Two Empires Under the Sun

"How? Wha..." John began to ask before The Zebra interrupted him.

"You seem quite surprised. I take it I am a new creature to behold in your eyes."

Zecora stopped the mixing of ingredients and walked over to John.

"Where the hell am I?"

"This world has had many names over years gone bye. But the modern

Zecora returned to her work and continued to stare at the Spartan that was laying on her sofa. John was thinking rapidly over what he last remembered. Cortana had been alive, and she was somewhere called the Domain. He had crossed the portal on The Ark to find his way there. But instead he was laying defenseless on a Zebra's couch. How was this couch supporting his weight anyway? Okay maybe he was really dead, and this was hell. Although John wasn't naïve enough to believe in Heaven and Hell. He'd seen supposed gods plead and beg for mercy at the end of his barrel. No, He believed in what he could see, and fight.

The more he thought about it the less clear everything seemed to be. If this Zebra was hostile she could have killed him already, but then again he didn't know her or even what she was. Years of shooting and blowing up anything the least bit alien had caused John to be terribly cautious in his interactions with aliens, and normally that caution was legitimate. But maybe this thing could help John find the domain, or someone who did know. If these creatures were even intelligent enough to comprehend forunner technology, and even that was assuming he was on the right planet at all.

Zecora picked up a purple flask with her hooves (how did she do that?) and poured it into the caldron. A golden smoke shot out of it, briefly obscuring John's vision of the zebra mare. When the smoke cleared, Zecora had grabbed a latte and poured the contents of the caldron into a wooden flask. She walked over to John with a soft smile on her face. She offered him the flask.

"I know we have only just met, but someone in need I cannot let go and forget. Drink this and feel your strength return, the wellbeing of a guest is always my concern."

John eyed the mug carefully. Is his suit had been working properly he could have scanned it to detect for toxins. But even then he wasn't convinced he should drink something offered to him by a strange zebra on a foreign world. No matter how empty he was starting to feel inside, after days of wandering the Ark.

"No thanks." John said. "I'd be much more interested to know about this planet. Are there more umm... people like you living here?"

Zecora looked a little disappointed but brightened at the chance to share her knowledge.

" There are many others who inhabit this land. The scale of Equestria is quite grand. Like me however, I'm afraid they are not. Ponies are citizens of canterlot. They are peaceful creatures..." Zecora trailed off in thought for a moment, as if remembering something. 'For the most part. They are kind, brave, and believe in friendship at heart."

Friendship... Great. This really was a children's story from hell. Where did John go so wrong to be stuck in this place? Actually, how did he? He went through the portal and then... What? Nothing, he just remembered darkness.

"Um. Zecora was it? Where did you find me? You obviously know I'm not from around here. Anything you could tell me would help."

"Ah but help what I ask? You were close to death when I found you. Saving the dying is not an easy task." Zecora's exspression tightened and her eyes became slits that seemed to stare into John's own eyes. He felt strangely naked, like zecora was looking into his very mind, just through a glance.

"Before I tell you the story from my end, first I must now where does yours begin?"

John had to take a second to analyze everything she was saying. "I'm looking for a friend."

Imperial Star Destroyer 'mercy'

TIE Squadron omega form up on Lord Vader's person fighter. AT-AT teams what's your ETA?

"AT-AT units ready for deployment sir. Just give us the coordinates." Came the reply.

"Star Destroyer Destiny keep low orbit and prepare to deploy AT-ATs and shuttles at Lord Vader's command."

Thrawn felt the same uneasiness he always did when preparing for a battle. But he shouldn't. Recon droids had picked up no advanced technology or even a real military. These beings, four legged creatures that resembled animals Thrawn had once hunted for game in his youth, were primitive compared to the Imperial fleet around them. He didn't understand why Vader wanted to invade with such force when it obviously wasn't necessary. And how any of it related to their mission he didn't know. Thrawn had wanted to contact the locals in a more diplomatic fashion. They would be more cooperative that way, if they knew anything at all.

