As they got closer, Corey noted more and more things about Canterlot.

What he’d taken for a castle appeared to house an entire city. Not a widespread city perhaps, but it made the various towers look all the grander.

The architecture was also odd. It looked Arabic or Indian, and yet he could see an enormous portcullis, drawbridge and all manner of European bits as well. It was a chaotic amalgam of marble, gold and whatever was producing that indigo color. Yet the spindly form —which he was convinced could only remain in place on that mountainside via magic— had a wholeness to it. An elegance. There was method to this madness, somewhere.

From the city, Corey heard a noise like a series of small jet takeoffs and saw six blue specks heading their way.

Rainbow came to a dead stop, gasping deeply.

“Oh wow, it’s them! They’re coming to me!”

“What?” he asked, raising his rifle. “Trouble?”

“No nononono, put that thing away! It’s the Wonderbolts! H-how do I look?!”

“Like hell.”

“Who’s she?”

“Alright, hold it right there you two!” a blue-haired stallion with a lighter-blue coat ordered.

Corey took a moment to look over the group, who were hovering six-abroad like they were playing a very lopsided midair football game. All pegasi —obviously— and all wearing the same blue and yellow uniform, complete with built-in flight goggles.

The mare in the center of the blockade —a yellow coated mare with wild orange hair— turned towards him.

“They’ve already stopped, Soarin.

“Hey, you’re that Ponyville wizkid! Rainbow Crash, right?”

“Uh, it’s ‘Dash’ actually, um—”

“And who’s your...” she paused, her head tilting towards Corey, “rather large friend?”

“Corey Webber, and we’ve got to meet with one of your princesses as soon as hu— er, ‘ponily’ possible.”

The mare’s tone became swiftly serious. “Nopony’s meeting nopony until we get an explanation for whatever midair ruckus was happening out there. Firefighters are being deployed now to two spots in the countryside that are in flames, and some are sighting another in the Everfree. Get talkin’. Now.”

“That wasn’t me!” Rainbow cried, before looking skyward. “Well, some of it was me, or, okay, the fires were kinda me—”

“We were being chased by autonomous flying machines that wanted to kill us, so we blew them up,” Corey blurted.

The Wonderbolts looked at him —or at least appeared to, their goggles effectively hiding their eyes— and merely waited for him to say something else.

When he didn’t, a blue-coated, white-maned mare groaned. “You got proof, or are you trying to tie our tails together?”

“I know it’s nuts!” Rainbow said. “It’s true though! This guy came to Equestria from another world with this other guy, and he’s got this huge underground factory in the Everfree Forest, an—”

“Until we can verify any of this,” the orange-haired mare said, “we’re gonna assume you’ve been hitting the cider too hard and messing with fireworks, so you’re both gonna cool-off in a cell till you’re right in the head again.”

“Spitfire, please, don’t do this! Equestria is in danger, we can’t waste any time! Just pretend you believe me for like, five minutes and take us to see Princess Celestia!”

“Unless one of those ‘killer flying machines’ comes at us in the next minute, you’re—”

“Whoa, Cap, incoming at twelve-o'clock!” shouted a white-coat, orange-maned stallion.

“What are you on about, Streak? I’m not seeing any— Break, break formation!”

The entire group scattered as a SHADE swooped in at what must have been its top speed, foregoing its weapons and attempting nothing more than to impale Rainbow Dash on its nose.

“What in Equestria is that?!” Spitfire demanded, hovering once more after rolling out of its path with the others.

“A flying violation, that’s what,” Soarin answered, taking off after it along with two others.

“Wait, NO!” Rainbow screamed, chasing after them.

“Hey!” Spitfire cried, taking wing herself with the rest of them.

By the time the SHADE had turned around it was in hover-mode, creeping towards them, just as the three Wonderbolts caught up to it and flew alongside.

One of the pegasi, a white-coated, yellow maned mare, approached it from the side.

“Sir or madam, land your... vehicle now! You are recklessly endangering Equestrian citizens in a strictly regulated airspace! Comply, or we will be forced t—”

In a movement the mare barely detected, the SHADE’s turret popped up from its nose, rounded on her, and fired eight rapid shots.

Rainbow Dash gasped at the noise, her mouth gaping open as the mare flew backwards, dropping from the sky, glimmering red flecks exploding outward like a shower of rubies.

“No...!”

“BREEZIE!” Soarin cried, swooping down to catch the mare.

Spitfire and the others had caught up with them, only to lose interest in Rainbow entirely.

Spitfire herself raised a hoof to her ear and spoke. “Command, Bolt Five is down. Repeat: Bolt Five is down! We are under attack!”

The SHADE began firing again, but the others had seen the workings of the turret weapon and evaded skillfully. The stallion named Streak took an opportunity to swoop across the nose of the SHADE, smashing the turret’s barrels. The next shot the SHADE attempted emitted a louder sort of ‘bang,’ as its interior components ruined themselves and the turret ceased movement altogether.

“Whoa, nice one, Fire Streak!” Rainbow gushed, before realizing the SHADE was now slowly pivoting in their direction.

“Whoa, watch out!” she cried, shoving Spitfire in midair as the buzzing noise of the SHADE’s twin cannons filled the air, alongside several ‘wooshing’ sounds as numerous missiles flew forward in rapid succession. These missiles didn’t appear to be using the infrared guidance system, as they sailed past the pegasi. The cannons gouged a curved line of holes into the adjacent cliffside, before the missiles arrived, blasting chunks of rock out of the mountain in a cacophony that could be heard for miles.

“Sweet Celestia...” Spitfire sighed. “Thanks.”

“We’ve gotta take that thing out before it levels Canterlot!” Rainbow said, as Spitfire’s ears perked up.

“I think command has an idea about that. All wings, back to base!”

“ ‘Back to base?’ ” Corey parroted.

“Just do it, trust me!”

With a groan, they were off, heading for one of the larger towers as the SHADE turned and gave chase. However, as it began speeding into range, the group was overtaken by a violet shockwave. It washed over them like a summer breeze, but the alien aircraft may well have slammed into a concrete wall, metal and flame washing over the grand translucent sphere that had appeared over what must have been the entire city.

“Well that helps my mood,” Corey muttered, staring at this incredible countermeasure. “Glad it counted me as an exception to its IFF.”

“IFF?” Rainbow asked.

“ ‘Identify Friend or Foe.’ Whatever told that shield I was okay, and the SHADE wasn’t.”

“I’ve got a shrewd idea who it is.”

The Wonderbolts directed them to a tower with the blue and yellow lightning bolt emblem emblazoned on its roof. It was a large shaded platform with much the same space and appearance as a sports locker room, all manner of fitness equipment within the inner ring. They landed on an extended platform, likely designed for this purpose. Corey stepped onto the ground gratefully, but uneasily, only now realizing his knees had gone a bit wobbly.

Meanwhile, Soarin and the white-maned mare were gently delivering Breezie to a few ponies with medical equipment and cutie marks. Five other Wonderbolts arrived with them, the remainder of the team. The entire team watched with bated breath.

It didn’t take but a moment for one of the medics to check the wounds and vital signs, before slowly shaking her head.

It was a mixed reaction, to say the least. Rainbow hid her face with a hoof, continuously muttering “No no no...”

Soarin lifted his goggles and sobbed openly into the neck of the white-maned mare, who herself was still, if not stoic. Fire Streak cantered off and shouted as he bucked a set of weights over with a crash before hanging his head.

Spitfire, however, rounded on Corey and Rainbow Dash, lifting her goggles and staring at them with her eyes narrowed and her mouth open.

“What did you do?!”

Rainbow appeared somewhat stunned to be addressed this way, and choked out “W-what?”

“One of the best fliers I’ve ever had just died under my command! One of my best friends, one of my teammates, and you’re going to tell me why!

“Where were you, and what possessed you to fly here with things like that chasing you?!”

From the stairwell, a voice Corey might have expected from a surfer floated over to them.

“Would you mind if I were in on this too, Captain?”

