“RELOAD!”

The speaker blared the gruff voice of another space marine. The demand for more boxes of ammunition was increasing in frequency and urgency. Sunsword had been a lieutenant of the royal equestrian guard for over 15 years, and in all his years and all his training, nothing could have prepared him for the events of the last 7 hours. He was utterly drained, utterly exhausted, as were his men. He commanded thirty able bodied ponies, most young colts fresh from training led by a handful of veterans. But experience and age meant nothing today, they were all equally spent.

“Right men...let’s get set for another run!” Sunsword called out to his guard, his voice strained and pained.

The guard all reacted the same way, grunting and groaning in their lack of willpower. The guard all lazily took their places infront of the tall alien machine, readying themselves for the coming chore. Sunsword did as he had been taught by the aliens and punched a large green button next to the constructs ammo dispenser. In response, the machine growled to life, its inner mechanisms working away to deliver its heavy cargo. Out from the side of the colossal vending machine slid out four large ammo boxes, full of the strange ‘mini-fire-arrows’ the aliens used in their firearms. His guard took a firm grasp on the handle at the top of the box, two guards per box. Sunsword circled the machine, repeating the process four more times, once at each of the constructs sides. Some unfortunate guard had to take an ammo box alone, a task Sunsword tried to give to his largest stallions, but the harsh truth was that some of the smaller colts would have to do their best alone.

“Alright, let’s go!” Barked the lieutenant.

The guards took off at a jog. The journey wasn’t long at all, just around the street, normally just a casual minute long walk. But carrying 200lb cargo proved to make the trip seem a lot long and make it much more difficult. This was their 16th journey, which hadn’t really surprised any of them, seeing how many changelings had set off to assault the capital. It seemed the Changeling queen hadn’t taken her banishment from Canterlot well at all, and now seemed to be leading her entire hive against the equestrians. But something she hadn’t counted on was the cities new retaliation force; the space marines.

The royal guard had nearly unwillingly emptied their bowels upon meeting the metal giants. The aliens were huge, like a manticore sealed within four layers of the finest armour the finest blacksmith could forge. And their weapons were a true sight to behold, large machines that seemed to be powered by magic itself, spitting fiery death in a variety of ways. The most common Sunsword had witnessed was what the aliens called their ‘heavy bolters’. The weapon was as large as a ballista, and chattered with a thunderous roar when activated. Such firepower seemed almost unnecessary, able to bring low dozens of foes in the blink of an eye. But Sunsword wasn’t complaining, the changelings hadn’t set a hoof within the city, not a live one anyway.

The guard turned the first and only corner to witness, once again, the horrifying mess that waited them. As much as the space marines’ weapons stopped the changelings mid-flight, they failed to stop the incoming shower of gore soaked chunks of changelings. A layer of limbs, entrails and unrecognisable changeling-chum littered the inside of Canterlots walls, growing thicker by the minute as leftovers lazily flew over the marines and into the courtyards and streets below. The guard held their breaths best they could through the swamp of bright green blood and made the final jog up the stairs to the top of the wall. Waiting for them was what seemed like a thick fog of noise.

Most of the guard slipped and tripped over the vast ocean of golden tubes that the aliens’ weapons ejected after firing, other attempted to carry their cargo one handed while trying to cover their ears. The space marine were busy as ever, sweeping their death machines from left to right, focusing fire towards wherever the changelings gathered thickest. The screams and yelps of the dying insect-ponies could be barely heard through the roar of the space marines weapons, yet Sunsword couldn’t deny that they were there. The marines were gathered into groups of five, each group spaced around one hundred feet away from the next, taking ten groups to span the length of the city wall. At the city gates stood another ten marines armed with smaller weapons, also doing their fair share of ‘fighting’. Within the cities collection of streets and courtyards one last group of marines kept up a constant patrol, the said group being led by their commanding veteran himself, who visited the forces at the wall hourly to check up on their progress.

Sunsword set his box down next to the group who had summoned him, his colts doing the same soon after. The groups sergeant ceased firing his weapon, which was a special kind of firearm that belched white hot missiles of bright blue magic, and turned to the arriving guard.

“Fair timing left tenant, you know the procedure by now!” The sergeant bellowed over the violent noise that hung in the air like a vast swarm of angry wasps.