Thrawn shifted the holoscreens in front of him and changed to a feed looking at the planet below. Thrawn had picked up a large city that seemed to dwarf the others. Vader had decided this must be the capital city of these alien people and was getting ready to smash whatever government they had and set up a new colony for The Empire. All very well indeed, but Thrawn could have invaded primitive cultures and taken over planets from the comfort of his own fleet in the unknown regions. Instead he was trillions of light-years from any friendly imperial bases and was leading an assault that was both unnecessary and stupid.

Thrawn disagreed with what city was the capital as well. While one city was bigger and more urban it lacked the mark of culture that would done any important place in a civilization. It seemed more thrown together then beautifully crafted. One city however was much more likely to be the capital. Built into the foundation of a mountain, with gleaming spires, marble ascents, and stone statues. It even had a palace of some sort. Suggesting the existence of a monarchy. Vader of coarse hadn't listened to Thrawn's reason and had decided what city would be their target.

It was a simple conquer and control operation, against much less capable opponents. Thrawn didn't feel the thrill of battle, only the cold resignation of knowing they were being lead by a mad man. Vader should have never come out of the clone wars alive, it would have done the galaxy innumerable favors.

Tie Advanced fighter

Equestrian low atmosphere.

Darth Vader sat at the controls of his TIE Advanced fighter. He felt the presence of fifty other fighter's and their pilots flying in formation behind him. He could feel the light side of the force growing stronger as he lowered his fighter towards the planet. Vader could feel it fighting his presence here. The TIEs continued their descent until they broke the cloud barrier. Up ahead was a mildly urban city, nothing like the Urbanscape of Corescant, but impressive for such a weak civilization. Vader signaled the other fighters to slow and opened his comm channel.

"Bombers, destroy the bridges leading into the city. Fighters follow me."

TIE bombers streaked ahead in a brilliant flash of ion engines. In a moment they had reached their destination and unloaded their payloads. Explosions rippled across the city, Vader could sense the panic and fear it created. He let it fuel his actions, as he enveloped himself in the darkside of the force.

Vader's squadron of TIEs reached the city as the bombers finished their attack run and returned to ship. Vader Opened fire at a random building and his wing mates did the same. The Laser fire melted it's supports, and the skyscraper began to give way. Vader turned his fighter away before he could see it tumble down and crush those beneath it. But he felt it, and it felt good. These creatures were so weak, they deserved to be crushed beneath his boots.

Suddenly one of the attacking TIEs ahead of Vader burst into blue flame. A streak of orange color dashing from its hull and into another TIE fighter. Vader saw that it was one of the indigenous species, colorful equine animals that came with a variety of body parts. This one had wings, and was attempting to kick the TIEs Ion engine as it probably did with the other one.

"I've got something on my hull. Sounds like its breaking in." The TIE's piliot said over the Comm.

Vader lined up a shot. "Pilot hold still, I'll get them off you."

Hearing a direct order from Darth Vader had its desired effect. The Fighter slowed to a crawl. Vader let lose his laser cannon. The blast tore through the TIE and in an instant it was a flaming wreckage. 'All to easy.' Vader thought. Just then his cockpit window became obstructed. The alien had survived, and now looked inside at Vader with a rage even he was impressed by. It was female and wearing some ridiculous blue suit that obscured its body. Over its eyes were a pair of goggles that had become cracked. The female removed the goggles and through them from the racing fighter.

Vader could have force choked her or crushed her right there. But there wasn't any fun in total domination. Better save some tricks up his cape, in case he needed them. To his surprise the female started kicking at his cockpit window, and even more surprisingly, it started to crack. Transparasteel was supposed to hold against minor asteroid impacts and small weapon's fire. And this alien was breaking it with her bare hooves. Perhaps he had underestimated them. Vader was intrigued.

The Transperasteel gave way to the intruder and shattered into millions of pieces. Vader's cape fluttered aimlessly in the sudden gust of air breaching the cabin. The female sped at him, with a hoof ready to hit his head. Vader caught it with his augmented mechanical hand. The female looked distressed and then tried to fire another hit with her free hoof. Vader again caught it, and began squeezing with inhuman strength on the female's hooves. She screamed in agony, but kept her eyes locked on Vader. Her rage and courage against impossible odds was impressive, for that she deserved a quick death.

