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Pony POV Series Season Six: Dark World/Shining Armor

by Alex Warlorn

Chapter 68: Episode 125: ("Light World" Alicorn Ascension): Lighting The Grim Darkness

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Pony POV Series
Shining Armor Arc
Chapter 15 Part 1
ouY slliK tahT llaF ehT toN-Not The Fall That Kills You
By LZ and Kendell2
Edited by Alex Warlorn.


"I hereby do solemnly and sincerely and truly declare and affirm to the Citizen of Equestria that I will faithfully discharge the duties of a Guardspony. I choose to place myself in harm's way so that those who cannot defend themselves are defended. Though service is a heavy cost, For Equestria, I pay it gladly."
-Equestrian Guard Oath of Duty.


"Shining..."

"I know..."

Cadence was presently glaring daggers at the pictures and notes with such intensity I swore they'd burst into flames. They didn't, but they started smoking.

"Do I HAVE to say it?"

"No."

Without another word, she produced a scroll and wrote a letter to Celestia.


Finally, a return letter came. "'My niece, this is indeed a frightening occurrence. Thankfully, I have also received a letter from Twilight today, so we can be certain she is alright and these intruders have not harmed her. I will keep an eye on Ponyville just to be safe, with Luna's return this will be far easier. However, I do not want to alarm Twilight or provoke these deer to action and thus will keep things quiet for the moment. With that said, this is a clear threat and I recommend Captain Shining Armor to take a team to this meeting, but be cautious, I wish you luck.'"

"Shining, I'm worried..."

"...So am I..."

Audience approached slightly.

"With all due respect, the Princess said she'd keep it quiet, that doesn't mean she's not going to do anything. Twilight Sparkle didn't spot the SAS behind her..."

"Didn't spot a deer walking in the bucking front door either..." I knew Twilight was tough and could take care of herself, but...I couldn't help worrying. She was my sister...the thought of anything happening to her...

"Point is, Sir, we've got guys that can keep this quiet. I think even the SEALS might be activated now... Aaand I'm not meant to know about them, whoops..."

"Audience, your dad is a General, we know you'd know."

I gave a sigh. Audience had a point, as much as I'd like to be next to Twilight and protect her, I'd need to let somepony else deal with it, and trust there are ponies who can. "Well...we need to be ready for a fight regardless. Last time I ran into Makarov, he sent an entire army after me."

Cadence narrowed her eyes. "I'm coming with you."

I saw this coming. "No, Cadence, you're not."

"Article 1954, this is a threat to Equestria, you've seen how powerful Makarov is, and I'm the only Alicorn here."

"One, Makarov is powerful, but not THAT powerful. He couldn't single-hoofedly threaten Equestria," I explained. Even if I knew it might be a lie.

(Interviewer's Notes (Pegasus): Another lie to Cadence?)

You think I like lying to her? No, I don't! But...I didn't even know what Makarov is, why make her worry about him when I'm trying to keep her out of a combat situation?

"And two, even if he was that dangerous, you're NOT one of the Alicorns listed under Article 1954, Princess Celestia is, and now Princess Luna is. Celestia herself denied putting you on that list until you're older."

"It doesn't mean I don't know how to fight, I've spent most of my life being taught to control my powers and use them right. Even if I'm not a full fledged Alicorn according to some rule book, I've got the strength of an Earth Pony, I can fly, and I can use all three types of magic. I'm still tough enough to help."

"The answer is still no." Even if I had to admit, that was a decent point.

Cadence said flatly, "You're forgetting one tiny detail Captain."

"Yes?"

"I still technically outrank you. And I am ORDERING you to take me with you!"

"Court martial me then! I'm your bodyguard, and I say it is in your best interests not to go!"

"And what if they decide to kill you all!" I could tell she was scared, and I don't blame her.

"And what if Makarov realizes he can take a Princess and Alicorn hostage? I'm every bit as clopped off as you are, but we can't put you at risk here!"

"Then what am I supposed to do?!" she asked, looking like she might cry. "Pardon me if I'm getting involved in this, but you've almost died SEVERAL times, Twilight is in danger! I can't just sit here doing nothing!"

For once the Hoofmaidens didn't seem interested in their joking.

"Uh, Princess," said Audience, floating up a note that'd fallen out of the scroll. "It looks like Princess Celestia has an idea."

Cadence blinked, taking it in her own telekinesis. "'My niece, I know you probably want to watch over the group. Since you embody music, you should be capable of using a songbird as your eyes and ears to stay with them in spirit. I hope this helps you.'"

"...Well...where would I get a songbird?"

"Uh...Princess...Outside..." said Sunset.

"What, I open the window and-"

Sure enough, as Cadence opened the window, a small songbird, apparently a Warbler, flew in and perched on her horn.

"Oh..."

"They follow you... All the time," Sunset stated.

"...How did I never notice that?"

(Interviewer's Notes (Pegasus): And why didn't Celestia ever tell her before?)

My guess, either fear of what a teenaged mare might use them for or her using them to sneak into hoofball games.

(Interviewer's Notes (Pegasus): Ah, that explains it.)

"...Well...ok...hello.."

The bird whistled happily, it was actually rather beautiful.

"Hmm...I see...You really think so?"

The bird nodded and whistled while I telekinetically pinched myself to ensure I wasn't dreaming.

"Okay, then, this bird will go with you. But we still need a plan. For a start, how can you be able to get down there without the local government noticing you're not around?"

Before anyone could say anything, a messenger burst in.

"Princess, an official from the local government is here to see you."

The Zebra official entered a few moments later... and informed us they'd cancelled tomorrow's engagements after lunch due to urgent parliamentary business. Well, I didn't see that coming.

(Interviewer's Notes (Earth Pony): Wow! That was sure convenient!)

(Interviewer's Notes (Pegasus): Please tell me you suspected something.)

Yes. But I wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth...yet.


I blinked, looking around what looked like an endless labyrinth that went in all directions. Bookshelves floated here and there. Staircases went upside down, sideways, and...well, everywhere but rightside up. I was pretty sure I was on the ceiling...and Ms. Smartypants just walked by and waved while saying 'Hi BBBFF!'...I...I honestly don't know what to make of this.

"Hey!" called a cheery voice. I turn to see this weird thing with the body of a brown snake and head of a gray goat, maybe a horse. She had one butterfly kind of wing and the other looked like a swan's while her legs were a black cat's and a duckling's. She had a bear's paw for one arm and a green...warty...thing for her other. Oh and she had a fox tail. I think we have a statue of something like it in the Castle Garden...I was too distracted by a miniature version of me skipping by in a tuxedo with the Princess I'd imagined marrying when I was a colt in a wedding dress to think about it.

