Rest and Relaxation

Why was it so hot? Yards kicked at the sheets. He looked around and shook his mane out. Every vertebra in his neck popped into place. Oh wow. That felt so much better. If only his headache and the dry mouth would go away. He remembered there was a pitcher of water on the nightstand. Reaching for it, he saw he wasn’t alone. Aurora was curled in a ball sleeping beside him. Her ears were pointed right at him, waiting for him to make a sound. Much like when he had been there for Apple; Aurora had slept on top of the covers, to show her non-threatening support. It was so cute. She really was all legs. He reached out for the black lock. It had been dyed, the red was apparently her natural color.

She blinked one eye open. With a grunt, she acknowledged him.

Yards looked out the room’s window. The sun was just rising. “Morning.” She smiled at him. “How do you feel?”

“My head hurts.”

“Are you hungry?”

“Yeah, but, I’m not sure. Kinda queasy too.”

She frowned and put her fetlock against his forehead. “You don’t feel like you have a fever. Would you like some oatmeal?”

“Yeah, I guess,” he moved to get up when her hoof hit the middle of his chest.

“Stay. I’ll get it.” She poured him a glass of water, got up, grabbed her hat and walked out the door. Yards downed the glass and another one trying to get rid of the dry mouth. Somehow he also still needed to pee. A quick trip through a locked door to the bathroom later and he slid back into the soft silk sheets.

There were holes in his memory from last night. He remembered sex with Star and Toffee crying. There was Aurora shouting at everypony else, but he wasn’t sure why. It appeared he’d spent the night with her. While he was trying to piece it all together she came back with a tray. There was a bowl of oatmeal, with blueberries, toast, orange juice, and some alfalfa blocks.

“Where’d you get those?”

“You have to ask for them.”

She sat the tray down on the nightstand and he scooted to the head of the bed. She climbed back on and nestled beside him.
“Uhm, Aurora, I don’t want to be rude, but I really don’t remember what happened last night.”

She smiled at him. “You wanted a glass of water and a neck massage.”

“Thanks. We should probably get down there and start getting people organized.”

‘No. You need a day off.”

“The investigation-”

“Is being headed by Shining right now. They’re going over the evidence we found yesterday. Until we know what’s going on there’s nothing you need to worry about.”

“But-”

She put her hoof on his shoulder as if she could hold him down.”It’s okay, just relax today.” She scooped up a portion of oatmeal and offered it to him.

“I can feed myself.” He took the spoon and started eating. The oatmeal did a good job of settling his stomach. In fact, it sat there like cement. It hurt, but his stomach was empty. Taking a bite of the alfalfa block he chewed carefully. His head hurt and chewing wasn’t pleasant. Drinking half of his juice made his throat less scratchy.

She put a hoof on his back while he ate. “Do you want me to work on your back too?”

He shrugged, his mouth full of toast. Aurora climbed onto his back and started rubbing his muscles while Yards finished eating.
Yards got himself a glass of water while he finished off the tray on the nightstand. “So, what’s everypony else going to be doing today?”

“Catty’s going to take the others on a tour.”

“Neat, that sounds like fun.”

“Mmhhmm.” She leaned into his ear. “I’ll be here to take care of you.”

“My very own nurse?”

She nodded her head. There was a knock at the door. She got down off of him and walked over to the hallway door. She growled something then walked out of the room. Yards yawned and slid back under the silk sheets. The comforter was a bit much, but he could use some more rest. All that rest he’d wanted for so long. Now it was here and he didn’t know what to do with it. Wasn’t that just the story of his life?
The next time he woke up Aurora was lying on the floor, writing something in a book. She was wearing what looked like a Nightmare Night “Naughty Nurse” outfit; that was made entirely out of black lace. It contrasted beautifully with her coat. He reached for the pitcher. It was full again. She was doing a good job taking care of him.

She turned her head as she heard the water pouring. Eagerly she trotted over. She’d also put on her normal copious amounts of eyeliner. He noticed that spot on her cheek again. Yards rolled over onto his back, licked one of his hooves and brushed her cheek. He just had to know if it was real or not. She closed her eyes and leaned into his hoof holding it there.

“So, are you hungry yet?” She kept her eyes closed as she leaned into him.

Yards shook his head. “Not yet, it’s probably going to be one of those where I’m starving all at once.”

“Do you want another nap, or would you rather do something else.”

“I’m not tired. Maye something to read.”

“I could read you something.”

Yards laughed. “Nopony’s read to me in forever.”

Aurora lept to retrieve her book while Yards drank his water then closed his eyes to enjoy this rare treat. She climbed back onto her bed and sat near him.

“I hope you don’t mind. I...uhm, I wrote it myself.”

Yards blinked, refocusing on the unicorn. “Really?”

She gulped, opened the book and took a breath:
“Darkness, everything and everywhere.

The fools grub about in their darkness

Everything is always so pointless.

How do they continue on?

Why do they struggle?

Their struggle shines futilely in an ersatz sky.

At last I find my true sunshine

Twin orbs of gold hidden in the grass.

Will they...shine for me?”
Aurora looked down at him expectantly. Yards wasn’t quite sure what to think of it.

“It’s better than anything I could have done,” he said honestly

She gave him a weak smile. Slowly she leaned down, stroking his mane out of her way.

Is this what he really wanted? Why not? They had a lot in common. Sure, she was a city girl, but that was about the biggest difference. She wasn’t a part of his team. He could pursue a relationship with her and it wouldn’t pull his team apart. It was time for him to actually do something different, otherwise he’d never get any other results than what he’d gotten. He leaned forward slightly and made contact with her waiting lips.