"Why are you doing this?" The female asked. Her eyes had become misty. "Why? Who are you?"

Vader leaned his mask in close to her, his mechanical breathing reaching her face. "I am your death little one. I am the will of The Empire."

The female spit on his mask, momentarily clogging his vision as her saliva ran down his artificial eyes. Vader screamed in fury, drawing his light saber in the enclosed cockpit and cutting the females hooves off by the knee. She didn't scream this time, only looked on distantly like she was somewhere else. Vader gave a shove with the force and sent the female flying out of his cockpit. He turned off his lightsaber and settled back into his chair. He was still furious, and he took his wrath out on a few civilians who had tried to escape the city.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         ))

Manehatten air space

FleetFoot and Sorin had taken out several of the eyeballs that had appeared from the sky. But it wasn't nearly enough. They had already lost two wonder bolts in the panic and were beginning to lose the fight. Sorin looked about to crack as he dogged incoming green fire from an enemy eyeball.

Fleetfoot saw her teammate in trouble and went to help. Shoving the craft with enough force to send it careening down into the bay.

"Thanks! I thought I was pony toast for a second." Sorin said.

"Don't you dare make lame jokes right now!" Fleetfoot said. "Ponies are dying sorin! We need to retreat and regroup, we're never going to win like this!"

"You know bad jokes is how I deal with bad things. And we cant leave! Spitfire would never allow us to abandon Manehatten like this. Lets find her first and then..."

Fleetfoot was already off before Sorin could finish his sentence. She had spotted spitfire alright. Spotted her falling, looking lifeless right into city of manehatten. Sorin realized this and soon caught up with fleetfoot. Together they dodged buildings and falling debris from the ensuing battle. Spitefire was dangerously close to the ground now and gaining. Fleetfoot and Sorin grabbed her barley a moment before she would have been a mess on the sidewalk. But not by her front hooves, but her back. They had both noticed before grabing her. Spitfire's front legs were missing entirely from her body, though no blood was spilling from the wounds.

"FleetFoot.... Is she?"  Sorin tried.

"I... I Don't know. But we cant stay here. If she doesn't need us I have a feeling the rest of equestrian will." Fleetfoot said, looking straight ahead expressionless. Sorin looked at his upsidedown teammate, tears starting to form in his eyes as they left the city of Manehatten to burn.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Twilight was sitting in her old room in Canterlot. Her parents had left Cadence in charge of babysitting while they went to see a movie together. Cadence had been gone a long time and had not come to check up on her. Twilight curiously peaked out her bedroom door. It was dark in the hallway. She felt scared, unsure if she should just wait for Cadence to come back like she always did. Minutes ticked by. She called out "Cadence are you there?" No response.

Lacking any other option she went down the hallway. She tried to flick the lightswitch, but no light came. "CADENCE!" She cried. Twilight felt some primordial fear come over her. Something bad was happening. And she needed to find Cadence, her parents, Shining anypony to help her before it did.

Twilight sprinted through her house as fast as her tiny legs could carry her. But everything was distorted in the dark, the hallway seemed to stretch on forever, until it lead her to a door she hadn't remembered being there. "Cadence are you there?" Twilight whispered, beginning to shake in fear.

"Yes Twilight dear come on in. It's safe here." Cadence's voice answered.

"Cadence what's going on? Why are the lights out?" Twilight asked.

"It's safe here... " Cadence said again.

Twilight opened the door. Turning it with her magic. She saw a lone figure huddled over a small light at the center of the room. It was too dark, she couldn't see if it was Cadence. "Cadence..." Twilight whimpered.

The figure turned back to face her. It wasn't cadence it was a monster, tall black and breathing heavily. In an evil voice it spoke to her. "Hello Princessss." The figure came over Twilight in an instant covering her in darkness until the only thing she could hear were the breathing and her own screams.

Twilight found herself being shaken violently in her bed. A concerned spike looking at her. And Princess Luna was doing the shaking.

