//-------------------------------------------------------// T-55Equestria -by SilverCreep- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// 01 //-------------------------------------------------------// 01 You and your crew of your T-55AMV had been on the withdrawal from Afghanistan. However, due to a sudden sand-storm, you had to button up and wait for it to pass. When you finally unbuttoned your tank, you noticed that you were no longer in the desert, rather you were surrounded by trees. "Cyjot!" You exclaim as you nudge your gunner with your foot "Dis not look like desert comrade." Your tank mates had all observed out their own hatches as you slowly ease out the command copula, looking around at the new landscape Lush trees to your right, lush trees to your left,and nothing in front of you but a dirt path leading onward. "Guess v'e go on ahead yah?" Spoke your driver "dere doesn't seem to be anyting behind us." You look around outside, the air was fresh and clean, it smelt different too; nothing like the war torn place you had just been moments before. The question was...how? "Kaptain Anon!" spoke your gunner as he looked down the scope of his weapon "I see village several clicks av'ay, shall v'e investigate?" You ease back into the tank, looking through your range sites at the location your comrade told you. Indeed, there was a small village not to far away, perhaps a good drive down from your location, who knows, maybe you can find some friendly locals. "Yah...dere seems to be little else, v'e move den... Driver, take us slow." Your driver acknowledge, putting the gear forward as your tank lurches ahead, slowly driving down the dirt path as you scan your surroundings from the view scope. It didn't make sense, a few moments ago you were withdrawing with the rest of your command unit, seventy T-55's and T-62's all on the withdrawal from Afghanistan, that hellish place you had spent the last 4 years fighting in. You were glad to go home, despite the losses you suffered, but this... This made you very uneasy as you studied the pathway, slowly driving down the dirt road. Caution continued to beckon your mind as your driver would occasionally swerve, the fighters you had faced often used IED's in the road, and even a misplaced stone gave worry as you feel the tank lurch left and right. "Comrade driver, v'hat you doing?" You ask. "S-sorry sir, cannot help but be cautious." "I do not think v'e are in same place comrade, do not hesitate to stay straight...something bout this place is different." "Smells different too." your gunner chimed in "I do not tink v'e are in middle east anymore. "Yah..." muttered the loader "Someting not right." You look closely at the left, observing out the small periscope you had, turning it about to see the trees all around you. "Dere are no trees in desert..." you mutter as you turn the periscope forward, suddenly feeling the tank lurch to a sudden stop. "Cyjot!" you exclaim, nearly falling into your control console as you look down at the driver. "V"hat 'as dat for?" you bark. Your driver looks up at you. "Comrade...dere is...pink pony in road." "Pink...pony?" you reiterate as you scramble back to your periscope, eying what...looked like a little pink horse with a pink fluffy mane staring...at you. It didn't move, it didn't flinch, it just stood there as you blinked. "Vhat...is dis?" "HI!" it shouted as it waved a hoof "Are you new here, oh you MUST be new here because I've never seen something like you before, My names Pinkie Pie and I;m from Ponyville, where are you from? What are you doing out here, why are you all dusty..." "Is she speaking English comrade?" Your gunner said, looking ar the pink mare as she rambled on, somehow clambering atop your tank and inspecting it, almost dialoguing everything she could see about your tank, commenting on its color to why it was covered in sand and how there wasn't any sand around. "Perhaps she tinks t-55 is thing and not us inside..." you mutter as she seemed to keep referring to "you" as the tank. "I tink she's retared... who tinks tank is living ting?" spoke your loader, hearing her clamber about your tank. "Why do you have such a looong nose, I never knew noses were this long!" she said as you shake your head. "I tink v'e should stay here until she gets tired, I do not vish to talk to crazy ting like dat." "Comrade...if I may say, dat is a talking pony, v'ere dah fuck are v'e?" "I v'ish I knew comrade gunner." you mutter as you eye the periscope, seeing the pink mare clamber off, noting about getting someone named Twilight to see it. "Ah, she's leaving!" your driver calls "perhaps v'e can escape now?" "And go v'ere?" you mutter "V'e a big tank in v'orld of ponies, v'e can't exactly go about and find hiding spot...besides...i do not tink dis are normal, not like horses on farm." "Den v'hat ve do comrade kaptain?" You huffed, looking out the periscope as she trotted away. "Ve vait, see who she brings..." "Pinkie..." Spoke another voice as you look out the Periscope, seeing the pink mare returning with another...this time however, you could clearly make out she was a purple....unicorn "I don;t have time to see your new friends right now, I was in the middle of a very important experiment on the process of alternative dimen-" She paused, staring almost blankly at the object before her. "Seee, I told you it wasn't something from around here! I wonder what its called." "Pinkie...what on....how did....where did?" "I know, it just came out of nowhere down the road, I was on my way to go and see Applejack when this big thing was driving towards me. It has such a long nose, I don't think I ever seen a nose THAT long." You gaze out the periscope, huffing "Great...now unicorns...v'hat is dis shit?" you mutter as the purple mare cautiously approaches. "Is...it safe?" The unicorn asked "Well, it didn't move when I talked to it, so I would have to say yes!" the pinke one exclaimed as Twilight slowly eased onto the hull of your tank, thumping against the metal. You watch through your scope as she trotted over your tank. "Well, its definitely not something...alive...but...how does it move? It doesn't feel like its made of flesh or fur..." "It moved by these things!" Pinkie called, pointing to the treads of the tank. "Well...then what would MAKE it move" Twilight added, noticing the periscope turning slightly as she gazed into it. Her eyes would not meet yours as you gazed out, hopefully she would just see her reflection as she eased back, slowly bringing a scroll and quill in a purple glow of magic. "Oooo do you see anything? I noticed it had a few of those window looking things all over it, but I didn't see anypony inside it." "I don't think Ponies made this..." Twilight said as she looked back at the periscope. You watched her expression of curiousty, bewilderment, confusion, and then udder deterrence as she rambled on about how this thing couldn't possibly exist. "Fascinating..." you mutter, your foot slowly nudging the driver as he looks back at you. "Move us forward...give dem a scare.." you whisper as your driver nods, suddenly revving the motor as the purple unicorn jumped and quickly clambered off the tank. "Oh it moved, it moved!" the pink one exclaimed "It must be alive!" "but how?" twilight said, slowly composing herself "I've never seen something like this before, not in any of my books!" "Maybe its a new discovery!" Pinkie urges on as Twilights eyes lit up. "A....new discovery...." she said slowly, a big grin on her face. You didn't like where this would be going... You didn't like this at all. That grin on the unicorns face told a tale you wish to never hear as she slowly trotted over. "New Discovery?" she said slowly "Yes...a new...discovery." She slowly put a hoof onto the hull again. "Now...don't move...please." she said softly, getting back atop the armoured vehicle as you watch her trot over to the turret and inspect it. With a cough, you see her horn suddenly start to glow as a quill and scroll suddenly appear out of thin air. "The Armoured golem of Equestria." Twilight reiterated as she wrote. "Golem?" Pinkie asked "I read in one of my books of giant stone golems, they were often created by powerful unicorns to do their bidding, and seeing THIS isn't a normal creature, we can only guess that it too is a golem." "Golem..." you mutter as the crew chuckles "she tinks dis is still living ting." "Now then..." Twilight muttered as she looked back at your periscope. "I do think these 'windows' are its eyes, they do look like eyes do they not?" "yup yup!" the pink one replied, obviously oblivious to what the purple one was saying as you look back at her. She spent almost 20 minutes checking everything about your tank, never once even thinking something was inside it, preferably 4 humans sitting in this rather unsettling position. "Dis is crazy...v'e can just roll over dem..." your loader muttered. "Dey no magic...dat wouldn't be wise. Not good to piss off magic creatures." you retort as your loader mutters something in Russian before you glance back, seeing the purple mare jump off the tank. "From what I can