Next thing I know she just beans me in the head with something hard without warning.

"Ow! What the buck was that for?!" I asked, holding a hoof to my head for a few moments before picking the projectile that bounced off my skull up in telekinesis as a chibi version of Tirek galloped by being chased by a giant alligator with huge lips.

I blinked, looking at the tiny, pink, plastic toy version of Princess Celestia with it's horn snapped off. And the words 'Made in China' on the bottom of one of her hooves.

"What the...What is this? It makes no sense! Why is it pink?!"

The weird mix and matched thing in front of me giggled, now surrounded by the cast of mom's novel.

"Make sure you remember this! It'll come in handy! Oh, and I loved your mom's novel! Real page turner!"


I blinked, staring at the ceiling. I don't know what was more disorientating; the fact I woke up suddenly staring at my ceiling, the dream itself, or the fact I still had a headache from being nailed in the head during a dream. Basically there was only one thing on my mind at that moment.

"What the buck?!"


(Interviewer's Notes (Earth Pony): At least you finally had a dream that wasn't a memory.)

Yeah, I guess...wait a second...why do most of my dreams tend to be like memories or something to do with the wolf or Makarov anyway? I can't remember having many just...dreams...


The hardest part in the next day was trying to pretend nothing was wrong while we were doing the morning diplomacy. Sure, the government minister conveniently clearing a space in the schedule meant we'd have time - but how could we not be suspicious that things went so perfectly? Plus I was a little paranoid about what that business was, doubly so when Gag reported the local radio had began skipping news broadcasts. Passing foreign embassies, the large numbers of guards out at the gates did not bode well...

The Air Navy were preparing equipment for everypony - green barding, and they'd be contributing troopers. Shepard had decided that she'd rather load a Corvette with as much as we could and send it out to carry us close. Commander Solo had been quick to volunteer the Falcon. Officially, it was planning to travel back to near the border to get in range of one of our airships that had 'broken down'. I was dismayed to learn that wasn't entirely a cover story...

"What do you mean, our best combat light ships are back in Zebrinia?"

"The new airships we picked up in Columbia were unarmed. We left them at a Columbian base to get them prepared to carry live weapons just in case, and even then we actually have to disarm them when we're back home," Hornblower explained.

"So Ace and The Lord Flashheart are both back there?"

"Yes."

Brilliant. Our best pilots and the only airships we had really designed to fight other airborne threats like helicopters properly, and they weren't available. Hadn't even been properly armed all this time and when they would be, technically it was Griffin rockets on loan.

Sometimes I curse how our pacifism means it can take months after we get a tool before we can use it properly - Once, an artillerypony moaned to me he'd been a fresh Private when they got the first deliveries of a new cannon, and he was a Sergeant before the MoD approved them to actually be fired as anything other than party cannons!

Of course I guess part of the blame falls on General Makarov for suddenly deciding to pull horseapples like this out of bucking nowhere! And given how things seem to like going his way, I wouldn't be surprised if half these delays are his doing! Or maybe the universe just hates me.

And admittedly, a large portion of my foul mood probably had to do with the fact my baby sister was in trouble and these bucking delays were keeping me from helping her. I love Equestria, I understand we're in peacetime and thus our standing military is prepared to protect Equestria if a crisis emerges, not go to war, but with Twiley in danger, a minute's delay was too long!

"So, what happens then, we drop off near the meeting place, Falcon keeps flying..."

"It'll come back in comms range of your troops four hours after you set off, and be able to come in to provide any backup soon after. Her movements are expected so we can barely even deviate from course to launch you any closer than thirty miles."

And by comms, it couldn't be pony-to-pony two way radio, it had to be horse code pulses sent magically - the radios just didn't have the range. In short, for four hours we'd be on our own.

Still, a Corvette could carry a lot of troopers and gear, and even as the smallest warships in the fleet, they were still warships. We couldn't take everypony: Foaley's section was mostly left behind to guard the civilians since they'd been on our last trip, but we'd also left Sweetwater, Party, and Dancer from One-Three behind, swapping them for Ramirez, Mactavish, and Ranger.

The Air Navy was sending Master Chief Spartan with his hoof-picked best (which was a relief, considering he was one of the best fighters I knew). On top of all the light artillery, shuttles, and patrol craft we'd borrow we should have been able to hold off a small army if we had to... and I had a feeling we would.

"Look, Commander Shepard wants me to assure you, the P-10 might be mostly armed to fight with broadside firing, but it can still fight helicopters. And it can perform a pylon turn to concentrate fire on a single ground target area..."

"What?"

"Circlestrafing," He explained it in terms I'd understand.

I had a brief vision of a hapless tripod being blasted by an airship spinning around it...with Makarov piloting said tripod... I grinned.

(Interviewer's Notes (Pegasus): Wow! That's...dark...)

Yeah, but as far as I knew, Makarov had threatened my little sister. To me, he'd crossed a line...

(Interviewer's Notes (Pegasus): And he hadn't already?)

Before, I'd just wanted to stop him because it was my duty to protect ponies from monsters like him. Now he'd made it personal.


Cadence's little bird got some looks perched on my head until Skip Jive (The Royal Pet Tender who finally had an actual Royal Pet to Tend) prepared a saddlebag with a small nest for it. But we were on the way, and since no wolf had shown up to erase me, clearly he was doing his job of keeping Cadence watching over me. Sure, now I had another thing to watch over, but I'd rather protect him than deal with the Wolf.

If I was honest, the thing that really hit home that for the... first time... I was deliberately heading into a situation where combat was expected was seeing everypony in green barding. Dark-green plates, plumeless chamfrons with horn covers, and half-length chainmail caparisons over green fatigues... A few of the troopers seemed to keep staring at their own armor when they weren't occupied.

It also made it a little tricky to recognise ponies at times. I was used to these faces in golden chamfrons that lacked horn covers, not the green universal combat helmets.

Thunderchild, Reinolds, and the other NCOs were busying with radio checks. Our mini-fleet of light airships was ready to go, pilots doing pre-flight checks on the three T-5 Transports and pair of P-10 Patrol Craft.

"All troopers, we are nearing the launch zone. Five minutes." An Air Navy officer announced with a megaphone.

"Sir, radio checks are all fine. We're good to go," Reinolds announced.

"Thanks, Sergeant. Troopers! Mine and Air Navy Cavalry, listen up!" I shouted to get their attention.

The officer wandered over to offer me the megaphone. I took it rather than shout over the noise of the hangar. They formed a loose group around me, nearly fifty troopers total.

