and stood over her. The only thing she could see was its twisted hulking body rise and fall with its breath. It reached out its drill. It spun slowly. It spun quickly. Rainbow fell to the floor. "What did you..." The monster had drilled through the straps binding her, but had left her unharmed. "Are you saving me?" Dash rubbed her raw lower legs; the straps had cut deep. "Now, Mr. Bubbles, we are going to take her with us! She is going to be our new pet!" Rainbow Dash squinted her eyes. "Scoots is that you? What happened?" She stood up. "Why are your eyes glowing, and what is this thing!?" Scootaloo froze. Inside of her a battle was raging. Two forces lived, and they both wanted power. As things were, the little sister was winning, and it was only going to get worse from there. "I... Don't know what you're talking about." "But Scootaloo!" Rainbow's eyes became wetter, but she forced the urge away. "Don't you remember me?" "STOP!" The little sister climbed on top of her Big Daddy and looked down from its shoulder. "Stop talking about her! It makes me mad! Mr. Bubbles does mean things when I get mad!" "Alright! Alright! Don't get mad!" Rainbow thought that being spared was better than dying at first. But she soon realized that if she had died she would still be able to come back to life thanks to the potion she took. But now she was a hostage, and it seemed like Scootaloo was gone as Rainbow had known her. The best thing for her to do now was wait. She would wait to see if she could escape, or to see if Scootaloo was still there under whatever had taken her over. * Inside the city center there was a small bar. It was a bar, but it didn't just sell alcohol. It also sold ADAM. It was the first place splicers and junkies came to load up on their drug of choice. It was a lucrative business. There was a constant cash flow from the customers to the bar and straight into the city underbelly. After only a few hours on her own, Rarity had found her first lead to what she thought was the underground ADAM production ring. All it took was some well placed persuasion and the cracking of a few splicer skulls. Normally she would have never harmed anypony, for it was not something a lady did. But Rarity had powers now; she was more than a mere lady. Plus she was on a mission. She was going to save innocent lives. What was the lives of a few degenerates to a hero? Nothing, they were nothing to her, and she was going to go as far as it took to save the innocent. She stood in front of the building. The letters of its bright sign fizzled and blinked. The sounds of breaking glass could be heard from the outside along with some loud shouting. "Find who sells the ADAM, and it shall lead you to who makes it." She flipped her mane. "Mother Goose, I am coming for you." She trotted up to the old style double doors, but two bouncers stopped her. "Hold it right there lady." He stuck out a leg bigger than Rarity's torso. "Is there a problem sir?" Rarity batted her eyelashes and stuck out her lower lip. "Club members only." His stone expression didn't break, but a thick vein on his neck slowly expanded and contracted with blood. For some reason it seriously put Rarity off. "Are you sure that you couldn't..." Rarity sauntered up to the Bouncer with a wide sway in her hips. "Make an exception?" She wrapped her front legs around his neck and raised an eyebrow. He lowered his voice to a quiet rumble. "And what's in it for me?" Rarity smiled and began to whisper in his ear in a breathy fashion. "Anything you want, darling." The bouncer smiled back and nodded at his collegue. He nodded back and trotted into the alleyway behind the bar. "Let's go." He took Rarity by the leg and began to drag her back. "I hope when you said anything, you meant anything." "Oh yes!" Rarity grinned. "When I'm done, you two won't even know what hit you." *** Rarity dusted her hooves off and looked at the two fried and groaning bouncers laying in the grimy alley. Leading them to a secluded place ended up being fairly easy, and shocking them until they were out cold was even easier. "Humph." She turned her nose up and began to trot away. "Brutes." Inside was the pungent scent of unwashed stallions, blood, and alcohol. It wasn't long until she saw the source. Four very intoxicated splicers sitting on wooden stools in front of a grimy bar. Behind the bar were five machines hanging from the wall. They had long glass tanks filled with neon colored liquids attached to a few long tubes. At the end of each tube was a wicked hypodermic needle plunged deep into the skin of a splicer. In the back of the bar a few splicers were knocked out on the ground in a puddle of bloody vomit. No one seemed to care, except for a employee mopping up the mess. Rarity had to try her best not to collapse from the stench alone. She sat down on one of the stools. She made sure there were at least two empty seats between her and the group of splicers. They were quite loud, and Rarity wasn't in the mood to fight four doped up stallions. "Bartender!" Rarity called waving a hoof. Out from under the table popped a stallion with an unruly handlebar moustache. He looked like he belonged in a circus. He spat in the glass he was holding and gave Rarity the hairy eyeball. "You seem like you don't quite belong here, girly." Rarity scoffed. "What kind of lady do you think I am." "That's the thing; you are a lady, and this ain't exactly the safest place for a lady like you or otherwise." "I assure you sir," Rarity flashed a sensual smile. "I can hold my own with any of the men in here." "Alrighty then. It's your funeral, miss." There was a silence. "Sir, would you be open to a few questions?" She leaned into the table and pouted a bit. He narrowed his eyes. "What kind of questions?" "Well, I would simply like to know where it is you receive all of this ADAM." He shrugged his shoulders and gave a wry smile. "I have no idea ma'am." "I'm sure you don't," Rarity whispered through gritted teeth. "So," He went back to wiping out the glass. "What do you want?" I'm going to have to do this another way... "What can you give me." "Well," the bartender cleared his throat and put on some sort of carnival voice. "Here at the Nursery Rhyme we have only the finest ADAM in all of Rapture!" The stallion trotted over to one of the ADAM needle machines and gave it an affectionate tap."These babies can pump you full of your drug of choice faster than you could even think about overdosing!And look at all of the wonderful new plasmid formulas we have here. Incinerate here!" He gestured to a dark red liquid in one of the tanks. "And we have enrage here." It was the next down the line and it was a bubbly pink. "And of course here is today's special telepathy." This purple liquid was in a much bigger tank on the end labeled "discount!!!" Rarity stroked her chin and fluttered her eyelashes. "Hmm... telepathy. I'll go with telepathy." "Excellent choice," the bartender said, wet with sarcasm. "And what drew you to it." "Well," Rarity pursed her lips. "I suppose it was the color. Purple is one of my favorites especially that stunning shade of plum." "You really are a lady," he grumbled, rolling his eyes. "Alright, left front leg please." "Excuse me?" "Give me your damned leg so I can stick this in you." He lifted the needle from the large hook it hung from. "Oh, well of course." She began to stick out her right leg then quickly realized her mistake. "Wait... yes left, silly me, left." The bartender swabbed her leg with a rag that smelled like wine. She could feel the dry crust of liquid used in prior sessions scrape against her. "That's so odd..." Rarity murmured and looked at her right leg and then at her left. "I don't usually make mistakes like that." Before she could think anymore she felt it. Cold and metal, it slid inside her. "Ow, shit!" she blurted out before covering her mouth. "Oh my! How crude, I've never said that befo--" Suddenly without warning her speech stopped flowing and instead began limping out from her mouth as if shot in the leg. "Wh-hat was... was that?" She got no response. Instead she got a smug stare from the bartender. An unmoving smug state. Rarity could have sworn his face was stone by the way he was frozen. Then she realized something. The whole room was stuck in this state. The bartender, the stallion pile, the bubbling vats of plasmid, it was all in a sort of suspended animation. The room around her no longer felt clear. Everything seemed shrouded in a purple haze, and Rarity kept hearing muffled voices. It was like she was being called from very far away. She looked at the bartender again, and she seemed to hear the sound a bit more clearly. She felt the need to touch him. Then she wondered why she felt that. She tried to stop herself but her leg snaked away from her and placed itself on his shoulder. Clearer than any radio it cracked in, "I can't believe this bitch, how many cocks did she have to suck to get herself past security. Remind me to fire those useless good for nothing--" She took her hoof off. Everything was a blur again. She had trouble keeping her breath, and her eyes twitched more than normal. She put her hoof back on; it was too tempting. "Not that I wouldn't do the same in their situations. Guess that's why they don't hire me for that kind of thing." "I can't believe he thought I actually chose it for the color." She grinned and focused on his deep thoughts.
The Life and Times of Spike Drake, the Equestrian Dragon	pre	"What's he hiked the price by?" Spike asked. "Fifty percent," Fleur said. Spike was definitely irritated. "Message to Stoker: walk away," he stated. "We'll build our own factories and drive Cutting Edge out of business." "Oui," Fleur replied as she escorted Spike to the elevator. "Mr. McManely phoned to confirm your meeting tomorrow." "Call back, tell him I'm swamped. Dinner's looking iffy. What's going around now?" "Germane measles," "Of course, even though it's been over 50 years since the war ended, nobody shies away from taking shots at Germaney," Spike growled. "And Filthy Rich," "How many people are going to try to suck my dick before they realize that Zenith Industries and I do not need business partners?!" he groaned. "Tell his secretary something came up at the last minute and I had to be taken out and shot." "What if the governor calls again?" "Take a message. Any other business?" he asked as followed Minuette and Fancy Pants into the elevator. "Those were the highlights. The daily reports are in your mailbox. But other than that, it was a quiet night," Fleur concluded. Spike thanked her as the elevator doors closed and the trio descended into basement levels of Zenith Industries; an apparatus so vast that it staggered the imagination. Zenith Industries was a vast assortment of machine shops and immaculate experimental laboratories where most of Equestria's state-of-the-art technology was developed. With a series of gadgets, security guards, and other protective measures that made it a perfect safe haven for potential young inventors and investors. In one of the multi-level underground labs, some of the company's stockholders--a group from Canter Zoom Studios--were looking at the scientists' latest breakthrough: a new substance ten times stronger than the strongest adhesive known to man. Spike, Fancy Pants and Minuette passed a group of men in pinstripe suits, Itailian mobsters, also checking up on their investments, with a few of them cashing in and cashing out. They then walked past a mustached man hammering glowing iron in the metal shop. At the moment, he was making hand grenade paperweights. Every third one would be live. "How nice of you to join the party," he told Spike. In another room, scientist Joy Rider, a microphysicist who specialized in molecular fusion, busily moved about as other women in crisp white lab coats worked around a series of giant mixers. One of them carefully added a beaker of green liquid to a purple concoction that would genetically adjust women's bodies to maximum attractiveness, thus transforming them into "super beauties" cute enough to attract men like Spike. Two flasks bubbled and a centrifuge spun as different colored chemical powders flowed through glass tubes from wall-mounted tanks and into clear jars below. One woman scooped powder from an evaporating dish onto a balance scale while another (wearing protective goggles and a breathing mask) added inky liquid from a test tube into a beaker of clear fluid wafting vapor, and a third woman stirred an orange mixture in a mortar with a pestle. "Lookin' good, ladies," Spike said. "Keep up the good work." "Hey, Spike," Joy Rider smiled in reply. They walked past a huge arsenal of rockets, rocket launchers, missiles and guns while other liquids were poured into giant vats, hunks of rock on conveyor belts were carved into statues. Men in hardhats piloted pods with rotating bases that dispensed empty metal shells onto a circular counter, which emptied into a central hole. A flatbed truck carrying four missile shells drove up to a row of dragon-shaped dispensers, and a woman worked the control panel for the dozens of mechanical arms that filled each of the shells with explosive payloads. On another assembly line, four men used the robotic arms of four large machines to fill several rocket launchers. They fitted the rockets into the launchers, which a crane claw added to a much larger launcher. A spring-powered plate on a machine bearing fifty nozzles pumped out batch after batch of lead-filled bullets. One of the bullets almost tipped over but a mechanical claw kept it upright as a man inspected the bullets with the most advanced electron microscope in the world. Then the bullets were loaded onto the back of a truck, which drove away. An aerial lift carried weapons past a display of spiders in a series of transparent plastic cages. Only they weren't real spiders; they were perfect lifelike listening devices with tiny microphones and built-in super-powered transmitters. Finally, they approached a thin, mild-mannered young man with a mop of vivid red hair and a matching goatee, standing near a conveyor, operating a mechanical arm with a clamp. He was wearing a white lab coat, which was dirty and covered in various stains, and a pair of round glasses rested on the tip of his nose. Originally a slacker and a bum with almost no goals or ambitions, Sunburst Flare was the head of the head of Zenith Industries' Research and Development Department and Covert Operations. With his computer expertise as an information broker--and being one of the foremost experts on nanotechnology in the world--he provided Spike (and the Equestrian Dragon) with a constant stream of data in the field to help him in his battle against evil. Spike had mainly given Sunburst the job as a favor to Sunset Shimmer because, like his sister before him, he had shown great promise. He excelled in programming and electronics; theoretical sciences and physics were also strong points. He was smart. His mother just wished he'd apply himself. . It was one night, almost a year ago, when Stellar Flare looked down the table, to her lanky, scruffy, shaggy-haired son, and asked him, "How did that job interview go?" "Oh, I totally tanked it," he replied. Sunburst's mother gave a nod to Sunset Shimmer, who nodded in reply. "Sunburst, you need to do something," Sunset told him. "You need to get on with your life, you need to get a job, and you need to move out." "I did move out. And I had a job!" Sunburst shouted. "Are you going to tell me that it's my fault the company downsized?" "That was over a year ago," Stellar Flare said calmly. "Now, that's just crass," Sunburst answered. He would have stayed with his mother, but she became furious at his lack of motivation and kicked him out. "Sunburst, wait--" Sunset attempted as she followed him out of the house. "You knew about this, didn't you?" he asked her. "And what if I did?" she retorted, as if to add, "What are you going to do about it?" "Of course you did," Sunburst stated. "I don't know. Maybe I shouldn't have quit. I mean, you'd never just give up like that. Would you?" he asked. "You're darn right, I would! You should've ditched that dead-end from the get-go! No brother of mine is gonna flip burgers! It's demeaning!" Sunset replied. "Now look, the rules of this intervention state that I am not allowed to help you, so you can't tell Mom what I am about to do. It's not much, but I can get you a meeting for an entry-level position at Zenith Industries." Sunburst's eyes widened and he gave her an open-minded shrug. He knew that Sunset kept Spike company while he worked... she had also once said she'd enjoy working under Spike, no matter what her position. Ignoring the obvious double-entendre that brought to mind, Sunburst said, "Okay, I'm not gonna lie, that does sound cool. All right, if it means that much to you, I will be there." "No, you won't just 'be there,'" Sunset stated. "It means that you shower, you shave and you show up. Sunburst, you have got to start your life." "You know what? You're right. In a couple of years--a couple of months, you are gonna see a whole new me. By the turn of the century!" he promised. "The year 2000 is a little over two years from now. By New Year's Day 2000, I am going to have a job, a house and a life." So Sunburst showered and shaved, and he showed up at Zenith Industries just as Spike was concluding his business with Panasonic, the "King of the Big Screen." "Timing's perfect," he said. "Three new contracts, it'll be great." Spike had been making his weekly inspection. He'd spent half of it on the phone. Turns out, Sunset had not only convinced Spike to meet Sunburst, she had explained the situation to him in advance. "Spike, my brother has been looking for a job," she had said. "I was hoping you could help him out." Sunburst let out a sigh as he entered Spike's office and Sunset introduced them. "Sunburst Flare, may I present Mr. Spike Zenith?" she began. "I've heard so much about you," Spike said. "Sunset tells me you're quite the genius." "A great honor to meet you, sir," Sunburst replied. "I read your research on nanotechnology, really brilliant." "And you understood it?" Spike asked. "I wrote a paper on it," "Impressive. Your mother must be very proud," Spike replied. "Let me start off by saying that a young man willing to work and maintain a degree of integrity, sobriety and honor has a bright future in Zenith Industries. I need a few like you here. I hope you're ambitious." "Yes, sir," Sunburst replied. "I've even heard that in New Canterlot a job in Zenith Industries is a step towards government positions." "A good thing to keep in mind," Spike told him. "Look, I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me, but couldn't accept this," Sunburst said. "I like to earn what I get. I can find my own work. I'll be fine." "You want to make it on your own steam. I respect that," Spike said in understanding. "But it's no problem. I'll at least make a few calls." Before Sunburst could reply, Spike had another idea. "How would you like to be my apprentice at Zenith Industries?" he asked. At Sunset's urging, Sunburst agreed. "You won't start for 48 hours," Spike said. "Until then, have a look around the company, familiarize yourself with it." "It was nice to meet you, sir," Sunburst said again. "He didn't seem so bad," he whispered to Sunset on the way out. "Yeah, well, it helps that you're a genius," she whispered back. . Now, as Spike stood beside him, he watched as Sunburst flipped a switch on a remote control and rows of small robots with spidery legs, which stood on a nearby table, came online... and they proceeded to destroy the table. In time, those robots could be programmed to destroy anything from vehicles to the world's most vital communication and military infrastructures: boats, tanks, airplanes, missile guidance systems, even biological weapons. "So, Sunburst, you got anything down here that actually works?" Spike asked. "Follow me," he said, and he led them past a tour group listening intently to one man's lecture on the pathetic medieval obsession of trying to turn ordinary metal into precious metal. "Since the Dark Ages, humanity has tried to alter the molecular structure of metal and transform it into gold..." he was saying. The first thing Sunburst showed Spike was a tri-weave battle suit (version 8). Flexible titanium-dipped mesh plates over a layer of MR fluid-based liquid body armor designed to move faster, hit harder, and look scarier while doing so, the Zenith-Tech MR-fluid hardened in response to impact. With that kind of shock absorption, the wearer would be able to put more force into counterattacks and use the maneuverability to take out multiple foes in quick succession. Minuette wondered why Spike didn't put it into production and Sunburst told her that Spike wanted to but couldn't because the majority of the company's shareholders didn't believe that the average soldier's life was worth half a million dollars (which was the absolute least that a single suit would cost to manufacture). The second project--and the one that Sunburst was most proud of--was a set of clothing made entirely out of nanobots. Microscopic robots that could disassemble themselves into a stream of nanites, enabling them to fit into and travel through extremely small spaces and reshape themselves almost instantly, they were designed by Sunburst to serve as an alternative to battle armor. He had the mechanical part figured out, but he still needed to work on the biology; more specifically, putting in safety measures that would prevent the nanobots from gaining sentience and going rogue and/or taking over humans' bodies. That process would include having to link the nanites directly into one's nervous system, which would allow them to control the robots via their very thoughts (as well as magic), much like Spike already did with most of his tech. To put it simply, the nanobots would become an outfit that could change into literally any form of attire their wearer could think of... for virtually any occasion. And because the nanobots were capable of self-cleaning, there would be no need for new clothes, laundry soaps, drier sheets, OR washer-driers. But until then, Spike would have to settle for his wardrobe full of extraordinary clothes that had been made by his Elven tailors. "That's fantastic!" Minuette said. Sunburst then led them past another group of scientists and a chain of assembly lines for guns, handheld automatics as well as rifles and other weapons, and showed them a piece of clothing boasting a small arsenal of miniaturized gadgets, gear, weapons and deterrents to help Spike battle his foes and survive a range of hostile environments. "Now pay close attention," Sunburst told Spike. "Your new belt: black leather with pure silver buckle, notch, and utility compartments outfitted with all the latest features: antitoxins, handcuffs, first-aid kit, gas pellets, micro-camera, rebreathers, wireless transmitters, lockpicks, stop-glue, helium-neon laser, grappling hook, and cinnamon-flavored breath freshener. The grappling hook has a 75-foot rappelling cord built into the buckle. Fire, and out shoots a piton followed by a high-tensile wire designed to support your weight." Spike smiled as he put it on. Whether he was reaching for a piece of gum or the antidote to a lethal poison, he never went anywhere without his trusty accessory strapped around his waist. "Now, you see the shoes that I'm wearing?" Sunburst asked. "To the normal eye, a pair of ordinary Oxfords, but in actuality..." He clicked his heels together and a flat knife blade shot out from the tip of the right shoe. "That. Is. Sick," Minuette replied. "It's coated in Komodo Dragon venom, one of the deadliest natural toxins known to man. Makes quite a handy weapon," Sunburst said. He clicked his heels together two more times and the blade retracted back into the shoe. Sunburst then picked up an aerosol can of what looked like ordinary insect repellant and walked up to a crash-test dummy that was wearing a suit and standing up against a glass wall on the far side of the chamber. "Now this makes any fabric instantly impervious," Sunburst said as he sprayed the dummy. "Dirt-proof, stain-proof, waterproof, fireproof, puncture proof and... Micro Chips!" The group looked toward another young man with thick glasses, purple eyes and a bird's nest of hair. A tech specialist working on a cold fusion reactor, Micro Chips aided the Zenith Industries team in testing their newest inventions. Micro nodded as he walked over to a cluttered workbench nearby and picked up a machine gun that was lying on top of it. Spike, Sunburst, Minuette, Fancy Pants and everyone else moved out of the way as Micro Chips took aim and fired at the suited test dummy. When Micro Chips stopped shooting, Sunburst approached the dummy and unbuttoned the suit to reveal that none of the rounds had gone through the fabric. It wasn't dented, or torn, it wasn't even scratched. "Bulletproof!" Sunburst proclaimed. "Remarkable," Minuette breathed. "Speaking of 'bulletproof'..." Sunburst said as he moved to the Plexiglas wall behind the dummy. "Four-inches thick... one seemingly-ordinary ring... twist like so..." He pressed the palm of his hand against the glass, shattering it. "And voilà, one ultra-high frequency sonic agitator unit. Now, the cuff links I'm wearing... Each one fires a single pin-sized dart coated with sodium thiophene; works almost instantly, knocks out your victim for 12 hours, but does no permanent damage. Why don't you take a pair, Spike?" "Now that you mention it, I could use a new set," he said. "Blades in shoes, bulletproof spray, sonic rings, cuff link darts... What else have you got?" Minuette inquired as they moved on to another myriad of high-tech gadgets, including a new type of lightweight explosive hidden within the hem of a lady's skirt. "We've had a lot of fun with these," Micro Chips proudly confessed as they approached a rack of writing pens. "What do they do?" she asked. "Color-coded for your convenience," Micro went on, "the sapphire ones are outfitted with electrodes that deliver a shock of 50,000 volts; the silver ones are Class-4 hand grenades." "Shut up!" Minuette said. "Three clicks arms the four-second fuse. Another three disarms it," "They always said, 'The pen is mightier than the sword,'" Spike quoted. "Thanks to us, they were right," Micro replied. "But if pens aren't your style, you can always use one of these cigarette lighters. Filled with a lifetime supply of butane gas compressed inside, the spark wheel acts as a timer. Each notch represents five minutes, so theoretically you can set it for any length of time you want." "Of course, the Jockeypanese will copy it and undersell us, but that's the beauty of free enterprise," Spike said. Fancy Pants picked up a golden pen and examined it. "Reminds me of my old service-issue ballpoint," he recollected. "I remember when every agent of the Trotish Secret Service would carry a pen that looked just like this. Completely innocent to the untrained eye, but click it twice..." He did so, which caused the pen to fire a single silenced shot that thankfully didn't hit anyone. Then Fancy Pants went a little pink in the cheeks as Sunburst took the pen from him and proceeded to show them a number of specialized vehicles parked in the corner, including airplanes, boats, cars and motorcycles, all built from advanced technology engineered at Zenith Industries. And Spike smiled smugly at one in particular: a combination muscle-and-sports car. "Your new ride, appropriately christened... El Draque," Sunburst said. "Billions and billions of dollars have been spent, and teams of scientists and engineers have worked day and night, to develop the ultimate in Equestrian engineering and weapons technology. Adaptive camouflage: micro-sized cameras on all sides project the image they see onto a light-emitting polymer skin on the opposite side so that to the untrained eye it's virtually invisible. Agile with all the other usual refinements: all-points radar, military-grade sonar, GPS tracking and remote control driving systems, as well as the very latest in interception countermeasures; bulletproof titanium armor, smokescreen, oil slick, target-seeking machine guns, rockets, missiles, and torpedoes behind the headlights and tail lights to shoot down mobile objects, four-wheel drive, dual side airbags, a monster sound system and six beverage cup holders." Sunburst opened the driver's door and lifted the armrest between the driver and passenger seats to reveal a panel of buttons inside. He pushed one of the buttons and metal spikes (dubbed "knee-cappers") shot out of the hubcaps on the tires. Then Micro Chips walked over, this time brandishing an automatic pistol, and fired it at one of the car's tires, which quickly re-inflated. Needless to say, all of these tricks would give Spike an edge, leaving all the less-than-impressive vehicles in the dust. "Just try to not hurtle off the road. She's one of a kind," Sunburst said. "We should have some more upgrades ready soon." "Now, I know what you're thinking," Spike said to Minuette. "'How can you spend Equestria's tax dollars on toys like these?' They may be toys to you, but to me they represent hard work, perseverance, Equestrian ingenuity, and good old-fashioned know-how." Suddenly, his pager beeped, and after glancing at it, he told Fancy Pants, "Cancel the rest of my afternoon." "Already done," Fancy replied. "My motorcycle," "Is idling out front," "What's today's Garfield?" "He tells Jon that 'as the cat of the house, I get to ignore you,'" Spike laughed. "I love that cat! I'd love to show you around the rest of the place," he told Minuette, "but I have a schedule to keep. I'll see you later." "You mean there's more?" Minuette asked. "It keeps these kids off the streets," Spike said, "and from smashing in my windows." Fancy Pants just shrugged and shook his head as he followed Spike back to the elevator.
The Life and Times of Spike Drake, the Equestrian Dragon	The Man	. Pendragon Castle stood on the outskirts of New Canterlot City. It was the only Equestrian castle ever imported stone by stone from Scoltland, and Spike was tremendously proud of it. It was his home, and it was more than what most people imagine. A magnificent colossal bastion that looked like it had been carved out of charcoal and black onyx, adorned with marble statues (mostly angels and dragons), this impressive structure was by all odds the finest home in Equestria, and yet some of the people felt it gave the country a certain licentiousness. With so many chimneys, the roof seemed a vast cemetery, each flue signifying the burial place of some old forgotten deity of fire. And every detail from the driveway to the lawn was expensive. But the most impressive thing about it all was that it stood near the base of Mount Drago, a majestic, pyramid-like mountain with a snowcapped peak. Spike drove his motorcycle around the stone lions that spat water into the fountain out front, parked in front of the Castle's main entrance, swung off his motorcycle after he shut off the engine and left it in the driveway, knowing that it would be parked in the garage later. He walked up the stone steps to the large, heavy, oak double doors emblazoned with dragons, and they opened into a vast, dark foyer with a large crystal chandelier and marble columns on either side of him. He went inside, taking his shoes off as soon as the doors shut behind him. It was silent. Spike could hear nothing but the sound of his own footsteps as he walked along the imposing marble-floored hall, which the maids were currently polishing, shedding his clothes piece by piece until he was in the buff. Luna, clothed in a form-fitting black suit coat and skirt, greeted him as he passed the conservatory filled with almost every plant imaginable, from wild red rose bushes to giant Venus fly traps. "Welcome home, Sir," she said, trying hard to not look down at his crotch. "You must be exhausted. Shall I bring you something to drink?" "Just cocoa," Spike replied as he stepped further into the house. "With dinner," he added. "Thank you." "Certainly," said she. "I'll start making it right away." The inside of Pendragon Manor was fabulous, huge and beautifully furnished. A dozen silver-trimmed emerald green tapestries with the same image of a purple dragon embroidered on them hung from the high ceiling on either side of the grand staircase. In addition to three new guest bedrooms, Spike had five 100% marble bathrooms installed and each had a combination shower bathtub with gold-plated showerheads and faucets. The living room area, with a large table and armchairs in the middle, had a polished hardwood floor, veined mahogany walls, and a grand piano that was always kept tuned. Most of the objects in and around Spike's home he had acquired over many years, including a collection of Reneighssance paintings, several dozen Kirin vases, thousands of Aquastrian coins (all priceless), and a tropical fish tank full of Jockeypanese fighting fish; beautiful, graceful, elegant, yet single-minded in purpose, and deadly when they found what they wanted. A stuffed boar's head was mounted on the wall of the west wing above a line of suits of medieval armor wielding axes, and a cuckoo clock of the castle (built to scale). A figurine of Spike in his dragon form emerged from the tallest tower and the dragon breathed a small green flame with each chime of the bell before retracting. The kind of things you see in rich people magazines. Celestia, in a translucent white gown, was reclining on the chaise longue in the lounge and sipping a cup of tea when Spike walked to the rotary dial phone that rested comfortably on a tiny table made of Brayzilian rosewood. He frowned as he noticed the blinking red light on the answering machine, hit the play button, and began to listen to the voicemails. "You have four new messages," the machine said. "Message one..." "Spike? It's Nosey, Nosey News. Are you there? I know you're listening to these messages. Look, if it's about that article, blame Inky Quills. I had nothing to do with that, I swear... Call me, okay? I miss you, Spikey." "'Spikey'?" Celestia echoed. "Message two..." the machine went on. "Spike, it's Sweet Biscuit. You do remember me, right? I had so much fun the other night. You are nothing like what I read in the papers. Anyway, call me when you get this. I got a couple of cute friends who can't wait to meet you..." "Message three..." "Mr. Zenith, Filthy Rich calling. I apologize for going via your direct line, but I grow tired of this routine. Rich Enterprises Incorporated has made a very generous offer for Zenith Industries' Experimental Tech and Weapons Division, yet your persistent unavailability begins to look less like a busy social schedule and more like deliberately antagonistic behavior. Come now, meet with me. I'm sure we can come to an agreement. A man of your refined taste doesn't need an Experimental Tech and Weapons Division. He needs another trillion dollars," Filthy Rich was a fine businessman, but a bit of a thug. Fortunately, his bark was worse than his bite. Unfortunately, Spike had experienced both. "Message four..." "Spike, it's Bonbon. You're coming to Moon Dancer's birthday party next week, aren't you? No one's seen you in months, Spike. And you taught me the importance of keeping up appearances." That message was several days old, as were all the others; proof that Spike didn't check his home phone very often. "End of messages..." Spike had had a very long day, and it still wasn't over. After Celestia finished her tea, she changed into a white sports bra with golden trim and matching shorts and joined Spike (who had put on a black T-shirt and shorts) in his private gym to train. As well as a keen analytical mind, Spike had a body schooled in every known fighting discipline known to mankind. Part of his training was an extensive workout routine he picked up in his time in Feudal Jockeypan from a Ronin--a samurai without a master--named Midnight. It was Monday, which meant it was a day for self-control, balance and coordination. He had started with a 30-minute jog in the morning followed by 30 minutes of traditional kata (with focus on his Jockeypanese forms). Then in the evening, it was 5 sets 20-foot rope climb, 30 minutes gymnastic rings (work on muscle ups in particular), high box jumps--12 reps/8 sets, crunches--50 reps/5 sets, 30 minutes heavy bag, 30 minutes flexibility, and 30 minutes target practice. Tomorrow would be Tuesday, which meant he would start with a 30-minute jog in the morning, followed by 30 minutes of yoga instead of meditation. And for the evening: a ½ mile swim, heavy dead lift--5 reps/7 sets at 620 lbs., followed by a lighter dead lift--30 reps at 310 lbs., and finally 30 minutes of sparring. There was a time when the word "dragon" was synonymous with "sexy." They were creatures of immense magical power, some of the most powerful creatures in all the realms. But in order to unlock his full potential, Spike had to master the fundamentals: Dragon Fire (his ability to breathe it and use it as a weapon), Dragon Fangs (a strong bite for self-defense as well as offensive attacks), Dragon Snout (sense of smell), Dragon Eyes (gaze for intimidation), Dragon Ears (hearing), Dragon Wings (flight), Dragon Claws (combat and climbing), and Dragon Tail (balance and coordination)... not to mention Dragon Tongue and Dragon Penis (to both attract and orally pleasure potential dragoness mates and bear them with child/a suitable heir) one at a time. Unfortunately, their great power made them emotionally volatile. That's why Spike had to always keep his emotions in check. After his workout, Spike wiped his brow with a towel. He pushed open the huge oak door to his private study, entered, then closed and locked the door behind him, leaving the key in the keyhole. There was a huge globe on the floor nearby, a massive, polished desk cluttered with photos and documents, as well as envelope bearing cursive handwriting, and every shelf was lined with books. It was a handsome and masculine room. Spike walked over to the bookcase built into the wall behind his desk, touched one of the fireproof hardcover books in one of the recessed shelves, the title of which said, The Dragon's Roar, and tugged on it. A section of the bookcase rotated into the wall, revealing a retinal scanner with a mechanical iris at the back. A red laser projected a grid pattern onto Spike's eye and scanned his pupil. Then the wall slid open, and Spike ducked through the secret passage as the hidden door closed up behind him. He hurried down a winding staircase and entered a small room with hanging chains. He pulled on one of the chains, causing the floor beneath his feet to retract, and he fell through into a spiraling tube. As he slid down, a series of hanging torches illuminated the seemingly never-ending ride. Eventually, he landed in a massive subterranean cavern filled with smaller caves, Gothic-style columns, structures and metal catwalks. And a series of torches lit up around the cavernous chamber at the sound of his voice. It stood in the center of a wide plateau of natural rock, one of many workstations occupying different levels in the vast caverns located beneath Pendragon Castle. Lights placed strategically in the vaulted ceiling shone down on an array of highly sophisticated computers and an interlocking arrangement of laboratories furnished with state-of-the-art equipment, all designed to provide the best in crime-solving techniques. Ramps connected the workstations to a gallery of strange souvenirs and trophies from the past--hundreds of items of immense magical power and various mementos from his enemies, including mortar cannons and cannonballs, and a giant wagon full of Union and Confederate uniforms, as well as relics from the First Great War (the Thousand Year War), the Second Great War (World War I according to mortal/human history books), the Equestrian Revolutionary War, the Equestrian Civil War, and the Third Great War (World War II)--not to mention an assortment of high-tech vehicles that provided unparalleled transportation capabilities in the air, on or beneath water, and on the highway. One level was filled with nothing but clear, tube-shaped display cases, each one housing a different keepsake from Spike's many exploits; including a wide variety of axes, blades, arrows, giant harpoons, caltrops, poison darts, invisibility potions, scrolls, magic orbs, telescopes, compasses, tabards, capes, chainmail shirts, gloves, scabbards, 869 metal and wooden shields, 70 pairs of tall black leather boots (designed for all types of weather), 976 daggers, 765 sets of leather armor, over thirty-five-hundred training manuals, fourteen-hundred crystal shards (from deep underground caverns), 203 meteor fragments, 32 tornados in jars, bars of iron and steel, bottles of oil, pieces of cloth, common herbs, several lengths of rope and bits of string. Another level housed a hall of trophies, which consisted of glass jars filled with various body parts from the numerous monsters and mythical titans Spike had defeated over the years (everything from Dragon Roosters to Harpies). His latest additions were the remains of two water dragons--their tails, two fangs, one's skull, both their beaks, their spines and their hearts; two "stoneskin" dragons--one's skull, one's tail, one's shell, a fang and both of their spines; and two red dragons--two tails, one beak and one spine... for a grand total of 282 shells, 227 fangs, 325 tails, 239 eyes, 274 beaks, 239 plumes, 280 spines, 81 hearts, and 60 skulls. More torches lit the massive space as Spike exited the armory, where he kept a collection of various suits of armor--modern as well as ancient--as part of his study of military history; including ones worn by Medieval Europonean knights, desert nomads, and Jockeypanese Samurai warriors throughout the centuries, as well as the remains of a purple speckled egg (his egg that he had hatched from), and made his way to the cavern's inner sanctum, where a computer screen the size of a billboard hung over the precipice. He slumped into the chair in front of the console, turned on the news feed, and started typing. "The Senate is expected to vote on this tomorrow," Inky Quills reported. "It was another brutal week in Equestria. A string of home invasions rippled through New Canterlot's already crime-infested South Side. And we have breaking news tonight--five terrorists are in custody after an attempted break-in at the Capitol Building. The notorious Equestrian Dragon was on the scene... In thirty years' time, our nation's crime rate has risen to a worldwide high. And according to the latest national poll, fear of dragons is at an all-time high. How long must our country live under siege? Is there no hero among us? Who can stop the Equestrian Dragon? Join us tonight for an in-depth report." "Next up, trillionaire Spike Zenith contributed an unprecedented sum to New Canterlot City's hospitals," Nosey News said. "And in other news, tonight is the grand opening of Club Pegasus, New Canterlot City's newest nightspot. Count on high society to flock to Cozy Glow's very exclusive opening night celebration."[/i "Which Spike Zenith will be there to endure," Spike thought to himself. As Spike searched the computer's database, Fancy Pants approached the nearby wet bar and poured himself a brandy. As Fancy lifted the glass and uncorked the decanter, his ears perked when he heard Spike say that Cozy Glow had been working her way into New Canterlot City's big league with the opening of her new nightclub. As much as Spike hated to admit, it was a massive feat of architectural engineering. Built by the only surviving member of a wealthy high-society family, Cozy Glow had invested her inheritance and seven years of her life to construct it. Spike soon realized that Cozy Glow had made a grave mistake by building it on the sacred burial ground of Vladimir M. Balmer, otherwise known as the legendary vampire Zudak the Barbarian. Of course, Balmer/Zudak had been dead (or rather, undead) for quite some time and his crypt remained undisturbed. But the sounds and vibrations from the energy above would awaken him sooner or later, and Spike would have to prepare for that eventuality. Spike pulled up everything he could find on Cozy Glow. There wasn't much to go on except that she was an internet idol of the exhibitionist kind. She posted all kinds of pictures of herself from sort-of-sexy to naughty bikini shots; stuff that was right up Score, Dumb-Bell and Hoof Dunkington's perverted alley. To most people, she was of the pure-hearted angel variety with a bit of a mischievous side. At present, she was the most famous of all the net idols; the number of visits to her website alone was scary. And because of that, she could easily manipulate anyone. All men were completely under her spell; they were absolutely powerless against her. As Spike looked at the photos on Cozy Glow's website, he couldn't help but think that she looked strikingly similar to the pink Pegasus he had seen with Tirek the night before, but he couldn't be one hundred percent sure. And what little info Spike had been able to dig up on Club Pegasus itself was that it served hors d'oeuvres as well as cocktails, the music was mostly electronic or "progressive" rock, and all the bouncers were six-foot-four ex-wrestlers. "Pendragon Castle has the master bedroom, 52 guest bedrooms, 67 bathrooms, a living room, a den, a smoking lounge, two dining halls, four kitchens, three ballrooms, five libraries, a conservatory, a billiard room, a music room, a drawing room, a private study, a 30-lane bowling alley, and a home movie theater," Fancy Pants said as he picked up a silver jigger. "And yet I always find you down here... in a cold, wet hole in the ground." "You know I'm more at home here than the rest of the castle put together," Spike told him. "I'll leave as soon as I'm finished. People with regular jobs can do their work anywhere, but for me... this is my office." "I agree, it isn't 'normal' work," Fancy Pants said as he sipped his brandy. "Even worse, the best outcome is that no one ever finds out you've done it." "Yeah, well, good deeds often go unnoticed," "Though not unappreciated," Fancy said as he watched the news. "Chief Ganache, can you verify rumors that it was the Equestrian Dragon who apprehended crime boss Maretini and his gang?" one reporter inquired. New Canterlot City's Chief of Police, Chocolate Ganache, was the exact opposite of the rest of his department: thin dirty hair with sky-high blood pressure and the blotchy red and gray complexion of an unfit, overweight mess... in short, an incompetent waste of space. "Do you know of anyone who's actually seen this Equestrian Dragon?" The fat police chief spoke in a wheezing gasp which would have been a shout if it hadn't been strangled by bad lungs. "Of course not, because he is what's called an 'urban myth.'" The local police knew little about the Equestrian Dragon, the criminal elements were beginning to realize that he was threat to them, there was still a widespread speculation and skepticism regarding his existence, and conflicting reports if he was only one man or many. "Why that cheeky..." Fancy Pants began. "It's all right, Fancy," Spike said. "The Equestrian Dragon is exactly where he likes it: hovering just below the radar." "You were never one to bask in glory, sir," Fancy Pants replied. In addition to Spike and Fancy Pants, the cavern was host to numerous other inhabitants, their presence signaled only by the faint, ceaseless rustling of their leathery wings high above. Fancy Pants turned and crossed the plateau toward the man working intently at the long lab table on the other side of the huge cave. Spike didn't look up as Fancy joined him; he was focused on his work. Fancy raised a thin, dark eyebrow as he peered over Spike's shoulder. "May one inquire as to what that is?" he asked, pointing at the object in Spike's hand. Spike brushed a lock of dark hair back from his forehead. He was poking at a fragment of discolored glass with a tiny pair of forceps. "It's a piece of the windshield from the late Ragamuffin's boat," Spike said as he placed the shard under a specially designed microscope. Spike reached out and pressed a small button on the console in front of him. To his right, a rectangular section of metal flipped open. He placed the glass fragment into the shallow chamber and pushed the lid shut. With his left hand, he tapped rapidly on the computer's keyboard. An enlarged image of the glass shard appeared on the monitor above the lab table, the degree of amplification specified in blue numbers in the lower right-hand corner of the computer screen. Other information was given in green on the left. The numbers and letters changed rapidly as Spike's hand played over the keyboard and the magnification increased until he could see the chemical makeup of the greasy substance covering the glass. "There's a residue baked onto it," he mused thoughtfully. "Some kind of chemical... a dense long-chain macromolecular polymer... adaptogenic..." "Of course," Fancy agreed, humoring his boss as he turned with a miniscule shrug. The cylindrical elevator that connected the cave to the castle above slid open, revealing Celestia, who had showered and was now dressed in a tight, white mini dress that barely covered her thighs (one that was made for clubbing). "You look lovely," Spike told her. "Thank you," she replied. "Just my old dress made over, but it did turn out rather nicely." Dinner at Pendragon Castle was served precisely at 4:00 p.m. and traditionally consisted of a grass-fed local sirloin steak, well done; an oven-baked golden potato, asparagus sauteed in garlic butter, roasted red pepper soup with smoked Gouda. Luna came in carrying Spike's and Fancy Pants' meals on a large silver platter: the sirloins, potatoes, asparagus, and two bowls of the red pepper soup. And for Spike, a cup of hot chocolate and two little white pills on a small dish to the side of the tray. "The soup is hot, the steaks are well done, the cocoa made with whole milk, and the extra strength painkillers are for your migraine," she said, motioning to each of them after setting them down on the console next to Spike. Spike sniffed the cocoa appreciatively, smiling at the milk at the top that had foamed to form the image of a heart, and raised the mug to his lips. "Thank you," he said gratefully. "Some days I don't know what I would do without you." "For starters, you would do your own laundry," Luna replied. "By the way, Spike Zenith is expected to appear at Moon Dancer's birthday party at the grand opening of Club Pegasus tonight. I've laid out your clubbing suit and shined your best shoes. They are waiting for you in your bedroom upstairs, as is your invitation." "That's tonight already?" he asked. He'd already forgotten, even after Minuette had been at his office to personally remind him a few hours earlier. "Yes, sir, and since the party was planned by Spike Zenith, and you are the one who paid for said party, it would be impolite for you not to make an appearance," Luna advised before she headed toward the spiral staircase that led back up to the castle. "We shall be taking the Buick this evening. It will be idling out front with a full tank of gasoline." Spike started to protest when Luna added, "For the Equestrian Dragon to remain below the radar, Spike Zenith must occasionally venture above it. The party is in exactly one hour. Let's try not to be late, as usual." Spike tore himself away from his investigation before anything started to get cold. As he watched Luna leave via the stone steps that led up to the secret passage hidden behind the grandfather clock in the main library, Spike couldn't help but feel a little guilty. She and Celestia both loved him very much, and he hated himself because he felt that he did little more than take them for granted. Deep down Spike knew that some days he couldn't even find a pair of matching socks without their help. "How does she put up with me?" he thought out loud. He turned to Celestia, gazing at her passionately, and asked, "How do you put up with me?" "Well, you do have $27 nonillion dollars in gold, silver and precious gems, a castle with indoor and outdoor Coltympic-size swimming pools, a car for every day of the year, your own personal fleet of private jets, a submarine with its own ZIP code, and no less than two of everything else," she replied. "Are those the only reasons?" he asked her. She kissed him strongly on the lips. "No. You also have the sexiest ass I have ever seen on any male... dragon, mortal or otherwise." Celestia followed her sister, and Spike couldn't help but smile at her words. "Fancy Pants, did you hear that?" "Indeed, sir," he replied, somewhere between smiling and stone-faced. "Miss Soleil worships your ass. I am most delighted for you." After they ate dinner in the cave, Spike and Fancy Pants went up the stone steps--a different set that led to the kitchen. Later, in his master bedroom upstairs, Spike disrobed once more and took a quick shower. Then he put on the clothes Luna had laid out for him. Like his private study, Spike's boudoir was a masculine room. It offered every amenity and elegance, but it retained a manly air. There was a huge trunk at the foot of the bed, and there were matching armories in the two rear corners. Across from the fireplace and facing the windows was a large oak desk, and closer to the sunlight was a small round table covered simply in white linen. An open doorway led to a dressing room. Spike strode to the doorway and stepped through. To the far rear of the small room was a rack hung with coats and other apparel. He then picked out a full length black Crombie that just barely touched the ground, fit snugly above his waist, had a 40-inch chest because he needed the sleeve length, and draped out into an A-line below. Spike then straightened his immaculately knotted tie as he walked back to the bathroom and looked himself in the mirror... and saw his father staring back at him. The words "I will not be around forever," still echoed in his ears. . Locke had explained to his son that dragons were not the only magical creatures living on earth and that some humans had been born immortal. Spike also learned that the Immortals had been waging a secret war since the Thousand Year Conflict, fighting and killing each other until the last remaining few would meet at a yet-to-be-determined point in time to fight for some "grand prize." He helped Spike to gain better control of his powers and strengthen his abilities, which would came in very handy when he'd be confronted by his many enemies. "Were you seen?" he asked Spike after he'd survived his first real battle. Spike shook his head. "In this you must never lapse. Even those who would be your allies would not understand. Your domain is the shadow, stray from it reluctantly. For when you do, you must strike hard and fade away... without a trace," "I lost a fang," "Then it is lost," "I can get it back--" "Spike... let it go," his father had said. "Your skills are reaching their peak. Only one truly important lesson remains, but must wait. I know how difficult it has been for you. Your mind is broad and eager, but you must never stop trying to better yourself. You are still young, but one day, I will be gone. Use my teachings wisely." Spike was a Dragon, like his parents were before him, their parents before them, their parents, and six generations back. And he missed out on many things; while his friends went to parties and the movies, he was battling everything from giants and demons to hairy, twelve-eyed spiders and bullywugs (nasty, brutish humanoid frogs armed with tridents). And the worst of it all was he couldn't even share that info with anyone. "This is your burden, and you must bear it alone. It is your destiny. I know you can rise to meet it," his father had said. And as time went by, Spike grew and became the wealthiest guy in the world. He was the handsomest, most available bachelor, and he owned the biggest, most successful company, as well as being able to change into his dragon form... and nobody knew that the dragon was him. . Spike shook off the memories and looked at a portion of the bathroom wall next to the mirror, where he had punched a hole in it years ago. It had since been repaired, but the memory kept coming back. "Great, another thing I have to fix," he'd grumbled to himself. That's when Celestia had walked in on him. "Spike, I know this has been hard on you," she had said. "I mean, first, you find out you're a dragon..." "Oh, I've always known that," he'd told her. "It was the whole, 'Oh, and by the way, you're responsible for the protection of an entire magical underworld' that's got me so upset." "Well, that's why it's so important for you to master your powers," Celestia had told him. "Believe me, I know Star Swirl can be eccentric at times, but you just have to trust him." And trust him Spike did... up until the day he died, when Spike witnessed the wizard's murder at the hands of an evil necromancer. Now, as the Equestrian Dragon (one of the world's most loyal defenders), Spike patrolled the Equestrian mainland and its surrounding territories--from sea to shining sea--using his mental strength and physical superiority as a dragon to bring his enemies to justice. Once again, Spike was brought out of his memories by Celestia, who placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "What were you thinking about just now?" she asked. "I was thinking about the last time we were here," he replied. "Just like this." Celestia smiled knowingly and said, "Come on. Let's go." The pair made their way downstairs, where Fleur was making fun of Fancy Pants as he put on his gold cuff links. "You're kind of feminine, you know that?" she asked him. Not at all startled by the cheap insult, Fancy Pants countered with, "Oh, and which of us can only go to cool parties because her man was invited?" "Touche," Fleur replied. The group made their way out the front door and down the steps, ready to go to the party. They each opened a door handle and climbed inside the Buick--Spike took the driver's seat, Celestia the front passenger side, Fleur de Lis sat behind her, and Luna took the back seat behind the driver (Spike), with Fancy Pants wedged in between Fleur and Luna. "Luna, would you hold Moon Dancer's present until we get there?" Spike asked. "I still fail to see why I have to attend a party of one of your cohorts," Luna told him. "Because men find you attractive, sister," Celestia answered. "Shut. Up," Luna replied. "It's true, Lulu. Everyone thinks you're beautiful," Celestia said. "Now, listen up," Spike told them before they took off. "Moon Dancer is my friend, and I flake out on her enough with all the fights I get into, so all four of you had better behave." The charismatic quartet nodded in reply as Spike turned the keys in the ignition and he drove them back to the city. > His Life . Late that night, colorful lights shined from Club Pegasus (located between the far east side of the West Side Suburbs and the sleazy Industrial District), where a crowd of very beautiful women gathered on the sidewalk outside the incredibly exclusive nightspot. The line was already snaked around the corner of the block, while Bulk Biceps, a hulking white man with a blond crew cut, stood behind a stanchion with velvet rope, guarding the door. "No one gets in unless they're on the list," he said. "I came all the way from Tenneighssee--!" one of the women shouted. "I don't make the rules, I just enforce 'em," he told them as he folded his thick arms across his barrel chest. "You aren't on the list, back of the line!" The crowd clamored as a luxury car pulled up to the curb. "Is that a Buick?" one girl, wearing a sheer black dress, asked. "My grandpa used to drive a Buick," one of the others commented. "That'snot your grandpa," Camera shutters clicked as Celestia Soleil exited the vehicle, followed by Luna St. Selena, Fleur de Lis and Fancy Pants, and finally Spike Zenith, who left the keys with the valet. "Careful," he said. "I just had it detailed." Celestia and Luna's high heels clicked loudly as they strode past the line, arm in arm with Spike sandwiched between them, with Fleur and Fancy close behind. They strolled up to the front door and he said, "Zenith. Spike Zenith," before the bouncer even asked, "Name?" "Thought I recognized you," Bulk Biceps grinned. "I'm a big fan. Go right in," he said as he let them past the velvet rope. "Thank you," Spike grinned back. One of the young women scoffed. "Oh, come on! They literally just got here! We've been waiting in line for two hours!" "Obviously someone rich and famous," "Wait. Was that Spike Zenith?" "Holy crap, we just saw Spike Zenith!" Spike's black trench coat billowed as he and his entourage entered the building and rode the elevator up to the top level, and Spike found himself struggling with a voice inside his mind. "Steeped in denial... the daily grind... a mutual struggle... for shared ground..." it was saying. "They're for themselves... It doesn't matter what they say. They promise the world then take it away from you... It's safe to say, they'll break you down..." And what was worse, Spike found himself agreeing with it. "They'll try to take from me... I'm just another one for them to break down..." There was a time when the world was ruled by Dragons. To protect and serve was their mission, and for thousands of years, humanity and magical creatures prospered because of it. But some of the Dragons grew arrogant, and began to fight among themselves for power... now they had been in conflict with humans for control of the earth. Spike had hoped magical creatures and humans could learn to get along... or at least not kill each other... whatever it would take to settle peace on this city, and the world, once and for all. The mortal world had enough troubles without stirring up things that might spill over into the magical realm. Spike's own needs had been held back by centuries of strife, and the hate-filled threats, deadly bombings and other attempts on his life continued to pile up. He couldn't think of a worse way to spend his night than at the grand opening of the newest nightclub in New Canterlot City. As the elevator buttons counted to the top, Spike began to dream of a world for him and his kind: a world where the air he breathed was his, there was nothing to overwhelm him and nothing to cloud his mind. He could be anyone, try and do anything he'd ever want, where Time did not exist, and humanity could stick its standards where the Sun didn't shine! The elevator doors slid open and Spike, Celestia, Luna, Fleur and Fancy Pants slid into a massive throng of people. Club Pegasus pulsed with neon laser lights, floor-vibrating music, and the sway of men and women clothed in skimpy leather and drenched in sweat. The bar was pure glass, lit from within by electric tubes--very modern, but it cast an eerie glow and threw plenty of shadows for the brief, anonymous couplings that stank up the room. Bathed in the lasers, Spike watched the crowd, scanning dozens of faces and grinding bodies, their movements incongruous, yet somehow hypnotic as the deep bass pounded out its steady rhythm. The spotlights overhead rotated their pervading colors--red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple--circling through the sea of flesh and sheer fabric as they moved through the crowd. A girl in a skimpy sailor suit danced on one of the elevated platforms, next to a giant lava lamp that stretched to the ceiling, while a ditzy blonde in a light gray halter top eyed Spike seductively as bubbles rained down around her. Meanwhile, on the dance floor, Flashdancer (starlet of her own movie from 1983) and Azure Velour bopped, shimmied and throbbed to the music while Pacific Glow (a cute girl who bore a striking resemblance to Pinkie Pie, only with twin ponytails) sucked on a pacifier and pumped her fists in time to the beat. These people had no clue about the forces at play all around them--and it was Spike's job to keep it that way. The hot press of bodies said business was good. The manager of the club suddenly appeared at Spike's side. The man was small compared to Spike's large frame, and his trim black silks shined with blue light. "Ringside table, Mr. Zenith?" he asked. "Anything I can do for you, sir?" one of the cigarette girls inquired. "Check your coat?" Spike fought the sudden urge to tell them to get out of his face--the rampant sexual energy of the place stirred his blood in a way that was painful, his own needs had gone unsatisfied for far too long--and said, in a calm and controlled tone, "I'm hosting the birthday party up in the VIP section." The manager nodded and the quintet followed him upstairs as Spike mouthed the final chorus of the song DJ-Pon3 was playing on her turntables: "I will never die!" . Unlike the rest of Club Pegasus, the VIP section echoed with the sounds of soft music and laughter. Half a dozen waiters moved carefully along their assigned routes from one side of the room to the other, carrying trays laden with pale Champagne and colorful delicacies. Captain Shining Armor looked out its large window, which offered a full view of the dance floor, and surveyed the crowd below, noting the usual mixture of young politicians, media personalities and wealthy entrepreneurs. He watched for a few moments then turned back toward the group of attractive young women shaking their hips, scanning them with a watchful eye. Almost every one of his sister's former classmates was there: Minuette Colgate, Lemon Hearts, Twinkleshine, Lyra Heartstrings, even Amethyst Star. He also noted that their host, Spike Zenith, was absent. Shining Armor was a little surprised by that. Spike had worked as hard as anybody here to make sure Moon Dancer had a happy birthday. For all that the newspapers went on about "billionaire playboy Spike Zenith," he was very committed and very dependable. If Armor could get a few more people with Zenith's resources working for New Canterlot, he could turn the city around in no time. He must have had a good reason for being late, Shining Armor thought after he'd helped himself to the victuals: a couple of sliders, some pigs in a blanket, and a handful of crab puffs. He turned and saw Spike, whose eyes were locked onto the birthday girl, the beautiful redhead wearing the purple skirt and black top, which struggled to contain her massive breasts. "Spike, you made it!" Moon Dancer exclaimed, smiling and happy as her arms wrapped around him in a tight, warm embrace. "Sorry we're late," he apologized. "You're always late," Twinkleshine said casually. As Fleur, Fancy Pants, Celestia and Luna mingled, Spike remembered the first time he laid eyes on Moon Dancer: she was sitting barefoot on the floor of the University's library immersed in a book. Her lashes were as dark as her hair and lay against her moonlight pale skin, her shoes and socks rested on the floor beside her, and a cushion was propped under her derriere. She didn't notice him at first as he glanced at the mountain of books around her. They were very advanced textbooks, too expensive and too specialized for any public library. The thickest one had Astrophysics: From Past to Future on the cover. "Hi. I'm Spike Zenith, Zenith Industries," he'd said. "You're Moon Dancer, right?" She stopped reading, turned and looked straight into his eyes as if he were an old friend. "Why, yes, as a matter of fact, I am," she smiled faintly. "Have we met before?" Curious from a young age, Moon Dancer was the smartest girl on campus. She ranked in the Top 10 in every subject on every standardized test in Equestria. When issued an aptitude test by the school district's psychiatrist, it was discovered that she had a mind-bashing I.Q. of 216. She was a legend in her own time. "So she's a genius," Spike wondered. "Well, that explains why she seemed so odd." Sure, she may have been a little peculiar, but that's how most prodigies were. When someone with Moon Dancer's level of intellect was forced to slow down to the pace of average people, they were bound to lash out. She didn't like to go outside much; the furthest she would go was her own yard. She didn't invite friends over to her house, either. In school, she was easily and constantly bored--almost all the time--to the point of frustration, and she often dreamed of leaving the classroom to pursue her intellectual development on an independent basis. She was so smart that the university's faculty didn't even make her attend classes; she was free to cut class anytime and study whatever she wanted. She did as much or as little of the assignments as she felt she needed to. As well as having a huge vocabulary, she already had a master's degree in journalism from Coltumbia University, and she did crosswords to keep her mind sharp. Spike tried his best to make conversation with her. "Listen, my board of directors is looking for a receptionist to replace someone at my company who is supposed to move up to be my executive administrative assistant," he said. "I can't stand her. So do me a favor. You be my assistant, and I'll tell them I just hired outside the company. I need you! Please say yes." Sensing her reluctance, he added, "If I can finish that crossword puzzle in less than two minutes, will you help me?" "All right," she had said. "There's no way he has a better vocabulary than I do," she'd added in thought. Spike's knowledge of words may have had its limits (he hadn't used the word "precipice" since the year 426, "threshold" since 431, "brink" since 435, and "imperative" since 527), but he did it in 90 seconds--in pen--and didn't scratch anything out. "I don't believe this!" Moon Dancer breathed. "It's perfect." "So, will you please think about it?" he asked. "We made a deal," she said. "Of course I'll think about it." "I don't want to force you," he told her. "Don't worry about it. I always keep my word," she smiled softly. "And Spike... it was good to see you again." . Now, as Spike stood in the corner of Club Pegasus' huge VIP section--in the middle of three beautiful women who seemed to be involved in a contest to see which could stand closest to their wealthy host--he looked totally bored, despite the trio's beauty. "Oh, come on, Spike!" Minuette chirped as she suggestively grasped his tie, pressing her hip against his. "All alone in that big castle, with rooms for days and all those toys... Haven't you ever thought of marriage--not even once?" "Oh! Never say the 'M' word in front of Spike," Twinkleshine giggled as she reached up on tiptoe to playfully brush an imaginary eyelash from Spike's face. "It makes him nervous." "What about the 'I' word?" Lemon Hearts innocently cooed, still trying to figure out a route past her competition and into Spike's arms. Spike turned to regard her quizzically, his attention snared. "The 'I' word?" he wondered aloud. "'Ingagement,'" Lemon Hearts answered, batting her long lashes. Spike gave her a crooked half-smile as he recalled the time she somehow got a beaker stuck on her head... and the nearby onlookers laughed. "Go on, Spike," the one imprisoned inside his mind was telling him as his gaze swept over the undulating bodies that surrounded him. "Pick one. They're ripe for the taking tonight. Come on. Any of these beauties would fall in love with you in a single night." Spike's sexual appetite was, in fact, normal for a dragon. He felt the same raging needs humans did, but his past drained any encounters with humans of the pleasure they should have. He knew better. The last thing he wanted was to revisit the images and the screams, all the things that would be resurrected if he found himself in the arms of a woman again... even if it was just to seek a quick release, which for dragons was no time at all, not in this pheromone-infused environment. Bachelorette number three was preparing to pursue her advantage with a frontal attack, when another woman approached and elbowed her sharply in the ribs. The fourth woman, dressed in tight pants and a revealing tube top, stepped past Lemon Hearts to stare up at Spike. She was also beautiful; her skin was a perfect pink, her eyes dark blue, and her long straight hair as black as a raven's wing. She carried a glass of red wine in her hand and didn't look too happy to see Spike surrounded by his female friends. "I'd watch out for Spikey if I were you, girls," she began sardonically. Her voice had the first traces of an alcohol-induced slur. "First he wines and dines you. Makes you think you're the only woman he's ever been interested in. And just when you're wondering where to register the wedding gifts..." She paused dramatically, her lips drawing back from perfect white teeth. "He forgets your phone number!" Spike smiled weakly for a moment. He had been watching the proceedings with a casual detachment. It wasn't the first time one too many trips to an open bar had caused this kind of confrontation with one of the women he had briefly been with. But this one had been engaged. She'd kept the ring--in fact, she wore it proudly--even after she learned of its true, and rather modest, worth, at which point she broke off the engagement and returned to New Canterlot City for better prospects. Spike waited with an air of faint amusement for her to run out of steam. Then a look of fury appeared on her carefully decorated features as she hauled her slim arm back and then threw her wine in his face. "That's Spike Zenith's style!" the black-haired woman concluded angrily. Then she gave her head a short, sharp nod as she spun on her heel and stalked away from them in the direction of the bar. There was a mutual gasp as Spike's trio of admirers drew back in horror then looked in embarrassment at the dripping wet playboy, who stood stone-faced and still. Spike politely excused himself with a small bow to the three women and headed toward the men's room. "Friend in need?" he heard someone say. Spike recognized the polished tone before he saw the face... or the form-fitting white silk cocktail dress with just enough cleavage showing so that everyone checked out her 34DD breasts and matching leather gloves... then New Canterlot City Councilwoman Vignette Valencia appeared at his side, dangling a linen handkerchief in front of Spike's face. He took the square of cloth and swabbed at his eyes and cheeks. "Councilwoman," he said with a nod. "How goes the vigilante bashing?" "Better than your love life," she replied, her eyebrows raised at the scene of Spike's recent dampening. "Seriously, Spike, it's like you pick them deliberately because you know there's absolutely no hope for any kind of a serious relationship." A man hoved into view bearing a tray of Champagne flutes. The councilwoman plucked one from the tray as it passed by, earning herself a sideward glance of disapproval from the proper server. "At least not since that one girl, what was her name?" Vignette screwed her face up in an expression of exaggerated concentration. Then she smiled lazily. "Ember Drago!" Spike had been dabbing at his collar with the handkerchief when he winced at the sound of the name. He'd almost managed to forget about Ember for the evening; his memories of her were never too far from his mind. And thanks to Vignette, they were stating to flood back. Sensing she had touched a nerve, Vignette continued, "Now, there was a sweet little number. How'd you ever let her get away?" In response, Spike carefully folded the sopping wet handkerchief, his eyes to the floor. "Thanks for the handkerchief, Vignette," Spike said, in his low, controlled voice. "You know where you can stick it." He reached out and stuffed the stained, damp cloth down the front of her dress, deep between her enhanced breasts, and then walked off, passing Fleur as he entered the men's room. Spike locked the door behind him, then stood before the sink and looked at his reflection in the mirror, a dark expression on his face. As he stared at the man that was staring back at him, he recalled his first encounter with the woman whose memory so troubled him now... . Spike the Dragon stood on an ashy hill on the Isle of Dragons. He frowned as he threw punches at an imaginary opponent, replaying his moves of the night before, his face a mask of concentration. He pivoted his body and launched a pair of vicious kicks into the air. He dropped back to a defensive stance then fired off a dozen punches in rapid succession. Elsewhere on the island, a blue dragoness practiced her hunting skills on an orange dragoness. The blue dragoness, Princess Ember, leaped over a gorge, back flipping in the air. She landed lightly then flipped forward, cutting off the orange dragoness's path, much to the other dragoness's annoyance. Spike twisted his neck to look at Ember, while maintaining his current pose, balancing on one clawed foot with both arms extended rigidly in front of him. He stood still, his fists clenched. Then he abruptly turned away from her and began to work through a new series of positions, thrusting his fist out, into the air. His perfect form wavered for a moment, but he recovered his balance, assumed a new position, and jabbed three more times as he shifted his weight from his left foot to his right and back again. Ember stared coyly at Spike as she seductively walked around him. Smiling, she lunged, tripping Spike up and he fell onto his back. Standing up, he met her gaze as she started to walk away from him. Shaking his head, he followed her. The most beautiful dragons were the most independent. They tended to find themselves in trouble, but they didn't need anyone to rescue them. There was no problem they couldn't overcome on their own. And Ember was a very spirited female. As much as Spike hated to admit it, he found Ember charming... in a stubborn and irritating way. Not only was she beautiful, but she was smart, strong and fearless. In one word: pulchritudinous. Suddenly, Spike jerked back sharply when he lifted his head and saw the orange dragoness standing beside Ember. "Hello," she said. Spike backed away as the orange dragoness giggled and batted her big, blue eyes at him. He stumbled backward as Smolder eagerly stepped toward him, flicking her tail as she teasingly pretended to pounce. He leaned against Ember and peered out at the other dragoness, who continued to pursue him. "Hello, Spike," she said again. "Well, aren't you going to answer her?" Ember asked as Spike hid behind her. He shook his head at the Dragon Lord's daughter. "You're not afraid, are you?" Ember asked. Scowling, Spike shook his head again. "Well, go ahead, then," Ember said as she nudged him toward Smolder. "Say hello." "Hello," Spike said in a small, small voice as he shyly hung his head. Smolder giggled as she romped around him. She leaned forward and licked his face, causing him to trip over a stone and fall into a pool of lava. Looking up at her, Spike glared as Smolder licked his cheeks again and he furiously wiped his face. When she licked him again, Spike charged angrily, storming out of the lava. Smolder flew away as fast as she could, and Spike chased after her, over the rocky hillocks. She raced up the smooth face of a boulder, which looked out over the open ocean. When Spike finally caught up to her, breathless, the island suddenly filled with male dragons flying over the rocks. Two of the males challenged each other, crashing their horns together like young bucks locking their antlers. The dragons leapt gracefully from the jutting tip of a rocky ledge, their long bodies stretched mightily as they took to the air once more in almost perfect sync as Spike followed them along the upper ridge. Then the air grew still with a sudden chill as the dragons came to an equally sudden stop. A solitary dragon appeared at the mouth of the volcano. His back was broader and his scales were thicker than all of the other dragons, and his legs and chest radiated with power. A massive crown of red stones adorned his noble head, and he held a sapphire scepter topped by a polished red gemstone. As the mighty dragon approached the horde, the male dragons stood almost perfectly still. Only their heads moved to watch him as he passed. He stopped and looked at Spike, who stood barely as tall as the great dragon's finger. The Equestrian Dragon swallowed as the great dragon stared at him before walking on. Everyone shied away from him because they respected him. For of all the dragons in the world, not one had lived half so long. He stood regal and stoic, as a ruler should be. He was very brave and very wise, and that's why he was known as the Dragon Lord. . Spike was berated by the other dragons for his smaller size, but he had proven he was a real dragon when he tried to cannonball into a volcano... and bellyflopped face first into the lava pit, his arms and legs sprawled out. The other dragons all groaned and winced as he slowly sank into the red-hot lava... only to rise up triumphantly, lava dripping off of him as if it was water. "Whoa, that was amazing!" they all praised him, astounded by his endurance. "Dude... that was awesome!" a red dragon named Garble admitted. "Nobody could withstand a fall like that. You're one tough dragon." And it was because of this, they had allowed Spike to accompany them to the Mating Ball--a nesting pit, where the males arrived first and waited for the females. "I'll handle this," Garble said as Smolder, his sister, approached with a scarlet dragoness named Mina. "Hey... Hey... That's all I've got." "Wow," Spike said. "I can not believe Mina didn't just fall all over you." "You think you can do better?" Garble asked. "The next dragoness that comes up that hill, she's mine," Spike stated. Spike was about to eat his words when he saw Ember emerge into a ray of moonlight. "Whoa," he thought. "I've never seen her look that good." "Forget about it, Spike," Smolder said. "You know the rules. She's the Dragon Lord's daughter. You're not allowed to roar with her." There were many customs which the Dragon Code commanded them to obey, but none was as important as the roar. Each month, on the night of the full moon, every dragon and dragoness that had come of age climbed to the top of the volcano and roared their mightiest cry, signifying their official ascension from adolescence into adulthood. "We're still friends," Spike reminded her. "Exactly, just friends," said Mina. "You can eat together, and you can fly together, but you can't roar together. End of story." Spike glanced at Ember and she eyed him softly as they walked off together. Suddenly, without warning, Ember moved up behind Spike. Then she ducked in quickly, set one hand on his shoulder, grabbed Spike's claw and pulled it. She twisted Spike's wrist behind his back and pushed him forward. Then shifted her weight, flipped him effortlessly, and he crashed to the ground. "Got a few moves of my own," she said, dusting off her palms as she towered over him triumphantly... but not for long. Spike propped himself up on his elbows, staring up at her without expression. Then the corner of his mouth curled up, and the next moment he started chuckling. "He laughs!" Ember exclaimed, her mouth dropped open in mock astonishment. "And from a supine position... Now, that takes training and discipline." Spike stopped laughing, arched an eyebrow at Ember, then swept his leg under Ember's feet in a wide arc, tripping her, and Ember fell to the ground. She tumbled backward and before she could move, Spike had her pinned down, nose to nose. She looked up at him in surprise as they broke into matching grins. "Nice footwork," she smiled. "Can you dance, too?" Spike looked deep into Princess Ember's eyes. She had the eyes of a lioness, all the right moves, and she had exactly the right attitude. Maybe she could be the one. Maybe she was the one. She was definitely strong enough. Maybe... "She might be the one." The whisper of it seemed to haunt him. "She might be the one." But he would have to seduce her, convince her to love him. Spike's grin grew thoughtful as he lowered his face to her. His clawed hands slid down to her hips as he leaned in and kissed her shoulder then her neck. She smelt of sweet honeysuckle, he of pie and ale. "You filthy sod," she said. "You're all muck and muscle!" "Aye, lass," he replied. "The way you like it." And even though it was against the Dragons' Law for the Dragon Lord's daughter to roar with him, the couple began to roar together. "You can do that to me forever if you like, my lord," she said. "Will you, Spike?" "Aye, Ember," he told his love. "I will." At that moment, the Dragon Lord appeared and took in the scene of love with surprise. His shadow crept over the two smitten dragons, and he yanked Spike away from Ember. "Can I talk to you in private?" Torch asked. Knowing that it was an order and not a request, Spike nodded and said, "Aye, sir," and followed the Dragon Lord to the top of the volcano. "Who is the Dragon Lord?" Torch asked him. "You are, Your Lordship," Spike replied. "I know you're Ember's friend, Spike," Torch said. "But she will be the future leader of our kind. That is our custom, the way of the horde." Spike's smile faded. The Dragon Lord chuckled and he placed a claw on Spike's shoulder. "No doubt you'll be a clever leader yourself one day... and remind us all to keep the peace." . Spike stood in the men's room in the VIP section at Club Pegasus, his thoughts lost in memory. He sighed as he thought about Ember. It had been close to ten centuries, and yet it seemed like only yesterday. He raised his head, called back to the present by a burst of laughter from behind the door. Reluctant to rejoin the revelers, he turned from the mirror and sighed once more. "Time to play the elusive trillionaire again," he thought. He straightened his clothes, pressed his hair back, and exited the restroom, back to the party in progress. On the way out, he bumped into Lyra Heartstrings and her girlfriend, Bonbon. But Spike knew the latter as Special Agent Sweetie Drops, the Woman from S.M.I.L.E. (a secret agency whose acronym stood for the Secret Monster Intelligence League of Equestria, who dealt with monsters, monster hunters, and other monster-related activity). "Ladies, what's the good word?" he inquired. "You know us, Spike. Living the life, living the dream," Bonbon answered. "Lyra and I were just talking about what we did last night." "I wish we knew you were coming," Lyra added. "I'd let you buy us dinner." Sweetie Drops leaned in close to Spike and whispered into his ear, "Anything new on our mutual monster friends?" "Nothing yet," he whispered in reply. "I'll let you know." That's when he caught sight of Shining Armor at the end of the bar. Shining Armor debated ignoring Spike but turned to face the bar instead. Spike made eye contact with the bartender, a pretty, petite blonde who was human--and had the scent of at least two men on her already--and ordered a double Scotch. Spike leaned into the bar next to Shining Armor, who looked up, his face graced with the hint of a smile. He had learned, through years of public service, to keep as pleasant an expression on his face as possible... even if there was no good reason to smile at all. The bartender set a glass tumbler filled with amber liquid before Spike and he downed it in one swallow. Alcohol had minimal effect on him, even in his human form, but he hoped the burn would mask the smell of the club, and the scents of the willing females that hung on everything. They were so easily drunk on pheromones, the most potent of which was Spike's own dragon pheromones. It was clear most had already done more than taste their first partners of the night... and they surely would not be the last. "Good evening, Captain Armor," Spike said formally, and he signaled for another drink. "If you say so, Zenith," he replied. "I hate these kinds of things. I spend the entire time dodging people who think I can fix the potholes on their block." "Well, at least the building is impressive," "I guess so. But why build it? It might just be the cop in me, but I think Cozy Glow's up to something," The minute Spike first met Shining Armor he knew he wanted him on his side. He was an honest cop, a proverbial needle in the haystack... and a fellow troublemaker. He was exactly the kind of person Spike needed fighting from inside the lines. As part of Police Chief Chocolate Ganache's new "recruitment drive," Shining Armor (previously of Chicoltgo's finest) was greeted by Ganache in what was actually a homecoming for Armor, who transferred from New Canterlot City to Chicoltgo as a fresh-faced patrolman over two years before. The details behind Armor's transfer back from Chicoltgo remained spotty at best, as was the reason for his original departure from New Canterlot in the first place. But Spike knew the truth. While just a rookie cop, Shining Armor shot a criminal in a clear cut case of justifiable homicide. What he didn't know at the time was that that particular criminal also carried a badge at his day job. The shooting was swept under the rug, and Armor was transferred to Chicoltgo by Ganache, his then-captain at the time. Shining was a good cop who had worked his way through the ranks until being kicked upstairs by the city's crooked ex-mayor and his administrators. He was a blue-collar cop in a white-collared world. He'd made that perfectly clear when he showed up for his first day as captain in his patrolman's uniform to remind them that he was not one of them and that he wasn't going to kowtow to them. He also had a clear dislike for fools, especially rich ones, and a strong dislike for Spike Zenith, who in turn pretended to find Armor a boring underclassman that got lucky and he hid his respect for Shining. Hard-nosed and by-the-book, Armor had recently been appointed the head of the city's Vice squad and he took his job very seriously. The Equestrian Dragon was no friend to the police and he had to tread with extreme caution when engaging its officers, particularly since many of them maintained criminal associations. As yet Armor's record remained clean, but it remained to be seen if he could be trusted. Shining Armor believed that the Equestrian Dragon was trying to help New Canterlot City, even if he was operating outside of the law. However, unknown to Spike, Shining secretly dreaded the day he would have to arrest the Equestrian Dragon. "Why did you invite me here?" Shining Armor asked. Spike downed half his Scotch before answering. "I like you, Captain, and I don't want to see you get hurt, but the way you're going--" "You think I should keep my mouth shut?" Shining asked. "That I should accept bribes like my coworkers and look the other way? I believe in--" "Sure. You believe that there is good and bad, right and wrong. You believe that if we all become good little socialists and work for the greater good, everything will be sunshine and rainbows. Well, I'd like to be living in a fantasy too, but this isn't flying monkey land; it's reality. Take a good, long look around here, Captain, because this is reality," Spike hoped, somehow, that Shining Armor could make a difference. But he had seen others like Armor before him--bright, idealistic, and full of fervor--try to reform the beast that they called New Canterlot City. Most of the time, the beast got the reformer, not the other way around. There were too many ins and outs, too many temptations... and now, too much damn politics. Spike's own hands weren't as clean as he wished they could be. But he was still there, a survivor, and with luck he could still do some good. "See the big guy wrestling with the brunette?" Spike asked him. "Oh, my God, that's Walt Strider! The Mayor of New Canterlot City is here?!" "Right; and the woman with him is not his wife. She's Domino Song, arrested seven times for prostitution. To their left, Chief Detective Gray 'Ratchet' Graft from your Ad Vice Squad; the creep he's schmoozing is Cain 'Coke' Lamount, he runs half the brothels this side of New Yoke. And then we have Szechuan Sauce, industrialist. Headmistress Amore organized demonstrations that closed down three of his sweatshops last year," As Shining Armor looked around the club, he also recognized two other members of the city council, a union official, at least one off-duty cop, and a lawyer. "Lamount was the one who most likely did the deal, Szechuan would have put up the fee, Ratchet made sure the cops were looking the other way, and the mayor... he just sits back and takes a percentage," Spike said. "The real war, Captain, is what you see right in front of you." "I get the message, Zenith," Shining said. "You think we can't beat them... that we can never win. Well, I am not going to turn a blind eye or run away from a fight." "Suit yourself," Spike rumbled a deep growl, shook his head and finished his drink. "Spike? Spike Zenith," an attractive young woman in a blue dress and jeweled necklace called out as she approached them. "Good evening, Headmistress Amore," he greeted her. "'Headmistress Amore'?" she echoed. "How could you, Spike? We're all friends here, practically family. Call me Cadence." "Of course, Cadence," . As they talked, Spike remembered when he first met her, when she approached him outside Zenith Industries. "Mr. Zenith? Mr. Zenith. Hi. I'm Cadence Amore. I'm the Dean at New Canterlot University," she had introduced herself. "Well, that can't pay very much," he'd dismissively replied. "I'm not interested in money," Spike's face darkened. "Wait a minute. You're Cadence Amore? You're the fanatic who lies in front of my wrecking balls. You attacked the Flimflam Brothers outside their offices--" "It wasn't my fault they walked under a waving protest sign," she'd said. "So you're not here for a job?" "No, I'm here representing the New Canterlot Community Center--" "Look, I'm sorry, it was very nice to meet you, but Chancellor Neighsay has the inside track," he said, trying to brush her off. "No, no, Mr. Zenith, you don't understand. I lived there as well as my parents and I know Flitter Flutter, who's on the Committee Board, and if you can guarantee the preservation of this community center, I can guarantee you the build," "So, why me? Why Zenith?" he inquired. "Because the Flimflam Brothers have a restraining order and you are the only person who can get in to see the Chancellor without an appointment," Suddenly, a man with a notebook ran over saying, "Mr. Zenith? Mr. Zenith. Mr. Zenith, do you have a moment?" "I'm sorry. I'm very late," "You're supposed to be taping with Regis Fillybin in half an hour, and Playgirl magazine needs a quote on the challenges of urban planning for the article on you," "Quote: 'What I love about architecture is its ability to shape a community. It turns strangers into neighbors; and how the right design for a school building can be functional and beautiful so that children feel engaged instead of imprisoned.' End quote," Spike's chauffeur, a Kirin woman known simply as Park, held open the door of Spike's limo as he got in the back seat. He told Cadence, "Jump in," and she climbed in beside him. "So, do we have a deal?" Cadence asked. "No," Spike stated in reply. "I want something else from you." "Oh, no, I am fully aware of your reputation, and there is no way you're getting that," "I'm not talking about sex. I need a new chief legal counsel," "Well, I-I think I'd prefer the sex. I mean... you couldn't possibly want me. I've spent my entire life working against people like you," "Well, maybe if you work for me, you'll win for once in your life," he stated. "Fine, if you won't take the job, at least find me someone who will and I promise to save your precious community center. On top of which, they can direct all of my pro bono efforts. That's billions of dollars at their charitable disposal." He handed her his embossed business card. "Here is my number at Pendragon Castle." "You live in a castle," "I own the Castle and I live in it. My life is very much like that board game... and I know you wouldn't care, but I'll start them at $250,000 a year," As Cadence left, Spike's chauffeur rolled down her window and said, "There's also a very nice Hearth's Warming bonus." . Cadence was a rare rose among the weeds. She understood the way the world worked... and the corruption that flowed through it. She was also one of the very few who seemed to understand the Equestrian Dragon's goals and supported his efforts. She had lost her parents--both police officers--to New Canterlot City's criminals, shot and killed in the line of duty. She grew up in a rough neighborhood, so she knew firsthand what criminal lifestyles did to good people. And while she had mixed emotions about Spike Zenith, she found herself working with him often and he became fond of her due to their similar pasts. The irony was that she originally hated Spike and all he stood for, thinking he was everything wrong with the wealthy and that he was deaf to the problems the poor faced. As well as being the Headmistress at New Canterlot City University, she helped the city's Coalition for the Homeless and Legal Defense Fund. She was also a volunteer at her church and had ambitions to have children of her own. However, the zealousness with which she tried to expose corruption could get her into trouble. So Spike watched her carefully for her own safety. "Have you met our hostess?" he asked her. "This place is really something." "Cozy Glow?" she said. "Horrible little woman, nowhere near as wealthy as you, and so odd. I'll fetch her for you. Oh, I don't believe I've had the pleasure," she added, eyeing Shining. "How rude of me," Spike said. "Cadence Amore, this is Police Captain Shining Armor." Cadence smiled sweetly at him before looking down demurely and Shining Armor gave her a reassuring smile in return. "I don't believe I've had the pleasure," Shining Armor began. "The pleasure is mine," Cadence replied as she linked her arm in his. "Ooh. Feel that muscle," she thought. She was enthralled. It was then that Spike caught sight of a younger woman with pale, curly hair and decked out in frilly clothes walking toward them. The flush on her face was from either sexual activity or anger. It was hard to tell in the odd light and drowning scents; the washed-out blue light of the club had turned her face ghoulish. "Spike Zenith, meet--" Cadence began. "Cozy Glow," the other woman replied. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure. Can you appreciate my club, Mr. Zenith? It's one of the city's tallest buildings. Almost as tall as your nest, the Zenith Industries' Twin Towers, unless I'm mistaken." "It certainly is impressive," Spike admitted. "Did I hear that you're planning to lease out everything below this club? It stands to reason, developments like this aren't cheap." "Many thought it was impractical to open a nightclub so close to the suburbs, but it turned out fantastic!" Cozy Glow effused in a way that set Spike's teeth on edge, but he just nodded in return. "I'd say my business is safe." She continued to speak--she was the kind of being who could make an Immortal wish for an early grave--but Spike ignored her, shifting his eyes and ears to scan the club again. "Did you see her? She is so disgusting!" "Building or no building, she's not one of us," "That freak? Never," "And that hairstyle? Dreadful!" Clearly, they thought little of Cozy Glow. When Spike finally decided to start listening to her again, she had changed the subject to Spike's charitable contributions. "Now, I'm all in favor of charity, but your donations are costing your corporation over a trillion dollars a year. And one can't help but wonder... What are you getting out of it?" "What am I getting out of it?" Spike asked. "Zenith Aviation, Zenith Airlines, Zenith Automotive, Construction, Demolition, Electric, Energy, Foods, Oil, Pharmaceuticals, Shipping, Steel, Biotech, Weapons... not to mention clinics and shelters for the homeless." "Which is why your recent acquisition of Canter Zoom Studios makes no sense to me," Cozy Glow said. "You should be getting rid of dead weight, not acquiring it." Spike wasn't a dragon to waste anything, especially not treasure; and he appreciated a shiny investment as much as the next man, but he wouldn't fund a new business regardless of its potential return. Besides, he was only there to make an appearance. But the woman made a point. Despite critical acclaim, the now former actress Golden Harvest's films Chairwoman of the Board (she'd been using her stage name "Carrot Top" at the time) and Quest for Canterlot had recovered less than a quarter of their inflated budgets in the few months since their release. Such high-profile failures, combined with increased attention from the IRS, meant that Canter Zoom Studios was no longer a viable business. "I agree," he replied. "That is why I am getting rid of Canter Zoom Studios." "Spike, all those people and their jobs!" Celestia exclaimed. "Ah, Spike, that is brilliant!" Cozy Glow said. "You buy the studio in bankruptcy, level the sound stages, subdivide... Why didn't I think of that?" "No," Spike answered. "I am keeping the film studio open like I said." "Well, of course. Then you go in, bust up the union, slash benefits, and then sell the company?" Cozy assumed. "No," Spike said. "I give it away." "You what?" she asked flatly. "I modernize and retool it into Zenith Studios, Zenith Entertainment, Zenith Records, Zenith Television... and then I turn control of the studio over to the workers," Spike concluded. "Spike, that's a wonderful plan!" Luna said. Cozy Glow's gaze wandered to Desert Sage, who was mingling with another of Spike's old friends, a tall, impressive, powerfully-built male with dark hair. Right now, she was taking in the sight of his muscles, practically on display through his tight shirt. "Oh, Scorpan, you really must let me throw you a party," she was saying. "Perhaps Scorpan has other plans," Spike put in. "On the contrary, sounds like fun," the other man replied. "Will you include Mr. Zenith?" "Oh, no," Desert Sage sneered in reply. "Spike is having a fling in Tahayiti. He has his own parties." "Yes, I've read about some of his parties," Scorpan answered. "Oh, they're wonderful," said Fleur. "I have never known a man like him. He can keep a hundred women in the air at once and make each one happy." "Yes, amazing," Desert Sage droned. "Sort of a contemporary Casanova..." Spike visibly cringed at that; nobody had called him Casanova since 1343. "No, there is a difference," Celestia disagreed. "Spike's predecessor was forced to climb balconies and fight duels, and, as I understand it, keep his women separate and apart. Now Spike, on the other hand, drives a motorcycle, enters with a key, and resorts to collective bargaining." "But they both have something in common," Desert Sage said. "And what is that, Miss Sage?" Luna asked. "Maybe it's best forgotten," "Spike doesn't mind," Fleur said. "Everyone takes a shot at him sooner or later." "Go ahead," Spike dared her. "Well, it seems to me, that any bachelor who has never desired the basic rewards of wife and family, who finds it necessary to occupy the major portion of his life making one conquest after another is trying to prove something that he can never possibly prove," Desert Sage said. "And what's that?" Spike asked. "That he's a man," she stated. "It's somewhat complicated, but basically sound." "Not very original; that theory has become a tired cliche," Fleur retorted. "But true," Desert Sage said about Spike. "I wouldn't know; I've never been on the couch," he countered. "That's part of your problem," she said saucily. "Spike, are you going to take that?" Fleur asked. "Yes, as a matter of fact. My wound is hurting rather badly. Now excuse me. I feel ill," he said as he deliberately turned his back on the bitch in tight pants and strode off into the crowd. "Well, I'll be damned," Scorpan said. Spike looked like he was genuinely upset. "I can't believe you!" Cadence said at Desert Sage. "Well, that just goes to prove there's a first time for everything," she replied. There was no need for Spike to stay--he had talked to the owner, paid his respects, and made his appearance. Nothing more was required of him, and the scents were starting to crawl under his skin. He'd had enough of the throbbing music, the pervasive pheromones, and the absolute knowledge that he would not be partaking of female flesh tonight--or any night--while scum like Desert Sage would find some pleasure here. If Spike stayed, he would only snuff the incipient peace he represented. And he could not allow his frustrations to needlessly stoke a war with his human antagonists, not now. Unfortunately, his path to the exit lay through the myriad of bodies clutching drink-filled glasses in sweaty hands. Spike tried to leave, but Celestia caught up to him. "Why do you have to go?" she asked. She was clearly wondering Spike's intent as she gave him a concerned look, even more so since he'd forgotten his human manners. "I have to go because life is unfair and I have responsibilities," he stated in reply. "Do you wish me to accompany you, my liege?" she added in a whisper. "No. Tell Fleur and Fancy Pants to watch over the party. Alert Luna and Scorpan once they're finished," He scanned the room once again, but Cozy Glow was nowhere in sight. "I have a feeling our hostess showing her face here was a ruse; Tirek is still out there... he may be scouting his next target. And I am no one's lord here, Tia. I am Spike Zenith, rich playboy." Celestia gave him a sharp nod then he turned his back on her and strode away, his father's words rushed through his mind: "This is your burden and you must bear it alone. It is your destiny. I know you can rise to meet it." The trillionaire socialite's tall figure melted into the crowd... and quickly through it. Moon Dancer's smile faded as she looked at Spike's gift when he took off. Within moments he was nowhere to be found. . Spike disappeared through a pair of service doors marked for employees only, ran down the deserted service corridor, then down the stairwell, quickening his pace with every step. The sounds of the party drifted down from high above as the playboy exited Club Pegasus in silence... and became something else. "I'm sorry to leave you, Moon Dancer," he thought. As soon as Spike was out the door and around the corner, his senses sharpened, as they always did for battle. It was an ancient reflex, but one that served him well, even now in the modern city of New Canterlot. He snuck into the doorway of the building next door as Lucky Clover and Wild Fire approached from the other end of the sidewalk, and he watched as a single unsavory figure stepped out from the shadows behind them. Then five more emerged from various hiding places and surrounded the young couple, blocking their path. One of the thugs slugged Lucky Clover to the ground while the others grabbed his girlfriend, passing her between them, one to another, until they threw her against the rough brick wall of the alley. The other five thugs--let's call them Jaded, Tracks, Shielding, Gruff and Fish--closed in on her while the sixth, E-Jump, was already going through Lucky Clover's pockets to see what he could find. "Hey, all right. Equestrian Express card," he chuckled as he fingered the notes inside the wallet. "Don't leave home without it." Shielding, one of the attackers as well as E-Jump's butt buddy, couldn't help looking around, even though there was nothing there but darkness. "I'm getting out of here," he said. "I feel like someone's watching us." "You always feel like someone's watching you," E-Jump replied. "It's different this time," "I've heard that one before too," Jaded commented. "I'm serious. There's something out there. Something bad," Shielding went on. "They're saying there's this... this thing... walks the streets at night, taking people." "What do you mean 'thing'?" Tracks asked. "Some kind of creature," Shielding said. "It's got horns, flies... Some say it talks, and that it used to be a person." "What's it want?" E-Jump asked. "Nobody knows," Shielding replied. "After what happened to Flare Spark--" "Hey, look, man, Flare Spark was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. No big loss," "No, man. That ain't what I heard at all... I heard that the Dragon got her," "The Dragon? Give me a break," "Five stories straight down. There wasn't no blood in her body," "No, shit! It was all over the pavement!" E-Jump exclaimed. "It's just a story!" "Are you kiddin'?" "Think about it. Everyone's always saying something different. He's ten feet tall, he's got fangs, powerful coils like a snake, lightning-fast reflexes, stunning good looks, and he can fly... It's just people making excuses for getting their asses handed to them!" "Oh, he's real. And he's dangerous. And he's not gonna stop till he's taken all of us down. It's only a matter of time before he comes for us, too," "Listen to me. That ain't no such thing as an 'Equestrian Dragon'!" E-Jump shouted. "Now, you want your cut of this or not?" While they were arguing, Fish's eyes flicked to Wild Fire's breasts as tears streamed down her face and she screamed, not wanting to die. "Shut up. Shut up!" Gruff yelled. His rank breath hit her face as he unfolded a knife and pressed the blade to her throat as Tracks glanced toward the corner of the alley. Something caught his eye. Movement, at the corner of his field of vision. Suddenly, a roar came from behind the warehouse window. It was so loud it made their ears ring. Then a claw half the size of the young woman's body smashed through the window, carving through the glass as if it were paper. She ducked, flattening herself against the wall, just in time to see an immense dark shape charge out and into Gruff, the thug that had threatened her. It punched him in the head, knocking him out cold, and the other thugs turned to face whatever it was that had just crashed their mugging. They whipped their heads around and their gaze focused on something that made the blood drain from their faces. Something darker than the night... It was their attacker. For a brief moment, nothing in the alley moved. E-Jump and his boys were awestruck. A man was stepping out of the shadows... no, not a man. At first, it seemed nothing but shadow and silhouette, something that didn't look human. It stepped unerringly toward them, moving at a deliberate, slow pace that was more frightening than speed. It had no need to hurry. A giant, winged creature, neither man nor beast, towered over them. It had a scaled body as tall as the first story of the nearby buildings and almost as wide as the sidewalk itself. They saw the great leathery wings folded against the beast's sides. They saw a long snaky neck that ended in a great wedge of a head, the same deep purple as the rest of the creature, and it had blazing emerald eyes and a mouth full of teeth like railroad spikes. And their minds grasped the meaning of those attributes: Dragon. The mighty Equestrian Dragon stood unmoving, his wings billowing in the night breeze. Then the Dragon's eyes narrowed, his mouth tightened, his claws on his front legs slowly balled into fists. In the silence of the night, those gestures spoke louder than any words ever could. Wild Fire thought she should have kept screaming, maybe it would bring help, though she couldn't image what sort of help would be effective against a dragon. But her throat was tight, numb. This wasn't happening. This couldn't be happening. "You're a dead man!" E-Jump shouted as he grabbed his fallen comrade's knife. "Come on, let's get him!" Through the Equestrian Dragon's eyes, Time seemed to slow and a series of flashes highlighted the various weapons that appeared in each of the bastards' hands; a pipe wrench, a wooden baseball bat, the knife, a broken glass bottle, and a crowbar. The guy with the crowbar, Shielding, was the first to try his luck. The Dragon easily took him down by slamming the cretin's head into the tail light of a car parked at the curb nearby, smashing bits of it into the thug's face, and he dropped to the pavement. The Dragon ducked under a swing from Fish, the one with the monkey wrench, who smashed in the car's rear window. The Dragon punched Fish in the back of his head, took the wrench from him, and struck the bottle-wielding Jaded in the leg with it. Then the Dragon took the bat-wielding Tracks' weapon from him, whacked Tracks in the knee, threw the wrench in the guy's face, then followed up with a roundhouse kick, knocking the poor sucker over the car and into the street behind him. The Dragon then kicked the knife-holding E-Jump in the chest, bashed Jaded in the face with one of his claws, then turned and punched E-Jump in the teeth, sending blood flying from his mouth and through the air, as he landed roughly on the sidewalk at the end of the alley. Then something came from inside E-Jump, a hopeless sound... the sound of somebody who was about to die... as he felt the Dragon's claw crushing down onto his head, drawing two tiny streams of blood from the idiot's nostrils. "Don't kill me! Don't kill me, please!" The Dragon growled. "You would think that!" His voice sounded like he was biting into steel. The punk managed to look up at the Dragon's face. Where the monster's eyes should have been were two mirrors, twin reflections of the thug's fear. He cried at the sight of the Dragon's teeth... then he slumped to the ground, out cold. The Equestrian Dragon stood over the unconscious punks, head tilted down, eyes shut, breathing steadily. He turned to look straight at Wild Fire. She was a fighter--that much was clear--but she still gaped at him, watching with a horror that befit what had just happened before her eyes. She was a treasure--he could see that as plain as day in this dark alley--just as sure as he knew he couldn't leave her there. He dashed to her boyfriend's side and knelt. The Dragon scooped Wild Fire and Lucky Clover's inert body into his arms and lifted them from the ground. With a snap of his tail, a mobile phone in one of the thugs' pockets was quickly freed. Still using his tail, the Dragon dialed 911 and tossed the device into the dirt. The police would track the signal and they would come for them, but he and the young couple could no longer be here. The Dragon flapped his wings as he gripped the young woman and her boyfriend in his claws and lifted them into the air. He flew them to the nearest hospital, setting them down gently on the helicopter pad up on the roof, then his wings unfurled once again to grab the light breeze and loft himself up through the jungle of the buildings of downtown. The cool night air washed away the scent of the club, and the churning agitation inside him stepped down a notch. His claws tucked tight and his wings spread broad, he stretched his neck, easing the last of the tension, as he took off into the sky. What he really needed was a good hard fly, over the distant mountains and the Celestial Sea back to the Highlands where he belonged. But his duty was here. He existed for the sole purpose of keeping the mortal and immortal worlds apart, as they should be. For thousands of years, a treaty between magical creatures and dragon kind had protected the soft, delicate humans. . The Equestrian Dragon swooped over the highway and circled out over the countryside, leaving the city behind. He stretched his senses out to the forest and all the living species it held, searching for the demonic centaur. Five minutes later, two and one quarter miles into Unicorn territory, the Dragon picked up Tirek's scent, the stench of smoke and sulfur--the whiff of something magical. He instinctively banked toward the scent, tracking it like the hunter he was. He dipped toward the trees of the forest, but his enhanced senses of smell and hearing found the source before his eyesight. Tirek was literally beating the life out of his victim. "I'm going to ask you one last time," he said. "Where is the Equestrian Dragon?" "Right behind you," the Equestrian Dragon growled lowly. The Equestrian Dragon had tucked his wings tight for maximum speed, landed, and unfurled his wings and stomped hard to get Tirek's attention. His wings shot out to break his fall, then tucked hard and fast to furl against his body. The demonic centaur turned away from the white unicorn and was about to engage the Equestrian Dragon when the pink Pegasus stepped between them. "Allow me," she told Tirek. "I have unfinished business with this one." The pink Pegasus flew at the Equestrian Dragon, who spat a fireball into his right claw and threw it at her like a baseball. She rolled to the side and the fiery fastball flew by her. Then she ran at him and he swept her legs out from under her with his tail. The pink Pegasus leapt at the Equestrian Dragon, who deftly blocked and dodged her attacks. She then ran along the spines across his back until his tail wrapped around her neck like a noose and he hurled her into a tree. "Enough!" Tirek shouted. "Equestrian Dragon, prepare to become a pair of boots!" The demonic centaur began to conjure an energy bolt when the Equestrian Dragon spat three fireballs in rapid succession at Tirek, and the demonic centaur quickly blocked them with his gauntlets. The first two bounced off his arms but the third knocked him back. Then the Equestrian Dragon breathed a jet of fire at Tirek, sending him to the forest floor. He repelled more of the Equestrian Dragon's fire attacks as he got to his hooves, and fired more bolts of magical energy. The Dragon evaded them by flying between the trees and spat another fireball at Tirek, striking the demonic centaur's shoulder. Tirek tumbled back and threw more orange energy bolts, two of which struck the Equestrian Dragon, knocking him down. Tirek ducked and dodged more of the Equestrian Dragon's fiery breaths. Then the demonic centaur lunged and tried to punch the Equestrian Dragon, but the Dragon flew out of the way. Tirek swung again, missed, and wound up punching the ground. Then the Equestrian Dragon struck Tirek across the face and spat three more fireballs, which Tirek deflected before conjuring up more orange orbs between his horns. The Equestrian Dragon flicked three of them away with his tail, caught the fourth and destroyed it with his fire breath. "Is that all you've got?" he asked Tirek. As Lord Tirek conjured more orange bolts, the Equestrian Dragon blocked them with a breath of emerald fire as the stream of flame and the zigzagging bolts met in the center of the clearing. Tirek's face twisted in concentration and his bolts overcame the Equestrian Dragon, driving him to the ground yet again. "No one defeats Lord Tirek, boy!" Tirek shouted as grabbed the Equestrian Dragon by his wings and repeatedly struck him across the face. With an evil smirk, Tirek conjured an orange orb with both hands, which grew larger and larger as the Equestrian Dragon struggled to stand. "At least you learned one lesson before your end," Tirek said. "You're not strong enough to beat me on your own!" "You're right," the Dragon groaned. "I'm not... but they are." As he breathed fire at Tirek, the demonic centaur blocked it and was struck from behind by Celestia, Luna, and a handsome brown gargoyle wielding a magic Staff. "Scorpan!" Tirek snarled. "Hello, brother," the gargoyle replied. Tirek slapped Scorpan backhanded across the cheek as Scorpan landed a right hook to Tirek's face, and Tirek reeled back when Celestia and Luna delivered a series of flying kicks and magic-infused punches to the demonic centaur and his Pegasus sidekick. Then, while Celestia and Luna fired a massive blast of their light and dark magic upon them, Scorpan took his medallion, held it out in front of him along with his Staff, and began to chant an incantation. "Acum în lumea interlopă cu tine! Acum în lumea interlopă cu tine! Acum în lumea interlopă cu tine!" which roughly translated meant: "To the underworld with you!" In other words, Scorpan was banishing his brother to Tartarus. And thus, Tirek and Cozy Glow were expelled in an explosion of fire and lightning. When the flash of the combined banishment spell subsided and the smoke finally cleared, the Equestrian Dragon stumbled, fighting to stand. "Spike, are you all right?" Celestia asked. "No, I am in a staggering amount of pain," he grunted as he tried to get to his feet. He had beaten Lord Tirek but not without great cost. His left shoulder throbbed with a fierce burning that caused him to fall against a nearby tree with a groan, and he ran his fingers over his wound. "That banishment spell will not hold them forever," Spike said. "They'll be back." "And we will be ready for them," Luna replied. Spike reeled on her and Celestia, his mouth curled back in a snarl about to snap at them when he stopped short. But they stood their ground and stared right back at him as though he were not intimidating at all. "Stop trying to help me," he said. "We will not," Luna stated as she planted her hands on her hips and stuck out her chest. Spike could see the well-defined curves of her breasts under her sweat dampened armor, her hard abs beneath flowing into well-rounded thighs. He clenched his jaw so tight it ached. "Let's get you back to the castle so we can patch you up," Celestia said. The Dragon growled as he squared his shoulders, determined to fly away again. "Scorpan... thank you," he said at last. The gargoyle prince nodded as he tended to the injured unicorn and Spike knew that the two sisters were still standing behind him, watching him as he took to the sky. And so we begin... a long, long, upward climb... > The Next Steps . New Canterlot City was sick... maybe dying. The shadows of chaos were spreading, sinking their talons into whatever bit of flesh they could find. Demons, cultists, sorcerers, the enemies of the light were multiplying, waiting to strike... . The Equestrian Dragon landed and uncloaked at the same time, conjuring his clothes to cover his naked human form and stomping hard with black boots on the pavement, and his wings retracting into his upper back to complete the transformation. After his battle with Tirek, Spike ran along the dark streets of New Canterlot City. The stars were shining like diamonds high above, but he didn't pay much attention to them or where he was going. As he ran through the empty Beaumount Park, there wasn't a soul to be seen. His mind was racing; Equestria needed to get back on its feet. He had watched the hatred convulse from afar, hoping humanity and his dragon brethren could settle their differences without intervention... or an excess of bloodshed. Interference created its own problems--keeping the mortal and magical worlds separate was best accomplished when the humans were blissfully unaware, or at least skeptically unbelieving. If the humans couldn't handle knowing that a few monsters, immortals and magic users existed in their midst... Spike paused for a moment when a sudden vapor of scent crossed his nostrils, bringing the taste of soap-scrubbed skin and floral shampoo... and the fresh cotton shirt clinging to her ample chest. His mind filled with her scents. Spike could smell and even taste magic... and his magic tasted all of her. His senses flared, and if he were merely human, he wouldn't have seen the flash of cyan eyes or the swish of pale hair or the press of rose-colored lips. Spike heard her voice--she sounded frightened--as he checked his running speed, confused. He scanned the young woman again--the smell of human was on her for certain... just the delicious human scent that was all her, the scent wrenched his heart. It was Fluttershy and she was standing, talking with another young woman, under a street lamp in the park, which shined down on them like a spotlight. She was little more than twenty-years-old and extremely petite. Her skin was pale, she had slim hips, tiny hands, and she had a short bob haircut that framed a face with a high forehead and enormous eyes. Her eyes were a light cyan and looked like twin pools of tragedy, and under them were a small nose and small mouth. "I'm sorry, Coco. But my heart already belongs to someone else," Fluttershy said. "W... What do you mean by that?" Coco asked. "I can't believe it! Who is it?!" Her voice matched her physique: small and delicate. "He's... Well... When I was a little girl... I got hurt and started crying. This nice boy came over and asked me if I was all right. That man... I want to see him again and tell him how I really felt at that time. But I can't remember what he looked like!!" Coco gasped. "No! How can you find him if you don't remember what he looks like?" "You may be right. But if I see him again... I believe I would recognize him. I'd just be able to... sense it. Something like this only happens once in a lifetime!" Fluttershy bit one corner of her lower lip as she glanced around the park... and there he was. She stared in awestruck rapture at the hulking figure. The morning light reflected in his green eyes accentuating the gold flecks making them shimmer. "Spike, what are you doing out here this late at night?" she asked. "I was just out for a walk," he lied. "What were you doing just now?" "Rehearsing lines from a play," Fluttershy replied. "Those were just lines from a play?" he asked. Spike's expression was serious, but it wasn't like the almost businesslike serious he had on back at the university. For the first time in a long time, there was a distinct air of earnestness about him as he gazed at her. "Coco and I always come here to practice," she said. "It's a really beautiful story I want to do if I can revive the University's Theatre department." "That was beautiful," he breathed. "Would you like to come in for cocoa?" Coco asked. Her heart pounded as she pointed across Beaumount Park. "I'm just one block over." Spike smile as he replied, "Yes, please." . When Coco Pommel agreed to meet Fluttershy in the park that morning, she had no idea it would end with taking a sexy stranger back to her apartment. She didn't know what possessed her to make the offer to him. In fact, she didn't know why she continued to talk to him or allow him to follow her. She immediately sensed something different about this guy. She could tell there was something otherworldly and ancient about him, something that made him stand out from others. He didn't have the same air about him that she was used to seeing in everyone else who lived in New Canterlot City. This distinct difference captured and held her attention. He was gorgeous. When he unfolded his tall body, she swooned. His green hair was disheveled like he'd been through Tartarus. His striking emerald eyes were impossible not to notice. His clothes were dirty and stained with blood. His face was all hard lines and razor-sharp angles and all she wanted was to run her fingertips over them to see if she'd come away with cuts on her skin. Twenty minutes later, they made it to the front steps of her building and Coco jogged up to open the door. It was a Bronclyn-style brownstone, a nice place to live. Coco inhaled as she unlocked the front door to the building and pushed it open. When she turned back, she could see his concentrated effort to pull himself up the stairs, his white-knuckled hand on the steel handrail as he took one step then another until he made it to the top. His face was bathed in a fine sheen of sweat. She could hear his labored breathing and knew it was taking a lot out of him. Spike and Fluttershy followed her inside and they slipped into the elevator. Her apartment was on the second floor, and it was laid out the way Spike had guessed. The den seemed to be the heart of the home. It was a pretty space, ordinary brick walls with painted cabinets and the kitchen counters were tidy but there was enough disarray to make the place feel lived in. There was no evidence of a second person living in the apartment. "Please, have a seat," Coco said. Spike sat down on the sofa as Coco walked to the kitchen, and instead of rinsing and filling her kettle, she took out a small sauce pan and filled it with whole milk instead of water. As the milk heated over a low flame, she prepared a sterling silver tea service. She opened one of the cabinets, took out two white teacups made of perfectly delicate material with lips almost as thin as paper, placed them right side up on two saucers, and spooned cocoa into the cups. After whisking the milk, she carefully poured it from the pan into the silver teapot and placed it on the silver serving tray, along with a silver cream pitcher and a matching sugar bowl filled with miniature marshmallows. Meanwhile, Fluttershy had trotted off to the bathroom. She paused for a brief moment to check her reflection in the mirror after washing her hands. Frowning, she splashed a little cold water on her reddening face--from embarrassment--and she fluffed up her hair with her hands before joining him on the sofa in the living room area. A minute later, Coco came back with the tea service. She carried it across the room, gently set it down on the coffee table, filled the cocoa-filled cups from the silver teapot, and immediately from the aroma Spike knew it was going to be a great one. "Here you go," she said. Coco carefully placed the two teacups, both still balanced on saucers, in front of Spike and Fluttershy then backed away and sat down in the armchair across from them. Spike raised the cup and took a sip of the cocoa--he believed that a dish ought to serve its contents--it was perfect: hot, strong, smooth, and a great cup. He looked across the table at Coco and said, "It's excellent. Thank you." Coco paused; the corners of her mouth softened like the beginning of a smile, and she said, "You're welcome." She had a pretty smile but didn't use it often. As he looked at her, Spike could see other emotions in her eyes: fear, shyness, loneliness... and horniness. God, she was horny... and stupid. She felt stupid for taking him back to her apartment. She knew better than to pick up a strange man in the park. She also knew better than to want to pick up a strange man in the park and want him to fuck her senseless. Had she lost her mind? She didn't know him. All she knew was that Fluttershy knew him and something drove her to make sure that he was okay. "So, you're Spike Zenith?" she asked. "Yes," he replied. "And unless I'm mistaken, this used to be the city's library, wasn't it?" "It still is," Coco answered. "All the books that don't get read much are kept in storage here for safe keeping. I guess you could call it the city's archive building. We even have old videos, records, cassette tapes, even micro film." Spike was glad to hear that. "I was under the impression that this building had been converted into another damn coffeehouse." "I get all sorts of people in this building," Coco shared. She took Spike's cup from him and refilled it. Then she topped off Fluttershy's cup before sitting down again. This time, he drank slowly. That's when he noticed a flyer on the table, beside the tea service, advertising an outdoor production held at Beaumount Park. Spike remembered that Charity Kindheart was a well-known costume designer on Bridleway who started the Midsummer Theatre as a way to share her passion for theater with the neighborhood. No matter how busy she was, she always made time for it. But after she moved away to be closer to her grandchildren, New Canterlot lost the special tradition she had started... and its sense of community along with it. Coco was very upset. When Spike asked if anyone had stepped in to take over for Charity, Coco said that she had tried, but she wasn't the type who could handle such things easily... and her lack of volunteers had made it even more difficult. "'Please help us revive our long-lost but beloved tradition, the Midsummer Theatre. Guest performances by local theater troupes, including The Method Men, as well as games, food, and much more, this event promises to bring our neighbors together and restore our sense of community, but there's so much to do...'" Spike read the flyer out loud. "Okay, first of all, you should drop that last bit. You won't get anywhere unless you get volunteers, but you don't want to come across as desperate, either. Talk to me as if I had just come to check things out for the first time," he instructed. "Keep calm, breathe and enunciate carefully." "Welcome. I am Coco Pommel. Thank you so much for coming today," she began. Spike raised his hand as if to ask a question. "Why do you want to do drama, anyway?" "Ever since I was little, I've missed all the schools' plays, because I was always sick," Fluttershy answered. "I was so set on joining the Drama Club in high school, but I was absent for most of my senior year so I couldn't even participate in practices. Even now in college, I'm not able to go to class much, but I've always wanted to do a play. I think it would be fun for everyone to come together, working together with everyone to create something beautiful... I think that's a wonderful thing." "I think that's perfect," Spike told her. "You were able to say exactly what you wanted to because you spoke from your heart. I think you should tell them that at the briefing." "No, you should be the leader," Coco said to him. "I'm only helping you out. Zenith Industries has no interest in the Midsummer Theatre. Even if it is revived, I won't join," he replied. "You're the one who should be in charge of the activities. In the end, it's the leader who makes the decisions. There are plays you want to do, aren't there? You said there was one you wanted to do? What sort of play is it?" "It's the story of a girl, haunted by the memory of the man of her dreams, and she is determined to wait until she finds him again," Fluttershy said. "You may cry, but I hope that everyone will be touched by it..." When Spike glanced out the window, Coco asked, "Is something wrong?" "I was just thinking there are some really unique characters in this city," he said. "Thank you for the cocoa." It took some effort for her to form words. "You're welcome." "I'll see myself out," Coco and Fluttershy watched him go, a sudden pain of loss shooting through them. They pressed their lips together, refusing to call out to him. They didn't want to sound like a couple of desperate women, but they didn't want to see him leave either. As he walked out the door and out of her building, Fluttershy received message on her pager. It was from Photo Finish, once one of New Canterlot University's foreign exchange students, now a young, up-and-coming fashion photographer. "Fluttershy, I have just bought a new camera. Please, let me film you again." Photo Finish loved to take pictures and record videos--the former was more than just a hobby--and Fluttershy was her favorite model. Fluttershy was flattered, naturally, even though she felt that there had to be somebody, anybody, more qualified, more into fashion and more comfortable in the spotlight than she was and/or ever could be. "Wouldn't it be easier for her to film something more interesting?" she asked. "There must be something more exciting for her to take pictures of than me." "There isn't anything more interesting, or cuter, than you Fluttershy!" Coco said. It was true. Nobody had her beauty, grace, elegance and poise. Fluttershy blushed. . Spike walked under a cloudy sky, alone, to Dr. Fauna's office. He didn't mind having to go see Dr. Fauna, mostly because she was a babe. Being a dragon, he couldn't go and see a regular doctor; among other things, his innate strength and resilience had been growing steadily since birth, but his natural fight-or-flight response created a hyper-stimulated state, which manifested as incendia respiro (fire breathing). Suddenly, Spike heard something, something distinct, like the sound of a motorcycle, and someone calling his name. He jumped out of the way, flattening himself against a chain link fence, as a young woman on a blue motorbike dubbed "the Aviator" passed him. It was Scootaloo. She was wearing her old dirt bike riding outfit--white leather with red accents shaped like lightning bolts--and black fingerless gloves. She braked hard, taking off her helmet, and asked, "Are you all right?" "Were you trying to kill me?!" he yelled at her. "You should watch where you're going!" Scootaloo wiped a tear from her eye with the back of her hand. "I'm sorry. I'm not used to driving this thing," she said truthfully. "I just got my license last week." "You better be grateful that I don't have you arrested for gross negligence and attempted manslaughter!" he told her. "From now on, be more careful." She promised, putting her helmet back on, and sped off. After she was gone, Sandra the wolf bounded out from the bushes, her excitement clear as she nuzzled against Spike's leg, her tail wagging, seeking his attention. The waiting room was deserted when they walked into the veterinary clinic. Except for Candy Mane, the receptionist, there was nobody else there. Normally, there would have been a kid with a snake, a farmer with one of his pigs, someone with an exotic bird and a magician with a tiger by now. "Spike and Sandra to see Dr. Fauna," he told Candy. "Please take a seat, Mr. Zenith," she replied. "I will call you when she's ready." Spike was there for a routine check-up. He was the one getting the check-up, but he had to bring Sandra along to keep up the charade. Seven and a half minutes later, Candy led the way to the examination room. The room was pleasant and bright. "Dr. Fauna will be with you in a moment," she said. Sandra sat in the corner of the room while Spike sat on top of the large, stainless steel examination table; his green eyes flickered around the room, looking for quick escape routes. Then he watched apprehensively as Dr. Fauna entered and locked the door behind her. She did not want to risk the possibility of anyone walking in on them. "Well, hello," she greeted him, almost flirtatiously. "It's good to see you." Dr. Fauna smiled warmly at him as she approached the end of the table. She was tall and supple, with brown eyes and short hair pulled into a ponytail. She was really attractive; her blouse did little to conceal her pert breasts, confined within a black, lacy bra. Her smile usually made other people smile in response, but Spike's expression didn't change. His eyes met hers for an instant... then he turned his head away to stare out the window. "I gotta say, when I saw your name on my schedule today I was really excited," she said. "Don't worry, just relax, get comfortable, and I will take care of you." As she leaned in close to him, fighting the sudden urge to kiss him, Spike was treated to a glimpse of her tight, round ass. Her eyes flashed as she caught him peeking and shot him a knowing glance, followed by another small smile. "Well, I can see that your eyes are as gorgeous as ever," she told him. "Now let's check your breathing." . Spike knew the drill. He growled softly as he turned his face away from her again, cleared his throat, and reached for the buttons on his shirt. "You know, you don't have to take your shirt off for this first part," she said. "You're just going to ask me to do it later," he replied. "I figured I might as well." "Open wide," she said as she looked down his throat. "Thank you. Now..." Dr. Fauna's chest heaved; her breathing came in short, rapid bursts, as she placed a thermometer between Spike's lips--he was thankful that she was taking it orally--then placed her stethoscope over his ribcage and listened to his heart. She did all the usual things: checking his vitals, took his pulse, normal; his blood pressure was a little high, and heart rate, which was strong and steady. His core temperature was 2,500 degrees, which he assured her was normal for dragons. "Ooh, my goodness!" she breathed. "Okay, let me get some gloves on..." She explored his body, almost caressing his skin, from his strong shoulders all the way down his abdomen. Then came her favorite part of the exam: where he stood up, dropped his pants and showed her what was between his legs. He failed to see how that was relevant to his examination, but she told him it was. "Wow," Dr. Fauna whispered. Spike was a beautiful physical specimen... and he would be lying if he didn't think her body was beautiful. Dr. Fauna's eyes were transfixed on Spike as she felt around his loins. She massaged his penis, gently cupping his testicles with one hand, then he winced as she gingerly ran a finger between his buttocks with her other hand. It was then that Spike began to notice that Dr. Fauna's breathing had become much heavier... and the look on her face said, "Yes, I am enjoying this too." But it wasn't until Spike inhaled deeply that Dr. Fauna realized just what she was doing. She gasped and slowly drew back, apologizing profusely for crossing an ethical line, and told him that he could put his clothes on. "I wish all of my patients were like you," she said. "And it does not hurt that you're easy on the eyes," she added to herself. Spike snorted black smoke as he asked, "You want to say that a little louder? I think the receptionist out in your waiting room didn't quite hear you." "You don't have anything to worry about," she said, showing him the silver ring that he had given her. "Your secret's safe with me." She wore it on her finger like an engagement ring, but it was the symbol of her loyalty. "So, we're done here?" he asked, straightening his pants. "Well, I think that we have got to get you out more," she went on. "Have you given any more thought about having dinner with me some night?" "I don't feel safe around you," he replied. "Besides, you might yawn yourself to death." After what she had just done, he didn't think that would be very professional. It was never a good idea to start romantically seeing someone one met on a regular basis. "Why would someone like you ever want to go out with someone like me?" he asked. "You're smart, sweet, brave, warm, loyal and kind... when you want to be," she said. Spike was surprised by that. "All right, if it means that much to you... I'll go out with you," he said. She gasped. "Really?" "I hate to see grown women cry," he said, "especially ones who take pity on suffering, dumb animals like me." "There. Now, was that so bad?" she asked. "Oh, just give me the treat," he replied as he finished putting his shirt back on. Dr. Fauna gave him a kiss on the cheek... and her personal number before he left. "If you ever need anything... even after hours... just give me a call," she said hopefully. She kissed him again as he left and added, "It's always a pleasure." . As Spike walked through the parking lot, up to the entrance to the University's basketball gym, he could feel the students eyeing him. They were such simple-minded humans it was too easy for Spike to figure out what they were thinking. "Look, it's the gorgeous Zenith guy!" "He always looks so perfect," "It's weird, because I really want him to like me but I also kinda want him to die a little," "Um, e-excuse us, we just wanted to say g-good morning. That's all," Ocean Spray said. "Well, hello," Spike replied as he walked on. "He's so hot," Berryshine sighed. "His smile is perfect, too." "He's got to have, like, a way hot girlfriend," Golden Harvest added. "She must be awesome," Daisy agreed. "I don't know," said Rose. "He doesn't seem the sort to be madly in love with anybody." "Come on, I know there's more going on there," Lily replied. As Spike entered the gymnasium, he nodded to Applejack, Fluttershy, Sunset Shimmer, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and Rarity, who were dressed in workout clothes, doing aerobics, and they waved back at him, catching the attention of a trio of jerks who glared at him. The first was Zappityhoof, the slim, smug and vicious de facto leader of the gang, and as such was usually the most sensible in making important decisions, yet was very childish for the most part despite her intelligence. Then there was Goldcap, whose frizzy hair made her stand out in any crowd; slender, mischievous and fierce, but rude and dim-witted. And finally Decepticolt, the toned, short-tempered muscle of the trio--and to a greater extend the harshest and most aggressive, even more so since he had only one ear. To everyone else, they were just a group of young punks who suddenly arrived in New Canterlot City one day with the belief that they would be automatically accepted into high society, but Spike knew them as three power-hungry, obsessed witches that had lost their magic long, long ago and caused nothing but trouble. Although the three hung out together, they didn't like most other people and they enjoyed making them miserable... and they especially liked harassing Spike. Before Spike had walked in, Decepticolt had given one of the teachers a slip of paper and said, "Doctor's note." "Again?" Coach Miller asked. "Your doctor already got you out of basketball." "Twisted ankle," "Volleyball," "Pulled a hamstring," "Soccer," "Concussion," "Dodge ball," "Appendix removed," "Baseball," "Ruptured spleen," "Badminton," "Salmonella," "And tiddlywinks," "Tuberculosis scare," Now, the three witches marched up to Spike and Decepticolt got right in his face. "What the Tartarus do you want?" Spike asked as they approached him. "I didn't appreciate having the police knock on my door," Decepticolt said. "I don't like people making me look bad, Zenith. Especially jerks like you." "You mean making you look bad in front of your whores," Spike countered. "I still can't believe you're scared of them." "You think you're better than me?" Decepticolt asked. "Everyone's better than you. Accept it," Spike replied. "And what is that smell, did you bathe in raw sewage this morning? Do the world a favor: go through the car wash... with your mouth open. Now, it's time for your line. It should go something like this: 'Duh!'" "You and me, outside, now!" Decepticolt shouted. Suddenly, Fluttershy slapped Decepticolt and he turned and stared wide-eyed at her. "Keep your hands off him, Decepticolt," she said firmly. "Just leave him alone." "Decepticolt, hit the showers!" Coach Miller stated. "You're done." "She hit me!" Decepticolt shouted. "And I will deal with it," Miller said. "You, hit the showers." Decepticolt towered over Fluttershy and told her, "One of these days, Fluttershy, with or without Spike, something really bad is going to happen to you." That's when Coach Miller grabbed Decepticolt by his one ear and led him away, saying, "Well, Fluttershy, you can throw down when you want to." Straightening her shirt, Fluttershy turned and said, "Sorry, Spike, that wasn't--" "Thanks," he cut her off. As he turned from her, Fluttershy didn't miss the way he brushed against her. The way his sleeve whispered across her breasts. Her nipples instantly went hard and erect, hardening into painful peaks beneath her shirt for the whole world to see. She was grateful that no one saw it... except him. She wanted Spike to see but he had ignored it as he started to walk off. A sigh escaped Fluttershy as a curl formed at the corner of Spike's mouth. A shiver of pleasure traveled down her spine and she subconsciously licked her lips as he walked away. His scent of smoky wood and smoked meat filled her nostrils, making her dizzy. His touch made her want to lose all self-control; it made her feel pure happiness and ecstasy. It ignited a fire inside her that threatened to consume her and everything she held dear. Spike and Fluttershy were each other's protectors. She was one of the very few women willing to approach him. He was always too serious, too intense, mostly because everyone else found him so unnerving... but she still couldn't figure out what was bothering him. Then her fantasies came to an abrupt end when she heard Applejack taking a bite out of an apple and saying, "Fluttershy, don't tell me ya're still obsessin' over Spike." The crunch had shaken her out of her reverie and she cleared her throat, trying her best to act natural. It was hard to do when her traitorous body wanted to melt into a puddle at his feet. "I am not," she replied hastily. "Oh, please! It's so obvious that you're crushing on him," Rarity went on. "He is so far out of your league--" "He's like Dragonuv burning the 18th at Death Valley, and you're like 9-putting the windmill at Poney Island mini-golf," Pinkie told her. "If you're still hot for Spike, just ask him out already and end this suffering," said Sunset. "Ask him out?" Fluttershy asked. "Right here, right now in the gym? What if he said no? I don't know if I could take that kind of rejection." Fluttershy felt so ridiculous whenever Spike was around that she could barely even form sentences when she talked to him. It was like jumping into the deep end of really cold pool. "If you don't ask him out, I'm gonna literally kick your ass," Rainbow Dash scowled. Fluttershy muttered something as she checked her reflection in the small glass window of one of the gym's doors. She looked like Tartarus. There was no way he'd be attracted to her. She was sweaty from her morning exercises and she smelled like a kid who had been outside all day long. She tugged down her hair, which was tied into a ponytail, but it didn't seem to help. It would have to do. And just as Dash was about to raise her foot and kick her friend in the butt, Fluttershy took a deep breath... and went for it. "Here it goes," she thought. "What's up, Spike?" she began. "I haven't had a chance to talk to you since... since..." But he still wasn't paying attention to her. His eyes were fixed on Rarity, who was now standing in front of one of the vending machines. He walked up to her after she'd made her selection and asked, "You're not seriously planning to drink that, are you, Rarity?" Rarity gasped as she uncorked her soda using the machine's built-in bottle opener. Hearing her name from his mouth--for the first time in a long time--was almost more than she could bear. "Mind your own business, Mister Zenith," she replied haughtily. "Not all of us have the time to properly cook full meals. Besides, sustenance is sustenance, no matter how one takes it." "Do you really believe that?" Spike asked. "If you do, then prove it." "What?" she asked. "I thought we should get better acquainted," he said. "If I didn't, would I be offering to have dinner with you?" "Huh?" Rarity asked, rather stupidly. "I thought we might have dinner tonight," he elaborated. "Tonight, my place, eight o'clock, I am going to make dinner for you as guests in my home." "Wait a minute, 'guests', plural as in 'more than one'?" Pinkie inquired. "That's right. You're all invited. I'll pick you up after class," Spike said. Then he exited the gym. Rarity's mouth hung open in pleasure. She had never expected to be invited to the home of one of the most powerful men in Equestria, the one who made other men quake with fear and women tremble with desire. She swallowed slowly, trying to gather her thoughts. "Wait. Spike lives in that really big mansion, right?