I had an idea for this chapter I wanted to try out, so... sue me I guess.
I didn't go into much details of the large-scale battles, because... well, lets face it; it'd take too long and I don't have that time.
I hope you all enjoy!
"Alright, listen up troops!" Red barked at the mixed armies in front of him on the planet of what used to be known as Reach for the UNSC. This was their first major battle that was to occur in this fight against TD's forces, and Red was actually glad that the extra soldiers were available. In front of him was a combined force of Benders, UNSC Marines, Mobains, Equestrians (both ponies and Changelings), Candy Soldiers, Clones, and various groups of Huntsmen, Huntresses, and Skylanders. Beside the hedgehog were many of the leaders from each world/members of their new Command Center. These brave men, women, and others were all willing and ready to put their lives on the line to save their beloved homes, families, and worlds from the tyranny that opposed them.
"I'm gonna save you all that dramatic speech thing if I can and cut to the chase," Red stated bluntly. "We're marching up against an enemy that shows no remorse. Show them no mercy, as you shall receive none yourself. Never give up, never surrender! I know this is asking you to put your lives on the line, but that's exactly what is at stake here! So let's go out there and kick some chaotic butt!"
A chorus of cheers rang out from the assembled armies.
"I'll take that as a yes," the hedgehog said to himself with a chuckle.
"Fall out!" a Marine officer called out. The armies immediately started marching out down towards the large plain that was to become their battlefield. They marched on in silence for the most part, the only sounds heard being the sounds of marching feet, the tramping of hooves, the flapping of wings, and the various noises made by their vehicles. Eventually, Red unexpectedly made his spines start to vibrate and create some violin, banjo and flute noises in the tune of a familiar song for the UNSC and a selected others in the other worlds. To top it off, Red was skipping along happily and started singing out as they marched too, as if oblivious to everyone around him. The Equestrians, while unfamiliar with the song, found the tune rather catchy and started bobbing their heads along.
Red: Well, I wish I was in the land of cotton
Old times there are not forgotten
Look away, look away, look away Dixie Land!
Apparently, Red's singing was contagious, because with a shrug, Bill joined in.
Bill: In Dixie Land, where I was born in,
Early on one frosty mornin'
Both: Look away, look away, look away Dixie Land!
The UNSC Marines recognized the song fully now and sang along too.
[Chorus]
Marines: I wish I was in Dixie!
Hooray! Hooray!
In Dixie's Land I'll take my stand,
To live and die in Dixie!
Away, away, away down south in Dixie! (x2)
The other armies were getting into the rythm as well, especially the Equestrians who started trotting as if they were in a parade while still keeping their stride at the pace they were moving at.
[Second verse]
Red: Old Missus married Will the Weaver;
William was a gay deceiver!
All: Look away! Look away! Look away, Dixie Land!
Marine Officer: But when he put his arm around her,
Smiled as fierce as a forty-pounder!
All: Look away! Look away! Look away, Dixie Land!
*chorus*
[Third verse]
Random Marine: His face was sharp as a butcher's cleaver;
But that did not seem to grieve her!
All: Look away! Look away! Look away, Dixie Land!
Red: Old Missus acted the foolish part
She died for a man that broke her heart!
All: Look away! Look away! Look away, Dixie Land!
*chorus*
Those nations who had instruments, particularly the Equestrians who weren't marching, were all playing along by now. The song gave them all an odd sense of calm as well as a sense of being under a common cause or goal that united them all as one big family of brothers and sisters-at-arms. They all were singing along now.
[Fourth verse]
All: Now here's a health to the next ole Missus
An' all the gals that want to kiss us;
Look away! Look away! Look away, Dixie Land!
But if you want to drive 'way sorrow
Come and hear this song tomorrow
Look away! Look away! Look away, Dixie Land!
*chorus*
[Fifth verse]
There's buckwheat cakes and Injun batter,
Makes you fat or a little fatter
Look away! Look away! Look away, Dixie Land!
