Eagles wouldve been nice

AJ was walking dejectedly back towards her home, nopony had wanted much to do with her, the remaining members of Shepards crew were all exchanging information and Rarity had had something to do at her boutique. Then she heard the sound of walking hooves behind and turned around to see who was following her, as it turned out it was James.

What do ya want? AJ asked him slightly uncertainly

Well I overheard your argument with your friend Dash, and I was wondering if you wanted to learn how to shoot? James asked her kindly.

Dont you have better things to do? AJ asked him, secretly thrilled that hed offered.

As much as I hate to admit it Im not important enough to be given any secret directives so Im settling for helping out somepony who needs instruction in one of my favorite parts of life. James said with a slight smile.

Yallre really willin to train me? AJ asked

Of course I am, pretty soon youll be the best shot of any of your friends, and youll get to spend time with me as an added bonus. AJ smiled, she liked this stallion he was easy going and had a good sense of humor.

All right when do we start? She asked him.

Once we get to your farm Im sure we can set up some targets, we might even use the barn. AJ laughed

***

Liara looked at Dr. House for a second as he read her chart before she asked

So where were you originally from? House looked up from his chart.

A normal hospital in twentieth century America, I was the diagnostics specialists. From what I heard about you, you were a sexy blue skinned alien whose entire race was originally lesbian. House said, Liara nodded

That about sums it up, oh and we can kill you with our minds. House laughed.

Id love to see you try.

Theres a story about a group of our troops, once one of our ships was ambushed by several dozen mercenary ships. We destroyed or decommissioned all of them but even our ships cant stand that much fire power so it crash landed along with several of the enemy ships. Over the next week the enemy suffered hundreds of casualties, eventually they surrendered. The five Asari Commandoes who accepted stepped forward to accept their surrender hadnt suffered a single casualty since the crash; needless to say the mercenaries werent happy about losing a few hundred troops to five asari, but after the week of hell they were put through they surrendered without a fight. House just shrugged.

Very impressive, if you were fighting something besides random mercenaries who one werent the brightest bulbs in the box and two most likely lacked any discipline. House replied looking back at her chart Youll be out of here in two days; Im going to go check on the ex-AI to make sure she hasnt tried to DESTROY ALL HUMANS yet today. Liara would have flipped him off if she had a finger to flip.

***

Joker was surprised, which in retrospect was stupid, in two days the Wonderbolts had already mastered all of the techniques that he prepared for them to learn over the course of two weeks. Spitfire was proud of her unit and it showed, as they went through the drills she had a constant half smile on her face. Joker was snapped out of his thinking by a screeching siren, he looked around in confusion before he noticed a large platoon of griffins approaching Cloudsdale rapidly. He looked for Spitfire and she nodded, it was time to see if his training had been successful. The ten members of the Wonderbolts and joker rose high above the clouds tracking the enemy as they went, as one they dived silently downward. The griffins were caught completely unaware as the Wonderbolts flew through them using their wings to slice large holes through the enemy and then blasting upward right back through the formation before any order could be restored. They were moving so fast that the griffins seemed to be torn to ribbons by nothing but air, blood was flying everywhere as the Wonderbolts flew effortless circles around their enemies till there were none left alive in the air. Soarin brohoofed Joker once the enemies were all dead, even though they were all covered in blood and feathers they were all ecstatic about how well things had gone

***

Legion and Ash stood side by side surveying the enemy troops through binoculars. Cerberus had lined the valley with hundreds of troops who were all preparing to attack Canterlot; how he thought he could get away with it Ash didnt know.

The Cerberus troops will be unable to escape this trap; I estimate five hundred losses for them and possibly fifty for us. Legion said after he was done scanning.

Id agree they arent expecting any attacks and they didnt even post sentries, yeah thisll be quick and painless, idiots. Ash said turning her back to the enemy and giving the signal to Lyra who in turn relayed to Anderson who sent it Celestia. The white alicorn flew silently over the enemy host faster than the eye could see as she flew she dropped small canisters down on the unsuspecting heads of the enemy. Rarity had been rather proud of the canisters, inside each was a spell that sent out small waves of fire or electricity in all directions, the explosions were also beautiful and refined

And now... Ash said as she flipped a switch, the canisters which had somehow gone unnoticed till now activated spewing forth fire and lightning, Ash had to admit there was something extremely graceful about watching a griffin being roasted alive in less than ten seconds. First wave go! Ash shouted to the members of the guard given the honor of being in the first wave, with a mighty war cry the first wave flew forward into the ranks of the shell-shocked and confused griffins leaving a bloody swath in their wake. Second wave go! Ash shouted and watched in grim satisfaction as the second wave cauterized the wound by killing every griffin missed by the first wave. Beside her Legion had gotten out his sniper and was taking careful aim into the enemy ranks, each shot killed two or three griffins, he was still mechanical about it, but a small smile touched his lips with every shot he took. A great wail of despair rang out from the enemy as Legion took out all of their commanders who for some reason had been lined up in a straight line.

