Ponyville PDby Word_SmithChaptersPrologueChapter One: NightmaresChapter Two: CharlieI'm sorryProloguePrologue The year is 2133 in equestria. Seventy years ago, the discovery of coal and how it could be used to power more than just trains but burnt to create a new form of energy called ‘electricity’ sparked an industrial revolution plunging Feudal Equestria into the modern world. Soon, more railroads crisscrossed the country and linked otherwise far away places to each other. Many merchants saw their opportunity to profit from the wide spread communication and distribution and began setting up trade posts everywhere they could to maximize profit. Soone after the trading posts began getting set up, small settlements popped up around them, and then bustling cities took their place. But with technology also comes unrest. Ponies began to believe that they could govern themselves better than that of the princesses. THe believed that they didn’t need a central monarchy anymore, but rather a fair way of deciding who took charge of the government. The movement started out as just a small cult that called themselves “The Fundamentalists” but quickly grew into a large political movement, and within three years, had grown from just a few dozen pony visionaries, to more than half the population. And with that support they took to the streets. It all began as peaceful protesting in the streets of Canterlot, Manehattan and other major metropolitan areas. Chants rose up into the heavens, “Republic!” Like what the griffins had done many years ago. As the support for the Fundamental movement grew, the princesses began trying to quell the rebellion. The claimed to be there to rule Equestria for the greater good, but in truth, relished the power. Endless bits, ponies at their beck and call, armies that followed their commands and the respect. Their names called into the sky in respect or spoken in terrified whispers. The power that came with being princess was too much for them to give up willingly. So they resisted, or more like slaughtered the innocent ponies of the Fundamentalist movement, then it all went to hell. The Fundamentalist changed their name to the harbingers and withdrew to the country to muster their forces. The upper members had seen this coming from the very beginning and had started looking for willing and able bodied colts and stallions that could fight for ‘The New Equestria.’ After three years of silence, the Harbingers finally attacked the small towns of Ponyville and Philydelphia. Those of which they took without any casualties or collateral damage to the town’s buildings or inhabitants. And at the command of the Sole HArbinger, or commander, of the harbingers, they quickly set up shop at the center of the town and and left the inhabitants to their lives as if they were never there. This gained them even more support from the inhabitants of Equestria. If the ponies knew they wouldn’t be harming their towns or families and leave them strictly as civilians, then they didn’t mind supporting this revolution. And, most ponies could admit to being tired of the fluctuating tax rates and restrictions put on them by the princesses who were becoming more and more paranoid. And thus the revolution continued to move east towards Canterlot, soon taking every city and town other than Canterlot with next to no resistance from the ponies. All the while, not harming a single hair on the ponies’ manes or imposing themselves upon the peaceful inhabitants. As they marched, young colts and fillies eager to be apart of something took up ranks with the Harbingers and marched to Canterlot. By the time they reached the colossal city, they had more than doubled their ranks, and armed them with short rifles and hoofguns. Their armor consisted of a tough matte material plated in steel. While the Royal army still carried the primitive spears and long swords stood no chance against the ponies of the the Harbingers and managed to take the outer city in a matter of days. But their real challenge faced them just ahead in the inner city at the palace. Celestia, being a very smart and experienced military commander, had withdrawn her soldiers before there were too many lost to the weapons of the of the Harbingers. But she prayed that it was enough. The only time that a rebellion had gotten this close to success was Nightmare Moon’s Republic lead by her very sister. The next morning the ponies of the Harbingers stood in a ring around the boundaries of the inner palace. They stood face to face against the ponies of the Equestrian Guard. The Sole Harbinger standing at the head of the most high ranking officers. He was a tall pony clad in blue robes with the strong armor under them. but unlike his followers, he was just armed with a small dagger. He didn’t look like much of a pony from the outside. Just a small grey colt, younger than most of his followers, but with sparkling blue eyes so full of experience, and sadness. He stood on his hind legs, which had become somewhat a tradition of the Harbingers. Not only did it make their weapons easier to hold, but it gave them an equal playing field against the unicorns of the guard so they wouldn’t have to grab things with their teeth. Celestia trotted out to head her troops, fear in her eyes at the Stallion in front of her. She was flanked by three of her highest commanders, one of which being her sister, and two archers stood atop the rooftops watching the meeting, ready to protect their princess. “So this is the stallion that has laid claim to my throne and seized my subjects and cities for his own little rebellion.” She said, hate filled her voice. “I come here to discuss the terms of your surrender.” He said plainly. Celestia scoffed at the pony in front of her. “You think I would surrender to you, a meager earth pony from the country?” She asked, trying to hide her fear with a brave face. “I can feel your fear princess, you fear me, and the ponies behind me.” He paused allowing the soldiers behind him a quick “HooRah!” Before he began his speech. “You fear change Princess.” “MY sister fears no pony!” Luna exclaimed, outraged by the pony before her. Insulting royalty as if they were common ponies. “But there is still a chance for us both to walk away from this. For the ponies of the guard to go back to their families. and live in this new world that we can create and govern together. Create a new form of government, like the griffins did all those years ago. For Equestria to prosper and become what the creator intended it to be from the beginning.” He preached to the ponies not just in front of him, but to the ponies behind them. Reassuring them that their efforts were not in vain. “No, this war has begun and it shall be finished. I will not allow my soldiers to go back to their homes until this is all over.” She said stamping her hoof into the ground. “That’s not your call to make.” He said. He turned away from her and climbed up a small wall until he overlooked the ponies that lined up on each side. First he looked to the ponies on the his side. “How many of you regret what you are doing here? How many of you would rather go back to your homes, to your families, raise your hoof into the air and you are released from duty. There is no shame in this action!” He called over to the side of the Harbingers. His words reached the ears of everypony in the crowd, but not a single sound was heard from them as they all stayed silent and still as statues. He smiled to himself and turned to the side of the Canterlot guard. “How many of you are tired of being ordered by this pony.” He said gesturing down to the Princess. “How many of you even want to fight, and die for her. How many of you would rather hold your families, your foals, your wives and lovers than fight here today. We don’t have to do this, this battle today. So