Over the rest of the night, the five of us tried to come up with a plan to get into Ponyville, both to reveal ourselves to the world and for supplies, and get out like a wind, hence the operation name.

The plan was simple: Lone would walk right in front of them, and note, he came up with this part, and since he was wanted for desertion, the guards would try to arrest him. While that was going on and he kicked their ass with Onyx helping him, Green Mist would sneak in disguised as a royal guard from the west of the town, Quick on the east, and me from the north. Lone had told us during the plannng stages that Twilight had cast a shield spell before she and the other Elements had departed, and, because of the distance, it would break easily from a powered up spell or, in my case, a plasma grenade to weaken it, and an energy sword to cut my way in. You know, I wonder if the elites ever tried using energy swords of any model to cut their way into a ship.

Oh well, doesn't matter now.

Just as Celestia rose her sun, or, at least, she pretended to raise it, we overlooked Ponyville from where we made camp.(1)

"One more time, just to make sure we got it," Lone said, to which I nodded.

"Lone, Onyx, you'll be the diversion in the south, drawing as many guards as you can away from the town, which will allow Quick, Green Mist, and myself to get in there, myself first due to what's needed to get in, who would then get the others in. We'd grab what supplies we could carry. If any civilians see us, we either knock them out and leave them, or knock them out and take them with us to make sure they don't capture us. Remember, if we do take some, we don't harm them."

"Right," Onyx said as he drew a black sword from its scabbard on his waist. "What about the guards."

"Kill if unavoidable, I said. "If it can be, knock them out or injure them."

"Right," the other said.

"Then let's go," I said as I activated Active camo. I had given the others standard headsets that, somehow, came from my armor so that we could more easily coordinate our efforts.

It took us a while to get in position, but, thirty minutes later, we were ready, myself being with the shield in arms reach. "Everyone in position?" I asked over the radio.

"Distraction team is ready," Lone said.

"Same here," Quick said, followed by Green Mist.

"Then let's start the party," I said. "Hit it."

A few seconds later, magical explosions could be heard from the opposite side of town. Have to give those two credit, they know how to make a distraction. I reached down to where the plasma grenades were and grabbed one. "Fire in the hole," I said as I triggered it and backed away quickly. Once it had reached it's brightest point, I moved in, timing it to where I'd reach the shield just after detonation, and activated the energy sword in my left hand. Just as the grenade detonated, the cloud of Plasma still in the air, my shields just barely going, I thrust the sword forward, and, fortunately, it penetrated the bubble. I smiled to myself as I thrust the sword up, then down, which gave me a template ot the hole I was going to carve. With that, I turned the sword ninety degrees, and began to carve a circle out of the shield, making sure the top and bottom met with the cut I had made.

Once it was one, the parts of the dome that had been cut out disappeared in a flash of light, and I simply stepped inside. "I'm in," I reported. "Green Mist, see if you can use your magic to get in. Quick, I'm on my way to get you in."

"Right," she replied over the radio. For me, it was a short run to where she was waiting, as there were few guards on the way, and, apparently, my camo was enhanced to work at the same level it does for Elites in game, meaning it doesn't fade when you move quickly.

When I made it there, I decloaked and repeated the process that got me inside, with Quick stepping in as soon as I was done.

"Cool sword, Josh," she said. "So, where are we meeting Mist at?"

"Town square would be best," I said before activating my radio. "Green Mist, you there?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Quick and I are heading to the town square. Meet us there."

"Right," he said.

I nodded to Quick. "Let's go," I said, and we began to make our way to the town square. "Lone, Onyx, how are you two doing?"

"Fine," Lone replied. "Hit and run attacks, keeping them off balance."

"Keep it going, then, and wait for my signal," I said.

"Copy," Lone said.

"So, how are they doing?" Quick asked.

"Good," I replied. "Now come on, we need to meet up with Green Mist."

"Right," she said.

Ten minutes later, we arrived at the town square, Green Mist having already arrived. "About time," he said. "I've already checked the shops nearby while invisible. We can get what we need, but what about the civilians that are bound to try and stop us?""

"Knock them out if they try anything," I said. "Otherwise, take only what we need, and nothing else, got it?"

Both the Griffoness and changeling nodded. "Good. Lead the way, Mist."

"Right," he said before he led us to a food stand that sold apples. Huh. Go figure.

"Okay, any one got bags?" I asked. No one held a bag up, and I facepalmed. "Why didn't I ask before this?" I asked my self before walking over to nearby sugarcube corner. I walked in, they didn't even try to barricade the thing and walked to the counter. "I don't want to hurt any of you, I just need some bags!" I shouted, tapping my foot on the floor. I was in there for a minute before some bags came falling down the stairs. I walked over to them and picked them up. "Thank you," I shouted as I walked back over to the counter and put some bits on the counter. Lone and the others had taken all of their savings before they deserted, and they gave me a fifth of their pool, some of which I put on the counter. "Money's on front counter," I yelled as I walked out.

I made my way back to Green Mist and Quick, handing them each a bag. "Here you go, guys. Compliments of Sugarcube corner. Oh, and don't worry about needing to return them once we're done, I paid."

"Seriously?" Quick asked.

"Hey, we may be starting our own army, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't steal," I said. "That is one line I refuse to cross."

"Yeah, you, not us," Quick said.