Sunsword was too exhausted to reply, so simply nodded dumbly and went to pick up his cargo once more. Three of the marines knelt down, signalling that their backpacks needed replenishing. As his knee hit the ground both ammo boxes fixed to his back fell from their cradle, hitting the ground with a thud. The rest of the royal guard jogged and hobbled off to the other groups of marines as Sunsword and his companion, Swifty thunderstruck, hauled the replacement ammo boxed back into their chambers, relaxing as the backpack accepted its gift with a sharp click.

“I’m sure you’ll be happy to know you’re receiving a well earned rest soon!” Yelled the Sergeant while delivering another volley of fire bombs.

“We are?!” Chimed a number of guard including Sunsword.

“Aye, we’re running out of ammo!” The marine replied with a little too much confidence.

“Wait! What?!” Sunsword called back while his guard looked at one another worriedly.

“You have two more trips before that drop pod runs out! Seems that we underestimated the enemies numbers slightly! We estimate around 2,000 of these bugs will make it into the city within the next hour or two!”

“Uh, that’s kinda...bad! What do we do?!”

“That’s easy! We stop killing them outside the city and start killing them inside the city!” The sergeant replied with a mean grin.

Sunsword admired the aliens’ heroism, but could now utterly confirm its insanity. The guard fearfully scurried back down the stairs and headed back to the ammo supplier, leaving the marines growling and roaring curses at the vile creatures.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Applejack hadn’t been so scared in all her life, she assumed this was how Fluttershy felt most of the time. Herself, Twilight, Ditzy Doo and her daughter Dinky, Colgate and 12 other townsfolk were holed up inside a half destroyed breweries wine cellar. Another boom shook the basement, showering the cowering ponies with more dust and dirt. Dinky gasped again and clenched her eyes tight as she buried her face into her mother’s embrace, Ditzy whispering comfort to her shaking daughter. Some of the adults reacted much in the same way, covering their ears, covering their eyes and clenching teeth as tears streamed down their panic ridden faces.

“How long’s it bin Twi’?” AJ asked as she flinched from another loud thunderclap.

“Can’t say for sure, but I’m guessing about 3 hours?” Twilight replied helplessly.

“We needtah get moving Twi’, I can’t imagine this here basement’ll be that useful if a bunch’a griffins come by.”

“I know. Dammit! We should have made a run for that vehicle! I’m sorry I led us down here Applejack, I’m sorry I’ve kept us here so long.............I’m just so scared. I’m......I’m scared that if we-“ Twilight said grasping her head in terror.

“Ah know sugarcube, ah do. Look, it seems that them aliens are doin’ pretty good fer themselves up there. Ah’m sure they still have a ‘machina-ma-jig’ up there, and we’ll just start were we left off. We can make it.”

“There’s no way I’m going back out there! I can’t see that again! Celestia! They just slaughter them, with dark magic! What are those things?!” A hysteric colt started yelling as he rocked back and forth.

“They’re on our side! I for one am just glad that their pointing those weapons away from us. I hate to think what would happen if-........Let’s......let’s just get out of here.” Twilight said, standing to help Applejack to her feet before turning to the rest of the ponies.

“Ok everypony, listen up! I know it’s nasty out there, and I know that we don’t want to see what we’re going to see. But we all have to keep our eyes open when we get outside.”

“C’mon everypony! On yer hooves! We head fer the nearest moving metal box!” AJ called out.

Most of the ponies stood up sheepishly, a handful stayed huddled up in fright.

“C’mon! If yah stay here yah won’t make it! Move!” Applejack yelled as she marched over to the petrified, hauling them to their hooves with her superior strength before herding them alongside the rest of the group.

“Ok, when I open this trap door I’m gonna take a look around. As soon as I spot a vehicle or a safe structure I’ll leads us to it.” Twilight said while grasping the doors handle.

“Mommy, I don’t wanna go outside! It’s too scary! What if they get us?!” Dinky whined to her mother, pressing her tear stained face into Ditzys’ shoulder as she carried her daughter with both arms.

“Don’t worry muffin, Twilight will keep us safe. Also, remember how excited you were when you saw the aliens? Well we’ll get to ride in one of their spaceships soon! That’s gonna be real fun right?” Ditzy reassured her little filly, showing not the slightest hint of fear.

Dinky wiped her eyes while responding with a weak smile and shaky nod. Ditzy gave her a long kiss on the cheek before holding her head into her chest. Twilight looked around at the frightened faces of her friends before turning to the trapdoor and throwing it open.

