Chapter One: The Beginning of the End
"This is the worst, possible, thing," Rarity gasped out as the Elements of Harmony trudged up the mountain leading to Canterlot. A few months ago Celestia had ordered most public transportation to Canterlot shut down and all journeys to the majestic city had to be done by foot or wing.
"Oh come on Rarity, you really need to get out more," Rainbow said as she walked beside the panting mare. Rarity lifted her head to glare at her walking companion.
"Unlike you, Rainbow, I have a store to keep and just do not have time to go running all across Equestria! Also, add in the fact that lately I've had to stay up late consoling Sweetie Bell! Ever since Cheerilee left, why she has been ever so worried that something is going to go wrong!" Rarity glared at the ground. "And of course my parents never come to check in on us…Or even send me a letter saying they're alright…so I've them to worry about, too."
Twilight sighed from the front and turned her head.
"We're all worried Rarity. Equestria isn't right and this time we will demand that Princess Celestia do something! We can't let this continue anymore…" She looked down and frowned. "I just don't understand why Celestia is doing something like this. Why would she betray Equestria?"
"The war was hard on all of us, sug," Applejack said. "It must've been real hard on the Princess. Seeing as she ruled Equestria and held the responsibility of protecting us. Might've cracked her up a bit."
"Applejack!" Twilight glared at the Orange pony who simply shrugged.
"Just my honest thoughts, Twi."
"Well it's not possible! Princess Celestia has ruled for centuries! I'm sure she's faced much harder things than…war." Twilight looked mildly disgusted saying said the word as it brought back bad feelings and memories. Quieter, she said, "I'm sure of it."
"Oooh! Tail Twitch, Hoof Cramp, Itchy nose!" Pinkie cried out suddenly. Everypony stopped and stared at her as they were all very unfamiliar with that particular combination.
She thought for a moment and shrugged with a smile. "It's a new one! Let's find out what it is!" She giggled. They all turned their heads back to the path as they heard ponies galloping towards them. Twilight and the others gasped when they saw the bedraggled group approach them, with equally shocked faces.
"Shining Armor? Cadence! What are you two doing here?" Twilight said after taking a moment to compose herself. The last people she expected galloping down a dirt path was the Captain of the Canterlot Defense Force and his wife-herself a Princess, no less. Another familiar Unicorn in a dapper suit and monocle staggered up next to them
"Fancypants? Why are you galloping down a dirt road? You are going to destroy your beautiful suit!" Rarity cried out as she approached him.
"I'm afraid, my dear, that we have more pressing matters then the status of my suit," Fancypants said sadly.
"Twily. You need to get back to Ponyville and warn anyone staying there they need to leave immediately," ordered Shining Armor.
Twilight frowned and stamped her hoof. "Shining! I'm going to need more than just that! What on earth is going on in Canterlot? Why are you leaving the city?" Shining Armor shook his head as Cadence spoke up.
"Twilight, things have gone horribly wrong up there. Celestia has lost it!" Her wings spread out in agitation as her eyes teared up. "Celestia…She ordered the executions of every single noble in Canterlot. I personally saw her behead Blueblood!" she cried out. The Elements were left wide eyed and open mouthed, Rainbow swiftly moving to Fluttershy's side as she sobbed quietly. "She is seizing their bits, their land; servants and companies…She's taking over all of Canterlot! Nopony is safe...We had to leave! We couldn't stand for that…That monster!"
Twilight stepped back, her mind reeling as she attempted to take it all in. Her mentor? Killing innocent ponies? She couldn't grasp the concept.
"But…Fancypants! Where is Fleur? Why is she not with you?" Rarity asked him.
"My brave, beautiful Fleur demanded she stay behind to try and defend my estates. She assured me she could talk reason with the Princess…I begged her to come, but she was so stubborn and I had to leave…" Fancypants took off his monocle and patted his wet eyes with a handkerchief. "Oh my beautiful Fleur…Why have the fates been so cruel to us today?"
Rarity tried to her best to comfort the noblepony as Shining Armor and Cadence did the same for Twilight.
"Now just hold up. Why in tarnation did Celestia go around killin' all these ponies?" Applejack asked.