tell" Twilight began as she rolled up the scroll and poofed it away "It is certainly built differently than the golems I've read about, we're going to have to get this back to the Library and study it further." "Study?" you repeat "she v'ants to STUDY us?" Your driver looks up at you "Comrade, dat not good, dey might try to steal tank information!" "I know.." you reply "dey may even try to take it apart, can't have dat..." you pause, looking back at the scope "get us out of here..." you add as the driver nods. The tank revved up again, causing a bit of a jump from the purple one as you start to reverse, driving backwards. "Hey!" She called as she started to trot after you "were do you think you're going!?" "Keep going!" you bark as you suddenly put into a second reverse gear, picking up speed as you see the pair give chase. "Dey are persistent..." you mutter "but dis is machine, v'e can keep going." Twilight however had a different idea, suddenly putting her head forward, her horn began to glow a vibrant purple. "V'hat is she doing-" you mutter just as the whole tank lurched to a stop. Your face nearly met your console yet again as you grumble. "V'hat happened?! Vhy aren't ve moving?" you look down with fit of rage at your driver who is just as confused. "I am putting petal to metal comrade, ve aren't going anyvere!" You can hear the groaning of your gears as the treads began to dig into the road, kicking up dirt and dust as you can see the unicorn's horn glowing vibrantly...and a faint purple sheen about your tank. "Did she....stop tank v'ith magic?" you ask aloud as your driver huffed. "It seems like it comrade, v'e cannot keep dis up, v'e have to get avay before dey take us or v'e lose engine!" You ponder a few tense seconds as you watch the unicorn obviously having a bit of difficulty keeping your tank steady as she approached you slowly. "You're...coming...with....me!" she said, tugging you forward ever with a sudden jolt, causing your tank to stop completely in a huff as your driver flopped onto the wheel. "Cyjot!" you mutter as your driver doesn't move. Your gunner leans over, pulling the driver back to expose a big red spot on his forehead. The lurching from the stop had thrown him forward and knocked him out cold. You growl as your tank comes to a halt, the engine hissing slightly as the overworked beast remains still as the mare continues to approach. "Gunner..." you mutter "load up a round..." "Comrade Kaptian!?" he said in shock "you don't mean to shoot dem!?" You smirk "No...dat v'ould be foolish, but..." you tap your chin "I noticed she focus on magic to use spell, so, v'e simply cause her to lose it...." you point forward and raise your finger. "Elevate barrel as high as possible, load round, and den fire v'hen I give word." You look back at your loader, a big grin on his face as he quickly slams a round into the breach. "Finally, ve show dem v'hat Russians do to dose who try to study us!" "Keep calm comrade, v;e not going to cause too much of ruckus...just enough to escape...v'eady gunner?" Twilight slowly approached further, hoof-print after hoof-print. Unknown to her, she continued to put a heavy dose of magic into the containment spell, not wanting you to escape a bit as you bend over, nudging your Driver. "V'ake up..." "Hruuhh, wha..." he said, rubbing his forehead "V'hat happened?" You pat him on the shoulder "bumped head, now get v'eady, v'e going to be leaving dis place soon." The driver blinks, looking at you with curiosity before nodding and getting into place. "Shall I keep going den?" "No.." you mutter "just vait..." "Gun elevated max comrade! Ready to fire!" "HEY!" spoke the pink one "its nose Twilight! Its nose is pointing upwards!" "Not now Pinkie, I don't care about its nose, I care about it NOT running away." "But Twi-" You didn't give Pinkie a chance to finish. "FIRE!" You are Princess Celestia. You're enjoying a good sip of tea for this calming afternoon, there had been no worries to your kingdom and it was a good time for a bit of relaxation after a long days work. You're tower was set in the center of the castle grounds, giving a perfect view of the land you ruled, especially with a good view of Ponyville, your pupils home and the residence for the Elements of Harmony. You sigh contently, quite pleased with yourself as your ears perk, a sudden BANG in the distance like the roaring of thunder caused you to stir, pausing mid-sip as you look out towards Ponyville, seeing a massive cloud of dust suddenly billow from its outskirts... And the sudden whine of something heading right for you. -- "I tink v'e hit a tower..." you mutter as you eye the castle in the distance, seeing a tower sudden go poomf as the shell hit it. You didn't think you had THAT much of a range on your tank, but something certainly made it clear that physics and ballistics didn't apply here. You huff, seeing the mares both on the ground in a heap as the shock wave would have been enough to knock them senseless as you nudge your driver. "Go, dis is chance v'e need!" Your driver nods, somewhat complacent on the fact they might have done damage to these creatures, but you weren't subjects of study, not for some crazy ponies as you pull into reverse, using the dust cloud as cover as you put the tank into reverse, hoping to get as much distance between you and these crazy creatures as possible. You are Twilight Sparkle And you can't stop the ringing in your ears. Moments ago you were trying to stop a 'golem' from escaping, something you've never seen of this world and certainly something not natural to begin with. However, when you tried to stop it, you certainly must have angered it as it let out a boom louder than anything you've ever heard. Perhaps more along the lines of Rainbows SonicRainboom explosion, but a lot more hot and smelly when it went off. As you rise to your hooves, you look about, seeing nothing but dust all around you. "Pinkie?" you cal "PINKIE!?" "Ah....is it time to wake up mommy, can we make cookies today?" the mare said as you see her in a heap on the floor. "PINKIE!" you exclaim, trotting over to see if she was alright. She looked fine, dazed, but certainly a little lost in the head from the shock. You gently tug her to the side of the road as you rest her against a tree. "Stay here...I'm going to find that...thing...and make sure it doesn't scare anypony else!" she said "Okay mommy, I'll go get the ingrdents..." Pinkie replied as you rushed off down the road. Whatever this thing was, it certainly left a big trail to follow as its 'tracks' had made big imprints in the dirt road. You are Kaptian Anon And you're crew is certainly in a flurry of good spirits. You continue to reverse away from the scene as your loader is jittery with delight. "Hehe...boom boom little ponies." "Shut it...I do not like having to do dat, v'aste of ammo." You retort. "But comrade, v'e made sure dey didn't catch us!" "But v'hat cost? V'e shot tower in distance, dat certainly v'ill not be plesant." The loader huffed "V'ell, v'e have enough rounds to take dem on, dey couldn't touch us inside here." You grumble, looking our your periscope as you see nothing but dust slowly fadding back into the winding of the road. "Turn us about comrade driver and full throttle, v'e drive until v'e can find cover." Your tank turns a full 180, coming about on the dirt road as you push forward, only to suddenly see another pony, this time an orange one wearing a strange hat and pulling a cart full of..apples. "Apples?" you mutter "v'hat is dis?" The pony is equally suprised, coming to a full stop before the behemoth. "What in tarnation..." she said as she took a step closer. "APPLEJACK!" came the voice of the purple mare from behind as Twilight came rushing up. "Be careful, that golem is angry!" "Golem....Twilight, now what ya;ll be spewing this time?" Twlight didn;t answer, she magicked both Applejack and her cart to the side as tyou blink, taking the opportunity to move ahead without a problem as AJ just looked at her friends. "Twi, mind explaining wht ya'll doin and what the hay is that thing?" "Long story, but pinkiefoundthisgiantgolemoutsideoftown and when Itriedtostudyit, itgotmadandmadeabigbooman-" "Whao sugarcube..." AJ said, her head spinning a bit as she shook herself straight "ah think ah getcha here, so ya;ll done and angered some big ol monster?" "its not a monster...its a golem, its not alive, nor dead, but...it moves and does things." AJ shook her head "Well, it certainly didn't seem mad ta me, it stopped right infront of me, not raging like ah bull." Twilight sighed "I know...but...it just..." AJ put a hoof to Twi's maw "Ah know sugh, now why don't we go n'get this thing then?" She unhiched herself from the cart, smirking as she yanked a rope from the carts side and trotted off wit Twi in tow. "Dey following us...dat orange v'one looks...like an American..." You mutter as you turned your scope a full 180 to see behind you. "Do you tink those Western capitalists have been here too?" your loader mutters "dat makes it v'orse for us to be here." "I do not tink it is good to go dat deep, ve have not