"GET UP NOW!" Luna yelled in the traditional Canterlot voice.

Twilight flipped out, partially in the confusion of being woken up,  partially because of the lingering terror of her nightmare, and mostly because of the princess screaming in her face. Twilight sent and uppercut into Princess Luna's lower jaw and teleported herself out of bed and onto the roof of the library on instinct. When she had realized what she had done, and that this probably wasn't some other weird nightmare she immediately teleported back.

"OH MY GOSH PRINCESS LUNA I AM SO SORRY OH NO PLEASE DONT..." Twilight

"Save it Twilight. It is fine. I should have known better then to wake you in such a way, but I couldn't get into your dream. Listen I know I gave you a choice before In helping me rule in Celestia's absence, but I need your answer now Twilight."

Twilight's jaw hit the floor. "That.. That was like yesterday princess.. And you need my answer NOW?"

"Twilight something horrible is happening. Equestria is under attack."

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ponyville Train Station

AppleJack had been waiting patiently for half an hour. She'd been visited by Luna that night in a dream. Or well she thought she had anyway, she told her to wait by the train station for her friends. Half an hour late and AppleJack was starting to think she had dreamt the whole thing up.

'...Pssst...'

AppleJack's ear's perked. She thought she heard something.

"PSSSSSSST"

Okay she definitely heard something that time. AppleJack turned around. Only a few bushes were behind her and the train tracks, nopony in site.

"PSSSSSSSSSST APPPLLLEEJAAACK PSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSST over here!"

AppleJack's Focused on the bush the voice was emanating from, when it moved. No not a bush PinkiePie dressed in forest camouflage and dyed green hair. "Uh beg my pardon pinkie, but uh, why are you a bush?"

"Princess Luna told me to be extra special careful so I hid about an hour ago waiting for you guys to show up."

"Stars and Apples. So I'm not just having crazy dreams. Wait I've been here about half an hour pinkie, why didn't you let me know you were there?"

"I was just really getting into character." Pinkie said with a giggle. She ran her hoof through her hair returning it to its pink color, and as for the camo suit. well applejack hadn't caught where she put it so fast.

"Well now that I know for sure this is serious I wonder what's taking the others so long."

"Well I don't know about the others but princess Luna is with Twilight right now." Pinkie said with a smile.

"Wait how do you know that?"

"Duh Princess Luna can talk to ponies in their dreams silly. "

"But you're awake?"

"Uh Hu. Oh look Rainbow and Fluttershy are here!"

Sure enough the Pegasi landed within moments of one another.

"Oh I'm so sorry for being late, The animals get so scarred if I'm not there at night. It took them awhile to calm down."

"The only reason they get scarred when you're not there fluttershy is because you baby them so much. Animals in the wild wouldn't get scared being alone at night." RainbowDash said.

"Oh yeah, and whats YOUR excuse Rainbow?"  Fluttershy shot back.

Rainbow shrugged  "I don't have one, I was just sleepy."

"Hate to interrupt you two, but have any of yall seen rarity?  AppleJack asked.

"No" was the group consensus.

"Ou! I know what to do!" Pinkie said and dashed off.

The groups of ponies didn't have to wait long. In a few seconds Pinkie had returned carrying a very grumpy rarity in tow.

"Unhand me you brute! Face me like a lady!" Rarity said as she thrashed in pinkies hooves. Unable to see her friends around her with an blindfold eyemask on. Pinkie set rarity down, and she wobbled around dizzily for a moment before removing her blindfold.

"What the? How did I end up here? And in the DIRT!" Rarity squealed.

"You were supposed to be here earlier. Didn't you get the message from Princess Luna?" AppleJack said.

"Message? No. Well I mean there was that whole dream business where she told me to meet my friends at the train station and blah blah Equestria's fate may depend on it. But that was just a dream... right?"

Applejack pointed a hoof towards the rails and station behind them. Rarities eyes's widened in realization.

"Opps my bad. But you can hardly blame a lady for wanting her full 12 hours beauty sleep." Rarity said with a huf before joining the others.

