Day -1867 - 2 Weeks Post Changeling Invasion
Day -1867 - 2 weeks after Changeling invasion of canterlot.
“I have gathered you all today to let you into a little secret of mine.”
A small group of ponies stood in the Canterlot palace great hall which was now half filled with interesting glass cases. The ponies in this group had each gotten an invitation to hold private court with Celestia herself. The topic of this court meeting had yet to be revealed. One of the ponies in the group, a yellow Pegasus, was wondering where the nobles were, if this was indeed a court meeting. Nopony else was there, save for the great alicorn that stood before them now, her ethereal mane floating about in a small breeze. The group had just been led into the hall and the big doors were closed. When the princess noticed puzzled looks from the ponies she began to speak.
“You see,” She said to the group. “Equestria has had peace for over a millennia. Up until now I have kept my subjects safe from our enemies and the horrors of war on my own. However, it would be irresponsible of me not to continue the advancement of weaponry. Throughout time, weapons have advanced with technology and I would not have an enemy arise that would wield more advanced weapons than that of Equestria. Therefore, in private I have had my top scientists working on making various weapons derived from those once used by the ‘Others’.”
She motioned to the glass cases the held oddly shaped tubes within them. These kinds of cases were arranged in various parts of the great hall.
“Go have a look at them.” She motioned with a hoof.
After a few moments of hesitation the group headed deeper into the expansive hall. While the ponies looked at the ‘tubes’ housed in the cases, the large white princess continued talking.
“The process used in these weapons is simple. There is a brass shell that is fed into a central tube or barrel. Once in place, a hammer is brought down, hitting the rear end of the shell. This triggers a pressure sensitive primer in the back of the shell, which ignites the main driving force or gun powder. This exploding powder pushes a copper projectile out of the shell and through the barrel.” She was now holding one of the said brass shells. A yellow Pegasus spoke up.
“So, these tubes are used to throw pieces of copper at our enemies? Judging by the size of these said ‘barrels’ these can’t be big enough to inflict too much damage.”
“Yes, good question Stormy. I was hoping you were going to ask me that because it gives me and excuse to do a demonstration.”
Stormy thought that an explanation would have been just fine and that a demonstration wasn't quite necessary but he went along with it. She was the princess anyway!
What Stormy hadn’t noticed was that there was a slab of granite half way down the hall past where the glass cases ended. Behind the slab were a few sheets of hoof thick rubber padding. The princess used magic to open a case, levitating out one of these tubes. One end of this tube was covered in more metal, the other left open.
“This ‘gun’ is called the MUP-50. It is derived from the ‘Other’ Barrett-50 caliber.”
The open end of the tube was then pointed at the granite slab. The already golden glowing rifle gathered more gold in a ring on the tube about a fourth of the way along the barrel. This golden cluster moved backwards, pushing a lever. There was an explosion and for a fraction of a second a ring of fire formed around the barrel of the MUP-50. In front of the white mare the granite fractured, sending debris everywhere and chunks of rock back into the rubber pads.
All of the ponies had jumped back and covered their ears with their hooves at the sound of the rifle.
“It’s a shame we didn’t have these back in the day I fought for Equestria.”
After their ears stopped ringing, a light green unicorn stepped forward from the cluster.
“If these are top secret, why did you show me?” He looked at the other ponies in the group. “Or them?”
“I showed you lightning because you are a skilled craftsman and I feel you might help my scientists with engineering the new models. As for the rest of you……I have my reasons.” She paused for a moment. “Since the changeling attack I am no longer confident that I can take care of my subjects by myself…or with the other princesses’ help for that matter. I believe it’s time that I reestablish my forces. You are the first to see these weapons but you will not be the last. You will be my….let’s say…test subjects. Today you will each take home a few guns. I want you practice and learn how to use them. You will help your country by teaching other ponies how to properly use them.”
“But princess” asked a dark pink unicorn. “What is the proper way to use them?”
“Well Arien, we don’t know. The scientists build them and test them, but he have no idea how they work in the field. That’s why you’re here. In agreeing to do this, you will join my forces. I must warn you that you may not like what I am going to say next…….If you join my forces then you will be required to use these weapons in the field. What I mean by that is, when I have one, an assignment will be given. This assignment will require you to go into battle with these guns. Seeing the damage that they inflict, it is very possible that you will kill what or whoever I send you after.” The ponies looked at the princess in horror.
“I am not going to force any of you into this…yet. Equestria is not currently under threat, so for now, its voluntary. If war comes upon us, I will draft ponies into the force.”
“But….You want us to….Kill something princess?”
“Hmm….Call me Celestia….That goes for all of you.”
“Yes, Celestia.”
“Yes, I do think that we will be seeing each other enough to be on a first name basis.”
“But Celestia, what exactly deems a creature or pony worthy of lethal force?”
“….”
“Isn’t there a moral issue with using these weapons? I mean, they kill things!”
“No, they don’t kill things, you do. Why? Will you have a problem with that order soldier?”
“No, Ma’am princess Celestia.”
The white mare laughed.
“Don’t lie to me Stormy.”
“Ma’am?”
“You used my title. I have studied soldiers since the foundation of my empire. I talk to my guard every day. That’s the way you work. You use ponies titles when you lie to them, it’s a reflex. It means your nervious.”
“But you addressed me like a soldier ma’am.”
“Never the less, if you didn’t care you wouldn’t have asked.” She didn’t seem to be too upset about it. “Don’t lie to me Stormy, I have the feeling that there might be a time when I will need to know your every feeling and opinion on certain matters.”
“Yes ma’am.”
She then addressed the rest of the ponies.
“Those who will not volunteer for my weapons testing, please return to the chariot now. Those who stay, take whatever guns you like.”
Nopony went out to the chariot. They took a few moments to pick the guns they wanted. There were six ponies in the group. There were two earth ponies, two unicorns and two pegasi. The yellow Pegasus, Stormy, picked a MAXT-308 and a chrome M1004. The other Pegasus whose name happened to be soarin, chose a VDS-54X7. The unicorn whom Celestia had called lightning, took a TAC-50. The second unicorn, Arien, grabbed a 7SK-308.
When the ponies were armed they made their way to the chariot, Celestia followed, levitating the different boxes of ammo for each pony. Stormy hadn’t planned on getting in the chariot since he was enlisted in the royal guard but Celestia had apparently been two steps ahead of him. She had rented an apartment in ponyville proper. One thing that Stormy knew as he was flying to his new residence, was that fighting would never been the same. In his mind he kept thinking of the way that that piece of granite had just been turned to dust. He hate to think of what that something like that could do to a pony.