The voice came from a stern-looking white unicorn stallion, rather larger than the others Corey had encountered, which he would admit wasn’t many. Still, given the average pony height, his horn would only just reach Corey’s nose. He was also the first he’d seen with unshorn fetlocks. He wore purple and gold armor complete with a Romanesque helmet, like a centurion might wear.

The stallion’s face relaxed upon seeing Rainbow Dash. “Hey, you were one of Twili’s friends! One of our bridesmaids even!”

“Oh, hey Shining,” Rainbow said, relieved to see a familiar face.

“Shining Armor,” Spitfire addressed, “glad you’re here, it’ll make this easier.”

“ ‘Twili?’ ” muttered Corey, before his eyes glanced over the familiar star-emblem on the front of his chestplate. “Are you related to Twilight?”

“I’m her big bro, though you’re a tall drink a’ cider yourself, spider-legs. Mind explaining what’s going on here?

“Princess Celestia said my sister was helping with this disappearance situation. Were you both in on that?”

“What does any of this matter?!” Spitfire shouted. “Armor, one of my team is dead! These two brought one of the most dangerous things I’ve ever seen screaming to our doorstep! They endangered everypony in the city!

“Now I’m going to have to explain to Breezie’s family that she was killed while I was in the air! That... that I couldn’t protect one of our own not even a mile outside the capitol.”

They stared at her as she glared, though there was a visible sulk in the way she held herself. Shining Armor walked in front of her.

“Captain, I’m sorry about her. I’ll be willing to accompany you when you deliver the news. I was on-duty as well. But I think we should give these two the chance to explain themselves.”

He turned back to Rainbow and Corey. “You were saying, Miss Dash? About the disappearances?”

Dash nodded rapidly. “Yes, we’ve figured it out, and it’s bad. These aliens called ‘humans’ have come through from some other world, and they’re about to invade!”

Shining Armor stood still for a moment. “Aliens? Is that so?”

Corey stepped forward. “Sir, I’m Specialist Fourth-Class Corey Webber, and I’m one of the humans she’s referring to.”

Spitfire laughed mirthlessly. “Yeah, so you sold-out your own kind, did ya?”

“Mandeville is not ‘my own kind.’ He’s a lone operator, and he doesn’t represent my race. I was sent by my government to stop him, but that all backfired, and we ended up in your territory.”

Corey turned to Shining Armor. “I helped your sister, her friends, and even Rainbow Dash here escape from his base of operations after they got captured.”

“This guy took my little sis’ prisoner?!” Shining roared.

“Yeah,” Rainbow Dash said, “and he did this to all of us.”

She turned her right flank towards them, showing them the branding mark. Both captains stared, their frowns deepening the more they considered it.

“Can we get a medic to have a look at this?” Shining Armor asked while trying to control his heavy breathing. One of the pair sent to help Breezie broke off and began examining Rainbow’s cutie mark.

“They did that, to my sister?”

Corey only stared at the floor.

“Where is she? You said you helped them get out, why isn’t she with you?”

Rainbow turned, wincing as the medic began dabbing at her cutie mark wound with a wet cloth.

“We agreed me and Corey should make a break for Canterlot, let Celestia and Luna know about the invasion before it was too late. Twi and the others are heading to Ponyville, to evacuate.”

“You think it’s that bad?” Spitfire asked.

“It’s worse,” Corey answered. “You saw what that thing did. That’s called a SHADE. It’s a big flying killing machine. You saw what it let loose into that cliff. We’ve had to kill five of those things before we got here, and a lot of other toys Mandeville has.

“Without what I know to prepare you, he’s going to roll through this city like it’s not even here. Your leaders need to hear what I have to tell them.”

“How do we know you’re not just a spy?” Shining asked.

“Good point,” Spitfire agreed. “It could just be a ploy to get close enough to the princesses. Why trust you?”

Corey was about to open his mouth, when Rainbow’s voice spoke up behind him.

“Corey is not a spy!”

The group looked back at her, Corey included. Rainbow’s wings were flared, and she stared between the two captains stubbornly.

“He saved our hides several times, he was always good to his word, and he cares. He cared enough about one pony that came with us, that when we... lost her...”

Corey smiled at Rainbow, who almost returned it.

“It hurt him. That wasn’t an act. He really cared about her, about us. He almost died in one attack, and we had to save him. If he were a spy for Mandeville, he’d never have tried to really kill him. I wasn’t sure about Corey before, but... I... I trust him.”

Shining Armor and Spitfire turned to each other a moment. Corey broke the silence.

“If it helps anything, I’ll let you hold onto my weapons. But Mandeville is coming, and he’s bringing a machine army. You’re going to need all the help you can get. I don’t want to see any other Equestrians go the way of your friend, Captain.”

Once again, there was silence, mixed with the odd sob in the background.

Twilight Sparkle was worried. Not the usual sort that came with trekking through the Everfree, particularly off-trail, but for the two that had left them.

A while after they left, the group had witnessed four staggered SHADEs pass overhead in the same direction. Twilight could have sworn she heard subtle popping noises, but with the ambient forest noises it was difficult to tell.

In the meantime, they were following Fluttershy’s lead, given she was the only member of the group who knew her way back from the bear cave.

“Now, you’re sure this is all familiar to ya?” Applejack asked.

Fluttershy nodded energetically. “Very sure! This is the way I always go.”

“Dear, I am surprised you don’t mention your little expeditions more often,” Rarity commented. “It is the Everfree Forest after all.”

“Well, usually Mister Bear escorts me, but he’s still getting over his hibernation right now.”

“Y’know, I tried sleeping for a few months one time,” Pinkie said. “It’s impossible to find a good position to stay comfortable for that long.”

“Wait, you tried sleeping for months?” Twilight asked. “Don’t the Cakes kinda need you, don’t you pay rent?”

“Aw, that’s no problem Twilight. Y’see, I do most of my work without even knowing it anyway. I’m a sleepbaker.”

“A what?” Rarity asked.

“Well, know how some ponies walk in their sleep? I’m kinda the same way, ‘cept I don’t just walk. A lotta the time, I bake stuff!”

Applejack smirked. “Pinkie, sure as sugar, you are one of a kind.”

“Uh, pardon me ladies,” Rarity said, staring suddenly southwest, “do you hear something?”

Indeed, there was a building noise. A dull whine, a sharp sound of snapping branches, and numerous deep clicking sounds.

“It’s getting louder,” Fluttershy noted, taking a step back.

Twilight gasped as she saw it, and whispered, “There!” pointing into a crack between the trees a hundred yards away.

It was a shadow, creeping slowly over the forest floor, until one of the trees began vanishing, pulled forward until it was ripped from the floor.

“That poor tree,” Fluttershy moaned.

Applejack’s eyes narrowed as she shook her head rapidly. “What in all tarnation is that about?”

They got their answer promptly, as the culprit rolled into view. A gargantuan yellow machine on similarly proportioned treads, with a front end constructed of rotating, interlocking bladed cylinders that were devouring any obstacle in their path. The tree this metal monstrosity had taken was now being shunted out of vents built into its side as a dusty mulch, defining the edges of the trail it was busy blazing.

Already it was tearing into another tree in front of it, the dull, low noise oddly inconspicuous in the dense forest.

“Clearing a path for the invasion?” Rarity suggested.

Twilight groaned. “Oh, Corey was right! They’re gonna at least pass Ponyville! I need to find a familiar spot so we can teleport.”

As the machine moved onward, almost out of view, other treaded vehicles moved forward. Twilight didn’t need to be told they were tanks. The form was distinct, the same long barrel for its main cannon, more compact without the need of a driver, but with far less angle in its armor than what she was familiar with.

And marching alongside were the CID, which upon seeing, the girls scrambled behind a tree to evade.

“Better back off gals,” Applejack whispered, “nice and quiet-like.”

Indeed, they set off east until reaching a clearing where they could no longer see the army for the clutter of trees.

“Alright,” Twilight said at last, “come on girls, we need to do this double-time.”

