Torchwood: Project Equestria

Isaiah sat with his left hoof pressed against his chin as he watched the world outside the viewport. All he could think about was what Princess Luna had told him last night in his lucid dream; ‘Prepare for unforeseen consequences.’ Isaiah heard this phrase over and over again as it ran through his head. He couldn't think of any event or person, or anything on that matter that would relate to it. But still the thought of ‘unforeseen’ or consequences for that matter had him worried slightly.

A light static appeared and disappeared within a small window and Edd’s voice echoed over the speaker, he sounded extremely and painfully hangover. Isaiah raised brought the microphone from his headset up close to his muzzle, “sleep well?” A sound of pain fell over the cockpit as Edd struggled to give a reply. Isaiah raised his hoof to his forehead and gave a light chuckle, “holy shit Edd what the hell were you on last n-“ his sentence fell short after a large thump ricocheted through both the speakers and headset.

Shit that sounded bad, Isaiah thought to himself.

“Remind me to never take Poison Joke again,” Edd muffled

into his own headset.

“Was it good,” Isaiah asked jokingly.

“Until now yes WHY the hell did you just ask that!?” Edd suddenly sounded switched on as if the hangover suddenly vanished. He raised both hands to his forehead and covered his eyes.

“Just checking to see if you were OK, it be a shame if Wesley found out you were doing drugs on a mission.”

“If you tell him or anyone else about this,” Edd began with a heavily aggressive tone as he grabbed his headsets microphone, “I will sling a rope around your neck and legs hog-tie you and leave you dangling above 682 as a fucking cat toy!”

Isaiah’s eyes widened from the comment, “well, that escalated quickly. Look, are you OK for anything else other than death-threatening me or are you busy with the hangover to do shit.”

Edd got up from his chair and rested his hands on the console. After a deep breath he pressed his left hand against his eye, “yeah, I think I need to rest this one out for a bit.”

“Ok,” Isaiah said. He turned a key on the left side of the console which flipped open a small hatch containing a button. The core of ALPHA made a heavily audible hum was the machine activated. As ALPHA rose into an idle state it lurched upwards suddenly but regained stability. “That didn't feel good,” Isaiah remarked, “should probably get Daedalus to check that later.” ALPHA reached its normal idle position and remained steady for a few moments before the knee joint on the left leg failed and the body dropped slightly and swung to the left. An audible tumble sounded on the outside hull which stopped Isaiah remarking the current state of the machine. He watched out the viewport wondering if something in the back came loose or if someone was outside.

As Isaiah leaned forward a black pony-shaped figure slide over the right copula and stopped midway. Isaiah gasped along with the thing on the outside. “EDD!” he shouted into the microphone.

On the other side Edd was heading back into the rear section of DELTA, “Later!” he shouted back. As the door to the apex closed Isaiah shouted back, “WE GOT A CHANGELING!”

Edd raced back through the door and mantled his chair. Switching DELTA on, he sat down and put his headset on.

Isaiah put on his own headset and activated ALPHAs combat units. The changeling jumped off the copula and began fleeing.

“Come back here!” Isaiah shouted taking aim at the changeling. When the machine finished locking Isaiah fired the MAC cannon.

The shot barely missed and sent the changeling spiralling downwards before disappearing into the canopy below.

“Did you get it!?” Edd shouted soberly from his end.

Isaiah shifted himself so he could get a good viewing angle from where he was sitting, “uhh looks like.”

Edd sighed as he laid back in his seat, “well that’s one less bastard we need to deal with.”

“Yeah well if there’s one there’s more,” Isaiah continued, “the direction it was heading what’s there?”

Edd analysed the possible flight plan for the changeling which lead to an area within the Bad Lands down south, “only area of interest.”

“We head there then,” Isaiah said.

<--NEW TAB

The Bad Lands lived up to the expectations of its name. The area was walled off by a mid-sized mountain range that kept most of the landmarks hidden from ground level. The area of the Bad Lands itself mainly consisted of barren red soil with the occasional hoodoo making an odd silhouette against the thin line of dust rising from the ground. The Fighting Machine remained motionless as it scanned the area; not a single creature, nor any form of life was present save for an eagle that happened to fly across the sky southward. “So what were we expecting to find,” Isaiah asked rhetorically.

Edd, who was inspecting a hoodoo by ALPHA’s rear foot neglected to answer. Isaiah noticed what Edd was doing and pulled a confused look, “never seen a hoodoo before?”

“Isaiah we’re dealing with a changeling race we've never seen before you think they might have the capability to transform into an inanimate object?”

Isaiah raised ALPHA’s hind leg and sent it down onto the hoodoo blowing shrapnel in any direction it could, “If he’s still in there he ain't happy!”

A faint outline cleared through the dust line a few hundred meters ahead from Isaiah and Edd’s positions; a large black alicorn shaped creature emerged bearing with it two changelings in guard positions. “Uh, Edd. . . company.”

The changeling trio halted a striding step (ALPHA’s standard distance per step which is about 25-30 meters apart) and waited.

“What’s that one’s story then?” Isaiah asked himself remarking about the larger changeling in the centre.

“Ring leader maybe.” Edd replied.

“Eh, probably.”

Before another word came through to each other the ring leader changeling shouted, “Is the deed done!?”

“Uh, Edd? You gonna’ reply to them?” Isaiah asked

“Why me!?” Edd spat back.

“Because I’m a pony and they probably would prefer to kill me then to talk. And besides if they’re talking about bringing down Ponyville or sum-shit then that’s probably what it’s asking about.” Isaiah replied.

“Fine then,” Edd groaned before leaving the cockpit. He exited DELTA moments later and moved into the open of the Bad Lands, there was a higher momentum of wind tan there was earlier, which Edd took note of. Obsering his surroundings he saw more changeling-esq shapes shifting around the larger hoodoos around the area. Both he and the larger changeling moved in closer until both stood a few meters apart.

“You’ve fulfilled your side of the bargain?” she asked.

