Stargate SG1: Equestrian Arc

Chapter 5

Contingency

Teal’c pondered the morning’s events. He had spent most of the time in recon of the village and the surrounding area. Along the northern road, he had come across a pony blockade with several Royal Guard soldier ponies staffing. They had told him that Princess Celestia had sent them out during the night and had set up security checkpoints along the road at the village’s access points; they had reported nothing. Teal’c didn’t like, nor trusted that answer. Surly there would have been some news or information on the activities of alien species somewhere in this world. Even gossip lines of communications would have brought about some reactions. The activities of the Goa’uld do not simply go unnoticed. If it had not been for the children ponies’ insistence to show him the bakery, they would have all been caught in an ambush. There was at least ten Jaffa that he counted when the attack began, led by those very guard ponies from the checkpoint. On top of that, there seemed to be even more civilian ponies, twenty or more he guessed, helping the Jaffa gather up their fellow citizens. Had Teal’c not seen it with his own eyes, he would not have believed it.

Either these ponies had betrayed them, or they held implanted symbioses; Teal’c didn’t know which. Normally, if they had symbiotes, he would have sensed their presence. But because the ponies all gave off the same feelings, they masked themselves from him. The only thing Teal’c knew now was that he could no longer rely on those sensations.

The Jaffa had begun their attack in broad daylight and fanned out across the village. It was unfortunate that he could do nothing more for the villagers Teal’c told himself as he watched groups panicking ponies fleeing from the battle. He couldn’t risk exposing his self and those he now protected in order to help and to do so would only get every one captured. Thankfully, he could tell that, by the angle of the shots, the Jaffa fired, that those ponies were not targeted directly, but rather, herded towards the towns train’s station.

With Zat in hand, Teal’c took up position behind the upturned wagon. He didn’t want to inadvertently hurt an innocent pony with his staff weapon, so he had strapped the weapon across his back but still within easy reach. He looked over his shoulder; the pony family that the children brought him to was hastily preparing their own wagon for departure. The young fillies were now helping the stallion, Mr. Cake with the pink pony who had unexpectedly and mysteriously, passed out, into the back of the wagon while Mrs. Cake tended her own children. A staff weapon blast landed nearby as dirt and debris rained down upon him; The Jaffa was closing in on them.

“Colonel O Nell said that everyone was to rendezvous in the dense forest, go now quickly, I will create a diversion.”

Apple Bloom looked over at him, “What about you Teal’c?”

“I will be fine, get the others to safety. I will be right behind you.”

Carrot clicked himself into the harness as Cup fastened the twins into their seats in the wagon. “Go sugar plumb, were all set!”

“Hold on Honey bun, I’m running like we were late for delivery!”

The passengers of the wagon screamed as another staff blast exploded next the wagon when the Jaffa soldier walked around the corner of the building. Teal’c turned and returned fire, stunning the soldier before he could fire again, “Go, and don’t stop for anything.”

Then Teal’c stepped from behind the drawing the attention of another two soldiers as Carrot took off at a solid run down the road. The first soldier tried to take aim at the departing wagon but only got a point-blank shot from Teal’c’s Zat-nik-tel instead.

As the first soldier, fell; the second Jaffa swung his staff weapon around like a club knocking the Zat from Teal’c hands. He then brought the weapon around to fire upon his opponent , but Teal’c, with reflexes of a seasoned warrior, grabbed hold of the end of the soldier’s staff weapon just inside the staffs cannon’s end, redirecting the shot harmlessly into the ground then thrusting an uppercut to the soldier’s mid-section disarming him, as well.

Teal’c then stepped to the side and with the one hand, brought the procured weapon around in a wide arc over his head then down low to the back of his opponent’s knees, falling him backwards, folding him over his own legs and onto the ground, finishing him off with blunt blow to his head, knocking him unconscious.

Teal’c knelt down next to the soldier looking him over. Clearly, he had the mark of Ra upon his forehead but something seemed different about it. It was the mark was that of his eternal eye but instead of a pupil, it was that of a crescent moon. He turned his attention to the other; he too had the same mark; then he noticed the marking on each of their arms, or more importantly, the lack of a mark. There were burn marks on each of them where old tattoos had been removed. By the pattern outline of the burn marks, he could only tell that they were not from Chulak nor any other world from which Jaffa came from. But he had seen this outline before, and this could only mean one thing…

He had to get this information back to Colonel O Nell Teal’c told himself and as he reached out and grabbed hold of his Zat, then paused as he felt the point of the staff weapon just behind his head.