Then hoe it down and scratch your gravel,
To Dixie's Land I'm bound to travel
Look away! Look away! Look away, Dixie Land!
*chorus*
[Final verse with ending chorus]
Well, I wish I was in the land of cotton
Old times there are not forgotten
Look away, look away, look away Dixie Land!
In Dixie Land, where I was born in,
Early on one frosty mornin'
Look away, look away, look away Dixie Land!
I wish I was in Dixie!
Hooray! Hooray!
In Dixie's Land I'll take my stand,
To live and die in Dixie!
Away, away, away down south in Dixie!
Away, away, away down soooouth innn Diiiiixie!
By the time they had finished, the battlefield could be seen ahead of them and the enemy armies were already approaching. Beside him, Team RWBY and JNR (Pyrrha's dead, remember?) looked out at the army with a little doubt. Yang felt her arm shaking a bit at the sight, but when Diego held her hand in his own and gave it a comforting squeeze, she calmed down and flashed him a thankful smile. The Arbiter felt a bit troubled.
"Never have I seen an army of that size, even among the Covenant," he murmured.
"Our predicament seems daunting, but we must not lose hope," a Jedi said calmly.
"He's right," Aang remarked, coming to the front. "We can beat them."
"Pfft! Duh!" Nora exclaimed. "I mean, we have the better troops! They only have the numbers advantage!"
"And with the terrain we're given, we can prevent them from using that advantage against us if need be," Red observed. There were nods and voices of agreement, then Bill turned to the army.
"Okay everyone!" he shouted. "Like we rehearsed it! Battle stations, everyone! Let's move!"
"They want to display their power, so let's show them our undying courage!" a Marine officer added. "Hurrah!"
The army cheered and rushed to their stations. The flying soldiers, mainly Equestrian pegasi and Changelings, formed up to provide air support as well as counter enemy air-forces; land troops assembled with melee troops in the front and ranged in the back, the melee troops protected by reinforced shielding provided by a joint effort of the UNSC, The Galactic Republic, and the Mobian technicians. Artillery and tank-like vehicles formed up behind these ranks, with some of the leaders to help spot and direct their troops. Although, some like Sonic, the majority of Jedi and those from Remnant chose to fight on the front lines with the soldiers under their command. This gave the men a newfound sense of morale, knowing that their leaders were willing to fight and die by their sides, as well as partake of the same risks they were undergoing. Both sides halted for a bit as the enemy assembled as well. The sight of the Flood hordes alone was pretty disheartening, but thankfully, with the help of brilliant minds like Twilight and Tails, a vaccine had been created, mass produced, and given to every soldier so as to prevent the Flood from turning their armies against them upon death. Each soldier had also been instructed how to deal with each individual form of the Flood, so their fears eased up with this knowledge.
The silence that fell was deafening, until finally, out of stupidity or simply impatience, a Battle Droid fired a random shot out at the army. He didn't manage to harm anyone with his shot, but it did signal the start of the battle. The enemy army surged forward, some in an unruly mass, others (particularly the Droids) in ordered ranks. The heroes held their ground, firing off shots if needed, but otherwise not charging until the enemy was about twenty or thirty yards away from them. Then, screaming like banshees, the melee troops rushed forward to greet their enemy with sword, staff, hoof, fist, or whatever else they used.
Swords clashed, fists pummeled, hooves bucked and smashed, shots were exchanged left and right, and in the sky above, flying as high as they could, the carrion birds waited for the battle to end so they could feast upon the meal prepared for them. It was a hard fought battle, but eventually when the fighting came to a close, it was the heroes who were victorious. The enemy total was too high to count, but the heroes also suffered casualties on their side. The wounded were carried off to the medical camps while the dead were gathered for burial. The enemy remains were either scavenged for spare material to use (a suggestion given by Red) or piled into heaps and burned to ashes. But thankfully, they could safely say that it was a glorious victory. However, they didn't let this get the better of them for the most part. All this did was prove a point; the enemy had more men, but the heroes had better quality soldiers and equipment, not to mention an unbreakable alliance with one another.
