My Little Fortress: Friendship is Explosive

Chapter 8: Same Places, New Faces

(A/N: Thanks so much for all the character entries, and all entry characters belong to their respectful owners. I will do my best for them to have a role in this story!)

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1 week after the Canterlot invasion…

RED was gathered at Sugercube corner, discussing the recent events and the attention that they have received.

"I don't like it." Sniper said. " I just don't."

"Of course you wouldn't like attention considering you're a lone wolf all the time," Scout replied. "I'm getting the attention I deserve."

Spy scoffed. "don't be so sure of yourself, boy. I'm sure you have learned how ones you trust can turn on you." he said.

"Oh yeah? Who would betray this all star?" Scout mockingly asked. Spy simply smiled.

"your Mozher."

"Why you backstabbing scumbag!" Scout yelled, jumping at Spy. Soldier caught him before he could get a hit. Spy simply laughed.

"foolish boy. Still so easy to make mad." Spy said, laughing.

"After all this, and you laddies still fight each other." Demoman said. "But Sniper be right. This attention won't help us find a way back home."

"Yah," Medic agreed. " Just yesterday, zhere was zhis one pony that seemed like a news reporter. He kept asking me questions of all sorts about my job und life before we came here. It took me quite a while to get rid of him. His name vwas Vwendy Writer or somezing like zhat."

"humph humph hudda hudda humph hudda hudda humph?" Pyro asked.

"Are you kiddin'?" Engineer asked Pyro. "As long as we have worked for RED, how would they forget about us?" Pyro simply shrugged.

"Well, until we find a way back, which you all remember Celestia GUARENTEED us that she will do her best, we might as well do what we can to protect this place." Soldier gruffly said.

"Some protection we've been," Sniper said. "It seems like the only thing we've done is bring war and death with us. It's practically in our blood mates." Sniper said.

"Well, Yeah," Soldier admitted. " It seems like World War II followed us here."

"You actually weren't in World War II Soldier." Sniper said.

"BUT as long as the Nazis were alive, World War II was still among us!" Soldier protested.

"Yo guys, we're gonna have to cut the conversation short. Here comes Twilight and the others!" Scout said, looking out the window. RED immediately moved around, trying to act like they were relaxing and telling friendly stories.

"Hey guys," The mane six said as they walked into sugercube corner, greeting RED. They simply nodded.

"So, what're ya'll talkin' about?" Applejack asked. Engineer started to sweat a little on the back of his neck, trying to think of an excuse. Luckily for RED, Pyro stepped in to save their necks.

"Hudda humph! Hudda hudda hudda humph. Hudda humph?" Pyro said. The Mane six looked at him blankly for a second, but then Pinkie jolted up.

"Really? I always thought sprinkles went best on Chocolate cupcakes!" she said to Pyro. Rainbow dash seemed to look a little queasy at the word cupcakes. ( Yes I have read that story, Which, like most others, wish I HAD NOT.)

"You alright?" Scout asked her. Dash nodded.

"Yeah, it's just this dream I had one time made me kind of sick around cupcakes." Dash responded. "You wouldn't want to know."

Scout just shrugged and went back over to where Spy was. When no one was looking, he punched Spy in the arm. Spy flinched some, but kept his facial expression the same. He had to admit, for a small young man, he could punch pretty hard.

"So, ah guess we've brought quite the crowd," Engineer said, changing the subject.

"Well ah reckon so. There're lots of new folks comin' around," Applejack replied.

They looked out the window and saw the new faces that were looking around Ponyville, some looking like normal visitors while others looked like important news writers or military strategists.

"So, what does the princess want us to do now?" Sniper asked Twilight as the others talked.

"Well, in her last letter, she wants us to be on the look out for any spies." Twilight said. Sniper seemed to flinch a little at the word "spies".

"Spies?" Sniper asked. Twilight nodded to reassure him.

"Yeah. If the changelings are helping this "Ghost's Shadow", they could be hiding among us." Twilight said. Sniper muttered to himself.