"The Nobles held a lot of power in court and over the public. No matter how much anypony worshipped Celestia, they still held great respect for them. So to properly control the masses, she had to...get rid of the competition," explained Fancypants between his tears.
Applejack shuddered and took off her hat as she murmured her respects to the ponies that were dying in the city right above them.
"This…This can't be right. This is too much…Celestia…" Twilight said, her voice trembling and weak.
Placing a hoof on her shoulder, Cadence said, "Twilight. There is no more Celestia. She has been transformed from all the hate and anger that she's felt since the start of the Gryphon Wars…She's gone, just like Luna was when she transformed into Nightmare Moon."
"She needs to be stopped, but we can't do it now. Canterlot's just in too much turmoil right now. There's no way any of you could get to the Elements of Harmony. We're heading towards the Lunar Republic and I suggest you do the same." Shining Armor hugged the still form of his sister and kissed her on the head. "Stay safe Twily. We need to go before the guards spot us. I love you, little sis."
With a hug, Cadence said much the same as the two groups traded farewells and well wishes. Rarity exclaimed her wish that they not separate but Fancypants spoke up.
"We must go. Rarity, I thank you for the comfort you have brought me today. I hope to see you in Nebula." He bowed to her before the group galloped off down the path circling the mountain. The six friends were silent and shocked, still trying to take in the disturbing news.
"I never knew…Celestia…" Rainbow Dash sputtered out as she petted Fluttershy to try and calm the hyperventilating mare. Pinkie's mane had straightened itself out due to her hearing the horrible news, but she was the only one who kept her head together after hearing it.
"Come on! We need to get down to Ponyville and warn everypony! Rarity! Sweetie Belle is still down there!" This snapped Rarity out of her daze and the others as well.
"Pinkie's right. I need to get back to the farm and warn the family," Applejack said.
With a nod they all took off down the road faster than ever. They didn't know why they were so panicked, for all the chaos was happening in the city above them, but all of them felt something terrible was about to take over Equestria and they had to get their loved ones to safety before harm could come to them.
In an hour they had made it to Ponyville. The little town had changed dramatically ever since the rise of the Lunar Republic and the creation of the Solar Imperium. More and more ponies left the small town seeking a better life in the Republic. Lyra, Bon-Bon, Derpy, Dr. Colgate, Dr. Whooves, and many more ponies had left the town in search of a more prosperous life. The town was silent and desolate as the six mares raced across the town to pick up their precious belongings and friends.
After gathering everything up, they returned to the center of town-each of them bearing personal treasures and treasured loved ones. Twilight eyed Big Mac nervously as he shifted his battle saddle. Twin M60E4's hung at his side looking primed and ready to kill.
She shivered and looked around making sure everypony was present: Applejack, with Applebloom, Big Mac and Winona; Rarity with Sweetie Bell and Opal; Rainbow Dash had gotten Tank and found Scootaloo; Fluttershy had collected Angel; and Pinkie Pie carried Gummy on her back. The few residents left such as the mayor were already packing and would leave a bit after the group. Fluttershy looked back towards her cottage nervously as her recently free animals hid in the Everfree Forest.
"Twilight, we should get going soon," Spike said with a poke. She had to turn her head upwards to make eye contact with her number one assistant. His wings flapped in slight agitation as she grimaced from his poke. His claws had gotten sharper then she remembered.
"I know, Spike…Just give me a minute," she said with a sigh. She couldn't help but think of all the books she was leaving behind in her library. She had saved as many as her bulging saddlebags would allow. But more importantly, she worried about her parents in Canterlot; wondering if they were safe from Celestia. Rarity-sensing her unease-walked up to Twilight and gave her a hug.
"I know what you're feeling sweetie. I don't know if my parents are safe either…But we have to get out of Ponyville! Those dreadful guards could show up at any second."
Twilight nodded and looked at everypony's worried and uncertain faces.
"Alright everypony-huddle up! I'm going to try teleporting us there. I think I should be able to at least get us to the border. Everypony ready?"
They all nodded and clung to each other and their belongings, huddling as close as they could against Twilight.
"Alright, here we go...One. Two. Three!" With that, the entire group was enveloped into a large purple bubble and vanished only to reappear…right into the middle of a battle.
