The moon casted a brilliant beam of blue over the palace grounds. It was a beautiful night, cloudless, with every star in the sky complimenting the moon's radiance. Luna had really outdone herself.

Princess Celestia, however, payed no attention as she paced through the great hall, immersed in her thoughts.

The nearby door opened with an outline of a dark-blue magic aura, making way for Princess Luna. "Big sister?" she called with a whisper as she proceeded. "What art thou-... I mean, what are you doing here?"

Celestia turned to her sister with a worryful expression. "I fear something terrible must have happened to Twilight Sparkle and Ray, and everypony else. I have received no report from anypony in over two hours. Not even of my guardsmen."

Luna attempted a reassuring smile. "Fear not, my sister. The elements have never failed to defeat our most powerful enemies. Because the wielders of their power are very strong, and live by their meaning with iron determination."

Celestia nodded with a sigh, gradually making her way towards the door. "Yes, you're right. I should never doubt the capabilities of my faithful student and her beloved friends. I suppose even the outlander Ray would prove to be a valuable asset." She halted just as she reached the archway. "But I will never forgive myself for such a foolish mistake."

"You must not dwell on that. Besides, look at me. Do you recall my mistake? My so foolish mistake?"

Celestia looked her younger sister in the eyes with perfect understanding as she recalled the events of their lives. "I suppose it is a miracle that immortal souls as ourselves have made so few mistakes in our immense lifespan, despite the severity of those we have."

Luna smiled, holding back the involuntary urge to snicker at the irony of her sister's logic.

Celesta managed a grin to meet hers. "Where is Spike, by the way?"

"I let him rest in my chambers while I guard the night. Speaking of which-..."

"Yes, of course." Celestia interrupted, continuing out the door. "Good night."

"Good night." Luna replied. And sweet dreams. The morning, I trust, will bring about a wonderful surprise.

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...

The Changeling drones gathered all of the requested supplies from the cache and brought them before Ray. Most notable were eleven glass bottles half-full of gasoline taken from the Otokar Akrep and Ray's wrecked El Camino, a bowl of salt, rags torn from shredded clothing, a twig, and the army field manuals, all on top of a table erected from an upturned back-seat of a car, supported by large rocks.

Beside the table was a pile of the weapons and miscellaneous junk taken from the cache. The wrecked vehicles were stripped of usable materials, including thick metal pipes cut from their framework.

The Changelings themselves, including their queen, stood patiently around Ray like an audience, ready to learn what he had to teach them. Let's get on with it then.

Ray picked up one of the bottles and held it out. "I need the other half of this bottle full of blood. Anyone care to help me out?"

The drones looked around at each other. Ray had obviously not gained their trust yet.

"Look, if you want me to teach you what I know, you're going to have to help me in the process. Now please, contribute."

Suddenly, a glow emitted from a nearby drone, forcing the bottle out of Ray's hand and into the drone's presence, disappearing into the crowd. Within a mere few seconds it was back in his hand, full of a mixture of gasoline and, surprisingly, red blood. That's more like it.

"Thanks." Ray put it down and grabbed a handful of salt from the bowl, sloppily pouring it into the bottle. Next he stirred the mixture with the twig, for a timespan of about a minute. The mixture began forming a gel, eventually becoming so thick that it chunked when he moved the stick inside it. He stopped stirring and grabbed a nearby rag, jamming it half-way through the top of the bottle. It had quickly become a Molotov cocktail.

He then stepped away from the table, holding the rag end of the bottle over a nearby torch, setting it on fire. "Now, if you on the left there would kindly form a gap about ten meters..."

The drones did just that, backing away to form a wide opening that exposed the rocky earth beneath their hooves.

With a swift motion, Ray threw the flaming cocktail to the distant ground. It exploded into a startling fireball, with flames that refused to die down. Gasps and mumbles came from the crowd as they stared mesmerized.