As the Arbiter put it to them that night after the battle, "Another victory, yes. But there's always another battle."
Red Team, yet another mixed team of elite warriors from each universe involved in the fight, relaxed in the makeshift mess hall assembled to contain the extremely large army of the heroes that had fought in the battle today. They were enjoying a good meal and some fellowship before they were to head out to their next mission early in the morning. Red Team, much like the others, consisted of a Clone trooper and a UNSC Marine, but what made it different was that it also consisted of a Mobian bird, a human Huntsman, a Firebender, a Skylander by the name of Drobot, and an Equestrian unicorn mare. Also, the Clone was in charge of the group. Currently, they were having a conversation over dinner.
"Good job, team," the Clone, who went by the name of T-bone, congratulated his comrades. "All in all, a good fight."
The unicorn mare, who went by the name Crystal Shard, nodded.
"It was a good fight," she agreed, a smile on her face. Crystal wasn't like every other pony in Equestria, in the way that she actually enjoyed fighting and war. She had a vast armada of combat spells she had learned by reading books, and she was glad she had an excuse to use them now.
"One victory on the battlefield isn't enough to win the war, T-Bone," the Huntsman, who went by Bruce, pointed out.
"And I never implied that it did," the Clone replied. "But it's one more step in the right direction, so that's something to look forward to."
"My calculations predict that we need only 7 more skirmishes, ten more majors before we can secure victory," Drobot droned out, the cyborg dragon's eyes lighting up a bit while speaking.
"Riiiight," the Mobian bird, who went by Screech, remarked. He honestly didn't know what the cyborg had remarked.
"He's basically saying we have a long ways to go," the Marine pointed out, a buff man who called himself Pug (because, military names). Crystal sighed, putting her hooves together.
"Well, at least we're a bit closer to our goal." She said, trying to be optimistic, before ruining it by adding, "Even if that goal is an extremely long ways away."
"At least we managed to push them back," the Firebender, a girl by the name of Kurai Homura noted. "Imagine what they could've done if they had gotten past us."
"I try not to worry about it," T-bone stated. "I instead focus on what we have managed to accomplish together."
Several agreements were voiced, then Bruce asked, "Say, T-bone, is it true that you Clones like to see the warriors you fight with as your family?"
T-bone gave Bruce a sideways glance, then sighed.
"What many don't realize is that Clones are put into battle as soon as they've matured enough through their accelerated growth," he explained. "We don't have a family to come back to when the fighting is done. So, we see each other as a family, who fights and dies at each other's side. Not one of us is left behind if we have any say in it." He gestured to his teammates. "And the way I see it, you are all now a part of that family circle too."
Crystal smiled, before she spoke up.
"Well, I lost all contact with my family when I moved from Manehatten to the Crystal Empire, so I guess I've started considering all of you as my family now," The unicorn said, before adding, "In a very extended sort of way."
The others all laughed lightly, but not in an offensive manner at her comment. Then Pug spoke.
"You know, if anyone back home told me ten years ago that I would be friends with a pony, a bird, a Clone, a guy with a cool staff that morphs into a gun, and a girl who can control fire, I'd have laughed in their faces and called them crazy." He looked to his friends. "But now, I'd say that same person would be crazy to not be friends with you as well."
Crystal laughed. "And if somepony had told me back before we all came togther that I'd be calling all of you friends, I would have just thought they were saying nonsense."
The unicorn admitted, realizing just how much this whole thing had changed her views. The others all laughed a bit in agreement, then the room went silent as someone started dinging on a glass. They looked to see Diego Kapila, one of the "Supreme Generals" from Remnant, standing to get everyone's attention.
"A toast!" he called, lifting his glass. All the others in the room did the same.
"To our lasting friendship. May it never die," the human said aloud for all to hear.
