Shaking the Mountain
The tank was a nightmare, it was feared by all soldiers of the three factions for its abilities that had both drawbacks and incredible bonuses. For on it burned crystals by the pound every fifty miles but it's heavy barrelled cannon had been known to blow buildings off their foundations. Its top speed was 40mph but usually it went much slower making it easy to manoeuvre. However you didn't stand a chance at getting close to it as it had Heavy machine guns all over it.
The thing was basically a fort on wheels and I had no anti-tank weaponry that could break through 5 inches thick of the hardest metal in Equestria.
"You do realise you have about a 13% of beating this thing" said Red. "The odds are in my favour again then" I told her as the tank trundled forwards a few more metres until it stopped a few metres from me and the hatch popped open.
"So this is the famous pony who killed the scouting platoon well you don't look so tough" said a very blond unicorn who was dressed in full uniform smartly buttoned up and pressed as if he were on parade.
"You should hand over the princess now and we might just forget about you ever being here" said the tank commander with a smirk.
I looked at him and nodded to up the mountain "afraid to get out of your tank and climb up the hill you Pristine swathe jerk".
The commander seemed to shake his head "your one to talk, I didn't know that earth ponies ever used brightly coloured capes with pictures of moons and suns all over them, get it from Luna then I assume".
I looked at him now and wondered if the entire U.A was made up of arrogant pricks. He seemed oblivious to this however and procured a comb from below him and became to tend to his hair like a garden.
"So shall we get this over with, I'm rather looking forward to a long vacation in Canterlot where they say the mares are as excellent as the architecture".
"So be it then, how do you want to do this" I asked him. "Oh we'll I could just kill you right… now"! He said pulling a pistol from his belt and raisin it.
I however was too fast and had already raised my rifle and shot it out of his hoof. He cried out as my pulse round smashed into his right hoof and made his gun fly off of the tank.
"Kill him!" shouted the tank commander slipping below and shutting he hatch door. "Make him suffer" we're the last words I caught before the hatch shut completely and all help opened up.
Simultaneously all HGMs opened fire from all possible angles and the heavy turret swung round in an attempt to blast me to the moon (not Luna the actual moon).
Pulse rounds flew everywhere and I had to dive behind a nearby rock as an earth shatter boom made my ears ring and the ground shake. The heavy cannon had made a huge crater virtually next to me and done a successful job of disorientating me.
I heard the cannon begin to reload and quickly sprinted into the dishevelled forest I'd walked brought not ten minutes ago. The turrets blared at me all the way and one caught me on my back left hoof, stumbling me.
"Damn it" I shouted, crawling for cover behind a nearby tree as the tank trundled forwards. "You need to retreat" said Red. "Never, he'll get to Luna and then its game over" I said, gasping as I swallowed some pain pills from my belt.
"If you die here its game over anyway, face it your outgunned Asimov" said Red.
Suddenly an idea came to mind and I pulled a smoke grenade from my belt and through it over the tank to where I was hiding behind the rock before.
"Ah ha so you're hiding behind the rock the " came the tank commanders voice as the turrets and cannon swivelled round to meet where I supposedly was.
I immediately bolted for the great metal hulk until I was right behind it in its blind spot. I grabbed onto the top and pulled myself up, just as the cannon swivelled round and knocked my legs over.
I was caught by the force and was thrown across the tank until I was right in front of the lead turret. Two eyes stared at me from the small square which he used for targeting and I quickly pulled a flash bang from my belt and shoved It in, leaping for cover as I did.
The grenade blew up an instantly cries of pain could be heard over the still activated loudspeaker which the commander was speaking through
I took four of my grenades and shoved them down into the turret, then I started to run fast, very fast until I heard the voice of the commander in my ears boasting "you think a little flash will save you, making a break for it was a bad idea" laughed the commander through the speakers on the outside of the tank.
The cannon came around and the turret began to charge for a large power shot. "Finally decided the end has come" said the smug voice of the Captain. "Oh I knew the end was coming for a long time-just not for me" I said wrapping my cloak around me".