Twilight darted her sight from building to building, both ways down the street and scanned the skies before slowly creeping out from the cellar. The town was in bad shape, more than half the buildings had sustained some kind of damage, some even being utterly ruined. The cobble street was cracked and dotted with craters while the sky was choked with dark smoke. However from as far as AJ could tell, Twilight hadn’t seen any present danger.

“Ok, come out. Let’s get moving.” Twilight announced, AJ enforcing her judgement.

The group kept close to the buildings, weaving through shop stalls and restaurant tables. Ditzy did her best to cover Dinkys’ sight from the broken remains of a goblin that had been thrown through a shop window. The group soon found themselves unable to find a safe place to look, the ruined corpses of dead goblin, troll and griffin scattered throughout the street, their blood sprayed across the cobble, up walls and dripping from windows.

The sounds of battle soon grew close, and Twilight signalled for the rest to stop as she dared to peek around a corner. As soon as she did something flew passed her face and into a building across the street, sending Twilight flying backwards in fright. The projectile punched through the buildings wall like it was soggy paper, a heartbeat later emitting an ear-splitting crack sound, the building collapsing in on itself much like a card stack. AJ came to Twilights side, making sure she was ok before taking a peek herself.

Before her was a scene of utter carnage. Twenty alien soldiers stood atop a hill of corpses made from goblin and griffin alike. At the hilltop stood an alien holding high a massive banner depicting a winged alien holding a firearm in one arm and pointing towards a cowering monster with the other, somehow this gesture setting the monster on fire. The banner was lined with golden stitching, its patchwork making the picture look more like a painting than cut outs. The banner holder fired a small firearm with his free hand, punching explosive shots into incoming foes, dropping them like insects. Around him were gathered several other, each holding their infantry’s commonplace weapon, firing bursts of fire into the chests and bellies of charging griffins and scuttling goblins. Another collection of soldiers threw their firepower into incoming attackers, one washing a street with what looked like dragons breathe fire, turning a dozen griffins to crispy husks in seconds.

The captain AJ had seen earlier threw down mighty blows with an enormous metal hammer that shimmered and illuminated with a blue aura of electric energy. Each blow was instantly followed by a thunderous boom as the hammers head seemed to explode with lightning and fire, sending broken bodies tumbling through the air like discarded ragdolls. At his side the psychic they met earlier displayed magic not even Twilight could say she could accomplish. His eyes were alight with magical flame, as was his throat when he spoke incantations. Lightning burst from his armoured fingers, searing the flesh off a handful of goblins that dared assault him. A medic hammered the enemy with fire before rushing to a soldier who had received a ballista bolt to his belly. Such a grievous wound didn’t seem to trouble the alien as he continued to pummel the helpless attackers with fire, he didn’t even flinch as the medic wrenched the bolt out of him and began fixing up the wound.

AJs’ heart raced as her eyes spotted a growling vehicle roll down a street and into the courtyard the fight was taking place. At its front an alien swung a weapon attached to the vehicles roof around and aimed it up to the skies. The weapon delivered a hail of fire at a ridiculous rate into the air, AJ seeing it hit a descending warship, tearing through its helium balloon and busting its hull wide open with explosive bolts.

“There! We have to reach that machine!” Twilight said while examining the construct.

From the vehicles rear jogged out another five soldiers who ran to their companions, adding their weapons to the defence.

“Now! Now! We have to go now!” Twilight yelled.

“Let’s go everypony! Quick!” AJ called to the group.

Without question the group bolted for the vehicle, Twilight waving her arms madly, attempting to grab the aliens attention.

“Over here! We’re over here!”

A handful of aliens immediately noticed the incoming civilians, a sergeant pointing to his brothers and then to the ponies. The astartes ran out and spread themselves far and thin, putting themselves between Twilights group and the attacking forces. AJs’ breathing became deep and heavy as she sprinted at full speed to the alien machine, a door on its side dropping open to greet them. They were almost there, the furthest pony already half way to the vehicle. AJ slowed and turned her head to the sound of tortured metal speeding towards her. The warship the aliens had shot down just moment ago had crashed behind the astarte squads and now slid forward towards the collection of equestrians.

“Come on! Go! Yer have tah move, now!” AJ called out to the slower ponies in the group.