“It’s done, should’ve given us a better task that shit was way too easy. If you wanted to bring down Celestia you didn’t need to waste mine and his time doin’ the shit you could do blindfolded. You seriously think we like wasting time and resources on shit that’s barely any fun for us, maybe if you got of your lazy asses you’d be better to actually live somewhere decent you lazy shit!”

Isaiah gave himself a slightly nervous look as he noted Edd’s change in tone. There was only one other person who talked the way he did and Isaiah didn’t like it. On the ground though the lead changeling got increasingly aggravated, “HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO ME THAT WAY!”

“I’LL TALK TO YOU ANY WAY I WANT YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE FINITEVUS DOESN’T GIVE A FUCK ABOUT WHAT YOU AND YOUR CHANGELING FRIENDS THINK. SO FAR AS HES CONCEARNED YOUR ALL JUST AS LAZY AS THE NEXT PONY FROM PONYVI-

NEVER MENTION THAT PLACE AGAIN!” the lead shouted back.

“Well too bad ‘cause Finitevus will send you straight there if you try and defy him and rest assure it will be even worse than it will be when he hears you don’t like the work he’s doing for you.” Edd concluded in a more convincing tone than before.

“WELL DO THAT THEN, AND TELL HIM THE DEAL IS OFF.” The lead screamed at Edd who gave a light smirk.

As he turned his back and walked back Edd stopped for a moment and made a light compliment, “you seriously need to.”

“What do you mean?” she asked.

Edd teleported to the cockpit of DELTA in a split second and switched on the external broadcast, “Ponyville sends there regards!”

Isaiah made a triumphant laugh as he powered up the Heat-Ray. As the changelings in the area took flight Isaiah sounded ALPHA’s horn which dazed every changeling near him. As the insectoid noise of wings filled the air the sudden scream of a fully charged Heat-Ray pierced through the air. The beam fired at a small group to the right of ALPHA and instantly terminated them. Edd followed shortly afterwards with DELTA. The four plugs beside the Heat-Ray emitted glowed red before a jet of liquid fire blew out of the nozzle. The ground around melted into glass from the heat and anything else charred to black. Any changeling that didn’t evacuate became a dark silhouette charred against the sand but those that did only barely escaped, the ringleader included amongst them.

When silence fell over the Bad Lands once more Isaiah burst out with laughter, “Holy shit that just happened!”

While Isaiah was enjoying the moment, Edd took the time to savour it, “shit’s gonna’ get harder here now.”

“Wait, didn’t she say Finitevus was here?” Isaiah just realized.

“Yep.”

Isaiah’s joy instantly switched to anger, “Of all the FUCKING PLACES TO GO!” He yelled, manipulating ALPHA’s controls to head straight for Ponyville.

Edd gave chase with DELTA at top speed.

He can screw any other place he wants to, but not here. We’ve caused enough damage Finitevus you’re not adding to it. We’ll drive you and your pathetic army out, burn through the stragglers, and when that’s done, hunt you down. . . “Like the ANIMAL YOU ARE!”

“You really didn’t need to help me with these Tahlia,” Twilight said with a rucksack on her back.

“Well it’s the least I could do to try and make things up for what’s happened,” Tahlia replied. She had the other rucksack full of belongings on her back also. Both were filled to the brim with magic and spell casting books with the odd ‘Mythical Creatures of Equestria’ book. “I still feel kinda bad about what we did to you lot.”

“Please don’t be. Equestria has suffered through many atrocities even before you arrived.”

“Is one called Discord?” Tahlia asked sarcastically.

Twilight froze for a moment then caught up to Tahlia and walked parallel to her, “What do you mean by that?”

Tahlia stood frozen suddenly and peered upwards, directing her ear upwards with her eye. An odd sound fell through her ears which seemed to drown out the more ‘local’ sounds in favour of processing this one. It sounded artificial much like either ALPHA or DELTA but it sounded too ‘loose’ to be either of them. The sound felt like the footsteps of a giant until a new sound accompanied them which sounded like a rattling chain-link fence, only it was only three notes long.

Tahlia ran ahead dropping the rucksack in the process.

“Tahlia wait!” Twilight shouted.

Tahlia rounded a corner a few meters ahead and stopped dead at what she saw. Most of Ponyville was looking in the same direction towards the Everfree Forest; two faint but visible columns of smoke or steam where emanating from a minute area behind the tree line. A short period later a large black machine gradually cleared the canopy before the entire body suddenly lurched upwards. The machines full body became visible now. As it came to a stop on the edge of the Everfree border it let out a light mechanical drone.

Tahlia’s jaw dropped as she felt a horrifying feeling rush over her. A feeling of dread that seemed to make her think only the worst of thoughts; blood smears against the walls of ever home in Ponyville, bodies hung by their necks, Twilight dead against the wall in her library with a bullet hole through her head, whoever was left made forced into manual labour by the people behind the machine.

Twilight rushed around the corner and paused. She looked at Tahlia before sighting the machine in the distance. Her jaw dropped in a similar fashion only not as far as Tahlias. She took one step back, “Tahlia, what is that?”

“Get everyone away from here NOW!” Tahlia ordered. Before Twilight could ask why Tahlia turned and faced her, “GET EVERYONE AWAY FOM HERE NOW TWILIGHT!” She was on the verge of tears as she shouted.

Most ponies near them turned around wondering about the commotion. As they did multiple buzzing sounds filled the air. From the edge of Everfree multiple flying objects appeared from the tree line and flew full-force towards Ponyville. “EVERYPONY RUN!”

Every pony ahead of Tahlia and Twilight began to flee in any direction. The objects became more apparent as they landed and hovered over the town. There were 5 still in the air and 3 landing. Tahlia managed to confirm 3 L-35s landing and 5 L-29s holding overwatch before being rushed by a thoughtless pony knock passed her, causing her to smash her head straight into an adjacent wall. Twilight stopped immediately and ran back for her. Picking her up with her magic she gave chase towards the library.