"Gasoline mixed with blood and salt forms a flame fuel that adheres to target surfaces, like a poor man's napalm. Of course, you can also use sugar instead of salt." As Ray walked back to the table, the drones began stomping their hooves on the ground. Confused, he turned to the queen.

"They're applauding you, Ray." She said, smiling.

"Oh." He turned back to the crowd. "Well, there's much, much more where that came from. I would like about ten of you to perform the same procedure I just showed you, with these remaining ten bottles respectively. Come and grab your supplies."

Exactly ten of them levitated the materials towards them as they disappeared into the hive.

"Now, I hear you have weapons newly acquired for your previously planned offensive that are about a technological match against the Royal Guard. Well, time to modify one specific kind for our new offensive. I want one of you to give me a bow and arrow."

One drone emerged from the crowd, levitating the two items onto the table.

"Beauty. Now I need a few more things from the cache. I need a bag of chemical fertilizer, something made of aluminum, a tube of any material that's about five inches long and one inch wide, an abrasive object like a metal file for grinding, and some tape."

Two drones separated from the crowd, searching the pile of junk, eventually finding the materials and levitating them to Ray. The aluminum items were empty drink cans, the tube was a thin metal pipe, about six inches long instead of five, and the abrasive object was a blade to an electric metal-grinder. I suppose this will do.

"Thanks." Ray took one of the rags and stuffed it into one end of the metal tube, then rested the tube against a rail support of the upturned seat with the rag end facing downward. He then got to work grinding the surface of the can over the tube's top opening, hoping to catch as much of the filings as he could.

...

...

...

Queen Chrysalis looked on at Ray with admiration of his skill in this field. Indeed he would prove to be a very valuable asset in the Changelings' mission to repel the invaders. It was a very exciting time for everyone.

She felt a nudge on her left front hoof and turned to its source.

"I need to talk to you, my queen." whispered Cattani. "In private, please."

She followed Cattani through the crowd behind Ray, disappearing from his presence undetected. They found themselves within the hive entrance, accompanied by the other high-ranking Changelings.

"So what's going on here, my subjects?" asked Chrysalis.

Tempest stepped forward. "Well, I would like to know more about this plan of yours. I think it would be in the hive's best interest if you'd enlighten us all."

"Excuse me?"

"Alright then, let me guess. Once you've acquired your information on the outlander's improvised weaponry, you plan on betraying him in the battlefield. To fight not only the humans, but to also weaken the guard and their defences so that you'll have a window to infiltrate the palace. Am I close? If so, please note that I don't protest it, but I find it rather wreckless, if I may be so bold in saying so."

"I don't like your tone very much, Tempest. And rest assured, I stand by what I said."

"So you do plan on actually giving our sworn enemy a head start?" Cattani snapped.

"Cattani, there's much to this night I've yet to explain even to myself. But I feel this descision will benifit us a great deal. Ray and his friends will lead us to victory, to the fighting finish. The Canterlot Royal Guard will be our ally in this conflict. Though a regretful mismatch to the Raiders', and soon, our, destructive capability, we need as much help as we can get. I do not plan on throwing it all away in our one and only chance to fight for our very survival. Whatever happens in the end should we be victorious, to both or prisoners and our 'former' Equestrian enemy, will be decided in our retrograde that will allow them a chance to redeem themselves."

Tempest shook his head. "You want to give our enemy a chance to gain the strength that we will tonight."

She remained silent.

"You've changed, my queen. What happened to the survivalist leader I once knew during the first Canterlot invasion? Did the impact of that fall affect a vital region of your hea-..."

With the glow of her horn, Tempest found himself yanked from his hooves and shoved into the hive wall behind him.

"I need not explain myself any further, Tempest!" she said, gritting her teeth. "I've grown weary of your sniveling sounds of distrust and rude impulse. You and Cattani both!"

Cattani swallowed hard, backing away from the confrontation.

She continued. "Don't push me. I may have gained somewhat of a moral sense lately, but that doesn't mean I'll take any less pleasure in inflicting pain upon those who insult me!" She finally released him and began walking towards the outside of the hive.