"You all know what's been happening, why we're all dressed like this and going out there. You know what we might be able to expect out there. But I know some of you will be worried. I know you might be scared. And I just want to say before we set off, nopony would blame you if you wanted to stay here. I understand, the Princess would understand. There's no shame. This is the last chance to unvolunteer if you want it..."

There was some silence, until Ramirez stepped forward. And the most mute of the two ponies we most knew for being quiet said this:

"...With respect, Sir, I don't think any of us are going to take that option. We're all with you."

The sight of the entire group swiftly forming into lines and saluting made me proud to be the commanding officer of the finest Equestrian Guards around.

"For Equestria," A trooper near the front I didn't quite recognise shouted.

"For Equestria," the rest echoed.

"...Thank you. All of you. Let's do this." Then I whispered, "For Twiley."

Despite that confidence boost, my stomach had never lurched before quite like it did when we began to take off...


The formation held low during our flight. A screen of Pegasi flew as outriders, Ranger our main early-warning with his ranging and detection skills outperforming any radio-detection even the larger airships carried. For all the merits of something anypony could use, fact was, in this case a skilled pegasus was worth a hundred radio-detection arrays, and would be for generations to come.

"All units, have visual on landing. Scouts move in, confirm area is clear. Sixty seconds to touchdown..." Pilot Officer Washburn announced.

It was clear. We landed, our pegasi staying up above as the airships went down to conserve their fuel. We spared a contingent to guard them, but the majority of us, including all my troopers, moved out. Pegasi and Griffins flew above us, some high to scan, some low to conceal themselves better from any enemy scans. And of course, most of our artillery guns were actually mounted on pegasus carriages, having been carried by the P-10s as their extra armaments.

Songo Valley, five miles south of the village of Seigis. We were six miles south.

"Overwatch, Misfit Actual. What can you see ahead of us?"

"...Sir, there's at least six deer. They're in a clearing. Not hiding at all... and one of them seems to be really... odd. Like a spring of mana, like a Princess or Queen Tiamat or something..."

"...Makarov," I hissed.

The trooper to my right gave me a glance for a second, but said nothing.

"Alright, Overwatch, keep me posted. Misfit Actual out."

Every hoofstep closer and closer, I felt more adrenaline pumping into my veins. My nostrils were probably flaring... but everypony else around me was doing the same thing. We were not pleased.

It was strange though, the forest seemed calmer around us, like it expected us...I didn't know if I should be relieved or not. It was like the tree themselves were parting for us when we weren't looking.

"Alright, everypony, spread out. Watch for movement, cover your flanks. We can surround them here," I instructed.

Everypony fell into step, the green shapes swiftly and quietly moving around. Soon, we saw the clearing...

...And standing there were six deer.

Makarov was not among them. So where was he waiting? Was he invisible now? Was he disguised as one of them?

"...Hold positions. Don't do anything until I give an order," I reminded everypony.

I began to near the edge of the trees, heading towards them, when one of the deer looked right at me. She then spoke. She was a good twenty-thirty meters away but her voice didn't sound raised for me to hear. And it reminded me of Princess Celestia, of Cadence, in the way it simply seemed to hold both authority, and yet peaceful compassion...

"Good evening, Captain Sparkle. Thank you for coming. I must apologize for how we brought yourself and the Princess out here..."

A gasp behind me? I was focused on this strange deer.

She was... Well, she was rather big for a female deer (she had small stubs instead of antlers). The Moose beside her only just seemed bigger, and they were the Deer version of Earth Ponies...And yet it still felt like she was the bigger of the two.

...It then struck me how odd it was to see these deer. Two roes of the Noble or Leader caste. Only one Red Deer of the Fire or Soldier caste. The others, a Moose, a Musk deer, and the large doe... I didn't know, but they all seemed to treat her with the reverence we gave Princess Celestia. There was also a dog (a normal Roedinian Laika, not a Diamond), but it sat beside the female Roe.

"Who are you?" I said, eyes focused on her.

She seemed completely unfazed. The other deer gave looks at the forest edge, but otherwise, barely reacted. I noticed flowers and vines were growing around her hooves.

"Well, little pony, I'm not Makarov. It may be difficult to explain and keep your belief. Once I was a caretaker and a steward, and a friend and mother to all. But my own herd, I have been unable to save them from themselves. I am a caretaker and steward to all else. At this moment in time, on this line, I am a Mother whose fawns are in pain, who have lost their way and I am in need of a friend to help ease the suffering of my sons and daughters to guide them home. But maybe The Princess of Harmony can tell you better than I can..."

"Princess Cadenza is not here. I am, and I request that you identify yourself properly."

"...Why, of course she is. The 14th, Concept of Temperance, surely you see me for what I am?"

"Stop with this nonsense..." I began, but to my shock, the stallion beside me replied.

"...You're... You're the Mother of All Deer."

I turned to look at what I'd thought was just a trooper I couldn't recognise as they removed their helmet and spread wings that had been hidden under the jacket that'd given them the extra bulk.

"Cadence?! What the... How..."

"...I'm sorry, but I couldn't just let you... let everypony... I had to come to be sure everyone would be all right! And the songbird suggested I do this..."

I glared back at said Songbird, who whistled innocently.

"Don't be angry at her, Captain. She is only doing what comes naturally to those like us. We are always mindful of our subjects, our herd... It is almost too much at times to bear but one of them suffering and yet, we must persevere even as millions cry out in anguish. As Concept of Bonds, she knows this more than many."

"I'm not... angry, I..."

I felt guilty that she was here. Guilty that I was glad she was protecting me, when my job was to protect her, not let her sneak along with us into a potential battle!

"...I'm just... a little disappointed..." I eventually muttered, trying not to look at her, but knowing she was probably feeling guilty herself all the same.

"I'm sorry..." She mumbled.

"Well, you are... close friends. I'm sure this won't harm your friendship."

"Did you send those pictures of Twilight?" I said, trying to keep focused. At this point, I remembered a name from one of my dreams; Mother Deer...Was this the deer I'd been talking about? The one that was...supposed to be celebrated by the Deer? Was she related to Father Deer?

"I did, Captain," A male Roe with a stern expression said.

He had a thick Roedinian accent, but I'd seen him... I swore I'd seen him before...

"My name is Dimitiri Makayovsky... Dima to my friends... I hope that despite all that has passed you can call me Dima, Captain."

"Oh, introductions. Dima, First Lieutenant Shining Armor Sparkle. Sparks, Second Lieutenant...."