A black-cloaked biped intercepted Twilight and missed capturing her with a fish net and slipped up. Twilight managed to slam her front door shut just as a wooden shard and a small metal pulp snapped past Twilights right ear.

Spike jumped down the stairs at the sound of the snapping wood. The splinter from the door flew parallel to his face, almost catching his eye and embedding itself in the wall behind him. “Twilight what’s going on!?”

Twilight materialized multiple planks of wood and a hammer from the either and began boarding up every door and window in the library. In just under a minute the libraries interior was encased in darkness save for a few streams of sunlight streaming through the boarded windows. Things went unnervingly quiet for a few moments before an angry hard knock rattled through the front door.

“Come on out pretty-pony, we’re not gonna’ hurt you much if you come out now,” a voice echoed through the front hall of the library. Sounded like a 40s era gangster but wouldn’t be surprising if the individual was a gang member at some point.

Twilight and Spike huddled in the centre of the hall motionless. Every few moments the sun would be blocked by movement outside the window and return when it moved on. On a sudden occasion a face appeared to look through the window and scan the room before moving on.

* * *

At Canterlot everything was quiet. Lacking the news of Ponyville the city was relatively calm and normal. Luna sat at the balcony linking to both princesses bedroom, looking on into the clouds moving overhead. She let out a light sigh before she walked inside. As she did an L-35 sprung into view off the edge of the balcony. Luna darted around and looked into the face of the machine. In a state of shock she darted towards the door as the machine fired; a rain of metal bled through the open door and down the hall. Luna had managed to prone low enough not to be hit but that didn’t quell her fear. She ran as fast as she could until she hit the main throne room where Celestia was handling orders to the garrison.

“Sister, what’s happening!?” Luna screamed.

“We’re being attacked by someone and we don’t know who,” she replied as a guard barged through the main doors.

“Your highness,” he exclaimed before collapsing to the ground. A mid-sized figure surrounded by a deep black robe stepped over him and stopped.

“Princess Celestia I presume,” he stated in a lightly sarcastic voice. Two soldiers moved formation next to him bearing TRCR-357s (dart guns). Both guards accompanying Celestia and Luna dropped to the floor when the soldiers fired them off and holstered them. Both brandished their assault rifles before stepping to the side and aiming.

“Who are you,” Celestia asked.

The individual gave a slight smirk and moved around the pair C-clockwise, “I do understand that the nature of our first meeting has so far been, shall we say, a bit forceful, if it can be considered? But there are things that you must understand.”

“Like what,” Luna asked.

“Like what indeed,” he replied, “such as the fact that this is a peaceful . . . takeover.”

“How has this been peaceful,” Celestia demanded.

“Well let’s see, well the primary fact is your guards aren’t dead but merely . . . sleeping. Also at the fact that we just walked right in,” he gestured a walking figure with his fingers, “without proper resistance. You see princess, being who we are, we tend to . . . kill, a lot, before we take a position. But this?” He paused behind where Celestia and Luna were standing and exposed his arms and pointing to the area around him, “this is basically Canada is like; they leave no doors locked, and people can just . . . walk . . . right,” a small 15-man squad walked in and positioned themselves around Celestia and Luna. The individual was only inches away from Celestia, “. . . in.”

“Who are you,” Celestia asked as the figure smirked and turned around.

“I am the great Doctor Finitevus!” he exclaimed walking up the staircase. He paused halfway up, “and we, are, LEGION!”

“LEGION!” The soldiers below shouted back.

“Take them both to the dungeon!” Finitevus ordered.

One soldier stepped forward, “where is it sir?”

“FUCKING FIND IT!” Finitevus shouted back, “And make sure they can’t escape!”

As she began to be taken Luna jumped her jailer and charged the Doctor. As she did a Stalker tank dropped through the roof overhead and aimed directly at her. Luna slid to a stop just before the machines eye. Her reflection stared back at her through the red illumination.

“eid ouy won,” the machine said in a cold mechanical voice. Both gun-pods took aim at Luna as she stepped back.

Finitevus on the other hand was laughing with joy, “such FIRE in this one. Don’t kill her,” he ordered as he descended the staircase again, “she and the other one are too valuable.” The Stalker stood down and shifted to the right. Each spike on the end of its leg leaving a ping sound as it did. Finitevus stood in front of Luna and grabbed her chin with force, “defiance is the first step to your death. If you want to live you’ll do as you’re told!”

Two soldiers stepped forward and took hold of Luna’s necklace and began dragging her in the opposite direction. Finitevus re-ascended the staircase with his hands behind his back. A soldier approached him from atop the staircase and saluted, “Doctor, Unit 42 has taken the lower valley.”

“Excellent, tell them to hold positions and await further instructions.” Finitevus replied.

“Yes sir, 42/89 also reports minor resist/capture and have taken refuge within one of the residents.”

“Tell them to await for 30 minutes before going in after them. No casualties, I want as many of them to stay alive as possible.” Finitevus ordered.

“Yes sir.”

Finitevus walked down the corridor and paused before a stain-glassed window. The window showed a figure resembling a Draconequus. “LIEUTENANT!” He scowled.

Another soldier ran down the corridor, before skidding to a halt and saluting, “sir!”

“See if this place has a library. If it does scower through every book there is for information on this!” He gestured towards the window.

The lieutenant looked up and scanned the window, “That’s. . .”

“Discord, yes. Now GET GOING!” Finitevus shouted.

We’re not the only ones who are using this planet. He thought to himself.

* * *

Twilight stepped over to the blocked window and peered through a gap between the wooden boards; a soldier stood a few meters away holding an assault rifle but was looking in the opposite direction. From the left another soldier came into view dragging a unicorn caught in a fishing net. The soldier with the rifle reached into his trench coat pocket and picked out a bracelet-like device and chucked it to the other soldier. As he knelt down to put it on the pony kicked the soldier square in the face. As the soldier moved back in pain and mild shock the other soldier raised his rifle and hit the pony on the side of the face with the butt with enough force to knock him out.