Twilight, AJ and Colgate made it to the machine first, the roar of a double barrelled weapon hammering above them. The rest soon made it with little time to spare. AJ looked out to see Ditzy struggling to keep up a good speed in fear of dropping her daughter. The warship screamed forth, just a dozen metres away from Ditzy and Dinky. The grey, cross-eyed mare came to a hault as she stood helpless before the speeding mass of metal. Even if she had carried on there was no way she would have made it with her daughter in her arms. Ditzy looked at AJ utterly helplessly, her fear for her daughter’s life evident in every fibre of her body. The warships wreckage was just a heartbeat away as Ditzy closed her eyes tight and disappeared into the blur of wrecked ship and clouds of dust. AJ and Twilight screamed in horror as the ship smashed into the opposing buildings along with one of their best friends and one of the sweetest fillies they’d ever known.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Ditzy was thrown into a coughing fit as her lungs rejected the smog of dust and smoke. Her throat seemed to be filled with fire as she desperately attempted to breath. Beside her a weaker, higher pitched coughing could be heard. Ditzy forced herself to her hooves with all the energy she could summon, her hands searching desperately for her daughter.

“Dink- (cough)...Dinky! Muffin wher- (cough)!”

“Mommy!” Called Dinky, Ditzy swinging around to feel for her filly.

Ditzys’ hand found the warmth of her daughter and pulled her into a tight hug. Ditzy picked up her daughter and ran in whatever direction seemed best at the time, the smog of grey dust not helping her already poor sense of direction. Ditzy felt one of her eyes swim off course, crossing her sight over and knocking her off course. She gave the faulty eye a vigorous rub, setting it straight again. She came to see some kind of structure, finding it to be a accidentally formed wall of broken market stalls and carts. The smog had thinned out to nearly nothing as Ditzy ran to the mess of broken wood, finding a safe place to take refuge and setting Dinky down.

“Are you hurt muffin? Are you ok?”

“I’m ok mommy.” Dinky said after a sharp cough.

Dinky stroked her filly’s’ mane as she peeked over a wrecked stall. Before her was just the cloud they had come from, the flashes of the alien weapons illuminating the smoke for a heartbeat at a time. Ditzys’ other eye went out of control this time, wobbling inward and down and practically blinding her for a second. Ditzy shook her head and flared her wings in frustration. She opened them again and gasped in fright to see the silhouette of a dozen or more griffin soldiers, all running towards her and Dinky. Ditzy dropped behind the cover and clutched her daughters’ shoulders. Dinky looked round and peeked through a crack in the woodwork, seeing the griffins emerge from the cloud of dust and closer to them. Dinky spun round in panic, her golden eyes darting about in fright. Dinky then stopped and tugged at her mother’s denim jacket

“Mommy, this way.” The little filly whispered as she started to crawl round the edge of the wrecked woodwork on her hands and knees, Ditzy close behind her.

The griffins spoke gruffly to one another, cursing the alien warriors that opposed them and condemning the equines for using sorcery to summon demons to fight for them. The squad jogged at staggered rates, warily searching their surroundings, spears and swords at the ready. One carried a crossbow, loaded and primed; another wielded a pair of savage looking iron gauntlets, rippling with sharp hooks and blades. Dinky led her mother around a corner of rubble and under a toppled wagon, putting a much safer distance between them and the griffins. Ditzy looked back to check if the soldiers had passed on, only to turn back and come face to flank with Dinky. She looked up to see what was wrong, her heart skipping a beat seeing the gleaming tip of a spear being held up to Dinkies nose. Ditzy quickly pulled her daughter back, almost throwing the filly behind her as she slowly rose to her hooves.

“Come look here lads! Found us some meat!” The griffin said, raising his spear to Ditzys’ throat.

Ditzy backed up, holding Dinky behind her closely. The rest of the griffins came running round the wreckage, a couple flying straight over it. They circled the two ponies, sharp eyes scanning parts of Ditzy she’d hoped they didn’t.

“Wouldja look at that guys, heh. You weren’t joking when you said meat!” The griffin with the war gauntlets cooed, his head cocking to get a better look at Ditzys’ flank.

“And get a load of those eyesores! Damn, can’t deny these pony types have all the right kinda curves.” Growled another eyeing the mares’ chest.

Ditzy damned the fact she was such an hourglass, but such thoughts of her own safety were cut from her mind as she felt Dinky’s tiny hand grasp her own.

