The next morning was a buzz of activity. Imperial troops were waking up and heading for breakfast. The cooks prepared eggs, bacon, biscuits, and different drinks for the men and women of the Allied armies. Matthew had just walked outside when he heard a voice.

"Matthew, over here!" He turned to his right and saw TK waiting for him with Shining Armor and Flash Sentry. Matthew walked over to them to see what was up. "Saved you a seat," TK told him. He sat down just as his breakfast was handed to him. One difference between the Emperor and his forces, is that he always had a lot of bacon on his plate.

"What is up with you and bacon?" Shining asked.

"He's been like this since I met him," TK answered. The four shared a laugh before a new voice interrupted them.

"May we join you?" the four turned and saw Luna, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Babs Seed, and three others that TK and Matthew didn't know.

"Of course," said Flash. The eight joined them and were handed some food.

“These three are Doctor Whooves, Derpy Hooves, and her daughter Dinky," Luna told them.

"The Doctor partially informed us about the Imperial Empire's founding all the way up to today." Before Matthew or TK could ask, Doctor Whooves spoke up.

"The reason I know is because I'm somewhat of a time traveler. I was there when your nation had just begun the fight," he explained. "I was one of the militia soldiers during the fight that was injured. I left for my time machine and travelled forward a few years later to find a brand new nation. I kept on time travelling to different eras of your countries time to discover rulers that were cruel and put down by force or other means. The last time I was there, I was at the capital when a massive battle broke out between Rebels and what was left of the Imperial Army." As soon as he said that, Matthew and TK exchanged glances at each other. Matthew turned to Doctor Whooves and spoke.

"That fight you saw was the final battle of the Imperial Civil War. I was one of the Rebel generals in that fight," Matthew explained.

"I was leading the charge on the palace itself while others captured the rest of the city".

"We need to keep moving, lads!" The fighting became intense with each house and street. We arrived at the palace to discover the current Emperor after my cousin was killed ordering his men to kill a group of soldiers that were running. We charged the palace and got rid of him, but the cost of life of both sides was not something I was proud of. We were able to rebuild and reform the nation into what we are now, but that war is one that still haunts the empire.

“So, that war is what led you to become Emperor?" Asked Apple Bloom.

“That would be correct," Matthew replied. The twelve finished eating just as a rider came up to them.

"The Lennex Empire is prepared for our attack! We've been betrayed!" When everyone heard this, both armies began to panic. Celestia walked over to one of her generals.

“Did you spy on the Imperial plans?" She asked. The general just shook his head. Matthew pulled out his maps to begin a new plan.

"Looks like now the only way to attack is head-on into the killing fields," TK interrupted him.

"Our tanks just arrived right before you got up," he said. "We could use them for this attack." Matthew looked around and saw the tanks of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and The Emperor's Guard in different parts of the orchards and fields. He turned to TK and gave his order.

“Have everyone mount a tank if they can. The heavy artillery will attack while we move."

"Yes, Pops," Matthew gave TK and evil look after he called him that.

As the Imperial cannons were brought up on the hill, the 32nd Infantry of the 3rd Army began moving to the crest of the hill, as to protect the cannons from infantry attacks. The crews ran forward as the guns were brought in by horse in front of the infantry group. Thirty cannons began deploying as heavier Imperial guns were being set up on the other side of Sweet Apple Acres, all prepared to level the Lennex forces in the town. One of the artillery officers walked by the cannons, giving his orders.

“Counter battery fire!” he yelled. “800 yards! Shell, five second fuse!” As he finished, fifteen of the cannons opened up, the shells falling on the Lennex trench outside the town, causing many defenders to begin to scatter.

“Counter battery fire!” Another officer shouted. “800 yards! Shell, five inch, five second fuse!” Just as before, the remaining guns also opened fire, this time either hitting the Lennex trench or exploding in mid air. Both Celestia and Luna watched on as the crews began reloading, trying to get their next volley ready before the Lennex artillery could return fire.

“Fire mission battery,” the nearby radio op said. “5,3,8,11,9,3, over!”

“Copy that,” the voice on the radio replied. The earth shook as the heavy guns further back began firing, the shells flying over the heads of the Imperial troops, smoke trailing behind them as they landed right on the trenches and the artillery in the rear, body parts flying in the trenches as the Lennex recruits began running from the line to save themselves. The officers tried to rally them, but the artillery attack was proving too much for them.