seen American armour or troops here, so v'e can assume not." Your loader crossed his arms "Still don't trust dis." "Den shut it and keep v'eady, v'e need to keep away from dem." you said as the orange mare began to whio about her rope into a lasso and tossed it atop your tank, grabbing hold along the main hatch of the tank as well as the AA gun nearby. "Ah got it!" AJ said, starting to slow, but finding herself pulled, if not dragged, along with it. "Ah got it...AH GOT IT!" she said, trying her best to get her footing before she too loses it and lets go of the rope. "Ah hayseed...ah don;t got it..." she said as Twilight continued on ahead, trying to get her magic ready one last time. "C'mon....you can't get away, not until we know what you are!" she said, suddenly magicking the tank once more as it slowed, lurching a bit to a stop before its 'head' began to turn, and its nose pointed directly at her, causing her instantly to release her magic, both out of fear, and not wanting to hear the boom again. "Dey keep trying..." you mutter as you do not advance, turning the whole tank back to face Twilight as you depress the turret to point at her. "Finish her comrade Kaptian, she v'ont stop unless she's dead!" Your loader shouts as you look over at her. Twilight stepped back, seeing the 'nose', or more for the matter, the cannon, now pointing directly at her as she gulped. "Uhm...I'm...s-sorry for b-bothering you...I j-just wanted to know w-what you are...." she said, her expression deadpan fear as she trotted back a few paces. "n-no hard f-feelings?" she said as she tripped and fell as she sat on her rump, glancing up at the guns barrel. She closed her eyes, bracing for the boom. Instead, the sudden wing beats of something big suddenly disrupted the tension as a massive form landed between twilight, and the 'golem' beast. "Dare not beset your cannon upon my student!" spoke a booming, royal voice from the large, white creature as you gaze at what you can't even believe to be seeing. "Is...dat an Alicorn?" your gunner asked as you blinked in sheer surprise. "I do not tink dis is good..." you mutter as you slowly flick a switch beside you, activating countermeasures, prefferably, smoke grenades for cover. "Driver...get ready to throttle tank backv'ards, v'e going to make a shady escape. Gunner, depress turret below Alicorn, we low ground up beneath her to make her lose footing, she v'on't follows us if she stumbles up...v'once v'ere clear, v'e make tracks to forest nearby and hide dere to assess, yah?" "Yah comrade Kaptian!" You are Kpatian Anon And you're about to blow Celestia out of her hooflings. "Day say you return to whence you came!" the Alicorn shouted "harming my students, above all, myself shall not go unpunished!" Her voice boomed, you could almost feel the tank shudder in fear as you tapped your driver. "Slowly...rev engine back...v'hen I give word..." You flicked the switch, suddenly depressing the smoke charges to fired.... directly... At Celestia's face. The canisters bounced off her face harmless, exploding in big puffs of smoke as you tapped the driver. "GO!" you shout as you feel the lurch as the behemoth of metal begins to whine, pulling backwards as your gunner depressed the barrel. "LOAD HEAT!" you bark, your loader complying instantly as the round is ready. "ready comrade!" "Wait for clear shot!" you bark, eying through the scope to see a coughing Alicorn, the guns sights aiming below her. "FIRE!" Another deafening BOOM as the round fires into the ground, sitting there for a second before the charge detonates, exploding beneath the mare as she is sent flying. Though you don't see this as smoke is everywhere now, and you're booking it double-time in reverse as you look out the optics, seeing the smoke billowing and then, WHAM! An Alicorn lands square on your tank, her body crumpling against the upper hull and turret as you jump back in your seat, her face pressed against the periscope as she looked quite...pressed for space. You make a quick turn about, the whole tank turning a 180 to have its front forward, and with enough force to sweep the Alicorn off and have her crumple to the side. Without a second glance, you push forward, driving on past as you turn the scope, seeing the Alicorn slowly, if not wobbly, ease upright before shaking her head, just as the smoke finally engulfed her and the rest of the area. "Dat did it..." your gunner said, easing back in his seat "v'e better keep distance from dem, I do not tink dey are happy." "Dey aren't at all..." you muttered "I tink she v'as in tower we shot, not good, not good at all." "She didn't seem hurt..." your loader muttered "what is she, immortal." "She mythical creature..." your driver said, his words soft "and she looked beautiful, like angel from heaven." You nudge your driver with your foot "You falling for animal?" He looks at you "What...NO!" he barked "Just...she looked pretty, noting seen dat beautiful since..." "Since a horse parade?" your loader joked as you sighed. "Enough...v'e make tracks for forest now..." you order as you point ahead to the woods. "turn in dere, v'e hide till nightfall, head back to dat village and see v'hats up. Maybe v'e can sneak in and steal supplies, v'e can only hope." "Well, better to hope den not comrade, I do not tink v'e going home anytime soon.." your driver mutters as you all look down in angst. He was right...you were stuck here. All of you were stuck here...and soon or later, those...ponies...may be the only ticket home. //-------------------------------------------------------// 02 //-------------------------------------------------------// 02 Nightime in Equestria You're time...as you slowly pull your tank out from the woods you've hidden it in. You had gotten lucky, the mares hadn't bothered to give chase when you left them in the smoke, but you couldn't find the canisters you discharged either. Perhaps they took it, thinking it to be 'part' of your tank, or as they called it, golem. "It is a nice night..." your driver said as your tank rumbles steadily back down the same road, coming towards the village you identified when you first arrived. You had spent the better part of the afternoon trying to raise Army command, but you had been given nothing but static as no signal seemed to get through. You were completely cut off. What was weird was your fuel gauge, it hadn't dropped past the three quarters full mark since you last checked. When you inspected your fuel and tried to fill it, you noticed that it hadn't even dropped past that mark. Whatever the case, you had unlimited fuel. Your loader also noticed that the round he had used was replaced in the container you kept them. Another...puzzling thing. Did resources negate their usage here, or was it some other magic that came over you and your crew. It could explain the ballistics mishap, firing a single round that flew far enough to blow down a tower several miles away. You were best not to dwell on it as you come to a halt not too far from the village. "Alright..." you begin as you slowly turn off your machine "Gunner, driver, v'ith me, v'ere going to inspect village. "Roger..." your gunner and driver said. "V'hat about me?" your loader asked. "You..." you begin, with a sigh, "you're going to stay here comrade, someone needs to v'atch the tank." Your loader huffed, crossing his arms "Ack, a'vays v'ith the tank yah, v'hen can I get tp go v'ith you?" "Maybe later, for now, anyv'one who vishes to see des...ponies...shot...I do not need lose trigger." He grumbled, but nodded "roger comrade..." You dismount, your carrying an AKSU74, your gunner and driver dismounted with you, drawing their Makarovs. You were keeping low profile as you sneak toward the village. It was eerily quiet for such a lovely night, no movement, no worrying about ambushes, not even a faint scent of explosive propellant. Everything was at peace, everything was calm and everything was just...unsettling. Having fought four years in a war torn desert wasteland, the fact you've arrived in such a peaceful place was unnerving, but you huffed as you slowly entered the village perimeter. No barking, no dogs, nothing about this seem wrong as you crept through the village, eying the quaint little buildings. "Dis is nuts..." you mutter as you sneak about the village, gun pointing ahead as you eye the different buildings, noticing their design to be rather...western, if not vastly different from what you've seen back home. Your gunner grumbles, suddenly pointing his pistol in the direction of another building, one that looked like a giant ginger-bread house. "Dah heck...?" he muttered "i must be seeing tings..." He notions to the building as you look at it. "Hrmmm..." you rub your chin "perhaps dere is food dere, v'e can always use dat." Your men nod in approval as you begin to approach the 'cookie house' "Let us hope dere is no v'one awake, do not v'ant to cause a scene." Your words however bring about a rather uneasy feeling as a pair of Light blue eyes watch you from above. "Strange creatures these be...yet what fear has Celestia seen about them...I do not