Pony Kombat

“Incoming! Incoming!” a Manehattanite military soldier cried out. A missle exploded in the streets, destroying a car. Tartarus had begun its invasion of Equestria, and had unleashed its forces. Equestria's military had dispatched tanks and helicopters to try and beat back the Tartarus army. Police sirens wailed as they tried to escort innocents away from the fighting. Lines of cars were piled up on the streets to attempt to make a barrier, but the large monsters simply knocked them over. Explosions rocked the city of Manehattan as the fighting continued.

On a skyscraper rooftop, two Manehattan police officers were inspecting the damage from above.

“...15, 16, 17, 18,” Applebloom counted out loud. “Sweetie Belle, call it in.”

“Base, Filly Two,” Sweetie Belle spoke to the base. “We count eighteen, one eight bogey, southbound on Olympic.”

“Roger that,” the base operator responded.

“Filly Two out,” Sweetie Belle said. She turned off her radio and looked down at the carnage. “This is not happening.”

“Not what I was thinking when I swore to protect and serve,” Applebloom added. Sweetie Belle noticed something climbing the side of the building. It was Spike.

“What is that?” she asked. Applebloom looked down.

“I'm thinking shoot first, ask questions later,” she said.

“Fine with me,” Sweetie Belle responded. She and Applebloom pulled out their assault rifles and opened fire on Spike. He avoided each shot as he climbed. He jumped up and landed on the roof behind Applebloom and Sweetie Belle.

“Pistols!” Applebloom cried as she pulled out her handgun. Sweetie Belle pulled out her handgun and shot at Spike. Spike created a force field made of acid to protect himself from the bullets. When Sweetie Belle went to reload, Spike saw his chance and spat his tongue out at Sweetie Belle, knocking her back. He retracted his tongue and fired it at Applebloom, which knocked her handgun out of her hoof.

“Enough of this!” Applebloom yelled. “It's you and me, freak show!” Spike saw a fight coming and got ready. Applebloom got ready for hand to hand combat. Spike had never encountered Applebloom's police brutality before, so he had a tough time keeping up. Applebloom used her police equipment to her advantage to win the fight.

“Heh,” Applebloom chuckled. “Spitting? Sticking out your tongue? Bet your momma's real proud.” Spike groaned on the roof. Applebloom suddenly remembered Sweetie Belle, who was leaned up against a ventilation box.

“Come on,” Applebloom said as she picked up her partner. “We're going street level. We've been compromised.”

“It's not safe down there,” Sweetie Belle argued.