Twilights eyes widened as she hid beside the windows opening. She began panting as she raised a hoof to her chest. Spike was in the centre of the room with a warm rag over Tahlia’s forehead. Slowly she raised her eyes and let out a slight moan. As she try to get up Spike stopped her, “hold on a second.”

“Where are we?” she asked slowly.

“The library,” Spike replied, “Twilight brought you here after they arrived.”

Tahlia looked at Spike before looking over at Tahlia, “they?”

Spike helped Tahlia to her feet and walked her over to the window, “look.”

On the outside two soldiers gather together, one was talking into a microphone attached to his coat, the other was wielding a torch-like object and waving it in the air. Over the top of the adjacent house the black outline of the Goliath shifted over to the right and became fully visible down the road. When the soldier lowered the flare the Goliath raised its body slightly and ceased all movement. The other soldier reattached the microphone to his coat and began conversing with his friend beside him, at the distance the talk was just muffled murmurs. As one turned around a Stalker moved past the pair and halted a few meters away.

The ponies and the dragon hid again as the soldier moved up to the window. A light tap echoed through the hall of the library and a voice followed, “Oi, whoever’s in there, you’ve got 25 minutes to come out or we blow you the fuck up. 25 minutes.”

“Why are they gonna’ kill us?” Twilight asked.

“Because it’s what they do.” Tahlia responded.

“Who are they though?”

Tahlia lowered her head, “Twilight, I need to tell you something.”

“What is it?”

“That story Isaiah told about where we’re from and why we’re here,” Tahlia began, “it was a lie.”

Twilight and Spike were shocked. Tahlia got up and walked away from the pair.

“So why are you here then?” Twilight asked.

“Were here . . . for no reason.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“It was just some little experiment we did; only we didn’t expect them to follow us here.”

“What do you mean experiment,” Spike asked.

“Where we’re from, we . . . don’t look like . . . this,” she pointed to herself with both hooves.

“Well, who . . . or what are you where you’re from?” Twilight asked.

Tahlias radio began to produce static. Isaiah’s voice came over the radio, “Tahlia, you there?”

“I’m here,” She replied.

“Tahlia, Finitevus and the Legion are here, get everyone away from Ponyville.”

“We know.”

“We? Oh shit no. where are you now?”

“I’m with Twilight and Spike, we’re in the library.”

“Are you safe though?” Isaiah asked.

“For the time being. Someone outside said they’ll blow us up unless we leave the library.”

“And they’ll definitely do it as well.”

Spike and Twilight huddled together, “what’ll we do then?”

There was a pause for a few moments.

“I’ve got a plan.

“Your times up ponies!” A soldier shouted from the outside. A group of 20 soldiers took formation in a 10 meter perimeter around the library. The Goliath on the edge of Ponyville took position and aimed at the library. The front door open slowly and Twilight stepped forward. Spike followed her shortly after.

A soldier stepped forward, “there were three of you where’s the other?” he said in a harsh tone. Tahlia emerged from the front door a short time later and stood motionless.

“Get over here now,” he said. As he noticed her Cutie-Mark he raised his rifle, “HOLD THE FUCK UP!”

Tahlia backed up and almost fell down backwards. The soldier brought up his microphone and set a channel on a module attach to his belt, “Doctor, we've got the girl from the Foundation.”

* * *

“Good, have her ready for transport and bring her here ALIVE sergeant,” Finitevus replied, “harm her and there will be consequences.”

* * *

“Yes Doctor,” the soldier replied, “Get over here you.” He continued walking up to Tahlia. He grabbed her by her mane and began dragging her away.

Twilight gave a shocked expression, “NO LET HER GO!” she shouted as she ran towards the soldier.

“Grab her,” another soldier shouted, a third dive towards Twilight and tackled her to the ground. A forth approached Spike and pointed his rifle at him, “What should we do with these then?”

“Doctor what do we do with the others?”

* * *

“Who are they?” Finitevus asked.

“Another pony and a dragon shrimp,” the soldier replied.

“There not important kill them off.”

* * *

“Yes sir,” the soldier concluded, “kill them.”

“No don’t you dare!” Tahlia shouted.

“Odd how you care about them Miss Tahlia. Being a member of the Foundation, I’d thought you’d not care for anyone else aside from yourselves,” Finitevus replied.

“That’s not true now let them go!”

“Hurry it up sergeant!”

Tahlia tried all she could to resist the soldiers pull, “Let me go you heartless bastard!”

“Bring the Stalker in and kill these two now,” the soldier commanded. A Stalker moved around the formation and aimed at Twilight and Spike, “Do it nice and quick.”

“ris sey,” The Stalker replied.

“NO!”

An extreme explosion erupted from the Goliaths back. The machine hunched forward and ‘winced.’ As it turned around the face was hit by the onslaught of the Heat-Ray. Every soldier and Stalker in Ponyville looked towards the Goliath as it collapsed.

“What the hell!?”

The silver outline of the Fighting Machine shifted through the thick smoke emanating from the Goliath's wreck.

“DOCTOR, THE TRIPODS HERE I REPEAT; THE TRIPOD IS HERE!”

* * *

“Destroy it, DESTROY IT NOW!”

“But sir we've lost the Goliath!”

“USE WHAT YOU HAVE. SCRAP THE DAMN THING!”

* * *

“Yes Doctor. All units switch to heavy ordinance!” the soldier shouted. The Stalker forgot about Twilight and Spike and moved ahead down the road. Each soldier scrambled and began gathering any heavy weapon they could find.

The soldier pulling Tahlia began dragging her fiercely towards a landing VTOL. Twilight seized the opportunity and rushed the soldier who dropped Tahlia and drew a sidearm. Twilight leaped into the air and round-housed the soldier on the side of the face, knocking him out instantly.

