The eagle, born beyond the wildest dreams of men, it's known,
Was first reach the heavens, above all the world below,
By steel and wood, by sweat and blood, on wings of woven cloth,
he slipped the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of god
But knowing times of trouble and the devils they may bring,
are only thwarted by the will to fight, he raised his mighty wings.
Prepared for war, thus guarding peace, for liberty his love,
He shall deliver unto evil, death dealt swiftly from above.
**********************************************************************
Celestia hated this room, this room was never good news.
She was ushered to the head of the long black table, at the other end was her sister. Sitting around the table were her advisers. There were several magical maps around the room each of them flashing a different message. She sighed, and took a seat.
"One of these days," Celestia said softly. "I'm going to come in here and it's going to be 'Good News! We've discovered a cure for feather flu,' or 'We found a way to spread immortality to Non-Alicorns!' When is that day going to come Spitfire?"
"I don't know," Spitfire replied. "But when it does I'm first in line for the immortality."
"This is hardly the time for jokes," Luna said sternly. "Tell her what you told me."
Spitfire closed her eyes. "At 0100 this morning a Mage corps picked up strange magical coming from behind the Tartarus gates. At 0130 a message was received communications from behind the gate. Whoever is there has claimed that they have amassed an army, and was about to march through the gates. At 0300 we finally got visual confirmation of the threat."
"Who was behind it?" Celestia asked. "Tirek?"
"Tirek is dead," Spitfire said frankly. "His head on a spear was one of the first things they showed us."
"Sweet Equestria..." Very few things ever took Celestia off guard, this was one of them.
"They're calling themselves 'The Ferrymen'," Spitfire continued. "It seems to be an alliance of everything that ever hated us. Every demon in hell waiting to bash our skulls in."
Celestia held her composure. "What are their demands? What are they saying they want?"
"No demands, sister," Luna answered. "This wasn't a threat, it was an announcement."
"Alright," Celestia said. "Contact princess Twilight. Tell her-"
"With all due respect, Ma'am," Spitfire cut in. "It's to late for that. The Ferrymen have declared open war. This is why you have a standing army. We need to fight back."
"I know," Celestia said. "However, I want to keep from using it as much as possible. The fewer ponies I put at risk, the better chance of keeping my nation intact. We'll finish whatever they begin, but I'm not going to fire he first shot."
The doors flung open, and a tall grey Pegasus stepped in. "May be a bit late for that. The first shot's been fired."
"General Core?" Celestia asked. "What's happened?"
"Cerberus is dead," Hard Core said quickly. "The Ferrymen are loose. We've lost contact with Trottingham."
"Comms are down?" Spitfire asked.
"Trottingham is down." Core responded. "Wiped off the face of the planet."
The news took a while to sink in, the room fell into a deathly silence.
"Sister," Luna said softly. "If they've taken Trottingham, it's likely that they will move to Cloudsdale, and then up to Canterlot. We have to-"
"I know," a quiet rage had filled Celestia. Her cities had burned, her people had died, and those responsible were going to pay. "Spitfire, I swear, I want the thunder of ages to rain down on them. How angry are you right now?"
Spitfire smiled. "Pretty damn pissed, Ma'am"
"Good," Celestia said. "Use that."
***************************************************************************
Turbo Charger was heading straight for the hangar door. "I've made up my mind. Don't try to stop me."
That was Light's cue to try to stop him. "Okay, why am I stopping you?"
"It's taking too long for Fleetfoot to send us out. I had friends in Trottingham. I'm not waiting to fight for them any longer. End of story." Turbo said shortly.
"Okay," Light of Triumph pinched his nose. "Let me see if I've got this right. You're going to head out into an army of Demons, alone, unarmed, and emotionally unstable. This is a good plan."
Turbo punched a wall. "What the fuck are we doing here?! I'm asking Light, what the fuck are we still doing here? We lost a city, we lost friends!! Dammit why are we still waiting?!"
"Trottingham was attacked twelve hours ago," Light responded. "You want us to go in there an hour after the fact?"
"The minute!" Turbo shouted. "After something like that we shouldn't come back in an afternoon, we come back immediately and we come back with nothing less than total disaster!!"
"Yeah, you're right," Light responded calmly. "Going in there without intel would be a disaster. And how much damage do you think you can do on your own?"
Turbo started for the door again. "Plenty, watch me."
"Turbo!!" Light called, Turbo stopped. "Listen to me right now, I know you're pissed off. We're all pissed off. If you go out there right now, you're going to get yourself killed."
Turbo took a deep breath. "You're right. Sorry."
"Don't be sorry," Light said quickly. "Don't calm down. You're probably the best flyer on this group, certainly better than I am, and you're at your best when you're angry. I'm not going to live through this war without you at your best next to me! So stay pissed, and stay in line!"
