Operation A.R.K

“Don’t worry Twilight, I’ll be fine,” Spike said. Twilight hugged her assistant and stood up.

“Okay girls, let’s go get that train up,” Twilight ordered. The others nodded and followed Twilight to the train station. Axious, Kit and Rotor faced the opposite direction and crept forward to the hideout where their friends were captured. The three manes waited outside of the train station, secretly watching Twilight and her friends as they board the train to the Crystal Empire. Axious signaled the team to go in and in they went. As the train hissed and blew its horn for the next destination of its journey, the three stallions sat across a row from where Twilight and her friends were sitting at. Axious looked at Kit and Rotor who sat across from him. They nod their heads and stood still and calm. The ride was full of sound from the ponies ahead of the three ARK’s. They watch in silence as the seven friends laugh and shared stories.

“What do you think Princess Cadence wants you over at the Crystal Empire for?” Fluttershy asked.

“I don’t know. Last time I was there, these weird stallions were fighting and I was held hostage. Then one stallion saved my life but I can’t remember what had happened to him. All I know is his team died. It was very scary,” Twilight said.

“They said that the stallion was brave, and daring. Man I wish I was there to see that!” Rainbow Dash said as she jumps in excitement.

“I wouldn’t count on it Rainbow. The guards who gave their live for me were part of an elite class of knights called Delta’s. They were supposed to be the finest, but apparently they had a hard time fighting with all of the residents running around,” Twilight said.

“It pains me to hear such tragic tales of woe,” Rarity said.

“Well one thing is for sure, they did their duty and served loyally in the end,” Twilight said. Axious smiled and snickered.

“What is it man?” Rotor asked.

“Nothing, it’s just that, well, as royal guards we’re supposed to serve our loyalty to our kingdom and to our princess’s. No matter what the situation is, we stand together in the end,” Axious said.

“Well, that’s real loyalty there man,” Rotor said.

“Yeah, but we’re royal guards…we’re meant to be expendable,” Axious said.

“Not to us you don’t. We’re in this together man. We’re in it till the end,” Kit said.

“You can say that again, Rotor alleged. Axious smiled and looked outside the window. Rainbow Dash happened to notice the two and whispered in Twilight’s ear.

“Say Twilight...Those three ponies over there are strange looking,” Rainbow said. Twilight looked behind her and saw the three hooded stallions.

“Maybe there not used to being seen,” Twilight said.

“I doubt it,” Rainbow said. The train soon hissed as it reached its destination. The others walked off the train all excited about what was going to happen. Axious and his buddies walked off the opposite direction and followed the seven friends quietly and stealthily.

“Something is wrong,” Axious stated. The others looked at him.

“What is it?” Kit asked.

“…there were supposed to be guards here to escort us. But there not here,” Axious said.

“Those guards are sloppy, there’s nothing wrong here,” Rotor said. Axious couldn’t help but sense that something was wrong. As the three continued to walk silently through the streets, the whole city was apparently deserted.

“Okay, this is weird…where is everypony?” Twilight asked.

“Maybe they’re still sleeping?” Pinkie suggested. The three followed slowly behind the seven and soon Rainbow Dash was quite suspicious now.

“Okay, those ponies seem to be following us Twi,” Rainbow alleged.

“I’m sure they’re just lost…where’s Armor and Cadence at though?” Twilight asked.

“Where the hay is everypony, is the correct term to use,” Apple Jack said. As the seven plus the three ponies continued to walk the quiet streets, thing became intense.

“I don’t like this,” Kit said. As they continued to walk down the street, something came out of the blue and shot at Rotor in his left wing.

“Gah!” Rotor screamed and fell on the ground.

“Rotor is hit!” Kit shouted. Soon a mysterious barrage of arrows began to fire upon the ponies. Twilight and her friends found cover behind a stand, while Axious and Kit had to drag Rotor up and find a secure position for themselves.

“What the hay is going on?” Apple Jack shouted as she dogged an arrow that almost stuck her head.

“Somepony or something is shooting at us!” Twilight alleged

“No duh, you think we haven’t noticed Twilight?” Rainbow asked. Twilight looked around and saw where the three ponies were at. Axious was laying magic at the towers that were firing arrows at them, while Kit was bandaging up Rotor’s wing.

“Dang it, what’s going on?” Rotor shouted.

“Seems like we’ve fell into a trap,” Axious said as he launched a ray of magic at one of the towers.

“Who’s firing at us though is the question,” Kit said as he finished bandaging Rotors wing. Axious saw where Twilight and her friends were pinned down at and had a plan.

“Kit, I want you to run over to where Twilight and her friends are at. Get that blue pegasus to fly behind the towers and see if she can find out who’s firing at us. I’ll support you,” Axious ordered.

“Roger that boss. Rotor, can you fly still?” Kit inquired.

“I may have a shot wing…but I can reroute the power inside of my wing to make me still fly, just not fast enough,” Rotor said.

“Okay, on my order secure that position,” Axious shouted. The two nodded and as soon as Axious dropped his hoof, he gave the signal. “Go, go, go!” Axious announced and gave covering fire to his team. Rotor and Kit ran to where Twilight and where her friends were at and secured a safe zone. Axious soon left his position and ran across the street while providing covering fire for himself. He saw a huge chunk of a boulder coming at him, luckily he dogged the attack, but the explosion was so high that it caught Axious in the air and sent him flying. He used his horn to teleport himself to where his buddies were at. Rotor and Kit saw where Twilight was at and ran to her side. Twilight looked up in shock as she saw the two coming behind her.