"All that's left is Twilight and Princess Luna. I wonder where they are..." AppleJack said.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"You're friends have all gathered. Are you sure its best to not meet them in person?"

"No. If they new what I was doing they would want to be there with me. We cant risk putting all The Elements of Harmony and Equestria's last princess in the same place. It wouldn't be safe for any of us.

"Very Well. I will tell them to go to The Crystal Empire to await further orders."

"There's no need. Spike will take care of them, lets just focus on doing whatever we have to do to save Equestria."

Luna and Twilight banked left and headed for the mountain city of Canterlot.

______________________________________

Pinkie ears drooped as she caught that last part. Twilight wasn't coming with them?

Spike stepped into the light of the train station and caught the group's attention.

"Spike!" Applejack rushed forward. "What is all this about? Where's Twilight? Where's the Princess?"

Spike had a grim look and stared at his feet. A single quill and piece of parchment hung from his clawed hand.

"They're not coming." Spike said. "Twilight went off with Luna. They flew off before I could catch them, and told me to tell you guys to go to the Crystal Empire along with me..."

"What? Why would she do that spike? I thought Equestria was in danger?" Applejack asked.

"It is! They made that much clear. I don't know exactly what happened, but Luna was talking like a war had broken out."

"A war? Oh don't be silly Spiky wiky, Equestria has been at peace for eons. what kind of war could possibly happen here? Are you sure you heard them right?" Rarity said offering her hoof out to touch spikes cheek.

Spike removed rarities hoof and glared angrily at her. "I know what I heard! Twilight is going to Canterlot to sort this crisis out, and she thinks its best if all of us are far away from her right now." Spike said.

The group turned to look at each other. No pony made a sound as they digested what they had just heard. AppleJack was the first to speak. "Well what do yall think?"

"What do I think? I think we should take the train to Canterlot and find our best friend! I don't care how holier then thou Twilight being a princess has made her. She should no better then to try and give us orders." Rainbow said.

"I think we should listen to Twilight, she's always had our best interests at heart. And if she says we need to go somewhere safe, well I think it's a good idea." Fluttershy said.

"If Twilight had wanted us along she would have asked. I for one have to agree with fluttershy. If twilight doesn't think its safe for us to be there then we should respect her judgment and do what she says." Rarity said.

Pinkie didn't answer when it came to her turn. She was looking off distantly at the full moon. Instead applejack chimed in.

"Honestly Ah don't want to leave our friend behind. But she's not just our friend anymore, she's a Princess. If Equestria is gearing up for some sort of conflict then I'll do my part. Even if Ah don't like it very much."

"They're watching us." Pinkie said suddenly. The groups attention focused on the pinkie mare.

"Who's watching us Pinkie?" Applejack asked.

"The Galactic Empire." Pinkie said with a scowl.

"Huh?" the four other ponies called out in unison.

"Oh you guys haven't  been paying attention have you?" Pinkie said with a smile. "Come on we gotta get to Canterlot fast!"

"Canterlot? I thought we agreed to go to The Crystal Empire like Twilight said?" Applejack asked the pink mare.

"Um I'm going with Pinkies plan." Rainbow said. "You do have a plan don't you?"

"Pinkie always has a plan dashie. Start taking notes. Where is that lovable old draconaquis anyway?"

Fluttershy gasped as her slippers suddenly jumped off her feet and formed together. A moment latter the slippers molded into the form of Discord.

"Oh  Fluttershy, I would not be a good friend if I didn't compliment how clean your hooves are. It must be all that spa time with Rarity hmm?" He looked over the stunned ponies. "What you called right?"

"Discord, next time you want to be my slippers just ask okay?" Fluttershy said.

"Hmm very well. But you all weren't going to invite me to your train-station slumber party on your own now were you?" Discord levitated off the ground a few inches before flipping completely over. "So I snuck in. Whats all this I hear about war in Equestria? I figured it was something like that, my power has been growing recently."

Pinkie Pie pulled discord aside and sat him on the train station's wooden planks.

"Take us to Canterlot please!" Pinkie said.

"What do I look like? A cab service?" Discord responded. "Although I am rather curious about what's causing all this lose chaos."