“Yeh yeh, we get it, she has big tits. Kill her.” The griffin with the crossbow ordered.

“Oh come on! I’ll bleed her later, after I’ve had some fun first.” Retorted the griffin with the gauntlets.

“Not before me you’re not! And while I’m busy, you can kill the kid!” Barked the other who strode up to the first in a challenging stance.

“NO! Dinky you have to run! Go! Run for mommy!” Ditzy cried, quickly trying to get her daughter to run.

“No! I don’t want to leave you!” Dinky whined back, tears flowing down her cheeks.

“You can both go without your ‘fun’!” Roared the griffin crossbowman, marching through the other two and bringing his weapon up to fire.

“DINKY NOW! GO! RUN!!!” Ditzy screamed as she pushed her daughter hard, propelling the filly behind her.

Dinky quickly regained her footing and did as her mother told, running as fast as she could. The griffin focussed his sights down the crossbows length, his scaly talon sliding down to grasp the weapons trigger. Ditzy spread her arms and wings wide, providing all the cover she could give her daughter. The griffin aimed for the mares’ heart and squeezed the trigger. A thunderclap rang throw Ditzys’ ears, her eyes flinching closed. She felt something warm hit her face. After a second she dared to open her eyes, her breath was stolen from her at the sight before her.

The griffins’ head had been blown off from the upper jaw. The lower half of its beak was broken and gushing a fountain of blood. A red mist hung in the air and ditzy look down to see the remained to the griffins skull and brain matter was spattered all over her jacket and vest. Ditzy touched her face to find it slick with hot blood dripping down to her neck. The griffins’ body was utterly frozen still for a moment before it crumpled in a heap were it had stood, the other griffins wide eyed in confusion and terror. Not a second after the body had hit the floor Ditzy heard her daughter scream. Ditzy spun round in a flash to see Dinky standing terrified infront of a giant silhouette.

Dinkys’ horn barely reached half way up the aliens shin. It’s comparatively titanic mass practically made her daughter nonexistent. I light shone from behind the creatures head, which was bizarre since the sun was setting far to the right of the giant. A deep thud broke the slow silence, then another and another. The alien stepped over Dinky as if she was some kind of childs’ toy, striding closer towards Ditzy and the griffins. The alien came into plain sight, giving Ditzy a completely unexpected feeling. He was beautiful. His face was utterly alien, yet utterly perfect. His pale flesh seemed to glow with a beauty. The surface of his skin was flawless, not a blemish, spot, wart, scar or any imperfection to be seen. His eyes were a bright and brilliant lavender that seemed to shimmer and shine like the inside of an oyster. His golden hair was held in perfectly form wavy locks which flowed and bobbed gracefully as he walked forward. His armour was highly ornate, wax stamps holding parchment were dotted frequently about his bulk. His pauldron had stained glass windows imbedded into them, as well did his chest plate. From his belt hung a loincloth with a beautiful wave pattern lining its edge, while a magical miniature sun seemed to ride from out the top of his backpack, circling his face with an aura of shimmering light. In his left hand he held a sword as long as Celestia was tall, its blade flickering with a bright blue energy. His right hand held an attached, thick battle shield whose front had a skull infront of a sun sculpted on it, raised so that a smoking object underneath the shield was pointed at the ex-griffin. The alien strode calmly up to and passed Ditzy, who slowly back up to hold her daughter again.

A griffin roared as he charge the alien, who in turn put a shot into his chest. The shot detonated inside the griffin, busting him open like a grape, his broken body skidding to a stop at the aliens’ feet. Another took flight and swooped at the giant, only to receive the same response. The alien seemed to release something from his firearm, a small box that fell from it and hit the group with a crack. His stance shifted in the blink of an eye, his sword becoming the primary tool to use in this fight. The griffin looked at one another in fear, and after an all too obvious amount of nodding charged the giant. The alien smashed his shield into a griffin, sending him reeling, whilst spearing his blade into another’s chest with all the ease of cutting warm butter. The blade seemed to hiss with anger at each kill he made as he spun on the spot, decapitating another two griffins, the edges of their armour glowing red hot where the blade had cut.

A pair of griffin clumsily missed their target, turning to take another charge, spears raised. As the approached the alien punched his shield into ones’ face, shattering its beak and bursting its brains out the back of its skull. The other was tripped up by the giants’ massive boot, tumbling over himself. The griffin spun over onto his back with just enough time to scream before a large shield was swung down into his chest, blood bursting from the griffins’ mouth. The remaining seven griffins fled and took flight, panicked cries filling the air as they sped away. The alien looked up to the fleeing creatures.