I beg of you, throw down your weapons and go to your homes unharmed. We are not in this to kill, only to change.” He closed his mouth and swallowed. His throat was raw from the speaking, but his heart was high, knowing that he was so close to his goal. After a few moments of silence, a young pony broke the ranks of the guard and walked to the front of the crowd. He threw down his sword and helmet with a metallic clang. Without turning to face the ponies of the guard he shoved past the princesses, making them grit their teeth. He drew himself up onto his hind legs and continued trotting towards the Sole Harbinger who stuck his hoof down to him. the pony took the hoof and climbed up onto the perch with him. He was just a young colt, not much older than than himself, but the boldest among his fellow guards. “You are the bravest pony here today.” The Sole Harbinger said batting the pony on the shoulder. The pony just nodded and turned to the other guards. “The princesses are the reason we are gathered here today, the reason you can’t be with our families today. I know that today is Roy’s wife’s birthday and he wanted ever so bad to be there with her, but got called off to a war he didn’t even want. I know that Kory’s son is turning eight today, but was terrified that his father was going to have to fight today.” The pony called into the crowd, his voice cracking with fear, but he became more confident as he went along. “Lee’s anniversary is today, Sage’s mother just passed away last week but she got called away from home last month and missed the funeral.” He listed off several more ponies until his voice became hoarse and kept going. until he had named off twenty ponies total. “None of us want this war except her, a failing goddess!” He shouted the last of his speech before hopping down off the perch and taking up rank with the Harbingers. The pony next to him handed him a small hoof gun and slapped him fondly on the back. At the sight of the Celestia stamped her hoof against the ground and the two ponies on the rooftops released their bow strings. He had forgotten about the archers until now and had no time to react. Though he was lucky, he wasn’t invincible. One of the arrows whizzed just past his ear, but the second buried itself in his shoulder, missing his armor completely. The force of the impact made him lose his balance and he fell from the perch but managed to land ungracefully on his hooves. the shaft of the arrow protruded from his chest like a marker. The harbingers each raised their weapons and trained them on either the princesses or the achers. “Hold!” The Sole Harbinger yelled holding his hoof up. He grabbed the shaft of the arrow and yanked it out of his shoulder, tearing a chunk of flesh out with it. He cast the arrow to the ground along with the dark blue robes with just his armor underneath. He tied the robes off around his chest to stop the bleeding. “Ooh, you’re a tough one.” Celestia mocked picking up the arrow with her magick and examining the blood on the tip. “The offer still stands.” He said as he turned back and walked into the middle of his troops. “Open fire!” He called once he was out of the way. As gunfire tore apart the silence that had reigned before, he trotted off back to the command tent. He knew that harrow had been poisoned, he could feel it burning the blood in his veins already. He knew he was finished, but he was going to see this war won before it was over. good thing it was almost there as well, for he was only days away from death. And so the final battles raged on throughout the next few days. Pushing the remaining members of the guard back to the palace. And this time, there were deaths many deaths. Every guard the Harbingers met they either killed or let free, depending on how they felt about the cause. As the gunfire rang out just outside the palace and within a few hours just outside her throne room, Celestia hung her head in shame. The empire that she had built with her sister was crumbling before her eyes. And at last she saw her error, her position had clouded her thinking, but she had finally come to the conclusion of why these ponies had risen up against her. She realized that she was wrong. She thought that she had been right to defend tradition, but she was never more wrong. She had thrown away the lives of hundreds of ponies that had been killed in the streets by the ponies that just wanted the future. When she had become princess, her mother had told her that she was there to protect the throne and the kingdom by any means necessary, but her mother had been wrong. Oh so very wrong. As the ponies burst through the doors to the throne room, rifles pushed into their shoulders, Celestia dropped to her knees and put hr forehooves in the air as a sign of surrender. The Harbingers seemed to be surprised by the lack of ponies in the throne room, when in reality, she was all that was left. All her guards had died for her and Luna had fled to the moon with her children. She said she didn’t want to see her foals die because of her sisters ignorance. She had opened her eyes before Celestia had and gotten out in time, Celestia only wished she could do the same. One of the ponies that had stormed the room pressed the barrel of his rifle against her forehead. His bronze armor glinted in the sun that filtered through the windows. “Hello Shepard.” She said with a sigh at remembrance of the private that had broken rank at the boundaries. “Glad to see you know my name.” He said relaxing his grip on the assault rifle and setting it on the ground. “The Sole Harbinger died yesterday because of that arrow, he wanted me to tell you.” Shepard said. Celestia looked town to the ground in shame. “Before you kill me, I just wanted to say, I’m sorry. For everything.” She said with absolutely no hope. “I’m sure you are.” He said drawing his knife and sliding it across her throat. She didn’t die in a glamourous manner, but instead choking on her own blood. The blood of a dying empire, and a new one to replace it. 80 years later, the Equestrian Republic is the dominant country in both technology, and economics. The land took little to no time to rebuild with the war march of peace during the Harbingers Revolution. The government was a different story altogether. It took them nearly three years to figure out what they were going to do in terms of a style of leadership but eventually settled on the original idea of voting for representatives and a president to represent the country that had been the original idea of the harbingers. Now, the bustling city of Ponyville is the biggest in the country. But with size, comes corruption. Drug lords run the streets and thieves as well as gangs run the businesses. Carrying on his grandfather’s legacy, Detective Roy Shepard leads the Ponyville PD in a mission to try and instill order in this crazy town. Though, his job is going to be more than difficult than he ever could have imagined. Chapter One: NightmaresChapter One Shepard sat at the front of the dark van as it drove quickly down the streets of Ponyville. His hooves twitched nervously on each bump of the street. He didn’t know why he was so nervous now. Normally, he was incredibly calm, but it had been something about the op that just didn’t feel right to him. It was all too easy, but the intel was supposed to be good, so he didn’t question it. “What’s wrong with you today?” His friend Charlie said nudging him with his hoof. “Something about this op doesn’t sit right with me.” Shepard said gazing out the blacked out window of the van. “C’mon, you’re a legend old timer. It’s just a simple snatch n’ grab and we’re out of there.” Charlie said shifting the gear. “Then why do we have them?” Shepard said pointing behind him to the ponies in the back of the van. “Precaution.” Charlie said. “Speaking of which,” He