She glomped onto him. Pressing herself against the sheet in between their bodies. That fabric divider kept him safe. They couldn’t do anything so long as it was there. As they explored each other's mouths Yards made sure the barrier remained in place.
When they finally broke apart Aurora started pulling the blanket down. Yards refused to let her move it. She gave him a sad smile and kissed him some more.

What passed for her weight was against his body. He could easily toss her across the room, but had no interest in hurting her. No, she alone was the one that cared about him. The one that saw him as a pony and not just...what? There had been something said last night that had made so much sense. Of course he’d been drunk. You probably could tell him the sky was yellow and he’d have thought it made sense. He caressed her neck as she gasped for air.

“I’m sorry. I just, I-”

She smiled at him as she placed a hoof over his mouth. “Just relax. I’m here to take care of you.”

He smiled back and kissed her hoof, letting go of the sheet. She bunched it up and tucked him in tight. “See? I’ll never hurt you.”

As they gazed into each other’s eyes the door exploded. Yards turned to see Apple’s plot pointing right at them as she lowered her hind legs. The other girls were right behind her. “Really? Three of us weren’t enough for you? You had to go and get another one?”

Aurora jumped off of Yards and planted herself in between him and the door. “What do you think you’re doing? He needs rest and for him to not be stressed by ponies who aren’t interested in his well being.”

“Yards, are you okay? The girls said you’d been abducted.”

“Yeah. I just got up from a nap.”

“The doors were locked and they were ordered to not come in.”

“So that you wouldn’t wake him. He’s hurt and needs his rest if he’s going to get better.” Aurora walked up to the earth pony and glared up at her. Apple returned the look with equal amounts of bemusement and bafflement that this tiny terrier would be barking at her fetlocks.

“Okay. I found your cult. Do you want to take them out now?”

Yards threw off the covers as he ungracefully rolled out of bed. “Cult?”

“What are you doing? You should be back in bed!” Aurora spun around, barking at her patient.

“If we can get this resolved then I can take all the time I need to get better.” He looked over at the earth pony. “Have you told Shining yet?”

“No.”

“Great, Catty, go get Shining, meet us in the armory.”

Yards stumbled as the sheets were tangled around his hind legs then made his way to the door.

“But...but…” Aurora was in a controlled panic.

“It’s okay.” He walked out to the hall and down the stairs. “So, Apple, fill me in. What happened?”

Well, I’d hate to tear you away from your ‘caretaker.’”

“Apple, you’re not helping.””

“Sorry.” There was more bitterness than contrition in her voice. “Well, I went back to the Castle. I was working next to somepony that was part of this cult, oh Yards, you don’t know how bad this is.” Once outside they started running to get to the castle.

“Yards...they...they HATE unicorns. I’ve never heard anything like what they were saying. I mean, it sounded like the stuff Toffee told me about from the train, only worse. I-I cooked for them last night...they, what they ate, oh Celestia, Luna and Faust. I don’t...Yards…” Her eyes were rolling back into her head in terror.

“Apple, focus! I need you! Stay with us. Where did you first make contact?”

“ Uah, She was working beside me in the commissary. She had been left by her unicorn coltfriend after he got her pregnant. Said she knew people who could help. I thought it was going to be a support group. I didn’t know it was going to be like that, I swear.”
Her emotions were all over the place.

“Okay, did she take you somewhere?”

She nodded. “One of the mansions on the Eiriee.It was heavily damaged, but the basement under it was huge. There was a whole huge house under it, with kitchens. It burrowed into other basements. I don’t know where all of them come out at.”

“So, what did they do?”

“They...ate turkeys. They’re developing a taste for meat.”

“They made you cook them?”

She nodded. “I had to, they knew who I was. They said if I didn’t they’d hurt Rhu.”

“Where’d they get them?” interjected Toffee.

“I don’t know, mercifully they were already gutted and plucked. If I had to do that they’d probably just have to kill me.”

“Were they cold?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay, so they could have been smuggled in from outside of Equestria. Possibly from some place like Griffonia.”

“Before they ate it, they put this head on it. It was a unicorn’s. They laughed and joke about it. They were debating what the best way to cook it was going to be. They’re cannibals.”

A chill went through everypony there. This was beyond the pale.

“Yards,” Starfall asked, “are we always going to have to deal with weirdos?” Starfall whimpered.

“I’m afraid so.”

They made their way through the castle to the armory. Yards was familiar with the correct hallways. Countless drills had hammered home a path that he could have walked without sight. He stopped at the Quartermaster’s window.

“Captain McCanter, looking for my team’s barde.”

He looked up from his desk and smiled at the group. “It’s in Vault Four, Nurse Lance Corporal can show you the way.”
Yards turned to look for the mentioned enlisted. Apparently he meant Aurora. She blew her bangs back. “That’s our vault, this way.” She took the point.

Vault Four was under construction. This fact displeased Aurora. One side held the six lockers for STARE’s equipment. The other side they were digging out part of the wall. There was a series of crates in the back corner.

Two unicorns were standing in the door, guarding the way. As the team walked in they came in behind them. One walked over to Aurora’s locker. She peeled the nurse outfit off while they started pulling armor out of it’s storage. Standing stil, Aurora waited for the guards to brush her down and start applying the layers of armor onto her tiny frame.

It was kinda cute. The armor was custom made. Not only did it perfectly match her body, but it had the golden STARE flourish. True to form, the peytral had a pink rectangle on it. It looked to be medium weight. Yards was impressed that she could bare that much weight.

The guards walked up to him. “Name.”

“Captain Yards McCanter.” One went to go check the crates while the other started brushing down his coat. It had been a while since somepony else helped him suit up, but he remembered the protocols. He stood still to set an example for the girls.

“Flight pack?” One of them asked.

“No.”

“Heavy Weapon?”

“No.”

After they finished his suit up they started working on Apple. He left his helmet off to keep his color vision.