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Yes, Pendragon Castle," Fluttershy stated in reply. They were surprised that she actually knew its official name. "You've heard of it?" she asked them. "You mean he actually lives there?" Sunset asked in disbelief. "I know it looks creepy from the outside," Fluttershy admitted. "But, inside, I think it could be kind of... cool." "Yeah, if you drink blood," Rarity commented. "I do not kill God's creatures," Fluttershy told her. "We eat creatures others kill in order to survive," Applejack reminded her. "I do not eat God's creatures," Fluttershy stated. "The thought nauseates me." "Unusual eating habits draw attention," said Pinkie Pie, who knew this better than most. "Then I will pretend to eat whatever is served," Fluttershy replied. "Pretending is good," said Sunset, "but what will you do if served haggis?" "Haggis? What is haggis?" Rarity asked. "It's a sheep's stomach stuffed with meat and barley," Sunset answered. "And what do you do with it?" asked Dash. "Ya eat it!" Applejack told them. "How revolting!" Rarity exclaimed. As the girls returned to the locker room, their minds filled with eager thoughts of Spike's home; they had always wanted to see the inside of it. Their excitement was mixed with nervousness. . After his trip to the University's gym, Spike made a brief stop at the boys' dormitories just off campus. When he walked in, he watched as the school's rugby team beat up Rumble for turning the volume on his CD player all the way up day after day. "I swear, every day it's the same thing," Spike said. "Don't just stand there!" Rumble exclaimed. "Do something! Help me!" That's when Headmistress Cadence came charging down the hallway, waving a broom over her head like it was a sword. "Will you idiots knock it off?!" she shouted. Some of the rugby players returned to their rooms, but most of them ran outside, trying to avoid Cadence's assault. "Those stupid boys," she said. "I'm the one all the damn neighbors complain to!" "It's not easy being Headmistress and a dorm mother, is it?" Spike asked her. "Cadence, you should have come sooner to save me!" Rumble whined. "You are just as much at fault!" she told him. "I hope you've learned your lesson." "Yes, ma'am..." As Spike helped the kid back to his room, he could help but feel a little sorry for him. Rumble was a kind guy who cared for his friends, plus he had a lot of guts. Aside from being hardheaded, he was relatively laid back but scary when he got angry. He got into New Canterlot University on an athletic scholarship (like a lot of the male students); he had been the soccer team's star midfielder... until he was forced to quit partway through the season. During his final game he totally snapped and got in a fight with one of the opposing players. To this day no one knew exactly what it was that set him off, but this much is fact: he knocked out all of the opposing team's front teeth and when his own coach stepped in to stop him, Rumble kicked him in, well... a tender spot. As a result, he was thrown off the team. Now he was little more than a pathetic deadbeat. The dorm Rumble was staying in was supposed to be reserved for students on athletic scholarships, but even though he got kicked off the team he was not budging an inch. And he was always bragging about how long the school had been trying to evict him. In his own words, Rumble had no choice: his parents were poor and he was lazy. At any rate, Spike was the only other person who talked to him. "Damn those rugby team jerk-offs..." Rumble grumbled. "They can't expect me to get a job, pay rent and go to school all at the same time!" "You know no one can hear you when you whisper," Spike told him. "Damn those rugby team jerk-offs!" "Who said that!?!" someone shouted from somewhere in the building. "Are you trying to get me killed?!" Rumble shouted. "You are such a wimp, you know that?" Spike asked. "If it was just one of those guys, I wouldn't give in," Rumble replied. "But just wait, I'll get all of them just before graduation day. Then, Spike Zenith, I'll let you watch my back." "Lucky me..." Spike droned sarcastically. "You're not gonna do it!" "To be honest, I'm more on their side than yours," "Since when?" "Since that day when you--" "Keep it DOWN, will ya!?" On his way out, Spike came across two more of the University's students. "You saw it, right?" Featherweight asked. "Yeah, so I guess it's really true," Tender Taps replied. "What's going on? What are you two talking about?" he asked as he approached them. "Spike, it was here just now. The ghost of that girl everyone's been talking about," Featherweight replied. "She comes up to you, and then gives you something with a curse on it," Tender Taps went on. "She looks like an average girl, but there's something about her where you can tell she's not quite right." . The New Canterlot City Bank was constructed in 1908 and was the first of two established in the city's Financial District. They managed many accounts of some of Equestria's richest citizens, including Spike Zenith. A lot of the original architecture had been preserved, which meant the high ceilings and arches provided good vantage points and perches in case the Equestrian Dragon ever needed to stealthily infiltrate the building. Of course, Spike did business with multiple banks around the world, so that if anything were to be stolen, it would be a small loss. He had given up keeping count of the number of times someone had tried to rob this particular bank... and failed. Spike had also created accounts for each of the girls on his scholarship program in case of emergency; Fancy Pants had the accounts' information. After Spike went inside, two heavyset businessmen in top hats, Claude and Stinky Bottom, co-owners of the Puppet and Hat Emporium in Manehattan, entered the bank with the intention of opening an account. Honey Harvest, the president of the bank, introduced herself and asked if there was anything she could do to help them. "Well, we had planned on opening a branch office in this city, but I don't think you have the proper facilities," Claude began. "Our bank may be small, but our assets are over twelve billion bucks," she told them. "What about cash on hand? Say I wanted to cash a check for... one million dollars?" "No problem at all," she replied. "What about security against robberies, holdups?" Stinky Bottom inquired. "All of our tellers are armed, including--and especially--the women; the police department, which we wholeheartedly support, is directly across the street; and in the balcony, there are no less than three Equestrian Army soldiers with M-16 rifles," Honey Harvest stated, very, very proudly. "A nice little bank you have here," Claude commented. "Do you give calendars at Hearth's Warming time?" "For the ladies, every year, twelve months, each a different picture of Mr. Spike Zenith, the owner," Honey Harvest said proudly. She pointed in the direction of the man in question, who had entered the vault to check on one of his safety deposit boxes. When Spike came back out, he spotted Amber Hays, a female con artist well-known in the city. He thought about tossing her out, but decided against it. "Not here, not in a public place," Spike reminded himself. "I've got more important things to take care of right now." "My partner and I'll discuss it and let you know," Claude told Honey Harvest. And they left the bank, as did Spike. . Somewhere in the vast dockland slums of New Canterlot, Inky Quills tried not to breathe too hard. He had been rushing down the alley near the train yard, anxious to get to the scene of the crime. That was before he heard Sergeant Spearhead talking to the paramedic around the corner. Sometimes, Quills considered, one could be the best damn reporter in the world by just taking an extra minute to get there. "You know what that guy says he saw?" Night Watch began incredulously. "Don't tell me, let me guess," Spearhead replied. "A gigantic, menacing, supernatural shape... kind of like a dragon, am I right?" "That's it," was the other man's reply. "What do you think?" Spearhead dismissed it. "They're all OD'd on LSD." "It's still weird, Sergeant," Night Watch, the paramedic, allowed. Inky Quills stepped forward with a big grin. "I hear we just had another Dragon attack." Spearhead winced and Quills' smile got even wider. "That's, what, eight sightings in just under a month now? I hear Captain Shining Armor's even opened a file. True?" "Sorry, Quills," Spearhead muttered in a half-whisper. "These guys are on acid." Sometimes Spearhead gave away tidbits without even knowing it. Quills wondered if there was any way he could sneak in a question or two with the crooks involved. That's when one of them, E-Jump, got dragged past by a pair of cops. For a minute, Quills thought that Spearhead might be right. This guy sure looked as though he could have been on drugs. What clothes he had left were torn in half a dozen pieces, the skin beneath crisscrossed with the dull brown of dried blood. His hair was matted with blood, too. "A dragon, I'm telling you, man, a dragon!" Quills kept grinning, his most important question having just been answered. Then Spearhead let his irritation show. "Don't go writing this crap in the newspaper, Quills. It'll ruin your already useless reputation." "Sergeant, every punk in this town is scared stiff. You know what they're saying? They say he drinks blood. They say he can't be killed!" "And I say you're full of shit, Quills," Spearhead said as he walked away without looking back. "Feel free to quote me on that." But Inky Quills didn't give up that easily. "Sergeant, is there a ten-foot dragon in New Canterlot?" he shouted after him. "And if so, is he on the police payroll?" There was no answer. Quills hadn't really expected one. He thought about pursuing the police officer for a second, but decided it would be better if he didn't. It didn't pay to be too annoying. Besides, he had gotten what he really wanted. A short time later, Spike arrived at the train yard. But he wasn't there for the crime that had taken place, at least not originally. He was there to inspect his new personal armored train. An impregnable beast of steel weighing over twelve-hundred tons and 430 meters long, it was more than just a mode of transportation. Pulled by two shiny black locomotives, a coal car right behind, with sixteen state-of-the-art passenger cars and luxury coaches (each weighing 60 tons, equipped with the highest and very best technology of the day, including heating, air conditioning and state-of-the-art bathrooms), protected by four 20mm antiaircraft batteries onboard, and an armored caboose, it was a veritable fortress on rails. After he'd inspected his new train, he inspected the area the police had roped off... when the officers weren't looking. This one had the department baffled. The poor man was shredded, almost in two. Razor-sharp blades, more like claws, surely the work of the enemy... but a high and mighty city council member in this part of town? "I'll wager he wasn't here for the atmosphere," Spike thought as he started going through the man's pockets. He still had his watch, and the cash and credit cards were still in the wallet, so whoever did this wasn't after his money... and they left a set of fingerprints behind on the wallet. Spike scanned the leather then tapped the military-grade earpiece on his right ear and said, "Fancy, I'm uploading some fingerprints for analysis." "Searching now..." Fancy Pants replied. "They belong to one Almond Sweet. He's a rather unremarkable criminal. Small jobs, mostly... That's strange. Almond Sweet is dead. His body was recovered from the Financial District just under an hour ago." "Looks like someone's tying up loose ends... Thanks," Spike said and ended the call. As he sniffed the air again, the distinct odors of blood and alcohol invaded his nostrils. And a cold sensation went up the back of his neck as he glanced around and saw a group of people standing and listening to an oration about their hardships. "What's going on over there?" Spike asked. "Cadence Amore rousing the comrades," Inky Quills replied. It was amazing. Even though she worked as headmistress and was dorm mother to one of the University's athletic teams, she still had time to organize and lead her protests. "Five years ago, Neighsay was telling you that your jobs were secure. Since then, more than thirteen million of you are out of work!" she shouted. "We've seen the army, his army, on the streets, using tanks and live ammunition against citizens whose only crime is their poverty! Do you think there's going to be any real change? The only thing they're debating is the most efficient way to turn your blood and sweat into a profit." There was truth in what she said: Chancellor Neighsay crushed all opposition. "Get down off your soapbox, Princess!" Cadence turned in the direction of three men forcing their way through the crowd: Rover, Spot and Fido; a small team of violent career criminals, extortionists and hit men that were part of the Diamond Dog Gang. "You don't like the way we do things in Equestria, you are more than welcome to get on a boat and go join your comrades in the Hooviet Union," Rover said. "I'd even help you pack... if you asked nicely." "The last time I checked, the Constitution of this country protected my right to freedom of speech," Cadence replied. "Say cheese, fellas," Inky said as he aimed his camera in their faces and took their picture, momentarily blinding them with the flash. "Whaddaya know?" said Spot. "Inky Quills, poking his nose where it doesn't belong as always." "Do you boys want to see your mugs all over the Gazette tomorrow?" he asked them. "Or are you going to back off and let these people go about their business?" Spike should have obeyed his first impulse to turn around and walk away, but something about this guy... the sheer stubborn, righteous anger in him... it reminded Spike a lot of himself. "How about I smash your damn camera?" Fido asked. "And then your fingers, one at a time? How ya gonna write this up then, smart guy?" "Back off, Fido," Rover ordered. "You know he's off-limits." Fido looked at Rover then at Inky and said, "Careful, Quills, you're pushing your luck." And the Diamond Dogs barreled through the crowed, back the way they came. "When we gonna give that prick what's comin' t'him?" Fido demanded. "Soon enough," Rover replied. "Soon enough..." . After their classes had ended, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Sunset Shimmer changed out of their uniforms, showered, put on their street clothes, and were now standing in front of the University, waiting for Spike to pick them up for dinner. Fluttershy in particular couldn't help but feel a surge of adrenaline coursing through her veins. She began to think about the tales that had spread about Spike. She liked to imagine him as a dragon, hiding far away in his lair, hoarding his treasures. She laughed at the thought of a dragon asking her and her friends to dinner. Strangely, it made Spike seem less formidable, since he was more like a prisoner in her imagination. Suddenly, a stretch limousine rounded the corner and stopped at the curb. It was a shiny black, with glowing chrome and tinted windows. Its sleek, dark form took their breath away, every inch of it exuding luxury and expense. It instantly cast an aura of wealth around the man in its back seat. The girls approached the passenger door then stopped before reaching the handle. How many horror stories started out like this? A group of not-so-innocent young women, being picked up by a kind, handsome stranger with a soft, deep voice who took them to a place in the middle of nowhere. And then, some creep started to pick them off... one by one. Then each girl reminded herself that they weren't in a horror movie. "If this were a horror movie, there would be more guys. And they would be much cuter than him," thought Rarity. That's when the door opened on its own and Spike offered his hand to them. When Fluttershy instinctively wrapped her hand around Spike's arm, something sizzled between them. At first, she thought it was her overactive imagination. But she realized it was his skin burning through the sleeve of his shirt that was so hot to the touch. It was a startling turn on and she could not deny the throbbing, sex-deprived lust pounding through her. She didn't mistake the sharp intake of his breath when she touched him. Nor did she mistake the sudden urge to wrap her legs around his waist, to feel what was beneath his pants. And when she touched him again, she felt that same sizzle. He seemed to have felt it, too. It was enough to make her panties melt right off. Expensive leather welcomed the girls as they slid into the back seat, the feel of luxury all around. Applejack smiled at the scent of the interior, which had always been a turn on for her. It brought to her mind an image of Spike, a muscular, half-naked cowboy, taming a wild stallion. For some reason, her mind automatically transitioned to being bent over her own saddle and being taken just as hard and wild by that cowboy. She shook her head. The buttery soft leather was a far cry from the hard leather of her fantasy. Then she looked at the man on the seat beside her. Spike had always had that old-fashioned, classically handsome movie star look. He'd always looked handsome on T.V., but he was even better looking in real life. "Buckle up," he told them. "You're kidding, right?" Rainbow Dash asked. "One thing you will learn about me is that I do not kid, or jest, or joke, or jape, or quip," Spike said. "This vehicle will not move until we have a completely secure cabin. Buckle up." Fluttershy giggled nervously, chiding herself for the schoolgirl sound. Nevertheless, she obediently reached for her seatbelt and strapped it across her body... as did Applejack, Sunset Shimmer, Pinkie Pie and Rarity. "Looks like we're waiting on you, Miss Dash," Spike said. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. "I saw that," Spike stated. Rolling her eyes again, she finally complied and buckled her seatbelt. "I saw that too," he said. "I see everything." "You ladies are very fortunate Mr. Zenith could fit you into his schedule," Park said from the driver's seat. "He has lot of responsibilities, especially in his current business ventures." "Keep your one good eye on the road," Spike told her. "Remember, one scratch and it's coming out of your salary." She nodded in understanding then the car took off, and as it did the girls hoped Spike's home was far, far away. . The drive was filled with anticipation as the black limousine travelled down winding roads lined with stately trees, nestled among the green, rolling hills. As they seemed to ascend higher and higher, the scenery and landscape transformed into a mesmerizing vista of lush plowed fields with haystacks and prosperous farms, which dotted the landscape. The only significant drawback was that they seemed to be in the middle of nowhere; they hadn't seen another car for miles. It was completely absent of 18-wheelers and vacation traffic. The limousine slowed as it turned off the desolate highway, neared a set of tall iron gates, which swung open on their own, and drove past a sign bearing the following words: NO SOLICITORS, NO PANHANDLERS, NO ZEALOTS, NO SMOKING, NO TRESPASSING, NO LOITERING, and NO HUNTING. "Spike must really hate salesmen," Pinkie thought. "Your house is quite far," Fluttershy said. "Aren't we there yet?" "Technically, we are there," Spike replied. "We've been driving on the grounds for a little while now." "Ya mean all this land is yours?" Applejack asked. "Aye, lass," he replied. "The castle and the hills further than the eye can see have been mine for a long, long time." Rarity gasped when she saw a mammoth structure, shining like a jewel, sitting on a mountainous hill up ahead. "Who has a house that obnoxiously huge?!" Rainbow Dash thought. "He's even richer than we imagined!" thought Sunset Shimmer. "Not bad," Pinkie said, looking at her wristwatch. "Only thirteen minutes and two seconds from the city limits to Casa Spike." Park drove the limo up the driveway and stopped between twin columns topped by stone lions. Spike opened the door for the girls, who stepped out of the vehicle and gaped up in awe. They had never seen a manor like it, for a strange spell seemed to hover over the gloomy estate and they couldn't help but wonder what lurked within those cold, foreboding walls. "Well, this is it," Spike told them. "You live here?" Rarity asked. "You live here?" "I am the owner of Zenith Industries," he said. "I'm therefore expected to live up to certain standards. An apartment doesn't exactly cut it." As the girls walked up to the imposing, stalwart fortress, Rarity thought Spike had way more than he deserved. Not only was the castle miles away from the city, it was beautiful. The battlements rose high, nearly to the clouds it seemed. The large-winged gargoyles looming overhead--that once proudly adorned its rooftops--were darkened with age. They didn't have long to admire the view as Spike led them up the front steps of the medieval castle to the large double doors much higher than they were. "Say, that's quite a set of knockers," Pinkie commented on the dragons upon the doors. Spike took a solid gold key out of his pocket and was about to insert it into the lock when the doors swung open, into the front hall, to reveal a beautiful, statuesque woman in a pristine white tank top and matching white short shorts. "Oh, Spike! I didn't know you were home yet," she said. "Hey, Tia, I guess you're taking another personal day?" he assumed. "Who is she?!" Rarity exclaimed in thought. "Is she his girlfriend? She is pretty! Does this mean Spike's used to being around beautiful women!?" Celestia smiled when she saw the girls standing behind Spike. She threw her arms around him, pressing her breasts into his chest, and whispered into his ear, "I am so proud of you." The girls' mouths hung open when Celestia invited them in, and their eyes went wide as they took in everything around them. They had thought the outside was impressive, but the inside was even more so. Everything in the castle was large, but neater and cleaner than can be told. The tremendous hall was silent as a tomb, and everything was richly furnished from the suits of armor, to the silver weapons on the walls, and the heavy red curtains. Rarity was quick to notice the large portraits with gold frames that hung on either side of the hall. Most of them were of a man whose features bore an uncanny resemblance to Spike, clothed in everything from a judge's robe to gold medieval armor, dark waistcoats, and military uniforms and regalia--attire unmistakably from other centuries--as well as various, priceless paintings, including the Rococolt girl smiling on a swing, Broncocelli's Venus de Marelo covering her modesty with her long wavy hair, and a serious shepherd holding his crook in one hand while holding what looked like a dragon's egg aloft in the other. Coats of arms with swords and axes were peppered in among them and the ancient tapestries, all hanging from strong walls of gray stone. Pendragon Castle truly was an immense place, full of pomp and splendor... not to mention priceless wonders from every continent. Of course, being in a strange place like that, the girls didn't know what to expect. "What a pad," said Sunset. "Spike, your place is awesome," Rainbow Dash added. "Shoes off at the door, please," he told them. Dash gave him a look that said, "You're serious?" "If you're not going to take your shoes off, put these over them," he said as he held out protective booties. "Aw, come on," she protested. "My house, my rules," he stated. "All right! Sheesh!" As the girls stepped barefoot into the red-carpeted hallway, they were greeted by three meek, sweet, smooth-faced and utterly loyal maids--Red Ribbons, Twinkleworks and Tote Bag--and two rather young butlers--Lemony Crumble and Cobalt Stone--that exuded elegance. . "Welcome home, Master Zenith!" they said as one. "Hello, ladies. And welcome to Pendragon Castle." "Whoa..." Rainbow Dash said. "He's extremely wealthy!" Rarity thought. They couldn't believe Spike employed men and women like that. Aside from their uniforms, they didn't look like servants at all... and yet, they had served Spike happily and faithfully for years. "Six more for dinner," Spike told them. "Very good, sir," Lemony Crumble replied. The maids all nodded and smiled adoring smiles as Spike began to walk determinedly past the conservatory towards the colossal staircase that stood at the far end of the great hall. The girls gazed in speechless wonder as Spike led them into the main living room, almost afraid to breathe. As they took a look around, they were quick to notice the elegant furniture, including a sofa made of the finest leather hide from Itaily. A giant fireplace was at the center of one of the walls (it almost took up the entire side of one third of the room), and inside the hearth, a fire was crackling, casting light and warmth that filled the entire chamber. As Rarity stared into the flames, her imagination began to run wild. She imagined a cold winter night, her and the one she loved, snuggling under silk sheets, her wearing something sleek and scandalous, maybe a little incense, soft candlelight, romantic music, a Prench dinner... and he would whisper sweet nothings in her ear. Then Fluttershy gasped at the polar bearskin rug in front of the burning embers. "This room is crazy huge!" Rainbow Dash said. "And it's just for Spike, all by himself?" "Don't be ridiculous," Lemony Crumble replied. "This is just the living room area. The master's bedroom and personal study are separate... you are adorable for thinking that, though." As the girls warmed themselves close to the fire, they continued to look around. They never saw such a place. The most fantastic grandfather clock they ever laid their eyes on, music boxes carved out of wood, each one a work of art on its own; and more paintings of several different things: two bright stars shining through clouds at night above Canterlot, a pirate ship, a herd of buffalo, and a Native Equestrian tribe in a wooded encampment. "Mighty nice set-up ya got here," Applejack said. "And it was mighty nice of ya to invite us here, too. Ya really got this all to yourself?" Spike nodded. "Dude, this is some crib! Seriously, my church isn't this big!" Rainbow Dash joked. Pinkie Pie admired the huge wood mantel adorned with a formidable collection of souvenir snow globes Spike had acquired over the years, gallivanting around the world. "Wow! So pretty," she said as she shook one. "Where in Equestria did you get these?" She answered her own question when she saw the words upon the bronze plaque at its base. She gently put it back with the others, including ones from Manehattan, Fillydelphia, New Horseleans, San Franciscolt, West Califoalnia; and Albuckuerque, New Mexicolt. And there were not just ones from Equestria; but ones from Casaflanka, Moroccolt; its sister city Casabronco, Maredrid, Spony; Mareis, Prance; Thrace, Keneighya, Germaney, Yokohayma and Trotkyo, Jockeypan; Rio de Janeighro, Brayzil; Caneighada, Tahayiti, Neighrobi, Rome, Itaily; and Shanghayi... twenty-six in all. "Who did you have to kill to get all this stuff?" Pinkie asked. Spike secretly wished she hadn't worded it like that. He collected a lot of interesting things, and not just art, but miscellaneous knickknacks and collectibles from other countries: porcelain figurines, marionette puppets, and a doll that could only talk if someone gave her string a pull. "I haven't seen one of these in years," Pinkie said. "They don't make dolls like that anymore," Applejack shared. "Not since the Sweetheart Toy Company almost went out of business 14 years ago." Originally named Schatze Toy Company, before the War Against the Reich, it was the largest toy manufacturer in Germaney. "When I was a little girl, my mother would take me down to the Sweetheart Toy Factory each year at Hearth's Warming time," Applejack recalled fondly. "She wanted to impress upon me how lucky we were to give and receive." "By collecting toys from the factory and donating them to charity," Fluttershy guessed. "My mother did the same thing. She still does. For years, the Zenith Foundation has continued this tradition, even after they prevented the Sweetheart Toy Company from closing." Then Fluttershy gasped at a tiny plush lobster toy on a little pedestal by the mantle. "A Pinchers!" she exclaimed. "That's right," Spike said. "You collect Beanie Babies®?" "Well, I've seen them at the mall," Fluttershy laughed nervously. "No big deal." "Seen them? We went wild for those little things," Pinkie shared. "So, who's your favorite? Mine's Dazzler, obviously. Oh, so cute," she giggled. "What was that one you would never let your mom wash?" Sunset Shimmer asked Fluttershy. "A purple dragon, that's it. You still sleep with that little guy, don't you?" she chuckled (almost evilly). "You will pay for that," Fluttershy thought. "I'm a collector," Spike admitted. "I thought they were a good investment." While the other girls were talking about their toys, Rainbow Dash's eyes were drawn to the liquor cabinet. "Sweet mother of pearl," she thought. "Each of these is probably worth a fortune on its own. Screaming Eagle ale, hard cider, Wolf beer... Roaring Dragon Wine?! Bucking jackpot! I didn't think this stuff really existed! I would get sooo hammered..." Spike's tastes were as refined as they were mysterious. Taking a small gold key from his pocket, Spike approached the liquor cabinet, unlocked it, and carefully selected a brandy bottled in 1783. "Seventeen eighty-three was a good year," he said as poured two glasses. "Mozcart wrote his great mass, the Mountgolfillyer Brothers went up in their first balloon, and Trotland officially recognized the independence of Equestria." He offered the second glass to Rainbow Dash, who held it with both hands. They raised their glasses and each took a sip. "Smokey..." Dash said. "It's got a Tartarus of an after-burn!" she added in thought. As she continued to sip her drink, she joined Fluttershy at an aquarium built into the wall opposite of the fireplace, filled with tropical marine fish, many of them not native to Equestrian waters--Beta, Clownfish, Lemonfish, Roughy, Rubyscale, Bass, Archerfish, Darter, Arrowfish, Goldfish, Trout, Carp, Grouper, Hatchetfish, Silverfin, Steelbelly, Luminette, Perch, and even a Jockeypanese Tang--as they swam around a small decorative castle inside. "They're beautiful, aren't they?" Spike asked. "Yes, they-- they are," Fluttershy replied. "No matter what's going on in my life, I can always look at them and be totally at peace," Just then, Fancy Pants walked in and said, "Excuse me, sir. Telephone call for you in the study; it's the Chancellor." "What country?" Spike inquired. "This one, sir," "Neighsay? Ugh! Probably needs another loan," Spike groaned. He turned to the girls as they watched him go and he told them, "This shouldn't take too long. Please, feel free to look around and touch things while I'm gone." As soon as Spike disappeared from their sight, the girls cautiously began to explore his castle, their curiosity aroused. . Applejack trudged along the grand hallways of Spike's castle until she arrived at a big oak door, opened it, and peeked inside. Turning on the light switch, she saw that the room was filled with weapons and more gruesome machines, everything from stocks and pillories to blowguns and hand grenades. Broadswords hung on the walls. It looked as though Spike had every weapon known to man in this place. She stepped over to a tall, upright box in the corner--which had metal spikes on the inside--to have a closer look at it. That's when she realized it was an Iron Maiden. "Who is this guy?" she thought as her eyes roamed around the room. "He gives to humanitarian causes and collects all this." There were glass cases on one wall, and Applejack's jaw dropped when she saw what they contained: an assortment of whips, chains, handcuffs, birch whipping rods, branding irons, a wooden horse, restraints (black leather as well as metal), and other torture devices she could not even begin to identify. She could tell that Spike was an adventurer, tried everything once. As she backed out of the Armory, she found herself in the garage, where a red convertible was parked near the workbench, and it was covered in tools, including a solid gold twenty-seven piece ratchet set with Spike's initials engraved into them. "Ya can't put a price tag on this kind of hardware," Applejack said. She turned away, wondering what else she would find. . At the same time, Sunset Shimmer wandered into one of the vast libraries, which was furnished with bookcases full of everything from modern hardback best sellers to weathered, leather-bound tomes of forgotten lore, all held up by handsome golden stallion and dragon-shaped bookends... all of which were fireproof. The scent of aged paper and leather filled the air, adding to the mystique surrounding the collection. Sunset's eyes lit up as she examined the books, their pages yellowed with age and their covers adorned with intricate designs reminiscent of a bygone era. Spike had the latest up-to-date dictionary, scrolls from the Buffalo philosopher Plato, plus textbooks on chemistry, biology, medicine, plastic surgery, and a history of make-up, as well as books about bats, lizards, snakes, and even ogres. As Sunset approached one of the bookcases, her fingers brushed a set of feathered arrows in a quiver and she studied one of the many shelves of curios. Her gaze drifted past a small dragon carved out of white marble and a glass box full of carefully preserved iridescent butterflies before scanning a row of books, surveying the titles. She spotted a collection of hefty hardbacks featuring the most fabulous characters in Trotish literature, including Robyn Hood, King Pendragon, Bucky Sharp, Shamrock Honeycombs and Olive R. Twist, among many others. She slid one of the novels out, read the golden title on its embossed cover--Gone with the Wind--and carefully opened it, half-expecting a mighty gust to erupt from the pages. Her eyes flashed as she closed the book and slid it back into its spot on the shelf when she saw Lemony Crumble staring at her from the doorway leading out to the hall. Her eyes met his as she asked, "How did you come to work for Spike?" "I answered an ad for a summer job five years ago. I've been with him ever since," he replied. "Summers in Mareis, winters all over Europone, and the rest of the year in Equestria... but I'm living his life, not mine." . Meanwhile, Fluttershy opened the door to the conservatory and peered inside. It contained bushes of roses of almost every color, and rare hybrids including the result of a lily being bred with a Venus flytrap, appropriately dubbed a flytrap lily. She had never, ever seen another plant of its kind. And when a fly buzzed overhead, the fanged flower chomped. She chose another door and she couldn't believe her eyes. The door opened to reveal a whole room covered in nothing but gold coins. And not just gold, but treasure chests and velvet sacks stuffed to their brims, each full of pearls, jewels and other magnificent treasures. And in the center of it all were a lump of amber and a gold nugget bigger than herself--extremely big, extremely heavy and extremely valuable--sitting on top of a large anvil also made out of solid gold (and showing little signs of wear). Fluttershy had heard the expression "worth his weight in gold," and Spike was so rich that he was literally rolling in dough. Truly, it was a mighty collection. She quickly closed the door. That room was obviously private. Tartarus, it should have been locked. But instead of greed or even her usual lustful hunger for Spike, curiosity filled her. The man was shrouded in even more mystery. She continued down the hallway, away from the gold room, and then paused when she spotted another portrait of a man. His expression was severe, his pose dignified, as if he was still guarding secrets long past. His piercing eyes were familiar, echoing the intensity she'd seen in Spike. And she began to lose herself in the mystery of the man's stern, attractive gaze. The quiet of the castle amplified her thoughts as she turned away and gazed out a nearby window. "I must be imagining things. For a moment, I thought I saw a tiger in Spike's backyard," While Fluttershy was taking in her intimidating surroundings, Pinkie Pie was all but literally bouncing off the walls. There was one room full of nothing but plush pillows, another room that was literally a ball pit, and a storage room with an old chest full of old costumes. "Somebody around here must have been in show biz," she said. "He has a soda fountain in his den!" she squealed. "Stables, helipad, pools, a sauna, a hot tub, a Jacuzzi, and a bowling alley, oh my!" she exclaimed before she peeked into the laundry room, where the three maids bustled around the ironing board. As they worked, Pinkie caught glimpses of Red Ribbons making a huge feather bed with silken sheets and Twinkleworks folding fine linens while Tote Bag mended a hole in a shirt. Pinkie was also quick to notice they had a picture of Spike in their quarters; it was a pinup from when he was Mr. July on the Playgirl calendar. She eventually found the kitchen. Traditionally, a more feminine room, Spike's kitchen had a more masculine touch to it--cloves of garlic and sun-dried ancho, chipotle and chili peppers hung from the ceiling in long wreaths, while racks filled with every spice, herb and seasoning lined the counters. "I could cook the most wonderful meals in a kitchen like this!" Then she stopped to bask in the glory of the refrigerator. "It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen in my life," she breathed. . Rainbow Dash checked out the workout room, which looked more like a Jockeypanese dojo, before she stumbled across Spike's man cave. The entertainment center had everything from a gigantic high definition big screen T.V. with six-speaker hi-fi surround sound system, 250 channels and PlayStation hookup--with the latest video games--to a VCR/DVD combo player, shortwave and long-wave radios, 8-disc CD player, 8-track player, vibrating massage recliners, a mini bar, toaster oven, microwave, two dozen pinball machines (each with its own theme) and no less than six billiard tables. "Damn!" Rainbow Dash swore. "That's a nice T.V.!" Celestia had arranged for it to be delivered three days early--it arrived a little over an hour ago--and it was so big that the instruction manual alone was bigger than the old T.V. set. Surrounding it were shelves upon shelves filled with old film reels, VHS tapes and DVDs, one had the complete works of Arnold Frankfurter--except the one where he got pregnant--another was covered with trophies, ribbons and medals... all covered in dust. "When did they make that a sport?" she wondered. There were baseballs under glass--one signed by Mickey Manetle, another by Joe DiManeggio... and one autographed by Duke "Silver Fox" Snyder and the rest of the 1955 Bronclyn Dodgers, including Joe Black, Sandy Co Fax, "Don" New Comb, Dixie Howl and Pee Wee Reese. But the thing that really caught Dash's eye was an autographed poster of pro skateboarding sensation and spokesman Pony "Birdmane" Hawk. She saw him compete in the Rage at the Badlands in 1985. He was the reason Dash got into extreme sports in the first place. This room put all of her favorite hangouts and sports bars to shame! All that was missing were the posters of half-naked women in bikinis up on the walls. . Outside Pendragon Castle, Rarity walked the length of the area stretching across the back of the estate, and ruefully passed three dozen sculptures by the outdoor pool. Stone statues of old Chicoltgo gangsters with Tommy guns mingled with steel soldiers shaped like playing cards, very lifelike topiary animals, a bronze sculpture of a man with the head of a bull, and other unsightly statuary. It looked like the exhibits of a museum that had been condemned. Spike had a well-rounded collection, not because he thought that fine art was a good investment, and it made Rarity start to think what it suggested about the finances of the lord of the château. "Old world colonial... It's elegant yet casual, sophisticated yet tasteful," she thought. And yet, she couldn't help but think how pretentious the man was. "I'll wager his pillows are stuffed with money and his boxers are made of silk," she added to herself. "Assuming he even wears undergarments, that is." As she made her way back indoors, she became enchanted with the notion of living in such a big place... with an aromatherapy room, a private steam bath, heated floors, a custom-made armoire, a chifforobe and mirrored walk-in closets, all in oak, maple and mahogany. She could grow accustomed to this lifestyle... living like Queen Neighfertiti. "Remember, Rarity, the more they have, the less they're worth," she reminded herself. "And this guy must be the most worthless man in Equestria." She didn't buy his pretending-to-be-a-proper-gentleman act. Spike may have looked innocent, but in private, he got hot and heavy with Celestia... or so Rarity believed. She pulled open the door that led to the music room, which was filled with instruments, most of which began with the letter "B", including a bass guitar, a banjo, a bassoon, a bugle, bongos, balalaika and bagpipes. Sheet music sat on a table next to an old gramophone and a lot of old vinyl record albums with music by Bach, Beethooven and Brayhms. Intrigued by the grand piano tucked elegantly in the corner, Rarity walked over to it and gently lifted the fallboard to expose its keys. The dark wood was so polished that it seemed to invite her touch. Then she quivered as she imagined Spike bending her over the piano, her milk white breasts pressing against the fine mahogany cover. Her gaze drifted from the piano to a canvas on an easel with a paint palette and a cup of brushes on the table beside in. Then she was drawn to a fiery red gemstone in the shape of a heart contained within a large glass bell jar. Rarity had never seen anything more beautiful. She'd always been a true romantic, a materialistic girl enslaved to pretty things: new clothes, new shoes, new lingerie, expensive smells, the salons, shiny jewelry and designer handbags... but now she wanted to keep this close and admire it forever. She lifted the glass cover, and reached in to touch the jewel, when a little voice inside her said, "I don't think you should do that. It's not yours, after all." Rarity was quick to replace the glass cover. The next room she found was nothing pictures and photographs on the walls. Among them were photos from Spike's time in the Himalhayan Mountains near the border of Kirina and Neighpal. His three months studying with the high holy monks of Kathmanedu were invaluable. There were also more whimsical, colorful illustrations of various characters in fantastical situations, and circus posters featuring images of Spike with the caption, "The Unkillable Man", as well as framed newspaper headlines, article clippings and magazines with Spike on the covers: EQ (Equestria Quarterly), Modern Male, and Newsday... among many, many others. PENDRAGON MANOR DESTROYED Pendragon Castle Sold To Private Owner Young Billionaire Buys Up 435 Prime Acres New Man in TOWN! Who's Your Daddy? Zenith-Mania Sweeps Nation Zenith Plays Hardball, Board Takes Pay Cut Zenith, the Commander in Chief of Military Hardware, Takes Command Zenith Saves South Equestrian Ambassadors From Assassination Learn The Secret to Not Getting Your @ss Kicked! The Ultimate Romance: Spike Zenith. He's Hot, He's Cool, and He's SINGLE. Sexiest Man Alive: Strong, Secure, and Squared Away. At Last, A Real Man. Then Rarity froze when she saw the plethora of framed black-and-white photos on one wall that featured Spike with almost all of the 20th Century's internationally known superstars, including most of the biggest stars in Applewood: everyone from Dr. Maretin Luther King Jr. and Mane Allgood, to Detectives Sniff and Couscous, the slipperiest sleuths in all of Moroccolt and masters of disguise. Spike stood with Humphrey Bocart and Sidneighy Greenstreet (the three of them in suits) on the sets of The Mangalese Drake and Casaflanka, lighting the cigars of W. C. Fields and E. G. Robinson, singing alongside Flank Sinatra, Dean Maretin and the rest of the Rat Pack, shaking hands with Care E. Grant and Clark Stable, and posing with the Marks Brothers; Grouchy, Chunky and Harpy, as well as Paul Newmane and Mareilyn Monroe, plus Dalton Whinny and his "Nine Old Men." He sat beside directors Hitchcock, Spielberg and Olive R. Stone, as well as other big names like Shirley McLane, Burt Reinolds, Marelon Brayndo, Arnold Frankfurter, Sylvester Stallione and Flint Westwood, having steaks with Mr. T and the rest of the A-Team, training with Nureinyev and Baryshneighkov, and standing on the set of The Goodfillies with Maretin Scorsese, Bray Liotta, Robert De Neighro and Joe Pescolt (the latter before he became Mayor of Manehattan). The list seemed to go on forever: there was Trigger, the "Smartest Horse in the Movies"; Mark Haymill, Rita Mareno, Harvey Kormane, Sandy Duncanter, Twiggy, Rich Little, Steve Maretin and Maretin Short, Brook Shields, Farrah Faucet and Princess Diana of Bales... Not to mention all the various singing sensations such as Maretin Day, Flankces Langford, the Dining Sisters (Jean, Ginger, and Patty), Warring and his Pennsylmaneians, the short-lived Rhythmares, and the even-shorter-lived Starlighters, the Spice Girls and the Buckstreet Boys, Vanilla Ice, an up-and-coming group known as Complex Strategy... and other bands whose names were protected under First Amendment parody rights. And in the center of it all more black-and-whites of Spike sitting next to former Chancellor Neighxon at a baseball game, shaking hands with former Chancellor Reingan, and standing in the middle of all of the then-Supreme Court Justices: Marshal Law, "Really Big Guns" Gunsburg, Scoltia, Junta, Kenneighdy, "Iron Will" Reinquist, Scouter, Brayer, and O'Day. But Rarity didn't see any photos of Spike's family. "You need photos only when you want to remember something," he had once said. It was like he refused to move into the twenty-first century. Then her eyes focused on a single glossy of him holding a drink in one hand while staring off into the distance... at nothing in particular. Damn, that tie looked good on him! At least he had good taste--impeccable taste, really. "Spike really does have it all," she thought jealously as she left the room before anyone saw her. "Money, awards... all that's missing is a late-night talk show and fanatical female fans breaking into his home." But even with all that, Spike was a male of more questions than answers. . While all of this was going on, Celestia listened through the door to Spike's study as he discussed economic policy to the Equestrian Chancellor over the phone. "Neighsay, if the government spends more money than it takes in, it goes into debt," Spike explained. After that call, Spike conference called a few of the members of his board of directors. "Knows, how is Rich Enterprises doing with their development in Brayzil?" Spike asked. "It's not," Knows replied. "Filthy just learned that in order to build Club Rich the way his wife envisions, they would be forced to cut down six thousand of the one hundred million acres of the Brayzilian Rainforest's jungle, which you just bought for Zenith Industries." "And...?" Spike asked. "If they try to cut down any of that forest, they would have to displace us, and Spoiled Rich could cause trouble," Knows elaborated. Spoiled Rich was a first-class bitch. Naturally, Mr. Rich wouldn't like to hear his wife referred to as such, but there was nothing first-class about Spoiled Rich except for that. And she was so full of plastic--from her nose job to her breast implants--that she was practically recyclable. "Well, she's not going to want anything to do with that land anyway," Spike replied. "Why not?" he asked. "No 'real' night life. Now, how are we doing with our development in South Flankida?" "Well, sir, we have a problem in Fort Laud-Her-Ale," Hard Pitch reported. "In order to make room for the magnificent, largest-in-the-world shopping mall, we're going to have to tear down a nursing home for the aged. At present, there are 200 very old people living there... and most of them are invalids, bedridden and dying... it wouldn't look good in the papers." "Tell them about the nuclear reactor that was standing there before it," Spike told him. "Excellent," Hard Pitch replied. When Spike finally exited his study, Celestia was quick to notice the change in his eyes. For some reason, unrelated to his work, Spike was not as cheerful as usual. "Something's wrong," Celestia thought. "His mood is even darker today." > Legends and Myths . The warmth of Pendragon Castle's main kitchen wrapped around Pinkie Pie like a blanket as Spike rummaged through cupboards, searching for ingredients. An array of cooking utensils were spread out on the counter in front of her as memories of her own grandmother's foods flooded her mind, the same foods she made whenever someone in the family fell ill. "It's a real pleasure watching you cook," Pinkie said as she reached for the hem of her shirt. "The way you handle cutlery just gets me..." Spike blushed. "If you're going to just stand there, could you not take your top off?" "I know that if I take out my girls, they'll be safe... even from your choppers," she flirted. Her words were filled with playful admiration, her eyes dancing with mischief, as Spike wiped his hands on his apron and he walked around to the stove on the other side of the island. These women had all had fantasy relationships with him for the past decade, and he was so busy trying to be a better guy that he was cooking for them. Spike shushed her, held a hand to his ear, and asked, "You hear that?" Pinkie said, "I don't hear anything." "That's the sound of all my clothes being refolded," he told her. "Man, they don't stop," Pinkie said. "How do you survive living with them?" "I spend a lot of time pretending to be asleep," he answered as he saw to the steaks. "What's that for?" she inquired. "You, of course," he replied. "You left the fat on? My mother always cut the fat off," "Why, was she insane? It helps enhance the flavor. Are you going to tell me she didn't use cheese, either?" "No, she cooked for health," "What could be healthier for you than the food you love?" "Thank you, Doctor," Pinkie grinned sweetly. "Go find the others," he said. "And I'm sure dinner will be ready by the time you do." . After what felt like countless hours of walking around, Fluttershy found herself in a room containing many rare exhibits of the hunt. Her eyes went wide at the sight of all the hunting trophies: a lion's head, an alligator, a crocodile, a rhinoceros, as well as deer, apes, buffalo, rams, a fox, moose, a zebra, three tigers, and an elephant--but mostly boars--were all stuffed and mounted on the walls. When she looked at them, they seemed to glare right back at her. Suddenly, her mind became filled with thoughts of fangs and claws and talons... and her ears filled with every sound the animals made. She heard every roar, every growl, and every snarl. It wasn't until she felt someone touch her on the shoulder that the echo of gunshots finally ceased... and she jumped when they did. It was only Spike. "Dinner is almost ready," he said. "Shall we eat?" "Yes..." Fluttershy replied. She was trembling, her voice filled with the embarrassment of being caught snooping--even though he had given her and her friends permission to explore his home--trying to get herself under control, as she and the other girls followed him down the hall and into the lavish dining room lit by warm candlelight. A white linen tablecloth had been draped across the long, oak table. Nine plates were set, and on each plate a silver fork; moreover, there were nine silver knives and silver spoons, nine freshly pressed linen napkins and eight silver goblets, usually reserved for guests of honor. Sitting at the head of the table, in place of the ninth goblet was a silver tankard. Spike's finest drinking mug, it had survived numerous tavern brawls. The girls took their seats--except for Celestia and Luna sitting at either side of Spike, there was no particular seating arrangement--and Lemony Crumble served shrimp cocktails while Cobalt Stone poured water. "I'm starved," Rainbow Dash said. Dash was so hungry and thirsty that she downed hers in four seconds. "May I be excused?" she asked after she'd finished. Celestia cocked her head. "You're full already? That was just the appetizer. Here comes the first course." Spike clapped his hands and a procession of female servants, blondes and brunettes, each of them 19-years-old, entered with silver platters of steaming roasts, wine in crystal carafes, and ripe tropical fruit in golden baskets. The girls gasped and Pinkie started drooling at the sight of a prime rib and no less than eight different kinds of tender, juicy, beef steaks: T-bones, sirloins, and a rather generous cut of filet mignon, as well as golden mashed potatoes, and a lobster tail with steamed broccoli. Smothered pork chops and fried shrimp for Applejack, a seven-decker turkey club sandwich for Pinkie Pie, potato stew and fruit salad for Fluttershy, a rolled omelet for Sunset Shimmer, Rigatoni with meatballs for Rainbow Dash; and for Rarity, Chateaubriand with capers and shallots and radish rosettes. "Mmm. That looks so good," said Sunset. Everything looked splendid. The food was literally shining! Spike watched Applejack as she stared down at her plate, picked up her knife, carefully cut up her steak, and took a bite. "Wow, Spike!" Applejack exclaimed. "This is amazing!" "Help yourselves, I made plenty," he said. "Take all you want, but eat all you take." "You made all this?" Rarity asked as food practically floated onto their plates. "That's unbelievable," Pinkie said. "What a guy," she added in thought. "Busting a leg to whip us up a really swell feast..." Spike smiled--a genuine, heartfelt expression they hadn't seen often--as they were served a 12-course banquet. "Is that tuna salad?" Pinkie asked. "Mayonnaise... fresh dill... fresh ground pepper... mashed potatoes, pinto beans, fruit cocktail, Prench dressing, horseradish sauce, this is wonderful. Ohh! Apricots! My favorite delicacy! Oh, Spike, you know how long it's been since I've had apricots? I mean really good apricots, not those store-bought apricots. I love apricots. And is that steak pizzaiola? Real steak pizzaiola with a thick layer of cheese on top?" "Naturally," Spike replied. "What am I, a barbarian?" Pinkie was shocked. "If I'm dreaming, don't wake me up!" she warned them. "Don't even pinch me!" Fluttershy nibbled some of the fruits, fresh vegetables and bread. "Wow... th-this is... that's delicious..." she said. "Yes! It's like I wandered into a mythical forest where even the deepest of fried food tastes like they were combined in heavenly wonder!" she and Pinkie Pie both thought. "That was definitely deep-fried, and yet it tasted refreshing." "Spike, you have got to share your recipes with me!" Pinkie exclaimed as she gulped down bites of roast turkey, pineapple, custard and a cherry tart. "Oh, this wine is fantastic!" Rarity declared after taking a small sip from her goblet. "What a lovely bouquet." "Red Alpha, a gift from an old friend, Colonel Bud Diamond, ESAF," Spike said. "I'm... glad you like it." "Spike, confess," Rarity told him. "What is this divine-looking amuse-bouche?" "If I told you, you probably wouldn't even try it," he replied. "Well, can I please have more of that mushy stuff, whatever it is?" Pinkie asked. "Certainly," he said. "Mmm. Boy, this beef tastes good," Applejack said with her mouth full. "Oh, that wasn't beef," Spike told her. "That's alligator." "Alligator?" Fluttershy echoed, with a sudden loss of appetite. She didn't feel any better when Spike told Applejack to try the chicken. But that wasn't what bothered Fluttershy. What bothered her was that he accidently called Applejack "sweet cake" and Applejack suddenly recoiled at those words. The only people who had ever called her that were the Oranges; more specifically, her glamorous, aristocratic relatives Uncle Mosely and Aunt Orange Blossom (nee Pear Blossom), when she spent a summer with them in Manehattan. After her parents died, Applejack didn't want to spend her life on the farm; she wanted to live the sophisticated life, so she went to live with them, but she found it hard to fit in. She had never felt more homesick in all her life as she did right then. "And what about you, dear?" Celestia asked, trying to lighten the mood. "Fluttershy, is it? I understand that you volunteer at the city's veterinary clinic and animal shelter." "Oh, yes, Miss Soleil," she replied. "I love all animals, great and small." "As do I," she grinned. "What's the matter?" Luna asked as a wistful look crossed Fluttershy's face. "Is it not to your liking?" The truth was Fluttershy had fantasized about this for so long. The food, the candlelight... "I just feel a bit guilty enjoying such a lovely evening when one of our former classmates is still listed as a missing person," she shared. The other girls nodded in understanding. "May I confess something awful?" Sunset Shimmer asked. "I can't help but feel relieved. It's horrible, I admit it. But, let's face it, so was the sound of her voice." The rest of dinner was quiet, with each bite giving them more time to reflect on the events of the day. Pinkie Pie literally licked her plate clean. "Mm, attentive service, excellent cuisine," she critiqued. "However, the decor leaves something to be desired. I'd give this place a solid four out of five stars." "That meal was to die for, Spike," Rarity said as she delicately wiped her mouth with her white lace monogrammed handkerchief. "It wasn't much, but I was hoping you'd like it," he replied. Fluttershy wanted it to last. It was a meal to remember. . Later that evening, as the maids cleared the dining room table, Pinkie, Sunset and Applejack wandered around Spike's living room as Rainbow Dash propped her feet up on the sofa, and Rarity reclined on the plush couch while Cobalt Stone mixed a gin martini behind the bar, the warm glow from the fireplace casting soft shadows all around them. He dropped an olive into the cocktail and served it to Rarity, who downed the drink. As the girls relaxed, their gazes landed on Spike at the grand piano. His fingers instinctively found the keys as he began to play a soothing melody that seemed to resonate with the very room itself. From out in the hallway, Fluttershy--who had excused herself to use the restroom--was quite speechless; she couldn't take her eyes off Spike as he played. It was like, it felt like, she was waking up from a dream. Then, as she stepped into the room to join them, Spike abruptly halted his performance, the final notes of the melody lingered in the air. "I didn't hear you come in," he lied. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt you, it's just... That's the song my grandmamma used to sing to me," she said softly. "How do you know that song?" "I have heard it in a dream," Spike replied, "and now it is the only song I hear." "Please go on," she said. "You play beautifully." As Fluttershy looked at one of the portraits of a dragon, she noticed something in Spike's face--a flash of pain--but it was gone as soon as it had appeared. "Your castle is filled with such amazing things," she said. "They have been collected over many years," Spike replied. "Still, it's so strange, that this place should be filled with such unusual things..." It was true. He had objects of mystery, items worth a lot; some had quite a history, but... "Sometimes things aren't as mysterious as they seem," Spike said. Despite his casual dismissal, Fluttershy remained unconvinced. "I am curious, though, if it's true what they say. What people say... about dragons," she said. "I want to know more. Please... tell us what you know about them." Fluttershy not only believed in dragons, she believed they were real. Ever since she was a girl, Fluttershy wished that dragons were real, and considered herself a "supreme authority" on them and all their marvelous adventures and exploits. "She's been obsessed with dragons since we were kids," Rainbow Dash told him. "She thinks they're fascinating... especially that Equestrian Dragon." "Equestrian Dragon, what's that?" Rarity asked. "Ask my sister," Luna said. "She can tell you more about him than even I can." Celestia smiled, but it was a guarded smile, one tinged with caution. The girls had heard tales of monstrous, man-eating creatures. They had been recounted for centuries by tribes of the Amarezon Basin, some of whom were said to worship giant reptiles as gods and protectors. There was even a legend passed of a journey to a sacred lake. First, one had to pass a waterfall protected by wild animals and other vile beasts. Once those guardians were passed, travel through the land of the Equestrian Dragon until one came to a mountain so high it blotted out the Sun. Follow that mountain for seven days, finally reaching its peak, the head of a giant dragon. Even Applejack had heard these stories. She had heard these stories all her life, but she had never believed a word of them... that is, until her fifteenth birthday. They had heard, they knew, that dragons were among the most ferocious - and enormous - creatures on earth, growing, in certain cases, as long as several hundred feet. They were known to attack humans when provoked and if their territory was being invaded. "It is more than just native stories and folktales brought over from the old countries," Celestia shared. "Could you please tell us?" Fluttershy asked. Celestia glanced into the fire then she began to speak of the monstrous creature. "According to legends, he is over ninety feet long, with a wingspan no less than eighty meters from tip to tip... and some people say that he has the strength of over one hundred thousand lions. But I know--for a fact--he's more fearsome than any shark, bigger than any whale, and that he stands the height of two Spike's Peaks," she said. "When the moon is full and the air is sweet he soars alone through the sky over Equestria, piercing the silence of the forests with his mournful roar. And when he walks, you can feel his footsteps for miles around." "You mean... you have actually seen him?" Fluttershy stammered. "No mortal has ever really laid eyes on him, and those that say they have never got a good look at him," Luna admitted. "But plenty have claimed to have heard him, stomping his way through the darkness of the night, searching for his favorite food: a rack of garlic roasted lamb served on a delightful bed of angel's hair." "Is that served with a white sauce?" Pinkie inquired. Sunset Shimmer elbowed her hard in the side. "Some say he thirsts for human blood, others say he is calling for a mate... I say he is searching for the redemption that he longs for but will never truly achieve," Celestia went on. "By day, he rules the entire North Equestrian continent from its highest mountain peak, ready to attack anyone who dares trespass on his domain, but by night..." "He and Bigfoot run the candy counter over at the New Canterlot City Cineplex," Rainbow Dash interjected. "Now playing on all 14 screens: Dragonheart." The girls were so glad that they had decided to spend their evening with Spike. The only way it could be better was if his maids hadn't entered just to bring him a glass of water. Tote Bag and Twinkleworks had studied art in Mareis, Prance--that was where they met. They both spoke four languages and had recently worked for one of New Canterlot City's wealthiest families. "Unfortunately, they were always on the brink of divorce," Twinkleworks had shared. "Well, that wasn't your fault," Pinkie told her. "So what if men like to look at you in your birthday suit?" "Excuse me?" she asked. "I think what she means to say is that the only way ya get a tan like that is by layin' out butt naked," Applejack said. Spike's reaction was immediate and intense. He set down his glass with such force that it shattered, scattering shards across the room. "That's enough!" he snapped at their explicit rudeness. "They used to work for Filthy Rich! They worked themselves to the bone for that wretched snob and he treated them like dirt, then his whore of a wife had the nerve to fire them!" Spike's words cut through the air, echoing sharply in the quiet chamber, his demeanor as cold as the stern look on his face. His sudden shift from inviting to intimidating was disarming, that natural sense of authority that made people hate and fear him. The girls were about to apologize, but Spike's face hardened, his jaw clenched, and he said, "You will go now." Sitting rigidly, they looked up at him, taken aback by the intensity of his voice. "You will go!" Spike watched them stand up, collect their things and then walk to the door, his gaze held, unyielding and dominant, reinforcing his command over his space and the objects within it. They tried to not look at his eyes as they put on their shoes and left. They stepped out the front door--Park and Fancy Pants were waiting outside with the limo--and it shut after them. It took all of Spike's self-control to force them to get out of his castle without assaulting them. It would have been so easy, too. He had them right where he wanted them... and it nearly made him come undone. He knew he had to get them out of there before he did something he would regret--before they did anything they would regret. Spike's rage melted into despair as he pounded up the stairs to the sanctuary of his quarters, hiding his face from Celestia as she followed him. "You didn't have to be so harsh," she told him. Spike didn't answer her. "You are so frustrating sometimes," she said. "You were never like this." Spike shrugged. "That was a long time ago." "I've known you too long," Celestia said. "You can't hide your feelings from me." "What feelings?" "How about loneliness?" she asked. "I'm not lonely. I've got everything I need," "No, you don't. You refuse to let anyone love you," "Love is for poets," He couldn't risk those girls being there for one more second. It was too dangerous. He was too dangerous. His primal emotions would have been too much for them. He wouldn't make the mistake of loving them in return. He couldn't. As Spike locked himself in his bedroom, his mind wandered back to a day in ancient times--a more primitive, almost prehistoric time--a crucial time in the development of many species, where every man had a private club, every woman wore fur, and backyard barbecues were truly mammoth. A time when boys on the cusp of adulthood spent more time with their elders, seeking wisdom, and telling stories around the campfire... It was the time when he first gave Celestia and Luna food, shelter, company... and safety. . In a forested valley, a band of ten tall men in animal furs, wielding torches and pitchforks, huddled around a rather small man with a big mouth and large eyes dressed in a simple brown cloak, named Bray, who was holding up wanted posters offering rewards for ogres, dwarves, and other "magical creatures." "All right, this one's full," an orcish soldier with a pig-like snout and tusks said as a bearded dwarf looked through the barred window of a wooden prison wagon. "Take it away!" The wagon rolled away as seven more dwarves, chained together, were escorted away from a table where an armored guard broke a witch's broomstick over his knee. "Your flying days are over," he stated. "That's twenty pieces of silver for the witch and five shillings for the gnome," Bray said. "Take them away. Next!" "Move it along. Come on! Get up!" one of Bray's guards shouted as he dragged the gnome off to one of the prison wagons. Next in line, a beefy human man with a round head, wearing brown pants and a brown vest over a dirty white tunic, scowled as he held the end of a rope binding a pair of tall, thin sisters--one fair-haired with sun-kissed skin, dressed in sheep wool and soft, deerskin boots that were laced up to her knees; the other was pale, with hair dark as night, clothed in form-fitting studded leather armor and comfy leather boots with fur trim--who cast worried looks at groups of primordial men in animal-skin tunics who were being sold as slaves, and three other men with painted faces--guerrilla leaders, wearing bearskins--as they were put into cages. "What have you got?" Bray asked. "Well, I've got a pair of fallen angels!" the man grunted as he pushed them roughly. "Right," Bray sneered. "Well, that's good for ten shillings... if you can prove it." At first, Bray was suspicious, as the two sisters gazed at him with big, pleading eyes. His guards inspected them with curiosity; they were most enthralled by the women's hair. "Well?" he asked. "Oh, they're just-- They're just a little nervous," the beefy man told them. "That's it. I've heard enough!" Bray shouted. "Guards, get him out of my sight!" "No, no, no, no, they're angels! I swear! They are! They are angels!" As he was being dragged off, the mushroom-headed man kicked the elder of the two sisters in the rear, and a pair of white feathered wings shot out from her upper back in a cloud of shimmering gold dust. She quickly retracted them, but not quick enough. "They are angels!" Bray shouted. "Seize them!" Two armored guards converged on the sisters as they made a run for it, dodging two more as they fled across a field and entered the woods. "After them!" Bray kept shouting as he and his soldiers gave chase as the two women ran into the forest. "They're getting away!" Huddled together, the crowd of armored creatures trampled over a "Stay Out!" sign mounted next to another sign depicting a monster surrounded by the words, "Beware: Dragon!" Frightened, the two sisters kept on running through the trees as Bray and his forces trailed behind them. Suddenly, the pair tripped over the end of a very large, pointed tail. And when they looked up, they gasped in terror at what it was they had stumbled upon. It was a dragon--a big, shiny, purple dragon--not a friend. His senses were keen enough to detect the subtle vibrations of every footstep... and hear every breath. Even in his human form he had leveled entire castles... definitely not a friend. "They went this way! Get them!" With a panicked look, the two sisters ran into the bushes behind the Dragon as the guards raced over and then stopped. "You there, Dragon!" Bray shouted. The Dragon scowled, "Aye?" "By the order of Emperor Grogar, I am authorized to place you under arrest, and transport you to a designated... resettlement... facility..." "Oh, really?" the Dragon asked as he loomed over the little man. "Ye and what army?" One guard, a pig-snouted ogre, snorted as he waved his torch in the dragon's face, and shouted, "Back! Back, beast! Back! I warn ya!" The Dragon frowned at the torch-bearing guard as he towering over them. Then the Dragon stuck out his tongue and wrapped it around the flame, snuffing out the ogre's torch. The soldiers gasped and then cowered as the Dragon's mouth opened, revealing rows of sharp fangs. The Dragon roared as they cowered and trembled before him, tears glistening on their whimpering cheeks. Then the Dragon leaned in close and whispered, "This is the part where ye run away." The creatures screamed as they dropped their weapons and took off in a panic. "And stay out!" the Dragon roared after them. He turned to walk away, but briefly halted when he heard the sound of laughter among the trees. It was the two women that had tripped over his tail. Their breasts jiggled as they laughed, but they immediately stopped laughing when he found them in the undergrowth. "I think he's looking over here," the older one of them gasped. "Head down." "I think he saw us. Now what?" the other asked. "Act like we're not here," "We're not here!" "Shh! What are you doing?" "Thou said to--" "Don't say anything. Shh! We're sorry," the elder one apologized to the Dragon as he saw them. "We didn't mean to trespass in your territory. We swear, we didn't come here to steal anything, or to anger you, we promise. Please spare us!" "Please, don't eat us!" the younger one added. "Thou wouldn't like us. We're gamey." "Eat her!" "Oh, thank you very much, Breastia!" "Moon worshipper!" "Miss 'Praise the Sun'!" "Wide load!" "Cake butt!" the younger one shouted and then gasped. "We are so sorry." "You went too far that time," the older one said sadly. "We said we're sorry," "I'm not going to hurt ye," the Dragon said as they came out from their hiding place. "You're... not going to hurt us?" the older sister asked. "No," he said simply. "Well, that's very comforting to hear from a fire-breathing reptile the size of a small fortress," she said. "So, if you're not going to hurt us... does that mean you won't kill us, or just that you won't make our deaths painful?" "I doona eat people," the Dragon said. He obviously meant them no harm, and as suddenly as he had appeared, he started to walk away again. "So the legends are true," the older sister whispered. "May we sayeth something to thou?" the younger sister inquired. "That was incredible!" "Are ye talking at me?" the Dragon asked. "Yes, as a matter of fact, we art speaking to thou," the younger of the two replied. "And may we say that thou were truly something back there? We mean, really, really great!" "Ye're welcome," the Dragon told her. "Now, why doona ye go and celebrate yer freedom with yer own friends? Hmm?" "Well, that's easy enough to answer: we don't have any friends," the older sister answered. "And we are not going back there again!" As they continued to follow him, the older sister wondered what type of animals roamed these woods. They wanted to keep some distance between them and the Emperor's forces before finding a safe place to sleep for the night. He was waging war on half the continent of Europone. He was preparing to march against the Drow soon; it would take a few months before he was done with the Dwarves and other Elves. Then the younger sister got an idea. "We shall stick with thee," she told the Dragon. "Together, we shall drive away anybody that crosses us." "May we stay with you?" the older sister inquired. "What?" the Dragon asked. "May we stay with you, please?" she repeated, more politely. "Well, since ye asked nicely, why the Tartarus not?" he replied. "Really?" both sisters asked hopefully. "No! Ye just want a meat shield so ye doona become the next predator's victim," he said. "Thou art one very shrewd male," the younger sister said. "Listen, fallen angels, look at me. What am I?" He stood tall, grim-faced, as if cut from the rugged granite around him. When they'd first laid eyes on him, they hadn't seen the crisscrossing scars marring his smooth scales. This male had seen battle, a lot of battle. When they couldn't give an answer, he said, "I am a dragon. Ye know, 'Slay the dragon!' Does that not bother ye?" The elder sister shook her head and asked, "Should it?" "Are ye serious?" "We have never been more serious about anything in our life," the younger sister replied. "We know that doesn't sound like much reassurance, but it's true." Then the older sister asked, "Who are you?" The question seemed to catch him off-guard. "We should start with introductions," she said. "We can't just keep calling you 'Dragon,' after all, so... What is your name?" "I'm Spike." His deep voice, drawn rough and strong, reflected his Highland heritage. "And ye are?" "My name is Celestia. Celestia Soleil, thank you for asking," "Luna. Luna St. Selena. Pleased to formally meet you," "And may I say that you have beautiful eyes," Celestia remarked idly. Spike the Dragon growled as he stomped away from the now smiling sisters. "You know what we like about thee, Spike?" Luna asked. "Thou hath that I-don't-care-what-anybody-thinks-of-me attitude. We like that. And we like you." They followed Spike uphill until he had reached his destination: a cavern in the hillside. "You don't get many visitors, do you?" Celestia guessed. "I cherish my solitude," he stated as he left them at the cave mouth set in the rock wall. "I'll be back." Ancient Earth provided primitive Man with all the food he could eat... provided he was smart enough to catch it. By leaping up and grabbing the best fruit from the trees, not only did the dragons eat it and grow strong, but they left the crumbs for mankind so that their species would prevail over the bearded bipeds. Primitive Man was a hunter. He had an intimate relationship with his food, a spiritual intimacy. They were at one with their meal. The hunter would stalk and kill his prey, then pay homage to the animal's spirit. He would give thanks to the animal for giving its life. Now, as the Sun began to go down, the powerfully-muscled Dragon stalked an elk through a thicket. The Dragon slinked under a fallen tree, creeping steadily through the tall grass toward the unsuspecting animal. He crouched low on all fours, his back arched. Locking his gaze on the elk, he snarled as he chased after it. He nipped at the elk's legs, jumped onto the animal's head, grabbing it by the antlers, then swung down to the animal's mouth and yanked it, sending them both to the ground. "We're-- we're going to eat an elk?" Celestia asked. "No. I am eating elk," Spike grunted as he shoved a claw into the creature's mouth and pulled out a fistful of small, round, red fruits. "And only because he stole my berries." He gave thanks for the elk--and to the elk's spirit--before carrying it back to his cave. Luna had made herself useful picking up sticks to start a fire with before darkness fell. The last thing she wanted was to be out in the dark with no fire. She returned with an armload of sticks, pleased with herself, as the Dragon turned at the entrance to his cave, looked down at the two sisters, and asked, "That's yer shelter?" "You are a dragon, you have a whole cave," Celestia replied. "We are two fallen angels." "Ye've got half a bundle o' wood," he said. And he began to skin the elk. The sky darkened as Celestia set about starting the campfire, trying to light one by rubbing two of the sticks together. In the haze of late evening, she and Luna could smell the rain coming. A sudden flash of lightning sparked across the moor behind them, followed by a deafening crack of thunder. Celestia jumped at the noise while Luna tried to hide behind the bundle of firewood she'd gathered. Inside his cave, the Dragon bent down to the small pile of brush he had collected and gently blew fire into it, which snapped upward. Rain dripped on Celestia and Luna's heads and they wiped at it, still attempting to make fire, as another flash of lightning lit up the cloudy sky. Spike looked down at the open flames of his own campfire, which flickered as they cast their golden light across the walls of his cave before glancing toward the cave's entrance. He sighed as his eyes moved back to the fire. Then he growled softly and asked, "Do ye... want to share the shelter?" "Yes! Please! Please!" the sisters begged. "If you want to stay, ye can," he replied. "But one. Night. Only." Celestia and Luna raced in and sat on the ground by the fire. They were quick to notice that his cave was stocked with furs--and not just bear or wolf, but rabbit, Europone wildcats and beavers, eleven foxes, and a Scolttish red deer. There was even a pelt of an animal they did not recognize; it was orange with black stripes. And a big iron pot hung above the dancing flames. "That smells good," Luna said. "Is that squirrel?" "Nay," he replied. "Rabbit." In addition to the elk he'd just killed, the Dragon had gathered strawberries and a skinned hare was roasting on a rotisserie spit over his fire. "Keep yourselves warm," he said. "I'm going to get some water." The two sisters must have been hungry, Spike thought. They had not eaten for days... and their throats were parched. He briefly disappeared deeper into the cave and returned with two wood cups filled with water. "There's a natural stream that runs through this cave," he spoke softly. "Here, drink." Was he trying to dispel the thick unease between them? The cave was cold and the two fallen angels even colder, in body and in mood. Spike the Dragon draped the tiger pelt around the women's wet shoulders where they sat against the rough, curved wall. Other than that, he didn't seem to notice them. He didn't even look their way. Celestia took a small, round bread roll he offered. For a moment, Spike thought she would refuse or even throw it at him. "Thank you," she gritted out and took a bite. His eyes rose in silent astonishment; manners, even toward a dragon. He shook his head. He'd never understand these beings. "What are ye doin' here?" he said at last. "What do you mean?" Celestia asked. "Ye doona belong here in my woods," he told them. "That much is clear." "And what do you mean by that?" Celestia demanded. "Isn't it obvious?" he replied. "Ye've been here for almost two weeks. I've watched ye for most of that. Yer idea of hunting is throwing rocks at birds and rabbits and slinging sticks at fish. It's pathetic. The only thing I think ye've eaten since ye arrived here were a few berries and a fish that was already dead. Well, that and the tree bark ye tried to eat." He was right. They had been wandering for what felt more like five months, living on what they could find--plants and small animals--and sleeping in the forks of trees so the wolves and other predators couldn't harm them... until they were captured. "Why didn't you help us?" Luna asked. "That's easy enough to answer: I didna care. After all, ye are strangers trespassing in my territory... I give trespassers a wide berth, it's safer that way. I figured ye'd be eaten by wolves by now. Besides, ye would have run as soon as ye saw me. And ye've seen how well approaching humans and other creatures works for me," "So why now?" Celestia wanted to know. "Let's just say I have grown... fond of ye," he replied honestly. "Like I said, I've been watching ye since ye came here. And the longer I watched, the more curious I became. It was amusing, watching ye stumble about, trying to feed yerselves... at first. And then I started to pity ye... a little. I even thought about leaving some food at yer campsite the day before yesterday." "Why didn't you?" Celestia asked. "Well, because ye had already found food... ye just didna take it," "The baby deer," Luna breathed. Spike nodded. "Aye. After two weeks, on the brink of starvation, ye came across a fawn; the perfect prey, food for a couple of days right in front of ye... and all ye would have had to do was pick up a rock and bash its skull in... but ye couldna do it, could ye? As hungry as ye were, ye couldna bring yourself to kill a defenseless animal. It was then that I decided giving ye a meal wouldna be enough. It would have only helped ye for a day, maybe two, and then what? Ye'd be back to trying to catch fish with wishful thinking! I know ye doona have any tools, or skills, and yet ye're still here." Then he said, "Ye doona have a home to go back to... do ye?" Judging from the looks on their faces, his guess wasn't far off. "Why are ye here, in my forest?" he asked. "What happened to ye?" Celestia told him that they had been cast away to the realm of mortals because of their disobedience and rebellion. They possessed Light elements by nature, but had acquired Dark attacks through their betrayals, taking advantage of humanity's greed. They had taken refuge in a settlement under the care of a company of demons that had been kicked out of Tartarus for being "too noble." And when the "noble demons" were slain by a group of hunters who took over the village, the sisters realized just how foolish they had been. "But then a plague ravaged the town, killed half the population," she said. "Including yer friends?" Spike inquired. The two sisters nodded. "My condolences... No one should have to go through that," he said. "So... ye came here to escape the disease before ye became ill?" "We were exiled," Luna said. "Why?" he asked. "We were the only ones who didn't get sick... so they blamed us for it," Celestia replied. "I'm surprised they didn't offer us up as a sacrifice or burn us as witches," Luna added. "My sister and I started a fire, after that the hill tribes raided the area, took us captive... we managed to escape, until slave traders captured us again, marched us to the coast and traded us to a group who brought us here." "I'm sorry," he apologized. "Ye doona have to talk about it." Wind and rain thrashed outside as thunder rumbled and shook the mountainside. But they were safe in the cave. These mountains held numerous caves and conduits; he'd explored them in his youth and still didn't know where they all led. The Dragon cleared his throat as he turned the hare. Celestia kept the tiger pelt about her shoulders as she sat before the fire, pulling the ends together in front of her barely concealed breasts. Her body still trembled from the near fatal experience of earlier that day. She and Luna kept their eyes on the fire as Spike removed the hare from the spit, cut off some of the warm, delicious-smelling meat and handed it to them. "Here. Eat all you want," he told them. "I have plenty." "Oh... I see... hospitality," Celestia thought. In addition to warmth and shelter, he was offering them a meal... with no ulterior motive. Celestia barely stifled her automatic response of "thank you" as she took it. She looked at her sister as if to say, "Now pay attention... non-verbal communication is key here. We have been offered just enough to be polite but not obligatory... so take a bite, but don't finish off your food. That signifies courtesy and gratitude, not reciprocal promise." However, Celestia finished hers, licked her fingers seductively, deliberately eyed him up and down, and batted her eyelashes at him. She was about to ask him what she would have to do to make him her mate. She wanted to make raucous love with him so badly. And then the Dragon asked, "What deities do ye serve?" Celestia was almost mortified, but quickly regained her composure. "We pray to the Maker of Earth," she answered. "And you?" "To the Almighty, the Great I Am," Spike replied. "But I seldom pray to Him. He does not hear me; nor do I hear Him. But He gives me strength. And when I die, I will have to stand before Him, and He will ask me, 'Were ye a good and faithful servant?' If I say no, he will cast me out of Paradise and into Tartarus. That's Him." "The Fates said thou would come," said Luna. "From the isle of scaly creatures, a male of great strength; a kingmaker... One who would someday be conqueror by his own hand... one who would crush the rams of the Earth." "Rams? Did ye say rams?" Spike asked. "What is it thou seeketh?" Luna asked him. "A symbol on a banner... two rams facing each other..." he said. "With a sun and a moon below," Celestia said. "A black sun... and a red moon?" "What do ye know of this?" he demanded. "There is a price, Dragon," Celestia said. She was offering him a deal, as a prehistoric wolf gained a warm, dry place by the fire in exchange for keeping the cave free of mice, rats and lesser vermin. Celestia and Luna watched Spike as he tore off one of the elk's legs and gnawed at it as if it were a turkey's leg while they ate... until the animal's bones were picked clean. "I have no sweets to finish the meal," he said halfheartedly. "Raspberries sweetened with honey," Celestia murmured. "'Tis my favorite." Spike the Dragon walked around them to place another fur blanket out on the ground furthest from the rain misting into the cave. Celestia and Luna stiffened as he neared. "I do not rape," he said, his eyes level with theirs. "So ye can sleep soundly knowing that I willna approach ye... at least not until ye ask me to. Neither my love nor my body comes cheap. Do ye understand?" His words hung in the air, a subtle barrier he was placing between them. Clearly, he was not one to make quick decisions regarding personal life. "Get some sleep," he said as he lay down near the dying embers. "It's late and I know ye are tired. We can talk more in the morning." The Dragon's strong tail slid across the cave floor and wrapped around their waists. Celestia nearly screamed when she felt his warm breath against her chilled ear. Luna smiled as she slept against Spike's side and she and Celestia snuggled under his wing. So that day ended like all the others did: with no particular objective and nothing to feel passionate about... just another unexceptional day. What would happen to the two angel sisters tomorrow was unknown, but for the night, they could sleep and recover from their ordeal. > A Show of Talent . After their dinner with Spike, Pinkie invited the other girls back to her apartment to cram for their midterm exams... which turned into a late night session of pedicures, face masks, and talking about boys. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Sunset Shimmer, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Rarity didn't really have anything that defined them. They all played instruments in a band, but they weren't "band geeks"; almost all of them played some kind of sport, but they weren't really athletes; and most of them got good grades, but they weren't "nerds". All they really had in common was that they liked each other and enjoyed each other's company. They had fun together even in the midst of studying... and it was nice to relax for a while with familiar friends. At the moment, Rainbow Dash was trying to study while Applejack did bicep curls, Rarity and Fluttershy played Scrabble®, and Pinkie painted Sunset Shimmer's toenails while they listened to the radio. "That was The Legend of the Steel Driving Man, and you've been listening to Beneath the Beats with Vinyl Scratch on NCAB, the voice of New Canterlot University," the female disc jockey crooned. "That wraps up another night. So until tomorrow night at 6:00 p.m. when NCAB comes back on the air, this is DJ-Pon3 signing off." "G-R-I-F-F-O-N," Rarity said as she placed her tiles on the board. "Fourteen points." "What's a griffon?" Pinkie asked. "It's a mythical creature with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion," Rainbow Dash answered, not looking up from her textbooks. "What, it couldn't make up its mind?" Sunset joked. "Ba-dum-bum," Pinkie said, imitating a rim shot. "'Oxidize. Verb, meaning 'to combine with oxygen,' O-X-I-D-I-Z-E, oxidize," Fluttershy said. "Twenty-four points plus triple word score plus 50 points for using all of my letters." Sunset totaled up the score. That last play was worth 122 points, which meant she won. Rarity heaved a heavy sigh. She hadn't really wanted to play, anyway. She was more interested in why Rainbow Dash was the only one studying while the rest of them were having fun. On the other hand, it was good to see Dash finally taking an interest in her schoolwork... even if she did tend to gripe about it. "What are you doing?" Rarity asked. "Trying to write my paper for Philosophy class," she answered. "Looks to me like you're copying out of those books," said Sunset. "I changed a few words here and there," Dash replied. "That's plagiarism," Sunset stated. "Copying out of one book is plagiarism," Dash countered. "Copying out of several books, that's research." "Ya're only cheating yerself, ya know," Applejack put in. "As Shining Armor's sister used to say, 'the value of an education is in the learning,'" Rainbow Dash replied mockingly. "And I am learning plenty." "Yeah, how to lie," Applejack replied. "Cheat," Sunset added. "Steal," Pinkie jumped in. "Wait, what are we talking about again?" "Hey! Everybody cuts a few corners, bends a few rules now and again: politicians, businessmen, even Spike," Dash told them. "When you break the rules, like copying someone's test answers, that's cheating." "Exactly. We have had this conversation before," Rarity stated. "You do realize that if you fail, you won't graduate with the rest of us, right?" Rainbow Dash sighed. "But what if... I'm not that smart?" "Hey! Who was the one who found the class pet in first grade after we'd all given up?" Pinkie asked. "And who figured out how much cake the average woman could eat without puking? And videotaped it for a science project that got a solid eighty percent!" "You?" Dash asked. "No! I may have helped you with that last one, but that was all you, Dashy!" Pinkie exclaimed. "Just because you're athletic doesn't mean you're not smart," she went on. "You can do anything you put your mind to." "And besides, how are you ever gonna pass if you keep dozing off in class?" Sunset Shimmer asked her. "Philosophy, how can you stay awake?" Rainbow Dash replied then she burped. Rarity sighed. "Why do we always have to go through this every time we come here?" "That's easy: if we stayed where we were, we won't be where we are," Pinkie replied. "And consequently, if we aren't where we are, then where are we?" "You just need to manage your time a little better," Sunset said. "We all have something we can work on. If we agree to help you get back on track, do you promise to study?" "You'd do that for me?" Dash asked. "Yes," Applejack, Sunset Shimmer, Pinkie Pie and Rarity all said. "Okay, I'll do it," Dash promised. Now it was Fluttershy's turn to sigh. "I wonder what Spike's doing right now," she said. This time, all six girls sighed. It had been only a few hours since they were with him... and he all but threw them out because he believed that they had insulted his house staff. It was his first time inviting someone into his home in a long time--he really tried to make an effort at his relationships with them--but they still felt bad. They all had some kind of adoration, or infatuation, with him. Rainbow Dash had a crush on Spike since the day Fluttershy's brother, Zephyr Breeze, said that Dash's bathing suit made her butt look fat. Spike overheard him, and pushed him into the pool, and Dash had liked Spike ever since. "Too bad you don't like climbing trees," Dash replied. "What does climbing trees have to do with--" Rarity gasped. "Are you serious? Why didn't I think of that?" "You're actually into it?" Dash asked. "Are you kidding? I have the perfect spy-on-Spike outfit!" . Meanwhile, inside the New Canterlot City Police Department, Officer Silver Sable was having another argument with Chief of Police Chocolate Ganache and Ad Vice Captain Shining Armor--not what Shining Armor needed at the end of a long day, which was quickly turning into the start of a longer night. "We didn't authorize this statement, Sergeant," Shining Armor said about the Gazette's latest headline. "Come on, Captain," Sergeant Spearhead replied. "Somebody asked us a few questions; we gave them a few answers." "You gave them without approval!" the round-faced Chief of Police shouted. "If you had kept your damn mouths shut, the Dragon wouldn't know we're moving AGAINST him!" Even through all the shouting, Chief Ganache had a conceited look of authority. "I'll find him," Silver Sable said. "I just need a little extra help, sir." "What kind of help?" the Chief inquired. He already knew what Sable wanted: she wanted her own squad for the sole purpose of throwing a net over the vigilante... but Chief Ganache had already denied her "request". "Nobody is taking a strike force onto my streets," he had said. "The Dragon is bad for the morale of the force, sir," Silver Sable stated. "And we've got to stop it once and for all!" Silver Sable cast a dark shadow. Not madness, exactly... but definitely obsession. "And I might suggest the opposite, Officer Sable," Captain Armor said. "This 'Dragon' is actually good for morale. It doesn't hurt, for some of the men, at least, to know we're not out there on the street alone." "And real cops should not have their pride stripped away and have their noses rubbed in by some vigilante who's twice the criminal as the scum he's stealing from us!" she shouted. "'Stealing' from us--?" "You know what I mean, Captain," "Actually, I don't, Officer Sable," Shining Armor replied. "Now, if you all will excuse me, I'm late... for a T.V. appearance, of all things." . Later that night, under a starry, black sky, the girls headed back to Pendragon Castle. Their bicycles skidded to a halt outside the large iron gates. "Ya know, trespassin' is against the law too," Applejack said. Ignoring her words, Pinkie Pie crawled underneath the gates while Rainbow Dash and the other girls quickly climbed over them. Then they shimmied over the shrubs and crept stealthily across the grass toward the old, spooky-looking Pendragon Castle. They figured the odds of Spike seeing them were slim, but they were sure the foliage from the trees and shrubs in his yard, combined with the darkness of the night, adequately concealed them. They were not at all worried he might see them. Applejack followed the other girls as they sneaked around, ducked behind a thick evergreen, then climbed up the tree, carefully choosing branches as they went up. Then they climbed around the trunk of a much larger tree that split to form a V-shape, grabbed hold of the larger tree and hopped over. Fluttershy and Rarity sat in the V of the trunk while Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Sunset Shimmer and Pinkie Pie straddled a long bough, and gazed through the branches at the fourth-story windows of the Castle from their high perch. Rarity peered through a pair of binoculars when a loud crunch caught her attention and she glared at Pinkie Pie, who apologized. "Sorry. Carrot," she said. "Why are you eating a carrot?" Rarity asked. "Vitamin A. It helps you see in the dark," Pinkie explained. "Well, try to crunch quietly," Rarity said. "We don't want anyone to know we're here." Pinkie nodded... then pulled some kind of contraption out of her hair. "What is that?" Sunset Shimmer inquired. "It's an infrared scope," Rainbow Dash said. "Snipers use it for night-vision." "Tres convenient," said Rarity. "What is Pinkie doing with it?" Sunset asked. "And what are we going to do with it?" "We shouldn't be doin' this," Applejack said. "What are you, a 'fraidy-cat?" Dash asked. "No. We just believe that you all have gone off the deep end," Sunset told them. "I mean, carrots, infrared night-vision scopes? What are we gonna do next, tap his phone line?" "Oh, that can be arranged," Dash said. As Applejack glanced at her friends, and then back at the castle across the way, she couldn't help but think how perverse they were being. She was more of a skeptic, basically grounded in reality and didn't want to believe that people were up to anything strange because if they were, she would be the one who would have to deal with it. Meanwhile, many others believed that Spike was evil and that he was building a dungeon in his basement. They were just going to take a teensy-weensy peek inside his window and see what the charming fellow was up to. Their mouths fell open as they peered through the master bedroom windows and caught sight of Spike lifting his black T-shirt over his head, exposing his long, lean form, showing off porcelain skin, a broad chest without a single hair (dark or otherwise) and abs they could literally bounce a quarter off. Spike used his shirt to wipe his brow before dropping it to the floor then he opened the double doors of his walk-in closet. It was still August, and hotter than ever. "Good God," they all thought. The girls' hearts pounded with a near madness of lust and desire as they admired his physique. They could see why Spike had so many female admirers: his tall, muscular frame and broad, strong shoulders were very appealing. It was his arms and shoulders that always gave them their first thrill. His handsome face and bulging biceps glistened from the sheen of perspiration that had developed there, as well as along his fine back and chest, which they longed to put their faces into. As the girls watched Spike unzip and strip off his denim blue jeans, and watched his taut buttocks disappear, each realized that her panties were damp. Spike's body always had that effect on them, but seeing his bare chest and buttocks made them wetter than usual. They could feel their juices churning like butter as they waited impatiently for him to return--and, God willing, see his beef bayonet--as they found themselves imagining those broad shoulders under their hands, the taste of his sweat on their tongues. Rarity panted, scolding, as she touched herself. She was a lady and ladies did not do this sort of thing. But she became very warm and wet the more she did it. She undid the button of her pants and slid her hand down her panties. She was leaking so much that her inner thighs were soaked. But before she could orgasm, she let out a loud, involuntary moan... one loud enough that Spike turned his head toward his window. Snapped out of their reverie with a primal flush of heat, the six young women froze, almost too afraid to move. Suddenly, they scampered down the trees, ran back across the lawn, and jumped over the wall to safety, hardly believing what they had just done. "That was a close one, ladies and gentlemen," Rainbow Dash said as they all got back on their bikes and pedaled like their lives depended on it. "Unfortunately, in every contest, there must be a loser. Loo-hoo... se-her!" . It was the middle of the night when Celestia awoke... just in time to catch a glimpse of Spike's human silhouette as he passed by her open doorway and disappeared down the stairs. On nights like this she would hear him murmuring something in his native tongue, Draconic. Celestia didn't know why he did that, and if she ever asked him about it, he would just shrug and say he was just thinking out loud. She put on her robe and followed him downstairs, into the living room. Peeking from behind a high-backed red chair, Celestia found Spike standing alone in the dark, in front of the fireplace, sipping from a glass of Cognac, staring into the roaring flames, smoke curling from the hearth and swirling around his legs. Then she realized it wasn't the fire that was roaring... it was him. "Spike, are you all right?" she asked. "Obviously not if you have to ask that question," he snapped in reply. She approached him cautiously, blinking with concern as she rubbed his arm. "It's awfully late. Why didn't you come to bed?" she asked. "Did everything go okay at the office? Did anybody say something to upset you?" "I'm not upset," he said with a snort. "What's there to be upset about? I'm fine." "You are not 'fine,'" she told him. "Did you have another nightmare? I know you've been having more and more lately. Something is bothering you. Spike... I'm worried about you." He sighed as his fingers grazed the pendant on her gold necklace and said, "I remember when I gave this to you." "How long is it going to take for you to be honest with me?" she asked. Spike didn't want to tell Celestia what was going on, but she followed his gaze to a stack of half a dozen newspapers on the settee. So many bad stories: a car crash, no fatalities; a girl caught shoplifting, rumors of more drug rings... and a memo that said all police officers that were not working active cases were to attend a sexual harassment lecture at the human resources training center. The female officers could not sit through another one of those; many of them had already threatened to shoot themselves. "'Equestrian Dragon Strikes Again', 'Police Declare War on Dragon,'" Celestia read the headlines. "I take it you've been reading How to Make Friends and Influence People." "Somebody's setting me up," he told her. "You mean it wasn't you tossing guards out of windows that night?" she asked. "There were two similar incidents at other power plants earlier last week--a coal burning plant and a nuclear reactor. Nobody hurt like last night, but property damaged all the same," "And you suspect a pattern," "It's not just them," Spike said. "It's this..." He reached for a remote control on a nearby side table, and turned on the T.V. set. "From New Canterlot Nighttime, with reporter Inky Quills..." the announcer said. "Good evening," Quills began. "Tonight's topic of discussion is: 'The Equestrian Dragon: Savior or Scourge?' With me here in the studio are our guests... New Canterlot Mayor Walt R. Strider, Police Captain Shining Armor, and prominent psychiatrist Dr. Hue Blackburn." The mayor, Walt R. Strider, was a greedy, hard-hearted, two-faced, triple-chinned, four-flushing tub of lard who held absolute power and influence over New Canterlot City; while Dr. Blackburn was a stern-faced man whose receding brown hair was slicked back. Compared to them, Shining Armor was the only one who looked like a real human. "A T.V. show -- the last place a cop is needed," Shining Armor thought. "Might as well be in church." Hot lights, but no yawning allowed. "Let's start with you, Mr. Mayor," Inky Quills said. "What are your feelings about this bizarre new vigilante?" "My position was, is, has been, and always will be clear and firm," Strider began. "Although there are those who perceive this shadowy figure as a kind of godsend who fights fire with fire, my responsibility is to put out all the fires. In New Canterlot, no one is above the law." Shining Armor thought the man was a pompous ass. "How can anyone listen to him?" he asked himself in thought. "Why am I even here?" The truth was Strider hated the Equestrian Dragon for being beyond his control, but never made a firm stand against him for fear of losing any pro-Dragon voters. "Besides, what do we really know about this dark entity?" the politician asked. "Dr. Blackburn, perhaps that falls into your area of expertise," Quills said. "What do we know about this 'Dragon'?" "Well, psychologically speaking, I would say he is extremely obsessed and he craves individual power, indicating a paranoid mistrust of others," he said expertly. "Let's take the obsession first, Dr. Blackburn," Quills said. "Obsessed with what? Stopping criminals, making the police appear foolish and inept?" "All of that... and more," Blackburn replied. "Obsessed with the night, with darkness, and with vengeance. I wouldn't be surprised if he or a loved one was the victim of a crime -- a crime committed in darkness. The very genesis of this tormented figure might well be traced back to the traumatic events of a single key moment... a night that haunts him, and may well haunt him forever." "Be that as it may, Doctor, and at this point there's hardly proof--you mentioned obsession with individual power," Inky Quills said. "Why?" "His turf," Shining Armor thought. "And he knows it damned well." "It isn't obvious?" Blackburn replied. "He hasn't chosen to join the police force, has he? He's a rogue who acts alone. And here is the curious part, the fascinating aspect... He does not wish to share his victories and accomplishments, yet he insists on remaining anonymous. He craves fame, wants to be a star, but not as himself--only as this fictional construct, 'The Dragon.' This indicates both schizophrenia and a split personality." "Have you ever considered that his anonymity is utilitarian and necessary?" Shining Armor interjected. "He can't do what he does without the disguise. He couldn't operate without anonymity. He'd be arrested immediately. He might suffer reprisals." "Quite so, Captain," Blackburn agreed, "but the form of his disguise suggests anything but utilitarian motive. Just look at the image he's chosen. The iconography of a mythological monster. Clearly, he exults in the dark power of this terrifying apparition to--" "Oh, for Scorpan's sake! He just wants to scare the shit out of people!" Shining Armor exclaimed. "And nothing strikes terror into people's hearts like a dragon!" "Forgive me, Captain Armor, but it almost sounds as if you're apologizing for this vigilante," Inky Quills observed, "even defending him. Is that your intent?" "No," Shining Armor stated. "If he breaks laws, or takes the law into his own hands, he must be brought to justice... just like anyone else." Mayor Strider cleared his throat. "Captain Armor is a very pragmatic, no-nonsense officer, and he gets results. Which is why I am pleased to announce the creation, formation, and authorization of the new top-priority Major Crimes Unit, who will be charged with bringing in all vigilantes, to put a stop to this Dragon once and for all!" "What is he--?" Shining Armor thought. "With Captain Armor here as its commander," Strider stated. "Me? So that's why I'm here with him -- instead of the Chief of Police," Shining thought. It was going to be his responsibility that the urban legend didn't become a folk hero. "Well, this is news, Mr. Mayor," Inky Quills said. "And may I say you've certainly chosen a very public forum I which to deliver your announcement." "On the other hand, Quills, this 'psychological profile' business may also have some merit," Strider went on. "I don't mind saying I'm impressed by Dr. Blackburn's insights, since it is also my opinion that this Dragon is some sort of deranged power-freak." "And on that note, I'm afraid we are out of time," Inky Quills cut in. "So I'd just like to thank our guests and say good night, and a better tomorrow." . The shirtless dragon in human form switched off the television then rested his agonized face in his hands. "Why did he get to me? Because some of what he said may be somewhat true...? No... just another modern witch doctor on a screen... and I have other things to worry about. But... was it true? Must I act alone? Is my ego that huge? My obsession that great? What would it take for me to trust someone? And who could I trust?" Spike slowly turned to look at Celestia, his gaze moving from her sleeveless baby blue nightgown to her smooth, youthful face. He thought she and her sister would have stayed with him only until that first spring thaw and be on their way. But one thing he had learned about them was that they didn't change their minds once they had decided on something... and they seemed Tartarus-bent on staying with him until the end of Time. He threw Celestia down onto the settee with such ferocity that it surprised her, even more so when he climbed on top of her. Her breathing became ragged, and she writhed beneath Spike as he forcefully grabbed one of her breasts and lowered his lips to her rosy nipple. His tongue met the bud with such vigor that it left Celestia breathless for a moment. He bit and suckled with a fervor he had never displayed before, and her whimpers of pleasure were quickly turning into screams of ecstasy. "Please, don't tease me," she told him. Celestia stopped moaning when Spike's mouth left her nipple... and then he stopped moving entirely. Her breasts were heaving with each breath, her eyes begging him to continue. She looked at him with love as he gazed back at her with longing in his own eyes, but he remained silent. He didn't think this would make her anxious, but Celestia began to think that Spike was mad at her. She couldn't stand when he was mad at her. Celestia wanted to please him, make him happy. Her arms were crossed enticingly beneath her breasts, lifting them as if in offering, as she looked at him with eyes on the brink of tears. Her warmth melted into him and her curls teased him ceaselessly. He'd stopped counting the number of times he'd almost buried his face in her hair. What the Tartarus had he been thinking, telling her he wouldn't approach her again? Now, every inch of his being rebelled against his own oath... "Spike, what have I done wrong?" she pleaded sadly. "I've always done what you've asked of me. Why do you torment me? Please, tell me... I love you." Spike hated to see a grown woman cry; he hated hearing Celestia beg even more. "Nothing," he sighed as he lifted her chin so she could look at him. "You're beautiful." It was true. She looked like the woman he'd always had: a voluptuous goddess in lingerie. Spike knew that he should be overjoyed to have this fallen angel at his beck and call, but he always held back. He knew that this was wrong. Celestia had been perfect for getting out all of his centuries of pent-up frustration, but she barely satisfied his emotional needs. Spike swore that he would never raise a claw to her, never use her, or abuse her, to satisfy his own carnal desires. "What am I doing?" he asked himself aloud. "I attacked you, threw you down, almost took you by force, and for what? A temporary solution to my--?" Spike couldn't even finish his sentence, he was so ashamed. It wasn't just those sensations, though. It was also the way this fallen goddess had said she felt about him. She had said she loved him and wanted to be with him. But Spike understood that she wasn't just using the words; it was what she was willing to do with him that she felt something much stronger than physical attraction. "I'm sorry," he sobbed. His head came to rest on Celestia's breast and she gently stroked his hair as he listened to her heart beat, and he stayed in her arms until he fell asleep. . Back at the T.V. station, Mayor Strider chewed on a piece of key lime pie as he looked at Shining Armor thoughtfully. "Brilliant idea, eh, Captain?" he said at last. "And announced with maximum publicity. You can start picking your men tomorrow." "But--" Shining Armor tried to protest. "I think Chief Ganache can spare a few men," Strider said. "After all, you do have a reputation for getting results. Anything else, Captain?" "No... just make sure the D.A.'s office can give us an airtight case," Armor replied. "If you catch him, I'll put him in jail for you," the district attorney, a golden-haired maiden named Dane Tee Dove, stated with a smile. "Dr. Blackburn?" Strider called out. "If I could have a moment? I really did like your observations, Doctor. In fact, I'd like to explore the possibility of you serving as a consultant to the Major Crimes Unit." "Well, now..." Blackburn said. "He's buying it -- eating it up with a spoon -- as if he could figure out who the Dragon might be..." Shining Armor thought. "God. The Dragon... he's more effective than fifty cops on the street. What do I do? Even if I could stop him... how can I?" . In the morning, the students at New Canterlot University assembled in the auditorium to discuss the list of remaining preparations for the school's open house carnival coming up that weekend. Juniper Montage, in particular, wanted to profit off this opportunity and encourage more girls to enroll. "Ray? Ray? Here, boy," Sunset Shimmer called out. "Hey, Sunset," Pinkie greeted her. "Shh! Ray has gone missing," Sunset said. "You don't suppose he went into hibernation early, do you?" Fluttershy asked. "Not likely," Sunset replied. "The University's open house festival is this weekend. If the little guy missed it, he'd be crushed. Huh? Oh! Hey! Hey!" Sunset started giggling as she reached into her jacket's breast pocket and pulled out a handsome leopard gecko. "Ray!" she exclaimed happily. "Sunset, have you ever thought about getting a normal pet?" Rarity asked. "Like what?" Sunset replied. "Something not reptilian," Rarity said. Ray stuck his tongue out at her like he was blowing a raspberry. "You don't deserve to be kissed by a handsome reptile," Fluttershy told her. It was then that Juniper Montage stomped in, and instead of "good morning," she started by tearing into them. "Okay, the school's open house festival is this weekend!" she began. "And the theme for this year is 'New Students'. The open house is our best chance to prove that New Canterlot U is the only logical choice. Right now, we're perceived as stuck-up, elitist and socially exclusive. By this time next year, we will improve the school's image by getting as many new students as possible! It's going to be up to all of you to make this fantasy a reality!" Unfortunately, there were more than a few problems with that. New Canterlot University was a university for college kids. There was no pressure to excel, but the faculty didn't want the students slacking off, either. They studied as much or as little as they wanted to... which, more often than not, was just enough to get by. And because New Canterlot University expected so much less from its students, the professors could spend time on other pursuits: novels, research projects, sorority girls... and because New Canterlot U was the only game in town, they didn't have to worry about losing grant money or other funding due to academic performance. And since many of the students were heirs to the various small businesses around town (the ones that weren't a Zenith Industries property), the cultural festival served as an opportunity for them to demonstrate their skills in management and budgeting through how well they set up and organized the activities. "So, any ideas on what your classes can contribute?" Headmistress Cadence asked them. "I don't know, something awesome?" Rainbow Dash retorted. "Maybe we could sell food?" Lily suggested. "What if we put together a little cafe?" Rose asked. "If we're gonna do a cafe, we should make it a maid cafe!" Pinkie Pie said. "No! No! Nooo!" Rarity protested. "I don't want that at all!" "I'm with Rarity," Sunset Shimmer put in. "I don't want to do a maid cafe, either." "I think we should so something more appropriate," Daisy went on. "Then let's do a butler cafe!" "Does anyone besides Pinkie Pie have any ideas?!" Juniper Montage asked. Pinkie studied comedy and was very adept at gags; from stupid puns to wicked jokes, her style was comical, unusual and whimsical. She was also good at dancing. However, problems had arisen with many of the college's younger students because Juniper Montage had vetoed any and all activities she considered ridiculous. She felt they'd over-thought things, trying to come up with something "fresh" and new... even the ideas proposed by the girls that were little more than attempts to exploit the boys. When the boys marched in, they were not happy. "So, did you finally manage to come up with a proper proposal this time?" she asked. "Yes," the chubby Snips conceded. "Even though our last idea was cool and amazing, we may have gone a little overboard. So, we toned it down and this is what we came up with." He nodded to his lanky buddy Snails, who stepped forward and unfurled a lengthy scroll... with a single idea. "'A Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament'? Rejected," Juniper said. "Why?!" Snips asked. "We've always had one of these!" "There is no such tradition," Juniper argued. "We did it last year and it was a big hit, right?" asked Snails. "Only with all of YOU, it was," she snapped. "And what's wrong with that?!" Rumble shouted. "The open house fest is for all of us to enjoy!" Shady Daze added. "Do you even hear yourselves when you talk?!" Juniper Montage screeched. "Have you morons even been listening to a single word that I have said!? Your class is the only one that hasn't decided yet. Get out and don't come back until you can bring me a real idea! One that will ATTRACT students NOT send them running for the hills!" "You keep rejecting everything, and not just the good ones!" Snips bickered. "Because every single thing you have suggested has been totally worthless!" "So... I'm guessing a photo shoot, costume contests and coed self-defense seminars are all out?" Pinkie Pie asked. Ultimately, Juniper decided that the second-years would host a coffee shop as suggested by Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo--the top three female students in the class. "Headmistress Amore, say something!" the boys begged. At first, Cadence didn't want to--she really want to do it--she wanted them to settle this among themselves. If she had known that this is what she would have to deal with, she wouldn't have accepted the job. She felt more like a high school principal than a college headmistress. It wasn't until after the boy students started chanting her name that she finally stepped up to Juniper Montage and asked, "Okay, what am I supposed to tell her?" "Say, 'let them do the Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament,'" Snips replied. "Fine. Let them do the Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament," she echoed unemotionally. "No, no, Headmistress, you have to say it with conviction," Snails told her. "Honestly, I don't really care one way or the other," she admitted. "What?!" the boys cried. "Still, that being said, they make a fair point," she said to Juniper Montage. "Couldn't you at least listen to the guys a little more and try to take their opinions into consideration?" "I can't argue with that," Juniper thought. While Headmistress Cadence Amore was dealing with her students, Police Captain Shining Armor was dealing with his own childlike subordinates. "What I need is someone I can trust... but not have a lot of faith in," he thought as he entered the police station's gym room. "A good cop, but one who's not that good... someone clean, on the straight-and-narrow, and tough... A real go-getter, but one who doesn't necessarily get anyplace--dedicated, but strictly by-the-book... Blinded by a gutful of personal hate... and none too bright in the first place..." "Officer Sable, how are you feeling about the Dragon today?" he asked. "The Dragon?" she replied as she looked at herself in the mirror while lifting weights. "I want to murder him, that's how I feel!" "Then congratulations, you're being tapped to serve as second-in-command on the new Major Crimes Unit," Shining Armor said. "I want you to prepare a list of ten plainclothes officers for my approval." "That's it?" she asked. "That's all you want me to do?" "A unit can't do much of anything until it's been formed, now can it?" She understood, nodded and said, "All right, you'll get your list." On his way to his office, Shining Armor was stopped by Sergeant Spearhead. "The mayor's office wants everything on the Dragon, Captain," he said. "I think it's for that shrink Hue Blackburn." "You can tell Strider he'll have what he wants by tomorrow," Shining Armor answered. "And don't forget everything on the vigilante, Captain--all nineteen alleged sightings to date, including Monday night," Spearhead said. . Thirty minutes later, at the newsstand near Zenith Industries across town, Minuette Colgate--in a black suit jacket and matching skirt--bought a copy of Melee magazine and skimmed the pages as cars blocked the intersection to the highway and North 4th Street. Riding his motorcycle, Spike--wearing a black helmet and black leather jacket--weaved through the traffic. The light turned green but the vehicles remained at a standstill. He turned onto the clear street and parked in the small space between two Trans Ams--one black, one white--at the curbside, and Minuette eyed him seductively as she walked past. At the same time, members of Animals Need Universal Support (formerly known as Citizens Opposed to the Mistreatment of Animals) crowded around outside the entrance to Zenith Industries, trying to do an expose on the company's meatpacking plant. After a breakfast of bacon, sausage, ham and scrambled eggs, the last thing Spike wanted to deal with was animal rights activists. And unfortunately for him, the only way to his office was through them. So he marched straight toward the blockade of protestors... led by an old, gray-bearded, morbidly obese bastard in a wheelchair that went by the name of Green Scare. "What have you got against animals?" he demanded. "What have you got against him?" The crowd looked behind Spike to see a ripped female with white hair and amber eyes step out of the white Trans Am. She wore ripped blue jeans, brown leather boots, a tight white tank top under a brown bomber's jacket, and black fingerless gloves. And she was accompanied by two other, similar young women, who got out of the black Trans Am. The second woman also had white hair, but the tips of it were frosted a light shade of emerald. She wore jeans and a brown leather jacket, but over a sleeveless latex halter top that showed off her neck and sharp athletic shoulders. The third woman was smaller and younger, with darker hair and dressed in gray, from her coat to her boots, like she was ready for winter. "What exactly is your problem?" their leader asked. "A man your age, throwing a fit like a punk kid, you are the one who should be ashamed!" She grabbed the fat protester by his shirt, hauled him out of his wheelchair, and she pulled out a switchblade and held under his greasy chin before he could even try to fight back. "Now, you listen to me, you oversized rat jackass. If I ever catch you harassing Spike again, if I catch you ANYWHERE NEAR him again, Tartarus, if I so much as see your face in this town again, you're dead!" she swore. "I am gonna gut you like a fish! I will cut your belly open, slice your heart in half, and drink your blood! Then I'm gonna peel your face off your head and use it to wipe my butt after I take a shit down your throat. GOT IT!?" The fat protestor choked, "I... Who are you?" "The name's Gilda," she stated. "I'm a friend of Spike Zenith. And, since I'm in a very good mood right now, I'm gonna cut you a break. Today only. Now why don't you make like Michael Jackass and beat it!" And she threw him back into his wheelchair, which crunched under his weight. "I'll just assume you said what I thought I heard you say," a new voice said. Spike and the crowd turned again, this time to see Silver Sable and a dozen other uniformed officers approaching them. As Gilda met the policewoman's gaze, her sneer turned into a genuine smile. Then she gave up her switchblade and assumed the position--hands behind her head. The police ordered the protestors to disperse as Silver Sable read Gilda her rights and shoved her into the back of a nearby black-and-white patrol car. "Want my advice? Shut up. If you behave, I might give your pig-sticker back when we get to the station," she told her. After the crowd was gone and the remaining officers made sure Spike was unharmed, he led Gilda's accomplices--named Greta and Gabby--into Zenith Industries main building, where a security guard handing Spike a pair of small silver devices shaped like crescent moons. "You'll have to wear these tracking pins," he said. "We've had some security issues in the city recently and we wanna make sure you stay safe." "What kind of issues?" Gabby asked. "Nothin' we can't handle," Spike answered. Gabby and Greta followed Spike into the elevator, up to the main conference room, for discussions with the section heads of his various operations. He would be updated on the morning's progress; he gave few orders, mostly observed, and let the teams get on with their work. The only demand he made was no smoking. He had arrived a few minutes before the staff meeting was supposed to begin. "Morning, ladies," he greeted them. "What's up, T-Bone?" Spike kicked off his boots then kicked his bare feet up onto the conference table. Then the rest of the section heads took off their shoes and sat down. "All right, let's get started," he said. "First, Quills and Sofas?" "No problems," Davenport replied. "Photo department?" Spike asked Photo Finish. "Under control," she answered. "Fashion?" he asked. "As tight as your butt," Prim Hemline said. "Bagel and orange juice?" "Already on your desk," Fancy Pants stated. "This was the best meeting so far," Spike told them. "Dismissed." After they all collected their shoes, Greta and Gabby continued to follow Spike as he walked down the corridor and into his private office. They glanced around the room. Bigger than most apartments, it was all black leather furniture and mahogany walls with soft, plush red carpet; luxury upon luxury. Spike locked the doors behind them then took a wad of cash out of his pocket as he walked over to one of the bookshelves behind his desk, and opened a book titled The Highland Dragon. The pages were cut away and computer discs filled the hollow inside. Greta let out a squawk as Spike put the money inside, walked over to the mini-bar across from the bookcase, poured himself a Scotch, and took a sip of the liquor, anxious to transform and spread her wings. Griffons were ferocious, aggressive and territorial carnivorous avian beasts that engaged in brutal aerial combat. When they attacked, they were as swift as eagles and struck with a lion's might and savage grace. Griffons also laid eggs only once every thousand years, which were very beautiful and very valuable... and because griffon eggs were so rare, there were a lot of undesirables who would love to get their hands on one. A griffon raised from an egg could be trained to serve as a mount. Once trained, the griffon was a fierce and loyal steed. However, such training was time consuming, expensive--mostly for the ample food the creature required--and dangerous. Expert trainers well versed in the griffon's legendary ferocity were the only ones able to raise the creatures safely. That's how the Equestrian Dragon had first met Gilda, Greta and Gabby, when he had been tasked with helping them guard a griffon egg until it hatched. It didn't belong to any of them--meaning, it wasn't theirs--but long story short, the egg was stolen and it led them on a frenzied romp through New Yoke City. Griffons were just as greedy as Dragons, they had the same vulnerability to Sphinx hair... and they retained ravenous appetites for meat. Normally, Gilda grilled her own meat, but they had a particular fondness for horsemeat, which is what Spike took from a mini-fridge beneath the mini-bar and offered it to the two lady griffons. Gabby blushed. "For me?" she asked sweetly as she batted her eyelashes at him. "Spike, you shouldn't have, but I'll take it anyway." "Girls, do you have any idea why my company is so successful?" Spike asked them. "I am successful because I give the people what they want." "Well, maybe they're smarter than you think," Greta said. "Maybe they want something more than 'ten easy ways to kill a man by using only one finger.'" "Well, that's not a risk I'm willing to take," Spike stated. "I am Zenith Industries. I am guns, bombs, cars, food, oil, real estate, exports, steel and now diamonds and silver." He belched a cloud of smoke, which formed a dollar sign, and the two leather-clad griffon girls looked Spike up and down (practically stared at him) as he stepped behind a privacy wall, took off his T-shirt and changed into a black button-up. "Our mission is to celebrate the life you have, instead of dreaming of someone else's... and everyone shares in the riches," he went on. "Which brings me to the business I called you here for: helping me to organize the fundraiser for the Zenith Industries Job Fair and Barbecue." Spike handed Greta a big, thick, weathered book and she read the cover. "'The Zenith Industries Steak Dinner Bible,'" she said. "I created this in 1789 and have honed and perfected for over two centuries," Spike told them. "Now, before every job fair my employees gather and feast upon this winning formula." "'Guns and Ammo must never sit at the same table as Gift Wrapping.' 