The grouped ducked down and flattened their ears as their senses were suddenly assaulted by a cacophony of noises. Gunshots rang through the air, and bullets whizzed through the air slamming into soldiers and objects. One round pierced a Lunar Soldier's Battle Saddle causing an explosion that enveloped the screaming buck. Twilight shifted her eyes away from the burning pony as a mare ran up to them screaming.
"Hey! Civvies! You gotta go!" She cursed as a bullet whizzed over her. Turning, she fired her rifles towards where the shot came from. Twilight stared at her uncomprehendingly as she continued to scream at them. Finally she slammed her hoof into Twilight's cheek jarring her back to reality.
"Wha…What? Where are we? What's going on?" Twilight yelled over the din of battle.
"You're in the middle of a bucking warzone! I don't wanna waste time knowing how you got here, but we can't evacuate you yet! The roads aren't safe! Snipers are watching the damned roads! I'll take you back to base, so get your friends together because we gotta leave soon!"
Everypony was just as shell shocked she had been so Twilight shook them back to the present with her magic. As she did so, she took in what was going on around her. They seemed to be at a military checkpoint that was currently under attack by the Imperium.
Lunar Soldiers fired from the two buildings that lined the road into the forest. The gray walls were peppered with bullet holes and the large windows that looked out towards the fields were blown out. The checkpoint looked out to where dozens of the Imperium's Guards had set up positions and rained death on the defenders.
Twilight's group had regained their senses and were looking over the battle with mixed reactions. All had been in combat before at one point or another during the Gryphon Wars.
The children closed their eyes and flattened their ears, clinging to their guardians tightly, trying desperately to blot out the sounds of the dying. Applejack and Rarity covered the little foals, looking at each other with pained expressions. This was exactly what they had never wanted the little ones to see. Gummy bit tightly on Pinkie's hair as she looked around wildly, not knowing what to do. Opal slipped into Rarity's bag and stayed there quietly.
"We'll get out of this mess Gummy," Pinkie whispered to the gator. The gator gurgled as his purple eyes swirled around wildly. Angel tugged on Fluttershy's hair, demanding the timid pony get her out of this mess.
"Come on, you civvies! We gotta get you somewhere safe!" the mare yelled before swiftly moving deeper into the forest, towards the checkpoint. "The base is right behind it! You should be safe until we can drive the guards back!"
The group followed with Big Mac covering the back. He test fired his battle saddle and nodded-satisfied it would tear apart any Guard hoping to make an easy kill.
The smoke and dust resulting from the explosions and countless guns fired choked the group as they approached the base. Thankfully they had no issues getting to the base, though what they saw upon arrival didn't match expectations.
The base turned out to be a small clearing in the forest, just a little ways away from all the fighting. The injured lay scattered all over the clearing, moaning loudly as a lone medic tried his best to fix the terrible injuries that ranged from bullet wounds to missing limbs. The group was lead to the center where a large stallion was yelling into a radio.
"Tell the left flank to hold out a little longer!" He turned his head and grinned when he saw the group wander in. "Tell them I'm sending in reinforcements to deal with the LMSV's! Now move your sorry flank and get back to firing!" The stallion slammed his radio roughly on a table in front of him and turned his attention towards the group. "Well, well, what the buck do we have here, May?"
The group dropped their belongings onto the ground as the mare spoke up.
The mare saluted and stood at attention as she spoke, "I believe one Twilight Sparkle teleported them here on accident Sarge. We can't evacuate them yet for the snipers still watching the roads, sir."
The sergeant nodded and waved her off. She saluted again before walking off towards the battle front.
"Alright, I know you're the bucking Elements of Harmony-I mean what idiot wouldn't recognize Twilight Sparkle and friends-but right now I don't give a rat's flank. We got a battle here, so what the hay do you want?"
Rarity had a horrified look on her face and was about to teach him how many ways a mare could hurt a such an uncouth pony before Rainbow intervened, used to the talk of the military.