As she took a step north again, a large serpentine head rose groggily from the brush, blinking its great cat-eyes as it focused on the creature disturbing it.

“Uh, Twilight?” Pinkie said, her eyes widening as she stepped carefully backwards.

Twilight, meanwhile, stood frozen as the beast flicked its forked tail out at her. Her mouth went dry as it hung open.

“Twilight, run.” Applejack told her, but she remained stock still, shivering as the snake examined her.

“Twilight!” she repeated. “RUN!”

Finally broken from her reverie, Twilight panted deeply as she turned tail and bolted away. The snake however, almost expecting this, struck.

Twilight let out a shrill scream of terror as the jaws caught her from behind, stuffing the back half of her body down its throat.

“HELP ME HELP ME HELP ME!—”

“No!” Fluttershy shrieked. “Spit her out, this instant!”

If the snake could understand her, it didn’t demonstrate doing so, as it closed its mouth over the hollering unicorn and gulped her down easily. The bulge of Twilight’s body crawled down its throat, the muffled screams more frantic than ever.

“Twilight!” Applejack cried, before leaping forward and grabbing the snake’s neck with all four hooves, hanging on as the bulge reached her to inhibit its progress deeper inside.

“You scale-ridden fiend!” Rarity shouted, turning a small army of needles from her bag into a prickly shotgun blast, peppering the beast well underneath Applejack.

A pained roar and bleat suddenly arose behind the snake, as the oversized heads of a lion, a goat and the body between them all reared up in pain. Applejack was flung off by a snap of the snake/tail, and Twilight continued her writhing path inside the chimaera’s body as the three-headed beast took off in surprise.

Crashing through the trees, it searched around for its assailant, before finding the trailblazing machine to the west and plowing into it with full force. The machine’s side was dented, resilient to the chimaera’s attack, but it was enough to dismount the crushers and bring its progress to a dead halt.

Nearly as soon as it was visible, the drones opened fire upon the monster, which at first only made it howl as it swiped, knocking over a tank and swiping dozens of CID into pieces with its paws.

The girls arrived, looks of horror on their faces as the carnage continued. The chimaera stepped back out into the trees for another charge, but as soon as it turned around, one of the tanks fired its main cannon into its chest. The monster fell, tumbling with the force of a landslide. Groaning, bleating and hissing, its lungs deflated as it lay still.

“No,” Rarity said, taking off towards the hulking body. “No!”

“Rarity, watch it!” Applejack whispered, checking that the drones weren’t coming out to investigate.

As the ponies approached the body, they listened for anything, any noise that might mean Twilight was still there.

“Twilight!” Pinkie cried, before being hushed by Fluttershy.

Pinkie pressed her face into the chimaera’s fur, and unleashed a muffled scream of Twilight’s name into it.

“W—we’ve got to cut her out of there!” Rarity cried. “She might be unconscious, we can’t just leave her in there!”

Applejack closed her eyes. “We can’t get through all that muscle n’ hide in time, even if she did survive.”

Pinkie’s eyes went huge with tears as she grabbed Fluttershy in a hug and sobbed into her.

“Oh-ho Twilight!” Rarity moaned. “This isn’t fair, not after all you’ve done, for us, for me, for Equestria! How can it end like this, Applejack?!”

She bawled her very mascara off into Applejack’s neck as a figure stumbled through the forest behind them, turned, and then sprinted with a wobbly gait in their direction.

“Girls!” Twilight cried, panting, her wide-eyes shrinking somewhat as her soaking wet coat and mane drooped onto the forest floor.

“Tw- Twilight?” Fluttershy asked, as the others slowly stared, rubbed their eyes or shook their heads.

“Twilight!” they shouted as one, latching onto her.

“How in the name a’ Paula-Red are you back out n’ about, ya snake-bit filly?!” Applejack asked.

“Yeah!” Pinkie agreed. “We saw that snake-tail-thing gobble you up!”

“Did it spit you out, somewhere along the way?” Fluttershy asked.

“No,” Twilight said, a thousand-yard stare taking over her eyes. “No, I landed in its stomach... it was dark, and slimy and...”

She shuddered, as the others pressed in closer.

Rarity squinted her eyes as she shook her head. “Well, how on earth did you escape then?”

“I panicked,” Twilight said unnecessarily, “when I realized where I was, and I took a chance and teleported out.”

“I- isn’t that dangerous?” Fluttershy asked her.

Applejack chuckled. “Yeah, couldn’t you have ended up underground, or in a tree or somethin’?”

Twilight nodded, almost ashamedly. “I think at that moment I wanted to be anywhere but in that s-sn... i-in that snake’s belly.”

“Well, it was that chimaera actually,” Rarity corrected, “but given what happened to the poor brute, you were probably right.”

“Yeah!” Pinkie cried. “It broke the tree-eating machine!”

“Well, that’s good then!” Twilight tried to smile, despite still shaking like a leaf. “Mandeville will have to fix it before he can move those drones any further. And I glimpsed that ruin where we defeated Nightmare Moon when I got out! I know where we are now!”

Applejack let out a satisfied cry, before saying, “Fantastic!

“We can get back to Ponyville now, right?”

“Almost,” Twilight said. “Our first stop needs to be Zecora’s.”

Pinkie gasped. “You’re right! She wouldn’t even know! And then her treehouse might get eaten, and it would just be the saddest thing...”

“Okay then,” Rarity agreed, “Off to Zecora’s. Are you ready Twilight?”

Twilight’s horn glowed brightly. “Yeah, ready to never see this spot again.

“By the way, can we never mention this ‘getting eaten’ thing?”

Rainbow Dash was feeling a lot better about things. The medical ponies had quite literally worked their magic on her cutie mark, and by now it was looking much improved. They told her it would still be a scar, but that the hair would grow back over it until it was barely noticeable.

This made the long awaited walk to the throne room all the more satisfying. Finally, they could speak to the only ponies in Equestria that might stand a chance.

Beside her walked Corey, stripped of his weapons and pack, as he promised. Shining Armor himself and an escort of guards accompanied them on either side.

Corey received a few stares as they walked through part of the city to reach the palace proper. The stares were more curious than fearful, ponies turning to ask questions of their friends, likely concerning if they had any idea what he was supposed to be.

Corey was more concerned with the residents not watching him. It was a bustling town, the sort of cheery everyday drudgery a Disney film might use to depict an old-timey village... and soon these streets might be filled with the marching of metal feet, to a chorus of panic and unrest.

Corey was brought out of his trance as the sound of a heavy door caught him before he had realized the building was in sight. He and Rainbow watched as the interior was revealed bit by bit, until Shining Armor and the guards ushered them inside.

It was a grand lobby, a staircase in front of them breaking at the top and forming a hallway between two large wings, while a red carpet defined their paths. The entire building seemed to be coated in marble, with tall stained-glass windows letting the sunlight fill every corner.

They ascended the steps, turning left at the top and proceeding towards the great double door at the end of it.

“Compose yourselves, please,” Shining Armor said, staring more at Corey. “You’re about to enter the presence of Celestia herself.”

After giving him a long look, he turned to swing the great doors open.

Inside was a cavernous room, of the same style as the rest of the building, but far grander. The stained-glass windows all portrayed continuous images of the sun over a picturesque landscape, save for one. The one in question portrayed six familiar-looking ponies surrounding an odd draconian beast with all manner of animals parts on various sections of its body. When he realized Rainbow was watching him stare at the thing, she chuckled and winked at him.

At the end of the room, a hundred or so feet in, was a golden throne, babbling fountains of water dribbling down into small pools on either side. Guards surrounded it on both sides. And sitting upon the throne was the most gorgeous creature Corey had ever beheld.

It —no, she— she was by far the largest pony he had yet encountered. He almost hesitated to call her a pony, given her elegant proportions were more akin to a horse. But as they approached, he could see why she was still a pony. She was almost certainly larger than him, but not by much, though he would not be certain unless they were standing face to face.