"I personally led the excursion to Equestria and my team took the photographs. I can only apologize for the implied threat to your sister and for the invasion of her privacy, but I am afraid it is far from the worst thing I have been forced to do in the name of a greater good... If it helps, this time, it is for the true Greater Good, not the perverted lie spun by Solomon and his ilk..."

"...Solomon? You mean Makarov?"

Dima shook his head.

"Makarov is a name given as an honor. Solomon is not worthy of any honor, even his given name is barely fit for what he truly is."

I could tell he saw I and Cadence still looked rather upset. "Relax, we never had any intention of harming your sister," he stated, giving a serious look. "In fact, we actually didn't bring any weapons with us."

I blinked. "What?"

"Ponyville is in the middle of Equestria, it would have been difficult to smuggle weapons into it. And besides, unlike Solomon...we still have to play be the rules. We merely had to make it seem we did not. We needed any who may know of us to believe we were Solomon's men," he continued. "Mother Deer orders us to even recite mentally a version of events that sounds such, just in case the protection she gives us fails and Solomon worms his way into our minds enough to hear. If he gets in one of our ears, he hears only what he wants to hear. You have seen Solomon's power, have you not? Is this not a sensible precaution?

"Truth be told, Ponyville was rather refreshing, it was pleasant to see the firefly lanterns, actually, no pollution. Local apple farmers even offered to let us stay with them when we mentioned not having somewhere. There was that crazy pink pony who we kept running into. She finally said 'we really should stay out of sight until our debut episode,' though she was nice enough to give us some aid completing the mission so we didn't have to risk bending the rules further than necessary...As crazy as things are, that was confusing, and somewhat disturbing...But nonetheless, it is a safe little town, Captain, your sister is quite safe. The idea was to make you and everyone else believe she wasn't."

"But the letter said you met me in Columbia... Your group..."

"...Reznov?" Cadence realized before me.

"Correct. Viktor is... One of my most dedicated allies and friends. Like many who stand with me now, they only came to me through realisation of betrayals, but they have all become more loyal than I possibly deserve after my failings," Mother Deer said, looking almost wistfully to the sky.

"...I have been away from my people for many years. Much like Princess Luna, 18th, the Concept of The Moon... But unlike Luna as a concept I cannot grow, for my herd cannot look to the skies and know I am there. They must feel it in the ground, in the soil, and thanks to the Hooviets and those like them before them, that soil is stained with the blood of my daughters and sons. My voice is there, but they cannot hear it, for my voice drowns in the cries of the blood."

She sounded strong still, and yet... vulnerable. Pained. Even though she was loud, clear, and authoritative in her speech, she still for all the world also sounded like Cadence had moments ago saying sorry...I couldn't help imagining Celestia on those nights where she'd look up at the moon...

"And yet, the tragic truth is, more blood must yet be spilled to stop those cries now. Solomon will not tolerate efforts at peace, and thus we are forced for brother to stand against brother, sister to face sister..." The female Roe deer said. Mother Deer looked saddened, kind of like Celestia did the day we left.

"So you stand against Makarov and the Hooviets," I sought clarification. I hoped they didn't mean my blood, especially since this had so far not been as expected...

"Indeed. At this place, at this time, Makarov and the Hooviets should not be here. Yet at this place, at this time, they are here. But this time, so are we..." Mother Deer said.

She looked me in the eye.

"Captain... Princess... I know I have no right to ask it, but I wish to ask for your help. For your aid, and for your friendship. In the name of Harmony and the true Greater Good of all life, will you stand with me, at this place, at this time?"

"...Who do we stand with other than Mother Deer and... Dima?" I asked. I wanted to know what I was getting my soldiers, and my Princess, into.

I noticed that simple word made that stern-looking male Roe look like a foal who'd just earned his cutie mark for a split second.

"...This is Natasha Volkova," Dima began, pointing at the female.

"Nikolai Romanov," the Red Deer, "Kamarov," the Musk Deer, "And Zangief," The Moose.

I looked them all over once more. Natascha gave her fellow Roe a quick glare.

"My cousin forgets Chitzkoi," She said, reaching down to pat the dog, who happily barked.

"It was I forgot him or you complained about the rifle again..."

"Sasha is used to your ignorance."

"...You named a gun?" Cadence blurted.

"Um... mah family names trees..." Somepony noted.

"They truly appreciate it, Ellis," Mother Deer smiled.

Ellis seemed to look nervously around at the trees.

"Don't worry, they also appreciate your family making sure nothing goes to waste."

I decided not to mention Gunnery Sergeant Sledgehammer's battery of four medium cannons... Vera, Sweetness, Charlene, and his own personal gun he crewed, Gun. Artilleryponies were weird.

"Now we are all acquainted..."

I didn't mention I had thirty or so ponies, zebras, and griffins to introduce, but of course she knew their names already...

"...and yes, I do know the names of your ponies, zebras, and griffins, Captain..."

...See?

"...I must tell you why I seek your aid. We have received word from our agents within the Empire that tonight, Makarov is moving upon the village. For many weeks Hooviets and their mercenaries have been roaming the Zebrafrican plains, using unnatural magics to manipulate leylines, causing surges... snatching items across the voids of time and space. We had erstwhile allies helping us with the cause, but alas, they were not able to stay with us forever..."

"Marauder Shields? Was he your ally?" The name came to me. My lookalike...was he in on this?

"...He was, though, I must admit, he and those with him... they had their own goals. They are no threat. They face an enemy unknown to us, and they know we are no enemy. Do not worry about... Marauder Shields, Shining Armor," Dima spoke.

"Alright, now how about the mare going around pretending to be my sister?"

Shields' sister. Same applies to her as to him. She is no threat to Twilight, Captain, you have my word."

"...She better not be..."

"I swear on my own life, Captain. Shields is many things, but he will not hurt Twilight nor does he intend to."

(Interviewer's Notes (Pegasus): Out of curiosity, what would you have done if you had ever met those two face to face?)

Probably buck them in the face...I trust Dima, but I'm always going to protect Twiley.

(Interviewer's Notes (Pegasus): Just making sure.)

"Er, Mother Deer, please continue..." Cadence cut us both off.

The Deer Goddess simply smiled... Wow, I only just realized how crazy it seems to have been there...My weirdness magnetism must've been in overdrive.

"Thank you, Cadence. Yes, I am afraid the village contains some ponies and zebra who witnessed Makarov performing the acts. He seeks to move in, perform one last meddling with nature, and then kill those witnesses if they are lucky. For the few unicorns there... something worse..."

I shivered, recalling the threat he'd issued those months ago in a Liberty City train graveyard.