Matthew and TK watched from Sweet Apple Acres as the frontline began to collapse from the bombardment, both smiling at the sight of the Lennex troops running, as neither of them got to see it happen in the last war very often.

“Prepare the tanks and infantry,” Matthew told his son. “We need to take Ponyville by noon if we can. I want the enemy to know who they’re dealing with.”

“You got it, dad!” TK replied, as he went to his tank for the battle. Matthew looked at the sight one more time before heading to his tank, talking to himself.

“Our father in Heaven,” he began. “My you protect my son and my people this day. If it should come to it, allow me to take the place of any soldier that dies. If today is my last day, I will be ready. Amen.”

Unknown to him, both Celestia and Luna had overheard what he said, both unsure of what he was doing. They had never heard of that type of speech, but decided to leave it be until the fight was over, as not to distract them from their job. The first wave of Imperial infantry began moving up the road, keeping in their column of fours until they were near enough to get into their line of battle position.

The Equestrians watched as columns of blue and gray began forming up along the road, their muskets shining bright in the sun.

As the artillery continued pounding the Lennex forces, the tanks crews ended up running into some trouble.

“Sir,” one of the crew reported. “Our engine seems to be missing!” The same response came from all the tankers of the Emperor’s Guard. They looked at the tanks that were at Sweet Apple Acres and discovered the engines missing from at least twenty tanks.

“How long will it take to get a new engine?” Matthew asked.

“Lucky for us, we have a few supply trucks that arrived with some engines.” the driver for Matthew’s tank said. “Should only take about two hours to get the tanks operational again.”

“Make it one hour.” Matthew ordered, wanting to get into the battle as soon as he could.

“Right away, sir.” the driver replied. The crew began to take the old engine out as the 1st army moved down the hill towards the town, the drums beating their march. The tanks moved ahead as the infantry began to split up and hide behind them as to keep in cover from any Lennex fire.

Celestia watched as the Imperial troops approached the first defensive line, encountering no resistance due to the artillery barrage. Imperial flags were placed at the first line, signalling the capture of the first objective.

Twilight and Luna watched as new engines were placed into the tanks of the Emperor’s Guard. As soon as the engines were in place, the drivers started them up as the crew’s got inside the tanks.

As the hatches closed, they began to roll towards that battlefield, the infantry climbing on to ride to the front. Ten infantry were riding on each tank, packed together to keep from falling off as they sped down the dirt road. As they neared the first line, they jumped off and got behind the tanks as more infantry marched down the hill.

Back on the hill overlooking Ponyville, Celestia and Luna were wondering why it seemed very easy until fire began to pour from the windows of the nearby buildings, peppering the tanks but doing no damage. The infantry ran for cover as two tanks inched forward and began to fire back with their machine guns.

“Why aren’t they moving forward?” Flash asked. “They have good protection from what I see.”

“I don’t know either, Colonel Sentry,” Shining replied. “We better get down there. Whether they want our help or not, we need to get some answers.” The two ran down the hill as Twilight and Cadance yelled for them to come back. They ran after them as Celestia and Luna watched.

“We’ve got to stop them,” Luna said as the two of them ran down the hill. The Royal Guard rushed in as well to protect the princesses.

Eventually, they made it to the main two tanks as the soldiers continued to hide behind them.

“What’s going on?” Shining asked.

“We’re waiting for the tanks to move,” the Sgt. said. “The machine guns got us pinned.”

“Is there anyway to get these things moving?” Celestia asked. Luna ran over to the tank on the left and knocked on the top hatch. The door opened up as Matthew looked outside.

“What’s going on?” he asked. Before Luna could reply, Lennex machine guns opened up and started to hit near Matthew as he ducked back down into the tank. Luna hid behind the turret as the bullets went over her head. When the guns died down, she got back up and jumped inside the tank.

“You need to get this machine moving!” she commanded.

“We know,” the gunner replied.

“This is Heavy Hitter calling Light’s Hope,” the radio op said. “Do you read?”

“I read you,” the radio op in the other tank replied.

“Lennex Machine guns in the building at 11:00 second story,” Sgt. Joe. the radio op for the Emperor’s tank, said. “Hit that position.”

“Copy that,”

“You’re going to want to put this on and get to one side,” Matthew said as he handed Luna a strange helmet. Luna nodded and did as told.

“Left five degrees,” the spotter said. The gunner moved the turret to the designated position as the other tank did the same.