He could tell she was quite the specimen, both a unicorn and a pegasus, with wings and a horn he instantly respected for the power lesser examples had shown him before. Her mane and tail were a dreamlike wave of blue, green, purple and pink. Either her hair was magical, or the hair was made of magic. She wore golden shoes on her hooves, a golden ornamental brace around her neck and a simply-shaped golden tiara atop her shapely head.

And her bottomless eyes were violet and wise, and looking directly at him.

“Miss Rainbow Dash,” Celestia said, leaning forward. “And...”

She stared at Corey, taking the sight of him in, looking over his feet, his hands, his uniform...

“Forgive me, I’m afraid this is a rare first encounter. I cannot say I am familiar with your kind. Have you a name?”

“Ah—” Corey croaked, closing his parted lips at last and giving a light shake. “I’m Corey, your highness. Corey Webber.”

Celestia stood up, and stepped slowly off of her throne towards them.

Corey felt a sudden compulsion towards humility and sank into a kneel, an act which made Celestia pause blankly, before beaming at him. Upon reaching the level of her subjects, she leaned down, touching Corey’s shoulder with her horn.

“I am Princess Celestia, Corey Webber. I welcome you to Canterlot.”

She stood up again, facing her other guest.

“Surely Rainbow, this cannot be the culprit Twilight sought, can it? Hmm.”

Once more she appeared to evaluate Corey.

“I ask your forgiveness once more, Corey Webber. I suspect your gender, but I would be a fool to say for certain. Do you call yourself stallion, or mare?”

“Stallion, Princess, although that wouldn’t be the term we would use.”

“Enlighten me then, Mister Webber,” she asked, smiling again.

“I would call myself a ‘man,’ your highness, as opposed to a ‘woman.’ ”

“How interesting,” Celestia commented. “But you’ve indulged my curiosity long enough. I sense there is much to be said.”

And there was. Rainbow Dash explained their journey to the Mandeville Arms facility. She described the things they saw, the unseen, ever present computer, and the man behind the madness. Between Rainbow and Corey, they told Celestia what they knew of Mandeville, what Corey had experienced and what Twilight had relayed to them.

In the process, Celestia inquired about the human people, their world and their technology. Corey explained how they had come to be in Equestria, Rainbow Dash relaying the theories Mandeville had opined on the matter. Subsequently, Corey admitted his own guilt in forcing the situation upon their world.

“I submit myself to whatever need or punishment you deem appropriate, your highness. But I beg that you allow me to help you.”

“Stand, Mister Webber,” Celestia said. “Please.”

Corey realized as he complied with the request that at her full height, the top of Celestia’s head only reached his chin, while her horn ended a few inches above his head. And yet, her presence left him no less cowed.

Celestia began circling him, slowly. “Indeed, you are responsible for these events in my kingdom. My beloved ponies suffer as a result.

“But your crime was committed, absent your knowledge. You wrought hatred from love, sought the empty liquor of revenge. But I see too well that you have paid for your error. As I feel a duty to protect my ponies, so do you shoulder responsibility for their welfare.

“I have no interest in punishing you, Corey Webber. But I would ask of the help you seem quite intent on providing.”

“Thank you, Princess,” Corey said.

Celestia nodded almost imperceptibly, before turning to gaze at one of the windows.

“However, if provided the chance, I wish to speak with this Adrian Mandeville. If it is possible to avoid the shedding of innocent blood, I will seek every avenue before considering war.”

Corey and Rainbow gave each other a significant look, frowning.

“Which is not to say I wish to be unprepared, if this machine army arrives.”

She smiled, looking at the pair out of the corner of her eye as their tension visibly left them.

“Shining Armor, if you could escort them to the barracks please? I must wake my sister.”

Twilight rapped upon the door of the gnarled tree house. “Zecora? Zecora, are you there? Please, open up, this is an emergency!”

The door opened nearly the moment she finished speaking, Zecora’s eyes wide open and mouth parted. “Twilight, friend, you have returned! Can it be your quest is fulfilled, adjourned?” She beckoned them inside, quickly closing the door once Fluttershy’s tail cleared the frame.

“I wish that were the case, Zecora,” Applejack answered, “but things have plum gone from bad, to worse.”

“And from worse, to worster!” Pinkie elaborated. “And from worster, to supremely terribly—!”

“I think she gets the picture, hon,” Applejack deadpanned.

“There’s no time to explain,” Twilight said. “Zecora, there’s an invading army marching its way to Canterlot, and they’re going to come right through the forest and Ponyville to get there.”

“Long story short, darling,” Rarity said, “we need you and the rest of Ponyville to abscond to somewhere safer until the coast is clear.”

“Abandon my home?” Zecora cried, taking a step back. “Abandon my brews? Is this a joke? Your news does not amuse!”

“Zecora, we’re leavin’ our homes too,” Applejack said. “Better your home than you.”

“I seek no quarrel with these invaders,” Zecora argued, walking to her cupboards. “Why threaten me? Are they mere raiders?”

“They’ll make an example of anypony they come across,” Twilight said, “just to make us surrender. Just to make us scared enough to weaken our resolve.”

“Plus,” Pinkie began, “they’re tearing through the forest with this big nasty machine that eats trees and grinds them into sawdust! I mean, they might miss you, but then they might not miss you, and we would all really miss you if they don’t miss you! Please don’t stay...”

Pinkie gave her the biggest puppy-dog eyes, and the poutiest lip she had at her disposal. The zebra stood no chance.

“Very well,” Zecora sighed, “I shall go. You must convince Plumeria as well, you know.”

“She’s still here?” Fluttershy asked as the ponies shot each other glances, their ears folding down.

Zecora only nodded, pointing to the side room.

“Oh, girls,” Fluttershy whispered, “she’s going to be so crushed!”

Rarity nodded. “And it’ll be all the worse to hear the part Peppermint played.”

“I’ll have to talk to her,” Twilight said. “She hasn’t spoken to the rest of us. It’ll be better if she hears it from me.”

“We’ll be right here, sugarcube,” Applejack said.

Twilight slowly opened the door to find Plumeria watching the forest outside her window. She looked better, less fatigued than before. She turned to see Twilight as she entered the room.

“Hello Plumeria,” Twilight said, not certain what to make of her expression.

“You’ve been there,” Plumeria stated. “I see it in your eyes.”

Twilight found herself momentarily speechless.

“You would have sent Pep in here first.” A stream of tears readily rolled down her face. “If he was still alive.”

“Plumeria, I’m so sorry.”

Plumeria gave a heavy sniff. “I tried to assume it ever since you left. Y’know, so I wouldn’t be as sad in case he really wasn’t coming back. But... I guess I couldn’t really give up on him that easily.

“Was it...” She sniffed again. “Was it at least quick?”

Twilight nodded. “Yes. He never felt a thing.”

For the next thirty seconds or so, they engaged in a rather awkward silence. Twilight didn’t know how to handle this, so she broke it.

“There’s more, Plumeria. I’m afraid we need to go.”

“Go?”

“Yes. We need to leave Ponyville. Everypony does.”

Plumeria squeezed her eyes shut a moment later. “It’s my fault, isn’t it?”

“What? No!”

“I went into that cave, I triggered it! Now everypony is in danger, aren’t they?”

“It isn’t your fault!” Twilight shouted, scarcely aware of her actions as she threw her forelegs around Plumeria who went silent at the outburst. “It isn’t your fault. You didn’t know. How could you possibly have known? If you hadn’t started it, all of this would only have happened later. It wouldn’t have mattered. Somepony was going to find it eventually.

“You can’t blame yourself for the things you couldn’t predict. It’ll consume you from the inside. Please, trust me.

“It doesn’t start hurting less, Plumeria. You can’t fill the hole in your heart where they once lived. But you can honor who they were. You can remember them, and consider what they would have wanted.”

Plumeria pressed her head into Twilight, shuddering in short spasms.

“I know,” Twilight whispered. “I know.”