"To our friendship!" the others all called in on accord, then proceeded back to their meals.
"Heh, that guy's pretty sweet at combat, but he can also be a rather funny character," Bruce chuckled. "I can see why Supreme General Yang chose him for a boyfriend."
Crystal nodded, using her magic to lift her cup to her mouth and take a drink from it.
"You know, I spent years learning spells to fight without any hope of every getting to use them, since Equestria's a peaceful place," The mare said as she put her cup down. "And then this happened, finally giving me a way to show my knowledge in combat spells. Sometimes I wonder if all this is a dream, even though I really know it's happening."
"War isn't something you should indulge on," T-bone remarked. "Though I can understand your enthusiasm for getting to use those methods at last."
"Who wouldn't want to test out a new move?" Bruce asked.
"Personally, if there was ever a way to make sure that war never occurred ever again, I'd take it," Pug stated, a bit of sadness in his tone. "It's taken too much from me. All my other friends before you guys were lost to war. My family too."
"Oh Pug..." Kurai spoke sympathetically, rubbing his back to try and comfort him a little.
"I share your pain dude," Screech commented. "My dad died while fighting in a war. I was still a kid when it happened too."
Crystal nodded her head towards Pug, trying to show her sympathy. The mare didn't always like fighting and war; her favorite thing to do was learn new spells, but not all of them were ones based around combat. She actually did try to have a varied lifestyle, but she had found she could never really seem to make any long-lasting friendships. That was, until she had met her new friends.
"Hey, check it out," Kurai motioned towards the end of the room where several soldiers from the various worlds were setting up instruments.
"Looks like they plan to do a little song or two," T-bone chuckled. Crystal looked up, interested. She was genuinely curious about what the songs were going to be. She took another drink from her cup, lowering it almost all the way to the table but keeping it in the grasp of her magic in case she wanted another drink soon. Among those on stage, they could see Red up on stage with the others too. He didn't have an instrument, but he did have a microphone. Crystal leaned forwards expectantly, her blue eyes wide with excitement.
"Good evening ladies and gents, fillies and gentlecolts, all creatures great and small," Red greeted. "We're gonna do a few songs for you. This first one is called, 'You're My Best Friend.' Please enjoy."
The band started playing and Red started to sing:
Red: Many people say true friends are hard to find
But I know I'm not that kind
They come and go and sometimes leave us behind
Like a wind that passes by
[Chorus]
When you need a friend
That you can depend
You can count on me because
You're my best friend
When you're feeling down
And your heart is hurt
You can call on me and
I will be there for you friend
[2nd Verse]
Good things may come, and then bad things may go
Like a birth a long time ago
You're like the ship that's sailing across the sea
To the waves that's so unkind
(Repeat Chorus x3)
[Coda]
Friend
The crowd was cheering and clapping at the end.
"Dude! General Red has a sweet voice!" Kurai complimented. Crystal nodded in agreement.
"He really does," The unicorn agreed, taking another drink from her cup. The band played a few more songs, then right when the hall was cleared of food Red seemed to get a cheeky smile and a gleam in his eyes.
"Uh oh..." a Mobian from another table muttered in an amused tone. "Here it comes."
Red walked over to a radio connected to some big speakers and switched it on, then started browsing through the channels until he hit a song he liked: Flip, Flop, and Fly, by Ellis Hall. He immediately started dancing to the beat.
"Come on everyone! Shake them booties and get into the rhythm!" he shouted.
Just then, T-bone started tapping his feet as well as the other Clones in the room.
"Wh-what's happening?" he asked Crystal. Crystal laughed, draining the rest of her drink before getting up.
"It's called dancing!" She explained, her voice thrilled. "It's something you do just for the fun of it!"
"Oh... well, I do like that beat," the Clone captain admitted.
"Yeah, it's... rather nice," another Clone stated. Red suddenly appeared next to that Trooper.
"Well then, go with it!" he shouted enthusiastically, pushing the soldier out into the center with him. He seemed a bit nervous at first, but then he too started moving with the flow.