"I may be the Mother of All Deer, but I care for all life, as a Spirit of Nature. For thousands of years I have shown compassion to ponies lost in my lands, from a little Earth Pony filly being chased by coyotes, to an explorer about to fall from a cliff. And today, I desire to save the some of the Alicorns' children from my own.

"I have others who stand with me, but I fear that tonight my forces are not enough. Tonight and beyond this night I fear we are low on time. Makarov has finished his probing, his playing with the forces of nature. And I fear this means his plans, his plans hidden by his unnatural nature, are close to their conclusion. If we can stop him this night, we may buy enough time. Stopping him here will throw off the chain of disruptions and force him to backtrack..."

Again, her tone remained commanding... but now I was reminded of either Princess Celestia when she was ticked off... or more likely, my mother when she was very annoyed.

"Sir, it's about two hours before sunset, maybe less," reported Audience. "If the attack is supposed to happen tonight...it should already be on it's way there...whatever we're going to do, we might want to decide quickly." Despite his always present professionalism, I could pick up the urgency and concern in his voice.

"...Shining, I think we should help them. If... If that's okay..." Cadence said.

"Cadence, technically YOU command ME, remember?...Well, I'm okay with it, and I assume the troopers are too."

I looked back at the various Guards, it was hard to make out who was who with all that barding, but all of them seemed confused, and I can't blame them, given the circumstances. But they all seemed perfectly willing to help this nature goddess and her guerilla group against the most powerful . . . thing in the Hooviet Empire, which meant the Hooviets themselves. After all, we were ponies, helping others is in our nature.

Mother Deer gave a smile almost as warm as the sun.

"This is wonderful news. Thank you for this. At this place and at this time it is wonderful to know that you stand with me. Do either of you have any further questions?"

Cadence shifted nervously.

"W-well, it's maybe a little odd but... Father Deer.... Is he your estranged husband?"

For the first time, Mother Deer sighed.

"...He doesn't even exist. He's a propaganda tool they created to fill my place in history and in my fawns' culture and beliefs as well as cement their control. A single figure for my fawns to obey rather than a vague and ever changing party of powerbrokers who rise and fall like the sun. An unseen and unquestionable authority figure for whom questioning means death...though it is almost a pity, they really did make him sound handsome enough..."

What surprised us all, was how LITTLE that actually surprised us. None of us questioned her. None of us even talked about it. It was just so, so logical. Makarov, he said he was the most powerful Hooviet next to 'Father Deer himself' and at the hospital I was told that Makarov was playing his superiors, plural, for fools, why hadn't I added it up together before?!

(Interviewer's Notes (Unicorn): Maybe because of the big nasty wolf nearby, dear?)

Yeah.


Ten minutes or so after that, Mother Deer and her group led us to a dirt path that supposedly led to the village (which our backup had been informed was the new rendezvous location). A number of large metal boxes were parked up here, with a few more Deer mingling around.

It was a rather eclectic bunch of self-powered carts. I recognised a few as older Hooviet designs, like a few models of Bronetransporters...

(Interviewer's Notes (Earth Pony): ...Did you say brony transporters?)

...It's Roedinian, means "Armoured Transporter". It's a sort of troop carrier. Anyway, they had the four-wheeled and six-wheeled versions I recognized, and a couple of larger eight-wheeled ones that despite looking newer, also looked like they had been repaired. All in all, about eight vehicles, enough for a couple of platoons.

"Most of our mechanized equipment is surplus from anti-Hooviet forces in this area. Except our eight-wheelers. They're both wrecks we managed to repair..."

"What powers them?" Cadence wondered, a note of apprehension on her voice.

"They actually run on sunlight or moonlight, technically... Well, it's something you may find interesting at least. The power source is actually a type of fungus that can act as something of a battery. Light pipes on top of the engine let sunlight and moonlight in and with the aid of Deer, Zebra, or Earth Pony magic, the fungus gives more than enough power to run the vehicles," Mother Deer said, sounding proud.

"Far more efficient and simpler to maintain than any kind of battery that exists, and they don't belch out toxic fumes like the original dragonwine engines. Even more efficient for holding a charge than the barbaric power supply Solomon uses... Our fungus can hold charges for a whole day, recharge in less than ten hours, and needs nothing more than water, light, and care."

I was struck by two things. The sort of symbiosis present - they cared for the fungus and the fungus gave them a useful result back. And, of course, it was indeed technically a mushroom that recharged batteries. Well, it was the battery.

"Sadly, it's not much use for airships or helicopters. Not only does the fungus not produce the kind of power needed for higher speeds without very large and hard to maintain amounts, but it also needs to be close to the ground or have some connection to it, otherwise it enters a state of hibernation," Natasha noted.

"Well, that does make some sense I guess, it's earth-based magic," I noted.

"It works perfectly for nice, normal, ocean-going boats but some fool decided those silly flying machines were more useful... Oh well, someday maybe we'll go back onto the seas," Mother Deer then cut in.

"Er, Sir, where should we all go?" Thunderchild wondered.

I looked over the transporters. I assumed they were all full.

"...Maybe we should go on the roofs if we can't fly?"

"There's plenty of space inside our convoy, Captain, we only have about a platoon-sized force - but I'd appreciate if your flyers gave us a little air-cover," Dima told me.

"Oh. What he said. Princess, can you go in... Which one has the most armor?"

"The eight-wheelers," The one called Nikolai replied.

"...You're in that one with me, then, Shining," Cadence said firmly.

A small chirp reminded me of something.

"...Er, was there a point to him coming anymore, by the way?" I asked.

Mother Deer answered, to my surprise.

"He could perhaps scout ahead and report back to Cadence. The village lies behind a hill, and the leylines nearby may disrupt long distance scans. Not even the mercenaries are likely to shoot a random small bird. And to get there via this road, we must go over a ford in the river. Most of our vehicles cannot traverse the water that would give us a direct route and the bridge is out."

The warbler, now perched out on my back, gave a salute with a wing and flapped off for an, er, birds-eye assessment of what lay ahead.

"...Cadence, what's it like looking through a bird?"

Cadence gave a confused look. "It's...hard to describe..."

"Try me."

"Just imagine having a second set of eyes and ears several miles away."

"...Sounds confusing."

"...Strangely, not actually...Not sure why."

"...Being an Alicorn is strange..."

"You're just now coming to that conclusion? You should know what it's like when people sing around me.

"By the way, are these machines comfortable?" She changed subjects.

"The short answer is, 'no', the correct answer is 'bone-shakingly no'," Dima replied.

"In fairness rear axels were blown up. Now made of wood reinforced by magic," A moose sticking her head out of an eight-wheeler reported.