“Nice. Shining won’t let me blacken mine. Doesn’t seem fair. Astro still gets to wear his Lunari suit.”

“Wait until you see Starfall’s.”

“Why?”

Yards motioned for the two to work on Star after they’re done with Apple.

Apple’s suit was a heavy plate set. It was based off of the Lunari assault squads barde. They could take considerable punishment and usually required an earth pony to support the weight. Yards wouldn’t have to worry about her safety.The pauldrons were equipped with large spikes so she could ram opponents and obstacles and crush them.

“So, lance corporal, huh?” Yards asked the new girl while they were suiting up the next member of his squad.

“Yeah, had to be to be transferred to STARE.”

“I thought you were a civy.”

“Nope. Shining laxes a lot of the dress code for me, but technically I was drafted at the end of the war and am still a part of the military. It’s how they make me do this.”

“Hey, wait, does that mean that they pay you?” asked Starfall. Aurora looked over at the suited up pegasus then harrumphed; turning her back at her because her suit was a Solari light pegasi barde in Lunari coloration.

“Yeah, they do pay pretty good,” she answered over her shoulder.

Starfall gave Yards a pained expression. He just shrugged.

“What are we dealing with?” Shining and the rest of the STARE team walked into the vault.

“It’s looking like Morlocks.” Toffee and Aurora snickered at the reference.

“Do we have a location?”

“Possibly most of the Airie.”

Shining hung his head. “Can we narrow it down some?”

“Underneath it.”

“Okay, but, we’re going to need more information if we’re going to get everypony.”

“I’m thinking decapitation. We smash and grab the head of the cult and the rest of the organization crumbles without support.”

“I don’t know. Last time we just had one target, this time we’re looking at potentially dozens or so.”

Yards gave him a hard look. “You’re not just being contrary because I was last time, are you?”

Shining returned with a roguish grin. “No. It is kind of funny, huh? I wanted to go plowing in for one target and you kept telling me what’s legal, now you want to charge into a huge crowd and I’m pointing out that there’s going to be too many getting away from you.”

“There is some analogies to our combat style here, huh?”

“Come on, let’s not get political. We’re supposed to be comrades now.”

“Toff, how is this one different from last time?” whispered Starfall

“Last time we were intruding into private property. This time we’re dealing with squatters.”

“But don’t they live there?”

“Not legally.”

“That sucks.”

“Well, I guess.“

“Okay, if you want to cover the other exits...Apple, what’s the name of the one in the kitchen that took you there?”

“Flipper.” Apple sounded confused.

“What did she look like?”

“Teal coat. Pink and white mane. Two spatchulas for her cutie mark.”

Shining looked over at the two pegasi and nodded. They nodded their understanding of the unspoken command. Apple looked back and forth between the two commanders.

“While you’re doing that, I’m going to see if we can get some stuff flown in to help us out.”

“Yards...what’s going to happen to Flipper?”

“Messer and Astro are going to question her.”

He started out of the vault. Back before the war, The Lunari’s armory would be back down to the quartermaster and over two corridors. If Luna was coming home then they should be there again.

The Lunari Quartermaster was an Earth pony. He was in his barde, as such any other details were wiped clear. He saluted as Yards walked to the window. Yards promptly returned his salute. “Gunnery, I need a MU13-3A.”

“We don’t keep mules here.”

“I know. I need one prepped and here in an hour.”

He laughed.

“Gunnery, move it!”

He turned with a grunt and started filling out the paperwork. “One support ‘bot, Non-lethal loadout. Crowd and riot control.” He checked the time and chuckled as he filled in when he needed it. “Just need you to sign here.” He pushed the clipboard to him so Yards could sign it. Yards pushed the clipboard back and he put the sheet into the sending fire.

The two stood there, waiting for the conformation. “So, have you seen the new T23’s?”

“Yeah, they’re pretty sweet. A little big I think.”

“Well, if you want to get that kind of range, it’s got to be.”

“Sure, but how often are you going to need that much range?”

“During a 10-100.”

The guys laughed together as a return message popped into existence. The quartermaster checked what it said. “They said they could have it here first thing in the morning.”

Yards sighed. “I need it in an hour.”

The Quartermaster shrugged his helplessness. Yards huffed then shook his head, trying to figure out the next best thing.

“Okay, what do we have here?”

“Well, I can get you the pony level armaments. What’s your unit’s designation, Captain?”

“We don’t have a designation, Tartarus, they’re not even a full squad.”

“So they’re not qualified for-” a second message appeared out of the air. The quartermaster read it and his eyes turned to slitted saucer plates.

“Well, sir, uah, I’m going to need you to come with me.” He buzzed the door so Yards could come into his office. This was highly unusual. Nopony was supposed to be allowed in his office. He pulled out a key hidden in his armor. He opened the door behind him. There were small arms, ammunition, and general supplies on shelves and organized crates. Behind it was another door. “I don’t have access to this room. This is to be opened only by the Princess herself. Apparently you now are allowed in here as well.”

Yards put his hoof on the panel and a spell went off. He could feel it scanning him. The door opened. Behind it was a hanger. It was designed to be Her escape plan, in case they had to extract her quickly again. In the hangar were two P3G flying escort class automatons. Their job would be to act as ablative protection. There was also a W4R P0N1 fully armed with the quad barreled flak cannons, the shoulder mounted bass cannons and the saddle bag mortar system. The green light in the glass horn rotated slowly. It was fully charged, but in stand down mode. This was far more firepower than what he expected or needed.

Why did she give him access to this? He knew from personal experience not that long ago just how lethal those bass cannons were. He’d used them to kill some of Trixie’s men less than a month ago. There was no way to use it’s flamethrower in a less than lethal manner. Maybe they could put some tear gas canisters into the mortars. That would at least deliver the payload.

