09/14/2016…

Checkpoint Bravo...

4:56PM…

“Copy that Watchman, 2-1 moving out ASAP, over.” Clarabelle came over the radio. Checkpoint Bravo, a makeshift command center built in the center of a four way intersection, was bustling with excitement. The news of the mission going faster than expected put the soldiers in good spirits. The lieutenant stood up from a folding chair in the deployment area and walked over to a mass of men, that all were waiting for news from the mission staff. He called them together in front of him and began to explain the situation. Clarabelle stood atop a podium above the rest of them men with his arms behind his back as they amassed below him.

“Alright, listen up and listen closely. Danilos first squad cleared out early due to a lucky break, which means we have more time, so our portion of the mission has been pushed to now. Both squads mount up, and get ready to move,” Clarabelle looked down to a specific soldier, “Sergeant, i’ll relieve command to you, I’m trusting you. The fate of the world is resting on your shoulders, don’t choke out there,” He said sternly. The sergeant nodded.

“Yes sir!” He sounded off back.

“Gentlemen good luck, mount up.” The lieutenant said. The men saluted and turned heel toward a pre organized convoy of HUMVEEs and and a transport truck. The group split into two halves, both squads, one just was just three HUMVEEs mounted with heavy caliber machine guns on top, and the other was pretty much the same thing, but one of the HUMVEEs was replaced with a transport truck. The men grabbed their weapons and took their places.

“Watchman this is 2-1, requesting depart to mission, over.” The sergeant came over the radio from the lead HUMVEE.

“Watchman here, mission is a go, request granted, good luck, over.”

“Copy that, 2-1 out.” He hung the radio back on its receiver.

He turned to his driver and nodded,

“Let's get this show started,” He reached down and charged his rifle.

5:15PM…

The Platoon drove as fast as they could towards the school, taking up both lanes of the two way street. The sergeant looked out the passenger side window and saw the second squad lead vehicle, matching their speed perfectly, for it wasn't a HUMVEE he saw, but another soldier, the men he needed to protect through his impeccable leadership skills that everyone here said he had. They felt confident, but the sergeant had his doubts. He wasn't sure how this was gonna play out. He remembered a motto he heard a long time ago that stuck with him through his duty as a soldier, “Nothing ever goes as planned, so never expect the planned, but only the unexpected.”

Soon the dreaded school came into view and a wave of anxiety overtook, not only the sergeant but the rest of the soldiers in the convoy. But the mission was already in place, and the world needed saving. And they were the only ones that could save it.

Picking up the radio the Sergeant spoke into it,

“First squad hang back, let second squad take the lead,” He spoke as the first line began to slow as the column on the right side rode faster.

“Second squad, set up behind the school, do it fast, understood?” He requested.

“Roger that sir, right away,” Came a voice over the radio. The second squad pulled off from the road into the rear parking lot as the main force passed them heading towards the front of the school. With a quick left turn they found themselves in front of the building. With pounding feet from the vehicles the men took to their positions as the convoy hid from plain sight just slightly back the way they came.

The sergeant placed his back on the rear side of the Canterlot High statue and waited for their window.

“2-1, this is 2-2, we are in position and standing by,” came his radio.

“Copy that 2-2, stand by, out.”

The leader nodded, soon it would be all over.

Inside the school, things were a lot less tense, but maybe not for long. The group of friends that everyone in Canterlot had known to love or fear were practicing their musical skills. The main focus of this practice, was maintaining their ability to play and sing. Seeing how they haven’t had a gig in a while after the incident at Camp Everfree. The group of friends made an agreement not to abandon their musical side and keep their options open. But Starlight wasn't so sure about this agreement. When the group played together, or expressed their traits that made them, well, them, they would begin to change into their pony human hybrid form.

And Starlight still wasn't sure about the whole thing. Yeah it gave them superhuman powers and they, up until this point have used those powers for good. It makes everyone's life better and definitely has made fighting evil easier, but what about those they have affected over the time of the powers existence in this world. Surely someone hasn't been happy about the mass hysteria that has spread amongst the people of the land.

But their was just nothing she could do, their powers were with them until the end, and as much as she disliked having them, she would never be rid of hers. But their was one thing that would never falter because of these powers. The friendships that she had created with the students of Canterlot High. Never more would she worry about losing those she holds so dear, and those around her. Of course time, would be the only factor that could drive the friends apart and she knew this. That is why, every waking moment she made sure to include her friends, to ever increase the bonds with them.

As a guitar sounded off at the end of the song they were practicing, the group stood in amazement, their talents hadn’t faltered a single bit. And they could only thank themselves for that. Off in front, on the bleachers of the music room came a lone clapper. It was the Twilight of this world whom, unlike her friends had no musical talent of her own, or at least unlike her friends. She would support them nevertheless, cause she was still apart of their team no matter how she was. She stood from the bleachers and walked up the group whom of which were still experiencing the aftereffects of their pony powers.

“Excellent absolutely excellent, if not the best yet!” She exclaimed extending her arms down and clasping her hands together. The group began to lower their instruments and walk off the stage.

“Awe thanks Twilight, ya’ll really mean it?” Came a blushed Applejack with a thousand yard smile.

“Of course! I would never lie about something as amazing as that display!” She beckoned back as she reached the main floor of the music room as the others exited the stage to the same level.

“Well if ya really mean it, then it must be true!” Came Rainbow Dash with a sly smirk, crossing her arms in a exaggerated manner. Sunset was the first off the stage as she moved over to the front set of the bleachers where everyone's backpack was and grabbed hers.

“Anyway, we need to be off, the school will be closing soon, and I’d like to get this weekend started,” She said as she was joined by everyone else.

“Awe yeah let's get ready to PARTY!” Came an excited Pinkie Pie from the back of the group.

“Easy Pinkie it’s just a sleep over darling, no need to exaggerate,” Came a posh sounding Rarity. The group, after gathering their things headed up towards the exit of the room. But suddenly Sunset remembered something.  

“Hey Twilight, where's the janitor?” Sunset asked at the edge of the door. “I thought you said he would be watching over our instruments for the weekend?” Twilight turned back to the dark stage, nodded a little.

“Yeah you’re right, I’m not sure where he is,” She began scratching her head as the others began leaving the room.

“Ah’ wouldn’t worry about  it twi’ the school's gonna be closed, no one is gonna touch our stuff, now come on, before were locked in like our gear.” Came Applejack again.

Nodding she turned heel and left the music room, while Sunset still questioned why the janitor had not come. But as she entered the hallway, that thought quickly dissipated, as another took over her head.

“What's that smell, smells like sulfur, and what's with the weak fog?” Asked Sunset again. Twilight stepped forward, for the whole group had stopped in their tracks. The school was completely silent, which was normal, but not like this. It was dead quiet. Twilight began sniffing in the air where the mixture still linger a bit. She squinted her eyes a bit. But couldn’t think of a cause or reason for the smoke being their.

“This isn’t smoke, or fog, it’s some kind of mixture, I want to say, Zinc Chloride, with a hint of something else I can’t put my finger on,” Twilight was a geek, nerd, dork, any of the above, but she let it known that her vast knowledge could help anyone in anything.

“What does that mean?” Came Fluttershy that was clear off put by the silence of the school.

“I’m not sure, and I’m not gonna wait around to find out, let's go girls.” She said waving her hand towards the front door, of which they were close to. Senset was even more worried now, everything seemed off in one way or another, but it still wasn't in her mind anything to worry about, at least not yet anyway.