There was a moment of silence and the two friends stared at each other.
"So," Turbo said finally. "Do you, like, rehearse these lectures in your head or-?"
Light's straight face broke. "Celestia damn it..." He giggled.
"You'd make a good motivational speaker," Turbo joked.
"Shut up," Light laughed.
"Honestly, I was moved," Turbo punched Light in the shoulder. "Seriously dude, thanks for bringing me in."
"It's what I do," Light smiled. "Now for a question, where's everypony else?"
Turbo looked around the mostly empty hangar. "That's a good question..."
"Attention" a voice came over the PA. "All personnel meet outside for the Cloud Burst demonstration."
Light was confused. "Cloud Burst?"
Turbo shrugged. "No clue. Let's get outside before Fleetfoot has hour flanks."
"Agreed," Light said, and the two pegusi made their way to the training ground.
*************************************************************************
The entire squadron was gathered in a square in the training yard. Light and Turbo were at the front.
Fleetfoot and Soarin made their way to the front of the pack. Turbo noticed a strange pendant around Soarin's neck.
"At ease," Fleetfoot said. "You are all probably wondering why, after yesterday's attack, you are not in combat yet. The reason for this is that this squadron did not have the tools for the task. That has changed as of right now. Soarin?"
"Yes ma'am." Soarin pressed the pendant.
At that moment the Wonderbolt was enveloped in steam. The steam began to take shape around him, forming around his wings. Adding to them. When it was finished Soarin seemed to be wearing shifting white armor, his wingspan increased a good ten feet.
"This," Fleetfoot said with a note of pride, "is the Cloud Burst. Specially made for military pegusi. This is armor for combat. These are our instruments of war. Over the next month you are going to learn how to use these machines, and then you'll be ready for the fight."
"Permission to speak freely, Sir!" Turbo piped up.
"Granted," Fleetfoot said.
"Why?" Turbo asked. "While this things are impressive, won't they just get in the way of hoof-to-hoof, won't they slow us down?"
"Mister Charger, with the Cloud Burst, hoof-to-hoof should no longer be necessary. Soarin, if you would be so kind?"
Soarin took off, flying as quickly as he always did. He made and aerial loop and began to move toward the ground. The Cloud Burst turned to a dark grey. With a massive CRACK lightning shot from Soarin, lighting a ten square yard area not two feet behind Fleetfoot, on fire.
Light and Turbo's jaws were on the floor.
"Anything to add, Mister Charger?" Fleetfoot asked calmly.
"I want one!" Turbo said gleefully.
"See what I told you?!" Light could barely contain his excitement. "Good things come to those who wait!!!"
Author's Note
Dedicated to Turbo, the USAF, and all of my followers.
Cover Art
Spitfire approached the throne. "Your majesty?"
Celestia looked up. "Tell me you've found them."
"No," Spitfire said solemnly. "Every time we manage to track a Ferrymen patrol they just vanish. We don't know what we're using for transportation, but they seem to be leaping all around the map. We're trying to work it out."
"What news have you brought me?" Celestia asked.
"A name," Spitfire pulled a small crystal object out of her pocket. "Their leader sent us a message."
Spitfire dropped the crystal on the floor, and it projected the image of a robed figure.
"Denizens of Euquestria," said the cloaked being. "I am Charon. I have come here to disillusion you. I do not consider myself a Demon. That is a label put upon me by your ignorant leaders.
"They sit in their Ivory Tower. In their city on the mountain. Looking down upon you .
"The sisters say you live in paradise.
"The sisters lie.
"I bring you true paradise, after I deliver retribution to the ignorant, and the complacent.
"Your city of Trottingham has already been taught this lesson. Now my retribution moves upwards toward glorious infinity.
"Look about you, blinded citzens of Equestria. In good time, the sky shall fall."
When the hooded figure was finished speaking, a message burned itself into the floor: SAVE THYSELF A PENNY FOR THE FERRYMEN.
Celestia took a moment to absorb this. "Well," she finally said. "He's a bit overdramatic."
"My thoughts exactly." came a call from the door.
Admiral Briny Deep was a force to be reckoned with. He was a tall, gaunt looking sea pony. With an eggshell coat that went well with the blue tentacles that made up his mane and tail. He spoke in clear, high voice. he had commanded the Equestrian Royal Navy for ten long years. "I honestly think this chap may be overdoing it."
"You've heard it, then?" the Princess asked him.
"Oh, yes." Deep replied. "Luckily we managed to intercept this transmission before it was made public. But everyone back and base has had a listen, and we all find it quite curious. Rather puzzling actually."