'Fulltime employees must face the north, part-time the south.' You have got to be kidding!" "Greta, I never joke about my work," Spike stated. As she began to read, Gabby leaned in, touching her cheek to his. "They're watching us," she said. "I know why you're here. I know what you've been doing. I know why you hardly sleep, why you live alone, and why, night after night, you sit at that computer. You're looking for him. I know, because he found me. And when he did, he told me to warn you. He's out there, Spike. He's looking for you... and he will find you." . Meanwhile, in the combination ad agency-law firm on the twelfth floor of the building, Miss Diamond Mint was meeting with her colleagues to discuss potential clients and contracts. There was Prim Posy a cute blonde with an excellent insight into romance; then there was Drizzle, an arrogant, over-sexed and openly promiscuous blonde with degrees in astrophysics and biochemistry; and Serena, a young, white-haired advertising executive looking to branch out from her usual remit by leading a prestigious ad campaign. "Oh, good, Serena's here. We can begin," Diamond Mint said. "Okay, on to pressing business. Word has come to us that iron and steel magnate, Spike Zenith, has dismissed his current tax lawyers." "Spike Zenith, born and raised in Loch Neighss, Scoltland, immigrated to the Equestrian States, where he's been residing to today," Prim Posy briefed them. "Now, we've all heard that Mr. Zenith has a penchant for thriftiness, and that he brings new meaning to the term 'conservative,'" Diamond Mint told them. "It's not going to be easy. He's suspicious of everyone and generally paranoid." "I'm his girl," Drizzle said quickly. "I'm single. I'll give him nights, weekends..." "Aren't you getting married soon, Drizzle?" Serena asked. "I'm flexible," Drizzle grinned. "And I wouldn't want this to interfere with your vacation to Haywaii. Go. I got it all taken care of." "Well, that's very admirable of you, Drizzle," Serena replied. "I mean, you definitely are an ass... et to this company, especially at the annual softball game... but to an archconservative Scoltsman? What we will do is not charge Mr. Zenith one cent for his estate planning. Why? Because we do not care about that measly little fee; instead, we use it as a loss leader to get his corporate business, the multitrillion-dollar Zenith Diamonds and Silver conglomerate." Five minutes after the meeting ended--and leaving her colleagues to think over what she had just proposed--Serena was in her office talking with forewoman Florina Tart, one of Applejack's cousins; a pale blonde secretary named Spring Forward, and the company's beefy gofer/office boy T-Bone, who had just come from the staff meeting with Spike upstairs. "Congratulations on turning it around in there," Spring Forward said. "Well, you were right," Florina Tart added. "Zenith Diamonds and Silver is looking for a new attorney and ad agency. Diamond Mint wants to move on it aggressively." "Yes!" Serena hissed. "Oh, this is a good day. This is a good day. Girls, did you know that diamonds are about as common as taxis in Manehattan? The value is entirely sentimental... maintained by supply, demand and advertising. Now, Zenith dominates the world diamond and silver markets. Meaning if I represent him, I basically represent the entire industry." T-Bone gave a disgruntled groan and said, "Diamond Mint gave it to the preds." "Shears and Grey, they're already on it," Florina Tart confirmed. "No! No way!" Serena exclaimed. "Yeah, well, you know she's kind of partial to big, beautiful men, for some reason," Florina mumbled. "And we're the sneakers and beer division," T-Bone went on. "Precious metals and precious gems aren't exactly our forte." "Ox and Bull are over at a dudes' magazine right now," Serena said. "I gotta get to Zenith before they sink--" "You can't," Spring Forward replied. "They'll be on a plane leaving for Chicoltgo soon, and it's too late anyway because Diamond Mint's meeting them for drinks at Maretini's next week to discuss their idea--" "This isn't happening, you know why?" Serena asked. "This was my tip. It's going to be my pitch, my account, my campaign. This is my baby. They will not ace me out of this." "That's what I'm talking about," said T-Bone. Shortly after, he rushed down to the grounds outside the building where the Zenith Industries' Job Fair would be held and showed Spike the barbecue's menu. "How about you show me what you've got?" Spike began. "We tried to think of things that would be easy for us to make ourselves," T-Bone explained. "Also, could you take a look at the job fair's layout?" Spike went back and forth between the two sheets and said, "It would be better to separate the guests from the cooking area. Also, there're too many items on this list. You should avoid using any of the more elaborate dishes. The more requirements there are on the kitchen, the longer your turnaround time will be. And if you leave the finishing touches to the wait staff, it will create more interaction with the customers... two birds, one stone." "Wow, Boss, you know a lot about this," T-Bone said. "You sound like an expert." At the same time, in Zenith Industries' Building C, the slaughterhouse, Caramel was shouting, "Coexistence is a fucking joke!" "You want to say that a little louder?" Lucky Clover asked. "I think the soldiers on the other side of the continent didn't quite hear you." "He took me off the active roster! I don't give a shit if the whole planet hears me!!" Caramel was lucky he hadn't been fired for gross negligence. "Hey, I'm just as upset as you are about being demoted from forklift operator and delivery driver to practically slave labor," Lucky Clover retorted. "I just don't have the worry lines to prove it. Look, this isn't the time for my stinging barbs or your lame comebacks. I'm losing my power base. I'm over a barrel, like you at that charity hoedown." "What's it matter?" Sugar Grape asked them. "Speak or not speak, it makes no difference. But it wasn't always like this, was it? There was a time when Equestria flourished without cruelty and fear... the time of Dragons. No one could defeat them. Until, that is, a necromancer named Grogar decided to take their power for himself and cut down anyone who opposed him. And one day, he will pay for his crimes. The time of Dragons will come again." Ignoring her, Caramel and Lucky Clover went back to packing boxes. Despite Caramel's outbursts, he wasn't as bitter about his demotion as he was before. "I've been wondering about something, though. Have you ever wanted to be a company vice-president?" he asked Sunburst. "Never," Sunburst replied. "You must've been surprised when you were scouted by Spike," Sugar Grape said. "You can only work for Mr. Zenith if he hires you personally. He's very selective about those he considers 'worthy of representing his company." "Yeah, I believe that's called 'headhunting,'" Lucky Clover replied. There was a certain truth to what was being said. It seemed that only those with--at least in Spike's eyes--certain circumstances could join... and Zenith Industries was a cornucopia of unique personalities. "Take them, for example," Sugar Grape said, pointing to a group of three men across the warehouse. "Iron Hammer is a former Hooviet officer who comes from a long line of tailors in Moscolt. Sergeant Flash Flood used to be a safecracker, pickpocket, forger and headlining escape artist back in his home country of Trotland. And Water 'One Cut' Burns, the city's barber, used to give thousands of crew cuts to the new recruits of our own nation's military." The list seemed to go on and on. "Wow. Zenith really does have one of everything, doesn't he?" Caramel asked. "And yet, we're still short a tenor for the men's quartet," Lucky Clover replied. They were as much a ragtag group if there ever was one. Some people thought Spike had his work cut out for him. They all had made mistakes. But Spike gave them a second chance, and they had proven that they would never do anything to jeopardize that or hurt him. "Does that mean even Spike has something he can't tell anyone, a secret he doesn't want to let anyone know?" they thought. . At the New Canterlot City Police Department, Gilda was still sitting in an interrogation room, having been taken in for questioning by Officer Silver Sable, when Captain Shining Armor finally got a chance to speak to her. "Captain Armor? Inky Quills from the Gazette is on the line," Officer Windstorm said. "Tell him I passed away," he replied before he entered the interrogation room. The door closed behind him and he sat down at the table across from Gilda. Brow furrowed, Shining Armor stared unblinking at Gilda who, with a look of irritation, slammed her handcuffed fists down on the table and shouted, "What?" "Just what were you thinking?" he asked. "Were you even thinking at all?" Silver Sable, who had been standing in the corner since she brought Gilda in, said, "We should put you in lockdown for the night! Maybe that would do you some good, because that's what happens to bitches that pull knives on people who don't have a crime boss like Spike Zenith backing them up! We toss them in jail!" Gilda leaned forward and asked, "You know what really burns me up, dweebs?Yes, I did pull a knife on somebody. And you know what? You never asked me why. Maybe someone attacked me or tried to harm me. You never asked. I pulled a knife because this insult to retardation was attacking Spike Zenith for no reason. Guy just went up to him and got right in his face! And nobody was doing anything about it. Nobody! Not you, not the other people on the sidewalk, no one. And this idiot was going to keep harassing Spike unless someone stopped it. So I stopped it. You look me right in the eye and you tell me that I did the wrong thing. You tell me, pigs! And I would do it again in a second! So you might as well lock me up and throw away the key! My one phone call will be to Spike Zenith, attorney at law." From the other side of the two-way mirror, Shining Armor's subordinates saw the look on the Captain's face. They could see that he was weighing his options. For a moment, Shining was at a loss. Spike Zenith and Zenith Industries were the police department's sole benefactor, they couldn't risk going up against the one man who gave them the funding that they needed. If her one phone call was going to be to the very same guy she was protecting, she would make bail no question. So they had no choice but to let Gilda go. "She was protecting him from whale huggers?" Valkyrie asked. "They've been bugging Spike for weeks," Windstorm replied. "Why don't we just shoot 'em?" Valkyrie asked. Spearhead chuckled. "I've been tempted. Boy, do they stink! 'I am a whale, an endangered mammal. Hug me!'" "Okay, blubber head, but you can't be a whale unless you have a spout!" Windstorm said. And they all had a good laugh. . That afternoon, Rainbow Dash joined her band mates on the outdoor stage for practice. Guitar in hand, she plugged into an amplifier and approached the microphone. Pinkie clacked her drumsticks together over her head, shouted, "One... two... three!" and they rocked out to "Awesome As I Want To Be!" as Headmistress Amore watched them, smiling. "Hold on," Sunset said. "My guitar's out of tune." "Trust me, Van Halen, it's not the guitar," Dash told her. "At least I can keep the beat," Sunset replied. "Well, Pinkie Pie doesn't even know which song we're practicing!" Rarity argued. "I go where the music takes me," Pinkie answered. "Come on, girls! Tryouts for the open house's talent competition are tomorrow. Can we please try and get through one song?" Fluttershy asked them. "Your folks are the only ones who have heard us play and Granny Smith made us soundproof the barn," Applejack said. "We stink." "You stink!" Rainbow Dash retorted. "I carry all five of your no-talent butts!" "It might've been your idea to start this band, but it isn't just your band, ya know," Applejack reminded her. "Applejack, you play bass in the background," Dash countered. "It's a miracle anyone even notices you exist." "Perhaps we should take a short break," Rarity suggested. "Argh! All right. Take five!" Dash shouted. As they went their separate ways, Sunset Shimmer and Pinkie Pie watched as Snips and Snails set up Trixie's props for her own act for the talent competition. Suddenly, she appeared in a puff of smoke, wearing a blue silk sequin leotard, fishnet stockings, a black tuxedo jacket with matching cape, and a blue top hat. "Voilà! The Great and Powerful Trixie is here!" she announced. "This magic show is going to be the greatest thing New Canterlot City has ever seen! This is my year. I can feel it. This year's grand prize is going to be mine!" "Prize?" Sunset asked. "Oh, yes," Trixie replied. "We're competing for a lovely grand prize. Pinkie, tell Sunset Shimmer what she could win." "Yes, it's a beautiful bicycle featuring deluxe saddles for increased comfort, low step-through frame, and a really loud horn," Pinkie Pie said, pulling a magazine from her hair. "Furnished by the Regal Catalog. Chicoltgo, Illineighs, 60609." "You really wanna win this thing, huh?" Sunset asked Trixie. "More than I want air to breathe!" she exclaimed. Ever since the seventh grade, when she learned that her great-grandfather was the great Harry Hoofdini, Trixie had wanted to be a magician. Unfortunately, her magic acts tended to go awry. The worst one that had happened was when her magical handcuffs failed to open. Lately, she had been working on her card tricks, namely one where she could tell the future with them. "The three of diamonds," she told Pinkie. "That means you're going to be rich." Juniper Montage, who was passing by, walked over and decided to try the trick. "Okay, fourth card from the top is yours," Trixie said as she shuffled and dealt them. "Ace of spades... that's the Death card." "Yeah, right," Juniper grunted as she shuffled this time and Trixie cut the deck again. "I can see it now. Cars, cash, big houses, boats..." "Death," Trixie said, showing the ace of spades again. "That's twice in a row... ta-da?" "How very underwhelming," Rarity yawned. "If you want a crowd pleaser, cut someone in half!" Rainbow Dash added. As Juniper Montage stormed off, Trixie began to prepare for a more dangerous magic trick, one previously pulled off by Hoofdini. She dragged out an old steamer trunk that was behind the stage curtain, reached into the trunk, pulled out an egg timer and a straightjacket--just like the ones used in the old mental hospitals--and asked Snips and Snails to help her into it. "That's it, nice and tight," Trixie said as they tied the straightjacket. "You gonna ask us to stick swords in the box?" Snips asked. "No, too easy," Trixie replied. "Now, will you kindly assist me into the trunk?" Snips did as he was told and helped her into her steamer trunk. "Thank you. Now, Snails, you will close the lid and lock it," she instructed. "Once the lid is locked, Snips, you will set the timer for ten seconds. And when the timer goes off, I shall appear at the side of the stage. Prepare to be amazed!" Trixie bent down so that she fit inside the trunk, then Snails closed the lid and locked it, and Snips started the countdown. From outside the box, the group could hear Trixie grunting, struggling with the straightjacket. The timer dinged, a cloud of smoke exploded from inside the trunk and the grunting stopped. But when the smoke cleared and everyone looked off to the sides of the stage, Trixie wasn't there. "Trixie?" they called out when she failed to appear. "Reset the timer!" And the group slowly turned back to the trunk... where Trixie's voice had come from. As all this was going on, Spike had made his way over to the New Canterlot University's student union building after Greta the Griffon had briefed him on one of the city's gang's activities there. "Every year, New Canterlot U has a cultural day where all the different clubs will do stuff like set up booths, pass out pamphlets, give away couscous, whatever," she had said. "Anyway, some of Legerdemain's people are gonna be there to do recruiting for the Raven Cartel. If you hurry up you can take all those assholes out." Spike knew all about the University's open house that weekend... he also knew about Legerdemain and his Ravens. Legerdemain was backed by the largest drug cartel out of Coltombia in South Equestria. That, combined with the fact that he had survived no less than a dozen drive-by shootings, made him scary... He was also the only one stupid enough to try to muscle in on Boss Wolf. While Spike was on the lookout for potential recruiters, his eyes and ears picked out Headmistress Amore talking to police Sergeant Spearhead and his partner, Officer Windstorm. Spike's hearing was very enhanced, far better at picking up sound than human ears. "I really wish we could tell you more, Headmistress Amore," Windstorm told Cadence. "But the perpetrator escaped before we could even slap the cuffs on him." "He was ranting on and on about the trophies like a madman, though," Spearhead added. "Vandals," Cadence sighed. "From now on, I'll be storing the trophies somewhere safe." As Spike stepped backward into the bushes, he turned and stared at the brick building behind him, and quietly transformed into his dragon form. Then he placed his clawed hands on the wall one after the other, and started to scale the side of the building with ease, his scaly fingertips sticking to the surface as he made his way up. The Equestrian Dagon climbed up the side of the University's main building and across Dean Parenthesis' balcony. He hopped over the side of the balcony and watched through the windows as Parenthesis entered his office. Then Parenthesis fell off his chair when he spotted something outside. He got up, but saw that the balcony was clear, and when he ran out onto it, he looked straight down into the empty street and courtyard below. Out of sight, the Equestrian Dragon braced himself in a window beneath Parenthesis' balcony. Leaving the door open, Parenthesis went back inside and the Equestrian Dragon continued to scale carefully along the side of the building, and then snuck into Headmistress Amore's office next door through the open window. He climbed inside, cut through the power cord to security camera with his claw, and the camera's red light went out. Then he began to look around her office. The first thing he noticed was a make-up container on the desk. "What's this doing here?" the Dragon asked himself aloud. "Obviously, it belongs to Cadence," he thought... at first. Then he thought, "No. She didn't have any make-up on at Club Pegasus' opening the other night. And if you don't wear make-up to an event like that you definitely don't wear it while you're working, especially not in a school... maybe confiscated from one of the students..." Suddenly, he heard Headmistress Amore's voice coming from outside her office door. "Rest assured, Parenthesis, the trophies are safe," she told him as she and the Dean entered her office. "The next--and only--people to get their hands on them will be the winners of the talent show." Still in his Equestrian Dragon form, Spike clung to the ceiling and noticed a bit of perspiration trickling along his snout, ready to drop... and it did... right into the Dean's cup. Cadence's ears picked up the sound of the drop of Equestrian Dragon sweat landing in the coffee and she said, "I wouldn't drink that. You may not like the flavor." "Miss Amore, relax," Parenthesis replied. As he sipped his coffee, Cadence gagged. "Interesting brew," Parenthesis said. "Is this Prench roast?" "Scolttish, I think," Cadence replied. As Parenthesis turned and walked out, Cadence raised her eyes to the ceiling. She looked around the room then headed for her open window. She leaned over her balcony, looking down, and then up, only to find nothing. The Equestrian Dragon was nowhere to be seen. He was long gone. . Back outside, Amethyst Star continued to oversee the preparations for the open house, going over her clipboard with a list of booths, rides, even artist raffles. Her leadership skills and calming presence had given her plenty of experience defusing tense situations. Moon Dancer led the choir, boys and girls, in singing a rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus from "Handel's Messiah" while Daisy, Lily and Rose watered the plants and flowers. Cherry Berry raked leaves, Lemon Hearts and Twinkleshine put up decorations, Ditzy "Derpy" Doo helped Golden Harvest and Berryshine hang a banner, and Sugarberry dipped brushes into buckets of green and blue paint and proceeded to paint the proscenium arch of the stage, the columns at its sides, and the decorative molding at the top. "How's this?" Golden Harvest asked about the banner. "Yeah, I think it looks good," Amethyst Star smiled in reply. "Okay then, here's the next one," said Ditzy. "Keep up the good work," Amethyst Star told them. "I wonder how the other girls are doing," she thought out loud. That's when she noticed Spike selling tickets for his company's barbecue and job fair... only five bucks. "I'll see you later, girls," he said. After he'd left to fulfill his duties, Fluttershy turned to Rainbow Dash and asked, "You're going, aren't you?" "Yeah, well, I thought I'd check it out," Dash admitted. "I don't have the same issue you do and I want to see what Zenith Industries has to offer." "Well, frankly, I am shocked," Zappityhoof said at Fluttershy. "I can't believe you would even consider going to a barbecue, and after totally wrecking everyone's lunch hour! Wouldn't it be hypocritical to take part in that when you're so anti-meat? What about your principles?" A few short yards away, Pinkie Pie, who was now wearing a cheerleading leotard made entirely of pink sequins so tight it made her booty look like a pink mirror ball at a discotheque, was practiced her baton twirling. She twirled it with amazing speed... until she threw the baton up into the air and it landed on Zappityhoof's head, which sent her running. "Whoa! I've never seen Pinkie drop her baton before. She's a pro," Rainbow Dash thought. "But sometimes she's a real klutz." Pinkie started sniffing the air. Then she asked, "Was Spike just here again? Oh, I missed the big 'D'?" "You can smell him?" Rarity asked. "I can do many things," Pinkie replied. "I dig Spike Zenith!" Golden Harvest said. "I love Spike Zenith!" Ditzy swooned. "I worship Spike Zenith!" Berryshine sighed. "He's brave," said Rose. "He's fearless," added Daisy. "He can do anything!" Lily exclaimed. Then Juniper Montage shouted, "He's just some guy!" And they all replied, "He is not just 'some guy'! Spike Zenith is my hero!" Rolling her eyes at them, Juniper Montage decided to see what the other classes had come up with. The first-year students had converted the auditorium into a planetarium where couples could hold hands and get lovey-dovey in the dark. "What the Tartarus is this supposed to be?" she demanded. "I thought it was a great idea," Twist said. "This is the exact opposite of what we're going for!" Juniper told them. "You were to put together a wholesome planetarium that welcomes people! These extra 'props' are not needed!" The third-year students had decided on a haunted house. There had been some dispute about doing a "haunted cafe" staffed by zombies, but since the second-years were already doing a cafe, they stuck with the original choice. "I thought I said boys aren't allowed to dress up like monsters," Juniper Montage stated. "Why the Tartarus not?!" Hoops demanded. "Because last year, some idiot chose to latch onto one of the girls and refused to let go of her!" Juniper shouted. "We'd never do that!" Dumb-Bell replied. "We look super scary, though, right?" Parasol asked. "I hope I didn't frighten you too much," Sea Swirl said. "But I spent weeks studying horror movies just to get into character for this... and I didn't want to do a second-rate job." "I swear..." Juniper grumbled. The next group she checked on was Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, who were running a cafe while wearing adorable meido costumes. Since their "debate" earlier that day, the second-year boys never complained, which Juniper Montage thought was suspicious, even more so now that they were all skipping class. She couldn't imagine them just giving up, at least not without a fight. "Are you sure it was okay for you to just choose for them like that?" Scootaloo asked. "I mean, will they be all right? They looked pretty mad when you said they couldn't use their idea." "It had to be done," Juniper Montage replied. "If I hadn't, your class would have been unable to participate. They'll get over it." "We just want to work with the boys to make sure everyone has a good time at the open house," Apple Bloom said. "That's what's important," Sweetie Belle added. "Don't worry," Juniper practically promised them. "I'm sure it will be a fun festival." She returned to the outdoor stage hoping to find Trixie still working on her routine, but she was nowhere to be seen. "Is everything all right?" she asked Sunset Shimmer. "We're fine," she answered. "Where's Trixie?" Behind the curtain, the other girls heard what was being said. Then Sunset Shimmer joined them saying, "She won't talk to anyone other than Fluttershy or Applejack." "That's because she knows they'll squeal," Rainbow Dash replied. "Do you really have so little faith in me?" Fluttershy asked. "Yes!" Dash and Sunset replied. "So don't tell her, stupid," Dash added. "We didn't do anything," Fluttershy said. "She's locked in a box," Dash said. "Who do you think she's gonna blame?" But Juniper had already forced her way backstage, demanding to know where Trixie was. "I'll give you three guesses," Rainbow Dash told her. Shaking her head, she walked right up to the locked trunk and asked, "Are you all right?" "I'm fine," Trixie replied (from inside the box). "She told us to put her in there," Snips stated defensively. "They are speaking the truth," Trixie said. "They are completely innocent... this time." "If we get the trunk high enough and drop it, it'll break open," Snails thought aloud. "Gang, we're in some kind of trouble," Applejack said, looking at the truck. "These are reinforced polycarbonate Equestrian butt hinges." "This is why I hate people," Juniper growled. "You think you can do whatever you want to others, regardless of whether they hate it or not." "How prejudiced," Rarity commented. By this time, Headmistress Amore had joined them. "There's no need to yell, Miss Montage," Cadence told her. "Juniper, if you treat and regard others like they are your enemies, don't you think that they'll be antagonistic toward you as well?" she asked. "I don't care!" Juniper shouted. "I hate them, so them being 'antagonistic' is fine by me!" "Well, okay, then," Cadence replied. "I'm just saying you should be careful, or soon, you may find that you have dug yourself into a deep hole with no way out... and no one to help you." Unknown to Headmistress Amore and the rest of the school, many of the male students were having their own, secret, meeting on the other side of the gymnasium. They were not going to let Juniper Montage boss them around anymore. "This is perfect," Shady Daze whispered. "I know, right?" Rumble replied. "We should have done this in the first place. Everyone suited up and ready to go?" "Sir, yes, sir!" they shouted in reply. "This is what we've all worked so hard for!" Rumble stated. "Pistachio even sewed our costumes by hand!" Featherweight said, showing them his classmate's bandages fingers. It was obvious that he was not used to making his own clothes, especially so many. Suddenly, they snapped to attention when they saw that Spike was among them. "So... which of these is mine?" he asked. "You mean you'll do it with us?" the boys asked. "Now we can't possibly lose," Rumble said. The boys each contributed a piece of their samurai costumes--bits of armor, leggings, large spaulders for the arms, a chestplate--until they had assembled a whole suit of armor, complete with a katana sheathed on his left hip. "Is this it?" Tender Taps asked. "Spike, it's you!" Rumble stated. "We have a winner!" Snips exclaimed. "The sword may be a fake, but he looks the real deal," Snails added. "So, I'll have to wear one of these too, right?" Spike asked about the helmet. "No! No way!" they all protested. "Someone, find something that suits him! Hurry!" Pistachio exclaimed. "Thanks, but I think I'll just wear one of my old uniforms," he told them. And the boys cheered, as they felt they had just scored their strongest ally. . Later that night, as Fluttershy was having dinner with her parents and brother--beef brisket and a salad with cucumbers, carrots and Thousand Island dressing--her mother observed that her daughter was not eating. "Aren't you hungry?" she asked. "Yes, but I can't eat this," Fluttershy replied. "It's one of your favorites," Posey Shy reminded her. "Not anymore," Fluttershy said. "I'm a vegetarian." Zephyr Breeze blinked. "Huh? You're kidding, right? What about protein?" "There are other ways to get protein, Zephyr," Fluttershy snapped. "Look it up." "Remember when you were six and just ate food that began with the letter 'C'?" her father, Gentle Breeze, asked. "I think you're just going through another one of your phases." "It's not a phase! I will no longer be a party to the killing of helpless animals," This was the first time she had really defied her parents. She had also started hanging out with some "radical vegans". They met every Thursday night at seven o'clock. The big difference between vegans and vegetarians was that while vegetarians didn't eat meat--poultry, fish or seafood--vegans didn't eat any kind of animal or animal-related products. That included dairy and eggs. They didn't even eat Jell-O because gelatin was made from cows' bones. "Well, that's it for today, but before you go, I just want to remind you about our booth at New Canterlot University's open house this weekend," Sandalwood had said at their last meeting. "Are you going to go?" he'd asked Fluttershy. "We'll hand out free samples of meatless hotdogs and burgers. People really love it and it's a lot of fun." "Count me in," Fluttershy replied. Elsewhere in the city, Spike was tracking down leads on Legerdemain. After the looking for recruiters at the preparations for NCU's open house turned out to be a bust, he decided he try talking to some of the Ravens' known associates. He approached a vacant basketball court... only to find that it wasn't completely vacant. A couple of guys had climbed over the padlocked chain link fence to play a little one-on-one. It was a pair he recognized as the Mustard Twins--Dijon and Poupon--brothers, one arrested for petty larceny, the other for fraud; both never convicted... otherwise no criminal record. "You gonna kick our asses out, too?" Dijon asked. "Nope," Spike replied. "You're 5-0, aren't ya?" Poupon asked. "I'm worse," Spike answered. "'Worse'?" Dijon asked. "Yeah, right," Poupon scoffed. "Big fence to climb over," Spike said. "Whatchya want?" Dijon asked. "To get this lock off the gate... No one should have to hop a fence just to shoot hoops," "You got heat to do something about it?" Dijon asked. "Maybe you do," Spike replied. "Maybe we did," "It'd be better with lights," Spike said. "Just one question... Give me the right answer, you have my word this lock will stay off and these lights will come back on. Give me the wrong answer, I can't help you." "Get outta here, Fed!" Dijon spat. Poupon pulled his brother aside and asked, "Whatcha doin', bro?" "He's a narc, man. He's trying to get us to say Legerdemain's dealin'," "So tell the cop what he wants to hear if it gets us our lights back," Dijon paused, thought about it, and then nodded. But when he and Poupon turned around, they saw that Spike had already hopped the fence and was standing right behind them. "You want the question?" he asked them. "I know the question," Dijon replied. "You ain't gonna like the answer." "I will if it's the truth," Spike countered. "We could lie," Poupon said. "How you gonna know?" "Oh, believe me, I'll know," Spike told them. . Finally, Friday morning--the day of the college festival--had arrived. But before New Canterlot University officially opened for its open house, Sunburst, Fleur and Fancy Pants were helping Spike go over the checklist for the Zenith Industries Job Fair and Barbecue. "Hard apple cider...?" Sunburst asked. "Sweetened with sugar and molasses and stirred by the youngest living member of the Apple-Smith Family: Apple Bloom," Spike smiled. "Okay. Corn...?" "Hand-shucked, soaked in butter and served with matching corn-on-the-cob holders," "Steaks and burgers...?" Fleur asked. "Two thousand, grass-fed, all donated by the guys in Building C, propane grilled at 350 degrees for 21 minutes, each flipped three times at seven minute intervals and individually branded with each employee's initials," Spike stated proudly. "Chili...?" Fancy asked. "Meat-to-bean ratio, one pound of browned pork sausage for every two cans of red AND kidney beans, a quarter cup of chipotle chili powder, one tablespoon of Worchester sauce, a little garlic powder, a dash of oregano and just a pinch of cumin, cooked on low from sundown to sunup," Spike replied. "You're scaring me," Sunburst commented. "Grilled-cheese sandwiches for the kids...?" "Equestrian sharp cheddar cheese made with milk from Equestrian cows, homemade bread with a generous dollop of oleo spread, and fired up with our own patented Zenith 2000 Turbo Ignition Switch Blowtorch," Spike said. "And as for the shish kebabs, alternated meat and vegetables, ESDA choice cube steak, campari tomatoes, pearl onions, green bell peppers and summer squash, lightly dusted with a hint of sage and tarragon." After checking the food, Spike checked the decorations. "Purple and green tapestries with silver trim and fringes, solid gold wine goblet filled with grass from the front lawn of the opposing company's C.E.O., Filthy Rich; dragon and sea dragon statues in attack position..." he said. Shortly after that, the employees and their families began to arrive, even a few of the retired former employees. "Good to see you," Celestia and Luna greeted them. "Glad you could make it." As they began to eat, Spike noticed that Fluttershy's parents had brought Zephyr Breeze and his girlfriend, Tree Hugger, who said, "I, uh, don't feel very hungry." "Sit down!" Distant Star stated quietly. "If our boss took the time to prepare this food, you can take the time to eat it." "Wait a minute. You're one of the protestors that were in that crowd the other day!" Comet Tail shouted. "And now you're insulting Mister Zenith, who thoughtfully donated all the food and slaved over this event for days? This isn't a political demonstration!" Just then, a faint snarl alerted Spike to the presence of a monster lurking nearby. It moved with quickness through the garbage, trying to quench its burning hunger. It stopped, its instincts taking over. Sensing the kill, it waited until the right moment. Then it attacked! It was about to feast, when it spotted even bigger rats. "No..." Spike thought. "It can't be. Not that. Please--not the Manticore." "Spike, what's wrong?" Celestia asked as he headed out, toward the parking lot and the University beyond. "Spike?!" She started to go after him then suddenly stopped. She had seen him like this before. There wasn't much she could say. When Spike became obsessive, she knew that his mind was starting to pull and tug. She also knew that Spike was the Equestrian Dragon. He had gone through many trying times. He was a hero. He was strong. Nothing could put him over the edge. . At the same time, there was a huge turnout of visitors at New Canterlot University. "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, lads and ladettes, it is I, Pinkie Pie, your demigoddess of parties and mistress of merriment!" she announced. "Come one, come all. Step right up to the 27th New Canterlot University Open House Festival! Thrills, chills, unidentified spills... all that and more!" The people could smell the yummy goodies within: cotton candy, snow cones, caramel apples, peanut brittle, funnel cakes, popcorn, fourteen blueberry pies and other delicious tidbits. "Yes. So, come on and join in the fun," Pinkie said. "There's something here for everyone. You'll find rhythm and romance, reason and rhyme, something ridiculous and something sublime!" After Pinkie Pie's proclamation, Headmistress Cadence stepped forward with a pair of scissors and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, let the Open House Festival begin!" And she cut the red ribbon to begin the festivities. There were many different games, including a dunk tank and a ring toss. One of the students, Watermelody, sat in front of an easel and painted portraits while others served food, from catfish to watermelon. There was even a puppet show. Near the center of the school's carnival, eight men lined up at a kissing booth with Rarity and Sweetcream Scoops at the front, but all the men stood in Sweetcream's line. Rarity sulked as she watched Sweetcream kiss a boy, and he gave her a dollar. Sweetcream excused herself, saying she needed to touch up her red lipstick, and Rarity watched her go as she left the booth then she strut over to take her place. "Roll up. Roll up!" Pinkie barked. "Get your very own kiss from Rarity, only one buck." "Make that all the kisses you want," Rarity told Spike when she saw him. "No charge." "In. Your. Dreams," he stated in retort. . Six minutes later, inside the University's main building, Juniper Montage was checking on the second year students. When she found them, they were dressed in various male military garb... with Spike, in his old formal Air Force uniform, leading them out. "What the Tartarus is this?!" she demanded. "The boys were more interested in my company's job fair-slash-barbecue, so I offered to personally escort them to it," Spike explained. "Stay away from me!" she snapped. "Careful or I'll see up your skirt," he said. "Besides, kicking is in poor taste." "All of you... in the hallway. Now," Juniper Montage stated. The boys had never seen her so livid. She hadn't been this pissed off since she was still working as her uncle's assistant and she shoved that Prench extra off a cliff... into a lake that was sixty feet below. "Just what do you think you're doing?" Juniper demanded. "We wanted to enjoy the festival, too!" Snips replied. "We even listened to the girls' opinions," Snails added. "There are other ways to enjoy it, aren't there?" she scolded them. "Why don't you make yourselves useful instead of carrying on like a bunch of idiots?!" she shouted. There was maybe one second of silence before Rumble looked Juniper straight in the face and said, "Fuck. You." Juniper staggered backward in shock at his words. "Do you honestly believe we'll do anything you say when you order us around with that bitchy attitude?" he went on. "It doesn't matter what we say or do," Snips put in. "She never listens, anyway." "After all, she's nothing but a man-hater," Snails added. "Right?" "Let's go," Featherweight said at last. As they turned and were led away by Spike, Juniper remembered Headmistress Amore's words to her a few short days ago: "Still, that being said, they make a fair point. Couldn't you at least listen to the guys a little more and try to take their opinions into consideration?" "I'm just saying you should be careful, or soon, you may find that you have dug yourself into a deep hole with no way out... and no one to help you." She realized that Cadence was right. "It's my fault that things came to this," Juniper said quietly. Then she called after them, "Wait a minute. Please, wait!" They stopped, only to glare when they turned their heads to look at her. "Please help me," she said humbly. She was begging. Rumble said, "You had your chance." And he and the boys continued to follow Spike, leaving their female classmates to run the cosplay coffee shop alone. At that precise moment, back outside, Rarity was puckered up for the next person in line. "It's me, stupid!" said Rainbow Dash. "Holy what the Tartarus?!" Rarity exclaimed. "Why are you here? I don't want my first kiss for Spike to be with you!" "Quit yelling! I didn't even do anything!" Rainbow Dash shouted. "I'm sorry," Rarity apologized. "I just didn't want to fall into a situation where I would have to start calling you my girlfriend." "That doesn't even make sense," "So, start talking, girlfriend. Where's Spike?" "Don't call me that," Dash stated. "I couldn't find him anywhere." "What? Where did he go?" . Once he saw the boys safely to the Zenith Industries Job Fair and Barbecue, Spike doubled back to New Canterlot University. As the Equestrian Dragon, he ran on all fours across the city's rooftops, leaping across the gaps between them. Now, from a roof overlooking the University's outdoor stage, he scanned the area, looking for anything other than humans. An audience stood as Headmistress Amore, Dean Parenthesis and one other professor sat at a judges' table before the stage, while Lemon Hearts operated a video camera, and they all watched as the curtain parted to reveal Pinkie Pie. "I'm sure you have seen every old card trick. But this magician is beyond that old shtick," she began as a fanfare played. "I'd like to present someone who will totally, completely, exactly, thoroughly, entirely, indescribably, wholly enrapture you!" "My, what a buildup," Rarity said, unimpressively. "Behold... the magic of the Great and Powerful Trixie!" Pinkie exclaimed. On cue, Trixie made her entrance via appearing in a puff of smoke. She delighted her audience by starting with some classic sleight-of-hand illusions: shooting fire from her fingertips then pulling a small bouquet of flowers out of her hat. "Not bad," Sunset Shimmer admitted. "Thank you. Thank you," Trixie said. "For my next trick, I shall make something disappear before your very eyes." She pulled a red silk handkerchief out from her jacket pocket and caused it to change colors--from red to yellow and back to red again--by simply passing it through her empty hand before making the handkerchief vanish without a trace. Unfortunately, only one person clapped while another coughed. "That's fake as a three-dollar bill!" one guy shouted. "We know you use mirrors or something!" the woman who was with him added. "A nonbeliever and its bitch," Trixie replied. "She we convert them?" The crowd turned to look at the rude couple, thinking that Trixie was going to cast a spell on them so that they would switch bodies and/or brains, but all she did was cause them to magically switch clothes, at which the audience laughed. "And now, as I prepare for my next trick, a little amazing magic music... Maestro?" she asked the student body orchestra, which began to play a drum roll. "Ladies and gentlemen, to conclude the performance of this great show, the Great and Powerful Trixie, that's me, shall perform something you will absolutely refuse to believe!" Trixie directed everyone's attention to the stage's curtains behind her, and they watched in awe as the curtains rose to reveal a monster that had a vaguely humanoid head, the body of a lion, and the wings of a bat! A bristling mane stretched down the creature's back, and its long scorpion tail ended in a cluster of 24 deadly points like porcupine quills, which could impale targets even at impressive range. "Oh, marshmallow," Pinkie swore. "What in the Tartarus is that?" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. It was a Manticore! A monster in every sense of the word, manticores were fierce killers that hunted far and wide, and they worked together to take down particularly large or dangerous creatures--hunting as a pack often had the advantage of greater numbers--sharing the meal once a kill was made. They served wicked masters that treated them well and provided regular prey, like providing aerial support for an orc horde or a hobgoblin army. Another could serve as a hunting companion for a hill giant chief, or guard the entrance to a lamia's lair. Yet despite possessing a malevolent nature and the ability to converse, manticores weren't particularly bright. In the course of attacking, they denigrated their foes and offered to kill them swiftly if they begged for their lives. If a manticore saw an advantage to be gained by sparing a creature's life, it did, asking for a tribute or sacrifice equal to its loss of food. Indeed, this one was big, mean-looking and hungry; and as a man-eater, they left no remains... not even bones or clothing. Their greatest territorial rivals included chimeras, griffons and wyverns. In addition to these creatures, manticores feared dragons and avoided them. The manticore inhaled deeply and roared, causing several members of the audience to gasp and others to run away, screaming in fear. "Don't worry," Trixie told them. "Everything is under control." The manticore looked as though it was about to go on a rampage when a large, scaly creature of purple and green flew down from up on high and attacked the manticore with a strength which staggered the beast's mind, and a savagery far beyond that of any wild animal! "So the tales of the Equestrian Dragon are true..." Fluttershy breathed. "Dragon! Dragon! Oh, dragon! Big dragon!" Pinkie cried. "Big dragon! Teeth! Teeth! So many teeth! Ooh! Ooh! Big teeth! Big teeth! Rows and rows and rows of teeth!" And Juniper Montage, who had just happened to be passing by as the show was going on, ran up to the judges' table, shouting, "Magical creatures! There are magical creatures onstage!" "It is a magic show," Dean Parenthesis said. "I mean real magical creatures!" she kept shouting. "Living, breathing-- fire-breathing, for that matter!" "Oh, don't be absurd," Cadence told her. "It's all smoke and mirrors, pyrotechnics." "Pyrotechnics, my eyes!" Juniper Montage cursed. "It's real, and I'll prove it!" Meanwhile, at the police station across town, Greta and Gabby had paid Gilda's bail and had left the building when Officer Windstorm's voice came across the police radio. "Windstorm calling Silver Sable, come in Silver Sable," she said. "This is Sable, go ahead," she replied. "The Equestrian Dragon was just sighted at New Canterlot University. Thought you'd be interested," Windstorm stated. "I want my squad there, backed by SWAT and the choppers, and as many other uniformed officers as you can get!" she ordered. "You're mine now, Dragon!" . The manticore roared again as it bounded from building to building and began its attack with a volley of tail spikes. Since it was outdoors and outnumbered, it used its wings to stay aloft, attacking the Equestrian Dragon from a distance with its tail spikes until they were almost completely depleted, and then it landed back on the outdoor stage. The Equestrian Dragon grunted as he landed in front of the manticore, cracked his knuckles and said, "Come on, take a piece of me." The manticore snarled as it charged and began to use its claws and bite. Hooking one of his front claws under the manticore, the Equestrian Dragon heaved it away from the crowd. He didn't want to kill the monster, but he didn't want anyone else to get hurt either. As the manticore pounced on the Dragon, his right wing whacked a nearby tree and he hissed out a curse. Out of patience at this point, the Equestrian Dragon gripped the other monster's tail then his clawed foot stomped on manticore's back and it made contact with the other creature's spine. "Stay down," the Dragon growled. Out of the corner of his eye, the Equestrian Dragon saw Juniper Montage running straight toward them. Using its one remaining tail spike, the manticore flung it at the scaffolding above the stage. It tore through the fire curtain and a rope connected to one of the sandbags, both of which fell. And when the Equestrian Dragon tried to knock Juniper Montage back with his own tail, he got hit by the falling sandbag. The people all screamed as the Dragon slammed to the ground in front of the stage and, after succumbing to the pain, fell unconscious. "Dragon down!" Pinkie exclaimed. Worried, Fluttershy rushed to the Equestrian Dragon's side--instead of running or fainting as Rarity just had--and cried, "Wake up. Come on, wake up. Oh, please, wake up!" Juniper Montage pounced on the manticore's tail and the creature spun. It whipped Juniper Montage off and she landed on one of the nearby tents, which collapsed beneath her. Having dealt with her, the manticore sprung to its feet and advanced on the crowd, and Pinkie Pie stumbled back, screaming, "I'm too young to die! I don't even taste good! I eat too much cake! Everyone always tells me how unappetizing I am!" While the manticore was distracted by Pinkie, Rainbow Dash grabbed one of the blueberry pies from one of the food stands, gagged, and then hurled it at the monster. The pie hit the manticore in the head and she shouted, "Your mother was a panther and your breath smells like moldy gooseberries!" The monster roared at Rainbow Dash's taunts, its fury increased. As far as monsters went, manticores were incredibly easy to distract. It turned its attention to her, swiping at her, as three huge flying creatures--two brown, one gray--dropped down from the sky to the ground and surrounded the manticore. "More dragons?" Applejack asked. "Those aren't dragons, they're griffons!" Rainbow Dash shouted. The three griffons made sure the humans ran to safety before focusing their full attention to the manticore, which reared on its hind legs, turning its onslaught on the griffons. The gray griffon circled the manticore overhead, practically pinning it to the ground so that it couldn't fly away, while the two brown griffons pelted it with rocks and food from the stalls surrounding them, their speed and agility equal to the manticore's own. As the gray griffon glanced at Fluttershy, who was still standing close by, the manticore swiped the young griffon to the ground. Then the manticore ran at Fluttershy who, instead of trying to forcibly subdue it, stepped into the manticore's path and held out her hand. But the monster didn't slow down. In fact, it did the exact opposite. The gray griffon covered her eyes as the manticore's powerful legs propelled it forward... then it suddenly halted. The air fell quiet as Fluttershy and the manticore stared at each other, and the three griffons looked at them in confusion. The manticore purred as it offered Fluttershy its paw, and she saw something stuck in it. "That's a good kitty," Fluttershy said after she pulled the thorn out. While they were all sidetracked, the Equestrian Dragon came to and slithered away, completely out of sight, into the shadows, and shifted back into human form. Suddenly, the air became filled with a noise completely unlike the manticore's purring. "What's that?" Applejack asked. "It sounds like helicopter blades," Pinkie said. "Well, it's not the Eye Witness News Team," Sunset Shimmer commented. The people panicked as a police helicopter hovered close to--and opened fire on--the manticore just as Trixie struck a dramatic pose and chanted, "Abbigo airee agee attomb!" Then, as the manticore launched itself back into the air, knocking the helicopter into a spin, the beast and the three griffons vanished in a poof of smoke, and the crowds gasped and then cheered. "Awesome!" Rainbow Dash shouted as people threw money and roses at Trixie, who blew kisses to them. It was obvious who had this talent show locked up. "No contest," Headmistress Cadence said. "The Great and Powerful Trixie wins!" As she presented Trixie with the trophy, Applejack, Sunset Shimmer, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and Rarity gathered outside the University's main gate. "Did you see what I saw?" Sunset Shimmer asked. "Yeah, I saw it," Dash replied. "And I'm going back to find out what it was." "We can't. It's gone!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed. Police officers swarmed the University's grounds as paramedics saw to any wounded, but the manticore, the three griffons and the Equestrian Dragon were nowhere to be seen. They had all vanished without a trace! Meanwhile, Juniper Montage, who had finally forced her way out of the collapsed tent, approached Lemon Hearts and shouted, "Tell me you got that on tape!" "I did!" she replied. "The camera was running the whole time." Juniper tore the video camera from Lemon Hearts' hands and hit the rewind button, but when she played it back... nothing but static. It had been erased. "But-- but how?" Juniper Montage asked. "Perhaps I can help," Spike said as he, Gilda, Greta and Gabby stepped forward, out of the shadows. "I am a trained and licensed medical practitioner." "You're a doctor?" Ditzy Doo asked. It was true. In addition to owning a multitrillion-dollar corporation, Spike just happened to be a Ph.D. from Buckeley. "Yes, I am a doctor, and I'm afraid I must tell you that all I saw was this fire curtain fall. It must have been loose. I'm sorry, but there are no such things as monsters or dragons. I suspect that between the combination of lights and the dark, coupled with the long day you've just had, you didn't quite see what you thought you saw. It could have been a rare type of fatigue-induced group hypnosis... I'd recommend cutting back on the caffeine as well," Fuming, Juniper Montage stalked up to him and asked, in a surprisingly controlled voice, "What kind of fool do you take me for?" "Don't know," Ditzy replied for him. "How many kinds are there?" After staring Juniper Montage down, Spike joined the emergency responders. He asked the girls if they were okay, and Fluttershy said, "Oh, Spike, I loved that dragon. Those eyes, there was something very familiar about them, as if I had seen them before... it was like I already knew him. It was so real. It made me believe he really exists." "He does exist, Fluttershy," Spike told her. "Up here," He pointed to her head. "And in here," he said, pointing to her heart. Back in the courtyard, Juniper opened the camera to get a closer look at the videotape. Then she noticed something on the side of the video camera. A small, round device that looked like the rest of the camera, but it wasn't. It was an electromagnet. Before being put on tape, video was little more than a magnetic recording, and the electromagnet rearranged all the low magnetic sequencing that created the image. Juniper Montage heaved a colossal sigh. "They can't tell me what I've seen, because only I know what I've seen!" Spike, Gabby, Gilda and Greta walked back to Zenith Industries as the City's Finest and the EMTs did their jobs and eventually dispersed. Spike would be sore for the next few days, but he hadn't suffered any permanent damage. Fortunately, the University was able to close out their open house with the Rainbooms playing under a fireworks display. Things didn't work out so well afterward, though. The open house weekend had been an all but complete waste. In the end, New Canterlot University's female-to-male student body ratio went from a 70/30 split to 80 percent female and 20 percent male. . Later that night, Mr. Pink entered a club in a dark alley in Manechester, Connecticolt. He hated clubs, especially this club. It was a jarring combination of pretentious snobbery and weird techno shit--like a millionaire nerd had got bored and decided to build a place where he could hang out with the cool kids. Normally, he wouldn't be caught dead in a place like this, but it was one of the only safe (and neutral) places to meet with bounty hunters. There weren't many of his kind in a mostly human city like Manechester, a place smack dab in the middle of the New Trotland wilderness. Pink sat on a fake leather stool at the bar and spoke to the man that was already there. "He's there... in New Canterlot. One second they weren't listening to a word I said but as soon as I mentioned his name... they couldn't hear enough," Pink said as he lit a cigarette. "And suddenly they got very interested in who you were. So I laid the story down nice and thick." "How thick?" the bounty hunter asked. "Pretty thick," Pink replied. "I told them you were the biggest guy I'd ever seen... Okay, so I blew it out of proportion a little, but they bought it. If they aren't shitting bricks by now, they will be soon," he promised. "Where do I go?" "The Main Street Bar & Grill would be a good place to start. Just don't turn it into another massacre like last time," "That wasn't my fault. They started it," "Of course, whatever," said Pink. "Just remember, Grogar is the one you want. He has plenty of underlings, but without them, he's as good as dead. So try to save your bullets." "Suddenly... you're my only friend," "Well, I do feel some responsibility for you," Pink said. "Just one question: What happens when Grogar's dead?" "When Grogar's dead... it's over. He's the last one," "End of payback, an eye for an eye... Are you finally going to be satisfied?" "Yes," "I hope so, because I don't have the stomach for this anymore," "You never did," > Once More... With Feeling . It was a bright and sunny Monday morning as Sextant--a man who became a bazillionaire selling gooey fast-food products but lost sight of everything important to him, including his relationships with his friends, and was now Filthy Rich's accountant--sat before a group of IRS agents who were accusing his employer of filing false returns on his taxes. "Tax fraud?" he asked. "Oh, no, this is a miscalculation, a misunderstanding, I'd even go so far as to say that it was bad judgment, really bad judgment, but certainly not tax fraud." "We will be meeting with you and your boss at his office tomorrow morning at ten o'clock. Otherwise, warrants will be issued. Property gets attached and seized, everything gets very ugly... and you don't want ugly, do you?" "No, sir, I don't," Sextant replied. . It was 0619 hours when the Equestrian Dragon woke up that very same day. He peered at his surroundings, and blew out a sigh, followed by steam, smoke, and fire. "Thanks be to the Almighty, the Great I Am," he thought. "I'm still in my cave. It smelled right, but I wasna certain. How long did I sleep?" As he transformed back into his human form, Spike made his way to the surface, the words of his father echoing in his ears: "What's done is done. We can't change what happened. We can only move forward. No one must find out what you are. You know how persistent humans can be, completely dedicated. You are the chosen one. It will all work out. Everyone has a past they can work from. Trust me." After putting on a single-breasted dark gray suit and a black cashmere V-neck shirt (no tie required), Spike entered the main kitchen in Pendragon Castle, toasted a single piece of white bread with his fire breath and ate it. Then he saw the morning paper: "College Open House Spreads Hate and Violence". "Police and campus officials are still trying to sort out exactly what took place near the student union as New Canterlot University's 'Open House Day' turned deadly when the Equestrian Dragon descended upon the festivities in a rain of fire. Witnesses say it's possible the Dragon was after drug dealers working for Legerdemain, but the resulting chaos claimed the lives of both gang members and students alike. A candlelight vigil is scheduled to be held outside the student union later this week." Spike hadn't spoken to Fleur since the manticore's attack at the University, and Fancy Pants had suggested that a visit to Zenith Industries might be in order... if nothing else but to make sure nothing untoward had happened there. But until 8:00 a.m., the Zenith Industries Towers were totally locked down--the only way in would be using a secret elevator hidden in the underground parking garage. Of course, that wasn't a problem. Taking his silver Series 1 roadster, Spike drove to New Canterlot City, into the Zenith Industries' underground parking lot, parked in his reserved space--clearly marked "Don't Even Think About It"--entered the secret elevator, and pressed the button for the top floor. When he exited the elevator, Fleur de Lis was surprised at his arrival. "Good morning, Monsieur Moneybags," she greeted him. "I didn't think you would be coming in today. Is something wrong?" "Morning, Fleur," Spike replied. He suddenly stopped and asked, "You smell that? That's diesel fumes. That's a turbo diesel, sixteen speeds, Tatum axle... that's a delivery truck." "You can smell all that?" Fleur asked. Instead of his usual, "You're damn right I can," Spike didn't reply. "Hey, why the long face? You must be worth your weight in gold. Cheer up!" she said. "Any messages for Equestria's most eligible?" Spike asked. "No, but there is someone here to see you," she replied. "Who is it?" he inquired. Just then, police officer Windstorm exited the public elevator, accompanied by two men. They both wore black uniforms which had more than just a passing nod to Third Reich tailoring. "The Army," Fleur said. Spike recognized the insignia on the military officers' caps and shoulders, but he knew only the younger of the two men by name: Cutter. He was a 28-year-old Captain when Spike first met him. He was 37 and a Major now, and one of the best officers serving in the Equestrian States Armed Forces and the Military Crime Investigative Service. MCIS, as it was more commonly known, was a worldwide federal law enforcement organization whose mission was to protect and serve the Equestrian States Armed Forces and their families. But in order to counter the ever-evolving threats around the world, the MCIS had implemented a new, proactive strategic plan which emphasized the following priorities: #1: Prevent terrorism and related hostile acts against Equestria's forces and installations. #2: Protect Equestrian systems and information against compromise. #3: Reduce criminal activity and mitigate its impact on military operational readiness. Outside of that list, everything else was classified... and they were led by an arrogant, square-jawed ex-paratrooper named General Hackmane. "Am I under arrest, General?" Spike asked. "Mr. Zenith, we need to talk," Hackmane said. Spike nodded to Fleur, who returned the gesture. Then she led them into her office and closed the doors behind them. "Word's all over the capitol by now," Hackmane began. "So the logical conclusion is that military and government information is leaking to our enemies from the area around here." "In the middle of Equestria?" Officer Windstorm asked. "That's impossible." "Don't contradict me," Hackmane admonished her. "I am inclined to agree with the General's conclusion," Major Cutter said. "Again, it's impossible," Windstorm repeated. "Don't contradict him, either," Hackmane told her. "In fact, don't contradict anybody without permission from me." "Yes, sir," Windstorm replied as they continued with the meeting. "Mr. Zenith, ever since you came back to New Canterlot, strange things have been happening," Cutter explained as he directed their attention to a local area map pinned up on the wall. "Our intelligence people have an agent planted here in the city. He reports to us through certain channels that there is a flow of information from this area. Here, a government supply train was robbed and then exploded. Here, an army tank was stolen. And here, a whole ammunition depot was blown up. Every mark on this map... an unsolved act of sabotage in the last six months--six months--all in a circle around this point!" Officer Windstorm gulped when she took a closer look at the map... and she saw what was in the center of that circle. "Major," she said, "your finger is on New Canterlot City." "And my finger is on you, Zenith," General Hackmane said. "You were also the only one of us not present when the Equestrian Dragon attacked the University last Friday, making you a person of interest," Major Cutter added. "Just what are you implying?" Spike asked them. "I am implying nothing," Hackmane replied. "I am stating the fact that strange things keep happening. Government supply trains are robbed of their contents and then blown up, a tank suddenly appears in this city, blows up a few buildings, and then is returned to us... from a locked box my cigars vanish!" Unfortunately for Spike, trying to pin down the source of the sensitive information leaks was not the only reason the MCIS was in New Canterlot City. Major Cutter had telephoned Spike over the weekend, shortly after the body of an Army lieutenant who vanished in the spring of 1994, four years prior--along with a million bucks in gold and precious jewels--was discovered in the Everfree Forest. A deer hunter stumbled across what appeared to be a sarcophagus with the body inside it. At first, he thought it was an unexploded bomb or missile, until he tapped the side of it. Fortunately for him, it was hollow. He cleared some of the leaves away and opened the top, that's when he saw the body. It was in remarkable condition; it appeared almost mummified. The container was airtight, creating a hermetic environment, which meant nothing could get inside it: no air, no bugs, no animals and no bacteria. Dog tags confirmed the victim's identity as one Lieutenant Tone. The cause of death was massive internal hemorrhaging. That kind of bleeding could only have occurred when he was still alive, which meant that he not only bled to death, but he was murdered and then stuffed into the case that preserved him until he was found. To make a long story short, Hackmane and his staff had reopened the investigation. They had already pulled Tone's service record: he was reported MIA near the end of a six-month deployment overseas. The lieutenant was believed to have absconded with the stolen military funds. He was declared a deserter and received a dishonorable discharge after being charged "in absentia with theft of government property" for allegedly deserting his position. But the treasure was nowhere to be found. General Hackmane believed that Tone stole the money; it was clear that he was going to stand by that. But if Tone had stolen the gold and jewels, he didn't do it alone. Whoever took the treasure murdered him for it, and that meant he was either killed by an accomplice or killed catching the real thief in the act. Major Cutter had spent three hours sorting through squadron records to locate the former members of Tone's old unit: Lt. Commander Worth, Lieutenant Bronze "Lynch" Tan, a Mexicolt pilot named Maretinez, and the pilot's Radar Intercept Officer, Lieutenant Mark Wiles. Lt. Commander Worth had been killed in a ramp strike two years before; Hackmane had crossed him off the list of accomplices. And Cutter had already talked to Wiles, whose story checked out. But just because the Army cleared him didn't mean they trusted him. He managed a skeet shooting range, he rented a house, he drove a car that was six-years-old and he had a child that went to public school. "You think I would live like that if I had a million bucks lying around?" he'd asked. It turned out Wiles had married Tone's widow. After almost five years, she had Tone presumed dead. Finding his body had ended the vicious gossip and rumors that he had started a new life with the money and a new woman. Of course, the widow didn't receive death benefits or child support because of his dishonorable discharge. Back in '94, Maretinez filed a TFOA (Things Falling Off Aircraft) report--squadrons had kept files on those going all the way back to the first biplanes--but he was found murdered in a hotel room in Mexicolt. And as for Bronze Tan, she was a hottie who had enlisted to catch an officer. She didn't marry money, and she sure as Tartarus didn't come from money either. Cutter had tracked her down to New Canterlot City. That's why they were there. She was the only suspect left on their list--the only other one that was still alive--and they were wondering if she was Tone's murderer. They were closing in on her. "Well, if Tone stole that money, General, where is it?" Spike asked. "We searched everywhere for him and the money," Hackmane answered. "How long did you search?" Spike inquired. "Two days," Cutter stated. "Who searched, was it finders keepers?" Spike asked. "Frankly, I am curious how you manage to claim you searched every inch of a 95,000 ton, 24-story tall, 1,049 foot-long aircraft carrier in 48 hours," he said. "If you're going to accuse me of being responsible for any of this, do it already! This beating around the bush routine is insulting to me and it's insulting to you." General Hackmane grimaced in disgust at Spike's insolence. "You didn't search every inch," Spike went on. "So, as far as you know, that money could still be there." "It could be, but it isn't," Cutter replied in earnest. "Another assumption, Major, or do you know this as fact?" Spike asked. "We are going to get to the bottom of this," General Hackmane said at last. "With your permission, sir," the Major began, to which the General nodded. "General Hackmane has evolved what I consider to be a simple, yet brilliant plan." "So do I," Officer Windstorm replied. "You haven't heard it yet," Hackmane said. "Yes, sir, I haven't heard it yet," "We will plant military information at New Canterlot City," Major Cutter explained. "False information, of course," General Hackmane added. "False but so tempting that the culprit, whoever it might be, can't pass it up." "If someone, anyone acts on it, we can then be sure that the leak is somehow coming from this city," Cutter stated. "You will very carefully put out the information we give you," Hackmane instructed Windstorm. "No one must suspect it is fraudulent. Do you think you can do it properly?" "Of course, sir," she replied. "Now, it is my turn to contradict you," Hackmane said, doubtfully. He then began to explain how he intended to capture the Equestrian Dragon--by leading him into a trap at "the only strategic target in the area the Equestrian Dragon had not hit yet"--with Spike's help, they were hoping. "No time," Spike said. "I've got to deal with a paper jam on level four and level six, then I've got to go inspect my new automobile and helicopter factories, plan a new line of action figures, and put a down payment on Europone." "After we finish questioning you and your people, Mr. Zenith," Hackmane snapped in reply. "Your social life will have to wait." "Hackmane, it's late, and so am I," Spike stated. "I don't take orders from you," Hackmane said. "And I don't take orders from you, either," Spike countered. "But you will follow this order." He looked over at Fleur, who was standing close to the telephone on her desk, and said, "Miss de Lis, call Chancellor Neighsay... direct." "Well, that's not fair," Windstorm commented. "Neither is convicting a man to cover up a sloppy investigation!" Spike stated. "Losing someone you love is bad enough, but being accused of a crime without proof... that's worse." When Hackmane attempted to argue, Spike abruptly ended their meeting. "Leave! And do not 'sir' me," Spike told him. "I work for a living." Hackmane grumbled as he marched out, whereas Cutter nodded respectfully to Spike before following the General, and Officer Windstorm calmly went after them. "I didn't know we had the Chancellor of Equestria on speed dial," Fleur said to Spike after the two (technically, three) officers left her office. "We don't," Spike replied. "But they didn't know that." Fleur smiled and asked, "Do you know Major Cutter?" "Yep," he answered. "I thought you would. Even though he's considerably younger than you are," "What do you consider 'considerably'?" Spike inquired. "Just how old are you?" she asked. "It doesn't matter how old I am," he stated. "You're embarrassed to tell me, a woman you met during the days of Emperor Caesar Salad and the Romane Empire, how old you are?" Fleur asked. Spike shook his head and said, "Not at all." "How long did Cutter work for you?" "He didn't work for me," Spike replied. "I worked with him." "You two served in the same unit?" "For five years," Fleur could tell from the tone of his voice that Spike genuinely missed the man. Not only was Cutter an amazing agent, he was also an incredible athlete, one of the very few that could keep up with him. Fleur knew Spike was more than just an influential man, he was a cultural icon; the living embodiment of Equestria's strength and power. His knack for reflecting these qualities back on almost everyone around him was more than enough to draw a devoted circle of admirers. But to Major Cutter, Spike wasn't just a great officer. He was the squadron's good luck man, a living lucky charm. He always seemed to dodge the bullets. Just last week, a car had run a red light and hit Spike dead on. His collarbone ached for a day, maybe two, but he was fine... other than that, not a scratch. An injured clavicle hurts like Tartarus and took more than a couple of days to heal. So either Spike was taking an extreme amount of painkillers or... there was more to him than met the eye. Of course, if anyone in the Equestrian military knew the truth about Spike, they didn't tell. Semper Fi. Always faithful. In other words, "You rat, you fry." As he stepped outside and walked through the above ground parking lot, towards his staff car, Hackmane felt that Spike should never have brought the Chancellor into this. Spike was hiding something, but Hackmane wasn't sure what. "Talking to me like I'm a cadet, who the Tartarus does he think he is?" he muttered angrily. "Cutter, I said we are going to get to the bottom of this, and I meant it." "Yes, sir," Cutter said emphatically. "This turn of events is unfortunate," Hackmane admitted. "We must accelerate our plan." "Sir, do you honestly suspect Zenith of treason?" Cutter asked. "Treason? Never. Vanity, always!" the General said as he got in his car and drove away. He and Cutter would continue to investigate the murder, working with Windstorm and the local police, who would also be tasked with tracking down the missing military funds. As for Spike... he was about to take matters into his own hands. In the few minutes since they had left his office, Spike had become obsessed with clearing Lieutenant Tone's name, but more importantly, he was devoted to ensuring the dead soldier's former wife and young child receive his death benefits. Before retracing his steps out of Zenith Industries, Spike called Pendragon Castle. "Need I remind you we are not all creatures of the night?" Fancy Pants, who had just woken up, asked when he answered. "Fancy, I'm on my way to the golf course. I need you to prepare a few things," "Sir, is something wrong?" "A friend is in trouble," Spike said, hanging up. "Hold on, Windstorm." . The New Canterlot City Golf Course (NCCGC) wasn't a private club... mostly because it was a nine-hole municipal facility, and a single membership cost several hundred bucks. Major Cutter, eager to make up for his and his superior's mistakes, had dropped Spike a hint that Maretinez and Bronze Tan may have had something going on with one another. In other words, they were screwing around. It was no coincidence that Maretinez was the pilot on the plane that dropped the pod carrying Tone's body. "That low-down, no-good Bronze Tan," he had said. "Who?" Spike asked. "Bronze Tan!" "Gesundheit," "She's a gold digger! She lied to me!" "Conned you?" "Tricked me!" "Fooled you," "Led me for a sap," "Made you look like a complete buffoon!" "Alright, let's not get bogged down on this point, Commander," the Major told Spike. So, with Cutter's help, the Equestrian Dragon decided to start his own investigation. He arrived at the golf course (still in human form, and in the silver roadster) later that morning to confront Bronze Tan--who he'd learned was living a luxury-filled life--accompanied by Fleur de Lis, who interrupted Spike's teeing-off by shouting, "Fore!" "Never do that again!" he stated. "I'm sorry, I didn't--" "It's an automatic reflex when one is a golfer," he told her. "Don't yell when I have a niblick in my hand." "'Niblick'?" she echoed. "It's what a nine iron used to be called," he explained, "when golf was the province of Scolttish nobles, not the democratic 'lovely walk spoiled' by the weekend duffer." That's when Spike and Fleur spotted Bronze Tan, exactly the same color as her name, sitting in the shade and sipping a margarita. "We'll have to split up. Take these," Spike said, giving Fleur the keys to the roadster and a red carnation to wear. "We'll meet later. Recognition code: knock three times and recite bippity-boppity-boo. Got it?" "Got it," Fleur replied. She approached Tan's table and began with, "Who are you?" "You've never heard of Bronze Tan? The fastest, strongest, smartest, most politically correct woman south of Liberal?" the other woman asked. "Should I have?" Fleur countered, almost in retort. After several minutes of chatting, Fleur lowered her voice, appearing to confide in Bronze Tan, and she casually mentioned the MCIS and how their presence had the whole town stirred up. Bronze Tan tried to act nonchalant, but Fleur noticed that the other woman looked uncomfortable. Bronze Tan finished off her drink, and then, after claiming that she had to use the ladies' room, took the opportunity to quietly slip away... only to be confronted by Officer Windstorm, who had come to the golf course to check out her own lead in the investigation. "That Windstorm is one femme courageuse," Fleur said as the officer pursued Bronze Tan through the clubhouse. "If by 'brave woman' you mean feisty and bold, yup, that's her," Spike replied. "Freeze!" Windstorm shouted. "Hands where I can see 'em! Turn around slowly!" "You are making a big mistake, Officer," Bronze Tan replied. "She's right," Spike told Windstorm. "She's more dangerous than she looks." "Look out!" Fleur shouted. Bronze Tan grabbed Windstorm, taking the police officer's weapon, and shot a warning shot at Spike and Fleur, who quickly ducked behind a corner. As Bronze Tan left the clubhouse, holding the officer at gunpoint, Spike whispered, "Eye of the Dragon," and shifted his sight to scan the area. His dragon vision was better to pierce the darkness and tricky lighting than his human eyes. Between that and the tracking device Windstorm had on her uniform--all the police officers had them--he kept his gaze upon them as they went through the parking lot outside. Fortunately for Spike, the golf course had no security system, nor was anyone else looking after the first gunshot, so he didn't have to worry about anybody seeing him transform. Once he became the Equestrian Dragon again, he exited the clubhouse and chased Bronze Tan into the parking lot. She was still using Officer Windstorm as a human shield. "Let her go," the Equestrian Dragon growled. "How did you find me?" Bronze Tan demanded. "I know that you murdered Lieutenant Tone," the Dragon said bluntly. Bronze Tan protested vehemently, pointing out that there was no proof. "You also killed Maretinez because you didn't want to share the wealth," he added. "There's nothing wrong with living out a fantasy, especially when I can make it a reality," she remarked. Losing patience, the Equestrian Dragon got straight to the point. "Someone had to move his body without being seen," he went on. "Not an easy thing to do on a base filled with six thousand souls. So, how did you do it? I'm thinking you and Maretinez stuffed him into a mail sack and then dragged him in plain sight. But if that's true, how come nobody noticed? You used to turn a lot of heads whenever you walked by. Who would have noticed someone dragging a mail bag with you walking by?" "Look, maybe we can work something out?" Bronze Tan said. "I have a lot of money." "Stolen from the deaths of others!" the Equestrian Dragon roared. "Major Cutter saw the Lieutenant's gold wedding band, he talked to his widow. She has a nine-year-old daughter, and she's as pretty as her mother. You stole that money, set Tone up to take the fall, murdered him and cheated his wife and daughter out of the death benefits they deserve! You can tell it any way you want, but I will take you down. A Dragon doesn't forget, nor get rid of, anything." The shocked Officer Windstorm was almost beyond words as the Dragon snarled at Bronze Tan and said, in a very icy voice, "I'll give you a sporting chance.Run." In a desperate attempt to escape, Bronze Tan shoved Officer Windstorm toward the Equestrian Dragon and made a beeline for her red convertible. The Equestrian Dragon spat a fireball at the car, causing the fuel in its engine and gas tank to ignite and explode. His anger having gone into overdrive, the Equestrian Dragon leapt at Bronze Tan. He tackled her, disarmed her, and pinned her to the ground, ready to melt her face off. But instead, he just used one of his claws to press down on her throat, suffocating her into submission while Officer Windstorm radioed for backup and he took off just before it arrived. "I don't know what's dumber," Windstorm said as she handcuffed Bronze Tan after the other woman had regained consciousness, "a criminal who breaks the law... or a criminal who breaks the law and believes that the police are as dumb as she is." "You all right, partner?" Sergeant Spearhead asked. "Batting .500," she replied. "While one monster almost killed me... one saved me." . A short time later, Spike was in the library at New Canterlot University, where he found Moon Dancer, sitting on the floor, barefoot, cushion propped under her slender legs, thin arms, surrounded by books, one open and on her lap... as he always did. "So fast," Spike thought as he watched her eyes while her pale hands flipped through the pages. "That's a genius for you." He gazed at the words in the book and his eyes widened. The pages were printed in Prench! She was studying another language. He said, "Excusez-moi." Moon Dancer stopped reading, looked up at him and smiled. "Eh bien, quelle agreable surprise," she began. "Bonjour, Spike. Comment vas-tu?" He was surprised. As well as unworldly, she was oddly friendly to him. She tugged the hem of her short skirt down as she repositioned herself on the cushion. "Vous parlez Français?" he asked. "Moi, je parle un peu Français." "J'ai habite à Paris un an," she replied. "Paris--la Ville Lumiere, c'est le pays L'amour," "Bien sur," "C'est bien que je vous aie rencontree, parce que je n'ai pas eu la chance de pratiquer," "Su te veux, nous pouvons pratiquer beaucoup de choses ensemble," she said. "Mon amour. Tu auras toujours une place dans mon cœur." "You speak beautifully," he told her. "So do you," she replied as she got up and walked over to a nearby table, where she had left her lunchbox. Spike asked, "What's the matter?" "To be honest, I had a feeling you might come and join me for lunch instead of going to the Cafe, so I made enough for two," she replied. "But what if I hadn't come?" he asked. "I didn't think about that," she said as she offered him a pork cutlet sandwich. "But it doesn't matter. You came." The big difference between pork tenderloin and wiener schnitzel was that the former was made exclusively using pork loin and was deep fried instead of pan fried... and was typically served with fries, which she had made. "You can have some more," Moon Dancer said. "Spike, I also baked you some cookies--to thank you for fixing my front door." She also presented him with a stack of ginger snaps, carefully enclosed in a delicate white wrapping paper tied at the top by a ribbon. She knew he loved ginger snaps. "Thank you," he said. "Here. If you like, take the rest. I've got plenty," she said, handing him the whole bag. "Are you sure? Well, thanks, Moon Dancer," Just saying that lit up her face. She seemed really happy. At the same time, Rainbow Dash, Sunset Shimmer, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Fluttershy and Rarity were trying to decide on their own lunches in the University's cafeteria. "I officially give up," Dash said. "What is it?" "Jockeypanese, Moroccoltan, Coltcuttan..." Sunset Shimmer listed them off. "Dash only eats plain food," Pinkie replied. "You know, like burgers and pizza." "Come on, Rainbow Dash, live a little," Sunset said. "You can't go through life ordering through a clown's head." "Oh, yeah?" she asked. Dash turned to Pinkie Pie, opened the party girl's mouth with her hands, and shouted into it, "Cook some food!" And she and Pinkie had a good laugh together. "But seriously, what would you recommend?" Dash asked Pinkie. "It all looks so good," she replied. "We'll take an order of everything with a side of everything else... my treat." "Eh, what the hay? I ain't paying for it," Dash said with a shrug. "That's my girl," Pinkie smiled. "Hey, Cookie, you think you could splash some yellow paint on that, and a couple of red wagon wheels?" she inquired about the Sloppy Joe. "Just try and stop me," he replied. "Wonderific!" Pinkie said as she loaded up her tray. "I'll have one of these, two of these, two of those, four of these, twelve of those..." She helped herself to soup and stew, pizza, lasagna, lamb, veal, chop suey, tacos, knockwurst, pastrami on rye, chocolate pie and tapioca pudding and she helped Fluttershy finish off the last of those delicious tarts left over from their dinner the night before. Meanwhile, Dash had four onion rings and four big raviolis. "So, what do you all feel like doing tonight?" Sunset asked them. "Perhaps a nice walk in the forest," Fluttershy suggested. "Been there," Rainbow Dash replied. "How about a game of cards?" Applejack asked. "Done that," Dash said. "What I'd really like is a dad who lets me borrow his Ponyrsche. But we don't always get what we want." "Like a certain someone who thinks she can figure out who the Equestrian Dragon is?" Sunset Shimmer asked. "You might think my theories about the Equestrian Dragon are crazy, but you watch, I'll prove you wrong," Pinkie said. As they ate, Rarity (who had seen Spike walking into the library earlier) couldn't help but wonder how Spike felt about Moon Dancer. "So, obviously he will chase any female wearing a skirt," she thought out loud. "But, I mean, Moon Dancer? What is with that? You don't think he like-likes her, do you?" "Seriously? I had no idea you were such a wuss, Rarity," Rainbow Dash said. "Did you ever think that maybe she's just a friend? All they did was have lunch together." "You didn't see him with her. It was a big love-fest in there... She baked him cookies!" "So? That doesn't necessarily mean she's his girlfriend!" Dash replied. "Spike's not the kind of guy who just forces himself on every woman in sight, you know." "It's kind of sad that there's absolutely no way to argue with her," Rarity thought. After the girls finished their meal, they saw Spike walking down the hall with a beautiful, busty young woman with glasses and long, red hair. "That girl?" Dash asked. "Wow. She is cute," she admitted. Then they heard Moon Dancer ask, "How about tonight?" "Then it's settled," Spike replied. "You'll come to my house." "Sounds like a plan," she said. "See you later." "His place?! Tonight?! What?!" Rarity exclaimed. This caused the girls to ponder the current predicament while Rarity had reduced herself to drowning her sorrows with soda. "I just don't get it! You know what? I don't care who Spike spends his time with!" "Look, there's no way she can be his girlfriend," said Dash. "If she was, he would have told us about her before he invited us over for dinner." "Then what should I do?" Rarity asked. "We're going back to Pendragon Castle. Tonight," Sunset Shimmer stated. "You want to know the truth, don't you?" "I don't think I could handle the truth," Rarity replied, scared. "I mean, are you sure about this? Just marching into his home uninvited? What if something happens? We might get into a huge fight." "Fine then, we won't go. Just let her have Spike," Dash told her. "We're gonna be right there with you! Now, let's go!" . Later that night, the six girls arrived at Pendragon Castle and saw that Spike--along with Celestia, Luna, Fancy Pants and Fleur--had prepared a barbecue for Moon Dancer... as well as Minuette, Lemon Hearts and Twinkleshine. "Thanks for having us," Minuette said. "Another round of hot cocoa on Spike!" Lemon Hearts exclaimed. Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Sunset Shimmer all started drooling... then their stomachs growled, which Spike heard. "Someone must be starving out there..." he started to say. But when he saw the girls standing outside the steel fence, he asked, "What're you doing here?" "Drop the act," Pinkie said, deathly serious. "We know you're the Equestrian Dragon." The other girls, and everyone inside the yard, all gasped and stared at her with wide eyes. "Gotcha!" she said. "You, the Dragon! That's funny!" Pinkie's laughter was like music to Spike's ears... even though no one was laughing at what she had just said. "If you think that's funny, I'd hate to see what your idea of hilarious is," Rarity said. "Well, did you ever notice how you never see Spike and the Equestrian Dragon in the same place at the same time?" Pinkie asked. "What an odd and completely random thing to say," Rarity replied. "I mean, a lot of people have never been in the same place as the Equestrian Dragon. We haven't." "It was just an observation," Pinkie said. "Excuse me for living." "Believe us, if anyone here had anything to do with the Equestrian Dragon we would be the first to know about it," Luna told them. Celestia smiled as she invited them in to join the cookout while Moon Dancer went inside, and Spike was shocked when he saw Major Cutter pull up in General Hackmane's staff car... without Hackmane. Instead, he was accompanied by Sergeant Spearhead and Officer Windstorm, and they were all in civilian clothing. "Cutter?" Spike asked. "What are you doing here?" "Well, my flight to Pearl Harbor's not till 9:00 in the morning. And since I'm here, I thought that..." The Major's voice started to trail off. "Well, I could not be in New Canterlot City and not see my former C.O., and after what you did for my daughter--" "Cutter, please, those would-be kidnappers had it coming," Spike said, and he ushered the three officers in. "You know, in all the time I've known Mr. Zenith, he's never shaken my hand once," Spearhead said. "We were in the same unit three years before he even looked me in the eye," Cutter shared. "Four years before he called me by name... He must really like you." After dinner, as Fleur and Fancy Pants worked to clear the dishes, the rich aroma of spiced apple pie filled the air. Moon Dancer had returned carrying a large, round dish covered by a simple white cloth, and she pulled it off to reveal that it was an apple pie. "I made it for the first time," she told them. "I know it won't taste as good as the ones Buttercup Smith used to make, but..." Applejack was surprised to hear her mother's name mentioned, especially by Moon Dancer of all people. She was even more surprised when Moon Dancer cut the pie into pieces and offered Applejack the very first slice. Applejack was impressed. "Wow. This is amazing!" she said. "Did ya really make this for the first time?" "I used Jonathan apples and brushed the top with a glaze made with apricot jam and rum," Moon Dancer said. "I never would have thought of that," Applejack admitted. It was delicious. Even Rainbow Dash, who couldn't stand the thought of pie, stomached a tiny bite from Pinkie's slice. As they enjoyed the dessert, the girls' gazes kept straying to Spike and Moon Dancer. They saw how devoted she was to him. "She's hooked," Fluttershy breathed. "Eeyup," Applejack agreed. "Like a wide-mouthed bass." "Spike," Moon Dancer said. "I don't know how to ask this, but I was wondering if you'd mind... if you want to, maybe... you would like to... you and I... maybe we... What time did you want to come over on Saturday to help me put up my bookshelves?" "Well, is nine o'clock too early for you?" he asked. "No, that's perfect!" All the other girls stared in shock as Moon Dancer quickly averted her eyes. They were even more surprised when she lost her balance and almost fell to the ground with Spike's arm around her waist, but he quickly helped her to her feet. "Nice catch, Spike!" Minuette exclaimed. Applejack, Sunset, Pinkie, Dash, Fluttershy and Rarity were aghast as Moon Dancer coyly batted her dark eyes at Spike, her red lips smiling softly, and his own shy smile melted into a moony grin. "Wait. She's never even told Spike how she feels?" Rainbow Dash asked. "It's been close to ten years," Celestia said. "There's nothing going on between them. It would be too awkward, they're practically family." "Well, Spike's not the only dense one around here," Rarity and Dash both thought. As Dash refilled her drink, she couldn't help but say, "Almost a whole ten years, huh? Talk about devotion." "Who cares how long he's known her?" Rarity spat. "That doesn't mean anything. Plus, I'm so much prettier than her. She's a nerd!" "She's a very modest, hot nerd," Sunset Shimmer corrected her. "Plus she cooks and she's known him for practically a decade. On top of that, her boobs are, like, ridiculously huge, and you're a B-cup who brags about her pretty looks and relies on her sexual charms." "Shut up! I do not do that!" "I don't think Spike even knows Moon Dancer likes him," Fluttershy said honestly. "And it's not like he's grossed out by her," Applejack added. "If she told him how she felt, would they start dating?" . Rarity groaned as an image of Spike and Moon Dancer cuddling popped into her head. "This sucks so much," she said. "Do men really only go out with any woman as long as she has big breasts?" "Now, Rarity, don't judge Spike too harshly," Pinkie told her. "After all, he really does care about each of us very much." Thankfully, the other guests didn't hear any of what they had said. Frankly, they were more focused on Officer Windstorm, who dreamily stared off into the pink sunset, which slowly turned orange as it went down behind the beautiful rolling hills. "What's the matter with her?" Rarity inquired. "Post-traumatic stress caused by her encounter with Bronze Tan?" Spike guessed. "No, sir, it's much worse than that," Spearhead replied. "She glimpsed him for only a moment, and she's hopelessly in love with him... her unknown savior, the Equestrian Dragon." . The Main Street Bar & Grill had come under new ownership three times in the same number of months. It was first known as the "Beautiful Soul Bistro", after that the "New Canterlot Pastry Emporium"... now, it was the Shadowbolts' hangout, a place where the local lowlifes could just sit and have a beer. The Shadowbolts were a group of street punks who had either been kicked out or dropped out of Crystal Prep Academy, took the school's mascot as their own, and worked with the Raven Cartel as dope peddlers. Its three core members consisted of a young woman named Nightshade, and two guys, Descent and Shadow Surprise, and they rode dirt bikes instead of motorcycles. Suddenly, a well-built man with black hair, wearing a black wide-brimmed hat and black leather overcoat, the high collar of which obscured his jaw line, walked into the establishment. And he was carrying a black doctor's bag. He walked in like he owned the place, approached the bar, but he didn't say anything. Then the bartender asked, "You lost? 'Cuz I ain't got time for tourists." "Me? I'm just a simple doctor in search of a new practice," the stranger said. "Perhaps you can help me find some work?" "There's no work here," the bartender replied. "I see. Something to drink, at least?" "You got something in the bag?" "Yeah," The bartender's eyes narrowed. "What?" "A bomb," the doctor scoffed. That pissed off the bartender. Just then, a dagger flew across the room and stuck into a wanted poster adorning a picture of a man known as Doc McColt, a gun for hire who didn't ask too many questions and always got the job done--the same man who had just walked in. "I'm not looking for trouble," he said. "The only thing you will find tonight is trouble, Doctor," one of the patrons, Nightshade, said as she ripped the wanted poster off the wall and crumpled it up. "If one of us was to tell the local sentry you're in town, we could split the reward." Another patron, Shadow Surprise, gripping a knife, crept up behind the stranger, McColt, who reached into his black bag, pulled out a gun--and not just any gun, but a Colt Buntline Special, a hand cannon with one of the longest barrels ever conceived--and shot the blade out of Shadow Surprise's hand. "Two things you should know about me: I don't steal from women or children," McColt stated as he held the gun under his would-be assailant's chin. "And I do not steal from houses of worship, either!" he added with a growl. Shadow Surprise (the man that McColt had just disarmed) cleared his throat and said, "Well, the only other game left in town is the Equestrian Dragon." "Shh!" the bartender exclaimed. "Are you crazy?" "The what?" McColt inquired. Nightshade whispered, "Word is the murderous Equestrian Dragon has gotten his claws on... the Elements of Harmony." "Do not talk to me about dragons OR the Elements!" McColt shouted. "Do not even joke about that with me! I wasted half my life searching for both. They. Do. Not. Exist." "No. We have seen him," Descent protested as he rolled up his jacket sleeve, revealing a crude tattoo of the purple dragon of myth. "He is said to have riches without end and the greatest jewel of all: the Dragon's Eye... a ruby the size of your fist. A job like pulling a heist from a dragon's hoard could set someone up for ten lifetimes! But only one with a death wish would try to take down a dragon, much less steal from one." The only wish McColt had was to repay an old debt. "This could be my chance," the Doctor thought. "Where do I find the Equestrian Dragon?" he asked. Nightshade shrugged as if to say, "It's your funeral." Then she said, very carefully, "The Dragon lives on the peak of Mount Drago. Not many go up there... and even fewer return." > The Apple-Spike Connection . The black four-door Mustang slowly prowled down the puddled road, its headlights shining before it in streaks of yellow-gold. An owl hooted twice from the oak that towered at the edge of the cemetery, took flight, and flapped off into the sky. Leaves blew across the damp pavement as the Mustang pulled up to the gates and stopped. The front doors opened and two men climbed out. One was stocky, with thick shoulders and an imposing figure, the other tall and grim-faced. The man on the driver's side stretched and nudged his door shut as the other man carefully scanned the area. The driver moved to the rear door and pulled it open, and a half-smoked cigarette dropped out onto the pavement with a faint sizzle. Then a small, thin man in his early thirties exited the car and stood, pulling on a pair of expensive leather gloves. "Flash" Sentry--known as Brad Sentry only on his birth certificate and driver's license--glanced at one of his former band mates now bodyguards and held out his left hand expectantly. The New Canterlot City cemetery was about as far from Pendragon Castle as one could get and still be within the city limits. As lively as New Canterlot City was at night, that was how dead this place was--at least, that was what Flash Sentry thought when his car entered the cemetery grounds. He had come to the cemetery to pay his respects to an old acquaintance and business associate who had met a tragic end just a few days before at the hands of a vigilante. Flash felt guilty for missing his friend's funeral, but it was too dangerous for him to be seen there. Who knew who might have been there to scope out young underworld types like himself; the press, the cops, the Feds, even the Dragon. Better to visit Ragamuffin one-on-one. Nobody snoops on you at two in the morning. Still, to be on the safe side, Flash had brought his former band mates along for the ride. The big man, Brawny Beats, reached back into the passenger seat and handed his boss a funeral wreath studded with small velvet bows. Flash transferred the wreath to the crook of his right arm and held out his left hand again. This time, Brawny handed Flash a large silver flashlight. Flash clicked the flashlight on and waved it experimentally at the nearest trees. "You guys wait here," Flash said as he walked off. This would only take a minute. "Yes, sir, Mr. Sentry," Brawny Beats replied with a vigorous nod. He and Ringo leaned back against the car and watched as their boss headed off through the big iron gates. The owl hooted again from somewhere inside the cemetery and Brawny Beats' eyes darted left and right as thunder rolled in the distance. "They're sayin' the Dragon killed this guy," he said. "I know," Ringo replied as he pulled out a cigarette, stuck it in his mouth and struck a match. "Who'd a' thought." Just then a rustling sound came from the bushes just inside the iron fence. "What was that?" The two men craned their necks at the line of dark foliage. "I dunno, but it--oww!" Ringo shook his hand as the match burned the ends of his fingers. Both match and cigarette dropped to the ground. "Jeez," he said. . Inside the cemetery, Flash Sentry followed his flashlight beam along the narrow path. A yellow moon illuminated the graveyard dotted with stone crosses. There was no sound except the crunching of his shoes on the coarse gravel. Soon, Flash found the gravestone. The pale beam picked out the newly installed grave with a single dime-store vase of red and white carnations at its base. Flash played the light over the granite monument, stared at it a moment, then looked at the wreath in his hand. "Tsk, tsk. Ragamuffin, Ragamuffin..." Flash shook his head and heaved a sigh as he tossed the wreath at his former associate's final resting place. The dark ring sailed through the air like a life preserver and struck the base of the small vase, tipping it over onto its side. Water and carnations spilled onto the grass. "You always were such a loser." Then he turned back toward the path that led back to his car. He had only walked a few steps when he heard something. Not a voice, exactly, but a faint sound that seemed to drift on the wind. He listened. It sounded like... his name. "Flash..." Flash stiffened and reached into his coat pocket for his gun. "Who's there?" Startled, Flash spun around, shining his flashlight in a wide arc in the direction of the sound, over the dozens of gravestones littering the field around him. He took several steps backward. His heel hit something solid and he turned to shine the light down on the vase lying near Ragamuffin's headstone. When he lifted the flashlight again in the direction of the ring of graves, he raised his free hand to his head and scratched his scalp. No one was there--just the owl staring at him through the darkness. Flash sighed in relief. That last thing he wanted, or needed, was to come face-to-face with the Equestrian Dragon. He returned to the path, but stopped dead in his tracks when he was confronted by a mist billowing up out of the ground between him and the church. He stared at the roiling cloud, frozen with fear, as it parted before him. A pale flash of movement showed suddenly at its center, as if rising directly from the netherworld. Then a figure appeared within. The cemetery was poorly lit, and the figure was far away, so Flash couldn't be sure. But he thought it was the Dragon. As the figure came closer, it seemed to glide on the black cloud that surrounded it. Flash didn't remember seeing any smoke tailing the Equestrian Dragon, but that didn't mean he didn't use it. A steel-tipped cane swiped through the remainder of the smoke, revealing a ghastly being in a black suit, and it stepped toward Flash Sentry, the flashlight wavering in his grip. "You aren't the Dragon!" Flash wasn't taking any chances. While the figure was still too far away to do anything about it, Flash pulled out his gun, took careful aim, and fired. His first shot hit the figure dead-on. So did the second shot, and the third, but still it kept coming. Flash emptied all his bullets into the thing--still it came. What was this guy made of? Flash didn't have long to wait to get his answer. A moment later he was face-to-face with the strange being. And now he could see that it wasn't even human. Flash didn't think it was possible, but this black-suited figure, with a grinning skull-like face, was more frightening than the Dragon ever was. Flash was terrified--and his fear grew when the creature spoke. "Flash Sentry," it said in a haunting, unearthly whisper. "I have come for you." Flash stepped back as the thing moved forward, as if it were floating on the black mist. He wanted to keep shooting but remembered his gun was empty. Instead, he swung his weapon at the figure. Flash's attacker lifted an arm, and Flash felt a flash of pain as the gun was torn out of his hand. Flash looked toward the gun on the ground--and saw it had been sliced in half! "Get away from me, you freak!" Flash shouted, his boyish features contorted in fear. "Who are you? What do you want?" In response, the figure pointed its cane at Flash. There was a curved, razor-sharp blade, like a scythe, attached to the head of it. "I am Death," he said. "And I want you, Flashy-boy." As Death raised his scythe-cane over Flash's head, Flash turned and ran in terror. He raced past Ragamuffin's headstone, his heavy shoe scattering the carnations, crushing red and white petals into the newly turned earth. His labored breathing broke the stillness of the cemetery as he raced over the sloping lawns, his flashlight beam darting frantically in front of him. His heart pounded in his chest as he mounted an unfamiliar rise. "Brawny! Ringo! Guys!" he called out. "Come on!" Brawny Beats shouted. Flash ran deeper into the cemetery, tripping over tombstones and staggering through gnarled tree branches. He had to put distance between him and the smoke that followed him until he could think of some way to defend himself against his assailant. Soon he found it--more precisely, he tripped over it. As he fled the grim-faced reaper, down the other side of the hillock, Flash's knee collided with something hard. He crashed into a wheelbarrow piled with sod and digging implements. As he fell, his flashlight flew out of his hand, into the air, and it shattered when it hit the ground. Flash pitched over onto his side, his arms flailing as he fought for balance, coming down hard against the dirt-filled wheelbarrow. He ended up on his back, the wheelbarrow upside down on the lower half of his body. And even though he knew the flashlight wouldn't do him any good, Flash groped along the ground in a vain attempt to retrieve it. As he tipped the wheelbarrow back onto its wheel and pushed himself up from the damp grass, his hand brushed against a sturdy wooden handle. He felt along its length, encountering a perpendicular sweep of cold metal. Then, when his eyes finally adjusted to the moonlight, he saw what it was: a pickaxe! Flash crawled to his feet, grabbed the implement, lifted it with a small grunt of satisfaction, and kneeled behind the wheelbarrow, waiting for Death to appear before him. "Time to pay for your sins, Flash Sentry," an eerie voice suddenly spoke out. Flash gulped. This time the voice came from much closer. It was coming from directly behind him! Flash stood perfectly still for a moment, brandishing the pickaxe like a weapon. Then, in one motion, he hefted the pick over his head, whirled around, and charged toward the sound of the voice, but the reaper drifted back into the mist and vanished. Flash wiped the sweat from his brow as the thing reappeared in the shadow of a grove of tall dark trees with skeletal branches. He sliced through the mist with the pick, but Death was ready for him. As the pickaxe came down, Death raised his right arm, swiped his wicked blade through the air. The metal flashed in the darkness and it connected with the pick, slicing it neatly in half with a crack, just below the blade. Flash staggered back as a sudden jolt traveled up his arms. His eyes bulged as the metal head of the pick sailed through the air and embed itself into the ground in front of a small tombstone, leaving Flash holding only the handle. Flash looked at the shaft he still gripped in his hands. Out of breath and full of fear, he stiffened when he heard his name again. He lowered the wood, clutching it protectively in front of his chest. And not a moment too soon: Death was in front of him now, coming straight at him, floating on the dark mist. Flash wavered but stood his ground. He was prepared. "All right, creep. Catch!" Flash drew his arm back as the apparition neared him... then flung the shaft of wood like a spear with a cry of rage. It made contact with the black-shrouded figure, plunging deep into its chest and out its back. Death raised his ragged arm and pulled the stick out of his torso and threw it to the ground at his feet. Then, his face contorted with rage, Death started to advance on the helpless boy once again. "What the--?" Flash asked. Flash turned and stumbled off into the darkness. He ran without looking back, until his heart and lungs could stand no more. He collapsed on his knees at the side of a weathered headstone, trying to catch his breath until a small sound at his back made him look over his shoulder, eyes wide with panic. Death was still coming! "He was up here!" Brawny Beats shouted. "Boss! Flash, where are you?" Ringo called out. "Guys! Hurry!" Flash shouted as he ran deeper and deeper into the cemetery. He had no flashlight, no gun, no pickaxe; nothing to help him defend himself or escape. He squinted in the moonlight. All around him were gravestones and statues. He leaned heavily on one of the gravestones, then took a deep breath and pounded up a low hill to his right. He must be nearing the fence. He saw a figure standing near the top of the hill. It was dressed in pale garments, its head turned away from him, and there was no mist billowing around its legs. Was it a caretaker, a gravedigger? Maybe it was one of the boys, come looking for him. Could he be close to the gate? He trudged up the hill, squinting intently at the dim outline. When he was a few feet away he saw it was a huge stone angel, its arms raised in an attitude of prayer. He took another step forward... and then the ground gave way. Flash Sentry fell into an eight-foot long rectangular hole, six feet down, and his face slapped against mud when he landed, face down on the patch of wet ground, with a heavy thud. He raised his head, mud dripping from his cheek and brow, and pushed himself to his feet. He was frightened, dazed, the wind knocked out of his heavy body, and then he looked up. On the ground directly above him, the eight-foot-tall marble angel looked down on him, looming pitilessly over the open pit. Flash gasped in horror as he staggered back to the other end of the hole. He'd fallen into an empty, freshly dug grave! He heard a soft snapping sound and turned to look at the other end of the grave. He reached up, trying to lift himself out, when a cloud of smoke began to billow across the ground above him, over the edge of the opening as he watched, obscuring the night sky. As it dispersed, the tall dark figure with a pale skull for a head became gradually visible, and Flash held his breath as Death appeared at the end of the grave. "You always were a loser, Flash Sentry," Death said as he looked down on Flash. In desperation, Flash turned and stumbled the short distance to the head of the grave, where the statue stood. He reached up and began to claw at the soft loam above his head, trying to grab hold of anything that would help him get out. His fingers pulled clods of earth loose from under the statue's base, down onto his mud-streaked face, as Flash tried to scramble up the wall. Flash continued trying to paw his way out of the hole, but it was no use. All he'd succeeded in doing was digging away the dirt at the edge of the grave. He looked back toward Death at the opposite end of the grave, but Death just stood there. Then Flash's right hand struck the base of the stone angel and he began to sob. "Farewell, Flash Sentry," Death's voice faded as the apparition disappeared into the mist. Flash turned around to find the far end of the pit empty except for a haze of dispersing mist. He blinked up at the stars for a few seconds, dumbfounded, confused. "That's it?" he wondered. "He's just gonna leave me here?" Flash Sentry gasped. He thought he heard another sound, faint, nearby. He looked back and forth between the ends of the trench. Nothing. Maybe the thing had just wanted to frighten him, after all. He leaned his palm against the side of the pit for support as he fished for a handkerchief in his coat and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. The faint sound came again. He searched the edges of the trench where the apparition had stood, eyes narrowed. Then Flash noticed something strange. Behind him, a tiny curl of black smoke reappeared next to the towering stone angel and wound itself around the base. A pebble slipped forward and dropped into the grave with a muffled sound as the base tilted slightly. Flash looked over his shoulder as the shadow of the angel crawled up his back. Slowly, the statue began to tilt forward and Flash screamed as he raised his arms in a futile gesture as the angel fell toward him. And Flash Sentry kissed the angel. . A short time later, Flash's old band mates finally found their boss. They were able to follow the dark prints his rapid footsteps had left in the dewy grass. After searching through the graveyard for several minutes, a muffled crash sounded, then all was silent, and they came upon a curious sight: a marble angel had fallen face first into an open grave. They mounted the low hill near the heart of the cemetery, looking around anxiously. The stars seemed cold and tiny, and the rim of the dark sky was shrouded with pale clouds. The footprints led them to the partially filled trench. One of them shined his flashlight into the hole--and that's when they saw their boss. "Oh, man!" Brawny Beats said as he turned away in horror. As Ringo peered downward at the edge of the pit, his flashlight slipped from his nerveless fingers. "Jeez," he said. As they walked back to the car, they saw a flash of movement out of the corner of their eyes. That's when they spotted a dark, shadowy figure standing atop a far-off hillock, next to a gnarled tree in the moonlight. They lifted their guns and started firing furiously at it. The shadowy figure stood perfectly still for a second, then turned and disappeared in a cloud of smoke, leaving the two bodyguards to draw one conclusion. "It's the Dragon!" Brawny Beats yelled. "It was the damn Dragon!" . The nineteenth-century town house was located not far from Livingston, the once-fashionable section of downtown New Canterlot City now known as the Projects. Because of its proximity to an area where burglary and murder were almost daily occurrences, the windows of the old brownstone were covered with thick bars of wrought iron, making it obvious that whoever owned the place wanted to keep any uninvited visitors out. It also lent a prisonlike air to the somber building, which persisted even in the bright light on the morning following Flash Sentry's death. Inside, a single ray of sunlight fell in measured blocks onto the worn arabesques and faded geometries of an ancient Saddle Arabian rug inside the shadowy den that centered the top floor apartment. The room was silent except for the irregular clinking sound caused by metal against porcelain and the equally irregular susurrus of an old man's breathing. Timber Spruce sat hunched over in a big comfortable chair that had grown much too large for him. His face was an unhealthy color, the sallow skin pulled parchment-tight across the planes of bone beneath. A plastic tray stood before him on spidery metal legs, and on the tray were his morning cup of pale yellow tea, a bowl containing one half of a small pink grapefruit, and a copy of the New Canterlot Gazette. The painfully thin man stirred the spoon in his tea, took the spoon from the cup, and set it carefully on the saucer. Then he reached for the newspaper as he brought the cup to his pursed lips and sipped at its rim. Timber Spruce reseated the cup with trembling fingers and turned his attention to the pinkish hemisphere that constituted his breakfast. He maneuvered a slice of the tart fruit onto his spoon and mumbled it past his lips as he unfolded the paper. He blinked in surprise as he scanned the front page... then his blood ran cold. In the center of the page was a file photograph of a thin-faced young man with warm eyes and a cocky sneer: Brad "Flash" Sentry. Timber Spruce's eyes grew wide with terror and recognition in their sunken sockets as he read the bold headline above the photo: SECOND MAN SLAIN! It couldn't be! His eyes darted over the page before focusing on a sketch artist's charcoal rendering of a dramatic figure shrouded in dark shadows, which appeared next to the second caption: EQUESTRIAN DRAGON GONE WILD! The spoonful of grapefruit slipped unnoticed from the man's skeletal fingers and clattered onto the plastic tray. Then the cup of tea fell from the tray, shattering as it hit the floor. Timber Spruce began to wheeze, bolting out of the chair, clutching at his throat in pain, the newspaper falling to one side as the tray collapsed on the other. His glance darted from window to doorway, his wheezing growing more frantic as he staggered back to the overstuffed chair and leaned on it for support. Clutching his chest with one hand, he felt at the back of the chair with the other, for the cool surface of the oxygen tank resting on the floor. Then, like a man dying of thirst, he dragged it out, fumbling with the plastic mask before he pressed it up against his face to cover his nose and mouth, and took big greedy gulps of the life-giving gas. Soon the tightness around his chest began to fade. Trembling, exhausted by his exertions, he slumped back into his chair, breathing in spasmodic gasps from his ordeal. His rheumy eyes stared down in horror at the newspaper lying scattered on the rug. The picture of the Equestrian Dragon seemed larger than life. It filled up his field of vision, sending chills down his spine. He kicked it aside and shook his head in despair. Timber Spruce was a man with a problem. . Councilwoman Vignette Valencia was angry. But her anger was kind of amusing, Captain Shining Armor thought as the young female politician paraded back and forth in front of the captain's desk at the police department. "What do you mean you won't?" Vignette shouted. "I'm sure the Dragon means well, but he's still a vigilante. And by the definition of law, that makes him a criminal just like the rest. You have to go after him!" "He didn't do it. Period," Shining Armor stated impassively, making Vignette's histrionics seem all the more out of place. Several other high-level police officers exchanged glances as they watched the encounter between their boss and his outraged adversary. "You have two eye-witnesses--" Vignette snatched a double ribbon of polygraph recording paper from the large hands of Sergeant Spearhead, each length attached to an unflattering mug shot of one of Flash Sentry's henchmen. "--and their lie detector results." She flung the records down on Armor's cluttered desktop. "What more do you need?" Sergeant Spearhead shook his head as Shining Armor rose from behind his desk, his own anger finally beginning to show on his face. He swept the tangle of Dragon-related newspaper clippings and photographs off his desktop and dropped them into the wastebasket with a savage wave of his arm. "It's all garbage, Miss Valencia," he resounded matter-of-factly. "You want him? You get him. There's no motive, no proof, and I'll have no part of spending the taxpayers' money to bring him in." The already fuming councilwoman sneered as she jerked the door open and marched out of Shining Armor's office. The door shut behind her with a resounding slam. The assembled officers flinched, Sergeant Spearhead eyeing the door's pebbled glass window as if waiting for it to shatter. When it remained intact, he pulled a toothpick from his jacket and stuck it in the corner of his mouth with a sigh. Officer Silver Sable and two more uniformed policewomen stood waiting in the reception area outside. Vignette Valencia smiled at them as she plucked a small container from the inside pocket of her jacket, confidently popped a small, white breath mint into her mouth and asked softly, "Well, ladies, any ideas?" . Half an hour later, Captain Shining Armor's Dodge Challenger barreled away from New Canterlot toward the cemetery. On the outskirts of the city, the sleek black car parked outside the grounds where Flash Sentry had met his angel of death for the first and last time. Strips of yellow police tape cordoned off the scene of Flash Sentry's demise. The massive statue hung suspended above the trench in a thick bundle of chains attached to a crane. Along with Sergeant Spearhead, the Captain began by retracing Sentry's trail from his car to the gravesite. It was a real mystery who was responsible... and not only who, but why. "Flash Conceptions is a real estate development company," Shining Armor said. "Could be he was on somebody's hit list for one of his projects." "Maybe," Sergeant Spearhead replied. "But for the past several years the company's been dealing primarily with urban development--condo conversions, updating retail space, and the like. This hardly seems like the kind of target anyone would single out." "Aside from the shell casings belonging to Sentry's weapon, no signs of other shooters present," Shining went on. "Whoever did this didn't use a gun. They chased him into a hole and used a statue to crush him. That doesn't sound like business to me... that sounds more personal." "You think they're trying to make a statement?" Spearhead asked. "Most definitely, but in doing so they're also creating a pattern," Far from the tatters of police tape, out of sight, the Equestrian Dragon had begun his own investigation. He started by surveying the scene of the overturned wheelbarrow. Soon, he stood over the grave of Dick Ragamuffin. He knelt down to feel the ground around the headstone. "There seems to be some kind of residue on the lawn," he spoke softly into a portable tape recorder. "It could match the traces I found on the fragment of boat glass at the pier. It's not much to go on, but then again, it's been that kind of a day," he concluded as he clicked off the tape recorder. While searching around the graveyard for other clues, something caught his eye and he turned his head in surprise, looking at his surroundings as if seeing them from a new angle. The Equestrian Dragon suddenly realized he had wandered into a familiar section of the cemetery. He marched up the short but steep hill, his pace quickening as he realized his destination. He strode through the grounds, between many granite obelisks of people that had been given rather gruesome deaths--one man executed by firing squad, another torn apart by four wild horses, and one that had been buried alive--until he eventually stood before the marble memorial he had erected in honor of his parents: a large monument with a statue depicting a man and a woman riding a chariot being pulled by two horses rearing up. The Equestrian Dragon bowed his head respectfully after reading his family's credo: "Bidh sinn gu toilichte a' sgrios an fheadhainn a tha airson ar sgrios." "Libenter eos perdimus, qui nos perdere volunt." "We gladly destroy those who want to destroy us." Not just pretty words... a way to live. He had visited hundreds of times before, but never in the form he had chose to wage the war on evil that he fought in their (and his fallen allies') names. He hoped that somehow they could see him standing there and prayed they would be proud of him. He prayed for something else too--and an instant later, his prayers were answered. "Ya'd think they could afford a weed-eater," a woman's voice murmured. "Sorry, Mom, Dad, but the whole world's goin' to seed." The Equestrian Dragon's head came up in shock. He took a step back, turned, and peered through the dimness between two other stone markers. A young woman was standing not far from the monument. She knelt at a neglected grave, her fists tugging at a clump of stubborn weeds that had sprouted at the base of the headstone. It was Applejack Smith! He began to step forward--but then stopped himself. "I'm not Spike Zenith now," he thought. "I'm the Equestrian Dragon! If she saw me like this... She would hate me. And why shouldn't she?" He stepped back, and as he did, his back hind claw crunched a small stick on the ground. Startled by the sound of the twig snapping, Applejack rose to her feet, the weeds dropping from her fingers. She turned to look over her shoulder and came face-to-face with a man clothed in black, standing in the shadows of a tall, stone angel. "Spike?" she asked. "What're ya doin' here?" "You would never believe me if I told you," he answered as he stepped out from the shadows of the monument. A look of barely controlled anguish was visible on his face. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you," he apologized as he turned to leave. "Spike, wait," she said. "I just wasn't expectin' to see anyone out here. Are ya okay?" "I'm creeping around a cemetery in the middle of the night. Does this strike you as normal behavior?" he asked her. "Hey... I'm here, too," she told him. "Seriously, Spike. Why are you out here?" "Applejack, have you ever felt like your life was supposed to be something different?" She nodded. As her fingers traced the names carved into the stone, she and he both remembered the last time they were here together. . New Canterlot City Cemetery, 1988... Ten Years Before. In a strange way, Spike found the cemetery comforting. After several years of constant travelling abroad, he had recently returned to Equestria. Now he was faced with an endless stream of parties, dinners, and get-togethers that never allowed him a moment's peace. He knew what he was going to do with the rest of his life. He just wasn't sure how he was going to do it. And with all the social engagements he'd been subjected to, he doubted he would ever have enough time to himself to figure it out. So he decided to come here whenever he could; to stand before the graves of his fallen allies, pay his respects, and silently ask for their advice. It was late autumn then, too. Brown and gold leaves blew through the cemetery as Spike stood with a brooding expression on his face before the marble monument that was his parents' marker. The wind had pushed his collar askew and his dark hair was disheveled. He held a pair of long-stemmed sunflowers in his hand. As he knelt solemnly to lay them on the manicured grass at the foot of the headstone, he heard a voice nearby. "That's right," it said. "And if Granny gets any more protective, she might as well dig a moat around the farm." Spike lifted his head in surprise and turned to see a young woman he once knew--but didn't recognize--standing among a group of tombstones a short distance away. She was nearly as tall as him, which meant she was close to six feet, she smelled like apples, and her hair was the color of summer wheat. Her back to was to him, and even though there was no one else there, Spike could only conclude that the woman was talking to someone else besides herself. "She isn't talking to me," he thought. "She's probably talking to someone in her heart." Spike nervously stepped closer as she continued. "It's time like these I wish you were around to--" She stopped suddenly as the breeze lifted her blonde hair. She was reaching up a hand to smooth it back when Spike's shadow crept into view on the ground beside her and she turned around to face him. "Yes?" she inquired. Spike's eyes widened. Finely arched blonde eyebrows drew together over a straight nose and cheeks dotted by the most beautiful freckles he had ever seen. Her voice was a silky Southern drawl, soft and feminine, and as strong as everything else about her. "Excuse me," Spike stammered under her stare. He was struck by her beauty. "I thought you were saying something to me." The young woman raised her eyes as if gauging the distance between her and him. "No," she answered shortly and abruptly turned away. "I'm sorry, my mistake," Spike said uncomfortably. He stood for an awkward moment, looking at the graceful lines of her back. He'd obviously interrupted something and figured he'd better leave. From the corner of her eye, the young blonde woman spotted Spike walking off. A mischievous gleam appeared in her eye. She looked at the gravestone at her feet and smiled. "Do ya know who that was?" she asked, just loud enough for Spike to hear. "Spike Zenith--ya know, Zenith Industries. I've seen him around campus. Very moody. Kinda cute, though. Don't ya think?" Spike couldn't help himself. Again, he stopped to listen. And again, when she looked back over her shoulder, she looked somewhat displeased. "Yes?" she asked. "I heard my name," Spike said. "I thought--who are you talking to?" The young woman brushed a wisp of hair back from her cheek and answered, "My parents." She pointed to the grave at the foot of the tree and Spike looked at the words chiseled upon the stone: In Loving Memory Bright Macintosh Smith, July 2, 1942 - February 1, 1984, Devoted Son, Husband, Father Buttercup Smith, July 3, 1942 - February 1, 1984, Beloved Daughter, Wife, Mother Gone But Never Forgotten . Spike flushed with embarrassment. "Oh," he replied, looking from the marker to the bright-eyed young woman. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to--" "That's okay," the young woman said. "They don't have much to say today." It was then that Spike caught the scent of her: sweeter than magnolias. She spoke her mind with a saucy accent, knew what she wanted, and knew how to get it. She caught his sidelong glance. "I'm not the only one who talks to their loved ones, ya know," she said defensively. "It's just that when I talk to them out loud, I can imagine how they'd reply. I can hear 'em, like they're right here. Sometimes I dream I'm at school, waitin' for my Granny to pick me up. But she doesn't come. Instead, my parents drive up, and we get in the truck and we drive back to my real life in Ponyville. That's usually when I wake up. But for a moment, I'm happy... till I realize that I'm still alone." Spike understood, all too well. He looked at the blonde, and he looked at the grave, and then--in his heart--he knew just what her parents would say. "Your dad thinks you'd be a shoo-in for rodeo queen... and your mom wants you to know that you're never alone. They are both always looking out for you," She smiled at him... then turned and headed for the path. Spike hesitated for a moment before following her. He caught up to her and they continued side by side down the path toward the cemetery gate. "And what about you?" she asked. "Were you here to talk to somebody?" "I made a promise," he said solemnly as they walked. "A secret promise?" she guessed. He nodded as she turned to study his face. "Have ya kept it?" she asked. His expression stayed sober. "So far." They reached the street outside the cemetery. A staid pickup was parked at the curb in front of Spike's convertible roadster. She walked over to the truck and opened the driver's door. Then she turned to Spike and extended her hand in a formal gesture. "Applejack Smith." He shook her hand. "Spike Zenith." "I know. 'The richest man in Equestria,'" she said with a wry smile. "So tell me, with all that money and power, why do ya always look like ya want to jump off a cliff?" Spike smiled in spite of himself. "Why should you care?" "I don't." She slid into the driver's seat, turned the key, and the truck roared to life. "Dad was askin'." Applejack put the truck in gear, put her foot to the gas pedal, and pulled away from the curb... and Spike smiled to himself at the thought of running into her again. . A few short years later, on the main street outside New Canterlot University, a black Rolls Royce, the vanity plate of which read FNGRICH, pulled up to the curb. In an effort to curb their daughter's "wild antics", the parents of Diamond Tiara Rich were sending her to NCU. "Randolph, can you drive around the corner, please?" Diamond Tiara asked. "Why?" her father, Filthy Rich, asked. "The entrance is right there." "Dad, these are public school kids," his daughter replied. "I'm not showing up for orientation in the Rolls." "What, you want us to trade in our car for a helicopter, just because you flunked out of every private school we ever sent you to?" her mother, Spoiled Rich, inquired, staring at her daughter with cold, mean eyes. "You're starting new here, that means no more parties. You know what it did to your marks at Grant. This time, you're going to concentrate on your schoolwork. I see another D, you don't see another check." "You've had too much to drink," Filthy told his wife. "I hate it when you drink." "I drink to get through the day," she replied. "I was a talented, well-educated woman. I could have been someone--" "This wasn't for me," Diamond Tiara commented. "Of course it was," Filthy Rich said. "Don't ever be ashamed of who you are." "I'm not ashamed of who I am. It's just..." "Just what, Diamond?" Spoiled asked her daughter. "Forget it," she said as she clambered out. "I should have driven Diamond Tiara up myself," Filthy Rich thought. Although he did his best to try to be a kind and devoted father, and gave his beloved child every luxury and comfort, he still felt she needed a mother's care. "I don't know how I'll ever be able to face my friends again," Spoiled Rich told herself. "Just pretend they're a mirror," Filthy Rich retorted. "You're so funny, honey. Actually, I'll confess to them that I'm married to a moron. And that way, they'll feel sorry for me and forgive me," "This 'moron' built you this fabulous life," "Oh, that again, I forgot. That's right, honey. You did everything and I did nothing," "Refresh my memory, will you, please? What exactly have you done in the past five years? I know. You've done lunch. You've done chemical peels. You've done collagen. You've done liposuction. And you've done breast implants. Without me, you would be nothing," "Here's a thought, darling. Since you're so good with fire, maybe you should write a cookbook: How To Roast Your Own Nuts. What do you think?" "You know what I think? I think I'm tired of busting my ass while you sit around on your ever-widening one, criticizing everything I do," "I have spent the last six months busting this ever-widening ass, and for what?" "What is this really about, Spoiled?" "I am pissed off because if I had just stayed in school instead of wasting my time on you, I would probably have my own business by now. I gave it up to help you," "Oh, please, you gave it up because you were afraid you might actually have to finish something!" Filthy Rich heaved a sigh. "I am tired of this. What used to work in this marriage just doesn't work anymore." "Oh, God, here it comes: the divorce talk again," "Spoiled, we're both wasting our time. What's the point?" "If you want out, just say the word," she told him. "Do you want a divorce?" "I need a divorce!" he shouted. "Good! And we'll split everything!" "Split what? We don't own anything. All we have is debt. I'd be glad to split that with you fifty-fifty," "Fifty-fifty? Not on your life!" "Then it'll get ugly," "I can do ugly. I've done you for the last twenty-six-and-a-half years," "You stopped doing me after ten," he stated. . Inside, as the students assembled in the auditorium for orientation, Rainbow Dash skidded into her seat just as the bell rang. "Oh, yeah!" she exclaimed. "I am good!" "You may have made it this time, Miss Dash," the Headmistress, Abacus Cinch, said. "But you had to break three rules to do it: no skates on school grounds and no food in class." "That's only two," Dash snapped in reply with her mouth full. She finished her green apple, hurled its core at the trashcan across the room... and missed. "Littering; three," Professor Youngermane stated. After the students settled down, Abacus Cinch introduced the key members of the faculty. As well as Dean Cadence Amore, the head of student discipline, there was Miss Diamond Rose, languages; Miss Lemony Gem, etiquette and social graces; Miss Harmony Melons, literature and art studies; Professor Youngermane, mathematics and applied sciences; and Dr. Trotland, history and social studies. "Before you begin your individual class orientation, I have one announcement to make," Headmistress Cinch said. "There will be a T.V. crew and accreditation committee here on Wednesday. I would like four of you to help me show them around the school, to represent New Canterlot University." All the while, the school's janitors, custodians and groundskeepers spent the majority of the morning scrubbing, dusting, sweeping, mopping, sanitizing and sterilizing, cleaning the cobwebs out of the corners, raking up leaves and weeding the flower beds. Abacus Cinch wanted the University to look extra good that day because a potential new benefactor was coming. "I haven't seen so much elbow grease in a dog's age," Applejack said as they exited the assembly room. "Ya'd think royalty was comin'." "Just who is this guy, the Chancellor?" Rainbow Dash asked. "He might as well be," Sunset replied. "Heard of Spike Zenith? He's got serious bank." The name ran through Rarity's mind, finally sliding into place. She had heard of him, at least by reputation. What little people did know about him was the fact that he was a very reclusive, secretive, conceited, extremely grouchy snob who grumbled and growled at everything and everybody. And not only was he very wealthy, he lived in a big castle with a pond out back. In the winter, he could skate on his frozen pond, but he didn't. He lived alone in that big old house; he wouldn't even let someone come in to help him clean it. And he didn't believe in having friends. He also owned an enormous manufacturing company that supplied the entire Equestrian military with weapons to fight the government's wars. Almost every business he touched turned a solid profit. But in this area, he was especially famous for his extremely generous charitable contributions and scholarship endowments. Just last week she had glimpsed him on the news, handing a ten thousand dollar check to Fluttershy, who volunteered at the animal shelter. That's when Rarity realized that this was the same man whose scholarship program they were all on, and so--in a sense--was paying for them to go to school there. "Spike Zenith? The Spike Zenith?" she inquired. "He's the richest man in the state, and the richest man in Equestria, if not the world." She sighed. "Now there's someone who'll never have to work." "Ugh, I don't even know the guy and I hate him already," Rainbow Dash said. "So he's back from bein' overseas, huh?" Applejack asked. "He's an only child but his parents were, like, shepherds or something," Sunset said. "Whoa, time out! Isn't Zenith the name of that company that makes those awesome T.V. sets?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Electronics, as well as aircraft, motorcycles and luxury watches," Pinkie replied. "Then why does he work if he's already loaded?" Dash asked. "I wouldn't!" Suddenly, they heard a rustling behind a stack of boxes in a corner. "What was that?" Dash asked. "Shh, be very quiet!" Sunset Shimmer whispered. "What is it?" whispered Fluttershy. "I think it's over there," Sunset kept whispering. "I hope it's not that. It couldn't be." "What?" Dash and Fluttershy both asked. Sunset motioned for them to come closer and said, "Yesterday, I read that a panther escaped at the zoo." "Yeah, right," Dash scoffed. "I'm not kidding," Sunset replied. "Don't make any sudden moves, just head toward the door. It could be anywhere." "It's probably just a mouse or somethin'," Applejack said dismissively. "What if it's not a mouse?" Fluttershy asked. "It could be a snake." "Hey! There's nothing funny about snakes! Don't joke about that!" Rarity told her. "There is nothing funny about slimy reptiles! Nothing!" "Maybe it's a big, huge python," Dash chuckled. "Enough!" Rarity shouted. "It's a mouse. Snakes are supposed to live in the wild." "Well, this whole area used to be woods, but as we have taken over their habitat, the snakes have become suburban dwellers," Fluttershy said. "They could be living right in our own backyards... or somebody could be breeding them. All one would need is a cardboard box and a light bulb." "Why would anyone want to breed snakes?" Dash asked. "Well, snakes are clean, low-maintenance pets," Fluttershy shared. Rainbow Dash shook her head as they made their way outside and Rarity asked, "So, Fluttershy, any chance I can borrow your cashmere belly sweater tomorrow?" "Sure," she replied. "That's what best friends are for." "Hey!" Pinkie exclaimed. "What about me?" "Don't be ridiculous, Pinkie Pie," Rarity replied. "We can't wear Fluttershy's sweater at the same time, we'll stretch it out." "No, Rarity, I meant, aren't I your best friend, too?" Pinkie asked. Rarity blinked and then smiled. "Aww! Well, of course you are, sweetie," she said as she hugged Pinkie. "And that's why I'm going to borrow your leopard-print sandals tomorrow." Suddenly, Rarity gasped and then froze, her lips slowly parted. A suave, young-looking man with chiseled features casually swung his blazer over his shoulder, atop a fitted black shirt tucked into perfectly pressed pants. "Who is that?" she thought. "Who is that man covered with the abundance of pheromones?! That man oozes sex appeal from every pore!" Rarity gazed at him longingly, transfixed with rapture, as her mouth hung open. Her legs weakened at the first sight of him. With his confident manner, roguish good looks, and tall and powerful body, he exuded authority and--God help her--such potent sensuality. Forbidden yet so soothing for the eyes; he made her heart and body ache. "Rarity, what is it?" Pinkie asked. "What's wrong?" "Yeah, you're starting to drool," Sunset added. "I think... I think... I'm in love!" Rarity sighed. "I must find out... who he is!" "Getting a man of that caliber to fall for me sure would feel good," she added in thought. "It would be like winning a trophy." Rarity could easily get any man under her spell--they were all powerless against her. A sly smiled played at her lips as she strolled over to him. "Is it just me, or does Rarity fall in love more often than Spoiled Rich maxes out her credit card?" Sunset asked them. "And don't I know him from someplace?" "I'm Rarity. Nice to meet you," she began as she approached the man at the fountain. "I doubt it," he replied. "But it's polite of you to say so." His words were courteous enough, even though his tone was not--and she didn't miss his quick once-over as he glanced at her legs and her blouse, perfectly cut to show off her curves without being overly revealing. "Wow. How badly have your previous girlfriends been treating you that you don't even recognize common decency when you see it?" Sunset Shimmer asked him. "I have never had a girlfriend," he stated rather crudely. "Oh, is that so?" Rarity asked. "Dating is not for everybody. On the other hand, living in a deluded fantasy is probably the only way to survive this Tartarus on Earth," he answered. "So, what do you say we go out after class?" she asked him coyly, tucking her hair behind her ear, leaning in close to him as she did so. "I'll even let you buy me a nonfat latte." "Sorry, but I've already got plans," he said. "I'm going to the mall with Applejack." "Applejack?!" she thought. "Are they going out!?" Rarity felt as if she'd been struck with the blunt end of a claymore (the sword, not bomb). "Well, no big deal," she replied. "I was only trying to be nice since you're new in town." Spike shook his head as he walked away from Rarity, who was rejoined by her friends, as well as two other students, Coco Pommel and Sassy Saddles. "I envy you," Coco told Rarity. "You actually got up the nerve to talk to him." "So, come on," Sassy said. "Tell us, what kind of guy is he? I bet he's stuck-up, right?" "No, actually, he's more... well..." Rarity started. Then she hung her head as she reflected on her experience with him thus far: #1: He was polite, at first, and not particularly warm. #2: His overall tone conveyed a general lack of interest (especially in her). #3: He said that he'd never had a girlfriend. #4: He told her he had plans with Applejack. "If there was no #4, I'd call him obnoxious," she thought sadly. "Maybe I'll just tell them he's weird." "Don't worry, Rarity," Fluttershy said. "I'll buy you a nonfat latte after class." "Besides, wouldn't you rather hang out with us, your friends, than some dimwit playboy?" Sunset Shimmer asked. "I guess so," Rarity replied half-heartedly. "Only I just can't help it! He wants me." "You think every guy wants you," Rainbow Dash told her. "I know, but Spike's different. And call me crazy, but I just have this thing for unattainable men. I've got to find a way to get his attention off of Applejack and onto me!" "Girl, I admire your pluck," Pinkie said, "but Spike Zenith is way out of your league." Rarity didn't have to worry about competition from Pinkie Pie or Rainbow Dash, and Sunset Shimmer didn't seem to be interested in Spike either--she believed that girls of such low character could never be a threat to her. But Rarity did have a very one-sided rivalry with Fluttershy. The kindest, quietest, and most mature of them, she was still the perfect balance between cute and innocent. But her thick thighs, shapely calves, and slender ankles, combined with her newfound affinity for high heeled shoes made for a stunning combination, turning heads all around town. Her other rival was Applejack. A small-town beaut with a yen for horses and a room full of rodeo ribbons - hardworking, honest and responsible, sweet as blackstrap molasses, sharp as pine needles, and as beautiful as a cloudless Cartolina sky - all the things Rarity wasn't. "I'm not jealous," Rarity said. "Curious thing about jealousy, it usually stems from insecurity," Pinkie told her. "There's no insecurity here. However much I'm not jealous, I'm twice as much not insecure," Rarity replied. "I just have to find a way to get closer to him. If I can find something he and I have in common, he'll toss her like a day-old muffin and come running straight to me!" "Yeah, I do not get your taste in men, like, at all," Rainbow Dash commented. Just then, the intercom beeped and Dean Amore's voice echoed through the halls. "Will the following students please report to the Headmistress's office immediately? Applejack Smith, Fluttershy Breeze, Rainbow Dash Hothoof, Pinkie Diane Pie, Rarity St. Germaine and Sunset Shimmer, thank you." . Abacus Cinch was a woman of good family, but all she had ever learned as a child was how to dictate, how to intimidate, and to keep her nose high in the air... oh, and how to keep others on their toes. When she was still the principal of Crystal Preparatory Academy, Cinch held the students to very high standards, as well as a very strict code of conduct. She had made that clear when she first "welcomed" them to Crystal Prep. "I am not here to be your friend," she had said. "I am only here to educate you." It was upon the untimely death of New Canterlot University's last headmaster, however, that Abacus Cinch's true nature was revealed... after she somehow got his job. Cold, cruel, and bitterly jealous of her students' charm and beauty, she was grimly determined to forward the interests of herself and her own "precious reputation." Thus, as time went by, the university fell into disrepair. For the generous contributions and scholarship funds were squandered upon the vain, selfish and stupid athletes, while Cinch became a shameless sycophant when it came to anyone who showed any kind of interest in giving the school money. Now, as Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Sunset Shimmer stood across from the headmistress--who had been pacing back and forth behind her desk until the six girls walked in--they could clearly see that the arrogant Cinch didn't pay much attention to what anyone else wanted, only to what she wanted. That's why she was happiest of all in that office, where nobody could question her orders and everything was just so. "Comfortable?" she asked them. "Not particularly," Pinkie answered. "Anything I can get you, juice, coffee, rack of lamb?" "Just what did you want to see us about?" Sunset asked. "Let me answer that question with another. Why are you trying to destroy my school?" "Excuse you?" Rainbow Dash countered. "Do any of you know who Marego Oneupher is?" Cinch asked them. "Oh, yes. She's New Canterlot University's most accomplished alum and a lovely woman who so generously donates money to help fund the history department," Rarity replied. She was all that and then some. Not only was Marego Oneupher captain of the cheerleading squad, voted "most likely to never do anything for herself" and a winner of New Canterlot University's science fair--Cinch made a clock powered by potatoes, Oneupher made a prototype portable music player--but in their class's production of The Blizzard of Claws, Marego was cast as the beautiful Evil Queen, while Cinch was Tree #3. Marego also snagged the university's biggest dreamboat, Champ Hunk, plus she got the whole school to call Abacus Cinch "Pigeon Legs." "Wrong!" Cinch stated. "She was this school's most accomplished alum and was the woman who used to fund our history department... before she was hospitalized for nearly swallowing a toad." "Not a toad, a frog," Fluttershy corrected her. "Frogs are green and cute, whereas toads are larger, heavier, uglier, and give you warts. What we witnessed was five thousand healthy frogs bred from a genetically deficient hereditary line." Cinch pursed her lips as she approached her file cabinet, pulled open one of the drawers, pulled out each of the girls' permanent records, and began to read from them. "Miss Dash, chronic tardiness, talking in class, repeated loitering by the boys' locker room... and Miss Breeze, I see here that, from past performance, as well as your parents' somewhat limited financial resources, you have been admitted on scholarship... with no severe mischief before today. So, ladies, tell me, why did the two of you conspire to smuggle the frogs for dissection out of the biology lab?" None of the young women responded. "Now listen to me carefully, my little write-offs!" Cinch growled at them. "For years, you six have single-handedly alienated every wealthy donor we've had! Welding schools are outdrawing us! We've lost so much money that red is our school color! Inner city schools have better computers than we do! Bosneigha wants to give us money!" This was bad. The University had only one decent benefactor and they had (unintentionally) driven that hard-to-get money away. New Canterlot City and the University needed new blood. "Now I'm going to set up a meeting with Spike Zenith--are you even listening to me?!" "Yes, ma'am," they finally answered. "Spike Zenith is the last rich man in this city! He is also a history buff who is considering donating a ten billion dollar grant to this school. And I want that money! If you do anything to mess this up, I swear I will..." Cinch quickly recomposed herself. "Just remember, your futures depend on it. I'll let you know how to handle it, since I'll be watching you. Now go!" As they left, Cinch took a sip from her coffee mug, grimaced, then pushed a button on her desk's phone and said, "Dean Cadenza, the cream has turned again." . Later, after classes had ended for the day, Rarity returned home just in time to hear her mother announce that she was off to her day at the local spa. "You girls behave yourselves," Cookie Crumbles told them, "and Sweetie Belle, don't bother your father. He's finally cleaning out the basement." As her mom headed out to the car, Rarity ran after her and asked, "I'm in charge, right? You did tell them I'm in charge?" "Calm down, Rarity," her mother said. "Nobody has to be in charge." "But what if there's an emergency?" Rarity asked. "Like what?" "What if a meteor falls out of the sky and crashes into the house?" "If that happens, you're in charge," Cookie Crumbles replied. Rarity walked toward the backyard to find her sister sitting at a drafting table she had set up there while Apple Bloom and Scootaloo constructed some wild contraption. "Mother said I'm in charge conditionally," Rarity stated. "Whatever," Sweetie Belle replied. "What are you doing?" Rarity inquired. "Homework," Apple Bloom answered. "The school year just started," Rarity said. "That's cool. You wait till the last minute, then," Scootaloo countered. "Well, I'm watching you three," Rarity said as she headed back into the house. "And Mother said I'm in charge... conditionally!" Rarity was just about to call up one of her friends on telephone when it rang, and when she answered, it turned out to be the very same friend she was planning to call. "Hello? Oh, hi, Sassy! No, I can't go to the mall right now. Mother just went to the spa. She left me in charge. Well, you know, conditionally. Oh, if you go, can you see if Spike's there? No, he's the cute one that runs Zenith Industries. Yeah, he totally glanced at me the last time I was there. I just about died. No, I told you, I can't. I'm watching my sister and her friends. Yeah, and they never get into trouble because Mother never catches them. One of these days, though, I'm going to see to it that she catches them red-handed... Will you hold it down? I am trying to use the phone!" she shouted before continuing her conversation with Sassy. "I mean, I've been a friend of Coco's longer than Berryshine, so I should have been invited to that party first. I don't care if they were lab partners. We were locker neighbors, and locker neighbors trumps lab partners every time... I told you, I can't go!" That's when Sassy suggested that Rarity bring Sweetie Belle and her friends with her. Then Rarity hung up and darted outside, announcing that she was taking them to the three-story palace where wall-to-wall shopping and bargains abounded. . Out of the 99 kiosks at the New Canterlot City Central Mall, there were 60 restaurants, 20 screens at the movie theater, 19 clothing stores, and three beauty boutiques as well as the same number of nail salons. From Apple Democracy to Celestia's Secret, there was everything from lingerie to luggage and shoes galore, food, fun, fashion and so much more. And the doors were all on a magnetic time lock, so once they shut at night there was no way out until morning. After arriving at the mall and discussing their plans (and by "discussing their plans" that meant "Rarity deciding to split and meet up with her own friends for shopping and manicures after lunch"), Rarity gave Sweetie Belle some money--only five bucks--and told her, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo to meet her back where they were in two hours. And she promptly ditched them to peruse for great clothes and great deals. Rarity ran until she caught up with Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Sunset Shimmer, who were standing in front of her favorite store. "I'm here!" she called out to them. "Sorry I'm late!" "It's about damn time!