Shadows of Hope

"Any Allies, old or new, in the end, will help you make it through."

-The Number 1 Bushwacka

Chapter 3: New Allies

"So, let me get this straight. You six are not really humans and not from Earth, and you've lost these, "Elements of Harmony" and while the elements are not back on your own planet, a great evil will break free and follow you all to find you and take the elements to rule your world, and possibly ours?" Price said.

"Yeah, you've got the right idea," Twilight said. The six soldiers were now thinking about what they had just heard.

"Well, there has got to be a way to help them. If what they said was right, this "Discord" character is a threat to our world just as much as theirs." Specter said.

"Well, I don't know. Even if we agree, we would have to talk to command and possibly the U.N." Soap stated.

"Well, couldn't you just get all of them together and talk about it in one big party?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"It's not that simple, even though I wish it was," Jester said.

"Don't I get a say in all of this?" The OpFor officer said. He had woken up shortly after they had left, and was now tied up.

"Just shut it." Scarecrow said.

"So why were ya'll there in the first place?" Applejack asked.

"Well, we were on a mission to retrieve stolen tomahawk missiles," Ghost said, pointing to the Tomahawk missiles that they had brought onboard with them.

"This was intended to be a "kill all" mission. But if it wasn't for Scarecrow, we wouldn't have known you were there and that you were being held hostage." Specter said.

"I was doing my job." Scarecrow said. "Nothing heroic."

"I didn't think it was heroic," The officer said. Scarecrow punched the officer in the back of his head, knocking him out again. This caught the girls, and even jester off guard.

"sheesh, I thought you were Christian," Jester said.

"Just because I believe in god doesn't mean I don't believe in fighting," Scarecrow said. Scarecrow was silent for the rest of the trip.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

When the choppers landed back at a Fire Base Phoenix, medical staff was the first to arrive to take the wounded 141 and SC soldiers to receive medical treatment. After that, a U.S. Army Major walked out to meet Price and Specter.

"Gentlemen, I see you got the Tomahawk missiles, along with information on other equipment they working on," The Major said as Price handed him some photos and Blueprints that were put in a small bag.

"Yes sir, but we believe we've stumbled on a bigger problem." Specter said to the general. He led the Major to the six girls.

"Who are these people?" The Major asked.

"Eh, it's a long story." Jester said.

"We need clothing for them sir." Scarecrow said. The Major noted this as he saw the makeshift clothing they had on.

"Alright, I'll see what I can do. But I still want to know why they're here." The Major said.

"I can explain why we are here sir," Twilight said, walking up to him.

"Alright, but you do need some clothes on." The Major said.

"They're should be military clothing in one of our facilities, ask Corporal Johnson about it. He's currently at the firing range." The Major said.

"Alright, Thanks for the info Major Ramirez," Specter said, Saluting him. Major Ramirez Saluted him back, before getting a call on his radio.

"This is Major Ramirez, go ahead." Ramirez answered. "What? What do you mean Colonel Foley wants to see me? What for? Are you serious?" Ramirez asked. "Alright, but where are we going to find 2 packs of beer and 6 bananas in the middle of fucking Afghanistan? You know what, let me see him. Ramirez out." Ramirez said, turning off the radio.

"Colonel Foley?" Jester asked.

"Yeah, and I thought I finally didn't have to be his bitch," Ramirez responded. Ramirez walked off, going to once again meet Foley's needs.

"Well, we better find this Johnson character," Ghost said. Ghost walked over to Rainbow dash.

"you alright?" he asked her.

"Yeah, just still getting use to being human." Dash replied.

"Well, I'm sure you'll get the hang of it." Ghost said. Dash gave a little smile as the 12 walked towards the firing range.

When they got there, they could see a corporal showing new recruits in the Rangers how to field strip an enemy AK-47.

"now you see, the time for a regular person to take this rifle apart would be about twelve to 15 seconds, IF they now how to. But here in the Rangers and even the special forces like Task force 141 and Shadow Company, you have to be able to do it faster than that time." Johnson said.

"Excuse me, corporal Johnson, but I need to ask you something," Specter said. When Johnson looked up and saw who it was, he immediately saluted him.

"Captain on deck!" Johnson said. The recruits immediately stood at attention. The mane six had to admit, they were impressed by their quick reflexes and clean movements.

