Das Wiederaufleben

The Ponyville outpost was bustling with activity. Troopers running this way and that to prepare for the summit of Equestrian Royalty taking place at Princess Twilight's castle. Soldiers were shining their boots, cleaning their barracks and in general making sure everything was perfect. This would be the first time since the signing of the Canterlot-Changeling treaty that Queen Chrysalis herself would be attending to discuss possible annexation of the changeling hive's territory, and nopony wanted to look weak in front of the Changeling Queen herself.

Scootaloo polished her boots with the same care and deliberation she’d take dismantling and reassembling an Atlas 12 gauge shotgun. She nodded to herself in the spotless reflection of her leather boots and slipped them over her hooves with the usual heavy creak of resistance. She may have worn this boots since her training days in the academy, but the leather was still strong and firm. Just one of the perks of behemoth hide, she reasoned. She chuckled at the memory of when she first learned what these boots were made out of. To think that the boots on her hooves her made from the flesh of another animal made her sick to the core, and she darn well might’ve just dropped out of the academy right then and there. As it turned out, when she did her research, the behemoths are much like giant tortoises, albeit that these tortoises grew to be the size of entire continents, and were famed for the mountainous peaks that decorated their shells. Of course, due to their reptilian nature, behemoths needed to shed their skin in order to grow, as their hide is as thick as granite. Because of its tough, durable and regenerative properties, it was a highly favoured material for pony armour. As she checked herself for, what she planned to be, the last time before the treaty meeting, there came a knock at the door.

“It’s open.” She called out. She turned to face her visitor as Fang poked her head round the door frame.

“Commander Scootaloo,” she greeted. The bat pony adjusted the sash that swept across her chest and stood to her full height, “ze changeling Queen is due to arrive vizzin ze hour.” She reported.

Scootaloo smiled and nodded. “Very well, sergeant,” she replied, professionally. “I’ll join you at eleven hundred hours sharp to greet her.

With a salute, Fang left to go about her duties in preparation for the meeting with Chrysalis. Scootaloo made her way down the hallway toward the convoy. She inspected the armoured carriages for any faults or weaknesses, as well as improvised explosives or other sabotage devices.

After ascertaining everything was free from tampering planted by any sort of terrorists or the like, the orange mare walked outside, soaking in the Ponyville outpost’s defensive measures.

Let’s see... Guard towers are manned, all entrances being patrolled, and Marks is at the weapons depot inspecting firearms. Everything seems to be in order.

The soft clapping of hooves against the ground signalled the arrival of Fang.

“Meine General, ze troops are ready to depart.” She reported ,dutifully.

Scootaloo nodded, smiling. “Dankeschön meine freunde.” She replied with a salute. Fang couldn’t help but chuckle as she returned the salute, making both mares chortle amongst themselves at the sight. “Come on,let’s go see how Marks is doing.” Fang nodded and the pair made their way to the armoury.

As they entered the armoury, they were greeted by a titanic array of weaponry and firearms of all sorts; Saturn rocket launchers, Orion Sniper Rifles, Mars semi-automatic combat rifles and many more weapons all lined the walls in a neat display, each one well kept and maintained, ready to see some conflict.

“Marks?” Fang called out into the armoury as they rounded a corner to the melee weapon section.

“On my way!” Marks returned, slipping his clipboard into his saddlebag and making his way toward the exit, knowing he would meet up with Fang and Scootaloo soon enough. The trio met up and Marks gave his report on the weapons present. All were present and correct, with no discrepancies or malfunctions to report.

“Which makes a change.” He had to add at the end, causing Scootaloo to roll her eyes.

“Really, Marks? It was one time, dude, let it go.” Scootaloo retorted, unimpressed by Marks’ pessimistic attitude.

“One time is all it takes for an invasion to overwhelm us,” The stallion retaliated, huffing as he strode towards the door, already growing tired of the conversation. Scootaloo and Fang rolled their eyes as they followed.

“Vill you lighten ze buck up every vonce in a vhile, Marks?” Fang chastised. “It vas a new recruit, and he learned his lesson.”

“Yeah, once it was beaten into him, the stupid kid.”

“Gott in Himmel, vill you just give it a bucking rest!?” Fang all but spat, growing ever increasingly exasperated by her colleague’s shitty mood.

“That’s enough, both of you!” Scootaloo interjected. “Look, we’ve run our checks, everything’s in order, let’s just get to the castle so we can get this whole thing out of the way.”