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "Interrupting my afternoon snack and nap, you're the one who wanted to go shopping, not me." "I said I'm sorry," Rarity replied. "So, what're you gonna buy?" Pinkie asked. "A dictionary," Rarity stated. "What? Why? Can't you use the one you already have?" Fluttershy asked. "Well, no, not anymore. Not since I may, or may not, have defiled it by highlighted all of the sexual terms in red," Rarity answered. "Seriously?!" Dash shouted. "You're like a seven-year-old boy!" As they spoke, Rumble and another boy walked up to them. "Hey, there," Rumble told Rarity. "Has anyone ever told you you're cute?" "Are you free?" his friend asked. "Do you wanna hang out with us?" This kind of stuff always happened whenever the other girls were out with Rarity. "So, what do you wanna do?" Sunset asked her. After a brief moment of silence, Rarity finally said, "I'm sorry, who are you?" "Whyte Lox, from school," he told her. "You said you were interested in meeting some new guys. Well, here I am!" "You must have misunderstood," Rarity replied. "We were talking about men, not boys." And Lox hung his head as he turned and walked away, crushed. "Remember how I'm always telling you that you're too picky?" Rainbow Dash asked Rarity. "This is what I'm talking about, and also why you can't find yourself a boyfriend." It was true. Sure, bewitching them was easy enough, yet Rarity's lascivious nature and her own insecurities caused her to reject every guy that attempted to make a move on her. In order to hurdle this mental barrier, she had begun a search for an inexperienced male whom she would bestow "the right" to be her first. "Do I, or do I not, have the right to choose a good-looking guy?" Rarity huffed in reply. "But it just seems like all the good-looking ones are so used to having sex. There probably aren't any hot guys left on Earth who are still virgins. Finding one is practically impossible." "You are seriously messed up!" Rainbow Dash shouted. "You know that?" Giggling, Pinkie Pie led them through a sea of thigh-high boots and crystal-encrusted flip flops, to get to the sale items at the back of the store. Rarity searched through the various marked-down displays until something caught her eye: a corduroy button-down fleecy tee. "Some twit put this on the wrong rack," she snapped. "It's not half-price." She never paid retail. Grinning, Rarity bit her lip as she approached the clerk at the register, a slender poindexter with dark brown hair, blue eyes behind large glasses, and a peach-hair mustache. "Excuse me, Gizmo--such a handsome name--but this garment seems to be hung incorrectly. It was on the half-price rail. And even though the stitching is subpar, and the color is off by at least one shade from the designer's runway prototype, I am willing to negotiate a reasonable price that would benefit us both," she flirted with a flip of her hair. And she charmed him into selling her the shirt she desired. Meanwhile, Rarity's little sister and her friends sat at a table in the food court on the other side of the mall, in front of Carnivore King. Originally founded by the true YMCA (Young Males' Carnivorous Association), it was known as "the restaurant where the carnivore is king." "For a limited time, you can choose from the new voracious value pack, a bucket of popcorn shrimp, or the classic carnivore night owl combo, a tender cut of juicy bacon-wrapped filet, two jumbo shrimp kebabs, and a six-pack of tall boys," one of the employees advertised. "That's twelve cans to any average person." "How does Rarity expect me to have fun on the little bit of money she gives me?" Sweetie Belle was saying. "I don't even get the little," Scootaloo replied, "just the bit." "I can't do anything with the fifty my father gives me," Diamond Tiara, who had just happened to be passing by, put in. "Fifty cents?" Apple Bloom laughed. "I guess I shouldn't feel so bad." "That's fifty bucks, penny pinchers!" Diamond Tiara replied as she walked off. Truth be told, after getting her hair and nails done, and buying a double decaf latte with mocha sprinkles and a new purse, Diamond Tiara was two dollars in the hole. Sweetie Belle continued to flip through the pages of the Apple Democracy magazine she'd been reading until she stopped on the page featuring the picture of a trendy, new limited-edition green leather jacket. "Cool," said Rainbow Dash as she, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Sunset Shimmer, Rarity and Rumble joined them. "Thank you," Sweetie Belle told her. "Can you explain that to my father who believes that I don't need it?" Of course her dad, a former professional football player, had plenty of money. But he was not about to buy it for her. Even if he wasn't a parent, he believed that people--and especially children--needed to understand the value of money. So if Sweetie Belle wanted that cute jacket, she would have to earn it. "Well, if you need it, I have a suggestion," Rainbow Dash said as she pointed to the "Help Wanted" sign in front of Taco Hut across the food court. "A job?" Scootaloo asked. "Between my friends and your friends the best idea we can come up with is minimum wage? Ugh!" "You're missing the point," Dash told them. "There's a big difference between earning an honest wage and begging mommy and daddy for more allowance money." "Well, forgive me if I can't see you taking responsibility for anything more than yourself," Rarity replied. "Hey, I learned everything I need to know from cop shows and music videos," Dash said. "It's true," Pinkie confirmed. "That's how she learned to speak Trotish." Just then, Fluttershy's brother, Zephyr Breeze, walked up, holding a big piece of cardboard that had "Will work for movie tickets" written on it in big black marker. "Zephyr, what are you doing?" Fluttershy asked. "Trying to raise me some quick dough so I can see a movie," he answered. "You want to help your little brother out?" "We don't have anything to give away," Rainbow Dash replied. "I'll work for it," he told her. "Do your nails? You know you need it. Or how about I do your hair?" There were plenty of places where they could work even if finding a job would be tough. But the competition for anything that was a Zenith Industries property is fierce. Everyone wanted to work for Spike. "In case you haven't noticed, there's a thousand businesses in this town," Dash said. "Actually, the exact number is nine-hundred-thirty-six," Pinkie corrected her. "What? I counted one day out of sheer boredom!" she told them. That's when Pinkie spotted Mr. Zenith himself, buying an extra-tall hot chocolate with whipped cream, and he thanked the barista as he handed her a fifty dollar bill. "So that's what General Grant looks like," Dash said, admiring the man's currency. He pocketed the cash but dropped the rest of change, which rolled across the ground, but Pinkie was quick to scoop it up and return it to him. "Is this yours? How come it's so shiny? What's your favorite color? Do you like juice or milk with your cookies? Do you play hopscotch? And what is that smell?" she asked. "It's you! Ooh you smell so good, or do you smell this good all the time?" Fluttershy giggled. "Sorry. Pinkie is really curious." "Yeah, hi there, I'm Pinkie," she introduced herself properly. "Oh, you know that already. What comes next? Oh! What's your name?" "I'm Spike," he replied. "It's nice to meet you." Pinkie sneezed and Spike reached into his jacket for a handkerchief. He held it out to her and said, "Here, have a tissue." "Tissue? I don't even know you!" Pinkie laughed. "Get it?" It took a moment, but Spike got the joke. Pinkie, who thought he was pretty cute, tried to strike up a conversation with him, but she could tell that he was way too busy. "Maybe we can get together later?" she asked. "Actually, I would be tickled pink," he said honestly. "Oh, my favorite color," Pinkie giggled. Spike would have said more, but he stopped and turned when he heard the sound of motors revving outside the building, and Dash, Pinkie, Rarity, Sunset, Fluttershy and Rumble all followed him as walked out into the parking lot. A short distance away, two thugs on a pair of low-slung motorcycles were doing doughnuts in the parking lot. The two men were uniformly tall, burly, and clad in black leather. Suddenly, the two tapped the kickstands down with their heels and sat straddling their bikes as they spotted Applejack, who was still in her New Canterlot University skirt uniform and walking straight toward them. "Why is this happening?" Fluttershy asked. "The schools here have some of the highest graduation rates in the country," Spike told her as he removed his jacket. "There are a lot of people who are upset by that." "So, what, are you gonna help her?" Rumble asked. Fluttershy clutched at Spike's arm as he started forward. "I can't just stand by and watch," he said. "You don't have to worry about Applejack," Sunset Shimmer told him. "That's Applejack Smith?" Spike inquired. For a brief moment, Spike had forgotten that this was the same beautiful blonde that he met in the cemetery all those years ago. It had been so long, he almost didn't recognize her. "You know her?" Pinkie Pie asked. "She just transferred here as a junior." "She's really super strong," Dash said. "If you butt in, you'll only be getting in her way." "But she's outnumbered," Spike stated. For a moment, Applejack and the bikers simply scowled at each other. "Is she gonna lecture them?" Rumble thought. "I don't want any fuss out of ya'll," she told them. "Get outta here or ya're gonna get hurt! I won't trouble ya'll if ya just leave peacefully. Ya don't want to get hurt, do ya?" Enraged, the first biker, whose hair was pulled back into a greasy ponytail, started up his engine and shouted, "Hope you got yer insurance paid up, babe!" The second biker, who had a shaved head and a face like a pug, took a tire chain from the back of his bike and looped it around his hand several times before swinging the other end of it over his head while the first guy produced a six-inch switch blade from inside his jacket. Fluttershy watched the display of weapons with growing terror. She jammed a knuckle into her mouth to keep from crying out. Then the two bikers stepped on the gas and shot toward Applejack with their weapons ready. Behind Applejack, on the sidewalk, the girls watched in horror as the biker with the chain revved his engine and charged Applejack. And she just stood there, not moving a muscle, as the thug barreled toward her. An instant later, Applejack did start to run. But she began racing toward the motorcycle thugs. Fluttershy raised both of her hands to her mouth in fear--but just as Applejack was about to crash head-on into the motorcycle, she jumped onto the bike's front fender. The thug barely had time to understand what happened as Applejack landed a solid punch on his nose, knocking the chain out of his hand as he fell back. Out of control, the motorcycle skidded out from under Applejack and the biker, sending them both flying through the air. The biker crashed to the ground in a heap--but Applejack instinctively somersaulted through the air and delivered a pinwheeling roundhouse kick to the second biker (the one wielding the switchblade) in the head, knocking the blade from the other man's fingers, and him to the ground with his accomplice, before gracefully landing on her feet just behind the fallen thugs. The ugly knife went skittering along the pavement and stopped right at Spike's feet as Applejack returned to him, but not before telling the guys on the ground, "Don't call me 'babe'." "Thank God, you're all right!" Fluttershy said. Her face was white. "I was so frightened." Rainbow Dash gave a hoot of victory, pumping her fist into the air as she heard the sound of police sirens in the distance. "Cheese it!" one of the thugs shrieked. "It's the cops!" "Every man for himself!" shouted the other. But they didn't get away. Back inside the mall, Rumble accused Applejack of setting the whole thing up. "Faked it?" she asked. "Yeah, there's no way a girl can beat a guy!" he said. "I'll bet you paid them to let you win so you could gain popularity. Or... maybe you didn't offer money, something else, perhaps. Maybe you're the kind of girl who would offer a guy a little bit of her you-know-what." Applejack glanced at Spike, who took a step back. He was not going to back Rumble up. "I'd turn and walk away if I were you," Applejack advised. "Or don't ya care that ya may not be able to walk to school anymore?" "We'll see who'll be the one who won't be able to go back to school," Rumble replied. "What a sorry excuse for a man," Applejack thought. "This is your day," she told him. "I wasn't going to fight any of the students here, but it looks like I'll just have to make an exception in your case." "You're so cute, bluffing like that," Rumble said. "I'll bet your knees are quaking." One look at Applejack's legs and Spike could clearly see that they were not shaking. They didn't look weak at all. In fact, those calves and thighs had a luscious, feminine curve to them. Thick and strong with well-toned, beautifully defined muscles, Applejack's legs looked like they had been masterfully sculpted out of the most precious marble. She looked at Spike again and asked, "Will ya vouch for me that this was self-defense?" "Sure," he said. "He's the one instigating it, after all." "Okay," Applejack replied. She looked at Rumble once more and said, "Come at me." She really did want to make this self-defense; a smart move on her part. Rumble retorted, "Don't be so sure of yourself," and charged. And it was at that particular moment that Spike suddenly put all of the pieces of the puzzle together--he remembered that there was an unbelievably strong young woman who was also very beautiful. She went around beating up dumb guys who harassed good people. She was very tall with impressive strength for her gender. She tried to confess her feelings to a boy she liked, but he rejected her, and she had been thrown out of her previous school for fighting before transferring to New Canterlot High, causing many rumors to spread that she was a delinquent and to avoid her. That's what he'd always heard, at least. And now, he was witnessing firsthand that the rumors were true. Rumble went high with his swing, which missed, as Applejack went low and launched Rumble into the air with hundreds of kicks from her right leg delivered in rapid succession. She spun the whole three-hundred-sixty degrees and kept on kicking him, this time with her left leg. "Wow, he's really flying!" Spike thought. The blows landed on him so fast that they didn't even sound like kicks, but more like one thousand shots from a machine gun. Applejack didn't just beat Rumble... she clobbered him. And even though she put everything she had into those kicks, she didn't knock him out. But she had made him unable to stand... at least for a little while. "Did I go too far?" Applejack asked. "At first, I thought, maybe," Spike admitted, "but then I remembered, he may be small but he's resilient. Trust me, he'll be fine." Applejack glared down at Rumble and said, "Don't challenge me again." "Damn her!" Rumble whimpered. . The next day, Rarity sat alone at a table in the food court at the mall, waiting for the other girls to arrive. She couldn't stop thinking about Spike being with Applejack. To be thwarted by a low-class woman like that was unthinkable, but if Spike thought not being "the cream of the crop" was going to be enough to get rid of Rarity, she believed he would be dead wrong. She refused to accept that he preferred "that unrefined farm girl" over her. "GRRRR! That man! He's got to have some sort of weakness... There must be a limit to what he can resist!" she thought angrily. "No man can resist me. So why doesn't...?" That's when she spotted the man standing in front of Carnivore King with a to-go cup of hot cocoa in his hand. Spike's smile faded as he caught Rarity peeking at him from behind one of the table menus, and he became irritated by the displeasure of having to see her again. He looked her right in the eye and, almost completely out of the blue, said, "You have one younger sibling, a sister. She's small for her age. She flicked ink at you the other day." "Is there ink on my face?" Rarity inquired. "No. However, there are two drops on your ear," he said, pointing to it. "That particular shade of blue is almost impossible to wash off. A very impetuous act on her part but you're far too experienced to react rashly, which is why your mother lent you that necklace you're wearing. Hardly the gems of a dress maker..." His eyes narrowed. "And ye did a fair job looking me up and down while ye perused the menu. Do ye like what ye see?" Rarity felt her face heat. Her subtle inspections hadn't gone unnoticed. Then she tried a more direct approach. "You're a handsome man. Surely people have told you that before." "Your accent is also strange," Spike went on. "You're not from these parts." "My parents are from Whinnysota," she replied. "Everyone who hears them talk knows right of the bat." "Of course, I can understand your pride after learning about your background," he said. "I-I beg your pardon?" Rarity stammered. "Oh, come now, Miss St. Germaine, I know all about your illustrious family," Spike said. "There's quite a streak of skullduggery in your bloodline. Don't tell me you're going to deny knowing anything about Grapeshot St. Germaine, the pirate." "I don't know what you're talking about!" Rarity lied. "You also come from a prominent family of witches, starting with one who'd been hung during the trials in Stablem in the sixteen hundreds; and your generosity... Bluebeard would be so proud of you," "Bluebeard..." Rarity nearly choked on the word. "What do you want from me?" he said at last. "I want you to be mine and mine alone," "Do you really know the meaning of the words you're saying, little girl?" he asked. Rarity didn't respond; she couldn't. She was too shocked by the sudden, casual appearance of Applejack, who had shown up wearing a basic plaid shirt and faded blue jeans. "Those are your normal clothes?" she asked. "You don't have a shred of femininity! And you call yourself a woman. Don't you understand how much potential you're wasting? Do you not know what a waste that is? Are those even girls' clothes? Are they men's?!" Rarity motioned to the pink camisoles, lace miniskirts, sleeveless chiffon tops and loose balloon skirts in a window display nearby. "That's beauty anyone can acknowledge," Rarity said. "Those are the kinds of clothes that have beauty written all over them. How can you not be interested in things like that?! Your lack of personal style, your nonexistent fashion sense and your inability--or even wanting--to put any effort into your appearance is pissing me off!" "I just don't care about things like that," Applejack replied. "Then how did a super-strong freak like you manage to enthrall Spike Zenith? You have some secret technique, don't you?! That's the only logical explanation as to why he would be able to resist someone as beautiful as me! If I could catch a man like that, my beauty would be even more magnified! It would be unstoppable! I can't accept this! Tell me, right now, what method did you use, woman!?" "Rarity..." Applejack slapped her across the cheek. "That's enough of this!" "What was that for?" Rarity shouted. "Why do ya get so brazen? Quit tryin' to one up yerself! Everyone already knows how cute ya are without ya havin' to resort to behavior like this! Just what are ya tryin' to prove!?" "They laughed at me!" Rarity bawled. "But if I make enough people think I'm beautiful, I'll finally be able to get back at them!" Spike and Applejack were taken aback by her outburst. She had attracted quite a crowd, including Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Sunset Shimmer, who had finally arrived. "Do you really think that?" Applejack asked. "If ya want to get back at them, then face them head-on! Be strong enough to take them on alone, without draggin' anyone else into it, least of all people who've got nothin' to do with it! I don't know what happened to ya, or what ya've gone through, but I do know that the ones who laughed at ya are sure to acknowledge how beautiful ya really are." "You knew that from the moment you first locked eyes with me... didn't you?" Rarity asked Spike. "That's why he rejected me!" "If that's true, then what'd ya attack her for?" Applejack asked. "I just did what you would have done and confronted the bitch head-on," he replied. "Tell me I'm wrong." "Wait a minute, why did you mention my sister?" Rarity asked. "Where is she?" Then, as if on cue, Sweetie Belle came running across the food court, out of breath. "I found you!" she panted. "Were we lost?" Pinkie asked. "Classic!" Rainbow Dash laughed. "What is it?" Fluttershy asked. "What's wrong?" "Scootaloo needs help!" Sweetie Belle cried. "Come on! Let's go!" Apple Bloom and Scootaloo had been arguing whether or not a tongue would stick to a metal pole in cold weather, snow or no snow. So Apple Bloom dared Scootaloo to stick her tongue to one of the street lights in the parking lot on the far side of the mall. "I triple dog dare ya!" she had said. Apple Bloom had created a breach of etiquette, by skipping the triple-dare and going right for the throat. And Scootaloo accepted as she approached the nearest light pole, her spine stiff, her lips curled in a defiant sneer. Spike was already running through the parking lot when he heard a voice calling, crying out to him. He turned to see Scootaloo urgently waving him over. When he got closer, he walked around to face her and saw that her tongue was stuck to the light pole. "Halp!" she exclaimed, a heavy slur muffling her speech. "H-Hey, mithah! Cah yuh hep me?" she lisped. "Muh tongue's thtuck! Please!" She was genuinely terrified. If she had been a little older, she would have let him do anything he wanted to her (even do her in her ass) if it meant getting her unstuck. Fortunately, Spike knew exactly what to do. He wasn't about to leave her there, even if it was just to find someone to help. He told her not to worry and that he would get her free from the pole... but not by pulling. He told her that he would get her out by generating some heat. Luckily, he still had more than a few drops of hot cocoa left in his to-go cup. "I got you... almost there," he said as leaned toward Scootaloo and slowly, gently poured his cocoa onto her tongue, successfully loosening it from the metal pole. Spike held her, bridal-style, in his arms and Scootaloo let out a quiet grunt, a squeak, as she rested her head against his chest. She secretly loved being carried. "Your suit's ruined," Rarity said when she saw Scootaloo's tears on Spike's jacket. "Clothes can be replaced, Rarity," he said. "People can't." Even after the police, the fire department and the paramedics arrived to make sure she was okay, which she was, Scootaloo refused to rat out Apple Bloom to anyone, though Spike suspected as much. "Thank you, Dr. Horse," Fluttershy said after the fuss died down. "Spike, Dr. Horse said you did a great job." "I didn't do anything special," he replied. "That's not true," Rarity said. "You kept Scootaloo calm, even better than Fluttershy could have. And she babysat my sister and her friends for five years." The girls didn't know why they couldn't thank him... at least out loud. Sure, he was a standoffish jerk, but he'd practically saved Scootaloo's life. And he did have a way of always being there right when they needed him. "Let me let you in on a little secret: I'm not half as bad as I make myself out to be. It's to weed out the people who just suck up to me. And you are definitely not one of them. That is what impresses me the most," he said. "I may be wealthy, but money can't buy friendship." "Yeah, ya did well, Spike," Applejack stated. "Ya really do have a way with people." "Face it, stud, you're one of us now," Rainbow Dash added. As the girls surrounded him in a group hug, Spike noticed Rarity looking up at him and said, "What?" "It's just, a little while ago, you called me by name," she observed. "You never said my name before." "So?" he asked. "It's just that I think you like me more now, is all," she replied. "Maybe he's decided to be a bit nicer to me," she thought. "Pffft! Don't get excited," he said. "I still think you're a high-stepping snob." "Well, next time, I'll be so perfect that not only will you fall at my feet, I'll make you melt!" Rarity promised. None of them would ever forget about that. "Come on, girls," Rarity said. "Just because we can't go to a movie like we planned doesn't mean we can't go out for a nice evening." "I still can't believe you can actually eat at Taco Hut," Spike commented after he'd offered to escort Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo home. "You know those people hork in the food, right?" "What, you mean in everyone's food?" Rainbow Dash asked. "No, just the people who disrespect them," he replied. After he and the three younger girls had left, Whyte Lox, the guy Rarity had turned down the other day, suddenly snatched her purse and went right on by her... toward Applejack. "Stop right there!" Applejack shouted. "Hand it over!" "What does that girl think she's doing?" Rarity thought. Lox kept running as Applejack said, "If ya're not gonna stop, then I'll have to make ya!" She grabbed the creep by his arm, pulled him up over her shoulder, and threw him to the ground before the police hauled him away. "He was huge, but you took him on anyway!" Rarity exclaimed. "You're completely reckless!" "Why, because I'm not a 'normal' girl?" Applejack asked. "Or because, for a woman, I'm too strong? Sorry, but this is the kind of person I am. I'm sorry if I made ya worry. A lot of people get angry at me for it, and tell me to be more 'ladylike'. But I think it's best to be true to yerself, be the person ya really are. That's what I believe." "That's the kind of excuse I'd expect from a woman who doesn't even know the meaning of the word feminine!" Rarity retorted. "That's why I can't forgive a girl who won't even try to act like a lady! If you don't clean yourself up a bit, you'll be left crying when he abandons you in the end." "Who?" Applejack asked. "Spike, of course," Rarity replied. "He likes you." "No, he doesn't. He just enjoys bein' with me," Applejack said. "He and I don't have that kind of relationship." "Somehow, I can't help but feel kind of sorry for him," Rarity admitted. Then she gasped and screamed, "Your sleeve is ripped! That's what you get for buying cheap stuff. I won't be able to find anything really suitable for you, so tell me your sizes and I'll make you something." "'Make' me something, ya mean, like, clothes?" "Yeah, you've got good looks at least, so I'll figure something out," "No, that's okay," "I said I'm doing this!" Rarity had already given up on giving Applejack a makeover. "Another waste of time," she thought. . Now, Applejack smiled as she and Spike moved across the sloping lawn and halted by the gate of the deserted cemetery, her thoughts lost in memory. "What're ya lookin' at?" she asked. "If ya've got somethin' to say, just say it." "Whenever you're nostalgic, you get really flustered and look even cuter than normal," he said with a smile. "Oh, and what about you?" she said, fighting off a blush. "Spike Zenith, babe magnet..." "Please, don't call me that," he stated. "I'll see you later." Applejack didn't want to leave him. Truthfully, she would have followed him to the ends of the Earth if she could. "Oh, Spike, if only ya knew..." she said under her breath, watching him step into the deepening darkness. . Back in New Canterlot City, councilwoman Vignette Valencia was still hopping mad. "I'm telling you, it's vigilantism at its deadliest," the young, smartly dressed politician was saying as she gave a statement to the pack of television and news reporters that had gathered at the steps of City Hall. "How many times are we going to let this happen? How many times are we going to let this Dragon cross the line?" "She's playing them like a revivalist preacher," Inky Quills murmured to Press Release on the sidelines. "Watch--now she'll go after Shining Armor." On the fringes of the crowd, Captain Shining Armor stood next to Sergeant Spearhead and listened until he could stand no more. "I'm sorry, Councilwoman, but you can't blame the Equestrian Dragon for what happened to Ragamuffin and Flash Sentry," Shining Armor said. Inwardly, he was cursing his impulse that had made him agree to attend this impromptu press conference. He snorted. Press conference, indeed--the way Valencia ran things, it was more like a public indictment of Armor and his methods. All that was missing was the tar and feathers. Inky Quills repressed a sigh. He could see that Vignette was on the verge of working herself up into another fire-and-brimstone frenzy again. The woman made some sense once in a great while--but she had too much flash and far too little substance for anyone to take her seriously. Watching the crowd's reactions to the councilwoman's charges, Inky had to admit that Vignette was a world-class manipulator. Poor Shining Armor didn't stand a chance. "And why the Tartarus not?" she thundered in retort and outrage as she turned on the police captain, who had been standing behind her. "He was there! He's a murderer, Captain. And it's not just my opinion. A lot of people, including the police, I might add, think the Dragon's every bit as evil as the crooks he occasionally manages to apprehend." The councilwoman was gesturing toward her left, where Sergeant Spearhead and Officer Silver Sable were trying vainly to hide their faces behind the collars of their uniforms' shirts. Shining Armor glared meaningfully at his subordinates. Then Vignette looked straight into the nearest television camera, raising a fist for effect, and shouted, "What kind of world are we living in when we choose to depend on the support of a literal monster to enforce law and order?!" Inky Quills shook his head, watching Armor's expression change from shocked to furious. He had every right to be upset, he reflected, scanning the crowd as they reacted to Vignette Valencia's final words. For the moment, the cheers outnumbered the boos ten to one. . Far away, in the Equestrian Dragon's cave, hundreds of feet below the vast Pendragon Castle, Fancy Pants shook his head in prim disapproval of Councilwoman Valencia. "What rot, sir!" he exclaimed as he switched off the television and Vignette's passionate features shrank to a pinpoint of bluish light on the large video screen then vanished altogether. "You're the very model of order." He set the remote control on a nearby stone outcropping and turned to his employer. "By the way, Lemony Crumble and Cobalt Stone have polished your armor collection upstairs, Red Ribbons has pressed your clothes for the evening, and I've put away your exploding smoke pellets." "Thanks, Fancy," Spike said as he popped a heart-shaped diamond into his mouth and swallowed it whole before opening a large, wooden crate with a crowbar to reveal cardboard box upon cardboard box of things belonging to Applejack and her family. "What's all this?" Fancy Pants inquired. "The future," Spike answered. "Sooner or later, I'm going to have to talk Applejack about her mother and father." "Why didn't you tell me about her parents?" Fancy Pants asked. "I knew you would react this way, that's why I didn't say anything," Spike replied. "I don't like secrets, sir," "Fancy, I am the epitome of the word," Spike said. He sighed before he went on. "They died just before she entered high school... They were killed by a carjacker. I wish I could say it was just one of those things... It could have happened to anyone." "But it didn't happen to just anyone, and that is the real kicker, isn't it?" Fancy Pants replied. "So, Miss Smith isn't just another acquaintance?" he assumed. "No," Spike stated. "She's my goddaughter." > Music of the Brine Dragon . A cold wind blew as the Equestrian Dragon flew through the night sky high above the streets of New Canterlot City. A purple and green blur, he was on his way back to his lair from the Landfill Trailer Park south of the suburbs on the lower West Side. He had just come from meeting up with two blonde wood nymphs who told him that Legerdemain has been using the trailer park to develop his product for the past five years. "If you can figure out what trailers he's using for drug labs, you should have no problem making them go 'boom,'" they had said. The Equestrian Dragon was going to enjoy dismantling the Raven Cartel's operation... brick by literal brick--cut off their income first then go for the head. Finding a map of the trailer park was easy enough; there was one tacked up on the wall of the laundry mat in the main office. Then the Equestrian Dragon's gaze focused on seven Raven thugs on the other side of the building. The Equestrian Dragon burst from the laundry mat as one thug pulled a gun. He grabbed the guy's arm and beat him as the remaining Ravens drew their own guns and took aim. They opened fired and their bullets bounced off the Dragon's armored skin. Spinning in a circle, the Dragon knocked the other Ravens aside with his tail, swatting them as if they were flies. He then found their drug labs hidden inside five different mobile homes, as well as five lab technicians cooking up a fine white powder that made people do funny things... like freak out in the middle of very public places. "Legerdemain's on our asses, guys," the head technician said to the others. "We gotta get this shipment done tonight." The Equestrian Dragon tore through the side of one of the trailers housing a drug lab, scaring the lab technicians away, and he found several square, tightly wrapped cellophane packages about the size of a carry-on bag--about 20 keys, tightly wrapped with waterproof tape--a professional wrapping job. Using one of his claws, the Dragon made a little slit in one of the packages, stuck the tip of his talon in, and withdrew with some of the flakey, pearlescent white powder on it. No. Not powder, more like a metallic pastry crust. He touched the flakes to his tongue, tasting the bitterness then felt a light numbness. It was the real McColt, 400 large wholesale. And not just crack coke, but stashes of crystal meth and even Witchweed. The lab technicians, meth heads, crack-heads, and other druggies all ran... except for one. The Dragon's gaze caught on the man's inner arm where track marks and fresh punctures marred his skin. Then a knife appeared in the man's hand. Their eyes locked. The Equestrian Dragon had no compassion for this being, because what he saw in this creature's eyes was anything but humane. One thing the Dragon had learned living in Equestria for so many centuries was how to handle drug addicts, alcoholics, and idiots who simply didn't take no for an answer. He had dealt with his share of threatening situations. The key was to remain calm. But then his primitive survival instincts kicked in and his eyes narrowed as he flashed his darkest, most practiced, fanged snarl. The blade moved a fraction of an inch and the Dragon thrust the druggie's knife-holding arm up against the guy's throat. Warm blood dribbled along the junkie's neck, but he didn't wipe it away. The Dragon's fist barreled into the addict's chest with every pound of force the Dragon could produce. Then the Equestrian Dragon slammed the junkie in the head with his tail, and the junkie's body, and the knife, fell to the ground. The Equestrian Dragon had been flying around a little over seventeen minutes since then... until he landed outside a little jazz club called The Blue Room, which was owned and operated by a couple of ex-soldiers who had come into money after their honorable discharges. Now, as Spike Zenith sat alone inside the nightclub, trying (and failing) to drown his sorrows in red wine, Fleur de Lis, wearing a low-cut red dress and matching high heels, walked in and approached his table. "I thought I would find you here," she said. "Sit down. Pull up a memory or two," he replied. "Celestia and Luna have been worried about you," she told him. "And so am I." "Fleur, is it just me or is the whole world going crazy? It's just that... I don't know if I fit in anymore. I'm lost..." "You're still thinking about your parents, aren't you?" she asked. "I think about them constantly," Spike said honestly. "They're a part of me, they always will be. You know, sometimes I think about Fancy Pants and his late wife, that's when I envy him, because he had someone... the same person every day for thirty years. He woke up next to her, he ate with her, made love to her... while I'm out running around with 20-somethings who just want to have a good time, sex, sex, sex--girls who just can't say no, who can't get enough, it's always, 'more, more, more!'" In her own unique way, Fleur understood. She had done her fair share of partying over the centuries, experimented with all kinds of substances... the wildest she got now was the whole bottle of Champagne or a couple of ales. Now, she believed that one would have to be an insult to stupid to even consider messing with drugs. She would never do anything to disgrace herself or her friendship with Spike... and she knew that these had not been easy things for him to say. "Well, just don't forget, you've got the Haywaiian Tropical Illustrated photo shoot at 2:00 tomorrow, and then at 4:00, they're dedicating a statue at Beaumount Park," she told him after he'd calmed down. She gave him a gentle kiss and said, "I'll see you in the morning." As she left, Spike gazed at the pictures up on the walls. And while he stared at one of the paintings by Pinto Paintcaster, Spike growled as he heard the voice of his father in his head. "Now, focus! Straighten up! Chin up! Wider stance, steady, strong... Hold your ground!" Standing side by side, there were times that even Spike's mother couldn't tell them apart. "Come on, let's try it again. Ready? Son, if you want to grow up and be like me someday, you have to learn how to fight," Locke said. "Let me show you something. You see this mark?" The same shape marked their arms. "You, and I, and your mother, are the same, and when you're bigger, you're going to be Dragon Lord just like I was. Now let me see you fight." "How much longer do I have to keep this up, Father?" Spike had asked. "Patience, Spike. The fool chases his prey, but the wise one waits for it to come to him," Unfortunately, Spike had been struggling to keep his natural instincts at bay in combat. "I'm sorry, Father. I don't know what came over me. I won't let it happen again," "I wish I could believe that. Tend to the sheep," Locke said before turning to his wife. "Yes, Father," Spike replied. "Go easy on the lad, Locke," Barb had said. "Give him time to adjust." "He's old enough to watch the sheep," he replied. "Work will take his mind off things." "Only time can mend a broken heart," she'd told him. "I watched the sheep at his age," "Aye and ye left home as soon as ye were old enough. Didn't ye? He just wants to make you proud," "I could be... if he had the proper technique," "Your technique," Barb corrected him. "Is there another kind?" "Locke, an acorn can only become a mighty oak and nothing else. You must let Spike grow into the man that he will be," she'd said. . The following day at New Canterlot University, Rainbow Dash was trying to take a nap while Sunset Shimmer was reading, doing a little quick research; Applejack was working out on a resistance machine, and Fluttershy was playing her new flute. Fluttershy had been reluctant to take up learning a different instrument--at least at first--especially since she had become so attached to her tambourine, but then she remembered something her grandmother once said: "Music is powerful. It's the universal language; one of our best hopes for the eventual realization of the unity of the human race." So she continued to practice, knowing that someday it would pay off. Her playing started out calm then gradually became more majestic. "Hey, Fluttershy, I got a request," Rainbow Dash said. "You do?" she asked. "Yeah, can you play So Low I Can't Hear You?" Dash retorted. Dash couldn't nap with all the noise, so she decided to make her favorite sandwich: pasta and potato on sourdough. All the while, Pinkie Pie was devouring several different kinds of juice, ice cream, cake, cookies, candy and frozen yogurt. "Keep it coming," she said. "Now what was I saying? Oh, yeah. So they told me, 'Money doesn't grow on trees.' And I told them, 'Money's made of paper and paper comes from trees so, technically, money does grow on trees.'" That's when Rarity walked in and said (more like announced), "Guess who's on a photo shoot in the park right now." Fluttershy gasped. "Spike? Spike is in the park right now?" "As we speak," Rarity practically sang. And before she could say anymore, the other girls rushed around to get ready. Sunset snapped her books shut, Applejack took a short shower and changed clothes, Rainbow Dash took a hairbrush from Rarity's purse and quickly combed through her ruffled hair, Pinkie Pie finished her "light snack" and Fluttershy disassembled her flute and carefully placed its pieces into its small, protective case... then they headed off to the park. As they walked to the bus stop nearby, Sunset asked Rarity, "So, have you got a date for the Founders' Day Festival next year?" "I'm not going," Rarity answered. "Well, I happen to know that Spike's still available," Sunset said. "Now, he is older and very sophisticated, but he's cute. Besides, he's very intelligent." "Oh, he's handsome, all right, and rude and conceited," Rarity replied. "Come on, Sunset, I may be desperate, but I'm not that desperate." When the girls rounded the corner, Fluttershy bumped into a tall, thin man carrying a small, black, protective flute and piccolo all-in-one case, and it and hers both fell to the sidewalk. "Watch it!" he exclaimed. "I'm sorry. I am so sorry. I'm in a hurry!" Fluttershy said as she bent down to retrieve one of the flute cases. "What are you, a damn idiot?" he shouted. "Well, that is uncalled for!" Rarity replied. "She barely bumped ya," Applejack said. "And she said sorry," Sunset Shimmer added. As the man picked the other flute case up from the ground and walked away, he said, "Pray that our paths never cross again. Next time, I will not be in such a forgiving mood." "Why you--" Rainbow Dash began. She was about to chase after him when a silver shuttle bus pulled up to the curb. The door opened and the driver tipped his hat to the girls. "Next stop, Beaumount Park," he said. And the girls boarded the bus, not giving the rude man a second thought. . A short drive from New Canterlot University, the posh Beaumount Hotel was a favorite amongst photographers. And its manmade fountains had their own merits as prime photo locations. Photo Finish, famous photographer for Zenith Industries, was there with her entire entourage: Soigne Folio, High Style, Powder Rouge, Pixel Pizzazz and Violet Blurr. And they were guarded by a hulking bruiser with a black buzz cut and matching goatee. "I can't tell you how much I appreciate zis, Spike," Photo Finish said. "After the way you saved my business... and my life... it's the least I can do to thank you." "No problem," Spike replied. Then they got down to business: where they tried to capture lightning in a bottle. The second the cameras came on, all of the models knew that they could be shooting all day. That meant hours and hours of footage, hundreds upon hundreds of photos just for that one shot that captured the look and feel of the whole photo shoot. Of course, the location was only as good as the talent. The Haywaiian Tropical International bikini models were gorgeous women who had seen the beaches of the Bahaymas, the jungles of South Equestria, and beyond. Forty-five women from all over the world--from Flankfurt, Germaney to Mountreal, Caneighada--these swimsuit models came from near and far to flaunt their endowments... all while striking carnal poses. "Magnificent, super!" Photo Finish exclaimed. "Come on, now! I want to see hunger in your eyes. Beautiful, beautiful! Slice of Elysium! Wunderbar! That's it! Oh, yes, you're angry. Show me angry... Yes, yes! No, no! We need more energy, more romance. We need... Her!" Of all the girls Photo Finish had photographed, few could so naturally raise the room temperature like sweet Vivacious Stokes. She would shoot her for half an hour then go back to the studio and argue with her staff about which were the best shots, and they realized that every shot was as good as the next and they were all smokin'! So, she simply ran the footage and marveled... then snuck off and sat on a block of ice for a few hours. Vivacious Stokes gave Photo Finish a couple of different looks from smiling, to being happy, to the more sensual look, but not so much as "come and get me" sexy. But they were all tasteful and exciting. Meanwhile, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Sunset Shimmer stood under a tree, off to the side, watching Spike. Fluttershy could not stop smiling, her mouth dropping open even after Sunset reached over and closed it... and Fluttershy sighed when Spike waved at her. "That's it! Work it! Own it! Now pout for me! Pout! Pout! Oh, no, he's pouting more than the girls... No! I can work with this!" Photo Finish shouted. They took a fifteen minute break and Vivacious Stokes asked, "Spike, what's wrong? I thought a photo shoot with the Haywaiian Tropical bikini models was a lifelong dream?" "It was, it was, it's just... there's something vaguely torturous about beholding these beautiful women," he said. The modeling world was very tough, they both knew that. Spike's ultimate goal here was to give back to these girls who wanted to be models and to help them to obtain careers in modeling. He took the seedy part out of it, gave the girls a hard education on the reality of what it was all about, and gave them the chance to interview with some of the real people that would be able to help those girls further their careers. People they would never have a chance to meet in the legitimate modeling world. With his help, they made a lot of good connections, met a lot of good people, got jobs through different agencies, they were able to travel all over the world--from Prance to Tahayiti--and he helped them improve their own self-esteem... and they appreciated him for that. "Spike, you're doing a good thing here," Vivacious Stokes said. "You're a great guy." "Yeah, well, being me isn't all it's cracked up to be," he replied. Spike Zenith wasn't just a model himself, he was a force of nature; the kind that could launch a thousand ships, 200 kayaks, eight paddleboats and a canoe. But there were times he wished he could pass his duties as the Equestrian Dragon on to the next dragon and be done with it... but those were his responsibilities; they belonged to him and only him. . In the meantime, Mayor Strider was having a meeting with Councilwoman Vignette Valencia in his office at City Hall. He had been declining comments to the press all morning regarding the Equestrian Dragon. "You write anything in that newspaper of yours that sends my city into a panic, they'll be lookin' for you at the bottom of the river! You can quote me on that!" Strider shouted. And he slammed the phone down onto the receiver on his desk. "Can someone please explain to me why the local gossip has to be breathing down my neck?" he asked the councilwoman. "There's enough going on around here without having to deal with those morons." "That wasn't a footprint, but there's no animal in the world that makes tracks like that," Vignette stated. Strider gnashed his teeth. "Whatever it was that attacked the trailer park last night, and I refuse to use the word 'dragon,' I want it forgotten! It's history, over and done with!" "It's far from over," Cream Heart, the mayor's assistant, replied. "We've been receiving reports of odd occurrences from all over the city." "Shall I contact the Flimflam Brothers?" Vignette suggested. "I wouldn't hire those scam artists to shine my shoes!" Strider yelled. "Well, then, maybe I can help," said a voice. A tall, thin, mysterious, sophisticated man with sharp blue eyes, and a small, black case in his hands, stood up from an armchair in the corner of the room. "Excuse me, Your Honor. My name is Forest, Black-Forest. I understand you're a busy man, so I'll make this short. You have a problem, and I'm the man to take care of it. I can drive it out of town, and out of your hair... for a price," he offered. The mayor and councilwoman studied the man holding the instrument case. In that suit--which consisting of a white collared shirt, torch red necktie, black slacks, a dark green jacket with golden yellow buttons, an orange handkerchief in the jacket's breast pocket, and a royal purple cloak--he didn't look much like an exterminator, or even a scientist for that matter. "And what is the right price?" Vignette Valencia inquired as Strider rose from his chair. "One hundred gold sovereigns," Black-Forest said, "which, judging by your dinnerware, you can easily afford." "The Mayor will never meet such a demand," Cream Heart thought. Then she said, "I'll call security and have him thrown out." "Are you stupid?" Strider asked. He pulled her and the councilwoman aside and whispered, "He won't be able to rid us of one pest, let alone all of them. But it will give us someone else to blame for our failure. When the monsters aren't gone, I can say he didn't keep his promise... and buy ourselves more time without spending a haypenny." Strider turned back toward Black-Forest and said, "I agree to your bargain. If you can do what you claim, we have a deal. Cream Heart, go draw up a contract!" "Yes, Cream Heart," Black-Forest smiled. "Do that." So the deal was confirmed. . An hour later, Fluttershy sighed as she sat on a rock near a pond at the edge of the forest. She couldn't stop thinking about Spike. She'd been so obsessed over him lately she couldn't even think about other boys. All she could focus on were those gorgeous green eyes. And every word out of his mouth was like a glimpse into his soul. She just wanted to wrap her arms around him... which led to her fantasizing about what her future with Spike would be like: first love, then marriage, and finally... children. But she had come here to practice, which she thought would take her mind off of him, and when she tried to open the instrument case, the catches would not budge. "I never lock my flute case," she thought out loud. Thinking back to earlier that day, Fluttershy recalled that the man she collided with at the bus stop had been holding the exact same small, black, protective flute and piccolo all-in-one case... exactly like hers! After a bit of tampering with the locks, she managed to open the case. And when she did, she saw a flute... but it was very different from her own. At first glance, it looked like her flute, but this one had symbols along the side--silhouettes of a rat, a fox, a duck, a parrot, an owl, a pelican, a lobster, a witch, a unicorn, an ogre, and a dragon... among many others. As well as the flute, the case contained five hundred and twenty gold coins and a note. But not just any note, it was orders for an assassination. Greetings, Piper, This time your mission is to take out a certain individual. His name is Street Rat. His employer, Flintlock Firepower is supplying guns illegally to the Brotherhood of White Wolves in New Canterlot City. Their rival group, the Raven Cartel, is very upset over this. In order to receive payment, Street Rat stays at the Beaumount Hotel near Beaumount Park near the end of each month. That's where you come in. We have already arranged a room for you. You stay at the hotel, and check out after you take care of the Rat. That's when Fluttershy realized she had picked up the wrong case! But as she held the smooth metal of this flute in her hands, she started to feel like she was capable of just about anything. Terrified (she was mostly afraid of the flute's original owner), but still attracted to the instrument, Fluttershy decided to try and play it. She moved her fingers into position, covered one of the holes, and played a single, shrill note. Back in Beaumount Park, after the photo shoot was over, Spike felt himself falling under the sway of a musical emanation. It rode on the wind; a thin, high-pitched song with no real pattern to it. It came from a long way away, and it was pleasant to his ears. He stared off for so long, his eyes moving very gradually along the mountains and back again. And as he listened to the refrain, it held him transfixed, so enthralled that had no choice but to follow it. Ducking into a nearby alley, Spike transformed into his dragon form and took to the sky. Then the Equestrian Dragon spotted the shape of a young woman in the distance. The scaly, hulking monster soared over the forest until he came to the clearing... and Fluttershy shrieked when she saw the Dragon flying overhead and she tumbled from the rock she was sitting on. Fluttershy's first impulse was to get up and run--the Dragon was so huge he looked like he could eat her in one bite--but her natural infatuation with nature overpowered her fear. Her blue eyes widened as she gazed at the Equestrian Dragon. And when the Dragon roared, she listened. "He sounds just like my flute," she said. Was he trying to communicate with her? The music seemed to have a strange effect on him... as if he was entranced by the sound. She blew into the flute without covering any of the holes, and the Dragon did loops in the air. She covered a different hole and blew a melancholy tune. When she did, the Dragon landed on the ground in front of her. "Wow," was all she could say. She played a more dramatic tune, and the Equestrian Dragon breathed fire at one of the nearby boulders, melting it into a puddle of molten rock. She tried a more energetic tune and the Dragon flapped his wings so hard that he created a gust of wind so strong that nearly blew the trees over. Offering his claw to her, Fluttershy cautiously climbed onto the Equestrian Dragon' back and started playing an elaborate flurry of notes, from tense to whimsical, and then playful. As she played the latter, the Equestrian Dragon started to fly again, and he took her over the forest then the snow-covered peaks of the mountains. "Well, after this I don't think I'll be afraid of falling down the stairs," she thought. For a moment, Fluttershy thought she was dreaming. But this was real--and even if she wasn't, she didn't want this to end--but she quickly decided that enough was enough and played the melancholy tune again, causing the Dragon to land and let her down on the outskirts of town. When the Equestrian Dragon flew off, he felt as if he had been in a trance, while the sweet, strange music went on and on, and then suddenly it stopped... and he was left flying dazed with his mind reeling at this new, peculiar feeling. . At the same time, New Canterlot City was being attacked by an army of gigantic black, winged, moth-like bug monsters that began devouring everything in sight--and not just food--buckets, signs, lampposts, the metal support beams of suspension bridges... everything. Max Raid, the head of New Canterlot City's pest control squad, had dealt with everything from twittermites to parasprites, but he had never seen anything like this. In the butcher shop, one bug monster gnawed on a wheel of cheese while several others swarmed over sausages and the different varieties of meat on display. Max began to panic, fearing the worst if he couldn't get these things under control. But no matter how many of them they zapped, capped and trapped, more and more came up in their place. Pretty soon, he and the other exterminators found themselves helpless against the swarm. Just as they were about to turn and run, they saw someone marching straight toward the mass of monster bugs, and he started to play a few notes as he made a strange adjustment to the valves upon the instrument he was holding. Black-Forest turned a knob on the end of his flute, lining up a picture of an insect with an arrow on his flute's shaft. As Black-Forest played an ostinato, the big, black monster bugs started to bounce and sway to the music. Then as Black-Forest turned and pranced across the bridge, piping an uncanny tune, the bugs followed him in droves, and he led them all out of New Canterlot. "Didn't see that comin'," Applejack said. "Incredible," Rarity added. "Um, what just happened?" Pinkie Pie asked. Black-Forest dusted his hands and sauntered back to the Mayor's office. "I've done my job, I have held up my end of the bargain, and now I would like my reward," he said. "I don't remember anything about a reward," Strider replied. "My gold," Black-Forest stated. The mayor dipped a hand into the money bag that was on his desk and pulled out a handful of shining gold coins, then let them drop back in before taking a single coin, and threw it at Black-Forest, telling him that he would not meet the man's price. "Our bargain was for one hundred gold sovereigns," Black-Forest stated. "You were serious? All you did was pipe a tune!" Strider replied. "What kind of mayor would I be if I paid you something like that?" And Black-Forest, who wasn't too surprised, glowered at him and said, "An honest one!" "Which you clearly are not," he added in thought. "You think you can come in here and bully me?" Strider asked. "You don't know who you're dealing with!" "No, it is you who doesn't know who he's dealing with," Black-Forest replied in kind. "You're dishonest, you're ungrateful, and it's a shame that the youth of this city should grow up to be the same. If I don't leave here with my money, friend, then I will leave with something else. You will pay me what I am owed or face the consequences." Strider thought Black-Forest was bluffing. In fact, he outright dared the piper to do his worst. Then he said, "Get out!" "Very well," Black-Forest said as he left, while making another adjustment to his flute. Those who tried to weasel out of their deals with him eventually found his instrument used in another fashion. Strider would rue the day he refused to pay the Piper. . Later that night, at Sweet Apple Acres, while Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were having their movie club meeting, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Sunset Shimmer were discussing what they had seen back on the bridge. "No one gets paid in gold for an hour's worth of work!" Dash exclaimed. "It's not fair!" "That's what the Mayor of Haymelin thought about the deal he made with the Pied Piper," Sunset told them. "Here, let me show you." She showed them the book she had been studying out of earlier that day: a leather-bound tome with the year 1284 etched on the cover. As she opened the book to a picture of a brightly-dressed man and a horde of thousands of rats scurrying across a bridge leading out of a fortified city, Sunset Shimmer began to tell them a tearful tale of woe. "In 1284, the town of Haymelin, Germaney had a serious rat problem," she said. "They fought the dogs and killed the cats. But the real rats weren't the vermin; they were town officials wearing ermine." "What's ermine?" Pinkie inquired. "A special kind of fur," Rarity replied. "In the old countries, hundreds of years ago, it was used to trim fancy robes, like the ones the mayor and the town council wore." "You mean those officials wore fur?" Fluttershy asked. "That's not all they did," Sunset Shimmer said. "They also made lots of promises... and broke them all." "What kinds of promises?" Rainbow Dash asked. "They promised to repair the broken cobblestones on the streets, plant flowers in the town square, buy books for the schoolhouse, and build a bridge over the river," Sunset told them. "Of course, to do these things would require a lot of money. But the fat cat politicians spent so much on themselves that there was nothing left to spend on the town. So they raised the taxes... but they raised their own salaries, too. Soon, there was no more money to keep their promises. But that didn't stop them from making more promises than ever. And those promises sounded so good that the townsfolk never quite caught on." Haymelin had been a lovely city by the bay--the food was especially great because it had the finest, very best Germane cuisine cooks--but the mayor and city council were the only ones who thrived... until the day, one summer, when the rats arrived. To this day, it was still unknown exactly what caused the sudden rodent boom, but soon the town was overrun with rats. They were everywhere: in the houses, in the churches, and the schools, they filled the local marketplace and even private rooms. Open the cupboards, and they would clean them out, eating everything in sight; try to take a bath and the rats would share the tub, they even nested in people's hats and beds. But the worst of it was that the chefs could not make food to please... because the rodents had eaten all the cheese. When the people tried to chase the rats, the rodents just chased them back. And when they tried to set up traps to catch the rats, they mocked the sad attempts. Finally, the citizens of Haymelin had had enough. Frantic with despair that the pests would eventually take over, the people stormed the castle and cried out, "We've got to get rid of the rats!" But alas, the city of Haymelin had a mayor as craven as could be, one who would never, ever accept responsibility. He was more evasive than a bird and, as with any problem, his reaction was the same: "You needn't find solutions if you find someone to blame." The mayor called his advisors as well as the city council, and they huddled to determine just whom to hold responsible for getting rid of the vermin. The mayor explained his goal was not to stop the rats' assault; instead he needed someone that he could hold completely at fault. And then one day, a handsome young stranger ventured into the town and decreed that he would get rid of the rats. No one knew where this man came from, but his glory and fame preceded him. He was a master mercenary and ruthless bounty hunter that had freed many a town by driving out many a pest, but he was also strong and resourceful, not to mention honorable and trustworthy. The mayor supported the man's plan, thus putting him in the hot seat... and getting himself off the hook. Without a single ally, no assistance nor advice, the one called "the Piper" set out to rid the village of the rats. He went to work and the rodents became victims of his musical harangue. He danced around town as he played his catchy tune, and the rats danced from their holes and fell in step behind the Piper. He led the vermin right out of town, into the river where they drowned, and the people cheered after he had solved their dilemma. But when he returned to the mayor to collect what he had been owed, he found the mayor not inclined to honor any deal. The Piper had been promised gold, but the mayor would not pay his fee... and the other adults laughed at the Piper. While Sunset Shimmer spoke, the other girls had a scary thought, which led to the story's startling conclusion: for when the Piper played his Forbidden Concerto he took away the beings that the town would miss the most. "The Pied Piper went to Haymelin and led the rats away with his magic flute," Sunset concluded. "But when the mayor wouldn't pay him, he used the same magic to lure away the children, never to be seen again... and to leave the mayor in horror to face the wrath of the parents for the loss of their children. They were so angry that they ran the mayor out of town, the only time he'd ever taken blame for anything." "They never saw their children again?" Fluttershy asked, trying hard to not sob. "Only three remained: one who was blind, and couldn't see which way they were going; one who was deaf, and couldn't hear the music; and one who was lame, and could not keep up," Sunset stated. "As for what happened to the other children, no one really knows. Some say the Piper drowned them in the river like he did the rats, others believe that he led the children to a wonderful place where the breeze is always gentle, the flowers are always in bloom, and no one is sick, or sad, or hurt anymore." "Well, I think it was mean for the Piper to take revenge like that," Rarity said. "The townsfolk weren't too honest, either," Applejack put in. "They could have made the mayor pay the Piper, but they didn't." The other girls agreed; because of their dishonesty, those people lost something far more valuable than gold: they lost their children and their integrity. "Either way, it's a scary thing when kids are led astray by powerful forces," Pinkie said. "And now, after 700 years, that evil flute has reappeared once again," Sunset told them, which led to her telling them another terrifying legend. She turned the page of the book to the next entry: the Flute of Enchantment. "Centuries ago, an evil wizard crafted a flute infused with dark magic. Originally a tool for simple extermination, its music caused those unfortunate enough to hear it to fall under the player's control," Sunset went on. "It made them do whatever the Piper wanted. And they never knew it. It was useful, but its power was limited... until some sought to use it as a weapon. The Pied Piper's pipe works on more than just rats or children. With the right tune, one could control almost any animal or thing. Thus, the war for possession of the instrument has raged on." "That man at the bus stop, the flute case... it belongs to him," Fluttershy breathed. "I have one just like I and I picked up his by mistake." "That flute... is the very same as the one that belonged to the Pied Piper," Sunset stated. "That's just a fairytale," Rarity replied dismissively. "Besides, Black-Forest was the one leading those demon insects out of town," she said. "Why would he offer to help if he was responsible for it in the first place?" "It's a scam," Applejack told her. "His own goons attack then he comes along and pretends to fix the problem." "And gets the mayor to pay him off for the trouble he caused," Rainbow Dash added. Sure, it sounded like a grand scheme... but it was not true. It was someone else who had unleashed those insects on New Canterlot City. Then Dash said, "Wait. If Fluttershy has the Piper's pipe, then how was he able to control the bugs using Fluttershy's flute?" Sunset turned the page again, and showed them another picture of no less than three enchanted wind instruments: a flute, a recorder, and a piccolo. "There's more than one..." the girls breathed. Elsewhere in the city, the Equestrian Dragon frowned as he looked down from the moonlit sky, watching a cloaked figure in the city street below. Black-Forest's deep purple cloak billowed as he played "Come Little Children" on his flute. And as he played, several children dropped whatever it was they were doing and turned their heads, while many others stopped doing their evening chores and converged on the streets. "Don't listen to him!" the Dragon roared. But it was no use. Soon, Black-Forest had gathered up all the children, who danced as they followed him, skipping along an unpaved road into the countryside. So, the Piper played his song, and took the children--each little boy and girl who was younger than twenty,--who fell in behind the man, and he led them off to somewhere in the mountains far away. A young woman in a wheelchair, Jinx, lagged behind the others. Applejack and Rarity stared wide-eyed as their sisters turned as well, before walking off into the dark, with bright, beaming smiles on their faces. "They're done for," Rarity said. "Not yet!" Applejack replied. "We're goin' after 'em! Come on!" "We'd need a miracle," said Sunset. "We're in luck," Fluttershy said. "I just happen know someone who knows a thing or two about getting rid of pests." "A thing or two?" Pinkie Pie asked. "Don't be modest. I know at least a thing or three. Just let us go with you, please-weasie," she added. "Fear not, dear friends, our pest problems will soon be vanquished!" . The next morning, several police officers responded to a residential burglary call at Cream Heart's house. She reported that a burglar had broken into her home and stolen quite a few items, including $5,623 in cash and her son's beeper... not to mention her son, Button Mash, who had also disappeared. All the while, the police dispatcher was getting reports from all over the city of children leaving their homes and following Black-Forest... and Mayor Strider found a ransom note pinned to his office wall with a knife. "If you want the children back, bring $1,290,000.00 in unmarked bills to Crown Butte." They had been abducted. "That might explain the empty suitcase," Officer Windstorm said. "Empty?" Strider exclaimed. "See? That proves it!" "It does?" Cream Heart asked. "It does?" Captain Shining Armor repeated. "It could," Sergeant Spearhead replied. "You said this suitcase was full with the ransom money before you went to bed last night?" he asked Strider. "And if neither of you took the money... someone else must have." Strider groaned while the officers took down the list of stolen items. As they did, Cream Heart jokingly suggested that she call the thief on her son's beeper and see if he calls back. "It can't hurt," Officer Windstorm said. "Sure," Cream Heart, who had nothing to lose by paging the robber, replied. And six minutes later, her phone started ringing. Cream Heart looked at the phone, then at Captain Shining Armor and the other officers, and she answered the phone. "Hello?" "Yeah, somebody paged me to this number," Cream Heart, recognizing the voice on the other end as Black-Forest's, looked towards the police and mouthed, "It's him!" "Um, somebody paged you from this number. My son must have called. And, uh, he's in the shower right now. Could you call back in a few minutes? Thank you." Cream Heart laughed after she hung up and said, "That was him!" "You wouldn't happen to have a caller ID by any chance, would you?" Spearhead asked. "Yes!" Cream Heart proclaimed. The police looked at the caller ID device, and the crook's number came up. They relayed the information to the dispatcher, who got an address on the phone number, and sent units to the robber's location: a payphone near Crown Butte. "I feel better already," Strider remarked as he walked out to his car. "Why didn't you just pay him like you said you would?" Vignette asked him. "Lesson number one: if you want to make it in this cutthroat world, don't ever keep your word," Strider stated. . Vehicles carrying Mayor Strider, Vignette Valencia, Cream Heart, Captain Shining Armor, Sergeant Spearhead, Officer Windstorm, and the parents and older siblings of the kidnapped teenagers and preteens zoomed along the empty road. All they had to do was follow the flute music. And they did... all the way to the deserted citadel ruins at Crown Butte. Ducking under low branches, the mob, led by the police officers, approached the murky clearing, where they found Black-Forest standing, leaning against a hollow oak tree. "Well, do you have my money?" he asked. "Where are the children?" Shining Armor demanded. Black-Forest looked back toward the citadel ruins behind him and the children emerged, completely unharmed. Shining Armor then nodded to Vignette Valencia, who slowly carried the mayor's suitcase to Black-Forest, who opened it. "Empty," he said. "There's been a change in plans," Mayor Strider replied. "Black-Forest, you are under arrest for kidnapping and racketeering," Spearhead said. "I just want what I am owed," Black-Forest stated. "You scoundrel!" the Mayor shouted. "Better to be a scoundrel than a cheat!" Black-Forest countered. "You were overcharging!" the Mayor told him. Strider turned toward the crowd of parents and police officers and asked them, "Is it honest for someone to expect one hundred gold pieces for an hour's worth of work?" Most of them didn't think so. "Is it honest for this man to make a promise and then break it?" Black-Forest asked. "No," Cream Heart replied, "but he always does that." It was true. Strider never once kept his word, and it didn't hurt him one bit... until now. The people glared at their mayor, who looked away worriedly. "It is up to you, the people who elect your leaders, to make sure that they keep their word," Black-Forest told them, "or it is you who will face the consequences." But even now, Strider refused to pay Black-Forest what he had promised because the mayor assumed that getting rid of monsters would be a difficult job, but Black-Forest did it with almost no effort at all... thanks to a magic that Strider didn't know the man possessed. Then Strider claimed that Black-Forest tricked him into agreeing to pay a disproportionate amount for something that it turned out took very little effort. And Black-Forest said, "Regardless, we had a deal and I lived up to my end. Highly qualified specialists are expensive for a reason. If you don't pay one way, you'll pay another." Black-Forest's purple cloak billowed as the children he had "kidnapped", mostly young girls--including Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo--stood between him and the police. That's when everyone realized that this wasn't just simple mind control - these children had not been robbed of their free will - they had simply gathered around to listen. The Pied Piper grew stronger as more individuals gathered around him, which supercharged his power to near unstoppable levels... and that made him even more dangerous. As the last child, the girl in the wheelchair, positioned herself directly in front of Black-Forest, while the other children stood at his sides, and some even shielded him from potential attackers that thought they could sneak up from behind him, Rainbow Dash forced her way to the front of the crowd and shouted, "You think you're tough hiding behind a bunch of kids?" "I don't need the children," Black-Forest replied. "I'm not a monster. Go." Reluctantly, the children returned to their parents. "For the last time, will you honor our agreement?" Black-Forest asked Strider. "No," the Mayor answered. "Then we're done talking," Black-Forest stated. He wasn't leaving without his payment, and it was painfully obvious that was willing to fight for it. So, Fluttershy rose to meet his challenge. Smiling, Black-Forest watched as Fluttershy stepped forward, lifted his flute to her lips and blew into it as hard as she could, playing the energetic tune from before, and the Equestrian Dragon suddenly appeared from the clouds and landed between her and Black-Forest. Then the Equestrian Dragon opened one of his claws and dropped several wads of cash bundled up in rubber bands in front of the man. "What's all that?" Rainbow Dash asked. "It looks to me like exactly one million two-hundred ninety thousand dollars in unmarked bills," said Pinkie Pie. "The ransom money," Cream Heart thought. "He took it." "Did you see that?" Strider asked the police. "She's controlling that beast!" Oh, they were seeing it... but they did not believe it. "Get me that flute!" Strider shouted. Fluttershy quickly played the dramatic tune again, and the Equestrian Dragon breathed fire at the police officers, forcing them to scatter, and causing Mayor Strider's pants to fall down as he tumbled into a heap of dry leaves. "Hers is bigger," Rarity told Black-Forest. "You fools, even after all these centuries, you still don't get it," Black-Forest snarled. "It's not the pipe, it's the piper!" Furious, Black-Forest pulled the two halves of his backup flute, the size of a piccolo, from the holsters on his hips and assembled the instrument. Brandishing it menacingly, he lined up a picture of a dog with the arrow on the miniature flute's shaft, raised it to his lips, and started to play his own lively melody. It became a duel! He started out with the classic children's folksong, "Bingo Was His Name-O", which gave him control of the police department's K-9 units, causing them to fight the Equestrian Dragon for him; while Fluttershy played "Mary Had A Little Lamb", and Black-Forest answered with "Turkey In The Straw", and then "Home On The Range". "Now, what tune controls dragons?" Black-Forest thought. He started to play "I Wish It Would Rain Down", which summoned clouds and literally brought lightning down on the Equestrian Dragon, and said, "That's not it." While Black-Forest played, Rainbow Dash ran and leaped at him, Black-Forest kept on playing. He played a brand-new tune, which caused Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity and Sunset Shimmer to break dance--they only stopped dancing when Black-Forest stopped playing--and he only stopped playing to dodge Pinkie Pie, who assaulted him with bagels, pies, cupcakes and rolls, which she pulled from her hair... but they had absolutely no effect on him. He was nearly invulnerable. "Just give up," Black-Forest said to Fluttershy. Running out of edible ammo, Pinkie reached into her hair and pulled out kazoo and an accordion... and she started to play a polka. That's when Black-Forest recoiled and held his ears in pain. However, when Black-Forest's music-controlled animal minions attacked the Equestrian Dragon, the fight quickly became one-sided, as the Dragon easily broke through any attack Black-Forest used, utilizing his own powers while also roaring like a wild animal to scare him, which succeeded. The Equestrian Dragon's lungs could breathe fire, his scales dissolved flames, and the angrier the Dragon got, the more intense his own fire became. His fire was becoming so strong that it was superheating the air around him. "Impossible!" Black-Forest shouted. "How are you even standing?" "A dragon has many fangs," the Dragon replied. Using his tail, the Dragon knocked Black-Forest's piccolo from his hand, and it rolled until it stopped at Rainbow Dash's feet. "Dude, you've piped your last tune," she stated. Dash and Applejack were about to play Black-Forest a final concerto with their fists when he reached into his cloak and pulled out a handheld crossbow. One that, instead of arrows, shot sharp knives shaped like boomerangs. But he didn't point at them. Instead, he fired behind them, and the curved blade pierced the ground close to Mayor Strider, who had crawled over to the pile of ransom money in a vain attempt to retrieve it. "Go ahead... take my pay," Black-Forest dared him. Strider slowly crawled away, his pants still around his ankles. Black-Forest collected the money then he gave Fluttershy her flute... and she gave his flutes back to him. It was a civil exchange, now they both had their original instruments back. "The mayor hired me to get rid of one pest," he said. "He didn't say which pest." Using his dragon fist, the Equestrian Dragon squeezed Black-Forest, hoisted him up so that he was level with the Dragon's eyes, and the Dragon growled, "Take the money. But understand this: if you mess with me or this city again, you're gonna get burned." Black-Forest nodded and the Equestrian Dragon, using his dragon breath, blew the man formerly known as the Pied Piper of Haymelin far away into the distance... and the money he was owed right along with him. Then the Equestrian Dragon, his claws wrapped in flames, took Fluttershy's flute, bent it, and shoved it up Mayor Strider's ass! The Equestrian Dragon turned toward the crowd and roared, "Let this be a reminder to all of you: those who don't keep their promises usually end up paying a higher price for dishonor than they would otherwise!" And he flew away in a cloud of black smoke before the police could apprehend him. Later, the police department tried to make sense of the whole situation, but the mayor's office had it chucked up to the people suffering from "some sort of mass hysteria". As for Mayor Strider himself, Nurse Redheart, Nurse Tenderheart, Nurse Snowheart, and no less than three doctors--basically, the senior medical staff members at the New Canterlot City Hospital that were on Spike Zenith's payroll--all attempted to remove Fluttershy's flute from Strider's ass. They tried for hours... but to no avail. Never has a man had so much trouble sitting down... or using a toilet. And as for the parents of the children who had followed the Pied Piper, they said that if they listened carefully, they could still hear the Black-Forest's flute music in the wind... especially at night. . Clouds roiled around the body of the sleek twin-engine jet as it swooped down through the skies over Equestria. Below, a sprawl of miniature buildings caught in a web of thread-sized highways had begun to grow into an imposing cityscape as the airplane started its slow approach to the Kenneighdy International Airport. Inside, a man in a first-class seat spoke on a cellular phone as he gazed out the small window then absently thumbed through the latest issue of Fortune & Success magazine, the one with strikingly attractive Spike Zenith on the cover. Unlike Spike, this man appeared to be in his late twenties, smartly dressed, ruggedly handsome, with compelling brown eyes, dark hair and beard, a silver watch on his left wrist. But it wasn't Spike's cover shot the man was looking at. He was more taken by the bikini photo shoot in the newest issue of Equestria Weekly, of a young woman named Fluttershy... and comparing it to the sketch he had of a woman who looked very similar to her: Bella Breeze. "We should be touching down any minute now," he said. "It'll be good to see you again." On the other end of the connection, Lepiota preened before a small mirror. "You too," she answered. "And don't worry about a thing. We'll clear up these old problems. Don't forget... you've got a big, important underworld sorceress on your side." The man on the plane stared at the sketch of Bella Breeze and Fluttershy's pictures and touched them gently with the tips of his fingers as he spoke. "I can't believe it's been over a thousand years," he murmured with a sigh. "So... thinking of looking up some old friends?" she asked suspiciously after a moment of silence. The heartiness in her voice sounded forced. "Or their possible descendants...?" The man frowned as he tilted his head, gazing raptly down at the city swelling beneath him. Then he shook his head as if coming out of a nightmare. "Lepiota, don't start that again," he said, dropping the magazines into the pocket of the seat in front of him. "She's... ancient history." "That's encouraging," Lepiota replied, relaxed and happy again. "I'll see you soon." She hung up the phone, blew herself a kiss in the mirror, and went off to prepare for the man's arrival. Meanwhile, the man pocketed the sketch and his portable phone and raised his head when the stewardess appeared at the front of the cabin. "Ladies and gentlemen," the young woman said, including the man in question, with her professional smile. "Please fasten your seat belts. We are beginning our descent into Equestria." The man obediently checked his seat belt then turned back to the window and watched as the great city rose to meet him. > Looking For Friends . The Dragon Council met on the peak of Mount Umber, high above the Cave of Destiny, deep within the Mountains of Terror, located on Dragon Isle. Made up of elders from each dragon species, they were the representatives for the troglodyte Squamata Order and all of the reptilian humanoid guilds, clans, and hordes. No dragon ever spoke of the horrors that supposedly went on up there... because aside from the members of the Dragon Council, no dragon ever came back. There were even rumors that they once made a dragon bite off, and eat, his own tongue. As well as the current Dragon Lord Torch and his daughter Princess Ember, the Council's members included Poseadus, Blacktip, Caldera, Scintilla, Gnash, Gostir, Razer, Knuckerbocker, Ignox, Obserno, Deliriam, and Orrm Chillheart. This meeting was to be the first of many that would change Spike's future forever. "That idiotic Equestrian Dragon has done it again!" Caldera shouted. "This time, he destroyed half a city!" "What is the matter with him?" Gnash shouted. "Honestly, now!" Gostir added. "He may be a fool, but we mustn't forget he is a dragon capable of extraordinary talents and abilities," Knuckerbocker reminded them. "Yes, he presents quite the quandary," Blacktip put in. "I guess you take the good with the bad," Poseadus remarked. "Indeed," Orrm agreed. The other council members nodded. "Personally, I'm quite fond of Spike and his Laissez-faire attitude," Ember said honestly. "I say we should leave him be... for now. After all, think how boring life would be without him." . It was 2:00 a.m. in the caves beneath Pendragon Castle as the Equestrian Dragon sat in front of a U-shaped desk crammed with stacks of CDs and other equipment. On three computer screens, ribbons of bright green symbols flickered on the monitors and streamed down in columns of rapidly changing code. As they descended, numbers dropped away while images reflected off the Dragon's scales. A green cursor blinked on one screen and words typed out: Call trans opt: received. 8-25-98 13:24:18 REC:Log> Trace program: running... Somewhere in New Canterlot City, a telephone rang and the Equestrian Dragon tapped into Spoiled Rich's online call, with her appearing on one side of his computer screen while another portion read, "Acid Burn" but instead of a picture it showed sound waves. "You are a brilliant business partner, but remind me why we call these things 'video' conferences," Spoiled Rich said. "As we have discussed, it's in everyone's best interest my identity remain hidden," "Is everything in place?" Spoiled Rich asked. "We're coming up on our deadline. I need to know your status. I need to know if you're ready." "Look, I wouldn't have flown out here if I wasn't ready. Now where's my money?" "Don't worry about the money," Spoiled Rich said. "Where do we meet?" "That's right," the Equestrian Dragon thought out loud. "Give me something." "Tonight, 7:00 p.m., at the Central Mall. The lingerie shop," "We've got a lot riding on this. I've put my trust in you--wait a minute. Did you hear that?" Spoiled Rich asked. "Someone's logged on to our video conference!" "You are an amateur! I'm outta here!" Suddenly, the bars of bright green code disappeared from the Equestrian Dragon's computer screens and they went blank. Then words typed out: U HAVE TREAD UPON MY DOMAIN & MUST NOW SUFFER "What the Tartarus?" the Equestrian Dragon thought. He glared at the main screen as a new message appeared: WHO R U ? The Equestrian Dragon typed: WHO WANTS TO KNOW? A new message typed out a name: ACID BURN "Unbelievable," the Equestrian Dragon said as he glared at the screen. The Dragon continued typing as another message appeared: LEAVE B 4 U R EXPUNGED "Okay, you want to go?" the Equestrian Dragon asked. "Let's go!" I WILL SWAT U LIKE THE FLY U R The Equestrian Dragon typed furiously, countering the hacker's attacks. I WILL SNAP YOUR BACK LIKE A TOOTHPICK "That's right," he said. "Chase me." A little over one minute of digital combat and his computer had back-tracked the invader's source and locked in a touch-tone telephone number. "You are terminated," the Dragon said. "You mess with the best, die like the rest." Finally, he pressed the Escape key and kicked Acid Burn out of his system. "Have fun gettin' out of that wormhole," he stated. But just to be on the safe side, the Dragon used the tried-and-true method known as "the Ostrich Defense": he unplugged his monitors. . Meanwhile, in a dark corridor in an apartment complex somewhere in the Equestrian state of Ohayo, a hefty policeman trained his gun sight on a closed door as he advanced past dangling wires and debris. A second police officer wielding a flashlight nodded to several other cops behind him, each wielding a handgun with an attached flashlight. One of them ran at the door and kicked it open. "Police! Freeze!" Inside, a woman with long, scarlet hair and soulless eyes sat at a desk with a computer, the screen of which went dark. "Hands on your head! Now!" Her back to them, the hacker, wearing a yellow-green latex body suit, slowly raised her hands and did as she was told. As one of the officers moved in to handcuff her, the hacker spun around, grabbed the man's arm, and broke it. She leapt up then kicked the cop in the chest, while she was still in midair, sending him flying across the room. As the others opened fire, she ran sideways across the wall! She wrapped one cop's arm around her body and fired his weapon at another cop. Then she kicked her leg over her shoulder and dropped the officer behind her. At the same time, outside, police cars blocked the street. The sign on the building above them read Road Inn. "We interrupt the regularly scheduled program to bring you this special news bulletin." "We have late-breaking news from the southeast part of the state. We go to our field correspondent Cold Copy," "Thanks, Marshy. We have just learned that federal officials have been alerted to a new terrorist group that threatens the entire planet. The group, aptly called the Twisted 60, are a group of renegades from all over the world who forge documents as well as steal art and hack computers. Officials have informed us that their leader is in the building right behind me," Suddenly, a black Sedan pulled up and three Federal agents dressed in identical black suits, black neckties and earpieces, stepped out. Their eyes hidden behind dark rectangular sunglasses, they marched past the police barricade and approached the officer in charge. "Lieutenant, you were given specific orders," Bishop, the lead agent, a man with a long, dark ponytail, said. "I sent two units," the officer replied. "They're bringing her down now." "No, Lieutenant, those men are already dead," Bishop replied. A few minutes later, inside the hotel, one of the black-suited agents, a big man named Castle (who was Bishop's second-in-command), stepped out of the elevator and Acid Burn took off down the hallway, toward the fire escape. Spotting another agent, named Knight, in the alley below, she climbed up to the roof. Agent Castle bounded up the ladder after her as she raced across the rooftop. She leapt the gap between the buildings--a good ten feet--and Agent Castle took the same leap in stride, followed by five police officers. One jumped short, landing on the ledge before pulling himself up. Acid Burn sprinted across the rooftops, keeping ahead of Agent Castle, who pulled out his gun and took aim at her. He fired three shots, all of which missed her, blowing chunks of brick from one of the nearby chimneys. Acid Burn raced across the roof and leapt off the edge. Pumping her legs, she rose into the air, jumped (practically flew) over a two-lane street, and the cops watched as Castle made the same impossible leap. Castle landed on the neighboring rooftop, his gun at the ready, as Acid Burn hid behind a wall. Castle cocked his weapon as Acid Burn scanned the roof, and then ran to the far edge. Stretching out her arms, she flew over the open lot below, straight as an arrow, and crashed through a window of the next building. Acid Burn tumbled down a staircase and whipped out two pistols as she landed on her back. She got up then ran outside, spotting a nearby telephone booth as a speeding garbage truck skidded into a turn. The truck stopped, its tires squealing and its headlights trained on the phone booth. The tires began to spin again as Acid Burn dashed to the phone booth and grabbed the receiver at the same moment the garbage truck plowed the booth into the brick wall behind it. The truck backed up, debris tumbling from its bumper. Then Agent Bishop stepped out of the driver's side and gazed at the destroyed phone booth through his dark sunglasses as his two subordinates, Knight and Castle, walked up behind him. "She got away," Knight said. "Doesn't matter," Bishop replied. "The Twisted 60 is real... and we have the name of their next target. Get a search running." "It's already underway," Castle answered. Back at Filthy Rich's estate, the family butler, Randolph, asked, "What happened?" "Someone was watching," Spoiled Rich replied. "We'd better find out whom that someone is," Randolph suggested. . In the morning, Lemony Crumble carried a breakfast tray into Spike's bedroom, and was disappointed when he saw the master's dragon-sized bed had not been slept in. As Lemony walked through the castle, he saw that Twinkleworks had set out clean towels and Tote Bag stocked the fridge in the main kitchen. Meanwhile, Celestia and Luna were sitting at the kitchen table, reading the New Canterlot Gazette and the New Canterlot Chronicle respectively. As they read, Lemony Crumble skimmed the headlines, which read Dragon Eludes Police and TROUBLE IN PARADISE... Rise in Gang Violence Coming to An End? "The Landfill trailer park is a scarred battlefield today after giant explosions tore through the complex. Preliminary reports suggest that a few trailers housing illegal drug labs were behind the damage. Witnesses say members of Legerdemain's Ravens were seen in the area, trading gunfire with the Equestrian Dragon shortly before the explosions began. However, it's unclear if they had anything to do with the explosions at this time." When the two sisters looked up from the articles, Lemony informed them that he could not find Mr. Zenith, and they joined him in his hunt for Spike. They eventually found him, wearing his green bathrobe, sitting out in the greenhouse for his roses, trying (and failing) to listen to yet another of Honey Belle's pitches. Honey Belle had started out at Zenith Industries as a summer intern, and frankly wasn't one of Spike's best employees, but even though she had the body of a stripper (and was one before working for Spike), deep down she had a good heart. "Spike, wake up," she said. He blinked, shifting his emerald eyes to Honey Belle, as he lifted his head. "What do you want?" he asked, like he hadn't been listening to one word she had said. "As I was saying, it's a maid-service franchise that hires hot maids and only uses eco-friendly products," she explained. "Just one question: where are you going to find beautiful women who want to clean toilets?" he asked. "Human males have been looking for that for centuries... and failed." "You give me ten thousand dollars and I give you the logo, the cleaning supplies and the short skirts. It's a no-brainer," Honey Belle said. "Yeah, it's a no-brainer because I already own the male equivalent of that concept. It's called Grunts For Hire," he said. "It's run by a former Hooviet gangster-turned-mercenary who volunteered for some physical enhancements in a secret lab deep in the Amarezon jungle... Now he's a certified repairman." "You're kidding," "No. Hardcore felon, twelve years behind bars for grand theft auto, repeat offender, the whole ten yards," Spike said. "So, he's good-looking, not afraid of commitment, and always drives a nice new car?" "That's what you got out of that?" Spike asked. "Get out! Oh, and one more thing: I don't appreciate you walking around my nice clean greenhouse in those dirty old boots. Take 'em off and leave 'em here." "But, my feet--" "The boots, Honey Belle, now," And Honey Belle, not wanting to risk violating her probation, shrugged as she reluctantly removed her footwear, thus forcing herself to walk out barefoot. After Honey Belle had left, Celestia took the serving tray from Lemony Crumble--which included four scrambled eggs, several plump, succulent pork sausages, and a dozen strips of glistening, sizzling honey-smoked bacon--took it into the greenhouse, and served it to Spike. "You seem distracted," Luna, who accompanied her sister inside, began. That was an understatement. The human Equestrian Dragon looked terrible. After dropping six burglars, nine car thieves, twenty-one muggers, eleven kidnappers, five international terrorists, and one voodoo occultist into police custody this week, he was tired. "Can this wait until both my eyes are open, please?" he asked. When Spike noticed Luna's hand near his portable CD player, he slammed his fist down on the table, shaking it. "Don't touch that," he stated. "It's part of my therapy." "Spike, calm thyself," Luna said as she carefully raised the headphones to her ears. But when she put them on... she heard nothing but static. "White noise," Spike said quietly. "It clears the mind of everything." "When did you go to bed?" Celestia inquired. "Never did," Spike replied, taking a sip from his cocoa mug. "I was working." "You were up all night again? How much cocoa have you had this morning?" "Five, not counting this one," he said, pointing to the cup in his hand. Celestia and Luna had never experienced Spike without his morning cocoa. It was like sailing into uncharted water. "I didn't get any sleep last night. I was too afraid to have the nightmare again," Celestia asked, "Which one this time?" "The one where I was forced to fight in the Romane Colosseum, and, after winning the crowd, they keep chanting, 'Dra-gon! Dra-gon! Dra-gon! Dra-gon! Dra-gon!'" he said. "I've also met our new terrorist. She targets computers. Not sure why. But she has a jetpack and laser technology like nothing I've ever seen." Equestria had endured much through its dark history, but even the changes wrought by the Neighsay administration couldn't give the country a fresh start--the grime was in its DNA. The E.B.I. had been sweating terrorists hacking into the nation's power grid distribution software. That could shut down half the country. Criminals didn't always wear colorful costumes; some just skulked in the shadows with sinister plots and evil intentions. The latest batch Spike had encountered was a group of radicals known as the "Twisted 60". And their self-appointed leader, Acid Burn, was able to defeat almost all forms of network security. Though they had made an attempt to bomb Zenith Industries and the World Trade Center in 1993--and were certainly on the public's radar--radical terrorist groups were not the threat du jour. It was mostly homegrown militias, religious cults and other domestic nutcases. The Equestrian Dragon's own network had been under attack and steps had to be taken to insure no future incursions. Spike had already shut down the auxiliary transmitter and disconnected all the receivers from all the tech linked to Zenith Industries. If the Twisted 60 were able to access any of his computers--if Acid Burn were to somehow, someway, be able to trace the signals back to the Equestrian Dragon's cave--there was no telling how much damage she, or they, could do. "Can we cut the electricity to his cave so he'll sleep normal hours?" Celestia asked Luna as they followed Spike from the greenhouse and back into Pendragon Castle. "He's been playing with his computer all night for a solid week." Luna whispered something into Celestia's ear. "No, he could not be playing with himself," Celestia said. Luna whispered something else. "Fine, I'll ask. Spike! You like females, don't you?" Celestia asked. "Last time I checked," he retorted. "I just haven't found one as charming as you yet." "You haven't been doing anything stupid, right?" she asked him. "Right, Mom. And I'm still a virgin!" Spike locked himself in his study, leaving the sisters muttering under their breath. "Do people react that way because you're such a delight, or do you just have that effect on them?" Spike's next appointment, who had been waiting for him, asked. "I like to think it's me," Spike admitted. Soarin smirked in amusement. A male member of the Equestrian States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron more popularly known as the Wonderbolts, Soarin was an elite pilot with a fondness for apple pie. When he wasn't flying, he served as a military police officer who was always on the lookout for the next domestic threat to Equestria's security. That's why he was there. On loan from ESAF Captain Spitfire Flare, Soarin had arrived in New Canterlot City to help Spike investigate the circumstances surrounding another Air Force pilot whose body had been found in an alley a few days ago, covered in cuts and bruises. Police Chief Ganache had dismissed it as a territorial dispute between the city's gangs, a message from one group to another. But Spike had come to believe that the motive for the brutal killing was identity theft... and his suspicions were confirmed when he learned that there had been no less than three murders around New Canterlot City over the last month with the same pattern and even though the young military aviator was dead, no one had been reported missing, which led Spike to believe that the imposter was still in the area. But the human Equestrian Dragon told Soarin that, after interrogating five potential suspects, he had nothing... nothing solid, at least. "Drew lied," Spike said. "He paused and looked to his left. That usually means the response is fabricated. If he would've looked to the right, he would be recalling a memory." "Why would he lie?" Soarin asked. "You mean about his age? Why do some people lie about being married? Why do others lie about their level of education?" Spike replied, almost philosophically. "Everybody has something to lie about." "I knew a guy who spent a couple of tours on attack subs before he was dishonorably discharged," Soarin shared. "The Feds think he and this other guy were part of some small cell of radical eco-freaks." "This one's definitely an eco-terrorist," Spike confirmed. "Looking for retribution for the dolphins I've trained to detect underwater mines." For over one hundred years, Spike had helped the Equestrian government to train and deploy animals as espionage agents. Starting in the Civil War, carrier pigeons delivered messages from the front lines. But even if these murders weren't the Twisted 60's doing, the Equestrian Dragon still needed to track them down and stop them. "Go back and report to Captain Spitfire," Spike said. "I don't know if there's much that you can do here." "I'll leave as soon as I'm done, not before," Soarin told him. As chill as Soarin usually was, there was no point in arguing with him. That's when Spike noticed the red light blinking on his desk phone's answering machine. He pressed play and the machine said, "You have one new message..." "Spike, it's Rainbow Dash, are we still on for this weekend? Even if we're not, could you at least call me back so that I know you got this message? Talk later, dude." Spike groaned, having forgotten, as Soarin inquired, "What does she look like?" Spike asked, "Who?" "Rainbow Dash," Soarin said. "She sounds cute." "Not your type," Spike stated. "How would you know that?" Spike leveled his gaze at Soarin and said, very seriously, "Have you ever had even the slightest urge to tattoo your buttocks, soldier?" "No, sir," "Then we need never speak of her again," . At that same moment, the aforementioned young woman was running her fingers through her hair as she used the showers in the girls' locker room at New Canterlot University. "Oh, no," Rainbow Dash groaned. "What is it?" Applejack, who was standing at one of the sinks, asked. "I was daydreaming and now I can't remember if I washed my hair or not," Dash replied. "So wash it again," Applejack said. "I can't because if I shampooed already and do it again, my hair's gonna be fluffy," "So don't wash it again," "Well, what if I didn't wash it? Then it's gonna be too oily. This is important, like the time Rarity didn't want to go outside because she thought her haircut made her butt look fat," "Can ya handle Apple Bloom's sleepover this weekend?" Applejack asked. "Jackie, tell me honestly. If some guy, out of the blue, called me up and asked me out on a date, you think I should go?" "What's that got to do with--?" "Look, I wish I could, but Spike invited me to play golf," Dash explained. "Ya don't golf," Applejack said. "And Spike never asked ya out, ya liar. Ya're watching my sister and her friends!" Rainbow Dash sighed as she looked at her friend, and very sincerely asked, "Jackie, when was the last time I spent an evening alone with another consenting human being?" And Applejack, after a moment of thought, answered, "I can't remember." "Neither can I," Dash said. "See ya." "Ya're stayin'!" "Okay... that'll be 28 bucks," "Twenty-eight bucks?!" Applejack shouted. "Per hour," Dash said as she shampooed. "Babysitters don't come cheap, and I have experience. You want my skill, you pay my bill." Just then, Pinkie Pie suddenly appeared and said, "I can do it. Oh, let me do it. Let me do it. I'm responsible." "I appreciate yer enthusiasm, but I asked Rainbow Dash," Applejack replied. Applejack flushed one of the toilets, and Rainbow Dash--still in the shower and unprepared for the water's sudden increase in temperature--screamed in pain and shouted, "Yow! Why do you find that so funny?" "I don't," Applejack stated in reply. "That's for tattooin', 'For the time of your life, call Twilight Sparkle', on yer ass." To make a long story short (too late), after a night of drinking no less than seven snakebite shooters--equal parts lager and hard cider served in a shot glass--Rainbow Dash woke up in Shining Armor's bed... with that message tattooed on her left butt cheek. "I don't know who I thought was gonna see it, but it seemed like a funny idea at the time," Dash admitted. Applejack reached for the flusher again. "Don't even think about it!" Dash shouted. But Applejack flushed the toilet again anyway. . Later, Pinkie enjoyed a brunch of jalapeno omelets, apple spice muffins, and a cup of red velvet tea with her sister Maud, a 31-year-old geologist whose face was as expressive as the average slab of granite. She had heard the stories about Spike through her sister, Pinkie. Of course, she didn't believe that even half of them were true. "The cave is actually much deeper than anyone thought," Maud said. "The geological conditions are perfect for the formation of diamonds." "You mean there's diamonds on Spike's land?" Pinkie asked. "And rubies and gold. Lots of them," Maud stated matter-of-factly. Meanwhile, Rarity, who had been listening in on their conversation from a few tables away, was joined by her own sister, Sweetie Belle, and Sweetie's new boyfriend, Lickety Split. "Rarity, I'm here!" "I see that," Rarity replied. "And she brought a boy with her," she added in thought. "He's super hot, too!" "Well, hello there," Rarity flirted. "I'm so stupid! I can't believe I just hit on my own sister's boyfriend!" As Sweetie Belle and Lickety Split approached Frying Pan, who was manning the omelet station at the bar, Rarity couldn't understand how Sweetie Belle got such a cute guy. "Come to think of it, her last boyfriend was good-looking, too," she thought. "And the one before that, and the one before that, and the one before him, even... No. She can't be more popular than me. I'm taller and so much prettier. My breasts are bigger, too, at least a little!" And while Rarity was pondering that, Lickety Split said, "By the way, Sweetie Belle, your sister is, like, really pretty." Sweetie Belle suddenly stopped short, her back to him. "Did I upset you?" he asked. When Sweetie Belle turned to face him, she replied, "I'm fine. I'm just proud of my older, prettier, more successful big sister, that's all. Did I mention that she's older, prettier and more successful than me?" Feeling like he'd just stepped on a metaphorical landmine, Lickety quickly threw his arms around her in a tight embrace and said, "Don't worry! She's nothing compared to you!" "Thank you," Sweetie Belle snickered. The rest of brunch passed in uncomfortable silence until Sweetie Belle said that she and her classmates were headed to the River Market for the day. "Bye then," Lickety Split said as he left. "I'll see you later." "So, it turns out you're pretty popular with the boys," Rarity observed. "Are you ever going to narrow it down to just one?" "Oh, I will, eventually," Sweetie Belle replied. "I'm not in any rush, though. After all, when I think about it, I'm still a child. I've never known true love, not really. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy being lavished with all the attention I never got as a child, because of you. I like it when boys say they like me, or that I'm pretty, or buy me name-brand merchandise for no real reason other than the fact that they can." "All this and still a child, too!" Rarity thought bitterly. . Inky Quills did not like the looks of this. The Shutterbugs--Press Release, Tracy Flash, Snappy Scoop, Action Shot, Big Shot and Eff Stop--were all gathered around a single desk in one corner of the room at the New Canterlot Gazette. Worse than that, they all smiled when Quills walked in. He knew that hungry kind of smile--wolves always hunted in packs. "Well, well, welcome, Count Dracolta!" Snappy Scoop shouted jovially. "Had any Sasquatch sightings lately?" Big Shot asked. "Hey, Quills, they buried your story on the Dragon," Eff Stop confided with a smirk. "That's what they do to garbage," Tracy Flash agreed. Inky wasn't going to let the litter of the Gazette get him down. "Hey, Quills, Quills, we got something for you!" Press Release called sweetly. She held up a drawing of a monster, an awful, fanged snake face sitting on top of a human man's body in a pinstripe suit. The caption above read: "Have You Seen This Man?" Tracy, Snappy and the other photographers thought it was the funniest damn thing that had ever happened in the news office. "Very nice, very funny," Quills replied, grinning, wishing they could come up with something more original. "You should have put more gore under the fangs, though." He turned to walk into his office then stopped just outside his door. There was somebody already in there; a woman with a nice figure, nice outfit, and nice black hair. With nice legs resting on his desk, she was leaning back in his swivel chair, pouring over a copy of the Gazette. "I'm reading your stuff," she informed him. "And I'm reading yours," he replied, glancing at an oversized camera bag on the corner of his desk. It had a set of monogrammed initials: "N. N." The woman stood up, offered her hand and Quills took it. She had a firm, no-nonsense handshake. "I'm Nosey News," she said. "Nosey News... Nosey News..." Quills searched his memory. He knew that name from somewhere. "You wrote that article on teen drug addicts last year." "Yeah, I did," she said, quite surprised. She was also the woman who had faked photographic evidence of the "Pigasus", an animal with the body of a pig and the wings of a bird. Nosey reached into her camera bag and pulled out a small portfolio of photos--combat photos. Guerillas in hiding, an exploding Jeep, government troops torching the peasants' homes, bodies stacked like firewood... Inky leafed through them quickly. Her photos showed the faces of war and packed an emotional punch. This was a woman who wasn't afraid to get close to the action, not at all like the fashion plates he saw day after day. "A girl could get hurt doing this kind of stuff," he said in admiration. "But what are you doing here?" It was Nosey's turn to raise an eyebrow. "I'm here to see some of the wildlife." "Wildlife? Like what?" She pointed down at the papers scattered across Quills' desk. Papers filled with facts, speculation, false starts, and poorly drawn doodles of his obsession. "The Dragon," she said. This couldn't be real. Somebody actually believed him? He looked at Nosey with something akin to anger. "Who sent you?" "No one," she replied with a frown. "I read your piece. There's something about this that's very interesting to me." "What's your angle?" he insisted. "You and I, working together, on the hunt for the most fantastic legendary creature in all of Equestria, our words creating a tapestry of the noble beast we call 'the Equestrian Dragon'! The story of the century!" she told him. "Okay, so you're a visionary. You're also the only one who believes me," he said realistically. "I need something tangible. Shining Armor's got a file on this thing, but I can't even get him on the phone." "Money," Nosey said. "It all comes down to money. And Spike Zenith is the wealthiest man in the world. If we talk to him, we might learn what he knows about the Dragon." Quills almost whooped for joy. "I could kiss you." "Don't do me any favors," she replied, as if he hadn't just made that incredibly tacky remark. She fluttered her long eyelashes as she asked, "So, will you help me?" "Yes," he replied sincerely. "Will you marry me?" "Do you snore?" "I'll learn," he promised with a grin. "Come on, I'll buy you lunch," she told him. "But first, we've got to pick up our new interns at the River Market." . The Rain Shine River Market was one of the most important community locales of Kirintown, if not the whole city. People from all over New Canterlot visited the stores and it had become an unofficial meeting space for various communities. It was often visited during mayoral campaigns for that very reason. The owner, Rain Shine, was well known and liked by the community and was a member of the New Canterlot City Store Owners' Association and the leader of the Kirintown Civic Association. Spike Zenith had cooperated with her a few times to organize events throughout the neighborhood, which were all great successes; she had spearheaded many projects and Spike was glad to say she was a voice of reason and tolerance in the city. Spike didn't know what the city would be like without Rain Shine. Parenthesis, the Dean of New Canterlot University, and several of the college's students met under a graffiti sign that asked the question, "Why do good things happen to bad people?" "Welcome, students, to Internship Week. Five days of immersion into the real world of work," Dean Parenthesis began. "And a week off for the teachers," he added under his breath. "A week in the real world," said Scootaloo. "I've often wondered what that'd be like." "Well, keep wondering," Sweetie Belle replied. "Parenthesis will give the 'in crowd' all the good jobs and the rest of us will end up enslaved in humiliating drudgery as usual." "Diamond Tiara, you pampered brat, shall work at Karat and Clarity's Jewelry Store," Parenthesis said. "How fitting," Diamond Tiara said. "Well, off to, what's that word again... work?" "Scootaloo, our little ray of sunshine, shall staff the information booth," "This isn't terrible. I don't hate this," she said. "Snips and Sails, Almighty help us, you are going to work at Celestia's Secret," "This isn't terrible!" Snips smiled happily. "We don't hate this!" Snails added. "Featherweight and Shady Daze will be shadowing Nosey News and Inky Quills from the New Canterlot Gazette... and Apple Bloom shall report to Orange Smoothie," the Dean finished. After they had been given their assigned jobs, the kids headed off to their assigned jobs, including Apple Bloom, whose assignment was serving juice while wearing a hairnet and a bright orange apron over a denim skirt and yellow cowgirl boots. "Now, let's go over the rules," Aunt Orange, the proprietor of the establishment, began. "You have rules?" Apple Bloom asked in disbelief. "Of course," she said. "Number one, always wear your apron. Number two, lift with your legs, not your back. And number three; mix the smoothies clockwise, not counterclockwise. I'll be in my office if you need anything, but I'll be back regularly to check on you." A few hours later, when Apple Bloom was cleaning up during a slow period at the store, she found Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo standing together at the counter. "You gals on a break?" she asked them. "Yeah, a permanent one," Sweetie Belle responded. "What happened to your job at the 99¢ store?" Scootaloo asked. "No cute guys, just a bunch of rude, disrespectful old farts and biddies trying to steal practically-worthless crap," Sweetie Belle replied. That's when they realized she'd gotten sick of her demeaning job and quit. Shortly after, Goldcap, Decepticolt and Zappityhoof showed up and started picking on the younger trio. Fortunately, Applejack and Rainbow Dash also showed up to break it up. "Lay off," Applejack said. "Is that a threat?" Goldcap asked. "What're you gonna do, sue us?" Zappityhoof added tauntingly. "Drop dead," Rainbow Dash told them. "Stay out of this or I'll pulverize you," Decepticolt answered. "Wow. A three-syllable word," Dash retorted. "I'm almost impressed." Decepticolt was about to raise his fist to her when Dr. Trotland, the University's economics professor, suddenly appeared. "What is going on here?" he demanded. "The next one of you who talks will fail my course. I kid you not." Decepticolt scoffed, "Whatever," and he, Goldcap and Zappityhoof walked off. At that same moment, in Karat and Clarity's Jewelry Store across the way, Spike was standing and waiting while the two jewelers examined a piece Spike had brought in. "This is quite an unusual ring, Mr. Zenith," Karat said. "Where did you purchase it?" "I didn't, I made that," Spike replied. "Well, would you mind if I asked what you paid for the materials?" "Between the jewel and the silver... two thousand bucks," "Well, Mr. Zenith, you got yourself an extraordinary bargain," Clarity said. "Between the unusual setting and the stone itself, this ring is easily worth fifteen thousand dollars." "Are you sure?" "Oh, yes. A rose cut emerald in a Pave setting is very, very rare," Karat replied. "So, um, any interest in selling it? We could go as high as twenty thousand." "No," Spike said firmly. "Thank you, though." "Well, if you change your mind, let us know," Clarity told him. As Spike strode out of the store, he brushed past an ugly punk with a gold tooth and greasy hair, who brought in something to trade. "What is this, some kind of stone?" Karat asked. "I found it," the punk answered. "Stole it, more likely," Clarity commented. It was a round piece of emerald jasper. "I found it while I was in the Ghastly Gorge," he said. Suddenly, Karat started to panic. "Put it back. It belongs to the Chancellor," he said quickly. "Tell no one you have it. You'll endanger the whole city. Now get out. I don't need that sort of trouble here. Get out!" Shortly after, Diamond Tiara came in from the back room and asked, "What did I miss?" . Nosey News was more than a little intrigued with Spike Zenith. She wanted to learn more about him... and because Spike didn't like interviews, he almost never made reservations under his own name. But she got lucky enough to have lunch at the table right next to his. She, Inky Quills, Featherweight and Shady Daze then spent the next few hours following Spike and Soarin around the city, even when they ducked into a trendy beauty salon. "Pedicure, Mr. Zenith?" Vera asked. "How could I say no to you?" Spike replied. Then they followed Spike and Soarin into a building with a radio tower on top. The sign read New Canterlot Cable Access. Inside, as a man pushed a camera on wheels, Nosey approached Spike on the television set of his show, Cooking with Spike. "I swear, if I hear one more person call me sir, I--" "Excuse me, sir? I'm Nosey News, and I'm looking for Spike Zenith, the billionaire playboy and world-champion cage fighter," Nosey said. "I do not give interviews!" he snapped. "Can't you see that I'm--?" Ready to seriously injure his offender, Spike stopped seething as he turned around and came face-to-face with a cute woman with black hair and cuter eyeglasses. "... happy to make an exception for you?" he finished. "It's an honor to meet you, Mr. Zenith," Featherweight put in. "Your recent research on laser weaponry was fascinating." "And the photograph did not do you justice," Shady Daze added. Nosey smiled at her new sidekicks. "So, how about a quick word?" she asked. Spike stopped smiling as he realized who she was. "Wait a minute. You're Nosey News, the resident vigilante sensationalist," he said. "Just reporting the facts, sir," she replied. "Is that what you're doing?" Spike countered. "Tell me. Are all media personalities as... charming as yours?" Spike had read her column Facts and Fairytales. A young reporter and investigative journalist for New Canterlot Daily seeking to make a name for herself, Nosey's stories often attacked corrupt officials head-on... when she could get the stories by her editor, Dawn Fillmore; a woman who had been on edge after all the complaint letters she had received about Nosey's "controversial" articles, namely the ones about election fraud, forged documents, and a potential weapons smuggling ring. While a noble sentiment, the people Nosey targeted didn't take kindly to being thrust into the public eye. She could find herself in trouble if she didn't find a more subtle way to do her job. Still, it was admirable to see a journalist unafraid to expose the truth in a world defined by corruption and lies. "Equestria needs more people like her," Spike admitted to himself. However, at present, she seemed fixated on him and telling his story. Even Spike wasn't safe from the tattle tabloids... and he could not stand rumor mongers and sleazy gossip columnists. Unfortunately, avoiding the press only piqued their curiosity... and Nosey had a reputation for making private lives a little too public. She prided herself on catching her subjects off-guard. She also knew Spike didn't like talking to the press or the media, but she had finally caught up with him... and she wasn't about to let him get away. "Look, if I don't get something fresh and unrehearsed right now, I will gladly rerun the old 'Ways of the Wealthy and Well-Known' piece every chance I get... with pleasure," she said. Spike looked like he was about to blow a fuse. It was back in 1992, when a television interview went awry--in fact, it had been a complete flop--because Spike, who had been awake all night, had trouble keeping his eyes open... and he came off as an incompetent bore. He eyed Nosey's low cleavage and said, "Two. Questions. Choose them carefully." Nosey News smiled as she snapped her fingers and Shady Daze turned his video camera on and began to film her. "Today, we take you to meet the head of the Zenith Industries empire," she began. "He's known by many labels: playboy, socialite, philanthropist, Equestria's most eligible bachelor. But who is the real Spike Zenith? Despite a larger-than-life public persona, Mr. Zenith has privately managed to remain a mystery. And here he is. Tell us, what is it like to be a billionaire?" "First of all, I am a trillionaire," Spike corrected her. "And second, why do people always hassle me about my salary?" "That's funny, calling three-point-seven trillion a salary," Nosey commented. "I run my businesses ethically and responsibly!" Spike said, trying hard to not yell. "What do you make?" he inquired. "That's kind of personal," she replied. "Exactly," Spike stated. "Yes, but what you make is news because it's so gigantic," "What do you make, really, about $50,000 a year? Okay, that's two columns a week, about eight columns a month, about five hundred bucks a column. And it's a buck per word. For every little world like 'the' and 'a,' if you hit the letter 'a,' it's a buck," he said. "Wow," Nosey thought. "Of course, but that's nothing compared to you putting an end to D.A. Flank Scallion's corruption," she said. "Scallion took down so many innocent people, didn't he?" Spike blinked at her in surprise. For once, she had her facts--the facts--right. "Yes. Yes, he did," he replied. "But where others would be bitter, you have moved on. Now, you're an enormous success," Nosey said. "Clearly, it takes a man who is totally secure in his masculinity to take on such duties and responsibilities like this. You've got what every man dreams of." Spike knew what Nosey was doing: she was playing up to him, stroking his ego. And he loved it. "Actually, it does," he smiled. "And yes, yes I do." "I guess you have everything you could possibly want. How do you do it?" she asked, almost flirtatiously. "It's nothing, really. I just make a plan, I stick to that plan no matter what, and I try to celebrate the little things in life," he said sincerely. Nosey News looked straight into the camera and said, "Ladies, drop everything and get one of these!" "Unfortunately, I am the last of my kind," Spike replied, not-so-modestly. "Why don't you stick around a little longer?" "I don't mind if I do," Nosey said. "So, Spike, tell me what you're making here." "It's just chili, but it's my own secret recipe," "Well, then I won't tell a soul," she said sweetly. "Well, we've got garlic powder, ancho chili powder, a little Worcestershire sauce, a dash of oregano, a pinch of cumin, and of course... my secret ingredient," "Chocolate?" she asked. "You would not believe how rich it makes the sauce," he said. Suddenly, an oven mitt that had been resting on one of the stove's other burners ignited! "Fire!" Nosey exclaimed. "Everybody back!" Spike commanded. "Soarin, open a window!" Soarin nodded as Spike grabbed the fire extinguisher from the wall behind him, aimed at the burning oven mitt, and put out the flame. "Everyone okay?" he asked. They all nodded. "Did you see that? He is amazing!" Nosey said. "Is there anything you can't do?" Spike smirked and said, "No comment." "Well, I think I have what I need," Nosey told him. "Thank you, Mr. Zenith." "Well, thank you, Miss News," he replied. She removed her glasses and smiled. "Call me Nosey." After she and her support team left the television studio, Nosey caught sight of Goldcap, Decepticolt and Zappityhoof tailing Spike, as she had. "So, what's your interest in Spike Zenith?" she inquired. "Professional, purely sexual?" "Homicidal," the trio stated in response. . Later that evening, Spike and Soarin wore plaid shirts, jeans and dark sunglasses as people bustled about the Central Mall. The pilot's killer had taken a lot of care to cover their tracks; residue next to the victim's foot revealed the murderer used sodium hypochlorite to try and destroy any forensic evidence back at the crime scene, yet in doing so they left a new trail for the Equestrian Dragon to follow. That's where they had slipped up. "Sometimes a lack of evidence is all you need," Spike had told Soarin. Following his nose, Spike's dragon sense of smell was able to filter for particles of the bleach in the air... and to find who was so determined to kill that young aviator. The trail wound through the streets to the Central Mall, where Spoiled Rich was to meet Acid Burn. Spike peered down from an upper story railing, spotted the wealthy woman, and he and Soarin followed her. They pursued her across the shopping complex, but she never met the gaze of her pursuers, who matched her stride from the upper level. Spoiled Rich briefly stopped to converse with a female merchant operating a vendor displaying greeting cards and stickers before moving on, and Spike and Soarin resumed following their target, who blended in surprisingly well with the many passersby. The two men broke into a jog, hastening their way down the crowded escalators. They stalked by a storefront, where they saw their mark having a conversation with another young woman. Finally, she met with the notorious hacker outside the lingerie store. "I've been walking around for an hour waiting for you," Acid Burn began. "I was busy, if you hadn't noticed," Spoiled replied. Soarin and Spike adjusted their listening devices so they could eavesdrop on their conversation. There was a lot of static, but they were able to make out most of it. "... very, very specific encrypted notation," Acid Burn was saying. "I'm not concerned about encryption," Spoiled Rich said. After the two women had concluded their business, Spike and Soarin raced between a pair of decorative cheetah statues then ducked around a corner while Acid Burn moved through a shadowy alcove full of mannequins and other decor. Elsewhere, a girl named Cindy peeked out from a hiding spot behind the trash compacter while a seedy thug known as Reed looked Acid Burn in the eyes as she strode out of the shadows. Acid Burn stepped in closer as Reed's companion watched Acid Burn fire a gun at Reed, who dropped dead. Left behind, Reed's companion emerged from her hiding place and the girl recoiled at the sight of Spike and Soarin. "I didn't kill him! I didn't kill him!" "Was it Acid Burn?" Spike asked. He didn't even give her a chance to respond before he handcuffed her wrist to Reed's body and stated, "You're not going anywhere." Spike told Soarin to stay with her and that he would be right back. Transforming into the Equestrian Dragon, Spike tried to go after Acid Burn, who disappeared after discarding her weapon in a nearby dumpster... but the Dragon ran into Shielding and another known criminal, Crisp. "H-Hey, you hear that?" Shielding asked. "I don't hear anything," Crisp replied. "That's what I mean," Shielding said. Shielding about pissed his pants as he turned toward the shadows and saw the Equestrian Dragon emerge from them. "Didn't I literally beat your ass just a few days ago?" the Dragon asked, very disappointed. "And what did I tell you about hurting innocent creatures?" "Huh. You don't look innocent to me!" Crisp replied. He charged the Equestrian Dragon, but the Dragon simply sidestepped him, and Crisp ran straight into the stone wall behind the Dragon, knocking himself out. Shielding pulled a gun, but the Equestrian Dragon crushed it and Shielding's hand in his grip before slamming the guy's head into the wall alongside his associate. The Equestrian Dragon beat the crap out of those two idiot terrorists. Then Spike Zenith dragged them, unconscious, back to Soarin, who took them into custody. . The following day, after Soarin returned to his post with his new prisoners, Spike, Fancy Pants and Fleur de Lis arrived at the New Canterlot Gazette, each of them bearing a "gift" for Nosey News. Inky Quills sipped a glass of lemonade through a bendable plastic drinking straw as he knocked on the door to Nosey's office. "We need to talk," Quills began. "If this is about the rumors surrounding Spike Zenith, let me remind you that I am not the one who started them. I just reported them," Nosey told him. "More like milking them," Quills thought. "Just one question: how often do you check your facts?" he asked. "I'm a gossip reporter. If I check the facts, it's not gossip anymore," she replied. "He obviously wants them stopped, but I can't do that. And what is he going to do if I don't? Is he going to hurt me? Am I going to wake up with a horse head in my bed?" He shrugged as he left, passing Spike and his CEO and COO as they advanced on Nosey. "Anybody interested in some should-be-world-famous spaghetti sauce?" Spike asked. "Well, if it isn't Mr. Zenith, entourage in tow," Nosey smiled. "What's the occasion?" "It's a bribe," Fleur told her. "Bribing me with cooking? Okay, I'm listening," "You may have gotten the wrong impression about our employer," Fancy Pants said. "That he's a born jerk and work-obsessed control freak who believes that his existence carries a responsibility that affects lives other than his own?" Nosey asked. "Look, it's nice of you to stand up for him, but I know what I saw. I do not lie." "Yes, but you don't know the whole story," Fancy replied. "Let me show you something that happened with one of our interns this past summer..." He held up a video tape from Zenith Industries, popped it into a nearby VCR, and the T.V. it was hooked up to showed security footage of Honey Belle standing in Fancy Pants' office with himself, Fleur and Spike, as well as police Captain Shining Armor and Officer Windstorm. "Why would you frame me?" Spike asked Honey Belle. "It's obvious," Fleur had said. "She's jealous." "I always did all the work, bringing your crazy ideas to life, never getting to create any of my own," she said. "And did I ever get any credit or even a thank you? You were easy to frame!" "Too easy," Fancy Pants remarked. "That's what tripped you up. The green hair planted at the scene was too obvious a clue. Once Miss de Lis confirmed that the embezzled money was still in the safe, everything pointed to Honey Belle," he told Officer Windstorm. "And after Mr. Zenith was blamed, she would attempt to seize control the company via staging a coup on me. She could do whatever she wanted. Very ambitious for an intern..." Honey Belle's throat tightened and her bottom lip began to tremble, but she doubted crying was going to help. Now was a good time to start begging for forgiveness. "I don't blame you for firing me," she said quietly. "It's the least I deserve." Spike folded his arms over his broad chest, his emerald eyes cold. "You're right. I should can your not-at-all sorry butt," he replied. "But I can't." Shocked, Honey Belle asked, "Why not?" "I respect people who do the right thing. Even if they had to do a wrong thing first in order to do that right thing," Spike replied. "I just hope you've learned a lesson from all this." "Embezzlement is not a good thing," Honey Belle said. Spike was very disappointed in her, but he was willing to give her one last chance. "I won't fire you, at least not yet," he said. "But I am going to tell your mom about this." "No, Spike, wait a minute. Let's not be hasty. She doesn't need to know about this!" Spike slammed his fist down on the desk and yelled, "No, SIR! It is ALWAYS 'SIR!!'" "Yes, sir," Honey Belle replied quietly. "Well, even though you're a first-time offender, it will ultimately be up to the court to decide your punishment," Captain Shining Armor said to her. "But as of this moment, consider yourself on an unofficial probation. If you step so much as one toe out of line, just once, YOU'RE HISTORY!" Fleur stopped the tape, returned it to Fancy Pants, and said to Nosey, "We know Spike can be terribly irritating, even coldhearted, but he is very passionate, caring and forgiving. That's the side of him that almost no one ever gets to see." "Are you done?" Nosey News asked. "No. I believe, both personally and professionally, that you let ambition cloud your good judgment," Fancy Pants said. "Sometimes protecting an ally is more important than exposing the truth. Say, for example, your ally was a high-ranking government official who you happened to know was secretly a street brawler who spent his nights beating people to bloody stains with his bare hands and feet in an underground fight club. Now that's something you would want to keep to yourself. My point is, sometimes secrets must remain secrets... especially among friends. Spike is a good person, and we just wish you would know that. Now, we are finished." "Enjoy the spaghetti," Spike told her. "You know, I think there's enough here for two," Nosey said. "Any particular two?" he asked. Nosey looked at Spike, and then looked at Fleur and Fancy. Then Spike looked at them and they, taking the hint, walked out of Nosey's office, back to the elevator, and they left with their imaginations playing out the scene that would soon unfold between Spike and Nosey. "You try to kick me off your cooking show and now you play the gentleman," she said. "It wasn't the time or place," he replied. "You must want something real bad," "Oh, yes. Bubbles okay?" he inquired about the drink. "Fine," she replied. "So, is it really true the camera adds ten pounds?" "Five in my case... What do you want, Mr. Zenith?" "Spike," he corrected her. "You're old news. I'm on to fresher stories," "You aren't interested in getting it right?" "I am. Dawn Fillmore, my producer-slash-editor, is not. All she's interested in is circulation and ratings," Spike knew. Annoyed with the dull stories in her papers, Fillmore had ordered her reporters to start printing rumors. "At the price of a person's reputation?" he asked. "I don't report anything but the truth," Nosey stated. "You didn't dig deeper," Spike told her. "I couldn't. You threw me out," "What do you really want?" he inquired. "The Equestrian Dragon," she replied. "What makes you think I know anything about him?" Spike asked. "I know more about the Dragon than you, or he, might think," she said. "Help me get to him and I'll dial down on the sensationalism." Spike knew where this was going. Nosey was relentless, and trying to hide the truth only made her want it that much more. Who was this guy, this man-dragon? A renegade cop? A criminal? Some kind of vigilante? Or a total nutcase? Nosey had a feeling it was every one of the above. And she was going to find out, and report everything she found. When she would be done, the Equestrian Dragon was going to be better known than Spike Zenith. And whatever the police were covering up would be splashed across the front page. So, knowing that she would be able to put the pieces together before too long, Spike compromised by saying, "Somehow I doubt that, but all right. I'll see what I can do." "And would I be able to get some more of this excellent cooking... Spike?" she asked. For the second time in as many days, Spike smirked. "All you can eat... Nosey," he replied.