"Contradiction much?" Albatross said to no one in particular.

Tempest retained his attitude. "Chrysalis!"

She halted and turned back to him with a scowl.

"We're notifying Twenty-Nine and the other agents of this drastic change of plan. I think they deserve to know what's going on."

"No. You will do no such thing. They are in deep cover, and I am not blowing this chance."

Tempest remained silent for a moment, then turned to face the other Changelings. "So be it, my queen."

Chrysalis proceeded out the entryway, joining the rest of the gathering.

Cattani edged closer to Tempest. "We're sending the message anyway, aren't we?"

"What do you think?" Tempest snorted and walked deeper into the hive.

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...

Ray finished pouring the powdered fertilizer inside the metal tube, careful not to fill it all the way to leave room as he jammed another rag into the top opening, this time leaving a part of it dangling outward of the tube. He picked it up and shaked it, mixing the aluminum filings and furtilizer evenly. Shortly after he ripped pieces of duct tape from the roll and tightly wrapped it around the top and bottom openings stuffed with the cloth, then took even bigger pieces from the roll, this time taping the entire tube along the front end of the arrow. He held it up for all to see.

"This is arguably the earliest example of an explosive projectile. Well, next to explosive cannonballs anyway. But much more powerful than simple black powder." Ray then picked up the bow as he walked to the nearby torch, lighting the rag that hung loose from the tube on the arrow, then quickly positioned it on the bow. He had already picked out a safe target, taking aim and firing without warning.

The Changelings tracked the flaming arrow as it streaked accross the darkened sky, then watched as a twisted tree in the distance dissolved in the most violent small-scale explosion they had ever seen.

"You can also add nails and metal chunks into the mixture, which allows for a much deadlier fragmentation explosive, good for taking out multiple personnel."

More applause as about twenty-five archer drones levitated the materials to themselves, all dissappearing into the hive with eager looks on their faces. Refreshing enthusiasm, I must say.

"Now there's one more improvised system I want to show you before we move on to small-arms training. You may notice that we have a small stockpile of assault rifles, including my own WA-2000, and about an equal distribution of ammo for each. However, this will only be enough to arm a small squad, obviously not an entire legion."

Ray walked back to the table, putting the bow on the ground next to it. "Someone give me a bullet from one of those rifles. Doesn't matter which one."

Shuffling from the pile of weapons as a round of ammunition flew from inside one and onto the table. "Good. Now one of you find me a thick metal pipe about twenty inches long with an interior width that matches the diameter of the bullet." One drone stepped forward and inspected the bullet carefully, then rummaged through the pile of junk.

"Others find me these following items: A straight piece of wood about thirty inches long, two inches wide, and four inches tall; a short pipe-link about five inches or so; three small nails; lots of rope or string, preferably very strong; finally a belt, or a strap that's equal to a belt size."

Many enthusiastic soldiers did just as instructed, at an enviable pace. One drone that found the piece of wood noticed flaws in the requested dimensions, and began cutting it to the required specifications with his magic.Interesting. This answers the question of how I'm recieving such quality items that almost match my specifications. Furthermore, this may prove to be a useful weapon as well. "Excuse me, but how powerful is that spell you're using?"

The drone stopped and looked up at him. "Just enough to cut wood and thin metal."

"Hmm. That may come in handy."

He smiled at him. "I don't think it's strong enough for what you have in mind. We mostly use this spell for cutting and ramming through wooden structures."

"Still might be a useful close-quarters tool. Remember it when you're dry of physical weapons."

The drone thought about it for a moment, then went back to cutting the wood. He quickly finished and gave it to Ray.

"Thanks, everyone. Now watch closely." Ray first picked up the pipe, then put the narrow bullet inside, with the larger cartridge end sticking out. Next he screwed the pipe-link onto the same end of the pipe as tight as he could. He stuffed more of the rags inside to even the diameters of both the bullet and the pipe-link, then stuffed even more inside, completely concealing the cartridge. He then poked the nail through, just matching the approximate location of the cartridge primer.