understand." the Lunar princess thought as she landed atop the bakery and watched these creatures go about their business. You are Princess Luna And you're concerned about your sister She had returned home later in the afternoon, her mane a mess, her fur matted with splotches of dirt, and a strange...odor about her. Earlier in the day you were awoken by a thunderous boom, only to look out and see Celestia's tower suddenly crumble beside yours. It was...shocking...for what sort of destruction could be wrought so instantly against something without being seen. When she explained how some "iron golem" of an unusual design was responsible, Luna was more than curious to investigate herself. Now, with her night upon the citizens of Ponyville, the Lunar Princess had a moment to see that the golem had released its 'servants' about the village. She had never seen such creatures, walking on two legs rather than four, and held their 'horns' in their forelegs....but...that was certainly odd enough to be interesting, and above all, fascinating. She kept above them, sitting atop a black cloud as she watched over them as they approached the sweet shop of the pink mare. She felt a pang of uncertainty as she watched them slowly enter, she would have to confront them soon, or they may never realize the crimes they have committed. "I shall not let these creatures pass by Sister..." Luna muttered "We shall confront and investigate them and if need be apprehend them for their crimes." Luna huffed, slowly fluttering from the cloud as she eased down before the door, looking into the darken entrance way of the bakery, hearing the new creatures about the interior. She could see you scrounging around the place, opening cupboards and things, taking out loafs of bread and sweets and the like, obviously knowing what you were looking for as she coughed. "Ahem..." she began as she trotted in, instantly beckoning attention as the men turned to look at her. "What tho beset upon our humble community of Ponyville?" Your are Kaptian Anon And this is the second Alicorn you've seen. You're not dreaming, this certainly is real, being transported to a land of colourful ponies was one thing, but now dealing with them face-to-face was unsettling. This one however wasn't as...demanding as the last one. She was smaller for one, and her coat was dark like the night. Something about her was more...calming, but you don't hesitate to kick up your AKSU74 and cock the chamber, loading a round as you hold it tight. "V'e mean no buisness v'ith your kind, v'e only need food and supplies for our golem..." you mutter, trying to keep the charade of them thinking its a 'living thing.' "It is not v'ise to hinder our progress" "Not wise? Tho has done more harm then good, what folly do you speak of nay wisdom to your actions against you, when tho has done more to us?" "She has you dere comrade..." your gunner whispered as he held a cookie jar in hand. "If you mean tower, dat v'as accident..." you huff "Golem set not to be taken by purple pony to study, golem found dat unsettling and reacted, shell not meant to hurt pony, but, didn't know it v;uld go dat far." Luna looked at you for a moment before trotting further into the bakery, you can see out of the corner of your eye the driver making his way behind her in the shadows. "A misunderstanding? well, tho shall explain their actions thereafter against my sister Celestia?" "Dat her name?" you ask, keeping her focus on you. 'Yes...Princess Celestia, ruler of Equestria, I am her sister Princess Luna, and what you had done to my sister cannot be let go without punishment." "Punishment...." you repeat as you grin "if Princess Celestia so easy to best by tactics, den you out of league to best golem beast." Luna seemed both shocked and hurt as she looked crossly at you. "Dare insult thy sisters might? She has the power of the SUN! Nay say your golem can handle that!" "But v'e can..." you say as your driver sneaks up behind and *WACK* "Out like light..." your driver said as he holsters his pistol. you sigh, slowly easing your rifle as you walk over to the mare. Your driver is already kneeling by her, checking her out. "Blow to head knocked her out cold comrade, v'hat v'e do with her?" You ponder the situation, for the first part, you've just knocked out a Princess and SISTER to the ruler of this place, for the second part, you were caught stealing from a bakery, for the third part, you really didn't care too much as you gently ease down. "V'e take her, collateral, if dey try to take us, v'e use her as shield, but make sure she is not badly hurt, v'e are not monsters, just soldiers." you mutter as you gently brush her mane aside, seeing the bruise on the back of her head. "Better take care of dat." you point out to your driver as he pulls a feild kit forward "on it." he said, quickly bandaging her head as you look back to your gunner, still stuffing cookies into his face. "Magic or not, dey make good s'veets" he said as you roll your eyes. "Come, v'e got v'hat v'e need, lets go...v'ith her." Your gunner, being the bigger of you three, heaves the mare over his shoulders with little difficulty, plopping her body around the shoulder blades as he kept her head steady. You and your gunner kept close, all three moving slowly and carefully through the village, eventually making it to the outskirts and away without incident. Upon returning to your tank, you can see your loader standing beside it, smoking drag as he turned to see, his eyes wide as he witness you carrying pony. "V-vhat is dat!?" he exclaims, nearly dropping his cig as you huff. "Pony Princess, she tried to stop us, got a tad heated so v'e knocked her out." The loader smirked "Did not tink you had dat in you comrade." "Wasn't planning, but had little choice." "So den, v'hat v'e do with her?" You smirk "tie her to barrel, v'e show des ponies v'e mean business." Author's Note Short chapter is short.... I think this is the shortest chapter I've written. Ever... Seriously, only ~1,000 words? Geeze, what was I doing with this? I can't be mad at it, I've been told many times to cut down on my word-use and writing method to avoid bogging down, so being able to do a chapter in a thousand words or so is exhilarating; knowing it can be done makes me feel pretty damn good. //-------------------------------------------------------// 03 //-------------------------------------------------------// 03 You are Princess Luna And you can't recall the last time your head hurt this much. Only since the time you were banished to the moon did you feel this limbo about you. You couldn't see anything for the moment, even as you opened your eyes, darkness enveloped you. Where you dead? No...you heard movement about you. Your wings felt pressed to your body and your legs felt stuck in place. Whats more, you felt the odd sensation of vertigo, something you never felt before. "Wha...what is this?" you ask, trying to move about but only feeling stiff. "I tink she's av'ake.." you hear a voice beside you. "Ah, bout time, v'as worried she may have been knocked unconscious. "Whose there?" you boom "Unhand me you wrecked beast! Tho not satisfied with my end, yet you torture me so?" "Ah shut it..." spoke the voice "you are not in position to argue." "And why tho say I am not?" "Because you try to, its not going to end well." The blindfold came off, your eyes blinded by the light as you can see the dawning sun....rising...but...upside-down. You look left, seeing the voice as one of those golem servants, though, he too is upside-down. "What be this trickery?" You demand as the servant looks down at you. "Dere is none comrade, you just tied upside-down." You look at your hooves, they are tied together, fore and rear, and hanging upon the 'cannon' of the golem like savages carry their prey. You blink in surprise before you start jostling against the ropes. "UNHAND ME THIS INSTANT!" you bark "Or you shall feel the might of the moon." You felt a tapping cold against your cheek as another one of those servants 'tools' pointed itself at you. "I suggest you clam it. Like before, you not in position to argue...." he gently tapped your forehead a few times as you glared at him. You're Kaptian Anon And you're quite proud of what you accomplished over the night. When you returned to your tank, you had the princess in tow, now, with the dawning sun coming, you had held her 'captive', tying her to the 105mm barrel of your tank. She was not going anywhere, and you figured, with her being upside-down, she'd have a hard time casting a spell with the blood flowing to her head. You cross your arms as your driver stood beside her, tapping her head with his pistol as she woke, finally taking your cue to walk over to the tank. "Dat be all comrade, mount up, v'e move towards village. Perhaps her...sister v'ill be dere v'hen she realizes little sparkle princess here did not come home." "You ignorant fools!" she barked "My sister would end you for such transgressions! What harm has befall you by our hooves? Your actions...are...are insufferable!" "Our actions are just, and if det are so insufferable, den v'hy are