Rainbow was in her tent, hunched over a map of Canterlot. The other officers had dispersed some time ago, moving to ready their troops to march toward the mountainside city. Pharynx had given them the information promised and had been promised them unexplored land to Equestrias east for their contribution to the war effort. She personally couldn't care; she was working on her plan for how to reclaim the city.

Behind her, she heard a commotion. "I'm sorry, ma'ams. But, Praetor said.... er…. no interruptions": The broken Equish of one of her sentries.

She then heard AJ saying, "Listen, ya varmint! It's important, and ah'll be a chicken in a Timberwolf den if y'all won't let us in!"

Rainbow sighed, turning to the tent flap. She walked out to see the former Element Bearers in a standoff with the two guards outside her 'office'. Pinkie suddenly popped up next to her, smiling widely, saying, "Oh, hi Dashie! We just got back from the Everfree, which was-"

Rainbow ignored the pink pony, turning to the sentries. "Ave, Pedes. What's going on?"

"Ave, Praetor. These civilians just wanted to speak with you. They insist it's urgent, but you said you were not to be disturbed by non-military personal, sooooo….", he said, trailing off at the end.

She sighed, shaking her head. "Stubborn gits, I'll give um that. Let them in. They won't let up until they get what they want, and don't know when to let up." The two of them parted, and the Element Bearers followed her into her tent. She leaned back on the basic wooden desk, gesturing at them. "Well? What is it? I do have things I need to do."

Twilight pulled something out of her saddlebags; a large, purple wooden box with a glass lid. It looked familiar, but she remembered what it was used for when she opened the lid. Inside, sitting on slightly rusted pegs, sat the Elements of Harmony. The multi-colored, cutie-mark shaped gems sat on the pegs, like the most valuable weapons or tools in the world. Which, when view from a certain light, she supposed they were.

"We got them back from the Tree of Harmony, where the Royal Sister originally got the Elements", Twilight said, entering lecture mode. "With them, we can put a stop to Queen Chrysalis. We can free Equestria." They all looked at her, eyes hopeful and smiles beaming on their faces. Those smiles and looks faded when Rainbow burst out laughing.

"Oh, ho ho. You're still holding onto that childish mentality, aren't you? Sorry, but I don't think that'll work."

Rarity stepped a bit closer, earning her Rainbows gaze. "Why not, darling? It's worked in the past, and-"

"I know it worked in the past, but it was the PAST. With how fucked up you lot made our relationship, I somehow doubt it would work. And beyond that, how would you get us into Canterlot to use them? Bullshit our way through the city with black jumpsuits and fake wings? Use Pinkies warping-thing to have us pop out of the Queen's asshole? And, beyond THAT, we'd still have to deal with her troops. I guarantee that they have a chain of command."

AJ snorted, and said, "They what's yer plan to do it?"

"Simple." She then walked around the desk, pulling out her knife and pointing at the map. "Commander Pharynx has given us accurate information about the defenses the 'Lings have put in place. There are only two ways into the city that all troops can access: the Trainyard, and the main road. The tracks have been cut, a massive gate has been erect across the main road, and the queen has put a big magic shield a-la your brother at his wedding over the city. The primary entry point to the city is the old Trainyard." She then pointed at the map with her knife, the tip resting on the train station. "Pharynx and a few of his troops willing to fight will take me and a few of the best troops through the train station, here. They'll escort us through the city, toward the gate. After a bit, we'll 'escape' and open the gate. The army will advance, and we'll pull a Baltimare. Street by street, building by building."

All of their expressions changed from looks of hope at their plan to those of horror at hers. Fluttershy was the first to speak up, saying, "B-but what about the Elements?"

"I just said why they won't work. Besides, I don't want to put all of this on the rainbow-colored death ray."

Gawking, Twilight said, "So you'll just kill all of them?"

"Not all of them", she said, disgusted. "I just look like a monster; I'm not one. If they surrender or if they are civilians, they'll be granted amnesty in accordance with Pryhan military law."

"But you'll still be killing them!", Rarity protested. "I mean, how barbaric!"

"Death is a part of war."

Fluttershy suddenly got in her face, eyes narrowed in her 'stare'. "You absolute, disgusting meanie! How would you like for someone to treat you like that, and-"

"What do you think happened to my face, you fucking whore!?"

"So you'll just resort to being a bully instead of trying to see reason!"

"You're the one who won't see reason! This is war, you hypocritical bitch! War is horrible; a waste of time, manpower, and resources, beyond the personal and communal suffering. But, in this case, it's necessary. What'd you do without us? Ask that bitch of a Queen nicely to let all of the ponies go free and leave? Be fucking reasonable."

"I am! I'm not saying I want to kill anybody when it can be avoided!"

"It can't!"

The two former best-friends would've likely escalated the situation, however, the Element of Loyalty began to glow. "ENOUGH!, a voice said from seemingly nowhere. Suddenly, a swirling light filtered out of the Element, and all of them were consumed by it.

When the light faded, they found themselves in a void. Rainbow panicked for a second, being reminded of the void where many of her old nightmares took place. However, that was assuaged when a glowing figure emerged from the void. It was a pegasi pony, clad in the armor of the ancient Pegasi Legions. Scale-mail flank guards, leather straps, a royal-red sash, and a large, crested helmet adorned with an emotionless face-mask. He seemed to glow with a glowing red-light, and a large gem glowed in the center of his chest: the Element of Loyalty itself.

GREETINGS, BEARERS, he said in the same voice as before. I AM THE SPIRIT OF THE ELEMENT OF LOYALTY, ALTHOUGH YOU MAY CALL ME FLASH.

Twilight chose that moment to have a nerdgasm. "Oh my Celestia! The spirit of one of the Elements! I have so many questions, Mr. Flash! What are you? How was the tree formed? How old is-"

OH FOR THE LOVE OF THE CREATOR! I'M NOT MAGIC! I DON'T DO LECTURES! He then stopped, seeming to get himself under control. LISTEN. THE SPIRIT OF THE TREE ITSELF TOLD ME TO SHOW A BIT OF PITY. BUCKING GUILT-TRIPPING FLANKHOLE. WERE IT UP TO ME, NONE OF YOU TRAITORS WOULD GET AN OUNCE OF MY POWER FOR BETRAYING MY BEARER!, he said, pointing at her former friends.

"B-but we", Fluttershy tried to say but was cut off by Flash.

I DON'T WANT TO HEAR A WORD, he said, his aura glowing more. I DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR LITTLE TREASON. LISTEN UP, AND LISTEN GOOD. YOU ONLY GET ONE EXTRA CHARGE OUT OF MY ELEMENT, AND ONLY ONE. USE IT WELL, AND DON'T BUCK UP. AFTERWARD, PUT THE ELEMENTS BACK; THE TREE HAS ENOUGH OF A PROBLEM WITH DISCORDS SEEDS.

Before any of them could question what it meant, the light returned, and they all ended up back in her tent. All of them looked over at the box where the elements were. The Element of Loyalty sat outside of the chest but was now a different shape: A Pryhan officers helmet, with a pair of wings extending out the sides. All eyes rested on the Element, then on Rainbow. She just sighed and muttered a curse to herself in Demosian.

"Guess I'll have to modify the plan."

Next Chapter: 100~Operation: Divine Hammer (PT.1) Estimated time remaining: 47 Minutes