Rainbow and Corey arrived at the Canterlot barracks with Shining Armor as their guide. It was rather small for being the center of defense for the city, much more akin to an olden day police station. Armored soldiers practiced in the courtyard, smacking dummies with incredibly shiny swords and hitting mounted bullseyes with bows wielded by unicorns.

On the far side was the office of one ‘General Smolder,’ whose door Shining Armor knocked upon to a prompt answer by a squat brown pegasus stallion with white hair cut into a flat-top. His coat was also grayed between his jaw, nose and sideburns, as if he had a permanent five o'clock shadow.

“Tell me this is a prank, Armor!” the general growled. “I get a note from the Princess, telling me I’ve got to mount a defense against a largely unknown invading force of alien machines! Kid, tell me right now if this is another one of her little games, because we are ill-prepared to fight an actual war.

“War! in Equestria! We haven’t been at war in generations! Long before I held this position! What’s more, I’m going to have to deal with the League of Mages!”

“You called, Smolder?” said a stiff voice.

Materializing beside him was a slender, tough-looking unicorn mare in grey robes. Her coat was a deep blue, her mane a subtle yellow with white accents. She smiled slyly at the general.

“Hello, ‘Therea,” Smolder muttered. “I didn’t see you there.”

“That was the idea,” she said, before turning to the others.

“I’m Etherea, high-mage of the League of Mages. I received a summons from our royal highness to convene here. She mentioned something about an invasion force.”

“Yeah!” Rainbow said. “An army of machines that drive these little bolts of metal into stuff, and launch these flying rockets that make things explode!”

“Machines?” Etherea repeated. “Well that’ll be simple enough. Remove one component from a machine and the whole thing fails.”

“Won’t be that simple,” Corey told her. “These things are armored.”

“Armor won’t stop magic, friend. Fret not.”

Rainbow rolled her eyes. “You don’t get it. All those missing ponies in the Everfree forest were captured! They made them put magic-stopping spells all over the machines!”

Etherea’s smile faltered. “Anti-magic. Yes, considerably more formidable.”

“I’m not exactly the arcane specialist,” Smolder began, “but if they have to ponynap slaves, does that mean our enemy is magically inert?”

“That’s exactly what it means,” Corey said. “We humans are from another world altogether. We come from a place where your magic doesn’t exist.”

Etherea tilted a head in Corey’s direction. “‘We?’ I’ll admit, I’ve never seen your kind in any bestiary, but are you telling me you are a defector of these invaders?”

Corey held a hand up. “I was never on this guy’s side to begin with. This isn’t an invasion of one world by another. This is one guy, with a lot of firepower. And I know a lot about that firepower. You guys want to win this? I can tell you how.”

“On whose authority do we listen to you?”

“Ours, General,” Celestia said, smiling when Smolder realized both she and her sister Luna were walking toward them.

“Princess, and Princess!” Smolder cried, saluting the pair while Etherea bowed.

Corey observed Princess Luna for the first time. Just like her sister, if smaller by quite a bit. Dark, midnight blue with starry hair, similarly gorgeous.

“Do I intrigue you, human?” Luna asked, sensing his gaze.

Corey’s eyebrows rose, not expecting the Olde English. “Forgive me, Princess. Until today, I’ve never seen anything like you or your sister.”

Luna smiled. “Your flattery is noted. But I would think it prudent to hear your testament concerning these clockwork connivers posthaste.”

“I agree,” Celestia said. “General, we’ll need your largest briefing hall, if you would be so kind.”

“Er, yes Princess,” Smolder said, clearing his throat. “This way.”

The Ponyville Mayor’s secretary, a stallion by the name of Sticky Note, poked his head into his boss’ office in the town hall. It was a respectably sized room, the walls comprised of dark wood with elegant shapes carved in. Behind the the mayor’s desk —made from the same wood as the walls— was a single large window allowing sunlight to spill into the room.

“Mayor, Twilight Sparkle is here to see you. She says it’s extremely urgent.”

The tan mare looked up from her scrolls and over her desk, frowning as she stuck her quill back inside its inkpot.

“Twilight Sparkle? Didn’t you offer her an appointment?”

“She’s most insistent, Ma’am.”

The mayor sighed. “Let me talk to her.”

Sticky Note vanished momentarily, before the door opened again, admitting both Twilight Sparkle and Applejack.

“Mayor, I know you’re busy,” Twilight began, “but we need you to stop what you’re doing and help us. It’s urgent!”

“I’m more than aware of what has befallen the Books and Branches Library, Miss Sparkle. I’m deeply sorry for what has happened, and I assure you I have personally put hours of effort into planning its reconstruction. Not to mention ordering the literature we’ll need to restock it. You will neither be homeless, nor the populace bookless for long.”

“‘Fraid that ain't why we’re here, Mayor,” Applejack sighed. “It’s a bit more than all that.”

“What exactly do you mean, Applejack?”

Twilight took a deep breath. “We need to evacuate Ponyville.”

One of them might have blown an airhorn, given the silence that followed. Sticky Note visibly eased his head further through the door, abandoning pretense. The mayor herself only stared between the two mares, as if waiting to hear Rainbow Dash jeering in the background.

“Evacuate,” she repeated.

“Yes.”

“The entire town.”

“That is correct, Ma’am.”

More silence still followed this. Twilight finally took a step forward.

“Mayor, I know it sounds extreme—”

“You’re quite correct, Twilight!” the mayor cried, explosively. “It sounds like the sort of thing that would cause a panic and unrest this town hasn’t seen since—”

“Nightmare Moon?” Applejack offered.

“Discord?” Twilight suggested. “The parasprite infestation?”

The mayor’s hoof slammed into the floor with a sound like a cannon.

“Do not remind me of those debacles! And this would be worse! A cease in the entire town’s economy! Everything shut down!

“We’d have to evacuate the Ponyville Memorial Hospital, transport bedridden ponies! The retirement home, everything! You realize what you’re asking?!”

“We do, mayor,” Twilight said, determinedly. “And we wouldn’t ask if it weren’t absolutely necessary. But everypony in town is in extreme danger if they stay here.”

“Miss Mayor,” Applejack began, “that business with the library weren’t no accident. We went out after whatever did it, and, well... we found ‘em. Found out more than I wish I knew, t’be honest. And some a’ that is that they’ve got an army on its way through the Everfree Forest on its way to Canterlot, and these folk don’t care one thing about what happens to anypony what stands in their way.

“We all need t’be long gone before they burst through those trees, or mark my words Ma’am, ponies in your town are gonna get hurt. Probably worse.”

The mayor looked into Applejack’s eyes, opening and closing her mouth from time to time.

“We’re wasting time, then. I know you wouldn’t lie about something this serious, Applejack. I’ll relay the order.”

Both Element bearers sighed as tension left the room. The Mayor continued speaking.

“The ill and the elderly will do too much to slow down the other townsponies. As the trains can only hold so many, they will take them to Dodge Junction until the threat is ended. Everypony else will make for Las Pegasus. Those roads should be safe.

“I, however, shall remain. I’ll not abandon my town.”

Twilight and Applejack stepped back.

“Mayor!” Twilight shouted.

“Miss Mayor,” Applejack said, “Ponyville ain’t a buncha buildings, roads or what-have-you. Ponville is the ponies that live there. Don’t do some ‘down with the ship’ foolishness when yer’ town needs the leadership of its mayor.”

The mayor stared at the ground as her ears sagged. “Yes... yes, I suppose they do. Very well, I’ll call for a mandatory town conference in the plaza, and get everypony under my authority spreading the word. I’d rather not reveal the evacuation itself until they’re gathered. Hearsay could result in a panic.”

“As you wish, Miss Mayor!” saluted Sticky Note from the doorframe, startling the old mare as she saw a number of other eavesdropping heads retreat almost literally into the woodwork.

Twilight and Applejack strode out onto the streets as the mayor’s staff became impromptu town criers, shouting news of the meeting to any that would listen, and any who wouldn’t.

“Fluttershy!” Twilight cried, spotting her in the plaza.

“Hoo-whee, girl, you’re not finished rustling them critters up already, are ya?” Applejack asked.