Without another word, the trio boarded their respective carts and the military convoy rolled out to Twilight’s Palace.

Scootaloo had always hated riding in convoy carts, especially over such short distances. Princess Twilight’s palace was only about a fifteen minute trot from the Ponyville outpost, and only a fraction of that for flyers like herself and Fang. Convoy carts were loud and cramped. And noisy. That awful, clattering din they made as they managed to find every nook, cranny, bump and peak in a usually silky smooth road, tossing its passengers this way and that like a sailboat in stormy seas.

“Am I the only one who thinks these things could do with a little more attention to detail than just being cobbled together with bits of scrap iron and cake frosting?” She complained, only to be jostled by a small hump in the road and thrown into Fang’s side for an answer.

“I zink it is only you, Scootaloo,” Fang teased cheekily, giving a mischievous snort. Marks simply rolled his eyes and continued staring out the window, focusing on nothing in particular as the town of Ponyville rolled by.

After a long and arduous journey, they arrived at the palace. The trio climbed out of their cart, stretching their sore muscles and popping each fused bone meticulously.

“Zank Himmel zat is over.” Fang moaned, flicking her wings, snapping each bone beneath the membrane back into place, making Marks wince.

“Eww. I do wish you’d stop doing that,” he grumbled, prompting the thestral to stick her tongue out in a juvenile display of cheek. Scootaloo rolled her eyes with a chuckle at the display, offering a playful bop to the head for each of her comrades.

“Come on, you two, let’s get inside,” she said as she turned to the large, imposing crystal doors, closely followed by Fang, Marks and the rest of the battalion that was called to chaperone the meeting.

They walked through corridor after corridor after corridor before finally finding themselves in the grand hall, in which the meeting was due. The hall was vast and cavernous, the high domed ceiling seemingly reaching upward forever, meaning the acoustics in the room echoed loudly, as if being fed through a surround sound system comprised of a thousand speakers. Scootaloo led the way to the other end of the empty hall, where a purple alicorn stood in wait, wings neatly folded at her sides as she stood to her full height, her regalia all perfectly polished and shined to catch the sunlight just right. The purple mare smiled as she watched her new arrivals approach, slowly stepping forward to formally greet them, and to thank them for their service for this important affair.

“Lieutenant Hit Marks. Sergeant Nacht Fang.” She addressed in turn, nodding respectfully to the ponies in question as they saluted her, before turning to Scootaloo with a fond smile. “Commander Scootaloo.” Throwing the formal charade to the wind, the princess and the corporal embraced each other briefly before releasing one another and resuming their formal poses. “You three have my deepest gratitude for your service in this important affair of state matters. It is my hope that you shall bear witness to history being made, and the paving of the road to a better, more united Equestria.” Scootaloo, Fang and Marks all bowed as deep as they could in response.

“Princess Twilight,” Scootaloo made her address. “It is with great honour that we serve under your rule, and we hope to see your vision for a better, more unified Equestria come to fruition.”

Twilight smiled and couldn’t help but break her regal guise to offer Scootaloo a brief nuzzle of affection. “I can’t think of anypony I’d want more to be here and witness this historical turn of events.” She cooed, sweetly, causing the young mare to chuckle.

“If it wasn’t for you and Rainbow Dash, Twilight, I’d never be in the position I am now to be able to witness this at all.”

A soft clearing of somepony’s throat broke the tender tension of the scene, turning every head to the culprit of this interruption. Celestia and Luna had advanced on the gathering, and were offering amused, half-smirking, smiles at the surprised expressions that greeted them.

“It’s good to see that we have such perfect candidates to demonstrate the benefits of friendship for today’s meeting,” Celestia mused. “But remember, my little ponies, there is still much work to be done if we are to truly persuade Queen Chrysalis to agree to the annexation of the changeling territories into Equestria’s borders.

“Which is precisely why we must remain optimistic, yet cautious,” Luna chimed in, taking a step forward to command total attention. “Thus far, the changelings have shown much promise in their opinions towards the annexation of their territories, but there are still those who are cynical. Likewise, there are still ponies within our own borders who still exercise caution when dealing with subject matters pertaining to the changelings. Which is why this meeting is paramount to the future between ponies and changelings, and uniting forces against new, greater threats to come.”