you still alive?" you walk over to her, easing over to the barrel and grabbing her chin, facing her towards your face. "Insufferable v'ould be us doing more den just tying pony up, be glad v'e are not monster who see joy in harming little creatures." "L-Little creatures!? You see us as nothing but animals or beast!?..." she flushed red, she obviously was a tad upset you didn't realize her 'authority', but that was the point wasn't it? "When my sister finds you there shall be no end to your punishment!" "Den v'e shall take it v'ith as much resistance as possible, besides, v'e have you do v'e not? I do not tink your sister v'ill be so quick to unleash her might v'hen dere is a hostage as a shield." You let her go, she was simply hanging around as you walked back to your tank. "I do not like dis..." your gunner mutters "I feel bad tying pretty pony up." "I know... as do I, but v'hat choice do v'e have? If dis Sun Princess sees us as hostile, holding sister of hers hostage will....it gives us leverage... she v'ill have to reason." You mount up, all four of you clambering into the tank as you rev its engine and begin to drive down the road. Not being too far from Ponyville made it quick to arrive, and as you began to enter the town limits, the few early risers began to look in awe. What a sight it must be, their Nighttime Princess hanging upside-down from an elevated pole, for most it would be laughable, but this was their Princess...at least one of them...having her in such a discomforting, if not ridiculing position as your beast of metal rumbled through town was a sure sign of defiance to the Princess's rule. "V'ell...." you mutter as you can see your armoured vehicle pull up to a rather open spot in the middle of the village, a massive fountain not too far ahead of you as a crowd starts to gather around. You didn't want to expose yourselves, not yet anyway as you hung the Lunar princess off your main gun. You were waiting for her sister to show, and with this much bait to expose....it would only be a matter of- "Unhand my sister you wretched BEAST!" Ah...there she is. The booming voice of Celestia was heard not just in your ears, but almost in your mind as her words echoed across the armour plates. Giant wingbeats overhead as the Princess of the Sun lands across from you with a contingent of other, smaller pegasus, some donning golden armour, others a dark blue and black. "T-tia!" Luna said. "Luna...are you alright?" "Aside from not being sure whats up anymore..." she muttered "please sister, free me from this!" Celestia took a single hoof-step forward as you grumble. "Show time..." you mutter as you pop the hatch, your AKSU-74 in hand. "I v'ould not press luck Princess..do not take any step further, or your sister shall be in v'orse shape den she is already." Celestia froze, her glance turned to a deep seated glare of distaste for you as you only smirk. "As you see, you sister not harmed, but...v'e do not plan to keep it dat v'ay unless you co-operate." Celestia looks at you, those eyes would trace from you to her sister, then back to you. She huffed, her head slightly bowing as she closed her eyes. "What are your demands?" "Sister!" Luna exclaimed, wiggling in place "you cannot allow these cretins to claim victory over us!" "Then what am I to do sister?" The princess asked, "they have something I care so much for that losing you would solve nothing for me...they have the advantage, and rather risk you safety for heroics, I shall abide by their word." Luna is complacent, she tries to speak, but the logic of her sister is enough to silence her as the sun Princess returns her glance to you. "I ask again, for my sisters sake...what are your demands.... I will make certain that whatever it may be is worth my sisters safety" You blink, finding it quite overwhelming to see the once defiant Princess reduce to accepting the fates before her. You only grin "V'e have no demands of your country comrade, besides...." you mutter as you look at Luna "if she means dat much, den v'e know you v'ould be too willing to offer anyting in exchange... dat is v'hy v'e ask for you...to claim her from us." "Claim her?" Celestia repeated. "V'e challenge great Sun Princess to a match, v'its upon v'its, tactcs upon tactics..." you look at her with determined eyes. "Simply put, you, alone, have to claim sister from golems hold." he points to Luna. "If you cannot, den she stays as Golems maiden." "And...if I can claim her?" she asked with equal determination. "Den..." you look down at your crew mates "You can take me." "Comrade!?" Your gunner exclaims "You can't be serious!" "I am..." you mutter "if v'e are holding sister to princess, den she has reason to fight with utmost tenacity to take her back. If I put self on line, den I know..." you look down at your men "you will fight with even greater purpose to keep me and prize." Your men look amongst themselves, a moment of silence and concern as they all looked back, determined grins and nods. "V'e v'ill show dese ponies how v'e fight! None shall stop power of great Soviet TANK!" You chuckle, your men had served you well, and they will keep doing so, but where would the fun be if they didn't have real purpose to defend what they have gained as you looked back at the Princess. "Does dat seem reasonable? As day say, an eye for an eye." Celestia looks at you, then at her sister again. "I see no reason to deny such an offer, if it must be so for my sisters sake, then there is little else to refuse such a...generous...challenge. Most of those who beset our realm have done worse, I cannot hold that against you for your willingess to offer fair game." "Fair is putting lightly comrade. V'e seen your magic and your abilities, dat puts odds against us, so dere is v'one catch." "Catch?" "Dah...give us v'one hour to prepare self, as v'ell as take Princess sister out of harms v'ay, den...you may seek us, and 'vhen you decide to either v'in or lose, fate of your sister shall be granted." "Sister..." Luna said slowly. Celestia just smiled "Very well...do as you must, but when your hour of freedom is over, I shall come to claim what is mine." "Dah, and v'e shall make it as difficult as possible den...you are good leader Princess, v'ould be shame to see you fall to likes of us." Without a moments retort, you slip back in. "Go, full reverse, get us to v'oods, v'e plan defense dere." you order as your crew nod, no hesitation as your driver pulls the tank into reverse as you make your exit from the village. -- "You shall not succeed, Celestial will best your golem and your sick ways of exploitation, thy shall feel our wrath!" Luna calls out as your gunner and driver hoist her down from your tank barrel. Her hooves and wings still bound as you keep your AKSU-74 on her. You didn't have any device to hinder her magic, but good old cold-hearted threats of shots in the legs were enough to make her not try it. "V;e shall see, from what I gander, your princess-sister may be strong, but I doubt she's ever fought somting like this." "HAH!" Luna retorts "She has fought far greater foes then your golem or you!" You roll your eyes "Yah, and I'm sure she has, if dat true, den dis v'ould never have happened yah? She v'ould have stopped us first time v'e met, but we ended up making her fall flat on face." Luna grumbles "You shall see!" she barks "She is no warrior to make a mockery of, she shall be swift and decisive!" "Dats if she can see us first..." you mutter as your men slowly bring Luna to a tree. "And what of me, you have the gaff to leave me here?" You don't answer as you have your men set her down on the grass. "W-what is this, do you plan to execute me!? Such traitors to your word." You roll your eyes as you take out a bun of bread and toss it at her. It bounces off her face and lands before her. "S-such insolence!" she barks, looking at you. "Its food, eat, I'm sure you hungry...do you va'nt drink to?" "HAH!" Luna barks as she turns her head away, pointing upwards in defiance "We shall not take your food, it could be poisoned!" You shrug, walking over and picking up the bun. "V'ell, if dats de case." you take a bite as she looks at you. "Tastes fine to me..." you toss it to your gunner. "Try it." Your gunner nods, taking a bite, nodding in approval as he hands it to the driver. It goes around to the loader and then back to you, now half eaten as you wiggle it before Luna. "Still refuse." She looks at the bun and then away again. "V'e have more... comrade loader?" Your loader tosses you a fresh bun as you hand it over to Luna. She eyes it, looking at you, then the bun before she quickly took it in her maw with a single gulp, eating the whole thing. You smirk "Dats good yah....drink?" you ask, unhooking your water jug from your belt as you wiggle it before her, she looks at it as you ease over, gently putting the tip to her maw and water-falling its contents down her throat. She drinks several gulps before she starts coughing. "Ack..." you mutter as you ease away "Silly pony, drink too much." "You spilled it too fast!" she retorted, looking at you "Besides....I...do not need anymore." "Be