Transformers Prime: Megatron's Journey	pre	Megatron lowered his cannon and spoke, his tone one of surprise. " Soundwave?" He asked, not believing who was before him. He couldn't believe it, after hearing the reports of his loyal comrade being trapped in the Shadowzone by Bulkhead and Bumblebee's human charges, he thought he had lost the only one could truly call 'friend'. Yet there the silent mech stood... His chassis still as always, with Laserbeak attached... The crowded room watched as Megatron's optics gleamed with recognition and lowered his weapon, and the guards mares reluctantly did the same, wary of this new arrival that was similar to Megatron. Interesting turn of events. Megatron thought.
Transformers Prime: Megatron's Journey	Chapter 5	Chapter 5 Megatron lowered his fusion cannon at the sight of his longest friend, who stood there taking in the form of Megatron with a calculating gaze. " Soundwave..." He said, taking a step closer to the silent mech. Then a voice could be heard clearly from the thin mech, his blue visor flashing auditory cues from over the eons. " Soundwave... Here... To Serve You... Lord Megatron..." The ponies blinked at the weird mix of all types of voices, deep and high, male and female, all collaborating into a full-on sentence. Celestia's eyes turned suspicious at the last part of Soundwave's sentence... LORD Megatron? She thought, trying to see if there was a past that Megatron decided not to mention, even though it wasn't her business. The safety of her Ponies take utmost priority, after all... " Soundwave, you haven't heard?" Megatron said, knowing how his long time friend was loyal to the cause, " The Decepticons are no more. I thought you would've heard in the Shadowzone since I know you would've picked up my spark signature." In reply, Soundwave did another sentence, " I am.. Here... To find... My comrade..." Megatron blinked, before venting lightly, " Soundwave... Have you seen what was going on while entering the atmosphere?" He asked, a serious look in his red optics that made some shiver at. Soundwave replied by showing an orbital video of Equis as he flew through the depths of space, then a close up view of a city ruin with a white marble and gold castle that was infested with Caribou. Twilight gasped, recognising the city, which caught Megatron's attention... " That's Canterlot! Equestria's capital city. It's where the Caribou invaded first." She explained to Megatron and Soundwave, who were listening closely. Soundwave's visor returned to its normal reflective state, nodding his helm silently at Twilight. Megatron let out a low hmm, then his optics sharpened into a serious expression... "Soundwave!" His raspy voice barked into an authoritative tone, causing some guards mares to stiffen to attention, including Tempest, who was watching this with her usual cold and deadpan look. The familiar tone in Megatron's voice caused Soundwave to straighten slightly more, showing that he was paying attention to his Lord and Master. Megatron continued, ignoring the ponies around him, especially the Princesses, who were watching his back with raised eyebrows, " Do you still swear fealty to me, as you did that day in the Pits of Kaon?" Soundwave didn't say anything, just nodded his helm once... " Do you swear to not harm the dominant species here, to help protect and gather Intel on their enemy, no matter how forbidden it is?" Soundwave nodded again... It was dead silent in the crowded hall once more as he thought up of one more thing... Megatron stared at his former Decepticon, then smirked. " Do you swear, that no matter the circumstances, that you'll lay down your life for the Princesses behind me, as you once swore to me that day?" He ignored the gasps coming from around him, and could feel the four pairs of wide shock-filled eyes on him as Soundwave nodded without hesitation. " I Live... To Serve you... Friend..." The silent mech sounded out on his visor. Megatron then straightened his chassis into one fit for his Warlord personality. " Then kneel, dear Soundwave." He said, his voice booming with authority and nobility. The 28 ft tall mech did so, being mindful of the tables full of staring ponies in front of him... Megatron's right servo glowed purple, and his ultimate creation, the one that he created from the Forge of Solus Prime, appeared in his palm and he tapped each of Soundwave's shoulder plates gently. "Arise Soundwave, and claim your rightful place in the Equestrian Alliance as the Princesses Advisor and spy." The mech said as he sheathed the Dark Star Saber onto his back, where it connected to the metal. Celestia blinked as she remembered Raven Inkwell, who was currently in the infirmary of the castle, assisting Nurse Redheart with the injured and sick that are coming in abundance, but then she lightly smiled at the thought of her young friend's workload getting lightened... That mare really needed a break, for Equestria's sake... she thought, turning her attention to the thin mech that was starting to get up from his kneeling position. Soundwave rose from his kneeling position, looked towards the 4 Alicorns staring up at him and placed a servo across his chest and bowed at the waist a bit. " Soundwave Inferior... Alicorn Princesses Superior..." He said, his real voice reverberating with a deep baritone echoing throughout the hall. Megatron felt the tips of his glossa lift at his longtime friend in amusement as he noticed the 4 Alicorns stare at Soundwave with wide eyes... Megatron flew over an empty clearing of the forest even deeper than the Castle Base, transforming and landing on his pedes with unnatural grace. His optics took in the large meadow that swayed in the small breeze that's going through the forest at the moment... He then walked through it, taking in the peaceful sounds that the forest gave. He sat down in the middle of the meadow, shutting his optics as he listened... His internal systems were going through diagnostics in case Unicron left a nasty surprise in his body. But so far, the only thing he found odd is his Energon levels... They weren't decreasing at all! Megatron felt that was very odd, to say the least, but for now, he wasn't gonna question it... He opened his optics as he heard something, and turned his helm towards the edge of the clearing. It was a young filly, he recalled seeing in a small book on Equestrian terms, limping her way through the dense forest. Megatron's optic ridges furrowed as he took in her cuts and bruises, and with the way she was limping suggested at least a twisted ankle, if worse, a broken leg. He then took in her features... Her green slitted eyes were in a state of tiredness, and looking blankly out into the world, as if not really there, her black fur had a mixture of carapace as if it was armor and her clothes looked to be ok for the most part, with some holes and tears in the black tank top and black skirt. Megatron opened his glossa to say something, when her eyes caught on his optics, causing the filly to freeze... It was quiet in the clearing for a full 15 kliks, before the little organic's eyes rolled up into the back of her head, and she dropped like a sack of scrap. Megatron changed his size to 7 ft and caught the young one with ease before she hit the ground, a look of concern on his faceplate as he scanned her for any internal injuries. Only to see that her jaw and arm and leg were broken in varying places, bland her organs were currently shutting down due to a lack of nourishment... Without any hesitation, he picked up the filly into his arms and transformed, his mind intent to get the young one into the base. Megatron kept his eyes on the unconscious filly lying on the medical berth with a sense of worry as he watched the Nurses try and help the young Changeling. It was strange... Feeling an amount of concern for someone he hasn't met for long... His musings were interrupted by the sound of Twilight coming up beside his now 7ft tall chassis. " She is gonna be fine. She has a couple broken bones and is malnourished, a nutrient potion can take care of that easily enough." She said, staring at the Changeling filly with soft eyes. Megatron knew she had bad encounters with Changelings before, since she told him of her adventures whenever she doesn't have her duties, or when he isn't training his new body... To see her concerned for a stranger that was a Changeling, made him almost believe in Optimus when he said something about change during one of their MANY battles. He turned his helm back towards the sleeping Changeling, and vented. " What do if I didn't find her in time? Would she still be wandering the forest, or would she've been captured by those BEASTS?" He said, spitting out the word 'Beast' like it left a bad taste in his mouth. Twilight was silent for a moment, before she sighed, " I don't know. We're just glad you found her when you did. There's no time for 'what ifs'. She's fine now, and we're gonna get her back on her feet in no time." She said, her tone like that of a stern sister, then softening as she went on. Megatron mulled it over his processor for a few moments, before nodding in agreement. " You're right, Twilight Sparkle." He said, his voice low as the Nurses walked out of the Changeling's room, " You're right." POV Change ( Chrysalis) All I remembered after escaping that hellish town, was stumbling through the nearest forest I could reach. Next thing I remembered was encountering... a metal giant? I woke up to the sound of something whispering, and the feeling of cold metal being pressed against my head gently, almost like a caress. My eyelids were very heavy and I felt like I could sleep for an eternity... Then I remembered my hive being destroyed, my ability to reproduce children the normal way was severed from those filthy, horny, pieces of...! My thoughts were interrupted and my body slightly stiffened suddenly as I heard a menacing, raspy voice interrupt the peaceful silence of my thoughts. " I might not know if you can hear me, little one, but I am sorry for what those... CARIBOU did to your body." There was a pause, " I wish I could do more, maybe if I found you earlier or just started attacking the nearest town here, I would've found out what they've been doing to younglings such as you." There was the sound of something exhaling, then the voice continued, and I continued to listen... " I will kill those FREAKS before they cause anymore harm, even if it's for a stranger." He said, his voice taking on a tone of righteous rage that made me feel warm in my chest. I finally felt able to open my eyes, and I did, taking a look at who was speaking to me, possibly the one that saved me from the forest... And I was shocked that it was the same metal giant that I encountered in said forest, before I passed out from starvation... Except he was... smaller, just over the height of Princess Celestia, and was VERY menacing with his metal body armor, and the way his red eyes gleamed in the dark with a white iris in the middle. I gasped, shooting up into a sitting position, but was racked with pain, causing my muscles to knot and pull. The metal Titan looked at me and leaned forward, his claws reaching out, almost looking to snatch me... I opened my mouth to scream, but only a painful whimper came out of my throat as the pain prevented me from moving. The Titan placed a claw on my shoulder, causing my green slitted eyes to look into blood red, and saw the genuine worry he had, causing me to slowly relax; which made my muscles relax from the sudden movement I made in my surprise. " Easy, little one. Your not in danger anymore, you're safe." He said, his words emphasising on 'safe', which made me relax more. He then opened his mouth, asking, " My name is Megatron, what's your designation?" My muscles are fully relaxed, yet there was still a twinge of pain here and there. I spoke, my voice quiet, but strong enough for the metal Titan sitting next to my bed to hear, utterly exhausted, " Chry-Chrysalis..." I whispered, fear and weariness lacing my tone. POV Change (Megatron 3rd pov) Megatron watched the Changeling, Chrysalis, slowly fall asleep after she answered his question, exhausted from the day she went through that was utterly created by the Pit. He was mulling over what Twilight told him about her, back to when she and the Queen confronted in the attempted Changeling invasion of Canterlot during Cadence and Shining Armor's, Twilight's brother, wedding. Chrysalis wasn't just an ordinary Changeling... She was the QUEEN of the Changelings... To think that such a burden on the shoulders of one so young... He thought as he slowly got up from the metal chair made for him. But it didn't explain her age regression to a little filly-drone... But that was another explanation for another time... He walked out of the room, looking over his shoulder plating one more time, before shutting the door quietly behind him. He walked down the quiet corridors, his pedes the only noise in an otherwise silent castle. Megatron thought back to when he first encountered Fluttershy, and the Caribou Slaver that tried to kill her... He thought long and hard about the idea that cropped up in his CPU, and came to a decision... It is time to take the battle to them...I will not stand here on the sidelines and watch the people that took me in without fear or anger suffer anymore. I will not hold myself back... He thought, his servo clenching into a tight fist, shaking with belligerent rage. He would have to go back to the way he used to be: The Warlord Megatron, a mech with immense power and shows no mercy for his enemies. With a newfound determination that only he saw in Optimus' optics, Megatron ran through the corridors, not caring if his stomping woke someone up. He reached the outside courtyard of the castle base, and jumped up high into the air. With the sound of shifting gears, the mech transformed into his jet mode, and took off to the skies at maximum afterburn. On Megatron's internal scanners, he picked up a settlement called Ponyville 7 klicks north from his position, and went maximum overdrive on his sublight engines...
Transformers Prime: Megatron's Journey	Chapter 6	Chapter 6 Ponyville used to be a peaceful town, before the invasion, but now it was just a stronghold for the Caribou Armada... It was a beautiful night, but not a quiet night b cause the air was filled with screams of pain, of fear, of death and sex... The soldiers that are stationed in Ponyville were ordered to show these weak ponies that the Caribou were not to be trifled with, and that they were the superior race of all... It's time to show them exactly why you shouldn't mess with an enraged being that used to be bound by The Chaos Bringer... The screams lessened slightly as both Ponykind and Caribou alike heard a noise that they've never heard before... The guards that are stationed out in perimeter of the town looked up and they saw something that awed and terrified them... A spiky looking object that glowed purple and had sleek and curvy edges that looked like it was built for speed and battle mixed into one. The flying craft descended lower to the ground and came at the main perimeter outpost, causing the 30 Caribou stationed there to panic as it's speed increased, and the distance got less and less... Then, as the Manticore sized craft got almost a few feet from impacting the small compound, it pulled up, causing some of the Caribou soldiers placed on top of the guard wall of the building to duck and yell out profanities. Then the craft broke apart into tiny pieces, a sound of shifting metal filling the deathly air, and the pieces moved and got rearranged as the flying vehicle changed into a large bipedal form... The 7 ft Titan landed in front of the crowd, making the ground shake and a small crater in the earth indicated how hard the landing was. The soldiers began to glare daggers at the being that dared trespass their 'sacred' territory, before their murderous expressions turned into fear at the menacing 7ft metallic figure whose glowing red eyes were glaring back at them with a fiery rage that made some almost soil themselves... The being glared at the Caribou for a few moments, before he spoke, his raspy voice causing some of them to shudder at the potent malice and disdain he had in his tone. " Tribe of the Caribou, prepare to meet your Oblivion!" Megatron declared, his face turning into an ugly sneer on his upper glossa as he glared down at the organics that stared back up at him with unadulterated terror, his optics glowing with unlimited power and hatred in the moonlight... In the deeper part of town, the hundreds of Pony prisoners of all ages and both genders listened as the sounds of ultimate doom filled the air, explosions echoed across the town and the sounds of various Caribou meeting their horrible demise. Some were wondering what the hell was causing their 'Masters' such grief and chaos... and routed for whoever was attacking... Others prayed internally that whoever was out there attacking the Caribou were giving it all they got, and that he/she can save them all from perdition... Megatron snarled as his fusion cannon took out about 6 of the Caribou soldiers, while his Saber Wave pushed back another 20 that tried to charge him. The mech then put away his Dark Star Saber and deactivated his cannon, both servos glowing with menacing violet color that was associated with Dark Energon as he activated his arsenal once again. Both servos got replaced by thick spiky cannons with their barrel ends look like menacing maws with sharp teeth. He aimed both cannons at random points in the dense crowd of soldiers that he swept back, and fired... Twin blasts of energy shot out of his blasters and impacted the ground of the scattering Caribou, causing an explosion of dirt, and bloodied body parts and insides to fly through the air, the area filled with disturbed dirt and smoke from the blasts he caused. Some of the Caribou soldiers tried to shoot at the mech that dared to attack them, but they couldn't even see his silhouette in the dust cloud... It was quiet for a few moments, causing some of the Caribou to edge closer to the dust cloud, eager to see if they killed the unknown, so that they could boast to King Dainn of their achievements. A dark purple glow showed in the middle of the cloud and Megatron charged out of the cloud, his right blaster replaced by the scythe that he used on the corrupted stallion, and his left was a gigantic spike hammer that looked very destructive. His optics took on the violet purple glow again, this time spilling out and smoking like a certain Unicorn king, making him even MORE menacing in the night than before... A few of the soldiers gulped in fear, regretting their life choices at the moment... With a roar of rage, Megatron swung his right scythe, cutting through soldiers like butter, and then he swung his left servo over head and the hammer impacted the ground, his optics watching the large amount of blood and body parts splattering the ground and part of his chassis from the attack. With growls that made him seem like an animal, Megatron deactivated his right scythe and shoved his servo into the final Caribou's chest, grabbed the burly deer's heart, and ripped it out of the dying bastard's chest cavity with ease. After the body fell, the blood covered mech crushed the still beating heart in his fist, and threw away the squished remains. Megatron turned to the barricade that blocked the world from entry to the town, and aimed his fusion cannon at it, powered it up, and fired a single shot. BANG! KABOOM! The barricade got destroyed into thousands of pieces that flew through the smoke-filled air, and Megatron walked through at a slow pace, his optics looking around the decrepit town with disgust, seeing the hanging bodies of gutted ponies, mares and stallions alike. What has got to him even worse though, was the small children hung by their necks with thick rope, long since asphyxiated and without a shred of clothing... After staring up at the pale bodies above him for a few moments, contemplating what to do.. Before an idea that made his chassis lightly shudder with disgust... But he had no choice, he can't take on the town alone... Megatron's chassis began glowing a deep purple, the Dark Energon getting to work as both of his servos glowed and he aimed at the bodies, a look of remorse on his faceplate for what he was about to do. " Forgive me... For if I join the Pit on this planet, when it is my time for what I'm about to do, rest in peace. Let your bodies avenge your unfortunate demise and tear the Caribou asunder..." He whispered, before firing dark purple bolts of lightning... The bolts impacted the bodies, and they begin glowing the same color as Dark Energon, their bodies shaking and spasming. Then their soulless eyes opened, glowing as violet as Megatron's under the effect of Dark Energon. The bodies of the ponies fell to the ground, before slowly crawling to their feet, groaning and screeching in hungry tones. Megatron watched as the reanimated dead of mutilated ponies stumble deeper into the inner parts of town, craving to kill their Caribou captors, rapers, and murderers... Before he turned his attention to a small signal being pinged off his sensors, causing his optics to land on a fortress in the middle of town, covered in blood and guys of all sizes, a couple of skeletons hanging like the fresh bodies he reanimated, gutted and hung. Megatron optics narrowed and gritted his denta as he heard mares and fillies alike scream in pain... His red optics gleaming bright, made his way through the town at a fast pace and aimed his fusion cannon at the large barricaded front doors of the fortress... The doors exploded from the blast of energy Megatron made and he stomped inside, activating his blade and slashed his way through the small 5 person crowd of Caribou that were torturing the ponies with sadistic tendencies and sexual methods that made Megatron not feel sorry for their deaths. He actually took GREAT pleasure in disposing of such filth... He grabbed the last Caribou soldier that was about to rape a young orange coated Pegasus filly with one arm and smashed him against the wall. The mech growled angrily and crushed the organic's weak skull to a pulp, popping out the eyeballs and blood coating his clawed servo... He saw that the ponies in the look up at him in reverence, including the small Pegasus filly he just saved, her clothes halfway torn to nothing, but somehow keeping her decency. Megatron looked around the bloodied room, and said, " Do not fear, your salvation is at hand. It is your time to escape this accursed place and flee to the forest, there will be help waiting for you deep in its clutches." He then looked back to the filly, who was joined by three more. A white one that had a two tone colored mane that wore a tattered and dirty purple dress, a yellow one with a red mane and bow wearing ripped overalls and a red undershirt that was untucked which somewhat reminded him of one earth pony hanging around Twilight, and a midnight black one with a torn up white shirt that had a purple shield logo on the center and a purple skirt that had turquoise eyes like Chrysalis... All four fillies were staring up at him with gratefulness and confusion mixed with awe, before the black coated filly said, " What is your name, metal Titan?" She asked in a tone that made him think back to Princess Luna. Perhaps she is a relative? He thought, before replying. " I... Am Megatron. A warrior that seeks to wipe out these Caribou from existence and to save anyone I can that could help our cause! When you escape this place, there is a haven you must seek deep in the Everfree Forest; you will be safe there." He heard more screams of Caribou dying getting closer, and then looked back to the 4, " Go... I will join up with you when this is over, and this festered town is torn asunder..." He said, his optics staring directly at the filly who looked to be royalty, despite the casual attire. It was quiet for a few moments, interrupted by the sound of his TerrorPonies below the fortress tearing and killing the Caribou that killed them in a brutal manner... Then, the black coated filly dipped her head in respect, and the group vacated the room after being ordered by her to grab blunt weapons like torn metal chair legs and daggers that got scattered from Megatron's... Entrance. After the room was empty, Megatron aimed and fired his fusion cannon at the empty back wall of the room and transformed into the open air as he jumped out a running pace. He looked down onto the burning town as his TerrorPonies decimated the Caribou soldiers and slavers at an immense pace, their fresh corpses joining the growing army at an extremely fast pace. His work was done after half an hour of watching the Carnage, he then commanded his pony half of the undead army to sleep in peace, and their moaning and groaning corpses collapsed to the ground, dead once again. The Caribou undead turned into ash, screeching in agony... Megatron veered his jet around and broke the sound barrier at Mach 1 to the forest. He saw the large group of former prisoners journeying through the forest, and decelerated until he was above the group. He transformed in front of the group when he got close enough to the ground, causing the Ponies to jump and aim their primitive weapons at him for a moment, until they relaxed as they saw it was him. He didn't say anything as he travelled alongside the group that mostly consisted of fillies and colts, and a few mares and stallions that weren't corrupted. The only thought on his processor was, What was Celestia gonna say about this? And what's next?... The sun's rays were peeking through the dense forestry as Tempest stood outside the entrance of the base, right behind the barrier, her cold eyes narrowed as the wards alerted her and the guards mares of a large group coming towards their base... They set up positions behind the barrier as well as some cover in case it was an attack from the Caribou... The foliage moved and the sounds of loud footsteps echoed across the large open field between them and the Everfree Forest... Coming out of the forest was Megatron, much to their relief; and behind him was a crowd of pony refugees that she recognized from Ponyville, and then her attention turned to the sight of movement from Megatron, who stood still in the middle of the field to let the smaller organics get to safety, and her eyes widened on the small black coated and raggedly clothed filly sitting on the mech's shoulder plating. It was Nyx! Princess Twilight's adopted daughter, and she was alive! She, like everypony else, thought that the children of Ponyville were publicly executed, Nyx included, by King Dainn himself. But the people that told her and the rest of the base didn't have physical evidence, nor a way to prove that he/she was there during said 'Execution' But they were wrong, SHE was wrong, at the sight of the filly smiling tiredly down at her with her dragon eyes gleaming with happiness... The four Alicorn Princesses were in the castle War Room, huddling over a map of Equestria to think of battle plans to attack the Caribou strongholds in major towns and cities... When the door that was sealed shut exploded open, causing everypony in there to jump and look at who came in. It was Megatron and Soundwave in their 7 & 6 ft forms, and Nyx, who was peeking out from behind Megatron's pede with curiosity, then recognition as she locked her turquoise dragon eyes with Twilight's shocked ones. It was silent for a moment, before the Alicorn filly jumped out from behind Megatron. " MOMMY!" She shouted out, sprinting to the lavender Alicorn as fast as possible with a large smile on her face. Twilight discreetly glanced at the Changeling disguise detector located above the doorway behind Megatron's helm, and saw it wasn't changing to its alert color... Relieved and very happy, Twilight opened her forehooves wide as Nyx came barreling into her, wrapping her little hooves around her barrel tightly. Megatron watched with a slight smile, his spark warmed by the sight of such a reunion between family... The other Princesses were smiling widely as they felt relief that Nyx was alive and not dead... All in all... it was a happy ending...
Transformers Prime: Megatron's Journey	Chapter 7	Chapter 7 Soundwave and Megatron flew through the air in their vehicle modes as they oversaw the Equestrian Brigade's march... Their first prime candidate for a frontal attack was Cloudsdale for Megatron and Soundwave, since it was the city of the Pegasi; and Canterlot, where King Dainn was, for the Brigade... The two Cybertronians discussed the small plan between them to try and get freed ponies to join their Brigade, and if all else failed and everyone was dead up there... Megatron would not hesitate to use Dark Energon again to get his goals... Though it might disgust the ponies for making use of the dead in a vulgar and disrespectful manner, he will do whatever it takes to end this war. Even if he had to die again to do so... He noticed Commander Tempest and Celestia standing on the hilltop, doing the same thing he and Soundwave were doing, and sent a ping on her communicator. "Celestia, I shall wish you luck in your endeavors." He said, his raspy voice serious. Celestia looked up at him in the air and smiled, her beautiful, elegant face lighting up the entire world at its pureness... " I will do whatever it takes to see this war end; so I shall wish you luck as well, Megatron." She replied, her fingers on the device in her ear. Megatron felt his good mood dim at a sudden thought in his processor, and said in a tone that caught The Solar Princess's attention... " Celestia... If I don't make it back... I want to tell you something that I've never said to anyone else except for Soundwave..." he said, his voice grave. Then with a small vent, he continued, " Just know that I always saw you as more than a friend. I... I recently started to see you like a Spark Sister..." He could see the gears turning in her head and the shock on Celestia's face when she figured it out, and continued. " You sat with me on that Astronomy tower that night, gazing up at the stars with a sense of intrigue that I once showed. You have the age and wisdom behind your eyes that said you would do everything in your power to protect who was close to you, including strangers. Even the ... ones that don't want to be redeemed, so that they can learn their mistakes and take on a new life, I once used to be like that... until I noticed that the system we used at our home planet was corrupt..." Megatron's voice hesitated at the second to last sentence, thinking of himself in that regard. " Megatron..." she said, her usually calm and motherly voice shaky. The mech felt the affection underneath the tremors of her vocal processor, and it warmed his Spark.... He said with determination as the two jets soared through the air towards their new destination,. " If I don't make it back... I want you to do something for me, as a thank you for taking me I'm when you didn't have to..." Megatron said. He continued after a small amount of silence, making him gather the courage so he won't back out of this... " I want you to remember me, to never forget the small amount of time we spent together, even though it has been a crazy couple of weeks." He said, his voice teasing at the end. He saw Celestia giggle behind her hand, and reply in her comm. " It HAS been kinda crazy ever since you arrived, I have to admit. But a... good kind of crazy." She finished with her voice warm. " I'm glad I can make things exciting!" Megatron dryly said and chuckled afterwards, Celestia following with a small fit of giggles. There was a comfortable silence, despite the sound of his and Soundwave's jets, and the marching of the thousand strong army. Then she broke it... " Take care of yourself... Brother..." Celestia said, her tone soft, and it reminded the transformed mech of Orion Pax again when he called Megatronus a brother. " I will... Sister." Megatron said as he and Soundwave veered off towards Cloudsdale with only one objective in their processors... To Kill all Caribou that stands in their way and free their prisoners from their hellish prisons... Cloudsdale was a city made of clouds shaped into a city, hence the name... But it was surrounded by 50 blimp gunships commandeered by the Caribou that were starting their attack. Their cannons shot through the material of water vapor with ease, sometimes hitting random Pegasi that were desperately trying to fight back and save their home, with no results... Some of them tried charging the warships with guns and explosives, but they were instantly shot down by the relentless gunsmen on the decks, shooting the ponies down with accurate precision, and gleefully watched at the dying Pegasi fell to their demise on the ground, hundreds of feet below... The leading gunship was charging directly towards the city, intent on getting their troops on the metaphorical ground... How do they stay on the clouds, and not fall to their deaths like the stupid animals they are? Well, they made special armor that were enchanted with sacrificial Pony infused blood magic to make them stay on top of the clouds... The leading blimp was just now ten yards from the nearest population center, some Caribou roaring for blood and unrelenting rape and murder of the mares, stallions, and foals, that will satisfy them... But not today... There was a strange noise in the air of the midair warzone, it was slightly faint, but surely picking up fast in decibels every second. Some stopped to hear the noise, the fight forgotten and the Caribou looked in the Northwest that was in the direction of the sound. There were two strange looking crafts cutting through the air with agile ease that made some of the Caribou and ponies stare at in awe, their designs alien, yet ferocious and intimidating all the same. The leading captain of the warship BLOODRUST, yelled out to his crew, " All stations! Prepare to fire on the two unidentified crafts!" He shouted, his voice carrying out through the air loud enough so that everyone on the ship could hear him, as well as some of the others. The crews manned their guns and cannons, aiming towards the speeding aircraft that was coming towards them at a speed that made some of the Pegasi gulp at. It was tense as the various Pegasi retreated back to their city to find cover from what may be, the battle of epic proportions... The more spiky looking craft sped ahead of the more angular looking one and broke the sound barrier, veering towards the large group of gunships that were preparing to fire at... As it got closer, the captains shouted, " FIRE!!!" And all hell broke loose... Cannons fired simultaneously as well as various types of weaponry that did nothing but miss and ding the armored flyer. The vehicle sped up as they fired, its nose directed towards the middle one of three that was in a line directing the attack... Then the scary looking craft fired weapons that noone or pony ever heard of before... BANG! BANG! BANG! The weapons located at the sides of the pointed snout fired bright purple plasma bolts at the ships and they impacted the hull, destroying the wood of the 3 decked craft that was armored against pony magic and their primitive weaponry. But they can't stop the arsenal that was never seen before... The jet kept firing, getting closer and closer, before one of the shots landed on a fuel tank that some idiot rookie left on the deck. The gas of magic and propane explode upon contact with the plasma, and the gunship lurched down, a few holes in its balloon suggested that it cannot stay up in the air for much longer. The jet made a whirling maneuver that sent it straight up, before it nosedived another gunship, guns blazing at the large balloon. Just three shots from its guns punctured the ball of helium and it ignited, sending the large crew of the gunship plummeting to their deaths... POV Change (Spitfire) The ex-captain of the Wonderbolts and appointed leader of the Pegasus Rebellion watched the spectacle that was a craft of unknown make destroy two Caribou gunships with practiced ease... She was impressed, yet slightly fearful that these two unknowns could turn against her and her fellow cadets and civilians that she brought in to the Wonderbolt Academy as a base of operations... She donned her light armor and grabbed her .50 Caliber M107 Barrett sniper rifle, and headed up to the roof of the base. She looked through the scope of her rifle and saw the second craft speeding towards her location, making her put her index finger on the trigger, ready to fire if it was a hostile... But it wasn't necessary... The jet shot over her and flew up, before it broke apart and changed into a gigantic bipedal robot. It's blank and glass face stared down at her as it landed with a small THUMP! On the roof of the base, it's thin mechanical body looming over her at 6 ½ ft in height, in comparison to her 5 '9' height. Spitfire stared at the silent being, right as it stared back down at her, the air quiet despite the other jet, which she thinks is another metal being in disguise, keeps firing at the Caribou attack fleet... Then the mech lifted its arm and pointed it's black finger at her, causing Spitfire to feel confusion for a moment, before she looked down at her armor. Emblazoned on there ever since it was made, was a symbol that was dark, yet fierce looking, a logo to warn enemies of the secret wrath that the secret division of specially trained Wonderbolts might ensue if you've done really wrong in Equestria, or to Princess Celestia's ponies in general... Like the Caribou for instance. There was a wavelength on the visor of the mech as its metal finger touched the symbol she had earned after years of training, saying in a raspy tone, the voice making the mare shudder at it's malevolence. " Decepticon..." It 'said', breaking the silence of the war torn air. Spitfire blinked at the word, then put two and two together as her eyes caught sight of the same insignia on the mech's large thin shoulders. " Does Decepticon mean something to you?" She asked, curious, but still cautious in case this unknown being that wore her insignia could turn on her at any given moment... The mech stood there silently, before its glass visor filled with an image of a tall alabaster white Alicorn mare sitting regally next to a window, looking outside with a peaceful look on her elegant and eternal face. Spitfire's eyes widened at the sight of the mare, two words on her lips as she said, " Princess Celestia..." She trailed off afterwards, thinking deeply as the jet veered around to fire another volley just at the edge of her home. Then she looked up at the mech again, then smiled for the first time in a long while... Megatron's jet form sped through the air as he dodged the unrelenting volley of cannonballs, arrows, and bullets that grazed and pinged off of his armor. He fired his small guns, and then when he got close enough to one of the last 5 gunships out of the 50 that he destroyed in the past few minutes... He transformed... He whirled through the air and eject his arm blade out... With graceful ease and skill of being the top gladiator, he sliced through the thick gunship in half, roaring with triumph as he witnessed the hundreds aboard perish under his servos... He transformed again into his jet form and quickly finished off the last four ships with ease, before flying back to Cloudsdale, where he knew Soundwave was talking to the rebellion leader. That's when he felt something activate in his systems, a small device that Megatron gave to Celestia as a precaution. Flashback Begins Megatron kneeled down in front of the Solar Princess, the large group of mares decked in armor surrounding the two with grim expressions that reminded him of the war back on Cybertron all those eons ago. He held out his clawed servo and in the center of it, was a small pendant with the decepticon insignia, hidden behind the image of a sun. " Celestia, if you ever get into something you can't get out of yourself, just pressed down on my symbol, it'll alert me to where your location is, and I'll come to you." He said, his glossa turned down in a frown at the thought of someone he thought of as a Spark Sister getting hurt, or worse. Celestia smiled up at him... Flashback Ends Megatron felt a sense of dread in his chassis as he then sent out a locator beacon to see where Celestia was and how she was doing... His Spark stopped at the results of his pulse scan... LOCATION: Canterlot Castle... STATUS: Unknown RECENT INJURIES: Stab Wound By A Blade Of Dark Magic, WARBING: Dark Magic Poison Detected In Bloodstream! Send For Immediate Medical Assistance! He transformed above the middle of the cloud street and roared up into the open sky in rage at the thought of her potentially dead. His rage as well as the power of Dark Energon, spread throughout the entirety of Cloudsdale, causing the dead bodies of Caribou and ponies alike to become undead with only one thought in their Rage induced madness: To kill all Caribou on sight... In his rage, Megatron's processor cropped up an idea that made him grin evilly, his processor turning back into his Warlord persona... He turned towards the rising corpses of the dead under his command. " TERRORCONS!" He bellowed, gathering the attention of both living and undead alike, " TAKE FLIGHT, AND BESIEGE THE CITY OF CANTERLOT! LEAVE NO CARIBOU ALIVE!" He roared as he raised his right servo, clenched into a fist as his red optics glowed a very bright violet, his chassis glowing with veins of Dark Energon. The Pegasi corpses took flight on their fresh wings and slowly soared through the air towards their master's destination. The Caribou infused their wreckages of their former gunships into floating warships with menacing wooden spikes and fierce looking cannons that looked to be the maws of dragons... Megatron watched as his undead army prepped for a full frontal assault with his processor going thousands of electrons per second, thinking of what might've happened to Celestia... And if whoever, most likely King Dain was the one that killed her, knew what was coming for him... He should've said his last goodbyes, because he brought the wrath of Unicron and Megatron combined gunning for him... Celestia laid on the hard bloodsoaked ground as the small amount of dark magic interrupted her healing process, her blood seeping into the ground and staining her damaged armor as she looked up weakly into the glowing blue eyes of King Dain sneering down at her; his dark poisonous dagger gripped tightly in his meaty hand as he raised it up to commit the final blow to the Alicorn... After Soundwave received what was going on when he arrived at Home base from the Cloudsdale operation with the entirety of the Pegasi clan; The silent mech transformed into his predator drone jet mode and flew after him. Rookie Ditzy Doo informed him that Celestia and her Armada haven't returned from their assault on Canterlot for 3 hours, which made his processor think one of two things that made his longest time friend that enraged... She was either gravely injured or offline... With that thought, Soundwave used his radar to locate the signal of Megatron's Spark signature, which was going at an abnormal speed in the center of the large amount of Dark Energon signatures he detected heading towards the city of Canterlot, praying that his friend hadn't turned to his Warlord self once again...
Transformers Prime: Megatron's Journey	Chapter 8	Chapter 8 The city of Canterlot used to be a prestigious place, full of noble stallions and mares of wealth and power, of bustling shops and restaurants, despite the hardships of all the times this city has been attacked... But it was now a flaming wreck, it looked even worse than when the Changeling's tried to invade... The stores and restaurants are decrepit and empty, the life that it once had was now bleak and bloodied as the stains on the cobblestone ground, giving it the look of a ghost town. Patrols of higher ranking Caribou scouted the large city in case there were Intruders, not knowing what came for them... Up in the tower, a Caribou guard looked towards the edge of the valley, and gasped... On the horizon, brightly clashing against the slowly setting sun, was a dark purple glow that looked menacing. The Caribou jumped up from his stool and grabbed his binoculars sitting on the desk, then he looked toward the horizon. What he saw chilled him to the bone... Coming agonizingly slow towards the city was an armada of a few thousand strong, a mix of ponies and Caribou along with warships of a fierce looking appearance. Leading the charge was the spiky looking jet that reports allegedly saw turning into a large bipedal robot that can easily kill without breaking a sweat. It was speeding towards the city with the same purple glow that the ponies and Caribou, as well as the ships, had, but it looked more brighter somehow, as if this one was special. The last thing that the guard saw was that the Armada weren't alive... They were undead... Celestia hanged from the shackles in the darkest dungeons she ever been in... And she USED to have one!... She weakly raised her head, noticing that her armor had been shed and not a shred of clothing was on her body. She shivered and felt disgusted at what Dainn might've done to her while she was unconscious... She struggled as the cell door opened, revealing two corrupted stallions peeking in, grinning like the cats that caught the bird. One was brown with a strawberry blonde mane and tail, the other a former royal guard taken in by the Caribou's magic. " Well well, if it isn't out most elegant Princess Celestia..." One said, both of the ponies walked into the room and shut the door behind them. " More like our toy.~" Said the one in the guard armor, both of them naked as she was. She stared at the two, horrified as they got closer, hands reaching out... She screamed... Megatron flew through the air, his thoughts gone as he focused on one thing and one thing only: Find Celestia and Kill King Dainn... The Cybertronian transformed into his robot mode as he spotted a large patrol of Caribou aiming upwards at him with their weak weapons. He snarled as he fired his fusion cannon at the tower placed between him and his goal, destroying it with one shot. He turned towards the charging organics and summoned his Star Saber, blasting a wave of Dark Energon towards them and watched as the ten Caribou got caught in it and we're pushed back and crashed into the sides of various buildings, killing them with no mercy. He vented lightly as he could feel his legion wreaked havoc upon the Caribou population, tearing every single one limb from limb, splitting a few in half with ease, and some were biting them to join the growing horde. He continued on his trek toward the castle, killing any Caribou unfortunate enough to cross his path... Then the ground shook, getting Megatron's attention to look towards the entrance of the once beautiful looking castle... Out stepped a large burly Caribou that was 8 ft feet tall, covered in muscles like a bodybuilder, wearing nothing but a large pair of pants, his dark blue eyes glowing with immense bloodlust that he used to have all that time ago... The large Caribou chuckled, his voice rumbling as he spoke, " So, you came for the Alicorn Whore? I must say, YOU were not expected amongst the weak ponies, Megatron." He said, mockingly towards the end. The mech's optic ridges furrowed slightly at the recognition he was getting from this overgrown sack of flesh and muscle, then his optics glowed an even brighter violet as he caught the sentence before last, the Dark Energon reacted to his rage from the words 'whore.' If there was something he hated even more than Unicron at this point... THAT word and his spark sister's name in the same sentence made him infuriated... " You must be Dainn, then..." Megatron spat out the name as if it was a bad batch of high-grade Energon. The large Caribou snorted, before puffing out his chest proudly, his muscles bulging tightly at the small movement. " That's KING Dainn to you, you pile of scrap!" He said, his voice booming across the city. The undead army stopped in their tracks, looking towards the large organic with something akin go outrage, their eyes bloodthirsty... Dainn ignored the crowd of undead that surrounded him and the mech, walking till he was at least a few yards away. "Once I take over Equestria and make the mares into our breeders, NOTHING will stop me from taking this world over! THEY WILL ALL BOW TO THE CARIBOU ARMADA!" Dainn boasted, his loud voice echoing across the city, causing a few of his fellow Caribou to cheer from the rooftops, hiding from the Terrorcons. " Freedom is the right of all sentient beings, Dainn, and you will not take it away from the ponies, not when I still function!" He declared, causing some of the mares that were still alive and uncaptured to lightly swoon at his bravado. Then Megatron paused at the irony of the sentence he used by a brother turned sworn enemy... It was something he used to scoff at during his and Optimus's battles, a sign of weakness... But now, he was using that same line, for the people he cared about... And he MEANT IT! Megatron clenched his right servo, his Star Saber in hand as he prepared to fight a formidable foe. Dainn, on the other hand, simply yawned, then cracked his neck from side to side, saying, " A pity... That the so called mighty Princesses sent a walking tin man against my unending might." The insults did not faze the former Gladiator/Warlord... What did however, was what the next thing that Dainn said. " After I beat you in battle, I will slit that Alicorn's throat when I'm done making her my personal pleasure toy..." He grinned, exposing his rotten sharp teeth to the world, " Then I'll find the rest of the Alicorns and kill them after breaking them! To show them what happens to those that dare goes against their SUPERIORS!" He said, his muscles bulging as he grabbed a weapon that appeared to be a mixture of a Warhammer and a spiked mace off of his back holster. ...That was the trigger Megatron needed... With a bellow of sheer rage, the mech charged to what may be his final battle, his arm blade out and readied, the Star Saber put away into his back holster, his optics glowing immensely. King Dainn bellowed out in kind, gripping the Warhammer and charged as well... Twilight Sparkle and Tempest Shadow watched the exchange between enemies, and saw how enraged Megatron looked... " GULP Glad I'm not on his bad side..." Tempest said, her eyes wide as she witnessed the ferocity in Megatron's attacks on Dainn. Twilight only nodded, her eyes in a similar size as she saw the red optics of the 7 ft tall mech glowing violet with malice and bloodlust, his attacks swift and merciless. The large Caribou known as King Dainn was barely managing to block off Megatron's attacks with his HammerMace... " C'mon Tempest, we have a Princess to save..." The young lavender Alicorn mare said, turning her attention away from the battle to the looming structure before her that she once called home. Now, it was violated by disgusting creatures and remains of pony corpses hanging from the bloodied walls... The two mares stuck to the shadows as they snuck through the heavily guarded hallways of the castle. " If I were an Alicorn prisoner, where would I be?" Twilight muttered under her breath as the two passed by another patrol of Caribou. " In the dungeons." Tempest answers, making Twilight jump a little and look at her best friend in surprise and confusion. Tempest saw this and lightly shrugged, a small sheepish look on her face. " It's where I'd put her..." She continued. Twilight thought it over for a moment, before nodding in agreement. " Let's go." She said, a spark of determination in her eyes. They have to save her mentor and friend, as well as save Megatron from his rampage... Megatron's counterattack got blocked by the Caribou King's weapon, before being shoved back, and when he got his bearings, the mech saw the large spiked mace of the weapon swinging towards his faceplate. POW! " GAH!" He shouted in pain. Megatron flew back at the force of the hit, Energon flying out of his glossa as he crashed against a stone building, making a hole in the wall as he smashed through. Dainn sneered at the fallen mech, brandishing his MaceWarhammer, before calling out, " Is this all the best that Celestia has? A scrap of tin? I fought worse monsters when I was a young calf!" He shouted, walking towards the shaking mech as he tried to get up from Dainn's throw. The Cybertronian's armor was chinked and dented from Dainn's assault, and his venting was ragged from exertion... But he will NOT give up! Megatron got to his knee and tried to get to his pedes, when suddenly the hammer slammed against his back, sending him back on the ground, growling in pain. Dainn stared down at him with a bored look, his blue eyes gleaming with amusement at the smaller being trying to get up off the ground again, a large dent on his backplates. " Pathetic. I am gonna go ahead and put you out of your misery." He said, lifting the heavy MaceHammer and lifted it over his head, ready to deal the killing blow as Megatron got to a kneeling position again, shaking and his optics were closed, his shoulders slumped in defeat. " It's such a shame that the whore you care immensely about will never see you perish." He finished, throwing down the hammer to the metal creatures helm, wanting to end this conflict... Megatron tensed as the Warhammer came down, feeling as if this scene was familiar somehow... His only regret... was that he never got to say goodbye before joining the Pit for his sins... Lightning flashed against the sky under the dark clouds that formed during the battle, the hammer only a few inches from his faceplates... CLANG! All of time slowed down as two metal servos stopped the hammer's trajectory... Dainn's eyes widened at the mech before him, the metal claws grasping the polished wooden handle under the giant hammer's head with ease. Megatron lifted his helm and opened his optics, and Dainn felt fear stirring in his chest. His optics that used to be blood red with white irises were now glowing bright violet, and his metal body showed veins that glowed the same color...
Transformers Prime: Megatron's Journey	Chapter 9	Chapter 9 Twilight and Tempest ran down the dungeons, finally getting past the last guard patrol that was in the area, when they stopped as they heard someone crying. The two mares looked at each other, a feeling of dread forming in their guts as they got closer to the slightly ajared door, out of all of the open ones. Tempest grabbed Twilight's shoulder and stopped her friend, quieting her by a look, which Twilight understood as ' Be quiet and listen closely.'. Their sharp ears picked up the sound of something choking, and the sound of flesh against flesh, made the two think bad thoughts. And if there was only one cell door that is slightly closed, and nopony else was here... Twilight and Tempest surged forward and banged open the door, stopping at the sight of two stallions crowding around a prisoner. They recognised who it is and felt revulsion... Celestia, the Immortal Princess Of The Sun, was chained up against the back wall of the large cell, her wrists shackled and hanging above her head, a ring inhibitor place around her horn to keep her from using magic. The two naked stallions were groping her bruised and battered body, small cuts on her arms, legs and breasts. Twilight stood there, frozen with horror at what her fellow ponies were doing to her mentor/friend... Tempest on the other hand, gritted her teeth and her broken horn flared... The stump from a childhood of mistakes sparked malevolently as an aura of blue surrounded the two stallions, ripping them off her Princess and throwing them away and against the wall. Then her magical aura fueled by rage wrapped around the snarling and growling ponies' throats, putting pressure on them, her eyes blazing. Twilight on the other hand, sped towards the limp panting form of Celestia, naked and covered in her own blood, her cyan eyes dim with tears. She lit her horn, trying to heal the cuts and soothe the bruises that were marring her friend's beautiful skin with her magic. The mare watched as some of the smaller cuts began fading away, leaving fresh scabs on the skin as they healed. The dark blue and black on Celestia's skin faded to a faint yellow, healing, but not fully... The older Alicorn's breathing became smoother, her coat turning clean of any... substances that were staining her. Twilight panted in exertion from her advanced healing charm, and heard two thuds hit the ground. She looked towards Tempest, who stared down at the two dead bodies of the stallions who...who... Twilight couldn't continue that thought... Twilight shrugged off her dark outer coat that she brought with her and wrapped around the shaking Celestia. The alabaster mare opened her eyes, pain in her eyes that the lavender mare never saw before, " Twi...light?..." She murmured, her voice hoarse from screaming so much. The young Alicorn felt tears slide down her cheeks as she caressed her former mentor's cheek. " Shh, I'm here... can you walk?" She said soothingly, then asked at the end. The older Alicorn looked down at her slightly exposed body from under Twilight's coat, still shuddering from what she experienced. " Yes..." She whispered, slowly getting to her feet and grabbed Twilight's shoulder to steady herself. Tempest still stared at the two ponies she killed, guilt welling up inside at the life she took with ease. Before remembering the scene she and her best friend walked in on, and felt enraged, not at the stallions, but at the one who caused this... Dainn... The three mares heard a noise coming from a cell outside and slowly made their way over to investigate. When the three made it to the open door, Tempest peeked in, and her eyes widened... " Oh dear..." She whispered, shock filling her voice. Dainn and Megatron were at a standstill, the mech's servos tightly gripping the wooden shaft of the Caribou King's MaceWarhammer. With an angry shout, Megatron lifted himself off the ground, getting to his pedes. His violet optics glaring harshly at the monster before him. Dainn stared down at the mech, caught off guard that this small metal golem was still going, despite the beating he took... And it doesn't help the fact that the once living corpses of his brethren were staring rather hungrily at him... Megatron snarled, pushing the heavy weight that was the MaceWarhammer away from him, before snapping the shaft in half. CRACK! Dainn stared at his once mighty weapon that felled enemies without pause, snapping in half right in front of him.. The next thing the Caribou King saw was his own creation being swung at his torso... WHAM! The large burly deer was sent flying back and crashed into the cobblestone ground of Canterlot's streets. Megatron began walking towards the fallen foe, arming his fusion cannon and aiming at the downed Caribou. All of his thought processes were gone except one... KILL THIS FLESHBAG! A voice shouted in the back of his processor that vaguely sounded like a mixture of his old self and Unicron. Dainn struggled to his feet, then was sent flying back again by a metal fist slamming into his cheek, causing him to ram against a wall of another building, leaving cracks from the impact. Megatron, having enough of this foolishness, aimed his right arm and fired his cannon at the groaning organic. BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! Every single shot from his cannon impacted Dainn's broad chest, causing him to go deeper into the small crater of the building, spiderweb cracks shooting around the entire wall of the once beautiful building. Megatron watched with smoking optics at the falling limp form of the Caribou King, his chest charred and burnt from his Energon blasts. The mech stomped up to where he was laying faceup and ejected his blade, a snarl on his face as he raised it up over his head. Time to finish this miserable conflict once and for all! He shouted mentally, the sounds of thunder and lightning striking the air, the area charged with an energy that made it seem familiar to him. Just as he was about to slice down... A voice called out to him weakly, " Stop..." It said. Everything slowed down as Megatron froze in place... The enraged mech turned his helm over his shoulder to see who spoke... And his optics widened, the violet glow dimming to blood red...
Transformers Prime: Megatron's Journey	Chapter 10	Chapter 10 Standing there with her arms hung around both Twilight and Tempest, was Celestia, wearing nothing but a buttoned-up coat to keep her decency. She unslung her arms from the two mares holding her up and slowly walked towards the 7ft mech... Her legs were shaking and was gritting her teeth in effort... She made it halfway before falling to her knees, panting from exhaustion... The dark magic in her blood would take days, if not weeks to full siphon through her bloodstream and magic reserves... Megatron stepped off of Dainn's shuddering body and walked over to the kneeling Alicorn, his optics holding an emotion he had never felt before in his lifecycle. He held out a servo for her to take, and Celestia lifted her head as she spotted it. She smiled, before weakly taking it and lifting herself up with his assistance, stumbling a couple of times before readjusting herself so that she was straight. Megatron felt a small smile lift his glossa for a moment, before his optics detected movement... A large broken stick of wood that he recalled was once the sturdy shaft of Dainn's MaceWarhammer, hurtling toward them with a deadly precision an experienced archer has. He turned his helm, shock filling him at the large broken shaft being thrown through the air towards them. Then he caught sight of Dainn's bloodied and mashed face grinning at them as he slowly struggled to his bare feet, seeing that his makeshift spear was aimed at Celestia. Gritting his denta, he grabbed Celestia and pulled her towards his chassis, moving her out of the spear's deadly end, moving himself in place. SLICE! It was still, the air filled with a shocked silence at the frozen form of Megatron. The large spear was lodged in his lower chassis, causing his damaged systems to spark and crackle as it buried in... Celestia's, Twilight's and Tempest's eyes were wide as Megatron fell to his knees, his servos clutching the spear embedded in his side, an expression of pain on his faceplate. Megatron grunted in pain, trying to get the spear out of his chassis, to no avail. He fell to his back, his optics growing dim as he watched the world around him turn dark. The last thing he saw was Celestia and Twilight staring down at him with concern and fear... The last thing he heard was someone screaming his name... " MEGATROOOONNNN!!!" He felt... cold, as if his internal heating systems malfunctioned and was stuck in Earth's Antarctic climate. But he didn't feel that the cold was draining him, slowly killing him, it was almost as if... As if he was being embraced by an old friend... Megatron's auditory sensors heard whispering coming from the endless black abyss, then a voice spoke in his ears. " Your time is not yet up, my child... " Said a booming voice that filled the void with its presence, almost similar to Unicron, but... different. Megatron listened as his optics stayed offline, his Spark pounding... " You have just begun on your journey of self reflection and healing, making amendments that will take courage, honor, and selfless acts that you have already done." " You shall go through trying times, facing challenges that may seem impossible, but I know that you can overcome them in time." The voice said, echoing throughout the black expanse. Then Megatron felt a growing pressure on his chestplate, right where his Spark Chamber was located, but he didn't feel like he was in danger, despite the thought process that he was dead... " You have my Blessings of Redemption." Megatron then felt as if he couldn't hold in his silence any longer... " But why me? Why do I get this chance, if I am unworthy for it?!" He demanded to the open black expanse surrounding him, all but demanding to know who it was that's speaking to him. But apparently the voice ignored his question, continuing as if the mech never even spoke... " Megatron, go forth and claim your right as protector of Equis, protect the one you consider a Spark Sister, and slay the ones you call an enemy!" The voice boomed, causing Megatron to clutch his helm in pain at the power it exudes. Then the expanse began glowing bright, nearly blinding his optics as he felt a new energy surge through his systems, giving him a strength that brought him back into his Kaon Gladiator days. Then he onlined again... Dainn loomed over Celestia's weak body as he raised a large piece of broken rebar, panting as he prepared to kill the Solar Diarch and rid the ponies of a leader. What he didn't notice was the rising form of the Cybertronian Mech behind him, his optics glowing a blazing red with a determined grimace on his faceplate... Dainn raised the rebar higher above his head, ready to end this waste of life... " I once considered you to be my personal trophy, Celestia." Dainn said, sneering down at the glaring Alicorn, " But considering the fact that you decided to rebel against your true lord and master, I am now going to take pleasure in killing you an agonising death!" He didn't see the 7ft metal form standing menacingly behind him, his optics glaring at the back of the taller Caribou in unadulterated hatred... Just as when Dainn raised the rebar more above his head, ready to plunge it into the weak Alicorn's heart... When the sound of metal sliding behind him, causing the Caribou King to whirl around... SHING! Dainn's eyes widened as he froze, a small gurgling groan escaping his throat as he looked down. A large silver blade was embedded into his chest, blood leaking around the blade and down his torso, coating the ground in a small puddle of red... Megatron glared up into the Caribou's eyes, a sneer on his glossa as he hissed, " You shouldn't have turned your back on me." he said, his optics blazing as he swiftly pulled his blade out of the King's chest. Dainn clutched the wound that bled profusely, choking on his own blood as he fell onto his back, away from the coughing form of Celestia. Megatron glared down at the Caribou's corpse, noticing the various Caribou raising their hands in a form of surrender, a look of defeat on their faces as they witnessed the fall of their King. He placed his right pede on the still chest of Dainn, took a vent and bellowed a shout of triumph to the open skies, his blade still out as he raised his right arm above his head, blood still dripping down the gleaming blade that was Dainn's lifeblood; A hole in the dark storm clouds shining sunlight down on top of him as he relished in his victory... After venting in relief, Megatron stepped off the dead corpse and walked over to the fallen form of Celestia, staring up at him with a sense of awe and delirium on her face. He didn't say anything, just bent down and carefully picked his Spark Sister up from the ground and walked through the slowly filling streets of the city. Soundwave looked on from the tallest spire of Canterlot Castle, recording the whole event as he watched his friend walk out of the Castle's front courtyard and placed the exhausted Alicorn onto a tarnished white and gold chariot that a few remaining guards mares were hooked up to, making sure that she was secure before the two Pegasi back towards the base in the middle of the Everfree Forest... Megatron transformed into his jet mode and flew up after the chariot The silent mech arrived at the city when Megatron battled King Dainn, and he felt that he should be an observer, not wanting to get into a fight with the once honorable mech turned Warlord. He saw what happened in the castle he is standing on and felt it necessary to send Lazerbeak in and make the noise in the cell outside of Celestia's to get the attention of Twilight Sparkle and Tempest Shadow. Because according to his extensive scans, Soundwave picked up five other life signatures besides Celestia's, Twilight's, and Tempest's. What was inside the cell that Lazerbeak discovered, was a group of four mares, a little bit bruised and ragged, but otherwise alright and still wearing their everyday clothes that were dirty... Twilight and Tempest recognised them immediately as their best friends Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Spike the dragon, also known as Twilight's adoptive little brother/ assistant, and Applejack... The rest of the Elements of Harmony that got captured at the beginning of the Caribou's Invasion. The mares were encased in a spell bubble that drained all of their magic to the barest minimum, the two Unicorns harboring magical inhibitor rings as a precaution, and the pegasus's and earth pony's wings and legs were bound respectively. Soundwave felt himself relax his chassis slightly, and transformed into his jet mode, flying through the air on the same route that his former Lord and Master turned friend was going... The ponies inside Canterlot cheered in victory as the defeated Caribou were killed with no mercy, years of revenge being paid in full... The sun was shining with a bright gleam of power as Equestria celebrated...
Transformers Prime: Megatron's Journey	Epilogue	Epilogue The sun shone down on the harmonious world of Equestria, the once decimated cities and towns that were invaded were now rebuilt and flourishing with life. Ponyville was bright and full of mares and stallions mingling happily with each other, almost forgetting the long five year war against the Caribou... It was a couple years later since King Dainn's demise... And the one that ended him was coming to visit later today... Twilight Sparkle, sitting amongst her group of friends, lightly reading a book, looking up at the other five mares chatting happily about their days and what was going on. " I can't believe Lord Megatron is coming to visit the town after SO long!" Exclaimed Pinkie Pie, the pink bubbly earth pony bouncing the spot, " I SO wanted to thank him for freeing us!" Rarity, the white aristocratic unicorn, sipped her tea daintily, listening to her friend's fast paced conversation. " I believe that thanks should be passed to Soundwave, the Princesses chief intel advisor. He was the one that found us in that dreadful cell." She said, shuddering in disgust at the thought of the dark and dirty cell. Fluttershy, who was brushing Angel Bunny's fur with her blue hairbrush, smiled softly. " Indeed... If Megatron hadn't helped us win the war..." She trailed off, her lips turning down at the memories of first meeting the imposing mech that saved her life. Applejack didn't say anything, not wanting to make her friend upset at her blunt honesty of the outcome if Megatron hadn't arrived on Equis, only patting her friend on the shoulder, smiling reassuringly. " I heard that Lord Megatron is gonna travel the rest of Equis soon... Maybe he can tell us of his travels once he returns?" Rainbow Dash commented from her cloud, lying on her stomach as she stared down at her friends, her rainbow-colored hair wild as ever. Twilight giggled lightly, gaining the attention of her friends, " I can't wait to see him again, after all he's done for us... Almost... dying for someone that should be beneath him with ease... It shows how much Megatron changed than from the ancient texts that prescribed him." She said, smiling brightly. " Words like that make me wonder if you're Orion Pax reincarnated in pony form, Miss Sparkle." Said a raspy voice behind the group, causing Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy to jump and whirl around. The mech in question towered over them in his 30 ft tall form, his armor gleaming and menacing as always, disarmed by the smile lifting the tips of his scarred glossa... " MEGGSY!" Shouted Pinkie Pie, glomping his now shrunken form of 7 ft without hesitation, with a large happy grin on her face. Megatron chuckled, returning the hug from the pink mare gently, his red optics glowing with warmth. " It is good to see you all after the last time we met, I see that you all have been well?" The mech asked, a look of curiosity gleaming in his optics as he sat down on the same tree where Twilight resided, the lavender mare scooching over for more room. Rarity replied as she sipped her tea again, " We are doing tremendously with communications affairs with the does and calves of the Caribou nation. The treaty is holding up well enough with trades among other nations just as well, from what I heard in the news." The mech nodded his helm, and looked back towards the rebuilding town of Ponyville, buildings covered in scaffolding and sheets of plastic as the constructions' ponies built homes and businesses. It was silent for the moment, the entire group enjoying the peace that filled the air... Until Fluttershy broke it, by asking, " Megatron..." She said, getting his attention, " What are you gonna do, now that Equestria is peaceful again?" The mech blinked his optics, slight surprise on his face as his processor mulled over that question. Then, his glossa lifted into a smile, his scarred faceplate softening as he answered, " I might travel this world, see what's to offer... Who knows, there might be others who need assistance?" The group of mares looked at him with smiles, some showing gratitude, some joy... But there was one that was sad... Megatron noticed this and leaned his chassis forward, bringing a servo under Fluttershy's chin, causing her to lock eyes with him. The two stared at each other for a few seconds, before he said, " I will not be gone forever, I will come back, like a promise..." His voice was low, gentle, the raspiness faint. It was quiet for a moment, before... " Swear on it..." The butterscotch yellow mare said, her eyes turning stern and her lips down in a frown, " Swear that you'll come back in one piece and unharmed." Even though the rest of her friends stared at her in surprise at Fluttershy's shockingly courageous demand, Megatron simply nodded, his faceplate serious and his optics showing sincerity. " I promise, young Fluttershy that I will return home, to all of you," He then looked towards the rest of the group he was sitting with, then out towards the horizon. He smiled again, looking at his friends. " I think I should do, what an old friend of mine once did..." At Canterlot Megatron walked to the extra large balcony that was built for him, looking out over the city that shined in Celestia's sunlight, watching the stallions and mares go about their day, once remembering the times when both genders were at each other's throats. But now, none of it was shown here, he noted with approval, satisfied that despite all the hardships the Caribou had given them before he came into the picture... They persevered... The mech's audio receptors picked up a couple pairs of footsteps behind him and he turned his helm. Walking out from behind him, was Celestia and Luna, their armor replaced with flowing dresses that complimented their coat colors, white and blue, day and night, light and dark. The two were cleaned up from dirt and grime and blood as soon as they had the chance to, and they felt relaxed after the years of war they faced... They smiled at him, light shining brilliantly in their eyes at the sight of him. " I suppose that you art leaving?" Luna said, her smile fading as a sadness weighed down on her shoulders, like the armor she was wearing for protection and decorated like Megatron's old shoulder plates. The mech solemnly nodded, a small frown on his glossa as he then looked back out to the city, enjoying the way the sun shone and the air filled with light music coming from a couple of the open businesses. " I am, Luna. I am... Not meant for settling down for too long, I wasn't created like that." He said, looking to his right where Luna stood next to him, " However, It doesn't mean I'm leaving forever.." This time, Celestia was the one that asked the question, " What do you plan to do then?" She said, her eyes lit in curiosity. He smiled once again, his optics shining... The mech walked up to a large open area of marble, sculpted from the remains of decimated buildings, made into a sort of runway for Megatron. " I will not rest until I find out how I can live on in this peaceful world without harming any organics." He stopped walking staring out into the open air that led to the Badlands, his optics gleaming with determination. " For my first objective, I am gonna take Chrysalis with me to see if there isn't a place she calls home, and maybe along the way... get some answers." The mech looked around himself, looking at the large crowd of mares and small groups of stallions staring out at him with sad smiles and unwept tears. Celestia, Luna, Twilight, and Cadence were watching him from the balcony, their stances straight and shoulders back in regal poses, the four faces were sad, but smiling nonetheless... " I will return, no matter how long it takes; I will come straight back to these ponies I care about and hold dear to my Spark." Megatron turned around on the spot and lightly smiled back at them, then clearing his faceplate, standing rigidly for a moment, before bending his upper chassis a little bit at the waist in a bow, his right servo clenched into a fist on his chest... " If you need my assistance in anything, anything at all no matter how small..." He straightened up from his bow and turned around again to the runway... He then activated his T-Cog, transforming into his jet mode, opening the cockpit ramp for the small Changeling drone to run up, shutting it afterwards when she was fully in and secured... " I'll answer the call..." Megatron activated his sublight engines, a loud whine echoing throughout the air as he lifted into the air from the ground, his landing pedes retreating into himself as he ascended into the air... " If anyone receives this message, know this..." He shot forward into the air, accelerating at breakneck speeds, enjoying the small shrieks of delight from Chrysalis, beginning his journey... " My name is Megatron... and this planet, Equis, is my Home..." His jet mode shrunk into the horizon, until he disappeared... Elsewhere On Equis The city of Griffinstone Capital was burning, the once perfectly crafted and smoothed over stones of large buildings crumbled into ruins and rubble, small fires created from large explosions of cannonfire and bomb drops. A female griffin ran through the decrepit streets, panting as her golden eyes looked around her surroundings as she ran, her clothes were a white shirt and brown vest, black slacks that had holes all over them, and blown out crocks that were slightly fraying. In her claws was a double barreled shotgun, it's metal scratched and slightly rusted with use and age, the metal grip was wrapped around with a white cloth that was dirty and worn. The griffin looked over her shoulder, looking back on herself, then cursed as she saw the large horde of trained Timberwolves rounding the corner and chasing full sprint after her. She ran as fast as she could,, going left, right, left, left, every street just as decrepit and ruined as the last, passing by a couple of corpses along the way... She spotted as mall alleyway and hoped that it was one that could make her lose the wolves... The female griffin ran in, not looking back at the growing hordes of the Timberwolves behind her. But stopped at the sight of a brick wall standing in her way, causing her to yell, " SHIT!" She snarled, before whirling around, holding her shotgun to bear, gritting her beak. A few Timberwolves stalked through the entrance of the alleyway, snarling and growling, their glowing green eyes dark with hunger and bloodlust. The one in the middle began walking towards her, baring its teeth as its legs tensed for a charge... The griffin aimed at the one in the middle, and pulled the trigger... BANG! The hundred metal pellets shot out of the barrel, directly hitting the wolf that charged towards her, causing it to fly back with large chunks of wood splitting off its body from the shot. The griffin aimed at the wolf closest to her and fired at it while it was distracted with the demise of its comrade... BANG! The buckshot directly impacted the head of the wolf, causing it to explode in wood and sap, covering the broken stone ground and walls. She unlatched the front half of her shotgun, ejecting the two shells and shoved her claws into her pocket, trying to fish out the last shell she had. She was distracted by the sound of wood hitting stone, and looked up, her eyes widening in fear at the Timberwolf pouncing at her... The large wolf landed on her, causing the griffin to slam onto her back, her shotgun pressed against the wolf's neck as its jaws tried to get at her neck, sap and blood dripping off the teeth. " GAH!, GET THE FUCK OFF ME!" The griffin yelled out, her arms aching and straining from the large wolf's weight and pressure it was putting on her. The Timberwolf's jaws got closer and closer to her trachea, intent on killing and feasting on the anthropomorphic bird... Then a high pitched whine pierced through the air, causing the wolf to look up, enraged at the interruption of its next meal... Only to see a blast of light purple coming at its face... POW! The wolf, now headless, flew back away from the fallen griffin, impacting the other dead members of the wolf army... The air of the city was quiet except for the fires, the howling of the hundred Timberwolves decimating the city at their Caribou masters' orders interrupted the silence... The female griffin panted, slowly getting up into a sitting position to see what happened... Her eyes looked deeper into the alleyway, only to see a large metal being standing in front of her, its right arm raised with a fist curled and a large cannon looking device with a glowing end that looked like the blast that hit the Timberwolf's head. Its red eyes stared at the entrance of the alleyway, the white irises gleaming with determination and fierceness that made her heart flutter... Then the being's red eyes fell onto her, lowering its right arm and begin walking towards her, the footsteps it made caused the griffin's spine to shudder a little bit. The metal 7 ft biped was now looming over her sitting body, staring down at her with a fierce glare that made her gulp a little bit in fright and awe. It raised its right arm again and the female griffin flinched at the sight of the large cannon like device aiming at her face, the end glowing brighter with the same whine she heard before. It was tense for a few moments, her shuddering breath interrupting it every few seconds... Then the cannon tilted away, and a metal clawed hand lowered down at her. The griffin blinked at the clawed appendage for a few moments, before reluctantly taking her left claw into the metal being's and had help getting up. After a few moments of looking at each other, taking in their appearances, before the metal being spoke. " I assume that these wolves of wood are not a common thing around here?" It-he, said, the voice raspy and menacing. The griffin frowned, ignoring the way her feathers ruffled up a bit as she took in the titan's form, " I... No, no they aren't." She replied, looking back at the entrance of the alley, then looking back at the double barrel shotgun lying on the ground a few feet away from her. The metal being simply went ' hmmm', contemplating something as it stared down at her 6 ft form. " I don't suppose you can give me your designation?" He said, a metal plate above the left eye raised slightly in curiosity. The griffin snapped out of her daze from the day's events and turned back to the intimidating metal titan. " Gilda... My name is Gilda. Yours?" She asked, crossing her arms her chest, wondering who the new being before her was called, to remember her saviour. The Metal titan's scarred lips turned up into a small smile, his posture changing into a small bow with his left arm across his chest and his right metal hand on the chest. " I am Megatron... And I am here to help you from your perdition!" He said, his eyes glowing bright in the dark alley. Gilda blinked, her face in one of shock, her beak open. " Megatron... THE Megatron?!" She said, her tone of surprise and awe catching the mech's attention. Megatron leaned towards her, his optics narrowed in suspicion. " That is my designation. Why? Perhaps you've heard of me?" He inquired, his browplates furrowed in curiosity. Gilda shut her beak, her stance immediately changing into one of a soldier at attention, her claw clenching into a fist and placed where her heart is, her other arm behind her wings. " Lt. Gilda Stormfeather of the Decepticon Griffin Brigade, reporting for duty sir!" She saluted, catching the mech off guard. " Decepticon Griffin Brigade?" Megatron asked, his glossa turned in a confused frown, his body stiff with surprise at the name of his old legion from his 'Warlord-Cycles'. Gilda relaxed, her body untensed slightly, but her eyes still drifting back to the entrance of the alley, her earholes sharp for any more signs of more Timberwolves. " We don't know where the name or cause came from, but we knew one name that was prominent over the centuries of Griffinstone's history of the military brigade, and that is Megatron, prominent leader of the Decepticons." She explained, a look of exhaustion on her face. She opened her mouth to say more, before the sound of wood cracking and snapping apart brought her and Megatron's attention to the three fallen Timberwolves. The two watched with a mixture of shock, and awe as the remains of the wooden wolves gathered together, creating a wolf that was bigger than the others. Gilda practically flew towards her shotgun and slammed the shell she still had into the left barrel, snapping it closed and aimed at the larger Timberwolf, claw on the trigger... Before a metal servo gently pushed down her barrel, causing Gilda to look towards Megatron, who was staring at the Alpha Timberwolf, his red optics filled with a sense of glee. " Let me handle this." He said, his tone said 'no questions', which Gilda reluctantly nodded her head and lowered her weapon. Megatron stepped forward and stared at the snarling beast's eyes, which glowed an even brighter green with bloodlust than before when the three smaller wolves were chasing Gilda... " Gilda," He said, catching her attention, " On this day, begins the journey of a lifetime." He declared, activating his blade. The menacing blade shot out from under his fusion cannon, causing Gilda to lightly gasp. By the Goddess of the Sun and Moon... She thought, as the griffin stood in shock and watched the posture of the 7ft mech change into a fighting position with his legs spread apart slightly and knee joints bent, the left pede slightly more forward than the right one, the sharp gleaming blade next to his faceplate, pointed in the direction of the Alpha Timberwolf. The wolf saw this as a challenge and bared its teeth even more at the mech, wooden legs tensed and prepared for running. This is gonna be the day my life changed. Gilda finished her thought as the two titanic beings charged at each other with war cries and snarls, intent on killing the other.
My Little Pony: The Day Equestria Stood Still	pre	"You... won't get away... with this, Khaoios," she whispered. Khaoios laughed. "Thou shall fear my wrath, Princess Celestia of Equestria," Khaoios threatened, before smoke poured into the throne room.
My Little Pony: The Day Equestria Stood Still	Chapter 5: The Demand of Answers	The royal guards knocked down the door to the throne room, only to find Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, on the ground and unconscious. However, there was no sign of Khaoios: it was as if he vanished into thin air. The guards rushed to their Princesses, assisting them to their chambers for rest. Without Celestia and Luna, a regiment of guards departed separate ways - one regiment rushed to Ponyville and the other to the Crystal Empire. During that time, Khaoios continued his rampage, flying and destroying everything that came into his path. One by one, buildings, trees, homes, were either blown away or caught fire, creating total chaos throughout Equestria. As Khaoios continued, the Twilight and her friends reached Canterlot, only to realize the city was in ruins, with only a few structures still standing. The six mares were in complete shock as they looked around. They could only imagine the worse, but knew that too much sympathy would slow down there progress. Confident enough, they pressed on. As Twilight and her friends walked through the city, they could only observe the chaotic aftermath, until an injury earth pony came about. "Princess Twilight..." he gasped. Twilight knelt down and tried to calm him. Fluttershy walked over to assist him. "What happened? Was it the meteor shower?" Fluttershy asked. The stallion shook his head. "It was moving too fast, we couldn't see it," he replied, shaking in fear. Twilight tried to hold herself together, for she felt sorry for the injured pony and then saw other survivors, silent. Rainbow Dash began to lose her patience, dying to know what had occurred. "Ah! Can't somepony tell us what happened? Seriously? What's with the silent treatment," she cried out Pinkie Pie walked forward. "These ponies won't tell us anything because the mood in this place is just too serious! What we need is a... PARRRRRRRTAY!" She yelled out. Rarity bit Pinkie Pie's tail. "Pinkie, you know this is no time for partying! Although, I must admit, everypony seems to be very quiet and afraid." Twilight turned to Rarity. "Rarity, can you, Applejack, and Fluttershy stay here and see if you can round up survivors while Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Spike and I see the Princesses?" she asked. Applejack smiled. "We sure can do that, Twi," she replied "Of course," Rarity responded. "Got it, Twilight," Fluttershy answered. Applejack turned. "Well, we ain't helpin' anypony by just sitting on our rumps! Let's get goin' already!" she said as she began her task. While Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy went off to find survivors, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Spike hurried as fast as they could to investigate. At the door of Canterlot, guards knelt down, to Twilight. "Princess! You must come quickly!" one of the guard said. "Yes. Please take me to see the Princesses," Twilight answered as she and her friends followed the guard inside. Walking in, Twilight noticed damages and cracks within the castle, only to fear that the Princesses were injured. Frightened for her mentor, Twilight ran to her chambers only to find Celestia and Luna, in their beds, recovering from their battle. "Princess Celestia! Princess Luna!" She cried out. Celestia, still in pain from battle, turned to her former student. She looked relieved for just a moment before grabbing Twilight by the shoulder. "Twilight. This... creature. You must not fight him. He's... too..." Celestia fainted, slumping in bed. Spike, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie walked into the Princess' chambers. Spike walked up to Twilight. "Twilight..." Spike whispered. Twilight remained silent. Spike tried to touch Twilight shoulder, and he felt a tremble. Twilight began to weep, fearing she lost her mentor, until a guard stepped forward. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie walked from behind to comfort their friend in need. "The Princesses are going to be okay," the guard assured her gently. "They are just knocked out from battle." Twilight turned to the guard, now in anger. "Who did this?" she demanded. "We... I..." the guard stuttered. "I SAID WHO?" Twilight cried out in anger. Another guard stepped in. "I was in charge of a recent prisoner, however, she seems to know a lot about this creature. Do you wish to see her?" he asked. "Yes," Twilight said, "take me to her." "Very well," the guard said, and walked to the dungeons, followed by Twilight, Spike, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie. --- Outside, Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy managed to gather survivors and safely escort them to the Gardens of Canterlot, where they could settle for the time being. Rarity took the lead, Fluttershy walked beside the crowd, and Applejack walked from the back of the crowd, making sure no pony fell behind. One the way, Fluttershy saw one filly remained in a corner, shaking in fear. She walked over to her. "Are you okay, little one?" she softly asked. The filly shook her head. "I lost my mommy and daddy, and I'm scared!" the filly cried. "Oh, there, there. You can stay with me, and I'll help you find your family," Fluttershy said with a smile. The filly sniffled and brushed her tears away and walked closely to Fluttershy as the other remaining survivors continued their course. Rarity monitored the crowd as she noticed many of them were trembling and scared. Yet she could not understand why they would be afraid, if they had all survived. Something was missing. Strangely, Applejack, felt the same thing, at the back of the crowd. Something was truly wrong. "Come on, ya'll. Canterlot Gardens should be a safe place for ya," Applejack called out. The crowd continued to walk to Canterlot Castle. Applejack still felt uneasy, for she worried about her own family back in Ponyville. Their safety, in her eyes, was top priority, but she picked up her head and remained positive that they were okay. --- Back inside the Castle, the guard continued to lead Twilight and her friends to the last cell at the end of the dungeon. There, the pony, facing out the window, remained calm. "Madame Archivist. You have a visitor," the guard said. The Archivist sighed. "Yes. Twilight Sparkle, I presume. I was expecting you to visit," she responded, her voice monotone, as she turned to face them. Twilight and her friends stared at her, observing the Archivists appearance. The Archivist raised her eyebrow. "Is there something troubling you, Princess?" she asked in curiosity. Twilight snared. "Yes. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are up in their chambers, fighting for their lives and I want to know who this creature they were talking about was!" Twilight barked in frustration. The Archivist grinned. "I see your frustration, for you truly care about your mentors. Don't you?" she replied. "Madame Archivist! Please. We all need to know what this creature is," the guard insisted. "Very well then." The Archivist understood. "Twilight Sparkle, the creature that attacked your Princesses is an Alicorn, known as Firewing Paradoxes." Twilight tilted her head. "Firewing Paradoxes?" Spike repeated. "Yes. However, according to my masters, his true name is Khaoios," The Archivist responded. Twilight and her friend's eyes widened. "Khaoios?" Twilight said. "And he's coming here?" "Ye--" The Archivist was interrupted. "Khaoios is coming? Ooo! When will he be here? What's his favorite color? Doeshelike balloons? Candy? Balloonsmadeofcandy?" Pinkie Pie screamed out. "PINKIE!!!" Twilight, Rainbow Dash, and Spike out. The Archivist remained monotone. "I understand your optimism, Pinkie Pie. However, Khaoios would not be such a nice guest for a party. He would literally "crash" your party, and not in a friendly way, but more of a hostile, party-pooper way." Twilight thought The Archivist was trying to be a smart and rude, and all it did was make her furious. "I have no patience for this right now, Archivist. I want to know how we can stop him and he's somewhat like Tirek," she commanded. The Archivist nodded. "Khaoios' power is beyond anything you've encountered. However, he is more powerfully intelligently than physically. That is the most important. However, we have an advantage over him. Even though he's intelligent, using his magic and power drains him greatly thus forcing himself to retreat. Why do you think Celestia and Luna were easily defeated? That's because Khaoios took the opportunity to observe his opponents, finding their weakness, then attack them. However, if he were to attack head-on, his power would drain dramatically, making him weak," she explained. Twilight tried to record the Archivist's information, but another guard walked in. "Report! The survivors have been successfully rounded up and are awaiting your orders, Princess," the guard said. Twilight turned. "Understood. Thank you for the report," she replied. The guard bowed and left the dungeon. Rainbow Dash flew towards the cell bars. "So, where's this Khaoios now, Archivist?" she asked. "I do not know. He is quite an intelligent strategist, to be honest, to a point of confusing me. If you wish to stop him, you'll need guides to assist you," The Archivist answered. "Pfft... like Twilight will ever let you out," Rainbow Dash replied bluntly. Twilight grinned. "Rainbow," she tutted. "Twilight! How can you trust her? She knows a lot about Khaoios, and she didn't have the nerve to tell us or anypony here?" Rainbow defensively replied. "As a matter of fact, Rainbow Dash, I did. Unfortunately, Princess Celestia and Luna believed I might be involved, understandably, and put me here, without affording me the chance to explain who created the meteors." Everypony jumped. "WHAT!!!" they all said. "Khaoios is the one who created the meteors. My master dubbed him, The Extra-Terrestrial Alicorn. And yes, the reason why it stopped and continued again later in the day is because it drained his power. He had to rest and recuperate until he could perform the spell again. Does that answer your question?" The Archivist replied. Everypony remained silent, and in shock by what they heard. "Your silence is not assisting the citizens of this planet. Better to react now than waiting for Khaoios to destroy everything you care about," The Archivist continued. Twilight turned to the guard. "Release her," she ordered. "Princess!" the guard yelped. "Twilight!" Rainbow Dash protested. "If she knows about Khaoios, then we'll take her along. However, if you make one slip, Archivist, I promise you; you'll be cooling your hooves in the depths of Tartarus," Twilight replied. "Now, you're thinking wisely, Princess. I'll take your comment under advisement," The Archivist retorted.
My Little Pony: The Day Equestria Stood Still	Chapter 6: Off-Guard	The guard opened the cell and the Archivist walked out. She looked at Twilight and her friends. "Before we go off on this perilous journey, I suggest we locate somepony experienced in adventures, because I can only reveal little, for specific reasons. Perhaps somepony you assisted at the Fortress of Talacon, Miss Rainbow Dash," The Archivist suggested. "Daring Do?" Rainbow Dash replied. "Yes. She will be required for this journey. So much has changed that I cannot remember its location," The Archivist responded. "What do you mean "it"?" Twilight asked, but she was interrupted as another guard raced to her side. "Princess. I bring news, the creature has provoked an attack on Cloudsdale," he said quickly. Rainbow Dash, fearing for her former home, flew out of the dungeon and hurried as fast as she could towards Cloudsdale. Twilight yelled out to Rainbow, but it was too late, she was gone. She turned to the guard. "Take whatever Pegasus Guard we have left and assist the ponies in Cloudsdale," she ordered. "Yes, Princess." The guard saluted and left the dungeon. "Khaoios is continuing his attack. We must hurry now," The Archivist said as she began walking out of the dungeon. Pinkie Pie stopped the Archivist in her tracks. She stared at her for a few, long seconds, suspicious. "We're watching you. Okiedokielokie?" she said. The Archivist frowned. "Of course, Pinkie Pie," she replied. As the Archivist walked out, Spike jumped on Twilight's back. "Are you sure you can trust her?" he asked. "I don't know, Spike. We need her, so we have no choice but to trust her," Twilight whispered back. --- Outside, in the Gardens of Canterlot, Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy, saw Rainbow Dash fly off. "Now where does she think she's going?" Applejack said. "I don't know," Fluttershy said. From a distance, Twilight, The Archivist, and her friends regrouped. Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy noticed The Archivist, curious about who she was, as well as what occurred with the Princesses. After a quick discussion, Applejack asked about Rainbow Dash and Twilight gave her the news when a guard ran out. "Princess. We'll do our best to keep Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and the citizens of Canterlot safe. Go and save Equestria," he said. "Thank you. I promise, we'll take this beast down and restore everything," Twilight said as she left with her friends and The Archivist, racing to Cloudsdale. --- Up in Cloudsdale, Rainbow Dash observed her former home and noticed, nothing was wrong. It was as if nothing ever happened there, confusing her for a moment. Seeing that Cloudsdale was in its normal state, she flew down to nearby pegasi. "Hey! Wasn't there something happening here?" Rainbow Dash asked. The pegasus pony tilted her head. "I have no idea what you are talking about. All we had were strong winds but that was nothing. Why?" she asked. Rainbow Dash stood, puzzled. Was it a lie? Did she feel that she was being tricked? No longer worried, she flew back to regroup with her friends. However, at that time, Khaoios, concealed himself within the clouds, observing Rainbow Dash. Studying her "spirit of Loyalty," he slowly planned his next move. However, it interested him on how well and quick she responded compared to a royal guard. He stood for a moment. Interesting. A mere pony, responding in such quick time and falling into my trap. This could be quite a challenge for me. However, I must plan this out accordingly or else defeat is foreseen. I shall not allow this, Khaoios thought to himself, slowly following Rainbow Dash. As he followed her, Rainbow Dash felt something was wrong, only to fly faster. Khaoios remained behind as he foresaw where she was going, giving him the time to think. Faster than I thought, I see. Astounding. Willing to do anything to protect her friends... Indeed, astounding. He grinned. The ponies eventually returned to Ponyville, to gather belongings and making sure everypony was recovering. Yet, with surprise, they found that Ponyville was slowly being rebuilt. Regrouping with family, Applejack and Rarity embraced their siblings, happy that they were okay. Applejack, in tears, turned to Zecora, mouthing thank you to her. Zecora smiled. Scootaloo looked around and turned to Twilight. "Wha...? Where's Rainbow Dash?" she asked. Suddenly, Fluttershy looked around. Twilight quickly turned to Zecora. "Rainbow Dash never came back?" Twilight asked. Zecora shook her head. "She hasn't returned. I am getting concerned." Zecora asked. Suddenly, Rainbow Dash made a landing. "Cloudsdale is fi--" Rainbow Dash began, but was interrupted when Scootaloo embraced her. "I thought I lost you, Rainbow Dash! If something happened... I don't think I could live with myself!" Scootaloo cried. Rainbow Dash smiled and patted her shoulder. Applejack turned. "Well... What happened?" she asked. "Nothing. Cloudsdale was fine." Snarling, she turned to The Archivist. "Well? What was that for? The guard said Khaoios was heading for Cloudsdale and instead, I was tricked. What the hay?" The Archivist looked Rainbow Dash in the eyes as everypony watched her. "As I told Twilight, there are some things I cannot see. Khaoios must've been doing something, and I am unsure what he did." "ARCHIVIST!" a voice thundered out, catching everpony off guard. Suddenly, the ponies froze, in terror. Everypony looked up slowly only to see the Alicorn himself. "AAAH!!! RUN AWAY!!!" one pony screamed out as everypony ran back into their homes and closed windows, doors, protecting them from this unknown creature. The Archivist snarled. "Khaoios..." she said. Khaoios stared back. "So. You happened to return to Equestria because of your compassion for these pathetic ponies I call my subjects. How repulsive," Khaoios said. Twilight, as her horn began to light up bright with magic, stepped forward. "YOU!!!" She growled, charging to him. Using her magic, she shot a beam, only to miss as Khaoios teleported effortlessly. However, it surprised Twilight that he teleported extremely fast. In a blink of an eye, in fact. Khaoios, tempted to attack her, roared, knocking Twilight out of the sky. Spike yelled, telling her to regain her balance, but the force from Khaoios, knocked her silly. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy flew up quickly to break her fall, while Khaoios stood, observing that moment. In silence, he continued to observe the surrounding area, for a few moments and turned back to The Archivist. "Are you willing to risk you miserable life to save these ponies?" Khaoios asked. The Archivist grinned, knowing that Khaoios is testing her. Yet, she noticed Khaoios using his magic to levitate a Golden Torch, lit with an undying blue flame. "Yes. Is there a problem with that?" she asked. Khaoios exhaled slowly, absorbing The Archivist's response. "Yes, there is. In fact, I find it foolish, because I could've done more. Instead she scrapped me, and that wretched fool imprisoned me. And for that, you shall pay dearly," Khaoios responded harshly. The Archivist then caught on to his weak spot. "Oh yes. Paguseus. I do remember that pleasant moment," she replied sarcastically. "WHAT DID YOU SAY, WITCH?" Khaoios' anger grew. "You heard me, well, Khaoios." the Archivist replied. Khaoios body began to glow, when suddenly, magic fired from his horn, but in the appearance of a lightning bolt. Dodging that fast, he continued to use his magic, only to pause and look around. Yet at that moment, The Archivist, hidden in a corner with Twilight, noticed something. Khaoios was breathing heavily. "It seems he put physical magic over his power of intelligence," Archivist whispered. "REVEAL YOURSELF, ARCHIVIST!" Khaoios shouted. "FACE ME!" Twilight looked up to The Archivist. "What do you mean?" she asked. "Remember what I told you. Khaoios is intelligent, thus the only way he can defeat his enemies is by observing them. If he attacked head-on, it would weaken him, because he's not meant for brute force. Unless he becomes truly enraged, then we have a problem, yet it would be a problem for him as well," The Archivist answered. Twilight thought for a moment, and teleported to her friends, hoping to use the Rainbow Power they used to defeat Tirek. After a few moments, the Mane Six stood out into the open and slowly absorbed power from the Star above Twilight's Castle. The Archivist, for the first time was stunned by the incredible power, something that she had not foreseen. Khaoios, on the other hand, stood confused, but held his ground, observing the power source. Twilight and her friends looked directly at him. "You may be powerful intelligently, but there's one thing you can't stop," Twilight asserted. Everypony, concealed in their homes walked out, and watched, thinking the Elements of Harmony would put an end to the Alicorn. Khaoios, grinned. "Is that your resolve, ponies?" he said. In an instance, they fired the Rainbow Power at Khaoios. However, as the beam continued to shoot, it began to slowly decrease. Everypony was in shock at that moment. Khaoios was slowly using his magic to deflect the beam. Noticing the trouble, the Archivist ran out and used her magic, firing a powerful beam, knocking Khaoios into the Everfree forest, creating an explosion. Exhausted from the Rainbow Power, the Twilight and her friends collapsed on their knees from the incredible power. Yet, it was continued shock, for they, nor the Archivist, expected Khaoios to withstand its power. From a distance, Khaoios blasted away nearby rocks, and stood up, as if he were impervious to their magic. Breathing heavily from that previous moment, the six mares felt helpless, thinking that they had failed. Khaoios tried to use his magic again, but due to their magic, his own power was fully drained, forcing him to retreat. However, he wasn't going alone. With whatever power he had left, levitated Spike, and dragged him towards himself, standing on a cloud. At that moment, The Archivist knew, he reached his point of drainage, yet could not risk Princess Twilight or her friends, nor herself, to retrieve Spike. Twilight, as she struggled to get back on her hooves, cried out fore Spike, but could do nothing. Khaoios looked down at the Archivist. "And these are supposed to be the Spirits of Friendship? How amusing that they could... withstand my strategic thinking," he said. "Yet, I tend to be reasonable. I'll give you 5 days to find a way to defeat me, even if that means going to the darkest depths to understand my power. Once time is up... This planet of yours will be reduced to a burnt out cinder." He flew away, taking Spike with him.
My Little Pony: The Day Equestria Stood Still	Chapter 7: Anticipation	Furious, attempting to reach him, Twilight tried to fly up, chasing Khaoios and Spike, but was held by the tail. The Archivist pulled her back. Angry and weak, Twilight collapsed onto the ground. "How could you?!" Twilight cried, tears welling up in her eyes. "You knew about him! You know everything about him, and you didn't tell anypony!!! There was no way we could stop him in time, and you knew! And now Spike is gone!!!" She began to sob, and her friends watched her hopelessly before limping to her side and cuddling to her sides. For the first time, The Archivist felt sorry for Twilight. "I understand now," she said softly. Twilight frowned, confused, at her though her tears, and her friends looked at her. "Your compassion with one another is somewhat... touching. Yet, I must admit, you are right about me. I should be blamed for my mistakes. Even if that means going against my masters." There was a silence, then she picked her head up. "We have five days to find a weak spot for Khaoios, and we must move now," The Archivist replied. For the first time, Twilight noticed a smile on her face, as if she have been enlightened. Knowing their time was running out, Twilight and her friends got back up on their hooves, ready to perform the challenging task. Before leaving, The Archivist turned to them. "You must locate the one they call Daring Do, and bring her along, for she will be required for your task," she said. "And what exactly are you gonna do?" Rainbow Dash asked. "I will locate two others that will be needed. Once we recruit them, meet us at San Palamino Desert. However, you have to wait for us, because the sands can be brutal," The Archivist responded. "San Palamino Desert?" Twilight repeated. "Don't worry. Now go. We have no time to waste," The Archivist replied, leaving. Twilight didn't understand, however, she knew time was of the essence, thus preparing for her journey was of the utmost importance. "Come on, girls," she said, and her friends followed. One by one, they gathered their belongings. For Rarity, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash, they knew that leaving Ponyville would make it an easy target if Khaoios wished to attack again. Rarity and Rainbow Dash arrived at Sweet Apple Acres, where Zecora had stayed with the family. There, Rarity spoke to Sweetie Bell, who was crying. "Oh what's wrong, darling?" Rarity asked. Sweetie Bell choked. "Please, come back safely," She cried. Rarity shed a tear, for she knew this would perhaps be their hardest task. Rainbow Dash stood in front of Scootaloo, trying to hold her tears in. Smiling, she embraced her tightly. "Don't worry, lil' sis, I'll come back. You can count on it," Rainbow Dash said. Scootaloo smiled. "I know... big sis," she whispered. Upstairs, Applejack gather the last of her belongings, only to turn and watch as Applebloom began to cry. Big Mac, on the other hoof, held his sadness in. Granny Smith walked up. "Now listen here, you. You better come back. Ya hear?" she said, only to cry a few seconds later. Applejack walked up and embraced her family, shedding a tear as well. "We'll be back. I promise," she said. After a few minutes, the group arrived downstairs, and Zecora stood by. "Do not fret. I will stay and protect them from any threat." She said. "Thank you, Zecora," Applejack and Rarity said, smiling. "My dearest friends, I did not know true friendship until I met all of you. Of all things that I know, this above all is true. Though this quest will be a terrible crucible, as long as you believe in yourselves and each other, anything is possible." Zecora spoke just before Applejack, Rarity and Rainbow Dash left. Rainbow Dash smiled. "Don't worry. We'll be back in one piece," she replied, taking off as Applejack and Rarity followed. The family waved before disappearing. Twilight, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy stood at the northern path to Galloping Gorge, waiting for the rest of their friends. Within minutes, they regrouped and soon made their journey to visit Daring Do. The Archivist, going in a different direction, passed by a Doctor's home. Looking around, she knocked on the door in a specific way. When the door opened, Doctor Hooves stood there. He had a brown mane and tail, with a light brown fur and an hourglass for a cutie mark. Once he saw the Archivist he was silent. "We have a task, Doctor. I assume you received his message?" the Archivist said. The Doctor nodded. "Of course. I was expecting you." He replied. The Archivist walked inside, quietly when Derpy came down the stairs in curiosity. "What's happening?" she asked. Doctor Hooves looked up. "Nothing at all, Derpy. Just an old friend," he replied. Derpy returned upstairs, while the Archivist and the Doctor sat for a short conversation. "When did you hear about Khaoios?" asked the Doctor. "Two days ago. Apparently, he broke out of his prison hold and created the meteors, but at separate times," The Archivist said. "Hmmmm... That explains his Power Drains. Yet, it is strange this was quite unsuspecting of him," The Doctor responded. "Believe me, Doctor. Khaoios is incredibly intelligent. He caught me off guard just before, and now he has the Princess' assistant, and she will do anything to stop him," The Archivist continued. The Doctor exhaled. "You did tell her what he's capable of... did you?" The Archivist was silent for a moment. "I didn't, unfortunately. She didn't trust me in the beginning, however, she does now, because I told her the truth about him." Hooves became suspicious. "So... you lied to her?" "Yes. It is I who doesn't trust her. Her thirst for knowledge will only make matters worse. I'm afraid that Khaoios is here, not to unleash his vengeance, but for something else," The Archivist replied. The Doctor tilted his head. "So. Khaoios came back because he was afraid that Twilight was going steal his title of Master of Intelligence?" "Unfortunately, yes. That's why he took her assistant." The Doctor then realized Khaoios unusual behavior from before and began to think. He turned. "The other Princesses? Celestia? Luna? Cadance?" he asked. "Celestia and Luna threw me in the dungeon, so I was unable to tell them what was happening. However, they could not sense him until he stormed across Canterlot. As for Cadance... I can assure you, she is doing exactly what she was taught," The Archivist replied. "Of course... How can I ever forget that?" Doctor Hooves said. "Where's Khaoios now?" The Archivist shook her head. "Khaoios is smarter than that to reveal his location," she answered. "Understood. Where's Twilight now?" the Doctor asked. "She is heading to Galloping Gorge to retrieve Daring Do. She'll be there guide her through the desert since she's the one who almost excavated the Caves." The Doctor jumped. "San Palamino? But... Archivist, you know the rule." "We have no choice. Once we finish going through the Temple and defeat Khaoios, everypony's minds will be wiped clean, excluding ours. It is the only way to conceal the secrets," The Archivist retorted. For a few minutes, Doctor Hooves knew the problem was complicated and, indeed, challenging. Fully understanding the problem, he stood up. "Very well, then. Let's go and assist. Should we alert Cabaleron as well?" Doctor Hooves said. "That is our next stop. The three of us are the only ones who know of the existence of the Temple and it is our duty to see that the laws aren't broken. That is why we will regroup with them and follow them," The Archivist replied. The Doctor nodded in satisfaction and called, Derpy. "My dear. I will be gone for a few days, so please don't cause any trouble nor make a mess in the laboratory," he said calmly. Derpy winked. "Okay," She said. The Archivist and Doctor Hooves soon walked out of the house and proceeded to White-Tail Woods. --- Over in Canterlot, Cadance and Shining Armor had arrived, while Princess Celestia and Princess Luna began to walk around, slowly regaining their strength. While Shining Armor stood guard outside, Cadance went into Celestia and Luna's room and turned to the guards. "Please leave us," she ordered. The guards left the room silently, as they shut the door behind them. "What happened?" she asked. Celestia turned, still weak. "I am not sure, but he calls himself, Khaoios," she replied. "His origin is unknown to us, including his power," Luna responded. "However... there was this one unicorn who called herself The Archivist and seemed to have known about Khaoios. And yet..." Celestia paused. "And what?" Cadance asked curiously. "It was foolish of us to imprison her without giving her a chance to speak, due to our fear of ponies spying. We merely acted on instinct instead of analyzing, and for that, we take the blame for what has happened," Luna calmly added. Cadance exhaled. "Where is this "Archivist" now?" she asked. "She has gone off with Twilight and her friends to stop Khaoios. Though I told her that this is a difficult task in which I cannot afford to lose her. If anything were to happen to her... I don't think I can live with that mistake." Celestia's eyes welled up with tears. Luna stumbled, for she felt a sense of guilt too. Both sisters, for the first time, felt helpless, upset that they failed to defend their subjects against an unknown beast. Suddenly, a guard ran in. "Forgive me, Princesses. We have received word from Ponyville. It appears Khaoios attacked Ponyville, but he retreated due to his lack of power. Yet, he has also taken Princess Twilight's assistant as prisoner. The other report I have is from Manehattan, that he has ceased his attack and now has taken refuge in the city. In addition, reports say he now has taken the city hostage, but states he will bring no harm to ponies until a five day period is up," he reported. The Princesses breathed a sigh of relief. "What five day period?" Cadance asked. The guard shook his head. "He says only the Spirits of Friendship know and thus it is their task to meet his demands. Some of us believe it is a trick, while an unknown general states he is testing us," he continued. Celestia and Luna walked up. "What Unknown General?" they asked.