Wait, the P3G’s. They had a smoke screen. They could swap cannisters. He started hitting buttons to swing them down to the floor. They were prepped and ready as well. The shield units were at full strength. The rear mounted vulcans could be disabled. No having them shoot the girls. Yes, this could work.

He started swinging hoists to swap out ammo racks inside of weapons and powering up systems. The work was quick and efficient. As he flicked through the final checklist he happen to notice it was time. He walked the two P3G’s through the armory. Both quartermasters were in awe of the mechanical monstrosities that obediently followed behind him.

Shining was suited up along with the mares. Those done had removed their helmets and the civilians were pulling various pieces off to make themselves comfortable. Yards gave a salute to Shining as he stared in awe of the firepower.

“Everypony is going to need gas masks that goes in. We’re going to do this the easy way.”

“Where did you get those?”

“Classified.”

“What are they?” Aurora asked.

“They’re some of the things I was working on near the end of the war. We needed bodies, so I started building them. These are Protection and Guardian models. They’ve got shield generators and a smoke screen I’ve replaced with tear gas.”

“Isn’t that kind of excessive?” asked Starfall.

Yards looked over at his subordinate. “It’s for our safety. We’re going to be severely outnumbered and this will make it safe for everypony.”

“Except the ponies that don’t have masks.”

“It’s better than being dead from a gunshot.”

She frowned. “Can’t we just talk to them? Isn’t that what we did last time?”

“Last time we outnumbered him. You’re in danger.”

“Well, if it’s my life, it’s my choice.” She started taking off her armor.

“Are you sure?”

“I have to try.”

Yards smiled and looked over at Shining. “It’s okay, she hasn’t learned the lessons yours has yet.”

“Let’s hope she never does.”

“Yards, I’m going with her.” Apple started taking off her armor as well.

“This is really dangerous.”

“They know me. Maybe I can get them to listen to her.”

Yards sighed. “Hang on.” He pulled the com horns out of their helmets and starting fitting them to their ears. “This will let us hear what you’re saying and let you hear us. If things even look like they might at some way become ugly you just say the word and we’ll be in there to save you.” The girls smiled at him, but he was having none of it. “I mean it. This is ridiculously, stupidly dangerous. I’m going to be at the door going down, waiting for you with one of these. You see a weapon, call. You see somepony trying to walk behind you, you call. If somepony takes three steps at you, you call.”

“Thank you, Yards, for letting me try.”

“Kindness is the only thing that can stop hate. I’m hoping for the best, but ready for just in case.”

“Okay, so how are we handling this?” Shining was bringing things back to business.

“I’m thinking team A”, he pointed at Starfall and Apple Rhubarb, “I’ll be Team B with a ‘Peg’, you and Aurora up on a roof of a nearby building controlling Peg’ B and the pegasi watching the alternate exits. You send Peg B to hot spots.”

“How do they work?”

“Let me show you.”

As Yards gave Shining a basic understanding of the commands to operate the automaton Aurora walked up to them. “I want to be with you in team B.”

Yards looked over at her commanding officer. Shining looked from unicorn to unicorn. “If I’m in a support role it makes sense to give him some backup.”

She did what passed for a smile for her. “You know me, I always take care of my things.” She leaned into his side.

While Yards finished his instructions for Shining the missing two pegasi returned.

“We’ve got some addresses,” said Astro.

“Reliable?” asked Shining.

Astro nodded. “Bona Fide made sure she got the truth from her. Wasn’t happy about being questioned by a unicorn.”

Shining nodded. “Alright, are we ready?”

Yards looked over at his girls. Aurora was right beside him, scowling at the others. Star was doing deep breathing exercises while Apple stood ready beside her. Toffee swallowed but was steady. She made eye contact with him and nodded. She alone in his squad was still in her barde.

Alright, pegasi, take off. Team A, go ahead and start walking. We’ll leave in a covered wagon in a few minutes.”

The group broke up. Yards and Aurora followed Shining to a garage bay where they had undercover wagon being hitched to two plainclothes agents. Yards and Shining secured the P3G’s to the roof under a tarp before climbing in.”

Aurora sat beside Yards who was across from Shining. She wrapped her fetlock around his. “Really, another one?” He shook his head. “You two are a cute couple. Be sure and invite me to the wedding.” Yards blushed.

The ride was largely silent after that. Just the clattering of the wheels and the clacking of hooves as they were carried to the Aerie.

Yards looked down at Aurora. Her barde included a standard issue, side mounted carbine. They weren’t the most accurate weapons, but they were reliable. The emblem on it, however, denoted her as an expert marksman.

The cart stopped and the haulers stomped the go command. The trio quickly piled out into the afternoon sun. With a quick survey they saw they were in a courtyard of a dilapidated mansion. They quickly broke out the P3Gs and prepped them for air. Toffee landed by Yards.

“The entrance is in the house two doors down on the left.”

“Thanks Toffee.”

She looked over at Aurora who was helping Shining fould out a wing. “Are you sure about this choice?”

“I’m sure it won’t hurt either of you as much as if I picked you or Apple.”

“Do you love her?”

He sighed. “She’s the first unicorn I’ve been around that I’ve had much in common with. I want to find out.”

“So...You might not end up with her, but you won’t end up with me?”

“If I have to choose one of you two it’s going to hurt the other too badly. You two mean so much to me that I never want to hurt either of you.”

She sniffed back tears. “Thank you for being honest with me. For what it’s worth, I’m glad you’re happy.” She took to the air and disappeared.

Aurora poked her head around the cart. “Are you ready?”

“Yeah.” He walked over to where the automatons were waiting.

“What was that all about?”

“She was telling me which house the girls are heading to.”

She gave him a look, trying to decide if she wanted more information. Yards didn’t really pay attention, instead, he was activating his P3G.