thankful v'e do not let you starve, ve' are not monsters." you say, putting the jug away. "Then...why do all this, why capture me, cause such ruckus?" Luna asked as you sigh, turning about to look back towards the city on the mountain and the village. "Perhaps v'e just confused, lost like children in woods and not sure v'ere to go. Your...friend, dat purple mare, made us uneasy v'hen she van'ted to study us, den fact your Sister was hostile to us by accident. Can't blame her, any bad day v'hen shell breaks castle. V'e meant no harm, but...misunderstandings rise to conflict, dats how some wars happen in our v'orld...and sometimes, only best way to show whats right is to fight." "Why?" "For respect." "Respect?" You nod "It may sound crazy, but v'e have been fighting against a foe dat is cowardly, dat hides in mountains and ambushes us v'hen ve are not prepared. Four years of conflict and much blood." you finish the half bun you still held. "Perhaps....its just how we have grown to such things, v'e can only be unsure of something until it proves itself to us. Do not get wrong, v'e can see you are not evil adversary v'e have fought, but v'e cannot be sure unless your mettle tested against ours." Part of Luna didn't understand why these creatures would go so far as to wage a little war against her sister as a means to gain respect, such a means almost seemed...barbaric. Yet, she couldn't really blame them; having fought a war for four years...it does things, strange things to ponies. She could recall how her sisters guards had been...changed after their first war with the griffins. Many ponies had died during those short moments, but it wasn't something anypony could walk away with. Perhaps...these creatures....lived on it, needed it, to show their own strength, and she couldn't help but feel a tad sentimental they would see how strong Celestia was by using her own sister as a means to fight. "I...see.." she said softly as you turn to look at her. "I do not hope anypony gets hurt in dis...but I do not v'ish to simply get on knees like dog, v'e fight, tooth and nail, see who is better at dis." "Well..." Luna began "I cannot condone you for your actions, but...." she smiled "I cannot simply refuse to wish you luck in your escapade." she exhaled with a coy smirk "even though my sister shall best you without incident." You sigh, a content smirk as you lower your gaze with a grin. "So we can be certain you won't leave this spot?" Luna looked at you. "You mean..." "We weren't going to ride you into battle like prize comrade, v'e were going to tie you to tree, but if you v'illing to respect our merits for dis match, staying here v;ould be enough. You can watch from distance until Sister comes to claim you....IF she does..." Luna chuckled "Very well then, I shall abide by that Mr..." "Anon...Kaptian Anon..." Luna nodded "Very well...Kaptian...may you present my sister with an honorable and worthy challenge." You nodded, saluting Luna as you looked at your tank. "Spasibo Princess....v'e shall do just dat." An hour has passed since you had left the scene, now, with Luna safely away, you can begin your own wargames. The Princess knew this land, the soldiers realized that right off the bat, but she didn't know the capabilities of you or your tank. They had trained in wilderness, their homeland being a big blunt of it; the desert was only practice, this was just play. Driving up to a ledge you had settled into, you were camouflaged with only your barrel and optical devices sticking out. "V'ell..." you mutter as you check your watch "an hour is up." "Dis gonna be good..." your gunner said with a slight hint of flare. "You going to enjoy shooting her?" You ask as the driver shakes his head. "Neit comade, she beautiful creature, perhaps ruffling mane v'ould be good, den again, alwv'ays wanted to see a pony dance.." Your driver chuckles "I'm going to drive circles round her, show whose fastest here...be a trick for her to keep me in her sights." "Ah...but we don't know what she can do; she has power of sun, if you ask me, sounds like somthing from spy-movie." "Yah...dat v;one with the laser?" You waggle your finger "Bingo comrade." "You tink she has solar beam of sort?" "I vouldn't doubt it, but v'hat would its Armour penetration be." "Dat is not something I v'ish to find out!" your loader shouts "Ve, got enough ammunition to blow both of us a'vay....if dat beam hits, it might set off all rounds..." "Then we have to make the first strike." "How?" You look down at your gunner. "Prepare a missile in the barrel then....she v'on't expect det." The loader gives a slow nod, opening the breech and stuffing a tube-like device inside it. "Loaded..." "Good, let us see v'hen she decides to take dis stage..." You are Princess Celestia and the zero hour has come to pass These creatures...their golem...their hour of grace has run out, and now it was time for you to come about. Up until now you had prepared yourself well, and though you had done much in your hour, you knew this was not going to be as easy as casting a spell. These creatures, they were resourceful, tactical, and above all, dangerous; no amount of preparedness could ready you for what they may have planned. Let alone what Luna would be doing, would they have her atop the golem or.. worse...had they done away with her. "no..." you mutter "they are not monsters....they are noble, giving such a task, I can only hope they will fulfill their end, and not lay harm to my dear sister." You knew this would be tough, their golem was nothing you've seen or even read of in your studies; it was quick and agile, and of course, well armed. With a sigh, you spread your wings, taking flight to the sky as you begin your own search pattern, looking for anything that may be a clue to their location. An toppled tree, a unnatural clearing, these are some things you had to watch for. "But...it is so large...how can they hide that so well?" you ask, slowly touching down as you land at an open clearing. "Where..." you ask, looking around "where are they?" -- "Contact..." your gunner mutters as your optical computer comes to life. "Its Princess..." you mutter "range...almost four miles down." "Can v'e shoot dat?" your loader asks "Neit...our range is three, and missile is that plus half, v'e v'ont be able to score hit." You tap the screen, zooming the thermal display "v'e have to make sure she's v'ell within range before v;e make first strike." "And...." your driver muttered "v'hat iv ve miss?" You look down at your driver."V'e have to make sure she doesn't see us den." Your driver gulps, knowing as soon as impact is done, he'd have to be ready to move once the dust settled. "Dis not...going to be easy..." You are Celestia, and you're growing concerned. You had been spending several tense moments seeking that golem, and to your dismay you have yet to find it. where did it hide? How could it hide so easily for something so big? You take flight again, hovering above the tree line as you eye your surroundings... a sudden glint in the mountains caught your attention as your eyes fixated about the upper tree-line. "Hrmmm..." you think, slowly taking wing towards it. -- "She's moving again..." your gunner mutters as you watch her fly in your direction. "Range?" "Almost 3 and half!" your gunner responds. "Good...v'aint just a bit more...den start lining a shot." Your gunner huffs, turning dials and easing the scopes lens to lock down the target as he watched Celestia. You could see her rather clearly, the thermal and magnification optics of the modernization upgrade was...commendable...if not useful against warm-bodied opponents. Celestia showed up as a bright object as she flew in you direction; seeing you or not, she was closing the gap. "V'e ca hit her v'ith missile, just wait for the right time..." you whisper, your gunner licking his lips as he held himself in place, aiming down the scope. "Range, three miles..." "Just a little bit...more." you mutter as you hold in place, watching her slowly approach your position. "Range....below three." "Fire!" The missile launched with a whooshing noise, much softer than a shell as the rockets canister flew forward, discharging its fins and screaming towards the alicorn on a laser guided trail. "Its going..." your gunner mutters, seeing the Princess falter slightly in movement, trying to move away before the explosion enveloped her in a fiery ball of energy. "Direct hit!" Your gunner says with glee "V'e got dat alicorn!" "Maladets comrade! Dat deserves drink!" "Hah, dah, she did not see dat coming..." Cheers all around as you watch the ball of fire engulf the pony, slowly falling to the earth with a thud as you watch through the range-finder. However your cheers are cut short as you notice movement inside the orb, and to your shock...and slight horror, the massive wings of the Princess open wide and with a single sweep, cast away the flame exposing her form....unscathed. "NEIT!" You bark "She's not down! Loader, get v'ound up!" You bark as you fixate on her. "Dat...impossible! How she still alive after dat!?" "Loaded!" your loader shouted. "V'hat