"Sir. Master Sergeant of the 501'st Equestrian Rapid Air Response. We have civilians and children here and we need a safe place for them to stay. I would also appreciate it if you could give me the chance to show those Guards to fear the Rainbow." Rainbow had her signature cocky grin and her wings flapped out in excitement as the Sarge began to take his Battle Saddle off.
"Give em hell, kid." Rainbow Dash grinned as the sergeant handed it to Rainbow Dash. With Scootaloo's help the saddle was fit as well as it could. "Careful, they are custom Type 89s. Don't go screwing them up you hear me? And you better damn well return that saddle to me in one piece as well!" Rainbow Dash saluted before taking off into the sky and heading towards the front line. "And you. Big Red. I bucking love those guns. Think you can use 'em to blow up some jeeps that are lighting my men on fire?"
"Eeyup."
"A stallion of few words. I can respect that. That pony will show you where you need to go." He pointed his hoof towards a courier who nodded.
As the two galloped off the sergeant finally turned his attention to the mares and children. "Well, the most I can think for you to do is sit back and hope for the best."
Fluttershy, Applejack, and Spike nodded gratefully as they took the children towards an empty area to rest. Pinkie Pie did what she did best as she tried to cheer up the soldiers who couldn't get back onto the field. Twilight smiled at the silly pink pony, but a large explosion reminded her of her current situation and that she couldn't risk letting her attention slip.
She turned her head towards the sergeant as he eyed Twilight and Rarity. "What? You mares think you can do something?"
"I know how to work a gun…I think. Do you happen to have any MP guns around?" Twilight asked.
"Indeed. Both Twilight and I have handled weaponry before. I'm sure we can handle whatever you have," Rarity added. The sergeant nodded and directed their attention to a large gun hogging most of the space on the small table.
"An MPHK-MG4. An Imperium sniper took out the Unicorn who used it and I know a position that could damn well use this kind of firepower right now. Either of you two know how to use it?"
"I do," Twilight said as her eyes moved across the gun, taking in the details of the weapon. She remembered how to use it…and also the recoil that nearly flung her back every time she used a weapon like it. "But…I can't handle it very well."
"Oh, I'm sure it'll be rather like sewing! Can't hold it too hard or it'll break and can't hold it too lightly or it'll slip! That and aiming correct?" The sergeant nodded in reply to Rarity's question. "Then I shall try it out!"
"Good to hear! Now come on. We've got ponies to kill."
Twilight and Rarity grimaced at his words, but the sergeant didn't notice as he turned away and led the three through the forest and approached the check point. The sound of death and weaponry were at their highest in that direction, and both mares had their ears flattened. As they crawled through the building Twilight stole a look out the window and breathed a sigh of relief as she saw a rainbow streak through the smoke twirling around before it dived towards the ground. Her attention snapped back as a soldier took a glance over his shoulder to the newcomers.
"Sergeant! Good to see you! And I see you brought some magic power!" he said happily as he fired off his weapons.
"You bet your sorry flank I did! Came just in time to save ya didn't I?"
"You always do, Sarge."
"Bet your sister's sweet flank I do."
"Sarge…We've been through this. I don't have a-"
"Now you, fancyflank-" the Sarge turned to the white mare ignoring the buck, "-all you need to do is set it by any window and grip it tight. Keep your head low and, if you need to, just let out a good spray. Miss Sparkle, I'll assume you know what to do. Good luck to you both."
And with that the sergeant bolted back out the checkpoint to return to the clearing. Rarity crawled over to an unoccupied window. A blue aura encompassed the gun and unlatched the bipod before setting it on the window frame.
"Well Twilight, now would be a good time to…do whatever you need to do."
Twilight's horn flared and suddenly a belt of purple bullets popped into existence with a bright red core in the center of each bullet. The belt levitated and loaded itself into the gun with a satisfying click. Everypony suddenly ducked down as a burst of bullets shot into the building spraying plaster everywhere.
"Hey girls! Now would be a great time to fire the bloody thing!" the colt who had spoken to the sergeant yelled as he got back up.
Rarity gulped and turned her head away from the weapon as she magically pulled the trigger. A hail of purple destruction rained down on the exposed position of the Guard-their bodies torn to shreds as the magical bullets not only entered their flesh but exploded. Limbs and flesh were ripped from bodies as Rarity continued to spray the magical bullets across the field.