"At ease," Specter said, returning the salute. "I just need to ask you something." Specter whispered the question into the corporal's hear so the recruits wouldn't get any ideas.

"There should be female military clothing in hangar 5, that's where they have been keeping recent clothing." Johnson said.

"Alright, thanks." Specter said, turning around and started to walk off. "Oh, and for you new guys, pay attention and you'll be able to do this in battle. Show em' Scarecrow." Specter said.

Scarecrow, without saying a word, walked over to the table where the AK-47 was. Then, with quick speed, he did a clean field strip on the AK-47, disassembling it in eight seconds. He then put it back together in nine seconds, loaded the weapon with a AK-47 magazine that was on the table, and fired at two targets down the range. The gun worked perfectly, and he took down both targets with near perfect accuracy.

The recruits, along with the mane six, stared in awe.

"Wow, how did you do that that so fast, pardner?" Applejack asked.

"It took patience and time to learn, and it's saved my life plenty." Scarecrow said as he walked beside her.

"Maybe if I learn that, I could do it faster!" Dash said.

"Good luck with that," Jester said. "Scarecrow's time of 8 seconds is our company record. No one in Shadow Company has done it faster." He said.

"I still bet I can." Dash muttered.

"I'd worry about putting on clothes, first mate. This is it." Ghost said. The Mane six had not even notice that they were already at the hangar. They walked inside and came to an a door that had "CLOTHING" on it. Soap opened the door and they led the girls in. They then walked to an area that had another door, this one having "WOMEN" on it.

"Well, Guess this is it." Jester said.

"Alright. Get some clothes on, and meet us outside the hangar door," Price said.

"Of Course, I will be glad to get out of these rags." Rarity said.

"I don't blame you." Price responded. He smiled a little when Rarity seemed to steam a little at his remark.

"Well, we'll see you outside." Specter said as the 6 men walked out of the room. As Twilight opened some of the crates with her magic, she could see uniforms that were like the ones that the 141 and SC wears, except they were for women. The near skin tight uniforms would "turn a guy on" to say the least.

"I guess this is it." Twilight said. The girls put on the uniforms and observed themselves in a mirror that happened to be in the room. Twilight, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie had put on SC combat gear, while Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy had on TF141 combat gear.

"Well, it's indubitably better," Rarity said, observing herself. The girls were all wearing lightweight gear, with different styles for different occupations. Twilight and Rainbow dash had lightweight infantry gear on, Pinkie Pie had on demolitions gear ( the others were surprised she could carry the gear with ease.), Applejack had on Sniper gear ( about the same as Scarecrows) and Rarity and Fluttershy had on medical gear. Applejack had kept her regular hat on instead of putting on a helmet, unlike the others.

"Well, this gear can't slow me down!" Dash said as she rolled the sleeves of her uniform up to her elbows.

"Come on girls, Specter said they would be waiting for us outside." Twilight said.

The guys were chatting outside the hangar when the girls came out. They definitely got their attention. Applejack and Rainbow Dash walked up to Ghost and Scarecrow.

"What do ya'll think?" Applejack and Rainbow Dash asked.

"Uh, looks great," Scarecrow said.

"Yeah, looks good on you mate." Ghost said. Needless to say, Ghost was thankful he had his Sunglasses on, and Scarecrow was thankful he had his tinted goggles on. Scarecrow asked for forgiveness later that day.

"Bloody hell, for a women that is really a pony, Dash is hot." Ghost thought. "Wait, what the hell am I thinking, she's a pony! That's just sick." Ghost then thought, his brain conflicting.

"I wonder what Ghost looks like without his mask on…" Dash was thinking. Dash and Ghost then looked away

Applejack and Scarecrow were having the same thoughts.

"Ah have at admit, Scarecrow seems like a cute guy, for a human. Wait, what in tarnation am Ah sayin?" Applejack thought.

"I wonder if she's thinking about me… wait, did I just think that?" Scarecrow thought.

"Oi, Scarecrow!" Ghost said. Scarecrow and Applejack had broken out of their thoughts and noticed they had been staring at each other. They both looked away, blushing. But Scarecrow had his mask on, hiding most of his blush. Dash and Ghost chuckled a little. The four ran and caught up to specter and the others, who were heading towards base headquarters. Dash and Applejack were in the back.

