Chaos now!

CHAPTER 5

THE FLYING 109TH

A loud booming sound woke everybody up the following morning. They all stepped outside to see what was going on.

“What was that?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Arc light.” Rainbow Dash said from her place at the wheel of the boat. She had actually driven it all night, not even bothering to wake Applejack up to take over!

“Come again?” Apple Bloom asked in a slightly confused manner.

“Magi strike.” Rainbow Dash answered in explanation.

“Oh.” Apple bloom muttered.

“Looks like some unicorn ponies cast a firestorm spell.” Applejack said. “Nasty! Doggie don’t see it, or hear it. Concussion’ll suck the air right out o’ ya lungs!”

“You think Twilight Sparkle had anything to do with that?” Kark asked.

“Probably.” Applejack shrugged.

“Smoke!” Sweetie belle cried out as she pointed.

“Ah see lots o’ pegasi over there!” Applejack commented.

“Let’s have a look.” Rainbow Dash said as she gazed through a pair of binoculars.

“That’s them!” she said after looking through the binoculars for a few seconds. “The Flying 109th. Our escorts to the mouth of the Non.”

“’Xcept we weren’t supposed to meet ‘em ‘til ‘bout another thirty klops further up.” Applejack commented.

“Guess our rendez-vous’ll be a little bit premature.” Rainbow Dash said.

A few minutes later, the P.V.R. Sweet Apple came in ashore amidst the chaos of what was going on.

The Flying 109th was an elite Pegasus pony squadron made up mostly of the Wonderbolts’ finest. They cashed in their snazzy blue flying suits for black Kevlar army gear that protected them from any shots fired from Doggie on the ground. It also gave them shielding against any aerial attacks from Griffs.

They had general orders to reconquer lost territory everywhere throughout Equestria. They just couldn’t stay put! What they were mopping up here took place barely an hour ago.

As the boat reached the shore, an amphibious vehicle rode up beside them and proceeded ahead. An explosion occurred in front of it as it reached the door of a Diamond Dog dwelling. It just exploded a mine with its tough armour at the front of it! It didn’t even leave any collateral damage to the vehicle! The vehicle soon tore down the dwelling that would eventually make way for a pony homestead.

Rainbow Dash led her group towards a Lieutenant she spotted a few dozen lengths away. The Lieutenant snapped a salute when he saw her approaching, and he realized that she was a Captain. “Where can I find the C.O.!?” she cried over the din after she returned the salute.

“That’s the Colonel coming in for a landing now!” The pony Lieutenant said as he pointed.

“Thank you!” Rainbow Dash said before she dismissed him.

“The C.O.’s leading that Wing!” Rainbow Dash told her companions as they waited for the pegasi to land.

Kark noticed that the Pegasus ponies all wore a shield symbol that was pure white with two yellow thunderbolts crossed in front of it. He guessed it must’ve been the Flying 109th’s insignia.

Some distance away, he saw several Diamond Dog civilians gathered around a platform where a male pony was speaking. He could clearly hear him say “We are here to offer you a helping hoof! This area is now under our control! We have vanquished the Diamond Dog and Griffon Axis Army detachment stationed here! We are willing to help any of you wishing to leave this area and relocate elsewhere!” through the megaphone he was using.

Rainbow Dash and her companions were quite surprised to see who the Colonel was when she landed. “Lieutenant!” she called to the male pony who got beside her. “Form a perimeter around the settlement about one hundred lengths out! Give me some room to breathe! And bring me my body cards!”

“Yes, ma’am!” he said as he saluted and trotted off.

“Spitfire!” Rainbow Dash called out.

The Pegasus mare turned towards the sound of her name. “Rainbow Dash!” she said in mild surprise at the sight of her fellow Pegasus compatriot.

“Captain Rainbow Dash of the Royal Pony Army Special Forces, Two Corps!” she said as she snapped a salute. She lowered it as soon as Spitfire returned it.

“Colonel, I understand H.Q. has briefed you on the requirements of our mission!”

“Yes! I got the orders yesterday! I didn’t expect you here so soon! I have to say I don’t like this whole classified stuff, though. What exactly are you all gonna do way up there?”

“I really can’t tell you, unfortunately!” Rainbow Dash admitted. “But we need you and your Flight to get us safely through the mouth of the Non.”

“Well, we’ll see what we can do about that!” Spitfire said. She was interrupted by her Lieutenant who came to hand her the deck of cards she had requested earlier.

“Just stay out of harm’s way until we get things done around here!”

She opened up the card deck and started pulling out cards one by one, and dropped them on Diamond Dog soldier corpses as she went. “Let’s see what we got here? Two of spades, three of spades, four of diamonds, seven of spades. Heh! Found the only Joker in the whole bunch!” she called as she went.

Rainbow Dash casually picked up one of the cards that was dropped. She saw that the back of it bore the Flying 109th name and insignia.

“Hey, Rainbow Dash, what’s that?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Death cards!” Rainbow Dash answered.

“What!?” Sweetie Belle asked, even more confused.

“Death cards!” Rainbow Dash repeated. “Lets Doggie know who did this!”