Thankfully, unlike an airship the noise of the motors driving the wheels wasn't added to by roar of thrust fans or air passing by, so inside was quiet enough at least. And at least the power sources were quieter thanks to running on fungi powered motors rather than magic rocks that could make a surprisingly loud thrumming noise at times....

However, the ride was rather bumpy. Now clear of the trees, the convoy didn't have to stick to the slightly more level roads and was happy to take shortcuts.

Cadence told us the warbler was looking over the village now, and it all seemed fine.

"What kind of weapons did you bring, Captain?" the Red Deer, Nikolai, asked.

"Just crossbows and spriling pellet guns. Some of the Air Navy troopers have blunderbuss shotguns. You?"

"We mainly have Mosey-Neighgant Slingshot rifles, much like your spriling weapons. Some of us have Dragonoff Airguns, very powerful weapons. They're even stronger than the rounds fired from Solomon's little machine-guns..."

I had to ask, to be sure.

"...Do you have any of Ma... Solomon's guns?"

"We avoid his more barbaric weapons and take care of them with the respect they deserve, but a few of our troopers have some his machine guns, and many of the vehicles are armed with bigger versions. But ammunition is scarce. We generally issue it to good shots and keep them on semi-auto... and I would rather not use anything he designed if I can help it. "

"So, is Sasha a Dragonoff?" Cadence wondered, asking the Roe sniperess.

"Nyet. Sasha is custom-built. She fires fourteen millimeter heavy machine gun rounds as fired by the gun of this eight-wheel transporter. I can shoot the head off a pin from almost a mile away with her."

She showed us one of the bullets. It was huge, about the size of my horn including the rear casing.

"My weapon, though..." He produced what looked like a rather large silver horncannon held in his telekinesis. And it strangely seemed to have a lion motif to it.

"...I thought you didn't have many of Makarov's type of weapons..."

"Actually, this is one of mine...in a way," said Mother Deer, looking somewhat unnerved. "It was a gift from another goddess to me, but I never had use of it... Like you ponies I prefer pacifism over war. But it is connected to me, it belongs to a champion of nature, so I can see why she gave it to me."

"Ok...Weird...But kind of cool!"

"Yes, it is, isn't it?"

Natasha scoffed. "Sasha is still more impressive."

Cadence's eye rolled watching us chat about weapons. "Aww, you three are so cute together."

That earned her a few death glares.

We then hit a bump in the track, making everything in the transport jolt up. Cadence gave a gasp, which at first I thought was surprise at the jolt, until she spoke.

"The village... There are helicopters bombing it!"

"...Oleg, take us and the other eight-wheeler left, we need to cross the river now!" Mother Deer commanded.

"Wait, I thought these things couldn't go over the river?" I asked.

"Most of our vehicles cannot. These two can. And these two carry the only weapons that we can reliably take down helicopters with..."


Cutting over the river, we wound up there in less than two minutes. Cadence reported her bird could see us, and the deer in the turret reported he saw flames and smoke. The main convoy had sped up - our pegasi had split in two to follow us over but hid behind the hill for the moment.

"Full speed, to the village. Start shooting as soon as you're in range, scare them off or bring them down!" Dima commanded.

"Captain... maybe you could give us some shields?" Nikolai wondered.

I nodded, having pondered the idea.

"Shouldn't be a problem... Wait, Alleyne is in the other eight-wheeler, she does combat spells, she could try firing on them as well?"

"I could try a few blasts too, Sir. I'm not all that good with concussive blasts but every little helps," Audience offered.

And so, the Hooviet or Mercenary helicopters got a nasty shock when seemingly from nowhere, two purple shields around a couple of their own vehicles sped towards the village spitting hails of bullets at them, apparently the monster-rounds that Sasha spat out. Alongside that, a pair of unicorn horns blasting some magic.

It seemed to work. The three helicopters, the Hound-types we'd seen back in Columbia (Somehow replacing Makarov's super-tripod...) were now more interested in us. They moved to meet us, firing back with rockets and bullets: These ones lacked Tesla Coils it seemed, but unfortunately had more rockets. My shields stopped them all the same as they swooped over, and began to circle around for another round.

"They're moving too evasively when they run over us, we didn't manage to hit them at all I don't think. I can hear their radios on mine, they're well-organised... telling each other directions in code it seems. Circle around, we'll face them head on again, I can try figure out what they're saying," Dima commanded.

Cadence offered to try adding her horn to the firepower, but....

"The helicopters are in the SKY, Princess!" Nikolai snapped.

"It's pretty hard to aim when I'm not sure where I'm really looking, I've got the warbler's eyes over there and me over here! This is my first time using one like this!"

"Don't you have any other attacks that don't need aiming?"

"...Actually, yes."

Cadence cleared her throat and began to sing. No lyrics, just kind of opera like singing. The helicopters seemed to disorientated, like they didn't know what to expect from each other.

"It looks like she's jamming their radios...Did not know she could do that," Dima reported.

"Neither did I! And I've known her since we were teens!"

This time they were less co-ordinated, and even though they did try and move evasively, their cautious moves unable to communicate with each other allowed our wall of fire to be concentrated on one in the middle. It began to spin out of control, belly-flopping into the dirt ahead of us.

Audience stun-blasted the two pilots trying to get out.

"They were the only two aboard, maybe we can send medics to them later," He reported.

(Interviewer's Notes (Earth Pony): What about the helicopter exploding?)

That's not as likely in real life as it is in movies. Helicopters can explode, but their fuel tanks are built tough. If there'd be a rupture, it would've ignited relatively quickly. There was no smoke or other signs of fire, so we weren't too worried about an explosion.

The other helicopters were not sticking around. They turned tail and fled. Cadence stopped singing.

"Where's the rest of the convoy right now?" I wondered.

"They're at the crossing, they'll be here in five minutes."

We were by now at the edge of the village, and... it didn't look good. Now we could see it up close, and hear it too. They'd hit what looked like the chief's house, the town hall... it was a blazing pyre in the middle of the town.

It wasn't a big village, maybe about three hundred meters at the widest. The main road led through the middle of the town, the bulk of houses to the north and east, and mostly scattered farmhouses amongst small fields and irrigation canals to the south and east, fed from a larger ditch that led up from the river lying south, near where we'd crossed. The chiefs hall had been at the north of the space in the middle, the marketplace. The main road had actually branched around it to form another mini-plaza.

It had probably been a nice, peaceful little place. Most of the houses were straw-roofed mudhuts clustered together close, forming narrow alleys. Apart from the burning hall the other big buildings were a school just south of it (it had been hit a couple of times) and a couple windmills and grain silos on the west side (also having suffered a few pot shots). It reminded me a lot of small Equestrian villages.