“This shield generator looks familiar,” Shining interjected himself into the conversation.

“It should. It’s based off of your spell.”

He nodded, then put his hoof to the side of his helmet. “All groups, report in.”

“Group B, reporting,” said Yards into the comm.

“Group C, reporting,” said Shining.

“Group D, reporting,” came Astro.

“How does this thing work?” asked Starfall.

“I don’t know. Is it on?” answered Apple.

“I can hear you,” offered Toffee.

“Alright girls. Let’s keep it open. Star, Apple. We’ll hear everything you say. team D is in position, teams B and C are moving. Report when ready.” Yards waved for Aurora to follow him and kicked the P3G to initiate it’s heel command. The trio made their way down the street. The sun was high in the afternoon sky. There was little cover for them to utilize, so instead they used back yards. At least that way passersby won’t notice and traffic disruption would be minimal.

“Group C, in position.” Shining was ready on the roof of his building.

Yards stopped at the garden next to the target. Most of the vegetation had been eaten. There was a stone walkway from the house over a small pond to an island with a gazebo. The two ponies sat down on the bridge, hiding behind the stonework safety rail.

Yards switched his com horn to receive only. “Well, guess this is a heck of a first date spot.” Yards smiled at Aurora.

She smiled back giving him a once over. “No making out on the job.” There was no echo, she had done the same.

Yards chuckled self consciously. He turned his mic back on. “Group B in position, Group A is a go.”

“Huh?” asked Starfall.

“You can go in and try to talk them down. If not, we’ll be in to save you.”

“Oh, okay.”

Yards could hear their hooves clopping on the floor of the mansion. As they came in Apple said “The hardness of my heart keeps me cold.”

There was another voice that was away from the mic. Yards could make out very little. It was something about “That”

“This is my friend, Starfall. She was wronged by the unicorn too. I thought maybe she could join us, too.”

There was something in the background again.

“Thank you,” said Starfall. “I try.”

They were moving and apparently being chatted up, as the girls responded to compliments. Yards blushed slightly.

“Oh, we walked in on him with a unicorn on top of him in her bed.“

“Well, when you put it that way…” he muttered under his breath.

“Yeah, he’s just a letch. I can’t believe I fell for him.” Apple was doing a disturbingly good job of acting upset with him.

They giggled and flirted with the guards as they headed deeper into the ancient building.

Yards and Aurora mounted the wall and charged into the backyard of the hideout. There were a few old shade trees. The remains of a chimney from an old summer kitchen was their cover. Yards and Aurora were panting hard, pressing themselves together to share the tight space. They looked at each other and grinned at the innuendo. The P3G was in the air above them, resting on a self made cloud.

The signal was starting to fade. The ancient architecture and the dirt from underground were interfering. Yards took another deep breath, looked down at his compatriot and nodded. They sprinted to the back wall. They could hear the girls better again. Yards called down his P3G. It didn’t look like they had any other guards but the ones complementing Apple on her tail.

Aurora patched her comm horn into the network to relay the sounds to the rest of the team. She started fiddling with the gain until they all could hear the other ponies in the room.

“Good of you to return, Apple Rhubarb. There were some concerns about your return, I won’t lie.” The speaker was a male. His voice was gravelly, but his accent lilted. It wasn’t something Yards had ever heard before.

“I wasn’t really sure myself. Then...well,” she sighed.

“Ah, you had to learn first hand about how duplicitous unicorns are, eh?”

“This is my friend, Starfall. She was in the same boat as me.”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“With the same unicorn.”

“Oh. I see, he wasn’t content with just using earth ponies, but even our sisters of the sky?”

“So, what is it you ponies do here?” Starfall asked.

“Here we seek to liberate ourselves from our true oppressors, the unicorns.”

“So, how are they oppressing us?”

“Look around you at this very city. Who has the majority of the wealth? The unicorns. Less than a third of the total population of Equestria are unicorns, yet they hold over 60% of the wealth of Equestria. That’s disproportionate. They’re hoarding all the money. Without money we can’t get things we need. They just dribble it out to keep us just above starving to death. And how do they get their wealth? By forcing us to do all the work. We’re the ones that produce all the food and goods yet we’re exploited, eh.”

His voice was going into a sing-song pattern of someone used to manipulating crowds. “We are earth ponies. Our heritage is the soil. We produce all the food, yet they charge us to eat it. Why? Food is an inalienable right, why should we have to pay for what we are meant to produce? They want back that trickle they gave us just to stay alive. That way we can’t get ahead. We’re just on a treadmill and the only place we can go to is to the grave.”

There was a cheer around them. The crowd had apparently heard this before but loved the tale. “How are they getting rid of us? They’ve replaced us with their machines. Apple Rhubarb here lives on one of the farms that the unicorns are using their magic to create machines that replace us.”

“It’s true. With Yard’s cider machine, it can pick all the apples in an orchard that would have taken all week for an earth pony to do. While it’s doing that, it can do the work of three other ponies turning it into cider, all while he’s reading.” Apple was apparently trying to show her change of heart to the crowd.

“And he’s not the only one.” Yards could hear the smile in his voice. He was getting creedence from a new supporter. “Celestia is paying these unicorns to put earth ponies out of business. What little land that’s left is being worked by small groups of unicorns and their machines. Earth Ponies are unable to compete with their quantities and what little they can sell it for. Celestia pays them, so they can sell for a loss. They can create food with less effort, thereby cultivating more land in the same amount of time, thereby crashing the market for whatever they’re selling.” The crowd murmured it’s agreement as several voiced personalized slights and tales of woe.

“Luna started a war that killed thousands of us, both of Earth and Sky. It devastated the land, destroying homes, cities, scorching the land to uselessness. Even if the unicorns weren’t gobbling up all the good land, there’s not much left that’s not blasted wastes for us to use. They’ve forced us off the range and into the ghettoes. That way we’re in one confined area and easier for them to persecute.”