Scootaloo nodded, turning her head to see Marks refusing to look the Princess of the Night directly in the face. She chuckled at the sight, prompting a giggle from Fang as well, and a warning glare from Marks himself.

“Well, we’d better comb the perimeter to ensure there’s no funny business for when Queen Chrysalis arrives.” Scootaloo chimed, dismissing Marks’ empty threat before being cut short by a new voice.

“No need for that. I already made sure of that.” Everypony present turned face toward the source of the new, ethereal voice to find Chrysalis walking down the long strip of crimson carpet, her carapace regalia looking just as well oiled as Twilight’s. As she reached them, the sound of insect-like scuttling drew their eyes upward to find at least a dozen changeling climbing down the inner walls of the domed ceiling towards them. Marks immediately assumed a defensive position, wary of any and all movement made by the unexpected arrivals.

“Stand down, Lieutenant Marks,” Scootaloo commanded, holding a hoof against his chestplate.

“Don’t know if you’ve noticed, Commander,” Marks spat in retaliation, “but we’re surrounded and outnumbered by bugs right now, and they’re using the same tactics they always do.”

“Exactly,” the mare returned. “Which is precisely why they’re not a threat to us, here. Even they learn that by using the same tactics and maneuvers and expecting a different outcome, they doom themselves to fail. If this were truly an ambush, don’t you think they would’ve struck without Chrysalis making herself known?”

“Ever the observant one, aren’t you Commander Scootaloo?” Chrysalis complimented, with a smirk. “I guess that’s why you rank higher than Mister Marks, here.” The stallion growled at this snide comment before being swiftly silenced by an elbow to the ribs from Fang.

“Well, now that everypony is present, I believe we should get down to our order of business,” Twilight suggested, swiftly steering the line of conversation to a more amenable topic. The changeling queen offered a nod of approval.

“Yes. Let’s.”

“Excellent,” Twilight beamed, clapping her forehooves gleefully. “Now, as I understand it, you proposed for us to, first, discuss a possible transfer of a member of one of your special forces troops.”

“Correct,” Chrysalis affirmed, “It is my belief that by introducing a member of my own military into that of Equestria, we may grow to understand one another’s militant strength, and find new ways in which to integrate our differing military strategums in an effort to maximise the security of both ponies and changelings against possible future threats.” Despite the odd look of concern from the militant ponies present, Twilight simply nodded her approval.

“I think that would be a wonderful idea. Do you have a candidate in mind?”

Chrysalis nodded. “I do, as it happens. I left him in the capable claws of your Grand General.”

“Well then, let’s bring him in and meet the new arrival,” Twilight beamed broadly, excited at the prospect of a new friend and comrade. “Spike?”

The large crystal doors swung wide open and a large, imposing silhouetted figure slowly walked toward the gathering, bringing a second, far smaller silhouette with him.

The larger shadow came into the light, revealing glimmering purple scales and three rows of green spines starting at the back of its head going all the way back along its back to the very tip of its tail. The inside claw of each hind-leg curled upwards like a scythe blade. Two horns sprouted from the beast’s skull just behind it’s emerald eyes. The large, draconic being saluted.

“Your Highness. Grand General Spike reporting.” He addressed. The smaller figure turned out to be a young changeling, baby faced - even by changeling standards - and spritely. He turned to Scootaloo and company with an eager expression as he saluted.

“Tarantula Hawk Special Forces! Private Herimestus reporting!” He chimed, cheerily. Marks rolled his eyes at the young cadet.

“Herimestus? Sounds like something nasty you’d pick up from a street pony.” Fang shot Marks a venomous glare as she all but stomped on his hoof in response. She took a small, tentative step forward and bowed her head politely.

“Grüße, Herr Herimestus. Eine Freude, Ihre Bekanntschaft zu machen.” She greeted, kindly. The changeling smiled and bowed in return.

“Die Freude ist ganz auf meiner Seite, gnädige Frau. Sie können mich anrufen Hermes.” He greeted, surprising Fang with his fluidity in her mother tongue. Scootaloo chuckled as she boldly stepped forward and held out a hoof to greet Hermes properly.

“Welcome to the squad, squirt,” she teased, winking at the young private. “The name’s Scootaloo. I’ll be your commanding officer from here on out”. The changeling blushed as he accepted the offered hoof, shaking it amenably.

“Thank you, ma’am. I promise I’ll do you proud.”

“I don’t doubt it.”