"Look! Look at me!" he cried out with joyous glee, like a child trying something exciting for the first time and liking it.
"Fives, what's gotten into you?" another Clone asked while laughing.
"Same thing that's gotten into you, I suppose," was the reply, then the music really kicked up.
"Just go with the flow, boys and girls!" Red shouted joyously, as he pulled an Equestrian pegasus mare onto the dance floor with him. Crystal laughed some more, joining the crowd as she danced along to the music, enjoying every second. Everyone grooved with the beat, some dancing individually, others dancing in pairs. Some of the cuter scenes was seeing the obvious couples dancing or watching the human-sized troops dancing with the smaller Equestrians or Mobians in pairs. But no one cared; this was their moment to enjoy themselves.
As the song ended, the group all heard a voice yell, "What the hell is going on in here?!"
Everyone turned slightly scared as Admiral Hood and a few other of the Supreme Leaders entered. Only Red was unfazed.
"Just enjoying some music, Admiral," the hedgehog replied nonchalantly. Admiral Hood glared at Red for a moment, then spoke again.
"Then why are you stopping? Crank up the volume and turn on another song!"
The hedgehog's grin couldn't seem to get any bigger. "Yes sir!"
He cartwheeled across the room to the radio and started switching it up again. The radio started playng Uptown Funk and Red grinned.
"Ooo! That's a good one!" he exclaimed. "Alright, let's do this boys!"
Crystal laughed as she got ready to dance; she was having the time of her life. They all danced to several more tunes, before a dance competition was started. Different groups from among those present started showing off their moves to their comrades, and while they did have a few friendly rivalries, everyone was still enjoying themselves. It was when the music slowed down to a slow dance number that they realized what Red had eventually conned them into.
"Red, you stinker!" Ruby called, her silver eyes giving him a smirk.
"What can I say? I'm a sucker for this," the hedgehog stated casually. "Besides, I think it's fitting to end the night on that note."
Crystal started looking around nervously, keeping her head down to try and avoid being noticed by anybody. She started sidling towards where her seat was, hoping to avoid what was coming up. While many others backed out and even left the tent that made up the mess hall, there was still a reasonably large crowd that stayed; particularly from among some of the Supreme Leaders.
"Uh, Crystal?" a Clone's voice spoke to the unicorn. Most people would say that the Clones sounded very much alike, but something in his tone told Crystal that it was T-bone. Crystal froze, before turning to T-bone, raising her head to look at the Clone.
"Yes T-bone?" She asked, rubbing one of her front legs against the other nervously.
"What you hiding here for?" he asked her. It was to be expected that he was confused; the Clones had only just recently learned what dancing was, so this change of pace was just as confusing.
"I just, uh..." the unicorn stammered, trying to explain. "I just never really danced with anypony... or anybody... else before. I don't really feel brave enough to try it out now, so I was just going to go back to my seat..."
The Clone smiled comfortingly. "I've never danced with anyone either, but it looks like fun." He looked out at the crowd that remained, noticing the cute couples. "It's quite a lovely sight, isn't it?"
Crystal nodded, following the clone's gaze.
"It truly is," She said, still eyeing her seat out of the corner of her eye. The Clone seemed to notice her troubled look and blushed.
"I'm sorry... am I making this hard for you?" he asked. Nearby, Red slapped himself while chuckling at the Clone's actions. Of all the people there, he seemed to be the only one without a partner of any kind, even among the Supreme Leaders present. Crystal shook her head, forcing a smile onto her face.
"No! Of course not T-bone... it's not your fault," The mare said, looking at him with her blue eyes. "I've just never really been that much of the social type before, so this in general is frightening to me."
"Oh, well I can understand that..." the Clone stammered.
"Oh for the love of- Just ask her for a dance, ya nitwit! You're embarrassing me!" Red cried out. He was answered by a frying pan flying across the room and smacking him in the face hard enough to knock him to the floor. Bill Prower smirked and his gloves stopped glowing, indicating that he was the one who had done the deed even as he danced with his wife.