“Oh, come on now, really?” Starfall couldn’t hold back any more.

“You don’t think they’re trying to kill us off, eh? Even after what they’ve done to your people? Why the genocide against pegasi is so bad they’re not even trying to hide that it happened.”

“You mean the bounty on us having foals? I’ve been thinking of trying for that.”

“Yes. Outwardly they’re trying to repopulate the pegsi, but tell me, was the stallion you were considering a pegsi?”

“No, he was a unicorn. I haven’t met many pegsi guys around.”

“Of course, they were killed off in the war. The Lunari created terrible machines that killed off earth and pegasi ponies squads at a time. The only stallions left are unicorns. They’re trying to turn you into a whore.”

Starfall snickered softly to herself. “Well…” she said self consciously, “It was just once, I really don’t think that THAT is what qualifies me as a whore.”

“Still, specifics, we’re talking more like all of the pegasi. The few stallions that are left are undoubtedly begun courting by unicorn women. Their only use for us two is for their perverted pleasure.”

“Okay, so let’s say I do believe you. What are you planning on doing?”

“We’re going to take our power back! We are going to make them pay for all they’ve done.”

“Have you tried talking to them?”

“They just laugh at us. The time for talking is past, now we must do something, eh? Or else they’ll just keep oppressing us.”

“Look, Yards may be insensitive and emotionally needy, but he’s not mean. He makes the machines. Why not talk to him about making ones for you ponies?”

Needy? Him? Did he really come off as needy? He looked over at Aurora. Well, he did just grab another woman and immediately...Cez, why didn’t anypony ever talk to him about this?

The stallion inside laughed. “He has no interest in helping us, he’s too busy trying to bed as many mares as he can. How could we afford to hire that mercenary? He won’t even help his own family.”

Yards fumed at that answer. If his family would have told him they were in trouble he certainly would have helped them. It wasn’t his fault they didn’t talk to them...was it?

"I’m sure there are others. I mean, not all unicorns are rich and powerful.”

“They are all privileged. They can go simply wherever they want and be considered the norm. Look at pencils. When you were in school how did you write with a pencil?”

“In my mouth.”

“Why is there an eraser? When it gets wet from all that saliva? Because it’s designed for a unicorn to hold it with their magic. Did you ever try and use a quill?”

“Not for writing.”

“Of course not, you can’t kept the fuzzy things in your mouth. Then there’s paint brushes, hammers, really any tool whatsoever. All designed for unicorns to float around in the air, not for ponies who have to resort to hoof and mouth.”

“They consider us handicapped because we can’t.”

Careful, Apple, you’re going to make it harder for Star to talk down, though Yards.

The speaker’s tone was more conciliatory. He was louder, so likely much closer to the girls. “It’s great that you want to join us. I understand that you believe in peace and harmony. I used to too. But I’ve tried, they just laugh at us or ignore us. No, force is the only thing that they will listen to. Force is the only way we can get them to listen to us.”

“But using force on somepony else is wrong.”

“Even in self defense?”

“Well…”

“We’re defending ourselves from ponies that want us dead. They won’t stop until we’re wiped out. We have to protect ourselves and our way of life.”

“Trust me, I know how unicorns think. There’s no room for them and us. As soon as they finish their machines to control weather they’ll be done with your kind as well. We must work together to survive. We are the ones seeking harmony with our brothers and sisters.”

It was quiet for a while. Softly, Star whispered “the word.”

Yard’s heart jumped into his throat. This was it. Aurora was kicking the door in while he signaled the P3G to come down. They moved as one though they were from different squads they both had the pattern ingrained into them. Quickly and quietly they cleared room by room. Searching each corner and every ceiling. They turned to the right and found the door down into the basement. As quietly as a summer breeze they made their way down the steps. The basement was empty.

Quickly scanning around they found drag marks on the floor of hooves going into the wall. Good girls. Yards gave the command and the P3G crashed through the concealed door and down a long hallway.

There was yelling coming over the com now. They had heard their breech and were starting to scramble. Subtly was out the window as the trio bolted down the hallway to get to the girls before anything bad happened to them. A stallion stepped out of a bulkhead and the P3G trampled him down without slowing.

Together they burst into a large underground amphitheater. Aurora fired into the ground, giving warning and to start them into a fright as she started circling around as she herded them back up the stairs.

There wasn’t much time to take in the surroundings, The only thing visible was the long nosed pony in front of the moon that was painted huge here. There was an earth pony stallion standing in between Star and Apple.

“Of course,” he sighed, almost disappointed. “I should have known you would be here. Were they in on it, or are you just so possessive you can’t let them be with somepony else?”

He was wearing an old style beret, with white feathers hanging down from the back. His coat was a soft silvery blue while his eyes, were a deep red.

“I am a leaf on the wind.” Yards charged the unknown stallion. The mystery stallion reared up to drive his heavy hooves down onto Yard’s back. Yards countered by slamming his helmet into his throat. With a shove he pushed the stranger away from the mares.

The P3G cantered up behind Yards, trailing it’s noxious cloud behind it. The command had triggered it’s defensive protocols. Yards grabbed the spare gas masks he’d brought and slapped one over Apple’s head. The stallion counterchanged, sending Yards into his machine
“Apple get the other mask on Starfall.” Yards shoved at his assailant. Other doors were exploding in as Astro and Messer charged in. They started shoving those that had tried to flee back into the central herd.

Yards snapped at his opponent's legs forcing him to dance back. Yards dropped down into a guarded stance, waiting for his enemy’s next move.