Kark watched as Spitfire squeezed a card into a dead Diamond Dog soldier’s hand. He then saw an army barge a short ways away that was being loaded with Diamond Dog civilians. He figured they must be evacuees who asked to be relocated. He tried not to think of what would happen to those who decided not to relocate. He heard many frightened children crying and screaming from inside the barge. Once the front end of the barge moved closed, the crying and screaming stopped. The barge pulled out shortly after.

“Fire in the hole!” he heard a male pony cry out from close by. He instinctively ducked as another landmine was detonated. His pony companions did the same.

Then he gazed upon an incredible sight: A pair of strong looking male Pegasus ponies were air lifting a milk calf! The calf let out a frightened moo as the net lifted it from underneath. As soon as it was airborne, the Pegasus ponies flew off in a southerly direction.

By nightfall, the 109th turned the L.Z. into a beach party. They flew in the freshest and finest ingredients to make a giant vegetable stew, complete with barrels of cider and apple pies for dessert. There was even a choice T-bone steak for me! They knew I was coming! Pinkie Pie would’ve loved to have been here. She would’ve even added her own personal touch to the affair, maybe a party cannon blast or two.

Some of the ponies were surprised to see me help myself to a serving of vegetable stew and an apple pie! They’d forgotten I was omnivorous.

Some applause from ponies brought Kark out of his reverie. They were listening to a musical stallion singing and strumming his guitar. They applauded in appreciation at the song he played for them.

“I like my soup hot, but not piping hot.” Spitfire said as she watched the cook stir the pot and ladle out bowlfuls of the stew to everypony.

Spitfire treated her troops well, which probably made it a joy to serve under her. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen so many smiling, happy ponies gathered in one place. She always had that caring quality about her. It was an attitude shared by most pony mares. She kept most of her caring nature for Soarin, though. I sometimes wondered if she was secretly in love with him. But when Rainbow Dash came into the mix, she didn’t even show an ounce of jealousy. I guess I was wrong about her relationship with him. Seems they were just good friends.

“So Rainbow Dash, what is it exactly that you needed us to do for you and your friends?” Spitfire asked.

Rainbow Dash had already gone through five mugs of apple cider, and she was working on her sixth. She set it down and grabbed the map she had with her. Everyone grew silent as she approached Spitfire and pointed out some stuff on the map to her.

“There are two ways we can get it into the Non: here and here. You choose the one you think is easiest. All we need you to do is clear a path and keep it open until we can get through.”

Spitfire gazed at the map. “Both of those places are hairy. Lost a few recon scouts there. But I think the closest one would be the best way. What’s the same of the Dog settlement that’s there? Vin Drin… Dop or Lop??? All those damned ‘Cane names all sound the same.”

This brought some giggles from the ponies.

“Not sure.” Her Lieutenant said. “But do you think that’s wise, Colonel? That point at Vin Drin Drop is pretty hairy! And I mean hairy! That’s where we lost Magic Wing! Remember him?”

“Of course I remember him! A fine soldier and an excellent flyer; but we can’t let casualties like that dampen our resolve. Is that clear, Lieutenant!?”

“Yes, ma’am.” He said.

“We can leave for there at dawn.” Rainbow Dash said. “All we need is for you to keep that mouth open for a few minutes. Just enough time for us to punch our way through.”

“Maght not be able to get the boat in, though. The draft at the mouth o’ that river might be too shallow.” Applejack admitted.

“Don’t worry!” Spitfire said. “We’ll drop that boat down like a baby, right where you want it.”

“But what about us? We cain’t fly.” Apple Bloom asked.

“Kark there looks pretty strong.” Spitfire gestured. “Don’t know how proud dragons are, though.”

Kark smiled. “What do you say, ladies? Care to hitch a ride on this big ol’ dragon one time?”

The two Apple sisters and unicorn filly smiled back, thinking of how fun it could be.

“Well that settles that.” Spitfire said with finality.

“But do you think it’ll work?” Rainbow Dash questioned.

“Work???” Spitfire exclaimed in surprise. “Are you kidding!? We’re The Flying 109th! The elite among pegasi! The sky is our domain! Of course it’ll work!

“But Colonel, don’t you think we should-“ the Lieutenant began.

“No buts, Lieutenant!” Spitfire interrupted. “My decision is final, and that’s an order!”

The Lieutenant snapped at attention. “Yes ma’am!”

“Uhh, Spitfire…” Rainbow Dash began after a few moments of silence. “I’ve been meaning to ask you:” She hesitated. “Have you heard anything from Soarin?”

Spitfire shook her head sadly. “No. Sorry. When the war broke out, we all got our orders and became separated. I haven’t heard from Soarin since.”

A look of extreme disappointment spread all over Rainbow Dash.

“Hey.” Spitfire began as she placed a reassuring hoof on Dash’s shoulder. “I’ve known him longer than you have. He’s pretty tough. I’m sure you’ll hear from him soon.” She smiled.

Rainbow Dash returned the smile; but inside, she was worried sick.

Soon after, everyone went to sleep. Rainbow Dash went into an uneasy slumber, for she still wondered deeply if the love of her life was really doing all right. Everyone slept soundly, though, until they were woken up just before dawn the next morning by the Reveille bugle call.