"Well, all right. We might as well get a move on. How about it fellas'?" Sniper asked the other RED members. One by one they nodded.

"yeah, I gotta… uh… check my hats. Yeah, Spy takes my hats sometimes." Scout said.

"Hey!" Spy said. The mane six chuckled at this.

"Well alright then," Twilight said. RED walked out of sugercube corner and started to head to Twilight's house, were they would keep the crates until they could make a temporary base.

"That was too close mate," Sniper said to Engineer.

"Yeah. We need to find a temporary base to set up so we can have conversations like that in private." Engineer said. "At least Pyro saved us that time."

Sniper chuckled. " Saved by the fire fanatic."

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Meanwhile….

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"Are you sure Rainbow Dash will be here?" said a young filly. The filly was a female Pegasus that had a mane and tail that had a combination of all brown colors, with a coat that was a mix of beige and light chocolate brown. She had Hazel eyes and her cutie mark was a chocolate bar. She was flying low to the ground by another mare, one that looked to be the same age as Rainbow Dash.

"I'm positive! Me and Dash were great friends in flight school, we just haven't seen each other after we graduated. She did send me a letter a time not long ago telling me about these " New visitors," said the other pony. This one was a mare, with a purple and yellow mane and a blue and orange tail. Her coat was white, with red outlines on the feathers under her wings. Her cutie mark was two clouds, one a rainbow colored mist, the other an ordinary cloud

"Ok, as long as you're sure Lily," Said the younger one.

"Don't worry Choco, I'm sure you'll like them. One of the mane six is even shy, like you!" Rainbow Lily said to her younger sister. Choco Dasher put on a small smile and landed on the ground to walk close to her sister.

"See, there's Ponyville. Since you like flying so much, you want to race to see how fast you are?" Rainbow Lily asked Choco. Choco's smile widened at the chance of flying fast like her older sister.

"Okay, you're on!" Choco said. The two sisters shot off in a flying frenzy towards Ponyville. Laughing among the way.

Diamond Caves…

"So what's the progress?" Ghost mare asked Shadow Stallion.

"Actually, it is pretty good. Our new wizard from Stalliongrad said that the alter-ego copy are almost finished." Shadow Stallion replied. " how did you find this alter ego anyway?"

"Well, you know how our new allies, the changelings, use love to disguise themselves, right?" Ghostmare said.

"Yeah," Shadow Stallion replied.

"Well, while they are searching for the emotion of love, they see other emotions, like fear, anger, hate, and that combines into their "alter-ego". You know what I mean?" Ghost Mare explained. Shadow Stallion nodded.

"I understand, but whose alter-ego is it?"

"A pony that is not a permanent resident of Ponyville. Rainbow Lily. She was at the the Wedding of Twilight's brother, and a changeling disguised as her. That changeling said that her alter ego was so horrifying, he never forgot it. that's why it sounds perfect," Ghost Mare said, followed by an evil laugh.

"Well, I'll keep you updated on the progress sister," Shadow Stallion said.

"Alright. I will look over Ponyville," Ghost Mare responded. "And tell that new wizard Deca Dance to keep up the good work."

Shadow Stallion nodded as he trotted off back to where their makeshift lab was.

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RED was at Twilight's house taking off their Halloween outfits ( they had slept in them because the battle wore them down too much to take them off the night before) and were putting back on their regular clothes. While most of the guys were quiet, Sniper and Spy were having an argument.

"Mate, Australia's football team could beat France's any day!" Sniper said. (Even though it's called soccer in America ( my home country) I am using the name other countries call soccer, which is football.)

"You must be dreaming! France has ze greatest Football team imagined!" Spy replied.

"Then why didn't they win the Euro tournament or the World cup this year?" Sniper mockingly asked as he finished clothing himself by putting on his Trophy Belt.

"Well, ze last time I checked, Australia hasn't either." Spy said. Engineer and Medic watched as they argued.

"They really get at it when it comes to soccer, don't they?" Engineer asked, even though he knew the answer by working with these guys for years.