The opponent began to spin around to bring his heavy rear hooves to bare. Yards charged in and threw his hind leg over his hips.
His enemy balked and tried to buck him. Yards put the full weight of himself and his armor onto him. The earth pony was strong and Yards flew. Quickly he wrapped his forelegs around the pony’s neck. Yard’s couldn’t stop being thrown off, but he was going to bulldog his opponent with him. He squeaked in pain as the earth pony landed on top of him, but he didn’t let go. He locked all his legs around this enemy and started squeezing. He wanted this pony alive for questioning.

The combatant started wheezing, he was running out of breath. He stumbled to his hooves despite the weight and slammed Yards against the wall. Yards responded by slamming his helmet into the base of his enemy’s skull. He stumbled and Yards saw what was under the hat.
A long, dark curved crystal had been implanted into his forehead, right where a unicorn’s horn would have been. I pulsed with dark energy. What was that thing? The pulses were coming more frequently. It was beginning to glow red. Crap. Yards jumped off, kicking the psudeocorn into the wall. He dived for the girls. “Shie-” He never got to finish the command before the explosion.
________________________________________________________________
“Yards, are we going to die?” The tremble in Starfall’s voice told him that her medication was the only thing keeping her together.

“No,” Yards lied to her. The acrid stench of burning flesh clung to everything. The explosion had covered everypony in scalding viscera. The command activated just in time to keep the house above them from crushing down all at once. Now they were just watching it, waiting for the power to fail and crush them under the rubble.

“Is it getting hard in here for anypony to breathe?” Star was starting to panic. Yards tossed a chocolate at her across the frame of the P3G. They had three horse days of food and somebody had the foresight to include kava laced chocolates to help ponies relax.

“It’ll be okay. This is building debris, not dirt. If it were dirt then all of it would cover evenly and we’d suffocate. WIth the walls and furniture and everything then you’ve got numerous gaps for air to flow through. It’s just going to get warm from there being three of us in here. It’s okay.”

“Yards, how long will the shield last?”

Yards sighed, trying to control his aggravation at her panic. “Normal sized bubble is good for an hour. I dialed the diameter down so we’ve got at least 4.”

“Can they get to us in time?”

“We’re in the middle of Canterlot. If there’s anywhere they can get enough unicorns to PK the debris off of us, it’s here.” He could hear water dripping from a cracked pipe somewhere around them.

“So, what happens if they don’t?”

“That’s why I built you two that shelter.”

“No, what about you.”

Yards looked at his lean-to. It was just the wing of the P3G propped up with a pair of table legs he’d found. It was nowhere near sturdy enough to save him. He’d used all the armor plates and “unnecessary” struts to make a shelter that could support the weight. It was just big enough for two so of course he put the mares in it.

“Yards?”

“Yes, Starfall?”

“I’m sorry. For, making things hard, between..you know. Aurora was right.”

“Yes, she was.”

“Yards, I’m sorry too.”

“Thanks, Apple.”

“I guess I didn’t understand how it was affecting you.”

“I tried to explain it to you.”

“You did?”

“Yes. And you got mad at me.”

“Well, you insulted me.”

“I’m sorry.” Yards sighed. “You know what? I’m sorry that I’m having to constantly apologize for stupid road apples.”

“Yards,”

“No, I’m serious. I am so tired. Everypony just doesn’t seem to see me as me. Delta just wants to feed off of me, you want me to replace your husband, Star is at least honest about just wanting me as a sperm donor so she can replace her lost family. Toffee. spffft. Toffee doesn’t even see me as a real pony. I’m just some sort of strange surrogate for her fantasies.”

Yards sighed again. Then rolled away from the body of the P3G and by extension, the girls. It wasn’t like they could see him. Maybe that was why this was easier. He couldn’t see the hurt that his telling the truth was inflicting.

“I’m seriously hurt. Does anypony even give a thought to it? Not the three closest friends. Not even the princesses.”

“You never show it to us.” Apple

“Because I’m the leader. If I showed you girls how bad I’m hurt then this whole case would still have been unsolved.”

“If I hadn’t left this whole case would still be unsolved.”

“Touche.”

“Are you mad at us?” Such an adolescent question. Oh, Star, you had so much to learn still.

Yards gave a low growl while he thought about it. “No...I think it’s more disappointment. I lost a limb, Trixie...violated me and my best friends all pile up on me demanding I choose one of them as my bestest best friend. Even if I wasn’t hurt, I don’t think I could make that choice.” A small rock fell from the top of their mausoleum. It bounced off the shield then rolled down to the next level of debris.

“Sounds kinda like you need to come see my shrink.’

That made Yards laugh. “Yeah. I talked myself out of it, but, well...probably.”

“Yards?” Star asked.

“Yes?”

“Could you make the shield a little bigger, just for a few minutes?”

“I’m not sure. It’s going to cut our survival time down.”

“Yeah, but I really need to pee.”

“Me too.”

Yards grunted and rolled over to look into the internal circuits of his creation. It wasn’t quite as simple as the girls thought it would be, he’d have to push really hard to move the debris away from them. It was going to significantly reduce the power. He tried rerouting the power from the “safety net” that would keep it from crashing should something happen while it was flying to give him the extra power needed. The debris grunted as it was pushed back. He could hear the girls moving. Honestly it wasn’t a bad idea and he probably should follow suit.

“Yards?” asked Starfall again.

“Done already?”

“No, no, not that. The shield. It’s strong enough to keep the house from falling down on us. So if it’s all equal and stuff, does that mean that it can push as well as catch?”

Yards had to stop and think about what was being said. “You’re referring to Newponian physics?”

“I guess. okay.”

“Well, it fell at 9.81 meters per second. It’s still pushing down on us at the same rate. Right now it is pushing as hard out as it’s being pushed down on.”

“Oh, so we can’t just reverse it and have it push out?”

“That’s a good try, but no. I like how you were thinking.”

“So, can you double the strength and push it all away?”