"What do you..." were the only words the tank commander could get in before the tank erupted with a ground shaking boom and I was thrown back across the mountain side. The fire didn't harm me because of my cloak but the force of the explosion shook my bones and totally disorientated me so that I didn't realise I was sliding down the steep mountain until I was almost falling.
I cried out and made to grab something, anything but my hooves couldn't find and purchase on the hard stone.
Luckily a tree branch had decided to grow in exactly the place I was falling and I immediately grasped onto it, clinging to dear life as the world shook and the foot of the mountain was engulfed in flames and bits of metal.
A lone shred of U.A uniform bearing the Commander symbol fluttered past me and I couldn't help but feel relieved that I had survived a terrible clash with a pony killer.
However that was until the branch began to snap. It started with a few small cracks that immediately alerted me. I quickly fumbled for better grip but it was no use, I was going to fall about twenty metres into a fiery pit, somehow I doubted even if my body survived my cloak would fully protect me from all the flames.
"Looks like this is it Red" I shouted over the sound of the blood thumping in my ears. "Asimov" suddenly came a voice from above me. Luna was hovering just above me and reached out with her hooves. "Take my hoof"!
I looked at her and without even thinking shouted "I told you not to fly"! She looked annoyed through the rising smoke and shouted angrily "Grab my bloody hoof"! "Hate to disappoint a lady" I yelled, leaping from the branch as it broke away and grasping onto Luna's hooves.
She struggled for a few seconds, rising agonisingly slow before she got us onto a gentler side of the mountain where we could stand properly.
I collapsed, coughing from all the smoke in my lungs and she collapsed from all the effort she had put into hauling my ass away from my own barbecue.
"Thanks for that" I spluttered as I tried to clear my lungs and calm my mind. "Don't mention it, I guess now we're equal" laughed Luna still panting.
I pretended to think for a moment before replying "nah I think I've saved your life far more times than once". She looked at me hard for a moment before breaking into a smile "let's see if I can't save you some more sometime". "I'm happy to make this into a competition Princess but I'm afraid that you will lose".
"Err guys, there are Peagasi flying towards here really quick and I don't think… oh am I interrupting something" interrupted Chad.
I looked back at him and then realised my face was centimetres from Luna. She too realised this and quickly pulled away as did I fumbling over my words. "They w- won't find anything through the flames and I err... certainly won't either so just let's carry on then shall we"? "Yes let's" said Luna beginning to resume walking up the mountain.
I brushed the dust off my cloak and armour and checked I still had everything. I sighed as I realised my rifle was missing, probably a bubbling pool of metal at the bottom of the hill actually.
Chad seemed to notice my down look and procured something I would have kissed him for had I not felt like complete crap.
"Me and Luna watched the fight and when the metal thing exploded and you got thrown back lot's of shrapnel shredded nearby us and your rifle hit me right in the forehead" explained Chad, showing where the butt of my rifle had impacted.
"Chad, you have gained a good star, well done you are no longer a rookie but a rookie first class". He cocked his head in confusion and I explained "it's like a rookie but plus a gold star".
"Oh, we'll that's the first promotion I have been given in my life so, thanks" he said over the moon (not Luna). He began to reach out and shake my hoof but I was already walking away, wondering why no matter what ponies were so damn nice and friendly for nothing.
So having survived a dance with a tank, which I fully explained to them in great detail we started to walk up this steep slope of the mountain.
"Why would anyone build such a terrible contraption?" asked Luna. "Well it's an amazing weapon and in a huge number they could blow this mountain to bits" I said.
Luna seemed distressed at this but
I was still on my guard for more assassins but Red assured me that I couldn't be that unlucky in one day.
I tried rubbing the dirt and grime that had milder into my face with my cloak but it seemed to be just as covered in muck and ash as the rest of me was.
I looked like I'd come fresh from a battlefield (which I supposed I had) but miraculously carried no new scars this time. Although my feet ached and my joints cracked and I was once again developing a rather Nasty headache I felt like I could take on the world.