Lunar Soldiers ducked down in fear of being hit, but cheered as the front collapsed under the hail of the destructive magic. On the left flank, sudden explosions rocked the battlefield and a flaming LMSV flew into the air for a moment before crashing back down. The Guard's line began to buckle and after one more run from Rainbow Dash they started to rout.
Twilight opened her eyes and raised her ears as she picked up the sound of cheers. She and Rarity raised their heads above the window to catch the sight of the Imperium Guards running back to where they had come from, a few falling to the ground as the Lunar Soldiers fired on their backs.
Twilight's eyes took in the destruction and death that had occurred during the small skirmish. Dozens of ponies from both sides lay dead on the ground, most sporting missing limbs and terrible holes where large portions of their bodies had been blown away.
Some due to the very bullets she had created with her magic.
How could anyone possible cheer for this? This waste of life, this desecration of everything they had learned after clearing the destruction of the Gryphon War. Twilight couldn't grasp the waste of pony life as her eyes stared at the collection of bodies her bullets had added to the list of the dead.
Rarity turned around, dropping the weapon onto the ground as she hugged Twilight tightly and sobbed into her neck. Twilight returned the hug as tears flowed down her own muzzle. Both mares knew this was only a small glimpse of what they and all of Ponydom would have to face to remove the monster who sat in the throne room of Canterlot.
Note: I do apologize for little and vague Rainbow Dash action but you will see it soon enough. And also most of the guns will be based off of modern day weapons. However Imperium Magical weapons will be unique. Vehicles I'll be a bit more creative with as well. Also the idea of Battle Saddles belongs to Kkat. If you don't know that go read Fallout Equestria. Or your life won't be complete. I'll include a Weapon, Vehicle, and Term Index at the end of every chapter to describe everything so my faithful readers don't get confused.
Weapons, Vehicle, and Terms Index:
MP: Magically powered weapons tend to be stronger than normal weapons for talented Unicorns can incorporate a magical element to the bullets (which are called SMA or Special Magical Ammunition) like what Twilight did. Thankfully not many Unicorns are that skilled and extreme training is generally needed to do this. Twilight can do this because she is the damned Element of Magic. Also not all MP weapons can handle SMA's. Most MP Weapons can be handled by one trained Unicorn. The Unicorn handling the weapon must know the Caliber of the bullet the MP weapon takes. This does require extensive studying and in generally restricts Unicorns to certain weapons as obviously not all weapons take the same caliber.
BS: All Battle Saddle Weapons are magazine fed due to the difficulties loading a belt into a gun without magic or fingers. The recoil is of course weaker than an MP weapon and so generally have Shotguns, Assault Rifles, or Sub-Machine guns attached to the sides. Light Machine Guns can be used by the stronger Earth Ponies. Pegasi can use the lighter saddles or can opt for Hoof Claws. (Hoof Claws will be explained when seen later in the story.) Every Battle Saddle contains pockets where the ammunition is kept.
LMSV AKA Light Magically Shielded Vehicle: An armored jeep that is doubly protected by a weak magical shield produced by the unicorn firing a MP-M60D. Three Ponies are generally inside of this vehicle.
MP-M60D: Magical Powered M60D. Attached to LMSV's and Zeppelins. This weapon can fire Special Magical Ammunition and can fire belts that contain 500 7.62mm Equestrian Caliber rounds before overheating and require around a minute of cool down.
MPHK MG4: A magically powered HK-MG4. Fires 5.56x45mm Equestrian Caliber Bullets. Can fire about 1500 Bullets before requiring several seconds of cool down. Has the ability to fire Special Magical Ammunition.
BSM60E4: Battle Saddle M60E4. The Battle Saddle version of the weapon. Typical Magazine for this weapon holds 75 7.62x51 Equestrian caliber rounds. It has the ability to penetrate light armor and weak shields.
BSType-89: Battle Saddle Type-89- The Battle Saddle version of the weapon. The Type-89 is an Assault Rifle generally used by smaller bucks and Pegasi in the air to fire. It fires 5.56x45mm Equestrian caliber rounds with 30 rounds per magazine.