….

How could she leave him? Apple Bloom thought to herself as she held on the edge of the wagon as it bumped down the road. She looked back down the trail, expecting him to come running up around the bend. Surely, he would have caught up by now especially now that Mr. Cake had slowed to a trot when they were out of sight of Ponyville.

Try as she might, Apple Bloom couldn’t shake the worry from her mind and the gnawing in her gut. Something went wrong; she knew it. She glanced over her shoulder at the others. She was only going to get one chance at this and if she asked for permission, she already knew what the answer would be.

“I’m sorry everyone,” Apple Bloom said in her mind as she leapt from the wagon and headed back towards town, the screams of the others for her to come back, drowned in faded echoes.

….

“Spread the word for every pony to run into the Everfree Forest. It should be safe for them once they’re inside,” Twilight ordered as she, Rarity, and Applejack ran into the town. “You two, take the east side, Spike and I will take the west.”

“Relatively safe,” said Rarity reminding her. “Most of the ponies in Ponyville avoid going there for good reasons and those who have, haven’t been in there as often as we have.”

“I know, I don’t like it either, but it will be safer for them in there than being here. Once we get everyone, we can stay around Zecora's hut. From there, we can figure out what to do next. And keep an eye out for Pinky Pie and Rainbow Dash.”

“I saw Pinky Pie at Sugar Cube Corner early this morning before heading out to Applejacks,” said Rarity. “She should still be there. We’ll go check on her first.”

And Rainbow Dash was still at the Wonder Bolt training Academy,” Applejack added. “But I’m kind of surprised that she isn’t here already here. We all know that if Ponyville were in danger then she would be the first one here.”

“Maybe something has happened to her at the Academy,” Twilight said, maybe the Academy has been attacked as well.” Twilights eyes narrowed as the multitude of thoughts permeated her brain. Now, it wasn't just an attack on Ponyville that worried her, it was all of Equestria. If the Academy has also been under attack, what about Canterlot. What of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna? What about…”

“Don’t worry Sugar cube,” said Applejack placing a hoof across her shoulder. “We’ll find them. Then once we’re together, we’ll head to Canterlot to find out what’s going on. Com’on Rarity, let’s see if we can track down Pinky Pie.”

Twilight winced as she watched them go, she felt so helpless without her magic.

Twilight turned to run but stopped and fell back onto her haunches in utter shock of the tall stallion that stood before her. Its dark grey coat and midnight blue armor and flared out bat like wings, gave it an overwhelming presence that halted them both where they stood. She couldn't believe what she saw, but there was no mistaking it, it was a Lunar Guard. The guard reared back on its hind legs and aimed its attack.

Without hesitation, Twilight instinctively concentrated on her spell to take them both out of harm’s way. The spell of teleportation was almost a part of her now, and she could use it without even have to think of a destination and activate it in the blink of an eye. A split second later Twilight's eyes went wide; the stallion was still in front of them bearing his weight down upon his front hooves, and she froze in panic as the realization that the spell did not initiate.

Spike shook off the effect first and shouldered his body into the distracted Unicorn, pushing her to the side. The stallions hooves came down with a loud thump, and Spike’s little body skidded across the ground.

Time seemed to slow for Twilight as she toppled over to the ground. The sounds of the battle echoed through her ears as the scene played out in front of her like a wave of fog underwater. She saw him fall; she screamed his name. She tried to move, but her body wouldn’t respond. The night stallion had become three, like an ominous black cloud that stood over her. Was this the end for her? What had happened to them? What force could drive them to do this? Was this the fate for all her ponies? The stallion reared again; Twilight closed her eyes.

The stallion’s eyes went wide as the electric blue light enveloped his body; then he went limp and fell to the ground. The other two turned to face the attackers but before they could react, they too fell to the ground under the spell of the stranger’s device.

“Twilight!”

“Twilight, come on snap out of it, we’ve got to go!”