"What's puzzling?" Spitfire asked. "He took out Trottingham, he's going after Cloudsdale next. What's the mystery?"
"Oh, the question of how springs to mind," Deep answered. "But that's not what puzzles me. Nothing he said has puzzled me as much in how he said it."
"What do you mean?" Celestia asked.
"Take another listen."
They did. And Spitfire's jaw dropped.
"How..." she asked herself. "How did I not hear that before?"
"I really can't say," Deep said smugly.
"I'm afraid I still don't hear it," Celestia added. "What do you two hear?"
"His voice," Spitfire said. "Ma'am this man took the time to magically disguise his voice!"
Celestia looked puzzled. "Why? Why would he bother to do that? It's not like we-" and then it hit her.
Briny Deep nodded. "The gates of Tartarus are heavily locked from the outside. No one who is put in can get out. Unless someone was there to open the door for them. I would be quite surprised if this Charon that we are dealing with here is an inmate."
"It's somepony we know." Spitfire concluded. "Somepony close to the princesses with access to the gate-dammit!" Spitfire slammed her hoof down.
"Briny Deep," Celestia said sternly. "As of right now I am giving you the go on Project Leviathan."
"Yes, majesty." Deep replied.
"Spitfire," Celestia turned to her Wing Commander. "Is your Air Force prepared for an Attack on Cloudsdale?"
"Yes ma'am," Spitfire said, almost too angry to breathe."They've been stationed in Rainbow Falls for weeks, they took to the Cloud Burst like fish to water. We'll be ready."
****************************************************************************************************
Turbo Charger walked into his and Light's room to be greeted by a haze of white mist.
"Light?" Turbo asked. "What are you doing?"
"Science!" came a voice from the haze.
"What did I say about doing Science in the bunk?" Turbo asked calmly.
"Absolutely no doing Science in the bunk," Light replied solemnly. "I really think you should lighten up, man."
"The last time you tried Science you set my bunk on fire." Turbo fumbled about looking for his bed.
"When are you going to let that go?"
"When I wasn't in the bunk at the time!" Turbo yelled. "What in tartarus are you doing anyway?"
"Making some improvements to the Cloud Burst." Light of Triumph said frankly.
Turbo stopped dead. "Please tell me that you do not have your incredibly expensive piece of military technology dismantled on your worktable right now."
"Nope! It's yours!" Light said happily
"Ah!"
"And I'm just putting it back together."
"I'm gonna kill you!"
"Oh, relax," Light said. "Ah, that should do it. Now let's see if this works..."
"SEE IF THI-" Turbo was interrupted by a loud hisssss and the receded into Turbo's pendant around Light's neck, some of the mist remained as a vest over Light's chest. Immediately something jumped out at Turbo. "That's not a button."
"Well spotted." Light said sarcastically.
"It's not. It's a dial."
"Yes I know," Light said. "The pendant stores clouds and lightning inside of it. When they're released, instead of floating away, a magic device in the pendant keeps all of the clouds stiff and centered. Giving us the Cloud Burst armor. Understand?"
"Yeah," Turbo said. "The clouds give us armor, the lightning gives us weapons, what does this have to do with-?
"What I did," Light said, "was give the little doodad different settings on the stiffness of the clouds. So at one setting you can be in your armor, another you're carrying a smokescreen with you, in this setting you're wearing a snazzy vest that can shoot lightning."
"You magnificent bastard!" Turbo and Light bumped hooves.
"I know, I know." Light said smugly. "I'm taking this to Fleetfoot tomorrow. I'm guessing she'd even be too happy about the improvements to ream my ass!"
********************************************************************************************
It was worse than ever before.
Fleetfoot was screaming at the top of her lungs. The words "dishonorable discharge" came up more than a few times. At one point Light was on the verge of tears, but he swore to Turbo he didn't actually cry. "
"After this stupid, unauthorized, downright negligible, vandalism on military hardware I could have you Court Marshalled! i could have you shot!" Fleetfoot screamed. "I've only got one question for you Lieutenant Triumph."
Light braced himself.
"Can you teach other people how to do this?" Fleetfoot's voice had calmed down. "I don't think you can make all the upgrades on your own. There are over ten thousand Cloud Burst fliers."
Light took a moment to realize what just happened, then he grinned. "Yes ma'am. I most certainly can."
****************************************************************************
Charon sat in his chamber. Thinking.
It was a risky move, but the Ferryman knew it had payed off. He would have to be careful now, though. Tread lightly.
Charon promised that nothing would distract him from the cause. Nothing would stop the destruction of this fool's paradise. he would crush the sisters and move toward his sweet heaven. Their "hell on earth."
There was no time to turn squeamish. It was time for action. It was time to start this war in earnest.
It was time for Electric Eye.