"Now hold on just a minute." AppleJack Said. "If were zappin anywhere, were going to the Crystal Empire."

"Stop being such a mule AppleJack. Twilight might need our help, all of us. Come on we've saved Equestria loads of times. What's so different about this?" Rainbow Dash argued.

"Whatever it is, its bad enough for Twilight to send us away. I trust her judgment more then my own"

"See that's the problem. Ever since Twilight became a princess everyone acts like she is infallible. Well I think she's making a mistake by leaving her friends behind. "

Discord was behind  rainbow and pinkie lounging and eating popcorn while he watched the group argue. When he grew bored of that he decided to make a suggestion.

"How about I Zapp you over to The Empire." Discord snapped his fingers, in a flash of magic all five ponies were shifted violently in space, though none of them experienced any of it. In a instant the group had been transported to the frozen wasteland outside the Crystal Empire. "An I'll go check on pretty princess sparkle myself?"

The ponies all shivered at the drastic change in temperature. Discord disappeared in a flash of light and a giggle, leaving the ponies to catch their Barings.

"Couldn't he have at least teleported us INSIDE the city?"  Rarity complained.

"Real reformed character you got there flutters" Rainbow said.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Twilight and Luna had hardly landed before they were surrounded by a mob of ponies. Canterlot guards rushed to make way for the princesses. A frenzy of media and civilians tried to bombard their questions to the princesses. It only came off as a confusing sea of voices, some concerned, and others just wanting to know how their princesses would react to a direct attack on Equestria.

They made the short distance to the castle in no time. Inside Luna's head consular lead them to the seldom seen, and even more seldom used Canterlot war room.  The room was painted Maroon, and featured a mosaic of Celestia leading troops into some long ago battle. A long Oak table was already attended by the Equestrian security cabinet. Earth pony generals with medals and badges of every merit, Unicorn spelllords who were suited with magical amulets to improve their power, and a stern looking group of Pegasi lead by the director of the Wonderbolts himself Chief Lightning Rush. Twilight recognized him from memorizing all the wonder bolt information to quiz rainbowdash.

The thought of her friends made the tense situation melt away for a moment. Twilight wondered about her friends, and hoped spike had been able to convince them.

'Oh don't worry about them' a little voice said in Twilights' Ear.

Twilight looked around, but nopony was directly talking to her. Luna had gone to speak with some delegates from the Griffon Kingdoms' before the session began.

'this is your inner conscience Princess Twilight. I'm here to tell you your angsty about being a princess and are a control freak.'

twilight recognized that voice. And she didn't call herself princess in her head either. "Discord?" twilight muttered under her breath. On no she did not have time for this now. She sooo did not need whimsical nonsense right now.

discord manifested as a bust that had once been the head of general firefly.

"You know I never saw you as one for politics Twilight. I always saw you as an action kind of girl" Discord bust said.

"This is different. And you better get out of here right now!" Twilight said.

"Is it different Twilight? Is it?" The bust was returned to normal as a miniature Discord floated out in from of Twilight's face. "I just came to tell your I've taken your friends safely to The Crystal Empire"

Twilight felt a great pressure leave her knowing her friends were safe. "I guess I have to thank you for that. Maybe now I can focus on being a Princesses."

Discord yawned. "Yes good luck with that. Though there is little I find more boring then a political drama. So I'll sit this one out." Discord shaped his fingers and disappeared in a tiny flash of light. 'I will be watching though, if you need me, all you need to do is wake me. Ha he he Haa'

Twilight felt a renewed sense of confidence. Like a lot of ponies she doubted her own abilities sometimes, but in a crunch Twilight Sparkle would always come through for you. Twilight made her way to where Luna was still talking to the griffon delegates. Upon spoting twilight, Luna broke off her conversation and turned to twilight. "Ah Twilight. We were just about to find you, the war session is about to begin."

"Have you ever been to a war session before?" Twilight asked.

" The last time one was necessary, I was Nightmare Moon and was the cause of a state of emergency in the first place. So no."