Twilight recognized that voice… it was the voice of the human woman… the voice of Samantha. Sam had knelt in front of her calling to her; Twilight shook her head and remembered.

“Spike!”

“Daniels got him, but we’ve got to go now. Can you run?”

Warily, and with the help of Samantha, Twilight righted herself back onto her hooves and watched as Daniel reached out and scooped Spike up in his arms.

“Yes; But what of Apple Jack, Rarity, and Pinky Pie? Have you seen them?”

“I don’t know,” said Sam. “We did not run into them but there is no time to go looking. If they’re as smart as I think they are, they will be fine on their own.”

Twilight nodded, she was still worried but trusted Sam’s opinion, and they all started for the forest.

….

With the staff weapon mere inches from the back of his head, Teal’c cursed himself for being so careless.

“So, I see you did survive Shol’va, how unfortunate for you.”

Teal’c showed no sign of emotion, focusing only on the one who spoke as another Jaffa retrieved the weapon from his hand. “And you are?”

“I am Laca’s, First prime to Lord Ra, not that it will mean much after I kill you.”

“Then I will take heart in knowing that I will die by a warrior such as yourself… one who would kill his enemy in defiance of his god.”

“Unlike you, I would never betray my god. I have served Ra faithfully for nearly one hundred years. My Loyalty is absolute. His word is law and will be obeyed without question.”

Teal’c pushed his luck, the more he could get him to talk, the more time he had to think of a way out. “Then if you were to kill me now then you would be doing exactly that. Any First Prime loyal to his god must capture and interrogate any high value prisoners. To do so, would go against the will of the gods. If you are indeed loyal to Ra, then why were you, not with him on Abydos?”

Laca’s grew angry,“That is none of your concern Shol’va.

Ignoring that answer, he continued. “And what of this Khonsu? Do you feel the same loyalty to him, as well? A joint collaboration of gods; who will you answer too?” Laca’s activated his staff; Teal’c knew his time was up.

Laca’s weapon was steady in his hand; it was so close to the back of his skull of his enemy. He could see the sweat dripping from Teal’c’s neck, and knew the shot would take his it clean off. Laca’s afforded himself a smile and glance at his surroundings. Ra will be most pleased with his actions but in truth, the pleasure would be all his. “Ra is all knowing, your information is useless to him. But I… I have waited a long time for this day. And to watch you die on this wretched planet next to these filthy animals will be a most fitting end for you… And one I will cherish for another hundred years.”

Teal’c lifted an eyebrow in thought as Laca’s’s words floated across his mind. There were many reasons why loyal Jaffa would want to kill him, but this sounded like there was something more to it… more personal. He wasn’t quite sure on what to do about it when a small voice called out.

“Let um go ya big bullies!”

Teal’c didn’t waste the opportunity and the moment he felt Laca’s’s attention waver, he reacted.

Teal’c spun around as Laca’s pulled the trigger; his perfect shot missed. In one fluid movement, Teal’c grabbed the mid-section of his opponent’s staff pulling him closer and landing his left fist across Laca’s’s jaw, knocking him to the ground. He then spun again planting a heavy boot into the second Jaffa also knocking him back.

He knew the surprise attack wouldn’t last for long, as the others would realize quickly what had just transpired and would quickly ascend upon them so this only left him with one course of action; He dropped the staff weapon, pivoted, and ran for the voice. Apple Bloom stood at the far edge of the building. She had put her life in danger to come back for him, now he had to get her out of here before that would happen.

Apple Bloom leaped out from behind some boxes where she kept herself concealed. Teal’c held out an arm and scooped her up and she crawled over his shoulder and onto his back. “Teal’c, you’re hurt?” Apple Bloom shouted as she saw the graze of the staff weapons burn mark across the ridge of his shoulders.

Teal’c didn’t miss a stride as they passed the last buildings of the village and into the forest thick. “I will be okay Apple Bloom. Thanks to you, the burn will heal.”

….

Laca’s was furious; Teal’c had gotten away. Ever since Lord Ra told him that, he and his Taur’ri allies had survived the flooding of the caverns he knew his revenge on the murderer would soon come to pass. There had always been war between the gods, but what Teal’c had done went beyond war. No, the day Apophis had found Kel’noc would be a day forever scorched in his mind. And even as a Shol’va, Teal’c was First Prime to Ra’s archenemy Apophis… and he would answer for his crimes.