trailed off as he picked up his radio and pressed on the side button. “Ready up gentle men, we’re almost there.” He said into the radio and released the button. Almost instantly, there was a rustle of movement in the sheltered back of the van followed by the snapping of body armor and cocking of firearms. He pulled his own hoof gun out of his coat and checked it for the fourth time that morning. Everything was properly assembled and cleaned. As he put the hoof back into his jacket, Charlie rounded the corner and the warehouse came into view. Shepard tried to control his breathing as it came into view. The massive, gray building had supposedly been used by several drug lords and was currently said to be occupied by one of the most wanted ponies in the Equestrian Republic, Jeremiah Fink. Charlie pulled into an alley across the street from the warehouse and pulled the keys out of the ignition. Shepard immediately hopped out of the van and waved to the other two as they arrived. He tapped on the rear of the van and the doors burst open and six heavily armed ponies poured out of the back and took up ranks at the front of the alley, quickly joined by the other armed ponies from the other three vans. “You keep this thing ready to go!” Shepard called into the van before closing the back doors. “Somepony sounds nervous.” A voice said from behind Shepard making him jump in fright. He turned around quickly, his hoof rested on his holster, ready to draw his gun. But instead of a criminal with a gun to his head, his partner, Clair, stood behind him, an amused glint in her eye. “Dammit Clair!” He exclaimed sliding his gun back into the holster at his hip. “Someone’s grumpy. C’mon smile.” She said pushing up the corners of his lips with a her hooves producing a half goofy, half insane smile on the older detective’s face. “Hey, if you two lovebirds are finished, we’ve got a job to do!” One of the armed ponies called back to them. Shepard quickly swatted her hooves away and stuffed his in the pockets of his coat. While Shepard stood there, an embarrassed blush growing on his cheeks, Clair walked past him and over to the team of ponies. “Don’t be jealous.” She said flicking the pony’s nose and walking past him to the edge of the alley. Shepard rushed to join her, catching strange looks from the entire team of ponies. He took his spot next to her and peeked out across the street at the warehouse. There didn’t seem to be any guards or anybody for that matter. He put his earpiece in and the rest of the ponies followed suit. He pressed a small button on his cuff and whispered, “We’re on the clock.” Suddenly, four ponies ran out across the street, each of them carrying a large metal pole that they were using as a battering ram. Behind them the rest of the team followed, save two ponies armed with high powered rifles who deployed the bipods on the hoods of a pair of cars and clocked on their sights. Last to follow were Shepard and Clair, who made their way across the street as quickly as they could and took up positions next to the SWAT ponies. Shepard removed his hoofgun from its holster and clicked off the safety but kept his hoof off the trigger. He nodded to the four ponies carrying the pole and they backed away from the door. “One, two three!” The pony at the front yelled and on three they slammed the pole into the metal door of the warehouse. It collided with a loud ringing bang, but it didn’t give. They brought back the pole for another blow. “One, two, three!” The pony at the front called out and like the first time, they brought the pole forward and slammed it into the door again, with an even louder bang. “C’mon colts, one more.” The pony at the front called to the other three. “One, two, three!” He yelled and the ponies slammed the pole against the door harder than they had the first two times. But rather than the door swinging open, it fell right off its hinges and slid across the concrete floor of the warehouse. The four ponies dropped the pole and readied their weapons. One of the swat ponies peered into the warehouse but was met by darkness. “Flash lights on.” He said clicking on the light at the end of his shotgun. Shepard took out a small flashlight that he kept in his pocket and pressed the button on the end which switched it on. The pony at the front nodded and rushed into the warehouse followed one by one by the rest of the ponies and finally by Clair and Shepard. From the outside, the warehouse didn’t seem like much, but on the inside, the floor was littered with all kinds of equipment and shelves that went up and disappeared into the darkness. “Alright colts, they know we’re here. We split into three groups, group A, take the right, B, left and C, right. Unknowns are hostiles.” tHe lead pony said quietly. He motioned with his hooves and the ponies split themselves up. “Clair, you go with them.” Shepard said pointing to the group going down the right side of the shelves, searching for anypony in the warehouse. “I’m going left.” She nodded and hurried after the ponies. He had a hunch that something bad was about to happen, but he couldn’t act on hunches alone. He followed the ponies on the right, his padded boots making just the slightest sound as they hit the floor, but it was drowned out by the stomping of the SWAT ponies. Suddenly the warehouse lights came to life, illuminating the entire building. THe SWAT ponies scurried under the shelves and behind boxes for cover leaving Shepard standing alone in the middle of the aisle. “Who the hell turned the lights on?” One of the ponies behind him hissed into his earpiece. As if in answer, three gunshots rang out from the other side of the complex. “Shots fired, I repeat, we have shots fired!” A voice crackled over the microphone. “Shit.” Shepard said ducking under a shelf. “What’s going on over there?” The pony next to shepard asked. “Oh shit.” A younger pony said over the microphone. “Answer me boy, what’s going on!” The pony shouted into his radio. As if in answer, more gunfire rang out. “C’mon.” The pony said stuffing his earpiece back into his ear and moving out from the cover of the shelf. The rest of the ponies followed suit and began rushing towards what had been the sound of gunfire. As they trotted, they could hear more movement in the distance, making Shepard pick up his pace until he had surpassed the SWAT ponies. He could feel it in his belly that this was what was destined to go wrong that today, and Shepard wasn’t sure he wanted to know what it was. They rounded a corner and a crowd of ponies in full tactical gear came into view through a glass window leading to the overseers office. Several ponies inside noticed Shepard coming and one picked up his radio. “Hey, keep Shepard out of here, he doesn’t need to see this just yet.” The one said into his radio, but Shepard didn’t hear him because his earpiece dangled down around his collar. He grasped the door handle and twisted it. At this point, everypony had noticed them coming and watched him open the door. He stepped into the room and looked dubiously the saddened faces of the ponies around him, though he couldn’t see why as they were standing too close to make out what was in the center of the room. “Let him by.” A voice said from the center of the room. The armored ponies shuffled out of the way, making a path towards the middle of the room. All that he could make out was a small pony in a field nurses uniform standing hunched over a smaller figure. The nurse stood up and stepped away from the thing in the center. As she moved out of the way, Shepard saw what she had been hunched over and dropped his hoofgun on the ground with a loud ‘clunk.’ The blood in his veins turned to ice and time seemed to slow down. He didn’t want to believe what lie before him, in front of his very eyes. for on the ground lay his partner. Clair was dead. He shuffled his hooves over to her and dropped to his knees next to her. Blood still seeped from three gunshot wounds to her chest, but her heart no longer beat. He turned his attention from her wounds to her face. Her mouth was drawn back in a snarl which stirred Shepard’s heart. ‘You always were a fighter.’ He thought to himself. Her green eyes had glazed over with pain and her pristine white coat had been stained red by her own blood. He placed his hooves over her eyes lids and drew them down as well as closing her jaws, so at least she looked peaceful, and then he wept He wept harder than he ever had, harder than he had when his father had died, harder than when his sister had been murdered while he was serving in ‘The Second Great Changeling War.’ But his vision started to go fuzzy and an acute ringing began in his ears which grew with intensity until his vision went black and he was deafened by his own ears. His eyes snapped open against the weak moonlight. His body was shivering and drenched in sweat. He untangled himself from his sheets which were now a mess, as they always were now adays. He was plagued by constant nightmares and hardly ever got a good night sleep anymore. He stood up and popped his back, and that’s when he noticed the knock at his door. He quickly made a grab for his hoofgun and brushed his mane out of his eyes. He walked out of his room and into his small living room which he had kept relatively clean, unlike the kitchen. As he reached the door, the knocking stopped and a voice called from the otherside. “Shepard, drop the damn gun and open the door!” Chapter Two: CharlieChapter Two: charlie Shepard lowered his gun as he heard the voice. It was one he recognized, but not one he wanted to hear. “Hey, Shepard?” He called in. Without answering, Shepard unlocked the door and pulled it open. Outside was his old friend, Charlie. The tall chestnut pony stood before him in a grey business suit. “Oh, wow, you look like shit.” Charlie said looking at Shepard. And he was right. “Why are you here?” Shepard rasped. He didn’t talk to people much so his voice was very rough. “Just dropping by to see how your retirement is going.” Charlie said stepping inside. Shepard eyes him suspiciously. “Why are you really here.” Shepard said raising his gun again. Charlie put his hoof on the barrel of the firearm and pushed it back down again. “You really are paranoid, you know.’ Charlie said. Shepard stayed silent but lowered his weapon. “I’ve got something to talk to you about.” Charlie said walking past him and sitting down on the couch. “Charlie, I’ve told you I’m not coming back.” Shepard said stuffing the gun in the back of his pants. “Just hear me out. How about this, you go clean up, and we’ll go get lunch and discuss it then.” Charlie said standing up. “As long as you’re buying.” Shepard grumbled. “As always my friend!” Charlie said. Shepard walked past his friend and into the bathroom. He closed the door and flicked on the light. As soon as he saw himself in the mirror he took a step back. “I really do look like shit.” He said to himself. His thin layer of stubble that he had always grown every weekend had turned into a thin, scraggly beard. His dark grey mane was plastered against his head littered with an unholy amount of tangles. He muttered obscenities and started the shower. His gun fell out of the back of his pants and clattered to the ground as he took off his shirt. As he put the thin cotton shirt on the counter, he saw the long scar that had plagued him for years. Reminding him of his failure to protect his friends while he was in the military. He hated it, he hated himself. He was never there when others needed him. He wasn’t there for his friends when they had died, he wasn’t there for Slate when he was being harassed and the worst of all, he wasn’t there for Clair. He knew something was going to happen that day and it did, and he wasn’t there for her. And he hated himself for it. He shook his head to rid himself of the memories. He finished undressing and quickly got in the shower. Out on the couch, Charlie was flipping through a magazine for high powered rifles that had been sitting on the coffee table. He looked up when he noticed Shepard out of the corner of his eye. He was wearing a plain white T-shirt and a pair of worn jeans. He was freshly shaven and his mane fell down just past his collar. “Plain and simple.” Charlie said standing up. “I am not a complex stallion.” Said Shepard as he did the clasp on his watch. With that Charlie walked towards the door and Shepard followed him. The two of them walked into a small cafe and made their ways to the back quickly followed by a waiter. “What can I get you colts?” She asked pulling out a small writing pad. “We’ll both take coffee.” Charlie said. She nodded and tore the note off the pad and went back to the kitchen. Charlie craned his neck to see the mare as she disappeared around the corner into the kitchen. “Well she was cute.” He said turning back to Shepard. “How are you not in prison yet?” Shepard asked. “Why I never!” Charlie said holding his hoof to his chest in an innocent manner. “That doesn’t help.” He said putting the menu down as the waiter placed their coffee cups down on the table. and just before she walked away, she made a big deal of winking at Shepard. As she walked away, Shepard smugly sipped his coffee while Charlie just stared at him. “So, what is your ‘glorious proposition’ for me to come back to the police station?” Shepard asked. “This.” Charlie said pulling a thin yellow file out of his jacket and handing it to Shepard. He opened t up and was greeted by the face of a young mare with amber fur and shimmering blue eyes. “Robin Thatcher, so what?” He said looking through the mare’s file. “She’s a rookie that’s being transferred here from Trottingham. She graduated from the academy with the highest scores and recommendations since, well, you.” Charlie said. “And you want me to mentor a rookie. I’m sorry, do you know me?” Shepard said. “I’m not a very good teacher.” “You won't be teaching her anything, she’ll be your partner. Not your student.” “Sorry, but no.” Shepard said closing the file. “You got anything better than a cute mare?” He asked. Without saying anything else, Charlie pulled a significantly larger file out of his suit and placed it on the table. Shepard picked it up and opened it, but almost dropped it as he read the name. “I’m in.” He said slamming the file down on the table. “I knew that would persuade you.” Charlie said happily. “I’ll do anything to see that stallion’s head in a noose.” Shepard said standing up. “w-where are you going?” Charlie asked him. “I gotta go get fitted for a suit. If i’m gonna be a detective, I’ve gotta dress the part.” Shepard said, repeating the exact words he had said when he was promoted twelve years ago. Excerpt From The Diary of Roy Shepard Entry #234 I guess I should start writing in this old thing again. Today Charlie came to try and get me to come and join back up with him as a detective. I was skeptical at first, but he showed me the case file of Jeremiah Fink. He was tried for murder but found not guilty, and that’s a problem. They need someone good, very good, to help them gather the needed evidence to put this guy away. As for the new mare that I’m going to be working with, I hope she’s not a waste of my time... I'm sorryHey guys, if you can't tell already, this isn't a true chapter. I'm so sorry to do this but I'm going to have to cancel this story. I had big plans for this one, but they were just a wee too big to be good for me. I would have to devote more time than I have or. An make to turn this onto the best thing possible. While I maybe should lower my expectations, I don't want to write a half assed story because I know you guys won't accept half assery. So I'm just going to cut production of this altogether.