"Yah. But zhey don't know zhat Germany is really ze best." Medic said.

"Don't start. We don't need a third one." Engineer said.

"Eh, I care for Baseball." Scout said, jumping into the conversation.

"Well, this ain't the time to talk about sports." Engineer said. Soon after everyone finished putting their regular clothes (except for their hats, which they interchanged) They walked outside, where the mane six (except for Fluttershy) and a pony that was new to them were outside, waiting.

"Hey guys! I want to introduce you to a great friend of mine!" Rainbow Dash immediately said. Dash then pointed to the pony standing beside her, whom seemed ot act shy like flutter shy, but NOWHERE near as much.

"This is Rainbow Lily. We were great friends in school, and when I saw her here, I just had to introduce her.

"Hi," Rainbow Lily said. She had to admit, while these newcomers didn't act scary (based on the letter from Rainbow Dash) they looked nothing at all like she thought they would.

"Yo, Wassup." Scout greeted. One by one, RED introduced themselves. After they introduced themselves, they noticed an even smaller pony behind Rainbow Lily.

"Oh, This is my little sister, Choco Dasher. Say hi." Rainbow Lily said, encouraging Choco.

"H-hi.." Choco meekly said. Heavy looked at Choco.

"She is so tiny!" Heavy said. Medic then hit his arm ( which he knew he would barely feel.)

"Dummkopf, be more polite." He muttered to Heavy.

"Da. Sorry for calling little pony "tiny"" Heavy said.

"I-it's alright." Choco said. She then looked at her big sister, Rainbow Lily.

"Sis, Fluttershy said I could go with her near Everfree Forest to pick flowers with her, can I? please?" Choco asked, making her "big eyes" effect, which she was real good at."

Rainbow Lily couldn't help it. "Aw, alright. Is flutter shy at her house?" She asked, Which Choco nodded in response.

"Twilight, do you know if anypony could guide Choco to Fluttershy's house?" Rainbow l

Lily Asked Twilight.

"Sure!" Twilight said, looking around. "Derpy, can you lead this filly to to Fluttershy's house?" Twilight asked Derpy, who was flying by.

"Uh, sure Twilight! I can get her their safely!" Derpy said, Just before running into a flagpole. "My bad!" Derpy said, backing up. Choco laughed and flew over to derpy, and they both flew off towards Fluttershy's house.

"You sure she knows the way?" rainbow Lily asked Twilight.

"Oh, yeah. It may just take a while though." Twilight responded. " anyways, there's nothing really happening right now, so we have time to just talk."

"Well, All right then." Soldier said as RED and the ponies went inside Twilights house.

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"So, are you sure this alter ego will work?" Shadow Stallion asked the wizard.

"Yes, I am in Complete control of the Rainbow Lily alter-ego, and no spell can destroy it." Deca Dance reported. "You want me to take a hostage, right?"

"That's what Ghost Mare said." Shadow Stallion answered.

"Right, since I am in control of the alter ego, I see what it sees," Deca said. "I control it's every move and thought."

"Really now? Sounds impressive." Ghost mare said as she walked in. The trio looked through a portal that was showing the edge of Everfree Forest, where the alter ego was currently at.

"Remember, even though the alter ego is a blood thirsty killer, don't kill anypony….yet."

"Right." Deca dance said. " I see a young filly and Fluttershy," She said soon after. "you want me to try and get them both?"

"No," Ghost Mare responded. " I feel that if we take Fluttershy, Twilight could connect to her telepathically and those humans will stop us before we can even start. Just take the filly, but keep her alive." She said.

"You got it."

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Fluttershy was picking flowers, humming a little tune to herself, when she suddenly heard a scream, which made her jump.

"C-Choco? Are you alright?" Fluttershy asked. When she turned around, she nearly dropped dead with fright. She saw what looked like Rainbow Lily, just a dark, Shadow like version with blood red eyes and what looked like a blood stained mane and tail. In one of it's wings was Choco, flailing around and screaming for help.