“Girls look out!” Twilight shouted, and the others turned around to see the two. But instead of harming them, Kit threw a paper bomb at one of the towers and caused it to explode. As the tower collapsed Rotor ran up to the ponies.

“You girls okay?” Rotor asked them. They all nodded awkwardly at the two.

“Kit, where’s Axious?” Rotor asked. Axious then teleported his body to where his teammates were at and took a little breather.

“*sigh*…that was close. Did you secure?” Axious asked.

“It’s going to be hard with these barrages of arrows coming at us,” Kit said.

“Okay, you there, Rainbow Dash, I want you and Rotor to fly behind and see what were up against, Kit, you stay here and escort these ponies to safety. Your highness I need you with me,” Axious said. Twilight was confused right now.

“Hold on, who are you ponies?” She asked.

“Were ponies you can trust…now let’s get moving!” Axious ordered.

“So, Rainbow Dash, lest see what we’re up against,” Rotor said as he flew up.

“What the hay is going on?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“No time, follow him, or you’ll not survive!” Axious alleged. Rainbow grunted and flew after him.

“Right behind you, you weird looking pegasus,” Rainbow Dash alleged. As he and Rainbow Dash flew off, Axious turned to the others.

“Okay, Kit, gather everypony up. Your highness, I need you to help me provide cover for your friends,” Axious said. Twilight didn’t know what to do, or what was going on. But she knew she had to get herself and her friends out of this place and into safety. She sighed and looked at the stallion.

“Okay…what’s your name again?” She asked.

“It’s Axious…Leader of ARK squad. Now Kit, wait until me and Twilight start firing, ready Twilight?” Axious asked. Twilight nodded and the two of them ran out and began to fire rays of magic at the towers.

“Now girls, go!” Twilight shouted. Kit ran ahead and signaled the others.

“Okay, let’s go now, come on! Move it, move it, move it!” Kit ordered. Apple Jack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Spike began to run across the field to the safe house to take cover. Axious and Twilight fired several shots at the tower and caused some of the firing to die down. Meanwhile, Rotor and Rainbow Dash flew behind the towers and scoped out who they were up against.

“Do you see anything?” Rotor asked. Rainbow looked around and couldn’t believe her eyes.

“I don’t believe it…look over there,” Rainbow Dash said as she pointed to her left. Rotor looked and saw a tall fury creature that stood on all fours; it had a body of a lion and a head of an eagle.

“Griffons!” Rotor snapped.

“How did they get here?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“They didn’t, we we’re taken,” Rotor said.

“What kind of Griffons takes ponies in trains?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Those aren’t any Griffons,” Rotor said.

“Who are they?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“I’ll tell you later, come on; we need to get back to-!” Rotor’s words were cut off.

“Huh, what did you say-AH-!” Rainbow screamed as two shadowy figures captured them and dragged them off. Meanwhile the firing from the towers seemed to have subsided and all was quiet. Axious and Twilight breathed heavily as they tried to catch their breaths.

“Man…that was close,” Axious said. Twilight chuckled.

“Yeah, thanks Axious,” Twilight said.

“You’re welcome your highness,” He said. Axious and Twilight then ran to where the others were at and hid with them.

“Oh, thanks goodness you’re alright,” Rarity said. The six friends held each other as they felt relieved. Axious went to Kit.

“Seen Rotor or Rainbow Dash yet?” Axious asked

“No, I can’t seem to find them, and Kit’s not reporting in his Pip Comm” Kit alleged.

“Something’s wrong…they might’ve been compromised,” Axious said. Twilight over hear their talk.

“Sir, you think they were captured?” Kit asked.

"Oh, no, do you think that they were?” Twilight asked Axious. Axious turned to the girls and sighed. He saw that the train was still operational, and that they still had time to get to the Crystal Empire.

“*Sigh*…Okay, here’s what I want you to do. Your Highness, I need you and your friends to restart the train and hold it until my signal,” Axious said. The others were confused at this idea.

“What do have up your hoof guard?” Twilight asked

“If Rotor and Rainbow have been indeed captured, they likely may have been taken hostage. Me and Kit will go and retrieve them; but you girls have to start the train and get it ready for departure when we arrive,” Axious ordered.

“Are you sure? The two of you might not stand a chance,” Apple Jack alleged.

“Don’t worry; we’ve handled major situations like this. Now go and get the train starting, Kit, with me, you too dragon,” Axious said. Spike’s eyes shot opened as he looked around and saw that he was talking to him.

“Uh…me?” Spike asked.

“Yes you, you’re tall enough to fight, plus you and I will distract the guard while Kit saves your friends,” Axious announced. Twilight was not pleased with this.

“No way, there is no way no how that Spike is going with you two!” Twilight said.

“Your Highness, I must reject your declination…And don’t worry, I’ll look after him. You have my word,” Axious pledged. Twilight looked at Spike who looked determined to fight after what they had done to them.

“Just be careful okay?” Twilight asked.