ProloguePrologue The year is 2133 in equestria. Seventy years ago, the discovery of coal and how it could be used to power more than just trains but burnt to create a new form of energy called ‘electricity’ sparked an industrial revolution plunging Feudal Equestria into the modern world. Soon, more railroads crisscrossed the country and linked otherwise far away places to each other. Many merchants saw their opportunity to profit from the wide spread communication and distribution and began setting up trade posts everywhere they could to maximize profit. Soone after the trading posts began getting set up, small settlements popped up around them, and then bustling cities took their place. But with technology also comes unrest. Ponies began to believe that they could govern themselves better than that of the princesses. THe believed that they didn’t need a central monarchy anymore, but rather a fair way of deciding who took charge of the government. The movement started out as just a small cult that called themselves “The Fundamentalists” but quickly grew into a large political movement, and within three years, had grown from just a few dozen pony visionaries, to more than half the population. And with that support they took to the streets. It all began as peaceful protesting in the streets of Canterlot, Manehattan and other major metropolitan areas. Chants rose up into the heavens, “Republic!” Like what the griffins had done many years ago. As the support for the Fundamental movement grew, the princesses began trying to quell the rebellion. The claimed to be there to rule Equestria for the greater good, but in truth, relished the power. Endless bits, ponies at their beck and call, armies that followed their commands and the respect. Their names called into the sky in respect or spoken in terrified whispers. The power that came with being princess was too much for them to give up willingly. So they resisted, or more like slaughtered the innocent ponies of the Fundamentalist movement, then it all went to hell. The Fundamentalist changed their name to the harbingers and withdrew to the country to muster their forces. The upper members had seen this coming from the very beginning and had started looking for willing and able bodied colts and stallions that could fight for ‘The New Equestria.’ After three years of silence, the Harbingers finally attacked the small towns of Ponyville and Philydelphia. Those of which they took without any casualties or collateral damage to the town’s buildings or inhabitants. And at the command of the Sole HArbinger, or commander, of the harbingers, they quickly set up shop at the center of the town and and left the inhabitants to their lives as if they were never there. This gained them even more support from the inhabitants of Equestria. If the ponies knew they wouldn’t be harming their towns or families and leave them strictly as civilians, then they didn’t mind supporting this revolution. And, most ponies could admit to being tired of the fluctuating tax rates and restrictions put on them by the princesses who were becoming more and more paranoid. And thus the revolution continued to move east towards Canterlot, soon taking every city and town other than Canterlot with next to no resistance from the ponies. All the while, not harming a single hair on the ponies’ manes or imposing themselves upon the peaceful inhabitants. As they marched, young colts and fillies eager to be apart of something took up ranks with the Harbingers and marched to Canterlot. By the time they reached the colossal city, they had more than doubled their ranks, and armed them with short rifles and hoofguns. Their armor consisted of a tough matte material plated in steel. While the Royal army still carried the primitive spears and long swords stood no chance against the ponies of the the Harbingers and managed to take the outer city in a matter of days. But their real challenge faced them just ahead in the inner city at the palace. Celestia, being a very smart and experienced military commander, had withdrawn her soldiers before there were too many lost to the weapons of the of the Harbingers. But she prayed that it was enough. The only time that a rebellion had gotten this close to success was Nightmare Moon’s Republic lead by her very sister. The next morning the ponies of the Harbingers stood in a ring around the boundaries of the inner palace. They stood face to face against the ponies of the Equestrian Guard. The Sole Harbinger standing at the head of the most high ranking officers. He was a tall pony clad in blue robes with the strong armor under them. but unlike his followers, he was just armed with a small dagger. He didn’t look like much of a pony from the outside. Just a small grey colt, younger than most of his followers, but with sparkling blue eyes so full of experience, and sadness. He stood on his hind legs, which had become somewhat a tradition of the Harbingers. Not only did it make their weapons easier to hold, but it gave them an equal playing field against the unicorns of the guard so they wouldn’t have to grab things with their teeth. Celestia trotted out to head her troops, fear in her eyes at the Stallion in front of her. She was flanked by three of her highest commanders, one of which being her sister, and two archers stood atop the rooftops watching the meeting, ready to protect their princess. “So this is the stallion that has laid claim to my throne and seized my subjects and cities for his own little rebellion.” She said, hate filled her voice. “I come here to discuss the terms of your surrender.” He said plainly. Celestia scoffed at the pony in front of her. “You think I would surrender to you, a meager earth pony from the country?” She asked, trying to hide her fear with a brave face. “I can feel your fear princess, you fear me, and the ponies behind me.” He paused allowing the soldiers behind him a quick “HooRah!” Before he began his speech. “You fear change Princess.” “MY sister fears no pony!” Luna exclaimed, outraged by the pony before her. Insulting royalty as if they were common ponies. “But there is still a chance for us both to walk away from this. For the ponies of the guard to go back to their families. and live in this new world that we can create and govern together. Create a new form of government, like the griffins did all those years ago. For Equestria to prosper and become what the creator intended it to be from the beginning.” He preached to the ponies not just in front of him, but to the ponies behind them. Reassuring them that their efforts were not in vain. “No, this war has begun and it shall be finished. I will not allow my soldiers to go back to their homes until this is all over.” She said stamping her hoof into the ground. “That’s not your call to make.” He said. He turned away from her and climbed up a small wall until he overlooked the ponies that lined up on each side. First he looked to the ponies on the his side. “How many of you regret what you are doing here? How many of you would rather go back to your homes, to your families, raise your hoof into the air and you are released from duty. There is no shame in this action!” He called over to the side of the Harbingers. His words reached the ears of everypony in the crowd, but not a single sound was heard from them as they all stayed silent and still as statues. He smiled to himself and turned to the side of the Canterlot guard. “How many of you are tired of being ordered by this pony.” He said gesturing down to the Princess. “How many of you even want to fight, and die for her. How many of you would rather hold your families, your foals, your wives and lovers than fight here today. We don’t have to do this, this battle today. So I beg of you, throw down your weapons and go