Spike ran to Tahlia and helped her to get up. Tahlia got up and stood on her hind legs. She raised a hoof and shouted, “REVOLUTION! EVERYPONY, NOWS YOU’RE TIME! TAKE BACK PONYVILLE!”

Every captured pony struggled out of their harnesses and began to escape. Any pony hiding within their homes emerged and began attacking the nearest soldier and assisting with their captured brethren.

“Twilight, now’s our chance for revenge. You ready?”

Twilight stood boldly, “Let’s do it.”

Tahlia charged at the nearest soldier and pinned him to the ground before punching him twice. With her magic she picked him up and threw him through the nearest wall.

Twilight jumped a soldier and hammered his head into the ground on the landing. Another soldier turned around and fired a few rounds from his assault rifle. Twilight managed to hold the shots with a barrier spell and deflected the shots back at the soldier who flinched and fell backwards. Twilight was shocked but Tahlia looked mildly pleased, “You’ll get used to it!” She shouted as she ran past.

As Twilight rushed another soldier her target was picked off by a rainbow. The rainbows appearance cleared into Rainbow Dash as she fluttered off the ground slightly, “That’ll teach ya!”

“Rainbow!” Twilight shouted.

“There you are Twilight. Don’t just stand there I’ve got ten already!”

“Wait, you’re keeping score!?” Twilight questioned.

“Why not!”

A soldier rushed Rainbow with a blade but Twilight managed to pick him off with a laser. Rainbow turned around as the soldier dropped to the ground beside her and looked at Twilight. “That’s two for me then,” She stated with a smile.

A soldier rushed around the corner chasing a pony before being startled by Pinkie Pie. “Hi there!” she said with a big smile, “Wanna see my party cannon!?” she asked reaching behind herself and bringing out her signature cyan cannon. With a groan the soldier was blasted backwards by the force of the cannons shot.

Applejack pounced on another soldier, “hi there sugar cube,” she said before slamming her hat over the soldiers face mask. “What the. . .” the soldier exclaimed through the fabric of both the mask and the hat. “Bah now,” she stated as she bucked the soldier square in the chest. He flew in the opposite direction with a large amount of force and Applejacks hat flew into the air. As it floated downwards she caught it and repositioned it back onto her head.

A soldier paused for a moment before a light blue scarf fell upon his head. A light pink one followed before a green. “Those suits of yours are much too bland darling,” Rarity stated, “they could use a bit of a twist,” she followed as she tugged at one of the scarfs. The soldier spun around a few times before collapsing.

A pair of soldiers cornered Fluttershy with her hooves over her eyes and aimed their rifles at her. A large shadow loomed over the pair. As they turned around Edd cracked their heads together knocking them out (and most likely killing them). Fluttershy removed her hooves and Edd lent out a hand.

Twilight and Rainbow Dash ran down the main street before being intersected by a Stalker. “sgnikaew ,eid ot emit,” the machine stated. From the border of Ponyville ALPHA fired a shot from its MAC cannon. The shot obliterated the Stalker in an instant and its remains blew across the area.

Within 15 minutes every Legionnaire had been rounded up and neutralised. Everypony cheered with joy. Isaiah rushed towards Tahlia, “Tahlia!” He collided with her and hugged her tight, “You’re alright!”

“Unless you stop squeezing I won’t be!” she groaned.

“Oop, sorry,” Isaiah apologised. He looked around and saw everypony conversing with each other. A few took guard over the captured Legionnaires. Edd walked into the crowd with Fluttershy who ran towards Twilight and the rest of the main 6.

“Glad this shits over with,” Edd stated.

* * *

“Doctor,” A soldier approached Finitevus.

“What is it!?”

“Ponyville has been retaken by Torchwood and the resident’s sir.” The soldier reported.

Finitevus fell into an instant rage and grabbed the soldier’s microphone off his suit, dragging the soldier with him as he approached a window. “Sergeant! Sergeant are you there!?”

* * *

“Sergeant!” Finitevus’ voice came through the soldier’s microphone speaker.

The trio overheard the doctor’s voice and approached the soldier. Edd placed a foot on the soldier’s shoulder and tore the microphone from his coat. “You’re getting too old for this Doc,” he mocked, “the Insurgency do a better job at trying to kill us than your Legionnaires do.”

“DAMN YOU EDWARD. I SHOULD NEVER HAVE COMMISSIONED YOU!”

“Keep telling yourself that Doc, I’m not dying any quicker listening to you repeating yourself.”

The microphone cut to static before fully deactivating. Edd let out a light chuckle before chucking the microphone back down.

Tahlia looked over towards the cheering crowd and thought for a moment how quickly it took them to retake Ponyville. Edd took note and knelt down beside her, “You OK?”

“It was so easy for us this time,” she began, “why did we win this so quickly?”

Edd got back up and walked over to the crowd of hostages. One looked up and laughed. Edd tore the soldier’s hood off his head.

He was a Mobian-Echidna youngling; maybe only 21 in age. Edd grabbed him around the throat and lifted him off the ground.

“Why’d you give up so quickly?” Edd began. The soldier gave no reply out of fear. Edd shook him slightly and pressed his throat harder, “Tell me!”

Another soldier on his left gave a noticeable chuckle. Edd dropped the youngling and moved in front of the latter.

“What’s so funny!?”

The soldier looked up at Edd, “We were never given a contingency plan for if they rebelled. We all were relying on the machinery to kill ‘em of in case that happened,” he stated in an elderly voice.

Edd knelt down and removed the soldier’s hood with care. The soldier was a Mobian-Echidna with a mild grey beard under his muzzle. “So what’s funny about you surrendering then?”

“Were expendable,” the soldier continued, “he never gave us a C-plan because he didn’t care about them or this place.”

“What do you mean?”

“Finitevus wants to turn this place into a factory, the entire planet in actual fact. And for that he needs good enough area, and this place suffices well.”

“What’s plan to clear the area then?”