"I'm just afraid ponies will ask me questions I don't know the answers to."

"There is no shame in ignorance. There are many things we don't know for sure yet. Mainly who the fuck attacked our city."

Twilight gasped. "Luna?"

"Oh dear pardon my harsh tounge. It comes out sometimes in these situations." Luna admitted.

Luna sad down at a regal throne at one end of the table. Twilight took up position beside her. Preferring to stand rather then sit. This seemed to be the signal for the war session to begin as the room went silent. "Benefactors and Leaders of Equestria. I Princess Luna come before you today with grave news. Equestria has been attacked by some unknown force." concerned murmurs broke out around the table that were silenced by Luna raising a hoof. "Manehatten has been hit very badly. Emergency services cannot enter the city, as it is being held by the attackers. We expect casualties to be in the hundreds of thousands."

No pony spoke this time. Only contemplated over what Luna had just said. Wonderbolt detachment Alpha was stationed In Manehatten at the time. Lieutenant Fleetfoot is here to give us a full report on the incident before we come to any major decision."

At the other end of the table twilight recognized the wonder bolt Fleefoot from rainbowdash's constant fangirling over that team. She was out of uniform and looked beat up. The mare cleared her throat and spoke to the session. " Me Sorin and Spitfire were just making our rounds at some manehattenite bars. We were in uniform so we got in for free. Once spitfire was halfway through her second and me on my forth pint, we felt a rumble in the ground and heard screaming outside" fleetfoot paused to collect herself. " There were so many dead ponies already, fires had broken out, glass and smoke everywhere. Me and Sorin decided to try to save as many ponies as we could. We flew above the smoke and that's when I saw it."

"Saw what fleetfoot?" Luna asked gently.

"A monster. Huge, as big as a city. And it was just floating in air, like magic."

Fleetfoot shoke her head, And put her hooves over her face. "That's when things really went bad. These eyeball looking things, as tall as a house were flying around shooting things. Spitefire saw one of them take down a whole skyscraper, so she gave chase. Me and Sorin hooked up with the local wonderbolts and tried to push the attackers back. It didn't go well. Two went down, the rest of us flead, but not before I saw her falling. Commander Spitfire engaged with the enemy and lost two front hooves. I don't know what they did to her, it was like her legs were cut off and immediately cauterized. It was the only thing that kept her from bleeding out."

"Did you Interact with the attackers at all when you were saving ponies?"

"If by interact you mean attack then yes, we did plenty of interacting."

" I mean to know if they can communicate. We have to consider that this may be a mistake of some kind." Luna said.

" Excuses my bluntness princess, but this was no fucking accident." fleetfoot said rising her voice. "My CO is permanently crippled, and thousands are dead."

"Luna meant no disrespect for Spitfire or Manehatten." Twilight interjected. "We must consider all possibilities."  Twikight acknowledged an impressed look from Luna with a nod and continued. "What about these eyeballs? Were they made of metal?"

"That's what I thought, but I've never seen metal like that before." The Pegasus mare answered.

"And spitfire's injuries, you said it looked like her legs had been burned off?"

"in a way. I'm no medical pony, but they were cleanly cut off with lots of cauterized flesh." Fleetfoot shivered at the image she must have been reliving in her mind.

"Princess Luna. This account sounds awfully similar to my friend Applejack's brothers wounds." Twilight said.

"You believe these events were connected?" Luna asked.

" I can't be sure. But I think I've figured some of it out. These eyeballs, and the spider are all machines. More advanced then anything Equestria has made."

"If these are indeed only machines, then it is yet to be seen who pulls the strings. Still knowing of your account at sweet apple acres makes the idea of this attack being a mistake less likely. We must consider the possibility that they have been watching us and planning this a long time. In that case, I offer any ideas for an effective battle plan." Princess Luna said.

General Sour Taffy steeped forward. An earth unicorn with a stylized mustache and a combed back mane.

"Fillydelphia, Las Pegasus, Ponyville, and Cloudsdale have all begun conscripting for an emergency militia, but they will not stand a chance against this enemy of their own. We must concentrate our forces here in the capital where we can more easily defend ourselves."