to your homes unharmed. We are not in this to kill, only to change.” He closed his mouth and swallowed. His throat was raw from the speaking, but his heart was high, knowing that he was so close to his goal. After a few moments of silence, a young pony broke the ranks of the guard and walked to the front of the crowd. He threw down his sword and helmet with a metallic clang. Without turning to face the ponies of the guard he shoved past the princesses, making them grit their teeth. He drew himself up onto his hind legs and continued trotting towards the Sole Harbinger who stuck his hoof down to him. the pony took the hoof and climbed up onto the perch with him. He was just a young colt, not much older than than himself, but the boldest among his fellow guards. “You are the bravest pony here today.” The Sole Harbinger said batting the pony on the shoulder. The pony just nodded and turned to the other guards. “The princesses are the reason we are gathered here today, the reason you can’t be with our families today. I know that today is Roy’s wife’s birthday and he wanted ever so bad to be there with her, but got called off to a war he didn’t even want. I know that Kory’s son is turning eight today, but was terrified that his father was going to have to fight today.” The pony called into the crowd, his voice cracking with fear, but he became more confident as he went along. “Lee’s anniversary is today, Sage’s mother just passed away last week but she got called away from home last month and missed the funeral.” He listed off several more ponies until his voice became hoarse and kept going. until he had named off twenty ponies total. “None of us want this war except her, a failing goddess!” He shouted the last of his speech before hopping down off the perch and taking up rank with the Harbingers. The pony next to him handed him a small hoof gun and slapped him fondly on the back. At the sight of the Celestia stamped her hoof against the ground and the two ponies on the rooftops released their bow strings. He had forgotten about the archers until now and had no time to react. Though he was lucky, he wasn’t invincible. One of the arrows whizzed just past his ear, but the second buried itself in his shoulder, missing his armor completely. The force of the impact made him lose his balance and he fell from the perch but managed to land ungracefully on his hooves. the shaft of the arrow protruded from his chest like a marker. The harbingers each raised their weapons and trained them on either the princesses or the achers. “Hold!” The Sole Harbinger yelled holding his hoof up. He grabbed the shaft of the arrow and yanked it out of his shoulder, tearing a chunk of flesh out with it. He cast the arrow to the ground along with the dark blue robes with just his armor underneath. He tied the robes off around his chest to stop the bleeding. “Ooh, you’re a tough one.” Celestia mocked picking up the arrow with her magick and examining the blood on the tip. “The offer still stands.” He said as he turned back and walked into the middle of his troops. “Open fire!” He called once he was out of the way. As gunfire tore apart the silence that had reigned before, he trotted off back to the command tent. He knew that harrow had been poisoned, he could feel it burning the blood in his veins already. He knew he was finished, but he was going to see this war won before it was over. good thing it was almost there as well, for he was only days away from death. And so the final battles raged on throughout the next few days. Pushing the remaining members of the guard back to the palace. And this time, there were deaths many deaths. Every guard the Harbingers met they either killed or let free, depending on how they felt about the cause. As the gunfire rang out just outside the palace and within a few hours just outside her throne room, Celestia hung her head in shame. The empire that she had built with her sister was crumbling before her eyes. And at last she saw her error, her position had clouded her thinking, but she had finally come to the conclusion of why these ponies had risen up against her. She realized that she was wrong. She thought that she had been right to defend tradition, but she was never more wrong. She had thrown away the lives of hundreds of ponies that had been killed in the streets by the ponies that just wanted the future. When she had become princess, her mother had told her that she was there to protect the throne and the kingdom by any means necessary, but her mother had been wrong. Oh so very wrong. As the ponies burst through the doors to the throne room, rifles pushed into their shoulders, Celestia dropped to her knees and put hr forehooves in the air as a sign of surrender. The Harbingers seemed to be surprised by the lack of ponies in the throne room, when in reality, she was all that was left. All her guards had died for her and Luna had fled to the moon with her children. She said she didn’t want to see her foals die because of her sisters ignorance. She had opened her eyes before Celestia had and gotten out in time, Celestia only wished she could do the same. One of the ponies that had stormed the room pressed the barrel of his rifle against her forehead. His bronze armor glinted in the sun that filtered through the windows. “Hello Shepard.” She said with a sigh at remembrance of the private that had broken rank at the boundaries. “Glad to see you know my name.” He said relaxing his grip on the assault rifle and setting it on the ground. “The Sole Harbinger died yesterday because of that arrow, he wanted me to tell you.” Shepard said. Celestia looked town to the ground in shame. “Before you kill me, I just wanted to say, I’m sorry. For everything.” She said with absolutely no hope. “I’m sure you are.” He said drawing his knife and sliding it across her throat. She didn’t die in a glamourous manner, but instead choking on her own blood. The blood of a dying empire, and a new one to replace it. 80 years later, the Equestrian Republic is the dominant country in both technology, and economics. The land took little to no time to rebuild with the war march of peace during the Harbingers Revolution. The government was a different story altogether. It took them nearly three years to figure out what they were going to do in terms of a style of leadership but eventually settled on the original idea of voting for representatives and a president to represent the country that had been the original idea of the harbingers. Now, the bustling city of Ponyville is the biggest in the country. But with size, comes corruption. Drug lords run the streets and thieves as well as gangs run the businesses. Carrying on his grandfather’s legacy, Detective Roy Shepard leads the Ponyville PD in a mission to try and instill order in this crazy town. Though, his job is going to be more than difficult than he ever could have imagined.
