The Idea Bin

Twilight leaned over the table, her forehooves pressing down on either side of the large, hastily drawn map covering the table surface. They had already been through their tactics countless times, but Twilight wasn’t about to take any chances. Glancing up she saw her friends spread out around the armoury, all looking up at the clock above the metal shutter with mixed degrees of anticipation and excitement. Glancing back down at the map, Twilight began going over their strategy one last time in her head.

I need to take to high ground and cover Rainbow while she takes the central control point. After that we need to hold out until Applejack can establish a solid defence before pushing the front line. If we’re lucky, this skirmish will pass by without any trouble.

Twilight’s attention was demanded by the ringing of an old school style bell next to the clock as the hands met just over twelve O’clock. The shutter began sliding open, and without waiting for the others, Rainbow charged forward, a baseball cap upon her head, armed only with a bat and a can of soda. As the other hurried forwards Twilight heard Luna’s voice echo out across the arena.

“Control points enabled, move!”

Pinkie was next to leave shortly after Dash, almost completely obscured by her fireproof clothing and gas mask, with a flamethrower bobbing about just in front of her. She shouted something as she ran out but all twilight heard was an indistinct mumbling. Shortly behind her was Spike in his little red, combat jacket, pushing his helmet out of his eyes with one claw while trying to balance a ridiculously sized rocket launcher in the other.

Next to follow were Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, all wearing white coats emblazoned with a red cross and carrying varying medi-guns. They cried in unison ‘Cutie Mark Crusader Medics’ before Scootaloo broke away from the other two, rushing ahead to catch up with her idle. Behind them was Applejack, still wearing her Stetson, but now also a pair of black goggles with a toolbox bouncing on her back and a wrench strapped to her side.

“Pony up girls!” she rallied as she exited the barracks.

Next to leave were Fluttershy and Rarity, the latter wearing a balaclava and rather dapper red suit which faded to blue with a flash of Rarity’s horn. Fluttershy meanwhile hovered just off the ground, dragging a massive claymore behind her while all manner of explosives and a rocket launcher were strapped to her body.

Finally Big Mac departed, not because he was dawdling, but simply because he was being slowed down by the weight of the mini-gun hanging around his torso. With their whole team way ahead of her, Twilight levitated her sniper rifle off the table before donning her classy new leather outback hat.

“Let’s have a go at it!” she declared before charging off after her friends.