“Inferior.” The giant said, his voice chiming as if his throat was made of crystal.

The alien strode back over to Ditzy and Dinky, his heavy footsteps making them both to flinch at the sound. He came to a stop close to them and extended a thick, armoured arm out to Ditzy, placing his large hand on her shoulder. Ditzy would have expected such an action to be uncomfortable; these creatures looked like they could injure a pony even with the gentlest of gestures. But the aliens’ touch was akin to having a feather land on you, the shining armour of his glove actually holding a kind heat to them. The creature didn’t say a word to the pegasus, his face merely softly shifting to a small, yet comforting grin. It reminded Ditzy of being looked down on by a parent, as her eyes only just reached the giants belly. The calming mood was broken as a shadow sped up from behind the giant.

With impossibly quick reaction, the giant swiftly spun round and swung his sword into the oncoming assailant, cutting through the returned griffins arm and three quarters through his chest. However it would seem even super-pony speed couldn’t help him against griffins playing dirty. A griffin that flew close behind the first roared as he sliced his spear tip at the aliens’ throat. Whether the griffin was lucky, or extremely accurate, Ditzy couldn’t tell. But either way, the razor tip of the spear sliced clean through the aliens’ throat. In a default response the giant brought up his shield and threw away the griffin. The griffin tumbled through the air before smashing into the stony floor. The aliens’ expression went from surprise, to curiosity, to frustration in just a couple of seconds as he felt blood flow like a waterfall from the massive wound at his neck. He tried to breathe but found it difficult, if not useless. The final five griffins took advantage of the aliens’ condition and made their final charge.

The thought of such a terrible wound seemed to evaporate from the giants mind as he turned to face his assailants with just as much resolve as before. He punched his shield into the first, sliced the next in twain, pirouetted to cleave the next twos’ heads off before grabbing the final griffin by the throat. The griffin writhed and squirmed in the aliens’ iron-like grip. The alien, still bleeding a worrying amount, simply stared at the griffin with an expression of pity. The giant slowly tightened his grin, the griffins eyes bulging as his throat was crushed. With a sickening crunch the griffins neck was snapped, its body dropping limply underneath the aliens’ ever tightening grip. Ditzy quickly covered Dinkys’ eyes as a gruesome squelch followed by a dull thud hit the air. Ditzys’ hand lowered again, her body unable to function as she crotched beside her daughter. The alien casually wandered up to the pair, stopping next to them before sitting down, his weight cracking the cobblestone beneath him. He simply sat there, silently next to the ponies as if nothing had happened, although his eye seemed to be growing heavy as his condition worsened. Ditzy had absolutely no medical knowledge, but was determined to help her daughters’ saviour.

Ditzy rose to her hooves and shot over to the giants’ side. She examined the wound and took off her jacket, then vest. Ditzy was all too willing to be caught in just her bra in exchange for try anything she could to help this creature. She placed the vest round the aliens’ neck, its cream fabric turning a deep red in an instant. The alien looked up at Ditzy with his lavender eyes, a heartfelt smile stretching his lips slightly. A rhythmic pattern of thudding sounds grew closer in a couple of seconds as an alien in white armour sped to the others side, kneeling beside him. Ditzys’ saviour lightly placed his hand at the back of Ditzys’ head and brought her forward to place a light kiss upon her forehead before releasing her. The alien in white brought a wrist mounted instrument to the others throat, removing Ditzys’ blood drenched vest before spraying the wound with a white foam. The alien took a sharp, deep breath through the nose and soon steadied his breathing.

After a neat bandage was applied the giant once again rose to his feet. He gestured for Dinky to join her mother, which she was already half way to doing. Dinky practically crashed into her mother’s side, wrapping her arms around her tight. Ditzy lifted up her daughter and rested the filly’s on her shoulder. The aliens strode off with the equines close beside them, soon leading them to a safe ride to join the rest of ponyville.

A hundred primitive warships lay scattered about ponyville, their metallic skeletons twisted and charred. The screams of the dying invaders grew fewer and fewer until the space marines could finally say the day was theirs. Off in the distance, beneath the moons cool glow, Canterlot burnt.