Chapter One: NightmaresChapter One Shepard sat at the front of the dark van as it drove quickly down the streets of Ponyville. His hooves twitched nervously on each bump of the street. He didn’t know why he was so nervous now. Normally, he was incredibly calm, but it had been something about the op that just didn’t feel right to him. It was all too easy, but the intel was supposed to be good, so he didn’t question it. “What’s wrong with you today?” His friend Charlie said nudging him with his hoof. “Something about this op doesn’t sit right with me.” Shepard said gazing out the blacked out window of the van. “C’mon, you’re a legend old timer. It’s just a simple snatch n’ grab and we’re out of there.” Charlie said shifting the gear. “Then why do we have them?” Shepard said pointing behind him to the ponies in the back of the van. “Precaution.” Charlie said. “Speaking of which,” He trailed off as he picked up his radio and pressed on the side button. “Ready up gentle men, we’re almost there.” He said into the radio and released the button. Almost instantly, there was a rustle of movement in the sheltered back of the van followed by the snapping of body armor and cocking of firearms. He pulled his own hoof gun out of his coat and checked it for the fourth time that morning. Everything was properly assembled and cleaned. As he put the hoof back into his jacket, Charlie rounded the corner and the warehouse came into view. Shepard tried to control his breathing as it came into view. The massive, gray building had supposedly been used by several drug lords and was currently said to be occupied by one of the most wanted ponies in the Equestrian Republic, Jeremiah Fink. Charlie pulled into an alley across the street from the warehouse and pulled the keys out of the ignition. Shepard immediately hopped out of the van and waved to the other two as they arrived. He tapped on the rear of the van and the doors burst open and six heavily armed ponies poured out of the back and took up ranks at the front of the alley, quickly joined by the other armed ponies from the other three vans. “You keep this thing ready to go!” Shepard called into the van before closing the back doors. “Somepony sounds nervous.” A voice said from behind Shepard making him jump in fright. He turned around quickly, his hoof rested on his holster, ready to draw his gun. But instead of a criminal with a gun to his head, his partner, Clair, stood behind him, an amused glint in her eye. “Dammit Clair!” He exclaimed sliding his gun back into the holster at his hip. “Someone’s grumpy. C’mon smile.” She said pushing up the corners of his lips with a her hooves producing a half goofy, half insane smile on the older detective’s face. “Hey, if you two lovebirds are finished, we’ve got a job to do!” One of the armed ponies called back to them. Shepard quickly swatted her hooves away and stuffed his in the pockets of his coat. While Shepard stood there, an embarrassed blush growing on his cheeks, Clair walked past him and over to the team of ponies. “Don’t be jealous.” She said flicking the pony’s nose and walking past him to the edge of the alley. Shepard rushed to join her, catching strange looks from the entire team of ponies. He took his spot next to her and peeked out across the street at the warehouse. There didn’t seem to be any guards or anybody for that matter. He put his earpiece in and the rest of the ponies followed suit. He pressed a small button on his cuff and whispered, “We’re on the clock.” Suddenly, four ponies ran out across the street, each of them carrying a large metal pole that they were using as a battering ram. Behind them the rest of the team followed, save two ponies armed with high powered rifles who deployed the bipods on the hoods of a pair of cars and clocked on their sights. Last to follow were Shepard and Clair, who made their way across the street as quickly as they could and took up positions next to the SWAT ponies. Shepard removed his hoofgun from its holster and clicked off the safety but kept his hoof off the trigger. He nodded to the four ponies carrying the pole and they backed away from the door. “One, two three!” The pony at the front yelled and on three they slammed the pole into the metal door of the warehouse. It collided with a loud ringing bang, but it didn’t give. They brought back the pole for another blow. “One, two, three!” The pony at the front called out and like the first time, they brought the pole forward and slammed it into the door again, with an even louder bang. “C’mon colts, one more.” The pony at the front called to the other three. “One, two, three!” He yelled and the ponies slammed the pole against the door harder than they had the first two times. But rather than the door swinging open, it fell right off its hinges and slid across the concrete floor of the warehouse. The four ponies dropped the pole and readied their weapons. One of the swat ponies peered into the warehouse but was met by darkness. “Flash lights on.” He said clicking on the light at the end of his shotgun. Shepard took out a small flashlight that he kept in his pocket and pressed the button on the end which switched it on. The pony at the front nodded and rushed into the warehouse followed one by one by the rest of the ponies and finally by Clair and Shepard. From the outside, the warehouse didn’t seem like much, but on the inside, the floor was littered with all kinds of equipment and shelves that went up and disappeared into the darkness. “Alright colts, they know we’re here. We split into three groups, group A, take the right, B, left and C, right. Unknowns are hostiles.” tHe lead pony said quietly. He motioned with his hooves and the ponies split themselves up. “Clair, you go with them.” Shepard said pointing to the group going down the right side of the shelves, searching for anypony in the warehouse. “I’m going left.” She nodded and hurried after the ponies. He had a hunch that something bad was about to happen, but he couldn’t act on hunches alone. He followed the ponies on the right, his padded boots making just the slightest sound as they hit the floor, but it was drowned out by the stomping of the SWAT ponies. Suddenly the warehouse lights came to life, illuminating the entire building. THe SWAT ponies scurried under the shelves and behind boxes for cover leaving Shepard standing alone in the middle of the aisle. “Who the hell turned the lights on?” One of the ponies behind him hissed into his earpiece. As if in answer, three gunshots rang out from the other side of the complex. “Shots fired, I repeat, we have shots fired!” A voice crackled over the microphone. “Shit.” Shepard said ducking under a shelf. “What’s going on over there?” The pony next to shepard asked. “Oh shit.” A younger pony said over the microphone. “Answer me boy, what’s going on!” The pony shouted into his radio. As if in answer, more gunfire rang out. “C’mon.” The pony said stuffing his earpiece back into his ear and moving out from the cover of the shelf. The rest of the ponies followed suit and began rushing towards what had been the sound of gunfire. As they trotted, they could hear more movement in the distance, making Shepard pick up his pace until he had surpassed the SWAT ponies. He could feel it in his belly that this was what was destined to go wrong that today, and Shepard wasn’t sure he wanted to know what it was. They rounded a corner and a crowd of ponies in full tactical gear came into view through a glass window leading to the overseers office. Several ponies inside noticed Shepard coming and one picked up his radio. “Hey, keep Shepard out of here, he doesn’t need to see this just yet.” The one said into his radio, but Shepard didn’t hear him because his earpiece dangled down around his collar. He grasped the door handle and twisted it. At this point, everypony had noticed them coming and watched him open the door. He stepped into the room and looked dubiously the saddened faces of the ponies around him, though he couldn’t see why as they were standing too close to make out what was in the center of the room. “Let him by.” A voice said from the center of the room. The armored ponies shuffled out of the way, making a path towards the middle of the room. All that he could make out was a small pony in a field nurses uniform standing hunched over a smaller figure. The nurse stood up and stepped away from the thing in the center. As she moved out of the way, Shepard saw what she had been hunched over and dropped his hoofgun on the ground with a loud ‘clunk.’ The blood in his veins turned to ice and time seemed to slow down. He didn’t want to believe what lie before him, in front of his very eyes. for on the ground lay his partner. Clair was dead. He shuffled his hooves over to her and dropped to his knees next to her. Blood still seeped from three gunshot wounds to her chest, but her heart no longer beat. He turned his attention from her wounds to her face. Her mouth was drawn back in a snarl which stirred Shepard’s heart. ‘You always were a fighter.’ He thought to himself. Her green eyes had glazed over with pain and her pristine white coat had been stained red by her own blood. He placed his hooves over her eyes lids and drew them down as well as closing her jaws, so at least she looked peaceful, and then he wept He wept harder than he ever had, harder than he had when his father had died, harder than when his sister had been murdered while he was serving in ‘The Second Great Changeling War.’ But his vision started to go fuzzy and an acute ringing began in his ears which grew with intensity until his vision went black and he was deafened by his own ears. His eyes snapped open against the weak moonlight. His body was shivering and drenched in sweat. He untangled himself from his sheets which were now a mess, as they always were now adays. He was plagued by constant nightmares and hardly ever got a good night sleep anymore. He stood up and popped his back, and that’s when he noticed the knock at his door. He quickly made a grab for his hoofgun and brushed his mane out of his eyes. He walked out of his room and into his small living room which he had kept relatively clean, unlike the kitchen. As he reached the door, the knocking stopped and a voice called from the otherside. “Shepard, drop the damn gun and open the door!”
Chapter Two: CharlieChapter Two: charlie Shepard lowered his gun as he heard the voice. It was one he recognized, but not one he wanted to hear. “Hey, Shepard?” He called in. Without answering, Shepard unlocked the door and pulled it open. Outside was his old friend, Charlie. The tall chestnut pony stood before him in a grey business suit. “Oh, wow, you look like shit.” Charlie said looking at Shepard. And he was right. “Why are you here?” Shepard rasped. He didn’t talk to people much so his voice was very rough. “Just dropping by to see how your retirement is going.” Charlie said stepping inside. Shepard eyes him suspiciously. “Why are you really here.” Shepard said raising his gun again. Charlie put his hoof on the barrel of the firearm and pushed it back down again. “You really are paranoid, you know.’ Charlie said. Shepard stayed silent but lowered his weapon. “I’ve got something to talk to you about.” Charlie said walking past him and sitting down on the couch. “Charlie, I’ve told you I’m not coming back.” Shepard said stuffing the gun in the back of his pants. “Just hear me out. How about this, you go clean up, and we’ll go get lunch and discuss it then.” Charlie said standing up. “As long as you’re buying.” Shepard grumbled. “As always my friend!” Charlie said. Shepard walked past his friend and into the bathroom. He closed the door and flicked on the light. As soon as he saw himself in the mirror he took a step back. “I really do look like shit.” He said to himself. His thin layer of stubble that he had always grown every weekend had turned into a thin, scraggly beard. His dark grey mane was plastered against his head littered with an unholy amount of tangles. He muttered obscenities and started the shower. His gun fell out of the back of his pants and clattered to the ground as he took off his shirt. As he put the thin cotton shirt on the counter, he saw the long scar that had plagued him for years. Reminding him of his failure to protect his friends while he was in the military. He hated it, he hated himself. He was never there when others needed him. He wasn’t there for his friends when they had died, he wasn’t there for Slate when he was being harassed and the worst of all, he wasn’t there for Clair. He knew something was going to happen that day and it did, and he wasn’t there for her. And he hated himself for it. He shook his head to rid himself of the memories. He finished undressing and quickly got in the shower. Out on the couch, Charlie was flipping through a magazine for high powered rifles that had been sitting on the coffee table. He looked up when he noticed Shepard out of the corner of his eye. He was wearing a plain white T-shirt and a pair of worn jeans. He was freshly shaven and his mane fell down just past his collar. “Plain and simple.” Charlie said standing up. “I am not a complex stallion.” Said Shepard as he did the clasp on his watch. With that Charlie walked towards the door and Shepard followed him. The two of them walked into a small cafe and made their ways to the back quickly followed by a waiter. “What can I get you colts?” She asked pulling out a small writing pad. “We’ll both take coffee.” Charlie said. She nodded and tore the note off the pad and went back to the kitchen. Charlie craned his neck to see the mare as she disappeared around the corner into the kitchen. “Well she was cute.” He said turning back to Shepard. “How are you not in prison yet?” Shepard asked. “Why I never!” Charlie said holding his hoof to his chest in an innocent manner. “That doesn’t help.” He said putting the menu down as the waiter placed their coffee cups down on the table. and just before she walked away, she made a big deal of winking at Shepard. As she walked away, Shepard smugly sipped his coffee while Charlie just stared at him. “So, what is your ‘glorious proposition’ for me to come back to the police station?” Shepard asked. “This.” Charlie said pulling a thin yellow file out of his jacket and handing it to Shepard. He opened t up and was greeted by the face of a young mare with amber fur and shimmering blue eyes. “Robin Thatcher, so what?” He said looking through the mare’s file. “She’s a rookie that’s being transferred here from Trottingham. She graduated from the academy with the highest scores and recommendations since, well, you.” Charlie said. “And you want me to mentor a rookie. I’m sorry, do you know me?” Shepard said. “I’m not a very good teacher.” “You won't be teaching her anything, she’ll be your partner. Not your student.” “Sorry, but no.” Shepard said closing the file. “You got anything better than a cute mare?” He asked. Without saying anything else, Charlie pulled a significantly larger file out of his suit and placed it on the table. Shepard picked it up and opened it, but almost dropped it as he read the name. “I’m in.” He said slamming the file down on the table. “I knew that would persuade you.” Charlie said happily. “I’ll do anything to see that stallion’s head in a noose.” Shepard said standing up. “w-where are you going?” Charlie asked him. “I gotta go get fitted for a suit. If i’m gonna be a detective, I’ve gotta dress the part.” Shepard said, repeating the exact words he had said when he was promoted twelve years ago. Excerpt From The Diary of Roy Shepard Entry #234 I guess I should start writing in this old thing again. Today Charlie came to try and get me to come and join back up with him as a detective. I was skeptical at first, but he showed me the case file of Jeremiah Fink. He was tried for murder but found not guilty, and that’s a problem. They need someone good, very good, to help them gather the needed evidence to put this guy away. As for the new mare that I’m going to be working with, I hope she’s not a waste of my time...
I'm sorryHey guys, if you can't tell already, this isn't a true chapter. I'm so sorry to do this but I'm going to have to cancel this story. I had big plans for this one, but they were just a wee too big to be good for me. I would have to devote more time than I have or. An make to turn this onto the best thing possible. While I maybe should lower my expectations, I don't want to write a half assed story because I know you guys won't accept half assery. So I'm just going to cut production of this altogether.