“It was Angel!” Fluttershy said, her eyes widened.

Twilight blinked. “Angel? Your rabbit?”

Fluttershy nodded enthusiastically. “Yes! I explained to my little friends, and I was so sure he wouldn’t want to go. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but he can... be a bit stubborn, at times.

“But it was amazing! He marched himself off into the forest, and while I helped some of the babies, he came back with all these other animals! And they gathered up the little ones and the sick ones and all ran off towards Whitetail Woods! It was like a stampede.”

“Well that’s... good,” Applejack muttered. “Now maybe y’can help us spread word a’ the town conference. I’ve gotta go tell my kin. It’ll take longer to reach ‘em.” With that, Applejack made for Sweet Apple Acres, dodging the townsponies filtering slowly into the square.

“So, it went well with the mayor?” Fluttershy inquired.

“Yes, she’s agreed to evacuate the town.” Twilight answered. “By the way, where’s Rarity? I thought she was with you?”

“She was, but she found the Crusaders playing with fireworks and stopped to talk to them.”

Twilight rolled her eyes. “Cutie Mark Crusader pyrotechs?”

“No. Cutie Mark Crusader cosmonauts. They tied Scootaloo to a firework as big as me. She was wearing a fishbowl on her head. I don’t think it was a good idea.”

“No kidding.”

“Seconded,” Rarity said, trotting over to them. “Sorry dear, I had to stop by the Boutique and... pick something up.”

“Rarity!” Twilight fumed. “There’s no time to be saving our possessions! Whatever it was, it could have been replaced!”

“No, Twilight,” Rarity whispered. “Not this.”

Rarity pulled a case from her bag and opened it. Within was a familiar, magnificent red gem, cut into the shape of a heart.

“Spike’s fire ruby,” Twilight breathed, recalling the incident involving the magnificent stone.

“I’m sorry Twilight, I know it was irresponsible of me,” Rarity muttered, shrinking away from her. “I just... I couldn’t bear to part with it. Not the greatest gift I was ever given, from a f-f-friend I’ll have only in memory.”

She pressed her eyes together harshly, her hoof holding the case to her chest as she nuzzled the stone, as if it were alive and beating.

“R-Rarity,” Twilight cooed, smiling at her while fighting the pout in her quivering lip.

“Perhaps you should keep it?” Rarity offered, levitating the case. “It doesn’t seem right that I should keep something of his to remember him by, not when you’re still hurting so awfully much.”

Twilight’s own magic closed the case and pressed it back towards its owner.

“Spike meant for you to have that, Rarity. I’m not going to ignore his wishes, no matter how much I miss him.

“Besides, I’m pretty sure his heart belonged to you.”

Rarity suddenly leaped forward and pulled her into a tearful hug. Not quite Pinkie Pie in its strength, but it was enough.

“Twilight, you were the very best friend he could have had. I don’t want to hear about you feeling guilty over him, you understand? You’re about the truest friend I’ve ever had! You were true to him as well, and he knew it. You’ve nothing to regret, but that he’s left us.”

“Thank you,” Twilight sighed. “I’d rather not talk about it now though, okay?”

Rarity nodded. “And Twilight... I know you and... well, everypony have seen my attempts to court Corey. I rather wish it had been less obvious. But I want you to know, while I’ll certainly move on with my life... I’ll always keep a place in my heart for Spike. It’s the very least I can do.”

Fluttershy finally engaged the discussion. “Spike wouldn’t have wanted you to be alone, Rarity. You’re right to find somepony. Even if it’s not a somepony.”

At that moment, a fuschia blur stopped on its way through the square.

“Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy,” Pinkie muttered, eyes drifting momentarily skyward. “Check.”

“You’re including us in the headcount?” Twilight asked.

“When Pinkamena Diane Pie says everypony in Ponyville, she means everypony in Ponyville!

“Oh, by the way! Did you know a baby alligator could stampede? I sure didn’t, till I saw Gummy with all those animals leaving Ponyville! I mean wow-wee! You could see that dust cloud from—”

“Pinkie!” Twilight and Rarity cried. “Headcount!”

“Oh dewdrops!” Pinkie exclaimed before rocketing off again.

Corey watched in awe as the lecture hall slowly filled, all manner of ponies filling the stadium-style seats. Some wore armor, others robes, and a few were draped in important-looking uniforms. The crowd grumbled and buzzed, evidently not told much about this impromptu imposition.

In typical classroom fashion, an old-style blackboard sat opposite the swelling throng. Not a wall of smartglass, or a whiteboard, as Corey was used to seeing, but a true chalkboard like in old-time movies. The smell of it reminded him of the older buildings back in college.

This though, was even more aged than he was accustomed to. Not merely the age of decades, but centuries. There was a dignity to the room, ancient and well worn, yet obsessively maintained.

Beside him was Rainbow Dash, who unlike him looked happy as a clam in receiving the occasional stares from the seated ponies. The only others situated on their side of the room were Luna and Celestia, who were drawing most of the attention by their very presence.

Soon, it became clear that everyone intended to show was present, and Celestia had only to clear her throat to swiftly silence the whispers.

“My little ponies, I wish I had better news. Equestria faces a unique force with hostile intent. A force from another world, difficult as it may be to believe. Losses have already been had on our side.”

The buzz of conversation began anew, and Celestia waited as the significance of her words washed over them before raising a hoof for silence.

“This is why you are all gathered here. I do not wish to bring our peaceful nation into open war, but I do wish to be prepared for it. You represent Equestria’s defense force, and I can count on you to relay what you learn here to ponies under your command.

“Our foe, as we have learned, is without any magical power of their own. Instead, they are wholly reliant upon technology. Though this technology is of such advancement that one might well mistake its workings for magic.

“Their lack of a magical resistance would make them vulnerable to the most tepid interference of a unicorn, but they have accounted for this by capturing unicorns in secret and forcing them to shield their numbers with anti-magic enchantments.”

The muttering began anew, and a mustached, steel-blue unicorn stallion spoke out. “Then to resist is folly! Without magic we shouldn’t even consider war! What is it that these aggressors want from us, cannot we appease them?”

“If diplomacy can be had, it will be,” Celestia answered, “but thus far their actions have been those of a conqueror. I do not believe they will settle for less than dominion over Equestria.”

“The Princesses’ strength is of magic!” a pale green mare said. “If they cannot protect us, we might as well surrender now!”

“Such enchantments can be undone, or even overpowered,” Etherea stated from the front row. “But not in great numbers. We must reserve such action for strategic targets.”

“The small-fry shouldn’t be anything a good sword, shield or bowstring can’t handle,” Smolder commented.

“So you’re going to fight tanks and fast-reacting steel super soldiers with iron broadswords and iron arrows, while wearing iron plate armor?” Corey blurted.

Eyes quickly found Corey from all corners of the room, the curious regard he’d received before now amplified. Taking notice of this, Celestia spoke-up.

“This meeting recognizes Mister Corey Webber, a ‘human’ from the world unknown. He is here in an advisory capacity, as the foremost expert on the alien technology, apart from the one creating it.”

“Uh, thank you, Princess,” Corey said, trying his best not to mutter.

Smolder scoffed. “For being such an ‘expert,’ you betray your own ignorance in suggesting we put so much stock into iron, of all things. In Equestria, our fighters use nothing less than titanium, diamond-tipped if possible.”

“Okay, right, I forgot that rare-earth minerals aren’t as rare here as they are where I come from. But you’re still talking about melee combat, and the most limited form of ranged combat outside of chucking spears at the things.”

“Hey, we’ve got cannons too!” shouted one of the soldiers.

“These things only use varying flavors of cannon,” Corey said. “Not just big mounted ball-bearing launchers. I mean small, accurate. Seven-hundred-years of refinement and perfection into lead-pushing machines that can mow down a—”

Spitfire cried from the far-end of the room. “Smolder, he’s right! I’ve seen what these things can do. Your soldiers will get cut-down well before they’re within striking distance. Our finest marksmares don’t have the range to match, and these weapons can repeat like a flapping wing on a hummingbird.”