Laca’s stood and with a wave of his staff, he ordered his soldiers to attention. “Kree, Jaffa,” Right now, there was much to be done, he did not trust those creatures in their new servitude, but Ra had ordered their use in gathering new slaves for the mines. The attack and capture of these creatures had gone according to plan with over fifty percent of the population now under Ra’s control. The Tau’ri and the Shol’va had retreated with the survivors like cowards and Laca’s smiled like a predator stalking his prey; the mice would soon come out, and he would pounce on them and devour them like the vermin they were.

Laca’s turned and started walking back for his station when he heard something moving from inside one of the buildings. He halted his group then silently signaled for two of them to go around back.

“Hurry up Rarity; it’s gotten mighty quiet out there. Pinky Pie isn’t here, and we gotta go.”

“I’ll be there Applejack; I just needed to make sure some pony wasn’t hiding in a closet or something. I fear something bad has happened to her. Even under circumstances such as this, she of all ponies wouldn’t be hiding, and it would have taken an army to pull her away from wanting to throw even these ruffians a party.”

“All of which means, Twilight and the others may have found her already. We had better catch up to them.”

“What do you think these… aliens, want with us anyway?”

“I don’t know, but I do know that they sure could hurt a lot of us. And without yours and Twilights magic working properly, I gotta nasty feeling that even the Elements of Harmony might not be able to stop them. This sure took us all by surprise. According to Jack and his friends, they weren’t expecting this neither. I…” Applejack paused, “you hear that?” She whispered as the squeak came to her again. Applejack pointed a hoof. “Out the back…”

It was too late…

As the front doors of Sugarcube Corner burst in, staff weapon fire blasted the bakeries front sales counter sending burning pastries flying through the air. Flames and smoke filled the air as Applejack and Rarity ran through the hallway and into the kitchen.

The rear door came crashing open as two of the alien soldiers stood in front of them. Rarity gasped but ducked to the side as one of them brought his staff weapon to bear on her. Applejack, however kept her momentum and with a powerful heave from her strong hind legs, leapt over Rarity and plowed into their, would be, attackers sending both of them back out into the street.

Rarity was already on her hooves and ran past Applejack as she skidded around to face one of the soldiers who had already recovered and back on his feet “Thars no way y’all are gunna lay a hand on this pony.”

The soldier brought his weapon around like a club, and Applejack dogged it with easy. A second thrust from the other end missed as well striking the ground.

The creature was fast and almost twice her size in height but this wasn’t the first hoof fight she had ever been in, although, never against someone wielding a giant stick. Applejack wavered as she underestimated the range he had with it.

The soldier swung the weapon around holding it from one end clipping her in the ear and knocking off her hat. Now she was mad.

She wanted to pick it back up, but the soldier would let her near it and kept wildly swinging at her. She knew that if he ever made contact with her then it would be all over; she had to go on the offensive. “I sure hope Rarity got away,” Applejack thought as danced around with her opponent maneuvering him into position.

A moment later, she found her opportunity.

Applejack turned abruptly and planted her forehooves into the dirt, reared her hind legs and delivered a tree shattering kick to the creature’s midsection. The Jaffa soldier let out a gurgling gasp of air as he flew back dropping his staff weapon, then lay silent, and still upon the ground.

Applejack walked over to her fallen hat, when a fire blast landed between them spraying her with rock and dirt, sending her hat flying and Applejack falling to the ground.

“Enough! or I will kill the other.”

Applejack looked around; the blast had come from another soldier kneeling down next to another who stood over top of Rarity. She had been captured, bound, gagged, and lying at their feet.

Applejack couldn’t understand what he said, but she knew what he meant as Laca’s placed the opened end of his weapon at Rarity’s head and stood in silence and allowed two other soldiers to do the same to her.

“Take them to the mines and place this one in a holding cell, Ra has ordered that the white one be delivered directly to him. If the other tries to escape, Kill it.”

Author's Note

This chapter is shorter then I wanted but work has been really busy since the holidays and i haven't had much time to work on it