The soldier laughed lightly, “Well when the flagship arrives here tomorrow, this place and everywhere else he deems good enough will be incinerated. Everyone and everything will burn to make way for glory of the Legion! Finitevus will rein in this world and later yours! Everywhere will fly the banners of our great empire!”

Edd got up and walked away from the soldier as he continued to rant. The soldier concluded hailing the Legion when Edd pulled and shot him in the head. Everypony behind them looked on in shock.

Edd walked over to Isaiah and Tahlia and holstered his sidearm, “we got 24 hours before that ship arrives at most. What’s our plan?”

“My plan,” Isaiah groaned.

“What are we gonna’ do,” Tahlia asked.

“First of all both of you stay here.” Isaiah mumbled through gritted teeth.

“NO Isaiah, were in this together you’re not going to lone-wolf the rest of this. We do this together.”

“Look around us Edd, Finitevus did all this to them. I don’t give a fuck what you say I’m taking that bastard down right here and now!”

“This isn’t a time for personal vendettas Isaiah this is serious!”

“This isn’t a vendetta Edd! This is taking revenge for all those he’s killed.”

“That’s a vendetta Isaiah.”

“WHO GIVES A FUCK EDD! MY ONLY CONCERN IS TAKING HIM DOWN NOW!”

“YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO DO IT ALONE!”

“I’LL TAKE HIM DOWN WITH ME IF THAT’S THE CASE EDD!”

“Not if I take you down first,” Edd pulled on Isaiah and aimed at him.

Isaiah stood on his hind legs with his arms extended out, “Do it then!”

Edds hand began shaking as he began to squeeze down on the trigger.

“What’s this all for Edd, are your trying to protect him still, is that inner origin of yours still fighting you to resist!?”

Edd screamed out loud as he threw his aim skywards and emptied the remainder of his ammunition.  When the slide locked he paused briefly before dripping his arm and the pistol.

Isaiah turned around and began walking towards the Fighting Machine. Tahlia ran up and tried to stop him, “Please don’t.”

“Don’t try and stop me Tahlia,” Isaiah shook her hoof of and continued walking before vanishing in a teleport. Tahlia sat down and watched as ALPHA made way in the direction of Canterlot. Edd turned around and lifted a palm to his face and covered his eyes.

“Were pretty lost on our own aren’t we Edd.” Tahlia said.

“We’ll be in deep if he kills Finitevus without trial.” He continued after her. He turned around and peered over the crowd of ponies still behind them, “anyone here know another way into Canterlot!?”

Six hooves stood out from the crowd. Everypony in front stop aside revealing Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Pinkie Pie. Spike too had his hand up but not far enough to be seen above the crowd. “Anyone else?” Edd scolded. No other response came. “God damnit,” he said in response.

* * *

Finitevus lent against the window and peered out at a regiment of soldiers in the lower courtyard. 3 lines of soldiers moved into formation with a commander out front issuing orders. After a few moments the soldiers saluted and disbanded in multiple directions. Finitevus stepped back from the window and placed his hands on his face and groaned.

A soldier approached Finitevus cradling a book. “Doctor, we’ve found something you might want to look at,” he said flipping to a random page mid-way through; the page detailed a type of ‘super weapon’ labelled within the book as the ‘Elements of Harmony.’ Finitevus gentle pulled the book from the soldiers grip and began to read. He leant against the wall beside the window and began flipping pages.

“Bring the Princesses to me,” he ordered closing the book and dropping it on the ground.

“Yes sir.” The soldier replied as he gave a nod and walked away. Another soldier approached Finitevus soon after, “Sir, recon reports the Fighting Machine is heading in this direction sir.”

Finitevus walked to the centre of the hall with his hands over his muzzle tapping his nose with his fingers. He let them drop and caught them together behind his back and walked over the window once more. “Have advance guard posted with anti-vehicle weapons ready,” he ordered.

“Yes sir.” The soldier replied before turning and walking out the main doors muttering orders into his microphone.

The first soldier returned with Celestia and Luna being led by metal chains. Both had a Harmonic Displacer clamped to their horns. [Harmonic Displacer - A device modified to disrupt certain degrees of brainwave activity. Reverse engineered from samples of SCP-148]. The soldier moved the pair to the centre of the hall before pausing. Finitevus turned and faced the trio before gesturing the soldier to move along. He did so with a nod before moving out the main doors, closing them in the process.

“We haven’t really gotten along very well haven’t we Princess,” Finitevus mocked, “but right now I need your cooperation.”

“What makes you think we would help you?” Celestia scolded.

Finitevus shifted his cloak to cover his back only before taking it off and letting it float down to the floor. As he approached the duo he reached his left hand to his belt to wield his signature sidearm; a C96 Mauser with a large bayonet under the barrel. “Because there’s only one thing from stopping us achieving total domination of this planet,” he pointed the barrel of the Mauser up to Celestia’s chin letting the bayonet pike into her flesh slightly, “the Elements of so-called Harmony Princess, where are they?”

“I refuse to tell you,” Celestia replied. Finitevus let out a light sigh.

“Really Princess you’re only making things ever so harder for yourself and your sister,” he replied dragging Luna further from her sister.

“Don’t you hurt her!” Celestia yelled.

“Hurt her?” Finitevus chuckled, “Who every mentioned hurting her?” He said returning to Celestia, loading a single round into the Mauser’s chamber. “Let’s see if your good-for-nothing sister knows anything then,” he stated tugging on the chain wrapped around Celestias neck dragging her head down to Finitevus’ shoulder height. Putting a foot on the chain he raised the Mauser and poked the barrel to Celestia’s head, “Tell me where the Elements are Princess.” He forced his words upon Luna who began to panic slightly.

“She doesn’t know. And even if she did she,” Celestia was cut short when Finitevus poked the blade harder into Celestia’s temple.

“I’m not asking you Princess. Come on now it’s that simple; tell me where the weapon is and your sister lives.”

Luna remained silent with fear.