He paused. Wait, you're still missing a couple more items. Ugh, this thing is more complicated than I remember.

...

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...

Crickets chirped everywhere in the cool, breezy night, oblivious to the destruction that surrounded them. The Raiders, however, were as silent as the remains of two-hundred soldier ponies scattered about the town. No lights from the newly-erected tents, no voices, and not a movement that was of sentiant origin.

The metallic smell of blood tainted the air, mixing with the scent of ash from charred bodies and structures. The telltale sign of decay would accompany this mixture soon enough.

The disturbingly quiet night was interrupted as Riggs opened the door to the library, stepping out onto the grassland to take in the air. Air he thought would be fresh. As he inhaled, he began caughing up the stench that surrounded him, forcing him to take small, controlled breaths with his mouth to lessen the extremity on his nostrils.

A silhouetted figure emerged from the rear end of Tolwin's Chinook about fifty feet away, stepping closer to the nearby light to reveal himself.

"Hey, Faust." Greeted Riggs with a soft tone.

Faust grinned. "Can't sleep?"

Riggs shook his head. "Got a headache from watching all those films with the old man."

"I hear you."

"Hey, you got a cigarette?"

Faust twitched his head. "What?"

"A cigarette. You got one?"

He looked at the ground, shaking his head. "No, sorry."

Riggs snorted. "That's the first." He sighed, staring out into the darkness of the demolished town.

"What's on your mind?"

Riggs turned back to Faust, stepping closer to join him nearer to the aircraft. "I dunno. I just...I can't comprehend how this is even possible. You know?"

"I think so."

"I mean, this all just seems so fantastic. Intelligent equine capable of what humans have only ever dreamed of. Here, of all places. Look where we're standing, Faust. You've been in the unit longer than most of us. Have you ever seen anything like it?"

Faust shook his head. "I've seen lots of strange things in my life, but nothing like this."

"And Tolwin just wants to blow it all away." He snorted. "That man needs a good kick in the teeth."

Faust giggled. "Yes, to say the least."

"I mean, are these things aliens of some kind? Or did they come from here? Are they some kind of mutation? I think we should learn about them. Make contact with them. I dunno... maybe something benificial to the unit could come out of it."

"Yeah, well, last contact I had didn't go so well."

Riggs kicked a rock on the ground, crossing his arms. "I just hate this. I hate it. I hate what Tolwin wants to do to get to the Driver. It's senseless and stupid. Not to mention a waste of a perfectly good arsenal."

Faust let a pause wash over the conversation for a moment, then spoke up. "You know, when I excused myself from the film screening a few hours ago, I took one of the cars out to the second transponder site. Just to check on things."

"Yeah? How'd it go?"

"Everything's missing."

Riggs uncrossid his arms as he turned to Faust with surprise. "What?"

"The vehicles, the equipment, even the bodies. Everything."

"Like how the Driver's vehicle just... vanished."

"Yeah. I think those pony things came back for it all. Probably studying it for whatever advantage they feel it might give them. Sound plausible enough?"

"Sure. Why not? I'll believe anything these days, after what we've been through." Riggs crossed his arms again. He felt something hard inside the top left pocket of his jacket, like a pen or stick but shorter. He put his hand inside and pulled it out to see. Behold, it was a fresh cigarette. He turned to Faust with an overly-excited expression. "Holy shit, man."

Faust shaked his head with a slight grin. "Sure. Contribute to the already fowl air tonight."

"Hey, at least it tastes better." Riggs put the cigarette in his mouth, then paused, turning to Faust. "You okay?"

"Hmm? Oh, I'm fine. Why?"

"You just-... nevermind." He turned the opposite direction, giving himself a grand view of the town and surrounding mountains as he pulled out his lighter. Something ahead caught his eyes as he raised it to the cigarette in his mouth. "Faust..."

"Yeah, what's up?"

Riggs turned to Faust, pulling the cigarette out of his mouth. "Go wake up Tolwin. Now."