“Better there than here,” Applebloom said. Sweetie Belle sighed as she followed Applebloom down to the street.

~~~

On the street, a squad of military ponies were pulling back. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle looked to see why. A giant monster was chasing them. It stomped past the glass door, not noticing Applebloom or Sweetie Belle. Sweetie Belle noticed Pinkamena standing on a nearby overpass which hung suspended over the river.

“Applebloom, check her out,” Sweetie Belle said. Applebloom looked. “Whattaya think?” Sweetie Belle asked. “Friend or foe?”

“Foe,” Applebloom promptly responded. Judging from how Pinkamena was dressed, Sweetie Belle thought otherwise. Pinkamena was outfitted with a purple skintight suit.

“Dressed like that?!” Sweetie Belle asked, surprised.

“Definitely foe,” Applebloom firmly said. “Cover me.” The two officers left the building and approached Pinkamena. Applebloom approached first.

“Hey! What're you doing out here?” she asked. Pinkamena giggled.

“Just looking for a new playmate,” she hissed. With her Changeling blood, Pinkamena's fighting style was different than Spike's. But Applebloom was trained for such situations. Pinkamena's sai were no match for Applebloom's guns and military training. Applebloom won the fight quickly.

“You're coming with me,” Applebloom ordered. As she approached Pinkamena, a loud roar startled her. Applebloom looked up as a massive dragon flew overhead. Pinkamena growled and charged at Applebloom, but a barrage of lightning sent her down. Celestia flew down in front of Applebloom.

“Who… who are you?” Applebloom asked. Before Celestia could answer, she had another vision. To Applebloom, Celestia seemed to be in pain. “Are you alright?” Applebloom asked. She and Celestia suddenly heard a roar. They looked over to see Shining Armor and Sombra locked in combat on a distant overpass. Celestia flew over.

“Shining Armor fighting a giant monster?” Applebloom asked. “What is this? Time Smashers?” Celestia fired lightning at Sombra to get him off of Shining Armor, then blasted towards him. She smashed Sombra through the overpass and down into the river. Sweetie Belle walked up to Applebloom.

“That mare just shot lightning from her hooves,” she said. “How'd she do that?”

“No idea,” Applebloom said. Another roar. It came from Narzissa. “Spread out!” Applebloom ordered. “Give her multiple targets.” Sweetie Belle moved away from Applebloom and was immediately burned from Narzissa's fire breath. Sweetie Belle screamed and fell to the ground. Applebloom pulled up her assault rifle.

“Ponies,” Narzissa mocked. “They're less ugly when they burn.” Applebloom immediately put away her assault rifle and began to fight. She had just faced two other-worldly threats, so Narzissa was nothing. Applebloom quickly took down the powerful Changeling. Flawless Victory. Applebloom looked down at her hooves.

“Never knew I had it in me,” she said to herself. Sweetie Belle moaned on the ground. “Sweetie Belle!” Applebloom cried. She picked up her radio. “Base! Filly Two!”

“I read you, Filly Two,” the operator said.

“Need medivac, current position,” Applebloom said. “Sweetie Belle is down. Third degree burns.” As Applebloom spoke, she was unaware that Spitfire was walking up behind her.

“Medivac unit routing to you on...” Spitfire used her magic to pick up Applebloom and hover her above the ground.

“What the…?!” Applebloom cried.

“Say again?” the base operator asked. “Filly Two, report!” Applebloom was thrown down into the subway tunnel and onto the hard concrete. As she struggled to get up, Spitfire hovered down after her.

“The Empress will have your soul,” Spitfire said.

“Yeah?” Applebloom taunted. “Come and get it!” She and Spitfire engaged in combat in the subway. Applebloom hadn't encountered an opponent who could teleport yet, but she didn't care. She shined a bright flashlight in Spitfire's eyes, causing Spitfire to drop to her knees. Applebloom rammed the butt of the flashlight into the top of Spitfire's skull, cracking it. She then pulled out one of her police batons and ran it into Spitfire's jaw, breaking it. Applebloom finally pulled out a handheld taser and jammed it into Spitfire's neck, electrocuting her. Spitfire fell over, defeated.

“I think I'll be keeping my soul,” Applebloom gasped. A voice came from the top of the subway stairwell.

“I have been searching for you, Applebloom,” Scootaloo said. Applebloom pulled out her handgun and pointed it at Scootaloo.

“Well you found me,” she said. “Who are you?”

“I am Scootaloo,” Scootaloo answered. “Princess Celestia is gathering Equestria's defenders. You are among them.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Applebloom demanded.

“Celestia leads the defense against the Tartarus invaders,” Scootaloo explained. “She is our best hope for survival.”

“Yeah, well, Equestria Defender is about ten steps above my pay grade,” Applebloom said.

“I see you doubt yourself,” Scootaloo said. “Even after your victories. Come.” Applebloom thought about this matter, then agreed. She lowered her gun and followed Scootaloo outside. When they reached the spot where Sweetie Belle was lying, they found her gone.

“What?” Applebloom gasped. “Where is she? Medivac hasn't been here.”

“Perhaps she has gone to find help,” Scootaloo suggested.

“No,” Applebloom denied. “She was way too banged up. Somepony took her.” Scootaloo and Applebloom thought about who could have taken Sweetie Belle. With the invasion of Equestria under way, the situation seemed bleak for Equestria and its inhabitants.