"Actually, there is one family I'm willing to steal from but let's save them for last," I said. "Now, lets get some food." From there, the three of us took what food, whether it be fruits, vegetables, meat(I blame the fact some of the animals Fluttershy has for that due to diet.), and even some sweets, with me paying for it, not certain if the others were doing the same. Once we were done, we met in front of the building that the mayor, under normal circumstances, would be doing her job.

"So, who is it you'd be okay from stealing from, Josh," Quick asked.

"You'll see," I said as I knocked on the door.

"GO AWAY!!" I heard inside.

"We will, but we need something. Just give it to us, and nothing'll happen," I say. "We need directions to the Rich household."

"If i tell you, you'll leave me alone." Okay, now that I listen to it, is sounds like the mayor. God is she a terrible leader.

"Yes," I say.

"Turn around, take a right, fifth house on the right!"

"Thanks!" I yell. "By the way, you're a terrible mayor!" What? The only thing she ever did was episode one hundred, and even then, it wasn't special. "Come on, guys," I say, and the three of us follow the directions.

"Isn't the Rich family one of the wealthiest families in Equestria?" Quick asked.

"Yep, and they keep it for themselves," I say. Not to mention the mother's a grade-A plothole who deserves to be killed. I hope she gives me a reason.

Anyway, we made it there, and i decided to go badass for the entry. "Quick, hold this," I said as i handed my bag to her, which she took.

I grabbed my battle rifle from off my back, put it up to my shoulder, and kicked the door to the house down, sweeping the living room. "Clear," I said, and I moved in, Quick and Green Mist following behind me. I put the battle rifle on my back and drew the plasma pistol as I took the bag I had given Quick. "Thanks," I said.

"No problem," she said. "Now, where are they?"

"I sense something, probably them, upstairs. " Good thing changelings can sense any emotion apparently, huh?

I nodded. "Let's get them, then," I say. "Oh, and if the mother fights, you can kill her."

"Right," Quick said. With that, we made our way upstairs, Mist in the lead, and we made our way to what I guessed was the master bedroom.

Green Mist held up three fingers, indicating three ponies were in there. I nodded, and him and I traded positions. "We know you're in there," I say. "Come out, and we won't harm you. Or attack us, for that matter."

"How do we know you won't just kill us," I hear Tiara's mom, who I shall simply call bitch, as I do not know her name, say.

"Because, if I wanted to do anything, I could have just busted down this door and kill the lot of you," I say.

"What do you want?" I hear Filthy Rich ask.

"All we want are bits. The reason why it's you lot is because of the fact you're the wealthiest family here. Just give us a portion of what you have on you, or in this house, and we'll leave."

They were silent for a while, though I did hear Bitch complaining about giving us money instead of trying to escape. It was a few minutes before I heard Rich say, "Downstairs behind a portrait. Combonation three five two two six. Take what ever you want." I could hear the fear in his voice.

"Thanks," I said. "Come on guys," I said, walking away from the door. Shame, I was hoping to kill Tiara's mom. Anyway, we made our way downstairs. More specifically, the living room, where there were a few portraits.

"Okay, split up and find the safe, guys," I said. "Open it, and take only what we need. Leave the rest."

"Right, killjoy," Quick said, getting a laugh out of us. So, from there, we took the paintings off the wall, carefully, so they could be put back on, but, even after a few minutes of searching, nothing."

I sighed and activated my radio. "Lone, how are you guys doing?"

"Could be better," he replied. "Guards are getting smart. What about you guys?"

"Right now, we're in the Rich household, trying find their safe, but nothing."

"What about that ability of your's, Josh," Onyx said as I heard a magical explosion in the background. "What's you call it, Promethean vision."

I facepalmed. I'm beginning to see mom's point about me not having common sense. "I'll try that now. Let us know if something happens."

"Right," Onyx said. "Onyx out."

I sighed. How did I forget about Promethean vision. Ah, well. Stuff happens. Anyway, I activated it, and looked around the room. "There," I said, pointing to a small painting above an actually pretty nice fire place Have to give this family credit, they know how to hide shit. Fortunately, both for me and Filthy, he was vague enough, so no death for him.

"You sure, Josh," Green Mist asked. "That's kinda small for a safe."

"Which is why no one would think it's there," Quick said as she put the painting she had just taken off the wall back on the wall before she went to the one I had pointed at. She took the portrait off the wall, and there was a safe. She put the combanation in, and the safe unlocked. She opened it, and damn, were there a lot of bits in there.

I nodded to Green Mist, who took a portion of the bits in his magic, and divided it between us and put them in the bags. "Lets go," I said, and we stepped out.

Only to be met with a large royal guard force. Only one word came to mind.

"Fuck."

Author's Notes:

1: The sun, scientific name, Sol, is a large ball of Plasma, the fourth state of matter, weighs quite a large number, as in thirty zeros. In tons. For comparison, fully grown brown and polar bears are approximately one ton, and is, note, I am using the real life measurements for our solar system here, 92.96 million miles, or 149.6 million Km, away, Before you say anything about her cutie mark being the sun, I refer to the Sword in the stone. The reason being is that, in the story, a character says the hidden son of the king will be, "The brightest son. . .". I believe Celestia's cutie mark to be a metaphor for her being the light every pony looks to when in dark times, and before you argue season 4 finale: Twilight had the magic of four alicorns in her, which is more then enough power to reach that distance.