"I'll save you! I hope.." Fluttershy said as she ran towards the creature. The creature responded with an unearthly hiss which made Fluttershy drop with fright. When she came back to her senses, The creature had run off with Choco back into Everfree Forest.

"Oh no, I have to tell the others!" Fluttershy said, flying as fast as she could back towards Twilights house.

Later…

RED an The ponies were talking when Fluttershy suddenly burst through the door.

"Fluttershy, whats wrong!" Everyone asked when they saw the look on her face.

"S-S-some creature came and took Choco! I tried to stop it but it ran off before I could!" She said. Everyone was in shock, especially Rainbow Lily.

"they'll pay for taking my sister!" Lily said, about to release her alter ego until Dash stopped her.

"Wait, remember, sometimes, you can't control it. What if you can't now?" Dash asked. Lily knew dash was right.

"But how are we gonna get my sister!" She asked.

"Everyone, calm down!" Soldier said. "Fluttershy, what was this creature like?" he asked her.

"W-well, it was like a shadow version of Rainbow lily, except it looked evil, and it was sooo scary!" She said. " I wish I could have saved her," Fluttershy said before bursting into tears. The mane six and Lily gathered around her to calm her down.

"What are we gonna do?" Dash asked.

"It sounds like my alter ego," Lily commented.

"Well, we may have to fight a bloodthirsty killer with another one." Engineer said.

"But how are we gonna find a Bloodthirsty killer?" Scout asked. Then, the Idea hit RED and they looked towards Sniper. Sniper also knew what they were thinking.

"No way! It's way too risky for me to let him out!" Sniper said.

"We all know the risk," said Soldier, " But it's a chance we'll have to take."

"But what if I accidently kill Dasher in the process?" Sniper asked.

"Don't worry, now that we know how to stop him, we can use the music to activate him and turn him off." Soldier added. After some tense argument, Sniper finally agreed.

"All right, but if something happens, it ain't my fault."

"Alright, Scout, get your boom box and the Tape that has the song on it." Soldier told Scout, Scout ran to where the crates where and came back in a flash, with The Boom Box on his back and a tape in his pocket.

"got it right here helmet head." Scout reported. RED nodded as they and the ponies ran out towards Everfree Forest.

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Later…

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RED and the ponies were once again about to enter the diamond caves. Sniper was standing in-between everyone.

"What's he going to do Engineer?" Twilight asked him.

"Well, you ponies aren't the only ones with "alter-egos"." Engineer replied.

"guys, ya'll ready?" Engineer asked his teammates. The other RED members nodded.

"Sniper, You ready?" Engineer asked Sniper.

"Yeah, but I still think it's too risky mate." Sniper replied.

"Alright. Make sure those ropes around his hands are tied where he can't get out unless we cut them." Engineer told Demoman.

"Right, they be tight all right." Demoman confirmed.

"And Ze Blindfold is on tight!" Medic reported.

"Allrighty then! I'd advise you ponies to stand back. The Sniper You're about to see isn't the Sniper he is."

The Mane six and Lily took a few steps back, along with RED, except for Soldier, who was holding the Ropes that bonded Sniper's hands. Soldier also made sure that Sniper had his Tribalmen's Shiv, which he did.

"Okay," Soldier said, "Start the tape."

Scout nodded as he put the tape he was carrying into his Boom box and then put the Boom Box onto his back. The boom Box started to play "The Millionaire's Holiday" At Which Sniper's head jerked up.

Sniper grunted and groaned as his body started to shake. He then let out a yell that startled the ponies and even RED. After about, fifteen seconds, Sniper's head fell limp. Twilight immediately got worried.

"Is he.." Twilight said, fearing the worst. She then, along with the other ponies, were startled when they heard Sniper. This time, his voice sounded darker.

"It's like Christmas morning.."

"All right, let's go, but be careful and make sure Sniper doesn't get loose," Engineer ordered. Soldier pushed the now Christian Brutal Sniper forward into the Diamond cave.

"I warn ye lassies, It's about to get bloody." Demoman told the Ponies.

They would have no idea how right he would be.