My Little Pony: The Day Equestria Stood Still	Chapter 8: Incarceration	The guard, unfortunately, didn't have the full details on the "unknown general." "I don't know. He does seem to know a lot about Khaoios, as well. What would you have us do?" the guard asked. The Princesses looked at one another, for they were puzzled. The Royal Sisters turned to Cadance. Understanding their facial expression, Cadance looked at the guard. "Tell my husband to take whatever guards we have and surround the city. I do not know his motives, however, if we monitor him, it will give Twilight and her friends' time to stop him. We will meet you there in 2 days," she ordered. The guard saluted them and left the room. Silence fell over the Alicorns. "Once this problem is dealt with, I want these ponies brought to us. For it seems information has been kept from us and thus it must be revealed," Celestia said. Luna nodded. "Indeed. These ponies have committed espionage and should be in prison for it!" she said. "When that time comes, they will pay for their crimes. But, in the meantime, we must know Twilight's location. I will send her a letter," Celestia continued. "I will go to the dungeon and speak with the guards who had held The Archivist and see what information we can get," Luna said. "Very well. I'll inform Shining Armor of the issue," Cadance said, leaving the room. While Celestia began writing a letter, and Luna walking to the dungeon, Cadance heard a whisper. "The Temple..." the voice echoed. Cadance looked around. "The Temple..." the voice echoed again. "Go to the Temple..." "Who's there?" Cadance yelled out, desperately looking around. "The Temple of Inception..." the voice echoed. Cadance, annoyed with the unknown sound, continued to look around, until the voice finally stopped. Wondering what it was, she turned back to the Royal Sisters' room, where Celestia was writing the letter, then suddenly, the voice returned. "No," the voice echoed. Cadance, felt extremely annoyed to a point, where her unihorn began to light up blue. "Go to the Temple, Mi Amore Cadenza," the voice said. Cadance's annoyance dropped to shock. It was as if something knew her, and she paused and left her aunt's company. Walking through the halls, she felt something was watching her. "Who are you?" she said. The voice ceased and Cadance did not hear it for the rest of the day. However, she accepted the voice in not telling the Princesses about the Temple, and continued with her personal task. --- In Manehattan, Khaoios stood on top of the tallest tower in the city, holding his Golden Torch with his magic. Observing the city and its inhabitants, Spike yelling and screaming as he tried to break free from the chains imprisoning him. Khaoios, flew down. "You are one stubborn dragon, aren't you?" he snarled. Spike tried to bite him, but turned. "You're not gonna win, Khaoios. Twilight and everypony will stop you without a doubt," he talked back. "Indeed, together they are powerful, my little purple friend, but be warned, time is not on their side, and is running out... Just like yours," Khaoios threatened. Spike remained silent. Khaoios looked across the river and saw the sun setting. Grinning, he looked into his torch. "Reveal to me, the location of Twilight and her friends," Khaoios said. The torch fire grew, showing Twilight and her friends continuing their journey to Galloping Gorge. He smiled, while Spike slowly analyzed what Khaoios was doing. "So. You are able to see and predict their moves, I'm guessing?" Spike asked. Khaoios slowly turned his head. "Yes. I did say I am the Master of Intelligence. Did I not?" he replied. "If you're so smart, why do you need a stupid torch to make your predictions for you?" Spike asked. "The Artifact is my weapon against my enemies. Magicians have their staffs, Knights have their swords and spears, and I...have my relic." Khaoios growled. "That goes to show you that I am known by many names; Khaoios the Brilliance, Khaoios the Strategist, Khaoios the Magnificence, and Khaoios... the Intelligence. I am one of the brightest creatures you and your friends will ever meet,". "Oh yeah. What's gonna happen now?" Spike asked. "I told your pony friends that in order to defeat me, they would need to dig deep to understand the "truth" and "past" of my existence. It's like a chess game, my little dragon. I can predict every move they make, 5 pieces ahead from their current point. Which means, I plan 5 steps ahead, while you have to work step by step. That is how intelligent I am. And to answer your question... the Wonderbolts are coming straight to the city of Manehattan to "spy" and "report" to the Royal Captain. Tell me, was that what you were thinking of?" Khaoios said. "No. I didn't" Spike quickly replied. "My predictions seem to have reacted to your sense of fear. Good. That is what I expect from a little dragon like you," Khaoios replied, flying away and passing large skyscrapers. "Please hurry, Twilight and be careful" Spike said to himself. --- By Nightfall, Twilight and her friends eventually made it to the house of Daring Do. Inside, Daring do was just finishing her latest novel when she heard a knock on the door. Thinking it was a trap, Daring hid above the door, ready to jump any intruder. Once opened, Rainbow Dash walked in, and Daring jumped on her and they fell to the ground. Realizing who it was, Daring got off of Rainbow. "Sorry about that, Rainbow Dash," Daring Do said. "Hey, no problem," Rainbow Dash said with a smile. Twilight and her friends walked in. Daring was puzzled. "What are you all doing here, if I may ask?" she said. Twilight explained the issue to Daring Do as briefly as she could, but Daring Do shook her head. "I can't. I know I've been through crazy adventures, but this one, it's just... I don't know," Daring said sadly. "But you gotta. Equestria needs to be saved and in order for us to save it, we need and adventurous pony like you to take us through some ancient fortress or something," Rainbow Dash pleaded. "I'm sorry. The answer is no." Rainbow Dash frowned, frustrated, but then seemed to get an idea. She turned to Twilight and lowered her voice. "Would you guys mind waiting outside for a minute?" she asked. Knowing what she was going to do, Twilight nodded, turned and walked out, with the rest following. Rainbow walked to Daring Do, sitting on her chair. "Daring Do. I know this is hard for me to explain, but we need your help... I need your help. There's this Alicorn that threatened Equestria and even hurt my friends and I cannot allow that. He is not only threatening my friends, but our families, and if anything were to happen, I don't know if I can live with myself. My loyalty towards them is strong and I want to keep it that way. I will never give in, but this time, I need you. I'm asking you, as a loyal fan, as a loyal friend, please help us stop this creature, before Equestria is destroyed," Rainbow Dashed insisted. Daring Do was silent for a few moments. Rainbow Dash, knowing her words weren't helping, turned to the doorway. "You know, I thought you were my hero, and instead you chicken out. I've been a fan and always loved your adventures, but now when I need you, you back away. Some adventurer you are," Rainbow said, shedding a tear as she walked out. As the door closed behind Rainbow Dash, Daring Do began to think. She never had such a loyal fan come up to her asking for her help and to deny it really upset her. Registering her words, she remained seated. Outside Rainbow Dash walked slowly towards her friends. They knew something was wrong, but Rainbow shook her head. Saddened, they left Daring Do as they headed south. By the time they reached Unicorn Range, they suddenly heard a voice echo. Twilight, Rainbow Dash, and the rest turned and saw Daring Do flying towards them. Breathing heavily, she landed. "You know. I may be somewhat of a loner, but if you need me for something, I could use another adventure with my loyal fan," Daring Do said with a smile. Rainbow Dash tackled Daring Do in a giant hug. "Thank you, Daring Do!" she cried. Daring Do exhaled. "No problem, Rainbow Dash," she replied.
My Little Pony: The Day Equestria Stood Still	Chapter 9: A Perilious Journey	Everypony was set for their journey to Palamino Desert, but as the moon showed, they decided to camp for the night. As they were sleeping, The Archivist and Doctor Hooves eventually made it to Doctor Cabaleron's home. There, Cabaleron opened his door and immediately caught onto their expression. "Please come in. You seem to have had a long walk so, we'll rest here for the night," he said, letting The Archivist and Hooves in. Once inside, The Archivist turned, her right eyebrow raised. "Do not worry, the master informed me of the situation," Cabaleron chuckled. "How do we plan to proceed?" Doctor Hooves sat down. "Well, on the way here, we heard Khaoios has taken refuge in Manehattan, and is holding the city hostage until the ponies defeat him. That's all we know for now," he said. Cabaleron laughed. "Ha. Silly Khaoios still complaining over his teaching. That never ends." "Don't underestimate Khaoios, Cabaleron. He's quite intelligent," she replied. "Of course. Forgive me. It's just amusing that he held a grudge against the Masters for so many centuries and wouldn't let go," Cabaleron apologized. "Khaoios is a Bronco Titan and we all know about them. Do we not?" The Archivist said. Doctor Hooves sighed. "If the ponies plan on defeating Khaoios, we need to make sure they do so, however, we must limit the information we tell them," he said. Cabaleron tilted his head. "Wait... We're going to the Temple?" The Doctor and The Archivist confirmed. "What about the halls? The Library? Everything in there is vital! There's a reason why it's hidden from the ponies," Cabaleron pleaded. "We know. However, the Princesses were brutally defeated by Khaoios and no living soul on Equestria, other than us and a few others know how to defeat him. Yet, these six ponies are the "hope" of Equestria," The Archivist said. "Says who?" Cabaleron asked. "The Architect said it," Doctor Hooves replied. Cabaleron sighed. "Then we must prepare ourselves," he stated. "I expect we leave at dawn?" The Archivist nodded. "Very well. Let's get some shut eye and be ready in the morning," Cabaleron said. The three went immediately to sleep. --- As the night continued, Khaoios counted down the days. "My moment of triumph is slowly approaching and soon, the Architect will see what grand vision I had, proving that I am worthy enough to carry this burden," he said to himself. Spike, exhausted from before, remained asleep, not realizing the situation until sounds were heard from across the river. Lifting his head, he noticed the royal guards stationed themselves, watching Khaoios, standing on the city's tallest tower. Recognizing one of them, Khaoios snarled. "So... you too? This is just getting better and better, every minute," he whispered. Down below, a grand-stallion, pegasus pony stood. He had a hunter green jacket, with a green drill-sergeant hat, and grinned. The royal guards, who had never seen him, called him General StoneColt. "Hello, old friend," he said, staring at Khaoios from a distance. Their eyes were locked on each other, like a pistol duel, until a group of pegasi ponies flew down towards the base. However, three pegasus ponies landed and walked towards a guard. "Excuse me, but who's in charge here?" the pegasus pony asked. The guard looked down and realized it was the Captain of the Wonderbolts, Spitfire. He cleared his throat. "He is new to us, however, he seems to understand the situation. Please come in." The guard turned, escorting Spitfire and her two other members, Soarin and Fleetfoot. Inside, Soarin and Fleetfoot were observing the tent; watching not royal guards, but ponies who were considered military material. As they approached the table, the General walked in. Observing the Wonderbolt members, he stood silent and raised his right eyebrow. "It's gonna take more than three to take this one down," the General said. Spitfire returned with a fiery expression. "I can assure you, we are prepared for this," she replied. The General scoffed. "You are young ponies, and I am not interested in babysitting you while we fight this Alicorn, so take your leave," he replied rudely. "Are you serious? This? Pffft, this is nothing compared to when Soarin' got caught behind enemy lines during the Boar War," Spitfire countered. Soarin stepped in. "They made me dance! Said they would keep reading their poetry if I didn't!" he replied. Fleetfoot turned. "You'd rather be humiliated and dance for your captors then listen to poetry?" she asked. "You don't know suffering until you've heard boargan poetry." He shuddered. The General shook his head. "Well... never met such crazy Pegasus ponies, willing to do something like that. Especially during the Boar War. Very well then. However, there's one thing I want to mention to the three of you. I AM IN CHARGE. YOU WILL ADDRESS ME AS "SIR", OR GENERAL STONECOLT! NO IFS, ANDS, OR BUTS. GET IT? GOT IT? GOOD!" he yelled out. Spitfire, Soarin, and Fleetfoot saluted. "Sir! Yes, SIR!" the three said. At that moment, General StoneColt gave them their orders and they left the tent to accomplish them. As they proceeded to their positions, the general walked outside the tent and watched the city from across the river. He remained silent for a while, observing the situation and began to think to himself. This is gonna be a real pain in the rear, Master. I can assure you of that, he thought. --- Two days passed until the ponies regrouped at the starting point of the Palamino Desert. Surprised, Rainbow Dash and Daring Do snarled. "Doctor Cabaleron," they said. Cabaleron grinned. "Well. No need to worry, Daring Do. I heard the news, however. Let's put our differences aside and worry about reaching the area of interest, shall we?" he replied. Daring Do couldn't trust Cabaleron's words, however, Twilight stepped forward. "Believe me! Rainbow and I know about the issues, from before, but we need to work together if we plan to defeat Khaoios," she pleaded. Putting their differences aside, they agreed to the situation and proceeded through the hot and scorching desert. Hours passed as the group struggled to find the entrance. Exhausted, they collapsed onto the hot sand. Twilight, tired and sweaty from the sun, struggled back onto her hooves. After a few moments, Twilight couldn't regain her strength and looked around to see her, friends, The Archivist, and the rest, trying to fight the heat. Her eyes watering, she felt that she failed and thought she would die, but a voice came to her. A soft, gentle voice, and she looked around, trying to see who it was. "Twilight... Twilight..." the voice called out. Twilight then looked straight, and she saw a shadow, hard to identify. She struggled to get up, but again, she dropped. The voice continued. "Get Up. Equestria depends on you and your friends. Bringing peace to Equestria is what you were meant for." The voice faded. Twilight, determined and confident, took the voices words as a "push" to accomplish her mission. As she got up, she felt renewed and refreshed. Understanding her duty, she used her magic to hydrate the group and soon, they looked up to her and noticed her eyes sparkling. "Before I made friends, I felt it would be a waste of time, however, now I understand what I... no, "we", must do. As the Spirits of Friendship, we must defeat Khaoios. We will never give up... We will never give in... for we are the Wielders of Friendship! We will finish what we started!" Twilight said with confidence. Understanding her words, everypony got back on their hooves and continued on, until Twilight noticed a small whirlwind. It was as if it was trying to lead them somewhere until it stopped just before a small cliff. Below, they noticed it lead into a large, dark cave. "Come on, everypony," Twilight said as she walked down the small path. As the six mares and Daring Do went down the path, The Archivist, Doctor Hooves, and Doctor Cabaleron watched. "The Temple is in the Cave. Once we go in, be prepared," The Archivist whispered. "Of course," both Doctors replied, making their way down the path.
My Little Pony: The Day Equestria Stood Still	Chapter 10: The Temple of Inception	In Manehattan, Khaoios meditated patiently, and picked up his head. "They finally made it to the Temple. It appears I have clearly underestimated their chances," Khaoios said. --- Across the river, General StoneColt also sensed the Princesss' arrival at the Temple. Immediately, he called in some of the royal guards, as well as Captain Spitfire. "Captain. Change in plans. We are going to keep him occupied for the time being. I need you to lure him out of the city, which is where you guards will come in. While she leads her teams as a distraction, you will move in and slowly evacuate the ponies out. Do you understand me?" he ordered. One guard stepped forward. "But sir? We were told he is very intelligent and that he is very strategic!" he said. "Which is why we are going to confuse him. He cannot be at both places at once so were are going to outsmart him in a way. Now let's get started until the Princesses arrive," General StoneColt replied. "Yes sir!" they all responded and quickly gathered up their equipment. Within minutes, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and Princess Cadance walked into the tent and confronted the General. "I see you are feeling much better, my Princesses?" he said. Celestia and Luna stared. "We have very little information about you and thus we demand answers. What is your purpose here?" Celestia asked. "Yes. In addition, what is your connection with the one called, The Archivist?" Luna demanded. The General knew what they were talking about and lifted his head. "Well, first of all, it is your own fault for throwing The Archivist into the dungeon without having her explain to you the issue. So I might as well tell you. We are hidden from public because of our duties. In this type of situation, like it or not, we are dealing with a Bronco Titan. You may not know it because of the destruction of historical records, so I hope you learn something from this," he said harshly. Annoyed, Luna tried to get back at him using her magic, but Celestia put her leg out. "No Luna," she said, and then turned her attention on the General. "Why would you keep this concealed from us?" "Princess. We are not at liberty to speak such info, however, we can only give you the minor parts. That's because, what you see out there... He's not the only one who roamed this planet. Many others had far worse than the enemies you have seen," the General said. Princess Celestia and Luna couldn't answer, for they understood he nor the Archivist weren't the enemy, however, they continued to be suspicious of him. Having no other choice, but to trust him, they remained in the tent, alongside him. Cadance stood by them silently as they discussed the plan on outsmarting Khaoios. Proceeding with the plan, it commenced, and Khaoios, roaring, watched as the Wonderbolts flew towards him. Dodging them, he took flight, evading them through every tight space there was to lose them. However, one thing he left behind, that Spike noticed, was the Artifact, sealed inside a powerful barrier. Down below, the royal guards, slowly gathering ponies out of the city, raced across the bridge to safety. --- As the plan continued in Manehattan, Twilight and the rest walked through the dark and misty cave, only to have bats fly out. At that moment, Twilight felt an unusual disturbance within the cave. Once they reached the end of the cave, they came face to face with an enormous opening. It was like they were in another world. In awe, they witnessed the largest castle they have ever seen. Possibly three times the size of Canterlot, and four towers as large as the skyscrapers in Manehattan. The Archivist walked forward and overlooked the area. "What is this place?" Rarity asked. "The Temple of Inception. The oldest ruins on Equestria. Hidden from the surface to remain protected and sealed from ancient enemies," The Archivist replied. "This is incredible. As an adventurer, I've never seen a place as ancient as this," Daring Do commented. "That's because the secrets here are hidden and must not leave the Temple." Cabaleron replied. "If it does, the wrath of the ancients would lay waste to Equestria," Doctor Hooves commented. Twilight remained stunned for a moment, which caught the Archivist's attention. For what she told the Doctor back in Ponyville is true, and thus she stood by her. "This is... incredible. But, I thought Equestria was a peaceful land. Other than the three tribes... How bad could it have gotten? From what I read, Equestria was light and friendly. How could I have not known this?" Twilight asked. "Hasn't anypony ever told you? Most origins have dark beginnings," The Archivist said. Twilight shook her head. Rainbow Dash, Daring Do, and Applejack, ready to go down to the Temple, turned and hurried down the stairs. Rarity followed behind them, followed by Pinkie Pie hopping her way down the stairs. Fluttershy, shaking in fear, remained at the top. Twilight walking beside her, stopped, and picked her up. "Don't worry, Fluttershy. We're all in this together and we'll all get out together," she assured her with a smile. "Oh... I don't know, Twilight. But, if you say so, then okay," Fluttershy whispered. Soon everypony went down the stairs and eventually came at the large doorway to the Temple. Stopping, they noticed the writings on the doors were of an unknown language. Twilight and Daring Do flew up to read it, but shook their heads, for they could not translate it. "If I may comment on something, the language you are reading there is extinct. Nopony speaks it," Cabaleron commented. The Archivist then walked to the door and noticed one particular image. "Princess Twilight, look at this," she said. She pointed out a circle on the ground. For a few moments, Twilight read the image and noticed the six circles on the floor as well. Standing on each one, Twilight and her five friends glowed as a beam shot out at the door. Suddenly, a loud clank sound was heard, and the doors slowly opened. Inside, the halls were massive with statues, stained-glass windows, and wall carvings that were strange to them. Daring Do observed the wall carvings closely. "This seems to be a carving of our ancestors. Look at the bulbous head and beady eyes! You'll also notice the carving seems to show them having a tea party while the adjacent image has demons hiding nearby. Really shows you where their priorities were, don't it?" she said. "Yeah, yet they go by events from the earliest times," Rainbow Dash said, walking beside her. Twilight then looked around and noticed something strange. They were definitely going by events. Even recent ones. From behind, The Archivist, Doctor Hooves, and Doctor Cabaleron stood silently, and watched the ponies like children playing. Twilight turned. "Why doesn't Equestria know about this?" she asked them. They turned to the wall carvings and stained-glass windows, and noticed four Alicorns. Immediately, Twilight realized there were four towers. Gathering her thoughts together, she identified a clue. "So, there are four towers. The largest is the Creator and the other three are the formulas of creations, but what are they..." she said. "Space," Doctor Hooves replied. "Time," Doctor Cabaleron said "And Distortion," The Archivist finished. Immediately, the group continued to follow the events and heard a clicking sound. Twilight turned and looked down the hall to their left leading to the Tower of Time. And surprisingly, they saw a statue of an Alicorn, wearing a armor plate with the image of a Time Capsule. Pinkie Pie looked down the hall. "Ooooo! Who is that?" she asked. "That is the statue of the Master of Time. Timaeus, the spirit of Judgment," Doctor Hooves replied. The six mares absorbed the info and continued reading the events, and came across one that had them wondering. "Um... there are four Alicorns, right? Why are there an additional four?" Applejack asked. "Yeah. It seems they're fighting each other or something," Rainbow Dash continued. Daring Do became curious as well, for she had not seeing anything as interesting as that. The Archivist tried to limit the info, but stepped forward. "To make a long story short--" the Archivist was interrupted. "No, Archivist. We mustn't," Doctor Cabaleron whispered. "Don't worry" the Archivist replied, and then gestured to the images. "The four alicorns on the left are the Alicorns of Creation. The other four are the Bronco Titans. They are the oldest and most ruthless ones. Centuries ago, there was a war between the Alicorns and was considered to be one of the most chaotic wars this world has ever seen. Though the Bronco Titans lost with the death of the eldest, the Alicorns of Creation sentenced the remaining three to Tartarus for life. However, Khaoios was released because he was more of an intellectual type, and the Creator felt he could be useful. When he eventually went against her, she ordered him to be imprisoned out in the Astronomical Prison. Now with his return, he has come back to get back at the Creator for imprisoning him." Twilight was amazed. "Wow. That is really something. However, who are these Bronco Titans?" she asked. "From oldest to youngest, you have Tyrannus, who was considered to be the most powerful and evil alicorn that ever walked Equestria. In addition, his threat against the Creator was taken so seriously that it lead to his defeat and death. Yet, I cannot go into that," Doctor Hooves stated. "The rest are Titannus, Khaoios, of course, and lastly, Xenxus. Both Princess Celestia and Luna do not know of this, and we even ordered Cerberus to keep them at the deepest part of Tartarus," Doctor Cabaleron concluded. "The Bronco-Titans are also known by another name." Doctor Hooves commented. "What?" The seven young ponies asked. "The Masters of Conquer, Pestilence, War, and Death." The Archivist concluded. Twilight and her friends gasped for those names sounded extreme to them. In all of their travels, they have never heard such enemies representing an apocalyptic name. As they continued observing the other carvings, they noticed the two other halls. One had a Solar System-Like appearance, showing planets, moons, asteroids, and comets all levitating in the room. Something like a planetarium. The other had distorted orbs floating around the room. "Who are those other two alicorns?" Rarity asked, looking at both Alicorn Statues. "The one with the planets is the Master of Space. Ironwing Interstellar Paguseus, the spirit of Wonder. The middle aged one. The other is the Master of Distortion. Alteros, the spirit of Alteration. You could say he's like your friend, Discord, however he's much more powerful," Doctor Cabaleron replied to Rarity. "Discord? Then he should know this right?" Fluttershy asked. "No. Discord does not know of Alteros, and he will not," The Archivist said. Twilight then looked at the Archivist. "I understand that this is quite interesting, however, I need to know about Khaoios and if there is a way to beat him?" she asked. The Archivist nodded and turned to lead the way. "Come. Perhaps this room will provide you with the knowledge, however, you cannot take any of them out. They are kept here for a reason." The Archivist said. They walked in the middle of the hall, and noticed, something below their hooves. When they backed off, they noticed an invisible statue, until it was de-spelled revealing a statue of the Creator herself. Twilight observed it in amazement. "So this is the Architect? The Queen of Equestria?" she asked. "Yes," The Archivist and both Doctors replied. Behind the statue had a stairway leading into the lower part of the Temple, only to realize it was a colossal Library. However, The Archivist noticed that about three quarters of the documents were missing. She did not worry about that at the moment and instead focused on what was needed. Assisting everypony, The Archivist looked for the manuscripts of Khaoios. Very delicate, Twilight found the book lying in the back corner of the shelf. Gently levitating the book, she placed it on a table and began reading it. Unfortunately, it was written in an old language which slowed her progress. "There has to be something in this book that we could use against Khaoios! I... just can't seem to understand the writing." Twilight said. Suddenly, Twilight's eyes glowed and she was able to translate the language, for a few moments, until the book levitated itself and put itself back on the shelf. For a few minutes, everypony found it to be quite spooky, however they turned to Twilight. "What happened, Twilight?" Rainbow Dash asked. Breathing heavily, she turned and looked at the ponies. "I know how to beat Khaoios. But we need to hurry now," she replied. "What?" her friends asked. Twilight turned to The Archivist. "We've got what we came for and now I know what we can do," she said, hurrying out of the room. Her friends quickly ran after her. Daring Do, Cabaleron, and Doctor Hooves followed, yet The Archivist remained behind for a few moments. "Please forgive me, my masters," she whispered, running out of the room. As the group hurried out of the Temple a mysterious portal opened. Twilight heard a very calm and gentle voice. "Go through the portal," the voice told her. Taking a few seconds, thinking, she felt it was safe and ran through it. Her friends, not worrying where the portal came from ran right through it.
My Little Pony: The Day Equestria Stood Still	Chapter 11: Outmaneuver	As they went through the portal, chaos continued as Khaoios chased the Wonderbolts in every direction they were flying. Evading though tight spaces, Khaoios recognized he was wasting time, until his tolerance turned to no mercy. Reaching the point of exhaustion, he crashed into the Wonderbolt fliers, like a hurricane hitting a flock of birds. One by one, each member fell out of the sky, only to be caught by nearby pegasus ponies. Captain Spitfire, falling fast, was caught by a pegasus pony, with a cyan colored mane and tail, and a black body. "Gotcha!" he said, catching her. Spitfire, dizzy at the moment, turned her head and looked at the pegasus. "Thanks," Spitfire said, trying to regain her strength. "You're injured! Just hang on," the pegasus said as Khaoios spotted him. The pegasus squinted and Khaoios soon backed off, realizing it wasn't worth it. He then turned only to realize the last group of ponies escaped the city via the suspension bridge. Accepting his mistake, he looked and saw General StoneColt across the river. "Well played. General. Well played, indeed," Khaoios thought to himself and returned to his post on top of the tower. The General looked and scoffed. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna waited behind him. "Personally, I have never expected such a... suicide plan, but turned out to be quite interesting," Luna commented. General StoneColt grinned. "Believe me, Princess. In order to defeat your enemy, you must observe them. That's exactly why he defeated the both of you. However, he cannot be in two places at once, which is why the Wonderbolts were the bait, while the guards evacuated the ponies from the city," he replied. "Not all were evacuated," Celestia said. "Spike is Khaoios hostage... and--" "And yes, Twilight Sparkle and her friends will go and rescue him," StoneColt said. The Princesses worried for a moment, but had to agree with StoneColt. --- A few miles away, a portal opened, and Twilight, along with her companions hopped out. "Some shortcut that was." Applejack commented. "No time. We gotta go now and rescue Spike," Twilight said as she ran towards the base. There, Shining Armor stood only to realize it was Twilight coming in quickly. Hurriedly ordering his troops to stand down, the group came to him. "Twiley. You're here." Shining Armor spoke with relief. "I'm glad you're okay." He hugged her tightly. "We're fine, Shining Armor. How are the Princesses?" Twilight replied. In that instant, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Princess Cadance, and StoneColt stood behind Shining Armor. In tears, Twilight grabbed her mentor in a tight hug, happy that she was okay. However, with the small conversations on their adventure, they moved inside the tent, discussing the plan. The Archivist lifted head and locked her eyes on StoneColt. Knowing the facial expression, StoneColt recognized the response and turned to Twilight. "I understand you took a stroll looking for a way to defeat Khaoios. What is your plan, if I may ask?" StoneColt asked. Twilight cleared her throat as her friends and allies gathered around the table. "From what I read, that Torch he calls "The Artifact" is his most important weapon. It's capability is to predict the future." She paused. "He's a strategist, however, what StoneColt planned out from what you told us, that's one thing Khaoios cannot do. When he's focused on one problem, he'd rather deal with that problem first. However, the evacuation he didn't predict because he only predicted what was coming at him." "Basically moves that involve him, he can predict. Anything that he's not a victim to, he can't. The Artifact can only do so much," StoneColt commented. "If we can steal the Artifact, Khaoios is weak and thus vulnerable. However, with his power and intelligence, we must proceed cautiously," The Architect added. Shining Armor sighed. "So how do you plan on getting this torch?" he asked. The Archivist turned. "Twilight Sparkle along with the Wielders of Harmony, will do so. They are the only ones who are capable of defeating him and rescuing Spike," she said. The Princesses' felt their hearts sink in fear. Shining Armor shook his head. "No more, Twily! You've saved the world enough times already! You and your friends are the only ponies that could unite Equestria again with Friendship. Without you, I don't know how I can live with myself. Please, leave the rest of this to me and my guards, that's an order!" Twilight put her head down. "I have no choice, Shiny. I have to do this. Please. Believe in me and my friends," Twilight pleaded. Recording her words, StoneColt was quite surprised. He turned to the Archivist silently. The Archivist lifted her chin. "It's the only way." Twilight turned to the Princesses. They worried for their young Princess. Having no choice, they agreed, and Twilight smiled. "Thank you, Princesses. I promise. I will bring back Spike and defeat Khaoios. If we beat Tirek. We can beat Khaoios," Twilight said. After the Princesses and Shining Armor agreed with Twilight's decision, StoneColt stepped forward and turned to everypony. "Now. Once that is commenced, we need to keep Khaoios in one place, so we can use our magic and possibly, big buckets of water to drop on him". He said. "Water?" Luna asked. "Since Khaoios magic are fire based, he's vulnerable when he gets wet. If we can drop water on him and have Twilight and her friends use their Rainbow Power, they can stop him. Problem is... it will be difficult to lure him, but what would be a good spot," StoneColt said. Everypony absorbed the info. Cadance lifted her head. "The bridge? It has cables right?" she asked. "Yes... the southern suspension bridge. If we could lure him to the bridge, Shining Armor and his guards can shoot the wires, snapping and hooking onto Khaoios securing him in place," StoneColt responded. "What about the buckets of water?" Shining Armor asked. "I will lead the raid with the Wonderbolts by dropping water on him making him weak," StoneColt replied. He turned to address Twilight. "Princess. I need you to listen carefully. Once you retrieve your friend and the Artifact, fly as fast as you can to the bridge," he ordered. Twilight proudly stood up. "Of course," she replied as she turned and walked out of the tent.
My Little Pony: The Day Equestria Stood Still	Chapter 12: The Titan Falls	Once the mission was fully discussed, everypony went to their positions. Twilight and her friends soon crossed the foggy bridge and into the dark cloud-covered city. Walking through the streets as if it were a post-apocalyptic event, Khaoios sensed their presence and flew down with the Artifact. He created a small crater as he landed, and Spike was dropped to the ground. "We meet again, Princess. You visited the Temple, I see, just by the look on your eyes. Tell me... How was it?" he asked. "Enough with your games, Khaoios. Now we know how to defeat you so once I tell you, you WILL hand my friend over," Twilight spoke with anger. "Really? And whoever said, I was going to hand him over when you told me the answer. Because... you already did," Khaoios replied, as his eyes glowed. He used his magic to lock down Twilight's friends, and levitated Twilight towards him. Looking into her eyes, he horn began to glow as her power was draining into Khaoios' body. Her friends screamed for her. Twilight lifted her head slowly. "But... I thought you wanted my answer, and instead you steal my magic," Twilight struggled to say. "You fool. I didn't steal your magic. I stole what you saw after reading that book. I wanted all THE KNOWLEDGE OF EQUESTRIA. That was my plan. Since I am one of the Bronco Titans, I was unable to get into the Temple, so once I saw you, it struck me that you were worthy enough to enter, which a surprise to me. Then again, The Architect had that idea as well. But, know, at this very moment, I am now in possession of all the knowledge and thus, I shall take this planet, by FORCE! So I thank you for what you had brought me," Khaoios said. "You... tricked us." Twilight choked. "Brilliant Strategy. Wasn't it? Remember that I AM the Master of Intelligence. I had this plan since I first arrived and now, I shall get rid of you and your friends," Khaoios boasted as his unihorn glowed. Flying high, to make sure he destroyed them, the ponies looked at one another. "No! I'm too young to die!" Rarity wailed. "By Celestia I'm still a.--" Applejack smiled as she looked at her. "Rarity, you may be the most needy, high maintenance, repressed mare I've ever called my friend... but you are my friend, when it comes down to it, you've got real heart. And I AIN'T GIVIN' UP ON YOU YET!" she said. "Applejack..." Rarity shed a tear. Rainbow turned, continuing to struggle through the magic, and fell flat. She looked at her friends. "Guys... I... I don't know how to say this but... if this is really how we bite it.... I love you all," she told them. Pinkie Pie rocked back an forth. "Am I alright? ...Sure, I'll just be over here doing... something. Happy place. Happy place. Happy place. Happy place. Happy place. Happy place!" she said. Twilight, struggling to get up looked up as Khaoios charged his power. Not knowing what to do, and no intention to abandon her friends, she charged her magic, willing to give her life to save her friends. "Say good-bye to your creation, Architect," Khaoios said. With Khaoios distracted, Spike used his fire to melt the chains, making them easier to break. Free from them, he turned and saw Khaoios charging downward, and quickly jumped on his back covering Khaoios' eyes. As the two were falling, Spike snatched the Artifact from Khaoios grasp. "NO!! GET OFF ME, YOU FILTH!" Khaoios yelled. Hitting the windows on the way down, Twilight and her friends were released and watched as Khaoios came crashing down. Spreading out, Twilight noticed Spike was thrown off when Khaoios, shot out his magic at him, knocking him unconscious. Quickly, she flew up and caught him when Khaoios crashed landed on to the ground, creating dust. Running to a corner with her friends, Twilight tried to revive Spike. Unable to do so, Twilight trembled. "Spike!" she called out. There was no response. She repeated herself several times, until Applejack put her hoof out. "No... this... can't be happening. This... isn't how it's supposed to be!" Twilight cried. Suddenly, Spike twitched. "Uh... what happened?" Spike whispered. Twilight and her friends wept there tears and embraced him, happy he was okay. With surprise, Spike had The Artifact in hand. "You got it?" Rarity asked. "Yup," Spike laughed. Suddenly, Khaoios broke out of the crater creating dark smoke from the debris. Breathing heavily, they noticed he was weakening and it them the chance to commence the plan. To outsmart him, Twilight gathered up a plan to get Khaoios attention. Knowing what to do, they spread out and Twilight ran out into the open, with Spike on her back. "Oh Khaoios." Spike and Twilight taunted. "Looking for something?" Khaoios' eyes widened. "Give me the Artifact, you miserable welps. I WANT IT!" he yelled. "Oooooh... some pony sounds mad," Twilight said. "Come on and get us," Spike said as they ran. Khaoios, now without the Artifact, became vulnerable. Even with his strong intellect, he did not see what was going to occur next, for his focus was mostly on Twilight, Spike, and the Artifact. Passing by a street, Applejack and Rarity bit on a rope on each side of the street, while Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy stood above with a large tarp. Pinkie Pie was unfortunately eating a banana at that moment until she yelled in excitement as Twilight and Spike charged out, with Khaoios, running after them like a raging bull. At that moment, Pinkie Pie dropped a banana peel in the middle, where Khaoios slipped and tripped over the rope, and the tarp was dropped on his head, knocking him into a nearby building. Now fully enraged, he got up and soon began the chase as he roared out in anger. Across the river, the roar was heard. "Khaoios is mad now. Prepare everything," StoneColt ordered. All the ponies got to their positions as Twilight and her friends raced towards the bridge. Catapults loaded with balloons filled with water took aim. Unicorns prepared their magic, and the Wonderbolts readied their buckets of water. Suddenly, everypony watched as Twilight and her friends reached the bridge and Khaoios, running closer and closer to them, jumped on the first tower. At that point, Khaoios then dropped back down and continued his chase, when suddenly, due to nearly destroying the bridge earlier, the wires snapped, tripping Khaoios and knocking him against the second tower. "We got him!" Twilight yelled. Khaoios, now trapped, roared out in anger. Shining Armor the order. "Fire!!!" they ordered, as the catapults flung the buckets of water, hitting Khaoios on his broad side. Khaoios roared out in pain as they noticed he was still holding his ground. Above, the Wonderbolts with the assistance of other pegasus ponies, including the one that saved Captain Spitfire, passed over and dropped buckets of water on Khaoios. Struggling to free himself, Khaoios used his magic to shoot the pegasus ponies out of the sky, but due to the water, his aim was off, weakening him greatly. "That's it. He's weak," the Archivist said. As the six mares and the dragon made it three quarters of the way, one of the cables on the other side snapped. Exploding, it rocked the bridge like an earthquake, knocking the ponies down. Below the bridge, one of the holders exploded, tilting slightly on its side. From there, the ponies knew, they had to get off the bridge fast. "No! The bridge is about to go." Doctor Hooves yelled. The Archivist turned and noticed the bridge tilted. She ran to the edge of the bridge as it continued to crack. Yelling to them to run, the bridge cracked and fell one level, knocking the ponies down again. Hurrying on, they made it to the edge of the bridge, but couldn't reach for the top. Too weak to carrying them, Twilight called for a rope. Without a word, a rope was immediately tossed down, but in doing so, the bridge dropped again. As Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity climbed up, Khaoios continued to be distracted, still trying to free himself. Making it safely up, Twilight flew up with Spike until another cable snapped, knocking into the asphalt of the bridge and hitting Twilight. Knocked out, temporarily, the Archivist jumped down and carried the unconscious princess. Carrying Spike as well, the Archivist struggled as she climbed up. After a suspenseful moment, that area of the bridge collapsed, landing in the river and the Archivist managed to hold on tighter. Finally reaching the top, Twilight awoke and immediately gathered her friends This time, they were confident enough to put an end to Khaoios with the use of their Rainbow Power. Khaoios, looking straight at them, charged with whatever power he had left to defeat them quickly. The ponies watched as six mare's Rainbow Power fired and Khaoios blocked it again. Princess Celestia and Luna noticed it was weak and tried to assist until suddenly, a powerful blue colored lighting shot with such incredible power, hit Khaoios on the back. With the combined force, the bridge crumbled and plummeted into the river, dragging Khaoios with it. As the bridge went down, powerful waves crashed onto nearby docks, destroying small shacks and homes. It was intense for everypony as they watched the powerful Alicorn get dragged down into the river. Thunder and lightning rolled in, as Twilight and her friends ran to the edge and saw nothing but bubbles for minutes. StoneColt, The Archivist, the Princesses and everypony else watched as the bubbles soon died out. The bridge was gone and so was Khaoios. The terror was over. From all over, ponies cheered out and word soon spread all over Equestria. The Alicorn was defeated, and disappeared without a trace under the waves. Twilight, happy that she and her friends defeated Khaoios, hurried back to the base. There, they heard ponies, young and old, stomping on the ground. They were clapping their hooves, celebrating the bravery of defeating the Alicorn. Slowly walking past them, embracing their accomplishment, they faced the Princesses. "Princess Twilight Sparkle. What you have done is one of the most memorable things we shall cherish. We give our true thanks to you and your friends for defeating the great Alicorn," Celestia announced, as everypony stomped their hooves. The Architect, Doctor Hooves, Doctor Cabaleron, and StoneColt watched silently as the Artifact was handed over to Shining Armor. Knowing its capabilities, they ignored that moment and expressed their thanks towards Twilight and her friends on their accomplishments. Later that day, ponies assisted one another with recovering from the damage and rebuilding what was destroyed on Equestria. Journeying back to Canterlot, Celestia and Luna gave there thanks to them, and soon, celebration rang out in Canterlot and in Ponyville. Once night came, Twilight was back in her home ready to go to sleep. "Whew. What a wild adventure," she giggled. "You said it," Spike replied, falling asleep. Twilight, feeling proud of her accomplishment, fell asleep too.
My Little Pony: The Day Equestria Stood Still	Epilogue	The Temple of Inception lay quiet, excluding the clicks from the Tower of Time. There, the Archivist walked through the temple and into the Architect's room. Unwrapping a blanket, she held the Artifact. She had mysteriously gone into Canterlot and took it out, to prevent its secrets from getting revealed. As she was in the Library, there was a lower whisper, creating a small draft. She lifted her head. "You know, it does get kind of annoying when you sneak up behind me," she said. "I want to make sure the Artifact is securely sealed. No pony must know of the incident. Once they wake up, they will remember nothing of Khaoios," the voice said behind her. The Archivist turned and saw the Master of Time, Timaeus, as he walked out from the shadows. "What about the master? Because I'm afraid what just occurred is going to happen again," The Archivist replied. "Of course it's going to happen again, my apprentice," Another voice said. Looking next to Timaeus, another alicorn stepped out. She was a white alicorn, with a red-colored mane and tail. Her appearance was of beauty and creativity. "What do you mean, your Majesty?" the Archivist asked. The mare lifted her head. "Because those who interfered with my creativity, will do everything in their power to destroy it," the Architect said.
EQUESTRIA TEACHERS	pre	For her surprise and fear, she spotted Clan sitting over the clouds with a smirk on. "What took you so long? eh Dashie?" Rainbow Dash gave him disapproving frown. "Not fair! A cloud hit me!" "Gotta watch out for speeding clouds at all times, aka not my problem" Rainbow Dash lowered her eyes and hated herself for losing again. "I hate losing ..." She is angry, but her racing partner didn't give her the time to alleviate her anger. He put a sport cap over head and said with a smile. "Welcome aboard coach" "You are awful" Clan smiled triumphant. He watched how Rainbow sat on her haunches, her sad expression made him feel some guilt for winning the race, so he opted to console her. "Come on, don't be sad" Rainbow ignored his words "Being a coach is awesome! You tell every pony what to do" She raised her head "And they do it!" "Its not that, I just don't like losing" Clan heard her out. He decided to distract her from the recent race. "'sigh' Still want to date me?" Rainbow Dash raised and eyebrow and cleared the tears from her eyes. "Hmm, sure why not?" "Okay, lets go anywhere but near the city hall" "Okay ... follow me then!" Clan did as told and flies after Rainbow dash, he considers himself the luckiest alive for not missing with the cloud.
EQUESTRIA TEACHERS	Who is the dragon?	Who is the dragon? "I made them with magical enhanced silk, for more durability" Rarity arrogantly explains the details of the school uniform. Headmaster Land seems surprised for Rarity's contribution for his school. He leans forwards from his office chair and grabs one completely new beret from a box. He turns it examining the delicate borders and feels their texture, is from quite a fine fabric. "All I can say is that I'm impressed" Land stretched the beret and put it back in the box. "Thank you" "Don't mention it" Rarity seems to not mean it at all "This will teach you who I am, mule" Rarity fought a smile and looks away from land's eyes. Land raised an eyebrow and thought in what to say next. He already accepted the uniforms and thanked her, but she is still standing in his office. "... So, you said you are donating this?" "Absolutely" Land scratched his head in confusion. He didn't want to offend Rarity by asking her to leave, but she is standing in his office with a smirk in her face, and he isn't sure how to proceed. "You got mail! 'Smack'" A grey Pegasus with derped yellow eyes smacked her face in the window. Derpy Hooves shook her head and smiled widely after recovering from the hit. Land raised both eyebrows and approached the window to open it, Derpy handed him a bunch of letter envelops all destined to his institution. Derpy hoof saluted him and flew out lowering her head in time to avoid hitting the window frame. Land looked at her with a smile. "Mail to my window? That is a brilliant mare!" Rarity frowned at him with a disgusted face. She was waiting for an apology from headmaster for not accepting her, but witnessing how he called Derpy brilliant just heated the blood in her arteries. Rarity smoothly turns slapping him in the face with her tail, and leaves his office. She hissed complains all the way out. "I am surrounded by idiots! Brilliant, Ha! Unbelievable ..." Land recoiled backwards from the slap and gestured in confusion "What just happened?" _________________________________________________________________________________________________ "Oh boy, I always wanted to study at a school!" Spike said with enthusiasm. Twilight Sparkle waits nervously in the waiting corridor just next headmaster's office. She brought Spike with her and she is unsure of what Land's reaction will be. She has Rose supporting her right next to her sit. "Calm down Twilight, Spike is a wonderful dragon, I am sure headmaster will accept him!" Twilight smiled but her moral didn't go up any more, she knew allowing a dragon in a school is rather unthinkable for some ponies. "I just ... doubt headmaster will accept you Spike" Spike looked at twilight with assuring eyes. "Don't worry Twilight, I will show him my most refined self! He can't give me a 'no' for an answer" Twilight smiled at Spike and caressed his head. The door leading to the office opened letting some angry pony out. Twilight panicked and stood from her sit and attempted to back away "Oh no, I think we should do this another day" "No way, I wanna talk to him! I always wanted to be a student!" "You are just a baby, you can't say you always wanted something!" She overpowered Spike's useless attempt to stop her, but Rose stood in the exit door frame. "Wait, chill out Twilight!" Twilight tried to get out with her, but Rose replied thoughtfully "If you don't tell him now, then when?" "Another day, I don't know, we still have plenty of time!" Twilight desperately tried to exit the corridor and take Spike out of the school before any pony saw them. Spike broke from her grasp and Rose tried to reason with Twilight but she was pushing very hard and not caring if she could break something. "Twilight stop! Just think about Spike!" Twilight ignored her and proceeded to levitate Spike with magic. "Let me out! Spike doesn't need school anyway!" "But ..." Spike tried to discuss but her magic rendered him unable to fight back. "Twilight get a hold of yourself!" Rose watched worried how Twilight lost it. Twilight is so disturbed her horn sparkled violently. Involuntarily she casted spells around turning small things into plant pots, ash piles and setting tiny fires in the wall paper. In the corridor formed a mini tornado that swerved papers and chairs around, fortunately the fire was put out by it. "I can't! I DON'T WANT TO LOSE THIS JOB!" Rose stepped back and slapped twilight in the face, Twilight blinked and recoiled from the hit. The tornado vanished. All the furniture and paper fell to the ground at once. Spike fell to the ground as well after being shook aggressively by Twilight's magic, he was intact thanks to his natural dragon armor. Rose apologized "I am sorry, but are you doing this for you, or for him?" Rose pointed at Spike which is close to tears. Twilight came to her senses "I ..." She Inhaled loudly, she is close to tears as well "I am sorry, I just ... couldn't control my emotions, this hardly happens to me ... it's just ... deep inside ... 'sigh' I always wanted to be a teacher" Twilight raised her eyes apologetically, single tears slid down from them. "After being Celestia's protege, being a teacher was my most wanted thing, that's why I signed up here the very first day" Twilight reveals she always wanted to teach, instead of being a student taking classes, she wanted to switch places with her educators. Spike cleared the tears from his eyes and spoke submissive to Twilight "Well ... if that's the case ..." "No Spike, I was selfish just now ... very selfish" Twilight pointed at the mess in the corridor. "Seriously, you are not a slave! I should let you do stuff more often" Twilight smiled and tenderly leaned a hoof under his chin "I have dreams, but I cannot let my dreams crush the ones of others like this, especially yours Spike" She kissed Spike in his forehead. Spike smiled from the heart. With watery eyes he hugged Twilight "... Thank you Twi" Twilight hugged him back and promised to never react like that again. She and Spike shared quite a touching moment, but that didn't stop time from passing. Ponies stood around jaw dropped and staring at the chaos in the room. "Miss Twilight, what happened in here?!" Headmaster Land came out of his office to see the mess heard from there. He suspected from her disorganized mane and tail she could be the cause of this. "Twilight Sparkle, please, into my office" Twilight did as told and motioned Spike to follow her inside. Twilight took the chance to fix her mane with a simple spell. Spike hesitated at first, but he took a deep breath of courage and walked inside with an inflated chest. Headmaster closed the door and asked them to take a sit. Both Twilight and Spike sat in short cushioned red chairs. He looked at both of them for a while, tapping his hoof in the desk and thinking what to say. "Clearly ..." "I did it!" Twilight jumped in "I know, I feel lucky such an incident didn't happen while we were imparting classes. Some foal could get hurt or worse" Headmaster lectured Twilight. "I am counting on your advance unicorn magic not only to teach it, but to keep this institution safe and sound" He really lamented hiring Twilight now, such intellect often comes balanced with poor sanity. Headmaster looked at some papers in his desk, he fiddled in them and talked over to Twilight trying to sound the fairest possible "I will forget this incident today, but if such a thing happens again I am afraid I would have no other choice ..." He raised his eyes to meet hers, twilight got the message and nodded to him. "I promise I will make it up! No salary this month and I will never let that happen again!" It is much more than what headmaster would have agreed to, but saving some money for his personal account wouldn't hurt "Hmm deal!" Twilight noticed a suspicious tone in his voice. Headmaster smiled at her and felt certain she would not cause any more trouble. "Well, off you go! See you tomorrow morning for your first day as a teacher!" Twilight felt goose bumps in her back and she wanted to ignore what she had to do. But her subconscious wouldn't let her. She was very close to lose her job and she is going to risk it another time. "Headmaster Land, I have a request ..." Twilight looked away and rubbed her elbow uneasily. "I am listening" He smiled brightly trying to make her feel more comfortable. "I want to put my youngling in here" "I didn't know you were a mother!" Headmaster said concerned about it. "No I'm not, Spike is more of ..." A bright idea illuminated her mind "Well yeah, I am a mother, because Spike is adopted!" Spike felt like objecting, but Twilight patted him in the head so hard he bit his own tongue. Spike is Twilight's personal assistant since he was born. This circumstance is inconvenient if she wants Spike to be a student like any other, besides its time Spike receives a more proper treatment from Twilight. It just came to her mind to see the world from his eyes. Living every day and not doing things a normal kid would do: cleaning, cooking, writing letters, running errands, working, rarely playing and at the end of the day, sleeping in a doggy basket next to her bed "... Never saw it from that perspective" His entertainment is inside a library "Because he doesn't know any better" Twilight's genius was so deep inside the books she didn't pay attention to her pride "And yet he doesn't complain" She looked concerned to Spike. Spike returned a questioning look "Just look at you, so young and ... resilient" "Adopted eh? So where is he?" Headmaster broke up her realizing of things just in time. Twilight turned her head to face him, she was decided "I will be more than happy to get him a seat in this institution!" Headmaster continued talking and felt eager to meet her pride. "He is right here, next to me. Say hello Spike" Time to settle this. Spike got down his seat and leaned over the desk, he politely shook Land's hoof. "Nice to meet you headmaster Land!" Land shook Spike back and stopped a few seconds to take it all in. "... So the adopted youngling you want to put in my school, is a dragon?" Twilight nodded and felt a relief after seeing his smile "Hahaha, You are joking, right?" Twilight got back to be worried, not that she was surprised by his answer. Land's smile slowly fade, he saw in Twilight's eyes she wasn't kidding. He found himself in a odd situation and replied how he thought appropriate with clear words "I cant do that" "But, why?!" Spike complained "Because..."He pointed at his hoof "You breathe fire, fire is dangerous" He pointed at his other hoof "You are a carnivorous being" running out of hooves to point at, he got to the point. "I cannot allow you in here. You are a flammable menace, the most dangerous of predators. You are a dragon!" Twilight got in "But he is just a baby dragon and he has never, ever, ever, ever, ever attacked any pony!" Land looked at her surprised, she may be a little more insane than he thought. "Still, dragons grow and they get very greedy, and then they burn things, kill things!"Land sighed "And yet you ask me to allow one in this school, I am disappointed Twilight" "Spike is different, he has never harmed anything on purpose ... He knows the value of others and the value they give to things!" "A dragon that understands the importance of others? What is he a philosopher?" Land asked in disbelief. Spike put his claws over his desk and tried to prove him. "Here look, I can write!" Land watched with a gesture of confusion and surprise. "I know good manners and I only eat gems and candy, I am not a savage!" Spike chews a butter mint from a bowl on his desk. Land put a hoof under his chin. "You are not like other dragons ... indeed" He is analyzing the situation. Accepting a dragon may closure his whole project, one day goes wrong and a student gets burned, and things get increasingly harder. And what for? Letting a lonely dragon educate himself "Look Spike, education is a gift we all deserve to obtain ..." He sighs deeply, this situation is growing him white hairs over his already grayish mane. He rubs the skin in between the eyes and speaks back. "I cannot have you as a student here, you look promising but you are danger to my institution" Spike frowned very disappointed. He understands the risk headmaster didn't want to take, a dragon is always dangerous. He walked to stand next to Twilight "Well ... we tried, it's time to go home" Twilight felt very sad to see Spike fail in what he wanted. She would not stand and let this go on. She stood in front of his desk "Headmaster! He proved to you he is harmless! Land's face wrinkled, he took his decision and yet some pony dared to oppose to it. "Miss Twilight! I said it's not safe!" "Not safe? You are treating Spike like he was a walking bomb! Just look at him!" Land looked at Twilight with surprised, she was not taking his verdict. "A harmless, tiny, baby dragon!" "Twilight Sparkle, you have spoken enough!" Headmaster raised his voice "Don't forget what is your place in here!" Twilight felt him speaking with authority, trying to show the power of being her boss. Twilight shrugged it off, if he knew to what pony he was speaking to, he wouldn't be speaking with that tone. "I will NOT accept a dragon!" Spike accepted his verdict and tried to push Twilight out of the office "Come on Twilight, he clearly does not want me here and you are going to get in trouble!" Twilight turned her head "Fine, then I don't want to work here" A bioelectric signal produced a spasm in Land's face "... Wait, what?" He observed how Twilight turned around to leave his office. If she just were any teacher of his he will be all right with her quitting, but she imparted math and magic, the two hardest subject to obtain a good teacher for them. And Twilight is probably the best magician out there. Land is walking in a minefield now, one bad step and he may lose great opportunities to enhance his institution. "Wait a second, please" Twilight stopped and fought a smile of triumph "Are you saying that if I don't take Spike in, you are quitting?" "Well ... yes, that's right" Land scratched his mane in frustration "You can't do this" "Try me" Twilight found it easy to stand to him, basically nothing compared to what she has stood against. Time passed. "Classes suppose to start tomorrow" Land said bitterly "I know" Not part of her plan, but the odds worked for her wonderfully. Having no other choice, headmaster Land agreed to her terms on one condition "You will sign this document that specifies you have complete responsibility on the actions of this dragon!" "Don't worry headmaster, you won't regret it!" Twilight smiled brightly, quite opposite to Land's bitter frown. Spike half smiled. He wanted to study in a school not only because that's what every pony does, but because he wanted to grow wiser, and years of living in the library showed him the unlimited power and joy of knowledge. The only thing he wishes now is that he signed-in this institution with a less aggressive argument. "Well, good things are hard to get, aren't they headmaster?" Land said nothing and thought if Twilight was the real dragon in this pair.
EQUESTRIA TEACHERS	Phase 3, Classes finally begin!	Phase 3, Classes finally begin! "Bring it above your head and pull it down a tad to the left, now pull it down another tad to the right and a good looking hat is all that is left!" Spike lit his morning with a joyful song praising his new hat. Being part in EEC awarded him an obligatory beret the students must wear while receiving classes or while being present in the same institution, if his subconscious was not wrong it is named uniform. Accompanying his beret was special breakfast, or at least the most special it could be since Twilight's attempts to make him sparkly pancakes almost turned into a explosive emergency. Spike had to resort to use his secret stock of precious stones, he proceed to add them into a balanced cookie mass and merged them together with grace unlike of any dragon. When he gave form to them, his claws held a measuring cup and glazed them with ultra pulverized sugar. Since it was a special day, probably the most important of his life, it is tradition to start days like this with a breakfast of the same category. Finally the cookies received a constant soft flame from spike's breath, and they quickly baked above a silver plate with no scorches to be seen. Twilight insisted in assisting with his breakfast, but the recent incident with the spell her horn casted on the pancakes made Spike change his mind. "Spike, I know what went wrong. I can do it right this time!" "Wait, never thought that baking just isn't your thing?" Twilight gave him a reproaching look and lit her horn brightly. The cookies released a blinding flash which disabled Spike's eyes for the few seconds to come. Once the shine vanished, Spike slowly opened his eyelids and witnessed the power of magic. The cookies looked unnaturally delicious, the rubies in them were spotless beyond believe and the emeralds dispersed the sunlight like a powerful prism. They kept a perfect temperature hot enough to be freely eaten and enjoyed, but quite cool so would never burn your tongue. Spike brought a claw over the silver plate and felt their unique texture. The skin of every cookie was so splendid it surpassed the touch of polished glass. "Cooking may not be my fort, but magic is definitely my strongest" "Indeefd!" Spike unintentionally muffled his voice with several bites to his breakfast. Done with the most important meal, Spike took hold of a backpack filled with notebooks and scholar tools that will be of his assist. He did half a spin to face Twilight and gestured he was ready to depart to school. "Not going to wash your hands after eating?" Spike instantly did as implied. Twilight smiled and headed towards the front door, when she brought a hoof on the doorknob, she turned her head and noticed Spike wasn't following. Twilight immediately asked the matter "What is it? Did you forget something?" "... No" Twilight cocked her head upon hearing the particular tone of his 'no'. She is rather suspecting of him. "Then let's go" "Well ... yeah, I guess there's nothing to wait now ..." Twilight frowned at Spike's present stance. His even shivers agitated his body too violently for them to be casual. More strange was his uneven pace towards the door, giving soft steps, similar to a sneak. "Spike, are you scared?" "Nonsense!" Spike said this with conviction, but he is aware he isn't fooling anyone. It took him a time but he resigned to stop pretending. He deeply sighed. "I can't even act for bits" Spike lowered his eyes from Twilight's. She took as her job to take care of Spike years ago, just after he hatched from the egg. She put her hoof over Spike's shoulders and gave him a consoling hug. There is not better cure for fear than a reassuring gesture of love. "Come on, it will be fine! Here, you can ride in my back" Spike slowly rolled his eyes. Indeed feeling better, he hopped on her back and sat comfy. He took this chance to explain the reason of his hesitance. "You know, being in a school taking classes and learning is very awesome" He sighed deeply "But when you are the only one that walks on two legs and spits fire, I may look like a freak to others" "Now that is nonsense, every pony that ever met you loves you! Are you mistaking ponies with some other inexistent being that discriminates others for any reason?" Spike thought about it, he never received a single insult nor complaint from any pony he knows, not even headmaster, even thought he stated he feels more comfortable with Spike living in another town. "Twilight, you are absolutely right! We can go now" "But we are already here" "... Really?!" Spike demonstrated to be capable of losing the notion of time and the motion of life with extraordinary ease. He looked over the big cylindrical building, Twilight walked in the double doors and Spike took this opportunity to gulp as hard as he could. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Applejack begins her first day as a teacher in an agitated stance. Having iron guts for fighting does not mean they are as solid when facing children. Even with her notes memorized, she could not possibly feel anymore insecure. At morning she entered the institution and received a warm salutation from Rose. Applejack returned the greeting with a delayed wave and swiftly headed towards the Teacher's room. For her Surprise she found the doctor that examined her the other day, Applejack tried to say 'hi' in a normal manner but her voice got choked by a involuntary gasp. "Doc! What are yo doing here?!" The blue Unicorn stopped sipping his cup and fixed his eyes on her. "Umm, I just came for coffee?" His cup presented forward for appreciation of Applejack's eyes. The slightest twitch on her face summoned Doc's Attention and his professionalism and concern for others readied an informative question. "Miss Applejack, is everything all right?" He was already running a diagnosis as it is his duty to maintain the general health of the population of this institution, a duty he did not take lightly. "Al'right? Of course of course! No't scared nor ... scared nor nervous ..." hyperventilation, transpiration, dilated eyes, mild tremors. All this symptoms lingered in Doc's mind, they are clear signs of stress and insecurity. He opted for a subtle question to determine what was causing them. "Can I assist you with something? Miss Apple?" Doc avoided using the full name to gain some trust with the patience. Applejack considered talking with him was currently very tiring and attempted to end the conversation, but she lacked a proper way to do it. Hoping Doc would give up, she looked away and approached the magical coffee maker for some caffeine. While filling a cup she discerned her own sweat uncontrollably flowing down her face, this only happened in overwhelming situations. "I'm just going to teach some darn classes! Why is that so hard?!" Applejack is under emotional and mental fatigue, her eyes squinted as the bright light of a lamp was too overwhelming for them. Her eyes widened after a warm liquid made contact with her hoof, the coffee overflowed the cup which bathed her limb with the bitter substance. A gentle hoof slid hers from the draining switch of the coffee maker. Applejack slowly turned her eyes locking them on Doc's hoof and then on his yellow eyes. He let go of her foreleg and spoke with a soothing tone. "I know there is something troubling you" Unable to continue pretending, Applejack decided to trust Doc on this one, he may not be a close friend but he was a compelling fella. Besides it was too obvious now "It's okay Doc, I am just nervous for my first day ..." Applejack didn't waste any word. She had a hard time speaking with this stress. "Applejack, I am here to help with any kind of problem you have" By problems he meant everything physiological and physical, but he shortened the sentence for her comfort. He brought a reassuring hoof under her chin and motioned her to take a seat. Applejack resigned to his whim and explained her state. "Doc, I feel terrible!" Doc nodded, levitated a quill and paper and took notes "I feel fine, clean, with energy but I feel as unsafe as a limp cow next to a gian' dragon!" "Okay, are you scared the child dragon the school is admitting will hurt you?" "What Spike? Hay no he is a lovely midget!" Doc ripped a page from his notes and told her to go on. "It's just, 'Sigh' I got hired in this fancy buildin' recently and I just can't believe the level of this institution" "So?" "So?! This is a big responsibility! 'Big sigh' I like the money but I don't know if I can keep up" Applejack felt a big weight get off her back, unfortunately a frown grew on her face as she considered herself incapable of rolling as a teacher. Doc took his glasses off and softly chuckled under his breath. "I see you are experiencing a mini panic attack, an exaggerated period considering your calm nature and solid mentality" "Say again?" "Worry not! It is certainly produced by short term causes" Doc glanced at the coffee mug "Which coffee won't help decrease it, but will instead stimulate it" Applejack stared at him in confusion. She had it clear taking the caffeine won't help, but she wasn't sure of what to do next. She scratched her mane and came at Doc "Okay ... what should I take Doc?" "Miss Apple, what you need is a minor Psychological treatment such as breathing exercises or a slight distraction" Doc disposed of the cup of coffee no pony will be needing. The trashcan paints with the splattered liquid "I will be staying in the nursery in case you need me. Try talking to some pony and clarify your doubts" With this said, Doc headed towards the exit and added right before departing "After all, you weren't chosen among hundreds just because" A tiny smirk awakened in AJ's mouth, she was not being arrogant but instead she was realistic. Compare to things she faced in the past this was child play. Teaching didn't look so complicated now. "Wait Doc!" Doc's ears twitched and his head turned back. Their eyes locked for a second. Applejack stared at his disinterest eyes as silence filled the environment. She sought to thank him for his support, after all he comforted her like a true friend and made her look in a mirror and remember who she really is and what she is capable of. She prompted to end the silence. "... Thanks" Doc returned a smile and finally walked away. Applejack was all set, her papers were readied up and there were no doubts left. Feeling very relieved she held a glass from a fine looking cupboard and approached the crazy new water cooler. Whilst filling the glass she read the information for the user located to one side of the machine. Magical water cooling craft. Its mechanism uses a safe non noxious material that basically "divests" water from all its temperature. "Heh, what crazed machinery are they building next?" Upon the glass being filled, its holder proceeds to lift it and drink the water. The liquid was fresh to the taste and it flowed down her throat with much ease. With one eye mid opened she got to discern the room trough the glass, objects outside from the middle like the chairs got a rounded deformed shape but everything in the circle looked straight, just like the wall clock. According to it and her schedule she was 5 minutes late for her class. A minimum of droplets of water slipped in her lungs causing cautious coughs in order to clear the airways. She simply choked while instantly getting ready to impart her classes and running towards her destined classroom. She got quite the curious looks on her while galloping her way here, but not that it matters to her knowing she is late for her first day of work. Once inside she receives more curious looks, but these are fully innocent gazes from all the students. Each one comfortably sitting in their favorite spot among 6 rows of seats, Applejack recognized her little sister sitting with her one of her best friends. The mandatory beret on their heads made them look completely harmless, not that she expected them to misbehave. "Oh sweet lords of Celestia, what di' I just got into" Applejack stared at nothing as she fought to keep it together. Her instinct felt cornered and rushed AJ to run away, but consciousness overcame her instinct the very first day her heart started beating. She raised her chest and proceeds to introduce herself. "Mah na ..." She backed an informal introduction just in time. Her most important role as a teacher is to teach proper mannerism. Applejack cleared her throat loudly, looking for the attention of the students and allowing her voice the appropriate volume. "Welcome students to General History!" Her salute brought a minimum of attention from the occupied seats. Sweetie Belle yawned, action which made her emphasize among the innocent faces. "No, don't let it get you Applejack!" Applejack fought off the tempting justifications of paranoia, just that yawn released a whole conspiracy plot on her class. Then again, it was all inside her mind. Not giving more spins to the subject, Applejack continued her introduction. "First thing, everyp..." She opted to change the word, since Spike was in the class, it was more appropriate. "Everyone will tell their names and a little about themselves starting by me! My name is Applejack and I like ..." "Apples?!" The kids guessed at unison. Applejack looked at them a tad embarrassed, also relieved to see the kids finally resigned to say something. "Whoa, is it that obvious?" She proceeded to write her name and add the info adjacent to it. Unlike Cheerilee's usual green boards, this boards didn't require chalk, nor were they green. This boards are light white and seamless, at least to the pony eye. To write Applejack used a sophisticated looking rod with a beamy end, it was small so it is easy to handle. She was quite familiar with it, since Rose used it to mark the "chosens" in the big vertical board. It worked the same way chalk did, except for the annoying dust and the infinity of its "Ink". Applejack gave a closer look to the marker, upon feeling the many gazes on her back she forgot the tool and runs the class. "This is really cool, but I got to keep it professional" Applejack likes apples reads in the board, a simple but never outdated method to first day a class. Not wasting any time she faced the board and began writing each name with regular speed. From left to right, from front to back. In that order the students revealed their appellation and information. From now Applejack got all the attention. The class proceeded peacefully, no misbehave nor bad circumstances were encountered. "I am impressed how easy this is! No pony asks you questions you don't know, but instead you can ask them and no pony can do a buck about it!" After the presentation of each student it was time for historical lessons. "Now that we know each other we can more comfortably work together!" The kids showed little cheer about, not that it was her job to make them constantly smile. A lone shaking hoof drew Applejack's attention. She looked at its owner and questioned the distress. "Miss Applejack, I need to go to the bathroom now!" Little adorableness was in her voice considering what her figure implied. Of course it was Filthy Rich's kid, only her rogue would state it rather than ask for the permission. Applejack thought about denying it, but she got a better idea. "Stop right there Lady!" Diamond Tiara glanced at Applejack, her eyes wishing to ignore but the current distribution of power was completely against her. "The General code for students gives me the right to assist to the restroom at least once per class!" "Sure! But you aren't going anywhere unless you ask like an educated, cute filly!" Laughter thundered in the classroom as D. Tiara lowered her head in embarrassment. She stared at Applejack with the intention of adding a comeback. Not that she used to have a change against AJ, but right now she couldn't but summit to AJ's command and ask for permission like a cute, little filly. "'Sigh' Can I please go to the bathroom?" "Please Miss ...?" Applejack asked with a guilty tiny smirk. "Augh! ... Miss Applejack" "Of course Tiara! Now you don't have to address me, but when you do I will appreciate if y'all call me Miss" She allowed small informality in this sentence hoping the students wouldn't abuse of it. But then again, kids always say first exactly what you don't want them to say. Applejack considered for a moment how just saying "y'all" could go like a word and comeback as a shark and bite her on the ass. Once Diamond Tiara grumped her way out, Applejack proceeds to put a hoof on the board and requests for the attention of the class. "You all pay attention now, because you are about to see historical facts" With deft hooves she wrote down a sentence, showing one of the most important moments of the pony history. The foals knew much of that particular situation on the time frame. They did since the theater show cased it for the entertainment of everyone. It was also a sad event since for very little all the pony species almost starved and froze to death, and it would have been the case if it wasn't for the union of all the 3 races. "Just like the board says, The alliance of the 3 races is irrefutably the most important event of our history! Because we wouldn't be here right now and there's no telling where we would be" The air in the classroom felt heavier as Applejack revived the coldest times of the pony history, when their very beings were divided by race and by hatred. Applejack softly closed her eyes as to give understanding of the gravity of the said situation. "We could possibly not even be here!" A flock of foals gasped upon hearing this. Scared faces looked at their friends and muttered undecipherable complains. A group of fillies sat closer, tighter and embraced while listening. AJ's sis, Applebloom rather showed confusion. "Huh? What do yo mean?" AJ slapped her face in frustration "It means we could be DEAD!" In the chorus were heard squeals, the faces passed from being mildly scared to terrified. The least courageous sought shelter under their seats, some colts trying to apparent bravery only looked away and gestured awkward faces. "Ouch!" Applebloom said. "Yeah, ouch" Sweetie belle supports her statement. Spike brings a claw under his chin and adds to the class "Actually, you guys wouldn't be dead because you wouldn't even be born!" "Nice one Spike! We wouldn't be born because I don't expect our ancestors to prosper in hatred" Applejack brings and emphasizes a very important lesson. No pony can thrive in hatred. AJ notices uncomfortable stances among the class so she cools down the topic a little. "Take it easy kids. We were done with that matter thousands of years ago!" The tense environment on the class lightens until it becomes average. Applejack smiles with her group of students successfully learning and having a happy status at the same time. Teaching does not work on foals that are distracted or unhinged by something. AJ clears her throat loudly, when it gets the attention she relies this important message. "Now now, the main reason you get history is to remember those bad moments of the past and stop them from happening again! Never forget that" Multiple foals nod. The class goes on with no disturb. Some kids feel the treasure of learning whilst most are only interested in knowing tricks they can use to live more easily, therefore getting as much juice they can from school. The class undergoes deeper debating of historical events, Applejack periodically indicates to take notes of the most important dates and occasions, also causes and consequences, those two being fundamental for the main reason to impart this class. After several minutes the time runs out for AJ's class, normally the kids already know what to do when a class is over. Applejack decides to give away a gift. "Hold on! For being your first day with me, yo will be homework free today! I don't have any homework ready anyway" After the common chorus, the foals quickly depart the classroom and enjoy their short recess before their next class. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Spike enjoys himself more that it would be considered natural for any youngster, he always showed tolerance and maturity than you only see on remarkable grownups, united with intelligence higher than the average, all of this content coated by a silly baby that loses his capacity of reasoning when given gifts or offered candy. How can all of these traits be inside the same being is a mystery, just like how he was born out of a spell. Spike chills on bench while he should be enjoying his last recess of the day. Instead dictates to take a schedule from his backpack and check his taken classes. "Okay; History checked, Science of nature or more commonly known as Biology checked, Math checked, Sex ed checked, Gym checked. Just one to go!" Spike looks closer for the last subject "Wait a sec ... Orientation?!" In his mind ponders how said class will develop, since to his knowledge there are many known types of orientation. The town didn't have a big size, so whenever there is recess students can hop real quickly to their houses and pick forgotten tools or pass the recess there. Spike preferred to sit on a park bench near school and feast in remaining cookies from the breakfast. He was slightly annoyed of the shouts and gossip the fillies had in recess. In the classroom he merged with ease but in the recess grounds Spike could not see where to fit in but near Twilight. Anyway, why should he try to fit in? For his approval the school bell rings with all its might indicating it was twelve a' clock and it was time for the students to enter inside and take their last class of the day. Spike did as supposed to and walked to the next classroom. According to the schedule the classroom number was 666, due to the classroom being in the sixth floor, sixth row and sixth door in the row. "I don't remember this building having 6 floors ... whatever" Spike swiftly joined a crowd of around ten students all heading towards the indicated classroom, with their saddlepacks on and the relief of being so close to finish the first day and head home. Unlike the other floors, floor six was pitching black except for an inexplicable illuminated door at the end of very long corridor, which happened to be room 666. "Well, I guess this floor has a problem with the lights" "How in tarnation? Tha lights are fueled by magic!" Applebloom says unwilling to go into the darkness "There is a reason the lights are out" Spike said going with an analytical analysis. "Perhaps they work with light sensitive stuff up here?" The crowd of ponies and Spike discussed the matter, they were also determined to not cross such dark hall. Sweetie Belle walked to the front with her horn pointing upward. "I don't know why the lights are out but I am not staying here all day!" Clearly sick of classes Sweetie closed her eyes and concentrated all she could in an attempt to cast magic. The first seconds were a showing of jammed veins and teeth greeting accompanied with the stare of a disbelieving Applebloom. "Sweetie Belle, you ain't doing magic ..." Sweetie took a breath from the exhausting effort and turned to face Applebloom. "I'm not done yet!" Sweetie pointed at the darkness again. She doubled her efforts and groans but the darkness only seemed to increase. "You almost popped yo head ther'!" Applebloom laughed heartily alongside some fillies and Spike. Sweetie Belle blushed heavily both from the effort and the shame. Being the first to stop laughing, Spike brandished a pocket watch from his backpack checked the time. "Guys! We are late, what if the teacher is there?!" "Umm ... We missed some classes?" Spike's eyes widened, and involuntarily rushed his feet towards the dark corridor. "Hey wait!" Applebloom and the rest of the group instantly followed behind her tail. Inside the pitch blackness not even friendly shapes could be seen and the ponies were forced to guide themselves by sound. With the lack of vision, bodies bump and bounce of others which identity the could not tell apart. "Guys I'm here, I made it!" Spike shouts triumphal to the darkness. "Wha'? How you made it?" "... just follow the door" Applebloom turned her head and noticed how the door 666 was slightly illuminated. It was shining compared to the swarthy corridor. "Oh ..." Applebloom's head materialized in the light, and she brought some ponies behind her tail, from their look they received the quite the scare. Spike took command of the group and ran a list for any missing members. "Okay, are we all here?" All the foals in front of him nodded certain of it. "Great I think we are all here! Oh wait ..." It didn't take him long to realize the missing cannot tell if they are here, at least they can't with gestures. "I know! Who isn't here, scream like hell!" A screech painful to the ears came from the darkness. Its sound fitted a saw cutting titanium. Since no pony alive but one could scream that loud they immediately knew it was Sweetie Belle. "Sweetie dumb! Follow the light!" "But that goes to the fifth floor!" "The other light!" "...!" Taking her several seconds Sweetie Belle came forth to the door. "Well that was easy" Applebloom gave her a reproaching frown and gentle knead her ears for alleviation from the recent noise. Spike decided it was safe to uncover his ears and no losing any time he opened the door. The inside of the classroom was just like any other, same educator's desk, same boards and same quantity of seats. But it differs with the illumination being poor, good enough to see the seats but it was hard to read a book in it. The students sit and do the only thing they could, wait for the teacher. Since it was 10 minutes past the initiating hour, Spike suspected there may be a mistake with the classroom. To support his theory the lights of the sixth floor were turn off. "I think we been indicated the wrong room ..." Spike rechecked his schedule. "My dear, you are in the right classroom" An adult voice was heard. Everyone looked sideways searching for the owner of the voice. "Oh no, it's a monster!" "Sweetie Belle don't be ridiculous" For his surprise, two scarlet orbs about the size of an eye took place over the desk. They lolled still for the first seconds. Spike gulped and stood paralyzed in front of the unknown entity. When the foals were aware of them, instinct dictated it was better not to do sudden movements nor loud noises. Unfortunately the foals didn't feel that way and made a chaotic mini panic event. Their screams and spasmodic reflexes will have the attention of the whole town in no time. Undisturbed by the uproar the supposed monster moved his flying orbs towards one side of the classroom. A hanging twine was pulled down and huge curtains allowed sunlight inside the room. It took few seconds for the students to stop screaming. Since there was not an actual threat at all, Spike came from under a seat and talked to the figure near the window. "Umm, Sir?" The foals stopped any noise at unison and stared at the owner of the flying orbs. A tan hooded Pegasus with a disapproving look on returned a gaze to the kids. "You look like you just saw a ghost" "I think that was the case ..." Spike whispered bending a sweat. The students slowly pick themselves up, fix their saddlepacks and avoid looking at the teacher due to the shameful situation he witnessed. An awkward air hovers in the classroom magnified by the educator's silence and rigid glare. "Sir, you scared us! And what were you doing anyway?!" Some pony like Sweetie didn't feel like owning an apology to a certain teacher. "I was sleeping" Her jaw dropped dead after hearing his answer. Applebloom has a question too but she was not going to ask until finding her assigned beret, which unfortunately flew off her head as the panic event took place. "And why ar'all the lights off?" Several students supported her question with nods and questioning looks meant for the oldest Pegasus in the room. He took a second to scratch his mane and calmly speak. " 'cause there is still daylight outside?" He held the twine again and gave a demonstration of the functioning curtains. The kids thought for a while. Spike concluded all of this reasons justify all the weird stuff they've seen in the sixth floor. It was dark because the curtains were well shut and the lights were off because it was still daylight. Nothing odd is yet waiting to be explained. For the other side, some foals found the matter quite troublesome to figure out so they simply forgot it and didn't need any more explanations to proceed. The big Pegasus considered no more questions needed to be answered, judging by the lack of disorientation in their innocent faces. He opted to begin the teaching already. "Welcome students ... My name is Clan, aaaandd..." A persistent yawn distorted his voice while presenting himself. "I'm sorry for that, still a little snoozy" Clan opened a light folder over his desk. Searching for specific information, a lone hoof passes pages until his eyes reached the wanted paper. His eyeballs lifted from the document and moved onto the students, a rather childish grin morphed in his mouth revealing and upper and lower row of spotless teeth. "Hello there dragon child! Welcome to Orientation class" Clan was the first one today to remark the fact Spike is dragon. Spike often liked being the epicenter of attention, except for those occasions where no good could come from the current situation. The look of this teacher on Spike originated goose bumps, for his eyes constantly reminded him of the reason he almost didn't make it inside this institution. They were judging and looking for an opening to discriminate at any second. For the other side considering how warm his welcome was, it deserved to re-consider his intentions since they were inside a fine organization dedicated to prepare and form kids into intelligent adults. Spike momentarily forgot the progress of time as he recovered, his subconscious suggested him to rush return his salutations with a formal sentence. "Ooh, thanks Sir! I'm looking forward to learn loads from you!" Maybe he over did it with that but it did not matter now. Maybe this guy looks at Spike funny because he thought it was awesome this place has a dragon taking classes, or perhaps he is a racist bastard that will make hell of his life. Regardless of which one, Spike won't misbehave. "Heh, me too" He drives his body and eyes to one side of the classroom. With an aptitude willing to impart some classes, he grabs a marker and writes the name of the subject. "On with this, I will be teaching Orientation as I stated before" "But what kind of Orientation is this?!" Spike couldn't resist asking. Clan smiled softly as he found amusement on the curiosity of Spike. "Mental orientation" There was suspecting mutterings around the numerous seats. Quickly after they are done discussing, Applebloom ventures to raise a hoof. The Pony in charge of the class motions her to tell the problem. "What's mental horientaion?" "Itsss ... A function of the mind" Applebloom's left eye narrows upon the overwhelming confusion. "'Sigh' In other words we will see most of the functions of the mind, so you can have a better understanding of it and apprehend philosophical concepts such as objectivity, cognition, imagination, self awareness, what is right, what is wrong, what is and what isn't ..." Every pony only looked like not understanding any further. Unlike the rest, Spike got every word and he had an opinion for the resolution of his partners. "Man, they are more lost than in Twilight's class" Clan raises an eyebrow and tries to simplify the term to the minimum. "My class will help you know all the truths of life. Is that clear enough?" Seconds after, one by one head flickers upon getting the usefulness of this subject. Indeed the brain was an intriguing organ, not only capable of collection so much data but also simulating consciousness. The foals begin a chorus about the possibilities of this class, and more than one agrees this could the most interesting class of all. Clan looks over the wall designated clock. "Hey kiddos, class is over. We reached the finishing time" Soon after the school bell rings as usual, sending the message all over Ponyville. Instead of the expected yell of excitement the foals slowly discern they must be on their way home, a phenomenon cause by the excellence of the teachers upon imparting a successful class both educative and entertaining. Spike slowly stands from his seat and settles to reunite with Twilight outside the building. Everything was going too quick, Spike had so many complains about this class and it ends as sudden as it begins. "First it was dark scary, teacher was late, teacher was sleeping, I thought he may have a problem with me, then when things are looking good bell rings and we just go home like nothing happened?!" Spike did think this out loud. Clan, the educator designated to this class overheard what Spike had to say. Clan brought a hoof over his head and knocked it playfully. Spike looked at him with confused eyes. "Don't worry kid. Tomorrow, same hour, same classroom" He walked down to the fifth floor and disappeared from Spike's sight. Spike scratched his head intrigued. "Is that Stallion constantly changing mood or it's just me?" Standing in the middle of the dark hallway would not take Spike very far. He held his backpack and walked until he met with Twilight outside. A beautiful sight was met instead. Dozens of foals were walking out the institution with excitement of reuniting with their perspective parents and relatives. Family ponies and mothers received their Children happily, first hugging them and second asking how their day was or if they were hungry. Of course many students revealed how much they liked the magical obligatory berets and how cool the teachers imparted classes, especially since they didn't leave any homework for them. Pegasus families landed one after another to greet their daughters and sons, and shortly fly up with them back to their cloud city. It looked like a gigantic meeting of glory where the only thing to see was parents rejoicing to see their kids. Spike looked down a little tired. Seeing so much smiles and attention being distributed triggered a thought of his parents. Who were they? Where are they? Are they still alive? They were probably 2 savage beasts that parted ways the very first day the mated. Even thought that thinking made him feel less nostalgic of them, it didn't guarantee their true nature. Loneliness stroked like heavy rain, Cold, uncomfortably wet and the feeling you just couldn't keep it from soaking your whole. Before tears of sorrow could slide on his face, a warm hoof patted him on his shoulder, spreading pleasant heat across his body and drying away all the loathsome 'salty water'. "Hello Spike! How was your day?" Spike looked up to see a face so bright it obscured to sun to his eyes. Matched with a voice so soothing that no matter the situation, he was all right. Spike smiled softly and immediately hugged her, wanting more of that energy that washes loneliness away. Perhaps it was called love, but it was different love. It was cherish, the feeling that someone will love you and still love no matter what. Even if you failed them they would still love you and never harm you and hold you dear until their impeding deaths, and do everything they can to make sure you are the last to forget. "Huh? Spike, are you all right? Wait ... did you set something on fire?!" Twilight reacted pretty much opposite to how he expected. "No, I am just happy to see you!" Twilight calmed her haunches. After telling herself no fire alarms were heard throughout the whole day, she motioned Spike to hop in her back so they could both go home. "You didn't tell me how your day was" "It was fine. History was fun, biology was the same, in math you overdid it a little, you can't just show us advanced equations the very first day" "Hahaha, I promise I will go easier next time!" "You better. About Gym, Rainbow Dash made me run the whole field over and over! She got to understand I got two legs, not four!" Twilight giggles heartily as if hearing a funny healthy joke. "Sexual Education was just disgusting, even more for me since I'm not even a pony. And finally, Orientation" "Did something interesting happen? I know the teacher is very close to the headmaster and he wears clothes even when the weather is hot!" "No wonder he avoids the sun" Spike remembered all the randomness and adventure that went on for that single hour. How he crossed a pitch black hallway and could swear he saw a monster or ghost. Also how he was revealed the nature of said class, which was perfect to develop the minds of every pony. "Yeah he sure is odd. But nothing odd happened, just orientation class, nothing else to see" He didn't wish to mention the silliness he went through. Passing by the Sugar cube corner, Twilight offers to go buy chocolate shakes for both of them. Spike instantly agrees and wonders if he can have some diamond dust powered in his instead of sugar. But he discarded this because diamond is too darn expensive. So he reluctantly accepts the shake and enjoys yet another moment with the only pony he could maybe one day call Mom.
The last Night Sentinel	pre	"Aye they ain't to bright neither, saw two drunk ones fighting over a branch once." Boxer said, "Diamond Dog's and other kingdoms use'em as heavy lifters in construction and and mines. During times of war they... well they have a habit of using uprooted tree's as clubs." "We employ them as mercenaries along our boarders and villages along the mountains to counter the threat of the Arimaspi." Galahad said. "They are usually paid on hooch or food." They walked past one of the trolls, unlike the other's this one was somewhat shorter, about fourteen feet tall maybe, and was wearing what looked like a crude animal skin loincloth and toga. He had several small and large round or kite shaped shields strapped to his shoulder's and large arms and he had a club made from an uprooted tree with a stone tied atop it with rope and chain. The large beast didn't seem to mind them, he was to focused on picking his nose to care. But when he did notice the trio he smiled and revealed his crooked and dirty teeth. "Hi hi ponay." He said with a very childish and, somewhat, comical voice. The Slayer then noticed the crater close to the troll that contained the bloody puddle of what remained of an imp. "They'll do." He said. Lunar was quite surprised to hear him talk, being silent most of the time he had known him, save the occasional grunt, growl, and sigh. The entrance to the cave was at the farthest wall of the quarry and it was defended by heavily armored Diamond Dog's with three large cannons outside the entrance. Nearby the airship was docked and the crew was unloading the rifles with the locals. Inside the entrance he saw another troll, this one being the largest he'd seen so far. He was about twenty three feet tall with a long vest made from the same rough material as the one's outside, except it had what looked like thick wooden planks sewn into it for armor, and he had several normal sized shields strapped to his arms. In his hands he held a large stalactite that only a being of his size could easily use as a weapon. On his back was a large bow made from a tree and a quiver of large arrows on his back made from various materials. The draw force from that bow would no doubt be as devastating as a siege engine, possibly even more so. The four trolls nearby, all had a matching height of about twenty feet, had large cages on their backs and one was pulling a large cart. One knelt down and picked up several smaller Diamond Dog's in his hands and put them in the large cart with the others. "Come come lil Dimon dogo's, we's go to trolly mountain." He said. "What exactly did he mean by that?" Cloud asked their Diamond Dog guide. "We's evacuatin, heading towards the foal mountains we are." He said, "There an old Diamond Dog castle there, we's gonna head to it and hunker down with the trolls there." "Isn't that mountain full of spiders and Changeling's?" "Aye and neigh, spiders good eatin' if cooked right and the bug's left sometime ago. Trolls have made sure we'll'ave a safe trip." He said, "Oh and Boxer, a couple of your boys arrived here couple of nights ago. Best they know your out of the cell." "Aye I'll let'em know." He said. The group came to a stop, the two ponies they'd rescued earlier stayed close to the Slayer and Galahad while Boxer walked away from the group and into a smaller area with stone and wooden houses. "How long are we gonna be with you guys?" The Rainbow one asked. "We have orders to get you too Thicket, you'll be safe there." Galahad said. The large Diamond Dog they'd met earlier, he assumed his name was Mutt, walked into a small shack. After a few moments he and another Diamond Dog exited. This one was a little smaller and had a white coat. He wore armor made from metal and stone. "Welcome, glad to see you all arrived safely." He said, "I'm Bennis, chief of the dogs 'ere." "Cloud Singer, captain of the Canterlot guard, Lunar Lullaby, Galahad of Griffonstone, Boxer of... well most of you seem to know him, and the Doom Slayer." He looked at the large armored man with strange weapons. "Aye the princess sent me a message, informed me of what's going on." He said, "I'm sendin' Mutt 'ere to accompany you through the forest and into ol' whitetails city." "Thank you. Mutt, it's good to have you." Cloud said. "Aye I'll do m'best." "Alright, we'll resupply and head on in an hour. Mutt if you want, take your time with the goodbye's." The Diamond Dog nodded and walked into the group of stone buildings and past it's many residents. "We could sit for a moment, if you wish. Look over our supplies." Vega said. The Slayer walked over to a large boulder and sat down, setting his shotgun to the side and taking off the small bag on his back. The bag was left in hell by a U.A.C survey team member who was ripped to shreds by the demons. In the bag was a small assortment of rations left behind by the former owner. Inside was also his ammunition and the few grenades he had left. The rations consisted of three sealed cans of biscuits, energy bars, potted meat, and canned fruit. With it was three small vials of medi-gel and four stimpacks. Boxer walked into the small inn. The owner and a few of his helpers were putting the various liquors and wines in boxes while one was serving two patrons nuzzled in one of the corner booths. One was a parrot, about five and a half feet tall with a small saber strapped to his belt. He wore a chainmail hauberk and had thick ailette's on his shoulders. While the other was an Equestrian with a blue mane and a white coat, though much more younger than him and the other patron. He was dressed in an old guards set of armor, a bit of rust and dents on it but it was still a faded gold, with a chainmail coif on his head. He had a rifle sitting next to him against the wall. "Well... ah'll be damned, that you Boxer?" The Equestrian said, he had an accent that the ponies around Appaloosa or Dodge City would have. "Aye, that's the big boss alright. How'd prison go?" The parrot asked. "They needed a bigger cage." He set his flail on the table and his shield against the booth and sat next to the Equestrian. "What're you two doing here?" "Blue Jay sent us ahead, see if we can find any recruits." The parrot said, before he could take a drink of his drink Boxer took it and drank it. After he finished he slid the glass back to the parrot. "Find anyone?" The Equestrian shook his head. "Nah boss, everyone's getting ready to scram, case ya haven't noticed." He said. "Tried to offer our 'elp to em but they said they'd got it handled." "They've got twelve trolls with them, they've got it handled in case somethin' does decide to go awry." "Where's everyone else?" Boxer asked. "Western edge of the Everfree, we're hold up in an old stockade, we've been there for a couple week's now but we're about ready to move out." "Where too?" "Not sure, Blue said he'd take us south, possibly to Paramo, or west into Saddle Arabia or Zebrica." The Equestrian took another drink of his whiskey and somewhat cringed from it. "Not really sure boss, shits gone south real quick the last few days." "Did we lose anyone recently?" "Aye, night 'fore we left those... whatever the fuck they are attacked the camp. We had just finished repairing the old palisades that surrounded the camp when one of those pink fuckers charged the gate and broke a hole through it. Mind you, this gate was made from black cherry with a cedar bracing bar behind it. After that they rushed us, some flew over the walls and spat fire from these metal things on their shoulders." "One of those shots easily ripped through the armor of seven of our own before we took it down with a well placed shot to the melon, not much left of them after that though, just mangled bits of meat, bone, and metal." The young Equestrian explained. "Fight lasted... about an hour 'fore we secured the camp." The parrot said, "'ell we probably lost... forty of our boys." Boxer sighed heavily, taking a drink from the whiskey they had on the table. "Out of?" Boxer then asked. "Out of four hundred and three, so that makes us at three hundred sixty three. Most of em are still Diamond Dog though." "Few more of our boys went out to the other Diamond Dog tribes, most are heading to the mountain with this lot." "I want you two to leave as soon as possible, get a message to Blue Jay, let him know to come here, locals ought be cleared out by then." The Parrot nodded and finished his drink. "Come on boyo, lets get a move on. Pray nobody else was killed while we're away." The Equestrian finished his drink and put his helmet back on. He then slung the rifle over his shoulder and waved goodbye to Boxer. "Right now, up ye go!" Mutt said, lifting up one of the last children onto the troll's cart. "How long you gonna be gone for?" The golden pup asked. "Not long, just gotta help escort some ponies to Thicket, shouldn't take more than a day." He said. "Who's that big guy with them?" He asked, pointing towards the Slayer, who was modifying a discarded leather belt and now using it to carry his grenades. "'Parently, the mean beasties are afeard of 'im, must have a good reason." He set the last bag onto the cart. "Now, mind your mother, and don't you cause trouble." "I promise papa," He said, Mutt then outstretched his arms and hugged him. After letting go he waved his arms at the troll, letting him know that everyone was ready. The troll walked over to the cart and grabbed the rope to pull it. After a soft grunt the troll then pulled the cart out towards the quarries earthen ramps. "Your child?" The griffon asked him. "Aye, one of three. Y' got any?" Galahad shook his head. "Best job in the world it is, come on, lets see if everyone else is ready to get a move on." He grabbed his club and used it as a walking stick while the other smaller ones on his belt rattled against his mail vest. Unlike earlier he was now wearing stone ailette's on his shoulders and chausses made from layers of linen with brass scales sewn onto them. His arms were protected by brass gauntlets with spikes on the knuckles. "So, who exactly leads this little... trio." Mutt asked. "Well, Cloud Singer is the voice, but it's the Slayer who leads. Though he doesn't say much." "So... how good is he?" "I saw him rip one apart with his bare hands, the guards in Canterlot said many other things as well." He said, "From what I understand from stories recorded by this Argus, a knight from another world, the lord of these demons hides in the very deepest chasms of hell because of him..." He pointed at the Slayer. Cloud Chaser and Lunar walked over to the large man and said something to him. The Slayer stood up and looked at the small map Cloud had. "How long is it from here to Thicket?" Galahad asked. "Bout half a days walk from 'ere, we'll be there by nightfall." The three then walked over to the Griffon, Vega then formed out from the helmet. "The 'ell's he supposed to be?" "Vega, he's a friend." Lunar said. "We should leave soon before nightfall, after we safely get these two too this Thicket we'll return to Canterlot." The A.I. said, he then returned into the Slayer's helmet. The large man grunted and walked towards the two waiting ponies. He stopped in front of Fluttershy and knelt down to her. She somewhat leaned back, but only slightly. She knew he meant her no harm but that didn't mean she was somewhat frightened when he was near. He set his thundering weapons aside and extended a hand to her. "Up... " He said, in a rather soft but still raspy and hard voice. She looked at his hand and then back at the unblinking blue eye's staring at her through the visor. She slowly moved her hand towards his and as soon as she felt the cold metal of his gauntlets he gently grabbed her hand and leaned up, she did the same. He then guided them to the center of the group, between he and Boxer. He then took his shotgun in hand, looked at Cloud and motioned his head towards the forest. Cloud nodded in agreement and the group then walked back into the dark forest. ****** Luna walked alone in her realm of dreams. Her sleep schedule was the same as always, sleep during most of the day and guide dreams at night. But her dreams were no different then the dreams of other ponies. But she was here for another reason... "I know your here wretch," Luna said, gliding from dream cloud to dream cloud. "I could hear you beckoning me again." Her voice echoed throughout the endless void, "Come out creature!" She then yelled. Something stirred in the shadows, eventually a large mare resembling Luna herself walked from the mist. "Selena... " Nightmare Moon said, referring her to her birth name. "You called, I answered, what is it you want of me?" She said, crossing her arms. "Not here, come." She said, a small portal opened next to her. Luna looked at her and the small swirling portal. "And how do I know this isn't some ruse of your's to regain control over me?" The large mare let out a small and wry laugh. "You'd know by now, come... sister." Nightmare Moon walked through the portal. Luna, hesitant at first, finally decided to see what the wraith had to offer. When she exited the portal she was surprised to see a pleasant meadow with many flowers that bloomed only at night. She then saw Nightmare Moon, armor and helmet gone, and only wearing a long black dress, unusual attire for someone like her to wear. She was tending to a small glowing flower. "Well, I followed you, so what now?" The wraith didn't seem to mind her too much. "You wont survive this conflict," She said, "Not without help from otherworldly allies." Luna scoffed. "Is this what you wanted me to hear? That we wont win this conflict?" She yelled, "We have the very person the demons fear the most and he's currently ripping them apart as we speak." "Is he enough, I know you've wondered this Selena, how many ponies died that night... or is the number still not known." "It's... yes... still unknown." The mare sighed and sat on a small bench. "You've hidden me away for long enough Selena, it's time for me to come out again." "Excuse me? NO never!" Luna shouted. "You will never control me again!" "No... not control." The soft monotone voice made her a little curious, being one to be loud and boastful. She cupped her hands together around a small purple rose petal and blew into it. A faint glow came from her hands. "I will give you small portions of my power to fight back against these invaders." She then slowly walked over to Luna and presented her with a small necklace that was formed from the flower. "What does it do?" She asked. "Simply touch it when you are in the most dire of need, and a portion of my power is yours." Luna looked at the small necklace, though hesitant, she knew the power Nightmare Moon held. She then took the necklace and put it on. "Now what?" The mare walked closer to her, almost nose to nose. "It's time to wake up... " She touched the center of Luna's head and she then awoke from her sleep. She woke up, lying on a fainting chair in her sisters laboratory. Stretching her arms and yawning, she looked around at the various specimens lying about the tables. Mainly deceased and dissected demons. As she stood up from the chair she felt the small necklace against her neck, taking it off she his it in her pocket. Her sister was in the center of the room, working on a large golem made from clay, stone, and iron. Her tank top was stained with brown muck from the wet clay and the stains were more so on her hands. The golem was nearly finished, it was masculine in design with a face similar to that of Vega's but with the body of a fit man. The golem was about the Slayer's height and the finishing parts was the golems chest cavity. She could see its iron ribs and 'heart' that was made from a deactivated crystal ball. Golem's were usually rare these days, they can be constructed from almost anything inanimate, all the mage would need is a crystal for it's heart, powerful scrolls or parchment, and magic powerful enough for one to stay alive long enough, some can live for thousands of years if properly made. Poorly made ones are usually used for heavy infantry in certain wars. Golem's made of clay were the most common, though unlike some, Golems made from Clay or wood needed organic materials like water to survive. "Your awake, sleep well?" Celestia said, adding some more clay and water to it's chest. Luna crawled out of the chair and stretched her arms. Looking at a clock she saw it was close to eight pm. "Well enough, your nearly finished." "Nearly, I hope Vega'll like it." "If he can use it." Celestia shrugged and sighed, setting the last bit of clay on the Golem. She then took out her hair tie and shook her head. "I'm gonna get ready for bed, shower first though." "Would you like me to finish him?" Celestia yawned and stretched her arms. "No, only thing I need to do it add Vega and attach the chest." "What about clothing?" "I'll have a tailor make some tomorrow. It all depends if Vega can operate it." Luna touched the already dry clay of the golems arms. "You made him look like Argus." Luna said. "Well... he did let us study his anatomy and physique." "You mean let you study, you forgot the smile." Celestia let off a small laugh as she walked out of the room. Luna looked back at the statues face, she then let off a small sigh. She did miss him, not as much as her sister though. She remembered how friendly he was towards her and others, almost like a big brother of sorts. Then she had heard the news that he would soon be her brother-in-law, but... due to Discord's antics at the time, that never happened. Luna then picked up the heart of the golem. It was a heart sized, spherical gem with several runes carved into it that glowed slightly. The essence of the golem, sometimes called it's soul, would be put inside it. The problem with this transaction with Vega, he was a machine, not magic. So the problem was pretty clear. She then looked back to the clock, "Best I prepare, moon isn't gonna raise itself." She said, walking towards the door and turning left, instead of right where Celestia's quarters were, and towards her private room. ****** The large and ornately carved wooden doors of Thicket slowly swung open with a loud groan, and behind the door the Doom Slayer stood, with Galahad and Cloud Singer beside him. As they entered the city the Slayer looked around at it's interesting design, and it did somewhat impress him. The buildings were carved directly into the large tree's that made up the forest, bridges and walkways connected each house to another and finally ending at an almost out of place stone citadel that had hundreds of armored soldiers patrolling it. The Deer, unlike the Equestrians though he really couldn't see much of their fashion after the attack, wore silky and very organic clothing. The soldiers of the deer wore heavy plate armor with chainmail underneath it. Their faces were covered by a veil of chainmail coming from their helmets, the only distinguishing feature among female and male soldiers were their antlers. Like the guards in Canterlot these one's had golden colored armor with red cloaks, most were armed with a large single-edged sword, a long spear, shield, and a bow. Walking down the stairs to the citadel he saw their current leader, King Aspen, still adorned in his silver armor with a trio of guards beside him. Cloud took off his helmet and set it under his arm. Once they reached him the few bowed, the Slayer didn't. "I'm fortunate to see nobody was hurt on your journey here." He said, two unarmed servants walked to the mare's and walked them up the stairs to the castle. "We ran into a few demons, but not many." Galahad said, "The Elements of Kindness and Loyalty are safe and sound." "Good, good. Come, you must be somewhat wary from the walk." He said, turning back around and guiding them into the Citadel. "Have the demons discovered the city m'lord?" Cloud asked. "We have seen scouts so far, nothing to be concerned about." He said. "You mentioned back in Canterlot that one of your own would be joining us, who would that be?" "My lead scout, Willow Branch. She sets all routes, plans, and locations for my advanced scouts." "I'm eager to meet her my king, will an airship take us back to Canterlot?" "Yes, though it will be som--" A horn rang and several Deer soldiers ran towards the gates. "My lord Aspen!" A Soldier yelled. She was shorter than most Deer he had seen so far, but clad in the same armor as the others, save her helmet less red hair ending at her shoulders. "The Demons are attacking in force, the west and eastern watch towers have fallen and we've lost contact with the northern watchtower." "And of the south?" "Nothing my lord. What are your orders?" "Have out troops form up around the gate, archers and slingers in the towers and buildings behind them. Get our civilians inside the castle!" She bowed and quickly ran off with a force of archers. "King Aspen, what do you want us to do?" Cloud asked. "Split up, I need your mage and the Diamond Dog on the front with my men. Slayer, our eastern watchtower has something more vital. A crystal, about fist sized sits in one of it's store room, once activated it will activate several hidden golem's throughout the city. They will help us greatly in this fight, Cloud Chaser and the Prince will reclaim the southern and activate the crystal there." "Looks like I'm with you Slayer." Boxer said, the gate door began to bang and shutter from it being beat on by the demons. A large piece of the gate broke off at the bottom from a pinkie demon ramming through it. Before the beast could regain footing it was cut down by a hail of arrows and spears. Like a swarm of insects the demons rushed through the gate, many being pinned down by the swarm of arrows while some charged the line of Deer soldiers. They slammed into the shield wall with a loud bang, Deer soldiers rammed their spears into the various demons while many jumped over the line of soldiers. A single hell-knight rammed through the wall like a ram, knocking over many of the soldiers in the process before being killed by a spear thrown into it's face. Lunar and Mutt quickly ran to the soldiers on the ground, Mutt throwing one of his smaller throwing clubs at an imp while Lunar cast a spell that fired a beam into the chest of a hell-knight "Come on, lets get to that tower and get these boys the help they need!" Boxer yelled, the Slayer nodded and the two quickly ran towards the southern portion of the city. Deeper into the city Boxer slammed his hoof against a downed imps head while the Slayer blew one in two with his sawed-off. The inner city was mainly quiet, save for the sounds of fighting at the gate. Most of the civilians had fled for the castle and from what he had observed so far there was little in the terms of civilian deaths, though there were plenty of dead Deer soldiers strewn about the city. Many dying horribly maimed, ripped apart, and broken by the demons. Another two imps fell to the rounds from his shotgun, one losing it's head completely and the other having it's leg blown off. The imp squealed loudly as it crawled frantically away from the two, leaving a bloody trail across the ground. Both the Slayer and Boxer walked towards him slowly, Boxer extending his weapon towards the Slayer. "Wanna try it." The Slayer looked at the primitive though devastating weapon, holding his shotgun with his left hand he took the flail in his right and began to spin it. The imp crawled away frantically before getting most of it's head taken off by the flail. It then became a twitching bleeding lump on the ground. The Slayer looked at the weapon and admired it's effectiveness at rending the demons flesh, he then gave it back to Boxer. "Tower can't b'far, come on lets m--" Something clattered under his hoof. "Move... " He knelt down and picked up the small metal casing. "This one of yours?" He sniffed it. "Fresh." He was right, the thermal vision in his helmet indicated the round had been fired prior to their arrival, along with many more on the ground around them. Vega then scanned the round. "This is a 5.7x28mm, used by the MG-88 Enforcer, it used by U.A.C Security forces. Well, was." "Was?" Boxer asked. Vega then projected the weapon in front of the two. "The MG-88 is a simple and effective design with a breechloading clip that contains sixty rounds a magazine. U.A.C Security used these in the old bases and Mars City. A place older and far different than the one you awoke in Slayer." "What happened to the old one?" "From it's original population of around nine thousand only one survived the first demon incursion. Before we discovered Argent Energy and before my initial creation, we experimented with particles being broken down in an EPD laser, for terraforming the planet and making new elements to better human living on Earth as well as teleportation, well, that is what we told the initial public." Vega said. "Along with that we were excavating ancient ruins found on Mars, as well as making incursions into Hell to study the demons, as you can guess it did not go well. The marine that survived was taken into E.D.F custody and from my knowledge, remains there. Another yet smaller outbreak then occurred a year later after we began to take back bits of the older facility, resulting in a smaller loss of personal but effectively closing the last portal to hell. Until we returned nine years later and discovered Argent Energy, then here we are." "But what is so special about these guns?" Boxer asked. "It means the user was originally Mars security, and they were all either killed or converted into undead troopers to serve their demon masters. It looks like some survived and must have walked across the surface of Mars to reach the new portal, meaning there is another on Mars we didn't close." Vega said, the Slayer dropped the round and looked at the Deer soldiers killed by it. The rounds cut through their metal armor. He then pointed towards the intended tower, where the trail of bullets and Deer bodies led. The tower was large with a set of swirling stairs going up and down into store rooms and a barracks. "So if these demons got themselves guns are you able to spare a better one?" Boxer asked. The slayer un-holstered the pistol on his belt and gave it to him. "You downstairs... " The Slayer said, pointing to one staircase "I up." Boxer nodded in agreement and moved downstairs. He slowly walked up the stairs, passing one of the dead Deer guards and an empty magazine. He then came to a long hallway with several rooms, like he guessed, the hallway was full of dead Deer soldiers with bullet wounds across their bodied and spent casing littered the floor in puddles of fresh blood. Among the dead bodies was a pale and emaciated human in an old set of black and rusty armor. His skin was as pale as snow and sinewy and it clung to his bones, he had milky white eye's that seemed to fit in with his skeletal like appearance. His armor was old and dented with bullet holes prevalent on it. On his chest was a faded name tag that had only remnents of his birth name on it, "Nasir H. Adil, Mars security captain." His pants, well almost like shorts on his left leg, were damaged and ripped with only bits remaining on the left and a whole leg on his right. He was killed via decapitation from a nearby Deer soldier who was also dead from several bullet wounds in his back. Lying next to his body was an older model of pistol with a wood grip. The Slayer picked up the small pistol and put it on his belt. From a nearby room he heard something move around, leveling his shotgun he walked towards the guards room, next to the door was another dead Deer. He peeked his head into the room. The room was a mess, the beds were ripped apart and wooden debris was strewn among the floor with blood stains on most of them. Standing at a table in the center of the room he saw a large human like figure, lying on the table was a faceless Deer soldier, his eye's were still intact but bloodshot and pale. He heard a quiet chewing coming from the being and the sound of something breaking then ripping, a small grunt and a satisfied moan came from the creature. On the table beside it was one of the older SMG models Vega had mentioned. The figure wore armor similar to the ones the U.A.C would issue it's guards, except there was no body suit under it, only bloody and skinless flesh with plates strapped on it. The creature then shifted, sniffing the air and then turned, it saw the Slayer at the door. Taking the SMG in hand it turned fully around, revealing it's inhuman face. He had long and bloody teeth, no nose, and piercing orange eye's. It screeched and fired at the Slayer, the bullets from his gun finding it's target in his breastplate, simply bouncing off his armor. He took cover behind the door, after the creature stopped firing the Slayer turned back into the room and pointed his shotgun where the creature was, but only to find nothing there. He looked at the dead Deer on the table, his chest cavity had been ripped open and some of his organs were missing. It had fled through an open window, hearing a loud thump from outside. He ran to the window and looked down, seeing it run back inside but not upstairs. He swore under his breath and ran out of the room, only to be met by the several dead Deer, now resurrected and turning their arms to him. The one from the table lunged at him and clung to his back, throwing the faceless zombie off he holstered his shotgun and took out his plasma gun. The bolts hot plasma ripped through the metal armor and flesh of the undead Deer soldiers, finally putting them down and hopefully to rest. He then continued down the hall and the stairs. Boxer walked through the empty halls and past the dead Deer, his new pistol in one hand and his shield in the other. He had already past many of the inactive wood golem's, he just needed to find the activation crystal. There were no demons so far, all quiet, and many corpses. From the end of the hall he heard something mumble and a large figure then walked from an empty room. He had the figure of the Slayer but smaller and his armor was different. His skin clung to his bones and his pants were ripped, in one hand was a pistol like his own and a large shield, through his helmets visor he saw glowing red eyes, those eye's then locked on him and he then hid behind the shield and fired his pistol at Boxer. The rounds slammed into the stone walls and broke a piece off of his targe, firing back his pistols rounds dented though did not pierce the figures metal shield. His targe was now broken beyond current repair, sighing he threw is aside and took the pistol in both hands and fired at the figures knees. One of the rounds hit his knee directly, causing him to collapse with a loud snap from his leg. When he fell to his knees he was now exposed, taking this moment, Boxer took out his flail and began to spin it. Sprinting towards the figure he swung it upward, hitting the figure directly in the head before it could raise it's pistol, causing the helmet to fly off, exposing his sunken face and patches of black hair. Boxer then shot the figure in the face several times with the pistol, making the figures face explode and rip apart after the third shot. After the figure was dead he gave him one last look over before taking the pistol it used and its ammo. Putting the weapon and its strange ammo in his pouch he then picked up it's lightweight though durable shield. "You owe me a new one, fuckin' demons." As he was getting the hang of it he heard something running behind him. Before he could turn he heard something let off a shrill screech, he then felt something hard against his back, knocking the wind out of him and propelling him through a door into a small room full of smithing supplies. He groaned, holding his back and trying to stand back up. Before he could stand the same thing that kicked him grabbed him by the collar and threw him against the wall, then he could get a good look at it. It was like the thing he killed in the hallway except more demonic, with a horrifying maw to accompany it. Taking out his pistol the beast knocked it away and attempted to strike him. Using his new shield he knocked the demons hand away and struck it in the face with one end of it. The demon grunted and then grabbed the shield, ripping it away with one hand he used his other to punch Boxer in the side and then knock him to the ground. The demon threw the shield aside and grabbed Boxer's head and slamming it hard against an anvil. The first strike dazed him while the second broke the rim on his helmet. Taking a small hammer off the ground he then struck the demon in the head, causing it to recoil back and hold the said spot. He had struck it where the ear would have been and dazed it, after he regained his footing he hit the demon in the belly with the hammer, causing it to collapse. He then swung it down, hitting the demon directly in the top of the head and causing the hammer to cave a portion of it's skull in and becoming stuck. The demons stared at him slightly, blood pouring down it's forehead. It then fell to the side. Boxer sat on an anvil and held his side, hearing something else walk to the room he raised the pistol. He sighed in relief to see the Slayer walk inside and look down at the dead demon and then back at him. "Are you injured?" Vega said through the helmet. Boxer nodded slightly, wincing at the pain in his side. "Aye, think he broke m' rib, maybe two." The Slayer took something from his bag and knelt to Boxer. "Better be morphine." He said. "Something similar, it should help with the pain." Vega said. Moving Boxers tabard to the left and pressed the needle into his side. He groaned and winced as the needle and fluid entered his system. "It should also get you on your feet." The Slayer helped him up and picked up his new shield for him. "There's an activation crystal somewhere here, should get these golem's working." "Lets look around for it then." Vega said, Boxer huffed and walked out of the room, picking up his flail that was thrown aside during the small tussle. He and the Slayer then walked into another room, this on with another golem, the large magical war machine resembled a small wooden hill in it's dormant form. Seeing a small crystal lying near the golem he picked it up and pointed it towards the golem. The large beast stayed silent, he then shook it, smacked it against it, and set it back down, huffing annoyingly. Boxer then grabbed it and took it to a small pedestal. Setting it on the pedestal the crystal began to glow and levitate, letting off a small hum afterwards. The large golem then stood up slowly, letting off what he thought was a groan. It's arms unfolded to reveal large jagged fingers with sharp points and a large blunt mallet on the other. It's feet resembled the bottom's of tree trunks while the rest looked somewhat Equine but with a bigger appearance. It looked around the room and then exited with two others following it out. "Come on, other's will be waiting for us, lets get back to the gate!" The Slayer grunted in response and ran out of the tower with him and back into the city streets. Mutt threw another one of his clubs at an imp, the club slammed into it's face and knocked several of it's teeth out in the process, causing the demon to collapse and hold it's bleeding maw. He then took his larger maul in two hands and swung it at the demon, knocking the rest of it's face and body away. One of the recently awakened golem's impaled an imp on a sharp branch and used it's mass to crush another under it's trunk like feet. Another stopped the full charge of a pinkie demon, being slightly pushed back, it grabbed it by the mouth and threw it to the ground. It then proceeded to rip it apart with it's wooden talons. From behind a burning building a pinkie roared and charged Mutt, stepping on or over the various corpses in it's path. Before it could reach an unseen force of magic knocked it away and into a stone wall, dazing the beast and killing the unfortunate maggot demon in it's path. Lunar's staff glowed green from the magic force he used to propel the demon, as it slowly faded another imp lunged at him. Quickly evading it the grey imp tried to slash him with it's long claws but he quickly evaded it. It then readied a fireball in it's hands and threw it at him, stumbling slightly as it threw it. He used his magic to catch it and propel it back at it's face. It screamed as it's fireball struck it's face, searing many of it's twelve eye's shut in the process. As the smoke cleared it caught the sight of Lunar's staff end striking it, knocking out one of it's eye's and several teeth and then striking it in the groin. As it collapsed he levitated a discarded mace and flew it into the demons face, causing it's remaining eye's to pop out and the mace becoming apart of it's head. As another pinkie demon charged through the hole in the gate it broke through a small shield wall set up by three Deer soldier's. The wall didn't hold it's charge, one of the soldiers was crushed in it's charge while it's massive mouth latched down like a vice on another's arm. As the Deer screamed it used a broken part of his spear and struck it's head. Only enraging it more it then lifted up it's head and shook, relieving the guard of most of his arm and propelling him into the third guard, who was still recovering from the demon's charge. The demon than spat out the arm, howled and readied to charge again. But before it could several bullet's impacted it's backside. As it screeched it covered it's face with it's large arm. Boxer, a little confused on how to load his newly acquired "Machine gun" as Vega called it. He opened the breech and pulled out the empty clip, putting in a fresh one soon after. As he fired the bullets bounced off the pinkie's arms and armored face. It roared and charged Boxer. As it closed in, the Slayer sheathed his shotgun on his belt and unsheathed the old knight sentinels sword, and took it in both hands. As the demon ran past Boxer and towards the Slayer. He swung the sword into the pinkie's maw, taking off the top of it's head and back with an effective and clean cut. The beast's body fell to the ground twitching while it's head fell next to it. Swinging the sword again he split an imp completely in two from the waist, swinging again he took the arm of another Z-Sec soldier armed with a modified sledgehammer, grabbing it by the blade he swung it like a club and took off a large portion of the zombies head. A baron of hell charged the Slayer and then knocking his sword away. As the sword flew from him it stopped, covered in a green aura it realigned itself with the Baron and flew into it's back. The Baron howled and fell to it's knee's, allowing the Slayer to grab it by the head and tear it's horn's, as well as it's face, off. Seeing Lunar's horn dimming, the Slayer gave him a thankful wave and retrieved his sword from the demons back. "Slayer!" Cloud yelled, he and Galahad were running towards him, blood stained their swords and armor. "The tower is secured?" He replied with a low "Mhmm" "Good... has anyone seen King Aspen?" "After the demon's here started dwindling he and most of the defending force went to the western portion of Thicket to drive them off." A Deer soldier said. The Slayer looked around, almost on alert. "Not right... " He said. "What's not right?" Lunar asked. The ground then began to slightly to slightly shake, something roared from the forest and the ground shook more. "Run... " The Slayer said, he then took out a much larger weapon, it beeped as he activated it. The gate to city was knocked down, sending broken bits of wood and metal flying across the city, one of the large pieces of the door crushed one of the golem's and five Deer trying to flee the carnage. From the smoke a large demon walked out of it. The demon was massive, having two large clubs for hands and a large horned head for a face. It had a single eye's in the center of it's head and several sharp and jagged teeth. Lesser demons flocked around the beast as it roared, the demons ran to the group. He pointed at a fallen column, "Cover!" He shouted. Without little hesitation the trio, excluding the Slayer, ran towards it and hid. As the massive creature charged him his large weapon charged up and fired a solid green projectile. Green lightning arced off of it and struck several other demons, causing them to explode into piles of steaming meat and blood. Once it impacted the massive demon it exploded like the other's into a massive wave of blood, bone, and flesh. The column may have protected them from the blast and demons, but they were still exposed to the rain of flesh and blood that covered them from head to toe. Cloud stood up and wiped his eye's clean of blood and looked at the piles of flesh and blood caused by the Slayers weapon, "Sweet Celestia! What the hell was that!?" The Slayer shrugged and let off a small chuckle. Before he could react a surviving imp lunged at him, latching it's claws under his helmet. As he threw it off his helmet was in it's claws, revealing his worn and beaten face. Cloud Singer then looked at him. His face was of brick and mortar, unflinching and unbroken, he face was covered in a litany of scars. His jaw seemed to be carved from the stone of a fortress, and his eye's... like the bluest sea or sky they glowed brightly, even more o with his helmet off. Atop his head was a patch of brown and blonde hair. A hell-knight then punched him in the side of the head, the impact sounded like iron being slammed against steel. The Slayer recoiled and fell to the ground, the demon stood over him, holding one of it's broken fingers as the imp that stole his helmet walked closer to him. "That was unwise." Vega said from the helmet. As the demon looked down it was met with the face of the Slayer, he grabbed the surprised demon's jaw and yanked it off with little effort. Ramming his fist into it's belly he ripped out it's intestine and reached for the imp. As the hell knight fell onto it's back the Slayer used it's intestines to strangle the imp to death. As the trio watched and cleaned themselves of the mess of blood and guts of the gibed demons the ground was ripped open in a torrent of fire. As the ground split open another one of the large demon's crawled out. It's eye set on them instead of the Slayer. It charged the group, but as they were getting ready to flee Cloud tripped over some of the debris from the gate. As the demon snaked it's way to him it roared, the bloodcurdling sound made him freeze in terror. As he tried to crawl he grabbed onto the Slayers leg and looked up. Those blue eye's were locked onto the demon ahead of him. It roared again and it charged causing him to charge it as well. As one of the golem's tried to attack it, the demon smashed it into splinters with it's massive club hands. Cloud watched as the Slayer grabbed onto it's mouth and force it open. The demon's tongue wagged out and the Slayer bit onto it and ripped it from it's mouth. As blood began to pour from it's mouth the Slayer yanked it to the ground and pinned it's head down, lifting it up and slamming it's head down hard enough to break off one of it's horn's. As it's arms flailed around it was unable to strike the Slayer. Punching a large hole in it's teeth he then slammed it's head onto the ground again, forcing it's jaws open wide enough until it's jaw was then broken with a loud snap, the beast then squealed and screamed loudly in pain as the Slayer continued his assault. Stepping onto the broken jaw he then grabbed hold of it's horns. As it resisted by pulling back the Slayer took control over the wounded guardian of hell and in one massive twist and pull he removed the upper portion of the demons head. As the demon finally died he threw it's head aside and looked for his helmet. Several Deer soldiers led by King Aspen emerged from the city and saw the various bodies and ripped apart flesh across the ground. "Have the demons fled?" "Seems so my king, how many lost?" Galahad said, scraping of what he believed was the flesh of a demons leg from his pauldrons. "A little over two-hundred, would have been more if the golem's hadn't been activated. Thank you." "Always glad to be of assistance my king." Lunar said, bowing. "I suppose you'll want to return to Canterlot soon?" "Yes, but what about the bodies?" Galahad said, mentioning the various corpses of demons strewn about the city. "The animals of the forest will eat aplenty come morn. Come... lets wash you off." Cloud looked over at the Slayer, he was kneeling, using his helmets visor as a mirror to wipe off the blood on his face before putting the helmet back on. Taking the sword he then used the dead demon to wipe the blade clean and then put it back in it's sheath. The trip back to Canterlot wasn't long and had no delay's. After their armor was taken off and washed the group decided not to wear it the rest of the night due to the stink of demon infesting it. Mutt had already fully washed himself by jumping into one of the many public fountains in Thicket, Aspen wasn't entirely amused with the action. The Slayer stood at one of the wooden tables on the airship, weapons he had taken from the dead Z-Sec guards were strewn out with the various shells and weapons they had. All he didn't have was Boxer's new pistol, like his own but it had a wooden grip. Five MG-88's, eleven pistols, three grenades, four shotguns, and a handful of riot batons. Due to their age the weapons were rusted and overused. The barrels needed to be cleaned and the dust from the martian surface stained their frame's. But they'd still due as replacements or spare parts if his others were to break. Along with the few weapons he had a crate full of ammunition for the new weapons. "How long until we reach Canterlot?" Cloud, who was no wearing the simple cloths he wore under his armor, asked one of the airship crewmen. "Twenty minutes, the rest of the Mane six will be meeting with us in the hangar." Hearing this caught Boxer's attention, he sighed and slightly grumbled to himself. "Somethin' wrong pony?" Mutt asked, playing with several of the pinkie teeth he had collected in Thicket. "Aye... there be a... certain somepony among them that I may have--" "Did you diddle one?" He asked, Boxer coughed and rubbed the back of his head. "Stone's sake... ye daft draft bastard." "Well... I had a reason to stay around Ponyville and a reason to trade with your lot for gems." "She like'em?" "A little yeah... this'll be fun." He said, laughing a little afterwards. Galahad and Cloud spoke with the new member of this group, the Deer named Willow Branch, or Willow as she liked to be called. Lunar sat close to the Slayer, looking over one of the pistols they acquired from the Z-sec soldiers. "Are there many of you?" He asked the Slayer, he looked at Lunar but then looked back at the weapons. "You'll have to be more specific." Vega said from the helmet. "Of him. Those... zombies back in Thicket looked kinda like--" "He's not Human, close, but not close." Vega said, "He's the last of his kind." "Oh... I'm sorry to hear that, truly I am." "Are there many of you?" "Bat Ponies, yeah, but we're not looked highly upon by some Equestrian's." He said, setting the pistol aside and taking his staff in hand. "Unicorn's like myself are rare." "Is there racial prejudice against your people?" "No not much anymore, long ago when Nightmare Moon revealed herself many of my kind flocked to her side, being's we're moon worshipers." He tapped the staff on the wooden deck of the ship. As the gem glowed green a few small figures appeared on the table, they were in a way holographic Bat Ponies. "After she was defeated many of my kind fled back home to Trotsylvania, afterwards a small civil war happened for a few good years, short... but a meaningless waste of life." The small figures fought each other with small spears and shields until only one was left standing. "I take it the victor is Equestria?" He nodded. "It's been good so far, but before Princess Luna came back it was difficult for us. Me becoming her student was one of the better things in my life to happen to me." "Are you the only unicorn of your kind?" "No there's a handful of us, most the time one would be the result of a bat pony and unicorn crossbreed, my parents were neither. Like most of my type, I was abducted by the Lunar cult and taken to Canterlot to become either a Priest or combat mage, I picked the latter." Before he could continue his story the bell on the airship rang out, signaling their approach with the Canterlot zeppelin hanger. The Slayer picked up the weapons and set them in the small crate. Taking two of the pistol clips in hand he separated them from the rest, as well as the grenades, setting them into a pouch he had taken from a wounded Deer soldier. As the airship set down several ground crews tied it down with ropes. Standing at the loading dock were the two princesses and their entourage of personal guards and others. A small handful of these other's were different than the Equestrian's around him, they had stripes and wore a different clothing. He took the box in hand and drug it off the airship and down the ramp. "I was informed of the battle in Thicket, how many lost?" The solar princess asked. "Few in the terms of civilians, it's defense force lost around two-hundred soldiers." Cloud replied, dragging the small cart that had his armor in it. "We'll send what we can to aid Aspen. Slayer, a moment of your time." He set the box aside and walked to the princess. "Oh no bring your things, we'll speak on the way." Before he could return to his crate one of the princesses guards picked it up instead. As she asked he followed her through the hallway. "We've had rather disturbing reports of emaciated beings similar to your build spotted in the forests and cities across Equestria, ponies go missing and end up like these creatures. What are they?" "Zombies or the Possessed," Vega said, "Fodder, food, or servants to the demons, no doubt they have come from the older Mars facility. If they are to bite someone they victim will eventually turn, though there are other ways for this process. As seen in the Mars security they still exhibit slight forms of intelligence. We saw some of the Deer soldier's turned into these poor wretches during the battle." "Not just those, our guards found something near Ponyville earlier today while searching for any remaining Ponies." She led them into her personal study, the central area she was studying the demons with her sister, her former student, and Equestria's brightest minds. Lying on a metal table near the emaciated corpse of a former U.A.C engineer, he could tell by what remained of his former orange jumpsuit now ripped and eaten away, with a large hole in his head from a mace wound. His name tag said, "Seamus Blake. Technician. Serial number 6805-14". On a table next to him were an assortment of horribly and if not creativity crafted weapons from various materials. A large wrench with a metal pipe welded to it to act as a improvised war pick of sorts, an axe made from a metal pipe with sharp metal scrap welded to it, and what seemed like a PDA was strapped to the zombies shoulder to act as an improvised pauldron. There was also an old chainsaw, through very rusted, and the strangest weapon there was an older shotgun now modified as a club with a long knife welded to the end. But the princess then diverted his attention to what lay on the table farthest from him. The tall, three meter creature was covered by a shroud. When he stopped in front of it she pulled it off to reveal what was underneath. It looked Equine in features, but it's skin was completely stripped away exposing it's long bones, implants, and organs. Unlike the prior Revenant's which had a U.A.C made rocket launcher and jet pack, this one didn't have said equipment, instead it had what looked like recently crafted metal implants on it's legs and arm's and unlike the rocket launchers the human one had this one had two three feet long serpents lying dead coiled around it's arms and shoulder. He recognized these small beast's, almost similar to the one's that power the hell guardians but they expel certain flammable gasses through their mouths and ignite it, almost like a flamethrower. Outside of the demonic additions the Equestrian revenant had a small breastplate still strapped to it, rather small now due to it's increased size. The wound in it's head indicated that a musket ball finished it off while the impact of a metal horseshoe killed the serpents. "It was found scouring the town hall in Ponyville, three of the group of fifteen were killed by it. One had his arm's ripped off while another died from the burns he received while the last died from a punctured lung." Celestia explained, "Several demons have also been sighted using various weapons captured from the soldiers they kill, spears, swords, axe's, and even rifles." "They're adapting," Vega said. "We also need the device Vega is on." He looked at the Lunar princess in quite a bit of surprise, he then looked at Celestia. "Why?" Vega said through the helmet. "A little experiment of sorts, we may have a way of putting you in a body of your own." Celestia said, pointing towards a humanoid statue made of clay and stone. "I can see how this project would be beneficial, but will it be dangerous?" "Possibly not, we've done this before, but not with something of your caliber." Luna said, "It might take some time." He looked at the princesses and at Vega, who was now standing next to him in his holographic form. Sighing, he took the small card from a slot on his armor and gave it to Celestia, Vega then dissipated, no longer being able to use the flashlight as a projector. He was no no bigger than a grenade, standing on his A.I. chip. "This process usually takes sometime to do, Luna will take you to your chambers if you wish?" He simply looked at the princess and tilted his head. He then shrugged and nodded in agreement. A room to store his thing's isn't such a terrible idea. "Follow me please." Luna said, walking past him and out the door. He walked past the guard carrying his crate of weapons and as they passed he picked up the box and followed. The short walk to his new quarters took less than ten minutes, the guard somewhat exhausted due to the weight of the weapons in the crate. Luna stopped at a large wooden door and fiddled with a set of iron keys. After the third key she twisted it and it made a click, she turned the knob and pushed the door opened. Taking the lead she walked into a sizable room with a large bed, two nightstands, a large dresser with a mirror, and a door leading into a bathroom with a large bathtub in it. Setting the box down the soldier left the room and waited outside the door. "I hope it will suffice, it used to belong to Argus a long time ago, some of his thing's might still be here if you want to look around." He looked around the room, studying the ceiling, walls, and floor. It had been a while since he were in a room similar to this, a very long time ago. On the dresser was an old book, the dust on it had been cleaned off recently but it looked like it hadn't been moved for a while. He recognized the leather to belong to the hide of a Baron of hell, something his Sentinels of old would keep personal notes in. "Rest up if you want, I'll come and get you once we've finished." Rest, he thought, Been sometime since we've had that. As she left the room the Slayer stopped her, sticking up his index finger, trying to signal her to wait a moment. "What is it?" He dug through the crate and pulled out the better quality weapons, a shotgun, four pistols, and an MG-88 with a small handful of ammo for it all. Confused at what he was doing she simply stared at the weapons and then back at him. He gave her one of the guns, "Learn... adapt." He said. "Oh... you want us to... make them?" She said, taking the gun in her hands. He nodded, taking out the grenades from the satchel he placed the guns he was giving to her into it. Taking the now heavy bag she slung it over her shoulder. "We'll see what we can do. Thank you." She turned and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind her. He stood silently, staring at the door and then back at the bed. After a few moments to himself all of his weapons and their ammunition were spread out on the bed, smallest to largest. The BFG being at the one end while the pistol and grenades were at the other. Rest, he thought. An almost foreign concept to him after years in hell, the last time he was able to rest is when he was imprisoned by the demon's. Deciding it would be best for him he walked into the bathroom and stared at the tub. It was about his size, long enough to lie in. Turning one of the knobs the water then began to pour out, after a moment he began to see the steam coming from the boiling water. Setting his helmet on his bed and the rest of the armor next to it he walked towards the bathroom. As he passed the mirror he stopped and looked at himself. His chest bore the signs of demons new and old, most a lesser being would be easily killed by. His palms bore the demonic pentagrams that were branded onto his hands when he was captured. Postponing his one-man war against the demons for a time. He reminisced on the memories he had across his body, pointing at the one on his right breast. A Baron of Hell did that, before he had gotten the Praetor armor from the Seraphim. He remembered seeing his flesh being ripped open like tissue paper, the pain was worse. Like before, and like all the other's... he survived. Again and again... he survived, while his brother's and sister's in arm's died around him, one by one... Not wanting to reflect on the past, he walked towards the tub. It was high enough so he turned off the water, the heat from the water was noticeable due to the steam fogging up the window. The water didn't burn him as he entered, as he was fully submerged he crossed his arms aver his chest and closed his eye's. As he slowed his heart rate he entered a small dream like state, almost like sleep. Celestia set Vega's ship aside and prepared the Golem for activation. Luna had recently returned and started taking apart and writing down the inner workings of the advanced U.A.C. weapons. "How long should this process take?" Vega asked. "Normally a few hours, but it take's an additional two to prepare the crystal for transmogrification with your hardware." Celestia said, her magic being focused directly on the small crystal ball. "While that happen's, I figured we could talk." "About what?" "Everything, I want you to start from the beginning, the U.A.C, the Demons, what you know about him." She said, no doubt meaning the Slayer. Vega paced around his chip before sitting on it. "Of course princess, though I don't think he'd enjoy me discussing his past. It's... from what I observed, not a pleasant tale." She knelt down, setting her head on her crossed arms she stared at the little A.I. "Please begin." "As you wish." Luna looked over at the two, she couldn't exactly hear them speaking but she could see Celestia's horn glowing. She looked down at the small necklace Nightmare Moon had given her, touching it slightly the small crystal had a dim glow behind it. She then focused her attention back on the weapons, hoping they'd help in events to come.
