On the Eastern shoreline of Manehattan, a huge crowd was gathered around a huge 39-floor skyscraper that had just been completed. Outside, on the front lawn, were a group of flag poles, each displaying a different national flag. Those flags were the Equestria, Crystal Empire, Changeling Kingdom, Griffon Kingdom, Yakyakistan, Dragon Lands, Saddle Arabia, Hippogriffia and Seaquestrian flags. As the huge mob of cheering ponies gathered around a big red ribbon in front of a big podium, the leaders of each of the respective nations emerged from behind the stage and waved to the ponies cheering for them.

Meanwhile, in a dressing room behind the stage, Princesses Celestia and Luna were getting ready, revising their speeches. Celestia also held a pair of huge golden ceremonial scissors in the golden aura of her magic.

"Tia, the crowds are waiting for us," Luna told her sister, "Are you ready for this?"

Celestia turned to her younger sister and smiled lovingly. "Of course, Lulu. This is one of the greatest moments in Equestrian history. What we achieve today, will ensure decades of peace between our fellow kingdoms. None of our subjects will have to live in fear of invasion by Griffons, Dragons or Changelings anymore," She explained, her expression one of pure hope.

Only a few short months ago, during a meeting with each of the previously mentioned nations, Celestia managed to establish peace and unity between the nations, leading to the creation of United Equestria. The ceremony being held in Manehattan was to celebrate the creation of the new U.E. Headquarters building. Now completed, it would serve as the U.E. main base, where civil meetings can be conducted and emergency gatherings can be held.

Putting on the best smiling face she could, Celestia stepped out of the dressing room and into the light, before the adoring crowd. She begins to wave at the crowd, and after a while of waving, trots over to her podium and starts her speech.

"Dear citizens of Equestria, today is the day where we will no longer have to live in fear of war. Today is the day where beings of Equestria can join hooves and claws, and live together as free beings! Our respective nations now seek to avoid war, not to be on the lookout for the cause of a war! This date will forever be remembered as the day United Equestria was formed and the free nations of Equestria forever joined together! So, without further ado... I declare the new United Equestria Headquarters..." She announced, levitating the golden scissors over to the ribbon, "...Open!!" She snipped the ribbon with the scissors and the crowd stomped their hooves in appreciation.

As the stomping of hooves filled her ears, Celestia finally felt like she had brought everlasting peace to Equestria...

"But please, officer! You have to help my kitten!" A beautiful, young mare kindly asked a Manehattan police officer. Her pet kitten had climbed up a tree and had gotten stuck, so the mare was asking the Earth Pony stallion officer to help get it down.

"I'm sorry, miss. But you should actually be asking the Fire Brigade for help. Their station is just down that street, to the left," the officer replied.

But as the two discussed the kitten stuck in the tree, both ponies failed to spot a big semi-truck drive right past them.

The truck was massive, easily a 16-wheeler. It was painted bright red all over, except for the tires and the windshield, and had the logo of a roaring bear's head in a red-filled octagon, next to the caption, "BearEX", on the trailer part. The truck continued through the streets of Manehattan, and based on its current heading, it was heading right for the Bridleway Theater District.

Eventually, the massive truck came to a stop in the middle of one of the many roads that lined the Bridleway. However, this time the truck was noticed, by two stallions on the side of the road, near a bunch of parked carts.

"I ain't never seen a cart that looks like that, have you?" The first asked the other.

"No, but it's parked in a 'no parking' zone. I think I'll report this to the cops," The other suggested, walking off to find a phone-box.

The moment the 'BearEX' truck came to a stop, the side of its trailer opened up, but all that could be seen was three sets of hooves...

Once the doors on the 'BearEX' truck opened, all hell broke loose.

Multiple explosions rocked the Bridleway Theater District, destroying multiple carts that were bunched together, and sending the others flying. The stallion who was next to the other stallion that went off to report the truck that was illegally parked was sent flying into the air with multiple bloody wounds when the carts he was standing next to were sent sky-high from an explosion. He would shortly die from his wounds.

The truck's side door was now fully opened, and out jumped 3 Earth Pony stallions, all wearing gas masks and wielding modified 9K32 Strela-2 hand-held missile systems on their backs. Once the three mysterious stallions were clear of the truck, they began shooting their missile launchers mounted on their shoulders at both carts that were stock-still in the middle of the District and at anypony that moved.

Residents of Manehattan who were in the District at the time of the shooting ran in every single direction, searching for cover from the relentless missile barrage. Although some did make it to the safety of the nearest shops, others weren't so lucky. Their limbs were blown off when the in-flight missiles made contact with those that were hit, others were thrown into the air by the blasts.

Within moments, the police arrived on the scene in police carts and created a roadblock at one end of the District, while a line of damaged taxi carts were blocking all the other routes, leaving the three Strela-wielding stallions trapped in the Bridleway. However, another 'BearEX' truck came out of a nearby alleyway and pulled up nearby, opening up its side door, allowing three more stallions (this time, they were unicorns) to jump out, Strelas slung over their backs.

It was at this moment that the missile-toting ponies turned their attention to the roadblock, and opened fire. 72 mm missiles sped past over the police-ponies' heads. The officers just kept their heads down, waiting for a opportunity to fire back with their crossbows.

It all came to an end when one of the Earth Pony stallions shot at the line of police carts. Upon pulling the trigger, a 72 mm heat-seeking missile rocketed out of the weapon's barrel and, after a full 2 seconds of flight time, impacted the roadblock...

Author's Notes:

Yes, I decided to end the first chapter on a cliffhanger to keep you excited for the next chapter.

The moment this story is posted I'll be working on the next chapter, so stay tuned and keep dogfighting!