“Then we don’t fight them!” Etherea suggested. “We lay traps. Far easier to subdue them without loss of life on either side.”

“First off, some a’ them can fly,” Rainbow Dash cut in at last. “Oh baby, can they fly! And ‘B,’ there’s only one guy that could get hurt on their side anyway. When we said ‘machine army,’ we meant the machines are the soldiers!”

Muttering broke out among the crowd as Smolder spluttered.

“I thought they didn’t have magic! What’s this about the machines marching off to fight all by themselves?!”

“It’s all technology,” Corey explained. “Look, it’s tough to describe, but we basically figured out how to create thinking machines decades and decades ago. As we went along, they got more sophisticated the more we learned how to build them. They’re not as smart as us and can only really do what we tell them, but we know how to make them act and react in certain circumstances. They follow rules, but they’re not what you’d call ‘alive.’ We’re well past the point where they can point at something and push a button until it stops moving.

“Look, there are a lot of these things. They’re tough, they’re deadly and they can react a lot faster than any of us can. They practically see us move in slow-motion.”

“If you know so much about their technology, maybe you can share some weaknesses?” Smolder suggested.

“The only thing I know to be effective is an electromagnetic pulse. It’s a sort of radiation burst that can fry anything with an electronic cir—”

“As warden of the sun, I am quite well versed in these pulses Mister Webber. If I wished, I could send one from my sun and defeat this army myself.”

All eyes were on Celestia as she made this claim.

“However,” she continued. “I know that, young though our technology is compared to yours, to do so would end many lives who depend upon our non-magical resources. This effect would not limit itself to Equestria either, and would easily be seen as a declaration of war by others the world over. As such, I cannot condone this course of action be taken.”

“Then we’re still doing this the hard way,” Etherea said. “If we are so vulnerable in open combat, then we must find a way to eliminate this vulnerability, put ourselves on an even keel.”

Smolder pointed a hoof at Corey. “You! You know all this special technology! What secrets can you tell us that will give us this power?”

Corey shook his head. “Where I come from, every nation in the world has the basic knowledge I have, yet the most advanced one always handily wins in a fight. If you guys fight fire with fire, you’re just going to get burned. Mandeville can’t be fought on his own terms, not here. You have the home-field advantage, you have power he doesn’t. You have to fight fire with magic. He might have protection from magic on his side, but there have to be ways around that. There’s gotta be a way to cheat.”

There was a silence, penetrated by mutterings amongst the crowd. Finally Shining Armor spoke-up.

“Perhaps if we had a demonstration of these weapons, we could better deliberate?”

“That is acceptable,” Luna agreed. “What would be necessary to provide a safe testing environment, Mister Webber?”

Corey shrugged. “A target with a hard backing, some range to use on it?”

“We shall provide exactly this,” Celestia said. “There will be a brief recess, that we might procure the essentials, and Mister Webber’s weapons. We will set up in the barracks courtyard outside. I ask that nopony wander far. Thank you.”

With that, the muttering held back by the crowd erupted as many left their seats and made their way outside.

“Ugh!” Rainbow groaned. “This is such a waste of time!”

“I agree,” Corey said. “I’m gonna ask your sun princess what she knows.”

Before Rainbow Dash could register what he’d said, he marched out the door after Celestia and Luna. The princess pair walked towards the end of the courtyard, to a balcony overseeing the breadth of Equestria as Corey approached.

“Your highness,” Corey called after them.

“By which of us do you mean?” Luna asked.

“Either of you. We might not have time for all of this. All of the ponies I’ve spoken to tell me you’re extremely powerful. They tell me you move the sun and moon, that you’re thousands of years old. If there is any truth to that, then surely you have some idea—”

“Do you accuse us of lying, then?” Luna demanded, rounding on Corey to find themselves eye to eye. “You are too bold, ape-creature!”

“Luna,” Celestia said, “be calm, my sister. If he doubts us, it is because he has yet to be convinced, not that he calls us liars. It is wise not to take rumor for fact.”

“I meant no offense, Princess,” Corey said, taking a knee. “In my world, the sun and the moon move as a product of natural forces, not a divine will.”

Celestia giggled as Luna stared. “‘Divine,’ he calls us Luna, how telling! No power higher than his own kind, so he mistakes us as deities.”

“We are not immortal Mister Webber,” Luna told him. “My sister and I are the progeny of mortal ponies. When fathe— When Starswirl, The Bearded sought to unite the three pony tribes after Equestria was founded, he invented a process that would conceive two foals using the Elements of Harmony and a rather unique set of incantations and alchemical processes. We were bred as rulers before we could even speak, given special power over the sun and moon respectively to remove the potential tyranny and division of unicorns who commanded both bodies before. In embodying the strengths of all three pony tribes, we muddled the separation between them within a mere few generations. The illusion of division evaporated.”

“You were created specifically to rule?” Corey asked. “That seems like a lot to put on a couple kids. You sound less like leaders and more like slaves.”

“Long have we had to ponder these things,” Celestia nodded gravely. “But ultimately it was Starswirl’s gamble. He always admitted he would be incapable of stopping us if we abandoned our rule, or twisted it into something ugly. It was most controversial that we even existed. But with time, the old worries were forgotten, and we learned the wisdom of harmony as he and the other founders had. We will protect our subjects out of duty and desire.

“But we can only do it as two ponies with the knowledge of eons of diligent study. Our wisdom is of this world, Mister Webber. I’m sorry if we disappoint you, but we are not omniscient.”

Corey hadn’t expected them to be, but he had hoped for a bit more than that.

It was then that a bright spot appeared on the horizon. In the distant trees of the Everfree Forest, a speck sat atop a glaring point of light as it rose into the sky, a billowing column of greyish-white smoke building beneath it. Not long after, it was accompanied by a deep rumbling noise.

“Whoa, hey!” Rainbow shouted. “What’s that thing?!”

Corey, the princesses and several passerby whipped their heads around to behold the odd phenomenon.

Celestia frowned, not taking her eyes off of the thing. “That looks like the area you described for this machine factory you spoke of, am I correct?”

“Yeah!” Dash nodded with fervor. “That’s the place alright. Corey, what do you think that is?”

Corey examined it closely as it rose higher and higher, the rumbling ever present. “It’s a rocket. We use rocket-boosters to send people and equipment into orbit around the earth. I don’t figure Mandeville is going to turn this into a nuke-fight, but he’s probably setting up a satellite. From up there, he’ll be able to map out the battlefield. It might even have weapons on it. Either way, not good.”

“Well, now that won’t do,” Celestia muttered. “If you were hoping for proof of my command over the sun Mister Webber, you might pay close attention.”

As Celestia’s horn glowed the brightest golden hue, the sky itself brightened, such that Corey felt a compulsion to look away. Moments later, a golden spear of light shot down from the heavens like a lightning bolt from Zeus. A popping noise filled the air seconds after the sky dimmed once more, like a massive balloon had burst. The spot where the rocket had been before was replaced with filthy-looking streaks of rusty brown smoke, spiraling in several directions.

“Awesome!” Rainbow whispered, not daring to break the silence that had overtaken the onlookers. “I’ve never seen that side of her!”

“It is not a side I flaunt,” Celestia said, “but I’ll not have that thing spying over my kingdom, whatever its intent.”

Corey just watched the smoke drift, eerily reminded of two similar images from his earth’s history, and saw the two Princesses as he hadn’t before.

Twilight stared at the smoke, as did most of the townsponies gathered in the square. The rocket’s destruction could only have been Celestia, she knew, which hopefully meant Rainbow and Corey had gotten there in time to warn her. At any rate, she’d seen the defensive shield surrounding Canterlot by now, so some manner of alert was up.

“Check... check... aaaaaaand... check!” Pinkie exclaimed, before tossing her clipboard skyward. “Everypony! That’s everypony Miss Mayor Ma’am!”