Spider-Girl: The Movie	pre	Twilight ducked and the tray flew past her, ending up landing on Trixie Lunamoon. Trixie whirled around angrily. "Sparkle!" she screamed "Have you gone crazy?" As Flash tried to hide his laughter from Trixie, Twilight ran out of the cafeteria. Only when she was in the hallway did Twilight look at her wrists and discover a small cut on each of them. "This wasn't here yesterday!" She thought as she rolled down her sleeves and buttoned the cuffs of her shirt to hide it. At that moment, Twilight had one of the strangest sensations of her life. Time seemed to slow down and everyone around him was moving in slow motion. She also felt that she could see what was happening around her, and in all directions at once, as if her field of vision had expanded to cover three hundred and sixty degrees. Then, she saw a fist that was heading for her corinilla. Time returned to normal as she turned and took a step to the side, just in time to dodge a powerful punch from Trixie Lunamoon. Trixie's fist missed Twilight's head and hit a locker hard. "Oh!" she complained, waving her hand. Then she stared at Twilight, furious "You think you are very funny, right," weirdo "?!". Flash stepped between the two girls. "Trixie, it was an accident!" he said. "I'm sorry" Twilight added quickly "Really, it was an accident." "No" Trixie snapped "When she breaks your teeth, that will be an accident!" "I don't want to fight you, Trixie" Twilight said, as a crowd began to gather around her. "I wouldn't want to either" Trixie replied, as Flash stepped aside, aware that he couldn't do anything to stop it. Trixie unleashed two more punches, and Twilight dodged them without difficulty. Trixie was stunned; she couldn't understand how that clumsy bookworm had managed to move so quickly. One of Trixie's friends tried to grab Twilight from behind, but she felt her approach and she ducked; she then she got up at full speed, making him fall backwards. "It's enough, Sparkle!" Trixie bellowed "You're dead!" and she pounced on Twilight waving her arms and punching violently. Twilight did not move from the site. Bending at the waist, she avoided each of the blows without problems. Flash turned to Sunset Shimmer, who had just joined the crowd. "Sunset, please help her" she begged him. "Which of them?" replied Sunset, who was clearly enjoying the success of her friend while she frustrated the bully from high school. Trixie attacked Twilight with her head down and met her fist. Her blow hit him in the jaw, and the more abusive of the two flew off, she landed in a row of lockers and ended up collapsing on the floor, unconscious. "Look what you've done, Sparkle!" shouted Trixie's friend, crouching down next to her battered partner "You've knocked her out." "It was not my intention" Twilight replied looking at her fist, surprised by the new strength acquired from her. The crowd that had gathered to watch the fight surrounded Trixie. The toughest girl in high school, the fallen giant now pathetically slumped to the ground, was cause for compassion. The students looked at Twilight strangely, as if she had suddenly turned into some kind of monster. Looking at her hands, Twilight was suddenly scared of her incredible... new powers. She ran out of the institute. "I have to discover the extent of these powers" she thought as her mind raced.
Spider-Girl: The Movie	Chapter 8	Standing in an empty alley, Twilight watched her hands and the brick wall in front of her over and over again. "I don't lose anything by trying..." she murmured, still unsettled by her recent discovery. Placing her hands on the wall above her head, Twilight pushed herself up. Her palms stuck to the bricks, as if she had suction cups on them. Supporting first one hand and then the other, she Twilight ascended the wall in a matter of seconds and nimbly reached the roof of the building. "This is incredible!" she yelled, running at top speed and then jumping off the edge of the roof. Having cleared the small space in the alley, she landed on the roof of the adjacent building. Then she continued her aerial journey from roof to roof. "I have to try something..." Twilight said, her heart pounding. Standing on the edge of a building, she directed her wrist toward the building across the alley. Trying to remember what exactly she had done in the cafeteria to make the filament shoot out of the cut on her wrist, she closed her hand. Nothing. She moved it in all directions and nothing happened. Turning her hand, she exposed his palm and pressed her ring finger and heart against her palm. ZIP! A filament of cobweb shot out of her wrist and stuck to the wall of the building opposite. Twilight pulled the string. She was holding on tight. "I don't lose anything by trying" she told herself. Then she held on tightly to the filament and left the roof. "It works!" she screamed excitedly, swaying like a monkey on a vine, while the powerful thread supported her weight. She only looked ahead in time to see her pounce over a brick wall... "Agg!" she yelled "Where's the brakes on this?" With her legs in front of her, Twilight crashed into the wall: first her feet, then her shoulders, and finally her face. "I think I need a little practice!" She thought as she dangled from the filament, somewhat dazed. Twilight spent the rest of the afternoon climbing walls, weaving webs, and jumping across neighborhood rooftops, training her skills. As night fell, Twilight finally headed home. Along the way, she tried to clarify the strange events of the past few days. "When that mutant spider bit me, it must have somehow transmitted all of her abilities to me. I have become a kind of human spider... How strange!". When she got home, Twilight walked into the kitchen and immediately smelled the wet paint. "Oh no!" she exclaimed "I promised Shining Armor that tonight I would help him paint..." She found a note taped to the staircase that said, "Dinner is in the oven. We have gone to the Anderson house to play bridge." "Ah, damn it!" she sputtered herself, annoyed with herself for breaking her word with Shining Armor. The screaming from the house next door interrupted her thoughts. Looking out the window, she saw the silhouettes of Flash Sentry and her parents. They were arguing once more. Twilight stepped out into the backyard just as Flash slammed open the back door and stepped out into hers. "H-hi..." she said, embarrassed that she was discovered. "Have you been listening?" Flash asked. "No. Well yeah..." Twilight stuttered "I guess I heard something". "Sorry" said Flash "We argue all the time. Your brother never yells". "Well, you have no idea what they both can yell sometimes you know?" Twilight replied, trying to make him feel better. "Good" Flash started, suddenly changing the subject "What are you going to do when you finish high school?". "I've thought about moving to the city, getting a job as a photographer and working while I study for a career" Twilight explained "And you?" "I think I'll also go to the city" Flash replied "To become an actor". "Great" said Twilight "I have the impression that great things are going to happen to you, Flash". "Oh yeah? And what's going to happen to you?" "I'm not sure" Twilight answered "But I feel something that I haven't felt before. Something... different." Suddenly there was a moment of awkward silence between them. "Wow, you're taller than you look..." Flash said, and suddenly grabbed Twilight by her arms. He was surprised to touch them "You shouldn't shrink so much". Flash put his hands on Twilight's arms again. Meanwhile, his heart was pounding. The screaming started again and the loud horn of a car was heard, spoiling the moment. Trixie Lunamoon pulled a shiny new convertible to the curb. "Hey, Flash!" she yelled "Come on, let's go for a spin on my birthday present!" Flash looked at Trixie and then at Twilight. "Thanks, Twilight" he said, shrugging "I have to go." He smiled at Twilight, then got into the convertible and he and Trixie drove away. Twilight flexed her arms. They looked huge. She sighed and shrugged. "What a car" she thought. That night, alone in her room, Twilight thought about her powers as she flipped through the newspaper. An announcement caught his attention: "ATTENTION, AMATEUR FIGHTERS THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS If you can stay in the ring for more than three minutes with Bulk Biceps Eye-catching clothing MANDATORY!" "Perfect!" Twilight exclaimed, and she ripped the ad from the newspaper "I'll be able to earn some quick cash and buy my own car". Using a pencil and sketchbook, Twilight went to work designing a costume for her. Two, three, four pictures were squeezed to the ground before Twilight took a break to get some practice with her newly released spider web shots. She placed a few bottles on the shelves in her room, and tried to reach them with a cobweb strike. Although she was able to control when she fired, she did not know how to direct the filaments in a certain direction. She missed her target in a single shot, and she just hit the bookshelf, knocking the books and science awards to the floor. "Twilight?" Cadance called her from the entrance "What's going on?". "I only exercise, Cadance!" Twilight yelled. "Well don't hurt yourself, for Celestia's sake" she replied. Twilight took out her tools and began rummaging through the drawers looking for anything that would allow her to build a contraption to get her web shot. She scattered some old toys, clocks, and other trinkets on her desk. Excited about the idea, she went to work with her welder. "Another science project for Twilight Sparkle" she thought, smiling, as she fashioned a pair of web-firing bracelets as she could. She tucked them into her wrists and fired at the first bottle on the shelf. ZIP! An accurate hit! She tugged at her arm and the bottle flew across the room... eventually slamming into a wall. "Hey!" Shining Armor yelled from downstairs "What are you doing, Twilight?" "Studying, brother!" she exclaimed "Studying hard!"
Spider-Girl: The Movie	Chapter 9	Even in the middle of the night, the tall smokestacks of the CinchCorp industrial complex expelled black smoke. All the scientists, technicians, and other employees of CinchCorp's underground research and development laboratory had already gone home. All but Cinch and Dr. Mendel Stromm. Cinch was in a glass-enclosed isolation chamber in the center of the laboratory. The camera pulsed and glowed with vibrant green lucas as Cinch readied herself for an experiment. "Mrs. Cinch, please don't do it" Stromm begged "I'm asking you one last time". "Don't be a coward, Stromm!" Cinch snapped "Risks are part of the scientific study. They always have been". "Let me reorganize this with proper medical personnel and a volunteer" suggested Stromm "If you give me two weeks..." "Stromm, in two weeks this project, and this company, will be dead!" Cinch yelled. "You heard the general. If we can't prove that our Human Abilities Booster works, our funds will go to Crystal Aerospace, and that will be the end of CinchCorp. I'm going to prove it works... with me! Who better than me to become the first being to take advantage of all the physical and intellectual potential of the human being? My strength and intellect will grow to superhuman proportions. So they will see that I was right". Stromm sighed and shook his head. She knew better not to argue with her boss once she had made up her mind. Abacus Cinch was going to continue the experiment at any cost. "Get started" Cinch said. Stromm flipped several switches and adjusted the levels on the control panel before her. Inside the glass chamber there was a high-pitched hum, growing louder. Cinch squeezed her eyes shut as some kind of black gas filled the cubicle. Holding her breath, Cinch felt dense gases penetrate her nostrils. Trying to calm herself, she exhaled and then inhaled deeply as the smelly gas filled her lungs. As Cinch continued to gently breathe in and out, the burning tightness that spread across her chest gave way to a sense of well-being that flooded her mind and body. That moment the spasms began. Cinch's entire body began to shake and twist, her teeth began to chatter, her arms and legs trembled violently. On the monitor, which Stromm watched closely, all of Cinch's vital signs - heart rate, respiration, blood pressure - dropped dangerously low. Stromm panicked. He knew what those signs meant. In a few seconds, his boss would be dead. Stromm hit a red button with the flat of his hand. Instantly, an emergency suction system sucked the black gas from Cinch's chamber. Stromm opened the cubicle door, rushed inside, and ripped Cinch's shirt off. Placing his ear on his boss's chest, Stromm heard nothing. Was he too late? He was about to perform an electroshock to resuscitate him when the alarms on the monitors of his control panel went off. Cinch's vital signs had returned, to continue to grow to alarming levels. Stromm was still staring at the control panel when Cinch's eyelids snapped open. His eyes swept the room from side to side in a split second, and she began to roar like a wild beast. "Mrs. Cinch, please" Stromm began, turning to look at his boss. She couldn't finish. Cinch slammed her arm across Stromm's chest and pinned her against one of the chamber walls. The glass shattered. Stromm flew through the lab, hit a supporting pillar, and collapsed to the ground, dead. Abacus Cinch emerged from the shattered glass chamber. He was no longer the same person who had entered her, but something completely different, something new and strange, not quite human... she staggered through the lab and looked at Stromm's lifeless body, lying in a pool of blood. Something caught his attention. He awkwardly approached the high-tech glider and the suit he controlled, which were in the center of the room. Abacus Cinch threw back his head and let out an inhuman, unnatural howl of pain and confusion. Of transformation. Abacus Cinch's apartment was a reflection of power and style. Although the furniture was modern, the luxurious home was decorated with ancient objects from different cultures, collected throughout a lifetime of travels around the world. This collection was dominated by tribal masks, all based on the same theme: war. Abacus Cinch took his business, like everything else in his life, very seriously. The morning after the experiment, Cinch sat on the couch in her cabinet, dressed in the same clothes she wore the night before. She stared at the wall, stunned, her mind confused, her body aching. Sunset Shimmer hurried to the front door on the way to the institute, her backpack on her shoulder. She looked into the cabinet and stopped. "Mom, are you okay?" she asked, approaching her mother "You look sick. What happened?" "I really don't know" Cinch replied. "Where were you last night?" Cinch asked, kneeling next to her mother to look into her eyes. "I didn't hear you coming". "I was... I was last night..." Cinch stuttered "I really don't remember". Voices were heard in the corridor. "I have to see her" someone said firmly. Sunset recognized the voice. It was Mr. Simkins, the secretary of her mother. "She can't be disturbed now," said the other voice, which Sunset recognized as her housekeeper. Mr. Simkins entered the cabinet anyway. "Who's there?" Cinch inquired, squinting at the intruder. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Cinch" said Mr. Simkins advancing towards Cinch. Sunset blocked his path. "My mother is not feeling well, Mr. Simkins" she explained. He walked past Susnet and knelt beside Cinch. "Mrs. Cinch..." began "Dr. Stromm is dead". "What!?" Cinch exclaimed, jumping to her feet. "They found her body this morning, in the laboratory" reported Mr. Simkins "It seems that she has been murdered". "What is she talking about?" Cinch managed to articulate, fighting to dispel the mist that still clouded his head. "Besides, ma'am" he continued "The winged glider prototype has disappeared. It has been stolen". Cinch sat up, struggling to clear his mind. "Take me there" she said firmly "Now".
Spider-Girl: The Movie	Chapter 10	Twilight ran down the stairs to the front door, her school bag hitting the side. "I'm going to the library, see you later, bye!" she blurted out this sentence at a speed that sounded like a single long word. "Wait, Twilight!" Shining Armor asked, taking her jacket and car keys "I'll take you." "Don't bother ..." Twilight answered quickly "I'll catch the train." "I said I'm taking you" insisted Shining Armor "Get in the car." Twilight knew it was best not to argue with her brother when she used that tone of voice. The two of them got into the vehicle. After the silent ride, Shining Armor stopped the car in front of the library on 42nd Street. "Thanks for bringing me" Twilight said, opening the door. "Wait a minute" Shining Armor said firmly "We need to talk". "I don't have time for chatting, brother" Twilight complained "I really have to go". Shining Armor ignored the protest and continued: "Something's changed, Twilight. Cadance and I don't know who you are anymore. I wonder if you know yourself. Our Twilight, fighting in high school?". "I didn't start that fight" Twilight protested. "Something's happening to you" Shining Armor pointed out forcefully "You're changing". "How do you know?" Twilight asked, unable to hide her annoyance at what seemed like an interrogation. "Because, when I was your age, I went through the same stage" Shining Armor replied, determined to maintain his point of life. "I don't think so" Twilight replied "Not exactly... Look, I have to go". "These are the years when someone becomes the person they will be for the rest of their life" continued Shining Armor, undaunted "You have to take care of who you become. Like any other girl who transforms into a woman, you feel that great power. But remember: a great power comes great responsibility". "What are you afraid I will do, turn me into some kind of criminal?" Twilight yelled, finally understanding her brother. She almost never raised her voice to her brother, and he wasn't sure if the anger she felt now was a consequence of the transformations she was undergoing or simply what any other teenager would feel in that situation. "Stop worrying about me, okay? Something has changed! I'll understand. Stop teaching me!" Twilight opened the car door and got out. "I know I'm not a dad, Twilight" Shining Armor said through the open window, keeping her tone calm. "Well, don't behave like one!" Twilight snapped. In the precise instant that Twilight blurted out those words, she regretted saying them. "I'll pick you up here at ten," Shining Armor said softly, and started the car. "Sorry!" Twilight yelled at the car pulling away from her, wishing she could erase that moment. Full of frustration and reproaching herself for having spoken so harshly to the person who had raised her since she was a child, she Twilight waited until the car disappeared from her sight. She then she turned and walked away from the library. After walking a few blocks, Twilight came to a large sports hall. A huge crowd was outside, pushing toward the doors. The entrance canopy read: "TONIGHT, FIGHT!" Twilight took the crumpled newspaper ad out of her pocket and unfolded it. She took a deep breath and joined the crowd of spectators and future fighters that was slowly advancing towards the entrance. Once inside, Twilight walked over to a table next to a sign that read: "THREE MINUTES FOR THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS" In her tail, behind men twice her size and dressed in costumes of the strangest shapes, Twilight managed to sign up to fight Bulk Biceps. As she passed the stands, she was overwhelmed by the noise of the crowd cheering the wrestlers and the bright spotlights filling the stadium. In the ring, Bulk Biceps was holding his latest victim above his head. Twilight headed for the locker room. The enormous fighter was a specimen with an amazing physique. He was over six feet tall, and his body seemed sculpted from marble, with each and every one of his muscles perfectly defined. He was not wearing a shirt, so that he could better show his torso and arms. His tight pants outlined his powerful legs. Bulk Biceps lifted his defenseless opponent several times as his muscles tensed with the movement. The crowd rose to their feet and shouted their approval as they sensed that the end was near. "No one can last three minutes with Bulk Biceps!" bellowed the monstrous fighter. Then, almost effortlessly, he sent his opponent to the ropes, who ended up plummeting to the ground, out of the ring. The poor man, who was almost unconscious, fell at the feet of the spectators in the front row. "The next!" growled Bulk Biceps, raising his fist in triumph. The presenter was in front of a curtain on a ramp leading to the ring. "Do you want more?" he yelled into the microphone. "More more more!" chanted the audience, carried away by frenzy. "Bulk Biceps is ready!" shouted the giant in the ring, moving through him, stalking, waving his arms to exhort the crowd. "Please bring the next victim into the ring now!" shouted the presenter "If you can endure three minutes of terrible fight with Bulk Biceps, the sum of three thousand dollars will be paid to..." The presenter turned to the curtain behind him. "The Human Spider?" he whispered, covering the microphone with his hand "Is that it? Is it the best thing you can think of?" Twilight waited anxiously behind the curtain. She had donned a makeshift costume made with old purple sweatpants, a sweatshirt, and a pink hood that covered her head, neck, and shoulders. "The Human Spider" she said "That is my name". "Bah!" said the presenter, as the crowd grew impatient "We'll have to give it some good atmosphere" and turning to the microphone, he continued: "The sum of three thousand dollars paid to the terrifying... mortal... and amazing... SPIDER-GIRL!". "I'm the Human Spider" Twilight corrected the presenter as she walked past him. "Get in the ring and shut up, weakling" snapped the presenter. Twilight slipped between the ropes and began to assimilate the situation that was presented to him. She was a student who got nervous reading an exercise in front of the rest of the class... And now she was faced with thousands of frenzied and hungry onlookers, most of whom had paid for the privilege of seeing her pounded. A noise coming from somewhere overhead brought Twilight's attention back to the ring. As she looked up in horror, a huge bottomless steel cage fell onto the ring, creating a prison for the two fighters. Four stagehands wound metal chains around the corners of the cage to lock the combatants inside. Twilight grabbed the bars of the cage and shook them. They hardly moved. She turned and watched as Bulk Biceps stared at her from the center of the ring. "You can't go anywhere" announced the huge fighter "You are mine for three minutes. Three minutes to play with Bulk Biceps ..." Twilight gulped. "What am I doing here?" she muttered under her breath. The bell that signaled the beginning of the fight rang loudly. Bulk Biceps wasted no time. The mountain of muscle lunged at Twilight, who, jumping off it, caused her opponent to slam into the steel bars of the cage. Bulk Biceps looked up and saw Twilight hanging from the top of the cage. "What do you think you're doing?" he asked surprised. "Stay away from you for three minutes" Twilight explained calmly, as if she had just been asked the time. Bulk Biceps jumped angrily, trying to grab Twilight's head, but it moved quickly, flipping and landing on the other side of the cage. The crowd roared. "Come on, Spider-Girl!" they yelled from everywhere. "Come on, Spider-Girl?" Twilight thought "A moment ago they wanted to see me turned into mincemeat. Now is it 'Come on, Spider-Girl'?" She shrugged, determined to give the audience the show she wanted. Moving at breakneck speed, she launched into a one-handed headstand on Bulk Biceps head. "Your costume isn't bad," Twilight joked, becoming more confident "What's this, latex? I tried to make mine out of lycra, but it gave me terrible itches." Bulk Biceps raised her arms and slapped her away from her head, grabbing Twilight's ankle in the same motion. "Got you, bug!" he growled at her, as he pushed Twilight to the side of the cage. "You know? Technically, spiders are not insects" Twilight explained as she dropped onto the mat "They belong to a group of small animals called arachnids". Bulk Biceps launched herself into the air, directing her elbows and her entire massive bulk at Twilight. Twilight then raised her feet against Bulk Biceps' chest, then unleashed a furious kick that sent the giant against the steel bars of the cage. Bulk Biceps collapsed on the mat, unconscious. The combat was over. The amazed Spider-Girl was the winner. The crowd went wild, chanting "Spider-Girl! Spider-Girl! Spider-Girl!" as light bulbs exploded and chaos reigned in the stadium. Twilight raised her arms in triumph. "Ah, the show..." she said smiling. Backstage, Twilight waited while the promoter opened his safe and took out money. "Here's your money," the promoter said, placing one hundred dollar bill on the palm of Twilight "Now get out of here". "Hundred dollars?" Twilight yelled "The ad said three thousand!". "Read it again, cobweb head" replied the promoter with an annoyed tone "He was saying three of the greats for three minutes. You have immobilized him in two. That's why you have earned the hundred dollars. And you are lucky to have won that. You have made the best of my fighters look like a wimp! " Furious with rage, Twilight grabbed the promoter by the shirt and pulled him to her face. "I need that money!" she growled at him threateningly. "And what makes you think that's my problem?" the promoter replied calmly. Twilight had to muster all of her self-control to avoid beating him up right there. But she finally won her reason. Twilight released him, turned and stormed out the door. A short man with blond hair and round, bright eyes pushed her past the promoter's office. Still outraged and muttering under her breath, Twilight was already reaching the elevator when she heard a scream behind her. "Hey! What are you doing?" said the voice. He was the promoter. Twilight turned to see the office door slam open. The blond-haired man shot out of there, clutching a bag under his arm. Red-faced and sweating, the promoter staggered through the door. "Help me!" he yelled "That guy just stole all the money I've made in combat! He's taking my winnings!" The thief was running towards the elevator that Twilight was next to while a security guard tried to hunt him down. "Hey you!" the guard yelled "Stop that guy!" The elevator doors opened. Twilight watched the thief running toward her, then looked across the lobby at the promoter who had just cheated on her. She thought for a few moments, and then she stood still as the thief walked past her in the direction of the elevator. "Thanks!" the thief scoffed as the elevator doors closed. "What is your problem?!" the security guard yelled at him, trying to catch his breath "You let him get away!" The promoter came running to Twilight. "You could have ripped him to pieces!" he yelled furiously "Now he's running away with my money!" Twilight looked the promoter in the eye. "And what makes you think that's my problem?" she said with a satisfied smile. She then she turned around and left there. Although she didn't know it then, that was a decision she would regret for the rest of her life.
Spider-Girl: The Movie	Chapter 11	Dressed in her street clothes, Twilight hurried out of the sports hall. She didn't want her brother to know where she had been that night, so she hurried to the library before he arrived to pick her up. Twilight looked at her clock in the corner where they had arranged to meet. "Five past ten" he said aloud "Hmm ... Shining Armor is never late. I hope you are not mad at me for the nonsense I told you this afternoon about not being a dad. That was stupid. I have to. repeat how sorry I am. " A police car sped past Twilight, her blasting siren breaking the night's silence. A few seconds later she was followed by an ambulance, with the siren also sounding. Both vehicles made a right turn into the next block with a screech. This was the same route Shining Armor had to take on its way from home. When another police car sped past and made the same turn, Twilight felt a pang of terror. She walked briskly to the next block and then started jogging, ending up running. As she rounded the corner, she almost stopped her heart at the sight of a large crowd. Trying to push her way through the growing number of onlookers, Twilight arrived alongside three policemen. There was a man lying in the middle of the street, bleeding from a terrible wound on his chest. As they approached the officers, Twilight looked at the dying man's face. "Shining Armor!" she screamed in disbelief of what she was seeing, feeling dizzy and nauseous. When she knelt beside her body, an officer grabbed her by the arm and pulled her away. "Come on, come on..." said the policeman "Stay away, miss!" "My brother!" Twilight groaned "He's my brother!" The officer released his arm. "What happened?" Twilight asked as everything spun around her, like in slow motion. "A car thief" explained the officer "He shot this man and he fled in his car". Twilight approached her brother again. "Come on, miss" said the policeman "You can't do anything to help this guy anymore". "This guy?" Twilight yelled, stunned to hear someone call the man she had loved so much, who had sacrificed everything for her "It's not "this guy "!" she blurted out to police, "He's my brother!". Twilight knelt beside the body and began to rock her brother's head in her arms. "Shining Armor!" she called out "It's me, Twilight!" Shining Armor's eyes slowly widened. He looked at her and smiled. "Twi... light..." he whispered weakly. After her her eyes closed and her body went limp. Shining Armor had died. Twilight hugged the lifeless body of her brother and began to sob uncontrollably. "They already have the one who shot!" An officer standing behind Twilight, now mired in anguish, announced in a squeaky voice. "He was heading south on Fifth Avenue!" Twilight's tears stopped as if someone had cut them off. At that moment, pain gave way to anger. Gently placing her brother's body back on the ground, she stood up and pushed her way through the crowd with firm determination. Sliding down a dark alley, Twilight tore off her shirt and pants, revealing the clothes she had worn to the wrestling match. It wasn't a proper costume, but for the moment she would do. With one leap, Twilight landed on the side of a building, glued to the bricks, and raced to the top floor. She ran across the roof to get to the side of the building that faced Fifth Avenue. She looked down and saw a line of police cars shining her headlights onto a single car (Shining Armor's Oldmobile) as sirens sounded. Twilight raised her right hand and a sticky strand of cobweb sprouted from her wrist, adhering to the building across the street. Wrapping the web around her right hand, she leapt from the roof in a swift, nimble arc. Cars, lights, and people approached Twilight at full speed. Calmly, she reached out her left hand and fired another strand of cobweb. As soon as the second thread had attached itself to a new building, she let go of the first, shifting her full weight now onto her left hand, and curled once more high above the city. With a smooth, relentless rhythm, alerting the cobweb shooters on each of her wrists, Twilight picked up speed and advanced down Fifth Avenue. It only took her a few minutes to reach the car that her brother's killer was driving at full speed. The car swerved recklessly from one lane to another, weaving through the traffic. Her driver was trying by all means to get rid of the police cars that were pursuing him. Upon reaching an eastbound street, she swerved and made a sharp left turn. The rear of the car skidded as it accelerated toward the river. Brakes screeched and wheels squealed as police cars continued their pursuit. So was Twilight. PUM! The driver heard a thud from the ceiling, as if something had landed there. As he looked up in puzzlement, a fist went through the plate and a hand smashed into his face. Unable to see, he bounced off a curb and struggled through a junction as several cars skidded and collided trying to avoid him. While he held the steering wheel with one hand, the driver put the other in a pocket, pulled out a pistol and fired at the roof of the car. BAM! BAM! BAM! Outside, hooked to the ceiling, Twilight watched as the bullets exploded through the shattered metal, passing only inches from her. She let go of the killer's face and jumped onto the roof of a truck that was traveling in the adjoining lane at a speed similar to that of the Oldmobile. Looking ahead, Twilight discovered a low-rise bridge across the street that she was about to crash into. Synchronizing her movements perfectly, she jumped, did three cartwheels to release the bridge; and she fell back to the other side, onto the roof of the truck. Taking a moment to regain her balance, she jumped back up to the speeding car and landed on the hood. PAM! Twilight's powerful fist smashed through the windshield, shattering the glass, obscuring the driver's visibility. As it drove at full throttle, uncontrollably, the car collided with the closed doors of an old riverside warehouse, ripping the rusted hardware from its hinges. The car skidded into the warehouse entrance, but with no hint of stopping. Seeing that they were about to collide with the building, Twilight jumped up and managed to hang onto the wall above the entrance. The Oldmobile ended its run by crashing into the warehouse, ripping the door off its hinge and then stopping. As police cars plowed through the already open entrance, sirens and radios blasting, Twilight quickly ascended the surface of the building, disappearing through a broken window. Inside the warehouse, Twilight deftly crawled across the steel ceiling beams and surveyed the gloomy place. It seemed that the old structure had been abandoned for a long time. The rats shot out between the broken boxes and the rusty clump that was scattered on the concrete floor. The stench of decay mingled with the salty scent of the river that came through the windows that had lost their panes long ago. In a dark corner of the warehouse, the killer looked around nervously, his gun in one hand and the cloth bag full of stolen money in the other. Police searchlights swept across the wall he was standing behind, barely showing his profile. His shoulder was introduced into a room to avoid being surprised from behind, he stopped for a moment and looked around him expecting something, although he did not know exactly what. Slowly, silently, Twilight descended from the ceiling with the help of a filament of cobweb. The soft sound of her feet hitting the dusty concrete floor startled the assassin, who turned and began shooting at the silhouette that had just landed right behind him. "Who's there?!". With her arachnid sense, Twilight knew the bullet was approaching a moment before she would leave the barrel of the weapon. She jumped away, and the shot carved into the wall she had been standing on just moments ago. BAM! BAM! BAM! As if it were a shooting game in a carnival booth, the killer shot Twilight over and over again. With each shot, Twilight leapt from the wall to the ceiling, to the ground, back to another wall, always avoiding the bullets thanks to her spider sense and her incredible agility. With astonishing speed, Twilight launched herself at the assassin, making him drop the weapon with one blow. The man tried to hide in the shadows, but Twilight grabbed his shirt and lifted him off the ground. "This is for the man you killed!" She grunted, and throwing her right fist back, she delivered a furious blow to the jaw that sent him against a still intact window, shattering the glass around her. Twilight grabbed him back instantly, picking him up again and squeezing her fist for another punch. "Don't kill me!" the man yelled, struggling inultimately to free himself "Let me live! Let me live!" "Did you let your victim live?" Twilight roared increasingly irate "The man who matate, would you let him live? Huh? Answer me!!". Twilight picked up the killer with the intention of throwing him across the building when she, for the first time, could see his face, illuminated by one of the police searchlights. Twilight Sparkle recognized the man. That blond hair and round-socketed eyes were unmistakable. He was the thief who had stolen the promoter of the matches that afternoon. He was the man Twilight had let slip away, when she could have stopped him without a hitch. He was the same man who had just killed Shining Armor. "No..." Twilight yelled, her chest tightening, gasping "No, not you! It can't be you!". She threw the killer against the wall, where he collapsed, right next to his weapon. Twilight buried her face in her hands as some images came to her head: the promoter with the red face, shouting that they had just robbed him; the blond-haired thief running to the elevator, clutching a bag full of money; the security guard asking Twilight to stop the thief... And then the image of herself angry and arrogant, too preoccupied with her own problems and with the opportunity for petty revenge by letting the malefactor escape. One last image flashed through her mind: Shining Armor's body slumped in the street. The killer stood up and pointed his gun at Twilight, who was walking in her direction, furious. The gunman pulled the trigger. A small click echoed through the huge open-plan building. The gun no longer had bullets. Twilight continued toward him with her fists clenched and her chin pressed to her chest. The killer stumbled back, still clutching the money bag. He then he tripped over an old piece of wood and fell through a low window. Twilight reached out to hold him, but it was too late. The killer met his own death by crashing into a wooden pier several meters below. The bills fluttered out of the bag and fell to the ground around his limp body. On the river, a police boat shone its spotlights on the window from which Twilight looked at the corpse. "There is another one!" a ship officer shouted at his companion, and pointed his pistol at the silhouette of the window "I told you there were two!" The second officer raised his gun, but the silhouette in the window had already disappeared. Twilight Sparkle sat on a stone gargoyle protruding from a nearby roof, her head buried in her hands again. The deafening noise of the city of Canterlot City faded to almost silence. The only sound in her ears was her own voice. "Shining Armor..." she whispered as tears slid through her fingers to her makeshift disguise "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry..." After a long time, she got up and started down the side of the building. Once on the sidewalk, she headed home, wondering how she was going to tell Cadance about all that had happened.
Spider-Girl: The Movie	Chapter 12	The Crystal Aerospace test area stretched for miles around, and its perimeter was defined by intermittent barbed wire. At the center of this inhospitable and barren landscape was a cement bunker half buried in the ground. Watchtowers surrounded the bunker, armed security guards paced up and down, scanning the horizon in all directions, and powerful searchlights illuminated the night sky. Inside the bunker, a small group of military personnel, led by General Slocum, met with Badger's coordinator, the Crystal Aerospace project, and other employees. "I think you're going to like this, General" said the coordinator, handing out binoculars to everyone present "The Badger robot is the ultimate super soldier. Take a look". Through a long rectangular window, General Slocum and the others watched as a four-meter-tall robot approached an empty military truck. Raising its arms, the Badger fired several missiles from the shuttles embedded in each of its limbs and blew the truck to pieces. "I see you have a good arsenal" said the general "But what about the armor?" "He has passed all the tests we have subjected him to" explained the coordinator "he can receive any blow, as well as deliver a good thrashing left and right, general". "I want to review the budget numbers" commented the general "But if what you say is true, I will sign the contract to finance your production tomorrow". The project coordinator took General Slocum aside. "What about his engagement to CinchCorp?" he asked. "The only thing Abacus Cinch has done has been wasting our time and money to fulfill his wildest dreams" replied the general "Nothing would please me more than to give you your funds and ruin Cinch". A small shrill sound coming from outside the bunker grew louder. The group ran to the window and could see how something broke the tranquility of the night sky. "What's that?" asked a Crystal Aerospace technician. "I don't know" replied the coordinator "But it's going in the direction of the Badger..." The shrill sound outside turned into a deafening noise. Without warning, a missile rose from the sky and smashed the Badger. The tower's security guards raised their weapons and unleashed a blast of fire, but they couldn't hit what they didn't see, and the ghastly form looming over them seemed to fade and then reappear again. More missiles continued to fall from above, appearing as they razed the towers. "What the hell is going on?" asked General Slocum, who was watching the massacre from inside the bunker. His response came in the form of a roaring turbine engine, and another shrill, high-pitched sound as a missile headed toward the shelter. "Oh no!" the general yelled as the bunker exploded into a great ball of bright orange flames. A black form settled on the smoking ruins of the building as a horrible sly laugh faded into the night. The weeks following Shining Armor's murder were the hardest of Twilight Sparkle's life. She spent a lot of time at home, with Cadance, helping her get through her tragedy, while she struggled with her own guilt for allowing this to happen. One bright June morning came the moment that Twilight and her companions had longed for. Smiling students and their proud parents packed the outdoor amphitheater in preparation for Canterlot High's graduation ceremony. For Twilight and Cadance, being able to celebrate a special occasion was a small respite from so much pain, although the absence of Shining Armor left a bittersweet taste in such a joyous reunion. After the typical speeches and the distribution of diplomas, the time-honored tradition of students throwing their caps into the air took place. The students erupted in joyous applause. Later, the group began to disperse and they went to reunite with their families. As she scanned the crowd for Cadance, Twilight spotted Sunset, who was also searching for her mother. "Hey, Sunset!" Twilight yelled cheerfully "We did it!" "Sure you do" replied Sunset "And thanks in large part to you! So I have good news: my mother owns a building downtown that has a spare apartment. Says we can use it. Why do not you come with me to city?" "I don't know" said Twilight, shrugging "I don't know if I can afford to pay the rent. I have to get a job first!" "We'll come up with something" smiled Sunset. Nearby, Cadance and Abacus Cinch walked through the crowd, searching for their respective students. Cadance recognized Cinch. "Mrs. Cinch" she said, extending her right hand "I'm Cadance, Twilight's sister-in-law". "Nice to meet you" said Cinch, shaking her hand affectionately "How is she? I can't find my daughter". "There's Sunset" Cadance said, pointing over the heads of the people next to them. Sunset pushed her way through the crowd, clutching her diploma with pride. "Hey, mom!" she yelled, stopping next to Cinch. She wanted him to give her a motherly hug, but she knew better not to expect anything. "You did it" Cinch said, offering her hand. "It's not the first time I've been wrong. Congratulations". "Thank you" Sunset said, accepting her mother's firm hand shake. "Congratulations, Sunset" said Cadance, hugging her lovingly. "Look who's coming that way!" Cinch exclaimed upon seeing Twilight advancing towards them "The winner of the science award!". Twilight finally caught up with the group, ready to hug Cadance. "Here's our graduate" she said as she held her tight and smiled proudly "You were both so pretty up there..." Cinch put her hand on Twilight's shoulder. "I know you've had a very hard time" she said "If you ever need anything..." "Thank you Mrs. Cinch" Twilight replied with a nod. It wasn't the first time Sunset had the feeling that her mother was more fond of Twilight than she was. Averting her gaze from the emotional scene, she caught sight of Flash Sentry, shoving Trixie away, turning, and pushing his way through the crowd. Sunset looked back at Twilight and Cinch, then ran after Flash. Back at home, Twilight walked up the stairs to her room. Cadance followed her, worried that once the day's celebrations were over, Twilight's sadness would be greater than ever. Her door was ajar, so she knocked softly. He then he entered her room and sat next to her, on the edge of the bed. "I've missed him so much today" Twilight said almost in a whisper, staring at the ground. "I know" replied Cadance, taking Twilight's hand "I've missed him too. But he was there. I know. He would never have missed it". Twilight raised her head and looked at the ceiling in exasperation. "I wish I hadn't..." "Twilight, don't start that again" Cadance cut her off. "I can't stop thinking about the last thing I said to her" Twilight continued, her voice still haunted. "Stop torturing yourself" Cadance said soothingly. "He was trying to tell me something important and I ignored him" Twilight said, dropping her head back onto her chest. "You loved him" said Cadance "And he loved you. He never doubted that you would become a great woman. He knew that great things are going to happen to you in life. You will not let him down" and then, squeezing his hand, she added "Not even me". I got up gently and left Twilight lost in thought of her. Left alone, Twilight opened the bottom drawer of her closet and pulled out the pink and purple suit and mask that she had been working on for days. The pink part of the suit (chest, shoulders, gloves, boots and mask) traversed by silver filaments, and in the center of the cobweb on the chest was a white spider. The mask had two white, oval-shaped pieces for the eyes, designed by Twilight to allow her to see without being recognized. As she stared at the white spider on the suit, Twilight heard Shining Armor's voice in her mind: "With great power comes great responsibility" said the warm and familiar voice "Remember, Twilight... Remember".
Spider-Girl: The Movie	Chapter 13	For the next several weeks, the city of Canterlot City bustled with news of a strange figure in pink and purple who thwarted the action of the criminals as if it were a harassment and takedown team made up of a single woman. The most incredible stories dotted the city's newspapers and ran from word of mouth among taxi drivers, construction workers, and other citizens who made up the city's urban fabric. A thief about to shoot a shopkeeper saw the gun ripped from his hand with a sticky filament of cobweb fired by a mysterious being. Police officers who arrived at the scene of a jewelery robbery found the three robbers neatly tied inside a sack made of cobweb, hanging from a lamp. A woman who had just had her purse stolen saw a pink and purple silhouette carry the rogue through the air as she returned her purse with a note that read: "COURTESY OF YOU FRIEND NEIGHBORHOOD, SPIDER-GIRL". The police did not know what to think of this masked crusade. Some thought she was a heroine, others an unwanted vigilante. In the offices of Canterlot City's largest tabloid newspaper, Pony New Network, editor Filthy Rich knew exactly what he thought of the so-called Spider-Girl. "She is a criminal!" Filthy yelled at Applejack, her longtime editor-in-chief "A public threat! What's she doing on my front page?". Filthy Rich turned the edition of her newspaper on her desk, discovering the headline: "WHO IS SPIDER-GIRL? THE COSTUME WOMAN SAVES FIRE VICTIMS". Next to the headline was a photograph of a building on fire, with a blurred figure climbing up the side of the building. "She's news, boss," Applejack explained "She saved six people from being burned to death". "She was probably the one who started the fire!" snapped Filthy Rich "Something's up and this disgusting character is already there. What does that tell you, huh?". "That she's a hero," Applejack replied. "So... why is she wearing a mask?" shouted Filthy Rich "What does he have to hide?". A wide smile appeared on Applejack's face. After so many years, he knew the reactions of his boss perfectly. She saved her best argument for last. "We have sold out all four editions of today's newspaper, Filthy" she said. "Sold out?" Filthy Rich asked. "Not one left" Applejack replied, savoring the moment. "I want Spider-Girl on the front page tomorrow!" yelled Filthy Rich "And this time with a decent photo!". "That's our real problem" Applejack explained "We can't take a good photo. Starlight Glimmer has been trying for weeks to get a picture of that type, but nobody manages to do more than see it fleetingly". "What's wrong? Is she shy?" yelled Filthy Rich, unloading her fist on the table "Don't you want to be famous? Put an ad: "Reward offered in exchange for Spider-Girl pictures!". Surely someone will get a picture". "Maybe she doesn't want to be famous, boss" suggested Applejack. "I think it's great!" Filthy Rich reproached him "Then I will make her famous!". Twilight Sparkle was running around the Everfree University's campus in Manehattan. Since college, it seemed that he was always late for everything: classes, appointments, dinners... Trying to combine the life of a student and a superhero, without forgetting to try to earn money, gave him the feeling that the day did not have enough hours. As she bolted into the university's science building, her fingers quickly buttoned her shirt to hide the pink and purple suit she wore underneath. "Professor Luna!" Twilight yelled upon seeing the dark blue-headed teacher walking down the hall. "You're an hour late, Sparkle" said Professor Luna, sighing and shaking her head "Class is over. You have missed another class". "I'm sorry" Twilight apologized "It won't happen..." "Look, Twilight" Professor Luna continued "You have a great scientific mind, but you don't seem to be able to put your priorities in order. You have been late six times this semester". "Professor Luna, please let me explain..." Twilight pleaded. "This internship is paid" Professor Luna continued, ignoring Twilight's plea "Do you know how many first-year students have applied for it? Do you know how many would even do it for free?" "Professor Luna, please" Twilight tried one last time "I need this job!" Professor Luna put her hand on Twilight's shoulder. "I like you, Twilight" she said with real affection "Come see me when you have matured a little". Twilight slowly exited the science building and past campus, walking aimlessly through the streets of Manehattan. She was counting on that interim. Now she would have to find another way to earn money, another way to pay Sunset her share of her rent. As they passed a dirty-looking coffee shop, Twilight saw a man rushing out of there, followed by a trail of screaming. It was Flash Sentry. "Hey!" she called out to him, running to catch up with him. "Get lost!" Flash yelled at her, not even bothering to look at her. "Flash, it's me, Twilight" he yelled at her. Flash stopped and turned. "Hi, Twilight!" he said "How are you?" "I just lost my job" said Twilight "I have to find another one. What about you?" "I, mmm..." Flash hesitated "I'm going to audition". "So now you act" said Twilight enthusiastically "It's fantastic!" The cafeteria door slammed open and a huge woman ran after them. She was wearing an apron and a bunch of restaurant bills clutched in her beefy fist. "Hey, Mr. Actor!" she yelled at Flash "You have six dollars left. Next time I'll take it out of your pay!" Then she turned and went back into the cafeteria. "It's a temp job..." Flash explained, unable to hide his embarrassment "A few extra dollars". "There's nothing to be ashamed of" Twilight responded quickly "I've been fired from worse jobs than these!" "Please don't tell Sunset" said Flash. "Sunset?" Twilight asked, puzzled at the mention of her roommate. "We're dating together" said Flash, puzzled "Didn't he tell you? Don't you live in the same apartment?" "Uh... yeah, well..." Twilight said, trying to hide her surprise. "I think she doesn't like the idea of him serving tables" Flash explained "She thinks he's unworthy of me". "Well, Sunset has never lived with her feet in that place I call Earth" Twilight joked. Flash laughed. "How do you always make her feel better to me?" he asked, squeezing Twilight's hand "See you later". "See ya" Twilight said "And don't worry. I won't tell Sunset anything". "Thanks" he replied, then turned the corner and disappeared down the next block. Twilight stopped and looked up at the sky, shaking her head. "Sunset and Flash, wow!" she told herself. She lowered her head and walked home. Upon entering the spacious apartment she shared with Sunset Shimmer, Twilight saw her partner sitting at her desk, studying. Meanwhile, Abacus Cinch paced around the house and spoke on his cell phone. She saw Twilight enter and nodded at her without leaving her conversation, and she, at the same time, returned her greeting. "Typical" Sunset said as Twilight flopped down on the couch "Mom comes to visit me and is on the phone all the time". She then she noticed Twilight's expression. "What's wrong?" "I was late and Professor Luna fired me" Twilight explained. "Were you late again?" Sunset asked "Really, I don't know what's wrong with you, Twilight. Can you tell where you go all the time?" Twilight shrugged. "Over there" mumbled herself. Her biggest concern was keeping her life as Spider-Girl a secret from those she loved. Abacus Cinch finished talking on the phone and turned to Twilight. "Twilight Sparkle" she said "Maybe you can tell me who that mystery boy is, the one who's dating Sunset. She wants me to meet him. This is new!" "Mom!" Sunset protested. "I'm sorry Mrs. Cinch" Twilight said, staring at her roommate "Sunset hasn't told me about him". "Hey mom: Twilight is looking for a job" said Sunset, glad she could change the subject "Why don't you get her one?" "No, it's not necessary, Mrs. Cinch" Twilight replied quickly "Thank you, but don't worry. I'll find something". "What kind of job are you looking for, Twilight?" Cinch asked. "Actually, I'm thinking of something to do with photography," Twilight replied as she picked up an edition of Pony New Networks, which was folded on the coffee table. She had intended to browse the job postings, but the image on the front page of the newspaper stopped her in her tracks. A crude drawing of Spider-Girl's masked face stared at her from the front page of the newspaper. Above it was read: "PHOTOGRAPHIC PROOF WANTED! IS IT REALLY EXISTS SPIDER-GIRL? SHOW US. REWARD GIVEN IN CASH!".
Spider-Girl: The Movie	Chapter 14	That night, Spider-Girl was hanging from the ledge of a window of the third floor of a downtown bank. Hidden in the dead of night above the street lamps, she worked quickly. She knew that a bank robbery was taking place and she also knew that she only had one chance to get her goal. Moving the lenses to keep the entrance to the bench in focus, she attached the camera to the bottom of the window ledge using a glob of the sticky cobweb. Spider-Girl, listening carefully, waited for the robbers to come out of the bank. Suddenly, the sound of footsteps was heard at the door. Spider-Girl triggered the self-timer camera to the view out the three robbers, and then jumped into action. Moving with the help of a cobweb, she pounced on the thieves just as her camera's flash fired. During the short fight that followed, the camera continued to take a series of photos of Spider-Girl in action. Finally, Spider-Girl tied the robbers in a sack of cobwebs (along with a note to the police) and she ascended the front of the building, retrieving her camera and then disappearing into the night. The next day, at the Pony New Network offices, Twilight Sparkle handed Applejack a bunch of photos. After taking a look at the snapshots of Spider-Girl weaving her webs and battling the thieves, Applejack nodded and smiled. "They're good" she said to Twilight "They're very good. How did you get them?" "If I tell you, you will send your own photographer" Twilight said smiling at Applejack "Will you hire me?" "It's not up to me," Applejack explained, shrugging "Filthy Rich is personally in charge of hiring the squad". At that moment, a young woman with a camera around her neck rushed out of Filthy Rich's office with tousled clothes, disheveled hair, and an expression that clearly reflected the horrors she must have suffered in the office she was now leaving. Filthy Rich's voice boomed from the open door. "I told you to get me a photo, Starlight!" he yelled, "Not an inkblot! Why can't anyone get me a decent picture of that puppet in disguise? Get out of here, Starlight!" Applejack looked at Twilight as Starlight shuffled toward the exit. "Filthy Rich is also personally in charge of firing the staff too" she said, raising her eyebrows. Filthy Rich stormed out of his office, still screaming. "And Starlight..." he blurted out "Do me a favor and buy you some good clothes!" Starlight ran out of the newsroom, leaving Filthy Rich with his focus on Twilight. "And who are you?" he yelled at the eager young woman before him. "This girl has pictures of Spider-Girl, boss" Applejack explained. "Okay, don't just stand there" Filthy Rich yelled at her "Bring them here". Twilight and Applejack followed Filthy Rich into his office. The editor took the photos from Applejack's hands and glanced at them, dropping them onto his desk as he looked at them. "Rubbish!" he muttered after looking at the first photo. "Rubbish! Rubbish! Rubbish!" he repeated after seeing the second, third and fourth. Twilight glanced at Applejack, who returned a knowing wink. "They're very bad" said Filthy Rich when he finished seeing them. The last thing he wanted to do was cheer on a high-paying novice photographer. Especially one who brought her some great photos like those. "I'll give you three hundred for all". Twilight, emboldened by Applejack's gesture and knowing that no one could get photos like that, spoke calmly but firmly. "It seems like little money to me" she said. "Good" Filthy Rich snapped, "Then take them to someone else". Twilight took the photos and started to leave. "Wait a minute!" Filthy Rich ordered, annoyed that the rookie had discovered her game "Okay. I'll give you five hundred. That's the normal rate for a standard free-lance". Twilight agreed and gave the photos back to Filthy Rich, who passed them on to Applejack. "Tear up the first page" Filthy Rich whispered, pointing to one of the photos of Spider-Girl as he battled the robbers. "Put this photo". "Wow!" Twilight thought "First page! I should have asked for more money!" "Headline?" Applejack asked his boss. "Spider-Girl: Heroine or Menace?" Filthy Rich replied, without a moment's hesitation "Pony New Network exclusive photos!". "Menace?" Twilight asked, shaking her head "Mr. Rich, she stopped the robbery and caught the robbers..." "Who are you, her lawyer?" Filthy Rich yelled at him, furious "You take the pictures and I write the headlines. Ok?" "Yes, Mr. Rich" Twilight replied, realizing that the discussion would get her nowhere. Then she added quickly: "I would like you to hire me, sir." "Nothing of work!" snapped Filthy Rich "Being a free-lance is the best for a girl your age. Bring me more pictures of that newspaper-selling clown and I'll take them off your hands". Twilight nodded, winked at Applejack in thanks, turned and left the office with a resolute air. Over the next several weeks, Twilight got fantastic photos of Spider-Girl in action with her camera and self-timer. Filthy Rich was gladly buying them and publishing them on the cover of her newspapers. But despite images of Spider-Girl foiling robberies, rescuing people from burning buildings and arresting robbers who robbed innocent victims, Filthy Rich continued his campaign of attacks on Spider-Girl. Headlines like: "CANTERLOT CITY FEARS THE COWARD IN DISGUISE! SPIDER-GIRL: SUPERHEROINE OR SUPERZERO?" and "THE BIG APPLE FEARS THE SPIDER BITE!" they drew attention on the front page of the newspaper, day after day, accompanied by photos of Twilight. "Why is he so hard on her?" Twilight asked Filthy Rich one morning as she handed him the last batch of arachnid photos. "She is believed to be law and order" answered Filthy Rich "In this society there is no room for self-righteous justice. Once a person takes the law for himself, there is only one step left for anarchy". Unsatisfied with Filthy Rich's response, Twilight spoke up. "Mr. Rich" she began cautiously "I would like you to commission me some other work that don't have to do with Spider-Girl". "No!" Filthy Rich barked "You'll keep doing what you do". "Filthy Rich" said Applejack, who was just peeking out the door. "Let's send Twilight to cover the CinchCorp's World Unity Festival. We have to send someone". "The World Unity Festival..." mumble Filthy Rich "Wow grace! Another sign of the great ego of Abacus Cinch. Good. Send Sparkle. And you, get out and get me pictures!". "Yes, Mr. Rich" Twilight replied smiling at Applejack, who had once again supported her in front of her angry boss. CinchCorp Industries's headquarters in Manehattan stood like a great medieval tower in the jagged skyline of Canterlot City. In the boardroom on one of the upper floors of the building, Abacus Cinch addressed the members of the board of directors. "I am pleased to announce" she began in her typical smug tone of superiority "that as of today, CinchCorp Industries has surpassed Crystal Aerospace as the leading supplier to the United States's army. Since Crystal Aerospace suffered that tragic incident, our costs have been reduced, our revenues have grown and our inventories have never been higher". Mr. Balkan glanced at his fellow board members and, clearing his throat, turned to Cinch. "Such good news!" he announced "In fact, that is the reason why we decided to sell the company". Cinch went pale and swallowed hard. "What!?" she screamed "I don't understand". "Crystal Aerospace has obtained new financing after the attack that suffered" explained Balkan calmly "They are going to buy CinchCorp". "They can't... do that..." Cinch stammered "I have built this company!" Mr. Fargas was the next to speak, turning his wheelchair to face Cinch. "As a matter of fact, Cinch" began "they want you out. This board expects you to present your resignation in thirty days." "Please, Fargas ..." Cinch begged "Don't do it!" "Sorry, Cinch" Balkan replied "The board has unanimously agreed. We will announce the sale right after the World Unity Festival. You're out". "Out?" Cinch muttered to herself with a menacing tone in her voice "We'll see..."
Spider-Girl: The Movie	Chapter 15	In Times Square there was a large crowd gathered, surrounded by brightly colored flags and posters announcing the World Unity Festival. Above them a big balloon, a symbol of the meeting organized by CinchCorp were. The official theme of the day was healing around the world and the union of peoples. There were giant balloons floating above the crowd. The thousands and thousands of people who had left home on that beautiful morning were amused by music, jugglers and clowns, as well as enjoying cotton candy and other sweets. Five floors up, in the balcony of an old building, had been turned into a special private place for authorities and people with the right connections in high places to sit and contemplate the events of the day. Among the many peoples and guests in the balcony, were the nine members of the CinchCorp Industries directors's board. Near them were also Sunset Shimmer and her boyfriend Flash Sentry. Sunset hoped she could introduce Flash to her mother, but so far there was no trace of Abacus Cinch, the woman who had devised Unity Day. Down in the streets, Twilight Sparkle was trying to push her way through the crowds, taking photos of the people, the balloons, the posters, anything she saw and showing the joyous celebration atmosphere of this event. Watching through her camera, Twilight paced the balcony just as Sunset tried to kiss Flash. He pulled away to avoid the attempt. Twilight felt hopeful again. Maybe Sunset and Flash weren't as serious as she thought they were. At that moment, Sunset turned her gaze in his direction and the two friends realized that they were looking at each other. Twilight felt embarrassed, as did Sunset. But suddenly something erased all thoughts from Twilight's head. Her arachnid sense put her on alert. The overwhelming feeling that something terrible was going to happen displaced everything else. Twilight lowered the camera and scanned the area, but she didn't see anything out of the ordinary among the merry congregation of people. Upstairs in the box, Sunset approached Mr. Fargas and Mr. Balkan. "Have they seen my mother?" Sunset asked the two members of the board of directors. Balkan and Fargas exchanged uncomfortable glances. "I'm not sure if she'll be joining us today" Fargas replied, pulling away from Sunset in her wheelchair. Fargas stopped abruptly and looked up, searching the sky for the source of that loud, high-pitched sound. "What's that?" he screamed as he spotted a fuzzy mass in the air. Twilight also looked up and saw a trail of black smoke moving with astonishing speed, darting in and out of the clouds. On the balcony, Mr. Balkan lifted his binoculars. "It must be a new attraction for this year's festival" he commented "As if this didn't cost us enough money already!" but he changed her mind when she saw a figure approaching on a familiar shape "Isn't that our glider? The one that was stolen from us from the lab?" The figure, dressed in black, descended in an arc and then stopped. She remained motionless in midair, just above the balcony. Balkan and Fargas looked at each other worriedly. This black character not only arrived mounted on his experimental glider, but was also wearing the special electronic suit that CinchCorp had developed to control it. The strange-looking figure wore a grotesque mask that hid its face completely. The mask twisted into a hideous, demonic grin, as if it were a Halloween goblin with red eyes. This Black Goblin, as the press would call her for days to come, pulled a small round pumpkin-shaped object from her belt. The crowd enthusiastically cheered for this new if somewhat rare addition to the festivities. The Black Goblin moved his arm a little and the glider did the same instantly, making him fly in a small circle right in front of the balcony of people. Laughter turned to screams of terror as the Black Goblin threw the strange pumpkin-shaped object onto the balcony. BUUUM! The pumpkin-bomb detonated, blowing up half the balcony. From above, large chunks of wood and concrete fell into the street, scattering over the toned crowd that ran along with the artists for cover. Panic took hold of people when they realized that the Black Duende formed no part of the show. What was still left of the balcony swayed, knocking people down five stories below. Flash fell forward, to the edge of the balcony, while Sunset fell backwards, several feet from him. On the street, Twilight pushed her way through the crowd, trying to get to a nearby alley. After a creak, the balcony separated further from the building, descending several meters. Flash fell even closer to the end of the balcony; head of it protruded over the edge... Looking at the chaos beneath him, he saw the crowd made way with difficulty trying to reach safety. With a simple flick of her right wrist, the Black Goblin flew up into the sky, laughing slyly. She flew in a circle to the frightened crowd, satisfied with the word that the work was causing her. As she passed the balcony again, the Black Goblin threw another pumpkin-bomb, which landed at the feet of the board of directors. BUUUMM! The second pumpkin-bomb instantly volatilized the nine men and women who had called for the resignation of Abacus Cinch. The unstable balcony wobbled and fell a little further. The Black Goblin dropped her left shoulder slightly and the front of the glider tilted, lifting it up until it was positioned just below the balcony. On the battered balcony, Sunset crawled toward Flash, who was holding on tightly to the end of the sloping balcony to keep from falling. Before she could reach him, Sunset watched in horror as the Black Goblin slowly rose, hovering in the air and letting out a blood-curdling laugh as she tried to grab Flash's arm. Suddenly, a pink and purple figure emerged from above, feet first, and struck the Black Goblin, knocking her off her glider. "I don't know who you are, ma'am" Spider-Girl joked as he landed on the side of a building "But in this city there is only room for one weirdo in disguise... and that's me!" "She's Spider-Girl!" the crowd yelled "You just gave that black monster what it deserved!" "Yeah!" a spectator yelled "Spider-Girl! I've seen the picture of her in the newspaper!" Spider-Girl looked around to assess the situation. She saw Flash on the edge of the balcony, inches from a safe fall to his death. She was about to head there to rescue him from that wobbly platform when the screams from the street caught her attention. The Black Goblin landed on a large tent, which cushioned her fall. She pressed a button on the wrist of her electronic suit and pointed to the glider, which came flying towards her. However, before she reached the Black Goblin, the speedy glider slammed into the huge globe of the World Unity Festival, knocking it off the cables holding it down. The huge sphere rolled down the middle of the street, crushing everything in its path. Completely out of control and unstoppable, the balloon was heading towards a boy of about six who, paralyzed with fear, was clinging to his cotton candy. Shooting a web to a billboard near, Spider-Girl jumped hanging from the filament. She drew an arc with her movement, lifted the boy in her arms and saved him from danger just as the balloon rolled past her, demolishing a row of parking meters. "Special delivery for you, ma'am" said Spider-Girl as he deposited the child safely next to his mother. Looking back, she saw five armed police officers surrounding the Black Goblin, already outside the collapsed tent. "Don't shoot! I give up!" shouted the Black Goblin, raising her arms "It's not my fault. The violence of the media forced me to do it!" she then she threw herself at the policemen, who placated the Black Goblin until they held her on the ground. Spider-Girl looked back at Flash, and as she was about to rise to rescue him from the balcony, she heard screams coming from the frightened policemen. She saw how, with an incredible outburst of strength, the Black Goblin shook the policemen off her like they were rag dolls. Flash would have to wait a little longer... Jumping into the air and cartwheeling over the crowd, Spider-Girl landed in front of the Black Goblin. "How dare you get in my way?" the Black Goblin growled at the opponent disguised as her "What do you want?" "World peace..." Spider-Girl replied "But I am satisfied with your jaw!" ZAS! Spider-Girl delivered such a powerful punch to the Black Goblin's jaw that she sent her flying against a nearby building. With one leap, the weaver of webs was placed back with the Black Goblin, willing to release him another punch. But this time, a black-gloved hand stopped Spider-Girl's fist, parrying the blow. "Nice try" said the Black Goblin mockingly, and then she struck. Spider-Girl was thrown into the air, smashing an ice cream cart as she passed and slamming into a lamppost. The Black Goblin pressed a small button on her wrist, and once again her glider went into motion. She jumped on him and flew off as Spider-girl is incorporated. The Black Goblin swung sharply to the left, then turned back to Spider-Girl, which saw two small machine guns out of the bottom of the glider. Machine guns opened fire, hitting the ground surrounding Spider-Girl, and she was forced to jump on one of the nearby balloons while the Black Goblin disappeared into the clouds. Subject only a few columns still stood firm, the balcony creaked loudly, moving closer to the ground. The sound caught the attention of Spider-Girl as she held the balance on the huge balloon. There were five other large balloons between her and the fallen balcony. Like a pink and purple ball, Spider-Girl jumped from balloon to balloon. She jumped onto the balcony, but the Black Goblin appeared again out of nowhere, grabbed Spider-Girl by the waist and threw her against a wall on the battered platform. Spider-Girl landed on the balcony, near Flash, as debris fell around her. A piece of wood hit Sunset's head, knocking her unconscious. Spider-Girl approached Flash just as the Black Goblin rose on her glider and hovered over the balcony. From one side of the glider, a laser weapon came out that aimed directly at Spider-Girl. At the speed of light, Spider-Girl fired a glob of sticky cobwebs at the Black Goblin that hit her in the face, rendering her blind. "No!" howled the Black Goblin, firing the laser in turn. The sharp beam of light missed its target and slammed into the wall behind Spider-Girl. Using her incredible strength, Spider-Girl punched a hole in the bottom of the Black Goblin's glider, and reaching out her arm, she took away a handful of cables. The glider fumed and sputtered, as he flew away with the Black Goblin desperately trying to blow away the cobwebs of the eyes, and shouting: "WE'LL MEET AGAIN, SPIDER-GIRL!!" Spider-Girl breathed in relief. But at that moment, what was left of the balcony snapped in two, causing Flash to fall over the edge of the platform. Sunset's eyes snapped open. She was on the part of the balcony that was still attached to the building. She watched in utter amazement as Spider-Girl chased after Flash, diving headfirst into a free fall and leaving behind a strand of cobweb. She caught up with him a few feet from the pavement, holding him by her waist while her cobweb filament tightened to stop the hang of it. Pulling away as the empty balcony smashed into the street, Spider-Girl and Flash soared above the scene of destruction. Spider-Girl nimbly advanced between the skyscrapers with the help of her cobwebs, and realizing that they were finally out of danger, she glanced at Flash. "Are you okay?" she asked as fired another filament. "Who are you?" Flash asked, still affected by how close he had come to the end of him. That air trip through the tall buildings of the city seemed like a strange dream to him. "You know me" Spider-Girl replied, landing delicately on the Rockefeller Center garden roof and releasing Flash's waist from his embrace. "That I know you?" he replied, still perplexed by the whole experience. Spider-Girl headed towards the edge of the building. "Of course!" she said, as she shot a new web "Your friend and neighbor, Spider-Girl!" she then she jumped off the roof and disappeared between the concrete buildings of Manehattan. "WOO-HOO!!"
Spider-Girl: The Movie	Chapter 16	That night at the apartment, Twilight calmly sipped a glass of milk while Sunset desperately called Flash, leaving message after message, hoping he was okay. Sunset had regained consciousness in time to see, along with the astonished crowd, how strange woman in pink and purple swooped in and saved Flash. But, like many citizens of Canterlot City, Sunset read the Pony New Network and now wondered if this Spider-Girl was on the side of the good guys or was she just a crazy woman in disguise... A crazy who had escaped hanging from a spider web with her boyfriend! "I hope Flash calls soon" Sunset said, pacing nervously from one side of the room to the other "I'm very worried". "He'll call you" Twilight assured him calmly, taking a long drink of milk. "How do you know?" Sunset asked. "Intuition..." said Twilight "How is your head?" "They looked at my wound" explained Sunset "It's nothing. Why aren't you worried about Flash?" The phone rang and Sunset jumped towards him. "Hello" said Flash in a soft and distracted voice. "Are you okay?" Sunset yelled over the phone "Has she hurt you?" "Of course not" Flash replied, laughing sweetly "It was wonderful, incredible!". "What do you mean it was incredible?" Sunset snapped "Where did he take you?" "To the roof garden of Rockefeller Center..." Flash said dreamily "Have you ever been there? It's so romantic!" "No, I haven't been there" Sunset said dryly "Look, I'm going there". "No" Flash replied quickly "I'm very tired. I'm going to sleep". "Ok, call me when you get up" said Sunset "And we'll have breakfast together or something, okay?" Sunset hung up the phone. Twilight had only heard half of the conversation, but it was enough to make her grin. "Look, Twilight" began, uncomfortable, Sunset "About that picture you took of Flash and me..." "Don't worry" Twilight took a deep breath "I didn't". "I know I should have told you about this..." Sunset continued "I'm crazy about him." "I'm your friend" said Twilight "You didn't have to lie to me". "I've always known you wanted to go out with him" Sunset continued "But you never did anything, you never said anything to him..." "I guess not" Twilight admitted, thinking of all the missed opportunities. "Well I'm still shaking from what happened today" Sunset said heading to her room "What was it that attacked us?" "I don't know" Twilight answered gravely "But whoever she is, someone has to stop her!" Abacus Cinch stood in the open door of his apartment, a copy of the Pony New Network in his hands. It was the morning after the attack on the World Unity Festival and Cinch had been wandering the streets. His clothes were dislodged and his face showed the traces of having spent the night awake. She glanced at the front page of the newspaper; she could read the headline over a photo of Spider-Girl fighting the Black Goblin: "SPIDER-GIRL AND BLACK GOBLIN THREATEN CANTERLOT CITY!". Cinch shook her head, trying to understand the meaning of those words, as the images of horror during the festival came and went through her mind. As he looked at the newspaper again, another headline caught his eye: "CINCHCORP BOARD OF DIRECTORS KILLED!". Cinch stumbled into her apartment and climbed the stairs to her study. From somewhere in the house she heard the sound of a weak laugh as sly as it was threatening. "Anyone there?" she asked. Silence "No, of course not". Entering the study, Cinch dropped the newspaper on his desk, then removed his suit jacket and slumped into the chair at his work table. Was heard again chilling laughter that seemed to come from the other world, this time higher, and someone began to speak. "Stop pretending, Cinch" the shocking yet familiar voice said. "Who are you?" Cinch asked, looking around without seeing anyone "Where are you?" "You just have to follow the icy chill that runs down your spine" replied the ghostly voice "Look, I'm right here...". Even so, Cinch still didn't see anyone. Where could that voice come from? She moaned and clutched her head with her hands. Her voice seemed to surround her, and even to come from inside her mind. "Did you think it was a coincidence that so many good things had happened to you, Cinch?" the shrill voice asked from everywhere and nowhere at the same time. "What do you want?" Cinch yelled, throwing her head back, furious at the invisible intruder. "I say what you do not want to say" answered the voice "What you could not do. Separate all those who stand in your way". Cinch raised her head again, her mind clearer now. "Did you kill the board of directors?" she asked, not caring where the intruder was. "We both killed them" answered her voice, sounding closer than ever. "No!" Cinch exclaimed, furious "I would never do that!" "Oh, you make me sick with your weaknesses..." the sly voice pointed out. "I'm not a murderer!" Cinch screeched, standing up "I'm a scientist, a respected business woman!" "Shut up and hear the good news, Cinch!" bellowed the mysterious voice with a defiant cry "You are now in complete control of CinchCorp Industries. I have granted you your great wish. Just say thank you". Cinch felt a strange calm. His mind was running fast, and things were falling into place. "And what happens now?" she asked. "We will eliminate your rivals" began the voice with a tone of self-sufficiency "CinchCorp will become the largest and most powerful supplier of the army. You will get what you have always wanted, Cinch:... power!". Cinch put his jacket back on and walked over to a mirror. He ran his fingers through his hair and buttoned his shirt. There was the businesswoman again preparing for another meeting. "We can get it together" she stated calmly, finally accepting the ghostly voice as a partner, and perhaps something more. "Unfortunately... there is only one person who can stop us" said the creepy voice "Spider-Girl". "Or she could be our great ally" Cinch replied, totally calm with the voice that she now knew emerged from her head. "Bingo!" exclaimed the voice... the voice of the Black Goblin. "We should maintain a little talk with Spider-Girl". Cinch picked up the newspaper from her desk and looked again at the photo on the first page. "And I think I know exactly how to find her!".
Spider-Girl: The Movie	Chapter 17	"The Black Goblin!" Filthy Rich proud announcement, holding the front page of the Pony New Network with his arm raised. Filthy Rich sat in his office and bit into his cigar as she watched Twilight Sparkle pacing from one side of the office to the other. "Do you like the name? I made it up myself. Since Spider-Girl appeared, everyone has to have a big name". Twilight read the headline comparing Spider-Girl to the Black Goblin and shook her head. "Spider-Girl wasn't terrorizing the city" she said "I was trying to save her! This is slander!" "Slander is something to be said..." Filthy Rich corrected Twilight "When she printed it out is called "libel". So let her sue me as a person". Twilight realized that continuing this discussion would get her nowhere, so she turned on her heel to leave the office. As she walked out, she heard a vaguely familiar high-pitched moan, muffled by the glass of the sealed office window. CRASSS! Like an explosion, the Black Goblin smashed through the window behind Filthy Rich, sending shards of glass falling everywhere. Her glider came to rest on her desk. The Black Goblin grabbed the Pony New Network editor by the throat with one hand, lifting him from his chair. Filthy Rich hung in midair, helplessly, trying to breathe. "Filthy Rich! I have a question for you!" shouted the Black Goblin in her thin, ghostly voice "Who is the person taking the pictures of Spider-Girl?" Twilight had already disappeared down the hall as the employees crawled across the floor to safety. "She's free-lance!" Filthy Rich replied, his voice drowned out by the black-gloved hand that closed around his windpipe. "I don't know who he is in person. The photos come to us in the mail". "You lie!" howled the Black Goblin "I'll give you one last chance to tell me". "Please..." Filthy Rich gasps "Air... I can't breathe..." "Hey!" yelled a voice behind the Black Goblin. She turned to see Spider-Girl hanging upside down from the broken window. "I run the reins of this city, friend" joked Spider-Girl. "Speaking of the queen of Rome!" exclaimed the Black Goblin with an evil smile drawn on her hateful face. She released Filthy Rich, who collapsed to the ground, gasping for air. "I knew it!" Filthy Rich exclaimed, wheezing and coughing "You two are in this together! I knew you were ..." ZIP! SPLASH! Spider-Girl released a glob of cobwebs that landed in Filthy Rich's mouth, sealing it. "Hey baby, let the women talk for a minute, okay?" Spider-Girl said. For Twilight Sparkle, who was behind the mask, this was a very satisfying moment. The Black Goblin raised an arm towards Spider-Girl and a black gas came out of her glove. "Sleep a little". Spider-Girl dizzy and blacked out, staggering on the edge of the raised window and falling onto the sidewalk. "I hate fighting running, but I have to go!" the Black Goblin said, turning to Filthy Rich. She then she started the turbo on her glider and flew out the window. She plummeted, leaving a trail of flames and smoke in her wake. The Black Goblin picked up Spider-Girl seconds before she hit the ground, and then she flew into the darkness. Spider-Girl slowly regained consciousness. When she finally opened her eyes, the Black Goblin was staring at her, smiling. Spider-Girl tried to get up and sit up, but her body felt heavy and weak, and every movement was a great effort. Looking around her, she saw that they were on a deserted roof, high above the city. "Relax" said the Black Goblin "My hallucinogenic gas has diminished the capacities of your central nervous system, but its effects will only last a few minutes. Long enough for you and I to talk". "Who are you?" Spider-Girl groaned as she tried to find a comfortable position and shake off that feeling of torpor. "Your soul mate" replied the Black Goblin "You have transformed, you are no longer what you were before, and now no one can understand what is happening to you. No one except me, of course. They call us monsters. But the truth is that we are something superior to humans, not something inferior". "I'm not like you" said Spider-Girl "You are a murderer!" "Well, everyone has their own... You have chosen the path of the hero. But, how long will it be before the people of this city begin to hate you? Read the headlines" replied the Black Goblin "The day will come when you wonder why you risk your life for a bunch of ungrateful fools". "Because it's the right thing to do" Spider-Girl replied, her mind a little more clear-headed. She was still too weak to risk fighting her powerful adversary. "It's the only thing to do". "You and I are exceptional" continued the Black Goblin "I had problems, but I used my extraordinary powers and the problems have disappeared quickly". Spider-Girl watched her silently. The Black Goblin continued: "Imagine how much we can achieve if we work together. Think what we could create. On the other hand, if we continue this selfish and senseless battle, many innocents will die. And eventually, we will also die". The Black Goblin leaped onto the waiting glider. "Think about it... heroin" she said. After her, with a slight movement of her shoulder, she was lost like lightning in the dark, and her mocking unearthly laughter faded behind her into the shadows. The following night, fully recovered from the Black Goblin's gas attack, Twilight Sparkle leaned against a brick wall at the back of a downtown theater. Nearby, a door that read "ARTISTS ONLY" swung open quickly and Flash Sentry slammed the door behind him. "Hey, how was your audition?" Twilight asked, catching up with him in one stride. "How did you know?" Flash asked, glad to find her. "By the official bulletin" Twilight replied "Your mother told Cadance". "So you weren't just passing by?" Flash asked, flattered by the visit. "Well... I was in the area" said Twilight "I needed to see a friendly face. I took two buses to get here, but..." "They told me I needed acting classes" Flash sputtered "Can you believe it? They told me I need acting classes to act in a soap opera!". "Come on, I'll buy you a hamburger" Twilight told him hopefully. Flash smiled and took her hand. "I'd love to, but I can't" he said "I'm going to have dinner with Sunset. Why don't you come over?" "No, thanks" Twilight replied, shrugging "Well, how are you two doing?" "Why are you so interested?" Flash asked. "I'm not interested" Twilight replied, and she regretted saying those words right at the very moment she blurted them out. "Aren't you?" Flash asked, a bit confused. "Well, why should I be?" Twilight replied, screwing up each time. "I don't know" he said "Why should you be?" Twilight was getting more and more uncomfortable. "I feel don't come with us" Flash said, breaking the silence, "I gotta go. I'm late". Twilight, incredulous, watched Flash as he disappeared running down the street. Had he screwed it up again? Did Flash want her to confess her love for him right there, at that very moment? Her thoughts were interrupted by four bullies who passed her by intentionally hitting her. "Sorry" Twilight said sarcastically. The thugs ignored her, and Twilight began to move in the opposite direction. But a few meters later, she turned in the direction of the four bullies walking away from her. Something told her that she should follow them. As Flash rounded the corner, the four thugs caught up with him. "Hey buddy..." said one, as the four surrounded him "Give us your money and we will let you go." Another thug grabbed his backpack. "Let it go!" Flash yelled, as he hit one of the thugs in the mirror, elbowed another in the face and sprayed the other two with a srpay that he carried on his keychain. Having recovered from Flash's surprising acts of self-defense, the four now-furious thugs approached him threateningly. The robber who had spoken first reached into a pocket and produced a razor, which he slammed open with a sinister hiss. "Alright loser" I grumble, raising the sharp blade to Flash's face "Game over!" "Actually ..." said a voice emerging from the darkness "It just started!" That voice was from Spider-Girl! ZIP! ZAP! With astonishing speed, a filament of cobweb descended from a nearby rooftop and coiled the four robbers like a lasso trapping a steer at a rodeo. With a powerful pull from above, the web lifted the four hooligans off the ground. Flash followed them with his eyes, stunned and looking for his savior. Then the assailants fell one by one. Flash saw two of them wedge themselves against a nearby window; another crashed into a wall, and the fourth landed on a dumpster. All four lay unconscious. "You have the strange habit of always getting in trouble" Spider-Girl commented from the darkness. "And you also have the strange mania of always saving me" Flash answered, walking towards her "I think I have a superhero hanging around me". In the rush to save Flash, Twilight hadn't had time to put on her mask. She was hanging from the belt of her costume. "I was in the zone" she said. Flash stopped and squinted at the figure in the dark. Where had he heard someone say that same phrase? "You're amazing" she murmured, advancing on Spider-Girl again. Twilight managed to clumsily put on the mask just as Flash reached for her. "Some don't think so" she said. "But you really are" he replied. "Thanks for thinking that" he said, and instantly leapt towards the wall behind her, sticking to it, feet up and head down. Flash approached Spider-Girl. Her faces, although in different positions, were at the same height. "Can I say thank you this time?" Flash asked, reaching for her mask and pulling her down from her chin. "Are you going to remove my mask right here?" Spider-Girl wondered, unable to move. But Flash only exposed Spider-Girl's lips. He kissed her firmly and then slowly pulled away from her. "This is so you remember where your mouth is," he said softly, returning her mask to hers. Spider-Girl stared at him for a moment, and a million thoughts raced through her head at once. Twilight Sparkle had finally kissed the boy she had loved her entire life, even though he didn't know it. And he wasn't kissing Twilight, but Spider-Girl. Too complicated to understand... She climbed the wall and disappeared over the edge of the roof. "Wow!" Flash exclaimed, sighing heavily as he followed her movements with glowing eyes.
Spider-Girl: The Movie	Chapter 18	Sirens blared and thick black smoke filled the afternoon sky as an apartment building on the downtown outskirts burned out of control. Police cars, fire engines, and ambulances came incessantly. Firefighters rushed into the building, searching for those still trapped in their flats. A few minutes later, two firefighters were leading a desperate mother and hers of her two children out of the flames and bringing them to safety across the street. But she was reluctant to leave the building. "Let me go!" she cried "My baby is still in there! Someone save my baby!" The firefighters held her down. "It's too late, ma'am!" said one "The ceiling is about to collapse!" "No!" the woman screeched, struggling to free herself to get back into the building. Another firefighter pointed to the sky. "Look!" he yelled "It's her!" All eyes darted up in time to see Spider-Girl swinging toward the burning building. "She is crazy!" the first firefighter yelled "She won't make it!" "Save my baby, Spider-Girl!" the terrified mother begged "Please!" Spider-Girl disappeared like lightning into the burning building as part of the roof collapsed. "No!" cried the heartbroken mother, now certain that she had lost her child. Just below the roof, a huge ball of orange flame and black smoke erupted through the shattered windows. A few inches above that hell, Spider-Girl descended carrying a small package wrapped in a protective web. "I can't believe it!" exclaimed a firefighter "She is alive, and brings the child!" The crowd there erupted into spontaneous applause as Spider-Girl landed next to the young mother. "Don't worry, ma'am" she said, and she handed him the bundle wrapped in the cobweb "Her baby is not hurt". "Oh bless you, Spider-Girl!" exclaimed the woman, her eyes brimming with tears of joy. After removing the soft cobweb blanket from the boy, she kissed his forehead and added, "Thank you!" "Well remember this kids" Spider-Girl said sternly to the baby's two older brothers "Never play with matches!" "Help me!" a scream of horror came from the burning building. "Look!" exclaimed a young man pointing to a downstairs window "Someone is still up there!" All the people turned to the building and saw an old man standing at the window, wrapped in a shawl, waving his hands and screaming desperately. Jumping into the air, Spider-Girl released a web and swung back toward the burning structure. As she glanced out the adjacent window, she landed in a smoky room and saw the terrified man, huddled in the corner, covering himself with his shawl. "Don't worry sir, everything will be fine" Spider-Girl announced "I'll get you out of here". "Thank you, young lady" the old man said weakly "You are my heroine!" Upon rising, the man removed his shawl to reveal that he was actually... the Black Goblin! "What's wrong with turning something on from time to time?" she laughed mockingly, straightening up to her full height, and surrounded by lurking flames. "Black Goblin!" Spider-Girl exclaimed "It was you who started this fire!" "You are so pathetically predictable, Spider-Girl...!" the Black Goblin scoffed "Like the moths around the light..., I knew you would show up here. Well? What about my proposal to join forces? Do you accept it or decide to lose it?" "It's you who has lost ...!" Spider-Girl responded, clenching her fists, ready for the fight "And forever!" "Wrong answer!" But before Spider-Girl could move, the Black Goblin threw a blade at her. Spider-Girl reacted instinctively, avoiding her sharp spinning blade with her right arm, but her dainty sharp weapon slashed his forearm deeply. "Ahh!" Spider-Girl howled, clutching her aching right arm with his left hand. Looking at him, she saw a large wound from which she was oozing abundant blood. She quickly threw a strand of cobweb upward onto a beam that burned just above the Black Goblin's head. Pulling hard on the web, Spider-Girl caused the beam to fall on his opponent. But she was fast and strong. She got rid of the burning beam and turned to face Spider-Girl ... even though she had already disappeared out the window leaving a trail of blood behind her. "NO ONE GIVES ME A NO FOR AN ANSWER!!" shouted the Black Goblin fiercely, and jumped on her glider, to escape the blaze. Thanksgiving was Twilight Sparkle's favorite holiday. Every year she eagerly looked forward to Cadance's meals, watching a soccer game with Shining Armor, and the cozy, family atmosphere that was especially felt in her home during big holidays. This year, with the loss of Shining Armor, it all seemed inappropriate. Twilight wondered how she and Cadance would manage the party without her brother, and she almost felt reluctant to celebrate. Twilight was relieved when Sunset and Flash suggested spending the day together in Sunset and Twilight's apartment. Twilight, Cadance, Sunset, and Flash would be joined by Abacus Cinch. Cadance would also make his famous turkey, Cinch would finally meet Flash, and the pain over the absence of Shining Armor would be somewhat mitigated by the pleasure of hosting that party with a group of close friends. While Cadance was taking the sizzling paco out of the oven to poke with a fork, Flash handled the sweet potatoes. Sunset finished setting the table for five. Neither Cinch nor Twilight had arrived yet. The doorbell rang and Sunset jumped uneasily. "It has arrived!" she told everyone. Flash ran out of the kitchen, untying his apron. He tossed it over a ledge, revealing an elegant blue suit. "You are very handsome!" Sunset said, walking towards the door "That suit is beautiful!". Flash smiled nervously. The woman he was about to meet was not only the mother of his girlfriend, but the great Abacus Cinch, an industry mogul, a real big shot. Sunset opened the door and Cinch walked in, impeccably dressed in a black suit. She carried a pastry box tied with ribbons. "Sorry I'm late. I had a lot of work to do" Cinch said. She quickly handed the box to Sunset and looked at Flash "I brought a fruit cake. Who is this young man?" "Flash" began Sunset, breathing deeply "I would like you to meet my mother, Abacus Cinch. Mom, this is Flash Sentry". Flash flashed a beaming smile that lit up his pretty face framed by a mop of blue hair. Cinch walked over to him and extended her right hand, addressing the young man who was occupying most of her daughter's time and attention. "How are you?" she said she sweetly "I was looking forward to meeting you". "Happy Thanksgiving ma'am" Flash replied, shaking his hand. Instantly, an inexplicable feeling of dread washed over him, and he discarded that hand when Cadance returned. "Hi, Cinch" said Cadance affectionately, wiping her hands on her apron "We are so glad you came. Now the one that remains to come is Twilight. She asked me where she is. I hope she remembers the cranberry sauce!" At that moment, a lightning bolt of pink and purple flashed past the dining room window, without anyone present being able to see it. Twilight, still dressed in her costume, slid out of her bedroom window and landed on the floor with a thud. Everyone in the room turned to the door of Twilight's room. "How weird..." said Sunset "I didn't know Twilight was here". In her room, Twilight removed her mask and observed the cut on her arm. Suddenly someone knocked on the door. "Twilight?" Sunset called "Are you there?" The door opened and Sunset, Cadance, and Cinch entered. The room was empty. "There is no one here" said Cadance "It's weird". Clinging to the ceiling of the room, Twilight held her breath and stared at the trio of visitors. Sunset and Cadance returned to the dining room, but Cinch remained there for a moment. As she turned to leave, a drop of blood fell from Twilight's wound onto the carpet. The heightened sense of hearing Cinch now enjoyed picked up on the almost imperceptible sound, and she turned quickly to see the red liquid spread across the carpet. She glanced quickly at the ceiling, but she found it empty. She then she ran to the window, and looked in all directions, but saw no one. Shrugging, she returned to the dining room. Twilight was hanging under the windowsill. When Cinch left the room, she slipped back inside, she changed her clothes and crawled out the window. A few seconds later, she walked through the front door. "Hi, everyone!" she exclaimed, pulling a small brown paper bag out of her jacket pocket "I'm sorry it took so long. It's like a jungle! I had to beat an old woman with a stick to get these blueberries". Cadance raised his head and looked shocked at Twilight's joke. Teenagers!. "Come on, everyone at the table" she announced "Let's sit down and say a prayer". As they sat down, Cadance saw the blood on Twilight's arm. "Twilight!" she screamed "You're hurt!" "I tripped over a curb and a messenger hit me with her bike" said Twilight, who had made up the story just moments before. "Well let me see" Cadance said, getting up and grabbing Twilight's arm. She rolled up his sleeve and everyone could see the deep cut diagonally "Oh my God! I'll get the medicine cabinet and clean that wound for you. Then we'll give thanks. It's the girls' first Thanksgiving in her own apartment, and we're going to get it right". As Cadance walked away from the table, Cinch kept staring at Twilight's cut. Her eyes widened as she recognized the mark of the diaongal cut so familiar to her. "How did you say you did that to yourself?" Cinch asked, looking at Twilight suspiciously. "A messenger threw me to the ground" she replied, at the same time that her arachnid sense set off her alarms. She felt a tingling throughout her body as incessant warnings of danger came to her. But why?. She looked around the room. Who of those present could represent a danger? Cinch stood up abruptly, stunned at the only possible explanation for Twilight's unmistakable injury. "You will have to forgive me" she said, and advanced towards the door "I'm afraid I have to go". Sunset jumped out of her seat and ran after her mother. "What?" she exclaimed "Why?" "Something has come up that requires my immediate attention," Cinch replied. Sweat trickled down her forehead and his heart was pounding. "Are you okay, mom?" Sunset asked, overwhelmed with anger and confusion. "I'm fine" she replied curtly. She then looked at Cadance, who was returning with the medicine cabinet "Thank you, Cadance. Goodbye, everyone". "Wow," Cadance lamented "What's wrong?" Cinch narrowed her eyes at Twilight and left the apartment. "Mom!" Sunset yelled, chasing him down the hall. The apartment door was left open behind her "I had planned this party so you could meet Flash, and you barely looked at him!" Cinch leaned against the hallway wall. His mind was racing. "I have to leave". Sunset grabbed her mother by her shoulders. "Hey, I like that boy, mom!" she yelled "This is important to me!" "Sunset, please" Cinch began, straightening up and regaining the tone of voice she used when she had to show her daughter who was in charge. "Look at him. Do you think he's with you because he likes your personality?" "What are you saying, mom?" Sunset asked, amazed. Her mother had said nasty things to her before, but this was too much. "He's with you for your money" Cinch snapped. She then she turned around and headed for the street. "What?" Sunset yelled at her mother's back. Too late. Cinch was gone. When Sunset returned to the apartment, Flash was taking her coat. "Where are you going?" she asked her as he advanced toward the door. "Thanks for standing up for me, Sunset" he said, pushing her past. "You've heard?" Sunset asked, embarrassed. "We've all heard that idiot!" yelled Flash. Sunset's face flushed with rage. "That idiot is my mother!" she exclaimed "If I'm lucky, I'll be able to become half of what she already is. So she shut up and don't say anything about things you don't understand". "Sunset Shimmer!" Cadance reproached him. "I'm sorry, Cadance" said Flash, trying to hold back his tears, and slammed the door out. "Sunset, go find him!" Twilight yelled at her. "I'm not going to do it" Sunset replied coldly, shaking her head. "Come on, Sunset, do it!" Twilight repeated. "No, I can't!" he said, and turning to Cadance, added: "Welcome to my family's Thanksgiving Day" she hurried into her room and slammed the door. Twilight turned to kiss her sister-in-law. "I'm sorry, Cadance" she said as she bolted out of the apartment "Everything looked so good!" The door closed behind Twilight. Cadance sat alone at the beautifully set table. All had made a great effort to decorate it. This was going to be difficult without Shining Armor, but even so, a happy meeting. Now, everything had gone wrong. Steam was still coming out of the uncarved turkey. The candles sizzled gracefully in the dim light. "We haven't even had a chance to say thank you" Cadance said, and she sighed sadly.
Spider-Girl: The Movie	Chapter 19	Twilight ran out to find Flash sitting on the steps of a nearby house. He was crying. Twilight sat next to him and handed him a tissue. "I'm sorry I acted like that" said Flash, wiping his tears and blowing his nose "I couldn't go on there. That deal brings back very bad memories". "I understand" said Twilight "I've never seen Sunset like this. But I know she really loves you". "Sometimes I wonder why I started dating her" said Flash, shaking his head "I guess because she asked me to. She told me he was very handsome in this suit. I thought it would make a good impression on his mother! How funny!" "Well, the truth is that you look handsome in this suit" Twilight stated before she had a chance to think about what she had said. Flash looked at her and smiled fondly. "Thank you" he replied putting an arm around her shoulders "You look pretty too". Her eyes met. Twilight had never been more in love with Flash. This was her great opportunity ... But she looked away. Another wasted opportunity. Abacus Cinch knelt on the floor of his study, staring at the Black Goblin mask he held in his hands. The room was dark except for the small spotlight that came from a desk lamp, illuminating Cinch and his mask. The mask began to speak, though it made no move. His voice sounded in Cinch's head, as if the Black Goblin was standing next to her. "This changes everything..." said the mask "Spider-Girl is invincible. But Twilight Sparkle is only flesh and blood. We must destroy Sparkle. Then we will get rid of Spider-Girl". "I can't" Cinch whimpered, responding to the mask "I've been like a mother to her. And she's been like a good daughter to me". "She came to you, Cinch" continued the mask "A greedy and scheming orphan who has been playing with your heart, with your affection, leaving no room for Sunset... your true daughter and heiress!". Cinch fixed her gaze on the mask. "It's true!" she exclaimed "You're right. What have I done to Sunset, to my own daughter?" "After everything you've done for Sparkle, and look how she pays you for it" she continued the mask "Facing you as Spider-Girl". "What I can do?" Cinch asked. "Teach her the meaning of loss and pain" was the reply from the mask "Make her suffer. Make her wish for death. And then grant her that wish". "Yes" Cinch said, and a twisted smile spread across her mouth "But how?" "The cunning warrior does not attack the body and neither does the mind" said Mask. "TELL ME HOW!!" Cinch yelled. "The heart, Cinch!" replied the mask "First we will attack his heart!". Cadance missed her husband terribly. Now that Twilight was living on her own, her house seemed very large and empty. The nights were the hardest. It was easy to find reletivamente occupations during the day, keep distracted mind, being with friends... But as the day ended, the pain became more intense, and the gap Shining Armor's death had left in her life seemed to grow with the passage of time. She put on her flannel pajamas, kissed the photo of Shining Armor on her nightstand. She then she knelt beside her bed and prayed. "Celestia ours, who art in heaven, hallowed be your name..." he began with his hands joined and his elbows resting on the bed "...the kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us our daily bread, forgive our offenses just as we forgive those who offend us. Do not let us fall into temptation and free us from..." Without warning, the wall behind him was pulverized. Cadance fell to the ground, where she remained trembling. Looking up, he saw the Black Goblin on his glider. A fine stream of foul black gas shot out, filling the room with a toxic cloud. "Finish the sentence!" demanded the Black Goblin with his supernatural red eyes fixed on Cadance "Finish!!" Cadance felt them pierce through her, burning her. "Deliver us... from evil..." she stammered, praying. Then she passed out, overcome by the gas. The Black Goblin laughed sarcastically, and her obnoxious laughter filled the house and flooded the quiet street of Ponyville. Twilight ran down the hospital corridor, panicked, blocking any thoughts other than finding Cadance. When she got to her room, she stopped after a long skid. Twilight watched as doctors and nurses fluttered around the bed. She worked her way through them all until she reached Cadance. She was asleep, hooked up to various machines, with tubes coming out of her nose and an intravenous line running into her arm. "Cadance!" she yelled, and turning to a doctor, she asked "What happened? Will she be okay?" "Please, miss" a nurse intervened, taking Twilight by the arm and leading her towards the door "Let the doctors work!" Just before leaving the room, Twilight heard Cadance's wail. She turned to look at her, and he could hear her weakly muttering: "Those eyes" she gasped "Those horrible red eyes!" Later, a doctor covered her mouth with an oxygen mask. Twilight came out into the lobby. The bedroom door closed behind her... and her eyes widened in terror as Cadance's words made sense to her. "The Black Goblin" she murmured "She knows who I am! But how? How can she know?" Thinking fast, unable to stay still in the hospital waiting room, Twilight came out to breathe the cold night air and began to walk at full speed. Barely noticing her, she was heading toward Cadance's house, the place she still considered her home. She there she picked up a few things Cadance might need, and she headed back to the hospital. This time when she entered the room, everything was quiet. Cadance was alone, sleeping peacefully, with the machines around her broadcasting her records at a constant rate. Twilight emptied the bag and placed Cadance's hairbrush, her pajamas, and other items in the drawers of the nightstand next to her bed. She also put one of her favorite photos, featuring herself, Cadance, and Shining Armor, on the nightstand next to Cadance's head. Twilight dropped into an armchair next to the bed, and took Cadance's hand. "I'm sorry" she said looking at the photo, thinking about the death of Shining Armor and that Cadance almost suffered the same fate, all because of her and for her life as Spider-Girl "I'm so sorry..." She leaned down and kissed her forehead, brushing away a few tears. The next afternoon, Flash was walking down the hospital corridor carrying a large bouquet of flowers. He found the right room, poked his head around the door, and saw Twilight, still sitting on the couch. She had a science book open on her lap, and there were several bags of fast food and empty coffee cups around the room. Flash smiled and knocked softly on the door. Twilight looked up. "Can I enter?" he asked. Twilight nodded. Flash approached her and put hers arms around her neck, hugging her tightly. "I'm so sorry" he said looking at the photos that were next to the bed. He leaned down to gently touch Cadance's forehead "Will she be okay?" "I think so" said Twilight, showing in her voice her suffering and the night spent awake "This morning she woke up for a while. Thanks for coming". "Who would want to do something like that to him?" asked Flash incredulous "Cadance is so loving, so kind ... Who could want to hurt her?" "The Black Goblin" Twilight explained, choking as she spoke. "But, why?" Flash asked, even more surprised "Why would I want to hurt her? Sorry, Twilight. You must ask yourself the same thing". "It's okay" she said, looking up at Flash's face "What about you? Are you okay after the other night?" "I'm sorry about what happened" he apologized "It just made things worse for everyone". "Of course, you have the right to be angry" Twilight said softly "Did you call Sunset?" "She called me, but I haven't answered her yet" Flash replied, separating from Twilight "The truth is that... I'm in love with another girl". "Oh yeah?" Twilight said, her heart pounding. It could be possible?. "At least I think so" said Flash "It's funny. She has saved my life twice and I have never seen her face". "Ah, she..." Twilight said, secretly sympathetic, but also a bit disappointed. "Do you think those horrible things they say about her are true?" Flash asked. "No way" replied Twilight "I know her a little. I'm like the unofficial photograph of her. And none of that is true". "How do you manage to find her?" Flash inquired. "Wrong place at the right time, I guess" Twilight replied, shrugging. "Have you ever talked to her?" Flash asked. "Mmm... yeah" Twilight hesitated "She asked me once what you looked like". "Really?" Flash was surprised "And what did you tell him?" "I told him..." Twilight started "I told him...: Spider-Girl, the thing about Flash is that when you look into his eyes and he looks back at you smiling, you feel stronger and weaker at the same time. You feel excited and terrified. And you know the kind of woman you want to be. When you are with him, it is as if you reach the unattainable and you are not ready for it". Twilight looked up and saw the tears falling from Flash's eyes. "Did you tell him that?" Flash asked him. "Uh ... something like that, yeah" Twilight replied. Neither Twilight nor Flash noticed Cadance waking up. Flash reached out and squeezed Twilight's hand. Her eyes met and Flash approached her. At that moment, Sunset entered the room, carrying a bouquet of flowers for Cadance. "Hello" she said, while the three of them blushed at the same time. Flash released Twilight's hand quickly. Sunset looked at them both coldly. "I have to go" she said, handing flowers to Twilight "I hope Cadance get well". She then she turned and fled.
Spider-Girl: The Movie	Chapter 20	Sunset was walking briskly down the street, her hands in her pockets, her shoulders forward, her eyes fixed on the few feet of sidewalk in front of her. She loved Flash and regretted the Thanksgiving incident. She hoped she could fix things. But when she came in she and she saw Flash and Twilight holding hands and looking at each other like that... What was she going to do now? She entered the building her mother lived in and walked over to her apartment. "Mom?" she called her. She got no response, but she saw light above. She reached the stairs and heard voices from the study upstairs. Two voices, she thought, though she wasn't sure. "What's the matter?" Cinch yelled at him, peeking out from the top of the stairs. Sunset stopped at the bottom of the floor. "You were right about Flash, mom" Sunset said looking up. Her mother continued in the shadows "He is in love with Twilight". "Sparkle?" Cinch said, and began to walk slowly down the stairs "What about her? How does she feel?" "Are you kidding?" Sunset replied with a smirk "Twilight has been in love with him since fourth grade!" A malicious notch crept into Cinch's face. That was great information that she (they) could use. Cinch wiped the grin from his face as they reached the bottom of the stairs. "I'm sorry" she said holding Sunset's shoulders firmly "I know you haven't always been able to count on me, Sunset" Sunset wasn't ready for this. In addition to everything that was happening to her, she was not ready to rummage in her feelings toward her mother. "I was busy" she said with a shrug, as if all the failed dates, the broken promises and the high expectations I had for her could be erased with this gesture "You are an important woman. I can understand it". "No excuse" Cinch said, putting her arm around Sunset's shoulders. "I'm proud of you, Sunset. Proud that you're my daughter. I'll make it up to you. I promise". Then Cinch did something she hadn't done in years: give Sunset a hug. The hug was beautiful, Sunset thought, though there was something creepy about it. That night, in Cadance's room, Twilight was sitting on the couch next to the bed, with an open notebook, a pencil in her hand, and her eyes closed. She was fast asleep. Suddenly awakening from a strange dream with the Black Goblin, she looked around her, yawned, and rubbed her eyes. "Twilight" said Cadance weakly. "Mmm...?" she sighed, trying to focus "Oh, you're awake! Great. Are you okay?" "I'm fine" said Cadance "But I think you should go home and sleep". "I don't like leaving you here alone" she replied. "I'm safe here" added Cadance smiling. "I should have been there, Cadance" Twilight told him, a guilty feeling that started from her stomach and stayed anchored in her throat "Maybe I could have helped you". Cadance clicked his tongue softly at the thought of Twilight, the book-loving student, assuming the role of heroine. "You do enough" she said "College, work, all the time you spend with me... You're not Supergirl! You know?" Twilight laughed at the timeliness of the comment. "Well, a smile..." said Cadance, more animated "I haven't seen one since Flash came". Twilight gave him a comically exaggerated angry look. "Hey!" she said, trying to show anger, but actually feeling blushing "You were supposed to be asleep! What did you hear?" Cadance ignored the question and narrowed his lids as his mind went back in time. "When you were six years old" she started "Flash's family moved next door. The first time you saw him, you said to Shining Armor: Little brother, is he an angel?" "Did I really say that?" Twilight asked, unable to remember any of that. "Of course I do" replied Cadance "I think you would like to know, don't you think?" "Sunset has a crush on him" Twilight explained "And she's still dating him". "That don't depend on him?" Cadance inquired. "He barely knows me" Twilight said, making the excuse she had made to herself. "Because you don't let him meet you" replied Cadance, to whom she had not been convinced by the answer "You are so mysterious... and lately much more. Don't be so complicated. And don't let any more time go by. Tell me, Twilight: would it be so dangerous to let Flash know how you feel? As if he didn't already know the whole world!" Dangerous? The word echoed in Twilight's brain like an alarm. Yes, it would be dangerous, but not in the way Cadance thought. "Thanks, Cadance!" Twilight said, getting up and kissing her "I have to think about all this. I'll be back soon. She made me glad you're better". Twilight walked quickly to the phone booth in the hall. Dropping a coin into the slot, she quickly dialed the number. She then she waited. One ring, two, three ... "Come on..." she muttered anxiously into the earpiece "Answer!". Flash's answering machine jumped. "Hi, it's me. Leave your message after the signal" Bip "Flash, I'm Twilight. Are you there?" she started, trying to hide her concern from her "I just wanted to know if you were safe and in one piece. I'm worried about you, you know? Give me a call and I'll give you the latest news from Cadance. Hey, where are you? How come you are not home? Well, take care of yourself. And don't go down dark alleys..." As Twilight was about to hang up, she heard someone pick up the phone on the other end. "Hi?" she said "Flash?" But instead of Flash's sweet voice, Twilight heard a strange sound on the other end of the phone. She could recognize her voice as it grew in intensity and she froze with terror. The Black Goblin's sly laugh was unmistakable. "Can Spider-Girl come play?" the Black Goblin asked with a mocking tone. "Where is he?" Twilight demanded furiously. "Be careful with love, Spider-Girl" recited the Black Goblin. She then she giggled chillingly and hung up.