"I got you guys," he said to the unicorn and Clone with a wink. Crystal shifted on her hooves uncertainly, looking at the clone shyly. T-bone shook his head, then looked back at her.
"Well... would you care to dance?" he asked her. "You don't have to say yes; I just thought-"
"Yes. I'd love to dance T-bone," Crystal replied, smiling at the Clone. T-bone smiled back, then slowly took her forelegs in his hands and led her onto the dance floor.
"Yes!" Red cheered silently so they wouldn't hear. "Score one for the Matchmaker!" He then sighed sadly. "Now, he just has to score one for himself."
"Welcome to the party," Diego greeted them as he and Yang neared their position. "I'd say, all in all, this was a good night. Ironically, it makes you wanna thank Red before punching him in the face."
Crystal giggled. "Oh trust me, I do kind of want to punch him in the face," The unicorn admitted sheepishly. "But I guess I do have him to thank for getting me out of my shell, so-to-speak."
"Yeah, he's cheeky and wonderful at the same time like that," Yang admitted. She then gave Diego a certain grin. Apparently the Rogue knew what it meant and giggled at the couple beside him.
"All children in the audience, cover your eyes!" Red called jokingly, then flinched as if expecting another thrown object. None came, but instead a large abundance of the couples started kissing; some of which were from two different worlds. T-bone looked stunned, then chuckled nervously at his partner.
"You... don't have to kiss me too," he said. "Not unless you want to. Otherwise, we're cool."
Crystal smiled at him.
"I don't see the harm in it, do you?" She asked innocently, blinking her blue eyes at him, before giggling.
"Well, no. I just wanted to be sure first," T-bone explained. "So... do you...?"
Crystal nodded, smiling at him.
"Sure," The unicorn mare said, using her magic to move her white mane out of her face. "Let's do it."
They were slow to act, but eventually they closed the distance between each other and shared a short kiss yet passionate kiss. Red silently was cheering some more, but was smart to not make himself heard.
"Way to go, T-bone!" Bruce noted from outside the tent, standing beside Kurai.
"Yeah," she agreed. "I've never seen a Clone so happy before."
Crystal sighed, feeling her body fill with happiness like she had never know as she kissed the Clone.
"Oh my..." Bill whispered.
"Goodness," his wife finished.
They finally pulled away and T-bone blushed.
"Well, you gotta give General Red credit where it's due I suppose," he managed. The unicorn smiled at him, nodding.
"I guess you do," She agreed, moving her mane out of her face with her magic again. The mare giggled happily. "I guess you do have to give him some credit."
T-bone chuckled.
"Do you wanna try again?" he asked. "Or is that too far?"
"Idiot," Red muttered over in his corner. "Never ask if it's too far unless you're going for the serious stuff."
Crystal laughed.
"Of course! Let's do it again," She said, smiling warmly at him. The Clone managed a small laugh himself, then pulled her in for another kiss, longer than the first. For that one moment, they forgot all about the war, their worries of what tomorrow would bring, even the criticism that some might give to them. It was just the two of them, alone in their own world.
From his corner, Red smiled warmly at the couple.
"Congrats you two," he said softly so they wouldn't hear him. "I wish only the best for you."
Yep. I'm cheeky that way!
In case of confusion in the ranks of others in the military: the main antagonists have been appointed to a new status in the heroes' combined military; Supreme General or Supreme Leader. Below them are the elite squads (Blue Team, Red Team, Phantom Squad (who shows up next time), etc. Below their ranks are the highest ranking leaders in the armies like normal, and then from that point on it's easy to follow.
Songs in order of appearance: "Dixie's Land." (I'm not sure who the composers were, but it was sang during the American Civil War by the South and I just liked it!)
"You're My Best Friend," by Nelson del Castillo.
I hope you enjoyed!
