Operation Sombra

The group walked through the dense jungle. It had been four hours since the battle had started. Even Rarity had stopped complaining about the conditions. If not for the (unfashionable) helmet on her head, her hair would have resembled an giant purple tumbleweed. She was hardly pleased.

Fluttershy, on the other hoof, was enjoying the new creatures and plants she was seeing. She was constantly looking around, awing at the variety of animals that inhabited the dense rainforest.

Despite the weather and terrain, the group was cheery. Pinkie talked constantly about stuff like "Wow, did you see that? That flower was HUGE!!!" or "WOW! Look at the lizard thing! I wonder if it likes cupcakes. I bet Gummy and him would be best friends!" or "Hey, we're getting shot at! Yay!"

...

Wait a minute, what?!

...

As soon as the bolts started flying, Twilight ducked down. There was no need. Dash literally just continued walking, and opened up with her assault rifle, tearing the brush ahead of them apart, revealing a small group of cultists. Like the plants, the cultist also met Dash's assault rifle.

Twilight stood up. The rest of the group followed suit. Dash simply continued walking on.

Twilight shook her head, but decided it. She ran up to Dash.

"Hey Dash, could I ask you some questions?"

Dash turned towards her, her visor lifting up. "Shoot, egghead."

Twilight, ignoring the insult, continued. "Whats with Gilda and Comet getting married. Did I miss that or something? I thought Comet had a wife!"

Dash nodded. "Yeah, well, HAD is the operative word there. The wife was pissed at him for not going to save her when you guys hit Canterlot. And, even after the battle, he left with you guys, without so much as saying hello. So she left him. Gilda went up to him, and took advantage of the fact he was once again single. She proposed. Bang. Right there and then. She didn't date him, nothing. She just asked his hoof. The official marriage hasn't happened yet, but they filled out some paperwork, so in the books, there married. You were away when it happened. Anything else you wanted to ask?"

Twilight nodded. "Yeah. Princess Io. You know far more about her then I do."

Rainbow Dash chuckled. "I doubt that, but OK. Io is the second oldest Royal Pony Sister. She is the goddess of orbit of planets and small celestial objects. Comets, meteors, etc., there hers. There's a rumor in the Moonjumpers she has control of Black Holes! Anyway, she was one of the first elements of harmony. I think she was Honesty. The other ponies were Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, the oldest pony sister, her lover, and somepony else. I think. I may be completely wrong. As for her personality, shes very kind, serious, and speaks her mind. However, she suffers from extreme temper swings, especially when Discord's involved. Ever since I joined the Moonjumpers, she's been determined to kill him. And she's honest about it too. She withholds very little information. One thing she is not, however, is merciful. You wrong her, and she will pursue you to the end of the universe. I don't know much else."

Twilight nodded. Not much compared to her own knowledge, but an improvement. Especially if Dash was right about the Elements of Harmony. That was new. "Thanks Dash."

With that, Twilight looked around. They were getting close to the power plant. They'll be encountering more patrols...

Suddenly, Gilda rang out a shout. "Hostiles! Get down!"

Twilight looked up, and sighed. A trio of fire demons. Of course they send a trio of demons on patrol.

The group opened up, but suddenly, the demons disappeared.

Only Dash recognized the move. She flew around, opening fire at Gilda.

Gilda managed a crazed squawk before ducking down. The bolts flew over Gilda, nailing the demons directly behind her. All three disintegrated.

Dash smiled, and Gilda looked at her amazed. It was unanimous. Dash was by far the best combatant in the group.

Fluttershy interrupted the silence. "Um, shouldn't we be, um, moving towards the power plant?"

Applejack snapped out of it. "Yeah. Come on, everypony. Aye don't like just standin' around anyway."

So the small force moved on, hoping desperately to end this battle before it gets out of hand.