“Fire away!” As soon as the command was given, the gunner pulled the trigger.

Outside the tank, Celestia was arguing with the Sergeant as they heard a loud boom. They looked and saw the tank in front of them toss out a shell as the other tank also fired.

After the machine guns were taken out, the tanks moved forward, continuing to fire off their own machine guns as they drove down the street.

“Move out!” the Sgt. yelled as the men moved up with the tank.

“This is Big Bertha calling Heavy Hitter. Request permission to go around and hit their right.”

“Permission granted,” Joe said.

“Gunner!” the spotter yelled. “AT gun being set up near the bakery!”

“Roger that,” he replied. He turned the turret to face the gun as Light’s Hope did the same. Both tanks opened up, knocking the gun out of commission. “Got it!” The tank continued forward, firing off it’s machine guns and main cannon at the fortified positions. Matthew stuck his head out of the turret and saw that Lennex forces were forming up around a massive tree that looked like someone’s house. He went back into the turret and got on the radio.

“Light’s hope, this is Heavy Hitter,” he said. “Move towards the tree on the right. Lennex forces are forming up there. Remember, machine guns only on that position. Looks like someone’s living there.”

“Copy that, Sir!” TK replied.

Twilight watched as the tank on the right began to move towards her home, peppering the Lennex forces with it’s smaller weapons.

“Flash,” she said. “Let’s get moving. That’s our home there and we will not let it be destroyed.” She ran off as Flash gathered some of the Royal Guard to join in. The group made it up to the tank and opened fire with their own weapons. Despite not being very accurate, they were able to pick off a few of the Lennex forces before the tank’s main weapon fired on a group of Lennex troops reinforcing the defense.

Just as the Lennex forces were about to charge the 1st Army’s tank and Twilight’s Guard, another shot hit the position as another strange tank rolled up at full speed, running right by a Lennex fox hole and turning around it, knocking the dirt onto the soldiers and burying them alive.

“This is Iron Hammer,” the new tanks radio op said. “Sorry about being late for the party. What do you need for us to do?”

“Help us clear this area out, General Baker,” TK replied. Both tanks began to pound the Lennex troops as they moved up with Twilight’s Guard and groups of Imperial infantry that began to break down the doors to nearby houses and rush in, taking down the Lennex troops hiding inside.

In the middle street, Heavy Hitter was moving up as Lennex forces tried to stop the tank with no effect. As a Lennex tank began to appear from behind a building, it opened up but the shell ricocheted off to the side, hitting the ground. The Imperial tanks turret turned and fired, hitting the Lennex tank dead on, causing it to explode.

Celestia’s Guard, under the command of her new captain, Cold Heart, moved through the nearby alleyways, getting closer to Ponyville Town Hall. They encountered no resistance as most of the Lennex troops were fighting the Imperial forces in the streets.

“Get out there!” Cold Heart yelled. As the first Guard ran out into the open, Lennex forces opened fire on him with their machine guns, cutting right through his armor, killing him. The remaining guards went back to their hiding spot as the were pinned by the fighting.

“FORWARD COMRADES!” a shout came from somewhere in Ponyville.

“FORWARD!”

“DEFEND YOUR EMPIRE!”

“FORWARD!”

“DEATH TO THE LENNEX EMPIRE!”

“HOWRAH!” As the last shout rang, massive numbers of Imperial infantry raced out of the alleys and ran right for town hall, as the Lennex machine guns let rip, trying to stop the Imperial charge. An Imperial standard rushed by the alley where the guard were hiding. As he was about to pass them, Lennex fire killed him. Just as the flag was about to drop, another Imperial soldier grabbed it and continued to run for the small stream.

The rumble of the Imperial tanks could be heard driving right for town hall as the traces of machine guns could be seen flying back and forth. As Cold stuck his head out, he saw the tank speed by as the Lennex troops began to get out of their trench and retreat to the other side, dropping their guns as Imperial infantry raced across the stream into the trench as the tank's main gun fired on the doors to town hall, giving Imperial infantry the chance to race inside. Celestia caught up with her guard just in time to see the Imperial flag fly over Ponyville as Luna walked over after getting out of the tank before the charge.

“How was the ride?” Celestia asked.

“Crowded,” Luna replied. “Not much room, but it was well protected.” As Celestia was about to comment, a shout from the Imperial soldiers interrupted.

“The Lennex forces are in retreat!” The allies cheered as the town was liberated, giving hope to Equestria that they could survive.