do sir?" Your gunner asked. You rub your chin, you're not sure if she saw where the missile came from, but you weren't going to sit around here nay longer than you had to. "Get v'eady to fire some shells, v'e going to confuse her." "Confuse her?" "She may know v'ere v'e are, but lets make sure she doesn't get a chance to strike! I v'ant a round shot down at her left and right, den v'e make tracks." Your gunner nods as he starts lining up the shots. "Ready!" he calls. "FIRE!" //-------------------------------------------------------// 04 //-------------------------------------------------------// 04 You are Celestia And you didn't see that coming either... twice....twice these creatures and their golem have gotten the jump on you. Their...armament indeed was varying. Those...ballistic shells the first time striking your tower, now these fast moving flying things were another to add to the check-list of these golem’s weapon systems. It made you slightly concerned what OTHER surprises they had, but for the moment, you had to get your bearings. The fire washed over you, it was warm, if not unsettling for its power; it almost rivaled that of the sun as you could see the missiles explosion ebb over the importune shield you erected. You had flapped your wings before you, adding another layer as you felt the pressure of the explosion, and lost your flight, sending yourself to the ground in a heap, but relatively unhurt from the attack. The fires warming fury was welcoming as you flapped it away, shaking your head as your mane and coat were tainted with a dark soot as you let out a cute cough as you shake yourself clean. The glint you had seen no longer was there, and you tsked, trying to remember where the flash had come from. Certainly they had the higher ground this time, smart, very smart, you'd have to be more cautious than ever when dealing wi- Boom A round whizzes by, slamming into the ground just by your right as you jump away on reaction alone. They certainly did have the higher ground, but where? That mountain's upper tree-line wa- Another round strikes to your direct left, nearly clipping your left wing as you had them splayed to stabilize yourself from your last jump. They were getting closer, but....if they had such clear shots, why did they miss twice as you shake your head, getting the ringing from your ears as you look at the mountains. You cannot see the glint anymore...nor hear them.... You huff, back to square one as you flap your wings and take flight again, going up at a faster pace towards the mountains tree-line. "Round out!" your gunner said as the second shot impacted right beside Celestia. "Good, get us out of here comrade driver!" Your driver nods, putting the tank into reverse as you pull away from the bush you hid in, right down into the make-shift dirt-path you had carved into the ground with your tank. You didn't have the fording equipment, let alone woods-clearing mounts as you were fighting in a desert, but your weight and mass alone was enough to get through this wilderness. You start taking the path forward, having found it spiraling all the way around the mountain as your driver handles it flawlessly, keeping the tank nestled deep under the canopy, hidden from anything that may fly above, especially nosy alicorns. You're not sure if Celestia will be able to make it to this spot by the time you drive of, hopefully your second-phase plan will be able to work if you confused her long enough. Then there was the fact if she was going to fly here double quick, or take her time searching again. Whatever the case, you had to get OFF the moutain, and stat. The low ground is what you needed if she was going to the high ground, and with luck, you could get her in the back. "Dis is insaine..." your loader mutters as you kept checking all around with your infa-red scope "she sruvived direct hit v'ith AT-10? Dat makes NO SENSE, she should been blown apart!" "She did comrade, v'e can't change v'hat happened." you retort "she is magic, magic creatures are trickery." "Dah..." your gunner mutters "Im sure dat sheild she had v'ould have stopped shell to...dat v'hy you made me shoot sides of her?" You nod "Direct attack v'ould be silly, she can block dem, v'e have to flank and surprise here, but...dat is tricky in itself." You are Celestia And this certainly was puzzling. You had arrived at the spot you had seen the glint, but all you were able to find were a pair of tracks leading off into the woods. "They were here...before...but now they moved? How curious...such speed in which they go on the offensive to the defensive..." You rub your chin, looking closely at the tracks as you start to follow them into the brush. They went around the mountain, taking a rather long way of going from the top perch to wherever they went too, but you certainly weren't willing to follow these tracks right too them, for all you know it could be a trap. With a smirk, you look at the ground and cast your horn up, closing her eyes as her horn brilliance and within a second, the tracks began to light up like a bright light as you smirked. "Now then, shall we begin this game anew?" you ask as you take flight over the trees, eying the brilliant line of golden energy you had cast upon the trail this golem made. It should be easy to spot now as you follow the tracks almost completely around the mountain, seeing it pull out around the base. "Hrmmm now where did the-" You didn't have a chance to finish as another whoosing sound erupted from afar, and another one of those flying shells whisked towards you. You grinned this time, suddenly catching the missile mid-flight before you, eyeing it with curiosity. "Hrmmm..." you said, looking back down the way it came as you reverse its direction an send it on its way. "Now then... take me to your master little flying thing..." - You are Kaptian Anon And now your missile is flying right towards you. "Cyjot!" You exclaim as your whole crew is staring in disbelief "FULL REVERSE!" Your driver wastes no second putting the tank in reverse as the missile, now plotted of course, swivels and fish-lines towards you, slamming only a few feet ahead of you just as you pulled away from the blast. "She can do dat to missiles!?" Your gunner exclaims as you recoil from the shockwave of the near-hit to your hull. You knew full well that one of those AT missiles would be the end of you, your armour was strong, but not THAT strong, and certainly not against your own missiles. "V'e have to get a'vay, she's smart, v'eal smart." you mutter as you look through the scope as your tank comes to a halt. Dust still covering your view. "V'ere...is she." Your question is answered as you suddenly see a pair of golden hoove tap onto the hull. The Princess violet eyes glancing through your scope. "Gotcha..." was all she said with a smirk as you blink. "Punch it!" you order as your driver scrambles for the controls. The driver did so, flooring the tank forward as Celestia quickly lifted off it, the tank rushing forwad back into the wilderness as ts engine drove it like a mad dog, over fallen trees and back to the road as the turret traversed, aiming at the spot where the Alicon stood. “Fire round!” You yell as your gunner does so, sending a round at close range into the brush as it erupted with a terrifying boom. “Hope she didn’t have time to react to dat one.” You begin, only to see a brilliance of light shimmer and then fire its way towards you. “MOVE!” you order, the tank turning slowly just in the nick of time as the beam of energy ripped across the turrets side, hitting the jutted armour slightly and singing along its side. For a moment, the heat from the beam simmered inside the tank, it felt like you were back in the desert as your driver turns the tank into reverse, hull pointed towards your foe as you drive backwards. “V’ell, seems gloves are off.” You mutter as you watch your view scope, your loader huffing as he loads another road into the chamber. “V’ere good!” he calls as you watch the smoldering trees you had fired into burn as you see from the smoke a white flicker of wings as the Alicorn flew into the open. “FIRE!” you bark, the gunner slamming down the trigger as the round expels from the barrel. You continue driving around the mountain, exchange of shells and energy bolts leap about the wilderness as neither can land a clear shot. Either the desire to defeat the other was not strong, or you both were just really off your game. Silence beckoned for a moment before your tank ripped through the foliage at the base of the mountain, coaxial MG unloading into the brush as your driver pulls you through into a clear path of grass. You pause, waiting as you look around your surroundings. You had left the mountain, and were coming into an open field, this would get very hot and very...interesting. “Target!” Your gunner calls as you spot Celestia fly upwards over the foliage and down towards your tank like an attack aircraft. “FIRE!” Another round explodes from the barrel, just as Celestia unleashed another beam attack as both collied, causing a massive explosion as you nudge your driver, who