“Tell you what then, I’ll give you on the count to five to tell me; five,” Finitevus began in a childish manner. Luna was still silent, “FOUR!” Still nothing, “THREE!” Luna’s jaw dropped slightly as she began to panic. Her breathing quickened.

“Come on now. Two.” Finitevus continued, “Last chance.” Luna inhaled heavily and exhaled. Finitevus’ expression returned to normal, “hmm too bad.”

Finitevus pulled the trigger and the shot passed straight through Celestia’s cranium. Luna screamed the loudest she had ever as her dear sister’s body collapsed to the floor. Finitevus on the other hand remained normal as he approached Luna, passing to her right and letting the blade of the bayonet slice through her cheek slightly. “You disappoint me. Both of you.” He said coldly putting his cape back on and holstering his sidearm.

He approached luna again and stood in front of her, “do you understand who we are now?” he asked before grabbing her head with both hands, “DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME PRINCESS!”

Luna broke down into tears as Finitevus stood over Celestia’s body, “this wouldn’t have happened had you’d told me where the Elements where. But you don’t know do you.”

Luna shook her head. “All you had to do was tell me. She only died because of your error Luna,” Finitevus told her before moving to the main door and opening them. Two soldiers stood to attention as Finitevus gave them orders. Both soldiers moved in to relocate Celestia’s body as a third stood behind Finitevus who gave him the order to remove Luna.

Luna lay in her cell sobbing over her sister’s death. Her only thoughts she could conceive where why she could not bring herself to say anything, only a few words could have saved her life but she knew she was too frightened to say anything. From the back of the room a light scurrying became audible. The silhouette of a small pony became visible before his features became fully apparent.

“Luna,” he said in a light whisper, “you in there?”

“What do you want Isaiah?” she replied harshly.

“Where's Finitevus?”

“Is that all you care about? Just him?” she said struggling to her fours, “because if you do, he’s in the main hall.”

Isaiah began to hear a change in her attitude, “thanks. Wheres Celestia?”

“SHES DEAD!” Luna shouted ramming her muzzle through the bars of her cell, “HE KILLED HER FOR NO REASON!”

Isaiah’s feeling of shock immediately shifted back to revenge. Both were short lived when a door opened not far from the room he and Luna occupied.

“Luna is there a library here?” Isaiah rushed the question.

“Yes, why?”

“Your sisters not going to be dead for much longer.” He replied heading to the door at the far end of the room.

As he smashed to door opened a guard was knocked back into the wall from the force of the blow. Isaiah ran out of the room and made his way down the hall. Multiple doors where scattered around the corridors but by a good guess he had a feeling the library may be guarded. A right guess as he rounded a corner to find two heavily armoured guards on both sides of a door way. Shouting in a foreign language both raised their weapons and fired at Isaiah. Isaiah span around and darted back around the corner. Without a second thought he ran into the closest room and slammed the door behind him.

From inside Isaiah could hear both soldiers speaking in a language similar to German. After a few moments gunfire erupted before ceasing. A fast paced knocking came from behind the door but Isaiah didn’t move to open it. After a few moments the door flew open throwing Isaiah forward and flipping him upside down. Edd walked in and bobbed down.

“You OK?” he asked.

“Little bit.” Isaiah replied.

“Cool, ‘cause we’ve still got shit to do,” Edd handed Isaiah his pistol before cocking his own gun (an MP40). Isaiah picked up the pistol with magic and pulled the slide back before releasing it.

“The library’s just around the corner.”

“Why are we going there?” Edd asked.

“There’s hopefully a book in there with a revival spell.”

“Why do we need that?”

“Because Celestias dead.”

“nooo,” Edd exclaimed with shock.

“Yeah, so we’re doing that before anything else.”

“I can agree with that. It’s the least we can do for them.”

“That’s true.”

Isaiah and Edd approached the corner and examined the area ahead of them. The doors to the library and the area around were clear of Legionnaires. Edd gave a countdown before both ran towards the doors yelling. As they stormed through they barred the doors with a nearby bookstand and laid against it. “Well that was anticlimactic,” Edd remarked, “let’s have a look around.”

Edd headed to a section labelled ‘Magic for advanced learners’ while Isaiah headed to a section labelled ‘Starswirl collection.’ He began scanning the titles on the shelves looking for a book which may have an appealing label. As Isaiah came to the end of the row he stood before a random door. With his magic he turned the knob on the door and walked into a small room. The sound of a piano playing came over the silence of the room. The piano itself sat in the centre accompanied by two figures; one sitting behind the piano itself and another sitting on the edge to the left.

“No it’s a G-Minor that comes afterwards,” a female voice sounded.

“No it’s a higher octave than that,” a male voice followed soon after. {Also I should point out that I don’t know musical terms}

“Are you sure?”

“Quite, listen,” the piano began to play again.

“No I still believe it sounds lower.”

“Why don’t we ask him then?” a hand began visible and pointed directly at Isaiah. Isaiah took a step back in surprise as the figure sitting on the edge of the piano got up and closed a book in her hand.

“He’s a fan of taking his time isn’t he,” she said.

“Judging by his current career record it seems he’s a natural at the idea,” the male replied.

“You call it an idea; I call it a lightly effective strategy.”

“If the strategy involves taking ones time to save the world then the idea of Superman would be a practical joke.”

Isaiah began to look extremely confused. Both individuals took note and the female gave the first announcement, “it seems our views of pop-culture references and military tactics have confused him.”

“It would seem so. Shall we just give him what he needs and move on?”

“That would be a good move right now.”

The female handed Isaiah the book he was looking for, ‘Useful spells for the dangerously adventurous.’ Isaiah was lost in confusion at that moment but had a sudden realisation, “wait, I’ve seen you guys before.”

“Maybe so,” the male replied, “but who we are is not important to you right now.”

“What do you mean?”

“It means that though you have met us in person,” the female began, “you’re not allowed to know who we are until the appropriate time.”

“When’s, or what’s the appropriate time?”