"Cloudsdale will not send any more of its own to defend other cities. I will allow use of the wonderbolt reserves to defend key cities. But I will not send my troops into suicidal combat zones." Chief lightning rush interrupted.

"Nopony is asking you to yet chief. " Luna said. "Our first priority should be aiding the ponies of Manehatten. Not forceful conscription and calling the reserves.

General Sour Taffy frowned and let out a sigh. "Princess Luna, as much as we appreciate your sense of morality. We are under attack and occupation by an unknown enemy. We need to prepare for the worst now, while we still can

Your sister would know this to be true, and she would do everything to fight this evil.

"Where is celestia?" a unicorn mage asked. "We have not seen or heard from her since this all began."

"Celestia has been missing. Vanished without a trace, not even a note left behind." Luna said.

"Why has Celestia abandoned us?" the mage asked.

"With out Celestia our ground troops will lose moral quickly."

"Who will lead our forces into battle Princess  Twilight?"

The last comment hurt a little but but Twilight slammed her front hooves on the table to draw everyponys attention.

"ENOUGH! Princess Celestia may be gone, but we've got two Princesses left and a responsibility to carry on." Twilight pointed her hoof at the mage. "I want you to gather a team of medical unicorns for survivors in manehatten. Chief Thunder rush, can cloudsdale provide cover for a team to slip into the city?"

"Its possible we could create a fog that would allow for a stealth infiltration. But the strategic value of manehatten was lost when the enemy destroyed the infrastructure. We would be wasting any resources to take back the city at this point."

"Then its a good thing I don't plan to take it back. At least not by force." Twilight  replyied

" With all do respect Princess, force is our only option at this point." Thunder rush said.

"From firsthand experience and Fleetfoot's account were obviously outmatched. Before we condone an action that will lead to war, I propose we try to communicate with these beings, whatever they may be." Twilight announced.

"Are you sure this is wise Princess Twilight?" Luna asked.

"Think about it this way Princess Luna. Manehatten was an obvious show of force. But no other cities have been attacked. This suggests that this attack was part of a larger strategy, as like chief Thunder rush said, strategic importance of the city was lost in the attack. They disabled outlr biggest city, our most industrial to frighten us." Twilight exclaimed.

Luna looked thoughtful at that before replying. "Celestia places good faith in you Twilight." Luna turned to the delegation again. "I am prepared to support Twilights plan. We will attempt to make contact while at the same time supplying a relief effort into the city. If diplomacy fails us well... I want the Equestrian armed forces ready at a moments notice. This meeting is adjourned."

The delogation dismissed through the double doors into the war room to plan and put their plan into action. Luna waited until only her,twilight, and the royal guards remained before relaxing. She let out a sigh and slouched slightly in her throne. "That was exhausting." Luna commented.

"We both might have to get used to it if this really does turn into a war."

Luna shook her head in frustration. "let us hope it does not come to that then. I envisioned taking up Celestia's throne to be joyous and rewarding. I did not think I would lead the nation into the brink of war." Luna got up and made for the Double doors. Twilight followed. "how do you propose we communicated with this new threat Twilight?"

Twilight thought for a moment. "I actually think the will come to us first princess."

Star Destroyer 'Mercy'

Admiral Thrawn sat at the captains chair on the bridge of the mercy. He felt rather antsy, a characteristic unbecoming of a chiss. Perhaps he was still wondering about the civilization they were overtaking. He felt he should be down there himself. Overseeing the more delegate matters of an invasion. Vader's rushed attack would create fear, but without direction that fear would be useless to anyone in the empire. Given enough fear might drive them to become desperate and lash out. The last thing Thrawn wanted was to give Vader a reason to kill this civilization rather then just enslave it. Turawn almost felt bad for the creatures, but he also had gained a unique respect for them when he had studied their culture. A culture that could teach no one if Vader decided they weren't worth the effort.

Thrawn felt the urge to do something his younger self called adventurous and his current self called foolish. He keyed the switch on his armrest to the main hanger bay. "This is Thrawn, prepare my shuttle for departure"