kicks the tank back into reverse as you’re now in open field, and with much more freedom of movement. You see Celestia fall, perhaps the blast being too close as she fwumps into the woods at the edge of the clearing. Though she is down, you are certain she is not out, not at the slightest. You grin “Wait for it...” you ease back, gripping the arm rests of your chair as you watch, waiting as you keep your eyes on the foliage just as you see a flash of white, and another brilliance of magic. Celestia herself ripped from the woods, her whole bod enveloped in magical energy as her horn struck out towards your tank. “NOW GO!” you bark, going into full reverse as you keep a bit ahead of her. You knew that horn could do damage, but your driver was no green-horn either. He turned the tank quickly to the left, seeing Celestia have to bank with her wings made it like a tank fighting a low flying fighter jet, only with matching speed. Gunner aims the barrel and fires, the round narrowly hits the Princess as she lets out another blast, then two, then three. Each one misses, the third clipping the top of the turret as the heat wave washed into the tank again. “I can see v’hy she is Princess of sun, dese shots have after-heat...v’e better make sure v’e do not get hit again or v’e may fry in here.” Your loader said, picking up another road and loading it. “Dat...or she discharges ammunition up with sheer heat.” “Den I tnk v’e make escape and hide again.” You mutter as you watch the tank do a full rotation, now with the woods to your back and Celestia before you. She lowers her horn, charging another attack. “SMOKE!” you command, pressing the discharge button as smoke canisters fly off your tank, peppering the area with white smoke as the energy shot arcs over your tank and away before you start reversing back into the woods. -- You hunker down some distance into the wilderness, having countined driving even after you cleared the field as you pulled your tank against a tree, looking forward to the opening you made. You had driven backwards, then taken a left, then right, then another left, hoping to at least make it hard for the Princess to spot your depression in the wilderness. The ground was firm, and aside from a few fell trees, you didn’t leave much of an imprint. Your crew were unsure, but you kept you composure. “Now v’e vait...” you mutter as you look out your scope. -- You are Celestia, and of course, for a third time, this golem has been trying your patience. Its ‘smoke’ trick was annoying, disrupting a perfect shot to disable the beast, yet it refused to go down easily. Part of you wished to end this quickly, but deep down, you had longed for this thrill, this, true test of skill against an opponent who may not hold much of the same capabilities of you, but posess such cunning and tactics that it almost makes you...excited. These creatures and their beast, their ‘golem’ were certainly putting you through your paces, and you were actually enjoying it. But...all good things must come to an end, and you have other duties to tend to, simply cannot keep this going, but...a deal is a deal, and this challenge shall be won by your hooves for your sister sake. As the smoke cleared, you could see the beast was gone, just like before, but this time, you knew how to track it. Magic enveloped your horn as you cast as spell upon the faint imprints the tank made in the ground as they lit up brightly with a yellow hue; all you had to do now was follow. You are Kaptian Anon And you’re suddenly noticing a bright light approaching your tank, your ‘tracks’ are now alight with a vibrant yellow glow as you look in sheer...surprise...at this new development. You rub your chin, clearly perplexed by this light, but it slowly dons on you. “Princess is tracking us...” you whisper as you look at the tracks glowing. Your driver is already at the wheel, ready to go as you look out the viewport, scouting the area. Your viewscope brings nothing ahead of you as you keep it focused on the path you came in, your glowing tracks clearly marking the Princess’s way, but you were ready, if she got into range, you’d pop her instantly, she didn’t know HOW deep you were into the woods, that gave you an edge... Or did it... You hear a soft thunk behind you as you blink. “Did you hear dat?” you ask as your gunner looks back. “Hear vat?” Another thunk...soft, but a thunk none the less as you slowly turn the scope around.... ...only to peer into the amethyst coloured eyes of the one Princess Celestia. She blinks, looking through it before asing away, smiling “I see you....” she mouths as you ease back slowly from the scope. “Driver....” you mutter “get us in reverse slowly....” The driver dosen’t hesitate as he suddenly pushes the transmission into Reverse as you watch Celestia tap the view scope. “NOW!” Your tank lurches backwards, sending Celestia a bit towards the view scope as she wasn’t expecting the sudden force backwards as the tank drove through the brush, breaking through trees and shrubs as the Princess lowers her body to the tanks hull, remaing tight against the metal beast. “Cyjot, she v’ont quit!” you mutter as you slowly begin to traverse the turret...trying to knock Celestia off just as you clear the wood, seeing nothing before you as the tank suddenly drops...over the edge of a canyon. The vertigo hit instantly as you felt the sheer weight of the tank plumetted donward. You looked up to see the cliff you just drove off of, seeing the princess hovering above were you fell. Her expression is of shock as she suddenly magicked her horn. Then everything stopped. For a moment it was silent, you felt you were falling, but for a moment everything had just went dead. It all returned in an instant as you felt the tank slam down, not too hard, onto the ground as you look out to see the Princess standing there. "I guess you could say I had bested you and saved you, does that count as a victory for me?" she asked, putting a hoof to her chest in triumph as she only smiled...and you looking quite...dumbfounded. You sigh, certainly surprised by the events that had unfolded. Not only did she learn how to adapt to your tactics, but she was even so able to change the direction of a guided missile right back to you. You couldn't argue with the fact she saved you either. In reality, had she not been there, you would have all been killed. Without really wanting to admit it, she had won, not only that, she had saved you when she could have let you fall. Perhaps it was some sort of irony or karma, but whatever the case, she had bested you as you sigh. "Guess she's v'ight." "Comrade Kaptian!" Your loader barks "You cannot be so willing to let her vin!" "She had rescued us, and if not, v'e would be DEAD, do not make guess, v'e already knew she v'as out of leauge." "I have to admit to Kaptian loder...she followed our trail perfectly round mountain, v'as stroke of luck she did it airborne to knock shot off, but fact she saw it, stopped it, and turned it v'as...impressive. "Her sheild too." your driver adds "Dat could stop missile, it coul stop shell too, doubt v'e could break through it v'ith anyting else." Your loader huffs in disbelief. "I cannot let you be taken comrade. I v'ill fight her hand to...er...hoof for you." You shook your head. "Neit comrade, v'e lost, she v'on, you knew risks, you fought v'ell, but magical creature superior to armour and tactics v'e could play...perhaps...next time v'e do better." Your loader grumbles, turning away as you slowly nbutton the hatch and ease out. Looking behind you, there indeed was a steep cliff that...was quite difficult to see as you turned to the Princess. "I guess that means we settle our deal?" she asked as you nodded, slowly easing out of the hatch as you climb down to the ground. It felt...good to be out, but you could only guess your men were disappointing in failing you. You wave them off as you turned to Celestia. "Dat be it...I am yours to take." "Celestia!" came a familiar cry as Luna touched down nearby, nearly stumbling as she quickly trotted to her sister, embracing her with glee. "Oh, we are glad thy is well!" she said as Celestia smiled, looking at her little sister. "It wasn't asy Luna, their golem certainly put me for a loop, but, I had bested them, and they have kept their word..." "Dah..." you said, fixing your tankers hat "v'e never break v'ord towards your sister, v'e took care of her to keep her out of harms v'ay..." Celestia blinks "oh, is that true?" Luna nods "They were indeed... hospitable, though hath been rather...uneasy at first." Celestia only smiled as she looked at you. "Well, I am glad I put my faith in you, you and your associates had done a valiant effort, but, a deal is a deal, and as such, you shall be ours." You nod, looking back at your tank as your entire crew dismount, rushing over to you. "Comrade!" they bark, but you raise a pal. "Neit, deal is deal..." you smirk "do not v'orry, dey may have v;on, but doubt dey v'ill keep me forever." "Comrade...you cannot be serious, den v'hat do v'e do?" You only grin, looking at your team as your language changed. "