"Auntie help us..." Cadence whispered. Most of us followed suit.

We saw villagers wounded or dead scattered all around. Some of the few that had tried to come out to help their neighbours and family fled at the sight of us as we stopped, but others had saw the battle. And they seemed very, very surprised to see us. A unicorn villager bowed upon seeing Cadence. The Zebra all bowed on seeing Mother Deer...

"Please, don't bow. We're here to help..."

Gag swooped down, starting to try translate. Garnet had already run over to a wounded Zebra. Our other pegasi, including the artillery haulers, were now arriving and setting up.

(Interviewer's Notes: (Earth Pony): Uh, wasn't the battle already over?)

This is Makarov we're talking about, and I made sure my Guards didn't take chances.

"Okay, everyone, we need to try and get the injured into cover. The Hooviets will be back. When the convoy arrives we send someone over to the helicopter we brought down and restrain those pilots," I instructed.

"Good thinking.Captain, I understand your pegasi can provide airborne magic-ranging?" Dima asked.

"Yes. Overwatch, are you in orbit above?"

"Roger that, Sir. Helicopters are still running away..."

"Thunderchild, take a couple of other pegasi apart from Gag up to give him some support when we can. Maybe get some rain clouds together from the irrigation canals, put out the flames. Try to get as big a thunderbank of lighting clouds set up as you can."

"Yes, Sir... Um, what do we do about these civilians? They're scared and Gag's having trouble getting them to listen I think," He said back.

"He's right, they have fear. Only logical when town bombed... bombing from sky not enjoyable..." Zangeif noted.

"Wait. I think I can help calm them..." Cadence offered, and began to sing again.

Soon enough, the villagers were calming down a little. Even some of the whimpering wounded seemed to brighten up. The convoy rolled in shortly after, and in the chaotic calm of all that, we found the village chief.

"The central hall was our shelter. They struck there first, knowing we'd have nowhere else to hide," Gag translated for him.

I looked around. They did seem to have spent a lot of time on the hall, thankfully. Still, they'd hit some houses and fired on anything out in the open they could. Mother Deer and those of us with any medical ability (Including Kamarov - though Musk Deer were messengers and merchants, they also had magic more in line with Zebras in that they could master potions) were tending the wounded, but the Deer Goddess seemed to be also be giving help of another kind. Those beyond saving or already gone, she... offered them her blessings. Let them know they'd have safe passage to the next life...Mentioned someone named 'the Father', I wasn't sure who that was...

It had been fifteen minutes since the helicopters had fled. Yet it felt like it was an eternity from even talking in the back of the vehicles on the way here...


Half an hour had passed since our arrival, and the shuttles had moved to hide behind the hill, concealed both from our sight and the sight of the enemy. We'd put the flames out. The civilians were helping out where they could, or, if injured, we were trying to treat them. Others were being mourned for. Chitzkoi and scan spells confirmed no one was trapped in any wreckage any more, we'd managed to pull everyone out, even the dead. All in, fourteen villagers had died, and thirty had been injured, five critically. Garnet said she was unsure we could even risk moving one as far as a vehicle, he was in such bad shape, so she was trying to stabilize him. A few Air Navy unicorns and a Moose medic were helping her out.

The Princess, Mother Deer, and our respective command squads stood in the circle we'd formed with our vehicles in the central market square. Mother Deer and Kamarov tended to the wounded here, and her other medics looked after the two other critical civilians.

"How do we get all these villagers to safety?" Cadence wondered.

There were almost three hundred of them. Our shuttles and the transports our Deer allies brought weren't enough to carry all of them let alone us as well. Sending the convoy away with just some civilians and the Hooviets would massacre them. Not to mention we'd lose a lot of our heavy ordnance and protection.

"Princess, help is on the way. We ourselves have an airship, but we kept it far from here to avoid suspicion. It will arrive in two hours..."

"...Falcon should be heading back about the same time. So we just need to hold out to then, and we can evacuate everyone at once?" I realised.

"Hopefully. I'm concerned, though. We scared off the helicopters a while ago. Solomon shouldn't have been waiting this long," Nikolai noted.

Dima had mostly been listening in on radio frequencies. It seemed a strange, very small, radio he carried could pick up almost any transmissions in a ten-kilometre area... an immense range for one small radio. They usually needed line of sight and only had about a kilometer or so range most times, especially in areas with lots of interference. Like leyline crossing points.

"Maybe he's waiting to the sun falls completely?" Cadence said.

I looked over to the sun, it'd be dark soon. That was a distinct possibility.

"...Wait, ssh!" Dima then hissed, and his eyes widened. He fiddled with his radio, and the volume became loud enough for us to hear.

"Listen...

"Baikal, Baikal! This is Star. Commence artillery mission on grid reference G7. I repeat: artillery mission on grid reference G7. Three volleys, all eight guns. Do you copy? Over."

"What..." Cadence wondered, not understanding the Roedinian. The looks on everypony's faces I think clued her in.

"Oh buck," Gag cursed.

"Star, Star! This is Baikal. I read you. I confirm target coordinates. Firing now."

As the distant voice finished, my radio sprang to life, Ranger warning us he saw flashes about five miles away.

"INCOMING!" Dima shouted.

I barely even thought about it. I just threw as big and as strong a shield as I could around everything. The whole village, protected, just as the shells began to slam home. I didn't care how much mana I was pumping out, all I could think about was my team, Cadence, and innocent civilians would all be blown to bits if I didn't do something!

It felt the force of a dozen of the Tripod death-rays. The pegasi, high above us and safe without my help, were frantically radioing down as the explosions rippled all around the barrier.

It was odd, but since the shells were faster than sound and aimed right at us, it all seemed to go in reverse. We heard the explosions hitting near us, then the shells whistling (though the loud noises of the shells had somewhat made that sound a little harder to hear), and finally the rumble of the distant guns hit our ears.

"Sir, there's another set of flashes, a second volley!""

"I... I'm expecting three, Overwatch..." I replied, wondering if I could hold. One had been tough...

The second slammed home after ten more seconds. By now the civilians were panicked again, and Cadence was a little too shaken herself for the moment to muster up any singing voice.

But... I held. As the third flash was reported I realized, I didn't even feel the mana pumping out. There was no headache. There wasn't any feeling of a drain. Just the adrenaline rush from knowing everyone was depending on me for their protection. The third volley was... We didn't even hear the explosions.