"Thinking?" Dash said, chuckling.

"Aw, Don't be so immature," Applejack said.

"Come on Applejack, you can tell me." Dash said. Applejack and Rainbow Dash have been friends a long time, so she trusted her.

"Well, Ah admit, I was thinking about Scarecrow," Applejack admitted. " Ah know he's human, but I just have that "Feeling"" She said.

Dash gasped. "You to?"

"What?" Applejack said, caught off guard.

"I was thinking of Ghost the same way. There's just something about him that makes me feel for him." Dash and Applejack looked at each other, and then looked at Ghost and Scarecrow, who were talking to each other.

"Wonder if they think the same about us," Dash said.

"Well, who knows," Applejack said. They group quieted down when they got to headquarters.

"Alright. Twilight, since you're the group leader, follow me." Specter said. Specter and Twilight walked into a room that had "COMMAND HQ" on the door. Specter closed the door behind him after Twilight had walked in.

"Generals, This is Ms. Twilight Sparkle. She has important information to tell you and she requires our help." Twilight stepped forward and explained everything about why they were here and how Discord is looking for them. The generals, three American in command of Shadow Company, and three British in command of 141, counseled with each other. When they broke, one of the Generals stood up

"If this "Discord" can do what you say he can, he is a threat not only to our countries, but our world. While we agree to help you, you will have to convince the President of the United States and the King of the United Kingdom." The Generals turned behind them and looked at a large TV screen. The screen turned on, and the President of the U.S. and the King of England.

Twilight gulped and walked up to stand in front of the screen.

"Look in your bag," Said a voice in Twilight's head. The voice sounded like Princess Celestia. Twilight forgot she had her satchel with her, and reached inside. She felt one of her book of spells, which she put in there, but she also felt a small, round object. She pulled the object out, and was not sure what it was. She pressed a button on it, and a screen came up. The device floated out of Twilight's hand and hovered in front of the screen that had the president and king.

"Greetings. I am Princess Celestia, ruler of the land that my Messenger and student, Twilight Sparkle, comes from. We are in dire need of your help. The Princess, President, and King discussed about the situation, and after about 15 minutes, they agreed. The U.S. and Great Britain would help the mane six in search of the elements of harmony, and provide information and protection to the girls in their search.

"Thank you for your care and your time." The Princess said. The video screen than disappeared, and the device floated back to Twilight, which she put back in her satchel.

"Well, It's settled then." one of the British generals said. Specter saluted the generals, and Twilight bowed, The generals returning the salute.

When they came back out, Specter informed his men and Soap, Price, and Ghost while Twilight told the mane six of what had happened.

"So, where would the first element of harmony be?" Ghost said.

"I know," Said an officer that was listening to the conversation.

"And who are you?" Captain price said.

"I overheard your conversation and remembered something concerning the elements of harmony. The OpFor officer you brought back, during interrogation, he admitted that before you 6 women arrived, a necklace of some kind appeared. He described it as "having what looked like an apple on it, and it possessed great power." He said before their base was raided, they sent the necklace off to a bigger and more guarded facility in Pakistan." the Officer reported. Applejack gasped.

"Why, That's mah element! Tha Element of honesty!" She exclaimed.

"You said in Pakistan. Where?" Soap asked.

"The capitol. Islamabad." the officer said.

"Damn," Specter muttered under his breath.

"Alright, thanks for the info mate." Ghost said. The Officer saluted and walked off.

"Should we head out tomorrow than?" Specter asked Price.

"Probably, at best." Price said. They noticed how dark it was, and must have forgot about the time.

"Well, off to bed. What about sleeping arrangements?" Jester said. After some talk, the six men would get extra mattresses and sleep on the floor and

let the girls have the beds.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

After taking their combat gear off, the men had only their T-shirts and pants on, and they let the girls borrow some extra shits and pants that were now to small for the guys.

"Alright, see you in the morning, mates. And ladies, we talked about it, and tomorrow we're gonna show you how to fire some of our weapons, just in case you have to." Price said. Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Fluttershy would sleep with Soap, Price, and Ghost, while Applejack, Twilight, and Pinkie Pie would sleep with Jester, Specter, and Scarecrow.