We passed small ravines and an avalanche which after a brief struggle we climbed over and finally a long stretch of winding uphill paths until finally we reached he prize.
The top of the mountain was even better than expected with a large cave and a huge circular round, natural courtyard in the entrance overlooking the entire valley and stretching into the distance Canterlot.
I grabbed a small set of binoculars from my backpack and took a look. Nodding I looked at Chad and Luna saying "nice, this place has plenty of lookout points and the cave will be a great place to defend if needs be, maybe I can get some real rest tonight" I said suddenly realising it had grown quite dark.
"That reminds me" said Luna, stepping forth into the large flat stone circle and beginning her moon rising.
So she rose slowly into the sir and shot up like a silver bullet along with the moon which once again showed her cloaked in shadow making her 20% more awesome than if she had just risen up into the air.
I thought she'd gradually flap down but she stayed still up there for a number of minutes, prompting me to ask her "is there a problem"?
But Chad gasped and pointed at the sky and I looked up and saw some of the most vibrant and beautiful stars I had ever seen since coming to Equestria.
"How does she do that?" I asked not expecting to be answered. "Magic" said Chad not catching on to my rhetorical question.
"Right well, we need to explore this cave now and get a fire going, we'll freeze to death if we don't" I told them.
"How exactly are we going to make a fire when there is no wood around?" asked Luna. "Well, Ahh" I said realising that it would be very uncomfortable staying in the cold.
"Tonight we'll just have to do without any form of Heating, tomorrow we'll work something out" I said. "But it's going to be freezing" exclaimed Chad, rubbing his hooves together to emphasise his point.
"If I can spend three days in the icy cold snows of the Crystal Empire without even armour or knowledge of any help then you can last a night on top a mountain sleeping in a cave" I told Chad.
Luna took a step back an element of surprise in her eyes. "You know of the Empire" she said astounded whilst Chad simply looked on in yet more confusion.
I nodded saying "yes, the crystal ponies were great allies to the earth ponies since we had the same features, minus the shining coats".
"What's the crystal…" began Chad but I and Luna simultaneously said "shut up"!
"Keep the Empire to yourself Asimov, nopony in Equestria can remember it and we don't want people spreading rumours- right Chad" called Luna. "What" he asked.
"Nothing, just a place that will exist in the future" was he excuse I chose. "Well anyway, let's explore this cave then start setting up" I said, slinging my rifle round and slowly advancing.
"Do you except to find anything in there at all" asked Luna. "Well from my experience of cage there's always a crazy Manticore inside along with the mane six" I said. "Huh" said Luna. "Nothing I'll tell you later".
So we slowly advanced into the cave and found nothing to be there, only the darkness which Luna quickly lit up with light from her horn.
"No one's home" said Chad looking at the vast round ball of a room which I thought was the perfect base. "Red can your signals get out" I asked. "No, completely satellite and radio wave proof" she told me. "Good no signals can get in then".
Luna flew around and surveyed he large cave shouting "it's not very deep, just a round circular giant". "It's perfect for a week's stay, as long as word of the tank doesn't spread too quickly and I put trackers outside" I shouted up to her.
"What's a tracker?" she asked me. "It's a small orb that detects strange movements and irregular heat patterns and runs off solar power" I shouted up to her. "What's solar power" she shouted back to me.
I realised that we were getting very loud and wouldn't be surprised if they couldn't hear us on Ponyville. "I'll tell you later, but we need to keep the noise levels down Princess" I said resuming a normal tone.
"It's just Luna" she whispered to me in a mocking tone. "Yeah we'll Luna, you have to come down for there and sleep now or else you'll fall asleep during the day".
She flew down graciously and landed with a plonk right behind me "I rarely get up during the day Asimov, it's only because you're choosing to spend the days on foot and the nights asleep that I'm up" she told me.
"Well fine do what you want but I'm tired" I said moving over to where Chad had unknowingly dropped asleep and nestling down onto the cold stone floor.