For a second there was silence. No more flashes. The panic had subsided a little, Cadence was now gently humming nervously, probably not even aware she was doing it.

Then came cheering as I dropped the shield, not even feeling tired any more

"Sir, that was brilliant!" Somepony yelled.

"An impressive display, Captain," Mother Deer complemented. I couldn't help but grin.

"...Wow. Just... Wow. I had no idea you could do that, Shining..." Cadence said.

"I guess we're even, I had no idea I could do it either..."

"Um, hate to be the bearer of bad news, everyone, but..."

Dima's radio was speaking again.

"Baikal, Baikal, this is Star. Shelling ineffective, enemy position appears protected... shielding... Advise further volleys."

"Star, this is Baikal. We do not have much ammunition at this time..."

Low on ammo? I breathed a sigh of relief... too soon.

"...Only enough for two hundred rounds more total."

...TWO HUNDRED?! How much was a LOT of ammo?!

"Baikal, silence! You will fire all remaining rounds immediately, independent fire at will! Katyusha launchers, it is time for you to play! Your rockets are no longer to be spared downing the rebel ship... annihilate that village and those infernal rebels!"

"...Makarov," I hissed.

"Solomon..." Dima hissed with me.

I threw up the shield even before the flashes were reported, two rocket launchers now joining in. I was not happy... That son of a nag was nearby, and shelling this village... and apparently not aware we Equestrians were here. I should have been glad about that, I guess...

They bounced off. The pegasi above kept in touch, still safe even as the hails of rockets began screaming in (I was worried if the explosions might throw shrapnel, but thankfully it didn't seem to go high enough)... but to us, they were silent. I was blocking even the noise from reaching our ears.

"...A few little party cannons, that's all," Somepony sneered.

I wasn't quite so confident, truthfully. Sure, I was surprising myself with how strong I was making this shield, but the rocket launchers alone had unleashed a volley of explosives in ten seconds that seemed as powerful as a dozen volleys from the guns combined and that was coming down all at once. It could probably have levelled a quarter of Canterlot Castle - or this entire village, judging by how wide an area the rockets were raining down on my shield.

The rockets stopped long before the shells, but apparently had time to reload for a second volley. Eventually, the shells stopped too. Out of all ammo... Almost a full five minutes of sustained fire. Almost a hundred rockets, nearly two hundred shells... all in all just short of ten tons of explosives.

"This is absurd! How can... That wretched weakling false idol of the rebels cannot do this, none of her whelps and blind fools have this power... This! Is! An! OUTRAGE!"

Admittedly, hearing Makarov throw a tantrum was almost worth all this trouble.

"You've annoyed Solomon... Again. Did I mention I like that quality in you, Captain?" Dima smirked as the radio just descended into incomprehensible ranting.

"That makes two of us. You should see how he reacts to Classic Equestrian Wit."

"Level the village.. I gave an order! Who are they to dare not die as I command! They will pay... In their blood they will pay!"

But then his anger seemed to stop, as if a tap had been turned.

"...Oh. Oh, I see... I see what this is... I see who is there, now... Only one being... One pony would have the gall to insult me like this... All units, this is the Supreme Marshal! Mercenary or my own forces, bring me the head of Shining Armor Sparkle and you will be rewarded! Bring him alive, you will be rewarded greatly! Move in, with full force! He will be weakened, and our assault shall collapse his shield eventually!"

"It is my understanding the preferred pony term, though not used by us as it is also the term for the male of my species, is 'oh buck'," Mother Deer noted.

"Oh buck with onions," Cadence agreed.

"Sir, this is Overwatch. We've got... looks like about ten vehicles approaching from the north. Ground vehicles, plus hoof cavalry and some winged. Looks like it might take them twenty minutes, half an hour to get here. Sir, it looks like they have at least two actual tanks with them."

"...Okay. Everypony, we've got incoming. Civilians, Princess, can we all move into a central position, so I can fall my shield in a little?"

"Sir, this is... Misfit Actual-Six to Misfit Actual, I still haven't stabilised my patient."

"...Garnet's on the north end of town, Sir. She's right in their path..." Gag said, sounding immediately worried.

"Then we move the civilians as close to there as we can. The bulk of us defend around the main point, but they'll also be trying to circle around. If we could throw the air power at them, we should be able to slow them down. Just a couple strafing runs," Dima noted.

"No, if they send more helicopters, we might need the element of surprise for the patrol craft to be effective. Our pegasi can harass them with the clouds, maybe."

I tried to think of other options. Problem was, we'd come expecting a battle, but not having to protect or tend to wounded civilians. What medics we had were already spread thin.

"Wait. Could one of the pegasi give me and Chitzkoi a lift? Drop me in front, I'll snipe, and fall back towards here. I can slow them down," Natasha offered.

"Perhaps... Gag, you're the only pegasus on the ground here not crewing a gun. Can you carry her and the dog out?"

"Yeah... But, uh, why the dog?"

"He is my spotter, and he watches my back. Is there a problem?"

"Well... I'm more a cat pony, really, but... I guess dogs are cool."

"Good. We can go out, I'll start sniping."

"Wait. It's getting dark... We're not going to be able to see that well soon unless we have night-vision spells," Cadence noted.

"Neither will they... So we just need to shoot the lights," Audience noted.

"Um... I have some bad news about that," Kamarov said.

From his saddlebag he'd been pulling his medical potions from, came a strange contraption, like a pair of goggles...

"Please don't tell me those are night-vision goggles."

"They are. And the vehicles all have thermal imaging systems. They'll be fighting like it's daytime. Only a few of ours have the goggles, and the spells the Princess mentioned... they won't work on Deer, nor can all your unicorns possibly cast them on themselves and all your troopers."

"...This could be tricky. We need them slow, and I'm worried about those tanks. But... What if we could slow them down then draw them into a trap. Misfit Actual to Misfit-Actual-Six, how long might you need to stabilise?"

"...Twenty minutes minimum."

"Alright, thanks...."

"Perhaps I should go. We need to have this poor soul moved as fast as we can... " Mother Deer offered.

"Yes, please, your... er..."

"Milady will do, Captain."

I was sure the pegasi and Natasha could give us some time, and if Mother Deer gave Garnet a hoof, we should be able to get the civilian pulled back. And so I had a plan...

"Ellis, I think I have an idea to help us get rid of those tanks. Does this sound possible..."

Author's Notes:

Image by Kendell2 http://kendell2.deviantart.com/

Next Chapter: episode 126 (Shining Armor): ouY slliK tahT llaF ehT toN-Not The Fall That Kills You Part 1 Estimated time remaining: 15 Hours, 24 Minutes
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