Specter, Twilight, Pinkie, and Jester were already inside, and Applejack was about to go inside, when she noticed Scarecrow sitting on the ground, looking at the sky.

"Say, Jester, What's Scarecrow doin'?" Applejack asked.

"Oh, well, you see, like you, Scarecrow had a brother. Him and his brother were in the armed forces."

"What does that have to do with him sittin' out there?" Applejack asked. Jester sighed.

"You see, Scarecrow's Religion is Christianity. At night, before he goes to bed, he looks up at the sky and prays to his God. He also said that it reminds him of when he and his brother would hang out and look at the sky at night." Jester said.

"Well, Where's his brother?" Applejack asked. Jester looked at Scarecrow, and then back at Applejack.

"His… his brother died four years ago. An enemy RPG hit him directly while he was covering his squad, allowing his men, along with the wounded, to escape. He got the Medal of Honor, our nation's highest award, but it didn't help Scarecrow feel any better, to say the least." Jester said. " I'm his best friend, but he won't even talk about that to me." Jester said before walking inside the sleeping quarters.

Applejack turned and looked at Scarecrow. She loved her family dear, but she couldn't imagine the pain of losing her big brother, Big Mac or her sister, Applebloom.

She walked over and coughed, getting Scarecrow's attention. She was also curious of what Scarecrow looked like. He didn't have his mask on, but his shadow in the moon's light covered it.

"Oh, Hey Applejack," Scarecrow said without turning around.

"Howdy, mind if I sit by ya?" She asked him. Scarecrow motioned that she could.

"So, Jester told me why you're out here," She said as she sat down.

"Really now. Some people think I'm crazy cause of it." Scarecrow said.

"How would Fluttershy handle this?" Applejack thought.

"Well, Ah don't think that. Ah have a big brother and little sister back home. I love them dearly, and Ah couldn't live if Ah lost one of them." She said. " Ah'm mighty sorry about your loss, Nick." Applejack said. Scarecrow noticed that she used his name, but let her.

"So why didn't you go in with the others?" Scarecrow asked her.

"I figured you may have needed someone to try to comfort you." Applejack said. That's when Scarecrow turned his head towards her. She was speechless for a couple of seconds. He looked handsome, his hairstyle was the same as Zac Efron's was ( the way it looked in High School Musical) except it was the same dark shade of brown that his eyes were.

Applejack was intrigued by his good looks, as was Nick intrigued in Applejack's beauty. They were both quiet, looking into each others eyes. They then started to move their heads closer together. Their lips were about to touch when out of nowhere, Pinkie Pie popped up behind the two.

"Come on you two! Time for bedy bye!" Pinkie said. The two jumped at hearing her voice.

"Oh, uh, ok Pinkie." Scarecrow said, him and Applejack looking away from each other, blushing immensely. Scarecrow stood up and helped Applejack up. They walked together into the sleeping quarters. The lights had already been turned off, so Applejack couldn't see well in the low light.

She accidentally tripped on the mattress on the floor that Scarecrow was going to sleep on and held on to Scarecrow by instinct as they fell. When they hit the mattress, someone turned the lights back on, and Scarecrow and Applejack saw the position they were in. Applejack was on top of Scarecrow, and there faces were real close to each other, there noses touching. Everyone else saw this, and Jester started laughing.

"Gosh, Scarecrow, they haven't been here for a day and you already got Applejack on top of ya'." he said. Applejack immediately got off of Scarecrow, both of their faces bright red. Jester started laughing as Scarecrow told him to "kill the jokes for tonight."

"Alright, back to bed." Specter said. Everyone got in their beds and Specter turned the lights back off.

They would need the rest for Tomorrow's fight.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Preview of Chapter 4

"Get a Medic!" Ghost yelled. He held on to Rainbow Dash's hand while Jester and Soap was covering them.

Dash looked at the wound in her leg as Ghost was holding her hand, doing everything he knew to keep her conscious. Ghost than saw a medic coming, being covered by Scarecrow.

"Let's see what we got here," the medic said as he worked on Dash's leg. Scarecrow started to say a prayer.

"Oi, Scarecrow." Ghost said. Scarecrow stopped for a moment.

"Yeah?" He asked.

"Say a prayer for me to."