"Tired of the war already" said Luna. "What" I asked nearly jumping out of my skin. "I said tired of protecting me already" she responded staring at me strangely probably due to my wide eyed expression.
"No not tired of you yet, I could never grow tired of you" I told her truthfully still shaking my head from what id just heard. "Oh you best, you're only saying that" she said giggling slightly. "No really, all my life has been war and survival and even though the past couple of days has been just that, I'm glad to share the experience with some good friends" I told her, feeling like I was opening up a little too much.
She came over and sat down next to me, asking "didn't you have friends in your old time"? "Friends aren't something you want in a war, if they die it just adds weight onto you" intolerance her. "Although there was this one pony, his name was Bill and we went through the same training facility, the same assignments the same unit everything he same". "He was a rank higher than me though always but he treated me as an equal always and welcomed opinion". "He understood honour and loyalty but like me and all the others showed his enemy no mercy, his skills unmatched he carried this heavy chain gun a bit like mine but it could mow down platoons in seconds" I said remembering him and all the good times we'd had together.
"Don't you miss him" asked Luna. I knew she was only being polite but it hit hard what she said. "More than miss him I mourn him, he was killed in action six months ago to this day, I took over his rank and the A-Class Elite U.E.R became mine" I said, now feeling quite sad despite the length of time it had been.
"That's awful I'm so dreadfully sorry" she said, shuffling closer and wrapping a wing around me. "Yeah we'll, as I said friends and war don't mix Princess".
"Luna, just Luna" she told me. "Well Luna how about you, do you miss anyone from your times?" I asked her.
She took her wing away from me and looked down at the cold floor with her big starry blue eyes. "I was the Princess of the Night, I never really had that many friend anyway, and what I did have all died in the war which I created over some silly little jealousy with Tia" she said, choking out the last part and beginning to cry
"Whoa now hey, it's ok it was just frustrating to be ignored for all your hard work, I understand that" I told her calmly, putting my hoof around her and comforting her now. "We all do things we regret and your sister, forgave you and everything so it can't be that bad" I told her but she kept on sobbing.
"Luna its ok you're a great pony and I would choose the night over day anytime" I told her, giving her a squeeze. She blinked away her tears and looked up at me. "Really"? "Absolutely, I mean at night you've got the stars and the darkness, what else do you need to sneak up on some pony unexpectedly" I said making her giggle cutely.
Wait a minute cute… I'd never even heard that word in my life now I was thinking it.
"Thanks's Asimov, you really are sweet in a hard sort of way" she said. "Well err thanks I guess, yea call the murdering monster pony sweet" I said getting very bitter.
Luna shoved herself away from me and grabbed my head with her hooves telling me "you are not a monster; you are a true gentleman of the old ways and made a lack of judgment which you promised would never happen again".
"I satiated into her eyes for a moment before realising something."I haven't put trackers or motion sensors down; I need to go do that". I made to get up but Luna grabbed me and pulled me down saying "please just stay with me, it's only one night".
I sighed sadly and unzipped my pack pulling out seven of the small orbs. "One night that needs to be protected along with its keeper" I told her pulling away from her.
"I can come with you" she said making to get up but I stopped her saying "its best you stay here".
She seemed to be heartbroken over me going out to put a few trackers down but It had to be done so I got Olson with it, planting a few around the cave entrance and a couple outside in the large circular balcony like thing outside the caves entrance.
It was really windy and cold now and I quickly went back inside to talk to Luna but found her already asleep.
"Night bird hey" I whispered, slipping my cloak off and putting it round her shaking form. I unclipped my backpack and threw it down by Chad, and then I grabbed my rifle and slid down the cave wall until I came into a half laying half sitting position.
"Wake me if anything is detected"'I told Red. She didn't
respond for a minute before saying "disappointed". "What's that supposed to mean" I asked. "You know" she said, powering down with an extra loud whirr.
I sighed, my breath clearly visible as it left my mouth. "What a hell of a day, and the future didn't look any easier.
So tired, can't think of anything smart to say…peace I'm away to sleep.