“Alright then, thank you Miss Pie!” the Mayor said over her microphone before clearing her throat. “Citizens of Ponyville, I gather you here with grim tidings and a heavy heart.”

The crowd muttered, staring between themselves, the Mayor and the smoke not yet diffused in the sky.

“I’m afraid that a coming danger is on its way to our town. All citizens of Ponyville will need to evacuate immediately, until the danger has passed.”

The crowd swelled uneasily as the muttering darkened.

“The ill and elderly will be taking the express to safety. All others will join me to Las Pegasus, away from—”

“Is it something to do with that explosion?!” an off-white, curly haired mare demanded.

“Is toxic gas going to flood the town?!” a hot pink, green-maned mare asked, shuddering.

“No, why—?! We cannot afford to panic!” the Mayor cried. “An army is on its way to Canterlot, and will likely pass the town. We haven’t the time to burden ourselves with treasures. Treasure your friends and family, and join us on the road to safety! We leave immediately.”

With that, the crowd flowed down the street in an awkward mass. Several ponies appointed by the mayor stood along the path out of town, directing the crowds.

The five element bearers volunteered to help the ponies taking the train, and were slow-moving the procession of the old and the ill, some in wheelchairs and others on gurneys dragging medical equipment behind them. Applejack was busy carrying Granny Smith on her back.

“I told’ja before, I ain’t goin’!” the withered green matriarch shakily demanded. “If the big toy soldiers wanna take our farm, they’ve got another thing comin’ to ‘em!”

“Granny, they ain’t interested in the farm, they just want to scare everypony.”

“Well they done a good job, ain’t they, eh? Got the whole town runnin’ for cover.” She hacked out a noise that might have been a scoff. “I say we coulda’ whooped their hides!”

“I don’t think they’ve got hides to ‘whoop’,” Pinkie added. “But they do have all these shiny bits, and scary black facemasks!”

“Staging a battle in Ponyville wouldn’t do anypony any good,” Twilight said. “By the time they’re here, nothing Celestia can plan will reach here fast enough.”

With yet more complaints and grumbling from Granny Smith —who was soon followed by other malcontents— they finally reached the station, and began loading passengers onto the locomotive.

“Well, so far so good,” Rarity said, offering a small smile.

Twilight proceeded to look back at the town, which was slowly becoming silent. It was an eerie sight, one she only remembered from when Zecora had come to town before the ponies got used to her.

Gazing off into the forest beyond, she swore she saw a tree topple, not half a mile away.

“Come on everypony, let’s not tarry if we can help it,” she said, smiling as fakely as she could manage.

A shot rang out through the barracks. A thick “thud” and the sound of splintering of wood, as the round struck the target just left of dead-center down range. Noting this, Corey adjusted the sight on his HK G36.

“I strongly advise your soldiers wear some form of ear protection,” Corey said, “because if that was too much, then a real fight’ll do wondrous things for you.”

Corey flipped the rate-switch to automatic, before spraying the target with a loud burst of around nine rounds.

“And this weapon is,” Ethera began, eyeing the rifle’s smoking barrel, “standard?”

Corey nodded. “This is the stuff you give soldiers on-foot. Hoof. Whatever. Everything else is bigger, faster, and can blast a good acre. It’s like I told you, scrambling together some cannons and makeshift guns isn’t going to do jack against this kind of resistance.”

Corey was tiring of the muttering. He had hoped these experts would have some ideas by n—

“Could we make the weather colder?” a uniformed pegasus stallion offered. “So cold they couldn’t ignite their gunpowder? Or wet, perhaps?”

Corey shook his head, pulling back the chamber in his rifle and letting his unfired round fall into his hand. He held it up by the base for them to see. “Our weapons use this compact design to fire the weapon. The head of the projectile is held in a casing, and at the base of the casing is the gunpowder required to fire it. It’s ignited by striking the end with a pin inside the weapon. It’s completely enclosed and resistant to weather. You could fire this damn thing underwater if you wanted.”

“Your kind invested a lot into the art of war,” Shining Armor commented.

Corey shrugged. “We’ve been at this a while. Still, weather’s not a bad idea. Humans have dreamed of controlling the weather since we all lived in caves. But you guys, you can actually do it! This is what I mean! Fight on your own terms. If you could make it rain, and I mean a torrential downpour, you might slow down the heavier machines in the mud. And if you made the air hot enough, like, humid, you could mask all of your heat signatures and confuse their thermal cameras. They’d have a harder time spotting you.”

“A few tornadoes wouldn’t hurt either,” Spitfire added.

“What are they made of?” a unicorn mare inquired from the back.

Corey searched the crowd. “What are what made of? Thermal cameras?”

Finally, the white, bespectacled mare made her way to the front. She was rather small, still decked-out in a modest officer’s uniform with a red and purple mane. “No, the projectiles from that weapon.”

“Mine are lead-core, with a copper jacketing. Mandeville though, his signature is to jacket the rounds in nickel. Some advertising slogan about silver being better than bronze. Bullshit, in my opinion, bu—”

“Nickel is a ferrous mineral!” she cried, beaming.

“A what?”

“It’s particularly reactive to magnetic fields. My father made his living designing safes, and he got around a lot of magical tricks by using magnetic spells to repel safe doors from opening. You see, they could only open inward, so the repulsion kept anypony from forcing the safe without the proper means of access.”

Corey’s mind spun as he tried to figure where she was going. “So. You think you can deflect bullets that way? Because I’m pretty sure I saw an episode of Mythbusters where—”

“It’s not naturally generated magnetism, that couldn’t possibly be strong enough for our needs,” she said. “But magnetic spells can generate fields around objects or ponies small in range but powerful enough to attract or repel ferrous metals with impunity.”

“Well,” Corey said, not daring to get his hopes up, “if it did work, there would be added benefits. Close-up I don’t know how well the repulsion would hold up, but magnetic fields have a tendency to seriously interfere with computers. Those machines won’t be playing their A-game in range of your melee weapons.”

“Is there any way of testing this?” Celestia asked. “Have you examples of these projectiles to test with, Mister Webber?”

“I’m afraid not, but it couldn’t possibly hurt to try, could it? Only a few kinds of metals are magnetic, so as long as you’re not using anything iron it shouldn’t hinder your soldiers.

“Mind you, when Mandeville catches on, if we beat him here and push on to his base of operations, he’s going to abandon the nickel. His weapons will work just fine.”

“Ha!” Smolder barked, smiling. “If we beat him here, I don’t care who he is, he can’t smith and arm with new equipment that fast.”

“Still, keep in mind, the bigger machines use explosive weapons and high-caliber projectiles. That stuff only needs to hit close to kill you.”

While the muttering was louder than ever, a lot of it was of a positive or excited tone. Luna, however, cut in.

“If the demonstration is over, shall we return indoors? We will consider and implement Analyst Moondancer’s magnetic spells if consensus is met.”

“Of course,” Corey said, “I still need to brief everyone on the various units Mandeville uses, so...”

The train’s whistle let out a shrill howl as they finally closed the doors of the express. The occupants weren’t happy, but they were safely aboard.

“How are we gettin’ back from Dodge?” Applejack asked Twilight as she joined her on the back perch of the caboose.

“We’re not going there to begin with,” Twilight answered. “I’ll teleport us off the train when we pass by Canterlot. One way or another it’ll be fas—”

She paused as the cabin jerked forward, tipping her balance as the train began to pull out of the station at last.

“Woo-woo!” Pinkie howled her imitation of the train out a window.

“Pinkie Pie, is it necessary to make pretend train noises on a real train, I ask you?” Rarity’s voice rhetorically questioned from inside.

Faster and faster they sped away, passing the last few buildings of Ponyville.

“Free and clear, y’all!” Applejack cried as Twilight watched the buildings shrink.

“Hey, look over there!” Pinkie cried, her hoof shooting out the window at a spot in the treeline, which looked to be bending outward.

“Oh no,” Twilight breathed, as the trees fell forward, before being drawn into the grinding maw of a huge yellow machine.

“They’re here.”