Spider-Girl: The Movie	Chapter 21	Flash Sentry opened his eyes slowly, as if awakening from a long sleep. In reality he had been unconscious for less than an hour. He was the latest victim of the Black Goblin's hallucinogenic gas. As he focused his eyes, he got up holding his aching head. As he stepped back he felt himself lose his balance. Waving his hands to steady himself, he grabbed onto the steel beam next to him that kept him from falling. Looking down, he saw cars moving up and down a road. The road from a bridge hundreds of meters below the foot of him. He recognized the place, having passed through it thousands of times. His mind finally cleared, and he was filled with true terror as he realized that he was standing... high on the west tower of the Queensboro Bridge! "Don't look down! Don't look down! Don't look down!" Flash repeated himself, panicked. He heard a loud, high-pitched sound and turned in time to see the Black Goblin flying over her glider heading for the Roosevelt Island streetcar station. The red streetcar carried passengers from Manehattan to Roosevelt Island, a small residential island in the middle of the East River, halfway between Manehattan and Ponyville. He was making his way over the river attached to a cable that ran across the bridge. At the time, the tram was packed with children of about eight years old with their parents, returning from a school excursion. As the Black Goblin approached the station, a missile launcher emerged from the underside of her glider. "The little spider was walking on the roof..." the Black Goblin sang "And the Goblin has arrived and with one blow he has crushed it". With a simple wave of the arm, the Black Goblin fired at the station. BUUM! The station exploded into a great inferno of flames and black smoke that lit up the night and threw burning debris in all directions. Flaming chunks from the tram station were falling onto the bridge road, causing cars to collide with each other as they tried to avoid debris raining down from the air. On the river, the tram oscillated from side to side, since the cable that held it was affected by the explosion. The children screamed in terror. A lightning-fast silhouette passed over the bridge and came to rest on a nearby building. Spider-Girl had been looking for the Black Goblin and Flash all night. It was obvious that the Black Goblin wanted to be found, since she had set the stage for her last show with the arachnid wonder in a place full of public. Spider-Girl assessed the situation quickly: the Black Goblin had destroyed the tram station, Flash was trapped on the tower of the bridge, the crowded tram teetered... Everything was going to bring trouble, big trouble! "Goblin, what have you done?" Spider-Girl said. SNAP! ZAS! Spider-Girl released a web and began to swing toward the bridge. The tram's support cable snapped with a chilling sound, causing it to plummet, full of children with their parents, toward the river. With an incredible display of speed and an impressive display of strength, the Black Goblin launched himself like a bullet towards the plummeting tram, grabbing the cable in midair. It tensed, with the quick and powerful movement of the Black Goblin. The tram bounced and hung over the choppy river. The glider came to a stop in front of Flash and the Black Goblin jumped from the glider to land on the bridge tower. Without letting go of the wire from her hand, she grabbed Flash by the arm, hanging him over the river without him being able to do anything. At that moment, Spider-Girl arrived, and saw the scene before her petrified. "Spider-Girl! That's why only idiots are heroes!" shouted the Black Goblin to the figure dressed in pink and purple "Because you never know when a lunatic can come out with a sadistic offer!". Spider-Girl's gaze went from Flash to the streetcar and from the streetcar to Flash. She was paralyzed. The Black Goblin had placed her in a dead end situation. It didn't matter what she did: someone would die. "Let the boy you love die?" yelled the Black Goblin. She reached out her arm and pushed Flash a little further over the river, as the crowd below gathered below. "Or let the children suffer?" she laughed sarcastically, letting go of the cable car for a moment. The cable slipped through her hand and the tram began to descend rapidly. Then the Black Goblin clenched her fist again, and the tram suddenly stopped again, knocking all its passengers down. "You choose, Spider-Girl!" she ordered "And you will see how they reward the heroes!" "Don't do it, Goblin!" yelled Spider-Girl. "We are who we decided to be!" shouted the Black Goblin "And now... decide!". And, saying this, the Black Goblin released both the cable car and Flash. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!" yelled Spider-Girl. Spider-Girl leapt off the bridge, grabbed Flash around the waist with one arm, and fired a strand of cobweb upward toward the bridge with the other. "Hold on to me!" she screamed, swinging toward the falling tram. She broke free from the web and used her free hand to grasp the cable car. She shifted Flash onto her back and released another strand of cobweb from the freed wrist. The cobweb stuck to the bottom of the bridge, tightening. The tram bounced hard. Spider-Girl felt as if her body was going to split in two. Her right hand clutched the web, while the other end of it was well adhered to the bridge. Her left hand held the cable of the tram. Her arms ached bearing the enormous weight. Flash clutched at her back to cling to life. "Listen to me!" Spider-Girl yelled over her shoulder. Flash looked at her, confused "You have to go down the cable to the tram!" "WHAT!? That's crazy!" he complained, his voice shaking. "You have to do it!" Spider-Girl begged him "Flash, I know you can! Trust me!". Flash finally nodded and started down, sliding from Spider-Girl's back to later down the thin metal cable. When Flash was halfway up the wire, Spider-Girl heard the familiar howl of the Black Goblin glider behind her. Turning his head, Spider-Girl was met with the full force of the Black Goblin's fist. The powerful blow left her swaying from side to side. She now she struggled not only to hold the cable car, but also to stay awake. Flash hung from the wire under Spider-Girl's feet, while the tram below swayed and spun, sending the people inside against the walls of it. The Black Goblin spun her glider in a great arc and passed Spider-Girl again. She laughed uproariously as she encircled the helpless heroine. Spider-Girl extended her arm and the Black Goblin slashed her with the glider's built-in blades, causing some blood-stained chunks of the pink and purple suit to flutter into the river. The impact of the Black Goblin's blow caused Spider-Girl to release the cable from the tram, which flew out of her hand. Spider-Girl, in searing pain, stepped out after the cable and grabbed it when she was within reach of her, once again halting the fall of the tram. This time, the jolt of the tram as the cable tightened caused the Flash to fall. He collapsed with a thud on the roof of the tram. With an evil smile and the intention to end this, the Black Goblin launched herself at Spider-Girl, with the blades of the glider activated again. "IT'S TIME TO DIE, SPIDER-GIRL!!" yelled the Black Goblin triumphantly. Spider-Girl braced herself for the impact, knowing that she was not going to survive. The Black Goblin was approaching, readying her glider, when suddenly a stone struck the side of her head. She lost control of her spiraling around as she passed Spider-Girl. The Black Goblin struggled to control her glider, and suddenly more things began to hit her. It turns out that, from above, on the bridge road, an enraged crowd threw everything they could find at hand at him, from pieces of wood to stones, bottles or hubcaps. Spider-girl could hear the crowd yelling: "Come here you coward! We have something for you!" "We're going to give you a good beating!" "Leave Spider-Girl alone!. Are you going to mess with someone, who wants to save some children?" "Get this in your head: who messes with Spider-Girl, messes with Canterlot City!" "If you mess with her, you mess with all of us!" "AAHH!" the Black Goblin yelled, covering her head with her hands as she escaped the rain of flying debris. From below, listening to the cheering crowd, Spider-Girl felt an injection of renewing energy. It didn't matter what the newspapers said. These were true citizens of Canterlot City. No one had told them what to think. And right now, based on what was in front of them, they unanimously thought that Spider-Girl... was a heroine. At that moment, Spider-Girl discovered a huge mound of rocks that stretched out next to the supporting pillar of the bridge. She wasn't sure it was big enough to hold the tram, but she had no other options. Carefully, she started down the tram, with Flash subject to the ceiling, to the huge rock. After a few tense moments, the tram came to rest on the rock. Flash stood on the ceiling and, looking up, smiled raptly at Spider-Girl, who breathed in relief. Unfortunately, that joy was short-lived. "SPIDER-GIRL, WATCH OUT!!" yelled Flash. A rope suddenly came out of nowhere, wrapping itself around Spider-Girl's waist. The Black Goblin, recovered from the attack of the crowd, held tightly to the other end. She then flew off with her glider, dragging Spider-Girl after her. The crowd on the bridge let out an exclamation, as Flash stared in horror at the situation. When the glider reached Roosevelt Island, the Black Goblin cut the rope and dropped Spider-Girl. She plummeted, crashing against the ruins of an abandoned hospital. After flying at full speed towards the ruins, the Black Goblin landed her glider, jumped off it and stood next to Spider-Girl, savoring her victory. On the ground, Spider-Girl was half dead, her costume tattered from the impacts, and part of her mask destroyed, revealing Twilight's face. She is trying to shoot another web, but the Black Goblin stepped on her wrist, stopping her. "You have spun your last web, Spider-Girl. If you had not been so selfish, the death of your boyfriend would have been quick and painless" said the Black Goblin with feigned sympathy "But now that you've managed to piss me... I'll finish him off slowly and tortuously!". Turning back to her glider, the Black Goblin took out some kind of pointed artifact. At the press of a button, three sharp blades appeared, forming a kind of triple dagger. However, the Black Goblin herself was unaware that her words had made Spider-Girl start to get up, totally furious. "Flash Sentry and I..." said the Black Goblin, returning to stand right in front of Spider-Girl "We are going to pass it... VERY WELL!!" The Black Goblin aimed her triple dagger at Spider-Girl's heart, then delivered a savage stab at her. However, before she reached the chest of her, Spider-Girl reached out her arms and grabbed her weapon, beginning to struggle against the Black Goblin. The fury that simmered inside Spider-Girl gave her new strength. Freeing herself from her struggle, she grabbed hold of the Black Goblin and began punching her, until she crashed into the remains of a stone wall and then collapsed to the ground. But then, just as she was about to deliver the final blow, Spider-Girl stopped after hearing supplicate the Black Goblin, a different voice... but familiar. "Twilight! Stop!" begged the Black Goblin "It's me!" At that moment, the Black Goblin slowly removed her mask and Spider-Girl met the face ... of Abacus Cinch. "Mrs. Cinch!?" Spider-Girl said, surprised and confused at the same time. "Thanks to Celestia" Cinch said relieved and somewhat hurt by the punches. "It was you" said Twilight "You killed the people on the balcony!" "It was the Black Goblin! I had nothing to do with it!" Cinch said, scared "Don't let him possess me again. I beg you! Help me!" Spider-Girl stared at Cinch, trying to understand what terrible evil she had taken hold of that woman she had so respected. What she was unaware of was that Cinch was pressing a button on the control panel of her suit. "But you wanted to kill Cadance, and also Flash!" Spider-Girl reminded him. "But not you! I tried to stop him, but couldn't. I would never hurt you" Cinch said, feigning sympathy "From the beginning, I knew that if something happened to me, I could count on you. That you, Twilight Sparkle, would save me. And you have! Thanks to Celestia you're here, Twilight". Very slowly and silently, Cinch got up and extended her right hand. "Give me your hand, Twilight" begged Cinch "Believe in me as I have believed in you. I have been like a mother to you. Be a daughter to me now." However, Spider-Girl took a step back, rejecting Cinch's hand. "I had a father!" she said sternly "His name was Shining Armor!". Suddenly, Spider-Girl noticed that Cinch showed an evil smile again. "GO TO HELL, SPIDER-GIRL!!" Cinch yelled, in the Black Goblin's voice. At that moment, Spider-Girl's spider sense soared. She felt a tingle on her head, and the impression that something behind her was threatening her pierced her entire body. Turning her head, she saw the Black Goblin's glider rush in her direction, its blades activated again. Stepping out of her way, she flipped and landed, just in time to see the glider skewer Abacus Cinch and pin her to the stone wall. "Twilight... Sparkle..." Cinch begged "Don't say anything... to Sunset..." Then Cinch collapsed onto the glider, blood from her body spurting onto the Black Goblin's mask. Abacus Cinch... the Black Goblin... was dead.
Spider-Girl: The Movie	Final Chapter	The police reached the bridge and both the tram passengers and Flash were immediately brought to safety. Meanwhile, Spider-Girl brought the lifeless body of Abacus Cinch to his family's apartment. She landed on a small balcony and entered the apartment through two large glass doors. She took off the Black Goblin costume and dressed him in her usual clothes. Slowly, blood soaked Cinch's shirt. As Spider-Girl gently placed the inert body on a sofa, the apartment door swung open and Sunset stepped inside, horrified to see Spider-Girl standing next to the lifeless body of her mother, and her shirt stained with blood... "What have you done!?" Sunset yelled furiously "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?" Then Sunset ran to a nearby table, opened a drawer, and pulled out a pistol. She turned back to Spider-Girl, but she had already disappeared into the night. The curtains on the open glass doors swayed in the breeze as Sunset knelt beside her mother and cried. Abacus Cinch's funeral was massive. Important businessmen and the cream of the city were among the attendees, along with friends and family. Cadance, who had recently left the hospital, felt recovered enough to be there. While she was talking to Flash, Twilight accompanied Sunset to her family's Bentley. "I'm so sorry Sunset" Twilight said "I know what it's like to lose a mother". "I didn't lose it. They took it from me. And one day, Spider-Girl will pay for it" replied Sunset furiously "I swear on mother's grave that she will pay for it!" At those words, Twilight silently reflected: Sunset Shimmer, her best friend, had become Spider-Girl's worst enemy. When they got to the car, Sunset turned to Twilight. "Look, regarding Flash..." she began "I tried to impress my mother by dating a handsome boy. I know he wasn't the one for me. I'm glad you're my friend, Twilight! And now... you are the only family I have left". Sunset hugged Twilight warmly before getting into the Bentley to slowly drive away. Twilight walked alone through the cemetery, lost in thought: "Whatever I do... and no matter how hard I try... the people I love... always end up suffering the consequences". She stood before a grave and looked at the inscription on the tombstone: "SHINING ARMOR, BELOVED HUSBAND AND BROTHER". "Hey!" said a voice behind her. Was Flash "Cadance told me I'd find you here". "Little brother... Flash is here" Twilight said looking at the tombstone. "You must miss him so much" said Flash, standing next to Twilight. "He was a great man" Twilight replied "It was hard being without him." They walked away from the grave, walking in silence. Finally, Flash decided to speak. "Twilight, there is something I wanted to tell you" Flash began "When I was on the bridge and I thought I was going to die, I was only able to think of one person. Of you, Twilight. And I thought this: I wish I could see the face of Twilight Sparkle one more time". "Seriously?" Twilight said, surprised. "I know I've been an idiot for a long time..." Flash continued "There has only been one woman who has always been supporting me. Who has made me feel more than I imagined I would be. That I was... the way I am. Just that. And the truth is... I love you. I love you, Twilight Sparkle!" Twilight couldn't believe it: Flash Sentry telling her he loved her! However, she couldn't tell him what she felt. She could not. Not while she was Spider-Girl. That was something she had already learned. She couldn't be intimate. She hurt the people she loved, and she wasn't going to let it happen again. "I can't tell you everything" Twilight sputtered "I mean there's so much to tell you, the boy next door..." "But is that all I am?" Flash asked. "Of course not!" Twilight replied "You are the amazing boy next door. And I will always be there to take care of you. I wish I could give you more than this, but you should know that you will always be safe." Flash looked up at Twilight, then closed his eyes and kissed her. It was a long and magical kiss. He had tasted one like it only once before, when Flash kissed Spider-Girl. But it was equally wonderful. "I can't give him what he wants" Twilight thought when their lips parted "I can't". With the sweet glow of love still on Flash's face, Twilight turned and started walking, struggling with the decision she just made. At that moment she heard Shining Armor's voice, and understood that she had made the right choice, the only choice that guaranteed that no one would ever hurt the people she loved again. "Remember, Twilight" said the voice of Shining Armor "With great power comes great responsibility". And from that day on, Twilight Sparkle would NEVER forget that advice again.
Spider-Girl: The Movie	Epilogue	Filthy Rich banged on his desk with the latest issue of the Pony New Network. The bouquet of freshly cut flowers trembled in the vase on the desk. "Spider-Girl! I don't get it..." he snapped at Applejack "First the city thinks she's trash, and now she's a celebrity!" "She's a hero, boss" Applejack replied. "Don't give me those again, AJ!" Filthy Rich yelled "I don't trust superheroes. They're just criminals in disguise". Applejack shook her head and smiled. There was no way to argue with Filthy Rich, especially if the reason for the argument was Spider-Girl. "And where is Sparkle?" Filthy Rich asked brusquely. "She just left" Applejack explained "She's going to cover the hostage's news". "Of course!" shouted Filthy Rich "Another hostage story. But where was she when the Black Goblin came through my window? We had that crazy woman and Spider-Girl right ahead our noses. A golden opportunity and ... where was my photographer? Eating!". At that moment, a young editor walked into Filthy Rich's office with a skirt in hand. "What's that?" Filthy Rich inquired. "Twilight Sparkle's skirt, sir" replied the young man "It was in the closet, along with his shirt, his bow tie, his shoes and his socks". "Who does she think she is? Tarzan's wife?" shouted Filthy Rich "What are you doing walking around the city naked? And who put these flowers on my table?" "Me, sir" replied his secretary, Fluttershy, from the office next door "Today is his birthday. Congratulations, by the way". "What are you up to, Fluttershy, to get a raise? I don't want flowers, I want Twilight Sparkle!" grumbled Filthy Rich "And I don't want her skirt, I want her photos! I want to sell newspapers!" Then, he got up from his chair, totally furious. "I WANT SPIDER-GIRL!!!!"
One Night in the Everfree Forest	pre	"Oh no Fluttershy went into the Forest with gasp Discord!?" Shouted Pinkie Pie. "How on earth did you get that out of his miming?" asked Twilight incredulous. "Never mind what I really want to know is why?" She made her way over to the windowsill as well and looked out into the forest. It was dangerous and if Fluttershy really did go in there with Discord she was going to need the help of the others. "Pinkie we are going to need more help." "Way ahead of you Twi." Pinkie saluted her friend, mimicking a palace soldier. She then pranced outside and toward the town. Just as Twilight made to follow her something stopped her. A small piece of red fur was caught between the windowsill. Normally this wouldn't have been a big thing considering all the animals around, but this fur was somehow different. Making a quick decision Twilight grabbed the scrap of fur before heading off after Pinkie. "Who knows this might come in handy later, especially considering how weird this whole mystery was."
One Night in the Everfree Forest	Vivi's Kingdom	It had been a while since they lost that stupid fox. Discord couldn't believe she was taking it so hard. It was just an animal, a stupid little animal. She hadn't even known it that long. Yet Fluttershy seemed quite taken with the little bugger. He remembered her constantly stroking the animal with her soft hooves. 'No stop right there Discord you are not going down that road' Discord silently chastised himself. It seemed like he was telling himself this a lot more as of late. Come on what was he doing? Getting all sappy just because Fluttershy seemed to be paying more attention to some flee bitten animal than him. At least this is what he tried to tell himself. There was still that nagging voice in the back of his mind that wouldn't let it go. 'Is the fox the real problem here or is it your jealousy?' He tried to push the troubling thought away, but it wouldn't budge. 'I bet your glad he's gone. Now you have Fluttershy all to yourself. Just the way you wanted it.' Discord visually flinched at this thought. No why would he think that? Sure he didn't exactly get along with the vermin, but he didn't purposely wish him away. "Discord are you okay?" Whispered Fluttershy a little worried. "Oh oh yes I am perfectly fine. Don't worry yourself over me." Discord tried to sound confident. "Well ok as long as your alright." Discord couldn't help, but notice she sounded a bit uncertain. 'Now look at what your doing buffoon. Your making Fluttershy worried. This is hard enough on her as it is.' He thought to himself. This brought him back to reality. He was trying to help his friend and although he really hated that fox, he would never wish it away. Not when doing so would cause her pain. The very idea was ludicrous. He may be a bit mischievous, but not cruel. It must have been a the slight amount of jealousy talking. A ridiculous jealousy at that. ' 'Although seeing Fluttershy jealous was definitely something.' He thought with a grin. Fluttershy noticed his grin and thought it was quite strange. Just moments ago he was grimacing and now grinning like a fool. It was just like Discord to be so, well, Discord. She was getting worried though. They had been walking for what seemed like hours and everything looked the same to her. How would they know when they got there? "We're here" Sang Discord. "Oh" She looked around at the endless landscape of trees. Discord seemed pleased and just stood in place, but whatever it was he was seeing, it was completely lost on Fluttershy. "Um Discord" "Yes Fluttershy?" "Where exactly is here? The center of the forest?" she hesitantly asked. "Well sort of" Discord replied with a grimace. He seemed to take a moment to collect himself before continuing. He rubbed the back of his long neck with his clawed hand. "You see Vivi doesn't exactly like to be disturbed. In order to prevent people from just wandering through she set up a sort of protective entrance. So that only those that had great need could get to her." He looked a little nervous as he said that last part. Fluttershy was starting to become very nervous now. "You mean she booby trapped the place don't you? What kind of um protection methods did she use here Discord?" He heaved a great sigh and confessed "Well they change based on person or persons entering it, but its a maze of sorts." She well remembered the last time she had entered a magical maze. "Was it by chance the same maze that gave you the idea for yours?" She questioned a bit suspiciously. Discord definitely looked a bit sheepish now. His face had gone an interesting shade of pink and he was looking everywhere, but at her. "Ok maybe a I took one or two ideas, but I can assure you mine was way more fun than anything she could come up with." "Much less dangerous too" He mumbled. Having caught that last part Fluttershy paled. "That's what I'm afraid of." Noticing this Discord quickly quieted her fears. "Now now Fluttershy remember who you're with. My magic is far superior to any foolish forest imp. Just stick with me and you'll be fine." To prove his point he wrapped a clawed hand around her and walked through a bush. Once they made it on the other side Fluttershy gasped. "Its its like another world!" She exclaimed. The darkness of the forest was now far gone and in its place was a world of light. There was still plenty of plant life, but it was not any kind of plants she had seen. The trees were filled with colors of blue, red, pink. There was a lot of pink. Mountains could be seen in the distance with white tips, but it looked a bit different from the normal snow caps. That and the rocky surface was a lot more jagged and well colorful. The grass they were walking on was shiny and stretchy. It looked like... "Licorice?" Fluttershy couldn't hide the surprise in her voice. She looked up to see Discords reaction, but he was currently snacking on part of a gumball bush. "Mmm yep and the mountains are made of rock candy. Doesn't it all look delicious?" Fluttershy couldn't take it anymore she burst out laughing. Lost in a fit of giggles she didn't notice Discord's knowing smile. When she finally recovered herself she practically beamed up at Discord. "Oh Discord it is amazing. Do you think I could try some?" She shyly asked. "Why of course! I highly recommend the chocolate flowers. This place has just about everything. Although it is lacking in the cotton candy department." He grimaced at this. Fluttershy just smiled in return. "Oh Discord can't you just conjure some up for yourself?" "Ah yes well normally I would, but this place is filled with magic and mixing magic is not a very good idea. I would really like to keep that to a minimum around here." "I see" Fluttershy had just assumed he would be able to use his magic to get them in and out, but it looks like it wasn't going to be that easy after all. To cover up her moment of fear she quickly changed the subject. "Well I do love chocolate, but I would really like some caramel. It was always my favorite." Discord brightened upon hearing this. "Really that's wonderful! I know this great little swamp that has the best caramel around. Come on its just a little bit down this way." Fluttershy started to follow, but hesitated. "Wait shouldn't we be heading towards Vivi?" Discord shrugged. "Vivi can wait. We have been traipsing through that forest for ages. I think we deserve a little rest don't you?" "Hmm I guess your right. Well then lead on sire" Fluttershy barely managed to hide her laughter. "Its about time someone acknowledged my royalness." Discord played along with the joke glad to see her happy. They would be getting to the more dangerous aspects of this place soon enough. Better to let her have her fun now. The two walked side by side heading to a small pond dripping with a sweet confection.
One Night in the Everfree Forest	The Fight	"This is so delicious!' said Fluttershy around a mouthful of caramel. Discord couldn't help, but laugh at the sight she made. They were both waist deep in caramel and Fluttershy had bits of caramel everywhere, even in her mane. "What?" asked Fluttershy confused. "My dear you have a bit of caramel in your mane" answered Discord who then burst out in a fit of giggles. It had actually taken him quite a bit of convincing to get her to jump in, but once she had she was overjoyed. It was definitely one of his better ideas. He was a bit worried about pointing out her state of disarray. She might decide to jump back out. However he coudn't resist poking a bit of fun. "I do? Oh dear I can't believe I got it everywhere.' She was distressed and tried in vain to wipe the sticky substance off. Shaking his head Discord stopped her with a paw on her hoof. "Don't worry about it. Sometimes the best fun is had when you get a little dirty." He then gave her a little wink. This made her blush so much it covered her entire body. "My dear that color is very becoming on you." He giggled. Fluttershy could only turn her head away in embarrassment and fear. 'You have to stop acting like this if you keep blushing at everything he might notice.' She thought to herself. 'And what exactly will he notice' asked the nasty little voice in her head. It was true she did have some feelings for Discord, but it was nothing more than friendship, wasn't it? 'Oh yes keep telling yourself that, but we both know what it really is.' She couldn't block the voice out no matter how hard she tried. "Just stop please!" Fluttershy had accidentally shouted that last thought out loud. "Fluttershy I'm sorry did I bother you that much. You know I was just teasing right?" Alarmed at having part of her thoughts heard out loud she replied a little too forcefully. "No no I mean its not that, I was just thinking out loud. "Oh ok well how about some more Caramel?" She laughed a little at his enthusiasm. "Sure!" "Aww aren't they adorable" Whispered one Timberwolf. "Yeah look at em getting all cozy together. Maybe we shouldn't interrupt I mean I just don't think it would be right. Young love is precious." Answered the second Timberwolf. The two wolves were interrupted by hard thumps on their heads. "Its sickening is what it is!" The two startled Timberwolves rubbed their heads in pain. "I can't stand the disgusting display. Just look at that Draconneques fawning all over her." "Yeah so sweet." sighed the first wolf. This earned him another bonk on the head. "Ow I mean gross very gross." He replied, trying to recover from his mistake. The second wolf saw this and tried to smooth things over. "Don't listen to Axel boss hes and idiot. We were going to interrupt them like you asked. It was just that we were waiting for the perfect moment you know?" "Yeah yeah what Bonsai said." Agreed a furiously nodding Axel. Their leader just looked at them with disgust. "I don't have time for your two imbeciles blathering. Just get out their and do your job you worthless pile of woodchips!" "Were not woodchips" said a confused Axel. "Get out!" Was his only reply. "Were going come on idiot!" Answered Bonsai as he hit his partner over the head. As they took off you could still here the mutterings of Axel. "But were not woodchips." Meanwhile their leader was questioning his choice in henchmen. Fluttershy was enjoying the warm sun and delicious smells surrounding them. You would think with all of the different sugary treats around the air would seem a bit over immersed in smells, but they blended beautifully. Just as she was about to comment on the delicious aromas a hard sticky substance connected with her face. "What the?" She quickly tried to wipe away the offending substance, but it was too thick. She then heard dark laughter behind her. "Oh Fluttershy how do you like the caramel. I do think it looks even better on you." "Discord!?" She tried frantically to see anything, but the caramel was stuck like glue. "Yes its me your friend." He sneered. "What why would you do that? I know you like jokes, but this is a bit far don't you think? "No, actually I don't think its far enough." With that said he quickly dumped another load of caramel all over her head. "Discord!!" Fluttershy was enraged. 'What on earth had gotten into Discord? They were having so much fun until he had to ruin it all by doing that. The nerve of that guy! Oh, but maybe it was just a joke. She knew very well how he liked to pull pranks. Maybe he didn't realize how mean it really was. However, if that was the case why did he do it once she complained?. The tone of his voice was so malicious too.' Fluttershy's thoughts were going in circles and she knew it, but she just couldn't bring herself to be angry with him. He had been so gentle and sweet the entire time. Why would he change now. "Fluttershy! I heard you call me whats wrong?" He actually seemed worried. As well as completely oblivious. She had begun to calm down, but now the rage was back in full force. 'How could he stand there and act like nothing had happened?' "Why you you!?" "Fluttershy?" He seemed closer now. "What happened why are you all covered in caramel? You didn't fall in did you?" He laughed a little at this last statement. Fluttershy just fumed silently still unable to get the sticky goo off. Discord noticed her struggle and quickly wiped the offending mess away. "There now you can see better. So what happened anyway? I heard you calling my name." She couldn't hold it in any longer and she exploded. "Of course you heard me calling you! What did you do run away and then come traipsing back to make me think I was delusional? I'm not stupid Discord!" She was fuming he could see that, but he had no idea why. What was she talking about? It was almost as if she thought it was his fault. "Fluttershy my dear I don't understand. Are you saying I did this?" He questioned innocently. She got right up into his face flapping her wings like mad. "Of course I am! You threw that pile of caramel right at my face. When I questioned it you dumped even more on my head!" Discord was completely unprepared for her rage or her accusations. "My dear I really don't understand. I've been clear across the other side of the pond. Why do you think I did it?" "Why why!? I know you did it because you told me so and you laughed at me! Why would you do that and quit calling me that!" She said while poking him with her hoof. "Look Fluttershy I don't know whats going on, but I would never do that honest!" He made a halo appear over him and tried his best to look like an innocent angel. "Really like you would never try to take control over me and my friends!? Like you wouldn't try to take over Equestria and turn our world upside down!" She really didn't meant to say that, but it just came out. The stricken look on his face made her wince, but she couldn't back down now. "Is that really what you think of me?" The pain in his voice was evident in the whispered words. When he received no answer in return he just turned his head and in a broken voice whispered "I thought we were friends." There was a slight quiver in her voice, but she pressed on. "I thought so too." She saw one last pained glimpse of the Draconneques' face and then he was gone. A single tear ran down the Pegasus' face. "What have I done."
One Night in the Everfree Forest	The Dream	The tears fell like rainfall as she slowly made her way through the candy forest. With all the happy colors around you would think her spirits would be much lighter. However, Fluttershy didn't notice anything other than the aching emptiness she felt deep within. Why had she done that? There was no reason to go off on him like that, but she had just been so mad! Which come to think of it was really unusual for her. Maybe it was just the anxiety and stress that had been building up from this trip. After all it was just a harmless prank. There was no need to be that angry, but why did he have to act like that? She was so engulfed in her own thoughts that she didn't notice the ominous clouds that had set over the forest. The once colorful array of trees now grew into strange and disturbing shapes. Tendrils of smoke billowed out from everywhere and nowhere. Wrapping themselves around everything in their wake. Finally Fluttershy was so fatigued from all her crying and the days events that she lay down right where she was. Her eyelids got heavy and no matter how hard she fought to stay awake she couldn't stop the darkness as it descended upon her. "What is happening to me?" She awoke surrounded in darkness. It was like being swallowed up by a black hole. Nothing as far as the eye could see and even her voice echoed. "Hello? Is anybody there? Discord?" The echoing sound did nothing to calm her nerves. She began to walk, but no matter where she went it seemed like an endless abyss without the slightest trace of light. When she thought she couldn't take the silence any longer a voice came from just behind her. "Hello there Fluttershy." "What? Who are you?" "A friend" These short clipped answers were a little suspicious and quite unusual, but then again everything here was. "What is it that you want?" She asked a little shakily. Only one word was whispered back. "You" This one word sent fear racing through her heart. "AHH!" This pain he felt wouldn't go away and it was excruciating. Why did he even care? He was Discord! He didn't care what anyone thought of him. Especially not some stupid, ugly, beautiful, kind ugh. He couldn't even think badly of her, but to know that was how she really thought of him. It really hurt. He held back a sniffle and instead knocked down a nearby gumdrop tree. A few butterscotch flies fled. Everything was going so swimmingly until that stupid incident. Why had she been so mad in the first place. It was highly unusual to see her so upset at anyone. Thought he guessed he kind of deserved it for his past deeds. Still she had seemed to not care before and even defended him when no one else gave him the time of day. So why was now any different? Even weirder was why was she covered in caramel? She had accused him of throwing it at her, but he wasn't even near her when it supposedly happened. "Fluttershy would never lie. Would she?" He asked no one in particular. As he looked up he noticed the darkening of the sky and how all of the plants seem to shrink in on themselves. "Oh no!" He had completely forgotten about the time. No matter how hurt or angry he might be at Fluttershy he would never leave her alone at night here. "AHH!" "That sounded like Fluttershy." Without another word he took off in the direction of the scream. Fluttershy awoke on a scream. She frantically looked around for the source of the voice, but it seemed to have vanished, along with the dark abyss. Now she seemed to be back in the forest. Unfortunately it was still too dark to even see an inch in front of her face. Not knowing what else to do she curled up into a ball and sobbed quietly into her hooves. "Fluttershy!" At the sound of Discord's voice she jumped up. "Discord? I'm here!" She heard some rustling to her right and suddenly she was wrapped into a tight embrace. "Oh Fluttershy are you alright? Don't scare me like that!" Her nerves were so shot all she managed to do was grab onto him tighter and sob into his shoulder. "You have to be careful. I'm sorry I didn't tell you before, but this place gets kind of dangerous at night." As he said this he absently swatted a few killer maple bees that had flown a little too close. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean it I swear! Please don't leave me ever again." She sobbed out in response. Discord was a little taken aback at her statement, but did his best not to show it. Instead of answering he just leaned down and kissed her forehead. Then cautiously tucked her head back down to his chest and rubbed her back as she sobbed. The two stood like that for what seemed like hours, but was likely only a few minutes. Once she was all cried out she lifted her head and said two words. "I'm sorry" Discord gave her a little smile back. "I know" The two seemed to come to an agreement not to speak of the incident that happened between them that night. However, try as they might things were still a little awkward around them by the time they made it to the mirrors. A large silver and glass door hung right in the middle of the forest and Discord stepped right up to it. "Um Discord what are you doing? He looked back a little startled at hearing her voice after so long. "Oh well this is the entrance to the hall of mirrors." He stated matter of factly. As if it was the most obvious thing in the world. She gave him a questionable look in return. "You mean we are going in there?" He shook his head. "Its the only way through. You do want to get out of her don't you?" "Yes!" she shook her head vehemently. Hopping up in front of him she began to enter. "Woah woah! Hang on a second there little filly. You don't want to just go traipsing in. Better to stick as close to me as possible. This place is dangerous and it is very easy to get lost." She gave him a dubious glance. "I think I can take care of myself enough to not get lost. I'm not two." He sighed. "I know that, but trust me one wrong move in here and you may never see the light of day again. So please just humor me and stay close." The pleading in his eyes was her undoing. She was a little uncomfortable being so close after their fight, but if he thought it was necessary than it probably was. Side by side they walked into the doorway. Neither of them completely sure what they were getting into. Once inside a booming sounded all around and the doorway they had just walked through crashed shut. "No! Were trapped!" A thunderous voice drowned out her protest. "You dare enter my domain?" Discord stepped forward. "Yes we are only seeking help from the great Vivi." "She does not take visitors! You stupid ugly Draconequus!" Fluttershy did not like the way she was talking about her friend and before she could rethink it she shouted. "Don't you dare call him stupid! He is the most intelligent and beautiful creature there is! Besides we need to talk to her its an emergency." She ended in a squeak. The voice seemed to pause a moment. "Hmm you seem very close to this Draconnequus?" Fluttershy blushed a little at this. "Yes" Evil laughter sounded from all around them. "Well lets see how long that lasts."
One Night in the Everfree Forest	Mirrors	The ground beneath began to quake and moan. Screams were bouncing off the walls and it took Fluttershy a moment to realize they were coming from her. The cruel voice boomed again in laughter as the Pegasus' limbs quaked beneath her. The vibrations seem to breath life into the ground as it began to take on a life of its own. She could see Discord's horrified face as he reach for her, but they were soon pulled apart as a crack rapidly began to form and spread all around her. Ice shards rained down upon the Draconequus forming a crude cage. The last thing she remembered was the roaring whoosh of air as she fell into a dark abyss. "Fluttershy!" Fluttershy awoke to the sound of trickling water and the dampening of her mane. "Where am I" she queried groggily. Her words echoed back to her in the empty space. The echoes seemed to mock her as she slowly got up. Deciding to ignore the disturbing sound she looked around in an attempt to orient herself. Solid ice surrounded her, almost suffocating in its intensity. Curiously the walls of ice did not give off the normal amount of cold air as was expected. Instead they gave off a slightly warm breeze. "Trees that grow candy and now warm ice. What next?" Rubbing her leg more out of anxiousness than need for warmth she began to make her way along the ice halls. "Well at least I won't be freezing while in these icy catacombs for who knows how long." As she walked the endless hallway she started to hear what she though were muffled voices. "What is that? Is someone there?" She called out fruitlessly. Nothing, but her own echo could be heard in the isolated halls. "I could have sworn I heard something. Maybe the creepy silence is finally getting to me." Lamented Fluttershy. She began to walk on an endless icy path for what seemed like hours until she finally cracked. Slumping down she put her head in her hooves. "I give in this is hopeless. Oh where is Twilight when you need her she would be able to find a way out of this maze." As she said this the whispering she heard earlier began to get louder. Determined to get to the source of the problem this time she galloped toward it. She came to an abrupt stop as she almost collided headfirst into one of the icy walls. "This is where the sound is coming from I know it! So why is there nothing here?" Just then the surface of the ice began to ripple like moving water. Soon blurry images began to appear and it didn't take her long to recognize them. "Twilight! Twilight please help I'm trapped somewhere in the Everfree forest with Discord and we oh.. You can't hear me can you?" Her cries fell on deaf ears. The Twilight on the wall seemed completely oblivious to her. Looking closer it seemed as though Twilight was reading something. "Twilight!" came a rough voice. "Yes Spike did you get the book?" asked Twilight anxiously. "Of course and the girls are doing all they can to look for answers too. Anything else I can do?" "Yeah help me look up the animal this hair came from" She held up the piece of hair in her hoof. Spike looked a little perplexed. "A hair? Twilight are you ok I thought we were looking for Fluttershy and Discord?" Without looking up from her many piles of books she quickly shook her head. "Yes we are, but this piece of hair could give us a clue as to actually what or whom we are dealing with." "Um ok" Spike started looking a bit anxious "Not that I don't believe you or anything, but how exactly is that piece of hair supposed to tell us anything? It could have come from any number of the animals living around Fluttershy's house. I mean lets be honest here, there is nothing that should make you think that hair is unusual." Finally looking up from her books Spike got a good view of her face. She looked worn out, but full of determination. "I know Spike, but we don't have many leads to go on and I have a strong hunch that there is something off about it. I just know it. So please, trust me on this." The pleading look finally got to him. "Alright I do trust you Twilight and I know that you will find a way for us to get her back. Satisfied with his answer Twilight began searching over her books again. Spike decided it was best not to remark on her ragged state. It was obvious she was intent on finding Fluttershy, even at a cost to her own health. "Oh dear Twilight you look awful" moaned Fluttershy. She gave up on trying to get her friends to hear her long ago and the picture had already faded away. She sank onto the floor and once again bemoaned her fate. "I am so sorry everyone. I didn't mean to make you all so worried." One lone tear fell down before she shook herself free of the self pity. "There is no time for this now I have to find a way back to Discord. The longer I stay here like this the longer others are going to suffer because of me" "Wallowing in self pity once again no doubt." Fluttershy jumped at the harsh and somewhat familiar voice. "Who said that?" "Why I bet that silly mare is even crying" Fluttershy quickly realized exactly whom that voice belonged to and that it was not addressing her. "Oh really Discord and here I thought you had a thing for that pony." This voice was angelic and very similar to the booming angry one that had stopped them when they first entered here. Following the voices Fluttershy came upon another ice wall that now held a watery image of Discord and a Mare. A stunningly beautiful mare at that. Discord sat perched upon an elaborate throne of ice. Next to him was a mare that shone an almost translucent white with shimmering gold hair and eyes that shone black as night. It almost hurt Fluttershy to look at her, but her eyes were soon drawn back to Discord. He sat smiling and looked almost happy to be in the mare's company. "Discord can you hear me?" she called tentatively. "Of course my dear." Fluttershy almost jumped in delight at finally having contacted someone, but her happiness was short lived. "That silly mare is nothing compared to you." She couldn't have heard him right. Discord wouldn't do that, not after everything they had been through. No it must be a trick. She had been fooled before. Maybe it wasn't even him. Just then the Discord in the picture poofed up a tall glass of chocolate milk. Very characteristic of him and not a type of magic that many others could or, even would, choose to perform. "No Discord its not really you. This is some sort of trick and I'm not buying it." She shook her head vehemently. As she was reassuring herself the beautiful mare in the mirror slowly turned to face her and grinned. "Oh yes Fluttershy this is all too real." "Your lying!" Something flickered in the mare's eyes at this, but she quickly hid it behind a mask of indifference. "I am? You think you know Discord better than I?" Fluttershy flinched "Well" "Then prove it!" "What what do you." Before she could voice her question everything went dark and the mare's laughter echoed across the icy halls
One Night in the Everfree Forest	Whose that Mare!?	Fluttershy's heart nearly stopped as a heavy weight came down upon her shoulders. "AHH!" Swinging around she threw her hoof into her would be assailant. "What the? Ow! Fluttershy what do you think you are doing?" Heart pounding, she slowly opened her eyes only to see Discord looking a little worse for wear. "Discord?" stuttered a somewhat flustered Fluttershy. "No its spike, who did you think it was?" Discord stood with his arms crossed, ready to continue his tirade, when he was knocked to the ground by and overenthusiastic mare. "Oh Discord it's you! It's really you! I'm so glad to have you back." Fluttershy's death grip on Discord only increased as she gave way to sobs. A little uncomfortable at the mare's strong reaction, Discord began to slowly extract himself from the unexpected hug. "Yes, well I'm here now. No need to get all hysterical darling. He patted her head gently and then began to brush off any lingering dirt. Fluttershy sniffed back the rest of her tears. "Discord are you alright you seem to be acting a little strange." She asked tentatively. "Hmm, oh yes sorry darling I'm just a little preoccupied. This place is a tad dangerous for the unwary you know." Said Discord Flippantly. Something was definitely off that was for sure, but Fluttershy decided it was probably just this crazy journey. She knew that it was definitely getting to her and making her act out of sorts. "Well now that we've found each other again its best we get going. You don't want to linger to long in a place like this." Chided Discord before walking off in the opposite direction from Fluttershy. Not wanting to get left behind once again Fluttershy galloped after the quickly disappearing Draconequus. "Twilight! Twilight!" Twilight jumped at hearing Spike call her name, almost knocking over the pile of books surrounding her. "Yes Spike, what is it? Did you find anything?" she questioned hopefully. "I'm not sure, but I think you should definitely take a look at this" He quickly presented her with the hair sample she had given him to examine. Twilight quickly snatched up the hair and reading from Spike. Before she could examine it further she noticed Spike's pale complexion. "Spike, are you alright? You look like you've seen a ghost." Spike just shook his head in response and anxiously pointed to the reading. Twilight quickly scanned the document and almost dropped everything by the time she got to the end. "This can't be right! Spike are you sure this wasn't a mistake?" She was very afraid that it wasn't. "Not a chance! I took it to Celestia herself." "We've got to tell the others. Spike go and get Rarity and Applejack. I'll go after Pinkypie and Rainbowdash, we have to warn everyone." "Discord do you know where exactly we are going? Everything looks the same." Fluttershy couldn't shake the feeling that they had been walking for hours and getting nowhere. "Of course darling, don't you worry your pretty little head." Not for the first time Fluttershy wondered at his calling her darling. It wasn't bad exactly, but normally he would call her flutters or even my dear, but not darling. Even stranger he hadn't made some silly magic or tried playing a trick on her once, not once! She was about to comment on this fact when she remembered the way he reacted to her earlier questioning. Fluttershy really did not want to fight with him again, especially not in such a strange place. So instead she kept quiet and told herself it was just the stressful situation they were in. Discord gave Fluttershy a quick glance before clearing his throat. "So how are you holding up darling?" "Oh uh just fine I guess. I just hope we can get out of here without running into that mare again." "Mare?" questioned Discord. Looking a little stunned at his question she answered "You know that mare that we saw before we were dropped into these ice catacombs. "oh right, right. I guess with everything that's happened I kind of forgot" He looked a little sheepish as he answered her. Fluttershy couldn't help the slight happiness she felt at his apparent disregard for the mare. 'No what am I thinking were in danger I shouldn't be worrying about some mare and what Discord does or doesn't feel for her.' "Hmm you look a little flushed darling you wouldn't happen to be jealous, now would you?" questioned a very smug looking draconequus. "What no! Of course not" assured Fluttershy. Chuckling Discord stopped walking and winked at a very flustered Fluttershy. "Come now my darling I am a very beautiful draconequus. You said so yourself." Fluttershy just gaped at him completely mortified. "I I didn't mean it like that Discord and you know it!" He just gave her a look that said he didn't believe her before turning around and conjuring a dining table complete with chairs. "What are you doing Discord?" Fluttershy was used to his strange behaviors, but even for him this was highly unusual. "Aren't we supposed to be getting out of here? You said it yourself it is very dangerous to linger here for long." A look of annoyance quickly crossed Discord's face, but he quickly hid it behind a devious smile. "What could possibly be more dangerous than me, hmm? Come on now darling you look exhausted why don't we just stop for a bit and eat?" Just then her stomach growled causing the mare to blush a deep crimson. "Oh alright I guess it couldn't hurt to rest for a minute and eat." Conceded Fluttershy. "Excellent!" With a flourish he quickly seated the wary mare and conjured up a feast of wild berries, oats, salad, and numerous pies. Fluttershy even spotted applejack's famous apple pie. Without another word they each dug in and began to devour the entire meal. Once finished, the now full Fluttershy beamed at Discord and thanked him. "It was nothing darling". "You've got something on your cheek". Discord gave her a small smile before reaching over with his napkin and wiping a small berry stain from her lip. Fluttershy blushed and looked away. "You look lovely when you blush darling". Whispered Discord. This caused Fluttershy to blush even more and Discord chuckled at her response. "You know Fluttershy there is something I have been meaning to ask you for quite some time." This caught Fluttershy off guard. What could he possibly have to ask her? "Yes Discord?" He fidgeted a little before responding. "I know this isn't the best time or place, but under the circumstances I would like to get this off my chest before anything else happens." 'Oh no! It was that other mare wasn't it? He was going to tell her that he was already with her and that they could only be friends' thought Fluttershy. Discord nervously looked down at his paws before twisting his wrist and presenting Fluttershy with an elegant box. She gasped in astonishment. 'No he couldn't be doing what she thought he was doing could he?' "Fluttershy my darling will you..... "What do you mean Fluttershy is in danger!" yelled Rarity? "Its Discord isn't I knew it was him!" raged Rainbowdash. "Quiet!" yelled Twilight. Twilight shook her head in exasperation. This was going to be difficult to explain, but they needed to know what was going on so they could be prepared. "No it's not Discord it's something much worse" "What could be worse than Discord?" grumbled Rainbowdash. Deciding blunt would be best Twilight spoke "It's a kitsune". "A What!?" The entire gang save for Spike and Twilight screeched. "A kitsune is a magical being, specifically a fox that is a trickster. Some have even been known to shapeshift." Explained Spike. "Let me get this straight darling you are saying that Fluttershy is in danger from a fox?" "Bahahhaa a fox really? Why don't we just go and kick his butt? What is he going to do kill us with fluffiness hahaha" Rainbowdash erupted into hysterical laughter. Twilight rolled her eyes in exasperation. "No not just a fox a kitsune. A kitsune is a magical being that loves to trick others and get into mischief. This one however is known for being far more dangerous. Not only that, but I believe he is the one who put the barrier around the forest." "But why would he want Fluttershy? I mean she would hurt a fly silly." Questioned Pinky. "Exactly darling, not that I don't believe you, but it is a bit of a stretch." Twilight hung her head. "I'm not exactly sure, but we know he was at Fluttershy's cottage before she disappeared and whatever he has in mind it can't be good if he went to all the trouble of trapping her and Discord in the Everfree Forest." "So what are we gonna do? We can't just let him take Fluttershy!" yelled Rainbowdash. With a determined gleam in her eye Twilight nodded "I know and I've got a plan".
One Night in the Everfree Forest	Proposals	A delicate caress on his cheek woke him. He opened blinking eyes to the sight of the most beautiful mare he had ever seen. "Sweetheart?" he croaked. "Yes, my darling is there anything you desire?" Discord couldn't believe his ears was she really asking him this? He gulped and took carefully rose to his full height. Reaching out his lions paw he gently stroked the side of her face. "Why sweetheart you know the only thing I could ever want is..." he paused dramatically as the beautiful mare gazed up at him longingly. With a quick jerk of her mane he pinned her to the ground. "Your hide in a cage, now where is fluttershy you filthy excuse for a mare!" he spat. "Oh darling, you seem tense, is something wrong?" she giggled prettily. Without even the slightest trace of fear she reached up once again to stroke his head. "Why don't you just sit back down and I'll get you something to drink. Chocolate milk I presume?" Her casualness astounded Discord. Did she really think that he was just going to sit back and allow her to kidnap his precious fluttershy? 'Wait, did he really just say his precious fluttershy? She wasn't his anything let alone...' Shaking his head before he got too sidetracked, Discord returned to the task at hand. Listen Era, I don't have time for your games. Just tell me where Fluttershy is and we will be on our way. The angelic mare merely raised her eyebrows at his possessive tone. 'hmm maybe there really was something between the two' she thought disdainfully. "Well well, Discord, I didn't know that the little mare meant so much to you. You have it so bad you don't even have the time for any of our games. That's not the Discord I knew, then again the discord I knew wouldn't be spending time with these silly little ponies either." "Enough! Just tell me where fluttershy is or I'll.." "You'll what?" she sneered. "Just admit it Discord. Your washed up. I bet you you don't even play tricks anymore. Your a pathetic excuse for a draconeques and its all because you had to go and become ensnared by that little wretch!" Era was livid and her jet black eyes were taking on an unnatural glow. "What?" he shouted, incredulous. The mare wasn't making any sense and even worse she was working herself up into a chaotic mess of anger and uncontrolled magic. Normally he adored the mix of chaos and magic, but in this case he much preferred getting out of their in one piece. Era was a force to be reckoned with, even with his chaos magic, he barely stood a chance a forest spirit. He'd have to play it cool and keep her distracted long enough for him to find a way out of here alive. Deciding it might be best to try playing it cool for a bit, he did his best to sound casual. "Era, what on earth are you talking about? I am the master of games. I just didn't want to hurt your feelings too much when you lost is all. I know how you mares can get when you don't have it your way." He quipped. She raised an eyebrow disbelieving. "So your saying you aren't mad at me?" she asked suspicously. "What of course not, I merely wanted to rile you up a bit darling." he chuckled a bit. "You are so cute when you're angry." he teased. Discord had to force himself not to gag while he said this. Still suspicious she cautiously made her way back down to the ground and closer to Discord. "You mean you really don't care about the mare?" Discord was still a little confused as to why she cared so much, but as long as she wasn't working herself up he'd say whatever he had to. "Psh! Me? Care about some pony? Bahahaha, Era you are a tease. As if I, Lord of Chaos, would stoop so low as to become friends with a pony." He burst out laughing while conjuring a shirt that had a pony with a big X over its image. At the same time he made a dunce cap appear on top of Era's head. This seemed to do the trick and calmed her down. She began to smile and shook off the cap. "Oh Discord I knew it couldn't be true. When that wretched creature came here spouting about you and how you'd fallen for some meek little mare, I simply had to know. He was extremely convincing, but I knew there would be no way in all of Equestria that you could have actually fallen in love with her." Era snorted at this last statement. Meanwhile Discord's jaw had dropped completely to the floor, literally. "Did..did you just say....l..love? he stammered incredulous. A wicked grin spread across her face. "Yes, darling, I did say love. Isn't it absolutely ridiculous?" she shook her head. Meanwhile Discord was still recovering from the shock. "It is a..absolutely ri...ridiculous." 'Come on Discord get it together! Before she finds out you are faking and you and fluttershy are both doomed!' he mentally scolded himself. "As you said, why on earth would I associate with those boring creatures, especially when I have the likes of you to play with." he bluffed. "Exactly what I said darling." Era took the opportunity to sidle up a little closer. "Besides, who on earth would think that you could possibly find someone better than..me." she cooed. Discord tried his best to back away casually. "Of course my dear, that silly mare is nothing compared to you." he spoke in a saccharine sweet voice. This caused Era to beam ecstatically. "Now umm..what was it you were saying about some creature telling you these horrendous lies about me?" he hesitantly queried. Era seemed to be a little dazed. "Hmm? Oh yes darling the fox. He fairly barged in here just the other day raving about how you had fallen madly in love with some mare named Fluttershy. Ugh the nerve of some creatures." He was still a little disconcerted at the madly in love part, but chose to focus on the more important bit of information. "So true Era, some creatures have no class. What am I to assume was his reason for bothering my little...em...flower?" he smiled forcefully. With a forced sigh Era fairly spat. "Oh the wretched fox was supposedly in love with the mare himself. I tell you Discord the poor taste of some creatures." 'What! How dare this....this....fox come and try to steal his lo...eh...friend!' Discord mentally screamed. Era frowned at seeing the look on Discord's face when she said this, but then got a wicked gleam in her eye and fairly floated closer to him. "It is so good that you really don't care for this mare. I do hate to see heartache on any pony." Discord almost snorted in disbelief. "What do you mean?" Smirking she purred. "Well it just so happens that the mare in question will be getting married today."
Sunset's Love Life - Holidays Together	pre	Midnight Sparkle couldn't believe her luck. All she had to do was wait till they got home, take over again and steal the geode magic. With the magic of 2 Geodes she could easily overpower the rest of the group and claim their power too. "Twilight is such a sweet little angel, it's a shame I need her body as my vessel." "Hey Twilight." Sunset said as they walked. "Do you wanna take a walk in the park first? I think it'd be nice." "Sure Sunny, whatever you want." Midnight said keeping up the facade that Twilight was in control. Once they got there however, the girls were waiting. "Oh hey girls." Midnight said. "Why are you all here?" Sunset then pushed her aside and ran to the group. "Cut the crap Midnight, we know you've taken Twilight and we want her back!" Sunset growled angrily. "Well I was hoping to keep this going a little longer, but I suppose needs must." Twilight's body rose into the air transforming into the familiar form of Midnight Sparkle. "I should really be thanking you Sunset, that trip to Equestria revitalized the magic and allowed me to take form again. I'll give you one chance. Stand by my side and share my magic, together we can rule this world and any other! Or there's option number 2. Stand by your stupid friends and have your magic taken by force." "We won't let you win!" Rainbow Dash shouted. "We ain't stopping till Twilight's back to normal!" Added Applejack "Our dear Twilight is nothing like you, you're a demon from her past that she's moved on from." Rarity said "Yeah, so why don't you just stay gone!" Fluttershy yelled. "We won't quit till Twilight is safe and happy again. And till you're down and out!" Yelled Pinkie. The geodes glowed and their magic manifested into a rainbow of color which combined with Sunset's magic, Raising her into the air and transforming her into the form of Daydream Shimmer. "If we must defeat you a thousand times, then we shall." "STOP!" Yelled a familiar voice. Twilight had broken free from Midnight's control. "What are you doing stupid girl! Stay back!" "No! You're right, I am weak. But with my friends by my side I can be strong. You're a part of me, a part I wish I could be rid of, but one I can't deny. You're lonely, jealous even. You see all these relationships around you and wish it could be you instead of me. I feel sorry for you Midnight, you don't deserve to be mistreated because of one bad mistake, you might be a manifestation of magic but that doesn't make you evil. You have feeling just like anyone else. Well you won't control me any more. I choose to embrace your power, you are part of me, and you are a part of my world as much as any one of my friends." Midnight Sparkle sobbed within Twilight's mind. "I was created by your innermost desires, I grew jealous that you achieved your goals and had gained a lover without my power. I wanted to help you, but I thought I had to take over for you to be happy. I'm sorry." "It's ok, you'll never be alone again Midnight." Twilight pushed Midnight Sparkle into her mind and returned to normal. Sunset doing the same. "Sunset I'm so sorry, I saw everything she did and heard everything she had planned. She can't control me anymore. She's part of me and she always will be. But now at least I know she won't try to hurt you." Twilight cried her eyes out embracing Sunset. Sunset hugged back. "It's OK Twi, I knew from the minute we walked into your parent's house something was wrong. I knew it wasn't you and I knew I had to be careful. I admit I didn't expect her to control you without taking her own form, but I knew if she tried anything your body didn't want that you could stop her. I love you and I always will, you have your friends and most importantly you have me." Sunset pulled Twilight's glasses off, wiped away her tears and kissed her passionately, the pair falling over onto the soft grass. "I think that's our cue to leave wouldn't ya say gals?" Applejack noted. The girls nodded in agreement and left for home again. "Sunset, I think we should get home too. This last week has been memorable, and horrible. But I know these experiences have made us stronger not weaker. I'll always love you too." Once the pair returned home Twilight walked up to Sunset rather nervously. "Umm, Sunny. There's something I want to try with you." "What's that Twi?" "I-I think I'm finally ready. Ready for the next level of our relationship." "Twilight, I know a lot has happened recently to bring us closer than ever, but are you absolutely sure?" "I'm sure Sunset. I want this to be magical between us." They climbed into bed together and sealed their night with a loving kiss, and an act reserved for those with a deep care and passion for each other.
Sunset's Love Life - Holidays Together	New Year, New Experiences	The next few days saw an unbridled passion between Sunset and Twilight follow their every move. They had become closer than ever as a result of the past week and knew now that nothing could come between them. No matter how hard they fought, or how dark things got. They would always have each other. As the calendar marked December 31st the two girls had planned to celebrate with their friends. Canterlot City did a beautiful fireworks display to bring in the new year and while it was always broadcast on TV, this year the girls had everything planned out ahead of time to see them live. A Large hill overlooking Canterlot City just on the outskirts would be the perfect spot to set up a blanket and have the 8 friends see the majesty of the fireworks in person. Rarity was able to procure a large blanket and Rainbow Dash had somehow managed to obtain some alcohol, the rumors being it involved Fluttershy's brother Zephyr Breeze but neither girl said a thing. "I've watched the display with my parents on TV every year without fail but this will be my first time seeing them in person." Twilight noted. Sunset smiled at her. "Same here, and I'm glad we have our friends to celebrate with. After everything we've been through this year, moving in together, our first few months of college and now this whole last week. I think bringing in a new year can only be good for us." Twilight smiled back. "Hey. It may not have been perfect but it did bring us closer together. I know we've only been officially dating for about a year now. But the time we spent as friends before that makes it feel like we've been together forever." Sunset smirked and thought to herself. "Well if you say what I hope you will at the fireworks display. We can be together forever." They packed some snacks into a backpack and put on their coats ready to leave for the hill before Sunset stopped. "Wait Twi I forgot something, be right back." Sunset ran into their room and produced from the back of the wardrobe a small black velvet box. She hid it in her pocket before returning to Twilight. "Alright let's go." The Christmas decor still lit up the streets and likely would for a least another week before the city took it down. It added a brightness to the evening that made the pair smile as they walked hand in hand to the hillside. The girls were waiting and the blanket had been laid out with some drinks being opened already. The fireworks weren't due to start for another hour but they decided to meet earlier so they could hang out for a bit. "Sunset and Twilight, so glad you could make it to our little get together." Rarity said smiling. After a few drinks Twilight needed the bathroom and thankfully there were public restrooms not far. She left to use it and Sunset took the opportunity to tell the girls her plan. "Hey girls. I have something planned tonight but I'm a little nervous about it. I'm going to propose." Rarity almost fainted. Applejack caught her and gently lay her down on her own lap. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy both looked shocked while Vinyl gave a huge grin and Pinkie a somehow even bigger grin. "Well I think y'all can see what Rarity thinks. I think it's a great idea. This would be the final thing to bond you two together forever." Applejack said smiling. Rainbow Dash was a little skeptical. "You two have only been dating for like, a year though. Isn't it a little too soon?" "We've been through more in the span of a few years than most couples go through in their entire lives. I saved her from herself. We fought demons together, even as friends we were inseparable. We may only have been dating officially for about a year but we've been together far longer than that. Plus the things that happened between us in Equestria and here only made our bond grow stronger." The most unlikely source of encouragement placed a white hand on her shoulder. Vinyl gave her a big smile. "Look, I might not have been part of the group for as long as the rest of you. But anyone at CHS with a functioning pair of eyes could see you two were meant for each other the minute she transferred. She stood close to you anytime she had the chance to and I'd say she might've loved you before you even thought about having feelings for her. She'll say yes, she's gotta." "Thanks Vinyl, you're right, we are meant to be together, and with this I hope we can be." Rarity regained her composure and spoke. "But darling you're still in college, you cant exactly have married life while still studying can you?" "The engagement can last as long as it needs to. I don't want to marry her right away, that will come when the time is right. Probably after we've finished college. I just want her to know that I never want to leave her side, and that I'll be hers now and forever." Twilight returned and the girls chatted among themselves before Twilight noticed the time was 23:55. "Girls! The fireworks will be up in 5 minutes. We need to get in a comfortable spot to see them." The girls sat closer to their lovers and watched the night sky counting down when the time came. "10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1. Happy New Year!" They all cheered as fireworks lit up the night sky. All of them embracing their partners with a loving kiss to bring in the new year. All except Sunset who turned to Twilight and produced the small box. "Twilight Sparkle. We've been friends for years now, dating for around a year, and lovers for a few months since. I love you and I always will. No matter what tries to come between us I will stand by your side until the very end if it means you and I can be happy together. You're my whole world, and I never want to lose you, or to leave you. That's why I want you to know that I'll be yours forever, but I gotta ask you for the same thing." She opened the box to reveal a simple gold ring with a pink gemstone. "Twilight Sparkle, will you marry me?" Twilight's jaw dropped, she stammered for a moment struggling to find the right words to say. But eventually she settled on. "Yes, I will marry you Sunset Shimmer." "We don't need a big fancy wedding, and I think we'd be wiser to wait till after college is done anyway. But with this ring I declare that I Sunset Shimmer will be yours now and forever." "And I the same to you Sunset." The two girls kissed as one final firework lit up the sky with a large heart shaped explosion. They knew this wasn't the end. It was a new beginning.
Dark Magic Attack!	pre	"Well that can't be good." Said Caster. "I guess it a draw then?" She asked Caster. "I guess seeing how Luna's in the air above them." "Huh?" She look up to see Luna there. "And it appears she's angry." Said Celestia. "I guess I forgot to mention that she was asleep trying to sleep off the hangover she had." "Oh my." She said as she hide behind Caster. "WAKE UP YOU TWO!" Yelled Luna. "GAH!" Yelled Dark Magician as he stands back up. "Crap Luna is angry again." Said Saber with an annoyed look on her face. "Again?" "Last time it was when her sister beat her in a videogame. Judging by the way she looks I think we must have woken her up due to us fighting each other." "Well lets call it a draw." He said putting a hand out to shake. "Agreed, but we better start running now." "Don't worry I got this." He said while pointing his staff at Luna. "SWORD OF REVEALING LIGHT!" He shouts as glowing swords surround Luna freezing her in place. "I don't think that's gonna stop her." "It will I set the spell for 3 hours." "No I mean that was just a magical copy of herself." Saber saw a shadow appear over them both. "The real one is right behind us." "Care to explain why you two woke me up from my slumber?" Luna asked. "It was the Holy Grails fault.." He said in his best calm poker face. "And you couldn't take the fight somewhere else why?" "Didn't know you was sleeping at the time." ".......10." "Oh crap." "Huh?" "9." "We gotta run, like NOW!" "I do believe it's time for me and Dark Magician Girl to go home." He said as he open a portal. "H-Hey! What about me? You can't just flake on me like that!?" "8." Luna summoned a scythe into her hands. "Your Luna, your problem." He said he run into the portal. "Hey look a whole box of Moonshine!" Dark Magician Girl pointed behind Luna, as she run to the portal. "YOU PRICKS! WHEN I GET TO YOUR WORLD I WILL UNLEASH HELL UPON YOU!" "Skip a few and zero." Luna charged after Saber. "Why can't I have a normal day for once?" Saber said before she started running away from her master. "See you guys next time bye." Dark Magician Girl waved as the portal closes. "Well......that was something?" Said Celestia. "Yeah.......should we stop your sister from killing Saber?" Asked Gilgamesh. "We could do that, or we could raid Luna's video game stash?" Celestia suggested. "......Raiding it is then." (Note: This last part is written by me again.) (Dark Magician Girl P.O.V) (Equestria, Respawer room, DM and DMG's tower in the Everfree Forest) (Some months ago) As I walk out of the portal I give out a big sigh. "I am glad we got out of there but I hope Saber will be alright." I said worried while Dark Magician look back at me with calmly. "She will be fine if she had to deal with a angry Luna before. Dark Magician said as calm as ever as he pull out nine jars that are filled with cutie marks. "By the way. Have you clear enough trees before the Holy Grail summon you?" He asked. "Yes I did." I said smiling as I notice him putting cutie mark filled jars into slots in the floor of the room. "I take it you now only need the DNA simples of the CMC and Spike?" I asked to which he nods at. "Yes but we can test it now to see if it works or not." He said as he walks over to a computer screen and control panel that on the wall of the room. "To do that I need connect this room to a Equestria that doesn't have a displace and set it a day before one of the Mane 6 gets murdered." He said as he press a few buttons on the panel. "But which one?" I asked knowing there a like a billion different versions of Equestria to choose from. "Cupcakes." He said after he finish typing on the panel which made my eyes widen in surprise. "Cupcakes?! As in the Equestria where Pinkie Pie kills Rainbow Dash and use her flesh to make cupcakes Cupcakes? I asked already knowing that this Rainbow Dash is going to need some comfort. He nods. "The very same." Right after he said that one of the circles that's on the floor starts to glow a dark purple colour. "Quick cover your eyes!" Dark Magician Shouted as we both covered our eyes right before a bright flash that lasted for a minute. After that we uncover our eyes to see that laying on the floor unconscious was Rainbow Dash in the same pose she was in when she died. "IT WORKS!!!" We both said at the same time. Just then the alarms went off with two different colour alarm lights going off at the same time. The first one is a rainbow coloured which tell us that Discord has been defeated. The second one is a purple coloured one but that only goes off if there were other displaces in this Equestria that just got free from their statues. Without a word I picked up Rainbow Dash and ran to the tower's medical room while Dark Magician check the screen and making a message crystal for Rainbow. After we done those tasks we both teleported to Canterlot ready for not only to reveal ourself but also for a fight. "This is going to be fun." To be continue.
Dark Magic Attack!	Chapter 3	(Cupcake Rainbow Dash P.O.V) (Medical room DM and DMG tower Equestria Everfree forest) (some months ago) "Wh-Where am I?" I thought to myself as I slowly open my eyes as I find myself laying in a hospital bed. I then quickly check myself only to find nothing missing from my body and sighed in relief. "Was it - Was it all just a bad dream from that bad cupcake Pinkie had given me?" I asked myself. I then notice a blue crystal eye that is sitting on a bed-rest next to me with a note saying- "Press the crystal to play message" -on it. I raised an eyebrow at this but I did as the note said and press the crystal eye with my hoof which started to show a hologram of some creature in a purple robe and holding a green staff and it started speaking. "Greetings Rainbow Dash my name is the Dark Magician, I am a human and if you are playing this message right after you have awaken. Well that means myself and my girlfriend Dark Magician Girl aren't here in the tower right now. So let me start by telling you that if you think that your Pinkie Pie had kill you was just a bad dream. Then I am afraid to say it wasn't a dream. You have died in your Equestria." I stare at the human wide eyed before I started to cry realising that Pinkie, my Pinkie, had really killed me and that I will never see my friends again. Well my worlds friends as Dark Magician said it as he continues his message to me. I didn't hear all of the message due to I was still crying but I hear him make a Pinkie promise about how him and his girlfriend and when he will tell it to me and others though. After I calm down from my crying I decide to go and have a look around in this tower I have awoken in. (Dark Magician P.O.V) (Equestria ,Neo Domino Town, DM tower, meeting hall, present time) As I look back to the group I notice T.C.F.I.H Pinkie Pie was hugging Cupcakes Rainbow Dash and saying sorry over and over again even though she wasn't the one who killed her. After that I then show everyone the places in the tower Cupcakes Rainbow Dash had been before she went outside. (Cupcake Rainbow Dash P.O.V) (Outside of DM and DMG tower Equestria Everfree forest) (some months ago) "Whoa." I said to myself as I see the really wide open space where trees use to be. Did they really did all of this in a short time? "Come to me." Said a creepy voice that sounded like it was coming from the south of the tower. "Come to me." The voice said again and for some reason my body start obeying the voice as I walk in the direction it was coming from. After 10 minutes of walking I found myself walking into a weird looking cave. And by weird looking I mean theres blue crystals all over the cave walls with pictures of different kinds of monsters that had numbers on them. "What's with all the numbers?" I thought to myself as I reach the back end of this weird cave. What I saw what look like kind of gate with a really creepy face on it. I then notice there was something that was holding the gate's handles together and closed. It look like to be a necklaces with a golden bar with three more golden bars going across it, to make it look like a arrow head, in the centre of it. "Remove it." I hear the creepy voice said much louder as it was coming from the gate. "Remove what the necklace? Why should I and why am I here?" I asked the voice not trusting it one bit. "Remove the necklace. It is your destiny." The voice said again as my body move on it's own toward the the gate. I try to stop my body from moving any closer but it's useless. Who ever this bucker that's talking has complete control over my body as my right hoof grab the necklace and pulled. After a minute of the necklace was off the gate handles the gate open with a blinding flash which I cover my eyes just in time for it. Once I was able to see again my eyes went wide as I see about over 100 different colour orbs with numbers floating in the air. "Wh-What the Tartarus?!" Was all I could say before portals appeared out of nowhere and the orbs went in to them. All except for one. This orb had a golden colour to it with a red number 39 on it. Before I could do anything the orb went right into me like a ghost entering a host's body. "Let the number take hold." I hear that voice in my head as I feel that orb was trying to take me over. But with quick glow from that necklace, which was now around my neck, and that orb stopped trying to control me. I gave a relax sigh from this and head to the tower thinking is was best to have a nap. (Dark Magician P.O.V) (Equestria, Canterlot) (some months ago) We have appeared on top of one of Canterlot's buildings where we see the royal guards are fighting some people we know all too well. This confirms it. My sister and our friends have been displaced here in our Equestria." Dark Magician said as he saw some guards run away with their ass's on fire thanks to Blaze. "Oh. Here come the Mane Six." Dark Magician Girl said pointing to where the Mane Six are running up the battlefield with their elements of Harmony. "And our friends look tried from their fight from all of the guards." I said pointing to our friends who are panting right now. "We better really to jump in when the Mane six use their elements." I added as Mane six just enter the battlefield. (Blaze P.O.V) (Equestria, Canterlot) (some months ago) "Ah crap! The Bearers are here!" I heard Scout called as I turn to look at where he is pointing. Sure enough me and the others all saw the Mane Six had just came into the main street, which was our battlefield, with their elements around their necks. Or on top of the head in Twilight's cases. "Not good. We still tried from getting free and kicking these sorry excuse for guards ass." I said as I formed fire in my hands while Erza was readying herself to fight. "There four of them right now!" I heard Rainbow say to her friends while Twilight was stopping her from flying right at us. "Wait a minute. What does she mean by four? Could there be more then just the four of us that was displaced to this world?" I thought to myself about if there are more of us in this Equestria as the Mane six are charging up there Elements. While they was charging they are saying that they are going to stop us from doing whatever their sunbitch had lied about. If I have to be honest. I would say that the pony race are all bunch of sheep by believing whatever bullshit that comes out of their Princess's mouth. "Wendy run!" I heard Erza say to her little sister Wendy in hope she can get away before we get stoned again. "No way! I am not leaving you!" Wendy stubbornly said as the Mane Six had finish charging their Elements and then fired it at us. "I am too handsome to be a bird's toilet again!" Scout said in a panic as the rest of us glared at the incoming rainbow beam. "MAGIC CYLINDER!" That shout took everyone by surprise as a huge floating cylinder appeared in front of us and the rainbow went right into it. "WHAT?! Impossible!" I heard Twilight shouted out of shocked just like her friends are as they stop firing their Elements as the last of the beam disappeared with the cylinder. "Who just save us right now?" I thought to myself as I was too shocked to voice out my question of who have save us from becoming statues again. "Nothing is impossible Miss Sparkle." I heard a voice say from the west side of the battlefield. When I turn around to see who said that I was shocked again as it was a Dark Magician and a Dark Magician Girl. And some how I knew in my heart that he is my little brother and his girlfriend. "Oh-No! All six of them are here now. The Princess told us not to take on all six of them at once." I heard Twilight said in a panic of having to face all of us at once. The Dark Magician then turn to look at us with calm smile and said. "We will deal with the Bearers. You four go through this portal to safely." After he said that we turn around to see there is a portal right behind us. Now none of us want to leave the battle so soon but we all of us, even Scout, knows that we are in no shape to continue. So with a slow nod all four of us enter the portal and leave the rest of the fight to the two Magicians. "Stay safe brother." Was my last thought before I step into the portal to safely. To be Continue.
Dark Magic Attack!	Chapter 4	(Dark Magician P.O.V) (Equestria, Canterlot) (some months ago) Now that my sister and friends are safe at Neo Domino Town, me and D.M.G can deal with the Mane six without any trouble. "Where the buck did you take them to?!" Rainbow screamed in anger as she was the first one of the Mane Six to come out of shock. "They are in a safe place, where you six can't curry out your bitch master of a Princess's orders to stone them with the Elements." I answered calmly, earning glass from all six ponies for helping my sister and friends get away along and insulting their Princess. "You are going to regret saying that about the Princess!" Rainbow yelled as she took flight and charged at me and D.M.G while not listening to Twilight yelling wait. "I knew Rainbow was going to attack first without thinking." I thought to myself as I aimed my staff at the incoming pegasus. "Swords of Revealing Light!" I shouted as glowing yellow swords appeared and stopped not only Rainbow Dash but her friends too. "What in tarnation!? Why can't I move?!" Applejack yelled in surprise as she tried to move her legs, only for them to not move an inch. Same goes the rest of the Mane six as Twilight and Rarity can't get even a spark of magic from their horns. "The swords of revealing light is a spell that prevents opponents from attacking for the amount of time the caster sets it for." I explained to the six mares as I and D.M.G walked over to them in our own time. All the while they glare at us in annoyance or look fearful of us. "Ho-How much time?" Fluttershy asked us fearfully. "From three minutes up to three years. But since we were not evil as you claim, we had set the spell for three hours." D.M.G said as most of the mane six continued to glare at us. "What are you two planning to do with us, Demon Mage?" Twilight asked me coldly which I sighed in annoyance at the name Sunbutt had given me and my girlfriend. "First of all, Miss Sparklebutt. Our names aren't Demon Mage and Demoness Mage, they're Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl." I said, correcting Celestia's pet Unicorn who still looked at me coldly. "Second we are just going to put your magical one shot Mcguffin out of reach for now." I said as I summoned a bag to place their Elements in for the time being. "Hey! Give them back!" Pinkie said while me and D.M.G placed the Elements in the bag and tied it up. "You will get them back once the spell is over. By then we would have left Canterlot with no way to find us." I said to them as I threw the bag about three and half blocks away. "You won't get away with this!" Applejack said while still trying to move. "Well, we have saved our friends from being stoned again and we have you six froze in place. So yeah we pretty much got away with it." D.M.G said with a smug grin even when we both can sense Sunbutt and Moonbutt are heading our way. Which was sooner than we thought as the two Princesses appeared in a flash of teleporting magic. Before we could react, they tried to hit us with a magical blast. Thankfully we avoided it by jumping away from the Mane Six. "Stay away from them, demons!" Celestia yelled at us with venom in her voice while she was wearing her battle armour and holding a war hammer in her magic. Luna was also wearing battle armour along with holding a sword in her magic. "Despite it being a thousand years, you still haven't gotten our names right, Celestia." I said calmly to the two royal pains who just glared at me and my girlfriend. "That's because you have been attacking so many of my ponies with your evil dark magic demon." Celestia said with venom in her voice as she came charging at me with her hammer. From out of the air, something came twirling straight at me, soon imbedding itself into the ground near my feet. At first glance, it appeared to be some kind of staff with a purple scale serpent coiling around it until it reached the top to rest on top of a purple gem. The head of the serpent looked like a long snout dragon with long tusks horns side by side. On both sides of its head were four eyes, eight in total. Its teeth and fangs, despite their small size, looked to be rather sharp. "Bloody hell!" I said as I pulled my hand back quickly in surprise. "What an odd token. Must belong to an odd displace." I said as myself and DMG moved aside a bit to avoid a magic blast from Luna. "Well some surprise help won't hurt us." DMG said as she picked up the staff. The moment she did, a voice started to speak in her mind, sounding eerily like Twilight Sparkle, but spoken in a much calmer voice. 'You have found the Staff Of The Fell Dragon. I am Twilight Sparkle, and I am Grima, we are brother and sister that have shared the same body since the day of our birth. We are travelling the multiverse to learn all we can about the Displaced and the void that separates our realities. In return for what you can teach us, we'll offer to teach you Anima or Dark Magic, or perhaps an alteration in your current class. We'll explain further if you summon us. To do so, simply raise this staff to the air, speak the magic word [Warp], and tap the ground twice.. A word of caution, our dark power may be sensed by your Celestia or Luna.' "Would the owner of this token please Warp on down!" She added, holding the staff in the air and sounding like she was a host to a TV game show. When she spoke the magic word, a runic symbol started to form on the ground followed by four other circles. With a flash, a pony wearing a cloak appeared; her appearance being alot like Twilight Sparkle, except a lot older, bigger, with her colours much darker. She looks around curiously between the mane six, the two sisters, and the magic magicians behind her. "...Seems I've been summoned during a conflict." Twili said as his deep purple eyes landed on me. "Unfortunately so. Me and my girlfriend here just need a little help to keep the royal butts busy. So we can get away." I said Twilight looks alike while the mane six and the princesses still have a surprise look on their faces. "Am I seeing things? Or is that another Twilight just popping out of nowhere?" Rainbow asked, sounding very confused. "You are not the only one Rainbow." My world's Twilight said with a look of a million questions in her head. "What's the meaning of this, Demons?! Why have you two created an evil vision of my student?!" Celestia yelled at us. Sounds very pissed I might add. Twili's head moved over to look over at Celestia as she spoke of evil. "...So this world's Celestia shows the same ignorance as the last?" Twili asked as her eyes moved around, acting as if there was something there. "...Ah, you're just paranoid about things you don't understand." Twili said with a relieved sigh. "No, they summoned me, they did not create. There is much I would like to tell, but as long as there is hostility, that chance may never come." Twili explained. "Nothing but lies. Coming from a creation of demons!" Luna yelled as she began her charge at Twill with her sword. "Nothing but lies?" Twili asked as she raised her horn as it ignited in a purple flame; causing a transparent barrier to manifest. Luna's sword clashed with it, causing sparks to fly on contact. "You and Celestia speak of demons, and yet you're somehow alive despite your sister's paranoia, I suppose history did not repeat; thus avoiding the manifestation of the one you may know as a nightmare." Twili said as the purple flames changed its colours to a light green hue. "I am not Nightmare Moon anymore!" Luna yelled back at that bit as it got under her skin a bit. "My sister's student and her friends have gotten rid of that side of me. Just like I'm going to get rid of you and your demon creators!" She added as she flew up high to charge up a big spell. "Those two never learn." I thought to myself as I watched Twill and Luna. All the while the DMG was dodging all of Sunbutts attacks. "...Get rid of me?" Twili said in amusement as she watched Luna fly high into the air. "You are too far beyond your league to be making that claim!" Twili said as runic circles flashed under her hooves as her horn sparked off the spell she was channelling. "Rexcalibur" Twili said calmly as a powerful torrent of wind exploded all around the two, causing severe damage to the nearby buildings "A Fire emblem spell?" I thought to myself as I DMG had put up a shield spell just in case Twill's spell hit us as well. "Sister!" Celestia yells in horror to see that after the smoke cleared, Luna was out cold on the ground with cuts all over her body. "Ouch. She is going to be very sore tomorrow." DMG said while looking a bit concerned. "This isn't a battle you can win, royal sisters, trust me. I'm holding back on purpose as I know this future needs you, especially those six." Twili said as she gestured her hoof to the mane six that remained stunned under the swords of light. "Especially you, Twilight Sparkle." Twili finished with a smile before redirecting her attention to me and my sister. "Don't you dare turn your back on me after what you did!" Celestia yelled out in rage and was about to attack but I stopped her with a Spellbinding Circle. "Oh not again!" She complained after being trapped by the same spell I used on her and Luna in the past. "Oh yes again. It's the old spellbinding Circle." DMG said while giggling at sunbutt. "But are you ready to meet your other, old friend?" She asked with an evil grin while Celestia looked on in horror. "NOT THAT! ANYTHING BUT THAT!" Celestia begged while trying to get away, however she was unable to do so due to the spellbinding circle still in place. "You might want to cover your nose for this." I said to Twill as I covered my own nose. "SHITS AND GIGGLES!" DMG called out as she shot the spell at Celestia. After it hit her she did try to hold in the building gas. But it was all for nothing as all came out in a very loud fart. "Sweet Celestia! That stinks!" Rarity yelled out. Unable to stand the smell, she soon passes out. "This smell is worse than a pile of weak rotten apples!" Applejack said while tears were tearing from stinging fart gas. "And I thought those stink bombs at the plankstore smell bad." Pinkle said before she used her mane as a gas mask. Twili looked between my sister and the mane six in confusion as a gentle chuckle slowly came out, soon turning into a strange mix of a humming laughter and a giggle. "What..." she said between fits of laughter. "What just happened?" Twili said as she continued to laugh. "It's a spell that me and DMG invented long before we got stoned. We have used it on the sisters a lot." I said chuckling all the while Celestia continued farting. "But now I do believe it's time to make our getaway." I added while I started preparing a teleportation circle that was big enough for three people. "Allow me." Twili said as she managed to contain her fits of laughter down. With her horn raised, a large runic circle quickly appeared underneath us faster than I could. With a flash, our surroundings quickly changed to reveal the Everfree Forest. In the distance, I could see our tower just a short walk away. "Thank you kindly miss Twilight from another world." DMG said happily while giving Twill a hug. "Call me Twili for a short while I'm here." Twili said with a nod. "Now that we're aware of prying eyes.." Twili began as something started to move from out of her back, soon slinking around to look at us. "I'm just glad the fight didn't execulate enough to force me out." Grima said as he gazed upon us with his four eyes. "Yes it is. Wouldn't want to risk changing the timeline anymore than it is already by offering the sisters so soon." I said knowing we are still in the beginning of the season and that I need to try waiting a couple more seasons before making some big changes. "Our presence here already has altered it in small doses, much like when I had to attack Luna before she could finish her spell. Hopefully my Rexcalibur wasn't too much for Luna. I would hate to need to use the Outrealm Gates, travel moments ago, then warn myself of the events." Grima said before stretching his body out. In size compared to Twili, his head was slightly bigger than Twili's, however his body's length appeared to be long enough to circle Twili's body once. "That goes without saying. But as long as we stay away from Ponyville and Canterlot for sometime. Then the changes to the timeline will be keenly low. At least as it can be." I said to Grima not fazed by him sticking out of Twili's back like Venom to Eddie Block. "For now it is time to walk back to my tower and the future site of Neo Domino Town." I added as started to head to the tower where my sister and the others are at right now. "By the way. Is the location of the two sisters nearby?" Twili asked curiously. "No, that spot is far away from the tower. We wanted to make sure none of the main six spots in the tower on their way to the old castle or Zebra who lived in the forest found it." I answered while knowing to also stay away from those ruins as well. Grima and Twili followed after me. "That would be Zecora, right? She hasn't harassed you thinking you're evil spirits?" Grima said half-jokingly as he earned a minor annoyed stare by Twili. "Don't know yet. We haven't been free from stone that long to find out. That and we were busy." I said as it has been a long day today if the sun is setting if it's anything to go by. "There's a lot of work to be done to prove to them you're not evil." Grima said as Twilight's horn ignited with fire to light them away. "There is. But first myself and DMG wanted some payback. By taking a page out of another Displace's revenge book." I said while thinking about that fanfic about that headless armour guy from the Golden Sun game. Who has builded a village as a means at getting back at his Celestia. I wonder what that guy is up to right now. "But first we build it. And it will take some." DMG said while looking at some blueprints she pulled out of nowhere. "Of course. Rome wasn't built in a day as the old saying goes." I nodded sagely as we reached the tower as the moon was rising. "But will the revenge be worth it?" Twili asked in concern. "In the long run it will. And this form of revenge is very very tame compared to other Displace's revenge plans that I have readed about." I answered knowing if it worked for the headless guy it can work for us. "By the way. Do you want to head back home now or sleep in the tower for night? We are going to be very busy tomorrow." I asked Grima. "How busy are you talking, like all day?" Grima asked curiously as Twili held a disappointed look. "It's going all day sadly. A revenge village won't build itself after." I answered sadly but time is most important to get it done. "Hmmm. Best we head home then." Grima suggested. "But brother.." Twilight began, only to be silenced by Grima's tail. "I know you're curious about this world, but if we remain, we'll surely be bored." Grima said as he removed his tail. "Now, before we head home, I can at least start you off with a little something so the next time you summon us, I can teach you more." Grima said as he ran some thoughts through his head. "Which element or elements would you like to start with, Fire, Thunder, Wind, or Darkness?" Grima asked curiously. "Hmm. I think I will go with darkness." I answered thinking it did me nicely. "Oh. I pick Thunder." DMG said while for some reason she was wearing a panda suit. With a spark of Twili's horn, two horns appeared in a flash of purple fire as they levitated into me and my sister's hands. "The Flux spell, if you have the basic understanding of shadows and willpower, will allow you to manifest shadow tendrils, either to grab, or encase your enemy inside of. The other spell is Thunder, a fairly weak spark or ball of electricity, more or less depending on how you wish to visualise it. You won't be able to apply much size or strength into it, but you can adjust its damage by a little bit. It's only E tier until I see you getting used to those spells. Keep the tome with you at all costs when you need to use those spells. I will provide the other tiers once you have mastered the first level. Within the book, if you decide to read it rather than experiment and fail multiple times, the book contains instructions on runes, where they should be placed within the circle and what each symbol means." Grima said in a lengthy explanation. "This will come in handy in a future event, thank you. And here let me give you a book I have created in return." I said as I pulled a copy of the book from my hammer space. "This book has knowledge on all the displaces that are out there so far. It will help you to find who to avoid and who to make friends with." I explained handing the book to Grima, in which he took it in his long elegant tail. "Every single one? This will certainly help out in my research to better understand the multiverse and their Displaced." Grima said with a grin; revealing many rows of sharp teeth. "Knowledge is power afterall." DMG said while wearing some glasses. "...Does she always do that?" Twili said as she gestured her hoove to DMG's shenanigans. "She sometimes acts like Pinkie Pie. Best not to question it." I answered knowing DMG for a very very long time. Both Grima and Twili nodded their heads in unison before Grima headed back into Twili's mind. "If there is nothing else to discuss, all you need to do is speak the magic word [Warp] and tell me to return." Twiligrima explanation. "Will do thank you. Oh and when reading that book. Please take note of which displaces has bad blood with another displace." I warned that some displaced people will start a war with another. "Other than that our contact is complete. Safe warp." I said with a nod. With those words spoken, the runic circles appeared under Twili ad Grima as they vanished in a flash of light. "Brother!" I heard my older sister Blaze shout out as I turned to my right. Where she jumped and gave me a big hug. "I missed you." She added with tears of joy on her face as I hugged back. "I missed you too. Little sister." I said that last part with a knowing grin which made her puff her cheeks in annoyance as will let go. "I might be shorter than you now. But I am still your older sister." Blaze said, crossing her arms as the others run up to us. "So this is what you two have been up to after getting free?" She asked, eyeing our tower from top to bottom. "Yes. This is going to be our home base for the time being while we soft out our revenge plan." I said to them that this was better than staying in that old castle the Princess used to live in. Especially since it's on top of a cave the Tree of Harmony is in. "So what's the plan? Do we go around their castle with me being awesome, while the rest of you teach those princesses a lesson?" Scout asked while having his bat out ready. "We will be discussing the plan tomorrow. It has been a long day. And I believe that everyone here wants to get in a nice soft bed after being stoned for so long." I said as everyone nodded in agreement. "Come along then. I will show you where your rooms are." DMG said while wearing a tour guide uniform as we headed into the tower for the night. "She is more like Pinkie than before." I heard Wendy mutter as I closed the door. (Celestia P.O.V) (Canterlot Castle, Throne room) It has only been half an hour since I sent Twilight and her friends back to Ponyville. After Miss Rarity had a very long bath to get the smell out of her mane. And the effects of that damn spell had finally stopped. Right now I am sitting on my throne still fuming about what happened early today. Not only did Twilight and friends have to defeat Discord. But those six other monsters had managed to escape from the city. And to top it all off. Demon Mage had the nerve to summon an evil version of Twilight to mock me. "Is the spell over sister?" Luna asked as she poked her head ,while wearing a gas mask, into the throne room. I nodded while pointing to the open windows. "Thank goodness." Luna said as she removed the gas mask while coming into the room fully. "How are you feeling sister?" She asked me in concern for my well being, given what has happened today. "Angry. I am that those six monsters have escaped from us and I don't know where they are now." I said as I walked to the open window ,while Luna followed, to look at the night sky as a worried look appeared on my face. "I am also worried about what they might do to our ponies now they are free." I said while thinking about what those monsters have done to my ponies all those years ago. All the while Luna gave me a hug. "Don't worry sister. I have faith that your student and her friends will catch those beasts before anything bad happens." Luna said, comforting me as I return the hug. "I guess you are right Luna. It will hopefully all work out in the end. It's not like it's going to get any worse." I said to Luna with a small smile on my face. (Meanwhile on the moon at the same time.) On the surface of the moon stands a metallic figure that looks like a teenage human girl with pigtails. For thousands of years this figure stood there. Her eyes are dark and lifeless and moving at all. That is until now when her eyes light up with the words. REBOOTING 22% To be continued.
The Lost Prince of the Sea	pre	Aecorum sighed "I suppose you are right. Very well, I will get used to it eventually. We accept this condition." Royal Bearing smiled "Splendid! Now then, our third and final condition we have decided upon is that you, Celestia, and you, Luna, should be called Princesses." The alicorns looked at each other curiously and Aecorum raised an eyebrow "And I should be called Prince?" Fauntleroy narrowed his eyes and shook his head. "Then what title do you wish me to bear?" Royal Bearing said a little nervously "Well, noble Aecorum, the Royal Families have come to the decision, after much consideration and debate, that you should take the-" "King." It was Basileus that spoke "We want you to become King." Celestia and Luna looked at each other and Aecorum looked shocked "King? Why do you want me to be King if you want Celestia and Luna to be Princesses?" Fauntleroy looked at Aecorum like he was an idiot "Well, you are the stallion, and the eldest of the three, are you not? You would also, of course, receive the highest amount of power in the land." Aecorum's face tightened in anger and he stood "What? You want me to receive higher rank because I happen to be a stallion?" Fauntleroy glared harshly "Of course! Equestria needs a King, and you are the only stallion among the revered Ponies of Harmony!" He spit the last few words out with a sneer. "That does not mean I am better than them! It does not mean I am more powerful or more 'fit' to be ruler!" "It is what I-The Royal Families have decided upon!" "Well I refuse! If you want me to be King, then Celestia and Luna shall be Queens!" Aecorum's mane and tail had started to billow and wave more wildly and they also seemed to grow with his anger. Fauntleroy snorted as his face tightened "Two Queens?! That is ridiculous!" Aecorum stepped forward and his horn began to glow "Ridiculous? Ridiculous?! I will tell you what is ridiculous you little-" The two sisters looked at each other with near panicked expressions and Celestia almost shouted "Aecorum! Calm down!" "No! This will not stand, Celestia! I will not allow either one of you to be beneath me in any circumstance!" Fauntleroy took a step forward "Then why not leave?! Equestria has been ruled by Royalty for ages, and I will not let some peasant alicorns take it away from me!" "Enough!" Basileus stamped his hoof and glared harshly at the stallions, silencing them. "I will not tolerate this foalish behavior in my court! Both of you will be silent, until I allow you to speak!" He looked at Celestia and Luna "In this matter, I am afraid I agree with Fauntleroy, having two Queens would be confusing for the ponies of Equestria, and, unfortunately, we cannot allow all of you to remain without titles." Aecorum was about to speak but a look from Celestia stopped him "Your Majesty, I quite agree, but I also think that Aecorum has good points as well. I do not wish to say that either I or my sister is better than anypony, but the three of us are equals, and I feel we should be treated as such." Basileus sighed and nodded "You are right, but I can think of no other way to have you ponies rank higher than the nobles without confusion." Luna spoke "What about High Prince?" All the other ponies turned to her. "What do you mean?" Regalia raised an eyebrow. "Well, Your Majesties, what if we extend the titles of Prince and Princess to become High Prince and High Princess?" Fauntleroy glared "That would lead to the same problem as having two Queens!" Luna shook her head slightly "Not necessarily, we would merely need to extend the titles further. For instance, instead of being King Aecorum, he could be High Prince Aecorum of the Sea." Basileus leaned forward slightly, looking intently at Luna "Go on." Luna pointed at Celestia "My sister could become High Princess Celestia of the Day, and I," She brought her hoof to her chest "Would be High Princess Luna of the Night." The royal ponies looked at each other like light bulbs had all flashed in their minds at the same time. Royal Bearing motioned with her hoof. "Of course! It would give them titles, avoid confusion between the sisters, and give them the high rank they deserve!" Regalia nodded "It is the perfect solution!" Basileus looked at Fauntleroy and the unicorn spoke reluctantly "It would meet the condition of the agreement." Basileus smiled slightly and stepped down from his throne, walking towards the alicorns "I believe we agree with your very insightful suggestion, Luna," He smiled wider and bowed to Luna "High Princess of the Night." --- Aecorum sighed and took a step back to avoid the water rising in the cave. His horn dimmed and he walked to his makeshift pantry. He had long ago figured out how to grow just enough food to survive underground, although sometimes he was forced to use his magic to create something to eat. He picked up a stone plate and a few small vegetables and placed them on a slab of rock he used as a table. He sighed again and slowly ate his meager meal. He spoke with weariness "It is no feast, but it is all I deserve." He smiled and almost chuckled "Besides, I do not have Tia's sweet tooth." Aecorum finished his meal and rinsed off the plate in ocean water before he put it back with his food. He stretched his legs and spoke "I think it is time for a walk." He started wandering through the cave; he did enjoy these walks even though he knew every recess of the cave like the back of his hoof. He had resigned himself to the monotony of his life and rather than going numb as other ponies may have, he still felt pain just as strongly as he did when he was a young stallion. He came to his mirror and sighed as he stared into his own eyes. "I am old. I may still look like the naïve colt I was, but I am old and weary." As if to answer him, the waves from the ocean grew stronger and crashed around his hooves, almost like the sea was trying to embrace him. He smiled down at the water that he loved; it was as much a part of him as his horn. Slowly he found his way back to his bedroom and decided to open the chest again; he was feeling rather sentimental today. He shifted the cloth to reveal a large glass case with a velvet pillow on the base. The case was gilded and carved intricately, only fitting for a crown of such value. He didn't put it on; he just lifted it out of the case and turned it over in his magic. It was a large crown, made of titanium that had been magically anodized to a mostly dark green color and circled his entire head around his horn. Aecorum had begged to have a smaller one, but eventually he was forced to have this crown with carved designs made to look like sea waves and encrusted with pure emeralds and sapphires of the highest quality. "You won that battle, didn't you, Fauntleroy?" he whispered. "I did not want this. I did not want any of it. But somehow you still made me king." He almost placed the crown on his head before he gently put it back in its case and closed the chest. "That time is long dead."
The Lost Prince of the Sea	More Important Matters at Hoof	Celestia sat on her chair in her study in deep thought and tapped the floor with her hoof. Luna had been gone for most of the past few days and Celestia had just found out about her visit to the library. She had hoped that their talks had gotten the idea of this strange "Aecorum" out of Luna's head, but apparently that wasn't so. She just wanted to help her baby sister. Her thoughts were interrupted as Luna walked into the study, Celestia told the guards to send her in as soon as she returned, and Celestia stood, her eyes widening slightly as she saw how her sister looked. Luna's head was hanging, her mane was droopy, and she glared at the floor as she walked. "Luna, you look like you haven't been sleeping for days, is something wrong?" Celestia's voice was filled with a kind concern. "It is not possible..." Celestia barely heard her. "Luna, I thought that we had already-" "It is. Not. Possible." Luna was glaring at Celestia now. "Luna? Are you alright?" Celestia's face shifted into a worried expression. "No! No, I am not alright, Sister! I simply cannot believe that you would do something as heinous as this! Why, Celestia? Why did you do it?" Her eyes were angry but also pleading and confused. "What are you talking about? Luna, I have no idea what it is you're accusing me of." Luna clenched her teeth and hardened her glare "You know very well what I am accusing you of. You were the one who destroyed all traces of him. You are the only one who could have taken Aecorum away!" Celestia closed her eyes in frustration "Luna...Not this again. Aecorum never existed! There was never anypony else besides us!" Something snapped inside Luna as the last bit of patience drained from her. "LIES!" Celestia almost jumped back in surprise, but kept her composure. "Luna." Only somepony who knew her extremely well could tell that her voice was beginning to strain slightly. Luna clenched her teeth and grabbed the journal with her magic, slamming it down on the desk with enough force to shake the solid oak legs. "Look at this, Celestia! You thought that you could have kept our journal from me, but Twilight Sparkle returned it to me, and I have seen what you have done!" Her voice rose in volume as she spoke until a crystal vase on a shelf behind Celestia began to wobble precariously. "I have spoken to Proper Page of your school's library, Zecora, Twilight Sparkle, and even Discord! And none of them knew of Aecorum, not a single one of them!" Luna took a single step forward "I have spent the last four years studying what the world became during my banishment, and in all that time I have been patient, I have waited for him. I knew, at least I thought I knew, that he would be there, my best friend would be there when I was freed of my prison, but I have found nothing! Our journal, my journal, has been desecrated! There are entries that are written in my hoof-writing, but not by me. You, Celestia, you who raise the sun and rule a kingdom so vast, are the only one with enough power to destroy him!" "Enough of this!" Celestia matched her sister in volume but her voice was firmer and she showed more of her regality, but if you looked carefully enough you could see the hurt in her eyes and the very, very slight hint of tears forming. Luna was silenced and Celestia's voice became deathly quiet, revealing only to her sister the emotions she actually felt. "I can't believe that you, my own sister, would think that I would do something to 'destroy' anypony. This cannot go on, Luna. I will tell you for the last time, and I pray, I wish, I hope, that you will listen and believe me." Celestia looked right at Luna with a tired expression, and Luna tried to hold her glare but she saw the pain in Celestia's eyes and guilt began to gnaw at her. "Luna. My little sister, the dearest pony to me in the whole world. You know that I would never do anything to hurt you, and do everything in my power to protect you. And I swear to you, on my life, the sun, and the moon that I never did anything to anypony named Aecorum. I never knew him, he did not exist." Luna's eyes glinted with the spark of anger "No, no, that isn't true..." "Stop. Now. Luna, I don't know how Aecorum got in your mind, but it has to end here. Please, Luna. Please." Despite her years of training herself to remain stoic and calm at all times, Celestia could not hide her emotions from her sister, much less when Luna's welfare was in question. "I don't know how I can help you understand any more than I already have. You are my sister, and my friend, and I want to help you, but I can only help you if you let me. Aecorum is nothing but a fantasy that your mind created to keep the part of you that had not been consumed by Nightmare Moon whole. That is the only explanation that makes any sort of sense to me, and you yourself have seen that there is not a shred of evidence that Aecorum was ever real." Of all the ponies in Equestria, Luna was the only one that could have seen how close Celestia was to tears on the inside. "Celestia..." Luna hung her head in shame as she realized how much she had hurt her sister. Celestia walked back around her desk and sat down "I love you, Luna. And this accusation," She sighed barely "it pains me. Listen, I would never do anything to hurt you, but when you speak like this, when you tell me of Aecorum and get angry at me for something I did not do, I can't help but fear that," she looked up at Luna "There is a spark of darkness stirring within you again. I can't go through that a second time, Luna." Luna walked over to the desk, guilt finally extinguishing her anger "Forgive me, Celestia. Oh please forgive me, Sister. I did not mean to upset you, I was just so angry. I simply cannot believe it." her voice fell to almost nothing "Can...can it be true?" "Yes." Celestia's voice had a quiet firmness that made it seem so final and absolute that Luna began to seriously question the existence of Aecorum. Luna's head was beginning to spin as she sat down and silence filled the study. Finally, Celestia spoke. "Luna, I received a letter from Princess Cadence of the Crystal Empire today. She and her husband are having some difficulty dealing with a band of refugee changelings that has recently appeared and there are some rumors of violence. She has asked me to come to the Crystal Empire and help her." Celestia nodded her head towards Luna "I think it would be better if you went rather than me." "What?" "You need rest. The changelings are semi-nocturnal, so there would be plenty of time during the days for you to visit with Prince Shining Armor and Princess Cadence, or explore the Crystal Empire, but most importantly, it would give you time to sleep. I can tell that you have spent the last few days without sleep, and that isn't healthy for anypony." "But, why me? Why not you?" Luna raised her eyebrow "I trust you, Luna. I know you will do wonderfully, you deserve it." Celestia walked over and hugged her sister with her wing "I haven't been giving you as much power and responsibilities as I should be, and I mean to change that. Will you go, Little Sister? For me?" Luna nodded "Yes, I will go. When do you wish me to leave?" Celestia pulled back "It would be best if you left as soon as possible, perhaps even today or tomorrow." Luna stood "Very well. I will leave tomorrow morning." She opened the door and was halfway out before she turned back and spoke softly "I am sorry, Celestia." Celestia walked over to Luna and hugged her again "It's alright, I forgive you. I love you, Luna." She nuzzled her sister "I always will." Her smile was warm and kind, and Luna walked to her bedchamber to pack. --- Luna spent the train ride to the Crystal Empire gazing out the window of the royal passenger car in deep thought, barely noticing when a servant came with her lunch. She ate absentmindedly as she went through every moment of her childhood in her mind, trying to see if there was something out of place or wrong to tell her whether or not Aecorum really was a fantasy, as Celestia said. The train pulled into the station and Luna stood. Now there are more important matters to deal with. She thought as her guards opened the door and rolled out the dark purple carpet on her path. Both Prince Shining Armor and Princess Cadence were there to greet her and Shining bowed as Luna came closer and spoke to him. "That is not necessary, Shining Armor. You are royalty both by marriage and by your sister. I assume that Celestia contacted you and told you that I would assist you?" Shining stood a little sheepishly "Of course, Your Highness." Cadence rolled her eyes slightly and walked up to Luna with a smile "It is good to see you again, Luna." "And you as well, Mi Amore." Luna nodded slightly. "Please, call me Cadence." "Cadence." She began walking towards the carriage prepared for her, made of beautiful dark crystals. Once all three ponies were inside they started for the palace. Luna sat a moment marveling at the beauty of the crystal ponies who seemed oddly fearful for some reason, and buildings before she turned back to Shining Armor and Cadence. "Please, tell me of what has occurred with the changelings." Cadence nodded and said "A few weeks ago, a changeling was spotted in a small village west of here. It only stayed in the town for a few hours before it vanished again. After that changelings appeared more and more often and we sent a few scouts to follow one." "Who was in this scouting party?" Luna asked. Shining Armor motioned to himself "I headed up the scouts, accompanied by two of the Crystal Royal Guards, Prismatic Sight and Silent Reflection, as well as a member of my old unit in Canterlot, Shadow Stealth." Luna nodded and he continued "We followed the changeling for about six miles before it went into a network of caves near the North Crystal Peaks." There was an almost imperceptible hint of anger and disgust in his voice as he spoke. "And it was lost within the caves?" "On the contrary," Cadence smiled at her husband "Shining led the scouts through the caves and managed to catch up to the changeling again." Shining smiled at Cadence before turning back to Luna "The changeling came to a large cave and joined about fifteen other changelings, mostly adults but we spotted a few small ones we assumed to be children." "And what is it that you are requiring assistance with?" Luna raised an eyebrow. "Well, somehow the citizens found out that a group of changelings was hiding out in the mountains and became very concerned, almost to the point of panic. There have been numerous requests to destroy the changelings or banish them, and recently rumors have been going around that a band of ponies within the Empire are going to gather arms and get rid of the changelings on their own." Cadence nodded and spoke "Normally, this wouldn't be reason enough to ask for your help, but the Crystal ponies are still recovering from Sombra's attack and after what happened at our wedding, we thought it would be best if a more powerful alicorn took the lead." When she spoke about her wedding there was the same anger in her voice as in Shining's. "I see." Luna thought for a moment before she asked "Would you mind if all of us were frank with one another?" "No, of course not." Cadence said while Shining raised his eyebrow slightly. "That is good. Because it seems to me that the reason you asked my sister to come assist you was due to your fear of being manipulated again, Shining Armor, and the anger and hate both of you still hold for the changelings as a result of the attack on Canterlot during your wedding. Forgive me if I offend, but honesty is crucial in times of crisis." Both Cadence and Shining Armor looked shocked and after a second Cadence spoke "But, neither of us really hates changelings, we just-" "I did not say that the hatred was strong, or the anger, but if you deny that it exists in any form, you are lying to everypony involved, including yourselves. Your anger is not without justification, and it is good that you were able to recognize it enough to ask for assistance from somepony more impartial to the changelings than yourselves. All I ask is that we are honest with one another." After a silent moment passed Cadence nodded "Yes, I'm still angry with changelings, but I am willing to move past it in this case." Shining Armor nodded too "I suppose on some level I am as well." Luna nodded and smiled "Good. Now that the emotions are out of the way, we can move on to a plan of action." The carriage rolled on to the castle and the three ponies figured out what they were going to do. --- Shining Armor and Luna, as well as the original scouts, walked into the mouth of the cave the changeling had been followed to. Luna had just finished raising the moon and the Crystal Mountains sparkled in the soft moonlight. They walked for a while in silence as Shining led them through the twisting caves until they came to an outcropping in the rock they could hide behind. As Shining said there were a little more than fifteen, maybe eighteen changelings gathered together in the larger cave and as the group of ponies inched closer Shining got a touch closer to Luna. After a moment Luna looked out and saw a changeling come in through another cave on the other side and spoke in their strange buzzing language. Luna raised an eyebrow as she saw the newcomer's horn light up and all the changelings were enveloped in a greenish light, and as the "spell" continued, a few of them grew obviously stronger. "That one must be feeding the others somehow." Luna whispered. She looked around again and saw that there were indeed some very small changelings and some of the larger ones looked seriously injured. Luna turned to the other ponies and whispered "I will make myself known to them and find out if any speak Equestrian. If any do, I shall speak to them and figure out what has happened and why they are here. You four shall retreat to the main entrance so they are not as afraid." "But what if something happens and they put up a fight?" Silent Reflection asked. "If I am unable to control them I will send out a magic flare to you." "If we see the flare, we gallop in here faster than we ever have." Shining Armor began walking out as silently as possible and the guards followed him. Luna spent a few seconds taking deep breaths to prepare herself before she stood and walked out from behind the rock. "Changelings! Hear me!" She spoke loudly and firmly, but not harshly. As soon as the changelings heard her a few began to run but because some of them couldn't move they were forced to stay in the cave. Fearful chattering filled the air as they began to flit around the room and some tried to shape shift in green flame. "You need not fear me; I am not here to bring harm to you! Please, calm yourselves so that we may speak." The same changeling that had just "fed" the others seemed to understand her and chattered louder than the others, calming them. After a minute all of them calmed down and the ones that had been flying landed. Every eye was turned towards her and she could see how truly afraid they were. Her voice softened just slightly "Are there any among you who understand and speak Equestrian?" The changeling that had calmed the rest down stepped forward "I speak your language. A few of the others understand Pony speech but cannot speak it. The rest do not understand, but I can tell them what you say." The voice was deeper and Luna guessed it was a male, and it seemed to have the same sort of chattering accent as the changeling speech. "What is your name?" Luna stepped down to the floor of the cave and the changelings backed away from her in fear. "I-I am designated drone 47233628." His voice began to quaver slightly and his eyes were wide with alarm "But I am often called Beguiling Cloak." Luna smiled and she tried to sound kind "It is an honor to meet you, Beguiling Cloak. I am High Princess Luna of the Night." The changelings were obviously confused and they chattered amongst themselves for a second before Beguiling Cloak asked "Of-of the Night? Not the Day?" "No, I am not the Princess of the Day, but she is my sister, and I rule over Equestria with her." A few of the younger changelings began to twitch nervously and the older ones seemed frozen with confusion and fear. "Does that mean...Are you going to..." Beguiling Cloak's voice faded away "What is it?" Luna lowered her voice slightly "Hurt us. Are you going to bring us to the Sun Princess so she can torture us or imprison us or..." Every changeling in the cave backed away some more. Luna slowly shook her head "No. I would never do anything to bring harm to defenseless creatures, nor would my sister. I am simply here to help you. Why are you here?" Beguiling Cloak relaxed very slightly "We ran. After the failure of Canterlot the Queen became harsh and cruel to us. Many drones were taken without cause and tortured or even killed. Family units were torn apart because the Queen blamed us for the failure of her plan, a plan we did not wish to be a part of. Sickness spread through the Hive and hundreds, perhaps thousands, died in the first few months after the Canterlot Failure." "Hunger, starvation, treachery, things that had not been known in the Hive for generations raged among the changelings and corpses of imagines and nymphs began to fill the streets. She only called this weakness and began to treat us with even more cruelty and hatred. Fear of this new tyrannical side of Her kept most of us in compliance but there were some that resisted. Some drones saw what life was like for ponies and wanted the Hive to be like that for us, so they became an underground rebellion against the Queen." Luna heard the sincerity in his voice and felt pity for the changelings. "What became of this rebellion?" "They failed." A few changelings lowered their heads "The Queen discovered them and destroyed them. That was when we decided to run from Her, run from the Hive. We feared Equestria, so we came here. There are nineteen of us, including nymphs. There used to be twenty, but my clutch-brother was lost." His voice wasn't sad, or angry, it was completely emotionless. Luna nodded sympathetically "I am sorry for your loss. How long have you been in this cave?" "One moon and twelve suns have passed since we came here." "I see." She took a few steps forward to get a closer look at a nearby changeling with a broken leg and cracked wing. She turned to Beguiling Cloak "How many of you are injured?" "Three nymphs were injured during the journey as well as four imagines, but five imagines were injured by forces of the Queen when we left the Hive. We have been trying to heal them, but we only dare to send out one of us at a time, and because all need to be nourished, we can't focus enough energy on a few to heal them completely." A few changelings in the back of the cave chattered at Beguiling Cloak and after a few seconds of back and forth communication, Beguiling Cloak took a step towards Luna "We are afraid. We are afraid of the ponies of crystal and we are afraid of the rulers. We did not know that the ponies targeted by the Canterlot failure were the rulers of this place until we arrived, and now we are afraid. All we want is peace. Do you truly wish to help us, Moon Princess?" Luna could see the desperation in Beguiling Cloak's eyes and she nodded. "Of course I do. It is honorable that you should try and help your kind live better lives. You are defenseless creatures and I will do everything in my power to give all of you a chance at real lives within the Crystal Empire or Equestria if you wish. Do not fear attack, I am sure that in time everypony shall accept you and until that happens I will protect you myself." "You will?" Beguiling Cloak's voice was filled with hope. Luna smiled and nodded "Yes." Beguiling Cloak chattered excitedly to the other changelings and soon the ones that could fly were flying all around the cave and others were smiling and talking to one another happily. A small changeling walked up to Luna nervously and chattered something at her with a shy smile. Luna knelt down to be eye level with the nymph and smiled. Neither one said anything but Luna's eyes were filled with kindness and it was almost like they were talking to one another through their eyes. After a second the nymph got a little closer and hugged the large pony's neck. Luna returned the hug and the changeling seemed to flesh out a little in her embrace. She put down the nymph and stood, turning to Beguiling Cloak. "Do you think you would be able to walk as far as the village?" "A few of us perhaps, but many are far too injured to walk any distance." Luna thought for a moment. "Gather all the changelings that are able-bodied enough to walk on their own on one side of the cave and the injured or sick ones on the other side." Beguiling Cloak nodded and spoke to the changelings. Almost instantly the changelings repositioned themselves in the cave and soon there was a space of about five feet between each group. Luna nodded and turned to the injured changelings "You are able to heal yourselves through love, correct?" "Yes. But we can feed on weaker emotions as well, just not as effectively." "And you can transfer such emotions from one changeling to another?" "Yes." Beguiling Cloak turned towards the princess. "Very good. Now," Luna turned to face Beguiling Cloak "I am going to allow you to gather emotional energy from me. But if you take more than what is necessary to heal the injured enough to make it to the village," Her voice and face hardened "The Sun Princess will not be the only name you fear." Beguiling Cloak shifted nervously and said quietly "Of-of course not, Kind Moon Princess." He stepped closer to Luna "This may feel...odd." His horn lit up in a green light and Luna felt herself being drained of energy. It took a moment to process and her mind began to go slightly numb but it was only a few seconds before Beguiling Cloak released the spell and backed several feet away "Forgive me if I have hurt you, Moon Princess." He looked away from her and she could hear the terror in his voice. She shook her head slightly "No...No it is alright, I am well." She straightened up "Heal the others." Already she could feel herself recovering from the drain. Beguiling Cloak nodded and the group of injured changelings was enveloped in the same green aura. Luna's eyes widened very slightly as the same broken changeling she noticed before stood up and flapped its wings with vigor in a matter of seconds. Soon it was over and all the injured changelings walked or hovered overhead towards the others. Beguiling Cloak smiled "Your energy is very strong, Moon Princess, thank you. Thank you so much." He bowed low to the ground. Luna smiled "It was no trouble. Come, tell the changelings to follow me, we will start towards the village immediately."

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