Chapter 11

                                                                                         Applejacks Arrival

                                                             "You'd think they'd lock the back door."

                                                                                            Pound Cake

It was a day and half march by the time Applejack and her forces made it to Fillydelphia. They stopped at the sprawling metropolis to rest and resupply before continuing on toward New Ponyville. Cheers range out in the streets as several ponies recognized Applejack but all were not so pleased in seeing her. Fillydelpia had the Earthborn province’s largest concentration of unicorns, dehorned one and all. They all looked at the orange mare in disgust but didn’t dare raise hoof or voice against her for fear of suffering a grave punishment so they opted to simply scowl at her. As Applejack made her way toward the barracks at the city’s center she ran into Braeburn, a yellow stallion with an orange mane, much to the orange earth pony’s surprise. He was leader of the Apploosan Rangers, a group of elite scouts, and a bit of a chatterbox.

“Howdy cuz,” He said a grin on his face,” How ya been?”

The yellow stallion scooped the surprised mare up in a bone crushing hug despite the armor she wore, and was rarely without.

“B-Braeburn what in tarn…” Applejack sputtered.

“Yer probably wonderin what Ahm doin’ here huh?” Breaburn said as her released the mare from his hug.

After catching her breath she scowled at the energetic earth pony.

“The thought crossed mah mind,” She deadpanned.

“Well Ahll tell yah we was out near Ghastly Gorge bout ta head back south ta Dodge Junction when we spotted…”

“Braeburn.”

“…this pegasus ya see movin’ cross the sky. And Ah think ta mahself ‘Why the hay…”

“Braeburn.”

“…is he moving so fast like his tail was on fire or somethin’. Now that’d be a sight ta see…”

“Braeburn!”

“…a pegasus flyin thru the sky with his tail on fire. Mahself ahd jes put it out with the water in mah canteen. Come ta think of it did he have a canteen?”

“BRAEBURN!!!”

”Now cuz ya know it’s impolite ta interrupt a fella like that.”

Applejack took a deep breath and slowly let it out tempted to club the stallion right there.

“Jes cut ta the chase Braeburn.”

“Ah was getting ta that ‘fore ya interrupted me,” he said tilting his nose into the air.

“Braeburn.” The orange mare warned.

“Alight, alright sheesh. We was told about New Ponyville goin’ dark so we head3ed here ta resupply ‘fore we headed up north ta see what was goin on.”

“Ah see. Good,” Applejack grunted pushing past the irritating stallion.

“Umm cuz you on that time of the month?”

The orange mare stopped dead in her tracks and looked toward Braeburn a blush darkening her cheeks.

“Wha…”

“Cuz ya seem kinda on egde.”

“I wha No what knda question is that?!”

“Ya sure cause…”

“NO Ahm not ya idiot!”

With a huff she continued her way toward the city’s barracks leaving the confused stallion behind.

‘Ah swear one of these days Ahmma club ‘im.’

Once at the barracks she entered the main building to find most of the city’s soldiers inside. They each stood up and saluted her.

“High Commander ma’am.”

“At ease,” she said her steely gaze sweeping the large room,” Who’s the commandin officer of this here station?”

“I am ma’am.”

A steel grey earth mare steeped forward in a simple brown uniform, her red mane pulled back in a rough ponytail.

“Colonel Eagle Eye ma’am,” She said with a smart salute.

Applejack returned the gesture.

“Ya have any information on the situation in New Ponyville?”

“No ma’am. I sent out a scouting party about a day and half ago but they’ve yet to return so I think its safe to assume that whoever took over New Ponyville is heading this way.”

Just then an earth stallion rushed into the building skidding to a halt. He saluted the mares,” Colonel ma’am an army was spotted coming down from the north.”

“Did you get a good look at who they are soldier?” Applejack asked.

“Yes High Commander it looks to be entirely composed of unicorns.”

Applejack cocked an eyebrow,” No slaves in front?”

He shook his head,” No ma’am not in the whole lot”

This news shocked A the orange mare. “Such a large force of unicorns only meant Moon and Stars forces but they generally sent in slaves first. How far out are they?”

‘Like pawns,’ Applejack added mentally with a hint of disgust.

“About three miles out but at the rate they’re moving they’ll reach the city in about twenty minutes.

Eagle Eye raised her eyebrows in shock,” They’re moving that fast?”

“Yes ma’am.” The messenger said with a grim nod.

“Well Colonel it looks like yer assumptions correct get yer ponies together and prepare ta defend the city. Mah forces and Ah will meet em halfway.”

“Yes ma’am,” the grey mare said with a salute and turned to her soldiers,” Alright you lot lets get ready today our steel tastes unicorn blood.”

With a roar the room emptied out as ponies made their way to the armory.

Applejack galloped back to the city gates where her own army waited. They had already heard the news and stood at the ready. Applejack coiled her blonde tail around the warhammer on her back, a massive grey weapon with her elements jewel, an orange apple, studded on its side, and lifted it above her head. The jewel flashed white as she addressed her army,” Alright listen up we got an army oh unicorns headed this way so let’s give em hell.”

With a war cry the Earthborn army rushed out of the city to meet the unicorn army with Applejack at its head. Her face showed a grim determination but inside an uneasy feeling settled in the back of the orange mare’s mind.

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To the east at the northern most edge of the Ghastly Gorge a small army of Shades and a sect of the Harmony Core, a joke said by Snails but the name stuck. Before them was a massive set of ornate door once hidden by a powerful illusion but was quickly dispelled by the unicorns present. The doors had the late Celestia’s cutie mark on both doors but had no key hole of any sort.

Moondancer gazed up at the doors a speck of admiration in her eyes and whistled,” Damn that’s a big door. So how is that little charm gonna open that?”

Beside her Spike chuckled,” Like this.”

With that he walked toward the doors and raised himself up on his hind legs as he pulled the golden medallion out. The tiny sun charm and the twin suns on the doors flashed white and the doors began to open slowly. There were several gasps awe at the display.

The purple dragon settle back down on all four limbs and turned toward his trusted Spymaster a look of shock on her face. He cocked an eyebrow at the fuchsia mare.

Moondancer quickly composed herself and coughed into her hoof,” I’ll admit that I wasn’t sure that would work.”

Spike let out a deep laugh,” Your confidence in me is inspiring.”

The purple dragon extended a claw toward the cavern entrance,” Ladies first.”

“Please my lord age before beauty’” she said with a toss of her auburn mane.

”You do know your older than me right?”

“Details.”

The dragon rolled his eyes and started down into the cavern entrance with Moondancer and the rest of their small army close at his heels.

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