Williams Commander we invite you to join the slaughter. Legion said handing her the rifle, Ash nodded and looked down the sights until she spotted a good target; it was an officer who was trying to rally the griffins around him. Her shot took him right in the left eye socket sending him flying backwards into the troops hed been trying to rally. From behind them Ash heard an odd noise, the noise of metal sliding out of leather. She turned to find a dead griffin lying on the ground at Legions hooves, he picked his throwing knife out of the griffins throat and quickly cleaned it before returning it to a sheath on his shoulder.

Thanks Legion. Ash told him as she lined up another shot.

It is simply what is expected of me Williams Commander, although I am happy to assist whenever it is necessary for me to. Legion told her, a small smile played over his face before he returned to watching the skies. Ash shook her head, he was still a geth at heart, but at least he was learning.

***

Shepard surveyed the landscape that stretched across the horizon and squashed the small part of him that wanted to flee in the opposite direction under his hoof. Drakeonland was indeed as Twilight had described it, large volcanoes rose in the distance belching fire and ash into the air, the land itself was made up of sand that had been turned into glass, ash, and the odd rock jutting out of the glass and ash at irregular angles. It almost made Discords realm look inviting.

Isnt there an old saying about walking into Mordor? Garrus asked getting a smile from Shepard, Tali turned to him with a puzzled look. Old human book, great read if youre bored and waiting for combat. Garrus filled her in.

Twilight how long of a journey is it to Mt. Inferno? Shepard asked Twilight looking at their supplies.

Ten days of hard walking. Twilight replied

And we cant just fly there why? Tali asked looking at Dash and Fluttershy.

Because the dragons of the area will blow us out of the sky for flying without a permit, the exception being pegasi or other naturally flying creatures, and that only extends around five meters in the air except for royalty. Twilight replied Im not exactly looking forward to this; apparently the creatures here make Everfree look like a walk down a rose strewn road by comparison. Garrus traded a look with Shepard.

Yeah Ive got point; you owe me for this Shepard. Garrus said before drawing his rifle and started forward down the first steps of what would be an incredibly fun walk. The rest followed him unsure of what had just happened, with the exception of Tali who knew that Garrus had volunteered for the most dangerous position. So Twilight, Im going to assume that I shouldnt shoot dragons right. Garrus said.

Only shoot things that attack you first, except for dragons, if they attack Ill cover us with a shield and try to negotiate our way through.

Understood, if the giant flying fire breathing talking lizard attacks I hope that you can talk it down, have I mentioned how much I love this job to anypony? Garrus asked, his voice was full of sarcasm Tali sighed.

Garrus we both know that well make it through this alive, we have Shepard with us. She said

***

Luna sat once again on the throne of Canterlot while her sister was out fighting the war, and honestly she was getting bored, shed already dealt with everything that she could conceivably think of and she wasnt even halfway through the day. At her side Arrow sighed, even he and Saber were getting bored, and theyd helped her through her time in the moon.

Princess, are you pondering what Im pondering? Arrow asked her, she looked at him and raised an eyebrow.

I think so Arrow but how are possible going to get a cannon capable of firing the aristocrats into space at this time of day? Luna replied with a smile

I was thinking of the ocean actually, but your idea sounds more fun. Arrow replied with a smile stretching across his face. Luna sighed again, as much fun as it would be to fire the nobles into space and then retrieve them without harm she had the oddest feeling that her sister wouldnt approve of it.

Saber, can you think of anything? Luna asked her mostly silent companion.

You could always make a new spell Princess. He replied curtly, he wasnt rude, he just didnt talk much.

What type of spell do you suggest? Luna asked him

Something useful. He replied helpfully with a slight grin.

Alright something useful it is, now I just need a more specific category.

Magic

Saber stop it, I need an angle if Im going to make anything useful. Luna said she was starting to get annoyed with him.

Obtuse.

Saber! Luna said in outrage until she noticed the grin spreading wider across his face, thats when she realized she wasnt bored anymore. Thank you Saber Im not bored anymore. She told him sincerely.

Its my job. Saber replied before adopting his usual silence again. Luna smiled, she was glad that shed transformed them with her magic; they were the only ponies besides her sister who truly understood her.

***

It had been eight days and Shepards party was on constant edge, on the first night theyd been swarmed by giant bats that had blotted out the moon, Twilight had used a large shield spell to protect them from the onslaught but it had been difficult and shed slept like a stone. The second day theyd just finished crossing a large river of lava when a group of basilisks had emerged out of a nearby cave and charged, luckily none of them had been turned to stone and Fluttershy had managed to shop off ones head. On the third day they had been walking along when a group of what Twilight called magma golems had erupted from a nearby stream of lava and charged leaving behind large lava footprints with every step, Shepard had thought quickly and thrown a freeze grenade that Thane had given him. It had continued like that steadily until they were finally in sight of their destination, Shepard had seen Olympus Mons once or twice when hed been to mars and this volcano dwarfed even that. As if sensing that they were nearing their destination Drakeonland sent one last surprise their way converging on them from all directions were dozens of lizard like creatures, their bodies glowed with an inner light that made them look like they were aflame.

Salamanders! Twilight yelled as she sent a wave of kinetic force at their opponents, which passed right through the enemy creatures. Suddenly there was a bright flash of light followed by Twilight saying I dont believe it!

AN
Yeah I skipped a ton of traveling, so kill me

Next Chapter: A meeting with the council Estimated time remaining: 59 Minutes