“No, we’re in a hole in the ground. It doesn’t have enough room to move it too.”

“Can we push it up?”

“Not a whole house’s worth.”

“What about what’s just above us?”

Yards stopped to consider. He was going to need some things...Where would he find...hmm…”It’s better than just sitting here whining. Let me see if I can find the parts I need.”

Yards started fidgeting around. The P3G had a basic wrench built into it to use to convert parts of it into survival necessities. It would be a lot easier if he had a real tool set, or his magic. If he had his horn he could just over charge this with friendship fire and blow all of it out of his way.

Too bad he didn’t have a prosthetic horn, then he could...hang on. The mana governor. What if he took, man his doctor was going to hate him. He dug through the debris. He knew he’d seen part of that psudocorn’s horn somewhere.

There was a piece, and here was another. “Hey, do you girls have any of those red-black crystals over there?”

“Like this?” A white hoof held up a piece of crystal.

“Yup. Get me all the pieces you can find over there.” The three scrambled around looking for the crystals.

“So, what are you going to do?”

“We’ll see. Depends on how many we find.”

They scoured the ground for a half hour before they had enough for him to work with. He pulled the tape out of the survival kit and began to arrange the pieces into a roughly 2’ horn like shape before taping it all together.

“Is it going to be big enough?”

“I think so.” Yards pulled off his mana governor. With the shattered latticework he was going to need something to smooth out it’s power flow. He went to work trying to wire the components into the P3G’s internal workings.

“What’s going to happen?” Starfall peered over the back of the P3G.

“Not sure, I’m re-routing the energy for the motion systems, that way the shield stays, just in case.”

“What do you hope happens?” Apple joined Starfall in watching.

“Hopefully, I can get an energy beam to burn through the debris. That should make it easier for them to find us.”

“That’s great.”

“Star, I really respect what you tried. You did the right thing.”

“Thanks. It just felt right.”

‘Ah!” The crystal began to glow, the light from it scattered in all directions. Yards started fiddling with the settings on the mana governor. He had to get the power to focus from one crystal to another. Maybe if he set them up in a chain that would work better.

Suddenly the crystal began to heal itself. “What the?” Yards tried to readjust the controls again. It didn’t seem to change the effect. It was now feeding directly from the power system. “Uh, oh.” Yards back away slowly.

“Yards?”

“Girls, back away.”

The crystal began to grow. It grew slowly at first. Then it gained momentum. It began to push out from the shield. It’s shiny, obsidian surface began to twist and branch out. It grew like a tree, it’s roots digging into the P3G’s body and it’s branches began to pierce the shield. It pushed and strained against the rubble.

“What is it?” Even Apple was scared.

Debris rained down as it began to break it’s way out.

“It’s our way out!” Yards started scrambling up a wall section while Star grabbed Apple and started flying out. As the crystal grew the trio pushed forward, climbing from their tomb until they burst forth into a scene of chaos. STARE was there as well as several firefighters, it looked like they were finishing up putting out several fires from the explosion.

Aurora immediately glomp onto him. “Yards!”

He hugged her back. “It’s good to see you too.” She locked lips onto him, pushing his helmet off.

“Are you alright?” she finally asked.

Yards nodded when he noticed she was looking behind him. The crystal had continued to grow. It stretched a long shadow with the setting sun.

Suddenly it shattered into tiny pieces. Two sets of wings folded as both princesses landed.

“It seems clear now who our true enemy is, dear sister.” Luna looked over at her sister.

“Yes, it appears that Cadence was not successful.” Celestia bowed her head in sad contemplation.

“Cadence?” Shining turned to his liege.

“Shining, I’m so sorry to have to tell you this.” She hugged her champion like he was a small child she would have to tell him his puppy was dead. “Your wife isn’t missing. Near the end of the war she believed another powerful enemy had gotten loose. Indeed, that he even was the one who had your sister killed.” Shining’s eyes turned to steel and he vowed to himself that this opponent would pay.

“Who is this?”

“His name is King Sombra. Your wife went to try and stop him on her own. She believed that with sufficient love she would be able to reach him. We disagreed, but ultimately, it was her choice.”

“Where is he?”

“Come, we shall prepare your team.” She turned and waved for Shining to follow. He gave the order for his squad to follow.

Aurora was torn. Yards kissed her behind her ear. “Go. Don’t get in trouble on my account.” She turned and hugged him.

“I’ll be back right after we’re done, I swear.” She nuzzled him then turned and left.

There was a slight ding of metal on metal as heavy hooves landed beside Yards. He turned to see Messer. They locked eyes. Great. Was he going to lecture him about dating her too?

He nodded his approval, simply saying “Never shit in your own yard.” Then he flew off to catch his commanding officer.

“Yards, I don’t know how you grew that dark crystal, but I beseech you never do so again.”

`It’s alright. I’m not interested in ever having to face another exploding pony ever again.

“They exploded?”

“Yes.”

Luna sighed, shaking her long neck. “Their trek will be long and difficult. I hesitate to send you.”

“Then, please don’t. I need time to heal. I need to go see a couple of doctors and I need to go home.”

She nodded. “That would be for the best. Why don’t you take your girls home? Rest, for the war will be starting soon.”

Yards sighed. ”Will it ever really end?”
Luna only closed her eyes

________________________________________________________________
Surrounded by destruction, the painting moved. The long snouted pony in front of the moon yawned, stretched and scratched at body parts that weren’t there a few seconds ago.

“Oh Moonstone, you were so fun. It’s a shame, really.” The black outline stepped away from the wall. Placing a thumb in it’s mouth be blew into his hand. It popped into existence as a lion’s paw. “So, Shiny is going to be heading up north to see my old friend. That sounds like it’ll be entertaining. I think I’ll go follow them for a while.”