“When you’re ready, it will find you.”

“And we’ll be there when it happens,” the male concluded.

“What’s the event though?” Isaiah asked.

“What event?” Edd asked.

Isaiah turned around and saw Edd looking at him in confusion. Isaiah turned around again to find the door and the room replaced by a solid wall. Isaiah felt a wrong feeling in his head as he looked down at the book opened to the page containing the revival spell.

Isaiah sighed as he picked up the book with his magic and walked to the door with Edd.

“So how are we going to do this?” Isaiah asked.

“Do we know where Finitevus is?”

“Luna said he was in the main hall so that’s our best bet.”

“Huh. This is gonna’ be easy,” Edd scoffed.

“How’s this going to be easy?”

“Because I see the world differently sometimes Isaiah. This is one of those times.”

“How do you see things differently?” Isaiah asked.

“Fun fact about my species; during our first testing phases we’re put into an artificial dream which usually involves being put into a random 90s game.”

“You serious?” Isaiah chuckled.

“Not kidding. Right now I know the world is still real but my mental training is showing things in 2D.”

“And poorer than today’s standards graphics?” Isaiah mocked.

“Yep.”

Isaiah paused for a moment. “Ok. So what game is it you can see right now?”

“MP40 and now I’m hoping half of these guys speak German. So most likely Wolfenstein-3D.”

“This is going to be good.”

Youtube Video

^^^--{TAB AND CONTINUE}

Edd pressed his ear against the door before moving back and booting down the door. A soldier on the other side was blown to the floor from the force. Edd walked through the doorway and fired a shot at the soldier killing him before moving on the first corner. Moving on to the second a guard around the corner shouted before drawing a pistol and firing a shot. Edd took cover before drawing his own weapon and killing the guard. Moving on to a door leading to a long empty hallway. Another door lead to a room with 3 guards and a normal soldier. With ease, Edd took down the soldier and a guard but took a few hits from the other 2 and took cover. After a brief moment Edd re-emerged from cover and took the other 2 out with ease.

Passing through another door Edd encountered another guard who he took down without any problem. Through the door behind him two soldiers took aim. Edd pulled his own trigger without any effect as his weapon was empty. Taking cover from the incoming fire he switched clips and began to blind-fire around the corner, taking out both guards with ease. Passing through a final door he came across a long hallway lined with stain-glass windows. Edd moved through before the Stalker appointed to guard Finitevus smashed through from the left and smashing through the right, almost slipping of the edge of the building. Edd approached the machine before taking cover as it began desperately firing through the room. From cover Edd shot at the knee joint in the machines right leg causing it to drop from the building.

Moving up to the final door, Edd loaded a new clip and waited for Isaiah to catch up. “I seriously can’t believe that happened,” He said.

“Well it did, but there’s only one problem.”

“What’s that?”

“Not one of these guys said what I wanted them to say when they die.”

“What do you want them to say?”

Edd holstered his weapon and opened both doors before reequipping his rifle. A soldier rushed at Edd with a mounted bayonet but Edd turned and booted him in the chest. As he fell Edd took a shot and killed him. “Mein Leben!” the soldier shouted.

“Thank you!” Edd remarked.

{STOP TEH MUSIC}

Finitevus stood at the top of the staircase as he watched his last guard die. With no second thought he gave a slow clap, “Congratulations Edd you caught me.”

“Yeah you gave up to easily just now.” Edd remarked.

“You’ve wiped out all my guard and regime. And any reinforcements don’t arrive unless I give the signal tomorrow.”

“You lazy motherfucker,” Isaiah gloated.

“That is. . .” Edd began before breaking into laughter, “the funniest damn thing you have ever admitted. The great Doctor Finitevus is powerless without his little army. You are. . . so sad.”

“Quite. So what’s your plan now?”

Edd’s tone returned to normal, “Take you back to earth so you can stand trial. And hopefully get the death sentence.”

“Very well then.”

The final PoW entered DELTA shortly before sundown. Edd made sure that each was loaded into the rear module of the machine before he disabled the machines engine. Tahlia walked past towards ALPHA where Isaiah was walking away from bearing a note. Isaiah paused in front of Tahlia and titled his head down.

“I’m sorry I lashed out at you earlier.”

“It’s not your fault you got angry Isaiah.”

“I know. I just hate taking it out on you.”

Tahlia approached and hugged Isaiah. He shrugged her off shortly after and made towards Ponyville.

He stopped at the library and took a short breath before going to the front door. Before he had a chance to knock Twilight opened the door with a moderate look on her face.

“I’m sorry for everything that happened here Twilight,” Isaiah said.

“Being honest,” Twilight began, “I don’t know what to day either. I mean, noponys ever going to forget this happened.”

“You should.” Isaiah requested, “Before I go; is Celestia ok?”

“Shes alive and well,” Twilight replied.

“Good,” Isaiah said turning around, “just take this and I’ll be out of your way,” he handed Twilight the note. The note was stamped with a Foundation logo; Twilight unfurled it into a full A4 page. When she looked up to talk, Isaiah was gone.

Twilight took the note inside and began to read;

‘To whom this would concern,

Words cannot explain the horror that occurred over the last few days, but I know everything that happened will never be forgotten. But one thing in all this must be forgotten; us. We must be forgotten. Forget who we are and what we were about. Forget why we were here and what had to be done. But from all this, never forget your own bravery when you were faced with death. Never forget your own determination to keep what was yours when others sought to take it from you. Never forget who you are; amazing, beautiful and above all; unique.

Sincerely

Isaiah Foale – Torchwood-5 – SCP Foundation.’

Twilight ran out of the library towards the Everfree Forest. After 10 minutes she reached the original crash site; the area was regaining its greenery but the one anomaly was the lack of the original capsule. The area was clear. Tilting her head Twilight turned around and began to walk back to Ponyville before noticing an object on a rock; the SOFLAM Isaiah left the day before the capsule arrived.

Ending